bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introducing a Breakthrough Constant Pressure System: Transforming the Measurement of Clogging Potential in Wine Filtration
Authors: Lillo Otarola Luis , De la fuente-Mella Hanns , Ceroni Jose
Published: November 2024

The wine industry uses filtration systems to remove particles that could compromise the quality of wine before bottling. These systems, based on surface filtration media, trap particles that cause a clogging effect reducing the available area and decreasing the bottling flow rate. This clogging has a significant economic impact, as it deteriorates production times and increases operational costs, mainly due to higher labor demands.
To obtain timely information on the performance of the filtering and bottling system, the industry uses indicators such as the maximum volume index, the filtration index, and the modified filtration index, which measure clogging potential. These are obtained through laboratory tests conducted at constant pressure under controlled conditions to replicate the industrial process. Traditional de-vices use pressurized tanks, where an inert gas at 30 psi pushes the fluid through a filter disc. However, these systems have disadvantages, such as requirement of intensive operational han-dling and the associated risks with high pressure devices.
To address these challenges, a new constant-pressure system for wine filtration testing was de-veloped, utilizing a pneumatic pumping system without the need for a pressurized tank. This device, equipped with pressure regulators and hydraulic connections, reduces analysis time by 66.2% while improving operational safety. The validation of the device included statistical anal-yses showing that the samples processed by both devices were statistically similar. Additionally, a user survey revealed a high level of satisfaction with the new device compared to the traditional pressurized tank system. This approach has led to a tangible solution that is closely aligned with the specific needs of the industry, highlighting the practical application of scientific knowledge to address real industry challenges.
Correlation between computational thinking skills and cognitive learning outcomes: Insights from genetic trait inheritance based on Mendel's laws
Authors: Suryanda Ade , Dewahrani Yulilina Retno , Afifah Siti Nur
Published: November 2024

Biology learning in the 21st century requires students to understand complex genetics concepts, particularly the inheritance of traits in living organisms based on Mendel's laws. Computational thinking skills are essential for helping students systematically analyze and solve these intricate genetic patterns. This study aims to analyze the relationship between computational thinking skills and cognitive learning outcomes on the material of the inheritance of living creatures’ traits based on Mendel’s law. The research method used is descriptive with a correlational study. This study employed a descriptive correlational research method, conducted at SMAI PB Soedirman with a sample of 87 twelfth-grade science students from 203 students with an average age of 17-18 years and a balanced proportion of male and female selected through simple random sampling. The instruments used included questionnaires to measure computational thinking skills and tests to assess cognitive learning outcomes in genetics. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics to summarize the data and correlational analysis using Pearson’s Product-Moment to explore the relationship between variables. The tests that have been carried out show that there is a significant positive and linear relationship between computational thinking skills and cognitive learning outcomes of genetic trait inheritance based on Mendel’s law. The strength level of the relationship between the two variables is moderate.
Spine-Abductor Syndrome: Novel Associations Between Lumbar Spine Disease and Hip Gluteal Muscle Pathology
Authors: Lavu Monish S. , Hecht Christian J. , Kaelber David C. , Grammatopoulos George , Homma Yasuhiro , Kamath Atul F.
Published: November 2024

Background:

Risk factors for gluteal tears include age-related deterioration, female sex, and increased body mass index. As the literature that supports the sagittal relationship between the lumbar spine and the hip is increasing, there may be a parallel relationship between the perturbations in spinopelvic alignment caused by lumbar spine disease and gluteal muscle tears. Because no prior studies other than single-institution series have reported on this phenomenon, we investigated spine-abductor syndrome at the population level.

Methods:

This study utilized TriNetX, a federated research network that continuously aggregates deidentified electronic health record data from >92 million patients across the United States. The relative risks of gluteal tear encounter diagnoses and procedures were calculated for patients with and without the following characteristics: age ≥45 years, female sex, obesity, lumbar spine diagnoses, lumbar spine injections, and lumbar spine surgery. Utilizing the Cox proportional hazard model, we also analyzed gluteal tear-free survival over a period of ≥10 years in subgroups of patients who had been diagnosed with lumbar pathology, had been administered a lumbar injection, or had received lumbar surgery.

Results:

Of the 8,475,800 patients who had received lumbar spine diagnoses, undergone lumbar injections, and/or undergone lumbar surgeries, 458,311 patients (5.4%) had gluteal tears, representing a relative risk of 13.6 (95% confidence interval [CI]:13.6 to 13.6). After controlling for age, sex, and obesity, survival analysis showed markedly increased hazard ratios (HRs) for patients having a gluteal tear encounter diagnosis in the intervening 13 years (2010 to 2023) if they had had a previous lumbar spine pathology encounter diagnosis (HR: 4.8, 95% CI: 4.5 to 5.1), had undergone lumbar spine injections (HR: 7.7, 95% CI: 6.2 to 9.5), or had undergone lumbar spine surgery (HR: 6.6, 95% CI: 5.3 to 8.1) in 2010.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest a strong association between lumbar spine pathology and abductor tears. Further biomechanical and neuroanatomic studies may elucidate the effects of lumbar spine disease in relation to gluteal tears. Additionally, there may be a need to optimize diagnostic protocols for lateral hip pain in patients with a history of lumbar spine disease.

Level of Evidence:

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Open-Door Cervical Laminoplasty Using Instrumentation of Every Level Versus Alternate Levels
Authors: Tamai Koji , Terai Hidetomi , Terakawa Masaki , Takahashi Shinji , Suzuki Akinobu , Nakamura Hiroaki
Published: November 2024

Background:

In the setting of cervical open-door laminoplasty, the question of whether or not every opened laminar level should be instrumented has not been sufficiently investigated. We postulated that the surgical outcomes of open-door laminoplasty with instrumentation of every second opened level (skip-fixation) might not be inferior to those of laminoplasty with instrumentation of every opened level (all-fixation). The purpose of the present study was to test the noninferiority of laminoplasty with skip-fixation in improving myelopathy at 2 years postoperatively compared with all-fixation. Additionally, we compared radiographic and surgical outcomes between the 2 types of procedures.

Methods:

This prospective, multicenter, unblinded randomized controlled trial included patients ≥60 years of age who underwent C3 to C6 open-door cervical laminoplasty for the treatment of degenerative cervical myelopathy. Patients were allocated to the skip-fixation group (n = 80) or the all-fixation group (n = 75) using a permuted block method. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score at 2 years postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included surgical data, complications, 2-year change in the JOA score, Neck Disability Index (NDI), EQ-5D-5L (EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level instrument) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score for neck pain, and radiographic outcomes.

Results:

One hundred and thirty patients (including 66 in the skip-fixation group and 64 in the all-fixation group) completed the trial at 2 years (follow-up rate, 83.9%). The difference in the JOA score at 2 years was 0.0298 (95% confidence interval [CI], −0.706 to 0.766), which was within the noninferiority margin (p < 0.0001; noninferiority test). In the secondary analyses, laminoplasty with skip-fixation demonstrated a significantly shorter surgical time (p = 0.010; Mann-Whitney U test) and greater improvement in the VAS score for neck pain, NDI, and EQ-5D-5L score (p = 0.006, p = 0.047, p = 0.037, respectively; mixed-effect model) compared with all-fixation. There were no significant between-group differences in radiographic outcomes, including the hinge union rate.

Conclusions:

Skip-fixation may be sufficient to achieve noninferior 2-year postoperative improvement in myelopathy. Additionally, laminoplasty with skip-fixation potentially can lead to improvements in terms of neck pain, neck disability, and quality of life compared with all-fixation.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Advanced Care Planning for the Orthopaedic Patient
Authors: Segal Kathryn R. , Piana Lauren E. , Mujahid Nadia , Mikolasko Brian , Kuris Eren O. , Daniels Alan H. , Katarincic Julia A.
Published: November 2024

➢ Advanced care planning most commonly refers to the act of planning and preparing for decisions with regard to end-of-life care and/or serious illness based on a patient’s personal values, life goals, and preferences.

➢ Over time, advanced care planning and its formalization through advanced directives have demonstrated substantial benefits to patients, their families and caregivers, and the larger health-care system.

➢ Despite these benefits, advanced care planning and advanced directives remain underutilized.

➢ Orthopaedic surgeons interact with patients during sentinel events, such as fragility hip fractures, that indicate a decline in the overall health trajectory.

➢ Orthopaedic surgeons must familiarize themselves with the concepts and medicolegal aspects of advanced care planning so that care can be optimized for patients during sentinel health events.
Association Between Nail Type and Aseptic Revision Risk After Cephalomedullary Nailing for Hip Fracture
Authors: Okike Kanu , Chang Richard N. , Royse Kathryn E. , Fasig Brian H. , Sadeghi Cameron , Jackman James M. , Navarro Ronald A. , Fang Andrew S. , Paxton Elizabeth W.
Published: November 2024

Background:

Although the majority of intertrochanteric femoral fractures in the United States are now treated with cephalomedullary nailing, it remains uncertain whether differences in clinical performance by nail type exist. The purpose of this study was to compare the aseptic revision rates associated with the 3 most commonly utilized cephalomedullary nails in the United States today: the Gamma nail (Stryker), the INTERTAN (Smith+Nephew), and the Trochanteric Fixation Nail/Trochanteric Fixation Nail Advanced (TFN/TFNA; DePuy Synthes).

Methods:

Using an integrated health-care system’s hip fracture registry, patients ≥60 years of age who were treated with 1 of these 3 commonly used cephalomedullary nail devices were identified. Potential confounders were identified and controlled for, including age, gender, race or ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, anesthesia type, Elixhauser comorbidities, and the operating surgeon. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to evaluate the risk of aseptic revision (the primary outcome measure) by cephalomedullary nail type, with mortality and revisions unrelated to the index fracture considered as competing events.

Results:

There were 19,215 patients included in the study sample (71.4% female, 77.0% White), including 4,421 in the Gamma nail group, 2,350 in the INTERTAN nail group, and 12,444 in the TFN/TFNA nail group. In the multivariable analysis involving nails of all lengths, the INTERTAN group was found to have a higher risk of aseptic revision compared with the TFN/TFNA group (8-year crude revision rate, 2.9% compared with 1.8%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.62 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15 to 2.27]; p = 0.006). The increased risk associated with the INTERTAN nail was primarily seen among the long nails (HR, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.16 to 2.87]; p = 0.009) rather than the short nails (HR, 1.36 [95% CI, 0.87 to 2.11]; p = 0.18). There were no differences in aseptic revision observed between the Gamma group and the TFN/TFNA group.

Conclusions:

In this study of 19,215 patients with a hip fracture treated with cephalomedullary nailing, the INTERTAN nail was found to have a significantly higher risk of aseptic revision. Further research is required to determine whether these results could be related to the unique design of this implant.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Pemanfaatan kulit buah kakao pada proses alkalisasi biji kakao serta pengaruhnya terhadap mutu kakao bubuk
Authors: Cahyati Neni , Purwanto Eko Heri , Putri Selly Harnesa
Published: November 2024

The problem facing the industry of cocoa powder in Indonesia is that cocoa powder on the market has a high fat content, high acidity, a color quality that is not comparable with imported cocoa products, and a variety of flavors and aromas. Alkalization is a method that can handle these problems. Alkalization is a process to improve the quality and appearance of cocoa powder. Alkalization is carried out by adding potassium, magnesium, and others to cocoa. High potassium content can be found in cocoa pod husks. Cocoa pod husks are the main by-product from the cocoa industry, constituting  67 – 76% of the cocoa fruit weight. Cocoa pod husk contains potassium, fiber, and antioxidants that function as biomaterials for food and non-food products. The aims of the study were to determine and evaluate the quality of cocoa powder with the effect of alkalization treatments using cocoa pod husks. The study was carried out at The Indonesian Industrial and Beverage Crops Research Institute, Sukabumi, West Java, from January to June 2022. This study was designed in a factorial completely randomized design. The first factor was the alkaline material, which consisted of two levels (cocoa pod husk and baking soda). The second factor was the concentration, which consisted of 3 levels (1%, 2%, and 3%). The variables observed were the L*, a*, b*, moisture content, ash content, fineness, pH, fat content, protein, antioxidant activity, and organoleptic properties. The results showed that the alkalization process with alkaline material from cocoa pod husk and a concentration of 2% is the best quality characteristic of cocoa powder in accordance with SNI 01-3747-2013.
Pengaruh egg replacer terhadap karakteristik egg-free mayonnaise probiotik
Authors: Inasa Novia Hidayati , Rosanti Faradhilla Dewi , Kamil Rafli Zulfa , Hintono Antonius
Published: November 2024

Mayonnaise is an oil in water (O/W) semi-solid emulsion that is widely used in the food industry as salad dressing, sauce, and condiment. The use of eggs in the production of mayonnaise was considered health concerns for some people. This study aimed to determine the effect of egg replacer on the physical, chemical, microbiological and organoleptic properties of egg-free probiotic mayonnaise. This study used one-factor Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with variation treatment of egg replacer were 0% (P0), 5% (P1), 10% (P2), 15% (P3) and, 20% (P4). Variables observed included: pH value, amount of lactic acid bacteria, viscosity, stability, droplet size, moisture content, fat content, and organoleptic. The parametric data obtained were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), non-parametric data were analyzed using Kruskall Wallis test, and the droplet size were described descriptively qualitatively. The result of the study showed that the optimal amount of egg replacer was at concentration of 10% (P2) that showed 2,88 on pH value; 7,39 log of Lactic Acid Bacteria, 17.775 cP on viscosity, 89,88% on stability, 32,64% moisture contents, 53,56% fat content, small and uniform droplet size, slightly yellow color, slightly sweet taste, creamy texture, and slightly soy flavor. The amount of egg replacer had a significant effect (p0,05) to increased pH value, total LAB, viscosity, stability, moisture content and decreased the droplet size, fat content, and organoleptic of the egg-free probiotic mayonnaise.
Pobreza hídrica y estancamiento socioeconómico: el caso de Manresa
Authors: Llurdés Coit Joan Carles , Saurí Pujol David , Cerdan Heredia Rufí
Published: November 2024

Este artículo aborda la problemática de la denominada “pobreza hídrica”, término que en los países desarrollados se utiliza para identificar a personas o hogares con dificultades para pagar el recibo del agua. La pobreza hídrica puede implicar cambios sustanciales en los usos y hábitos de uso de agua en los hogares con una tendencia extrema al ahorro de agua que puede repercutir en el confort y bienestar de los residentes. Además del ahorro extremo, la pobreza hídrica también estimula estrategias en forma de iniciativas para obtener subsidios y otras ayudas.  A fin de investigar estas cuestiones y mediante entrevistas que combinan datos cuantitativos y cualitativos, el trabajo caracteriza los usos y hábitos de uso de agua, así como las estrategias para reducir el importe de los recibos en 40 hogares vulnerables del municipio de Manresa (Barcelona), un municipio en estancamiento socioeconómico. Entre las conclusiones más importantes del trabajo destacaríamos los enormes esfuerzos realizados para ahorrar agua sin que ello implique renunciar a hábitos de higiene y confort que se consideran imprescindibles como la ducha diaria por muy breve que sea ésta. Igualmente, la pobreza hídrica se suma a otras privaciones características de un sector de la ciudad degradado y en declive.
Diseño de un sistema de costos para el minimarket El Ahorro E.I.R.L., distrito de Lurigancho-Chosica (Lima-Perú), 2024
Authors:   , Pacheco Roque Doris Amelia , Valdez Zamora Zadith Yanela
Published: November 2024

El trabajo investigativo tuvo como objetivo diseñar un sistema de costos para la empresa Minimarket "El Ahorro" E.I.R.L., ubicada en el distrito de Lurigancho-Chosica (Lima-Perú). La empresa carecía de un adecuado sistema de contabilidad de costos, lo cual dificulta el control de inventarios, la determinación precisa de los costos de los productos y la fijación de precios competitivos. Para abordar esta problemática, el estudio se enfocó en elaborar una base de datos detallada de los productos, mapear a los proveedores clave y establecer el costo de las mercaderías para aplicar el margen de utilidad correspondiente. Se utilizó un sistema de costos por órdenes de trabajo, el cual permitió un mejor seguimiento de los costos asociados a cada producto y facilitó la toma de decisiones gerenciales. Además, se implementó un sistema de control de inventarios y se analizó el impacto en el estado de resultados de la empresa. De esta manera, el diseño meticuloso y la posterior implementación de este sistema integral de costos buscaron promover una notable mejora en la gestión financiera y operativa del Minimarket "El Ahorro" E.I.R.L., fortaleciendo así su posicionamiento estratégico y su competitividad en el mercado.
Ineficacia en la ejecución de indemnizaciones establecidas en procedimientos de indulto por errores judiciales según la Ley 26655 en Perú
Authors:   , Alva Rea Rosa Maria
Published: November 2024

El estudio examina el proceso de cumplimiento de sentencias por indemnización para las víctimas de prisión indebida, que tuvieron lugar durante la época del conflicto armado en el Perú y que fueron puestas en libertad a través de la promulgación de la Ley 26655. Se enfoca en los obstáculos enfrentados en el Estado peruano para el pago de indemnizaciones establecidas en tales sentencias, incluyendo la garantía del plazo razonable, la ejecución de sentencias y el derecho a la tutela judicial efectiva. La investigación propone la creación de un mecanismo normativo de eficacia que garantice el seguimiento, la transparencia y las medidas efectivas para cumplimiento de las indemnizaciones, ponderando los principios jurídicos, los estándares nacionales e internacionales en conformidad con las sentencias de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos para garantizar la reparación integral y el acceso a la justicia para las víctimas del error judicial.
Empowerment y su impacto en la rotación de personal de una microempresa textil, distrito de Ate (Lima – Perú), 2023
Authors:   , Oncoy Carhuapoma Adelis Nelvi , Sono Rodriguez Sarela Luisa
Published: November 2024

En el siglo XXI, el empowerment se ha convertido en una poderosa herramienta para combatir la rotación de personal en los negocios, pues permite que los empleados desarrollen su potencial, se sientan valorados y contribuyan activamente al éxito de la empresa. La presente investigación titulada Empowerment y su impacto en la rotación de personal de una microempresa textil, distrito de Ate (Lima - Perú), 2023, tiene como objetivo general examinar cómo el empowerment afectaría la rotación de personal en la microempresa objeto de estudio. El diseño de la investigación adoptó un enfoque cuantitativo no experimental, utilizando un diseño transversal correlacional-causal. La población y muestra consistieron en colaboradores de la microempresa textil, y se obtuvo una muestra de 25 participantes. Los resultados de esta investigación revelaron la situación actual de la empresa y el porcentaje de impacto que cada dimensión y el empowerment tendrían en la rotación del personal. El hallazgo principal, que indicó una relación inversa significativa, se basó en el coeficiente de Pearson, que muestra una correlación del -0.629 con una intensidad de impacto del 39.6% según el R-cuadrado. Con base en esto, se recomienda que la empresa implemente una reestructuración en sus políticas, programas de motivación y capacitación con el fin de brindar a los trabajadores la oportunidad de desarrollar sus habilidades cognitivas y blandas, lo que contribuirá al crecimiento de la empresa y a la retención de empleados, contrarrestando así la rotación de personal.
Logística internacional y planificación operativa del clúster de instrumentos musicales en Lima, 2022
Authors:   , Barraza Ugaz Miluska Melissa , Rueda Cuya Victor Francisco
Published: November 2024

La logística internacional ha permeado el intercambio comercial en todo el planeta, no solo en las grandes organizaciones, sino también en las asociativas de clúster que importan productos y para mantener la eficiencia del proceso logístico deben contar con una planeación bien estructurada. Se justifica porque el desarrollo de una logística y desarrollo operativo coherente del clúster de venta de instrumentos musicales permite reducir el precio de los productos que comercializan, incrementa la competitividad y asegura la calidad de los productos. Además, esta perspectiva impulsa la comercialización del clúster mejorando la problemática de la diferencia entre costos e ingresos dinamizando el crecimiento económico, mejora del contacto cultural y proyección internacional. En este sentido, se plantea como objetivo del artículo es establecer el efecto entre logística internacional y planificación operativa del clúster de instrumentos musicales en Lima, 2022. Se aplicó el método correlacional descriptivo de tipo aplicado en 132 microempresarios del clúster de Lima. La información se obtuvo a través del cuestionario tipo Likert del investigador, el cual arrojó una confiabilidad de 0,936 para logística internacional y 0,833 en planificación operativa calculado mediante el estadígrafo Alfa de Cronbach. Los resultados de la investigación señalaron un efecto directo y significativo en Rho Spearman de 0,324. Se concluye que la logística internacional se ve afectada positivamente en 80.3% con respecto a la planificación operativa.
Critical Role of EEG Signals in Assessment of Sex-Specific Insights in Neurological Diagnostics via Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Bayazi Mohammad Javad Darvishi , Ghaemi Mohammad Sajjad , Rish Irina , Faubert Jocelyn
Published: November 2024

Early detection and diagnosis of pathology are essential for efficient treatment and therapeutic interventions. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep machine learning techniques have demonstrated the promising capability of brain imaging data to predict various pathological diseases. However, plenty of diseases have imbalanced distribution across different sexes. Furthermore, the impact of sex-specific patterns and biomarkers in predicting diseases has remained unexplored as a fundamental subject matter to inform the treatment paradigms. This paper underscored the generalization and transferability of sex-related patterns in functional data, specifically Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals through Artificial Deep Neural Networks. We conducted training on a broad spectrum of EEG recordings involving participants ranging from 221 to 12,000, including healthy and pathological subjects. Our evaluation leveraged datasets from various sources and participant groups, featuring distribution shifts. While the artificial models demonstrated accurate sex detection on datasets without fine-tuning, their performance declined with significant distribution shifts. Furthermore, we explored the relationship between sex and pathology by visualizing salient features for target detection in distinct subgroups. Our findings revealed unprecedented insights into the negligible role of sex-specific patterns in pathology detection despite the presence of prominent and consistent patterns within sex groups. These results are essential for developing more robust and unbiased AI models for disease prediction and informing the treatment paradigms.
WITHDRAWN: Identifying diagnostic markers and constructing a prognostic model for pancreatic cancer based on microarray and bioinformatic analysis
Authors: Zhang Liqun , Liu Chang , Qian Dan , Tian Ye , Yang Ying , Li MengLu , You YiQin
Published: November 2024

The full text of this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors due to author disagreement with the posting of the preprint. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as a reference. Questions should be directed to the corresponding author.
Comprehensive Transcriptomic analysis reveals turnip mosaic virus infection and its aphid vector Myzus persicae cause large changes in gene regulatory networks and co- transcription of alternative spliced mRNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Herath Venura , Casteel Clare L. , Verchot Jeanmarie
Published: November 2024

Background
Virus infection and aphid herbivory induce robust changes in gene expression relating to environmental stress. This study employed high-throughput transcriptomic and alternative splicing analysis to understand the separate and combined impacts on host gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana by Myzus persicae (green peach aphid), and turnip mosaic virus (TuMV).
Results
By investigating changes in transcript abundance, the data shows that aphids feeding on virus infected plants intensify the number of differentially expressed stress responsive genes compared to challenge by individual stressors. This study presents evidence that the combination of virus-vector-host interactions induces significant changes in hormone and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, as well as downstream factors involved in feedback loops within hormone signaling pathways. This study also shows that gene expression is regulated through alternative pre-mRNA splicing and the use of alternative transcription start and termination sites.
Conclusions
These combined data suggest that complex genetic changes occur as plants adapt to the combined challenges posed by aphids and the viruses they vector. This study also provides new datasets that could be used in the future to dissect the genetic mechanisms mediating tripartite interactions and inform future breeding programs.
Fermentation and the Production of Ethanol From Sweet Potatoes
Authors: Amire Peace Jimoh  and O.A.
Published: November 2024

Bioethanol, an alcohol produced by fermentation of plants/plant biomass (containing starch and sugars broken down by microorganisms), is regarded as a dominant form of fuel for the future. Fermentation is a metabolic process in which sugar is microbially degraded, resulting in the conversion of sugar to acids, gases, and alcohol. Sweet potatoes (Ipomea batatas) were used to produce ethanol in this study. The production of this renewable fuel, particularly from starchy materials such as sweet potatoes (Ipomea batatas), has a significant potential to meet future energy demand. The sweet potatoes were washed, peeled, cut, weighed, and cooked alongside the mash dilution. The fermentation process lasted for four days and included steeping the mash in distilled water. This analysis was carried out with the addition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast). Distillation was used to recover the product. The presence of (OH-) was confirmed by IR analysis. The ethanol produced in this study was titrated, and the concentration was determined to be 16.337M, with a percentage yield of 75.60 percent.
ECG Criteria and Diagnostic Score for Right Atrial Disease in Children: The CHILDHEART Study
Authors: de Alencar José Nunes , Monteiro Jade Arruda Motta , Furtado Julia Teuber , Sacre Rafael Carvalho , Guerra Christine Brasil , Knoblauch Wagner Santos , Felicioni Sandro Pinelli , Scheffer Matheus Kiszka , Marchi Mariana Fuziy Nogueira , Franchini Kleber Gomes
Published: November 2024

Objective(s): To develop a novel diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) score to improve the early detection of right atrial disease (RAD) and hypertrophy (RAH) in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Study design: We conducted a retrospective case-control study involving 219 pediatric patients aged 0 to 14 years with confirmed CHD and 1,418 controls without congenital disease. The ECG data were analyzed to identify specific criteria predictive of RAD/RAH. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and multivariate analyses were used to refine and develop a diagnostic score. Key variables assessed included right bundle branch block (RBBB), a pure R wave in V1, an initial q wave in V1, an S wave greater than the R wave in V6, and RV1 + SV6 ≥ 18 mm. Results: The diagnostic score demonstrated robust performance. In children under 3 years, the score achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.826. A score of ≥ 2 had a sensitivity of 63.2% and specificity of 89.7%. For children aged 3 years and older, the score had an AUC of 0.817, with a sensitivity of 48.67% and specificity of 98.1%. Conclusion(s): The CHILDHEART diagnostic score provides a practical and reliable tool for identifying RAD in pediatric patients using a standard 12-lead ECG. This score offers significant potential for early diagnosis and improved management of RAD in children, especially in clinical settings where advanced imaging modalities may not be readily available.
A Study of the Effectiveness of Lockdown During COVID-19 Using Machine Learning Methods: A Case Study of India
Authors: Yadav Ramjeet Singh
Published: November 2024

Emerging scientific research is confronting a profound challenge in predicting disease outbreaks, particularly due to the extensive and devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As cases have surged globally, researchers are tirelessly developing and refining a myriad of epidemiological mathematical models to more accurately predict the spread of this relentless disease. This study meticulously explores various parameters of the SIR (Susceptible, Infective, Recovered) mathematical modeling approach, with a specific focus on its application to the diverse and complex situation in India. The analysis rigorously considers multiple lockdown measures implemented by the Indian government, applying the model to different lockdown scenarios with careful assumptions integrated into Microsoft Excel simulations. Each lockdown scenario in India demonstrated some level of marked improvement in the predicted parameters of the SIR model, revealing promising trends. Notably, the study underscores that longer lockdowns are significantly more effective, as evidenced by enhanced metrics such as the coefficient of determination \(\:(R²)\), reduced infection rates \(\:\left(\beta\:\right)\), and a substantially lower basic reproduction number \(\:\left({R}_{0}\right)\), which dramatically decreased from 9.19 during shorter lockdowns to 2.66 during extended ones. Furthermore, the study highlights a remarkable decrease in susceptibility \(\:\left({S}_{\infty\:}\right)\), dropping from 97.69% to a much lower 48.59%. These findings brightly illustrate the profound effectiveness of prolonged restrictions in controlling the virus’s spread. The results strongly suggest that extending lockdowns, alongside robust and effective healthcare and public health measures, is crucial for better pandemic management. The study also emphasizes the urgent need for ongoing improvements in healthcare infrastructure, strategic planning, and public health responses to prepare for and mitigate future outbreaks effectively.
Research on volatile organic compounds pollution in automobile gearbox remanufacturing plant: source analysis, health risks, and control prioritization
Authors: Wang Zhuowen , Wang Ruixue , Tang Yuqing , Zhang Chenglong
Published: November 2024

The progress of the transmission remanufacturing industry is in line with the development requirements of the circular economy, but its environmental pollution problems are easily ignored. This study conducted an analysis of pollutant sources and health risks associated with VOCs in gearbox remanufacturing plants. A method for prioritising air pollutant control based on health risks and environmental impacts, alongside offering suggestions for VOC prevention and control from an environmental standpoint is established. Using the positive definite matrix factor (PMF) model, pollutant source analysis of VOCs in the plant identified five primary sources of pollution: waste transmission lubricant, carburetor cleaner, rust remover, ultrasonic cleaning water, and new transmission lubricant. Health risk evaluation revealed that the carcinogenic risk of VOCs in seven key process areas exceeds acceptable thresholds. It was observed that areas such as the disintegration area, case cleaning area, and parts inspection area pose higher carcinogenic risks, and benzene, ethylbenzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, and trichloromethane were identified as key contributors. Except for the staging area and parts cleaning area, the processes' locations pose noncarcinogenic health risks to humans, with the sandblasting area showing the highest risk, primarily due to toluene and methylene chloride. Furthermore, a screening method identified ten priority VOCs for control in remanufacturing plants, including methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, toluene, and ethylbenzene. These findings will contribute to the understanding of VOC pollution in gearbox remanufacturing plants, assisting the industry in implementing pollutant control measures and achieving cleaner production.
Development and application of a multi-modal sleep management program for general surgery based on the optimal healing environment model
Authors: XU Hongxia , JIANG Xiaoxiao , PAN Hongying , XU Yihong , CHEN Jun , CHENG Lili , QIAN Qieyi , LIANG Xiao
Published: November 2024

This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing situational insomnia among patients in general surgical wards through a combination of literature review, questionnaire surveys, and group discussions. Based on these identified factors and leveraging intelligent facilities, we developed a multi-modal sleep management program rooted in the optimal healing environment model. The program included standardizing sleep assessment and intervention processes, fostering a quiet and comfortable ward environment, implementing a medical and nursing behavior modification checklist, enhancing patient awareness of sleep, and cultivating a caring environment. Following the implementation of this program in general surgery wards, the incidence of situational insomnia decreased, noise levels during lunchtime and nighttime reduced, and patient satisfaction significantly improved. The application of a multi-modal sleep management program grounded in the optimal healing environment model can effectively improve sleep quality, expedite postoperative recovery, and enhance patient satisfaction in general surgery settings.
A Preliminary Exploration of a Novel High-Cytokine-Secreting Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell in the Treatment of Vaginitis
Authors: Cheng Yanwen , Yang Xing , Li Jingyuan , Zhou Hui , Han Xinye , He Zi , Wang Peishen , Li Na
Published: November 2024

Objective:Vaginitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the vagina, commonly caused by bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections, which significantly impacts the physical and psychological health of patients. Stem cell therapy, especially using cells with enhanced cytokine secretion capabilities after induction, presents a promising treatment approach. This study aims to explore a method to induce umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) to secrete higher levels of cytokines and evaluate their efficacy in treating vaginitis.
Methods:We developed an induction method using a combination of growth factors and nutrients to significantly stimulate cytokine secretion from UC-MSCs and conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the induced UC-MSCs (iUC-MSCs). This evaluation included cytokine secretion capacity, secretion characteristics, cell phenotype, lipid formation ability, and safety before and after induction. Subsequently, we applied the iUC-MSCs to a vaginitis disease model and assessed the therapeutic effects of iUC-MSCs through pathology and related scoring.
Results:Flow cytometry analysis showed no significant differences in the expression of phenotypic markers of UC-MSCs before and after induction. AAH-BLG-1 antibody microarray results indicated that cytokine levels secreted by iUC-MSCs were significantly higher than those of the UC-MSCs group. Additionally, iUC-MSCs exhibited improved lipid formation ability and cell proliferation activity compared to the non-induced group. Following this, iUC-MSCs were used to treat the vaginitis model. Western blot analysis post-cell transplantation revealed a significant reduction in inflammatory factor expression in the iUC-MSCs group. Immunofluorescence results showed that compared to the UC-MSCs group and the control group, iUC-MSCs had significantly higher expression levels of COL I, CD31, and cytokeratin CK. The iUC-MSCs group demonstrated superior regeneration and repair effects at the injury site compared to other control groups.
Conclusion:Compared to UC-MSCs, iUC-MSCs exhibited higher cytokine secretion and proliferation capacities. Transplantation of iUC-MSCs not only reduced inflammation levels at the lesion site but also promoted angiogenesis, epithelial keratinization, and collagen type I restoration. These combined effects significantly enhanced the regeneration and repair of the lesion site.
A longitudinal study on the effect of aerobic exercise intervention on working memory of college students with internet addiction
Authors: yi wang , ping Hu Jian
Published: November 2024

Objective: To investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on working memory in college students with internet addiction and the characteristics of these effects as they change over time, from both behavioral and electroencephalographic (EEG) perspectives.
Methods: A longitudinal study design was employed, where 48 male college students with internet addiction were screened and randomly assigned to two groups (control and experimental). The experimental group completed 40-minute sessions of aerobic cycling exercise, three times a week, for 12 weeks; the control group maintained their original physical activity habits without any additional interventions. A 3 (time points: pre-experiment, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks post-experiment) × 2 (groups: control and experimental) × 3 (electrode sites: Fz, F3, F4) mixed factorial experimental design was used to explore the effects of aerobic exercise on working memory in college students with internet addiction and how these effects evolved over time.
Results: In the experimental group, the post-test accuracy for the 1-back task was significantly higher than the pre-test (P < 0.05); for the 2-back task, both the mid-test (P < 0.05) and post-test (P < 0.001) accuracies were significantly higher than the pre-test, with the post-test accuracy being significantly higher than the mid-test (P< 0.01). Time-frequency analysis revealed that, for both 1-back and 2-back tasks, the post-test alpha band (100-200 ms) energy values in the experimental group were higher than the pre-test values (P< 0.05). For the 2-back task, the mid-test (P< 0.05) and post-test (P < 0.001) theta band (300-500 ms) energy values in the experimental group were significantly higher than the pre-test values, with the post-test values being significantly higher than the mid-test values (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: (1) Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can effectively improve working memory in college students with internet addiction, and the improvement becomes more significant as the duration of the exercise intervention increases. (2) Increases in early alpha band energy and later theta band energy in EEG are important neurophysiological indicators of the improvement in working memory among college students with internet addiction through moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.
Low serum magnesium levels are associated with malignant cerebral edema after mechanical thrombectomy in patients with large vessel occlusion.
Authors: Pandey Sajan , Chen Liuwei , Li Lei , Zhang Quanbin
Published: November 2024

Objective: Malignant cerebral edema (MCE) following mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is a major challenge in the management of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study investigates the relationship between serum magnesium level and MCE after successful recanalization.
Methods:
Data from 190 consecutive patients who received successful recanalization due to acute anterior circulation occlusions in our institution between January 2017 and January 2020, were collected and analyzed. Baseline serum magnesium levels for all patients receiving MT were obtained prior to the MT. Based on the development of MCE, we divided patients into two groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate whether Magnesium was an independent predictor of MCE. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) were determined.
Results: Of the 190 patients, 33 (17.4%) developed MCE. Patients with MCE had lower serum magnesium levels compared to those without MCE (0.77 [0.73-0.82] vs. 0.84 [0.80-0.91], p<0.001). The multivariate logistic analysis showed that serum magnesium level (odds ratio [OR]: 0.000, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.000-0.051, p=0.003) was significantly associated with the development of MCE. The ROC curve analysis revealed that serum magnesium level could predict MCE with an AUC of 0.743 (95% CI: 0.641-0.846, p<0.001). Serum magnesium <0.80 mmol/L could predict MCE with a sensitivity of 82.8% and a specificity of 63.6%. Patients with lower Magnesium had a higher incidence of hypertension, higher NIHSS scores on admission, and a higher incidence of MCE.
Conclusions: Low baseline serum magnesium on admission is associated with an increased risk of MCE in patients following MT. Assessing serum magnesium levels could be an important clinical tool for identifying patients at high risk for MCE.
Evaluation of Iranian bee pollen by characterizing its botanical origin, total phenolic content, and microbial load
Authors: Rezazadeh Aysan , Mehrabian Ahmad Reza , Maleki Hadi , Shakoori Zahra , Golbaghi Narges Zarei , Sharifi Tayeb , Yazdi Hasan , Amirsalari Mostafa Zarqami , Hajihassani Helia
Published: November 2024

Bee pollen (BP) is a beehive product known for its therapeutic properties. In this study, we aimed to evaluate 38 BP samples harvested from January 2022 to September 2022 at apiaries located in 6 provinces of Iran. The botanical origin of BP samples was determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The total phenolic content (TPC) of BP samples was evaluated using the Folin_Ciocalteu method. The total aerobic mesophiles were observed using Plate Count Agar (PCA). Based on the predominant grains, most samples were classified as monofloral, identifying 23 plant families. The results indicated a direct relationship between the increased abundance of plant families Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Rosaceae, and Caryophyllaceae and the increased amount of TPC in BP samples, with the most significant positive influence of the Brassicaceae plant family. The mean value of TPC of methanol extracts of BP samples was 18.48 ± 1.97 mg of gallic acid equivalents per g (GAE/g). The mean value of the total aerobic mesophiles was 23,668.12 colony-forming units per g (CFU/g). The results were based on hygiene standards for human consumption. The current study is considered the first step toward standardizing Iranian BP.
Associations between serum JAML, nesfatin-1, and 25(OH)D and the risk of diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Hou Qizhuo , Huang Kangkang , Liang Yunlai , Yu Wenze , Long Lu , Wang Kun , Yi Bin
Published: November 2024

This study was designed to assess the associations between serum junctional adhesion molecule-like protein (JAML), nesfatin-1, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) and the incidence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as well as to explore their predictive value in DKD. Serum JAML, nesfatin-1, and 25(OH)D levels were measured in 227 patients with T2DM. All participants were categorized into tertiles based on their serum JAML, nesfatin-1, and 25(OH)D levels. For statistical analysis, multivariate logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were utilized, moreover, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the nomogram were developed. Of the 227 patients with T2DM, 114 (50.2%) were diagnosed with DKD. The RCS analysis showed an S-shaped association between the serum JAML and DKD occurrence, and an L-shaped association of serum nesfatin-1 or 25(OH)D with the risk of DKD. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that individuals in the highest tertile of serum JAML level had a significantly greater risk of developing DKD than those in the lowest tertile where confounders were controlled (JAML: OR 5.70, 95%CI 2.66–12.22, P < 0.001), in contrast, individuals in the highest tertile of serum nesfatin-1 or 25(OH)D had a significantly lower risk of DKD progression than those in the lowest tertile where confounders were controlled (nesfatin-1: OR 0.21, 95%CI 0.10–0.44, P < 0.001; 25(OH)D: OR 0.19, 95%CI 0.08–0.45, P < 0.001). The ROC curves showed that the serum JAML levels were better than nesfatin-1 or 25(OH)D at predicting DKD, with an optimal cutoff value of 289.47 pg/mL. Finally, a nomogram model based on the above three indicators combined with a history of hypertension, course of diabetes, and history of diabetic complications of retinopathy achieved a predictive accuracy of 87.2% in predicting DKD in T2DM population. Elevated serum JAML levels whereas decreased serum nesfatin-1 and 25(OH)D levels were associated with a greater risk of DKD in patients with T2DM. A nomogram model based on this could more accurately predict the risk of DKD in individuals with T2DM.