bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repeated versus single praziquantel dosing regimen in treatment of female genital schistosomiasis: a phase 2 randomised controlled trial showing no difference in efficacy
Authors: Arenholt Louise Thomsen Schmidt , Randrianasolo Bodo Sahondra , Rabozakandraina Tiana Onintsoa Oliva , Ramarokoto Charles Emile , Jøker Karoline , Kæstel Aarøe Katrina , Brønnum Dorthe , Bundgaard Nielsen Caspar , Sørensen Suzette , Lumholdt Mads , Jensen Martin , Lundbye-Christensen Søren , Jensen Jørgen Skov , Corstjens Paul , Hoekstra Pytsje , J van Dam Govert , Kobayashi Noriko , Hamano Shinjiro , Leutscher Peter Derek Christian
Published: August 2024

Background

Single-dose praziquantel (PZQ) for treating urogenital schistosomiasis has been reported as inadequate for achieving significant resolution of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS)-associated cervicovaginal lesions. This randomised controlled trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a repeated PZQ-dosing regimen.

Methods

The trial was conducted among women aged 15 to 34 with FGS-associated cervical lesions living in a Schistosoma haematobium-endemic area of northern Madagascar. A total of 116 women were randomly allocated to either repeated PZQ-dosing (n=58) or a single PZQ dose (n=58). All received an initial PZQ dose of 40mg/kg at baseline. In the repeated-dosing arm, additional doses were given 12 and 24 hours later and again at 5 and 10 weeks. Primary outcome was FGS-related cervical lesions at baseline compared to Week 15 follow-up. Secondary outcomes encompassed pelvic exam abnormalities, urogenital complaints, and biomarkers, including cervicovaginal S. haematobium DNA and circulating anodic antigens (CAA) in serum.

Results

Excluding 21 women who were pregnant or failed to attend follow-up visits, 95 women were eligible for per-protocol treatment effect analysis. A minor and insignificant reduction in cervical lesions was observed in both of the two treatment arms at Week 15 follow-up. A clear tendency towards decline in pelvic exam abnormalities and urogenital complaints in both treatment arm groups was observed. The reduction in number of women testing positive for CAA and mean CAA values was significant in both arms but less so in the single-dose arm. Mild to moderate adverse events of equal proportions were reported in both treatment arm groups.

Conclusion

FGS-associated cervical lesions appear refractory to PZQ treatment even when this is administered in a repeated-dosing regimen. In contrast, the repeated regimen seems more effective at eliminating the dwelling worm population than the single-dose regimen, as demonstrated by the CAA findings. Irrespective of dosing regimen, pelvic exam abnormalities and urogenital complaints saw equal reductions at follow-up. However, the outcome of our primary study emphasises the need for initiation early in life and a persistently maintained PZQ treatment strategy throughout childhood and adolescence to prevent lesions from establishing in the first place.

Clinical trial registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/, dentifier NCT04115072.
Septic arthritis complicating Streptobacillus moniliformis rat bite fever: a case report and review of its pathophysiology and diagnosis
Authors: Giraudon Emmanuelle , Larranaga Lapique Eva , Wallemacq Silvio , Dalborgo Marie , Yin Nicolas , Hites Maya , Martiny Delphine
Published: August 2024

Rat bite fever is characterized by a clinical triad of symptoms, fever, rash and arthritis. It is transmitted by rodents and mainly due to infection by Streptobacillus moniliformis, a fastidious bacterium carried by Rattus norvegicus. This case report presents the case of a patient who developed septic arthritis and fever after a wild rat bite, with subsequent isolation of S. moniliformis from the joint fluid. Upon reviewing 45 other published case reports of S. moniliformis osteoarticular infections following contact with either a rat or its secretions, it was firstly observed that the rat bite fever clinical triad was incomplete in over half of the cases, mainly because rash was infrequently observed among adult patients. Secondly, the clinical presentation of rat bite fever is quite non-specific and rodent exposure is not mentioned by patients in a third of cases upon admission. Altogether, diagnosing rat bite fever is a significant clinical challenge suggesting that it might be significantly underdiagnosed. In addition to these clinical aspects, no evidence was found supporting immunological mechanisms, as suggested in some literature. Instead, when excluding five improperly performed cultures, S. moniliformis was cultured in 25 reported cases and identified twice by direct PCR sequencing amounting to a detection rate of 90% (n = 27/30) on joint fluids. Cultures should be performed in medium containing yeast extract, complete peptic digest of animal tissue and at least 5% blood. Knowing that S. moniliformis is very sensitive to many antibiotics thereby making the culture negative, direct 16S rRNA gene sequencing on joint fluid is an alternative method in the case of clinical and cytological evidence of osteoarticular infections with sterile culture of joint fluid.
DeepCGAN: early Alzheimer's detection with deep convolutional generative adversarial networks
Authors: Ali Imad , Saleem Nasir , Alhussein Musaed , Zohra Benazeer , Aurangzeb Khursheed , Haq Qazi Mazhar ul
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the most prevailing cause of dementia. AD critically disturbs the daily routine, which usually needs to be detected at its early stage. Unfortunately, AD detection using magnetic resonance imaging is challenging because of the subtle physiological variations between normal and AD patients visible on magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods

To cope with this challenge, we propose a deep convolutional generative adversarial network (DeepCGAN) for detecting early-stage AD in this article. The DeepCGAN is an unsupervised generative model that expands the dataset size in addition to its diversity by utilizing the generative adversarial network (GAN). The Generator of GAN follows the encoder-decoder framework and takes cognitive data as inputs, whereas the Discriminator follows a structure similar to the Generator's encoder. The last dense layer uses a softmax classifier to detect the labels indicating the AD.

Results

The proposed model attains an accuracy rate of 97.32%, significantly surpassing recent state-of-the-art models' performance, including Adaptive Voting, ResNet, AlexNet, GoogleNet, Deep Neural Networks, and Support Vector Machines.

Discussion

The DeepCGAN significantly improves early AD detection accuracy and robustness by enhancing the dataset diversity and leveraging advanced GAN techniques, leading to better generalization and higher performance in comparison to traditional and contemporary methods. These results demonstrate the ecacy of DeepCGAN in enhancing early AD detection, thereby potentially improving patient outcomes through timely intervention.
Development and evaluation of two rapid lateral flow assays for on-site detection of African swine fever virus
Authors: Wang Lihua , Kim Juhun , Kang Hyangju , Park Hong-Je , Lee Min-Jong , Hong Sung-Hee , Seo Chang-Won , Madera Rachel , Li Yuzhen , Craig Aidan , Retallick Jamie , Matias-Ferreyra Franco , Sohn Eun-Ju , Shi Jishu
Published: August 2024

Introduction

African swine fever (ASF) is a lethal and highly contagious transboundary animal disease with the potential for rapid international spread. In the absence of a widely available and definitively proven vaccine, rapid and early detection is critical for ASF control. The quick and user-friendly lateral flow assay (LFA) can easily be performed by following simple instructions and is ideal for on-site use. This study describes the development and validation of two LFAs for the rapid detection of ASF virus (ASFV) in pig serum.

Methods

The highly immunogenic antigens (p30 and p72) of ASFV Georgia 2007/1 (genotype II) were expressed in plants (Nicotiana benthamiana) and were used to immunize BALB/c mice to generate specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the p30 and p72 proteins. mAbs with the strongest binding ability to each protein were used to develop p30_LFA and p72_LFA for detecting the respective ASFV antigens. The assays were first evaluated using a spike-in test by adding the purified p30 or p72 protein to a serum sample from a healthy donor pig. Further validation of the tests was carried out using serum samples derived from experimentally infected domestic pigs, field domestic pigs, and feral pigs, and the results were compared with those of ASFV real-time PCR.

Results

p30_LFA and p72_LFA showed no cross-reaction with common swine viruses and delivered visual results in 15 min. When testing with serially diluted proteins in swine serum samples, analytical sensitivity reached 10 ng/test for p30_LFA and 20 ng/test for p72_LFA. Using real-time PCR as a reference, both assays demonstrated high sensitivity (84.21% for p30_LFA and 100% for p72_LFA) with experimentally ASFV-infected pig sera. Specificity was 100% for both LFAs using a panel of PBS-inoculated domestic pig sera. Excellent specificity was also shown for field domestic pig sera (100% for p30_LFA and 93% for p72_LFA) and feral pig sera (100% for both LFAs).

Conclusion

The results obtained in this study suggest that p30_LFA and p72_LFA hold promise as rapid, sensitive, user-friendly, and field-deployable tools for ASF control, particularly in settings with limited laboratory resources.
Transcriptomic response analysis of ultraviolet mutagenesis combined with high carbon acclimation to promote photosynthetic carbon assimilation in Euglena gracilis
Authors: Lv Qi , Li Siping , Du Xinxin , Fan Yawen , Wang Mingshuo , Song Chunhua , Sui Fengyang , Liu Yan
Published: August 2024

The potential of Euglena gracilis for carbon sequestration offers significant opportunities in the capture and utilization of carbon dioxide (CO2). In this study, a mutant LE-ZW of E. gracilis, capable of efficient growth and carbon sequestration, was obtained through ultraviolet mutagenesis combined with high carbon acclimation. Subsequently, the potential of LE-ZW for carbon assimilation was systematically analyzed. The results demonstrated that the cell density of the LE-ZW was 1.33 times that of the wild type and its carbon sequestration efficiency was 6.67 times that of the wild type when cultured at an optimal CO2 concentration of 5% until day 10. At this time, most key enzyme genes associated with the photosystem membrane protein complex, photosynthetic electron transport chain, antenna protein, and carbon fixation were up-regulated in mutant LE-ZW. Furthermore, after 10 days of culture under 10% CO2, the cell density and carbon sequestration efficiency of LE-ZW reached 1.10 times and 1.54 times of that under 5% CO2, respectively. Transcriptome analysis revealed significant up-regulation of key enzyme genes associated with carbon fixation, central carbon metabolism, and photosynthesis in LE-ZW under a 10% CO2 concentration. Physiological indices such as the amount of oxygen evolution, the values of Fv/Fm, the expression levels of photosynthetic protein genes and the enzyme activity of key enzymes related to photosynthetic carbon assimilation were corroborated by transcriptome data, elucidating that the mutant LE-ZW exhibited augmented photosynthetic carbon sequestration capacity and metabolic activity, thereby demonstrating robust adaptability to a high-carbon environment. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the carbon assimilation mechanism in photosynthetic protists under elevated CO2 concentrations.
An overview of Ehlers Danlos syndrome and the link between postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and gastrointestinal symptoms with a focus on gastroparesis
Authors: Wu William , Ho Vincent
Published: August 2024

There has been an increasingly reported association between Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and gastrointestinal disorders. EDS is a hereditary connective tissue disorder which may manifest as a spectrum of symptoms stemming from collagen defects. The prevalence of EDS is estimated to affect 1 in 5000 individuals which underscores its clinical significance. Notably the hypermobile form (hEDS) accounts for the majority of cases. POTS is characterized by orthostatic intolerance with an increase in heart rate on standing in the absence of hypotension. This condition predominantly affects women between 15 and 45 years of age. Gastrointestinal symptoms in the form of reflux, bloating and abdominal pain significant impact this population. Gastroparesis is a chronic disorder involving symptoms of delayed gastric emptying and may be closely associated with hEDS and POTS, and may be underreported. Autonomic dysfunction associated with hEDS has been proposed as the likely mechanism underlying POTS and gastrointestinal dysfunction though a clear pathophysiological process has not been established.
The relationship between dizziness and sleep: a review of the literature
Authors: van Leeuwen Roeland B. , Schermer Tjard R. , Bienfait Henri P.
Published: August 2024

Background

The relation between vestibular disorders and (quality of) sleep is underexplored scientifically and the complex interactions between vestibular and sleep disorders are far from being well understood. Some studies have been conducted on the association between patients with vestibular disorders and (the occurrence of) sleep disorders, other studies have been published on the prevalence of dizziness complaints in patients with sleep disorders. The quality of sleep in patients with vestibular disorders generally receives little attention in clinical practice.

Objective

To establish what is currently known about the mutual relationship between dizziness and sleep, and to assess whether or not there is evidence of causality with regard to this relationship.

Methods

After systematically searching four literature database up until 1 April 2024, selected studies were summarized and evaluated through a (critical) review.

Results

Ultimately, 42 studies were selected and evaluated. Patients with dizziness in general and patients with a specific vestibular disorder like Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Vestibular Migraine, Meniere’s disease, and vestibular hypofunction were significantly more likely to have sleep disorders than control groups. A causal relationship is not supported due to the nature of the studies. In patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome there were significantly more vestibular complaints, and more disorders in the vestibular system were identified.

Conclusion

Dizziness complaints often co-exist with a sleep disorder. To what extent this sleep disorder influences dizziness is not clear. Paying attention to the quality of sleep in patients with a vestibular disorder seems to be important. In patients with OSAS, consideration should be given to vestibular complaints and dysfunction.
Weakly supervised large-scale pancreatic cancer detection using multi-instance learning
Authors: Mandal Shyamapada , Balraj Keerthiveena , Kodamana Hariprasad , Arora Chetan , Clark Julie M. , Kwon David S. , Rathore Anurag S.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Early detection of pancreatic cancer continues to be a challenge due to the difficulty in accurately identifying specific signs or symptoms that might correlate with the onset of pancreatic cancer. Unlike breast or colon or prostate cancer where screening tests are often useful in identifying cancerous development, there are no tests to diagnose pancreatic cancers. As a result, most pancreatic cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage, where treatment options, whether systemic therapy, radiation, or surgical interventions, offer limited efficacy.

Methods

A two-stage weakly supervised deep learning-based model has been proposed to identify pancreatic tumors using computed tomography (CT) images from Henry Ford Health (HFH) and publicly available Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) data sets. In the first stage, the nnU-Net supervised segmentation model was used to crop an area in the location of the pancreas, which was trained on the MSKCC repository of 281 patient image sets with established pancreatic tumors. In the second stage, a multi-instance learning-based weakly supervised classification model was applied on the cropped pancreas region to segregate pancreatic tumors from normal appearing pancreas. The model was trained, tested, and validated on images obtained from an HFH repository with 463 cases and 2,882 controls.

Results

The proposed deep learning model, the two-stage architecture, offers an accuracy of 0.907  ±  0.01, sensitivity of 0.905  ±  0.01, specificity of 0.908  ±  0.02, and AUC (ROC) 0.903  ±  0.01. The two-stage framework can automatically differentiate pancreatic tumor from non-tumor pancreas with improved accuracy on the HFH dataset.

Discussion

The proposed two-stage deep learning architecture shows significantly enhanced performance for predicting the presence of a tumor in the pancreas using CT images compared with other reported studies in the literature.
Case report: complete response and long-term survival on third-line immunotherapy in patient with pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Jurić Čuljak Željka , Tomić Snježana , Šitum Kristina , Boraska Jelavić Tihana
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a rare neoplasm with median survival time range from 8 to 14 months from diagnosis, and the 5-year survival rate less than 10%, indicating a poor prognosis. The standard treatment for unresectable PM for a long time has been polychemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin for fit patients. Currently, the combination of the anti PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab and the anti-CTLA4 inhibitor ipilimumab has been recognized as the best possible frontline therapy (especially in the sarcomatoid or biphasic type) due to improved outcomes compared to the standard chemotherapy combination. There are still no established predictive biomarkers for any type of systemic therapy in this disease.

Case presentation

Patient who presented with cough and dyspnea has been diagnosed with advanced epithelioid type PM in May 2016. He was treated with three lines of therapy, including an antiangiogenic agent and immunotherapy with pembrolizumab in the third line. Immunotherapy with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab achieved a complete and prolonged response that transferred to long- term survival. Seven years from diagnosis, the patient is still alive. Histological findings showed an unusually immune-inflamed tumor microenvironment possibly leading to excellent response on immunotherapy.

Conclusions

The course of the disease in our patient points out that we need better predictive biomarkers to direct the treatment algorithm, as some of the patients, although chemorefractory to the best chemotherapy option, can sustain great benefit of second-line chemotherapy in combination with antiangiogenic agent, and especially immunotherapy, even in late lines of therapy.
Androgen receptor modulatory miR-1271-5p can promote hormone sensitive prostate cancer cell growth
Authors: Kalofonou Foteini , Leach Damien A. , Powell Sue M. , Waxman Jonathan , Fletcher Claire E. , Bevan Charlotte L.
Published: August 2024

In most patients with advanced prostate cancer treated with hormonal therapy, androgen independence eventually emerges, leading to death. Androgen receptor signalling remains an important prostate cancer driver, even in the advanced disease stage. MicroRNAs (miRs), non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by inhibiting translation and/or promoting degradation of target mRNAs, can act as tumour suppressors or “oncomiRs” and modulate tumour growth. Because of their stability in tissues and in circulation, and their specificity, microRNAs have emerged as potential biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets in cancer. We identified miR-1271–5p as an androgen receptor modulatory microRNA and we show it can promote hormone sensitive prostate cancer cell growth. Inhibition or overexpression of miR-1271–5p levels affects prostate cancer cell growth, apoptosis and expression of both androgen receptor target genes and other genes that are likely direct targets, dependent on androgen receptor status, and tumour stage. We conclude that miR-1271–5p has the potential to drive progression of hormone-dependent disease and that the use of specific inhibitors of miR-1271–5p may have therapeutic potential in prostate cancer.
Exploration of the mechanism of Taohong Siwu Decoction for the treatment of ischemic stroke based on CCL2/CCR2 axis
Authors: Li Jingjing , Zhang Lijuan , Xue Sujun , Yu Chao , Li Yumeng , Li Shuangping , Ye Qingping , Duan Xianchun , Peng Daiyin
Published: August 2024

Background and aims

Taohong Siwu Decoction (THSWD) is a traditional Chinese herbal prescription that is effective for ischemic stroke, Whether THSWD regulates the CCL2/CCR2 axis and thus reduces the inflammatory response induced by ischemic stroke is not known. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of action of THSWD in the treatment of ischemic stroke using bioinformatics combined with in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Methods

R language was used to analyze middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) rat transcriptome data and to identify differential gene expression following THSWD treatment. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to analyze the gene set enrichment pathway of MCAO/R rats treated with THSWD. PPI networks screened key targets. The Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HBMEC) Oxygen Glucose Deprivation/Reoxygenation (OGD/R) model and SD rat models of MCAO/R were established. FITC-dextran, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR were performed to identify potential treatment targets.

Results

A total of 515 differentially expressed genes of THSWD in MCAO/R rats were screened and 92 differentially expressed genes of THSWD potentially involved in stroke intervention were identified, including Cd68, Ccl2, and other key genes. In vitro, THSWD reversed the increase in permeability of HBMEC cells and M1/M2 polarization of macrophages induced by CCL2/CCR2 axis agonists. In vivo, THSWD improved nerve function injury and blood-brain barrier injury in MCAO/R rats. Further, THSWD inhibited the infiltration and polarization of macrophages, reduced the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and MMP-9, and increased the expression of IL-4, while reducing the gene and protein expression of CCL2 and CCR2.

Conclusion

THSWD may play a protective role in ischemic stroke by inhibiting the CCL2/CCR2 axis, reducing the infiltration of macrophages, and promoting the polarization of M2 macrophages, thereby reducing inflammatory damage, and protecting injury to the blood-brain barrier.
Development of an in vitro compound screening system that replicate the in vivo spine phenotype of idiopathic ASD model mice
Authors: Maeda Kazuma , Tanimura Miki , Masago Yusaku , Horiyama Tsukasa , Takemoto Hiroshi , Sasaki Takuya , Koyama Ryuta , Ikegaya Yuji , Ogawa Koichi
Published: August 2024

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition characterized by core symptoms including social difficulties, repetitive behaviors, and sensory abnormalities. Aberrant morphology of dendritic spines within the cortex has been documented in genetic disorders associated with ASD and ASD-like traits. We hypothesized that compounds that ameliorate abnormalities in spine dynamics might have the potential to ameliorate core symptoms of ASD. Because the morphology of the spine is influenced by signal inputs from other neurons and various molecular interactions, conventional single-molecule targeted drug discovery methods may not suffice in identifying compounds capable of ameliorating spine morphology abnormalities. In this study, we focused on spine phenotypes in the cortex using BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, which have been used as a model for idiopathic ASD in various studies. We established an in vitro compound screening system using primary cultured neurons from BTBR mice to faithfully represent the spine phenotype. The compound library mainly comprised substances with known target molecules and established safety profiles, including those approved or validated through human safety studies. Following screening of this specialized library containing 181 compounds, we identified 15 confirmed hit compounds. The molecular targets of these hit compounds were largely focused on the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (5-HTR). Furthermore, both 5-HT1AR agonist and 5-HT3R antagonist were common functional profiles in hit compounds. Vortioxetine, possessing dual attributes as a 5-HT1AR agonist and 5-HT3R antagonist, was administered to BTBR mice once daily for a period of 7 days. This intervention not only ameliorated their spine phenotype but also alleviated their social behavior abnormality. These results of vortioxetine supports the usefulness of a spine phenotype-based assay system as a potent drug discovery platform targeting ASD core symptoms.
Transcriptome dynamics in Artemisia annua provides new insights into cold adaptation and de-adaptation
Authors: He Yunxiao , Zhang Yujiao , Li Jiangnan , Ren Zhiyi , Zhang Wenjing , Zuo Xianghua , Zhao Wei , Xing Ming , You Jian , Chen Xia
Published: August 2024

Plants adapt to cold stress through a tightly regulated process involving metabolic reprogramming and tissue remodeling to enhance tolerance within a short timeframe. However, the precise differences and interconnections among various organs during cold adaptation remain poorly understood. This study employed dynamic transcriptomic and metabolite quantitative analyses to investigate cold adaptation and subsequent de-adaptation in Artemisia annua, a species known for its robust resistance to abiotic stress. Our findings revealed distinct expression patterns in most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding transcription factors and components of the calcium signal transduction pathway within the two organs under cold stress. Notably, the long-distance transport of carbon sources from source organs (leaves) to sink organs (roots) experienced disruption followed by resumption, while nitrogen transport from roots to leaves, primarily in the form of amino acids, exhibited acceleration. These contrasting transport patterns likely contribute to the observed differences in cold response between the two organs. The transcriptomic analysis further indicated that leaves exhibited increased respiration, accumulated anti-stress compounds, and initiated the ICE-CBF-COR signaling pathway earlier than roots. Differential expression of genes associated with cell wall biosynthesis suggests that leaves may undergo cell wall thickening while roots may experience thinning. Moreover, a marked difference was observed in phenylalanine metabolism between the two organs, with leaves favoring lignin production and roots favoring flavonoid synthesis. Additionally, our findings suggest that the circadian rhythm is crucial in integrating temperature fluctuations with the plant’s internal rhythms during cold stress and subsequent recovery. Collectively, these results shed light on the coordinated response of different plant organs during cold adaptation, highlighting the importance of inter-organ communication for successful stress tolerance.
A self-paced online emotion socialization intervention for parents of children with challenging behavior: Tuning in to Kids OnLine
Authors: Havighurst Sophie S. , Mangelsdorf Shaminka N. , Boswell Nikki , Little Jonathon , Zhang Abby , Gleeson Kate , Hussain Aniqa , Harley Ann , Radovini Alessandra , Kehoe Christiane E.
Published: August 2024

Background

Evidence-based parenting programs delivered using online technology are an important way to enhance program uptake. To date, programs that address emotion socialization processes, such as Tuning in to Kids, have always been delivered in person, via group or one-to-one delivery. This study used a randomized control design to examine the efficacy of the self-paced Tuning in to Kids OnLine (TIKOL).

Method

Participants were 150 parents of children aged 4-10 years old with challenging behaviors, randomized into intervention or 10-month waitlist control. Parents and teachers completed questionnaires at baseline and 6 months after the intervention (equivalent time points for controls) measuring parent wellbeing, parent emotion socialization, parent efficacy, child behavior, and anxiety.

Results

Analyses, using mixed methods multilevel modeling, showed that intervention parents reported significantly reduced emotion dismissiveness and increased emotion coaching, empathy and efficacy compared to controls who did not. Parents participating in TIKOL also reported that their children's behavior problems and anxiety were significantly improved. Greater engagement (modules watched and duration of support calls) was associated with more significant improvements.

Conclusion

Findings provide preliminary support for the efficacy of TIKOL in improving parents' emotion socialization and reducing child behavior problems and anxiety, especially when efforts to support online engagement are utilized. Further evaluation using independent observations and a sample representing a wider demographic would strengthen these findings.

Clinical trial registration

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry No. ACTRN12618000310268.
The relationship between spiritual health, quality of life, stress, anxiety and depression in working women
Authors: Rakhshani Tayebeh , Saeedi Pari , Kashfi Seyyed Mansour , Bazrafkan Leila , Kamyab Amirhossein , Khani Jeihooni Ali
Published: August 2024

Background

While there are benefits to women entering the workforce, there are also drawbacks, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, which can lower quality of life. However, some research indicates that women’s spiritual health may be a protective factor in these situations. This study is to explore the relationship between spiritual health and quality of life, stress, anxiety, and depression among a population of women working in health care centers, given the existence of such a relationship among women.

Methods

In 2022, 500 women who worked in health centers in Izeh City, Iran, participated in this cross-sectional survey. The clustered census sampling approach was used for the sample. The research participants completed a 12-item quality of life questionnaire on spiritual health, stress, anxiety, and depression as part of the data gathering process. The data were examined using independent t tests, one-way variance, and Pearson correlation after being entered into SPSS-24.

Results

Of the participants, 18% were single and 68% were married. In terms of depression, stress, and anxiety, the mean and standard deviation were 8.26 ± 5.78, 11.26 ± 4.89, and 7.91 ± 0.98, respectively. The quality of life had a mean and standard deviation of 30.82 ± 3.56. Women who were unmarried and had more work experience reported a considerably greater quality of life (p < 0.05). The findings indicated that stress and spiritual health (p = 0.001), anxiety and spiritual health (p = 0.032), and depression and spiritual health (p = 0.024) all had a significant and inverse association. Furthermore, a strong and positive correlation was found (p = 0.001) between spiritual health and quality of life.

Conclusion

The study’s conclusions demonstrated a clear link between spiritual health and life satisfaction, suggesting that working women’s quality of life may be raised by treatments that support spiritual health. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between spiritual health and the psychological variables of stress, anxiety, and depression. This suggests that by understanding the factors influencing mental health and the role of spiritual health moderator, it may be possible to improve the psychological state of employed women.
AI-assisted assessment and treatment of aphasia: a review
Authors: Zhong Xiaoyun
Published: August 2024

Aphasia is a language disorder caused by brain injury that often results in difficulties with speech production and comprehension, significantly impacting the affected individuals’ lives. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has been advancing in medical research. Utilizing machine learning and related technologies, AI develops sophisticated algorithms and predictive models, and can employ tools such as speech recognition and natural language processing to autonomously identify and analyze language deficits in individuals with aphasia. These advancements provide new insights and methods for assessing and treating aphasia. This article explores current AI-supported assessment and treatment approaches for aphasia and highlights key application areas. It aims to uncover how AI can enhance the process of assessment, tailor therapeutic interventions, and track the progress and outcomes of rehabilitation efforts. The article also addresses the current limitations of AI’s application in aphasia and discusses prospects for future research.
General self-efficacy as a moderator between severity of menopausal symptoms and satisfaction with life in menopausal women
Authors: Bień Agnieszka , Niewiadomska Iwona , Korżyńska-Piętas Magdalena , Rzońca Ewa , Zarajczyk Marta , Pięta Beata , Jurek Krzysztof
Published: August 2024

The study aimed to determine whether self-efficacy acts as a moderator between the severity of menopausal symptoms and life satisfaction. The research tools were: The Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) The Menopause – Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL), and a standardized questionnaire comprising questions on the participants’ characteristics. 516 women using health care services who had menopausal symptoms took part in the study. Self-efficacy (GSES) (r = −0.176; p < 0.001) and life satisfaction (SWLS) (r = −0.106; p = 0.016) were negatively correlated with the severity of menopausal symptoms (MENQOL). The self-efficacy correlated positively with satisfaction with life (r = 0.278; p < 0.001). A low level of self-efficacy was associated with a significant and negative relationship between the severity of menopausal symptoms and satisfaction with life (p = 0.005), while at a high and moderate level of self-efficacy, the severity of menopausal symptoms was not associated with life satisfaction (p > 0.05). Self-efficacy moderates the relationship between the severity of menopausal symptoms and life satisfaction in menopausal women. The moderating function of self-efficacy is that, at its low level, an increase in the severity of menopausal symptoms reduces life satisfaction, while at medium and high levels, an increase in the severity of menopausal symptoms does not reduce life satisfaction.
The intergroup dynamics of political cynicism: how perceived discrimination, outsiderness, and social capital relate to political cynicism among Moroccan and Turkish Belgians
Authors: Abts Koen , Van Den Abbeele Jef , Meeusen Cecil , Meuleman Bart
Published: August 2024

Introduction

This study examines how intergroup dynamics shape political cynicism among Belgians of Turkish and Moroccan descent. Concretely, we examine whether perceptions of discrimination, feelings of ethnic outsiderness and social capital (in terms of associational membership) can explain minorities’ belief that political elites are selfish, incompetent, and immoral.

Methods

We analyse data from the Belgian Ethnic Minorities Election Study 2014.

Results

Arguing that political cynicism includes blame attribution towards the political establishment, we distinguish between perceived group discrimination by the government, on the labor market, and in everyday life. As expected, political cynicism is closely related to perceptions of government discrimination, with no observed correlation with discrimination in the other domains. Next, we show that perceived ethnic outsiderness is also strongly related to increased feelings of political cynicism, further reinforcing the argument that cynics are concerned with their ethnic group’s excluded status and position in society. Finally, associational membership is only related to lower political cynicism when it is generated exclusively within ethnic boundaries; there was no relationship with cross-ethnic social capital.

Discussion

Our findings show that intergroup indicators are highly relevant for understanding minorities’ political cynicism, but that the intergroup dynamics operate in complex and nuanced ways.
Visual detection of chlorpyrifos pesticide residues in foodstuffs using a colorimetric indicator based on copper nanoparticles
Authors: Sheikh Mahdieh , Shekarchizadeh Hajar
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Accurate and simple detection of pesticide residue amounts in food and crops is crucial for human health protection, food safety, environmental impact, trade, and consumer confidence.

Methods

Consequently, a colorimetric indicator based on copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) was developed for the detection of chlorpyrifos in this study.

Results

The prepared CuNPs-based colorimetric indicator exhibited color changes from black to green or blue in the presence of chlorpyrifos, visible to the naked eye and without the need for special equipment. An intriguing feature of this indicator was that its color turned blue for chlorpyrifos amounts below the maximum residue limit (MRL) and green for amounts exceeding the MRL. The complex formation of CuNPs with chlorpyrifos via the Cu-S bond, confirmed by FTIR, XPS, and XRD analysis, was responsible for the color change. Subsequently, the structure of CuNPs transitioned from a clustered to an aggregated state, as evident in the TEM images. The selectivity of the synthesized indicator against four other pesticides (glyphosate, malathion, diazinon, and imidacloprid) was investigated, revealing high selectivity against chlorpyrifos. Finally, the performance of the synthesized indicator was validated using real samples, demonstrating its high accuracy and sensitivity.

Conclusion

In summary, the prepared indicator represents a promising method for simple, cost-effective, accurate, and highly selective detection of chlorpyrifos.
Novel technique for comminuted patellar fixation using suture tape in spiderweb configuration
Authors: Tee Wei Jie , Yeo Kuei Siong Andy , Chua David Thai Chong , Moo Ing How
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Patella fractures account for 1% of skeletal fractures in orthopedic surgery. Simple two-part patella fractures are uncommon; most fractures are comminuted with significant articular involvement. Traditionally, patella fractures have been fixed using a tension band technique with cerclage wire, which has several complications including soft-tissue irritation, implant migration, and breakage, leading to secondary implant removal in up to 37% of patients. Newer fixation methods using cannulated screws, hook plates, mesh plates, and locking plates show promise but are costly and require extensive soft-tissue dissection. There is a need for a better alternative, especially for the elderly with osteoporotic bones.

Recent developments

Various authors have described patellar fixation techniques augmented with sutures and suture tape, showing satisfactory outcomes. This paper proposes a novel all-suture tape method for patellar fixation, suitable for common types of patella fractures including AO 34C1.1 (transverse), AO 34C2 (transverse and split), and 34C3 (comminuted). Suture tape is biomechanically superior in both soft tissue and bone.

Operative technique

The patient is laid supine with the knee in full extension. A standard anterior midline approach is adopted. After reducing the fracture fragments and securing them with K-wires, non-absorbable suture tapes are used instead of cerclage wire. The tapes are passed multiple times through the soft tissue, creating loops that are then tensioned to compress the fracture fragments. The technique is completed by creating a tension band fixation with additional suture tapes.

Expected outcomes

This technique offers several benefits, including reduced operative time, minimized soft-tissue dissection, and lower risk of implant prominence and irritation. The suture tape's superior tensile strength and low tissue reactivity reduce complications and the need for secondary surgeries. Early results from two cases show union achieved at 3 months without complications, with patients regaining full range of motion.

Conclusion

This preliminary technical paper demonstrates the feasibility of using non-metallic implants for patella fracture fixation. The proposed method shows promising results, suggesting a potential shift in the approach to fracture fixation. Further research and larger cohort studies are needed to validate these findings.
Feasibility of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence in ex vivo pathological dissection of colorectal lymph nodes—a pilot study
Authors: Lakatos Lorand , Illyes Ildiko , Budai Andras , Bencze Viktoria , Szijarto Attila , Kiss Andras , Banky Balazs
Published: August 2024

Accurate lymph node (LN) retrieval during colorectal carcinoma resection is pivotal for precise N-staging and the determination of adjuvant therapy. Current guidelines recommend the examination of at least 12 mesocolic or mesorectal lymph nodes for accurate staging. Traditional histological processing techniques, reliant on visual inspection and palpation, are time-consuming and heavily dependent on the examiner’s expertise and availability. Various methods have been documented to enhance LN retrieval from colorectal specimens, including intra-arterial ex vivo methylene blue injection. Recent studies have explored the utility of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging for visualizing pericolic lymph nodes and identifying sentinel lymph nodes in colorectal malignancies. This study included 10 patients who underwent colon resection for malignant tumors. During surgery, intravenous ICG dye and an endoscopic camera were employed to assess intestinal perfusion. Post-resection, ex vivo intra-arterial administration of ICG dye was performed on the specimens, followed by routine histological processing and an ICG-assisted lymph node dissection. The objective was to evaluate whether ICG imaging could identify additional lymph nodes compared to routine manual dissection and to assess the clinical relevance of these findings. For each patient, a minimum of 12 lymph nodes (median = 25.5, interquartile range = 12.25, maximum = 33) were examined. ICG imaging facilitated the detection of a median of three additional lymph nodes not identified during routine processing. Metastatic lymph nodes were found in four patients however no additional metastatic nodes were detected with ICG assistance. Our findings suggest that ex vivo intra-arterial administration of indocyanine green dye can augment lymph node dissection, particularly in cases where the number of lymph nodes retrieved is below the recommended threshold of 12.
Reinforcement Learning-Based Pose Coordination Planning Capture Strategy for Space Non-Cooperative Targets
Authors: Peng Zhaotao , Wang Chen
Published: August 2024

During the process of capturing non-cooperative targets in space, space robots have strict constraints on the position and orientation of the end-effector. Traditional methods typically focus only on the position control of the end-effector, making it difficult to simultaneously satisfy the precise requirements for both the capture position and posture, which can lead to failed or unstable grasping actions. To address this issue, this paper proposes a reinforcement learning-based capture strategy learning method combined with posture planning. First, the structural models and dynamic models of the capture mechanism are constructed. Then, an end-to-end decision control model based on the Optimistic Actor–Critic (OAC) algorithm and integrated with a capture posture planning module is designed. This allows the strategy learning process to reasonably plan the posture of the end-effector to adapt to the complex constraints of the target capture task. Finally, a simulation test environment is established on the Mujoco platform, and training and validation are conducted. The simulation results demonstrate that the model can effectively approach and capture multiple targets with different postures, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Supplemental Irrigation with Recycled Drainage Water: Outcomes for Corn and Soybean in a Fine-Textured Soil
Authors: Niaghi Ali R. , Garcia y Garcia Axel , Strock Jeffrey S.
Published: August 2024

Drought and heavier spring storms from climate change will increase crop water stress and affect productivity. A study was conducted to determine whether supplemental irrigation on fine-textured soils with recycled drainage and surface runoff water, combined with nitrogen (N) management, could mitigate these effects. This study was set as a randomized complete block design in a split-plot arrangement with three replicates. The main plots, which were individually drained, corresponded to three water management strategies (full irrigation, limited irrigation, and rainfed), and the subplots corresponded to six N rates (0, 90, 134, 179, 224, and 269 kg/ha) in the corn phase of the rotation. In the soybean phase, the same water management strategies were uniformly applied across the subplots. Irrigation and drainage water, volumetric soil water content (SWC), and grain yield data were collected. The full irrigation significantly increased the SWC in the top 60 cm of the soil across crops during the driest year, where it increased by an average of 30% compared with the rainfed conditions. The limited irrigation increased the SWC in the top 20 cm only for the soybean during the driest year, where it increased by as much as 25%. As a result, the supplemental irrigation prevented yield reduction in one year. While the irrigation alone did not significantly affect the grain yield of either crop, the irrigation × N interaction for the corn was consistently significant, which suggests that the N effectively enhanced the corn productivity. The results suggest that reusing drainage water could be a valuable practice for reducing the effects of limited soil water on crops in fine-textured soils.
Biochar Catalysis for the Enhanced Abiotic Humification of Polyphenols: An Important Mechanism Helping Sequester Carbon
Authors: Zhou Jiangmin , Zhou Ziru , Yao Chuanqing , Zhang Yujie , Ren Han , Lu Guining , Chen Hualin
Published: August 2024

Abiotic humification, dominated by catalytic oxidation, is one of the critical mechanisms for organic carbon preservation in nature. However, the effects of biochar catalysis on abiotic humification have not yet been elucidated. This study investigated the catalytic power of biochar from walnut shells at different temperatures (300 °C, 600 °C, and 900 °C) for the abiotic transformation of hydroquinone (HQ) as a representative polyphenol. All the biochar samples catalyzed HQ polymerization, resulting in the formation of humic polymers such as fulvic acids (FAs) and humic acids (HAs). Light and oxygen promoted HA formation. HO• was detected in the BC600–HQ reaction system, and HO• quenching resulted in a 41.22% decrease in HA production, indicating that HO• plays a major role in the oxidative polymerization. In the proposed pathway for the abiotic humification, biochar active sites and generated reactive oxygen species accept an electron from HQ, resulting in oxidation to (semi)quinone radicals, which subsequently undergo cleavage or a coupling reaction to form the oligomerized products. Under BC600 catalysis, the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the reaction products of HQ, glucose, and glycine reached 14,449 Da. These findings provide new insights into the application potential of biochar for promoting soil carbon sequestration.