bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of genetic diamine oxidase (DAO) deficiency in women with fibromyalgia in Spain
Authors: Okutan Gülşah , Casares Eva Ruiz , Alcalde Teresa Perucho , Niño Guerthy Melissa Sánchez , Penadés Bruno F. , Lora Ana Terrén , Martin Ismael San Mauro
Published: December 2022

Diamine oxidase (DAO) is the enzyme responsible for the metabolism of intestinal histamine. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the AOC1 gene are associated with low enzymatic activity or functionality in the metabolism of histamine. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of DAO deficiency for four variants of the AOC1 gene, p.Thr16Met (rs10156191), p.Ser332Phe (rs1049742), p.His664Asp (rs1049793) and c.691G > T (rs2052129) in Spanish women with fibromyalgia, as well as to compare the distribution of allelic and genotypic frequencies with European population samples in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) extracted from the ALFA (Allele Frequency Aggregator) database. The sample consisted of 98 Spanish women with fibromyalgia between 33 and 60 years old (48.5 years ± 7.5) DAO enzyme activity was determined by a sample of oral mucosa and a standard hygiene protocol was followed. The patients' DNA was extracted and the analysis of gene variants of interest was performed using SNPE Multiplex (Single Nucleotide Primer Extension). The prevalence of genetic DAO deficiency was 74.5% by the four variants of the AOC1 gene. The deficit for each SNP followed the following frequencies: p.Thr16Met (53.1%), c.691G > T (49%), p.His664Asp (48%) and p.Ser332Phe (19.4%). The allelic and genotypic prevalence of the variants had similar distributions of European population except for p.Ser332Phe. Variants of the AOC1 gene could be associated with genetic DAO deficiency and potential disruptive biomarker in fibromyalgia patients.
Transparent soil model test and numerical study on the effect of adjacent spring on the stability of tunnel face in composite strata
Authors: Ma Shaokun , Wei Hongye , Duan Zhibo , Liu Ying , Huang Zhen , He Benfu , Zhou Zhang
Published: December 2022

To study the instability and failure mechanism of tunnel face in composite stratum and the evolution law of supporting pressure in the areas with spring, this paper used two different types of transparent soil and a self-designed 3D model test system. Six large transparent soil model tests were carried out by considering different confined water heads of spring and tunnel burial depth. The optical laser and high-speed camera were controlled to move on a high-precision linear platform. CT scanning was performed to obtain the failure model under different conditions. The finite element method considering a two-way fluid-structure coupling was used to validate the model test. The research results indicate under spring, the support pressure curves can be divided into three stages: rapid decline, rebound-rise, and constant. There is no rebound-rise stage under the condition of no spring. With increased confined water heads or reduced tunnel burial depth, limit support pressure shows an increasing trend. 2D and 3D damage models for different working conditions were obtained by PIV technology and 3D reconstruction technology. If there is a spring, the maximum displacement moves to the top of the tunnel with the increase of water head and the failure mode is a combination of “silo shape” and “inverted prism”. When there is no spring, the maximum displacement appears at the interface of the soil layer, and the failure mode is a combination of “silo shape” and “wedge shape”. The presence or absence of springs and the change of the confined water head have no significant effect on the height of the loosening area. When the tunnel burial depth ratio from 0.5 to 2.0, the height of the loose area increases from 0.17D to 0.83D, and the soil arch area develops outward.
Socio-ecological impact of monogenetic volcanism
Authors: Revelles Jordi , Marti Joan , Burjachs Francesc , Finsinger Walter , Iriarte Eneko , Mesquita-Joanes Francesc , Pla-Rabes Sergi , Planagumà Llorenç , Rodrigo Maria A. , Alcalde Gabriel , Saña Maria
Published: December 2022

Although volcanism may and has caused major impacts during Earth evolution, including climate change and mass extinctions, the impact of monogenetic volcanism is usually considered as limited or underestimated in volcanological research. During the Late Glacial- Early Holocene (14 − 8.6 kyr cal BP) transition, intense monogenetic volcanic activity occurred in the La Garrotxa Volcanic Field (GVF, Girona, NE Iberia). This work provides for the first time an interdisciplinary approach to the socio-ecological impact of monogenetic volcanism, providing clear effects of environmental change on geomorphology, vegetation, aquatic organisms and humans. These analyses enabled us to identify eruptions not previously reported in theGVFduring the Late Glacial-Early Holocene, constrain their volcanic stratigraphy and age, and reconstruct the major palaeoenvironmental changes caused by the eruptions in terms of fire episodes and subsequent disturbance on vegetation, hydrology and limnological conditions. The archaeological record in the region shows that the last hunter-gatherer communities were resilient against volcanic activity at an extra-local scale, suggesting that their flexible nomadic patterns and foraging economies were an efficient source of risk management against the volcanic eruptions and their ecological impacts.
M1 transcranial Direct Current Stimulation augments laparoscopic surgical skill acquisition
Authors: Galvin Daniel , Toth Adam , O'Reilly Barry , O'Sullivan Ray , Campbell Mark
Published: December 2022

The acquisition of basic surgical skills is a key component of medical education and trainees in laparoscopic surgery typically begin developing their skills using simulation box trainers. However, despite the advantages of simulation surgical training, access can be difficult for many trainees. One technique that has shown promise to enhance the deliberate practice of motor skills is transcranial electric stimulation (tES). The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on training induced improvements and retention of traditional time and kinematic based laparoscopic surgical skill metrics. Forty-nine participants were randomly allocated to a neurostimulation or sham group and completed 5 training sessions of a bead transfer and threading laparoscopic task. Participants in both the sham and stimulation groups significantly improved their time and kinematic performance on both tasks following training. Although we did find that participants who received M1 tDCS saw greater performance benefits in response to training on a bead transfer task compared to those receiving sham stimulation no effect of neurostimulation was found for the threading task. This finding raises new questions regarding the effect that motor task complexity has on the efficacy of neurostimulation to augment training induced improvement and contributes to a growing body of research investigating the effects of neurostimulation on the sensory-motor performance of laparoscopic surgical skill.
Offloading effects of a removable cast walker with and without modification for diabetes-related foot ulceration: a plantar pressure study
Authors: Withers Rebekah V , Perrin Byron M , Landorf Karl B , Raspovic Anita
Published: December 2022

Background: Removable cast walkers (RCWs), with or without modifications, are used to offload diabetes-related foot ulcers (DRFUs), however there is limited data relating to their offloading effects. This study aimed to quantify plantar pressure reductions with an RCW with and without modification for DRFUs.
Methods: This within-participant, repeated measures study included 16 participants with plantar neuropathic DRFUs. Walking peak plantar pressures at DRFU sites were measured for four conditions: post-operative boot (control condition), RCW alone, RCW with 20 mm of felt adhered to an orthosis, and RCW with 20 mm of felt adhered to the foot.
Results: Compared to the control condition, the greatest amount of peak plantar pressure reduction occurred with the RCW with felt adhered to the foot (83.1% reduction, p < .001). The RCW with felt adhered to the foot also offered greater peak plantar pressure reduction than the RCW alone (51.3%, p = .021) and the RCW with felt adhered to an orthosis (31.4%, p= .009).
Conclusion: The largest offloading effect recorded was with the RCW with felt adhered to the foot. High-quality randomised trials are now needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this device for healing DRFUs.
Nonadiabatic to Adiabatic Transition of Electron Transfer in Colloidal Quantum Dot Molecules
Authors: Hou Bokang , Thoss Michael , Banin Uri , Rabani Eran
Published: December 2022

Electron transfer is an important and fundamental process in chemistry, biology and physics, and has received significant attention in recent years. Perhaps one of the most intriguing questions concerns with the realization of the transitions between nonadiabatic and adiabatic regimes of electron transfer, as the coupling (hybridization) energy, J, between the donor and acceptor is varied. Here, using colloidal quantum dot molecules, a new class of coupled quantum dot dimers, we computationally demonstrate how the hybridization energy between the donor and acceptor quantum dots can be tuned by simply changing the neck dimensions and/or the quantum dot size. This provides a handle to tune the electron transfer from the nonadiabatic over-damped Marcus regime to the coherent adiabatic regime in a single system, without changing the reorganization energy, λ, or the typical phonon frequency, ωc. We develop an atomistic model to account for several donor and acceptor states and how they couple to the lattice vibrations, and utilize the Ehrenfest mean-field mixed quantum-classical method to describe the charge transfer dynamics as the nonadiabatic parameter, γ, is varied. We find that charge transfer rates increase by several orders of magnitude as the system is driven to the coherent, adiabatic limit, even at elevated temperatures, and delineate the inter-dot and torsional acoustic modes that couple most strongly to the charge transfer reaction coordinate.
An iterative generalized quasi-boundary value regularization method for the backward problem of time fractional diffusion-wave equation in a cylinder
Authors: Shi Chengxin , Cheng Hao
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we consider the backward problem for a time fractional diffusion-wave equation in a cylinder. The ill-posedness and a conditional stability of the inverse problem are proved. Based on the generalized quasi-boundary value regularization method, we propose an iterative generalized quasi-boundary value regularization method to deal with the inverse problem, and this iterative method has a higher convergence rate. The convergence rates of the regularized solutions under an a priori regularization parameter choice rule and an a posteriori regularization parameter choice rule are obtained. Numerical examples illustrate the effectiveness and stability of our proposed method.
Advantages of nighttime lighting for growth of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis
Authors: Honryo Tomoki , Sawada Yoshifumi , Ishibashi Yasunori
Published: December 2022

During the fingerling production process of Pacific bluefin tuna (PBF), Thunnus orientalis, heavy mortality can occur immediately after the transportation of juveniles from nursery tanks to sea cages and the nighttime lighting moderates this mortality. It has been confirmed that various wild live prey gathered under nighttime lighting in practical sea cage culture of PBF. We validated the effectiveness of nighttime lighting to combat mortality by examined its effects on PBF growth and survival. To prove this, the present study was performed in land-based tanks, such that changes in environmental conditions did not affect the experiment. We investigated whether the growth and viability of PBF juveniles could be improved by promoting feeding live preys under nighttime lighting (treatment; Nigh-Feed, n = 4) and compared them with negative control group which were not fed during night (Control, n = 4). Results showed that growth was significantly improved under the Night-Feed group in which 69–78% of juveniles showed evidence of having fed during the night. However, the rate of survival was statistically similar between the group. It is anticipated that nighttime lighting plays an important role to gather various live preys during night and PBF juveniles consumed these feed items in sea cage. This could partially serve as a countermeasure against heavy mortality occurs in sea cage by promoting juvenile growth.
Multiclass Classification of Thyroid gland data employing Linear Discriminant Analysis
Authors: Murali M.
Published: December 2022

With the advent of internet, complex data is tremendously increased. It is essential to analyze the data. Multiclass classification, has been an important problem for a long time in supervised learning. In multiclass classification the independent variables are used to map it with k number of classes. Linear discriminant analysis is a supervised learning method to classify k number of classes. We consider applying Fisher’s Linear Discriminant Analysis(LDA) procedure to the multiclass classification. In this work, we used thyroid gland dataset to classify state of the thyroid gland. The experiments were conducted to evaluate the Fisher’s LDA method using four metrics: precision, recall , F1-score and accuracy. As the results indicated by the experiments, the Fisher’s LDA shown the best classification accuracy. Further, the Fisher’s LDA method is compared with multiclass linear regression and multiclass support vector machine.
The Vaginal Microbiota in Early Pregnancy Identifies a Subset of Women at Risk for Early Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes and Preterm Birth
Authors: Romero Roberto , Tarca Adi , Gomez-Lopez Nardhy , Winters Andrew , Panzer Jonathan , Lin Huang , Gudicha Dereje , Galaz Jose , Farias-Jofre Marcelo , Kracht David , Chaiworapongsa Tinnakorn , Jung Eunjung , Gotsch Francesca , Suksai Manaphat , Berry Stanley , Ravel Jacques , Peddada Shyamal , Theis Kevin
Published: December 2022

Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) can occur when vaginal bacteria gain access to the amniotic cavity. Thus, the predictive value of the vaginal microbiota for sPTB has been investigated, yet results have been inconclusive. Here, we report the largest study of the vaginal microbiota using longitudinal sampling of 257 cases and 514 controls (2,976 samples). Associations between the microbiota and sPTB were limited to cases of early (delivery <34 weeks) preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM). Starting with early gestation, microbial diversity was higher in early PPROM cases than controls, as were the relative abundances of Anaerococcus, Mobiluncus, Prevotella, and Sneathia. Random forest models based on data collected before 28 weeks predicted early PPROM [AUC=0.62(0.51−0.73)], while data collected by 24 weeks predicted PPROM with delivery <30 weeks [AUC=0.68(0.53-0.84)]. Therefore, monitoring of the vaginal microbiota profile may have clinical utility to identify a subset of women who will deliver a preterm neonate.
Suppression of MyD88 disturbs gut microbiota and activates NLRs pathway hence fails to ameliorate DSS-induced colitis
Authors: Chen Yu , Li Jun-hua , Ye Zheng-hao , Chen Li-ping , Xu Jia-xin , Han Jian , Xie Lin , Xing Shuai , Liao Jia-zhi , Seidler Ursula , Tian De-an , Xiao Fang
Published: December 2022

Background: The interaction between gut microbiota and innate immunity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) is the core adaptor for Toll-like receptors (TLRs) defending against microbial invasion and initiating downstream immune response during microbiota-host interaction. However, the role of MyD88 in the pathogenesis of IBD is controversial. This study aims to investigate the impact of MyD88 on intestinal inflammation and the underlying mechanism.
Methods: MyD88 inhibitor (TJ-M2010-5, TJ5) were used to investigate the effect of MyD88 suppression on acute DSS-induced colitis. Disease activity index, colon length, histological score and inflammatory cytokines were examined to evaluate the colitis severity. The RNA transcriptome analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing were used to detect the potential mechanism.
Results: In the acute DSS-colitis model, the colitis severity was not alleviated in TJ5-treated mice, though the significantly lower of MyD88 expression and NF-κB activation were exhibited compared with control mice. Meanwhile, the 16S rDNA sequencing and RNA transcriptome analysis showed a higher abundance of intestinal Proteobacteria and an up-regulation of NOD-like receptors (NLRs) signaling pathway in colitis mice after MyD88 suppression. Further blockade of the NLR signaling pathway or elimination of gut microbiota with broad-spectrum antibiotics in DSS-induced colitis mice treated with TJ5 ameliorated the disease severity that was not improved by solely MyD88 inhibition. The downregulated NLR signaling pathway after broad-spectrum antibiotics treatment suggested that the MyD88 suppressionassociated dysbiosis may stimulate intestinal inflammation via NLR signaling pathway.
Conclusion: Our study revealed that the suppression of MyD88 may be associated with unfavorable changes in the gut microbiota composition and lead to immune activation mediated by NLRs, which may play an important role in modulating intestinal inflammation.
Material Analysis for Restoration Application: A case study of The World's First University Mor Yakup Church
Authors: Karataş Lale , Alptekin Aydın , Yakar Murat
Published: December 2022

In historical stone structures, material deterioration occurs over time due to climate-related reasons. In order to perform the correct interventions to these material deteriorations in the building, original material properties should be determined and restoration applications should be carried out in accordance with these properties. In this study, it was aimed to examine the material properties and problems of the Mor Yakup Church, in the Nusaybin District of Mardin Province, in order to create a laboratory guideline that reveals the material analysis to be used in the restorations to be made at the regional scale of Mardin. Although many studies have been carried out on the structure, up-to-date information and data on the chemical-physical decomposition processes that have occurred on the material over the years are lacking. In order to fill this gap and provide basic information for the proper preservation of the structure, the Mor Yakup Church was analyzed. This structure is important in that it is the first university of education in the world that has survived to the present day. In this study, field studies and laboratory studies were carried out to determine the textural, physical, chemical, mineralogical and mechanical properties of the material used in the building, and the changes it has undergone over the years. The weathering pattern, forms and profiles show that the limestone deteriorates due to the cement-containing mortars used in the building and environmental effects (especially from the exhaust gas effect). It has been determined that nitrate salt has a role in the intense black layering, which can be observed visually, especially on the stone surfaces.
Extended ligation of hepatic vein may obtain similar effect to live venous deprivation in rat model
Authors: He Xiaoqin , Zhang Yuefeng , Zhang Gaoshuo , Ma Peng , Xiong Liangkun , Wang Wei , Xu Yangtao , Shen Yang , Yu Kaihuan , Wang Weixing
Published: December 2022

Aims: To verify the hypothesis that the hepatic vein ligation (HVL) alone may produce similar results to the live venous deprivation (LVD or HVL/PVL).
Methods: Rats were assigned to 5 groups, the control group; R group: the right median hepatic vein (RMHV) was ligated; M group: the middle median hepatic vein (MMHV) was ligated, RM group: both the RMHV and MMHV were ligated; LVD group: both the right median portal vein (RMPV) and the RMHV were ligated. Liver hypertrophy effect and liver enzymes were determined. The methylene blue staining and retrograde pressurized perfusion assay were performed to observe the hemodynamic changes.
Results: The RM and LVD groups exhibited similar significant hypertrophy in the future liver remnants when compared to the control group, and almost no additional hypertrophy effect were observed in the R and M group. A remarkable elevation in serum transaminase levels in both those groups. The methylene blue staining indicated that there are pressured-dependent collaterals between the contigeous drainage areas, the R+MMHVL procedures block the outflow of RML.
Conclusion: The extended ligation of hepatic vein (R+MMHVL) obtained the similar hypertrophy effect and hepatic damage to the LVD in rat model, and the intrahepatic venovenous collaterals play key roles.
Diagnosing of Skin Lesions Using Deep Convolutional Neural Network and Support Vector Machines
Authors: Naghshbandi Seyede Tara , Fathi Abdolhosein
Published: December 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
OsCCRL1 is essential for phenylpropanoid metabolism in rice anthers
Authors: Zhang Lisha , Zheng Lintao , Wu Jinwen , Liu Yang , Liu Weichi , He Guanghua , Wang Nan
Published: December 2022

Phenylpropanoid metabolism and timely tapetal degradation are essential for male gametophyte development, but the underlying mechanisms in rice are unclear. In the current study, to investigate this process, we identified and analyzed the male-sterile mutant, osccrl1 (cinnamoyl coA reductase-like 1), which exhibits delayed tapetal programmed cell death and defective mature pollen. Map-based cloning, genetic complementation, and gene knockout revealed that OsCCRL1 corresponds to the gene LOC_Os09g32020.2, encoding a SDR (short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase) family enzyme. OsCCRL1 was preferentially expressed in the tapetal cells and microspores, and localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm in both rice protoplasts and Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The osccrl1 mutant exhibited reduced CCRs enzyme activity, less lignin accumulation, delayed tapetum degradation signal, and disrupted phenylpropanoid metabolism. Furthermore, an R2R3 MYB transcription factor OsMYB103/OsMYB80/OsMS188, involved in tapetum and pollen development, regulates the expression of OsCCRL1. Finally, the osmyb103 osccrl1 double mutants, exhibited the same phenotype as the osmyb103 single mutant, further indicating that OsMYB103/OsMYB80/OsMS188 functions upstream of OsCCRL1. These findings help clarify the role of phenylpropanoid metabolism in rice male sterility and the regulatory network underlying the tapetum degradation in rice.
Trichoscopic, oral and periungual fold findings as activity and damage markers in Dermatomyositis patients and their correlation with myositis antibodies
Authors: Salgueiro Catalina , Poblete María José , Robles-Silva Christian , Abarzúa Álvaro , Vera-Kellet Cristián
Published: December 2022

There is little clarity about the clinical manifestations of dermatomyositis (DM) in the periungual folds, scalp, and oral cavity and their association with disease activity and damage. The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of trichoscopic, oral, and periungual changes between DM and healthy patients and assess their possible association with disease activity and damage. We conducted an observational, transversal, and analytical study between 2020 and 2021. Forty DM patients were matched by sex and age with 40 healthy individuals. On the same day, all patients had a clinical evaluation of the hands, periungual folds, scalp, and oral cavity. Photographs of these areas and peripheral venous blood tests, including myositis-associated (MAAs) and myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs), were taken. Two dermatologists blinded to their diagnosis, damage, and activity levels registered the lesions. The disease activity and damage were evaluated using the Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index (CDASI). The presence of mechanic’s hands, Gottron’s sign, and Gottron’s papules in hands; capillary dilation, capillary tortuosity, cuticular hemorrhage, avascular areas, and cuticular hyperkeratosis in periungual folds; thick tortuous capillaries in scalp; gingival telangiectasias in the oral cavity; and positive MSAs associated with severe cutaneous involvement in DM patients (Anti-TIF1g, Anti-MDA5, Anti-SAE1/2) were associated with a higher CDASI activity score. The presence of MSAs associated with intense muscle involvement in DM patients (Anti-Mi2a, Anti-Mi2b, Anti-NPX2, and Anti-SAE1/2) was related to a lower CDASI activity score. Gottron’s sign and Gottron’s papules in hands; capillary dilation, capillary tortuosity, cuticular hemorrhage, avascular areas, and cuticular hyperkeratosis in periungual folds; basal erythema in scalp; and gingival telangiectasias in the oral cavity were associated with a higher CDASI damage score. There are trichoscopic, oral and periungual fold findings, and some myositis-specific antibodies that correlate with disease activity and damage in DM patients.
No evidence for a dilution effect of high vertebrate diversity on tick-borne disease hazard in Dutch forests
Authors: Esser Helen Joan , Takumi Katsuhisa , Holding Maya Louise , Sprong Hein
Published: December 2022

Background
Maintaining high vertebrate diversity is promoted as a potential strategy to control Lyme disease hazard via a so-called dilution effect, which occurs when increasing diversity of an ecological community reduces the transmission of a pathogen. However, empirical evidence from Europe is limited at best, while it remains unclear whether dilution effects operate for other tick-borne diseases. Here, we evaluated how often the dilution effect occurs for a wide range of tick-borne pathogens and symbionts in forest areas in the Netherlands.
Methods
Data on wildlife, tick densities, and tick-borne microorganisms were collected in 19 forest sites. We calculated six different biodiversity indices based on camera trapping and live trapping data to characterize the vertebrate community of each forest site. These indices were correlated with the nymphal infection prevalence (NIP) and density of infected nymphs (DIN) of three Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies as well as seven other tick-borne pathogens and symbionts.
Results
Vertebrate host species diversity, tick densities and infection prevalence varied widely among sites. However, neither the NIP nor the DIN of any of the ten tick-borne pathogens or symbionts was significantly correlated with any of the six indices of vertebrate species diversity or with total host availability. These results were consistent regardless of whether we used the relative abundance of vertebrate species or the proportion of larvae fed by each host species to calculate the diversity indices.
Conclusions
Our results do not support evidence for a dilution effect in Dutch forests, suggesting that facilitating high species diversity of native wildlife is unlikely to reduce tick-borne disease hazard at the scale of local forest patches. Whether (other) nature conservation strategies in other types of habitats and at other spatial scales can reduce tick-borne disease hazard warrants further investigation.
Efficient Isogeny Computations on Huff Curve
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Rathor Akash , Kumari Saru , Mishra R. K.
Published: December 2022

IBC (Isogeny-based cryptography) is the important part of post-quantum cryptography (PQC). Because of compatibility and smaller key sizes, it is extremely used. Isogeny computations and point operations serve as the primary building blocks in the implementation of the IBC. Since the cryptosystem advances along the isogeny graph, it is impossible to optimize the isogeny formula for a particular elliptic curve coefficient. As a result of the effective point operation on any elliptic curve, Montgomery curves are utilised in the literature. Present work pro­­­poses the schemes for computing two, three and four-isogenies on Huff curve, by using the transformation from affine plane to projective plane. The proposed schemes found efficient when compared their computational cost with Edwards and Montgomery curves.
Constituent-based quasi-linear viscoelasticity: A revised quasi-linear modelling framework to capture non-linear viscoelasticity in arteries
Authors: Giudici Alessandro , Laan Koen W.F. van der , Bruggen Myrthe M. van der , Parikh Shaiv , Berends Eline , Foulquier Sébastien , Delhaas Tammo , Reesink Koen D. , Spronck Bart
Published: December 2022

Arteries exhibit fully non-linear viscoelastic behaviours (i.e., both elastically and viscously non-linear). While elastically non-linear arterial models are well established, effective mathematical descriptions of non-linear viscoelasticity are lacking. Quasi-linear viscoelasticity (QLV) offers a convenient way to mathematically describe viscoelasticity, but its viscous linearity assumption is unsuitable for whole-wall vascular applications. Conversely, application of fully non-linear viscoelastic models, involving deformation-dependent viscous parameters, to experimental data is impractical and often reduces to identifying specific solutions for each tested loading condition. The present study aims to address this limitation: By applying QLV theory at the wall constituent rather than at the whole-wall level, the deformation-dependent relative contribution of the constituents allows to capture non-linear viscoelasticity with a unique set of deformation-independent model parameters. Five murine common carotid arteries were subjected to a protocol of quasi-static and harmonic, pseudo-physiological biaxial loading conditions to characterise their viscoelastic behaviour. The arterial wall was modelled as a constrained mixture of an isotropic elastin matrix and four families of collagen fibres. Constituent-based QLV was implemented by assigning different relaxation functions to collagen- and elastin-borne parts of the wall stress. Non-linearity in viscoelasticity was assessed via the pressure-dependency of the dynamic-to-quasi-static stiffness ratio. The experimentally measured ratio increased with pressure, from 1.03 ± 0.03 (mean ± standard deviation) at 80–40 mmHg to 1.58 ± 0.22 at 160–120 mmHg. Constituent-based QLV captured well this trend by attributing the wall viscosity predominantly to collagen fibres, whose recruitment starts at physiological pressures. In conclusion, constituent-based QLV offers a practical and effective solution to model arterial viscoelasticity.
Prognostic value of anoikis-related genes revealed using multi-omics analysis and machine learning based on lower-grade glioma features and tumour immune microenvironment
Authors: Abulaiti Aimitaji , Maimaiti Aierpati , Wang Zengliang , Fu Qiang , Li Shaoshan , Li Yabin , Fan Guofeng , Aosiman Yasen , Ming Yan , Wang Yongxin , Zhou Qingjiu
Published: December 2022

Background: Lower-grade glioma (LGG) is a prevalent glial cell-derived brain tumor that is aggressive and infiltrative. Anoikis, a new and distinct form of cell death, is a catch-all phrase describing cells losing their ability to adhere to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and nearby cells, followed by the inducing of apoptosis. However, what role the mechanisms associated with anoikis play in LGG have not been thoroughly discovered.
Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) are three large databases that provide sequencing information for LGG patients, as well as the corresponding clinical data, were included in this study as the training set and multi-group validation set for the data. Application of ConsensusClusterPlus Consensus Clustering for molecular subtype classification of LGG patients based on anoikis-related genes (ARGs)with prognostic value. Subsequently, we screened genes significantly associated with patient prognosis using different machine learning algorithms. Risk profiles are constructed and assessed based on these screened genes.
Results: Patients with LGG were classified into two distinct molecular subtypes based on a clustering approach, each characterized by their prognosis, clinical features, and tumor microenvironment. A 6-ARG prognostic signal (EGFR, SIX1, SP1, ANGPTL2, PDCD4, and BMP2) was subsequently constructed, and the signature genes showed good predictive performance not only in the training set but also in multiple validation sets. Additionally, we go into great depth about how high-risk and low-risk groups differ from one another in terms of attributes, including immune characteristics, tumor mutation characteristics, and drug sensitivity showing significant differences in the risk subgroups. Finally, this risk score is combined with multiple LGG clinicopathological features to create an at-a-glance nomogram for quantitatively predicting the probability of clinical survival in individuals with LGG, and the AUC values and decision curve analysis (DCA) of this nomogram suggest that the model can benefit patients from clinical treatment strategies.
Conclusion: Overall, ARG signs can be used as a valid indicator of prognosis prediction and response to immunotherapy in patients with LGG.
A Deep Learning Approach for Recognizing Bengali Characters and Numbers
Authors: Sikder Juel Sikder , Datta Nippon Datta , Das Rahul Kanti Das
Published: December 2022

Bengali is one of the world's most widely spoken languages. But it is a challenging issue to recognize Bengali Alphabet and Numbers from handwritten documents. It has 50 fundamental alphabets and 10 Fundamental Numbers. Because of their diverse sizes, similarities between alphabets, and distinct writing methods, recognizing the Bengali handwritten Alphabet and Numbers is a difficult task. In this research, a deep learning-based approach is proposed combining CNN-BiLSTM for recognizing Bengali Alphabets as well as Numbers and the classification is followed by a multi-support vector machine (M-SVM). We introduced a dataset named Bengali Handwritten Alphabet and Numbers (BHAN-2022) dataset which was applied to evaluate the perfection of the proposed system. A Morphological Operation is also used before testing the input image which assists the model to remove the unnecessary part from the input image. The experimental findings show that the suggested model recognizes Bengali handwritten Alphabets as well as Numbers with an average accuracy of 97.08%.
Interaction between health insurance, household income, and public health financing in Ukraine
Authors: Kuzior Aleksandra , Krawczyk Dariusz , Didenko Iryna , Sidelnyk Natalia , Vasylieva Tetiana
Published: December 2022

The most significant problems in financing the public health system in Ukraine are the permanent deficit of public spending on medicine and the shallow development of the voluntary health insurance market. The aim of study is the search of optimal interactions between stakeholders in the system of relations “state – insurance companies – households” in the context of voluntary health insurance. The study hypothesizes that households can become more active participants in health insurance only if their average monthly income reaches a certain threshold level. It is calculated based on the results of simulation games using the Brown-Robinson iterative method. According to the simulation results, this threshold level is only 7% higher than the actual value of the average monthly income of Ukrainian households during the analysis. At the same time, under this condition, the state in Ukraine will be able to transfer part of the financial burden of compensating healthcare costs to insurance companies. According to the calculations made with the help of the game theory toolkit, with the maximization of insurance payments to the population under health insurance contracts, the burden on public health financing in Ukraine could be reduced by 67.7%. The paper was conducted on the data of the ten most potent insurance companies of Ukraine as of 2021 (it is they who accumulate the lion’s share of household insurance premiums), that is, before the start of a full-scale war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The obtained results can be used both by insurance companies during the management of insurance premiums and payments and at the level of state management of costs in the field of public health.
AcknowledgmentThis study was undertaken as a part of the research projects granted by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine: “Socio-economic recovery after COVID-19: modeling the implications for macroeconomic stability, national security and local community resilience” (registration number 0122U000778); “The impact of COVID-19 on the transformation of the system of medical and social security of population: economic, financial-budgetary, institutional-political determinants” (0122U000781).
PARA QUÊ SE LÊ NA EDUCAÇÃO EM QUÍMICA? UMA ANÁLISE DE PUBLICAÇÕES EM PERIÓDICOS DE EDUCAÇÃO EM CIÊNCIAS ENTRE 2010 E 2021
Authors: Santos Edjames , Francisco Junior Wilmo
Published: December 2022

WHAT ARE THE PURPOSES FOR READING IN EDUCATION IN CHEMISTRY? ANALYSIS OF ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE EDUCATION BETWEEN 2010 AND 2021. This work investigated Brazilian academic production about reading in chemistry classes published in journals of research in science education. To this end, a literature review was conducted from sixteen journals between 2010 and 2021. Two main aspects were analyzed: indicators of production (papers per year and per journals, education level, geographic region and institutions of the study) and the purposes of the activities of reading. In terms of the indicators of production, the results pointed out a consistent interest on this issue in the last decade with papers published in diverse journals, regional predominance from the Southeast and concentration of publications in high school or university levels. Regarding the purposes of reading, three main categories were identified: reading for information, reading for the development of skills and reading for scientific communication. Besides, different genre of texts has been employed in reading practices. Among the challenges are the reduction of regional asymmetries, the addressing of studies for other levels of education, as well as the increasing of research and systematic practices of reading based on a critical point of view.
Comparison of the isocenter verification methods and calculating imaging offset of medical linear accelerators.
Authors: Bąk Olga , Świątek Katarzyna , Paluszyńska Marta
Published: December 2022

The aim of the presented work was to compare two methods of verification of the medical accelerator’s isocenter and determine the imaging offset. Two methods were used for verification - Machine Performence Check (MPC) application with the IsoCal phantom and the Artiscan software with the PTW Isoball Phantom. Each of the analyzed methods provides an alternative way to the time-consuming and costly verification of the isocenter on radiochromic or gafchromic dosimetry films.

                Measurements were performed for ten days and the obtained data were compared for both methods. Using statistical tests, concordance was determined for the results obtained by the two methods. The data were presented in trend function graphs.

                Analysis of the results shows that it is not possible to unequivocally state that the methods are not equivalent. In addition, the AAPM TG 142 report assumes that MPC is not a sufficient test for checking medical linear accelerator’s isocentre.
Bronchiectasis Among Adult First Nations Indigenous People - A Scoping
Review
Authors: Heraganahally Subash S. , Howarth Timothy , Heraganahally Sanjana S.
Published: December 2022

Background:

Among First Nations adults living in OECD nations bronchiectasis appears at a particularly heightened rate, due to high childhood incidence, and high prevalence of associated risk factors. To date, however, the extent of the bronchiectasis disease burden among adult First Na-tions people has not been formally assessed.

Methods:

Two databases (Pubmed and Scopus) were reviewed for English literature published from January 2000 to March 2022 pertaining to bronchiectasis among adult First Nations indigenous people residing in OECD nations. All studies that reported on prevalence, incidence, or outcomes (i.e., hospitalisations, mortality) directly associated with bronchiectasis were included. Studies that did not provide indigenous specific, bronchiectasis specific data, or were paediatric studies were ex-cluded. Participant numbers and demographics, bronchiectasis prevalence or incidence, respiratory comorbidities and outcomes including mortality, hospitalisations or univariate or multivariate mod-elling to describe the risk of bronchiectasis and outcomes were tabulated.

Results:

Twenty-five studies were included, drawn from Australia (n=16), New Zealand (n=7) and North America (n=1), with most studies (n=21) reporting on referred populations. A median num-ber of participants was 241 (range 31 to 1765) (excluding nationwide hospitalisation datasets (n=3)) with a mean age of 48.4 years, and 55% females. The hospital admission rate for bronchiectasis was 3.5x to 5x higher among Māori compared to non-Māori New Zealanders, and 5x higher in indige-nous compared to non-indigenous Australians. Mortality ranged from 10 to 56% on follow-up.

Conclusion:

Bronchiectasis disease burden is higher among adult First Nations indigenous popula-tions, presenting earlier with high mortality and hospitalisation rate. Further studies are required to address this inequality.
Comparison of Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes Among COVID-19 and
Healthy Pregnant Women in the West of Iran: A Retrospective Cohort
Study
Authors: Radnia Nahid , Alimohammadi Neda , Garousian Maryam , Talebi-Ghane Elaheh , Basiri Behnaz , Bashirian Saeed , Eskandarlo Tahereh , Daneshvar Fariba
Published: December 2022

Background:

In the COVID-19 epidemic, pregnant women, fetuses, and newborns are a
high-risk population that is more susceptible than the general population. These groups are more susceptible to serious respiratory illnesses and pneumonia because of their weakened immune systems.
This study compared maternal and neonatal outcomes in postpartum women with COVID-19 with
similar healthy women at the hospital

Study Design and Methods:

In this retrospective cohort study, the characteristics of 100 pregnant
women with COVID-19 (confirmed by a positive PCR test during pregnancy) were compared to 150
healthy pregnant women who were referred to Fatemieh Hospital in Hamadan from March, 2020 to
February, 2021. The maternal and neonatal outcomes were collected from the medical record of patients and analyzed using SPSS software (Ver. 26).

Results:

No significant differences were observed in the average ages (± standard deviation) of the
two groups of COVID-19 (30.25 ± 6.24 years) and healthy (29.48 ± 6.73 years) women. In this study,
pregnant women were infected with COVID-19 from weeks 7 to 41 of gestation, with a median infection time of 35 weeks. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of pre-eclampsia and preterm birth
was significantly higher in women with COVID-19 than in healthy women with the following values
2.79 (1.61, 7.34) and 22.26 (2.86, 173.33), respectively.

Conclusion:

Pregnant women suffering from COVID-19 had considerably greater rates of gestational
issues, neonatal difficulties, pre-eclampsia, and premature delivery, according to the findings of this
study. During epidemics, it is advised that pregnant women and their newborns receive more basic
care.
Psychological Conditions among Nurses in Caring for the COVID-19 Patients: A Study from Referral Hospitals of Aceh, Indonesia
Authors: Husna Cut , Safitri Nanda Anni , Amalia Riski
Published: December 2022

Introduction:

Nurses as frontline health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic were at high risk and vulnerable to virus infection. Physical and mental conditions in caring for COVID-19 patients in hospitals may be associated with the exacerbation of the nurses experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress among the nurses.

Objective:

The study aimed to identify the psychological conditions (depression, anxiety, and stress) among nurses providing clinical assistance in caring for COVID-19 patients.

Methods:

This investigation employed a comparative study with a cross-sectional study design. The respondents were 109 nurses working in the COVID-19 wards in two referral hospitals offering care for COVID-19 patients. Data were collected using the standardized DASS-21 questionnaire and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test.

Results:

The results showed psychological conditions among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients with depression (moderate) among 60.0% and 58.8%, anxiety (severe) at 60,0% and 58.8%, and stress levels (mild) at 56% and 52.9% for hospital A and B, respectively. The study also found no significant difference in depression (p=0.890), anxiety (p=0.846), and stress levels (p=0.806, α=0.05) between the nurses in the COVID-19 wards of the two hospitals.

Conclusion:

The demographic data of nurses, such as age, education level, working experience, hospital facilities, attended workshops/training on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)/Hazmat, and management of COVID-19 patients might contribute to psychological conditions (depression, anxiety, and stress) among nurses in caring for the COVID-19 patients.
Mulheres guerreiras "supervivendo" com o cinema
Authors: Resende Olívia Érika Alves , Bentes Ivana
Published: December 2022

Este trabalho se dedica a investigar vídeo-cartas do projeto Nhemongueta Kunhã Mbaraete, desenvolvido nos primeiros meses da pandemia Covid-19, no Brasil, pelas cineastas Graciela Guarani, Michele Kaiowá, Patrícia Yxapy e Sophia Pinheiro. Defendo a hipótese de que as quatro mulheres expressam em suas imagens o que Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui (2018) chama de supervivências. A partir de uma concepção expandida de corpo (principalmente a partir de Benites 2018), percebo que o encontro entre mulheres e imagens produz potências criativas e curativas semeadora de contaminações afetivas, fazendo germinar e proliferar formas de ser e de superviver com o cinema.
Evaluation of the water quality of the Sirwan River in the Garmian region for irrigation purposes using the Irrigation Water Quality Guidelines (IWQG).
Authors: Raafat Sarhat Abdulmutalib , Shakir Al-Obaidi Basim
Published: December 2022

The water quality index (WQI) is one of the simplest ways of converting complex water quality data into an individual value that expresses the state of water quality. The present study aims to assess and classify the quality of water in the Sirwan River within Garmian Region for irrigation uses through using the Irrigation Water Quality Guideline (IWQG). The IWQG determines the risks of soil salinity and sodicity as well as the risks of water toxicity to various types of crops. The water samples were collected from (24) sampling stations in the Sirwan River downstream of Darbandikhan Dam and Jalawlaa Sub-district in December 2021. All the samples were analyzed in terms of physicochemical parameters, including (Ca+2), (Mg+2), (Na+), (HCO3-), (Cl-) and (EC). The results indicated that the (IWQI) values ranged from (42.34) to (56.70) with an average of (53.7), and most of the stations fall within the high restriction category. This indicates that the water quality of Sirwan River is suited for plants with moderate to high salt tolerance, and it can be used in high permeability soils. Salinity control practices should be implemented, except in water that contains low concentrations of (Na+, Cl- and HCO3-).

Keywords: Irrigation, Irrigation Water Quality Guideline (IWQG), Sirwan River, Garmian Region, Restrictions