bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collision Avoidance and Routing based on Location Access (CARLA) of mobile robots
Authors: El-sayyad Shimaa , Saleh Ahmed , Ali Hesham , Rabie Asmaa , Saraya Mohamed , Abdelsalam Mohamed
Published: September 2023

In this paper, a novel robotic system methodology known as Collision Avoidance and Routing based on Location Access (CARLA) is proposed. It is intended for use in environments like hospitals or crisis situations where quick action and the preservation of human life are crucial, and when the primary actuator is to protect the lives of healthcare workers and to prevent the high potential for viral transmission among patients, such as in COVID-19 isolation hospitals. Our framework is primarily concerned with accuracy and quick responses. E.g. delivering tools or items in a specific district while avoiding collisions with other robots or any surrounding obstacles. The suggested CARLA can also be used for a variety of related applications, including those found in factories, warehouses, and any other situation where mobile robots must be chosen and routed using a distant centralized control. The Robot Knowledge Module (RKM), Robot Selection Module (RSM), and Route Reservation Module (RRM) are the three core modules that make up the proposed framework, which will be explained in detail throughout the paper. In comparison to conventional techniques used in similar situations, the simulation results using the suggested framework demonstrate the flexible and effective mobility of the robots in terms of the robots' path computation time and the request's success rate without collision.
Comparing Continent Ileostomy (CI) Conversion to Repair/Redo IPAA: Favorable Outcomes
Authors: Ecker Nils Karl Josef , Dinh Christian , Möslein Gabriela , Ecker Karl-Wilhelm
Published: September 2023

Purpose: This study aims to compare the outcomes of repair/redo ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (repair/redo-IPAA) with the conversion of IPAA to continent ileostomy (CI) in an effort to prevent the need for a permanent ileostomy (IS) following IPAA failure.
Methods: This research involved a retrospective analysis of surgical records, employing descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
Results: Among 57 patients with an IPAA, up to three revisions were necessary due to complications or complete failure. Ultimately, repair/redo-IPAA preserved the IPAA in 14 patients (24.6%), conversion to CI salvaged the pouch in 21 patients (36.8%), and IS was unavoidable in 22 patients (38.6%). The cumulative probability of requiring conversion surgery was calculated to be 54.0% at 20 years, thereby reducing the cumulative risk of IS to 32.3%. The 20-year cumulative probability of pouch salvage by repair/redo IPAA was only 21.9%. However, this rate increased to 67.7% when conversion procedures were considered. Following repair/redo-IPAA, only 8.3% of patients reported evacuation frequencies of ≤4 during the day, and 16.7% were evacuation-free at night. In contrast, after conversion to CI, 98.0% of patients reported a maximum of four evacuations in a 24-hour period. After undergoing repair/redo IPAA, between half and two-thirds of patients reported experiencing incontinence or soiling, while complete continence was achieved in all patients following conversion to CI. Notably, the majority of patients expressed overall satisfaction with their respective procedures. A positive correlation was identified between very high subjective satisfaction and positive objective surgical outcomes exclusively in patients who underwent conversion to CI.
Conclusion: When complications or failure of IPAA occur, conversion to CI emerges as a highly viable alternative to repair/redo IPAA. This conclusion is supported by the observation that patient satisfaction appears to be closely tied to stable surgical outcomes. To reinforce these findings, further prospective studies are warranted.
Trial registration numbers: None
Longstanding auditory sensory and semantic differences in preterm born children
Authors: Retsa Chrysa , Turpin Hélène , Geiser Eveline , Ansermet François , Müller-Nix Carole , Murray Micah M.
Published: September 2023

More than 10% of births are preterm, and the long-term consequences on sensory and semantic processing of non-linguistic information remain poorly understood. 17 very preterm-born children (born at <33 weeks gestational age) and 15 full-term controls were tested at 10 years old with an auditory object recognition task, while 64-channel auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were recorded. Sounds consisted of living (animal and human vocalizations) and manmade objects (e.g. household objects, instruments, and tools). Despite similar recognition behavior, AEPs strikingly differed between full-term and preterm children. Starting at 50ms post-stimulus onset, AEPs from preterm children differed topographically from their full-term counterparts. Over the 108-224ms post-stimulus period, full-term children showed stronger AEPs in response to living objects, whereas preterm born children showed the reverse pattern; i.e. stronger AEPs in response to manmade objects. Differential brain activity between semantic categories could reliably classify children according to their preterm status. Moreover, this opposing pattern of differential responses to semantic categories of sounds was also observed in source estimations within a network of occipital, temporal and frontal regions. This study highlights how early life experience in terms of preterm birth shapes sensory and object processing later on in life.
A Machine Learning Approach to Determine the Semantic Versioning Type of npm Packages Releases
Authors: Abdalkareem Rabe , Chowdhury Md Atique Reza , Shihab Emad
Published: September 2023

Semantic versioning policy is widely used to indicate the level of changes in a package release. Unfortunately, there are many cases where developers do not respect the semantic versioning policy, leading to the breakage of dependent applications. To reduce such cases, we proposed using machine learning (ML) techniques to effectively predict the new release type, i.e., patch, minor, major, in order to properly determine the semantic versioning type. To perform our prediction, we mined and used a number of features about a release, such as the complexity of the changed code, change types, and development activities. We then used four ML classifiers. To evaluate the performance of the proposed ML classifiers, we conducted an empirical study on 31 JavaScript packages containing a total of approximately 6,260 releases. We started by extracting 41 release-level features from historical data of packages’ source code and repositories. Then, we used four machine learning classifiers, namely XGBoost, Random Forest, Decision Tree, and Logistic Regression. We found that the XGBoost classifiers performed the best achieving median ROC-AUC values of 0.78, 0.69, and 0.74 for major, minor, and patch releases, respectively. We also found that features related to the change types in a release are the best predictors group of features in determining the semantic versioning type. Finally, we studied the generalizability of determining the semantic versioning type by applying a cross-package validation. Our results showed that the general classifier achieved median ROC-AUC values of 0.76, 0.69, and 0.75 for major, minor, and patch releases.
Will fire-smart landscape management effectively buffer the effects of future climate changes and long-term land abandonment on fire regimes?
Authors: Sil Ângelo , Azevedo João C. , Fernandes Paulo M. , Honrado João P.
Published: September 2023

Context: Long-term farmland abandonment is increasing fuel hazard in many mountainous landscapes of the Mediterranean Basin. Combined with ongoing climate change, fire activity and fire regimes may change in the future, thus challenging the management of these regions.
Objectives: To assess the effects of fire-smart management strategies on landscape dynamics, fire regulation capacity (FRC) and fire regime under long-term land abandonment and climate change scenarios.
Methods: We applied the LANDIS-II model to simulate fire-landscape dynamics under climate change (RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios) and long-term farmland abandonment (2020-2050) according to three fire-smart management strategies focused on fire prevention (compared with a business-as-usual (BAU) strategy based on fire suppression) in a fire-prone Mediterranean mountainous landscape of Portugal.
Results: Fire and land dynamics increased fire-adapted forests and agroforestry systems and decreased dominance of shrublands and croplands, thereby fostering landscape heterogeneity and fragmentation. FRC decreased over time, particularly under RCP 8.5 and BAU. Fire-smart strategies prevented larger and intense fires compared to BAU, although less effectively under RCP 8.5. Shifts in the historical fire regime are expected in the future (increasing burned area and fire frequency), more markedly under the BAU strategy.
Conclusions: Fire-smart strategies performed better than BAU in averting current fire regime intensification. Merging forest- and silvopasture-based strategies is a promising approach in taming the effects of climate and farmland abandonment on fire activity. Our work underlined the importance of decreasing landscape fuel hazard to buffer the impact of global change on fire regimes in the future management of fire-prone Mediterranean mountain landscapes.
Identification and Risk Assessment of Distinct Prognostic Subtypes in Sepsis Patients Requiring Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning Models
Authors: chen jialong , Lin Jing , Wen Jianing , Weng Jianzhen , Ju Yang , li Yanming yanming
Published: September 2023

Background: Sepsis is a global health threat, and invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) is crucial but may lead to complications. We hypothesized that ML and DL models could identify prognostic subtypes in sepsis patients requiring invasive MV.
Method: A retrospective cohort study included sepsis patients from MIMIC-IV, using various ML and DL models (e.g., RF, XGBoost, CNN, etc.), with eICU data for external validation. AUCs and SHAP values assessed model performance and feature importance.
Result: 12,929 MIMIC-IV and 1,437 eICU patients were analyzed. RF, Adaboost, Catboost, LGBM, ANN, and CNN exhibited robust discriminatory power in MIMIC-IV (AUCs: 0.82-0.84). RF excelled across both databases (sensitivity: 0.825, specificity: 0.863, AUC: 0.844), with critical predictors of clinical death identified through SHAP values. A risk calculator for clinical death risk in sepsis patients was developed based on the RF model.
Conclusion: The RF model assists in assessing in-hospital mortality risk in sepsis patients undergoing invasive MV, offering valuable insights for clinical decisions.
Enhancement of RBPJ expression by p30 promoted adult T-cell leukemia progression
Authors: Zheng Tingjin , Cheng Wenzhao , Tang Mingqing , Zeng Chong , Zhang Zhishan , Xu Ruian
Published: September 2023

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is a fatal blood cancer caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. The recombination signal-binding protein of immunoglobulin kappa J region (RBPJ), a DNA bind protein, is associated with viral infectious diseases. However, little is known about how RBPJ is involved in HTLV-1 infection, and the molecular mechanisms of RBPJ in ATL progression have not been comprehensively investigated. Here, we reported that RBPJ was overexpressed in most ATL cell lines. Additional luciferase reporter assays displayed that p30, but not Tax or HBZ, was responsible for enhanced RBPJ transcription. Further pathological observations revealed that RBPJ was sufficient to reprogram the cell cycle and initiate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), resulting in ATL tumorigenesis. In a word, our present study identified RBPJ as a novel p30 target and a key regulator during ATL tumorigenesis.
Association of Serum Homocysteine with Vitamin B12 and folate levels in women with Pre- eclampsia
Authors: Yadav Binod Kumar , Maskey Suvana , Bhattarai Aseem , Pradhananga Salina , Regmi Astha , Shakya Sabina
Published: September 2023

Background
Pre-eclampsia is a syndrome that chiefly includes the development of new-onset hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in Nepal. Hyperhomocysteinemia may be a cause of the endothelial dysfunction provoked by oxidative stress in pre-eclampsia. This study was designed to evaluate the association of homocysteine with Vitamin B12 and folate in patients with pre-eclampsia.
Method
An observational cross sectional study was performed in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of TUTH involving seventy two subjects with pre-eclampsia. Blood pressure, urinary protein levels, serum homocysteine, Vitamin B12 and folate levels were compared in both mild and severe forms of pre-eclampsia. Concentration of Vitamin B12 and folate were measured using Vitros ECI and homocysteine was measured using CLIA. SPSS 23.0 was used to analyze the data. Tests were performed with Mann Whitney Test and Spearman’s rank correlation test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
This study shows no significant difference in age and weeks of gestation in both Mild and severe forms of pre-eclampsia. Mean concentration of homocysteine is higher (13.1 ± 6.4 micromol/L) in severe Pre-eclampsia as compared to mild cases (7.6 ± 2.8 micromol/L). Mean concentration of folate is lower in severe cases (35.4 ± 24.1 micromol/L) when compared with mild cases of pre-eclampsia (57 ± 23.4 micromol/L).
Conclusion
Homocysteine levels were increased in severe Pre-eclampsia when compared with mild pre-eclampsia and this finding can be used to predict and prevent complications in patients with pre-eclampsia.
Revisiting Wired to the World, Chained to the Home: Telework in Daily Life
Authors: Gurstein Penny
Published: September 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated widespread remote work options. Reflecting on research from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s on telework and home-based employment that culminated in a 2001 book, Wired to the World, Chained to the Home: Telework in Daily Life, the author reviews
what has and has not changed in the experience of remote workers in their homes and communities as they navigate their work and domestic responsibilities. While there are many positive bene fits to remote work, there are still difficulties in balancing home and work life. Social policies are
needed that allow more options to fulfil work and household responsibilities, and an integrated approach to the planning of homes, workplaces, and communities.
A multi-system comparison of forecast flooding extent using a scale-selective approach
Authors: Hooker Helen , Dance Sarah L. , Mason David C. , Bevington John , Shelton Kay
Published: September 2023

Fluvial flood forecasting systems increasingly couple river discharge to a flood map library or a real-time hydrodynamic model to provide forecast flood maps to humanitarian agencies. The forecast flood maps can be linked to potential impacts to inform forecast-based financing schemes. We investigate a new application of scale-selective verification by evaluating three flood forecasting systems. Two simulation library systems, Flood Foresight (30 m) and GloFAS Rapid Flood Mapping (1,000 m) and one hydrodynamically modelled system, the Bangladesh Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) Super Model (300 m), all made predictions of flooding extent at different spatial scales (grid lengths, in brackets) for the Jamuna River flood, Bangladesh, July 2020. The flood maps are validated against synthetic-aperture-radar-derived observations of flooding using a scale-selective approach that can compare directly across different spatial scales. At short forecast lead times, the Super Model outperforms the other systems. Near to the Bangladesh border, the trans-boundary benefits of the two global systems are evident. We find that scale-selective methods can quantify the skill of systems operating at different spatial scales so that the benefits and limitations can be evaluated. Multi-system comparison of flood maps is important for improving impact-based forecasts and ensuring funds and response activities are appropriately targeted.
CFD modelling of an immobilised photocatalytic reactor for phenol degradation
Authors: Devipriya B. , Mohanan Sreelal , Surenjan Anupama
Published: September 2023

Photocatalysis is an advanced oxidation process, which has been gaining attention as a sustainable technology for tackling pollution. Optimum design, fabrication and scaling up of novel photocatalytic reactors are faced with problems such as fabrication cost and numerous experimental trials for optimisation. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a computer simulation technique can ease the process of scaling up photocatalytic reactors. The current study focuses on CFD modelling of a serpentine flow path photocatalytic reactor with curved baffles for phenol degradation. The investigation compared different reactor configurations to finalise the optimum design with maximum removal efficiency. Initially, a simple cuboidal reactor was chosen with an efficiency of 27%. However, with a serpentine flow path being introduced, the reactor displayed an improved efficiency of 42%. The addition of baffles improved flow homogeneity and degradation efficiency. The investigation showed that serpentine flow increased the residence time and fluid mixing, while the curved baffles prevented flow channelisation, which enhanced the degradation efficiency. Efficiencies corresponding to different baffle types and geometry were also compared and the final reactor design chosen was a horizontal curved baffled serpentine flow reactor with a flow rate of 0.3 L/s and improved efficiency of 43.1% for a residence time of 18.44 s.
A comparative study between low- and high-tech methods for the detection and mitigation of illicit connections in stormwater systems
Authors: Schilperoort Remy , Post Johan , Klootwijk Martijn , Hoefeijzers Bas , Hof Arjo , Palsma Bert , Leenen Imke , Schmitt Heike , Blaak Hetty , de Rijk Sharona , McCarthy David , Makris Konstantinos F. , Langeveld Jeroen G.
Published: September 2023

Illicit connections of wastewater to stormwater systems are the main drawback of separate sewer systems, as they lead to a direct discharge of untreated wastewater to the aquatic environment. Consequently, several inspection methods have been developed for detecting illicit connections. This study simultaneously applied several low- and high-tech methods for the detection of illicit connections in the same catchment (De Heuvel, the Netherlands). The methods included mesh wire screens for capturing coarse contamination, measurements of electroconductivity and temperature, sampling and quantification of Escherichia coli and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing E. coli (ESBL-EC), DNA analysis via quantitative polymerase chain reaction for human-, dog-, and bird-specific fecal indicators, and distributed temperature sensing. Significant illicit connections could be identified using all methods. Nonetheless, hydraulic conditions and, predominantly, the sewage volume determine whether a misconnection can be detected by especially the low-tech methods. Using these results, the identified misconnections were repaired and biological and DNA analyses were repeated. Our results demonstrate that there were no changes in E. coli or ESBL-EC before and after mitigation, suggesting that these common markers of fecal contamination are not specific enough to evaluate the performance of mitigation efforts. However, a marked decrease in human wastewater markers (HF183) was observed.
Opportunistic navigation applied to integration of alternative positioning and electronic mapping based on spline technology
Authors: Yuyukin I. V.
Published: September 2023

The problem of vulnerability and local incapacity of global satellite navigation systems is formulated. The expediency of alternative positioning methods to create a precedent for high-precision location determination in the satellitedenied environment is revealed. The hypothesis about the impossibility of a separate alternative to meet the requirements of full autonomy of modern navigation when it is necessary to comprehensively solve geolocation scenarios based on the combinatorics of various technologies is put forward. An assumption about the probable advantage of combining data from several information sources to compensate for the disadvantages of each option when predicting an increase in the overall reliability and accuracy of navigation parameters is made. An opportunistic navigation paradigm with the objective function of obtaining location information from mixing additional radio frequency signals with simultaneous visualization of a spline positioning map to determine the location inside a graphic fragment is proposed. The confidence that the approach from the standpoint of spline functions expands the horizon of possibilities of the concept of opportunistic navigation from the purely technical synergetics of the landscape of «signals of opportunity» to the creation of a perspective positioning system using effective electronic mapping is expressed. It is determined that the positioning accuracy of navigation systems is practically necessary to build an optimal trajectory for the safe routing of the vessel. Attention is focused on understanding the optimality of the trajectory as a multi-way planning strategy within the framework of the «receding horizon» paradigm with the obligatory condition that a waypoint with a user-defined probability is achievable by a moving object. It is noted that the modeling of optimal trajectories is implemented by a method similar to the technology of interpolation of navigation contours based on the composition of a B-spline with the provision of an attribute parameter to maintain the same value at each point as a result of the analysis of the spatial anisotropy of the source data. The synthesis of threedimensional spreading of magnetic map anomalies has been tested to create a mapping standard based on a hybrid approximation algorithm as an implementation of a method for computer rendering a geometric primitive of a function of two variables. The postulate of increasing the potential of high-precision localization of the position of any mobile object in space is interpreted, provided that the ontology of opportunistic navigation is applied in practice as the realization of situational awareness of interdependent technical systems in order to maximize the reliability of observation.
Investigation of structural-phase transformations of weld metal and in the heat-affected zone during laser welding
Authors: Makarchuk N. V. , Makarchuk A. V. , Startsev V. N.
Published: September 2023

The use of laser equipment is one of the promising ways to create innovative and highly efficient technologies in the production of ship structures. The main advantages of using laser technologies in the production of marine equipment are increased productivity by increasing the speed and reducing the number of welding passes, improving the quality of welded joints due to the accuracy of the assembly of structures and the level of automation, reducing the level of residual stresses, warping and leash due to significant localization of the heating and penetration zone compared with arc welding technologies, a significant reduction in the consumption of welding materials or their complete exclusion due to the smaller dimensions of the geometry of the cutting edges and the width of the assembly gaps. The mechanical properties of the welded joint are determined by the composition of the steel and its structure. The structural- phase transformations of the weld metal are determined by the temperature-time parameters that occur in the seam zone itself and in the heat-affected zone. Laser welded joints are formed under conditions in which thermal cycles differ significantly in depth and width of the weld, so the mechanical properties of the joint are determined by local changes in the structure of the seam metal and heat-affected zone. The issues of formation of the phase composition of the seam zone and heat-affected zone during laser welding are examined in the paper. On the basis of numerical modeling of thermal processes and structural- phase transformations of weld metal and heat-affected zone accompanying laser welding, a method for quantifying the volume fraction of structural- phase components of weld metal and heat-affected zone is proposed. The proposed calculation algorithm avoids solving the equation for the amount of the volume fraction of the structural- phase components of the metal at each step of the calculations.
Terminology, structure and model of the electrical systems operation process
Authors: Saushev A. V. , Smirnov V. I. , Bova E. V.
Published: September 2023

The content of operation as one of the most important stages of the life cycle of a technical system is revealed. The structure of the process of technical operation of electrical engineering systems is considered. The essence of the individual stages of operation is revealed, their functional purpose is given. It is shown that some fundamental concepts related to operation do not have an unambiguous interpretation. The well-known definitions of these concepts are considered and a one-digit formulation of each of them, which corresponds to the current standards, is given. Special attention is paid to the disclosure of the content of the concept of state and consideration of various types of technical states of the system. The definition of the “condition” category, the formulation of which differs from the known definitions and allows more fully and accurately solving the problems of diagnosing the studied electrical systems, is given. An important feature of this definition is that it fixes the continuous variability of the state of any system in a function of time. At the same time, stable technical conditions that differ significantly from each other and correspond to the current version of the standard are distinguished. Such states are serviceable, faulty, operable, inoperable, partially inoperable, marginal. Functional conditions that are determined by the operating modes of the system are considered. The current definitions of the most important properties and events, among which a special place is occupied by reliability, survivability, safety, failure, damage, defect, are given. For the selected technical states, a model in the form of an oriented graph is synthesized. It is shown that the actual process of an electrical system operation has two features. The first one is that the probability of transition from one state to another does not depend on the type of state the system is in at the moment. The second feature is that the time spent in each technical condition can be either deterministic or random. The conclusion about the possibility of modeling the process of changing the technical states of the system by semi- Markov models with a discrete set of states is made. A mathematical model in the form of Kolmogorov differential equations, which makes it possible to estimate the probabilities of the system being in a particular state, has been compiled.
Influence of preparations with peptides on innate and adaptive immunity
Authors: Sizyakina L. P. , Sergeeva A. I.
Published: September 2023

Objective: to assess the dynamics of the immune system functioning when using mesotherapy with peptide complexes. Materials and methods: the observation group consisted of 26 women (from 35 to 55 years old) who received a course of mesotherapy with preparations containing peptides for the first time. Injections were carried out in a course of 5 procedures with an interval of 14 days. The exclusion criteria were the absence of same manipulations in the past, hormone replacement therapy, combined oral contraceptives, pregnancy, lactation, acute infections, somatic pathologies. The parameters of innate and adaptive immunity were studied before the course of procedures, right after it, 3 and 6 months after the course. Skin quality changes were assessed using the Aramo Smart Lite 300 dermatoscope. Results: improved skin quality, decreased skin creases, increased skin moisture. The obtained clinical improvements last for three months after the end of the course and there is a tendency for the effects to decrease after six months. In the functioning of the immune system, there is a redistribution of lymphocytes population in the peripheral bloodstream immediately after the course of mesotherapy. In addition, an increase in peripheral T-regulatory lymphocytes responsible for intraimmune suppression was documented. The activation of spontaneous oxygen-producing activity was noted. 3 months after the procedure, no significant changes in immunological parameters were found. 6 months after the course of procedures, a decrease in the level of T-lymphocytes with an increase in the expression of markers of early T-cell activation was recorded. In the humoral link, an increase in circulating B-lymphocytes was documented. In the parameters of innate immunity, there is a decrease in the spontaneous oxygen-producing activity of neutrophils. Conclusion: as a result of the study, a positive persistent clinical effect is documented, simultaneously with the mobilization of factors of innate and adaptive immunity. It is important to note the fact that the immune response restores completely within 6 months after a course of mesotherapy with peptide complexes, with still noticeable clinical results.
Difficulties in diagnosing a myofibroblastic lung tumor in a child
Authors: Belykh N. A. , Zakharova A. V. , Piznyur I. V. , Anikeeva N. A. , Styazhkina E. V. , Deeva Yu. V.
Published: September 2023

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (VMO) is a rare neoplasm, which is currently referred to as a mesenchymal neoplasm with intermediate biological potential. The tumor consists of differentiated myofibroblastic fusiform cells. The frequency of occurrence of VMO among primary lung neoplasms is up to 1%. This type of tumor is the most common type of primary lung tumors in children. VMO can occur both in childhood and in adulthood. VMO is found in the soft tissues of the abdominal cavity, in the pelvic organs, larynx, mammary gland, head and neck tissues. Extra-organ localization (retroperitoneal space, mediastinum) is also diagnosed. Lung VMO often has no clinical manifestations, and if present has nonspecific symptoms, such as cough, hemoptysis, shortness of breath, hyperthermia, chest pain. VMO was previously considered as a neoplasm with a benign course, but these tumors tend to local relapses and distant metastasis. The article presents data on the prevalence, clinical manifestations and treatment of VMO, as well as own clinical observation of the course of this disease in an 8-year-old child.
Development of idiopathic intracranial hypertension on the background of zoledronic acid therapy in Gorham-Stoat syndrome
Authors: Domracheva A. M. , Fomina-Chertousova N. A. , Sozaeva D. I.
Published: September 2023

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IVH) is a condition or a heterogeneous group of vessels characterized by an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) without signs of mass formation, hydrocephalus, infection, venous thrombosis, and hypertensive encephalopathy. The term "pseudotumoral cerebral hypertension" is used to describe the secondary origin of ICP due to various causes and is a diagnosis of exclusion. One of the risk factors for the development of IVH are hypocalcemic conditions of the development of etiology, leading to the development of ICP. Long-term use of zoledronic acid, which is a risk factor for the development of hypocalcemia, can contribute to the occurrence and fluctuating course of IVH, requires monitoring clinical monitoring of the patient's condition in order to prevent the occurrence of secondary atrophy of the optic discs, with further progressive decline and loss of vision. The choice of vaccine for a 12-year-old child with a clinically-instrumentally-histologically confirmed diagnosis of Gorham-Stout syndrome, with progressive bone resorption, receiving zoledronic acid therapy. Attracting the attention and informing a wide range of specialists in various fields about the likelihood of IVH on the background of long-term use of bone and cartilage metabolism correctors can serve as an important factor in the timely diagnosis, prevention and correction of this pathological condition in childhood.
Preventive efficacy of preparations of vesicles of external membranes of atoxygenic strains of Vibrio cholerae О1 serogroup
Authors: Filippenko A. V. , Omelchenko N. D. , Duvanova O. V. , Shipko E. S. , Trufanova A. A. , Pasyukova N. I. , Ivanova I. A. , Evdokimova V. V.
Published: September 2023

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness and expediency of using vesicles of the outer membranes of atoxygenic strains of Vibrio cholerae O1 serogroup for the prevention of experimental cholera. Materials and methods: atoxigenic strains of V. cholerae O1 El Tor 18950 (ctxAB-tcpA-) and 18780 (ctxAB-tcpA+) isolated from the water of surface reservoirs were used to obtain vesicles. The protective properties of the obtained drugs were evaluated using a model of generalized cholera in white mice and a model of an isolated loop of the small intestine of an adult rabbit. Results: it has been shown that vesicles of the outer membranes isolated from atoxygenic strains of V. cholerae have a protective effect and prevent the development of infection in experimental animals when infected with a virulent strain of cholera. The obtained drugs are most effective when administered parenterally twice, with an interval of seven days, preventing the death of all white mice taken in the experiment and the development of pathogenetic processes in the small intestine of adult rabbits. Summary: the data obtained indicates the formation of pronounced immune protection against the disease in animals, as well as the possibility of using these structures to create preventive anti-cholera drugs.
Structural analysis and cytotoxic evaluation of kisspeptin10 and analogs in types of cancer
Authors: Rodríguez Sarmiento Deisy Yurley , Toloza Sandoval Dallana Jisela , Rondón-Villarreal Paola
Published: September 2023

The Kisspeptin system is a peptidergic system that plays a crucial role in regulating of reproduction and hormonal function. Kisspeptin is a peptide synthesized from the KiSS-1 gene and has been identified as the endogenous ligand of the kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R or GPR54 receptor). This system plays a key role in activating sex hormone secretion and puberty. In addition to its function in the regulation of reproduction, the Kisspeptin system has been found to play a role in other physiological processes, such as the regulation of appetite, energy metabolism, cardiovascular function, and cancer. In this study, several Kisspeptin analogs with structural modifications were designed and synthesized. The Kisspeptin analogs were evaluated by in vitro cytotoxicity tests on cancer cells of different cancer types. Cell viability assays were performed, and the concentrations that inhibited cell growth by a significant percentage were determined. The results showed that certain Kisspeptin analogs exhibited increased selective cytotoxicity in cancer cells compared to healthy cells.
In conclusion, this study demonstrates that structurally modified Kisspeptin analogs have the potential to be therapeutic agents against some types of cancer. Understanding the structure-activity relationship of these analogs and their evaluation of their selective toxicity on cancer cells will be of great importance.
Keywords: Kisspeptins Analogs, GPR54, Cancer, Cytotoxicity, Molecular Docking, Structure-activity relationship, Anticancer therapy, Drug Design.
Experiencias vividas de los cuidadores primarios en el manejo ambulatorio al paciente con COVID-19
Authors: Morillo Enriquez Diana Elizabeth , Jimenez Barrera Maricelys , Cabrera Olvera Jorge Leodan , Meneses La Riva Mónica Elisa
Published: September 2023

El COVID-19 ha vulnerado profundamente la vida de los familiares, donde se atesoran experiencias positivas de salud que ameritan ser socializadas. Comprender las experiencias de los familiares sobre la atención a los pacientes con COVID-19 para asumir el manejo y tratamiento ambulatorio.Fue una investigación cualitativa de abordaje fenomenológico-hermenéutico. Participaron 10 familiares de pacientes afectados por coronavirus, cuyo muestreo fue no probabilístico por conveniencia y saturación teórica, para la obtención de los datos se utilizó la entrevista semiestructurada y el grupo focal, siguiendo el método de Colaizzi. Las categorías obtenidas fueron: 1) Calidad del cuidado al paciente afectado con COVID-19; 2) Experiencia de los familiares de pacientes con coronavirus en manejo ambulatorio y tratamiento domiciliario; 3) Vivencias imborrables de pacientes afectados por el virus SARS-CoV-2 y el familiar cuidador; 4) Repercusiones de la calidad de los servicios de salud privados en los pacientes afectados durante la emergencia sanitaria; 5) Fe en Dios en tiempos de pandemia y 6) Resiliencia del familiar en el cuidado de personas afectadas por la pandemia global. Se demostró que urge la necesidad de acompañamiento y apoyo por parte de profesionales de la salud a los cuidadores primarios, proporcionándoles educación y habilidades necesarias para el adecuado manejo y tratamiento del paciente en el ámbito domiciliario. Recomendamos utilizar los resultados obtenidos en este estudio como base para futuras investigaciones, mejorando así la atención proporcionada y la recuperación del paciente en su entorno familiar. Palabras clave: experiencia; familia; cuidado humanizado; acompañamiento.
Digital Phenotyping for Stress, Anxiety, and Mild Depression: Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Choi Adrien , Ooi Aysel , Lottridge Danielle
Published: September 2023

Background

Unaddressed early-stage mental health issues, including stress, anxiety, and mild depression, can become a burden for individuals in the long term. Digital phenotyping involves capturing continuous behavioral data via digital smartphone devices to monitor human behavior and can potentially identify milder symptoms before they become serious.

Objective

This systematic literature review aimed to answer the following questions: (1) what is the evidence of the effectiveness of digital phenotyping using smartphones in identifying behavioral patterns related to stress, anxiety, and mild depression? and (2) in particular, which smartphone sensors are found to be effective, and what are the associated challenges?

Methods

We used the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) process to identify 36 papers (reporting on 40 studies) to assess the key smartphone sensors related to stress, anxiety, and mild depression. We excluded studies conducted with nonadult participants (eg, teenagers and children) and clinical populations, as well as personality measurement and phobia studies. As we focused on the effectiveness of digital phenotyping using smartphones, results related to wearable devices were excluded.

Results

We categorized the studies into 3 major groups based on the recruited participants: studies with students enrolled in universities, studies with adults who were unaffiliated to any particular organization, and studies with employees employed in an organization. The study length varied from 10 days to 3 years. A range of passive sensors were used in the studies, including GPS, Bluetooth, accelerometer, microphone, illuminance, gyroscope, and Wi-Fi. These were used to assess locations visited; mobility; speech patterns; phone use, such as screen checking; time spent in bed; physical activity; sleep; and aspects of social interactions, such as the number of interactions and response time. Of the 40 included studies, 31 (78%) used machine learning models for prediction; most others (n=8, 20%) used descriptive statistics. Students and adults who experienced stress, anxiety, or depression visited fewer locations, were more sedentary, had irregular sleep, and accrued increased phone use. In contrast to students and adults, less mobility was seen as positive for employees because less mobility in workplaces was associated with higher performance. Overall, travel, physical activity, sleep, social interaction, and phone use were related to stress, anxiety, and mild depression.

Conclusions

This study focused on understanding whether smartphone sensors can be effectively used to detect behavioral patterns associated with stress, anxiety, and mild depression in nonclinical participants. The reviewed studies provided evidence that smartphone sensors are effective in identifying behavioral patterns associated with stress, anxiety, and mild depression.
Exploring the Possible Use of AI Chatbots in Public Health Education: Feasibility Study
Authors: Baglivo Francesco , De Angelis Luigi , Casigliani Virginia , Arzilli Guglielmo , Privitera Gaetano Pierpaolo , Rizzo Caterina
Published: September 2023

Background

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly developing field with the potential to transform various aspects of health care and public health, including medical training. During the “Hygiene and Public Health” course for fifth-year medical students, a practical training session was conducted on vaccination using AI chatbots as an educational supportive tool. Before receiving specific training on vaccination, the students were given a web-based test extracted from the Italian National Medical Residency Test. After completing the test, a critical correction of each question was performed assisted by AI chatbots.

Objective

The main aim of this study was to identify whether AI chatbots can be considered educational support tools for training in public health. The secondary objective was to assess the performance of different AI chatbots on complex multiple-choice medical questions in the Italian language.

Methods

A test composed of 15 multiple-choice questions on vaccination was extracted from the Italian National Medical Residency Test using targeted keywords and administered to medical students via Google Forms and to different AI chatbot models (Bing Chat, ChatGPT, Chatsonic, Google Bard, and YouChat). The correction of the test was conducted in the classroom, focusing on the critical evaluation of the explanations provided by the chatbot. A Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to compare the performances of medical students and AI chatbots. Student feedback was collected anonymously at the end of the training experience.

Results

In total, 36 medical students and 5 AI chatbot models completed the test. The students achieved an average score of 8.22 (SD 2.65) out of 15, while the AI chatbots scored an average of 12.22 (SD 2.77). The results indicated a statistically significant difference in performance between the 2 groups (U=49.5, P<.001), with a large effect size (r=0.69). When divided by question type (direct, scenario-based, and negative), significant differences were observed in direct (P<.001) and scenario-based (P<.001) questions, but not in negative questions (P=.48). The students reported a high level of satisfaction (7.9/10) with the educational experience, expressing a strong desire to repeat the experience (7.6/10).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the efficacy of AI chatbots in answering complex medical questions related to vaccination and providing valuable educational support. Their performance significantly surpassed that of medical students in direct and scenario-based questions. The responsible and critical use of AI chatbots can enhance medical education, making it an essential aspect to integrate into the educational system.
Epidemiological application of the cycle threshold value of RT-PCR for estimating infection period in cases of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Bae Soonjong , Bae Jong-Myon
Published: September 2023

Epidemiological control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is needed to estimate the infection period of confirmed cases and identify potential cases. The present study, targeting confirmed cases for which the time of COVID-19 symptom onset was disclosed, aimed to investigate the relationship between intervals (day) from symptom onset to testing the cycle threshold (CT) values of real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Of the COVID-19 confirmed cases, those for which the date of suspected symptom onset in the epidemiological investigation was specifically disclosed were included in this study. Interval was defined as the number of days from symptom onset (as disclosed by the patient) to specimen collection for testing. A locally weighted regression smoothing (LOWESS) curve was applied, with intervals as explanatory variables and CT values (CTR for RdRp gene and CTE for E gene) as outcome variables. After finding its non-linear relationship, a polynomial regression model was applied to estimate the 95% confidence interval values of CTR and CTE by interval. The application of LOWESS in 331 patients identified a U-shaped curve relationship between the CTR and CTE values according to the number of interval days, and both CTR and CTE satisfied the quadratic model for interval days. Active application of these results to epidemiological investigations would minimize the chance of failing to identify individuals who are in contact with COVID-19 confirmed cases, thereby reducing the potential transmission of the virus to local communities.
Estimation of Equivalent Rainfall for Ungauged Reservoir Using Satellite-Based High-Resolution Terrain Data
Authors: Kim Jin Gyeom , Kang Kimook , Son Chanyoung , Nam Gibeom , Hwang Euiho
Published: September 2023

Equivalent rainfall refers to the amount of precipitation required to reach a specific water level from the current water level in a reservoir. It serves as a flood forecasting and warning system that allows for the rapid assessment of the reservoir’s maximum water level at the moment of rainfall forecast. In reservoirs where terrain and survey data can be obtained, deriving equivalent rainfall is not difficult. However, without terrain data, satellite imagery and global topographic data are the only available options. In this study, high-resolution topographic data based on satellites were utilized to estimate the equivalent rainfall in the ungauged reservoir, Hwanggang Dam, located in the upper stream of the Imjin River in North Korea. To calculate the inflow into the reservoir, the Natural Resources Conservation Service-Curve Number method was used to determine the effective rainfall, taking into account the antecedent conditions, as the inflow into the reservoir can be changed for the same amount of rainfall depending on the soil moisture content of the watershed.
Detection of Floating Debris in the Lake Using Statistical Properties of Synthetic Aperture Radar Pulses
Authors: Yoon Donghyeon , Yu Ha-eun , Lee Moung-Jin
Published: September 2023

This study developed the European Space Agency (ESA) Setinel-1 Ground Range Detected (GRD) time series analysis model for monitoring floating debris in lake areas through Google Earth Engine Application Programming Interface. The study aims to monitor floating debris caused by heavy rainfall efficiently. Regarding water resources and water quality management, floating debris from multipurpose dams requires continuous monitoring from the initial generation stage. In the study, a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) time series analysis model that is easy to identify water bodies was developed due to low accessibility in large areas. Although SAR satellite images could be used to observe inland water environments, debris detection on water surface surfaces has yet to be studied. For the first time, this study detected floating debris patches in a wide range of lakes from GRD imagery acquired by ESA’s Sentinel-1 satellite. It demonstrated the potential to distinguish them from naturally occurring materials such as invasive floating plants. In this study, the case of Daecheong Dam, in which predicted floating debris was detected after heavy rain using Sentinel-1 GRD data, is presented. It could quickly detect various floating debris flowing into dams used as a source of drinking water and serve as a reference for establishing a collection plan.