bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease as a Marker of Hypertension Target Organ Damage in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ajayi Samuel O. , Ekrikpo Udeme E. , Ekanem Anyiekere M. , Raji Yemi R. , Ogah Okechukwu S. , Ojji Dike B. , Okpechi-Samuel Ugochi S. , Ndlovu Kwazi C. Z. , Bello Aminu K. , Okpechi Ikechi G.
Published: October 2021

Introduction. Hypertension is a major global cause of cardiovascular disease and death with rising worldwide prevalence, particularly in low-income countries. With low awareness, poor treatment, and low control of hypertension in Africans, there is an increased number of patients with target organ damage (TOD), especially chronic kidney disease (CKD), as a consequence of hypertension. The aim of our study is to assess the prevalence of CKD from studies in Africa reporting TOD related to hypertension. Methods. We performed a search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and African Journals Online (AJOL) for studies reporting on CKD as TOD in patients with hypertension. The pooled estimate of CKD was then presented by subregions, age group, eGFR equations, and urban or rural location. Results. We identified 1,334 articles from which 12 studies were included for quantitative analysis. The studies included 5297 participants from 6 countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa). The pooled prevalence of CKD was 17.8% (95% CI 13.0–23.3%), and CKD was significantly more prevalent in West Africa (21.3% (95% CI: 16.1–27.0);

p
<
0.0001

) and in studies conducted in urban settings (

p
<
0.001

). CKD prevalence was not significantly different by type of GFR equation or age. Conclusion. This study reports a high prevalence of CKD related to hypertension with a higher prevalence in urban than rural areas. This emphasizes the role of hypertension in causing kidney damage, and the need for strategies to improve awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Africans. This study is registered with PROSPERO registration number CRD42018089263.
Contribution of Medical Wards Contamination to Wound Infection among Patients Attending Ruhengeri Referral Hospital
Authors: Munyeshyaka Emmanuel , Cyuzuzo Parfait , Yadufashije Callixte , Karemera John
Published: October 2021

Nosocomial infections or hospital-acquired infections are infections that potentially occur in the patients under medical care. These infections are often caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens acquired via improper antibiotic use, not following infection control and prevention procedures. The main objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of medical wards contamination to wound infection and antibiotics susceptibility patterns at Ruhengeri Referral Hospital, Musanze district, Rwanda. This was a cross-sectional study where a total of 61 samples including air sampling to evaluate the contamination by airborne bacteria, working surface, equipment, and patients’ surgical wounds swabs were collected in intensive care unit (ICU), pediatrics, and surgery departments. Culture, Gram stain, and biochemical tests were performed for microbiological isolation and identification. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22 was used for data analysis. Gram-negative bacteria were frequently from surgery, pediatric, and ICU with 68.8%, 63.9%, and 31.1%, respectively, while Gram-positive isolates were 37.7% in surgery, 32.9% in pediatric, and 18.0% in ICU. There was a statistically significant association with E. coli and swabbed materials and surgical wound sites (x2 = 10.0253,

P

value = 0.018). All bacterial contaminants were sensitive to clindamycin and erythromycin. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus were resistant to nitrofurantoin. Hospital environment could be a contributing factor to surgical wound site infections. Hospitals should apply preventive measures in the hospital environment surrounding wound surgery patients to prevent wound infections during hospital stay.
Discrimination of Geographical Origin of Unroasted Kernels Argan Oil (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) Using Tocopherols and Chemometrics
Authors: Elgadi Sara , Ouhammou Ahmed , Zine Hamza , Maata Nadia , Aitlhaj Abderrahmane , El Allali Hassan , El Antari Abderraouf
Published: October 2021

Valorisation of Argan oil requires the precise identification of different provenances markers. The concentration of tocopherol is regarded as one of the essential parameters that certifies the quality and purity of Argan oil. In this study, 39 Argan samples from six different geographical origins (Safi, Essaouira, Agadir, Taroudant, Tiznit, and Sidi Ifni) from the central west of Morocco were collected and extracted using cold pressing. The total tocopherol amount was found to range from 783.23 to 1,271.68 mg/kg. Generally, γ-tocopherol has the highest concentration in Argan oil. It should also be noted that the geographical origin was found to have a strong effect on the amounts of all tocopherol homologues studied. Principal component analysis of tocopherol concentrations highlighted a significant difference between the different provenances. The content of tocopherol has also been found to be strongly influenced by the distance from the coast and altitude, whereas no significant effect was found regarding other ecological parameters. The prediction ability of the LDA models was 87.2%. The highest correct classification was revealed in coastal provenances (100%), and the lowest values were from the continental ones (71.4%). These results provide the basis for determining the geographical origins of Argan oil production with well-defined characteristics to increase the product’s value and the income of local populations. In addition, this study provides a very promising basis for developing Argan varieties with a high content of tocopherol homologues, as well as contributing to the traceability and protection of Argan oil’s geographical indication.
Childhood Allergy Disease, Early Diagnosis, and the Potential of Salivary Protein Biomarkers
Authors: Zainal N. H. M. , Abas R. , Mohamad Asri S. F.
Published: October 2021

Allergic disease has risen to epidemic proportions since the last decade and is among the most common noncommunicable, chronic diseases in children and adolescents worldwide. Allergic disease usually occurs in early life; thus, early biomarkers of allergic susceptibility are required for preventive measures to high-risk infants which enable early interventions to decrease allergic severity. However, to date, there is no reliable general or specific allergy phenotype detection method that is easy and noninvasive for children. Most reported allergic phenotype detection methods are invasive, such as the skin prick test (SPT), oral food challenge (OFC), and blood test, and many involve not readily accessible biological samples, such as cord blood (CB), maternal blood, or newborn vernix. Saliva is a biological sample that has great potential as a biomarker measurement as it consists of an abundance of biomarkers, such as genetic material and proteins. It is easily accessible, noninvasive, collected via a painless procedure, and an easy bedside screening for real-time measurement of the ongoing human physiological system. All these advantages emphasise saliva as a very promising diagnostic candidate for the detection and monitoring of disease biomarkers, especially in children. Furthermore, protein biomarkers have the advantages as modifiable influencing factors rather than genetic and epigenetic factors that are mostly nonmodifiable factors for allergic disease susceptibility in childhood. Saliva has great potential to replace serum as a biological fluid biomarker in diagnosing clinical allergy. However, to date, saliva is not considered as an established medically acceptable biomarker. This review considers whether the saliva could be suitable biological samples for early detection of allergic risk. Such tools may be used as justification for targeted interventions in early childhood for disease prevention and assisting in reducing morbidity and mortality caused by childhood allergy.
Modification of Low‐Density Slag Cementing Slurry with SiC Whiskers at High Temperature
Authors: Fu Hongqiong , Guo Xiaoyang , Zhou Ping , Yan Ping , Zheng Youzhi , Liu Lu , Wu Jie , Li Ming
Published: October 2021

The aim of this study was to improve the mechanical properties of a slag solidified body at high temperatures. Composite materials with different contents of SiC whiskers were prepared and characterized using techniques such as mechanical testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). When the SiC whisker addition is 1% mass percentage, the compressive and tensile strength of the slag solidified body after hydration for 7 days increased by 10.2% and 39.3%, respectively, and Young’s modulus decreased by 16.8%. The results show that the addition of SiC whiskers can enhance the mechanical properties of solidified slag bodies at high temperatures. According to the test results, the hydration products of the slag solidified body mainly consist of honeycomb tobermorite (C‐S‐H) gel at high temperatures in addition to a small number of spherical products. The spheres are connected to form a dense structure; however, noticeable cracks were present. The addition of SiC whiskers effectively inhibited the initiation and further development of microcracks and improved the bearing capacity of the slag solidified body.
Application Effect of Medical Care Integration Combined with Family Intervention under the Evidence-Based Nursing Mode on Child Patients with Severe Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease and Its Influence on Intestinal Function
Authors: Zhang Zhaofang , Dong Mei , Han Yuejiao , Lin Hui , Li Anying , Wang Na , Zhang Xia
Published: October 2021

Objective. To explore the application effect of medical care integration combined with family intervention under the evidence-based nursing mode on child patients with severe hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) and its influence on intestinal function. Methods. 120 child patients with severe HFMD admitted to Qilu Children’s Hospital of Shandong University from January 2019 to January 2020 were selected as the research object and randomly divided into group A and group B, with 60 cases each. Conventional nursing was performed on patients in group B, and medical care integration combined with family intervention under the evidence-based nursing mode was performed on patients in group A. Patients were assessed after the intervention using the hospital-made treatment adherence scale, PedsQLTM 4.0 (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0) scale, and the faces pain scale-revised (FPS-R). The levels of gastrointestinal function indicators such as serum endotoxin (ET), diamine oxidase (DAO), and d-lactic acid (D-LA) were measured before and after the intervention, and recovery such as time to clear fever and time to relief of oral pain were recorded in both groups. Results. Children in group A had significantly higher compliance in diet, behaviour, exercise, and medication than group B (

P
<
0.05

); the time to clear fever, time to relief of oral pain, time to healing of oral ulcers, time to relief of skin herpes, time to hospitalization, and time to eating were shorter in group A than those in group B (

P
<
0.001

); all scores on the PedsQLTM 4.0 scale were higher in group A than those in group B after the intervention (

P
<
0.001

); ET, DAO, and D-LA levels decreased in both groups after the intervention, with group A having lower levels than group B (

P
<
0.001

), in addition, group A had lower eating pain scores after the intervention (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. Medical care integration combined with family intervention under the evidence-based nursing mode can effectively improve the treatment compliance of child patients with severe HFMD, accelerate their recovery progress, ensure a better prognostic quality of life and gastrointestinal tract function, and reduce the eating pain, indicating that such comprehensive nursing intervention mode should be promoted in practice.
Role of miRNA-495 and NRXN-1 and CNTN-1 mRNA Expression and Its Prognostic Importance in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Alkhathami Ali G. , Verma Amit Kumar , Alfaifi Mohammed , Kumar Lalit , Alshahrani Mohammad Yahya , Hakami Abdulrahim R. , Alshehri Osama M. , Asiri Mohammed , Ali Beg Mirza Masroor
Published: October 2021

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease in which genetic factors are involved in disease worsening and higher mortality. Epidemiological and clinical research revealed that breast cancer incidence continues to rise. 100 histopathologically confirmed untreated newly diagnosed cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast and 100 healthy subjects were involved and blood samples were collected in non-EDTA plain vials. Serum was separated by centrifugation, total RNA was extracted from serum, and cDNA synthesis was done to study the miRNA-495 and neurexin-1 (NRXN-1) and contactin 1 (CNTN-1) mRNA expression by QRT-PCR. The expression levels of miRNA-495, NRXN-1, and CNTN-1 were expressed in fold change. The present study observed decreased relative miRNA-495 expression (0.07-fold) while an increase in NRXN-1 (11.61-fold) and CNTN-1 (4.92-fold) was observed among breast cancer patients compared to healthy controls. A significant difference was observed in miRNA-495 expression with menopausal status (

p
=
0.0001

) and TNM stages (

p
=
0.02

). It was observed that NRXN-1 expression was significantly associated with menopausal status (

p
=
0.03

), lymph node involvement (

p
<
0.0001

), estrogen receptor (ER) status (

p
=
0.03

), progesterone receptor (PR) status (

p
=
0.005

), TNM stages (

p
<
0.0001

), and distant metastases (

p
<
0.0001

). CNTN-1 expression was also found to be associated with lymph node involvement (

p
=
0.01

), PR status (

p
=
0.03

), HER2 status (

p
=
0.04

), TNM stages (

p
<
0.0001

), and distant metastases (

p
<
0.0001

). ROC suggested that NRXN-1 and CNTN-1 could be the important predictive marker for disease advancement and distant organ metastases. The study concluded that the decreased expression of miR-495 observed in breast cancer patients showed a negative correlation with NRXN-1 while the increased expression of NRXN-1 and CNTN-1 was linked with disease advancement and distant metastases and could be the important predictive marker for breast cancer patients.
Image Network Teaching Resource Retrieval Algorithm Based on Deep Hash Algorithm
Authors: Zhao Guotao , Ding Jie
Published: October 2021

In order to improve the retrieval ability of multiview attribute coded image network teaching resources, a retrieval algorithm of image network teaching resources based on depth hash algorithm is proposed. The pixel big data detection model of the multiview attribute coding image network teaching resources is constructed, the pixel information collected by the multiview attribute coding image network teaching resources is reconstructed, the fuzzy information feature components of the multiview attribute coding image are extracted, and the edge contour distribution image is combined. The distributed fusion result of the edge contour of the view image of the network teaching resources realizes the construction of the view feature parameter set. The gray moment invariant feature analysis method is used to realize information coding, the depth hash algorithm is used to realize the retrieval of multiview attribute coded image network teaching resources, and the information recombination is realized according to the hash coding result of multiview attribute coded image network teaching resources, thus improving the fusion. The simulation results show that this method has higher precision, better retrieval precision, and higher level of resource fusion for multiview coded image network teaching resource retrieval.
Parallel Mapping and Catheter Ablation of Polymorphic Premature Ventricular Contractions: A New Feature for Activation Mapping
Authors: Nies Moritz , Schleberger Ruben , Dinshaw Leon , Rillig Andreas , Metzner Andreas , Meyer Christian
Published: October 2021

We report the case of an 80-year-old female presenting with polymorphic premature ventricular contractions, nonischemic cardiomyopathy, and severe, secondary mitral regurgitation. Despite a low intraprocedural PVC burden, activation mapping and successful ablation of different morphologies were achieved using a novel mapping tool, which facilitates simultaneous mapping of different PVC morphologies.
Functional Precision Medicine Provides Clinical Benefit in Advanced Aggressive Hematologic Cancers and Identifies Exceptional Responders
Authors: Kornauth Christoph , Pemovska Tea , Vladimer Gregory I. , Bayer Günther , Bergmann Michael , Eder Sandra , Eichner Ruth , Erl Martin , Esterbauer Harald , Exner Ruth , Felsleitner-Hauer Verena , Forte Maurizio , Gaiger Alexander , Geissler Klaus , Greinix Hildegard T. , Gstöttner Wolfgang , Hacker Marcus , Hartmann Bernd Lorenz , Hauswirth Alexander W. , Heinemann Tim , Heintel Daniel , Hoda Mir Alireza , Hopfinger Georg , Jaeger Ulrich , Kazianka Lukas , Kenner Lukas , Kiesewetter Barbara , Krall Nikolaus , Krajnik Gerhard , Kubicek Stefan , Le Trang , Lubowitzki Simone , Mayerhoefer Marius E. , Menschel Elisabeth , Merkel Olaf , Miura Katsuhiro , Müllauer Leonhard , Neumeister Peter , Noesslinger Thomas , Ocko Katharina , Öhler Leopold , Panny Michael , Pichler Alexander , Porpaczy Edit , Prager Gerald W. , Raderer Markus , Ristl Robin , Ruckser Reinhard , Salamon Julius , Schiefer Ana-Iris , Schmolke Ann-Sofie , Schwarzinger Ilse , Selzer Edgar , Sillaber Christian , Skrabs Cathrin , Sperr Wolfgang R. , Srndic Ismet , Thalhammer Renate , Valent Peter , van der Kouwe Emiel , Vanura Katrina , Vogt Stefan , Waldstein Cora , Wolf Dominik , Zielinski Christoph C. , Zojer Niklas , Simonitsch-Klupp Ingrid , Superti-Furga Giulio , Snijder Berend , Staber Philipp B.
Published: October 2021

Personalized medicine aims to match the right drug with the right patient by using specific features of the individual patient's tumor. However, current strategies of personalized therapy matching provide treatment opportunities for less than 10% of patients with cancer. A promising method may be drug profiling of patient biopsy specimens with single-cell resolution to directly quantify drug effects. We prospectively tested an image-based single-cell functional precision medicine (scFPM) approach to guide treatments in 143 patients with advanced aggressive hematologic cancers. Fifty-six patients (39%) were treated according to scFPM results. At a median follow-up of 23.9 months, 30 patients (54%) demonstrated a clinical benefit of more than 1.3-fold enhanced progression-free survival compared with their previous therapy. Twelve patients (40% of responders) experienced exceptional responses lasting three times longer than expected for their respective disease. We conclude that therapy matching by scFPM is clinically feasible and effective in advanced aggressive hematologic cancers.

Significance:

This is the first precision medicine trial using a functional assay to instruct n-of-one therapies in oncology. It illustrates that for patients lacking standard therapies, high-content assay-based scFPM can have a significant value in clinical therapy guidance based on functional dependencies of each patient's cancer.

See related commentary by Letai, p. 290.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 275
Multiomic Profiling of Central Nervous System Leukemia Identifies mRNA Translation as a Therapeutic Target
Authors: Vanner Robert J. , Dobson Stephanie M. , Gan Olga I. , McLeod Jessica , Schoof Erwin M. , Grandal Ildiko , Wintersinger Jeff A. , Garcia-Prat Laura , Hosseini Mohsen , Xie Stephanie Z. , Jin Liqing , Mbong Nathan , Voisin Veronique , Chan-Seng-Yue Michelle , Kennedy James A. , Waanders Esmé , Morris Quaid , Porse Bo , Chan Steven M. , Guidos Cynthia J. , Danska Jayne S. , Minden Mark D. , Mullighan Charles G. , Dick John E.
Published: October 2021

Central nervous system (CNS) dissemination of B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) has poor prognosis and remains a therapeutic challenge. Here we performed targeted DNA sequencing as well as transcriptional and proteomic profiling of paired leukemia-infiltrating cells in the bone marrow (BM) and CNS of xenografts. Genes governing mRNA translation were upregulated in CNS leukemia, and subclonal genetic profiling confirmed this in both BM-concordant and BM-discordant CNS mutational populations. CNS leukemia cells were exquisitely sensitive to the translation inhibitor omacetaxine mepesuccinate, which reduced xenograft leptomeningeal disease burden. Proteomics demonstrated greater abundance of secreted proteins in CNS-infiltrating cells, including complement component 3 (C3), and drug targeting of C3 influenced CNS disease in xenografts. CNS-infiltrating cells also exhibited selection for stemness traits and metabolic reprogramming. Overall, our study identifies targeting of mRNA translation as a potential therapeutic approach for B-ALL leptomeningeal disease.

Significance:

Cancer metastases are often driven by distinct subclones with unique biological properties. Here we show that in B-ALL CNS disease, the leptomeningeal environment selects for cells with unique functional dependencies. Pharmacologic inhibition of mRNA translation signaling treats CNS disease and offers a new therapeutic approach for this condition.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1
Effects of Low-Volume, High-Intensity Interval Training Compared with Continuous Training on Regional and Global Body Composition in Adults with Metabolic Syndrome: A post hoc Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Aristizabal Juan Carlos , Montoya Esperanza , Sánchez Yeliana L. , Yepes-Calderón Manuela , Narvaez-Sanchez Raul , Gallo-Villegas Jaime A. , Calderón Juan C.
Published: October 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of low-volume, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on body composition in adults with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of the randomized clinical trial Intraining-MET. Sixty adults (40–60 years old) were randomized to an MICT (n = 31) or HIIT (n = 29) supervised programme 3 days/week for 12 weeks. MICT sessions were conducted for 36 min at 60% of peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak). HIIT sessions included 6 intervals at 90% VO2peak for 1 min, followed by 2 min at 50% VO2peak. Body composition was assessed with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: Body weight did not change from pre- to post-training in either MICT (78.9 ± 15.6 kg; 77.7 ± 16.5 kg, p = 0.280) or HIIT groups (76.3 ± 13.4 kg; 76.3 ± 13.7 kg, p = 0.964). Body fat percentage and fat mass (FM) decreased post-training in the MICT (−0.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.27 to −1.47 and −0.7 kg; 95% CI: −0.12 to −1.30) and HIIT groups (−1.0%; 95% CI: −0.32 to −1.68 and −0.8 kg; 95% CI: −0.17 to −1.47). Compared to the HIIT programme, MICT significantly reduced android FM (−0.14 kg; 95% CI: −0.02 to −0.26). Lean mass (LM) increased post-training in MICT (+0.7 kg; 95% CI: 0.01–1.41) and HIIT groups (+0.9 kg; 95% CI: 0.12–1.64), but only HIIT increased the trunk LM (+0.6 kg; 95% CI: 0.06–1.20). Conclusions: Both MICT and HIIT reduced FM without changing body weight in adults with MS. MICT had additional benefits by reducing the android FM, whereas HIIT seemed to increase LM. Given the characteristics of the post hoc analysis, further research is required to confirm these results.
Hirayama Disease in a Patient with a History of Late-Onset Symptomatic Vein of Galen Aneurysmal Malformation
Authors: Ashour Mohammed , Fortin Olivier , Parent Line , Sébire Guillaume , Saint-Martin Christine , Poulin Chantal , Dudley Roy
Published: October 2021

Introduction: The purpose of this report is to present a rare case of Hirayama disease (HD) in a patient with a history of late-onset symptomatic vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM). This report may provide new insights into the pathophysiology of HD, a rare disorder consisting of insidious onset of unilateral weakness and atrophy of the forearm and intrinsic hand muscles. These symptoms are believed to result from cervical myelopathy affecting the anterior horn cells due to abnormal compressive forces on the spinal cord from adjacent anatomical structures (i.e., dura and/or epidural veins), but this has not been proven. VGAM is a rare congenital cerebral vascular malformation, consisting of high-flow arteriovenous shunting between a persistent median prosencephalic vein and arterial feeders, which most frequently presents in the early neonatal period with congestive heart failure. Case Presentation: We report the case of an otherwise healthy boy who presented with heart failure due to VGAM at 7 years and subsequently presented at 14 years with left-sided HD. His cervical MRI with neck flexion revealed enlarged epidural veins at the C5–C6 spinal level with anterior, leftward displacement of the posterior dura and spinal cord as well as left hemicord flattening and/or atrophy at this level. He underwent successful surgical treatment by C5–C6–C7 osteoplastic laminotomies and tenting and expansile autologous duraplasty, during which enlarged, engorged epidural veins were confirmed and coagulated. This halted the progression of his left hand weakness and atrophy and allowed significant functional improvement. Postoperative catheter angiogram showed no anatomical connection between the persistent VGAM and the engorged epidural veins, and genetic testing revealed no genetic predisposition of vascular malformations. Discussion/Conclusion: In this patient, a combined surgical technique was performed that included epidural venous plexus coagulation with posterior autologous duraplasty and dural fixation using tenting sutures. This combined approach led to a favorable clinical and radiographic outcome with no complications or limitations and has not been previously proposed in the literature, to our knowledge. Although not completely ruled out, we found no angiographic connection or genetic predisposition to suggest there is a pathophysiological link between HD and VGAM.
Targeting the Non-Coding Genome for the Diagnosis of Disorders of Sex Development
Authors: Atlas Gabby , Sreenivasan Rajini , Sinclair Andrew
Published: October 2021

Disorders of sex development (DSD) are a complex group of conditions with highly variable clinical phenotypes, most often caused by failure of gonadal development. DSD are estimated to occur in around 1.7% of all live births. Whilst the understanding of genes involved in gonad development has increased exponentially, approximately 50% of patients with a DSD remain without a genetic diagnosis, possibly implicating non-coding genomic regions instead. Here, we review how variants in the non-coding genome of DSD patients can be identified using techniques such as array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to detect copy number variants (CNVs), and more recently, whole genome sequencing (WGS). Once a CNV in a patient’s non-coding genome is identified, putative regulatory elements such as enhancers need to be determined within these vast genomic regions. We will review the available online tools and databases that can be used to refine regions with potential enhancer activity based on chromosomal accessibility, histone modifications, transcription factor binding site analysis, chromatin conformation, and disease association. We will also review the current in vitro and in vivo techniques available to demonstrate the functionality of the identified enhancers. The review concludes with a clinical update on the enhancers linked to DSD.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Outer Retinal Layers in Patients with Epiretinal Membranes
Authors: Fleissig Efrat , Sigford Douglas Kenneth , Sandhu Harpal Singh , Barr Charles C.
Published: October 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the long-term effect of observed epiretinal membranes on the outer retinal layers and visual acuity. Methods: It is a retrospective observational study. Subjects with an epiretinal membrane and consecutive optical coherence tomography scans were followed for changes in visual acuity, central macular thickness, ellipsoid zone loss, and outer foveal thickness (OFT). Results: The study consisted of 24 eyes of 22 patients, with a mean follow-up of 5 ± 1.6 years. The mean visual acuity was slightly worse at the last follow-up (0.22 ± 0.36 LogMAR [20/33] vs. 0.27 ± 0.36 LogMAR [20/36], p = 0.05). Ellipsoid zone loss was found in 37.5% of eyes. Vision loss was associated with initial size of ellipsoid disruption (p = 0.048) and age (p = 0.027). A decrease in OFT was associated with an initially larger zone of ellipsoid disruption (p = 0.006) and an initially thicker OFT (p = 0.011). An epiretinal membrane associated with vitreomacular adhesion within 1,000 μm of the foveal center at baseline was associated with ellipsoid zone loss (p = 0.012) but not with a change in visual acuity. Conclusions: Ellipsoid zone changes were common in this study and tended to enlarge over time. Epiretinal membranes associated with vitreomacular adhesion within 1,000 μm of the foveal center may be a risk factor for ellipsoid zone loss.
Multi-spectral images classification based on intelligent water drops algorithm
Authors: Khaleel Almas Ahmed
Published: October 2021

Mosul's city land covers soil, cultivated land, stony, pastoral land, water, and ploughed agricultural land. We have classified multispectral images captured by the sensor (TM) carried on the Landsat satellite. Integrated approach of intelligent water drops (IWDs) algorithm is used to identify natural terrain. In this research, IWDs have been suggested to find the best results for multispectral image classification. The purpose of using an algorithm, give accurate and fast results by comparing the IWD algorithm with the K-mean algorithm. The IWD algorithm is programmed using the Matlab2017b software environment to demonstrate the proposed methodology's effectiveness. The proposed integrated concept has been applied to satellite images of Mosul city in Iraq. By comparing the IWD with the K-mean, we found clear time superiority of the IWD algorithm, equal 1.4122 with (K-mean) time equal 18.9475. Furthermore, the water drop algorithm's classification accuracy is 95%, while the K-mean classification accuracy is 83.3%. Based on the analysis and results, we conclude the IWD is a robust promising and approach to detecting remote sensing image changes and multispectral image classification.
Forgery detection algorithm based on texture features
Authors: Ahmed Ismail Taha , Hammad Baraa Tareq , Jamil Norziana
Published: October 2021

Any researcher's goal is to improve detection accuracy with a limited feature vector dimension. Therefore, in this paper, we attempt to find and discover the best types of texture features and classifiers that are appropriate for the coarse mesh finite differenc (CMFD). Segmentation-based fractal texture analysis (SFTA), local binary pattern (LBP), and Haralick are the texture features that have been chosen. K-nearest neighbors (KNN), naïve Bayes, and Logistics are also among the classifiers chosen. SFTA, local binary pattern (LBP), and Haralick feature vector are fed to the KNN, naïve Bayes, and logistics classifier. The outcomes of the experiment indicate that the SFTA texture feature surpassed all other texture features in all classifiers, making it the best texture feature to use in forgery detection. Haralick feature has the second-best texture feature performance in all of the classifiers. The performance using the LBP feature is lower than that of the other texture features. It also shows that the KNN classifier outperformed the other two in terms of accuracy. However, among the classifiers, the logistic classifier had the lowest accuracy. The proposed SFTA based KNN method is compared to other state-of-the-art techniques in terms of feature dimension and detection accuracy. The proposed method outperforms other current techniques.
Improved fingerprinting performance in indoor positioning by reducing duration of the training phase process
Authors: Muharam Andika , Wahab Abdi , Alaydrus Mudrik
Published: October 2021

Wireless sensor network (WSN) can be used as a solution to find out the position of an object that cannot be reached by global positioning system (GPS), for example to find out the position of objects in a room known as Indoor Positioning. One method in indoor positioning that can be used is fingerprinting. Inside there are two main work phases, namely training and positioning. The training phase is the process of collecting received signal strength indication (RSSI) data levels from each sensor Node reference that will be used as a reference value for the positioning phase. The more sensor Nodes used, the longer the processing time needed in the training phase. This research focussed on the duration of the training phase, the implementation of which are used 4 sensor Nodes, namely Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4 protocol) arranged according to mesh network topology, one as Node X (positioning target) and 3 as reference Nodes. There are two methods used in the training phase, namely fixed target parameter (FTP) and moving target parameter (MTP). MTP took 5 seconds faster than FTP in terms of the duration of RSSI data collection from each reference Node. 
Analysis of IPv6 jumbogram packages transmission using jumbo frame in mikrotik-based tunneling
Authors: Hidayatullah Yahya , Marwanto Arief , Subroto Imam Much Ibnu
Published: October 2021

The validation and accuracy of internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) performance using jumbo frames is still not perfect, due to peer-to-peer connections testing within the same operating system and between operating systems. Therefore, inaccurate data test results. To mitigated, testing with a wider platform is recommended, a medium-scale network connection is proposed such as metropolitan area networks. In this works, a connection between computer devices connected by three proxy routers are made, with different IPv6 segments on each port. Then each computer device sends traffic data to each other using a traffic-generator application. The first test through three routers without tunnel connection is carried out as the first scenario to compare performance with tunnel-based testing. Three parameters have been used in this test, such as maximum transfer unit (MTU) 1500 bytes, MTU 400 bytes and MTU 9000 bytes. The results of the tests conducted show that the use of jumbo frames using a proxy is less effective, even though it produces a larger throughput when using the MTU 4000, but there is fragmentation in the packet passing through the proxy because the packet passing through the proxy is split into 1500 byte sizes.
An integrated machine learning model for indoor network optimization to maximize coverage
Authors: Reza Ahmed Wasif , Rifat Abdullah Al , Ahmed Tanvir
Published: October 2021

Indoor network optimization is not a simple task due to the obstacles, interference, and attenuation of the signal in an environment. Intense noises can affect the intelligibility of the signal and reduce the coverage strength significantly which results in a poor user experience. Most of the existing works are associated with finding the location of the devices via different mathematical and generic algorithmic approaches, but very few are focused on implying machine learning algorithms. The purpose of this research is to introduce an integrated machine learning model to find maximum indoor coverage with a minimum number of transmitters. The users in the indoor environment also have been allocated based on the most reliable signal strength and the system is also capable of allocating new users. K-means clustering, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), and Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB) have been used to provide an optimized solution. It is found that KNN, SVM, and GNB obtained maximum accuracy of 100% in some cases. However, among all the algorithms, KNN performed the best and provided an average accuracy of 93.33%. K-fold cross-validation (Kf-CV) technique has been added to validate the experimental simulations and re-evaluate the outcomes of the machine learning models.
K-affinity propagation clustering algorithm for the classification of part-time workers using the internet
Authors: Isra Asriny Novendri , Muhajir Muhammad , Andrian Devi
Published: October 2021

There has been a significant increase in the number of part-time workers in the last 3 years. Data collected from sakernas BPS showed that the number of part-time workers was 125,443,748 in the second period of 2016. This number rapidly increased in 2017, 2018 and 2019 in the same period, by 128,062,746, 131,005,641, and 133,560,880 workers. Based on the increase in the last 3 years, East Java province has the highest number of part-time workers that use the internet. This research aims to determine the number of part-time workers that use the internet by using the k-affinity propagation (K-AP) clustering. This method is used to produce the optimal number of cluster points (exemplar) is the affinity propagation (AP). Three clusters were used to determine the sum of the smallest value ratio. The result showed that clusters 1, 2, and 3 have 3, 23, and 5 members in Bondowoso, Jombang, and Surabaya districts.
Multi-label classification approach for quranic verses labeling
Authors: Adeleke Abdullahi , Samsudin Noor Azah , Abdul Rahim Mohd Hisyam , Ahmad Khalid Shamsul Kamal , Efendi Riswan
Published: October 2021

Machine learning involves the task of training systems to be able to make decisions without being explicitly programmed. Important among machine learning tasks is classification involving the process of training machines to make predictions from predefined labels. Classification is broadly categorized into three distinct groups: single-label (SL), multi-class, and multi-label (ML) classification. This research work presents an application of a multi-label classification (MLC) technique in automating Quranic verses labeling. MLC has been gaining attention in recent years. This is due to the increasing amount of works based on real-world classification problems of multi-label data. In traditional classification problems, patterns are associated with a single-label from a set of disjoint labels. However, in MLC, an instance of data is associated with a set of labels. In this paper, three standard MLC methods: binary relevance (BR), classifier chain (CC), and label powerset (LP) algorithms are implemented with four baseline classifiers: support vector machine (SVM), naïve Bayes (NB), k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), and J48. The research methodology adopts the multi-label problem transformation (PT) approach. The results are validated using six conventional performance metrics. These include: hamming loss, accuracy, one error, micro-F1, macro-F1, and avg. precision. From the results, the classifiers effectively achieved above 70% accuracy mark. Overall, SVM achieved the best results with CC and LP algorithms.
Linear equation for text cryptography using letters' coordinates
Authors: Jarjis Thamir A. , Al-Fadhili Yahya Q. I.
Published: October 2021

The linear encryption such as Caesar, mono-alphabetic are used to solve the encryption problem in different fields. This module usually encrypts any letter to exact and one corresponding letter. With advanced technologies in computers, these algorithms seem not to be high level secure. This paper proposed a secure encryption algorithm using modified linear encryption by considering the letters’ positions of the plaintext body. Two advantages the proposed algorithm has against traditional ones. First, the cryptography procedures are simple and secure. Secondly, it has higher security because of the non- ingrained nature of poly-alphabetic for substitution. Consequently, the plaintext body is considered as a 2-D matrix, such that, each letter has two coordinates, the ith and jth. These procedures depend on substituting the coordinates of the letter into a linear equation to provide a different substitution letter. The performance of these procedures showed better and robust results by applying the frequency analysis test for this proposed algorithm evaluating.
Identification of user’s credibility on twitter social networks
Authors: Ahmad Faraz , Rizvi S. A. M.
Published: October 2021

Twitter is one of the most influential social media platforms, facilitates the spreading of information in the form of text, images, and videos. However, the credibility of posted content is still trailed by an interrogation mark. Introduction: In this paper, a model has been developed for finding the user’s credibility based on the tweets which they had posted on Twitter social networks. The model consists of machine learning algorithms that assist not only in categorizing the tweets into credibility classes but also helps in finding user’s credibility ratings on the social media platform. Methods and results: The dataset and associated features of 100,000 tweets were extracted and pre-processed. Furthermore, the credibility class labelling of tweets was performed using four different human annotators. The meaning cloud and natural language understanding platforms were used for calculating the polarity, sentiment, and emotions score. The K-Means algorithm was applied for finding the clusters of tweets based on features set, whereas, random forest, support vector machine, naïve Bayes, K-nearest-neighbours (KNN), J48 decision tree, and multilayer perceptron were used for classifying the tweets into credibility classes. A significant level of accuracy, precision, and recall was provided by all the classifiers for all the given credibility classes.
Long‐Term (7‐Year) Clinical Implications of Newly Unveiled Asymptomatic Abnormal Ankle–Brachial Index in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Lee Jong‐Young , Lee Seung‐Jae , Lee Seung‐Whan , Kim Tae Oh , Yang Yujin , Jeong Yeong Jin , Park Hanbit , Lee Junghoon , Hyun Junho , Kim Ju Hyeon , Lee Pil Hyung , Kang Soo‐Jin , Kim Young‐Hak , Lee Cheol Whan , Park Seong‐Wook
Published: October 2021

Background

The long‐term impact of newly discovered, asymptomatic abnormal ankle–brachial index (ABI) in patients with significant coronary artery disease is limited.

Methods and Results

Between January 2006 and December 2009, ABI was evaluated in 2424 consecutive patients with no history of claudication or peripheral artery disease who had significant coronary artery disease. We previously reported a 3‐year result; therefore, the follow‐up period was extended. The primary end point was a composite of all‐cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke over 7 years. Of the 2424 patients with significant coronary artery disease, 385 had an abnormal ABI (ABI ≤0.9 or ≥1.4). During the follow‐up period, the rate of the primary outcome was significantly higher in the abnormal ABI group than in the normal ABI group (
P
<0.001). The abnormal ABI group had a significantly higher risk of composite of all‐cause death/MI/stroke than the normal ABI group, after adjustment with multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 2.07; 95% CI, 1.67–2.57;
P
<0.001) and propensity score–matched analysis (HR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.49–2.60;
P
<0.001). In addition, an abnormal ABI was associated with a higher risk of all‐cause death, MI, and stroke, but not repeat revascularization.

Conclusions

Among patients with significant coronary artery disease, asymptomatic abnormal ABI was associated with sustained and increased incidence of composite of all‐cause death/MI/stroke, all‐cause death, MI, and stroke during extended follow‐up over 7 years.
Communities of Absence: Emotions, Time, and Buddhism in the Creation of Belonging
Authors: Baffelli Erica , Schröer Frederik
Published: October 2021

This article argues that belonging can be characterized by absence. It explores this as experienced in two different geographical and historical contexts by two groups of actors: members of the early Tibetan diaspora in India (1959–1979) and former members of a religious group (Aum Shinrikyō) in Japan. The absence we conceptualize is double: it is not solely a spatial absence, but also a temporal absence in terms of the irreversibility of time. It is felt and articulated through emotions that play decisive roles in the constitution and sustaining of these communities. These communities as feeling communities are characterized by absence, but absence is simultaneously what makes them a community. This simultaneity allows our actors to create complex temporal frameworks by relating to reimagined pasts, different presents, and potential futures. Therefore, the article contributes to discussions of belonging by retheorizing the relationship between absence, emotions, and time.
Philosophical Curriculum and Lawlessness in the Republic
Authors: Bonnemaison Anthony
Published: October 2021

In the Republic, philosophy is associated with lawfulness, while tyranny and other corrupted regimes and individuals are associated with various degrees of lawlessness. So why does Socrates explain that the curriculum addressed to the philosophers of the ideal city brings about a risk of lawlessness among the potential philosopher-rulers? This is due to a specific step of this curriculum, the practice of refutation, which causes an intellectual as well as moral distress that can lead to skepticism and in fine to lawlessness. Although this risk needs to be reduced to a minimum, it has to be taken because the philosophical natures should be able to survive all challenges in order to become genuine dialecticians. Therefore, philosophy can lead to lawlessness but even when it does not, it is nonetheless true that the requirements of philosophy take priority over lawfulness.
Kingship and Legislation in Plato’s Statesman
Authors: El Murr Dimitri
Published: October 2021

One of the main philosophical outcomes of Plato’s Statesman is to define statesmanship as a prescriptive (epitactic) form of knowledge, exercising control over subordinate tekhnai. Against a widespread scholarly view according to which the Statesman offers a radically critical view of laws, this paper argues that the art of legislation (nomothetikē) has pride of place among these subordinate arts which also include rhetoric, strategy, the art of the judge and education.
Civic Freedom in Plato’s Laws
Authors: Meyer Susan Sauvé
Published: October 2021

In Book 3 of Plato’s Laws, we read that a legislator must aim to endow the polis with a trio of properties: freedom, wisdom, and internal friendship (philia). This paper explores what such freedom consists in, with a focus on the so-called doctrine of the mixed constitution. It argues that such freedom is a constitutional matter; that it is not to be identified with ‘voluntary servitude to the laws’ cultivated by persuasive preludes to the laws; nor is it the rational self-control essential to virtuous character, or citizens’ ability to decide and act for themselves; nor is it a restriction on the size of individual political authority. Rather, it is a freedom based on equality: a polis is free to the extent that its constitution mitigates the inherent inequality between rulers (archontes) and ruled (archomenoi), between those who wield political authority and those who are subject to that authority.