bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early non-response as a predictor of later non-response to antipsychotics in schizophrenia: a randomized trial
Authors: Long Yujun , Wu Qiongqiong , Yang Ye , Cai Jingda , Xiao Jingmei , Liu Zhaoqian , Xu Yifeng , Chen Ying , Huang Manli , Zhang Ruiguo , Xu Xijia , Hu Jian , Liu Zhifen , Liu Fang , Zheng Yingjun , Meng Huaqing , Wang Zhimin , Tang Yanqing , Song Xueqin , Chen Yunchun , Wang Xueyi , Liu Tiebang , Wu Xiaoli , Fang Maosheng , Wan Chunling , Zhao Jingping , Wu Renrong
Published: July 2023

Background

It remains a challenge to predict the long-term response to antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia who do not respond at an early stage. This study aimed to investigate the optimal predictive cut-off value for early non-response that would better predict later non-response to antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods

This multicenter, 8-week, open-label, randomized trial was conducted at 19 psychiatric centers throughout China. All enrolled participants were assigned to olanzapine, risperidone, amisulpride, or aripiprazole monotherapy for 8 weeks. The positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) was evaluated at baseline, week 2, week 4, and week 8. The main outcome was the prediction of nonresponse. Nonresponse is defined as a < 20% reduction in the total scores of PANSS from baseline to endpoint. Severity ratings of mild, moderate, and severe illness corresponded to baseline PANSS total scores of 58, 75, and 95, respectively.

Results

At week 2, a reduction of < 5% in the PANSS total score showed the highest total accuracy in the severe and mild schizophrenia patients (total accuracy, 75.0% and 80.8%, respectively), and patients who were treated with the risperidone and amisulpride groups (total accuracy, 82.4%, and 78.2%, respectively). A 10% decrease exhibited the best overall accuracy in the moderate schizophrenia patients (total accuracy, 84.0%), olanzapine (total accuracy, 79.2%), and aripiprazole group (total accuracy, 77.4%). At week 4, the best predictive cut-off value was < 20%, regardless of the antipsychotic or severity of illness (total accuracy ranging from 89.8 to 92.1%).

Conclusions

Symptom reduction at week 2 has acceptable discrimination in predicting later non-response to antipsychotics in schizophrenia, and a more accurate predictive cut-off value should be determined according to the medication regimen and baseline illness severity. The response to treatment during the next 2 weeks after week 2 could be further assessed to determine whether there is a need to change antipsychotic medication during the first four weeks.

Trial registration

This study was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03451734).
Cell-growth phase-dependent promoter replacement approach for improved poly(lactate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) production in Escherichia coli
Authors: Nagao Yuki , Koh Sangho , Taguchi Seiichi , Shimada Tomohiro
Published: July 2023

Escherichia coli is a useful platform for producing valuable materials through the implementation of synthetic gene(s) derived from other organisms. The production of lactate (LA)-based polyester poly[LA-co-3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB)] was carried out in E. coli using a set of five other species-derived genes: Pseudomonas sp. 61-3-derived phaC1STQK (for polymerization), Cupriavidus necator-derived phaAB (for 3HB-CoA generation), and Megasphaera elsdenii-derived pct (for LA-CoA generation) cloned into pTV118NpctphaC1ps(ST/QK)AB. Here, we aimed to optimize the expression level and timing of these genes to improve the production of P(LA-co-3HB) and to manipulate the LA fraction by replacing the promoters with various promoters in E. coli. Evaluation of the effects of 21 promoter replacement plasmids revealed that the phaC1STQK-AB operon is critical for the stationary phase for P(LA-co-3HB) production. Interestingly, the effects of the promoters depended on the composition of the medium. In glucose-supplemented LB medium, the dps promoter replacement plasmid resulted in the greatest effect, increasing the accumulation to 8.8 g/L and an LA fraction of 14.1 mol% of P(LA-co-3HB), compared to 2.7 g/L and 8.1 mol% with the original plasmid. In xylose-supplemented LB medium, the yliH promoter replacement plasmid resulted in the greatest effect, with production of 5.6 g/L and an LA fraction of 40.2 mol% compared to 3.6 g/L and 22.6 mol% with the original plasmid. These results suggest that the selection of an appropriate promoter for expression of the phaC1STQK-AB operon could improve the production and LA fraction of P(LA-co-3HB). Here, we propose that the selection of cell-growth phase-dependent promoters is a versatile biotechnological strategy for effective intracellular production of polymeric materials such as P(LA-co-3HB), in combination with the selection of sugar-based carbon sources.
Integrative analysis of the ST6GALNAC family identifies GATA2-upregulated ST6GALNAC5 as an adverse prognostic biomarker promoting prostate cancer cell invasion
Authors: Li Meiqian , Ma Zhihui , Zhang Yuqing , Feng Hanyi , Li Yang , Sang Weicong , Zhu Rujian , Huang Ruimin , Yan Jun
Published: July 2023

Background

ST6GALNAC family members function as sialyltransferases and have been implicated in cancer progression. However, their aberrant expression levels, prognostic values and specific roles in metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) remain largely unclear.

Methods

Two independent public datasets (TCGA-PRAD and GSE21032), containing 648 PCa samples in total, were employed to comprehensively examine the mRNA expression changes of ST6GALNAC family members in PCa, as well as their associations with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. The dysregulation of ST6GALNAC5 was further validated in a mouse PCa model and human PCa samples from our cohort (n = 64) by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and drug sensitivity analyses were performed to enrich the biological processes most related to ST6GALNAC5. Sulforhodamine B, transwell, luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were used to examine the PCa cell proliferation, invasion and transcriptional regulation, respectively.

Results

Systematical investigation of six ST6GALNAC family members in public datasets revealed that ST6GALNAC5 was the only gene consistently and significantly upregulated in metastatic PCa, and ST6GALNAC5 overexpression was also positively associated with Gleason score and predicted poor prognosis in PCa patients. IHC results showed that (1) ST6GALNAC5 protein expression was increased in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and further elevated in PCa from a PbCre;PtenF/F mouse model; (2) overexpressed ST6GALNAC5 protein was confirmed in human PCa samples comparing with benign prostatic hyperplasia samples from our cohort (p < 0.001); (3) ST6GALNAC5 overexpression was significantly correlated with perineural invasion of PCa. Moreover, we first found transcription factor GATA2 positively and directly regulated ST6GALNAC5 expression at transcriptional level. ST6GALNAC5 overexpression could partially reverse GATA2-depletion-induced inhibition of PCa cell invasion. The GATA2-ST6GALNAC5 signature exhibited better prediction on the poor prognosis in PCa patients than GATA2 or ST6GALNAC5 alone.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that GATA2-upregulated ST6GALNAC5 might serve as an adverse prognostic biomarker promoting prostate cancer cell invasion.
Quasi-dendritic sulfonate-based organic small molecule for high-quality NIR-II bone-targeted imaging
Authors: Chen Pengfei , Qu Fan , He Liuliang , Li Mingfei , Sun Pengfei , Fan Quli , Zhang Chi , Li Daifeng
Published: July 2023

The visualization of bone imaging in vivo is of great significance for the understanding of some bone-related diseases or physiological processes. Herein, a bone-targeted NIR-II small molecule (TTQF-SO3), which was modified with multiple sulfonate groups, was successfully fabricated for the second near-infrared (NIR-II) bone imaging. In vitro studies revealed that TTQF-SO3 showed high affinity for hydroxyapatite and excellent macrophage accumulation ability. In in vivo assays, TTQF-SO3 displayed high bone uptake ability and high NIR-II bone imaging quality, demonstrating the specific bone-targeting ability of the sulfonate-containing probe. In addition, the noninvasive NIR-II imaging detection in bone calcium loss was successfully verified in osteoporosis mice models. Moreover, the negative charge characteristic of TTQF-SO3 showed efficient lymphoid enrichment in living mice by intravenous injection. Overall, these warrant that our TTQF-SO3 is an optimal bone-targeted diagnostic agent for high-quality NIR-II imaging, highlighting its potential promise for clinical translation.

Graphical Abstract
Exploring the relationship between North Star Ambulatory Assessment and Health Utilities Index scores in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Audhya Ivana , Rogula Basia , Szabo Shelagh M. , Feeny David , Bolatova Talshyn , Gooch Katherine
Published: July 2023

Background

The North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) documents motor performance in ambulatory individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Health Utilities Index (HUI) scores, reflecting preferences for health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) implications of health states, are commonly estimated within trials. This study sought to characterize the relationship between the NSAA score and utility in DMD.

Methods

Family members serving as proxy respondents for placebo-treated ambulatory individuals with DMD (NCT01254019; BioMarin Pharmaceuticals Inc) completed the HUI and the NSAA (score range, 0–34). Mean change over time on these measures was estimated, and the correlation between changes in NSAA score and a) HUI utility; b) HUI3 ambulation and HUI2 mobility attribute scores, over 48 weeks was calculated.

Results

Baseline mean (range) age was 8.0 years (5–16;n = 61) and mean (standard deviation [SD]) scores were 0.87 (0.13; HUI2), 0.82 (0.19; HUI3), and 21.0 (8.1; NSAA). Mean (SD) change over 48 weeks was –0.05 (0.14; HUI2), –0.06 (0.19; HUI3), and –2.9 (4.7; NSAA). Weak positive correlations were observed between baseline NSAA score and HUI utility (HUI2:r = 0.29; HUI3:r = 0.17) and for change over 48 weeks (HUI2:r = 0.16; HUI3:r = 0.15). Stronger correlations were observed between change in NSAA score and the HUI3 ambulation (r = 0.41) and HUI2 mobility (r = 0.41) attributes.

Conclusions

Among ambulatory individuals with DMD, NSAA score is weakly correlated with HUI utility, suggesting that motor performance alone does not fully explain HRQoL. Stronger relationships were observed between HUI ambulation and mobility attributes, and NSAA. Although unidimensional measures like the NSAA are informative for documenting disease-specific health impacts, they may not correlate well with measures of overall health status; requiring use in conjunction with other patient-reported and preference-based outcomes.
Single-cell transcriptome sequencing–based analysis: probing the mechanisms of glycoprotein NMB regulation of epithelial cells involved in silicosis
Authors: Yang Shaoqi , Sun Yuheng , Long Min , Zhou Xinbei , Yuan Mengqin , Yang Liliang , Luo Wei , Cheng Yusi , Zhang Xinxin , Jiang Wei , Chao Jie
Published: July 2023

Chronic exposure to silica can lead to silicosis, one of the most serious occupational lung diseases worldwide, for which there is a lack of effective therapeutic drugs and tools. Epithelial mesenchymal transition plays an important role in several diseases; however, data on the specific mechanisms in silicosis models are scarce. We elucidated the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis via single-cell transcriptome sequencing and constructed an experimental silicosis mouse model to explore the specific molecular mechanisms affecting epithelial mesenchymal transition at the single-cell level. Notably, as silicosis progressed, glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) exerted a sustained amplification effect on alveolar type II epithelial cells, inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by accelerating cell proliferation and migration and increasing mesenchymal markers, ultimately leading to persistent pulmonary pathological changes. GPNMB participates in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in distant lung epithelial cells by releasing extracellular vesicles to accelerate silicosis. These vesicles are involved in abnormal changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix and collagen structure. Our results suggest that GPNMB is a potential target for fibrosis prevention.
Weighted ASTRID: fast and accurate species trees from weighted internode distances
Authors: Liu Baqiao , Warnow Tandy
Published: July 2023

Background

Species tree estimation is a basic step in many biological research projects, but is complicated by the fact that gene trees can differ from the species tree due to processes such as incomplete lineage sorting (ILS), gene duplication and loss (GDL), and horizontal gene transfer (HGT), which can cause different regions within the genome to have different evolutionary histories (i.e., “gene tree heterogeneity”). One approach to estimating species trees in the presence of gene tree heterogeneity resulting from ILS operates by computing trees on each genomic region (i.e., computing “gene trees”) and then using these gene trees to define a matrix of average internode distances, where the internode distance in a tree T between two species x and y is the number of nodes in T between the leaves corresponding to x and y. Given such a matrix, a tree can then be computed using methods such as neighbor joining. Methods such as ASTRID and NJst (which use this basic approach) are provably statistically consistent, very fast (low degree polynomial time) and have had high accuracy under many conditions that makes them competitive with other popular species tree estimation methods. In this study, inspired by the very recent work of weighted ASTRAL, we present weighted ASTRID, a variant of ASTRID that takes the branch uncertainty on the gene trees into account in the internode distance.

Results

Our experimental study evaluating weighted ASTRID typically shows improvements in accuracy compared to the original (unweighted) ASTRID, and shows competitive accuracy against weighted ASTRAL, the state of the art. Our re-implementation of ASTRID also improves the runtime, with marked improvements on large datasets.

Conclusions

Weighted ASTRID is a new and very fast method for species tree estimation that typically improves upon ASTRID and has comparable accuracy to weighted ASTRAL, while remaining much faster. Weighted ASTRID is available at https://github.com/RuneBlaze/internode.
Analysis of JS-contractions with applications to fractional boundary value problems
Authors: Mehmood Nayyar , Nisar Zubair , Mukheimer Aiman , Abdeljawad Thabet
Published: July 2023

In this article, we modify JS-contractions by weakening the conditions on the function θ, where $\theta : ( 0,\infty ) \rightarrow ( 1,\infty ) $
θ
:
(
0
,
∞
)
→
(
1
,
∞
)
is a strictly increasing function. We prove fixed-point results for obtained contractions. Some examples are given to validate the results and modifications. We use our main theorem to establish the existence results for the solutions of the Atangana–Baleanu–Caputo fractional boundary value problem with integral boundary conditions. We also present a new definition of θ-Ulam stability and find the stability of our fractional boundary value problem.
Population health and sociodemographic variables as predictors of access to cardiac medicine and surgery in Haiti
Authors: Bansal Esha , Patel Krishna , Lacossade Samantha , Gue Bennisoit , Acceme Kessy , Robinson Owen , Kwan Gene F. , Wilentz James R.
Published: July 2023

Background

In Haiti, cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with congenital and rheumatic heart disease comprising a large portion of disease burden. However, domestic disparities in cardiac care access and their impact on clinical outcomes remain poorly understood. We analyzed population-level sociodemographic variables to predict cardiac care outcomes across the 10 Haitian administrative departments.

Methods

This cross-sectional study combined data from a 2016–17 Haitian national survey with aggregate outcomes from the Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) database (n = 1817 patients). Using univariate and multivariable regression analyses, the proportion of HCA patients belonging to each of three clinical categories (active treatment, lost to follow-up, deceased preoperatively) was modeled in relation to six population-level variables selected from national survey data at the level of the administrative department.

Results

In univariate analysis, higher department rates of childhood growth retardation were associated with a lower proportion of patients in active care (OR = 0.979 [0.969, 0.989], p = 0.002) and a higher proportion of patients lost to follow-up (OR = 1.016 [1.006, 1.026], p = 0.009). In multivariable analysis, the proportion of department patients in active care was inversely associated with qualified prenatal care (OR = 0.980 [0.971, 0.989], p = 0.005), and child growth retardation (OR = 0.977 [0.972, 0.983]), p = 0.00019). Similar multivariable results were obtained for department rates of loss to follow-up (child growth retardation: OR = 1.018 [1.011, 1.025], p = 0.002; time to nearest healthcare facility in an emergency: OR = 1.004 [1.000, 1.008, p = 0.065) and for preoperative mortality (prenatal care: OR = 0.989 [0.981, 0.997], p = 0.037; economic index: OR = 0.996 [0.995, 0.998], p = 0.007; time to nearest healthcare facility in an emergency: OR = 0.992 [0.988, 0.996], p = 0.0046).

Conclusions

Population-level survey data on multiple variables predicted domestic disparities in HCA clinical outcomes by region. These findings may help to identify underserved areas in Haiti, where increased cardiac care resources are required to improve health equity. This approach to analyzing clinical outcomes through the lens of population-level survey data may inform future health policies and interventions designed to increase cardiac care access in Haiti and other low-income countries.
An evaluation of basal metabolic rate among healthy individuals — a cross-sectional study
Authors: Verma Natasha , Kumar S. Senthil , Suresh Anjali
Published: July 2023

Background

The main source of daily energy requirement in Asian societies is basal metabolic rate (BMR). Even though the reason for this fluctuation is debatable, prior research have shown that BMR is highly varied in individuals. All studies concur that variation in fat-free mass (FFM) is important, although the effects of fat mass (FM), age, sex, and the hormones leptin, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) are still unknown.

Objective

The main objectives of the study are as follows:

• To evaluate the basal metabolic rate among healthy individuals

• To identify the risk factors on basal metabolic rate among healthy individuals

Methodology

In total, 50 individuals were consecutively enrolled in the study during the entrepreneurship studio on 29th June 2022 held at Garden City University (GCU). The inclusion criteria were age between 18 and 50 years, both males and females, students and professors of GCU, and healthy individuals. The exclusion criteria were subjects who had overt metabolic and/or endocrine diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypertension, amenorrhea) and those taking any drug known to influence energy metabolism. The convenient samples of 50 subjects were taken from this study.

Outcome measures

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body mass index (BMI).

Results

The demographic data, height, weight, BMI, and BMR were recorded. The mean and standard deviation of age are 25.81 ± 8.71 and 23.95 ± 6.67 of males and females, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of height are 1.68 ± 0.68 and 1.63 ± 0.07, respectively. The mean and standard deviation for weight are 63.8 ± 11.49 and 54.86 ± 10.43, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of BMI are males and females which are 22.3 ± 3.22 and 20.47 ± 3.62, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of BMR are males and females which are 1552.41 ± 127.3 and 1327.7 ± 147.9.

Conclusion

The energy used up while lying still at rest and being awake during the nocturnal postabsorptive state is known as the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The values can be used as a reference for comparison with the normative values, and cardiorespiratory endurance training can be included in the rehabilitation program.
On lines of constant polarisation in structured light beams
Authors: Barnett S. M. , Speirits F. C. , Götte J. B.
Published: July 2023

We show that skyrmion field lines, constructed from the local Stokes parameters, trace out lines of constant optical polarisation.
Ambient PM2.5 Components Are Associated With Bone Strength: Evidence From a China Multi-Ethnic Study
Authors: Yan Hongyu , Tang Wenge , Wang Lele , Huang Shourui , Lin Hualiang , Gu Lingxi , He Congyuan , Dai Yingxue , Yang La , Pengcuo Ciren , Qin Zixiu , Meng Qiong , Guo Bing , Zhao Xing
Published: July 2023

Context

The relationship between the components of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 or less (PM2.5) and bone strength remains unclear.

Objective

Based on a large-scale epidemiologic survey, we investigated the individual and combined associations of PM2.5 and its components with bone strength.

Methods

A total of 65 906 individuals aged 30 to 79 years were derived from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort Annual average concentrations of PM2.5 and its components were estimated using satellite remote sensing and chemical transport models. Bone strength was expressed by the calcaneus quantitative ultrasound index (QUI) measured by quantitative ultrasound. The logistic regression model and weighted quantile sum method were used to estimate the associations of single and joint exposure to PM2.5 and its components with QUI, respectively.

Results

Our analysis shows that per-SD increase (μg/m3) in 3-year average concentrations of PM2.5 (mean difference [MD] −7.38; 95% CI, −8.35 to −6.41), black carbon (−7.91; −8.90 to −6.92), ammonium (−8.35; −9.37 to −7.34), nitrate (−8.73; −9.80 to −7.66), organic matter (−4.70; −5.77 to −3.64), and soil particles (−5.12; −6.10 to −4.15) were negatively associated with QUI. In addition, these associations were more pronounced in men, and people older than 65 years with a history of smoking and chronic alcohol consumption.

Conclusion

We found that long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its components may lead to reduced bone strength, suggesting that PM2.5 and its components may potentially increase the risk of osteoporosis and even fracture. Nitrate may be responsible for increasing its risk to a greater extent.
Signs of a Glucose- and Insulin-Independent Gut-Bone Axis and Aberrant Bone Homeostasis in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Hartmann Bolette , Longo Miriam , Mathiesen David S , Hare Kristine J , Jørgensen Niklas R , Esposito Katherine , Deacon Carolyn F , Vilsbøll Tina , Holst Jens J , Knop Filip K
Published: July 2023

Context

Gut hormones seem to play an important role in postprandial bone turnover, which also may be affected by postprandial plasma glucose excursions and insulin secretion.

Objective

To investigate the effect of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and an isoglycemic intravenous glucose infusion (IIGI) on bone resorption and formation markers in individuals with type 1 diabetes and healthy controls.

Methods

This observational case-control study, conducted at the Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark, included 9 individuals with C-peptide negative type 1 diabetes and 8 healthy controls matched for gender, age, and body mass index. Subjects underwent an OGTT and a subsequent IIGI. We analyzed changes in bone resorption assessed by measurements of carboxy-terminal type I collagen crosslinks (CTX) and in bone formation as assessed by procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP) concentrations.

Results

Baseline CTX and PINP levels were similar in the 2 groups. Both groups exhibited significantly greater suppression of CTX during OGTT than IIGI. PINP levels were unaffected by OGTT and IIGI, respectively, in healthy controls. Participants with type 1 diabetes displayed impaired suppression of CTX-assessed bone resorption and inappropriate suppression of PINP-assessed bone formation during OGTT.

Conclusion

Our data suggest the existence of a gut-bone axis reducing bone resorption in response to oral glucose independently of plasma glucose excursions and insulin secretion. Subjects with type 1 diabetes showed impaired suppression of bone resorption and reduced bone formation during OGTT, which may allude to the reduced bone mineral density and increased fracture risk characterizing these individuals.
An epidemiological study of oral tobacco use amongst urban slum inhabitants in a town from central urban India
Authors: Kuruwanshi Sulochana , Joshi Abhishek
Published: July 2023

Background: Smokeless tobacco users receive levels of nicotine known to be addictive, and clinical symptoms of dependency and withdrawal for smokeless tobacco are identical to those for cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco usage patterns share significant parallels with patterns of use of other addictive drugs. Because everyone spits after using oral tobacco, there are more persons who spit in public due toits use. Use of smokeless tobacco during pregnancy increases the chance of low-birth-weight babies by two to three times and is linked to stillbirths. Other negative health implications of smokeless tobacco use include dental decay, gum recession, high blood pressure, oral sub-mucous fibrosis (OSF), a crippling disorder, and mouth and food pipe malignancies. This warrants the study of patterns of oral tobacco use and its determinants in urban slum areas.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and patterns of oral tobacco use and assess the motivating and demotivating factors associated with it amongst urban slum inhabitants.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study will be conducted in the urban field practice area of a tertiary care hospital. A semi-structured questionnaire assessing the socio-demographic profile, prevalence and pattern associated factors for oral tobacco use among the study participants will be implemented.

Study implications: This study will help to determine the prevalence and pattern of oral tobacco use, as well as the motivating and demotivating factors that contribute to oral tobacco use. Insights gained shall be useful to implement focussed prevention strategies.
Effect of low-intensity plyometrics and eccentric training programs on pain, strength and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized control trial protocol
Authors: Somaiya Kamya , Samal Subrat
Published: July 2023

Meniscus degeneration, synovial inflammation, subchondral bone changes, and cartilage loss serve as the best indicators of osteoarthritis (OA). The most prevalent type of joint conditions, OA, impairs mobility, lowers quality of life, and limits participation in social activities. Although pain is the primary concern for the majority of patients, clinical symptoms also include joint stiffness, discomfort, and dysfunction. There is enough data to draw the conclusion that physiotherapy treatments can reduce knee OA patients’ pain and enhance their functional capabilities. Two treatment methods that are particularly effective and advantageous for people with knee OA are plyometrics and eccentric training programmes. Our study will compare the impact of eccentric training programmes and low-intensity plyometric training programmed on pain, strength, and function in patients with Grade 1 and Grade 2 knee OA. In this study, the following outcome measures will be utilised: the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Two Minute Walk Test, as our final performance measures for pain and function, respectively. We will determine strength by using portable hand-held dynamometers. Through this study, we will be able to create a plyometric training regimen that can be given to individuals with knee osteoarthritis to improve their physical well-being and athletic performance. These training programmes would be highly effective in such patients, in addition to conventional treatment.

Registration number: CTRI/2023/06/053657
Technical Note—Conic Mixed-Binary Sets: Convex Hull Characterizations and Applications
Authors: Kılınç-Karzan Fatma , Küçükyavuz Simge , Lee Dabeen , Shafieezadeh-Abadeh Soroosh
Published: July 2023

A Unifying Framework for the Convexification of Mixed-Integer Conic Binary Sets

The paper “Conic Mixed-Binary Sets: Convex Hull Characterizations and Applications,” by Fatma Kilinc-Karzan, Simge Kucukyavuz, Dabeen Lee, and Soroosh Shafieezadeh-Abadeh, develops a unifying framework for convexifying mixed-integer conic binary sets. Many applications in machine-learning and operations research give rise to integer programming models with nonlinear structures and binary variables. The paper develops general methods for generating strong valid inequalities that take into account multiple conic constraints at the same time. The authors demonstrate that their framework applies to conic quadratic programming with binary variables, fractional programming, best subset selection, distributionally robust optimization, and sparse approximation of positive semidefinite matrices.
Influences of focusing conditions on optical poling in lithium niobate using a 1035  nm femtosecond fiber laser
Authors: Chen Xin , Xu Chunsheng , Liu Shan , Liu Dawei , Tan Bihui , Zhang Yi , Chen Huan , Sheng Yan , Wang Junli
Published: July 2023

In this study, we demonstrate the optical induction of ferroelectric domain inversion on the −z surface of lithium niobate crystals using a 1035 nm femtosecond fiber laser. We investigate the effects of laser power and focusing parameters on domain morphology. The results revealed that domains exhibit an irregular random distribution at low power, whereas regularly arranged domains were formed near the crystal damage threshold. Furthermore, with sufficiently high power, lens focusing enables the fabrication of uniformly sized domains exceeding 100 µm. The results suggest potential applications for controlling domain morphology and the duty cycle, and fabricating ferroelectric functional devices.
80-W single-frequency Innoslab µs-amplifier at 1319 nm with high efficiency
Authors: Zhang Xuguang , Ye Junzhi , Chen Xiaoming , Luo Xingwang , Zhang Lei , Lu Yanhua , Shang Jianli , Gao Qingsong , Wang Weimin
Published: July 2023

A single-frequency quasi-continuous-wave partially end-pumped slab (Innoslab) laser amplifier at 1319 nm was demonstrated. The 3-W single-frequency all-fiber seed laser was amplified to a maximum average power of 80.1 W and the power stability was 0.52% in 10 minutes. The corresponding optical-optical efficiency was 16.1% under absorbed pump power of 478 W. The output pulse width was 131 µs at the repetition of 500 Hz. The beam quality factors of M2 were 1.3 in both the vertical and horizontal directions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on single-frequency Nd:YAG Innoslab amplifier at 1319 nm with such high output power and efficiency.
Historical visit attendance as predictor of treatment interruption in South African HIV patients: Extension of a validated machine learning model
Authors: Esra Rachel T. , Carstens Jacques , Estill Janne , Stoch Ricky , Le Roux Sue , Mabuto Tonderai , Eisenstein Michael , Keiser Olivia , Maskew Mhari , Fox Matthew P. , De Voux Lucien , Sharpey-Schafer Kieran
Published: July 2023

Retention of antiretroviral (ART) patients is a priority for achieving HIV epidemic control in South Africa. While machine-learning methods are being increasingly utilised to identify high risk populations for suboptimal HIV service utilisation, they are limited in terms of explaining relationships between predictors. To further understand these relationships, we implemented machine learning methods optimised for predictive power and traditional statistical methods. We used routinely collected electronic medical record (EMR) data to evaluate longitudinal predictors of lost-to-follow up (LTFU) and temporal interruptions in treatment (IIT) in the first two years of treatment for ART patients in the Gauteng and North West provinces of South Africa. Of the 191,162 ART patients and 1,833,248 visits analysed, 49% experienced at least one IIT and 85% of those returned for a subsequent clinical visit. Patients iteratively transition in and out of treatment indicating that ART retention in South Africa is likely underestimated. Historical visit attendance is shown to be predictive of IIT using machine learning, log binomial regression and survival analyses. Using a previously developed categorical boosting (CatBoost) algorithm, we demonstrate that historical visit attendance alone is able to predict almost half of next missed visits. With the addition of baseline demographic and clinical features, this model is able to predict up to 60% of next missed ART visits with a sensitivity of 61.9% (95% CI: 61.5–62.3%), specificity of 66.5% (95% CI: 66.4–66.7%), and positive predictive value of 19.7% (95% CI: 19.5–19.9%). While the full usage of this model is relevant for settings where infrastructure exists to extract EMR data and run computations in real-time, historical visits attendance alone can be used to identify those at risk of disengaging from HIV care in the absence of other behavioural or observable risk factors.
Artificial intelligence tool for the study of COVID-19 microdroplet spread across the human diameter and airborne space
Authors: Alsaadi Hesham H. , Aldwairi Monther , Yasin Faten , Cachinho Sandra C. P. , Hussein Abdullah
Published: July 2023

The 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19), with a point of origin in Wuhan, China, has spread rapidly all over the world. It turned into a raging pandemic wrecking havoc on health care facilities, world economy and affecting everyone’s life to date. With every new variant, rate of transmission, spread of infections and the number of cases continues to rise at an international level and scale. There are limited reliable researches that study microdroplets spread and transmissions from human sneeze or cough in the airborne space. In this paper, we propose an intelligent technique to visualize, detect, measure the distance of spread in a real-world settings of microdroplet transmissions in airborne space, called “COVNET45”. In this paper, we investigate the microdroplet transmission and validate the measurements accuracy compared to published researches, by examining several microscopic and visual images taken to investigate the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19). The ultimate contribution is to calculate the spread of the microdroplets, measure it precisely and provide a graphical presentation. Additionally, the work employs machine learning and five algorithms for image optimization, detection and measurement.
Understanding concerns after severe COVID-19: A self-imposed lockdown guarded by anxiety?
Authors: Törnbom Karin , Larsson Alexandra , Sunnerhagen Katharina S. , Palstam Annie , Persson Hanna C.
Published: July 2023

Objective

Many people are struggling to get back to their lives after severe COVID-19. To facilitate their reintegration into everyday life, we need to understand how the process is experienced. We aimed to gain deeper knowledge about this process by interviewing persons one year after hospitalisation due to COVID-19.

Methods

The study is based on a qualitative design, with eleven in-depth interviews conducted one year after discharge for COVID-19. Participants were recruited to form a heterogeneous sample with respect to age, gender and socioeconomic background. All interviews were analysed utilising inductive thematic analysis.

Results

From the participants’ narratives four themes were identified: ‘Concerns and worries in everyday life’, ‘Supportive and concerned relatives’, ‘A new way of life–sorrows and advantages’ and ‘Seize the day–a greater awareness of one´s mortality’. Participants described how they tried to create a functioning everyday life. They were generally afraid of getting COVID-19 again and concerned about future life, where their lack of energy played a major role. Narratives were diverse regarding to what extent the struggle to cope was experienced as emotionally challenging or not.

Conclusions

Participants described an unpredictable recovery after COVID-19, characterised by ups and downs, which created worries concerning their future. In some cases, the worry of getting COVID-19 again was strong enough to keep participants in their homes, as a self-imposed lockdown guarded by anxiety. However, the narratives also revealed gratitude towards being alive and having coped so well. This led to a more positive outlook on life with a greater focus on intrinsic values, close social relations and the deeper meaning of life.
Child marriage in rural Bangladesh and impact on obstetric complications and perinatal death: Findings from a health and demographic surveillance system
Authors: Lee Kyu Han , Chowdhury Atique Iqbal , Rahman Qazi Sadeq-ur , Cunningham Solveig A. , Parveen Shahana , Bari Sanwarul , El Arifeen Shams , Gurley Emily S.
Published: July 2023

Adolescent pregnancies, a risk factor for obstetric complications and perinatal mortality, are driven by child marriage in many regions of South Asia. We used data collected between 2017–2019 from 56,155 married adolescents and women in a health and demographic surveillance system to present a population-level description of historical trends in child marriage from 1990–2019 as well as epidemiologic associations between maternal age and pregnancy outcomes in Baliakandi, a rural sub-district of Bangladesh. For pregnancies identified between 2017–2019, we used Kaplan-Meier estimates to examine timing of first pregnancies after first marriage and multinomial logistic regression to estimate associations between maternal age and perinatal death. We described the frequency of self-reported obstetric complications at labor and delivery by maternal age. In 1990, 71% of all marriages were to female residents under 18 years of age. This decreased to 57% in 2010, with the largest reduction among females aged 10–12 years (22% to 3%), and to 53% in 2019. Half of all newly married females were pregnant within a year of marriage, including adolescent brides. Although we observed a decline in child marriages since 1990, over half of all marriages in 2019 were to child brides in Baliakandi. In this same population, adolescent pregnancies were more likely to result in obstetric complications (13–15 years: 36%, 16–17 years: 32%, 18–34 years: 23%; χ2 test, p<0.001) and perinatal deaths (13–15 years: stillbirth OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.01–2.42; 16–17 years: early neonatal death OR 1.57, 95% CI: 1.01–2.42) compared to adult pregnancies. Preventing child marriage can improve the health of girls and contribute to Bangladesh’s commitment to reducing child mortality.
Changes in reproductive behavior associated with the perception and individual experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Slabá Jitka
Published: July 2023

This study evaluates the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the reproductive behavior of men and women during the most restrictive period of the pandemic in Czechia. At the end of this period, data was collected for the Czech GGS COVID Pilot–Follow-up Study (April 2021), which included additional questions on reproductive plans and perceptions of the pandemic related to fertility. The study focuses in detail on the evaluation of the favorability of fertility during this period by considering the impact of the pandemic on the lives of individuals in various life areas. It subsequently attempts to determine to what extent this evaluation and personal experiences of the pandemic affected reproductive behavior (the intended number of children, current attempts to conceive and short-term fertility intentions). In summary, in most cases the respondents considered the most severe period of the pandemic to be unfavorable in terms of childbirth. Women provided an overall negative assessment of the favorability of childbirth in this period, which was reflected in a reduction in the planned number of children, while the men who considered this period favorable declared a higher chance of short-term fertility intentions.
S100A9 is indispensable for survival of pneumococcal pneumonia in mice
Authors: Ostermann Lena , Seeliger Benjamin , David Sascha , Flasche Carolin , Maus Regina , Reinboth Marieke S. , Christmann Martin , Neumann Konstantin , Brand Korbinian , Seltmann Stephan , Bühling Frank , Paton James C. , Roth Johannes , Vogl Thomas , Viemann Dorothee , Welte Tobias , Maus Ulrich A.
Published: July 2023

S100A8/A9 has important immunomodulatory roles in antibacterial defense, but its relevance in focal pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is understudied. We show that S100A9 was significantly increased in BAL fluids of patients with bacterial but not viral pneumonia and correlated with procalcitonin and sequential organ failure assessment scores. Mice deficient in S100A9 exhibited drastically elevated Zn2+ levels in lungs, which led to bacterial outgrowth and significantly reduced survival. In addition, reduced survival of S100A9 KO mice was characterized by excessive release of neutrophil elastase, which resulted in degradation of opsonophagocytically important collectins surfactant proteins A and D. All of these features were attenuated in S. pneumoniae-challenged chimeric WT→S100A9 KO mice. Similarly, therapy of S. pneumoniae-infected S100A9 KO mice with a mutant S100A8/A9 protein showing increased half-life significantly decreased lung bacterial loads and lung injury. Collectively, S100A9 controls central antibacterial immune mechanisms of the lung with essential relevance to survival of pneumococcal pneumonia. Moreover, S100A9 appears to be a promising biomarker to distinguish patients with bacterial from those with viral pneumonia.

Trial registration: Clinical Trials register (DRKS00000620).
A reply to ‘Education, decolonisation and international development at the Institute of Education (London): a historical analysis’ by Elaine Unterhalter and Laila Kadiwal
Authors: Molebatsi Palesa
Published: July 2023

In this reply, I make three comments on the article ‘Education, decolonisation and international development at the Institute of Education (London): a historical analysis’ by Elaine Unterhalter and Laila Kadiwal (2022). Unterhalter and Kadiwal foreground the meanings and implications of the department’s changing organisational titles over time, illustrating that these titles can be interpreted as metonyms that symbolise shifting registers of colonial and post-colonial identification for the department as a whole, as well as among individual staff at the UCL Institute of Education (IOE), London, UK. Geographies and positionalities are extensively elaborated in the analysis. Expanding on this, I suggest that the authors’ initial line of thinking begins to show, and can show even more, the limited recognition at the IOE that decolonial identities and discourses are underlined by an affective dimension. This connects with Unterhalter and Kadiwal’s observation that although recently decolonial theories and praxis at the IOE have taken on a more nuanced, multidimensional perspective, further institutional and individual work is required. Thus, my response engages with questions around the modalities through which a narrative of history is constructed and naturalised.
EDITORIAL
Authors: Revista Tessituras
Published: July 2023

É com grande satisfação que concluímos o ano de 2021 com o lançamento de mais um número da Revista Tessituras (Vol. 9 N 2). Apesar do duro momento que vivemos, marcado pela evidente falta de apoio às áreas da ciência e da educação no Brasil, chegamos à conclusão deste trabalho graças ao empenho entusiasmado de uma série de pessoas que colaboraram direta e indiretamente com a revista. E, em nome da comissão editorial,agradecemos profundamente a todos/as (organizadores/as, editores/as, produtores/as de imagens, pareceristas, revisores/as, diagramador, autores/as e leitores/as).
A METAFÍSICA ESTATAL EM DECOMPOSIÇÃO: UMA APRESENTAÇÃO DE NOVOS ESTUDOS EM ANTROPOLOGIA DO ESTAD
Authors: Tiago Lemões
Published: July 2023

Gestado no alvorecer de clássicas incursões etnográfcas protagonizadas por nomes como Evans-Pritchard (1940), Max Gluckman (1963) e Pierre Clastres (1974), o campo do que hoje denominamos “Antropologia do Estado” divide sua conformação inicial com os estudos sobre sistemas políticos em sociedades tradicionais, notadamente os realizados por pesquisadores europeus em África e América do Sul. Nestas experiências, o fenômeno estatal aparece como parte de uma reﬂexão a respeito do grau de presença, formação ou conjuração do poder centralizado em sociedades sem Estado.
CONEXÕES DA INTERCULTURALIDADE PELAS BRECHAS DO ESTADO
Authors: Ana Letícia Fiori
Published: July 2023

No presente artigo, trago descrições etnográfcas de três cenas de campo da pesquisa realizada junto aos Sateré-Mawé, povo tupi habitante da região do BaixoAmazonas, de modo a reﬂetir sobre processos de morfogênese e captura do Estado a partir de suas brechas. Assim, discuto a atuação de alguns interlocutoresSateré-Mawé na Conferência Nacional de Política Indigenista, em Manaus, emnovembro de 2015, e a realização de Feiras Culturais pelas escolas da aldeia deCastanhal e de Ponta Alegre, momentos de accountability com a Secretaria Municipal de Educação de Barreirinha-AM – cujo então prefeito era Mecias Sateré –mas também momentos de instanciação de lideranças a partir da cosmopolíticaindígena. Dialogando com Veena Das e Marilyn Strathern, bem como com as aná-lises de Renato Sztutman e Beatriz Perrone-Moisés sobre chefa indígena, destacocomo a polissemia da noção de “brecha”, com um certo deslizamento semânticoe pragmático sobre as margens de Veena Das, como oportunidades, descuidos,imprevistos, indica um modo de morfogênese não apenas do Estado, mas das coletivizações indígenas em modo de canibalização do Estado, fazendo-se a partirde capturas de potências externas.
PROTEÇÃO ANIMAL E TRÂNSITO INSTITUCIONAL
Authors: Diego Breno Leal Vilela
Published: July 2023

Neste artigo irei me debruçar sobre os processos mediante os quais ativistas da proteção animal têm atuado para inserir suas demandas na esfera do Estado e da Administração pública. Dedicarei especial atenção para o trânsito percorrido em vários níveis e escalas de atuação na estrutura estatal, a fm de compreender como estes atores têm se movimentado para provocar as mudanças que almejam  políticas públicas para animais) e ao mesmo tempo inserir a chamada “causa animal” no debate público. O cenário torna-se mais interessante e complexo quando notamos que alguns desses protetores não estavam apenas demandando do Estado políticas públicas e responsabilização pelos animais: eles próprios passaram a adentrar na estrutura da administração pública via poder legislativo. Com este trabalho, quero trazer à tona elementos que nos permitam compreender nãoapenas como o Estado se movimenta e se produz, mas como esse dado conjuntode pessoas se movimenta para fazer o Estado.
ENTRE PAPÉIS E MÁQUINAS
Authors: Lucia Sestokas
Published: July 2023

No presente artigo, exploro algumas questões iniciais levantadas a partir da  implementação e aplicação da virtualização dos processos judiciais, com enfoquena justiça criminal, mais especifcamente com a implementação das audiências por meio de videoconferência e do processo eletrônico. Usando como base episó- dios etnográfcos com os quais me deparei durante a pesquisa de mestrado, bem como pesquisas de normativas e notícias em portais ofciais do sistema judiciário, apresento algumas das disputas envolvidas no processo de virtualização, especialmente considerando o regime especial de trabalho das instituições estatais durante a quarentena imposta pela pandemia de Covid-19 em 2020. Busco, assim, oferecer algumas considerações sobre como são operadas noções de neutralidade e efciência associadas à virtualização.