bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic cost of a case of diarrhoea in Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a cost of illness study
Authors: Katana Patrick V. , Malembaka Espoir Bwenge , Bugeme Patrick Musole , Saidi Jaime , Cumming Oliver , Gallandat Karin , Ross Ian
Published: April 2023

BackgroundDiarrhoea is one of the leading causes of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) among children below five years, though the proportion of the burden occurring amongst those aged over 70 is increasing. The cost of treating and managing diarrhoea can place a burden on individuals, their households, and society in general. The cost can be high but is often undocumented, and many studies focus on children or hospitalised patients only. This study aimed to estimate the economic cost per case of diarrhoea amongst individuals of any age in Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo.MethodsThe study was cross-sectional and retrospective, and based on a household survey approximately representative of the city undertaken in September 2021. Data on quantities and prices of resources were collected in the survey, as well as interviews with staff at the Cholera Treatment Centre in the Uvira general hospital and their records on resource use and patient numbers. Direct and indirect costs were measured from the societal perspective, and multiple linear regression used to identify cost drivers.ResultsOf 2,820 members of the 528 households surveyed, 175 people (6.2%) were reported to have had diarrhoea in the previous seven days. The majority sought care (86%) of which most (63%) visited a pharmacy. The average economic cost of illness (COI) for an episode of diarrhoea was 33,366 Congolese Francs (CDF) (US$ 16.8). The median was CDF 14,000 (US$ 7.0). The average out of pocket financial COI to patients was CDF 15,111 (US$ 7.6), representing 9% of the estimated average monthly income of households. On average caregivers and patients lost 4 days per episode. A concentration index suggested a lower economic COI among poorer households (p = 0.096). A regression analysis identified that being older than 5 years or being water insecure (p = 0.029) were associated with higher COI.ConclusionHouseholds in Uvira experience many diarrhoeal episodes per year, and the COI is an important burden for them and society. These costs could be avoided if diarrhoea were prevented through public health interventions, and if care-seeking was better managed to ensure appropriate treatment.
Clean label sausage: characteristics throughout its shelf life
Authors: Sbardelotto Paula R. , Mitterer-Daltoé Marina L. , Balbinot-Alfaro Evellin , Alfaro Alexandre T.
Published: April 2023

The study aimed to develop a fresh pork sausage without synthetic additives and evaluate the effects on its physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics throughout its shelf life. Six formulations were prepared: a control formulation (CF) and five formulations with different concentrations of fermented celery extract and rosemary extract with curry. The formulations with plant extracts had lower (P < 0.05) sodium content, and no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the levels of lipid oxidation compared to CF. No direct relationship was observed between the concentration of added celery extract and the residual nitrite content. The sensory acceptance of the formulations with plant extracts was similar or even higher to CF. The characteristics of the fresh sausages produced with the plant extracts became more similar to the characteristics of the conventional product with the course of storage days.
Soil Erosion Estimation by RUSLE Model Using GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques: A Case Study of the Tertiary Hilly Regions in Bangladesh from 2017 to 2021
Authors: Shoumik Baig Abdullah Al , Khan Md. Zulfikar , Islam Md. Sanaul
Published: April 2023

Soil erosion is a major type of land degradation in Bangladesh, especially in the tertiary hilly regions that are located at the northeastern and southeastern region of the country. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, combined with Geographic Information System, is a reliable methodology to estimate the potential soil loss in an area. The aim of this research was to use the RUSLE model to estimate the soil erosion in the tertiary hill tracts of Bangladesh from 2017 to 2021. The erosivity factor was determined from the annual average precipitation of the region, and erodibility factor was estimated from the soil database. The elevation model was used to analyze slope length steepness factors, while land use land cover was used to compute cover management factor. Lastly, land use and elevation was integrated to estimate the support practice factor. Results revealed that the potential annual soil loss from the hill tracts was higher in 2021 than 2017. Although, total annual rainfall was high in 2017, soil loss was found higher in 2021 which is an indication of land use changes. This investigation will help the policy makers to identify the erosion vulnerable areas that requires immediate soil conservation practices. However, there is no latest field-based data available for the country which is required to validate the estimated soil loss of the model. Hence, it is recommended to conduct field-based researches for validating the model-derived result, developing soil erosion model, and creating a reliable soil erosion database for the country.
Effect of infrared, hot air, and hybrid drying strategies on appearance acceptability, essential oil yield and quality of volatile compounds of lemongrass leaves (Cymbopogon citratus)
Authors: Setareh Roghayeh , Mohammadi-Ghermezgoli Khosro , Ghaffari-Setoubadi Hossein , Alizadeh-Salteh Saeideh
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different strategies of drying with hot air (40, 50, 60°C), infrared (0.5, 0.6, 0.8w/cm2), sequential hot air/infrared, and Simultaneous hot air-infrared on the drying behavior, color, appearance and the yield and the components of essential oil of lemongrass leaves to increase the marketability of the product. Essential oils of lemongrass samples were extracted by hydro-distillation, and Volatile compounds were analyzed by GC-MS. Results showed: a) the suitable method for maintaining a higher color quality of lemongrass leaves was drying only by hot air drying at 60ºC; b) for preserving and obtaining a higher yield of the essential oil content of lemongrass, the best strategy was the simultaneous hybrid drying by hot air drying at 50ºC and infrared drying with radiation intensity of 0.6 w/cm2; and c) the data analysis represented that for obtaining the higher value of Volatile compounds of neral and geranial were drying only with infrared having the radiation intensity of 0.6 w/cm2 and drying with infrared radiation intensity of 0.8 w/cm2 respectively.
Network pharmacology-based identification for the therapeutic mechanism of Zhizi in the depression
Authors: Zhang Qiwei , Xu Bingbing , Hou Yue , Zhao Wei , Yu Haiyang , Tan Jinghe , Zhou Yanmeng , Zhang Han-Ting
Published: April 2023

Background Depression is an emotional and psychiatric disease with the main symptoms of prolonged depression, delayed thinking, and decreased movement. However, the treatment of depression is still a clinical problem. Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) is a Chinese herbal medicine that has been widely used for decades to treat depression. In this study, bioinformatics analysis were used to predict the molecular mechanism of Zhizi in the treatment of depression.Methods Through the Chinese herbal medicine pharmacological data and analysis platform, the active ingredients of Zhizi were retrieved and screened. At the same time, the therapeutic target proteins for depression were screened from databases that registered various known disease targets. After that, the interaction network between "knowles" and depression was constructed to enrich the key nodes of the analysis and validated with western blot experimentsResults Thirteen branching compounds and 112 depression candidate genes were identified and a "branching-compound-target-depression" network was successfully constructed. The above targe revealed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis explain that drug treatment of the disease may be achieved by affecting apoptosis-related signaling pathways in depressed patients. Western blot experiments validated the above results.Conclusion Zhizi may improve depression by regulating autophagy and apoptosis in cells, which may be a new strategy for the depression.
Comparative analysis of flower development, active ingredients and transcriptomic response revealed mechanisms of Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. 'Hangju' responding to flooding stress
Authors: Zhang Hong , Yang Feng , Guo Qiaosheng , Yu Shuyan , Pu Jingzhe , Liu Minhua , Zou Qingjun , Zhang Wenyan , Wang Tao
Published: April 2023

C. morifolium cv. 'Hangju' is used as material medicine and herbal tea in China for several centuries. In the previous observation, it was found that sufficient rainfall conditions can affect the flower buds differentiation process of 'Hangju'. In order to study the effects of flooding stress on 'Hangju', this study simulated the flooding stress during the reproductive growth of 'Hangju' and detected the morphological difference of the capitulum and luteoloside content change in different growth stages. RNA-seq was also used to contrast transcriptomes of pre- and post-treatment performance. In total, 101,806 unigenes were obtained and 968, 624, 964, and 582 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between flooding groups and control groups in the 4 stages. GO enrichment analysis of DEGs was performed to derive the main enrichment entries, KEGG enrichment analysis reveals a significant enrichment of DEGs in the biosynthetic pathway of secondary metabolites, which include flavonoid, flavone, and flavonol biosynthesis pathways. Overall, our research provides reasonable insights into the flower bud differentiation response mechanisms of 'Hangju' is subjected to flooding stress, and will expand our understanding of the transcriptional response to flood stress. These results will provide a better understanding of the formation of quality in 'Hangju' when subjected to flooding stress and will expand our understanding of the transcriptional response to flooding stress. These results will provide greater understanding of the formation of quality in 'Hangju'.
Uterine Artery Embolization in Tanzania: A Procedure with Major Public Health Implications
Authors: Musa Balowa , Alswang Jared Mark , Ioia Rose Di , Grubic Lydia , Naif Azza , Mbuguje Erick Michael , Vuong Victoria , Newsome Janice , Ramalingam Vijay , Gaupp Fabian Max Laage
Published: April 2023

Background The burden of uterine fibroids is substantial in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with up to 80% of black women harboring them in their lifetime. While uterine artery embolization (UAE) has emerged as an effective alternative to surgery to manage this condition, the procedure is not available to the vast majority of women living in SSA due to limited access to interventional radiology (IR) in the region. One of the few countries in SSA now offering UAE in a public hospital setting is Tanzania. This study aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of UAE in this new environment.Methods From June 2019 to July 2022, a single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted at Tanzania’s first IR service on all patients who underwent UAE for the management of symptomatic fibroids or adenomyosis. Patients were selected for the procedure based on symptom severity, imaging findings, and medical management failure. Procedural technical success and adverse events were recorded for all UAEs. Self-reported symptom severity and volumetric response on imaging were compared between baseline and six-months post-procedure using paired sample t-tests.Results During the study period, 92.1% (n = 35/38) of patients underwent UAE for the management of symptomatic fibroids and 7.9% (n = 3/38) for adenomyosis. 97.3% (n = 37/38) were considered technically successful and one minor adverse event occurred (2.7%). Self-reported symptom-severity scores at six-months post-procedure decreased in all categories: abnormal uterine bleeding from 8.8 to 3.1 (-5.7), pain from 6.7 to 3.2 (-3.5), and bulk symptoms from 2.8 to 1 (-1.8) (p < 0.01). 100% of patients reported satisfaction with outcomes. Among the nine patients with follow-up imaging, there was a mean volumetric decrease of 35.5% (p = 0.109).Conclusions UAE for fibroids and adenomyosis can be performed with high technical success and low complication rates in a low-resource setting like Tanzania, resulting in significant symptom relief for patients. Building capacity for UAE has major public health implications not only for fibroids and adenomyosis, but can help address the region’s leading cause of maternal mortality, postpartum hemorrhage.
Identification of Predicting Diagnostic Gene Biomarkers through Machine Learning combined with Pan-cancer in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Zhan Jinfeng , Cheng Ruoying , Liu Qi , Zu Yuxin , Hu Kaibo , Xia Zhongbin
Published: April 2023

Background Early diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is crucial for treatment and reducing mortality. In this research, we set out to explore several important biomarkers for the diagnosis of SLE through machine learning combined with pan-cancer, and to investigate the significance of immune cell infiltration.Methods Gene expression profiles for three human SLE and control samples were downloaded from the GEO database. The LASSO regression model and support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) analysiswere used to identify candidate biomarkers. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value was obtained for the evaluation of the discriminations. The GSE20864 dataset was then further validated for the expression and diagnostic value of SLE biomarkers. The structure of 22 immune cell fractions in SLE was explored through the pooled cohort of CIBERSORT. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Treatment-Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) datasets are sources of pan-cancer and normal tissue data. And associated pan-cancer analysis was carried out.Results We identified a total of 52 differently expressed genes, of which 23 were significantly upregulated and 29 were significantly downregulated. After further screening, we found four genes as candidate biomarkers (FOS, IFI27, ANKH, and IGF2BP2). Three signature genes (ANKH, IFI27, IGF2BP2) are excellent diagnostic values in treat and control groups. In immune cell analysis, 11 immune cells showed significant differences between SLE patients and normal humans. We also analysed the effect of IGF2BP2 in the tumour process. The IGF2BP2 gene was low expressed in 9 tumors and high expressed in 22 tumors. In addition, we also found a strong correlation between IGF2BP2 expression in tumour cells and patient prognosis. Our study also indicates that IGF2BP2 may have the ability to predict the efficacy of ICI in the corresponding cancer.Conclusion We explored several important biomarkers for the diagnosis of SLE through machine learning and found that IGF2BP2 has a sufficient role in the immune microenvironment of most of the tumors.
A fluorescent probe based on aptamer gold nanoclusters for rapid detection of mercury ions
Authors: Wang Ying , Luo Shan , Jiang Ruina , Dong Quanyong , Sun Yingying , Qiao Xin , Li Wang , Xiong Ying , Chen Yanni , Yi Sili , Wen Qian
Published: April 2023

Mercuric ion (Hg2+) is a hazardous pollutant widely exist in living organisms, foods and environments with highly toxic and bio-accumulative properties. In this work, a fluorescent probe based on aptamer gold nanoclusters (apt-AuNCs) was prepared for ultrasensitive detection of Hg2+ in food. The fluorescence of apt-AuNCs was quenched in the presence of Hg2+ due to the strong metallophilic interactions between the 5d10 centers of Hg2+ and Au+. Under optimal conditions, the proposed fluorescent probe displayed a linear relationship with Hg2+ concentration in the range of 2~ 200 nM (R2 =0.9960), the limit of detection (LOD) at 0.0158 nM, which is below the national standard value of 25 nM for Hg2+ in food. Furthermore, the apt-AuNCs can be applied for the determination of Hg2+ in real food samples, with recoveries of 91.99% ~ 108.06%.
On regularity and asymptotic stability for semilinear nonlocal pseudo-parabolic equations
Authors: Trong Quyet Dao , Phuong Thanh Dang Thi
Published: April 2023

We deal with a class of nonlocal pseudo-parabolic equations involving strong nonlinearities. The questions on existence, regularity and stability of solutions are addressed by using local estimates, fixed point arguments, and the relation between the Hilbert scales and fractional Sobolev spaces.
Exploring the Relationship Between Servant Teacher Leadership Behaviour, Psychological Empowerment, and Cognitive Learning: Evidence from Universities of Pakistan
Authors: Yeying Yang , Quddoos Muhammad Umer , Latif Moazzam , Siddiqi Arslan Ahmad
Published: April 2023

The present study focuses on determining the suitability of servant-teacher leadership as a leadership approach for instructional purposes. The study specifically looks at how servant leadership affects followers' cognitive learning by considering the mediating role of follower psychological empowerment. Using a stratified random sampling technique, data was collected through a questionnaire from seven hundred graduates from various HEC-recognized universities. The results of the study show that servant teaching significantly improves students' cognitive learning and sense of empowerment. Additionally, the study found that psychological empowerment mediates the link between follower cognitive learning and servant leadership. The findings of this study provide new insight to instructors seeking to develop a learning environment that fosters students' learning outcomes. However, it is also important to consider how to ensure students' commitment and that they are being challenged. Future research may explore the impact of cultural values on students' behavior toward servant teachers.
Use of Adjuvant Rectal Diazepam with Oral Tadalafil for Treatment of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
Authors: Herati Amin , Pil Ellen , Li Oscar , Engel Noah , Rabinowitz Matthew , Peña Vaness
Published: April 2023

Studies show oral Tadalafil and Diazepam suppositories each independently improve chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), leading providers to use medications simultaneously in the same patients. Our objective was to explore the efficacy of Tadalafil in CP/CPPS symptom management and whether co-administration of rectal Diazepam enhances potential benefit. A single-institution, retrospective chart review was performed on 63 adult males with CP/CPPS. NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI) questionnaires were collected before and after at least 45 days of treatment with either Tadalafil alone (n = 40) or Tadalafil with adjunctive Diazepam suppositories (n = 23). Both groups had similar baseline pain and urinary CPSI sub-scores, yet patients treated with Diazepam had significantly worse median quality of life sub-scores on both the initial (8.5 vs. 11, P = 0.01) and final (4 vs. 8.5 P = 0.02) surveys. For both groups, CPSI aggregated scores and pain, urinary, and quality of life sub-scores were significantly reduced compared to scores before treatment (P < 0.0001-0.02). However, the reduction in symptom scores was not significantly different with the addition of Diazepam suppositories (P = 0.47–0.94). Tadalafil, both with and without Diazepam, improved CP/CPPS symptom scores across all domains of the CPSI questionnaire. However, Diazepam suppositories do not confer additional benefit compared to Tadalafil therapy alone for CP/CPPS.
Global Trends and Hotspots in Narrative Medicine Studies: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Li Rui , Wang Le
Published: April 2023

Background In recent decades, the overemphasis on technical aspects of precision medicine may neglect patients' personal feelings, leading to conflicts and tensions between doctors and patients. Narrative medicine is an interdisciplinary approach aimed at facilitating physician-patient communication, enhancing empathy, and improving the quality of medical care through storytelling. However, the global trends and hotspots in the field of narrative medicine remains unclear. To fill this gap, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of the global scientific publications in the field of narrative medicine, utilizing two visualization tools, CiteSpace and VOSviewer, on papers published in the Web of Science database between 2011–2021.Methods The study presented a bibliometric and visual analysis of the research status, global trends and hotspots in narrative medicine. Using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) as the data source, 736 articles published between 2011 and 2021 were retrieved and analyzed based on publications, authors, countries, institutions, journals, and keywords.Results Over the past decade, the number of publications in this field has steadily increased each year. The study found that American scholars contributed the most research papers in this field (369 papers) and that the United States is the key node in cooperation with UK, Canada, Italy and other countries. Furthermore, the most influential research team was found to be Columbia University (with 29 papers and 406 citations). The current research hotspots were classified into four clusters: narrative medicine education, consumer health information, health insurance and medical overuse. The function of education and the application of narrative medicine were identified as potential future research hotspots.Conclusion The current study suggested active cooperation among authors, institutions and countries. Among the four clusters, NM education are closely related with the other three clusters. Thus, more attention should be paid to the function of NM education.
Biomechanical Properties of Articular Cartilage in Different Regions and Sites of the Knee Joint: Acquisition of Osteochondral Allografts
Authors: Ma Yongsheng , Lin Qitai , Wang Xueding , Liu Yang , Yu Xiangyang , Ren Zhiyuan , Zhang Yuanyu , Guo Li , Wu Xiaogang , Zhang Xiangyu , Li Pengcui , Wei Xiaochun , Duan Wangping
Published: April 2023

Background: Osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation involves grafting of natural hyaline cartilage and supporting subchondral bone into the cartilage defect area of a joint to recover its biomechanical and tissue structure. However, differing biomechanical properties and donor-host matching may impair the integration of articular cartilage (AC). This study analyzed the biomechanical properties of the AC in different regions of different sites of the knee joint and provides a novel approach to OCA transplantation.
Methods： Intact stifle joints from skeletally mature pigs were collected from a local abattoir less than 8 h after slaughter. OCAs were collected from different regions of the joints. The patella and thetibial plateau were divided into medial and lateral regions, while the trochlea and femoral condyle were divided into six regions. The OCAs were analyzed and compared for Young’s modulus, the compressive modulus, and cartilage thickness.
Results:Young’s modulus, cartilage thickness and compressive modulus of OCA were significantly different in different regions of the joints. A negative correlation was observed between Young's modulus and the proportion of the subchondral bone (r=−0.4241, P<0.0001). Cartilage thickness was positively correlated with Young’s modulus (r=0.4473, P<0.0001) and the compressive modulus (r=0.3678, P<0.0001).
Conclusions: During OCA transplantation, OCAs may be xenotransplanted into similar regions, or at the closest possible regions to ensure consistency of the biomechanical properties and cartilage thickness of the donor and recipient and, thus, easy integration with the surrounding tissue. A 7-mm depth achieved a higher Young's modulus, and may represent the ideal length.
BAHD1 promotes osetosarcoma recurrence by enhancing tumor cell escape from chemotherapy-induced senescence
Authors: zhang liang , luo dan , zhang jian , zhu jun , gan yibo , Zhao Jianhua , Liu Mingyong
Published: April 2023

Objective
To investigate the role and mechanism of BAHD1 in the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells escaping from senescence.
Methods
Osteosarcoma cell lines U2OS and MG63 were cultured in vitro. Doxorubicin (DOX) and cisplatin induced U2OS and MG63 into a senescent state. The medium without DOX and CIS was replaced for continuous culture. Some cells were observed to proliferate again, which were defined as senescence-escaped OS cells (SEOS). The DOX group and CIS group were divided respectively. The DOX and CIS groups are divided into: the parent U2OS group, the U2OS SEOS cells at the 9th passage group, the parent MG63 group, and the MG63 SEOS cells at the 9th passage group. The expression of BAHD1 was detected by qRT PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. Cell count, CCK-8 test, agarose clone formation test, flow cytometry, etc. were used to detect cell proliferation. Cell Migration Assay was used to detect cell migration. Tumor Xenografts was used to detect the ability of cells to form tumors. The effect of BAHD1 was detected by RNA interference assay.
Results
The expression of BAHD1, cell cycle related proteins YWHAZ, CCND1 and stem cell factor KLF4 were significantly increased in SEOS cells at the 9th passage group compared with the parent group. Cell cycle enters S phase more quickly. After knockdown of BAHD1 expression, the above results were significantly recalled, and the ability of migration, cloning and tumor formation was significantly reduced.
Conclusion
The increased expression of BAHD1 is crucial in the progression of osteosarcoma, which may be achieved by up regulating the cell cycle related proteins YWHAZ, CCND1 and stem cell factor KLF4.
The History Problem
Authors: Saito Hiro
Published: April 2023

Seventy years after the Asia-Pacific War ended, Japan is still embroiled in intense controversies with South Korea and China over how to commemorate it. Why did the controversies—known as East Asia’s “history problem”—become so entangled and protracted? Can the history problem ever be resolved, and if so, how? By carefully examining a vast corpse of historical materials, available both in English and Japanese, The History Problem reveals the fundamentally relational nature of the problem, caused by nationalist commemorations in Japan as well as in South Korea and China that focus on what happened to co-nationals without sufficient regard for foreign others. At the same time, the book shows that cosmopolitan commemoration that takes humanity as a frame of reference has developed through a transnational network of NGOs, victims of Japan’s past wrongdoings, and historians and educators. In light of these findings, the book concludes that the governments and citizens in Japan, South Korea, and China have the best chance to resolve the history problem and move toward reconciliation if they mobilize historians’ critical reflections to engage in mutual criticism of nationalist commemorations and reciprocate cosmopolitan commemoration.
Transnational Japan in the Global Environmental Movement
Authors: Avenell Simon
Published: April 2023

What motivates people to become involved in issues beyond national borders and how are activists changed and movements transformed by reaching out to others a world away? Transnational Japan in the Global Environmental Movement addresses these questions through the lens of the contemporary Japanese environmental movement. Spanning from the era of industrial pollution in the 1960s to the recent rise of movements addressing global environmental problems, the book shows how Japanese activists influenced approaches to environmentalism in the Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe, as well as at landmark United Nations conferences in 1972 and 1992. The book argues that the trauma of industrial pollution in Japan produced a potent “environmental injustice paradigm” which fueled domestic protest and motivated some Japanese groups’ to go abroad. From the 1960s onwards these Japanese activists organized diverse movements addressing industrial pollution, radioactive waste disposal, rainforest destruction, and climate change. In all cases Japanese groups advocated for the environmental and human rights of people in marginalized communities and nations. Transnational involvement also profoundly challenged Japanese groups’ understanding of and approach to activism, undermining deeply engrained notions of victimhood and nurturing a more self-reflexive and multidimensional approach to environmental problems and social activism.
Diving into a holographic superconductor
Authors: Hartnoll Sean , Horowitz Gary , Kruthoff Jorrit , Santos Jorge
Published: April 2023

Charged black holes in anti-de Sitter space become unstable to
forming charged scalar hair at low temperatures
T < T_\text{c}T<Tc.
This phenomenon is a holographic realization of superconductivity. We
look inside the horizon of these holographic superconductors and find
intricate dynamical behavior. The spacetime ends at a spacelike Kasner
singularity, and there is no Cauchy horizon. Before reaching the
singularity, there are several intermediate regimes which we study both
analytically and numerically. These include strong Josephson
oscillations in the condensate and possible `Kasner inversions’ in which
after many e-folds of expansion, the Einstein-Rosen bridge contracts
towards the singularity. Due to the Josephson oscillations, the number
of Kasner inversions depends very sensitively on
TT,
and diverges at a discrete set of temperatures
\{T_n\}{Tn}
that accumulate at T_cTc.
Near these T_nTn,
the final Kasner exponent exhibits fractal-like behavior.
AdS black holes with a bouncing interior
Authors: Hartnoll Sean A. , Neogi Navonil
Published: April 2023

We construct planar black hole solutions of AdS gravity minimally coupled to a scalar field with an even, super-exponential potential. We show that the evolution of the black hole interior exhibits an infinite sequence of Kasner epochs, as the scalar field rolls back and forth in its potential. We obtain an analytic expression for the 'bounces' between each Kasner epoch and also give an explicit formula for the times and strengths of the bounces at late interior times, thereby fully characterizing the interior evolution. In this way we show that the interior geometry approaches the Schwarzschild singularity at late times, even as the scalar field is driven higher up its potential with each bounce.
Majorana bound states in encapsulated bilayer graphene
Authors: Peñaranda Fernando , Aguado Ramón , Prada Elsa , San-Jose Pablo
Published: April 2023

The search for robust topological superconductivity and Majorana bound states continues, exploring both one-dimensional (1D) systems such as semiconducting nanowires and two-dimensional (2D) platforms. In this work we study a 2D approach based on graphene bilayers encapsulated in transition metal dichalcogenides that, unlike previous proposals involving the Quantum Hall regime in graphene, requires weaker magnetic fields and does not rely on interactions. The encapsulation induces strong spin-orbit coupling on the graphene bilayer, which opens a sizeable gap and stabilizes fragile pairs of helical edge states. We show that, when subject to an in-plane Zeeman field, armchair edges can be transformed into p-wave one-dimensional topological superconductors by contacting them laterally with conventional superconductors. We demonstrate the emergence of Majorana bound states (MBSs) at the sample corners of crystallographically perfect flakes, belonging either to the D or the BDI symmetry classes depending on parameters. We compute the phase diagram, the resilience of MBSs against imperfections, and their manifestation as a 4\piπ-periodic effect in Josephson junction geometries, all suggesting the existence of a topological phase within experimental reach.
Accounting support for sustainability reporting: theoretical foundations and bibliometric analysis
Authors: Filatova Hanna , Vasylieva Tetiana , Vynnychenko Nataliia , Ballova Martina , Gedeon Milan
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this study is to substantiate the theoretical provisions on the accounting support for sustainability reporting and develop practical recommendations for improving the mechanisms for generating fragments of non-financial reporting based on accounting data. The study is conducted on the example of Ukraine. The paper provides a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on the reporting in the field of sustainable development. Generalizing the results of the content-context block of the bibliometric analysis allowed identifying seven clusters. In the context of the study, the most relevant is the fourth cluster, which reflects the relationship between sustainability reporting and accounting. To create an effective mechanism for building sustainability reporting, a five-step sequence of actions based on accounting data was proposed, and tables were created to simplify the search for the necessary information to fill out fragments of a sustainability report and assess social and environmental security based on accounting data.
The impact of non-drug treatments on the quality of life of patients with non-dementia vascular cognitive impairment
Authors: Novikova M. S. , Zakharov V. V.
Published: April 2023

Introduction. Cognitive impairment significantly reduces the quality of life. This occurs already in the early stages of the disease. At present, the effect of non-drug treatment on mild cognitive impairment and the quality of life of patients has not been sufficiently studied.

Aim. To evaluate the effect of a combination of non-drug treatments on the quality of life of patients with non-demented vascular cognitive impairment.

Materials and methods. 60 patients with moderate cognitive impairment of vascular etiology were included in an open randomized trial. Patients of the first group (n = 30, mean age 63.7 ± 8.8) received a combination of non-drug methods (cognitive training, physical activity, meal planning) for one month. Patients of the second group (n = 30, mean age 64.2 ± 10.7) were informed about the advisability of a healthy diet and maintenance of mental and physical activity. Neuropsychological testing was carried out at the stage of inclusion, immediately after the course of treatment, after 6 months and one year after the start of the study.

Results. Patients of the first group showed a statistically significant improvement in the quality of life (p < 0.05) one month after the start of the study. After 6 months and after a year, there were no significant differences with the first visit. When comparing the indicators of the second group with the initial visit, a decrease in the quality of life was noted throughout the follow- up (p < 0.05). The differences were statistically significant when comparing the two groups with each other at the time of the second visit, but at the third and fourth visits they lost statistical significance.

Conclusion. The results obtained indicate that the use of a complex of non-drug methods of treatment for moderate vascular cognitive impairment improves the quality of life of patients.
Glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex: data on the mechanism of action and efficacy in osteoarthritis
Authors: Chichasova N. V. , Lila A. M.
Published: April 2023

The article presents the modern definition of osteoarthritis (OA) not as a degenerative cartilage injury, but as a disease in which abnormal adaptive regenerative processes are activated, including pro-inflammatory pathways of the immune system, based on the clarification of the pathogenesis of the disease. An approach to the separation of various OA phenotypes is described. Various approaches to the tactics of pharmacological treatment of the disease are presented. The possibilities of the glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex to influence the state of chondrocytes and cartilage tissue in various experimental models of induced OA are described. And in the last experimental study, a positive effect of the drug on the clinical manifestations of 2 models of induced OA was demonstrated, a decrease in the concentration of CRP, interleukin 1β was recorded with  an increase in the concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukins 4 and 10), a significant decrease in the number of leukocytes in the synovial fluid, as well as a decrease in pathological changes in cartilage during histological examination, which it indicates that the drug exerts its effect directly in the tissues of the joint. Clinical studies have confirmed the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of the glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex in OA, although not all conducted in the twentieth century, the positive effect on joint pain and joint function was significantly better than placebo. The absence in these years of regulated criteria for inclusion in studies of the effectiveness of pharmacological drugs in OA, the introduction of new methods for assessing pain, function served as a prerequisite for conducting studies of the effectiveness and tolerability of the glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex at the present stage. Multicenter observational studies, which included massive groups of patients with OA of various localization, confirmed the presence of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity in the drug, manifested during the 1st course of injections, showed that repeated courses of drug administration are necessary to achieve a more pronounced and stable effect. Data on an increase in the effect of combination therapy with diacerein and on the possibility of achieving an effect in patients with previous insufficient efficacy of other slow-acting symptomatic drugs are presented.
Simple and effective solutions in the correction of anxiety and stress
Authors: Shishkova V. N.
Published: April 2023

Acute and chronic stress conditions have an adverse effect on human health at any age and are related to the psychosocial risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases, increasing the risk of occurrence and development of not only cardiovascular, but also other common diseases such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, broncho-obstructive diseases, ulcerative lesions of gastrointestinal tract, etc. The negative effect of stress on the human health is effectuated both through endogenous pathophysiological changes and through behavioural disorders such as physical inactivity, malnutrition, smoking, alcohol intake, etc. It has also been shown that psychosocial risk factors significantly aggravate the clinical course of existing diseases, significantly reduce adherence to treatment, worsen quality of life, increase the risk of disability and expenditures paid in the healthcare system in patients with chronic non-communicable diseases. Thus, acute and chronic stress have a negative effect on the physical, mental and emotional health, that's why the right choice of both preventive measures and timely management is very important. The combination of non-pharmaceutical effect, including training in stress resistance skills, proper response and emergency self-help in a stressful situation, with the prescription of effective pharmacological therapy can be considered as the optimal strategy. Valocordin® available in the form of drops or tablets represents a combination of low doses of phenobarbital with ethyl bromisovalerianate and plant components, which enhances the positive effects of the combination due to functional.
Hierarchy of pathogenetic mechanisms of chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency and therapeutic strategies for neuroprotection
Authors: Putilina M. V.
Published: April 2023

Chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency (CCI) is an independent disease with complex etiopathogenetic mechanisms and a polymorphic clinical picture. The complex hierarchy of pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical manifestations forces the doctor to choose a strategy for drug therapy, taking into account the multifunctional effect on all pathogenetic mechanisms. With regard to chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency, there are still no unambiguous standards, mainly the use of preventive strategies (antihypertensive drugs, antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, statins) is recommended. At the same time, a combination of pathological factors leads to a violation of the integrity of the homeostasis system and mitochondrial and endothelial dysfunction, atrophy of the cerebral cortex, neurodegeneration, and proliferation of glial cells. Violations of metabolic, protein-synthetic processes in the vascular wall and neurons underlie subsequent morphological damage, which is the foundation for the development or manifestation of a particular symptom. Therefore, only preventive or symptomatic therapy separately from each other is unlikely to have the expected effect. Due to the fact that there are no unified diagnostic criteria, a unified pathogenetic paradigm, there are no standards in the treatment of CNMC, neuropeptides have been actively studied in recent years. They are capable of selective binding to endogenous proteins and can form structural conformations in response to various stimuli in the biological environment, which allows for various therapeutic applications of peptide assemblies. The drugs have pronounced neurotrophic, mediator, effector and anti-inflammatory properties, are highly effective, can be used in small doses, and have no side reactions. A promising drug in this group is a polypeptide from the brain of porcine embryos6 which has a good evidence base for efficacy and safety in patients with cerebrovascular diseases. . To increase the effectiveness of therapy, it is advisable to combine neurope-tides with antioxidants and antihypoxants, choline precursor drugs.
Anxiety disorders in general medical practice – clinical picture, diagnosis, optimized approaches to therapy
Authors: Petelin D. S. , Sorokina O. Yu. , Troshina D. V. , Siginevich Yu. A. , Efimochkina S. M. , Volel B. A.
Published: April 2023

Anxiety disorders are widespread in the population and in general medical practice and have a pronounced negative impact on the quality of life and functioning of patients. Currently, the prerequisites for the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders outside the psychiatric network are accumulating by therapists, general practitioners and other non-psychiatric doctors. A review of the most significant factors contributing to a wider diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders in general medical practice is given. This review presents modern ideas about the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders, substantiates the modern idea of their multifactorial nature, the contribution of genetic and epigenetic, psychological and social factors, outlines the concepts of the neurobiological basis of pathological anxiety based on neuroimaging studies. In the future, information is provided on the general manifestations of anxiety disorders, the main clusters of anxiety, the systematics of anxiety disorders according to ICD-10. Modern ideas about the diagnosis of anxiety disorders using both scales and a clinical approach are given, a detailed review of currently available diagnostic scales validated for clinical practice is presented. The main approaches to conducting a clinical conversation are also presented, recommendations are given for the most successful collection of information about the clinical condition of patients. At the end of the review, information is given on existing approaches to psychopharmacotherapy and psychotherapy of anxiety disorders. Taking into account pharmacological and clinical studies, the place of drugs tofisopam (an atypical allosteric modulator of GABA receptors) and buspirone (a partial agonist of serotonin 1A receptors) in the treatment of anxiety disorders in general medical practice has been argued.
Advantages of zoledronic acid in the therapy of osteoporosis in real clinical practice
Authors: Sivordova L. E. , Polyakova Yu. V. , Papichev E. V. , Akhverdyan Yu. R. , Zavodovskii B. V.
Published: April 2023

Introduction. The development of osteoporosis (OP) increases healthcare costs and often leads to disability of patients. In this regard, the search for ways to improve the effectiveness of OP treatment is very relevant. Today, there is a wide range of drugs for the effective correction of bone metabolism. However, low patient compliance in real clinical practice significantly reduces the effectiveness of therapy.

Aim. To study the effect of patient compliance on the effectiveness of Zoledronic acid and Denosumab in OP in real clinical practice.

Materials and methods. Study design: a retrospective analysis of outpatient records of 300 patients with OP, who were prescribed Zoledronic acid or Denosumab in 2019, with a prospective analysis of adherence to therapy for 3 years.

Results. It was revealed that 12% of patients did not start pathogenetic therapy for OP (control group). 88% (264 patients) started pathogenetic therapy: of these, 22.33% (67 patients) preferred therapy with Denosumab; 65.67% (197 patients) – Zoledronic acid. After 1 year, therapy with Denosumab 19.4%, Zoledronic acid – 19.29% was discontinued. More than 1 month late with the next injection of the drug: Denosumab – 25.37%, Zoledronic acid – 16.24% of patients. Only 55.22% who received Denosumab and 64.47% who received Zoledronic acid fully complied with the recommendations. Most often, a violation of the schedule of drug administration was observed in patients over 75 years of age, alone, with impaired cognitive status. Discontinuation of therapy with Denosumab or violation of the schedule of its administration led to an increase in the level of bone resorption (C-telopeptide type I collagen (CTX-1)). During therapy with Zoledronic acid, there was no increase in CTX-1. In addition, the cost of course treatment with Zoledronic acid is 2–3 times less than with Denosumab.

Conclusion. In real clinical practice, zoledronic acid has clinical and pharmacoeconomic advantages, especially in patients with expected low adherence to OP therapy.
Substantiated therapy of pre-dementia cognitive impairment with calcium-channel blockers
Authors: Zhitkova Yu. V.
Published: April 2023

Pre-dementia cognitive impairments are a significant part of a cognitive impairment range, considered the most perspective in terms of conversion into dementia prevention. At the same time pre-dementia cognitive impairment treatment presents certain difficulties in connection with the absence of precise medicinal strategies with the high evidence level. According to current clinical recommendations, the priority in cognitive pre-dementia treatment lies in the correction of modifiable risk factors of cognitive impairment progression and non-drug therapy methods. Nevertheless, there is a great need in receiving the proofs of pathogenetically justified use of drugs with a potentially effective mechanism of action. Universal and early pathogenetical mechanism of many diseases of central nervous system, leading to the development of cognitive impairments, including Alzheimer’s disease, is Ca2+ dyshomeostasis. In this connection, the use of drugs, regulating Ca2+ metabolism in neurons in treatment of patients with pre-dementia cognitive impairments, especially high brain penetrance drugs, is potentially well-grounded. The article gives the data review of modern researches, studying the efficiency and safety of nimodipin a selective Ca+ channel blocker of the 2 class. The article provides examples of the use of nimodipin in treatment and prevention of pre-dementia syndroms of various genesis: Alzheimer’s disease, chronic brain hypoperfusion damage, post-radiation and postoperative cognitive dysfunction, etc. The article presents experimental data about nimodipin use in the prevention of postoperative delirium in elderly people and in the treatment of non-cognitive neurological disorders. Justification of the perspectives of the application area extension and directions for the further research of nimodipin are as well given in the article.