bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluations of Polyacrylamide Water-Based Drilling Fluids for Horizontal Drilling in the Shaly Wolfcamp Formation
Authors: Metwally M. , Nguyen T. , Wiggins H. , Saasen A. , Gipson M. , Yoo H.
Published: March 2023

The Permian Basin, located in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas, is treated as the largest province of oil and gas production in the United States (US). The majority of hydrocarbon production from the Permian Basin is from the Wolfcamp shaly formation. Drilling horizontal and extended reached wells is continuously increasing day after day in the Permian Basin. Oil-based mud (OBM) is used to drill these horizontal wells for enhancing shale inhibition, reducing torque and drag, and supporting thermal stability of mud rheology. Due to environmental regulation for limiting use of OBM, the petroleum industry has tried to develop water-based fluid (WBF) that approaches the performance advantages of OBM.

The main objective of this research is to formulate and develop WBF by using polyacrylamide anionic friction reducer (AFR) for drilling the lateral sections of horizontal wells in the shaly Wolfcamp formation. Shale inhibition, barite sagging, lubricity, and thermal stability of the formulated WBF with AFR will be studied to evaluate the developed WBF. Laboratory experiments were conducted to develop and evaluate the performance of the formulated WBF with AFR. The shale inhibition capabilities of the developed WBF with AFR were evaluated by using zeta potential, shale dispersion test, and immersion test.

The results prove the capability of the formulated WBF with AFR to prevent both shale swelling and shale dispersion. AFR limits water penetrations to shale through encapsulation. The mixing procedures of AFR with WBF affect both the thermal stability of mud rheology and shale inhibition. Adding AFR to WBF helps to suspend weighting materials and mitigate barite sag. Besides, AFR decreases torque and drag by decreasing the coefficient of friction (COF). Furthermore, AFR supports enhanced stability of mud rheology with time up to 14 days at temperatures up to 180°F.

The formulated WBF with AFR can be used for enhancing shale inhibition, supporting thermal and time stability of fluid rheology, improving lubricity, and minimizing barite sagging for drilling shaly Wolfcamp formations. This study presents a promising WBF to replace OBM to drill lateral sections in the Permian Basin.
Tobramycin Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Adult patients with Cystic Fibrosis: Clinical-Based Empiric Dosing versus Model-Informed Precision Dosing
Authors: PRAET Antonin , WDOWIK Juliette , NAVE Viviane , DURUPT Stéphane , REYNAUD Quitterie , NOVE-JOSSERAND Raphaële , DURIEU Isabelle , REIX Philippe , CHARLES Sandrine , BOURGUIGNON Laurent , GOUTELLE Sylvain
Published: March 2023

Background:To inform rational dosing of antibiotics, traditional Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) with empiric dose adjustment of has been increasingly supplanted by the use of Model-Informed Precision Dosing (MIPD) software.Our objective was to evaluate a model-informed precision dosing approach specifically designed to individualize empiric tobramycin dosing in adults with cystic fibrosis, and to compare target attainment between both the model-based and the empiric dosing approaches. Methods:The BestDose MIPD-software has been used with a published population pharmacokinetic model of tobramycin. To evaluate the MIPD strategy, we used retrospective data from CF adults treated with tobramycin at our local CF center. Empiric dose adjustments from the clinical staff were examined.Using a simulation-based methodology, individualized tobramycin doses that maximize the probability of attaining a Cmax/MIC ratio of 32 mg/L were retrospectively calculated, and compared with empiric dose adjustments. Results:Overall, 101 CF adults were evaluated. Tobramycin Cmax in patients were low (mean of 25.7 ± 5.6 mg/L). The percentage of patients predicted to achieve a Cmax/MIC of ≥ 32 mg/L was low (12.0 %, mean dose of 8.8 ± 1.3 mg/kg) with empiric dose adjustment. TDM with retrospective PK/PD modelling suggest increasing tobramycin dosing in a much larger number of patients (88.0 %, mean dose of 11.6 ± 2.5 mg/kg). Conclusions:Tobramycin doses empirically corrected by clinicians after TDM were predicted to be still insufficient to achieve the efficacy target in most CF patients. Meanwhile a model-based dosing approach that individualizes the tobramycin dosing led to significantly improved achievement of expected target exposure levels in CF adults. Prospective clinical evaluation is warranted.
Vibration Analysis for Turn-Milling Process Monitoring using Empirical Mode Decomposition and Short-Time Fourier Transform
Authors: Susanto Agus , Azka Muizuddin , Arrosida Hanum , Wicaknono Ramadhana Eka
Published: March 2023

Turn-milling is a kind of machining process which widely applied in industries with large-sized workpieces. It is because turn-milling provides advantages for machining large-diameter mechanical parts with high speed, reducing cutting temperature due to the chips being broken, which in turn decreases tool wear. However, it needs to monitor the turn-milling process for preventing the onset of chatter during operation. It is due to the chatter becoming a limitation to productivity, part quality, accelerates tool wear, and machine-tool damage. One of the ways for turn-milling process monitoring is by vibration analysis. Acquired vibrations in the machining process are generally backgrounded by noises and the conventional filtered tools may have defiance for reducing them. It is significant to find signal processing tools for denoising noisy signals before further analysis. This paper presents the utilization of the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method as an efficient and adaptive noise filter. The Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) improvement using EMD is then used for monitoring turn-milling process conditions in the energytime-frequency domain. The results showed that the reconstructed signal was quite impressive compared to the raw signal and the oscillation of the filtered signal was clearer than the raw signal. The improvement of the filtered signals was proved by the kurtosis index and spectral kurtosis. The kurtosis index had been improved 10 – 27 times more than raw signals. The improved STFT using EMD showed a significant spectrum with high resolution compared to conventional STFT. The energy density could be observed clearly in the machining characteristic frequencies with an improvement of about 10-100 times larger. The proposed method is therefore effectively applied to monitor the turn-milling condition.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness among Females in the UAE: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zaitoun Balkis , Kubaisi Abdullah Al , AlQattan Noora , Alassouli Yahya , Mohamed Alshaimaa , Alameeri Huriya , Mohammed Ghada
Published: March 2023

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder affecting females of reproductive age. Clinical guidelines recommend following the diagnostic criteria of PCOS based on an appropriate assessment of the patient’s clinical presentation. Sufficient awareness among the population will prompt females to seek medical attention when necessary. This study aimed to assess knowledge and awareness about PCOS among females above the age of 18 years in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to correlate the level of awareness with women's backgrounds, demographics, and education levels.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in early 2020. 430 females over the age of 18 years were conveniently selected and interviewed in the UAE using a 21-item questionnaire that assessed participants' awareness of PCOS as a term, its causes, symptoms, complications, treatment, and prevention. 414 entries were eligible for data analysis. IBM® SPSS® Statistics version 25 was used for data entry and analysis.
Results: 349 participants (84.3%) were familiar with the term PCOS. However, only 21.7% of them had sufficient awareness of the syndrome (95% CI = 17.77-25.71%). Being knowledgeable of PCOS was significantly associated with having a previous diagnosis (p=0.002) and with studying or working in a medical field (p<0.001). In addition, females who knew someone diagnosed with PCOS were 5 times more likely to be more aware compared to those who didn’t (95% CI = 2.5-10.8; p<0.001). Age, education level, and nationality showed no correlation with the level of awareness.
Conclusions: Overall, the level of PCOS awareness was insufficient in the study sample. Participants whose source of information was medical practitioners demonstrated more accurate knowledge. Accordingly, awareness of PCOS needs to be raised among females in the UAE, aiding early diagnosis and improving patient-oriented outcomes.
Tacrolimus reverses pemphigus vulgaris serum-enhanced expression of desmoglein in HaCaT cells via inhibition of heat shock protein-27 phosphorylation
Authors: Xie Zhimin , Li Qingqing , Dai Xiangnong , Ye Xingdong
Published: March 2023

Background: Glucocorticoids are the first-line treatment for Pemphigus vulgaris (PV), but its serious side effects can be life-threatening for PV patients. Tacrolimus (FK506) has been reported to have an adjuvant treatment effect against PV. However, the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of FK506 on PV-IgG-induced acantholysis is unclear. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the effect of FK506 on desmoglein (Dsg) expression and cell adhesion in an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells) stimulated with PV sera.
Methods: A cell culture model of PV was established by stimulating HaCaT cells with 5% PV sera with or without FK506 and clobetasol propionate (CP) treatment. The effects of PV sera on intercellular junctions and protein levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), and Dsg were assayed using western blot analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and a keratinocyte dissociation assay.
Results: PV sera-induced downregulation of Dsg3 was observed in HaCaT cells and was blocked by FK506 and/or CP. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that linear deposits of Dsg3 on the surface of HaCaT cells in the PV sera group disappeared and were replaced by granular and agglomerated fluorescent particles on the cell surface; however, this effect was reversed by FK506 and/or CP treatment. Furthermore, cell dissociation assays showed that FK506 alone or in combination with CP increased cell adhesion in HaCaT cells and ameliorated loss of cell adhesion induced by PV sera. Additionally, FK506 noticeably decreased the PV serum-induced phosphorylation of HSP 27, but had no effect on p38MAPK phosphorylation.
Conclusion: FK506 reverses PV-IgG induced-Dsg depletion and desmosomal dissociation in HaCaT cells, and this effect may be obtained by inhibiting HSP27 phosphorylation.
Estimated Costs for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Care in Brazil
Authors: Schneider Nayê Balzan , Roos Erica Caetano , Staub Ana Lúcia Portella , Bevilacqua Isabela Possebon , de Almeida Ana Carolina , Martins Tamiê de Camargo , Ramos Natalia Bergamelli , Loze Priscilla , Saute Jonas Alex Morales , Etges Ana Paula Beck da Silva , Polanczyk Carisi Anne
Published: March 2023

Background: The economic burden of rare diseases on health systems is still not widely measured, with the generation of accurate information about the costs with medical care for subjects with rare diseases being crucial when defining health policies. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy, with new technologies recently being studied for its management. Information about the costs related to the disease in Latin America is scarce, and the objective of this study is to evaluate the annual hospital, home care and transportation costs per patient with DMD treatment in Brazil.
Results: Data from 27 patients were included, the median annual cost per patient was R$ 17,121 (IQR R$ 6,786; 25,621). Home care expenditures accounted for 92% of the total costs, followed by hospital costs (6%) and transportation costs (2%). Medications and loss of family, and patient’s productivity are among the most representative consumption items. When disease worsening due to loss of the ability to walk was incorporated to the analysis, it was shown that wheelchair users account for an incremental cost of 23% compared with non-wheelchair users.
Conclusions: This is an original study in Latin America to measure DMD costs using the micro-costing technique. Generating accurate information about costs is crucial to provide health managers with information that could help establish more sustainable policies when deciding upon rare diseases in emerging countries.
Wolves in sheep’s clothing? Rhetorical strategies in the response narratives of Big Oil to IPCC evidence of climate change
Authors: Mitchell Andrew , Bhattacharyya Subhes
Published: March 2023

Despite long-standing evidence linking fossil fuel combustion to the greenhouse house and climate change effects, and the growing advocacy for reductions and regulatory limits on their use, fossil fuel corporations remain hugely profitable and influential. While corporations might employ a number of strategies to maintain their successes, when scientific evidence links corporate activities directly to concomitant damages, a response strategy favoured by Big Tobacco to evidence of medical harms appears to have been similarly adopted by Big Oil to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings of global atmospheric harms. To examine some of these strategies in detail, a corpus is compiled from samples of strategy documents of three Big Oil corporations for the period corresponding to the third, fourth and fifth IPCC Assessment Reports. This corpus is statistically and linguistically analysed for representations and accounts by Big Oil for its activities and how, if at all, the scientific evidence is addressed linking fossil fuel extraction and use to the findings of the IPCC on climatic change and ecosystemic disruptions at global scale. By highlighting corporate response narratives to IPCC evidence, policy and decision-makers might develop more effective counter-narratives to facilitate scientific communications in this critical policy space.
Mpox emergence in Japan: risks of establishment in Asia and the global resurgence
Authors: Endo Akira , Jung Sung-mok , Miura Fuminari
Published: March 2023

In late January 2023, mpox cases without a travel history started to be frequently reported in Japan. As of 14 March 2023, the total number of cases reached 45 with an apparent sign of sustained local transmission. Compared with many of the previously affected countries, Japan is more closely connected with other Asian countries. In the current global mpox outbreak, Asia has been the least affected region so far with limited or no vaccine rollout. As a result, many countries in this region (including low- and middle-income countries) are left with a large susceptible population to mpox. If local transmission is established in these countries, the global spread of mpox may reemerge.
The Prevalence of Abnormally Increasing Proportion of INF-γ/IL-4 in Peripheral Blood Among Patients with Unexplained Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
Authors: Jin Xin , Yao Xinyi , Zhai Xinyu , Chen Fu , Guo Yiming , Shang Wei
Published: March 2023

Problem: To retrospectively observe the abnormally elevated proportion of INF-γ / IL-4 in peripheral blood among patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion, and to evaluate the application value of flow cytometry in detecting peripheral blood INF-γ / IL-4 in early etiological screening of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion.
Method of Study: A total of 77 patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion who were admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of The General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army of China from January 2021 to December 2021 were selected. All patients were women who had experienced two or more consecutive spontaneous abortions before 28 weeks of gestation but had not achieved clinical pregnancy; The peripheral blood of 58 women without recurrent spontaneous abortion history was selected as the control group. The levels of CD3 + CD8-INF-γ and IL-4 in peripheral blood lymphocytes were measured, and the ratio of INF-γ / IL-4 was calculated.
Results: The ratio of INF-γ / IL-4 in peripheral blood of patients with rrecurrent spontaneous abortion was significantly higher compared to the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.000, < 0.001). The difference in the ratio between the two groups was caused by abnormally high INF-γ levels in the recurrent spontaneous abortion group (P=0.000, < 0.001), there was no statistical difference in IL-4 level between the two groups. The cutoff value of INF-γ / IL-4 in peripheral blood was 6.86, and the reference range was 1.28-8.49. The AUC of the detection method was 0.75 (P=0.000, < 0.001), has high clinical diagnostic value. According to the reference range, 33.77% of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion had abnormally elevated INF-γ / IL-4 ratio.
Conclusions: Compared with the control group, INF-γ / IL-4 ratio of peripheral blood in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion was abnormally higher, and the carrier rate was 33.77%. Flow cytometry has high clinical value in detecting INF-γ / IL-4 ratio in peripheral blood.
Assessment of stable carbon isotopes 13С/12С ratio in phthalates from surface waters using HPLC-HRMS-TOF approach
Authors: Kuzmin Anton , Grigorieva Tatiana , Gorshkov Alexander
Published: March 2023

A method for estimating of the ratio of stable carbon isotopes 13С/12С in the composition of phthalates from surface water at a trace concentration level is proposed. It is based on the concentration of hydrophobic components of water using an analytical reversed phase HPLC column followed by their gradient separation and detection of eluted phthalates using a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HRMS-TOF) in the form of molecular ions. The ratio of stable carbon isotopes 13С/12C in phthalates is calculated as a ratio of the peak areas of the monoisotopic masses [M + 1 + H]+ and [M + H]+. Commercial phthalates, di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), were used as standards. The minimal concentration of DnBP and DEHP in water required for a reliable determination of δ13C value is estimated by the level of ca. 0.2 µg L− 1. The technique has been verified during the monitoring of priority phthalates in the waters of Lake Baikal.
Untreated Wastewater Impact and Environmental Risk Assessment of Artificial Sweeteners in River Water and Sediments of the Danube River Basin in Serbia
Authors: Gvozdić Eleonora , Bujagić Ivana Matić , Đurkić Tatjana , Grujić Svetlana
Published: March 2023

Artificial sweeteners are receiving increasing attention as newly recognized emerging contaminants that mainly reach the aquatic environment through the discharge of municipal wastewater containing large amount of these compounds. In this study, the impact of raw untreated wastewater discharges on the levels and the water/sediment distribution of artificial sweeteners in the Danube River and its largest tributaries in Serbia was evaluated, and a comprehensive assessment of environmental risks for freshwater and benthic organisms was performed. Acesulfame and sucralose were detected in all river water samples, while saccharin and cyclamate were less frequently found, indicating long-term continuous sewage-derived pollution. Aspartame and neotame were the only artificial sweeteners recorded in the sediment samples due to their preference to sorb to particulate matter in the water/sediment system. In terms of ecotoxicological risk, a low risk for aquatic organisms was determined at the detected levels of saccharin in river water, while a high to medium risk was found for benthic biota at the concentrations of neotame and aspartame detected in sediments. The largest contribution to the pollution of the Danube River Basin with artificial sweeteners, and consequently the highest environmental risk, was determined in the two largest cities, the capital Belgrade and Novi Sad, which raises the issue of transboundary pollution.
The mitigation of microbial carbon and nitrogen limitations by shrub encroachment: extracellular enzyme stoichiometry of the alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhang Ting , Tian Yu , ma wenming , Bai Song , Dengzheng Zuoma , Zhang Dong , Ma Xiangli , Mu Xianrun
Published: March 2023

Shrub encroachment changes the patterns of nutrition allocation in the belowground and aboveground grassland ecosystem. However, influence of shrub encroachment on microbial carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) limitations remains unclear. Using the extracellular enzyme stoichiometry model, microbial nutrition limitations in bulk and rhizosphere soils at various soil layers were investigated at non-shrub alpine grasslands (GL) and shrub-encroached alpine grasslands including Spiraea alpina lands (SA), Caragana microphylla lands (CM), Potentilla fruticosa lands (PF) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We determined C-acquisition (β-1,4-glucosidase (BG); β-D-fibrinosidase (CBH)), N-acquisition (β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG); leucine aminopeptidase (LAP)) and phosphorus (P)-acquisition (acid phosphatase (AP)) enzyme activities.. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content in both topsoil and subsoil significantly increased under shrub encroachment. Interestingly, (LAP+NAG) activities increased in subsoil after shrub encroachment. EC:N in subsoil decreased after shrub encroachment. Microbial C and N limitations were found in both encroached and non-encroached alpine grasslands. The limitations were gradually mitigated following shrub encroachment, reducing the decomposition rate of SOC by microorganisms, indicating that shrub encroachment might potentially contribute to SOC storage. Furthermore, microbial C and N limitations of bulk in topsoil decreased after shrub encroachment. microbial N limitations in subsoil decreased after shrub encroachment. This result indicates that shrub encroachment mitigated microbial C and N limitations. In addition, the structural equation modeling (SEM) shows that the increasing content of SOC and NH4+-N were key factors in the mitigation of microbial C and N limitations after shrub encroachment. This study provides available information on the environmental variables affecting the stoichiometry of extracellular enzymes under shrub encroachment, and the theoretical basis for the study of C and N cycling in alpine grasslands.
Deep learning algorithms and mechanisms in navigation for vehicular crowd managementsystems in real-time for smart transportation
Authors: Kaswan Kuldeep Singh , Balu Vincent , Ojha Ananta , SHARMA ANU , Vekariya Daxa , Marandi Arun Kumar
Published: March 2023

Accurate predictions of vehicle mobility and density are necessary for a wide range of mobile applications, including VANETs, crowdsourcing, participatory sensing, network provisioning, and shared transportation. The difficulty of forecasting is exacerbated by the scarcity and scale of vehicular mobility data. Crowd management and navigation analysis of vehicular networks that make use of deep learning techniques are the focus of this study. Multihop path based edge computing is used to analyze vehicular network navigation, and a markov spatio reinforcement neural network is used to manage vehicular crowds. The number of vehicles in the network and its navigation analysis are the basis for the experimental analysis. Throughput, data transmission rate, latency, network traffic analysis, and scalability are the parameters analyzed.proposed technique attained data transmission rate of 94%, latency of 62%, throughput of 61%, network traffic analysis of 59%, scalability of 63%.
Drying process optimization and kinetic study of sugarcane filter cake using a pilot-scale rotary dryer
Authors: Srina Polasak , Laloon Kittipong , Wongwuttasatien Tanakorn , Patra Santanu , Padungthon Surapol
Published: March 2023

In this study, a pilot-scale countercurrent hot air rotary dryer was used to reduce the moisture content of the sugarcane filter cake. Rotary dryers allow the use of bulk feedstock at high temperatures with short drying times. The response surface methodology was used to optimize and evaluate the effect of hot air temperature and rotational speed on drying efficiency, based on the central composite design. Various temperatures (70, 100 and 130 ℃) and rotation speeds (1, 3 and 5 RPM) were investigated. High drying efficiency was achieved by using high hot air temperatures and low rotational speeds. The error between the model and the experiment was less than 5%. Additionally, seven mathematical drying kinetic models were investigated to describe the drying characteristics of sugarcane filter cake samples. The best-fitted model for the three temperatures considered was the Page model, as assessed by the coefficient of determination (R2), average relative error percentage (P), reduced chi-square (ꭓ2), and root mean square error (RMSE) (R2 = 0.978-1.00). The results demonstrate that the optimization models may be considered for application in an industrial rotary dryer at 70–130 ℃, using the exhausted gas from a power plant stack.
Challenges of Home Care: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Shahriari Mohsen , Nia Donya Hafezi , Cleage Fatemeh , Hashemi Maryam Sadat
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Despite countless benefits of home care, unfortunately, the variety and quality of services provided by homecare centers in Isfahan, Iran, are uncertain. This study was conducted to explore of home care challenges.

Method

The present qualitative study used the conventional content analysis approach. A total of 17 participants, including nurses, managers of home care centers, and patients, were enrolled through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed through Granheim’s qualitative content analysis method.

Findings

In order to explain the challenges of home care, after analyzing the data, 700 primary codes, 15 sub-subcategories, six subcategories, and two main categories, including ‘infrastructural challenges’ and ‘challenges related to the process of home care services provision’ emerged. The main category, infrastructural challenges, consisted of 4 subcategories (the challenge of acculturalization of home care services, economic challenges of providing services, challenges related to human resources, and the challenge of policymaking and setting regulations and rules for home care). The second main category, challenges related to the process of home care services provision, consisted of 2 subcategories: challenges of improving the quality of home care services (the challenge of empowering the human resource and the challenge of monitoring the performance of home care centers) and the challenge of facilities for service provision (the challenge of providing medical equipment and the challenge of ignoring technology in providing services).

Conclusion

In order to promote and improve the quality of home care services, in addition to providing insurance coverage for the services, acculturalization and revising the bylaws, empowering the human resource, enhancing the monitoring of the performance of home care centers, and employing modern technology need to be taken into account.
Impact of depression on the perception of fatigue and information processing speed in a cohort of Multiple Sclerosis patients
Authors: Biasi Madia Marika , Manni Alessia , Pepe Ilaria , Abbatantuono Chiara , Gasparre Daphne , Iaffaldano Pietro , Simone Marta , De Caro Maria Fara , Trojano Maria , Taurisano Paolo , Paolicelli Damiano
Published: March 2023

Background:Information processing speed is commonly impaired in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). However, depression and fatigue can affect the cognitive profile of patients: fatigue has a negative impact from the disease’s earliest stage and a reduced information processing speed is often associated with higher levels of depression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between information processing speed and physical fatigue in a cohort of Italian PwMS from a single center, considering the effect of depression.Methods:Two hundred (W=128; mean age=39.83 years; SD=11.86) PwMS, from the Bari University Hospital, underwent testing for processing speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test [SDMT]), fatigue level (Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS]), and depression (Beck's Depression Inventory [BDI]).Results:Statistically significant correlations emerged between SDMT and FSS, SDMT and BDI, FSS and BDI. Mediation analyses revealed that while physical fatigue had no significant direct negative effect on information processing speed (z=-0.891; p>0.05), depression predicted the relationship between fatigue and information processing speed (z=-2.181; p<0.05).Conclusion:Our findings showed that cognitive performance at SDMT was not affected by patients' perceived level of physical fatigue, but by depression. The presence of a high BDI score mediates the physical fatigue on cognitive performance impact.
Global-Local combined features to detect pain intensity from facial expression images with attention mechanism
Authors: Wu Jiang , Shi Yi , Tang Ying , Ren Wei , Yan Hongmei
Published: March 2023

Background: The estimation of pain intensity is critical for medical diagnosis and treatment of patients. However, the current clinical pain assessment methods mainly rely on patients’ self-report and doctors’ assessment, and the assessment results obtained by these two methods are relatively subjective. Recently, with the development of the image monitoring technology and artificial intelligence, automatic pain assessment based on facial expression and behavioral analysis shows potential values in clinical applications. We proposed a convolutional neural network with global and local attention mechanism (GLA-CNN) framework for the effective detection of pain intensity at four level thresholds using facial expression images.
Methods: We proposed a convolutional neural network with global and local attention mechanism (GLA-CNN) framework for the effective detection of pain intensity at four level thresholds using facial expression images. The GLA-CNN includes two modules, namely global attention network (GANet) and local attention network (LANet), and the attention mechanism is applied to GANet and LANet respectively. The LANet is responsible for extracting representative local patch features of the face. The GANet extracts pain features from the whole face to compensate for the ignored correlative features between patches in LANet. In the end, the global correlative features and local subtle features are fused for final estimation of pain intensity. Our data were derived from a publicly available UNBC-McMaster dataset.
Results: The objective evaluation of pain can be realized effectively by extracting the facial expression features of patients. Our proposed GLA-CNN model achieved 56.45% accuracy in four-level pain assessment, significantly higher than the chance level (25%).
Conclusion: Compared with other models, the proposed GLA-CNN model has higher accuracy. This model could assist clinicians to evaluate patients' pain status and give them analgesic programs in time.
Impact of a circular powered stapler on preventing anastomotic leakage in patients with left-sided colorectal cancer: A retrospective study
Authors: Shibutani Masatsune , Fukuoka Tatsunari , Iseki Yasuhito , Kasashima Hiroaki , Kitayama Kishu , Maeda Kiyoshi
Published: March 2023

Background
The powered circular stapler, which was developed with the aim of providing reliable and reproducible anastomosis, provides complete anastomosis, resulting in a reduced risk of anastomotic leakage. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of anastomotic leakage between a conventional manual circular stapler (MCS) and the ECHELON CIRCULAR™ Powered Stapler (ECPS) in patients with left-sided colorectal cancer who underwent anastomosis with the double stapling technique.
Methods
A total of 187 patients with left-sided colorectal cancer who underwent anastomosis with the double stapling technique with a conventional MCS or the ECPS during surgery at Osaka City University Hospital between January 2016 and July 2022 were enrolled in this study.
Results
The incidence of anastomotic leakage in the ECPS group was significantly lower than that in the MCS group (4.4% versus 14.3%, p = 0.048).
Conclusion
The ECPS contributes to the reduction of the rate of anastomotic leakage in left-sided colorectal surgery.
Health professionals’ perspectives on female genital cosmetic surgery: An interview study
Authors: Kirkman Maggie , Dobson Amy , McDonald Karalyn , Webster Amy , Wijaya Pramasari , Fisher Jane
Published: March 2023

Background
Female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS) changes the structure and appearance of healthy external genitalia. We aimed to identify discourses that help explain and rationalise FGCS and to derive from them possibilities for informing clinical education.
Methods
We interviewed 16 health professionals and 5 non-health professionals who deal with women’s bodies using a study-specific semi-structured interview guide. We analysed transcripts using a three-step iterative process: identifying themes relevant to indications for FGCS, identifying the discourses within which they were positioned, and categorising and theorising discourses.
Results
We identified discourses that we categorised within four themes: Diversity and the Normal Vulva (diversity was both acknowledged and rejected); Indications for FGCS (Functional, Psychological, Appearance); Ethical Perspectives; and Reasons Women Seek FGCS (Pubic Depilation, Media Representation, Pornography, Advertising Regulations, Social Pressure, Genital Unfamiliarity).
Conclusions
Vulvar aesthetics are a social construct to which medical practice and opinion contribute and by which they are influenced; education and reform need to occur on all fronts. Resources that not only establish genital diversity but also challenge limited vulvar aesthetics could be developed in consultation with women, healthcare practitioners, mental health specialists, and others with knowledge of social constructs of women’ bodies.
Correlation Study Between Core Stability and Landing Kinetics of Freestyle Skiing Aerials Elite Athletes
Authors: Wei^ Ming , Fan Yongzhao , Ren Haiying , Li Ke , Niu Xuesong
Published: March 2023

Core stability can improve athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury, and is one of the most important elements of athletic training. However, the effect of core stability on the Landing kinetics is still unclear. Therefore, the analysis and discussion of the effects of core stability on landing is an urgent problem to be solved at present. In order to improve the core stability training method and landing performance of aerials athletes, this paper proposes a correlation analysis method to study the effect of core stability on Landing kinetics. Previous studies on aerials have neglected landings and lacked correlation analysis, resulting in unsatisfactory analysis results. The correlation analysis method can be combined with core stability training indices to analyze the effect on vertical and 360°jumping landing. Therefore, the correlation analysis method constructed in this paper can provide guidance for core stability training and athletic performance of aerials.
Body composition distribution changes after short-term growth hormone treatment in adults with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency: A case‒control study
Authors: Ren ZiYu , Peng Yuling , Wang Yunting , shen Yayin , Chen Jie , Ren Wei , Liu Dongfang
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study is to explore the specificity of baseline indicators in patients with IAGHD and investigate the potential differential therapeutic effects of short-term GH treatment on body composition distribution in IAGHD patients and non-IAGHD with established etiology.

Methods

Nineteen patients with IAGHD and 26 patients matched by basic data with non-IAGHD of definite etiology were included in this prospective, case–control study. All subjects underwent complete anthropometric and laboratory measurements at baseline and after 6 months of recombinant human GH replacement therapy. Of these patients, 13 IAGHD and 19 non-IAGHD patients underwent a quantitative assessment of body composition using deep learning software.

Results

Baseline: IAGHD group had higher height (p=0.025), LBM (p=0.009) and total body muscle (p=0.029), and lower WHR (p=0.034) compared to non-IAGHD group. Short-term GH therapy in non-IAGHD patients: Increased total body normal and abnormal attenuation muscle (p=0.035/p=0.009) and reduced IMF volume in upper limbs and abdomen (p=0.050/p=0.040), indicating positive body component redistribution. However, GH therapy resulted in increased weight (p=0.048) and waist circumference (p=0.038), decreased LBM and bilateral upper extremity muscle (p=0.028), and increased total body fat (p=0.046), intra-abdominal fat (p=0.004), torso visceral fat (p=0.038), AVF (p=0.017), and bilateral upper and proximal lower extremity SF volume in IAGHD patients (p=0.015/p=0.038). HOMA-IR in IAGHD patients was significantly correlated with adipose-related parameters.

Conclusion

There were significant differences in the clinical parameters of IAGHD patients at baseline, and short-term GH replacement therapy appeared to be detrimental to the redistribution of body composition in IAGHD patients.
Myxobacteria From Vietnam: Isolation, Phylogenetic Analysis and Bioprospection
Authors: Nguyen Yen Thi Ngoc , Duong Chung Dinh , Nguyen Hong Thi Kim , Nguyen Cham Phuong , Vo Nhan Thi , Dinh Linh Thi Lan , Nguyen Ngoc Le Bao , Nguyen Thai Minh , Nguyen Nga Dinh , Nguyen Anh Tu
Published: March 2023

Myxobacteria have been considered microbial factories for producing secondary metabolites that have a variety of potential biological actions for discovering and isolating new biological molecules. Forty-three myxobacterial strains were isolated and identified from 20 soil samples collected in Vietnam. The information on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis inferred from 16S ribosomal gene showed that the newly isolated myxobacterial strains were classified into seven genera ofAngiococcus,Archangium,Corallococcus,Cystobacter,Melittangium, andMyxococcus. Antioxidant activity was measured with the DPPH and ABTS assays; the minimum inhibitory concentration values were determined by the microdilution method. The extract from CT21 strain had the highest total antioxidant activity (IC50= 52.34 ± 1.47 and 30.28 ± 0.74 μg/mL for the DPPH and ABTS, respectively). Interestingly, all strains isolated myxobacterial strains show inhibitory activity against at least one of the tested microorganisms. The most potent antimicrobial strain was GL41, which inhibited all tested microorganisms, and the MIC values were 1 μg/mL against MRSA, MSSA,S. faecalis,C. albicans, andA. niger. Almost all active strains were members of theMyxococcusgenus, among of which, GL41 strain was identified asMyxococcus stipitatus. Myxobacteria strains isolated from soil are a potent source of bioactive metabolite production.
Development of the Prosencephalic Structures, Ganglionic Eminence, Basal Ganglia and Thalamus at 11+3 to 13+6 Gestational Weeks on 3D Transvaginal Ultrasound Including Normative Data
Authors: Altmann Reinhard , Rechberger Tamara , Altmann Claudia , Hirtler Lena , Scharnreitner Iris , Stelzl Patrick , Enengl Sabine
Published: March 2023

Objectives: To show the development of ganglionic eminence, basal ganglia and thalamus/hypothalamus in week 11+3 to 13+6 by transvaginal 3D ultrasound.
Methods: To visualize the prosencephalic structures surrounding the 3rd ventricle, 285 volume blocks from 402 fetuses examined were selected in a prospective transvaginal 3D study to compare ultrasound images of ganglionic eminence, basal ganglia, thalamus/hypothalamus with embryological sections. In addition, measurements of the described structures were made in 104 fetuses to quantify the embryological development.
Results: The sonomorphologic characteristics of ganglionic eminence, basal ganglia and thalamus/ hypothalamus are described in 71 % of the fetuses examined. Measurements of the structures in 57% of the fetuses, show the following results: axGE ap = 0.17 + 0.112*CRL; axGE/I = 0.888 + 0.048*CRL; axGE/BG = 0.569 + 0.041*CRL; coGE/BG = 0.381 + 0.048*CRL; coTh lat = -0.002 + 0.135*CRL; coTh/HyT = 3.68 + 0.059*CRL; co3.V lat = 0.54 + 0.008*CRL
Conclusion: Transvaginal 3D neurosonography allows visualization and measurement of normal structures in the fetal prosencephalon at 11+3 to 13+6 weeks of gestation including details of ganglionic eminence (GE), basal ganglia (BG), and thalamus/hypothalamus (Th/HyT). Further scientific work is needed before using the results to decide pathological changes in patients.
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid total Ig, anti-RBD IgG antibodies, and infection in Thailand: A cross-sectional survey from October 2022 to January 2023
Authors: Chansaenroj Jira , Suntronwong Nungruthai , Kanokudom Sitthichai , Assawakosri Suvichada , Vichaiwattana Preeyaporn , Klinfueng Sirapa , Wongsrisang Lakana , Thongmee Thanunrat , Aeemjinda Ratchadawan , Khanarat Nongkanok , Srim Donchida , Thatsanathorn Thaksaporn , Yorsaeng Ritthideach , Katanyutanon Apirat , Thanasopon Wichai , Bhunyakitikorn Wichan , Sonthichai Chaninan , Angsuwatcharakorn Piyada , Withaksabut Withak , Wanlapakorn Nasamon , Sudhinaraset Natthinee , Poovorawan Yong
Published: March 2023

Seroprevalence studies on SARS-CoV-2 are essential for estimating actual prevalence rates of infection and vaccination in communities. This study evaluated infection rates based on total anti-nucleocapsid immunoglobulin (N) and/or infection history. We determined the seroprevalence of anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) antibodies across age groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chonburi province, Thailand, between October 2022 and January 2023. Participants included newborns to adults aged up to 80 years. All serum samples were tested for anti-N total Ig and anti-RBD IgG. The interviewer-administered questionnaires queried information on infection history and vaccination records. Of 1459 participants enrolled from the Chonburi population, ~ 72.4% were infected. The number of infections was higher in children aged < 5 years, with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection decreasing significantly with increasing age. There were no significant differences based on sex or occupation. Overall, ~ 97.4% of participants had an immune response against SARS-CoV-2. The anti-RBD IgG seroprevalence rate was lower in younger vaccinated individuals and was slightly increased to 100% seropositivity at ages > 60 years. Our findings will help predict the exact number of infections and the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the Thai population. Furthermore, this information is essential for public health decision-making and the development of vaccination strategies.
The inhibition of Evolocumab on Non-Infarct-Related Artery Disease in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Zhao Qi , Sun Siyuan , Yue Jingkun , Zhang Ying , Hou Shenglong , Qu Chao , Xian Huimin , Luo Xing , Qu Xiufen
Published: March 2023

Purpose: The effects of combing evolocumab and statin on the clinical outcome and physiological function of coronary arteries in STEMI patients with non-infarct-related artery (NIRA) disease are still unclear.
Methods:355 STEMI patients with NIRA were enrolled in this study, who underwent combined anatomical and physiological assessments at baseline and after 12 months of treatment with statin monotherapy or statin plus evolocumab. Plaque composition and functional ischemia were determined via using the quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and quantitative flow ratio (QFR).
Results: Diameter stenosis and lesion length were significantly lower in the group undergoing statin plus evolocumab. While the group exhibited significantly higher minimum lumen diameter (MLD), and QFR values. Statin plus evolocumab (OR=0.350) and plaque lesion length (OR=1.223) were independently associated with rehospitalization for unstable angina (UA) within 12 months.
Conclusion: Evolocumab combined with statin therapy can significantly improve the anatomical and physiological function of the coronary arteries and downregulate the re-hospitalization rate due to UA in STEMI patients with NIRA.
Nomogram prediction of the 70-gene signature (MammaPrint) binary and quartile categorized risk using medical history, imaging features and clinicopathological data among Chinese breast cancer patients
Authors: Pan Bo , Xu Ying , Yao Ru , Cao Xi , Zhou Xingtong , Hao Zhixin , Zhang Yanna , Wang Changjun , Shen Songjie , Luo Yanwen , Zhu Qingli , Ren Xinyu , Kong Lingyan , Zhou Yidong , Sun Qiang
Published: March 2023

Background: The 70-gene signature (70-GS, MammaPrint) test has been recommended by the main guidelines to evaluate prognosis and chemotherapy benefit of hormonal receptor positive human epidermal receptor 2 negative (HR+/Her2-) early breast cancer (BC). However, this expensive assay is not always accessible and affordable worldwide. Based on our previous study, we established nomogram models to predict the binary and quartile categorized risk of 70-GS.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a consecutive cohort of 150 female patients with HR+/Her2- BC and eligible 70-GS test. Comparison of 40 parameters including the patients’ medical history risk factors, imaging features and clinicopathological characteristics was performed between patients with high risk (N=62) and low risk (N=88) of 70-GS test, whereas risk calculations from established models including Clinical Treatment Score Post-5 years (CTS5), Immunohistochemistry 3 (IHC3) and Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) were also compared between high vs low binary risk of 70-GS and among ultra-high (N=12), high (N=50), low (N=65) and ultra-low (N=23) quartile categorized risk of 70-GS. The data of 150 patients were randomly split by 4:1 ratio with training set of 120 patients and testing set 30 patients. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression were performed to establish the two nomogram models to predict the the binary and quartile categorized risk of 70-GS.
Results: Compared to 70-GS low-risk patients, the high-risk patients had significantly less cardiovascular co-morbidity (p=0.034), more grade 3 BC (p=0.006), lower progesterone receptor (PR) positive percentage (p=0.007), more Ki67 high BC (≥20%, p<0.001) and no significant differences in all the imaging parameters of ultrasound and mammogram. The IHC3 risk and the NPI calculated score significantly correlated with both the binary and quartile categorized 70-GS risk classifications (both p<0.001). The area under curve (AUC) of receiver-operating curve (ROC) of the nomogram for binary high risk prediction were 0.826 (95%CI: 0.750-0.902) for training and 0.737 (95%CI: 0.556-0.917) for validation dataset respectively. The prediction accuracy of the nomogram for quartile categorized risk groups were 55.0% (likelihood ratio tests, p<0.001) and 53.3% (p=0.04) for training and validation, which more than double the baseline probability of 25%.
Conclusions: To our knowledge, we are the first to establish easy-to-use nomograms to predict the individualized binary (high vs low) and the quartile categorized (ultra-high, high, low and ultra-low) risk classification of 70-GS test with fair performance, which might provide information for treatment choice for those who have no access to the 70-GS testing.