bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preliminary experience of transurethral endoscopic laser lithotripsy for bladder calculi under local anesthesia in ambulatory surgery mode
Authors: Wan Hao , Zhou Xiaochen , Chen Tao , Yu Yue , Liu Wei , Deng Wen , Xi Haibo , Fu Bin , chen luyao
Published: September 2023

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of transurethral endoscopic laser lithotripsy for bladder calculi under local anesthesia in ambulatory surgery mode and share preliminary experience. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 35 patients with bladder calculi who underwent transurethral endoscopic laser lithotripsy in the ambulatory surgery room of our hospital from October 2021 to May 2023. All patients were diagnosed with bladder calculi before being admitted to the day surgery room after obtaining informed consent. Demographic and perioperative data were recorded.
Results: In this study, the patient’s age was 54.1 ± 15.2 year (range from 24.0-89.0), with 28 male and 7 female cases. The mean stone size was 2.2 ± 1.1 cm (1.0 - 6.6 cm), and the mean operation time was 31.9 ± 12.3 minutes (15.0-75.0min). The mean pain scores during and after the surgery were 1.7 and 1.3, respectively. No major complications occurred during the surgery. The surgical tolerability was good, all patients were discharged within 24 hours after the surgery. After 3 months of follow-up, all patients had no postoperative discomfort or complications.
Conclusion: Under strict selection criteria and perioperative management, transurethral endoscopic laser lithotripsy for bladder calculi under local anesthesia in ambulatory surgery mode is a safe treatment option, especially for high-risk patients with other comorbidities, those who cannot tolerate general anesthesia, and those who may reduce hospital stay, lower hospitalization costs, and reduce the economic burden on patients.
Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the molecular mechanism of heterosis on waterlogging tolerance in Chrysanthemum indicum
Authors: Su Jiangshuo , Zhao Limin , Yang Yingnan , Yang Yang , Zhang Xuefeng , Guan Zhiyong , Fang Weimin , Chen Fadi , Zhang Fei
Published: September 2023

Background
Heterosis breeding is one of the most important breeding methods of chrysanthemum. Currently, the genetic mechanism of heterosis for waterlogging tolerance in chrysanthemum is still unclear. This study analyzed the expression profiles and potential heterosis-related genes of two hybrid lines and their parents with extreme differences in waterlogging tolerance under control and waterlogging stress conditions using RNA-seq.
Results
A population of 140 F1 progeny derived from Chrysanthemum indicum (Nanchang) (waterlogging-tolerant) and Chrysanthemum indicum (Nanjing) (waterlogging-sensitive) was used to characterize the extent of genetic variation for seven waterlogging tolerance related traits across two years. Lines 98 and 95 respectively showing positive and negative overdominance heterosis for the waterlogging tolerance traits together with their parents were used for RNA-seq under control and waterlogging stress conditions. The results showed line 98 exhibited the maximum number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed multiple stress-related biological processes for the common up-regulated genes. Line 98 had a significant increase in non-additive genes under waterlogging stress, with the transgressive up-regulation and paternal-expression dominance patterns being the major gene expression profiles, further, GO analysis identified 55 and 95 genes overlapped with the up-regulated genes shared by two parents in terms of response to stress and response to stimulus, respectively. A total of 6,640 genes displayed maternal-expression dominance patterns were observed in line 95. In addition, 16 candidate genes including SAP12, DOX1, and ERF017 potentially responsible for the formation of waterlogging tolerance heterosis of line 98 were highlighted.
Conclusion
The current study gives a comprehensive overview of the root transcriptomes at F1 hybrids and their parents, and provides novel insights into the molecular mechanism of heterosis and the response to waterlogging stress in chrysanthemum.
Preexcitation syndrome unveiling Ebstein’s anomaly at an exceptionally advanced age: A case report
Authors: Faraj Raid , Nguadi Jaouad , Fagouri Jihane , Malki Mohamed , Chmali Oumaima , Mekki Abdelilah Ben El , Kheyi Jamal , Asfalou Iliyasse , Bouzelmat Hicham , Benyass Aatif
Published: September 2023

Background: Ebstein’s anomaly represents an infrequent congenital cardiac anomaly characterized by atypical tricuspid valve morphology, accompanied by the displacement of the septal and posterior leaflets towards the right ventricle. This condition is commonly associated with a variety of arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. Pre-excited atrial fibrillation denotes a distinct subtype of atrial fibrillation in which an accessory pathway bypasses the standard atrioventricular conduction system, consequently leading to rapid ventricular response rates.
Case presentation: We present a unique instance of atrial fibrillation with preexcitation revealing Ebstein’s anomaly in an elderly patient. The patient, a 71-year-old individual with no previous medical or surgical history, presented with symptoms of palpitations and shortness of breath. The clinical examination revealed a rapid tachycardia that was poorly tolerated hemodynamically. Electrocardiogram findings demonstrated characteristic features of preexcited atrial fibrillation, which were subsequently confirmed by an electrophysiological study, indicating the presence of an accessory pathway. Echocardiography revealed the typical manifestations of Ebstein’s anomaly. Initially, the patient underwent urgent cardioversion, which successfully restored sinus rhythm. Since the ablation procedure was unsuccessful, the patient's treatment approach was modified to focus on medical management, which ultimately resulted in a favorable outcome.
Conclusions: This unique case sheds light on the complex interplay between cardiac arrhythmias and adult congenital heart disease. Early diagnosis and comprehensive management are crucial in optimizing outcomes and improving the quality of life for patients with this rare combination of cardiac abnormalities. Further research is warranted to better understand the optimal treatment strategies, and long-term outcomes in this specific population.
Oral microbiota dysbiosis in pediatric patients undergoing treatment for acute lymphoid leukemia
Authors: Souza André Vieira , Marinho Nancy Barros , Barbosa Leonardo Vinícius , de Castro Alejandra Adriana Cardoso , Carboni Edna Kakitani , Watanabe Flora Mitie , Costa Libera Maria Dalla , Mesa Dany , Machado-Souza Cleber
Published: September 2023

Background
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common neoplasm in childhood, characterized by rapid production of abnormal lymphoid cells. The instituted chemotherapy for these patients can promote a serious imbalance in oral microbiota.
Methods
A pediatric prospective study using a control group (without ALL) and ALL patients in two moments of treatment (pre-induction and consolidation) was executed. Clinical and laboratorial data was collected. In addition, DNA from saliva samples of patients was extracted for 16S rRNA sequencing.
Results
Clinical data showed higher degree of oral mucositis in the consolidation phase. Analysis of alpha biodiversity (observed taxa) showed a significant decrease in bacterial richness in patients in the consolidation phase. Network analysis showed that the key taxa in the consolidation phase were Neisseria flavescens, Prevotella melaninogenica and Porphyromonas.
Conclusions
The results showed that LLA treatment can lead to significant changes in the composition of the oral microbiota, with reduced bacterial diversity and increased degree of oral mucositis.
Characterization of wear and friction between X160CrMoV12 tool steel and carbon steel sheet during reciprocating sliding tests
Authors: YANGUI Wissal , KALLEL Mouna , ELLEUCH Khaled , GUERMAZI Noamen
Published: September 2023

Hinges manufacturing in the industry is realized in five operations by a progressive die. These steps are crushing, cutting, bending, cold plastic rolling (CPR), and finally calibration. Specific wear of the die was revealed in the CPR process. This experimental work deals with the investigation of the tribological behaviour of tool - workpiece material pairs: a cold work tool material (X160CrMoV12) sliding against carbon steel sheet (S235JR) used in the CPR operation. Special tribological test was developed using a reciprocating sliding tribometer to simulate the contact between the die and the steel sheet. It emerges as an open friction track that reproduces the industrial production conditions. The investigation of tool sliding direction effect versus rolling direction of the sheet was carried out. Furthermore, the effect of Ni-B 25mL/L TiO2 sol composite coating deposited on the X160CrMoV12 steel was studied under the considered tribological configuration. The observations and analyses of the pin surface as well as the friction track of the sheet were conducted by scanning electron microscopy, optical microscope and 3D profilometer. It was found that a significant damage was observed on the X160CrMoV12 pin surface when it slides perpendicular to the rolling direction of the S235JR plate. The Ni-B 25mL/LTiO2 sol composite coating applied on the pin surface showed a reduction of wear on the pin and on the plate. Hence, the friction decreased, and the lifetime of the contact increased, which can be a good alternative for industrial applications.
Multi-Party Privacy Policy Management in Healthcare: User Study and Proposed Solution
Authors: Sun Luyi , Yang Bian , Yeng Prosper , Fauzi Muhammad Ali
Published: September 2023

Background
With the use of assisted living technologies and health monitoring systems, there is an increasing number of electronic health services. Regardless of the benefits that health monitoring systems have brought to users, they are in the face of privacy challenges, which can influence users’ adoption of these technologies. One of the challenges is multi-party privacy policy management.
Objective
We aim to help synchronize privacy settings among several parties, eliminate users’ privacy concerns, increase technology adoption, and ensure health services are better delivered. Methods: We conducted a user study with the scope of collecting several participants’ opinions on multi-party privacy policy management in the context of health monitoring. The study included one focus group and eight semistructured interviews. Eleven participants were recruited in total, and eight questions were predetermined. Content analysis was adopted to extract key information and tables including condensed meaning units were generated.
Results
The user study resulted in five main findings, which were summarized from participants’ answers. Based on these findings, we put forward a four-layer privacy policy management solution to help with the conflict resolution.
Conclusions
In all, participants have a common sense on several questions while some of the questions need to be further investigated. More complicated scenarios will also be considered to improve the multi-party privacy policy management solution in future work.
Factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension amongst Tongan adults: a cross-sectional study
Authors: FIFITA SEINI SIAHI TALANOAFOOU , Nonaka Daisuke , Cama Mele Tilema , Filise Mele Inu
Published: September 2023

Background
Hypertension is responsible for many premature deaths worldwide. However, many individuals with hypertension remain undiagnosed. Tonga is one of the countries that has had a steep increase in hypertension among women. Thus, undiagnosed hypertension could also be increasing. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension among Tongan adults.
Methods
This cross-sectional study used data collected from 473 participants in the six villages on the main island of Tongatapu. Trained surveyors collected the data by conducting interviews and measuring blood pressure through household visits between February and March 2023. The inclusion criteria for study participants were age of 18–65 years, residence in the villages for at least six months, and not being pregnant. Fisher’s exact test and mixed-effect logistic regression were performed using the EZR application to assess the association between undiagnosed hypertension and predictor variables.
Results
The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 22.4% (106/473). There were five variables that were significantly associated with undiagnosed hypertension in Fisher’s exact test and were included in the multivariate logistic regression. Overall, three variables remained significant. First, participants who never had their blood pressure measured had higher prevalence compared to those who had it checked recently (33.3% vs. 26.6%). Participants who were not aware of the risk of developing hypertension were significantly more likely to have undiagnosed hypertension compared to those who were aware (27.9% vs. 16.7%). The last factor was middle-aged participants (30–49 years) and older (50–65 years), who were more likely to have undiagnosed hypertension compared to those who were 18–29 years old (prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension: 30.0% and 23.7% vs.11.8%, respectively).
Conclusion
The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension could be substantial among Tongan adults, indicating a need to address this issue. Undiagnosed hypertension was associated with having experience with blood pressure measurement, lack of awareness about hypertension, and age, so the Tongan government should provide people with more opportunities to have their blood pressure measured and to improve their awareness.
Multiomics reveals the role of ENO1 in bladder cancer and constructs an epithelial-related prognostic model to predict prognosis and efficacy
Authors: Su Zhixiong , You Lijie , He Yufang , Chen Jingbo , Zhang Guifeng , Liu Zhenhua
Published: September 2023

Background α-Enolase (ENO1) is a crucial molecular target for tumor therapy and has emerged as a research hotspot in recent decades. Here, we aimed to explore the role of ENO1 in bladder cancer (BLCA) and then construct a signature to predict the prognosis and treatment response of BLCA.Methods Differential expression, prognosis analysis and in vitro cell experiments were used to reveal the value of ENO1 in BLCA. The R package "Seurat" was used for single-cell RNA sequence (scRNA-seq) data processing. The R package “singleR” and cellMarker website were used to annotate cells. The FindAllMarkers function and “limma” were used to screen hub genes. Univariate Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses were used to construct the signature. Differences in prognosis and treatment between high- and low-risk groups were investigated.Results ENO1 was highly expressed in BLCA tissues, as verified by IHC, and was associated with poor prognosis. The analysis of the tumor immune microenvironment by bulk sequencing and scRNA-seq showed that ENO1 was associated with CD8 + T-cell exhaustion. Additionally, the in vitro results showed that ENO1 could promote the proliferation and invasion of BLCA cells. Then, the analysis of epithelial cells (ECs) revealed that ENO1 might promote BLCA progression by metabolism, the cell cycle and some carcinogenic pathways. A total of 249 hub genes were obtained from differentially expressed genes between ENO1-related ECs, and we used LASSO analysis to construct a novel signature that not only accurately predicted the prognosis of BLCA patients but also predicted the response to treatment for BLCA. Finally, we constructed a nomogram to better guide clinical application.Conclusion Through multiomics analysis, we found that ENO1 was overexpressed in bladder cancer and associated with poor prognosis, CD8 + T-cell exhaustion and epithelial heterogeneity. Finally, the prognosis and treatment of patients can be well predicted by constructing an epithelial cell prognostic signature.
Experience-Dependent Neural Responses to Vocal Vibrato in Opera Singers
Authors: Bihari Adél , Nárai Ádám , Kleber Boris , Zsuga Judit , Hermann Petra , Vidnyánszky Zoltán
Published: September 2023

Extensive research with musicians has shown that instrumental musical training can have a profound impact on how acoustic features are processed in the brain. However, less is known about the influence of singing training on neural activity during voice perception, particularly in response to salient acoustic features, such as the vocal vibrato in classical singing. To address this gap, the present study employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain responses to recorded singing voices that either featured or lacked vibrato. Responses were compared between two distinct groups: operatically trained singers and musically untrained controls who had no musical or singing training. Results indicated that for trained classical singers, perception of vibrato led to differential fMRI activations in bilateral auditory cortical regions and the default mode network (DMN). In contrast, musically untrained controls exhibited differences only in bilateral auditory cortex. These results suggest that training in classical singing leads to experience-dependent neural changes that not only influence sensory processing but also activate self-referential networks in the brain, possibly through embodiment of the acoustic features associated with one's own singing style, such as vibrato.
Trend and variability analysis of long-term meteorological parameters for detecting climate change in Kolkata District, India
Authors: Paira Kanchan , Roy Ritisha , Ao Moatula , Mondal Brihaspati
Published: September 2023

Assessing the temporal dynamics of weather parameters in the perspective of climate change, especially in an urban space characterized by tremendous demographic pressure, various anthropogenic activities, is imperative to examine climatological changes and recommend fruitful policies. Hence, trend and variability analysis wasapplied to examine the change of temperature and rainfall in Kolkata district applying the data of “climate Research Unit (CRU TS 4.04with 0.5° by 0.5° resolution)” and “NASA data access viewer” from 1902 to 2021. Data has been examined using “kurtosis”, “skewness”, and “coefficient of variation”, “anomaly index”, “precipitation concentration index. Furthermore, Spearman’s Rho test, Mann-Kendall test and Innovative trend analysis methods has been applied to detect the trend and variability. Both“Mann-Kendall and spearman’s Rho test”shown that the seasonal (summer and winter) and annual temperature is increasing significantly (P < 0.01), whereas the monthly data record revealed a significant (P < 0.01 and 0.05) rising trend of temperature in all months. The annual and monsoonal rainfall increased significantly. Innovative trend analysis slope recorded rising trend of temperature (+ 0.10) and rainfall (+ 1.67). Study does not found any uniform year (PCI = < 10) of precipitation, however, high (79years) and very high (25years) concentration of precipitation was observed. The variability of temperature implies high and positive outlier frequencies in January (+ 5.31), March (+ 33.5), April (+ 21.83), May (+ 46.00), September (+ 2.94), and seasonally in summer (+ 6.57) and winter (+ 7.89). Present study suggests the need tackle the rising temperature by making awareness about the global warming and its consequences on climate change.
Development and validation of a tool to assess hypertension and diabetes management in older adults within the National Essential Public Health Services Program (NEPHSP) in China
Authors: LIU Lu , LIU Meicen , YANG Linghe , ChEN Xinyue , LIU Yuanli , YOU Lili
Published: September 2023

Purpose
This study aimed to develop and refine an assessment tool for assessing chronic disease management outcomes in older adults based on the National Essential Public Health Services Program (NEPHSP) in China, and to validate its reliability and validity.
Methods
The development of the assessment tool involved generating 40 potential items through a comprehensive review and logical model analysis of the NEPHSP. Data were collected through a survey conducted as part of the 10-year evaluation project of the NEPHSP in China, which took place from November to December 2019. The assessment tool was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficients and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to select and scale potential items, assess internal consistency, establish construct validity, evaluate convergent validity, and confirm discriminant validity.
Results
The assessment tool was structured around a second-order factor model comprising three domains: essential health services for all older adults, follow-up service for older adults with hypertension or diabetes, and self-assessment of patient experience satisfaction. After a two-step process, nine factors and twenty-nine items were selected, including elements such as 'health records and health education,' 'blood pressure/glucose monitoring,' and 'health coaching in follow-up,' among others. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were excellent, measuring at 0.899 and 0.906. The 29-item instruments demonstrated strong fits in both hypertension and diabetes models. Fit indices for the hypertension model included Bollen-Stine bootstrap χ²/df = 1.78, RMSEA = 0.03, and GFI = 0.97. For the diabetes model, the indices were Bollen-Stine bootstrap χ²/df = 1.38, RMSEA = 0.02, and GFI = 0.97. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed factor loadings ranging from 0.516 to 0.940 for the hypertension model and from 0.504 to 0.943 for the diabetes model. All three first-order factors were significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.01), and their correlation coefficients were lower than the square root of AVE. Models had favorable structural validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity.
Conclusions
A valid and reliable assessment tool for evaluating hypertension and diabetes management in the older adults was successfully developed in China. This study provides robust evidence for the internal consistency reliability and structural validity of the tool. Furthermore, it serves as a foundational step for future tool refinement and holds promise for broader applications in essential public health and community healthcare program evaluations. However, further validation in these contexts is warranted.
European Economic Convergence in the 21st century. What can happen in the COVID19 crisis?
Authors: Samaniego Ana Bango , Fernández Aránzazu de Juan
Published: September 2023

Economic convergence is considered to be one of the main pillars of the EU Cohesion Policy. However, GDP per capita gaps can be observed between its Member States under the growing concern that this is due to structural rather than cyclical factors. There have been three main events that may have affected the economic convergence in the European Union in the current century: the Eastern enlargement in 2004, the 2008 crisis and the souvereign debt crisis and the pandemic crisis. The effects on economic convergence of this last event cannot be analyzed today but we can foresee what may happen if we analyze the effects on European economic convergence of the other two events. To do this, we apply different methods to analyze the EU convergence: β− and σ− convergence tests and the most powerful inverted beta (IB- MPI) test (de Juan and Arroyo, 2009b) to GDP per capita database for the European countries in order to test the convergence hypothesis. We consider different periods, 1970-2003, 2004-2021, 1970-2007 and 2008- 2021, to analyse if the economic convergence between the EU members has been affected by these events. This in-depth analysis can help to understand how the economic convergence was in the previous events and to foresee what can happen in the COVID19 crisis with the Next Generation EU funds.
JEL Codes: C12. C22. C52. F02
Benchmarking Android malware analysis tools
Authors: Higuera Javier Bermejo , Moreno Javier Morales , Higuera Juan Ramón Bermejo , Montalvo Juan Antonio Sicilia , Martillo Gustavo Javier Barreiro , Riera Tomas Miguel Sureda
Published: September 2023

Today, malware is arguably one of the biggest challenges organizations face from a cybersecurity standpoint, regardless of the types of devices used in the organization. One of the most malware-attacked mobile operating systems today is Android. In response to this threat, this paper presents research on the functionalities and performance of different malicious Android application package analysis tools including one that uses machine learning techniques. In addition, it investigates how the use of these tools streamlines the process of detection, classification, and analysis of malicious APKs for Android operating system devices. The tools, that use Artificial Intelligence techniques, are more efficient than other current tools that do not use them. In this way, new approaches can be suggested in the specification, design, and development of new tools that help to analyze, from a cybersecurity point of view, the code of applications developed for this environment.
Molecular characterisation of novel reassortment of the G57 genotype of low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2 virus isolated from poultry farms in Malaysia
Authors: Gunasekara Erandi Maheshika , Hair-Bejo M. , Aini I.
Published: September 2023

In late 2017, Malaysia reported repeated low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAI) H9N2 in commercial poultry flocks. However, the complete genome characterisation of the H9N2 viruses has not been studied. Two H9N2 viruses, A/chicken/Malaysia/Negeri Sembilan/UPM994/2018 and A/chicken/Malaysia/Johore/ UPM2033/2019 that were isolated from breeder and layer flocks in Peninsular Malaysia are characterised in this study. A phylogenetic analysis reveals that both viruses are multiple genotype reassortant strains with genes originating from Y280-like (HA gene), F/98-like (NS, NP and PA), G1-like (M and PB2) and Korean-like (PB1) lineages, indicating the viruses belong to a novel genotype divergent from the G57 lineage of Chinese origin. A deduced amino acid analysis reveals a dibasic cleavage site at position 333-PSRSSR-GLF-341 of HA gene cleavage locations. In conclusion, the characterised Malaysian H9N2 is a Y280-like virus resembling H9N2 isolated from Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan and Cambodia. However, the virus is of G57 lineage with a novel genotype of the PB1 gene originating from the Korean lineage H9N2 virus, which has not been detected before in the region.
Causal Associations between Sarcopenia Traits and Cognitive Impairment: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Zhang Hengfei , Wang Heng , Xie Yixu , Sang Xiaole
Published: September 2023

Observational studies had indicated an association between cognitive impairment and sarcopenia, but high-quality causal effect evidence remained lacking. The purpose of this study is to determine the causal relationship between cognitive impairment and sarcopenia through a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study. The inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method was employed as the primary analytical approach to assess causal relationships. Additionally, we conducted sensitivity analyses using MR-Egger and weighted median to complement the IVW results. IVW analysis revealed that walking pace showed causal effects on cognitive performance (OR = 2.171, 95% C.I.: 1.696–2.779, P = 7.6×10− 10) and fluid intelligence (OR = 6.401, 95% C.I.: 3.573–11.467, P = 4.4×10− 10). Similar conclusions were drawn concerning the causal relationship between appendicular lean mass (ALM) with cognitive performance (OR = 1.099, 95% C.I.: 1.074–1.125, P = 1.1×10− 15) and fluid intelligence (OR = 1.237, 95% C.I.: 1.173–1.304, P = 3.1×10− 15). Furthermore, reverse MR analysis demonstrated that genetically predicted cognitive performance (OR = 1.106, 95% C.I.: 1.080–1.133, P = 2.1×10− 16) and fluid intelligence (OR = 1.049, 95% C.I.: 1.034–1.063, P = 1.7×10− 11) were causally associated with walking pace, and so as were ALM (OR = 1.163, 95% C.I.: 1.094–1.237, P = 1.4×10− 6 and OR = 1.066, 95% C.I.: 1.026–1.108, P = 0.0011, respectively). Our Mendelian randomization analysis supported a bidirectional causal effect between sarcopenia traits and cognitive impairment, which suggested the necessity for new therapy and prevention strategies for the corresponding patients. Further investigation is required to explore the individual effects of muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance on the cognitive function, as well as to uncover their underlying pathological mechanisms.
Isn't occupational therapy necessary in the Iberian Peninsula? A qualitative study.
Authors: Gayà-Barroso Aina , González-Moreno Juan , Rodríguez Adrián , Ripoll-Vera Tomás , López Inés Losada , Gili Margarita , Cisneros-Barroso Eugenia , Paneque Milena
Published: September 2023

Occupational therapy is part of integrated care/support in health services. However, there has been little research on how it is applied to rare diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the occupational therapy situation and services offered to patients diagnosed with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in Portugal and Spain. A structured interview was carried out by an occupational therapist with six Portuguese occupational therapists and four Spanish occupational therapists in order to collect the opinions about the reality of occupational therapy. Four interrelated dimensions were addressed. The first was a general perspective on psychosocial resources in health care, addressing questions related to the interventions offered to patients; the second and third was an occupational perspective, asking questions about the role of occupational therapy in the Portuguese and Spanish psychosocial realities; and the fourth dimension was a social perspective that addressed questions about the role of occupational therapy in the Portuguese and Spanish psychosocial realities. All the questions asked in the study ranged from a general approach to a more specific one and were focused on patients diagnosed with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. It was found that there were no occupational therapists currently providing therapeutic interventions to patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in either Portugal or Spain. The results of the non-existence of occupational therapy services show that this group of patients does not have access to such a valid form of occupational intervention. This highlights the importance of developing and introducing the discipline of occupational therapy in the multidisciplinary approach, by creating potential strategies to promote its use.
A Theoretical Study of the Reactivity of 5- Fluorouracil toward Superoxide Radical Anion and Hydroperoxyl Radical
Authors: Nakayama Tatsushi
Published: September 2023

The reactivity of 5-fluoro-1H,3H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione (5-fluorouracil), which is widely used to treat cancer, toward superoxide radical anion (O2•−) and hydroperoxyl radical (HO2•) was investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. 5-Fluorouracil is a pyrimidine analog with cytotoxic effects on cancer cells and potential ecotoxicology as a recalcitrant compound to the natural environment, therefore, clarifying its chemical degradation mechanism is difficult by way of in vivo and in vitro experiments but important for further usage. The DFT results clarified that the oxidation of 5-fluorouracil by O2•− or HO2• in water is feasible through a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) mechanism. In addition, two PCET pathways are proposed, the initial proton transfer followed by a concerted PCET between 5-fluorouracil and O2•−, and a concerted PCET between 5-fluorouracil and HO2• preformed via the protonation of O2•−. In each pathway, the amine groups at the first and third positions of 5-FU act as reaction sites for the concerted PCET after forming a prereactive complex via a hydrogen bond. Considering that the actual oxidant along the PCET pathways is HO2• with a short lifetime, the biodegradability of 5-FU by O2•− (HO2•) is governed by the complex formation step before the concerted PCET.
Unraveling Flow Pathways in Fractured Basalt under Challenging Environmental Conditions: A Synergistic Approach of Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Seismic Refraction Imaging
Authors: Gemail Khaled S. , Ghoneimi Ashraf , Shebl Salah , Soliman Shokry , El-Sayed Kareem , Saleh Ahmed H.
Published: September 2023

The understanding of the site conceptual flow model in fractured-controlled aquifers near landfills and open dumpsites is a challenge for monitoring groundwater pollution as it answers several key issues related to environmental processes. In such hazardous environments, it is essential to define the hydrogeological processes and identify the potential pathways for contamination migration near the dumping sites. Thus, the understanding of fractured basalt characterization with suitable spatial resolution is one of the interesting issues and still open areas of research. This study investigates the potential of combining Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Seismic Refraction Imaging (SRI) techniques for understanding a site conceptual flow model in fractured basalt under a hazardous environment. The research was conducted in an area with a history of environmental contamination, where fractured basalt serves as a major pathway for the migration of pollutants.
In the considered case study, the SRI identifies a shallow water table and attests that the contact of the saturated fractured basalt (1200–1850 m/s) and the massive basalts (>3000m/s) is highly heterogeneous. In addition, the presence of NW conductive and interflow zones (5-10 Ωm) at depths of 5 to 12 m, which could provide a vertical hydraulic connection with the lower aquifer, allows the local percolation of the leachate in the area around the dumpsites. These results show the advantage of the applied approach for delineating the strikes of the prevailing fracture patterns and clarifying the pollution situation at typical composite landfills worldwide. Accordingly, the site conceptual flow model is critical for improving the understanding of hydrogeological and transport processes in such hazardous environments to achieve sustainable management of groundwater resources, as well as for the monitoring of remediation performance.
Effect of Ankle Position on Hamstrings Stiffness and Flexibility during Static Stretching Observational study: Effect of ankle position on hamstring stretching
Authors: Mengtong Chen , Yuting Zhang , Hongxiu Liu , Yanan He , Yuanchao Li , Peifeng Shen , Yiming Chen , Chunlong Liu
Published: September 2023

Objective: Static stretching has been used to improve hamstring flexibility. We investigated the effects of static stretching with the ankle in plantar-flexed(PF), neutral, and dorsiflexed(DF) positions on the stiffness and flexibility of the semitendinosus(ST), biceps femoris(BF), and medial head of the gastrocnemius (MG), and lateral head of the gastrocnemius (LG) muscles.
Methods: Fifty-four healthy adult females were recruited for this study and entered into the ankle plantarflexion, neutral, and dorsiflexion position groups according to randomisation, with muscle stiffness measured using MyotonPRO before and after stretching. Passive hip flexion and active knee extension mobility were measured to assess flexibility.
Results: Hamstring and gastrocnemius stiffness decreased significantly after stretching (ST, BF, MG, LG: P<0.001), there was no difference in ankle position on the change of decrease in hamstring stiffness (P>0.05); hamstring stiffness had the highest rate of change in plantarflexion and greater range of motion in comparison to neutral and dorsiflexion positions; passive hip flexion and active knee extension activity increased significantly (P <0.001), and there was a low correlation between decreased ST stiffness and increased passive hip flexion activity (r=0.275, P=0.044).
Conclusion: Static stretching should be performed with the ankle in plantarflexion to reduce hamstring stiffness and improve flexibility.
Effect of Cu2+/Ce3+ substituted on synthesis, structural, morphological, magnetic, DC electrical resistivity and dielectric properties of Cobalt nano ferrites
Authors: Suryanarayana B. , Nagasree K. L. V. , Shanmukhi P. S. V. , Kiran M. Gnana , Murali N. , Mammo Tulu Wegayehu , Parajuli D. , Batoo Khalid Mujasam , Hussain Sajjad , Samatha K.
Published: September 2023

The sol-gel auto-combustion method was used to synthesize the nano ferrite compounds Co1 − xCuxFe2−yCeyO4 (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75; y = 0.0, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.09). Synthesized nano ferrites with appropriate characteristics sintered at 1150°C for 2h in the transition metals (Cu2+) and rare earth (Ce3+) were used to customise the spinel ferrites' properties. FTIR, FESEM, XRD, VSM, DC electrical resistivity, and dielectric properties examined the spinel nano ferrites' vibrational bands, phase, morphology, structure, and magnetic and electrical characteristics. XRD data was used to analyze the average crystallite size, x-ray density and lattice constant, confirming the formation of the cubic spinel structure of the prepared samples. The grain size values in the FESEM pictures range from 41.07 to 156 nm. An increase in lattice parameter suggests the occupancy of substituted Cu2+/Ce3+ ions in the tetrahedral site, further supported by the FTIR spectra between 415 cm− 1 to 430 cm− 1. It has been measured magnetic properties, such as the magnetic moment, anisotropy constant, saturation magnetization, coercivity, and remanence ratio, were examined. With increasing concentrations of Cu2+/Ce3+ ions, the saturation magnetization (Ms), coercivity (Hc), and remanence (Mr) exhibit a strikingly declining trend. The activation energy varies from 0.52 eV to 0.62 eV, and the increased DC resistivity with increasing Cu2+/Ce3+ content shows their semiconducting nature. Koop's theory describes the dielectric properties, including the dielectric constant, tangent loss, and AC impedance, which are calculated as functions of the frequency of the applied field. All of these factors are seen to decline as frequency increases and become frequency-independent above 1 MHz. Due to their dielectric characteristics, synthetic spinel ferrites are potential candidates for use in the high-frequency region.
Centrosymmetric Constrained Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Zheng Keyin , Qian Yuhua , Yuan Zhian , Peng Furong
Published: September 2023

Complex signals can be viewed as compositions of numerous sine waves with different frequencies and amplitudes. As the fundamental unit of perceiving image features, traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) typically employ convolutional kernels without direct constraints. However, human perception of the world is inherently structured, relevant studies have indicated that considering the potential underlying correlation structures among data features or variables holds significant value, with particular emphasis on symmetric transformations in representation learning gaining attention in the field of neuroscience. Inspired by the process of human visual concept perception and classic image feature detection operators, when the convolution kernels have a similar scale to the objects, they produce larger responses. This paper introduces constraints on model parameters using centrosymmetric convolutional kernels. Under the influence of nonlinear combinations and local connections in neural networks, these kernels can diversely represent or perceive local image features. Experimental comparisons are conducted, and it is observed that the approach proposed in this paper not only enhances the convergence and accuracy of model, but also reduces the model solution space, resulting in an interpretable perception of local concepts. Furthermore, comparative experiments with classic deep CNNs have demonstrated comparable performance.
Construct Validity of the Japanese Version of the Reynolds Empathy Scale for Patients to Assess Nurses’ Empathy: A Cross-sectional Research Study
Authors: Aoki Yoshimi , Himichi Toshiyuki , Katayama Harumi
Published: September 2023

Background
Empathy education for the nursing profession is needed. The evaluation of empathy education requires not only self-evaluation but also evaluation by patients and third parties. The Reynolds Empathy Scale is a 12-item scale that was developed to allow not only self-assessment of empathy by healthcare professionals but also patient and peer assessment. The purpose of this study was to verify the construct validity of the Japanese version of the Reynolds Empathy Scale for patient assessment. The scale was translated into Japanese by the principal investigators to make it easier to understand.
Methods
This study used a cross-sectional design. Patients eligible for nursing care. Individuals registered with a research company and who have been hospitalized. To test content validity, a preliminary expert meeting was held. For hypothesis testing, three patterns of cartoons with different empathy behaviors and attitudes were used. The three cartoons were the high empathy nurse, the low empathy nurse, and the self-centered nurse. The target population consisted of those who had been hospitalized and were registered with a research company, taking into account the age of Japanese patients in general. The analyses were item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and the t test. SPSS and R were used for analysis. Hypothesis testing using cartoons resulted in higher scores for the high empathy nurse than for the low empathy nurse and self-centered nurse. Data were collected on the subject’s age, gender, and three cartoons related to nurses’ behaviors and attitudes as assessed using the Reynolds Empathy Scale.
Results
Data from 1004 participants were used in the analysis. Factor analysis resulted in a one-factor model with a reverse item factor structure. The hypothesis was supported.
Conclusions
The Reynolds Empathy Scale is a one-factor construct, and the measurements were hypothesis-directed. Construct validity was generally confirmed statistically.
Trial registration:
This study was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, the Ethical Guidelines for Life Sciences and Medical Research Involving Human Subjects, and other relevant regulations and was approved by the Ethics Committee for Life Science and Medical Research at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine (No. 22–050).
Fractional Differentiation Based Image Enhancement for Automatic Detection of Malignant Melanoma
Authors: Anber Basmah , Yurtkan Kamil
Published: September 2023

Recent improvements in artificial intelligence and computer vision make it possible to automatically detect some of the abnormalities in medical images. Skin lesion is one of them and the treatments are greatly aided by the quick and precise diagnosis of these conditions. The identification and delineation of boundaries inside skin lesions has showed promise when using the basic image processing approach of edge detection, to be used in automatic detection. We investigate the use of fractional differentiation in this work to improve edge-detection in order to enhance the images. We propose a framework based on fractional differential filters for edge detection in skin lesion images. The derived images are then used to enhance the original images. Obtained images then undergo a classification process based on deep learning models. A well-studied dataset of HAM10000 is used in the experiments. The results show that these filters are effective in avoiding noise and detecting intricate edge details that can be informative during the recognition processes.
Application of response surface methodology in optimizing simultaneous extraction of multiple mycotoxins in maize via QuEChERS
Authors: Mbisana Mesha , Mogopodi Dikabo , Tshepho Rebagamang , Chibua Inonge , Nkoane Bonang
Published: September 2023

Several methods have been developed for the analysis and detection of mycotoxins in food; however, they do not make use of critical statistics and mathematical tools for precise optimization. The goal of this study was to use a central composite design (CCD) to find the true optimum values for acetonitrile percentage MeCN (%), formic acid percentage FA (%), extraction time, and salt addition in the QuEChERS-LC-MS/MS method for extracting certain mycotoxins. Data analysis of full factorial screening experiments revealed that MeCN (%), FA (%), and extraction time significantly affected the analyte recovery. Analysis of variance, coefficient tables, and surface plots from CCD showed the relative interactions of factors and the statistical significance of the model. The P values from the lack of fit test ranged from 0.137 to 0.467, which indicated an insignificant lack of fit. A composite desirability function of 0.91 was found for the method, and the optimum conditions were found to be 0.1% (v/v) FA in 80.2% MeCN for 74 minutes. To demonstrate applicability, method validation was carried out according to Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/808. Recoveries ranging from 85.45–113.70% and CVs below 15% were obtained. All R2 values were above 0.98, and LOQs ranging from 0.33 to 60.45 µg/Kg were recorded. This method was tested on twenty maize samples collected from markets in Botswana. Thirteen samples had detectable mycotoxins, and two had levels of AFB1 above the maximum permitted level by the European Union (EU). This indicates the possibility of exposure for Botswana to high levels of AFB1, the most toxic of mycotoxins.
Machine learning-based integration identifies ferroptosis hub genes in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Dai Longfei , Yuan Wenkang , Jiang Renao , Zhan Zhicheng , Zhang Liangliang , Xu Xinjian , Qian Yuyang , Yang Wenqi , Zhang Zhen
Published: September 2023

Background
Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent mode of cellular demise, precipitates the accumulation of lipid peroxides and perturbation of vital metabolic routes, culminating in hepatic impairment. However, the pivotal genes governing the contribution of ferroptosis to the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remain elusive, necessitating a thorough and profound investigation.
Methods
Employing sophisticated machine learning techniques, pivotal ferroptosis hub genes were meticulously identified, culminating in the formulation of a comprehensive ferroptosis-related score (FeRS) model. Sequentially, correlation analyses were harnessed to unravel intricate associations linking the ferroptosis hub genes with immune function scores, as well as distinct immune cell subpopulations.
Results
An FeRS model, encompassing a set of eight central ferroptosis hub genes, was meticulously fashioned, exhibiting profound diagnostic efficacy within the training dataset and across seven independent testing datasets. Among these genes, ZFP36 emerged as a key hub within the FeRS. Moreover, ZFP36 and IL6 revealed substantial positive correlations with immune function scores and various subsets of immune cells. In contrast, GRIA3 and FADS2 exhibit the opposite pattern.
Conclusions
The pivotal role of the ferroptosis-related gene ZFP36 in the context of NASH comes to the fore, as its diminished expression serves to propel the trajectory of restrain the infiltration of immune components within the NASH milieu.