bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Colorectal cancer vaccines: in silico identification of tumor-specific antigens associated with frequent HLA-I alleles in the costa rican Central Valley population
Authors: Diego  Morazán-Fernández  , José Arturo  Molina-Mora
Published: November 2022

Colorectal cancer is a complex disease in which uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells occurs in the large intestine (colon or rectum). The study of tumor-specific antigens (neoantigens), molecules that interact with the immune system, has been extensively explored as a possible therapy called in silico cancer vaccine. Cancer vaccine studies have been triggered by the current high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies. However, there is no universal bioinformatic protocol to study tumor-antigens with DNA sequencing data.

We propose a bioinformatic protocol to detect tumor-specific antigens associated with single nucleotide variants (SNVs) or “mutations” in colorectal cancer and their interaction with frequent HLA alleles (complex that present antigens to immune cells) in the Costa Rican Central Valley population. We used public data of human exome (DNA regions that produce functional products, including proteins). A variant calling analysis was implemented to detect tumorspecific SNVs, in comparison to healthy tissue. We then predicted and analyzed the peptides (protein fragments, the tumor specific antigens) derived from these variants, in the context of its affinity with frequent alleles of HLA type I of the Costa Rican population.

We found 28 non-silent SNVs, present in 26 genes. The protocol yielded 23 strong binders peptides derived from the SNVs for frequent alleles (greater than 8%) for the Costa Rican population at the HLA-A, B and C loci. It is concluded that the standardized protocol was able to identify neoantigens and this can be considered a first step for the eventual design of a colorectal cancer vaccine for Costa Rican patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study of an in silico cancer vaccine using DNA sequencing data in the context of the Costa Rican HLA alleles.
Automatic diagnosis of lower back pain using gait patterns
Authors: Chandrasen  Pandey  , Neeraj  Baghel  , Malay   Kishore-Dutta  , Carlos M.  Travieso González
Published: November 2022

Back pain is a common pain that mostly affects people of all ages and results in different types of disorders such as Obesity, Slipped disc, Scoliosis, and Osteoporosis, etc. The diagnosis of back pain disorder is difficult due to the extent affected by the disorder and exact biomechanical factors. This work presents a machine learning method to diagnose these disorders using the Gait monitoring system. It involves support vector machines that classify between lower back pain and normal, on the bases of 3 Gait patterns that are integrated pressure, the direction of progression, and CISP-ML. The proposed method uses 13 different features such as mean and standard deviation, etc. recorded from 62 subjects (30 normal and 32 with lower back pain). The features alone resulted in higher leave-one-out classification accuracy (LOOCV) 92%. The proposed method can be used for automatically diagnosing the lower back pain and its gait effects on the person. This model can be ported to small computing devices for self-diagnosis of lower back pain in a remote area.
Comparison of four classifiers for speech-music discrimination: a first case study for costa rican radio broadcasting
Authors: Joseline  Sánchez-Solís  , Marvin Coto-Jiménez
Published: November 2022

During the past decades, a vast amount of audio data has be- come available in most languages and regions of the world. The efficient organization and manipulation of this data are important for tasks such as data classification, searching for information, diarization among many others, but also can be relevant for building corpora for training models for automatic speech recognition or building speech synthesis systems. Several of those tasks require extensive testing and data for specific languages and accents, especially when the development of communication systems with machines is a goal. In this work, we explore the application of several classifiers for the task of discriminating speech and music in Costa Rican radio broadcast. This discrimination is a first task in the exploration of a large corpus, to determine whether or not the available information is useful for particular research areas. The main contribution of this exploratory work is the general procedure and selection of algorithms for the Costa Rican radio corpus, which can lead to the extensive use of this source of data in many own applications and systems.
Rethinking the Interdependence of Buddhism and the State in Late Edo and Meiji Japan
Authors: Kleine Christoph
Published: November 2022

This article asks how the Buddhist paradigm of the interdependence between the Buddha’s law and the ruler’s law was modified over the centuries and reinterpreted by nineteenth-century authors in the face of rapid political, social, and epistemic changes. An analysis of relevant texts reveals continuities as well as discontinuities. While the paradigm’s basic function of guaranteeing autonomy and protection to Buddhist institutions remained largely unchanged, remarkable transformations in the argumentation are evident. Despite, or because of, the precarious position of Buddhism in the early Meiji period, Buddhist authors from this era choose an apologetic strategy. With some slight differences, they emphasize almost exclusively the intramundane benefits of Buddhism and thus defend themselves against the accusation that Buddhism is solely relevant to otherworldly matters. The most radical innovation, however, is the assertion that all secular norms and rules of governance are ultimately Buddhist in origin.
Simulação em saúde como ferramenta educativa no cuidado de enfermagem pediátrica: uma revisão integrativa da literatura
Authors: Silva Ronaldo Antonio da , Alencastro Lidiane Cristina da Silva , Ribeiro Antonia Dinágila do Nascimento , Medrado Graciane Cordeiro Correa , Castilho Geovane Roberto de Campos , Bernardino Fabiane Blanco Silva
Published: November 2022

Objetivo: analisar as evidências disponíveis na literatura sobre o uso da simulação em saúde como ferramenta educativa no cuidado de enfermagem pediátrica. Método: revisão integrativa realizada com Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (simulação, treinamento por simulação e enfermagem pediátrica), nas bases de dados SCOPUS, MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE e CINAHL. Foram encontrados 2070 estudos, avaliados 39 textos completos, em que 30 artigos compuseram o corpus de análise final. Resultados: a maioria dos estudos são internacionais, atuais e desenvolvidos com estudantes de graduação enfermagem. A simulação foi utilizada como ferramenta educacional para a formação na graduação, capacitação/treinamento sobretudo de enfermeiros e na educação em saúde de cuidadores familiares. Seu uso propiciou melhorias em gerenciamento, autoconfiança, habilidades, comunicação eficiente e construção do conhecimento acerca da temática. Conclusão: a simulação se configurou como uma ferramenta educacional com potencial para o aprimoramento do cuidado em pediatria.
Ganhando na loteria e temendo pelo prêmio: experiência de famílias rurais sobreviventes à neoplasia mamária
Authors: Mistura Claudelí , Girardon-Perlini Nara Marilene Oliveira , Beuter Margrid
Published: November 2022

Objetivo: compreender a experiência de famílias rurais que têm a mãe/esposa sobrevivente de câncer de mama. Método: pesquisa qualitativa fundamentada no referencial teórico do Interacionismo Simbólico e metodológico da Teoria Fundamentada dos Dados. Participaram 41 membros de seis famílias rurais. Os dados foram produzidos mediante entrevista aberta com questões circulares e construção do genograma familiar, sendo analisados pelo Método Comparativo Constante. Resultados: o Modelo Teórico definiu-se por duas categorias centrais: reconhecendo-se como uma família vitoriosa e (não) acreditando na cura do câncer de mama, representando simbolicamente a trajetória da experiência das famílias rurais. Conclusão: a experiência pode ser descrita como um movimento constante, interativo e integrado que a família se reconhece como vitoriosa, que “ganha na loteria” ao ter a mãe/esposa considerada curada, mas “teme perder o prêmio” pela recidiva.
W drodze do sandwicza
Authors: Grobler Adam
Published: November 2022

In the paper I present my path towards the sandwich theory of knowledge, which I have been travelling for about three decades. It started from a modest remark by R. Wójcicki who drew my attention to the concept of presupposition. This concept played an important role in my analyses of the growth of science, which I have been occupied with for much of my career. At that time I was also impressed by A. Wiśniewski’s erotetic logic. Later, I took more interest in epistemology, first for teaching, subsequently also for study. I point also to other sources of inspiration: Ajdukiewicz, Hintikka, Popper, Putnam, and Wittgenstein.
Grobler o prawdzie i o społecznej naturze poznania
Authors: Sady Wojciech
Published: November 2022

I agree with many of Adam Grobler’s theses, but several others raised my objection. (1) A.G. does not want to call scientific claims true. It is not so: very much of what scientists say about the world is true (in the classic sense), and scientists know it is. (2) A.G. leads us astray when he writes that the acceptance or rejection of hypotheses is determined, at least sometimes, by expert votes. It is not so: further research is the decisive factor in accepting or rejecting hypotheses in science. (3) While A.G. is aware of some social determinants of knowledge, he ultimately states: “individuals are the subjects of scientific knowledge.” Contrary to this, I argue that one can only be a scientist as a member of a scientific thought collective. (4) A.G. believes that scientific knowledge is based on presuppositions, accepted unconsciously, that give meaning to statements made openly. After Wittgenstein, I repeat: “After all, nothing is concealed.”
Epistemologia pragmatyczna Adama Groblera
Authors: Szubka Tadeusz
Published: November 2022

In his latest book, Adam Grobler gives an ingenious account of the main issues of contemporary epistemology, and puts forward an original sandwich theory of knowledge. The paper brings to light pragmatic threads of Grobler’s views, including his approach to scepticism, to the justification of induction, and to the notion of truth. It is suggested that the idea of relative truth, currently rigorously elaborated by John MacFarlane, would be more useful for his purposes than the notion of truth as superassertibility proposed by Crispin Wright.
Odpowiedź dyskutantom
Authors: Grobler Adam
Published: November 2022

In the article, I respond to the objections and comments to my book Epistemologia. Sandwiczowa teoria wiedzy [Epistemology: A Sandwich Theory of Knowledge] formulated by the participants of the seminar held in October 2021, namely Stanisław Judycki, Damian Leszczyński, Rafał Palczewski, Wojciech Sady, Tadeusz Szubka, Włodzimierz Zięba.
Future Wars in Light of the Past Experience
Authors: Istomin I.
Published: November 2022

The rise of international tensions revitalizes discussions on potential scenarios of military struggle. The related literature focuses primarily on the evolution in the armed forces and suggests contradictory conclusions on possible developments. One approach focuses on the rising costs for generating a modern force, which encourages states to be cautious regarding its deployment. The other concentrates on the growing lethality and precision of long-range weapons, increasing the tempo of operations. The article seeks to place these competing claims in the context of political aims of the adversaries. It also highlights the role of negotiations with local elites in consolidating gains on the battlefield, underappreciated in recent debates. Using the qualitative comparative analysis, the article reviews the record of military campaigns conducted by Russia and the U.S. since the Cold War. It seeks to acquire lessons from these past engagements for potential armed standoffs in the future. The analysis demonstrates that common expectations of rapid military is applicable only to the instance of confrontation pursuing limited political aims. In many cases, states engage in warfare with decisive political aims. Outcomes on such conflicts critically depend on the ability of the winning side to legitimize its rule through deals with powerbrokers on the ground. Meanwhile, the technical dominance plays limited role in defining military and political success. It is often compensated through asymmetric means available even to backward actors. The record of recent decades also emphasizes the growing role of city guerilla, used by a weaker side to shift fortunes in confrontation.
Global Mobility During the Pandemic
Authors: Malakhov V. , Motin A.
Published: November 2022

The article is aimed at examining the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on international migration and the immigration policies of the main host countries. The authors distinguish three periods in the response of nation states to the outbreak of the virus. The first one (February–March 2020) was securitization. During this period, the public health imperative was placed above economic considerations. The second period (spring 2020 – autumn 2021) was adaptation. The third, in which we now live, could be called routinization. Many countries, with the exception of those with a zero tolerance policy for COVID‑19, have chosen to coexist with the virus. The authors demonstrate a significant reduction in migration flows as a direct result of the closure of state borders. Different types of migration have been affected differently by the pandemic. Non-labor market migration (family reunification, humanitarian migration, etc.) suffered the most. The new situation reduced the number of asylum applications (though not the number of refugees themselves). Student migration was initially subject to severe restrictions, but by the end of 2020, many of them were lifted. As for labor migration, despite the draconian measures to reduce it, initially taken in a number of countries, it was soon restored to its previous volumes. The pandemic made it evident how deeply the national economies depend on migration. That is why significant changes were made to immigration policy aimed at full access of migrants to social security systems and the settlement of their legal status. In particular, many G‑20 countries, regardless of their political regimes, have introduced measures such as free medical examinations and medical care for migrant workers, including undocumented ones.
History Rhymes Itself: U.S. Public Diplomacy as a Tool for “Political Warfare”
Authors: Artamonova U.
Published: November 2022

In 2022, the tension between Russia and the U.S. has reached a new high. This trend has been especially noticeable in the information space: influencing public opinion of each other’s populations as well as of global community. Focusing on the concept of “political warfare” (POLWAR), the author analyzes the circumstances of its last notable emergence in the discourse among the American expert community and political elites – the start of the Cold War. The article discovers that American approach to the POLWAR in the first decades of confrontation with the USSR was reactive and even defensive, since the USSR did already have a successful experience of projecting influence on the global public opinion, effectively winning hearts and minds of foreign populations and thus presenting a threat to the newly constructed liberal world order. Hence, the U.S. governments proceeded to a gradual establishment of what later will be called the American “public diplomacy” (PD), including the development of relative legislation, institutes, etc. Thus, the article concludes that PD as a political practice may be considered a product of the Cold War in general and POLWAR in particular, which explains why the American PD has been in systemic crisis since the end of the Cold War. Moreover, studying the latest changes in the U.S. legislation and institutes related to public diplomacy, the author suggests that those events were once again the reaction of the U.S. to the Russian policies which were considered a challenge to the “rule-based world order”. Those steps, however, have been too inconsequent to bring the American PD into the most effective mode. That is why in the POLWAR that started in 2022, the American side fluctuates towards reactive and defensive tactic, mostly focusing on stopping Russian information campaigns influencing the population of the U.S., whereas control over the global public opinion remains second priority and public opinion of Russians is not being considered at all within the framework of this new approach of the U. S. Aside from that the creation of Disinformation Board and introduction of the concept of “domestic PD” likely indicate the desire to boost the public diplomacy resources that are not currently adequate for POLWAR offensive via discovering new talents and ideas among motivated Americans.
An Information Systems for Infrastructure Asset Management Tailored to Portuguese Water Utilities: Platform Conceptualization and A Prototype Demonstration
Authors: Carriço Nelson , Ferreira Bruno , Antunes André , Grueau Cedric I. C. , Barreira Raquel , Mendes Ana , Covas Dídia I. C. , Monteiro Laura , Santos João Filipe , Brito Isabel Sofia
Published: November 2022

This paper presents a new information technology platform specially tailored for infrastructure asset management of urban water systems operated by water utilities of lower digital maturity level, developed in the scope of DECIdE research project. This platform aims at the integration of different data from the water utilities with several information systems and the assessment of the system performance, in terms of water losses, energy efficiency and quality of service by using developed tools (i.e., water and energy balances and key performance indicators). This platform was tested with data from five small to medium size Portuguese water utilities with different maturity levels in terms of technological and human resources. Obtained results are very promising since the platform allows to assess the systems performance periodically which constitute an important part of the infrastructure asset management for small and medium-sized water utilities
Trend in Loaded Handgun Carrying Among Adult Handgun Owners in the United States, 2015‒2019
Authors: Rowhani-Rahbar Ali , Gallagher Amy , Azrael Deborah , Miller Matthew
Published: November 2022

Objectives. To determine the frequency of loaded handgun carrying among US adult handgun owners overall and by state concealed carry law status.

Methods. Using a nationally representative survey of US firearm-owning adults in 2019, we asked handgun owners (n = 2389) about their past-month handgun carrying behavior.

Results. A total of 30.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 28.0%, 32.6%) of handgun owners carried handguns monthly, of whom 38.1% (95% CI = 33.6%, 42.7%) did so daily. In permitless carry states, 29.7% (95% CI = 25.9%, 33.9%) of handgun owners carried handguns in the past month, compared with 33.1% (95% CI = 29.9%, 36.3%) in shall issue states and 19.7% (95% CI = 14.9%, 25.5%) in may issue states. Of handgun owners without a permit, 7.5% (95% CI = 4.1%, 13.3%) of those in may issue states and 11.5% (95% CI = 8.5%, 15.4%) of those in shall issues states carried handguns in the past month.

Conclusions. In 2019, about 16 million US adult handgun owners carried handguns in the past month (up from 9 million in 2015), and approximately 6 million did so daily (twice the 3 million who did so in 2015). Proportionally fewer handgun owners carried handguns in states where issuing authorities had substantial discretion in granting permits. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(12):1783–1790. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307094 )
School District Prevention Policies and Risk of COVID-19 Among In-Person K–12 Educators, Wisconsin, 2021
Authors: DeJonge Peter M. , Pray Ian W. , Gangnon Ronald , McCoy Katherine , Tomasallo Carrie , Meiman Jonathan
Published: November 2022

Objectives. To assess the rate of COVID-19 among in-person K–12 educators and the rate’s association with various COVID-19 prevention policies in school districts.

Methods. We linked actively working, in-person K–12 educators in Wisconsin to COVID-19 cases with onset from September 2 to November 24, 2021. A mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted for pertinent person- and community-level confounders, compared the hazard rate of COVID-19 among educators working in districts with and without specific COVID-19 prevention policies.

Results. In-person educators working in school districts that required masking for students and staff experienced 19% lower hazards of COVID-19 than did those in districts without any masking policy (hazard ratio = 0.81; 95% confidence interval = 0.72, 0.92). Reduced COVID-19 hazards were consistent and remained statistically significant when educators were stratified by elementary, middle, and high school environments.

Conclusions. In Wisconsin’s K–12 school districts, during the fall 2021 academic semester, a policy that required both students and staff to mask was associated with significantly reduced risk of COVID-19 among in-person educators across all grade levels. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(12):1791–1799. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307095 )
Perinatal anxiety and depression amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Tambawala Zenab Yusuf , Saquib Shabnam , Salman Ayesha , Khalid Munia , Beshtawi Hiyam , Akbari Elham Ali , Binashoor Amina , Hubaishi Nawal , Raeisi Maryam Al
Published: November 2022

Background:
Pregnancy and COVID-19 increase risk of mental health conditions. Stress of pregnancy, childbirth and uncertainty about the global pandemic can negatively impact the obstetric population.
Objective:
To study the effects of COVID-19 pandemic in terms of anxiety and depression (Point Prevalence) in antenatal and postnatal mothers using the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale) scale and GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)-7 scale at Dubai Hospital.
Study design:
Cross-Sectional Observational Study.
Results:
Of the 784 women approached, 438 gave consent to participate in our survey, 43.6% of the women screened positive for depression by EDPS scale with cutoff of 10 or more as significant. 42% of the women had GAD-7 score 5 or more indicating anxiety. 32.4% of the women had both anxiety and depression. 7.5% had considered self-harm in last 14 days. 15% had COVID-19 during this pregnancy. The 11.87% who had COVID-19, but prior to the pregnancy, had a higher mean EDPS and GAD-7 score than others. Surprisingly, the women who had COVID-19 during pregnancy had statistically significant (p < 0.05) lower EDPS and lower GAD-7 score. University graduates had significantly (p < 0.05) higher EDPS and GAD scores. Women of middle eastern ethnicity (50% positivefor depression and 48.5% positive for anxiety) were more prone to depression and anxiety compared to South Asian (29% positive for depression and 25.2% positive for anxiety) and African women (39.6% positive for depression and 43.4% positive for anxiety). There was no statistically significant difference between antenatal and postnatal patient for prevalence of anxiety or depression.
Conclusion:
COVID-19 pandemic is associated with an increase in depression and anxiety in pregnant and postnatal women. Women who were more concerned about effects of pandemic had higher mean EDPS and GAD scores. Additional psychological support to women is necessary during the pandemic for maternal perinatal wellbeing.
Site Specific N- and O-glycosylation mapping of the Spike Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
Authors: Shajahan Asif , Pepi Lauren , Kumar Bhoj , Murray Nathan , Azadi Parastoo
Published: November 2022

The glycosylation on the spike (S) protein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, modulates the viral infection by altering conformational dynamics, receptor interaction and host immune responses. Several variants of concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2 have evolved during the pandemic, and crucial mutations on the S protein of the virus led to increased transmissibility and immune escape. In this study, we compare the site-specific glycosylation and overall glycomic profile of the wild type Wuhan-Hu-1 strain (WT) S protein and five VOCs of SARS-CoV-2: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron. Interestingly, both N- and O-glycosylation sites on the S protein are highly conserved among the spike mutant variants, particularly at the sites on the receptor-binding domain (RBD). The conservation of glycosylation sites is noteworthy, as over 2 million SARS-CoV-2 S protein sequences have been reported with various amino acid mutations. Our detailed profiling of the glycosylation at each of the individual sites of the S protein across the variants revealed intriguing possible association of glycosylation pattern on the variants and their previously reported infectivity. While the sites are conserved, we observed changes in the N- and O-glycosylation profile across the variants. The newly emerged variants, which showed higher resistance to neutralizing antibodies and vaccines, displayed a decrease in the overall abundance of complex-type glycans with both fucosylation and sialylation and an increase in the oligomannose-type glycans across the sites. Among the variants, the glycosylation sites with significant changes in glycan profile were observed at both the N-terminal domain (NTD) and RBD of S protein, with Omicron showing the highest deviation. The increase in oligomannose-type happens sequentially from Alpha through Delta. Interestingly, Omicron does not contain more oligomannose-type glycans compared to Delta but does contain more compared to the WT and other VOCs. O-glycosylation at the RBD showed lower occupancy in the VOCs in comparison to the WT. Our study on the sites and pattern of glycosylation on the SARS-CoV-2 S proteins across the VOCs may help to understand how the virus evolved to trick the host immune system. Our study also highlights how the SARS-CoV-2 virus has conserved both N- and O- glycosylation sites on the S protein of the most successful variants even after undergoing extensive mutations, suggesting a correlation between infectivity/ transmissibility and glycosylation.
The Contribution of Transdiagnostic Vulnerability Factors in Patients with Chronic Insomnia
Authors: Vand Hoda Doos Ali , Hooman Farzaneh , Yegaei Pardis Salehi , Ahmadi Reza , Asgarabad Mojtaba Habibi
Published: November 2022

Various transdiagnostic factors have been associated with insomnia severity. The current study aimed to predict insomnia severity based on a group of transdiagnostic factors including neuroticism, emotion regulation, perfectionism, psychological inflexibility, anxiety sensitivity, and repetitive negative thinking after controlling for depression/anxiety symptoms and demographic characteristics. Two hundred patients with chronic insomnia disorder were recruited from a sleep disorder clinic. Participants completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire (CPQ), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), Repetitive Thinking Questionnaire (RTQ-10), Big Five Inventory (BFI-10), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). After controlling for the confounding variables (depression/anxiety symptoms and demographic characteristics), hierarchical multiple linear regression suggested a significant predictive model for insomnia severity that included factors of neuroticism (BFI), cognitive reappraisal (ERQ), personal standards (CPQ), evaluative concerns (CPQ), physical concerns (ASI), cognitive concerns (ASI), and repetitive negative thinking (RTQ). The findings support the role of transdiagnostic factors, especially physical concerns, repetitive negative thinking, and neuroticism in chronic insomnia. Future research using longitudinal designs is required to verify the causal status of transdiagnostic variables.
Synthetic Cannabinoids Impact on Cognitive Functions
Authors: Nagar zeinab El , Elrassas Hanan , Razek Yasser Abdel , Abdeen Mai , Mohamed Aya
Published: November 2022

Background: Synthetic cannabinoids SC are now becoming progressively popular among young people worldwide; little is known about their negative effects. Anger, anxiety, hallucinations and perceptual changes were the most common psychoactive findings. Substance abuse causes cognitive impairment (CI).
Study aim: This study's goal is to raise public awareness about the dangers that synthetic cannabinoid intoxication poses to public health. As well as the prevalence of CI in synthetic cannabinoids and its relationship to healthy people.
Study design and participants: The study included 30 synthetic cannabinoids SC addicts and 30 healthy people. The Wechsler memory scale (WMS) and the Benton visual retention test (BVRT) were used to assess cognitive functions. Addiction Severity Index (ASI), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorder (SCID-I), and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorder (SCID II).
Findings: Cognitive performance differed significantly between synthetic cannabinoid users and non-users, with no correlation to patient age or synthetic cannabinoid use duration.
Conclusion: Patients who used synthetic cannabinoids SC were more likely than controls to develop CI, which manifested as impaired visual, auditory, immediate, delayed, and working memory.
Seasonal prediction of Indian summer monsoon using WRF: A dynamical downscaling perspective
Authors: Mohanty Manas Ranjan , Mohanty Uma Charan
Published: November 2022

Seasonal forecasting of the Indian summer monsoon by dynamically downscaling the CFSv2 output using a high resolution WRF model over the hindcast period of 1982–2008 has been performed in this study. The April start ensemble mean of the CFSv2 has been used to provide the initial and lateral boundary conditions for driving the WRF. The WRF model is integrated from 1st May through 1st October for each monsoon season. The analysis suggests that the WRF exhibits potential skill in improving the rainfall skill as well as the seasonal pattern and minimizes the meteorological errors as compared to the parent CFSv2 model. The rainfall pattern is simulated quite closer to the observation (IMD) in the WRF model over CFSv2 especially over the significant rainfall regions of India such as the Western Ghats and the central India. Probability distributions of the rainfall show that the rainfall is improved with the WRF. However, the WRF simulates copious amounts of rainfall over the eastern coast of India. Surface and upper air meteorological parameters show that the WRF model improves the simulation of the lower level and upper level winds, MSLP, CAPE and PBL height. The specific humidity profiles show substantial improvement along the vertical column of the atmosphere which can be directly related to the net precipitable water. The CFSv2 underestimates the specific humidity along the vertical which is corrected by the WRF model. Over the Bay of Bengal, the WRF model overestimates the CAPE and specific humidity which may be attributed to the copious amount of rainfall along the eastern coast of India. Residual heating profiles also show that the WRF improves the thermodynamics of the atmosphere over 700hPa and 400hPa levels which helps in improving the rainfall simulation. Improvement in the land surface fluxes are also witnessed in the WRF model.
Study on the sensitivity of injection-production parameters for the long-term safety and stability of salt cavern gas storage
Authors: Zhang Huabin , Wang Peng , Gao Kai , Yue Xianru
Published: November 2022

Injection-production operation parameters such as the minimum injection gas pressure (IGP:operation pressure), IGP interval, minimum IGP residence time and injection-production cycle period of long-term operation of underground salt rock gas storage will not only affect the storage capacity and working ability of gas storage but also be crucial to the safety and stability of the surrounding rock. A 3D geomechanical model of a salt cavern was established by WinUbro to study the stability of gas storage in the operation period. Five evaluation criteria for predicting the feasibility and stability of gas storage were comprehensively considered, including deformation, expansion safety factor, volume shrinkage, plastic zone and sensitivity. The stability of the surrounding rock of the cavern under different injection-production operation parameters and the degree of influence of each parameter on the stability of gas storage during the operation period are compared. The results show that the displacement of the surrounding rock and its deformation distribution range, the displacement of the roof of the cavern, the expansion coefficient of the surrounding rock of the salt cavern and the volume shrinkage rate of the salt cavern decrease significantly with the injection-production operation parameters. The plastic zone of the salt cavern increases with the rise in the IGP interval and the increase in the minimum IGP; however, the minimum IGP residence time and injection-production period have no obvious influence on the plastic zone of the salt cavern. The IGP interval and the minimum IGP have a positive influence on the plastic zone of the salt cavern, however, the minimum IGP residence time and injection-production period have no obvious influence on the plastic zone. The sensitivity coefficients of each injection-production operation parameter are ranked, from largest to smallest, as follows: IGP interval, minimum IGP, minimum IGP residence time and injection-production cycle. This conclusion can provide a theoretical basis for further optimizing the operation scheme design of salt rock gas reservoirs and ensuring the safety and stability of the long-term injection-production process of layered salt rock gas storage.
Disease pattern, outcome, and associated factor of patient admitted in pediatric intensive care unit at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, 2022: Retrospective study
Authors: Abebe Asmamaw , Adal Ousman , Noah Yafet
Published: November 2022

Objectives
To assess the disease pattern, outcome and associated factors of admitted patients at the pediatric intensive care unit at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from January 2021 to June 2022.
Methods
An institutional-based cross-sectional study conducted. Data collected using an adapted questionnaire from the chart review and registration book. Statistical package for social science (version25) used for data entry and analysis.
Result
Of 332 total admitted pediatric patients during the study period, most 124 (39.1%) were admitted from pediatric emergency departments. The mean pediatric intensive care unit median length of stay was 20.5 days. Most patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit 71 (22.4%) were due to respiratory problems, whereas gastrointestinal disease 10 (3.2%) was the least common admission diagnosis. The mortality rate was 125 (39.3%), mostly caused by cardiovascular disease (25.6%). Admission diagnosis and use of mechanical ventilation have a statistically significant association with PICU mortality with a P-value of 0.05 in binary logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion
Respiratory and neurological diseases were the predominant conditions leading to pediatric intensive care unit admissions in our setting. More than half (56.8%) patients used mechanical ventilation. The mortality rate was significantly associated with cardiovascular disease and patients who used mechanical ventilators.
Frequency and function of circulating regulatory T-cells in biliary atresia
Authors: Oita Satoru , Saito Takeshi , Sakamoto Akemi , Fujimura Lisa , Ohara Yukiko , Fumita Takashi , Terui Keita , Nakata Mitsuyuki , Komatsu Shugo , Matsuura Gen , Hatano Masahiko , Hishiki Tomoro
Published: November 2022

Purpose
Although the impairment of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) has been shown in the liver or portal area of biliary atresia (BA) the frequency and function of circulating Tregs in BA patients is poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the frequency and function of circulating Tregs in BA patients.
Methods
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 25 BA patients and 24 controls. Treg frequency was measured by flow cytometry; function was determined by T-cell proliferation assay. We also assessed the association between Treg frequency/function and clinical parameters in BA cases.
Results
There was no significant difference between the two groups in both frequency (BA: 3.4%; control: 3.2%; p = 0.97) and function (BA: 22.0%; control: 7.5%; p = 0.23) of Tregs. We further focused on 13 preoperative BA patients and 14 age-matched controls. Neither Treg frequency nor function were significantly different (frequency: BA: 4.6%; control: 3.4%; p = 0.38, function: BA: 2.7%; control: 7.6%; p = 0.89). There was no association between Treg frequency/function and clinical parameters.
Conclusion
Neither the frequency nor function of circulating Tregs was affected in BA patients, suggesting the negative role of circulating Tregs in the pathogenesis of BA. Further investigation of local Treg profiles is warranted.
Somatic GJA4 Mutation in Intracranial Extra-axial Cavernous Hemangiomas
Authors: Huo Ran , Yang Yingxi , Xu Hongyuan , Zhao Shaozhi , Song Dong , Weng Jiancong , Ma Ruochen , Sun Yingfan , Wang Jie , Jiao Yuming , Zhang Junze , He Qiheng , Wu Ruolei , Wang Shuo , Zhao Jizong , Zhang Junting , Wang Jiguang , Cao Yong
Published: November 2022

Extra-axial cavernous hemangiomas (ECHs) are sporadic and rare intracranial occupational lesions that usually occur within the cavernous sinus. The etiology of ECHs remains unknown. In this study, whole-exome sequencing was performed on ECH lesions from 12 patients (discovery cohort) and ddPCR was used to confirm the identified mutation in 46 additional cases (validation cohort). Laser capture microdissection (LCM) was carried out to capture and characterize subgroups of tissue cells. Mechanistic and functional investigations were carried out in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and a newly established mouse model. We detected somatic GJA4 mutation (c.121G > T, p.G41C) in 5/12 ECH patients in the discovery cohort and confirmed the finding in the validation cohort (16/46). LCM followed by ddPCR revealed that the mutation was enriched in lesional endothelium. In vitro experiments in endothelial cells demonstrated that the GJA4 mutation activated SGK-1 signaling that in turn upregulated key genes involved in cell hyperproliferation and the loss of arterial specification. Compared to wild-type littermates, mice overexpressing the GJA4 mutation developed ECHs -like pathological morphological characteristics (dilated venous lumen and elevated vascular density) in the retinal superficial vascular plexus at the post-natal 3 weeks, which were reversed by an SGK1 inhibitor, EMD638683. In conclusion, we identified a somatic GJA4 mutation that presents in over one third of ECH lesions and proposed that ECHs are vascular malformations due to GJA4-induced activation of the SGK1 signaling pathway in brain endothelial cells.
Highly Sensitive Plasmonic Sensor with a Coupled Split-Square-Ring Resonator
Authors: Wu Jiajun , Li Jinhua , Ma Yuan , Ma Youqiao
Published: November 2022

A novel design for a highly-sensitive plasmonic sensor, consisting of metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide with a coupled split-square-ring resonator, is presented and studied by two-dimensional (2D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method in this paper. The simulation results show that the proposed sensor possesses a refractive index (RI) sensitivity up to 2040 nm/RIU with optimized structural parameters. In addition, a temperature sensitivity of −1.2 nm/◦C is determined. Numerical calculations indicate that the sensing performance can still be further improved via optimization of the structure. The compact waveguide structure may find important applications in areas of sensing and integrated circuits.
Preventing tongue laceration caused by intraoperative neuromonitoring during spinal surgery in prone position by athletes’ dental guard management
Authors: Meço Başak Ceyda , Aytuğ Sıddık , Başkan Elif Beyza , Meço Cem
Published: November 2022

Background: During spine surgeries in prone position, intraoperative neuromonitoring induced complications like oral lacerations or hematomas provoked by patient’s own bite during spinal nerve stimulations could pose management difficulties that could potentially complicate patient extubation.
Methods: This study reviews in two one-year periods the incidence of occurring complications first in Group I retrospectively with standard protocols used and secondly in Group II using a proposed new management protocol with the insertion of athletes’ dental guard with preoperative size selection, awake fit-control and meticulous placement after anesthesia induction.
Results: In Group I we encountered two cases with tongue lacerations, one requiring surgical intervention, while in Group II no complications were confronted.
Conclusion: Even though the sample sizes are limited to indicate a significance in this study, our proposed management protocol that focuses on good preoperative planning and accurate intraoperative placement of a bite guard helped us to avoid neuromonitoring-induced oral complications of prone-position spinal surgeries.
Revision of the CaMgSi2O6-CO2P-T phase diagram at 3–6 GPa
Authors: Shatskiy Anton , Vinogradova Yulia G. , Arefiev Anton V. , Litasov Konstantin D.
Published: November 2022

We reexamined the phase relationships in the system diopside-CO2 in the range of 3–6 GPa and 850–1500 °C in multi-anvil experiments, including reversal ones lasting up to 169 h. The reaction CaMgSi2O6 (clinopyroxene) + 2CO2 (fluid) = 2SiO2 (quartz/coesite) + CaMg(CO3)2 (dolomite) passes through 3 GPa/950 °C with a slope of 6 MPa/°C and terminates at an invariant point near 4.5 GPa/1200 °C, where carbonate liquid coexists with clinopyroxene, coesite, dolomite, and CO2 fluid. The newly determined boundary has the equation P(GPa) = 0.006 × T(°C) – 2.7. As temperature increases to 1250 °C at 4.5 GPa, liquid, dolomite, and coesite disappear, and clinopyroxene coexists with CO2 fluid. As pressure increases to 6 GPa, the solidus temperature increases to 1300 °C revealing a slope of 15 MPa/°C. At 4.5 and 6 GPa, solidus melts contain about 1 wt% SiO2. As temperature increases to 1400 and 1500 °C at 6 GPa, the silica contents in the carbonate melt increase to 6 and 13 wt%, respectively. Our data, combined with that of Luth (2006), indicate that above 4.5 GPa the liquidus reaction involving clinopyroxene and CO2 sweeps down through 350 °C via a pressure maximum near 5.3 GPa to meet the invariant point at 4.5 GPa. The shape of the diopside-CO2 solidus resembles that of lherzolite-CO2 (Wyllie and Huang 1975a) but shifted by 2 GPa to higher pressure. Thus, the deep depression along the solidi in the system CaO-MgO-SiO2-CO2 is a fundamental feature of both ultramafic and mafic assemblages at depths of 70–150 km.
SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PATIENTS ADMITTED AT THE ONLY DRUG DEADDICTION FACILITY IN KASHMIR DURING COVID TIMES: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY
Authors:   Post Graduate Resident Department of Psychiatry (IMHANS) GMC Srinagar Srinagar, J&K, India., Ul Kousar Muntaqueem , Ahmad Shiekh Javaid ,   Consultant Department of Psychiatry GMC Anantnag., Hassan Rather Yasir ,   Professor, Department of Psychiatry (IMHANS) GMC Srinagar., Malik Insha ,   Post Graduate Resident Department of Psychiatry (IMHANS) GMC Srinagar, J&K, India.
Published: November 2022

Background: Substance use has become a major health problem globally. The current COVID times have witnessed a surge of substance use globally, especially among youngsters. Majority of drug deaddiction centers were not functioning or restricted admissions during COVID times, but our institute was one of the very few hospitals in northern India which was fully functional and admitted patients during these tough times. Method: 172 patients were admitted at our drug deaddiction center over a period of six months and enrolled in the study and their sociodemographic and clinical aspects were assessed. Results: our study showed that majority of the patients admitted in the hospital were males, belonging to rural areas, self employed, unmarried, with a greater percentage of about 97.09% using heroin and only 5.8% were using pharmaceutical opioids, 79.6% were intravenous drug users and hepatitis C was found in 52.90%, 38.13%% had relapsed mostly due to non adherence to naltrexone. Conclusion: it was found in our study that intravenous opioid use has increased tremendously in young male patients and a major chunk of the patients relapsed due to non adherence to medication.
THE THERMAL COMFORT INVESTIGATION OF TWO TRADITIONAL HABITAT MODELS IN THE SUB-SAHELIAN AREA
Authors:   Energy Department/Research Institute in Applied Sciences and Technology/National Scientific and Technological Research Center / 03 BP 7047 Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso., Ouedraogo Issaka , Nongue Daniel Koumbem Winde. ,   Thermal and Renewable Energy Laboratory. Prof. Joseph KI ZERBO University., Bagaya Noufou ,   Thermal and Renewable Energy Laboratory. Prof. Joseph KI ZERBO University., Ouedraogo Alioune ,   Organic Chemistry and Physical Sciences Laboratory Prof. Joseph KI ZERBO University10 BP 13495.
Published: November 2022

We show through experimental and numerical investigation of the thermal confort in the two model traditionnal habitat in subsahelian area. The first is a rectangular model from Dogon people and the second is vaul model from the Peulhs people. We found the following result in the Dogon habitat : T=24.9Â°C-34.8Â°C,RH =10-20.7%, DP=-0.5-10.7. The air flow circulates in the habitat by natural convection is Qv =0.0567-0.0652 m3.s-1. The flow of ventilated air associated with the temperature of the air of the habitat indicates a comfortable environment in terms of the concept of thermal comfort.In the vault model from Peulhs people, the result is: RH=5.8-25.5.5%, the internal air temperature is T=22.6Â°C-33.1Â°C DP=-5.6-11.5. This construction is adapted to the nomadic way of life and doesnt provide protection against daytime temperature peaks. Also, the nights are relatively cool due radiation at wavelengths between 8 and 13 Âµm. This model is very adapted during the night.The numerical results indicate air temperature is T=25.3Â°C-34.9Â°C in the Dogon habitat and T=23.5Â°C-33.8Â°C.Finally, the local materials and the exploitation of endogenous knowledge can be solutions to the problems of high energy consumption in habitat.