bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient satisfaction and associated factor at red cross pharmacies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Habte Fikreselam , Gedamu Melak , Kassaw Chalelgn
Published: October 2023

Background

Patient satisfaction is a crucial aspect of healthcare, reflecting the positive feelings patients experience when using a service. It serves as an indicator of the gap between expected and actual service quality from the patient's perspective. Measuring patient satisfaction is recommended for healthcare providers at all levels as it contributes to improvement efforts. In recent times, pharmacy services have evolved beyond merely supplying medications to becoming more patient-centered and caring. Given the high number of patients relying on the limited Red Cross community pharmacies in the city, this study aims to assess patient satisfaction and identify factors associated with patient satisfaction towards Red Cross Pharmacies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Patients and methods

Cross sectional study design was conducted from August 15 to August 30, 2022 in three Red Cross Pharmacies in Addis Ababa. Patients were selected by Convenience sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used to assess patient satisfaction. Bivariate and Multivariate logistic regression were computed to assess statistical association between the outcome variable, and independent variables. SPSS version 21 was used for analysis.

Results

Four hundred seven participants were willing and completed the study. The overall satisfaction towards Red Cross pharmacy service was 60.4%. Inadequate counselling was main reason for dissatisfaction (45%). Regarding associated factors, unavailability of some medications (Adjusted odds ratio = 0.393, 95% CI: 0.208–0.741), unfair medication cost (Adjusted odds ratio = 0.613, 95% CI: 0.607–0.910), and lack of organized pharmacy work flow (Adjusted odds ratio = 0.105, 95% CI: 0.049–0.221) were negatively associated with clients’ satisfaction.

Conclusion

This study provides significant insights into patient satisfaction with Red Cross pharmacy services in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, revealing an overall patient satisfaction rate of 60.4%. While a substantial number of patients had positive experiences, dissatisfaction due to inadequate counseling was a notable concern. Factors negatively associated with patient satisfaction, including medication unavailability, unfair cost, and a lack of organized workflow, further highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve patient experiences. Addressing these issues will be critical to enhance pharmaceutical care services and bridge the gap between patient needs and satisfaction.
Smart city healthcare delivery innovations: a systematic review of essential technologies and indicators for developing nations
Authors: Mohammadzadeh Zahra , Saeidnia Hamid Reza , Lotfata Aynaz , Hassanzadeh Mohammad , Ghiasi Nasrin
Published: October 2023

Background

In recent times, the concept of smart cities has gained remarkable traction globally, driven by the increasing interest in employing technology to address various urban challenges, particularly in the healthcare domain. Smart cities are proving to be transformative, utilizing an extensive array of technological tools and processes to improve healthcare accessibility, optimize patient outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance overall efficiency.

Methods

This article delves into the profound impact of smart cities on the healthcare landscape and discusses its potential implications for the future of healthcare delivery. Moreover, the study explores the necessary infrastructure required for developing countries to establish smart cities capable of providing intelligent health and care services. To ensure a comprehensive analysis, we employed a well-structured search strategy across esteemed databases, including PubMed, OVID, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus. The search scope encompassed articles published up to November 2022, resulting in a meticulous review of 22 relevant articles.

Results

Our findings provide compelling evidence of the pivotal role that smart city technology plays in elevating healthcare delivery, forging a path towards improved accessibility, efficiency, and quality of care for communities worldwide. By harnessing the power of data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and mobile applications, smart cities are driving real-time health monitoring, early disease detection, and personalized treatment approaches.

Conclusion

Smart cities possess the transformative potential to reshape healthcare practices, providing developing nations with invaluable opportunities to establish intelligent and adaptable healthcare systems customized to their distinct requirements and limitations. Moreover, the implementation of smart healthcare systems in developing nations can lead to enhanced healthcare accessibility and affordability, as the integration of technology can optimize resource allocation and improve the overall efficiency of healthcare services. It also may help alleviate the burden on overburdened healthcare facilities by streamlining patient care processes and reducing wait times, ensuring that medical attention reaches those in need more swiftly.
Genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kocher Kristen , Bhattacharya Surajit , Niforatos-Andescavage Nickie , Almalvez Miguel , Henderson Diedtra , Vilain Eric , Limperopoulos Catherine , Délot Emmanuèle C.
Published: October 2023

Background

During gestation, stressors to the fetus, including viral exposure or maternal psychological distress, can fundamentally alter the neonatal epigenome, and may be associated with long-term impaired developmental outcomes. The impact of in utero exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic on the newborn epigenome has yet to be described.

Methods

This study aimed to determine whether there are unique epigenetic signatures in newborns who experienced otherwise healthy pregnancies that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic (Project RESCUE). The pre-pandemic control and pandemic cohorts (Project RESCUE) included in this study are part of a prospective observational and longitudinal cohort study that evaluates the impact of elevated prenatal maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood neurodevelopment.

Using buccal swabs collected at birth, differential DNA methylation analysis was performed using the Infinium MethylationEPIC arrays and linear regression analysis. Pathway analysis and gene ontology enrichment were performed on resultant gene lists.

Results

Widespread differential methylation was found between neonates exposed in utero to the pandemic and pre-pandemic neonates. In contrast, there were no apparent epigenetic differences associated with maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. Differential methylation was observed among genomic sites that underpin important neurological pathways that have been previously reported in the literature to be differentially methylated because of prenatal stress, such as NR3C1.

Conclusions

The present study reveals potential associations between exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic during pregnancy and subsequent changes in the newborn epigenome. While this finding warrants further investigation, it is a point that should be considered in any study assessing newborn DNA methylation studies obtained during this period, even in otherwise healthy pregnancies.
Biological function and clinical application prospect of tsRNAs in digestive system biology and pathology
Authors: Du Juan , Huang Tianyi , Zheng Zhen , Fang Shuai , Deng Hongxia , Liu Kaitai
Published: October 2023

tsRNAs are small non-coding RNAs originating from tRNA that play important roles in a variety of physiological activities such as RNA silencing, ribosome biogenesis, retrotransposition, and epigenetic inheritance, as well as involvement in cellular differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. tsRNA-related abnormalities have a significant influence on the onset, development, and progression of numerous human diseases, including malignant tumors through affecting the cell cycle and specific signaling molecules. This review introduced origins together with tsRNAs classification, providing a summary for regulatory mechanism and physiological function while dysfunctional effect of tsRNAs in digestive system diseases, focusing on the clinical prospects of tsRNAs for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
The destruction of mucosal barriers, epithelial remodeling, and impaired mucociliary clearance: possible pathogenic mechanisms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Chegini Zahra , Noei Milad , Hemmati Jaber , Arabestani Mohammad Reza , Shariati Aref
Published: October 2023

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a pathological condition characterized by persistent inflammation in the upper respiratory tract and paranasal sinuses. The epithelium serves as the first line of defense against potential threats and protects the nasal mucosa. The fundamental mechanical barrier is formed by the cell-cell contact and mucociliary clearance (MCC) systems. The physical-mechanical barrier is comprised of many cellular structures, including adhesion junctions and tight junctions (TJs). To this end, different factors, such as the dysfunction of MCC, destruction of epithelial barriers, and tissue remodeling, are related to the onset and development of CRS. Recently published studies reported the critical role of different microorganisms, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in the induction of the mentioned factors. Bacteria could result in diminished ciliary stimulation capacity, and enhance the chance of CRS by reducing basal ciliary beat frequency. Additionally, bacterial exoproteins have been demonstrated to disrupt the epithelial barrier and induce downregulation of transmembrane proteins such as occludin, claudin, and tricellulin. Moreover, bacteria exert an influence on TJ proteins, leading to an increase in the permeability of polarized epithelial cells. Noteworthy, it is evident that the activation of TLR2 by staphylococcal enterotoxin can potentially undermine the structural integrity of TJs and the epithelial barrier through the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The purpose of this article is an attempt to investigate the possible role of the most important microorganisms associated with CRS and their pathogenic mechanisms against mucosal surfaces and epithelial barriers in the paranasal sinuses.
Identification of RECK as a protective prognostic indicator and a tumor suppressor through regulation of the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway in gastric cancer
Authors: Qi Fangyuan , Wang Yaru , Yu Bingxin , Li Fan
Published: October 2023

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks as the fifth most common cancer worldwide and is characterized by its significant heterogeneity and unfavorable prognosis. Thus, identifying efficient prognostic factors and understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms in GC are essential for improving patient outcomes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of RECK (reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs) in the prognostic significance and molecular mechanisms of its biological function in GC.

Methods

Multiple bioinformatics strategies were performed to detect the potential functions and prognostic efficiency of RECK in GC. Rescue experiments revealed that the molecular mechanism by which RECK in inhibited tumor proliferation, migration, and invasion was mediated by ERK/MAPK signaling in AGS and HGC-27 cells. Using integrated bioinformatics analysis and western blot assay, we investigated the potential interaction between CALD1 and RECK.

Results

Our findings revealed significantly decreased RECK expression in GC samples compared to normal samples and RECK was identified as a promising predictor for the prognosis of GC patients. Moreover, upregulation of RECK demonstrated a distinctly positive association with a high-immunity and low-metastasis microenvironment in GC. Mechanistically, the antitumour effects of RECK on hampering tumor cell growth, migration, and invasion were mediated by the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, we also illustrated that RECK inhibited the phosphorylation of CALD1 mediated by decreased phosphorylation of ERK.

Conclusions

RECK is a promising prognostic biomarker and may shape a high-tumor-immunity and low-metastasis microenvironment in patients with GC. Moreover, RECK exerted its tumor-suppressive effects by the inactivation of ERK/MAPK signaling in GC cells.
Mixed methods implementation research to understand success of intensive combination approach to roll back the epidemic in Nigerian adolescents) (iCARE Nigeria) HIV testing uptake and linkage to care among young men focusing on young men who have sex with men in Ibadan
Authors: Hirschhorn Lisa R. , Adetunji Adedotun , Ahonkhai Aima A. , Oladeji Bibilola , Awolude Olutosin A. , Kuhns Lisa M. , Onumabor Jude , Kuti Kehinde M. , Omigbodun Olayinka , Johnson Amy K. , Okonkwor Ogochukwu , Taiwo Babafemi , Garofalo Robert
Published: October 2023

Background

HIV seroprevalence in Nigeria is increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM) from 14% to 2007 to 23% in 2014, threatening progress towards ending the epidemic in the country. Expanding access to HIV testing and linkage to care for key populations, like young MSM (YMSM), is critical to end the HIV epidemic in Nigeria. The Intensive Combination Approach to Roll Back the Epidemic in Nigerian Adolescents (iCARE Nigeria) pilot intervention successfully implemented a combination of evidence-based interventions utilizing peer navigators and popular social media apps and platforms to reach young men at risk for HIV exposure, including YMSM. We conducted sequential mixed methods explanatory implementation research to expand on the previously reported effectiveness and implementation outcomes and to explore the determinants and strategies which contributed to primary study results.

Methods

We conducted key informant interviews and focus group discussions with 2 peer navigators and 3 study staff at the end of the pilot. We used directed content analysis to understand the quantitative results from the pilot. Using the Implementation Research Logic Model, we were able to identify and map strategies through mechanisms of action from barriers addressed to the reported implementation outcomes including feasibility, acceptability fidelity and adoption.

Results

We found that iCARE Nigeria’s pilot intervention implementers reported high feasibility, acceptability fidelity and adoption were associated with implementation of strategies which addressed many challenging contextual factors, including social stigma, online social networking, legal barriers surrounding MSM behavior, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These strategies included integration of stakeholders’ interests, selection of experienced peer navigators including from the targeted population, training and supportive supervision using an implementation guide, ensuring safety (COVID and legal) and identification of clinics serving the targeted population.

Conclusion

Mixed methods using implementation research frameworks provided insights into the strategies and barriers and facilitators they addressed which may explain the success of the pilot. These results can inform strategies needed to scale-up the intervention to youth including YMSM in other areas in Nigeria and the region.

Trial registration ISRCTN: ISRCTN94590823, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN94590823
Application of the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) compilation of strategies to health intervention implementation in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review
Authors: Lovero Kathryn L. , Kemp Christopher G. , Wagenaar Bradley H. , Giusto Ali , Greene M. Claire , Powell Byron J. , Proctor Enola K.
Published: October 2023

Background

The Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) project developed a compilation of implementation strategies that are intended to standardize reporting and evaluation. Little is known about the application of ERIC in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We systematically reviewed the literature on the use and specification of ERIC strategies for health intervention implementation in LMICs to identify gaps and inform future research.

Methods

We searched peer-reviewed articles published through March 2023 in any language that (1) were conducted in an LMIC and (2) cited seminal ERIC articles or (3) mentioned ERIC in the title or abstract. Two co-authors independently screened all titles, abstracts, and full-text articles, then abstracted study, intervention, and implementation strategy characteristics of included studies.

Results

The final sample included 60 studies describing research from all world regions, with over 30% published in the final year of our review period. Most studies took place in healthcare settings (n = 52, 86.7%), while 11 (18.2%) took place in community settings and four (6.7%) at the policy level. Across studies, 548 distinct implementation strategies were identified with a median of six strategies (range 1–46 strategies) included in each study. Most studies (n = 32, 53.3%) explicitly matched implementation strategies used for the ERIC compilation. Among those that did, 64 (87.3%) of the 73 ERIC strategies were represented. Many of the strategies not cited included those that target systems- or policy-level barriers. Nearly 85% of strategies included some component of strategy specification, though most only included specification of their action (75.2%), actor (57.3%), and action target (60.8%). A minority of studies employed randomized trials or high-quality quasi-experimental designs; only one study evaluated implementation strategy effectiveness.

Conclusions

While ERIC use in LMICs is rapidly growing, its application has not been consistent nor commonly used to test strategy effectiveness. Research in LMICs must better specify strategies and evaluate their impact on outcomes. Moreover, strategies that are tested need to be better specified, so they may be compared across contexts. Finally, strategies targeting policy-, systems-, and community-level determinants should be further explored.

Trial registration

PROSPERO, CRD42021268374.
Fully automated volumetric modulated arc therapy technique for radiation therapy of locally advanced breast cancer
Authors: Marrazzo Livia , Redapi Laura , Pellegrini Roberto , Voet Peter , Meattini Icro , Arilli Chiara , Calusi Silvia , Casati Marta , Chilà Deborah , Compagnucci Antonella , Talamonti Cinzia , Zani Margherita , Livi Lorenzo , Pallotta Stefania
Published: October 2023

Background

This study aimed to evaluate an a-priori multicriteria plan optimization algorithm (mCycle) for locally advanced breast cancer radiation therapy (RT) by comparing automatically generated VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy) plans (AP-VMAT) with manual clinical Helical Tomotherapy (HT) plans.

Methods

The study included 25 patients who received postoperative RT using HT. The patient cohort had diverse target selections, including both left and right breast/chest wall (CW) and III-IV node, with or without internal mammary node (IMN) and Simultaneous Integrated Boost (SIB). The Planning Target Volume (PTV) was obtained by applying a 5 mm isotropic expansion to the CTV (Clinical Target Volume), with a 5 mm clip from the skin. Comparisons of dosimetric parameters and delivery/planning times were conducted. Dosimetric verification of the AP-VMAT plans was performed.

Results

The study showed statistically significant improvements in AP-VMAT plans compared to HT for OARs (Organs At Risk) mean dose, except for the heart and ipsilateral lung. No significant differences in V95% were observed for PTV breast/CW and PTV III-IV, while increased coverage (higher V95%) was seen for PTV IMN in AP-VMAT plans. HT plans exhibited smaller values of PTV V105% for breast/CW and III-IV, with no differences in PTV IMN and boost. HT had an average (± standard deviation) delivery time of (17 ± 8) minutes, while AP-VMAT took (3 ± 1) minutes. The average γ passing rate for AP-VMAT plans was 97%±1%. Planning times reduced from an average of 6 h for HT to about 2 min for AP-VMAT.

Conclusions

Comparing AP-VMAT plans with clinical HT plans showed similar or improved quality. The implementation of mCycle demonstrated successful automation of the planning process for VMAT treatment of locally advanced breast cancer, significantly reducing workload.
Association between triglyceride-glucose index and bone mineral density in US adults: a cross sectional study
Authors: Zhan Huixia , Liu Xinyu , Piao Shenghua , Rong Xianglu , Guo Jiao
Published: October 2023

Objective

Disorders in glucose and lipid metabolism have been shown to exert an influence on bone metabolism. The TyG index, which combines measures of glucose and triglycerides, provides insights into the overall metabolic status. However, the investigation of concurrent disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism and their specific implications for bone metabolism remains limited in the existing research literature. This study aimed to explore the correlation between the TyG index and bone mineral density (BMD) in US adults.

Methods

In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), subjects were classified based on the TyG index into four groups (< 7.97, 7.97–8.39, 8.39–8.85, > 8.86). Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the β value and 95% confidence interval (CI). Four multivariable models were constructed. Restricted cubic spline analyses and piecewise linear regression were employed to identify the association between the BMD and TyG index. An analysis of subgroups was also conducted in this study.

Results

Significant variations in related characteristics were found among the US adult population, who were distributed into four groups based on the quartiles of the TyG index. A negative correlation between the TyG index and lumbar spine BMD was observed. In the multi-adjusted models, compared to Q1 of the TyG index, the β for Q4 of the TyG index for lumbar spine BMD was [β = − 0.008, 95% CI (− 0.017, 0)] in US adults. The association between the TyG index and lumbar spine BMD was found to be nonlinear (all nonlinear p < 0.001), with a threshold value based on restricted cubic spline analyses. Above the threshold point, the β for lumbar spine BMD was − 0.042 (95% CI, − 0.059, − 0.024). Below the threshold points, no significant difference was observed (p > 0.05). No significant interactions were observed among subgroups based on age, gender, presence of diabetes, BMI, and use of antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic agents. Similar patterns of association were observed in total and subtotal bone density.

Conclusions

This study identified a nonlinear association between the TyG index and BMD in the US population. Furthermore, an increased level of the TyG index may indicate a higher risk of osteoporosis among US adults. These findings highlight the importance of considering glucose and lipid metabolism disturbances in understanding bone health and the potential for developing preventive strategies for osteoporosis.
The favorable outcome of Bernese periacetabular osteotomy for the hip osteoarthritis in multiple epiphyseal dysplasia
Authors: Chang Yao-Yuan , Lee Chia-Che , Lin Sheng-Chieh , Kuo Ken N. , Chang Jia-Feng , Wu Kuan-Wen , Wang Ting-Ming
Published: October 2023

Background

Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) is a rare congenital bone dysplasia. Patients with MED develop secondary hip osteoarthritis as early as the third to the fourth decade. Currently, there is no consensus on the prevention of the progressive hip osteoarthritis secondary to MED. The Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is a joint-preserving surgery to reshape acetabulum and extend femoral head coverage. However, there is no documentary evidence for the effect of the procedure on MED hips.

Patients and methods

We analyzed the preliminary outcomes following the Bernese PAO in 6 MED hips. The average age at the time of surgery was 14.3 years (range from 11.4 to 17.2 years). For our study interest of time efficiency, radiographic parameters were analyzed preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. The hip function was evaluated by the Harris Hip Score (HHS) before and after surgery.

Results

The mean follow-up time was 1.7 years. The mean lateral center–edge angle increased from 3.8° to 47.1° (p = 0.02), anterior center–edge angle increased from 7.3° to 35.1° (p = 0.02), and acetabulum index decreased from 27.8° to 14.6° (p = 0.04). The femoral head coverage ratio increased from 66.8% to 100% (p = 0.02). The post-operative anteroposterior pelvic radiograph demonstrated all preoperative broken Shenton lines were reversed. The mean HHS improved from 67.3 to 86.7 (p = 0.05).

Conclusion

Bernese PAO is a feasible treatment for hip disorders in MED patients. It reshapes acetabular and femoral morphology efficiently. In our study, the preliminary results showed the procedure not only improved radiographic outcomes but also hip function.
MGA-seq: robust identification of extrachromosomal DNA and genetic variants using multiple genetic abnormality sequencing
Authors: Lin Da , Zou Yanyan , Li Xinyu , Wang Jinyue , Xiao Qin , Gao Xiaochen , Lin Fei , Zhang Ningyuan , Jiao Ming , Guo Yu , Teng Zhaowei , Li Shiyi , Wei Yongchang , Zhou Fuling , Yin Rong , Zhang Siheng , Xing Lingyu , Xu Weize , Wu Xiaofeng , Yang Bing , Xiao Ke , Wu Chengchao , Tao Yingfeng , Yang Xiaoqing , Zhang Jing , Hu Sheng , Dong Shuang , Li Xiaoyu , Ye Shengwei , Hong Zhidan , Pan Yihang , Yang Yuqin , Sun Haixiang , Cao Gang
Published: October 2023

Genomic abnormalities are strongly associated with cancer and infertility. In this study, we develop a simple and efficient method — multiple genetic abnormality sequencing (MGA-Seq) — to simultaneously detect structural variation, copy number variation, single-nucleotide polymorphism, homogeneously staining regions, and extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) from a single tube. MGA-Seq directly sequences proximity-ligated genomic fragments, yielding a dataset with concurrent genome three-dimensional and whole-genome sequencing information, enabling approximate localization of genomic structural variations and facilitating breakpoint identification. Additionally, by utilizing MGA-Seq, we map focal amplification and oncogene coamplification, thus facilitating the exploration of ecDNA’s transcriptional regulatory function.
Bcl-B: an “unknown” protein of the Bcl-2 family
Authors: Pervushin N. V. , Kopeina G. S. , Zhivotovsky B.
Published: October 2023

Bcl-B is a poorly understood protein of the Bcl-2 family that is highly expressed in many healthy tissues and tumor types. Bcl-B is considered an antiapoptotic protein, but many reports have revealed its contradictory roles in different cancer types. In this mini-review, we elucidate the functions of Bcl-B in normal conditions and various pathologies, its regulation of programmed cell death, its oncogene/oncosuppressor activity in tumorigenesis, its impact on drug-acquired resistance, and possible approaches to inhibit Bcl-B.
Designing effective exercise intervention trials for prostate cancer cohorts: a qualitative study on experiences and views of exercise oncology researchers
Authors: Murphy Kira , Denieffe Suzanne , Kehoe Bróna , Hacking Dayle , Fairman Ciaran M. , Harrison Michael
Published: October 2023

Background

Exercise intervention research has shown promising results in preventing and reversing the side effects caused by prostate cancer and its’ treatment. However, there are still unanswered questions and the need for additional research. As the field of exercise oncology in the context of prostate cancer presents unique challenges and complexities, seeking the advice of experienced exercise oncology researchers before initiating a similar trial could help to design more effective and efficient studies and help avoid pitfalls.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive study design and a nonprobability, purposive sampling method was employed. An interview guide was developed and included topics such as recruitment, retention, programme goals, research design, health considerations, treatment considerations, adverse events, exercise prescription and outcome tools. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted and interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Eight individuals with extensive experience working with prostate cancer patients in exercise oncology research settings were interviewed. Four main themes and seven subthemes were generated and supported by the data. Theme 1 highlighted the critical role of recruitment, with associated subthemes on recruitment barriers and recruitment methods. Theme 2 explored the positives and negatives of home-based programmes. Theme 3 focused on specific health characteristics, exercise prescription and outcome measure factors that must be considered when working with prostate cancer cohorts. Finally, theme 4 centered around the emotional dimensions present in exercise oncology trials, relating to both researchers and study participants.

Conclusion

Exercise oncology remains a challenging area in which to conduct research. Learning from experienced personnel in the field offers valuable information and guidance that could impact the success of future trials.
Deep learning-based DOA estimation for hybrid massive MIMO receive array with overlapped subarrays
Authors: Li Yifan , Shi Baihua , Shu Feng , Song Yaoliang , Wang Jiangzhou
Published: October 2023

As massive MIMO is a key technology in the future sixth generation (6G), the large-scale antenna arrays are widely considered in direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation for they can provide larger aperture and higher estimation resolution. However, the conventional fully digital architecture requires one radio-frequency (RF) chain per antenna, and this is challenging for the high hardware costs and much more power consumption caused by the large number of RF chains. Therefore, an overlapped subarray (OSA) architecture-based hybrid massive MIMO array is proposed to reduce the hardware costs, and it can also have better DOA estimation accuracy compared to non-overlapped subarray (NOSA) architecture. The simulation results also show that the accuracy of the proposed OSA architecture has $$6^{\circ }$$

6
∘

advantage over the NOSA architecture with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at 10 dB. In addition, to improve the DOA estimation resolution, a deep learning (DL)-based estimator is proposed by combining convolution denoise autoencoder (CDAE) and deep neural network (DNN), where CDAE can remove the approximation error of sample covariance matrix (SCM) and DNN is used to perform high-resolution DOA estimation. From the simulation results, CDAE-DNN can achieve the accuracy lower bound at $$\textrm{SNR}=-8$$

SNR
=
-
8

dB and the number of snapshots $$N=100$$

N
=
100

, this means it has better performance in poor communication situation and can save more software resources compared to conventional estimators.
Improving cloud storage and privacy security for digital twin based medical records
Authors: Yi Haibo
Published: October 2023

As digital transformation progresses across industries, digital twins have emerged as an important technology. In healthcare, digital twins are created by digitizing patient parameters, medical records, and treatment plans to enable personalized care, assist diagnosis, and improve planning. Data is core to digital twins, originating from physical and virtual entities as well as services. Once processed and integrated, data drives various components. Medical records are critical healthcare data but present unique challenges for digital twins. However, directly storing or encrypting medical records has issues. Plaintext risks privacy leaks while encryption hinders retrieval. To address this, we present a cloud-based solution combining post-quantum searchable encryption. Our system includes key generation using Physical Unable Functions (PUF). It encrypts medical records in cloud storage, verifies records using blockchain, and retrieves records via cloud. By integrating cloud encryption, blockchain verification and cloud retrieval, we propose a secure and efficient cloud-based medical records system for digital twins. Our implementation demonstrates the system provides users efficient and secure medical record services, compared to related designs. This highlights digital twins’ potential to transform healthcare through secure data-driven personalized care, diagnosis and planning.
Current knowledge on the role of extracellular vesicles in endometrial receptivity
Authors: Sui Cong , Liao Zhiqi , Bai Jian , Hu Dan , Yue Jing , Yang Shulin
Published: October 2023

Endometrial receptivity has been widely understood as the capacity of the endometrium to receive implantable embryos. The establishment of endometrial receptivity involves multiple biological processes including decidualization, tissue remodeling, angiogenesis, immune regulation, and oxidative metabolism. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-bilayer-membrane nanosized vesicles mediating cell-to-cell communication. Recently, EVs and their cargo have been proven as functional factors in the establishment of endometrial receptivity. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the alteration of endometrium/embryo-derived EVs during the receptive phase and retrospected the current findings which revealed the pivotal role and potential mechanism of EVs to promote successful implantation. Furthermore, we highlight the potentiality and limitations of EVs being translated into clinical applications such as biomarkers of endometrial receptivity or reproductive therapeutic mediators, and point out the direction for further research.
Analysis of oral microbiome on temporary anchorage devices under different periodontal conditions
Authors: Zhao Ningrui , Zhang Qian , Guo Yanning , Cui Shengjie , Tian Yajing , Zhou Yanheng , Wang Xuedong
Published: October 2023

Background

Temporary anchorage devices (TADs) are maximum anchorages that have been widely used in orthodontic treatment. The aim of the study was to uncover whether a history of periodontitis would influence microbiome colonization on the TAD surface.

Results

Patients were grouped by periodontal evaluations before the orthodontic treatment. Patients with healthy periodontal conditions were classified as the healthy group, and patients diagnosed with periodontitis stage II or even worse were classified as the periodontitis group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the existence of biofilm on the surface of 4 TADs from the healthy group and 4 TADs from the periodontitis group. Fifteen TADs from the healthy group and 12 TADs from the periodontitis group were collected. The microorganisms on the surface of TADs were harvested and analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. α-diversity indices and β-diversity indices were calculated. Wilcoxon’s test was used to determine differences between genera, species as well as KEGG functions. SEM analysis revealed bacteria colonization on the surface of TADs from both groups. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on β diversity revealed differential sample clusters depending on periodontal conditions (P < 0.01). When comparing specific genera, Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas, Saccharibacteria_(TM7)_[G-1], Dialister, Parvimonas, Fretibacterium, Treponema were more enriched in TADs in the periodontitis group. In the KEGG analysis, TADs in the periodontitis group demonstrated enriched microbial activities involved with translation, genetic information processing, metabolism, and cell motility.

Conclusions

This analysis elucidated the difference in total composition and function of TADs oral microorganisms between patients periodontally healthy and with periodontitis.
Recombinant protein embedded liposome on gold nanoparticle based on LSPR method to detect Corona virus
Authors: Kim Lina , Jo Seongjae , Kim Gyeong-Ji , Kim Kyung Ho , Seo Sung Eun , Ryu Eunsu , Shin Chan Jae , Kim Yu Kyung , Choi Jeong-Woo , Kwon Oh Seok
Published: October 2023

Antibody sensor to detect viruses has been widely used but has problems such as the difficulty of right direction control of the receptor site on solid substrate, and long time and high cost for design and production of antibodies to new emerging viruses. The virus detection sensor with a recombinant protein embedded liposome (R/Li) was newly developed to solve the above problems, in which R/Li was assembled on AuNPs (Au@R/Li) to increase the sensitivity using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) method. Recombinant angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) was used as host receptors of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, and the direction of enzyme active site for virus attachment could be controlled by the integration with liposome. The recombinant protein embedded liposomes were assembled on AuNPs, and LSPR method was used for detection. With the sensor platform S1 protein of both viruses was detected with detection limit of 10 pg/ml and SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples was detected with 10 ~ 35 Ct values. In the selectivity test, MERS-CoV did not show a signal due to no binding with Au@R/Li. The proposed sensor platform can be used as promising detection method with high sensitivity and selectivity for the early and simple diagnosis of new emerging viruses.

Graphical Abstract
Head-to-head comparison of 18F-FAPI and 18F-FDG PET/CT in staging and therapeutic management of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Jing , Jiang Shuqin , Li Mengsi , Xue Haibao , Zhong Xi , Li Shuyi , Peng Hao , Liang Jiuceng , Liu Zhidong , Rao Songquan , Chen Haipeng , Cao Zewen , Gong Yuanfeng , Chen Guoshuo , Zhang Rusen , Zhang Linqi
Published: October 2023

Background

Fluorine 18 (18F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has limitations in staging hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The recently introduced 18F-labeled fibroblast-activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) has shown promising prospects in detection of HCC lesions. This study aimed to investigate the initial staging and restaging performance of 18F-FAPI PET/CT compared to 18F-FDG PET/CT in HCC.

Methods

This prospective study enrolled histologically confirmed HCC patients from March 2021 to September 2022. All patients were examined with 18F-FDG PET/CT and 18F-FAPI PET/CT within 1 week. The maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), tumor-to-background ratio (TBR), and diagnostic accuracy were compared between the two modalities.

Results

A total of 67 patients (57 men; median age, 57 [range, 32–83] years old) were included. 18F-FAPI PET showed higher SUVmax and TBR values than 18F-FDG PET in the intrahepatic lesions (SUVmax: 6.7 vs. 4.3, P < 0.0001; TBR: 3.9 vs. 1.7, P < 0.0001). In diagnostic performance, 18F-FAPI PET/CT had higher detection rate than 18F-FDG PET/CT in intrahepatic lesions [92.2% (238/258) vs 41.1% (106/258), P < 0.0001] and lymph node metastases [97.9% (126/129) vs 89.1% (115/129), P = 0.01], comparable in distant metastases [63.6% (42/66) vs 69.7% (46/66), P > 0.05]. 18F-FAPI PET/CT detected primary tumors in 16 patients with negative 18F-FDG, upgraded T-stages in 12 patients and identified 4 true positive findings for local recurrence than 18F-FDG PET, leading to planning therapy changes in 47.8% (32/67) of patients.

Conclusions

18F-FAPI PET/CT identified more primary lesions, lymph node metastases than 18F-FDG PET/CT in HCC, which is helpful to improve the clinical management of HCC patients.

Trial registration

Clinical Trials, NCT05485792. Registered 1 August 2022, Retrospectively registered.
“Teachers as conflict managers”: mapping novice and experienced Iranian EFL teachers’ professional identity conflicts and confrontation strategies
Authors: Ghiasvand Farhad , Kogani Maryam , Nemati Faezeh
Published: October 2023

Teacher professional identity has been widely investigated in second/foreign language (L2) research in the past decade. However, the identity conflicts that English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers with various teaching experiences face in their profession has been mostly neglected. Moreover, the way such conflicts shape L2 teachers’ identity and are resolved is yet under-explored. To fill these voids, this study scrutinized novice and experienced Iranian EFL teachers’ perceptions of professional identity conflicts, their influence on identity construction, and confrontation/management strategies. To this end, 30 EFL teachers (15 novice, 15 experienced) were recruited to attend a semi-structured interview and complete a narrative frame. The results of content and thematic analysis obtained by MAXQDA software revealed that both novice and experienced teachers mostly faced identity conflicts because of “teaching philosophy/ideology mismatch” and “mismatch between personal and professional self”. Novice teachers also recurrently posed interference with “clothing and physical appearance” as a source of conflict, while experienced teachers believed “unequal power relations at work”, “imposed policy mandates”, and “traditional syllabus and testing” had produced conflicts. These conflicts affected teachers’ identity construction by influencing novice teachers’ emotional and inner world, but experienced teachers’ pedagogical performance and interpersonal communication. To confront the conflicts, the participants suggested different strategies such as “negotiating conflicts with others”, “avoiding conflicts”, and “suppressing conflicts”. The study discusses the findings and their implications for L2 teachers and educators regarding common identity conflicts and resolutions.
Estimation of the potential geographical distribution of invasive peach fruit fly under climate change by integrated ecological niche models
Authors: Ullah Farman , Zhang Yuan , Gul Hina , Hafeez Muhammad , Desneux Nicolas , Qin Yujia , Li Zhihong
Published: October 2023

Climate change and biological invasions of insect pests are interlinked global concerns that drive shifts in the distribution of invasive insects. The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata Saunders, is one of the most economically important Tephritidae species that attack several host plants and causes serious damage in Asia and Africa. Currently, B. zonata is absent from many countries and regions but has a risk of invasion. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the impact of climate change on the global potential distribution of B. zonata. In this study, we used MaxEnt and CLIMEX models to estimate the risk area for B. zonata under near current and future climate conditions. The MaxEnt and CLIMEX results showed that the south of North and Central America was suitable for B. zonata. The European countries were slightly suitable for B. zonata. In Asia, the highly suitable regions of B. zonata included Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Moreover, China, Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan showed highly climate suitability for B. zonata. The climate suitability of B. zonata was increasingly high in the projection under climate change. The result of the two models showed that the climatic suitability for B. zonata will increase under climate change in China. Taken together, these predictive results support the quarantine of B. zonata for high-risk countries and provide in-depth information on how climatic changes may affect its possible geographic range.
Nonlinear least-squares reverse time migration of prismatic waves for delineating steeply dipping structures
Authors: Wu Zheng , Liu Yuzhu , Yang Jizhong
Published: October 2023

Prismatic reflections in seismic data carry abundant information about subsurface steeply dipping structures, such as salt flanks or near-vertical faults, playing an important role in delineating these structures when effectively used. Conventional linear least-squares reverse time migration (L-LSRTM) fails to use prismatic waves due to the first-order Born approximation, resulting in a blurry image of steep interfaces. We develop a nonlinear LSRTM (NL-LSRTM) method to take advantage of prismatic waves for the detailed characterization of subsurface steeply dipping structures. Compared with current least-squares migration methods of prismatic waves, our NL-LSRTM is nonlinear and thus avoids the challenging extraction of prismatic waves or the prior knowledge of L-LSRTM results. The gradient of NL-LSRTM consists of the primary and prismatic imaging terms, which can accurately project observed primary and prismatic waves into the image domain for the simultaneous depiction of near-horizontal and near-vertical structures. However, we find that the full Hessian-based Newton normal equation has two similar terms, which prompts us to make further comparison between the Newton normal equation and our NL-LSRTM. We determine that the Newton normal equation is problematic when applied to the migration problem because the primary reflections in the seismic records will be incorrectly projected into the image along the prismatic wavepath, resulting in an artifact-contaminated image. In contrast, the nonlinear data-fitting process included in the NL-LSRTM contributes to balancing the amplitudes of primary and prismatic imaging results, thus making NL-LSRTM produce superior images compared with the Newton normal equation. Several numerical tests validate the applicability and robustness of NL-LSRTM for the delineation of steeply dipping structures and illustrate that the imaging results are much better than the conventional L-LSRTM.
Future’s Moving Terrains
Authors: Bhat Abdul Manan
Published: October 2023

This essay shows how the Islamic Persianate poetic tradition is a critical conceptual resource for imagining futures in which poetry is a technology of congregation through which futures are postulated, negotiated, and lived. The essay engages the multilingual poetic milieu of Kashmir (Urdu, Persian, and Kashmiri) in the first half of the twentieth century, offering an inaugural analysis of the itinerant nature of Persian, Urdu, and Kashmiri poetry in relation to the form of ghazal and its consequences for future making. Kashmiri poets and critics, in poetry as well as prose, made prominent contributions to the literary and political debates about the purposes and potentialities of poetry as a socially aware public form in an anti-imperial context, a theme that animated multiple Urdu and Persian literary circles from the 1930s.
Astronomy for Girls
Authors: Ferguson Susanna
Published: October 2023

In 1874–75 American Protestant missionaries in Beirut published two astronomy textbooks in Arabic. While male students at the Syrian Protestant College studied Cornelius Van Dyck’s Foundations of Astronomy, girls at secondary schools—the highest level of female education—studied Eliza Everett’s Principles of Astronomy: For Use in Schools. These texts appeared at the height of a cross-cultural encounter between American Protestants and the inhabitants of Beirut and Mount Lebanon that added new meanings to the Arabic concept of science (ʿilm). Historians have analyzed men’s discussions to chart how ʿilm, once a broad category akin to “knowledge” in English, came to include a neo-Baconian understanding of the modern English “science.” This article turns to science pedagogy, a field that included both men and women, to argue that the conceptual transformation of ʿilm also entailed an epistemological division along lines of gender and age. Overall, the story reveals how a study of women in science sheds light on the gendered history of science in Arabic.