bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PKM Penyuluhan Hukum Tentang Kekerasan pada Anak di Madrasah Aliyah Zainul Bahar Wringin Bondowoso
Authors: Marzuki Ismail , Jamhuri Muhammad , Nawawi Mohammad Ridwan , Al Farisi Muhaimin Iskandar , Irfan Irfan
Published: January 2023

Kekerasan pada anak di Indonesia kerap kali terjadi, baik kekerasan yang bersifat fisik maupun non fisik. Hampir sulit menemukan lingkungan yang ramah bagi anak, karena berbagai bentuk kekerasan terjadi di banyak tempat, tidak hanya di ruang publik, kekerasan juga bisa saja terjadi di rumah, bahkan di lingkungan sekolah. Pengabdian ini bertujuan untuk memberikan edukasi kepada peserta didik terkait dengan kekerasan pada anak, bentuk-bentuk kekerasan pada anak, hingga penanganan hukum jika terjadi kekerasan pada anak. Adapun metode yang digunakan dalam pengabdian ini ialah melalui penyuluhan dengan memaparkan secara jelas dan komprehensif tentang kekerasan pada anak dalam sudut pandang hukum. Sementara hasil dari kegiatan penyuluhan ini ialah bahwa kegiatan ini sangat bermanfaat bagi siswa karena banyak sekali pengetahuan baru yang mereka peroleh selama mengikuti kegiatan, mulai dari makna kekerasan pada anak dalam perspektif hukum di Indonesia, berbagai bentuk kekerasan pada anak, beberapa faktor yang menjadi pemicu atau penyebab terjadinya kekerasan pada anak, hingga langkah-langkah atau upaya penanggulangan tindak kekerasan pada anak
PELAYANAN PROGRAM DISDUKCAPIL ONLINE DALAM PENERBITAN KARTU IDENTITAS ANAK DI DINAS KEPENDUDUKAN DAN PENCATATAN SIPIL KOTA BANJARMASIN PROVINSI KALIMANTAN SELATAN
Authors: Harsono Dony Dwi
Published: January 2023

The purpose of the research is to find out how the Online Disdukcapil program services in the Issuance of Children's Identity Cards in the Banjarmasin City Population and Civil Registration Office. This study uses qualitative descriptive methods. The results showed that the Population and Civil Registration Office of Banjarmasin city had carried out public services according to service standards in the manufacture of KIA, where the service was carried out online using the WhatsApp (WA) application via android phone, the cost incurred was only ten thousand rupiah to pay for postal courier services that would deliver KIA to the applicant who made it. The provision of facilities and infrastructure has been adequate in accordance with the Covid-19 health protocol, and place competent officers so as to facilitate in the provision of services. In the results of this study, many people still do not know and understand about this service and socialization is needed how this service should be obtained by the community. Lack of interest in parents to register for KIA, the absence of sanctions rules from the government or sanctions written in the policy for the community, especially parents whose children do not have a kia even though kia is required, there is still a lack of cooperation with business partnerships In addition there are also some technical obstacles, especially from the internet network and not all people have android phones and understand the mechanism of online services.

 

Keywords: Online Service, Child Identity Card, Population Office and Civil Registration
City Branding Kota Bandung Sebagai Kota Berpotensi Melalui Program Sister City
Authors: Mayangswari Nindy Metha , Mardhatillah Yudha
Published: January 2023

Bandung has several sister city program, but the sister city program with Suwon City is the most successful by the Government of Bandung. But in fact, the sister city program Bandung Suwon-City did not go well. This study is done to find out why (the reason) Bandung conduct a sister city program with Suwon. This study is a qualitative research with paradigm of constructivism and using study case method. The data collection is done by observations, interviews, and literature reviews. The results of this study is that there are some commonalities which underlie the establishment of the sister city program. They are the friendships between the two mayors who served the cities, the similarity of geographic, demographic, education and culture, also the same vision and mission of both cities.
Bactericidal Activity of Different Generations of Quaternary Ammonium Disinfectants as per EN 1276: A Comparative Study
Authors: Gaurav Sharma , Kiranjeet Kaur , Rajesh Kumar
Published: January 2023

The most challenging issues facing modern medical practices are microbial infections acquired from Hospitals (HAIs). Different generations of disinfectants based on quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are used to address the challenges posed by HAIs. However, the antimicrobial efficacy of disinfectants varies significantly because of compositions and factors like hard water and the presence of interfering materials. The utilization of inefficient QACs disinfectants can result in a further increase in the incidents of HAIs and resistance in microbes. In the present study, the impact of organic load and hard water on the antimicrobial efficacy of different generation QACs disinfectants was evaluated using European norm EN 1276.
Permainan Lilin Plastisin Sebagai Stimulasi Motorik Halus Anak dalam Persiapan Menulis
Authors: Nuareni Indri , Nuriska Sepia , Fitrunnisa Sheila
Published: January 2023

This study aims to find out how giving stimulation using plasticine wax games has an effect on children's fine motor development in preparation for writing. The method used is by filling out a questionnaire using a Google form which is disseminated online. The results of the fine motor research analysis through filling out the questionnaire obtained 35 respondents, namely parents with children aged 2-6 years. As many as 31.4% of respondents have children aged 6 years, 40% of respondents have children aged 5 years, 8.6% of respondents have children aged 2 and 4 years. . These students are given a stimulus using a plasticine candle game. Stimulus is given by educators as well as parents at school and at home. Plasticine games help the child's fine motor development process develop optimally. Optimal fine motoric development of children determines children's writing skills.
From Research Evaluation to Research Analytics. The digitization of academic performance measurement
Authors: Krüger Anne K. , Petersohn Sabrina
Published: January 2023

One could think that bibliometric measurement of academic performance has always been digital since the computer-assisted invention of the Science Citation Index. Yet, since the 2000s, the digitization of bibliometric infrastructure has accelerated at a rapid pace. Citation databases are indexing an increasing variety of publication types. Altmetric data aggregators are producing data on the reception of research outcomes. Machine-readable persistent identifiers are created to unambiguously identify researchers, research organizations, and research objects; and evaluative software tools and current research information systems are constantly enlarging their functionalities to make use of these data and extract meaning from them. In this article, we analyse how these developments in evaluative bibliometrics have contributed to an extension of indicator-based research evaluation towards data-driven research analytics. Drawing on empirical material from blogs and websites as well as from research and policy papers, we discuss how interoperability, scalability, and flexibility as material specificities of digital infrastructures generate new ways of data production and their assessment, which affect the possibilities of how academic performance can be understood and (e)valuated.
What Does It Mean to Measure a Smile? Assigning numerical values to emotions
Authors: Arnelid Maria , Harrison Katherine , Johnson Ericka
Published: January 2023

This article looks at the implications of emotion recognition, zooming in on the specific case of the care robot Pepper introduced at a hospital in Toronto. Here, emotion recognition comes with the promise of equipping robots with a less tangible, more emotive set of skills – from companionship to encouragement. Through close analysis of a variety of materials related to emotion detection software – iMotions – we look into two aspects of the technology. First, we investigate the how of emotion detection: what does it mean to detect emotions in practice? Second, we reflect on the question of whose emotions are measured, and what the use of care robots can say about the norms and values shaping care practices today. We argue that care robots and emotion detection can be understood as part of a fragmentation of care work: a process in which care is increasingly being understood as a series of discrete tasks rather than as holistic practice. Finally, we draw attention to the multitude of actors whose needs are addressed by Pepper, even while it is being imagined as a care provider for patients.
Role of artificial intelligence in moderating the innovative financial process of the banking sector: a research based on structural equation modeling
Authors: Rabbani M. R. , Lutfi A. , Ashraf M. A. , Nawaz N. , Ahmad Watto W.
Published: January 2023

This study seeks to find the moderating role of AI in the association between a bank’s innovative financial process and the bank’s market share. The data were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS software. The estimations were performed using structural equation modeling estimation techniques such as the measurement model, outer loading, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and SEM estimations. The initial estimations indicated factor as well as construct reliability and validity. The study concluded that an innovative financial process plays a vital role in enhancing the bank’s market share. However, artificial intelligence could not significantly moderate the relationship. The policymakers in the banking industry of Pakistan need to consider the up-gradation in the system of their financial process by innovation and artificial intelligence usage awareness in their existing staff as well their banking customers. Future research may include a similar model for Islamic as well as commercial banks in a comparative model. Additionally, future research may also include more banks as innovative financial institutions to get a greater sample size for a possible influence of artificial intelligence.
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte enrichment predicted by CT radiomics analysis is associated with clinical outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Park Changhee , Jeong Dong Young , Choi Yeonu , Oh You Jin , Kim Jonghoon , Ryu Jeongun , Paeng Kyunghyun , Lee Se-Hoon , Ock Chan-Young , Lee Ho Yun
Published: January 2023

Background

Enrichment of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is a reliable biomarker of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Phenotyping through computed tomography (CT) radiomics has the overcome the limitations of tissue-based assessment, including for TIL analysis. Here, we assess TIL enrichment objectively using an artificial intelligence-powered TIL analysis in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) image and analyze its association with quantitative radiomic features (RFs). Clinical significance of the selected RFs is then validated in the independent NSCLC patients who received ICI.

Methods

In the training cohort containing both tumor tissue samples and corresponding CT images obtained within 1 month, we extracted 86 RFs from the CT images. The TIL enrichment score (TILes) was defined as the fraction of tissue area with high intra-tumoral or stromal TIL density divided by the whole TME area, as measured on an H&E slide. From the corresponding CT images, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator model was then developed using features that were significantly associated with TIL enrichment. The CT model was applied to CT images from the validation cohort, which included NSCLC patients who received ICI monotherapy.

Results

A total of 220 NSCLC samples were included in the training cohort. After filtering the RFs, two features, gray level variance (coefficient 1.71 x 10-3) and large area low gray level emphasis (coefficient -2.48 x 10-5), were included in the model. The two features were both computed from the size-zone matrix, which has strength in reflecting intralesional texture heterogeneity. In the validation cohort, the patients with high predicted TILes (≥ median) had significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared to those with low predicted TILes (median 4.0 months [95% CI 2.2–5.7] versus 2.1 months [95% CI 1.6–3.1], p = 0.002). Patients who experienced a response to ICI or stable disease with ICI had higher predicted TILes compared with the patients who experienced progressive disease as the best response (p = 0.001, p = 0.036, respectively). Predicted TILes was significantly associated with progression-free survival independent of PD-L1 status.

Conclusions

In this CT radiomics model, predicted TILes was significantly associated with ICI outcomes in NSCLC patients. Analyzing TME through radiomics may overcome the limitations of tissue-based analysis and assist clinical decisions regarding ICI.
The endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor IRE1α modulates macrophage metabolic function during Brucella abortus infection
Authors: Guimarães Erika S. , Gomes Marco Túlio R. , Sanches Rodrigo C. O. , Matteucci Kely Catarine , Marinho Fábio V. , Oliveira Sergio C.
Published: January 2023

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a major role in several inflammatory disorders. ER stress induces the unfolded protein response (UPR), a conserved response broadly associated with innate immunity and cell metabolic function in various scenarios. Brucella abortus, an intracellular pathogen, triggers the UPR via Stimulator of interferon genes (STING), an important regulator of macrophage metabolism during B. abortus infection. However, whether ER stress pathways underlie macrophage metabolic function during B. abortus infection remains to be elucidated. Here, we showed that the UPR sensor inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) is as an important component regulating macrophage immunometabolic function. In B. abortus infection, IRE1α supports the macrophage inflammatory profile, favoring M1-like macrophages. IRE1α drives the macrophage metabolic reprogramming in infected macrophages, contributing to the reduced oxidative phosphorylation and increased glycolysis. This metabolic reprogramming is probably associated with the IRE1α-dependent expression and stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), an important molecule involved in cell metabolism that sustains the inflammatory profile in B. abortus-infected macrophages. Accordingly, we demonstrated that IRE1α favors the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) which has been described as an HIF-1α stabilizing factor. Furthermore, in infected macrophages, IRE1α drives the production of nitric oxide and the release of IL-1β. Collectively, these data unravel a key mechanism linking the UPR and the immunometabolic regulation of macrophages in Brucella infection and highlight IRE1α as a central pathway regulating macrophage metabolic function during infectious diseases.
Quantitative cardiac autonomic outcomes of hydrotherapy in women during the first stage of labor
Authors: Dias Raquel Aparecida , de Faria Cardoso Cláudia , Ghimouz Rym , Nono Daniel Alessander , Silva José Antônio , Acuna Juan , Baltatu Ovidiu Constantin , Campos Luciana Aparecida
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Most hydrotherapy studies during childbirth report findings related to pain using a widespread set of subjective measures. In this study, ECG biomarkers as quantitative cardiac autonomic outcomes were used to assess the effects of warm shower hydrotherapy on laboring women during the first stage of labor.

Methods

This was a prospective single-blind cohort study on stage I delivering women. Their cardiac autonomic function was assessed using heart rate variability (HRV) measures during a deep breathing test using point-of-care testing comprised of an HRV scanner system with wireless ECG enabling real-time data analysis and visualization. Labor pain and anxiety were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VASP) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). A total of 105 pregnant women in the first stage of labor who received warm shower hydrotherapy, intravenous analgesia (scopolamine + sodium dipyrone), or spinal anesthetic (bupivacaine + morphine) were enrolled.

Results

In women during the first stage of labor, parasympathetic modulation reflected through RMSSD (root mean square of successive RR interval differences) was significantly reduced by hydrotherapy and intravenous analgesia (before vs. after mean rank diff. 35.73 and 65.93, respectively,p< 0.05). Overall HRV (SDNN, standard deviation of RR intervals) was significantly decreased only by intravenous analgesia (before vs. after mean rank diff. 65.43,p< 0.001). Mean heart rate was significantly increased by intravenous analgesia, while spinal anesthesia reduced it, and hydrotherapy did not alter it (before vs. after mean rank diff. –49.35*, 70.38*, –24.20NS, respectively, *p< 0.05,NSnot significant).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that warm shower therapy may impact the sympathovagal balanceviaparasympathetic withdrawal in women during the initial stage of labor. The findings of this study provide quantitative support for using warm shower hydrotherapy during laborviapoint-of-care testing. The dependability of hydrotherapy as a non-pharmacological treatment is linked to the completion of more clinical research demonstrating quantitative evidenceviaoutcome biomarkers to support indications on stress and birth progress.
Mapping the implementation and challenges of clinical services for psychosis prevention in England
Authors: Estradé Andrés , Spencer Tom John , De Micheli Andrea , Murguia-Asensio Silvia , Provenzani Umberto , McGuire Philip , Fusar-Poli Paolo
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Indicated primary prevention of psychosis is recommended by NICE clinical guidelines, but implementation research on Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P) services is limited.

Methods

Electronic audit of CHR-P services in England, conducted between June and September 2021, addressing core implementation domains: service configuration, detection of at-risk individuals, prognostic assessment, clinical care, clinical research, and implementation challenges, complemented by comparative analyses across service model. Descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U-tests were employed.

Results

Twenty-four CHR-P clinical services (19 cities) were included. Most (83.3%) services were integrated within other mental health services; only 16.7% were standalone. Across 21 services, total yearly caseload of CHR-P individuals was 693 (average: 33; range: 4–115). Most services (56.5%) accepted individuals aged 14–35; the majority (95.7%) utilized the Comprehensive Assessment of At Risk Mental States (CAARMS). About 65% of services reported some provision of NICE-compliant interventions encompassing monitoring of mental state, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and family interventions. However, only 66.5 and 4.9% of CHR-P individuals actually received CBT and family interventions, respectively. Core implementation challenges included: recruitment of specialized professionals, lack of dedicated budget, and unmet training needs. Standalone services reported fewer implementation challenges, had larger caseloads (p = 0.047) and were more likely to engage with clinical research (p = 0.037) than integrated services.

Discussion

While implementation of CHR-P services is observed in several parts of England, only standalone teams appear successful at detection of at-risk individuals. Compliance with NICE-prescribed interventions is limited across CHR-P services and unmet needs emerge for national training and investments.
Downregulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Juglone-Treated Bovine Oocytes
Authors: El-Sheikh Marwa , Mesalam Ayman , Khalil Atif Ali Khan , Idrees Muhammad , Ahn Mi-Jeong , Mesalam Ahmed Atef , Kong Il-Keun
Published: January 2023

We have previously reported that juglone, a natural compound found in Juglandaceae with a wide range of biological activities, can reduces the developmental competence of bovine oocytes. In the current study, we investigated the possible mechanisms behind the toxicity of juglone and the relationship with PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling during the in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes. Results show that oocyte exposure to juglone was associated with a significant decrease in filamentous actin (F-actin) accumulation. The RT-qPCR showed downregulation of the meiosis progression indicator GSK-3A, oocyte development marker BMP15, mitochondria fusion controlling MFN1, oxidative stress-related OGG1, and histone methylation-related EZH1, EZH2, SUZ12, G9a, and SUV39H2 genes in juglone-treated oocytes. In addition, glycolysis- (PFK1 and GLUT1), ATP synthesis- (ATPase8 and ATP5F1B), and OXPHOS-specific markers (SDHA and SDHD), as well as the oocyte survival regulators (SOD2, VEGF, and MAPK1) significantly decreased upon juglone treatment. Moreover, lower expression of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR was observed at the transcriptional and/or translational level(s). The autophagy markers LC3B and beclin-1 as well as the DNA damage-specific marker 8-OxoG displayed overexpression in juglone-exposed oocytes. Taken together, our results show that administration of juglone during the IVM can reduce the quality and developmental health of bovine oocytes through downregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and its downstream signaling cascades.
Effects of the Queue Discipline on System Performance
Authors: Raicu Serban , Costescu Dorinela , Popa Mihaela
Published: January 2023

Queue systems are essential in the modelling of transport systems. Increasing requirements from the beneficiaries of logistic services have led to a broadening of offerings. Consequently, models need to consider transport entities with priorities being assigned in relation to the costs corresponding to different classes of customers and/or processes. Waiting lines and queue disciplines substantially affect queue system performance. This paper aims to identify a solution for decreasing the waiting time, the total time in the system, and, overall, the cost linked to queueing delays. The influence of queue discipline on the waiting time and the total time in the system is analysed for several cases: (i) service for priority classes at the same rate of service with and without interruptions, and (ii) service for several priority classes with different service rates. The presented analysis is appropriate for increasing the performance of services dedicated to freight for two priority classes. It demonstrates how priority service can increase system performance by reducing the time in the system for customers with high costs. In addition, in the considered settings, the total time in the system is reduced for all customers, which leads to resource savings for system infrastructures.
Modified Padé–Borel Summation
Authors: Gluzman Simon
Published: January 2023

We revisit the problem of calculating amplitude at infinity for the class of functions with power-law behavior at infinity by means of a resummation procedure based on the truncated series for small variables. Iterative Borel summation is applied by employing Padé approximants of the “odd” and “even” types modified to satisfy the power-law. The odd approximations are conventional and are asymptotically equivalent with an odd number of terms in the truncated series. Even approximants are new, and they are constructed based on the idea of corrected approximants. They are asymptotically equivalent to the even number of terms in truncated series. Odd- and even-modified Padé approximants could be applied with and without a Borel transformation. The four methods are applied to some basic examples from condensed matter physics. We found that modified Padé–Borel summation works well in the case of zero-dimensional field theory with fast-growing coefficients and for similar examples. Remarkably, the methodology of modified Padé–Borel summation appears to be extendible to the instances with slow decay or non-monotonous behavior. In such situations, exemplified by the problem of Bose condensation temperature shift, the results are still very good.
Understanding the Role of Connectivity Dynamics of Resting-State Functional MRI in the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comprehensive Study
Authors: ElNakieb Yaser , Ali Mohamed T. , Elnakib Ahmed , Shalaby Ahmed , Mahmoud Ali , Soliman Ahmed , Barnes Gregory Neal , El-Baz Ayman
Published: January 2023

In addition to the standard observational assessment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), recent advancements in neuroimaging and machine learning (ML) suggest a rapid and objective alternative using brain imaging. This work presents a pipelined framework, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that allows not only an accurate ASD diagnosis but also the identification of the brain regions contributing to the diagnosis decision. The proposed framework includes several processing stages: preprocessing, brain parcellation, feature representation, feature selection, and ML classification. For feature representation, the proposed framework uses both a conventional feature representation and a novel dynamic connectivity representation to assist in the accurate classification of an autistic individual. Based on a large publicly available dataset, this extensive research highlights different decisions along the proposed pipeline and their impact on diagnostic accuracy. A large publicly available dataset of 884 subjects from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange I (ABIDE-I) initiative is used to validate our proposed framework, achieving a global balanced accuracy of 98.8% with five-fold cross-validation and proving the potential of the proposed feature representation. As a result of this comprehensive study, we achieve state-of-the-art accuracy, confirming the benefits of the proposed feature representation and feature engineering in extracting useful information as well as the potential benefits of utilizing ML and neuroimaging in the diagnosis and understanding of autism.
Biomechanical Modeling of Cerebral Aneurysm Progression to Estimate Rupture Risk
Authors: Yadav Prem Nath , Singh Gurpreet , Gupta Shubham , Chanda Arnab
Published: January 2023

A cerebral aneurysm is a medical condition described as the bulging out of the cerebral artery under adverse pressure conditions. Patients with such medical conditions have a mortality of 20% and additional morbidity of 30–40% due to aneurysm rupture. The currently used imaging tools such as MRI and CT scans only provide geometrical information of the aneurysm and not the rupture risk associated with the progression of the aneurysm. A novel computational modeling framework was developed to model aneurysm progression and evaluate the stress distribution under varying pressure loading conditions to bridge this gap. Image segmentation was used to segment two middle cerebral arteries (MCA) and reconstructed to design aneurysm models at vulnerable sites for aneurysm progression simulation. Five aneurysm sizes and two different wall thicknesses were modeled to simulate different stages of aneurysm progression. Three pressures (i.e., diastolic, systolic, and hypertensive) were adopted to mimic the realistic pressure loading scenario for the middle cerebral arteries, and the stress distributions across all the models were estimated to understand the rupture risk. It was observed that the induced stresses in the aneurysm walls increased with an increase in the aneurysm diameter and blood pressure. Additionally, an aneurysm with a large diameter and thin walls exhibited a high risk of rupture, especially at high blood pressures. The reported results are anticipated to help medical practitioners predict rupture risks with known imaging-based aneurysm sizes and make timely decisions for such aneurysm conditions.
Comparative Efficacy of Novel Biomimetic Remineralising Technologies
Authors: Shen Peiyan , Fernando James R. , Yuan Yi , Reynolds Coralie , Reynolds Eric C.
Published: January 2023

Biomimetic technologies for the remineralisation of enamel subsurface lesions (ESLs) have been developed and include: fluorocalcium phosphosilicate bioglass (BG/F); casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP–ACP) and with fluoride (CPP–ACFP); and self-assembling oligopeptide P11-4 (SAP). The aim of this study was to compare the remineralisation of ESLs in vitro using these technologies. Human enamel slabs with ESLs were cut into two half-slabs; one half-slab was untreated (control), and the other half was treated by exposure to one of the four technologies with artificial saliva (AS) or AS alone for 14 days at 37 °C. The technologies were applied to the ESL surface according to the manufacturer’s instructions. At the completion of each treatment, the treated half-slabs and their paired control half-slabs were embedded, sectioned and the mineral content was determined using transverse microradiography. The change in mineral content (remineralisation) between treatments was statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA. The order from highest to lowest remineralisation was CPP–ACFP (52.6 ± 2.6%) > CPP–ACP (43.0 ± 4.9%) > BG/F (13.2 ± 2.5%) > SAP (5.8 ± 1.6%) > AS (2.1 ± 0.5%). Only CPP–ACFP and CPP–ACP produced remineralisation throughout the body of the lesions. All four biomimetic technologies had some effect on the remineralisation of ESLs; however, CPP–ACFP with calcium, phosphate and fluoride ions stabilised by CPP was superior in the level and pattern of remineralisation obtained.
The Morphology of the Pituitary Gland: A Meta-Analysis with Implications for Diagnostic Imaging
Authors: Bonczar Michał , Wysiadecki Grzegorz , Ostrowski Patryk , Michalczak Mateusz , Plutecki Dawid , Wilk Jakub , Michalik Weronika , Walocha Jerzy , Balawender Krzysztof , Iskra Tomasz , Lusina Dariusz , Koziej Mateusz , Radek Maciej , Żytkowski Andrzej
Published: January 2023

The objective of this meta-analysis was to present transparent data on the morphology of the pituitary gland (PG) using the available data in the literature. The main online medical databases, such as PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science, were searched to gather all relevant studies regarding PG morphology. The mean overall volume of the PG was found to be 597.23 mm3 (SE = 28.81). The mean overall height of the PG was established to be 5.64 mm (SE = 0.11). The mean overall length of the PG was found to be 9.98 mm (SE = 0.26). In the present study, the PG’s overall morphology and morphometric features were analyzed. Our results showed that, on average, females from Asia have the highest volume of PG (706.69 mm3), and males from Europe have the lowest (456.42 mm3). These values are crucial to be aware of because they represent the normal average properties of the PG, which may be used as reference points when trying to diagnose potential pathologies of this gland. Furthermore, the present study’s results prove how the PG’s size decreases with age. The results of the present study may be helpful for physicians, especially surgeons, performing procedures on the PG.
Prevalence of Germline BRCA1/2 Variants in Ashkenazi and Non-Ashkenazi Prostate Cancer Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cioffi Antonio , De Cobelli Ottavio , Veronesi Paolo , La Vecchia Carlo , Maisonneuve Patrick , Corso Giovanni
Published: January 2023

Background and aims: International guidelines recommend testing BRCA2 in men with prostate cancer, due to the presence of a strong association with this gene. Some ethnicities present disparities in genetic distribution for the relation with specific founder variants. Ashkenazi Jewish people are, importantly, at high risk of breast cancer for their inherited cluster with germline BRCA1/2 variants. However, in Ashkenazi men with prostate cancer, the prevalence of BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 is not well defined. We assessed the frequency of these variants in Ashkenazi vs. non-Ashkenazi men with prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: In accord with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, we revised all germline BRCA variants reported in MEDLINE from 1996 to 2021 in Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi men with prostate cancer. Results: Thirty-five original studies were selected for the analysis. Among populations from Israel and North America, Ashkenazi Jewish men presented higher prevalence of BRCA1 variants [0.9% (0.4–1.5) vs. 0.5% (0.2–1.1), p = 0.09] and a lower prevalence of BRCA2 variants [1.5% (1.1–2.0) vs. 3.5% (1.7–5.9), p = 0.08] in comparison to the non-Ashkenazi population. Conclusions: Since germline BRCA1 variants are more prevalent and BRCA2 variants are less prevalent in PCa patients of Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity in comparison to non-Ashkenazi patients, prostate cancer genetic screening in Ashkenazi men should not be restricted to the BRCA2 gene.
A “Seed-and-Soil” Radiomics Model Predicts Brain Metastasis Development in Lung Cancer: Implications for Risk-Stratified Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation
Authors: Chu Xiao , Gong Jing , Yang Xi , Ni Jianjiao , Gu Yajia , Zhu Zhengfei
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Brain is a major site of metastasis for lung cancer, and effective therapy for developed brain metastasis (BM) is limited. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) has been shown to reduce BM rate and improve survival in small cell lung cancer, but this result was not replicated in unselected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and had the risk of inducing neurocognitive dysfunctions. We aimed to develop a radiomics BM prediction model for BM risk stratification in NSCLC patients. Methods: 256 NSCLC patients with no BM at baseline brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were selected; 128 patients developed BM within three years after diagnosis and 128 remained BM-free. For radiomics analysis, both the BM and non-BM groups were randomly distributed into training and testing datasets at an 70%:30% ratio. Both brain MRI (representing the soil) and chest computed tomography (CT, representing the seed) radiomic features were extracted to develop the BM prediction models. We first developed the radiomic models using the training dataset (89 non-BM and 90 BM cases) and subsequently validated the models in the testing dataset (39 non-BM and 38 BM cases). A radiomics BM score (RadBM score) was generated, and BM-free survival were compared between RadBM score-high and RadBM score-low groups. Results: The radiomics model developed from baseline brain MRI features alone can predict BM development in NSCLC patients. A fusion model integrating brain MRI features with primary tumor CT features (seed-and-soil model) provided synergetic effect and was more efficient in predicting BM (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.84 (95% confidence interval: 0.80–0.89) and 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.71–0.88) in the training and testing datasets, respectively). BM-free survival was significantly shorter in the RadBM score-high group versus the RadBM score-low group (Log-rank, p < 0.001). Hazard ratios for BM were 1.056 (95% confidence interval: 1.044–1.068) per 0.01 increment in RadBM score. Cumulative BM rates at three years were 75.8% and 24.2% for the RadBM score-high and RadBM score-low groups, respectively. Only 1.2% (7/565) of the BM lesions were located within the hippocampal avoidance region. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that intrinsic features of a non-metastatic brain exert a significant impact on BM development, which is first-in-class in metastasis prediction studies. A radiomics BM prediction model utilizing both primary tumor and pre-metastatic brain features might provide a useful tool for individualized PCI administration in NSCLC patients more prone to develop BM.
BTK Isoforms p80 and p65 Are Expressed in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) and Involved in Tumor Progression
Authors: Betzler Annika C. , Strobel Hannah , Abou Kors Tsima , Ezić Jasmin , Lesakova Kristina , Pscheid Ronja , Azoitei Ninel , Sporleder Johanna , Staufenberg Anna-Rebekka , Drees Robert , Weissinger Stephanie E. , Greve Jens , Doescher Johannes , Theodoraki Marie-Nicole , Schuler Patrick J. , Laban Simon , Kibe Toshiro , Kishida Michiko , Kishida Shosei , Idel Christian , Hoffmann Thomas K. , Lavitrano Marialuisa , Grassilli Emanuela , Brunner Cornelia
Published: January 2023

Here, we describe the expression of Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines as well as in primary HNSCC samples. BTK is a kinase initially thought to be expressed exclusively in cells of hematopoietic origin. Apart from the 77 kDa BTK isoform expressed in immune cells, particularly in B cells, we identified the 80 kDa and 65 kDa BTK isoforms in HNSCC, recently described as oncogenic. Importantly, we revealed that both isoforms are products of the same mRNA. By investigating the mechanism regulating oncogenic BTK-p80/p65 expression in HNSSC versus healthy or benign tissues, our data suggests that the epigenetic process of methylation might be responsible for the initiation of BTK-p80/p65 expression in HNSCC. Our findings demonstrate that chemical or genetic abrogation of BTK activity leads to inhibition of tumor progression in terms of proliferation and vascularization in vitro and in vivo. These observations were associated with cell cycle arrest and increased apoptosis and autophagy. Together, these data indicate BTK-p80 and BTK-p65 as novel HNSCC-associated oncogenes. Owing to the fact that abundant BTK expression is a characteristic feature of primary and metastatic HNSCC, targeting BTK activity appears as a promising therapeutic option for HNSCC patients.
Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals JAK2/MPL-Independent Effects of Calreticulin Mutations in a C. elegans Model
Authors: Guijarro-Hernández Ana , Eder-Azanza Laura , Hurtado Cristina , Navarro-Herrera David , Ezcurra Begoña , Novo Francisco Javier , Cabello Juan , Vizmanos José Luis
Published: January 2023

There is growing evidence that Ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are disorders in which multiple molecular mechanisms are significantly disturbed. Since their discovery, CALR driver mutations have been demonstrated to trigger pathogenic mechanisms apart from the well-documented activation of JAK2/MPL-related pathways, but the lack of experimental models harboring CALR mutations in a JAK2/MPL knockout background has hindered the research on these non-canonical mechanisms. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 was performed to introduce homozygous patient-like calreticulin mutations in a C. elegans model that naturally lacks JAK2 and MPL orthologs. Whole-genome transcriptomic analysis of these worms was conducted, and some of the genes identified to be associated with processes involved in the pathogenesis of MPNs were further validated by qPCR. Some of the transcriptomic alterations corresponded to typically altered genes and processes in cancer and Ph-negative MPN patients that are known to be triggered by mutant calreticulin without the intervention of JAK2/MPL. However, interestingly, we have also found altered other processes described in these diseases that had not been directly attributed to calreticulin mutations without the intervention of JAK2 or MPL. Thus, these results point to a new experimental model for the study of the JAK2/MPL-independent mechanisms of mutant calreticulin that induce these biological alterations, which could be useful to study unknown non-canonical effects of the mutant protein. The comparison with a calreticulin null strain revealed that the alteration of all of these processes seems to be a consequence of a loss of function of mutant calreticulin in the worm, except for the dysregulation of Hedgehog signaling and flh-3. Further analysis of this model could help to delineate these mechanisms, and the verification of these results in mammalian models may unravel new potential therapeutic targets in MPNs. As far as we know, this is the first time that a C. elegans strain with patient-like mutations is proposed as a potential model for leukemia research.
Wavelet Transform Makes Water an Outstanding Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Probe
Authors: Wang Mian , An Hongle , Cai Wensheng , Shao Xueguang
Published: January 2023

Wavelet transform (WT) has been proven to be a powerful chemometric method for processing analytical data. In this review, works on the application of WT in processing near-infrared (NIR) spectrum were summarized, emphasizing the structural analysis of water in aqueous systems. The spectral features of water can be obtained from the resolution-enhanced NIR spectrum with the help of WT. Taking advantage of WT in resolution enhancement and the sensitivity of NIR spectroscopy for water, the spectral features for different water structures can be obtained, which makes water to be a potential NIR spectroscopic probe to detect the structural information of water and analyte in aqueous systems. Using the spectral variation of water with temperature, the interaction of water and solutes, and the role of water in chemical and bio-processes, such as the aggregation of proteins and polymers, was demonstrated. The spectral changes of the NIR spectrum with temperature were found able to reflect the structural changes of biomolecules or polymers in the analyzing systems.
Two Years of Life for a New Journal: Compounds
Authors: Mejuto Juan C.
Published: January 2023

The present year marked the third year of Compounds (ISSN 2673-6918), which was born in 2021 with the aim of providing a platform for the communication of scientific achievements in the field of the synthesis, characterization, and properties of chemical compounds from both a theoretical point of view as experimental [...]
Development and Characterization of Thermal Water Gel Comprising Helichrysum italicum Essential Oil-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles for Skin Care
Authors: Saraiva Sofia , Crespo Ana , Vaz Filipa , Filipe Melanie , Santos Daniela , Jacinto Telma , Paiva-Santos Ana , Rodrigues Márcio , Ribeiro Maximiano , Coutinho Paula , Araujo André
Published: January 2023

Helichrysum italicum essential oil (H. italicum EO) is recognized for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. The main goal of the present work was the development and characterization of a gel formulation comprising H. italicum EO loaded in chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) for dermatological applications. H. italicum EO-loaded chitosan NPs presented hydrodynamic diameter and PdI of about 300 nm and 0.28, respectively, and a surface charge of +19 mV. The H. italicum EO-loaded chitosan NPs were prepared by means of ionic gelation and then incorporated into a thermal water gel formulation. The organoleptic and physicochemical properties of the developed gel were studied. The gel remained stable under accelerated test conditions, maintaining pH, viscosity and organoleptic properties. In addition, the formulation presented pH, viscosity and spreadability properties suitable for topical application. Finally, the performance of the gel in topical application was evaluated on the skin of volunteers using non-invasive methods, particularly, by means of biometric evaluation. These assays showed that the properties of the developed thermal water-based gel formulation with H. italicum EO-loaded chitosan NPs can improve skin hydration and maintain healthy skin conditions, demonstrating its putative role for distinct dermatological applications.
Seeding Pattern Impact at Crop Density Establishment and Grain Yield of Maize
Authors: Banaj Anamarija , Banaj Đuro , Stipešević Bojan , Nemet Franjo
Published: January 2023

Maize is the most represented grain crop on the world’s arable land. It is mostly grown using standard sowing at an inter-row distance of 70 cm. However, growing in two rows (double-row sowing) is increasingly common today. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of different spatial distributions of the same population of maize plants on the yield of maize grains in a larger range of the FAO maize hybrid maturing group. The experiment lasted 5 years and was set up at two locations in Jakšić (Požeško-Slavonia County) and Lužani (Brodsko-Posavina County). Maize sowing with standard sowing was carried out with a PSK OLT seed drill with an inter-row spacing of 70 cm, while double-row sowing was carried out with a MaterMacc Twin Row-2 seed drill in two rows spaced 22 cm apart in a zigzag arrangement and 48 cm apart between adjacent sowing furrows. In the experiment, a total of three types of maize hybrids were used: H1-Kashmir (FAO 390 maturing group), H2-Kapitolis (FAO 400 maturing group) and H3-Konfites (FAO 450 maturing group). With standard maize sowing, an average set of plants was achieved: 71,946 plants ha−1 (Kashmir), 71,714 plants ha−1 (Kapitolis) and 72,205 plants ha−1 (Konfites), while the double-row sowing achieved a set of plants of 72,166 plants ha−1, 72,104 plants ha−1 and 72,576 plants ha−1. The two-row sowing of the hybrid Kapitolis and Konfites recorded a statistically significant higher set of maize plants. The yield of maize grains in all three types of the hybrid was statistically and significantly higher by 943 kg ha−1 using two-row sowing, and the highest yield was achieved by the Kashmir hybrid (13,406 kg ha−1).
Positive and Negative Electrocaloric Effect in Lead-Free Silver Niobate Antiferroelectric Ceramic Depending on Affluent Phase Transition
Authors: Du Jinhua , Zhao Ye , Li Yong , Sun Ningning , Hao Xihong
Published: January 2023

We prepared a dense AgNbO3 ceramic using a conventional solid-state reaction method. The phase structure, electrical properties and electrocaloric effect (ECE) were systematically investigated. Large negative and positive ECEs (−4.38 °C at 65 °C and 2.3 °C at 210 °C) under an external electric field of 180 kV·cm−1 were obtained in the eco-friendly AgNbO3 antiferroelectric (AFE) ceramic due to affluent phase transition and a high electric field. The large positive and negative ECEs originated from the phase transition between ferrielectric (FIE) phases (the orthorhombic space group (Pmc21) and AFE phases (Pbcm) tuned by an applied external field. Additionally, a probable mechanistic model was proposed to illustrate the generation of positive and negative ECEs. This study may provide guidelines for the design of high-efficiency solid-state cooling devices.
Transfer Learning in Inorganic Compounds’ Crystal Structure Classification
Authors: Mahmoud Hanan Ahmed Hosni
Published: January 2023

Deep learning consists of deep convolutional layers and an unsupervised feature selection phase. The feature selection of deep learning on a large size dataset can be employed in correlated prediction models with small size datasets. This methodology is titled deep transfer learning model and enhances prediction model generalization. In this research, we proposed a prediction model for the crystal structure classification of inorganic compounds. Deep learning models in structure classification are usually trained using a large size dataset of 300 K compounds from different quantum compounds dataset (DS1). The feature selection of the deep learning models is reused for selecting features in a small size dataset (with 30 K inorganic compounds and containing 150 different crystal structures) and three alloy classes. The selected features are then fed into a random decision forest prediction model as input. The proposed convolutional neural network (CNN) with transfer learning realizes an accuracy of 98.5%. The experiment results display the CPU time consumed by our model, comparing the time required by similar models. The CPU classification time of the proposed model is 21 s on average.