bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty as a therapeutic option for class III obesity
Authors: Bove Vincenzo , Pontecorvi Valerio , Gualtieri Loredana , Matteo Maria Valeria , De Siena Martina , Carlino Giorgio , Giannetti Giulia , Iaconelli Amerigo , Ficuccilli Ludovica , Ciasca Gabriele , Barbaro Federico , Spada Cristiano , Boskoski Ivo
Published: November 2024

Introduction
The spread of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) as an effective bariatric endoscopic technique has been notable, particularly for treating patients with class I and II obesity with related comorbidities. Our study aimed to assess the ESG efficacy in patients with class III obesity.
Methods
This retrospective analysis on a prospective dataset focused on individuals with baseline class III obesity who underwent ESG from January 2018 to November 2023. Weight loss outcomes and the ESG impact on related comorbidities were assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months.
Results
A total of 129 patients [74 female, mean age: 47 ± 12.7, mean Body Mass Index (BMI): 44.4 ± 4.1 kg/m²], who either declined surgery or were considered ineligible for surgical intervention, were included. At the 24-months follow-up we observed a mean BMI reduction of 7.1 ± 4.8 and a mean Total Body Weight Loss of 15.4%. At the 12-months follow-up, our data showed improvement or complete remission of Type 2 Diabetes, Hyperinsulinemia, Arterial Hypertension, Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in 50%, 42.4%, 41.6% and 26% of patients with comorbidities, respectively. No serious adverse events were documented.
Conclusion
While ESG demonstrated effectiveness in inducing weight loss and ameliorating comorbidities, it did not fully resolve obesity, potentially due to high baseline BMI. Consequently, surgical intervention should continue to be the primary treatment for class III obesity. However, when surgery is contraindicated or refused by the patient, ESG represents a less invasive option and an effective first-stage or part of a multi-step treatment.
Hsp70 incompletely disaggregates the misfolding K488X-menin, promoting the tumorigenesis in a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 family
Authors: Zeng Zhen , Zhang Qianqian , Liang Tingting , Xiong Yu , Liu Zhi , Zhang Jing , Yang Pingping , Yang Jingye , Lu Qingxiang , Shen Di , Fang Wen , Zhang Miao , Liu Qi , Gao Bo , Wei Yonghui , Zhou Ding’an
Published: November 2024

Previous standpoints involved into the nonsense mutations and missense variants which caused truncated inactive menin protein of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1(MEN1) gene, including loss of heterozygosity(LOH) and menin mutants degradation, cannot wholly interpret MEN1 pathogenesis. A c.1462A > T (p.K488X) mutation in exon10 of MEN1 was identified as the potential pathogenic mutation in an extended Chinese MEN1 family in this study. Ubiquitination modification degradation of K488X-menin result from the combined actions of carboxy-terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP) and Hsp70 in vitro. K488X‒menin is a misfolding truncated protein that results in amyloid aggregation state in live cells or the affected tissues, the aggregation of which is promoted by Hsp70 and CHIP. Although Hsp70 disaggregate the aggregated of K488X-menin in vitro, the Hsp70 which is not upregulated in the MEN1 patients’ affected tissue can not completely disaggregate the aggregated K488X, which becomes a toxic intermediate to trigger development process of early tumorigenesis verified in the mutant zebrafish model and the affected tissues to cause the tumorigenic phenotypes in this MEN1 case. Our findings provide a complete novel interpretation to the mechanism of MEN1 tumorigenesis.
The Impact of Standardization of Care for Neonates Born at 22-23 Weeks Gestation
Authors: Gharaibeh Faris Al , Cortezzo DonnaMaria , Nathan Amy , Greenberg James
Published: November 2024

Objective
Determine the impact of care and counseling standardization on survival and morbidity of neonates born at 22–23 weeks gestation.
Design:
Retrospective cohort study of 244 neonates born at 22–23 weeks gestation between 2015 and 2023 in a large healthcare system. The primary outcome is survival of neonates receiving intensive care to NICU discharge. Secondary outcomes include morbidities (IVH, PDA, NEC, BPD, ROP) and resource utilization.
Results
Survival did not significantly change with more neonates born at 22 weeks receiving intensive care (aOR 1.0 (95% CI 0.40–2.51), p 0.99 and 0.93 (95% CI 0.32–2.7), p 0.89 in the 2018–2020 and 2021–2023 epochs. NEC and PDA decreased over the study period, and resource utilization remained unchanged.
Conclusions
Standardizing counseling and care increased the provision of antenatal steroids and intensive care for neonates born at 22 weeks gestation. This allowed neonates born at 22 weeks to survive to discharge without increasing morbidity and resource utilization.
Real Time Monitoring of Intrarenal Pressures While Using the Novel Bendable Suction Ureteral Access Sheath
Authors: Chen Kelven Weijing , Koo Kyo Chul , Zhong Tianshuang , Ren Runhan , Wong Victor KF. , Almousa Saud , Levitt Max , Guennoun Abbas , Chew Ben H. , Bhojani Naeem
Published: November 2024

Purpose
To report on in-vivo intrarenal pressure (IRP) during flexible ureteroscopy for treatment of kidney stones while using the novel bendable suction ureteral access sheath.
Methods
A retrospective observational analysis was performed for 25 patients undergoing routine flexible ureteroscopy for treatment of renal stones between February 2024 and June 2024 from two centres in Canada. The LithoVue Elite™ ureteroscope (Boston Scientific Corp., Marlborough, MA, USA) with pressure sensing capability was used together with the Clearpetra® Ureteral Access Sheath System (Well Lead Medical Co. Ltd., Guangzhou, China) for all cases. Irrigation was via a pressure bag set at 250mmHg where possible and the access sheath was connected to wall suction at 200mmHg. Median and maximum IRP, as well as the distribution of cumulative procedure times according to various IRP ranges were analyzed.
Results
The median age of the patients was 56 years, with a median BMI of 26.7 kg/m2. The median (Interquartile range {IQR}) IRP for all the cases was 22.0 (15.0-36.5) mmHg, with a median (IQR) procedure time of 35.9 (16.4–54.8) minutes. The IRP remained below 40mmHg in 76.2% of the total time in all procedures, and was below 60mmHg in 94.1% of the time. Significant variables associated with lower IRP were having a prior endourological procedure, pre-stenting, larger ureteral access sheath size and use of pre-operative alpha blocker. Age, BMI and total stone volume did not significantly affect IRP.
Conclusions
Low intrarenal pressures can be achieved with the use of suction ureteral access sheaths, even with higher irrigation pressures. Alpha blocker use, larger sheath size, prior endourological procedures and pre-stenting are all associated with lower IRP.
Dual wavelength brillouin laser terahertz source stabilized to carbonyl sulfide rotational transition
Authors: Greenberg James , Heffernan Brendan , McGrew William , Nose Keisuke , Rolland Antoine
Published: November 2024

Optical-based terahertz sources are important for many burgeoning scientific and technological applications. Among such applications is precision spectroscopy of molecules, which exhibit rotational transitions at terahertz frequencies. Stemming from precision spectroscopy is frequency discrimination and stabilization of terahertz sources. Because many molecular species exist in the gas phase at room temperature, their transitions are prime candidates for practical terahertz frequency references. We demonstrate the stabilization of a low phase-noise, dual-wavelength Brillouin laser (DWBL) terahertz oscillator to a rotational transition of carbonyl sulfide (OCS). We achieve an instability of $1.2\times10^{-12}/\sqrt{\tau}$, where $\tau$ is the averaging time in seconds. The signal-to-noise ratio and intermodulation limitations of the experiment are also discussed. We thus demonstrate a highly stable and spectrally pure terahertz frequency source. Our presented architecture will likely benefit metrology, spectroscopy, precision terahertz studies, and beyond.
From Missed Visits to Missed Tests: The Hidden Risk of Mother to Child Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus among Pregnant Women Who Never Attend Antenatal Care in Tanzania
Authors: Moshi Fabiola Vincent
Published: November 2024

Background
Perinatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) screening, combined with interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission, is a crucial aspect of Antenatal Care (ANC). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of women who never attended ANC, investigate its association with the likelihood of missing HIV testing during pregnancy, and identify key predictors of non-attendance at ANC in Tanzania.
Method
The study analyzed data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (2022 TDHS-MIS), using a weighted sample of 5,431 women of reproductive age. Descriptive analysis determined the proportion of women who had never attended ANC. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed the association between never attending ANC and never undergoing HIV testing, while also identifying key predictors of ANC non-attendance.
Results
In Tanzania, 10.4% of pregnant women never attended ANC. Not attending ANC was significantly associated with never being tested for HIV (aOR = 4.752). Factors affecting never attending ANC included age, with increased odds in women aged 20–24 (aOR = 1.943), 25–29 (aOR = 1.938), 30–34 (aOR = 2.661), 35–39 (aOR = 2.518), 40–44 (aOR = 2.184), and 45–49 (aOR = 2.897) compared to those aged 15-19years. The zone of residence, with increased odds in the Northern zone (aOR = 1.465), lower odds in the Central (aOR = 0.181), Southern (aOR = 0.055), Lake (aOR = 0.409), Eastern (aOR = 0.522), and Zanzibar zones (aOR < 0.001) compared to Western zone. Women who were not working had a 2.5 times higher odds (aOR = 2.522), and never used contraception were 2.4 times more likely to skip ANC (aOR = 2.373).
Conclusion
The study found that a significant number of pregnant women in Tanzania never attend ANC, which is significantly associated with missing HIV testing. This highlights the urgent need to improve ANC attendance, as it offers a key opportunity for early HIV detection and intervention. Efforts should focus on addressing demographic and socio-economic factors, including age, employment status, and regional disparities, to improve ANC access and increase HIV testing, thereby reducing the risk of mother-to-child transmission.
Communication with Children about Parental Bipolar Disorder: A Qualitative Interview Study
Authors: Tu En-Nien , Saunders Kate EA , Rashid Layla , Dalton Louise , Creswell Cathy
Published: November 2024

Background
The impacts of parental bipolar disorder (BD) on families and children highlight the need to understand how best to talk to children about their parents’ diagnosis, especially as their developmental capacity for understanding grows. This qualitative study aims to explore the strategies, challenges, and support needs of parents in relation to communicating with their children about BD, in order to inform the development of further interventions and resources.
Methodology
: Purposive and snowball sampling strategies were used to recruit parents with BD, their partners, and stakeholders who support parents with BD. Recruitment occurred via social media, emails, and community outreach between April 2022 and April 2023. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 parents with BD or non-BD partners and 12 charity workers or mental health professionals. The interview guides explored participants’ lived experiences and professional insights into communicating about parental BD with children. Data were analysed using reflexive, inductive, thematic analysis.
Result
Participants identified several benefits of sharing parental BD diagnoses with children, including fostering understanding, adaptation, compassion, and strengthening family relationships. However, they also noted challenges such as uncertainty, stigma, and potential distress for children. To make communication effective, participants emphasised the importance of age-appropriate dialogue, addressing children’s concerns, providing reassurance, and preparing them for future episodes. They highlighted that transparent, interactive communication, thoughtful timing, and collaboration with family members and professionals are crucial for tailoring the process to each family’s unique needs.
Conclusion
Our findings underscore the complexities of communicating a parental BD diagnosis to children, highlighting both the potential benefits and challenges. Participants emphasised the need for developing interventions and policies specifically tailored to address the particular communication needs of families impacted by BD.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Sumac Extract by Microwave- Assisted and Traditional Method: Characterization, Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Hınıs Melek , Yeşildal Tuğçe Karaduman , Erdönmez Demet , Menteş Ayfer
Published: November 2024

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles were carried out by microwave assisted method (MWA) and traditional method (TDM) using sumac seed extract and the properties of particles were compared. Factors such as reaction time, temperature, pH, concentration of extract and silver ion were taken into account during the formation of silver nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS) and Conductivity measurement. The UV-visible spectrum showed the surface plasmon resonance band centered at 433 and 436 nm in the MWA and TDM methods, respectively, confirming the synthesis of Ag-NPs. In SEM/EDX analysis, it was determined that the nanoparticles were spherical in structure and the amount of Ag was considerably higher than other elements. According to TEM analysis, particle sizes were found to be 22 nm with the TDM method, while particle sizes were found to be 41.85 nm with the MWA method. However, it was observed that particle sizes in the MWA method were more homogeneous and evenly distributed. In our study, a significant increase was detected in the antibacterial and antifungal activities of silver nanoparticles. In addition, it was found that both silver nanoparticles inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells and showed selective anticancer effect without showing toxicity (all cell viability values > 70%) to healthy control fibroblast cells (L929).
A functional assessment of the community-dwelling older adults in a developing country: Implementation of the EASY-Care 2010 standard questionnaire in Iran
Authors: Ghorbani Fatemeh , Shati Mohsen , Khosravi Mina , Barzkar Farzaneh , Baradaran Hamid Reza
Published: November 2024

Background
Longer life expectancy has increased the number of older adults who live in societies. This has magnified the necessity of a comprehensive needs assessment to define the problem areas in this vulnerable population. Since there has been a paucity of information, this study was designed to assess the needs of older adult people in Iran.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2019, in Varamin, Iran. A multistage sampling method was employed and 970 individuals were included and interviewed to answer the full version of the EASY-Care Standard 2010 instrument, inquiring about the need for support in activities of daily living (‘independence’), the ‘risk of a breakdown in care’ (leading to emergency admission to hospital), and the risk of falls.
Results
A total of 970 older adult people (56.7% women and 39.4% rural residents) participated in this study. The greatest need to care for older adults was reported in staying healthy (94.7%), mental health and well-being (94.3%), and accommodation and finance (63.37%). The age group older than 80 had the highest mean score in each of the three scales, including Independence score, Risk of breakdown in care, and Risk of falls. No significant relationship was observed between independence score and gender. The risk of falls, risk of a breakdown in care, and independence score were significantly higher among illiterate, divorced, widowed, and unemployed individuals, as well as older adults with comorbidities and dependent financial status (P: 0.001).
Conclusions
The findings can inform policymakers to create and prioritize appropriate interventions to address the needs of the aging population in Iran.
Primary caregiver burden and its associated factors among patients with cancer in Northwest Amhara comprehensive specialized hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021. Multicenter cross-sectional study
Authors: Wassie Yilkal Abebaw , Abate Hailemichael Kindie , Nakie Girum , Kibralew Getasew , Fentahun Setegn , Melkam Mamaru , Mengistie Berihun Agegn , Azagew Abere Woretaw , Bifftu Berhan Boru , Tadesse Gebresilassie , Aemro Agazhe , Alemayehu Tekletsadik Tekleslassie , Geremew Gebremariam Wulie
Published: November 2024

Introduction:
The diagnosis of cancer is a devastating event that profoundly impacts both patients and their primary caregivers, often leading to emotional and physical distress. This can be challenging, especially as more cancer care is provided at home, placing a greater burden on primary caregivers. Several studies have indicated a high prevalence of primary caregiver burden. Despite this, there is a scarcity of published articles about primary caregiver burden among cancer patients in Ethiopia.
Objectives
This study aimed to assess the prevalence of primary caregiver burden and associated factors among adult cancer patients at Northwest Amhara Referral Hospitals, oncology treatment units, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021.
Methods
An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted across hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia, employing a systematic random selection of 422 primary caregivers for cancer patients. Data was gathered through standardized interviews and medical record reviews and analyzed using dedicated software. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were carried out to identify factors associated with primary caregiver burden. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered significantly associated with primary caregiver burden.
Results
The prevalence of primary caregiver burden was 62.96%. Primary caregivers of a cancer patient with a second level of wealth index (AOR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.16–6.19) and primary caregivers of a cancer patient with depression (AOR = 4.79, 95% CI: 2.93–7.14) were significantly associated with primary caregiver burden.
Conclusion and recommendation:
The prevalence of primary caregiver burden among adult cancer patients was prevalent. Healthcare providers in oncological settings should prioritize recognizing and supporting primary caregivers, especially those facing financial strain (the second-wealthiest group) and caring for depressed primary caregivers. Early screening and targeted interventions are crucial for their well-being.
MeExtRel: a dataset of inter-method extend-use relationships based on citation sentence classification
Authors: Zhao Hua , Liu Han , Zhou Hongjie , Yang Manyu , Zhang Xiwen
Published: November 2024

The exponential growth in the number of documents has promoted fine-grained research on scientific and technological documents. These include techniques for entity identification and relationship extraction, abstract generation, knowledge extraction, and other forms of fine-grained research. Nevertheless, the aforementioned research is only capable of extracting fine-grained knowledge from a single document, and is thus unable to correlate such knowledge across different documents. The research methods is the most critical content of a paper. Therefore, clarifying the inheritance, improvement, or extension of research methods (defined in this paper as inter-method extend-use relationships) is particularly important for understanding the continuity and innovation of scientific research. In order to address this issue, this paper puts forward a new research task, namely the identification of inter-method extend-use relationships, and proposes the construction of a corresponding dataset. The dataset is a hierarchical dataset containing two levels of structure. The upper layer is a citation relationship classification dataset, while the lower layer is a extend-use relationship dataset. The former classifies citation sentences in the literature into three categories: background citation, method citation and result citation. The latter further classifies method citation sentences into two subcategories on the basis of the former: extend-use relationships and non-extend-use relationships. To verify the feasibility of our task and the validity of our dataset, a fine-tuned SciBERT model was employed to classify citation and extend-use relationships. Additionally, the challenges of extracting inter-method extend-use relationships are pointed out in conjunction with error analyses.
Clinical cure in an occult hepatitis B virus infection patient on sequential therapy: a case report
Authors: Wang Lin , Liang Han , Wang Chen , Liang Mengyu , Qinglei Zeng , Pengfei Zhu , Jun Lv
Published: November 2024

Background
Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is characterized by the presence of replication-competent hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) in the liver and/or blood of a individual who is currently negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by standard tests. There is increasing evidence that occult HBV infection is associated with advanced chronic liver disease, especially hepatocellular carcinoma, and that people with occult HBV infection can transmit HBV infection. Despite growing concerns about its transmissibility and clinical impact, occult HBV infection has received limited attention in the hepatitis elimination agenda. While the pursuit of functional cure for hepatitis B may lead to the conversion from overt HBV infection to OBI, few cases of this have been reported to date. This case report presents a patient with chronic hepatitis B who initially converted to occult hepatitis B infection with sequential combination therapy and ultimately achieved clinical cure.
Case presentation
The patient is a 28-years old male from China diagnosed with hepatitis B virus infection. In 2012, he presented with abnormal liver function and was initially treated with short-acting interferon; however, this approach yielded poor results. Consequently, he was switched to Entecavir (ETV) antiviral therapy.In August 2019, laboratory tests indicated an HBsAg level of 255.35 IU/ml, while HBV DNA was below the lower limit of detection (<500 IU/ml). The patient hadno history of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, or cerebrovascular disease, and was subsequently started on a combination therapy of ETV and pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN). By April 2020, follow-up tests revealed HBV DNA at 2.24 log10 IU/ml and HBsAg reduced to 0.42 IU/ml. At this point, the treatment regimen was adjusted to a combination therapy of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and PEG-IFN. Six months later, HBsAg turned negative, HBsAb rose to 52.18IU/L, and HBV DNA was measured at 1.28 log10 IU/ml. The patient was then transitioned to PEG-IFN monotherapy. In November 2021, the patient discontinued PEG-IFN therapy. One month later, laboratory tests confirmed that both HBV DNA (<10 IU/mL) and HBsAg were negative, and these results have been maitntained to date.
Conclusion: This case demonstrates that sequential combination therapy can effectively treat chronic hepatitis B, even in patients with a long history of infection. This approach may lead to a shift to latent hepatitis B infection, and timely adjustments in treatment regimens based on monitoring indicators can ultimately result in a clinical cure.
Molecular Modeling and In Silico Design of a Novel T-Cell (MHC-II) Epitope-Based Vaccine Against HCV: Immunoinformatics Approaches for the South Asian Population
Authors: Iyyanar Sridevi , Ravi Sai Nandhini
Published: November 2024

The current research is on hepatitis C (HCV) viral infection, a positive-strand RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. It generally affects the liver, ultimately leading to its enlargement, and sometimes it ends up causing permanent damage. Moreover, this disease is mostly acquired through contact with infected blood, mainly when sharing contaminated needles or syringes among drug users who inject themselves.
Materials and Methods:
Docking studies were performed using the available structure of 7t6x protein to get highly binding scores for their respective predicted human MHC-Class II Alles. Computational analysis of epitopes was employed for immunogenicity, conservancy, and toxicity analysis. T-cell-based vaccine designs against HCV were screened on 10 epitopes (all Indian-Asian).
Results:
While toxicity analysis revealed two epitopes, YGVGSSIVSWAIK and QTYVTGGTAARAT, further docking studies were conducted on YGVGSSIVSWAIK alone. At auto-docking with HLA-DQB1*06:01 (HLA), this epitope scored -6.9 kcal/mol, respectively. Furthermore, it can be seen that this peptide can also elicit a T-cell-mediated immune response from the predictive use of reverse vaccinology.
Conclusion:
In creating a simulation report for the YGVGSSIVSWAIK epitope, GROMACS was simulated for it. These findings underscore how dynamic and flexible interactions between peptides and MHC class II antigens are essential during immune recognition processes. This contributes to a better understanding of immune recognition processes.
Study on Pathological and Hematobiochemical Profile of Liver Abscesses in Cattle Slaughtered at Gondar Elfora Abattoir, Ethiopia
Authors: Mengstu Yelak Hulugeza , Mekonnen Muluken Yayeh , Yesuf Mohammed , Yimam Hailu Mazengia , Getnet Mengesha Ayehu , Asefa Shewatatek Melaku , Melaku Mekedes Mesfine , Takele Nigusie Fenta , Yaleu Andebet Sechu , Temesgen Abraham Belete , Tsehay Elias Melkamu , Tafere Firdyawukal Abuhay , Malede Birhanu Anagawu
Published: November 2024

The liver's essential functions and anatomical position make it particularly susceptible to diseases such as abscesses. Despite limited research in this area, analyzing the pathological and hematobiochemical profiles of liver abscesses in cattle can provide valuable insights. An abattoir-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to September 2024, aiming to investigate the pathological and hematobiochemical profiles of liver abscesses in slaughtered cattle at the Gondar Elfora Abattoir in Ethiopia. A total of sixty cattle were purposefully selected from the abattoir. For each animal, ten ml of blood was collected using a disposable syringe five ml for hematology and five ml for biochemical analysis. Additionally, liver samples were collected, comprising thirty from cattle affected by liver abscesses and thirty from healthy controls. Gross pathological examination of the livers from infected cattle revealed a friable surface with reddish discoloration, pale hyperemic zones, bile duct hypertrophy, and multiple abscesses scattered throughout the hepatic parenchyma. These abscesses were grayish-white, filled with pus, and contained purulent yellowish-green, white, and mucous materials. Histopathological analysis showed congested blood vessels, necrosis, and fibrosis of hepatic tissue, along with infiltration of neutrophils and leukocytes around the abscess capsules, which were documented with photographs. The hematological profile indicated a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the mean total white blood cell count (14.559 ± 0.32), lymphocyte count (3.236 ± 0.303), and neutrophil count (7.687 ± 2.689) in infected cattle compared to healthy ones. Furthermore, biochemical analysis revealed significant increases (P ≤ 0.05) in the mean values of aspartate aminotransferase (237.75 ± 8.83), alkaline phosphatase (189.1 ± 4.766), alanine aminotransferase (64.3 ± 3.161), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (62.2 ± 2.326) in cattle with liver abscesses compared to those without. This study underscores the significant impact of liver abscesses on liver pathology and hematobiochemical profiles in infected cattle. Therefore, integrating these tests into diagnostic protocols is crucial for accurately diagnosing liver abscesses. Future research should incorporate bacteriological tests and advanced immunohistochemistry to better identify the underlying causes of abscess formation.
Decentralization and Corruption: Evidence from Italy
Authors: Acconcia Antonio , Cantabene Claudia
Published: November 2024

The large amount of funds needed to finance public policies may induce corrupt behaviors of public officials. In this paper, we exploit a long panel dataset with information on corruption diffusion among Italian provinces and public expenditure by levels of government. We show that decentralizing decisions related to public services and capital projects amplify the temptation for corrupt behaviors. Our evidence supports the idea that local-level public officials are more susceptible to capture by vested interests. Such capture compromises the advantage of decentralizing decisions to local governments with access to superior information.
NICUPose: a robust and efficient end-to-end pose estimation network in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
Authors: Huang Di , Gleason Alec , Felix Richter , Zempel John , Payne Philip , Chen Yixin , Cole F. , Vesoulis Zachary , Li Fuhai
Published: November 2024

In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), long-term continuous video-electroencephalography (vEEG) monitoring is used for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of neonatal diseases including seizures and other cerebral injury. vEEG includes both an electrographic component as well as synchronized video, which must be manually reviewed for interpretation. This is a time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive process which often lags behind real time. While electrographic data are the principal basis for diagnosis, video provides corroborating evidence both for artifact detection (e.g., provider examining patient) and physical manifestation of seizures. This is the first study to focus on neonatal pose estimation in this context. The model’s performance was systematically evaluated using two independent vEEG datasets from the Washington University School of Medicine and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in addition to publicly available infant datasets. NICUPose demonstrated superior performance and efficiency compared to generic baseline models for pose estimation, highlighting its potential as a valuable clinical tool.
Lived Experiences of Women with Uterine Fibroids Attending Kawempe National Referral Hospital. A Qualitative Study.
Authors: Mutamba Fred , Sekikubo Musa , Namulindwa Rosette , Kwiringira Japheth , Isabirye Alone
Published: November 2024

Background-Black women are disproportionately affected by uterine fibroids. Although many women with uterine myomas are without symptoms, early diagnosis of the disease is imperative for better treatment outcomes. If unattended to in early enough, fibroids can grow and lead to worsened symptoms and complications cause significant morbidity to women. Treating fibroids in advanced stages often necessities surgical interventions all of which worsen the quality of life burden health systems.
Objective- The study explored the lived experiences of women with uterine fibroids attending Kawempe National Referral Hospital (KNRH.)
Methods- The study was a qualitative facility-based research that employed a phenomenological approach. Nineteen (19) women with uterine fibroids were recruited and were selected by the maximum variation purposive sampling technique. Data was collected by conducting in-depth interviews with help of an interview guide. Data analysis was done by manual thematic data analysis approach.
Results-The 19 study participants had varying demographic characteristics. Five main themes emerged from the data, these were; knowledge of uterine fibroids, causes of uterine fibroids, effects of uterine fibroids, managing uterine fibroids, and coping with uterine fibroids. Women reported that fibroids negatively affect their lives to a significant magnitude. Some of the negative experiences reported by women included experiencing high levels of stress and depressive symptoms, social stigma and avoidance of public gatherings, and broken relationships with their marital partners and relatives. Women also reported some barriers to seeking medical care for their condition, which included the fear of surgical treatment, poor knowledge about the condition, and lack of finances.
Conclusion-Uterine fibroids negatively affect the quality of lives of women living with them in a chronic nature and the negative effects have a ripple effect spreading to their immediate partners and relatives, up to the bigger social circles of the victims.
We recommend, establishment of patient-centered and community based health education to sensitize women about the uterine fibroids with facility initiated screening tools for the condition. Further qualitative studies about uterine fibroids such as exploring the quality of life of women after surgical management procedures like myomectomy and hysterectomy.
Synergistic Effects of Riluzole and Sodium Butyrate on Barrier Function and Disease Progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in SOD1G93A mice
Authors: Zhang Yong-Guo , Robinson KaReisha , Xia Yinglin , Sun Jun
Published: November 2024

Emerging evidence has shown that gut-brain barrier dysfunction occurs at the early stages of ALS. Previous studies demonstrated that Sodium butyrate significantly decreased aggregation of the human-SOD1G93A protein, improved intestinal barriers, delayed the disease onset, and prolonged the life span of ALS mice. Riluzole is the first FDA-approved drug for ALS treatment. We hypothesize that Riluzole and Sodium butyrate combined treatment further decreases aggregation of the h-SOD1G93A, restores the gut-brain barrier function and delays the ALS progression. SOD1G93A mice (9-10-week-old) treated with Riluzole (10 mg/kg, I.P. daily), Sodium butyrate (2% in drinking water), or Riluzole and Sodium butyrate combination for 6 weeks. Riluzole and Sodium butyrate combination showed a significantly longer rotarod time, increased grip strength, enhanced intestinal barrier, compared with Riluzole or Sodium butyrate alone treatment. More reduction of h-SOD1G93A aggregation, an indicator of ALS progression, was observed in the colon, spinal cord lumbar, and brain cortex with Riluzole and Sodium butyrate combination, compared with Riluzole or Sodium butyrate alone treatment. Tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and Claudin-5) significantly increased in the colon, spinal cord lumbar, and brain cortex of mice with Riluzole and Sodium butyrate treatment. In SOD1G93A mice, Riluzole and Sodium butyrate combination treatment reduced serum lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-17, IL-6 and IFN-γ) more than that in Riluzole or Sodium butyrate treatment. Our data suggest that Riluzole and Sodium butyrate treatment is more efficient than either Riluzole or Sodium butyrate alone in delaying ALS progress. It provides a potential therapeutic strategy by restoring barrier function through the gut-brain axis for ALS.
The adsorption process and mechanism of benzo[a]pyrene in agricultural soil mediated by microplastics
Authors: Zhu Zhengyi , Sun Lijuan , Qin Qin , Sun Yafei , Yang Shiyan , Wang Jun , Yang Yang , Gao Guangkuo , Xue Yong
Published: November 2024

The coexistence of microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in the environment, and their interactions within agricultural soils in particular, have garnered widespread attention. Despite the significant environmental toxicity of both pollutants, research on their mutual interactions in soil is still limited. This study conducted adsorption thermodynamics and kinetics experiments to explore the effects and mechanisms of various microplastics (polyethylene, PE, polystyrene, PS, and polyvinyl chloride, PVC) on the adsorption of BaP. Using advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, this study explored the surface characteristics of microplastics and their interactions with BaP. The results demonstrated that PVC microplastics exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for BaP, which was primarily due to π‒π interactions and increased hydrophobicity. In the soil‒microplastic blend systems, BaP was predominantly found on microplastics, enhancing the soil's adsorption capacity for BaP, particularly PVC, which showed an adsorption capacity 3.69 times greater than that of soil alone. Density functional theory (DFT) simulation calculations indicated that the binding energy of BaP for PVC pretreated with soil was − 59.16 kJ/mol, whereas it was − 53.02 kJ/mol for untreated PVC, -39.35 kJ/mol for PE, and − 48.84 kJ/mol for PS. These findings suggest that soil pretreatment significantly enhances the adsorption stability of PVC for BaP, further elucidating the potential mechanisms behind the increased adsorption capacity in the soil–microplastic system. These findings confirm that microplastics serve as effective vectors for organic pollutants such as BaP, significantly influencing their environmental behavior in soils, and provide essential theoretical support for assessing the environmental toxicity and migration behaviors of microplastics and associated organic contaminants.
In-depth Analysis of Risk Factors in Parkinson's Disease: Insights from Mendelian Randomization Studies
Authors: Ma Jing-ying , Yu Tian , Hu Jue , Liang Yi-ning , Tang Fa-dan , Zhang Yong-hua
Published: November 2024

Background
The incidence and prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) are rapidly increasing, leading to significant disease and economic burden. Identifying causal relationships, exposures, risk factors, and molecular processes associated with the occurrence and progression of PD is crucial for the development of prevention and treatment strategies.
Methods
In this systematic review, we examined evidence regarding causal associations between potential risk factors and PD derived from Mendelian randomization (MR) studies, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Methodological quality was evaluated based on critical components of MR methodology, including comprehensive instrumental variable analysis and validation of the three key MR assumptions.
Results
We included methodological details and findings from 41 articles. MR studies provided evidence for causal relationships between BMI, lifestyle, lipid levels, AD, stroke, anxiety, depression, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and PD, although results varied substantially across each category.
Conclusions
Although this review demonstrates how MR can offer valuable insights into exploring potential therapeutic targets and enhancing our understanding of the pathophysiology of PD, certain methodological limitations in the existing literature hinder the reliability of results and likely contribute to their heterogeneity. We emphasize the importance of future MR studies focusing on lifestyle factors, gut microbiota, and epigenetics.
Precision Almond Classification and Counting Using CNN Architectures and Blob Detection Algorithm
Authors: Aktaş Hakan , Karagöz Ömer
Published: November 2024

The classification process, which is extensively employed in the food sector, is used to identify various product classes or to detect and sort solid, defective, and undesired objects in the harvested crop. In this study, blob detection algorithm and CNN architectures were used effectively to determine the number of “whole almonds”, “damaged almonds” and “almond shells” in almond samples. With 400 images in each class, a total of 1200 images were gathered. The final dataset was divided into training, validation, and testing sections at ratios of 70%, 15%, and 15%, respectively. The constructed dataset was used for training models such as VGG16, InceptionV3, ResNet50, and EfficientNetB3 architectures where EfficientNetB3 yielded the maximum accuracy of 99.44% for RGB dataset and 98.33% for grayscale dataset. To confirm the validation of the trained EfficientNetB3 architecture in the application, totally new 50 whole almonds, 10 damaged almonds and 10 shell images were acquired and the model was placed to the test. As a result of this experiment, the test accuracy was calculated as 97.14% for RGB image and 95.71% for grayscale image. As a result of the classification obtained from the RGB image, the model classified this data as 52 whole kernel almonds, 10 damaged numbers and 8 shells. These results show that the proposed method works in high accuracy with EfficientNetB3 model as a final application for both RGB and grayscale images.
Enlightenment into physicochemical properties of tetrabutylammonium bromide-based binary Deep Eutectic Solvent: An experimental and computational validation
Authors: Sharma Priyanka , Vora Yagnik , Kuperkar Ketan , Sawant Abhay
Published: November 2024

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) rapidly evolve as a prominent class of solvents in various applications as they possess melting points lower than their pure components. The demand for DESs is increasing enormously, so there is a need for novel DESs with upgraded versions. For this, one needs to acquire a better knowledge of DESs by understanding their structure and properties. In this study, the physicochemical properties of the prepared DES based on tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) employed as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and itaconic acid (IA) as hydrogen bond donor (HBD) in a molar ratio of 1:1 have been investigated. The successful synthesis of TBAB: IA was confirmed through characterization methods, including FT-IR spectroscopy, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and TGA analysis. Various physicochemical properties, namely density (p), ionic conductivity (k), dynamic viscosity (η), surface tension (γ), refractive index (nD), and pH of the prepared TBAB: IA-based DES at barometric pressure and temperatures set in order from 293.15 K to 353.15 K at an interval of 10 K is examined. With the increase in temperature, noticeable alterations in the physicochemical properties of the prepared DES have been observed. Furthermore, a computational simulation approach was employed to validate and reveal the interaction involved there in the prepared DES using the GaussView 5.0.9 package for geometry optimization using the DFT-based B3LYP/6-31G method to calculate HOMO/LUMO energy, HOMO-LUMO energy gap (ΔE), dipole moment (μ), and the structural parameters like global hardness (η), global softness (S), electronegativity (χ), and electrophilicity index (w). The bond parameters obtained from geometry optimization reveal the existence of non-bonded interactions. The total energy (T. E.) evaluated the involvement of molecular orbitals, while the synergism of electrophilic and nucleophilic sites between the HBA and HBD was assessed from the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP).
Principle, method and experimental verification of Zero-Carbon emission reverse osmosis clean energy technology
Authors: Huang Demin , Luo Qizhao , Li Weigang , Wu Bin , Cheng Yu , Zhang Rui , Wu Jie , Wu Zhuangfei , Ren Zhuochao
Published: November 2024

This article introduces the concept of a "nanoscale one-way valve" and its
underlying principles, pointing out that permeation is a natural manifestation of the
nanoscale one-way valve effect,the energy basis is the molecular thermal
motion.Based on the principle and permeability mechanism of nanoscale one-way
valve, the principle and method of zero-carbon emission reverse osmosis clean energy
technology is proposed, the osmotic pressure difference is generated through the
concentration regulation, and the spontaneous reverse osmosis is realized with the
help of the spontaneous osmotic effect,intended to construct a one-way valve
function,the disordered thermal motion of water molecules is converted into orderly
motion, so that water can flow spontaneously water from low to high,to achieve the
purpose of doing work directly taking energy from the thermal energy of water
molecules without inputting energy,to achieve the goal of zero-carbon emission of
clean energy. This paper introduces the experimental validation situation,The single
valve can carry water about 2.8 meters high, which proves that the technical principle
is feasible and the method is effective, which Capable of achieving water lifting
without energy consumption. This research is a basic research, three basic
breakthroughs were achieved:Reverses osmosis without energy consumption, let the
water spontaneously flow from low to high, and using the heat of water for work
without temperature difference. In the future, based on this principle and method,we
will focus on this basis to improve work efficiency, which is expected to be practical
quickly and achieve a new energy direction.There is no need for temperature
difference, from the natural environment of water molecular heat energy can do work,
inexhaustible, inexhaustible, do not consume energy resources, do not increase the
temperature rise of the earth,zero-carbon emission , safe, clean and environmental
protection, good economy.This study provides a new technical solution to effectively
solve the focus problem of growing energy consumption and continuous global
climate warming.
Infaunal biodiversity of converging river estuaries in Mambajao, Camiguin Island in relation to salinity gradients
Authors: Pacudan Alche , Caneos Warren , Gimena Reynald , Abragan Dulce Fe
Published: November 2024

The infauna distribution, species composition, diversity and its correlation with environmental variables were investigated in the two converging river estuaries (Tapon River and Sa’ai River) in Mambajao, Camiguin Island, Philippines. Sample collection using a modified core sampling method, sorting, identification and counting of infauna samples and in-situ measurements of physico-chemical parameters were done. Results showed that Pachychilidae (44.94%), Lumbriculidae (28.09%) and Thiaridae (14.61%) had the highest relative abundance in both rivers which could be due to its wide tolerance of pollution that also resulted to low species diversity (H’) ranging only from 0.267 ± 0.267 to 0.811 ± 0.090. Furthermore, Sa’ai River showed significantly higher temperature compared to Tapon River. Significant differences in salinity, water pH and soil pH were also observed between the two river estuaries. Furthermore, distinct and clear segregation patterns (30% and 50% similarity) between the two river estuaries. Samples from T4R1, T4R2, T3R3 and T1R2 were segregated from T1R1, T2R1 and T3R1 and the rest of the sampling stations. The presence and assemblages of the infauna (e.g. Glyceridae, Pachychilidae, Chironomidae, Neritidae) were strongly influenced by temperature, salinity, water pH and soil pH.