bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gastric Plication Failure: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Nassar Ricardo M , Girón Felipe , Rodríguez Lina M , Rey Carlos , Venegas David , Vanegas Marco , Conde Danny , Ricaurte Alberto , Núñez-Rocha Ricardo E. , Hernández Juan David
Published: September 2022

Background
Obesity has evolved into a worldwide disease affecting millions of patients. This condition is related to a wide variety of health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, aterosclerotic disease, among others. There is a wide range of methods for managing obesity, varying from medical to surgical interventions. Even though bariatric surgery is not a one size fits all solution, since its advenment it has become an excellent option for those living with obesity. Although its low cost is very appealing, the high need of re-intervention and complications (70% according to literature) have led to controversy surrounding the use of gastric plication. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics, experience and outcomes of patients with history of gastric fundoplication that required reintervention between 2014 and 2020 in our institution.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective observational study with a prospective database. We included patients that developed complications from a previous gastric plication. Revision to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was made. Data regarding baseline and evolution were obtained and analyzed. Revision cause, perioperative outcomes, intraoperative characteristics, complications and weight loss were variables included in the surgical analysis. Post-operative follow-up was done up to 5 years.
Results
Seventeen patients required revisional surgery. Mean age of the patients was 39.71 years, 52.9% were men and 47.1% were women. In the first consultation the main concerns were weight regain (88.2%), and abdominal pain (82.3%). 47% of the patients reported dyspepsia and 47.1% had symptoms related to nausea and emesis. Mean body mass index in the group was 31.2 kg/m² before reintervention, 27.6 kg/m² 6 months after surgery and 24.1 kg/m² 5 year after surgery. All the patients had abdominal adhesions as intraoperative findings, 41.17% had severe inflammation and 1 patient (5.8%) had a gastroesophageal fistula.
Conclusions
In our series, gastric plication failure was mainly associated with abdominal pain and weight regain. Revisional surgery proved to be a safe and effective alternative for management of complications after this procedure.
Level of Compliance and Predictors with Personal COVID-19-preventive measures Among Office Government Employees Returning to work in the post-epidemic period in Western Ethiopia: A Multicenter Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Kabito Gebisa Guyasa , Abreham Meskele , Tesfaye Amensisa Hailu , Guadu Tadesse
Published: September 2022

Background: The contemporary global issues, COVID-19 pandemic continued causing unprecedented impact on the public health, occupational health and the global economy. Keeping compliance with personal preventive measures is a vital tool for managing COVID-19 pandemic control and returning to work as no pharmaceutical treatments are currently available in Ethiopia. Although compliance with COVID -19 personal preventive measures (CPPMs) and predictors is well addressed in healthcare settings, data on the level of CPPMs and its determinants among government employees working in offices worldwide, including Ethiopia, is limited. This paper is aimed to fill this gaps.
Methods: We applied a cross-sectional study design from February to March, 2021. The participants were government workers working in offices who had resumed work. Stratified followed by simple random sampling technique was used to select 422 study participants from 30 government offices that had resumed work. Data were collected using a pre-tested and structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed by STATA 14 software. The significance of associations was established at p< 0.05 and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) in the multivariable model.
Results: Response rate 95.44% (N=394). The study found 22.3% (88) of study participants (95% CI = 18.5, 26.6) had high compliance with COVID -19 personal preventive measures during past month.Female workers were 2.80 times more likely than males to comply with COVID-19 personal preventive measures (AOR: 2.80, 95%CI (1.10, 7.12), favorable attitude towards COVID-19 prevention measures (AOR: 13.73, 95% CI (4.85, 38.83), high-risk perception of COVID-19 infections (AOR: 2.34; 95% CI (1.24, 4.41), and high misconception about COVID-19 (AOR : 3.92, 95% CI (1.45, 10.62) were predicted better compliance with COVID-19 PPMs (P <  0.05).
Conclusions: In sum, little proportion of sampled study participants complied with COVID -19 personal preventive measures. Sex, attitudes, risk perception, and misconception have all been identified as significant risk factors. Actions are needed to strengthen COVID -19 personal preventive measures among government employees to maintain COVID -19 control following work resumption. In the future, it’s vital to work on government employees' attitudes and perceptions in order to improve compliance.
Incidents related to Safety in mental health facilities in Kenya
Authors: Kwobah Edith Kamaru , Kiptoo Robert Sitienei , Jaguga Florence , Wangechi Felicita , Saina Chelagat , Ogaro Francis , Aruasa Wilson K
Published: September 2022

Background: Both patients and health care providers working in mental health facilities witness high rates of incidents that have the potential to jeopardize their safety. Despite this, there are few studies that have documented the kind of incidents that are experienced, or explored the potential contributors to these incidents, and solutions that would result in better safety. This study explored various types of safety related incidents occurring in mental facilities in Kenya, perceived contributing factors, and recommendations for improve.
Methods: This mixed methods descriptive study was carried out betweenDecember 2019 – February 2020. It included 28 mental health staff across 14 mental health unit spread across the country.
Results: All the participants reported having personally experienced an incident that threatened their safety or that of the patients. Most of the respondents (24/26. 91.67%) admitted to have experienced verbal aggression while 54.17%, (n=24) had experienced physical assault. Participating health care workers attributed the safety incidents to poor infrastructure, limited human resources, and inadequate medication to calm down agitated patients. Suggested solutions to improve patient safety included; improving surveillance systems, hiring more specialized healthcare workers, and provision of adequate supplies such as short-acting injectable psychotropic.
Conclusion: Incidents that threaten patient and staff safety are common in mental health facilities in Kenya. There is need to strengthen staff capacity and reporting mechanisms, as well as invest in infrastructural improvements, to safeguard patient and staff safety in mental health facilities in Kenya.
Low-profile Dipole Antennas based on Graphene Plasmonics for THz Applications
Authors: Varshney Arun Kumar , Pathak Nagendra Prasad , Sircar Debabrata
Published: September 2022

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of low-profile, frequency-reconfigurable graphene dipole antennas for THz applications. The antenna consists of two graphene patches to form the bow-tie dipole and the wideband artificial magnetic conductor (AMC). Frequency tuning has been introduced by changing the chemical potential of graphene. The AMC has been designed to operate from 2 THz to 3.4 THz with a ±90° reflection phase bandwidth of 50.39%. Using AMC surface, the total profile of the antenna has been achieved up to 0.09𝜆0 (where 𝜆0 is free space wavelength) at the 0° operating frequency of 2.5 THz. In another approach, a hybrid surface combination of AMC and PEC has been used instead of AMC surface to enhance the radiation performance by reducing unwanted current distribution. The input impedance of the proposed antennas are almost stable and well-matched to the impedance of the THz source.
Parents in Taiwan are hesitant to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19 and its influencing factors
Authors: Deng Jing-Shan , Chen Jau-Yuan , Lin Xiao-Qing , Huang Chun-Lian , Tung Tao-Hsin , Zhu Jian-Sheng
Published: September 2022

Background
Since July 2021, some countries and regions have initiated the vaccination of minors against COVID-19, and the parents' COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy will affect the vaccination of minors. The motive of our learning was to be to discover the hesitancy of parents in Taiwan to vaccinate their children towards COVID-19 and its influencing factors.
Methods
We conducted a population-based self-administered online questionnaire in Taiwan to assess parental hesitancy and the factors influencing their children’s vaccination against COVID-19.
Results
Among the 384 respondents, 64.1% of the parents were hesitant to have their children vaccinated toward the COVID-19. Mothers were more extra hesitant to vaccinate their teens than their fathers (67.5% vs. 50%, P < 0.005). Multivariate logistic regression evaluation confirmed that the lack of understanding of the COVID-19 vaccine (OR = 1.87, 95%CI: 1.22–2.86), the belief that the COVID-19 vaccine is dangerous (OR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.20–0.49), and vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves who are hesitant (OR = 13.16, 95%CI: 7.86–22.05) are greater hesitant to vaccinate their children, and parents who have a greater opinion rating (OR = 3.83, 95%CI: 2.80–7.05) for their adolescents to vaccinate their children do not hesitate.
Conclusions
According to the study's findings, 64.1% of Taiwanese parents were hesitant to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19. Parents' reservations about immunizing their children against COVID-19 are connected to the amount of information about the vaccine, its safety, their hesitation to receive the vaccine themselves, and their attitudes toward vaccinating children. An in-depth discussion of the factors that affect vaccine hesitancy and targeted health education is conducive to promoting vaccination of children with the COVID-19.
Facile conversion of glycerol to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone by using mesoporous CuO–SnO 2 composite oxide supported Au catalysts
Authors: Ke Yi-Hu , Qin Hong-Yu , Wang Xue , Li Hui , Liu Hai , Yuan Hong
Published: September 2022

Selective catalytic oxidation of polyols, e.g., the selective catalytic oxidation of the secondary –OH bond in glycerol, remains a considerable challenge. In this study, a series of mesoporous CuO–SnO2 composite oxides were prepared by a hard-template method and used to support Au catalysts for the selective oxidation of glycerol to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) under base-free conditions. Catalysts with different Cu:Sn molar ratios gave different catalytic performances. A high conversion of glycerol (100%) and selectivity for DHA (94.7%) were obtained in 2 h at 80°C and PO2 = 1 MPa over the Au/CuO–SnO2-3:1 catalyst. Further investigation indicated that the high catalytic activity of Au/CuO–SnO2-3:1 is related to the small size and high dispersion of Au nanoparticles (NPs), the interactions between the Au NPs and the support, the synergistic effect between CuO and SnO2, and the amount of surface lattice oxygen species. Various reaction parameters, namely the glycerol:Au molar ratio, the reaction temperature, the initial O2 pressure, the reaction time, and the support calcination temperature were studied. Although the conversion rate by the catalyst decreased after four cycles, the selectivity remained above 86%. Density functional theory calculations showed that the synergy between CuO and SnO2 improves the catalytic activity in glycerol oxidation to DHA. The results show that mesoporous composite oxide supports have a wide range of potential applications in the selective oxidation of glycerol to other high-value-added products.
Characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in water and mussels sampled from Cape Town Harbour and Two Oceans Aquarium, South Africa
Authors: Sparks Conrad , Viljoen Nathalie , Hill Deen , Lassen Jonathan , Awe Adetunji
Published: September 2022

Knowledge about the abundances and characteristics of microplastics (MPs) is becoming important to assess the potential effects MPs have on organisms and ecosystems. The aim of this study was to provide a baseline of MPs in Cape Town Harbour (CTH) and the Two Oceans Aquarium (TOA) in Cape Town, South Africa from 2018 to 2020. Water and mussel samples were analyzed for MPs at 3 sites in CTH and TOA, respectively. Microplastics were mainly filamentous, black/grey and 1000–2000 µm in size. A total of 1778 MPs, with an average of 7.50 (± 0.6 SEM) MPs/unit was recorded for the study period. MP concentrations were higher in water (10.3 ± 1.1 MPs/L) than mussel samples (6.27 ± 0.59 MPs/individual and 3.05 ± 1.09 MPs/g soft tissue wet weight). Mean MP concentrations in water samples collected in CTH (12.08 ± 1.3 SEM MPs/L) were significantly higher (4.61 ± 1.1 MPs/L) than inside the TOA, (U = 536, p = 0.04). A risk assessment (Pollution Load Index, Polymer Risk Index and Pollution Risk Index) of MPs sampled indicated that MPs in water poses a greater ecological risk when compared to mussels. Our results indicate that there is a need to monitor MPs in coastal waters and aquaria facilities in South Africa.
Protocol for efficient ginseng transformation
Authors: Kim Young-Hun , Park Chan-Woo , Hong Woo-Jong , Hyun Ick , Kim Keun Ki , Kim Yu-Jin
Published: September 2022

Panax ginseng is a major medicinal crop with pharmaceutical efficacy derived from ginsenoside metabolites. Despite its genome information, the inefficiency of ginseng transformation hinders the study of the molecular mechanism of ginseng plant metabolism. Thus, this protocol aimed to develop an easy and efficient system for ginseng transformation. We established a transformation system using ginseng callus cultured in a liquid medium, which has a higher ratio compared with cotyledon explant. In addition, Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been used for plant transformation. Compared with the LBA4404 strain, C58C1 was inappropriate for ginseng transformation using ginseng callus. We induced and maintained calli in liquid medium and cut them into small pieces before infection. After infection, we selected calli that survived from the antibiotic medium until identification of newly growing cells. In β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene assay, the expression of the GUS gene was observed in cells that were newly generated from explants. We treated calli with 0.05 M of MgSO4 before infection. After MgSO4 pre-treatment, the transformation efficiency of growing cells around infected callus was increased. Moreover, we constructed and introduced a visible reporter RUBY system to easily identify transformed cells. Using this system, we could identify the cells by a red color with naked eyes. Based on our transformation protocol, the success rate has increased to 77.27% in surviving lines during selection culture. This stable ginseng transformation could facilitate the overexpression and knockout of ginseng lines for functional or synthetic biological studies.
Determinants of optimal antenatal care visit among reproductive age women in Low and Middle Income Countries; Evidence from recent demographic health survey: application of a multilevel binary logistic regression model
Authors: Agmas Yitateku Adugna , Asmare Abebew Aklog
Published: September 2022

Background
The evaluation of utilization and the factors influencing optimal ANC visits is critical to improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The goal of antenatal care is to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The study's goal is to identify the factors that influence optimal ANC visits among reproductive-age women in low-income countries.
Methods
The study included a total weighted sample of 329,721 women who gave birth during the study period. For model fitness and comparison, the intra-class correlation coefficient, median odds ratio, proportional change in variance, AIC, BIC, and deviance were used. To identify the determinants of optimal ANC visits in LMICs, a multilevel multivariable logistic regression model was fitted. To declare significant determinants of optimal ANC visits, the adjusted odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval were used.
Results
The overall prevalence of optimal ANC visits was 60.1%, and this ranged from 16.8% in Afghanistan to 97.0% in the Dominican Republic. In the Multilevel multivariable logistic regression model; age 20 to 34 (AOR = 1.267; 95%CI: 1.233–1.303)), age above 34 (AOR = 1.342; 95%CI: 1.302–1.384)), primary educated women (AOR = 1.529; 95%CI: 1.496–1.563), secondary educated women (AOR = 2.626; 95%CI: 2.561–2.694), higher educated women (AOR = 4.563; 95%CI: 4.341–4.796), middle wealth index (AOR = 1.033; 95%CI: 1.015–1.052), rich wealth index (AOR = 1.340; 95%CI: 1.284–1.399), having media exposure (AOR = 1.273; 95%CI: 1.251–1.293)), employed women (AOR = 1.252; 95%CI: 1.212–1.293), and being Central America resident (AOR = 5.967; 95%CI: 5.655–6.297) were significantly associated with optimal ANC visits.
Conclusion
Maternal age, maternal education level, family size, number of children, sex of household head, wealth index, marital status, husband/partner education level, husband/partner occupation, maternal occupation, media exposure, place of delivery, and region were all significant predictors of optimal ANC visits in low- and middle-income countries. This discovery assists health care providers and policymakers in implementing appropriate policies and programs to ensure optimal ANC coverage. It is critical to develop strategies to improve antenatal care access and availability.
Prevalence and genetic analysis of porcine circovirus-like virus in pigs with diarrhea between 2016 and 2021 in Henan and Shanxi Provinces of China
Authors: Zhang Liu-Hui , Chen Xi-Meng , Li Hong-Xuan , Zhang Hong-Lei , Zheng Lan-Lan , Wang Lin-Qing , Chen Hong-Ying
Published: September 2022

Porcine circovirus-like virus (Po-Circo-like virus, PCLV), as a recently discovered virus, may be associated with diarrhea in pigs. To investigate the epidemic profile and genetic characteristics of the virus, one hundred and seventy-five clinical samples (141 intestinal samples, 17 blood samples and 17 fecal samples) were collected from diseased piglets during outbreaks of diarrhea on 33 pig farms in 19 cities of Henan and Shanxi Provinces of China between 2016 and 2021, and were screened by PCR for the presence of PCLV. The results showed that 32% (56/175) of diarrheal piglets were positive for PCLV, and 60.6% (20/33) of the pig farms and 57.9% (11/19) of the cities were positive for PCLV, which varied from 5.88–44.12% between 2016 and 2021. It was also found that PCLV might be co-infected with PRRSV, PCV2, PCV3, PCV4, and PEDV, but no nucleic acids were detected for TGEV, PDCoV and PRoV in piglets with diarrhea. Notably, only PCLV was detected in 13 diarrheal piglets from four of these farms, whereas other pathogens were negative. The findings suggest that PCLV has been circulating in piglets in Henan and Shanxi Provinces of China, and may be a diarrheal virus. The complete genomes of thirteen PCLV strains were sequenced, and these strains shared 35.4–91.0% genome nucleotide identity with those available in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the 13 PCLV strains in this study were clustered in Group 1, which closely related to 8 Chinese PCLV strains, Bo-Circo-like virus CH, two American strains 21 and 22, and two Hungary strains 288_4 and 302_4, but differed genetically from 7 other foreign PCLV strains. In addition, the whole genome and Rep gene of 13 PCLV strains in this study were 72.2% − 82% and 83.8% − 89.7% identity with those of Bo-Circo-like virus CH strain respectively, which provided further evidence for the hypothesis that PCLV is a novel virus in pigs that may be involved in cross-species transmission. Furthermore, a cross-recombination event was found in the genome and Rep region of the sequenced 13 PCLV strains. This research enriched the epidemiological data of PCLV infection in pigs in China and laid a foundation for further study on the pathogenesis of PCLV.
Elucidating the Reaction Pathways of Veratrylglycero-β-guaiacyl Ether Degradation Over Metal-Free Solid Acid Catalysts with Hydrogen
Authors: Ruan Hao , Xu Zhangyang , Kumar Adarsh , Feng Maoqi , Lipton Andrew , Walter Eric , Gieleciak Rafal , Paudel Hari , Duan Yuhua , Yang Bin
Published: September 2022

Efficient conversion of lignin to high-yield aromatic compounds for the potential production of fuels and chemicals is vital to the economics of the modern biorefinery industry. Herein, we report a novel catalytic process involving the cleavage of β-O-4 bonds, which are the major interunit linkages in native lignin. This work is distinct in that a detailed mechanistic analysis of the reaction pathways of veratrylglycero-β-guaiacyl ether (VGE) catalyzed by transition-metal-free solid acid zeolite under aqueous conditions at high hydrogen pressure has been performed. VGE degradation produced high yields of monomers (~ 87%), including guaiacol (48.2%), 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanol (10.3%), 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-propanol (6.1%), 3,4-dimethoxyphenylpropanol (4.7%), 3,4-dimethoxycinnamyl alcohol (4.1%), and 1,2-dimethoxy-4-propylbenzene (2%), which were identified and confirmed by both the in-situ solid-state magic angle spinning (MAS) 13C NMR under real-time conditions and two-dimensional gas chromatography analysis. The variety of products reveal the crucial roles of hydrogen, water, and acid sites for heterolytic cleavage of the β-O-4 bond in VGE. Decarbonylation, hydrogenolysis, hydrogenation, and dehydration reaction pathways are proposed and further validated using first-principles calculations.
A rare case of maxillary Amelobastic Carcinoma presenting with unilateral nasal obstruction
Authors: Howard Theodore. , Williams Isabelle. , Lion Peter. , Clarke Peter
Published: September 2022

Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare odontogenic tumour with histologic features of ameloblastoma but with malignant potential. The majority occur in the mandible, arising de novo, or develop from pre-existing a benign ameloblastoma or odontogenic cysts. They typically present as a rapidly progressing, painful swelling of the face. Maxillary ameloblastic carcinoma is exceedingly rare and when reported, can present in a similar manner to mandibular ameloblastic carcinoma.
We present a case of maxillary ameloblastic carcinoma in a 78-year-old man presenting with a 12-month history of unilateral nasal obstruction and frontal headaches. A benign-looking nasal lesion was identified and the patient was diagnosed with nasal polyps and underwent biopsy. However, histopathological examination of the lesion together with radiological imaging pointed towards a diagnosis of ameloblastic carcinoma. The patient was referred to our tertiary skull base centre and underwent successful treatment with radical surgical resection via a midfacial degloving approach. Final pathological examination of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of maxillary ameloblastic carcinoma.
This case demonstrates an unusual presentation of an exceptionally rare malignancy, contributing to the growing number of reported cases in the literature of maxillary ameloblastic carcinoma.
Increased BMI and late-life mobility dysfunction; overlap of genetic effects in brain regions
Authors: Chang Xuling , Chua Kevin Yiqiang , Ng Fang Lin , Wang Ling , Liu Jianjun , Yuan Jian-Min , Khor Chiea Chuen , Heng Chew-Kiat , Dorajoo Rajkumar , Koh Woon-Puay
Published: September 2022

Background
How obesity earlier in life impacts upon mobility dysfunctions in late life is not well understood. Pernicious effects of excess weight on the musculoskeletal system and mobility dysfunctions are well-recognized. However, increasingly more data support the link of obesity to overall motor defects that are regulated in the brain.
Objectives
To assess the causal relationship between body mass index (BMI) at midlife and performance of the Timed Up-and-Go test (TUG) in late life among a population-based longitudinal cohort of Chinese adults living in Singapore.
Methods
We evaluated genetic predispositions for BMI in 8342 participants who were followed up from measurement of BMI at average 53 years, to TUG test (as a functional mobility measure) 20 years later.
Results
A robust 75.83% of genetically determined BMI effects on late life TUG scores was mediated through midlife BMI (Pindirect−effect = 9.24×10− 21). Utilizing Mendelian randomization, we demonstrated a causal effect between BMI and functional mobility in late life (βIVW = 0.180, PIVW = 0.001). Secondary gene enrichment evaluations highlighted down-regulation of genes at BMI risk loci that were correlated with poorer functional mobility in the substantia nigra and amygdala regions as compared to all other tissues. These genes also exhibit differential expression patterns during human brain development.
Conclusions
We report a causal effect of obesity on mobility dysfunction. Our findings highlight potential neuronal dysfunctions in regulating predispositions on the causal pathway from obesity to mobility dysfunction.
Assessing 3-D climatic stability of world’s marine protected areas
Authors: Kyprioti Amalia , Doxa Aggeliki , Almpanidou Vasiliki , Mazaris Antonios D.
Published: September 2022

Assessing whether marine protected areas (MPAs) will maintain stable climatic conditions over time is a major scientific challenge. Yet, such assessments often rely on sea surface temperature data, largely ignoring the vertical dimension of the ocean environment. Here, we estimated the climate space of global marine protected sites and investigated how their key spatial properties, such as surface, latitude, longitude and bathymetry, can be proxies of climatic resilience. We calculated the present and future climate space of each marine protected site by considering an n-dimensional hypervolume approach. We produced (i) 2D hypervolumes, by using only sea surface temperature data and (ii) 3D hypervolumes, by considering both surface and bottom temperature data. Our analyses projected that the vast majority of global marine sites under protection would encounter detrimental changes in their climate space, even enclosing completely novel climatic conditions by 2050. We observed that very large (over 100,000 km2), open sea marine protected sites were expected to maintain higher stability of their 2D climate space in the future, revealing potential implications for marine biodiversity largely depending on surface conditions. However, the 3D hypervolume analysis produced even more alarming results about the limited climatic stability patterns within marine protected sites and the reduction of their climate space within the following decades. Our study underlines that climate smart conservation planning is a necessity towards filling ocean conservation gaps over space and time.
Stable Alert Decision Method and Machine Learning based P-Wave Detection for On-Site Earthquake Early Warning
Authors: Park Euna , Ahn Jae-Kwang , Hwang Eui-Hong , Seo Jeongbeom
Published: September 2022

Proactively responding to earthquakes is challenging. Researchers have developed methods to reduce structural damage from earthquakes. The Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) service is more effective than seismic design at reducing human casualties. We developed an on-site EEW that can provide alerts faster than the network-based EEW. However, on-site EEW is not used as a public service due to the low alarm accuracy of the existing on-site alarm. Therefore, we applied both methods to improve the alarming accuracy of on-site EEW. First, the developed system increased the accuracy of the identification rate for the initial P-wave using deep learning. Second, the method utilizing a nearby seismometer was added to improve the accuracy of the alarm. We conducted an on-site EEW trial operation and checked the performance from 2020.10.08 to 2022.03.31. We reviewed the warning cases for small and large events during the trial and confirmed the possibility of automated alert decisions.
Selection of the best operational amplifier based on the statistics of the complex moments
Authors: Nigmatullin R. R. , Agarwal P. , Sagdiev R. K. , Alexandrov V. S. , Momani S.
Published: September 2022

In this paper, the possibility of applying the fractional moments (FM) method in selection of the best operational amplifier (OA) among the available ones is considered. This method can be defined as the statistical method because is based on analysis and quantitative “reading” of the measured “noise”/random fluctuations with the help of the statistics of the fractional/complex moments. The justified selection of the “best” OA among available ones is based on the evaluation of twelve key correlation parameters that are derived in the fractional/complex moments (FM/CM) space. It was shown when evaluating the output parameters of the available OAs, this method has a high sensitivity and it is not subjected to uncontrolled errors. The proposed method of the complex moments (CM) is free from model and treatment errors and, therefore, has a high reliability in comparison with the conventional methods. The methodology of its application can be found in the Mathematical Appendix. It is rather general and can be used for a wide set of data; it is simple in “extraction” of additional information from different random functions in the space of the complex moments (CM), including trendless sequences, especially.
3D printing from micro-CT images of the trochlea of the superior oblique muscle and its future applications
Authors: Kang Hyunkyoo , Kim Guk Bae , Lim Minje , Lee Wonhee , Song Wu-Chul , Shin Kang-Jae , Shin Hyun Jin , Lee Andrew G.
Published: September 2022

Purpose: To determine the detailed microstructure modeling of
the trochlea of the superior oblique muscle (SOM) using
micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and to model a potential
prototype for a trochlea implant using three-dimensional (3D)
printing.

Methods: We dissected 15 intact orbits of 15 embalmed cadavers.
The trochleae of the SOM were detached from the periosteum. The
specimens were stained by immersion in a 15% Lugol’s solution.
Images were reconstructed using conventional scanner software.
Measurement points were determined for the middle cross section.
Points P1 and P2 were selected where the SOM adjoined the curvature
of the inner trochlea. They defined the inner contact points of the
SOM in the inner part of the trochlea curvature. On the back of the
trochlea, points P3 and P4 were selected at the uppermost and
lowest points in the inner parts of the straight trochlea,
respectively. Origin O was defined on the arcuate line of P1P2 to
generate the smallest-diameter circle consisting of P1, O, and P2.
We then measured the angle from OP1 to OP2, and from OP3 to OP4. We
also measured the distances OP1, OP2, OP3, and OP4 for the design
of a potential trochlea implant prototype using 3D-printing and
micro-CT-based modeling.

Results: The distances OP1, OP2, OP3, and OP4 were 2.2±0.7,
1.4±0.5, 2.7±0.9, and 2.5±0.4 mm (mean±SD), respectively. The
angles from OP1 to OP2, from OP2 to OP4 and from OP3 to OP4 were
100.7±14.4, 66.3±18.0, and 98.9±24.9 degrees, respectively.

Conclusions: High-resolution CT is a powerful imaging technique
for defining the true 3D geometry of a specimen and can potentially
be used to create a 3D-printed trochlea implant.
Effects of gut microbiota and gut-derived lipopolysaccharide on patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Liu Yanqi , Sheng Xiaodong , Wang Zhiqiang , Zheng Guanqun Zheng , Chen Zhixian , Jin Xiaoqi
Published: September 2022

Background: To research the associations between gut microbiota composition, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and atherosclerosis in process of coronary heart disease（CHD）
Methods: We enrolled 50 patients who had been given a traditional coronary angiography diagnosis of coronary heart disease in the CHD group, and 50 matching patients who had CHD excluded in the control group. The CHD patients were further classified into three groups based on their Gensini scores, which were determined using the modified scoring schema: a mild CHD group (26 scores, N=16), a moderate CHD group (26-54 scores, N=23), and a severe CHD group (>54 scores, N=11). The DNA of the gut microbiota was then extracted from their excrement. 16S rRNA sequencing was used to compare the differences in the bacteria between the two groups. BugBase and Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) were used to predict the functional composition of the bacteria. In addition, The level of plasma LPS and serum proinflammatory cytokines in the two groups was measured.
Results: Plasma LPS and serum IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α concentrations were significantly higher in patients with CHD and significantly different among mild CHDgroup, moderate CHDgroup, and severe CHDgroup(all P＜0.05). There was no difference in the diversity of gut microbiota among the two groups (P＞0.05). At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes were more numerous in the control group. At the genus level, Enterococcus, Butyrivibrio, Dolosigranulum, Pseudomonas, and Anaerotignum were more numerous in the CHD group whereas Enterobacter, Parabacteriodes, Lachnoclostridium, Streptococcus were more numerous in the control group. PICRUSt analysis found that the level of LPS choline phosphotransferase (licD) gene expression and LPS biosynthesis correlated with LPS production was higher in the fecal microbiome of the CHD group(P＜0.05).
Conclusion: The gut microbiota and LPS play a vital role in the development of atherosclerosis through its metabolites, which were anticipated to develop into a CHD diagnostic marker and unique treatment approach.
Implementation of a constitutive model for anisotropic rocks based on modified Lade failure criterion
Authors: Liu Xiaotian , Deng Yansheng , Zou Baoping
Published: September 2022

The strength anisotropy for inherent anisotropic rocks presents a challenge to simulate considering the influence of intermediate principal stress. Based on the modified Lade failure criterion, a new anisotropic modified Lade criterion combining an empirical equation is established and verified using published experimental datasets of anisotropic rocks. The incremental constitutive model for anisotropic rocks is derived by using finite difference theory. The dynamic link library (DLL) module of the model is obtained by using the VC + + program, and then the model is validated against various laboratory test results. It is concluded that the proposed criterion and derived model can describe the strength anisotropy of inherent anisotropic rocks well.
A rotating white dwarf with two faces
Authors: Caiazzo Ilaria , Burdge Kevin , Ferrario Lilia , Fuller Jim , Gänsicke Boris , Hermes JJ , Heyl Jeremy , Kawka Adela , Kulkarni Shri , Marsh Thomas , Mroz Przemyslaw , Prince Thomas , Richer Harvey , Rodriguez Antonio , Tremblay Pier-Emmanuel , Roestel Jan van , Vanderbosch Zachary , Vennes Stephane , Wickramasinghe Dayal , Dhillon Vikram , Munday James , Littlefair Stuart , Bellm Eric , Breedt Elme , Brown Alex , Dekany Richard , Drake Andrew , Dyer Martin , Graham Matthew , Green Matthew , Laher Russ , Kerry Paul , Parsons Steven , Pelisoli Ingrid , Riddle Reed , Rusholme Benjamin , Sahman Dave
Published: September 2022

White dwarfs, the extremely dense remnants left behind by most stars after their death, are characterised by a mass comparable to that of the Sun compressed into the size of an Earth-like planet. In the resulting strong gravity, heavy elements sink toward the centre, and the upper layer of the atmosphere contains only the lightest element present, usually hydrogen, or, if the hydrogen content is low, helium. Helium-atmosphere white dwarfs account for about 20% of all white dwarfs; however, several mechanisms can compete with gravitational settling to change their surface composition as they cool, and the fraction of white dwarfs with helium atmospheres is not constant at all temperatures. This fraction is known to increase by a factor ~2.5 below a temperature of about 30,000 K; therefore, some white dwarfs that appear to have a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere above that temperature are bound to transition to a helium-dominated atmosphere as they cool below it. Here we report observations of ZTF J203349.8+322901.1, or ``Janus'', a white dwarf with two faces: one side of its atmosphere is dominated by hydrogen and the other one by helium. The peculiar double-faced nature of Janus is most likely caused by a small magnetic field, which creates an inhomogeneity in temperature, pressure, or mixing strength over the surface. We appear to have caught a white dwarf as it is undergoing the transition from a hydrogen-dominated to a helium-dominated atmosphere. If this is the case, Janus might be the most extreme member of a class of magnetic transitioning white dwarfs and could help shed light on the physical mechanisms behind white dwarf spectral evolution.
Modular artificial tactile receptors based on mechanical field sensing
Authors: Peng Zhengchun , Shang Chao , Xu Qunhui , Liang Nengmin , Zhang Jianpeng , Li Lu
Published: September 2022

Tactile sensing has been a key challenge in robotic haptics. Due to the diversity of tactile signals, traditional approach to making electronic skin has been facing a dilemma between complex structures and multimodal perception with high resolution. Inspired by how human skin sense the mechanical field with layered structure and distributed mechanoreceptors, we herein propose a novel design for modular multi-parameter perception electronic skin. With the mechanical filed sensing concept, complex tactile signals can be transformed into field information. By analyzing the mechanical field, the real-time three-dimensional forces can be resolved with 1.8° polar angle resolution and 3.5° azimuthal angle resolution (achieved up to 71 folds of improvement in spatial resolution), we can also detect the hardness of object in contact with the electronic skin. Moreover, we demonstrate random assembly of the sensing arrays and integration of our electronic skin onto differently curved surfaces do not lead to any measurement variation of the mechanical field. This result reveals that the sensing elements in our electronic skin system can be modularly made and exchanged for specific applications. Thus, this new approach has the potential to satisfy a wide variety of tactile sensing needs.
A fatal case of monkeypox virus infection from Kerala India 2022
Authors: Yadav Pragya D. , Vasu Meenakshy , Abubaker Fazil , Sahay Rima R. , Reghukumar Aravind , Krishnan Anukumar Bala , Prabha Kavya , Papu Asha Konipparambil , Gopalakrishnan Lakshmi Geetha , Mundangalam Nizamuddin , Siddiq Aboobaker , Patil Deepak Y. , Shete Anita M. , Abraham Priya , Prasad Anoop Rajendra , TK Anoop , Karunakaran Kavya
Published: September 2022

Monkeypox deaths have been rarely reported across the globe. A total of 15 fatalities have been reported globally from endemic and non-endemic countries in 2022. The current outbreak of Monkeypox had been largely limited to the community of men who have sex with men primarily with multiple bisexual or homosexual partners. The vast majority of the cases infected with Monkeypox had recovered and the complications like sepsis and encephalitis had been reported in the immunocompromised individuals. The mortality in Brazil and Mexico were primarily in the immunocompromised individuals, while in Spain the fatal cases were immunocompetent with no underlying conditions. To date, India had recorded 11 cases of Monkeypox infection from Kerala (n = 5) and New Delhi (n = 6). Here we report the first fatal case of Monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection imported from UAE to Kerala, India in July 2022. A 22-year-old apparently immunocompetent male with no significant past medical history was admitted in an unconscious state to a private hospital in Kerala following a single episode of acute onset generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The clinical features, MRI findings, CSF picture, and EEG findings of this case suggest encephalitis. Only the case's oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs (OPS/NPS) were found to be positive for MPXV. The next generation sequencing on OPS/NPS specimen could retrieve 92.76% of the MPXV genome and belonged to A.2 lineage of clade IIb as observed in the other confirmed Monkeypox cases from India.
Does Trypanosoma cruzi modify the antennal phenotype of Triatoma dimidiata (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)?
Authors: J. May-Concha Irving , J. Escalante-Talavera Maryrose , Jean-Pierre. Dujardin , Etienne. Waleckx
Published: September 2022

Background: Triatoma dimidiata is a vector of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. Phenotypic plasticity allows an organism to adjust its phenotype in response to stimuli or environmental conditions. Understanding the effect of T. cruzi on the phenotypic plasticity of its vectors, known as triatomines, has attracted great interest because of the implications of the parasite-triatomine interactions in the eco-epidemiology and transmission of the parasite. We investigated if the infection of the vector with T. cruzi may be associated with a change in the antennal phenotype of sylvatic, domestic, and laboratory-reared populations of T. dimidiata.
Methods: The abundance of each type of sensillum (bristles, basiconic, thick- and thin-walled trichoid) on the antennae of T. cruzi-infected and non-infected T. dimidiatareared in the laboratory or collected in sylvatic and domestic ecotopes were measured under light microscopy and compared using Kruskal–Wallis non-parametric tests and Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance.
Results: We found significant differences between sensilla patterns of infected and non-infected insects within sylvatic and domestic populations. Conversely, we found no significant differences between sensilla patterns of infected and non-infected insects within the laboratory-reared population. Besides, for sylvatic and domestic populations, sexual dimorphism tended to be increased in infected insects.
Conclusion: The differences observed in infected insects could be linked to higher efficiency in the perception of odor molecules related to the search for distant mates and hosts and the flight dispersal in search of new habitats. In addition, these insects could have a positive effect on population dynamics and the transmission of T. cruzi.
Application of privacy protection technology to healthcare big data
Authors: Shin Hyunah , Ryu Kyeonmin , Kim Jong-Yeup , Lee Suehyun
Published: September 2022

With the emergence of the 4th industrial revolution, demand for technologies that process and analyze big data in the healthcare has increased. As research is actively conducted, problems related to the protection of personal information included in healthcare data are being raised. We investigated privacy protection technology and their limitations applied to healthcare big data over the last decade to find solutions to these problems. For 4 technologies, blockchain, federated learning, differential privacy, and homomorphic encryption, we reviewed 10 studies each and summarized the used data, key findings, and limitations. It is necessary to establish a research environment that can utilize healthcare data, including sensitive personal and medical information of patients, more safely and widely by grasping the cases and current status of privacy protection technology. We aim to provide opinions on future research directions and insights of privacy protection technology to relevant researchers through this study.
Intense vortical-field generation using coherent superposition of multiple vortex beams
Authors: Guo Xinju , Zhang Xiaomei , Xu Dirui , Chen Weixin , Guo Yi , Lan Ke , Shen Baifei
Published: September 2022

Coherent beam combining technology applied to multiple vortex beams is a promising method to generate high-power vortex beams. We utilize the coherent combination of multiple Laguerre–Gaussian beams at the waist plane and propose theoretically a practical generation system for a high-power beam carrying orbital angular momentum by considering oblique incidence. The results demonstrate that the orbital angular momentum distribution of the combined field is similar to that of a single Laguerre–Gaussian beam within the Rayleigh length. Moreover, the combined field has relativistic intensity local spots that exhibit stable spatial propagation. The proposed system may potentially be applied to intense vortical fields, large scale nuclear fusion device, such as suppressing stimulated Raman scattering and filamentation when a laser beam propagates in plasma.
Static Balance in Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias: a Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Arcila Diana Maria Cubillos , Martins Valéria Feijó , Zanardi Ana Paula Janner , Machado Gustavo Dariva , Burguêz Daniela , Gomeñuka Natalia Andrea , Peyré-Tartaruga Leonardo Alexandre , Saute Jonas Alex Morales
Published: September 2022

Background: Motor and somatosensory pathways dysfunction due to degeneration of long tracts in hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) indicates that postural abnormalities may be a relevant disease feature. However, balance assessments have been underutilized to study these conditions.
Research question: how does the static balance of individuals with HSP with eyes open and closed differ from healthy controls, and how does it relate to disease severity?
Methods: This cross-sectional case-control study assessed the static balance of 17 subjects with genetically confirmed HSP and 17 healthy individuals, evaluating the center of pressure (COP) variables captured by a force platform. The Root-mean-square of velocities and mean of displacements amplitudes in mediolateral and anteroposterior axes were correlated with disease severity.
Results: All COP parameters performances were significantly impaired in HSP subjects compared to controls (p<0.001 for all comparisons). COP with eyes open and closed differed for all variables within the HSP-group, whereas in the control-group, differences were observed only for anteroposterior velocity and amplitude. Spastic Paraplegia Rating Scale (SPRS) presented moderate direct correlations with the most COP variables (Rho=-0.520 to - 0.736).
Significance: HSP individuals presented significant postural instability with eyes open and to a greater extent with eyes closed, corroborating the clinical findings of somatosensorial and proprioceptive pathways dysfunction. The degrees of proprioceptive and motor impairments are mutually correlated, suggesting that similar pathophysiological mechanisms operate for the degeneration of these long tracts. COP parameters can be seen as disease severity biomarkers of HSP, and they should be assessed in future clinical trials.
Accelerated Non-standard Numerical Methodfor Two-Parameter Singularly Perturbed Parabolic Problems with Robin Boundary Condition
Authors: Gelu Fasika Wondimu , Duressa Gemechis File
Published: September 2022

This study devised a robust second-order numerical scheme tosolve two-parameter singularly perturbed parabolic problems with Robin boundary condition. On uniform meshes, the problem is discretized using the implicit Euler method in the time directionand the non-standard finite difference method in the space direction. Also, Robin boundary condition is discretized using the concept of the non-standard finite difference method. The first-order ε-uniform convergence is investigated in both time and space. Applying the Richardson extrapolation technique, the accuracy and convergence rate of the present method have improved from first-orderto second-order. Both theoretical findings and numerical results areagreed upon based on computations of two numerical examples.