bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Delphi studies in the health sciences find consensus: A systematic review
Authors: Spranger Julia , Niederberger Marlen
Published: September 2023

Background: Delphi studies are primarily used in the health sciences to find consensus. They inform clinical practice and influences structures, processes and basic conditions in healthcare. The practical research–how Delphi studies are conducted–has seldom been discussed methodologically or documented systematically. The aim of this systematic review is to fill this research gap and derive guidance regarding the quality of Delphi studies.
Methods: Forming the basis of this systematic review are publications on consensus Delphi studies in the health sciences between January 1, 2018, and April 21, 2021, in the databases Scopus, MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL and Epistemonikos. Included were publications in German and English containing the words "Delphi" in the title and "health" and "consensus" in the title or abstract. The practical research was analyzed for the qualitative content of the publications according to three deductive main categories, to which an influence on the result of Delphi studies can be imputed (expert panel, survey design, process and feedback design).
Results: A total of 287 consensus Delphi studies were included in the review, whereby 43% reported having carried out a modified Delphi. Most of the time, heterogeneous expert groups from research, clinical practice or health economics and health policy were surveyed. In about a quarter of the Delphi studies, affected parties, such as patients, were part of the expert panel. In the Delphi questionnaires it was most common for standardized Likert scales to be combined with open-ended questions. Which method was used to analyze the open-ended responses was not reported in 62% of the Delphi studies. Consensus is largely (81%) defined as percentage agreement.
Conclusions: The results show considerable differences in how Delphi studies are carried out, making assessments and comparisons between them difficult. Sometimes an approach points to unintended effects, or biases hint at the individual judgments of the respondents and, thus, at the overall results of Delphi studies. For this reason, we extrapolate suggestions for how a certain comparability and quality assurance can be achieved for Delphi studies.
Establishment of a neonatal nursery in a rural district hospital in Malawi: A retrospective review of neonatal outcomes in Neno District Hospital (2014 - 2021)
Authors: Mvula Mc Geofrey , Aron Moses Banda , Mphande Isaac , Namwali Lemekeza , Nazimera Lawrence , Kusamba Martha , Ndarama Enoch , Blair Alden Hooper , Baltzell Kimberly , Munyaneza Fabien , Kachimanga Chiyembekezo , Matanje Beatrice , Connolly Emilia
Published: September 2023

Background: Despite efforts to improve neonatal care worldwide, neonatal mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa,including in Malawi, remain high, with a need for space, equipment, and staff. We evaluated the impact of establishing a district-level neonatal nursery and subsequent strengthening efforts over seven years at Neno District Hospital, Malawi.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to measure the neonatal outcomes before nursery establishment (study period I, 2014-2015), following the establishment of a nursery (study period II, 2016-2018), and ongoing strengthening efforts (study period III, 2019-2021). We extracted data from neonatal registers and employed descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to compare the overall neonatal outcomes between admission periods. We then performed logistic regression to isolate factors associated with neonates alive atdischarge from the neonatal nursery.
Results: In a review of nursery capacity, nursery establishment in 2016 included initial inputs of equipment, medications, and systems with increased support of space, human resources, and additional systems with the transition to a larger nursery in 2019. Of the 1366 neonates observed over the entire study period (2014-2021), the three primary admission diagnoses were birth asphyxia (30%, n=411), sepsis (29%, n=396), and prematurity (21%, n=286). The proportion of neonates discharged alive increased from 62% to 74% to 88% in study periods I, II, and III, respectively. The odds of being discharged alive were four times higher in study period III than in study period I (OR=4.34; 95% CI: 2.6-7.04; p<0.001) and increased sixfold after adjusting for sex (aOR=6.51; 95% CI: 3.69-11.5; p<0.001). Neonates admitted with prematurity were less likelyto be discharged alive (OR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.38-0.82; p=0.003) than other diagnoses. The odds of being discharged alive for neonates weighing 1500-2500 g were five times higher than those weighing <= 1500 g at birth (aOR=5.25, 95% CI=2.61-10.7, p<0.001).
Conclusions: Neonatal nursery services and outcomes improved with nursery establishment at Neno District Hospital and improved with increased inputs over seven years. A multidimensionaldecentralized approach at a district hospital with adequate space, staff, equipment, and medications is vital to treating sick neonates and decreasing neonatal mortality.
The prevalence and determinants of unintended pregnancy among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in the primary health care at KAMC- Jeddah
Authors: Wali Razaz
Published: September 2023

Background Unplanned or unintended pregnancy is one of the major health issues globally and regionally. It poses many health, psychological, and financial impacts on the individual and the health system. Some determinants can affect women's decision to become pregnant; tackling these determinants can give policymakers a better understanding of the current health issue and help them develop recommendations accordingly.
The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence and determinants of unintended pregnancy in pregnant women visiting the antenatal clinic in the primary health care centers in the western region of Saudi Arabia from September 2022 to July 2023.
Methods An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah from September 2022 to July 2023. A nonprobability convenient sampling method was used to recruit 346 pregnant women booked in the Primary Health Care antenatal clinics; the data were collected using the modified Arabic version of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP). The data from the questionnaire were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.
Result The prevalence of unplanned pregnancy among the study population was 17.6%. There is a significant association between unplanned pregnancy and the duration between the last two pregnancies, having thoughts and actions to terminate the pregnancy, and meeting the contraceptive needs. Maternal age, level of education, andfamily income were not associated with the rate of unplanned pregnancy.
Conclusion Unplanned pregnancy is prevalent in Western Saudi Arabia but is low compared to other parts of the world. Multiple risk factors can determine the risk of unplanned pregnancy, including women's education, family income, and meeting contraceptive needs. Public health uses these indicators to understand population fertility and women's health services and reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancies, a key objective for Saudi Arabia.
Hypertension and Cardiac Damage in Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Patients: A 598 Single-Center Cohort Study
Authors: Yu Yang , Chen Chuyun , Meng Lei , Han Wencong , Zhang Yan , Zhang Zheng , Yang Ying
Published: September 2023

Background
Hypertension (HT) and cardiac damage are the most common complications in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). Although cardiovascular manifestations have been concerned in previous studies, the profile of HT and cardiac structure and function alteration in a large cohort of PPGL were rarely reported. In this study, we focused on HT prevalence and left ventricular remodeling (LVR) in a consecutive PPGL cohort.
Materials and methods
Five hundred and ninety-eight consecutive patients who underwent surgery for PPGL in a single center from January 2001 to April 2022 were enrolled. Demographic data, cause of hospitalization, medical history, biochemical examinations, echocardiography results and characteristics of tumors were recorded. And patients were grouped by HT history.
Results
The average age was 47.07 ± 15.07 years and 277 (46.32%) of the patients were male. Out of 598 PPGL patients, 423(70.74%) had HT history. Comparing with non-HT group, HT group had higher rate of ectopic tumor (26.00% vs. 17.71%, P = 0.030) and less likelihood been found incidentally during health examination (22.93% vs. 59.43%, P < 0.001). Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (86.58 ± 26.70 vs. 75.80 ± 17.26, P < 0.001) and relative wall thickness (RWT) (0.43 ± 0.08 vs. 0.41 ± 0.06, P = 0.012) was larger in PPGL patients with HT history than the patients without HT history. And the proportion of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (19.40% vs. 8.25%, P = 0.011) and LVR (53.73% vs. 39.18%, P = 0.014) was higher in HT history group comparing with the other. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, drink, smoke, diabetes, stroke, creatinine, ectopic tumor and tumor size, HT history was significantly correlated with LVH (OR:2.71; 95% CI, 1.18—6.19; P = 0.018) and LVR (OR:1.83; 95% CI, 1.11—3.03; P = 0.018).
Conclusion
HT was common (70.74% in this cohort) in PPGL. PPGL without HT history was more likely been found incidentally (59.43% in this cohort). HT was associated with LVR in PPGL patients. Cardiac damage with LVH/LVR should be payed attention in PPGL especially in those with HT.
The epidemiology and the pathogen distribution of pediatric dacryocystitis in Chinese population 2017-2022, a cohort study
Authors: Sun Zhihong , Li Mingchao , Sun Huiqing
Published: September 2023

Background:Analysis of basic information, flora distribution, and characteristics of information on drug-resistant bacteria in children with dacryocystitis for six years, providing evidence for ophthalmologic infection prevention and clinical management strategies.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the demographics of dacryocystitis in children and microbiological characteristics of secretion cultures, and to analyze the basic information, distribution of pathogenic bacteria, drug resistance, and to plot trendsand distribution pie charts according to the yearsResults:This study recruited 5791 specimens. Decreased incidence of dacryocystitis from 2020-2022 (including the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic). The age of highest incidence of dacryocystitis is infancy, followed by the neonatal period, and the incidence decreased with age. Streptococcus pneumoniae had the highest percentage in 2017, and the overall trend was decreasing, the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001); Streptococcus mitis showed an overall increasing trend, with the highest incidence in 2022 and the lowest in 2017, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001); Haemophilus influenzae was the most common gram-negative bacteria with an overall decreasing trend (p < 0.001); The incidence of Catamoeba and Stenotrophomonas varied from year to year, with statistically significant differences (p = 0.010, p=0.033, respectively). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) had the lowest incidence in 2017 and 2022 the highest incidence in 2022, with a statistically significant difference in incidence between years (p=0.003); β-lactamase-positive was the most common type of resistance, and MRSA was the second, with statistically significant differences between years (p=0.003, p<0.001, respectively). Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common etiologic agent of dacryocystitis in all age groups.Conclusions:Dacryocystitis in children is significantly associated with age characteristics and infection-related pathogens, and infection prevention and control can help reduce the infection of related pathogens and the increase of new drug-resistant strains. Close monitoring of changes in pathogen distribution in ocular secretion cultures can help in early intervention and treatment of infectious dacryocystitis.
Optimizing Radiation Emulator Training: Streamlined Hyperparameter Tuning with Automated Sherpa
Authors: Kim Park Sa , Roh Soonyoung , Song Hwan-Jin
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to determine the optimal configuration of neural network emulators for numerical weather prediction with minimized trial and error by comparing the performance of emulators utilizing neurons obtained from multiple hidden layers (1-5 layers) automatically defined by the Sherpa library. Findings revealed that emulators with Sherpa-determined neurons demonstrated good results, stable performance, and low errors in numerical simulations. Optimal configurations manifested in one and two hidden layers, displaying a moderate enhancement with the incorporation of dual hidden layers. The mean neuron quantity per hidden layer, ascertained by Sherpa, spanned from 153 to 440, culminating in a 7-12 fold acceleration augmentation. These insights could guide the development of radiative physical neural network emulators as automatically determined hyperparameters can effectively reduce trial and error processes while maintaining stable outcomes. Further experimentation is recommended to establish the best balance between speed and accuracy, as this study did not identify optimized values for all hyperparameters. Overall, this research highlights the importance of hyperparameter optimization in designing efficient and accurate neural network emulators for weather prediction.
A low-cost and rapid DNA extraction method with surface-modified tungsten needle for citrus Huanglongbing field diagnosis by combining visual LAMP reaction
Authors: Zhao Ruiming , Liu Yuanyuan , Zhang Juan , Chen Ailiang , Gong Yan
Published: September 2023

Time-consuming and complicated DNA/RNA extraction procedure has always been bottleneck for nucleic acid detection in various field, including medical diagnosis, food safety and environmental analysis, especially for plant disease detection which has hard cell walls and exacerbates the nucleic acid extraction difficulty. Furthermore, unlike medical diagnosis with a save-life purpose in a well-equipped central lab, the agricultural nucleic acid assay can’t afford a high price due to low economic benefit and often needs to be done in low-resource fields. So far, no low-cost and rapid nucleic acid-based method is available for plant disease detection in field. To address this problem, a low-cost surface-modified tungsten needle was prepared for rapid DNA extraction from citrus leaf within one minute and a visual loop-mediated isothermal amplification was developed for citrus Huanglongbing detection in field. The tungsten needle costs around only $0.2, the needle tip is only about 1µm in diameter and the DNA extraction efficiency was validated with other kinds of samples as well as commercial DNA extraction kit. The whole citrus diagnosis could be finished within 1 hour and no other complicated types of equipment are needed but a simple portable metal bath. The low-cost, rapid and in-field tungsten needle-based nucleic acid extraction combining visual LAMP detection method could be extended to other plant disease diagnoses.
Anti-prostate cancer mechanism of black ginseng during the "Nine Steaming and Nine Sun-Drying" process based on HPLC analysis combined with vector space network pharmacology
Authors: Zhang Youran , Huang Ye , Dou Deqiang
Published: September 2023

Purpose
The vector space network pharmacology method was established to investigate the anti-prostate cancer mechanism of black ginseng in the process of "nine steaming and nine sun-drying".
Methods
Six small-molecule organic acids, maltol, 5-HMF, 17 ginsenosides, 4 oligosaccharides, and 20 amino acids in black ginseng samples with different processing times were determined by HPLC analysis. Based on the content determination results, the differential ingredients in the processing of black ginseng were screened by multivariate statistical analysis. The core targets and pathways of the above ingredients against prostate cancer were obtained by network pharmacological methods. Finally, the entropy weight method was used to assign values to the above ingredients, targets, and pathways, and the vector space network pharmacology method was established to study the anti-prostate cancer mechanism of black ginseng in the process of "nine steaming and nine sun-drying".
Results
Based on principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), fructose, glucose, dencichin, glutamate, ginsenoside 20 (S)-Rg3, 20 (R)-Rg3, 20 (S)-Rh2, Rg1, Re, and Rc were the main differential ingredients in various steaming and sun-drying cycle periods of black ginseng. The results of vector space network pharmacology showed that the main reason for the change in the anti-prostate cancer pathway of black ginseng with the number of steaming and sun-drying was the different regulatory ability of black ginseng on the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation pathway.
Conclusion
The study found that the content of each ingredient in black ginseng changed with the number of steaming and sun-drying cycle periods. It also discovered the anti-prostate cancer pathway through vector space network pharmacology, which gave researchers a fresh perspective for exploring the anti-prostate cancer active components of black ginseng and the mechanism of the effect of traditional Chinese medicine in the process of drug processing.
Dynamic changes of rumen microbiota and serum metabolome revealed increases in meat quality and growth performances of sheep fed bio-fermented rice straw
Authors: Kyawt Yin Yin , Aung Min , Xu Yao , Sun Zhanying , Zhou Yaqi , Zhu Weiyun , Padmakumar Varijakshapanicker , Tan Zhankun , Cheng Yanfen
Published: September 2023

Background Providing high-quality roughage is crucial for the development of ruminant production because it is an essential component of their feed. Our previous study showed that feeding bio-fermented rice straw (BF) improved the feed intake and weight gain of sheep. However, it remains unclear why feeding BF to sheep increased their feed intake and weight gain. Therefore, the purposes of this research were to investigate how the rumen microbiota and serum metabolome are dynamically changing after feeding BF, as well as how their changes influence the feed intake, digestibility, nutrient transport, meat quality and growth performances of sheep. Twelve growing Hu sheep were allocated into three groups; alfalfa hay fed group (AH: positive control), rice straw fed group (RS: negative control) and BF fed group (BF: treatment). Samples of rumen content, blood, rumen epithelium, muscle, feed offered and refusals were collected for the subsequent analysis.Results Feeding BF changed the microbial community and rumen fermentation, particularly increasing (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Prevotella and propionate production, and decreasing (P < 0.05) enteric methane yield. The histomorphology (height, width, area and thickness) of rumen papillae and gene expression for carbohydrate transport (MCT1), tight junction (Claudin-1, Claudin-4), and cell proliferation (CDK4, Cyclin A2, Cyclin E1) were improved (P < 0.05) in sheep fed BF. Additionally, serum metabolome was also dynamically changed, which led to up-regulating (P < 0.05) the primary bile acid biosynthesis and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid in sheep fed BF. As a result, the higher (P < 0.05) feed intake, digestibility, growth rate, feed efficiency, meat quality and mono-unsaturated fatty acid concentration in muscle, and the lower (P < 0.05) feed cost per kg of live weight were achieved by feeding BF.Conclusions Feeding BF improved the growth performances and meat quality of sheep and reduced their feed cost. Therefore, bio-fermentation of rice straw could be an innovative way for improving ruminant production with minimizing production costs.
Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV in pregnant women attending a tertiary care hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, 2017-2021
Authors: Hassan-Kadle Mohamed Abdulkadir , Keles Esra , Nor Mosab Ahmed , Hassan Mohamed Abdulahi , Karaketir Şeyma , Hussein Ahmed Isak , Eker Hasan Huseyin
Published: September 2023

Hepatitis B, C, and HIV infections are serious global health concerns, affecting both developed and developing nations. This study reported from Somalia that determines the prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV among pregnant women attending a tertiary hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. Pregnant women with missing variables, who had a history of liver disease, diabetes, and HELLP syndrome were excluded. HBsAg, anti-HCV, and Anti HIV were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay in the hospital’s biochemistry laboratory. Over a 5-year period, hepatitis B, C, and HIV infections were requested from 7874 pregnant mothers. 7836 were tested for hepatitis B infection, with 220 (2.8%) having HBsAg positivity. 7791 pregnant women were tested anti-HCV, with 33 (0.4%) having anti-HCV seropositivity and 7854 pregnant women were tested for HIV, with 16 (0.2%) positive. This study shows that the HBV prevalence in pregnant women is 2.8%, which is lower than previous reports. HCV in pregnant women is the first study reported in the country. HIV infection also indicates a high prevalence among pregnant women in Somalia. Antenatal screening for these infections is recommended, as there are critical therapies available for both the mother and newborn.
Study of Palatal Rugae Among the Student Population From North - Eastern and Western India
Authors: Mehta Sheen Singh , Athokpam Tondon Devi , Sharma Swathi , Athokpam Monica , Nandeibam Sanjiv
Published: September 2023

Proposed by Torbo Hermosa in 1932, Palatoscopy is the study of palatal rugae pattern. Rugae patterns are stable and unique to every individual just as his/her finger prints and DNA comparisons. Once formed, they stay robust for the rest of our lives and are resistant to burns, chemicals and decomposition. For challenging forensic identification, as needed in mass disasters, major fire outbreaks and decomposition of bodies where finger print data, DNA matching cannot be made available, rugoscopy can be used as an alternative for human identification especially in situations that lead to teeth loss or involve edentulous persons. Objectives The purpose of this study is to determine the most prominent rugae patterns in terms of shape, number and orientation and delineate if there are any differences in rugae patterns among individuals from eastern and the western regions of India. Rugae patterns being specific to ethnic groups can be used effectively in population identification. Materials and Methods The rugae patterns were assessed by applying Thomas and Kotze classification and Carrea classification for 50 individuals of the same age group. 25 males and females from North Eastern India and 25 males and females from western India respectively. Association between the Rugae patterns were assessed using independent t test and chi square tests. Results. There was a significant difference present in the number of Rugae in the north eastern and western populations with p = > 0.05. The predominant shape was Wavy followed by curved and straight pattern. Conclusions. Rugae pattern may be an adjunctive method of differentiating between the North-eastern and western populations. A larger sample study might be undertaken to validate this claim. Clinical relevance: Palatal rugae are unique like finger prints and are specific to racial groups facilitating population identification especially in edentulous cases. They are resistant, stable and cost-effective forensic parameters for population identification.
Preparation and study of modified phytic acid/epoxy resin anti-corrosion coating
Authors: Ju Jun-Jie , Wang Yang , Yu Ming-Hua , Sun Xin , Li Wei-Li , Zhao Zheng-Bai
Published: September 2023

The anti-corrosion epoxy-based coating is crucial for industrial development. Improvement of the anti-corrosion of epoxy-based coatings through a simple, effective and eco-friendly way is of great significance. Phytic acid (PA) is a kind of natural and eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor, however, the compatibility problem between PA and epoxy resin (EP) is not good. This problem is addressed by the modification of PA in this paper. PA is grafted to ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) to obtain modified PA (PA-EGDE) by the catalysis of tetrabutylammonium bromide under mild conditions. Subsequently, PA-EGDE is added to EP to prepare PA-EGDE/EP coatings. When the PA-EGDE loading is 5 wt%, the PA-EGDE/EP coating exhibits excellent mechanical and anti-corrosion properties. The hardness, flexibility and shock resistance are 2H, 1mm and 50cm, respectively, which are as good as those of pure EP coating. The Ecorr value of PA-EGDE/EP coating at 5 wt% PA-EGDE loading is -0.620 eV, which is much higher than that of EP coating (-0.797 eV); the impedance modulus is 108 Ω·cm2 after immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solution for 30 days, which is much bigger than that of EP coating (106 Ω·cm2). Otherwise, the anti-corrosion mechanism of PA in EP coating is thoroughly discussed.
Evaluation of the anti-AChE and protective effect of New Imidazole Derivatives: In Silico Analysis and Experimental study on oxidative stress and Oligodendrocyte Death
Authors: smach mohamed ali , Hajri Azhar , hafsa jawhar , Abdallah jihène Ben , Charfeddine Bassem , Limem Khalifa
Published: September 2023

Purpose : Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease, are associated with oxidative stress and disruption of cholinergic neurotransmission. Thus the search for molecules capable of modulating ROS production and acetylcholine function is crucial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory potential of nine imidazole derivatives against AChE in vitro. In silico Molecular Docking and ADMET studies were conducted on the most potent compounds 3a, 3e, 3g, and 3h to predict their drug-likeness, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity properties. In Addition, we evaluated the potential protective effects of the compound 3a (2-metyl-3H-imidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazol-3-yl)(4-phenyl)methanone), on murine oligodendrocytes (158N) cultured in the absence or presence of 7β-OHC (20 μg/mL, 24 h).
Methods: The cell viability was measured at 570 nm wavelength. We analyzed Catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity using photometric techniques.
Results: Among the tested compounds, compounds 3a, 3e, 3g, and 3h exhibited significant inhibition effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in comparison to the positive control donopezil. Molecular docking studies indicated that the compound 3a, with a favorable affinity, occupied the active site of AChE. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that a concentration of 31,5μg/mL of compound 3a could attenuate the toxic effect induced by 7β-OHC on 158N cells, and GPx and CAT activities were restored to normal.
Conclusion : These data demonstrate the anticholinesterase and protective activities of (2-metyl-3H-imidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazol-3-yl)(4-phenyl)methanone) against the toxicity induced by 7β-OHC in 158N cells.
The Observation of Retinal Microvascular Alterations in Familial Hypercholesterolemia Patients through Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: Wang Xuqian , Chen Peipei , Ma Jin , He Huijing , Zhong Yong , Zhang Shuyang
Published: September 2023

Background: The microcirculation changes in retina of Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) has been rarely reported previously. We evaluated fundus microvascular alterations in patients with family hypercholesterolemia (FH) through Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography. Methods: Paired sample t-test and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was used to compare the differences of vessel density (VD) and retinal ultrastructure between FH patients and normal controls. The relationship between VD and serum cholesterol level in homozygous FH (HoFH) group was analyzed with multivariate lineal regression. Results: Nineteen eyes of FH patients and 19 eyes of health controls were included. Compared to controls, FH eyes had a larger foveal avascular zone area. The VDs of superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) of FH patients and SCP parafoveal superior area of HoFH patients presented a significant decreasing, while VDs in subsectors of deep capillary plexus (DCP) were significantly increased in both FH group and HoFH group. VDs of SCP in whole image and the parafoveal superior area of HoFH patients were significantly related to serum cholesterol level when adjusting for age, sex, and some clinical signs. Conclusions: The fundus of FH patients demonstrated significant and characteristic microvascular alternations. VDs in some subsectors were also significantly associated with serum cholesterol level.
WITHDRAWN: Dietary Antioxidant Capacity and Serum Total Oxidant/Antioxidant Capacity in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Çolak Beda Büşra Özalp , Kürklü Nilgün Seremet , Adıgüzel Kübra Tel , Adıgüzel Emre
Published: September 2023

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status of the osteoarthritis patients and examine the relationship between total oxidant/antioxidant capacity and dietary antioxidant capacity.
Methods: The study was carried out with 47 patients with osteoarthritis (case group) and 30 healthy people (control group) recruited in tertiary health care institutions. Food intakes were measured with the 24-hour recall method and food frequency questionnaire. The dietary antioxidant capacity was estimated with the ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. Serum total antioxidant/oxidant capacity was examined by the Erel’s method. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 22.0) software was used for all analyses. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Results: The control and case group were similar of age, gender, and body mass index (p>0.05). It has been observed that 83.0% of individuals with osteoarthritis are overweight or obese. The daily consumption of red meat and butter of the individuals in the case group was higher than that of the control group, and their fish consumption and dietary vitamin A and carotene intakes were found to be lower (p<0.05). Dietary total antioxidant capacity (10.6±3.89 mmol) of case group was found to be lower than the dietary total antioxidant capacity (12.4±3.57 mmol) of the control group (p<0.05). In addition, osteoarthritis (OA) patients have total oxidant capacity (4.6±3.63 and 3.6±1.40 µmol H2O2 Equivalent) and oxidative stress index (0.2±0.05 and 0.2±0.07 AU) was also found to be higher than in control group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: These findings indicated that dietary antioxidant capacity is lower, total oxidant capacity higher in patients with OA than healthy people.
Effects of exogenous application of methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid on the physiological and molecular response of ‘Dusa®’ avocado to Rosellinia necatrix
Authors: Moreno-Pérez Ana , Martínez-Ferri Elsa , Berg Noelani van den , Prieto Maria Clara Pliego
Published: September 2023

Background: Elicitors are compounds that induce defense responses in plants similar to those induced by pathogens. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) are two of the most used elicitors due to their importance in mediating plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Elicitor recognition involves the triggering of various biochemical mechanisms and physiological responses that can provide plants with long-term protection against a wide range of pathogens. In this sense, exogenous application of MeJA and SA could protect susceptible avocado plants, such as 'Dusa®' rootstock, against white root rot (WRR) disease caused by the necrotrophic fungus Rosellinia necatrix, one of the main biotic stresses affecting avocado orchards in southern Spain and other countries. Thus, this work evaluated the effects of MeJA or SA on the physiological and molecular response of 'Dusa®' plants, and their ability to provide some protection against R. necatrix.
Results: MeJA and SA application in ‘Dusa®’ plants increased photoprotective mechanisms (NPQ) and upregulated the glutathione S-transferase, suggesting the triggering of mechanisms closely related to oxidative stress relief and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. In contrast to SA, MeJA effects in avocado were more pronounced at the morpho-anatomical level, including functional traits such as high leaf mass area (LMA), high stomatal density, high root/shoot ratio, closely related to strategies to cope with harsh environments, such as water scarcity and WRR disease. In addition, MeJA upregulated a greater number of defense-related genes than SA, most notably overexpression of a glu protease inhibitor, a key gene in avocado defense against R. necatrix. The overall effects of MeJA on ‘Dusa®’ avocado rootstock improved its performance after R. necatrix inoculation, as indicated by delayed WRR disease progression. In all plants, R. necatrix infection led to impaired rubisco carboxylation activity in the early stages of disease progression.
Conclusions: MeJA increased avocado tolerance to the necrotrophic pathogen R. necatrix by inducing a primed state that delayed WRR disease symptoms in susceptible avocado ‘Dusa®’. These findings point towards the use of MeJA application as an environmentally friendly strategy to mitigate the impact of this disease on susceptible rootstocks in avocado orchards.
CYB561 is a potential therapeutic target for BC and is associated with immune cell infiltration
Authors: Zhuo Jian , Zhao Yanchun , Hao Ruiying , Li He , Zheng Zilin , Dai Luxian , Sheng Ankang , Yao Hanyu , Tang Yubao , Wang Rao , Yang Xiaohong , Liu Weiguang
Published: September 2023

Background: Breast Cancer (BC), a prevalent malignant tumor originating from the terminal ductal lobular unit of the breast, poses a significant health risk to women. Previous studies have associated Cytochrome b561 (CYB561) with poor prognosis in BC, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.
Methods: We investigated the expression value of CYB561 mRNA in BC using databases such as TCGA, GEO, TNMplot, and Kaplan-Meier Plotter. The prognostic value of CYB561 protein in BC was assessed in relation to CYB561 protein expression levels in tissue samples from 158 BC patients. The influence of CYB561 on BC progression was confirmed through in vivo and in vitro experiments. The biological functions and related signaling pathways of CYB561 in BC were explored using gene microarray combined with IPA analysis, GO enrichment analysis, and KEGG enrichment analysis. The correlation between CYB561 and the BC tumor immune microenvironment was evaluated based on the CIBERSORT algorithm and single-cell analysis, and further validated by immunohistochemistry of serial sections.
Results: Our study demonstrated that CYB561 expression is a predictor of poor prognosis in BC patients. CYB561 was found to promote BC progression in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. CYB561 was observed to modulate downstream Tropomyosin 1 (TPM1) expression. Furthermore, CYB561 expression was associated with macrophage M2 polarization in the BC immune microenvironment.
Conclusions: Elevated CYB561 expression suggests a poor prognosis for BC patients and is associated with macrophage M2 polarization in the BC microenvironment. Therefore, CYB561 could potentially serve as a therapeutic target for BC.
Gut microbial interactions based on network construction and bacterial pairwise cultivation
Authors: Jiang Min-Zhi , Liu Chang , Xu Chang , Jiang He , Wang Yulin , Liu Shuang-Jiang
Published: September 2023

Background: Association networks are widely applied to predict bacterial interactions in the human gut microbiome studies. However, experimental validation of the predicted interactions is challenging due to the complexity of microbial composition and the limited number of cultivated bacteria.Results: In this study, we addressed this challenge by integratingin vitrotime series network association inference and co-culture of taxon pairs in network. Fecal samples were cultivated on YCFA agar plates for 13 days. Cells from agar were temporally harvested for DNA extraction and metagenomic sequencing. A total of 198 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were recovered and 360 bacterial isolates were cultivated belonging to 59 species. Temporal dynamics of bacteria growing on the YCFA agar were used to infer microbial association networks. To experimentally validate the interactions of taxon pairs in networks, we selected 43 bacterial strains that represented 43 MAGs. Among these, 19 strains were collected from the human Gut Microbial Biobank (hGMB) and 24 were isolated from this study. The co-culture experiments revealed that the majority of the interactions between taxa in networks were identified as neutralism (51.67%), followed by commensalism (21.67%), amensalism (18.33%), competition (5%) and exploitation (3.33%). Genome-centric analysis further revealed that the commensal members in human gut extensively involved the exchange of amino acids with greatest biosynthesis cost, short-chain fatty acids, and vitamins. We also validated the 12 beneficiaries by adding 16 additives into the basic YCFA medium. As a result, we found that the growth of 66.7% of the strains was significantly promoted.Conclusions: We have established a method that infers microbial interactions from association networks and validates these interactions using representative strains. This approach provides new insights into reducing the complexity of gut community and confirming microbial interactions in association networks through co-culture experimental. Our work highlights that the inferred gut microbial association networks tend to overestimate positive relationships in the real-world gut microbial communities. Moreover, the confirmed positive relationships between gut microbes are likely mediated by the exchange of amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins.
Composition and biological activities of Prunus mahaleb L. (Rosaceae) Leaf extract; antibiofilm effect on clinical strains
Authors: Dashtizadeh Zahra , Kashi fereshteh Jookar , Toluei Zeinab
Published: September 2023

In this work, leaves of Prunus mahaleb L. plant were extracted using methanol solvent. The chemical constituents of the n-hexane fraction of the methanol extract were identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds of the extract was measured. The antioxidant and anticancer activities were investigated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and brine shrimp method, respectively. Then the ability of biofilm inhibition of the extract was evaluated. The results showed that octadecenoic acid (26.13%) and 14-methyl-8-hexadecyn-1-ol (18.54%) were the main constituents of the extract. The extract also contains significant amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compounds (100.31 ± 0.004 and 42.07 ± 0.014 µg/mg, respectively). DPPH test showed that the extract had high antioxidant activity (IC50 = 53.09 ± 0.13 µg/ml), but the brine shrimp test showed that the extract had no anticancer effect. The evolution of biofilm inhibition showed that the extract had good inhibitory effect on multidrug resistance E. coli strains. This study was performed for the first time on the leaf extract of P. mahaleb L. plant (collected from the Marivan, Iran) which showed that the leaves of the plant have significant amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and have good anti-biofilm and antioxidant properties.
A New Performance-Based Measure of Personality Functioning Impairment: Development and Preliminary Evaluation of Reliability and Validity
Authors: Natoli Adam P. , Rodriguez Chloe M.
Published: September 2023

Personality functioning impairment is at the center of many dimensional models of personality. Available measures of personality functioning impairment are limited to self-report, clinician-/informant-rated, and interview methods. Although researchers have begun investigating established performance-based instruments’ potential for assessing personality functioning impairment, administration and scoring of these instruments is complex and the latent variables they measure diverge from personality functioning impairment as described in the ICD-11 and the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) of the DSM. We address this absence by developing and psychometrically evaluating the Level of Personality Functioning Scale – Questionnaire-based Implicit Association Test (LPFS-qIAT). The LPFS-qIAT’s psychometric properties were evaluated across four studies, producing initial evidence supporting the new instrument’s reliability as well as its convergent, discriminant, and criterion-related validity. As the first performance-based measure of personality functioning impairment that aligns with the ICD-11 and AMPD that is easily administered, scored, and interpreted, the LPFS-qIAT shows potential to become a valuable tool in both research and clinical practice.
Distinct effects of dietary Chitosan, ZnO, and Chitosan–ZnO nanocomposite on the performance and diet economic efficiency of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)
Authors: Asadi Mohammad Sheikh , Naji Abolfazl , Sourinejad Iman , Gharaei Ahmad , Niroomand Mohammad
Published: September 2023

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with chitosan, zinc oxide (ZnO), and chitosan–ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on the growth, survival, body composition, digestive enzymes activities, and hemato-immunity of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei), alongside its impact on diet economic efficiency. Shrimps with an initial weight of 3.27 ± 0.11 g were exposed to eight diets: a control basal diet without additives, and experimental diets containing 36 mg kg− 1 chitosan, 10, 20, and 40 mg kg− 1 ZnO, and chitosan–ZnO NPs over a 90-day period. All experimental diets led to enhancements in final weight, specific growth rate, weight gain (%), survival rate, and feed conversion ratio. The most significant improvements in growth performance and survival rate were observed with chitosan–ZnO NPs at the 10 mg kg− 1 dosage. Furthermore, experimental treatments resulted in elevated whole-body lipid and protein contents, as well as heightened activities of protease, amylase, and lipase enzymes compared to the control group. Substantially increased digestive enzymes activities were noted in shrimps fed chitosan–ZnO NPs at 10 mg kg− 1 concentration (P < 0.05). In addition, shrimp fed with chitosan–ZnO NPs at 10 mg kg− 1 exhibited lower levels of serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase, along with higher levels of acid phosphatase (P < 0.05). Notably, total and differential hemocyte counts showed a gradual increase from the control group to experimental treatments, peaking with chitosan–ZnO NPs at the 10 mg kg− 1 concentration. The findings highlight the potential of bionanocomposites, specifically chitosan–ZnO NPs, in improving shrimp nutrition and subsequently its diet economic efficiency. This study provides valuable insights into sustainable approaches for optimizing the performance of Penaeus vannamei in aquaculture systems.
Beyond Traditional RK3: Exploring the Stability and Convergence of Efficient Explicit Modified Runge-Kutta Techniques
Authors: Kouser Salima , Rehman Shafiq Ur , Ahmad Fayyaz , Shahid Humayoun
Published: September 2023

We introduce and comprehensively discuss two third-order Efficient Explicit Modified Runge-Kutta (EEMRK) methods designed to address the computational challenges often faced in traditional methods. The first of these, termed as EEMRK-I, is characterized by its 3-stage process, complemented by 2 functional evaluations. In contrast, the EEMRK-II method is streamlined further, utilizing just 2 stages, yet retaining the same number of functional evaluations for each integration step. One of the foremost benefits of adopting the EEMRK methods is their appreciably reduced computational expenditure, which promises greater efficiency in various applications. To support our propositions, we present a meticulous proof detailing the order of convergence, and further delineate the regions in which these methods maintain their stability. We have also conducted rigorous numerical tests on both scalar and system initial value problems. The results from these tests provide compelling evidence that the EEMRK methods not only hold their own but also surpass the efficiency of traditional RK3 methods. This paper, thus, aims to shed light on these novel methods, offering a promising direction for those seeking enhanced computational efficiency.
Assessing nitrate groundwater hotspots in Europe reveals a severely inadequate designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
Authors: Serra João , Marques-dos-Santos Cláudia , Marinheiro Joana , Cruz Soraia , Cameira Rosário , de Vries Wim , Dalgaard Tommy , Hutchings Nicholas , Graversgaard Morten , Giannini-Kurina Franca , Lassaletta Luis , Sanz-Cobena Alberto , Quemada Miguel , Aguilera Eduardo , Medinets Sergiy , Einarsson Rasmus , Garnier Josette
Published: September 2023

Monitoring networks show that the European Union Nitrates Directive (ND) has had mixed success in reducing nitrate concentrations in groundwater. By combining machine learning and monitored nitrate concentrations (1992-2019), we estimate the nitrate hotspot area in Europe to be 401,000 km2, with 47% occurring outside of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs). We also found contrasting increasing or decreasing trends, varying per country and time periods. We estimate that only 5% of the 122,000 km2 of hotspots in 2019 will meet nitrate quality standards by 2040 and that these may be offset by the appearance of new hotspots. Our results reveal that the effectiveness of the ND is limited by time-lags between the implementation of good practices and pollution reduction and an inadequate designation of NVZs. Significant improvements in the designation and regulation of NVZs are necessary, if the objectives of EU legislation to protect groundwater are to be achieved.
Bibliography Review of Recent Definition Research on Myanmar Southwest Monsoon
Authors: oo KYAW Than
Published: September 2023

The monsoon system determines the seasonal climate patterns over most parts of Asia, mainly the Indian sub-continent, Southeast Asia, and large parts of East Asia. Research on the monsoon has a history dating back more than a hundred years, since the 1890s. This review analyzes the previous research about Asian monsoons, especially in Myanmar regions, that has been published internationally. Based on the Scopus database, bibliometric analysis was also conducted to explore research trends in monsoon rainfall studies. The accurate determination of onset and withdrawal dates has implications for various sectors. However, determining precise onset and withdrawal dates poses challenges due to interannual and spatial variability. The Myanmar Southwest Monsoon (MSwM) index is the most popular tool to determine the onset and withdrawal dates of the southwest monsoon over its regions. Advancements in satellite remote sensing, climate modeling, and data assimilation techniques provide opportunities for refining monsoon intensity indices. Additionally, efforts to better understand the interactions between the monsoon and climate teleconnections can contribute to improved monsoon intensity assessment. The MSwM is a separate system from the major South Asian monsoon system, and its cycle of seasons is closely connected to the seasonal cycle in mainland Indochina. The Tibetan Plateau's thermal influence accentuates the meridional land-sea thermal contrast and the zonal land-sea thermal contrast, making it important to monitor and anticipate monsoons. The MSwM is outcome of interactions between the earth, ocean, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere. Thus, it has a significant impact on the region's plantation, bio-earth, chemistry, economics, and society. The current coupled model of the land-sea-atmosphere system has limitations, so advancement in the study of models is highly anticipated. Research on this topic aids in regulating human activity, recognizing harmony between people and nature, and safeguarding the human habitat.