bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dissolved organic compounds in geothermal fluids used for energy production: a review
Authors: Leins Alessio , Bregnard Danaé , Vieth-Hillebrand Andrea , Junier Pilar , Regenspurg Simona 
Published: June 2022

AbstractDissolved organic matter (DOM) can be found in a variety of deep subsurface environments such as sedimentary basins, oil fields and mines. However, the origin, composition and fate of DOM within deep geothermal reservoirs used for energy production is relatively unknown. With well depths reaching a few kilometers, these sites give access to investigate deep subsurface environments. Natural DOM as well as artificial DOM (e.g., from chemical scaling inhibitors) might serve as nutrients for microorganisms or affect chemical properties of the fluids by complexation. Its composition might reveal hydraulic connections to organic-rich strata, giving insights to the fluid flow within the reservoir. This review presents an overview of a total of 143 fluid samples from 22 geothermal sites (mainly central Europe), from the literature and compiling data to address the importance of DOM in geothermal fluids and how it might affect geothermal operation. The environmental conditions of the sites included varied greatly. Temperatures range from 34 to$$200\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$200∘C, depths from 850 to 5000 m, chloride content from 0.1 to$$160\,{\hbox {g}\,\hbox {L}^{-1}}$$160gL-1, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations from 0.1 to$$30.1\,{\hbox {g}\,\hbox {L}^{-1}}$$30.1gL-1. The DOC concentrations were found to be generally lower in the fluids with temperatures below$$80\,{}^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$80∘C. DOC concentrations were higher in fluids with temperatures above$$80\,{}^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$80∘Cand showed a decrease towards$$200\,{}^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$200∘C. Microbial degradation might be the main driver for low DOC concentrations in the lower temperature range (below$$80\,{}^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$80∘C), while thermal degradation likely accounts for the decline in DOC in the temperature region between$$80\,{}^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$80∘Cand$$200\,{}^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$200∘C. This review shows that DOM can be found in a variety of geothermal reservoirs and that it could be an additional essential tool to better understand fluid chemistry and reservoir conditions, and to optimize geothermal operation.
Exploring fungal RiPPs from the perspective of chemical ecology
Authors: Ford R. E. , Foster G. D. , Bailey A. M. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractSince the initial detection, in 2007, of fungal ribosomally synthesised and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), this group of natural products has undergone rapid expansion, with four separate classes now recognised: amatoxins/phallotoxins, borosins, dikaritins, and epichloëcyclins. Largely due to their historically anthropocentric employment in medicine and agriculture, novel fungal proteins and peptides are seldom investigated in relation to the fungus itself. Therefore, although the benefits these compounds confer to humans are often realised, their evolutionary advantage to the fungus, the reason for their continued production, is often obscure or ignored. This review sets out to summarise current knowledge on how these small peptide-derived products influence their producing species and surrounding biotic environment.
When the local encounters the global: aesthetic conflicts in the Chinese traditional music world
Authors: Yu Jiaxuan 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThrough a case study of the Chinese traditional music world, this study explores how artists in different specializations within an art world working on an indigenous art form make sense of divergent aesthetics. By adopting both Becker’s (Art worlds: 25th anniversary edition, updated and expanded, University of California Press, Berkeley, 2008) view of art worlds as substantially existing communities shared by artistic individuals and Bourdieu’s (Poetics 12(4–5):311–356, 1983) emphasis on artistic divergences stemming from broader social structures, I build a theoretical framework regarding how implicit aesthetic conflicts coexist with explicit collaborations in an art world. Under the impact of cultural globalization, the Chinese traditional music world’s conventions have experienced a historical revolution. Since then, music performers enact frames to defend the aesthetics that they consider “traditional” that emphasize stability in terms of the musical content but that have highly idiosyncratic styles of performance. However, other types of musicians—namely those involved in composing, conducting, theoretical research—are more likely to enact frames defending aesthetics that express a willingness to “Westernize” based on their understandings and emphasize on innovation in terms of musical content and systematic and routinized styles of performance. Their framings shape their different reactions to their art world’s conventions. By analyzing this process, I show how local–global dynamics constitute aesthetic conflicts in an art world that is often considered highly local and traditional.
Biocompatible carbonized iodine-doped dots for contrast-enhanced CT imaging
Authors: Jeong Yohan , Jin Minyoung , Kim Kyoung Sub , Na Kun 
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Background
Computed tomography (CT) imaging has been widely used for the diagnosis and surveillance of diseases. Although CT is attracting attention due to its reasonable price, short scan time, and excellent diagnostic ability, there are severe drawbacks of conventional CT contrast agents, such as low sensitivity, serious toxicity, and complicated synthesis process. Herein, we describe iodine-doped carbon dots (IDC) for enhancing the abilities of CT contrast agents.

Method
IDC was synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal synthesis for 4 h at 180 ℃ and analysis of its structure and size distribution with UV–Vis, XPS, FT-IR, NMR, TEM, and DLS. Furthermore, the CT values of IDC were calculated and compared with those of conventional CT contrast agents (Iohexol), and the in vitro and in vivo toxicities of IDC were determined to prove their safety.

Results
IDC showed improved CT contrast enhancement compared to iohexol. The biocompatibility of the IDC was verified via cytotoxicity tests, hemolysis assays, chemical analysis, and histological analysis. The osmotic pressure of IDC was lower than that of iohexol, resulting in no dilution-induced contrast decrease in plasma.

Conclusion
Based on these results, the remarkable CT contrast enhancement and biocompatibility of IDC can be used as an effective CT contrast agent for the diagnosis of various diseases compared with conventional CT contrast agents.
Assessment of molluscicidal and larvicidal activities of CuO nanoparticles on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails
Authors: Ibrahim Amina Mohamed , Abdel-Ghaffar Fathi A. , Hassan Hassan Abdel-Malek , Fol Mona Fathi 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Schistosomiasis is a major, but generally overlooked, tropical disease carried by snails of the genus Biomphalaria, which have a large distribution in Egypt. Control of the intermediate host snail is critical in limiting schistosomiasis spread. On the topic of snails’ management, nanotechnology has gained more interest.

Results
Copper oxide nanoparticles, characterised by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, showed a single crystal structure with an average crystallite size around 40 nm by X-ray diffraction and typical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image. Also, the UV–VIS spectrophotometer displayed a sharp absorption band of CuO NPs. Molluscicidal activity of copper oxide nanoparticles against B. alexandrina snails was observed. Following exposure to CuO NPs (LC50 and LC90 was 40 and 64.3 mg/l, respectively), there was a reduction in the growth and reproductive rates of treated B. alexandrina at the sub-lethal concentrations, as well as, a drop in egg viability. Moreover, CuO NPs exhibited a toxic effect on miracidiae and cercariae of S. mansoni. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations of the head-foot and mantle of control and treated snails to the sub-lethal concentrations of CuO NPs (LC10 15.6 mg\l–LC25 27.18 mg\l) indicated morphological alterations in the ultrastructure.

Conclusions
CuO NPs caused a significant effect against the intermediate hosts of S. mansoni and provide a considerable scope in exploiting local indigenous resources as snail molluscicidal agents.
Fumarate Hydratase is a Novel Gene for Familial Non-Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Alzahrani Ali S , Alswailem Meshael , Alghamdi Balgees , Al-Hindi Hindi 
Published: June 2022

AbstractContextThe majority of cases of epithelial cell-derived thyroid cancer are sporadic. Familial non-medullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) occurs in about 5% to 9% of cases, either as a part of known syndromes such as Cowden syndrome or in the form of familial clustering of 2 or more affected family members. Hereditary leiomyoma and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) syndrome is a rare familial cancer syndrome. The underlying etiology is heterozygous germline mutations of the fumarate hydratase (FH) gene. In addition to extensive uterine and skin leiomyomas and RCC, other tumors may arise in this syndrome. However, thyroid cancer has never been described as part of HLRCC. Here, we describe a woman who presented with an aggressive poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC) and was found to have HLRCC syndrome because of a novel heterozygous germline FH mutation.ResultsA 43-year-old woman presented with a large lower neck mass that was found to be PDTC. During her evaluation, she was found to have extensive uterine leiomyomatosis and bilateral adrenal nodules. Whole exome and subsequent Sanger sequencing of leucocyte DNA revealed a novel monoallelic nonsense FH mutation (c.760C&gt;T, p.Q254*). Sequencing of the thyroid tumor tissue showed a biallelic loss at the same mutation site (loss of heterozygosity) and immunohistochemistry of the PDTC showed loss of FH staining in the tumor tissue, indicating the pathogenic role of this mutation in the development of PDTC in this patient.ConclusionThyroid cancer is a novel feature of the FH-related HLRCC syndrome. This syndrome can be added to the rare genetic causes of syndromic FNMTC.
Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with customized tumor-type total knee arthroplasty on immune function and limb function in the treatment of malignant bone tumors around the knee joint
Authors: Zhang Xu , Lang Zhigang , Wang Yitian 
Published: June 2022

Objectives: To explore the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with customized tumor-type total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on immune function and limb function in the treatment of malignant bone tumors around the knee joint.
Methods: Sixty-one patients with malignant bone tumors around the knee joint treated in Sichuan Provincial Orthopedics Hospital from February 2018 to February 2020 were retrospectively enrolled and divided into two groups according to treatment methods. The differences in immune function indexes before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. And their postoperative complications were recorded.
Results: Before treatment, no significant difference can be observed in the comparison, values between the two groups (P>0.05); After treatment, the levels in Group-A were higher than before treatment (P<0.05), but the levels were not different from those before treatment (P>0.05). In contrast, the levels in Group-B were higher than before treatment and higher than that in Group-A, while the level of CD8+ was lower than before treatment and lower than that in Group-A (P<0.05). At six months postoperatively, no significant difference was observed in the excellent and good rate of limb function between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no differences in the incidence of postoperative prosthesis complications and the incidence of adverse chemotherapy reactions between the two groups (P>0.05)
Conclusion: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with customized tumor-type TKA for knee malignant bone tumors is an excellent safety treatment for malignant bone tumors around the knee joint, boasting a variety of benefits, such as significantly ameliorating the immune function of patients and promoting the recovery of limb function, which is worthy of clinical application.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5433
How to cite this:Zhang X, Lang Z, Wang Y. Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with customized tumor-type total knee arthroplasty on immune function and limb function in the treatment of malignant bone tumors around the knee joint. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5433
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.
Five years’ retrospective analysis of childhood ocular morbidities: A priority setting guidelines for pediatric eye clinic
Authors: Bukhari Sadia , Azam Shua , Ahsan Shahid , Mahmood Tauseef , Memon Muhammad Saleh , Haseeb Uzma , Arslan Muhammad 
Published: June 2022

Objectives: To observe patterns of Pediatric eye diseases over five years 2015-19, to improve management of ophthalmic pediatric units in the developing countries.
Methods: It was an observational, cross-sectional study carried out in a tertiary eye care Hospital, Karachi. Records of the children under 16 years of age from 2015 to 2019 were retrieved. Inclusion criteria included complete records with age, gender of the children, symptoms, examination, investigation if necessary, and diagnosis. All incomplete records were excluded.
Results: A total of 35348 records with 55.17% boys and 44.82% girls were analyzed. Similar gender difference was reflected in disease frequency. Seven percent of the children did not have detectable ocular pathology. Conjunctivitis, refractive errors and squint were the three most common ocular morbidities observed in decreasing order of frequency as 32.67%, 20.08% and 14.7% respectively. Cataract was present in 4.51%, Corneal disease in 4.11%, Retinal pathology in 1.04%, Glaucoma in 0.49% cases; but Retinoblastoma was present in 55 cases and ROP in 4 cases only. Almost 60% of the children had simple ocular problems like conjunctivitis, refractive error and absence of any pathology.
Conclusion: Majority of the children attending pediatric ophthalmology had simple problems manageable at primary health facility level. Strengthening of the primary health care facility will reduce considerable burden of pediatric unit at the tertiary level. Optometrists and orthoptists are important members of the team for refraction and squint management.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5441
How to cite this:Bukhari S, Azam S, Ahsan S, Mahmood T, Memon MS, Haseeb U, et al. Five years’ retrospective analysis of childhood ocular morbidities; A priority setting guidelines for pediatric eye clinic. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5441
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.
Specialty preferences and factors affecting the choices of postgraduate specialty among undergraduate medical students
Authors: Mohamed Elsadig Yousif 
Published: June 2022

Objectives: To study specialties preference of the students at the College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia; and to determine the factors that affect the choice of their postgraduate specialty.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 138 undergraduate medical students at the College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia for the current academic year 2021-2022. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24, and a Chi-square test was utilized to compare qualitative data.
Results: Internal medicine is the first choice for 16 (19.8%) students. General surgery and family medicine were selected by 15 (18.5%) and 12 (14.8%) students, respectively. Sixty-seven (82.7%) students relied on their selection of a good future guaranteed by specialty, and 48 (49.3%) selected challenging specialty; 64 (79.0%) were motivated by a practicing doctor for their future specialty selection and 54 (66.7%) by their families.
Conclusions: Most preferred specialty for medical students is internal medicine followed by general surgery. Both genders preferred internal medicine as their future specialty. Some important specialties such as public health and basic medical sciences were not selected as a future specialty by any student. The most stated reason behind specialty selection is the provision for a good future. Most students are motivated by a practicing doctor to select a postgraduate specialty.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5571
How to cite this:Mohamed EY. Specialty preferences and factors affecting the choices of postgraduate specialty among undergraduate medical students. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5571
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.
Diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein to rule out infectious complications following hip fracture surgery
Authors: Ahmed Syed Kamran , Shahzad Muhammad Gulfam , Iftikhar Sundus 
Published: June 2022

Background and Objective: Knowledge of the C-reactive protein trend and deviation from the expected value may give an early indication of a possible postoperative infection. According to previous studies, CRP appears to be a more sensitive and specific marker of postoperative infections than ESR and white cell count. This study was conducted to determine the diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein to rule out surgical site infection in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at The Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi from July 1, 2018 to February 24, 2020. All operative hip fracture patients aged 11-90 years were included. CRP was done on admission, days 3, 14 and 28. Wound assessment was done using the criteria of the Center of Disease Control and prevention on postoperative days 3, 14 and 28. Data was analyzed using STATA version 16.
Results: Out of 152 patients, 11(7.2%) developed infection. One patient (0.7%) presented with the infection on day three post-surgery, eight (5.3%) and two (1.3%) patients on days 14 and 28 respectively. CRP levels at admission had poor diagnostic accuracy for diagnosing infection at 14th and 28th day post-surgery respectively (AUC=0.490 and 0.447). CRP levels measured on post-op Day-3 (cutoff value 230mg/dl) had good diagnostic accuracy for diagnosing infection at 14th and 28th day post-surgery respectively (AUC=0.819 and 0.818).
Conclusion: CRP level at post-operative day three is a sensitive indicator of infection after hip fracture surgery.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5577
How to cite this:Ahmed SK, Shahzad MG, Iftikhar S. Diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein to rule out infectious complications following hip fracture surgery. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5577
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.
Effect of donor and red blood cells concentrate characteristics on recipient hemoglobin increment following red blood cells transfusion in pediatric patients
Authors: Saqlain Nazish , Mazher Naghmana , Arshad Sundas , Sajjal Maha 
Published: June 2022

Objectives: To determine the effects of donor and red blood cells concentrate characteristics on recipient hemoglobin increment following red blood cells transfusion in pediatric patients.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at The Hematology & Transfusion Medicine Department of The UCHS & The Children’s Hospital, Lahore from 23rd December 2020 to 31st July 2021 after Institutional Ethical committee approval. After taking informed consent from parents/guardians, One hundred recipients receiving RBCs unit transfusion studied along with the respective donors. The donor’s details were recorded on a pre-designed proforma which included age, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), CBC analysis (Hemoglobin [Hb] & Hematocrit) and blood group. Components’ preparation, storage and modifications details were also recorded. Hb levels of recipient were determined 12 hours prior to transfusion and 12-18 hours after transfusion. The data was analyzed on SPSS version 26.
Results: Among recipients, the mean age was 5.25 ±3 years and male to female ratio was 1.16:1. The mean pre-transfusion Hb level of patients was 6.48g/dl (SD: 2.15) and mean post transfusion Hb was 8.824 g/dl (SD: 2.03) with a significant raise after transfusion (p< 0.001). Majority donors (60%) were between 18 to 30 years of age and mean age was 30.7 years (SD: 9.04). The hemoglobin increment was reduced for transfusion of RBC units from donor with greater age. Post- transfusion Hb rise was more in Rh D positive donations than Rh D negative (p< 0.0001). No significance of donors’ gender, BMI, Hb and hematocrit was found in relation to Hb increment. Among RBCs concentrate features, washing with normal saline found to have greater Hb increment, particularly in Thalassemia patients (p< 0.0001).
Conclusion: Donors’ age and Rh blood group and red blood cell concentrates’ washing accounts for significant rise in recipient’s post-transfusion hemoglobin. These factors may be used to predict changes in recipients’ hemoglobin before transfusion.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5739
How to cite this:Saqlain N, Mazher N, Arshad S, Sajjal M. Effect of donor and red blood cells concentrate characteristics on recipient hemoglobin increment following red blood cells transfusion in pediatric patients. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5739
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.
Validating the conceptual domains of elementary school teachers’ knowledge and needs vis-à-vis the CLIL approach in Chinese-speaking contexts
Authors: Wang Mei-Jung , Yang Li-Zu , Yang Wen-Hsien 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
The purpose of this research is to validate the conceptual domains of teachers’ knowledge and needs vis-à-vis content and language integrated learning (CLIL) within bilingual taught programmes in the Chinese-speaking setting of Taiwan. A Chinese version of a ‘CLIL teachers’ conceptual domain’ scale was developed and administered to measure teachers’ competence in using CLIL, the challenges they may face, and the training to be offered in their CLIL classrooms. Using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, the results show that the internal consistency was supported by satisfactory Cronbach’s alphas, the composite reliability of all three measures ranges from 0.75 to 0.93, and the AVE (average variance extracted) is between 0.43 and 0.70. These results suggest that the measures possess high internal validity, and there exists factorial and external convergent and discriminant validity. This validated questionnaire is an effective instrument for providing valuable insights for CLIL practitioners and training providers in Chinese-speaking contexts.