bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aktivitas Antibakteri Fraksi N-Heksan, Etil Asetat, N-Butanol Daun Jambu Mete (Annacardium occidentale) terhadap Bakteri Penyebab Ulkus Diabetik (Staphylococcus aureus dan Escherichia coli)
Authors: Wahyukurnia Pilar Tesalonika , Yuhara Novena Adi , Atmaja Sarah Puspita
Published: January 2024

Daun jambu mete (Anacardium occidentale L.) mengandung senyawa flavonoid, tanin dan saponin yang memiliki aktivitas antibakteri. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui konsentrasi minimum dan perbedaan zona hambat 5%, 10%, 20% ekstrak, fraksi n-heksan, etil asetat dan n-butanol daun jambu mete pada pertumbuhan bakteri Staphylococcus aureus dan Eschericia coli. Metode fraksinasi yang digunakan adalah metode partisi. Ekstrak dan fraksi daun jambu mete dilakukan pengujian konsentrasi hambat minimum (KHM) dengan metode dilusi padat. Hasil KHM dilanjutkan dengan pengujian konsentrasi bunuh minimum (KBM). Dilakukan penapisan senyawa fitokimia dan kromatografi lapis tipis (KLT). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat perbedaan bermakna (p<0,05) antar konsentrasi ekstrak, fraksi etil asetat, n-butanol daun jambu mete terhadap diameter zona hambat pertumbuhan bakteri uji. Rata-rata terkuat diameter zona hambat bakteri S.aureus pada ekstrak 20% (14,5mm), fraksi etil asetat 20% (13,3mm), fraksi n-butanol 20% (12,23mm). Pada bakteri E.coli yaitu 20% ekstrak (10,6mm), fraksi etil asetat (15,3mm), fraksi n-butanol (9mm). Konsentrasi 5% ekstrak, fraksi etil asetat, n-butanol memiliki nilai KHM, namun tidak memiliki nilai KBM pada kedua bakteri uji. Fraksi n-heksan tidak memiliki zona hambat terhadap kedua bakteri uji. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini fraksi N-Heksan tidak memiliki zona hambat terhadap pertumbuhan kedua bakteri, namun ekstrak, fraksi etil asetat dan n-butanol daun jambu mete mampu menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri S.aureus dan E.coli dibandingkan kontrol negatif. Zona hambat yang dihasilkan tidak lebih kuat dibandingkan kontrol positif, kecuali pada fraksi etil asetat 20% memiliki diameter zona hambat sedikit lebih besar dan berbeda namun tidak signifikan (p>0,05) dibanding kontrol positif (15,33mm vs 15mm) terhadap bakteri E.coli.
Experience with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Baranova M. M. , Muravyeva N. V. , Belov B. S. , Verizhnikova Zh. G.
Published: January 2024

Pneumococcus plays a primary role as a causative agent of pneumonia both in the general population and in patients with immuno-inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IVRS), including spondylarthritis (SpA). However, data on the immunogenicity, efficacy and safety of pneumococcal vaccines in patients with SpA are limited.

The aim of the study. To study the immunogenicity, efficacy and safety of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV-23) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), observed at the V.A. Nasonova Research Institute (Moscow, Russia).

Materials and methods. 145 people were included in the study: 51 patients with AS, 25 with PsA, 69 in control group (СG) without IVR. The majority of patients (65.8%) received immunosuppressive therapy. PPV-23 was administered in an amount of one dose (0.5 ml) subcutaneously against the background of antirheumatic therapy, regardless of the activity of the main IVR. The level of antibodies (AT) to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide was determined using the EIA PCP IgG kit (TestLine Clinical Diagnostics, Czech Republic) before vaccination and 1, 3 and 12 months after it. The clinical efficacy and safety of PPV-23 were also evaluated, including the effect on the activity of AS and PsA according to the dynamics of BASDAI and DAPSA indices.

Results. After 1, 3 and 12 months after vaccination, the concentration of pneumococcal AT was significantly higher compared to baseline values, which indicates sufficient immunogenicity of PPV-23. The clinical efficacy of PPV-23 in patients with AS and PsA was 98.7%. In general, there was no negative effect of vaccination on the activity of the underlying disease. The frequency of postvaccinal reactions in patients and in СG was comparable.

Conclusions. The obtained results of the study indicate sufficient immunogenicity, clinical efficacy and safety of PPV-23 in patients with AS and Ps A.
Methodological aspects of anti-nuclear antibodies detection: EFLM, EASI, ICAP AND RAMLD recommendations
Authors: Novikov A. A. , Aleksandrova E. N. , Lukina G. V. , Kazakov S. P.
Published: January 2024

This is a review of international and Russian recommendation for the study of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) in autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRD) and autoimmune liver diseases (ALD), including a description of the most important methodological aspects. The main purpose of laboratory diagnostics of AIRD and ALD is to obtain objective information about the presence and immunopathological changes, which is an important tool for early diagnosis, assessment of activity, severity, prognosis of the disease and the effectiveness of therapy. The positive results of ANA determination are the main laboratory markers of AIRD and ALD, being among the diagnostic criteria for diseases. The ‘gold standard’ and primary screening method for determining ANA in serum is the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Antigen-specific solid phase assays methods are used as confirmatory tests. Standardization of the ANA determination contributes for reducing the intra- and inter-laboratory variability of the results, helps to optimize the interaction between laboratory specialists and clinicians in matters of prescribing and clinical interpretation of ANA tests. Solving the problem of ANA detection standardization is important because of the growing number of laboratories performing these tests and an increased referring for this investigation from rheumatologists and another medical specialist.
Nutritional status and its association with sarcopenic body composition phenotype and obesity in women with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Toroptsova N. V. , Dobrovolskaya O. V. , Demin N. V. , Kozyreva M. V.
Published: January 2024

Purpose of the study. To evaluate the association of nutritional status with the presence of a sarcopenic body composition phenotype and obesity in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Materials and methods. The study included 121 postmenopausal women with RA (mean age 62.1 ± 7.9 years). Nutritional status was determined using the Russian version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire. Body composition was studied using dual-energy X-ray densitometry (‘Whole Body’ program). Clinical and laboratory examinations were also carried out.

Results. Reduced nutritional status was detected in 42.1% of patients. Individuals with reduced nutritional status had a higher ESR and higher disease activity as assessed by the DAS28 index (p = 0.024 and p = 0.003, respectively), a greater 10-year likelihood of osteoporotic fractures of all major sites (p = 0.029) and hip fractures (p = 0.016). Correlations were established between nutritional status, according to the MNA questionnaire, and appendicular muscle mass (r = 0.21; p = 0.044), waist circumference (r = 0.32; p = 0.001) and waist-to-hip ratio (r = 0.29; p = 0.006), a negative association was found with DAS28 (r = –0.26; p = 0.009). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed an association of the sarcopenic phenotype with dietary calcium intake less than 500 mg/day (odds ratio [OR] = 7.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.09–18.44; p < 0.001), the shoulder circumference of the non-dominant arm is less than 25 cm (OR = 6.51; 95% CI: 2.21–19.12; p = 0.001). Obesity phenotype was associated with upper arm circumference greater than 25 cm (OR = 8.28; 95% CI: 2.78–24.66; p < 0.001) and serum vitamin D deficiency (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.00–1.07; p = 0.043).

Conclusions. The incidence of reduced nutritional status in postmenopausal women with RA according to MNA was 42.1%. An association was found between MNA nutritional status, daily calcium intake and the sarcopenic phenotype. No association with nutritional status was found for the obesity phenotype.
Comparative analysis of Covid-19 course and post-covid syndrome caused by early strains and omicron strain in patients with rheumatic diseases
Authors: Mukhamadieva V. N. , Shamsutdinova N. G. , Nuriakhmetova T. Yu. , Abdulganieva D. I.
Published: January 2024

Aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of the course of a new coronavirus infection (NCI) and post-Covid syndrome (PCS) caused by the Omicron strain and earlier strains in patients with rheumatic diseases (RD).

Materials and methods. 271 patients with NCI were included in the study. For a comparative analysis of the course of Covid-19 and PCS, two periods were defined: the first period was from March 2020 to December 2021 – early strains, the 2nd period was the appearance of the Omicron strain. In the analysed group, there were 214 (79 %) people who had early strains of Covid-19 and 57 (21 %) of Omicron. A comparative assessment of the presence of PCS and its characteristics was carried out 3, 6, 9, 12 months after Covid-19.

Results. Among patients who underwent NCI caused by early strains, CT-verified lung damage was recorded more often, which determined a higher frequency of hospitalizations. At the same time, the onset of Covid-19 presented with such symptoms as general weakness, lack of taste and smell; patients oftener bothered by periodic sensations of heat, increased body temperature, and shortness of breath. In the group of patients with NCI caused by the Omicron strain, comorbid pathology was determined oftener. PCS in groups of patients with NCI caused by early strains and the Omicron strain occurred with a frequency of 50.8% and 33.3%, respectively. In both groups, musculoskeletal manifestations remained the most common, with depression being commoner in the NCI group caused by early strains. The frequency of complaints characteristic of PCS remained at a high level for 6 months, a downward trend was noted by the 9th month after Covid-19. An increase in RD activity was found 3 months after the NCI in both groups.

Conclusions. In NCI caused by early strains, a moderate and severe course of the disease, as well as the development of PCD within 12 months, was more common. PCS symptoms were most severe between 3 and 6 months and decreased by the 9th month of follow-up. RD activity increased and oftener observed 3 months after Covid-19, regardless of the transferred strain, with a tendency to decrease activity 9 months after the NCI.
Changes in erosion count scores during denosumab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Kovalenko P. S. , Dydykina I. S. , Smirnov A. V. , Nasonov E. L.
Published: January 2024

Background. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP) are associated with the progression of joint erosions in RA. Currently, the efficacy of anti-osteoporotic therapy for the prevention of erosive arthritis is discussing.

The aim of the study. To evaluate the effect of denosumab on the erosion score progression in patients with RA and OP, taking into account the activity of the disease and RF or ACCP positivity.

Materials and methods. The study included 66 postmenopausal women with determined diagnosis of RA and OP. Non-erosive arthritis was in 23 (35 %) patients, erosive – in 21 (32 %), ankylosis of the joints was diagnosed in 22 (33 %) people. RF (+) was detected in 47 (72 %) people, ACCP (+) – in 48 (74 %) people. Denosumab 60 mg was injected subcutaneously once every 6 months (two injections). The duration of follow-up was 12 months. RA activity was assessed by the DAS 28 index. The erosion was calculated according to the Sharp / van der Heijde (SVH) method.

Results. RA patients were divided into four groups: RF (+) and RF (–), ACCP (+) and ACCP (–), comparable in basic clinical features. At the same time, in the RF (+) group, the duration of RA, the frequency of ankylosis of the joints and the erosion count were initially higher compared to the RF (–). After 12 months of therapy, 7 (14.9 %) patients in the RF (+) group and 8 (16.7 %) patients in the ACCP (+) group the number of erosions has increased. There was no increase in the number of erosions in the RF (–) and ACCP (–) groups. In the analyzed groups, there were no changes in the erosion count depending on RA activity.

Conclusions. An increase in the erosion score was found in the RF (+) and ACCP (+) groups despite the treatment with denosumab. In the RF (–) and ACCP (–) groups this indicator did not change. The inclusion of denosumab in the complex therapy of RA and OP is reasonable for prevention of OP and erosions progression in women with seronegative RA.
Joint and spine damage in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases
Authors: Tarasova D. D. , Shilova L. N.
Published: January 2024

Damage to the joints and spine is a frequent extra-intestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Studies show a genetic and immunological link between joint damage and intestinal inflammation. Oligo- and polyarthritis of small and large joints, arthralgia, ankylosing spondylitis may develop. Arthritis in IBD is seronegative, characterized by non-erosive and non-destructive lesions. Articular syndrome is more often associated with a severe course of IBD and a large extent of the lesion. Arthritis with IBD, basically, debuts simultaneously with intestinal inflammation or occurs after, but may precede the development of IBD. Joint damage can make its debut with a detailed clinical picture, cases of latent course are also described, which complicates the timely diagnosis. The combination of joint syndrome and intestinal inflammation requires an interdisciplinary approach.
Quality of life dynamics in patients with knee osteoarthritis on intra-articular therapy with bioactive concentrate of small sea fish and domestically produced sodium hyaluronate
Authors: Sivordova L. E. , Polyakova Yu. V. , Papichev E. V. , Akhverdyan Yu. R. , Zavodovsky B. V.
Published: January 2024

Introduction. The quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) depends on the severity of functional disorders, pain syndrome and the efficacy of their pharmacological correction.

Purpose of the study. To evaluate the dynamics of the life quality in patients with knee osteoarthritis treated with intra-articular injections of domestically produced sodium hyaluronate (synovial fluid prosthesis) or with bioactive concentrate of small sea fish (BACSSF).

Materials and methods. 180 patients with knee osteoarthritis were examined. The study group consisted of 50 patients who received injections of sodium hyaluronate (prosthesis synovial fluid), intra-articularly. Comparison group included 30 patients treated with BACSSF 2 ml No. 5 intraarticularly. Control group consisted of 100 patients who received BACSSF intramuscularly 1 ml No. 20. Study design: duration 12 months with prospective monitoring of quality of life according to the SF-36 scale, six visits.

Results. When included in the study, the level of physical and mental health components between the groups of patients differed statistically insignificantly (p = 0.369 and p = 0.089). According to the study results, used pharmacotherapy improved quality of life in all groups. However, the groups differed statistically significantly in the speed of achieving an analgesic effect, the severity of pain reduction and the duration of maintenance of the therapy effect. The best dynamics of the physical and mental components of health was in a group of patients with knee osteoarthritis treated with intra-articular sodium hyaluronate.

Conclusions. In real clinical practice, it is not always possible to improve the quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis. Symptomatic delayed-release medications (SYSADOA) are effective in the early stages of the disease. The positive clinical effect of intra-articular therapy with sodium hyaluronate develops earlier and lasts longer than therapy with another SYSADOA (BACSSF).
Use of ultrasound in diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (literature review and clinical case)
Authors: Teplova L. V. , Doroshenko D. A. , Baikalov D. N. , Yashchenko M. V.
Published: January 2024

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common primary systemic vasculitis that usually occurs in adults over the age of 50. According to the classification, GCA refers to vasculitis with damage to large vessels (aorta and/or its main branches), however, both medium and small arteries can be involved in the process. Typical is the involvement of the temporal, visual, occipital, vertebrate, posterior ciliary arteries. Temporal artery biopsy has been considered as the ’gold standard’ for the diagnosis of GCA for a long time. However, this procedure is not always feasible in real clinical practice, because of the invasiveness of the method and certain technical difficulties. Currently, the cheapest, fastest and safest way to diagnose GCA is ultrasonography (US) examination of arteries (temporal arteries, other cranial and extracranial arteries), which is included in the new classification criteria for GCA. Thanks to the wider use of US of the arteries, over the past few years, the diagnosis of GCA has significantly improved, which affects the adequacy of therapy positively and, therefore, the patient's long-term prognosis. Standardization of the examination procedure is important, and the analysis of US-images should be carried out by a qualified specialist, which also requires special training. The review presents the necessary technical requirements, characteristics of the equipment and the methodology for conducting a US-study, determining US-finds during GCA. Thus, a personalized approach to the diagnosis of GCA, based on clinical manifestations, available instrumental imaging methods (primarily ultrasound), is optimal for the rapid diagnosis of HCA and treatment.
Current clinical aspects of familial Mediterranean fever
Authors: Babaeva A. R. , Kalinina E. V.
Published: January 2024

The article is devoted to the analysis of the current state of the problem of the most common autoinflammatory disease – familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). The authors provide data on the prevalence of FMF, the genetic mechanisms of its development, the influence of MEFV gene mutations on the manifestation of FMF and its clinical phenotypes. The polymorphism of the mutated MEFV gene in various ethnic populations is discussed. Particular attention is paid to the combination of FMF with other rheumatic processes, primarily with spondyloarthritis. It has been shown that immunoinflammatory comorbidity is characteristic of the early onset of FMF, a more severe course of this disease, and is determined by the specific genotype of the patient. In this regard, the importance of genetic analysis is emphasized not only for the timely verification of FMF, but also for determining the prognosis in terms of the risk of developing spondyloarthritis and amyloidosis. An analysis of works on the pharmacotherapy of FMF showed that although colchicine remains the first-line drug, interleukin-1 inhibitors are actively used in the treatment of patients with FMF. The results of multicenter studies demonstrate the high efficacy and safety of the intelekin-1 inhibitor canakinumab in the treatment of FMF and other autoinflammatory diseases in children and adults. In this regard, with the development of colchicine resistance or poor tolerability of colchicine, interleukin-1 inhibitors are considered as the optimal therapeutic option.
Problems of Translating annaa (أنى) in the Holy Quran
Authors: Lutfi Mona , Fareh Shehdeh , Benmessaoud Sanaa
Published: January 2024

The present study endeavours to examine the challenges associated with translating the particle annaa from the Holy Quran into English, with a focus on three English translators of the Quran.  The study identifies the multifaceted functions of annaa in Arabic grammar and its rhetorical functions within the Quranic context. Key challenges include conveying nuanced meanings, selecting appropriate modal verbs, and preserving rhetorical functions. The study emphasizes the need for a context-aware approach and the need to consult with authentic exegeses to ensure accurate and faithful translations.
Effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation on growth performance and blood profiles of cattle heifers
Authors: Anwar Ali , Shah Syed Uzair Ali , Rajput Muhammad Naeem , Soomro Saeed Ahmed , Behan Atique Ahmed
Published: January 2024

To evaluate the impact of dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on the growth performance, body conformation, and blood biochemistry of intensively managed cattle heifers, a total of 12 heifers were randomly selected and divided into two groups viz. group-CON (basal diet) and group-MOLM (basal diet + 10% Moringa oleifera leaf meal). Results indicate that significantly higher feed intake was observed in the MOLM group. The heifers supplemented with MOLM were having significantly improved body weight, body height, body length and heart girth compared to the heifers in CON group. Blood parameters, including Red Blood Cells (RBCs), haemoglobin, and immunoglobulins, showed positive trends, with immunoglobulin G levels significantly higher in the MOLM group. In conclusion dietary M. oleifera leaf meal improved growth, body measurement and blood biochemistry of intensively managed cattle heifers.
Molecular Characterization and Induced Systemic Resistance of Trichoderma asperellum against Bacterial wilt of Tomato
Authors: Ahmed Tanjid , Mia Md Ratan , Aff Tawseef Al , Shila Sadia Afrin , Tanvir Md. Sohel , Sumi Subarna Mahbub , Shupta Sadia Afrin , Hossain Mohammad Delwar
Published: January 2024

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most devastating disease of tomato in Bangladesh and no significant effective control measure is available here till date. In this research work, Trichoderma from tomato rhizosphere is being utilized formulated with farm yard manure (FYM) to combat this pathogen attack. Ten Ralstonia spp. were also isolated from the infected tomato fields and characterised where R. solancearum isolate RsBAU1 was found most virulent, resulted 288 bp amplicon size with the species specific primers. Among 10 Trichoderma isolates, TR3 isolates (OM 480709) showed highest inhibition in vitro against R. solancearum isolate RsBAU1 that was resulted about 633 bp amplicon size with ITS primers, showed 99-100% blast homology with the other T. asperellum in phylogenic tree. T. asperellum (OM 480709) was formulated with FYM which significantly reduced and delayed Ralstonia wilt incidence and increased tomato fruit yield including other agronomic characters under both net house and field conditions. This formulated Trichoderma (FT) decreased the Ralstonia wilt disease incidence by 51.5% and increased 49.73% tomato yield when compared with the pathogen-treated plot during 2022-2023. Again, FT treated plants significantly increased peroxidase (POX), phenylalanine ammonium lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), β-1,3-glucanase and total phenol activities in compared to non-treated plants and these activities were increased up to 8th days when challenged with R. solancearum (RsBAU1) and then declined.  This indicates T. asperellum (OM480709) might have collectively contributed to induced resistance in tomato plants against R. solanacearum (RsBAU1 isolate). Therefore, T. asperellum (OM480709) formulated in FYM can be a sustainable and eco-friendly management strategy for controlling Ralstonia wilt of Tomato in Bangladesh.
Insight on the Flow Physics of Shock-driven Elliptical Gas Inhomogeneity with Different Atwood Numbers
Authors: Singh Satyvir , Sengupta Bidesh , Awasthi Mukesh Kumar , Kumar Vinesh
Published: January 2024

This article investigates the effects of Atwood numbers on the flow physics of shock-driven elliptical gas inhomogeneity based on numerical simulations. We examine five different gases—He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and SF6—that are filled inside an elliptical bubble and surrounded by N2 in order to study flow physics. A high-order modal discontinuous Galerkin finite element approach is used to solve compressible Euler equations for all numerical simulations. In terms of validation studies, the numerical outcomes match the existing experimental data quite well. The findings show that the Atwood number has a significant impact on the characteristics of flow, including wave patterns, the development of vortices, the generation of vorticity, and bubble deformation. When the value of At is greater than zero i.e. At > 0, there is a notable divergence between the incident wave outside the bubble and the transmitted shock wave inside the bubble. Complex wave patterns, including reflected and newly transmitted shock, are seen during the encounter. Interestingly, the transmitted shock and incident shock waves move with the same rates at At ≈ 0. While, compared to the incident shock wave, the transmitted shock wave moves more quickly for At < 0. The influence of Atwood number is then investigated in depth by looking at the vorticity production at the elliptical interface. Furthermore, in the analysis of vorticity production processes, the important spatial integrated domains of average vorticity, dilatational and baroclinic vorticity production terms, and evolution of enstrophy are extended. Finally, a quantitative research based on the interface qualities delves deeply into the influence of the Atwood number on the flow mechanics.
Performance Assessment of Metaheuristic Algorithms: Firefly, Grey Wolf, and Moth Flame in Coal Pyrolysis Kinetic Parameter Estimation
Authors: Uppalakkal Vishnu , Ambati Venkatesh , Nair Rajesh
Published: January 2024

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Firefly Optimizer (FFA), Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), and Moth Flame Optimizer (MFO) metaheuristic algorithms in estimating the kinetic parameters of a single-step coal pyrolysis model. By examining the effects of the algorithmic configuration, the initial parameter estimates, and the search space size on the efficacy and efficiency of the optimization run, the research seeks to encourage the qualified engineering application of these algorithms in the field of pyrolysis modeling. Four critical analyses were conducted: convergence efficiency, robustness and repeatability, parameter tuning, and performance on noisy data. MFO and GWO had comparable fitness scores of 1.05×10-4 and 1.04×10-4 respectively in the optimisation run analysis, while FireFly Algorithm (FFA) fell behind with a score of 1.09×10-4. Regarding the calculation time, FFA showed better results than other optimizers with an execution time of 113.75 seconds. MFO showed initial promise in convergence analysis with speedy convergence, whereas GWO progressively enhanced its solutions. Additionally, GWO was shown to be the most dependable algorithm with the lowest values for average fitness score and execution time at 1.07×10-4 and 38.86 seconds. The combined values of standard deviation in fitness value and execution time for GWO were 1.07×10-6 and 0.35 indicating its robustness towards initial parameters. Similar to this, investigations on repeatability emphasized the reliability of the GWO method. Further, the parameter tuning assessments supported the balanced performance of GWO, and the studies of noise handling discovered GWO to be the most robust to noisy data. Overall, GWO is recommended as a one-stop average solution for the general engineered application; however, algorithm choice hinges on the specific requirement.
European Circular Economy Policy-Making in Sustainability and Resource Management Development
Authors: Koval Viktor , Shapovalova Alla , Fedotova Tatyana , Soloviova Olha , Novak Olena , Khimich Sviatoslav
Published: January 2024

The study examines the development policy of the circular economy using the example of European Union countries based on the results of their circularity indicators. The respective countries fall into the “shift” country profile according to the distribution from the Global Circularity Gap, being consumers of the majority of global materials and generating 43% of emissions. Through the grouping of EU countries, it was found that high-circularity indicators do not necessarily determine a country's level of environmental friendliness. It has been identified that countries with high resource productivity levels (ranging from 5.8811 to 2.1397%), provided they have high and medium levels of product processing and investment in circular economy development, do not always have a positive impact on the environment. The corresponding research has led to the conclusion that the significant negative impact of the overproduction of goods and excessive resource consumption in European countries, which necessitates appropriate changes in societal activities. There is a need to adjust the policy directions of EU countries to stimulate their sustainable development in a closed-loop economy context, taking into account the specific characteristics and opportunities of each country, which will ensure a more effective adaptation to the implemented innovations. The results of this research can be applied to shaping the circular economy development policy and developing proposals for directions in societal development based on raising awareness about the consequences of interactions with the environment.
Achieving Consensus in Groups with Low Authoritarianism of Participants in Decision Making
Authors: Maksimova Olga V. , Aronov Iosif Z.
Published: January 2024

The complexity of formalizing negotiation procedures leads to the search for fundamentally new approaches to building mathematical models. The theoretical study of consensus makes it possible to analyze various situations encountered by social groups participating in the group decision-making process, leaving aside specific characteristics of the groups. In the article, we built a mathematical model for a group with low authoritarianism among participants based on modeling using Markov chains. The analysis of the model showed that as the leniency of the group members increases, the time to reach consensus increases exponentially, apparently due to the negotiators' lack of desire to take responsibility for the decision. The differences between the number of negotiations in groups of participants with low authoritarianism are greater as the size of the group is smaller. This indicates a lack of coordination in such groups in the absence of a desire to take responsibility for the decision-making. It was revealed that in a dyad of two absolutely lenient participants, consensus is unattainable. For a group with low authoritarianism among participants, psychological "traps" such as false consensus or groupthink are possible, which can sometimes lead to managerial decisions with serious consequences.
Stomach Disorder Detection and Analysis using Hybrid Learning Vector Quantization with African Buffalo Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Baljon Mohammed
Published: January 2024

The human digestive system's electrical activity may be recorded noninvasively by Electrogastrography (EGG). Electrogastrograms are recordings of the electrical activity produced by the stomach muscles. EGG Several gastrointestinal disorders may be diagnosed and their severity measured using EGG signal properties. The literature has several contributions to the categorization of EGG signals. The majority of them make use of either the EGG's frequency or time data. The wide variety of EGG signals is a challenge for current automated categorization methods. Therefore, this study's objective is to develop a lightweight classifier that achieves high classification accuracy while using little processing resources. To acquire normal and abnormal EGG signals at a reasonable cost, a three-electrode measuring device is created here, with classification performed by a hybrid of Linear Vector Quantization and the African Buffalo Search Algorithm (HLVQ-ASO). The results show that the information richness of recorded EGG signals from healthy persons is greater for EGG signals captured using a surface electrode with a contact diameter of 19 mm as compared to 16 mm. To demonstrate their validity and degree of classification accuracy, the results computed using the suggested classifiers are compared with the current classifiers like Artificial Neural Network, Multimodal Support Vector Machine (MSVM), and Improved Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Additionally, the HLVQ-ASO-based classification method is effective in differentiating between normal and diabetic EGG signals, found a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 98.8%. For a dataset of 500 samples, the classification accuracy is 97%.
Optimization Models in Water Resources Management and Security: A Critical Review
Authors: Sinha Gyanesh Kumar , Purwar Anuj Kumar
Published: January 2024

This paper reviews optimization models in the context of water resources management and security. The article is instituted on four fundamental pillars: (a) an understanding of the quantum of key optimization techniques adopted by the researchers over the past few decades in managing water resources, (b) an enumeration of these techniques, both in terms of their brief mathematical structures and with reference to their representative applications in managing water resources so as to conform to one of the four perspectives of water security, viz. welfare, equity, sustainability, and risk, (c) an evaluation of major challenges associated with these conventional equation-based optimization techniques, including the perceptive account of the distinction between the gradient-based local optimization and non-gradient global optimization, and finally, (d) an assessment of context-sensitive appropriateness of simulation-based bottom-up modeling schemes, with special reference to evolutionary algorithms. The review emphasizes that the ontology of conventional equation-based models lies in an aggregate manifestation of social behavior and, as a result, it fails to capture individuals’ behaviors juxtaposed with ecological and hydrological systems while modeling complex water resources. On the contrary, the expediency of the domain of operational research in responding to societal problems ensuing from a scarce natural resource like water lies in bottom-up optimization schemes, which are more obliging in the sense that they can incarcerate such social explanations in the modeling frame based on local values.
Statistically Significant Duration-Independent-based Noise-Robust Speaker Verification
Authors: Nirmal Asmita , Jayaswal Deepak , Kachare Pramod H.
Published: January 2024

A speaker verification system models individual speakers using different speech features to improve their robustness. However, redundant features degrade the system's performance. This paper presents Statistically Significant Duration-Independent Mel frequency Cepstral Coefficients (SSDI-MFCC) features with the Extreme Gradient Boost classifier for improving the noise-robustness of speaker models. Eight statistical descriptors are used to generate signal duration-independent features, and a statistically significant feature subset is obtained using a t-test. A redeveloped Librispeech database by adding noises from the AURORA database to simulate real-world test conditions for speaker verification is used for evaluation. The SSDI-MFCC is compared with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). The comparative results showed average equal error rate improvements by 4.93 % and 3.48 % with the SSDI-MFCC than GA-MFCC and PCA-MFCC in clean and noisy conditions, respectively. A significant reduction in verification time is observed using SSDI-MFCC than the complete feature set.
Maximum Entropy Solution for M^X/G/1 Priority Reiterate G-queue
Under Working Breakdown and Working Vacation
Authors: Nisha . , Upadhyaya Shweta , Shekhar Chandra
Published: January 2024

The maximum entropy principle has grown progressively more pertinent to queueing systems. The principle of maximum entropy (PME) presents an impartial framework as a promising method to examine complex queuing processes. This principle can be employed to assess the most appropriate probability distributions for queueing scenarios in a variety of widespread industrial issues. The aspects of general service bulk arrival retrial G-queue including working vacation, state-dependent arrival, priority users, and working breakdown are all explored in this article. Real-world applications for this kind of waiting line include computer systems, industrial companies, packet-switching networks, and communication facilities, etc. The adverse users (or negative arrivals) can make an appearance when the server (operator) is preoccupied with a positive user. Consumer’s arrival patterns follow the Poisson distribution. Priority consumers and regular (ordinary) consumers are the two groups of consumers that are considered in this investigation. Priority consumers do not have to wait in line and are granted a special right of prevention that allows them to receive services before ordinary consumers. Initially, we have estimated performance metrics including orbit size and long-run probabilities in this research work. The maximum entropy approach is then used to give a comparative perusal between the system’s exact and estimated waiting times. Apart from that a bi-objective optimization model is developed to diminish both consumers waiting times and estimated costs simultaneously. It is manageable to establish an effective balance between the standard of service and operating expenses using the analytical strategy that has been provided.
A Novel Data Preprocessing Model for Lightweight Sensory IoT Intrusion Detection
Authors: Khanday Shahbaz Ahmad , Fatima Hoor , Rakesh Nitin
Published: January 2024

IoT devices or sensor nodes are essential components of the machine learning (ML) application workflow because they gather abundant information for building models with sensors. Uncontrollable factors may impact this process and add inaccuracies to the data, raising the cost of computational resources for data preparation. Choosing the best method for this data pre-processing stage can lessen the complexity of ML models and wasteful bandwidth use for cloud processing. Devices in the IoT ecosystem with limited resources provide an easy target for attackers, who can make use of these devices to create botnets and spread malware. To repel attacks directed towards IoT, robust and lightweight intrusion detection systems are the need of an hour. Furthermore, data preprocessing remains the first step for modish machine learning models, ensemble techniques, and hybrid methods in developing anti-intrusion applications for lightweight IoT. This article proposes a novel data preprocessing model as a core structure using an Extra Tree classifier for feature selection and two classifiers LSTM and 1D-CNN for classification. The dataset used in this research is CIC IoT 2023 with 34 attack classes and SMOTE (Synthetic Memory Oversampling Technique) has been used for class balancing. The article evaluates the performance of 1D-CNN and LSTM on the CIC IoT 23 dataset using classification metrics. The proposed ensemble approach using LSTM has obtained 92% accuracy and with 1D-CNN the model obtained 99.87% accuracy.
Genomic characterization of Bacillus cereus isolated from food poisoning cases revealed the mechanism of toxin production
Authors: Zhou Qian , Li Guanqiao , Cui Yinshan , Xiang Jingshu , Zhu Shu , Li Shijun , Huang Jingyu , Wang Yafang , Liu Ying , Zhou Li
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Bacillus cereus is a ubiquitous opportunistic human pathogen that causes food intoxications worldwide. However, the genomic characteristics and pathogenic mechanisms of B. cereus are still unclear.

Methods

Here, we isolated and purified nine strains of B. cereus (LY01-LY09) that caused vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms from four foodborne outbreaks happened in Guizhou Province in southwest China from June to September 2021. After colony observation, Gram staining, microscopic examination and biochemical test, they were identified as B. cereus. The genomic characteristics, phylogenetic relationships and virulence factors of the isolated strains were analyzed at the genome level. Genome sequencing, comparative genomic analysis, secondary metabolite analysis and quantitative PCR were utilized to give a thorough exploration of the strains.

Results

We obtained the genome maps of LY01-LY09 and found that LY01-LY09 had a complex interspecific relationship with B. anthracis and B. thuringiensis. We also observed a contraction of gene families in LY01-LY09, and the contracted families were mainly associated with prophage, which contributed to the species diversity of B. cereus. The Hsp20 gene family underwent a rapid evolution in LY01-LY09, which facilitated the adaptation of the strains to adverse environmental conditions. Moreover, the LY01-LY09 strains exhibited a higher copy number in the non-ribosomal polypeptide synthetase (NRPS) genes and carried the complete cereulide synthetase (ces) gene cluster sequences. Considering that the NRPS system is a classical regulatory mechanism for emetic toxin synthesis, we hypothesized that LY01-LY09 could synthesize emetic toxins through the regulation of ces gene clusters by the NRPS system.

Discussion

These findings are important for further investigation into the evolutionary relationship between B. cereus and their related species, as well as the underlying mechanisms governing the synthesis and secretion of bacterial toxins.
Bacterial communities during composting cultivation of oyster mushroom Pleurotus floridanus using broken eggs as the nitrogen source and study of agronomic and nutritional properties
Authors: Wei Jun , Wang Yue-Xin , Guan Ti-Kun , Wang Qiu-Ying , Zhang Jiao , Zhang Jia-Yan , Wang Jian-Li , Chen Qing-Jun , Zhang Guo-Qing
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Broken eggs are a byproduct of the poultry industry and a potential nitrogen source for mushroom cultivation. However, its feasibility needs to be evaluated experimentally.

Methods

In this study, a series of different addition amounts (0, 1.8, 3.6, 5.3 and 8.5%, w/w) of broken egg mixture (BEM) were applied in the composting cultivation process of oyster mushroom. The physicochemical properties and bacterial communities of composting substrate, and agronomic and nutritional properties of fruiting bodies were determined.

Results and discussion

The results showed that the BEM addition significantly (P < 0.05) increased the total nitrogen content in the composted substrate, and the contents of crude protein, total amino acids and essential amino acids of mushrooms. The P3 treatment (initial C/N of 26:1) showed the highest biological efficiency (BE) of 100.19% and a low contamination rate (CR) of 7.00%, while the higher dosage of BEM (P4 and P5) led to a sharp decrease in BE and a sharp increase in CR. High throughput sequencing revealed that the addition of BEM significantly (P < 0.05) changed the bacterial communities in the substrate at the beginning of composting. Streptococcus and Lactococcus were predominant bacterial genera in BEM treatments at the beginning stage of composting, while Acinetobacter became predominant at the ending stage. The co-occurrence network analysis showed that the P3 treatment demonstrated a much more complex bacterial community. The structural equation model analysis indicated that the addition of BEM affected the bacterial communities and nitrogen metabolism during composting, which further affected agronomic and nutritional properties of oyster mushrooms. An appropriate amount of BEM combined with composting processes can significantly improve the yield and quality of oyster mushroom, providing a new way for efficient utilization of BEM.
Effects of the compound extracts of Caprifoliaceae and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi on the intestinal microbiota and antioxidant function
Authors: Zhang Shunfen , Lv Huiyuan , Cai Xueying , Tang Shanlong , Zhong Ruqing , Chen Liang , Zhang Hongfu
Published: January 2024

According to the Chinese encyclopedia “Ben Cao Gang Mu” (AD 1552–1578), Caprifoliaceae and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi are used in traditional Chinese medicine to clear heat, detoxify, and treat wind-heat colds, upper respiratory tract infections, and pneumonia. However, the mechanism and the effects of the compound extracts of Caprifoliaceae and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi on intestinal health remain unclear. From the perspective of intestinal microbes, this study assessed the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and intestinal protective properties of Caprifoliaceae and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Mice received diets with or without Caprifoliaceae and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extractive (BCA) for 2 weeks in this study. The results showed that BCA increased body weight gain, feed intake, and catalase (CAT) content in the mice but reduced γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) content in the serum (p < 0.05). BCA improved the Sobs, Chao, and Ace indices, as well as the number of Campylobacterota, Patercibacteria, and Desulfobacterota in the colon microbiota, while it decreased the Firmicutes phylum (p < 0.05). At the genus level, BCA increased Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Helicobacter, unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae, Alistipes, norank_f_norank_o_Clostridia_vadinBB60_group, norank_f_Ruminococcaceae, unclassified_f_Ruminococcaceae, etc. abundance (p < 0.05), but it significantly decreased Lactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae_UCG_001 abundance (p < 0.05). Moreover, BCA improved the concentration of acetic acid, butyric acid, propionic acid, valeric acid, and isovaleric acid and diminished the concentration of isobutyric acid (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis shows that the changes in short-chain fatty acids and antioxidant and inflammatory indices in the serum were significantly correlated with the BCA-enriched microbiota. This study supplemented a database for the application of Caprifoliaceae and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in clinical and animal production.
Distinct Rates and Transmission Patterns of Major HIV-1 Subtypes among Men who Have Sex with Men in Guangxi, China
Authors: Pang Xianwu , Xie Bo , He Qin , Xie Xing , Huang Jinghua , Tang Kailing , Fang Ningye , Xie Haoming , Ma Jie , Ge Xianmin , Lan Guanghua , Liang Shujia
Published: January 2024

The diversity and transmission patterns of major HIV-1 subtypes among MSM population in Guangxi remains unknown. Understanding the characteristics is crucial for effective intervention strategies. Between 2016 and 2021, we recruited individuals newly diagnosed with HIV-1 from MSM population in Guangxi. HIV-1 pol region was amplified and sequenced, and constructed molecular network, assessed clustering rate, cluster growth rate, spatial clustering, and calculating the basic reproductive number (R0) based on sequences data. We identified 16 prevalent HIV-1 subtypes among Guangxi MSM, with CRF07_BC (53.1%), CRF01_AE (26.23%), and CRF55_01B (12.96%) predominating. In the network, 618 individuals (66.17%) formed 59 clusters. Factors contributing to clustering included age < 30 years (AOR = 1.35), unmarried status (AOR = 1.67), CRF07_BC subtype (AOR = 3.21), and high viral load (AOR = 1.43). CRF07_BC had a higher likelihood of forming larger clusters and having higher degree than CRF01_AE and CRF55_01B. Notably, CRF07_BC has higher cluster growth rate and higher basic reproductive number than CRF01_AE and CRF55_01B. Our findings underscore CRF07_BC as a prominent driver of HIV-1 spread among Guangxi’s MSM population, highlighting the viability of targeted interventions directed at specific subtypes and super clusters to control HIV-1 transmission within this population.