The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing rapidly due to the obesity epidemic. In the inflammatory stages of MASLD (NASH), activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) leads to initiation and progression of liver fibrosis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released from all cell types and play an important role in intercellular communication. However, the role of EVs released from hepatocytes in the context of MASLD is largely unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of EVs derived from both normal and steatotic (free fatty acid-treated) hepatocytes on the phenotype of HSCs via the senescence pathway. Primary rat hepatocytes were treated with free fatty acids (FFAs: oleic acid and palmitic acid). EVs were collected by ultracentrifugation. EVs markers and HSCs activation and senescence markers were assessed by Western blot, qPCR and cytochemistry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was assessed by fluorescence assay. RNA profiles of EVs were evaluated by sequencing. We found that EVs from hepatocytes treated with FFAs (FFA-EVs) inhibit collagen type 1 and α-smooth muscle actin expression, increase the production of ROS and the expression of senescence markers (IL-6, IL-1β, p21 and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity) in early activating HSCs via the AKT-mTOR pathway. Sequencing showed differentially enriched RNA species between the EVs groups. In conclusion, EVs from FFA-treated hepatocytes inhibit HSC activation by inducing senescence via the AKT-mTOR signaling pathway. Determining the components in EVs that induce HSC senescence may lead to the identification of novel targets for the intervention of MASLD.

In digital forensics, proper evidence management is crucial for police investigations due to its volatility and improper handling technique. However, to present and utilize the captured digital forensic images, which are typically concrete and admissible in court and a trial, is very challenging. In addition, centralized evidence-gathering, classification, and archiving techniques diminish the credibility of digital evidence. To address these issues, this work proposed a blockchain-based classified digital forensic sensitive image management framework. The framework includes a rapidly expanding polygon chain, Interplanetary File System (IPFS), and a deep learning model that performs with more than 98% accuracy. This framework preserves sensitive forensic images in the fully decentralized blockchain. Our system uses metamask wallet-based authentication to guard against unauthorized users. We use IPFS to produce the image hash to encrypt and save the forensic image in the blockchain. A voting method based on smart contracts is suggested for accessing the preserved image. We implemented the framework, which offers promising performances in response time, evidence insertion time, evidence access time, communication overhead, and effective forensic image categorization.

Invasive Fusariosis in a Patient with Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia on Posaconazole ProphylaxisDr. Loai Abdullah1, Dr. Nada Soliman1, Dr. Ehab Adam1, Dr. Awni Alshurafa2, Dr. AbdulRahman Almashdali2,Dr. Mahir Petkar3, Dr. Deena Sideeg Mudawi2, Dr. Mohamed A Yassin2.Internal medicine department, Hamad medical corporation, Doha, QatarHematology department, Hamad medical corporation, Doha, QatarPathology department, Hamad medical corporation, Doha, Qatar

IntroductionOsteoid osteoma (OO) is a benign osteoblastic lesion that occurs primarily in young men and accounts for approximately 11% of all benign bone tumors (1). Almost 80% of all “OO” are detected in patients younger than 30 years old. These lesions are generally seen in the shaft of the long bones, especially the femur or tibia, in the lower limb. They are only rarely detected in the flat bones (2-5). “OO” includes a well-defined osteoblastic mass, known as a nidus, which is surrounded by the reactive bone sclerosis zone. Following nidus excision, the sclerosis zone gradually disappears, indicating a secondary, reversible alteration (6). Patients with OOs typically report generalized pain at the site of their benign tumors, and their pain can be more severe and frequent at night. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and salicylates are commonly used to manage the pain (7).It is extremely rare for OO to occur in the scapula, especially the coracoid process (CP), therefore it is not commonly recognized as a differential diagnosis in young people with shoulder pain (8). Various therapeutic approaches have been proposed for treating these lesions, including complete surgical excision and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (9). Nevertheless, it is critical to note that the use of any of these treatment strategies may lead to permanent impairment of the articular cartilage or physics in younger patients (10). Herein, we present the first case of OO of the base of CP, treated successfully with RFA in the literature.

IntroductionThe proximity between the eye and the brain, along with their direct connection, grants the examiner a unique capability to identify ocular pathological conditions with potential cerebral locations (1). Foster Kennedy syndrome is a rare condition that occurs in 1% to 2.5% of intracranial masses, being more frequent in the anterior fossa, especially in the frontal lobe. Its etiology is typically tumoral, with meningiomas being the most common, although cases of tuberculous abscesses have also been documented (2).The second presentation of tuberculosis in the central nervous system (CNS) is Tuberculoma, a tuberculous granuloma present in 10% of cases concurrent with tuberculous meningitis. Clinical manifestations vary depending on the location, with common symptoms including headache, seizures, focal neurological signs, and papilledema (3).Despite tuberculosis being endemic in developing countries and its increasing occurrence in the CNS, there is a scarcity of published cases in this context. In this report, we share a case of Tuberculoma with an atypical presentation of Foster Kennedy syndrome.

A 10-year-old boy with chronic atrial intestinal dysrhythmia and chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction;

We present an analysis of the performance data of a monitored PV system onboard a light commercial electric vehicle during parking and driving conditions. The PV system’s nominal power is 2180 WP with flat silicon modules on the vehicle’s roof, rear, left, and right sides, as well as other electronic components needed to charge the vehicle’s high-voltage (HV) battery. The analysis indicated that after 488.92 hours of operation, the modules mounted on the vehicle roof produced 133.32 kWh of electricity during parking compared to 15.4, 30.67, and 22.99 kWh for the modules mounted on the rear, left, and right sides, respectively. During the trips, after 31.99 hours of operation, 6.12, 0.68, 1.08, and 1.86 kWh of electricity were produced by the modules on the roof, rear, left, and right sides, respectively. The overall system efficiency was in the 60-65 % range. The aggregated usable electricity reaching the HV battery after multiple conversion stages generated by the system at the two parking locations was 129.39 kWh. PV electricity generated at the two parking locations enabled a range extension of approximately 530 km, which is 30% of the total distance driven during the measurement period between April and July 2021.

A document by ALI Khalifa. Click on the document to view its contents.

Case Report: Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Parotid Disguised as Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone SecretionAuthor Details: Aditya K. Ghosh, M.D., Nivedha Balaji, D.O., Sonu Gupta, M.D.Aditya K. Ghosh – [email protected] Balaji – [email protected] Gupta – [email protected] Georgia Medical Center, 743 Spring St NE, Gainesville, Georgia 30501Financial Disclosures: NoneInformed Consent: The patient in this study provided informed consent prior to participation.Conflict of Interest: None

TITLE: PITUITARY STALK INTERRUPTION SYNDROME: A RARE BUT TREATABLE CAUSE OF SHORT STATURE

Chirality and luminescence are important for both chemistry and biology, which are highly influenced by aggregation. In this work, we reported a pair of metalated tetraphenylethylene(TPE)-based organic cage enantiomers, which feature a quadrangular prismatic cage structure. These homochiral cages exhibit concentration-dependent chiral behaviors alongside a propensity for thermodynamic aggregation. Aggregation caused quench effect is found for these cages accompanying the increasing of the concentrations. When a poor solvent is added to produce a kinetical aggregation, the aggregation-annihilation circular dichroism and aggregation-induced emission behaviours are observed for these enantiomeric cages. By comparing these observations with the photophysical behaviors of a pair of structurally similar organic molecular enantiomers, the unique photophysical properties observed are intricately linked to the metal-integrated TPE-functionalized cage structures.

Co-evolutionary adaptation of hookworms with their mammalian hosts has selected for immunoregulatory excretory/secretory (E/S) products. However, it is not known whether, or if so, how host immunological status impacts the secreted profile of hematophagous adult worms. This study interrogated the impact of host Signal and transducer of activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) expression during experimental evolution of hookworms through sequential passage of the life-cycle in either STAT6 deficient or WT C57BL/6 mice. Proteomic analysis of E/S products by LC-MS showed increased abundance of 15 proteins, including myosin-3, related to muscle function, and aconitate hydratase, related to iron homeostasis. However, most E/S proteins (174 of 337 unique identities) were decreased, including those in the Ancylostoma-secreted protein (ASP) category, and metallopeptidases. Several identified proteins are established immune-modulators such as fatty acid-binding protein homolog, cystatin, and acetylcholinesterase. Enrichment analysis of InterPro functional categories showed down-regulation of Cysteine-rich secretory proteins, Antigen 5, and Pathogenesis-related 1 proteins (CAP), Astacin-like metallopeptidase, Glycoside hydrolase, and Transthyretin-like protein groups in STAT6 KO adapted worms. Taken together, these data indicate that in an environment lacking Type 2 immunity, hookworms alter their secretome by reducing immune evasion proteins- and increasing locomotor- and feeding-associated proteins.

Chromosome 20p13 microdeletion occurs rarely, with only 10 reported cases. We report a 16-year-old male with a 1.59 Mb terminal deletion in chromosome 20p13, who presented with proportionate short stature, mild language delay, mild learning disability, and delayed puberty. The clinical phenotype associated with this deletion can exhibit clinical variability. The

Agricultural soil erosion is largely attributed to arable extensification and increased mechanisation. Runoff from arable land and intensively managed grassland transports sediment and contaminants across the landscape and into watercourses, causing crop loss, land degradation and water quality issues. One low-cost and low-maintenance nature-based mitigation approach is the implementation of vegetated buffer strips (VBS): grassland sited along field margins to trap sediment and contaminants, reducing transportation and diffuse pollution rates. GIS modelling using remotely sensed landscape indices and land parcel data can provide an efficient means of identifying priority areas for intervention at sub-catchment or farm system scales. We develop and test a scalable runoff risk model in the lower Rother catchment, West Sussex. The model uses the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) applied to satellite images as an erodibility proxy and identifies locations along pathways that are conceivably at greatest risk of sediment accumulation and transfer, guided by field observations. Current and historical field boundaries near high-risk locations are evaluated for their potential capacity to reduce runoff using an innovative ranking system. Recommendations are made for VBS implementation and utility of historical field margin restoration is discussed. Our method offers a rapid approach with minimal data requirements to identify high-risk erosion locations and priority sites for intervention. The tool has the potential to guide decision-makers responsible for targeting and implementing soil erosion control measures such as VBS, while also maximising agri-environmental and cultural benefits.

Non-perennial streams play a crucial role in ecological communities. However, the key parameters and processes involved in stream intermittence remain poorly understood. While climate conditions, geology and land use are well identified, assessing and modeling the groundwater controls on streamflow intermittence remains a challenge. In this study, we explore new opportunities to calibrate process-based 3D groundwater flow models designed to simulate stream intermittence in groundwater-fed headwaters. Streamflow measurements and stream network maps are jointly considered to constrain aquifer’s effective hydraulic properties in hydrogeological models. The simulations were then validated using visual observations presence/absence of water, provided by a national monitoring network in France (ONDE). We tested the methodology on two pilot catchments with unconfined shallow crystalline aquifer, the Canut and Nançon (Brittany, France). We found that streamflow and expansion/contraction dynamics of the stream network are both necessary to calibrate simultaneously hydraulic conductivity K and porosity θ with low uncertainties. Conversely, calibration resulted in accurate prediction of stream intermittence - in terms of flow and spatial extent. For the two catchments studied, the Canut and Nançon, hydraulic conductivity is close reaching 1.5 x 10 -5 m/s and 4.5 x 10 -5 m/s respectively. However, they differ more by their storage capacity, with porosity estimated at 0.1 % and 2.2 % respectively. Lower storage capacities lead to higher fluctuations in the water table, increasing the proportion of intermittent streams and reducing perennial flow. This new modeling framework allowing to predict streamflow intermittence in headwaters can be deployed to improve our understanding of groundwater controls in different geomorphological, geological, and climatic contexts. It will benefit from advances in remote sensing and crowdsourcing approaches that generate new observed data products with high spatial and temporal resolution.

Objective: To investigate the distribution characteristics of HPV16 E6 gene 295T/G and E7 gene 647A/G variants in different cervical tissues in Xinjiang, to study the effects of these two loci on the expression of molecules in IFNκ and its pathway, to explore the molecular mechanism of their roles, and to analyse the relationship between these two variants and the occurrence and development of cervical cancer. Methods: (1) A total of 461 cervical paraffin-embedded tissue samples were collected and tissue DNA was extracted to detect the type of HPV infection by PCR, and the distribution of HPV16 viral E6-T295G and E7-A647G variants in cervical tissues was analysed by Sanger sequencing. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of IFNκ and molecules on its pathway including IFNκ, STAT1, IRF9, IFI27, IFI44L,OAS1 in cervical cancer and normal cervical tissues. Results: (1) The HPV16 infection rate of cervical paraffin-embedded tissue samples from women in Xinjiang region was 64.0% by PCR. And the HPV16 infection rate of Uyghur was 75.7%, of which the infection rate of Uyghur CIN1 and CIN2 with HPV16 was 60.6%, and the infection rate of CIN3 and cervical cancer was 82.9%. The HPV16 infection rate of Han ethnic group was 54.5%, among which the infection rate of Han ethnic group CIN1 and CIN2 of HPV16 was 34.0%, and the infection rate of CIN3 and cervical cancer was 66.5%. (2) The variant rate of Uyghur CIN1 patients presenting with E6-295T/G variant was 41.7%, and the variant rate of squamous cervical cancer patients presenting with E6-295T/G variant was 43.4%. The variant rate of Han ethnic group CIN1 patients presenting with the E6-295T/G variant was 33.3%, and the variant rate of squamous cervical cancer patients presenting with the E6-295T/G variant was 16.1%. The variant rate of Uyghur CIN1 patients presenting with the E7-647A/G variant was 41.7%, and the variant rate of squamous cervical cancer patients presenting with the E7-647A/G variant was 9.2%. The variant rate of E7-647A/G variant was 45.8% in Han ethnic group of CIN1 patients and 50.0% in squamous cervical cancer patients. (3) The results showed that the expression of IFNκ, IRF9, OAS1, IFI27, and IFI44L molecules on the IFNκ pathway was higher in normal cervical tissues uninfected with HPV than that of CIN1 with HPV infection, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The expression of IFNκ, STAT1, IRF9, OAS1, IFI27, IFI44L molecules in CIN3, moderately differentiated, poorly differentiated cervical squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were higher than that of CIN1, and the molecular expression of IFN-κ and its pathway in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma was higher than that in normal tissues, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion: The rate of E6-295T/G variation in cervical cancer patients infected with HPV16 in Uyghur is higher than that in Han, while the rate of E7-647A/G variation in cervical cancer patients infected with HPV16 in Han is higher than that in Uyghur.

The 4T1 tumor model closely approximates the characteristics of human breast cancer and is widely used in laboratory research. Knowledge of the optical parameters of the tumor is important for choosing the correct parameters for laser treatment. In this paper, optical properties and refraction indices of breast tissue in healthy mice and 4T1-model breast tumor have been measured. Using these measurements, absorption coefficient and reduced scattering coefficient have been reconstructed. A significant decrease in both the scattering and refractive index of tumor tissue has been observed. The change in tissue morphology has induced the change in the slope of the scattering spectrum. Thus, the light penetration depth into tumor has increased by almost 1.5-2 times in the NIR “optical windows.” Raman spectra have shown lower lipid content and higher protein content in tumor. The results may be useful for modeling the distribution of laser radiation in healthy tissues and cancers.

Introduction: Disrespect and abuse during childbirth represents a pervasive issue worldwide. In Rwanda, however, research in this area remains scarce. This study evaluated the factors linked to disrespect and abuse during labor and delivery in two Rwandan district hospitals. Methods: Employing a mixed method, cross-sectional design, we studied 280 women giving birth at Kabutare and Kibagabaga hospitals. Analysis was conducted with SPSS version 22, using the Chi-square test to identify factors correlated with childbirth-related disrespect and abuse. Results: Our findings revealed that 27% of women reported verbal abuse and 27.5% reported abandonment by healthcare providers, with 12% experiencing physical abuse during childbirth. Factors increasing the likelihood of experiencing disrespect and abuse included residing in rural areas [AOR=4.06, 95% CI (1.12, 14.7); p=0.03], having only primary education [AOR=2.9, 95% CI: 1.10-8.9, p=0.04], and night-time delivery [AOR=2.23, 95% CI (1.34, 3.03); p=0.03]. However, having a cesarean delivery [AOR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.09-0.59, p=0.002] or having attended antenatal care [AOR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.13-0.81, p=0.029] significantly reduced the risk of such experiences. Conclusion: The study uncovers a high incidence of disrespect and abuse during labor and delivery in Rwanda. The identified risk factors, namely rural residence, lower education, and night-time delivery, highlight specific areas requiring targeted intervention. The results advocate for effective measures to ensure dignified and equitable maternity care for all women.