bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variation in isotretinoin use for acne in an integrated health system: an ecological study
Authors: Vanchinathan Veena , Hartmann Michael , Contreras Noah , Avins Andrew , Lieberman Amara 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Isotretinoin is highly effective for treating severe nodulocystic acne but is associated with serious adverse effects and complexity in its use. Understanding variation in isotretinoin prescribing patterns is limited. We conducted a cross-sectional ecological study to measure variation in and predictors of isotretinoin prescription rates within a large integrated health system in Northern California. Patients aged 13–40 years old with ≥ 2 visits with an acne diagnosis from 2016–2020 were identified. Individual patient-level data were aggregated at the level of 15 administrative “service areas” for analysis. We examined 20 candidate predictors potentially associated with isotretinoin prescription rates. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with acne who received ≥ 1 prescription for isotretinoin during the study period. Analyses showed that rates of isotretinoin prescription varied from 7.7% in the lowest-prescribing service area to 17.3% in the highest-prescribing area (RR = 2.2, 95%Confidence Interval: 2.0-2.6). Three candidate predictors were found to be independently and statistically significantly associated with higher isotretinoin prescription rates: a shorter elapsed time between the index date and the first isotretinoin prescription (beta=-0.07, p < 0.006), a higher rate of prior oral antibiotic prescriptions (beta = 0.40, p < 0.004), and a higher percentage of patients whose initial isotretinoin prescription was written by advanced practice practitioners (beta = 0.36, p = 0.05). In sum, we found large variation in rates of isotretinoin prescription among the healthcare system's 15 service areas. Three predictor variables were independently and significantly associated with isotretinoin prescriptions and provide potentially actionable information that may help improve appropriateness and consistency in providing this effective but potentially burdensome therapy.
Bioinformatic identification of Endemic Coronaviruses’ epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 genomes isolated in Kenya
Authors: Mbogori Elius , Musyoki Stanslaus , Biegon Richard , Patel Kirtika 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Identification of SARS-CoV-2 genome regions with similarity to epitopes for endemic coronaviruses is crucial for understanding cross-immunity and designing broad-spectrum vaccines. Research has highlighted that several epitopes exhibit homology or cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and various endemic coronaviruses. To identify these shared epitopes, annotated proteins from SARS-CoV-2 genomes isolated in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya were aligned with Epitopes for four endemic coronaviruses using BlastP. Additionally, the overlapping epitopes were aligned with SARS-CoV-2 immunodominant epitopes. 321 epitopes from HCoV-OC43, 206 epitopes from HCoV-HKU1, 136 epitopes from HCoV-NL63, and 182 epitopes from HCoV-229E exhibited similarities with regions on SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Of these, ten HCoV-OC43 epitopes; thirteen HCoV-HKU1 epitopes; one HCoV-NL63 epitope; and three HCoV-229E spike epitopes exhibited similarity with the SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Seven immunodominant epitopes had notable similarities with the epitopes from endemic coronaviruses. This discovery holds great importance as it implies the existence of potential cross-reactivity and shared immune responses among these coronaviruses, thereby potentially impacting the comprehension of immunity and the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
Blow-up result for a weakly coupled system of wave equations with a scale-invariant damping, mass term and time derivative nonlinearity
Authors: Hassen Mohamed Fahmi Ben , Hamouda Makram , Hamza Mohamed Ali 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

We study in this article the blow-up of solutions to a coupled semilinear wave equations which are characterized by linear damping terms in the \textit{scale-invariant regime}, time-derivative nonlinearities, mass and Tricomi terms. The latter are specifically of great interest from both physical and mathematical points of view since they allow the speeds of propagation to be time-dependent ones. However, we assume in this work that both waves are propagating with the same speeds. Employing this fact together with other hypotheses on the aforementioned parameters (mass and damping coefficients), we obtain a new blow-up region for the system under consideration, and we show a lifespan estimate of the maximal existence time.
Challenging Corrosion: The Innovative, Green and Effective β- CD/ME Supramolecular Complex
Authors: Berdimurodov Elyor , Eliboev Ilyos , Dagdag Omar , Lal Basant , Berisha Avni , Rajabov Yusufboy , Mamatov Jaykhun , Nik W. B. Wan , Kholikov Abduvali , Akbarov Khamdam 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Corrosion poses major challenges in various industrial sectors such as oil and gas, chemicals, and infrastructure. Traditional corrosion inhibitors have limitations in terms of toxicity and environmental compatibility. Supramolecular complexes are promising as green corrosion inhibitors, as the interaction between host and guest molecules can be tailored for different application needs.
Methods
This study investigates a β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)/melamine (ME) supramolecular complex by the gravimetric, potentiodynamic (PDP) and electrochemical impedance (EIS) methods. Its synthesis is reported by Raman spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and FT-IR methods. A range of characterization techniques are used to analyze the complex's structure. Gravimetric and electrochemical tests evaluate its corrosion inhibition performance on steel in acidic solution at varying concentrations and temperatures. Computational modeling provides atomic-scale insights by DFT, MC and MD simulations.
Main findings
The synthesis, characterisation, and corrosion prevention performance of a novel supramolecular complex, β-cyclodextrin/melamine (β-CD/ME), on St20 steel, in acidic conditions, were the subjects of an inventive investigation that was described in this publication. The complex's structural alterations, physical interactions, and structure were effectively disclosed, using Raman spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and FT-IR. The β-CD/ME complex's ability to prevent corrosion in hostile solutions exceeded 92–94%, resulting in the formation of a thin protective film on the metal surface and acting as a mixed-type inhibitor. A novel mix of theoretical and experimental methods is used in this work to comprehend the underlying mechanisms, including the influence of structural factors on corrosion prevention effectiveness and the adsorption energies of the complex on the metal surface. These findings demonstrate that the β-CD/ME complex acts as a highly promising, cost-effective, eco-friendly, and efficient corrosion inhibitor with potential applications across diverse industrial settings.
Unveiling the Mystery: Investigating the Debate Surrounding Helicobacter pylori Infection and Multiple Sclerosis Using Mendelian Randomization Analysis
Authors: Zhou Jie , Zhu Dagang , Xu Yixin , Wang Haitao , Chen Chao , Wang Kun 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Many studies have explored the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and multiple sclerosis (MS), but there is significant controversy in the results, and a unified conclusion has not yet been reached.
Methods
In order to calculate the causal relationship between H. pylori and MS, we employed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Genetic instruments for MS from FinnGen were used as the training cohort, and the MS dataset from the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium was used as the validation cohort. Additionally, genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for 7 H. pylori antibody levels were obtained from previous literature. MR analysis was primarily carried out using the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method, supported by four other validation approaches, to explore the association between H. pylori infection and MS.
Results
After our comprehensive investigation, no significant causal relationship between H. pylori infection and MS was found in either the training or validation cohorts (IVW, P >0.05). Similarly, the reverse MR analysis also yielded negative results (IVW, P > 0.05).
Conclusions
Our analysis revealed no causal relationship between H. pylori infection and MS.
Fecal microbiota transplantation regulates blood pressure by altering gut microbiota composition and intestinal mucosal barrier function in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: XU Xinghua , JIN Hua , LI Xiaoling , YAN Chunlu , ZHANG Qiuju , YU Xiaoying , LIU Zhijun , LIU Shuangfang , ZHU Feifei 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Objectives: Hypertension is accompanied by gut microbiota imbalance, but the role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of hypertension requires further study. In this study, we used fecal microbiota transplantation to determine the impact of microbiota composition on blood pressure in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs), using normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats as controls.
Methods: SHRs were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 10/group), SHR and SHR-T (SHR plus fecal transplantation) and WKY into WKY and WKY-T (WKY plus fecal transplantation). SHR-T received fecal transplantation from WKY while WKY-T received fecal transplantation from SHR. Blood pressure was measured from the tail artery in conscious rats. 16S rDNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to analyze bacterial composition. Circulating levels of diamine oxidase, D-lactate, FITC-Dextrans, and lipopolysaccharide were determined. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to observe structural changes in the intestinal mucosa. Immunofluorescence, Western blot, and RT-PCR were utilized to determine changes in the expression of tight junction proteins.
Results: Following cross fecal transplantation, blood pressure decreased in SHR and increased in WKY. Significant differences in gut microbial composition were found between hypertensive and normotensive rats, specifically regarding the relative abundance of lactic and butyric acid-producing bacteria. Changes in gut microbiota composition also impacted the intestinal mucosal barrier integrity. Moreover, fecal transplantation affected the expression of tight junction proteins that may impact intestinal mucosal permeability and structural integrity.
Conclusion: Blood pressure may be associated with butyric acid-producing intestinal microbiota and its function in regulating the integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier.
NEW Generation of Solar Energy: Investigation and Implementation of Artificial Solar Tree Application in Egypt
Authors: Ibrahim Marwa , Ashor Karim 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The world's energy crisis and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions require the development of energy-efficient alternatives, from sunlight to electricity. Solar energy is abundant and free of charge. Solar photovoltaic technology is one of the most promising renewable energy sources for sustainable development. But it takes up a lot of space that could be utilized for other human endeavors. Solar PV trees are a new method of capturing sunlight. It lessens the PV system's footprint on land. This essay describes the planning and building of a solar tree that will power lighting at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Egypt as well as mobile and laptop devices in public urban areas. The Smart Solar Tree is an eco-friendly, creative piece of urban furniture that can function as a six-person public bench, a supply terminal block with six 230V power outlets for laptops and electric bicycles, a built-in USB charging hub for smartphones and tablets, and a fashionable tree-shaped public lighting fixture. Eighteen solar photovoltaic panels, which at night function as programmable-color glowing leaves, provide the Smart Solar Tree with its whole electricity. Because establishing solar trees required less than 30 square feet of land, and installing ground-mounted solar panels required 5000 square feet, the results were compared to solar panel installations. The energy, financial, and environmental performance of solar PV systems was also examined in this article. The 5 kWp solar tree costs $1700 USD in total, compared to $2500 for flat-mounted PV. The solar tree's payback period is projected to be 10 years. Solar trees cost 0.07 USD per watt, compared to 0.11 USD for standard photovoltaic systems. Over the course of the system's lifetime, this research aims to save 11240 tons of CO2 emissions through energy use. The study also discusses the difficulties associated with this technology and makes recommendations for future lines of inquiry.
Ginseng polysaccharides promote gut microbiota mediated deoxycholic acid to alleviate LPS-induced mastitis by regulating TGR5-cAMP-PKA-NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway
Authors: Zheng Zhijie , Liu Huiying , Liu Xiang , Cai Sisi , Wang Xiaoyan , Wu Haichong 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Mastitis is one of the most serious diseases that troubles humans and animals, especially in the dairy industry. More and more evidence suggest that the gut microbiota is closely related to the pathogenesis of mastitis. Ginseng polysaccharide (GP), a main component of ginseng, can improve gut metabolism and regulate gut microbiota, but its underlying mechanism in mastitis is unclear.
Results
The present study found that GP alleviated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced mammary gland inflammation in mice and enriched beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, while LPS stimulated mice enriched with harmful bacteria such as Proteus. Untargeted metabolomics results showed that compared with LPS challenge, the deoxycholic acid (DCA) level increased primarily and the bile secretion pathway was active in GP treatment. Transplanting the fecal microbiota of LPS-induced mice mastitis (FMT.LPS) into recipient mice led to mastitis, exacerbated mammary gland inflammation, and disrupted the blood-milk barrier. Interestingly, the result of 16S rRNA displayed that donor and recipient mice had similar gut microbiota structures, indicating a close correlation between microbial dysbiosis and the progression of mastitis. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that DCA relieved LPS-induced mastitis, and its mechanism was that DCA-mediated TGR5 activation inhibited the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways and mastitis caused by LPS via activating cAMP and PKA.
Conclusion
Our results suggested that GP alleviated LPS-induced mastitis by regulating secondary bile acid mediated by gut microbiota, providing a potential strategy to intervene in distal infections by regulating metabolites mediated by gut microbiota.
Patterns of health workforce turnover and retention in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in remote communities of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, 2017-2019
Authors: Veginadu Prabhakar , Russell Deborah Jane , Zhao Yuejen , Guthridge Steven , Ramjan Mark , Jones Michael P , Mathew Supriya , Fitts Michelle S , Murakami-Gold Lorna , Campbell Narelle , Tangey Annie , Boffa John , Rossingh Bronwyn , Schultz Rosalie , Humphreys John , Wakerman John 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) in Australia aim to optimise access to comprehensive and culturally safe primary health care (PHC) for Aboriginal populations. Central to quality service provision is the retention of staff. However, there is lack of published research reporting patterns of staff turnover and retention specific to ACCHSs. This study quantified staff turnover and retention in regional and remote ACCHSs in the Northern Territory (NT) and Western Australia (WA), and examined correlations between turnover and retention metrics, and ACCHSs’ geographical and demographic characteristics.
Methods
The study used 2017-2019 payroll data for health workers in 22 regional and remote PHC clinics managed by 11 ACCHSs. Primary outcome measures included annual turnover and 12-month stability rates, calculated at both clinic and organisation levels.
Results
There was a median of 5 client-facing (Aboriginal health practitioners, allied health professionals, doctors, nurses/midwives, and ‘other health workers’ combined) and 2 non-client-facing (administrative and physical) staff per remote clinic, at any time point. Mean annual turnover rates for staff were very high, with 151% turnover rates at the clinic-level and 81% turnover rates at the organisation-level. Mean annual turnover rates for client-facing staff were 164% and 75%, compared to 120% and 98% for non-client-facing staff, at clinic and organisational levels, respectively. Mean 12-month stability rates were low, with clinic-level stability rates of only 49% and organisation-level stability rates of 58%. Mean annual clinic-level turnover rates were 162% for non-Aboriginal staff and 81% for Aboriginal staff. Both workforce metrics were moderately to highly correlated with the relative remoteness of clinics, size of regular clients serviced, and average annual headcount of employees in each clinic (p values <0.01).
Conclusion
Participating ACCHSs in remote NT and WA have a very high turnover and low retention of healthcare staff. Overall, clinic-level turnover rates tend to be lower for Aboriginal staff and increase as distance from regional centres increases. These staffing patterns are likely to impose an untoward burden on ACCHSs’ resources, and may also affect quality of service delivery due to lack of continuity of care.
Does Unequal Tax Burden Contribute toWomen-Owned Businesses Leaving the Tax Net?
Authors: Woldeyes Firew , Ambel Alemayehu 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

This study investigates gender disparities in the tax burden in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia, using data on 2,320 taxpayers for 2011 and 2012. A quantile regressionanalysis is employed to control for firm characteristics such as sector, size, andage. The results show that women-owned businesses are more likely to operate inlow-profit sectors and report lower sales and tax liabilities than men-owned businesses.However, women-owned businesses pay as much as men-owned businessesin taxes, suggesting that they are subject to a higher effective tax rate. This, inturn, may lead to women-owned businesses exiting the tax net at a higher rate.These findings suggest that gender disparities in tax compliance are not simplydue to differences in firm characteristics but may also be due to biases in taxdeclaration and enforcement processes.
JEL Classification: H22 , J16
DID: Data Isolation via Dynamic Adjustment of Permissions and Spaces
Authors: Li YongGang , Qu Zhi , Chung Yeh-Ching 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Heap and stack are the main carriers for storing data in the operating system (OS), and their isolation is a key factor to ensure the data privacy and instruction orders. The existing isolation methods have the problem of coarse granularity. In addition, the completely open feature of the read and write permissions of the heap and stack has a serious impact on isolation. To solve these problems, this paper proposes an isolation method DID. This method refines the granularity of the isolated stack and heap. It establishes a framework to dynamically adjust the permissions and spaces of the target data. Based on this framework, DID builds four mechanisms: heap fence mechanism, heap owner mechanism, stack alternation mechanism, and stack jump mechanism. These mechanisms can be used to isolate the data on the heap or stack. Experiments and analysis show that DID has a good defense effect against various attacks based on data out-of-bounds access. And it only introduces 1.9% overhead to the CPU.
Large-Scale Stream K-means Based on Product-Quantized Codes
Authors: Hang Yuqing , Yin Hongwei , Hu Wenjun , Zhong Longfei 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

In recent years, using clustering technology to process large-scale data streams is a research hotspot in the field of data mining. However, for the processing of large-scale data streams, most existing methods suffer from slow speed, insufficient memory, and lack of detection and response mechanisms for concept drift. In this paper, a Large-Scale Stream K-measn based on product-quantized codes (LS2K-means) is proposed. By first introducing product quantization code into the framework of incremental clustering methods, memory space consumption is reduced through the dimensionality reduction of data. Additionally, a new similarity measurement method is introduced, greatly improving the efficiency of distance calculation. A concept drift detection and response mechanism is constructed. By comparing the consistency of clustering results, concept drift can be quickly detected, and a backtracking mechanism is utilized to respond to concept drift promptly, effectively improving the algorithm’s performance. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through simulations on six real datasets. The method efficiently handles concept drift and outperforms DenStream and EmCStream in terms of execution efficiency.
Molecular identification and Phylogenetic relationship of fishes belonging to the Family Danionidae from Brahmaputra Basin, Assam, Northeast India
Authors: Barman Manabjyoti , Bhushan Shashi , Phukan Bipul , Kumar Annam Pavan , Jaiswar Ashok Kumar , Talukdar Avinash , Kalita Rinku , Gopa Silpa S. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Backgroud The Northeast India, being part of two global biodiversity hotspot namely the Indo-Burma and Eastern Himalayan Hotspot supports a wide variety of rich aquatic biodiversity including fishes. The family Danionidae is a widely diverse group inhabiting the upper colder stretches of river although few are abundant in the lower stretches also. The persisting similarity in the morphological appearance and body colouration within the members of this family seeks an integrated method to identify the species correctly.
Methods and results In the present study, the mt-DNA barcode was generated for correct identification and confirmation of the species. A total of nine mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences were generated for each species under the study. The pairwise distance calculated with the help of MEGA 11 softwareresulted distance value ranging from 0.1% to 0.4% within the species and 9.02% to 32.83% between the species. A neighbour-joining tree was constructed based on the Kimura 2 parameter model.Two major group were observed where Danioninae formed sister group to the Chedrinae and Rasborinae.
Conclusion The present study is a preliminary approach to document and identify the species under the family Danionidae from Brahmaputra basin, Assam,using molecular tools and establish thephylogenetic relationship.