bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A clinical case of a patient after COVID 19 infection and a thrombus in the right atrium, deep phlebothrombosis, and pulmonary embolism
Authors: Tasheva I. , Miletieva M.
Published: September 2022

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19 disease) leads to multiple organ disease, inflammation of the endothelium, and micro- or macrovasculitis that may result in thrombosis of the small vessels, and thrombosis of vessels in various organs, as well as intracardiac thrombosis. Some of the complications may be long-lasting, as in our case, which makes it particularly interesting to discuss. Case report: We present a 73-year-old male patient with a history of permanent atrial fibrillation and chronic heart failure (II NYHA class), popliteal phlebothrombosis, and surgery of the left hip joint. 53 days after a positive rapid test for Covid 19 performed because of fever and coughing, the patient, who is not vaccinated for Covid 19, was hospitalised at our Department with clinical signs of mild respiratory failure and cardiogenic shock.  The laboratory tests revealed elevated markers of inflammation. The ECG showed tachyarrhythmia (170/min) and atrial fibrillation. The EchoCG displayed evidence of right systolic dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, and a massive thrombus in the right atrium. The Doppler ultrasonography revealed the presence of right femoropopliteal thrombosis, while the CT-pulmoangiography showed evidence of massive bilateral PE. A decision was made to perform systemic fibrinolysis, which the patient tolerated without complications. During the hospitalisation, the examinations revealed no evidence of an oncological disease. Conclusion: The reported clinical case confirms the high risk of thrombosis due to a COVID-19 infection, such as phlebothrombosis, atrial thrombosis, and massive bilateral PE, in the absence of optimal anticoagulant therapy and against the backdrop of the administration of antiplatelet therapy roughly 2 months after the onset of the COVID-19 symptoms.
Thrombophilia in Budd-Chiari syndrome patient
Authors: Dimitrova V. , Petrov I. , Zlatareva N.
Published: September 2022

A 27-years old female patient presented with a severe general condition of generalized edema and hypotension. Two months earlier computed tomography imaged thrombosis of the inferior vena cava and the three hepatic veins, or Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Additional findings were thrombosis of the right common iliac vein and thrombosis of the renal veins bilaterally. Genetic testing proved congenital thrombophilia. Anticoagulation therapy did not affect thrombotic occlusions. In another cardiovascular center, an unsuccessful attempt for interventional treatment of the inferior vena cava with a jugular approach was made. The patient was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation and decision on treatment strategy. Laboratory and non-invasive imaging at admission rejected hepatic cirrhosis. An abdominal ultrasound scan demonstrated complete occlusion of the three hepatic veins and post hepatic portal hypertension. When thrombosis of all hepatic veins was detected transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was an option. An endovascular strategy for inferior vena cava was undertaken and complete revascularization was achieved with the right femoral approach as a bridge to TIPS shunt procedure, since the patient didn’t meet the criteria for liver transplantation. In diagnosing disease, the main contributors were the gastroenterologist, diagnostic imaging specialist, and hematologist, while the multidisciplinary team included also cardiologist, interventional cardiologist, and angiologist. In this case the multidisciplinary decisions played a major role in diagnosing and building an appropriate therapeutic strategy for systemic illnesses and conditions for which medical guidance does not yet have clear guidelines.
Infrared thermography imaging as a diagnostic tool in the case of acute lower limb ischemia
Authors: Vasilev S. , Petrov I. , Stankov Z. , Janevska L. , Adam G.
Published: September 2022

Atherosclerosis is the major cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the world. It is a multifocal disease that leads to plaque formation and subsequent ischemia in the arteries of the body. Atherosclerotic obstructive peripheral artery disease causes disturbance of blood delivery to the tissues, which can be translated as temperature decrease on the skin surface, making surface temperature an important indicator of vascular health. Even though there are many classical diagnostic tools for assessing patients with peripheral vascular dysfunction, they have many limitations. On the other hand, infrared thermography imaging presents a noninvasive, relatively cheap, quick and reliable method that does not require direct doctor-to-patient contact. It provides a real time screening information of the tissue perfusion, based on the skin surface temperature. In this article, we present a case of a patient with type B aortic dissection, treated with an endovascular approach. A postprocedural closure device complication led to an acute left lower limb ischemia during the night, which was promptly diagnosed with the help of an onsite high-resolution infrared thermography optimized by specialized AI based software performed by the physician on duty followed by remote evaluation by the operator. The obstruction was treated immediately with successful endovascular recanalization and flow restoration and again evaluated with the thermographic camera confirming excellent tissue vascular result. Infrared thermography imaging can be a time-saving method for physicians, while being a very convenient method for the patient and that is why we advocate on the usage of specialized software supported high resolution thermography imaging as a supplementary diagnostic modality for patients with peripheral artery disease.
Renal denervation in clinical practice: treating patients with high cardiovascular risk
Authors: Petrov I. , Stankov Z. , Stoykova J. , Vasilev S.
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Arterial hypertension is the most common correctable risk factor for death worldwide. Achievement of therapeutic goal is hampered by multiple factors including non-adherence to drug therapy and individual physiological resistance. Objective: We aimed to determine the efficacy of renal denervation in lowering SBP and DBP at 1st and 6th month, in patients at high cardiovascular risk, in whom lowering BP would possibly also result in risk reduction and lower incidence of future cardiovascular events. Methods: The procedure was performed in 39 patients with resistant hypertension admitted to the University Hospital „Acibadem City Clinic – Cardiovascular Center“ (Sofia) for the period January 2017–June 2020. Access was via brachial artery and the Simplicity Spiral catheters were used, at an average of 19.5 ablation points per artery. The number of complications, as well as the mean systolic and diastolic BP values at 1st and 6th month were recorded. Baseline, risk profile and follow-up medical treatment of the study group was monitored. Results: In the study group, the predominant risk factors were dyslipidemia, age, diabetes mellitus, with 21 patients (53.84%) already having clinically significant atherosclerosis – a realized heart attack, stroke, peripheral or coronary revascularization. At follow-up, a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic BP (blood pressure) values was observed. At the first month, the fall in SBP (systolic blood pressure) was –17.8 mm Hg, with a persistent reduction in the range of –14.5 mm Hg at 6th month. In terms of DBP (diastolic BP), the mean reduction at the first month was –8.9 mm Hg and at the 6th month it was –7.2 mm Hg. Regarding antihypertensive treatment, there was a mild reduction in the intake of antihypertensive drugs. Conclusion: Substantial proportion of people with hypertension have uncontrolled hypertension (both treatment resistant and due to non-adherence to treatment or due to additional pathophysiological mechanisms). Renal denervation has proven effective and safe in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and high cardiovascular risk profile
BiodivBank: designing a global repository and portal for structured biodiversity data
Authors: Kazem Anahita , Koenig-Ries Birgitta , Pereira Henrique , Chase Jonathan
Published: September 2022

Our goal is to mobilize global species abundance and assemblage information, via a dedicated and openly accessible data repository and web portal. Preservation of raw observational data is a complement to the modelled geographic projections that are the focus of related projects such as the EBV Data Portal, which provides access to EBV (Essential Biodiversity Variables) raster datasets. Key to this effort is an emphasis on the use of standardized terms to ensure interoperability with other services, as well as annotation of (meta)data fields and values to aid discoverability and create a product that adheres to the FAIR data principles, requesting data to be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (Wilkinson et al. 2016). For example, retrieval and storage of globally unique, persistent and resolvable identifiers for core aspects of the data such as taxon names and geospatial locations can serve not only to underpin more advanced search functionality for portal users, but also facilitate future efforts to link open data within online knowledge networks. However addressing social challenges may be equally important in determining the success of the portal. Where do we fit within the biodiversity data landscape and how can we incentivize researchers to submit datasets? What is our data policy? How should we retain provenance and ensure visibility for data providers? Sometimes the choice of a technical solution can itself lower social barriers, for example by providing an intuitive graphical interface to ease upload of the detailed methodological metadata characteristic of these event-based datasets, or by blurring geographic coordinates in order to reduce the risk that threatened species are located. We will present our plans for the web platform currently under construction, and welcome comment on them, to ensure that the portal meets the needs of a diverse range of potential stakeholders.
Assessing Identification Accuracy of Research Grade iNaturalist Observations in Lichens and other Taxonomically Difficult Organisms
Authors: Allen Jessica , McMullin R. Troy
Published: September 2022

Community science-generated biodiversity data can provide essential information for understanding species distributions, behaviors and conservation statuses. However, their utility can be limited due to high uncertainty and variability in quality, especially for small taxonomically difficult organisms like fungi and insects. One important set of community-generated data that are increasingly used by scientists are Research Grade (RG) iNaturalist observations. These observations are aggregated into the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database. Here we assessed the accuracy of RG lichen observations in iNaturalist. Lichens are mutualistic symbioses formed between fungi and a photosynthetic partner, either algae or cyanobacteria that occur in every terrestrial ecosystem on the planet (Brodo et al. 2001). They are sensitive indicators of environmental health, especially air quality, and provide essental food and nesting material for animals, along with performing many other ecosystem services (Allen and Lendemer 2021, Brodo et al. 2001, Nimis et al. 2002). We examined hundreds of observations and determined if the identification was correct, if it was not possible to identify the observation given the data provided, or if the identification was incorrect. Identification accuracy of selected species varied widely, from zero observations with enough information for correct identification (e.g., Rhizocarpon geographicum and Cladonia chlorophaea) to 100% correct identifications (e.g., Cetradonia linearis and Physconia subpallida, McMullin and Allen 2022). Most frequently, species that require microscopic examination or chemical tests for accurate identification were unable to be verified versus those that require only macromorphology. We provide a series of suggestions for best practices to improve the quality of RG observations and thus the utility of community-generated observation data for taxonomically difficult organisms.
New species of awl-head katydids, Cestrophorus and Acanthacara, from the Andes of Ecuador (Orthoptera, Conocephalinae, Cestrophorini)
Authors: Braun Holger , Morris Glenn K.
Published: September 2022

The Cestrophorini are small katydids of Ecuador’s montane rainforest bearing a prominent awl-shaped fastigium verticis. They are unusual among Conocephalinae in lacking pre-tympanic ear chambers: their eardrums are exposed on their fore tibiae. There are presently two genera, Cestrophorus Redtenbacher, 1891 and Acanthacara Scudder, 1869. Awl-head habitat includes both climax forest and anthropogenically disturbed areas (e.g., pastures, roadsides) on lower slopes in the drainage of the volcanoes Aliso, Chiles and Tungurahua. At night, males perch on low vegetation and stridulate to attract females. To three extant species, we add a further seven, two in Cestrophorus and five in Acanthacara. Male calling songs were recorded and analyzed for all three Cestrophorus species and for three of the Acanthacara spp. We describe and discuss the waveforms of their sinusoid and transient sound pulses in time and frequency domains.
Population mortality in the central Russia municipalities
Authors: Fattakhov Timur A. , Mironova Anna A.
Published: September 2022

The Central Federal District (CFD) is the most populous district in Russia, as of the beginning of 2021, 27% of the Russian population lived out there. However, the CFD mortality rate is characterized by a significant variation across different territories of the District. The purpose of this study is to assess the CFD territorial differentiation of mortality rate based on life expectancy with a breakdown on municipalities in 2010-2019. Life expectancy by CFD municipality and urban district was based on information about population size of the CDF municipalities and urban districts, obtained from the database on municipalities for the period 2010-2020 and individual non-personalized Rosstat (Federal State Statistics Service) data on cause-of-death mortality. A total of 326 municipalities and 63 urban districts were included in the analysis. A total of 11.5 thousand life tables were developed. The analysis shows a significant differentiation of mortality rate at the municipal level. Even though the CFD life expectancy is above the Russian average mainly due to high levels of life expectancy in Moscow, the vast majority of the CFD municipalities report a life expectancy below the Russian average.

The worst situation with mortality in the CFD is developed in municipalities with a population of less than 10 thousand people. The main factor for a high gap in life expectancy across territories and gender is a high male mortality in working ages. There are significant reserves of for life expectancy growth within the CFD. These reserves are concentrated in the regional capitals with adjacent municipalities, as well as other large municipalities with a population over 100 thousand people.
Les protestants à Nantes et Saint-Nazaire au XIX e siècle : leur action au service du développement urbain et portuaire
Authors: Nicol Charles
Published: September 2022

Nantes occupe le premier rang des ports français jusqu’au milieu du xviii e  siècle. Le décret d’abolition de l’esclavage, l’indépendance de Saint-Domingue, le blocus continental et la fin du commerce triangulaire provoquent l’effondrement du trafic portuaire au début du xix e  siècle. Dans le même temps, le développement de l’empire colonial français et la révolution industrielle entraînent la transformation du port de commerce en port de production industrielle. Une génération d’entrepreneurs protestants s’oriente alors vers de nouvelles activités commerciales et métallurgiques. Comme dans la plupart des grands ports européens, les protestants de Nantes sont très actifs en affaires durant cette période. Ils sont armateurs, négociants ou bien encore manufacturiers, mais aussi ouvriers et employés. Les liens entre protestants et activités portuaires à Nantes sont anciens puisqu’ils sont présents sur le port dès le xvi e  siècle avant d’en être chassés à la révocation de l’Édit de Nantes en 1685. Et c’est par le biais d’étrangers originaires de Suisse et d’Europe du nord que le protestantisme renaît à Nantes lorsque le culte réformé est officialisé dès 1803. Plus en aval, sur la Loire, Saint-Nazaire, la ville nouvelle, concurrence considérablement l’activité du port nantais. De nombreux acteurs, en responsabilité sur les quais, en mairie ou à la Chambre de commerce sont de confession protestante. Cette étude analyse comment cette minorité, par sa capacité à s’investir, contribua de façon décisive à la mutation de l’espace urbano-portuaire de Nantes/Saint-Nazaire au xix e  siècle.
Il est temps pour la gestion des âges de prendre sa retraite : une revue de littérature
Authors: Salmon Isabelle , Juban Jean-Yves , Abord de Chatillon Emmanuel
Published: September 2022

Malgré l’augmentation du taux d’emploi des seniors, le succès des politiques visant à l’allongement de la vie professionnelle reste mitigé. Notre revue de littérature interroge le rôle que joue le concept de gestion des âges dans ce relatif échec. Nous mettons en évidence ses défauts de construction, et notamment le fait qu’il néglige la question majeure de la santé et des conditions de travail. Puis nous proposons le concept de gestion de l’employabilité et des parcours par la santé au travail (ou GEPaST), spécifiquement pensé pour remettre la santé au cœur du débat.
Seismic performance of ductile corrosion-free reinforced concrete frames
Authors: Meshaly Mohamed E. , Youssef Maged A. , Elansary Ahmed A.
Published: September 2022

Corrosion of steel bars is the main cause of the deterioration of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. To avoid this problem, steel rebars can be replaced with glass-fiber-reinforced-polymer (GFRP). However, the brittle behaviour of GFRP RC elements has limited their use in many applications. The use of shape memory alloy (SMA) and/or stainless steel (SS) rebars can solve this problem, because of their ductile behaviour and corrosion resistance. However, their high price is a major obstacle. To address issues of ductility, corrosion, and cost, this paper examines the hybrid use of GFRP, SS, and SMA in RC frames. The use of SMA provides an additional advantage as it reduces seismic residual deformations. Three frames were designed. A steel RC frame, SS-GFRP RC frame, and SMA-SS-GFRP RC frame. The design criteria for the two GFRP RC frames followed previous research by the authors, which aimed at having approximately equal lateral resistance, stiffness, and ductility for GFRP and steel RC frames. The three frames were then analyzed using twenty seismic records. Their seismic performance confirmed the success of the adopted design methodology in achieving corrosion-free frames that provide adequate seismic performance.
Path planning and collision avoidance methods for distributed multi-robot systems in complex dynamic environments
Authors: Yang Zhen , Li Junli , Yang Liwei , Wang Qian , Li Ping , Xia Guofeng
Published: September 2022

Multi-robot systems are experiencing increasing popularity in joint rescue, intelligent transportation, and other fields. However, path planning and navigation obstacle avoidance among multiple robots, as well as dynamic environments, raise significant challenges. We propose a distributed multi-mobile robot navigation and obstacle avoidance method in unknown environments. First, we propose a bidirectional alternating jump point search A* algorithm (BAJPSA*) to obtain the robot's global path in the prior environment and further improve the heuristic function to enhance efficiency. We construct a robot kinematic model based on the dynamic window approach (DWA), present an adaptive navigation strategy, and introduce a new path tracking evaluation function that improves path tracking accuracy and optimality. To strengthen the security of obstacle avoidance, we modify the decision rules and obstacle avoidance rules of the single robot and further improve the decision avoidance capability of multi-robot systems. Moreover, the mainstream prioritization method is used to coordinate the local dynamic path planning of our multi-robot systems to resolve collision conflicts, reducing the difficulty of obstacle avoidance and simplifying the algorithm. Experimental results show that this distributed multi-mobile robot motion planning method can provide better navigation and obstacle avoidance strategies in complex dynamic environments, which provides a technical reference in practical situations.
Social Contact Patterns Associated With Tuberculosis: A Case-control Study in Southwest Iran
Authors: Amoori Neda , Cheraghian Bahman , Amini Payam , Mohammad Alavi Seyed
Published: September 2022

Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern worldwide. Social contact patterns can affect the epidemiology and risk of airborne diseases such as TB. This study was designed to investigate the social contact patterns associated with TB.Methods: In this case-control study, groups of participants with and without TB were matched by age and sex. Participants reported the nature, location, frequency, and average duration of social contacts over 1 month. The duration and number of social and spatial contacts were compared between groups using the chi-square test and the t-test. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to quantify the relationship between social contact time and TB status. Data were analyzed using Stata version 11 statistical software. A p-value of <0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.Results: In this study, 80 patients with TB and 172 control participants were included, and a total of 3545 social contacts were registered. Social contact with family members (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.40), contact with a person with TB (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.01), and contact at the participant’s home (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.82) were significantly associated with TB status.Conclusions: The duration of long-term social contact, rather than the number of contacts, may be the main contact-related factor associated with TB transmission in this population. The focus of contact-tracing efforts should be on finding and treating both family members and long-term contacts in non-household settings.
A Comparative Study of Privacy-Preserving Homomorphic Encryption Techniques in Cloud Computing
Authors: Joshi Bineet , Joshi Bansidhar , Mishra Anupama , Arya Varsha , Gupta Avadhesh Kumar , Peraković Dragan
Published: September 2022

In cloud computing, a third party hosts a client's data, which raises privacy and security concerns. To maintain privacy, data should be encrypted by cryptographic techniques. However, encrypting the data makes it unsuitable for indexing and fast processing, as data needs to be decrypted to plain text before it can be further processed. Homomorphic encryption helps to overcome this shortcoming by allowing users to perform operations on encrypted data without decryption. Many academics have attempted to address the issue of data security, but none have addressed the issue of data privacy in cloud computing as thoroughly as this study has. This paper discusses the challenges involved in maintaining the privacy of cloud-based data and the techniques used to address these challenges. It was identified that homomorphic encryption is the best solution of all. This work also identified and compared the various homomorphic encryption schemes which are capable of ensuring the privacy of data in cloud storage and ways to implement them through libraries.
Sentiment Analysis-Based Categorized Opinions Expressed in Feedback Forums Using Deep Learning Technique and Message Queue Architecture
Authors: Kumar Upendra
Published: September 2022

Sentiment analysis is a sub-field of natural language processing (NLP). In sentiment analysis the sentiment behind the piece of data is tried to know, this data can be a review of a product by a customer or a comment on some social media platform. Analysing large amounts of data is still an easy task for small retail websites and business owners. Deep learning (DL) has made a great revolution in the field of speech and image recognition. Mature deep learning neural network i.e. convolution neural network (CNN) has completely changed the field of NLP. This paper proposed a high accuracy, efficient, scalable, reliable and secure solution to cater all the needs of business owners and institutes for sentiment analysis with DL model, a browser based GUI interface for easy accessibility to all the non-technical folks and a dashboard having graphical representations of their results. The proposed sentiment analysis based model has achieved 93.55% accuracy which has outperformed other models.
Machine Learning-Based COVID-19 Classification Using E-Adopted CT Scans
Authors: Palanivinayagam Ashokkumar , Kumar V. Vinoth , Mahesh T. R. , Singh Krishna Kant , Singh Akansha
Published: September 2022

In recent years, several machine learning models were successfully deployed in various fields. However, a huge quantity of data is required for training good machine learning. Data are distributivity stored across multiple sources and centralizing those data leads to privacy and security issues. To solve this problem, the proposed federated-based method works by exchanging the parameters of three locally trained machine learning models without compromising privacy. Each machine learning model uses the e-adoption of CT scans for improving their training knowledge. The CT scans are electronically transferred between various medical centers. Proper care is taken to prevent identify loss from the e-adopted data. To normalize the parameters, a novel weighting scheme is also exchanged along with the parameters. Thus, the global model is trained with more heterogeneous samples to increase performance. Based on the experiment, the proposed algorithm has obtained 89% of accuracy, which is 32% more than the existing machine learning models.
Frequency Domain Transformations and CNNs to Predict Unlabeled Shark Behavior With GPS Data
Authors: Farthing Geoffrey Daniel , Yeh Hen-Guel
Published: September 2022

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of frequency domain transformations applied to convolutional neural networks (CNN) to model and predict unlabeled shark behavior in the open ocean with GPS position data. The frequency domain-based CNN networks are compared against the time domain CNN to contrast the two CNN architectures. The shark behavior data were obtained through two datasets where tri-axis accelerometer data were collected from live sharks. The first dataset was from the CSULB Shark Lab and consisted of labeled shark behavior into four shark behavioral categories. The second dataset used in this study was unlabeled and recorded from sharks in the open ocean and had GPS positioning data and depth data points. Findings show that the CNN architecture based on the frequency domain slightly outperforms time-based CNNs for classifying California horn shark behavior. Through spectral density analysis, prominent features are extracted and allow for distinguishing the shark behaviors.
COVID-19 Diagnosis by Multiple-Distance Gray-Level Cooccurrence Matrix and Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Jiang Xiaoyan , Brown Mackenzie , Cheong Hei-Ran , Hu Zuojin
Published: September 2022

COVID-19 is extremely contagious and has brought serious harm to the world. Many researchers are actively involved in the study of rapid and reliable diagnostic methods for COVID-19. The study proposes a novel approach to COVID-19 diagnosis. The multiple-distance gray-level co-occurrence matrix (MDGLCM) was used to analyze chest CT images, the GA algorithm was used as an optimizer, and the feedforward neural network was used as a classifier. The results of 10 runs of 10-fold cross-validation show that the proposed method has a sensitivity of 83.38±1.40, a specificity of 81.15±2.08, a precision of 81.59±1.57, an accuracy of 82.26±0.96, an F1-score of 82.46±0.88, an MCC of 64.57±1.90, and an FMI of 82.47±0.88. The proposed MDGLCM-GA-based COVID-19 diagnosis method outperforms the other six state-of-the-art methods.
Formal Verification and Implementation of an E-Voting System
Authors: Meghzili Said , Chaoui Allaoua , Elmansouri Raida , Alloui Bardis Nadjla , Bouabsa Amina
Published: September 2022

The organization of free, democratic, and transparent elections requires on the one hand an independent national electoral authority that manages all the stages of the electoral process and on the other hand the use of new information and communication techniques to manage the election process. E-voting offers the ability to vote online anytime and from anywhere using a computer, smartphone, or tablet. In addition, it saves time and reduces costs and effort spent in the process. However, the security of e-voting applications deployed on the internet is a difficult task due to the increasing number of cyber-attacks and application vulnerabilities. On the other hand, blockchain technology is an emerging technology with a strong cryptographic foundation. In this paper, the authors propose a new secure e-voting system based on Ethereum blockchain. In addition, they propose a hierarchical coloured petri net (HCPN) model for their e-voting system using CPN Tools. They verify by means of simulation techniques and state space analysis important properties such as absence of deadlocks and livelocks.
Solution of the Multi-Objective Optimal Power Flow Problem Using Oppositional-Based Algorithm
Authors: Raval Nilkanth , Bhattacharjee Kuntal , Chatterjee Soumesh
Published: September 2022

An efficient optimal power flow (OPF) algorithm allows the finest setting of the plant by solving multi-objective optimization problem to minimise the overall operating cost. This paper proposes the quasi oppositional backtrack search algorithm (QOBSA) for optimal setting of OPF control variables. The QOBSA is stochastic algorithm which gives committed and robust results compared to the traditional methods. This technique has been implemented to test the control parameters for the IEEE 30-bus with single and multi-objective functions like the minimization of fuel cost, minimization of total voltage deviation (TVD), voltage stability enhancement, emission reduction, and multi-fuel cost minimization. The result provides better voltage profile at every bus based on L-index which in turn greatly reduces the burden on load buses. The QOBSA code has been developed in the MATLAB platform and tested with the help of IEEE 30-bus and the outcomes have been compared with ongoing literature.
Analysis of Student Study of Virtual Learning Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Singh Neha , Jaiswal Umesh Chandra
Published: September 2022

Since COVID-19 was released, online education has taken center stage. Educational performance analysis is a central topic in virtual classrooms and across the spectrum of academic institutions. This research analyzed students' studies in virtual learning using many machine-learning classifiers, which include LogitBoost, Logistic Regression, J48, OneR, Multilayer Perceptron, and Naive Bayes, to find the ideal one that produces the best outcomes. This research evaluates algorithms based on recall, precision, and f-measure to determine their efficacy. Accordingly, the authors try to perform a comparative analysis of the algorithms in this research by employing two distinct test models: the use of training sets and the 10 cross-fold models. The research results demonstrate that the training set model outperforms the 10 cross-fold model. The findings demonstrate that the multilayer perceptron classifier utilizing the use training set model performs much better in terms of predicting student study in virtual learning.
A Comprehensive Review of Map-Matching Techniques
Authors: Gupta Ajay Kumar , Shanker Udai
Published: September 2022

The map matching method gets simpler with higher precision positioning systems, but because the positioning framework is still not sufficiently precise or too costly for marginal map matching in practice, it is still a hot research domain. Several researchers have worked on map-matching methods and reported their finding of in-depth studies of domain. This literature review provides extensive information on the above map-matching methods related to digital maps with respect to convergence and outline the problems, information sources, as well as future demands identified by industry/society. It focuses on past research work approaches, implementations, capabilities, and their weaknesses using linear search and citation chaining. Finally, this work concludes with recommendations of the future direction of research and ideas to develop new algorithms for advanced applications.
Deep Convolutional Neural Networks With Transfer Learning for Automobile Damage Image Classification
Authors: Tian Xiaoguang , Han Henry
Published: September 2022

Deep learning models are more capable of handling large and complex datasets that generally appear in the insurance industry than traditional machine learning models. In this study, transfer learning was employed to build and optimize a simulated automobile damage assessment system. Several classic deep learning methods were applied to extract features from original and augmented automobile damage images. Then, traditional machine learning and cross-validation techniques were applied to train and validate the system. The proposed deep learning model demonstrated advantages over traditional machine learning models regarding features extraction and accuracy. Deep learning approaches fused with logistic regression and support vector machine were found performing as well as those with artificial neural networks under two simulated scenarios. With the proposed method, automobile damage images can be evaluated for insurance adjustment purposes automatically, based on the acquired input. Hence, insurers can automate the claim and adjustment process, thereby achieving cost and time savings.
A menopausal transition model based on transition theory
Authors: Kim Jisoon , Ahn Sukhee
Published: September 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to construct a hypothetical model based on Meleis and colleagues’ Transition Theory and a literature review to explain women’s menopausal transition, constructing a modified model considering previous studies and model fit and testing the effects between variables.Methods: With a correlational survey design, middle-aged Korean women aged 40 to 64 years who had experienced menopausal symptoms were recruited and filled out a self-administered study questionnaire. Measures included menopausal symptoms, resilience, social support, menopause management, menopause adaptation, and quality of life. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 24.0.Results: The model fit indices were considered acceptable: χ2/degree of freedom=2.93, standardized root mean residual=.07, comparative fit index=.90, and parsimonious normed fit index=.73. All eight direct-effect paths—from menopausal symptoms to support and adaptation, from support to adaptation and resilience, from resilience to adaptation and management, from management to quality of life, and from adaptation to quality of life—were significant. The explanatory power of the menopause transition model was 63.6%.Conclusion: Women who experience menopausal symptoms may be able to maintain and improve their quality of life if menopause management and menopause adaptation are successful through resilience and social support. Future research is needed to confirm whether strengthening facilitation as a nursing intervention strategy may promote healthy response patterns.
Informed choice of pregnant women regarding noninvasive prenatal testing in Korea: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Choi Hyunkyung
Published: September 2022

Purpose: This study explored the degree to which pregnant women in Korea made informed choices regarding noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and investigated factors influencing whether they made informed choices.Methods: In total, 129 pregnant women in Korea participated in a web-based survey. Multidimensional measures of informed choice regarding NIPT and decisional conflict were used to measure participants’ levels of knowledge, attitudes, deliberation, uptake, and decisional conflict related to NIPT. Additional questions were asked about participants’ NIPT experiences and opinions.Results: All 129 pregnant women were recruited from an online community. Excluding those who expressed neutral attitudes toward NIPT, according to the definition of informed choice used in this study, only 91 made an informed choice (n=63, 69.2%) or an uninformed choice (n=28, 30.8%). Of the latter, 75.0% had insufficient knowledge, 39.3% made a value-inconsistent decision, and 14.3% did not deliberate sufficiently. No difference in decisional conflict was found between the two groups. A significant difference was found between the two groups in the reasons why NIPT was introduced or recommended (p=.021). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women who were knowledgeable (odds ratio [OR], 4.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.17–10.47) and deliberated (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57–0.98) were significantly more likely to make an informed choice.Conclusion: The results of this study help healthcare providers, including nurses in maternity units, understand pregnant women’s experiences of NIPT. Counseling strategies are needed to improve pregnant women’s knowledge of NIPT and create an environment that promotes deliberation regarding this decision.
Alternative revisions of the American Standard Version (1901) and retranslations within the Tyndale–King James Version tradition
Authors: Naudé Jacobus A. , Miller-Naudé Cynthia L.
Published: September 2022

In this essay, we demonstrate that in addition to the Revised Standard Version and its revisions as part of the linear emergence of the Tyndale–King James Version tradition in the 20th and 21st centuries, there are also alternative revisions and retranslations of the King James Version (KJV) of 1611 as literal or word-for-word translations, which emerge as divergent branches. The revisions of the American Standard Version (ASV) (1901) emerged in the following branches, namely the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and its revisions, The Amplified Bible (AB) and its revisions, as well as The Living Bible, Paraphrased and its retranslation, the New Living Translation (NLT). Then there are revisions that emerged as alternatives to the Revised Standard Version (1946–1952/1971) by reverting to the King James Revised (Blayney) Edition (1769) as their incipient text rather than the ASV, namely The Modern King James Version (MKJV) (and similar revisions), The New King James Version (NKJV) and the New Cambridge Paragraph Bible. Finally, there are retranslations within the Tyndale–King James Version tradition, namely the Contemporary English Version (CEV), and the Common English Bible (CEB). The diversity reflects the search for individual identity to satisfy particular reader expectations in an age of digital-media interpretive culture featuring broad universal values.Contribution: Instead of viewing the revisions and retranslations within the Tyndale–King James Version tradition since the second half of the 20th century as new and independent, it is demonstrated that the various branches and their versions rather continue the emergence of the pre-20th century translation complex within this tradition to satisfy particular reader expectations.
Genetic diversity of Leishmania donovani isolates from cutaneous lesions of military personnel in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Authors: Wijerathna Tharaka , Gunathilaka Nayana , Semege Saveen , Pathirana Nishantha , Rodrigo Wasana , Fernando Deepika
Published: September 2022

Objective:

To compare the DNA sequences of Leishmania (L.)donovani isolated from individuals in two districts of the Northern Province with other parts of Sri Lanka and neighboring countries.

Methods:

Samples were collected from military personnel at the Army Hospital, Narahenpita, Sri Lanka from November 2018 to March 2020. A portion of the samples was fixed, stained with Giemsa and observed under the light microscope. The genomic The DNA was extracted from the remaining portion of the samples using DNEasy blood tissue kit (Qiagen, Germany) and amplified using Leishmania genus-specific primers for molecular diagnosis initially. DNA was amplified using L. donovani species-specific primers by PCR and the amplified product was sequenced for comparison of nucleotide sequences.

Results:

Out of 76 suspected patients, at least one biological sample of 45 (59.2%) was positive for L. amastigotes upon microscopy. Overall, 33 (43.4%) were positive in Leishmania genus-specific PCR, but only 23 (30.3%) were positive in L. donovani specific PCR. The dendrogram indicates that the current sequences clustered together with those from Nepal and Gampaha districts (Western Province), Sri Lanka, while the Indian and Eastern African sequences clustered separately.

Conclusions:

The genetic diversity was low among the isolates, indicating a single and possibly a local point of origin. However, the similarity of Sri Lankan and Nepal strains indicate a possibility of a shared point of origin, which needs more extensive evidence to confirm.
A cross–sectional study of post–COVID syndrome at a tertiary care center in Turkey
Authors: Guzel Efraim , Toprak Oya Baydar , Mete Burak , Sayg.deger Yasemin , Curuk Bengu , Kuleci Sedat
Published: September 2022

Objective:

To investigate long-term symptoms after acute COVID-19, the link between symptoms and respiratory function, radiological changes in the post-COVID period, and risk factors for post-COVID syndrome.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, 123 participants who were admitted within the first 3 months were categorized as group 1, and those who applied after 3 months were categorized as group 2. According to thoracic imaging and pulmonary function tests, patients were split into 3 groups as mild, moderate and severe.

Results:

At least one symptom was present in 91.9% and 61.8% in acute and post-COVID period, respectively. Pulmonary function tests were normal in 60 (70.6%) in the first three months, and 30 (78.9%) in 91-days to 1-year period after acute COVID-19 infection. After 3 months, 22.4% of chest X-rays and 7.9% of computerized tomography revealed progression. Patients who developed acute complications (OR 9.91, 95% Cl 1.93-50.87), had 2 or more symptoms at admission (OR 7.73, 95% CI 2.56-23.33), had 1% to 14% CT involvement (OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.06-8.79), or had 50% or more CT involvement (OR 14.68, 95% CI 1.24-172.55) had a higher risk of developing post-COVID syndrome.

Conclusions:

COVID-19 symptoms can last for long time. Severity of symptoms, acute complications, and the extent of radiological involvement may all contribute to elevated risk of post-COVID syndrome. As a result, patients with COVID-19 should be checked for long-term clinical difficulties on regular basis.
L–carnitine improves developmental competence of buffalo oocytes in vitro
Authors: Modak Avijit Kumar , Islam Nuronnabi , Khatun Asma , Alam Hasanur , Akter Ireen , Kabir AKM Ahsan , Hashem Abul , Moniruzzaman Mohammad
Published: September 2022

Objective:

To investigate the effect of L-carnitine on in vitro maturation and subsequent in vitro embryo production of buffalo oocytes.

Methods:

Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from ovaries of slaughtered buffaloes. COCs were classified into good and fair qualities based on morphological observation of numbers and integrity of cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte. Both categories of COCs were placed in in vitro maturation medium with supplementation of different concentrations (0, 0.250, 0.375 or 0.500 mg/mL) of L-carnitine. Oocytes from both qualities were in vitro fertilized and in vitro cultured for 7 days, to examine the developmental competence.

Results:

Supplementation of L-carnitine to in vitro maturation medium increased the cumulus cell expansion rate of COCs to grade A, and reduced the cumulus cell expansion of COCs to grade B and grade C in both good and fair quality oocytes. Similarly, L-carnitine induced the in vitro meiotic progression of buffalo oocytes to metaphase Π in both good and fair quality oocytes. Additionally, L-carnitine reduced the rate of oocyte degeneration in both good and fair quality oocytes. L-carnitine increased the rate of cleaved formation at day 2 and blastocyst formation at day 7 during in vitro culture in both qualities of oocytes. Moreover, a higher rate of blastocyst production was observed in L-carnitine-treated fair quality oocytes, which was higher than the results in the untreated good quality oocytes.

Conclusions:

L-carnitine enhances meiotic maturation and subsequent embryo development from both good and fair quality buffalo oocytes.
Efficacy and Safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine Combined with Western Medicine for the Treatment of Covid-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tian Shanshan , Yuan Kai , Zheng Yongbo , Gao Xuejiao , Chen Xuan , Yang Yingbo , Meng Shiqiu , Cao Lu , Shi Le , Yan Wei , Liu Xiaoxing , Shi Jie , Lu Lin , Deng Jiahui , Bao Yanping
Published: September 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread worldwide. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was considered important by Chinese health authorities in the fight against COVID-19. This review systematically analyzed and evaluated the safety and efficacy of TCM combined with Western Medicine (WM) for the treatment of COVID-19. We sought to provide summary evidence for clinicians when using TCM. We searched for studies in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data from database inception to June 1, 2021. Overall, 31 studies (14,579 participants) were involved in the final systematic review, including 15 randomized controlled trials and 16 observational studies. TCM combined with WM showed main outcomes of a higher clinical efficacy rate (odds ratio [OR] =2.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.90–3.24, I
2 = 4%) and lower case fatality rate (OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.19–0.49, I
2 = 80%) compared with WM treatment alone. No significant overall adverse events were found between TCM plus WM group and WM group (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 0.63–2.23, I
2 = 75%). Some larger randomized control trials would assist in defining the effect of TCM combined with WM on the treatment of COVID-19 complications such as cardiac injury. TCM combined with WM may be safe and effective for the treatment of COVID-19.