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Background: An intravaginal device (IVD) made from polyethylene plastic and copper wire, integrated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, was developed as a contraceptive and identity device for cats. Aim: This study evaluates the local and systemic biocompatibility of the IVD in five non-pregnant female cats. Methods: The IVD was successfully inserted into the vaginal lumen after estrogen administration. Radiographic imaging confirmed the IVD's position, which lasted up to two days post-insertion. Results: Systemic response, assessed through hematological examinations on days 0, 1, and 3 post-insertion, showed no significant changes in erythrogram and leukogram parameters. Local response, evaluated through vulvar inspection and vaginal cytology on days 0, 1, 3, and 7, revealed no neutrophil infiltration in 4 out of 5 cats, indicating compatibility with vaginal tissue. Furthermore, epithelial cell profile changes were observed, showing an increase in superficial cells, which is typical during the estrus phase. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the IVD is biocompatible and suitable for use as a contraceptive and identity device in cats. However, further long-term studies are necessary to evaluate the device's prolonged efficacy and potential for contraception failure prevention by mating trials. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(9.000): 2348-2360]

Abstract The application of high‐frequency radar as an instrument for assimilating tsunami‐induced current fields is garnering increasing interest. The performance of surface current velocity measurements depends on the azimuthal differences between the crossing radar beams at the measurement points. This study aimed to incorporate the measurement error distributions of the east‐west and north‐south velocity components into tsunami data assimilation based on an optimal interpolation method, assuming Gaussian noise with the time‐invariant and a uniform standard deviation (STD = 5 cm/s) of radial velocity measurements. Through the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of radar‐derived surface currents in the Kii Channel, Japan, the velocities reconstructed using higher modes (EOFs 16–274) were associated with measurement errors, portraying nonuniform distribution depending on the crossing beam angle of two radar beams. Based on independent fifteen‐time assimilation experiments for two different tsunami scenarios, for a uniform water depth of 500 m, we observed a significant improvement of up to 29% and 0.9% in the assimilation performance (on average) over the along‐coast stations for scenarios with 1‐ and 5‐m maximum initial sea surface heights, respectively. The measurement errors dependent on the crossing beam angle reduced the error‐induced tsunamis, resulting in stable assimilations, with lower STDs in the fifteen‐time assimilation performances. When the STD of Gaussian noise varies with time, it is important to consider the temporal change in the radial velocity measurement errors and/or noise‐filtering techniques, to maintain a certain level of noise intensity.

This quantitative research presents the classification of marine cadastres in the marine conservation area of Pulau Weh Nature Tourism Park. The marine cadastre classes were analyzed for their alignment with the marine management classes/blocks in the Pulau Weh Nature Tourism Park using an alignment logical matrix and overlay analysis. The field inventory results identified 7 marine cadastre classes in the marine conservation area of Pulau Weh Nature Tourism Park. The alignment classification of marine cadastre classes with the marine management classes/blocks in Pulau Weh Nature Tourism Park indicates that the aligned class covers an area of 476.26 hectares (9.07% of 5,247 hectares), the non-aligned class covers 441.08 hectares (8.41% of 5,247 hectares), and the transition class covers 4,329.75 hectares (82.52% of 5,247 hectares). Keywords: Marine Cadastre Compatibility Alignment logical matrix Overlay analysis Nature Tourism Park

Oral mucositis (OM) is the oral mucosa inflammation caused by an adverse side-effect of cancer therapy and is expressed as atrophy, enlargement, erythema and ulceration. This bibliometric study aimed to review the publication of OM induced by chemotherapy. The search of bibliometric study using Scopus was performed (accessed on 16 July 2023). In total, 521 documents were retrieved from the Scopus database from 1978-2023. About 2680 authors global were encompassed in writing papers. Investigation of the retrieved papers indicated 424 original articles and 59 review articles. The repossessed papers exhibited top 10 cited articles. The study that obtained the highest number of citations was published in the Cancer in 1999 and received 301 citations (1999-2023). The quotation of this paper was nearly 3-fold higher quotation than those the other ten highest cited scientific papers. The top journal in publishing papers related to the OM stimulated by chemotherapy was the Supportive Care in Cancer, with a total number of papers 41, quadruple than others. This investigation showed that the studies on OM have been more noticeable in the last ten years.

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain condition that causes progressive decline in several aspects. Starting from memory, cognitive or thinking abilities, speaking abilities, and behavior. Currently, Alzheimer's diagnosis uses some methods, such as blood tests, scanning with computerized tomography scan (CT scan), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As a reference for determining the level of severity, doctors usually use clinical dementia rating (CDR). CDR is a numerical scale used to measure the severity of dementia symptoms. The doctor will manually compare the patient's condition with those stated on the CDR. This condition will take quite a long time, and sometimes human error will occur. As technology and science develop, doctors can assist in manually detecting Alzheimer's using classification algorithms. Many methods can be used to classify, including the CDR support vector machine (SVM) method. Unfortunately, this method is usually only used to classify two classes. This technology allows the classification process to be carried out automatically and quickly. On the other hand, when using CDR to classify Alzheimer's severity, there are several scales, not just two classes. So, in this research, we modified the use of SVM to classify three levels of severity, namely scale 0 for normal, scale 1 for mild conditions, and scale 2 for moderate conditions. The experiments we carried out provided an accuracy of 90.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This preliminary study evaluated the biocompatibility of a novel degradable intravaginal plug contraceptive composed of PEG 4000 and chitosan in cats using haematological profiling and vaginal cytology. Five healthy, non‐pregnant female cats were fully anaesthetised and fitted with an intravaginal plug (10 × 0.3 mm) using an applicator, following oestrogen administration 3 h prior. Blood samples were collected from the cephalic vein on days 0 (pre‐insertion) and 3 and 7 (post‐insertion). Vaginal cytology examinations were conducted on day 0 (pre‐ and post‐oestrogen injection) and days 1, 3 and 7 post‐insertion. Haematological parameters, including red blood cell count, haemoglobin levels, haematocrit values, total white blood cell count and differentiation, showed no significant changes after contraceptive insertion (p > 0.05). Vaginal cytology indicated an acute inflammatory response in one out of five subjects on day three post‐insertion. The distribution of vaginal epithelial cells (parabasal, intermediate and superficial) remained unaffected by contraception. Oestrogen injection resulted in the dominance of superficial cells up to day 7 of observation (p < 0.05). Overall, PEG 4000 and chitosan‐based intravaginal plug contraceptives demonstrated sufficient biocompatibility, indicating their potential as viable contraceptive options for feline use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of high‐frequency radar as an instrument for assimilating tsunami‐induced current fields is garnering increasing interest. The performance of surface current velocity measurements depends on the azimuthal differences between the crossing radar beams at the measurement points. This study aimed to incorporate the measurement error distributions of the east‐west and north‐south velocity components into tsunami data assimilation based on an optimal interpolation method, assuming Gaussian noise with the time‐invariant and a uniform standard deviation (STD = 5 cm/s) of radial velocity measurements. Through the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of radar‐derived surface currents in the Kii Channel, Japan, the velocities reconstructed using higher modes (EOFs 16–274) were associated with measurement errors, portraying nonuniform distribution depending on the crossing beam angle of two radar beams. Based on independent fifteen‐time assimilation experiments for two different tsunami scenarios, for a uniform water depth of 500 m, we observed a significant improvement of up to 29% and 0.9% in the assimilation performance (on average) over the along‐coast stations for scenarios with 1‐ and 5‐m maximum initial sea surface heights, respectively. The measurement errors dependent on the crossing beam angle reduced the error‐induced tsunamis, resulting in stable assimilations, with lower STDs in the fifteen‐time assimilation performances. When the STD of Gaussian noise varies with time, it is important to consider the temporal change in the radial velocity measurement errors and/or noise‐filtering techniques, to maintain a certain level of noise intensity. Plain Language Summary: High‐frequency radar is valuable for monitoring tsunamis as it measures tsunami‐induced surface current velocities, not the tsunami height, which is crucial for tsunami evacuation. In this study, we estimated a reasonable tsunami wave height using a data assimilation method incorporating high‐frequency radar measurements with tsunami numerical simulation. To minimize the adverse effects of high‐frequency radar measurement errors and obtain accurate tsunami wave heights, it is essential to estimate the errors appropriately, especially considering their dependency on the radar beam angle. We estimated the beam angle‐dependent errors through a principal component analysis and integrated them into the assimilation process. By doing so, we successfully reproduced the tsunami wave heights, demonstrating an improvement over estimations made under the assumption of constant errors and mitigating the negative impact of measurement errors. Key Points: Measurements of radar‐derived surface current velocities are influenced by the azimuthal difference between crossing radar beamsWe applied the measurement error distribution to tsunami data assimilationThe results suggest that the consideration of measurement error distribution is crucial for improved assimilation performance [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a highly prevalent disease in Malaysia. Early identification using cost-effective methods such as chest radiography can reduce the health burden of a TB epidemic. However, normal chest radiographic findings are common. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of smear-positive pulmonary TB with normal chest radiographic findings during an outbreak. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of 56 pulmonary TB cases registered at Kodiang Health Clinic from April to October 2022. Smear-negative and extrapulmonary TB cases were excluded. Relevant information was extracted from the medical records and recorded in a case report form for data management and analysis. Results: Approximately 60.7% of the cases had symptoms lasting >2 weeks, and 89.3% showed abnormal findings upon clinical examination. Additionally, 73.2% had sputum acid-fast bacilli counts of ≥1+, and the sputum Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture and sensitivity test findings were positive in 82.1% of the cases. The proportion of smear-positive pulmonary TB with normal chest radiographic findings was 42.9%. The factors associated with smear-positive pulmonary TB with normal chest radiographic findings included being under 18 years old (P=0.021), being a student (P=0.010), being single (P=0.012) and being asymptomatic (P=0.04). Conclusion: Normal chest radiographic findings may lead to a misdiagnosis of smear-positive pulmonary TB, especially during an outbreak. Therefore, active case detection among close contacts with risk factors for normal radiographic findings should consider additional supportive tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An intravaginal device (IVD) made from polyethylene plastic and copper wire, integrated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, was developed as a biocompatible contraceptive and identity device for cats. Aim: This study evaluates the local and systemic biocompatibility of IVD in five non-pregnant female cats. Methods: The IVD was successfully inserted into the vaginal lumen after estrogen administration. Radiographic imaging confirmed the IVD's position, which lasted up to two days post-insertion. Results: Systemic response, assessed through hematological examinations on days 0, 1, and 3 post-insertion, showed no significant changes in erythrogram and leukogram parameters. Local response, evaluated through vulvar inspection and vaginal cytology on days 0, 1, 3, and 7, revealed no neutrophil infiltration in 4 out of 5 cats, indicating compatibility with vaginal tissue. Furthermore, epithelial cell profile changes were observed, showing an increase in superficial cells, which is typical during the estrus phase. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the IVD is biocompatible and suitable for use as a contraceptive and identity device in cats. However, further long-term studies are necessary to evaluate the device's prolonged efficacy and potential for contraception failure prevention by mating trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression occurs among the elderly, leading to increased use of medical facilities, adversely affecting quality of life (QoL), and increasing mortality. Fewer studies have been conducted to explore the factors that contribute to depression among the elderly. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that trigger depression in this population. This research used descriptive analysis with a cross-sectional design. A total of 247 participants completed a questionnaire containing socio-demographic information and the geriatric depression scale-15 (GDS-15). The data were analyzed for correlation using the chi-square test. There was a significant relationship between insurance and occupation and depression in rural communities in Central Java, Indonesia. Insurance and occupation influence elderly individuals’ preparation for old age, ensuring they have sufficient finances through old age savings, which enables them to be financially secure. The population needs to prepare for old age by calculating their retirement fund requirements, saving and investing, and obtaining insurance for pension and health fund protection.

Abstract Background Liver fibrosis is a widespread chronic liver ailment linked to substantial mortality and limited therapeutic options. An in-depth comprehension of the genetic underpinnings of liver fibrogenesis is crucial for the development of effective management and treatment approaches. Results Using bioinformatics tools and the DisGeNET database, we pinpointed 105 genes significantly linked to liver fibrosis. Subsequently, we conducted functional assessments, incorporating gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and the STRING database, to construct protein–protein interaction networks (PPI) for these 105 liver fibrosis-associated genes. These analyses were executed via the WebGestalt 2019 online platform. We employed Cytoscape plugins, MCODE, and CytoHubba, to identify potential biomarker genes from these functional networks. Noteworthy hub genes encompassed TGF-β1, MMP2, CTNNB1, FGF2, IL6, LOX, CTGF, SMAD3, ALB, and VEGFA. TGF-β1 and MMP-2 exhibited substantial promise as liver fibrosis biomarkers, as denoted by their high systemic scores determined through the MCC algorithm in the CytoHubba methodology. Conclusions In summary, this study presents a robust genetic biomarker strategy that may prove invaluable in the identification of potential liver fibrosis biomarkers.

Abstract Background Studies have attributed 50% of infertility cases to male infertility, 15% of which is caused by idiopathic genetic factors. Currently, no specific biomarkers have been revealed for male infertility. Furthermore, research on genetic factors causing male infertility is still limited. As with other multifactorial genetic disorders, numerous risk loci for male infertility have been identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), although their clinical significance remains uncertain. Therefore, we utilized an integrative bioinformatics-based approach to identify biomarkers for male infertility. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using Open Targets Platform, DisGeNet, and GWAS Catalog. After that, the STRING database and the Cytoscape program were used to analyze protein–protein interaction. CytoHubba was used to determine the most significant gene candidates. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were used to assess biological functions that correspond to the male infertility disease pathway. Results We identified 305 genes associated with male infertility and highlighted 10 biological risk genes as potential biomarkers for male infertility such as TEX11, SPO11, SYCP3, HORMAD1, STAG3, MSH4, SYCP2, SYCE1, RAD21L1, and AMH. Of all the genes, we took the top three genes, namely, TEX11, SPO11, and SYCP3 as the genes that have the most potential as biomarkers. Conclusions TEX11, SPO11, and SYCP3 are involved in meiosis and spermatogenesis. We propose that further research in regarding these genes in detecting male infertility.

Background: An intravaginal device (IVD) made from polyethylene plastic and copper wire, integrated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, was developed as a biocompatible contraceptive and identity device for cats., Aim: This study evaluates the local and systemic biocompatibility of IVD in five non-pregnant female cats., Methods: The IVD was successfully inserted into the vaginal lumen after estrogen administration. Radiographic imaging confirmed the IVD's position, which lasted up to two days post-insertion., Results: Systemic response, assessed through hematological examinations on days 0, 1, and 3 post-insertion, showed no significant changes in erythrogram and leukogram parameters. Local response, evaluated through vulvar inspection and vaginal cytology on days 0, 1, 3, and 7, revealed no neutrophil infiltration in 4 out of 5 cats, indicating compatibility with vaginal tissue. Furthermore, epithelial cell profile changes were observed, showing an increase in superficial cells, which is typical during the estrus phase., Conclusion: These findings suggest that the IVD is biocompatible and suitable for use as a contraceptive and identity device in cats. However, further long-term studies are necessary to evaluate the device's prolonged efficacy and potential for contraception failure prevention by mating trials., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.