bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Awareness of celiac disease among physicians in Uzbekistan: a questionnaire-based study
Authors:   Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Pediatrics, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Kamilova A.T. ,   Center for the Development of Professional Qualification of Medical Workers, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Azimova N.D. ,   Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Pediatrics, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Akhmedova I.M. ,   Center for the Development of Professional Qualification of Medical Workers, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Mirsalihova N.Kh. ,   Center for the Development of Professional Qualification of Medical Workers, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sultankhodzhaeva Sh.S. ,   Center for the Development of Professional Qualification of Medical Workers, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Akshuraeva A.P. ,   Center for the Development of Professional Qualification of Medical Workers, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Musaeva B.I. ,   Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Published: April 2024

Objective. To assess the level of awareness of celiac disease, its timely diagnosis and effective treatment among primary care and hospital physicians. Patients and methods. A total of 207 physicians from the Republic of Uzbekistan participated in the study. The questionnaire included 17 questions about clinical manifestations, diagnosis, identification of risk groups and treatment of celiac disease. Results. Only 31.9% of respondents were aware of the autoimmune mechanism of celiac disease. More than 71% of physicians, especially primary care, know well about the typical manifestations of celiac disease (diarrhea, underweight), but quite rarely consider constipation (25.1%), abdominal pain of unknown etiology (46.9%), common colds (24.6%) as a manifestation of celiac disease. Low awareness of the association of celiac disease with autoimmune thyroiditis (20.8%), type 1 diabetes (14.9%), and infertility (34.3%) was shown. Only 43.9% of physicians use to anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies as serological markers of celiac disease, 30.9% continue to focus on anti-gliadin antibodies. Only 32.9% of patients with suspected celiac disease are referred to a gastroenterologist for evaluation. Conclusion. The results of the study demonstrate a rather low level of awareness of clinical manifestations, methods of diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease among physicians in the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is necessary to develop additional educational programs and introduce modern research methods, especially in remote regions of the country, for timely diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease. Key words: celiac disease, diagnosis, treatment, physicians, survey
Cow’s milk allergy in infants: new trends in prevention and treatment
Authors:   Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, Sorvacheva T.N. , Safronova A.N. ,   Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: April 2024

This article presents a literature review on the dynamics of dietary approaches to the prevention and treatment of cow’s milk allergy (CMA): from elimination of food allergens to the need to develop food tolerance; controversial views on the efficacy of using partially hydrolyzed formulas for the prevention of CMA from the perspective of evidence-based medicine. Of particular interest are current data on the lower prevalence of CMA and the need for accurate prescription of extensively hydrolyzed formulas with specific organoleptic qualities, composition features and high price, which may affect nitrogen metabolism, increase the financial burden on families and health care systems, and be a risk factor for the development of eating disorders in children in later years. Opinions are presented on approaches to dietary therapy for CMA from two major expert groups, the Middle East and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). Key words: cow’s milk allergy, prevention, diet therapy, children
Analisis Pengaruh Komposısı Kepemılıkan Terhadap Manajemen Laba
Authors: Shiwa Yumy , Karina Ria
Published: April 2024

Landasan temuan penelitian ini tentunya berlandaskan atas suatu tujuan menganalisa faktor yang memberi pengaruh kepemilikan keluarga, kepemilikan institusional, beserta kepemilikan blockholder terhadap manajemen laba. Faktor-faktor tersebut dapat mempengaruhi manajemen laba.

Pendekatan pemilihan purposive sampling digunakan untuk memilih sampel 228 perusahaan keuangan publik dari tahun 2017 hingga 2021 yang terdaftar di BEI. Penelitian ini tentunya mempergunakan metode regresi data panel yang mempergabungkan data cross sectional dan time series. Diantara teknik yang digunakan adalah uji outlier, statistik deskriptif, uji F dan t, dan uji R2. Penelitian ini didasarkan pada model efek acak (REM).

Hasil landasan penelitian mengintrepretasikan bahwa kepemilikan keluarga dan kepemilikan institusional tentunya mampu memberi pengaruh signifikan positif terhadap manajemen laba, namun kepemilikan blockholder tidak tentunya mampu memberi pengaruh signifikan terhadap manajemen laba.
Building the Infrastructure to Integrate Social Care in a Safety Net Health System
Authors: Callahan Christopher M. , Carter Amy , Carty Hannah S. , Clark Daniel O. , Grain Tedd , Grant Seth L. , McElroy-Jones Kimberly , Reinoso Deanna , Harris Lisa E.
Published: April 2024

A recent National Academies report recommended that health systems invest in new infrastructure to integrate social and medical care. Although many health systems routinely screen patients for social concerns, few health systems achieve the recommended model of integration.

In this critical case study in an urban safety net health system, we describe the human capital, operational redesign, and financial investment needed to implement the National Academy recommendations. Using data from this case study, we estimate that other health systems seeking to build and maintain this infrastructure would need to invest $1 million to $3 million per year.

While health systems with robust existing resources may be able to bootstrap short-term funding to initiate this work, we conclude that long-term investments by insurers and other payers will be necessary for most health systems to achieve the recommended integration of medical and social care. Researchers seeking to test whether integrating social and medical care leads to better patient and population outcomes require access to health systems and communities who have already invested in this model infrastructure. ( Am J Public Health. 2024;114(6):619–625. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307602 )
What role does Skill Centre based consultancy serve in mathematics and statistics teaching communities of practice?
Authors: Smith Tamsin , Papadaki Evi
Published: April 2024

Mathematics and Statistics Teaching (MAST) is a staff facing service set up by the University of Bath Mathematics Resource Centre in September 2021. The service was created to collaborate with academics involved in mathematics and statistics teaching in their academic departments. In September 2023, MAST ended its pilot phase and entered a new growth phase fine-tuning existing structures and practices. During the pilot phase, MAST worked with academics consulting on enriching their programme of study and/or teaching practices. Specifically, the key principle that guides MAST is engaging in long-term sustainable collaborations with academic departments. As a means to address the key principle, we explore the potential of building communities of practice and supporting a wider network across the range of disciplines who encounter similar objectives. Facilitating a wider community of practice could be challenging, especially considering the tight schedule of the academics involved. We discuss our plans to cultivate communities of practice within departments and how we are working towards meeting our goal of establishing best practice and collecting evidence to support a wider community.
WITHDRAWN: Prospective, multicenter study investigating the acceptance and physiologic effects of a palatable and nutritionally complete food in dogs with malignant cancer
Authors: Becvarova Iveta , Amundson Madison D. , Brejda John , Gross Kathy L. , Anthony Reshma
Published: April 2024

The full text of this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors in order to comply with an institutional policy on preprints. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as a reference.
Random Walks Through Fock States of a Graph
Authors: Harringer Manfred
Published: April 2024

I present process models for motion on a graph Γ(V,E) along its edges, motivated by examples. I build random sequences of edges and I derive sequences of Fock states. Therefore, I can distinguish two kinds of process steps, acceptance and rejection, comparable to stimulated and spontaneous emission. There is always at least one vertex, which represents the vacuum of the system. Rejections and vacuum are not visible in a quantum grand canonical ensemble.
WITHDRAWN: Does Information Literacy influence Intellectual Property among Liberians:The mediating role of Knowledge Management.
Authors: Kankam George , Yamson George Clifford , Appiah Antonia Bernadette , Kodi Richard
Published: April 2024

The full text of this preprint has been withdrawn by George Kankam the author as it was submitted and made public without the full consent of Antonia Bernadette Appiah and George Clifford Yamson. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as a reference. Questions should be directed to the corresponding author.
Molecular and cellular processes of deafferentation after plexus injury in human dorsal root ganglia
Authors: Rittner Heike , Sodmann Annemarie , Degenbeck Johannes , Aue Annemarie , Schindehütte Magnus , Schlott Felicitas , Arampatzi Panagiota , Bischler Thorsten , Schneider Max , Monoranu Camelia , Gräfenhan Tom , Bohnert Michael , Pham Mirko , Antoniadis Gregor , Blum Robert
Published: April 2024

Plexus injury results in lifelong suffering from flaccid paralysis, sensory loss, and intractable pain. For this clinical problem, regenerative medicine concepts set high expectations. However, it is completely unknown how dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are affected by accidental deafferentation. Here, we investigated human DRG in a clinically characterized cohort of patients with plexus injury. Avulsed DRG from 13 patients were collected during reconstructive nerve surgery. DRG were analyzed using large-scale microscopy, deep learning-based bioimage analysis, and RNA fragment sequencing of histopathological slices. In about half of the patients, we found a complete loss of DRG units consisting of neurons, satellite glial cells (SGC), and macrophages. The DRG cells were replaced by mesodermal/connective tissue. In the other half of the patients, the cellular units were well preserved and we found no gliosis and no significant neuronal loss. Furthermore, the expression of subtype-specific sensory neuron marker genes was preserved. However, downregulation of neuronal attributes associated with ion transport, synapses, and neuronal projection indicated a dormant neuronal phenotype. Injured DRG showed signs of ongoing inflammation and connective tissue remodeling. Patients with ‘neuronal preservation’ had less pain than patients with ‘neuronal loss’. Arm function improved after the nerve reconstruction, but the pain phenotype did not. With this study, we call for early intervention after injury to protect the DRG from complete cell loss. Pain patients may benefit from anti-inflammatory therapy. Future regenerative medicine concepts will need at least two translational directions: reafferentation of existing DRG units or replacement of the entire DRG.
Comparing Life Expectancy, Locus of Control, and Resilience in Individuals with Different Subjective Age Groups
Authors: kosari haniyeh , salahian afshin
Published: April 2024

This study investigates how age and mental experience affect psychological factors, and how this, in turn, impacts the community. Our aim is to examine how life expectancy, resilience, and locus of control vary across different age groups. We recruited 382 male and female students from Tehran as participants, using a causal-comparative design. The research involved the administration of three separate questionnaires. Our data analysis, conducted at both descriptive and inferential levels, revealed some interesting findings. The results indicate a significant correlation between subjective age categories (younger, equal, and older than the birth certificate age) and variations in life expectancy, resilience, and locus of control.
An emotionally loaded subject – parents experiences when CHC-nurses introduce a conversation related to their child being overweight
Authors: Fridolfsson Marie , Olsson Anna , Ericson Jenny , Borneskog Catrin
Published: April 2024

Background
Children with a raised BMI are a major public health challenge in the world that can cause serious consequences for children's physical and mental health. Child health care nurses' responsibility is to promote health and prevent ill-health in children, but because being overweight is stigmatized CHC-nurses find it difficult to talk to the parents about concerns over the children's weight, in fear of losing their trust.
Aim
The purpose of this study was to describe parents' experiences when CHC-nurses introduced a conversation relating to their child’s weight and the effect on it's health.
Method
This study was conducted via semi-structured interviews with nine parents and the data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Results
The result showed that being overweight in childhood is a sensitive topic, and this is presented as four categories Coping with the information about the child’s weight, A desire to protect the Children from the potential consequences a conversation about health and weight might lead to, Feelings and thoughts about the parenting role and The relationship with the nurse influence the experience. This is a sensitive topic for the parents, who have a hard time accepting the situation and place the blame on themselves, and the nurse’s approach and relationship with the parents is of great importance for the outcome of the conversation.
Conclusions
Parents seem to have another perspective on health and weight than the healthcare providers, and both parents and CHC-nurses might benefit from an increased understanding of one another's view. Parents need to gain knowledge about how healthcare providers assess children's growth, and the CHC-nurses need to be aware about how to be responsive to the parents and allow them time to process the information. The focus should be on healthy lifestyle choices regardless of weight
Survey of Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Breeding Sites in the Sunyani East Municipality, Bono Region of Ghana
Authors: Agyemang-Badu Samuel Yaw , Awuah Esi , Oduro-Kwarteng Sampson , Dzamesi Justice Yao Woelinam , Kombian Vincent Miniibe , Deku Godwin , Offei Samuel
Published: April 2024

Background For centuries vector-borne diseases (malaria and yellow fever, etc.) infection remains a public health burden globally including the Bono Region, Ghana. The primary aim of this study was to survey mosquito (Anopheles, Culex and Aedes species) breeding sites (habitats) within the Sunyani East Municipality, Bono Region of Ghana.
Methods Survey of mosquito breeding sites along with sampling of mosquito larva (Anopheles, Culex and Aedes) was carried out within the Sunyani East Municipality through a simple random sampling technique between December 2019 and February 2020, by inspection of habitats for the presence of mosquito larvae visually through the dipping method between 8:00am-11:59am and 12:00pm-5:00pm daily. Anopheles, Culex and Aedes mosquito species breeding sites were diagnosed following a guideline provided by Service, 1993 and the mosquitoes larva collected were morphologically diagnosed to the genera level in accordance with the taxonomic keys of Knight and Stone, 1977.
Results Anopheles mosquito larvae were found at natural wetlands (swampy/marshy areas) (64%) occupied by residents, followed by natural drains with partially clean water (19%), and burst and leaking water distribution pipelines (17%). Out of the total positive (mosquito larvae found) mosquito breeding sites, 31% (n= 174) were identified to be Anopheles, 58% (n=320) were Culexand 11% (n=61), were Aedes mosquitoes breeding sites (habitats). Further, out of the 1,555 mosquito larvae sampled at various instars during the study, majority 53% were Culex, 32% were Anopheleswhile 15% were Aedes, which is likely to impact on malaria, yellow fever and other vector-borne diseases prevalence in the study area.
Conclusion Anopheles mosquitoes breeding sites during the dry season around December and February in the Sunyani East Municipality were predominantly naturally induced whereas Culex and Aedes breeding site were anthropogenic (man-made) based due to poor solid and liquid waste management as a result of lack of the enforcement of the environmental sanitation and local by-laws by Environmental Health Officers. Residents of the area require extensive education on health risk associated with the production of mosquitoes breeding sites. Larval source management such as removal and elimination of breeding sites and application of larvicides during dry season (December and March yearly) should be considered as an essential aspect of mosquito control programmes in the study area by residents and various responsible stakeholders.
Kraken: An Open-Source RISC-V SoC for Ultra-Low Power Multi-Modal Perception
Authors: Potocnik Viviane , Mauro Alfio Di , Leitner Christoph , Scherer Moritz , Rutishauser Georg , Lamberti Lorenzo , Benini Luca
Published: April 2024

We introduce Kraken, a highly flexible heterogeneous system-on-chip (SoC) fabricated in 22 FDX technology demonstrating leading-edge energy efficiency and computational capabilities for ultra-low power extreme-edge applications. Inspired by the multi-modal perception system of mammalians, Kraken supports multi-modal sensing and perception via event-based and sampling-based sensor interfaces coupled with a spiking neural network accelerator (SNE) and a ternary neural network accelerator (CUTIE), respectively. An octa-core 32-bit RISC-V cluster with ML and DSP extensions enables sensor fusion and flexible parallel data processing. A fabric controller (FC) featuring a dedicated core manages all compute subsystems and low computation intensity tasks. We analyzed Kraken’s performance and efficiency: SNE consumes 2.6 pJ/SOp and 470 μJ/inference for eye gaze prediction with 64% accuracy. CUTIE achieves 590 TOp/s/W and 2.72 μJ/inference for foveated object classification with 88% accuracy. The RISC-V cluster consumes 0.45 pJ per 8-bit MAC operation, and 12.01 μJ/inference for eye tracking with a mean average error of 0.24. All of Kraken’s subsystems improve upon the state-of-the-art (SOA), while the heterogenous architecture offers extreme flexibility in supporting ultra-low power multi-modal AI fusion applications.
Oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide disrupts visual development in zebrafish by altering apoptosis-, antioxidant-, and estrogen-related genes
Authors: Saputra Febriyansyah , Kishida Mitsuyo , Hu Shao-Yang
Published: April 2024

Hydrogen peroxide is considered deleterious molecule that cause cellular damage integrity and function. Its key redox signaling molecule in oxidative stress and exerts toxicity on a wide range of organisms. Thus, to understand whether oxidative stress alters visual development, zebrafish embryos were exposed to H2O2 at concentration of 0.02, 0.1, and 0.5 mM. Eye to body length ratio (EBR) and apoptosis in retina at 48 hpf, and optomotor response (OMR) at 7 dpf were all measured. To investigate whether hydrogen peroxide-induced effects were mediated by oxidative stress, embryos were co-incubated with the antioxidant, glutathione (GSH) at 50 µM. Exposure to 1 mM H2O2 decreased EBR at 48 hpf and impaired OMR visual behavior at 7 dpf. Additionally, exposure increased the area of apoptotic cells in the retina at 48 hpf. The addition of GSH reversed the effects of H2O2, suggesting the involvement of oxidative stress. H2O2 decreased the expression of eye development-related genes, pax6α and pax6β. The expression of apoptosis-related genes, tp53, casp3 and bax, significantly increased, while bcl2α expression decreased. Antioxidant-related genes sod1, cat and gpx1a showed decreased expression. Expression levels of estrogen receptors (ERs) (esr1, esr2α, and esr2β) and ovarian and brain aromatase genes (cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b, respectively) were also significantly reduced. Interestingly, co-incubation of GSH effectivity reversed the impact of H2O2 on most parameters. Overall, these results demonstrate that H2O2 induces adverse effects on visual development via oxidative stress, which leads to alter apoptosis, diminished antioxidant defenses and estrogen production.
A Retrospective Multi-site Examination of Chronic Kidney Disease Using Longitudinal Laboratory Results and Metadata to Identify Clinical and Financial Risk
Authors: Fung Mark , Haghamad Aya , Montgomery Elizabeth , Swanson Kathleen , Wilkerson Myra , Stathakos Kimon , VanNess Rick , Nowak Sarah , Wilburn Clayton , Kavus Haluk , Swid Mohammed Amer , Okoye Nkemakonam , Ziemba Yonah , Ramrattan Girish , Macy Jonathan , McConnell John , Lewis Mary Jane , Bailey Beth , Shotorbani Khosrow , Crawford James
Published: April 2024

(350 words) Background: A retrospective, non-experimental, non-interventional study was conducted at 3 health care organizations to identify clinical gaps in care for patients with stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD), and financial opportunity from risk adjustment payment systems. Lack of evaluation for CKD in patients with diabetes was also assessed. Methods: Outpatient longitudinal laboratory results and patient metadata available in the electronic medical record, laboratory information system, and/or laboratory billing or facility claims data for the calendar year 2021 were evaluated. Laboratory results were compared to billing data (ICD-10 codes) and risk adjustment scores including Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCCs) to determine if laboratory-identified CKD was coded as a disease condition in the electronic medical record. Adults 18 to 75 years of age were included; inpatient laboratory results and pregnant women were excluded. Results: At the 3 institutions, 12478 of 16063 (78%), 487 of 1511 (32%) and 19433 of 29277 (66%) of patients with laboratory evidence of stage 3 or 4 CKD did not have a corresponding ICD10 or HCC code for CKD in the electronic medical record. For patients with diabetes on the basis of an HbA1c value of >6.5%, 34384 of 58278 (59%), 2274 of 2740 (83%) and 40378 of 52440 (77%) had not undergone guideline-recommended laboratory testing for CKD during the same 12 months. Using publicly available information for calendar year 2021, we estimated that of 39907 patients at the three institutions with stage 3 or stage 4 CKD documented by laboratory values only, 3937 (9.9%) would be enrolled in Medicare Advantage or Affordable Care Act Market programs. The imputed lost reimbursement under risk-adjusted payment systems for this under-documentation of CKD was $3.3M for the three institutions combined, representing lost opportunity for both identification and proactive clinical management of these patients, and financial recovery for the costs of providing that care. Conclusions: We conclude that clinical laboratories can provide value beyond routine diagnostics, for identification of gaps in care for identification and management of CKD, stratifying subgroups of patients to identify risk, and capturing missed reimbursement through risk adjustment factors not documented in the billing system.
Establishment of a prognostic signature for pancreatic cancer using immune checkpoint-related lncRNAs
Authors: Yang Yunchuan , Ma Xiang , Zhou Chi , Xu Nan , Ding Ding , Huo Junyi , Ma Zhongzheng , Zhou Lei , Cui Peiyuan , Liu Mulin
Published: April 2024

Objective: This study aimed to develop a prognostic signature for pancreatic cancer (PC) using immune checkpoint-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and evaluate their clinical significance in PC patients.
Methods: Transcriptome data and clinical information of PC patients were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas. Immune checkpoint-related genes were analyzed to identify immune checkpoint-related lncRNAs. Univariate Cox analysis, Lasso analysis, and multivariate Cox analysis were performed to select relevant lncRNAs and construct a prognostic signature. Independent prognostic analyses were conducted using univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. The performance of the prognostic signature was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves, C-index, survival curves, and nomogram. Additionally, gene enrichment analyses, immune-related function analyses, tumor mutation burden analysis, and tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion analysis were conducted.
Results: A total of 83 immune checkpoint-related lncRNAs were identified. A prognostic signature consisting of two checkpoint-related lncRNAs (LINC02245 and AL008729.2) was developed. The prognostic signature exhibited reliable predictive capability, with area under the curves of 0.660, 0.666, and 0.692 at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The prognostic signature was identified as an independent prognostic factor. Significant differences in immune cell populations, immune function, and tumor mutation burden were observed between the high- and low-risk groups.
Conclusion: This study successfully established a prognostic signature for PC based on two checkpoint-related lncRNAs. The signature demonstrated strong predictive capability for PC prognosis and served as an independent prognostic factor. These findings enhance our understanding of PC and may have implications for personalized therapeutic strategies.
Activation Persulfate for Efficient Bisphenol A Degradation via Nitrogen doped Fe/Mn Bimetallic Biochar
Authors: Cao Zexian , Yang Changhe , Zhang Wenqiang , Shao Huiliang
Published: April 2024

To achieve the purpose of treating waste by waste, in this study, a nitrogen-doped Fe/Mn bimetallic biochar material (FeMn@N-BC) was prepared from chicken manure for persulfate (PS) activation to degrade Bisphenol A (BPA). The FeMn@N-BC was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffract meter (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) and found that N doping can form larger specific surface area, higher defective degree and more active sites on the catalyst surface so that reduce the loss of metal. Catalytic degradation experiments showed that Fe/Mn bimetal doping not only accelerated the electron cycling rate on the catalyst surface, greatly improved the catalytic effect, but also makes the biochar magnetic and easy to separate, thus reducing environmental pollution. the performance of BPA degradation was compared under different kinds of biochar materials, and it was concluded that the highest degradation efficiency of BPA was achieved when the mass ratios of urea and chicken manure, Fe/Mn were 3:1 and 2:1, respectively, and the pyrolysis temperature was 800°C, which can almost degrade all the BPA in 60 min. In addition, the effects of different PS concentration, catalyst dosage, initial pH and co-existing anions on the degradation of BPA in FeMn@N-BC/PS system were also investigated. Finally, the degradation mechanism of BPA in FeMn@N-BC/PS system was verified by radical quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments. The results showed that the degradation mechanisms of BPA in FeMn@N-BC/PS system were both radical and non-radical pathways, including SO4−•, •OH, 1O2, O2−• and electron transfer. After 4 cycles of FeMn@N-BC, the efficiency of BPA removal can still reach about 75%, showing good reuse potential. FeMn@N-BC/PS system with high catalytic efficiency and low consumables is promising for reuse of waste resources and the remediation of wastewater.
BOISO: Weight optimized U-Net architecture for segmentation of hyperspectral image
Authors: Bhuvaneshwarri Ilango , Stateczny Andrzej , Kokku Aruna Kumari , Patra Raj Kumar
Published: April 2024

Recently, the Hyper Spectral Image (HSI) classification relies as a well-established study area in the topic related to Remote Sensing (RS). The classification of HSI is used in various applications such as military, agriculture, mineral mapping and so on. However, the existing techniques have underlying difficulties related to curse of dimensionalities and the lack of training data. To overcome these issues, this research using Butterfly Optimization Integrated Snake Optimization (BOISO) optimized U-Net for segmenting HSI. After data acquisition from Indian Pines dataset, the pre-processing is done using Weiner filter. Next to this, the proposed BOISO optimized U-Net is used to segment the pre-processed HSI. The spatial feature weight map is obtained based on spatial information path and corresponding features are obtained by multiplying semantic feature map. Finally, the feature map is linked with the spatial location to obtain final feature map which is optimized using the proposed BOISO. Then, the classification using hybrid classification approach is based on geometric mean of improved Deep Belief network (DBN) and Quantum Neural Network (QNN). The results exhibit that the BOISO achieves a sensitivity of 0.939 which is higher than SO, BOA, BES and PRO, with respective sensitivities of 0.877, 0.893, 0.847 and 0.857.
Deletion of TP signaling in macrophages delays liver repair following APAP-induced liver injury by reducing accumulation of reparative macrophage and production of HGF
Authors: Tanabe Mina , Hosono Kanako , Yamashita Atsushi , Ito Yoshiya , Majima Masataka , Narumiya Shuh , Kusano Chika , Amano Hideki
Published: April 2024

Background Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury is the most common cause of acute liver failure. Macrophages are key players in liver restoration following APAP-induced liver injury. Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and its receptor, thromboxane prostanoid (TP) receptor, have been shown to be involved in tissue repair. However, whether TP signaling plays a role in liver repair after APAP hepatotoxicity by affecting macrophage function remains unclear.Methods Male TP knockout (TP−/−) and C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice were treated with APAP (300 mg/kg). In addition, macrophage-specific TP-knockout (TP△mac) and control WT mice were treated with APAP. We explored changes in liver inflammation, liver repair, and macrophage accumulation in mice treated with APAP.Results Compared with WT mice, TP −/− mice showed aggravated liver injury as indicated by increased levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and necrotic area as well as delayed liver repair as indicated by decreased expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Macrophage deletion exacerbated APAP-induced liver injury and impaired liver repair. Transplantation of TP-deficient bone marrow (BM) cells to WT or TP −/− mice aggravated APAP hepatotoxicity with suppressed accumulation of macrophages, while transplantation of WT-BM cells to WT or TP −/− mice attenuated APAP-induced liver injury with accumulation of macrophages in the injured regions. Macrophage-specific TP −/− mice exacerbated liver injury and delayed liver repair, which was associated with increased pro-inflammatory macrophages and decreased reparative macrophages and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) expression. HGF treatment mitigated APAP-induced inflammation and promoted liver repair after APAP-induced liver injury.Conclusions Deletion of TP signaling in macrophages delays liver repair following APAP-induced liver injury, which is associated with reduced accumulation of reparative macrophages and the hepatotrophic factor HGF. Specific activation of TP signaling in macrophages may be a potential therapeutic target for liver repair and regeneration after APAP hepatotoxicity.
Accurate Patient Alignment without Unnecessary Imaging Dose via Synthesizing Patient-specific 3D CT Images from 2D kV Images
Authors: Liu Wei , Ding Yuzhen , Holmes Jason , Feng Hongying , Li Baoxin , McGee Lisa , Rwigema Jean-Claude , Vora Sujay , Wong William , Ma Daniel , Foote Robert , Patel Samir
Published: April 2024

In radiotherapy, 2D orthogonally projected kV images are used for patient alignment when 3D-on-board imaging(OBI) unavailable. But tumor visibility is constrained due to the projection of patient’s anatomy onto a 2D plane, potentially leading to substantial setup errors. In treatment room with 3D-OBI such as cone beam CT(CBCT), the field of view(FOV) of CBCT is limited with unnecessarily high imaging dose, thus unfavorable for pediatric patients. A solution to this dilemma is to reconstruct 3D CT from kV images obtained at the treatment position. Here, we propose a dual-models framework built with hierarchical ViT blocks. Unlike a proof-of-concept approach, our framework considers kV images as the solo input and can synthesize accurate, full-size 3D CT in real time(within milliseconds). We demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach on 10 patients with head and neck(H\&N) cancer using image quality(MAE:<45HU), dosimetric accuracy(Gamma passing rate(2%/2mm/10%):>97%) and patient position uncertainty(shift error:<0.4mm). The proposed framework can generate accurate 3D CT faithfully mirroring real-time patient position, thus significantly improving patient setup accuracy, keeping imaging dose minimum, and maintaining treatment veracity.
Understanding Visual Impairment Trends in the Gulf Council Countries: An Analysis from 1990 to 2019 and Time-Series Predictions for 2020-2024
Authors: Zomia Ahmed S AL , Alshahrani Saeed T , Zehefa Ibrahim Ali AL , Korkoman Abdullah Jallwi , Alamoud Ahmed Abdullah , Alqahtani Mazen Abdullah , Mirdad Mahmoud Tarek , Mirdad Mohammed Tarek , Ahmed Raad , Alnutaifi Raed , Alshahrani Saad Ali , Alyali Sultan Abdulrahman
Published: April 2024

Background
This research investigates blindness prevalence trends in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from 1990 to 2019 and provides projections up to 2024. The study aimed to inform public health planning, policy formulation, and healthcare delivery in the region.
Methods
Utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study, the research employs time-series analysis techniques, including AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models, to analyze blindness prevalence trends. Secondary data sources from GCC countries are used to assess gender-specific, age-related, and country-specific patterns. Projections for 2020–2024 are generated and validated through comparison with observed data.
Results
The findings reveal consistent upward trends in blindness prevalence across Bahrain, with rates increasing from 3789.39 in 1990 to 5336.64 in 2019. Kuwait exhibits a continuous rise, starting at 3528.19 in 1990 and reaching 4541.37 in 2019. Oman shows a steady increase from 4786.45 in 1990 to 5269.99 in 2019. Qatar experienced a notable trajectory, starting at 14942.65 in 1990 and reaching 102405.15 in 2019. Saudi Arabia indicates an increasing trend, from 866643.40 in 1990 to 1824519.93 in 2019. The United Arab of Emirates (UAE) displays distinct patterns, with prevalence fluctuating but generally increasing from 3090.80 in 1990 to 3854.58 in 2019. Gender disparities are evident, with consistently higher prevalence among females in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Individuals aged 55 and above consistently experience the highest prevalence, with a decline noted within this age group. Disability-adjusted life Years (DALYs) due to blindness show a steady increase, with Saudi Arabia reporting the highest DALYs, reaching 89962.6 in 2019. Projections for 2020–2024 suggest ongoing challenges, with Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE anticipating gradual rises, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia face substantial increases.
Conclusions
The research concludes that proactive and culturally sensitive public health initiatives are urgently needed to address the escalating burden of visual impairment in the GCC region. Gender-specific healthcare strategies, age-related healthcare measures, and improved healthcare infrastructure are essential components of a comprehensive approach. Policymakers should integrate these findings into evidence-based policies, emphasizing continuous monitoring and international collaboration to refine strategies and ensure their effectiveness. The study highlights the dynamic nature of eye health, necessitating adaptive and targeted interventions for sustainable impact in the GCC countries.
Two portable infrared pupillometers provide different measures to gauge the quality of the pupillary light reflex
Authors: McKay Rachel Eshima , Larson Merlin Dean
Published: April 2024

Statement: The quality of the pupillary light reflex as measured by portable pupillometers made by different companies is not the same.
A Microservice-Based Architecture for Clinical Decision Support System for Addressing Non-Specific Musculoskeletal Disorders: The SupportPrim Project
Authors: Jaiswal Amar , Meisingset Ingebrigt
Published: April 2024

There is a dearth of applied interdisciplinary research on the implementation of a clinical decision support system (CDSS) that employs case-based reasoning (CBR) based on patient data from a subjective questionnaire for non-specific musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Furthermore, there are numerous practical obstacles to creating a CDSS system for such a complex and challenging domain, which can impede progress due to several cold-start issues. This applied research introduces a microservice-based backend architecture developed for the interdisciplinary SupportPrim project that mitigates critical real-world challenges while providing a scalable, resilient, and viable CDSS. The implemented CDSS is deployed for randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Norwegian primary care using subjective patient-reported non-specific MSD patient data. The microservice architecture provides scalability, reliability, and a user-centric approach that aligns with the dynamic nature of clinical workflows. The research is based on the applied research methodology while leveraging a design thinking approach to iteratively develop a scalable backend framework that can accommodate the idiosyncrasies of subjective patient data and facilitate the implementation of CBR systems in the CDSS. The results of a laboratory deployment of SupportPrim patient data in the Norwegian primary healthcare setting support the technical competency of the proposed architecture in finding patients with similar non-specific MSDs. Medical researchers have demonstrated the competence of the proposed architecture in the SupportPrim project through iterative experiments carried out by domain experts and the RCT within the Norwegian healthcare system, and clinicians have reported good acceptability and usability of the CDSS. This research might serve as a guide for further investigation and development of an adaptable and scalable patient-centered CDSS employing a CBR system.
Botany and Phytochemisty of Dillwynia sericea to Adapt ecological changes
Authors: Gaur Pragna
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the phytochemistry using the extracts of chemical compounds by using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS analysis of chemical compounds in Dillwynia sericea offers profound insights into ecological conservation. This analysis reveals a rich array of bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and diterpenoids, pivotal for the plant's defence mechanisms against pathogens and herbivores, bolstering its ecological resilience. Moreover, identifying compounds like hydrocarbons and phenolics elucidates the plant's intricate interactions with its environment, highlighting adaptive strategies crucial for survival, especially in arid habitats. Leveraging this chemical knowledge informs targeted conservation strategies, directing efforts towards preserving habitats abundant in these bioactive compounds, thus safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. Furthermore, variations in compound abundance serve as sensitive indicators of habitat health, facilitating effective monitoring and intervention strategies. Conservation initiatives focused on preserving Dillwynia sericea and its chemical diversity foster overall biodiversity conservation, nurturing a diverse array of associated plant and animal species, thereby enhancing ecosystem stability and resilience. Additionally, understanding phytochemical diversity guides habitat restoration endeavours, prioritising reintroducing diverse plant populations to bolster ecosystem function and resilience.
Effect of Family Participation in Sensory Stimulation for Patient with consciousness disorder after TBI Prognosis: Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol
Authors: Cao Qianqian , Han Jin , Zeng Li , Jiang Jinxia , Tang Dongmei , Li Rongqing
Published: April 2024

Background: The high incidence of consciousness disturbance in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) has become a public health and economic concern.
Hence, implementing effective rehabilitation to facilitate awakening in patients with consciousness disorders is essential.Sensory stimulation, recognized as safe, effective, and affordable, is gaining attention for awakening patients. Additionally, involving family in sensory stimulation is believed to enhance consciousness levels in TBI patients with consciousness disorders. Thus, we propose a multi-center randomized study to assess the effectiveness of sensory stimulation with family involvement in improving consciousness in TBI patients.
Methods: A multi-center randomized controlled trial with a 3-month follow-up is set in Shanghai and Taicang, Jiangsu, China. Control group participants will receive standard neurosurgical care, whereas the intervention group will get standard care plus a family-involved sensory stimulation program covering vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, body position, and emotional inputs. Primary outcomes include the patient's consciousness level, evaluated using the Glasgow Coma Scale, Coma Recovery Scale-Revised, and Global Unresponsiveness Scale.The secondary outcomes were designed to assess the occurrence of complications in patients. Data were collected at baseline (T0), one week after the intervention (T1), one month after the intervention (T2), two months after the intervention (T3), and three months after the intervention (T4).
Conclusion: If the intervention measures are found to be effective, this study will have important reference values for standardizing the implementation of sensory stimulation with the participation of family members and provide data support for standardizing the sensory stimulation of patients with traumaticbrain injury, as well as clinical evidence for high-level guidelines and expert consensus.
Trials registration:This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Shanghai Tongji Hospital(approval number:MR-31-23-050769).And we completed the registration in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(approval number:ChiCTR2400080063).
Association between sarcopenia, its components, and osteoporosis in the FRISBEE cohort.
Authors: Tchang Sou Lan , De Filette Jeroen , Iconaru Laura , Bellanger Amélie , Charles Alexia , Baleanu Felicia , Mugisha Aude , Surquin Murielle , Benoit Florence , Hambye Anne-Sophie , Ene Diana , Bergmann Pierre , Body Jean-Jacques
Published: April 2024

objective
Bone and muscle diseases are both highly prevalent in aging adults but results from previous studies examining the relationship between sarcopenia and its components with osteoporosis are inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between sarcopenia and its components with osteoporosis in elderly postmenopausal women.
Materials & Methods
This study is based on cross-sectional data from the Fracture RISk Brussels Epidemiological Enquiry (FRISBEE), involving 3560 community-dwelling post-menopausal women initially included between 2007 and 2013. Randomly selected subjects were reassessed 10 years after inclusion with an evaluation of body composition by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), with a medical questionnaire and a complete geriatric assessment. The diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia were low muscle mass < 5.5 kg/m2, low muscle strength < 16 kg, and low gait speed < 0.8 m/s according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). Osteoporosis was defined by the National Bone Health Alliance Working Group proposed extended criteria including a history of major osteoporotic fracture and high fracture risk.
Results
Among the 500 women included, with a median age of 77.4 (74.7–81.8) years, 178 (35.6%) were osteoporotic. Significant correlations were shown between sarcopenia components and bone mineral density (BMD) at all sites as well as trabecular bone score (TBS). The strongest correlations were between handgrip strength and distal forearm BMD (r = 0.27; p < 0.001), and between appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) and total hip BMD (r = 0.36; p < 0.001). Significant differences were observed between sub-groups of osteoporotic status: the handgrip strength, short physical performance battery (SPPB) test, gait speed, and ALMI were significantly lower in osteoporotic subjects (p < 0.001). After adjustment for all covariates, handgrip strength and gait speed were still significantly associated with osteoporosis with an odds ratio of 0.92 (0.88–0.97) and 0.33 (0.11–0.96), respectively. Handgrip strength under 16 kg showed a 2.2-fold higher risk of osteoporosis after adjustment for all covariates.
Conclusion
Sarcopenia, as defined by EWGSOP2, and its components, particularly handgrip strength and gait speed, were significantly associated with osteoporosis. The trabecular bone score, a surrogate for bone microarchitecture, was also significantly associated with all sarcopenia components. Therefore, it should be taken into consideration when evaluating bone health and fracture risk in routine geriatric clinical practice.