bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value of preoperative diffusion restriction in glioblastoma
Authors: Labbène Emna , Mahmoud Maha , Marrakchi-Kacem Linda , Ben Hamouda Mohamed
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Although glioblastoma (GBM) has a very poor prognosis, overall survival (OS) in treated patients shows great difference varying from few days to several months. Identifying factors explaining this difference would improve management of patient treatment.  
Aim: To determine the relevance of diffusion restriction in newly diagnosed treatment-naïve GBM patients.
Methods: Preoperative magnetic resonance scans of 33 patients with GBM were reviewed. Regions of interest including all the T2 hyperintense lesion were drawn on diffusion weighted B0 images and transferred to the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map. For each patient, a histogram displaying the ADC values within in the regions of interest was generated. Volumetric parameters including tumor regions with restricted diffusion, parameters derived from histogram and mean ADC value of the tumor were calculated. Their relationship with OS was analyzed.
Results: Patients with mean ADC value < 1415x10-6 mm2/s had a significantly shorter OS (p=0.021).
Among volumetric parameters, the percentage of volume within T2 lesion with a normalized ADC value <1.5 times that in white matter was significantly associated with OS (p=0.0045). Patients with a percentage >23.92% had a shorter OS.
Among parameters derived from histogram, the 50th percentile showed a trend towards significance for OS (p=0.055) with patients living longer when having higher values of 50th percentile. A difference in OS was observed between patients according to ADC peak of histogram but this difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.0959).
Conclusion: Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging may provide useful information for predicting GBM prognosis.
La Tunisie Médicale; Past, Present, and Future.
Authors: Ballouk Muhammed Al-Huda
Published: February 2024

Not applicable. This is a Letter-to-the-Editor article.
Modelo educativo para la formación del valor responsabilidad en estudiantes de la carrera de Educación Básica de la Universidad Metropolitana
Authors: Suárez Suárez Gilberto , Morales Calatayud Marianela
Published: February 2024

The issue of the formation of values in Higher Education has received a marked interest in recent times, in line with the systematic deepening of the educational-educational work that is developed in this level of education in Ecuador. In the research that was carried out an educational model was elaborated for the formation of the responsibility value in the students of the Basic Education career of the Metropolitan University through the humanistic approach to favor the integral development of the students. To achieve this purpose, researchers articulated the methodology of scientific research through qualitative and quantitative approaches. Using for them the methods and techniques of the theoretical and empirical level. The contribution lies in the contribution to the practice of an educational model for the formation of the responsibility value in students of the Basic Education career of the Metropolitan University. This model is based on a humanistic approach, with consideration of the state, institutional context and policies of Higher Education in Ecuador.
Interpretación de la tutela judicial a la naturaleza como garantía de justicia en Ecuador
Authors: Agnelli Faggioli Alizia
Published: February 2024

The theme, interpretation of judicial protection of nature as a guarantee of justice in Ecuador is based on the development of legal recognition of the rights to nature that translates into the new paradigm shift where environmental law is developed, whose primary objective is to protect the life of living beings, therefore, environmental justice that includes legal, social, educational, economic and political elements seeks to maintain the balance of environmental situations favorable to the full satisfaction of human dignity and harmony of ecosystems, because its purpose is to protect the environment in order to avoid the damages caused to it can affect the beings that inhabit this planet, all this on the basis that nature is a mean to ensure the well-being and physical integrity of its inhabitants. Its justification is based on the fact that the rights to a healthy environment are included in human rights and because in Ecuador, nature is recognized as a subject of law that means a protected legal right that is at its enjoyment, in virtue of the fact that Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador promulgated in 2008 as the fundamental legal.
MANAJEMEN PROGRAM KELOMPOK KERJA GURU (KKG) DALAM MENINGKATKAN KOMPETENSI PEDAGOGIK GURU SD
Authors: Tatang Tatang
Published: February 2024

This research has a background in teacher quality problems that continue to be highlighted and its professionalism continues to be questioned by various elements. This study also aims to analyze and know more in depth about the management of the teacher working group (KKG) in improving the pedagogic competence of elementary school teachers in the Giriharja school cluster and the Manggahang school cluster Baleendah Subdistrict, Bandung Regency. The research method and procedure is to use a case study method with a qualitative approach, through data collection with interviews, to school principals, KKG administrators and teachers, documentation and observation studies during the KKG activities. The results and conclusions of this study are: (1) planning is prepared jointly by KKG management, teachers, principals and school supervisors by capturing input from parties related to school cluster activities, followed by group discussions to provide teachers with flexibility in determining needs the profession. (2) organizing is done by forming the management structure of KKKS and KKG, and then dividing the tasks and functions of each structure. (3) the implementation of the KKG program is adjusted to the program plans that have been prepared previously. (4) Evaluation is carried out when and after the program is implemented. Research Implications are: Management of the Teacher Working Group Program (KKG) runs according to the management function, but there are strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges that need to be addressed by all parties so that the role of the GFC can improve teacher competency, especially pedagogic competence
Comparative analysis of sensorimotor reactions of female boxers and non-boxing female university students
Authors: Druzhinin Oleg Aleksandrovich , Efimova Viktoriya Leonidovna , Yakubova Guzal Asatulaevna , Rasulov Elshod Yunusovich
Published: February 2024

The subject of the study is sensorimotor reactions of female boxers and not boxers female university students. The study involved 20 female athletes who are members of the Uzbek national boxing team and 46 female students of the pedagogical university who are not engaged in boxing. Sensorimotor tests were performed on high-precision analog equipment. The study consisted of 6 tests. The statistical analysis was carried out using the Python programming language. Female boxers showed significantly higher results in instrumental tests evaluating motor responses to auditory and visual stimuli. The advantage of the athletes was manifested in both simple and complex sensorimotor reactions. Female athletes showed a shorter reaction time to auditory and visual stimuli, both in simple and complex sensorimotor tests: more target reactions to a moving object; more of target reactions under time constraints in a dynamic test; higher endurance of the nervous system during the tapping test. The high quality of sensorimotor reactions is a prerequisite for the success of athletes in female boxing. Sensorimotor tests are considered cognitive, so the results of the study show a high cognitive potential of female athletes. The results of sensorimotor tests are related to the quality of executive functions, including memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control. A comparative analysis of the sensorimotor reactions of female boxers and female students using instrumental diagnostic methods was carried out for the first time. The data obtained complement the understanding of the relationship between human motor and cognitive development. A high level of development of simple and complex sensorimotor reactions contributes to success, both in sports and other activities. Playing sports can contribute not only to the physical development of a person, but also increase his cognitive potential.
Contrast-enhanced Chest Ultrasound – Modern Achievements of Pulmonology in Bulgaria
Authors: Mihalova Teodora , Petkov Rosen
Published: February 2024

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an innovative imaging method in pulmonology based on the intravenous administration of a contrast medium in the form of microspheres, and the subsequent detailed representation of the perfusion characteristics of the target tissues. The method allows the distinction between malignant and benign origin of a given pathological lesion. The purpose of the current article is to introduce to the scientific society the modern achievements of contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the thorax in pulmonology in Bulgaria. We present twenty-seven clinical cases from the period 2017--2020, in which CEUS was applied at different stages of the diagnostic process. The results are compared with a previous survey conducted in Bulgaria in 2011.
A SE-DenseNet-LSTM model for locomotion mode recognition in lower limb exoskeleton
Authors: Tang Jing , Zhao Lun , Wu Minghu , Jiang Zequan , Cao Jiaxun , Bao Xiang
Published: February 2024

Locomotion mode recognition in humans is fundamental for flexible control in wearable-powered exoskeleton robots. This article proposes a hybrid model that combines a dense convolutional network (DenseNet) and long short-term memory (LSTM) with a channel attention mechanism (SENet) for locomotion mode recognition. DenseNet can automatically extract deep-level features from data, while LSTM effectively captures long-dependent information in time series. To evaluate the validity of the hybrid model, inertial measurement units (IMUs) and pressure sensors were used to obtain motion data from 15 subjects. Five locomotion modes were tested for the hybrid model, such as level ground walking, stair ascending, stair descending, ramp ascending, and ramp descending. Furthermore, the data features of the ramp were inconspicuous, leading to large recognition errors. To address this challenge, the SENet module was incorporated, which improved recognition rates to some extent. The proposed model automatically extracted the features and achieved an average recognition rate of 97.93%. Compared with known algorithms, the proposed model has substantial recognition results and robustness. This work holds promising potential for applications such as limb support and weight bearing.
Energy-efficient routing protocol for reliable low-latency Internet of Things in oil and gas pipeline monitoring
Authors: Karam Sana Nasim , Bilal Kashif , Khan Abdul Nasir , Shuja Junaid , Abdulkadir Said Jadid
Published: February 2024

The oil and gas industries (OGI) are the primary global energy source, with pipelines as vital components for OGI transportation. However, pipeline leaks pose significant risks, including fires, injuries, environmental harm, and property damage. Therefore, maintaining an effective pipeline maintenance system is critical for ensuring a safe and sustainable energy supply. The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a cutting-edge technology for efficient OGI pipeline leak detection. However, deploying IoT in OGI monitoring faces significant challenges due to hazardous environments and limited communication infrastructure. Energy efficiency and fault tolerance, typical IoT concerns, gain heightened importance in the OGI context. In OGI monitoring, IoT devices are linearly deployed with no alternative communication mechanism available along OGI pipelines. Thus, the absence of both communication routes can disrupt crucial data transmission. Therefore, ensuring energy-efficient and fault-tolerant communication for OGI data is paramount. Critical data needs to reach the control center on time for faster actions to avoid loss. Low latency communication for critical data is another challenge of the OGI monitoring environment. Moreover, IoT devices gather a plethora of OGI parameter data including redundant values that hold no relevance for transmission to the control center. Thus, optimizing data transmission is essential to conserve energy in OGI monitoring. This article presents the Priority-Based, Energy-Efficient, and Optimal Data Routing Protocol (PO-IMRP) to tackle these challenges. The energy model and congestion control mechanism optimize data packets for an energy-efficient and congestion-free network. In PO-IMRP, nodes are aware of their energy status and communicate node’s depletion status timely for network robustness. Priority-based routing selects low-latency routes for critical data to avoid OGI losses. Comparative analysis against linear LEACH highlights PO-IMRP’s superior performance in terms of total packet transmission by completing fewer rounds with more packet’s transmissions, attributed to the packet optimization technique implemented at each hop, which helps mitigate network congestion. MATLAB simulations affirm the effectiveness of the protocol in terms of energy efficiency, fault-tolerance, and low latency communication.
Multi-angle perception and convolutional neural network for service quality evaluation of cross-border e-commerce logistics enterprise
Authors: Zhao ShuTong , Yin Zhenjie , Xie Pingping
Published: February 2024

The development of cross-border e-commerce logistics services has injected new vitality into the development of international trade, and therefore has become a new hot spot in theoretical research. In order to ensure the healthy development of cross-border e-commerce, it is urgent to build a set of scientific and effective evaluation mechanisms to scientifically evaluate the logistics service quality of cross-border e-commerce. Multi-angle perceptual convolutional neural network is a framework for service scene identification of cross-border e-commerce logistics enterprises based on deep convolutional neural network and multi-angle perceptual width learning. In this article, both shallow features and deep features were input into the deep perception model (DPM) to obtain a set of distinguishable features with causal structure, which was used to completely describe the high-level semantic information of cross-border e-commerce logistics enterprise services. Among them, DPM mainly adopts the fusion strategy of shallow feature and deep feature. Meanwhile, the feature representation is input into the width learning pattern recognition system for training and classification, so as to evaluate the service quality of cross-border e-commerce logistics enterprises. The multi-angle perceptual convolutional neural network can effectively solve the problems of high similarity between service classes of cross-border e-commerce logistics enterprises and large differences within the class, and achieve better generalization performance and algorithm complexity than support vector machine, random forest and convolutional neural network.
Intensive pasture management alters the composition and structure of plant-pollinator interactions in Sibiu, Romania
Authors: Neacă Ana-Maria , Meis Julia , Knight Tiffany , Rakosy Demetra
Published: February 2024

Background

Land management change towards intensive grazing has been shown to alter plant and pollinator communities and the structure of plant-pollinator interactions in different ways across the world. Land-use intensification in Eastern Europe is shifting highly diverse, traditionally managed hay meadows towards intensive pastures, but few studies have examined how this influences plant-pollinator networks. We hypothesized that the effects of intensive grazing on networks will depend on how plant communities and their floral traits change.

Methods

We investigated plant and pollinator diversity and composition and the structure of plant-pollinator interactions near Sibiu, Romania at sites that were traditionally managed as hay meadows or intensive pastures. We quantified the identity and abundance of flowering plants, and used transect walks to observe pollinator genera interacting with flowering plant species. We evaluated the effects of management on diversity, composition and several indices of network structure.

Results

Pollinator but not plant diversity declined in pastures and both plant and pollinator taxonomic composition shifted. Functional diversity and composition remained unchanged, with rather specialized flowers having been found to dominate in both hay meadows and pastures. Apis mellifera was found to be the most abundant pollinator. Its foraging preferences played a crucial role in shaping plant-pollinator network structure. Apis mellifera thus preferred the highly abundant Dorycnium herbaceum in hay meadows, leading to hay meadows networks with lower Shannon diversity and interaction evenness. In pastures, however, it preferred less abundant and more generalized flower resources. With pollinators being overall less abundant and more generalized in pastures, we found that niche overlap between plants was higher.

Discussion

With both hay meadows and pastures being dominated by plant species with similar floral traits, shifts in pollinator preferences seem to have driven the observed changes in plant-pollinator interaction networks. We thus conclude that the effects of grazing on pollinators and their interactions are likely to depend on the traits of plant species present in different management types as well as on the effects of grazing on plant community composition. We thereby highlight the need for better understanding how floral abundance shapes pollinator visitation rates and how floral traits may influence this relationship.
H2O2 promotes trimming-induced tillering by regulating energy supply and redox status in bermudagrass
Authors: Li Shuang , Yin Yanling , Chen Jianmin , Cui Xinyu , Fu Jinmin
Published: February 2024

Tillering/branching pattern plays a significant role in determining the structure and diversity of grass, and trimming has been found to induce tillering in turfgrass. Recently, it has been reported that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) regulates axillary bud development. However, the role of H2O2 in trimming-induced tillering in bermudagrass, a kind of turfgrass, remains unclear. Our study unveils the significant impact of trimming on promoting the sprouting and growth of tiller buds in stolon nodes, along with an increase in the number of tillers in the main stem. This effect is accompanied by spatial-temporal changes in cytokinin and sucrose content, as well as relevant gene expression in axillary buds. In addition, the partial trimming of new-born tillers results in an increase in sucrose and starch reserves in their leaves, which can be attributed to the enhanced photosynthesis capacity. Importantly, trimming promotes a rapid H2O2 burst in the leaves of new-born tillers and axillary stolon buds. Furthermore, exogenous application of H2O2 significantly increases the number of tillers after trimming by affecting the expression of cytokinin-related genes, bolstering photosynthesis potential, energy reserves and antioxidant enzyme activity. Taken together, these results indicate that both endogenous production and exogenous addition of H2O2 enhance the inductive effects of trimming on the tillering process in bermudagrass, thus helping boost energy supply and maintain the redox state in newly formed tillers.
Analysis of the differences in physicochemical properties, volatile compounds, and microbial community structure of pit mud in different time spaces
Authors: Han Baolin , Gong Hucheng , Ren Xiaohu , Tian Shulin , Wang Yu , Zhang Shufan , Zhang Jiaxu , Luo Jing
Published: February 2024

Pit mud (PM) is among the key factors determining the quality of Nongxiangxing baijiu, a Chinese liquor. Microorganisms present inside PM are crucial for the unique taste and flavor of this liquor. In this study, headspace solid-phase microextraction was used in combination with gas chromatography and high-throughput sequencing to determine the volatile compounds and microbial community structure of 10- and 40-year PM samples from different spaces. The basic physicochemical properties of the PM were also determined. LEfSe and RDA were used to systematically study the PM in different time spaces. The physicochemical properties and ester content of the 40-year PM were higher than those of the 10-year PM, but the spatial distribution of the two years PM samples exhibited no consistency, except in terms of pH, available phosphorus content, and ester content. In all samples, 29 phyla, 276 families, and 540 genera of bacteria, including four dominant phyla and 20 dominant genera, as well as eight phyla, 24 families, and 34 genera of archaea, including four dominant phyla and seven dominant genera, were identified. The LEfSe analysis yielded 18 differential bacteria and five differential archaea. According to the RDA, the physicochemical properties and ethyl caproate, ethyl octanoate, hexanoic acid, and octanoic acid positively correlated with the differential microorganisms of the 40-year PM, whereas negatively correlated with the differential microorganisms of the 10-year PM. Thus, we inferred that Caproiciproducens, norank_f__Caloramatoraceae, and Methanobrevibacter play a dominant and indispensable role in the PM. This study systematically unveils the differences that affect the quality of PM in different time spaces and offers a theoretical basis for improving the declining PM, promoting PM aging, maintaining cellars, and cultivating an artificial PM at a later stage.
Quadriceps muscle reaction time in obese children
Authors: Guzmán-Muñoz Eduardo , Mendez-Rebolledo Guillermo , Sazo-Rodriguez Sergio , Salazar-Méndez Joaquín , Valdes-Badilla Pablo , Nuñez-Espinosa Cristian , Herrera-Valenzuela Tomas
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to determine the influence of obesity, according to body mass index (BMI) and fat mass percentage, on quadriceps muscle reaction times. The study utilized a cross-sectional design. The sample size consisted of 42 schoolchildren (54.5% girls) aged 11 to 12 years old. Participant measurements included weight and height, which were used to categorize individuals based on BMI. Additionally, the electrical bioimpedance technique was employed to categorize participants based on their body fat percentage. A sudden destabilization test of the lower limb was performed to assess the reaction time of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles. The results show that overweight/obese children have a longer muscle reaction time for both the rectus femoris (β = 18.13; p = 0.048) and the vastus lateralis (β = 14.51; p = 0.042). Likewise, when the children were classified by percentage of body fat the results showed that overfat/obese children have a longer muscle reaction time for both the rectus femoris (β = 18.13; p = 0.048) and the vastus lateralis (β = 14.51; p = 0.042). Our results indicate that BMI and fat mass classification negativity alter the muscle reaction time in children. Overweight/obese or overfat/obese children showed longer reaction times in the rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles compared to children with normal weight. Based on these findings, it is suggested that in overweight and obese children, efforts not only focus on reducing body weight but that be complemented with training and/or rehabilitation programs that focus on preserving the normal physiological function of the musculoskeletal system.
Mapeamento da inovação desenvolvida nas instituições de ensino superior da mesorregião Campo das Vertentes de Minas Gerais
Authors: Tibúrcio Flávia Cristina da Silva , Granjeiro Paulo Afonso , Gonçalves Michelly Morato Damasceno
Published: February 2024

A partir da Lei n.º 10.973/2004 veio a criação dos Núcleos de Inovação Tecnológica (NITs), com o propósito de equiparar a forma de tratamento das políticas institucionais de inovação, dando aos respectivos Núcleos, maior autonomia de atuação. Em se tratando de inovação à luz das ICTs na mesorregião Campo das Vertentes no Estado de Minas Gerais confirmou-se que não há mapeamento da inovação nesta mesorregião. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar o mapeamento da inovação gerada nas Instituições de Ensino Superior públicas e privadas sediadas nas cidades da mesorregião Campo das Vertentes de Minas Gerais. É um estudo de caráter quantitativo, com base na aplicação de um questionário semiestruturado junto a 6 gestores dos NIT das Instituições de Ensino Superior, localizadas na mesorregião Campo das Vertentes. Foram identificadas 9 Instituições de Ensino Superior na mesorregião Campo das Vertentes do Estado de Minas Gerais. Deste total, 6 possuem Núcleo de Inovação Tecnológica implementado. Verificou-se que 83% das instituições possuem pedidos de proteção de propriedade intelectual. Apenas 33% instituições possuem contratos de transferência de tecnologia. Os resultados revelam que as IES sediadas na mesorregião Campos das Vertentes, ainda enfrentam grandes desafios no que se refere ao desenvolvimento da inovação. Faz-se necessário construir uma cultura de inovação, com políticas de difusão de tecnologia que alcancem a comunidade acadêmica em sua totalidade, assim como, ações voltadas para o desenvolvimento e concretização da transferência de tecnologia.
Application of Random Forest in Modeling the Prevalence of Depression among Murang’a University of Technology Students
Authors: Loise Wahome Muthoni , Mutuguta John , Nyarige Euna
Published: February 2024

Around the world, depression is a prevalent mental illness and it affects the way people think, feel, talk and conduct their daily activities. The associated stigma often leads to misdiagnosis, posing risks such as disability and suicide. The study employed random forest algorithm to model the prevalence of depression among Murang’a University of technology (MUT) students. A sample of 1448 students from the different schools at the university participated in the study by completing questionnaires on sociodemographic and other factors associated with depression. The questionnaires were administered through social media platforms. Participants were selected using proportionate stratified random sampling and simple random sampling to ensure that a representative sample was chosen from each school. The data gathered was examined using descriptive and inferential statistics. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire scale (PHQ-9). Using a cut-off point of 10, 25.97% students had depressive symptoms. This comprised of 19.61% moderate symptoms and 6.35% severe symptoms. The confusion matrix criteria were used to assess the performance of random forest in modeling depression prevalence among MUT students. Metrics for random forest included, accuracy (0.9868), sensitivity (0.95), specificity (1.00), positive predictive value (1.00), and negative predictive value (0.9824). Implementing targeted interventions founded on identified risk and protective factors and exploring the long-term outcomes of these interventions would contribute to the evolving field of mental health research within academic settings.
Impact of Vermi-compost and Hydrogel (Pusa) on Soil Dynamics, Nutrient Uptake & Water Productivity of Wheat Crop
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Singh Avinash Kumar , Kumar Atin , Kumar Rohit , Kumar Deepak , Kumar Brajesh
Published: February 2024

A field experiment was conducted during winter (Rabi) season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 at the Crop Research Centre of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India   to study the Impact of different irrigation levels and moisture conservation practices on wheat crop. Three irrigation levels were three viz., I1 (at CRI stage), I2 (at CRI, Booting and Milking) and I3 (at CRI, Late tillering, Late jointing, Flowering and Milking stage) and moisture conservation practices (Application of pusa hydrogel @ 5 kg/ha, Vermi-compost @ 1t/ha, pusa hydrogel @ 5 kg/ha + Vermicompost @ 1t/ha and no application) were tested in split plot design (SPD) with three replications. Results revealed that the highest total nitrogen (105.22 and 97.48 kg/ha), phosphorus (23.05 and 20.94 kg/ha) and potassium (141.96 and 138.41 kg/ha) uptake was recorded with five irrigations followed by three irrigations during first and second years, respectively. Besides, this treatment also gave highest nutrient uptake by crop along with maintaining the soil fertility and moisture status. Thus, in wheat application of 5 kg pusa hydrogel+1t Vermi-compost/ha with five irrigations seems to more effective in the sandy loam soils of North Western Plain Zones of Western Uttar Pradesh.
Effect of Graded Levels of Phosphorus & Phosphorus Solubilizing Microorganisms on Growth and Yield of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.)
Authors: Ramteke R. A.  , Adsul P. B  , Kale S. V  , Dhore Y. P  , Walke S. J
Published: February 2024

The present investigation entitled "Effect of Graded Levels of Phosphorus and Phosphorus Solubilizing Microorganisms on Growth and Yield of Green gram" during kharif season of the year, 2022-2023 at the research farm of the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Latur. The experiment was layout in FRBD with three replications and a recommended variety of green gram BM 2003-2 as a test crop along with twelve treatments. The results in nutshell indicated that the growth and yield were significantly influenced by the application of 125% RDP, combined with Aspergillus awamori. The growth parameters viz., plant height, number of leaves & no. of nodules plant-1, significantly increased with application of 125 % RDP, combined with Aspergillus awamori. The combined approach of incorporating phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms, particularly Aspergillus awamori, with the application of 125% RDP, resulted in a noteworthy increase in the availability of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the soil. This improvement was attributed to the enhanced solubilization of inorganic phosphorus and the secretion of organic acids, which facilitated an increase in the content of other essential nutrients in the soil. The nutrient content in both grain and straw exhibited significant increases due to seed inoculation with Aspergillus awamori in conjunction with the application of 125%RDP. This approach outperformed treatments involving Tricoderma viridae and Bacillus megaterium in combination with 100% RDP, and the control. The incorporation of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms, particularly Aspergillus awamori, alongside the application of 125% RDP, proved to be significantly more effective than treatments involving a Tricoderma viridae with 100% RDP, as well as the control.
Factors associated with medication adherence and therapeutic barriers: relationship with social support in the elderly / Fatores associados a adesão e barreiras a terapêutica medicamentosa: relação com o apoio social em idosos
Authors: Soares Cristiane Regina , Pinto Okuno Meiry Fernanda
Published: February 2024

Objetivo: associar a adesão e as barreiras da terapêutica medicamentosa com o apoio social em idosos. Método: estudo transversal e analítico, realizado em um ambulatório na cidade de São Paulo – SP, com 117 idosos, no período de março a novembro de 2019. Para coleta de dados foram utilizados o teste de Morisky Green (TMG) e a escala Brief Medical Questionnaire, e a Medical Outcomes Study. A correlação entre as variáveis foi realizada pelo teste de Kruskal-Wallis e o teste de Mann-Whitney. Em todas as análises comparativas foi utilizado um nível de significância de 5% e intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: idosos que possuem apoio social na dimensão emocional e de informações apresentaram menores barreiras na adesão dos medicamentos (p=0,0216). Conclusões: esses resultados têm implicações importantes para a prática clínica, pois, os idosos mais vulneráveis com baixo apoio social possuem maiores barreiras ao uso da medicação.
Muscle Sensory Receptors
Authors: Roatta Silvestro , Passatore Magda
Published: April 2006

The central nervous system (CNS) obtains information on whatever occurs in the muscles (i.e., mechanical and chemical changes) through sensory receptors located within muscles and joints, as well as in the portion of skin deformed by the motion.

Several types of sensory receptors lie within skeletal muscles. (1) The very sensitivemuscle spindlesmonitor muscle length and send this information to the CNS via the fastest conducting afferent nerve fibers in the body. (2)Golgi tendon organsare located in the musculo‐tendinous junctions and provide information about muscle force. (3) Free nerve endings with slow‐conducting, thinly myelinated or unmyelinated nerve afferents are sensitive to mechanical, chemical, and nociceptive stimuli. The description of the specific features and peculiarities of each of these receptor types is preceded by a brief overview of receptors in general, particularly about basic processes that take place in the receptive terminal (i.e., thetransductionof the stimulus and theencodingof information into neural signals that are self‐regenerating) that can be transferred for long distances without decrement. In addition, a brief description of afferent nerve fibers carrying this information, as well as a description of the relationship between stimulus and sensation, will follow. Then, most of the chapter is devoted to the muscle spindle, which is justified by the anatomical and functional complexity and the relevance of this receptor in several body functions. A few models are presented concerning different aspects of the muscle spindle receptive function, and a brief reference is made to its involvement in the myotatic reflex, motor control, and high‐level body functions.
Biological Neural Control
Authors: Grzywacz Norberto M. , Padilla Mónica
Published: April 2006

Neural control refers to the manipulation of inputs to particular structures of the nervous system to cause desirable output behavior. There are two kinds of neural control mechanisms, namely, closed loop and open loop. As an example of the former, the hypothalamus receives sensory information from the body to control its temperature. If the environmental temperature rises, then the hypothalamus makes the skin sweat to cool the body. This temperature control is called closed loop, because after the output behavior is modified, new sensory data are taken to see whether the output behavior should be increased or reduced. Hence, closed‐loop neural control depends on feedback information about the effects of output behavior. In contrast, the nervous system can sometimes perform open‐loop control. This form of control does not rely on feedback to correct erroneous outputs, and thus, the nervous system must rely on knowledge of system behavior to compute its output. Therefore, open‐loop neural control requires accurate models of the system. Although such control can be less precise, it has the advantage of speed, because it does not require feedback for computations. One example of open‐loop neural control occurs in the first 100 ms of the eye trying to do smooth pursuit of a target in the visual field. This period of pursuit is open loop, because no visual feedback is available because of the delays in the visual system. Thereafter, visual feedback (and other sources of information) is available to close the loop, which improves performance.
Photomultipliers
Authors: Donati Silvano
Published: April 2006

Photomultipliers (PMTs) are ideally suited in a number of photodetection measurements, provide a wide dynamic range and an excellent linearity, with a good speed of response and a very low excess noise. PMTs are available in a variety of formats, with an ample choice of spectral responses, ranging from ultraviolet (down to λ≈100 nm) to infrared (up to λ≈1700 nm with NEA photocathodes).

This chapter begins by presenting a short introduction to PMT operation followed by an analysis of the elements of the PMT — photocathode, electron optics, and multiplying chain and related parameters. A section is devoted to summarize the theoretical results of PMT response. Then, specifications and characteristics of PMTs are discussed. Finally, the most widespread applications of PMTs to measurements and the performance that can be obtained are reviewed.
Trees, Evolutionary
Authors: Dorman Karin
Published: April 2006

An evolutionary tree is a mathematical and graphical representation of the evolutionary history relating a sample of biological organisms. A number of methods have been developed to infer evolutionary trees, including maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, Bayesian, and distance‐matrix methods. All methods make numerous assumptions that are more or less violated by real biological data, sometimes leading to systematic inference error. Random error also affects tree estimates, but can be ascertained using asymptotic theory, the bootstrap, or via the posterior probability in Bayesian approaches. Although phylogenetic trees are intrinsically interesting to systematists and evolutionary biologists, they are also indelibly linked to many other analyses of biological data. Treating samples from evolutionarily linked organisms as independent can be misleading. Tree inference as part of the analysis can account for the dependence among samples and facilitate interpretation of complex biological datasets.
Upper Airway Mechanics
Authors: Badr M. Safwan , Rowley James A.
Published: April 2006

Understanding the mechanics of the upper airway is critical to the research on the pathophysiology of upper airway obstruction. This article will review the determinants of upper airway patency including the upper airway dilating muscles, the transmural pressure across the airway, pharyngeal compliance, and craniofacial structure. During sleep, loss of the wakefulness stimulus to breathe results in decreased upper airway caliber and increased resistance. Models that characterize the relationship between pressure and flow of the upper airway during sleep and that explain upper airway collapsibility during sleep will be presented. Finally, a proposed scheme of the pathophysiology of upper airway collapse during sleep will be presented.
Titelbild: Flattened Cone 2,8,14,20‐Tetrakis(L‐valinamido)[4]resorcinarene: An Enantioselective Allosteric Receptor in the Gas Phase (Angew. Chem. 17/2006)
Authors: Botta Bruno , Caporuscio Fabiana , Subissati Deborah , Tafi Andrea , Botta Maurizio , Filippi Antonello , Speranza Maurizio
Published: April 2006

Proteinallosterie bildet die Grundlage für die molekulare Kontrolle fundamentaler Prozesse in lebenden Systemen, doch trotz ihrer Bedeutung sind zentrale mechanistische Fragen noch unbeantwortet. Zu deren Klärung nutzten M. Speranza et al. in ihrer Zuschrift auf S. 2783 ff. einen Gasphasenansatz. Dabei verliert der achirale, hydrophobe Rand eines chiralen Resorcin[4]arens durch Einwirkung von 2‐Aminobutan hoch enantioselektiv D‐ und L‐Tryptophan.
Oral gene delivery: Design of polymeric carrier systems shielding toward intestinal enzymatic attack
Authors: Martien Ronny , Loretz Brigitta , Schnürch A. B.
Published: April 2006

The gastrointestinal tract poses a variety of morphological and physiological barriers to the expression of target genes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of cationic polymer/pDNA nanoparticles toward salts and enzymes of the intestinal fluid. Within this study, a chitosan–enzyme inhibitor conjugate has been generated and characterized. Based on this conjugate, nanoparticles with pDNA were generated to enhance transfection rate in oral gene delivery. The enzyme inhibitor aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) was covalently bound to chitosan to improve the enzymatic stability of nanoparticles formed with this polymer and pDNA. Chitosan–ATA/pDNA nanoparticles showed a size of 98.5 ± 26 nm and a zeta potential of −13.26 ± 0.24 mV (n = 3–4). Stability studies with salt solution, lysozyme, DNase, and freshly collected porcine intestinal fluid showed that chitosan–ATA/pDNA nanoparticles are significantly (p < 0.05) more stable than unmodified chitosan/pDNA nanoparticles. Apart from improved stability, chitosan–ATA/pDNA nanoparticles showed a 2.6‐fold higher transfection rate than chitosan/pDNA nanoparticles in the Caco‐2 cell line, thus creating a promising carrier for orally administered therapeutic genes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 83:327–336, 2006

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
A risk index for early node-negative breast cancer
Authors: Boyages J , Taylor R , Chua B , Ung O , Bilous M , Salisbury E , Wilcken N
Published: April 2006

Background

This study compared the application of the St Gallen 2001 classification with a risk index developed at the New South Wales Breast Cancer Institute (BCI Index) for women with node-negative breast cancer treated without adjuvant systemic therapy.

Methods

The BCI risk categories were constructed by identifying combinations of prognostic indicators that produced homogeneous low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups using the same variables as in the St Gallen classification.

Results

The BCI low-risk category consisted of women aged 35 years or more with a grade 1 oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumour 20 mm or less in diameter, or with a grade 2 ER-positive tumour of 15 mm or less. This category constituted 40·1 per cent of patients, with a 10-year distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) rate of 97·2 per cent. The BCI intermediate-risk category included women aged 35 years or more with a grade 2 ER-positive tumour of diameter 16–20 mm, or a grade 1 or 2 ER-negative tumour measuring 15 mm or less, and comprised 12·1 per cent of the women, with a 10-year DRFS rate of 88 per cent. The high-risk category comprised 47·7 per cent of women, with a 10-year DRFS rate of 68·4 per cent.

Conclusion

If confirmed in other data sets, the BCI Index may be used to identify women at low risk of distant relapse (2·8 per cent at 10 years) who are unlikely to benefit from adjuvant systemic therapy, and women at intermediate risk of distant relapse (12 per cent at 10 years) in whom the benefit of adjuvant systemic therapy is small.
The prevalence of thrombophilia in patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease
Authors: Vig S , Chitolie A , Bevan D , Dormandy J , Thompson M M , Halliday A
Published: April 2006

Background

The aim of this prospective study was to establish the prevalence of thrombophilia and hyperhomocysteinaemia using a comprehensive screen in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

Methods

A total of 150 patients with peripheral vascular disease (with an ankle brachial pressure index of less than 0·8) underwent thrombophilia screening (protein C and protein S, antithrombin, lupus anticoagulant, activated protein C resistance and factor V Leiden and prothrombin mutations). Fasting homocysteine assays were also performed.

Results

A thrombophilia defect was found in 41 patients (27·3 per cent). The commonest was protein S deficiency, found in 17 patients (11·3 per cent). Others included factor V Leiden mutation, found in 10 (6·7 per cent) and protein C deficiency, found in six (4·0 per cent). Lupus anticoagulant and prothrombin mutation were both found in six (4·0 per cent). One patient had an antithrombin deficiency. Only the presence of critical ischaemia was associated with a positive thrombophilia screen on single variable analysis (P = 0·03). Hyperhomocysteinaemia was present in over a third of the study group (37·3 per cent): 45 defined as moderate and 11 as intermediate.

Conclusion

A quarter of patients with peripheral vascular disease had evidence of thrombophilia, and a third had hyperhomocysteinaemia.
Disturbances of the microcirculation in acute pancreatitis
Authors: Cuthbertson C M , Christophi C
Published: April 2006

Background

Severe acute pancreatitis is characterized by pancreatic necrosis, resulting in local and systemic inflammation. Pancreatitis affects both the systemic and pancreatic vasculature. This review focuses on the underlying processes involved in the changes of microvascular anatomy following acute pancreatitis.

Methods

A Medline/PubMed search (January 1966 to December 2005) with manual cross-referencing was conducted. All relevant articles investigating the pancreatic microcirculatory anatomy and the effect of pancreatitis on the microcirculation were included.

Results

The pancreas is susceptible to ischaemic insult, which can exacerbate acute pancreatitis. There is also increasing evidence of pancreatic and systemic microvascular disturbances in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis, including vasoconstriction, shunting, inadequate perfusion, and increased blood viscosity and coagulation. These processes may be caused or exacerbated by ischaemia–reperfusion injury and the development of oxygen-derived free radicals.

Conclusion

Acute pancreatitis impairs the pancreatic and systemic microcirculation, which is a key pathological process in the development of severe necrotizing disease.
Radiological staging of gastrointestinal and breast tumours
Authors: Husband J E , Sharma B
Published: April 2006

Combining morphology and metabolism
Hepatocyte morphology and kinetics after portal vein embolization
Authors: Komori K , Nagino M , Nimura Y
Published: April 2006

Background

Macroscopic volume changes after portal vein embolization (PVE) can be assessed accurately by computed tomography, but histological changes remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to clarify hepatocyte morphology and kinetics after PVE.

Methods

The resected livers from 25 patients who underwent extended hepatectomy after PVE and five normal livers were examined using hepatocyte paraffin 1 staining for histomorphometric analysis of hepatocytes. Cell kinetics were determined by Ki-67 staining and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick-end labelling assay. Kupffer cells were examined by CD68 immunostaining.

Results

The number of hepatocytes was similar in the embolized lobe, non-embolized lobe and normal liver, but hepatocyte volume was greater in the non-embolized lobe than in the embolized lobe (P = 0·017). The Ki-67 labelling index was higher in the non-embolized lobe (P < 0·001) whereas the apoptotic index was higher in the embolized lobe (P < 0·001). There were more Kupffer cells per unit area in the embolized lobe (P < 0·001).

Conclusion

Hepatocyte hypertrophy and replication leads to volume enlargement of the non-embolized hepatic lobe, whereas hepatocyte atrophy and apoptosis causes a decrease in volume of the embolized lobe.
Randomized clinical trial of splenectomy versus splenic preservation in patients with proximal gastric cancer
Authors: Yu W , Choi G S , Chung H Y
Published: April 2006

Background

Preservation or removal of the spleen during total gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer is a matter of debate.

Methods

A randomized clinical trial included patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent total gastrectomy either with (104 patients) or without (103) splenectomy. Postoperative outcome in the two groups was compared, including morbidity, mortality and survival.

Results

Gastrectomy combined with splenectomy tended to be associated with slightly higher morbidity and mortality rates, a slightly greater incidence of lymph node metastasis at the splenic hilum and along the splenic artery, and marginally better survival, but there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. Splenectomy had no impact on survival in patients with metastatic lymph nodes at the hilum of the spleen or in those with metastatic lymph nodes along the splenic artery.

Conclusion

These results do not support the use of prophylactic splenectomy to remove macroscopically negative lymph nodes near the spleen in patients undergoing total gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer.