bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Causes and predictors of premature death in the Pars Cohort Study, Iran: a cohort study
Authors: Ziamanesh Fateme , Sepanlou Sadaf G , Gandomkar Abdullah , Poustchi Hossein , Malekzadeh Fatemeh , Malekzadeh Reza , Nalini Mahdi
Published: May 2024

Background
While death in old age is inevitable, premature death at younger ages is within our control. Premature mortality (death < 70 years) is a crucial indicator of health status and access to healthcare, with variations observed across regions. In North Africa and the Middle East, ischemic heart disease (IHD), road injuries, stroke, and chronic kidney disease are projected to be the main causes of premature mortality. Unfortunately, few studies have been conducted on premature mortality worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the causes of premature death and associated risk factors within the Pars Cohort Study.
Methods
The Pars cohort study is a prospective cohort study conducted in Fars Province, Iran, involving 9,264 individuals aged 40–75 years, 53.8% of whom were women. We assessed participants from baseline (2012–2014) to 2021. The data were gathered through interviews, biological samples, and physical examinations. The causes of premature mortality, hazard ratios (HRs), and population attributable fraction (PAF) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the variables were calculated.
Results
Out of 388 deaths, 54% were premature. The most common causes of premature death included IHD (40%), stroke (11%), road traffic injuries (6%), lower respiratory infections (5%), and COVID-19 (3%). The predictive factors [adjusted HRs (95% CIs)] associated with premature mortality included age [year, 1.07 (1.04, 1.10)], tobacco [1.43 (0.96, 2.11)], opium [2.12 (1.39, 3.24)], hypertension [1.52 (1.10, 2.12)], waist circumference [centimeter, 1.03 (1.00, 1.05)], female sex [0.30 (0.19, 0.47)], education [> 8 years vs. no formal schooling, 0.46 (0.24, 0.88)], being married [0.60 (0.37, 0.97)], physical activity [3rd vs. 1st tertile, 0.38 (0.26, 0.57)], hip circumference [centimeter, 0.96 (0.92, 0.99)], estimated GFR [mL/min/1.73m², 0.99 (0.978, 0.999)], and wealth score [4th vs. 1st quartile, 0.54 (0.32, 0.90)]. The PAF (95% CI) for all modifiable predictors was 0.83 (0.62, 0.92).
Conclusions
The predominant causes of premature mortality were IHD and stroke. To mitigate premature deaths, paying simultaneous attention to both socioeconomic and behavioral factors is recommended.
Rising cases of MRSA infection in neonates- a major concern and a call for action.
Authors: Mustapha Samaha , Zaidu Aishatu Musa , Yusuf Muhammad Shamsuddeen , Aliyu Shamsudin , Abdulkadir Isa
Published: May 2024

Introduction:Neonatal sepsis is still a global health concern as it contributes to high burden of neonatal morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. The aim of the study is to give an insight into neonatal sepsis: risk factors, sepsis types, clinical features, pathogen burden with their antibiotic sensitivities and outcome of admission in our facility. Methodology: This was a prospective hospital-based study involving term neonates suspected of having sepsis conducted over 10 months, October 2018-July 2019. Sociodemographic information and clinical characteristics were gathered using a structured questionnaire. Venous blood samples were obtained for complete blood count (CBC) and blood culture. MicrobactTM 24E (Oxoid UK) and Staph ID kits were utilized to identify the organisms based on manufacturer guidelines. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was conducted using the modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22 and results were presented in tabular format.
Result: Of the 248 term neonates with features of sepsis were enrolled into the study, out of which 94 (37.9%) were confirmed to have sepsis. Late-onset sepsis LOS (68%) was found to be the most common and most of the neonates were delivered elsewhere. Clinical features were non-specific for both early-onset (EOS) and LOS and include fever, jaundice, poor suck and depressed primitive reflexes. Infections were mostly caused by the gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureusis the single most common isolate for both EOS and LOS. Antibiotic sensitivity is highest with ciprofloxacin for both EOS and LOS. Mortality is high 14.9% and is mostly contributed to by Staphylococcus aureus infection.
Conclusion:Neonatal sepsis is still a burden with mostly non-specific clinical features. The local prevalent organisms are Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter agglomerans and Klebsiella pneumonia with good antibiotic susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. Most presented with late onset-sepsis and therefore infection is likely to be community-acquired which to a great extent can be prevented with robust public health interventions.
Effects of fermented biogas slurry returning of tail vegetables on soil enzyme activity and fertility
Authors: Yue Shuzhi , Liu Bian , Jie Huang , Chu Run
Published: May 2024

Objective The objective of this study is to study the effects of fermented biogas slurry derived from tail vegetables on soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities, and to evaluate soil fertility.
Method Baby cabbage cultivated in the field, five treatments with iso-nitrogen fertilization were set up: CK (no biogas liquid nitrogen), T1 (25% biogas liquid nitrogen), T2 (50% biogas liquid nitrogen), T3 (75% biogas liquid nitrogen) and T4 (100% biogas liquid nitrogen).
Results It was found that returning biogas slurry from the fermentation of tail vegetables to the field significantly increased soil organic matter, total nitrogen, alkaline dissolved nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and microbial carbon (nitrogen) content, improved soil porosity and decreased soil bulk density, with little effect on soil water content; Fermentation of biogas slurry from tail cabbage significantly increased the activities of urease, sucrase and alkaline phosphatase, but had little effect on catalase activity, and the increases of urease, sucrase and phosphatase activities were 3.49%~21.83%, 8.71%~22.29% and 1.95%~10.38%, respectively. Through principal component cluster analysis, the weighted comprehensive score was used as a new index, and soil fertility was comprehensively evaluated as T3>T2> T4>T1>CK.
Conclusion Considering the comprehensive effects of fermented biogas slurry fertilization on soil physicochemical properties and soil enzyme activities, the fertilization effect T3 (246m3·hm-2 tail vegetable fermentation biogas slurry + 44kg·hm-2 pure chemical nitrogen) was the best and the comprehensive fertility was the best.
Economic disintegration: Brexit, Non-tariff Measures, and UK Trade
Authors: Du Jun , Shepotylo Oleksandr
Published: May 2024

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union has resulted in a notable rise in trade costs between these two parties, even though the new trading relationship established a tariff- and quota-free trade in goods between the UK and the EU. Employing the synthetic control difference-in-difference methodology, we empirically establish that the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) has had a significant and adverse effect on the bilateral trade between the UK and EU countries. This paper quantifies the ad valorem equivalents of non-tariff measures between the EU and UK and examine their impact on UK trade in 2021, subsequent to the conclusion of the Brexit transition period. Particularly, the amplified trade frictions associated with goods subject to sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, as well as technical barriers to trade, have played a crucial role in the decline of UK exports to the EU.
JEL codes: F13, F14, F15, F17, F55
Fuzzy Self-tuned PID Controller for Virtual Inertia Control of Egyptian Power System Load Frequency Control Considering High Penetration of Renewable Energy
Authors: ghany M.A. Abdel , Syam Fathy A. , Aly Abouelmaaty M. , Abido M. A. , Ibrahim Shorouk Ossama
Published: May 2024

Reliance on renewable energy is increasing and generating units are being added to the network. Since renewable power fluctuates significantly, The grid's fluctuation in frequency becomes a crucial problem with access to renewable power generation. In order to improve the penetration of renewable power into the system, there is a greater need for Load Frequency Control (LFC) of the power grid due to the deviation of the system's output of renewable energy.
The PID controller's straightforward design and intuitive concept have demonstrated its efficacy for the LFC. In this research, the virtual synchronous generator is introduced and a Fuzzy Self-Tuned PID (FST-PID) Controller is proposed for inertia control. The proposed FST-PID Controller is applied considering the high penetration of renewable energy and virtual inertia. The effectiveness of the proposed FST-PID controller is compared with the classical PID controller for the Egyptian Power System (EPS) as a study case under different disturbances of load changes. The control technique is employed for variable load with photovoltaic and wind turbine generation systems. The controller design is performed based on Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO) in each operating condition. The overshot and Integral Time Absolute Error (ITAE) are considered as comparison measures. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed FST-PID for inertia control with high penetration of renewable energy. The results show that the proposed FST-PID Controller has an overshot less than the classical PID controller by 25% and ITAE by 45%.
A Novel Mutation of NONO-Associated X-linked Syndromic Intellectual Developmental Disorder-34 in a Fetus
Authors: Huang Ruchun , Wu Siqi , Ding Hongke , Wu Liping , Pi Huichun , Liu Weiqiang , Liu Jinghua , Xiong Yimin , Yang Xin
Published: May 2024

Background
The NONO gene is located on chromosome Xq13.1 and encodes a nuclear protein involved in RNA synthesis, transcriptional regulation, and DNA repair. Hemizygous loss-of-function variants in NONO reportedly cause X-linked syndromic intellectual developmental disorder-34 (MRXS34) in males. At present, there are few clinical reports related to MRXS34, and the mutation spectrum of NONO-related diseases has not been completely determined.
Methods
We report the case of a fetus with noncompaction cardiomyopathy, a short anteroposterior diameter of the corpus callosum and relative macrocephaly. Genotyping examination, including chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) and trio-medical exon sequencing, was performed.
Results
Medical exon sequencing revealed a de novo hemizygous nonsense mutation (c.214 C > T, p.Gln72Ter) in exon 4 of the NONO gene. A review of previous literature suggested that noncompaction cardiomyopathy, abnormalities of the corpus callosum, and macrocephaly are consistent phenotypes of MRXS34.
Conclusion
The mutation (c.214 C > T, p.Gln72Ter) in the NONO gene was present in a fetus with MRXS34. This study expands the mutation spectrum of NONO-related diseases and enlarges noncompaction cardiomyopathy, abnormalities of the corpus callosum and macrocephaly to the phenotype of MRXS34 in fetuses.
Acid and hydrothermal pretreatments of Date Press Cake (DPC): a pathway for bioprocessing and value creation
Authors: Oladzad Sepideh , Fallah Narges , Mahboubi Amir , Afsham Neda , Taherzadeh Mohammad J. , Toghyani Javad
Published: May 2024

The production of date syrup yields a substantial amount of date press cake (DPC), fibrous and moisturising material with great potential for generating value through bioprocessing. However, the recalcitrant structure of DPC affects the yield of products in bioprocesses. To boost the accessibility of the structure as well as increase the soluble fraction of carbohydrates and facilitate further enzymatic hydrolysis, hydrothermal and dilute acid (0.5% (v/v) sulfuric acid) pretreatments as cost-effective and feasible methods were applied on DPC at low temperatures (80, 100, 120 and 140°C) and reaction times (60 and 90 min). The success in pretreatment was then evaluated by a post-enzymatic treatment using an enzyme cocktail of cellulases and hemicelluloses. Based on total accessible sugar with minimum produced inhibitors, an optimal operating condition was considered acid pretreatment at 120°C for 90 min with a 55.02% increase in total sugar yield. To explore the potential use of pretreated DPC, a study was conducted on untreated and acid-pretreated DPC at 120°C for 90 min. The results showed that pretreatment increased the total bioproduct yield, including hydrogen, ethanol, and volatile fatty acid yields, by 59.75%. This demonstrates the significant impact of pretreatment on product yields in a bioprocess.
Cotton-Quality Fibers from Complexation between Anionic and Cationic Cellulose Nanoparticles
Authors: Jaekel Esther E. , Torres Guillermo Reyes , Antonietti Markus , Rojas Orlando J. , Filonenko Svitlana
Published: May 2024

Natural polymers are attractive sustainable materials for production of fibers and composite materials. Cotton and flux are traditional plants used to produce textiles with comforting properties while technologies like Viscose, Lyocell and Ioncell-F allowed to extent fiber use into regenerated cellulose from wood. Neither natural nor man-made fibers completely satisfy the needs for cellulose based fabrics boosting development of new approaches to bring more sustainability into the fashion. Technologies like Spinnova® are arising based on the spinning of mechanically pretreated cellulose materials with a lower environmental impact though challenged by the fiber quality and strength related to the inconsistency of the mechanical fibers. Nanoscaled cellulose is an excellent solution to improve the consistency of spin fibers, but charges introduced by traditional chemical treatments prevent rebuilding native hydrogen bonding and compromise the mechanical properties especially in wet conditions. We used nanocellulose with low surface charge isolated using reactive eutectic media to spin fibers able to restore the native hydrogen bonding and enable constitutional mechanical strength of cellulose. We performed un-optimized spinning to reveal the intrinsic properties of the fibers and confirmed the preserved strength of wet fibers compliant with the low surface charge enabling further engineering towards cotton-like fabric from wood.
Asterarcys Quadricellulare Triggers Bioactive Amines Promoting Sugarcane Sprout and Growth
Authors: de Lara Gabriel Bocchetti , Amatussi Juliana de Oliveira , Mógor Gilda , de Oliveira Ricardo Augusto , Mógor Átila Francisco , Filho João Carlos Bespalhok
Published: May 2024

The production of pre-sprouted seedlings using mini-setts brings advantages over the conventional method of planting, which uses larger sections of stalk. Sugarcane planting using propagules from different stalk sections can impair the sprouting rate and initial development of plants, which restricts yield. Thus, biofertilizers, by stimulating sprouting and regulating plant growth, can reduce losses from unsprouted propagules and boost their development. The hypothesis that the bioactivity of Asterarcys quadricellulare is related to its composition in polyamines and L-amino acids was investigated in the early development of sugarcane (RB036152). Sugarcane propagules were immersed in A. quadricellulare biomass solution to assess its effect on sprouting and growth promotion in propagules from different sections of the stalk, analyzing biometric and biochemical changes. The immersion of the propagules in a 2.5 g L-1 solution of the microalga biomass increased the sprouting rate and boosted plant growth, especially in apical and medial propagules. Metabolic changes were also promoted by the microalga biomass. The accumulation of total sugars in the propagules was higher in the sections treated with microalga, the same occurred on leaves from apical and basal propagules. The application of microalga also increased the levels of bioactive amines, such as spermidine in the propagules and spermine in the culms. The biofertilizer also increased the levels of tryptophan in the propagules and serotonin in the leaves, when compared to the control. This work demonstrated the bioactivity of A. quadricellulare biomass and its interaction with different physiologic ages of mini-setts of sugarcane.
First detection of Leishmania major in dogs living in an endemic area of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Tunisia
Authors: Maurelli Maria Paola , Zribi Lilia , Fayala Nour El Houda Ben , Manzillo Valentina Foglia , Balestrino Ines , Hamdi Noureddine , Bouratbine Aida , Gizzarelli Manuela , Rinaldi Laura , Aoun Karim , Oliva Gaetano
Published: May 2024

Background
Dogs are considered the main domestic animals that may be reservoir for Leishmania infantum, the agent of Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis (ZVL) in several countries of the world. Dog may host other Leishmania species but its epidemiological role in the maintaining and spreading of these parasites is not completely elucidated. Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL), caused by Leishmania major, affect thousands of people every year and is particularly diffused in many countries of North Africa and Middle East Asia. In ZCL endemic countries few reports of L. major positive dogs have been reported, probably because most human cases occur in poor rural areas where the social role of the dog and its medical management is not well considered. The aim of the present study is to better understand the possible involvement of domestic dogs in the epidemiology of ZCL.
Methods
Our research focused on a well-established endemic focus of ZCL, in the area of Echrarda, Kairouan Governorate, central Tunisia. Fifty-one dogs with no apparent clinical signs of vector borne diseases, were selected in small villages where human cases of ZCL are yearly present. All dogs were sampled for the Leishmania spp. diagnosis, by using the following procedures: blood sample for serology and buffy coat qPCR, popliteal fine needle aspiration and cutaneous biopsy punch for lymph node and skin qPCR.
Results
The results demonstrated a high percentage (21.6%) of dogs positive at least at one or more test, the most sensitive technique was the lymph node qPCR that detected 8/11 positive dogs. Nine, out of the eleven positive dogs, resulted infected by Leishmania infantum; ITS1-PCR-sequencing allowed Leishmania major identification in the remaining two cases, both from the popliteal lymph node samples, that can suggest a possible visceral spread of a cutaneous Leishmania species in dog. Interestingly, one of the two L. major positive dogs was living in the same house where 6-year-old children showed cutaneous lesions referred to ZCL.
Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the first report of L. major positive dogs in Tunisia, the epidemiological role of which remains under investigation.
Species of leaf litter are more important than urbanization effects for litter mass loss in semi-arid river
Authors: Silva Walber Ferreira , Carneiro Jessé Silva , Albuquerque Cristiano Queiroz , Novaes José Luis Costa , Tonin Alan M. , Junior José Francisco Gonçalves , Rezende Renan de Souza
Published: May 2024

Leaf litter mass loss plays a crucial role in ecosystem processes, and understanding the factors that influence this process is essential, particularly in semi-arid riparian zones. This study investigated the impact of plant species (Erythrina velutina, Anacardium occidentale, Tabebuia aurea, Croton sonderianus, and Hymenaea courbaril) and environmental conditions (before and after urban) on leaf litter mass loss in these ecosystems. We utilized litter bags containing senescent leaves to evaluate the density and richness of invertebrates, shredder and scraper abundance and measured the mass loss of litter after oven drying. We observed that plant litter with higher palatability characteristics experienced faster mass loss when exposed to less palatable leaf resources, suggesting a "fertility islands" effect driven by increased invertebrate density and scraper abundance. Additionally, river sections downstream of urban areas exhibited higher mass loss, likely attributed to elevated nutrient concentrations and water temperature. The prevalence of larger-bodied scraper species (leaf tissue fragmentation by radulae) indicates their role in driving mass loss processes. Thiaridae, Lymnaeidae, and Planorbiidae can act as intermediate hosts for various parasitic diseases affecting humans and animals, with special concern for Thiaridae downstream of urban areas due to increased human waste, increasing the risk of contamination. It is important to consider both biotic and abiotic factors in leaf litter mass loss, emphasizing this process as a valuable environmental indicator.
Hotspots in Transition: Mediterranean Amphibian Diversity Under Different Climate Scenarios
Authors: Elverici Can , Peterson Andrew Townsend , Perktaş Utku
Published: May 2024

The Mediterranean Basin, a region renowned for its biodiversity, is experiencing unprecedented ecological changes owing to shifting climate patterns. This study employs ecological niche modeling to assess impacts of historical, current, and future climate scenarios on climatic suitability patterns for 36 endemic amphibian species. The study incorporates a diverse set of environmental variables to project species’ potential geographic distributions across significant climatic events, including the Last Interglacial, Last Glacial Maximum, and Mid-Holocene, as well as future projections for 2050 and 2070 under various Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs). The resulting models underscore the congruence of predicted species-rich areas with established biodiversity hotspots, and highlight the influence of precipitation on amphibian distribution. Notably, the study reveals potential shifts in biodiversity importance of different areas across the Mediterranean landscape, with certain regions projected to transition from hotspots to coldspots and vice versa, in response to future climatic changes. These insights contribute to a broader discourse on conservation priorities, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies that can accommodate the dynamic nature of biodiversity in response to climate change. The findings of this study serve as a call to action for preserving Mediterranean biodiversity, providing a data-driven foundation for informed conservation planning in this critical hotspot.
Intestinal parasitic infections in HIV-infected patients and domestic animals in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Authors: Obebe Oluwasoala Olaiya
Published: May 2024

Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a high chance of developing parasitic intestinal infections. The presence of zoonotic parasites in animal faeces is also believed to be evidence of readily available sources of infection for humans with these parasites. This study therefore evaluates the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among HIV-infected patients and domestic animals. A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out at three antiretroviral therapy clinics in Ekiti State, Southwest, Nigeria between February 2018 and December 2019. A total of 330 HIV-infected patients and 77 domestic animals (within their environment) were studied. Faeces were collected and processed using formol-ether concentration and modified Ziehl-Neelsen techniques for the detection of intestinal parasites and Cryptosporidium oocysts, respectively. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaires. Fisher’s Exact Test statistical analysis was used to test the level of significance at p < 0.05. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among the study population of HIV patients and their pets were 15.5% and 12% respectively. The most predominant parasitic infections amongst the HIV patients was Cryptosporidium sp., (49.0%), while Taenia and Hymenolepis sp. were least with 5.9% each. The CD4 count < 200 (OR: 10.2, 95% CI: 4.3–23.7), and diarrhoea (OR: 7.0, 95% CI: 3.2–17.8) were detected to be the significant associated variables with Cryptosporidium infection. Cryptosporidium sp., (32.1%), Ancylostoma caninum (7.1%) and Toxocara canis (7.1%) were parasites of zoonotic potential detected in animals of participants. Improving public health measures that would emphasize personal hygiene and regular deworming of immunocompromised pets by certified veterinarians is recommended.
The monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor JZL184 and ARDS: Differential effects in direct and indirect rat models
Authors: ELMA Yusuf , CAN Emine YILMAZ , FERAH Meryem AKPOLAT , KECECI Mete
Published: May 2024

Purpose
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) leads to high morbidity and mortality, with limited pharmacological treatments and a reliance on supportive therapies. Recent evidence suggests cannabinoids may offer protective and therapeutic benefits against tissue damage, including lung pathologies. While cannabinoids' positive impacts on lung pathologies are known, their specific effects on ARDS mechanisms have not been thoroughly examined. The study purposes to explore the protective effects of cannabinoids on lung injury in direct and indirect ARDS models, focusing on differences in pathophysiological mechanisms.
Methods
Rats received lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 mg/kg, intratracheally) for direct models or alpha-naphthylthiourea (ANTU, 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for indirect models. Endocannabinoid degrading enzyme, MAGL inhibitor JZL184 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 30 min before LPS or ANTU. After 24 hours of LPS and 4 hours of ANTU applications lung tissue samples were collected.
Results
In the LPS group, significant epithelial damage and intense NF-κB and caspase-3 staining around the bronchiolar epithelium were observed, with JZL184 effectively reducing inflammation and these markers in the area. In the ANTU group, the damage was more focused on the endothelium with similar increases in NF-κB and caspase-3 staining in the alveolar walls, where JZL184 also decreased inflammation and markers intensity. Overall, JZL184 showed a protective effect against inflammation, apoptosis, and tissue damage in lung injuries, highlighting the therapeutic potential of MAGL inhibition in ARDS treatment, with variations in effects depending on the injury model.
Conclusion
MAGL inhibition showed model-specific benefits against ARDS-related inflammation, apoptosis, and tissue damage, highlighting its therapeutic potential.
Electrochemical and spectroscopic analyses for praseodymium complexes in potassium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide melts
Authors: Matsumiya Masahiko , Mishima Takumi , Tokumitsu Shun , Sasaki Yuji
Published: May 2024

In this study, the electrochemical behavior of praseodymium complex; Pr(III) in potassium bis(trifluoromethyl-sulfonyl) amide; K[NTf2] melts was under investigation. There is speculation that the first peak of reduction at + 2.27 V is probably Pr(IV) formation. The electrochemical analysis revealed that the electrodeposition reaction of Pr(III) to Pr(0) would cause the reduction peak of Pr(III) at + 0.87 V at 488 K. By semi-integral and semi-differential analysis, the diffusion coefficient and activation energy of Pr(III) in K[NTf2] melts were measured in the range of 473–493 K. Chronoamperometry was also used to evaluate the nucleation behavior of Pr(III). It was found that Pr nucleation mechanism changed from instantaneous to progressive nucleation when the overpotential became more negative than Pr(0) deposition potential. The early-stage electrodeposits were identified in the metallic state by XPS analysis. In addition, the coordination states of Pr(III) in K[NTf2] melts have been studied by Raman spectroscopy. The concentration dependence of the deconvoluted Raman spectra was investigated for Pr(III) in K[NTf2] in the range 0.23–0.45 mol kg− 1. The solvation number of Pr(III) in K[NTf2] melts was determined to be 5.14, according to the conventional analysis.
In vitro digestion, physicochemical and structural properties of rice starch dual-treated with radio frequency dry heating and annealing treatment
Authors: Dong Yifei , Li Xinyu , Cui Yan , Zhang Liang , Xuan Xiaoting , Lv Ruiling , Liu Xingquan , Ling Jiangang , Li Suhong
Published: May 2024

Radio frequency dry heating treatment combined with annealing treatment (RFDHT-ANN) was applied in this study to investigate the effects of the combined treatment on the digestibility, pasting properties, and multiscale structure of rice starch (RS). In practice, the combined modification treatment did not change the crystal type but resulted in a change in the microscopic morphology of RS. The dual treatment improved the amylose content, solubility, particle size, relative crystallinity and gelatinization transition temperature but declined the starch's swelling power. The lowest enzymatic digestibility was found with a decrease of 9.05% of rapidly digestible starch but an increment of 1.69% of slowly digestible starch and 7.38% of resistant starch. Compared with native starch, the characteristic peak of modified starches at 20.2° (2θ) was weakened. Furthermore, the dual treatment noticeably decreased the gelatinating viscosity of RS. This study provides innovative ideas for improving starch-based, slowly digestible foods in the future.
LinguTimeX: Explainable AI of Natural Language Detection in Leakage Information with Covert Timing Channels
Authors: Darwish Omar , Al-Eidi Shorouq , Al-Shorman Abdallah , AlSobeh Anas , Maabreh Majdi , Tashtoush Yahya
Published: May 2024

CCovert timing channels (CTC) enable surreptitious information leakage through manipulated data transmission timing, posing a severe cybersecurity risk. This research introduces a framework, called LinguTimeX, which utilizes explainable artificial intelligence approach that synergizes linguistic analysis with detection of timing irregularities to pinpoint CTC activities with high accuracy. The LinguTimeX extracts multidimensional features integrating statistical properties of textual content and temporal characteristics. An ensemble of machine learning and deep learning models, tailored for cross-lingual covert channel identification , demonstrates outstanding detection performance, with over 98% precision and recall in Arabic and 81% F1-score in Chinese datasets. Quantitative analysis and visualizations elucidate how innate language complexities govern covert signal amplitudes, guiding targeted optimization of feature engineering. The
Environmental awareness of university students in Colombia
Authors: Manuel Andrade Navia Juan , Jiménez Zapata Elvia , Hembuz Falla German , Santos Sánchez Sergio , Castro Guevara Dayana
Published: May 2024

The objective of this article was to evaluate the level of environmental awareness of university students in a peripheral region of southern Colombia. Environmental awareness was approached as a multidimensional variable consisting of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. The study was quantitative, approached from the deductive method and descriptive type. The study population corresponded to young university students, and a non-probabilistic convenience sampling was used. For the environmental awareness variable, an instrument was developed with a Likert-type scale based on multiple research studies. The sample consisted of 527 university students. The reliability of the study was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability, while validity was analyzed with mean variance explained and confirmatory factor analysis, being in all cases satisfactory. As a result, modest levels of environmental awareness were evidenced in all dimensions, which is particularly worrying as most of the young people surveyed were between 18 and 25 years old, indicating low interest, knowledge, and availability for environmental issues among future professionals of the South Colombian region. The results were in line with certain results found in similar research reported in the literature. Nevertheless, the situation is worrisome because young students are the new generation of citizens.
Acknowledgment This article was written within the framework of the Special Cooperation Agreement No. 230 of 2023 signed between the Universidad Surcolombiana and the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Alto Magdalena CAM in the project “Implementation of the SENDICAM Science Center as a strategy for the recognition, conservation and social appropriation of the natural heritage in the central and southern area of the department of Huila” BPIN 2021000100425.
Molecular Mechanism of Breast Cancer and Predisposition of Mouse
Mammary Tumor Virus Propagation Cycle
Authors: Ghosh Arya , Gopinath Subash C.B.
Published: May 2024

Over the past few decades, women have been troubled by grave diseases such
as breast cancer, which are biologically and molecularly classified as hereditary diseases.
Even though the risk of other cancers is relatively different and the downstream pathway
of genetic mutation differs from breast cancer, the continued transformation of
genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 leads to breast cancer malignancy. Notably at the
molecular level, a parallel connection between the normal growth of breast and the progression
of mammary cancer where the breast cancer stem cells play a crucial role in the
advancement of mammary carcinoma. Arguably, several significant signaling pathways,
for instance, ER signaling, HER2 signaling, and Wnt signaling control the typical breast
development as well as breast stem cells, thereby cell proliferation, cell differentiation,
and cell motility are involved. Incidentally, the Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus
(MMTV) is notable among the unexplained viral components influenced by virus-corrupting
mammary carcinomas. According to the genesis, MMTV proviral DNA is integrated
into mammary epithelial cells, and genomic lymphoid cells during viral replication
and triggers the progression of cellular oncogenesis. This overview reveals the deadliest
theories on breast cancer, molecular mechanisms, and the MMTV transmission cycle.
To establish prevention therapies that are both acceptable and efficacious, addressing
apprehensions related to the toxicity of these interventions must be a preliminary hurdle
to overcome.
Impairment of Left Ventricular Function in the Depressed Chinese Miniature
Swine Model by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature-Tracking: A
Preliminary Study
Authors: Kong Huihui , Zhang Lijun , He Yi
Published: May 2024

Purpose::

Individuals with depression have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and more often have a poor prognosis with cardiovascular disease.
This study aimed to investigate the impact of depression on Left Ventricular (LV) alterations using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Featuretracking
(CMR-FT).

Methods::

Seven anesthetized, healthy Chinese miniature swine were included in the study. Basic data, including CMR scans at baseline and after 14 days of
depression modeling, were collected. Behavioral tests, including the Open-field Test (OFT), Sucrose Preference Test (SPT), and measurements of
the time taken to consume a specific amount of food and sugar, were conducted to assess the success of the depression models. CMR cine images
were acquired and CVI software was employed to analyze Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS), Global Circumferential Strain (GCS), and Global
Radial Strain (GRS). Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) imaging was used to detect myocardial infarction and/or scar.

Results::

The outcomes demonstrated successful depression modeling, indicated by reduced scores in the OFT and SPT, as well as an extended time to
intake food and sugar compared to baseline. However, no significant differences were observed in LV End-diastolic Volume (LVEDV), LV Endsystolic
Volume (LVESV), LV Ejection Fraction (LVEF), LV End-diastolic Myocardial Mass (LVMASSED), and Cardiac Output (CO) before
and after modeling. Regarding LV global strain parameters, there was a downward trend in GRS (25.35% ± 6.9% vs. 22.86% ± 6.4%, P=0.021),
GCS (-16.71% ± 4.2% vs. -14.78% ± 2.3%, P=0.043), and GLS (-17.66% ± 2.9% vs. -14.53% ± 2.5%, P=0.056), respectively, after modeling. GRS
and GCS were significantly reduced after modeling compared to baseline.

Conclusion::

The study suggests that depression may contribute to early LV systolic dysfunction, particularly affecting LV GCS and GRS.
Kajian Karakteristik Fenotipe Kuantitatif dan Kualitatif Ayam Bekisar
Authors: Hamiyanti Adelina Ari , Ciptadi Gatot , Nuryadi Nuryadi , Yekti Aulia Puspita Anugra
Published: May 2024

Ayam bekisar merupakan hasil persilangan interspesies antara ayam hutan merah/ayam hutan hijau jantan dengan ayam kampung. Persilangan ini menguntungkan dari segi fenotipe karena menghasilkan warna bulu yang indah selain suara kokokan yang memikat. Karakteristik fenotipe kuantitatif dan kualitatif ayam bekisar belum terdokumentasi dengan baik sehinggapenelitian ini bertujuan untuk memperoleh gambaran fenotipe kuantitatif dan kualitatif dari ayam bekisar jantan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode survei. Penelitian menggunakan 95 ekor ayam dewasa yang terdiri dari 5 ekor ayam hutan jantan, 65 ekor ayam kampung betina dan 25 ekor ayam bekisar jantan yang diperoleh di Kecamatan Dau Kabupaten Malang danKecamatan Suboh Kabupaten Situbondo. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa morfometrik ayam bekisar yaitu panjang femur 10,64Â±0,79 cm, panjang tibia 13,01Â±1,25cm, lingkar tarsometatarsus 9,01Â±0,94 cm, panjang dada 11,85Â±1,09 cm, lingkar dada 41,39Â±1,92 cm, panjang leher 12,82Â±1,80 cm, panjang paruh 2,50Â±0,54 cm, panjang kepala 6,35Â±0,55 cm, lebar kepala 3,17Â±049 cm, panjang badan 42,96Â±2,49 cm dan bobot badan1972,16Â±251,16 g. Secara kualitatif memiliki warna bulu berwarna (92%) dan putih (8%); pola bulu bervariasi liar (54%), hitam (28%), columbian (26%) ; kerlip bulu emas (92%) dan perak (8%) ; corak bulu100% non lurik serta bentuk jengger (96%) tunggal dan (4%) kapri. Kesimpulan yang didapat dari penelitian ini adalah secara kuantitatif ukuran tubuh ayam bekisar berada diantara ayam hutan merah dan ayam kampung sebagai tetuanya. Demikian pula dengan karakteristik kualitatifnya
Augmenting Telepostpartum Care With Vision-Based Detection of Breastfeeding-Related Conditions: Algorithm Development and Validation
Authors: De Souza Jessica , Viswanath Varun Kumar , Echterhoff Jessica Maria , Chamberlain Kristina , Wang Edward Jay
Published: May 2024

Background

Breastfeeding benefits both the mother and infant and is a topic of attention in public health. After childbirth, untreated medical conditions or lack of support lead many mothers to discontinue breastfeeding. For instance, nipple damage and mastitis affect 80% and 20% of US mothers, respectively. Lactation consultants (LCs) help mothers with breastfeeding, providing in-person, remote, and hybrid lactation support. LCs guide, encourage, and find ways for mothers to have a better experience breastfeeding. Current telehealth services help mothers seek LCs for breastfeeding support, where images help them identify and address many issues. Due to the disproportional ratio of LCs and mothers in need, these professionals are often overloaded and burned out.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of 5 distinct convolutional neural networks in detecting healthy lactating breasts and 6 breastfeeding-related issues by only using red, green, and blue images. Our goal was to assess the applicability of this algorithm as an auxiliary resource for LCs to identify painful breast conditions quickly, better manage their patients through triage, respond promptly to patient needs, and enhance the overall experience and care for breastfeeding mothers.

Methods

We evaluated the potential for 5 classification models to detect breastfeeding-related conditions using 1078 breast and nipple images gathered from web-based and physical educational resources. We used the convolutional neural networks Resnet50, Visual Geometry Group model with 16 layers (VGG16), InceptionV3, EfficientNetV2, and DenseNet169 to classify the images across 7 classes: healthy, abscess, mastitis, nipple blebs, dermatosis, engorgement, and nipple damage by improper feeding or misuse of breast pumps. We also evaluated the models’ ability to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy images. We present an analysis of the classification challenges, identifying image traits that may confound the detection model.

Results

The best model achieves an average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.93 for all conditions after data augmentation for multiclass classification. For binary classification, we achieved, with the best model, an average area under the curve of 0.96 for all conditions after data augmentation. Several factors contributed to the misclassification of images, including similar visual features in the conditions that precede other conditions (such as the mastitis spectrum disorder), partially covered breasts or nipples, and images depicting multiple conditions in the same breast.

Conclusions

This vision-based automated detection technique offers an opportunity to enhance postpartum care for mothers and can potentially help alleviate the workload of LCs by expediting decision-making processes.
Acute Kidney Injury, Systemic Inflammation, and Long-Term Cognitive Function
Authors: Bhatraju Pavan K. , Zelnick Leila R. , Stanaway Ian B. , Ikizler T. Alp , Menez Steven , Chinchilli Vernon M. , Coca Steve G. , Kaufman James S. , Kimmel Paul L. , Parikh Chirag R. , Go Alan S. , Siew Edward D. , Wurfel Mark M. , Himmelfarb Jonathan
Published: May 2024

Key Points

This study highlights that AKI is associated with long-term cognitive decline.

Soluble TNF receptor 1 concentrations seem to mediate a significant proportion of the risk of long-term cognitive impairment after AKI.

Background

Cognitive dysfunction is a well-known complication of CKD, but it is less known whether cognitive decline occurs in survivors after AKI. We hypothesized that an episode of AKI is associated with poorer cognitive function, mediated, at least in part, by persistent systemic inflammation.

Methods

Assessment, Serial Evaluation and Subsequent Sequelae of AKI enrolled patients surviving 3 months after hospitalization with and without AKI matched on the basis of demographics, comorbidities, and baseline kidney function. A subset underwent cognitive testing using the modified mini-mental status examination (3MS) at 3, 12, and 36 months. We examined the association of AKI with 3MS scores using mixed linear models and assessed the proportion of risk mediated by systemic inflammatory biomarkers.

Results

Among 1538 participants in Assessment, Serial Evaluation and Subsequent Sequelae of AKI, 1420 (92%) completed the 3MS assessment at 3 months and had a corresponding matched participant. Participants with AKI had lower 3MS scores at 3 years (difference −1.1 [95% confidence interval, −2.0 to −0.3] P = 0.009) compared with participants without AKI. A higher proportion of participants with AKI had a clinically meaningful (≥5 point) reduction in 3MS scores at 3 years compared with participants without AKI (14% versus 10%, P = 0.04). In mediation analyses, plasma-soluble TNF receptor-1 at 3 months after AKI mediated 35% (P = 0.02) of the AKI-related risk for 3MS scores at 3 years.

Conclusions

AKI was associated with lower 3MS scores, and Soluble TNF receptor 1 concentrations seemed to mediate a significant proportion of the risk of long-term cognitive impairment. Further work is needed to determine whether AKI is causal or a marker for cognitive impairment.
DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF AN EMULGEL CONTAINING SILVER NANOPARTICLES AND VITAMIN D-3 FOR ITS POTENTIAL TO ACCELERATE THE HEALING OF WOUND
Authors: YADAV RISHU , PANDEY NARENDRA KUMAR , KUKKAR RAJIV
Published: May 2024

Objective: The aim of this research work was to prepare a topical emulgel based dosage form incorporated with vitamin D-3 and silver nanoparticles to reduce the wound healing time in any kind of wound.
Methods: Central Composite Design (CCD) was applied for the optimization of emulgel by using Design expert software. Three responses (pH, viscosity, and in vitro drug release) and two factors (Carbopol concentration and stirring duration) were chosen, and Statistical Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that all the factors were significantly affecting the responses. Silver Nanoparticles (SNPs) was prepared with Green Tea Extract (GTE) and evaluated for particle size, Poly Dispersity Index (PDI), zeta potential and Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and revealed that SNPs of desired range and stability have been synthesized. Here excision wound model was used to evaluate the wound healing activity of formulation in vivo.
Results: Maximum in vitro release 88.2±2.1 has shown by the optimized formulation F13, pH and viscosity were also found in optimum range i.e., 6.2±0.4 and 1672±33 respectively, followed by Korsmeyer and Peppas model. Total eight groups were designed for animal study and silver sulphadiazine was used as marketed formulation. F13 formulation was further evaluated for in vivo data, it was revealed that emulgel loaded with high dose of vitamin D-3 along with silver nanoparticles has shown 100.5±1.7% wound contraction, while marketed formulation has shown 103.7±1.1% wound contraction, which was much similar with test formulation. Cytotoxic cell study was done using assay on chicken egg, formulation has not shown any cytotoxic behaviour like haemolysis and cell damage on chick embryo’s blood vessels. Accelerated stability study of the optimized formulation was also performed to check whether the formulation was stable or not and it was revealed that optimized formulation was found stable for the period of six months.
Conclusion: It was revealed that emulgel loaded with high dose of vitamin D-3 and SNPs found suitable to accelerate wound healing and showed almost similar response in wound contraction on comparison with marketed formulation. This emulgel promised to controlled the delivery of the drug for the longer duration.
Prácticas de evaluación psicológica en ámbitos jurídicos: Una encuesta a profesionales de Latinoamérica
Authors: Arbach Karin , Barboni Lucía , Mercurio Ezequiel
Published: May 2024

Este estudio analiza las prácticas de evaluación psicológica en cinco áreas frecuentemente exploradas en ámbitos jurídicos: el estado mental al momento del delito, el riesgo de violencia general, el riesgo de violencia sexual, la simulación y el daño psicológico. Un total de 191 psicólogos de 10 países que ejercen su práctica en ámbitos jurídicos de Latinoamérica respondieron una encuesta en Internet. A partir de sus respuestas se extrajeron tres hallazgos principales que fueron consistentes en las cinco áreas de evaluación: a) el uso predominante de la entrevista, seguido de los inventarios multiescala de personalidad y las pruebas proyectivas, b) un uso más frecuente de técnicas de evaluación inespecíficas, en comparación a las específicas para cada área y, finalmente, c) las comparaciones entre regiones indican una preferencia por pruebas proyectivas y el test de Rorschach en Argentina, seguida por los otros países sudamericanos, y una preferencia por pruebas estandarizadas en Centroamérica, como los inventarios multiescala de personalidad, las escalas clínicas y las técnicas de evaluación cognitiva. Se discuten los hallazgos desde una perspectiva comparada y considerando sus implicancias académicas, técnicas y deontológicas.