bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy: a summary of current knowledge and possible future directions
Authors: Górny Aleksander , Wójcik Anna , Chwiejczak Justyna , Obrębski Michał , Kościan Jan , Młynarska Julita , Langa Jakub , Szczerkowska Karolina , Seroka Anna , Rybicka Maria
Published: May 2024

Introduction and purpose: 
Ethanol is still one of the most frequently consumed drugs worldwide and is a strong risk factor for more than 60 illnesses including alcoholic cardiomyopathy which is a specific heart muscle disease caused by long-term excessive alcohol consumption. The review aims to gather available data and summarize it to give better understanding of the disease, to help select patients with the condition to implement proper treatment, and to present possible future directions as the incidence of the disease is projected to persist in the future. 

Brief description of the state of knowledge: 
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is characterized by dilation, increased mass of the left ventricle, and reduced ejection fraction leading to end-stage heart failure. It is caused by ethanol’s direct toxicity on myocytes disturbing many different metabolic pathways. The result is a decrease in both systolic and diastolic function of the heart. The ACM development depends on factors such as genetics, gender, dietary factors and the dosage of ethanol consumption. The goal of the treatment is total alcohol abstinence, but  the reduction of ethanol intake may also be beneficial. Patients  should obtain a complete pharmacological treatment for heart failure.
Summary:
Ethanol overconsumption remains an unresolved problem, with the incidence of ACM projected to persist in the future, especially among patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Efforts for prevention, early detection, and effective treatment of ACM need to be established. A primary focus should be on treating AUD because it is the most effective way to halt the progression of the disease. Further research should focus on both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with AUD to better define clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and the most effective treatments for ACM.
Overview of Agricultural Subsidies in India and Its Impact on Environment
Authors: Deveshwar Aarti , Panwar Saloni , Panwar Saloni
Published: May 2024

Agriculture is vital to India's economic development, providing food security to over 1.4 billion people and employing 58% of the population, while contributing 19-20% to GDP. The government's spending on the agricultural sector has been increasing annually, reaching Rs. 1,25,036 crores in 2023, up from Rs. 1,22,836 crores in 2022. The government provides various forms of agricultural subsidies, both direct and indirect, aimed at spurring growth in the sector. However, the efficacy of these subsidies in achieving intended outcomes remains questionable. This paper provides an overview of agricultural subsidies in India by examining the allocation of funds under different schemes. It also analyzes the different types of subsidies and impact on the environment. The study utilizes secondary data from government and research publications. The findings suggest that while agricultural subsidies help the sector, mismanagement hampers their reach and effectiveness for farmers and the environment. Subsidies have both positive and negative environmental externalities. The paper argues that improved targeting of subsidies is critical to maximize benefits for farmers and minimize unintended consequences. More focused allocation can enhance the efficiency of public expenditure on agricultural subsidies and make them more ecologically sustainable. The study provides insights into reforming India's agricultural subsidy regime to balance productivity, equity, and sustainability concerns.
Impact of Microplastic (MP) Pollution in Seagrass Ecosystem
Authors: Ameen Hazeena M , P Rohini , Madhu Maha , V Rajani , Jayadev Ayona
Published: May 2024

Seagrass ecosystems are one of the vital coastal habitats that claim numerous ecological, economic, and social benefits. However, this unique underwater ecosystem is facing threats from MP (MP) pollution which is an emerging global concern. MPs are tiny, fragmented plastic bits (5mm) found all over the world. Plastics, used in daily life are frequently blindly discarded into the ocean by humans, causing harm to the marine ecosystem by lowering its quality. Since MPs can persist in the environment for a prolonged period, they can harm the environment and are difficult to eradicate. They are used by marine species, which results in their assimilation, biomagnification, and bioaccumulation in the trophic levels. The existing documentation and research on MP accumulation in seagrass habitats is remarkably limited. Additionally, taking into account more than a decade of research (from 2000 to 2023), none of the research that came out before 2017, demonstrated the severity of the issue and devoted efforts to address and manage the problem. India, is one among the nations having significant seagrass habitats. If prompt attention isn’t paid to tackling MP pollution in marine systems, it will eventually result in the disruption of seagrass beds. This review paper synthesizes current knowledge on the biological and chemical impact of MP pollution in seagrass ecosystems. This review article gives a brief idea about the seagrass ecosystems and their global as well as Indian distribution. It also explores the sources, distribution, and destiny of microplastics in various ecosystems, together with their potential ecological and biological consequences on seagrass and their associated organisms. Additionally, the paper discusses mitigation strategies and identifies critical research gaps, emphasizing the need for comprehensive studies to understand and mitigate the continuing effect of MPs on seagrass ecosystems.
ENGENHARIZAÇÃO DE UM FILTRO IR TUNÁVEL A CRISTAIS DE QUARTZO
Authors: Rios Beserra Fernanda , Mirco Ragni
Published: May 2024

Nos últimos anos, a técnica da hidroponia para produção de hortaliças vem ganhando espaço [1,2] conquistando fatias de mercado sempre maiores. Isso se deve ao fato que essa técnica possui várias vantagens [3] respeito às técnicas tradicionais que a deixam particularmente conveniente e também interessante, haja vista a crescente demanda por verduras, raízes e legumes [5] cultivados sem agrotóxicos. Uma das grandes vantagens dos cultivos hidropônicos é a possibilidade de instalar os equipamentos necessários para o seu funcionamento praticamente em qualquer lugar [4] embora, dependendo das condições, o custo inicial pode ser muito superior àquele de um cultivo tradicional.
Double Squeeze Reduction Clamp Technique for Fracture Stabilization: A Case Report
Authors:   Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, Ohio, USA,, Heck Benjamin E , Poucke Logan Van ,   Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA,, Heck Vanessa C ,   ] Department of Health and Human Services, College of Health and Human Services, The University of Toledo, Ohio, USA,, Heck Bruce E ,   [4] Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, Ohio, USA, [5] Northwest Ohio Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Findlay, Ohio, USA.
Published: May 2024

Introduction: The double squeeze technique for fracture stabilization is a technique in which the surgeon uses a second reduction clamp to hold and stabilize a smaller reduction clamp that reduces a fracture or plate yet is too small to hold by itself. This technique greatly assists anatomic fracture reduction and stabilization and allows the surgeon to complete the operation when there is limited reduction instrumentation available, or the surgeon needs more excursion on a small clamp holding a fracture and does not want to change instruments and possibly lose a reduction. We present a case of the double squeeze clamp technique, which to our knowledge has not been reported, to facilitate limited open reduction percutaneous plate stabilization in a distal tibia fracture. Case Report: This case report presents an 18-year-old male with a closed, oblique, displaced right distal tibia fracture following a crush injury to the extremity with a tree while using a chainsaw. He was initially seen in the emergency room and was discharged home in a splint to follow-up with the orthopedic surgeon on call. The family requested follow-up with our practice 3 days later and requested surgery at their rural local hospital secondary to insurance reasons. Patient requested plate fixation to treat his fracture. Due to limited reduction instrumentation in the facility, a double squeeze reduction clamp technique using a pointed reduction clamp on a serrated reduction clamp that was too small to hold the plate on the reduced fracture accomplished stabilization of the plate on the fracture while screws were placed. Conclusion: The double squeeze reduction clamp technique using one reduction clamp on a smaller reduction clamp greatly increases the ability to successfully reduce and stabilize multiple variations of different fractures whether secondary to differences in sizes of the bones, different types of bones, or in our case limited fracture reduction tools available. Keywords: Double squeeze technique, reduction clamp, fracture reduction, fracture stabilization, tibia fracture.
Recurrent Radiculopathy Following Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Successful Management with Endoscopic Sacroiliac Joint Ablation
Authors:   Department of Spine Surgery, Indore Spine Centre and Care CHL Hospital, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India., Patgaonkar Prasad Ramesh , Kokate Sagar Kishor ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Indore Spine Centre and Care CHL Hospital, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India., Subith S ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Indore Spine Centre and Care CHL Hospital, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India., Borole Pushkar ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Indore Spine Centre and Care CHL Hospital, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Low back pain persisting after spine surgery presents diagnostic and treatment complexities for spine surgeons. Failed back syndrome is a term usually used to characterize chronic back or leg pain following spine surgery. Research has indicated a range of persistent pain occurrences after spine surgery. The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) has been recognized as a potential source of pain for a long time but has not received sufficient attention in subsequent years. Dysfunctions in the SIJ can result in a spectrum of clinical conditions, such as low back pain and lower limb radiculopathy. Traditional treatment approaches for SIJ disorders often involve conservative measures such as physical therapy, medications, intra-articular injections, and surgical options. In the past decade, endoscopic SIJ ablation has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative for managing SIJ pain and dysfunction. This approach combines minimal invasiveness with precise targeting, potentially reducing morbidity and enabling quicker recovery compared to open surgical procedures. Case Report: A 60-year-old female patient with grade 2 L5-S1 lytic listhesis initially underwent lumbar interbody fusion to address chronic low back pain and radiculopathy, resulting in significant symptom resolution for a brief period. The patient experienced a resurgence of symptoms within a short duration that proved refractory to conventional medical management and interventional pain management procedures. Ultimately, the patient achieved sustained relief after undergoing endoscopic SIJ ablation. Conclusion: This case report highlights the importance of endoscopic SIJ ablation as an innovative treatment for recurrent lower limb radiculopathy. Focusing on the SIJ, often neglected in lumbar spine surgery, this minimally invasive procedure shows promise in alleviating symptoms and enhancing patient outcomes. Keywords: Recurrent radiculopathy, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, endoscopic sacroiliac joint ablation, failed back surgery syndrome.
Myelopathy Associated with Rapid Progression of a Dystrophic Neurofibromatosis-1 Curve – A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors:   Spinal Unit, Alderhey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, L14 5AB, United Kingdom, Balasubramanian Sai Gautham , Misra Rajneesh ,   Spinal Unit, Alderhey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, L14 5AB, United Kingdom, Matas Marcus De ,   Spinal Unit, Alderhey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, L14 5AB, United Kingdom, Munigangaiah Sudarshan ,   Spinal Unit, Alderhey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, L14 5AB, United Kingdom
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Thoracic myelopathy in neuro fibromatosis-1 (NF-1) is most commonly due to intra-spinal neurofibromas/dumb-bell tumors/intra-canal rib head penetration (RHP) causing cord compression. However, acute thoracic myelopathy due to rapid progression of the kyphoscoliotic curve alone in NF-1 without a significant spinal cord compression occurs very rarely. This case report discusses our experience with one such patient and we also discuss intraoperative and post-operative challenges encountered with this patient and a rare complication of hemothorax postoperatively. Case Report: A 15-year-old male presented to the clinic after being lost to follow-up for 4 years with a rapid acute deterioration of dystrophic curve and no myelopathic symptoms (Scoliosis – 65°, Kyphosis – 77°). His subsequent examination in 6 weeks showed acute development of myelopathic gait with right ankle and extensor hallucis longus weakness. He was admitted for halo gravity traction for 6 weeks and a single-stage posterior instrumentation with excision of rib heads at the apex was planned. Postoperatively, the patient developed massive left hemothorax and loss of power in both lower limbs at day 2. He subsequently regained full power and complete resolution of myelopathic symptoms at the end of 9-month follow-up with a satisfactory alignment of spine in the follow-up X-rays. Conclusion: Acute onset of myelopathy is a rare and uncommon finding with a rapid deterioration of dystrophic curve alone without any major spinal cord compromise. Early detection of dysplastic changes with early aggressive surgical management and deformity correction is necessary with dystrophic NF-1 curves to prevent pre-operative and post-operative morbidities. Keywords: Neuro fibromatosis-1, rib head penetration, myelopathy, hemothorax, halo traction.
Infection of an Ankylosed Thoracolumbar Spine Segment: A Case Series.
Authors:   [1] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Asahikawa Kosei General Hospital, Asahikawa, Japan, [2] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan,, Fukushi Ryunosuke , Kawaguchi Satoshi ,   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Asahikawa Kosei General Hospital, Asahikawa, Japan,, Kudo Daisuke ,   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan., Miyakoshi Naohisa ,   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan., Yamashita Toshihiko ,   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan,
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Ankylosing spinal disorders present significant challenges in cases of trauma, and the treatment of ankylosed spine infections may also be challenging. However, to the best of our knowledge, only one study to date has addressed this topic, reporting a mortality rate of 62%. Case Report: Our patients were four men and one woman with a mean age of 72 years. Treatments consisted of intravenous antibiotics, a hard brace, and surgical interventions including percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in two patients, laminectomy and evacuation of the epidural abscess in one, and percutaneous lavage of the affected disc in two. The time from referral to intervention averaged 16 days. The mortality rate was 0% with healing of the infection with segmental bony fusion in four patients. Conclusion: This is the second reported case series of ankylosed spine infections. Early surgical intervention aimed at drainage or stabilization of the infectious lesions is crucial to disease control. Keywords: Ankylosing spinal disorders, infection, spondylodiscitis, percutaneous pedicle screw fixation.
Bilateral Knee Arthrodesis and Total Hip Arthroplasty for Knee and Hip Dysplasia Secondary to Spina Bifida: A Case Report
Authors:   [1] Department of Orthopedic Surgery? Hospital for Special Surgery, City New York, New York, [2] Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois,, Neitzke Colin , Gusho Charles ,   [3] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri,, Yu Austin ,   [4] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, Williams Joel ,   [4] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Spina bifida is a rare neurological condition that, if uncorrected, may cause chronic valgus knee stress difficulty with independent ambulation and significant pain. Current literature lacks comprehensive guidance on surgically correcting progressive hip and knee deformities in spina bifida patients, which include osteotomy and primary. When these options are contraindicated, alternative approaches such as arthrodesis may be indicated, although they remain understudied in this population Case Report: A 47-year-old man presented with bilateral hip and knee pain. Radiographs demonstrated valgus knee deformities with severe arthrosis and bilateral femoral head subluxation. The patient had a history of spina bifida with chronic lower extremity weakness and neurogenic bladder. He underwent staged bilateral instrumented knee arthrodesis and staged bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA). Conclusion: This is the first reported case of bilateral instrumented knee arthrodesis in a patient with spina bifida. Orthopedic care of these patients is complex. Surgical correction of symptomatic knee and hip deformities through instrumented arthrodesis and THA may permit an improved functional outcome. Keywords: Spina bifida, instrumented knee arthrodesis, total hip arthroplasty.
Incidental Arthroscopic Finding of Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Post-traumatic Ligamentous Injury to Knee Joint
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapura, Karnataka, India, Department of Orthopaedics, KVC Superspeciality Hospital , Krishna Vilas Road, Near Ideal Jawa Rotary School, Mysore -570005 , India., Kembhavi Raghavendra , Bagewadi Rajakumar M ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapura, Karnataka, India,, Hublikar Anmol A ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapura, Karnataka, India,, Nerune Savitri M ,   Department of Pathology, Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapura, Karnataka, India.
Published: May 2024

Introduction: The relationship between physical trauma and subsequent symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been described in the past though onset of newer disease of RA in apparently normal patient is doubtful. Trauma can cause precipitation of RA symptoms. Such trauma includes fractures, joint injuries, road traffic accidents, and also surgeries and deliveries. Although post-traumatic osteoarthritis following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is more common pathology, association of RA following ACL injury has not been reported in the literature. This case report highlights on one rare incidental diagnosis of RA postoperatively in a patient with traumatic ACL tear with previously no features of RA and how patient was managed successfully both by surgical and by medical management. Case Report: A 30-year-old male patient presented to us with complaints of pain over right knee associated with recurrent swelling, instability, clicking sounds, and occasional locking episodes since 6 months following twisting injury with no other symptoms in other joints of the body. Based on clinicoradiological workup, the diagnosis of traumatic complete ACL tear with medial meniscus bucket handle tear of body and posterior horn with early osteoarthritic changes was made. The patient was operated with ACL reconstruction with quadrupled hamstring graft, partial medial meniscectomy and debridement + microfracture for cartilage defects. The patient was worked up for inflammatory arthritis post operatively considering unusual synovitis of knee. Based on histopathological and serological investigations (rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated protein antibody), the patient was put on disease modifying antirheumatoid drugs for 1 year. At 1-year follow-up, the patient was back to his normal activities with full range of movements with Lysholm Knee Score of 89. Conclusion: Traumatic ACL tear can result in onset of RA following trauma and needs to be worked up further when there are findings of unusual synovitis or cartilage damage arthroscopically. Such association is rare and concomitant diagnosis of RA or other inflammatory arthritis can be easily missed out if not addressed properly. Keywords: Synovitis, inflammatory arthritis, meniscectomy, chondral, pannus.
Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Medial Unicompartmental Knee Replacement
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Charing Cross Hospital, London, England, United Kingdom., Hashim Sophia , Jones Gareth ,   Orthopaedic Consultant and Clinical Senior Lecturer, Department of Orthopaedics, Charing Cross Hospital, London, England, United Kingdom.
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Failure of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery often presents alongside progressive mono-compartment tibiofemoral arthritis. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the conventional treatment option for this scenario but is associated with high levels of dissatisfaction amongst this younger cohort. Case Report: This case report outlines a 39-year-old male patient, who underwent revision ACL reconstruction plus a medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) replacement as a single-stage procedure. Conclusion: This is the first reported ACL revision with a simultaneous medial UKA and provides an alternative solution to a TKA in this younger cohort of patients. Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, partial knee replacement, revision anterior cruciate ligament.
Buerger’s Disease of Hand; my Experience with Phenol Chemical Neurolysis of Stellate Ganglion: Case Series of Six Patients
Authors:   Department of Anaesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India,, Singh Rampal , Sonkar Lautika ,   Department of Microbiology, Shri Balaji Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Buerger’s disease is common in 74.70% of cases in the lower limb but in 20.20% of cases, it is found in the upper limb or hand. The disease usually starts from pain in the finger/thumb or hand and then to more centrally. Patients presented with pain in the hand with gangrene of fingers. Pain aggravated on lifting hand above the shoulder level or above heart level in upright or lying in the bed, respectively. Case Report: In almost all patients, there was a history of smoking except one and all patients had involvement of digits of the right or left hand. Diagnosis of Buerger’s disease was made based on the history of smoking, weak or absent pulse, lack of bleeding, swelling, edema, blackening, stony hard fingers or thumb on clinical examination, and color Doppler study of the limb. In all patients, Stellate ganglion chemical neurolysis with 8% phenol was done at C7-T1 under fluoroscopic and radiocontrast dye (Iohexol 300) guidance. After successful neurolysis patients got excellent pain relief, their wounds started healing, the vascularity of the diseased part increased and the disease stopped progressing. Conclusion: Stellate ganglion chemical neurolysis with phenol in Peripheral vascular disease or Buerger’s disease of hand is an effective method to stop the disease procession, promoting wound healing, controlling ischemic pain, and avoiding surgical amputation. Keywords-: Hand and finger gangrene, stellate ganglion phenol chemical neurolysis, peripheral vascular disease of hand or Buerger’s disease of hand.
The course of COVID-19 in school-aged children depends on the state of humoral immunity against diphtheria
Authors: Pavlyshyn Halyna , Panchenko Olha , Kozak Kateryna , Avramenko Iryna , Dyvonyak Olha
Published: May 2024

Introduction: There is evidence that high titers of diphtheria antibodies are more often associated with an asymptomatic or less severe course of COVID-19. The aim of the study was to determine the features of the COVID-19 course in school-aged children depending on the state of postvaccination immunity against diphtheria toxin.Methods. In total, 90 children aged 6 to 18 years were examined: 60 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 30 children without signs of the disease (control group). There were 20 patients with a mild COVID-19 course, 31 patients with moderate disease severity and 9 patients with severe disease severity. All children were tested for the level of immunoglobulin G (IgG) against diphtheria toxin by immune-enzymatic analysis.Results. Total serum immunoglobulin G against diphtheria toxin was 0.431 (0.113; 0.828) IU/mL. Antitoxic immunoglobulin G was 2.5 times higher in children in the control group than in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. A decreased level of immunoglobulin G was associated with increased disease severity. In children with specific IgG 0.01-0.2 IU/mL revaccination is recommended; therefore, 4.2% of the children in the control group, 6.8% with a mild COVID-19 course, 50% with moderate disease severity and 100% of children with severe COVID-19 needed a booster dose of diphtheria toxoid. A moderate negative correlation was observed between the level of immunoglobulin G against diphtheria toxin and ESR (r=-0.38, p=0.004), CRP (r=-0.32, p=0.021), D-dimer (r =-0.35, p=0.009), duration of hyperthermia (r=-0.49, p=0.003), and duration of treatment (r=-0.43, p=0.012).Conclusions. Children with manifested SARS-CoV-2 infection had significantly lower levels of immunoglobulin G against diphtheria toxin compared to the control group, indicating a lower level of humoral immunity. Children with a mild course of COVID-19 had a significantly higher level of specific IgG against diphtheria toxin than those with a moderate and severe disease course.
Characterization of electronic device use among children and adolescents aged 6 to 14
Authors: Martínez-Estévez Nancy Soraya , Zamora-Reyes Carmen Graciela , Robayo Gonzalez Claudia Ximena , Gómez- Restrepo Carlos , Rey-Atehortúa María Mónica , Solano-Aragón Diana Carolina
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Children and adolescents use computers, cell phones, and tablets, among other electronic devices, daily in non-aca- demic activities. It is essential to characterize the impact these devices have on the socialization, interaction, and learning processes in this population segment. We should also investigate possible harmful effects that may be related to their use. The objective was to characterize how these devices are used and their impact on school performance, behavior, and physical activity in children and adolescents from 6 to 14 years of age. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional analytic study of 510 schoolchildren ages 6 to 9 and 10 to 14 from Bogotá and Cun- dinamarca, Colombia. They were surveyed with a 38-question survey characterizing the use of the devices and the symptoms of anxiety and depression, conflict resolution, sleep, and school performance. Results: The average age for initiation on the use of devices was four years. Cell phones were the most used in both groups (56.3% and 78.04%). Parents monitor the use of the device in 80% of cases. 40% of the time, device usage was greater than 90 minutes per day. About 16% reported sleep disturbance, frustration (48%), emotional lability (20%), and suicidal ideations (11%) also were reported. 19% did not play with their peers, and 7% did not report having close friends. Conclusions: This study shows the high exposure to electronic devices from an early age and their relation to behavioral factors. Fu- ture studies should explore the relationship between these factors and electronic devices in depth.
Ventriculoperiotoneal shunt as potential risk factor for extraneural dissemination of atypical teratoid-rhabdoid tumor in children?
Authors: Murn Filip , Gašpar Sandro , Grmoja Tonći , Jadrijević-Cvrlje Filip , Tripalo-Batoš Ana , Mužar Rhea , Roić Goran
Published: May 2024

An atypical teratoid-rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is the second most common tumor in children and 30% when diagnosed, there is already metastatic dissemination. The ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a procedure that drains excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in conditions such as hydrocephalus caused by meningitis, brain tumor, or neural tube defects. We present an extremely rare case of extraneural dissemination into the abdominal cavity along ventriculoperitoneal shunt in a 4-year-old boy. This is a type of extraneural dissemination in children that has only been published once and we are the first to present in Croatia. Although is known that AT/RT is a very aggressive type of tumor in this case report we present the value of ultrasound examination as part of follow-up protocol in children with VP shunt after brain tumor resection.
On declining parental agency and institutionalized forms of parentification: narratives of changing parenthood among refugee families and social workers in collective reception centres
Authors: Van Acker Kaat , Fournier Katja , Geldof Dirk
Published: May 2024

Over recent years, the number of refugee families with children fleeing to Europe has increased. Although reception centres in Europe are not equipped to host families with children, families nevertheless remain for extensive periods in these collective centres, where they lack autonomy, privacy, certainty and often even a sense of security. Drawing on 123 interviews with parents (58), children (38) and social workers (38) in nine collective reception centres in Belgium, we analyse how the Belgian asylum regime impacts refugee parents’ capacity to fulfil parental roles and responsibilities and social workers’ relationships with refugee parents. Our analysis points to a complex combination of declining parental agency yet increasing responsibility on behalf of refugee parents across different parental roles and responsibilities. This in turn leads children to take on what are typically considered ‘adult roles’, raising concerns about parentification among social workers. By introducing the term ‘institutionalized forms of parentification’, we call for a re-politicization of social work with refugee families. Moving away from common approaches to family relationships that focus primarily on the individual or the family system, our findings draw attention to the impact of social spaces, policies and cultural value systems.
Entropy and distance-guided super self-ensembling for optic disc and cup segmentation
Authors: He Yanlin , Kong Jun , Li Juan , Zheng Caixia
Published: May 2024

Segmenting the optic disc (OD) and optic cup (OC) is crucial to accurately detect changes in glaucoma progression in the elderly. Recently, various convolutional neural networks have emerged to deal with OD and OC segmentation. Due to the domain shift problem, achieving high-accuracy segmentation of OD and OC from different domain datasets remains highly challenging. Unsupervised domain adaptation has taken extensive focus as a way to address this problem. In this work, we propose a novel unsupervised domain adaptation method, called entropy and distance-guided super self-ensembling (EDSS), to enhance the segmentation performance of OD and OC. EDSS is comprised of two self-ensembling models, and the Gaussian noise is added to the weights of the whole network. Firstly, we design a super self-ensembling (SSE) framework, which can combine two self-ensembling to learn more discriminative information about images. Secondly, we propose a novel exponential moving average with Gaussian noise (G-EMA) to enhance the robustness of the self-ensembling framework. Thirdly, we propose an effective multi-information fusion strategy (MFS) to guide and improve the domain adaptation process. We evaluate the proposed EDSS on two public fundus image datasets RIGA+ and REFUGE. Large amounts of experimental results demonstrate that the proposed EDSS outperforms state-of-the-art segmentation methods with unsupervised domain adaptation, e.g., the Dicemean score on three test sub-datasets of RIGA+ are 0.8442, 0.8772 and 0.9006, respectively, and the Dicemean score on the REFUGE dataset is 0.9154.
Learning Micro-C from Hi-C with diffusion models
Authors: Liu Tong , Zhu Hao , Wang Zheng
Published: May 2024

In the last few years, Micro-C has shown itself as an improved alternative to Hi-C. It replaced the restriction enzymes in Hi-C assays with micrococcal nuclease (MNase), resulting in capturing nucleosome resolution chromatin interactions. The signal-to-noise improvement of Micro-C allows it to detect more chromatin loops than high-resolution Hi-C. However, compared with massive Hi-C datasets available in the literature, there are only a limited number of Micro-C datasets. To take full advantage of these Hi-C datasets, we present HiC2MicroC, a computational method learning and then predicting Micro-C from Hi-C based on the denoising diffusion probabilistic models (DDPM). We trained our DDPM and other regression models in human foreskin fibroblast (HFFc6) cell line and evaluated these methods in six different cell types at 5-kb and 1-kb resolution. Our evaluations demonstrate that both HiC2MicroC and regression methods can markedly improve Hi-C towards Micro-C, and our DDPM-based HiC2MicroC outperforms regression in various terms. First, HiC2MicroC successfully recovers most of the Micro-C loops even those not detected in Hi-C maps. Second, a majority of the HiC2MicroC-recovered loops anchor CTCF binding sites in a convergent orientation. Third, HiC2MicroC loops share genomic and epigenetic properties with Micro-C loops, including linking promoters and enhancers, and their anchors are enriched for structural proteins (CTCF and cohesin) and histone modifications. Lastly, we find our recovered loops are also consistent with the loops identified from promoter capture Micro-C (PCMicro-C) and Chromatin Interaction Analysis by Paired-End Tag Sequencing (ChIA-PET). Overall, HiC2MicroC is an effective tool for further studying Hi-C data with Micro-C as a template. HiC2MicroC is publicly available at https://github.com/zwang-bioinformatics/HiC2MicroC/.
Characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes related to Zika virus infection during pregnancy in Northeastern Thailand: A prospective pregnancy cohort study, 2018–2020
Authors: Wongsawat Jurai , Thamthitiwat Somsak , Hicks Victoria J. , Uttayamakul Sumonmal , Teepruksa Phanthaneeya , Sawatwong Pongpun , Skaggs Beth , Mock Philip A. , MacArthur John R. , Suya Inthira , Sapchookul Patranuch , Kitsutani Paul , Lo Terrence Q. , Vachiraphan Apichart , Kovavisarach Ekachai , Rhee Chulwoo , Darun Pamorn , Saepueng Kamol , Waisaen Chamnan , Jampan Doungporn , Sriboonrat Pravit , Palanuwong Buncha , Sukbut Punchawee , Areechokchai Darin , Pittayawonganon Chakrarat , Iamsirithaworn Sopon , Bloss Emily , Rao Carol Y.
Published: May 2024

Background

In response to the 2015–2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak and the causal relationship established between maternal ZIKV infection and adverse infant outcomes, we conducted a cohort study to estimate the incidence of ZIKV infection in pregnancy and assess its impacts in women and infants.

Methodology/Principal findings

From May 2018-January 2020, we prospectively followed pregnant women recruited from 134 participating hospitals in two non-adjacent provinces in northeastern Thailand. We collected demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic data and blood and urine at routine antenatal care visits until delivery. ZIKV infections were confirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Specimens with confirmed ZIKV underwent whole genome sequencing.

Among 3,312 women enrolled, 12 (0.36%) had ZIKV infections, of which two (17%) were detected at enrollment. Ten (83%, 3 in 2nd and 7 in 3rd trimester) ZIKV infections were detected during study follow-up, resulting in an infection rate of 0.15 per 1,000 person-weeks (95% CI: 0.07–0.28). The majority (11/12, 91.7%) of infections occurred in one province. Persistent ZIKV viremia (42 days) was found in only one woman. Six women with confirmed ZIKV infections were asymptomatic until delivery. Sequencing of 8 ZIKV isolates revealed all were of Asian lineage. All 12 ZIKV infected women gave birth to live, full-term infants; the only observed adverse birth outcome was low birth weight in one (8%) infant. Pregnancies in 3,300 ZIKV-rRT-PCR-negative women were complicated by 101 (3%) fetal deaths, of which 67 (66%) had miscarriages and 34 (34%) had stillbirths. There were no differences between adverse fetal or birth outcomes of live infants born to ZIKV-rRT-PCR-positive mothers compared to live infants born to ZIKV-rRT-PCR-negative mothers.

Conclusions/Significance

Confirmed ZIKV infections occurred infrequently in this large pregnancy cohort and observed adverse maternal and birth outcomes did not differ between mothers with and without confirmed infections.
Transcriptomic analysis of N-terminal mutated Trypanosoma cruzi UBP1 knockdown underlines the importance of this RNA-binding protein in parasite development
Authors: Sabalette Karina B. , Campo Vanina A. , Sotelo-Silveira José R. , Smircich Pablo , De Gaudenzi Javier G.
Published: May 2024

Background

During its life cycle, the human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi must quickly adapt to different environments, in which the variation in the gene expression of the regulatory U-rich RNA-binding protein 1 (TcUBP1) plays a crucial role. We have previously demonstrated that the overexpression of TcUBP1 in insect-dwelling epimastigotes orchestrates an RNA regulon to promote differentiation to infective forms.

Methods

In an attempt to generate TcUBP1 knockout parasites by using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, in the present study, we obtained a variant transcript that encodes a protein with 95% overall identity and a modified N-terminal sequence. The expression of this mutant protein, named TcUBP1mut, was notably reduced compared to that of the endogenous form found in normal cells. TcUBP1mut-knockdown epimastigotes exhibited normal growth and differentiation into infective metacyclic trypomastigotes and were capable of infecting mammalian cells.

Results

We analyzed the RNA-Seq expression profiles of these parasites and identified 276 up- and 426 downregulated genes with respect to the wildtype control sample. RNA-Seq comparison across distinct developmental stages revealed that the transcriptomic profile of these TcUBP1mut-knockdown epimastigotes significantly differs not only from that of epimastigotes in the stationary phase but also from the gene expression landscape characteristic of infective forms. This is both contrary to and consistent with the results of our recent study involving TcUBP1-overexpressing cells.

Conclusion

Together, our findings demonstrate that the genes exhibiting opposite changes under overexpression and knockdown conditions unveil key mRNA targets regulated by TcUBP1. These mostly encompass transcripts that encode for trypomastigote-specific surface glycoproteins and ribosomal proteins, supporting a role for TcUBP1 in determining the molecular characteristics of the infective stage.
Biomechanical effects of adding an articulating toe joint to a passive foot prosthesis for incline and decline walking
Authors: Teater Rachel H. , Zelik Karl E. , McDonald Kirsty A.
Published: May 2024

Walking on sloped surfaces is challenging for many lower limb prosthesis users, in part due to the limited ankle range of motion provided by typical prosthetic ankle-foot devices. Adding a toe joint could potentially benefit users by providing an additional degree of flexibility to adapt to sloped surfaces, but this remains untested. The objective of this study was to characterize the effect of a prosthesis with an articulating toe joint on the preferences and gait biomechanics of individuals with unilateral below-knee limb loss walking on slopes. Nine active prosthesis users walked on an instrumented treadmill at a +5° incline and -5° decline while wearing an experimental foot prosthesis in two configurations: a Flexible toe joint and a Locked-out toe joint. Three participants preferred the Flexible toe joint over the Locked-out toe joint for incline and decline walking. Eight of nine participants went on to participate in a biomechanical data collection. The Flexible toe joint decreased prosthesis Push-off work by 2 Joules during both incline (p = 0.008; g = -0.63) and decline (p = 0.008; g = -0.65) walking. During incline walking, prosthetic limb knee flexion at toe-off was 3° greater in the Flexible configuration compared to the Locked (p = 0.008; g = 0.42). Overall, these results indicate that adding a toe joint to a passive foot prosthesis has relatively small effects on joint kinematics and kinetics during sloped walking. This study is part of a larger body of work that also assessed the impact of a prosthetic toe joint for level and uneven terrain walking and stair ascent/descent. Collectively, toe joints do not appear to substantially or consistently alter lower limb mechanics for active unilateral below-knee prosthesis users. Our findings also demonstrate that user preference for passive prosthetic technology may be both subject-specific and task-specific. Future work could investigate the inter-individual preferences and potential benefits of a prosthetic toe joint for lower-mobility individuals.
Radio frequency electromagnetic radiations interfere with the Leydig cell functions in-vitro
Authors: Jangid Pooja , Rai Umesh , Singh Rajeev
Published: May 2024

A growing threat to male infertility has become a major concern for the human population due to the advent of modern technologies as a source of radiofrequency radiation (RFR). Since these technologies have become an integral part of our daily lives, thus, it becomes necessary to know the impression of such radiations on human health. In view of this, the current study aims to focus on the biological effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations on mouse Leydig cell line (TM3) in a time-dependent manner. TM3 cells were exposed to RFR emitted from 4G cell phone and also exposed to a particular frequency of 1800 MHz and 2450 MHz from RFR exposure system. The cells were then evaluated for different parameters such as cell viability, cell proliferation, testosterone production, and ROS generation. A considerable reduction in the testosterone levels and proliferation rate of TM3 cells were observed at 120 min of exposure as compared to the control group in all exposure settings. Conversely, the intracellular ROS levels showed a significant rise at 60, 90 and 120 min of exposure in both mobile phone and 2450 MHz exposure groups. However, RFR treatment for different time durations (15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min) did not have significant effect on cell viability at any of the exposure condition (2450 MHz, 1800 MHz, and mobile phone radiation). Therefore, our findings concluded with the negative impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations on Leydig cell’s physiological functions, which could be a serious concern for male infertility. However, additional studies are required to determine the specific mechanism of RFR action as well as its long-term consequences.
An experimental investigation of Lean Six Sigma philosophies in a high-mix low-volume manufacturing environment
Authors: Normand Amanda , Bradley T. H.
Published: May 2024

This article experimentally examines methods for implementing the philosophies of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in a High-Mix Low-Volume (HMLV) manufacturing environment. HMLV environments present unique challenges to LSS paradigms because of the need for extraordinary operational flexibility and customer responsiveness. The subject HMLV manufacturer for this experimentation manufactures (among 8500 others) an example component for which 3 machines work independently to perform the necessary operations to manufacture this component. The experiment that is the subject of this research seeks to adapt LSS philosophies to develop treatments to improve the performance of the manufacturing of this component. These LSS-inspired treatments included 1) using cellular manufacturing methods, and the 3 machines as a single work cell to manufacture the component, and 2) using a single multipurpose machine to perform all operations required to manufacture the component. The results of this experiment demonstrate that the cellular manufacturing method was the most effective to reduce costs, to standardize operations at a process level, and to increase throughput. The single machine processing method improved production rates and on-time delivery relative to the baseline, but greatly increased lead time, thereby increasing total cost per part. These results highlight the importance of critically assessing the application of LSS within HMLV environments compared to the Low-Mix High-Volume (LMHV) environments where LSS is traditionally successful. HMLV manufacturers and researchers can use these findings to identify the most effective methods for their specific needs and to design interventions that will improve system-level manufacturing performance in high mix environments.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in schools using built environment testing in Ottawa, Canada: A multi-facility prospective surveillance study
Authors: Thampi Nisha , Burhunduli Tasha , Strain Jamie , Raudanskis Ashley , Moggridge Jason A. , Hinz Aaron , Doukhanine Evgueni , Castellani Lucas , Kassen Rees , McCready Janine , Nott Caroline , Wong Alex , Fralick Michael , MacFadden Derek R.
Published: May 2024

Classroom and staffroom floor swabs across six elementary schools in Ottawa, Canada were tested for SARS-CoV-2. Environmental test positivity did not correlate with student grade groups, school-level absenteeism, pediatric COVID-19-related hospitalizations, or community SARS-CoV-2 wastewater levels. Schools in neighbourhoods with historically elevated COVID-19 burden showed a negative but non-significant association with lower swab positivity.