bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of the cost-effectiveness of maternity models of care
Authors: Martin Elizabeth , Ayoub Bassel , Miller Yvette D
Published: March 2023

Objectives: In this systematic review, we aimed to identify the full extent of cost-effectiveness evidence available for evaluating alternative Maternity Models of Care (MMC) and to summarize findings narratively.
Methods: Articles that included a decision tree or state-based (Markov) model to explore the cost-effectiveness of an MMC, and at least one comparator MMC, were identified from a systematic literature review. The MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and Google Scholar databases were searched for papers published in English, Arabic, and French. A narrative synthesis was conducted to analyse results.
Results: Three studies were included; all using cost-effectiveness decision tree models with data sourced from a combination of trials, databases, and the literature. Study quality was fair to poor. Each study compared midwife-led or doula-assisted care to obstetrician- or physician-led care. The findings from these studies indicate that midwife and doula led MMCs may provide value.
Conclusion: The findings of these studies indicate weak evidence that midwife and doula models of care may be a cost-effective or cost-saving alternative to standard care. However, the poor quality of evidence, lack of standardised MMC classifications, and the dearth of research conducted in this area are barriers to conclusive evaluation and highlight the need for more research incorporating appropriate models and population diversity.
CaCl 2 -HCl electrolyzed water promotes glucosinolates metabolism in broccoli sprouts via calcium signal
Authors: Li Cui , Song Shuhui , He Yanan , Han Siyu , Liu Haijie
Published: March 2023

Background Electrolyzed water, an invention of green chemistry, is a novel disinfectant that has been widely used in the food field. Previous studies have found that slightly acidic electrolyzed water not only has a bactericidal effect, but also promotes the accumulation of active substances in many types of sprouts. We have developed a new type of electrolyzed water - CaCl2-HCl electrolyzed water (CHEW), which is an effective method to enhance the formation of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates of broccoli sprouts. Molecular mechanism of CaCl2-HCl electrolyzed water promoting glucosinolate metabolism in broccoli sprout during the growth was investigated in this study. Results On the 4th day, the total glucosinolates’ content of broccoli sprouts reached 195.50 µmol/g DW under CHEW treatment. On the 8th day, compared to tap water, the contents of 3 isothiocyanates (sulforaphane, erucin, 4-isothiocyanato-1-buene) in broccoli sprouts under CHEW treatment were significantly increased by 45.93%, 34.04% and 185.15% respectively. The results of calcium distribution and RT-qPCR indicated that CHEW treatment activated calcium signal in broccoli sprouts and promoted the relative expressions of glucosinolate biosynthesis-related genes through calcium sensors (calmodulin (CaM), calmodulin-like protein (CML), calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK)) and calcium-binding nuclear protein IQD1. Conclusion Our research provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of glucosinolate metabolism and also provided a theoretical basis for cultivating high-quality broccoli sprouts.
Prognostic visualization model for primary pulmonary sarcoma: a SEER-based study
Authors: Huang Qian , Li Wenqiang , He Xiaoyu , Yuan Quan , Deng Zhiping
Published: March 2023

Background
Primary pulmonary sarcoma (PPS) is a rare and poor prognostic malignancy. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors of PPS and to construct a predictive nomogram to predict the overall survival (OS) rate of PPS.
Methods
We extracted data on patients diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoma from 2010–2019 in the SEER database. We used univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis to identify independent influences affecting the prognosis of patients with PPS. Then, we constructed a predictive nomogram based on the above prognostic factors. Finally, we assessed the validity of the predictive nomogram by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision analysis curves (DCA).
Results
Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses showed that age, pathological grade, liver metastasis, surgical intervention, and chemotherapy were independent influences on the prognosis of PPS patients. The results of ROC curves, calibration curves, and DCA plots confirmed that the nomogram obtained in this study to predict the prognosis of PPS have good discrimination, accuracy, and clinical practice efficacy.
Conclusion
The study explores the factors affecting the prognosis of PPS. Moreover, we established a novel prognostic nomogram to predict the OS rate of PPS patients, which can help to make proper clinical decisions.
The burden of tuberculosis among adolescents and young adults in five Asian countries from 1990 to 2019
Authors: Yu Siyu , Li Shihong , Xu Qiufang , Cai Fengzhu , Liu Jingyi , Xiao Shaotan , He Gengsheng
Published: March 2023

Background Previous studies have shown that the risk of tuberculosis (TB) increases dramatically during adolescence. However, the burdens and trends of tuberculosis (TB) are poorly understood among them, especially in high-prevalence countries.
Methods Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019, we analyzed the incidence and mortality of TB among young people globally and in five Asian countries from 1990 to 2019. The annual percentage change was calculated by joinpoint regression analysis to estimate the trends in the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized death rate (ASDR).
Results The highest ASIR per 100,000 person-years in 2019 was in Mongolia [74 (95% uncertainty interval (UI), 51 to 105)], while the lowest was in Japan [4 (95% UI, 2 to 6)]. The highest ASDR per 100,000 person-years was in Mongolia [2 (95% UI, 1 to 3)], while the lowest was in Japan [0.009 (95% UI, 0.008 to 0.010)]. As the absolute number of cases and deaths decreased from 1990 to 2019, the ASIRs and ASDRs in all five countries also decreased. The decreasing trends were particularly significant in developed regions and varied across geographic regions.
Conclusions This study may be crucial in helping policymakers make decisions and allocate appropriate resources toadolescent TB control strategies.
Tobacco plants expressing the defensin NaD1 enhances drought tolerance characteristics in transgenic lines
Authors: Royan Sara , Shirzadian-Khorramabad Reza , Zibaee Arash , Bagherieh-Najjar Mohammad B. , Firouzabadi Farhad Nazarian
Published: March 2023

Biotic and abiotic stresses are main factors limiting crop plants yields and adaptability. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a pivotal role in plant immune responses to diverse stresses, and hence, becoming novel and essential molecules for studying plant responses to environmental harsh conditions. In this study, for the first time, overexpression of recombinant defensin NaD1gene under control of 3x 35S promoter was incorporated into tobacco plants resulting in generating NaD1 transgenic lines. Stable expression of NaD1 in transgenic tobacco lines was confirmed by RT-PCR, and next, presence of NaD1 recombinant peptide was verified by ELISA and western blot analysis in transgenic lines. In Silico bioinformatic analysis revealed that the most abundant components in Cis-regulatory elements in eleven NaD1 homologs in Nicotiana attenuate (NaDEF genes) are MYB, MYC and ABRE elements suggesting that NaD1 promoter is involved in regulation of abiotic stresses. Overexpression of the NaD1 in transgenic plants led to a significant (P ≤ 0.01) increase in the content of chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll under drought stress. Correspondingly, the index of chlorophyll stability significantly increased in 3 transgenic lines. Moreover, activities of Catalase (CAT), Peroxidase (POD), Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and S uperoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly enhanced in response to drought stress in transgenic lines. Among three transgenic lines, line 1 showed the highest chlorophyll level and chlorophyll stability index and a high level of POD, CAT, and SOD enzyme activity under drought stress. The data together suggest that increased antioxidant activity of the enzymes might presumably lead to eliminate ROS levels and maintain the chlorophyll content and stability in response to drought stress. Therefore, the antimicrobial peptide defensin NaD1 can be considered an essential factor in regulation of plant responses to drought stress and could be used in developing transgenic lines resistant to abiotic stresses.
Delayed Pseudo-aneurysm of right Internal Mammary Artery: A Case Report
Authors: Li Chenhe , BOKHA Anas O. K. ABU , Song Mingyang , Li Rui
Published: March 2023

Background：
Pseudo-aneurysm (PSA) which means the wall of an artery is perforated and blood flows out of the tear, resulting in a hematoma wrapped in adjacent tissue. PSA in the internal mammary artery (IMA) is a rare condition. Surgical intervention, percutaneous stenting, thrombin injection or some other methods can be the curative options.
Case presentation:
Here we present a case of delayed PSA of the right IMA after underwent the right anterior minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. Then the emergency surgery was chosen to suture the ruptured wall.
Conclusion:
This case shows that PSA can be a complication in any site, whether the site is punctured or not and surgery is a good therapeutic option for treatment.
Paediatric National Diagnostic Reference Levels of Computed Tomography Examination in Ghana
Authors: Shirazu Issahaku , Sackey Theophilus A. , Edziah Raymond , Mensah Y. B , Tiburu Elvis K. , Schandorf C.
Published: March 2023

Introduction: The aim of the study was to establish and propose the utilisation of National Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) for DLP (dose length product) and CTDIvol (volume weighted computed tomography dose index) for routine computed tomography (CT) for paediatric examinations. Additionally, the study estimated signal-to-noise ratio and lifetime attributable radiation risk. The materials used include multi-detector computed tomography machine, quality control equipment, Head and Body phantoms and MeVisLab workstation.
Methods: The methodology involved estimation of CTDIVOL, DLP, using a minimum of 20 patients per CT facility, imaging parameters for the head, chest, and abdomen-pelvis CT examinations. In all 300 images of randomly selected paediatric patients undergoing CT scans of head, chest, and abdomen-Pelvis from five centres. 200 images which met the selection criterion were used for the analysis.
Results: The measured median and upper quartile CTDIvol for head were 6.86 and 7.33 mGy, chest was 6.98 and 6.70 mGy, abdomen-pelvis were 4.71 and 5.28 mGy respectively. While DLP for head was 1103.00 and 1249.58 mGy-cm, chest was 978.86 and 1250.42 mGy-cm, abdomen-pelvis were 565.85 and 787.05 mGy-cm.
Conclusion: The results of the CTDI and DLP values were comparable to international standard values. It also recommends the use of the established CTDI and DLP as reference values for future intercomparison of data from similar studies.
Analysis of a Homozygous TGFBI Variant in a Pakistani Family with Granular Corneal Dystrophy Type 2: Implications for Genotype-Phenotype Correlation and Inheritance Patterns
Authors: Bakht Ayesha Khush , Naz Shagufta , Naeem Muhammad Asif , Sharif Saima , Qasim Muhammad , Kaul Haiba , Firasat Sabika , Jabeen Khajista , Iqbal Afia
Published: March 2023

Background:
Granular Corneal Dystrophy Type 2 (GCD2) is an inherited condition characterized by snowflake-shaped opacities in the cornea. The disorder is caused by mutations in the TGFBI gene, which encodes keratoepithelin. The objective of this study was to examine the inherited factors associated with GCD2 in two consanguineous Pakistani families.
Methods and Results:
We conducted whole exome sequencing (WES) of affected and unaffected individuals from the two families. Our analysis revealed a previously reported missense mutation (c.371G>A) in TGFBI that leads to the loss of p. R124H at exon 4 of keratoepithelin, which is associated with the severe form of GCD2. Sanger sequencing confirmed the segregation of this mutation in both families, with an autosomal dominant mode in one family (PKCD040) and a previously unreported autosomal recessive mode of inheritance in the other family (PKCD024). The diagnosis of GCD2 was confirmed by clinical examinations, including a slit lamp exam, a study of corneal morphology, and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Conclusion:
Our findings support a high correlation between genotype and phenotype in TGFBI-related corneal dystrophies. We also identified a novel homozygous TGFBI mutation in PKCD024, which expands our understanding of the inheritance patterns of GCD2. These results have important implications for the accurate diagnosis and potential treatment of this condition.
Noninvasive Prenatal Screening for 22q11.2 Deletion/Duplication Syndrome Using multiplex dPCR
Authors: Wang Jing , Wang Wei , Zhou Wenbo , Zhou Yan , Zhou Linna , Wang Xinyue , Yu Bin , Zhang Bin
Published: March 2023

Background
22q11.2 deletion/duplication syndrome has a high incidence in prenatal fetuses and cause variety of severe abnormalities. At present, screening for 22q11.2 deletion/duplication syndrome in fetuses is difficult because of the lack of effective targeted programs.
Methods
In this study, six detection sites and their corresponding probes were designed in the 22q11.2 recurrent region, and a dPCR assay for noninvasive screening of 22q11.2 deletion/duplication syndrome was established. A total of 106 plasma samples from pregnant women (including ten samples with fetal 22q11.2 deletion/duplication syndrome) were blindly tested to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the assay.
Results
DNA with different sizes of 22q11.2 deletion/duplication was detected by dPCR, indicating that these probes and detection site designs were reasonable and effective. In the retrospective clinical samples of the cffDNA assay, eight out of ten samples of pregnant women with 22q11.2 deletion/duplication were detected, and accurate regional localization was achieved. Of the 96 normal samples, 93 were confirmed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the cut-off values and AUC for these samples. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive as well as negative predictive values were 80%, 96.9%, 72.7%, and 97.9%, respectively.
Conclusion
The cffDNA assay based on dPCR technology for noninvasive detection of 22q11.2 recurrent copy number variants in fetuses can detect most affected cases, including smaller but relatively common nested deletions, with a low false-positive rate. It has the potential to provide an efficient and simple dPCR assay for noninvasive screening of 22q11.2 deletion/duplication syndrome.
Exogenous Serotonin Improves Drought and Salt Tolerance in Tomato Seedlings
Authors: Akcay Ufuk Celikkol , Okudan Nilgun
Published: March 2023

Serotonin and melatonin, which are indolamines present in every biological kingdom, show strong bioregulator activity in plant tissues under various stress conditions. Although numerous studies report stress mitigating effects of melatonin, effect of serotonin on plant stress physiology was rarely studied in the current literature. In this study, effects of exogenous serotonin application on tomato seedlings under severe salt and drought stresses were investigated by examining various morphological and physiological plant stress indicators, including tissue length and mass, relative water content (RWC), ion leakage, malonedialdehyde (MDA) and proline content, as well as some oxidative stress related gene activities, ascorbate peroxidase (APX1), superoxide dismutase (FeSOD), catalase (CAT2), gluthatione reductase (GR1), delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase 2 (ACS2). Our results showed that serotonin application decreased tissue MDA contents and ion leakage levels, whereas increased relative water contents of tomato plants under both stresses. Serotonin also decreased ACS2 gene expression, meanwhile increased FeSOD, CAT2, GR1 and P5CS gene expressions under salt and drought stresses. Our findings showed that similar to its close chemical relative melatonin, serotonin also exhibits stress mitigation effects and boosts the antioxidant capacity of tomato plants under most common abiotic stress conditions.
Projection Continuation for Minimal Coordinate Set Formulation and Singularity Detection of Redundantly Constrained System Dynamics
Authors: Masarati Pierangelo , Quro M Jihad Ummul , Zanoni Andrea
Published: March 2023

The formulation of (possibly redundantly) constrained system dynamics using coordinate projection onto a subspace locally tangent to the constraint manifold is revisited using the QR factorization of the constraint Jacobian matrix, using column pivoting to identify a suitable subspace, possibly detect any singular configurations that may arise, and extract it. The evolution of the QR factorization is integrated along with that of the constraint Jacobian matrix as the solution evolves, generalizing to redundant constraints a recently proposed true continuation algorithm that tracks the evolution of the subspace of independent coordinates. The resulting subspace does not visibly affect the quality of the solution, as it is merely a recombination of that resulting from the blind application of the QR factorization, but avoids the artificial algorithmic irregularities or discontinuities in the generalized velocities that could otherwise result from arbitrary reparameterizations of the coordinate set, and identifies and discriminates any further possible motions that arise at singular configurations. The characteristics of the proposed subspace evolution approach are exemplified by solving simple problems with incremental levels of redundancy and singularity orders.
Synthesis and characterization of Cu-rGO/ZnO nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation of bromophenol blue and antibacterial activity
Authors: S Rajakumari , Mohandoss S. , Sureshkumar S.
Published: March 2023

Herein, Cu-rGO/ZnO ternary nanocomposite powder was synthesised by hydrothermal method. Analytical techniques such as XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, SEM-EDAX, BET and XPS were used to study the morphology and structural properties of obtained nanocomposite. The photocatalytic activity of prepared nanocomposite was assessed by degradation of bromophenol blue in aqueous media. The catalytic results demonstrated that photocatalyst (0.1g) exhibited 86.2% bromophenol blue dye degradation efficiency with kinetic rate constant of 3.401x10− 2 min− 1. Antibacterial activity of nanocomposite was evaluated using agar well diffusion technique. The experimental results revealed that Cu-rGO/ZnO exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Oral Ursodeoxycholic Acid Therapy Failed to Mitigate SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variants BA.5.2 Infection
Authors: YU DONGSHAN , Song Zhi-Ying , Liu Yun , Xi Wen-Na , Zhu Guo-Jian , Sun Ke , Li Yan-Hua , Sun Shui-Lin
Published: March 2023

Background
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was reported to reduce susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection by downregulating farnesoid X receptor (FXR) -ACE2 signaling. However, we found a different story in real-world clinical studies.
Objectives
We attempted to verify whether UDCA can effectively prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission or have positive therapeutic effects in a real-world clinical study.
Methods
We performed a retrospective study, collected and assessed clinical presentation and laboratory data on patients with liver diseases infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-variant BA.5.2 who had been treated with or without UDCA.
Results
Treatment with UDCA did not prevent infection with the Omicron sub-variant BA.5.2, failed in reducing the duration of infection and hardly mitigated the severity of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the severity of liver diseases, especially TBil, ALP, γ-GT, liver cirrhosis and Child-Pugh classification, should be considered as risk factors for severe COVID-19 in chronic hepatic patients.
Conclusion
UDCA failed to show inhibitory effects against SARS-CoV-2 infection in complex clinical settings. The regulatory mechanism of the novel UDCA-FXR-ACE2 pathway needs to be further investigated in real-world clinical studies.
Morpho-physiological traits and SSR markers-based analysis of relationships and genetic diversity among fodder maize landraces in India
Authors: Choudhary Mukesh , Singh Alla , Das MM , Kumar Pardeep , Naliath Ritu , Singh Vishal , Kumar Bhupender , Rakshit Sujay
Published: March 2023

Background: Maize is an excellent fodder crop due to its high biomass, better palatability, succulency, and nutrition. Studies on morpho-physiological and biochemical characterization of fodder maize are limited. The present study aimed to explore the genetic variation in fodder maize landraces for various morpho-physiological traits and estimation of genetic relationship and population structure.
Methods and Results: The study in 47 fodder maize landraces revealed significant variation for all morpho-physiological traits except leaf-stem ratio. Plant height, stem girth, leaf-width and number of leaves showed positive correlation with green fodder yield. Morpho-physiological traits-based clustering grouped the landraces into three major clusters, whereas neighbour joining cluster and population structure analysis using 40 SSR markers revealed four and five major groups, respectively. Most landraces of Northern Himalaya-Kashmir and Ludhiana fall into a single group, whereas rest groups mainly had landraces from North-Eastern Himalaya. A total of 101alleles were generated with mean polymorphic information content value of 0.36 and major allele frequency of 0.68. The pair wise genetic dissimilarity between genotypes ranged from 0.21 and 0.67. Mantel test revealed weak but significant correlation between morphological and molecular distance. Biochemical characterisation of superior landraces revealed significant variation for neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, cellulose and lignin content.
Conclusion: Interestingly, significant, and positive correlation of SPAD with lignin content can be explored to bypass the costly affair of invitro quality assessment for digestibility parameters. The study identified superior landraces and demonstrated the use of molecular markers in genetic diversity assessment and grouping of genotypes for fodder maize improvement.
Statistical Comparison among Brain Networks with Popular Network Measurement Algorithms
Authors: Pran Rakib Hassan
Published: March 2023

In this research, a number of popular network measurement algorithms have been applied to several brain networks (based on applicability of algorithms) for finding out statistical correlation among these popular network measurements which will help scientists to understand these popular network measurement algorithms and their applicability to brain networks. By analyzing the results of correlations among these network measurement algorithms, statistical comparison among selected brain networks has also been summarized. Besides that, to understand each brain network, the visualization of each brain network and each brain network’s degree distribution histogram have been extrapolated. Six network measurement algorithms have been chosen to apply time to time on sixteen brain networks based on applicability of these network measurement algorithms and the results of these network measurements are put into a correlation method to show the relationship among these six network measurement algorithms for each brain network. At the end, the results of the correlations have been summarized to show the statistical comparison among these sixteen brain networks.
Financial feasibility of a small-scale urban aquaponic system in Brazil: production of lambari rosa (Astyanax lacustris) with lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Authors: Castilho-Barros Leonardo , Galan Gabriele Drigo , Prieto Rodrigo Francisco , Azedo Milton Ricardo , Barbieri Edison , Henriques Marcelo Barbosa
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to verify the economic feasibility of a small-scale aquaponics system for the production of lambari (Astyanax lacustris) for ornamental purposes or as live bait, together with lettuce (Lactuca sativa) for human consumption. The hypothesis is that this activity would be a profitable option that provides increased income to small producers. The investment needed to implement the project was US$ 40,118.06. Under these conditions, the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) values varied from 13.2%, for the lowest prices (US$ 0.15 and US$ 0.34 for lambari and lettuce, respectively), to 41.5%, in the best scenario, with a price of US$ 0.14 for lambari and US$ 0.44 for lettuce. For the live bait market, only for the lowest selling price (US$ 0.15 for lambari and US$ 0.34 and US$ 0.39 for lettuce), the IRR was below the minimum attractive rate of return which was stipulated to be 12% here in. The return on investment will be achieved between 3.38 and 6.40 years (Ornamental fish market), and between 4.29 and 8.30 years (Live bait market), depending on the sales value used. Under the proposed conditions and scenarios, the aquaponic system evaluated herein presents a moderate risk in terms of economic viability.
Patterns of Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Intergenerational Association of Preschool Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Problems
Authors: Li Ruoyu , Jin Zhengge , Li Shuqin , Ma Yufan , Wang Danni , Wang Xiaoyan , Sun Ying , Huang Yongling , Tao Xingyong , WAN Yuhui
Published: March 2023

Children of whose mothers exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at increased risk for developmental problems. We examine the relationship between types and patterns of ACEs among mothers and preschool children’s EBPs in China, and to explore gender differences associated with these problems. 9647 preschool children from 36 kindergartens in 3 cities of Anhui province were included in this study. Questionnaires survey were used to report the details of maternal ACEs and children’s EBPs. Latent class analysis (LCA) revealed four different classes of maternal ACEs: ‘high abuse and neglect’(12.0%), ‘high household dysfunction’(2.2%), ‘moderate ACEs’(40.0%), and ‘low ACEs’(45.8%). After adjusting for covariates, binary logistic analyses indicated that children of mothers in the ‘high abuse and neglect’, ‘moderate ACEs’, and ‘high household dysfunction’ classes were more likely to report EBPs than those in the ‘low ACEs’ class (OR = 2.18–5.97, P＜0.05). No gender differences were found in the independent impacts of types and patterns of maternal ACEs on children’s EBPs, except for the ‘moderate ACEs’ class and maternal childhood physical abuse and physical neglect, which had a stronger impact on EBPs in boys than girls (OR = 1.43–1.83, P＜0.05). This study supports and refines existing research that confirms an intergenerational association between types and patterns of maternal ACEs and preschool children’s EBPs in a large Chinese sample, so as to provide references for the early prevention and control of preschool children’s EBPs.
Ab-initio simulation of dissipative transport in tunnel devices based on heterostructures of 2D materials
Authors: M'foukh Adel , Martin Jérôme Saint , Pala Marco , Dollfus Philippe
Published: March 2023

We present a first-principles model to study tunnel transistors based on van der Waals heterojunctions of 2D materials in the presence of dissipative mechanisms due to the electron-phonon interaction. To this purpose we employed a reduced basis set composed of unit-cell restricted Bloch functions computed with a plane wave ab-initio solver and performed self-consistent quantum transport simulations within the non-equilibrium Green’s functions formalism. Phonon scattering was included with specific self-energies making use of the deformation potential approximation for the electron-phonon coupling. Our simulations identify the van der Waals tunnel FET as a promising option to attain high on-state currents at low supply voltages, but also show a strong impact of the phonon scattering on the transport properties of such device in the sub-threshold regime.
Chiral quantitative analysis of Loperamide in a state of acid degradation by HPLC method
Authors: Bouanini Meriem , Belboukhari Nasser , Sekkoum Khaled , ABOUL-ENEIN Hassan , Fatimi Hakima
Published: March 2023

In this work the stability of Loperamide® hydrochloride has been described in different pH solutions with different buffer species. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is an efficiency method of Loperamide® hydrochloride, but the direct analysis procedure is not suitable for the determination of Loperamide® hydrochloride in the presence of its acid degradation product or its impurity. The present work aims to develop and validate a new feasible, sensitive and specific analytical procedure using HPLC on chiral columns.
Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance-associated mutations in isolates from children living in endemic areas of Burkina Faso
Authors: Casimire Tarama Wendlamita , Harouna Soré , Mafama Siribié , Siaka Débé , Réné Kinda , Adama Ganou , Gérard Nonkani , Farida Tiendrebeogo , Winnie Bantango , Kassoum Yira , Aladari Sagnon , Sonia Ilboudo , Esther Hien Yéri , Moussa Guelbéogo Wandaogo , NFale Sagnon , Yves Traoré , Didier Menard , Adama Gansané
Published: March 2023

Introduction. Artemisinin-based combinations (ACT) are the current frontline curative therapy for uncomplicated malaria in Burkina Faso. Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is used for the preventive treatment of pregnant women (IPTp) while SP plus amodiaquine (SP-AQ) is recommended for children under five in seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC). This study aimed to assess the proportions of mutations in the Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and Pfmdr1 genes from isolates collected during household surveys in Burkina Faso.
Methods. Dried blood spots from Plasmodium falciparum-positive cases at three sites (Orodara, Gaoua, and Banfora) collected during the peak of transmission were analyzed for mutations in Pfcrt (codons 72-76, 93, 97, 145, 218, 343, 350 and 353), Pfmdr-1 (codons 86, 184, 1034, 1042 and 1246) dhfr (codons 51, 59, 108, 164) and dhps (at codons 431, 436, 437, 540, 581, 613) genes using deep sequencing of multiplexed PCR amplicons.
Results. Of the 377 samples analyzed, 346 (91.7%), 369 (97.9%), 368 (97.6%), and 374 (99.2%) were successfully sequenced for Pfcrt, Pfmdr-1, dhfr, and dhps, respectively. Most of the samples had a Pfcrt wild-type allele (89.3%). The 76T mutation was below 10%. The most frequent Pfmdr-1 mutation was detected at codon 184 (Y>F, 30.9%). The single mutant genotype (NFSND) predominated (66.7%), followed by the wild-type genotype (NYSND, 30.4%). The highest dhfr mutations were observed at codon 59R (69.8%), followed by codons 51I (66.6%) and 108N (14.7%). The double mutant genotype (ACIRSI) predominated (52.4%). For mutation in the dhps gene, the highest frequency was observed at codon 437K (89.3%), followed by codons 436A (61.2%), and 613S (14.4%). The double mutant genotype (IAKKAA) and the single mutant genotype (ISKKAA) were predominant (37.7 % and 37.2 %, respectively). The most frequent dhfr/dhps haplotypes were the triple mutant ACIRSI/IAKKAA (23%), the wild-type ACNCSI/ISKKAA (19%) and the double mutant ACIRSI/ISKKAA (14%). A septuple mutant ACIRNI/VAKKGA was observed in 2 isolates from Gaoua (0.5%).
Conclusion. The efficacy of ACT partner drugs and drugs used in IPTp and SMC does not appear to be affected by the low proportion of highly resistant mutants observed in this study. Continued monitoring, including molecular surveillance, is critical for decision-making on effective treatment policy in Burkina Faso.
A MATLAB toolbox to fit and forecast growth trajectories using phenomenological growth models: Application to epidemic outbreaks
Authors: Chowell Gerardo , Bleichrodt Amanda , Dahal Sushma , Tariq Amna , Roosa Kimberlyn , Hyman James M. , Luo Ruiyan
Published: March 2023

Background
Simple dynamic modeling tools can be useful for generating real-time short-term forecasts with quantified uncertainty of the trajectory of diverse growth processes unfolding in nature and society, including disease outbreaks.
Results
In this tutorial-based primer, we introduce and illustrate a user-friendly MATLAB toolbox for fitting and forecasting time-series trajectories using phenomenological dynamic growth models based on ordinary differential equations. This toolbox is accessible to various audiences, including students training in time-series forecasting, dynamic growth modeling, parameter estimation, parameter uncertainty and identifiability, model comparison, performance metrics, and forecast evaluation, as well as researchers and policymakers who need to conduct short-term forecasts in real-time. The models included in the toolbox capture exponential and sub-exponential growth patterns that typically follow a rising pattern followed by a decline phase, a common feature of contagion processes. Models include the 2-parameter generalized-growth model, which has proved useful to characterize and forecast the ascending phase of epidemic outbreaks, as well as the 3-parameter generalized logistic-growth model and the Richards model, which have demonstrated competitive performance in forecasting single peak outbreaks.
The toolbox provides a tutorial for forecasting time-series trajectories that include the full uncertainty distribution, derived through parametric bootstrapping, which is needed to construct prediction intervals and evaluate their accuracy. Functions are available to assess forecasting performance across different models, estimation methods, error structures in the data, and forecasting horizons. The toolbox also includes functions to quantify forecasting performance using metrics that evaluate point and distributional forecasts, including the weighted interval score.
Conclusions
As a contagion process takes off, the tools in the presented toolbox can facilitate policymaking to guide the implementation of control strategies and assess the impact of interventions. The toolbox functionality is demonstrated through various examples, including a tutorial video, and is illustrated using weekly data on the monkeypox epidemic in the USA.
Coordinated transcriptional waves and changes in abundant lncRNAs define the inflammatory response of primary microglial culture
Authors: Linial Michal , Zohar Keren , Lezmi Elyad , Reichert Fanny , Eliyahu Tsiona , Rotshenker Shlomo , Weinstock-Rosin Marta
Published: March 2023

The primary role of microglia is to maintain homeostasis by effectively responding to various disturbances. Activation of transcriptional programs determines the microglia's response to external stimuli. In this study, we stimulated murine neonatal microglial cells with benzoyl ATP (bzATP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and monitored their ability to release pro-inflammatory cytokines. When cells are exposed to bzATP, a purinergic receptor agonist, a short-lived wave of transcriptional changes occurs. However, only combining bzATP and LPS led to a sustainable and robust response. The transcriptional profile is dominated by induced cytokines (e.g., IL1-a and IL1-b), chemokines, and their membrane receptors. Several abundant long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are induced by bzATP/LPS, including Ptgs2os2, Bc1, and Morrbid, that function in inflammation and cytokine production. Analyzing the observed changes through TNF and NF-kB pathways confirmed that neonatal glial cells exhibit a distinctive expression program in which inflammatory-related genes are upregulated by orders of magnitude. The observed capacity of the microglial culture to activate a robust inflammatory response is useful for studying neurons under stress, brain injury, and aging. We propose the use of a primary neonatal microglia culture as a responsive in vitro model for testing drugs that may interact with inflammatory signaling and the ncRNA regulatory network.
Ten Years Follow-up of Dilatation of Aortic Structures in Fallot type Anomalies
Authors: Kim Woojung , Kwak Jae Gun , Cho Sungkyu , Kim Woong-Han
Published: March 2023

Objectives
Dilatation of the aortic root structures or ascending aorta is often observed in patients with Fallot type anomalies. We tried to find how fast the aortic structures dilate and how to manage this phenomenon.
Methods
Among 801 patients who underwent corrective surgery of Fallot type anomalies, [tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and Fallot type of double outlet right ventricle (DORV)] from 2004 to 2020, 66 patients who had follow-up cardiac computed tomography angiography (CT) images at least over 5-year interval after the initial CT study were enrolled in this retrospective study. We analyzed the diameters and aortic cross-sectional area/height ratio (AH) of aortic annulus, sinus of Valsalva, sinotubular junction and ascending aorta between initial and follow-up CTs. "Dilatation” was defined as a z-score over 2 in each aortic structure.
Results
The median age at initial and follow-up CTs were 5.9 years (Interquartile range (IQR): 0.4~12.4) and 15.9 years (IQR: 9.3~23.4), respectively. The median CT interval (initial ~ latest CT) was 9.5 years (IQR: 6.6~12.0). Sinus of Valsalva was the aortic structure that dilated the most rapidly (0.94 mm/year) and significantly (32.8 mm at follow-up CT) across the study period. The AH ratio increased significantly in the four aortic structures. Patient’s age was significantly associated with higher AH in follow-up CT. Aortic dilatation was found in 74.2% at initial CT and 86.4% at follow-up CT.
Conclusions
In Fallot type anomalies, the AH ratio of aortic root structures significantly increased over about 9.5 years. The number of the patients diagnosed within the range of aortic dilatation also increased. Shorter interval for regular follow-up should be considered for these young patients because it could reach a significant dilatation in their mid-20s according to our observation in this study.
Investigation of the composition and morphology of raw materials from the Aral Sea region
Authors: Kurbanov Davron , Mylsamy Savithri , Zhou Biao , Babayev Zabibulla , Bazarbayev Rustam , Allaniyazov Atabek , Balakumar S. , Zeng Guanggen , Yakubov Komiljon , Karazhanov Smagul
Published: March 2023

Clay and Clay-based minerals have fascinated attention because of their unique properties and a vast range of applications in innumerable industrial fields. In order to assess the potential applications, six different processed local kaolin-based raw minerals were collected from the Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan, and the total mineralogical properties have been investigated. The result reveals that some significant differences occurred based on the elemental percentage of silica and alumina in all the mineral samples. The presence of corundum, quartz, and kaolinite structural phases of the mineral was determined by XRD studies. At the same time, the FTIR and Raman studies expose the primary peaks which are associated with the functional groups of Al-OH, Al-O, and Si-O in higher-frequency stretching and lower-frequency bending modes. The elemental and chemical compositional (XRF and XPS) analysis demonstrates the presence of major elements (Al, Si, Na, Fe, Ti) in the raw mineral and other metal contaminations (Mg, Ca, S, Cr, Zr). The SEM analysis demonstrates the morphological natureof kaolinite-based raw minerals that can be exploited for industrial purposes.
Radioprotective effects of quercetin and curcumin on hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in male Albino rats
Authors: Ali Said A. , Yassen Noha N. , Azzoz Rady M. , Soliman Saeed M. , Khalil Wafaa M. , El-Hady Amr M. Abd
Published: March 2023

The present study aimed to assess the radioprotective effects of curcumin in combination with quercetin against radiation-induced changes in some histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biophysical parameters. The current study rats had been grouped into control, curcumin, quercetin, gamma irradiated (8 Gy fractionated dose), curcumin pretreated irradiated, quercetin pretreated irradiated, and both curcumin and quercetin pretreated irradiated groups. Gamma radiation exposure resulted in hepatic and renal damage. Administration of curcumin along with quercetin before gamma radiation exposure reduced the liver and kidney damage caused by radiation, demonstrating the radioprotective effects of both curcumin and quercetin antioxidants through free radicals scavenging effects, P53, and TNF-α inhibition, and structural changes measured by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). The cellular damage by gamma radiation is greatly mitigated by administration of curcumin and quercetin before radiation exposure.
Development of a Tumour Metabolism and Immune Microenvironment-Based Prognostic Model for Prognosis and Anti-Cancer Drug Response in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xue Fei , Wang Hao , Jiang Tao , Wu Xuanpeng , Chen Nanzheng , Wu Qifei
Published: March 2023

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, adenocarcinoma stands out as the most prevalent and lethal form. Tumour metabolism plays an important role in malignancy progression. The current stage-based approach falls short in accurately predicting survival and guiding clinical decision-making for patients with lung adenocarcinoma. For our study, we employed data from the TCGA-LUAD cohort as our training dataset, with validation cohorts derived from GSE30219, GSE42127, and GSE72094. Hypoxia, glycolysis, fatty acid metabolism and immune genes were extracted from GSEA and ImmPort database. To develop the model, we carried out univariate Cox regression and LASSO regression analyses, allowing us to classify patients into the low-risk group (LRG) and high-risk group (HRG). The patients categorized into HRG and LRG showed a significant variation in overall survival (OS), HR is 2.21, and an AUC of 0.713, 0.717, and 0.659 for predicting OS at 1, 3, and 5 years, correspondingly. The GSE72094 dataset exhibited an HR of 2.01, with the AUCs for predicting survival at 1, 3, and 5 years being 0.676, 0.669, and 0.465, respectively. In the GSE30219, the AUCs were 0.562, 0.633, and 0.644, while the HR was 2.14. However, the model in the GSE42127 dataset was not able to differentiate between OS in the HRG and LRG, with AUCs of 0.779, 0.565, and 0.578 and an HR of 1.33. The model demonstrated independent predictability of overall survival in LUAD patients and was found to be closely associated with several immune microenvironmental characteristics. Additionally, it was effective in predicting anti-cancer drug sensitivity, with low-risk patients exhibiting a better response to chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Our tumour metabolism risk score based on hypoxia, glycolysis, fatty acid metabolism and immune genes can serve as a valuable prognostic tool and aid in guiding treatment decisions for individuals with LUAD.
Excluding external iliac node irradiation during neoadjuvant radiotherapy decreases lower intestinal toxicity without compromising efficacy in T4b rectal cancer patients with tumours involving the anterior structures
Authors: Li Anchuan , Mao Miaobin , Chen Runfan , Chi Pan , Huang Ying , Xu Benhua
Published: March 2023

Background
This study aimed to explore the impact of excluding the external iliac node (EIN) from the clinical target volume (CTV) during preoperative radiotherapy in T4b rectal cancer with anterior structure invasion.
Methods
We identified 132 patients with T4b rectal cancer involving the anterior structures who received radiotherapy followed by surgery between May 2010 and June 2019. Twenty-nine patients received EIN irradiation (EIN group), and 103 did not (NEIN group). Failure patterns, survival and toxicities were compared between the two groups. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression was used to analyse the factors affecting survival.
Results
A total of 132 patients with a median age of 55 years were included in the analysis, 94.7% patients were diagnosed as cN+. Distant failure occurred first in 24 patients (18.2%), and total distant metastasis were noted in 31 patients (23.5%). 11 patients (8.3%) developed locoregional recurrence, 10 (9.7%) patients were in the NEIN group, and 1 (3.4%) was in the EIN group (P = 0.34). The EIN region failure rate was seen in 1patient (1.0%) in the NEIN group and no patients in the EIN group. The locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 96.3% vs. 90.5%, 82.1% vs.73.7%, 75.9% vs. 78.0% and 72.4% vs. 68.3% (all P > 0.05) for the EIN group and NEIN group, respectively. For patients with cN+, NEIN irradiation consistently did not decrease the LRFS, DMFS, OS and PFS compare to the EIN group. EIN irradiation failed to be an independent prognostic factor for LRFS, DMFS, OS and PFS. The incidence of grade 3–4 acute toxicity in the lower intestine was significantly higher in the EIN group than in the NEIN group (13.8% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.02). The Dmax (4479cGy vs. 5039cGy), V35 (45.8cc vs. 91.1cc) and V45 (11.4cc vs. 51.0cc) of the small bowel was decreased in the NEIN group compared to the EIN group.
Conclusions
Exclusion of the EIN from the CTV in T4b rectal cancer with anterior structure invasion could reduce lower intestinal toxicity without compromising oncological outcomes. These results need further evaluation in future studies.
Exploration of different parameter optimization algorithms within the context of ACTS software framework
Authors: Garg Rocky Bala , Gray Heather , Hofgard Elyssa , Tompkins Lauren
Published: March 2023

Particle track reconstruction, in which the trajectories of charged particles are determined, is a critical and time consuming component of the full event reconstruction chain. The underlying software is complex and consists of a number of mathematically intense algorithms, each dealing with a particular tracking sub-process.
These algorithms have many input parameters that need to be supplied in advance. However, it is difficult to determine the configuration of these parameters that produces the best
performance. Currently, the input parameter values are decided on the basis of prior experience or by the use of brute force techniques.
A parameter optimization approach that is able to automatically tune these parameters for high performance is greatly desirable.
In the current work, we explore various machine learning based optimization methods to devise a suitable technique to optimize parameters in the complex
track reconstruction environment. These methods are evaluated on the basis of a metric that targets high efficiency while keeping
the duplicate and fake rates small. We focus on derivative free optimization approaches that can be applied to problems involving
non-differentiable loss functions. For our studies, we consider the tracking algorithms defined within A Common Tracking
Software (ACTS) framework. We test our methods using simulated data from ACTS software corresponding to the ACTS Generic detector and the ATLAS ITk detector geometries.