bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Turner Syndrome Mosaicism after Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease—A High Index of Clinical Suspicion Required?
Authors: Ritchie F. , Macgill K. , Cairney D. , Kiff S. , Miles H. , Gillett P. M.
Published: September 2023

The association of coeliac disease (CD) in girls with Turner syndrome (TS) is well described. There is, however, a paucity of current research describing TS in patients with known CD. We report two cases of mosaic Turner syndrome diagnosed in girls with CD who failed to achieve expected catch-up growth despite strict adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) and the normalisation of TGA-IgA levels. We highlight the need to consider additional diagnoses in patients with CD and ongoing faltering growth. In such patients, referral to a paediatric endocrinologist and relevant investigations, including genetic investigations, should be considered if growth remains suboptimal after one year with a GFD. First-line investigations should include thyroid function, IGF-1, cortisol, gonadotrophins, oestrogen/testosterone, prolactin, karyotype and a bone age X-ray. Clinical suspicion in this situation is key, as an early diagnosis of TS will allow timely treatment with growth hormone, inform discussion around ovarian function and allow screening for important TS associations.
Analysis of Genetic and MRI Changes, Blood Markers, and Risk Factors in a Twin Pair Discordant of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Authors: Persely Aliz , Beszedics Beatrix , Paloczi Krisztina , Piroska Marton , Alijanpourotaghsara Amirreza , Strelnikov David , Vessal Arsalan , Szabo Helga , Hernyes Anita , Zoldi Luca , Jokkel Zsofia , Fekete Andrea , Juhasz Janos , Makra Nora , Szabo Dora , Buzas Edit , Tarnoki Adam Domonkos , Tarnoki David Laszlo
Published: September 2023

Background and Objectives: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease, a tauopathy, which results in a wide clinical spectrum of neurological symptoms. The diagnosis is mostly based on clinical signs and neuroimaging; however, possible biomarkers for screening have been under investigation, and the role of the gut microbiome is unknown. The aim of our study was to identify potential blood biomarkers and observe variations in the gut microbiome within a PSP discordant monozygotic twin pair. Materials and Methods: Anthropometric measurements, neuropsychological tests, and the neurological state were evaluated. Blood was collected for metabolic profiling and for the detection of neurodegenerative and vascular biomarkers. Both the gut microbiome and brain MRI results were thoroughly examined. Results: We found a relevant difference between alpha-synuclein levels and moderate difference in the levels of MMP-2, MB, Apo-A1, Apo-CIII, and Apo-H. With respect to the ratios, a small difference was observed for ApoA1/SAA and ApoB/ApoA1. Using a microbiome analysis, we also discovered a relative dysbiosis, and the MRI results revealed midbrain and frontoparietal cortical atrophy along with a reduction in overall brain volumes and an increase in white matter lesions in the affected twin. Conclusions: We observed significant differences between the unaffected and affected twins in some risk factors and blood biomarkers, along with disparities in the gut microbiome. Additionally, we detected abnormalities in brain MRI results and alterations in cognitive functions.
Relationship between Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Composite Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized with Takotsubo Syndrome: A Nationwide Analysis
Authors: Damarlapally Nanush , Desai Rupak , Sawhney Aanchal , Verma Jyoti , Singh Klair Harroop , Kolli Dhanush , Singh Sibia Birimroz , Chalasani Vardhan , Reddy Rasya , Kolli Jithin , Ogbu Ikechukwu , Gummadi Jyotsna
Published: September 2023

The association of traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors with outcomes of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is not well-defined. This study examined how modifiable CVD risk factors affect composite cardiovascular outcomes in TTS hospitalizations. TTS admissions were identified using ICD-10 codes and compared for demographics and comorbidities using the 2019 National Inpatient Sample. A multivariable regression examined the association of traditional CVD risk variables with adverse composite cardiovascular outcomes in TTS, controlling for confounders including sociodemographic or hospital-level characteristics and other relevant comorbidities. A total of 16,055 (38.1%) of the 41,855 adult TTS admissions had composite cardiovascular outcomes (TACCO). The TACCO cohort was 81.5% white, 77.3% female, and 72 years old. This group had higher rates of diabetes and peripheral vascular disease (PVD). The results showed that a higher prevalence of diabetes with chronic complications (OR = 1.18) and complicated hypertension (HTN) (OR = 1.1) predicted TACCO, whereas tobacco use disorder (OR = 0.84), hyperlipidemia (OR = 0.76), and uncomplicated HTN (OR = 0.65) (p < 0.001) showed a paradoxical effect with TACCO. TACCO had fewer routine discharges (35.3% vs. 63.4%), longer stays (6 vs. 3 days), and higher median hospital costs (78,309 USD vs. 44,966 USD). This population-based study found that complicated HTN and DM with chronic complications are strongly associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in TTS hospitalizations. But still, some risk factors, such as hyperlipidemia and uncomplicated HTN, have counterintuitive effects that require further evaluation. To prevent cardiac events in TTS patients, traditional CVD risk factors must be addressed.
Impact of Protein Aggregates on Sporulation and Germination of Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Mortier Julien , Cambré Alexander , Schack Sina , Christie Graham , Aertsen Abram
Published: September 2023

In order to improve our general understanding of protein aggregate (PA) management and impact in bacteria, different model systems and processes need to be investigated. As such, we developed an inducible synthetic PA model system to investigate PA dynamics in the Gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis. This confirmed previous observations that PA segregation in this organism seems to follow the Escherichia coli paradigm of nucleoid occlusion governing polar localization and asymmetric segregation during vegetative growth. However, our findings also revealed that PAs can readily persist throughout the entire sporulation process after encapsulation in the forespore during sporulation. Moreover, no deleterious effects of PA presence on sporulation, germination and spore survival against heat or UV stress could be observed. Our findings therefore indicate that the sporulation process is remarkably robust against perturbations by PAs and misfolded proteins.
Spontaneous Aberrant Bodies Formation in Human Pneumocytes Infected with Estrella lausannensis
Authors: Rovero Aurelien , Kebbi-Beghdadi Carole , Greub Gilbert
Published: September 2023

Estrella lausannensis, a Chlamydia-related bacterium isolated from a Spanish river, is considered as a possible emerging human pathogen. Indeed, it was recently demonstrated to multiply in human macrophages, resisting oxidative burst and causing a strong cytopathic effect. In addition, a preliminary study highlighted a correlation between antibody response to E. lausannensis and pneumonia in children. To clarify the pathogenic potential of these bacteria, we infected a human pneumocyte cell line with E. lausannensis and assessed its replication and cytopathic effect using quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence, as well as confocal and electron microscopy. Our results demonstrated that E. lausannensis enters and replicates rapidly in human pneumocytes, and that it causes a prompt lysis of the host cells. Furthermore, we reported the spontaneous formation of aberrant bodies, a form associated with persistence in Chlamydiae, suggesting that E. lausannensis infection could cause chronic disorders in humans.
Gut Dysbiosis in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Narrative Review on Correlation with Disease Subtypes and Novel Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Napolitano Maria , Fasulo Ernesto , Ungaro Federica , Massimino Luca , Sinagra Emanuele , Danese Silvio , Mandarino Francesco Vito
Published: September 2023

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. It can be subclassified in different subtypes according to the main clinical manifestation: constipation, diarrhea, mixed, and unclassified. Over the past decade, the role of gut microbiota in IBS has garnered significant attention in the scientific community. Emerging research spotlights the intricate involvement of microbiota dysbiosis in IBS pathogenesis. Studies have demonstrated reduced microbial diversity and stability and specific microbial alterations for each disease subgroup. Microbiota-targeted treatments, such as antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and even diet, offer exciting prospects for managing IBS. However, definitive conclusions are hindered by the heterogeneity of these studies. Further research should focus on elucidating the mechanisms, developing microbiome-based diagnostics, and enabling personalized therapies tailored to an individual’s microbiome profile. This review takes a deep dive into the microscopic world inhabiting our guts, and its implications for IBS. Our aim is to elucidate the complex interplay between gut microbiota and each IBS subtype, exploring novel microbiota-targeted treatments and providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge.
Genome-Assisted Probiotic Characterization and Application of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 18 as a Candidate Probiotic for Laying Hen Production
Authors: Zhang Guoqing , Yang Ning , Liu Zhongyuan , Chen Xinyu , Li Mengjiao , Fu Tongyu , Zhang Donghong , Zhao Cuiqing
Published: September 2023

Probiotics gained significant attention for their potential to improve gut health and enhance productivity in animals, including poultry. This comprehensive study focused on the genetic analysis of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 18 (LP18) to understand its survival and colonization characteristics in the gastrointestinal tract. LP18 was supplemented in the late-stage diet of laying hens to investigate its impact on growth performance, egg quality, and lipid metabolism. The complete genome sequence of LP18 was determined, consisting of 3,275,044 base pairs with a GC content of 44.42% and two circular plasmids. Genomic analysis revealed genes associated with adaptability, adhesion, and gastrointestinal safety. LP18 supplementation significantly improved the daily laying rate (p < 0.05) during the late-production phase and showed noteworthy advancements in egg quality, including egg shape index (p < 0.05), egg albumen height (p < 0.01), Haugh unit (p < 0.01), and eggshell strength (p < 0.05), with notable improvements in eggshell ultrastructure. Additionally, LP18 supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in serum lipid content, including LDL (p < 0.01), FFA (p < 0.05), and Gly (p < 0.05). These findings provide valuable insights into the genomic characteristics of LP18 and the genes that support its survival and colonization in the gastrointestinal tract. Importantly, this study highlights the potential of LP18 as a probiotic candidate to enhance productivity, optimize egg quality, and modulate lipid metabolism in poultry production.
Simultaneous Analysis of Cyanotoxins β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and Microcystins-RR, -LR, and -YR Using Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Authors: Pravadali-Cekic Sercan , Vojvodic Aleksandar , Violi Jake P. , Mitrovic Simon M. , Rodgers Kenneth J. , Bishop David P.
Published: September 2023

β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and its isomers, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (2,4-DAB) and N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine (AEG), along with microcystins (MCs)-RR, -LR, and -YR (the major MC congeners), are cyanotoxins that can cause detrimental health and environmental impacts during toxic blooms. Currently, there are no reverse-phase (RP) LC-MS/MS methods for the simultaneous detection and quantification of BMAA, its isomers, and the major MCs in a single analysis; therefore, multiple analyses are required to assess the toxic load of a sample. Here, we present a newly developed and validated method for the detection and quantification of BMAA, 2,4-DAB, AEG, MC-LR, MC-RR, and MC-YR using RP LC-MS/MS. Method validation was performed, assessing linearity (r2 > 0.996), accuracy (>90% recovery for spiked samples), precision (7% relative standard deviation), and limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) (ranging from 0.13 to 1.38 ng mL−1). The application of this combined cyanotoxin analysis on a culture of Microcystis aeruginosa resulted in the simultaneous detection of 2,4-DAB (0.249 ng mg−1 dry weight (DW)) and MC-YR (4828 ng mg−1 DW). This study provides a unified method for the quantitative analysis of BMAA, its isomers, and three MC congeners in natural environmental samples.
Effects of Me–Solvent Interactions on the Structure and Infrared Spectra of MeTFSI (Me = Li, Na) Solutions in Carbonate Solvents—A Test of the GFN2-xTB Approach in Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Wróbel Piotr , Eilmes Andrzej
Published: September 2023

We investigated the performance of the computationally effective GFN2-xTB approach in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of liquid electrolytes for lithium/sodium batteries. The studied systems were LiTFSI and NaTFSI solutions in ethylene carbonate or fluoroethylene carbonate and the neat solvents. We focused on the structure of the electrolytes and on the manifestations of ion–solvent interactions in the vibrational spectra. The IR spectra were calculated from MD trajectories as Fourier transforms of the dipole moment. The results were compared to the data obtained from ab initio MD. The spectral shifts of the carbonyl stretching mode calculated from the GFN2-xTB simulations were in satisfactory agreement with the ab initio MD data and the experimental results for similar systems. The performance in the region of molecular ring vibrations was significantly worse. We also found some differences in structural data, suggesting that the GFN2-xTB overestimates interactions of Me ions with TFSI anions and Na+ binding to solvent molecules. We conclude that the GFN2-xTB method is an alternative worth considering for MD simulations of liquids, but it requires testing of its applicability for new systems.
Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Aromatic Azo Compounds
Authors: Zhao Meng-Yun , Tang Yue-Feng , Han Guo-Zhi
Published: September 2023

Aromatic azo compounds have -N=N- double bonds as well as a larger π electron conjugation system, which endows aromatic azo compounds with wide applications in the fields of functional materials. The properties of aromatic azo compounds are closely related to the substituents on their aromatic rings. However, traditional synthesis methods, such as the coupling of diazo salts, have a significant limitation with respect to the structural design of aromatic azo compounds. Therefore, many scientists have devoted their efforts to developing new synthetic methods. Moreover, recent advances in the synthesis of aromatic azo compounds have led to improvements in the design and preparation of light-response materials at the molecular level. This review summarizes the important synthetic progress of aromatic azo compounds in recent years, with an emphasis on the pioneering contribution of functional nanomaterials to the field.
Poly Caprolactam Supported Hexaethylene Glycolic Imidazolium Ionic Liquid as a Heterogeneous Promoter for Nucleophilic Fluorination
Authors: Reddy Mudumala Veeranarayana , Park Keun Heok , Kim Dong Wook
Published: September 2023

Hexaethylene glycolic vinyl imidazolium (hexaEGVIM) was supported on N-vinyl caprolactam via covalent bonds through simple copolymerization to form poly caprolactam-supported hexaethylene glycol-substituted imidazolium salts (PCLS-hexaEGIM). The resulting heterogeneous PCLS-hexaEGIM promoter was active, selective, and stable for aliphatic nucleophilic substitution reactions using alkali metal salts. The alkali metal salts dramatically enhanced the reactivity of this heterogeneous catalyst with easily isolable higher product yields, reducing the formation of by-products. Therefore, nucleophilic fluorination and other substitution reactions can act as highly efficient catalysts in various sulfonyloxyalkanes and haloalkanes with regard to their corresponding fluorinated products.
Evaluation of the Toxicity Potential of the Metabolites of Di-Isononyl Phthalate and of Their Interactions with Members of Family 1 of Sulfotransferases—A Computational Study
Authors: Ceauranu Silvana , Ciorsac Alecu , Ostafe Vasile , Isvoran Adriana
Published: September 2023

Di-isononyl phthalates are chemicals that are widely used as plasticizers. Humans are extensively exposed to these compounds by dietary intake, through inhalation and skin absorption. Sulfotransferases (SULTs) are enzymes responsible for the detoxification and elimination of numerous endogenous and exogenous molecules from the body. Consequently, SULTs are involved in regulating the biological activity of various hormones and neurotransmitters. The present study considers a computational approach to predict the toxicological potential of the metabolites of di-isononyl phthalate. Furthermore, molecular docking was considered to evaluate the inhibitory potential of these metabolites against the members of family 1 of SULTs. The metabolites of di-isononyl phthalate reveal a potency to cause liver damage and to inhibit receptors activated by peroxisome proliferators. These metabolites are also usually able to inhibit the activity of the members of family 1 of SULTs, except for SULT1A3 and SULT1B1. The outcomes of this study are important for an enhanced understanding of the risk of human exposure to di-isononyl phthalates.
High-Efficiency Transformation and Expression of Genomic Libraries in Yeast
Authors: Loock Mira , Antunes Luiza Berenguer , Heslop Rhiannon T , De Lauri Antonio Alfonso , Brito Lira Andressa , Cestari Igor
Published: September 2023

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a powerful system for the expression of genome-wide or combinatorial libraries for diverse types of screening. However, expressing large libraries in yeast requires high-efficiency transformation and controlled expression. Transformation of yeast using electroporation methods is more efficient than chemical methods; however, protocols described for electroporation require large amounts of linearized plasmid DNA and often yield approximately 106 cfu/µg of plasmid DNA. We optimized the electroporation of yeast cells for the expression of whole-genome libraries to yield up to 108 cfu/µg plasmid DNA. The protocol generates sufficient transformants for 10–100× coverage of diverse genome libraries with small amounts of genomic libraries (0.1 µg of DNA per reaction) and provides guidance on calculations to estimate library size coverage and transformation efficiency. It describes the preparation of electrocompetent yeast cells with lithium acetate and dithiothreitol conditioning step and the transformation of cells by electroporation with carrier DNA. We validated the protocol using three yeast surface display libraries and demonstrated using nanopore sequencing that libraries’ size and diversity are preserved. Moreover, expression analysis confirmed library functionality and the method’s efficacy. Hence, this protocol yields a sufficient representation of the genome of interest for downstream screening purposes while limiting the amount of the genomic library required.
Loop Diuretics and Sarcopenia: A Potential Association
Authors: Karakousis Nikolaos D. , Georgakopoulos Petros N.
Published: September 2023

Background: Loop diuretics (LDs) are used to treat various health conditions including heart failure (HF), liver cirrhosis, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Sarcopenia is a skeletal muscle health issue related to the depletion and decrease of muscle mass and strength, leading to adverse outcomes including frailty syndrome, functional decline, falls, hospitalizations, augmented length of hospital stay, and increased morbidity and mortality. Methods: This study investigated the probable association between LD use and sarcopenia via conducting a non-systematic review of the existing literature. Results: In subjects with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD), an augmented risk of sarcopenia is significantly associated with LD use. Interestingly, in patients with HF treated with LDs, thigh and arm circumferences were significantly small, which is indicative of skeletal muscle wasting. Additionally, in anorexic subjects who are more likely to be on diuretic medication, suffering also from cachexia, a higher prevalence of sarcopenia was demonstrated. In cirrhotic subjects, the treatment dosage of LDs was inversely correlated with the skeletal muscle area per year (ΔSMA). Nevertheless, in subjects with liver cirrhosis treated with LDs, who were divided into those with and those without muscle cramps, the presence of sarcopenia was similar. Conclusions: Further investigation is imperative to validate potential interplay between LDs and sarcopenia.
Effect of the Similarity of Formulations and Excipients of Approved Generic Drug Products on In Vivo Bioequivalence for Putative Biopharmaceutics Classification System Class III Drugs
Authors: Ren Ping , Chan Theresa , Yang Wen-Cheng , Frost Mitchell , Wang Yan , Luke Markham , Kim Myong-Jin , Lionberger Robert , Zhang Yi
Published: September 2023

One of the potential essential factors that restricts generic industry from applying the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) Class III biowaiver is adherence to the stringent formulation criteria for formulation qualitative (Q1) sameness and quantitative (Q2) similarity. The present study has investigated formulations and excipients from 16 putative BCS Class III drug substances in a total of 19 drug products via 133 approved abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) containing in vivo bioequivalence (BE) studies in human subjects during the time period from 2006 to 2022. We included the BCS Class III drugs in this study by referring to published literature, the World Health Organization (WHO) BCS Class I-IV list, FDA internal assessments, and physicochemical properties (high solubility and low permeability) of specific drug substances. Based upon all 133 approved generic formulations in this study, the highest amount of each different compendial excipient with a total of 40 is defined as its corresponding typical amount that has not shown any potential impact on in vivo drug absorption. In the present study, although only 30.08% of the investigated generic formulations met Q1 the same/Q2 similar formulation criteria for the BCS Class III biowaiver, and while approximately 69.92% failed to meet those criteria with non-Q1/Q2 similar formulations, all test/reference ratios (T/R) and 90% confidence intervals for all instrumental PK parameters (AUC0-t, AUC0-inf, and Cmax) met the bioequivalence (BE) criteria (80–125%). The results of formulation assessment suggest that the commonly used excipients without atypical amounts did not impact absorption of 16 putative BCS Class III drug substances. The rate and extent of absorption of drugs appears to be more dependent upon the biopharmaceutic and physiochemical properties of BCS Class III drug substance and less, or not dependent upon their formulations, excipients, and the excipients class. Our findings may lead to a more flexible formulation design space regarding the stringent BCS Class III formulation criteria.
Perceptions of Community Pharmacists toward the National E-Prescribing Service (Wasfaty) and Exploring the Benefits and Challenges of the Service: A Descriptive Study from Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alsahali Saud , Almutairi Ghazwaa , Aedh Raghad , Alanezi Sarah , Almutairi Hanan , Anaam Mohammed , Alshammari Mohammed , Alhabib Abdulmalik , Alowayed Abdullah , Abdulsalim Suhaj
Published: September 2023

Background: Electronic prescribing systems (e-prescription) for medications have many benefits, including patient safety, increase in patient satisfaction, efficiency of pharmacy work, and quality of patient care. However, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the national e-prescription system “Wasfaty” service in Saudi Arabia, which was recently adopted. Objective: The aims of this study were to explore the benefits observed through the use of the system and most frequent challenges experienced by community pharmacists in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study was conducted using a descriptive survey on a web-based platform. The target population of the study included community pharmacists in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia who worked in pharmacy chains utilizing the e-prescription service between September 2022 and November 2022. Descriptive statistics along with multiple ordinal regression were used for data analysis. Results: The study population consisted of 124 pharmacists, of which 62.9% (78/124) were males and 37.1% (46/124) were females. Most of the participants had a positive perception of the e-prescription system with regard to medication safety, with 68.6% (85/124) indicating that e-prescriptions reduce the risk of dispensing errors. However, 81.5% (101/124) did not agree that the e-prescription system resulted in a reduction in workload, and 70.2% (87/124) disagreed that the service increased patient satisfaction. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that the national e-prescription system has many benefits to healthcare employees and improves their work, particularly for patient safety, reducing medication errors, and improving the management of patient medications. The participants believe that there is a need to improve communication with prescribers, showing concern about the unavailability of some medications; thus, it is important for policymakers to encourage other pharmacy chains and suppliers to join the service to increase patient access to medications.
Assessing Spectral Analysis of Phytoconstituents and Their In Silico Interactions with Target Proteins in Plant Seed Extracts
Authors: Babu Venkatadri , Ahamed J Irshad , Paul Agastian , Ali Sajad , Rather Irfan A. , Sabir Jamal S. M.
Published: September 2023

The pharmacological and preventive attributes of extracts from vegetable seeds have garnered widespread recognition within the scientific community. This study systematically assessed the in vitro antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-breast cancer properties of phytochemicals present in various solvent-based vegetable seed extracts. We also conducted molecular docking simulations to ascertain their interactions with specific target proteins. Besides, nine distinct chemical constituents were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Remarkably, the ethyl acetate extract exhibited robust inhibitory effects against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Furthermore, its capacity for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging was found to be noteworthy, with an IC50 value of 550.82 ± 1.7 µg/mL, representing a scavenging efficiency of 64.1 ± 2.8%. Additionally, the ethyl acetate extract demonstrated significant hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activity, with a maximal scavenging rate of 44.1 ± 1.70% (IC50) at a concentration of 761.17 ± 1.8 µg/mL. Intriguingly, in vitro cytotoxicity assays against human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells revealed varying levels of cell viability at different extract concentrations, suggesting potential anticancer properties. Importantly, these ethyl acetate extracts did not display toxicity to L929 cells across the concentration range tested. Subsequently, we conducted in-silico molecular docking experiments utilizing Discovery Studio 4.0 against the c-Met kinase protein (hepatocyte growth factor; PDB ID: 1N0W). Among the various compounds assessed, 3,4-Dihydroxy-1,6-bis-(3-methoxy-phenyl)-hexa-2,4-diene-1,6-dione exhibited a notable binding energy of −9.1 kcal/mol, warranting further investigation into its potential anticancer properties, clinical applications, and broader pharmacological characteristics.
Combining SWOT with AHP for Analyzing the Adoption of a Circular Economy in the Apparel Industry in Brazil
Authors: Oliveira Rimena Canuto , Nääs Irenilza de Alencar , Garcia Solimar
Published: September 2023

The Brazilian fashion industry is the country’s second-largest generator of direct and indirect jobs. Despite Brazilian design being a world reference mainly for prints and summer-related collections, it is also the second most polluting industry in the country. We investigated the factors that impact adopting a circular economy in the textile industry using an association of a SWOT analysis and the AHP approach. We analyzed the adoption of a circular economy in the apparel industry. The opportunities, strengths, weaknesses, and threats were associated using the evaluators’ comparison of the selected SWOT items related to the application of a circular economy in the conventional apparel industry were used as criteria for the AHP approach. The case study used managers from two intimate apparel industries in northeastern Brazil and four academics in Production Engineering. By applying the concepts to the case study, we found that expanding products, upcycling, and increasing sustainability were the three vital criteria for reaching a circular economy in the studied apparel industry.
Rare Onset of Tubercular Peritonitis Amidst Chronic Renal Dysfunction
Authors: Popa Romeo , Georgescu Cristian-Corneliu , Caragea Daniel-Cosmin , Cana-Ruiu Daniela , Ene Cristina , Radu Lucretiu , Gheorman Victor , Varut Marius-Ciprian , Gheorman Veronica , Orezanu Andrei , Codea Andrei Razvan , Ghilusi Mirela , Popa Loredana-Adriana , Diaconu Magdalena
Published: September 2023

Tuberculosis Peritonitis is a serious condition, whose diagnosis is established late due to the nonspecific nature of the clinical features, which delays the performance of imaging investigations and, implicitly, the setting of the diagnosis through biopsy and histopathological examination. We report the case of a 49-year-old man who presented in our clinic with nonspecific symptoms and significant nitrogen retention, with ascites fluid detected during the clinical–paraclinical examination, ultimately confirming the diagnosis of bacillary peritonitis. Confirmation of tuberculous etiology through biopsy and/or bacteriological examination is sovereign for the diagnosis. The therapeutic protocol includes three anti-tuberculostatic drugs, for a period of at least 6 months, with or without the combination of corticosteroid therapy during the first months of treatment. The patient evolution under treatment was initially favorable, but due to peritoneal adhesions, it underwent complications later.
PSDefoPAT—Persistent Scatterer Deformation Pattern Analysis Tool
Authors: Evers Madeline , Thiele Antje , Hammer Horst , Hinz Stefan
Published: September 2023

Persistent Scatterer Deformation Pattern Analysis Tool, for short PSDefoPAT, was designed to assign each measuring point of an advanced DInSAR data set a best-fitting time series model based on its displacement time series. In this paper, we will outline the operating principles of the tool. The periodic and trend components of a time series model are separately determined based on hypothesis tests. The periodic component is fitted as a sine function, and for the trend component, linear, quadratic, and piecewise linear regression models are considered. Additionally, the tool assesses the goodness-of-fit for each model in the form of the adjusted coefficient of determination Radj2 value. The tool works fully automatically and thus facilitates the analysis of large data sets, which are becoming more available to the public due to services such as the European Ground Motion Service. Additionally, we demonstrate the capabilities of PSDefoPAT using four case studies characterized by different deformation mechanisms, various extents of active deformation area, and varying density of measuring points. In all cases, we successfully reveal information on the temporal behavior of the deformation not apparent in the typically presented mean deformation velocity maps.
T5 for Hate Speech, Augmented Data, and Ensemble
Authors: Adewumi Tosin , Sabry Sana Sabah , Abid Nosheen , Liwicki Foteini , Liwicki Marcus
Published: September 2023

We conduct relatively extensive investigations of automatic hate speech (HS) detection using different State-of-The-Art (SoTA) baselines across 11 subtasks spanning six different datasets. Our motivation is to determine which of the recent SoTA models is best for automatic hate speech detection and what advantage methods, such as data augmentation and ensemble, may have on the best model, if any. We carry out six cross-task investigations. We achieve new SoTA results on two subtasks—macro F1 scores of 91.73% and 53.21% for subtasks A and B of the HASOC 2020 dataset, surpassing previous SoTA scores of 51.52% and 26.52%, respectively. We achieve near-SoTA results on two others—macro F1 scores of 81.66% for subtask A of the OLID 2019 and 82.54% for subtask A of the HASOC 2021, in comparison to SoTA results of 82.9% and 83.05%, respectively. We perform error analysis and use two eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) algorithms (Integrated Gradient (IG) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP)) to reveal how two of the models (Bi-Directional Long Short-Term Memory Network (Bi-LSTM) and Text-to-Text-Transfer Transformer (T5)) make the predictions they do by using examples. Other contributions of this work are: (1) the introduction of a simple, novel mechanism for correcting Out-of-Class (OoC) predictions in T5, (2) a detailed description of the data augmentation methods, and (3) the revelation of the poor data annotations in the HASOC 2021 dataset by using several examples and XAI (buttressing the need for better quality control). We publicly release our model checkpoints and codes to foster transparency.
Masculinity and the Questions of “Is” and “Ought”: Revisiting the Definition of the Notion of Masculinity Itself
Authors: Arandjelović Ognjen
Published: September 2023

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) lists 1571 as the year of the first recorded use of the English word ‘masculinity’; the Ancient Greek α˘νδρϵι´α¯ (andreia), usually translated as ‘courage’, was also used to refer to manliness. The notion of manliness or masculinity is undoubtedly older still. Yet, despite this seeming familiarity, not only is the notion proving to be highly elusive, its understanding by the society being in a constant flux, but is also one which is at the root of bitter division and confrontation, and which has tangible and far-reaching real-world effects. At the same time, while masculinity has been attracting an increasing amount of attention in academia, the large body of published work seldom goes to the very foundations of the issue, failing to explicitly and with clarity reach a consensus as to how masculinity ought to be understood. Herein, I critique the leading contemporary thought, showing it to be poorly conceived and confounded, and often lacking in substance which would raise it to the level of the actionable and constructive. Hence, I propose an alternative view which is void of the observed deficiencies, and discuss how its adoption would facilitate a conciliation between the currently warring factions, focusing everybody’s efforts on addressing the actual ethical, deconfounded of specious distractions.
Human Health Risk Assessment of Arsenic and Other Metals in Herbal Products Containing St. John’s Wort in the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City
Authors: Rojas Patricia , Ruiz-Sánchez Elizabeth , Rojas Carolina , García-Martínez Betzabeth A. , López-Ramírez Arely M. , Osorio-Rico Laura , Ríos Camilo , Reséndiz-Albor Aldo Arturo
Published: September 2023

Consumption of St. John’s wort plant is high worldwide due to its various medicinal properties. However, herbal products containing St. John’s wort may be contaminated with toxic metals. This is often related to contamination of both water and the atmosphere, lack of proper cultivation methods, and inadequate plant storage conditions, as well as a lack of stricter sanitary supervision. A safety assessment of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) content in 23 products containing St. John’s wort (pharmaceutical herbal products, food supplements and traditional herbal remedies) sold in the metropolitan area of Mexico City was conducted. The analysis of metals was determined using a graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. All herbal products were contaminated with Cu, Pb, Cd and As. The pharmaceutical herbal items showed less contamination by metals. The daily human intake (DHI) values for Pb exceeded the permissible limits in the group of traditional herbal remedies. The DHI calculation for As exceeded the permitted intake values for all items in the group of traditional herbal remedies, five food supplements and one pharmaceutical herbal product. The hazard indicator calculation of the non-carcinogenic cumulative risk values for traditional herbal remedies was greater than 1, suggesting a risk to human health.
Mapping and Assessment of Housing Informality Using Object-Based Image Analysis: A Review
Authors: Mudau Naledzani , Mhangara Paidamwoyo
Published: September 2023

Research on the detection of informal settlements has increased in the past three decades owing to the availability of high- to very-high-spatial-resolution satellite imagery. The achievement of development goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, requires access to up-to-date information on informal settlements. This review provides an overview of studies that used object-based image analysis (OBIA) techniques to detect informal settlements using remotely sensed data. This paper focuses on three main aspects: image processing steps followed when detecting informal settlements using OBIA; informal settlement indicators and image-based proxies used to detect informal settlements; and a review of studies that extracted and analyzed informal settlement land use objects. The success of OBIA in detecting informal settlements depends on the understanding and selection of informal settlement indicators and image-based proxies used during image classification. To meet the local ontology of informal settlements, the transfer of OBIA mapping techniques requires the fine-tuning of the rulesets. Machine learning OBIA techniques using image proxies derived from multiple sensors increase the opportunities for detecting informal settlements on the city or national level.
Intention, Motivation, and Empowerment: Factors Associated with Seasonal Influenza Vaccination among Healthcare Workers (HCWs)
Authors: Bellali Thalia , Liamopoulou Polyxeni , Karavasileiadou Savvato , Almadani Noura , Galanis Petros , Kritsotakis George , Manomenidis Georgios
Published: September 2023

Background: Vaccination against seasonal influenza has proven effective in preventing nosocomial influenza outbreaks among hospital patients and healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aims to explore the intention, motivation, and empowerment toward vaccination and vaccination advocacy as contributing factors for seasonal influenza vaccination in HCWs. Methods: A cross-sectional study in eight secondary hospitals in Greece was conducted from March to May 2022. An anonymous questionnaire was enclosed in an envelope and distributed to all participants, including questions on vaccine behavior and the MoVac-flu and MoVad scales. Results: A total of 296 participants completed the questionnaire. In multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders, increased age, intention score, MoVac-flu scale score, and the presence of chronic diseases were significant predictors of influenza vaccination this year, while increased age, intention score, and presence of chronic diseases were predictors of vaccination every year. Conclusion: Vaccination uptake is simultaneously affected by logical cognitive processes (intention), together with factors related to motivation and empowerment in distinct self-regulatory domains such as value, impact, knowledge, and autonomy. Interventions focused on these identified predictors may be used as a guide to increase HCWs’ vaccination rates.
Dancing toward Well-Being: Effects on Mood and Well-Being of a 12-Week Flamenco Dance Workshop in Women Aged 60–80 Years
Authors: León-Rubio José M. , Rivera-Rodríguez Carmen , León-Pérez Jose M. , Sepúlveda Carlos , Cantero-Sánchez Francisco J.
Published: September 2023

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a flamenco dance program on the mood and subjective well-being of 34 self-selected women from the community, aged between 62 and 79 years. The mean age was 70.11 (SD = 5.13). Participants voluntarily enrolled in a 12-week flamenco dance workshop conducted by the Autoestima Flamenca Association, with one two-hour session per week. Every two weeks, mood measurements (sadness, anxiety, anger and joy) were taken, and subjective well-being assessments were conducted before and after each session. It was found that the participants’ overall mood and subjective well-being improved significantly following the intervention. These improvements were observed at both the individual and group levels. Overall, our findings suggest that participation in a free 12-week flamenco dance program had a positive impact on mood and subjective well-being in this segment of the population.
PELAKSANAAN PENGANGKATAN ANAK YANG MENYEBABKAN PEMUTUSAN HUBUNGAN NASAB DENGAN ORANG TUA KANDUNG DITINJAU DARI PERATURAN PEMERINTAH NOMOR 54 TAHUN 2007 TENTANG PELAKSANAAN PENGANGKATAN ANAK (STUDI DI DESA TANJUNG MEDAN, KABUPATEN LABUHAN BATU SELATAN)
Authors: Santi Darnedy Kurnia , Devi A T.Keizerina , Sembiring Idha Aprilyana , - Yefrizawati
Published: September 2023

Adoption of a child is the transfer of a child from biological parents to adoptive parents, where the responsibility of the biological parents also shifts to the person who adopted him. However, there are discrepancies in the adoption process as happened in the Tanjung Medan Village area, South Labuhanbatu Regency, in this case there are people who adopt as many as 14 families, there are 5 families who take action to terminate the kinship relationship between the child's biological parents. with his son. This is of course not in accordance with Government Regulation Number 54 of 2007 concerning the Implementation of Child Adoption. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the process of implementing child adoption in Tanjung Medan Village, South Labuhanbatu Regency was in accordance with PP Number 54 of 2007, to determine the cause of the termination of kinship relations with biological parents during the adoption process that occurred in Tanjung Medan Village, Kabupaten Tanjung Medan. Labuhanbatu Selatan, and to find out that the legal protection for adopted children is not in accordance with the adoption process as regulated in PP number 54 of 2007. This research method uses a normative juridical approach and an empirical juridical approach. The data used are primary data and secondary data. All data were analyzed by qualitative data analysis method. Based on research, the implementation of child adoption in Tanjung Medan Village is currently not in accordance with Government Regulation Number 54 of 2007 concerning the Implementation of Child Adoption, therefore there is a need for cooperation between the village head and parents who want to adopt children to be given counseling about the implementation adoption of children in accordance with statutory regulations.
URGENSI KEBIJAKAN DISKRESI DAN FISKAL GUNA MENYELAMATKAN APBN DALAM KONDISI PANDEMI COVID-19
Authors: Glica Aini S Firstnandiar , Rohman Khaidar
Published: September 2023

Research in this journal will discuss the urgency of discretionary policies and fiscal policies made by the Government in an effort to save the state budget in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic conditions. As we know, the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic affected all sectors, including the country's economic sector. State expenditure increases because the health sector requires a lot of facilities, while state income decreases because many businesses or MSMEs or tourist attractions are quiet and slumped. This journal will examine how discretionary policies are made in a short and concrete time for precarious conditions, while fiscal policies are to regulate the running of the economy and state finances.
HAK RESTITUSI SEBAGAI PERLINDUNGAN TERHADAP KORBAN TINDAK PIDANA PADA LEMBAGA PERLINDUNGAN SAKSI DAN KORBAN
Authors: Asafari Budi , Hakim Fauzan
Published: September 2023

Providing rights to individuals affected by criminal offenses is imperative for a government that upholds the tenets of legal definiteness and equity. The function of the law is twofold: firstly, to serve as a deterrent for those who engage in criminal acts, and secondly, to provide recourse to victims of such acts, as outlined in Law Number 31 of 2014, amending Law Number 13 of 2006. The present study examines and evaluates victims' entitlement to restitution in the event of criminal activity, as prescribed by Law Number 31 of 2014, about safeguarding both witnesses and victims. The present investigation endeavors to analyze the implementation of the victim's entitlement to reparation following a criminal offense perpetrated by the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK). This study pertains to normative juridical research that scrutinizes the positive legal norms inherent in legislation about allocating restitution rights to criminal act victims within the Witness and Victim Protection Agency. This study employs a descriptive analysis methodology and a functional approach to compare the legal concept of restitution rights. The former focuses on providing a detailed account of the concept. At the same time, the latter involves an examination of the laws and regulations governing it to assess the extent of similarity in their functions.
Implementation of Design Thinking Methods in Information Systems Academic Guidance at the Information Systems Department Faculty of Computer Science Sriwijaya University
Authors: Kelana Nurullah Marina , Heroza Rahmat Izwan
Published: September 2023

During their study period, one of the programs provided to students is academic guidance. Academic mentoring is an activity where students consult academic supervisors which aim to help students plan studies and solve study problems, one example is the academic mentoring program at the Information Systems Department, Faculty of Computer Science, Sriwijaya University. However, in practice there are problems experienced by students but they are not detected from the start because of the low monitoring of their academic supervisors which causes delays in graduation. This study aims to produce a prototype design of the Academic Guidance Information System so that it can be used as a platform for monitoring student guidance. The method used is the design thinking method which has 5 stages, namely empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test. At the ideate and prototype stages, the Fogg Behavior Model theory is used as a reference material. Evaluation of the prototype design results using the Maze Design usability tool. Testing uses two test methods, namely the Mission Usability Score (MIUS), Maze Usability Score (MAUS) and System Usability Score (SUS). The MIUS and MAUS tests got a score of 78 and entered the medium/marginal characteristics. The SUS calculation gets a score of 90.25 which leads to the acceptable category with a grade scale (A). The test results were carried out with 1 test iteration to 20 respondents and showed that the design had met the feasibility standard.
Keywords : Information Systems, Academic Guidance, Design Thinking Methods, Fogg Behavior Model, Maze Design.