bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing precision rhinoplasty: comprehensive preoperative planning with nasal computed tomography for functional and aesthetic enhancement
Authors: Szychta Pawel
Published: March 2024

Background

The evolving field of rhinoplasty increasingly recognizes the importance of clinical expertise over routine preoperative nasal computed tomography (CT) for planning surgical interventions. This study evaluates the clinical utility of preoperative nasal CT in enhancing the precision of open structured rhinoplasty, focusing on both functional and aesthetic outcomes without compromising patient safety through unnecessary radiation exposure. The study aimed to assess the impact of preoperative nasal CT on surgical planning and intraoperative maneuvers.

Methods

A prospective cohort study involved patients undergoing open structured rhinoplasty with or without preoperative nasal CT. Participants were divided into a study group, receiving preoperative nasal CT, and a control group, undergoing rhinoplasty without such imaging. Surgical modifications were tailored based on CT findings, with outcomes evaluated through postoperative nasal airflow and aesthetic satisfaction.

Results

The study included 205 patients in the CT group and 514 in the control group, with comparable demographics. The CT group demonstrated significant improvements in nasal breathing and higher aesthetic satisfaction postoperatively, with a notable decrease in the NOSE score and an increase in the ROE score compared to the control group. Minor complications were observed in a small percentage of the CT group, showcasing a nuanced approach to addressing individual anatomical variations.

Conclusions

Preoperative nasal CT in open structured rhinoplasty significantly enhances surgical precision, optimizing functional and aesthetic outcomes. This study underscores the utility of preoperative CT in individualized surgical planning, suggesting its pivotal role in the advancement of rhinoplasty practices. Future research should explore long-term benefits and further validate these findings across diverse populations.
Estimating the impact of container port throughput on employment: an analysis for African countries with seaports
Authors: Ayesu Enock Kojo , Boateng Kofi Ampah Bennin
Published: March 2024

Ports play a significant role in facilitating international trade and economic development, serving as vital gateways for the movement of goods across the continent and beyond. As global trade volumes continue to rise, efficient port operations hold the potential to not only enhance economic growth but also contribute significantly to job creation across various sectors of the economy. This paper examines the impact of container port throughput on employment in Africa and further tests whether causality runs from employment to container port throughput. To do so, we use a sample of 27 African countries with seaport and data spanning the period from 2010 to 2020 for the analysis. The system- Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM) estimation technique is used as the estimation strategy. We use service, industrial, and total employment percentages of the total population as proxies for employment while annual container throughput measured in Twenty foots Equivalent Units (TEUs) is used as an indicator for port throughput. Based on the empirical results, we establish a positive significant effect of port throughput on employment in Africa. We further show that bidirectional causality exists between port throughput and employment in Africa. Following these findings, we recommend policies that increase port throughput in Africa.
Leaving home across the recent cohorts in Italy: does economic vulnerability due to labour market status matter?
Authors: Meggiolaro Silvia , Ongaro Fausta
Published: March 2024

We focus on the process of leaving home among young Italians and aim to discern: (a) the extent to which the potential economic vulnerability associated with certain individual labour market conditions affects the pathway of leaving the parental home; (b) whether the impact of such conditions has changed over generations of young adults. Data come from the pooling of two cross-sectional rounds of the ‘Families and Social Subjects’ survey conducted by the Italian National Institute of Statistics in 2009 and 2016. Specifically, we consider young adults who at the time of interview were between the ages of 20 and 44, for a total of 22,218 respondents. We employ discrete-time event history models, including a competing risks approach. Our findings suggest that labour market status differs in its influence according to reason for exit and gender. While we observe a clearly negative impact of being out of the labour market for both union and non-union related reasons for men, this negative impact is observed only for non-union-related motives for women. Meanwhile, economic uncertainty connected with precarious jobs does not necessarily have a negative impact on the risk of leaving parental home, both for union and non-union related reasons. Furthermore, we see signs of differences across cohorts relative to this latter set of motives for men. The results highlight the importance of considering reasons for exit in analyses of departure from the parental home.
Structural basis to identify a target site in Shiga toxin for the inhibitor discovery against growth of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli
Authors: Prabhudesai Anuja , Shaikh Samir , Ashwinbhai Kayasth Zarna , Gupta Reeshu
Published: March 2024

Background

Certain peptides that bind Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) have been reported to treat Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections. However, their mechanisms of action remain unknown. STEC infections lead to serious diseases, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome, in humans. Antibiotic therapy is usually not recommended because of the major challenges of antibiotic resistance and SOS repair. Currently, there is no human vaccine for STEC infection, leaving rehydration therapy as the recommended supportive therapy. Therefore, there is a need for targeted therapeutic intervention to inhibit STEC growth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interaction of five known peptides with Stx2 to identify a more suitable peptide based on structural changes. These peptides have been used to inhibit the growth of STEC.

Results

The current study demonstrated that only tetravalent peptide (TVP) out of 5 common peptides interrupted the Y77-E259 interaction of Stx2, making it active by exposing active site, which ultimately leads to STEC cell death. We also demonstrated that amino acids R170 and F171 of Stx2 in the docked complex of Stx2 and TVP form a helix-loop-helix (HLH). This might lead to the differential expression of genes regulated by Stx2 and ultimately inhibit STEC growth. However, in the case of Stx2-ribosomal P-stalk, these residues did not form HLH. The 3D refined model of TVP showed a low MolProbity score and low energy zones in the ANOLEA profile compared to the original one. Moreover, the low radius of gyration of the refined TVP suggests that it is more compact than the original TVP. Therefore, TVP is a suitable drug candidate for the inhibition of STEC growth. However, the low antigenicity of TVP makes it unsuitable as a drug candidate. We also evaluated three antibiotics that have been used as active ingredients in FDA-approved peptides. Only Oritavancin diphosphate showed strong polar interactions with Y77-E259 and also had the highest binding affinity.

Conclusions

Potential drug candidates that inhibit or interrupt the interaction between Y77-E259 and have high antigenicity, low toxicity, and no allergenicity should be explored against the growth of STEC.
The mediating effect of social support and body appreciation between child abuse and disordered eating symptoms among Lebanese adolescents
Authors: Kanj Gaelle , Hallit Souheil , Dabbous Mariam , Malaeb Diana , Obeid Sahar , Fekih-Romdhane Feten
Published: March 2024

Objective

The current study examines the mediating effect of social support and body appreciation between child abuse and disordered eating symptoms among Lebanese adolescents.

Methods

This study, involving 403 participants, was cross-sectional and conducted between August and September 2022. Lebanese adolescents from all of Lebanon’s governorates were recruited through the “Snowball Sampling” method. The measuring instruments composing the questionnaire included the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-7) which identifies the presence of risk for eating disorders based on eating-related attitudes, behaviors and feelings; the “Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)” which measures, from three separate sources, the extent of one’s perception of social support; the “Body Appreciation Scale (BAS)” which assesses the care and respect one has for their own body, along with the acceptance and protection of one’s body from unrealistic beauty ideals; and the “Child Abuse Self-Report Scale (CASRS-12)” which detects lifelong child abuse.

Results

Participants’ mean age was 16.63 ± 1.46 years with 57.3% of females. The results highlight the effect of mediation of social support and body appreciation in the association between all types of child abuse and disordered eating symptoms. Additionally, a significant association was indicated between more abuse and lower social support and body appreciation, whereas another was underscored between higher social support and body appreciation and more appropriate eating attitudes. Lastly, all types of child abuse were observed to be notably associated with further inappropriate eating attitudes.

Conclusion

The current mediation findings preliminarily indicate that experiences of all forms of child abuse may have possibly triggered perceived lack of social support and low levels of body appreciation, which have in turn resulted in more severe disordered eating symptoms in predisposed adolescents. This cautiously suggests that both social support and body appreciation may be regarded as key targets for community-based prevention and intervention strategies aiming at reducing the risk of developing severe eating disorders in adolescents.
Imaging in a rare case of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladophialophora bantiana in a renal transplant patient: a case report and the literature review
Authors: Patil Pushpak N. , Chavan Rajendra , Borse Shivani S.
Published: March 2024

Background

Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis is a rare and potentially life-threatening fungal infection caused by dematiaceous fungi (Levin TP et al. in J Clin Microbiol 42(9):4374–4378, 2004). It may occur in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient individuals, with a relatively higher incidence in the former (Revankar SG et al. in J Trop Med Hyg 38(1):206–222, 2004). A search of the Pubmed and Google Scholar databases revealed seven cases of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis in renal transplant patients caused by Cladophialophora bantiana (C. bantiana).

Case presentation

A 35-year-old male patient who had undergone a renal transplant presented with fever, imbalance while walking, and focal seizures involving the right lower limb. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain showed two lesions in the cerebral hemispheres. Craniotomy with excision of the lesion was done. The Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) stain and the tissue culture on the Sabouraud dextrose agar suggested C. bantiana. The broad-spectrum antifungal drugs were started. However, the patient deteriorated in the subsequent follow-ups and eventually died of the disease.

Conclusions

We present a detailed report on the imaging characteristics of a rare fungal brain abscess caused by C. bantiana, which is the first case of its kind (refer to Table 1). In immunodeficient cases, intracranial pathologies can encompass a wide range of conditions, from infections to neoplasms, which often exhibit significant imaging overlap. In such a setting, the remote possibility of phaeohyphomycosis is easy to miss clinically and imaging-wise. MRI can narrow down the differential diagnosis and raise suspicion. In every suspicious case, it is of the utmost importance to correlate with the histopathology and the culture reports to initiate the prompt targeted therapy and avoid a fatal outcome. Complete excision of the abscess and antifungal agents like Voriconazole and Posaconazole are the mainstay of management in these patients.
Multiparametric arterial spin-labeling and diffusion-weighted imaging of phenotyping of polycystic ovaries
Authors: El-Atta Heba M. Abou , Baky Khaled Abdel , Thabet Mahmoud , Talaat Mona
Published: March 2024

Background

Polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCO] is a worldwide endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. Diagnosis and differentiation of PCO phenotypes are crucial for disease prognosis, fertility outcome, and treatment planning. This study aims to assess arterial spin labeling perfusion (ASL) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) derived metrics in the diagnosis of PCO, differentiation of its phenotypes, and correlation of these metrics with laboratory measurements.

Results

ASL and DWI of the pelvis were performed on 72 PCO patients and another 20 age-matched control group. Two observers measured the blood flow (BF) and ADC in the ovarian stroma. Serum levels of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. BF values were significantly higher in PCO patients than in control cases (P = 0.001), with area under the curve (AUC) of (0.94 and 0.89) and accuracy of (96% and 92%) for both observers, respectively. Also, BF values were significantly higher in classic than in non-classic PCO cases (P = 0.001), with AUC of (0.92 and 0.90) and accuracy of (91%) for both observers, respectively. ADC values were significantly lower in PCO patients than in control cases (P = 0.001), with AUC of (0.85 and 0.84) for the first observer and second observer, respectively. ADC values were significantly lower in classic PCO patients than in non-classic patients (P = 0.001), with AUC of (0.85 and 0.84) and accuracy of (77% and 81%) for both observers, respectively. Combined values of BF and ADC showed an accuracy of 91% and 86% for differentiating patient from control cases for both observers, respectively, and an accuracy of 92% for differentiating classic from non-classic PCO phenotypes. A significant correlation was found between ADC, BF metrics, and both serum testosterone and DHEAS levels (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Combination of ASL and ADC can be used in PCO diagnosis and can help in the differentiation of its phenotypes. Serum levels of testosterone and DHEAS have a significant correlation with ADC and BF metrics.
Season-long comparison of trap lures for integrated management of the navel orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in almond and pistachio
Authors: Siegel Joel P. , Burks Charles S. , Wilson Houston
Published: March 2024

Monitoring navel orangeworm,
Amyelois transitella
(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) using pheromone lures is now complicated by the use of mating disruption. Two commercially available lures that are minimally affected by mating disruption use either natural ovipositional substrates (Bait lures) or a combination of phenyl propionate (PPO), a volatile chemical that attracts both sexes and pheromone lures (Combo lures). We compared the season-long trap capture for these two lures in a sterile insect technique (SIT) demonstration project in Fresno County, California, 2020–2023. A total of 194,233 males (96.52%) were caught using Combo lures and 7006 (3.48%) caught using Bait lures, while 95,947 females (48.83%) were caught using Combo lures and 100,532 (51.17%) caught using Bait lures. Capture of
A. transitella
was 2.3-fold higher in pistachio (278,492) than in almond (119, 316), and within a commodity, there was a moderate correlation in female capture between the two lures; correlation was stronger during the period leading up to July 21 (Julian date 202). For Bait lures, 48.7% of the trap catch in almond occurred by July 21 and 87.1% of the trap catch occurred in pistachio by July 21. For Combo lures, 38.9% of the trap catch in almond occurred by July 21 while 54.6% of the catch occurred in pistachio. Bait lures became less effective after July 21, likely due to diminished attractiveness as new crop nuts split in August through October. Our data indicate that Combo lures are preferable when the goal is consistent season-long capture of
A. transitella
in almond and pistachio.
Multiobjective route finding in a multimode transportation network by NSGA-II
Authors: Faroqi Hamed
Published: March 2024

Route finding is an everyday challenge for urban residents. While many route planner applications exist, they cannot find suitable routes based on user preferences. According to user preferences, routing in a multimode urban transportation network can be considered a multiobjective optimization problem. Different objectives and modes for transportation, along with many routes as decision elements, give rise to the complexity of the problem. This study uses an elitism multiobjective evolutionary algorithm and the Pareto front concept to solve the problem. The data of a simulated multimode network consisting of 150 vertexes and 2600 edges are used to test and evaluate the proposed method. Four transport modes are considered: the metro, bus, taxi, and walking. Also, three minimization objective functions are considered: expense, discomfort, and time. The results show the competence of the algorithm in solving such a complex problem in a short run time. The optimal setting for the algorithm parameters is found by considering the algorithm run time, diversity of solutions, and convergence trend by running sensitivity analyses. A repeatability test is applied using the optimal setting of the algorithm, which shows a high level of repeatability. While NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II) may be a well-established algorithm in the literature, its application in multiobjective route finding in multimode transport networks is unique and novel. The outcomes of the proposed method are compared with existing methods in the literature, proving the better performance of the NSGA-II algorithm.
Violence and Video in Cali, Colombia
Authors: Hollander Kurt
Published: March 2024

In 2021, a national strike was called in Colombia as a protest to the unpopular government's reforms. During the protests in Cali, the country's third-largest city, there were high levels of violence and vandalism by the protestors, but also by the government and infiltrators. Nonetheless, La Primera Línea (The First Line) were blamed for the criminal acts, and up until today, with a left-wing president now in power, they continue to be blamed, killed, and imprisoned.
Up-regulation of systemic and local BDNF in non-allergic Nasal Polyps in China
Authors: Zhou Xiangmin , Zhang Qian , Yuzhu Wan Yuzhu Wan , Shi Li
Published: March 2024

Objective: Although the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in allergic rhinitis and/or nasal polyps (NPs) development has been studied, the contribution of BDNF in non-allergic NPs has not been evaluated yet. This study was to investigate the possible role of BDNF in non-allergic NPs pathogenesis.

Methods: The study was carried out at The Second Hospital of Shandong University from December 2020 to November 2021. The non-allergic NPs patients (n=26) and the control group (n=22) were included. Lund-Mackay CT scores, nasal endoscopy scores, and pulmonary function testing were evaluated before surgery. Tissue and serum levels of BDNF, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and cytokeratins 5 (CK5) were assessed between different groups.

Result: The BDNF level in serum and tissue, CK5 count, and eosinophil infiltration in tissue were higher in non-allergic NPs. The eosinophils infiltration, ECP mRNA expression level, as well as BDNF mRNA level were increased in the BDNFhigh subgroup compared with BDNFlow subgroup. Significantly negative correlations between BDNF count and the situation of airway obstruction were found in non-allergic NPs.

Conclusion: BDNF may have both local and systemic effects in non-allergic NPs pathogenesis. BDNF may be a possible therapeutic target or an indicator for eosinophilic NPs management.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.7907

How to cite this: Zhou X, Zhang Q, Wan Y, Shi L. Up-regulation of systemic and local BDNF in non-allergic Nasal Polyps in China. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.7907

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Densitometry of STR-PAGE for donor chimerism in acute leukemia’s: A simple method for routine use
Authors: Nayyar Ayesha , Ahmed Suhaib
Published: March 2024

Objective: To evaluate a PCR based method of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of short tandem repeats and its quantification for detecting donor chimerism after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in acute leukaemias.

Methods: The descriptive study was conducted at Genetic Resource Centre (GRC) Lab Rawalpindi from Feb 2018 - Nov 2020. A total of twenty patients with acute leukaemias having undergone HSCT were selected and assessed for the analysis of chimerism status. DNA extraction from the whole blood was done by chelex method and short tandem repeats were amplified by using conventional STR- PCR assay. Electrophoresis was carried out and 6% polyacrylamide gels were used for the resultant amplified DNA products and then followed by their densitometry. These patients had undergone HSCT from Pakistan Institute of Medical Science and Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre.

Results: The peaks in the PAGE densitometry represented the donor chimerism in all post transplant samples of the patients.

Conclusion: Our study showed that densitometry of STR PCR PAGE is a useful and cheaper method for demonstration of donor chimerism in acute leukaemia patients having undergone HSCT. Hence this method can be a valuable option in the monitoring of chimerism status in these patients and therefore helps in preventing graft failure by fast and early treatment strategies for these patients.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.9216

How to cite this: Nayyar A, Ahmed S. Densitometry of STR-PAGE for donor chimerism in acute leukemia’s: A simple method for routine use. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.9216

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The alarming link between metabolic disease and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption
Authors: Khan Shahreen Ansar , Riaz Musarrat
Published: March 2024

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.9256

How to cite this: Khan SA, Riaz M. The alarming link between metabolic disease and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(5):---------.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.9256
Expanding options for HIV testing: A process evaluation of a community-led HIV self-testing intervention among men who have sex with men in Kenya
Authors: Melon Memory , Kombo Bernadette , Mugambi Mary , Njiraini Margaret , Olango Kennedy , Migot Manas , Kuria Samuel , Kyana Martin , Mwakazi Peter , Kioko Japheth , Kaosa Shem , Mensah Maria , Thomann Matthew , Musimbi Janet , Musyoki Helgar , Bhattacharjee Parinita , Lorway Robert , Lazarus Lisa
Published: March 2024

Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kenya continue to face barriers to HIV testing, which leads to delays in HIV prevention and care. An HIV self-testing (HIVST) intervention was implemented in three Kenyan counties to increase coverage and frequency of HIV testing among MSM communities with high HIV prevalence. The evaluation study examined how HIVST can increase testing among MSM who are unaware of their status by increasing coverage, frequency, and early uptake of testing and support linkages to prevention and treatment. We share results from the process evaluation of the intervention implemented in partnership with MSM-led organizations. Methods For a 12-month period between August 2019 and July 2020, the project team conducted in-depth interviews with HIVST users, monthly meetings with programme implementation teams, and monthly monitoring data reviews. Polling booth surveys were also conducted with participants. The process evaluation explored the fidelity, feasibility, coverage, acceptability, quality, and effectiveness of the HIVST intervention. Results An average of 793 MSM received 1,041 HIVST kits on a monthly basis through different distribution channels. Of those who received HIVST kits, 67% were distributed to infrequent testers and non-testers. Testing frequency among users increased to 82% for those who had a recent test during the previous three months, compared to 58% of HIVST non-users. There was a high linkage to care and treatment services (84%) among those who tested reactive for HIV at endline. MSM shared preferring HIVST kits because of its convenience and privacy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, adaptations to the intervention were made to support ongoing HIV testing and linkages to services. Conclusion The introduction of HIVST in MSM-led HIV prevention programmes was feasible with high acceptability. The involvement of the MSM community in the design, implementation and evaluation of the intervention was a key factor to intervention success.
How resilient were family planning programs during the COVID-19 pandemic? Evidence from 70 countries
Authors: Hardee Karen , Rosenberg Rebecca , Ross John , Zosa-Feranil Imelda
Published: March 2024

Background At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic fears of severe disruptions to family planning (FP) and access to services abounded. This paper uses a unique data source, a special Supplement added to the 2021 round of the National Composite Index for Family Planning (NCIFP), to assess in depth the resilience of FP programs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic across 70 countries spanning six regions. Methods The 2021 NCIFP included 961 key informants who were asked questions to assess interference in the countries’ ability to achieve objectives, ability to maintain commitment to FP, and availability of information and services. Open ended responses added context. Results All programs were affected; the magnitude of effects varies by region and country. While the average resilience score, at 47 out of 100, implies middling levels of resilience, further analysis showed that despite interference in many components of programming, with some exceptions, the COVID-19 pandemic generally did not diminish government commitment to FP and programs remained resilient in providing access to services. Common themes mentioned by 178 respondents (18.5% of respondents) included: fear of infection; disruption of services / difficulty with lockdown and travel restrictions; staff / facilities diverted to COVID-19; access to reproductive health services and contraceptive methods affected; shifts in services / outreach; interference with logistics & supplies, training & supervision, and M&E; lack of attention to FP/sexual reproductive health; financing reduced or diverted; and effects on existing partnerships. A strong enabling environment for FP, which the NCIFP is designed to measure, was positively correlated with continued government commitment and access to contraceptive methods during COVID-19. Conclusion These findings are instructive for programming: it will face challenges and ‘interference’ when unanticipated shocks like COVID-19 occur, with strong FP programs best prepared to exhibit resilience.
STRUCTURE AND SOME BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF QUINCE FRUITS (CYDONIA OBLONGA MILL.) FOR BREEDING CULTIVATED IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE MOSCOW REGION
Authors: Solomonova Ekaterina V. , Trusov Nikolay A. , Sorokopudov Vladimir N. , Sorokopudova Olga A. , Nozdrina Tatiana D.
Published: March 2024

In accordance with the policy of the Russian Federation, which, on the one side, is aimed at maintaining health and increasing the life expectancy of the country's population, and, on the other side, at import substitution, the maximum use of the food potential of domestic plants is required. One such plant is the quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.). The range of wild quince is concentrated only on the Western and Southern coasts of the Caspian Sea. The aim of this work is to study the fruits of quince, cultivated in the conditions of the Moscow region and establishing the possibility of using it in breeding. The structure, morphometric and biochemical characteristics of quinces fruits, growing in the Moscow region, have been studied. It is shown that quince fruit well in the conditions of the Moscow region. Quinces fruits, ripen in the conditions of the Moscow region, have a typical morphologo-anatomical structure, the content of absolutely dry matter comparable with cultural forms, as well as a high content of ascorbic acid. The increased content of ascorbic acid in the fruits of quince plants, resistant to the conditions of the Moscow region, allows us to recommend them for use in breeding, to obtain high-vitamin cultivars. Nutritional use of fruits of quince can be non-waste, because both pericarp and seeds are rich in biologically active substances; there is a possibility of additional extraction of oils from oilcake after using the fruit pulp. Under the conditions of import substitution, the competitiveness and economic benefits from the use in the food industry of significantly smaller fruits of the quince, introduced in the northern regions, compared to imported fruits have been presuppose.
EFFECT OF FEED ADDITIVE DHQEC ON INDICATORS OF ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN FATTENING PIGS
Authors: Ostrenko Konstantin S. , Nekrasov Roman V. , Chabaev Magomed G. , Kutyin Ivan V. , Bogolyubova Nadezhda V. , Kolesnik Nikita S.
Published: March 2024

World consumption of pork is steadily increasing, with the growing demand for pork being met by increasing both the number of pigs and their slaughter weight. However, pork production faces negative factors leading to the development of oxidative stress, which does not allow the genetic potential of the breeds to be fully realised. Particular attention is paid to the post-weaning period in pigs, when they are exposed to numerous stresses, with low adaptive capacity. This is an important period in pig rearing as it is often accompanied by temporary low feed intake, poor growth, intestinal dysbiosis and diarrhoea after weaning. These factors pose a threat to animal health and welfare, increasing the risk of mortality and leading to significant economic losses. For many years the problem of oxidative stress has been solved by the use of zinc oxide in the diets of weaned piglets. The use of natural antioxidant additives in pig diets is becoming more and more relevant in pig breeding practice. Natural antioxidants include ascorbic acid (vitamin C), tocopherol (vitamin E) and dihydroquercitin. The aim of our research was to create and test a feed complex with the additive properties of antioxidants and vitamins. We developed a new feed complex of Dihydroquercetin (DHQ) with vitamins E and C (DHQEC), which was fed to boars at a dose of 0.025% of the basic diet during the whole period of fattening. The concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the blood serum of experimental animals was found to be significantly higher (p<0.1) by 12.5% at the end of the study compared with the control group. There was also a dynamics of oxidized glutathione concentration (GSS) decrease in experimental group animals, as well as a significant increase (p<0.05) of reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSS) ratio by 45,9%. The concentration of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) was reliably lower (P<0.05) by 33,6% in comparison with the control group, while the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was 48.2% higher in the period before slaughter (p<0,1) in experimental group. The main effect of feeding DHQEC in mixed fodders was evident in the improvement of average daily live weight gain (ADG), including at the beginning of the experiment, the 1st week (p<0.10), and in the first period of fattening (5-8 weeks, p=0.09; 8 weeks, p<0.05). These indices testify to effective action of antioxidants and promote reactivity of organism and stress resistance, which raises the indices of productivity.
Gaucher’s Disease – current state of knowledge and future perspectives?
Authors: Szymańska Katarzyna , Krasnoborska Julia , Samojedny Sylwia , Superson Maciej , Szmyt Katarzyna , Walczak Kamil , Wilk-Trytko Klaudia , Zarębski Łukasz
Published: March 2024

Introduction and purpose: Gaucher's Disease (GD), a rare genetic disorder, is a difficult challenge in genetic and metabolic disorders. The aim of this review is to provide an exploration of GD, spanning its pathophysiology to the latest advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic innovations. In this review we aimed to underscore the challenges it presents and the ongoing efforts to overcome them.
State of knowledge: GD, characterized by the accumulation of glucocerebroside, involves molecular, cellular, and systemic dysfunctions. At the molecular level, mutations in the GBA gene give rise to diverse manifestations, influencing disease severity. Cellular disruptions lead to lysosomal dysfunction, altered calcium homeostasis, and chronic inflammation, impacting various organ systems. Diagnostic approaches involve biomarkers, genetic testing, and imaging studies, each playing a crucial role in confirming the disease type and assessing its grade.
Summary: Management and treatment strategies for GD have evolved, with enzyme replacement therapy and substrate reduction therapy serving as the basics. However, challenges persist, including limited efficacy in treating neurological symptoms and the high cost of treatments. The review highlights ongoing research and future perspectives in GD therapy.
Fast Rates for the Regret of Offline Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Hu Yichun , Kallus Nathan , Uehara Masatoshi
Published: March 2024

We study the regret of offline reinforcement learning in an infinite-horizon discounted Markov decision process (MDP). While existing analyses of common approaches, such as fitted Q-iteration (FQI), suggest root-n convergence for regret, empirical behavior exhibits much faster convergence. In this paper, we present a finer regret analysis that exactly characterizes this phenomenon by providing fast rates for the regret convergence. First, we show that given any estimate for the optimal quality function, the regret of the policy it defines converges at a rate given by the exponentiation of the estimate’s pointwise convergence rate, thus speeding up the rate. The level of exponentiation depends on the level of noise in the decision-making problem, rather than the estimation problem. We establish such noise levels for linear and tabular MDPs as examples. Second, we provide new analyses of FQI and Bellman residual minimization to establish the correct pointwise convergence guarantees. As specific cases, our results imply one-over-n rates in linear cases and exponential-in-n rates in tabular cases. We extend our findings to general function approximation by extending our results to regret guarantees based on Lp-convergence rates for estimating the optimal quality function rather than pointwise rates, where L2 guarantees for nonparametric estimation can be ensured under mild conditions.

Funding: This work was supported by the Division of Information and Intelligent Systems, National Science Foundation [Grant 1846210].
Hungry brain: about the possible contribution of neurotrophic factors to anorexia nervosa
Authors: Iwanicka Karolina , Mazgaj Julia , Mazur Magdalena , Rząd Zuzanna
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by restricted energy intake leading to weight loss below the healthy range. It is accompanied by anxiety and distorted body perception. While the disorder often manifests during adolescence, there is a noted decrease in the average age of onset, with an increasing number of cases in childhood. Successful treatment and maintenance of healthy body weight require an understanding of the complex etiology of AN, encompassing both psychosocial and specific biological factors.
Material and methods: For the review, databases PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were utilized, searching for the following keywords: anorexia nervosa, neurotrophins, neurotrophin 3, neurotrophin 4, BDNF, nerve growth factor, from the inception of the databases until September 2023.
Discussion: In the biological context, neurotrophic growth factors such as neurotrophin 3 (NT-3), neurotrophin 4 (NT-4), brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and nerve growth factor (NGF) may play a significant role in the etiopathogenesis of AN. These substances are involved in processes such as neuroprotection, proliferation, maturation, and survival of neurons in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. They regulate neuronal plasticity, impact the production of neurotransmitters, and control synaptic activity. BDNF and neurotrophin 3 influence the serotoninergic and noradrenergic systems, which may be associated with neurobiological processes responsible for anxiety and mood disorders.
Conclusions: Understanding the role of neurotrophins in AN has the potential to lead to more effective and personalized therapies, enabling a better comprehension of the biological mechanisms of this disorder and the development of targeted pharmacological interventions.

Keywords: anorexia nervosa, bdnf, neurotrophin 3, neurotrophin 4, nerve growth factor
Pierre Bourdieu e a fotografia: socioantropologia reflexiva em imagens
Authors: Pereira Jesus Marmanillo
Published: March 2024

O presente artigo visa situar o local da pesquisa imagética segundo a sociologia e antropologia reflexivas de Pierre Bourdieu. Para tanto, consideramos a relação entre teoria, prática e estratégias fotográficas a partir da noção de fotoetnografia, tomando como suporte as experiências desse cientista social francês na Argélia colonial e província do Béarn. Transitando entre uma antropologia visual e a sociologia da imagem, o estudo da produção imagética de Pierre Bourdieu possibilita importantes reflexões epistêmicas sobre os condicionantes sociais da pesquisa em contextos de extraordinariedade, a questão da pluralidade dos papéis do pesquisador e a importância do olhar que, embora teoricamente treinado, não se pode privar das experiências subjetivas e objetivas no campo. Além de suas principais obras, foram utilizados especialistas e comentadores de Pierre Bourdieu, entre os quais destacamos Loïc Wacquant ,  Tassadit Yacine, entre outros.
Flexible design of chiroptical response of planar chiral metamaterials using deep learning
Authors: Luo Chen , Sang Tian , Ge Zekun , Lu Junjian , Wang Yueke
Published: March 2024

Optical chirality is highly demanded for biochemical sensing, spectral detection, and advanced imaging, however, conventional design schemes for chiral metamaterials require highly computational cost due to the trial-and-error strategy, and it is crucial to accelerate the design process particularly in comparably simple planar chiral metamaterials. Herein, we construct a bidirectional deep learning (BDL) network consists of spectra predicting network (SPN) and design predicting network (DPN) to accelerate the prediction of spectra and inverse design of chiroptical response of planar chiral metamaterials. It is shown that the proposed BDL network can accelerate the design process and exhibit high prediction accuracy. The average process of prediction only takes ∼15 ms, which is 1 in 40000 compared to finite-difference time-domain (FDTD). The mean-square error (MSE) loss of forward and inverse prediction reaches 0.0085 after 100 epochs. Over 95.2% of training samples have MSE ≤ 0.0042 and MSE ≤ 0.0044 for SPN and DPN, respectively; indicating that the BDL network is robust in the inverse deign without underfitting or overfitting for both SPN and DPN. Our founding shows great potentials in accelerating the on-demand design of planar chiral metamaterials.
Crowded and warmer: Unequal dengue risk at high spatial resolution across a megacity of India
Authors: Romeo-Aznar Victoria , Telle Olivier , Santos-Vega Mauricio , Paul Richard , Pascual Mercedes
Published: March 2024

The role of climate factors on transmission of mosquito-borne infections within urban landscapes must be considered in the context of the pronounced spatial heterogeneity of such environments. Socio-demographic and environmental variation challenge control efforts for emergent arboviruses transmitted via the urban mosquito Aedes aegypti. We address at high resolution, the spatial heterogeneity of dengue transmission risk in the megacity of Delhi, India, as a function of both temperature and the carrying-capacity of the human environment for the mosquito. Based on previous results predicting maximum mosquitoes per human for different socio-economic typologies, and on remote sensing temperature data, we produce a map of the reproductive number of dengue at a resolution of 250m by 250m. We focus on dengue risk hotspots during inter-epidemic periods, places where chains of transmission can persist for longer. We assess the resulting high-resolution risk map of dengue with reported cases for three consecutive boreal winters. We find that both temperature and vector carrying-capacity per human co-vary in space because of their respective dependence on population density. The synergistic action of these two factors results in larger variation of dengue’s reproductive number than when considered separately, with poor and dense locations experiencing the warmest conditions and becoming the most likely reservoirs off-season. The location of observed winter cases is accurately predicted for different risk threshold criteria. Results underscore the inequity of risk across a complex urban landscape, whereby individuals in dense poor neighborhoods face the compounded effect of higher temperatures and mosquito carrying capacity. Targeting chains of transmission in inter-epidemic periods at these locations should be a priority of control efforts. A better mapping is needed of the interplay between climate factors that are dominant determinants of the seasonality of vector-borne infections and the socio-economic conditions behind unequal exposure.
Health-seeking behaviour and beliefs around sore throat in The Gambia: A qualitative study
Authors: Suau Sans Maria , Manneh Muhammed , Ceesay Isatou , Bittaye Amat , de Crombrugghe Gabrielle , Keeley Alexander J. , de Silva Thushan I. , Palmer Jennifer , Armitage Edwin P. , Marks Michael ,   on behalf of the MRCG Strep A Study Group
Published: March 2024

Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) bacteria causes a broad spectrum of diseases. The most common manifestations of Strep A infection are sore throat and pus-producing skin infections such as impetigo. Complications of Strep A infection can lead to inflammation in the bones, muscles, joints, and internal organs causing acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). In The Gambia, the RHD burden is thought to be very high. However, epidemiological data is minimal, and Strep A control programmes do not exist. This study aimed to explore common beliefs and practices related to sore throats among primary caregivers of children, and healthcare providers in a community with a high Strep A disease burden. Four informal conversations with providers and fifteen semi-structured interviews with caregivers were conducted in the peri-urban area of Sukuta, The Gambia. Sampling was purposive and gradual, beginning from households identified to have recently experienced sore throat through a parallel cohort study. Themes explored in qualitative analysis included: sore throat causal attributions and diagnoses, care practises, health-seeking behaviour, and perceived barriers to using the biomedical sector. We found that sore throats were typically perceived to affect one child in a family, disproportionately or exclusively. Sore throats were rarely perceived as life-threatening, and awareness of links between sore throat and ARF or RHD was not reported among caregivers or providers in this study population. Most cases of sore throat were initially managed at home using traditional medicine which delayed resort to antibiotics, though in two instances of severe pain with the presence of exudate, fear that the child’s life was at risk prompted care-seeking through the formal health system. Our findings can inform the development of tailored strategies to increase community knowledge of the potential long-term consequences of sore throats and appropriate care-seeking, alongside improvements in the health system, to prevent Strep A sequelae effectively.
The effectiveness of community health worker training, equipping, and deployment in reducing COVID-19 infections and deaths in rural Western Kenya: A comparison of two counties
Authors: Kaseje Neema , Oruenjo Kennedy , Kaseje Dan , Ranganathan Meghna , Tanner Marcel , Haines Andy
Published: March 2024

COVID-19 and other pandemics remain significant threats to population health, particularly in rural settings where health systems are disproportionately weak. There is a lack of evidence on whether trained, equipped, and deployed community health workers (CHWs) can lead to significant reductions in COVID-19 infections and deaths. Our objective was to measure the effectiveness of deploying trained and equipped CHWs in reducing COVID-19 infections and deaths by comparing outcomes in two counties in rural Western Kenya, a setting with limited critical care capacity and limited access to COVID-19 vaccines and oral COVID-19 antivirals. In Siaya, trained CHWs equipped with thermometers, pulse oximeters, and KN95 masks, visited households to convey health information about COVID-19 prevention. They screened, isolated, and referred COVID-19 cases to facilities with oxygen capacity. They measured and digitally recorded vital signs at the household level. In Kisii county, the standard Kenya national COVID-19 protocol was implemented. We performed a comparative analysis of differences in CHW skills, activity, and COVID-19 infections and deaths using district health information system (DHIS2) data. Trained Siaya CHWs were more skilled in using pulse oximeters and digitally reporting vital signs at the household level. The mean number of oxygen saturation measurements conducted in Siaya was 24.19 per COVID-19 infection; and the mean number of temperature measurements per COVID-19 infection was 17.08. Siaya CHWs conducted significantly more household visits than Kisii CHWs (the mean monthly CHW household visits in Siaya was 146,648.5, standard deviation 11,066.5 versus 42,644.5 in Kisii, standard deviation 899.5, p value = 0.01). Deploying trained and equipped CHWs in rural Western Kenya was associated with lower risk ratios for COVID-19 infections and deaths: 0.54, 95% CI [0.48–0.61] and 0.29, CI [0.13–0.65], respectively, consistent with a beneficial effect.