bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep Infection After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Diagnosed by Intratunnel Suspensory Fixation Device Migration
Authors: Tsujii Akira , Takami Haruna , Sato Seira , Mae Tatsuo , Ohori Tomoki , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Okada Seiji , Nakata Ken
Published: October 2023

Case:

A 43-year-old woman sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury while kickboxing and underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring autograft with suspensory fixation. Lateral thigh wound was superficially infected at 2 weeks postoperatively with resolution of signs and symptoms after debridement. Three months later, posterolateral knee pain developed and radiographs revealed intratunnel migration of the device. That observation with abnormal magnetic resonance imaging and serology results led to the diagnosis of deep infection. Immediate device removal and debridement were performed. Consequently, the grafts were preserved, and the patient could perform kickboxing 2 years thereafter.

Conclusions:

Intratunnel migration of suspensory fixation devices can support a diagnosis of infection.
Challenges in Diagnosing Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva
Authors: K S Meghashyama , Gupta Amit
Published: October 2023

Case:

A 5-year-old boy presented with multiple bony swellings in the dorsal spine region, restricted left shoulder movement, and a previous misdiagnosis of hereditary multiple exostoses (HMEs) resulting in unnecessary excision of the right scapular lesion. Clinical examination revealed hallux valgus, brachydactyly, and limited neck movement. Radiography and computed tomography confirmed a diagnosis of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP).

Conclusion:

This case report underscores the importance of accurate diagnosis and differentiation between FOP and HME. Hallux valgus, brachydactyly, and restricted neck movement suggested FOP. It is paramount for orthopaedic surgeons to exclude rare disorders before performing any interventions. Biopsies or resections of bone formation areas should be avoided for patients with FOP.
A Lei de Wagner e o Endividamento nos Estados Brasileiros
Authors: de Holanda Nayane Tomé , Rodrigues Junior Manuel Salgueiro , Freitas George Alberto de
Published: October 2023

RESUMO

Objetivo da Pesquisa: O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar a validade da Lei de Wagner nos estados brasileiros e observar a evolução do endividamento nesses casos.

Enquadramento teórico: Nas finanças públicas, estudos analisam o equilíbrio orçamentário e a perspectiva dos gestores na arrecadação de receitas e execução de despesas. Nessa esteira, a Lei de Wagner considera que a ampliação da renda de um país leva ao crescimento das despesas do governo.

Metodologia: Foi calculada a elasticidade, relacionando despesa, PIB e população para o período de 2002 a 2021. Analisou-se ainda a evolução do endividamento nas unidades da federação brasileira, bem como os fatores determinantes desse endividamento por meio de modelo de painel.

Resultados: A Lei de Wagner foi válida em 35 (14%) das situações examinadas, o que pode ser considerada uma baixa frequência. Em 19 (54%) das 35 vezes em que a Lei foi válida, houve desequilíbrio nos gastos públicos com acréscimo de endividamento na unidade da federação estudada. Corroboram para esse resultado a análise de correlação e a não significância do parâmetro de estimação do modelo de painel. Constatou-se que houve desequilíbrio nos gastos públicos com acréscimo de endividamento na unidade da federação estudada.

Originalidade: O artigo analisa o comportamento das finanças públicas, no tocante à Lei de Wagner, nas unidades federativas do Brasil, objeto de estudo que não fora identificado nos trabalhos anteriores consultados.

Contribuições teóricas e práticas: O estudo traz evidências empíricas que a Lei de Wagner não se mostrou associada ao descumprimento do limite fiscal de endividamento. Os resultados evidenciam a importância de acompanhar a evolução destes indicadores para evitar o comprometimento das finanças públicas.

Palavras-chaves: Gastos Públicos; Equilíbrio Fiscal; Dívida Consolidada Líquida
Inovação Tecnológica Empresarial e Políticas Públicas Fiscais no Brasil
Authors: Nogueira Eliseu , Vieira de Oliveira Oderlene
Published: October 2023

Definiu-se como objetivo examinar a influência das políticas públicas fiscais, ancoradas no sistema jurídico nacional, com a inovação tecnológica empresarial. O modelo conceitual escolhido para esta pesquisa baseia-se na teoria neo-shumpeteriana, em particular, a abordagem evolucionista, abordagem essa que busca caracterizar o processo inovador a partir dos processos de busca e seleção de inovações. Para tanto, utilizou-se como metodologia a abordagem qualitativa, sendo realizada pesquisa do tipo descritiva e documental. Dessa forma, teve-se como foco as principais leis brasileiras de fomento à inovação tecnológica, salientando-se seus pontos positivos e negativos e realizou-se entrevistas com profissionais envolvidos no ensino e pesquisa concernentes à inovação tecnológica e incentivos fiscais a ela relacionados. Dentre os achados, verificou-se que os incentivos fiscais tiveram pouca influência na baixa taxa de inovação observada; verificou-se também que a Lei do Bem tem se mostrado uma importante aliada na promoção das políticas fiscais no Brasil. Assim, concluiu-se que, embora o país tenha demorado no sentido de estimular a inovação tecnológica, está no caminho certo, no que tange ao setor público, em disponibilizar meios, como os incentivos fiscais, para se conseguir tal objetivo. A consciência despertada para esse tema é a despeito do seu caráter de bem intangível, um ativo muito valioso.
Evaluation on Vision Intelligent Control and Image Target Location and Recognition Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Zhao Wenhong , Wang Wei
Published: October 2023

Vision is the most important way for human beings to obtain information. Under the constant evolution of electronic imaging technology, visual images are extensively applied to the production and life of people. The analysis of visual image information can achieve intelligent control and complete specific tasks in industrial production. For example, in the logistics parcel sorting, the traditional manual parcel sorting is slow, inefficient and costly. For the logistics parcel sorting system, the machine vision was used to obtain the parcel image information, and the depth learning algorithm was used to locate and recognize the parcel image. In this paper, the depth confidence network algorithm and the convolution neural network algorithm were compared in image positioning and recognition experiments. After several groups of iterative experiments, the results showed that in large package images, the average image recognition accuracy of the depth confidence network algorithm and the convolution neural network algorithm was 94.42% and 96.09% respectively. In the small package image, the average image recognition accuracy of the depth confidence network algorithm and the convolution neural network algorithm were 96.53% and 97.64%, respectively. Therefore, applying convolution neural network to the object recognition of logistics package image can effectively improve the accuracy of image recognition and improve the efficiency of logistics package sorting.
Novel database reveals growing prominence of deep-sea life for marine bioprospecting
Authors: Zhivkoplias Erik , Pranindita Agnes , Dunshirn Paul , Jouffray Jean-Baptiste , Blasiak Robert
Published: October 2023

Perceptions that marine bioprospecting will deliver vast commercial benefits have placed ‘marine genetic resources’ at the center of key policy processes yet our knowledge about their importance remains limited. Here, we introduce a novel global database of marine gene sequences referenced in patent filings, the MArine Bioprospecting PATent (MABPAT) Database. It includes 25,682 sequences from 1,092 marine species associated with 3,258 patent filings, identified by analyzing all relevant sequencerecords from INSDC. Microbial life in the deep sea, a vast and remote biome predominantly beyond national jurisdiction, is already attracting significant commercial interest; all of the top 10 patent holders have filed marine gene patents referencing sequences from deep-sea life, and only three companies, BASF, IFF, and DuPont, included sequences from nearly two-thirds of all species. Our findings underscore the need for policymakers to ensure stewardship of deep-sea ecosystems while providing the most updated understanding of the marine bioprospecting landscape.
Roles of C-reactive protein and its composite index in predicting acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis
Authors: Zhang Jun , Wang Sijiao , Li Zhuozhe , Yan Yu , Du Chunling , Jiang Hongni
Published: October 2023

Background
Bronchiectasis is a heterogeneous chronic respiratory complication characterized by previous lower respiratory infection, airway inflammation and dilation. As the leading cause of frequent hospitalizations and mortality in patients with bronchiectasis, the exacerbation of bronchiectasis remains poorly understood. C-reactive protein (CRP) is one of the extensively studied inflammatory biomarkers related to systemic inflammation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the composite index of CRP and bronchiectasis, especially the potential role of CRP and its composite index in predicting acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis.
Methods
223 patients with stable-stage bronchiectasis between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2019 in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled in the retrospectively study. The clinical information of times of acute exacerbations, the frequency of acute exacerbation, pulmonary function, chest computed tomography images, and laboratory findings of sputum examination, serum CRP, CAR (CRP/Albumin ratio), CPR (CRP/Prealbumin ratio) were collected. Based on the frequency of annual acute exacerbations, patients were divided into three groups: 0 times (group A), 1–2 times (group B), and 3 or more times (group C).
Results
There were significant differences in CRP, CAR, CPR, albumin, and prealbumin levels among the three groups, and no significant differences in age, gender, disease duration, involved pulmonary lobes, pulmonary function, and clinical manifestations were observed. The patients in group C had the highest levels of serum CRP (12.25 ± 8.34 mg/l), CAR (0.31 ± 0.25), and CPR (60.83 ± 52.68), and the lowest levels of albumin (41.07 ± 5.61 g/L) and prealbumin (0.21 ± 0.05 g/L). Significant positive correlations were observed between CRP, CAR, CPR, and the frequency of acute exacerbations (P < 0.05), respectively. Ordered logistic regression analysis further identified CRP (odds ratio, OR = 1.140), CAR (OR = 1.125), and CPR (OR = 1.032) as risk factors for frequent acute exacerbations (≥ 3/year). ROC analysis revealed that CRP, CAR, and CPR were effective indexes in predicting at least three times of acute exacerbation per year, whose AUC values are 0.469, 0.464, and 0.460, respectively. Moreover, CAR demonstrated the highest sensitivity (0.742) with an optimal cut-off value of 0.15, while CPR displayed the highest specificity (0.815) with a maximum cut-off value of 43.03.
Conclusion
The levels of serum CRP and its composite index including CAR and CPR were significantly positively correlated with the frequency of acute exacerbations in patients with bronchiectasis. These indicators also showed potential values in predicting over twice acute exacerbation per year, which may help identify patients at risk of experiencing frequent acute exacerbations annually and take timely intervention measures..
Wigner’s friend scenario and a new interpretation of quantum mechanics v2
Authors: Li Qian
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we analyze the thought experiment of ”Wigner’s friend” and point
out that new understanding should be made to Born’s rule and measurement
process: Born’s rule is no longer seen as a rule based on the history of the quantum
system’s, and the measurement results are no longer directly related to the state
of the measured object before the measurement. Inspired by Everett III and
H. Zurek’s views, we believe that Born’s rule reflects the coordination between
states of different parts in quantum entanglement systems, so it has nothing to
do with the history of particles themselves but rather with the historical records.
A new interpretation of quantum mechanics, objective relative state formulation,
or ORSF interpretation is proposed, which is a new type of pliot wave theory.
Under this interpretation, micro-particles can also be assigned definite states
before being observed. Based on this interpretation, Wigner’s friend-like scenarios
can be effectively explained. The new interpretation brings new perspectives to
many quantum phenomena. We also point out potential applications of the new
interpretation in the future.
Hearing Health Survey of Population in Bangkok
Authors: Ruencharoen Suwimol , Lertsukprasert Krisna , Suvanich Ravin , Seesangnom Jirapat , Chockboondee Mondnath , Aekplakorn Wichai , Jariengprasert Chanchai , Kiatthanabumrung Sivaporn , Wisupagan Tosapohn
Published: October 2023

This cross-sectional random survey among Thai adults living in Bangkok aimed to identify the prevalence of hearing problems and study their relationship with personal factors. The questionnaire was interviewed. The air conduction pure-tone threshold audiometry was performed. A total of 2,463 participants (1,728 females) aged 15–96 years were included. The prevalence of hearing loss (HL) was 53.02% and increased with age. The prevalence of moderate or greater degree hearing impairment (HI) was 2.8%. The people aged 65 years and over had HL and HI more than younger people at 8.56 and 6.79 times, respectively. Males were two times more likely to have HL and HI than females. People with higher education had less chance of HL and HI than those without education or elementary level. People who ever worked in loud noises for >8 hrs. /day had HL 1.56 times more than those who never. An inconsistent correlation was found between HL, HI, and three NCDs. Although the majority of the volunteers had mild HL, it is crucial that they should be appropriately taken care of and monitored in order to prevent further loss. The questionnaire-based survey found only people with hearing problems that affect daily communication.
Variational approach to heat conduction modeling
Authors: Đurić Slavko , Arandjelovic Ivan
Published: October 2023

It is known that Fourier’s heat equation which is parabolic, implies an infinite velocity propagation, or, in other words, that the mechanism of heat conduction is established instantaneously under all conditions. This is unacceptable on physical grounds in spite of the fact that Fourier’s law agrees well with experiment. However, discrepancies are likely to occur when extremely short distances or extremely short time intervals are considered, as they must in some modern problems of aero-thermodynamics. Cattaneo and independently Vernotte was proved that such process can be describe by Heaviside’s telegraph equation. In this paper has been shown that this fact can be derived using calculus of variations, by application of the Euler-Lagrange equation. So, we proved that equation of heat conduction with finite velocity propagation of the thermal disturbance, can be obtained as solution of one variational problem.
Control of DNA demethylation by superoxide anion in plant stem cells
Authors: Zhao Zhong , Wang Shiwen , Liu Min , Hu Dongping , Dong Zhicheng
Published: October 2023

Superoxide anion is thought to be a harmful natural byproduct with strong oxidizing ability in all living organisms and was recently found to accumulate in plant meristems to maintain stem cells in the shoot and undifferentiated meristematic cells in the root. Here, we show that the DNA demethylases Repressor of Silencing 1 (ROS1) is one of the direct targets of superoxide in stem cells. The Fe-S clusters in ROS1 are oxidized by superoxide to activate its DNA glycosylase/lyase activity. We demonstrate that superoxide extensively participates in the establishment of active DNA demethylation in the Arabidopsis genome and that ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATOR 12 (ARR12) acts downstream of ROS1-mediated superoxide signaling to maintain stem cell fate. Our results provide a mechanistic framework for superoxide control of the stem cell niche and demonstrate how redox and DNA demethylation interact to define stem cell fate in plants.
Consistent microorganism isolated from blood and abdominal drain cultures is an independent risk factor for mortality in critically ill gastrointestinal fistula patients with bloodstream infection: an initial retrospective study
Authors: Yang Dongliang , Xie Tian , Yu Chaoran , Tian Tao , Chen Chen , Wang Wenyue , Chen Fen , Yao Danhua , He Yining , He Qi , Wang Pengfei , Li Yousheng
Published: October 2023

Background
Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a common complication of gastrointestinal fistula, leading to adverse outcomes. Whether a bloodstream infection is caused by an ectopic intra-abdominal infection, i.e. whether it is intra-abdominal/intestinal borne, may affect the patient's prognosis. In this study, we will analyze the value of consistency between blood culture and abdominal drain culture in predicting adverse outcomes in critically ill gastrointestinal fistula patients with BSI.
Material and methods
A retrospective analysis was performed in 295 patients with gastrointestinal fistula recruited in intensive care unit (ICU) of Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. In which, a highly selected population who were identified with BSI were involved and divided into a consistent group (one or more microorganisms isolated from blood cultures were same with microorganisms isolated from abdominal drain cultures) and an inconsistent group (all microorganisms isolated from blood cultures were different with microorganisms isolated from abdominal drain cultures).
Results
Consistent group accounted for 41.57% (37/89) of all BSI patients with significantly higher in-hospital mortality (48.65% vs. 15.38%, P = 0.001). Meanwhile, a 90-days prognosis analysis indicated that consistent group showed inferior survival benefits than inconsistent group. Consistent group was more likely to sufferer from Gram-negative bacteria (P = 0.001) and fungi (P = 0.031) infection in blood cultures. Frequency of Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterococcus were significantly higher in consistent group, both in blood and abdominal drain cultures. In multivariate analysis, consistent microorganism isolated from blood and abdominal drain cultures (OR = 4.320 [1.536–12.153]; P = 0.006) and vasopressors (OR = 6.784 [1.416–32.488]; P = 0.017) were identified as independent risk factors for mortality.
Conclusion
Consistent microorganism isolated from blood and abdominal drain cultures is an independent risk factor for mortality in critically ill gastrointestinal fistula patients with BSI.
Changes of Th17/Treg ratio and tongue coating microbiota in autoimmune liver disease patients with type D personality
Authors: Song Jinyun , Liang Zihao , Wang Yuan , Wang Zengxiu , Yang Yongfeng , Zhao Hongyu
Published: October 2023

Background
Autoimmune liver disease (AILD) is an important immune-mediated liver disorder that may gradually progress to severe liver fibrosis without timely medical intervention. Previous studies have indicated that patients with type D personality are unlikely to seek consultation and adhere to medications, and are more prone to depression, clinicians should actively identify AILD patients with type D personality. This study aimed to determine the changes of Th17/Treg ratio and tongue coating microbiota in AILD patients with type D personality.
Methods Twenty-four
AILD patients were investigated and divided into two groups based on the standardized psychological DS14 questionnaire. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the ratio of Th17 to Treg cells, tongue coating samples were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and then data analysis and statistical analysis were performed.
Results
AILD patients with type D personality had a significantly higher Th17/Treg ratio than those with non-type D personality. There were no massive contrasts in microbial diversity between type D personality group and non-type D personality group according to the alpha diversity analysis. However, microbial composition of the two groups varied according to Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and Venn diagram analysis. Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis showed that Melissococcus and Lachnoanaerobaculum were dominant in type D personality group, while short-chain fatty acid-related bacteria (Clostridium and Blautia) and Actinobacillus were enriched in non-type D personality group.
Conclusion
Type D personality may be a related risk factor for AILD, while the composition of tongue microbiota may be useful in aiding the diagnosis of the severity of AILD patients.
The Influence of the Perception, Attitude and Level of Trust on the Uptake of Covid-19 Vaccinations Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinic in Mbeya Urban, Tanzania
Authors: Kallimbu Martine , Mwangu Mughwira , Mujinja Phares , Luoga Pankras , Ruwaichi Thadeus
Published: October 2023

Background:
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) has been associated with negative effects and death towards people with low immunity including pregnant women. Despite, the introduction of vaccine as the proper means to curb the spread of pandemic, there is still low uptake of the vaccine. This study assessed the influence of perception, attitude and trust towards COVID-19 vaccine uptake among pregnant women attending Antenatal Care Clinics.
Methods:
A cross sectional study design was used, utilising quantitative approach with cross-sectional analytical design conducted in Mbeya urban, distribution of sample size during data collection based on client’s volume at three government health facilities (one tertiary health facility, one secondary health facility and one primary health facility) in Mbeya Urban, Tanzania. Data were collected from 333 pregnant women who attended ANC at the period of data collection by using questionnaire with closed ended questions which were administered to respondents through face to face. Data cleaning and data analysis was done using excel and stata/SE 14.1 software for bivariate and multivariate data; Pearson’s chi-squire and Fisher’s test was used to analyze the independent determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake.
Results:
The proportion of pregnant women vaccinated with COVID 19 vaccine was 27%. There was statistically significant association between the respondents’ vaccine uptake with college/university education and <5 work experience to vaccine uptake P=0.015 (AOR=6.58; 95% CI; 1.45-29.85), and P=0.046 (AOR=2.45; 95% CI; 1.02-5.89) respectively. The association of attitude influence to COVID-19 vaccine uptake was statistically significant (acceptance of vaccine due to its availability, vaccine acceptance for protection against COVID-19 pandemic to respondent and her baby, experience from other vaccines) was statistically significant at P=0.011 (AOR=4.43; 95% CI; 1.41-13.93), P= 0.001 (AOR=45.83; 95% CI; 18.6-112.89) respectively. The level of trust to COVID-19 vaccine influenced respondents’ association to vaccine uptake in 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy (P=0.633 (AOR=1.23; 95% CI; 0.53-2.48) respectively.
Conclusion:
Positive attitude and trust towards COVID-19 vaccine influenced pregnant women to uptake COVID-19 vaccines; our conclusion supports the WHO guidelines that COVID 19 vaccine should be administered to pregnant women since it is a safer means to curb COVID-19 pregnancy related complications.
The effects of Chinese herbal injections on patients with COVID-19: a systematic review
Authors: corpe christopher peter , Sun Zhiwei , Rueben Talya
Published: October 2023

Background
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, led to a a worldwide pandemic of acute respiratory illness resulting in more than 760 million infections and 6.9 million deaths. Recent clinical research has demonstrated the beneficial effects of Chinese herbal injections (CHIs), a novel kind of traditional Chinese medicine preparation, in the treatment of COVID-19. This systematic review aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of CHIs in treatment of COVID-19 and to evaluate the quality of evidence.
Methods
A systematic search for both human RCTs and non-randomized trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of CHIs in treatment of COVID-19 was performed on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Ovid, where the language was restricted to English. Quality assessment included the risk of bias (via the Cochrane risk of bias tool) and quality of evidence (via the GRADE system).
Results
Of 3403 articles identified, 6 studies published between 2020 and 2021 with 382 participants met our selection criteria and were included for analysis. The treatment group was defined as the CHI (XBJ, RDN, or XYP injection) combined with routine treatment, to compare with routine treatment alone in the control group. The included studies overall had moderate risk of bias and low quality of evidence, mainly due to being open-label and confounding. The evidence showed that the clinical efficacy of treatment groups was better for the treatment of COVID-19, in terms of clinical symptom resolution, length of hospital stay, time taken for a negative nucleic acid test, and mortality. There was no significant difference in incidence of adverse events between the study groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusions
CHIs can play an effective role in the treatment of COVID-19 and can be safely administered under rational operation. More double-blinded RCTs with larger sample sizes are warranted, and the effects on longer-term symptom resolution or the effects of other different CHIs need to be explored in the future.
Trauma-specific Reactions to Sexual Assault Content in College Students: Considerations for Content Warnings
Authors: Kimble Matthew , Dahlstrom Harriet , Furman Hunter , Nasi Ella , Flack William
Published: October 2023

Much of the debate on content warnings has occurred with little empirical data to inform it. In the past five years this has started to change and in this most recent study, 185 students completed trauma surveys and a PTSD checklist and then read a passage that detailed a nonfiction account of a sexual assault of a female undergraduate. Participants were sent a follow up assessment 2 weeks later. Similar to previous studies, the majority of participants (94%), including those with a sexual assault history, read the passage even when offered an alternate reading with no traumatic content. In addition, those with a sexual assault history did not report an increase in PTSD symptoms in the following 2 weeks. However, unlike the two previous studies, those with a sexual assault history reported more distress right before and just after the reading. They also reported being more emotional during the study. This discrepancy in the findings is likely due to the use of a non-fictional account and the use of the more specific Sexual Experiences Survey (SES-SFR: Koss et al., 2007) to operationalize sexual assault. This suggests that student emotional responses to potentially triggering material are likely to vary depending on the type of trauma and the nature of the content presented.
Lessons from a systematic tracing process aimed to reduce initial loss to follow-up (ILTFU) among people diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Vanqa Nosivuyile , Viljoen Lario , Hoddinott Graeme , Hesseling Anneke C. , Osman Muhammad , Meehan Sue-Ann
Published: October 2023

Background
South Africa is a high tuberculosis (TB) burdened country. People who are newly diagnosed with TB must link to a TB treatment facility and be registered in the electronic TB notification system for ongoing care. Delays in linking to care increase the risk of disease progression, TB morbidity and mortality, and ongoing TB transmission. We describe lessons learned from a systematic tracing process aimed to support linkage to care for people diagnosed with TB.
Methods
Using the Western Cape Provincial Health Data Centre (PHDC), we identified persons newly diagnosed with TB (January-December 2020) who were not recorded as linked to care after routine linking efforts, in one peri-urban health sub-district in Cape Town, South Africa. We followed a systematic tracing process; we included visits to primary health care (PHC) facilities to verify linkage status for these persons and then home-based tracing for all people with no evidence of linkage at PHC level. We plotted our systematic process and used the PHDC to determine demographic, clinical characteristics, and linkage outcomes five months after the end of the process.
Results
Within the PHDC, 406 persons diagnosed with TB had no evidence of being linked to TB care. Verification at PHC facilities found that 153/406 (38%) had linked to care at facility level. Of the remaining 253 requiring tracing, 34 (13%) had an address outside the study area and/or no contact details. We traced 219 persons, of which 112 (51%) were found and referred to care. The remaining 107 (49%) could not be found. Overall linkage to care was 76% among those we traced and found and 72% among those we could not find.
Conclusion
Implementing a systematic tracing process was useful for understanding many of the underlying complexities around delayed linkage to care. Lessons learned showed that accurate data captured in ‘real time’ at health facilities will improve record keeping and allow for resources to be focused on patients who are truly lost to follow-up and require home-based tracing. Updated contact details will increase the opportunity of finding persons during tracing.
Understanding and assessing the spatial characteristics of drought hazard in the state of Rajasthan
Authors: Choudhary Vandana , Punia Milap , Bhattacharyya Suman
Published: October 2023

Climate change has exposed the world to more frequent and prolonged occurrences of extreme and diverse events. The frequency of extreme dry events, such as drought, is on the rise, significantly impacting various socioeconomic sectors, especially in arid regions like the Indian state of Rajasthan. These changes in drought occurrence have far-reaching consequences on the socioeconomic landscape. In this study, using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) we examined meteorological drought characteristics in the state of Rajasthan to identify three categories of drought events (mild, moderate, and severe) at multi-temporal scales (i.e., 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month). For this monthly rainfall data for a period of 34 years (1988-2021) are used from 165 well-spread meteorological stations across the state. The results of the study reveal that the state of Rajasthan experienced frequent milder drought events, followed by moderate and extreme drought events during the study period. Our findings indicate that severe drought events predominantly occur during the months of July- September whereas moderate and mild droughts are more commonly observed during April – June. After analyzing the frequency, intensity, and duration of drought events, we created drought hazard maps at different temporal scales. The results obtained from the SPI12 hazard mapping indicate that the northern and northwestern regions, covering the districts of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Sikar, western Bikaner, Hanumangarh, and Ganganagar are the most drought-prone areas within the state. To analyze the trends in rainfall and drought events across different time scales, we conducted the nonparametric Mann-Kendall (MK) test. The results of the MK test indicated that out of the 165 stations examined, 130 stations (26 significant, p < 0.001) exhibit an increasing trend in mean annual rainfall. Conversely, 34 stations (2 significant, p < 0.001) demonstrated a decreasing trend in rainfall. In response to the increasing rainfall, drought events are found to decrease over the study period even at a shorter temporal scale (i.e., 3month-SPI) at most of the stations. Policymakers and stakeholders could benefit from the long-term drought hazard map in identifying drought-prone regions and formulating policies and programs to promote water conservation and enhance drought preparedness in the state.
The translational landscape of HIV-1 infected cells reveals novel gene regulatory principles
Authors: Caliskan Neva , Kibe Anuja , Buck Stefan , Gribling Anne-Sophie , Gilmer Orian , Pekarek Lukas , Bohn Patrick , Koch Tatyana , Mireisz Chiara Noemi-Marie , Schlosser Andreas , Erhard Florian , Smyth Redmond
Published: October 2023

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) uses a number of strategies to modulate viral and host gene expression during its lifecycle. To characterize the transcriptional and translational landscape of HIV-1 infected cells, we used a combination of ribosome profiling, disome sequencing and RNA sequencing. We found that the initial host response to viral infection is translationally regulated, and subsequently gives way to transcriptomic changes as the infection progresses. We show that HIV-1 mRNAs are efficiently translated at all stages of infection, despite evidence for a substantial decrease in translational efficiency of host genes that are implicated in host cell translation. Our data also reveal novel upstream open reading frames (uORFs) within the HIV-1 5'UTR as well as internal ORFs (iORFs) within the Vif and Pol coding domains. We observed ribosomal collisions in Gag-Pol upstream of the ribosome frameshift site that we attributed to a novel RNA structural fold using RNA structural probing and single molecule optical tweezers. Antisense oligos designed to break this structure decreased frameshifting efficiency. Overall, our data highlight the complexity of HIV-1 gene regulation and provide a key resource for decoding of host-pathogen interactions upon HIV-1 infection. Furthermore, we provide evidence for a novel RNA structural fold including the frameshift site that might be promising as target for antiviral therapy.
FAP positive cancer-associated fibroblasts promote tumor progression and radioresistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by transferring exosomal lncRNA AFAP1-AS1
Authors: Zhou Xilei , tong yu-suo , Yu Changhua , Pu Juan , Zhu Weiguo , Zhou Yun , Wang Yuandong , Xiong Yaozu , Sun Xinchen
Published: October 2023

Background
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are abundant and heterogeneous stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment, which play important roles in regulating tumor progression and therapy resistance by transferring exosomes to cancer cells. However, how CAFs modulate esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progression and radioresistance remains incompletely understood.
Methods
The expression of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) in CAFs was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 174 ESCC patients who underwent surgery and 78 pretreatment biopsy specimens of ESCC patients who underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy. We sorted CAFs according to FAP expression, and the conditioned medium (CM) was collected to culture ESCC cells. The expression levels of several lncRNAs that were considered to regulate ESCC progression and/or radioresistance were measured in exosomes derived from FAP+ CAFs and FAP– CAFs. Subsequently, cell counting kit-8, EdU, transwell, colony formation, and xenograft assays were performed to investigate the functional differences between FAP+ CAFs and FAP– CAFs. Finally, a series of in vitro and in vivo assays were used to evaluate the effect of AFAP1-AS1 on radiosensitivity of ESCC cells.
Results
FAP expression in stromal CAFs was positively correlated with nerve invasion, vascular invasion, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, lack of clinical complete response and poor survival. Culture of ESCC cells with CM/FAP+ CAFs significantly increased cancer proliferation, migration, invasion and radioresistance, compared with culture with CM/FAP– CAFs. Importantly, FAP+ CAFs exert their roles by directly transferring the functional lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 to ESCC cells via exosomes. Functional studies showed that AFAP1-AS1 promoted radioresistance by enhancing DNA damage repair in ESCC cells. Clinically, high levels of plasma AFAP1-AS1 correlated with poor responses to dCRT in ESCC patients.
Conclusions
Our findings demonstrated that FAP+ CAFs promoted radioresistance in ESCC cells through transferring exosomal lncRNA AFAP1-AS1; and may be a potential therapeutic target for ESCC treatment.
Mothers`knowledge about Mother-to Child Transmission and Preventions: A qualitative study in the Limpopo Province Option B+ PMTCT post-delivery programmes, South Africa.
Authors: Ramoshaba Refilwe , Batisai Kezia , Palmary Ingrid
Published: October 2023

Background. Awareness and knowledge about Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) and prevention measure are important to combat MTCT in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) postpartum phase. Nevertheless, knowledge about MTCT remains inadequate among mothers with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) despite strong evidence of the importance and effectiveness of PMTCT services. This study aims to explore the awareness or knowledge about MTCT and health-seeking behaviours among HIV positive mothers who are Loss to follow-up (LTFU) and mothers who are not LTFU.
Methods. The study applied a qualitative phenomenology research design. Using purposive sampling technique, a sample of 18 HIV positive mothers who were LTFU and 20 HIV positive mother who were not LTFU were included in this study. Semi-structured interviews were used to conduct data at five health facilities in the Capricorn and Mopani Districts of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Data was analysed using thematic data analysis method.
Results. The findings reveal that most of the mothers who were LTFU and mothers who were not LTFU were not aware and did not know that a mother can transmit HIV to her child during pregnancy and delivery. Although most of the mothers were aware of MTCT during breastfeeding, they believed that breastmilk does not contain or store HIV. The mothers who were LTFU were aware of prevention measures and emphasized on the importance of HIV treatment as an important measure to prevent MTCT. They were aware that PMTCT post-natal services are important in reducing the spread of HIV. Even with the knowledge about HIV treatment and how to prevent MTCT, the mothers failed to adhere to treatment and clinic appointments.
Conclusion. The mothers` knowledge about MTCT and prevention measures did not positively influence health-seeking behaviours. To promote services use, awareness campaigns should provide quality information about the danger of LTFU and non-adherence.
Pre-COVID-19 Short Sleep Duration and Eveningness Chronotype are Associated with Incident Suicide Ideation During COVID-19 Pandemic in Medical Students: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zheng Dandan , Qin Qingsong , Peng Yingyin , Zhong Hao , Huang Yerui , Wang Hongjie , Tan Qiqing , Li Yun
Published: October 2023

Background: Cross-sectional evidence suggests that sleep problems increased the risk of suicide during the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. However, a lack of longitudinal studies examined the relationship between pre-COVID-19 sleep duration, chronotype and incident suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we examined these associations in a longitudinal study of medical students.
Methods: From the Shantou College Student Sleep Cohort, a total of 333 first and second grade medical students (age 19.41±0.82 years, female 61.26%), without suicidal ideation (SI) at pre-COVID-19 period, were followed up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Incident SI was defined by their response to the 9th question from the Beck Depression Inventory. Short sleep duration was defined as less than 7 hours/night. The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire was used to evaluate the participants’ chronotype. Logistic regression with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) was used to examine the association between sleep and SI.
Results: The prevalence rate of incident SI during the COVID-19 pandemic was 5.71%. Logistic regressions showed that both short sleep duration (AOR=4.91, 95%CI=1.16-20.74) and eveningness (AOR=3.80, 95%CI=1.08-13.30) in the pre-COVID-19 period, after adjusting for confounders, were associated with increased risk of incident SI during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Conclusions: Pre-COVID-19 short sleep duration and eveningness are predictors for incident SI during the COVID-19 pandemic in medical students. Prolonging sleep duration may help to decrease SI during major public health crises in medical students.
Elicitation improves the production of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in cell suspension culture of Withania coagulans (stocks) Dunal
Authors: Allahdou Maryam , Dorrazehi Marie , Fakheri Barat Ali , Mehravaran Leila
Published: October 2023

Abiotic and biotic elicitors may induce higher synthesis of bioactive compounds in medicinal plants. In the present study, the impact of abiotic (salicylic acid (SA)) and biotic (cellulase from Aspergillus nigari (CE)) elicitors with 200 mg/L concentration at 24, 48 and 72 h treatment durations was evaluated on total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC) and withaferin A and withanolide A compounds (analyzed by HPLC) as well as free radicals scavenging activity in cell suspension culture derived from leaf and stem explants of Withania coagulans (stocks) Dunal for the their production in commercial level. The results of this investigation revealed that all elicitors treated cell cultures obviously promoted TPC, TFC, withaferin A and withanolide A accumulation as well as antioxidant activity. Also, these characteristics increased as treatment duration of SA and CE elicitors enhanced in both leaf and stem cell extracts and reached a maximum at 72 h treatment duration. In most treatments, TPC and TFC of leaf cell extracts did not has significant difference with TPC and TFC of stem cell extracts. In contrast, the leaf cell extracts had higher withaferin A and withanolide A amounts when compared to stem cell extracts under all treatments. The highest values of TPC, TFC, withaferin A, withanolide A, and antioxidant activity observed in SA elicitor treated leaf cell extracts at 72 h treatment duration (16.31 mg GAE/g DW and 1.61-fold, 13.21 mg QE/g DW and 2.46-fold, 14.46 µg/g DW and 3.08-fold, 6.67 µg/g DW and 1.99-fold, and 83.73% and 1.78-fold higher than control culture, respectively). Therefore, elicitation can be applied as a promising strategy for large-scale production of W. coagulans valuable secondary metabolites in cell suspension culture at commercial level.
Selective extraction of Crocin from Saffron using modified magnetic nanoparticles coated with molecularly imprinted polymer followed by UV-Visible spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Gholami Ali , Golestaneh Mahshid , Azari Hediye Bigdeli
Published: October 2023

Saffron is an expensive spice. One of its effective ingredients is crocin, which directly affects the quality and commercial value of saffron. Herein, a simple method has been developed based on magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) for sensitive and selective extraction of crocin from saffron. MMIPs were prepared using gentiobiose as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linking agent, and Fe3O4@SiO2 as the magnetic support. Nanoparticle characterizations were performed using various techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). This study investigates different parameters affecting extraction efficiency, isothermal absorption experiments, kinetics absorption experiments, and the selectivity of MMIPs. The analytes were determined by UV-Vis spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The result showed that the sorption of crocin is described by the pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption equilibrium data fit with the Freundlich model. Also, the sorbent had a homogeneous structure, and that the crocin sorption occurred through multilayer reversible sorption. Under the optimized conditions, the limit of detection and quantification obtained were 0.014 and 0.10 mg L− 1, respectively. The practical utility of the proposed method was evaluated via the extraction of crocin from real samples, with satisfactory results.
Reliability analysis of structures containing cracks based on kriging model
Authors: Liao Yashi , Zhang Sen , Zhang Xuhui
Published: October 2023

The fatigue reliability of structural elements with penetration cracks under stress loading is analysed using the Kriging model. The model is established using the “FEM + M integral” stress intensity factor modelling method, and the reliability of the numerical modelling is determined by comparing the theoretical and simulated values of the stress intensity factor. A kriging probability model is established, and the reliability of the cracked structure is obtained based on the mean point method and the Monte Carlo method. The influence law of the statistical characteristics of the random parameters on the reliability of crack containment specimens is investigated. It is concluded that the stress P is the most sensitive to the influence of the reliability of the cracked structure, followed by the crack length a, and the plate width W is the least sensitive to the influence of the reliability.
Flow field simulation of a hydrogeological exploration drill bit for switching coring drilling and non-coring drilling
Authors: Shi Yuanling , Li Conghui
Published: October 2023

Drilling is one of the most commonly techniques in hydrogeological exploration, which is employed to obtain rock samples and build boreholes. During conventional drilling, it needs to raise all drilling tools in the borehole, when switching coring drilling and non-coring drilling, which will cause large auxiliary operation time consumption and poor drilling efficiency. According to the structure of wireline coring tools, a large diameter modular drill bit is designed to switch coring drilling and non-coring drilling without lifting the whole drilling tools. In the Comsol simulation environment, a simulation model of the modular bit is constructed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. Drilling fluid velocity and pressure characteristics flowing through the modular bit were studied, with different values of flow rate at the bit inlet, clearance between external bit and internal bit for coring drilling, and layout of nozzles at the bottom of the internal bit for non-coring drilling setting respectively. According to the analysis results, velocities of drilling fluid flowing upward at the clearance between external bit and borehole wall increases linearly, and the pressure at bit inlet increases in parabola, with the flow rate increasing. With the same input flow rate, similar velocities and lower pressure loss can be obtained in the non-coring drilling compared with the coring bit, and thus drilling cuttings can be removed effectively even if there are more drilling cuttings produced in non-coring drilling than in coring drilling, when a borehole is drilled with the same diameter. When the outside diameter of the modular bit is 216mm, the recommended clearance value is 9mm or 10mm in order to obtain lower pressure loss and larger diameter core. To generate low pressure loss and ensure bit strength, the layout with 4 nozzles on the internal non-coring bit is recommended. The modular bit enables fast switching coring drilling and non-coring drilling without raising drilling tools, and the simulation model can be used for drilling parameters selection and drill bits optimization.