bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aerial LTE demonstration report
Authors: Maurice Maxwell K , Ray Samuel L
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we investigate a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network mounted on an airborne small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) to provide broadband connectivity to smartphone devices on the ground. The use case is a public safety scenario where users require broadband connectivity in an isolated area. We evaluate practical constraints for the delivery platform and the LTE system. We propose research questions on how the orbit of a fixed-wing sUAS would affect the coverage area provided by the airborne small cell, and we describe the test plan used to investigate our questions. We present data on multiple field experiments and provide recommendations for future realistic deployments.
Proceso de diseño y creación de una obra de arte generativo con objetivos lúdicos
Authors: Ramírez Luzón Vicent
Published: July 2021

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo la creación de una obra de Arte Generativo profundizando en las posibilidades lúdicas de los medios de interacción no convencionales. Con esta finalidad, se diseña un dispositivo físico que permite la interacción y como resultado, modifica una pieza del arte digital.
ESTIMATING THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF NIGERIA DURING MILITARY AND CIVILIAN REGIMES: A CHOW TEST
Authors: Abiola Abidemi , Adetunji Adefabi Rasak
Published: July 2021

Gross domestic product is the commonest economic vari- able that is used to measure economic performance, either for intertemporal or international comparison. Nigeria as a country has been ruled since independence by two sets of regimes: the military and the civilian. Arguments were and still are concerned with which of the two regimes favoured the country economically. The study therefore estimates the gross domestic product of Nigeria using Chow test. The essence of Chow test is to determine if there was structural break from the point the country fully began civilian dis- pensation from the previous military regime. Using both the F statistic and the Chow test, the results show that there was indeed structural break between the military regime and the civilian regime. This result was further confirmed by the Cusum Square test that shows that the overall model was unstable before the correction. The results further show that out of five components of aggregate demand, four of the variables have coefficients higher during the civilian than the military regime. The study therefore concluded that civilian rule is better economically than military rule in Nigeria. It was recommended that politicians and politi- cal office holders should act within the ambit of the law to sustain the democracy the country is currently enjoying.
BUSINESS GROWTH MANAGEMENT IN REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA
Authors: Vučenović Saša , Zolak Poljašević Branka , Mišić Igor
Published: July 2021

The research methodology starts from the calcu- lation of the coefficient for each individual com- pany in order to obtain the indicators by calculat- ing the arithmetic mean, median and quartile. As econometric stochastic models have little value for predicting or explaining the growth process at the level of individual companies, the central subject of interest is understanding the growth process at the level of an individual company. The sustainable growth rate of a company depends on the activity of the company. Numerous factors can affect the growth of a company, but the influence of individu- al factors on the growth of a company is rarely sig- nificant and permanent. The results of the research indicate a very asymmetric distribution of the size of enterprises, with a small number of large enter- prises and a large number of small enterprises. The model of sustainable growth is an effective tool for financial planning and directing business policy to- wards stimulating growth in certain industries.
AAV ablates neurogenesis in the adult murine hippocampus
Authors: Johnston Stephen , Parylak Sarah L , Kim Stacy , Mac Nolan , Lim Christina , Gallina Iryna , Bloyd Cooper , Newberry Alexander , Saavedra Christian D , Novak Ondrej , Gonçalves J Tiago , Gage Fred H , Shtrahman Matthew
Published: July 2021

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has been widely used as a viral vector across mammalian biology and has been shown to be safe and effective in human gene therapy. We demonstrate that neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and immature dentate granule cells (DGCs) within the adult murine hippocampus are particularly sensitive to rAAV-induced cell death. Cell loss is dose dependent and nearly complete at experimentally relevant viral titers. rAAV-induced cell death is rapid and persistent, with loss of BrdU-labeled cells within 18 hr post-injection and no evidence of recovery of adult neurogenesis at 3 months post-injection. The remaining mature DGCs appear hyperactive 4 weeks post-injection based on immediate early gene expression, consistent with previous studies investigating the effects of attenuating adult neurogenesis. In vitro application of AAV or electroporation of AAV2 inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) is sufficient to induce cell death. Efficient transduction of the dentategyrus (DG)– without ablating adult neurogenesis– can be achieved by injection of rAAV2-retro serotyped virus into CA3. rAAV2-retro results in efficient retrograde labeling of mature DGCs and permits in vivo two-photon calcium imaging of dentate activity while leaving adult neurogenesis intact. These findings expand on recent reports implicating rAAV-linked toxicity in stem cells and other cell types and suggest that future work using rAAV as an experimental tool in the DG and as a gene therapy for diseases of the central nervous system should be carefully evaluated.
Relationship between changing malaria burden and low birth weight in sub-Saharan Africa: A difference-in-differences study via a pair-of-pairs approach
Authors: Heng Siyu , O'Meara Wendy P , Simmons Ryan A , Small Dylan S
Published: July 2021

Background:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2018, an estimated 228 million malaria cases occurred worldwide with most cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Scale-up of vector control tools coupled with increased access to diagnosis and effective treatment has resulted in a large decline in malaria prevalence in some areas, but other areas have seen little change. Although interventional studies demonstrate that preventing malaria during pregnancy can reduce the rate of low birth weight (i.e. child’s birth weight <2500 g), it remains unknown whether natural changes in parasite transmission and malaria burden can improve birth outcomes.

Methods:

We conducted an observational study of the effect of changing malaria burden on low birth weight using data from 18,112 births in 19 countries in sub-Saharan African countries during the years 2000–2015. Specifically, we conducted a difference-in-differences study via a pair-of-pairs matching approach using the fact that some sub-Saharan areas experienced sharp drops in malaria prevalence and some experienced little change.

Results:

A malaria prevalence decline from a high rate (Plasmodium falciparum parasite rate in children aged 2-up-to-10 (i.e. PfPR2-10) > 0.4) to a low rate (PfPR2-10 < 0.2) is estimated to reduce the rate of low birth weight by 1.48 percentage points (95% confidence interval: 3.70 percentage points reduction, 0.74 percentage points increase), which is a 17% reduction in the low birth weight rate compared to the average (8.6%) in our study population with observed birth weight records (1.48/8.6 ≈ 17%). When focusing on first pregnancies, a decline in malaria prevalence from high to low is estimated to have a greater impact on the low birth weight rate than for all births: 3.73 percentage points (95% confidence interval: 9.11 percentage points reduction, 1.64 percentage points increase).

Conclusions:

Although the confidence intervals cannot rule out the possibility of no effect at the 95% confidence level, the concurrence between our primary analysis, secondary analyses, and sensitivity analyses, and the magnitude of the effect size, contribute to the weight of the evidence suggesting that declining malaria burden can potentially substantially reduce the low birth weight rate at the community level in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among firstborns. The novel statistical methodology developed in this article–a pair-of-pairs approach to a difference-in-differences study–could be useful for many settings in which different units are observed at different times.

Funding:

Ryan A. Simmons is supported by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (UL1TR002553). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Fast deep neural correspondence for tracking and identifying neurons in C. elegans using semi-synthetic training
Authors: Yu Xinwei , Creamer Matthew S , Randi Francesco , Sharma Anuj K , Linderman Scott W , Leifer Andrew M
Published: July 2021

We present an automated method to track and identify neurons in C. elegans, called ‘fast Deep Neural Correspondence’ or fDNC, based on the transformer network architecture. The model is trained once on empirically derived semi-synthetic data and then predicts neural correspondence across held-out real animals. The same pre-trained model both tracks neurons across time and identifies corresponding neurons across individuals. Performance is evaluated against hand-annotated datasets, including NeuroPAL (Yemini et al., 2021). Using only position information, the method achieves 79.1% accuracy at tracking neurons within an individual and 64.1% accuracy at identifying neurons across individuals. Accuracy at identifying neurons across individuals is even higher (78.2%) when the model is applied to a dataset published by another group (Chaudhary et al., 2021). Accuracy reaches 74.7% on our dataset when using color information from NeuroPAL. Unlike previous methods, fDNC does not require straightening or transforming the animal into a canonical coordinate system. The method is fast and predicts correspondence in 10 ms making it suitable for future real-time applications.
Loss of Tsc1 in cerebellar Purkinje cells induces transcriptional and translation changes in FMRP target transcripts
Authors: Dalal Jasbir Singh , Winden Kellen Diamond , Salussolia Catherine Lourdes , Sundberg Maria , Singh Achint , Pham Truc Thanh , Zhou Pingzhu , Pu William T , Miller Meghan T , Sahin Mustafa
Published: July 2021

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder that is associated with multiple neurological manifestations. Previously, we demonstrated that Tsc1 loss in cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) can cause altered social behavior in mice. Here, we performed detailed transcriptional and translational analyses of Tsc1-deficient PCs to understand the molecular alterations in these cells. We found that target transcripts of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) are reduced in mutant PCs with evidence of increased degradation. Surprisingly, we observed unchanged ribosomal binding for many of these genes using translating ribosome affinity purification. Finally, we found that multiple FMRP targets, including SHANK2, were reduced, suggesting that compensatory increases in ribosomal binding efficiency may be unable to overcome reduced transcript levels. These data further implicate dysfunction of FMRP and its targets in TSC and suggest that treatments aimed at restoring the function of these pathways may be beneficial.
Single-cell analysis of the ventricular-subventricular zone reveals signatures of dorsal and ventral adult neurogenesis
Authors: Cebrian-Silla Arantxa , Nascimento Marcos Assis , Redmond Stephanie A , Mansky Benjamin , Wu David , Obernier Kirsten , Romero Rodriguez Ricardo , Gonzalez-Granero Susana , García-Verdugo Jose Manuel , Lim Daniel A , Álvarez-Buylla Arturo
Published: July 2021

The ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ), on the walls of the lateral ventricles, harbors the largest neurogenic niche in the adult mouse brain. Previous work has shown that neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in different locations within the V-SVZ produce different subtypes of new neurons for the olfactory bulb. The molecular signatures that underlie this regional heterogeneity remain largely unknown. Here, we present a single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset of the adult mouse V-SVZ revealing two populations of NSPCs that reside in largely non-overlapping domains in either the dorsal or ventral V-SVZ. These regional differences in gene expression were further validated using a single-nucleus RNA-sequencing reference dataset of regionally microdissected domains of the V-SVZ and by immunocytochemistry and RNAscope localization. We also identify two subpopulations of young neurons that have gene expression profiles consistent with a dorsal or ventral origin. Interestingly, a subset of genes are dynamically expressed, but maintained, in the ventral or dorsal lineages. The study provides novel markers and territories to understand the region-specific regulation of adult neurogenesis.
A locomotor neural circuit persists and functions similarly in larvae and adult Drosophila
Authors: Lee Kristen , Doe Chris Q
Published: July 2021

Individual neurons can undergo drastic structural changes, known as neuronal remodeling or structural plasticity. One example of this is in response to hormones, such as during puberty in mammals or metamorphosis in insects. However, in each of these examples, it remains unclear whether the remodeled neuron resumes prior patterns of connectivity, and if so, whether the persistent circuits drive similar behaviors. Here, we utilize a well-characterized neural circuit in the Drosophila larva: the moonwalker descending neuron (MDN) circuit. We previously showed that larval MDN induces backward crawling, and synapses onto the Pair1 interneuron to inhibit forward crawling (Carreira-Rosario et al., 2018). MDN is remodeled during metamorphosis and regulates backward walking in the adult fly. We investigated whether Pair1 is remodeled during metamorphosis and functions within the MDN circuit during adulthood. We assayed morphology and molecular markers to demonstrate that Pair1 is remodeled during metamorphosis and persists in the adult fly. MDN-Pair1 connectivity is lost during early pupal stages, when both neurons are severely pruned back, but connectivity is re-established at mid-pupal stages and persist into the adult. In the adult, optogenetic activation of Pair1 resulted in arrest of forward locomotion, similar to what is observed in larvae. Thus, the MDN-Pair1 neurons are an interneuronal circuit – a pair of synaptically connected interneurons – that is re-established during metamorphosis, yet generates similar locomotor behavior at both larval and adult stages.
Improving patient rehabilitation performance in exercise games using collaborative filtering approach
Authors: Ismail Waidah , Al-Hadi Ismail Ahmed Al-Qasem , Grosan Crina , Hendradi Rimuljo
Published: July 2021

Background

Virtual reality is utilised in exergames to help patients with disabilities improve on the movement of their limbs. Exergame settings, such as the game difficulty, play important roles in the rehabilitation outcome. Similarly, suboptimal exergames’ settings may adversely affect the accuracy of the results obtained. As such, the improvement in patients’ movement performances falls below the desired expectations. In this paper, a recommender system is incorporated to suggest the most preferred movement setting for each patient, based on the movement history of the patient.

Method

The proposed recommender system (ResComS) suggests the most suitable setting necessary to optimally improve patients’ rehabilitation performances. In the course of developing the recommender system, three methods are proposed and compared: ReComS (K-nearest neighbours and collaborative filtering algorithms), ReComS+ (k-means, K-nearest neighbours, and collaborative filtering algorithms) and ReComS++ (bacterial foraging optimisation, k-means, K-nearest neighbours, and collaborative filtering algorithms). The experimental datasets are collected using the Medical Interactive Recovery Assistant (MIRA) software platform.

Result

Experimental results, validated by the patients’ exergame performances, reveal that the ReComS++ approach predicts the best exergame settings for patients with 85.76% accuracy.
Predictive and discriminative localization of pathology using high resolution class activation maps with CNNs
Authors: Shinde Sumeet , Tupe-Waghmare Priyanka , Chougule Tanay , Saini Jitender , Ingalhalikar Madhura
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Existing class activation mapping (CAM) techniques extract the feature maps only from a single layer of the convolutional neural net (CNN), generally from the final layer and then interpolate to upsample to the original image resolution to locate the discriminative regions. Consequently these provide a coarse localization that may not be able to capture subtle abnormalities in medical images. To alleviate this, our work proposes a technique called high resolution class activation mapping (HR-CAMs) that can provide enhanced visual explainability to the CNN models.

Methods

HR-CAMs fuse feature maps by training a network using the input from multiple layers of a trained CNN, thus gaining information from every layer that can localize abnormalities with greater details in original image resolution. The technique is validated qualitatively and quantitatively on a simulated dataset of 8,000 images followed by applications on multiple image analysis tasks that include (1) skin lesion classification (ISIC open dataset—25,331 cases) and (2) predicting bone fractures (MURA open dataset—40,561 images) (3) predicting Parkinson’s disease (PD) from neuromelanin sensitive MRI (small cohort-80 subjects).

Results

We demonstrate that our model creates clinically interpretable subject specific high resolution discriminative localizations when compared to widely used CAMs and Gradient-CAMs.

Conclusion

HR-CAMs provide finer delineation of abnormalities thus facilitating superior explainability to CNNs as has been demonstrated from its rigorous validation.
LncRNA AC007255.1, an immune-related prognostic enhancer RNA in esophageal cancer
Authors: Wang Qingqing , Yu Xiaoyan , Yang Ningning , Xu Lu , Zhou Yunfeng
Published: July 2021

Background

Growing evidence has suggested that enhancer RNAs (eRNAs), a set of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that were derived from active enhancer regions, play critical roles in regulating gene expression in human cancers. Nevertheless potential functions of eRNAs in esophageal cancer ESCA have not yet been expounded. Here, this study aimed to explore key prognostic eRNAs in ESCA.

Methods

LncRNAs that were transcribed from active enhancer regions were analyzed utilizing the PreSTIGE algorithm, followed by prediction of their target genes. Based on the ESCA RNA-seq data from the TANRIC database, overall survival (OS)-related eRNAs were determined. The correlation between AC007255.1 expression and various clinical traits of ESCA was calculated. Functional enrichment analysis was presented based on its co-expressed genes. Based on the TIMER database, we analyzed correlations between AC007255.1 expression and immune infiltration levels. qRT-PCR was utilized to validate the expression of AC007255.1 and PRR15 in ESCA and normal tissues.

Results

Totally, 2,695 lncRNAs were transcribed from active enhancer regions. Among them, 33 were significantly related to OS. AC007255.1 was a key eRNA. PRR15 was a target gene of AC007255.1 (correlation coefficient r = 0.936). Patients with high AC007255.1 expression indicated poor OS time. There were significant correlations between AC007255.1 expression and clinical characteristics like pathological TNM, grade and stage. AC007255.1 was closely related to tight junction and neutrophil activation involved in immune response. Moreover, AC007255.1 expression was related to the infiltration levels of B cell, dendritic cell and neutrophil. qRT-PCR results confirmed that AC007255.1 and PRR15 were both up-regulated in ESCA tissues, and there was a positive correlation between the two.

Conclusion

Our findings identified a novel immune-related eRNA AC007255.1 in ESCA, which could be a promising prognostic factor for ESCA.
Effects of salt stress levels on nutritional quality and microorganisms of alfalfa-influenced soil
Authors: Lu Qiang , Ge GenTu , Sa DuoWen , Wang ZhiJun , Hou MeiLing , Jia Yu Shan
Published: July 2021

Background

Globally, there is a large amount of salinized land. These soils have varying degrees of salt stress, causing ionic toxicity and osmotic stress on plants. However, it is not clear how different degrees of salt stress affect plant nutrients and microbial communities. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of plant major nutrients and microbial communities response to salt stress is desirable.

Results

We analyzed the main nutrients of the salt-tolerant ZhongMu No. 3 alfalfa variety planted in a salt stress environment. In mild and moderate group, the protein content and fatty acid content of alfalfa were the highest, indicating the best nutritional value. The severe group of salt stress affected the growth and development of alfalfa, as manifested by a decrease in the nutritional quality of alfalfa. Pseudomonas and Sphingobacterium that from alfalfa stem and leaf endophytes also increased with an increase in salt stress. In contrast, Sphingomonas, Methylobacterium, and Rhizobium decrease with increasing salt stress. Methylobacterium and Rhizobium have extremely significant differences in response to salt stress, and Exiquobacterium also shows significant differences.

Conclusions

Soil salinity would be an important factor beyond which alfalfa nutrient quality and microbial community structure change. This study identified key levels of salt stress that may affect the nutrient quality and microbial community structure. These findings enhance our understanding of the effects of salt stress on the nutritional quality of alfalfa and provide a reference for the sustainable use of salinized soil in the future.
Relationship between Body Mass Index and Skin Fold Thickness in Young Females
Authors: Mukkamala Neha , Patel Pooja , Shankar Gauri , Soni Jay , Parmar Lata
Published: July 2021

Background: Anthropometric indicators are used to evaluate the prognosis of chronic and acute diseases, and to guide medical intervention. In anthropometry, body mass index (BMI) is widely accepted in determining obesity and skin fold thickness measurements provide good estimates of body fat.

Aim: To see the relationship between BMI and skin fold thickness in young females.

Study Design: Observational study

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study. Measurements of height, weight, BMI and skin fold thickness were obtained for young adult females. Triceps, suprailiac and abdomen skin fold thickness were measured by using a skin fold calliper. For skin fold thickness, all measurements were taken three times and an average value was recorded.

Results: Total 251 participants took part in the study. The mean skin fold thickness in the triceps was 22±6.02 mm, abdominal was 24.41±5.84 mm, and suprailiac was 21.23±5.74 mm. There was a significant correlation seen between BMI and triceps SFT (ρ=0.816,P=0.000), BMI and Abdominal SFT (ρ=0.854,P=0.000) and BMI and suprailiac SFT (ρ=0.850,P=0.000). There was a significant association between BMI and physical activities (P=0.000).

Conclusion: There was a significant correlation seen between BMI and SFT at triceps, abdominal and suprailiac region. There was a significant association between BMI and physical activities.
Effects of Combination Therapy of Methotrexate with Sulfasalazine and Hydroxychloroquine: Comparative Clinical Trial
Authors: Bukhari Qurrat-Ul-Ain , Mirza Kauser Moin , Dar Muzna Hameed , Abbas Afshan , Faisal Hina , Hassan Faiza
Published: July 2021

Aims: To study the role of two combination therapies in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Study Design: This an open-label, randomized 180-days clinical trial.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, BMSI and Medical unit ward 6.

Methodology: Eighty-nine patients were enrolled (69 women, 20 men; age range 28-62 years). A and B were the groups assigned to the patients.  MTX 7.5-20 mg/ week orally and SSZ 10-20 mg / day orally as maximally tolerated were prescribed to the 55 patients of group A. MTX 7.5-20 mg/ week orally and HCQ 200 mg twice daily were prescribed to the 54 patients of group B..

Results: When we compared group A with group B, group A showed major progress in mean swollen joint count (1.9 ± 0.97) as compared to group B (2.7 ± 1.78). Group B showed major progress in mean physician’s global assessment (2.7 ± 0.92) as compared to group A (3.8 ± 1.22). For that reason, our study showed that patients receiving both the combinations responded equally in terms of efficacy but the combination of MTX and HCQ is better tolerated than the combination of MTX and SSZ.

Conclusion: Both combinations of MTX & SSZ and MTX & HCQ were equally effective but the combination of MTX & HCQ was superior in terms of tolerability than the combination of MTX and SSZ.
Effects of Fermented Coffee Extracts on Spatial Cognition and Memory of Alzheimer’s Disease Induced Rats
Authors: Shree R. Vidhya , Praveen R. , Sukumaran Prabhu
Published: July 2021

Aim: The current study hypothesizes that ingestion of polyphenols-enriched preparation such as yeast fermented extracts of green and roasted coffee beans will demonstrate neuroprotective and stimulatory function.

Study Design: Optimizing yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) mediated fermentation conditions of C.Arabica beans →Extraction by the sonication-agitation method before and after roasting to obtain Fermented Green Coffee Extracts (FGCE) and Fermented Roasted Coffee Extracts (FRCE) →Phytochemical profiling of the fermented extracts was performed → Animal Study (in vivo evaluation).

Place and Duration: The research work was conducted during December, 2019 to May, 2020 at the Department of Biotechnology, Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, Post Bag No.1, Pennalur, Sriperumbudur Tk, Kancheepuram Dt TN-602117, India.

Methodology: The FGCE and FRCE extracts were prepared and subjected to comparative phytochemical profiling for in vitro analysis. Further, the in vivo analysis was performed on 24 Albino Wistar rats, which were divided into four groups (Group I (Control group) received normal diet; Group II (AD induced group) received AlCl3; Group III received FGCE and AlCl3, Group IV received FRCE and AlCl3). In order to represent the most exact model that mimics AD the rats were injected with AlCl3 .6H2O at dose 70 mg / kg I.P for 6 weeks. During induction the rats were subjected to spatial memory tests (T-maze) and motor co-ordination tests (burrowing assay).

Results: The FGCE had a higher amount of polyphenols (1.20 ± 0.02 GAE mg / ml) compared to FRCE (0.99 ± 0.047 GAE mg / ml). Also, the ferric reducing anti-oxidant potential was higher in FGCE (5.14 ± 0.17 mmol Fe2+ / g) than in FRCE (3.7 ± 0.2 mmol Fe2+ / g). As a result of behavioural analysis, the fermented green coffee extract consumption in Alzheimer induced rats had a prominent positive effect on memory retention and motor co-ordination.

Conclusion: This study elucidates the potential nature of FGCE in decelerating the progression of AD at a higher rate than FRCE.
Simultaneous Determination and Validation of Flupirtine Maleate and Paracetamol in Combined Dosage Form by Chromatographic Technique
Authors: Dash Dillip Kumar , Sen Ashim Kumar , Saisivam S. , Sadhu Piyushkumar , Patel Shivkant , Baile Sunil
Published: July 2021

Objective: The focus of this research was to establish a validated high-performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for analysing Flupirtine maleate and Paracetamol in a combined dosage form.

Method: Paracetamol and Flupirtine maleate were measured using a mobile phase of Ethyl acetate: Chloroform (7:5 v/v) at 286 nm. This technique was validated in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines.

Results: The Rf value for paracetamol was 0.31 and 0.52 for Flupirtine maleate in this existing technique. Paracetamol's linearity was found to be in the range of 3250-6500 ng/band, while Flupirtine maleate's linearity was found to be in the range of 1000-2000 ng/band. The method's accuracy was determined by recovery experiments, which revealed a percent recovery of 98 to 102 percent. The % RSD was determined to be less than 2 in the Precision investigation, and the assay result for both compounds was within the limit.
RP-HPLC Method Development and Validation for the Estimation of Lansoprazole in Presence of Related Substances by QbD Approach
Authors: Gholve Sachin B. , Sangshetti Jaiprakash N. , Bhusnure Omprakash G. , Sakhare Ram S. , Bhosale Pratap H. , Mouzam Md. Ismail
Published: July 2021

A rapid specific RP-HPLC method has been developed for the determination of Lansoprazole impurities in the drug substance. The control of pharmaceutical impurities is currently a critical issue in the pharmaceutical industry. The International Council for Harmonization (ICH) has formulated a workable guideline regarding the control of impurities. The objective of the recent study was to develop and validate a HPLC method for the quantitative determination of process-related impurities of Lansoprazole in pharmaceutical drug substance. Lansoprazole, 2-[[[3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-2-pyridinyl] methyl]-sulfinyl]- 1H-benzimidazole is an proton pump inhibitor used in the management of gastric ulcers. Chromatographic identification of the impurities was carried out by response surface methodology, applying a three-level Box Behnken design with three center points. Three factors selected were a mobile phase, flow rate, column temperature. Evaluation of the main factor, their interaction, and the quadric effect on peak resolution were done on Waters Symmetry C8, 250 x 4.6mm, 5µm column is used for the development of the method. The mobile phase consists of buffer and acetonitrile. The flow rate of the mobile phase was 1.0 ml/min with gradient elution. The column temperature is ambient and the detection wavelength is 235 nm. The injection volume was 10 µL. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines for linearity in the range of 50-150 µg/ml and the LOD & LOQ values obtained were 0.437×10-4 and 0.1325×10-3 µg/ml respectively which specifies the method's sensitivity. The proposed method was successfully used to determine the Lansoprazole impurities in drug substances.
Association of Mental Health and Aggression against Co-Workers in Indian Banks during COVID 19
Authors: Dutt Shivani , Moray Rashmy
Published: July 2021

Most representatives working in banks have been affected severely due to COVID 19 widespread in India. This comprehensive examination's key goal is to carefully examine mental health problems such as anxiety and depression among the bank employees and identify their relationship with aggression against their co-workers during COVID-19 circumstance. A non-probability snowball testing procedure has been utilized to direct online surveys from 536 employees. A moderate level of information has been perceived about COVID 19 among the employees working in banks. Besides COVID-19 related information, anxiety was surveyed by English adaptation of GAD-scale; an English version of CES-D has been used to gauge the depression and aggression against co-workers and is assessed by Conflict Tactics Scales. Affiliations between aggressions against co-workers with mental health problems have been recognized using multiple logistic regressions. The predominance of anxiety and depression is 24.27% and 47.72%, respectively. Additionally, the prevalence of the union of depression and anxiety is 20.81%.  71.1% of participants show frequent aggression against co-workers. The research findings depict that frequent aggression against co-workers was particularly connected with mental health issues during the COVID-19 flare-up. These detections ensnared that the administration needs to consider psychological well-being issues, particularly depression and anxiety among bank employees.
Dhoopana-A Concept of Fumigation in Ayurveda
Authors: Sawarkar Punam , Sawarkar Gaurav
Published: July 2021

Concept of disinfection or fumigation is very important as every host has not optimum level of immunity to defence himself against pathogens causing diseases and so it is commonly practised in many developed nations to prevent transmission of viral diseases which are airborne in nature such as COVID -19. However various review of modern fumigating physical & chemical agents e.g. Formalin  which are expensive, having crumblesome technique & toxic nature are generally used for this purpose.Therefore, current situation of COVID pandemic demands for the replacement  in Ayurveda  e.g. Dhoopana Karma for  such techniques.As  it is  cost effective, safe, convenient, effective, and lucrative  method of sterilizaion. Main aim of this paper is to compile all scattered information regarding Dhoopana Karma from different Ayurvedic sculptures. All information of these karma which is in dispursed form is complied & described under different heads such as history pf Dhoopana Karma, synonyms, classification, indications (general & specific), various drugs useful for Dhoopana, their period for collection, different formulations for Dhoopana, instruments for Dhoopana, different modes of administration / procedure, method of storing and preservation of Dhoopana Dravya & duration of procedure in descriptive manner & tabular form. Extensive review related with Dhoopana Karma shows that that Dhoopan Karma which is a most common method of sterilization described in an ayurveda & it is categorised under topical (Bahiparimarjana) treatment.Broad spectrum utility of these different formulations of Dhoopana  suggests demands for researches in future to study their various  pharmacological properties & actions such as bacteriostatic or bactericidal, wormicidal, anti-inflammatory ,antiseptic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal anti –pyretic. Suchpe of vivid research may become helpful to prevent the need for medical intervention in entities such as COVID-19. On the basis of this review, it can be concluded that Dhoopana Karma can be used as a type of fumigation for massive & local sterilization in current dreadful outbreak of COVID-19.
As Missing and Altered CDC Webpages Threaten Patient Care, Efforts Grow to Fill Information Gaps
Authors: Rubin Rita
Published: February 2025

This Medical News article discusses the impact of President Donald Trump’s executive orders on the information available on CDC.gov, an important resource for clinicians, researchers, and the public.
Tailored Liposomal Nanomedicine Suppresses Incomplete Radiofrequency Ablation‐Induced Tumor Relapse by Reprogramming Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Wang Duo , Nie Tianqi , Fang Yifei , Zhang Linzhu , Yu Chao , Yang Ming , Du Ruijie , Liu Junjie , Zhang Lei , Feng Liangzhu , Zhu Haidong
Published: February 2025

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a thermoablative treatment for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has limited therapeutic benefit for advanced HCC patients with large, multiple, and/or irregular tumors owing to incomplete RFA (iRFA) of the tumor mass. It is first identified that iRFA‐treated tumors exhibited increased pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) expression, exacerbated tumor immunosuppression featured with increased tumor infiltration of suppressive immune cells and increased proliferation, and programmed cell death ligand 1 expression of cancer cell and ultimately a poor prognosis. Herein, a multifunctional nanomedicine is fabricated by encapsulating nanoassemblies of anti‐PD‐L1 and spermidine‐grafted oxidized dextran with shikonin‐containing lipid bilayers to reverse iRFA‐induced treatment failure. Shikonin, a PKM2 inhibitor, is used to suppress glycolysis in cancer cells, while anti‐PD‐L1 and spermidine are introduced to collectively reprogram the proliferation and functions of infiltrated CD8+ T lymphocytes. Combined with iRFA, which promoted the exposure of tumor antigens, the intravenous injection of liposomal SPS‐NPs effectively stimulated dendritic cell maturation and reversed tumor immunosuppression, thus eliciting potent antitumor immunity to synergistically suppress the growth of residual tumor masses and lung metastasis. The as‐prepared liposomal nanomedicine is promising for potentiating the therapeutic benefits of RFA toward advanced HCC patients through reprogramming iRFA‐induced tumor immunosuppression.
Mimicking the Dystrophic Cardiac Extracellular Environment through DystroGel
Authors: Chirivì Maila , Maiullari Fabio , Milan Marika , Ceraolo Maria Grazia , Fratini Nicole , Fasciani Alessandra , Bousselmi Salma , Stirm Michael , Scalera Francesca , Gervaso Francesca , Villa Michela , Viganò Raffaello , Brambilla Francesca , Mauri Pierluigi , De Falco Elena , Silvestre Dario Di , Costantini Marco , Wolf Eckhard , Bearzi Claudia , Rizzi Roberto
Published: February 2025

Advances in understanding the mechanisms behind genetic diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) underscore the critical role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition in disease progression. Effective in vitro models must replicate the intercellular relationships and physicochemical properties of native ECM to fully capture disease‐specific characteristics. Although recent biomaterials support the in vitro biofabrication of pathophysiological environments, they often lack disease‐specific ECM features. In this study, DystroGel, a hydrogel derived from the cardiac ECM of a porcine DMD model, replicates the distinct molecular composition of dystrophic cardiac tissue for the first time. The findings indicate that the dystrophic ECM matrix exhibits a unique protein profile, impacting cellular processes critical to DMD pathology. This work demonstrates the importance of using a 3D substrate that recreates intercellular dynamics within a defined pathological environment, enhancing the ability to model genetic disorders and providing a valuable tool for advancing personalized therapeutic strategies.
Construction of Acceptor‐Multi‐F State Electrolyte to Enable Unprecedented Long‐Life and High‐Capacity Fluoride‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Decheng , Li Guyue , Yu Yifan , Li Chilin
Published: February 2025

Fluoride ion batteries (FIBs) have garnered significant attention due to their ultrahigh theoretical energy density, dendrite‐free safety, and resource abundance. Although some anion acceptors have been proposed to address the insolubility of inorganic fluoride salts, the difficulty in dissociating fluoride ions from acceptors results in short lifespan and extremely low specific capacity of FIBs. Here, a fluoride ion battery is demonstrated with unprecedented long life and ultrahigh specific capacity through the design of an acceptor‐multi‐F state electrolyte. The high Lewis acidity of triphenylantimony chloride (TSbCl) as a novel anion acceptor in electrolyte facilitates the complete dissociation of CsF, and the resulting TSbCl‐F complex can further interact with fluoride ions to form the acceptor‐multi‐F states. This strategy combines the high dissociation capability for fluoride salts with the minimal thermodynamic barriers for releasing fluoride ions at electrode‐electrolyte interface. This electrolyte design endows FIBs with durable reversible fluorination/defluorination reaction (3700 cycles with high coulombic efficiency of 99.5% and small voltage polarization of 30 mV) and ultrahigh reversible capacity (580 mAh g−1 after 40 cycles at 100 mA g−1). The high‐output voltage FIBs of CuF2//Li configuration (with discharge plateau of 2.9 V) and larger‐sized pouch‐type FIBs of CuF2//Sn+SnF2 configuration (with reversible capacity of 530 mAh g−1) are demonstrated.
Topology‐Oriented Lymph Node Drainage of Dendritic Polymer‐TLR Agonist Conjugates to Enhance Vaccine Immunogenicity
Authors: Ren Long , Wang Bing , Miao Di , Xiang Pan , Zeng Zhen , Li Zhiqian , Chen Xiaoting , Xu Chenjie , Gong Qiyong , Luo Kui , Jing Jing
Published: February 2025

Strategically targeting lymph nodes (LNs) to orchestrate the initiation and regulation of adaptive immune responses is one of the most pressing challenges in the context of vaccination. Herein, a series of polymer‐TLR agonist conjugates (PTACs) is developed to investigate the impact of dendritic‐topological characteristics on their LN targeting activity in vivo, and their molecular weight (MW) on their pharmacokinetics in support of their LN homing. Notably, the dendritic 6‐arm PTAC with a MW of 60 kDa (6A‐PTAC‐60k) rapidly delivered cargo to draining LNs after administration to peripheral tissues. Specifically, this topologic structure ameliorated the targeting behavior within lymphatic vessels and LNs, including an elevated amount of TLR7/8 agonist delivered to the LNs, an improved distribution pattern among barrier cells and immune cells, increased permeability, and prolonged retention. Furthermore, the 6A‐PTAC‐60k formulation induced broad antibody and T cell responses, enhancing vaccine immunogenicity and suppressing tumor growth. The results revealed that both the topology and MW of polymers are crucial factors for immunoadjuvant distribution and their functional activity in the draining LNs, which, in turn, enhanced the immunogenicity of the vaccine formulation. This study may provide a chemical and structural basis for optimizing the design of immunoadjuvant delivery systems.
In Situ Growth of Robust 2D ZIF‐67 MOF in Block Copolymer Membranes for Ultrafast Molecular Degradation
Authors: Xu Jingjing , Yu Jianyong , Guo Leiming , Li Faxue , Hadjichristidis Nikos
Published: February 2025

Membrane‐based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) rely heavily on the configuration of membrane structures and catalysts. However, designing state‐of‐the‐art membrane structures integrated with tailored catalysts for efficient AOPs remains a significant challenge. In this study, for the first time, hybrid membranes are constructed by the in situ growth of 2D ZIF‐67 onto the nanopore walls of 3D block copolymer (BCP) membranes. These membranes feature highly tunable pore structures, leading to exceptional catalytic performance that surpasses previously reported membranes. The remarkable catalytic efficiency stems from the predominant role of the non‐radical species, 1O2, in catalytic degradation, combined with the integration of the high‐surface‐area 2D ZIF‐67 and the tortuous pore structures of the BCP membranes. The resulting catalytic membranes demonstrate robust performance, achieving stable permeance of over 1800 L (m2·bar·h)−1 while completely degrading dyes during long‐term filtration. Notably, the degradation efficiency is maintained at 90% even when the permeance is adjusted to 3070 L (m2·bar·h)−1. Additionally, the membranes exhibit excellent resistance to both alkali and acidic environments and are unaffected by various background anions or the types of degraded molecules. This work presents a novel approach to designing advanced catalytic membranes for high‐efficiency, space‐confined AOPs.
Engineered Nanocatalyst‐Enabled Cheolesterol Depletion for Enhanced Tumor Piezocatalytic Therapy
Authors: Li Mengdan , Zhou Yajun , Chen Xiaoyang , Chen Weiwei , Yang Yifei , Qian Cheng , Yang Lei , Zhang Yaohan , Zhang Zheng , Wu Wencheng , Yin Yifei
Published: February 2025

The inadequate generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and metastasis of malignant tumors are critical factors that limit the efficacy of conventional sonodynamic therapy in cancer treatment. Herein, an engineered piezocatalyst: cholesterol oxidase (CHO)‐loaded Pt‐ZnO nanoparticles (Pt‐ZnO/CHO) that can explosively generate large amounts of ROS and block the metastasis of tumor, is developed for improving piezocatalytic tumor therapy. In this process, Pt‐ZnO can substantially generate ROS via initiating ultrasound (US)‐triggered piezocatalytic reactions. In situ‐grown Pt nanoparticles not only optimize piezocatalytic activities but also facilitate oxygen (O2) production, thereby synergistically boosting ROS generation. Moreover, O2 produced by Pt‐ZnO can accelerate the depletion of excess cholesterol in tumor cells under CHO catalysis to disrupt the integrity of lipid rafts and inhibit the formation of lamellipodia, significantly suppressing the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. This strategy by promoting ROS generation and blocking the metastatic pathway of cancer cells offers a new idea for enhanced efficacy‐oriented cancer therapeutic strategies.
Associations Between Gut Microbiota and Diabetic Nephropathy: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Xiong Yujun , Zhu Xingyun , Xu Huazhao , Zheng Zitian , Luo Qingfeng
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a severe complication of diabetes mellitus, and its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Emerging evidence suggests a potential link between gut microbiota and DN. This study aimed to explore the causal relationship between gut microbiota and DN using a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Methods

Gut microbiota data were obtained from the MiBioGen consortium, which provides the most comprehensive genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) on gut microbiota. Summary‐level genetic data for DN were sourced from publicly available GWAS data provided by the FinnGen consortium. The primary analysis was conducted using the inverse variance–weighted (IVW) method, complemented by sensitivity analyses to evaluate pleiotropy and heterogeneity.

Results

Fourteen gut microbiota species demonstrated significant genetic associations with DN in the MR analysis, including five negatively and nine positively associated species, as determined by the IVW method. No evidence of pleiotropy or heterogeneity was observed, ensuring the robustness of the findings.

Conclusions

This study provides novel insight into the causal role of gut microbiota in DN pathogenesis, uncovering specific microbial species that may contribute to disease progression. These findings offer a promising avenue for future research and therapeutic development targeting gut microbiota.
Cloud‐Based Control System with Sensing and Actuating Textile‐Based IoT Gloves for Telerehabilitation Applications
Authors: Ozlem Kadir , Gumus Cagatay , Yilmaz Ayse Feyza , Tuncay Atalay Asli , Atalay Ozgur , Ince Gökhan
Published: February 2025

Remote manipulation devices extend human capabilities over vast distances or in inaccessible environments, removing constraints between patients and treatment. The integration of therapeutic and assistive devices with the Internet of Things (IoT) has demonstrated high potential to develop and enhance intelligent rehabilitation systems in the e‐health domain. Within such devices, soft robotic products distinguish themselves through their lightweight and adaptable characteristics, facilitating secure collaboration between humans and robots. The objective of this research is to combine a textile‐based sensorized glove with an air‐driven soft robotic glove, operated wirelessly using the developed control system architecture. The sensing glove equipped with capacitive sensors on each finger captures the movements of the medical staff's hand. Meanwhile, the pneumatic rehabilitation glove designed to aid patients affected by impaired hand function due to stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury replicates the movements of the medical personnel. The proposed artificial intelligence‐based system detects finger gestures and actuates the pneumatic system, responding within an average response time of 48.4 ms. The evaluation of the system further in terms of accuracy and transmission quality metrics verifies the feasibility of the proposed system integrating textile gloves into IoT infrastructure, enabling remote motion sensing and actuation.