bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics and Predictors of Stroke Mimics in Young Patients in The Norwegian Tenecteplase Stroke Trial (NOR-TEST)
Authors: Jacobsen Eskil , Idicula Titto , Thomassen Lars , Logallo Nicola , Kvistad Christopher Elnan
Published: March 2023

Background: Several studies have shown that stroke mimics occur more often among young patients. Our aims were to identify the common mimics in young patients under the age of 60 years who received thrombolysis, to analyze the risk of hemorrhage after treatment with thrombolysis, and to identify risk factors and clinical parameters that might identify mimics in this group.
Methods: Norwegian Tenecteplase Stroke Trial was a phase-3 trial investigating safety and efficacy of tenecteplase vs alteplase in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Patients diagnosed with either acute cerebral ischemia or transient ischemic attack were categorized as stroke group, and patients with any diagnosis other than ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack as mimics group. Patients were grouped post-hoc into young (<60 years) and old (≥60 years). Logistic regression analyses were performed with mimics vs stroke as dependent variable to identify predictors of mimics.
Results: Of the 1091 patients included in the trial, 211 patients (19.3%) were under the age of 60 years. Sixty-nine patients (32.7%) out of the 211 patients under the age of 60 were diagnosed as mimic. Mimics were significantly more frequent among the young (OD=3.3, 32.7% vs 12.8%, p=<.001). The most frequent mimics diagnoses among patients under 60 years of age were migraine (11.8%), no definite diagnosis (11.4%) and peripheral vertigo (3.3%). Mimics were independently associated with age <50 years (OR=4.97, p=<0.001), not currently working/studying (OR=3.39, p=0.002) and not having aphasia on admission (OR=2.95, p=0.025). None of the mimics under the age of 60 years had a symptomatic or asymptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage as a complication to thrombolysis.
Conclusion: We found significantly more mimics in the young, of which migraine was the most predominant diagnosis. Thrombolysis of mimics with alteplase or tenecteplase were both safe. It is not possible to identify mimics reliably using risk factors and clinical parameters alone.
In-depth analysis of erythrose reductase homologs in Yarrowia lipolytica
Authors: Szczepańczyk Mateusz , Rzechonek Dorota A. , Neuvéglise Cécile , Mirończuk Aleksandra M.
Published: March 2023

The unconventional yeast Yarrowia lipolytica produces erythritol as a response to osmotic stress. In this study, the array of putative erythrose reductases, responsible for the conversion of d-erythrose to erythritol, was analyzed. Single knockout and multiple knockout strains were tested for their ability to produce polyols in osmotic stress conditions. Lack of six of the reductase genes does not affect erythritol significantly, as the production of this polyol is comparable to the control strain. Deletion of eight of the homologous erythrose reductase genes resulted in a 91% decrease in erythritol synthesis, a 53% increase in mannitol synthesis, and an almost 8-fold increase in arabitol synthesis as compared to the control strain. Additionally, the utilization of glycerol was impaired in the media with induced higher osmotic pressure. The results of this research may shed new light on the production of arabitol and mannitol from glycerol by Y. lipolytica and help to develop strategies for further modification in polyol pathways in these microorganisms.
Frequency, Characteristics, and Preventability of Adverse Drug Reactions in Perioperative Neurosurgery: Analysis Over 11 Years
Authors: Kashiwazaki Daina , Tomita Takahiro , Hori Emiko , Akioka Naoki , Akai Takuya , Kuroda Satoshi
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Despite the importance of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), little is known about their role in perioperative neurosurgery. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ADRs in perioperative neurosurgery in the past 11 years and clarify the characteristics, severity, preventability, and risk factors of ADRs.
Methods: Data for all patients who underwent neurosurgical procedures over an 11-year period were analyzed. During the study period, 3648 surgical procedures were performed for 2695 patients, including 1440 males and 1255 females. The average age was 57.3 ± 22.7 years(range, 0-100). Demographic and clinical information documented included sex, age, body mass index, medical history, allergic history, diagnosis, surgical method, suspected drugs, concomitant medications, and drug details. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent parameters that were correlated with ADRs.
Results: In total, 467 ADRs (18.3% ADRs/all neurosurgical procedures) were experienced by 401 patients. Anticonvulsants were associated with the highest number of ADRs (16.0%), followed by antibiotics (14.7%). Patients with ADRs were older than patients without ADRs (P < 0.01). The total number of drugs in patients with ADRs was 8.8 ± 3.6, compared to 5.2 ± 2.4 for patients without ADRs (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in sex, allergic history, severe renal dysfunction (eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2), hypertension, diabetes, urgency of surgery, and type of surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that a high total number of drugs (odds = 3.2; 95%CI 1.9–5.1) and older age (odds = 2.1; 95%CI 1.3–3.8) were independent risk factors for ADRs in perioperative neurosurgery.
Conclusion: The frequency of suspected and severe ADRs was higher than expected. Polypharmacy and older age were independent risk factors for ADRs in perioperative neurosurgery. To decrease ADRs during perioperative neurosurgery, polypharmacy must be discouraged, especially among older adult patients.
Transcription-replication interactions reveal principles of bacterial genome regulation
Authors: Yanai Itai , Pountain Andrew , Jiang Peien , Yao Tianyou , Homaee Ehsan , Guan Yichao , Podkowik Magdalena , Shopsin Bo , Torres Victor , Golding Ido
Published: March 2023

Organisms determine the transcription rates of thousands of genes through a few modes of regulation that recur across the genome1. These modes interact with a changing cellular environment to yield highly dynamic expression patterns2. In bacteria, the relationship between a gene’s regulatory architecture and its expression is well understood for individual model gene circuits3,4. However, a broader perspective of these dynamics at the genome-scale is lacking, in part because bacterial transcriptomics have hitherto captured only a static snapshot of expression averaged across millions of cells5. As a result, the full diversity of gene expression dynamics and their relation to regulatory architecture remains unknown. Here we present a novel genome-wide classification of regulatory modes based on each gene’s transcriptional response to its own replication, which we term the Transcription-Replication Interaction Profile (TRIP). We found that the response to the universal perturbation of chromosomal replication integrates biological regulatory factors with biophysical molecular events on the chromosome to reveal a gene’s local regulatory context. While the TRIPs of many genes conform to a gene dosage-dependent pattern, others diverge in distinct ways, including altered timing or amplitude of expression, and this is shaped by factors such as intra-operon position, repression state, or presence on mobile genetic elements. Our transcriptome analysis also simultaneously captures global properties, such as the rates of replication and transcription, as well as the nestedness of replication patterns. This work challenges previous notions of the drivers of expression heterogeneity within a population of cells, and unearths a previously unseen world of gene transcription dynamics.
Application of Micro-textured Surface Prepared by an Integrated Molding Process in Sustainable Turning of Titanium Alloy
Authors: Li Jinhua , Zhang Gaofeng , Wu Gaocan , Chen Bingxing
Published: March 2023

Titanium alloys have been widely used as an aerospace material owing to their excellent mechanical properties. However, ordinary tools can suffer from severe chip adhesion and surface abrasion when turning titanium alloys. To address these problems, micro-textured cutting tools have become a topic of significant research. Here, to improve the preparation process of textured tools, a novel tool prepared by an integrated molding process was proposed. The performance of this novel textured tool in terms of turning Ti-6Al-4V was investigated under dry conditions and minimal quantities of lubricant (MQL). Textured surfaces with four types of patterns and dimensions were used in the turning experiment to draw a comparison with traditional cutting tools. The results showed that the textured surface exhibited a uniform and smooth appearance with no obvious defects, indicating that the integrity of the textured surface was maintained. The combination of a micro-textured surface and the MQL method decreased the process temperature and cutting force. The narrower parallel type of textured tool exhibited the best performance. The process temperature reduced to 124 ℃ for the narrower parallel textured tool under MQL, decreasing by ~ 14.5% compared with the traditional tool; the lowest main cutting force and feed force were obtained for the narrower parallel textured tool, approximately 212 N and 171 N, respectively. Significant improvements in chip adhesion and tool wear were observed for the textured tool. Application of textured surface and MQL method are both decreased the adhesive scale layer area on the rake face of tools compared with ordinary tools.
Application of big data search based on collaborative filtering algorithm in cross-border e-commerce product recommendation
Authors: Wu Xiaoli , Wu Zhihao
Published: March 2023

With the deepening of cross-border e-commerce, the trend of buying and selling goods through the Internet is rising. It is necessary to establish a cross-border e-commerce platform that meets the above functions, and improve the ability to process big data in search. For example, the emergence of large amounts of data can not only help users make choices, but also increase the difficulty of users in choosing. At present, there are many problems in the big data search system in the market, such as inaccurate user personality analysis and low importance of product recommendation. E-commerce is developing rapidly in the new era, and new users are increasing every day. Many researchers invest in finding excellent cross-border e-commerce recommendation system as a business platform. The number of information in cross-border e-commerce shows a rapid growth pattern, and the rapid growth of data and information has seriously affected people's judgment. The big data search system based on collaborative filtering algorithm can meet the product recommendation system of cross-border e-commerce. The user matrix label is an attribute of construction. For the label quantification, the new user preference is the model of building the label, and the concept of weight is added to the label. The collaborative filtering algorithm works based on the created weight label.
Experimental and Theoretical investigations of the Inhibition of the Corrosion of Mild Steel in HCl by Synthesized Piperazin Derivatives
Authors: Singaravelu Ponnusamy. , Anand Balu , Loganathan S. , Eddy Nnabuk
Published: March 2023

In this study, two organic molecues namely, [4-(4-aminobenzoyl)-piperazin-1-yl)] furan − 2-yl) methanone (4-4-ABPFM) and 4-(4-aminophenylpiperazin-1-yl) furan-2-yl) methanone (4-4-APPFM) were synthesized and characterized using FTIR, UV-visible, thin layer chromatography, C-13 and proton NMR. The corrosion inhibition efficiencies of these molecules were tested using weight loss, polarization and AC impedance methods. Quantum chemical calculations (which included local selectivity, global reactivity and Monte Carlo simulation) were also implemented to complement the experimental data. The results obtained provided information confirmed that the synthesized compound has some inherent corrosion inhibition potentials due to the presence of aromatic rings, pi-electron systems, heteroatoms and corrosion structure parameters. The maximum inhibition efficiencies were 95 and 91% for 4,4-ABPFM and 4,4-APPFM respectively. The ideal fitness of the Langmuir isotherm with slope and R2 values approximating unity was also upheld. Theoretical calculation results showed strong accord to experimental values and supported higher efficiency for 4,4-ABPFM than 4,4-APPFM. Monte Carlo simulation showed that the adsorption energy is negative and also supported evidence drawn from the experiment, which is the spontaneous adsorption of the inhibitors on the metal surface.
Insights from a 3-Year Genomic Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Shows a Predominance of Variants from Developing Countries
Authors: Abdelmounim ESSABBAR , Safae EL MAZOURI , Azeddine IBRAHIMI
Published: March 2023

Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus has rapidly disseminated globally, with consequential genetic changes that have profoundly affected its pathogenicity, transmissibility, and immune evasion. Therefore, the pressing need to gain a comprehensive understanding of the genetic evolution and dissemination of this virus across diverse regions is paramount. In light of this, the present study aimed to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 variants by leveraging genomic sequencing data.
We analyzed a representative dataset of 14,759 genomic sequences of SARS-CoV-2 obtained from 142 countries, spanning the period from January 2020 to January 2023. The findings showed that the early spread of certain SARS-CoV-2 lineages was geographically limited. However, the subsequent lifting of quarantine and travel restrictions facilitated the homogenization of the virus' genetic diversity across diverse regions. Moreover, our temporal analysis demonstrated that the lifespan of SARS-CoV-2 variants has been significantly truncated over time, with dominant strains frequently being outcompeted by more adaptive variants. We further observed that a significant proportion of newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants were identified in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and South Asia. Lastly, our results underscore the impact of weakened health systems, a high prevalence of immunocompromised individuals, and delayed reporting of these variants on the spread and severity of the virus in these regions.
Vegetable lignocellulosic residues and chitosan as valuable resources in the superabsorbent bio-aerogels development for food conservation
Authors: Sanchez Laura Mabel , Rincón Esther , Niza Jorge de Haro , Martín Ramón Morcillo , Espinosa Eduardo , Rodríguez Alejandro
Published: March 2023

Superabsorbent bio-aerogels were developed from TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (isolated from vegetables lignocellulosic residues) and two different commercial chitosan reactants (low and high molecular weight) by polyelectrolyte complex formation at room temperature. Three different thickness values were considered, and two different aging times were employed, thus leading to twelve different bio-aerogels samples. Remarkably, no crosslink agents nor organic solvents were used. All the developed materials were characterized and deeply studied. The bio-aerogels components were strongly interacting through hydrogen bonding, leading to highly porous and stable materials able to absorb high amounts of water and soybean oil. Then, the specific tests to visualize the material’s potential use as food absorbent pads showed: i) they were able to absorb simulated food exudates under a specific pressure in higher quantities (≈ 4000%) than some commercial pads (≈ 1600%); ii) the materials have low to moderate antibacterial activities exposing better reduction effectiveness for Listeria monocytogenes than for Salmonella typhimurium; and iii) the antioxidant properties were in general low. In the light of all the results achieved, the bio-aerogels prepared from H-CH with an aging time of 24 h and whose thickness was around 2.1 mm (H-10g-24) were selected as the most appropriate for the desired application.
Insight into the effect of physicochemical properties on CO2 absorption behavior of imidazole anion-functionalized ionic liquids
Authors: Wang JIanni , He Yuxin , Chen Tingting , Xu Yingjie , Chen Bin
Published: March 2023

Three imidazole anion-functionalized ionic liquids (IFILs) with tributylethylphosphonium ([P4442]+) cation and imidazolate ([Im]−), 4-methylimidazolate ([4-MeIm]−), or 4-bromimidazolate ([4-BrIm]−) anions were prepared to study the effect of physicochemical properties on CO2 absorption behavior. Density (ρ), viscosity (η), speed of sound (u) of the studied IFILs were measured, and molecular volume (Vm), standard entropy (S0), lattice energy (UPOT), and isentropic compressibility coefficient (κs) were calculated accordingly. CO2 absorption behavior of [P4442][Im] at T = 313.15-333.15 K and p = 0.2 and 1 bar were investigated as an example. The results show that with the increase of temperature, ρ, η, u, and UPOT decrease, while Vm, S0, and κs increase, due to a decrease in electrostatic interaction correspondingly. The orders of ρ, u, η, Vm, and S0 values are as follows: [P4442][Im] < [P4442][4-MeIm] < [P4442][4-BrIm], while UPOT and κs are in reverse order. Interestingly, CO2 capture capacity of IFILs is approximately linear with η or κs. Due to low η and high κs, CO2 absorption capacity of [P4442][Im] is almost independent of temperature and partial pressure, as high as 0.90 mol CO2/mol IL at 333.15 K and 0.2 bar, indicating that [P4442][Im] has potential applications for CO2 absorption at high temperature and low pressure.
Phylogenetic diversity, distribution, and gene structure of the pyruvic oxime dioxygenase involved in heterotrophic nitrification
Authors: Tsujino Shuhei , Masuda Ryota , Shimizu Yoshiyuki , Azuma Yuichi , Kanada Yutaro , Fujiwara Taketomo
Published: March 2023

Pyruvic oxime dioxygenase (POD) is the enzyme that is involved in the heterotrophic nitrification process in Alcaligenes faecalis. Genes encoding POD were found in bacteria of the phyla Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, and in fungi of the phylum Ascomycota, and their gene products were found to be active in recombinant experiments. No pod genes were found in the well-known heterotrophic nitrifying species such as Paracoccus and Bacillus, suggesting that heterotrophic nitrification in these bacteria proceeds without the involvement of POD. Phylogenetic analysis of amino acid sequences classified POD into three groups. Group 1 POD is mainly found in heterotrophic nitrifying Betaproteobacteria and fungi, and is assumed to be involved in heterotrophic nitrification. It is not clear whether group 2 POD, found mainly in species of the Gammaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria, and group 3 POD, found simultaneously with group 1 POD, are involved in heterotrophic nitrification. The genes of bacterial group 1 POD comprised a single transcription unit with the genes related to the metabolism of aromatic compound, and many of the genes group 2 POD consisted of a single transcription unit with the gene encoding the protein homologous to 4-hydroxy-tetrahydrodipicolinate synthase (DapA). POD may be involved not only in nitrification, but also in certain metabolic processes whose functions are currently unknown, in coordination with members of gene clusters.
Identification of cholesterol metabolism-related subtypes in Nonfunctioning Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors and analysis of immune infiltration
Authors: feng tians , Hou Pengwei , Fang Yi , Li Xinxiong , Li Ziqi , Wang Di , Chen Li , Lu Lingling , Lin Kunzhe , Mu Shuwen , Wang Shousen
Published: March 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of cholesterol metabolism-related genes in nonfunctioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (NF-PitNETs) invading the cavernous sinus and analyze the differences in immune cell infiltration between invasive and noninvasive NF-PitNETs.
Methods: First, a retrospective analysis of single-center clinical data was performed. Second, the immune infiltration between invasive and noninvasive NF-PitNETs in the GSE169498 dataset was further analyzed, and statistically different cholesterol metabolism-related gene expression matrices were obtained from the dataset. The hub cholesterol metabolism genes in NF-PitNETs were screened by constructing machine learning models. In accordance with the hub gene, 73 cases of NF-PitNETs were clustered into two subtypes, and the functional differences and immune cell infiltration between the two subtypes were further analyzed.
Results: The clinical data of 146 NF-PitNETs were evaluated, and the results showed that the cholesterol(P=0.034) between invasive and noninvasive NF-PitNETs significantly differed. After binary logistic analysis, Cholesterol was found to be an independent risk factor for cavernous sinus invasion (CSI) in NF-PitNETs. Bioinformatics analysis found 3 immune cells between invasive and non-invasive NF-PitNETs were statistically significant in the GSE169498 dataset, and 34 cholesterol metabolism-related genes with differences between the two groups were obtained 12 hub genes were selected by crossing the two machine learning algorithm results. Subsequently, cholesterol metabolism-related subgroups, A and B, were obtained by unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis. The results showed that 12 immune cells infiltrated differentially between the two subgroups. Chi-square test revealed that the two subgroups had statistically significance in the invasive and non-invasive samples (P=0.001). KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the neural ligand–receptor pathway. GSVA analysis showed that the mTORC signaling pathway was upregulated and played an important role in the two-cluster comparison.
CONCLUSION: By clinical data and bioinformatics analysis, Cholesterol metabolism-related genes may promote the infiltration abundance of immune cells in NF-PitNETs and the invasion of cavernous sinuses by NF-PitNETs through the mTOR signaling pathway. This study provides a new perspective to explore the pathogenesis of cavernous sinus invasion by NF-PitNETs and determine potential therapeutic targets for this disease.
Rationally designed PMAP-23 derivatives with enhanced bactericidal and anticancer activity based on the molecular mechanism of peptide-membrane interactions
Authors: Lee Hyunhee , Shin Sung-Heui , Yang Sungtae
Published: March 2023

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a crucial component of the natural defense system that the host employs to protect itself against invading pathogens. PMAP-23, a cathelicidin-derived AMP, has potent and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. Our earlier studies led us to hypothesize that PMAP-23 adopts a dynamic helix-hinge-helix structure, initially attaching to membrane surfaces through the N-helix and subsequently inserting the C-helix into the lipid bilayer. Here, we rationally designed PMAP-NC with increased amphipathicity and hydrophobicity in the N- and C-helix, respectively, based on the hypothesis of the interaction of PMAP-23 with membranes. Compared to the parental PMAP-23, PMAP-NC showed 2–8 fold improved bactericidal activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative strains with fast killing kinetics. Fluorescence studies demonstrated that PMAP-NC largely disrupted membrane integrity, indicating that efficiency and kinetics of bacterial killing are associated with the membrane permeabilization. Interestingly, PMAP-NC exhibited much better anticancer activity against tumor cells than PMAP-23 but displayed low hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes. Collectively, our findings suggest that PMAP-NC, with the structural arrangement of an amphipathic helix–hinge–hydrophobic helix that plays a critical role in rapid and efficient membrane permeabilization, can be an attractive candidate for novel antimicrobial and/or anticancer drugs.
Green Alternatives in Pharmaceutical and Bioanalytical Analysis of TDM Required Drugs: Procainamide
Authors: Ülgen Murat , Can Eylem Cemil , Dogan Aysegul , Akduman Nursabah Elif Basci
Published: March 2023

Introduction:

In drug analysis, using non-hazardous solvents instead of the ones harmful to humans and the environment is a green strategy to protect analysts and environmental health.

Objective:

Procainamide (PCA) is an antiarrhythmic drug requiring therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) because of its narrow therapeutic window and serious side effects.

Aim:

The aim of this study is to develop validated green HPLC methods to be used in drug quality control and TDM analysis for PCA, thus indicating the further applicability in the analysis of TDM-required drugs, such as immunosuppressants, anti-cancer drugs, and psychiatric drugs.

Methods:

Human-friendly ethanol was selected as an organic solvent in the mobile phase. PCA was eluted from NUCLEODUR 100-5 C8 ec (5 μm, 150 x 4.6 mm) column by a mobile phase containing ethanol and 50 mM NaH2PO4 buffer (5:95, v/v). The mobile phase flow rate was 1.0 ml min-1, the column temperature was 35 °C, and the wavelength at the PDA detector was 278 nm.

Results:

Retention time for PCA was 5.0 min and 7.7 min for paracetamol as an internal standard (IS). In the green HPLC method for pharmaceutical analysis, the highest relative standard deviation (RSD) and mean recovery values were 1.32% and 98.89%, respectively. In the analysis of plasma, the sample preparation step was only smooth protein precipitation by ethanol. Thus, the bioanalytical method was fully green having a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 μg ml-1 and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.8 μg ml-1. The therapeutic plasma concentration for PCA was reported in the range of 4–12 μg ml−1.

Conclusion:

As a result, the green HPLC methods developed and validated in this study were selective, accurate, precise, reproducible, and trustable and have the quality for the application in pharmaceutical and TDM analysis of PCA, thus encouraging green HPLC analysis of other TDM required drugs.
Impact of TRP Channels in Oral Pathology and Therapeutic Targeting
Options: A Narrative Review
Authors: Evangeliou Evangelos , Plemmenos Grigorios , Chalazias Andreas , Piperi Christina
Published: March 2023

Background:

Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels are non-selective Ca2+ per-meable channels with a wide and dynamic involvement in the perception of environmental stimuli in the oral cavity and a pivotal role in oral tissues’ pathology and oral diseases. Several factors se-creted during pulpitis and periodontitis, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandins, gluta-mate, extracellular ATP, and bradykinin, can trigger TRPs, either directly or indirectly, lowering the threshold of sensory neurons and regulate immune cell function.

Objective:

To investigate the diverse functions and molecular mechanisms of TRP channels in oral pathology and critically discuss their clinical significance and therapeutic targeting potential.

Methods:

Relevant keywords were used for research in scientific databases (Pumped, Scopus, and Science Direct). Only articles in English were included, screened, and critically analyzed. The key findings of these studies were included, along with their clinical importance.

Results:

Certain TRP channels were detected as key mediators of oral pathology. TRPV1 was re-vealed to play an important role in pain transduction in pulpits, induce inflammation, and be in-volved in bone resorption during periodontitis. TRPM2 activation may reduce saliva secretion in acinar salivary cells and xerostomia after head and neck radiation, while TRPV1 and TRPA1 chan-nels mediate trigeminal nerve pain. Several TRP agonists and antagonists have been demonstrated to block pathological pathways in oral diseases along with certain compounds such as capsaicin, capsazepine, nifedipine, eugenol, thapsigargin and specific targeting techniques such as UHF-USP and Er: YAG lasers. Current TRP targeting approaches have been shown to exert beneficial effects in osteoblasts and fibroblasts proliferation, carcinoma cells’ apoptosis, saliva secretion, and noci-ception.

Conclusion:

TRPs play a central role in pain transduction, inflammatory responses in oral tissues, and pathological conditions of the oral mucosa, including oral squamous cell carcinoma and ulcera-tive mucositis.
Tourist Environmental Behaviour: A narrative review
Authors: Touloun Chaima , Eddali Rachid
Published: March 2023

Environmental sustainability is a significant issue nowadays. Travelers must become more environmentally conscious of protecting the earth. Academics focus more on environmental degradation, pollution, and human behaviour's influence on climate change. Late 20th-century researchers are increasingly environmentally conscious. Tourists' environmentally friendly conduct at their destination is influenced by contextual variables, although they have not been fully investigated. Researchers say studying visitor behaviour reduces tourism's environmental effect. By reviewing the literature, it is possible to contextualize the pro-environmental behaviour of tourists. Businesses, governments, and tourists must alter their practices to ensure a sustainable future.
Real-Time Prediction of Sepsis in Critical Trauma Patients: Machine Learning–Based Modeling Study
Authors: Li Jiang , Xi Fengchan , Yu Wenkui , Sun Chuanrui , Wang Xiling
Published: March 2023

Background

Sepsis is a leading cause of death in patients with trauma, and the risk of mortality increases significantly for each hour of delay in treatment. A hypermetabolic baseline and explosive inflammatory immune response mask clinical signs and symptoms of sepsis in trauma patients, making early diagnosis of sepsis more challenging. Machine learning–based predictive modeling has shown great promise in evaluating and predicting sepsis risk in the general intensive care unit (ICU) setting, but there has been no sepsis prediction model specifically developed for trauma patients so far.

Objective

To develop a machine learning model to predict the risk of sepsis at an hourly scale among ICU-admitted trauma patients.

Methods

We extracted data from adult trauma patients admitted to the ICU at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center between 2008 and 2019. A total of 42 raw variables were collected, including demographics, vital signs, arterial blood gas, and laboratory tests. We further derived a total of 485 features, including measurement pattern features, scoring features, and time-series variables, from the raw variables by feature engineering. The data set was randomly split into 70% for model development with stratified 5-fold cross-validation, 15% for calibration, and 15% for testing. An Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model was developed to predict the hourly risk of sepsis at prediction windows of 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours. We evaluated model performance for discrimination and calibration both at time-step and outcome levels. Clinical applicability of the model was evaluated with varying levels of precision, and the potential clinical net benefit was assessed with decision curve analysis (DCA). A Shapley additive explanation algorithm was applied to show the effect of features on the prediction model. In addition, we trained an L2-regularized logistic regression model to compare its performance with XGBoost.

Results

We included 4603 trauma patients in the study, 1196 (26%) of whom developed sepsis. The XGBoost model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) ranging from 0.83 to 0.88 at the 4-to-24-hour prediction window in the test set. With a ratio of 9 false alerts for every true alert, it predicted 73% (386/529) of sepsis-positive timesteps and 91% (163/179) of sepsis events in the subsequent 6 hours. The DCA showed our model had a positive net benefit in the threshold probability range of 0 to 0.6. In comparison, the logistic regression model achieved lower performance, with AUROC ranging from 0.76 to 0.84 at the 4-to-24-hour prediction window.

Conclusions

The machine learning–based model had good discrimination and calibration performance for sepsis prediction in critical trauma patients. Using the model in clinical practice might help to identify patients at risk of sepsis in a time window that enables personalized intervention and early treatment.
Investigating the Integration and the Long-Term Use of Smart Speakers in Older Adults’ Daily Practices: Qualitative Study (Preprint)
Authors: Chang Fangyuan , Sheng Lin , Gu Zhenyu
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND

As smart speakers become more popular, there have been an increasing number of studies on how they may benefit older adults or how older adults perceive them. Despite the increasing ownership rates of smart speakers among older adults, studies that examine their integration and the long-term use in older adults’ daily practices are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to uncover the integration of smart speakers into the daily practices of older adults over the long term, contributing to an in-depth understanding of maintained technology use among this demographic.

METHODS

To achieve these objectives, the study interviewed 20 older adults who had been using smart speakers for over 6 months. These semistructured interviews enabled participants to share their insights and experiences regarding the maintained use of smart speakers in the long term.

RESULTS

We identified 4 dimensions of the long-term use of smart speakers among older adults, including functional integration, spatial integration, cognitive integration, and semantic integration. For the functional integration of smart speakers, the study reported different types of use, including entertainment, information collection, medication reminders, companionship, environment modification, and emergency calls. For the spatial integration of smart speakers, the study showed older adults’ agency in defining, changing, and reshaping daily practices through the spatial organization of smart speakers. For the cognitive integration of smart speakers, the findings showed the cognitive processes involved in adapting to and incorporating smart speakers into daily habits and routines. For the semantic integration of smart speakers, the findings revealed that older adults’ enjoyable user experience and strong bonds with the device contributed to their acceptance of occasional functional errors. Finally, the study proposed several suggestions for designers and developers to better design smart speakers that promote maintainable use behaviors among older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of the findings, this study highlighted the importance of understanding how older adults use smart speakers and the practices through which they integrate them into their daily routines. The findings suggest that smart speakers can provide significant benefits for older adults, including increased convenience and improved quality of life. However, to promote maintainable use behaviors, designers and developers should consider more about the technology use contexts and the specific needs and preferences of older adults when designing these devices.
Phenotypes Associated With Zones Defined by Area Under the Curve Glucose and C-peptide in a Population With Islet Autoantibodies
Authors: Sosenko Jay M. , Cuthbertson David , Sims Emily K. , Ismail Heba M. , Nathan Brandon M. , Jacobsen Laura M. , Atkinson Mark A. , Evans-Molina Carmella , Herold Kevan C. , Skyler Jay S. , Redondo Maria J. ,   TrialNet Study Group
Published: March 2023

OBJECTIVE

Metabolic zones were developed to characterize heterogeneity of individuals with islet autoantibodies.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Baseline 2-h oral glucose tolerance test data from 6,620 TrialNet Pathway to Prevention Study (TNPTP) autoantibody-positive participants (relatives of individuals with type 1 diabetes) were used to form 25 zones from five area under the curve glucose (AUCGLU) rows and five area under the curve C-peptide (AUCPEP) columns. Zone phenotypes were developed from demographic, metabolic, autoantibody, HLA, and risk data.

RESULTS

As AUCGLU increased, changes of glucose and C-peptide response curves (from mean glucose and mean C-peptide values at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min) were similar within the five AUCPEP columns. Among the zones, 5-year risk for type 1 diabetes was highly correlated with islet antigen 2 antibody prevalence (r = 0.96, P < 0.001). Disease risk decreased markedly in the highest AUCGLU row as AUCPEP increased (0.88–0.41; P < 0.001 from lowest AUCPEP column to highest AUCPEP column). AUCGLU correlated appreciably less with Index60 (an indicator of insulin secretion) in the highest AUCPEP column (r = 0.33) than in other columns (r ≥ 0.78). AUCGLU was positively related to “fasting glucose × fasting insulin” and to “fasting glucose × fasting C-peptide” (indicators of insulin resistance) before and after adjustments for Index60 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Phenotypes of 25 zones formed from AUCGLU and AUCPEP were used to gain insights into type 1 diabetes heterogeneity. Zones were used to examine GCRC changes with increasing AUCGLU, associations between risk and autoantibody prevalence, the dependence of glucose as a predictor of risk according to C-peptide, and glucose heterogeneity from contributions of insulin secretion and insulin resistance.
Upper-Extremity Impairments in Type 1 Diabetes: Results From a Controlled Nationwide Study
Authors: Wagner Sabina , Nørgaard Kirsten , Willaing Ingrid , Olesen Kasper , Andersen Henrik U.
Published: March 2023

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify current and lifetime prevalence of upper-extremity impairments (UEIs) among individuals with type 1 diabetes and explore factors associated with UEIs.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In a Danish cross-sectional nationwide case-control study, data on UEIs and health behavior were paired with data on sociodemographics and clinical factors from national registers. Participants included individuals with type 1 diabetes (n = 2,245) and a control group (n = 841). Differences between groups were assessed using binomial proportions and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, individuals with type 1 diabetes were significantly (P < 0.05) more likely to experience frozen shoulder (odds ratio [OR] 3.5), carpal tunnel syndrome (OR 3.5), trigger finger (OR 5.0), and Dupuytren contracture (OR 4.3). They were also more likely to have several coexisting impairments than the control group (P < 0.01). Diabetes duration was associated with all four impairments.

CONCLUSIONS

UEIs are common, particularly among individuals with type 1 diabetes.
Intestinal Microbiota as a Necessary Basis for Homeostasis, General Pathology, and Ageing, or Back to Elia Metchnikov
Authors: RI Zhdanov
Published: March 2023

The article is aimed to overview the field of microbiota and endotoxin science and their role in the interaction with innate immune system and pathogenesis of a variety of acute and chronic diseases. The methodology for studying the LPS biological role under clinical conditions created by Russian scientists is based on the ability of LPS blood level reducing tools to increase the patient treatment efficacy. The next findings have been created and formulated: 1. The LPS and stress factors’ involvement to the induction of inflammation, general adaptation syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) condition which represent starting points for the development of multiple organ failure syndrome; 2. The LPS involvement to pathogenesis of broncho-obstructive syndrome, of chronic hepatitis C, AIDS and SARS-COV-2, of atherosclerosis and acute myocardial infarction, of alimentary obesity, septic shock, and/or type 1 diabetes, of autoimmune diseases, etc.; 3. The creation of interdisciplinary definitions of inflammation and sepsis, and introduction into scientific semantics new definitions such as "Systemic Endotoxinemia" (SE) as an obligate homeostasis factor and "Endotoxin Aggression" (EA) as a pre-disease and/or universal factor of disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, it was found that some bacterial preparation have ability to strengthen the intestinal barrier, which appeared to be one of the most significant achievements of current clinical microbiology. The EA prevention and/or endotoxin elimination would become a mandatory component of the treatment and preventive medicine, including delaying aging. The finding that "inflammation as a driving forces of aging" would be considered as one of the most outstanding clinical achievements of the century. It is declared that aging represents “burning of human organism in the flame of inflammation”. It is suggested that a specific anti-endotoxin therapy could be developed to combat the pathogenesis of chronic and acute diseases. There are several approaches to reduce the LPS level in human body for health maintaining. The First International Congress "Intestinal Microbiota: Homeostasis, Inflammation, and Aging" is planned to be held in Russian Federation (not far from City-of-Kazan), from 6-8 September 2024. It may become the first worldwide discussion of the questions and problems raised here in sense of LPS-centered medicine, as well as a generalization of ideas on the role of intestinal endotoxins and stress in adaptation processes and induction of inflammation, inflammaging, and aging
БАГАТОПРОМЕНЕВА ОПТИКО-ЕЛЕКТРОННА СИСТЕМА ДЛЯ ВИМІРЮВАННЯ КООРДИНАТ ДРОНА
Authors: Аверін Дмитро Володимирович , Боровицький Володимир Миколайович
Published: March 2023

В статті представлено багатопроменеву оптико-електронну систему для вимірювання координат дрона в тривимірному просторі. Всі існуючі системи умовно можна поділити на два класи: системи, які використовують камери, і системи, які не використовують камери. В нашій роботі показано новий метод системи, яка не використовує камеру. Одна частина цієї системи встановлюється навколо посадкової площадки або площадки, над якою необхідно здійснити позиціонування. Він утворює набір низькоенергетичних оптичних променів певної форми. Кожний промінь передає цифровий код, який характеризує його розташування відносно площадки. Друга частина цієї системи – це невеликий набір мініатюрних фотодетекторів, які закріплюються під дроном. Запропонована методика на основі порівняння коду променя дозволяє розрахувати координати дрона відносно площадки. Ця система гарантує точність у кілька десятків сантиметрів, що необхідно для точного зльоту чи посадки дрона без використання дорогої цифрової камери чи людини-оператора. В статті запропоновано розрахунок кількості однакових променів випромінювальної частини, які необхідні для досягнення встановленої точності. Розрахунок проводився в двох напрямках: горизонтальному та вертикальному. Це дає змогу корегувати положення дрона у тривимірному просторі як для зльоту/посадки, так і для підтримки одного положення на висоті. Представлений працюючий прототип системи, яка складається з випромінювального блока на землі та приймального блока на дроні. Випромінювальний блок формує у просторі кодовані промені, які надходять до приймального блока. Приймальний блок оброблює отриману інформацію і надсилає сигнали до блока управління дроном для корегування його положення відносно посадкової зони. Показано результати досліджень при застосуванні різних діафрагм для світлодіодів та фотоприймальних пристроїв. Вибрано найкращий варіант конструкції блоків та отримано оцінку похибок вимірювання координат дронів.
USING THE GAME APPROACHES FOR DEVELOPING THE SPEECH OF CHILDREN WITH MODERATE MENTAL RETARDATION
Authors: Saratikyan Lilit
Published: March 2023

The aim of the study was to explore the role of game-based approaches for developing speech in children with moderate mental retardation. More than 40 scientific journals, articles, and educational materials were analyzed in pedagogical and psychological fields to explore the advantages and challenges of using game-based approaches in the process of developing the speech of children with moderate mental retardation.
A literature review methodology was used for collecting and synthesizing the existing scientific theoretical bases of game-based approaches for developing speech of children with moderate mental retardation since this research method created a firm foundation for advancing knowledge and facilitating theory development (Webster & Watson, 2002). The use of the literature review method helped the author learn about the history and nature of the selected topic, and identify research gaps and problems, so the results of a literature review may be presented as an entire report or article  (Torracro, 2005).
The current study results have shown that the effectiveness of communication skills and speech formation and development of children with moderate mental retardation was based on the approach of gradually involving children in verbal communication through play activities. As well as the specification and elaboration of the content and tools of game activities provide such pedagogical conditions, which contributed to the expansion of children's communication field, the activation of preserved opportunities, and the demand for verbal communication.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS
Authors: Muradyan Susanna
Published: March 2023

Visual impairment is a disability resulting in partial or complete loss of vision. It results in hindrance to performing daily chores, thereby decreasing the quality of life. This study aims to augment the userâ€™s experience with digital interfaces (e.g., the display system of personal computers and smartphones) through the design of an efficient system enabling easier and more effective user navigation.
Assistive technology for the visually impaired and blind people is a research field that is gaining increasing prominence owing to an explosion of new interest in it from disparate disciplines. The field has a very relevant social impact on our ever-increasing aging and blind populations. While many excellent state-of-the-art accounts have been written to date, all of them are subjective in nature. We performed an objective statistical survey across the various sub-disciplines in the field and applied information analysis and network-theory techniques to answer several key questions relevant to the field. To analyze the field, we compiled an extensive database of scientific research publications over the last two decades. We inferred interesting patterns and statistics concerning the main research areas and underlying themes, identified leading journals and conferences, captured growth patterns of the research field; identified active research communities, and present our interpretation of trends in the field for the near future.
The study of the educational process of students with visual impairments shows that they can generally receive a successful education on an equal basis with others. On the other hand, the educational process of students with visual impairments is accompanied by several difficulties associated with the fact that they cannot see. One of the ways to effectively solve this problem is computer assistive technologies based on programs for the blind and visually impaired, information sources (through sound reproduction, an auxiliary point, or listening to a large text). Computer assistive technologies are easy to understand and allow you to work independently with a regular personal computer, and general-purpose programs (MS Word, Internet Explorer, etc.) to obtain a normal user experience. For students with visual impairments, these functions have a significant compensatory effect, allowing assistance to the visually impaired ( scanning, reading plain text, preparing printed documents, etc.).