bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of superior chitosan–EDTA microparticles as an adsorbent base for solidifying the self-emulsifying drug delivery systems
Authors: Kumar Mohit , Chawla Pooja A. , Faruk Abdul , Chawla Viney , Thakur Shubham , Jain Subheet Kumar 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
The present study focused on developing a superior adsorbent carrier (microparticles) to solidify the self-emulsifying drug delivery system. The two approaches, solvent evaporation and spray drying, were explored to synthesize the microparticles using chitosan (CH) and EDTA disodium. The 32 full factorial design was applied to optimize the microparticle process produced by both methods.

Results
The various characterization evaluations of the microparticles revealed amide linkages between the CH and EDTA disodium, and XRD results showed that microparticles were amorphous. The SE-CHEM (C2) and SD-CHEM (Y1) optimized microparticles were free-flowing and had percentage yield (%), 96 ± 1.2 and 58 ± 1.1, zeta potential (mV), 9 ± 0.44 and 4 ± 0.13, and particle size (μm), 3 ± 0.57 and 2 ± 0.4, respectively. SEM images showed uneven surfaces with wide void spaces and flaky texture for optimized microparticles Y1 and C2, respectively. The SE-CHEM (C2) had an oil adsorption capacity (OAC %) of 46 ± 0.54 and 60 ± 0.77, and oil desorption capacity (ODC %), 38 ± 0.65 and 56 ± 0.86, for Labrafac and Cremophor RH 40, respectively. The SD-CHEM (Y1) had an oil adsorption capacity (OAC %) of 59 ± 0.71 and 68 ± 0.39, and oil desorption capacity (ODC %), 54 ± 0.11 and 65 ± 0.74, for Labrafac and Cremophor RH 40, respectively. In the surface free energy components analysis, the SE-CHEM (C2) had an enhanced dispersive component [γLW (mJ/m2)] of 32 ± 0.68 and 37 ± 0.47 for Labrafac and Cremophor RH 40, respectively. The SD-CHEM (Y1) had an enhanced dispersive component [γLW (mJ/m2)] of 48 ± 0.7 and 52 ± 0.41 for Labrafac and Cremophor RH 40, respectively. The SE-CHEM (C2) had enhanced dynamic advancing contact angles [θa (°)] of 75 ± 0.19 and 78 ± 0.75 for Labrafac and Cremophor RH 40, respectively. The SD-CHEM (Y1) had enhanced dynamic advancing contact angles [θa (°)] of 74 ± 0.6 and 80 ± 0.21 for Labrafac and Cremophor RH 40, respectively.

Conclusion
All the findings indicate that the microparticles have superior characteristics to serve as the adsorbent base for solid self-emulsifying drug delivery systems.
Do gender disparities in socioeconomic status affect
Teff
productivity? A comparative analysis in Ethiopia
Authors: Gebrehiwot Nahusenay Teamer , Ndinda Catherine 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, and the recent political and economic reforms recognize the importance of empowering women and increasing their labour force participation. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) constitution of 1995 recognized women’s right to equality and provides intervened to enable women to compete and participate in all spheres of life and to exercise their rights on equal grounds with men. Gender empowerment and gender equality are given national priority and positioned at the centre of all policy, legal, and institutional frameworks. Research suggests that women remain overrepresented in lower-skilled jobs, while carrying out the bulk of unpaid care work. Women also face multiple forms of deprivation, gender-based discrimination, lack of access to productive resources, intimate partner violence, lack of education and training, and employment. Persistent inequalities in ownership and control over assets, such as land, houses, and oxen negatively affect their productivity and livelihoods. This paper aims at answering the question “Do gender disparities in socioeconomic status affect
Teff
productivity in Ethiopia?” Using mixed methods, the study conducted a cross-sectional household survey. Purposive sampling was used to select top
Teff
-producing regions, districts
, Kebeles
, key informants and FGD participants while a random sampling method was used to select the survey respondents. Results suggest that, although women were fully engaged in
Teff
production activities, due to a low level of ownership of productive resources such as land, labour, and oxen, there is a statistically significant difference in
Teff
production between female and male-headed households which needs the attention of the government and stakeholders. The paper contributes to understanding how gender-based disparities in socioeconomic status affect
Teff
production.
Clinical Endocrinology—Time for a Reset?
Authors: Lightman Stafford L 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Measurement of blood levels of circulating hormones has always been the cornerstone of the biochemical diagnosis of endocrine diseases, with the objective of detecting hormone excess or insufficiency. Unfortunately, the dynamic nature of hormone secretion means single-point measurements of many hormones often lack diagnostic validity. Endocrinologists have devised complex dynamic tests as indirect assessments of the functioning of the hormone system under investigation. Recent advances in the measurement of dynamic hormone changes across the day now offer an opportunity to reconsider whether there might be better ways both to diagnose and to monitor the therapy of endocrine conditions.
Effect of Changing Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Formula on Sugammadex Use and Pulmonary Complications for African American and non-African American Patients
Authors: Engoren Milo , Heung Michael 
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND:
Sugammadex is associated with fewer postoperative pulmonary complications than is neostigmine reversal of neuromuscular blockade. However, the Food and Drug Administration-approved package insert states that its use is “not recommended” in severe renal impairment, separately defined as creatinine clearance <30 mL/min. Recently, the formula for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was updated to remove the race variable. Compared to the prior formula, the new consensus equation lowers the estimated GFR for African American patients and raises it for everyone else. We sought to determine how this change could differently impact the use of sugammadex, and thus the rate of pulmonary complications, for both African American and non-African American patients.

METHODS:
We used Monte Carlo simulation models to estimate the difference in pulmonary complications that would be suffered by patients when the change in creatine clearance calculated from the estimated GFR (using the old race-based and new race-neutral Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration formulas) crossed the 30 mL/min threshold, which would require a change in sugammadex or neostigmine use.

RESULTS:
We found that 0.22% (95% confidence interval 0.14%–0.36%) of African American patients’ creatinine clearance would drop from above to below 30 mL/min making sugammadex not recommended and 0.19% (0.16%–0.22%) of non-African American patients would have creatinine clearance increase to >30 mL/min making sugammadex now recommended. Based on our model, we estimate that African American patients would suffer (count [95% confidence interval]) 3 [0.4–6] more pulmonary complications per 100,000 African American patients who received rocuronium or vecuronium through the change from sugammadex to neostigmine reversal to comply with labeling recommendations. Conversely, the same change in formulas would reduce the number of non-African American patients suffering pulmonary complications by 3 [2–4] per 100,000.

CONCLUSIONS:
The recent change in GFR formulas may potentially be associated with an increase in postoperative pulmonary complications in African American patients and a decrease in postoperative pulmonary complications in non-African American patients through GFR-driven changes in sugammadex use.
Mitochondrial morphology dynamics and ROS regulate apical polarity and differentiation in Drosophila follicle cells
Authors: Uttekar Bhavin , Verma Rahul Kumar , Tomer Darshika , Rikhy Richa 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT
Mitochondrial morphology dynamics regulate signaling pathways during epithelial cell formation and differentiation. The mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 affects the appropriate activation of EGFR and Notch signaling-driven differentiation of posterior follicle cells in Drosophila oogenesis. The mechanisms by which Drp1 regulates epithelial polarity during differentiation are not known. In this study, we show that Drp1-depleted follicle cells are constricted in early stages and present in multiple layers at later stages with decreased levels of apical polarity protein aPKC. These defects are suppressed by additional depletion of mitochondrial fusion protein Opa1. Opa1 depletion leads to mitochondrial fragmentation and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in follicle cells. We find that increasing ROS by depleting the ROS scavengers, mitochondrial SOD2 and catalase also leads to mitochondrial fragmentation. Further, the loss of Opa1, SOD2 and catalase partially restores the defects in epithelial polarity and aPKC, along with EGFR and Notch signaling in Drp1-depleted follicle cells. Our results show a crucial interaction between mitochondrial morphology, ROS generation and epithelial cell polarity formation during the differentiation of follicle epithelial cells in Drosophila oogenesis.
Multifaceted effects on even-skipped transcriptional dynamics upon Krüppel dosage changes
Authors: Lin Shufan , Lim Bomyi 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT
Although fluctuations in transcription factor (TF) dosage are often well tolerated, TF dosage modulation can change the target gene expression dynamics and result in significant non-lethal developmental phenotypes. Using MS2/MCP-mediated quantitative live imaging in early Drosophila embryos, we analyzed how changing levels of the gap gene Krüppel (Kr) affects transcriptional dynamics of the pair-rule gene even-skipped (eve). Halving the Kr dosage leads to a transient posterior expansion of the eve stripe 2 and an anterior shift of stripe 5. Surprisingly, the most significant changes are observed in eve stripes 3 and 4, the enhancers of which do not contain Kr-binding sites. In Kr heterozygous embryos, both stripes 3 and 4 display narrower widths, anteriorly shifted boundaries and reduced mRNA production levels. We show that Kr dosage indirectly affects stripe 3 and 4 dynamics by modulating other gap gene dynamics. We quantitatively correlate moderate body segment phenotypes of Kr heterozygotes with spatiotemporal changes in eve expression. Our results indicate that nonlinear relationships between TF dosage and phenotypes underlie direct TF-DNA and indirect TF-TF interactions.
Pulmonary artery aneurysm associated with sarcoidosis in a 75-year-old with heart failure: the challenges of diagnosis and management
Authors: Cruz Isabel , Lopes Rafaela , Bragança Bruno , Campos Inês , Oliveira Inês , Gonçalves Inês , Santos Rui P. , Andrade Aurora 
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA) is a rare abnormality of pulmonary vasculature. It can be idiopathic or secondary to various pathologies, frequently with multiple factors leading to its formation. We report the case of a man with concomitant sarcoidosis and PAA. Case description: A 75-year-old male with a diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis was referred to the Cardiology department due to heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The transthoracic echocardiogram revealed mildly reduced LVEF, aortic root and pulmonary artery (PA) dilatation, and no signs of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed, revealing mild left ventricular dilation, LVEF of 40%, main PA dilation (43 mm) and a pattern of late gadolinium enhancement suggestive of cardiac sarcoidosis. At follow-up, a thoracic computed tomography (CT) angiography scan revealed ascending aorta ectasia and giant main PA aneurysm (60 mm). A right heart catheterisation was performed, and a mean PA pressure of 34 mmHg was obtained. Given the clinical context, the patient was considered to have PH due to lung disease and left heart disease, and PAA was possible due to vascular granulomatous involvement by sarcoidosis. Conclusion: PAA is a rare finding and mostly occurs in the setting of PH. Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease that mostly affects the lungs, but the sarcoid involvement of great vessels has been described. In this clinical case, the probable cause for the PA fragility leading to aneurysm formation remains sarcoid vascular infiltration, regarding the discrepancy between the PA dimensions and mildly elevated PA pressure.
Patient-directed follow-up for the clinical scaphoid fracture
Authors: Chaturvedi Abhishek , Russell Heather , Farrugia Matthew , Roger Mark , Putti Amit , Jenkins Paul J. , Feltbower Stephen 
Published: February 2024

AimsOccult (clinical) injuries represent 15% of all scaphoid fractures, posing significant challenges to the clinician. MRI has been suggested as the gold standard for diagnosis, but remains expensive, time-consuming, and is in high demand. Conventional management with immobilization and serial radiography typically results in multiple follow-up attendances to clinic, radiation exposure, and delays return to work. Suboptimal management can result in significant disability and, frequently, litigation.MethodsWe present a service evaluation report following the introduction of a quality-improvement themed, streamlined, clinical scaphoid pathway. Patients are offered a removable wrist splint with verbal and written instructions to remove it two weeks following injury, for self-assessment. The persistence of pain is the patient’s guide to ‘opt-in’ and to self-refer for a follow-up appointment with a senior emergency physician. On confirmation of ongoing signs of clinical scaphoid injury, an urgent outpatient ‘fast’-wrist protocol MRI scan is ordered, with instructions to maintain wrist immobilization. Patients with positive scan results are referred for specialist orthopaedic assessment via a virtual fracture clinic.ResultsFrom February 2018 to January 2019, there were 442 patients diagnosed as clinical scaphoid fractures. 122 patients (28%) self-referred back to the emergency department at two weeks. Following clinical review, 53 patients were discharged; MRI was booked for 69 patients (16%). Overall, six patients (< 2% of total; 10% of those scanned) had positive scans for a scaphoid fracture. There were no known missed fractures, long-term non-unions or malunions resulting from this pathway. Costs were saved by avoiding face-to-face clinical review and MRI scanning.ConclusionA patient-focused opt-in approach is safe and effective to managing the suspected occult (clinical) scaphoid fracture.Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(2):117–122.
Phenomenologies of loneliness: alone without you, alone without an us
Authors: Pawlett Jackson Sarah 
Published: February 2024

Loneliness is not simply characterised by a lack of other people in one’s environment or lifeworld, but by a lack of specific forms of relationship, connection or belonging. In this paper I connect the conversation about different types of loneliness with debates happening in the philosophy of intersubjectivity, specifically the phenomenology of intersubjectivity. Philosophers of intersubjectivity tend to characterise experiences of direct encounter as having a second-personal ‘I-thou’ quality. By contrast, experiences of belonging tend to be characterised by first-person plural ‘we’ structures.
In this paper I will compare and contrast some of the different phenomenological qualities that come with the absence or poverty of these two types of intersubjective structure respectively. These different types of loneliness are characterised by different phenomenological properties, but also by (the absence of) specific interpersonal and social structures. I argue that the absence of these different interpersonal structures respectively gives rise to loneliness as the experience of being unseen and loneliness as the experience of not-being-at-home. This is significant for loneliness studies, as understanding and combating loneliness is consequently likely to take variegated rather than homogeneous forms. This is particularly significant for a psychosocial approach to loneliness which seeks to understand, hold together and integrate both the structural features of loneliness (in this case the relevant interpersonal and social structures) and the lived experience of individuals and groups (in this case the phenomenology of loneliness).
Determination of elevated eosinophil to lymphocyte ratio, eosinophil to neutrophil ratio, eosinophil to monocyte ratio and its association with severe vitiligo: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Weissmann Sarah , Burrack Nitzan , Golan-Tripto Inbal , Horev Amir 
Published: February 2024

Background
Hematological markers such as eosinophil-to-lymphocyte (ELR), eosinophil-to-neutrophil (ENR), and eosinophil-to-monocyte (EMR) ratios may be used in the assessment of skin diseases. However, the relationship with vitiligo remains unclear.

Objectives
We investigated ELR, ENR, and EMR in vitiligo patients and the association with severe vitiligo.

Methods
This study included patients of all ages diagnosed with vitiligo between 2005–2020. ELR, EMR, and ENR were calculated from complete blood counts within 30 days of the first recorded vitiligo diagnosis and 12–18 months before the vitiligo diagnosis. We evaluated the associations between ELR, ENR, and EMR and vitiligo.

Results
9,826 vitiligo patients (8,398 adults and 1,428 children) and 8,951 age and sex-matched controls were included in this study. We found that ELR, EMR, and ENR were higher in children than in adults. Patients with vitiligo had higher ENR and EMR than their matched controls. Patients with severe vitiligo had higher ELR, ENR, and EMR compared to patients with mild vitiligo. Patients with increased ENR and EMR 12–18 months before the vitiligo diagnosis had a higher chance of having severe vitiligo (ENR: OR = 7.40, p<0.001, EMR: OR = 3.17, p<0.001).

Conclusion
ELR, ENR, and EMR may be used in the assessment and prognosis of vitiligo, especially in severe cases.
Infiltration of CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in association with inflammation and survival in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Tushoski-Alemán Gerik W. , Herremans Kelly M. , Underwood Patrick W. , Akki Ashwin , Riner Andrea N. , Trevino Jose G. , Han Song , Hughes Steven J. 
Published: February 2024

Background
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) have heterogeneous tumor microenvironments relatively devoid of infiltrating immune cells. We aimed to quantitatively assess infiltrating CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in a treatment-naïve patient cohort and assess associations with overall survival and microenvironment inflammatory proteins.

Methods
Tissue microarrays were immunohistochemically stained for CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and quantitatively assessed using QuPath. Levels of inflammation-associated proteins were quantified by multiplexed, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay panels on matching tumor and tissue samples.

Results
Our findings revealed a significant increase in both CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes populations in PDAC compared with non-PDAC tissue, except when comparing CD8+ percentages in PDAC versus intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) (p = 0.5012). Patients with quantitatively assessed CD3+ low tumors (lower 50%) had shorter survival (median 273 days) compared to CD3+ high tumors (upper 50%) with a median overall survival of 642.5 days (p = 0.2184). Patients with quantitatively assessed CD8+ low tumors had significantly shorter survival (median 240 days) compared to CD8+ high tumors with a median overall survival of 1059 days (p = 0.0003). Of 41 proteins assessed in the inflammation assay, higher levels of IL-1B and IL-2 were significantly associated with decreased CD3+ infiltration (r = -0.3704, p = 0.0187, and r = -0.4275, p = 0.0074, respectively). Higher levels of IL-1B were also significantly associated with decreased CD8+ infiltration (r = -0.4299, p = 0.0045), but not IL-2 (r = -0.0078, p = 0.9616). Principal component analysis of the inflammatory analytes showed diverse inflammatory responses in PDAC.

Conclusion
In this work, we found a marked heterogeneity in infiltrating CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and individual inflammatory responses in PDAC. Future mechanistic studies should explore personalized therapeutic strategies to target the immune and inflammatory components of the tumor microenvironment.
Numerical and experimental study of the impact on aerodynamic characteristics of the NACA0012 airfoil
Authors: Molaa Ayat Abdulhussien , Abdulwahid Mohammed Abdulwhaab 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Using computational models and low-speed wind tunnel tests, the aerodynamic characteristics of the NACA 0012 airfoil with low Re numbers of (8 ×

10

4

{10}^{4}

, 2 ×

10

5

{10}^{5}

, 3 ×

10

5

{10}^{5}

, and 4 ×

10

5

)

{10}^{5})

and angle of attack (AOA) ranging from 0° to 18° by two steps are examined. Using the same 3-D wind tunnel dimensions, numerical simulations were run. The software program ANSYS FLUENT was used to solve the mathematical model using the continuity equation, the Navier‒Stokes equations, and the k–ω shear‒stress transport turbulence model. Findings demonstrate that at all AOAs, there is a direct relationship between Reynolds numbers (Re), lift and drag coefficients, kinetic energy, and stall angle. The lift coefficient rises linearly as the AOA increases, peaking at 14°, the stall angle at higher Reynolds number. The lift coefficient was found to decline when the AOA was increased further, reaching its minimal value at an AOA of 18°. With a greater AOA, the airfoil’s drag coefficient rises, creating turbulent flow. The eddies produced by the turbulence cause the flow to start separating from the airfoil surface as turbulence increases. As a result, the airfoil lift coefficient drops, and its drag coefficient rises at the same time, leading to poor performance. The validation of the numerical results through wind tunnel experiments provided confidence in the findings of the study.
Forecasting empirical formula for suspended sediment load prediction at upstream of Al-Kufa barrage, Kufa City, Iraq
Authors: Omran Zainab Ali , Al-mansori Nassrin Jassim Hussien 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The objective of this study was to predict the suspended sediment load at upstream of the Al Kufa barrage. Ten cross-sections in the upstream region have been identified to collect field measurements. As part of the inquiry, the fluid and hydraulic parameters were measured in the field and sediment samples were collected in sections to develop an empirical formula. These variables included the gravitational constant (g), hydraulic radius (R
h), mean velocity (V), median particle size (d
50), river top breadth (B), kinematic viscosity (v), and (ρ) water density. The formula was created using both statistical analysis and dimensional analysis techniques. The results showed that the newly developed formula agreed well between the calculated and observed suspended sediment discharges based on the determination coefficient R
2 of 0.979. There was a very high acceptance between the average sediment discharge from the new formula, equal to 7.365 kg/s, and the average sediment discharge from field measurements (7.142 kg/s).