bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre-treatment functional connectivity of the cingulate cortex predicts anti-suicidal effects of serial ketamine infusions
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Zhang Bin , Yuan Shiqi , Luo Xin , Wang Mingqia , Hu Yiru , Zhou Yanling , Ning Yuping
Published: March 2023

Background

Although ketamine can rapidly decrease suicidal ideation (SI), its neurobiological mechanism of action remains unclear. Several areas of the cingulate cortex have been implicated in SI; therefore, we aimed to explore the neural correlates of the anti-suicidal effect of ketamine with cingulate cortex functional connectivity (FC) in depression.

Methods

Forty patients with unipolar or bipolar depression with SI underwent six infusions of ketamine over 2 weeks. Clinical symptoms and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained at baseline and on day 13. Remitters were defined as those with complete remission of SI on day 13. Four pairs of cingulate cortex subregions were selected: the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), anterior mid-cingulate cortex (aMCC), and posterior mid-cingulate cortex (pMCC), and whole-brain FC for each seed region was calculated.

Results

Compared with non-remitters, remitters exhibited increased FC of the right pgACC–left middle occipital gyrus (MOG) and right aMCC–bilateral postcentral gyrus at baseline. A high area under the curve (0.91) indicated good accuracy of the combination of the above between-group differential FCs as a predictor of anti-suicidal effect. Moreover, the change of SI after ketamine infusion was positively correlated with altered right pgACC–left MOG FC in remitters (r = 0.66, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the FC of some cingulate cortex subregions can predict the anti-suicidal effect of ketamine and that the anti-suicidal mechanism of action of ketamine may involve alteration of FC between the right pgACC and left MOG.
The Pleasures of Domesticity
Authors: Bier Laura
Published: March 2023

This article analyzes Egyptian print advertisements of gas stoves, refrigerators, and washing machines as a way to consider how the technopolitics of Egyptian modernity intersected with gender politics—both at the level of state policy and in everyday life—in the two decades following the 1952 revolution. It argues that the proliferation of advertisements for Egyptian-made stoves, refrigerators, and washing machines found in the popular press during this period envisioned domestic technology as a critical building block in a gendered social contract between the state and the Egyptian people. Aimed exclusively at women, such ads stressed values like pleasure, abundance, affordability, and leisure—a vision of society where every housewife could achieve her dreams and every family could have a modern kitchen. These idealized images were not a new feature of household advertisements. However, the language of pleasure, beauty, and happiness used to advertise household goods prior to the revolution became embedded in new gendered definitions of citizenship after it. Advertisements also depicted women as primary beneficiaries of Egyptian state socialism and, in doing so, papered over some of the tensions in the state’s plan to mobilize women as workers, housewives, and consumers.
Saving the Modern Woman
Authors: Mustonen Liina
Published: March 2023

This article looks at how specific gendered practices and ideas about female bodies were instrumentalized in the struggle for political authority during Egypt’s transitional period between 2011 and 2013. It argues that in the aftermath of the uprising, when Islamists won the parliamentary and presidential elections in Egypt, the figure of the “modern” woman gained renewed political significance. By exploring Egyptian English-language women’s lifestyle magazines, the article illustrates how socioeconomically privileged, Cairo-based women crafted “modern” female bodies and engaged in what Lila Abu-Lughod calls the “politics of modernity.” By delving into the world of Cairo’s wealthy and fashionable producers of lifestyle magazines, the article shows how specific bodily techniques and vocabularies of neoliberal feminism helped construct the idea of a “modern” woman. The “modern” female body then provided a location from which other bodies, considered traditional or not yet modern, could be judged. During Egypt’s transitional period, it was not the victimized Muslim woman who needed to be saved but the modern woman who felt that her lifestyle was under attack from Islamists. Based on an analysis of visual images and discourses, the article provides a contemporary example of the use of “modern” gendered subjecthood in creating hierarchies between women.
Productive Disengagement
Authors: Fard GG
Published: March 2023

This article examines whether academic representations of LGBTQ Iranians have increased over time and whether they have had harmful or beneficial ethical impacts. The article defines measures of “harm” and “benefit” by drawing on and adding to Canada’s Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans. Such measures are then used to survey scholarship produced about LGBTQ Iranians. Results show that scholarly interest in “LGBTQ Iran” has increased from 2001 on. The article demonstrates the complexity of balancing ethical measures in research and argues that the benefits of representing marginalized groups may not always outweigh their related harms. Ultimately, a methodology of “productive disengagement” is advanced for researchers who seek to forego representation rather than pursue it.
The State-Dependent Effectiveness of Hiring Subsidies
Authors: Graves Sebastian
Published: March 2023

The responsiveness of job creation to shocks is procyclical, while the responsiveness of job destruction is countercyclical. This new finding can be explained by a heterogeneous-firm model in which hiring costs lead to lumpy employment adjustment. The model predicts that policies that aim to stimulate employment by encouraging job creation, such as hiring subsidies, are significantly less effective in recessions: these are times when few firms are near their hiring thresholds and many firms are near their firing thresholds. Policies that target the job destruction margin, such as employment protection subsidies, are particularly effective at such times. (JEL E24, E32, H25, J23, J64)
Collective Moral Hazard and the Interbank Market
Authors: Altinoglu Levent , Stiglitz Joseph E.
Published: March 2023

The concentration of risk within the financial system leads to systemic instability. We propose a theory to explain the structure of the financial system and show how it alters the risk-taking incentives of financial institutions when the government optimally intervenes during crises. By issuing interbank claims, risky institutions endogenously become large and interconnected. This concentrated structure enables institutions to share the risk of systemic crises in a privately optimal way but leads to excessive risk taking even by peripheral institutions. Interconnectedness and excessive risk taking reinforce one another. Macroprudential regulation that limits the interconnectedness of risky institutions improves welfare. (JEL D82, E44, G01, G21, G28)
Case Report: Identification of likely recurrent CEP290 mutation in a child with Joubert syndrome and cerebello-retinal-renal features.
Authors: Spahiu Lidvana , Sayer John A , Behluli Emir , Liehr Thomas , Temaj Gazmend
Published: March 2023

Background. Joubert syndrome (JS) is a rare autosomal recessive ciliopathy with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 100,000. JS is characterized by hyperpnoea, hypotonia, ataxia, developmental delay and various neuropathological abnormalities in the brain including cerebellar hypoplasia and cerebellar vermis aplasia. JS can also have variable multi-organ involvement, including the retina, kidneys, liver, and musculoskeletal system.

Methods and Results. Here we report a clinical description of two-year-old girl presenting with breathing difficulties, hyperechoic kidneys with loss of corticomedullary differentiation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed the typical molar tooth sign consistent with a clinical diagnosis of JS and retinal examination showed severe retinal dystrophy leading to blindness. Molecular genetic analysis using whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequence confirmation demonstrated a homozygous mutation (c.5493delA, p.(A1832fs*19) in CEP290 which segregated from either parent and was consistent with the multisystem ciliopathy phenotype. This precise variant has been described previously in 2 families from the Kosovar-Albanian region suggesting this allele is a recurrent mutation in this population.

Conclusions. Mutations in CEP290 lead to multisystem ciliopathy syndromes and molecular genetic diagnostics of such cases allows precise diagnosis, screening of at risk relatives and appropriate management.
Relationship between anal swab PCR for SARS-CoV-2 with gastrointestinal clinical manifestations and severity of COVID-19 infection in Indonesia
Authors: Muzellina Virly Nanda , Abdullah Murdani , Kurniawan Juferdy , Rizka Aulia
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Indonesia remain high. The virus can bind with ACE2 receptor which is not only found in the lungs, but also in the digestive tract. Thus, it allows SARS-CoV-2 infection in the gastrointestinal tract, gastrointestinal manifestations, and detection of viral RNA on anal swab using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). There hasn’t been similar study about the role of anal swab in Indonesia yet. Therefore, this study aims to determine the relationship between SARS-COV-2 anal swab PCR with gastrointestinal clinical manifestations, and the severity of COVID-19 in Indonesia.

Methods: This is an analytical study with cross-sectional design. Samples were obtained from hospitalized COVID-19 patients from July 2020 to January 2021. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, severity, and SARS-CoV-2 anal swabs PCR were collected using case report form.

Results: A total of136 patients were analyzed. 52 patients (38.2%) had positive SARS-CoV-2 anal swabs PCR and 84 patients (61.8%) had negative results. The most common gastrointestinal clinical manifestations were nausea and vomiting in 69 patients (50.7%), anorexia in 62 patients (45.6%), and abdominal pain in 31 patients (22.8%). There were 114 patients (83,8%) classified as mild-moderate symptoms and 22 patients (16,2%) classified as severe-critical symptoms. There was a statistically significant relationship between the gastrointestinal tract SARS-CoV-2 infection and gastrointestinal clinical manifestations (P=0.031). There was no statistically significant relationship between the gastrointestinal SARS-CoV-2 infection and the severity of COVID-19 infection (P = 0.844).

Conclusions: This study showed there is a significant relationship between SARS-CoV-2 anal swab PCR with gastrointestinal clinical manifestations. There is no significant relationship between anal swab PCR with the severity of COVID-19 infection. Further studies should aim to assess the relationship using larger samples while also assessing the possibility of fecal-oral transmission.
A detailed methodology for the long-term in vitro culture and analysis of three-dimensional, self-structuring bone models generated from cell lines or primary osteoblastic cell populations
Authors: Finlay Melissa , Hill Laurence A , Neag Georgiana , Patel Binal , Chipara Miruna , Lamont Hannah C , Frost Kathryn , Patrick Kieran , Lewis Jonathan W , Nicholson Thomas , Edwards James , Jones Simon W , Grover Liam M , Naylor Amy J
Published: March 2023

Background: There are insufficient in vitro bone models that accommodate long-term culture of osteoblasts and support their differentiation to osteocytes. The increased demand for effective therapies for bone diseases, and the ethical requirement to replace animals in research, warrants the development of such models.

Here we present an in-depth protocol to prepare, create and maintain three-dimensional, in vitro, self-structuring bone models that support osteocytogenesis and long-term osteoblast survival (>1 year).

Methods: Osteoblastic cells are seeded on a fibrin hydrogel, cast between two beta-tricalcium phosphate anchors. Analytical methods optimised for these self-structuring bone model (SSBM) constructs, including qPCR, immunofluorescence staining and XRF, are described in detail.

Results: Over time, the cells restructure and replace the initial matrix with a collagen-rich, mineralising one; and demonstrate differentiation towards osteocytes within 12 weeks of culture.

Conclusions: Whilst optimised using a secondary human cell line (hFOB 1.19), this protocol readily accommodates osteoblasts from other species (rat and mouse) and origins (primary and secondary). This simple, straightforward method creates reproducible in vitro bone models that are responsive to exogenous stimuli, offering a versatile platform for conducting preclinical translatable research studies.
Using Decision Analysis to Determine the Feasibility of a Conservation Translocation
Authors: Keating Laura M. , Randall Lea , Stanton Rebecca , McCormack Casey , Lucid Michael , Seaborn Travis , Converse Sarah J. , Canessa Stefano , Moehrenschlager Axel
Published: March 2023

Conservation translocations, intentional movements of species to protect against extinction, have become widespread in recent decades and are projected to increase further as biodiversity loss continues worldwide. The literature abounds with analyses to inform translocations and assess whether they are successful, but the fundamental question of whether they should be initiated at all is rarely addressed formally. We used decision analysis to assess northern leopard frog reintroduction in northern Idaho, with success defined as a population that persists for at least 50 years. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game was the decision maker (i.e., the agency that will use this assessment to inform their decisions). Stakeholders from government, indigenous groups, academia, land management agencies, and conservation organizations also participated. We built an age-structured population model to predict how management alternatives would affect probability of success. In the model, we explicitly represented epistemic uncertainty around a success criterion (probability of persistence) characterized by aleatory uncertainty. For the leading alternative, the mean probability of persistence was 40%. The distribution of the modelling results was bimodal, with most parameter combinations resulting in either very low (<5%) or relatively high (>95%) probabilities of success. Along with other considerations, including cost, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game will use this assessment to inform a decision regarding reintroduction of northern leopard frogs. Conservation translocations may benefit greatly from more widespread use of decision analysis to counter the complexity and uncertainty inherent in these decisions.

History: This paper has been accepted for the Decision Analysis Special Issue on Decision Analysis to Advance Environmental Sustainability.

Funding: This work was supported by the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [Grant F18AS00095], the NSF Idaho EPSCoR Program and the National Science Foundation [Grant OIA-1757324], and the Hunt Family Foundation.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/deca.2023.0472 .
Peplau's theory of interpersonal relations and its applications in aesthetic nursing
Authors: Fletcher Leslie
Published: March 2023

In this article, Leslie Fletcher introduces American nurse Peplau's well-known theory of interpersonal relations, explaining how it can be applied to an aesthetic nursing context
An Analysis of Acceptability and shelf life for Bilimbi Leaves Tea Product (Averrhoa Bilimbi L.) as Alternative Antihypertension
Authors: Desva Petrani , Salam Abdul , Syam Aminuddin , Jafar Nurhaedar , Masni Masni , Dirpan Andi , Sasmita Sasmita , Ramadhani Magfirah
Published: March 2023

Bilimbi leaves as a functional food can be used as a non-pharmacological antihypertensive. This plant is processed into herbal tea as herbal beverage. This study aimed to investigate the acceptability and shelf life for Bilimbi leaves tea product. This study was an experimental study using 4 wet leaves formulas which were dried into tea. Tests were carried out towards 15 semi-trained panelists and 30 consumer panelists. bilimbi leaves tea were stored for 14 days at 25°C, 35°C and 45°C by measuring the water content parameter and total microbes. Data were calculated and analyzed by using Kruskal Wallis test and Arrhenius equation. The analysis results of Arrhenius equation in the hedonic quality test of semi-trained panelists as whole highest score in formula 4, but the taste parameter score was lower. Meanwhile, in the hedonic test of consumer panelist, the highest score was in formula 2 with better taste parameter score overall. The results of Kruskal Wallis test showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05). The highest water content of Bilimbi leaves tea product was stored at 45oC, while the total microbes of product met the standard. Tea Stored at 25°C has a longer shelf life for 112 days. It concluded that formula 2 (7 grams/150 ml of water) has better acceptability with the best shelf life store at 25°C.
Lack of Association between a Functional Polymorphism in Dopamine and Opioid Receptor Genes with Alcoholism in South Indian Tamilian Population.
Authors: Arunachalam Umamageswari , Chandrasekaran Adithan , Kannan Iyanar
Published: March 2023

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of dopamine receptor (DRD2) and μ opioid receptor (OPRM1) genes are associated with susceptibility towards alcoholism. Hence, our study aimed to investigate the association of rs1799732 (DRD2) and rs1799971(OPRM1) with the risk of alcohol dependence in the south Indian Tamilian population and to compare the frequencies of these SNPs with major global populations. Methods: A total of 150 alcohol-dependent cases aged between 18 and 65 years who satisfied DSM-V were recruited from a de-addiction center (TTK hospital, Chennai). For the control group, 150 unrelated male blood donors with an AUDIT score of less than 8 were included. Genomic DNA was extracted and the alleles were genotyped using Taqman SNP genotyping assays by quantitative PCR. Results: Minor allele frequency (MAF) of rs1799732 and rs1799971 among controls were 16.7% and 50.3% respectively. Fisher’s exact test showed a highly significant difference in MAF of DRD2 and OPRM1 between south Indian controls and European as well as African populations. All the five genetic models of SNPs were evaluated using the Chi-square test revealed no statistically significant association between the SNPs and alcohol dependence. Conclusions: The present study did not find any association between DRD2 −141C Ins/Del and A118G OPRM1 polymorphism with alcoholism in the Tamilian population of south India.
Novel data types for frequency-domain diffuse optical spectroscopy and imaging of tissues: characterization of sensitivity and contrast-to-noise ratio for absorption perturbations
Authors: Sassaroli Angelo , Blaney Giles , Fantini Sergio
Published: March 2023

In frequency-domain (FD) diffuse optics it is known that the phase of photon-density waves (ϕ) has a stronger deep-to-superficial sensitivity ratio to absorption perturbations than the alternate current (AC) amplitude, or the direct current intensity (DC). This work is an attempt to find FD data types that feature similar or even better sensitivity and/or contrast-to-noise for deeper absorption perturbations than phase. One way is to start from the definition of characteristic function (X
t
(ω)) of the photon’s arrival time (t) and combining the real (ℜ(X
t
(ω))=ACDCcos(ϕ)) and imaginary parts (ℑ[X
t
(ω)]=ACDCsin(ϕ)) with phase to yield new data types. These new data types enhance the role of higher order moments of the probability distribution of the photon’s arrival time t. We study the contrast-to-noise and sensitivity features of these new data types not only in the single-distance arrangement (traditionally used in diffuse optics), but we also consider the spatial gradients, which we named dual-slope arrangements. We have identified six data types that for typical values of the optical properties of tissues and depths of interest, have better sensitivity or contrast-to-noise features than phase data and that can be used to enhance the limits of imaging of tissue in FD near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). For example, one promising data type is ϕ−ℑ[X
t
(ω)] which shows, in the single-distance source-detector arrangement, an increase of deep-to-superficial sensitivity ratio with respect to phase by 41% and 27% at a source-detector separation of 25 and 35 mm, respectively. The same data type also shows an increase of contrast-to noise up to 35% with respect to phase when the spatial gradients of the data are considered.
Deep learning based on co-registered ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging improves the assessment of rectal cancer treatment response
Authors: Lin Yixiao , Kou Sitai , Nie Haolin , Luo Hongbo , Eltahir Ahmed , Chapman Will , Hunt Steven , Mutch Matthew , Zhu Quing
Published: March 2023

Identifying complete response (CR) after rectal cancer preoperative treatment is critical to deciding subsequent management. Imaging techniques, including endorectal ultrasound and MRI, have been investigated but have low negative predictive values. By imaging post-treatment vascular normalization using photoacoustic microscopy, we hypothesize that co-registered ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging will better identify complete responders. In this study, we used in vivo data from 21 patients to develop a robust deep learning model (US-PAM DenseNet) based on co-registered dual-modality ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) images and individualized normal reference images. We tested the model’s accuracy in differentiating malignant from non-cancer tissue. Compared to models based on US alone (classification accuracy 82.9 ± 1.3%, AUC 0.917(95%CI: 0.897-0.937)), the addition of PAM and normal reference images improved the model performance significantly (accuracy 92.4 ± 0.6%, AUC 0.968(95%CI: 0.960-0.976)) without increasing model complexity. Additionally, while US models could not reliably differentiate images of cancer from those of normalized tissue with complete treatment response, US-PAM DenseNet made accurate predictions from these images. For use in the clinical settings, US-PAM DenseNet was extended to classify entire US-PAM B-scans through sequential ROI classification. Finally, to help focus surgical evaluation in real time, we computed attention heat maps from the model predictions to highlight suspicious cancer regions. We conclude that US-PAM DenseNet could improve the clinical care of rectal cancer patients by identifying complete responders with higher accuracy than current imaging techniques.
Analytical study on the steady-state thermal blooming effect of high-power ytterbium-doped fiber lasers propagating through the atmosphere
Authors: Su Ang , Xi Fengjie , Liu Zhong , Ning Yu , Leng Jinyong , Chen Zilun , He Yulong , Xu Xiaojun
Published: March 2023

Thermal blooming effect is one of the significant factors affecting the propagation performance of high-power ytterbium-doped fiber lasers (YDFLs) in the atmosphere. In this paper, two 20 kW YDFL systems with typical wavelengths (1070 nm and 1080 nm) are fabricated for propagation comparison experiments, which are used to investigate the thermal blooming effect induced by high-power YDFL propagation through the atmosphere. Under approximately the same laser system parameters (except wavelength) and atmospheric environment, the 1070 nm laser has better propagation characteristics than the 1080 nm laser. Due to the combined effect between the different central wavelengths of the two fiber lasers and the spectral broadening caused by output power scaling, the thermal blooming caused by the different absorptivity of water vapor molecules to the two fiber lasers is the main factor for the variation of the propagation properties. Through theoretical analysis and numerical calculation of factors affecting the thermal blooming effect, and considering the industrial manufacturing difficulty of YDFLs, a reasonable selection of fiber laser parameters can effectively improve atmospheric propagation performance and reduce manufacturing costs.
Multi-functional dual-path self-aligned polarization interference lithography
Authors: Song Jiaqi , Liu Baolei , Shan Xuchen , Wang Fan , Zhong Xiaolan
Published: March 2023

Manufacturing sharp features is one of the most desired requirements for lithography. Here, we demonstrate a dual-path self-aligned polarization interference lithography (Dp-SAP IL) for fabricating periodic nanostructures, featuring high-steepness and high-uniformization. Meanwhile, it can manufacture quasicrystals with adjustable rotation symmetry. We reveal the change of the non-orthogonality degree under different polarization states and incident angles. We find that incident light's transverse electric (TE) wave results in high interference contrast at arbitrary incident angles, with a minimum contrast of 0.9328, that is, realizing the self-alignment of the polarization state of incident light and reflected light. We experimentally demonstrate this approach by fabricating a series of diffraction gratings with periods ranging from 238.3 nm to 851.6 nm. The steepness of each grating is greater than 85 degrees. Different from the traditional interference lithography system, Dp-SAP IL realizes a structure color using two mutually perpendicular and non-interference paths. One path is for the photolithography of patterns onto the sample, and the other path is for generating nanostructures on the patterns. Our technique showcases the feasibility of obtaining high contrast interference fringes by simply tuning the polarization, with the potential for cost-effective manufacturing of nanostructures such as quasicrystals and structure color.
Optical properties of Ge-Ga-Ag-Te high refractive index chalcogenide glasses
Authors: Gu Jierong , Shen Xiang , Jia Guang , Xia Kelun , Wu Miaomiao , Liu Zijun
Published: March 2023

A series Ge15Ga5AgxTe80-x (GGAT-x, for x=0 to 15 mol%) chalcogenide glass were prepared using conventional melt-quenching methods, and the properties of the glass with different Ag content were studied. The thermal and optical properties of the glass were tested by X-ray, differential scanning calorimeter, Fourier infrared spectrometer, ellipsometer, etc. The results show that the glass has ultra-high refractive index (3.47@10um) and low dispersion, and has wide infrared optical windows, the cut-off wavelength reaches 25um, and the transmittance reaches 55%. The excellent characteristics of this component have broad application prospects in the far infrared application.
chiLife: An open-source Python package for in silico spin labeling and integrative protein modeling
Authors: Tessmer Maxx H. , Stoll Stefan
Published: March 2023

Here we introduce chiLife, a Python package for site-directed spin label (SDSL) modeling for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, in particular double electron–electron resonance (DEER). It is based on in silico attachment of rotamer ensemble representations of spin labels to protein structures. chiLife enables the development of custom protein analysis and modeling pipelines using SDSL EPR experimental data. It allows the user to add custom spin labels, scoring functions and spin label modeling methods. chiLife is designed with integration into third-party software in mind, to take advantage of the diverse and rapidly expanding set of molecular modeling tools available with a Python interface. This article describes the main design principles of chiLife and presents a series of examples.
Predicting regrowth of low-grade gliomas after radiotherapy
Authors: Plaszczynski Stéphane , Grammaticos Basile , Pallud Johan , Campagne Jean-Eric , Badoual Mathilde
Published: March 2023

Diffuse low grade gliomas are invasive and incurable brain tumors that inevitably transform into higher grade ones. A classical treatment to delay this transition is radiotherapy (RT). Following RT, the tumor gradually shrinks during a period of typically 6 months to 4 years before regrowing. To improve the patient’s health-related quality of life and help clinicians build personalized follow-ups, one would benefit from predictions of the time during which the tumor is expected to decrease. The challenge is to provide a reliable estimate of this regrowth time shortly after RT (i.e. with few data), although patients react differently to the treatment. To this end, we analyze the tumor size dynamics from a batch of 20 high-quality longitudinal data, and propose a simple and robust analytical model, with just 4 parameters. From the study of their correlations, we build a statistical constraint that helps determine the regrowth time even for patients for which we have only a few measurements of the tumor size. We validate the procedure on the data and predict the regrowth time at the moment of the first MRI after RT, with precision of, typically, 6 months. Using virtual patients, we study whether some forecast is still possible just three months after RT. We obtain some reliable estimates of the regrowth time in 75% of the cases, in particular for all “fast-responders”. The remaining 25% represent cases where the actual regrowth time is large and can be safely estimated with another measurement a year later. These results show the feasibility of making personalized predictions of the tumor regrowth time shortly after RT.
BiComp-DTA: Drug-target binding affinity prediction through complementary biological-related and compression-based featurization approach
Authors: Kalemati Mahmood , Zamani Emani Mojtaba , Koohi Somayyeh
Published: March 2023

Drug-target binding affinity prediction plays a key role in the early stage of drug discovery. Numerous experimental and data-driven approaches have been developed for predicting drug-target binding affinity. However, experimental methods highly rely on the limited structural-related information from drug-target pairs, domain knowledge, and time-consuming assays. On the other hand, learning-based methods have shown an acceptable prediction performance. However, most of them utilize several simple and complex types of proteins and drug compounds data, ranging from the protein sequences to the topology of a graph representation of drug compounds, employing multiple deep neural networks for encoding and feature extraction, and so, leads to the computational overheads. In this study, we propose a unified measure for protein sequence encoding, named BiComp, which provides compression-based and evolutionary-related features from the protein sequences. Specifically, we employ Normalized Compression Distance and Smith-Waterman measures for capturing complementary information from the algorithmic information theory and biological domains, respectively. We utilize the proposed measure to encode the input proteins feeding a new deep neural network-based method for drug-target binding affinity prediction, named BiComp-DTA. BiComp-DTA is evaluated utilizing four benchmark datasets for drug-target binding affinity prediction. Compared to the state-of-the-art methods, which employ complex models for protein encoding and feature extraction, BiComp-DTA provides superior efficiency in terms of accuracy, runtime, and the number of trainable parameters. The latter achievement facilitates execution of BiComp-DTA on a normal desktop computer in a fast fashion. As a comparative study, we evaluate BiComp’s efficiency against its components for drug-target binding affinity prediction. The results have shown superior accuracy of BiComp due to the orthogonality and complementary nature of Smith-Waterman and Normalized Compression Distance measures for protein sequences. Such a protein sequence encoding provides efficient representation with no need for multiple sources of information, deep domain knowledge, and complex neural networks.
Validity and intrarater reliability of a novel device for assessing Plantar flexor strength
Authors: O’Neill Seth , Weeks Alice , Nørgaard Jens Eg , Jorgensen Martin Gronbech
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Plantar flexor weakness is an identified prospective factor for developing Achilles tendinopathy. Various authors have reported relationships between symptoms and weakness of this muscle group. Despite this relationship, many clinicians and researchers fail to examine Plantar flexor strength due to the cumbersome, stationary and expensive nature of an isokinetic dynamometer (IKD), known as the “Gold Standard”. This study examined the validity and reliability of a fast, easy and portable device for assessing plantarflexion.

Methods

Validity between the Cybex NORM® by Humac and the C-Station by Fysiometer was explored using Pearson correlation coefficient. Participants were randomly selected to start in the Cybex NORM® or the FysioMeter C-Station. Intra-rater reliability on the C-station was investigated by test-retest two days apart using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). All testing involved isometric maximal force of the soleus muscle with the knee at 90 degrees flexion.

Results

40 healthy university students were recruited for the validity part, while 65 healthy university students were recruited for the reliability part of the study. The mean peak torque on the IKD was 198.55Nm (SD 94.45) versus 1443.88 (412.82)N on the C-Station. The results of the Pearson correlation revealed an r-value of r = 0.72 with a 95%CI 0.52–0.84. The test re-test reliability was calculated as an ICC of 0.91 with a (95%CI 0.86–0.94).

Conclusions

The C-Station by Fysiometer appears to provide valid measures and have excellent reliability for Plantar flexor isometric strength. It would appear suitable for both clinical and research work.
Epidemiology and demographics of slipped capital femoral epiphysis in South Korea: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Kim Nak Tscheol , Min Jae Jung , Ji Eunjeong , Park Moon Seok , Sung Ki Hyuk
Published: March 2023

Background

This study investigated the epidemiology and demographics of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) in South Korea using a nationwide population-based database.

Methods

Information on sex, age at onset, endocrine comorbidities, history of growth hormone therapy, history of radiation therapy, surgical methods, and complications in patients with SCFE aged younger than 18 years between 2007 and 2019 was retrieved from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database.

Results

Data were available for 586 children (429 boys, 157 girls). The average age at onset was 11.1 ± 1.8 years (boys, 11.3 ± 1.9; girls, 10.6 ± 1.5). Five hundred and twenty-nine (90.3%) patients were aged 9–14 years; the incidence rate in this age group was 6.0/100,000 (95% confidence interval, 5.5–6.6) and significantly higher in boys (8.4 vs 3.5, p<0.001). There was a significant increase in the annual incidence rate from 0.96/100,000 in 2009 to 2.05/100,000 in 2019 (p = 0.006). Ninety-five patients (16.2%) had endocrine comorbidities or a history of hormone/radiation therapy. Osteotomy and internal fixation were performed in 59 patients and in situ pinning in 527. Seventy-six patients developed postoperative complications.

Conclusion

The annual incidence rate of SCFE in South Korea has increased since 2009.
SARS-CoV-2 transmission among health care workers, an outbreak investigation using whole-genome sequencing
Authors: te Paske K. S. , Tienen C. van , Dunk D , Pelt D. van , Smit P. W.
Published: March 2023

Background

We report an outbreak investigation to map intra-hospital transmission among health care workers (HCW) using epidemiological and whole-genome sequencing data.

Methods

Fourteen clinical wards (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) with high infection rates of SARS-CoV-2 among HCW were selected and demographical, epidemiological and sequencing data were collected of all HCW testing positive by RT-PCR. Clustered cases were identified based on first disease onsets and differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP’s) and were analysed for additional characteristics.

Results

Data was collected for 123 HCW. Out of 123 HCW, 65 (53%) worked at eight non-COVID-19 wards, 56 (46%) at four COVID-19 wards, one (<1%) worked on several wards and for one (<1%) it was unknown. One major cluster (n = 34) and three minor clusters (n = 2,3,4; total n = 9) comprising of 43 HCW (35%) were found after comparing our study population (n = 123) with the circulating regional sequences (n = 819). In clustered cases work was most often the suspected source of infection and continuing work while having symptoms occurred in all clusters, ranging from 1–6 days.

Conclusion

Our findings strongly indicate transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among HCW. Whole-genome sequencing is useful for identification of clusters and can give direction to targeted infection prevention measures.
Comparing the economic terms of biotechnology licenses from academic institutions with those between commercial firms
Authors: Shah Prateet , Vaughan Gregory , Ledley Fred D.
Published: March 2023

Licenses of drug-related biotechnologies from academic institutions to commercial firms are intended to promote practical applications of public sector research and a return on government investments in biomedical science. This empirical study compares the economic terms of 239 biotechnology licenses from academic institutions to biotechnology companies with 916 comparable licenses between commercial firms. Academic licenses had lower effective royalty rates (median 3% versus 8%, p<0.001), deal size (median $0.9M versus $31.0M, p<0.001), and precommercial payments (median $1.1M versus $25.4M, p<0.001) than corporate licenses. Controlling for the clinical phase of the most advanced product included in the license reduced the median difference in effective royalty rate between academic and corporate licenses from 5% (95% CI 4.3–5.7) to 3% (95% C.I. 2.4–3.6) but did not change the difference in deal size or precommercial payments. Excluding licenses for co-commercialization did not change the effective royalty rate but reduced the median difference in deal size from $15.8M (95% CI 14.9–16.6) to $11.4M (95% CI 10.4–12.3) and precommercial payments from $9.0M (95% CI 8.0–10.0) to $7.6M (95% CI 6.8–8.4). Controlling for deal terms including exclusivity, equity, or R&D in multivariable regression had no substantive effect on the difference in economic terms. This analysis suggests the economic returns associated with biotechnology licenses from academic institutions are systematically lower than licenses between commercial firms and that this difference is only partially accounted for by differences in the intrinsic terms of the license agreements. These results are discussed in the context of a reasonable royalty rate, recognizing that factors extrinsic to the license agreement may reasonably impact the negotiated value of the license, as well as economic theories that view government as an early investor in innovation and technology licenses as a mechanism for achieving a return on investment.
Preterm birth and maternal heart disease: A machine learning analysis using the Korean national health insurance database
Authors: Lee Jue Seong , Choi Eun-Saem , Hwang Yujin , Lee Kwang-Sig , Ahn Ki Hoon
Published: March 2023

Background

Maternal heart disease is suspected to affect preterm birth (PTB); however, validated studies on the association between maternal heart disease and PTB are still limited. This study aimed to build a prediction model for PTB using machine learning analysis and nationwide population data, and to investigate the association between various maternal heart diseases and PTB.

Methods

A population-based, retrospective cohort study was conducted using data obtained from the Korea National Health Insurance claims database, that included 174,926 primiparous women aged 25–40 years who delivered in 2017. The random forest variable importance was used to identify the major determinants of PTB and test its associations with maternal heart diseases, i.e., arrhythmia, ischemic heart disease (IHD), cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease first diagnosed before or during pregnancy.

Results

Among the study population, 12,701 women had PTB, and 12,234 women had at least one heart disease. The areas under the receiver-operating-characteristic curves of the random forest with oversampling data were within 88.53 to 95.31. The accuracy range was 89.59 to 95.22. The most critical variables for PTB were socioeconomic status and age. The random forest variable importance indicated the strong associations of PTB with arrhythmia and IHD among the maternal heart diseases. Within the arrhythmia group, atrial fibrillation/flutter was the most significant risk factor for PTB based on the Shapley additive explanation value.

Conclusions

Careful evaluation and management of maternal heart disease during pregnancy would help reduce PTB. Machine learning is an effective prediction model for PTB and the major predictors of PTB included maternal heart disease such as arrhythmia and IHD.
"I think I saw a ghost": The potential for fright tourism in the city of João Pessoa – PB
Authors: Nascimento Felipe Gomes , Pereira Amanda Sueli Madeira
Published: March 2023

Historic centers are plural spaces with memories of great importance to the cultural identity of a people. Besides their cultural and heritage importance, these spaces are ideal for entertainment, specifically, for the development of fright tourism, due to their dark narratives. Fright tourism can be understood as a process in which elements of local tradition are mixed with transnational aesthetics, coming from cinema, pop culture, horror, and cultural industries, promoting feelings of fear for tourists. In this context, this study aims to analyze the potential for the promotion of fright tourism, based on stories of hauntings at historical attractions in the city of João Pessoa-PB. This study is characterized as descriptive and exploratory, based on the collection of bibliographic and documentary data and a field visit. The results show that the Sólon de Lucena Park, the Santa Roza Theater and the Boa Sentença Cemetery have stories such as the ghost woman of the Lagoa, the vigilante spirit, the woman in white, the bride who walks among the tombs and the Boa Sentença employee, which permeate the popular imagination and can be used to promote fright tourism.
Manipulating the Manipulator: Genetically modifying

T. gondii to degrade rather than produce dopamine could be used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia
Authors: Rasuli Asna , Mody Simran , Akanni Ayobola , Hu Xuerui , Chandran Haricharan , Clemente Krazelle , Chen Jun
Published: March 2023

The host manipulating parasite
Toxoplasmic gondiicauses the vector-borne disease, Toxoplasmosis. During the chronic stage of infection, after cysts formation, the parasites release high levels of tyrosine hydroxylase. This enzyme causes an increase in dopamine levels as it is a known limiting factor of dopamine production. The TgAaaH1 and TgAaaH2 genes found in the
T. gondiigenome are known to be responsible for this production. Increased dopamine levels have been shown to correlatewithschizophrenic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions. The two genes can be removed and replaced with the COMT gene. This gene regulates dopamine levels by degrading dopamine. The genetically modified
T. gondiican then be administered to patients who show schizophrenic symptoms but are negative for toxoplasmosis.
An Unusual Case of Ascites
Authors: Nah Chung Yau , Fueng-Hin Liang Raymond
Published: March 2023

Cirrhotic portal hypertension is the most common cause of new-onset ascites. The clinician, however, should be cognizant of rarer causes of ascites, especially when clinical and laboratory parameters are not in keeping with cirrhosis. We present a case of urinoma as the cause of an initial presentation of ascites.
Universal Health Coverage di Bali: Konsep, Implementasi, dan Tantangan
Authors: Anggapurana Pidada Ida Bagus
Published: March 2023

Universal Health Coverage(UHC) muncul bertujuan untuk memberikan sebuah jaminan pelayanan kesehatan secara berkualitas kepada setiap individu tanpa terkecuali. Indonesia merupakan salah satu negara yang telah mendorong terselenggaranya konsep UHC melalui berbagai pendekatan. Seperti mengeluarkan regulasi, mendorong reformasi-birokrasi, hingga skema-skema teknis di dalamnya. Idealitas di atas kertas ternyata masih memenuhi beberapa kendala di lapangan yang menyebabkan tidak sedikit pemerintah daerah ikut membuat sebuah program jaminan berbasis lokalitas. Salah satu daerah yang telah melakukan inisiatif dalam mewujudkan jaminan kesehatan universal adalah Kabupaten Badung dengan program Krama Badung Sehat (KBS). Sehingga penelitian ini memunculkan pertanyaan bagaiamana konsep dan implementasi dari jaminan kesehatan daerah yang dikeluarkan oleh Pemerintah Kabupaten Badung dengan nama program Krama Badung Sehat(KBS). Kemudian tantangan seperti apa yang dihadapi oleh Pemerintah Daerah Kabupaten Badung dalam pengimplementasian program tersebut. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dan dianalisis secara deskriptif. Jenis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah data primer dan data sekunder. Selanjutnya teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan wawancara, observasi, dan studi dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa Pemerintah Daerah Kabupaten Badung menciptakan program Krama Badung Sehat (KBS) sebagai upaya dalam menjamin pelayanan kesehatan bagi masyarakat Badung. Pada implementasinya, program KBS memiliki banyak manfaat tambahan dibandingkan program JKN-KIS secara spesifik ada lebih dari 15 manfaat yang tidak tercover oleh JKN. Meskipun telah dirancang sedemikian rupa akan tetapi program KBS masih memiliki tantangan antara lain pertama adalah kurang masifnya sosialisasi. Kedua adalah diperlukannya sebuah perencanaan yang strategis. Ketiga Keterbatasan finansial.
Kata Kunci : Kramas Badung Sehat,  Universal Health Coverage(UHC), Program Kesehatan JKN,
MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF ALKALIACTIVATED CONCRETE INCORPORATING RECYCLED AGGREGATES AND STEEL FIBERS
Authors: El-Hassan Hilal , El-Maaddawy Tamer , Hussein Abdalla , Medljy Jamal
Published: March 2023

This study evaluates the mechanical performance of alkali-activated concrete cured at ambient conditions and made with recycled aggregates (RA) and steel fibers. The precursor binder was either ground granulated blast furnace slag or a blend of slag and fly ash (3:1 and 1:1). The alkaline activator solution was a blend of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. Coarse aggregates were either natural aggregates (NA) or RA, while fine aggregates comprised desert dune sand. Steel fibers were incorporated, in 2%, by volume, in RA-based concrete mixes. Results showed that replacing NA by 100% RA in plain alkali-activated slag concrete led to decreases of 21, 23, and 51% in compressive, tensile splitting, and flexural strengths, respectively. Meanwhile, alkaliactivated slag-fly ash blended (3:1 and 1:1) mixes experienced respective losses of up to 65, 50, and 57%. The corresponding properties of alkali-activated counterparts made with 100% RA increased by up to 172, 273, and 167% upon the addition of 2% steel fibers, by volume. Yet, the impacts of RA and steel fiber incorporation on the mechanical properties were more pronounced in concrete mixes having higher fly ash replacement. Alkali-activated slag and slag-fly ash blended concrete mixes incorporating 2% steel fibers, by volume, and 100% RA exhibited equivalent compressive strength and superior tensile splitting and flexural strengths to those of NA-based counterparts.