bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of alloxan on the locomotor ability and developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon-R)
Authors: Siddique Yasir Hasan , Ansari Mohd Saifullah , Rahul  , Naz Falaq , Jyoti Smita , Faisal Mohammad , Pandey Sharad 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundVarious bleaching agents are used in food industries among which some reacts to form alloxan. Therefore, the alloxan can indirectly enter a human body and thus form an important aspects for studying its effect on the development. In the present study, the effect of alloxan was studied on the climbing ability, pupation and emergence of flies. Fifty first instar larvae were introduced separately in the vials containing 0.001, 0.002, 0.003 and 0.004 M of alloxan. Then, the duration of pupation as well as the emergence of flies was noted each day till 20 days. The climbing assay was performed on the emerged flies.ResultsThe results suggest that alloxan at 0.002, 0.003 and 0.004 M is potent in inducing the delay in pupation, emergence (of adult flies) and decreased locomotor activity ofDrosophila melanogaster.ConclusionsAlloxan exhibits toxic effects at 0.002, 0.003 and 0.004 M inDrosophila.
Natural polyphenol self-assembled pH-responsive nanoparticles loaded into reversible hydrogel to inhibit oral bacterial activity
Authors: Qi Yunyun , Yang Jinxiang , Chi Yaping , Wen Peng , Wang Zhongying , Yu Shiyi , Xue Rui , Fan Jingmin , Li Hong , Chen Wen , Wang Xinjun , Zhang Yan , Guo Gang , Han Bo 
Published: September 2022

AbstractPeriodontitis is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory diseases and Polyphenols isolated from Turkish gall play a major role in the treatment of inflammatory diseases for their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In this work, Turkish Galls effective constituent (TGEC, T) was prepared into nanoparticles (T-NPs) by principle of oxidative self-polymerization. The pH-sensitive T-NPs was encapsulated into thermosensitive type in-situ hydrogel, and 42.29 ± 1.12% of effective constituent from T-NPs were continuously released within 96 h under the periodontitis environment. In addition, the weakly alkaline oral micro-environment of patients with periodontitis is more conducive to the sustained release of effective constituent, which is 10.83% more than that of healthy periodontal environment. The bacteriostatic test showed that T-NPs had stronger antibacterial activity on oral pathogens than that of TGEC. Compared with TGEC, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of T-NPs against P. gingivalis and A. viscosus was reduced by 50% and 25%, respectively. Interestingly, T-NPs induced bacteria lysis by promoting the excessive production of ROS without periodontal tissue damage caused by excessive oxidation reaction. In conclusion, a simple method of preparing microspheres with natural polyphenols was developed, which provides beneficial reference for one-step prepared drug carriers from effective components of natural product, likewise the method offers a green and effective solution to synthesis a new adjuvant therapy drugs for treatment of gingivitis associated with periodontal pockets.
A Century-long Journey From the Discovery of Insulin to the Implantation of Stem Cell–derived Islets
Authors: Ramzy Adam , Belmonte Paul J , Braam Mitchell J S , Ida Shogo , Wilts Emily M , Levings Megan K , Rezania Alireza , Kieffer Timothy J 
Published: September 2022

AbstractFor the past century, insulin injections have saved millions of lives, but glycemic instability is still a persistent challenge for people with diabetes, leading to tremendous morbidity and premature mortality. Research in the field of islet transplantation has demonstrated that replacing insulin-producing β cells can restore euglycemia comparable to individuals without diabetes. However, a short supply of cadaveric islet donors, the technically challenging process of isolating islets, and the requirement for chronic immune suppression have impeded widespread clinical adoption. Rather than relying on cadaveric cells, pluripotent stem cells could serve as a virtually unlimited supply of insulin-producing β cells. Protocols have been developed that mimic the normal in vivo development of the human pancreas to generate pancreatic progenitor cells in vitro. Ongoing investigations have yielded progressively more mature β-like cells in vitro that produce insulin but do not yet fully mimic healthy mature β cells. Alongside development of differentiation protocols, other work has provided insight into potential implantation sites for stem cell–derived islet cells including the subcutaneous space, portal vein, and omentum. To optimize implanted cell survival and function, development of immune modulation therapies is ongoing, including selection of immunomodulatory medications and genetic modification of implanted cells to evade immune responses. Further, macroencapsulation or microencapsulation devices could be used to contain and/or immunoprotect implanted cells from the immune response including by using 3-dimensional bioprinting to facilitate the process. Remarkably, ongoing clinical trials have now yielded the first patient relying on differentiated stem cells rather than syringes as their insulin replacement therapy.
Poetics of Cohabitation: An Ecosemiotic Theory of Oral Poiesis
Authors: Ribó Ignasi 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThis article exposes the principles of an ecosemiotic theory of oral poiesis, which conceives of singing as a highly specific habit or skilled practice within the human domain of languaging. It is claimed that oral poiesis may contribute to the semiotic alignment of human and nonhuman own-worlds (Umwelten), playing a role in processes of structural coupling within a habitat, understood as a hybrid assemblage or collective of multispecies inhabitants. The article describes how oral poiesis, as a modeling system, contributes to sustaining the various modes of identification that characterize collective human ontologies (animism, naturalism, totemism, analogism) through distinctive operations of symbolization (literality, metaphor, metonymy, analogy). These modes of ecopoetic symbolization serve to bring nonhumans, such as animals, plants, mountains, or rivers, into human own-worlds. Moreover, as one of many skilled practices of humans, oral poiesis is characterized by certain intrinsic features, such as attention, play, feeling, ritualization, musicality, or remembrance, which contribute to human sociality and hence to a system-wide relationality. All these elements constitute the foundations of a poetics of cohabitation.
A Decade of ACOs in Medicare: Have They Delivered on Their Promise?
Authors: Spivack Steven B. , Murray Genevra F. , Lewis Valerie A. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Accountable care organizations (ACOs) were envisioned as a way to address both health care cost growth and uneven quality in US health care. They emerged in the early 2000s, with the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) establishing a Medicare ACO program. In the decade since their launch, ACOs have grown into one of Medicare's flagship payment reform programs, with millions of beneficiaries receiving care from hundreds of ACOs. While great expectations surrounded ACOs' introduction into Medicare, their impacts to date have been modest. ACOs have achieved some savings and improvements in measured quality, but disagreement persists over the meaning of those results: Do ACOs represent important, incremental steps forward on the path toward a more efficient, high-quality health care system? Or do their modest achievements signal a failure of large-scale progress despite the substantial investments of resources? ACOs have proven to be politically resilient, largely sidestepping the controversies and partisan polarization that have led to the demise of other ACA provisions. But the same features that have enabled ACOs to evade backlash have constrained their impacts and effectiveness. After a decade, ACOs' long-term influence on Medicare and the US health care system remains uncertain.
Uric acid as a prognostic predictor in COVID-19
Authors: Parmaksız Ergün , Torun Parmaksız Elif 
Published: September 2022

Objective: The purpose of our study was to investigate the incidence and prognostic significance of baseline and control uric acid values in COVID-19.
Methods: The study population included patients admitted with the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 between March 2020 and March 2021. The demographic data, clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings were recorded. Uric acid levels were measured at the time of admission for 498 patients and at the most severe period of the disease in 143 patients. Length of hospital stay, need for admission to intensive care unit, the course, and outcomes during hospitalization were recorded.
Results: The mean age of 261 male and 207 female patients was 62.7(21-95) years. At the time of admission, 21 patients had hypouricemia and 170 had hyperuricemia. The need for ICU was 47.6% in the hypouricemic, 19.2% in the normouricemic, and 21.2% in the hyperuricemic groups. The mean uric acid level was 5.24±2.54 mg/dl in patients who required ICU admission and 5.18±1.98 mg/dl in patients who were discharged from the ward. The difference was not statistically significant. The mean uric acid level was not significantly different in the deceased and survivors. In 143 subjects, uric acid levels were measured after the progression of COVID-19; 73 of them were admitted to the ICU. The mean uric acid levels were found to be significantly decreased in patients with a negative prognosis
Conclusion: In our study, hypouricemia was not found to be a major feature of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Low baseline uric acid levels were associated with increased ICU admission. The decline in uric acid levels during hospital stay predicted poor prognosis, as well.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.8.6636
How to cite this:Parmaksız E, Parmaksız ET. Uric acid as a prognostic predictor in COVID-19. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(8):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.8.6636
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Stress and depression among students: Are we doing enough?
Authors: Tariq Sundus , Tariq Saba , Mubarak Naeem 
Published: September 2022

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.8.7076
How to cite this:Tariq S, Tariq S, Mubarak N. Stress and depression among students: Are we doing enough? Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(8):2056-2057. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.8.7076
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival secretion and tears in patients with COVID-19 in a tertiary care centre, South India. .
Authors: R. Nayak Rajesh , Bhat Sevitha , R Kamath Ajay , Chandak Anshul , Khare Kanishk 
Published: September 2022

Aims and objectives: Purpose of this study is to detect the presence of SAR-CoV-2 viral RNA in conjunctival secretions of COVID-19 patients and to compare the RT-PCR positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival and nasopharyngeal swab. Materials and method: Eighty hospitalised COVID-19 patients whose nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR were included in the study. Conjunctival swab was collected from eyes of these patients and sent for detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR method. Results: Among the eighty patients, 51 (63.7%) were males and 29 (36.3%) were females. The mean age of the patients was 55.93 ± 16.59. Six patients had ocular manifestations. Eleven (13.75%) patients tested positive on conjunctival swab for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA and only one of them had ocular manifestations out of the eleven. Conclusion: In our study the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival secretions of COVID-19 patients was detected and this was not dependent on presence of ocular manifestations or duration of disease. Though the conjunctival positivity is lower compared to the nasopharyngeal swab sampling, ocular surface and secretions can be a potential route of viral transmission.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis - an insidious enemy of the liver - case report
Authors: Knop Kinga , Piasecka Zuzanna , Kochanowska Anna , Glaz Aneta , Wesolek Ewelina , Kasztelan-Szczerbinska Beata , Skrzydlo-Radomanska Barbara 
Published: September 2022

Background and introduction
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic liver disease with features of cholestasis as a result of inflammation and damage to the bile ducts, which can eventually lead to liver fibrosis and parenchymal failure at an advanced stage.
Case Report
A 22-year-old man was admitted urgently to the Department of Gastroenterology for complaints of abdominal pain, weakness and tarry stools. A panel of detailed examinations was performed to establish the diagnosis. An abdominal ultrasound scan showed significant enlargement of the liver and spleen. Gastroscopy revealed variceal columns of II degree in the lower esophagus, which were cauterized. Laboratory tests confirmed anemia, reduced platelet and white blood cell counts, increased activity of ALT, ASP, GTP, ALP and slight elevation of total bilirubin in the blood. Based on the clinical disease manifestation and the results of diagnostic tests, cirrhosis of unknown origin was suspected. Subsequent magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) revealed the presence of multiple strictures in the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts and gave rise to the diagnosis of PSC. Pharmacological treatment was administered. Currently, the patient remains under the close care of the Transplant Clinic, where he undergoes regular checks of liver function, and endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) as required.
Discussion with conclusions
The case presented here shows that the course of PSC can be insidious and asymptomatic. Despite the absence of clinical symptoms, the disease can lead to the development of advanced cirrhosis even in patients of young age and be diagnosed as late as at the decompensated stage, when the only treatment option remains organ transplantation.
Ratings and Cooperative Information Transmission
Authors: Martel Jordan , Van Wesep Edward Dickersin , Van Wesep Robert 
Published: September 2022

Researchers have often attributed discrete messages such as ratings to a difference in preferences between sender and receiver. By extending a standard model of information transmission, we show that discreteness can also arise when preferences are identical but misinterpretation is possible. Whereas discrete messages are less precise, they are easier to interpret. We provide predictions for the distribution of ratings. If we believe that an observed distribution results from cooperative behavior, the model provides a method for inferring the objectives of the sender and receiver. Ratings inflation and deflation arise as emergent properties of an optimal distribution. This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance. Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4297 .
An exploration of public perceptions and attitudes towards maggot therapy
Authors: Nigam Yamni , Williams Sharon , Humphreys Ioan , Clifford Rebecca , Brown Amy 
Published: September 2022

Objective:The aim of the study was to explore public opinion and perceptions of maggot therapy (larval therapy), a treatment option for hard-to-heal wounds.Method:The study used a mixed-method approach to obtain quantitative and qualitative data. A focus group was convened to explore opinions and views of maggot therapy with a small group of members of the public. Analysis of emerging themes from the focus group was used to design an anonymised web-based survey, which was made available online to members of the public through email and social media.Results:The focus group participants identified four key themes concerning the acceptability of maggot therapy. The subsequent online survey was completed by 412 participants, analysis of which revealed some worries and fears. Only 36% of survey participants agreed that they would accept maggot therapy as a first choice for a hypothetical painful wound, although this number increased with wound severity. The most predominant concerns regarding maggot therapy were sensation and a feeling of disgust associated with the therapy. However, participants could see some benefits to maggot therapy.Conclusion:Our study showed that public perception of maggot therapy is varied. Survey participants expressed worries and fears associated with its use. However, positive relationships existed between knowledge scores and potential acceptability of maggot therapy, suggesting that information dissemination and education may be an important factor in public perception and acceptability of maggot therapy.
Effects of resveratrol topical ointment on wound healing of full-thickness cutaneous burns in albino rats
Authors: Yoksa Daniel T , Abba Yusuf , Shamaki Bala U , Satumari Ngamarju A 
Published: September 2022

Objective: In this study, the effects of resveratrol topical ointment on wound contraction and histopathology of full-thickness cutaneous burn wounds were evaluated. Method: Adult albino rats were grouped into four equal-sized groups of 15 rats each, as follows: Group A—no wound, no treatment (control); Group B—1% silver sulphadiazine; Group C—5% resveratrol, and Group D—wound without treatment (control). A burn wound measuring 23.5mm was created on the skin at the dorsum of all rats in groups B—D after shaving. The percentage of wound contraction was measured using a digital Vernier Caliper on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 16, 18 and 21, post-wounding. From each group, five rats were then euthanised and tissue samples of the skin, liver and kidney were collected in 10% buffered formalin for histopathology. Results: The percentage of wound contraction was significant (p<0.05) on 7, 14 and 18 days post treatment. Histopathologically, 5% resveratrol topical ointment application resulted in a thicker epidermis with neovascularisation and an increased collagen distribution. Resveratrol topical ointment ameliorated the extent of hepatocellular and nephrotubular injuries following burn-induced hepatocellular and acute kidney injuries. Conclusion: In this study, topical application of 5% resveratrol ointment appeared to enhance burn wound healing by increasing the rate of wound contraction through collagen fibre synthesis, granulation tissue formation and epithelial regeneration.
Non-differentiable angular dispersion as an optical resource
Authors: Hall Layton A. , Abouraddy Ayman F. 
Published: September 2022

Introducing angular dispersion into a pulsed field associates each
frequency with a particular angle with respect to the propagation
axis. A perennial yet implicit assumption is that the propagation
angle is differentiable with respect to the frequency. Recent work on
space–time wave packets has shown that the existence of a frequency at
which the derivative of the propagation angle does not exist—which we
refer to as non-differentiable angular dispersion—allows for the
optical field to exhibit unique and useful characteristics that are
unattainable by endowing optical fields with conventional angular
dispersion. Because these novel, to the best of our knowledge,
features are retained in principle even when the specific
non-differentiable frequency is not part of the selected spectrum, the
question arises as to the impact of the proximity of the spectrum to
this frequency. We show here that operating in the vicinity of the
non-differentiable frequency is imperative to reduce the deleterious
impact of (1) errors in implementing the angular-dispersion profile
and (2) the spectral uncertainty intrinsic to finite-energy wave
packets in any realistic system. Non-differential angular dispersion
can then be viewed as a resource—quantified by a Schmidt number—that
is maximized in the vicinity of the non-differentiable frequency.
These results will be useful in designing novel phase-matching of
nonlinear interactions in dispersive media.
Digitally tunable optical delay line based on thin-film lithium niobate featuring high switching speed and low optical loss
Authors: Ke Wei , Lin Yanmei , He Mingbo , Xu Mengyue , Zhang Jiaxiang , Lin Zhongjin , Yu Siyuan , Cai Xinlun 
Published: September 2022

A tunable optical delay line (ODL) featuring high switching speed and low optical loss is highly desirable in many fields. Here, based on the thin-film lithium niobate platform, we demonstrate a digitally tunable on-chip ODL that includes five Mach–Zehnder interferometer optical switches, four flip-chip photodetectors, and four delay-line waveguides. The proposed optical switches can achieve a switching speed of 13 ns and an extinction ratio of 34.9 dB. Using a modified Euler-bend-based spiral structure, the proposed delay-line waveguide can simultaneously achieve a small footprint and low optical propagation loss. The proposed ODL can provide a maximum delay time of 150 ps with a resolution of 10 ps and feature a maximum insertion loss of 3.4 dB.
Comparison of post-COVID symptoms in patients with different severity profiles of the acute disease visited at a rehabilitation unit
Authors: Perrot Jean Claude , Segura Macarena , Beranuy Marta , Gich Ignasi , Nadal Mª Josepa , Pintor Alberto , Terra Jimena , Ramirez Eliot , Paz Luis Daniel , Bascuñana Helena , Plaza Vicente , Güell-Rous Mª Rosa 
Published: September 2022

Background and aimStudies in the literature suggest the severity of COVID-19 may impact on post-COVID sequelae. We retrospectively compared the different patterns of symptoms in relation to the severity of acute COVID-19 in patients visited at our post-COVID rehabilitation unit.MethodsWe compared respiratory, muscular, cognitive, emotional, and health-related-quality-of-life (HRQoL) measures in three groups of post-COVID patients: those who had not required hospitalization for the acute disease, those who had been admitted to a general hospital ward, and those who had been admitted to the ICU. The main inclusion criteria were persistent dyspnoea (mMRC ≥2) and/or clinical frailty (scale value ≥3).ResultsWe analyzed data from 178 post-COVID patients (91 admitted to the ICU, 60 to the ward, and 27 who had not required admission) at first visit to our post-COVID rehabilitation unit. Most patients (85.4%) had at least one comorbidity. There were more males in all groups (58.1%). ICU patients were older (p<0.001). The most frequent symptoms in all groups were fatigue (78.2%) and dyspnea (75.4%). Muscle strength and effort capacity were lower in the ICU group (p<0.001). The SF36 mental component and level of anxiety were worse in patients not admitted to the ICU (p<0.001). No differences were found between groups regarding respiratory pressure but 30 of 57 patients with a decrease in maximum inspiratory pressure had not required mechanical ventilation.ConclusionClinical profiles of post-COVID syndrome differed between groups. Muscle parameters were lower in the ICU group but patients who had not needed ICU admission had worse anxiety and HRQoL scores. Many patients who had not required mechanical ventilation had respiratory muscle weakness.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT04852718