bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of rhBMP-2 with various carriers on maxillofacial bone regeneration through computed tomography evaluation
Authors: Seo Ja In , Lim Ji Hye , Jo Woo Min , Lee Jeong Keun , Song Seung Il
Published: October 2023

Background

rhBMP-2 is regarded as the most potent osteoinductive growth factor, and it has been used in the oral cavity with different carriers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the bone-regenerative effect of rhBMP-2 delivered with different carrier systems through three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography analysis.

Method

A total of 112 patients underwent oral surgery with rhBMP-2 application (Group 1, n = 53) or without rhBMP-2 application (Group 2, n = 59). Group 1 was divided into 3 groups according to carriers, rhBMP-2 with allograft (Group 1–1, n = 34), rhBMP-2 with xenograft (Group 1–2, n = 5), and rhBMP-2 with absorbable collagen sponge (Group 1–3, n = 14). Cone beam computed tomography scans were taken before surgery (T0) 6 months after surgery (T1). The volume of defects was measured through the three-dimensional image analysis tool.

Results

The average bone regeneration rate of Group 1 was significantly greater than that of Group 2. Within Group 1, the group that used allograft as a carrier (Group 1–1) showed significantly higher bone regeneration rates than the group that used absorbable collagen sponge as a carrier (Group 1–3).

Conclusion

The use of rhBMP-2 after oral surgery results in a superior bone regeneration rate compared to not using rhBMP-2, and its efficacy depends on the carriers it is used with. Allograft affects bone regeneration more than absorbable collagen sponge when it is carried with rhBMP-2. Therefore, the appropriate use of rhBMP-2 with suitable bone grafting materials is useful for promoting postoperative bone regeneration in oral surgery.
Simplified rules-based tool to facilitate the application of up-to-date management recommendations in cardio-oncology
Authors: Brown Sherry-Ann , Hamid Abdulaziz , Pederson Erin , BS Allen Hanna , Maddula Ragasnehith , Goodman Rachel , Lamberg Morgan , Caraballo Pedro , Noseworthy Peter , Lukan Opeoluwa , Echefu Gift , Berman Generika , Choudhuri Indrajit ,   for the Cardio-Oncology Artificial Intelligence Informatics & Precision Equity (CAIPE) and Patient Similarity Algorithms in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Toxicity (PACT) Research Team Investigators
Published: October 2023

Background

Millions of cancer survivors are at risk of cardiovascular diseases, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Tools to potentially facilitate implementation of cardiology guidelines, consensus recommendations, and scientific statements to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and other cardiovascular diseases are limited. Thus, inadequate utilization of cardiovascular medications and imaging is widespread, including significantly lower rates of statin use among cancer survivors for whom statin therapy is indicated.

Methods

In this methodological study, we leveraged published guidelines documents to create a rules-based tool to include guidelines, expert consensus, and medical society scientific statements relevant to point of care cardiovascular disease prevention in the cardiovascular care of cancer survivors. Any overlap, redundancy, or ambiguous recommendations were identified and eliminated across all converted sources of knowledge. The integrity of the tool was assessed with use case examples and review of subsequent care suggestions.

Results

An initial selection of 10 guidelines, expert consensus, and medical society scientific statements was made for this study. Then 7 were kept owing to overlap and revisions in society recommendations over recent years. Extensive formulae were employed to translate the recommendations of 7 selected guidelines into rules and proposed action measures. Patient suitability and care suggestions were assessed for several use case examples.

Conclusion

A simple rules-based application was designed to provide a potential format to deliver critical cardiovascular disease best-practice prevention recommendations at the point of care for cancer survivors. A version of this tool may potentially facilitate implementing these guidelines across clinics, payers, and health systems for preventing cardiovascular diseases in cancer survivors.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.Gov Identifier: NCT05377320.
The added value of relative amide proton transfer (rAPT) to advanced multiparametric MR imaging for brain glioma characterization
Authors: Mostafa Mai A. , Abo-Elhoda Pasant M. , Abdelrahman Ahmed S. , Elzoghby Ahmed M. , Elmahdy Manal M. , Abbas Yasser A.
Published: October 2023

Background

Differentiation between the grades of brain gliomas is a crucial step in the management of patients. The gold standard technique for grading is biopsy but MR imaging may play a more substantial role as a non-invasive method by using promising molecular sequences. Our purpose was to assess the added value of the relative amide proton transfer signal [rAPT] to advanced multiparametric MRI protocol.

Methods

We enrolled a pathologically confirmed 102 patients with low-grade glioma [n = 38] and high-grade glioma [n = 64] who underwent advanced multiparametric MRI protocol on the same scanner. The protocol included anatomic, diffusion, MRS, and perfusion sequences. The newly added sequence was Amide proton transfer. The rAPT values of all lesions were investigated by two neuroradiologists to assess the inter-rater agreement of using interclass correlation coefficient [ICC]. HGGs demonstrated significantly higher mean values of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), choline to creatine ratio (Cho/cr), and rAPT with lower Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values compared to LGGs. ROC analyses revealed medium to high diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.941 for rAPT, 0.907 for mean ADC, and 0.906 for rCBV. Discriminant function analysis of two models, the first one included mean ADC, rCBV, and Cho/Cr, while in the second Model, we added rAPT to them. Model two demonstrated higher accuracy and a significant difference in the AUC after adding the rAPT. The inter-rater agreement was reasonable (ICC 0.61).

Conclusions

rAPT adds significant value to multiparametric MRI for distinguishing LGG from HGG.
Hot melt emulsification shear method for solid lipid-based suspension: from laboratory-scale to pilot-scale production
Authors: Li Chao , Xie Wenqing , Yuan Liwen , Abbas Mubbashar , Chen Dongmei , Xie Shuyu
Published: October 2023

The clinical application of solid lipid particles (SLPs) is hampered due to the need for advanced nano/micro-suspension production technology. This research aims to establish a pilot-scale production line employing high-speed shears as emulsification equipment. The primary purpose is to manufacture nano/micro-suspensions using solid lipid particles (SLPs). The study also exhaustively introduces and analyzes the regulatory schemes for process parameters and formulations at various stages of production. The process and formulation endured optimization through orthogonal or single-factor tests at various production steps: laboratory research, small-scale trial production, and pilot production. Quality standards for the product were determined, and key parameters were obtained at each stage. The laboratory research demonstrated that the optimal SLPs comprised 15 mL 3% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) per 1.0 g tilmicosin and 2.5 g carnauba wax (WAX). During small-scale production, modifications were made to the volume of the aqueous phase, emulsifier concentration, and emulsification strength, setting them to 16 mL, 5%, and 2200 r/min, respectively. In the pilot production stage, the shear time was considered optimal at eight min. The impurity, content, polydispersion coefficient (PDI), and size of the pilot product were < 3%, 5%, 0.385 and 2.64 μm, respectively. Among the several parameters studied, heating temperature, drug-lipid ratio, and emulsifier concentration were identified as the main factors affecting product quality, and they were regulated at 100℃, 1:3, and 5%, respectively. A novel hot melt emulsification shear method aided the development of a new solid lipid-based suspension from its preliminary stages in the laboratory to pilot production. This innovation is expected to enhance solid lipid-based suspensions' industrial evolution extensively.
Kinase Mutations and Imatinib Response in Patients With Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor
Authors: Heinrich Michael C. , Corless Christopher L. , Demetri George D. , Blanke Charles D. , von Mehren Margaret , Joensuu Heikki , McGreevey Laura S. , Chen Chang-Jie , Van den Abbeele Annick D. , Druker Brian J. , Kiese Beate , Eisenberg Burton , Roberts Peter J. , Singer Samuel , Fletcher Christopher D.M. , Silberman Sandra , Dimitrijevic Sasa , Fletcher Jonathan A.
Published: October 2023

PURPOSE

Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) express constitutively activated mutant isoforms of KIT or kinase platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) that are potential therapeutic targets for imatinib mesylate. The relationship between mutations in these kinases and clinical response to imatinib was examined in a group of patients with advanced GIST.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

GISTs from 127 patients enrolled onto a phase II clinical study of imatinib were examined for mutations of KIT or PDGFRA. Mutation types were correlated with clinical outcome.

RESULTS

Activating mutations of KIT or PDGFRA were found in 112 (88.2%) and six (4.7%) GISTs, respectively. Most KIT mutations involved exon 9 (n = 23) or exon 11 (n = 85). All KIT mutant isoforms, but only a subset of PDGFRA mutant isoforms, were sensitive to imatinib, in vitro. In patients with GISTs harboring exon 11 KIT mutations, the partial response rate (PR) was 83.5%, whereas patients with tumors containing an exon 9 KIT mutation or no detectable mutation of KIT or PDGFRA had PR rates of 47.8% ( P = .0006) and 0.0% ( P < .0001), respectively. Patients whose tumors contained exon 11 KIT mutations had a longer event-free and overall survival than those whose tumors expressed either exon 9 KIT mutations or had no detectable kinase mutation.

CONCLUSION

Activating mutations of KIT or PDGFRA are found in the vast majority of GISTs, and the mutational status of these oncoproteins is predictive of clinical response to imatinib. PDGFRA mutations can explain response and sensitivity to imatinib in some GISTs lacking KIT mutations.
Disparities With Systemic Therapies for Black Men Having Advanced Prostate Cancer: Where Do We Stand?
Authors: Gong Jun , Kim Daniel M. , De Hoedt Amanda M. , Bhowmick Neil , Figlin Robert , Kim Hyung L. , Sandler Howard , Theodorescu Dan , Posadas Edwin , Freedland Stephen J.
Published: October 2023

PURPOSE

Prostate cancer represents the most common cancer diagnosis in Black men and is the second leading cause of cancer death in this population. Multilevel disparities have been well-documented in Black men with prostate cancer and play a role in poorer survival outcomes when compared with White men with prostate cancer. In this review, we highlight the changing trend in disparities for systemic therapy outcomes in Black men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

METHODS

We reviewed data from real-world registries and prospective clinical trials with a particular focus on equal access settings to compare outcomes to systemic therapies between Black and White men with metastatic prostate cancer.

RESULTS

In metastatic prostate cancer, there is growing evidence to suggest that Black men may have similar, if not better, outcomes to systemic therapies than White men with advanced disease, as corroborated by prospective studies and clinical trials where health care delivery and follow-up are more likely to be standardized.

CONCLUSION

This review illustrates the importance of nonbiological drivers of racial disparities in Black men with advanced prostate cancer. Mitigating barriers to health care access and delivery as well as including participation in clinical trials will be pivotal to ongoing efforts to address disparities in systemic therapy outcomes for Black men with metastatic prostate cancer.
Hyperandrogenism and Cardiometabolic Risk in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women—What Is the Evidence?
Authors: Hirschberg Angelica Lindén
Published: October 2023

Hyperandrogenism in women, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian hyperthecosis, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and androgen-secreting tumors, are all associated with increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors that include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. However, it is not clear whether this also implies enhanced risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Furthermore, the involvement of obesity and menopausal status for cardiometabolic risk in these women has not been elucidated. Based on the most recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses, this review summarizes the latest scientific evidence. To conclude, hyperandrogenism in premenopausal women is associated with enhanced prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, as well as increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality, independently of body mass index. In contrast, elevated cardiovascular risk factors and increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in hyperandrogenic postmenopausal women are dependent on obesity. Furthermore, the overall risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease in hyperandrogenic postmenopausal women is similar to controls. The reason for a reduced cardiometabolic risk after menopause in hyperandrogenic women compared to nonhyperandrogenic women is not clear. It can be speculated that the difference in endocrine balance and metabolic status between women with and without hyperandrogenism might decrease after menopause because hyperandrogenism usually improves with age, whereas menopausal transition itself is associated with androgen dominance and abdominal obesity. Although we have gained increased knowledge about cardiometabolic risks in women with hyperandrogenism, it must be acknowledged that the quality of data is overall low. More research is needed, especially longer and larger follow-up studies in women with hyperandrogenism of different etiologies and phenotypes.
Homeostasis Model Assessment of β-Cell Function for Diagnosis of Insulinoma
Authors: Bódis Kálmán , Schön Martin , Dauben Laura , Wilker Miriam , Strassburger Klaus , Burkart Volker , Roden Michael , Müssig Karsten
Published: October 2023

Context

Diagnosis of insulinoma is based on different criteria from the 72-hour fasting test according to current guidelines (Endocrine Society [ES], European [ENETS], and North American [NANETS] Neuroendocrine Tumor Societies), including assessment of β-cell function by glucagon stimulation test.

Objective

This study tested whether the homeostasis model assessment of insulin secretion, including assessment of β-cell function, (HOMA-B) at the end of the fasting test provides comparable efficacy for insulinoma diagnosis.

Methods

In 104 patients with suspected insulinoma, 72-hour fasting tests were performed with frequent assessment of glucose, insulin, and C-peptide in venous blood. HOMA-B values using insulin and C-peptide were calculated at the end of the fasting test, as defined by the lowest glucose concentration from each participant.

Results

HOMA-B was more than 6.5-fold higher in patients with (n = 23) than in those without (n = 81) insulinoma (insulin and C-peptide; both P < .001). HOMA-B (cutoff using insulin >253 a.u. and C-peptide >270 a.u.) had a sensitivity of 0.96, 0.78 to 1.00, and a specificity of 0.96 or greater (≥0.89-0.99) for insulinoma diagnosis. ES and ENETS/NANETS criteria reached a diagnostic sensitivity of less than or equal to 0.96 (≤0.78-1.00) and ≤0.83 (≤0.61-0.95) as well as specificity of ≤0.85 (≤0.76-0.92) and less than or equal to 1.00 (≤0.96-1.00) for insulin, and C-peptide, respectively. Using insulin for HOMA-B, sensitivity tended to be higher compared to ENETS/NANETS criteria (P = .063) and specificity was higher compared to ES criteria using insulin and C-peptide (both P < .005).

Conclusion

HOMA-B, as calculated at the end of the fasting test employing defined cutoffs for insulin and C-peptide, provides excellent diagnostic efficacy, suggesting that it might represent an alternative and precise tool to diagnose insulinoma.
Interplay between the plasma membrane and cell–cell adhesion maintains epithelial identity for correct polarised cell divisions
Authors: Hosawi Manal M. , Cheng Jiaoqi , Fankhaenel Maria , Przewloka Marcin R. , Elias Salah
Published: October 2023

Polarised epithelial cell divisions represent a fundamental mechanism for tissue maintenance and morphogenesis. Morphological and mechanical changes in the plasma membrane influence the organisation and crosstalk of microtubules and actin at the cell cortex, thereby regulating the mitotic spindle machinery and chromosome segregation. Yet, the precise mechanisms linking plasma membrane remodelling to cell polarity and cortical cytoskeleton dynamics to ensure accurate execution of mitosis in mammalian epithelial cells remain poorly understood. Here, we manipulated the density of mammary epithelial cells in culture, which led to several mitotic defects. Perturbation of cell–cell adhesion formation impairs the dynamics of the plasma membrane, affecting the shape and size of mitotic cells and resulting in defects in mitotic progression and the generation of daughter cells with aberrant architecture. In these conditions, F- actin–astral microtubule crosstalk is impaired, leading to mitotic spindle misassembly and misorientation, which in turn contributes to chromosome mis-segregation. Mechanistically, we identify S100 Ca2+-binding protein A11 (S100A11) as a key membrane-associated regulator that forms a complex with E-cadherin (CDH1) and the leucine-glycine-asparagine repeat protein LGN (also known as GPSM2) to coordinate plasma membrane remodelling with E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion and LGN-dependent mitotic spindle machinery. Thus, plasma membrane-mediated maintenance of mammalian epithelial cell identity is crucial for correct execution of polarised cell divisions, genome maintenance and safeguarding tissue integrity.
Using Team Discussions to Understand Behavior in Indefinitely Repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma Games
Authors: Cooper David J. , Kagel John H.
Published: October 2023

We compare behavior of two person teams with individuals in indefinitely repeated prisoner dilemma games with perfect monitoring. Team discussions are used to understand the rationale underlying these choices and how these choices come about. There are three main findings: (i) Teams learned to cooperate faster than individuals, and cooperation was more stable for teams. (ii) Strategies identified from team dialogues differ from those identified by the Strategy Frequency Estimation Method. This reflects the improvisational nature of teams’ decision making. (iii) Increasing cooperation was primarily driven by teams unilaterally cooperating in the hope of inducing their opponent to cooperate. (JEL C72, C73, C92)
Smaller Slices of a Growing Pie: The Effects of Entry in Platform Markets
Authors: Reshef Oren
Published: October 2023

Entry of new firms onto a platform has an ambivalent effect on the incumbent firms operating on the platform: the main tension lies between the negative effects of increased competitive pressure and positive indirect network effects. This paper empirically studies the net effect of these countervailing forces and its dependence on firm quality, using a quasi-exogenous shock on a large online platform. On average, market expansion favors incumbents, though the average effect masks substantial heterogeneity: high-quality incumbents experience significant increases in sales and revenue, whereas low-quality firms perform unambiguously worse. Lastly, the paper explores the main mechanisms and firms’ responses. (JEL D22, D85, L14, L15, L84)
Metformin versus sodium glucose co-transporters inhibitors as first-line for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A meta-analysis
Authors: Alatawi Amirah M.
Published: October 2023

There is growing evidence of prescribing sodium glucose co-transporters-2 inhibitor (SGLT-2) to patients with/at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease as first-line (instead of metformin). This is the first meta-analysis to compare SGLT-2 inhibitors regarding the same. We aimed to compare SGLT-2 inhibitors and metformin regarding heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, and ischemic stroke. We systematically searched PubMed and Cochrane Library for relevant articles from the first article up to August 2022. The following keywords were used: Metformin, Salt glucose co-transporters inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, canagliflozin, and first-line. The retrieved data were exported to an excel sheet detailing the author’s names, the country of origin of the study, the number of patients and control subjects, the study duration, and the total number of events in the interventional and exercise groups. Out of 108 articles screened, only three studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, a databased study, and two cohorts with 10309 events and 86487 patients. The present meta-analysis showed that SGLT-2 inhibitors had lower rates of heart failure (odd ratio, 1.51, 95% CI, 1.10-2.08) and myocardial infarction (odd ratio, 1.45, 95% CI, 1.08-1.96) than metformin with a similar rate of stroke (odd ratio, 1.03, 95% CI, 0.66-1.61). Significant heterogeneity was observed. Sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors-2 as first-line therapy showed a lower heart failure and myocardial infarction compared to metformin. No significant difference was found between the two drugs regarding ischemic stroke. Further larger studies comparing the adverse event are needed.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.6982

How to cite this: Alatawi AM. Metformin versus sodium glucose co-transporters inhibitors as first-line for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A meta-analysis. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.6982

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Effects of cognitive behavioral and psychological intervention on social adaptation, psychological resilience and level of hope in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in radiotherapy
Authors: Liu Xiaohui , Wang Ce , Li Yanhong , Wang Yue
Published: October 2023

Objective: To evaluate the effects of cognitive behavioral and psychological intervention(CBPI) on social adaptation, psychological resilience, and the level of hope in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) in radiotherapy.

Methods: This is application research. Eighty patients undergoing radiotherapy for NPC at Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from November 20, 2020 to November 15, 2022 were randomized into control and study groups at a 1:1 ratio. While the control group was provided with standard specialized nursing care, the study group was offered CBPI in addition to the exact nursing care. Differences in quality of life, psychological resilience, level of hope, emotional state, and patient satisfaction between the groups were compared and analyzed before and after treatment.

Results: After an intervention, significantly improved physical, mental, and social functions and material living conditions were observed in the study group compared with the control group (all p< 0.05). Although both groups scored higher on the selected psychological resilience scale following the intervention, the study group showed better results as compared to control group in adaptability, tenacity, control, and goal orientation (all p< 0.05). While both groups had elevated scores of temporality and future, interconnectedness, and positive readiness and expectancy at the end of the intervention, the improvements were more pronounced in the study group (all p< 0.05).

Conclusion: CBPI supports radiotherapy for NPC by improving patients’ quality of life, confidence in treatment, the hope of recovery, psychological resilience, anxiety, depression, and patient satisfaction. Therefore, this treatment strategy is worthy of wide application in clinical settings.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.7421

How to cite this: Liu X, Wang C, Li Y, Wang Y. Effects of cognitive behavioral and psychological intervention on social adaptation, psychological resilience and level of hope in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in radiotherapy. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(1):---------.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.7421

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Efficacy of Letrozole vs Clomiphene Citrate for induction of ovulation in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome
Authors: Wasim Tayyiba , Nasrin Tahira , Zunair Javeria , Irshad Sonia
Published: October 2023

Objective: To compare the efficacy of letrozole vs Clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction in PCOS women.

Methods: This double blind randomized controlled trial was conducted at Services Hospital, Lahore, from January 2016 to December 2020. Total 220 patients, diagnosed with PCOS according to Rotterdam criteria were randomly assigned into two groups after taking informed consent. The women were followed for ovulation, pregnancy and live birth rates in the next five consecutive menstrual cycles with either clomiphene citrate or letrozole.

Results: Letrozole had significantly better pregnancy rate (29.0% vs 15.4% p-value 0.015), monofollicular development (77.2% vs 52.7% p-value 0.000) and live birth rate (25.4% vs 10.9% p-value 0.005) as compared to clomiphene citrate. There was no difference between the two groups in ovulation rate (68.1% vs 63.6%, p-value 0.477), early pregnancy loss (3.6% vs 4.5% p-value 0.734), and twin pregnancy (0.0% vs 1.81% p-value 0.155). There was no ectopic pregnancy and no congenital anomalies in both groups. Hot flushes were higher in clomiphene group (31.8% vs 12.7% p-value 0.001) while fatigue (30.9% vs 8.1% p-value 0.000) and dizziness (21.8% vs 10.0% p-value 0.029) was higher with letrozole but these were well tolerated.

Conclusion: Letrozole is better treatment choice than clomiphene citrate in PCOS women with infertility in terms of pregnancy and live birth rate.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05702957.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.7971

How to cite this: Wasim T, Nasrin T, Zunair J, Irshad S. Efficacy of Letrozole vs Clomiphene Citrate for induction of ovulation in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.7971

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
MOSAIC: A cohort study of human mpox virus disease
Authors: Pesonel Elise , Hoffmann Isabelle , Guiraud Laetitia , Bourner Josephine , Diallo Alpha , Dunning Jake , Horby Peter , Kali Sabrina , Laouénan Cédric , Mentré France , Merson Laura , Molino Diana , Palich Romain , Rojek Amanda , Tacconelli Evelina , Tardivon Coralie ,   MOSAIC study group, Yazdanpanah Yazdan , Calmy Alexandra , Lescure F-Xavier , Olliaro Piero
Published: October 2023

Background Human mpox is a viral disease caused by an Orthopoxvirus, human mpox virus (hMPXV), typically causing fever and a rash. Mpox has historically been endemic to parts of Central and West Africa, with small numbers of imported cases reported elsewhere, but starting May 2022 an unprecedented global outbreak caused by clade IIb hMPXV was reported outside traditionally endemic countries. This prompted the initiation of MOSAIC, a cohort study implemented in Europe and Asia that aims to describe clinical and virologic outcomes of PCR-confirmed hMPXV disease, including those who receive antiviral therapy. The study is ongoing. Methods MOSAIC recruits participants of any age with laboratory-confirmed mpox disease who provide informed consent. Participants enrol in the cohort for a total of six months. Blood, lesion and throat samples are collected at several timepoints from the day of diagnosis or the first day of treatment (Day 1) until Day 28 for PCR detection of hMPXV. Clinical data are collected by clinicians and participants (via a self-completion questionnaire) for six months to characterize the signs and symptoms associated with the illness, as well as short- and more long-term outcomes. Discussion The design and prompt implementation of clinical research response is key in addressing emerging outbreaks. MOSAIC began enrolment within two months of the start of the international mpox epidemic. While the number of cases is now low, the study remains open for inclusion. ICTRP registration EU CT number: 2022-501132-42-00 (22/06/2022)
The genome sequence of the Hornet Moth, Sesia apiformis (Clerck, 1759)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Turnbull Lindsay ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: October 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Sesia apiformis (the Hornet Moth; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Sesiidae). The genome sequence is 546.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 16,358 protein coding genes.
Rehabilitation of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder by complementary methods
Authors: Chukhraev Nikolay , Zukow Walery , Vladymyrova Nataliya , Fedorov Serhii , Chukhraeva Elena , Unichenko Antonina , Chernyak Viktor
Published: October 2023

Introduction. The article analyzes the relationship between stress, post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) and changes in the functioning of the neuroendocrine system.
Aim. Development of a hypothesis and practical evaluation of its effectiveness based on the proposed rehabilitation protocols for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from psychoemotional stress, based on a multi-level multifactorial approach with the use of transcranial stimulation by pulse currents at the frequency of rhythms of the cerebral cortex, stimulation by light pulses at the frequencies of alpha, beta and theta rhythms of the cerebral cortex in combination with neuroacoustic correction of the neuroendocrine system.
Materials and methods. The study involved 36 men, combatants, aged 28-54 full years, who gave their written consent to participate in the study. In the course of the research at the first stage, a hypothesis was formed about possible options for multifactorial multilevel effects on the central nervous system in order to rehabilitate patients with PTSD.
Results. The implementation of the proposed solution is to increase the efficiency and reduce the time of rehabilitation of PTSD due to a multi-level multifactorial approach:
Conclusion. The results of the study revealed positive dynamics of clinical manifestations in both groups of patients. After analyzing the data obtained (assessment of the quality of life according to the SF-36 questionnaire), it was found that the protocol of rehabilitation of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder is based on the use of a multi-level approach that allows correction.
Analisis Risiko Kegagalan Mesin Cetak Tiga Dimensi Berbasis Fused Deposition Modelling pada UMKM Jasa 3D-Printing di Surabaya
Authors: Ridho Hafidz , Nirmala Andita
Published: October 2023

Implementasi teknologi 3D-Printer saat ini sudah banyak diterapkan di Usaha Mikro Kecil Menengah (UMKM) di Indonesia, salah satunya adalah UMKM penyedia jasa cetak 3 Dimensi (3D) yang terletak di Keputih, Sukolilo, Surabaya. Karena usia yang tergolong muda, UMKM amatan belum mempunyai standar terkait proses, kualitas, maupun pengendalian risiko. Pengabdian ini memprioritaskan pada analisis risiko terutama pada operasi mesin 3D-Printer, dimana proses tersebut adalah hal yang krusial karena UMKM tersebut mengandalkan aktivitas bisnis hanya pada satu mesin saja, yang apabila rusak maka produksi tidak akan bisa berjalan. Analisis risiko menggunakan Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) dipilih karena UMKM tersebut belum mendokumentasikan kegagalan yang pernah terjadi, sehingga metode yang bersifat induktif dan bottom-up lebih tepat untuk digunakan. Tujuan dari pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah membantu UMKM mengelola risiko kegagalan proses cetak 3 Dimensi menggunakan FMEA. Berdasarkan FMEA, dapat diketahui bahwa terdapat 3 mode kegagalan yang memiliki nilai severity diatas 5 dan terdapat 4 mode kegagalan yang memiliki nilai severity 3-4 dan occurrence >4. Rekomendasi perbaikan untuk menurunkan nilai Risk Priority Number (RPN) telah diberikan dalam pembahasan.
Membangun Ketahanan Berbasis Komunitas dalam Mengurangi Risiko Bencana Tanah Longsor di Desa Tangkil Kecamatan Citeureup Kabupaten Bogor
Authors: Fansuri Muhammad Hamzah , Purwanti Nina , Laksmi Anasya Arsita , Harahap Sabrina , Puspitasari Surya Dewi , Saputra Pungky Dharma , Putra Okri Asfino , Suprayogi Suprayogi , Yanto Yanto , Pratama Baskoro Dian
Published: October 2023

Bencana longsor dengan intensitas besar dapat mengakibatkan kerusakan bangunan dan infrastruktur lainnya, sehingga menyebabkan hilangnya korban jiwa. Bencana longsor sejauh ini belum bisa diprediksi secara tepat atau dihindari. Akan tetapi dapat diminimalkan risiko kerugiannya salah satunya dengan peningkatan kapasitas berbasis komunitas. Kabupaten Bogor merupakan salah satu daerah rawan longsor melihat zona gerakan kerentanan tanahnya kategori menengah sampai tinggi. Kerentanan masyarakat terhadap bencana dipicu oleh pemahaman risiko yang terbatas sehingga mengakibatkan kurangnya kesiapsiagaan. Kesiapsiagaan dan ketahanan masyarakat dapat diwujudkan melalui kegiatan pengurangan risiko bencana berbasis komunitas dengan memberikan pendidikan dan pelatihan. Pengabdian masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk melakukan kajian terhadap kapasitas masyarakat dalam upaya pengurangan risiko bencana longsor berbasis komunitas di Desa Tangkil, Kecamatan Citeureup, Kabupaten Bogor. Metode yang dipakai adalah pendekatan deskriptif kuantitatif dan kualitatif dengan didukung pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner, observasi, dan studi dokumentasi. Hasil implikasi pelatihan menunjukkan bahwa adanya peningkatan pengetahuan dalam pengurangan risiko bencana longsor berbasis komunitas sebesar 48%. Strategi dalam meningkatkan kapasitas masyarakat sebagai upaya pengurangan risiko adalah menggiatkan gerakan pengurangan risiko bencana dibanding menghadapi risiko secara langsung. Upaya tersebut bisa berjalan efektif karena dilakukan dengan konsep desain yang jelas dan adanya partisipasi yang aktif dari masyarakat dan pemangku kepentingan terkait.
The work of food couriers in Rio de Janeiro and digital labour platforms: the paths of precarisation
Authors: Souza Lucas
Published: October 2023

This article documents the working conditions of couriers in Rio de Janeiro, paying attention to their trajectories and individual and collective experiences. It asks three questions: What is the profile of these workers? What are the conditions of work and how have historic patterns of precarity taken on new features with technological advances? How do workers’ experiences of digital labour platforms inform their aspirations and expectations? Based on a survey of 500 couriers and 100 semi-structured interviews in the second half of 2021, I argue that structural precariousness has gained a new impulse with the platformisation of deliveries. The article identifies three groups of food couriers, based on their experiences and expectations. The first includes those who worked as couriers before the existence of delivery apps. The second group refers to those who were in courier services as a temporary alternative to unemployment, and who generally aspired to return to their former activities. The third represents those whose first job was in platformised deliveries, who seem to see an extremely precarious job as normal. The article points to continuities and ruptures in the activity of couriers in Rio de Janeiro since the arrival of digital platforms. This article also aims to explore the connections between race, gender and precarisation in delivery activity. The results indicate that historical patterns of tensions related to race and gender that shape the local labour market are reflected in the algorithmic management of platform-based deliveries, adding nuances to the precariousness of activity.
Aljamiado-Morisco Literary Studies: A Fifty-Year Survey
Authors: Wood Donald W.
Published: October 2023

Abstract: At its core, the present article is a response to Jerry R. Craddock's brief work "Concerning the Transliteration of Aljamiado Texts," published in La corónica in 1976. Craddock's critique of the cumbersome system by which scholars render Aljamiado texts in Latin characters provided a starting point from which to survey key theoretical trends and approaches to working with Aljamiado-Morisco texts that have emerged during the past half century. Our journey begins in Europe, particularly in the Universities of Oviedo and Alicante where Álvaro Galmés de Fuentes, Antonio Vespertino Rodríguez, and their students set the standards for creating critical editions of Aljamiado works on both sides of the Atlantic. Important contributions from other parts of Europe are also highlighted. From there, we turn to North Africa, particularly Tunisia, to highlight the work of Abdeljelil Temimi and the Fondation Temimi pour la Recherche Scientifique et l'Information (FTERSI). Our survey concludes with the work of American scholars and emerging, often interdisciplinary, tendencies that are currently pushing the boundaries of theoretical interpretation in American universities.
Can't Find the Time: Temporality in Madhyamaka
Authors: Garfield Jay
Published: October 2023

Abstract: The relation between Prāsaṅgika-Madhyamaka accounts of time and contemporary physical accounts of time are considered. Caution is urged in assimilating them too quickly, and caution that there are many differences in detail. Nonetheless, it is shown that if we follow carefully a philosophical arc from Nāgārjuna through Tsongkhapa and Dōgen, we encounter a relational account of time and of our experience of temporality that can inform thought about the ontological status of time in contemporary physical theory, about the anisotropy of time, and about the observer-relativity of time. There is room for dialogue, but only if we are clear about what Madhyamaka does and does not bring to the table.
"Are You Trembling, Earth?": Nonhuman Nature in Literary Representations of the Holocaust
Authors: Krongold Joanna
Published: October 2023

Abstract: Applying an ecocritical lens to Holocaust literature, this paper explores the connection between the natural world and the seemingly unnatural machinations of the Holocaust by placing two writers in conversation: Abraham Sutzkever and Vasily Grossman. For Sutzkever, the famed Yiddish poet of Vilna, poetry was linked to survival and to the environment, sometimes emerging from a bog, wilderness, or mutilated landscape but shining all the more brightly for its mired origins. Grossman, another important documenter of the Holocaust, was a Soviet-Jewish writer known for his reportage, fiction, and compilations of Jewish documents from the Second World War. Like Sutzkever, Grossman was occupied in his work with the earth and its animate and inanimate inhabitants, from the crying stones and soil of Treblinka to the red sunset of a humanity ravaged by genocide. When faced with the almost unnarratable desolation and loss encountered during the Holocaust, both authors turned to their environment as a literary tool, a means of conveying that which could not be conveyed through traditional or accepted language. Nature and the nonhuman world became vehicles for an exploration of trauma and violence that in many ways extended beyond human comprehension, and therefore required a mode of imagining that similarly extended beyond human experience alone. At the same time, both Sutzkever and Grossman can be seen attempting to allow nonhuman nature to speak in its own voice, however inflected by human perspectives the hearing and translation of that voice may be. This paper therefore reveals and highlights the importance of addressing the interactions between human and nonhuman nature in Holocaust literature.
Surface plasmon resonance sensor composed of micro-nano optical fibers for high-sensitivity refractive index detection
Authors: Fu Haihao , Liu Chao , Xu Luhui , Liu Wei , Lv Jingwei , Wang Jianxin , He Jie , Luo Xingdi , Chu Paul K.
Published: October 2023

Spurred by the continuous development of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology, optical fiber sensors based on SPR have become a research hotspot. Although single-mode fibers (SMFs) are simple and easy to manufacture, the sensitivity is quite poor. On the other hand, even though photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) and anti-resonant fibers (ARFs) can achieve high-sensitivity detection and the wavelength sensitivity is tens of times that of SMFs, they are complex and difficult to produce. Herein, an SPR refractive index sensor composed of micro-nano optical fibers (MNFs) is designed to detect analytes in the refractive index range between 1.33 and 1.43. Analysis by the finite element method (FEM) reveals that the maximum wavelength sensitivity is 49,000 nm/RIU. The SPR sensor boasting a simple structure, low cost, and high wavelength sensitivity has enormous potential in applications such as chemical analysis, environmental monitoring, and other fields.
Modified genetic algorithm for inverse design of anti-resonant hollow core fiber with low confinement loss
Authors: Chen Ruifeng , Ye Feng , Wang Zimiao , Huang Jiayao , Li Qian
Published: October 2023

Low-loss anti-resonant hollow core fibers (AR-HCF) are important for optical communication systems, photonics-enabled sensors, and exploring nonlinear dynamics with gas-light interaction. However, the design of AR-HCF that facilitates optical pulse propagation with desirable properties remains highly intricate and time-consuming. In this work, a modified genetic algorithm (MGA) with a small dataset is presented to reduce the confinement loss (CL) of AR-HCF at the telecom wavelength. The algorithm has been modified through a non-uniform mutation process and a simulated binary crossover method to enhance its searching capability and ensure a stable convergence. The inverse design method for AR-HCF, which combines the algorithm with a full vector finite-element method based on a modal solver, can be implemented to search for approximately optimal designs. In our study, MGA is utilized to optimize the tube diameter and thickness of single-ring tubular AR-HCF and nested anti-resonant nodeless fiber (NANF) at 1550 nm. As a result, optimized ratios of 25.4% and 79.8% are achieved for a core diameter of 40 µm, respectively. In addition, MGA also provides the corresponding optimal range of fiber parameters, which is helpful for actual fabrication.
Brewster mirror ultrafast optical parametric oscillator with high precision wavelength tuning
Authors: Hunter Diana E. , Robarts Sebastian C. , McCracken Richard A.
Published: October 2023

We demonstrate a synchronously-pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with a cavity formed from high refractive index inverted prisms, also known as Brewster mirrors. Exploiting a single total internal reflection, this is the simplest device capable of deviating a laser beam by 180∘. The OPO produced a chirped signal output tunable from 1060 - 1570 nm with a maximum power of 114 mW. We investigate the geometric properties of ideal and imperfect Brewster mirror prisms and find the latter can provide ∼1000 × finer control of the signal wavelength when compared to cavity length tuning.
Surface acoustic wave Brillouin scattering in thin-film lithium niobate waveguides
Authors: Ye Kaixuan , Feng Hanke , Klaver Yvan , Keloth Akshay , mishra akhileshwar , Wang Cheng , Marpaung David
Published: October 2023

We observed the first-ever Brillouin scattering in thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) waveguides. The z-cut TFLN waveguide, at 20° rotation angle, achieves a remarkable 84.9 m-1W-1 Brillouin gain coefficient, facilitated by 7.88 GHz surface acoustic waves.
Discovering individual-specific gait signatures from data-driven models of neuromechanical dynamics
Authors: Winner Taniel S. , Rosenberg Michael C. , Jain Kanishk , Kesar Trisha M. , Ting Lena H. , Berman Gordon J.
Published: October 2023

Locomotion results from the interactions of highly nonlinear neural and biomechanical dynamics. Accordingly, understanding gait dynamics across behavioral conditions and individuals based on detailed modeling of the underlying neuromechanical system has proven difficult. Here, we develop a data-driven and generative modeling approach that recapitulates the dynamical features of gait behaviors to enable more holistic and interpretable characterizations and comparisons of gait dynamics. Specifically, gait dynamics of multiple individuals are predicted by a dynamical model that defines a common, low-dimensional, latent space to compare group and individual differences. We find that highly individualized dynamics–i.e., gait signatures–for healthy older adults and stroke survivors during treadmill walking are conserved across gait speed. Gait signatures further reveal individual differences in gait dynamics, even in individuals with similar functional deficits. Moreover, components of gait signatures can be biomechanically interpreted and manipulated to reveal their relationships to observed spatiotemporal joint coordination patterns. Lastly, the gait dynamics model can predict the time evolution of joint coordination based on an initial static posture. Our gait signatures framework thus provides a generalizable, holistic method for characterizing and predicting cyclic, dynamical motor behavior that may generalize across species, pathologies, and gait perturbations.