bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender response to 10 weeks acupuncture-TENS application on patients who presented with post-injection sciatic pain
Authors: Okonkwo Uchenna Prosper , Ibeneme Sam Chidi , Ezenwankwo Elochukwu Fortune , Okeke Chukwuebuka Olisaemeka , Ani Kenneth Umezulike , Akobundu Uzoamaka Nwakaego , Onwuakagba Ifeoma Uchenna
Published: November 2021

Background

Studies to determine gender response to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) application on individuals who presented with post-injection sciatic pain (PISP) following gluteal injection is not common. A total of 40 subjects comprising 20 males and 20 females who were purposively recruited and conveniently assigned to group A (male) and group B (female) completed the study. Acupuncture-like TENS (AL-TENS) was applied on the 20 male and 20 female subjects, 1 h per session, 3 times per week for the 10 weeks the study lasted.

Result

The pre-intervention baseline scores for the two groups were 8.80 + 1.05 (Female) and 8.60 + 1.27 (Male). The result revealed that after 10 weeks of intervention the VAS scores were 2.60+ 3.28 (p < 0.001) and 2.40 + 3.28 (p < 0.001) for the female and male subjects, respectively. The mean comparison of the female mean VAS scores (2.60 + 3.28) and male VAS scores 2.40 + 3.25 after 10 weeks of AL-TENS intervention shows no statistically significant difference (p > 0.85) in pain intensity (pain perception).

Conclusions

There was no gender variation in pain perception in subjects with post-injection sciatic pain (PISP) following gluteal muscle injection after 10 weeks of AL-TENS application. Therefore, gender-based variation should not be considered when applying AL-TENS as an instrument of intervention in subjects with PISP.

Trial registration

PACTR2018050034082
Effect of different direct-acting antiviral regimens for treatment of nondiabetic hepatitis C virus–infected Egyptian patients on insulin resistance and sensitivity
Authors: Yosef Tarek , Ibrahim Wesam Ahmed , El-Ghandour Ahmed , Attia Soha , El-Nakeep Sarah
Published: November 2021

Background

The association between hepatitis C virus (HCV), insulin resistance (IR), and metabolic syndrome has been extensively investigated. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have a high sustained virologic response (SVR) rate, reaching > 90%. The effect of SVR after DAA treatment on metabolic parameters and IR in nondiabetic patients could be an important factor in the patient’s long-term outcome. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of different DAA regimens on IR and sensitivity in naïve chronic HCV-infected nondiabetic patients (before and after 12 weeks of treatment).

Methods

This prospective cohort study was conducted on 100 HCV-infected Child A nondiabetic patients eligible for DAA treatment in the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ain Shams University, and Kobry El-Kobba Military Hospital among patients attending the outpatient clinic.

Patients were categorized into four groups according to the HCV regimens they received for 12 weeks.

All patient were subjected to the following tests before and 12 weeks after treatment: HCV quantitative PCR, Fibroscan, fasting insulin level (using insulin quantitative test kit), fasting and postprandial blood glucose (PPG), lipid profile, liver enzymes, BMI, and waist circumference.

Results

All patients achieved SVR at 12 weeks. In all treatment groups, lab was assessed before and after treatment, the 2-h PPG, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein levels showed statistically significant increases, whereas triglyceride, fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1C, and fasting plasma insulin levels showed statistically significant decreases. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) exhibited statistically significant decreases, whereas the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and Matsuda index showed statistically significant increases, across the four groups.

Conclusions

DAA treatment in naïve nondiabetic HCV-infected patients affects metabolic profile and insulin resistance/sensitivity, with similar effect among different DAA regimens.
Review of oncological findings and complications after elective neck dissection during total laryngectomy: a case series
Authors: Elsayed Mahmoud , Dwiddar Nada , Allam Amr , Ubayasiri Kishan , Simons Anthony , Sethi Neeraj
Published: November 2021

Background

This study aims to report the rate of occult lymph node metastasis during elective neck dissection in clinically and radiologically negative neck (cN0) for patients offered total laryngectomy as either primary or salvage treatment. We also compare the rate of complications and recurrence after elective neck dissection during total laryngectomy.

A retrospective review of patients treated in a single teaching hospital in the UK between 2004 and 2020 was performed. We collected the following patient information: age, sex, TNM staging, tumour location and laterality, primary treatment received if recurrent, preoperative imaging, operative details of the elective neck dissection, pathology results, postoperative complications, and recurrence. Inclusion criteria are as follows: squamous cell carcinoma and cN0 neck. Exclusion criteria are as follows: second primary tumour in the head and neck, a total laryngectomy because of a dysfunctional larynx, or a previously performed neck dissection.

Results

Of the 105 included patients, 66 (63%) had primary surgery and 39 (37%) were offered salvage surgery. All cases in the primary group were offered elective neck dissection. Thirty-six patients of the salvage group were offered elective neck dissection. The rate of occult lymph node metastasis was 35% (23/66) and 5.6% (2/36) in the primary and salvage groups, respectively. There was no difference in the overall complication rate in both groups, although the specific incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula in the salvage group was higher compared with the primary group, 14% vs 7.5%.

Conclusions

We conclude that elective neck dissection is indicated during primary total laryngectomy due to the high rate of occult lymph node metastasis, 35% (23/66) in our series. Conversely, from our data in the salvage setting, the rate of occult lymph node was very low at 5.6% (2/36). The impact on survival is not known. The decision over elective neck dissection may be made more judiciously on an individual basis in the salvage setting.
International Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Grading System: A Validated Grading System for Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Xu Bin , Fuchs Talia L. , Ahmadi Sara , Alghamdi Mohammed , Alzumaili Bayan , Bani Mohamed-Amine , Baudin Eric , Chou Angela , De Leo Antonio , Fagin James A. , Ganly Ian , Glover Anthony , Hartl Dana , Kanaan Christina , Khneisser Pierre , Najdawi Fedaa , Nigam Aradhya , Papachristos Alex , Repaci Andrea , Spanheimer Philip M. , Solaroli Erica , Untch Brian R. , Barletta Justine A. , Tallini Giovanni , Al Ghuzlan Abir , Gill Anthony J. , Ghossein Ronald A.
Published: November 2021

PURPOSE

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine tumor (NET) arising from the calcitonin-producing C cells. Unlike other NETs, there is no widely accepted pathologic grading scheme. In 2020, two groups separately developed slightly different schemes (the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Sydney grade) on the basis of proliferative activity (mitotic index and/or Ki67 proliferative index) and tumor necrosis. Building on this work, we sought to unify and validate an internationally accepted grading scheme for MTC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Tumor tissue from 327 patients with MTC from five centers across the United States, Europe, and Australia were reviewed for mitotic activity, Ki67 proliferative index, and necrosis using uniform criteria and blinded to other clinicopathologic features. After reviewing different cutoffs, a two-tiered consensus grading system was developed. High-grade MTCs were defined as tumors with at least one of the following features: mitotic index ≥ 5 per 2 mm2, Ki67 proliferative index ≥ 5%, or tumor necrosis.

RESULTS

Eighty-one (24.8%) MTCs were high-grade using this scheme. In multivariate analysis, these patients demonstrated decreased overall (hazard ratio [HR] = 11.490; 95% CI, 3.118 to 32.333; P < .001), disease-specific (HR = 8.491; 95% CI, 1.461 to 49.327; P = .017), distant metastasis-free (HR = 2.489; 95% CI, 1.178 to 5.261; P = .017), and locoregional recurrence-free (HR = 2.114; 95% CI, 1.065 to 4.193; P = .032) survivals. This prognostic power was maintained in subgroup analyses of cohorts from each of the five centers.

CONCLUSION

This simple two-tiered international grading system is a powerful predictor of adverse outcomes in MTC. As it is based solely on morphologic assessment in conjunction with Ki67 immunohistochemistry, it brings the grading of MTCs in line with other NETs and can be readily applied in routine practice. We therefore recommend grading of MTCs on the basis of mitotic count, Ki67 proliferative index, and tumor necrosis.
Evaluation of TP53 Variants Detected on Peripheral Blood or Saliva Testing: Discerning Germline From Somatic TP53 Variants
Authors: Schwartz Alison N. , Cahill Sophie R. , Stokes Samantha M. , Castillo Danielle , Tung Nadine M. , Weitzel Jeffrey N. , Rana Huma Q. , Garber Judy E.
Published: November 2021

PURPOSE

Multigene panel testing (MGPT) identifies TP53 pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in patients with diverse phenotypes, of which only one is classic Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Low variant allelic fraction (VAF) in TP53 found on germline testing may suggest aberrant clonal expansion or constitutional mosaicism. We evaluated TP53-positive probands seen in a cancer genetics program to determine germline versus somatic status.

METHODS

We reviewed TP53-positive probands from 2012 to 2019 identified by MGPT on blood or saliva (N = 84). Available VAFs were collected. Probands with a familial variant, who met Li-Fraumeni syndrome testing criteria or who carried a founder variant, were considered germline. For those with uncertain germline status, TP53 variants were further examined using ancillary data of family members and somatic tissue.

RESULTS

Of the 84 probands, 54.7% had germline variants with 33.3% meeting criteria for germline status and 21.4% confirmed through ancillary testing. Aberrant clonal expansion comprised 13.1% with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential and 2.4% with a hematologic malignancy. Constitutional mosaicism was confirmed in 8.3% probands. Definitive status could not be determined in 3.6% despite ancillary assessment, and 17.9% did not have ancillary testing.

CONCLUSION

A TP53 P/LP variant found on peripheral blood or saliva MGPT does not always originate in the germline. In a clinical cancer genetics cohort, approximately half of the patients had TP53 P/LP germline variants; these patients plus those with constitutional mosaicism require intensified surveillance. A framework of multiple strategies enables discernment of germline from constitutional mosaic and acquired variants, which is essential for appropriate management.
Universal witnesses of vanishing energy gap
Authors: Szymański Konrad , Życzkowski Karol
Published: November 2021

Energy gap, the difference between the energy of the ground-state of a given Hamiltonian and the energy of its first excited state, is a parameter of a critical importance in analysis of phase transitions and adiabatic quantum computation. We present a concrete technique to determine an upper bound for the energy gap of a Hamiltonian H
0 based on properties of the set of expectation values of H
0 and an additional auxiliary Hamiltonian V. This formalism can be applied to obtain an effective criterion of gaplessness, which we illustrate with a concrete example of the XY model —a physical system with vanishing energy gap.
Shakespeare’s Starlings
Authors: Fugate Lauren , Miller John MacNeill
Published: November 2021

Scientists, environmentalists, and nature writers often report that all common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in North America descend from a flock released in New York City in 1890 by Eugene Schieffelin, a man obsessed with importing all the birds mentioned by Shakespeare. This article uses the methods of literary history to investigate this popular anecdote. Today starlings are much despised as an invasive species that displaces native birds and does almost a billion dollars worth of damage to agriculture annually. Because of the starling’s pest status, the Schieffelin story is considered a cautionary tale about the dangers of ecological ignorance. Diving into the history of the Schieffelin story reveals, however, that it is almost entirely fictional. Tracing how its elements emerged and changed over a century of retelling clarifies how the story came to shore up uncertainties in the bird’s environmental history and to distract from the lack of data supporting the starling’s supposedly disastrous impacts. In explaining how a fiction repeated over time attained the status of fact in debates about invasive species, this literary history suggests humanistic methods can serve as useful tools for understanding the value-laden narratives underpinning environmental attitudes and practices today.
RNALigands: a database and web server for RNA–ligand interactions
Authors: Sun Saisai , Yang Jianyi , Zhang Zhaolei
Published: November 2021

RNA molecules can fold into complex and stable 3D structures, allowing them to carry out important genetic, structural, and regulatory roles inside the cell. These complex structures often contain 3D pockets made up of secondary structural motifs that can be potentially targeted by small molecule ligands. Indeed, many RNA structures in PDB contain bound small molecules, and high-throughput experimental studies have generated a large number of interacting RNA and ligand pairs. There is considerable interest in developing small molecule lead compounds targeting viral RNAs or those RNAs implicated in neurological diseases or cancer. We hypothesize that RNAs that have similar secondary structural motifs may bind to similar small molecule ligands. Toward this goal, we established a database collecting RNA secondary structural motifs and bound small molecule ligands. We further developed a computational pipeline, which takes as input an RNA sequence, predicts its secondary structure, extracts structural motifs, and searches the database for similar secondary structure motifs and interacting small molecule. We demonstrated the utility of the server by querying α-synuclein mRNA 5′ UTR sequence and finding potential matches which were validated as correct. The server is publicly available at http://RNALigands.ccbr.utoronto.ca. The source code can also be downloaded at https://github.com/SaisaiSun/RNALigands.
Başkalık Üzerine: İbn Sînâ’nın Görelilik Teorisi Bağlamında Bir İnceleme
Authors: Gökgöz Zehra
Published: November 2021

Görelilerin varlık tarzı düşünce tarihinde bir tartışma konusudur. Tartışmayı “dış dünyada şahısları bulunan birinci makul” ve “şahıs düzeyinde karşılığı bulunmayan ikinci makul” karşıtlığında değerlendiren İbn Sînâ, görelinin, dış dünyada işaret edilebilir şahısları bulunan kategorik bir araz olduğu görüşündedir ve eş-Şifâ Metafizik’te, benimsediği görüşe karşı öne sürülmüş olan teselsül gerekçeli itirazları ortadan kaldırmayı amaçlayan bir çözüm sunmuştur. Makalede, söz konusu çözümde inşa edilen modelin başkalık anlamı için uygulanabilirliği sınanmış ve bu sınamanın sonucunda başkalığın modelle uyumsuzluğu, bir problem olarak ortaya konmuştur. Problemin kaynağına ilişkin bir incelemede şu tespitler kaydedilmiştir: Kategorik göreli/muzâf ve görelilik/izâfet aynı şeyler değildir. İzâfet, kategorik göreliyi temellendiren ve ona indirgenemeyecek genellikte bir kavramdır, çünkü birlik yükleminin çokluk için geçerli olabilmesi izâfet aracılığıyla gerçekleşmektedir. Başkalık, izâfete içkin ve onunla eş kapsamlı genel bir yüklemdir, dolayısıyla kategorik göreliler dâhil olmak üzere bütün mevcudatın var oluşundaki düzenliliği açıklayan en genel kavramlar sınıfına dâhildir. İbn Sînâ’nın Metafizik’teki çözüm modeli, izâfetin mahiyetlerdeki sonuçlarını açıklamayı amaçladığı için sonuçları önceleyen, kategorileri aşkın izâfet evrelerine, dolayısıyla başkalığa uygulanamamaktadır.
The genome sequence of the small copper, Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus, 1760)
Authors: Lohse Konrad , Laetsch Dominik R. , Vila Roger ,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: November 2021

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Lycaena phlaeas (the small copper; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Lycaenidae). The genome sequence is 420 megabases in span. The whole of the assembly is scaffolded into 24 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the Z sex chromosome assembled. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 12,147 protein coding genes.
Teenage motherhood
Authors: Johnson Anita
Published: November 2021

Anita Johnson discusses the history, politics and misconceptions surrounding teenage motherhood in England and Wales over the last century
The Utility of Echocardiography in Paediatric Patients with Musculoskeletal Infections and Bacteremia
Authors: Trivellas Andromahi , Brodke Dane , Hu Vivian , de St Maurice Annabelle , Krogstad Paul , Silva Mauricio , Thompson Rachel M.
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The clinical utility of echocardiography in the setting of a positive blood culture in paediatric patients presenting with osteomyelitis (OM) and/or septic arthritis (SA).

Methods

Retrospective review between 2013 and 2019: Patients < 18 years with OM, SA or combined infection (OM+SA) were included. Patients were excluded for immunodeficiency, loss of follow-up or penetrating infection. Charts with positive blood cultures were reviewed for echocardiography on that admission. Demographic variables were compared utilizing the Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test. A multivariable linear regression model was constructed to examine the association between echocardiography and length of stay, controlling for age, sex, fever, white blood cell (WBC) on admission, antibiotic administration and surgery performed.

Results

Of 157 patients with OM, SA or combined infection, 44 had a positive blood culture. In all, 26 had an echocardiogram, and none showed endocarditis. Echocardiography was independently associated with a 6.2-day length of stay increase. WBC count and surgical intervention demonstrated a trend toward significance in length of stay, with each WBC unit increase associated with a 0.53-day increase. Surgical intervention was associated with an average 6.3-day length of stay decrease.

Conclusion

No patient had a positive echocardiogram, and no changes in management were initiated. However, an echocardiogram increased stay by 6.2 days. In addition to costs associated with increased stay, patients were billed between $1460 and $1700 per echocardiogram. The utility of echocardiograms in the setting of bacteremia associated with musculoskeletal infections in the paediatric population should be re-examined, and guidelines should be updated to reflect the cost-benefit analysis.

Level of Evidence

III
Use of Reactivated Spent FCC Catalyst as Adsorbent for Lead (II) Ions from Refinery-based Simulated Wastewater
Authors: Abubakar Abdulkareem , Waba Ijai Ezekiel , Yunusa Suleiman , Gano Zaharaddeen Sani
Published: November 2021

Improper handling of wastewater from various industries causes environmental pollution. Hence, this study involved using a reactivated spent FCC catalyst, a cheap and reliable adsorbent for Pb2+ removal from refinery-based simulated wastewater. In contrast, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimum operating condition. The adsorptive capacity of the reactivated spent FCC catalyst was observed using different parameters such as temperature, pH, adsorbent dosage, and contact time. At the end of the study, it was found that the optimum condition for removing Pb2+ was at pH of 7, adsorbent dose of 1.75 g, contact time of 75 mins, and temperature of 117 oC. At this condition, the maximum removal efficiency of Pb2+ was found to be 100 %. A quadratic model equation via central composite design under the RSM was developed to predict the Pb2+ removal from all the input parameters. Based on the F-statistic values, the temperature had the greatest influence on the removal of Pb2+ while adsorbent dosage and contact time were also significant.
Accumulator-free Hough Transform for Sequence Collinear Points
Authors: Kurniawan Rudi , Fuadi Zahrul , Adriman Ramzi
Published: November 2021

The perception, localization, and navigation of its environment are essential for autonomous mobile robots and vehicles. For that reason, a 2D Laser rangefinder sensor is used popularly in mobile robot applications to measure the origin of the robot to its surrounding objects. The measurement data generated by the sensor is transmitted to the controller, where the data is processed by one or multiple suitable algorithms in several steps to extract the desired information. Universal Hough Transform (UHT) is one of the appropriate and popular algorithms to extract the primitive geometry such as straight line, which later will be used in the further step of data processing. However, the UHT has high computational complexity and requires the so-called accumulator array, which is less suitable for real-time applications where a high speed and low complexity computation is highly demanded. In this study, an Accumulator-free Hough Transform (AfHT) is proposed to reduce the computational complexity and eliminate the need for the accumulator array. The proposed algorithm is validated using the measurement data from a 2D laser scanner and compared to the standard Hough Transform. As a result, the extracted value of AfHT shows a good agreement with that of UHT but with a significant reduction in the complexity of the computation and the need for computer memory.
La perspectiva de género en la docencia universitaria de Economía e Historia
Authors: Carbonell-Esteller Montserrat , Carreras-Marín Anna , Colomé-Ferrer Josep , Turmo-Garuz Joaquín , Bartual Figueras M. Teresa
Published: November 2021

Introducir la perspectiva de género en la docencia universitaria implica someter a reflexión los conceptos y análisis de las corrientes académicas dominantes, identificar los sesgos de género, promover una interpretación más amplia y completa de la realidad y favorecer la sensibilización y concienciación de las y los estudiantes. Significa, esencialmente, una reorganización de contenidos, una reflexión sobre los conceptos, modelos, teorías y perspectiva de análisis, así como la introducción de nuevos casos, ejemplos prácticos, fuentes de referencia, etc. Este estudio muestra los resultados de un proyecto de innovación docente que pretende dar los primeros pasos para lograr la incorporación transversal de la perspectiva de género en la docencia. La aplicación del mismo se ha efectuado en el grado de Administración y Dirección de Empresas y el grado de Ciencias Políticas de la Universidad de Barcelona. Se estudiaron los planes docentes, se identificó el sesgo sistemático en la mayoría de las asignaturas, se diseñaron actividades de reflexión y sensibilización y se propuso un cuestionario de validación del aprendizaje. En conjunto se contó con la participación de 480 estudiantes. Los resultados muestran que, pese a los avances conseguidos en términos legales y administrativos, la posición y el papel de la mujer en la economía y la historia continua, en general, invisibilizado. Se aprecia, también, que las mujeres son más conscientes de la existencia de desigualdades y más permeables a las actuaciones docentes que incorporan reflexiones y análisis de esta índole. Finalmente, se observa que las acciones docentes que incorporan la perspectiva de género contribuyen a cambiar las percepciones de las/os estudiantes y tienen efectos positivos sobre su concienciación y sensibilización.
Broadband high-spatial-resolution high-spectral-resolution flexible imaging spectrometer design study
Authors: Yang Qinghua
Published: November 2021

A broadband high-spatial-resolution high-spectral-resolution flexible imaging spectrometer (B-2HSR-FIS) is presented, which includes two microlens arrays (MLAs), multiple fiber bundles, a scanning Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI), a reflection grating, a cylindrical lens, and an area-array detector. The first MLA is arranged in a circular arc to obtain a field angle between 8° and 60° in the horizontal plane. The second MLA is arranged in a straight line. Each fiber bundle containing seven optical fibers is coupled to a separate microlens of the first MLA, subdividing the field angle of each microlens into seven smaller field angles to improve spatial resolution. The combination of a scanning FPI and a reflection grating enables the B-2HSR-FIS to obtain both high spectral resolution and broadband spectral range in the ultraviolet to near-infrared spectral region. Compared with all existing imaging spectrometers, the B-2HSR-FIS is the first to simultaneously obtain high spatial resolution, high spectral resolution, broadband spectral range, and moderate field angle, to the best of our knowledge. The B-2HSR-FIS has great potential for vision intelligence (e.g., as an eye of a robot).
Algorithm for real-time defect detection of micro pipe inner surface: erratum
Authors: Zhao Xinyu , Wu Bin
Published: November 2021

This erratum serves to correct an error in Appl. Opt.
60, 9167 (2021).APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.438287
On-axis diffraction-limited bi-conical lenses
Authors: Valencia Estrada Juan Camilo , García Márquez Jorge
Published: November 2021

A diffraction-limited lens having both surfaces conic is shown. The analytical and numerical calculation for all possible solutions of the conical front and back surfaces is presented. Object and image distances, lens thickness, and refractive index are prescribed. The process to obtain on-axis diffraction-limited images with bi-conic lenses and the proof of the method, corroborated through an example in Oslo, are described here.
Direct generation of ultrafast vortex beam from a Tm:CaYAlO4 oscillator featuring pattern matching of a folded-cavity resonator
Authors: Cao Xue , Liu Yangyu , Xian Anhua , Li Yifei , Wu Kun , Xu Xiaodong , Zhou Wei , Wang Haotian , Huang Haitao , Jia Baohua , Wang Yishan , Tang Dingyuan , Shen Deyuan
Published: November 2021

Optical vortices, beams with spiral wavefronts and screw phase dislocations have been explored in applications in optical manipulation, quantum optics, and the next generation of optical communications. In traditional methods, optical vortices are generated using space light modulators or spiral phase plates, which would sharply decrease the integration of optical systems. Different from previous transverse mode conversion outside the cavity, here we experimentally demonstrate a direct generation of ultrafast vortex beam from a Tm:CaYAlO4 oscillator by pattern matching of a six-mirror-folded-cavity resonator. By accurately adjusted the angle of the end mirror and the distance L between the M4 and the SESAMs to control the beam diameter of laser incidence on the gain medium in the sagittal and tangential planes, a stable 2 µm ultrafast vortex laser emission of annular Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) mode was obtained with a maximum output power of 327 mW and pulse duration of 2.1 ps. A simple YAG crystal plate was used as handedness selector and a homemade Mach–Zehnder (MZ) interferometer has verified the vortical property of the LG01 mode. By furtherly controlling the cavity mode pattern matching, other stable transverse-mode operations for TEM00, high-order Hermite-Gaussian (HG) transverse mode and doughnut-shaped beams were successfully realized. This work provides a flexible and reliable way to generate mid-infrared ultrafast vortex beams and is of special significance for applications in the areas of molecular spectroscopy and organic material processing amongst others.
Identification of novel modulators of a schistosome transient receptor potential channel targeted by praziquantel
Authors: Chulkov Evgeny G. , Smith Emery , Rohr Claudia M. , Yahya Nawal A. , Park Sang-Kyu , Scampavia Louis , Spicer Timothy P. , Marchant Jonathan S.
Published: November 2021

Given the worldwide burden of neglected tropical diseases, there is ongoing need to develop novel anthelmintic agents to strengthen the pipeline of drugs to combat these burdensome infections. Many diseases caused by parasitic flatworms are treated using the anthelmintic drug praziquantel (PZQ), employed for decades as the key clinical agent to treat schistosomiasis. PZQ activates a flatworm transient receptor potential (TRP) channel within the melastatin family (TRPMPZQ) to mediate sustained Ca2+influx and worm paralysis. As a druggable target present in many parasitic flatworms, TRPMPZQis a promising target for a target-based screening campaign with the goal of discovering novel regulators of this channel complex. Here, we have optimized methods to miniaturize a Ca2+-based reporter assay forSchistosoma mansoniTRPMPZQ(Sm.TRPMPZQ) activity enabling a high throughput screening (HTS) approach. This methodology will enable further HTS efforts againstSm.TRPMPZQas well as other flatworm ion channels. A pilot screen of ~16,000 compounds yielded a novel activator ofSm.TRPMPZQ, and numerous potential blockers. The new activator ofSm.TRPMPZQrepresented a distinct chemotype to PZQ, but is a known chemical entity previously identified by phenotypic screening. The fact that a compound prioritized from a phenotypic screening campaign is revealed to act, like PZQ, as anSm.TRPMPZQagonist underscores the validity of TRPMPZQas a druggable target for antischistosomal ligands.
Determinants of late detection and advanced-stage diagnosis of breast cancer in Nigeria
Authors: Agodirin Olayide , Olatoke Samuel , Rahman Ganiyu , Kolawole Oladapo , Oguntola Saliu , Olasehinde Olalekan , Ayandipo Omobolaji , Olaogun Julius , Katung Aba , Etonyeaku Amarachukwu , Habeeb Olufemi , Adeyeye Ademola , Agboola John , Akande Halimat , Akanbi Olusola , Fatudimu Oluwafemi , Ajiboye Anthony
Published: November 2021

Late detection of Breast cancer(BC) and progressing with advanced-stage diagnosis after early detection contribute differently to the challenges of managing BC in Africa. Understanding the difference may improve cancer education programs and their effectiveness.

Objective

To describe the risk factors for late detection and advanced-stage diagnosis among patients who detected their BC early.

Method

Using secondary data, we analyzed the impact of socio-demographic factors, premorbid experience, BC knowledge, and health-seeking pattern on the risk of late detection and advanced-stage diagnosis after early BC detection. Test of statistical significance in SPSS and EasyR was set at 5% using Sign-test, chi-square tests (of independence and goodness of fit), odds ratio, or risk ratio as appropriate.

Result

Most socio-demographic factors did not affect detection size or risk of disease progression in the 405 records analyzed. High BC knowledge, p-value = 0.001, and practicing breast self-examination (BSE) increased early detection, p-value = 0.04, with a higher probability (OR 1.6 (95% CI 1.1–2.5) of detecting <2cm lesions. Visiting alternative care (RR 1.5(95% CI 1.2–1.9), low BC knowledge (RR 1.3(95% CI 1.1–1.9), and registering concerns for hospital care increased the risk of advanced-stage diagnosis after early detection (64% (95% CI 55–72)). Adhering to the monthly BSE schedule reduced the risk of advanced-stage diagnosis by -25% (95% CI -49, -1.1) in the presence of socioeconomic barriers.

Conclusion

Strategies to increase BC knowledge and BSE may help BC downstaging, especially among women with common barriers to early diagnosis.
Predicting suicidal thoughts and behavior among adolescents using the risk and protective factor framework: A large-scale machine learning approach
Authors: Weller Orion , Sagers Luke , Hanson Carl , Barnes Michael , Snell Quinn , Tass E. Shannon
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Addressing the problem of suicidal thoughts and behavior (STB) in adolescents requires understanding the associated risk factors. While previous research has identified individual risk and protective factors associated with many adolescent social morbidities, modern machine learning approaches can help identify risk and protective factors that interact (group) to provide predictive power for STB. This study aims to develop a prediction algorithm for STB among adolescents using the risk and protective factor framework and social determinants of health.

Methods

The sample population consisted of more than 179,000 high school students living in Utah and participating in the Communities That Care (CTC) Youth Survey from 2011-2017. The dataset includes responses to 300+ questions from the CTC and 8000+ demographic factors from the American Census Survey for a total of 1.2 billion values. Machine learning techniques were employed to extract the survey questions that were best able to predict answers indicative of STB, using recent work in interpretable machine learning.

Results

Analysis showed strong predictive power, with the ability to predict individuals with STB with 91% accuracy. After extracting the top ten questions that most affected model predictions, questions fell into four main categories: familial life, drug consumption, demographics, and peer acceptance at school.

Conclusions

Modern machine learning approaches provide new methods for understanding the interaction between root causes and outcomes, such as STB. The model developed in this study showed significant improvement in predictive accuracy compared to previous research. Results indicate that certain risk and protective factors, such as adolescents being threatened or harassed through digital media or bullied at school, and exposure or involvement in serious arguments and yelling at home are the leading predictors of STB and can help narrow and reaffirm priority prevention programming and areas of focused policymaking.
Personality impacts fear of childbirth and subjective birth experiences: A prospective-longitudinal study
Authors: Asselmann Eva , Garthus-Niegel Susan , Martini Julia
Published: November 2021

Background

Previous research suggests that less emotionally stable, less conscientious, less extraverted, and less agreeable women tend to suffer from higher fear of childbirth and experience their delivery as worse. Moreover, there is evidence that birth characteristics and unexpected incidents during delivery may impact women’s birth experiences. However, it remains unknown whether the role of personality in subjective birth experiences varies between women with different birth characteristics.

Methods

We used data from the Maternal Anxiety in Relation to Infant Development (MARI) Study, a regional-epidemiological study among pregnant women, who were prospectively followed up in multiple waves across the peripartum period. During pregnancy, personality was assessed with the short version of the Big Five Inventory. The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/ Experience Questionnaire was used to measure fear of childbirth (version A) during pregnancy and subjective birth experiences (version B) within the first 10 days after delivery.

Results

Linear regressions revealed that lower levels of emotional stability, agreeableness, and extraversion predicted higher fear of childbirth during pregnancy. Moreover, personality affected subjective birth experiences especially in women with specific birth characteristics: Lower emotional stability predicted worse subjective birth experiences in women with (vs. without) a preterm delivery, and higher conscientiousness predicted worse subjective birth experiences in women with an emergency cesarean section (vs. spontaneous delivery). Subjective birth experiences were also worse in less emotionally stable and less open women with (general) anesthesia (vs. no anesthesia) during delivery. Finally, higher emotional stability predicted a subjective birth experience that was worse than expected, particularly in multiparous women and women without anesthesia during delivery.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that less emotionally stable, less conscientious, and less open women tend to experience their delivery as worse particularly in case of unexpected incidents (i.e., preterm delivery, emergency cesarean section, and necessity of anesthetics) and might thus profit from early targeted interventions.
Elemental composition, rare earths and minority elements in organic and conventional wines from volcanic areas: The Canary Islands (Spain)
Authors: Alonso Gonzalez Pablo , Parga-Dans Eva , Arribas Blázquez Paula , Pérez Luzardo Octavio , Zumbado Peña Manuel Luis , Hernández González María Mercedes , Rodríguez-Hernández Ángel , Andújar Carmelo
Published: November 2021

The organic wine market is rapidly growing worldwide, both in terms of production and consumption. However, the scientific literature is not conclusive regarding differences in the elemental composition of wines according to their production method, including both major and trace elements. Minerals can be present in wine as a result of both anthropogenic and environmental factors. To date, this has not been evaluated in volcanic contexts, neither has the emergent issue of rare earths and other minority elements as potential sources of food contamination. This study using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses organic and conventional wines produced in the Canary Islands (Spain), an archipelago of volcanic origin, to compare their content of 49 elements, including rare earths and minority elements. Our results showed that organic wines presented lower potential toxic element content on average than their conventional counterparts, but differences were not significant. Geographical origin of the wine samples (island) was the only significant variable differentiating wine samples by their composition profiles. By comparing our data with the literature, no agreement was found in terms of differences between organic and conventionally-produced wines. This confirms that other factors prevail over elemental composition when considering differences between wine production methods. Regarding the toxicological profile of the wines, five samples (three organic and two conventional) exceeded the maximum limits established by international legislation. This highlights the need for stricter analytical monitoring in the Canary Islands, with a particular focus on Cu and Ni concentration, and potentially in other volcanic areas.
Periodontal diseases and potential risk factors in Egyptian adult population—Results from a national cross-sectional study
Authors: Abou El Fadl Reham Khaled , Abdel Fattah Mona Ahmed , Helmi Muhammad Ahmed , Wassel Mariem Osama , Badran Amira Saad , Elgendi Huda Ahmed Amin , Allam Mona Ezz Eldien , Mokhtar Ahmed Gamal , Saad Eldin Mostafa , Ibrahim Eslam Ahmed Yahia , Elgarba Bahaaeldeen M. , Mehlis Mustafa
Published: November 2021

Background

Despite the interdependence of general and periodontal health, there is paucity of national representative data on the prevalence of periodontal diseases and their associated risk factors in Egyptian population. This cross-sectional study, thus, aimed to assess the prevalence of periodontitis and tooth loss among Egyptian adults and investigate the association between potential risk factors and periodontal diseases.

Methods

A total of 5,954 adults aged ≥ 20 years were included in this study as a subsample from Egypt’s national oral health survey. Periodontitis was diagnosed with Community Periodontal Index ‘CPI’ scores ≥3 and tooth loss not due to caries was included in the analysis. Socio-demographic data and information on behavioral factors and history of diabetes were gathered in a face-to-face interview. Logistic regression was done to interpret the impact of potential predictors on the incidence of the two selected outcome variables.

Results

The overall prevalence of periodontitis was 26% and regression analysis revealed that higher odds of periodontitis existed among illiterate participants (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.40–2.17), smokers (OR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.69–2.20) and rural residents (OR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.03–1.30). On the other hand, old age, frequency of dental attendance and history of diabetes were the main predictive factors for tooth loss.

Conclusions

Among Egyptian adults, periodontal diseases were strongly associated with a multitude of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors and inequalities in distribution of periodontal treatment needs were determined mainly by age, gender, level of education and residency location.
Construction of ferritin hydrogels utilizing subunit–subunit interactions
Authors: Yamanaka Masaru , Mashima Tsuyoshi , Ogihara Michio , Okamoto Mei , Uchihashi Takayuki , Hirota Shun
Published: November 2021

Various proteins form nanostructures exhibiting unique functions, making them attractive as next-generation materials. Ferritin is a hollow spherical protein that incorporates iron ions. Here, we found that hydrogels are simply formed from concentrated apoferritin solutions by acid denaturation and subsequent neutralization. The water content of the hydrogel was approximately 80%. The apoferritin hydrogel did not decompose in the presence of 1 M HCl, 2-mercaptoethanol, or methanol but was dissolved in the presence of 1 M NaOH, by heating at 80°C, or by treatment with trypsin or 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. The Young’s modulus of the hydrogel was 20.4 ± 12.1 kPa according to local indentation experimentes using atomic force microscopy, indicating that the hydrogel was relatively stiff. Transition electron microscopy measurements revealed that a fibrous network was constructed in the hydrogel. The color of the hydrogel became yellow-brown upon incubation in the presence of Fe3+ions, indicating that the hydrogel adsorbed the Fe3+ions. The yellow-brown color of the Fe3+-adsorbed hydrogel did not change upon incubation in pure water, whereas it became pale by incubating it in the presence of 100 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The apoferritin hydrogel also adsorbed Co2+and Cu2+ions and released them in the presence of EDTA, while it adsorbed less Ni2+ions; more Fe3+ions adsorbed to the apoferritin hydrogel than other metal ions, indicating that the hydrogel keeps the iron storage characteristic of ferritin. These results demonstrate a new property of ferritin: the ability to form a hydrogel that can adsorb/desorb metal ions, which may be useful in designing future biomaterials.
Numerical modelling of blood rheology and platelet activation through a stenosed left coronary artery bifurcation
Authors: Owen David G. , de Oliveira Diana C. , Neale Emma K. , Shepherd Duncan E. T. , Espino Daniel M.
Published: November 2021

Coronary bifurcations are prone to atherosclerotic plaque growth, experiencing regions of reduced wall shear stress (WSS) and increased platelet adhesion. This study compares effects across different rheological approaches on hemodynamics, combined with a shear stress exposure history model of platelets within a stenosed porcine bifurcation. Simulations used both single/multiphase blood models to determine which approach best predicts phenomena associated with atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis. A novel Lagrangian platelet tracking model was used to evaluate residence time and shear history of platelets indicating likely regions of thrombus formation. Results show a decrease in area of regions with pathologically low time-averaged WSS with the use of multiphase models, particularly in a stenotic bifurcation. Significant non-Newtonian effects were observed due to low-shear and varying hematocrit levels found on the outer walls of the bifurcation and distal to the stenosis. Platelet residence time increased 11% in the stenosed artery, with exposure times to low-shear sufficient for red blood cell aggregation (>1.5 s). increasing the risk of thrombosis. This shows stenotic artery hemodynamics are inherently non-Newtonian and multiphase, with variations in hematocrit (0.163–0.617) and elevated vorticity distal to stenosis (+15%) impairing the function of the endothelium via reduced time-averaged WSS regions, rheological properties and platelet activation/adhesion.
Simulation of the critical nitrogen dilution curve in Jiangxi double-cropped rice region based on leaf dry matter weight
Authors: Ye Chun , Liu Ying , Liu Jizhong , Li Yanda , Sun Binfeng , Shu Shifu , Wu Luofa
Published: November 2021

In order to investigate the feasibility of using rice critical nitrogen concentration as a nitrogen nutrition diagnosis index, a two-year positioning field gradient experiment using four rice varieties and four nitrogen levels (0, 75, 150, 225 kg·ha–1 for early rice; 0, 90, 180, 270 kg·ha–1 for late rice) was conducted for early and late rice. The critical dilution curves (Nc%) of the double-cropped rice based on leaf dry matter (LDM) were constructed and verified using the field data. Two critical nitrogen dilution curves and nitrogen nutrition indexes (NNI) of rice LDM were constructed for early rice [Nc% = 2.66LDM−0.79, R2 = 0.88, NNI ranged between 0.29–1.74, and the average normalized root mean square error (n-RMSE = 19.35%)] and late rice [Nc% = 7.46LDM−1.42, R2 = 0.91, NNI was between 0.55–1.53, and the average (n-RMSE = 15.14%)]. The relationship between NNI and relative yield was a quadratic polynomial equation and suggested that the optimum nitrogen application rate for early rice was sightly smaller than 150 kg·ha–1, and that for late rice was about 180 kg·ha-1. The developed critical nitrogen concentration dilution curves, based on leaf dry matter, were able to diagnose nitrogen nutrition in the double-cropped rice region.
Mg, K-containing microparticle: A possible active principle of a culture extract produced by a microbial consortium
Authors: Higashinakagawa Toru , Kikuchi Haruhisa , Kuwayama Hidekazu
Published: November 2021

A synthetic microbial consortium called Effective Microorganisms (EM) consists mainly of photosynthetic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeast. Various effects of EM∙XGOLD, a health drink produced by EM, on life cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum were described previously. Here, we report our attempt to identify the active principle, termed EMF, that brought about the observed effects. Throughout the purification processes, the presence of the active principle was monitored by promoted fruiting body formation. By liquid-liquid separation the activity was recovered in aqueous phase, which, after concentration, was further subjected to reverse-phase column chromatography. No activity was detected in any eluant, while almost all the activity was recovered in residual insoluble material. The application of conventional organic chemistry procedures to the residual fraction did not lead to any informative results. Acid treatment of the insoluble material produced air bubbles, suggesting it to be composed of some inorganic carbonate. Viewed under scanning electronmicroscope, the residue revealed spherical particles of μm size range. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Spectroscopy pointed to the existence, on the surface of the particles, of magnesium and, to a certain extent, of potassium. In separate experiments, acid treatment and alkali neutralization of EM∙XGOLD completely wiped out the stimulatory activity of fruiting body formation. These lines of evidence indicate these Mg, K-containing microparticles to be an active principle of EM culture extract. How these particles exert their effect is currently under intensive investigation.