bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mental wellbeing and quality of life in prostate cancer (MIND-P): Protocol for a multi-institutional prospective cohort study
Authors: Brunckhorst Oliver , Liszka Jaroslaw , James Callum , Fanshawe Jack B. , Hammadeh Mohamed , Thomas Robert , Khan Shahid , Sheriff Matin , Ahmed Hashim U. , Van Hemelrijck Mieke , Muir Gordon , Stewart Robert , Dasgupta Prokar , Ahmed Kamran
Published: April 2023

Background

The mental wellbeing implications of a prostate cancer diagnosis are increasingly being realised. Significant mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety, along with related constructs such as fear of cancer recurrence, body image and masculine self-esteem issues are prevalent. However, less is understood about potential prognostic factors for these outcomes in prostate cancer patients. Therefore, this study aims to primarily explore potential treatment, patient and oncological factors associated with mental wellbeing outcomes in the initial prostate cancer follow-up period.

Methods

MIND-P is a multi-institutional prospective cohort study recruiting newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients for 12-month follow up. It will aim to recruit a final sample of 300 participants undergoing one of four treatment options: active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, radical radiotherapy, or hormone monotherapy. Questionnaire-based data collection consists of multiple validated mental, physical, and social wellbeing outcomes at baseline and 3-monthly intervals until study completion. Primary analysis will include evaluation of treatment undergone against multiple mental wellbeing outcomes. Secondary analysis will additionally explore multiple patient and oncological prognostic factors of potential importance, along with the cumulative incidence of these outcomes, symptom trajectory and their association with subsequent functional and social outcomes.

Conclusion

This cohort study aims to add to the existing limited literature evaluating significant prognostic factors for multiple mental wellbeing outcomes in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. This may be of potential use for guiding future prognosis research and of clinical use for identifying individuals potentially requiring additional surveillance or support during routine cancer follow up.

Study registration

This study was prospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04647474).
In vitro impact of platinum nanoparticles on inner ear related cell culture models
Authors: Berger Elisabeth , Brandes Gudrun , Reifenrath Janin , Lenarz Thomas , Durisin Martin , Wissel Kirsten
Published: April 2023

So far, it was supposed that the increase of electrical impedance following cochlear implant (CI) insertion was due to technical defects of the electrode, inflammatory and/or formation of scar tissue along the electrode. However, it was recently reported that corrosion of the platinum electrode contacts may be the reason for high impedances. It could be shown that platinum particles were stripped from the electrode surfaces. Its potential cytotoxic effects within the inner ear remains to be examined. In this study in vitro cell culture models of the mouse organ of Corti cell line (HEI-OC1) and the spiral ganglion (SG) cells derived from the cochleae neonatal rats were used to investigate the effects of the polyvinylpyrrolidone coated platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPPVP, 3 nm) on cell metabolism, neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth. Our data revealed no decrease of the metabolic activity of the HEI-OC1 cells at Pt-NPPVP concentrations between 50–150 μg/ml. Also, staining with Calcein AM/EthD demonstrated prevalent presence of vital cells. As shown by transmission electron microscopy no Pt-NPPVP could be found at the cell surface or in the cytosol of the HEI-OC1 cells. Similarly, the SG cells exposed to 20–100 μg/ml Pt-NPPVP did not show any reduced survival rate and neurite outgrowth following staining of the neurofilament antigen even at the highest Pt-NPPVP concentration. Although the SG cells were exposed to Pt-NPPVP for further 72 h and 96 h immunocytochemical staining of the glial cells and fibroblasts presented normal cell morphology and growth independently of the cultivation period. Our data indicates that the used Pt-NPPVP do not trigger the cellular uptake and, thus, presumable do not initiate apoptotic pathways in cells of the organ of Corti cell line or the auditory nerve. The protection mechanisms to the Pt-NPPVP interactions remain to be clarified.
Establishing semantic relatedness through ratings, reaction times, and semantic vectors: A database in Polish
Authors: Rataj Karolina , Kakuba Patrycja , Mandera Paweł , van Heuven Walter J. B.
Published: April 2023

This study presents a Polish semantic priming dataset and semantic similarity ratings for word pairs obtained with native Polish speakers, as well as a range of semantic spaces. The word pairs include strongly related, weakly related, and semantically unrelated word pairs. The rating study (Experiment 1) confirmed that the three conditions differed in semantic relatedness. The semantic priming lexical decision study with a carefully matched subset of the stimuli (Experiment 2), revealed strong semantic priming effects for strongly related word pairs, whereas weakly related word pairs showed a smaller but still significant priming effect relative to semantically unrelated word pairs. The datasets of both experiments and those of SimLex-999 for Polish were then used in a robust semantic model selection from existing and newly trained semantic spaces. This database of semantic vectors, semantic relatedness ratings, and behavioral data collected for all word pairs enable future researchers to benchmark new vectors against this dataset. Furthermore, the new vectors are made freely available for researchers. Although similar semantically strongly and weakly related word pairs are available in other languages, this is the first freely available database for Polish, that combines measures of semantic distance and human data.
Characterization of the pattern of expression of Gas1 in the kidney during postnatal development in the rat
Authors: Cetina-Palma Andrea , Namorado-Tónix Carmen , Rodríguez-Muñoz Rafael , Vergara Paula , Reyes-Sánchez José Luis , Segovia José
Published: April 2023

Growth Arrest-Specific 1 (Gas1) is a pleiotropic protein with different functions, in the adult kidney Gas1 acts as an endogenous inhibitor of cell proliferation but it is also necessary for the maintenance and proliferation of Renal Progenitor Cells (RPC) during early development, thus it fulfills important functions in the adult kidney. However, it is not known whether or not Gas1 is expressed during postnatal development, a critical stage for renal maturation. For this reason, the main objective of this work was to characterize the expression pattern of Gas1 in the different regions of the kidney by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis during the postnatal development of the rat. We found that Gas1 is present and has a differential expression pattern in the various regions of the nephron during postnatal development. We observed that the highest levels of expression of Gas1 occur in the adult, however, Gas1 is also expressed in RPC and interestingly, the expression of RPC markers such as the Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and Cluster of differentiation 24 (CD24) were found to have an inverse pattern of expression to Gas1 (decreases as the kidney matures) during postnatal renal maturation, this indicates a role for Gas1 in the regulation of renal cell proliferation at this stage of development.
How many days of continuous physical activity monitoring reliably represent time in different intensities in cancer survivors
Authors: Western Benedikte , Demmelmaier Ingrid , Vistad Ingvild , Hansen Bjørge Herman , Stenling Andreas , Henriksen Hege Berg , Nordin Karin , Blomhoff Rune , Berntsen Sveinung
Published: April 2023

Background

Physical activity (PA) monitoring is applied in a growing number of studies within cancer research. However, no consensus exists on how many days PA should be monitored to obtain reliable estimates in the cancer population. The objective of the present study was to determine the minimum number of monitoring days required for reliable estimates of different PA intensities in cancer survivors when using a six-days protocol. Furthermore, reliability of monitoring days was assessed stratified on sex, age, cancer type, weight status, and educational level.

Methods

Data was obtained from two studies where PA was monitored for seven days using the SenseWear Armband Mini in a total of 984 cancer survivors diagnosed with breast, colorectal or prostate cancer. Participants with ≥22 hours monitor wear-time for six days were included in the reliability analysis (n = 736). The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Spearman Brown prophecy formula were used to assess the reliability of different number of monitoring days.

Results

For time in light PA, two monitoring days resulted in reliable estimates (ICC >0.80). Participants with BMI ≥25, low-medium education, colorectal cancer, or age ≥60 years required one additional monitoring day. For moderate and moderate-to-vigorous PA, three monitoring days yielded reliable estimates. Participants with BMI ≥25 or breast cancer required one additional monitoring day. Vigorous PA showed the largest within subject variations and reliable estimates were not obtained for the sample as a whole. However, reliable estimates were obtained for breast cancer survivors (4 days), females, BMI ≥30, and age <60 years (6 days).

Conclusion

Shorter monitoring periods may provide reliable estimates of PA levels in cancer survivors when monitored continuously with a wearable device. This could potentially lower the participant burden and allow for less exclusion of participants not adhering to longer protocols.
Asian ageing: The relationship between the elderly population and economic growth in the Asian context
Authors: Jayawardhana Thaveesha , Anuththara Sachini , Nimnadi Thamasha , Karadanaarachchi Ridhmi , Jayathilaka Ruwan , Galappaththi Kethaka
Published: April 2023

The elderly population and economic growth have been a contentious topic among researchers. Regardless of the economic growth rate, the population and its growth have a stimulating influence on economic development. This study aims to explore the relationship between the elderly population and economic growth in 15 Asian countries, based on secondary data gathered from the WDI (World Development Indicators) from 1961 to 2021. This research contributes to filling the empirical gap, capturing the Granger causality concerning the relationship between the elderly population and economic growth in the Asian context in a single study. The empirical findings highlighted a one-way Granger causality from economic growth to the elderly population for India, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore while vice versa for Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan. Furthermore, for Nepal, there is a two-way Granger causality, while there is no Granger causality for remaining countries. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study has been the first to investigate the relationship between the elderly population and economic growth for Asian nations, using a lengthy data series and a Granger causality test. The main findings will assist the governments, policymakers, and foreign investors in effective decision-making in this regard.
Effects of different types and frequencies of early rehabilitation on ventilator weaning among patients in intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Ruo-Yan , Yeh Huan-Jui , Chang Kai-Jie , Tsai Mei-Wun
Published: April 2023

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different types and frequencies of physiotherapy on ventilator weaning among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to identify the optimal type and frequency of intervention.

Data sources

PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Airiti Library.

Study selection

Randomized controlled trials that provided information on the dosage of ICU rehabilitation and the parameters related to ventilator weaning were included.

Data extraction and management

Treatment types were classified into conventional physical therapy, exercise-based physical therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NEMS), progressive mobility, and multi-component. The frequencies were divided into high (≥ 2 sessions/day or NEMS of > 60 minutes/day), moderate (one session/day, 3–7 days/week or NEMS of 30–60 minutes/day), and low (one session/day, < 3 days/week, or NEMS of < 30 minutes/day).

Data synthesis

Twenty-four articles were included for systematic review and 15 out of 24 articles were analyzed in the meta-analysis. Early rehabilitation, especially the progressive mobility treatment exerted an optimal effect in reducing the ventilator duration in patients in the ICU (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.23–1.58; P < 0.01). Regarding the treatment frequency, the high-frequency intervention did not result in a favorable effect on ventilator duration compared with the moderate frequency of treatment (SMD = 0.75; 95% CI = -1.13–2.64; P = 0.43).

Conclusion

Early rehabilitation with progressive mobility is highly recommended to decrease the ventilation duration received by patients in the ICU. Depending on clinical resources and the tolerance of patients, the frequency of interventions should reach moderate-to-high frequency, that is, at least one session per day and 3 days a week.

Trial registration

Registration number: PROSPERO (CRD42021243331).
Neutralization of zoonotic retroviruses by human antibodies: Genotype-specific epitopes within the receptor-binding domain from simian foamy virus
Authors: Dynesen Lasse Toftdal , Fernandez Ignacio , Coquin Youna , Delaplace Manon , Montange Thomas , Njouom Richard , Bilounga-Ndongo Chanceline , Rey Félix A. , Gessain Antoine , Backovic Marija , Buseyne Florence
Published: April 2023

Infection with viruses of animal origin pose a significant threat to human populations. Simian foamy viruses (SFVs) are frequently transmitted to humans, in which they establish a life-long infection, with the persistence of replication-competent virus. However, zoonotic SFVs do not induce severe disease nor are they transmitted between humans. Thus, SFVs represent a model of zoonotic retroviruses that lead to a chronic infection successfully controlled by the human immune system. We previously showed that infected humans develop potent neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). Within the viral envelope (Env), the surface protein (SU) carries a variable region that defines two genotypes, overlaps with the receptor binding domain (RBD), and is the exclusive target of nAbs. However, its antigenic determinants are not understood. Here, we characterized nAbs present in plasma samples from SFV-infected individuals living in Central Africa. Neutralization assays were carried out in the presence of recombinant SU that compete with SU at the surface of viral vector particles. We defined the regions targeted by the nAbs using mutant SU proteins modified at the glycosylation sites, RBD functional subregions, and genotype-specific sequences that present properties of B-cell epitopes. We observed that nAbs target conformational epitopes. We identified three major epitopic regions: the loops at the apex of the RBD, which likely mediate interactions between Env protomers to form Env trimers, a loop located in the vicinity of the heparan binding site, and a region proximal to the highly conserved glycosylation site N8. We provide information on how nAbs specific for each of the two viral genotypes target different epitopes. Two common immune escape mechanisms, sequence variation and glycan shielding, were not observed. We propose a model according to which the neutralization mechanisms rely on the nAbs to block the Env conformational change and/or interfere with binding to susceptible cells. As the SFV RBD is structurally different from known retroviral RBDs, our data provide fundamental knowledge on the structural basis for the inhibition of viruses by nAbs.

Trial registration: The study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03225794/.
An imaginative geography of linear gender: Bathrooms, locker rooms and cis vulnerability
Authors: Vähäpassi Valo
Published: April 2023

The wave of anti-trans bathroom bills since 2015 has raised awareness of the importance of bathroom politics for trans people. Long before this, feminist scholars have argued that bodies and spaces are simultaneously forced into a gender binary through the regulation of gender-segregated spaces such as bathrooms. In this article, I offer a trans feminist reading of the media events and rhetoric of the Christian right opposing trans access. I analyse the opposition of the Christian right towards trans access to gender-segregated spaces as an imaginative geography of linear gender. As I argue, the Christian right builds an imaginative geography of a threatened, White ‘cis America’ through rhetorical devices. Vulnerability attached with micro-level spaces across the United States is evoked through the figure of the child, ‘women and children’ and the predator. Through these rhetorical devices, bodies and spaces are imagined simultaneously. These figures work as powerful ‘stopping devices’ for anyone bending the straight line of linear gender. These stopping devices can mobilize cis bodies around a defence of a conservative gender order, legitimize a ‘protective’ control over cis girls and women, make living in the social world even harder for trans people, all the while envisioning an exclusionary ‘America’.
‘This great stage of fools’: Martha Graham’s dance ‘Notes for a Study of Lear’
Authors: Simonari Rosella
Published: April 2023

The Notebooks of Martha is a set of notes Graham wrote between the late 1940s and the 1960s. They include quotations from various subjects such as literature, mythology and art. Fifteen pages are dedicated to William Shakespeare’s King Lear, as Graham had decided to choreograph a work on this famous tragedy, titled The Eye of Anguish. Graham did not perform in it and created the dance for her partner on stage and then husband Erick Hawkins. The notes present an interesting layout, have no date and are characterized by a fascinating question in regard to the relationship between quotations from the play and Graham’s comments. The notes address various topics, but one is particularly striking, that is the Fool image. The Fool is a complex character in King Lear and, at one point, Graham quotes Lear’s famous line ‘when we are born we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools’. What is her relationship to the ‘stage of fools?’ How does she elaborate her notes on the actual choreography? In this study, I intend to explore the notes following three aspects: the notes as such, their layout, date and quotation–non quotation arrangement; the stage-Fool binomial and how it reverberates across Graham’s work; the final notes on the choreography. The methodological tools used are those of dance and literary studies and cultural history.
‘Power besieged and power protected’: Conservative uses of COVID-19 to attack Black Lives Matter
Authors: Holloway David
Published: April 2023

This essay discusses uses of COVID-19 by American conservatives to attack the legitimacy of demonstrations against racial injustice in the United States following the murder of George Floyd. The essay considers the conflation of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter in journalism published by conservative media organization The Daily Wire, situating its reportage within a tradition of conservative movement racial politics from Barry Goldwater to Donald Trump. During summer 2020, conservative responses to COVID-19 expanded the discursive spheres in which racialized conflict played out, exemplifying the diffuse and pervasive nature of White backlash politics in contemporary movement conservatism and the continuity of that discourse with patterns established during earlier periods of civil rights struggle. After Floyd’s murder, conservative voices utilized COVID-19 as a racialized wedge, dividing those Americans characterized as authentic and deserving citizens from civil rights protestors and their supporters whose actions were presented as subversive of the legitimate body politic. The essay shows how these treatments of COVID-19 sit within conservative ‘dog whistle’ traditions of the later twentieth century – massaging White resentments without appearing to talk explicitly about race – while simultaneously, in a rhetoric characteristic of the post-Tea Party alt-Right, openly disclosing the politics of racial polarization and exclusion such traditions were once intended to obfuscate or encode.
Portal Venous Remodeling Determines the Pattern of Cirrhosis Decompensation: A Systems Analysis
Authors: Mazumder Nikhilesh R , Jezek Filip , Tapper Elliot B. , Beard Daniel A.
Published: April 2023

Background and rationale for the study

As liver disease progresses, scarring results in worsening hemodynamics ultimately culminating in portal hypertension. This process has classically been quantified via the Porto-Systemic pressure Gradient (PSG) which is clinically estimated by Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG), however PSG alone does not predict a given patient’s clinical trajectory with regards to Baveno stage of cirrhosis. We hypothesize that a patient’s ‘PSG-sensitivity’ to venous remodeling could explain disparate disease trajectories. We created a computational model of the portal system in the context of worsening liver disease informed by physiologic measurements from the field of portal hypertension. We simulated progression of clinical complications, HVPG and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement while only varying a patient’s likelihood of portal venous remodeling.

Main Results

Our results unify hemodynamics, venous remodeling, and the clinical progression of liver disease into a mathematically consistent model of portal hypertension. We find that by varying how ‘sensitive’ patients are to create venous collaterals with rising PSG we can explain variation in patterns of decompensation for patients with liver disease. Specifically, we find that patients who have higher proportions of portosystemic shunting earlier in disease have an attenuated rise in HVPG, delayed onset of ascites, and less hemodynamic shifting after TIPS placement.

Conclusion

This paper builds a computational model of portal hypertension which supports that patient level differences in venous remodeling may explain disparate clinical trajectories of disease.
Selective classification considering time series characteristics for spiking neural networks
Authors: Yumoto Masaya , Hagiwara Masafumi
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we propose new methods for estimating the relative reliability of prediction and rejection methods for selective classification for spiking neural networks (SNNs). We also optimize and improve the efficiency of the RC curve, which represents the relationship between risk and coverage in selective classification. Efficiency here means greater coverage for risk and less risk for coverage in the RC curve. We use the model internal representation when time series data is input to SNN, rank the prediction results that are the output, and reject them at an arbitrary rate. We propose multiple methods based on the characteristics of datasets and the architecture of models. Multiple methods, such as a simple method with discrete coverage and a method with continuous and flexible coverage, yielded results that exceeded the performance of the existing method, softmax response.
Migrant Networks, Food Remittances and Zimbabweans in Cape Town: A Social Media Perspective
Authors:   University of the Western Cape, Sithole Sean
Published: April 2023

Emerging research and academic debates have shown that social media platforms transform migration networks. But the role and link between migrant remittances and social media are generally overlooked and neglected. This paper contributes to the ongoing debates by examining the role of social media as a valuable networking tool for food remitting Zimbabwean migrants. The research is founded on a mixed-methods approach, thus utilising both questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews of Zimbabwean migrants in Cape Town, South Africa. The research findings uncover the role of social media in facilitating a regular flow of food remittances back to urban and rural areas of Zimbabwe. A related result is how social media enabled information pathways associated with cross-border food remitting when the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions limited face to face contact. This research can provide valuable insights for academics, researchers and development practitioners interested in the evolving migration, remittances and food security nexus in the global south.
STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF VINPOCETINE ON INDICATORS OF ACID-ALKALINE STATE FOLLOWING THE ISCHEMIC BRAIN DAMAGE
Authors: Makarova Larisa M. , Pogorely Vasily E. , Abisalova Irina L , Kharitonova Olga V , Makarova Tamara I. , Onbysh Tatiana E. , Kosyanok Nina E.
Published: April 2023

Vinpocetine is a multipurpose medicine with several pharmacological targets. It is known for its neuroprotective properties. Its mechanism of action in brain pathology is due to a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 1, inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channels, and a decrease in calcium influx into neurons. Vinpocetine combines high clinical efficacy and safety of use. Therefore it successfully competes in the pharmaceutical market with an ever-increasing number of new medicines. The purpose of the work was to experimentally study the effects of vinpocetine in cats at a dose of 5 mg/kg on the indicators of the acid-base state (ABS) of arterial and venous blood in the simulation of total cerebral ischemia. The effect of vinpocetine on acid-base status indicators should be considered as the most important aspect of its action, contributing to the neuroprotective effect. The paper discusses possible molecular targets and mechanisms for implementing the protective effect of vinpocetine in ischemia, considering its favorable effect on ABS. These new findings may point to increased use of vinpocetine in human cardiovascular diseases accompanied by ABS deterioration.
PERFIL E COMPETÊNCIAS ADQUIRIDAS POR EGRESSOS DE UM CURSO DE FARMÁCIA, NO BRASIL
Authors: Carneiro Aylma Lima , Pires Gizelly Braga , Alencar Bruno Rodrigues , Alencar Tatiane de Oliveira Silva
Published: April 2023

O objetivo deste artigo é caracterizar o perfil de egressos e as competências adquiridas na formação em uma universidade da Bahia, Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo no qual foi utilizado na coleta de dados um questionário on-line que contemplou quatro aspectos: características sociodemográficas, características da formação dos egressos, atuação profissional dos egressos, e avaliação do curso e das competências adquiridas pelos egressos. Participaram do estudo 123 (38,7%) egressos, formados entre 2004 e 2020, sendo 69,1% do sexo feminino e 66,6% com idade entre 24 e 33 anos. Do total de respondentes, 61,8% concluíram uma pós-graduação e 79,9% trabalham em alguma área de atuação farmacêutica, sendo que a farmácia comunitária é a mais predominante (33,6%). A inserção no mercado de trabalho deu-se dias após a colação de grau para 48% dos egressos e a maioria (57,1%) estava satisfeita financeiramente com a renda. Quanto às competências desenvolvidas, os egressos mencionaram que a formação lhes permitiu desenvolver atividades voltadas ao Cuidado em Saúde (90,8%); à Tecnologia e inovação em saúde (83,7%); e à Gestão em Saúde (68,4%). A maioria (74,4%) revelou satisfação em relação aos aspectos relacionados à formação como corpo docente, conteúdo das disciplinas, recursos disponíveis para as aulas e a importância dos estágios para a formação. Os resultados demonstraram que o curso de Farmácia foi bem avaliado e o perfil dos egressos atende às Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais e à demanda social. Na atual conjuntura de desmonte e desfinanciamento da educação, os resultados fortalecem a relevância do ensino público de qualidade visando a formação de profissionais de saúde mais críticos e articulados com as necessidades da sociedade, no âmbito privado ou público.
Four bioactive compounds isolated from the stem of Anethum sowa L. and their bioactivities
Authors: Al-Mansur Muhammad Abdullah , Ali Siddiqi M. Mahboob , Saha Koushik
Published: April 2023

Anethum sowa Roxb., (a well-known herb in folk medicine, has a greater medicinal significance due to its diversified activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and antispasmodic activity. Very few bioactive compounds have been reported from this species. Our study focused on the isolation, structure elucidation and bioactivity assay of the compounds. In the present work, 6-hydroxy-1, 3-dimethoxy-7-methyl-xanthen-9-one (AS-1) from dichloromethane extract and scopoletin (AS-2), 1, 3, 4-trimethoxy-xanthen-9-one (AS-3), graveolone (AS-4) from ethyl acetate extract of stem of A. sowa were isolated from the stem as well as the plant for the first time. All the characterizations and chemical structures of the compounds were determined by extensive modern spectroscopic techniques such as ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), mass, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrophotometer. Moreover, the cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of AS-2, AS-3 and AS-4 were assessed. AS-2 exhibited significant activity against Salmonella typhi while mild antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. Furthermore AS-3 revealed significant antifungal activity against Sacharomyces cerevacae as well as antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi. Besides AS-4 exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Bacillus megaterium. In addition AS-2, AS-3 and AS-4 presented mild cytotoxic with respect to positive control (Vincristine sulphate) while AS-3 exhibited moderate antioxidant activity as compared to positive control (Ascorbic acid).
Biodiversity of epiphytic marine macroalgae in Mexico: composition and current status
Authors: Quiroz-González Nataly , Aguilar-Estrada Luis G. , Acosta-Calderón Julio A. , Álvarez-Castillo Lucía , Arriola-Álvarez Fernando
Published: April 2023

Marine epiphyte studies in Mexico, including macroalgae, are lacking in the published literature. Floristic studies have been mainly focused on identifying the algae growing on rocky substrata, and epiphytic algae have been recorded, but only occasionally. The aim of this work is to establish the current state of knowledge of the epiphytic macroalgae and their hosts on the Mexican coasts. A systematic revision of the literature published from 1950 to 2021 is also reported, the literature information is included, and the composition, species richness, current state of knowledge of the epiphytic marine macroalgae, and their relationship with the various marine Mexican ecoregions are reported. Sixty-one publications since 1950 included at least one record of epiphytic macroalgae. In this study, 615 species of epiphytic macroalgae and 224 species of hosts for Mexico are reported. This checklist will provide a baseline for future taxonomic and biogeographic studies of the epiphytic marine algae in the country.
Nano structured silver particles as green catalyst for remediation of methylene blue dye from water
Authors: De Anindita , Jain Preeti
Published: April 2023

Anthropogenic dyes are one of the major pollutants often found in industrial wastewater. They are very stable as they contain robust aromatic moiety and are highly hazardous to human health and livelihood. There are several methods for the treatment of dye-containing wastewater. However, these techniques have severe limitations in terms of cost, the time required, and the generation of secondary waste. In this regard, silver nanoparticle-based catalysts can prove to be highly useful. In the present study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized by a green method, and the condition of synthesis was optimized by varying different parameters such as the concentration ratio of metal salt and plant extract, temperature, and pH of the reaction medium. The biogenic silver nanoparticles can act as a catalyst in the reductive degradation reaction of an anthropogenic dye (methylene blue) in the presence of sodium borohydride. The synthesized nanoparticles were highly active against methylene blue and degraded the dye within a few minutes. Thus, this work represents a very stable and efficient system for dye-containing wastewater treatment.
Influence of thermo-mechanical treatment in austenitic and ferritic field condition on microstructural and mechanical properties of reduced activation ferritic-martensitic steel
Authors: Putta Prakash , G V S Nageswara Rao
Published: April 2023

9Cr-1W-0.06Ta reduced activation ferritic-martensitic (RAFM) steel has been investigated in normalized and tempered (N + T) condition and in thermo-mechanically treated (TMT) in austenitic and ferritic field conditions. RAFM steel in N + T condition has a tempered martensitic structure (body-centred tetragonal, bct). It is unstable and will transfer into a stable body-centered cubic (bcc) in the structure during a long period subjected to high temperatures. To make it stable structure, the steel was subjected to austenitization at 1423 K for 10 min, and then cooled in still air (≈−1 K s−1) to 973 K and this temperature was maintained for 2 h in furnace to fully convert austenite into ferritic phase then the steel was subjected to 25% reduction in thickness by hot rolling. Optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopic investigations have been carried out to assess the microstructural changes of the steel N + T and TMT conditions. Hardness, tensile and creep studies are carried out and the results were correlated with the microstructural studies. TMT processed steel resulted in coarser prior austenite grains and exhibited ferrite in phase with fine distribution of M
23C6 and MX precipitates whereas N + T condition is subjected to tempered martensitic structure with coarser M
23C6 and MX precipitates. Even though ferrite phase present in TMT processed steel it exhibits higher tensile and creep strengths due to the presence of high dislocations and finer distribution of precipitates than the N + T condition.
m-Quinodimethane-based fused-ring triplet hydrocarbons
Authors: Shimizu Akihiro , Arikawa Shinobu , Morikoshi Tetsuya , Shintani Ryo
Published: April 2023

Hydrocarbons with open-shell singlet and triplet ground states have long been studied. In contrast to studies of Kekulé hydrocarbons with an open-shell singlet ground state, studies of non-Kekulé and Kekulé hydrocarbons with a triplet ground state are quite limited, and no hydrocarbon with a triplet ground state has been isolated as single crystals. In this review, our work on the synthesis, isolation, and properties of m-quinodimethane-based non-Kekulé polycyclic hydrocarbon, a kinetically stabilized triangulene derivative, and Kekulé polycyclic hydrocarbon, a kinetically stabilized bisdibenzo[3,4:5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-a:2,1-d]benzene derivative, are described. Triplet ground states of these hydrocarbons were experimentally confirmed by ESR and magnetic measurements, and these are the first example of polycyclic hydrocarbons with a triplet ground state whose structures were characterized by X-ray crystal structural analysis. These studies will enable the development of various polycyclic hydrocarbon multi-radicals with high spin multiplicity.
The perception–production link varies with stages of L2 development and vowel properties
Authors: Cho Mi-Hui , Lee Shinsook
Published: April 2023

This study investigates whether the perception–production link in phonological acquisition varies with stages of L2 development. It also examines whether the perception–production link for L2 vowels varies according to vowel properties, or whether the L2 vowels match or mismatch with L1 vowels. Korean learners of English in the UK were divided into more experienced and less experienced groups based on age of arrival and length of residence. The learners completed English vowel production, English vowel identification, and English–Korean vowel mapping tasks with English words (e.g., beat, bot). The intelligibility of their production and the accuracy of their vowel identification were assessed. Results show that only the more experienced learners’ perception and production were significantly correlated. Among L2 Standard Southern British English vowels similar to L1 Korean vowels (/i, ʌ, u/) only /i/ showed a significant correlation between perception and production, while among L2 vowels dissimilar to L1 vowels (/eɪ, ɘʊ, ɑ, ɒ/) only /ɑ/ showed a negative correlation, indicating that the correlation varied with vowel properties. The study contributes to the L2 phonological acquisition literature by exploring the perception–production link in terms of different stages of L2 development and L2 vowel properties.
KAİDE MADDESİ İLE YUMUŞAK ASTAR MATERYALİ ARASINDAKİ BAĞLANMA DAYANIMINA YÜZEY İŞLEMLERİNİN ETKİSİ
Authors: YEŞİL DUYMUŞ Zeynep , TEKİN Selin
Published: April 2023

ÖZ
Amaç: Yumuşak astar maddeleri, esneklik özellikleri ve yumuşak yapılarından dolayı tam ve bölümlü protezlerde sert protez kaide maddelerinin destek dokular üzerindeki olumsuz etkilerinin önlenmesi veya azaltılması amacıyla kullanılırlar. Zamanla sertleşerek esnekliklerini yitirme, bakteri ve mantar kolonizasyonuna neden olma, porözite gösterme, su absorbe etme, renk değiştirme, protez kaidesinden ayrılma ve protezlerin kırılmaya karşı dayanıklılıklarını azaltma gibi klinik kullanım sürelerini sınırlayan önemli dezavantajlara sahiptirler. Bu nedenle çalışma, polimetil metakrilat (PMMA) esaslı protez kaide maddesi ile yumuşak astar materyali arasındaki bağlanma dayanımına yüzey işlemlerinin etkisinin incelenmesi amacıyla yapıldı.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmada ASTM D 638-08 standardından faydalanılarak 60 mm uzunluğunda, kalın olan bölümü 15 mm, ince olan bölümü ise 2,5 mm çapında olacak şekilde konvansiyonel sıcak akrilik rezinden 32 örnek hazırlandı. Örnekler rastgele numaralandırılarak dört gruba ayrıldı. Ortadan ikiye ayrılan örneklere farklı yüzey işlemleri (kontrol, kumlama, Er: Yag lazer ve monomer uygulama) uygulandıktan sonra silikon esaslı yumuşak astar maddesi üreticinin önerdiği şekilde uygulandı. Hazırlanan örnekler 37°C distile suda 24 saat bekletildikten sonra bağlanma dayanımları Universal test cihazında değerlendirildi. Verilerin istatistiksel olarak değerlendirilmesi tek yönlü varyans analizi ve çoklu karşılaştırma (Tukey) testi ile yapıldı.
Bulgular: Yapılan varyans analizi sonucunda; bağlanma dayanımı üzerinde uygulanan yüzey işlemlerinin çok anlamlı (p<0.001) olduğu saptandı.
Sonuç: Protez kaide maddesine yumuşak astar materyalinin daha iyi bağlanmasını sağlamak için protez içerisine yüzey işlemleri uygulanabilir.
Anahtar Sözcükler: Bağlanma dayanımı, protez kaide materyali, yumuşak astar maddesi, yüzey işlemi.
FARKLI ÖZELLİKTEKİ AKIŞKAN REZİN KOMPOZİTLERİN DİŞ DOKULARINA BAĞLANMA DAYANIMININ İNCELENMESİ
Authors: PEŞKERSOY Cem
Published: April 2023

Amaç: Farklı türde akışkan rezin kompozitlerin mine ve dentindeki mikro makaslama bağlanma dayanımını karşılaştırmalı olarak değerlendirmektir.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Yüz sekiz çürüksüz insan alt 3. büyük azı dişinde hazırlanan örnekler rastgele 4 ana grupta ikişer alt grup ve 1 adet kontrol grubu olacak şekilde 9 gruba (n=12) ayrıldı : Grup-VF: Kendinden adezivli akışkan rezin kompozit (Vertise Flow); Grup-GUF: Geleneksel akışkan rezin kompozit (G-ænial Universal Flo); Grup-MEF: Yoğun dolduruculu akışkan rezin kompozit (Majesty Es Flow). Grup TEF: Bulk-fill akışkan rezin kompozit (Tetric Evo Flow) ve Grup-KNTRL: Adezivsiz uygulanan kendinden adezivli akışkan rezin kompozit (Vertise Flow). Adeziv sistem olarak Single Bond Universal her grupta iki farklı yöntemle uygulanarak ikişer alt grup hazırlandı : a) Self-Etch uygulama (SE), b) Etch & Rinse (asitle ve yıka) uygulama (ER) Tüm gruplarda adeziv sistemin uygulanmasından sonra, iç çapı 0.90 mm. olan Tygon tüpler kullanılarak kompozit silindirler oluşturuldu . Örneklerin mikro makaslama bağ dayanımları (μSBS) üniversal bir test cihazı kullanılarak belirlendi. Veriler iki yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA) ve post-Hoc Tukey testi ile analiz edildi (α=0.05).
Bulgular: MEF+ER grubunun minedeki μSBS değeri diğer gruplara kıyasla daha yüksek (55.86 MPa/cm2) bulunmuş iken, dentin dokusunda en yüksek μSBS değerine GUF+SE grubunda ulaşıldı (31.97 MPa/cm2) (p<0.05). Tüm gruplarda, mine dokusunda etch and rinse (ER) yöntemiyle uygulanan kompozitlerin bağlanma dayanımı self-etch (SE) yönteme kıyasla yüksek bulundu (p<0.05). VF grubunda mine ve dentin dokusunda hem self-etch hem de asitle ve yıka yöntemiyle uygulandığında en düşük μSBS değerlerini gösterdi.
Sonuçlar: Doldurucu oranı artırılmış akışkan rezin kompozitler, bulk-fill ve kendinden adezivli akışkan rezin kompozitlere kıyasla daha iyi bir bağlanma dayanımı sergilemiştir. Kendinden asitli üniversal adeziv sistemin asitle kombine uygulanması akışkan rezin kompozitlerin bağlanma dayanımını olumlu yönde etkilemektedir.
Diş Hekimliğinde Aromaterapi
Authors: AÇAR Doğa Naz , AKTÖREN Oya
Published: April 2023

Aromaterapi; bitkisel uçucu yağların ve aromatik bitkisel bileşiklerin hastalıkların önlenmesinde ya da tedavisinde topikal olarak veya inhalasyon yolu ile uygulanan tedavi yaklaşımıdır. Geçmişten günümüze kadar geleneksel, alternatif veya tamamlayıcı tedavi yaklaşımları olarak tıp ve diş hekimliğinin çeşitli alanlarında kullanılması önerilen uçucu yağların antibakteriyel, antiviral, antifungal, analjezik, sedatif gibi farklı etkiler gösterdiği bildirilmektedir. Bu derleme, diş hekimliğinde kullanılabileceği belirtilen uçucu yağların tanımlanması, uygulanma alanlarının ve tedavi etkinliklerinin incelenmesi amacı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Aromaterapiye ilişkin dental literatürler değerlendirildiğinde; uçucu yağların oral mukoza ve dişeti hastalıklarının tedavisinde, diş çürüğünün önlenmesinde, remineralizasyonda, endodontik ve restoratif tedavide, halitoziste, anksiyete kontrolünde kullanılabileceğinin önerildiği görülmektedir. Çay ağacı, karanfil, lavanta, kekik, tarçın, okaliptüs, nane ve limon uçucu yağları ise diş hekimliğinde en çok uygulanan uçucu yağlar olarak belirtilmektedir. Candida enfeksiyonunda çay ağacı, kekik, tarçın, nane, limon; stomatitiste okaliptüs, lavanta; dişeti hastalıklarında çay ağacı, tarçın, okaliptüs; ağız çalkalama solüsyonu olarak çay ağacı yağı, nane; diş çürüğünün önlenmesinde ve remineralizasyonunda çay ağacı yağı, karanfil, kekik, tarçın, limon; pulpa tedavilerinde karanfil, kanal patlarında karanfil, kekik; restoratif materyallerin antimikrobiyal özelliklerinin artırılmasında kekik, tarçın; halitoziste tarçın, okaliptus, nane; dental anksiyete kontrolünde lavanta ve topikal anestezide karanfil uçucu yağlarının kullanılabileceği bildirilmektedir. Kullanım güvenirliliklerine ilişkin deneysel çalışmaların artırılması ve tedavide etkili minimum dozlarının belirlenmesi ile uçucu yağların diş hekimliği klinik uygulamalarında kullanımının gelecekte artacağı öngörülmektedir.
Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi Öğrencilerinin Restoratif Diş Tedavisi Uzmanlığına İlişkin Görüşlerinin İncelenmesi
Authors: BEDİR Fatih , ÖZDOĞAN Alper
Published: April 2023

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı iki farklı fakülte (Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi ve Atatürk Üniversitesi) de eğitim gören öğrencilerin Restoratif Diş Tedavisi uzmanlığına ilişkin görüşlerinin değerlendirilmesidir.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesinden 306 öğrenci ve Atatürk Üniversitesinden 428 öğrenci olmak üzere toplam 734 öğrenci katıldı. Çalışmaya birinci sınıf öğrencileri dahil edilmedi. Öğrencilere demografik bilgileriyle ilgili, restoratif diş tedavisinin preklinik, klinik ve uzmanlık konularıyla ilgili ve diğer bölümlerle kıyaslanmasıyla ilgili sorular içeren 24 soruluk bir anketi doldurmaları istendi. Verilerin incelenmesinde tanımlayıcı ve frekans analizleri ve ki kare, bağımsız örneklem t testi, tek yönlü ANOVA testleri kullanıldı.
Bulgular: Öğrencilerin Restoratif Diş Tedavisini tercih ettikleri sıralama iki fakülte öğrenciler arasında farklılık göstermedi (p > 0.05). Ancak öğrencilerin okudukları dönem ile tercih sıralaması arasındaki fark anlamlıydı (p < 0.05) ve dönem artıkça tercih sıralaması olumsuz etkileniyordu.
Sonuç: Öğrenciler Restoratif Diş Tedavisi uzmanlığına kişisel olarak ilgi duysalar da maddi gelir nedeniyle üst sıralarda tercih etmemektedirler. Ayrıca fakülteler arasındaki çeşitli farklılıklarda Restoratif Diş Tedavisiyle ilgili görüşü olumlu ya da olumsuz olarak etkiler.
Digital exhaustion of the right of distribution in the European Union copyright law
Authors: Drakšas Justinas
Published: April 2023

In this article, the author presents the conditions for exhaustion of the distribution right and overviews the main sources regulating exhaustion, from which the main problem related to the recognition of digital exhaustion of the distribution right - the separation of the right of communication to the public and the right of distribution - arises. In the view of the author, transmission of works or objects of related rights over computer networks for permanent use by its users is not fully attributable to distribution, due to international and EU provisions restricting the distribution right to material copies only. Therefore, the author considers that intervention of the legislator is necessary in order to implement the rule of digital exhaustion and to make a clear distinction between the rights of distribution and communication to the public. Other risks associated with the digital exhaustion of the distribution right, such as the “first copy” problem, and the inefficiency of the technical measures to ensure that works (other objects) transmitted over computer networks are not reproduced without the permission of the rightholder, are also analysed in this work. Notwithstanding the mentioned concerns, the author suggests reviewing legal provisions related to digital exhaustion in order to ensure that copyright law better meets actual social relationships and key consumer needs.
Predictive Modeling to Identify Children With Complex Health Needs At Risk for Hospitalization
Authors: Ming David Y. , Zhao Congwen , Tang Xinghong , Chung Richard J. , Rogers Ursula A. , Stirling Andrew , Economou-Zavlanos Nicoleta J. , Goldstein Benjamin A.
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND

Identifying children at high risk with complex health needs (CCHN) who have intersecting medical and social needs is challenging. This study’s objectives were to (1) develop and evaluate an electronic health record (EHR)-based clinical predictive model (“model”) for identifying high-risk CCHN and (2) compare the model’s performance as a clinical decision support (CDS) to other CDS tools available for identifying high-risk CCHN.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included children aged 0 to 20 years with established care within a single health system. The model development/validation cohort included 33 months (January 1, 2016–September 30, 2018) and the testing cohort included 18 months (October 1, 2018–March 31, 2020) of EHR data. Machine learning methods generated a model that predicted probability (0%–100%) for hospitalization within 6 months. Model performance measures included sensitivity, positive predictive value, area under receiver-operator curve, and area under precision-recall curve. Three CDS rules for identifying high-risk CCHN were compared: (1) hospitalization probability ≥10% (model-predicted); (2) complex chronic disease classification (using Pediatric Medical Complexity Algorithm [PMCA]); and (3) previous high hospital utilization.

RESULTS

Model development and testing cohorts included 116 799 and 27 087 patients, respectively. The model demonstrated area under receiver-operator curve = 0.79 and area under precision-recall curve = 0.13. PMCA had the highest sensitivity (52.4%) and classified the most children as high risk (17.3%). Positive predictive value of the model-based CDS rule (19%) was higher than CDS based on the PMCA (1.9%) and previous hospital utilization (15%).

CONCLUSIONS

A novel EHR-based predictive model was developed and validated as a population-level CDS tool for identifying CCHN at high risk for future hospitalization.