bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nomogram for predicting the surgical difficulty of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision and exploring the technical advantages of robotic surgery
Authors: Guo Fangliang , Xia Cong , Wang Zongheng , Wang Ruiqi , Gao Jianfeng , Meng Yue , Pan Jiahao , Zhang Qianshi , Ren Shuangyi
Published: October 2023

Background
This study aimed to construct a preoperative nomogram for predicting the surgical difficulty of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (L-TME) and to investigate whether there were potential benefits of robotic total mesorectal excision (R-TME) for patients with technically challenging rectal cancer.
Methods
Consecutive mid­low rectal cancer patients receiving total mesorectal excision were included. A preoperative nomogram to predict the surgical difficulty of L-TME was established and validated. Patients with technically challenging rectal cancer were screened by calculating the prediction score of the nomogram. Then patients with technically challenging rectal cancer who underwent different types of surgery, R-TME or L-TME, were analyzed for comparison.
Results
A total of 533 consecutive patients with mid­low rectal cancer who underwent TME at a single tertiary medical center between January 2018 and January 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that mesorectal fat area, intertuberous distance, tumor size, and tumor height were independent risk factors for surgical difficulty. Subsequently, these variables were used to construct the nomogram model to predict the surgical difficulty of L-TME. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the nomogram was 0.827 (95% CI 0.745–0.909) and 0.809 (95% CI 0.674–0.944) in the training and validation cohort, respectively. For patients with technically challenging rectal cancer, R-TME was associated with a lower diverting ileostomy rate (p = 0.003), less estimated blood loss (p < 0.043), shorter procedure time (p = 0.009) and shorter postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.037).
Conclusion
In this study, we established a preoperative nomogram to predict the surgical difficulty of L-TME. Furthermore, this study also indicated that R-TME has potential technical advantages for patients with technically challenging rectal cancer.
Estimating EQ-5D-5L Utility Scores from the KDQoL-36 in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis: A Mapping Algorithm for Economic Evaluation
Authors: Worboys Hannah M , Gray Laura J , Burton James O , Alava Monica Hernández , Cooper Nicola J
Published: October 2023

Background
The Kidney Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (KDQoL-36) is used to capture meaningful changes in quality of life for patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD). The KDQoL-36 scores highly in psychometric properties and is widely accepted by patients as it focuses directly on the specific symptoms ESKD patients suffer from. The KDQoL-36 is not a preference-based measure and therefore to-date cannot be used in cost-utility analyses for new health technologies.
Aim
To develop a mapping algorithm between the KDQoL-36 and EQ-5D-5L utility, based on the validated US value set, for patients with ESKD undergoing haemodialysis.
Methods
We mapped the KDQoL-36 onto the EQ-5D-5L using two direct mapping methods; linear regression with fixed effects and an adjusted limited dependent variable mixture model (ALDVMM). The KDQOL-36 subscale scores (physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS)), three disease-specific subscales or their average, and age and sex were included as explanatory variables. Predictive performance was assessed by; mean absolute error, root mean square error, AIC, BIC, and visual inspection of the predicted vs observed means and cumulative density function.
Results
The ALDVMM outperformed the linear model in all aspects of predictive performance. The preferred ALDVMM was the 3-component model that used the PCS, MCS, burden, symptom, effects, age, and sex as explanatory variables.
Conclusions
This study has bridged this gap by developing a mapping algorithm to allow EQ-5D-5L utility predictions from KDQoL-36 responses which can then be used in cost-utility analysis. We add to the current literature demonstrating the superiority of mixture models compared with linear regression in the prediction of EQ-5D-5L utility. The proposed algorithm to map the KDQOL-36 onto the EQ-5D-5L enables researchers to directly estimate an individual’s utility from KDQoL-36 responses. This study has a significant clinical impact as it allows any clinical trial that uses the KDQoL-36, to perform an economic evaluation alongside the trial.
Dissipation During Crack Growth in a Viscoelastic Material from a Cohesive Model for a Finite Specimen
Authors: ciavarella michele
Published: October 2023

In the present paper, we extend results recently given by Ciavarella, Zhang & McMeeking (2022, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 169, 105096) to show some actual calculations of the viscoelastic dissipation in a crack propagation at constant speed in a finite size specimen. It is usually believed that the cohesive models introduced by Knauss and Schapery and the dissipation-based theories introduced by de Gennes and Persson-Brener give very similar results for steady state crack propagation in viscoelastic materials, where usually only the asymptotic singular field is used for the stress. We show however that dissipation and the energy balance never reach a steady state, and we are therefore unable to use the de Gennes and Persson-Brener theories which suggested that the increase of effective fracture energy would go up to the ratio of instantaneous to relaxed modulus, at very fast rates. We show viscoelastic dissipation is in general a transient quantity, which can vary by orders of magnitude while the stress intensity factor is kept constant. Also, at intermediate rates dissipation can be orders of magnitude higher than work of fracture multiplied what is believed to be the “viscoelastic enhancement factor” at very large rates. Finally, the total work to break a specimen apart is found, in a realistic example, to be larger than this “limit”, and for quite a large range of realistic conditions at intermediate crack growth rates. This shows that the cohesive model of crack propagation in linear viscoelastic materials permits a more general understanding than models which assume steady state of energy fluxes and simplified energy balance of just the asymptotic singular stress field.
How reliable are post-mastectomy breast reconstruction videos on YouTube?
Authors: Morena Nina , Ben-Zvi Libby , Hayman Victoria , Hou Mary , Gorgy Andrew , Nguyen Diana , Rentschler Carrie A. , Meguerditchian Ari N.
Published: October 2023

Background
Social media platforms are a significant source of information for young women with breast cancer (YWBC) undergoing post-mastectomy breast reconstruction (PMBR). The emphasis on visual storytelling and building community in online spaces renders YouTube to be a common platform for discussions of BR. This study aims to assess the quality of YouTube videos about PMBR, identify themes related to the PMBR experience, and quantify suggestions of BR as an option PM.
Methods
YouTube was searched incognito with terms “young women breast cancer reconstruction” in 08/2022, in order from most to least viewed. Title, upload date, length, poster identity, number of likes and comments were collected. The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for audiovisual materials (PEMAT A/V) was used to evaluate understandability and actionability. DISCERN assessed quality and reliability. Presence of sponsorship, intended audience, patient and healthcare professional narratives, and suggestions of PMBR were collected. Reviewers noted whether PMBR was shown and how. Themes were collected inductively and deductively for thematic analysis.
Results
193 videos were identified. Mean video length was 14.6 minutes (SD 20.0 min). 87.1% included sponsorships. 95.9% of videos were posted by an organization. 60.6% were information-based; 45.6% experience-based. Mean PEMAT scores for understandability and actionability were 71.3% (SD 13.4) and 35.7% (SD 41.8), respectively. Mean DISCERN was 2.6/5 (SD 1.2). Patient narrative was present in 52.6% and healthcare professionals’ in 68.4%. PMBR was visually presented 22.8% of the time. 13.5% of videos explicitly recommended PMBR. 2.6% explicitly discouraged it. Patients (77.7%) represented the majority of the intended audience. Most common deductively identified themes included treatment (87.1%), family relationship (17.1%), motherhood (​​15.5%), fertility (11.9%). Inductively identified subthemes included differentiating between various options for PMBR surgery, BRCA genetic testing, psychosocial effects of breast cancer and PMBR, and recovery from surgery.
Conclusions
YouTube is a platform wherein various PMBR options are widely discussed and explained. PMBR videos are highly understandable but have moderate levels of actionability, quality, and reliability. Videos are highly sponsored, demonstrating significant institutional bias. Themes are overwhelmingly treatment and surgery-based. Personal themes were present but not dominant.
Generate Anomalies From Normal:A Partial Pseudo Anomaly Augmented Approach For Video Anomaly Detection
Authors: Dang Yuanjie , Chen Jiangyun , Chen Peng , Gao Nan , Huan Ruohong , Zhao Dongdong
Published: October 2023

Video Anomaly Detection (VAD) aims to identify unexpected behaviors or objects in videos. Due to the lack of available anomaly samples for training, video anomaly detection is often considered as a one-class classification problem. Specifically, an autoencoder is trained only on normal data, expected to produce large reconstruction errors when detecting anomalies. However, autoencoders can often learn to reconstruct anomalies, leading to detection failures. To address this issue, we introduce a partial appearance based pseudo anomaly generation method in training. Through this approach, the autoencoder becomes more sensitive to the differences between normal and anomalous data, resulting in superior anomaly discrimination capability. We validated our approach on three widely adopted datasets, and experimental results validate the effectiveness of our proposed method. Our source code is published on https://github.com/OctCjy/GenerateAnomaliesFromNormal.
Behavioral testing paradigms for chronic hypoxic conditions
Authors: Snyder Brina , Wazir Sabeen , Floyd Thomas
Published: October 2023

Conditions which cause hypoxia are associated with memory impairment but research models to explore the detrimental mechanisms triggered by hypoxia have been limited by the need to perform behavior testing in ambient air. Two tests of working memory, the spatial object recognition task (SOR) and spontaneous alternation in a T-maze (SA) can be minimally modified to test rodent memory within a standard hypoxia chamber to more accurately reflect conditions in which individuals suffer from impaired oxygenation throughout the task (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, anemia, etc). Young adult normoxic cohorts perform within the chamber comparably to traditional protocols and the tests are sensitive enough to detect memory deficits under mild hypoxia (15% oxygen). These paradigms will improve the current state of knowledge regarding mechanistic pathways which are impacted during hypoxia.
Electrochemical oxidation of Fe (II) using chlorpromazine drug at boron-doped diamond electrode: application to in vivo mechanism study interaction of chlorpromazine on hemoglobin iron and evaluation of some biomolecules
Authors: Amini Nader , Naderi Kazhal , Ahmadi Abbas , Hassanzadeh Kambiz , Menbari Mohammad-Nazir , Abdi Mohammad , Zarehbin Mohammad-Rezgar
Published: October 2023

In this work, the electrochemical properties of aqueous chlorpromazine hydrochloride (CPZ) in the presence of Fe (II) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry at a boron doped diamond (BDD) electrode. The results showed that an EC′ reaction mechanism occurs, where electrochemically generated CPZ species (cation radical) is reduced by Fe (II) back to the parent CPZ and Fe (II) oxidized to Fe (III). Based on the electrochemical results, the interaction of chlorpromazine (CPZ), a widely used antipsychotic tranquillizer, with the allosteric protein hemoglobin has been studied. First, four groups of 6 female rats were selected in the weight range of 400 to 450 g. They were injected with different concentrations of chlorpromazine over a 3-week period, and the concentrations of hemoglobin, methemoglobin, red blood cells (RBCs), and hematocrit (HCT) were analyzed in the blood of each rat. After injection of different concentrations of the drug, the amount of hemoglobin) as a source of Fe (II)) decreased but the amount of methemoglobin (as a source of Fe (III) increased. Also, UV spectroscopic measurements in the range of 200–700 nm indicate the conversion of hemoglobin to methemoglobin in chlorpromazine-treated rat compared to the normal sample and there was a direct relationship between increasing the percentage of methemoglobin concentration of chlorpromazine. furthermore, the amount of RBC and HCT were measured. The results showed that the RBC (21.05–56.52%) and HCT (10.04–53.19%) were decreased. Finally, this study demonstrates a new mechanism for the effects of CPZ drug on hemoglobin iron in rat blood base on the electrochemical results.
Exploring anemia in Lupus Nephritis Hepcidin and erythropoietin Connection
Authors: mohamed nourelsabah , Refaie Ayman , Zayed Karem , Mortada Wael , Nabieh Kareem , Sobh Mohamed
Published: October 2023

Background: Hematological abnormalities are common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including anemia, which is often attributed to chronic disease. Hepcidin, an iron-regulatory protein influenced by inflammatory cytokines, plays a role in the anemia pathophysiology. This study aimed to investigate the role of hepcidin in the serum profiles of lupus nephritis patients with anemia.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 100 lupus nephritis patients at Mansoura University, Egypt. Two groups were identified based on hemoglobin levels: anemia (Hb < 12 g/dl) and non-anemia (Hb ≥ 12 g/dl). Demographic and clinical data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, including t-tests, chi-square, and Fisher's exact test.
Results: Both groups had similar ages but differed significantly in gender distribution, with more females in the anemia group. BMI, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension rates were comparable between groups. The duration of lupus nephritis and management approaches did not differ. Biopsy results indicated differences in the class of lupus nephritis, with the majority in the anemia group having class 4 and class 3. Serum chemistry, including serum creatinine, was similar between groups. The anemia group had lower hematocrit, MCH, and transferrin saturation, indicating microcytic hypochromic anemia with low transferrin saturation. Hepcidin levels were high in both groups, with a slightly higher level in the anemia group.
Conclusion: Anemia in lupus nephritis patients is primarily due to iron deficiency, associated with elevated hepcidin levels. Further research is needed to explore these patients' underlying causes of anemia.
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: A Scoping Review of Perceived Threats to Patient Rights and Safety
Authors: BOTHA Nkosi Nkosi , ANSAH Edward Wilson , SEGBEDZI Cynthia Esinam , DUMAHASI Victor Kwasi , MANEEN Samuel , TSEDZE Ivy Selorm , AKOTO Lucy Adjanor , ATSU Fortune Selasi , LASIM Obed Uwumbornyi
Published: October 2023

Health systems worldwide are facing unprecedented pressure as the needs and expectations of patients increase and get ever more complicated. The global health system is thus,forced to leverage on every opportunity, including artificial intelligence (AI), to provide care that is consistent with patients’ needs. Meanwhile, there are serious concerns about how AI tools could threaten patients’ rights and safety. Therefore, this study maps available evidence,between January 1, 2010 to September 30, 2023, on the perceived threats posed by the usage of AI tools in healthcare on patients’ rights and safety. We deployed guidelines based on that of Tricco et al. to conduct a comprehensive search of literature from Nature, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Dimensions, Ebsco Host, ProQuest, JStore, Semantic Scholar, Taylor & Francis, Emeralds, World Health Organisation, and Google Scholar. In keeping with the inclusion and exclusions thresholds, 14 peer reviewed articles were included in this study. We report that there is potential for breach of patients’ privacy, prejudice of race, culture, gender, social status, and that AI is also subject to errors of commission and omission. Additionally, existing regulations appeared inadequate to define standards for the use of AI tools in healthcare. Our findings have some critical implications for the achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3.8, 11.7, and 16. We recommend that national governments should lead the rollout of AI tools in healthcare, key actors in the healthcare industry should contribute to developing policies on AI use in healthcare, and governments in developing countries should invest and sponsor research into AI in their healthcare system.
Low birth weight among infants and pregnancy outcomes among women living with HIV and HIV-negative women in Rwanda
Authors: Zotova Natalia , Munyaneza Athanase , Murenzi Gad , Kubwimana Gallican , Adedimeji Adebola , Anastos Kathryn , Yotebieng Marcel , CA-IeDEA CA-IeDEA
Published: October 2023

Introduction
In utero exposure to HIV and/or triple antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been shown to be associated with preterm births and low birth weight (LBW), but data from low-resources settings with high burden of HIV remain limited. This study utilized retrospective data to describe pregnancy outcomes among Rwandan women living with HIV (WLHIV) and HIV-negative women and to assess the association of HIV and ART with LBW.
Methods
This study used data from a large cohort of WLHIV and HIV-negative women in Rwanda for a cross-sectional analysis. Retrospective data were collected from antenatal care (ANC), delivery, and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) registries within the Central Africa International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (CA-IeDEA) in Rwanda. Data from women with documented HIV test results and known pregnancy outcomes were included in the analysis. Analyses for predictors of LBW (< 2,500 g) were restricted to singleton live births. Logistic models were used to identify independent predictors and estimate the odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) measuring the strength of their association with LBW.
Results and discussion
Out of 10,608 women with known HIV status and with documented pregnancy outcomes, 9.7% (n = 1,024) were WLHIV. We restricted the sample to 10,483 women who had singleton live births for the analysis of the primary outcome, LBW. Compared with HIV-negative women, WLHIV had higher rates of stillbirth, preterm births, and LBW babies. Multivariable model showed that WLHIV and primigravidae had higher odds of LBW. Lower maternal weight and primigravidae status were associated with greater odds of LBW. Among WLHIV, the use of ART was associated with significantly lower odds of LBW in a bivariate analysis. Even in a sample of relatively healthier uncomplicated pregnancies and women who delivered in low-risk settings, WLHIV still had higher rates of poor pregnancy outcomes and to have LBW infants compared to women without HIV. Lower maternal weight and primigravidae status were independently associated with LBW. Given that supplementary nutrition to malnourished pregnant women is known to decrease the incidence of LBW, providing such supplements to lower-weight WLHIV, especially primigravidae women, might help reduce LBW.
WITHDRAWN: Effects of TgCtwh3 Toxoplasma gondii ROP16 on neuronal apoptosis and β-amyloid production
Authors: Yang Di , Wang Cong , Tao Qing , Liu Lei , Jin Mengmeng , Zheng Meijuan , Gong Mengtao , Yu Li , Du Jian , Luo Qingli , Shen Jilong , Qin Kunpeng , Chu Deyong
Published: October 2023

Background
Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii) has been demonstrated to be a causative agent of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neuronal apoptosis and β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation are some of the main pathological features of AD. In recent years, our group found that the main genotype of T.gondii in China is Chinese 1 (ToxoDB#9), and Rhoptry protein16 (ROP16) is an important virulence factor of this type of T.gondii. The effects of ROP16 on hippocampal neurons and β-amyloid have rarely been reported.
Methods
BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with TgCtwh3 ΔROP16 and TgCtwh3 WT tachyzoites, respectively. Tissues from the hippocampal region of mice were taken one week after infection for pathomorphological analysis, and the expression levels of inflammatory factors, apoptosis-related proteins, as well as proteins and genes related to Aβ formation in the hippocampal region of mice were assessed by Western Blotting and qRT-PCR. In vitro experiments, the mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line HT22 was directly infected with TgCtwh3 ΔROP16 and TgCtwh3 WT tachyzoites, and the expression levels of the relevant proteins were analyzed by Western Blotting and immunofluorescence staining, and apoptosis of the infected HT22 cells was determined by flow cytometry.
Results
Histopathological changes showed abnormal morphology and reduced number of neurons in hippocampal zone of infected mice. In addition, the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins, pro-inflammatory factors as well as APP and BACE1 increased in control group, TgCtwh3 ΔROP16 group and TgCtwh3 WT group. In vitro experiments showed that the protein blotting results indicated that TgCtwh3 and its virulence factor ROP16 could lead to neuronal apoptosis and Aβ generation through the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway. And the flow results showed that the apoptosis rate of HT22 cells in the three groups increased step by step.
Conclusion
TgCtwh3 ROP16 induces neuronal apoptosis, Aβ production and secretion of inflammatory factors.
Operando Investigation of the Synergistic Effect of Electric Field Treatment and Copper for Bacteria Inactivation
Authors: Jarin Mourin , Wang Ting , Xie Xing
Published: October 2023

As the overuse of chemicals in our disinfection processes becomes an ever-growing concern, alternative approaches to reduce and replace the usage of chemicals is warranted. Electric field treatment (EFT) has shown promising potential to have synergistic effects with standard chemical-based methods as they both target the cell membrane specifically. In this study, a lab-on-a-chip device is used to understand, observe, and quantify the synergistic effect between EFT and Cu inactivation. Our results indicate the overall inactivation performance is amplified with increasing Cu concentrations and electric field strengths. The natural residual effect of Cu can also be advantaged with the addition of EFT, and a faster overall disinfection performance can be achieved. Observations in situ, and at a single cell level, ensure us that the combined approach has an enhancement effect leading more bacteria to be weakened by EFT and susceptible to inactivation by Cu ion permeation. To our knowledge, it is the first time that researchers have been able to visually conclude the synergistic effects of EFT-Cu, allowing us to open the door to a multitude of opportunities to further study and better understand how this technology can optimally develop, mature, and scale for its various applications in the future.
Despite structural identity, ace-1 heterogenous duplication resistance alleles are quite diverse in Anopheles mosquitoes
Authors: Labbé Pierrick , Claret Jean-Loup , Di-Liegro Marion , Namias Alice , Assogba Benoît , Makoundou Patrick , Weill Mylene , Koffi Alphonsine , Pennetier Cédric , Milesi Pascal
Published: October 2023

Anopheles gambiae s.l. has been the target of intense insecticide treatment since the mid-XXth century to try and control malaria. A substitution in the ace-1 locus has been rapidly selected for, allowing resistance to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. Since then, two types of duplication of the ace-1 locus have been found in An. gambiae s.l. populations: homogeneous duplications that are composed of several resistance copies, or heterogeneous duplications that contain both resistance and susceptible copies. Heterogeneous duplications confer a permanent intermediate trade-off between the resistance induced by the mutation in the presence of insecticides and the disadvantages it incurs in their absence. So far, a single heterogeneous duplication has been described in An. gambiae s.l. populations (in contrast with the multiple duplicated alleles found in Culex pipiens mosquitoes). We used an innovative approach, combining long and short read sequencing with Sanger sequencing to precisely identify and describe at least nine different heterogeneous duplications, in two populations of An. gambiae s.l.. We show that these alleles share the same structure as the previously identified heterogeneous and homogeneous duplications, namely 203-kb tandem amplifications with conserved breakpoints. Our study sheds new light on the origin and maintenance of these alleles in An. gambiae s.l. populations, and their role in mosquito adaptation.
Accurate predictive modeling of conservation status in animal species using supervised learning
Authors: Aoki Anais , Sethuraman Arun
Published: October 2023

Conservation management to mitigate extinction of wildlife becomes more crucial than ever as global impacts due to anthropogenic activities and climate change continue to create devastation for species around the globe. Despite ongoing efforts to understand species constantly changing population dynamics due to anthropogenic stressors, there is a strong disconnect between conservation research and conservation policy, what is known as the “Conservation Gap”. The International Union of Conservation of Nature, the IUCN, is a globally recognized organization that works to sustain biodiversity by maintaining a ranking of species known as their Red List. However, the IUCN does not currently utilize genetic information to assess species conservation status despite the availability of molecular data. Here we use over 7300 studies collated from the MacroPopGen database, and over 450 published articles from the public repository DataDryad, focused on conservation and population genetics, sampling across a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate taxa, and using IUCN classifications to predict species endangerment using machine learning. Our models were able to accurately predict species threat level classified by the IUCN using both measures of genetic diversity and differentiation with IUCN assessment criteria. Our goal is to use these models to help determine and communicate conservation status to practitioners that takes into consideration all available species-specific information.
Predicting the spatial variation in cost-efficiency for agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation programs in the U.S
Authors: Cameron-Harp Micah V. , Hendricks Nathan P. , Potter Nicholas A.
Published: October 2023

Background
Two major factors that determine the efficiency of programs designed to mitigate greenhouse gases by encouraging voluntary changes in U.S. agricultural land management are the effect of land use changes on producers’ profitability and the net sequestration those changes create. In this work, we investigate how the interaction of these factors produces spatial heterogeneity in the cost-efficiency of voluntary programs incentivizing tillage reduction and cover-cropping practices. We map county-level predicted rates of adoption for each practice with the greenhouse gas mitigation or carbon sequestration benefits expected from their use. Then, we use these bivariate maps to describe how the cost efficiency of agricultural mitigation efforts is likely to vary spatially in the United States.
Results
Our results suggest the combination of high adoption rates and large reductions in net emissions make reduced tillage programs most cost efficient in the Chesapeake Bay watershed or the Upper Mississippi and Lower Missouri sub-basins of the Mississippi River. For programs aiming to reduce net emissions by incentivizing cover-cropping, we expect cost-efficiency to be greatest in the areas near the main stem of the Mississippi River within its Middle and Lower sections.
Conclusions
Many voluntary agricultural conservation programs offer the same incentives across the United States. Yet spatial variation in profitability and efficacy of conservation practices suggest that these uniform approaches are not cost-effective. Spatial targeting of voluntary agricultural conservation programs has the potential to increase the cost-efficiency of these programs due to regional heterogeneity in the profitability and greenhouse gas mitigation benefits of agricultural land management practices across the continental United States. We illustrate how predicted rates of adoption and greenhouse gas sequestration can be used to target regions where efforts to incentivize cover-cropping and reductions in tillage are most likely to be cost effective.
Behavioral and physiological fatigue-related factors influencing timing and force control learning in pianists
Authors: Takemi Mitsuaki , Akahoshi Mai , Ushiba Junichi , Furuya Shinichi
Published: October 2023

Acquiring advanced motor skills requires prolonged training, which often leads to neuromuscular fatigue. Optimizing the training regimen depending on fatigue is crucial for the well-being of professionals, such as athletes and musicians, as persistent fatigue can hinder learning and cause neuromuscular injuries. However, accurate assessment of fatigue is challenging because of the dissociation between subjective perception and its impact on motor and cognitive performance. To address this issue, we investigated the interplay between fatigue and learning development in pianists during auditory-motor training by comparing two groups subjected to different resting conditions. Changes in behavior and muscle activity during training were measured to identify potential indicators capable of detecting fatigue before subjective awareness. Our results indicate that motor learning and fatigue development are independent of resting frequency and timing. Learning indices, such as reduction in force and timing errors throughout training, did not differ between the groups. No discernible distinctions emerged in fatigue-related behavioral and physiological indicators between the groups. Regression analysis revealed that several fatigue-related indicators, such as tapping speed variability and electromyogram amplitude per unit force, could explain the learning of timing and force control. Our findings suggest the absence of a universal resting schedule for optimizing auditory-motor learning.
EVALUATION OF PALATAL BONE THICKNESS ON LATERAL CEPHALOGRAM AND ITS COMPARISON WITH CBCT SCANS
Authors:   PG Student, Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India., a Manisha , Mehta Falguni ,   Head of Department and Professor, Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India., Patel Renuka ,   Professor, Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India., Parekh Harshik ,   Assistant Professor, Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India., Goswami Megha ,   Assistant Professor, Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India., Tiwari Ronitkumar ,   PG Student, Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Published: October 2023

Aim: Aim of this study is to evaluate the palatal bone thickness on lateral cephalogram and its comparison with CBCT scans in different growth patterns and to find the gender differences if exists in palatal bone thickness at various measuring sites. Materials and Method: In this study 90 subjects with age ranging from 16-25 years visiting the Department of Orthodontics were chosen. Subjects were categorized into average, horizontal and vertical growth pattern groups according to Jarabaks ratio. They were further divided into male and female group to determine gender dimorphism if any. Palatal bone height was measured antero-posteriorly at a distance of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 mm posterior to incisive canal both on lateral cephalogram and CBCT. Results: This study showed the palatal bone thicknessonlateral cephalograms is less when compared to CBCT at all the distances from incisive canal (p<0.0001). The horizontal growth pattern showed highest palatal bone thickness at all the intervals followed by average and vertical and a statistically significant difference was found between the three groups (p<0.0001). Independent t test reported higher amount of bone thickness in males as compared to females on both lateral cephalogram and CBCT (p<0.05). Conclusion: Lateral Cephalogram showed less bone thickness when compared to CBCT. Horizontal growth pattern showed highest amount of bone thickness followed by average and vertical growth pattern.
SEHAT AND MARZ(HEALTH AND DISEASE) IN LIGHT OF UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE: A REVIEW
Authors:   PG Scholars Department of Kulliyate Tib, Govt. Tibbi College & Hospital Patna., Tauhid Alam Md. , Tanwir Alam Md. ,   Assistant Professor Department of Kulliyate Tib, Govt. Tibbi College & Hospital Patna., Akhtar Jamal ,   Associate Professor Department of Kulliyate Tib, Govt. Tibbi College & Hospital Patna., Anjum Sultana ,   Medical officer, Primary Health Centre Maner, Patna. Government of Bihar.
Published: October 2023

The name Unani, derived from a Greek word Ionian, means the knowledge of the states of the human body in health and disease. It means having information on different body conditions in health and illness. It draws from the education of Roman physician Jalinoos and Greek physician Buqrat, focusing on the four temperaments and four humours.Unani System of Medicine has a comprehensive approach for the treatment of diseases and also safeguarding of health. It recognizes that every community has its own perspective on health and illness, as these concepts are fundamental across cultures.The concept of health as a balance between a person and the environment, the unity of soul and body, and the natural origin of disease, was the backbone of the perception of health in ancient Greece. The primary goals of Unani medicine are the maintenance of good health and healing of disease.The main concern of the Unani system of medicine is health and its maintenance by tabiat. Tabiat maintains tadeel-e-mizaj (normal constitution) which is the basis of health. Seven basic components of umur-e-tabiyah areform the base of a healthy human being determining its state of health and disease.The present paper is a literature review of different Unani physicians regarding the concept of health and disease and investigate the historical context and origins of this concept within the Unani system, as well as its significance in understanding human health and disease within this traditional medical framework. In the Unani system, human health takes centre stage, with physicians elucidating all factors responsible for sustaining well-being and good health.
CLINICOLABORATORY PROFILE OF ABDOMINAL TUBERCULOSIS CASES IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN MANDYA : A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors: S. Chaitra , a Narashimhaswamy , K.H Gopalakrishna , Saqeeb Md
Published: October 2023

Background- Abdominal tuberculosis (TB)is defined as infection of peritoneum, hollow viscus or solid abdominal organs with mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the present study we aim to describe different sites of infection of abdominal tuberculosis with varied clinical presentations and to describe different investigation methods used to diagnose abdominal tuberculosis cases. Patients & Method- A cross sectional study done from June 2021 to May 2023 in OPD and ward patients in department of General Surgery of tertiary care Hospital , Mandya. During this period 94 patients were studied from June 2021 to May 2023. Patients coming to surgery OPD and diagnosed with Abdominal TB will be included . Presenting complaints of Kochs abdomen like low grade fever , loss of weight, loss of appetite, night sweats ,easy fatiguability ,pallor , abdominal pain , abdominal mass, abdominal distension will be noted down. Follow up done with USG abdomen and pelvis to support diagnosis. Result- 94 patients at our centre between 2022-2023 were studied . 64 patients were managed non operatively and responded to Antitubercular treatment ( ATT ) , 30 patients underwent laparotomy . Conclusion- In our day to day clinical practice medical history , clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, CT findings, histopathological features , and microbiological findings should be comprehensively analysed in order to correctly diagnose abdominal tuberculosis which helps in early initiation of treatment and prevent complications due to abdominal tuberculosis.
INTRACARDIAC TUMORS: LITERATURE REVIEW OF INTRACARDIAC TUMORS IN ADULTS, BASED ON A CLINICAL CASE OF A LARGE LEFT ATRIAL MYXOMA REVEALED BY CHRONIC PRODUCTIVE COUGH IN A 58-YEAR-OLD WOMAN
Authors:   IBN SINA University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco., Bazzout Abdelouahhab , Bouzouba Otman ,   IBN SINA University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco., El Hassan Bazzout Innam ,   IBN SINA University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco., Moughil Said ,   IBN SINA University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco., Cherti Mohamed ,   IBN SINA University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco., Mohammed Jaafari ,   IBN SINA University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco.
Published: October 2023

We report the clinical case of a 58-year-old woman with chronic productive cough, who allowed us to highlight a tumoral formation in the left atrium suggestive of a myxoma. Based on a literature review, we discuss the chapter on intracardiac tumors.
UNVEILING THE PRESENT LANDSCAPE OF MALNUTRITION IN INDIA: A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
Authors:   Assistant Professor Christ College (Autonomous) Irinjalakuda, Kerala, India., V.O Rosy
Published: October 2023

Achieving healthy diets and ending malnutrition, particularly among children, remains a formidable challenge, even as India, the worlds second-most populous nation, has witnessed consistent economic growth and attained food grain self-sufficiency. Despite these advancements, high poverty levels, food insecurity, and malnutrition persist. This article highlights the pressing issues of malnutrition in India. Undernourished children are more susceptible to infectious diseases, leading to higher mortality rates and diminished productivity in adulthood, further perpetuating the cycle of undernutrition. Based on NFHS surveys, the article presents a detailed analysis of crucial malnutrition indicators, including stunting, wasting, and underweight children. It reveals that Indias performance on global hunger indices remains a cause for concern, with the highest child-wasting rate globally and a serious hunger level. At the same time, some indicators have shown marginal improvement, but acute malnutrition in children under five remains challenging. The article emphasizes the role of non-economic factors such as gender discrimination, hygiene, and maternal education in perpetuating malnutrition. Additionally, it discusses the governments initiatives, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and POSHAN Abhiyaan, in addressing the issue. The article calls for a renewed focus on the critical first 1000 days of a childs life and the effective promotion of intensive breastfeeding to combat malnutrition. It advocates for targeted interventions, improved data management, strengthened governance, and systematic monitoring to ensure a healthier future for Indias children and address the pressing issue of malnutrition.
User Experience Analysis of Duolingo Using User Experience Questionnaire
Authors: Anderies Anderies , Agustina Cindy , Lipiena Tania , Raaziqi Ayunda , Gunawan Alexander Agung Santoso
Published: October 2023

The internet is one of the vital means for everyone to get various information easily and exact like they’re looking for. The use of internet-based learning that is applied in modern times is very influential in the field of education compared to the past, because it can develop language skills in a country, besides that increasingly sophisticated technology can help students learn in a structured manner. One of the impacts we can see or feel is on the learning process. With the internet, it is so much easier either for the students or the teachers. One of the well-known applications in the world is Duolingo. Duolingo is one of many applications that give so much influence to language learning applications. More than 300 million people already use Duolingo for their learning. The purpose of this experiment is to analyze the User Experience of the Duolingo application. The experimental method was applied using surveys distributed via social media. There are 103 Duolingo users who were willing to take the surveys and answer all of the questions given. The result of the survey showed Novelty’s scale has the lowest mean, and Perspicuity’s scale has the highest. That means some of Duolingo’s users found that the application is less interesting. Hence, that could affect the effectiveness of the application.
Relay Driver Based on Arduino UNO to Bridge the Gap of The Digital Output Voltage of The Node MCU ESP32
Authors: Yulianto Yulianto
Published: October 2023

The IoT could control the devices that need a high current voltage to operate. The voltage control here means that the IoT could give the command to turn on and turn off the electric current by using a relay module. One of the devices that are most frequently used in many research projects is Node MCU ESP8266 and Node MCU ESP32. Those microcontrollers work with the maximum supply is 3.3-volt direct current (DC). On the other hand, the relay module commonly needs a voltage supply of 5-volt DC and the relay needs to be controlled by a single transistor to make a trig on. The relay will be active when the transistor’s basis pin is grounded into the ground, so the relay will get the current flow. However, the relay module which is controlled using Node MCU could not work properly, caused Node MCU only provides the digital out is 3-volt maximum from its digital Input Output pins (I/O). Meanwhile, the driver relay based on a single transistor needs a bias input amount of 5 volts to make the relay module active well. If the bias voltage doesn't reach 5 volts or just 3.3 volts will make the relay can't switch on properly which can result in bad contact. To overcome that problem this research proposed the driver relay based on Arduino UNO. The novel of this research is adding the Arduino UNO module between Node MCU and the relay module which has task to bridge the voltage difference between the output digital output ESP that only maximum 3.3 volt converted by Arduino to be digital output which can reach the voltage of 5 volt. The Arduino JSON library was also involved to wrap the commands that produced by Node MCU then deserialized on Arduino to parse and convert to be digital output to control the relay module.
Changing perceptions about the role of combination therapy with statin and fibrate in patients with hypertriglyceridemia
Authors: Gilyarevskiy S. R.
Published: October 2023

The article discusses the modern therapeutic approach to lowering blood triglyceride levels. The need to consider indications for the use of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with hypertriglyceridemia is caused by the emergence of new evidence-based information. The article describes how elevated blood TG levels are associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular (CV) complications, as well as pancreatitis. The mechanisms of TG metabolism that may regulate the relationship between elevated blood TG levels and the risk of developing CV complications are considered. The findings of large randomized clinical trials, including recent ones, which laid the foundation for the current clinical guidelines for the use of drugs to lower triglycerides levels, are discussed. Indications for fibrate therapy in patients with elevated blood TG levels in various clinical situations are considered. The article emphasizes that the icosapent ethyl ester drug is not currently available in the Russian Federation. According to the latest versions of international guidelines, it is considered a first-line drug to reduce the risk of developing CV complications in patients with an established diagnosis of CVD (i.e. for the purpose of secondary prevention). In this context, the significance of fenofibrate as a drug to lower blood triglyceride levels, specifically in secondary prevention of CV complications, can remain quite high in our country. The appearance of a rosuvastatin and fenofibrate combination drug on the pharmaceutical market of the Russian Federation will increase adherence to the therapy, if a fibrate is required to be added to statin therapy.
Predictors of atrial thrombosis of persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation
Authors: Mazur E. S. , Mazur V. V. , Bazhenov N. D. , Orlov Yu. A.
Published: October 2023

Introduction. The clinical significance of atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with the development of thromboembolic complications that occur when thrombus from the left atrial appendage enter the systemic circulation. Transesophageal echocardiography can detect the left atrial appendage thrombus, but due to lack of availability, high cost and complexity of performing such a routine examination is unlikely. Therefore, the search for predictors of the left atrial appendage thrombosis is relevant, the presence of which may become the basis for a more in-depth instrumental examination of patients with AF.

Aim. To identify predictors of atrial thrombosis in patients with persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Materials and methods. The 551 patients with persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation underwent transesophageal echocardiography before cardioversion, thrombus in the left atrial appendage was detected in 74 (13.4%) patients. All patients were selected into training (400 people) and validation (151 people) cohorts randomly. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of atrial thrombosis in the derivation cohort.

Results. Five factors influenced the atrial thrombosis independently. They are the ratio of the transmitral velocity to the mitral annulus early Diastolic velocity (E/e’) ≥ 12 (D), the absence or inadequate Anticoagulant therapy (A), atrial Fibrillation, not flutter (F), left atrial volume Index (I), and age ≥ 75 years (DAFI75 scale). The number of predictors corresponds the risk of detecting atrial thrombosis: the area under the characteristic curve was 0.818 (0.768–0.868) in the derivation cohort and 0.847 (0.761–0.934) in the validation cohort. The sensitivity of the DAFI75 criterion ≥ 3 in the derivation and validation cohorts is 91.7 and 92.9%, the specificity is 58.8 and 65.7%, the predictive value of a positive result is 28.2 and 21.7%, and the predictive value of a negative result is 97.6 and 98.9%.

Conclusion. The presence of three or more predictors score DAFI75 allows predicting the absence of atrial thrombosis more than in 97% of case.