bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Urine Se concentration poorly predicts plasma Se concentration at sub-district scales in Zimbabwe, limiting its value as a biomarker of population Se status
Authors: Mutonhodza Beaula , Dembedza Mavis P. , Joy Edward J. M. , Manzeke-Kangara Muneta G. , Njovo Handrea , Nyadzayo Tasiana K. , Lark R. Murray , Kalimbira Alexander A. , Bailey Elizabeth H. , Broadley Martin R. , Matsungo Tonderayi M. , Chopera Prosper 
Published: February 2024

IntroductionThe current study investigated the value of urine selenium (Se) concentration as a biomarker of population Se status in rural sub-Saharan Africa.MethodUrine and plasma Se concentrations were measured among children aged 6–59 months (n = 608) and women of reproductive age (WRA, n = 781) living in rural Zimbabwe (Murehwa, Shamva, and Mutasa districts) and participating in a pilot national micronutrient survey. Selenium concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and urine concentrations were corrected for hydration status.ResultsThe median (Q1, Q3) urine Se concentrations were 8.4 μg/L (5.3, 13.5) and 10.5 μg/L (6.5, 15.2) in children and WRA, respectively. There was moderate evidence for a relationship between urine Se concentration and plasma Se concentration in children (p = 0.0236) and WRA (p = &lt; 0.0001), but the relationship had poor predictive value. Using previously defined thresholds for optimal activity of iodothyronine deiodinase (IDI), there was an association between deficiency when indicated by plasma Se concentrations and urine Se concentrations among WRA, but not among children.DiscussionUrine Se concentration poorly predicted plasma Se concentration at sub-district scales in Zimbabwe, limiting its value as a biomarker of population Se status in this context. Further research is warranted at wider spatial scales to determine the value of urine Se as a biomarker when there is greater heterogeneity in Se exposure.
Case report: Safety and efficacy of synergistic treatment using selinexor and azacitidine in patients with atypical chronic myeloid leukemia with resistance to decitabine
Authors: Liu Lu , Song Xiaofeng , Dong Wenhao , Li Zhao , Guo Dongmei 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundAtypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML) is a BCR::ABL1 negative myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm with poor overall survival. Some patients can be treated by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) from suitable donors. The effectiveness of decitabine or azacitidine (AZA) has recently been reported; however, their combined efficacy with selinexor has not yet been reported.Case descriptionIn this study, we report the case of a patient with aCML who was successfully treated with selinexor combined with AZA. A 67-year-old man with a history of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma was admitted to the hospital with fatigue and emaciation. He was diagnosed with aCML and no longer responded to decitabine treatment after undergoing seven cycles. The patient was subsequently administered hydroxyurea (HU), selinexor, and AZA. After four courses of combination therapy, his blood cell counts improved; he no longer required transfusions and was able to discontinue HU. The patient continued receiving selinexor and AZA without severe complications. This case is the first to show that combinatorial selinexor and AZA therapy can effectively treat aCML.ConclusionOur case sheds light on the importance of selinexor and AZA combined therapy in the exploration of new treatment strategies for aCML. Moreover, this treatment approach offers the possibility of bridging with allo-HSCT.
Extracellular freezing induces a permeability transition in the inner membrane of muscle mitochondria of freeze-sensitive but not freeze-tolerant Chymomyza costata larvae
Authors: Štětina Tomáš , Koštál Vladimír 
Published: February 2024

Background: Many insect species have evolved the ability to survive extracellular freezing. The search for the underlying principles of their natural freeze tolerance remains hampered by our poor understanding of the mechanistic nature of freezing damage itself.Objectives: Here, in search of potential primary cellular targets of freezing damage, we compared mitochondrial responses (changes in morphology and physical integrity, respiratory chain protein functionality, and mitochondrial inner membrane (IMM) permeability) in freeze-sensitive vs. freeze-tolerant phenotypes of the larvae of the drosophilid fly, Chymomyza costata.Methods: Larvae were exposed to freezing stress at −30°C for 1 h, which is invariably lethal for the freeze-sensitive phenotype but readily survived by the freeze-tolerant phenotype. Immediately after melting, the metabolic activity of muscle cells was assessed by the Alamar Blue assay, the morphology of muscle mitochondria was examined by transmission electron microscopy, and the functionality of the oxidative phosphorylation system was measured by Oxygraph-2K microrespirometry.Results: The muscle mitochondria of freeze-tolerant phenotype larvae remained morphologically and functionally intact after freezing stress. In contrast, most mitochondria of the freeze-sensitive phenotype were swollen, their matrix was diluted and enlarged in volume, and the structure of the IMM cristae was lost. Despite this morphological damage, the electron transfer chain proteins remained partially functional in lethally frozen larvae, still exhibiting strong responses to specific respiratory substrates and transferring electrons to oxygen. However, the coupling of electron transfer to ATP synthesis was severely impaired. Based on these results, we formulated a hypothesis linking the observed mitochondrial swelling to a sudden loss of barrier function of the IMM.
Callose in leptoid cell walls of the moss Polytrichum and the evolution of callose synthase across bryophytes
Authors: Renzaglia Karen , Duran Emily , Sagwan-Barkdoll Laxmi , Henry Jason 
Published: February 2024

IntroductionLeptoids, the food-conducting cells of polytrichaceous mosses, share key structural features with sieve elements in tracheophytes, including an elongated shape with oblique end walls containing modified plasmodesmata or pores. In tracheophytes, callose is instrumental in developing the pores in sieve elements that enable efficient photoassimilate transport. Aside from a few studies using aniline blue fluorescence that yielded confusing results, little is known about callose in moss leptoids.MethodsCallose location and abundance during the development of leptoid cell walls was investigated in the moss Polytrichum commune using aniline blue fluorescence and quantitative immunogold labeling (label density) in the transmission electron microscope. To evaluate changes during abiotic stress, callose abundance in leptoids of hydrated plants was compared to plants dried for 14 days under field conditions. A bioinformatic study to assess the evolution of callose within and across bryophytes was conducted using callose synthase (CalS) genes from 46 bryophytes (24 mosses, 15 liverworts, and 7 hornworts) and one representative each of five tracheophyte groups.ResultsCallose abundance increases around plasmodesmata from meristematic cells to end walls in mature leptoids. Controlled drying resulted in a significant increase in label density around plasmodesmata and pores over counts in hydrated plants. Phylogenetic analysis of the CalS protein family recovered main clades (A, B, and C). Different from tracheophytes, where the greatest diversity of homologs is found in clade A, the majority of gene duplication in bryophytes is in clade B. DiscussionThis work identifies callose as a crucial cell wall polymer around plasmodesmata from their inception to functioning in leptoids, and during water stress similar to sieve elements of tracheophytes. Among bryophytes, mosses exhibit the greatest number of multiple duplication events, while only two duplications are revealed in hornwort and none in liverworts. The absence in bryophytes of the CalS 7 gene that is essential for sieve pore development in angiosperms, reveals that a different gene is responsible for synthesizing the callose associated with leptoids in mosses.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of respiratory viral pathogens in patients with acute respiratory infection in Shanghai, China
Authors: Pan Lifeng , Yuan Yang , Cui Qiqi , Zhang Xuechun , Huo Yujia , Liu Qing , Zou Wenwei , Zhao Bing , Hao Lipeng 
Published: February 2024

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) taken to combat COVID-19 on the prevalence of respiratory viruses (RVs) of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in Shanghai.MethodsSamples from ARI patients were collected and screened for 17 respiratory viral pathogens using TagMan low density microfluidic chip technology in Shanghai from January 2019 to December 2020. Pathogen data were analyzed to assess changes in acute respiratory infections between 2019 and 2020.ResultsA total of 2,744 patients were enrolled, including 1,710 and 1,034 in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The total detection rate of RVs decreased by 149.74% in 2020. However, detection rates for human respiratory syncytial virus B (RSVB), human coronavirus 229E (HCoV229E), human coronavirus NL63 (HCoVNL63), and human parainfluenza virus 3 (HPIV3) increased by 91.89, 58.33, 44.68 and 24.29%, in 2020. The increased positive rates of RSVB, HPIV3, resulted in more outpatients in 2020 than in 2019. IFV detection rates declined dramatically across gender, age groups, and seasons in 2020.ConclusionNPIs taken to eliminate COVID-19 had an impact on the prevalence of respiratory viral pathogens, especially the IFVs in the early phases of the pandemic. Partial respiratory viruses resurged with the lifting of NPIs, leading to an increase in ARIs infection.
Exploring the potential of the sit-to-stand test for self-assessment of physical condition in advanced knee osteoarthritis patients using computer vision
Authors: Zhao Zhengkuan , Yang Tao , Qin Chao , Zhao Mingkuan , Zhao Fuhao , Li Bing , Liu Jun 
Published: February 2024

IntroductionKnee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent condition often associated with a decline in patients’ physical function. Objective self-assessment of physical conditions poses challenges for many advanced KOA patients. To address this, we explored the potential of a computer vision method to facilitate home-based physical function self-assessments.MethodsWe developed and validated a simple at-home artificial intelligence approach to recognize joint stiffness levels and physical function in individuals with advanced KOA. One hundred and four knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients were enrolled, and we employed the WOMAC score to evaluate their physical function and joint stiffness. Subsequently, patients independently recorded videos of five sit-to-stand tests in a home setting. Leveraging the AlphaPose and VideoPose algorithms, we extracted time-series data from these videos, capturing three-dimensional spatiotemporal information reflecting changes in key joint angles over time. To deepen our study, we conducted a quantitative analysis using the discrete wavelet transform (DWT), resulting in two wavelet coefficients: the approximation coefficients (cA) and the detail coefficients (cD).ResultsOur analysis specifically focused on four crucial joint angles: “the right hip,” “right knee,” “left hip,” and “left knee.” Qualitative analysis revealed distinctions in the time-series data related to functional limitations and stiffness among patients with varying levels of KOA. In quantitative analysis, we observed variations in the cA among advanced KOA patients with different levels of physical function and joint stiffness. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the cD between advanced KOA patients, demonstrating different levels of physical function and joint stiffness. It suggests that the primary difference in overall movement patterns lies in the varying degrees of joint stiffness and physical function among advanced KOA patients.DiscussionOur method, designed to be low-cost and user-friendly, effectively captures spatiotemporal information distinctions among advanced KOA patients with varying stiffness levels and functional limitations utilizing smartphones. This study provides compelling evidence for the potential of our approach in enabling self-assessment of physical condition in individuals with advanced knee osteoarthritis.
HIV counseling, testing, and test result receipt among East African women of reproductive age using recent national health surveys
Authors: Terefe Bewuketu 
Published: February 2024

IntroductionOne of the most important public health concerns is still the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), particularly in developing countries. Although HIV testing is an important step in both prevention and treatment, its uptake remains low, and no study has looked into the scale of HIV counseling, testing, and test result receipt among East African women all at the same time. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate HIV counseling, testing, and test result receipt, as well as the factors that influence them, among East African women.MethodsThis analysis used Demographic and Health Survey data collected from 10 East African countries between 2011 and 2022. We examined the coverage of HIV counseling, testing, and test result receipt among East African women, as well as other characteristics. To select candidate factors and identify significant explanatory variables related to the outcome variable, binary and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted, and the results were presented using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals. In the binary and multiple logistic regression analyses, P values of less than or equal to 0.2 and &lt;0.05 were used to assess significant variables, respectively.ResultsA total of 41,627 weighted women included to this study. HIV counseling, testing, and test result receipt among East African women were found to be 77.86% (95% CI = 77.46, 78.26). Being 25–34 years old (AOR = 1.13, 95% CI, 1.06, 1.21), 35–49 years old (AOR = 1.15, 95% CI, 1.05, 1.26) as compared to 15–24 years old women, primary education (AOR = 1.75, 95% CI, 1.64, 1.86), secondary/higher education level (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI, 1.82, 2.13) as compared to not educated women, poor, (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI, 1.14, 1.29), middle wealth (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI, 1.04, 1.21) as compared to rich wealth index, mass media exposure (AOR = 1.29, 95% CI, 1.22, 1.35), 3–5 parity (AOR = 1.29, 95% CI, 1.21, 1.37), more than 5 parity (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI, 1.33, 1.61) as compared to &lt;3 parity, health institution delivery (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI, 1.53, 1.76), were associated positively with the outcome variable respectively. However, being married (AOR = 0.79, 95% CI, 0.72, 0.87), not using contraceptive (AOR = 0.58, 95% CI, 0.51, 0.61), and traditional contraceptive method user (AOR = 0.47, 95% CI, 0.41, 0.54) as compared to modern users were associated negatively with outcome variable respectively.ConclusionThis study found that HIV counseling, testing, and test result receipt are still unsatisfactory. Strengthening maternal health services such as institutional delivery, family planning, and women's empowerment, as well as changing mass media and taking advantage of these opportunities, will boost the region's coverage of HIV counseling, testing, and obtaining results.
On Some Interesting Classes of Analytic Functions Related to Univalent Functions
Authors: Güney Hatun Özlem , Breaz Daniel , Owa Shigeyoshi 
Published: February 2024

Let A¯ be the new general class of functions f(z) of the form f(z)=z+∑k=1∞a1+k2z1+k2 that are analytic in the open unit disc U. In the present paper, for f(z)∈A¯, we consider classes S∗¯(α), C¯(α) and R¯(α) and obtain some interesting properties of f(z)∈A¯ concerning S∗¯(α), C¯(α) and R¯(α), applying subordinations of f(z).
The Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole via the Fe2+/Ultraviolet/Sodium Percarbonate Advanced Oxidation Process: Performance, Mechanism, and Back-Propagate–Artificial Neural Network Prediction Model
Authors: Chen Juxiang , Ruan Chong , Xie Wanying , Dai Caiqiong , Gao Yuqiong , Liao Zhenliang , Gao Naiyun 
Published: February 2024

The degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) via the Fe2+/Ultraviolet (UV)/sodium percarbonate (SPC) system was comprehensively investigated in this study, including the performance optimization, degradation mechanism, and predicting models. The degradation condition of SMX was optimized, and it was found that appropriate amounts of CFe2+ (10~30 μM) and CSPC (10 μM) under an acidic condition (pH = 4~6) were in favor of a higher degradation rate. According to probe compound experiments, it was considerable that ∙OH and ∙CO3− was the primary and subordinate free radical in SMX degradation, and k∙OH,SMX maintained two times more than that of k∙CO3−,SMX, especially under acidic conditions. The UV direct photolysis and other active intermediates were also responsible for the SMX degradation. These active intermediates were produced via the Fe2+/UV/SPC system, involving ∙HO2, HCO4−, ∙O2 −, or 1O2. Furthermore, when typical anions co-existed, the degradation of SMX was negatively influenced, owing to HCO3− and CO32− possibly consuming ∙OH or H2O2 to compete with SMX. In addition, the prediction model was successfully established via the back-propagate artificial neural network (BP-ANN) method. The degradation rate of SMX was well forecasted via the Back-Propagate–Artificial Neural Network (BP-ANN) model, which was expressed as Ypre=tanh(tanh(xiWih)Who). The BP-ANN model reflected the relative importance of influence factors well, which was pH > t > CFe2+≈CSPC. Compared to the response surface method Box–Behnken design (RSM-BBD) model (R2 = 0.9765, relative error = 3.08%), the BP-ANN model showed higher prediction accuracy (R2 = 0.9971) and lower error (1.17%) in SMX degradation via the Fe2+/UV/SPC system. These findings help us to understand, in-depth, the degradation mechanism of SMX; meanwhile, they are conducive to promoting the development of the Fe2+/UV/SPC system in SMX degradation, especially in some practical engineering cases.
Metanización, una alternativa tecnológica para valorización energética de la fracción orgánica de los residuos sólidos urbanos en la provincia de Esmeraldas
Authors: Jijón Solorzano Vladimiro , Recio Recio Angel Amado , Fernández Díaz Galo René 
Published: February 2024

Uno de los problemas que enfrentan las comunidades humanas frente al crecimiento poblacional y desarrollo industrial, es la generación de diferentes tipos de residuos, denominados residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU). Para elaborar un plan de manejo integral de RSU del Cantón Esmeraldas, se parte de la caracterización de los RSU, lo cual permite diseñar la valoración, del potencial energético y la composición por desagregación. Se persigue que el RSU deje de ser una carga económica para el sector público y genere recursos que ayuden a financiar el costo de la gestión. Con el objetivo de disminuir considerablemente la contaminación que se produce por falta de tratamiento adecuado de los RSU.
“Prevenir, controlar y mitigar la contaminación ambiental, como aporte para el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida, continúa siendo sumamente importante para garantizar el derecho humano a vivir en un ambiente sano, pilar fundamental de la sociedad del Buen Vivir”.
En un país, caracterizado históricamente por un crecimiento desorganizado y por la persistencia de problemas como la contaminación del aire, la contaminación hídrica, la inadecuada disposición y tratamiento de residuos domiciliarios e industriales, la reducción, el control y la prevención de la contaminación, resultan imprescindibles”
Con esto, se espera que se diseñe un buen Tratamiento Mecánico Biológico de los RSU, con la tecnología de Túneles de Metanización, con un importante beneficio económico y ambiental para el cantón.
Efficacy of combined rehabilitation programs for infants with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
Authors: Osmolovsky D. S. , Osmolovsky S. V. , Ovchinnikov A. V. , Perelomova O. V. 
Published: February 2024

Aim. To evaluate the eﬃcacy of a combined rehabilitation program for infants with perinatal lesions of the central nervous system in the form of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).Materials and methods. In total, 173 six-month-old children who underwent hypoxia were included in the observational study. The rehabilitation program included medical massage and hydrokinesotherapy; myostimulation of the muscles of the back and limbs; dry immersion method; treatments on a Grosso simulator; ergotherapy; therapy with an elastic pseudo-boiling layer; speech therapy massage. The Griﬃth mental development scale was used to assess the psychomotor development of infants.Results. Following a course of combined rehabilitation, a positive dynamic in improving functional disorders in children of the ﬁrst year of life who underwent perinatal HIE was revealed. This eﬀect was associated with improvements in motor and sensory functions, indicators of speech development and understanding speech, emotions and communication, thinking and play activity. A reduction in the backlog of psychomotor development by 1–2 checkup periods and a reduction in the risk of obtaining the status of a disabled child by 12 months was established.Conclusion. Combined programs of long-term rehabilitation for infants with perinatal lesions of the central nervous system were conﬁrmed to be eﬀective due to the pos itive dynamics of functional activity indicators, acceleration of the formation of life support skills, and a threefold reduction in the level of disability.
Morbidity of circulatory diseases among the working-age population in the Far Eastern federal district in 2012–2021
Authors: Vazhenina A. A. , Shastin A. S. , Trankovskaya L. V. , Ivanova I. L. , Anishchenko E. B. , Panov V. G. , Gazimova V. G. , Zolotareva S. O. 
Published: February 2024

Aim.To study the indicators and regional features of circulatory disease morbidity among the able-bodied population in the Far Eastern Federal District for the 2012–2021 period.Material and methods.A descriptive statistical study was conducted. The indicators of incidence and prevalence rates of circulatory system diseases, including ischemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases, were calculated according to the data published by the Russian Research Institute of Health. To assess the statistical signiﬁcance of diﬀerences in the incidence rate in 2020 and 2021 relative to the 2012–2019 period, a 95% CI for the average incidence rate in 2012–2019 was used by generating repeated samples. Diﬀerences in the incidence and prevalence rates in 2020 and 2021 above the upper or below the lower CI boundary for the average values in 2012–2019 were considered statistically signiﬁcant.Results.An analysis of the incidence and prevalence rates of circulatory system diseases among the working-age population in the Far Eastern Federal District in 2012–2021 was carried out. The obtained data are characterized by a signiﬁcant variability and heterogeneity of indicators, showing signiﬁcant diﬀerences from the all-Russian data for the 2012–2019 period. Changes in the incidence and prevalence rates of circulatory system diseases in the Far Eastern Federal District during the spread of COVID-19 in 2020–2021 were found to be multidirectional. In general, the statistically signiﬁcant increase in the incidence of coronary heart disease in the Far Eastern Federal District in 2020 and 2021 is largely associated with the growth of indicators in the Khabarovsk Krai.Conclusions.The obtained characteristics of the incidence and prevalence rates of circulatory system diseases, including ischemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases, indicate the presence of pronounced regional characteristics. The revealed multiple diﬀerences in the morbidity rates in the subjects of the Far Eastern Federal District require further research to determine their priority and signiﬁcance for monitoring the health of the population.