bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening and production of thrombolytic enzymes from different soil environments in Egypt 1
Authors: Kassab Mohammed
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND:
Thromboembolic disorders including Myocardial infarction[ MI] and stroke represent the leading causes of death worldwide. Fibrinolytic enzymes extracted from microbial sources have shown high efficacy in dissolving various types of blood clots.
AIM OF THE STUDY:
Screening and bacterial recombinant DNA manufacturing of bacterial fibrinolytic enzymes from different soil environments in Egypt.
METHODOLOGY:
A total of 50 soil samples were screened for fibrinolytic enzyme production. The potent fibrinolytic enzyme-producing bacterial isolates were evaluated for their thrombolytic activities using the plasma plate method. The characterization of the enzyme activity and thermostability was carried out; also, the determination of molecular mass using mass spectrometry and western blot technique was performed. The purification of the fibrinolyric enzymes was done through affinity chromatography. On the other hand the production of the purified bacterial fibrinolytic enzyme was achieved via bacterial recombinant DNA technology. Formulation of fibrinolytic enzyme in different dosage forms were tried.
RESULTS:
In the present study the purified bacterial fibrinolytic enzyme was approximately 83% pure through affinity chromatography and SDS-PAGE assay. The predominating bacterial isolate secreting fibrinolytic enzymes found to be Bacillus cereus. The fibrinolytic enzyme activities of 50 soil samples were found to be in the range of 0.167-1.853 U/ ml. The fibrinolytic activity of extracellular enzyme refined from the culture supernatant of Bacillus cereus was relatively stable over PH range from 7.4-10 for 18 hours and also it showed a stability with highest productivity at a temperature of 43 ̊C for nearly 60 minutes. The enzyme was called fibrin-proteinase[ FP] in the present study. The FP degraded the fibrin clots via direct thrombolysis. The specific activity and the molecular mass of the FP were estimated to be nearly 40.71 Units/ mg protein and nearly 30 KDa respectively. Protease activity was noticed to be slightly increased in presence of Fe+3; While it was inhibited in presence of EDTA. On the other hand, the FP fibrinolytic activity was enhanced greatly after addition of monovalent cations such as K+1 and Na +1. Enzyme was also active over temperature range 20- 65 ̊̊C with the highest activity was at 55 ̊C. The optimum temperature and pH of protease production was at 35-43 ̊̊C and pH 8.0-10.
Conclusion:
During the present study, the thermostable fibrinolytic enzyme FP purified from Bacillus cereus in different soil environments in Egypt was a promising fibrinolytic enzyme because it showed a broader efficacious fibrinolytic activity as well as less adverse effects than the current fibrinolytic enzymes globally. It is recommended in the future advanced exploration of the optimization of suitable formulation of bacterial fibrinolytic enzymes to aid in the dissolution of various blood clots and as a consequence overcoming the high rate of mortality globally.
Vaping during pregnancy: A systematic review of health outcomes
Authors: Ussher Michael , Fleming Joy , Brose Leonie
Published: April 2024

Introduction
Smoking during pregnancy is harmful to maternal and child health; vaping is used for smoking cessation but evidence on health effects during pregnancy is scarce. We conducted a systematic review of health outcomes of vaping during pregnancy.
Methods
We searched six databases for maternal/fetal/infant outcomes and vaping, including quantitative, English language, human studies of health consequences of vaping during pregnancy, to November 10th, 2023. We assessed study quality with the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool. We focused on comparisons of exclusive-vaping with non-use of nicotine and tobacco products and with smoking, with narrative presentation.
Results
We included 26 studies, with 765,527 women, with one randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing vaping and nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation, 23 cohort studies and two case-control studies. While the RCT met 4/5 quality criteria, quality of the cohort studies and case-control studies was poor; none adequately assessed exposure to smoking and vaping. For studies comparing exclusive-vaping with ‘non-use’, more reported no increased risk for vaping (three studies) than reported increased risk for maternal pregnancy/postpartum outcomes (one study) and for fetal and infant outcomes (20 studies no increased risk, four increased risk), except for birth-weight and neurological outcomes where two studies each observed increased and no increased risk. When the RCT compared non-users with those not smoking but vaping or using NRT, irrespective of randomisation, they reported no evidence of risk for vaping/NRT. For studies comparing exclusive-vaping and exclusive-smoking, most studies provided evidence for a comparable risk for different outcomes. One maternal biomarker study revealed a lower risk for vaping. For small-for-gestational-age/mean-birth-centile equal numbers of studies found lower risk for vaping than for smoking as found similar risk for the two groups (two each).
Conclusions
While more studies found no evidence of increased risk of exclusive-vaping compared with non-use and evidence of comparable risk for exclusive-vaping and exclusive-smoking, the quality of the evidence limits conclusions. Without adequate assessment of exposure to vaping and smoking, findings cannot be attributed to behaviour as many who vape will have smoked and many who vape may do so at low levels.
Registration number of protocol for this review
https://osf.io/rfx4q/
Extremal properties of max-autoregressive moving average processes for modelling extreme river flows
Authors: D'Arcy Eleanor , Tawn Jonathan A
Published: April 2024

Max-autogressive moving average (Max-ARMA) processes are powerful tools for modelling time series data with heavy-tailed behaviour; these are a non-linear version of the popular autoregressive moving average models. River flow data typically have features of heavy tails and non-linearity, as large precipitation events cause sudden spikes in the data that then exponentially decay. Therefore, stationary Max-ARMA models are a suitable candidate for capturing the unique temporal dependence structure exhibited by river flows. This paper contributes to advancing our understanding of the extremal properties of stationary Max-ARMA processes. We detail the first approach for deriving the extremal index, the lagged asymptotic dependence coefficient, and an efficient simulation for a general Max-ARMA process. We use the extremal properties, coupled with the belief that Max-ARMA processes provide only an approximation to extreme river flow, to fit such a model which can broadly capture river flow behaviour over a high threshold. We make our inference under a reparametrisation which gives a simpler parameter space that excludes cases where any parameter is non-identifiable. We illustrate results for river flow data from the UK River Thames.
Sex dimorphism in pupae and adults of the specialist Ipomoea batatas defoliator Bedellia somnulentella (Lepidoptera: Bedelliidae)
Authors: Pinheiro Rodrigo Almeida , Cabral Maria Jéssica S. , Giordani Samuel C. O. , Zanuncio José C. , Serrão José Eduardo , Santos Conceição A. , Soares Marcus A.
Published: April 2024

Bedellia somnulentella Zeller, 1847 (Lepidoptera: Bedelliidae), a global pest of the sweet potato Ipomoea batatas, was recorded in Brazil, but morphological information on sexual dimorphism of this insect is scarce. The objective was to evaluate morphological characters of sexual dimorphism of B somnulentella pupae and adults. External structures with sexual dimorphism were not detected in the last abdominal segments of B. somnulentella pupae, but the females are heavier and could be a distinctive sex characteristic in this insect. A pair of frenulum on the hind wings of females and only one on those of males, in addition to elongated cerci and bipartite genitalia in the latter and smaller cerci involving the last abdominal segment and an ovipositor in females, differentiate sexes of B. somnulentella.
Cystoid macular oedema after flanged intraocular lens scleral fixation using the Yamane technique: a multicentre cohort study
Authors: Ishikawa Hiroto , Uchida Kazutaka , Terasaki Hiroto , Sakamoto Taiji , Kakinoki Masashi , Ohji Masahito , Jujo Tatsuya , Takagi Hitoshi , Mitamura Yoshinori , Yamada Yutaka , Takamura Yoshihiro , Sugimoto Masahiko , Kondo Mineo , Yoshida Shigeo , Fukuyama Hisashi , Gomi Fumi
Published: April 2024

This retrospective observational multicentre cohort study compared the rate of postoperative cystoid macular oedema (CME) between two intraocular lens (IOL) scleral fixation techniques: a flanged IOL fixation technique (Yamane technique) and a suture IOL transscleral fixation technique (conventional technique). The study included 207 eyes with postoperative CME that had undergone IOL scleral fixation and were observed for > 12 weeks between January 2019 and January 2021. The primary endpoint was a comparison of the rate of postoperative CME at 3 months between groups. Secondary endpoints were a comparison of postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 3 months between groups and an analysis of characteristics associated with postoperative CME in the Yamane technique group. The Yamane technique group developed postoperative CME in 13.0% of eyes at 3 months, compared with 1.9% in the conventional technique group (odds ratio: 7.99, P = 0.045). Postoperative BCVA was consistently significantly higher in the Yamane technique group. Although many retinal surgeons have performed the Yamane technique because of its convenience for IOL scleral fixation, our findings suggest that the Yamane technique carries an increased risk of postoperative CME compared with the conventional suture method. Therefore, careful management of postoperative CME is needed after IOL scleral fixation.
Prevailed Antimicrobial Resistance Correlated with Antimicrobial Exposure of Late-onset Sepsis in Preterm Infants : A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study in China
Authors: Liu Jing , Hou Shanshan , Li Jiahui , Wang Xiaokang , Li Wen , Zhao Changliang , Li Zhongliang , Wang Hui , Zhang Bingjin , Chen Weibing , Zhao Guoying , Yao Guo , Lu Qinghua , Yang Changkun , Zhang Yongfeng , Lu Xiaoli , Li Huan , Yu Yonghui
Published: April 2024

Background.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses increasing threats of mortality among neonates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In response, the WHO classified antibiotics for Children into three groups: Access, Watch, and Reserve. We aimed to present data on AMR of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants by the Access-Watch-Reserve classification and investigate risk factors of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.
Methods.
A prospective observational cohort study was conducted in 31 neonatal intensive care units in China (January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022). Preterm infants (gestational age<32 weeks or birth weight<1500g) were enrolled, and followed up until discharge or death. LOS was defined as occurrence of sepsis after 3 days of life. We identified factors associated with MDR bacteria through multi-variable logistic regression analysis.
Results.
Among 8384 infants, 614 (7.3%) were diagnosed with LOS, of which 338 (55%) were caused by gram-negative bacteria (GNB), 181 (29.5%) by gram-positive bacteria, 95 (15.5%) by fungi. Klebsiella spp. (58.3%), Escherichia coli (13.6%), Enterobacter spp. (8.3%), Acinetobacter baumannii (8.0%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5%) were top five common GNB. Amikacin listed as Access antibiotic had the lowest resistance rates ranging from 0–8.1%. Resistance rates remained high in Watch antibiotics, with ceftriaxone or ceftazidime ranging from 5.9–70.7% and meropenem ranging from 4.3–24.9%. Resistance rates of cefepime, classified as Reserve antibiotic, range from 5.9–40.3%. MDR rates ranged from 5.9–47.7%, and extensively drug-resistant rates from 0–7.6%. Antibiotic spectrum index per antibiotic day and a 10% increase in antibiotic use rate before onset of LOS were associated with MDR bacteria infections (p = 0.041, OR = 1.112, 95% CI 1.005–1.230 and p<0.001, OR = 1.383, 95% CI 1.226–1.560). Case fatality rate was higher among preterm infants with MDR bacteria than non-MDR bacteria infections (20.5% vs 11.4%, P = 0.023).
Conclusions.
GNB predominated in LOS, with a high resistance rate of Watch antibiotics and substantial proportion of MDR bacteria, which had higher mortality rate and were associated with excessive antibiotic exposure before onset of LOS. Conducting AMR surveillance and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship interventions are urgently needed in LMICs.
Characterization of morpho-agronomic traits and powdery mildew resistance in mung bean (Vigna radiata)
Authors: Kitomari Doring J. , Venkataramana Pavithravani B. , Mkindi Angela G. , Belmain Steven R. , Stevenson Philip C.
Published: April 2024

Background: Exploring genetic variation and screening for disease resistance is an important step in crop breeding initiatives but is lacking for many bean varieties including mung bean. The present study evaluated the diversity of 42 morpho-agronomic traits and screened mung bean genotypes for resistance to powdery mildew disease. A total of 132 mung bean and rice bean (R200) genotypes (as checks) were evaluated in an augmented incomplete block design across two cropping seasons. Pivot tables were used to analyse qualitative data, whereas the variation of 13 quantitative traits was examined using the generalized linear model (PROC GLM), agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC), and principal component analysis (PCA).
Result: The genotypes displayed a wide variation for the majority of traits evaluated and significant differences were observed among genotypes, block effect, and between seasons. Similarly, the effects due to checks, genotypes, and genotypes and controls were significant. One mung bean (G32) genotype and one rice bean (R200) exhibited resistance to powdery mildew under field conditions. Principal component analysis revealed that the first four PCs explained 59.77% of the total variation among the genotypes studied. In addition, cluster analysis grouped all the genotypes into four major clusters.
Conclusion: The trait variation recorded and resistance to powdery mildew disease provide valuable insight for developing breeding strategies especially with respect to reducing losses in mung bean and rice bean to powdery mildew.
First Incidence of Extrarenal Wilms Tumor within the Spinal Canal in the Adult Population: A Novel Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Alijani Babak , Abbaspour Elahe , Karimzadhagh Sahand , Reihanian Zoheir , Dogahe Mohammad Haghani , Jafari Maryam , Jafari Seifollah , Zaresharifi Nooshin
Published: April 2024

Background: Wilms tumor (WT), also known as nephroblastoma, is a rare occurrence in adults, accounting for merely 3% of all nephroblastomas or 0.2 cases per million individuals. Extrarenal Wilms tumor (ERWT) emerges outside the renal confines and comprises 0.5 to 1% of all WT cases. Although ERWT is more prevalent in children, its incidence in adults signifies an even rarer incidence. Oncogenic mutations associated with ectopic nephrogenic rests (NR) may contribute to ERWT development. Diagnosis involves surgical resection and pathology examination. Due to scarce cases, adults often rely on pediatric guidelines.
We conducted a thorough search on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to establish our case's uniqueness. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented incidence of extrarenal Wilms tumor within the spinal canal in the adult population.
Case presentation: A 22-year-old woman with a history of congenital lipo-myelomeningocele surgery as an infant presented with a 6-month history of back pain. This pain gradually resulted in limb weakness, paraparesis, and loss of bladder and bowel control. An MRI showed a 6x5x3 cm spinal canal mass at the L4-S1 level. Consequently, a laminectomy was performed at the L4-L5 level to remove the intramedullary tumor. Post-surgery histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the tumor as ERWT with favorable histology without any teratomatous component.
Conclusion: This report underscores a rare case of ERWT in an adult, challenging conventional diagnostics. Timely surgical intervention is recommended for similar masses, emphasizing the need for further research and clinical awareness.
Enhancing post machining surface finish of titanium alloy by cutting parameter optimization using ANOVA analysis
Authors: Polishetty Ashwin , Littlefair Guy
Published: April 2024

Titanium alloys are categorised under difficult to machine materials. The machinability of titanium alloy, Ti6Al4V using statistical methods such as Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is investigated in this paper. Ti6Al4V is the most widely used titanium alloy in aerospace and biomedical application due to its advantageous material properties. However, despite its wide-ranging applications, there is a lack of clarity concerning its ideal machining parameters. This ambiguity primarily stems from Ti6Al4V's inherent properties, notably its low thermal conductivity and high chemical reactivity. Understanding and optimizing the machining parameters to get the right combination of speed, feed, depth of cut and coolant condition is vital. To gather comprehensive insights, a series of machining trials were conducted at various combinations of cutting parameters. The effects of varying the selected parameters on a crucial machining performance indicators-surface roughness was considered. Orthogonal arrays, known for their robustness in experiment design, were chosen to structure the machining trials. Furthermore, to decipher the collected data and interpret the results, ANOVA techniques were utilized with the help of R programming. The insights garnered can lead to more streamlined machining strategies, ensuring higher productivity and efficiency. By bridging the knowledge gap, this research seeks to make machining titanium alloys simpler, cost effective and more efficient for manufacturers.
Solar Active Regions Detection and Tracking Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Yang Yunfei , Gong Long , Feng Song , Dai Wei , Liang Bo , Xiong Jianping
Published: April 2024

Solar active regions serve as the primary energy sources of various solar activities, directly impacting the terrestrial environment. Therefore, precise detection and tracking of active regions are crucial for space weather monitoring and forecasting. In this study, a total of 4,532 HMI and DMI longitudinal magnetograms are selected for building the dataset, including the training set, validating set, and eight testing sets. They represent different observation instruments, different numbers of activity regions, and different time intervals. A new deep learning method, ReDetGraphTracker, is proposed for detecting and tracking the active regions in full-disk magnetograms. The cooperative modules, especially the re-detection module, NSA Kalman filter, and the splitter module, better solve the problems of missing detection, discontinuous trajectory, drifting tracking bounding box, and ID change. The evaluation metrics, IDF1, MOTA, MOTP, IDs, and FPS, for the testing sets with 24h interval on average are 74.3%, 75.0%, 0.130, 14.5, and 13.7, respectively. With the decreasing intervals, the metrics become better and better. The experimental results show that ReDetGraphTracker has a good performance in detecting and tracking active regions, especially capturing an active region as early as possible and terminating tracking in real-time. It can well deal with the active regions whatever evolve drastically or with weak magnetic field strengths.
Boundary Layer Fluid Flow in Volume Chamber of Cavitating Gerotor Pump: Computational Analysis using MATLAB
Authors: Ile Anthony A. E. , Ngonda Tiyamike N.
Published: April 2024

Gerotor pumps are widely used in the lubrication system of automobile combustion engines, known for their simplicity and efficiency. This paper presents a computational study of boundary layer flow for volume chamber of a gerotor pump experiencing cavitation. Utilizing MATLAB, we investigate the feasibility of using boundary layer approximation to monitor the adversity of the condition. The implementation is done by developing a finite element code to solve the boundary layer equation, for an arc length (0 to 1 mm) using experimental data. The focus is on understanding the fluid dynamics of the pump within the pump volume chamber, which plays a crucial role in the pump's overall performance. Solving the boundary layer equation, we simulated the flow characteristics within the pump volume chamber and generated results of Reynolds number, velocity profile, boundary layer thickness, and pressure energy profile. The main measure is the pressure energy parameter which shows analysis of the work done in moving the fluid against the resistance created by the cavitation. As expected, the results revealed a high correlation of cavitation with the suction pressure. This influence is seen to affect the overall delivered oil flow rate, while no interest was placed on other parameters outside the pump chamber flow characteristics. Furthermore, pressure ripples from the surface plot of the velocity profile show evidence of re-circulation or separation zones along the arc length.
Bayesian variable selection in joint modeling of longitudinal data and interval-censored failure time data
Authors: Mao Yuchen , Wang Lianming , Lin Xiaoyan , Sui Xuemei
Published: April 2024

Joint modeling of longitudinal data and survival data has gained great attention in the last two decades. However, most of the existing studies have focused on right-censored survival data. In this article, we study joint analysis of longitudinal data and interval-censored survival data and conduct Bayesian variable selection in this framework. A new joint model is proposed with a shared frailty to characterize the dependence between the two types of responses, where the longitudinal response is modeled with a semiparametric linear mixed-effects submodel and the survival time is modeled by a semiparametric normal fraility probit sub-model. Several Bayesian variable selection approaches are developed by adopting Bayesian Lasso, adaptive Lasso, and spike-and-slab priors in order to simultaneously select significant covariates and estimate their effects on the two types of responses. Efficient Gibbs samplers are proposed with all unknown parameters and latent variables being sampled directly from well recognized full conditional distributions. Our simulation study shows that these methods perform well in both variable selection and parameter estimation. A real-life data application to joint analysis of blood cholesterol level and hypertension is provided as an illustration.
Porous graphene with high porosity derived from nitrogen-doped graphene aerogel for vapor adsorption and lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Liu Tianrui , Zhao Qingchao , Zhou Haotian , Zhang Songtong , Li Yongpeng , Sui Zhuyin
Published: April 2024

Graphene-based aerogels have garnered significant attention due to their combined advantages derived from both graphene and aerogels. Nevertheless, a key limitation in their practical applications arises from their relatively modest specific surface area and pore volume. In this study, porous graphene materials with high porosity are synthesized through the physical and chemical activation of nitrogen-doped graphene aerogel (NGA) using carbon dioxide and KOH as activating agents. Utilizing various characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the morphology, porous characteristics, and chemical composition of porous graphene are elucidated. The carbon dioxide-activated NGA (CNGA) maintains the spongy aerogel structure and exhibits a hierarchical porous structure encompassing micropores, mesopores, and macropores. Notably, CNGA exhibits a high specific surface area (2030 m2 g–1) and pore volume (5.4 cm3 g–1). Given its intriguing properties, CNGA demonstrates good performance as a gas adsorbent and sulfur host.
Conceptualizing radical solutions to global warming via pipeline transport green fuel ammonia produced from abundant renewable energy in equatorial waters
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroshi
Published: April 2024

The threat of global warming is imminent; however, fundamental solutions have yet to be presented. The current large-scale deployment of solar and wind power poses several challenges, including difficulties in storing large amounts of electricity and reduced power grid inertia. Additionally, rising surface temperatures thaw carbon-rich permafrost, glaciers, and Arctic ice, decreasing surface albedo (sunlight reflectance) and increasing atmospheric water vapor and methane, which have potent greenhouse effects. The result is a self-reinforcing cycle of rising surface temperatures, even if greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are reduced to zero. These challenges can be overcome by (1) deploying numerous high-capacity floating offshore photovoltaic plants in equatorial waters with abundant renewable energy resources and generating sufficient electricity to meet the world’s primary energy needs; (2) using the generated electricity to synthesize green fuel ammonia, which is key to solving the challenges of renewable energy, and transporting and storing it globally via pipeline networks; and (3) continuously removing sufficient quantities of GHGs from the atmosphere to offset the self-reinforcing cycle. Upon deployment and implementation of such strategies by 2050, the Paris Agreement goals could be achieved and even return to pre-industrial levels. However, increased sea levels cannot be reversed.
Development of rp48d -ELISA and evaluation of its performance for detection of specific mycoplasma agalactiae antibody in vaccinated sheep
Authors: Esmaelizad Majid , Safari Aylar , Angaji Seyed Abdolhamid , Tadayon Keyvan , Ranjbar Mohammad mahdi , Majid Tebianian , Ghaderi Rainak , Esmaelizad Nazanin , Ferdowsi Hamidreza , Naemi Mahdi
Published: April 2024

Contagious agalactiae is a disease affecting small ruminants, caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma agalactiae. It is characterized by mastitis, polyarthritis, and keratoconjunctivitis. In regions heavily reliant on animal husbandry, this disease can result in substantial economic losses. Effective prevention methods include vaccination and accurate disease diagnosis in sheep and goats. The Surface lipoprotein P48 of M. agalactiae is constantly expressed and considered an immunodominant antigen present in all isolates. Antigenic variation is the primary cause of sensitivity differences in the p48-based serum assay. Recent studies have revealed fundamental differences in the p48 protein of Iranian isolates compared to previous ones. Therefore, rp48d protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells and purified using Ni-resin through an affinity batch formation method. Experimental sheep were divided into four groups for immunization: rp48d, RVSRI agalactiae vaccine, and two control groups (adjuvant and non-vaccinated control). Additionally, one hundred blood serum samples taken from vaccinated and non-vaccinated sheep (Fashandi breed) from various herds in the Taleghan region were analyzed using indirect ELISA. The results demonstrated that 97.50% and 100% sensitivity and specificity, respectively in rp48d-ELISA. Based on our findings, we can conclude that the in-house rp48d-ELISA is highly effective in detecting specific antibodies in vaccinated or infected sheep. This is due to the significant protein similarity between the structure of the rp48d protein utilized in the design of the ELISA test and mycoplasma agalactiae circulating in the region and used in vaccine production.
The influence of workplace spirituality on employees and organizations of three key industries in Ghana: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Kyei Kofi Adesi , Nortey Solomon Tetteh , Daniels Joseph
Published: April 2024

Background
Workplace spirituality is an emerging concept that has gained significant global scholarly attention in recent years. The phenomenon of inappropriate religious practices has dominated the Ghanaian corporate world partly because there are inadequate published data to facilitate the refinement and redefinition of questionable religious practices at the workplace. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of workplace spirituality on employees and organizations of three key industries in Ghana. Additionally, the study also examined the scope of practices and challenges associated with the implementation of workplace spirituality in Ghana.
Methods
This research was a deductive cross-sectional study with a mixed-methods approach. Purposive sampling was used to recruit study participants from three different organizations known to implement some form of workplace spirituality practice. Quantitative data were collected with a semi-structured questionnaire whereas qualitative data were collected through interviews conducted with the respondents. The quantitative data obtained from the questionnaires were entered into a Microsoft Excel worksheet and analysed using STATA version 17. The interviews were recorded and later transcribed using NVivo version 10.
Results
A total of 133 participants were recruited into the study comprising approximately 60% males and 40% females. In all, 30.1% of the participants were between 25 and 34 years old whereas 15% were younger than 25 years. The majority of the participants practiced meditation (69.9%), reflection and self-awareness exercises (60.2%), prayer or other religious rituals (75.2%) as well as the sharing of personal religious stories and/or experiences (54.9%). The results show the support, encouragement and respect of organizations towards the practice of spirituality at the workplace as implied by the average mean of 4.10 (SD 1.13). Workplace spirituality had a major impact on the working life of the respondents.
Conclusions
The study highlights how workplace spirituality in Ghanaian organizations positively impacts employee engagement, satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Practices such as promoting personal beliefs and community activities contribute to a cohesive work environment. However, challenges such as intolerance and conflicting values exist. To fully leverage the benefits of workplace spirituality, organizations must address these challenges through strategies like transparent communication and cultural sensitivity training.
Synthesis, characterization and thermal studies of NIR fluorescent probe based on Poly(anthranilicacid)/Sand nanocomposite
Authors: Anbarasan R. , Kenet M. , Jancirani A. , Baskaran R. , Anand S. Hanish
Published: April 2024

Electrically conducting polymers are increasingly being used as NIR fluorescence probes in the area of biomedical engineering via the application of a structural modification process. Peroxydisulphate (PDS) initiated the chemical polymerization process of anthranilicacid (AnA) in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of 0 to 5 oC. Rosebengal (RB) was used as an end capping agent, and vigorous stirring was maintained with and without sand. The produced polymer and its nanocomposite were examined using instruments for UV-visible, TGA, DSC, SEM, EDX, FTIR, CV, FES, HRTEM, and XRD. The thermal stability of the resulting polymers was investigated using non-isothermal degradation kinetics. Additionally, the thermodynamic parameter values were determined. In the 3% weight Sand loaded PAnA system, a conductivity value of 4.31x10− 2 S/cm was recorded, signifying a 90.3% yield percentage. Sand was added, and this resulted in an increase in the rate of polymerization (Rp). The PAnA/Sand nanocomposite system has a higher photo-conversion efficiency of 1.49 percent as compared to the RB end capped PAnA system. The experimental results are scrutinized closely and compared to values reported in the literature.
Constructing a Nucleotide Metabolism Related Prognostic Model Based on Bioinformatics to Explore the Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Glioblastoma
Authors: Jiang Luwei , Li Zixuan , Jiang Tao , Wang Xukou , Weng Chuanbo
Published: April 2024

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the deadliest of all cancers. And nucleotide metabolism (NM) is the most critical link in malignant tumor cell replication. Therefore, we mined NM-related biomarkers to provide new direction for GBM treatment.
Methods: In TCGA-GBM, differences of gene expression between tumor and normal samples were compared to obtain DEGs. And differentially expressed NM-related genes (DE-NMRGs) were screened by intersecting DEGs and NMRGs. Then, biomarkers were screened by Cox regression analysis and proportional hazards (PH) assumption to construct the prognostic model, and the prognostic model was validated by plotting ROC, survival analysis and PCA. Next, to assess the ability of the prognostic model to serve as independent prognostic factor, independent prognostic analyses were performed across numerous clinical characteristics. Finally, the regulatory mechanism of GBM by biomarkers was further explored by single-gene GSEA, immune-related analysis, gene mutation analysis and protein expression validation.
Results: The NUDT1, CDA, UPP1 and ADSL were treated as the biomarkers to construct prognostic model, which indicated that the above biomarkers had good prognostic impact on GBM. The IDH mutation status, MGMT promoter status and riskScore were screened as independent prognostic factors. In TCGA-GBM samples, the expression of four biomarkers was significantly higher in GBM. Immune-related analysis showed that the cell abundance of activated memory CD4+ T cell, activated NK cell, M1 macrophage and neutrophil were significantly different between high- /low-risk groups. Tumor mutation load analysis revealed that the overall tumor mutation load was higher in the high-risk group.
Conclusion: The four biomarkers were obtained by bioinformatic analysis to construct new prognostic assessment model, providing theoretical reference value to guide the treatment of GBM.
Characterization of a Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) in Hirudo verbana
Authors: Kabeiseman Emily , Paulsen Riley T , Burrell Brian D
Published: April 2024

The endocannabinoid system plays a critical role in modulating both peripheral and central nervous system function. Despite being present throughout the animal kingdom, there has been relatively little investigation of the endocannabinoid system beyond the traditional animal model systems. In this study, we report on the identification and characterization of a fatty acid aminohydrolase (FAAH) in the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana. FAAH is the primary enzyme responsible for metabolizing the endocannabinoid signaling molecule arachidonoyl ethanolamide (anandamide or AEA) and therefore plays a critical role in regulating AEA levels in the nervous system. This Hirudo FAAH (HirFAAH) is expressed in the leech central nervous system (CNS) and is an orthologue of FAAH-2 observed in vertebrates. Functionally, HirFAAH has serine hydrolase activity based on activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) studies using the fluorophosphonate probe TAMRA-FP. HirFAAH also hydrolyzes arachidonyl 7-amino, 4-methyl coumarin amide (AAMCA), a substrate specific to FAAH. Hydrolase activity during both the ABPP and AAMCA assays was eliminated by mutation at a conserved activity-binding site. Activity was also blocked by the known FAAH inhibitor, URB597. Treatment of Hirudo ganglia with URB597 potentiated synapses made by the pressure-sensitive mechanosensory neuron (P cell), mimicking the effects of exogenously applied AEA. The Hirudo CNS has been a useful system in which to study properties of endocannabinoid modulation of nociception relevant to vertebrates. Therefore, this characterization of HirFAAH is an important contribution to comparative studies of the endocannabinoid system.
Secondary structures of human calcitonin at different temperatures and in different membrane-mimicking environments, characterized by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy
Authors: Wärmländer Sebastian K.T.S. , Lakela Amanda L. , Berntsson Elina , Jarvet Jüri , Gräslund Astrid
Published: April 2024

Human calcitonin is a 32-residue peptide hormone that binds to the calcitonin receptor (CTR) and is involved in calcium regulation. The amino acid sequence displays a hydrophilic central segment flanked by hydrophobic C- and N-terminal regions, with a net charge of zero at neutral pH. This makes the molecule amphiphilic and conformationally flexible, and different CTR variants preferentially recognize different structural conformations of calcitonin. The peptide is secreted from the thyroid gland and is overproduced in some forms of thyroid cancer, and can then form cell-toxic aggregates. Characterizing the structural properties of calcitonin under different conditions is therefore important for understanding its receptor-binding and self-aggregation properties. Here, we used circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy to monitor the secondary structure of human calcitonin in different environments. Calcitonin monomers were found to display a random coil structure with a significant amount of PPII-helix component in phosphate buffer, pH 7.3, at physiological temperatures. When agitated, the peptide formed soluble aggregates over time with mainly β-sheet secondary structure. In the presence of micelles of differently charged surfactants, monomeric calcitonin formed pure α-helix structure with cationic CTAB, a combination of α-helix and β-sheet with anionic SDS and zwitterionic SB3-14, and remained mainly random coil with non-charged DDM. Thus, the charge of the surfactant headgroup was found to be an important parameter for calcitonin’s interactions with membrane-mimicking micelles. Similar but not identical interactions with the surfactants were observed under oxidizing and reducing conditions.
Epidemiology of primary Extranodal Nonhodgkin lymphoma.
Authors: alnaseer Ghoufran , Suliman Siham
Published: April 2024

Introduction:
Lymphoma is the seventh most common type of malignant tumor in both sexes, accounting for 5% of cancers. Most non-Hodgkin's lymphomas arise in the lymph nodes or other lymphatic tissues such as the spleen, Waldeyer's ring, and the thymus gland. Localization outside of these sites is called primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and it constitutes 24-40% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The study aims to determine the prevalence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma outside the primary nodule and its epidemiology.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Biruni University Hospital in Damascus, Syria from January 2021 to December 2023. All patients with primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma admitted to Al-Biruni University Hospital during this period were included in a questionnaire containing all the information. required.
Results:
The total sample was 151 patients, the majority of participants were males (62.3%), the majority were workers, the histological type in most patients 87 patients (57.6%) were DLBCL type, the cell type (84.2%) was at the expense of B cells, The location of the primary tumor was mostly in the stomach (29.1%), and most patients were in the first stage of the disease (50.4%).
Investimento Educacional: repercussões na implementação de políticas públicas de formação e valorização docente e na qualidade da educação brasileira
Authors: Gonçalves Brenda  Maria Vieira , Lima Francisco José de
Published: April 2024

O investimento educacional é tema central de diversas pesquisas que buscam entender e discutir sobre a eficiência do ensino ofertado pela educação escolar no Brasil. Com o objetivo de discutir as repercussões do investimento educacional na implementação de políticas públicas de formação e valorização docente, bem como na qualidade do ensino ofertada nos dois grandes níveis da educação escolar brasileira, o trabalho está fundamentado nos pressupostos da pesquisa qualitativa e recorreu-se à revisão sistemática de literatura para o levantamento de material teórico. A busca pelos trabalhos foi realizada no Portal de Periódicos da CAPES, no período que compreendeu os anos de 2018 a 2022. Os trabalhos foram organizados em dois eixos de análise. A partir das análises e discussões, foi possível inferir que aspectos ligados ao investimento educacional brasileiro indicam um desmonte da educação pública e de tudo que ela representa para as classes marginalizadas que encontram nessa esfera um caminho para a ascensão profissional, pessoal e redução das desigualdades sociais. Assim, considera-se que investir em educação vai além de injetar recursos financeiros. É preciso que esse investimento seja planejado e eficaz, promovendo a implementação de políticas públicas que propiciem a formação e valorização docente, bem como um ensino de qualidade.
Palavras-chave:  Investimento educacional; Políticas públicas; Formação docente; Qualidade da Educação; Desigualdade social.
ROLE OF PRP IN DIABETIC FOOT ULCER
Authors:   3rd Year, General Surgery Resident, SMCH., Karmakar Nikita , Sharma Punit ,   3rd Year, General Surgery Resident, SMCH., Sandalya Bikash ,   Associate Professor, SMCH.
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Diabetic Foot Ulcers (Dfus) are among the most common complications of diabetes mellitus with a lifetime incidence of up to 15% among the diabetic population. Current standard management consists of surgical debridement followed by frequent dressing changes with tight infection and glycemic control. Despite this comprehensive approach, complication and amputation rates remain high. A newer treatment modality PRP gel dressing is being investigated. Method:This study is a prospective comparative study done in Dept of General Surgery for period of 9 months with 30 diabetic patients with chronic non healing foot ulcer. PRP dressings were done biweekly for 8 weeks. Result: 80% patients in present study were more than 40yrs.Hypertension was present in 80% of patients in both control and PRP group and hyperlipidemia was present in 66% of control group and 73% in PRP group. After regular biweekly dressing with PRP gel, by the end of eight weeks PRP dressing patients showed better wound healing with p value < 0.05 In PRP dressing group rate of ulcer healing was found to be maximum in 4 weeks after which this rate declined. Conclusion:The present study supports the conclusion that autologous PRP gel does effectively accelerate wound healing in clean diabetic foot ulcers when compared with the conventional saline gauze antiseptic dressing.
MANAGEMENT OF MEDICALLY COMPROMISED PROSTHODONTIC PATIENTS
Authors:   Professor and Head, Department of Prosthodontics, Royal Dental College, Palakkad, Kerala., Raghavan Rohit , P.A Shajahan ,   Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Royal Dental College, Palakkad, Kerala., Antony Ani ,   Post Graduate Student, Department of Prosthodontics, Royal Dental College, Palakkad, Kerala.
Published: April 2024

An essential part of treatment planning is the medical evaluation of individuals who are receiving prosthodontic therapy. When treating patients with systemic disorders, the prosthodontist must be able to evaluate the inherent risks involved. Evaluating a patient's health state and risk entails a number of factors, such as the patient's medical and dental history, medication use in the past and present, type of treatment, the duration of treatment, degree of invasiveness, and urgency of treatment. Prosthodontically, no treatments should be performed before the patient's general systemic wellness has been fully assessed. This is because the existence of an underlying systemic disorder could influence the oral cavity, which may have an impact on prosthetic procedures and treatment planning.
FOREIGN EXPERIENCE IN PREVENTING PROTRACTED LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Authors: Kabalskyi Roman O.
Published: April 2024

The text highlights a key aspect of preventing abuses in civil procedure, namely, the establishment of clear and transparent rules of civil procedure. These rules serve as the foundation for a fair and efficient system of justice, defining the rights and obligations of all participants in the judicial process and serving as the basis for fair and effective justice. The importance of judicial oversight is also emphasized as a tool that guarantees compliance with these rules and safeguards the integrity of the process. Abuse of procedural rights can hinder the realization of legal protection and may manifest in various ways, including the postponement of court hearings and the submission or provision of incorrect evidence. Furthermore, the article discusses measures to counteract the abuse of procedural rights and optimize the course of the judicial process. The final point of the article underscores the relevance of this right at the international level, falling under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights and other international bodies. It calls on all states to adhere to the requirements for a reasonable timeframe for case consideration in accordance with European standards. In summary, the article provides a thorough overview and analysis

of the rules of civil procedure and their impact on ensuring fairness and efficiency within the judicial system.  The main trends in preventing the prolongation of civil proceedings in foreign countries have been explored. These trends include the definition of simplified procedures based on the value of the claim, the application of a streamlined model for handling uncontested claims, the use of alternative dispute resolution methods, improvements in the process of filing lawsuits for timely case resolution, provisions for the hearing of cases in absentia of one of the parties, the introduction of electronic litigation systems, and the utilization of preventive mechanisms to expedite judicial proceedings.
Theological Approach to Teaching Interactively and Empirically: Jesus as a Model
Authors: Tafonao Talizaro -
Published: April 2024

The approach taken by teachers in teaching has been an issue that is always discussed in the world of education. The limitations of Christian teachers in teaching provoke a reaction and judgment from various elements. Seeing this phenomenon, the author conducted a study of Jesus' approach in the Gospel of Matthew. The purpose of this research is to explain the attempt at a theological approach made by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. The research method used in this paper is a qualitative research method, the author examines various approaches taken by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. The analysis process carried out by the author is to use various trusted library and electronic sources to support the author's analysis. The results of this study found that there are two approaches taken by Jesus, namely interactive and empirical. Thus, the approach taken by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew is still relevant to be used as a reference by Christian education teachers in teaching and educating in order to achieve learning objectives.