bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis and management of residual risks in the construction industry with the help of Gray and Fuzzy optimization methods
Authors: Shojaie Amir abbas , Khalili Navid Farshbaf
Published: September 2023

Risks are a part of the activities of organizations and the analysis should be done based on the frequency of that risk and the degree of its threat. These strategies help to minimize the possibility of their recurrence in the future and also to reduce potential damages. It is natural that all the risks of the organization cannot be contained or controlled, and from the economic point of view, controlling all the risks is not cost-effective because the organization can accept some risks within the limits of its risk appetite. The construction industry is one of the arteries of the country's economy, according to statistics, most accidents and damages in the area of ​​risk and non-compliance with standards occur in it, and it incurs a lot of costs. In this research, we first distributed two questionnaires among 15 statistical samples who were active in the construction industry and the risk field in the Sabzabari project, and then, with the help of Shannon entropy and the SAW method, 30 risks in the design and implementation department which was obtained from the meeting with experts and supervisors, weighted and ranked by two fuzzy and gray methods, and then with the help of information from the questionnaires, the third mode ranking was done with the risk matrix method and with the help of Matlab and SPSS results were compared. The final results showed that the ranking of fuzzy and gray methods is closer to each other and these two methods have higher accuracy in calculations.
Procalcitonin and C-reactive Protein as Diagnostic Biomarkers in COVID-19 and Non-COVID Sepsis Patients: A Comparative Study
Authors: Zhang Shi-Yan , Shi Jing , Zhuo Ying , Wang Tingqiang , Lv Chun-e , Yan Ling-Hui
Published: September 2023

Background: to compare procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) between COVID-19 sepsis patients and non-COVID control subjects (CNT), and to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of PCT and CRP in distinguishing between Gram-positive (GP) and Gram-negative (GN) bacterial infections and their association with specific pathogens.
Methods: A total of 121 consecutive patients who underwent blood culture testing during the COVID-19 epidemic were included in the study. PCT and CRP were measured, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect COVID-19 nucleic acid. PCT and CRP were compared between two groups using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve comparing PCT and CRP levels in GN group versus GP group was performed to assess the diagnostic efficiency. Specific pathogen groups on PCT concentrations were evaluated by Kruskal-Wallis H test.
Results: A total of 121 bloodstream infection inpatients were categorized into a COVID-19 patient group (n=25) and CNT group (n=96). There were no significant differences in age and gender between the COVID-19 and CNT groups. The comparison of biomarkers between these groups showed no significant differences, except for CRP (p = 0.051). The optimal cut-off values for PCT and CRP in differentiating between GP and GN infections were 1.03 ng/mL and 34.02 mgL, respectively. The area under the ROC curve was 0.689 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.591 - 0.786) for PCT and 0.611(95% CI 0.505 - 0.717) for CRP. The diagnostic accuracy was 74.05% for PCT and 58.69% for CRP. The study found a significant difference in PCT levels among specific groups of pathogens (p < 0.001), with the highest levels observed in Escherichia Coli. The frequency of Staphylococcus SPP. positive results was significantly higher (36.0%) in COVID-19 patients compared to the control group (p = 0.047).
Conclusion: Sepsis patients with COVID-19 had a significantly higher culture positivity of staphylococcus SPP. than the CNT group. PCT and CRP showed moderate diagnostic efficiency in differentiating between GP and GN bacterial infections. PCT may be more useful in identifying Escherichia coliinfections.
The influence of celebrities on the conspicuous consumption of Saudi youth
Authors: A. R. Al-Turif Ghada , A. R. Al-Sanad Hessa
Published: September 2023

This study aims to assess the influence of celebrities on the conspicuous consumption of Saudi youth. A descriptive study using a social survey method with 309 randomly selected Saudi students was conducted. A questionnaire was used to gather data. The model included 36 questions. The study utilized the Likert scale, SPSS statistical software, mono-variation analysis, the least difference (LSD) test. The assessment of the sample demographic variables shows that the research population is diversified. The results showed that the most prominent areas of conspicuous consumption for youths were buying clothes, perfumes, cosmetics, and jewelry (the average was 2.70 out of 3). It was also concluded that the major way that celebrities use to present products to the audience is the indirect marketing method (the average was 2.87 out of 3). The main reasons behind youth following celebrities were the celebrity’s attractiveness and a large number of followers (the average was 2.89 out of 3). The manifestations of celebrities’ influence on youths were apparent in their conspicuous consumption as the youths were interested in being the first to buy the products announced by celebrities, which gave them a sense of distinction compared to their friends (the average was 2.89 out of 3). Unplanned purchases were the main difficulty that youth faced in regard to budget management (the average was 2.75 out of 3). The study recommends intensifying awareness of rationalizing consumption and eliminating the negative values of conspicuous consumption among Saudi youths.
AcknowledgmentInternational Review Board (IRB) Statement: IRB Registration Number with KACST, KSA:H-01-R-059 Informed Consent Statement: Informed Consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.This research project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, through the Program of Research project Funding After Publication, grant No (PRFA-P-42-6).
Counteraction to the Involvement of Minors in the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Their Analogues, Сommitted by the Information and Telecommunication Technologies
Authors:   Irkutsk Law Institute (Branch), University of Prosecutor`s Office of the Russian Federation, Rogova E. V.
Published: September 2023

The subject of this article is countering to the involvement of minors in the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their analogues, committed by information and telecommunication technologies. The authors investigate the state of the problem, the means of criminal legal counteraction, the main causes and conditions of the commission of the crimes under consideration. It is noted that, in general, the means of criminal legislation are adequate to the state of the problem, however, a complex of reasons has formed that contribute to the increase in the involvement of minors in illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their analogues, committed through the use of information and telecommunication technologies. The authors cite and characterize these reasons. It is noted that the basic determinants are problems in the socio-economic organization of society, and the main catalyst for this negative social phenomenon is the high latency of this type of crime, due to the technical component – the availability of means of operational and anonymous commission of crimes. The complex of the main counteraction measures taken is analyzed, their effectiveness, problems, prospects are determined. Separate issues of the relevant experience of foreign states are considered. Some aspects of the problem and the measures taken are illustrated by statistics and examples of law enforcement activities. The measures that, according to the authors, will contribute to the fight against this type of crime are proposed.
Norm-clause in Russian Legislation: Concept and Essence
Authors:   Rostov State University of Economics, Gerasimenko Yu. A.
Published: September 2023

The author has made an attempt to expand knowledge about the specialization of legislation by studying the legal nature and essence of such a kind of legal prescription as a norm-clause. On the basis of a set of research methods and techniques, including dialectical, formal-legal approaches, the method of interpretation, the author puts forward a hypothesis about the possibility of positioning the norm-clause as an independent type of legal prescription, having an accessory character in relation to the basic rule of conduct, and aimed at supplementing and withdrawing in legal regulation. The author pointed out the essential features of the norm-clause, using the achievements of legal doctrine, analyzing the existing views on the legal technique of law-making and relying on examples of legislation and law enforcement practice. These signs make it possible to single out a norm-clause among other special legal norms, to establish its concretizing and detailing meaning, to determine its place among the methods and means of legal influence. As a result, the author's version of the definition of the norm-clause is proposed, which is presented as an accessory element of legal regulation applied in conjunction with the main legal establishment, supplementing, specifying its provision.
Comparative Legal Analysis of the Constitutional Courts of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Procedural Aspect
Authors:   The Law Institute (St. Petersburg), Revnov B. А. , Kokhman D. V. ,   St. Petersburg Academy of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation
Published: September 2023

The authors of this work made an attempt to demonstrate the differences and similarities in the status, composition, structure and powers of the bodies of constitutional justice of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Such a comparative legal analysis is in demand by legal science in connection with the significant constitutional reform that took place in Kazakhstan in 2022, as a result of which the Constitutional Court replaced the Constitutional Council. In addition, the Constitutional Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On the Prosecutor's Office" and "On the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan" were adopted. In 2020, the Basic Law of the Russian Federation also underwent significant changes. We should not forget about the similarity of the paths of development of constitutionalism in Russia and Kazakhstan, which is due to the Soviet past, close proximity and close cooperation in various fields of activity. The result of the study was the conclusion about the proximity of the Russian and Kazakhstani models of constitutional justice. Despite this, there are quite unique norms that are characteristic of the constitutional acts of each country. Attention is drawn to the differences in the status of constitutional justice bodies, as well as differences in their competence. The procedure for the formation of the Constitutional Courts of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan is different, the issues of ensuring their activities are resolved in different ways. Differences are established in the subject composition that enjoys the right to apply to the Constitutional Court of their state. Identified special conditions for filing a complaint with citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan in the national bodies of constitutional justice.
The Interrelation of Art, Science, and Technology from a Cognitive Dimension: Art as a Way of Knowledge and the STEAM Methodology as the Answer
Authors:   Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Salamanca, Escribano-Belmar Beatriz , Caerols-Mateo Raquel ,   Faculty of Information Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Thompson Reynaldo
Published: September 2023

The interrelation between art and science can be understood as a dialogue that emerges from the process of knowledge construction, and consequently, it also defines the human being. The idea may be legitimated from a cognitive perspective. What if we consider this dialogue on the art/science split not as a model of knowing in itself, but as a constructed concept? Thinking as a construct, the advent of technology could have supposed an element to accentuate the divide in this dialogue, as an emerging techno-society may have deepened this separation. However, there is a need to explore the arts -and humanities- trying to find some answers to the challenges posed by the digital paradigm. For this reason, the inclusion of the letter “A” of Arts in the STEM dialogue, resulting in STEAM, is not accidental. From this approach, the entrance of the STEAM methodology into educational models is going to be addressed from the cognitive dimension of art, as a consequence of the conceptual, social, and cultural changes that give it meaning. For that purpose, the issue is addressed through the art cognitive dimension as the theoretical and conceptual foundation supporting it and that leads to the analysis of the named methodology and its contemporary necessity.
Childbirth and Pollution: Exploring the politics of Prasava Raksha through food practices in Kerala
Authors:   Department of English and Cultural Studies at Christ University, Jacob Alicia
Published: September 2023

Women’s body has been the site of patriarchal control and the formation of gendered ideologies, often subjecting it to multiple cultural interventions, especially while experiencing pregnancy and childbirth. Childbirth is considered a state of ritual pollution for a woman that starts from the day of birth and lasts up to several weeks or months, depending on regional and religious contexts. Prasava Raksha is a traditional practice in Kerala where massages, herbal baths, and a specific diet are prescribed for the health and well-being of the mother and child. Prasava Raksha can be considered the culturally appropriated version of the practice of pollution, practised by women belonging to Hindu, Christian and Muslim religious sects in Kerala. The purpose of this qualitative ethnographic study is to investigate the cultural context of how women’s body has been subjected to patriarchal control, particularly during pregnancy and childbirth, with food at the centre of analysis. This article aims to explore the practice of Prasava Raksha, its process and dietary prescriptions, to identify and analyse the cultural politics behind this practice that normalises the patriarchal exploitation of reproductive women. The study uses in-depth semi-structured interviews of 12 women from Kerala who have experienced childbirth and practised Prasava Raksha during the postnatal period, in addition to the interviews of a Prasava Raksha helper and an OB-GYN.
A Comparative and Contrastive Study of Arabic and English Metonymic Expressions
Authors:   Faculty of Educational Sciences and Arts, UNRWA University, Al-Haj Eid Omar Abdullah , Abu-Gub Mohammed Nour ,   University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Shureteh Halla ,   Hashemite University, Jordan
Published: September 2023

This study explores Arabic and English metonymy’s literary, semantic, lexical, and aesthetic aspects. It investigates metonymy as a figure of speech and compares its types and functions in the two languages. The study confirms that metonymy is culture-bound – that is the meanings of metonymies derive from the socio-cultural values of societies and can’t be separated from the contexts in which they occur. The study stresses the significance of considering the relationship between the two entities in addition to the socio-cultural background in the analysis of metonymies. The study also demonstrates how, in English, metonymy overlaps with other figures of speech, above all metaphor and synecdoche. This analytical study contributes to a better understanding of metonymy. It compares the definitions, classifications, functions, and points of similarities and differences in the two languages for all learners of Arabic and English as second or foreign languages.
Redefining the Identity of People of Indian Origin in Mauritius
Authors:   Department of African Studies, University of Delhi, Kapoor Rashmi
Published: September 2023

In the 19th century, Indian indentured labour went to Mauritius, facilitated by the European colonisers to accomplish their ambitious goal of dominating the world politically, economically and culturally. After the completion of the indenture period, Indians had little option but to stay in the new land as their zeal to return to India was sapped due to anticipated ostracisation by their respective communities. Despite the unique evolution of the identity and status of Indians in Mauritius, it has generated very little debate in academia. This article will attempt to understand whether the people of Indian origin in Mauritius can be termed as Indian diaspora at present or they have outgrown that status and evolved to attain an identity that can be defined as being ‘beyond Indian diaspora’. I argue that Indians in Mauritius were positioned in the wider Mauritian society in such a way that did not satisfy the criteria of them being referred to as diaspora, and, they have acquired a specific set of cultural, social and economic capital that brings them closer to being considered as Mauritian natives.
The journeys of acculturation of Western culture in Vietnamese travel writing in the first half of the 20th century
Authors:   Literary Research Journal, Granduate Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam, Huu Son Nguyen , Huu Le Nguyen ,   Researcher, Hanoi, Vietnam
Published: September 2023

Western culture has had a profound influence on Vietnamese culture and literature during the colonial period, especially in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. During this historical period, records appeared about the journey of Vietnamese people to France with different purposes. Based on this context, the article studies the attitude of Vietnamese intellectuals towards French culture to see the acculturation of Vietnamese to Western culture. Based on the cultural approach to studying travel writing, the article explores the French cultural awareness of some Vietnamese intellectuals such as Pham Quynh, Dao Trinh Nhat and Nhat Linh. Each story of their journey as an explanation for the purpose of the journey is the expression of aspirations: reforming Vietnamese culture, awareness of colonialism and feminism, and renewal of novels. These are current issues of contemporary Vietnamese culture and literature. From that, it is possible to recognize the characteristics of the travel writing about the journey to France representing the travel stories of the colonized people to the Western imperial countries and the process of escaping from slavery norms of Western culture. With an interdisciplinary approach to studying travel history, the article also provides a view of the process of modernizing Vietnamese literature in the first half of the 20th century.
Born twice: A redemptive revisioning uncovering the metaphors of representation
Authors:   Department of English, Christ Junior College IBDP, Christ (Deemed to be University) Bangalore, Mathai Anu , Das Rolla
Published: September 2023

The graphic narrative space is a complex labyrinth of nested stories subtly holding a tension between the visual and the verbal metaphors of representation. Every narrative canvas opens up possibilities of new ways of metaphorical seeing, unravelling the encoded signs of the dominant and the popular. Challenging and dissenting the normative ideas of gender representations, the graphic medium becomes a space to interrogate how the revisioned perspectives from the margins, embody a subversive voice to reclaim and reaffirm identity. This research paper aims to unfold the poetics of metaphorical representation in retellings and how the unconventional visual and verbal underscores an agency and voice to the female characters in the studied graphic narratives. The analysis will uncover how a revisioning of the aesthetics of the visual, the landscape of the mythological and the politics of the contemporary can subvert the traditional discourses that promote a conventional or hegemonic worldview. The paper situates Saraswati Nagpal’s Sita; Daughter of the Earth, Sibaji Bandyopadhyay and Sankha Banerjee’s Panchali: The Game of Dice and Priya’s Mirror by Paromita Vohra and Ram Devineni in the cultural milieu of graphic content that encourages new ways of metaphorical seeing amid the precariousness of identity, ideology and agency of the mythical women characters.
A Critical Analysis of Honorification in Human Relations
Authors:   IIM Indore, Indore, Bagchi Tanima , Kumar Rajesh ,   IIT Madras, Chennai
Published: September 2023

This paper discusses the concept of honorification with a focus on the essential correlation between human relations and society. While the structural aspect of honorification, in the form of honorifics, has been discussed extensively the functional aspect of honorification as a research question requires equal consideration. It has often been claimed that obligation is one of the primary motivations behind honorification owing to its ubiquitous influence on social interactions due to differences in status, social distance, and power. However, a closer look will reveal how such social factors are a reflection of not the obligation but the underlying acknowledgement of this obligation leading to the social recognition of honorification and, thus, shifting the perspective from necessity to choice. In other words, this paper explores honorification as a synthesis of society, culture, and human nature.
Using image texture to monitor the growth and settling of flocs
Authors: Ma Qidong , Liu Yan , He Zhangwei , Wang Haiguang , Wang Ruolan , Kong Yueping , Li Zhihua
Published: September 2023

Currently, a reliable and easy-to-use method to monitor flocculation in the water treatment process is highly demanded, especially for small water purification stations. For this problem, in situ images were used to analyze the flocculation process under different conditions via jar tests. A texture feature of the gray level co-occurrence matrix was found to be helpful for monitoring the floc status, such as growth rate and settling velocity. To further verify this finding, we established the correlation between the texture time sequence curve (TTSC) and its corresponding floc status. The slope of the TTSC during the growth phase and during the settling phase can describe the growth rate and the settling velocity, respectively, i.e., the higher the slope, the higher the growth rate and settling velocity. In addition, significant differences between the TTSCs in various abnormal conditions and the normal condition of coagulation can be identified. By using the TTSC for detecting abnormal conditions, we again verified that the texture feature can reliably reflect the flocculation process. Our study helps to develop a low-cost, stable, and simple method for monitoring flocculation and detecting abnormal conditions, which can effectively be used in the operation and management of water treatment plants.
Discriminant analysis of the freeze-up and break-up conditions in the Inner Mongolia Reach of the Yellow River
Authors: Hou Zhixing , Wang Jun , Sui Jueyi , Li Guowei , Zhang Baosen , Zhou Liangguang
Published: September 2023

This study divided the total storage potential in a natural channel into the ice production volume and the water storage capacity volume. Thermal factors, hydraulic processes, topography, and ice formation were selected to derive a discriminant equation for freeze-up and break-up conditions in the Inner Mongolia Reach of the Yellow River. The trends observed from data for the freeze-up dates, break-up dates, and total frozen days from 2017 to 2020 conform to the principle that the river is gradually frozen from the downstream to the upstream and later thawed from the upstream to the downstream. The number of frozen days in the downstream is greater than in the upstream. Results indicate that freeze-up typically occurs when the proportion of ice in the channel is relatively high. Higher temperatures and greater discharges are required to facilitate the break-up of the river when the equilibrium ice thickness is greater. This study can provide a theoretical basis and framework for establishing an accurate freeze-up and break-up forecast model to prevent and mitigate ice-induced disasters.
Hydrological response of a headwater catchment in the semi-arid Andes (30°S) to climate change
Authors: Yáñez San Francisco Eduardo , Pascual Aguilar Juan Antonio , MacDonell Shelley
Published: September 2023

Globally, climate change has caused a significant reduction in snow cover in mountainous regions. To understand the impact of present and future snow changes on runoff in the semi-arid Andes, we applied the Hydro-BID hydrological model and associated datasets to the headwaters of the Elqui River basin (30°S) for current conditions and two Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios. Results show that model calibration at daily, monthly and annual time scales (R2 0.7, 0.7 and 0.8) and validation (R2 0.6, 0.7 and 0.7) were satisfactory. Future climate change scenario SSP2-4.5 indicates for 2040–2059, 2060–2079 and 2080–2099 temperature increases of 1.2, 1.6 and 1.9 °C and precipitation reductions of 26%, 29% and 36%. Discharge for SSP2-4.5 will reduce (the average annual flow decreases by 54%, 58% and 66%). For the same periods, SSP5-8.5 projects temperature increases of 1.5, 2.6 and 3.7 °C and precipitation reductions of 28%, 39% and 44%. Compared with SSP2-4.5, river discharge will experience a more acute reduction (projected annual decrease of 57%, 70% and 77%). Model results indicate that the maximum flow will be reached three months earlier than today. Results reinforce the importance of snow for runoff in the semi-arid Andes and the applicability of Hydro-BID in mountainous regions.
ECHIDNA (Emerging CHemIcals Database for National Awareness): a framework to prioritise contaminants of emerging concern in water
Authors: Neale Peta Anne , Melvin Steven D. , Hancock Marty , Leusch Frederic D. L.
Published: September 2023

The widespread presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in surface waters, treated wastewater and drinking water is an ongoing issue for the water industry. The absence of regulatory guidance and limited occurrence, toxicity and removal data are defining criteria of CEC and make it difficult to prioritise which CEC pose the greatest risk. The online Emerging CHemIcals Database for National Awareness (ECHIDNA) aims to classify and prioritise CEC based on their potential risk, with the information presented in an easily accessible and intuitive manner. A candidate list of almost 1,800 potential CEC, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial compounds, was compiled using both Australian and international resources. These were ranked based on in silico assessment of their persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) properties, as well as potential chronic toxicity hazard, yielding 247 CEC for further prioritisation. Risk Quotients (RQ) identified between 5 and 87 CEC posing a risk to human and ecosystem health, respectively, across drinking water, surface water, treated wastewater and raw wastewater. While the ability of the water industry to effectively prioritise CEC is limited by candidate identification and data availability, ECHIDNA can provide valuable information for better decision-making surrounding CEC management.
Permeate quality, advanced oxidation process treatability, and cost for two concentrate treatment technologies to enhance recovery for potable reuse
Authors: Gu Han , Polanco Julio , Ishida Kenneth P. , Plumlee Megan H. , Boyd Michael , Desormeaux Erik , Juby Graham J. G. , Shad Mojtaba Farrokh
Published: September 2023

Closed circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO) and forward osmosis-RO (FO-RO) were evaluated at a pilot scale to generate additional permeate from RO concentrate – achieving a recovery of 61% for CCRO and 35% for FO-RO – at a full-scale advanced water purification facility. This study assessed permeate water quality, suitability of the permeate for treatment by an ultraviolet-advanced oxidation process (UV-AOP), and cost/footprint for a conceptual 10- or 20-mgd system. Both technologies demonstrated inorganic, organic, and microbiological constituent removal suitable for blending with primary RO permeate. Virus challenge testing with MS coliphage demonstrated ≥3.7-log removal by both technologies. Pilot-scale UV/hydrogen peroxide AOP treatment of CCRO or FO-RO permeate yielded similar performance (∼1.4-log N-nitrosodimethylamine removal and ∼0.5-log 1,4-dioxane removal) as the full-scale UV-AOP that treats the RO permeate from the purification facility. The estimated full-scale total unit cost (capital plus operation and maintenance costs) of product water produced by the two technologies was estimated to range from $0.91 to $1.12 per cubic meter, depending on the design flow rate of RO concentrate treated, and is estimated to be similar between the two technologies given the +50%/–30% expected accuracy of the Class 5 cost estimate.
Molecular Mechanism of Qingzaojiufei Decoction in the Treatment of Pulmonary
Fibrosis based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking
Authors: Zhao Yilong , Liu Bohao , Li Yixing , Chen Zhe , Zhu Xingzhuo , Tao Runyi , Wang Zhiyu , Wang Hongyi , Zhang Yanpeng , Yan Shuguang , Gong Qiuyu , Zhang Guangjian
Published: September 2023

Background:

In recent years, pulmonary fibrosis (PF) has increased in incidence and prevalence.
Qingzaojiufei decoction (QD) is a herbal formula that is used for the treatment of PF.

Objective:

In this research, network pharmacology and molecular docking methods were used to explore the
major chemical components and potential mechanisms of QD in the treatment of PF.

Methods:

The principal components and corresponding protein targets of QD were used to screen on Traditional
Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), Traditional Chinese
Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID) and high-throughput experiment-and reference-guided database
(HERB), Cytoscape 3.7.2 was used to construct the drug-component-target network. PF targets were collected
by GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases. The protein-protein interaction
(PPI) network was constructed by importing compound-disease intersection targets into the Search Tool for the
Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database and visualized by Cytoscape3.7.2. We further performed
Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment
analysis on the intersecting targets. In the last, we validated the core targets and active compounds by molecular
docking.

Results:

The key compounds of quercetin, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and kaempferol of QD were obtained.
The key targets of AKT1, TNF, and IL6 of QD were obtained. The molecular docking results show that quercetin,
(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and kaempferol work well with AKT1, TNF and IL6.

Conclusion:

This research shows the multiple active components and molecular mechanism of QD in the
treatment of PF and offers resources and suggestions for future studies.
Further Results for Some Eccentric Based Indices
Authors: Kirgiz Havva , Maden Ayşe Dilek
Published: September 2023

Background:

Topological indices have a significant role in determining a molecule’s
topology in the light of theoretical chemistry.

Objectives:

This study aimed to find new bounds for some eccentric-based topological indices.

Methods:

We used comparison theorem for integrals.

Results:

We found new bounds for the eccentric-based harmonic index and atom-bond
connectivity index. Our results are better than previous results in the literature.

Conclusion:

This study has contributed to the chemical graph theory literature by giving a new
method to find eccentric-based topological indices with lower and upper bounds.
The Use of Nanocarriers to Enhance the Anti-neuroinflammatory
Potential of Dietary Flavonoids in Animal Models of Neurodegenerative
Diseases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gandhi Gopalsamy Rajiv , Hillary Varghese Edwin , Athesh Kumaraswamy , da Cruz Ramos Maria Letícia Carvalho , de Oliveira Krauss Gabriela Peres , Jothi Gnanasekaran , Sridharan Gurunagarajan , Sivasubramanian Rengaraju , Hariharan Govindasamy , Vasconcelos Alan Bruno Silva , Montalvão Monalisa Martins , Ceasar Stanislaus Antony , da Silva Calisto Valdete Kaliane , Gurgel Ricardo Queiroz
Published: September 2023

Background:

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) have become a common and growing
cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, especially in older adults. The natural flavonoids found
in fruits and vegetables have been shown to have therapeutic effects against many diseases, including
NDs; however, in general, flavonoids have limited bioavailability to the target cells. One promising
strategy to increase bioavailability is to entrap them in nanocarriers.

Objective:

This article aims to review the potential role of nanocarriers in enhancing the antineuroinflammatory
efficacy of flavonoids in experimentally induced ND.

Methods:

A literature search was conducted in the scientific databases using the keywords “neurodegenerative”,
“anti-neuroinflammatory”, “dietary flavonoids,” “nanoparticles”, and “therapeutic
mechanisms”.

Results:

A total of 289 articles were initially identified, of which 45 articles reported on flavonoids.
After completion of the selection process, five articles that met the criteria of the review were selected
for analysis. Preclinical studies identified in this review showed that nanoencapsulated flavonoids attenuated
cognitive impairment and seizure, improved behavioral patterns, and reduced levels of astrocytes.
Importantly, they exhibited strong antioxidant properties, increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes and
reducing oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers. Moreover, nanocarrier-complexed flavonoids decreased the levels
of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), by inhibiting
nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and nod-like receptor protein
3 inflammasome activation (NLRP3). They also had remarkable effects on important ND-related neurotransmitters,
improved cognitive function via cholinergic neurotransmission, and increased prefrontal cortical
and hippocampal norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).

Conclusion:

Nanoencapsulated flavonoids should, therefore, be considered a novel therapeutic approach
for the treatment of NDs.
Innovative Discoveries in Neurosurgical Treatment of Neurodegenerative
Diseases: A Narrative Review
Authors: Findlay Matthew C. , Khan Majid , Kundu Mrinmoy , Johansen Chase M. , Lucke-Wold Brandon
Published: September 2023

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) encapsulate conditions in which neural cell populations
are perpetually degraded and nervous system function destroyed. Generally linked to increased
age, the proportion of patients diagnosed with a NDD is growing as human life expectancies
rise. Traditional NDD therapies and surgical interventions have been limited. However, recent
breakthroughs in understanding disease pathophysiology, improved drug delivery systems, and targeted
pharmacologic agents have allowed innovative treatment approaches to treat NDDs. A common
denominator for administering these new treatment options is the requirement for neurosurgical
skills. In the present narrative review, we highlight exciting and novel preclinical and clinical
discoveries being integrated into NDD care. We also discuss the traditional role of neurosurgery in
managing these neurodegenerative conditions and emphasize the critical role of neurosurgery in effectuating
these newly developed treatments.
Involvement of the Transient Receptor Channels in Preclinical Models of
Musculoskeletal Pain
Authors: Kudsi Sabrina Qader , Viero Fernanda Tibolla , Pereira Leonardo Gomes , Trevisan Gabriela
Published: September 2023

Background:

Musculoskeletal pain is a condition that affects bones, muscles, and tendons
and is present in various diseases and/or clinical conditions. This type of pain represents a growing
problem with enormous socioeconomic impacts, highlighting the importance of developing treatments
tailored to the patient's needs. TRP is a large family of non-selective cation channels involved in pain
perception. Vanilloid (TRPV1 and TRPV4), ankyrin (TRPA1), and melastatin (TRPM8) are involved
in physiological functions, including nociception, mediation of neuropeptide release, heat/cold sensing,
and mechanical sensation.

Objective:

In this context, we provide an updated view of the most studied preclinical models of muscle
hyperalgesia and the role of transient receptor potential (TRP) in these models.

Methods:

This review describes preclinical models of muscle hyperalgesia induced by intramuscular
administration of algogenic substances and/or induction of muscle damage by physical exercise in the
masseter, gastrocnemius, and tibial muscles.

Results:

The participation of TRPV1, TRPA1, and TRPV4 in different models of musculoskeletal
pain was evaluated using pharmacological and genetic tools. All the studies detected the antinociceptive
effect of respective antagonists or reduced nociception in knockout mice.

Conclusion:

Hence, TRPV1, TRPV4, and TRPA1 blockers could potentially be utilized in the future
for inducing analgesia in muscle hypersensitivity pathologies.
Synthetic Protocols and Applications of 1,2,5-Oxadiazoles: A Review
Authors: Kumar Greesh , Kumar Rajnish , Mazumder Avijit , Salahuddin  , Kumar Upendra
Published: September 2023

The 1,2,5-oxadiazole framework has garnered a lot of interest among many nitrogen heterocycles
because of its capacity to give off NO under physiological circumstances. Because of this, major
efforts by chemical scientists have been made to create novel drug possibilities in medicinal, material,
and agriculture science that include the NO-donor 1,2,5-oxadiazole N-oxide subunit coupled to a known
drug or a possible pharmacophore by C-C/C-N links or by using a suitable spacer. In the last few years,
1,2,5-oxadiazole and its derivatives have been reported as good pharmacophores as carbonic anhydrase
inhibitors, antibacterial, vasodilating agents, antimalarial, anticancer, etc. In the presented manuscript,
we reviewed granted patents (last 10 years), different synthetic strategies (last 27 years) of 1,2,5-
oxadiazoles and their N-oxide derivatives synthesis such as cycloaddition, dimerization, cyclodehydration,
condensation, thermolysis, nitration, oxidation, ring-conversion, etc. These synthetic methods have
also been analyzed for their merits and demerits. The manuscript also highlighted various applications
of 1,2,5-oxadiazole and its derivatives. We hope that researchers across the scientific streams will benefit
from the presented review articles for designing their work related to 1,2,5-oxadiazoles.
Stilbene-based Derivatives as Potential Inhibitors of Bcl-2 Antiapoptotic Proteins: A Molecular Docking Study and ADMET Prediction
Authors: Mohamad Rosdi Mohamad Norisham , Abu Bakar Mohamad Hafizi , Nadri Muhammad Helmi , Soib Husnul Hanani , Azmi Nur Hanisah
Published: September 2023

Background:

Fruits like berries are known not only for their taste and nutritional value but also
for the potential health benefits of their bioactive components. Stilbenes, a group of phenolic metabolites
found in berries, demonstrate significant pharmacological activities. Its derivatives also have been investigated
for their biological functions, including as anticancer agents. Bcl-2 antiapoptotic proteins are highly
involved in regulating cancer progression by promoting apoptosis evasion. Hence, Bcl-2 is a promising
therapeutic target in drug development.

Objective:

This study aimed to determine the stilbene derivatives with the best potential as Bcl-2 inhibitors

Methods:

The method used was molecular docking of several stilbene derivatives to Bcl-2 receptors using
AutoDock 4.2, followed by an ADMET studyThe method used was molecular docking of several stilbene derivatives to Bcl-2 receptors using AutoDock 4.2, followed by an ADMET study

Results:

Based on the docking score and ligand-receptor interactions, oxyresveratol and pterostilbene had
the best docking findings for the Bcl-2 antiapoptotic proteins. Among these eleven substances, pterostilbene
significantly inhibited Bcl-w and Mcl-1, whereas oxresveratrol could inhibit Bcl-2. Although the
findings from the two ADMET profiles were varied, further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to
explore the potential of the compounds.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the study identified the potential chemopreventive agents, such as pterostilbene
and oxyresveratrol might serve as potential lead compounds for developing new Bcl-2 inhibitors.
The Value of Nailfold Capillaroscopy in the Classification and Differential
Diagnosis of Raynaud’s Phenomenon in Rheumatology
Authors: Lambova Sevdalina Nikolova
Published: September 2023

Among instrumental techniques, nailfold capillaroscopy plays a leading role in the assessment of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) patients because it is the only method that provides opportunities for morphological assessment of capillaroscopic findings in the nailfold area, with proven diagnostic and prognostic significance in rheumatology.The discussion about updating the classification of RP in rheumatology is interesting given the current understanding of capillaroscopic findings in rheumatic diseases and improvements in immunological diagnostics. The presence of dilation of the “true” capillary diameters in primary RP could be observed.There are some cases of primary RP where the capillaroscopic pattern is completely normal and there are no dilated capillar-ies present, which could be related to the duration and severity of the symptoms. It is possible that longer duration and greater severity are associated with the appearance of capillary dilations, but more research is needed to confirm it. Rarely, pathological capillaroscpic features of microangiopa-thy could be observed in RP patients in whom clinical, laboratory and immunological findings are compatible with the diagnosis “primary RP”. These cases should be defined as “suspected second-ary RP” and require closer follow-up for the assessment of symptom evolution. Abnormal “sclero-derma” type capillaroscopic pattern has been established as a new classification criterion for sys-temic sclerosis (SSc) in 2013. Similar changes (“scleroderma-like” pattern) could be observed in other rheumatic diseases, i.e., undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD), systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, rheumatoid arthritis, including without evidence of overlap with scleroderma. The appearance of such microvascular abnormalities at disease presentation is less well studied in diseases different from SSc. However, “scleroderma-like” microangiopathy has also been reported as an initial sign in some systemic rheumatic diseases, such as UCTD and systemic lupus erythematosus. Thus, interpretation of capillaroscopic findings is performed in overall con-text, including clinical findings and laboratory and immunological test results.
Predicting the Prognosis of Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Intensitymodulated
Radiotherapy based on Radiomic Features
Authors: Wang Helong , Xu Jing , Bai Yanling , Wang Yewei , Shao Wencheng , Yun Weikang , Feng Lina , Xu Jianyu
Published: September 2023

Aims:

This study aimed to develop a method for predicting short-term outcomes of lung cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy
(IMRT) using radiomic features detected through computed tomography images.

Methods:

A prediction model was developed based on a dataset of radiomic features obtained from 132 patients with lung cancer receiving IMRT.
Dimension reduction was performed for the features using the maximum-relevance and minimum-redundancy (mRMR) algorithm, and the least
absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was utilized to optimize feature selection for the IMRT-sensitivity prediction
model. The model was constructed using binary logistic regression analysis and was evaluated using the concordance index (C-index), calibration
plots, receiver operating characteristic curve, and decision curve analysis.

Results:

Fifty features were selected from 1348 radiomic features using the mRMR method. Of these, three radiomic features were selected by LASSO
logistic regression to construct the radiomics nomogram. The C-index of the model was 0.776 (95% confidence interval: 0.689–0.862) and 0.791
(95% confidence interval: 0.607–0.974) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Decision curve analysis showed that the radiomics
nomogram was clinically useful.

Conclusion:

Radiomic features have the potential to be applied to predict the short-term efficacy of IMRT in patients with inoperable lung cancer.
Automatic Kidney Stone Composition Analysis Method Based on Dual-energy
CT
Authors: Huang Jianping , Hou Jiachen , Yang Weihong , Zhan Meixiao , Xie Shengfu , Li Shuping , Li Ru , Wu Shangxin , He Yuan , Zhao Wei , Zhang Rui , Shan Ge , Ni Wenjun
Published: September 2023

Background:

The composition of kidney stones is related to the hardness of the stones. Knowing the composition of the stones before surgery can help plan the
laser power and operation time of percutaneous nephroscopic surgery. Moreover, patients can be treated with medications if the kidney stone is
compounded by uric acid before treatment, which can relieve the patients of the pain of surgery. However, although the literature generally reports
the kidney stone composition analysis method base on dual-energy CT images, the accuracy of these methods is not enough; they need manual
delineation of the kidney stone location, and these methods cannot analyze mixed composition kidney stones.

Objective:

This study aimed to overcome the problem related to identifying kidney stone composition; we need an accurate method to analyze the
composition of kidney stones.

Methods:

In this paper, we proposed the automatic kidney stone composition analysis algorithm based on a dual-energy CT image. The algorithm first
segmented the kidney stone mask by deep learning model, then analyzed the composition of each stone by machine learning model.

Results:

The experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm can segment kidney stones accurately (AUC=0.96) and predict kidney stone
composition accurately (mean Acc=0.86, mean Se=0.75, mean Sp=0.9, mean F1=0.75, mean AUC=0.83, MR (Exact match ratio)=0.6).

Conclusion:

The proposed method can predict the composition and location of kidney stones, which can guide its treatment.

:

Experimental results show that the weighting strategy can improve kidney stone segmentation performance. In addition, the multi-label
classification model can predict kidney stone composition precisely, including the mixed composition kidney stones.