bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of cholera outbreak and its determinants in Shaggar city, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2024: a case-control study
Authors: Mideksa Girma , Botore Abera , Abdo Bekele
Published: June 2024

Introduction:
Cholera, a severe acute diarrheal disease, with an epidemic-prone transmission patterns and serious public health emergencies that have a major impact on health and the economic in Ethiopia. A cholera outbreak was reported on 30 May 2023 in Shaggar City and declared the cholera outbreak after confirmed cases. In the city, the source and risk factors were unknown. The aim of this study was to verify and identify the determinants of the cholera outbreak and guide intervention measures in the sub-city of Shaggar City, Oromia, Ethiopia.
Method
An unmatched case-control study was carried out to assess the determinants of cholera outbreaks in the sub-city of the shaggar, Oromia with 1:1 case to control ratio. A total of 180 (60 cases and 120 controls) participants were included in the study. We interviewed study participants and collected data on demographic and cholera risk factors using a structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-info 7.2.1.0 and analyzed with SPSS version 26. We used COR with p.value < 0.25 in bivariable analysis to identify candidate variables for multivariable regression analysis. In multivariable logistic regression, 95% CI with AOR were used to measure strength of association between outcome and independent variables and p.value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.
Results
The median age of the cases and controls was 31 and 32 years respectively. 36 (60%) of the cases and 59 (49%) of the controls were men. The overall attack rate was 0.12 per 1000 population. According to multivariate analysis, people live in a household with overcrowding and poor sanitation(AOR: 0.03, 95% CI: (0.001–0.86), Eating outside of the home from different food and drink establishments AOR: 0.29, 95% CI: (0.08–1.02), Poor status of the latrine in the home [AOR: 6.76, 95% CI: (1.50-30.44)], Drinking water from a borehole [A OR:20.7,95%CI:(1.97-218.05] and deep well watercourse was a more likely risk in cases compared to controls, drinking water treatment and boiling (AOR:0.02, 95% CI:(0.003–0.210) were protective factors for the diseases.
Conclusion
Drinking unsafe water and household sanitation problem appears to be the major risk factors in the recent cholera outbreak in the sub-city. Health education, chlorination of drinking water, and strengthening surveillance were implemented. To reduce the risk of future outbreaks of cholera; environmental hygiene practices and the use and accessibility of safe drinking water should be promoted at the community level.
Enhancing English Translation Quality Assessment through Knowledge Transfer in Artificial Intelligence Context
Authors: Zhao Xiuhua
Published: June 2024

Machine translation technology, which employs computers to autonomously convert text between source and target languages, represents a pivotal realm within artificial intelligence and natural language processing research. This paper introduces a novel algorithm grounded in multi-task learning, which is aimed at enhancing the efficacy of Chinese-English neural machine translation systems. This proposition addresses three key challenges: the scarcity of parallel Chinese-English corpora, substantial disparities in sentence structure between the two languages, and the intricate, mutable nature of word formations in Mongolian, a factor influencing Chinese due to historical linguistic interactions. To counter these issues, we devise a parameter transfer strategy. Our methodology commences with the training of a high-resource neural machine translation model leveraging the encoder-decoder architecture prevalent in neural machine translation systems. Subsequently, the learned parameters are utilised to initialise a low-resource model, thereby kickstarting its training with a more informed starting point. It should be noted that the word embeddings and fully-connected layers of the low-resource model are randomly initialised and undergo continuous updating throughout the iterative training process. The experimental outcomes affirm the superiority of our proposed Dual-Task Multi-Task Learning (DFMTL) method, which achieves a BLEU score of 10.1. This not only outperforms the performance of three established baseline models but also demonstrates a notable 0.7 BLEU score increase over models trained exclusively on a mixed-corpus dataset. These findings highlight the potential of our parameter migration strategy in enhancing the precision and fluency of Chinese-English machine translations under resource-constrained scenarios.
A twelve-country population-based psychometric validation study of the Arabic version of the Social Pain Questionnaire (SPQ)
Authors: Fekih-Romdhane Feten , Alhuwailah Amthal , Sakr Fouad , Chaibi Leila Sarra , Helmy Mai , Shuwiekh Hanaa Ahmed Mohamed , Boudouda Nedjem Eddine , Zarrouq Btissame , Naser Abdallah Y , Jebreen Kamel , Roubi Mohammed Lakhdar , Hassan Bassam Abdul Rasool , Merdad Nisma , Amin Rizwana , Nawajah Inad , Mohammed Ali Haider , Farhan Sinan Subhi , AlAni Omar Abdulwahid , Cheour Majda , Dabbous Mariam , Malaeb Diana , Obeid Sahar , Hallit Souheil
Published: June 2024

Background: To our knowledge, there is currently no valid instrument available in the Arabic language to measure the social pain construct. In addition, we could find no previous studies that evaluated social pain in Arabic-speaking individuals of Arab origin. This is a clear gap, especially given the evidence that emotional responses to social rejection vary across cultures. The present study aims to examine the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Social Pain Questionnaire (SPQ) in Arabic-speaking adults from the general population of different Arab countries.
Methods: A cross-sectional web-based study was carried-out from February to April 2024 in 12 Arab countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Tunisia. A total of 8408 adults from the general population filled the survey, with a mean age of 24.70 ± 8.44 years and 74.5% females.
Results: Our findings showed that all 10 items of the Arabic version loaded on one factor and provided a good fit to the data in the present sample. Both the Cronbach's alpha and McDonald’s Omega were greater than 0.9, indicating excellent internal reliability. Multi-level CFA showed that the Arabic version of the SPQ was invariant between adult sex-groups and across countries. Convergent and divergent validity of the scale were evidenced through significant positive correlations between social pain and measures of anxiety, depression, and psychotic experiences severity. In addition, SPQ scores negatively correlated with self-esteem levels.
Conclusion: The Arabic translated version of the SPQ was found to be valid, reliable and suitable for use among Arabic-speaking adults from the general population. The Arabic validated SPQ may help shed light on social pain as an important emotional experience that can “hurt” and have serious health effects just as much as physical pain.
Impact Analysis of Natural Herb on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats using Machine Learning Method
Authors: Ray Paramita , Susmita
Published: June 2024

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting millions globally. Effective management of DM is crucial to mitigate its complications. Natural herbs, including turmeric (Curcuma longa), aloe vera, and basil (Ocimum basilicum), are known for their medicinal properties and have been explored for their potential benefits in diabetes management. Objective of the paper is to evaluate the impact of the herbal treatment on Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), Urea, Creatinine levels and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) levels and employ machine learning models to predict and analyze the effectiveness of different doses of the herbal treatment. In this study, we divided our work into two phases. Firstly, we performed the experiment with adult Wistar albino rats and rats were made diabetic through intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared streptozotocin (STZ). The diabetic rats were split into an untreated control group and treated test groups. The treated groups received varying doses of an aqueous solution of natural herbs (turmeric, aloe vera, and basil) administered orally through gavage for 21 days. In second phase, experimental data were collected and analyzed to detect the impact of natural herbs on diabetic rats. The paper proposes an algorithm that integrates the Bayesian Structural Time Series (BSTS) model with the Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) method. The Bayesian Structural Time Series (BSTS) model has been used as a baseline to determine the impact of natural herbs on specific health metrics such as Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), Urea, Creatinine, and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) levels. The DTW algorithm has been used in conjunction with the BSTS model to enhance performance. This combination of BSTS and DTW aims to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the effects of natural herbs on the health metrics of diabetic rats, highlighting the potential therapeutic benefits of these herbs in managing diabetes. Significant reduction (p=0.001) in FBG levels, Urea, Creatinine and BUN levels indicates the potential of this herbal combination in managing blood sugar levels. These findings suggest that the combined herbal preparation has a beneficial effect on the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Does the Sharia-compliant Status Removal Announcement Matter? Liquidity, Trading Activities and Institutional Investors
Authors: Rozaimah Zainudin  , Karren Lee-Hwei Khaw
Published: June 2024

On 29th November 2013, the Security Commission Malaysia revised the Sharia-compliant screening policy and about 20% of the Sharia firms lost their certification for not meeting the additional criteria. Using 107 affected firms, we examine the removal announcement effect on the stocks’ liquidity and trading activities. Our analysis focuses only on the removal announcement due to the screening policy changes. We use 181 days event window for the short-term effect and multivariate panel estimation models for the long-term effect. The event study observes a decreasing trend for the liquidity measures, indicating a higher liquidity post-Sharia removal announcement among the affected stocks. Conversely, trading activities decrease substantially within the first few days post-event date before picking up gradually. The regression analysis confirms the results, but we do not find consistent results supporting the relationship between institutional investors and liquidity and trading activities. The study is among the pioneers to unfold the effect of Sharia-compliant status removal announcement due to the policy changes on the stock liquidity and trading activities within short and long-term perspectives. We also provide post-effect evidence on the change of the institutional investors due to the removal announcement on the liquidity and trading aspect.
The Zimbabwe National Gender Policy (NGP) 2013–2017 and Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE): a study of small-scale gold miners in the Bubi and Gwanda rural districts, Zimbabwe
Authors:   , Moyo Phoebe Michelle Zibusiso Sandi
Published: June 2024

The study examines the impact of Zimbabwe’s second National Gender Policy (NGP) 2013-2017 under the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development on women’s access to and control over productive resources in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector in Bubi and Gwanda rural districts of Zimbabwe. Despite the implementation of the NGP over the past fourteen years, its effect on the economic empowerment of women has not been investigated adequately. Women’s economic empowerment (WEE) is recognized as a crucial development strategy. However, it faces challenges related to the tensions between structure and agency. Some perceive WEE as an entrepreneurial concept focusing on equal access and control over productive resources like credit, equipment, skills, and business training. Others argue that WEE should encompass more than just resource access and control by addressing structural factors that hinder women’s agency e.g. unequal social relations between men and women, patriarchy, unpaid care work, and sociocultural norms. The study employed a hybrid lens, combining structure and agency to analyse the implementation of the NGP’s empowerment programs. Drawing on Kabeer’s (1994) Social Relations Approach (SRA), the study utilized two key concepts from the SRA, namely social relations and institutional analysis, to examine the interaction between the NGP and various institutions (market, community, and family) where women are located. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which the NGP has supported or impeded WEE among the female small-scale gold miners in Bubi and Gwanda, a qualitative approach was employed as an investigative method. The findings indicated that the NGP adopts a liberal or agency centred approach to WEE. This approach emphasizes women’s agency and their ability to fulfil their potential in the public sphere. The NGP has facilitated access to credit, equipment, skills, and business training. However, the evidence also highlighted the uneven implementation of the NGP’s empowerment programs between the Bubi and Gwanda districts. Overall, the evidence revealed that, while the NGP has addressed gender inequalities to a limited degree, it has also reinforced class inequalities. The NGP’s empowerment programs have overlooked the structural factors that keep women in subordinate positions, such as the unequal social relations that exist between men and women, patriarchy, unpaid care work and sociocultural norms.
Dictionaries as pedagogic tools: a case study of selected schools in Makhanda, Eastern Cape
Authors:   , Wababa Zola Richman
Published: June 2024

The importance of dictionaries in society has been confirmed in relevant literature while their specific role in education is underlined by several studies focused on the use of dictionaries in teaching and learning. This study focuses on mother-tongue or first language (L1) isiXhosa learners and their use of dictionaries across subjects in the Intermediate Phase of primary schooling. The research sought to examine how dictionaries are used in teaching and learning and how they could be used more effectively in the teaching and learning processes, with a focus on isiXhosa L1 learners in the Makhanda area of the Sarah Baartman District of education, Eastern Cape. The general aim of this study was to improve the process and practice of using and producing Language for General Purpose (LGP) and Language for Specific Purpose (LSP) dictionaries across subjects. The study also sought to contribute to improving the functional value and user-friendliness of teaching support materials, such as dictionaries. The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) policy document states that dictionaries are essential in teaching and learning of both language and content subjects. In relation to language subjects, the CAPS is explicit about the use of dictionaries in the acquisition of vocabulary, meaning, spelling, pronunciation, and grammar, among other types of information that are integral in language attainment and learning. Nonetheless, the CAPS document does not clearly articulate the use of dictionaries in content subjects. The study draws on two branches of lexicography – namely, dictionary user research and dictionary criticism – to examine the extent to which dictionaries are problem-solving tools which assist users to meet their cognitive and communicative needs. Thus, the study seeks to influence policy and practice of the use of dictionaries as teaching and learning resource materials that could help teachers and learners better understand key concepts across subjects. A mixed-method approach was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data using a variety of data collection instruments, viz., observation schedules, questionnaires, and interviews. The study found that although teachers were aware of dictionaries, they did not use them as a resource in teaching. Furthermore, teachers lacked skills in the use of dictionaries, therefore, they were not able to effectively integrate dictionaries in their lessons. The research also found that learners had little awareness of dictionaries and did not fully understand their role in language acquisition or content. Lastly, the study offered some insights on how dictionaries could be integrated in teaching and learning, and how their use could address some communicative and cognitive problems faced by non-mother tongue English speakers in a context where English dominates teaching and learning at the expense of learners’ L1.
APLICAÇÃO DA ESPECTROMETRIA DE MASSAS COM IONIZAÇÃO POR PAPER SPRAY E MÉTODO QUIMIOMÉTRICO OPLS-DA PARA O DIAGNÓSTICO DO CÂNCER DE PRÓSTATA PELA ANÁLISE DE AMOSTRAS DE URINA
Authors: da Silva Thifanny , Máquina Ademar , Durans Anízia , da Costa Lucas , Pinto Frederico , Garrett Timothy , Borges Neto Waldomiro
Published: June 2024

APPLICATION OF MASS SPECTROMETRY WITH PAPER SPRAY IONIZATION AND THE OPLS-DA CHEMOMETRIC METHOD FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF PROSTATE CANCER BY ANALYSIS OF URINE SAMPLES. In this study, paper spray ionization mass spectrometry (PSI-MS) allied to orthogonal projections on the latent structure-discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) was employed to differentiate urine samples from patients with prostate cancer and control individuals (without prostate cancer). The parameters of sensitivity, specificity, efficiency and Matthew’s correlation coefficient determined to analyze the efficiency and quality of the OPLS-DA model obtained a value equal to 1, which means, respectively, that the model has a good performance to correctly classify true positive samples and true negatives. These results showed 100% correct classification of the samples from the training and test set, demonstrating a high efficiency of the OPLS-DA model when classifying all samples considered as belonging to the class of interest (urine from control patient) into class 1 and all samples considered as belonging to the non-interest class (urine from patients with prostate cancer) in class 0. This efficiency resulting from the application of this model suggests that the PSI-MS combined to OPLS-DA is a promisor approach for a rapid diagnosis of prostate cancer, via chemical fingerprints of urine samples.
Thinking about Alternatives to Açaí Waste in Amazonia Communities
Authors: Leal José , Rambo Michele , Pedroza Marcelo , Cardoso Radames , Fagnani Helida , de Sousa Vânia , Coêlho Andreia , Rambo Magale
Published: June 2024

In the Amazon, Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí), is part of the identity of traditional communities, and the fruit is integrated into their everyday sociocultural dynamics. Hydrolysis and pyrolysis of residual biomass can be alternatives to yield sugars, ethanol, biochar and bio-oil. The açaí seeds subjected to oxidative pretreatment followed by acid hydrolysis increased cellulose to fermentable sugars (reaching 23.5%) and second-generation ethanol production (17.441 L t-1). Açaí oil (ca. 30%) was extracted using a Soxhlet apparatus (using hexane as solvent) and detected through gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), where acids accounted for 82.43% of the total composition, while alcohols comprised only 13.15%. For pyrolysis, temperatures (500 and 550 °C), time (20 and 30 min), and activation temperature (750 and 800 °C) were evaluated, resulting in yields of ca. 22% for biochar and 30% for bio-oil. For the bio-oil, the main compounds detected by GC-MS were acids (16.3%), aldehydes (13.08%), amides (12.19%), alcohols (6.72%), and phenols (4.64%). The obtained biochar displayed surface area values of 553.7 m2 g-1 and 10% crystallinity, indicating its more amorphous nature.
Hydromorphological shifts in the Yamuna River: Post-barrage impacts and water management implications
Authors: Mohanty Maithili , Tare Vinod
Published: June 2024

The study analyzes the hydromorphological impacts of barrage construction and operation on the Yamuna River over 25 years, employing the River Flow Health Index (RFHI). The RFHI methodology includes segregating flow data into different periods, identifying key parameters, assessing flow alterations, and developing an index from 0 to 1. Results indicate moderate alterations in the flow regime, with RFHI of 0.379 and 0.328 for different periods. Geomorphological analysis revealed variations in river sinuosity, peaking at 1.232 in 1999 before reducing to 1.206 by 2018, and braid-channel ratio decreasing from 1.864 in 1999 to 1.508 in 2018. Channel width narrowed in 1999 to 0.082 km and slightly expanded to 0.093 km by 2018. The channel area reduced from 6.418 km² in 1993 to 5.632 km² in 2018, with the bar area significantly decreasing and bar density dropping from 3.28 to 0.83, indicating changes in the channel belt. Construction phases showed increased fluvial bars and channel multiplicity and decreased channel area and width. Post-Hathnikund barrage, withdrawals during lean seasons left the channel dry, as seen in 2003, 2008, and 2013. These findings emphasize integrated river basin management to harmonize development with ecological impacts.
Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing reveals the operating mode and chlorination-aggravated SWRO biofouling at a nuclear power plant
Authors: Ren Kaijia , Ming Hongxia , Liu Siyu , Lang Xianlong , Jin Yuan , Fan Jingfeng
Published: June 2024

Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane fouling and biological contamination problems faced by seawater desalination systems are microbiologically related. We used full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess the bacterial community structure and chlorine-resistant bacteria (CRB) associated with biofilm growth in different treatment processes under the winter mode of a chlorinated seawater desalination system in China. At the outset of the winter mode, certain CRB, such as Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus held sway over the bacterial community structure, playing a pivotal role in biofouling. At the mode's end, Deinococcus and Paracoccus predominated, with Pseudomonas and Roseovarius following suit, while certain CRB genera still maintained their dominance. RO and chlorination are pivotal factors in shaping the bacterial community structure and diversity, and increases in total heterotrophic bacterial counts and community diversity in safety filters may adversely affect the effectiveness of subsequent RO systems. Besides, the bacterial diversity and culturable biomass in the water produced by the RO system remain high, and some conditionally pathogenic CRBs pose a certain microbial risk as a source of drinking water. Targeted removal of these CRBs will be an important area of research for advancing control over membrane clogging and ensuring water quality safety in the future.
Purification of acidic wastewater containing Cd(II) using a red mud–loess mixture: Column test, breakthrough curve, and speciation of Cd
Authors: Lu Yisi , Liu Xiaofeng , Zhang Hao , Li Jiashi
Published: June 2024

In this study, the safety of a red mud–loess mixture (RM–L) for the remediation of groundwater polluted by acid mine drainage (AMD) containing Cd(II) in mining areas was systematically analyzed and clarified. The effects of the initial concentration, flow rate, and packing height on the breakthrough performance and longevity of RM–L as a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) packing material were explored by column tests. The results show that the breakthrough time, saturation time, and adsorption capacity of Cd(II) in RM–L increased with decreasing initial concentration and flow rate, as well as increasing packing height. Moreover, RM–L had a long-term effective acid buffering capacity for acidic wastewater containing Cd(II). An increase in the packing height led to a longer longevity of the PRB than the theoretical value. In addition, the speciation of Cd on RM–L was dominated by carbonate form and iron–manganese oxide form. The surface of the RM–L particles evolved from a dense lamellar structure to small globular clusters after purifying the acidic wastewater containing Cd(II), due to the corrosion of H+ and the reoccupation and coverage by increasingly enriched adsorbates and precipitates of heavy metal ions.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection and its Health
Perspective: A Review
Authors: Thomas Abisha , Palathoti Nagarjuna , Azam Mohammed Afzal
Published: June 2024

Background::

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a potential
threat globally since it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In addition, the ability of
MRSA to develop resistance and adapt to various environments makes it exceptional from other
bacterial strains. Effective management is best determined by the site of infection.

Objectives::

This study aims to summarize and assess the epidemiology of MRSA, resistance,
detection of MRSA in humans, animals, and food products, treatment employed, and combination
therapy.

Methods::

For the present review, we collected data from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science,
BioMed Central, Medline, Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect
that report the epidemiology of MRSA, drug resistance in MRSA, spread of MRSA
infection, diagnosis of infection, existing and emerging remedies of MRSA infections. Collected
data were analyzed and represented in this article with the help of Figures and Tables.

Results::

S. aureus resistance to vancomycin is because of genetic adaptation and also due to the widespread and indiscriminate use of antibiotics in the treatment of MRSA infection. Specifically, infections related to vancomycin-resistant S. aureus are life-threatening and difficult to treat. MRSA epidemiology with the recognition of community-acquired-MRSA transmission between livestock and humans is also reported and is alarming. Multiple studies suggested that early detection of MRSA colonization and elimination of carriage can help reduce the risk of subsequent infection. Specifically, PCR-based screening from different body sites offers the highest overall sensitivity for the detection of MRSA carriage.

Conclusion::

Screening novel mutants and methods of transmission in each environment will
assist in managing MRSA. Further, effective MRSA control in all clinical setups is required with
the avoidance of uncontrolled antibiotic usage.
Emerging Insights into the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway and Non-Coding RNA-mediated Drug Resistance in Glioblastoma
Authors: Afrashteh Mina , Rahmati-yamchi Mohammad , Shimia Mohammad , Yousefi Bahman , Majidinia Maryam
Published: June 2024

Glioblastoma multiforme [GBM] is a highly aggressive grade IV central
nervous system tumor with a dismal prognosis. Factors such as late detection,
treatment limitations due to its aggressive nature, and, notably, drug resistance
significantly affect clinical outcomes. Despite the effectiveness of Temozolomide
[TMZ], a potent chemotherapy agent, the development of drug resistance remains a
major challenge. Given the poor survival rates and chemoresistance, there is an
urgent need for novel treatment strategies. Non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs
[miRNAs], offer a promising approach to GBM diagnosis and treatment. These small
non-coding RNAs play crucial roles in tumor progression, either suppressing or
promoting oncogenic characteristics. The phosphoinositide-3 kinase [PI3K]/AKT/
mTOR pathway, which regulates essential biological processes like proliferation and
survival, is a key target of miRNAs in cancer. Studies have underscored the
significance of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in drug resistance development and its
interplay with non-coding RNAs as mediators of tumorigenesis. This review aims to
outline the involvement of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in miRNA modulation and
strategies to overcome chemoresistance in GBM.
A Comprehensive Review on Deep Learning Techniques in Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis
Authors: Mahavar Anjali , Patel Atul , Patel Ashish
Published: June 2024

:

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a serious neurological illness that causes memory loss gradually
by destroying brain cells. This deadly brain illness primarily strikes the elderly, impairing
their cognitive and bodily abilities until brain shrinkage occurs. Modern techniques are required
for an accurate diagnosis of AD. Machine learning has gained attraction in the medical field as a
means of determining a person's risk of developing AD in its early stages. One of the most advanced
soft computing neural network-based Deep Learning (DL) methodologies has garnered significant
interest among researchers in automating early-stage AD diagnosis. Hence, a comprehensive
review is necessary to gain insights into DL techniques for the advancement of more effective
methods for diagnosing AD.

:

This review explores multiple biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and various
DL methodologies, including Deep Neural Networks (DNN), Convolutional Neural Networks
(CNN), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), The k-nearest-neighbor (k-NN), Deep Boltzmann
Machines (DBM), and Deep Belief Networks (DBN), which have been employed for automating
the early diagnosis of AD. Moreover, the unique contributions of this review include the classification
of ATN biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease (AD), systemic description of diverse DL algorithms
for early AD assessment, along with a discussion of widely utilized online datasets such as
ADNI, OASIS, etc. Additionally, this review provides perspectives on future trends derived from
critical evaluation of each variant of DL techniques across different modalities, dataset sources,
AUC values, and accuracies.
Pediatric Surgical Outcomes of Persistent Fetal Vasculature: A Five-Year Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Eye Center in Kazakhstan
Authors: Orazbekov Lukpan , Sadyk Aida , Ruslanuly Kairat
Published: June 2024

Objective

To present the surgical outcomes of Persistent Fetal Vasculature (PFV) in a pediatric cohort over five years at the main referral tertiary eye care center in Kazakhstan.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of 23 pediatric patients (24 eyes) under 18 years old who were treated for PFV at the Kazakh Eye Research Institute between 2017 and 2021. Clinical presentations of PFV, types of surgery performed, and postoperative functional outcomes were analyzed.

Results

The average age at the time of surgery was 4.49 ± 4.24 years, ranging from 5 months to 16 years, with 39.1% boys and 60.9% girls. The anterior, posterior, and mixed forms of PFV were observed in 12.5%, 4.2%, and 83.3% of cases, respectively. PFV was most commonly accompanied by cataracts (95.8%), followed by strabismus (33.3%), microphthalmia (25%), and both nystagmus and microcornea (16.7% each). There was a significant overall improvement in visual acuity, from 2.24 ± 0.26 to 1.11 ± 0.66 logMAR (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The findings of this study confirm that timely surgery leads to improved anatomical and functional outcomes in PFV, influenced by a range of factors, both evident and less apparent.
Potential Herbal Therapy in Dermatology: A Review of Malaysian Medicinal Plants
Authors: Zulkepli Nuraina Izzati , Osman Nurul Izzati
Published: June 2024

:

Dermatology is a medical aspect that revolves around the diseases of the skin. The incorporation
of medicinal plants in the treatment of skin diseases has been widely used since ancient
days. Malaysia is blessed with various plant species and rich biodiversity with tropical weather yearround.
With the emerging use of medicinal plants in dermatology, more studies on their potential
therapeutic effects need to be reviewed thoroughly. Thus, the purpose of this work is to critically
review relevant publications on related pharmacological activities and potential use of Malaysian
plants for dermatological purposes. The articles that were found related to the research field were
retrieved from several online databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Hindawi, and
ScienceDirect published from 2016 to 2022. The pharmacological activities that were commonly
associated with the treatment of skin diseases include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial,
and wound healing. Various phytochemical compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols,
tannins, and vitamins were found to contribute to the therapeutic potential of plant extracts against
skin diseases. In conclusion, the understanding of the plant’s pharmacological activities is important
to evaluate its therapeutic potential to be used against specific skin diseases. More reliable references
are required to ensure safety and efficacy of medicinal plants in dermatology.
A Clustering Analysis of Lebanese Adaptive Driving Behaviors in Response to Road Complexity
Authors: Kobeissy Farah , Faddoul Rafic , Carnis Laurent , Raphael Wassim
Published: June 2024

Aims

This study aims to investigate adaptive driving behaviors in response to road complexity in Lebanon, emphasizing how multifaceted factors influence these adaptations.

Background

Lebanon faces major road safety challenges due to its deteriorating infrastructure and diverse socio-economic conditions. Addressing these issues, the research examines the interaction between infrastructure, vehicle conditions, and road user adaptation, with the objective of informing more effective safety strategies.

Objective

This study aimsto explore adaptive driving behaviors among Lebanese drivers across different environmental complexities and the influence of demographic and socio-economic factors on these behaviors.

Methods

Through a comprehensive survey among a representative sample, drivers were segmented into three clusters using the K-Prototypes algorithm to assess self-reported driving speeds, the impact of road elements on behavior, and the role of various factors on driving patterns.

Results

The Clustering analysis identified three distinct groups, each exhibiting unique adaptive driving behaviors: Cluster 1 consists of mature, conservative drivers; Cluster 2 includes predominantly young, cautious female drivers; and Cluster 3 comprises younger male drivers with riskier behaviors. These findings illustrate significant behavioral variations and highlight the influence of demographic profiles on driving behavior.

Conclusion

The research underscores the necessity of a nuanced road safety strategy that acknowledges the diverse adaptive behaviors of Lebanese drivers It recommends specific policy adjustments, such as differentiated speed limits and targeted educational programs, to cater to the distinct needs of each driver cluster. Further research is suggested to continuously refine and customize road safety measures, accommodating the complex driving environment in Lebanon.
Enhanced Oral Bioavailability and Stability Studies of Loratadine Tablets Based on Solid Dispersion of Modified Ziziphus spina-christi Gum
Authors: Alwossabi Ameen M. , Elamin Eltayeb S. , Ahmed Elhadi M.M. , Ismail Eman A. , Ashour Ahmed , Osman Wadah , Sherif Asmaa E. , Mira Amira , Bafail Rawan , Andijani Yusra Saleh , Ibrahim Sabrin R.M. , Mohamed Gamal A. , Abdelrahman Mohammed
Published: June 2024

Background:

Solid dispersion is a common technique used for solubility enhancement of
poorly soluble drugs.

Objective:

In this study, loratadine (LOR), a class II biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS),
was formulated as solid dispersion tablets using modified Ziziphus spina-christi gum (MZG) as a
carrier.

Methods:

The solvent evaporation method was used for LOR-MZG solid dispersion (SD) preparation.
A variety of tests were conducted to characterize and optimize the formulation. Solubility,
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-Ray Diffraction
(X-RD), and Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) of solid dispersions were carried out.
Accelerated stability testing and pharmacokinetic studies of formulated tablets were also performed
using albino Wistar rats.

Results:

Solid dispersion improved the solubility of LOR by 51 folds. FTIR spectra excluded drugpolymer
interactions, and results obtained by DSC, X-RD, and SEM proved the transition from the
crystalline to the amorphous state. The stability of LOR-MZG solid dispersion tablets was found to
be better when the Alu-Alu package was used. The pharmacokinetics of LOR-MZG compared to
MZG-free loratadine tablets (LOR pure) and commercial loratadine tablets (LOR-TM) following
oral administration revealed that about 6 folds and 10 folds bioavailability were achieved with
LOR-MZG compared to LOR pure and LOR-TM, respectively.

Conclusion:

Such promising results encourage more studies on MZG to be used for improving the
aqueous solubility and bioavailability of a wide range of poorly soluble drugs.
Multi-target Phenylpropanoids Against Epilepsy
Authors: Rodrigues Teresa Carolliny Moreira Lustoza , Dias Arthur Lins , dos Santos Aline Matilde Ferreira , Monteiro Alex France Messias , Oliveira Mayara Cecile Nascimento , Pires Hugo Fernandes Oliveira , de Sousa Natália Ferreira , da Silva Stiebbe Salvadori Mirian Graciela , Scotti Marcus Tullius , Scotti Luciana
Published: June 2024

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Epilepsy is a neurological disease with no defined cause, characterized by recurrent epilep-
tic seizures. These occur due to the dysregulation of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the
central nervous system (CNS). Psychopharmaceuticals have undesirable side effects; many patients
require more than one pharmacotherapy to control crises. With this in mind, this work emphasizes the
discovery of new substances from natural products that can combat epileptic seizures. Using in silico
techniques, this review aims to evaluate the antiepileptic and multi-target activity of phenylpropanoid
derivatives. Initially, ligand-based virtual screening models (LBVS) were performed with 468 phe-
nylpropanoid compounds to predict biological activities. The LBVS were developed for the targets al-
pha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), voltage-gated calcium channel T-
type (CaV), gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA), gamma-aminobutyric acid transporter type 1
(GAT-1), voltage-gated potassium channel of the Q family (KCNQ), voltage-gated sodium channel
(NaV), and N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA). The compounds that had good results in the LBVS were
analyzed for the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) parameters,
and later, the best molecules were evaluated in the molecular docking consensus. The TR430 com-
pound showed the best results in pharmacokinetic parameters; its oral absorption was 99.03%, it did
not violate any Lipinski rule, it showed good bioavailability, and no cytotoxicity was observed either
from the molecule or from the metabolites in the evaluated parameters. TR430 was able to bind with
GABAA (activation) and AMPA (inhibition) targets and demonstrated good binding energy and sig-
nificant interactions with both targets. The studied compound showed to be a promising molecule with
a possible multi-target activity in both fundamental pharmacological targets for the treatment of epi-
lepsy.
Automatic Conversion of Building Plan to Graph for Navigation of Robots – A Computer-Aided Approach Based on Extended Conditional Erosion Algorithm
Authors: Fred A. Lenin , Brenda G. , Kumar S. N. , Jane I. Christina , Pradeep John , Shukla Hemanth Kumar
Published: June 2024

This research work proposes a computer-aided algorithm for the conversion
of building plans into a graph for the navigation of robots. Rescuing people from
burning buildings manually is a tedious process. Robots play a pivotal role in industrial
automation and the deployment of robots in rescue operations can save many people.
Indoor navigation for robots is a challenging task since every building has a unique
structure. A routing graph is inevitable to find the path in a building quickly for the
navigation of robots to perform the rescue operation. The automatic extraction of the
routing graph from the image of the floor plan is offered in this research work. The
floor plan images are acquired and converted into a raster image. Then, by using the
predefined kernels, the white pixels are eroded for obtaining the routing path of
common walkways through corridors and rooms. The Extended Conditional Erosion
Algorithm is used for the extraction of the routing graph from the floor plan images.
The resultant graph as output aids the navigation of the robot.
Diagnose Breast Cancer on Mammography Using Self Supervised Decision Tree Algorithm
Authors: Bharathi A. Pon , Sarika A. S. , Babu V. Suresh , Jayaprakash M. , Wilson Allan J.
Published: June 2024

Women in India are diagnosed with breast cancer at a far higher rate than
men. Breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer in women, accounting for more
than half of all cancer cases. It is possible to minimize the mortality rate of breast
cancer via early and precise detection. By utilizing mammography, early breast cancer
detection, and assessment is currently possible. There is still a lot of controversy about
mammography mass classifications, yet they are crucial for helping radiologists make
accurate diagnoses. Using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), it has become
possible to classify and segment images in a meaningful way. Unlabelled picture data,
on the other hand, presents challenges, and while manual labelling is inefficient, pretrained CNNs also perform poorly on genuine medical images. In this research, we
propose the use of Transformer-Based Networks (TBN) in computer vision.
Transformer-based vision models have been found to outperform convolutional models
in previous studies as well. A self-supervised learning (SSL) technique called the
Decision Tree Algorithm (DTA) is proposed in this study for processing
mammography images for diagnostic purposes. The Decision Tree Algorithm works
effectively with categorical and continuous dependent variables. In this study, the
population was divided into two or more homogeneous groups based on the most
important traits and independent factors. According to this article, a previously trained
model can be enhanced by transitioning from making predictions on uniformly tiled
regions to making predictions on the complete image. There were two studies that
utilized the Kaggle archive breast cancer sample pool, the second of which used 286
samples. In the initial experiment, the decision tree was 100 percent accurate, but in the
follow-up investigation, it was only 97.9 percent accurate.
Biochar for a Sustainable Future
Authors: Ganesan Subbulakshmi , Anupama De Zoysa Agampodi Sanduni , Omoikhoje Izegaegbe Daniel
Published: June 2024

Biochar is a charcoal that is used for soil amendment. It is made up of wood,
bones, and other organic substances including dried manure which is produced by a
process known as pyrolysis under a lower amount of oxygen. Biochar can be used to
improve the fertility of the soil which results in increasing the crop yield. It has a
honey-comb-like structure which will help in the increase of the water holding
capacity, and nutrient retention as well as by stopping the soil particles from getting
compacted with each other. Infertility in the soil occurs due to the addition of different
types of pesticides, weedicides as well as a lot of chemical substances. Therefore,
biochar can act as a promising solution for the infertility of the soil while indirectly
increasing crop yield.
Speculative Ecopoetics on ‘The Human’: With Suzanne Césaire, Édouard Glissant, and Audre Lorde
Authors: Krone Emma
Published: June 2024

Caribbean thinkers Suzanne Césaire and Édouard Glissant introduce their readers to more-than-human figures – the plant-human and beach walker respectively – that theorize new ways of being. Accompanied by an epistemological shift, the figures disrupt Western colonial binaries and render them inoperative. This paper argues via Audre Lorde’s work that we can understand these speculations on ‘the human’ as a double move of creating one’s being and a new (self-)understanding thereof. The result is an aesthetic strategy that enables experimentation with the category of the human, surpassing reductive universals.
Diversidad de mamíferos silvestres en agroecosistemas con café, Rincón de Mora, San Ramón, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Authors: Sánchez Brenes Ronald , Monge Meza Javier
Published: June 2024

Los agroecosistemas con café (Coffea arabica) son reservorios de biodiversidad donde se pueden encontrar especies de fauna, entre ellos algunos mamíferos. Los estudios de mamíferos en este hábitat han ido aumentando en los últimos años. Es importante conocer la riqueza, abundancia y diversidad de especies, así como los periodos de actividad para conocer a profundidad la dinámica en un sistema productivo como los cafetales. El objetivo es determinar la diversidad de mamíferos en agroecosistemas con café en Rincón de Mora, San Ramón, Alajuela, Costa Rica. Para ello, se utilizaron diferentes métodos de captura (trampas de captura viva tipo Sherman, Havahart, cámaras trampa y redes de niebla) las cuales se colocaron en sitios estratégicos durante tres años de muestreo. Se detectaron 22 especies de mamíferos clasificadas en tres grupos según su abundancia: mayor, media y menor. La mayor presencia de mamíferos se dio en las etapas fenológicas de floración-llenado y de fruto-hoja (al final de la cosecha). Se obtuvieron datos de mamíferos en horarios diurnos y nocturnos. El índice de diversidad Shannon H tuvo un resultado de 1,80, mientras que el de Berger-Parker d= 0,69. Según esta investigación, así como con otros estudios, se puede considerar que los agroecosistemas con café son un hábitat alternativo de apoyo para la protección de especies de mamíferos y otra fauna asociada.
Retos generacionales y liderazgo en las Fuerzas Militares de Colombia
Authors: Milena Medina Martha Yulyhet , Yate-Arévalo Abdénago
Published: June 2024

Las investigaciones del nivel de maestría de la Escuela Militar de Cadetes “General José María Córdova” evidencian que el liderazgo en la educación y en el ejercicio militar enfrenta desafíos relativos a las diferencias generacionales de los individuos que afectan, entre otros, los estilos de vida, las formas de encarar la realidad y los modos de percibir y comprender el mundo. Estas diferencias generacionales, unas sutiles y otras marcadas, se manifiestan entre los grados y las edades, lo que exige realizar un abordaje propositivo de las competencias generales de los líderes, que considere sus implicaciones sociológicas, culturales y políticas. En tal contexto, las investigaciones aquí presentadas caracterizan los tipos de liderazgo en las diferentes comunidades generacionales y ofrecen propuestas para su mejoramiento de cara a los retos que impactan el liderazgo militar.
Los líderes del Ejército Nacional de Colombia frente a la política pública LGTBI
Authors: Castro-Pérez Katherine , Balaguera-Rojas Mónica del Pilar
Published: June 2024

Este capítulo tiene como objetivo identificar la percepción de los líderes del Ejército Nacional de Colombia acerca de la política pública de la comunidad LGTBI. El método empleado es de orden cualitativo, por desarrollarse bajo el paradigma hermenéutico-interpretativo, de diseño fenomenológico, con categorías determinantes, tales como estrategias y disposición de la política pública, compromiso, cumplimiento, efectividad y con la implementación de entrevistas semiestructuradas, partiendo de un análisis semántico y una descripción categorial mediante ATLASTI. Se halló que el estigma estructural, manifiesto en las limitaciones provocadas por las políticas transfóbicas y las normas sociales, incide en que algunos participantes desconozcan dicha política pública y que algunos individuos realicen acciones para resistir y cambiar estas fuerzas sociales.