bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A composite index based screening and ranking of adsorbents for the removal of aqueous contaminants: An illustrative example with Diclofenac
Authors: Mishra Swati , Tiwari Manoj Kumar
Published: February 2024

A diverse range of adsorbent materials have been investigated for the removal of different pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) from the aqueous media. The performance of a specific adsorbent-contaminant system is dependent on several influencing factors, which makes the systematic comparison of adsorbents a rather challenging task. To overcome these limitations, an innovative index-based ranking approach for selecting the most suitable adsorbent for a particular contaminant is proposed in this study. The adsorbent materials investigated for the adsorptive removal of diclofenac are collected through and extensive literature survey and used as case study. Adsorption Capacity, pH, equilibrium time, material cost, pHzpc, and surface area have been chosen based on relevance in the removal mechanism and the corresponding data availability as the variables for the analysis. The variables are scaled w.r.t. a standard adsorbent (Granular Activated Carbon, GAC). Weights are calculated using equal weights (used as a control), objective (Entropy) and subjective (AHP) weighting methods following a simple multiplicative addition and subsequently ranks have been assigned. It was found that activated carbon from biomass (modified with iron), and MgAl layered double hydroxide have performed well in all the weighting methods. Carbon nanotubes, Activated carbon fiber, mercapto-silicate composites, magnetic COFs, polypyrrole doped nanocomposites and nanoporous PMF particles have consistently been ranked among the least in all the methods.
Single Ru site dispersed Cu nanocluster dual sites enables outstanding photocatalytic CO2 reduction
Authors: Xu Rong , Liu Lizhen , Hu Jingcong , Yuan Sheng , akhoundzadeh hossein , Tu Wenguang , Siow Wei Jian Samuel , Huang Hongwei
Published: February 2024

Cu-based catalysts are promising candidates for CO2 reduction owing to favorable energetics of Cu sites for CO2 adsorption and transformation. However, CO2 reduction involving insurmountable activation barriers and various by-products remains a significant challenge to achieve high activity and selectivity. Herein, a photocatalyst constructed with single-Ru-site-on-Cu-nanocluster on Bi4Ti3O12 exhibits exceptional activity and selectivity for CO2 conversion to CO. The Experimental and theoretical results consistently reveal that this unique atomic-level hierarchy allows the cascading transfer of photo-generated carriers to the surface Ru-Cu dual catalytic sites for closely interacting with CO2 molecules. Importantly, the d-band center of Cu undergoes a remarkable downshift after formation of Ru-Cu dual sites, while that of Ru is much more positive, thus collectively facilitating the adsorption of CO2, formation of crucial intermediate *COOH and desorption of CO to synergistically enhance the entire CO2 conversion process. The optimal BTOCu2Ru0.5 photocatalyst manifests a remarkable activity for selective reduction of CO2 to CO, yielding 10.84 µmol of CO with 15 mgcat after 4 h without any photosensitizer and sacrificial reagent, outperforming all bismuth-based materials and being one of the best photocatalysts ever reported. This work presents a strategy for rational design of multiple metal sites towards efficient photocatalytic reduction of CO2.
WITHDRAWN: Experimental Observation of Power Quality Problems in Grid-Tie SPV Systems
Authors: Mangalapuri Sravani , Sobhan Polamraju. V.S.
Published: February 2024

The dynamic production of a grid tie Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) of a distribution network is analyzed and hardware results are furnish in this paper. In order to fluctuation environment of the SPV power plant, the grid integration requires stable and steady power injection with good Quality of Power. Hence, the Power Quality (PQ) analysis has been carried out under different climate conditions of a 10 kW Solar Power Plant (SPP). This SPP can function in grid tie or in isolated mode. The proposed SPV power plant system is modelled and its performance is studied. This integrating model is composed of a boost converter, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control, inverter and filter. It also explains the behavior of system response whether it is stable and unstable condition. It is analyzed that the existence of a high pierce grid connected SPV system will exhibit low PQ issues like voltage variations and harmonics. To study this effect a 10 kW SPP is developed for verifying the performance of the system.
Global Expansion of Tropical Cyclone Precipitation Footprint
Authors: Zhu Laiyin , Qin Lianjie , Liu Baoyin , Li Zixuan , Tian Yugang , Shen Shifei , Xu Wei , Chen Jianguo
Published: February 2024

Precipitation from tropical cyclones (TCs) can cause massive damage from inland floods and will become more intense under warming climate. Knowledge gaps still exist in how the impact area and spatial pattern of heavy precipitation change with climate and environment. Here we defined a novel metric (DIST30) that represents the footprint of heavy TC precipitation based a high-resolution satellite precipitation product and global TC record over the past 41 years. We show that the DIST30 has increased significantly globally at a rate of 0.34 km per year. Spatially, DIST30 increases by 59.87% of the total TC impact area (8.79×107 km2), especially in the Western North Pacific, Northern Atlantic, and Southern Pacific. Machine learning model (XGBoost) demonstrated strong ability in both prediction performance and interpretation of the DIST30. We found that the monthly DIST30 variabilities are majorly controlled by the variations of TC maximum wind speed, TC location, sea surface temperature, vertical wind shear, and total water column. In particular, the DIST30 shows a very strong positive relationship with vertical wind shear. And more frequent TCs migrating to higher latitudes in North Hemisphere is the major contributor to the recent global upward trend in the DIST30.
Sex-stratified multimorbidity trajectories in UK Biobank cohort identify triage rules for the risk of mortality and hospitalisation in secondary care
Authors: Ennis Matthew , McClean Paula , Shukla Priyank , Sharman Joanna , Gupta Ramneek , Watterson Steven
Published: February 2024

Clinical presentation of diseases is complicated by multimorbidity. There is a pressing need to understand the effects of multimorbidity and where interventions should be targeted. We performed a data-driven analysis of whole-cohort UK Biobank hospital inpatient data in women and men and assembled ICD10 disease sequence trajectories. Age-relative 1-year mortality and hospitalisation rates were calculated post-trajectory using Accelerated Failure Time models with a 1:3 case-control ratio. We show that prior disease trajectories can stratify 1-year post-diagnosis mortality and hospitalisation outcomes for 63 common diseases in secondary care and highlight the impact of prior disease trajectories on mortality outcomes for respiratory failure, renal failure, nerve disorders, hypotension, influenza/pneumonia, and sepsis. Mortality and hospitalisation rates varied from 1.05 to 17594.44 and 2.85 to 582.99 times faster than age-matched controls, respectively. From this, we create triage rules that identify the highest risk multimorbid patients and highlight where intervention can have the greatest impact.
Exploring Tanzanian Clay Minerals as Promising Candidates for Geopolymer Cement: A Sustainable Approach to Climate-Friendly Cement
Authors: Kitalika Aldo J. , Mabeyo Petro , Mushi Silvia , Abeid Said , Kimambo Elianaso , Madirisha Makungu
Published: February 2024

The quest for sustainable construction materials has sparked interest in geopolymers as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional Portland cement. In response to this endeavour, this study explored Tanzanian clay minerals collected from different regions to assess their potential as candidate materials for geopolymer cement. The XRF results revealed varying elemental compositions that are crucial for geopolymer production. Essential components like SiO2 and Al2O3 were found, with some regions showing balanced ratios suitable for geopolymer cement. Minor Fe2O3 content was also detected, which could enhance material strength by forming iron silicate binders. Limited CaO content was noted, which can be beneficial in influencing geopolymer properties. However, high CaO levels in a few regions of the Eastern zone may be less suitable for geopolymer cement production. Most samples showed minimal Loss of Ignition (LOI), indicating their potential to enhance the workability of geopolymers. The study identified specific regions with clays suitable for various high-technology geopolymer resins, low-CO2 geopolymer cement, and specialized applications, though beneficiation might sometimes be required. The XRD results of clay samples revealed varying mineral compositions, with quartz being the dominant mineral in several samples, indicating high silica content. These mineralogical findings align with the XRF results, reinforcing the presence of essential elements for geopolymer cement development. The SEM-EDS results further verified the elemental composition of select samples. Additionally, TGA results provided insights into the thermal stability of the clay samples, confirming their suitability for geopolymer cement production. These results demonstrated that Tanzanian clay minerals are well-suited for producing eco-friendly cement. By leveraging these readily available local clay resources and unlocking their potential for sustainable construction materials, this research significantly advances the worldwide endeavour to mitigate the environmental footprint of the construction sector while advocating for eco-conscious alternatives to conventional Portland cement.
Carboxyfullerene C60 preserves sperm by enhancing antioxidant capacity and inhibiting apoptosis and harmful bacteria
Authors: Li Yuqing , Zhang Haize , Xiao Haoqi , Qin Xue , Hu Bingyan , Yang Menghao , Cao Chaoyue , Wang Xiaolin , Chai Jiawen , Gao Lei , Chu Guiyan , Zheng Yi , Cai Rui , Pang Weijun
Published: February 2024

Background
The current approaches for the preservation of human sperm have several limitations, and there are a lack of effective non-freezing preservation methods. Recently, carboxyfullerene C60 (CF-C60) has gained attention as an important nanocarbon derivative with strong antioxidant and antibacterial activity. This study uses a porcine model to systematically investigate whether CF-C60 can be used for the preservation of sperm.
Results
The results indicate that CF-C60 supplementation can preserve sperm quality during storage at 17°C. This effect is attributable to improvement in the antioxidant capacity of sperm through a decrease in the ROS level. Additionally, CF-C60 can maintain mitochondrial function, inhibit sperm apoptosis through the ROS/Cytochrome C/Caspase 3 signaling pathway, and mediate suppression of bacterial growth through the effects of ROS. Finally, the results of artificial insemination experiments indicate that insemination with CF-C60-treated sperm can increase the total number of offspring born and reduce the number of deformed piglets.
Conclusions
Thus, CF-C60 can preserve sperm quality by inhibition of apoptosis and bacterial growth via a reduction in ROS levels and is safe for use as a component of semen diluent for storage. These findings pave the way for the prospective clinical application of carbon nano-materials as antioxidants for non-freezing sperm preservation methods.
Morphological analyses support taxonomic updates in Brazilian species of Stylosanthes Sw. (Papilionoideae, Leguminosae)
Authors: Gissi Danilo Soares , Torke Benjamin M , Simon Marcelo Fragomeni , Tomazello-Filho Mario , Fortuna-Perez Ana Paula
Published: February 2024

Stylosanthes Sw. is a pantropical genus primarily distributed throughout the Americas, with the Brazilian Cerrado serving as its principal center of diversity. Many of its species hold significant economic potential and are widely utilized as fodder for cattle. Systematic examinations involving both morphology and nomenclature have highlighted the imperative need for taxonomic updates in select species. Given the observed morphological and ecological differences, a taxonomic reevaluation of S. guianensis (Aubl.) Sw. was deemed necessary, leading to the elevation of its varieties to the species level. The taxonomic changes include the new combinations S. microcephala (M.B. Ferreira & Sousa Costa) Gissi, S. pauciflora (M.B. Ferreira & Sousa Costa) Gissi, and S. pubescens (Pilger) Gissi. Furthermore, a neotype for S. nunoi Brandão is designated due to the loss of the holotype. Stylosanthes pohliana Taub. is reinstated as an accepted species, and a novel species within the genus is described. X-ray imaging of leaflets emerges as a valuable tool for taxonomic discrimination. This comprehensive study not only presents nomenclatural modifications but also provides illustrations, comments on diagnostic characteristics, distribution maps, and preliminary IUCN conservation assessments. Additionally, a novel discovery is introduced with the recognition of an elaiosome in the fruits of S. guianensis, constituting a noteworthy addition to the tribe Dalbergieae.
Searching Prognostic Hub Genes for the Management of Gliomagenesis through Transcriptome Profiling
Authors: Murali Poornimaa , Thirunavukkarasu Muthu Kumar , Ramesh Priyanka , Veerappapillai Shanthi , Karuppasamy Ramanathan
Published: February 2024

Despite the recent advancements in the treatment of gliomagenesis, the disease prognosis with the current treatment interventions is still awful with a median overall survival of only 15 months. Adding together, relapse in glioma patients further worsen the scenario. Thus, the current study aimed to shed light on identifying prospective candidate hub genes as potential biomarkers related to the pathogenesis of gliomas. The integrative pipeline such as quality control, normalization, principal component analysis (PCA) and tree clustering was employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Further, in-silico immunohistochemistry technique was employed to validate the identified hub genes. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis were utilized to functionally elucidate the hub genes. Interestingly, the present study identified novel hub genes such as TP53, SRC, UBA52, UBB, and CDK1. Of note, ours is the first report on the UBA52 and UBB which unveils the use of these hub genes as potential biomarkers. These genes were mainly involved in crucial oncological pathways that annotated their resemblance with glioma. Finally, potential candidate drugs were predicted against three key gene targets, namely TP53, SRC and CDK1, using the DGIdb database to manage glioblastoma effectively. Indeed, we believe that the exploration of UBB and UBA52 would present exciting opportunities for scientific advancement in the field of glioma treatment strategy. Overall, the results from our study provide a new avenue for the precise understanding of prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers that could serve as specific therapeutic targets for averting gliomagenesis in the near future.
Machine learning models for the prediction on efficacy of ionic liquid-aided biomass pretreatment
Authors: Mahanty Biswanath , Gharami Munmun , Haldar Dibyajyoti
Published: February 2024

The influence of ionic liquids (ILs) characteristics, lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) properties, and process conditions on LCB pretreatment is not well understood. In this study, a total of 129 experimental data on cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and solid recovery from IL-based LCB pretreatment were compiled from literature to develop machine learning models. Following data imputation, bilayer artificial neural network (ANN) and random forest (RF) regression were developed to model the dataset. The full-featured ANN following Bayesian hyperparameter (HP) optimization though offered excellent fit on training (R2:0.936–0.994), cross-validation (R2CV) performance remained marginally poor, i.e., between 0.547 and 0.761. The fitness of HP-optimized RF models varied between 0.824–0.939 for regression, and between 0.383–0.831 in cross-validation. Temperature and pretreatment time had been the most important predictors, except for hemicellulose recovery. Bayesian predictor selection combined with HPO improved the R2CV boundary for ANN (0.555–0.825), as well as for RF models (0.474–0.824). As the predictive performance of the models varied depending on the target response, the use of a larger homogeneous dataset may be warranted.
Utilisation of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in Optimizing High-Strength Concrete Containing Microfine MetakaolinBy
Authors: Sidek Muhd Norhasri Muhd , Johari Megat Azmi Megat , Yusof Mohd Zaid , Arshad Mohd Fadzil
Published: February 2024

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the effect of Metakaolin (MK) inclusion on the properties of concrete. Concrete has been used in this research and Metakaolin was used to replace part of the cement at 0, 5, 10, and 15% replacement levels. The replacement was done on a mass-for-mass basis. All concrete samples have been subjected to water curing until the age of testing using compressive strength, porosity, and water absorption. All evaluated data were extended for prediction analysis using response surface methodology. In general, the inclusion of Metakaolin increases strength and reduces the rate of porosity and water absorption on concrete. From the experiment, the inclusion of Metakaolin at 10% replacement gives the optimum result for all testing compared to other samples. Furthermore, a model equation by relating all data was generated and can be adapted for predicting future data. Hence, the inclusion of Metakaolin for normal curing in terms of compressive strength, porosity and water absorption for normal curing shows improvement when compared to the control specimen.
Why do we still feel drained even in meaningful work?: Unveiling the impact of job insecurity
Authors: Kang Hyesun , Li Yiran
Published: February 2024

Background
The issue of psychological burnout in most workplaces is a significant concern. Despite organizational psychology efforts to alleviate burnout by emphasizing high-quality job conditions such as meaning and calling, discussions often overlook the impact of job insecurity. Given recent approaches’ tendency to neglect fundamental lower-level needs, this study aimed to explore the negative effects of psychological burnout on workers, focusing on subjective job insecurity.
Methods
Counsellors, recognized for experiencing high psychological burnout, comprised our study with 420 finalized responses out of 450 collected. Data analysis encompassed the utilization of SPSS 29.0, Amos 29.0, and SmartPLS 4.0, with a specific focus on exploring mediating and moderating effects of variables.
Results
The findings unveiled that job insecurity weakened the previously observed negative indirect impact of work meaning on psychological burnout through living a calling. This observation suggests that as job insecurity intensifies, the alleviating effect of living a calling on burnout diminishes. This study reaffirms the link between work meaning and psychological burnout, emphasizing the mediating role of living a calling among South Korean counsellors.
Conclusions
The results underscore the necessity of organizational interventions to promote meaningful work, facilitate personal calling, and ensure job security, thereby preventing or mitigating burnout.
Prediction of Transmittance for a Free Space Quantum Channel and Improving Quantum Keyrate in Adverse Atmospheric Condition
Authors: Choudhury Debarpita Paul , Nandi Dalia
Published: February 2024

Free Space Optical Quantum Communication (FSOQC) is a new wireless approach that allows users to communicate in a secure and faster manner. The working mode of quantum communication is based on quantum physics and is somewhat probabilistic in nature. In order to carry quantum signal in a scattered environment, it is needed to derive the probability distribution of transmittance for a specified region at a desired communication link distance. To understand the performance of FSOQC under adverse weather condition, the effects of various atmospheric parameters such as fog, rain, and turbulence need to be analyzed. In the present study, an attempt is made to predict transmittance for a tropical location, Kolkata, India in real-time conditions, and Keyrate is estimated based on the predicted transmittance. The diurnal, monthly and yearly variation of transmittance is analyzed which is required for effective implementation of a quantum communication system. Two alternative situations, with and without sunlight are considered for Keyrate computation. A combination of two techniques, Difference Frequency Generation and Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion has been applied to increase Keyrate under adverse weather condition. The operating wavelength is 800 nm, and combined technique is developed around that wavelength.
Algebraic points of any degree on the affine curves y2 = (x − 2q)(x2 − 2q2)(x2 + 22q2)
Authors: FALL Moussa , DIALLO Mouhamadou Mor Diogou
Published: February 2024

We give a parametrization of the set of algebraic points of any given degree of the family curves of affine equation Cq : y2 = (x − 2q)(x2 − 2q2)(x2 + 22q2) with q ≡ 13[24] These curves are described by Anna Arnth-Jensen and Victor Flynn in [1], who showed that the Mordell-Weil group is finite and explained the generators of the torsion group of this family of curves.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2010). Primary 14H40; Secondary 14L40.
Do children with IgA nephropathy present differently from adult patients?
Authors: Su Baige , Jiang Yuanyuan , Zhang Hong , Li Zhihui , Zhou Jianhua , Rong Liping , Feng Shipin , Zhong Fazhan , Sun Shuzhen , Zhang Dongfeng , Xia Zhengkun , Feng Chunyue , Huang Wenyan , Li Xiaoyan , Chen Chaoying , Hao Zhihong , Wang Mo , Qin Li , Chen Minguang , Li Yuanyuan , Ding Juanjuan , Bao Ying , Liu Xiaorong , Deng Fang , Cheng Xueqin , Zhang Li , Zhang Xuan , Yang Huandan , Peng Xiaojie , Sun Qianliang , Deng Linxia , Jiang Xiaoyun , Xie Min , Gao Yan , Yu Lichun , Liu Ling , Gao Chunlin , Mao Jianhua , Zheng Weihua , Dang Xiqiang , Xia Hua , Wang Yujie , Zhong Xuhui , Ding Jie , Lv Jicheng
Published: February 2024

Background
Pediatric and adult nephrologists hold different opinions regarding the treatment of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). However, it is unknown whether pediatric IgAN presents differently from adult IgAN.
Methods
We analyzed two prospective cohorts established by pediatric and adult nephrologists, respectively. A comprehensive analysis was performed investigating the difference in clinical, pathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis between children and adults with IgAN.
Results
A total of 1015 children and 1911 adults with IgAN were eligible for analysis. More frequent gross hematuria (88% vs. 20%, p < 0.0001), and higher proteinuria (1.8 vs. 1.3g/d, p < 0.0001) were seen in children compared to adults. In comparison, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was lower in adults (80.4 vs. 163ml/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.0001). Hypertension was more prevalent in adult patients. Pathologically, a higher proportion of M1 was revealed (62% vs. 39%, p < 0.0001) in children than in adults. S1 (62% vs. 28%, p < 0.0001), and T1-2 (34% vs. 8%, p < 0.0001) were more frequent in adults. Adjusted by proteinuria, eGFR, and hypertension, Children were more likely to be treated with glucocorticoids than adults (87% vs. 45%, p < 0.0001). After propensity score matching, in IgAN with proteinuria > 1g/d, children treated with steroids were 2.19 (95% CI: 1.36 to 3.54, p = 0.001) times more likely to reach complete remission of proteinuria compared with adults treated with steroids.
Conclusions
Children present significantly different from adults with IgAN in clinical and pathological manifestations and disease progression. Steroid response is significantly better in children.
Predictive Significance Of Preoperative Inflammatory Markers In Postoperative Lung Metastasis Of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Sun Jiukang , Xiong Weili , Fang Zhang , Song Chuanjun
Published: February 2024

Purpose:
This study aims to investigate the predictive significance of inflammatory markers for postoperative lung metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The focus is on exploring the relationship between traditional inflammatory markers, such as NLR, PLR, and newly introduced indices like CALLY, and their association with CRC progression and lung metastasis.
Methods:
A retrospective review of medical records from 303 CRC patients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (January 2014 to December 2023) was conducted. Various inflammatory markers, baseline characteristics, and survival data were analyzed. The CALLY index, integrating PNI and CRP levels, was introduced. Statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate Cox regression and logistic regression, were performed to determine associations between inflammatory factors and CRC outcomes.
Results:
Among the patients, 55 developed lung metastasis during the study period. The results revealed that lower PNI, LMR, and CALLY were significantly associated with reduced postoperative progression-free survival (PFS). Moreover, CEA, PNI, and CALLY emerged as independent risk factors for postoperative lung metastasis.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of inflammatory markers in predicting postoperative outcomes for CRC patients. Lower PNI, LMR, and CALLY were identified as significant predictors of reduced PFS, while CEA, PNI, and CALLY were independently associated with an increased risk of postoperative lung metastasis. These findings highlight the potential clinical utility of these inflammatory markers in monitoring CRC recurrence and metastasis.
Advancing precision in endoscopic surgery: a novel approach with attention mechanisms and adaptive threshold for surgical instrument segmentation
Authors: Le Thai Hoang , Nguyen Viet Thanh Duy , Hinh Trinh Ich
Published: February 2024

Accurate surgical instrument segmentation in endoscopic images is crucial for automated surgery systems, providing precise location and pose information essential for procedures. This paper introduces an advanced surgical instrument segmentation method based on ResUNet++ enriched with the Dual Attention Network. This strategic integration allows selective emphasis on instrument regions, significantly enhancing segmentation accuracy. Additionally, Otsu’s adaptive thresholding method is employed for optimal threshold values, improving the model’s adaptability to varying conditions. Empirical results on datasets, including Kvasir Instrument, Rigid Instruments, and Endoscopic, show exceptional performance with Dice coefficients of 0.962, 0.901, and 0.91 and IoU of 0.912, 0.830, and 0.813, respectively. This work represents a significant advancement in automated endoscopic surgery, offering heightened precision and adaptability for improved surgical outcomes.
The Appraisal of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease:lesson From Comparison of Surgical Outcomes
Authors: Giamberti Alessandro , Ferrero Paolo , Caldaroni Federica , Varrica Alessandro , Pasqualin Giulia , D’Aiello Fabio , Bergonzoni Emma , Ranucci Marco , Chessa Massimo
Published: February 2024

Background.
The population of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) is constantly growing. There seems to be a consensus that these patients are difficult to manage especially if compared to patients with acquired heart disease. The aim of this study is to compare outcomes and results of cardiac surgery in ACHD patients with a reference population of adults with acquired cardiac disease.
Methods.
Retrospective study of 5053 consecutive patients older than 18 years hospitalized for cardiac surgery during a 5-years period in our Institution. Two groups of patients were identified. Group I: 419 patients operated for congenital heart disease; Group II: 4634 patients operated for acquired heart disease. In each Group were identified low, medium, and high-risk patients, according to validated scores.
Results.
Right ventricular outflow tract surgery was the most frequent procedure in Group I, while coronary artery by-pass grafting was the most common in Group II. Patients with ACHD were younger (37.8 vs. 67.7 years), with higher number of previous operations (32.1% vs. 6.9%), had longer post-ICU hospital stay (11 vs. 8 days) but had lower ICU stay (1 vs.2 days), shorter assisted mechanical ventilation (12 vs. 14 hours) and lower surgical mortality (1 vs. 3.7%) (all p ˂ 0.001). No differences were found in term of post-operative complications (12.4 vs. 15%).
Conclusions.
The surgical treatment of ACHD patients can be done with excellent results and if compared with acquired cardiac disease patients they have better results with shorter ICU stay and lower mortality.
Morphological, metabolomic and genomic evidences on drought stress protective functioning of endophyte Bacillus safensis Ni7, offering its application as probiotic to plant drought
Authors: Juby Silju , Soumya Padinjarakavil , Jayachandran K , E.K Radhakrishnan
Published: February 2024

The metabolomic and genomic characterization of an endophytic Bacillus safensis Ni7 was carried out in this study. This strain has previously been isolated from the xerophytic plant Nerium indicum L. and reported to enhance the drought tolerance in C. annuum L. seedlings. The effects of drought stress on the morphology, biofilm production and metabolite production of B. safensis Ni7 were analysed by various techniques. Compared to the non-stressed conditions, the organism was found to have multiple strategies such as aggregation and clumping, robust biofilm production and increased production of surfactin homologues under the drought induced condition. The whole genome sequencing (WGS) based analysis has demonstrated B. safensis Ni7 to have a genome size of 3,671,999 bp, N50 value of 3,527,239 and a mean G + C content of 41.58%. By detailed bioinformatics analysis, Bacillus safensis Ni7 could be predicted to have the presence of genes responsible for stress response, surfactin production, biofilm production, chemotaxis, flagella synthesis etc. Besides these, genes responsible for the plant growth promotion (PGP), including those for nitrogen and sulphur assimilation and phosphate solubilisation were also predicted. The organism was also observed to have the genes for catalase, superoxide dismutase, protein homeostasis, cellular fitness, osmoprotectants production and protein folding. Further pan-genome analysis with plant associated B. safensis strains available in the public databases revealed it to have the presence of a total of 5391 gene clusters. Among these, 3207 genes were identified as core genes, 954 as shell genes and 1230 as cloud genes. This observation highlighted the variation in gene content among different strains of B. safensis which might have evolved as part of its adaptive support offered to host plants. This variation hence could possibly be attributed to the genomic basis of B. safensis for plant growth. The results of this study hence, demonstrate genomic evidences for the drought protective effect of the endophytic B. safensis Ni7 with adaptations to support plant growth which thereby confirms its promises to be applied as drought protective plant probiotic.
Effect of toileting behavior on daytime non-sedentary behavior in nursing home residents
Authors: Nakano Yuri , Kubota Satoshi , Furudate Takuya
Published: February 2024

Nursing home residents engage in lower levels of physical activity, primarily remaining seated or lying down, except for routine activities of daily living (ADLs). Since ADLs, particularly toileting, require effort. This study investigated the relationship between physical activity and toileting activity during the daytime among elderly nursing home residents.
The study involved 30 participants, including a group of healthy community-dwelling elderly individuals and two groups of nursing home residents with independent and non-independent toileting behavior, respectively. The physical activity of participants was measured with an accelerometer, and estimated metabolic equivalents, duration, and amount of physical activity were calculated.
The amount of physical activity associated with toileting was significantly higher in the independent and non-independent groups than in the community group. Moreover, the amount of non-sedentary physical activity associated with toileting positively affected the amount of non-sedentary physical activity during the daytime. These findings suggest that toileting activity can contribute significantly to the physical activity of elderly nursing home residents.
Interventions focusing on improving toileting behavior among nursing home residents may positively impact overall physical activity and functional abilities.
Genetic basis of alpha-1,3 galactose epitopes in animal reservoir of coronaviruses
Authors: Zhou Dapeng
Published: February 2024

The αGal epitope, Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R, is found in all non-primate mammals, lemurs, and New World monkeys but not in Old World monkeys, apes or humans. Humans possess natural anti-αGal antibodies that have been hypothesized to prevent virus spillover through neutralization and complement-mediated inactivation of glycosylated viruses carried by animal hosts. In this study, we cloned the α-1, 3-galactosyltransferase family from animal reservoir of coronaviruses and investigated their function to modify surface glycoproteins of SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-virus. The results showed that the bat and pangolin genomes contain functional bat-αGalT1 and bat-αGalT2 glycosyltransferase genes. The bat and pangolin αGalT1 can catalyze the expression of the αGal epitope on SARS-CoV-2 envelope glycoproteins. Anti-αGal antibodies showed neutralization effect on SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-viruses packaged by glycoengineered 293T cells expressing αGal epitope. Our findings confirmed the presence of functional α3GalTs in animal reservoir of coronaviruses. Glycoengineered human cells expressing αGal epitope may serve as safer tools to study coronaviruses. Ongoing studies are being focused on the role of anti-αGal natural antibodies in cross-species virus transmission, as well as the mechanism to induce such antibodies in humans.
Bioremediation of Cellulosic Wastes by Using Orthodillo chiltoni (Vandel, 1973), Isopoda
Authors: Salman Zainab Hamed , Alsalman Ibrahim Mahdi
Published: February 2024

Terrestrial isopods play an important role in the biodegradation of many wastes which gives agreat importance in the nutrient cycles and ecosystem services , therefore this paper aims to use species Orthodillo chiltoni (Vandel, 1973) as a model organism in bioremediation of urban environment with municipal wastes, agricultural fields, parks and markets wastes.
Samples of these wastes included potato peels, orange fruit leaves, thyme plant and sawdust,cardboard residues , the experiments were carried out in laboratory condition similar to the living environment of this species in terms of temperature, humidity and intensity lighting.
The applied results have shown that the individuals of this species were very efficient in consuming all of the tested wastes, as the percentage of consumption reached 99.525% of potato peels, 87.15% of orange leaves, 78.225% of sawdust, 66.8% of thyme plant and 61.6% of cardboard residues, also the results shown the efficiency of consumption of each isopods indiviual reached 0.796, 0.697, 0.625, 0.534 and 0.492 mg respectively.
Recommendation are given for use other species of terrestrial isopoda to treat other wasters by biological approach.
Regional Anaesthesia Education for Emergency Physicians: Effect of a Multimodal Training on Self-Reported Knowledge
Authors: Resta Flavia , Barcella Bruno , Angeli Valentina , Lago Elena , Santaniello Annunziata , Dedato Andrea Simone , Centurioni Clarissa Elizabeth , Regeni Elena , Savastano Simone , Baldi Enrico , Contri Enrico , Maffeis Riccardo , Denti Pietro , Musella Valeria , Schicchi Azzurra , Lonati Davide , Salinaro Francesco , Perlini Stefano , Pietro Santi Di
Published: February 2024

Background: Despite the acknowledgement of the importance of Ultrasound-guided Regional Anaesthesia (UGRA) in Emergency Medicine (EM) practice, high variability exists in the training of physicians. Our research group has recently developed a one-day (8 hours), simulation-based UGRA course, specifically tailored to help emergency physicians integrating these skills into their clinical practice.
Methods: In this pre-post intervention study, emergency physicians attended a course consisting of a 4-hour teaching on background knowledge, followed by a scanning session on a healthy individual, a needling station with an ex-vivo model (turkey thigh), a simulation-based learning experience on local anaesthetic toxicity (LAST) and a scanning session on the UGRA simulator BlockSim™.Participants rated their level of knowledge across several domains of UGRA practice using a 5-points Likert scale (from 0 to 4). Participants also rated the perceived utility of the practical sessions. We extrapolated from the all baseline characteristics of participants and we paired the answers of pre- and post-course questionnaires using Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Results: Seventy-four participants practising across ten Italian regions and Switzerland completed the pre-and post- course questionnaire. Most of them were EM residents (75,68%) who had never performed UGRA. Female gender was more represented (58,1%). Self-reported knowledge significantly improved from 1 to 3 in the following domains of UGRA indications: Knowledge of contraindications, Equipment and drugs, UGRA techniques, LAST recognition, LAST management (p<0.001). A smaller improvement was observed in the domain Knowledge of “sonoanatomy” (from 1 to 2; p<0.001). Most participants rated positively the utility of practical stations (either “extremely useful” or “very useful” or “moderately useful”) (100% for the scanning session; 100% for the ex-vivo station with turkey thigh; 91,8% for the BlockSim™).
Conclusions: This one-day (8 hours), simulation-based, UGRA course specifically tailored for emergency physicians led to improve participant’s self-reported knowledge across several domains of UGRA practice. Most participants rated positively the utility of practical stations. Our findings suggest that a one-hour scanning session on a single healthy volunteer may be insufficient for learners to gain confidence with the relevant sonoanatomy.
Spatial-Temporal Attention with Graph and General Neural Network-based Sign Language Recognition
Authors: SHIN JUNGPIL , Miah Abu Saleh Musa , Hasan Md. Al Mehedi , Okuyama Yuichi , Tomioka Yoichi
Published: February 2024

Automatic Sign Language Recognition (SLR) stands as a vital aspect within the realms of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and computer vision, facilitating the conversion of hand signs—utilized by individuals with significant hearing and speech impairments—into equivalent text or voice. Researchers have recently used hand skeleton joint information instead of the image pixel due to light illumination and complex background-bound problems. However, besides the hand information, body motion and facial gestures play an essential role in expressing sign language emotion. Also, a few researchers have been working to develop an SLR system by taking a multi-gesture dataset, but their performance accuracy and time complexity are not sufficient. In light of these limitations, we introduce a Spatial and Temporal Attention Model amalgamated with a General Neural Network designed for the SLR system. The main idea of our architecture is first to construct a fully connected graph to project the skeleton information. We employ self-attention mechanisms to extract insights from node and edge features across spatial and temporal domains. Our architecture bifurcates into three branches: a graph-based spatial branch, a graph-based temporal branch, and a general neural network branch, which collectively synergize to contribute to the final feature integration. Specifically, the spatial branch discerns spatial dependencies, while the temporal branch amplifies temporal dependencies embedded within the sequential hand skeleton data. Further, the general neural network branch enhances the architecture’s generalization capabilities, bolstering its robustness. In our evaluation, utilizing the Mexican Sign Language(MSL), Pakistani Sign Langauge(PSL) datasets and American Sign Langauge Large Video Dataset(ASSLVD) —which comprises 3D joint coordinates for face, body, and hands that conducted experiments on individual gestures and their combinations. Impressively, our model demonstrated notable efficacy, achieving an accuracy rate of 99.96% for the MSL dataset, 92.00% for PSL, and 26.00% for the ASLLVD dataset, which includes 2745 classes. These exemplary performance metrics, coupled with the model’s computationally efficient profile, underscore its preeminence compared to contemporaneous methodologies in the field.
Enjeux politiques du « tout numérique » à l’école et pouvoir d’agir des enseignants
Authors: Aillerie Carine , Martineaud Théo
Published: February 2024

Du point de vue des sciences de l’information et de la communication et dans la lignée de l’approche sociocritique proposant d’analyser les usages numériques en éducation au regard de leurs contextes socioculturels de production (Collin et al., 2015 ; Denouël, 2019), nous posons la question de la réalité du pouvoir d’agir de l’enseignant avec les dispositifs sociotechniques dont il dispose et de ce que nous en dit l’épisode « d’éducation à distance d’urgence » (Bozkurt et al., 2020) lié à la pandémie de COVID-19. Cela passe par l’identification des objets techniques réellement mobilisés à des fins d’enseignement. Nous interrogeons les possibilités pédagogiques associées à ces dispositifs : que permettent-ils effectivement ou non de faire, du point de vue des intentions pédagogiques des enseignants? Notre propos s’appuie sur 50 entretiens semi-directifs individuels avec des enseignants de l’école élémentaire en France, récemment équipés par le ministère de l’Éducation. Nos résultats soulignent la forte matérialité technique du travail enseignant, en classe comme à la maison, ainsi que la tendance de nos participants à hypertrophier les potentialités des dispositifs numériques (dans le sens des bénéfices pour l’apprentissage comme dans celui des dangers pour les enfants) au détriment de leur propre créativité pédagogique.
CONTRIBUTION DES VALEURS RELIGIEUSES AU DEVELOPPEMENT SOCIAL
Authors:   Soeur Louise de Jesus, Docteur en Philosophie Institut ESAG-NDE/Don Bosco (Togo) Chercheure Associee au Laboratoire LAMPES de lUniversite de Lome., Afiyo Assivon
Published: February 2024

The influence of religion on the development of a continent has always been a subject of reflection. In the African context, the vertiginous scale of the religious phenomenon links the underdevelopment of Africa to its belief that the failure to adopt an attitude of detachment from religious beliefs deemed superstitious and fallacious is preventing Africa from emerging. Despite a view that relegates the religious to the rank of retrograde forces, in Africa religious actors have always been vectors of social change and have been important for development initiatives. The aim of this research work is to show the significant contributions of religion to African development. From there, to indicate that development is only possible because of respect for values common to humanity, and these values are those that religion proposes to us.
INTERVENTIONS AFFECTING PROGNOSIS AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEDIATRIC MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Authors:   Department of General Medicine, S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan., M.S Shubham , Bala PhD Anju ,   Department of Anatomy, Pt. B. D. Sharma PGIMS Rohtak, Haryana, India., M.S Anesh ,   Department of Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India., Kaur M.S Ravneet ,   Department of Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India., Das M.S Ruchi ,   Department of Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India.
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system primarily affecting young adults. The number of individuals suffering from multiple sclerosis under the age of 18 is gradually increasing. Early interventions in the form of pharmacotherapy have proven to be beneficial in reducing the severity of disease and thereby preventing disability. Furthermore, cognitive impairment affecting working memory, attention, and other domains is concerning in children. Methodology: We identified papers by searching various electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Europe PMC, Scopus, Web of Science). Search terms included: Pediatric multiple sclerosis OR pediatric MS AND interventions AND prognosis OR disease progression OR disability OR quality of life OR QoL. Papers were included in this review if they were published in English, referenced interventions and their effects on quality of life of the patients, and included pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis as a primary population. Results: Seventeen papers were identified via the literature search that addressed interventions made in the field of pediatric multiple sclerosis and their effects on the quality of life of the patients. The current study extracted data from a diverse range of articles focusing on various aspects of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) treatment, outcomes, and associated factors. The data provided valuable insights into the clinical characteristics, treatment approaches, and quality of life considerations for POMS patients. Discussion: Interventions include first line drugs (interferon beta-1a and glatiramer acetate) and disease modifying therapies like fingolimod, teriflunomide, natalizumab and rituximab. Potential modifiable factors like breastfeeding, vitamin D levels, exercise and diet were identified. CSF Neurofilament levels and various inflammatory genes are helpful in diagnosis. Conclusion: The data extraction from diverse studies on POMS shed light on various treatment approaches, disease progression markers and psychosocial factors. The findings underscore the importance of early intervention, tailored treatment strategies, and multidisciplinary care to enhance outcomes for pediatric MS patients.
COMPARATIVE STUDY: LICHTENSTEINS TENSION-FREE MESH REPAIR VS. STOPPAS REPAIR FOR BILATERAL INGUINAL HERNIAS
Authors:   MS (General Surgery), Assistant Professor, Department of General Surgery, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Kalaburagi, Karnataka., Nikhil Vanura Koli , Kumar T. Arun ,   MS (General Surgery), Professor, Department of General Surgery, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Kalaburagi, Karnataka.
Published: February 2024

Our study investigates the viability of Giant prosthetic reinforcement of the visceral sac (GPRVS) Stoppas repair as an alternative to Lichtenstein Tension-Free Mesh Repair for Bilateral Inguinal Hernias. With a focus on patient satisfaction and outcomes, the research aims to compare the two techniques based on postoperative complications, chronic groin pain, and postoperative pain assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). In a sample of 70 cases, randomized into two groups, the study employs a single-incision bilateral approach. Results indicate that Stoppas repair offers comparable effectiveness to Lichtenstein, demonstrating a reduction in postoperative complications, chronic groin pain, and postoperative pain. The study concludes that GPRVS Stoppas repair is a promising alternative, emphasizing enhanced patient satisfaction and similar procedural success concerning Early Recurrence and Duration of Hospital Stay.