bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metasurface reflector enables room-temperature circularly polarized emission from VCSEL
Authors: Jia Xiangli , Kapraun Jonas , Wang Jiaxing , Qi Jipeng , Ji Yipeng , Chang-Hasnain Connie
Published: July 2023

While most lasers are linearly polarized, circularly polarized laser sources are crucial components for many optical applications such as biosensing, quantum technologies, and AR/VR. However, conventional methods for generating chiral light have limitations in device miniaturization. Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), with their small footprint and surface emission feature, can be integrated with ultrathin metasurfaces for light manipulation, offering an opportunity to realize ultracompact chiral lasers. Here we report, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of chiral lasing from electrically pumped VCSELs at room temperature, without spin injection. This is enabled by incorporating a high-contrast chiral metasurface reflector as the VCSEL top mirror, favoring one specific circular polarization for lasing. Our demonstrated 940 nm VCSELs show stable single-mode chiral lasing and achieve a circular-polarization degree of up to 59%. This study provides a scalable approach for circular-polarization control of VCSELs and holds great promise for applications that desire ultracompact chiral emitters.
Preserving polarization maintaining photons for enhanced contrast imaging of the retina
Authors: Yao Xincheng , ROSSI ALFA , Son Taeyoon , Rahimi Mojtaba , Chan R.V.
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of using polarization maintaining photons for enhanced contrast imaging of the retina. Orthogonal-polarization control has been frequently used in conventional fundus imaging systems to minimize reflection artifacts. However, the orthogonal-polarization configuration also rejects the directly reflected photons, which preserve the polarization condition of incident light, from the superficial layer of the fundus, i.e., the retina, and thus reduce the contrast of retinal imaging. We report here a portable fundus camera which can simultaneously perform orthogonal polarization control to reject back-reflected light from the ophthalmic lens and parallel polarization control to preserve the backscattered light from the retina which partially maintains the polarization state of the incoming light. This portable device utilizes miniaturized indirect ophthalmoscopy illumination to achieve non-mydriatic imaging, with a snapshot field of view of 101° eye-angle (67° visual-angle). Comparative analysis of retinal images acquired with a traditional orthogonal-polarization-based fundus camera from both normal and diseased eyes was conducted to validate the usefulness of the proposed design. The parallel polarization control for enhanced contrast in high dynamic range imaging has also been validated.
Evaluation of fecal occult blood testing for rapid diagnosis of invasive diarrhea in young children
Authors: Kwasi David A. , Adewole Pelumi D. , Akinlabi Olabisi C. , Ekpo Stella E. , Okeke Iruka N.
Published: July 2023

Antimicrobials are only indicated in acute childhood diarrhea if it is invasive or persistent. Rapid screening for invasive diarrhea can therefore inform treatment decisions but pathogen identification by culture is slow, expensive and cumbersome. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of stool microscopy and immunochromatographic fecal occult blood test (FOBT) kits for identifying invasive or potentially invasive diarrhea in Ibadan, Nigeria. Fecal specimens from 46 children under 5 years old with diarrhea, collected as part of ongoing case-control studies, were subjected to stool microscopy for erythrocytes and leucocytes, and FOBT using the innovator’s product and four locally procurable generic immunochromatographic kits, each according to manufacturers’ instructions. Stool specimens were cultured for enteric bacterial pathogens using standard procedures. Presumptive pathogen isolates were identified biochemically and by PCR, and then confirmed by whole genome sequencing. Shigella, enteroinvasive Escherichia coli and Yersinia, pathogens that invariably cause invasive diarrhea, were detected in five of 46 specimens. Occult blood detection by microscopy was 55.6% sensitive and 78.4% specific, while the innovator’s FOBT product was respectively 62.5% and 81.6% sensitive and specific compared to strict invasive pathogen recovery. Microscopy and FOBT testing were less sensitive in identifying specimens that contained pathogens that do not always elicit invasive diarrhea. Generic FOBT tests compared well with the innovator’s product. Microscopy and FOBT testing have some value for delineating likely invasive diarrheas. They could inform treatment and serve as early warning indicators for dysentery outbreaks in resource limited settings. Inexpensive, generic FOBT kits that are locally procurable in Nigeria performed as well as the innovator’s product.
Anglers as potential vectors of aquatic invasive species: Linking inland water bodies in the Great Lakes region of the US
Authors: Morreale Stephen J. , Lauber T. Bruce , Stedman Richard C.
Published: July 2023

Unimpeded transfer and spread of invasive species throughout freshwater systems is of global concern, altering species compositions, disrupting ecosystem processes, and diverting economic resources. The magnitude and complexity of the problem is amplified by the global connectedness of human movements and the multiple modes of inter-basin transport of aquatic invasive species. Our objective was to trace the fishing behavior of anglers delineating potential pathways of transfer of invasive species throughout the vast inland waters of the Great Lakes of North America, which contain more than 21% of the world’s surface freshwater and are among the most highly invaded aquatic ecosystems in the world. Combining a comprehensive survey and a spatial analysis of the movements of thousands of anglers in 12 states within the US portion of the Great Lakes Basin and the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River Basins, we estimated that 6.5 million licensed anglers in the study area embarked on an average of 30 fishing trips over the course of the year, and 70% of the individuals fished in more than one county. Geospatial linkages showed direct connections made by individuals traveling between 99% of the 894 counties where fishing occurred, and between 61 of the 66 sub-watersheds in a year. Estimated numbers of fishing trips to individual counties ranged from 1199–1.95 million; generally highest in counties bordering the Great Lakes. Of these, 79 had more than 10,000 estimated fishing trips originating from anglers living in other counties. Although angler movements are one mechanism of invasive species transfer, there likely is a high cumulative probability of invasive species transport by several million people fishing each year throughout this extensive freshwater network. A comprehensive georeferenced survey, coupled with a spatial analysis of fishing destinations, provides a potentially powerful tool to track, predict, curtail and control the transfer and proliferation of invasive species in freshwater.
“Help! I need some music!”: Analysing music discourse & depression on Reddit
Authors: Singh Bhavyajeet , Vaswani Kunal , Paruchuri Sreeharsha , Saarikallio Suvi , Kumaraguru Ponnurangam , Alluri Vinoo
Published: July 2023

Individuals choose varying music listening strategies to fulfill particular mood-regulation goals. However, ineffective musical choices and a lack of cognizance of the effects thereof can be detrimental to their well-being and may lead to adverse outcomes like anxiety or depression. In our study, we use the social media platform Reddit to perform a large-scale analysis to unearth the several music-mediated mood-regulation goals that individuals opt for in the context of depression. A mixed-methods approach involving natural language processing techniques followed by qualitative analysis was performed on all music-related posts to identify the various music-listening strategies and group them into healthy and unhealthy associations. Analysis of the music content (acoustic features and lyrical themes) accompanying healthy and unhealthy associations showed significant differences. Individuals resorting to unhealthy strategies gravitate towards low-valence tracks. Moreover, lyrical themes associated with unhealthy strategies incorporated tracks with low optimism, high blame, and high self-reference. Our findings demonstrate that being mindful of the objectives of using music, the subsequent effects thereof, and aligning both for well-being outcomes is imperative for comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of music.
A novel application of statistical process control charts in financial market surveillance with the idea of profile monitoring
Authors: Yeganeh Ali , Shongwe Sandile Charles
Published: July 2023

The implementation of statistical techniques in on-line surveillance of financial markets has been frequently studied more recently. As a novel approach, statistical control charts which are famous tools for monitoring industrial processes, have been applied in various financial applications in the last three decades. The aim of this study is to propose a novel application of control charts called profile monitoring in the surveillance of the cryptocurrency markets. In this way, a new control chart is proposed to monitor the price variation of a pair of two most famous cryptocurrencies i.e., Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). Parameter estimation, tuning and sensitivity analysis are conducted assuming that the random explanatory variable follows a symmetric normal distribution. The triggered signals from the proposed method are interpreted to convert the BTC and ETH at proper times to increase their total value. Hence, the proposed method could be considered a financial indicator so that its signal can lead to a tangible increase of the pair of assets. The performance of the proposed method is investigated through different parameter adjustments and compared with some common technical indicators under a real data set. The results show the acceptable and superior performance of the proposed method.
Functional and structural outcomes and complications after pars plana vitrectomy for severe features of proliferative diabetic retinopathy in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kaźmierczak Karolina , Żuchowski Paweł , Stafiej Joanna , Malukiewicz Grażyna
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the functional and structural outcomes as well as postoperative complications after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for severe features of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients.

Methods

Twenty two eyes of type 1 diabetics (DM1 group) and 27 eyes of type 2 diabetics (DM2 group) were included. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), postoperative structural changes in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and postoperative complications such as recurrent vitreous haemorrhage, diabetic macular oedema, secondary glaucoma and persistent tractional retinal detachment (TRD) were assessed and compared between the two groups.

Results

Complete reattachment of retina was achieved in 88.9% from the DM1 group and in 95.5% from the DM2 group and remained attached in follow-up. BCVA in DM2 group was significantly lower preoperatively (p = 0.04). Mean postoperative BCVA significantly improved in both studied groups, but it was more evident in eyes of type 2 diabetics compared to type 1 diabetics. In eyes in the DM1 group there was perceptible stabilisation of BCVA. Poor visual acuity or lack of improvement in BCVA in the DM1 group was related to preoperative subretinal haemorrhage in macular region, and TRD involving macula, whereas in the DM2 group–to preoperative subretinal haemorrhage and neovascular glaucoma. The postoperative structural changes (disruption of EZ and ELM) were observed more often in DM2 group, but had the greatest impact on BCVA in eyes of type 1 DM. Complications after PPV for PDR were rare and hadn’t a significant influence on the final functional outcomes in both groups.

Conclusions

Functional improvement after PPV for severe features of proliferative diabetic retinopathy were more noticeable in patients with type 2 DM. Postoperative structural changes had more negative impact on BCVA in type 1 diabetics.
Contribuições da Geografia para o Ensino dos Riscos
Authors: Souza Carla Juscélia de Oliveira , Lourenço Luciano
Published: July 2023

O presente livro reúne conhecimentos de diferentes pesquisadores(as) da Geografia, com o objetivo de promover discussões e reflexões na interface de três campos - Geografia, Riscos e Educação – para um público formado por professores(as) estudantes, pesquisadores(as) e demais pessoas interessadas no tema.
Está organizado em duas partes, cuja diversidade dos capítulos, convida para uma leitura atenta para aspectos que compreendem uma base teórico-conceitual e metodológica; estudos de casos que contribuem para o entendimento dos diferentes tipos de riscos, sua multiescalaridade de manifestações e, principalmente, uma discussão e reflexão sobre o tema riscos no âmbito do ensino, com base em experiências e pesquisas escolares à luz da Geografia.
Para esse entendimento do espaço e dos riscos, os autores(as) reforçam a necessidade da construção de conceitos no processo formativo, evidenciam o potencial da leitura de paisagens, territórios e de lugares em diferentes escalas geográficas e mostram, com seus estudos de casos e experiências, a relevância de fenômenos físico-naturais, socioeconômicos, socioculturais, que inicialmente podem parecer desinteressantes para muitos estudantes, mas que no processo de ensino-aprendizagem vão se tornando conteúdos socialmente significativos e necessários, na formação básica e na acadêmica, respeitadas as especificidades e os objetivos de cada um desses universos de formação inicial, profissional e cidadã.
A stratégiai vezetői számvitel mint a siker záloga a magyar szállodaiparban
Authors: Pajrok Andor
Published: July 2023

A magyar kormány 2017 októberében a „Nemzeti Turizmusfejlesztési Stratégia 2030” című dokumentum elfogadásával stratégiai szintre emelte a turizmus ágazatát. A megfogalmazott célok között szerepel, hogy 2030-ra a magyar turizmus GDP-hez való hozzájárulása 16%-ra növekedjen. A központi intézkedés ellenére viszonylag keveset lehet tudni a turizmusban érintettek hosszú távú teljesítményéről. A tanulmány a hazai turizmus igen érzékeny területét jelentő szállodaipar szereplőinek körében végzett primer felmérés alapján, statisztikai elemzéssel alátámasztva vizsgálja a stratégiai vezetői számvitel alkalmazása és a teljesítmény közötti kapcsolatot. Az empirikus kutatással alátámasztott elemzés újszerűsége, hogy a napjainkban még kevésbé kutatott nem pénzügyi indikátorok elemzésbe történő bevonásával fogalmazza meg következtetéseit. A magyar szállodaipar meghatározó jelentőségű szereplőit reprezentáló 74 elemű statisztikai minta vizsgálatán alapuló tanulmány legfontosabb megállapítása, hogy szignifikáns kapcsolat mutatható ki a stratégiai vezetői számvitel alkalmazása és az átlagon felüli nem pénzügyi teljesítménymutatók között. A kutatás rámutat arra, hogy napjaink üzleti környezetére egyre jellemzőbb gazdasági válságok időszakában e tényezők közötti kapcsolat intenzitása erősödött.
The history of the development of endocrine surgery in Saratov: professor Myshkin K.I. is the founder of the school of endocrine surgery
Authors: Duboshina T. B. , Meshcheryakov V. L. , Kapralov S. V. , Yakubenko V. V. , Amirov E. V. , Turlykova I. A. , Vanzha Ya. E.
Published: July 2023

The article tells about the work and scientific achievements of Professor K.I. Myshkin — surgeon, founder of the school of endocrine surgery, teacher, whose example has become a guide for many on their professional path. Materials about the  biography of the great professional, information about the continuation of his scientific achievements by his students and followers are given.
Influence of sleeve gastrectomy on menstrual function and ovarian reserve in patients with obesity
Authors: Semikova G. V. , Dora S. V. , Shvets Z. V. , Kulchitskaya E. A. , Volkova A. R.
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with development of menstrual disorders (MD), a decrease in ovarian reserve and infertility. Treatment of obesity contributes to the normalization of the reproductive function of women. Bariatric surgery is known to be the most effective method of obesity treatment, while the most common intervention is the sleeve gastrectomy (SG), the effect of which on menstrual function and ovarian reserve has not been studied enough.

AIM: To study the effect of SG on menstrual function and ovarian reserve in obese women of reproductive age

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female patients with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 aged 25 to 36 years were examined. At baseline and 6 months after SG, the characteristics of menstrual function were determined, BMI and HOMA-IR were calculated, and the level of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) was measured. The obtained parameters were compared in patients with and without MD

RESULTS: . In all patients, 6 months after SG, there was a decrease in BMI: 30.1 kg/m2 (29.3–32.1) and 39.3 kg/m2 (37.3–41.0) (p<0.001), HOMA -IR: 5.0 (4.1–5.9) and 2.8 (2.1–3.2) (p=0.001). The initial level of AMH in patients with MD (n=12) was lower than in patients with normal menstrual function (n=10): 2.4 ng/ml (1.9–2.0) and 3.2 ng/ml (2.6–4.2), respectively (p=0.032). A significant increase in AMH levels occurred only in the group of patients with MD (p=0.04). MD remained only in 3 women.

CONCLUSION: SG in patients of reproductive age with obesity is associated with the normalization of menstrual function and an increase in AMH, as well as a decrease in the degree of insulin resistance.
Existenzgründungen im ostdeutschen Einzelhandel
Authors: Achen Matthias , Zarth Michael
Published: July 2023

Rund vier Jahre nach der deutschen Einigung ist die Umstrukturierung des Einzelhandels in den neuen Ländern bereits weit fortgeschritten. Durch das Engagement westdeutscher Unternehmen sind an vielen Standorten großflächige Angebotsformen entstanden. Parallel dazu vollzieht sich, zum Teil unterstützt durch öffentliche Förderprogramme, der Aufbau eines mittelständischen Einzelhandels. Der folgende Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die Ergebnisse der Gründungsförderung im Einzelhandel und Lebensmittelhandwerk durch das ERP-Programm in den Jahren 1990 bis 1992.In den neuen Ländern ist im Vergleich zu den alten eine sehr hohe Gründungsaktivität zu verzeichnen. Während in den Städten ein geringer Nachholbedarf und vielfältige Hemmnisse für Existenzgründer im Einzelhandel bestehen, besitzt der ländliche Raum offensichtlich eine Nischenfunktion. Die wirtschaftlichen Perspektiven des Mittelstands im ostdeutschen Einzelhandel werden insgesamt eher skeptisch beurteilt.
The role of Ag2O incorporation in nuclear radiation shielding behaviors of the Li2O–Pb3O4–SiO2 glass system: A multi-step characterization study
Authors: ALMisned Ghada , Susoy Gulfem , Zakaly Hesham M. H. , Rabaa Elaf , Kilic Gokhan , Ilik Erkan , Sen Baykal Duygu , Ene Antoaneta , Tekin Huseyin Ozan
Published: July 2023

We report the gamma-ray shielding properties of five different lithium silicate glasses based on the (40 − x) Li2O–10Pb3O4–50SiO2 nominal composition. Transmission factor values and some basic shielding parameters such as linear (µ) and mass attenuation coefficients (µ/ρ), half-value layer, tenth value layer, and mean free path (MFP) values of the investigated glass samples are determined in a large photon energy range. Using the G–P fitting method at various MFP values, the exposure buildup factor and energy absorption buildup factor values of the examined glasses are also calculated. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the S5 glass specimen, which exhibits the greatest Ag2O additive and density among the various glass samples, represents a favorable choice for the purpose of shielding against gamma radiation.
Quick Natural Cure-Alls: Portrayal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine in Serbian Online Media
Authors: Lazić Aleksandra , Petrović Marija B. , Branković Marija , Žeželj Iris
Published: July 2023

To describe how Serbian online media cover the topic of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TM/CAM), we conducted a content analysis of 182 articles from six news and six magazine websites, published July–December 2021. Biologically based treatments, predominantly herbal products framed as Serbian or Russian folk medicine, were the most common (70.9%, 205/289 practices). The practices were often presented as general health enhancers (18.4%, 71/386 claims); other common reasons given for the use of TM/CAM were to alleviate respiratory problems, boost the immunity, and detox. The tone was overwhelmingly positive, with most of the positive articles (82.4%, 145/176) neglecting to present information on potential harms of TM/CAM use. Few articles provided a recommendation to speak with a healthcare provider (13.6%, 24/176); in contrast, the recommended dosage was often explained (59.7%, 105/176). TM/CAM practitioners (15.9%, 28/176) and conventional medicine practitioners (12.5%, 22/176) were most commonly cited sources. Articles tended to appeal to TM/CAM’s tradition of use (65.3%, 115/176), naturalness (45.5%, 80/176), and convenience (40.9%, 72/176), used pseudoscientific jargon (59.7%, 105/176), and failed to cite sources for the claims that TM/CAM use is supported by science (22.2%, 39/176). Much of the information provided in Serbian online media seems to be uncritical, with a potential for misleading consumers.
The adaptive roles of aneuploidy and polyclonality in Leishmania in response to environmental stress
Authors: Negreira Gabriel H , de Groote Robin , Van Giel Dorien , Monsieurs Pieter , Maes Ilse , de Muylder Geraldine , Van den Broeck Frederik , Dujardin Jean‐Claude , Domagalska Malgorzata A
Published: July 2023

Aneuploidy is generally considered harmful, but in some microorganisms, it can act as an adaptive mechanism against environmental stress. Here, we use Leishmania—a protozoan parasite with remarkable genome plasticity—to study the early steps of aneuploidy evolution under high drug pressure (using antimony or miltefosine as stressors). By combining single‐cell genomics, lineage tracing with cellular barcodes, and longitudinal genome characterization, we reveal that aneuploidy changes under antimony pressure result from polyclonal selection of pre‐existing karyotypes, complemented by further and rapid de novo alterations in chromosome copy number along evolution. In the case of miltefosine, early parasite adaptation is associated with independent point mutations in a miltefosine transporter gene, while aneuploidy changes only emerge later, upon exposure to increased drug levels. Therefore, polyclonality and genome plasticity are hallmarks of parasite adaptation, but the scenario of aneuploidy dynamics depends on the nature and strength of the environmental stress as well as on the existence of other pre‐adaptive mechanisms.
Atención y trabajo de la diversidad cultural: familias de origen extranjero y gitano en un centro de especial dificultad
Authors: Andrés Cabello Sergio
Published: July 2023

La diversidad cultural es una realidad en nuestro sistema educativo. Durante casi un cuarto de siglo, la misma se ha abordado en las escuelas especialmente a través de la atención a la misma, vinculada a necesidades educativas o a variables de carácter socioeconómico. Sin embargo, avanzar hacia una educación intercultural se presenta como un reto más complejo. Dentro de todo el proceso, cobran especial importancia las familias. Su implicación y participación en la escuela es menor, por barreras culturales y lingüísticas, entre otras como las relacionadas con las situaciones de riesgo de exclusión social. El presente artículo analiza la atención y el trabajo de la diversidad cultural en un centro educativo de especial dificultad, en el que conviven estudiantes de etnia gitana y de origen extranjero. Son colectivos que, además, están mayoritariamente en una situación de exclusión socioeconómica. La metodología parte de una etnografía escolar, en la que se han llevado a cabo 33 entrevistas en profundidad a integrantes de la comunidad educativa. Los principales resultados muestran la valoración positiva de la diversidad cultural por parte de los agentes implicados, la dificultad de implicar a las familias gitanas y extranjeras, y el enorme peso de la variable socioeconómica en la relación con la escuela y la educación.
Software Effort Estimation Using Logarithmic Fuzzy Preference Programming and Least Squares Support Vector Machines
Authors: Purwanto Adnan , Manik Lindung Parningotan
Published: July 2023

Purpose: Effort Estimation is a process by which one can predict the development time and cost to develop a software process or product. Many approaches have been tried to predict this probabilistic process accurately, but no single technique has been consistently successful. There have been many studies on software effort estimation using Fuzzy or Machine Learning. For this reason, this study aims to combine Fuzzy and Machine Learning and get better results.Methods: Various methods and combinations have been carried out in previous research, this research tries to combine Fuzzy and Machine Learning methods, namely Logarithmic Fuzzy Preference Programming (LFPP) and Least Squares Support Vector Machines Machine (LSSVM). LFPP is used to recalculate the cost driver weights and generate Effort Adjustment Point (EAP). The EAP and Lines of Code values are then entered as input for LSSVM. The output results are then measured using the Mean Magnitude of Relative Error (MMRE) and Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE). In this study, COCOMO and NASA datasets were used.Result: The results obtained are MMRE of 0.015019 and RMSE of 1.703092 on the COCOMO dataset, while on the NASA dataset the results of MMRE are 0.007324 and RMSE are 6.037986. Then 100% of the prediction results meet the 1% range of actual effort on the COCOMO dataset, while on the NASA dataset, the results show that 89,475 meet the 1% range of actual effort and 100% meet the 5% range of actual effort. The results of this study also show a better level of accuracy than using the COCOMO Intermediate method.Novelty: This study uses a combination of LFPP and LSSVM, which is an improvement from previous studies that used a combination of FAHP and LSSVM. The method used is also different where LFPP produces better output than FAHP and all data in the dataset is used for training and testing, whereas in previous research it only used a small part of the data.
Alphabet Classification of Sign System Using Convolutional Neural Network with Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization and Canny Edge Detection
Authors: Raharjo Ahmad Solikhin Gayuh , Sugiharti Endang
Published: July 2023

Purpose: There are deaf people who have problems in communicating orally because they do not have the ability to speak and hear. The sign system is used as a solution to this problem, but not everyone understands the use and meaning of the sign system, even in terms of the alphabet. Therefore, it is necessary to classify a sign system in the form of American Sign Language (ASL) using Artificial Intelligence technology to get good results.Methods: This research focuses on improving the accuracy of ASL alphabet classification using the VGG-19 and ResNet50 architecture of the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) method combined with Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) to improve the detail quality of images and Canny Edge Detection to produce images that focus on the objects in it. The focused result is the accuracy value. This study uses the ASL alphabet dataset from Kaggle.Result: Based on the test results, there are three best accuracy results. The first is using the ResNet50 architecture, CLAHE, and an image size of 128 x 128 pixels with an accuracy of 99.9%, followed by the ResNet50 architecture, CLAHE + Canny Edge Detection, and an image size of 128 x 128 pixels with an accuracy of 99.82 %, and in third place are the VGG-19 architecture, CLAHE, and an image size of 128 x 128 pixels with an accuracy of 98.93%.Novelty: The novelty of this study is the increase in the accuracy value of ASL image classification from previous studies.
Abrasive wear behaviour of bamboo (dendrocalamus strictus) powder filled polyester composites
Authors: Dwivedi Umesh K. , Ghosh Ajoy , Chand Navin
Published: July 2023

An experimental study was conducted to determine the abrasive wear behaviour of different weight percentage bamboo powder filled polyester composites under the multipass mode. The effect of bamboo powder concentration and sliding distance on the weight loss of composites has been analyzed. Worn surface have been analyzed to observe the mechanism of wear. The weight loss depends on bamboo powder concentration. The weight loss decreases with the increase of sliding distance. Samples having 20 weight percentage (wt%) of bamboo powder show the maximum weight loss during abrasion.
Hepatocellular Carcinomas with Concomitant Mutations of TERT, TP53, and CTNNB1: Is There a Role for Artificial Intelligence?
Authors: Chillotti Stefano , Maloberti Thais , Degiovanni Alessio , Malvi Deborah , D'Errico Antonia , de Biase Dario , Vasuri Francesco
Published: July 2023

TP53, CTNNB1, and TERT-promoter mutations are the most common driver mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The morphological and genetical HCC heterogeneities are difficult to discriminate by the eye of the pathologist. Here, we describe two rare cases of HCC with simultaneous co-mutation of all three of genes, which represent a poorly described occurrence in the literature. In these two cases, areas with different tumor grade and different β-catenin and Glutamine Synthetase expression (performed by automated immunohistochemistry) were observed. NGS analysis was performed in these different areas, to check for potential diversity of mutation burden on the different regions, but no differences were found: all micro-areas analyzed showed the co-presence of mutations in TP53, CTNNB1, and TERT. The evidence that all mutations were found in all the different areas analyzed by NGS leads to hypothesize that the tumor is not composed of different clones harboring different mutations. All the variants are harbored by the same neoplastic clone, albeit leading to different phenotypes. Mutation prediction Artificial Intelligence models could help the morpho-genetic classification of HCC in the future, since they can find variabilities not obvious to the human eye, with increased sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility.
Gaining consensus on expert rule statements for acute respiratory failure digital twin patient model in intensive care unit using a Delphi method
Authors: Montgomery Amy J. , Litell John , Dang Johnny , Flurin Laure , Gajic Ognjen , Lal Amos , Research, and healthcare delivery investigator group On behalf of Digital Twin Platform for education,
Published: July 2023

Digital twin technology is a virtual depiction of a physical product and has been utilized in many fields. Digital twin patient model in healthcare is a virtual patient that provides opportunities to test the outcomes of various interventions virtually without subjecting an actual patient to possible harm. This can serve as a decision aid in the complex environment of the intensive care unit (ICU). Our objective is to develop consensus among a multidisciplinary expert panel on statements regarding respiratory pathophysiology contributing to respiratory failure in the medical ICU. We convened a panel of 34 international critical care experts. Our group modeled elements of respiratory failure pathophysiology using directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) and derived expert statements describing associated ICU clinical practices. The experts participated in three rounds of modified Delphi to gauge agreement on 78 final questions (13 statements with 6 substatements for each) using a Likert scale. A modified Delphi process achieved agreement for 62 of the final expert rule statements. Statements with the highest degree of agreement included the physiology, and management of airway obstruction decreasing alveolar ventilation and ventilation-perfusion matching. The lowest agreement statements involved the relationship between shock and hypoxemic respiratory failure due to heightened oxygen consumption and dead space. Our study proves the utility of a modified Delphi method to generate consensus to create expert rule statements for further development of a digital twin-patient model with acute respiratory failure. A substantial majority of expert rule statements used in the digital twin design align with expert knowledge of respiratory failure in critically ill patients.
Pharmacoepidemiological and drug interaction analysis in the treatment of chronic renal and hepatic failure
Authors: Zhukova O. V. , Fokina D. S. , Ruina O. V. , Khazov M. V.
Published: July 2023

Objective: to perform pharmacoepidemiological and drug interaction analysis of pharmacotherapy for liver/kidney transplantation.

Material and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of multidisciplinary hospital in Nizhny Novgorod, which provides both therapeutic and high-tech surgical care. The object of the study was medical records of 34 patients who had undergone pharmacotherapy for liver/kidney transplantation. We evaluated the particularly dangerous moderate interactions that pose the greatest risk to patient health using Drugs.com electronic resource. Pharmacoepidemiologic assessment was performed using the ATC/DDD methodology (anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) classification system – defined daily dose (DDD)) recommended by the World Health Organization. The “average bed occupancy per year” was calculated using DDD per 100 bed-days. ABC analysis was used to estimate the costs of drug groups in therapy for liver/kidney transplantation. Results. In most cases, the third generation cephalosporins were used in the therapy of liver/kidney transplant patients (55.56% of all prescriptions). Antimicrobial drugs were mostly prescribed as monotherapy (61.9%). There were 111 potential major (14.41%) and moderate (72.07%) interactions detected. The largest number of moderate type risks was associated with changes in blood pressure levels (in 23.75% of cases – possible decrease, in 10% – increase), 7.5% of cases were accompanied by headaches, 6.25% – by reduction of drug effectiveness. In antimicrobial therapy, two main interactions were found: moxifloxacin – tacrolimus (arrhythmia), and metipred – moxifloxacin (tendon dystrophy), which is 12.5% of all main interactions for 21 case histories. In the ABC analysis, immunosuppressants were in group A (cost share 85.8%). Tacrolimus accounted for the largest amount of consumption: number of defined daily doses (NDDD) per year was 532.27 mg, NDDD per 100 bed days reached 432.18 (the highest among all drugs).

Conclusion. Pharmacoepidemiologic analysis allows us to systematize data on medication use. The choice of drugs in order to ensure safe and effective use of the registered drug interactions is facilitated by electronic databases.
Real-world data: principles of use in decision making and in health technology assessment
Authors: Omelyanovskiy V. V. , Gorkavenko F. V. , Ignatyeva N. V. , Mukhortova P. A. , Ryzhova O. R. , Teptsova T. S. , Kingshott A. A. , Kondratyeva B. B.
Published: July 2023

The use of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) in process of improving public health, their assessment, and use in decision making is a promising area. Discussions are actively underway about the possibility of using RWD and RWE in routine medical practice of doctors and health care organizers, the weaknesses of these matters and ways to overcome them. Taking into account the considerable amount of information, complexity, and inconsistency of issues under consideration, the article presents the basic principles of using RWD and RWE in decision making, classification of health technologies values, classification of RWE sources, position of RWD studies in the hierarchy of clinical study designs, as well as the ways of their use in complex drug assessment.
Development of methodological approaches to the formation of a risk-based model to minimize the prevalence of adverse reactions in drug application in medical organizations of Moscow
Authors: Kuznetsova E. V. , Zhuravleva M. V. , Mikhailov I. A. , Kurnosova T. I.
Published: July 2023

Objective: development of approaches to predict the likelihood of adverse reactions (ARs) when using drugs based on a comprehensive assessment of risk factors.

Material and methods. We used a database containing 1,450 drug-related ARs reports from January through December 2021. A list of antibacterial drugs by international nonproprietary name (INN) with 4 or more ARs reports was selected as a reference group to perform various types of statistical analysis. A cumulative multivariate regression analysis was carried out on a database of 187 ARs notifications for 13 INN of antibacterial drugs. The study was performed in two stages. In the first stage, a statistical method was used (classical multiple regression, linear discriminant analysis, factor analysis, principal component regression, partial least squares regression, estimation of variance accuracy); at the second stage a modeling method was used. As part of the modeling stage, the integral score of the risk of ARs was presented as a sum of values for individual risk factors. Two groups of risks were proposed to be assessed: 1) intrinsic risk value for each factor (attribute), which was equal to the sum of risks of all factors (conditions) in which the drug had been used; 2) intrinsic risk value for antibacterial drugs by each INN. The total risk value was defined as the sum of the risk of the drug and all factors (conditions) in which this drug had been used.

Results. The results were visualized in the form of a two-level risk-based model matrix, with a “heat map” of the risk level overlaid on it. The maximum total risk of ARs was obtained for ceftriaxone – 404.96 points, depending on patient’s gender. The minimum total risk was calculated for azithromycin and cefotaxime depending on the International Classification of Diseases (10th revision) code – 88.46 points. The proposed methodological approach also allows combining all possible combinations of drugs and conditions of their use. For example, for the use of vancomycin in hospital conditions by intravenous administration: intrinsic risk of use – 42.93 points; risk of use in hospital conditions – 183.68 points; risk when administered intravenously – 209.95 points; the total risk value in the designated situation – 436.56 points.

Conclusion. The proposed approach can allow medical organizations to reduce significantly the number of ARs when using drugs by categorizing and preventing risks before they occur. It also has significant prospects of application at the federal level, given its modification on a large volume of data.
Molecular pharmacology of coenzyme Q10 in the context of treatment of hyperlipidemic conditions
Authors: Gromova O. A. , Torshin I. Yu.
Published: July 2023

Background. Therapy of hyperlipidemia with synthetic statin drugs is characterized by a number of side effects. In particular, statin-dependent myopathy occurs as a result of statin inhibition of biosynthesis of cofactor coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which plays a central role in the electron transport chains during adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis in mitochondria.

Objective: systematic analysis of scientific publications on CoQ10 pharmacology with an emphasis on its effect on the lipid profile.

Material and methods. The analysis included 16,788 articles found by “coenzyme Q10 OR ubiquinone" query in the PubMed/MEDLINE biomedical publications database. Topological and metric big data analysis methods were used developed in the scientific school of Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yu.I. Zhuravlev.

Results. A much wider range of CoQ10 pharmacological effects was established than simply supporting ATP biosynthesis. Coenzyme Q10 exhibits pronounced lipid-lowering, anti-asthenic, and anti-inflammatory effects and can be successfully used in the treatment of asthenic conditions, cardiovascular pathology (including hyperlipidemia and statin-induced myopathy), carbohydrate metabolism disorders (insulin resistance), and diverse neurological diseases. CoQ10 supplements reduce mortality by 50% in patients with cardiovascular diseases, improve glycemic control in insulin resistance, kidney function, and are useful in the treatment of migraine and neurodegenerative pathologies (Parkinson's disease, etc.).

Conclusion. Experimental data and evidence base indicate the potential of using CoQ10 in patients with hyperlipidemia and other cardiovascular system diseases.
Pharmacoeconomic analysis of tixagevimab and cilgavimab combination for COVID-19 therapy
Authors: Zhuravleva M. V. , Chulanov V. P. , Gagarina Yu. V. , Shabalina E. A.
Published: July 2023

Objective: to evaluate the pharmacoeconomic feasibility of using monoclonal antibodies or their combinations vs standard therapy in patients with mild and moderate-severe COVID-19 in order to prevent the severe course of the disease.

Material and methods. The decision tree and Markov models for calculation of costs and outcomes were used for patients with COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndrome, respectively. The cost-effectiveness of tixagevimab and cilgavimab was evaluated in persons ≥18 years old not vaccinated against COVID-19 with a high risk of progression to severe COVID-19. Effectiveness and safety of tixagevimab and cilgavimab combination was assessed based on TACKLE phase III study results. The quantities of life years gained (LYG) and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) were calculated. Results were compared with the wiliness-to-pay threshold measured as tripled gross domestic product per capita according the World Health Organization recommendations.

Results. Treatment of COVID-19 with tixagevimab and cilgavimab results in additional 0.2657 LIGs or 0.2255 QALYs. The cost of 1 LIG was 213,4 thousand rubles, the cost of 1 QALY was 251,5 thousand rubles. Both costs of LIG and QALY appeared to be significantly less compared to the wiliness-to-pay threshold equal to 3.09 million rubles in 2022.

Conclusion. Treatment of mild and moderate-severe COVID-19 is economically feasible and may be recommended for wide use in the Russian healthcare system.
Protection Schemes for Contemporary Power Systems: FPGA-Based Design and Development
Authors: Garg Umang
Published: July 2023

Concurrently functioning relays using FPGA technology are the primary focus of the project. The suggested FPGA-based relays are much faster than microprocessor- or microcontroller-based relays because they use continuous sense-process communicate cycles. The Xilinx Virtex-II FPGA Board's implementation of overcurrent, impedance, reactance, and mho was evaluated using the 400 kv line transmission hardware simulator. Fault currents in power systems may contain a component of direct current (DC) that decays exponentially in the case of transient failures. Extracting the fundamental frequency element is essential for avoiding false tripping. To do this, we make use from the VHDL FFT IP core. A Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) filter is used to implement overcurrent, impedance, reactance, and mho dependence. The FFT filter is also used to evaluate the DC decaying portion.
Technical means in the rehabilitation of disabled people aged 18 years and older with HIV/AIDS
Authors: Ugleva Elena M. , Karasaeva Lyudmila A.
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND: According to the procedure for providing rehabilitation services, all measures and funds necessary for a beneficiary should be reflected in the individual program for the rehabilitation and habilitation of the disabled person (IPRA) when the disability is established. The main condition for a disabled person to receive TMR is to indicate it in the IPRA. Article 11 of Federal Law No. 181-FZ states that rehabilitation measures can be provided free to a disabled person in accordance with the Federal List, as well as at their own expense or at the expense of other persons or organizations. The need to provide the assistance, and the type of TRM, is based on the type and severity of the chronic disability, and the category and degree of disability (OL), determined based on the Order of the Ministry of Labor of Russia No. 585n, on the classifications and criteria used in performing medical and social examination of citizens by the federal or state Bureau of Medical and Social Expertise.
AIM: To study the recommendations of the TSW in the IPR for people with disabilities living with HIV.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A random sampling method was used to perform a retrospective analysis of 100 protocols for conducting medical and social examination of citizens with HIV/AIDS in the federal and state institutions of medical and social examination of St. Petersburg and other regions of Russia from 2017 to 2020.
RESULTS: The results showed that in 70.3% of cases, there was no indication for recommending a particular device or means to compensate for the limitations of ACT in people with HIV infection. In 17.6%, cases of potential need for TSW were identified that had not had a recommendation to the IPR.
CONCLUSION: TSR in the rehabilitation process for people living with HIV with disabilities is used less frequently than in the Russian Federation as a whole.
Assessment of the incidence of uterine cancer in the Chechen Republic
Authors: Idrisova Lilya S.
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND: Malignant reproductive system neoplasms are an important medical and socio-economic problem. Therefore, it is important to study the natural history of gynecological oncopathology.
AIM: to assess the incidence of uterine cancer (UC) in the Chechen Republic (CR) and perform a comparative analysis of oncological care in the North Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) and Russia as a whole.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied patients with UC from 2014 to 2020. The morbidity rates, patients under medical observation, pathological confirmation of the diagnosis, disease stages, mortality, and treatment were assessed. The research methods included examination of documents, data copying, statistical analysis and graphic representations.
RESULTS: The incidence of UC in Russia is growing, currently the crude rate of 28.79%, and standardized rate of 15.13% with an average annual growth rate of 2.49 and 1.40%, respectively (the difference is statistically significant). In the CR, the proportion of patients in whom UC was detected at stage I was less, and at the second stage, the detection rate was higher than the rates in the NCFD and in Russia. However, in the CR, the proportion of patients with UC diagnosed at stage III is 2.3 times higher than in the district and in Russia. Mortality in the first year after diagnosis in the CR was 6.5% (in Russia it was 7.6%, in the NCFD 6.8%). In the CR, compared to NCFD and Russia, there were lower rates of actively detected patients with UC, of patients who registered with dispensaries for 5 years or more, and of patients who completed treatment in the year the disease was detected.
CONCLUSION: The results of comparative assessment of the incidence of UC in the CR region, the NCFD, and Russia should be used to determine priority areas for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation measures, taking into account regional characteristics. It is extremely important to monitor risk factors and implement preventive programs in this priority area of public health.