bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is the persistence of
Listeria monocytogenes
in food processing facilities and its resistance to pathogen intervention linked to its phylogeny?
Authors: van de Merwe Chandré , Simpson David J. , Qiao Nanzhen , Otto Simon J. G. , Kovacevic Jovana , Gänzle Michael G. , McMullen Lynn M.
Published: May 2024

The foodborne pathogen
Listeria monocytogenes
is differentiated into four distinct lineages which differ in their virulence. It remains unknown, however, whether the four lineages also differ with respect to their ability to persist in food processing facilities, their resistance to high pressure, a preservation method that is used commercially for
Listeria
control on ready-to-eat meats, and their ability to form biofilms. This study aimed to determine differences in the pressure resistance and biofilm formation of 59 isolates of
L. monocytogenes
representing lineages I and II. Furthermore, the genetic similarity of 9 isolates of
L. monocytogenes
that were obtained from a meat processing facility over a period of 1 year and of 20 isolates of
L. monocytogenes
from food processing facilities was analyzed to assess whether the ability of the lineages of
L. monocytogenes
to persist in these facilities differs. Analysis of 386 genomes with respect to the source of isolation revealed that genomes of lineage II are over-represented in meat isolates when compared with clinical isolates. Of the 38 strains of
Lm. monocytogenes
that persisted in food processing facilities (this study or published studies), 31 were assigned to lineage II. Isolates of lineage I were more resistant to treatments at 400 to 600 MPa. The thickness of biofilms did not differ between lineages. In conclusion, strains of lineage II are more likely to persist in food processing facilities while strains of lineage I are more resistant to high pressure.

IMPORTANCE

Listeria monocytogenes
substantially contributes to the mortality of foodborne disease in developed countries. The virulence of strains of four lineages of
L. monocytogenes
differs, indicating that risks associated with the presence of
L. monocytogenes
are lineage specific. Our study extends the current knowledge by documentation that the lineage-level phylogeny of
L. monocytogenes
plays a role in the source of isolation, in the persistence in food processing facilities, and in the resistance to pathogen intervention technologies. In short, the control of risks associated with the presence of
L. monocytogenes
in food is also lineage specific. Understanding the route of contamination
L. monocytogenes
is an important factor to consider when designing improved control measures.
A community science approach to public health and public trust in science
Authors: Marizzi Christine , Ajayi Paul Kehinde , McMahon Rita , Meade Philip S.
Published: May 2024

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the importance of health literacy and trust in pandemic management. Collaborating with the community to prepare for pandemics is incredibly effective in fostering understanding and building trust in public health and scientific research.
Genomes of cressdnaviruses, microviruses, a gyrovirus, and a caudovirus identified in the fecal samples of a mallard and double-crested cormorant
Authors: Khalifeh Anthony , Sahnan Shawnpreet , Kale Shubham , Olivo Diego , Lund Michael C. , Kraberger Simona , Varsani Arvind
Published: May 2024

Mallards and double-crested cormorants have a broad distribution across North America. In the fecal sample from two individual mallard and double-crested cormorant, we determined the genomes of a caudovirus, microviruses (
n
= 6), cressdnaviruses (
n
= 35), and a gyrovirus (chicken anemia virus, CAV). Here, we report double-crested cormorant as a CAV host.
Complete genome sequence of a
Salmonella enterica
strain of serovar Agona associated with an outbreak in France
Authors: Romero Karol , Chesnais Virginie , Vorimore Fabien , Tran Mai-Lan , Douarre Pierre-Emmanuel , Leblanc Jean-Charles , Cadel-Six Sabrina
Published: May 2024

We report here the complete genome of one
Salmonella
Agona strain isolated in 2017 from a dried milk powder in France.
Supplemental Material: Deep lithospheric controls on surface deformation and seismicity around the East Anatolian Fault Zone and A3 Triple Junction
Authors: Delph Jonathan R. , Darin Michael H. , Whitney Donna L , Cosca Michael A. , Teyssier Christian , Kaymakci Nuri , Eken Tuna , Reid Mary , Beck Susan L.
Published: May 2024

Explanation on the creation of the lithospheric strength profiles. Table S1. Parameters used to calculate yield strength envelopes. 
Cerebellar syndrome as the presenting feature of Hashimoto encephalopathy
Authors: Choudhury Cankatika , Sahib Akhil
Published: May 2024

Hashimoto encephalopathy presents with a myriad of neuropsychiatric features in the background of elevated antithyroid antibodies and it may or may not be associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. Here, we present the case of a hypothyroid woman in her 30s, with a 5-year history of chronic progressive gait ataxia along with hand and head tremor, inattention and electroencephalogram (EEG) suggestive of interictal epileptiform discharges without any clinical seizures. The patient had very high titres of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies >2000 IU/mL and was on very high-dose levothyroxine replacement therapy. She responded to intravenous pulse corticosteroids. Improvement was noted both clinically and on subsequent EEGs. Pure cerebellar syndrome without frank encephalopathy can also be a rare presentation of Hashimoto encephalopathy. This highlights the importance of antithyroid antibodies testing even in cases of pure cerebellar syndrome to rule out Hashimoto encephalopathy associated ataxia.
Ophthalmic complication of pityriasis rubra pilaris
Authors: Moledina Malik , Davison Simon , Malik Adeela
Published: May 2024

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare dermatological condition which may present with ocular manifestations. We report a case of recurrent cicatricial ectropion (CE) with topical beta-blocker use in the rare dermatological condition PRP. The patient underwent release of scar tissue, lateral tarsal strip and full-thickness supraclavicular skin graft for CE following immunosuppression with methotrexate for 3 months. Postoperatively, CE recurred, with skin graft shrinkage and resumption of periocular disease activity, 8 weeks following the introduction of topical timolol. The patient was referred for further immunosuppression and substitution of timolol before consideration for further surgery. PRP has a variety of potential ocular complications. Surgery has a high risk of recurrence and should be performed when the overall disease is quiescent and drugs, which could trigger reactivation, have been discontinued and/or substituted. Skin grafts should be oversized to off-set shrinkage.
Acceptability of the Venting Wisely pathway for use in critically ill adults with hypoxaemic respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): a qualitative study protocol
Authors: Krewulak Karla D , Knight Gwen , Irwin Andrea , Morrissey Jeanna , Stelfox Henry Thomas , Bagshaw Sean M , Zuege Danny , Roze des Ordons Amanda , Fiest Kirsten , Parhar Ken Kuljit Singh
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Hypoxaemic respiratory failure (HRF) affects nearly 15% of critically ill adults admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). An evidence-based, stakeholder-informed multidisciplinary care pathway (Venting Wisely) was created to standardise the diagnosis and management of patients with HRF and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Successful adherence to the pathway requires a coordinated team-based approach by the clinician team. The overall aim of this study is to describe the acceptability of theVenting Wiselypathway among critical care clinicians. Specifically, this will allow us to (1) better understand the user’s experience with the intervention and (2) determine if the intervention was delivered as intended.

Methods and analysis

This qualitative study will conduct focus groups with nurse practitioners, physicians, registered nurses and registered respiratory therapists from 17 Alberta ICUs. We will use template analysis to describe the acceptability of a multicomponent care pathway according to seven constructs of acceptability: (1) affective attitude;,(2) burden, (3) ethicality, (4) intervention coherence, (5) opportunity costs, (6) perceived effectiveness and (7) self-efficacy. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the acceptability of theVenting Wiselypathway. Identification of areas of poor acceptability will be used to refine the pathway and implementation strategies as ways to improve adherence to the pathway and promote its sustainability.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at a scientific conference.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.govNCT04744298.
Association between loneliness and cigarette smoking attitudes among university students in Iran: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zahedi Hamideh , Sajjadi Seyyede Leila , Sahebihagh Mohammad Hasan , Sarbakhsh Parvin
Published: May 2024

Objectives

During the last two decades, cigarette smoking witnessed a global increase in use, especially among youth. Loneliness is one of the possible psychosocial determinants of smoking. This study examined the association between loneliness and attitudes towards cigarette smoking among university students of Iran.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting and participants

This study was conducted among 538 university students, who were recruited using the cluster random sampling method. Loneliness and smoking attitudes of the samples were assessed using the revised version of the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale and the Scale of Cigarette Smoking Attitude (CSA). Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multivariable regression analysis were used to analyse the data.

Results

From a total of 538 participants, 301 (59.9%) students were young women. The mean age of the students was 22.2±2.9 years. Only 56 (10.4%) of the students were married and 370 (87.9%) of them were lived with their families. 131 (24.3%) students experienced cigarette smoking. In terms of university-related characteristics, 205 (38.1%) of the students studied in the faculty of medicine. Also, 30% of the students had a positive or indifferent attitude towards smoking, while 26.4% of the students reported feeling lonely. The mean scores for loneliness and CSA were 41.42±11.29 and 48.64±11.2, respectively. Statistically, a significant positive correlation was found between loneliness and CSA (r=0.289; p<0.001). After controlling for potential confounders by regression analysis, loneliness scores were also positively associated with CSA scores (B: 0.14; 95% CI 0.097 to 0.18).

Conclusions

According to the positive association between loneliness and students’ CSA, paying more attention to the state of loneliness in college students, examining situations and reasons that increase it and identifying the interventions that might reduce it are necessary. Reducing loneliness among college students can correct their attitudes towards smoking.
Effects of virtual reality OSCE on nursing students’ education: a study protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Ping , Dong Xuan , Liu Fei , Fu Haixia
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Virtual objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) has been shown to influence the performance of nursing students. However, its specific effects, particularly students’ competence, stress, anxiety, confidence, satisfaction with virtual reality OSCE and examiners’ satisfaction, remain unclear.

Method and analysis

This study aims to assess the effects of virtual reality OSCE on nursing students’ education. The study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol guidelines. A literature search is performed on electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, EBSCO, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. The inclusion criteria adhere to the PICOS principle, encompassing nursing students, including those studying in school and those engaged in hospital internship. This review includes studies on the use of virtual reality OSCE as an assessment tool, compared with traditional clinical examinations, such as in-person OSCE. The outcome assessments encompass (1) competence, (2) stress, (3) anxiety, (4) confidence, (5) student satisfaction with virtual reality OSCE and (6) examiners’ satisfaction. These studies are designed as randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-experimental research. The search time is from the inception of each database to 30 June 2023, without language restriction. Studies for inclusion are screened by two reviewers for data extraction dependently. Any dispute is resolved through discussion. Unresolved disputes are decided by consulting a third author. For the risk of bias (ROB) assessment, the Cochrane ROB tool for RCTs and the risk of bias in non-randomised studies of intervention tool are used. Moreover, RevMan V.5.3 is used for meta-analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

This study protocol does not include any clinical research and thus does not require ethical approval. Research findings are published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023437685.
Pulmonary rehabilitation in Iranian outpatients with mustard gas lung disease: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Ghanei Mostafa , Philip Keir E J , Moghadam Mohamed R S , Hosseini Hamed , Babaie Aliakbar , Roustanezhad Mohammad , Hopkinson Nicholas S
Published: May 2024

Objective

People with mustard gas lung disease experience cough, sputum, breathlessness and exercise limitation. We hypothesised that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) would be beneficial in this condition.

Design

An assessor-blind, two-armed, parallel-design randomised controlled clinical trial.

Setting

Secondary care clinics in Iran.

Participants

60 men with breathlessness due to respiratory disease caused by documented mustard gas exposure, mean (SD) age 52.7 (4.36) years, MRC dyspnoea score 3.5 (0.7), St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) 72.3 (15.2).

Interventions

Participants were allocated either to a 6-week course of thrice-weekly PR (n=31) or to usual care (n=29), with 6-week data for 28 and 26, respectively.

Outcome measures

Primary endpoint was change in cycle endurance time at 70% baseline exercise capacity at 6 weeks. Secondary endpoints included 6 min walk distance, quadriceps strength and bulk, body composition and health status. For logistical reasons, blood tests that had been originally planned were not performed and 12-month follow-up was available for only a small proportion.

Results

At 6 weeks, cycle endurance time increased from 377 (140) s to 787 (343) s with PR vs 495 (171) s to 479 (159) s for usual care, effect size +383 (231) s (p<0.001). PR also improved 6 min walk distance+103.2 m (63.6–142.9) (p<0.001), MRC dyspnoea score −0.36 (−0.65 to −0.07) (p=0.016) and quality of life; SGRQ −8.43 (−13.38 to −3.48) p<0.001, as well as quadriceps strength+9.28 Nm (1.89 to 16.66) p=0.015.

Conclusion

These data suggest that PR can improve exercise capacity and quality of life in people with breathlessness due to mustard gas lung disease and support the wider provision of this form of care.

Trial registration number

IRCT2016051127848N1.
Performance of generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs) in Certification Examination of the College of Family Physicians of Canada
Authors: Mousavi Mehdi , Shafiee Shabnam , Harley Jason M , Cheung Jackie Chi Kit , Abbasgholizadeh Rahimi Samira
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The application of large language models such as generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs) has been promising in medical education, and its performance has been tested for different medical exams. This study aims to assess the performance of GPTs in responding to a set of sample questions of short-answer management problems (SAMPs) from the certification exam of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).

Method

Between August 8th and 25th, 2023, we used GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 in five rounds to answer a sample of 77 SAMPs questions from the CFPC website. Two independent certified family physician reviewers scored AI-generated responses twice: first, according to the CFPC answer key (ie, CFPC score), and second, based on their knowledge and other references (ie, Reviews’ score). An ordinal logistic generalised estimating equations (GEE) model was applied to analyse repeated measures across the five rounds.

Result

According to the CFPC answer key, 607 (73.6%) lines of answers by GPT-3.5 and 691 (81%) by GPT-4 were deemed accurate. Reviewer’s scoring suggested that about 84% of the lines of answers provided by GPT-3.5 and 93% of GPT-4 were correct. The GEE analysis confirmed that over five rounds, the likelihood of achieving a higher CFPC Score Percentage for GPT-4 was 2.31 times more than GPT-3.5 (OR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.53 to 3.47; p<0.001). Similarly, the Reviewers’ Score percentage for responses provided by GPT-4 over 5 rounds were 2.23 times more likely to exceed those of GPT-3.5 (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.22 to 4.06; p=0.009). Running the GPTs after a one week interval, regeneration of the prompt or using or not using the prompt did not significantly change the CFPC score percentage.

Conclusion

In our study, we used GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 to answer complex, open-ended sample questions of the CFPC exam and showed that more than 70% of the answers were accurate, and GPT-4 outperformed GPT-3.5 in responding to the questions. Large language models such as GPTs seem promising for assisting candidates of the CFPC exam by providing potential answers. However, their use for family medicine education and exam preparation needs further studies.
Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy in Colombian Spanish
Authors: Rodríguez-González Diana Carolina , González Cetina Nelson Fernelly , Sandoval Cuellar Carolina , Vargas Rodríguez Ledmar Jovanny
Published: May 2024

To ensure safe, optimal, and personalized physical activity, exercise, or sport during pregnancy, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and the Women’s Health Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, developed the Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy (GAQ_P) as a pre-assessment to identify women who may have a relative or absolute contraindication to prenatal exercise that requires further consultation with a health professional to determine if exercise can or should be continued or initiated during pregnancy. This study aims to translate and cross-culturally adapt the GAQ_P for use in Colombian Spanish. The original instrument was developed in English and French for the evaluation of the health of pregnant women before the beginning of physical activity and the guidelines for the same. Ten steps were followed according to the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research Translation and Cultural Adaptation guidelines, with the participation of four experts. The comprehensibility of the instrument was 99%, which shows a high percentage of intelligibility of the document. This article describes the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the GAQ_P for use in Colombian Spanish, contributing positively to pre-exercise screening during pregnancy in Colombia.
Parametric optimization in drilling of sisal–glass reinforced epoxy composites using Taguchi grey relational analysis method
Authors: Tamilvendan D. , Ravikumar A.R. , Thirumalai R.
Published: May 2024

This research work intends to study the effect of hybridization of glass and sisal fiber, stacking sequence and tensile properties of the composite. The sisal-glass fiber hybrid composites laminates are prepared using reinforced plain woven sisal fabric (unidirectional) and plainwoven glass fabric. In this research study, 27 experiments are conducted as per L27 orthogonal array. Five process parameters are selected and three responses are considered in this work. The drilling of the composite specimen is considered and the drilling process parameters such as speed, feed rate, drill diameter, material thickness, and drill point angle are selected. The responses considered in this work are delamination factor, thrust force, and torque. Taguchi analysis is performed and the response table for means for the responses is determined, and the most influencing parameter in the drilling of the composite specimen is analyzed. The grey relational coefficients are computed and followed with the computation of the grey relational grade. The grey relational grades are calculated for determining the highest contributing parameter in the drilling of the sisal fiber and glass fiber reinforced hybrid composite specimen. The optimum drilling process parameters are ranked and the ranks presented represent the sequence of run resulting in optimum solutions.
Simplified Boundary Knot Method with Ghost Points for High-Order Harmonic-Type PDEs
Authors: Liu L. , Lei M. , Yue J. H. , Li S. Q.
Published: May 2024

In this paper, a new approach named simplified boundary knot method with ghost points (SBKM-G) is proposed to improve the performance of SBKM in solving high-order harmonic-type partial differential equations (PDEs). In contrast to the traditional SBKM where the source points are coincident with the collocation nodes on the boundary, the SBKM-G removes the source/ghost nodes to an arbitrary area like a circle (sphere) which covers the original problem domain in 2D (3D). This modification leads to higher accuracy without sacrificing simplicity and efficiency. In addition, the effect of free parameters in SBKM-G has also been studied. Numerical examples in 2D and 3D show the superiority of SBKM-G to SBKM and the performance of SBKM-G in solving this type of high-order PDEs is highlighted.
Regulating the ctDNA binding interactions and in vitro antitumor activities by chiral amide-bonded H2Porphyrins containing zero- to three- L-alanine units
Authors: Tang Wei , Tang Ting , Yang Ting , Su Jingkang , Wang Huaijin , Shi Chaowen , Zhu Weihua , Liang Xu
Published: May 2024

Herein, a series of four chiral amide-bonded H2porphyrins containing zero- to three- L-alanine units have been prepared and characterized. Also, the spectroscopic investigations and biocompatibility evaluations of these amphiphilic H2porphyrins were carried out to illustrate the relationship between the number of alanine units and antitumor behaviors. Interestingly, H2Porphyrin 3 with two L-alanine units has a stronger DNA interaction and cell membrane penetration ability that significantly enhances the antitumor behaviors.
Compound criticality of bauxite production: implications for sustainability and trade neo-colonialism
Authors: Malam C. , Moore K. R. , Diallo P.
Published: May 2024

We describe bauxite as having compound criticality. (1) It is a critical raw material (CRM) from which alumina and thereby aluminium are produced, and aluminium has the highest production levels of all metals deemed significant to the Clean Energy Transition. (2) Gallium is a by-product CRM, extracted during alumina refining. (3) Multiple other CRM by-products could be extracted during alumina refining: scandium, lithium, cobalt, titanium and REE. (4) Production is profoundly influenced by price inelasticity (for by-products), regime instability of bauxite production and supply chain bottlenecks. We review the geology of bauxite ore deposits as a function of complex CRM supply potential, and interrogate the trait of criticality using four of the world's dominant producer nations of bauxite and potential patterns of value addition from raw materials to refined products. Trade agreements and mitigation strategies to ensure security of supply in consumer regions prioritize removal of low-cost bauxite by large-scale mining operations and shipping of unprocessed ore at high CO
2
footprint from producer nations. Ore-refining nations have investments that are deemed extractive because they remove large quantities of raw material for export with minimal or no in-country processing and they can also place producer nations in debt. Opposition to neo-colonial debt-trap policies and extractive practices increases regime instability and thereby criticality. We highlight how societal-environmental-political interactions and the mineral-energy nexus in the bauxite-aluminium supply chain are subject to increasing turbulence, which may reshape the geographies of supply chains.
Skeleton-aware Graph-based Adversarial Networks for Human Pose Estimation from Sparse IMUs
Authors: Chen Kaixin , Zhang Lin , Wang Zhong , Zhao Shengjie , Zhou Yicong
Published: May 2024

Recently, sparse-inertial human pose estimation (SI-HPE) with only a few IMUs has shown great potential in various fields. The most advanced work in this area achieved fairish results using only six IMUs. However, there are still two major issues that remain to be addressed. First, existing methods typically treat SI-HPE as a temporal sequential learning problem and often ignore the important spatial prior of skeletal topology. Second, there are far more synthetic data in their training data than real data, and the data distribution of synthetic data and real data is quite different, which makes it difficult for the model to be applied to more diverse real data. To address these issues, we propose “Graph-based Adversarial Inertial Poser (GAIP)”, which tracks body movements using sparse data from six IMUs. To make full use of the spatial prior, we design a multi-stage pose regressor with graph convolution to explicitly learn the skeletal topology. A joint position loss is also introduced to implicitly mine spatial information. To enhance the generalization ability, we propose supervising the pose regression with an adversarial loss from a discriminator, bringing the ability of adversarial networks to learn implicit constraints into full play. Additionally, we construct a real dataset that includes hip support movements and a synthetic dataset containing various motion categories to enrich the diversity of inertial data for SI-HPE. Extensive experiments demonstrate that GAIP produces results with more precise limb movement amplitudes and relative joint positions, accompanied by smaller joint angle and position errors compared to state-of-the-art counterparts. The datasets and codes are publicly available at
https://cslinzhang.github.io/GAIP/
.
Cascaded Adaptive Graph Representation Learning for Image Copy-Move Forgery Detection
Authors: Li Yuanman , Ye Lanhao , Cao Haokun , Wang Wei , Hua Zhongyun
Published: May 2024

In the realm of image security, there has been a burgeoning interest in harnessing deep learning techniques for the detection of digital image copy-move forgeries, resulting in promising outcomes. The generation process of such forgeries results in a distinctive topological structure among patches, and collaborative modeling based on these underlying topologies proves instrumental in enhancing the discrimination of ambiguous pixels. Despite the attention received, existing deep learning models predominantly rely on convolutional neural networks, falling short in adequately capturing correlations among distant patches. This limitation impedes the seamless propagation of information and collaborative learning across related patches. To address this gap, our work introduces an innovative framework for image copy-move forensics rooted in graph representation learning. Initially, we introduce an adaptive graph learning approach to foster collaboration among related patches, dynamically learning the inherent topology of patches. The devised approach excels in promoting efficient information flow among related patches, encompassing both short-range and long-range correlations. Additionally, we formulate a cascaded graph learning framework, progressively refining patch representations and disseminating information to broader correlated patches based on their updated topologies. Finally, we propose a hierarchical cross-attention mechanism facilitating the exchange of information between the cascaded graph learning branch and a dedicated forgery detection branch. This equips our method with the capability to jointly grasp the homology of copy-move correspondences and identify inconsistencies between the target region and the background. Comprehensive experimental results validate the superiority of our proposed scheme, providing a robust solution to security challenges posed by digital image manipulations.
Hypothalamic transcriptome response to simulated diel earthen pond hypoxia cycles in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
Authors: Ott Brian D. , Hulse-Kemp Amanda M. , Duke Mary V. , Griffin Matt J. , Peterson Brian C. , Scheffler Brian E. , Torrans Eugene L. , Allen Peter J.
Published: May 2024

Channel catfish are an economically important species that experience diel episodic periods of hypoxia that can reduce appetite. This is the first study to investigate their transcriptome from the hypothalamus in a simulated 24-h span in a commercial catfish pond, with 12 h of hypoxia and 12 h of normoxia. The research revealed functional groups of genes relating to hypoxia, angiogenesis, and glycolysis as well as individual target genes possibly involved in appetite regulation.
Microbiota-induced inflammatory responses in bladder tumors promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition and enhanced immune infiltration
Authors: Li Qiang , Sun Yichao , Zhai Kun , Geng Bingzhi , Dong Zhenkun , Ji Lei , Chen Hui , Cui Yan
Published: May 2024

The intratumoral microbiota may mediate the bladder tumor inflammatory response, thereby promoting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition program and influencing tumor immune infiltration.
Type II Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy Secondary to Malaria
Authors: Bezzina Alastair David , Spiteri Bailey Jeremy , Bertuello Isaac
Published: May 2024

To the best of our knowledge, we present the first case of type II acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) exhibiting in a patient suffering from malarial retinopathy concomitant with cerebral malaria acquired after travelling to West Africa without taking the necessary antimalarial prophylaxis. The patient complained of bilateral blurring of vision after being removed off sedation whilst at the intensive care unit. Subsequent examination revealed bilateral retinal haemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, and foveal pigmentary changes in keeping malarial retinopathy. Macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed patchy hyperreflective changes at the level of the outer plexiform and outer nuclear layers (ONL) in keeping with the areas of deep capillary plexus flow void noted on OCT-angiography (OCT-A). This case report sheds more light on the extent of neurosensory retinal ischaemia in malarial retinopathy and showcases a new imaging biomarker which may be utilized in assessing and quantifying the functional deficit created by this disease.
In Vitro Biological and GC-MS Analysis of Whole Plant Calotropis procera
Authors: Shah Qahir , Achakzai Jahangir Khan , Panezai Muhammad Anwar , Akhtar Basira , Kakar Abdul Manan , Akbar Ali , Kakar Shahabuddin , Shahwani Nisar Ahmed , Khan Javed , Khan Nazima Yousaf , Khan Ghulam Mustafa , Baloch Nizam , Rahim Bakht Zareen , Hassan Noor
Published: May 2024

Calotropis procera is a medicinal, traditional, and therapeutic plant in Pakistan. In this research study, the biological activities, for instance, anticancer, antileishmanial, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and brine shrimp lethality assay and GC-MS are studied. MTT assay, antileishmanial bioassay, microplate Alamar Blue assay, agar tube dilution method, oxidative burst assay using chemiluminescence technique, B-hatching techniques, and triple quadrupole acquisition method MS parameters were the methods used for anticancer, antileishmanial, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, brine shrimp lethality assay, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Whole plant methanol extract of Calotropis procera (WMECP) inhibited 69.1% of the growth of HeLa cell line with an IC50 value of 3.1 ± 0.4 and whole plant n-hexane fraction of Calotropis procera (WHFCP) and whole plant and aqueous fraction of Calotropis procera (WAFCP) inhibited the growth by 70.2% and 65.2% with IC50 values of 5.0 ± 0.3 and 17.1 ± 1.0. Whole plant methanol extract of Calotropis procera (WMECP) inhibited 70.1% of the growth of the PC3 cell line with an IC50 value of 5.1 ± 0.3 and whole plant n-hexane fraction of Calotropis procera (WHFCP) and whole plant aqueous fraction of Calotropis procera (WAFCP) inhibited 61.6% and 59.7% with IC50 values of 3.7 ± 0.5 and 16.4 ± 1.0. None of the extract and fractions of Calotropis procera showed anticancer activities against the 3T3 cell line. None of the extract and fractions of Calotropis procera showed antileishmanial, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activities. Whole plant methanol extract of Calotropis procera (WMECP) exhibited lethality at the highest concentration while other fractions did not exhibit lethality. GC-MS studies revealed that the whole plant methanol extract of Calotropis procera (WMECP) consists of 11 compounds, whole plant n-hexane fraction of Calotropis procera (WHFCP) consists of 9 compounds, and whole plant aqueous fraction of Calotropis procera (WAFCP) consists of 7 compounds.
A Generalized Limit Equilibrium‐Based Platform Incorporating Simplified Bishop, Janbu and Morgenstern–Price Methods for Soil Slope Stability Problems
Authors: Alok Aman , Burman Avijit , Samui Pijush , R. Kaloop Mosbeh , Eldessouki Mohamed
Published: May 2024

Limit equilibrium (LE) method is the most widely used method for slope stability analysis. Different methods based on the LE technique for the analysis of the stability of the slope have been developed. Some are based on satisfying the force equilibrium condition of the failing mass (Janbu’s method), while some focus on satisfying the moment equilibrium condition (Bishop’s method). Among these methods, the most accurate result is provided by the Morgenstern–Price method as it not only satisfies both moments as well as a force equilibrium condition but also considers the interslice shear forces (Vi) and interslice normal forces (Ei), which are neglected by most of the LE methods to avoid the condition of indeterminacy. To accommodate these forces, Morgenstern–Price (MP) gave a relation between the Vi and Ei which depends upon a scaling multiplier (λ). Thus, it becomes necessary to evaluate λ value along with the factor of safety (FS). There is barely any work discussing the detailed methodology of evaluation of λ along with FS. Method for obtaining λ along with FS have been developed and elaborated in details here. While calculating FS (MP method), evaluation of Ei is a must which is dependent upon the values of normal force at the base of each slice (Ni) and FS, which itself is dependent upon the value of Ei, making it a loop of interdependent variables. To avoid this interdependency of above stated variables, a separate formulation of Ei is given which reduces the calculations (run‐time) involved. A VBA code‐based platform has also been developed incorporating the generalized LE method, including Bishop’s, Janbu’s, and Morgenstern–Price methods which are represented in the form of flowcharts in this work.
Route Guidance Model with Limited Overlap on Freeway Network under Traffic Incidents
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Tang Jinjun , Wang Chengcheng , Wang Chao
Published: May 2024

With the increasing density of the freeway network, frequent traffic incidents on road segments have a significant impact on the operational efficiency of the road network. Therefore, it has become urgent and important to study traffic route guidance strategy on the road network level. The previous traffic route guidance method primarily focused on the congestion on the road segments where incidents occurred, with insufficient attention given to the impact of congestion on the road network level. In this study, a route guidance model with limited overlap is proposed to improve freeway network reliability under traffic incidents. Specifically, in order to explore alternative paths, we conducted a study on the problem of finding k‐short paths with limited overlap. The objective is to identify a set of k‐paths that are both sufficiently dissimilar and as short as possible. Then, we promptly update the route guidance information using a stochastic dynamic traffic assignment model that aligns with travelers’ path choice psychology. Moreover, we use the reliability of the road network to evaluate the network performance. To illustrate the model, the Jinan freeway network is selected as an experimental study. The effectiveness of this method was validated through SUMO simulations, comparing it with alternative route guidance methods, including Yen’s algorithm, A∗ algorithm, and ant colony algorithm. These results show that the proposed method has proven effective in mitigating traffic congestion arising from incidents and performs well in regard to the reliability of the road network under the impact of incidents.
Local Community Attitude towards Forest-Based Ecotourism Development in Arbegona and Nensebo Woredas, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Gezahegn Bruktawit , Girma Zerihun , Debele Megersa
Published: May 2024

Understanding local community awareness and attitude towards forest-based ecotourism welfare is an important input for policymakers to develop and implement sustainable forest resource management strategies. However, the local community’s awareness and attitude towards forest-based ecotourism development have been poorly assessed and documented in remote areas. To this end, the present study assessed the local community’s awareness and attitude in Arbegona and Nensebo woredas’ forests, southern Ethiopia, towards ecotourism development. Household and key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Results indicated that more than half (57.9%) of the respondents expressed a negative attitude towards forest-based ecotourism development. The educational status of the respondents, their age, presence of conservation measures, source of energy for household consumption, and biophysical and socio-cultural variations in the study sites are significantly associated with local communities’ attitudes that have been exhibited towards the development of ecotourism and conservation of forest resources. Creating awareness through persuasion and communication of new and well-suited information, promoting alternative livelihood options, encouraging local benefits from the conservation of forest resources, and compensating costs induced by wild animals can minimise negative attitudes, thereby contributing to the enhancement of local communities’ positive attitudes towards forest resource conservation.
Coefficient Bounds for q-Noshiro Starlike Functions in Conic Region
Authors: Malathi V. , Vijaya K.
Published: May 2024

We present and examine a new family of analytic functions that can be described by a q-Ruscheweyh differential operator. We discuss several novel results, including coefficient inequalities and other noteworthy properties such as partial sums and radii of starlikeness. Moreover, coefficient estimates for the class of Janowski starlike functions associated with symmetric conic domains are also discussed.
Advancing Objective Mobile Device Use Measurement in Children Ages 6–11 Through Built-In Device Sensors: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Finnegan Olivia L. , Weaver R. Glenn , Yang Hongpeng , White James W. , Nelakuditi Srihari , Zhong Zifei , Ghosal Rahul , Tong Yan , Cepni Aliye B. , Adams Elizabeth L. , Burkart Sarah , Beets Michael W. , Armstrong Bridget
Published: May 2024

Mobile devices (e.g., tablets and smartphones) have been rapidly integrated into the lives of children and have impacted how children engage with digital media. The portability of these devices allows for sporadic, on-demand interaction, reducing the accuracy of self-report estimates of mobile device use. Passive sensing applications objectively monitor time spent on a given device but are unable to identify who is using the device, a significant limitation in child screen time research. Behavioral biometric authentication, using embedded mobile device sensors to continuously authenticate users, could be applied to address this limitation. This study examined the preliminary accuracy of machine learning models trained on iPad sensor data to identify the unique user of the device in a sample of children ages 6 to 11. Data was collected opportunistically from nine participants (8.2 ± 1.75 years, 5 female) in the sedentary portion of two semistructured physical activity protocols. SensorLog was downloaded onto study iPads and collected data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer sensors while the participant interacted with the iPad. Five machine learning models, logistic regression (LR), support vector machine, neural net (NN), k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), and random forest (RF), were trained using 57 features generated from the sensor output to perform multiclass classification. A train-test split of 80%–20% was used for model fitting. Model performance was evaluated using F1 score, accuracy, precision, and recall. Model performance was high, with F1 scores ranging from 0.75 to 0.94. RF and k-NN had the highest performance across metrics, with F1 scores of 0.94 for both models. This study highlights the potential of using existing mobile device sensors to continuously identify the user of a device in the context of screen time measurement. Future research should explore the performance of this technology in larger samples of children and in free-living environments.
Characterization of Acid Hydrolyzed Taro Boloso-I (Colocasia esculenta Cultivar) Starch as a Diluent in Direct Compression of Tablets
Authors: Gashaw Solomon , Getachew Afewerk , Mola Fantahun
Published: May 2024

Corn, wheat, rice, potato, and cassava starches have been widely used as pharmaceutical excipients. However, the search for cost-effective local starch alternatives is necessary due to the availability and usage constraints. In Ethiopia, various plant species, including Taro Boloso-I, have been explored as potential sources of pharmaceutical starch. It is a variety of Colocasia esculenta with a high tuber yield and high starch content. However, the native starch requires modifications to enhance its functionality. Therefore, this study aimed to improve the native starch through acid modification and evaluate its performance as a direct compressible tablet excipient. The native starch was treated with a 6% w/v HCl solution for 192 hours, resulting in acid-modified Taro Boloso-I starch, which was then evaluated for suitability for direct compression. XRD patterns of both the native and modified starch showed characteristic A-type crystals, with significantly higher relative crystallinity observed in the latter. Additionally, the acid-modified starch exhibited a lower moisture content and improved flow properties. The compaction study also demonstrated its improved compactibility (tensile strength: 16.82 kg/cm2), surpassing both the native starch (13.17) and Starch 1500® (11.2). The modified starch also showed a lower lubricant sensitivity compared to the native starch and Starch 1500®. Furthermore, paracetamol tablets made with the modified starch exhibited higher mechanical strength and lower friability in all paracetamol concentrations. It incorporated up to 40% paracetamol while maintaining acceptable tablet characteristics, whereas the native starch and Starch 1500® were limited to 30% (w/w). Based on these findings, the modified starch showed promise as an alternative direct compressible excipient in tablet manufacturing.
Effect of Autoclave Sterilization on the Number of Uses and Resistance to Cyclic Fatigue of WaveOne Gold and Four Replica‐Like Endodontic Instruments
Authors: Ragozzini Gustavo , Abu Hasna Amjad , dos Reis Fernando Antonio Siano , de Moura Felipe Bernardo , Campos Tiago Moreira Bastos , Bueno Carlos Eduardo Silveira , Carvalho Cláudio Antonio Talge , de Martin Alexandre Sigrist
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of autoclave sterilization on the integrity and instruments’ fracture number after multiple uses and cyclic fatigue of the original WaveOne Gold (Dentsply Sirona Endodontics) compared to four replica‐like instruments (TF4‐Gold, Roll‐Wave‐Gold, W‐File, and Micro‐Gold). The instruments were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) before being used in root canal instrumentation (baseline). One hundred and fifty human molars, freshly extracted for orthodontic reasons or periodontal disease and with severe curvature (between 30° and 60°), were used. Fifty teeth were instrumented with 10 instruments from each group and were evaluated for integrity. After sterilization in an autoclave, the instruments were analyzed by SEM. This procedure was repeated twice more, totaling three rounds of instrumentation, sterilization, and SEM analysis. Ten unused instruments from each group were evaluated for resistance to cyclic fatigue in a static test using a motor and a device simulating a canal with a 60° curvature angle. The instruments were driven by the motor until separation, visually verified, and the time measured in seconds. Data were analyzed by Chi‐square, one‐way ANOVA, and Tukey analysis, considering a significance level of 5%. It was found that there was no statistically significant difference between the groups tested in the effect of sterilization on the number of uses. The SEM analysis showed distortions in the instruments after the 3rd use. There was a statistically significant difference in the cyclic fatigue test between the results of WaveOne Gold, TF4 Gold, and Roll Wave Gold compared to W File and Micro Gold (P  < 0.0001) and a statistically significant difference between the W File and Micro Gold groups (P  < 0.0001). In conclusion, this study affirmed that WaveOne Gold, TF4‐Gold, and Roll‐Wave‐Gold instruments exhibit comparable cyclic fatigue resistance. Besides, all examined instruments can be reliably employed for up to two cases.
Macrophage-2-Binding Protein Glycosylation Isomer (M2BPGi) and AGAP Score as Markers of Noninvasive Test for Liver Fibrosis versus FibroScan in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Pramono Laila Kurnia , Tjandrawati Anna , Turbawaty Dewi Kartika , Rostini Tiene , Bestari Muhammad Begawan , Haryono  , Budiman Deny , Nugraha Prapanca
Published: May 2024

Background. Liver biopsy as the gold standard for assessing the degree and diagnosis of fibrosis still has significant drawbacks, which make the emergence of a much less invasive diagnostic marker possible. M2BPGi levels and the AGAP score, the two newest serological markers, are known to have good sensitivity for detecting liver fibrosis. This study is aimed at determining the validity of examining M2BPGi levels and AGAP scores on the Fibroscan examination as markers of noninvasive test for liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients. Methods. This is an observational, descriptive study with a retrospective design. This study used secondary data taken from medical records and blood specimen research materials of outpatients at the Hepatology Gastroenterology Polyclinic at a tertiary general hospital in West Java, Indonesia, with a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B. Results. There were 109 research subjects included. There were 73 (66.9%) subjects with no- or low-grade fibrosis and 36 (33.1%) with advanced fibrosis. The sensitivity and specificity of the M2BPGi were 88.9% and 61.6% (PPV 55.3%; NPV 91.8%; AUC 0.753), while the AGAP score was 47.2% and 100% (PPV 100%; NPV 79.3%; AUC 0.736). The combined M2BPGi level and the AGAP score showed a sensitivity of 80.9% and a specificity of 100% (PPV 100%; NPV 91.8%; AUC 0.905). Conclusion. The AGAP score and M2BPGi levels together are a better way to measure the degree of liver fibrosis in people with chronic hepatitis B than either M2BPGi or the AGAP score alone.