Metabolic disorders may cause many complications, including disruption of blood glucose, blood lipids, and uric acid levels, thereby posing a serious threat to human health. Berberine (BBR) is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid widely present in a variety of medicinal plants. Studies have suggested that BBR plays a role in metabolism-related functions, such as glycolipid, mitochondrial energy, and bone metabolism. BBR has been shown to effectively regulate metabolic responses in a variety of target cells including intestinal cells, liver cells, and adipocytes. Multiple signaling pathways and networks are involved in this process, such as the AMPK/SIRT1, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Wnt/β-catenin, and iPLA2β/CL/Opa1 pathways, which are essential for cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, autophagy, and signal transduction. Therefore, BBR may be a promising drug for the regulation of metabolic disorders and treatment of metabolism-related diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms and effects on key cells involved in metabolic processes are complex and unclear. This paper reviews the research on the regulation of various metabolic processes by BBR, focusing mainly on the effect on key target cells, and discusses the existing blind spots and future research directions for the development of the medicinal and clinical value of BBR in the future.

Newborn with amniotic band sequenceAbstract: Amniotic band sequence (ABS) is an uncommon congenital disorder where strands of amniotic tissue cause entrapment of the limbs, body wall, and viscera leading to an array of congenital malformations. We report a case of a newborn with prenatally undiagnosed amniotic band sequence.Keywords: amniotic band sequence, amniotic band syndrome

A document by Joshua Levine. Click on the document to view its contents.

The identification of deleterious mutations in different variants of SARS-CoV-2, and their roles in the morbidity of COVID-19 patients are yet to be explored. Analyzing 5,724 complete genomes of SARS-CoV-2, sequenced from deceased COVID-19 patients globally during January 2020 to February 2023, we found that SARS-CoV-2 genomes of the deceased belonged to 21 Nextstrain clades, of which clade 20I (Alpha variant) was the most predominating clade followed by clade 20H (Beta variant) and clade 20J (Gamma variant). The highest percentage (33.4%) of SARS-CoV-2 genomes from deceased patients were sequenced from North America, while the lowest (0.98%) was from Africa. The “G” clade was found to be predominated in the SARS-CoV-2 genomes Asian, African, and North American regions whereas “GRY” clade outweighed in Europe. We identified 35,799 nucleotide mutations throughout the genome keeping the highest (n = 11,402) frequency in the spike protein. More importantly, 4,150 point-specific amino acids (aa) mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genomes, and of them, D614G (20%) and N501Y (14%) deleterious mutations in the spike protein were found as the top two mutations worldwide. We also detected five frequent deleterious aa mutations such as G18V, W45S, I33T, P30L, and Q418H, responsible for defining each clade of the SARS-CoV-2. Our novel findings could therefore be useful for genomic surveillance and monitoring the integrated pattern of SARS-CoV-2 infection, its emerging variants, and their impacts on developing effective vaccination and control methodology.

The purpose of the present paper is to investigate the flow and heat transfer of fractional Maxwell hybrid nanofluid on a vertical stretching sheet embedded in a porous medium with the consideration of second order slip boundary condition. The fractional governing equations are numerically solved by the finite difference scheme coupled with L1 algorithm. The effects of Darcy number and slip parameters on the hybrid nanofluid flow and heat transfer are graphically presented and discussed, followed by sensitivity analysis of average skin friction coefficient and average Nusselt number to changes in Darcy number and slip parameters with fractional derivatives increasing. The results show that the impact of Darcy number and slip parameters on the average skin friction coefficient, as well as that of slip parameters on the average Nusselt number is more sensitive to velocity fractional derivative than to temperature fractional derivative. While the effect of Darcy number on the average Nusselt number is sensitive to temperature fractional derivative, but irrelevant to velocity fractional derivative. In addition, the flow and heat transfer are more affected by first order slip parameter than by second order slip parameter.

A document by Sharon More. Click on the document to view its contents.

A study aimed at assessing the structure of rodent and shrew assemblages inhabiting a degradation gradient while considering rainfall patterns, was conducted in one of few remaining lowland tropical forests in Eastern Africa. We collected a unique dataset of rodents and shrews, representing 24 species (19 rodents, 5 shrews). The most abundant species alternated in dominance as species abundance significantly fluctuated across the study period following a degradation gradient (F2,33 = 5.68, p = 0.007). While only generalist species were observed near the degraded forest edge, habitat specialists such as Deomys ferrugineus, Malacomys longipes and Scutisorex congicus, were observed in the primary forest interior suggesting a significant (X2 = 1165.329, P<0.001) association between species and their associated habitats and habitat attributes. There was also an observed correlation between rainfall patterns and species abundance. Capturing more species in adjacent fallows and along the degraded forest edge suggests that many species are able to live in degraded habitats that offer a variety of food resources. The continued pressure on forest resources, however, may lead to changes in habitat structure. This, coupled with the dependence of forest ecological functions on rainfall, which is typically not the case, may ultimately cause the local extinction of highly specialized but less adaptable species.

Our understanding of how biotic interactions influence animal community assembly is largely restricted to local systems due to the difficulty of obtaining ecologically meaningful assemblage data across large spatial extents. We used a unique dataset of thousands of spatio-phenologically high-resolution assemblages across three distinct European regions together with a functional diversity approach to understand community assembly of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata), a group characterized by a pronounced competitive reproductive biology. We found that dragonfly, but not damselfly, assemblages were consistently overdispersed in the morphological traits driving inter-specific reproductive encounters, which supports the role of competition. As predicted by ecological theory, support for competition varied spatially and seasonally as a result of changes in temperature stress and niche packing. Our study provides uniquely consistent and general evidence for the role of competition in animal community assembly, and illustrates mechanistically how spatio-temporal diversity patterns arise from variation in assembly processes.

This study explores a spatially distributed harvesting model that signifies the outcome of the competition of two competing species in a heterogeneous environment. The model is controlled by reaction-diffusion equations with resource-based diffusion strategies. Two different situations are maintained by the harvesting effects: when the harvesting rates are independent in space and do not exceed the intrinsic growth rate; and when they are proportional to the time-independent intrinsic growth rate. In particular, the competition between both species differs only by their corresponding migration strategy and harvesting intensity. We have computed the main results for the global existence of solutions that represent either coexistence or competitive exclusion of two competing species depending on the harvesting levels and different imposed diffusion strategies. We also established some estimates on harvesting efforts for which coexistence is apparent. Also, some numerical results are exhibited in one and two spatial dimensions, which shed some light on the ecological implementation of the model. Additionally, we have demonstrated the existence of positive periodic states numerically that arise for seasonal changes or any other periodic factors for time-dependent parameters.

To be a quantitative and testable tectonic model, plate tectonics requires spherical geometry and spherical kinematics in terms of finite rotations conveniently parametrized by their angle and axis and described by unit quaternions. In treatises on ’Plate Tectonics’ infinitesimal, instantaneous, and finite rotations, absolute and relative rotations are said to be applied to model the motion of tectonic plates. Even though these terms are strictly defined in mathematics, they are often casually used in geosciences. Here their definitions are recalled and clarified as well as the terms rotation, orientation, and location on the sphere. For instance, infinitesimal rotations refer to a mathematical limit, when the angle of rotation converges to zero. Their rules do not apply to finite rotations, no matter how small their finite angles of rotation are. Mathematical approaches applying appropriate and feasible assumptions to model spherical motion of tectonic plates over geological times of hundreds of millions of years are derived including (i) sequences of incremental finite rotations, (ii) sequences of accumulating successive concatenations of finite rotations, (iii) continuous rotations in terms of fully transient quaternions. The incremental and the accumulating approach provide complementary views. While the relative Euler pole appears to migrate in the latter, it appears fixed in the former. Path, mean and instantaneous velocity of the migrating Euler pole are derived as well as the angular and trajectoral velocity of the rotational motion about it. The approaches are illustrated by a geological example with actual data and a numerical yet geologically inspired example with artificial data. The former revisits the three plates scenario with stationary axes of two “absolute” rotations implying transient “relative” rotations about a migrating Euler pole and employs a proper plate circuit argument to determine them numerically without resuming to approximations. The latter applies an involved interplay of incremental and accumulating modeling inducing split-join cycles to approximate sinusoidal trajectories as reported to record plates’ motion during the Gondwana breakup.

1. Otoliths have been widely studied as natural recorders of the entire life cycle of aquatic teleosts. Trace elements and stable isotope rations in otoliths are well understood and used as proxies of migration histories, however few elements have shown the potential to reconstruct the migration history of oceanodromous fish. 2. This study reports the first use of radiocarbon in otolith to reconstruct the horizontal migration history of fish. We analyzed three different stocks of walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus around Hokkaido, Japan. 3. Radiocarbon concentration from the outermost edge of otoliths showed a general consistency with seawater radiocarbon concentration of the sampling region, validating the application of otolith radiocarbon concentration to fish migration studies. Pollocks of all three stocks generally inhabited the nearby sampling area throughout their life cycle, though some pollocks of the Okhotsk and Japan Sea stocks respectively showed a possibility of migration between different sea regions. 4. This study confirmed a novel method using radiocarbon concentrations to reconstruct the migration history of marine teleost. Using the high sensitivity of otolith radiocarbon concentration observed in this study, it may be possible to detect fish migration with higher spatial resolution than previous studies using conventional proxies.

In this paper, we will define ∆ v m u -statistically convergent and ∆ v m u -statistically bounded sequence spaces and give some inclusion relations about these spaces. This article is a generalization of Temizsu and Et [1].

Research has shown that genetics and epigenetics regulate mating behavior across multiple species. Previous studies have generally focused on the signaling pathways involved and spatial distribution of the associated receptors. However a thorough quantitative characterization of the receptors involved may offer deeper insight into mating behavioral patterns. Here oxytocin, arginine-vasopressin 1a, dopamine 1, and dopamine 2 receptors were investigated across 76 vertebrate species. The receptor sequences were characterized by polarity-based randomness, amino acid frequency-based Shannon entropy and Shannon sequence variability, intrinsic protein disorder, binding affinity, stability and pathogenicity of homology-based SNPs, structural and physicochemical features. Hierarchical clustering of species was derived based on structural and physicochemical features of the four receptor sequences separately, which eventually led to proximal relationships among 29 species. Humans were found to be significantly distant phylogenetically from the prairie voles, a representative of monogamous species based on coital behavior. Furthermore, the mouse (polygamous), the prairie deer mouse (polygamous), and the prairie vole (monogamous) although being proximally related (based on quantitative genomics of receptors), differed in their coital behavioral pattern, mostly, due to behavioral epigenetic regulations. This study adds a perspective that receptor genomics does not directly translate to behavioral patterns.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in childhood is rare accounting for less than 10 % of all cases of CML and less than 3% of all pediatric leukemia. We conducted a retrospective study of children and young adults (CYA) with CML diagnosed in Tunisia from June 2003 through December 2022. Diagnosis of CML was confirmed by RT-PCR for all patients. Data were analyzed regarding epidemiological characteristics, clinical presentations, molecular findings, treatment response and side effects of Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Of the 1876 patients diagnosed with CML during this period 61 (3.25%) were under 18 years. 37 were male and 24 were female. The chronic phase (CP) was the most common phase of CML seen in 43 patients. While 9 patients were in accelerated phase (AP) and 9 had inaugural blast crisis. Mean white blood cell count were 232 x10 9 /L. All patients were positive for bcr-abl transcript : 32 patients had b2a2, 25 had b3a2. They were given oral TKI. Only 5 patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. 51 achieved complete hematologic remission on imatinib. 27 patients achieved major molecular remission and 13 are currently maintaining a bcr-abl ratio under 0.01% which corresponds to MR4.5 ,6 patients progressed under TKI within 7 months. This retrospective study represents the first series of CYA with CML in Africa. Our data are comparable with the literature findings regarding epidemiological characteristic, clinical presentations, and response to TKI.

In this paper, two new compacts halved size single and UWB antennas are proposed for WiFi and UWB applications. The single-band compact halved size slot antenna is proposed for WiFi applications at 2.4 GHz. The resonant frequency of the conventional slot antenna can be reduced by cutting the antenna into two halves and without using any lumped elements inside the slot. Moreover, the impedance and radiation characteristics of the proposed halved-size antenna are suitable for WiFi applications at 2.4 GHz. The proposed WiFi antenna has a miniaturized size of 25 × 16.5 × 0.813 mm3. Then, an octagonal blended-shape antenna (OBSA) for UWB applications is proposed. By applying the same cutting concept, the halved size OBSA covers the UWB band from 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz. Furthermore, a grounded L-stub is added on the top side to improve the reflection coefficient. The proposed OBSA has a compact size of 28 × 13 × 0.813 mm3 with stable omnidirectional radiation patterns. Simulation and measured results are in good agreement.

This paper introduces a low-dropout regulator (LDO) with a quick transient response to the load and no off-chip capacitance. The LDO in this work powers digital modules in system-on-chip (SoC). It has low output voltage variation and fast recovery time during load changes. This paper proposed a novel tri-loop regulation method. The basic loop is a conventional feedback loop for LDO to ensure output voltage accuracy. The transient-enhanced loop is an improved design based on the flipped voltage follower (FVF) that compensates for the effect of removing off-chip capacitance on circuit stability. The introduced Miller capacitor is used to form the AC-coupled loop, further ensuring pole separation. It is worth mentioning that this paper introduces 2 FVFs for building basic loop and transient-enhanced loop. In addition, a bandgap reference (BGR) with a self-starting circuit is designed in this paper. The LDO described in this paper operates at 5V. The LDO is based on a 0.18 um CMOS process. The dropping and rising voltages are merely 24.5 mV and 25 mV when the load current (I load) fluctuates between 1 and 50 mA. And the corresponding settling times are 2.5 us and 1.9 us respectively. The LDO described in this paper has an output of 1.8 V and the load regulation (LDR) is as low as 6.68 uV/mA.

Objective: To investigate the safety of purified D. farina and D. pteronyssinus extract product Novo-Helisen-Depot (NHD) as subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) in the children with mite allergy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study analyzing the adverse events of the children undergoing subcutaneous immunotherapy with NHD. Adverse events included local and systemic adverse reactions (SRs) at the very early and late stage. The correlation of the basic characteristics, laboratory analysis results and the immediate/late local reaction (LRs) and systemic adverse reactions (SRs) were analyzed. Results: 287 patients received at least 15 months of subcutaneous immunotherapy with NHD were included in the analysis. Skin-prick testing (SPT) results of D. pteronyssinus was associated with an increased risk of immediate LRs in build-up phase (OR =1.53, 95% CI: 1.02,2.37) and delayed LRs in maintenance phase (OR =1.58, 95% CI: 1.05,2.46), while SPT results of D. farina was associated with an increased risk of SRs (OR =3.22, 95% CI: 1.17,10.00) and severe SRs (OR =7.68, 95% CI: 1.13,109.50). Serum IgE level of D. pteronyssinus was associated with an increased risk of SRs (OR =1.01, 95% CI: 1.00,1.03). Patients with both asthma and allergic rhinitis was associated with an increased risk of SR, and severe SRs ( P<0.05). Conclusion: NHD as SCIT is safe. The children with higher SPT level with D. farina or D. pteronyssinus, higher serum IgE level of D. pteronyssinus, children with both asthma and allergic rhinitis, and the children with treatment interruption had higher risk of adverse events.

Background: Studies have identified significant sex-based differences and disparities in the clinical presentation and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Studies have shown women are less likely to be referred for catheter ablation, are older at the time of ablation, and are more likely to have recurrence after ablation. However, in most studies investigating AF ablation outcomes, the female cohorts were relatively small. The impact of gender on the outcome and safety of ablation procedures is still unclear. Objective: To investigate sex-based differences in outcomes and complications after AF catheter ablation, with a significant size female cohort Method: In this retrospective study, patients undergoing AF ablation from January 1, 2014, to March 31, 2021, were included. We investigated clinical characteristics, duration and progression of AF, number of EP appointments from diagnosis to ablation, procedural data, and procedure complications. Results: Total 1346 patients underwent first catheter ablation for AF during this period, including 896 (66.5%) male and 450 (33.4%) female patients. Female patients were older at the time of ablation (66.2y vs 62.4y; p<0.001). Women had higher CHA 2DS 2-VASc scores (3 vs 2; p<0.001) than men, expectedly, as the female sex warrants an additional point. 25.3% female patients had PersAF at the time of diagnosis vs 35.3% male patients (p<0.001). At the time of ablation, 31.8% female patients had PersAF as compared to 43.1% male patients (p<0.001), indicating progression of PAF to PersAF in both genders. Women tried more AADs than men before ablation (1.13 vs 0.98; p=0.002). Male and female patients had no statistically significant difference in (a) arrhythmia recurrence at 1-y post ablation (27.7% vs 30%; p=0.38) or (b) procedural complication rate (1.8% vs 3.1%; p=0.56). Conclusion: Female patients were older and had higher CHA 2DS 2-VASc scores compared to males at the time of AF ablation. Women tried more AADs than men prior to ablation. 1-y arrhythmia recurrence rates and procedural complications were similar in both genders. No sex- based differences were observed in safety and efficacy of ablation.

This letter proposes an instantaneous frequency tracking method to extend the dynamic range for heterodyne fiber optic hydrophones (FOHs). They are used directly to compensate for large signal amplitudes. The working principle is discussed, and simulations are conducted. The simulations achieve at least 20 dB dynamic range improvement.

Manuscript:

Introduction. Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) is a rare condition associated with vascular tumors such as kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and tufted angioma; it can be life threatening, due to its consumptive coagulopathy. Thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia are characteristic of KMP, and anemia and raised d-dimer levels can also be detected. Here, we report a 7-month-old Cambodian with the condition. Case Presentation. The infant was admitted to the National Pediatric Hospital in Phnom Penh because of a mass on the right side of the neck that had been progressively enlarging. The patient had severe thrombocytopenia (8,000/µL), anemia (Hb 7.6g/dL) and reduced fibrinogen level (1.5g/L). CT scan and histology of the lesion confirmed a diagnosis of hemangioma. Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon was diagnosed, and the infant was treated with platelets and fresh frozen plasma infusions, prednisolone (2mg/kg/day) and propranolol (2.5mg/kg/day). After eight weeks of therapy, platelets raised to 102,000/µL. The infant developed Cushing’s syndrome after 6 months of treatment and prednisolone was scaled down to a maintenance dose of 0.5mg/kg/day. Fibrinogen levels went back to normal (2.14g/L) after seventeen months of treatment, and the tumor shrinked significantly. Conclusion. This case report shows that a combination of prednisolone and propranolol has been effective for KMP and kaposiform hemangioendothelioma. Timely recognition and treatment of Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon’s are essenti

Late Small Bowel Perforation from a Migrated Double Plastic Biliary Stent: A Case Report and a Review of Literature of 85 Cases from 2000 to 2022

The Existing power system networks were designed at a time when there was virtually no embedded generation, and hence the design accommodated the voltage drop expected due to the load, and impedances of the conductors used. As solar PV generation started to grow, the rise in voltage due to ohms Law, started to push network voltages towards, and even above, the desired upper limits. Voltage limits are based on typical appliance requirements and long-term over-voltages will ultimately result in unacceptably short appliance life spans. performance of low voltage networks can be improved by Distribution Static Compensators (dSTATCOMs) using reactive power injection. This paper investigated the application of low voltage STATCOMs at optimal locations for the management of distribution system voltages. This paper presents a case study on the application of an optimization tool to four Energy Queensland (Energex) distribution feeders. They are modelled in Open Distribution System Simulator (OpenDSS). The optimization algorithm is coded in MATLAB which calls upon OpenDSS model to run load flow in each iteration. These feeders are tested on five different scenarios such as highest loading conditions and highest generations to demonstrate the effectiveness of the optimization tool in placing the dSTATCOM in the optimum location.

ABSTRACT Aims: With the extensive use of tyrosine kinases inhibitors(TKIs) in hepatocellular cancer, cardiac adverse events(AEs) emerged in recent years. This study explored the cardiac AEs of TKIs through the Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Methods: Disproportionality analysis and Bayesian analysis were utilized for data mining of the suspected cardiac AEs of TKIs, based on FAERS data from January 2004 to December 2021. Results: A total of 4708 cardiac AEs reports of sorafenib, regorafenib, lenvatinib and cabozantinib were identifed. Among them, 17 cardiac AEs signals were detected in regorafenib, 15 cardiac AEs signals were detected in lenvatinib, 57 cardiac AEs signals were detected in sorafenib while 27 cardiac AEs signals were detected in cabozantinib. Hypertension accounts for the most reported cardiac AE. Lenvatinib appears to induce cardiac failure with the highest signals strength [ROR=7.7(3.46,17.17)]. Acute myocardial infarction were detected in lenvatinib [ROR=7.91(5.64,11.09)] and sorafenib[ROR=2.22(1.74, 2.84)]. Acute coronary syndrome were detected in lenvatinib[ROR=11.57(6.84, 19.58)] and sorafenib [ROR=2.81(1.87,4.24)]. Atrial fibrillation were detected in sorafenib [ROR=1.82(1.55,2.14)] and regorafenib [ROR=1.36(1.03,1.81)]. Meanwhile, aortic dissection were detected in sorafenib [ROR=5.08(3.31,7.8)] and regorafenib [ROR=3.39(1.52,7.56)]. Most patients developed hypertension and cardiac failure within 30 days after TKIs treatment. Patients taking lenvatinib developed acute coronary syndrome increased in the periods of 180 days(64.29%) . Conclusion: Analysis of FAERS provides more precise profile on the characteristics of cardiac AEs after different TKI regimens. Distinct monitoring and appropriate management are needed in the care of the TKIs recipients.