bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case report: Abrocitinib: a potential therapeutic option for lichen amyloidosis associated with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Zhang Yizhen , Huang Dawei , Gao Yunlu
Published: November 2024

Lichen amyloidosis (LA) is a predominant type of primary cutaneous amyloidosis that is characterized by persistent and intense skin itching. Although multiple therapeutics strategies are available for its treatment, there is no standard treatment so far. Abrocitinib, an oral small-molecule Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, has been authorized for the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and can also provide rapid relief from pruritus. Here, we discuss the case of a 32-year-old man who was diagnosed with LA with severe AD based on the presence of multiple, discrete, and hyperpigmented papules and pruritic, erythematous macules with lichenification of the limbs, trunk, and buttocks. Given the inefficacy of conventional therapy, abrocitinib treatment was recommended in this patient. After 1 month of treatment, the patient’s Eczema Area And Severity Index score decreased significantly from 48 to 15 points, accompanied by a notable reduction in pruritus symptoms. Furthermore, significant improvements were observed in the thickness and pigmentation of the hyperkeratotic papules. Thus, abrocitinib exhibited excellent effectiveness and safety in the treatment of severe AD with LA and warrants further investigation for its potential therapeutic benefits.
Case report: Squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the cornea without involvement of the limbus and conjunctiva
Authors: Yun Ji Kyu , Ryu Young Joon , Lee Yongwoo
Published: November 2024

Isolated corneal squamous cell carcinoma without conjunctiva and limbus involvement is rare. We report a case of isolated squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the cornea. A 67-year-old male presented with visual disturbance in the left eye (visual acuity, 0.5), with a lesion isolated to the cornea. After an initial diagnosis of keratitis, he was lost to follow-up for 15 months. He subsequently returned for re-evaluation by a corneal specialist owing to progressive visual impairment in the left eye (visual acuity, 0.2). A left scrape biopsy and histopathological examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma in situ. No systemic evaluation findings of lymphadenopathy or metastasis were observed. Following removal of the residual mass from the cornea, conjunctival tissue samples, including the limbus, were collected for histopathological examination, with negative findings. No recurrence was observed at 15 months postoperatively. Isolated corneal squamous cell carcinoma in situ can be misdiagnosed as simple corneal opacity or keratitis during clinical examination. This condition should be considered in patients with unresponsive keratitis or corneal opacities.
Exploring robustness of hybrid membranes under high hydrostatic pressure and temperature
Authors: Tamby Anandi , Sahonero-Canavesi Diana X. , Villanueva Laura
Published: November 2024

Bacterial membranes are typically composed of ester-bonded fatty acid (FA), while archaeal membranes consist of ether-bonded isoprenoids, differentiation referred to as the ‘lipid divide’. Some exceptions to this rule are bacteria harboring ether-bonded membrane lipids. Previous research engineered the bacterium Escherichia coli to synthesize archaeal isoprenoid-based ether-bonded lipids together with the bacterial FA ester-linked lipids, showing that heterochiral membranes are stable and more robust to temperature, cold shock, and solvents. However, the impact of ether-bonded lipids, either bacterial or archaeal, on membrane robustness, remains unclear. Here, we investigated the robustness, as survival after shock, of E. coli synthesizing either archaeal or bacterial ether-bonded membrane lipids, under high temperature and/or high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). Our findings reveal E. coli with bacterial ether-bonded lipids is more robust under HHP and high temperature. On the contrary, the presence of archaeal ether-bonded membrane lipids in E. coli does not affect the robustness under HHP nor high temperature under the tested conditions. We observed morphological changes induced by the shock treatments including reduced length under high temperature or HHP, and the presence of elongated cells after a shock of HHP and high temperature combined, suggesting the combined treatments impaired cell division. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of membrane adaptation to extreme environmental conditions and highlight the significance of HHP as a key parameter to investigate the differentiation of membranes during the lipid divide.
Contribution of pectin-degrading bacteria to the quality of cigar fermentation: an analysis based on microbial communities and physicochemical components
Authors: Su Youbo , Cui Yonghe , Fu Kejian , Bu Lingduo , Sun Yucui , Zhou Qi , Yin Yuming , Sun Yulong , Yang Huating , Wu Lang , Song Xueru
Published: November 2024

Objective

This study aims to investigate the effects of pectin-degrading bacteria on the microbial community and physicochemical properties during the fermentation process of cigar tobacco, evaluating its potential in reducing green bitterness and enhancing aroma.

Methods

By isolating and screening pectin-degrading bacteria, high-throughput sequencing and physicochemical analysis were employed to compare the microbial flora and physicochemical component differences in different treatment groups of cigar tobacco. Furthermore, correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationships between these variables.

Results

The results showed that the strains YX-2 and DM-3, isolated from the cigar tobacco variety “Yunxue No. 1,” exhibited strong pectin-degrading abilities. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain YX-2 is highly homologous to Bacillus flexus, while strain DM-3 is highly homologous to Bacillus siamensis. After fermentation, the addition of strains YX-2 and DM-3 significantly reduced the pectin content in the tobacco leaves, increased the total sugar and reducing sugar content, reduced green bitterness, and markedly enhanced the total aroma components. Notably, DM-3 exhibited outstanding performance in the production of Maillard reaction products. Microbial community analysis showed that the addition of pectin-degrading bacteria significantly increased the diversity of both bacteria and fungi, especially in the TDM3 group, where the relative abundance of Pseudomonas was notably elevated. Correlation analysis revealed that Pseudomonas had a significant positive correlation with both reducing sugar and total sugar, and a significant negative correlation with pectin, indicating its important role in sugar metabolism and pectin degradation. Additionally, fungal genera such as Cercospora were significantly negatively correlated with total sugar and total nitrogen, while Eurotium was closely associated with pectin degradation and reducing sugar accumulation.

Conclusion

This study found that the addition of Pectin-degrading bacteria YX-2 and DM-3 significantly optimized the microbial community structure during the cigar tobacco fermentation process and improved the physicochemical properties of the tobacco leaves, with notable effects in reducing green bitterness and enhancing aroma.
Genetics of conditional extended mycelial cell viability of Streptomyces minutiscleroticus in deep starvation phase implicates the involvement of (p)ppGpp, clpX, and a histidine kinase sasA
Authors: Chatupale Vaidehi , Pohnerkar Jayashree
Published: November 2024

Bacterial lifespan ranges from a few hours to geological timescales. The prolonged survival trait under extreme energy starvation is essential for the perpetuation of their existence. The theme for long-term survival [long-term stationary phase (LTSP)] in the non-growing state may be dependent on the diversity in the environmental niche and the lifestyle of the bacteria, exemplified by longevity studies, albeit few, with model organisms. In the present study, we characterized the LTSP of mycelial cells of Streptomyces Minutiscleroticus, which remain metabolically active, demonstrate ongoing protein synthesis—killed by protein synthesis inhibitors—and remarkably by the cell-wall synthesis inhibitors, vancomycin, and ampicillin, suggesting “growth.” Their rapid turnover is also evident in ~10-fold loss of colony-forming unit (CFU) over a year, suggesting that for the death of one “old” cell, slightly less than one “new” cell is born. This longevity is consequent to (i) induction of the gene expression program effected by non-metabolizable, non-ionic osmolyte, sucrose, thus conditional, and (ii) possibly rendering this carbon utilizable by the production of a slow hydrolytic activity generating glucose, reinforcing the relevance of low-level energy resource for long term survival in the starvation phase. The viability parameters of LTSP cells measured through up to 90 days suggest that the stationary phase transitioning into LTSP following nutrient exhaustion is nearly quantitative. Expectedly, the viability in LTSP is (p)ppGpp/RelA dependent. Whereas mutation in chaperone clpX, negatively affects survival in stationary phase, overexpression of signal sensor-transducer histidine kinase, SasA8, enhances cell survivability. The relevance of longevity functions identified here requires further deduction of the genetic program.
The characteristics of auditorial event-related potential under propofol sedation associated with preoperative cognitive performance in glioma patients
Authors: Wang Xinxin , Yang Wanning , Jian Minyu , Liang Yi , Yang Zuocheng , Chen Yiwei , Ma Bo , Wang Chengwei , Hou Zonggang , Deng Zhenghai , Liu Haiyang , Xie Jian , Han Ruquan
Published: November 2024

Background

Glioma patients often experience neurocognitive deficits, particularly mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which affects their perioperative safety. The use of auditory event-related potentials (AERPs) might be a promising method for reflecting perioperative cognitive function in patients, even under unresponsive sedation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationships between the AERP under sedation and preoperative cognitive performance in glioma patients.

Methods

Patients with primary supratentorial gliomas who were scheduled for elective craniotomy under general anesthesia were included in this prospective observational study. The patients were categorized into MCI and non-MCI groups based on their preoperative Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. AERP characteristics, including mismatch negativity (MMN), P300, and event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) in the theta bands, were analyzed under different propofol-induced sedation conditions. Differences in these parameters between groups and their relationships with preoperative cognitive performance were subsequently investigated.

Results

Twenty-nine eligible patients were included in the analysis. Compared to that in the non-MCI group, the average amplitude of the MMN component evoked by the novel stimulus significantly decreased during the recovery period in the MCI group (−3.895 ± 1.961 μV vs. -1.617 ± 1.831 μV, p = 0.003). Theta-ERSPs also differed between the two groups under standard (0.021 ± 0.658 μV2/Hz vs. 0.515 ± 0.622 μV2/Hz, p = 0.048) and novel (0.212 ± 0.584 μV2/Hz vs. 0.823 ± 0.931 μV2/Hz, p = 0.041) stimulation conditions under light sedation. After correcting for age, education level, site of lesion, WHO pathological grade and combined symptomatic epilepsy as confounders, the frontal theta-ERSP induced by standard and novel stimuli under light sedation was inversely related to the preoperative MoCA score (standard stimuli: β = −0.491, p = 0.011; novel stimuli: β = −0.594, p = 0.007), as was the average MMN amplitude induced by novel stimuli during the recovery period (β = −0.356, p = 0.035).

Conclusion

The AERP neural response characteristics of glioma patients during propofol sedation were associated with preoperative cognitive performance, which might be a potential neurophysiological indicator for monitoring perioperative cognitive function, especially theta-ERSP.
Four heterozygous de novo variants in ASXL3 identified with Bainbridge–Ropers syndrome and further dissecting published genotype–phenotype spectrum
Authors: Ling Shengjie , Zhang Yiming , Li Ning , Tian Shan , Hu Rui , Zhang Dongdong , Guo Weitong
Published: November 2024

Bainbridge–Ropers syndrome (BRPS) is a recently described neurodevelopmental genetic disorder associated with de novo truncating variants in additional sex combs like 3 (ASXL3) on chromosome 18q12.1. Trio-based exome sequencing was conducted on patients admitted to the Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University and diagnosed with unexplained intellectual disabilities or developmental delay between June 2022 and January 2024. De novo truncation of ASXL3 was identified in four patients, and the pathogenic variants and their de novo status were validated using Sanger sequencing. Comprehensive clinical phenotype–genotype information of all previously reported patients with BRPS was collected and summarized. The common clinical manifestations observed in the four patients included language and intellectual disabilities or psychomotor retardation. Genetic analysis revealed that patient 1 carried a de novo heterozygous variant, c.1667_1668del (p.Thr556Arpfs*3), whereas patient 2 had a novel heterozygous frameshift variant of ASXL3, c.3324del (p.Lys1109Serfs*34). These two variants have not been documented to date. Additionally, patients 3 and 4 exhibited a de novo variant, c.4678C > T (p.Arg1560Ter). Based on the combined assessment of clinical phenotypes and genetic testing results, it was postulated that all four children presented with BRPS syndrome caused by pathogenic variations in ASXL3. The present study complements the range of ASXL3 mutational and phenotypic spectra in the population, highlighting subtle distinctions in clinical manifestations between Chinese patients and other racial groups. The reporting of additional cases will contribute to further elucidating the function of ASXL3 and establishing a solid foundation for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
RDA-MTE: an innovative model for emotion recognition in sports behavior decision-making
Authors: Zhang Sheng'ao
Published: November 2024

Emotional stimuli play a crucial role in sports behavior decision-making as they significantly influence individuals' responses and decisions in sports contexts. However, existing research predominantly relies on traditional psychological and behavioral methods, lacking in-depth analysis of the complex relationship between emotions and sports behavior, particularly in the integration of real-time emotion recognition and sports behavior decision-making. To address this issue, we propose a deep learning-based model, RDA-MTE, which efficiently extracts and enhances feature interaction capabilities to capture and recognize facial expressions, thereby analyzing the impact of emotional stimuli on sports behavior decision-making. This model combines a pre-trained ResNet-50, a bidirectional attention mechanism, and a multi-layer Transformer encoder to improve the accuracy and robustness of emotion recognition. Experimental results demonstrate that the RDA-MTE model achieves an accuracy of 83.54% on the FER-2013 dataset and 88.9% on the CK+ dataset, particularly excelling in recognizing positive emotions such as “Happy” and “Surprise.” Additionally, the model exhibits strong stability in ablation experiments, validating its reliability and generalization capability across different emotion categories. This study not only extends research methodologies in the fields of affective computing and sports behavior decision-making but also provides significant reference for the development of emotion recognition systems in practical applications. The findings of this research will enhance understanding of the role of emotions in sports behavior and promote advancements in related fields.
First implementation and results of online adaptive radiotherapy for cervical cancer based on CT-Linac combination
Authors: Jiang Dazhen , Yang Chunxu , Sun Shaoxing , Wang Dajiang , Xiao Zhizhi , Hu Jie , Mei Zijie , Xie Conghua , Liu Hui , Qiu Hui , Wang Xiaoyong
Published: November 2024

Purpose

To assess the dosimetric effectiveness of image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) and online adaptive radiation therapy (oART) for cervical cancer. As well as survival follow-up was conducted to validated the safety and efficacy of oART.

Methods

A total of 15 cervical cancer patients were enrolled. oART was performed on a CT-integrated linear accelerator. The initial plan was revised to include the distribution of IGRT dose using daily fan-beam CT (FBCT) images, after which the distinctions between ART and IGRT in terms of target coverage and organs at risk (OARs) sparing were analyzed. Survival follow-up was conducted to validated the safety and efficacy of oART in this group.

Results

PTV Dmax value decreased by 1.23 Gy in the ART plan when compared to that in the IGRT plan; PTV D95 increased by 1.34 Gy; PTV V50 coverage increased by 4.86%; CTV coverage increased by 3.02%; PTV D2cc of the colon, rectum, and small intestine decreased by 1.24 Gy, 1.29 Gy, and 1.12 Gy, respectively. The V10 and V30 of the pelvis increased by 1.27% and 0.56%, respectively, while the V30 of the left and right femoral heads dropped by 2.82% and 3.41%, respectively. Except for the pelvic changes, all other differences were statistically significant (p < 0.01). The average time for the ART procedure was 21.22 min (range: 18.72–24.90 min). The median follow-up time is 28.0 months. Median event-free survival and overall survival were not reached. EFS rate and OS rate at 3 years were 79.4% and 92.9%.

Conclusion

Online ART for cervical cancer can minimize the dose of OARs and enhance the target volume coverage significantly when compared to IGRT with satisfied survival time.
Hemangiopericytoma following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with primary plasma cell leukemia: the first case report and literature review
Authors: Shi Yajun , Liang Guohao , Zhang Haiying , Wang Yaqing , Han Ying , Tong Shenglian , Liang Shunyu , Wang Ying , Bai Hai , Xi Rui
Published: November 2024

Background

Hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare secondary tumor after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), which has not been reported in the literature. Herein, we reported a case of HPC after allo-HSCT.

Case description

We reported a case of a middle-aged female patient with primary plasma cell leukemia who presented lumbosacral pain and right lower limb pain and numbness on1684 days post-transplant. She underwent an MRI of the lumbar spine, which showed abnormal signal intensity in the spinal canal at the second through fifth lumbar spine vertebral levels. The patient was diagnosed with HPC based on a pathological biopsy of the diseased tissue in the spinal canal. Radiotherapy was administered to the lesion in the second through fifth lumbar vertebrae. The patient experienced less numbness and pain.

Conclusion

According to the literature, this is the first reported case of post-transplant HPC. Therefore, attention should be paid to secondary tumors after transplantation, especially rare tumors.
Guiding adjuvant radiotherapy in stage III endometrial cancer: a prognostic model based on SEER
Authors: Li Chunmei , Han Zheshen , Chen Linlin , Du Gajincuo , Cai Rong
Published: November 2024

Background

The effect of overall survival (OS) with adjuvant radiotherapy in stage III endometrial cancer (EC) remains controversial, and the adverse invents were unignorable.

Methods

A total of 4,064 stage III EC patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy post-operatively were selected from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Independent risk factors were identified through Cox regression models. A nomogram was developed accordingly to predict OS. The concordance index (C-index), calibration, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to assess the model. Patients were divided into the low- and high-risk groups based on the optimal risk cutoff. Stratified analysis was conducted by radiation in both groups, and interactions between radiation and the risk groups were conducted to explore if any benefit less from adjuvant radiotherapy.

Results

A total of five candidate factors were identified from the model showing good calibration and consistency discriminative power in the training (C-index: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.70–0.75), testing (C-index: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.69–0.77), and external validation cohorts (C-index: 0.88, 95% CI, 0.78–0.97). Patients were categorized into the low- and high-risk groups based on the optimal risk cutoff of 2.1048630. The women in the high-risk group experience significantly less (42% vs. 63% reduction) or none (0 vs. 63%) benefit (p-interaction = 0.049 vs. 0.016 in training and testing cohorts, respectively).

Conclusion

A nomogram incorporating five variables was established to predict OS in stage III EC patients with adjuvant chemotherapy. The high-risk groups benefit less or none from adjuvant radiotherapy, which may serve as a useful reference for better guidance of radiotherapy in stage III EC patients.
Effectiveness analysis of a pharmacist-led intervention for orthopedic perioperative use of antibiotics: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wu Danwei , Li Yingxu , Zhen Jiancun , Wu Yong , Ren Shuang , Zhao Yuan , Sun Ning , Lin Xuanzi , Lai Liangpeng , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2024

Background

Following the Chinese guidelines’ recommendation to completely cancel routine cephalosporin skin tests, the choice of cephalosporin as surgical prophylactic medication was affected. This was due to the limited cognition of the predictive value of cephalosporin skin test or the desire to avoid medical disputes. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate whether the pharmacist-led perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis model could improve clinicians’ medical behavior in choosing cephalosporin antibiotics for surgical prophylaxis.

Methods

From July 2021 to May 2022, a retrospective analysis was conducted on the selection of surgical preventive medication, skin test, postoperative infection and adverse drug reactions in foot and ankle surgery. The study was divided into three period: the rountine cephalosporin skin test period (Period I: Skin Test), the period when the routine cephalosporin skin test was cancelled but the pharmacist did not intervene (Period II: Cancel Skin Test), and the period when the pharmacist-led perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was implemented after the cancellation of the cephalosporin skin test (Period III: Pharmacist Intervention).

Results

A total of 1,583 patients were enrolled in this study. There was no significant difference in the utilization rate of cefuroxime between the routine skin test stage and the skin test cancelled stage [74.92% (Period I) vs. 74.54% (Period II), P > 0.05]. However, in the pharmacist intervention stage, the usage rate of cefuroxime significantly increased compared to the initial stage when the skin test was cancelled [87.07% (Period III) vs. 74.54% (Period II), P < 0.05]. The use of cephalosporins also increased in patients with self-reported beta-lactam allergies between these stages [41.94% (Period III) vs. 3.22% (Period II), P < 0.05)]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative infection and adverse drug reactions among the three periods.

Conclusion

The pharmacist-led perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis model can significantly improve the medical behavior of clinicians in choosing cephalosporin antibiotics as surgical prophylactic medication and optimize the perioperative medication plan.
Repurposed drugs as histone deacetylase 8 inhibitors: Implications in cancer and neuropathological conditions
Authors: Alrouji Mohammed , Venkatesan Kumar , Alshammari Mohammed S. , Alhumaydhi Fahad A. , Shafi Sheeba , Sharaf Sharaf E. , Shahwan Moyad , Shamsi Anas
Published: November 2024

Histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) is a member of class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) that catalyzes the deacetylation of both histone and non-histone proteins. Dysregulation and overexpression of HDAC8 are implicated in the development of various complex diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. HDAC8 plays a significant role in cancer progression, contributing to cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, immune evasion, and drug resistance. The available HDAC8-targeting inhibitors suffer from poor target engagement and low tolerability, and demonstrate off-target toxicity due to limited selectivity, leading to adverse effects in patients, and thus urging for the identification and development of new molecules. Drug repurposing is a useful strategy for identifying useful drugs for predefined targets which can be exploited here for identifying promising drug molecules against HDAC8. This study involved an integrated virtual screening against HDAC8 using the DrugBank database to identify repurposed drugs capable of inhibiting HDAC8 activity. The process started by selecting the top 10 drug molecules based on their binding affinity. The drug profiling and biological function of selected molecules were then evaluated, showing anti-cancer and anti-neurological properties with a high probability of being active. Interaction analysis revealed crucial binding of radotinib and sertindole molecules with the HDAC8 protein. Both molecules showed higher binding affinity than reference inhibitor droxinostat. The elucidated molecules were further evaluated for 500 ns long-run molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with HDAC8. Structural deviation, compactness, folding behavior, hydrogen bonds analysis, and secondary structure content profiling revealed complex stability formed by HDAC8 and the selected compounds. Principal component analysis and Gibbs free energy calculations strongly recommend that both complexes were highly stable during the simulation. Overall, the results indicate that radotinib and sertindole can be promising candidates as HDAC8-targeting repurposed drugs against cancer and neuropathological conditions.
Animal study on factors influencing anterograde renal pelvis perfusion manometry
Authors: Liu Xin , Li Xing , Liao Limin
Published: November 2024

Objects

Anterograde renal pelvis perfusion manometry is an effective method to assist in the diagnosis of upper urinary tract obstruction.

Methods

To established a rat model of partial ureteral obstruction to explore the perfusion rate, renal pelvis volume, obstruction sites, contralateral upper urinary tract, and lower urinary tract functions, which may affect anterograde renal pelvis perfusion manometry. To measure the renal pelvis volume using ultrasound. Depending on whether clamped the contralateral ureter and it continuously emptied the bladder, perfused the renal pelvis at rate of 15, 30, 60, 90, or 120 mL/h to measure the pressure synchronously.

Results

The research showed the renal pelvis volume of UPJ and UVJ at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks respectively, significantly increased compared with the control group. Comparison of the renal pelvis volume between the UPJ and UVJ groups was not statistically significant. The renal pelvis pressure of UPJ and UVJ was significantly increased compared with the control group, and the UVJ group was greater than the UPJ group. The renal pelvic pressure increased as the perfusion rate increased. Comparing the renal pelvis pressure measured using synchronous bladder emptying with the renal pelvis pressure measured singly, the difference was statistically significant. Comparing the renal pelvis pressure measured using synchronous bladder emptying with measured with a clamped contralateral ureter, the difference was not statistically significant; however, in some groups, the difference was statistically significant. Measuring the renal pelvis pressure singly and clamping the contralateral ureter, the difference was not statistically significant, except in some groups, the difference was significant.

Conclusion

The study suggested that ureter obstruction sites, perfusion rates, renal pelvis volumes, and synchronous bladder emptying affects the renal pelvis pressure. The function of the contralateral upper urinary tract did not affect renal pelvis pressure in the short term.
Gender differences in perceptions of leadership and their influence on motivation among faculty members of Taif University
Authors: Alharthi Fawziah B.
Published: November 2024

This study investigates gender differences in perceptions of leadership styles and their impact on faculty motivation at Taif University, Saudi Arabia, within the context of Islamic higher education. Utilizing a quantitative research method approach, the researcher gathered survey responses from 74 faculty members at Taif University. The investigation focused on three main areas: the significant gender differences in perceptions of leadership styles among faculty members at Taif University; the tendency of female faculty members to perceive transformational leadership styles more positively than their male counterparts; and the more favorable response of male faculty members to transactional leadership styles compared to female faculty members. The results of this study revealed significant gender differences, with female faculty members showing a preference for transformational leadership, while male faculty members responded more positively to transactional leadership. By adopting these findings, leaders at Taif University can participate positively on faculty members' motivation. In addition to that leadership practices can move toward sustainability, ensuring the continuous development of faculty, students, and resources. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of gender-based perceptions of leadership in an Islamic higher education setting and offer strategies for enhancing faculty motivation through tailored leadership approaches.
The ethical aspects of integrating sentiment and emotion analysis in chatbots for depression intervention
Authors: Denecke Kerstin , Gabarron Elia
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Digital health interventions specifically those realized as chatbots are increasingly available for mental health. They include technologies based on artificial intelligence that assess user’s sentiment and emotions for the purpose of responding in an empathetic way, or for treatment purposes, e.g. for analyzing the expressed emotions and suggesting interventions.

Methods

In this paper, we study the ethical dimensions of integrating these technologies in chatbots for depression intervention using the digital ethics canvas and the DTx Risk Assessment Canvas.

Results

As result, we identified some specific risks associated with the integration of sentiment and emotion analysis methods into these systems related to the difficulty to recognize correctly the expressed sentiment or emotion from statements of individuals with depressive symptoms and the appropriate system reaction including risk detection. Depending on the realization of the sentiment or emotion analysis, which might be dictionary-based or machine-learning based, additional risks occur from biased training data or misinterpretations.

Discussion

While technology decisions during system development can be made carefully depending on the use case, other ethical risks cannot be prevented on a technical level, but by carefully integrating such chatbots into the care process allowing for supervision by health professionals. We conclude that a careful reflection is needed when integrating sentiment and emotion analysis into chatbots for depression intervention. Balancing risk factors is key to leveraging technology in mental health in a way that enhances, rather than diminishes, user autonomy and agency.
Comparative analysis of volatility forecasting for healthcare stock indices amid public health crises: a study based on the Bayes-CNN model
Authors: Li Yanguo , Gu Ruitao , Zhao Dezhi
Published: November 2024

In recent years, public health events have significantly impacted various aspects of human production and daily life, particularly in the domains of disease transmission and economic stability. While many scholars have primarily focused on the influence of public health events from the perspective of disease prevention and control, research examining their economic implications, especially regarding public health indices in the securities market, remains relatively scarce. Such studies are crucial for ensuring public health safety and stability. This paper employs the Bayesian Convolutional Neural Network (Bayes-CNN) model to predict financial market volatility influenced by public health events and conducts a comparative analysis. To validate the feasibility of this method, the model is used to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the CSI (China Securities Index) Medical Service Index. The results indicate significant differences in the volatility of the CSI Medical Service Index before and after the outbreak, particularly during the pandemic period. This study also enhances the validity and reliability of its conclusions by incorporating European data and employing the GARCH model. Relevant institutions and individual investors should adopt different regulatory and investment strategies based on the specifics of various public health events to prevent the outbreak of systemic financial risks that could affect social stability. This paper offers a new perspective and methodology for predicting financial market volatility under the influence of public health events, providing valuable insights for investors and decision-makers to better understand and respond to the potential impacts of such events on financial markets.
SkyMap: a generative graph model for GNN benchmarking
Authors: Wassington Axel , Higueras Raúl , Abadal Sergi
Published: November 2024

Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have gained considerable attention in recent years. Despite the surge in innovative GNN architecture designs, research heavily relies on the same 5-10 benchmark datasets for validation. To address this limitation, several generative graph models like ALBTER or GenCAT have emerged, aiming to fix this problem with synthetic graph datasets. However, these models often struggle to mirror the GNN performance of the original graphs. In this work, we present SkyMap, a generative model for labeled attributed graphs with a fine-grained control over graph topology and feature distribution parameters. We show that our model is able to consistently replicate the learnability of graphs on graph convolutional, attention, and isomorphism networks better (64% lower Wasserstein distance) than ALBTER and GenCAT. Further, we prove that by randomly sampling the input parameters of SkyMap, graph dataset constellations can be created that cover a large parametric space, hence making a significant stride in crafting synthetic datasets tailored for GNN evaluation and benchmarking, as we illustrate through a performance comparison between a GNN and a multilayer perceptron.
Building psychological resilience to defend sovereignty: theoretical insights for Mongolia
Authors: Houck Shannon C.
Published: November 2024

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's escalatory threats to use military force to annex Taiwan underscore the importance of resilience building in smaller nations vulnerable to expansionist powers. Despite a renewed focus among scholars and practitioners on building resilient societies, there is a gap in our current understanding of the psychological resilience a populace needs to defend and strengthen sovereignty. To help fill this gap, this article focuses on social and organizational psychology theory and research to explore (a) individual psychological motivations and (b) individual and societal capabilities that can strengthen national resilience before, during, and after a crisis (namely invasion). As a framework I use Significance Quest Theory, one of the foremost social psychological theories that synthesizes previous research on motivation. I use Mongolia, an economically and militarily smaller democratic nation bounded by authoritarian Russia and China, as a case example and incorporate quantitative survey data from Mongolians using the World Values Survey database. This paper provides a conceptual foundation of psychological resilience that future research can build upon and later integrate with other social science disciplines to further refine our understanding of how smaller nations can preserve sovereignty in the face of pressures from stronger powers.
Motives and constraints to bike tourism in Greece: “the Go-bike” project
Authors: Ntovoli Apostolia , Karagiorgos Thomas , Myrovali Glykeria , Anoyrkati Eleni , Papadopoulou Sousana , Tamiakis Iason , Alexandris Kostas
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Bike tourism is one of the fast-developing alternative forms of tourism since it can satisfy the main pillars of sustainability (economic, social, and environmental). The current study is part of a larger funded project (GoBike) and aims to profile bike tourists in Greece, examine the motives and constraints to tourism participation, and show the value of using technology as a means of promoting bike tourism.

Methods

The data was collected through a quantitative study, with one hundred and five individuals who had experience with bike tourism activities, with the use of an online questionnaire. Items were used to measure socio-demographics, motives, constraints, involvement, and attitudes toward a smartphone application.

Results

The results indicated that “Nature”, “Health”, “Bike eco-friendly place” and “Interesting places” were the most important motives. On the other hand, the lack of “Guides”, “Appropriate Routes” “Bike tourism Programs” and “Limited Information” were reported as the most important barriers. The bikers reported that technology can facilitate their decision to do bike tourism activities.

Discussion

A smartphone application should include several attributes the most important of which are the “Elevation difference”, the “warnings of obstacles/risks”, “the level of difficulty”, “the bike distance” and the “condition of the routes”.
Coupling Carbon Dioxide and Cyclohexane Oxide Using Metal-Free Catalyst with Tunable Selectivity of Product Under Mild Conditions
Authors: Ma Xuesuo , Pan Weiqing
Published: November 2024

This study introduces a metal-free binary catalytic system for coupling CO2 with cyclohexane oxide (CHO) under mild conditions, allowing for tunable product selectivity. Using trans-cyclohexane diol (trans-CHD) and phosphazene superbase (P4) as catalysts, the system selectively produces cyclic carbonates and oligocarbonates at 1 bar CO2 pressure and 80 °C. By adjusting the catalyst ratio, varying proportions of cis-cyclohexane carbonate (cis-CHC), trans-cyclohexane carbonate (trans-CHC), and oligocarbonate are achieved, with 51 mol% CHO conversion and respective selectivities of 36%, 31%, and 33%. The catalytic efficiency and precise control of product outcomes underscore this system’s potential.
Meningococcal infection
Authors:   Infectious Diseases Hospital No. 4, Ufa, Korobka Y. I.
Published: November 2024

The article provides a brief description of the prevalence of meningococcal infection in our country and abroad. The basics of the classification of Neisseria meningitidis are outlined, in particular, the division into serogroups, serotypes, and serosubtypes. The pathogenicity factors of meningococcus (capsular polysaccharides, lipopolysaccharide, outer membrane proteins) are considered in detail. Particular attention is paid to the problems of carriage of meningococcus and the problems of transition of the pathogen from forms characteristic of carriage to forms characteristic of an active infectious process. Much attention is paid to the role of biofilms in the colonization of the host’s nasopharynx. The dependence of the epidemic profile of the incidence of meningitis of meningococcal etiology on the state of the immune status of the population is shown.
Bronchial obstruction in patients during COVID-19 and as a manifestation of post-COVID syndrome
Authors:   FSBEI HE Volgograd State Medical University, Skvortsov V. V. , Khadashev Y. A. ,   FSBEI HE Volgograd State Medical University, Mazlova M. S. ,   FSBEI HE Volgograd State Medical University, Skvortsova E. M. ,   FSBEI HE Volgograd State Medical University, Akulova E. A. ,   FSBEI HE Volgograd State Medical University
Published: November 2024

СOVID-19, the novel coronavirus infection, is a severe acute respiratory infection caused by a virus of the Coronaviridae family, with more than 45 species today. The first manifestations of respiratory disorders were identified back in 1965. As a rule, the main route of infection is airborne. Since the declaration of the pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease in 2019, the world continues to face not only its devastating impact on morbidity and mortality, but also global socioeconomic consequences, particularly respiratory complications. The most significant one is the development of bronchial obstruction in the post-COVID period. This article talks about COVID-19 and the post-Covid period in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma, touches on the etiopathogenetic aspects of the development of bronchial obstruction, and discusses the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these conditions.
Spinal cord compression secondary to metastatic invasion of breast phyllodes tumour
Authors: Moreno Cavanzo Julian David , Alvarado Riascos Juan Felipe , Agudelo Lorena García , Navarro Laura Carolina
Published: November 2024

Spinal cord compression syndrome is one of the most frequent oncologic emergencies, in which early diagnosis and treatment are key factors to prevent severe and irreversible neurological damage. It is estimated to have a prevalence of 3.4% in oncologic patients and is a source of significant morbidity in cancer patients.
Spinal cord infiltration with hematogenous dissemination is the most common cause of spinal cord compression. In the present case, we present a clinical case of spinal cord compression syndrome secondary to a phyllodes tumour of the breast who was admitted to the emergency for lumbar pain with red flags and who suffered a spinal cord infarction with irreversible sequelae and poor prognosis.
A comparison of subperiosteal vs subdural drainage in the treatment of chronic subdural haemorrhage
Authors: Gupta Sajag
Published: November 2024

Introduction. Symptomatic chronic subdural haemorrhages (CSDH) continue to be one of the most common diagnoses in modern neurosurgery. The current standard procedure for symptomatic CSDH is a burr-hole craniostomy with irrigation and the installation of close-system drainage. The purpose of this study is to conduct a direct comparison of two surgical procedures for the treatment of symptomatic CSDH that are effective in prior studies. Our main goal was to compare the efficacy of placing a subperiosteal drain (SPD) and a subdural drain (SDD) after a single burr-hole craniostomy and irrigation and to show any significant differences in terms of overall surgical complications, functional outcome and mortality rate at three months, and complications at six months.
Materials and methods. From August 2022 to December 2023, the study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery at a tertiary care centre, with a total of 25 patients in both treatment groups.
Results. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of patient general characteristics, pre-and post-operative symptoms, Markwalder grades, postoperative hematoma volume and recurrence, mortality, and functional outcome at discharge and at three months follow-up. Despite not reaching statistical significance, we found a decreased risk of surgical complications, particularly post-operative cerebral haemorrhage, with SPD system implementation.
Conclusions. According to our findings, both therapy modalities are extremely successful in the treatment of CSDH. therapy with a single burr-hole craniostomy, irrigation, and implantation of the SPD system, on the other hand, has a reduced overall surgical complication rate and can be regarded as a therapy of choice for the management of symptomatic CSDH.
Assessment of visual function in patients with posterior fossa tumours
Authors: Jindal Raghav , Bijarniya Vijendra , Purohit Mayank , Sharma Vinod , Chopra Sanjeev , Gupta Ashok
Published: November 2024

Introduction. Posterior fossa tumours (PFTs) frequently present with ophthalmic complaints. The literature is mainly focused on PFTs affecting the pediatric age group, and the post-treatment visual outcomes (VOs) are scarcely reported.
Objective. To evaluate the VOs at 6 months following the index surgery in patients with PFTs.
Materials and methods. This retrospective study involved 50 patients of all age groups who underwent surgical resection of PFTs in the Department of Neurosurgery. The patients with PFTs, except those with low-grade tumours, received concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. Pre- and postoperative (6 months after the index surgery) ophthalmic examinations were done and compared. VOs included colour vision, night vision, visual acuity (VA), pupillary function (size, reactivity), papilledema grade, splinter haemorrhage, retinal venous dilatation, strabismus (esotropia and hypertropia), and nystagmus.
Results. The patients were mainly aged 1–10 years (22%) with slight female predominance (52%). The most common PFTs were brainstem glioma and pilocytic astrocytoma (each 18%). At 6 months, there was no significant change in colour and night vision, pupil size and reactivity, splinter haemorrhage, and hypertropia (all p-values>0.05). A significantly lesser proportion of patients had moderate VA (p-value=0.013), retinal venous dilatation (p-value=0.001), and grade 1 (p-value=0.005) as well as grade 4 papilledema (p-value=0.041). Moreover, a significantly greater proportion of patients had grade 0 papilledema (p-value<0.0001). While the incidence of nystagmus and esotropia increased significantly (both p-values<0.0001).
Conclusion. At 6 months, the majority of the patients had good VOs, including significant improvement in moderate VA, papilledema, and retinal venous dilatation. While nystagmus and esotropia increased significantly.
TIPS AND TRICKS IN SURGICAL TREATMENT OF LARGE VESTIBULAR SCHWANNOMAS
Authors: Balasa Adrian
Published: November 2024

Vestibular schwannomas (VS) frequently referred to as acoustic neuromas are the most common tumours of the cerebellopontine angle. They are benign, generally slow-growing tumors that arise from the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve. For patients with large vestibular schwannomas or those exhibiting symptoms from the tumor’s mass effect, surgical intervention remains the preferred treatment approach.
 
This paper discusses the surgical management of patients with large vestibular schwannomas operated in our department and emphasizes the use of intraoperative monitoring for preserving facial nerve function. We review the key surgical steps and highlight the importance of preoperative planning, patient position, and the use of microsurgical techniques to optimize the surgical outcome.
 
Gross total resection of large vestibular schwannomas is associated with worse facial nerve outcomes. Our preferred treatment strategy, especially for older patients, is planned subtotal resection followed by periodic imaging evaluation and radiotherapy in cases of documented tumor growth. This approach may lead to superior facial nerve preservation and improved quality of life for individuals with large vestibular schwannomas.
 
Conclusion
The optimal treatment approach for vestibular schwannoma remains a subject of debate. Gross total resection has traditionally been the gold standard for large tumors, but this is often accompanied by a higher risk of postoperative facial nerve dysfunction. Planned subtotal resection with the goal of preserving facial nerve function, followed by closed observation is an alternative approach.