bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Twin structures and substitutional dopants in ZnSe0.7Te0.3: the effect and transition during sodium ion electrochemistry
Authors: Xiong Shenglin , Zong Jingui , Liang Yazhan , Liu Fan , Zhang Mingzhe , Song Kepeng , Feng Jinkui , Xi Baojuan 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Constructing various defects is considered to be a common viable means of improving electrochemical performance. However, it is of significance to thoroughly scrutinize the formation mechanism of defects and their effects and transition during the charge–discharge process. Here, twin structures are introduced into ZnSe0.7Te0.3 nanocrystals by doping of Te heteroatoms. The Te dopants are visualized to locate in the lattices of ZnSe by spherical aberration electron microscopy. The formation of twin structures is thermodynamically promoted by Te heteroatoms partially replacing Se based on the theoretical calculation results. Our findings show ZnSe0.7Te0.3 transforms into ZnSe and Te via the first cycling, which differ from the counterparts prepared by traditional methods and can effectively activate the interfacial and electronic effects due to the incomparable distribution and unmatched compatibility. It can be concluded that even though the initially constructed defects in materials of redox chemistry mechanism can’t resurrect, they play a critical role in tailoring the electrochemistry. We’re firmly convinced to pursue the exploitation of advanced and delicate electrode materials for batteries.
SUFU: A potential novel gene responsible for Lhermitte Duclos disease
Authors: Güngör Özge , Solmaz Aslı Ece , Karaca Emin , Akalın Taner , Bolat Elif , Akın Haluk 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) is a rare dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum, typically presenting as a hamartomatous lesion in the posterior fossa. PTEN and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway are involved in the pathogenesis of LDD. We present a case of a patient who incidentally was detected with LDD. A novel, pathogenic, heterozygous, de novo, splice site variant c.183-2A > G (NM_016169.4) in the SUFU gene was identified with targeted next-generation sequencing from genomic DNA. SUFU, a tumor suppressor gene, negatively regulates the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. SUFU also influences WNT and PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. While SUFU pathogenic variants are associated with various central nervous system (CNS) tumors, this is the first reported link between SUFU and LDD. The study delves into the role of SUFU in LDD development, establishing the novel SUFU variant as a potential genetic marker for the disease. Sanger sequencing and gel electrophoresis were applied to RNA isolated from blood to show that the variant disrupts splicing. DNA extracted from tumor tissue underwent NGS with the TWIST Exome 2.0 Panel. Results unveiled the de novo pathogenic SUFU (c.183-2A > G) and PTEN (c.389G > A) variants. In conclusion, this study establishes the first reported association between LDD and a germline, de novo SUFU variant, and sheds light on the crucial role of SUFU in LDD pathogenesis. It contributes to the broader understanding of genetic factors influencing this rare cerebellar disorder.
Implementing a Robotic Hepatopancreatobiliary Program for New Faculty: Safety, Feasibility and Lessons Learned
Authors: Niemann Britney , Kenney Christopher , Marsh J. Wallis , Schmidt Carl , Boone Brian A. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background:Robotic surgery is increasingly utilized in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery, but the learning curve is a substantial obstacle hindering implementation. Comprehensive robotic training can help to surmount this obstacle; however, despite the expansion of robotic training into residency and fellowship programs, limited data is available about how this translates into successful incorporation in faculty practice.
Methods:All operations performed during the first three years of practice of a complex general surgical oncology-trained surgical oncologist at a tertiary care academic institution were retrospectively reviewed. The surgeon underwent comprehensive robotic training during residency and fellowship.
Results: 137 HPB operations were performed during the initial three years of practice. Over 80% were performed robotically each year across a spectrum of HPB procedures with a 6% conversion rate. Median operative time, the optimal metric for operative proficiency and evaluation for a learning curve, was similar throughout the study period for each major operation and below several reported optimized operative times. Major complications were similar across the experience and comparable to published series.
Conclusion: Comprehensive robotic training in residency and fellowship as well as a dedicated, well-trained operative team allows for early attainment of optimized outcomes in a new HPB robotic practice.
Use of biomarkers in bullfrog tadpoles Aquarana catesbeiana (Shaw 1802) for ecotoxicological evaluation of Pirajibú River (São Paulo, Brazil)
Authors: Carvalho Cleoni dos Santos , Silva Fábio Henrique da , Ferraz João Victor Cassiel , de Oliveira Luciana Camargo , Utsunomiya Heidi Samantha Moraes , Duarte Iolanda Cristina Silveira , Nascimento Letícia Portugal do 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

This study focused on investigating the water quality in Pirajibú River, a relevant water body that flows through the industrial zone of Sorocaba (São Paulo/Brazil). Due to the limitations of assessing water quality based solely on standard physicochemical tests, an ecotoxicological approach was used to assess biomarker changes in the liver of bullfrog tadpoles (Aquarana catesbeiana). The animals were divided into groups and exposed to water samples collected upstream and downstream of the industrial zone. After 96 hours, the upstream group presented a decrease in the enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and an increase in the activity of catalase (CAT). For the downstream group, while a decreased activity was observed for SOD, an increase in CAT and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities was stated. A decrease in lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels was observed in the downstream group, and increased carbonyl protein (PCO) levels in the upstream and downstream groups. Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) revealed GSH and PCO as the most responsive biomarkers, despite no differences were noted between the groups. Regardless of whether the water quality standards of Pirajibú River were following Brazilian environmental legislation, the tadpoles presented high sensitivity when exposed to the water, even for a short period.
What do they need from medical education? A cross-sectional study of rural grassroots doctors in Jiangsu Province
Authors: Yan Wenjun , Promasatayaprot Vorapoj , Gao Xiuyin , Wang Wei , Wang Qingzhi , Glangkarn Sumattana 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
The "Rural Oriented Medical Students Education Program", which is designed to trainprimary doctors inrural areas,needs to constantly improve the education system. Therefore, this study suggestedthat in addition to job competency, the actual needs of grassroots doctors should also be considered.
Methods
Online questionnaires were sent to rural grassroots doctors in northern Jiangsu, central Jiangsu and southern Jiangsu. Information on demographic characteristics, job competence self-evaluations, residents’ standardized training situations, skills to be mastered at different stages of medical education and courses that needed to be improved or strengthened was collected.
Results
Provincially, the scores forprofessional spirit (4.19±0.834), teamwork ability (4.04±0.779) and doctor‒patient communication (4.03±0.780) were highly rated; scientific research ability (3.53±0.952), clinical ability (3.81±0.848) and information management ability (3.91±0.801) were rated low, but grassroots doctors in southern Jiangsu showed absolute advantages in most respects except for public health ability. A total of 41.5% of the respondents had received Resident Standardized Training. In terms of the needs of the rotation departments for training, rural grassroots doctors in southern Jiangsu showed interest in surgery, pediatrics, B-ultrasound, community and other departments. A total of 90.8% and 89.7% of respondents claimed that first aidand medical treatment skills needed to be mastered during the academic stage; 63.2% and 58.1% of respondents believed that additional class hours are required forfirst aid and rehabilitation skills; and 90.8% and 84.9% of respondents considered that first aidand medical treatment skills needed to be mastered during the Resident Standardization Training, respectively. Doctor–Patient Communication, Psychology, Anatomy, Pathology, Epidemiology, Health Education, Diagnostics, Internal Medicine and Surgery were key courses for rural grassroots doctors andshould be improved or strengthened.
Conclusion
This low primary service ability is caused by the disconnectbetween clinical practice and actual work needs, as well as the unsolid foundation of theoretical knowledge learning. On theone hand, attention should be givento the teaching and learning quality of key courses; on the other hand, the actual needs can be clarified through segmented regular training to better achieve standardized regular trainingfor rural grassroots doctors.
Salvianolic acid B inhibits the growth and metastasis of A549 lung cancer cells through the NDRG2/PTEN pathway by inducing oxidative stress
Authors: Yang Ye , Huang Lei , Gao Jie , Qian Bingjun 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) has demonstrated anticancer activity against various types of cancer. However, the underlying mechanism of Sal B-mediated anticancer effects remains incompletely understood. This study aims to investigate the impact of Sal B on the growth and metastasis of human A549 lung cells, as well as elucidate its potential mechanisms. In this study, different concentrations of Sal B were administered to A549 cells. The effects on migration and invasion abilities were assessed using MTT, wound healing, and transwell assays. Flow cytometry analysis was employed to evaluate Sal B-induced apoptosis in A549 cells. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were conducted to measure the expression levels of cleaved caspase 3 (an apoptosis marker) and E-cadherin (a metastasis marker). Commercial kits were utilized for detecting intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NAD+. Additionally, a xenograft model with transplanted A549 tumors was employed to assess the antitumor effect of Sal B in vivo. The expression levels of NDRG2, p-PTEN, and p-AKT were determined through western blotting. Our findings demonstrate that Sal B effectively inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion in A549 cells while inducing dose-dependent apoptosis. These apoptotic responses and inhibition of tumor cell metastasis are accompanied by alterations in intracellular ROS levels and NAD+/NADH ratio. Furthermore, our in vivo experiment reveals that Sal B significantly suppresses A549 tumor growth compared to an untreated control group while promoting increased cleavage of caspase-3. Importantly, we observe that Sal B upregulates NDRG2 expression while downregulating p-PTEN and p-AKT expressions. Collectively, our results provide compelling evidence supporting the ability of Sal B to inhibit both growth and metastasis in A549 lung cancer cells through oxidative stress modulation as well as involvement of the NDRG2/PTEN/AKT pathway.
Assessment of the precision of a health survey on hypertension prevalence
Authors: Gianini Reinaldo José , Caneto Natália Ferreira , Ferreira Natalia Murate , Rodrigues Leticia Gouvea , Parri Beatriz Zurma , Rodrigues Cibele Isaac Saad 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Population surveys are important for planning public policies and constitute an efficient way of obtaining representative data. In the health field, studies have been conducted with different objectives, such as identifying arterial hypertension (AH), which is a chronic noncommunicable disease (NCD), and determining its prevalence and associated risk factors.
Objectives
To evaluate the performance of a population health survey carried out in the municipality of Sorocaba between August 2021 and June 2023 to estimate the prevalence of AH.
Methods
The performance indicator analyzed refers to the precision (design effect - deff) of the AH prevalence in adults (≥ 18 years) and the exposure to its main risk factors. The total sample included 1,080 individuals from the urban region, which is considered sufficient to estimate a deff of 1.5. This is a study whose clusters are represented by census sectors, with data collected during household visits through interviews using a standardized questionnaire and blood pressure and biometric parameter measurements. The deff calculation formula used was weighted variance/raw variance. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee, CAAE 30538520-1-0000-5373.
Results
The data obtained varied between a deff equal to 0.44 for the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a deff equal to 1.49 for the use of sympatholytic medication, with a deff for the prevalence of AH equal to 1.12.
Conclusion
There was good precision of the results. There was excellent receptivity and collaboration among the interviewees. The cost‒benefit in developing this research was very adequate. The technique for selecting households in the respective clusters (census sectors), based on detailed mapping and demographic information from Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística - IBGE, proved to be practical and efficient and can be reproduced in other municipalities and for other NCDs.
Assessment of Postpartum Depression Screening Practice and Associated Factors among Physicians in Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Tertiary Hospitals in Southern and Central Ethiopia
Authors: Yayna Amanuel Admasu , Daka Kassa , Tesfaye Ashebir , Getachew Selamawit 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Postpartum depression (PPD) is becoming one of the world’s increasing public health globally. The pooled postpartum depression in Ethiopia is 22.89% and highest (33.82%) in Southern and Central Ethiopia. Even though physicians play a significant role in the detection and management of Postpartum depression, their screening practice level is unknown in Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the postpartum depression screening practice level and associated factors among physicians in obstetrics and gynecology department at tertiary hospitals in Southern and Central Ethiopia.
METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study design in which quantitative approach supported with qualitative was employed among all physicians in the obstetrics and gynecology department of four tertiary hospitals in Southern and Central Ethiopia from April 1 to 30, 2023. The quantitative data was collected by a self-administered structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. The variables with P-values of <0.25 from the Bivariable analysis were selected for multivariable logistic regression analysis. Odds Ratio and 95% CI was used to measure the statistical association and P Value ≤ 0.05 was used to determine the statistical significance of the tests. Six key informant interviews were conducted by semi structured guide using tape recorder and qualitative data was transcribed from audio recordings for thematic analysis.
RESULTS: The postpartum depression screening practices among physicians was only 22%. Barriers include a lack of training, knowledge gaps, time constraints, lack of screening tools and Cultural influences. Physicians in the age group 30-34 were 4.7 times (AOR=4.7; 95% CI, 1.06, 21.44) more likely to screen mothers for postpartum depression as compared with physicians in age group of 25-29. Physicians with good knowledge about postpartum depression were 3.3 times (AOR= 3.3; 95% CI, 1.03, 11.06) more likely to screen mothers for postpartum depression as compared with physicians with poor knowledge. Physicians who had a training about PPD in their institution were 5.4 (AOR= 5.4; 95% CI, 1.33, 22.34) more likely to screen mothers for postpartum depression as compared with physicians who had no training.
CONCLUSION: The study revealed a notable gap in postpartum depression screening practices and the interventions are needed to bridge the gap.
Gaze-Contingent Adaptation of VR Stereo Parameters for Cybersickness Prevention
Authors: Terzioglu Berkay , Celikcan Ufuk , Capin Tolga Kurtulus 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Extended exposure to virtual reality displays has been linked to the emergence of cybersickness, characterized by symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and disruptions in eye movements. The main objective of our study is to examine the effects of real-time fine-tuning of stereo parameters and blurriness in virtual reality on the discomfort level of users who are experiencing motion sickness triggered by the display. Our hypothesis proposes that by dynamically correcting the rendering settings, the symptoms of motion sickness can be relieved and the overall VR user experience can be improved. Our methodology commences with a prediction model for the comfort level of the viewer based on their gaze parameters, such as pupil diameter, blink count, gaze position, and fixation duration. We then propose a method to dynamically adapt the stereoscopic rendering parameters by considering the predicted comfort level of the viewer.
The volatile oil of Piper Macedoi Yunck has larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti larvae from insectary and natural breeding
Authors: Fonseca Yago Soares , de Souza Nubia Nunes , Vieira Thallyta Maria , de Deus Rodrigo Guimarães , Moreira Davyson de Lima , Pires Luanna Chácara , Ferreira Sebastiao Rodrigo , Oliveira Gisele Lopes 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Brazil and all of Latin America face a significant challenge related to dengue fever in 2024. The vector of urban arboviruses, Aedes aegypti, has become a public health problem due the resistance to insecticides used to combat it. In this study, we describe the chemical profile and larvicidal potential of the volatile oil obtained from Piper macedoi against Aedes aegypti larvae. The volatile oil was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. A. aegypti larvae obtained from urban breeding sites and insectary were exposed to different concentrations of P. macedoi’s volatile oil. The oil showed 65 substances (monoterpenes: 52.62%, sesquiterpenes: 17.96%, arylpropanoids: 27.47%). After 24h of exposure to P. macedoi’s oil, larvae collected in the urban breeding sites and insectary presented 100% mortality at concentrations between 250-1000 ppm, with LC50 of 105 ppm and 196 ppm, respectively. Thus, the study presents P. macedoi’s volatile oil as a potential new natural alternative to control the expansion of A. aegypti.
Time allocation of daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law in India: The role of education
Authors: Bhattacharya Leena 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The paper addresses the under-researched topic of intrahousehold dynamics of female in-laws in developing countries by focusing on the bargaining between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and its influence on the latter’s time allocation. Using the first nationally representative Time Use Survey of India, 2019, the paper answers two questions. First, how does the presence of the parents-in-law, particularly the mother-in-law, shape the daughter- in-law’s distribution of time between paid and unpaid activities? Second, how does the relative bargaining power among the female in-laws, where their education levels are used as indicators of bargaining power, affect the daughter-in-law’s time allocation across different activities? The findings show that the presence of the mother- in-law in the family is associated with an increase in the daughter-in-law’s participation in paid employment. The daughter-in-law allocates more time to paid employment and less time to household production when her mother-in-law is present. The association is evident for the daughters-in-law who co-reside with mothers-in-law who have completed at least secondary education. The mother-in-law’s time allocated to household production and childcare increases when she co-resides with a daughter-in-law who has completed tertiary education. The father-in-law’s presence is associated with a fall in the daughter-in-law’s engagement in paid employment and he increases both women’s time spent on household production. Heterogeneity in results is observed by the extent of patriarchy in the state of residence. The results suggest that policies that aim to increase women’s education can enhance the daughter-in-law’s intrahousehold bargaining power leading to more balanced time allocations within the family.
JEL Classification: J22, J16, D13
Influencing factors of self-management behavior in glaucoma patients in west China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhang Xin , Ren Jie , Tang Li , Tang Jing , Zeng Ji-Hong 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Objective
To describe the current status of self-management behavior and analyze its influencing factors in glaucoma patients.
Method
Using a convenient sampling method, 538 patients with primary glaucoma were included. The general demographic and disease-related data of the patients were collected. The glaucoma self-management questionnaire (GSMQ), social support rating scale(SSRS), and brief illness perception questionnaire (BIPQ) of glaucoma patients were used to collect data on their self-management behavior, social support, and illness perception status.
Result
The mean total score of the glaucoma self-management questionnaire was (50.64 ± 6.06), with the mean scores of three dimensions as follows: life adjustment (7.82 ± 1.50), functional health care (17.91 ± 2.45), and medical management (24.91 ± 3.55). The average total score of the social support rating scale was found to be (31.04 ± 7.65), including subjective support (17.36 ± 4.75), objective support (7.20 ± 2.15), and support availability (6.48 ± 2 .27). The average total score for glaucoma patients on the brief illness perception questionnaire was determined to be (47.65 ± 7.33). Glaucoma patients perceive various factors contributing to their condition, with emotion ranking highest at 29.4%, followed by stress at 22.5%, and genetics at 18.2%. Multivariate analysis showed that smoking, types of glaucoma, annual follow-up frequency, fixed doctor follow-up, social support, and illness perception were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
The self-management behavior, social support, and illness perception of glaucoma patients were found to be at the moderate level. Smoking, Less than two follow-up visits per year, primary open-angle glaucoma, unfixed doctor follow-up, lower levels of social support, and illness perception level are all factors that affect the self-management behavior of glaucoma patients.