bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three-stage correction of severe idiopathic scoliosis with limited skeletal traction during a humanitarian surgical mission: illustrative case
Authors: Sarmiento J. Manuel , Fakhoury Jordan , Singh Angadh , Hawk Cameron , Sethi Khalid , Bains Ravi
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND

Underprivileged and underserved patients from developing countries often present late with advanced, untreated spinal deformities. We report a three-stage all-posterior approach using limited skeletal traction with Gardner-Wells tongs (GWTs) for the management of severe idiopathic scoliosis during a humanitarian surgical mission trip.

OBSERVATIONS

A 17-year-old high-school female was previously diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (diagnosed at age 8) and progressed to a severe 135° kyphoscoliosis. Procedural stage 1 involved spinal instrumentation and posterior releases via posterior column osteotomies from T3 to L4. She then underwent 7 days of skeletal traction with GWTs in the intensive care unit as stage 2. In stage 3, rod engagement, posterior spinal fusion, and partial T10 vertebral column resection were performed. There were no changes in intraoperative neuromonitoring during either surgery and she woke up neurologically intact after both stages of the surgical procedure.

LESSONS

Skeletal traction with GWTs is a viable alternative to traditional halo-gravity traction in settings with limited resources. Three-stage spinal deformity correction using limited skeletal traction is a feasible and effective approach for managing severe scoliosis during humanitarian surgical mission trips.
Strony w kanonicznym procesie karno-sądowym według aktualnych przepisów Kościoła łacińskiego
Authors: Miziński Artur
Published: September 2023

Zagadnienie stron w procesie jawi się jako zasadnicze w każdym rodzaju postępowania sądowego. W procesie karno-sądowym stroną wnosząca sprawę jest oskarżyciel (accusator) i jest nim zawsze rzecznik sprawiedliwości jako oskarżyciel publiczny. Stroną przeciwną (pozwaną) jest osoba, na którą padło podejrzenie o popełnienie przestępstwa w wyniku przeprowadzonego dochodzenia wstępnego, określana jako oskarżony (accusatus). Do procesu mogą dołączyć osoby trzecie, zwane interwenientami, zainteresowane, np. naprawieniem szkód wynikłych z przestępstwa. Rzecznik sprawiedliwości jako jedyny ma uprawnienie wniesienia do właściwego sądu aktu oskarżenia, a także przygotowania pytań dla oskarżonego i ewentualnie świadków, prezentowania środków dowodowych i dowodzenia winy oskarżonego, zaznajomienia się z aktami sprawy i pisania uwag przedwyrokowych, przyjęcia rozstrzygnięcia sprawy i ewentualne zaskarżenie wyroku. Oskarżonym może być tylko wierny, który popełnił przestępstwo w rozumieniu prawa kościelnego, podległe jurysdykcji danego sędziego i nieprzedawnione prawnie, a nie może być sprawca nieżyjący oraz niezdolny do odcierpienia kary. Oskarżony w procesie karno-sądowym ma m.in. prawo do posiadania adwokata, prawo do nieprzyznania się do popełnienia przestępstwa i niezłożenia przysięgi, prawo do wyroku deklarującego jego niewinność oraz zgodę na zrzeczenie się instancji przez rzecznika sprawiedliwości. Taka pozycja prawna stron sprawia, że sędzia nie może wymierzać kar w sposób arbitralnym lecz ma to czynić na podstawie obowiązującego prawa, przy zachowaniu określonej procedury i zasady słuszności.
Procedura zarządzania Kościołem w sytuacjach nadzwyczajnych
Authors: Sitarz Mirosław
Published: September 2023

W artykule zostały przeanalizowane dyspozycje prawne określające powstanie okoliczności nadzwyczajnych oraz procedurę przejęcia władzy, w sytuacji sede impedita i sede vacante na urzędzie Biskupa Rzymu, biskupa diecezjalnego, proboszcza, rektora Kościoła i kapelana.
The Euler–Poisswell/Darwin equation and the asymptotic hierarchy of the Euler–Maxwell equation
Authors: Möller Jakob , Mauser Norbert J.
Published: September 2023

In this paper we introduce the (unipolar) pressureless Euler–Poisswell equation for electrons as the [Formula: see text] semi-relativistic approximation and the (unipolar) pressureless Euler–Darwin equation as the [Formula: see text] semi-relativistic approximation of the (unipolar) pressureless Euler–Maxwell equation. In the “infinity-ion-mass” limit, the unipolar Euler–Maxwell equation arises from the bipolar Euler–Maxwell equation, describing a coupled system for a plasma of electrons and ions.

The non-relativistic limit [Formula: see text] of the Euler–Maxwell equation is the repulsive Euler–Poisson equation with electric force. We propose that the Euler–Poisswell equation, where the Euler equation with electric force is coupled to the magnetostatic [Formula: see text] approximation of Maxwell’s equations, is the correct semi-relativistic [Formula: see text] approximation of the Euler–Maxwell equation. In the Euler–Poisswell equation the fluid dynamics are decoupled from the magnetic field since the Lorentz force reduces to the electric force. The first non-trivial interaction with the magnetic field is at the [Formula: see text] level in the Euler–Darwin equation. This is a consistent and self-consistent model of order [Formula: see text] and includes the full Lorentz force, which is relativistic at [Formula: see text].

The Euler–Poisswell equation also arises as the semiclassical limit of the quantum Pauli–Poisswell equation, which is the [Formula: see text] approximation of the relativistic Dirac–Maxwell equation. We also present a local wellposedness theory for the Euler–Poisswell equation.

The Euler–Maxwell system couples the non-relativistic Euler equation and the relativistic Maxwell equations and thus it is not fully consistent in [Formula: see text]. The consistent fully relativistic model is the relativistic Euler–Maxwell equation where Maxwell’s equations are coupled to the relativistic Euler equation – a model that is neglected in the mathematics community. We also present the relativistic Euler–Darwin equation resulting as a [Formula: see text] approximation of this model.
Learning hierarchical embedding space for image-text matching
Authors: Sun Hao , Qin Xiaolin , Liu Xiaojing
Published: September 2023

There are two mainstream strategies for image-text matching at present. The one, termed as joint embedding learning, aims to model the semantic information of both image and sentence in a shared feature subspace, which facilitates the measurement of semantic similarity but only focuses on global alignment relationship. To explore the local semantic relationship more fully, the other one, termed as metric learning, aims to learn a complex similarity function to directly output score of each image-text pair. However, it significantly suffers from more computation burden at retrieval stage. In this paper, we propose a hierarchically joint embedding model to incorporate the local semantic relationship into a joint embedding learning framework. The proposed method learns the shared local and global embedding spaces simultaneously, and models the joint local embedding space with respect to specific local similarity labels which are easy to access from the lexical information of corpus. Unlike the methods based on metric learning, we can prepare the fixed representations of both images and sentences by concatenating the normalized local and global representations, which makes it feasible to perform the efficient retrieval. And experiments show that the proposed model can achieve competitive performance when compared to the existing joint embedding learning models on two publicly available datasets Flickr30k and MS-COCO.
ACEANet: Ambiguous Context Enhanced Attention Network for skin lesion segmentation
Authors: Jiang Yun , Qiao Hao
Published: September 2023

Skin lesion segmentation from dermatoscopic images is essential for the diagnosis of skin cancer. However, it is still a challenging task due to the ambiguity of the skin lesions, the irregular shape of the lesions and the presence of various interfering factors. In this paper, we propose a novel Ambiguous Context Enhanced Attention Network (ACEANet) based on the classical encoder-decoder architecture, which is able to accurately and reliably segment a variety of lesions with efficiency. Specifically, a novel Ambiguous Context Enhanced Attention module is embedded in the skip connection to augment the ambiguous boundary information. A Dilated Gated Fusion block is employed in the end of the encoding phase, which effectively reduces the loss of spatial location information due to continuous downsampling. In addition, we propose a novel Cascading Global Context Attention to fuse feature information generated by the encoder with features generated by the decoder of the corresponding layer. In order to verify the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed network, we have performed comparative experiments on ISIC2018 dataset and PH2 dataset. Experiments results demonstrate that the proposed model has superior segmentation performance for skin lesions.
Design of English viewing, listening, and speaking mobile teaching software based on an interactive digital media algorithm
Authors: Zhao Hongyan
Published: September 2023

China has now embraced the information era, which has had a significant impact on everyday life, employment, and educational practices. Information technology has also had a significant impact on the growth of the education sector, resulting in a fast-paced and resource-rich setting for student interaction. Through the network platform, various interactive software can improve students’ learning methods, especially language teaching software. English audio-visual speaking is software for training English language listening and speaking, which can carry out relevant oral activities and topic discussions according to the imported materials. As a result, you can assist pupils in using the vocabulary and knowledge associated with the subject, which will increase their interest in learning. English teachers can fully prepare for speaking and listening tasks in the classroom by using audio-visual speaking. At the same time, through the learning of TV and movie trailers, English audio-visual speaking can provide readers with background knowledge, which is ready for readers to fully understand the language and content in the video materials. Based on information technology, this paper constructs English audio-visual and oral mobile teaching software, which depends on interactive digital media algorithms. Through the mobile teaching software for English audio-visual speaking, students can form good English listening and reading habits, which will provide important help for English language learning.First, this essay examines the value and benefits of mobile applications for providing English instruction orally and visually, which might help to illustrate the need for software development. The research then suggests various algorithms for English that are related to audio, visual, and oral input that can detect, assess, and correct students’ learning mistakes. Finally, this work develops the fundamental methodology of the audio-visual and verbal mobile software for instruction in English.
Optimized robust control based ACO technique for two links robot
Authors: Massou Siham
Published: September 2023

The optimum neural network combined with sliding mode control (ONNSMC) introduces the approach as a means of developing a strong controller for a robot system with two links. Sliding mode control is a strong control method that has found widespread use in a variety of disciplines and recognized for its efficiency and easy tuning to solve a wide variety of control issues using nonlinear dynamics. Nevertheless, the uncertainties in complex nonlinear systems are huge, the higher switching gain leads to an increase of the chattering amplitude. To mitigate this gain, a neural network (NN) is utilized to predict the uncertain sections of the system plant with on-line training using the backpropagation (BP) technique. The learning rate is a hyperparameter of BP algorithm which has an important effect on the results. This parameter controls how much the weights of the network are updated during each training iteration. Typically, the learning rate is set to a value ranging from 0.1 to 1. In this study, the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm is employed with the objective of enhancing the network’s convergence speed. Specifically, the ACO algorithm is utilized to optimize this parameter and enable global search capabilities. In order to reduce the response time caused by the online training, the obtained output and input weights are updated using the adaptive laws derived from the Lyapunov stability approach, while simulations are conducted to evaluate its performance. The control action employed in the approach is observed to exhibit smooth and continuous behavior, without any signs of chattering.
Impact of the blood group on postoperative CRP and leukocyte levels after primary total hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Egenolf Philipp , Wahlers Christopher , Grevenstein David , Gathof Birgit S. , Eysel Peer , Oppermann Johannes
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP)- and leukocyte levels are common parameters to evaluate the inflammatory response after orthopaedic surgery and rule out infectious complications. Nevertheless, both parameters are vulnerable to disturbing biases and therefore leave room for interpretation. OBJECTIVE: Since blood groups are repeatedly discussed to influence inflammatory response, our aim was to observe their impact on CRP and leukocyte levels after total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA). METHODS: Short term postoperative CRP and leukocyte levels of 987 patients, who received either primary TKH (n= 479) or THA (n= 508), were retrospectively correlated with their blood group. ABO, Rhesus and a combination of both blood groups were differentiated. RESULTS: CRP levels after TKA were significantly higher in blood type AB than in type A and O on day 2–4 and also than in type A on day 6–8. Leukocyte levels after THA were significantly higher in blood group type O than in type A on day 6–8 while still remaining in an apathological range. We observed no significant differences between Rhesus types and Rhesus types and CRP or leukocyte levels. CONCLUSION: We observed significantly increased CRP levels after TKA in patients with blood group AB. Since the elevated CRP levels do not account for early periprosthetic infection, surgeons should include this variation in their postoperative evaluation.
Alterations in intra- and inter-network connectivity associated with cognition impairment in insulinoma patients
Authors: Nong Hui , Pang Xiaomin , Jing Jie , Cen Yu , Qin Shanyu , Jiang Haixing
Published: September 2023

Objective

Cognitive dysfunction is common in insulinoma patients, but the underlying neural mechanisms are less well understood. This study aimed to explore the alterations of intra- and inter-network connectivity patterns associated with patients with insulinoma.

Methods

Resting-state fMRI were acquired from 13 insulinoma patients and 13 matched healthy controls (HCs). Group Independent component analysis (ICA) was employed to capture the resting-state networks (RSNs), then the intra- and inter-network connectivity patterns, were calculated and compared. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to assess the cognitive function. The relationship between connectivity patterns and MoCA scores was also examined.

Results

Insulinoma patients performed significantly worse on MoCA compared to HCs. The intra-network connectivity analysis revealed that patients with insulinoma showed decreased connectivity in the left medial superior frontal gyrus within anterior default mode network (aDMN), and decreased connectivity in right lingual gyrus within the visual network (VN). The intra-network connectivity analysis showed that patients with insulinoma had an increased connectivity between the inferior-posterior default mode network (ipDMN) and right frontoparietal network (rFPN) and decreased connectivity between the ipDMN and auditory network (AUN). There was a significant negative correlation between the ipDMN-rFPN connectivity and MoCA score.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated significant abnormalities in the intra- and inter-network connectivity in patients with insulinoma, which may represent the neural mechanisms underlying the cognitive impairment in insulinoma patients.
The rocks are hotter on the other side of the fence: roadside habitats should inform mitigation design
Authors: Sisson Garrett P. , Roosenburg Willem M.
Published: September 2023

Maintaining viable populations of large reptiles is often challenging in road fragmented landscapes. While mitigation structures can reduce impacts, few studies have investigated how mitigation success can be affected by roadside habitats. In southeast Ohio, USA, we evaluated mitigation effectiveness for state-endangered timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) at a new highway in a forested landscape. Road construction at the study site created a wide corridor of open canopy habitats (the right-of-way; ROW) containing roadcuts and stone piles. However, exclusion fencing was constructed along the forest-ROW boundary, leaving the open canopy habitats on the road-side of the fence. Over three years, we monitored 6 rattlesnakes using radiotelemetry and found that rattlesnakes repeatedly crossed the fence to access forest-edge and ROW habitats. Rattlesnakes ostensibly crossed through damaged sections of the fence. The ROW was used most intensively by gravid females (n = 2), with their core home ranges overlapping the ROW by more than 50 percent. Despite the fence crossings, all home ranges were bounded by the highway and no rattlesnake road mortality was observed. Operative temperature models revealed that the ROW provided warmer thermal regimes that were rare or unavailable in the forest. On average, field preferred gestation temperatures (Tb= 29.7°C, SD = 1.8) could be attained or exceeded for more than 5 times as many hours per day in the ROW (7.8 hours) than in the forest (1.4 hours). Habitat selection models indicated gravid females selected warmer thermal habitats that were spatially concentrated in the ROW and edge habitats, while non-gravid snakes avoided the ROW beyond the forest edge. Habitat use within the ROW was mostly limited to rocky microhabitat structures, especially riprap stone piles and subsurface rock crevices on roadcuts, which provided buffered thermal regimes with refugia from extreme temperatures during the day and warmer Tethrough the night. In forested landscapes, we encourage road planners to consider whether new road corridors are likely to introduce basking sites, and if so, maintain those features on the habitat-side of exclusion fencing, and consider restoring basking sites in the surrounding forest to reduce the potential for ecological trap formation.
Common methodological pitfalls in ICI pneumonitis risk prediction studies
Authors: Chen Yichen K. , Welsh Sarah , Pillay Ardon M. , Tannenwald Benjamin , Bliznashki Kamen , Hutchison Emmette , Aston John A. D. , Schönlieb Carola-Bibiane , Rudd James H. F. , Jones James , Roberts Michael
Published: September 2023

Background

Pneumonitis is one of the most common adverse events induced by the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), accounting for a 20% of all ICI-associated deaths. Despite numerous efforts to identify risk factors and develop predictive models, there is no clinically deployed risk prediction model for patient risk stratification or for guiding subsequent monitoring. We believe this is due to systemic suboptimal approaches in study designs and methodologies in the literature. The nature and prevalence of different methodological approaches has not been thoroughly examined in prior systematic reviews.

Methods

The PubMed, medRxiv and bioRxiv databases were used to identify studies that aimed at risk factor discovery and/or risk prediction model development for ICI-induced pneumonitis (ICI pneumonitis). Studies were then analysed to identify common methodological pitfalls and their contribution to the risk of bias, assessed using the QUIPS and PROBAST tools.

Results

There were 51 manuscripts eligible for the review, with Japan-based studies over-represented, being nearly half (24/51) of all papers considered. Only 2/51 studies had a low risk of bias overall. Common bias-inducing practices included unclear diagnostic method or potential misdiagnosis, lack of multiple testing correction, the use of univariate analysis for selecting features for multivariable analysis, discretization of continuous variables, and inappropriate handling of missing values. Results from the risk model development studies were also likely to have been overoptimistic due to lack of holdout sets.

Conclusions

Studies with low risk of bias in their methodology are lacking in the existing literature. High-quality risk factor identification and risk model development studies are urgently required by the community to give the best chance of them progressing into a clinically deployable risk prediction model. Recommendations and alternative approaches for reducing the risk of bias were also discussed to guide future studies.
Impacts of coral bleaching on reef fish abundance, biomass and assemblage structure at remote Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles: insights from two survey methods
Authors: Koester Anna , Gordó−Vilaseca Cesc , Bunbury Nancy , Ferse Sebastian C. A. , Ford Amanda , Haupt Philip , A’Bear Luke , Bielsa Maria , Burt April Jasmine , Letori Jake , Mederic Emma , Nancy Ella , Sanchez Cheryl , Waller Matt , Wild Christian
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Coral bleaching immediately impacts the reef benthos, but effects on fish communities are less well understood because they are often delayed and confounded by anthropogenic interactions.

Methods

We assessed changes in fish abundance, biomass and community composition before and after the 2015/16 coral bleaching event at Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles, where local human impacts are minimal, but reefs suffered 50% bleaching-induced coral mortality. We monitored 12 shallow (2–5 m water depth) and nine deep (15 m water depth) permanent survey sites using two survey methods: indicator surveys recording 84 taxa over six years (pre-: 2014; post-bleaching: 2016–2019, 2021), sizing fish based on six size-class categories, and extended fish surveys recording 198 taxa over two years (pre-: 2015; post-bleaching: 2020) with size estimates to the nearest cm (excluding fish < 8 cm).

Results

During indicator surveys, mean fish abundance did not change on deep reefs. However, abundance increased by 77% on shallow reefs between 2014 and 2016, which was mainly driven by increases in herbivores and omnivores, likely as a response to elevated turf algae cover following coral mortality. Overall (and functional group-specific) indicator fish biomass did not differ between 2014 and 2016 and remained at or above pre-bleaching levels throughout 2016–2021. In contrast, extended fish surveys in 2015 and 2020 showed a 55–60% reduction in overall abundance on shallow and deep reefs, and a 69% reduction in biomass on shallow reefs, with decreases in biomass occurring in all functional groups. Biomass on deep reefs did not differ between 2015 and 2020. Multivariate analysis of both data sets revealed immediate and long-lasting differences between pre- and post-bleaching fish community compositions, driven largely by herbivorous, omnivorous and piscivorous taxa.

Discussion

Results from the indicator surveys suggest that the bleaching event had limited impact on fish abundance and biomass, while the extended surveys recorded changes in abundance and biomass which would otherwise have gone undetected. Our findings improve understanding of the shift a broad community of fish undergoes following a mass coral bleaching event and highlights the value of survey methods that include the full suite of species to detect ecological responses to environmental drivers.
Design and performance evaluation of a novel metamaterial broadband THz filter for 6G applications
Authors: Althuwayb Ayman A. , Rashid Nasr , Elhamrawy Osama I. , Kaaniche Khaled , Khan Imran , Byun Yung-Cheol , Madsen Dag Øivind
Published: September 2023

Terahertz (THz) radiation, which has applications in the imaging of objects, non-destructive testing, satellite communication, medical diagnostics, and biosensing, has generated a great deal of attention due to its remarkable properties. This paper proposes a novel broadband filter for THz applications. The main idea is to overcome the insertion loss and bandwidth issues by modeling a frequency-domain finite difference method and guided-mode resonance (GMR). The optimal design scheme of the wideband pass filter based on the circular resonant ring is discussed by comparing the transmission parameters under various parameters. This scheme overcomes the restriction of the narrow passband bandwidth of the prior THz filters and achieves approximately 3 dB bandwidth of 0.54 THz. The proposed THz filter paper also has the advantages of a straightforward structure, low processing costs, and ease of conformal with other structures, and it can be used for stealth fighters, new communication technology, and precise instruments. In addition, when compared to existing models, the suggested filter offers higher 3 dB BW operation, increased transmittance, low insertion loss, and stable performance at various oblique angles.
Real area of contact and tractions on the patterned surfaces generated by spinodal decomposition and amplified instability
Authors: Lee Wonhyeok , Eriten Melih
Published: September 2023

Past decades featured significant advancements in additive and micromanufacturing that facilitated the creation of functional patterned surfaces with impressive spatial resolutions. However, these techniques are expensive and require a considerable amount of time and energy, and hence lack scalability to practical surfaces. Recent techniques employing spinodal decomposition and instabilities amplified via centrifugal acceleration offer viable and cheaper alternatives. The patterns created by those techniques, however, vary randomly in geometry. When interfacing those patterned surfaces with other components and under self-contact scenarios, geometric variations lead to stress concentration and abrupt failure around the contact. In this study, we investigate numerically real contact areas, contact tractions, and stress concentration. We generate patterned surfaces in congruence with actual surfaces created by those techniques. Then, we conduct normal-contact analyses of those surfaces boundary element method (BEM) under nominal mean pressures ranging from 0.001E* to E*, where E* is the contact modulus. We record real contact areas and stress concentration as a function of nominal mean pressures. We compare these values with the analytical solutions from sinusoidally-patterned and randomly rough surfaces. Randomness in pattern geometry is primarily influenced by the processing parameters such as the degree of anisotropy in spinodal decomposition and acceleration in amplified instabilities. To understand the influence of the processing parameters, we perform a parametric study. We find isotropic spinodal decomposition creates patterns that deliver contact area and traction distributions similar to randomly rough surfaces, and lead to high-stress concentrations. Such high-stress concentrations are expected to occur under self-contact loading scenarios, and thus can explain the compromised resilience and strength in recently-proposed spinodal metamaterials. For patterned surfaces created by amplified instabilities, high-stress concentrations are obtained for the surfaces created at high accelerations. At high accelerations, increased elastic instabilities and stochastic growth result in a more skewed and broader distribution in heights. Therefore, high-stress concentrations are inevitable. To account for combined loading scenarios, we conduct additional simulations on the same surface patterns with frictional pre-sliding contacts. We find the frictional tractions play a secondary role in stress concentrations where the primary factor is the processing parameters determining the degree of randomness in pattern geometry.
Assessing the probiotic potential, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of oat and soy milk fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains isolated from Tibetan Kefir
Authors: Aziz Tariq , Xingyu Hu , Sarwar Abid , Naveed Muhammad , Shabbir Muhammad Aqib , Khan Ayaz Ali , Ulhaq Taqweem , Shahzad Muhammad , Zhennai Yang , Shami Ashwag , Sameeh Manal Y. , Alshareef Sahar A. , Tashkandi Manal Abdulbari , Jalal Rewaa S.
Published: September 2023

Sufficient intake of probiotics has been shown to help in the digestion, protect the body against pathogenic microorganisms and boost the immune system. Recently, due to high prevalence of milk allergies and lactose intolerance in population, the non-dairy based probiotic alternative are becoming increasing popular. In this context, the oat milk and soya milk-based fermented products can be an ideal alternative for the development of Lactic acid bacteria bacteria based probiotics. These bacteria can not only improve the product’s flavor and bioavailability but also increases its antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities due to fermentation process. The purpose of the resent work was to assess the antioxidant and probiotic properties of oat and soy milk that had been fermented with three different strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) including L. plantarum 12–3, L. plantarum K25, and L. plantarum YW11 isolated from Tibetan Kefir. Different validated assays were used to evaluate the probiotic properties, adhesion and survival in the digestive system (stomach, acid and bile salts resistance), antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and safety (ABTS and DPPH scavenging assays) of these strains. Results of the study showed that soya milk and oat milk fermented with L. plantarum strains possess promising probiotic, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These results can be helpful to produce dairy-free probiotic replacements, which are beneficial for those who are unable to consume dairy products due to dietary or allergic restrictions.
Age-dependent changes on fractalkine forms and their contribution to neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Eugenín Jaime , Eugenín-von Bernhardi Laura , von Bernhardi Rommy
Published: September 2023

The chemokine fractalkine (FKN, CX3CL1), a member of the CX3C subfamily, contributes to neuron–glia interaction and the regulation of microglial cell activation. Fractalkine is expressed by neurons as a membrane-bound protein (mCX3CL1) that can be cleaved by extracellular proteases generating several sCX3CL1 forms. sCX3CL1, containing the chemokine domain, and mCX3CL1 have high affinity by their unique receptor (CX3CR1) which, physiologically, is only found in microglia, a resident immune cell of the CNS. The activation of CX3CR1contributes to survival and maturation of the neural network during development, glutamatergic synaptic transmission, synaptic plasticity, cognition, neuropathic pain, and inflammatory regulation in the adult brain. Indeed, the various CX3CL1 forms appear in some cases to serve an anti-inflammatory role of microglia, whereas in others, they have a pro-inflammatory role, aggravating neurological disorders. In the last decade, evidence points to the fact that sCX3CL1 and mCX3CL1 exhibit selective and differential effects on their targets. Thus, the balance in their level and activity will impact on neuron–microglia interaction. This review is focused on the description of factors determining the emergence of distinct fractalkine forms, their age-dependent changes, and how they contribute to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. Changes in the balance among various fractalkine forms may be one of the mechanisms on which converge aging, chronic CNS inflammation, and neurodegeneration.
Dietary practice and nutritional status and the respective effect of pulses-based nutrition education among adolescent girls in Northwest Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Mekonnen Fantahun Ayenew , Biks Gashaw Andargie , Azale Telake , Mengistu Netsanet Worku
Published: September 2023

Background

Thinness and stunting are the most severe public health problems among adolescent girls in Ethiopia. An inadequate intake of protein-source foods is the most critical cause, mainly due to the non-affordability of animal-origin foods. However, research into what extent improving pulses-based food consumption could contribute to decreasing the magnitude of protein-energy undernutrition is limited.

Objective

This trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pulses-based nutrition education in reducing the proportion of thinness among adolescent girls.

Methods

A two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among adolescent girls in Northwest Ethiopia from December 2021 to June 2022. A total of 602 adolescent girls from four schools were enrolled in the trial. Schools were assigned to intervention and control groups using the stratified cluster randomization method. Pulses-based nutrition education was the intervention, whereas the usual dietary practice of adolescent girls was the comparator. The education was delivered over 4 weeks on a 45–60-min session per week basis. Thinness was the primary outcome of the trial, measured by anthropometry. An intention-to-treat analysis method was used. A log-binomial regression model was fitted to the data. Relative risk with the respective confidence interval and value of p was calculated. A value of p < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Stata 16 software was used for the analysis.

Results

About 89.37% of the participants in the intervention group and 92.36% in the control group completed the trial. The pulses-based nutrition education intervention did not show a significant difference in reducing the proportion of thinness among the participants in the intervention group compared to the participants in the control group even though a significant difference was observed in terms of the consumption of pulses-based food.

Conclusion

The present trial was statistically non-significant in reducing thinness among adolescent girls. Similar studies that utilize objective methods for ascertaining pulses-based food consumption need to be conducted.

Clinical trial registration: https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/Search.aspx, the trial was registered in the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR202111605102515) on November 12, 2021.
Mechanism of the antidiabetic action of Nigella sativa and Thymoquinone: a review
Authors: Shaukat Arslan , Zaidi Arsalan , Anwar Haseeb , Kizilbash Nadeem
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Long used in traditional medicine,Nigella sativa(NS; Ranunculaceae) has shown significant efficacy as an adjuvant therapy for diabetes mellitus (DM) management by improving glucose tolerance, decreasing hepatic gluconeogenesis, normalizing blood sugar and lipid imbalance, and stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic cells. In this review, the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of NS as a herbal diabetes medication are examined in depth, demonstrating how it counteracts oxidative stress and the onset and progression of DM.

Methods

This literature review drew on databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed and various gray literature sources using search terms like the etiology of diabetes, conventional versus herbal therapy, subclinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, physiology, behavior, and clinical outcomes.

Results

The efficiency and safety of NS in diabetes, notably its thymoquinone (TQ) rich volatile oil, have drawn great attention from researchers in recent years; the specific therapeutic dose has eluded determination so far. TQ has anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties but has not proved druggable. DM’s intimate link with oxidative stress, makes NS therapy relevant since it is a potent antioxidant that energizes the cell’s endogenous arsenal of antioxidant enzymes. NS attenuates insulin resistance, enhances insulin signaling, suppresses cyclooxygenase-2, upregulates insulin-like growth factor-1, and prevents endothelial dysfunction in DM.

Conclusion

The interaction of NS with mainstream drugs, gut microbiota, and probiotics opens new possibilities for innovative therapies. Despite its strong potential to treat DM, NS and TQ must be examined in more inclusive clinical studies targeting underrepresented patient populations.
A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the efficacy and safety of ciprofol (HSK3486) versus propofol for anesthetic induction and non-ICU sedation
Authors: Hung Kuo-Chuan , Chen Jen-Yin , Wu Shao-Chun , Huang Po-Yu , Wu Jheng-Yan , Liu Ting-Hui , Liu Chien-Cheng , Chen I-Wen , Sun Cheuk-Kwan
Published: September 2023

Background: Ciprofol (HSK3486) is a novel intravenous anesthetic agent that bears structural similarity to propofol and displays favorable pharmacodynamic characteristics such as rapid onset and offset. The meta-analysis aimed at comparing the efficacy and safety of ciprofol versus propofol in clinical practice.

Methods: Medline, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library were searched from inception to April 2023. The primary outcome was success rate of sedation/anesthetic induction and differences in sedation/induction time. The secondary outcomes included risks of hemodynamic instability, respiratory complications, and pain on injection, as well as recovery profiles, satisfaction score, and top-up dose requirement.

Results: Twelve RCTs (sedation: n = 6, anesthetic induction, n = 6, all conducted in China) involving 1,793 patients (age: 34–58 years) published from 2021 to 2023 were analyzed. Pooled results revealed no differences in success rate [risk ratio (RR) = 1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99 to 1.01, I2 = 0%, 1,106 patients, p = 1] and time required for successful anesthetic induction/sedation [mean difference (MD) = 7.95 s, 95% CI: −1.09 to 16.99, I2 = 97%, 1,594 patients, p = 0.08]. The risks of top-up dose requirement (RR = 0.94, p = 0.48), cardiopulmonary complications [i.e., bradycardia (RR = 0.94, p = 0.67), tachycardia (RR = 0.83, p = 0.68), hypertension (RR = 1.28, p = 0.2), hypoxemia/pulmonary depression (RR = 0.78, p = 0.24)], and postoperative nausea/vomiting (RR = 0.85, p = 0.72), as well as discharge time (MD = 1.39 min, p = 0.14) and satisfaction score (standardized MD = 0.23, p = 0.16) did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, the ciprofol group had lower risks of hypotension (RR = 0.85, p = 0.02) and pain on injection (RR = 0.17, p < 0.00001) than the propofol group. The time to full alertness was statistically shorter in the propofol group (i.e., 0.66 min), but without clinical significance.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated similar efficacy between ciprofol and propofol for sedation and anesthetic induction, while ciprofol was associated with lower risks of hypotension and pain on injection. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ciprofol in pediatric or the elderly populations.

Systematic Review Registration: (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/), identifier (CRD42023421278).
Advancing herbal medicine: enhancing product quality and safety through robust quality control practices
Authors: Wang Hongting , Chen Ying , Wang Lei , Liu Qinghui , Yang Siyu , Wang Cunqin
Published: September 2023

This manuscript provides an in-depth review of the significance of quality control in herbal medication products, focusing on its role in maintaining efficiency and safety. With a historical foundation in traditional medicine systems, herbal remedies have gained widespread popularity as natural alternatives to conventional treatments. However, the increasing demand for these products necessitates stringent quality control measures to ensure consistency and safety. This comprehensive review explores the importance of quality control methods in monitoring various aspects of herbal product development, manufacturing, and distribution. Emphasizing the need for standardized processes, the manuscript delves into the detection and prevention of contaminants, the authentication of herbal ingredients, and the adherence to regulatory standards. Additionally, it highlights the integration of traditional knowledge and modern scientific approaches in achieving optimal quality control outcomes. By emphasizing the role of quality control in herbal medicine, this manuscript contributes to promoting consumer trust, safeguarding public health, and fostering the responsible use of herbal medication products.
Genome-wide identification of the AOMT gene family in wax apple and functional characterization of SsAOMTs to anthocyanin methylation
Authors: Wei Xiuqing , Li Liang , Xu Ling , Zeng Lihui , Xu Jiahui
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Anthocyanins are major pigments in the peels of red-series wax apple fruits, and two principal components of them, namely, the cyanin and the peonidin, are non-methoxylated and methoxylated anthocyanins, respectively. Anthocyanin O-methyltransferases (AOMTs) are an important group of enzymes that have the ability to catalyze anthocyanins methylation to promote the solubility, stability, and bioactivity of anthocyanins. Although AOMT genes have been studied in a variety of plants, the function of them in wax apple is generally not well understood.

Methods

The anthocyanin composition in peels of two wax apple cultivars was determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLS-MS). The genome-wide analysis of the AOMT genes was performed with bioinformatics technology, and the expression patterns of different plant tissues, cultivars, fruit ripening stages, and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatments were analyzed by transcriptome sequencing analysis and real-time quantitative PCR verification. An initial functional evaluation was carried out in vitro using recombinant the Anthocyanin O-methyltransferase Gene 5 of S. samarangense (SsAOMT5) protein.

Results

Only two main compositions of anthocyanin were found in peels of two wax apple cultivars, and it was worth noting that Tub Ting Jiang cultivar contained non-methoxylated anthocyanin (Cy3G) only, whereas Daye cultivar contained both non-methoxylated and methoxylated (Pn3G) anthocyanins. A total of six SsAOMT genes were identified in the whole genome of wax apple, randomly distributing on three chromosomes. A phylogenic analysis of the protein sequences divided the SsAOMT gene family into three subgroups, and all SsAOMTs had highly conserved domains of AOMT family. In total, four types of stress- related and five types of hormone- related cis-elements were discovered in the promoter region of the SsAOMTs. Expression pattern analysis showed that SsAOMT5 and SsAOMT6 were expressed in all tissues to varying degrees; notably, the expression of SsAOMT5 was high in the flower and fruit and significantly higher in Daye peels than those of other cultivars in the fruit ripening period. Exogenous ABA treatment significantly increased anthocyanin accumulation, but the increase of methoxylated anthocyanin content did not reach significant level compared with those without ABA treatment, whereas the expression of SsAOMT5 upregulated under ABA treatment. We identified two homologous SsAOMT5 genes from Daye cultivar (DSsAOMT5) and Tub Ting Jiang cultivar (TSsAOMT5); the results of functional analyses to two SsAOMT5 recombinant proteins in vitro demonstrated that DSsAOMT5 showed methylation modification activity, but TSsAOMT5 did not.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SsAOMT5 was responsible for methylated anthocyanin accumulation in the peels of wax apple and played an important role in red coloration in wax apple peels.
Macropinocytosis in Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (Rhodophyta)
Authors: Chen Haihong , Hu Yiyi , Yang Guanpin , Li Pingping , Yin Jingru , Feng Xiaoqing , Wu Qiong , Zhang Jingyu , Xiao Baoheng , Sui Zhenghong
Published: September 2023

Macropinocytosis is an endocytic process that plays an important role in animal development and disease occurrence but until now has been rarely reported in organisms with cell walls. We investigated the properties of endocytosis in a red alga, Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis. The cells non-selectively internalized extracellular fluid into large-scale endocytic vesicles (1.94 ± 0.51 μm), and this process could be inhibited by 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl) amiloride, an macropinocytosis inhibitor. Moreover, endocytosis was driven by F-actin, which promotes formation of ruffles and cups from the cell surface and facilitates formation of endocytotic vesicles. After vesicle formation, endocytic vesicles could be acidified and acquire digestive function. These results indicated macropinocytosis in G. lemaneiformis. Abundant phosphatidylinositol kinase and small GTPase encoding genes were found in the genome of this alga, while PI3K, Ras, and Rab5, the important participators of traditional macropinocytosis, seem to be lacked. Such findings provide a new insight into endocytosis in organisms with cell walls and facilitate further research into the core regulatory mechanisms and evolution of macropinocytosis.
Contributing factors for self-reported HIV in male Peruvian inmates: results of the 2016 prison census
Authors: Culquichicón Carlos , Zapata-Castro Luis E. , Soto-Becerra Percy , Silva-Santisteban Alfonso , Konda Kelika A. , Lescano Andrés G.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Worldwide, prisons are high-risk settings for the transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV. There is a need to understand the health conditions of prisoners to improve and implement timely strategies for HIV diagnosis and control. Hence, we aimed to identify factors associated with self-reported HIV (srHIV) among Peruvian inmates.

Methods

This study is a secondary data analysis of the First Peruvian Prison Census conducted in 2016. We estimated the prevalence of srHIV in prisoners who were male at birth and the association of srHIV with other social conditions, criminal records, and prevalent health conditions. Nested models identified a multivariable parsimonious model for factors associated with srHIV and yielding prevalence ratios adjusted by the included parameters.

Results

The census surveyed 71,087 male inmates of whom 0.4% reported srHIV (n = 305), and 82% of whom were receiving antiretroviral treatment (n = 220). In our final multivariable model, srHIV was independently associated with age between 36 and 55 years old vs. >55 years old [parsimonious prevalence ratio (pPR) = 1.98, 95% CI, 0.96–4.08], having a stable partner out of prison (pPR = 1.64, 95% CI, 1.24–2.19), being homosexual (pPR = 4.16, 95% CI, 2.50–6.90), self-report of prevalent tuberculosis co-infection (pPR = 2.55, 95% CI, 1.82–3.58), self-report of prevalent sexually transmitted infections (pPR = 34.49, 95% CI, 24.94–47.70), and self-report of prevalent illicit drug use 30 days before the survey (pPR = 1.91, 95% CI, 1.43–2.56).

Conclusion

Self-reported HIV is associated with multiple social, health and prison risks among Peruvian inmates. Deeply understanding these factors would help to design HIV prevention and control strategies in Peruvian prisons.