bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilization of anonymization techniques to create an external control arm for clinical trial data
Authors: Mehtälä Juha , Ali Mehreen , Miettinen Timo , Partanen Liisa , Laapas Kaisa , Niemelä Petri T. , Khorlo Igor , Strom Sanna , Kurki Samu , Vapalahti Jarno , Abdelgawwad Khaled , Leinonen Jussi V.
Published: April 2023

Background Subject-level real-world data (RWD) collected during daily healthcare practices are increasingly used in medical research to assess questions that cannot be addressed in the context of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). A novel application of RWD arises from the need to create external control arms (ECAs) for single-arm RCTs. In the analysis of ECAs against RCT data, there is an evident need to manage and analyze RCT data and RWD in the same technical environment. In the Nordic countries, legal requirements may require that the original subject-level data be anonymized, i.e., modified so that the risk to identify any individual is minimal. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare how well pseudonymized and anonymized RWD perform in the creation of an ECA for an RCT. Methods This was a hybrid observational cohort study using clinical data from the control arm of the completed randomized phase II clinical trial (PACIFIC-AF) and RWD cohort from Finnish healthcare data sources. The initial pseudonymized RWD were anonymized within the (k,ε)-anonymity framework (a model for protecting individuals against identification). Propensity score matching and weighting methods were applied to the anonymized and pseudonymized RWD, to balance potential confounders against the RCT data. Descriptive statistics for the potential confounders and overall survival analyses were conducted prior to and after matching and weighting, using both the pseudonymized and anonymized RWD sets. Results Anonymization affected the baseline characteristics of potential confounders only marginally. The greatest difference was in the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4.6% vs. 5.4% in the pseudonymized compared to the anonymized data, respectively). Moreover, the overall survival changed in anonymization by only 8% (95% CI 4–22%). Both the pseudonymized and anonymized RWD were able to produce matched ECAs for the RCT data. Anonymization after matching impacted overall survival analysis by 22% (95% CI -21–87%). Conclusions Anonymization is a viable technique for cases where flexible data transfer and sharing are required. However, as anonymization necessarily affects some aspects of the original data, careful consideration of anonymization strategy is recommended.
Cellulose nanocrystals/fluorinated polyacrylate with mechanical tunability and self-healing capability via photo actuated reversible associations
Authors: Li Hong , Zhou Jianhua , Ao Shuang , Zhao Jiaojiao
Published: April 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Establishment and utilization of National Diagnostic Reference Level for adult computed tomography examinations in Ghana
Authors: Boadu Mary , Issahaku Shiraz , Inkoom Stephen , Hasford Francis , Sackey Theophilus
Published: April 2023

As part of measures to enhance radiation protection and safety of patients undergoing medical exposure, it is recommended that various countries initiate a project for the establishment of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in Africa. The aim of the project was to establish and utilize national DRLs of computed tomography dose index (CTDI) and dose length product (DLP) for routine computed tomography (CT) examinations. Additionally, the project was also to identify the potential for clinical protocol and dose optimisation in relation to disease and patient specific CT examination in the country. The methodology involved the estimation of CTDI and DLP values from a minimum of 20 patient images data dose report of the most commonly used procedures (head, chest, abdomen-pelvis and lumbar spine) CT examinations. 22 CT centres in Ghana, took part in this study which represent 54% of CT equipment in Ghana. Data of 2,156 dose report were randomly selected from the 22 CT centres of adult patients undergoing CT examination of head, chest, abdomen and lumbar spine from these centres and analysed. The total number of CT examinations for the 22 Centres was 186300, comprising of 111800 head CT, 22592 chest CT, 38260 abdominal CT and 13648 lumber spine CT. Head CT represented 60% of the total CT examination of all the Centres. Additionally, the percentage distribution of the remaining three body regions were 12.1, 20.6 and 7.3% for chest CT, abdomen CT and lumbar spine CT examinations respectively. The measured median and its upper quartile CTDIvol for head CT were 56.5 and 61.0 mGy, chest CT 12.6 and 15.7 mGy, abdomen CT 13.5 and 20.5 mGy, and lumbers spine 19.6 and 23.8 mGy. While DLP for head CT were 574.5 and 962.9 mGy-cm, chest CT 874.5 and 1102.8 mGy-cm, abdomen CT 1110.7 and 1393.5 mGy-cm, and lumber spine 693.5 and 824.6 mGy-cm. These preliminary results were comparable with data from 16 other African countries, European Commission (EC), IAEA, United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).
Bedload transport and its implication on bed morphology at a river confluence
Authors: Khanam Nabina , Biswal Sushant Kumar , Das Animesh
Published: April 2023

River confluences are the key elements within fluvial systems, where three-dimensional flow fields and sedimentation patterns can have a substantial effect on the hydraulics, bed morphology of stream courses, and environments. The present study is configured to realize the alterations in bedload transportation and in bedform at confluence channel in relation to particular hydrological occurrences. It is anticipated that the patterns of the flow attributes following the confluence to be different from those in the conditions reported in other publication. Therefore, this article concisely reports the various flow aspects, examines the corresponding river bed patterns, and provides a brief description of the different flow properties. On the basis of field findings in response to fluctuation in the flow of contributory tributaries, the recorded morphological and sedimentological changes are explained. To accomplish this, bedload transport, bed surveys, and particle size distribution measurements were carried out at the study site during different hydrological seasons at intervals of two months from January 2018 to March 2019. The three major goals of this work were to comprehend the symmetry between two confluence channels, estimate bedload transport, and investigate the consequences of net fluvial behavior on bedform dynamics. The short-term impacts of stream flow irregularity on channel morphology and particle structures were discovered by repeated transect studies and bed material sampling at a small asymmetrical river junction. Results show that the confluence involves the shifting in the scour region, frequent erosion and deposition of sediments, and bar development at the downstream confluence as flow rate fluctuates following the hydrological changeability in the confluence channels. The average bedload at the confluence appears to be irregular in favor of the tributary, since two-thirds of the total bedload was carried across the shallow zone of the cross-section. A high speed digital camera was used to detect sand ripples, and video technique was utilized to obtain statistics on the presence of ripple geometries. Asymmetric two-dimensional ripples were observed in relatively calm weather conditions and in moderate winds. It was discovered that ripples generated by the two-dimensional flow were supplanted by flatbed circumstances and the normal two-dimensional wash-out ripples after the medium wind periods, demonstrating that the presence of a combined flow increases the induced bed shear stress.
Genomic analysis of cultivated infant microbiomes identifies Bifidobacterium 2’-fucosyllactose utilization can be facilitated by co-existing species
Authors: Lou Yue Clare , Rubin Ben , Schoelmerich Marie , DiMarco Kaden , Borges Adair , Rovinsky Rachel , Song Leo , Doudna Jennifer , Banfield Jillian
Published: April 2023

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) ensure proper infant gut microbiome establishment. Isolate studies have revealed the genetic basis for HMO metabolism, but they exclude the possibility of HMO assimilation via synergistic interactions involving multiple organisms. Here, we investigated microbiome responses to 2'-fucosyllactose (2’FL), a prevalent HMO and infant formula additive, by establishing individualized microbiomes using fecal samples from three different infants as the inocula. Bifidobacterium breve, a prominent member of infant microbiomes, typically cannot metabolize 2’FL. Using metagenomic data, we predicted that extracellular fucosidases encoded by co-existing members such as Ruminococcus gnavus initiate 2’FL breakdown, thus critical for B. breve’s growth. Using both targeted co-cultures and by supplementation of R. gnavus into one microbiome, we show that R. gnavus can promote extensive growth of B. breve through the release of lactose from 2’FL. Overall, microbiome cultivation combined with genome-resolved metagenomics demonstrated that HMO utilization can vary with an individual’s microbiome.
Polariton design and modulation via van der Waals / doped semiconductor heterostructures
Authors: He Mingze , Matson Joseph , Yu Mingyu , Cleri Angela , Sunku Sai , Jenzen Eli , Mastel Stefan , Folland Thomas G. , Edgar James , Basov Dmitri , Maria Jon-Paul , Law Stephanie , Caldwell Joshua
Published: April 2023

Hyperbolic phonon polaritons (HPhPs) can be supported in highly anisotropic materials, where the real parts of their permittivities along different directions are opposite in sign as a result of spectrally offset optical phonons. Compared to surface polaritons, HPhPs offer further confinement of long-wavelength light to deeply subdiffractional scales, and volume propagation that enables control of the polariton wavevector by changing the underlying medium. This allows for greater control of polaritonic resonators and near-field polariton propagation without deleterious etching of hyperbolic materials. Yet, conventionally used noble metal and dielectric substrates restrict the tunability of this approach, leaving most of the wavevector inaccessible. To overcome this challenge, we demonstrate that using doped semiconductors, e.g., InAs and CdO, can enable near-continuous tuning and access to both the maximum and minimum wavevectors (~8.3 times experimentally demonstrated). We further elucidate HPhP tuning with the plasma frequency of an InAs substrate, which features a significant wavevector discontinuity and modal order transition when the substrate permittivity crosses -1 in the Reststrahlen band. Around the transition point, the HPhP system is sensitive to perturbations, e.g., the working frequency, InAs plasma frequency and superstrate, thus it is suitable for sensing and modulation applications. We also illustrate that the hBN/InAs platform allows for active modulation at picosecond timescales by photo-injecting carriers into the InAs substrate, demonstrating a dynamic wavevector change of ~20%. Overall, the demonstrated hBN/doped semiconductor platform offers significant improvements towards manipulating HPhPs, and enormous potential for engineered and modulated polaritonic systems for applications in on-chip photonics and planar metasurface optics.
Omission of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for Breast Cancer Patients with Three or More Positive Sentinel Lymph Nodes
Authors: Prathibha Saranya , White McKenzie J , Kolbow Madison , Hui Jane Yuet Ching , Brauer David , Ankeny Jacob , Jensen Eric , LaRocca Christopher J , Marmor Schelomo , Tuttle Todd M.
Published: April 2023

Purpose
The ACOSOG Z0011 (Z11) trial assessed the benefit of axillary dissection (ALND) for breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases; however, Z11 excluded patients with ≥ 3 positive SLNs. We analyzed trends in ALND omission in patients with ≥ 3 positive SLNs.
Methods
Women with ≥ 3 positive SLNs who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy between 2018–2020 in the National Cancer Database were included using SLN codes initiated in 2018. Patients with stage IV disease, recurrent breast cancer, and who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. A multivariable logistic regression model was utilized to determine the proportion who received ALND and factors associated with ALND omission. A subgroup analysis was performed among patients who met the remainder of the Z11 inclusion criteria (BCS, T1/T2 breast cancer).
Results
We identified 3654 patients with ≥ 3 positive SLNs. ALND was omitted in 37% of patients, and omission significantly increased from 2018 to 2020 (29% vs 41%, p < 0.0001). Older age, lower grade tumors, no radiation, non-academic facility, BCS, more SLNs examined and fewer positive SLNs were significantly associated with ALND omission. 942 patients with ≥ 3 positive SLNs met the remainder of the Z11 inclusion criteria. ALND was omitted in 49% of these patients, and omission increased from 2018 to 2020 (44% vs 49%, p = 0.22).
Conclusion
Approximately one-third of patients with ≥ 3 positive SLNs do not undergo ALND; omission of ALND increased from 2018 to 2020. Studies assessing oncologic outcomes of patients with ≥ 3 positive SLNs who do and do not receive ALND are required.
Effect of heat treatment on the welded joint of X70 steel joined to duplex stainless steel by gas tungsten arc welding
Authors: Beziou Oualid , Hamdi Ines , Boumerzoug Zakaria , Brisset François , Baudin Thierry
Published: April 2023

The objective of this work is to study the microstructure and the texture evolution in welded joint of X70 steel with duplex stainless steel joinned by Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process and heat treated at 200⁰C and 600⁰C. Then the microstructural evolutions are correlated to their hardness mechanical property. The characterization techniques used are optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, EDS, Vickers microhardness, X-ray diffraction, and Electron BackScatter Diffraction (EBSD) technique. Two heat affected zones were observed in welded joint with different microstructures. Heat affected zone on the X70 steel side and another on the duplex stainless steel side. A solidification microstructure was observed in the fusion zone such elongated ferritic grains and a growth direction < 100 > was found. The most microstructural transformations were observed in the vicinity of the interface which connects the heat affected zone to the fusion zone either on the X70 steel side or on the duplex stainless steel side. The effect of heat treatment on the hardness of the welded joint was noticed in the side of the duplex stainless steel.
Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequence of Camellia sinensis: Genome
Structure, Adaptive Evolution, and Phylogenetic Relationships
Authors: CHEN Zhiyin , Liu Qing , XIAO Ying , ZHOU Guihua , yu Penghu , BAI Jing , huang hua , Gong Yihui
Published: April 2023

The chloroplast (cp) genome holds immense potential for a variety of applications including species identification, phylogenetic analysis, and evolutionary studies. In this study, we utilized Illumina NovaSeq 6000 to sequence the DNA of Camellia sinensis L. cultivar ‘Zhuyeqi’ , followed by the assembly of its chloroplast genome using SPAdes v3.10.1, with subsequent analysis of its features and phylogenetic placement. The results showed that the cp genome of Zhuyeqi was 157,072 bp, with a large single copy- region (LSC, 86,628 bp), a small single copy- region (SSC, 18,282 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (IR, 26,081 bp). The total AT and GC contents of the cp genome of Zhuyeqi were observed to be 62.21% and 37.29%, respectively. Thecp genome encoded 135 unique genes, including 90 protein-coding genes (CDS), 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Moreover, 31 codons and 247 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified. The cp genomes of Zhuyeqi was found to be relatively conserved, with particular conservation observed in the IR region, which showed no evidence of inversions or rearrangements.The five regions with the largest variations were identified, with four regions (rps12, rps19, rps16, and rpl33) located in the LSC region and one divergent region (trnI-GAU) in the IR region. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Camellia sinensis(KJ996106.1) was closely related to Zhuyeqi, indicating a close phylogenetic relationship between these two species. These findings could provide important genetic information for further research into breeding of tea tree, phylogeny and evolution of Camellia sinensis.
Forecasting Road Accidental Deaths in India: An Explicit Comparison between ARIMA and Exponential Smoothing Method
Authors: Swain Prafulla Kumar , Tripathy Manas Ranjan , Agrawal Khushi
Published: April 2023

The number of deaths due to road accident is increasing day by day and has become an alarming global problem over the decades. India, with her rising motorization is no stranger to this global catastrophe. With the use of statistical methods and models it is possible to predict the future scenario of deaths due to road accidents with the available data. In this paper two relatively simple yet powerful and versatile techniques for forecasting time series data, autoregressive integrated moving average method (ARIMA) and exponential smoothing method are used to forecast the number of deaths due to road accidents in India from the year 2022-31 based on the data available from 1990-2021. The results based on the two methods are compared and it is found that they are in sync with each other and pre-existing literature. Furthermore, this is a unique attempt to use two time series analysis techniques on the same data and carry out a comparative analysis. The data was collected from the 2020 annual report of Ministry of road Transport and Highways, India and ADSI-2021 report of National Crime Record Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, India. After examining all the probable models, it is observed that ARIMA (2,2,2) model and exponential smoothing state space model (M, A, N) are suitable for the given data set. Further, the study also shows that forecasted number of deaths for the upcoming 10 years from the proposed models also reveals an upward trend is described.
N-PointNet: A multi-layer embedded deep learning model for 3D intracranial aneurysm classification and segmentation
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Liu Juntong , Xu Zhengyuan , Yin Pengzhan , Yuan Jinlong , Zhou Yunfeng , Ye Mingquan
Published: April 2023

Background
In computer-aided intracranial aneurysm (IA) classification and segmentation, applications of 3D point cloud algorithms are increasingly widespread. However, the traditional point-based deep learning algorithm has the problem of poor segmentation effect.
Methods
An improved end-to-end depth network structure (N-PointNet) is proposed for IA classification and segmentation. First, the point cloud data of the IA are preprocessed. Then, the PointNet + + network structure is used as a backbone with learned hierarchical properties. After that, the preprocessed and resampled data produce multiple layers of information embedded in the original network input to further enhance its characteristics. Finally, a side output block is added, and the loss function of the corresponding layer is calculated. The multi-loss function facilitates fast convergence and improves model performance.
Conclusion
An experiment on the IntrA dataset proved the superiority of N-PointNet and obtained the best classification and segmentation results among the models tested. In addition, the proposed method has good generalization ability and has been verified on the common ModelNet40 dataset.
Relationship between non-photochemical quenching efficiency and the energy transfer rate from phycobilisomes to photosystem II
Authors: Stadnichuk Igor N. , Krasilnikov Pavel M.
Published: April 2023

The chromophorylated PBLcm domain of the ApcE linker protein in the cyanobacterial phycobilisome (PBS) serves as a bottleneck for Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the PBS to the antennal chlorophyll of photosystem II (PS II) and as a redirection point for energy distribution to the orange protein ketocarotenoid (OCP), which is excitonically coupled to the PBLcm chromophore in the process of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) under high light conditions. The involvement of PBLcm in the quenching process was first directly demonstrated by measuring steady-state fluorescence spectra of cyanobacterial cells at different stages of NPQ development. The time required to transfer energy from the PBLcm to the OCP is several times shorter than the time it takes to transfer energy from the PBLcm to the PS II, ensuring quenching efficiency. The data obtained provide an explanation for the different rates of PBS quenching in vivo and in vitro according to the half ratio of OCP/PBS in the cyanobacterial cell, which is tens of times lower than that realised for an effective NPQ process in solution.
Antenatal hydronephrosis: role of different sonographic approaches in predicting prognosis
Authors: Mohammadjafari Hamid , jafari Kosar , Abedi Seyed Mohammad , Sarouei Mahboubeh Jafari , Momeni Mohaddeseh , Rad Hani Rostami , Salehpour Seyedeh Mahsa
Published: April 2023

Background: Antenatal hydronephrosis (AH) is a common finding in prenatal assessment. We assessed and compared society of fetal urology ( SFU) ,anteroposterior pelvic diameter ( APD) and, urinary tract dilation ( UTD) classification criteria in predicting prognosis .
Material and methods: We retrospectively analyzed neonates with a history of antenal hydronephrosis.We analyzed relation between each of three classification ways with etiologic diagnosis and prognosis of AH. Prognosis was classified as four grades, from transient hydronephrosis ( Grade 1) Grade 4 as severe kidney involvemevt or any need to surgery.
Results : We enroled 290 neonates with a mean age of 16.4 ±9.0 days, 33% were female , One third had severe VUR , severe obstruction observed in 19 (22%) patients, 40% had transient hydronephrosis, 26 (9%) need to surgery. Only antenatal SFU grading showed significant relation with severe obstruction and only Postnatal SFU grading was related to severity of VUR. The highest sensitivity was ; prenatal SFU-1 (100%) , postnatal SFU-1 (98%) for VUR presence ; prenatal and postnatal SFU-1 (100%) for surgery. The highest specificity was ; prenatal SFU-4 (96%) , postnatal UTD-P3 (73%) for VUR presence; prenatal SFU-4(99%) and postnatal SFU-4 (94%) for surgery .
Conclusion: There are no reliable prenatal sonographic finding to predict VUR or severe UPJO , SFU grading in postnatal period can predict VUR with a low sensitivity and specificity. All three classification systems have good ability to evaluate prognostic items such as need to surgery.
Urinary Sirtuin2/Creatinine Ratio Correlates with Severity of Albuminuria and Tubular Injury in Type 2 Diabetes Patients
Authors: dai yali , Peng Juan , Luo Yanfang , Xiong Lianlian , Wu Su , Liao Xiangyu , Yi Bin
Published: April 2023

Aims: The early diagnosis of kidney injury in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is important to prevent the long-term damaging effects of kidney loss and is decisive for patient outcomes. This study was designed to investigate Sirtuin2 (SIRT2) expression and evaluate the performance of SIRT2 in T2DM patients.
Methods: A total of 163 T2DM patients were divided into three groups according to their urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR): normal to mildly increased (A1 group, UACR < 30 mg/g, n = 58), moderately increased (A2 group, UACR 30-300 mg/g, n = 52), and severely increased (A3 group, UACR > 300 mg/g, n = 53), with healthy individuals (NC group, n = 40) as controls. SIRT2 levels in serum and urine were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunoturbidimetry was employed to detect biomarkers of kidney injury such as urinary albumin, α1-microglobulin, β2-microglobulin, and retinol-binding protein. After urinary creatinine correction, they were expressed as USCR, UACR, UαCR, UβCR, and URCR, respectively.
Results: We found USCR levels in the A3 group were highest than those in NC and A1 groups, and USCR levels above the median level were linked to higher levels of UACR, UαCR, UβCR, and URCR. However, no significant difference existed in serum SIRT2 level among all groups. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that USCR was positively correlated with UACR, UαCR, UβCR, and URCR and was negatively linked to eGFR. ROC curve demonstrated that USCR had high sensitivity or specificity for distinguishing glomerular and tubular injury in T2DM patients. Logistic ordered multi-classification regression analysis confirmed that USCR remained a risk factor for severity of albuminuria in T2DM patients after adjustment for confounding factors.
Conclusion: Urinary SIRT2 is not only an effective indicator for glomerular and tubular injury in T2DM patients but also an important risk factor for severity of albuminuria.
The antimicrobial activity of vitamin D 3 and omega-3 combination against pathogenic microorganisms
Authors: AL-Najjar Mohammad A. A. , Abdulrazzaq Shaymaa B. , Barakat Muna , Omar Amin , Zrieq Rafat , Hasen Eliza , Samak Mahmoud Abu
Published: April 2023

Food supplemnts such as vitamin D3 and omega-3 have a significant impact on controlling pathogens. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of combined vitamin D3 and omega-3 against selected pathogens. Minimum inhibitory activities of different serial dilutions of vitamin D3 (1.8 µM-216.6 µM) or omega-3 (0.8 mM-110 mM) or combined (vitamin D3: 0.8 µM -108.2 µM and omega-3: 0.3 mM -55 mM) have been investigated on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. All the tested concentrations of vitamin D3 and omega-3 as a separate treatement were significantly different from the positive control in terms of microbial log-reduction. The highest concentration of vitamin D3 demonstrated a complete eradication of the tested microorganisms. Conversely, omega-3 had a lower effect on them. Combining 27 µM vitamin D3 and 13.5mM omega-3 resulted in ~ 0.4 to 0.6 log reduction of S. aureus, E.coli, P. aeuregnosa and C. albicans. On the other hand, C. albicans had 1.1 log reduction at a combination of 108.4 µM vitamin D3 and 55 mM of omega-3. Proposed mechanisms of the lowered antimicrobial activity when using the combination are discussed. These findings showed decreased antimicrobial effect of the combination and suggest a similar in vivo study to evaluate wheather taking the combination together or not.
A circular closed-loop supply chain network with an epsilon-constraint and NSGA-II approach
Authors: Jaferi Fatemeh , Shahin Arash , Vasili Mohammadreza , Hassani Omid Boyer
Published: April 2023

Due to the lack of efficient waste management growing environmental pollutions leads to threatens the live of mankind and our planet. Good waste management need appropriate planning and monitoring at all different levels including designing, manufacturing, distribution, collection, recycling and disposal that require a circular approach. Circular supply chain, offers a new and compelling perspective to the supply chain sustainability domain. Therefor having proper solution approach for circular supply chains is of great value. To this end, in this paper suitable solution approaches has been presented for a multi-echelon, multi-product, multi-period and multi-objective mixed integer linear programing. This model is designed for a circular closed-loop supply chain that considered digital devices. The conflicting objectives of the model are to minimize total costs on the entire chain and environmental pollution and to maximize total rate of unemployment reduction. The Epsilon-constraint method is proposed to solve small size of the problem. A Pareto set of optimal solutions helped to assess the trade-offs involving the three objective. Because this problem is of NP-hard category, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is used to find near optimal Pareto front for large size of the problem. To demonstrate the efficiency of the metaheuristic algorithm the answers obtained in small dimensions are compared with the answers obtained from the Epsilon-constraint method. The results show that the error percentage of the objective function compared to the epsilon method in all solved problems is less than 1%, which shows the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Reducing the solving time especially in the large dimensions of the problem is one of the advantages of this solution method. Using these methods allows decision makers to provide a set of efficient optimal solutions so that they can select the best point, according to the available budget and their organization policies.
Enhancing Object Recognition in Hazy Scenes with Boundary-Constrained Dehazing and YOLOv7 Architecture
Authors: Vishwakarma Sandeep , Pillai Anuradha , Punj Deepika
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a novel approach to improving object recognition in hazy scenes by combining boundary-constrained dehazing and YOLOv7 architecture. The current approaches encounter challenges in maintaining a trade-off between improving low-lazy images and detecting objects. In order to address this issue, the current study suggests a new method. This novel technique employs hazy images sourced from the RESIDE SOTS dataset and evaluates diverse dehazing methods based on the PSNR and SSIM metrics. The proposed method uses hazy images collected from the RESIDE SOTS dataset and compares various dehazing approaches using PSNR and SSIM metrics. Our approach enhances object recognition accuracy in hazy scenes by removing the atmospheric haze through boundary constraints and applying the state-of-the-art YOLOv7 architecture for object detection. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms other dehazing methods in terms of PSNR and SSIM metrics, achieving higher recognition accuracy for objects in hazy scenes. The proposed approach can be applied to various real-world applications such as autonomous driving, video surveillance, and environmental monitoring, where object recognition in hazy conditions is crucial.
The offline-to-online shift of medical education during COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed method study of medical teachers and students from India
Authors: Das Arani , Printhviraj Manoj , Patel Sanjay Kumar , Mirdha Meena , Rath Rama Shankar
Published: April 2023

Introduction:
Most institutes worldwide have experienced a forced shift to online mode education during COVID 19 pandemic. As in Indian Medical Institutions e-learning is not a well-established mode of teaching, it disrupts the newly implemented competency based medical education (CBME). This sudden shift in educational methods introduced new experiences, opportunities, and difficulties among medical teachers and students. In this study we explore undergraduate medical students and teachers’ perception, detailed insights and learning experience on online medical education.
Method:
This is an institution based mixed methods study conducted at three medical institutes in India. A self-prepared semi structured questionnaire was applied to extract various prospective of teaching and assessment through online mode. Qualitative descriptive design was applied using focused group discussion. All FGDs were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic content analysis to identify themes and subthemes regarding perceptions of online and offline education.
Result:
A total of 323 medical students out of 510 and 35 medical teachers out of 71 were included in the study. Most students and teachers agreed to the fact that they faced technical difficulties, perceived less connected, and felt difficulty in achieving desired competencies. In qualitative analysis five major themes (Learning Environment, Technology, Competency, Health issues, Assessment) and multiple subthemes were identified.
Conclusion:
Improvement of the online teaching methods with appropriate technical advancement may help to reduce the gap between the online and offline teaching learning modalities.
Fault diagnosis and analysis of hydraulic brake based on friction vibration signal
Authors: Ma Qiuhuan , Wang Yan
Published: April 2023

The friction vibration signal corresponding to different fault types of brakes is significantly different, thus a hydraulic disc brake fault diagnosis and judgment scheme based on vibration signal detection was proposed and validated in the paper. According to the composition and electric control principle of hydraulic brake, the vibration signal detection and brake pressure control strategies were established. The key hardware and isolation circuit of the detection system were designed, which can effectively improve the stability and anti-interference ability in the process of vibration data acquisition and transmission with SPI and CAN bus communication scheme. In order to eliminate noise interference in friction vibration signal and improve the accuracy of fault diagnosis with advantage, wavelet threshold denoising method was applied to brake disc vibration signal processing. The denoised signal can be obtained by inverting the selected wavelet coefficients to separate the useful components of the signal from the invalid noise. For the research on the correlation between fault types and vibration signal characteristics, a friction vibration test bench for hydraulic braking system was built to obtain and process the output signal from vibration sensor. The frequency spectrum response laws of vibration signals were compared and analyzed when the brake disc was normal and had surface defects, including microcracks, excessive wear and fatigue peeling. The external parameters such as brake pressure and spindle speed were keeping constant, thus eliminating the influence of working factors on vibration characteristics. In order to study the influence of brake pressure failure on friction vibration, the variation law of vibration signal is compared and analyzed under the condition of hydraulic valve leakage and pressure maintaining failure. The results show that the friction vibration signal can be used as an effective basis for judging the surface defects and brake pressure faults of brake discs. Under the condition of wavelet threshold denoising, accurate and effective vibration parameters can be obtained, which is of great significance to the safety and reliability of the braking system.
The effects of projected climate change on crop water availability in the U.S. Caribbean
Authors: Moraes Flávia D. S. , Ramseyer Craig , Gamble Douglas
Published: April 2023

Anthropogenic climate change affects small islands, and farming systems in the Caribbean are vulnerable to climate change due to their high dependence on rainfall. Therefore, this work evaluated how temperature and precipitation projections affect water crop needs in Puerto Rico and St. Croix. We used Daymet data to create a baseline climatology (1981–2010) and the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) to create future climatologies (2041–2070 and 2071–2100). A water budget model estimated the water deficit, and the crop risk (CROPRISK) model determined crop suitability for sweet pepper, banana, and plantain. Results indicated an increase in water stress after 2041 for most of the region from June to August, except for western Puerto Rico, where it will occur from January to March. For sweet pepper, banana, and plantain, the most water-stressed season is projected to be January–July. November will be the only month during which all crops are projected to be highly suitable through the end of the 21st century. These findings suggested that Puerto Rico and St. Croix crop water stress may be more sensitive to changes in temperature than precipitation.
Online gaming features in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: UÇUR Ömer , DÖNMEZ Yunus Emre
Published: April 2023

Aim: Leisure activities in adolescents with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to focus on Internet activities, especially online games. Online gaming addiction has been observed in ADHD populations. Game genres and characteristics may affect addiction in ADHD adolescents who play online games. This study aims to contribute to the literature by examining the Internet gaming disorder (IGD) risk effects and game genres of hyperactivity/impulsivity, inattention, and ADHD index separately.

Methods: A total of 884 adolescents playing online games were included. Participants answered the online game features form, Conners-Wells’ adolescent self-report scale—long version and digital gaming addiction scale—short form under the observation of their teachers. Game genres and ADHD symptomatology (Inattention, Hyperactivity/impulsivity, ADHD index) were categorized within themselves.

Results: IGD was significant in all subcomponents of ADHD symptomatology. In all subcomponents, insulting/threatening speeches were found in the chat tab. In the Hyperactivity/impulsivity component, more hours of online gaming and spending real money on in-game advantages were found. In the Inattention and ADHD index, the amount of gaming in the social environment of the adolescents was high. In ADHD symptomatology, no significant results were found in game genres (except sports in the Inattention component).

nclusion: Although levels of online gaming are high in adolescents with ADHD, a bidirectional relationship is likely. We believe that social factors and communicative characteristics are important in relational factors in adolescents. Longitudinal studies should be conducted to answer important empirical questions about the relationship between ADHD-IGD and game genres.
Structure-Activity Relationships and Therapeutic Potential of
Purinergic P2X7 Receptor Antagonists
Authors: Ghafir El Idrissi Imane , Podlewska Sabina , Abate Carmen , Bojarski Andrzej J. , Lacivita Enza , Leopoldo Marcello
Published: April 2023

The purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), an ATP-gated non-selective cation
channel, has emerged as a gatekeeper of inflammation that controls the release of proinflammatory
cytokines. As a key player in initiating the inflammatory signaling cascade,
the P2X7 receptor is currently under intense scrutiny as a target for the treatment of different
pathologies, including chronic inflammatory disorders (rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis),
chronic neuropathic pain, mood disorders (depression and anxiety), neurodegenerative
diseases, ischemia, cancer (leukemia), and many others. For these reasons,
pharmaceutical companies have invested in discovering compounds able to modulate the
P2X7R and filed many patent applications. This review article presents an account of
P2X7R structure, function, and tissue distribution, emphasizing its role in inflammation.
Next, we illustrate the different chemical classes of non-competitive P2X7R antagonists
reported by highlighting their properties and qualities as clinical candidates for treating inflammatory
disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. We also discuss the efforts to develop
effective Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radioligands to progress the understanding
of the pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, to provide evidence of
drug-target engagement, and to assist clinical dose selection for novel drug therapies.
Update on Pharmacological Treatment for Comorbid Major Depressive
and Alcohol Use Disorders: The Role of Extended-release Trazodone
Authors: Di Nicola Marco , Pepe Maria , Panaccione Isabella , Moccia Lorenzo , Janiri Luigi , Sani Gabriele
Published: April 2023

Background:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) are major
public health concerns because of their high prevalence and clinical and functional severity. MDD
and AUD commonly co-occur, but effective therapeutic approaches for comorbidity are still scarce.
Available evidence on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants held mixed
results, and further pharmacological categories have been less investigated. Trazodone is an approved
antidepressant drug for adults and has shown efficacy on symptoms like anxiety and insomnia observed
in AUD patients as well. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the effect of extended-release trazodone
on clinical and functional features in MDD + AUD subjects.

Methods:

One hundred MDD + AUD outpatients were retrospectively evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months
of treatment with extended-release trazodone (150-300 mg/day, flexibly dosed). Improvement in depressive
symptoms was the primary outcome measure. Changes in anxiety, sleep, functioning, quality
of life, clinical global severity, and alcohol craving were also investigated.

Results:

Trazodone reduced depressive symptoms (p < 0.001) with 54.5% remission at the endpoint.
Similar improvements were observed in all secondary outcomes, including anxiety, sleep alterations,
and craving (p < 0.001). Only mild side effects were reported and disappeared over time.

Conclusion:

Extended-release trazodone displayed good antidepressant properties in MDD + AUD
patients, ameliorating overall symptomatology, functioning, and quality of life, with a good safety/
tolerability profile. Further, it significantly improved sleep disturbances and craving symptoms, which
are associated with drinking relapse and worse outcomes. Therefore, trazodone might represent a
promising pharmacological option for MDD + AUD patients.
Achievements in Hypothyroidism Treatment with Herbal Medicine: A
Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Javidi Najmeh , Khorasani Zahra Mazloum , Salari Roshanak , Niroumand Shabnam , Yousefi Mahdi
Published: April 2023

Background:

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disease in the world that causes
morbidity and mortality due to its association with metabolic diseases, especially in old age, and longterm
treatment with levothyroxine causes many side effects for patients. Treatment with herbal medicine
can regulate thyroid hormones and prevent side effects.

Objective:

The purpose of this systematic review is the evaluation of the effect of herbal medicine on
the signs and symptoms of primary hypothyroidism.

Methods:

PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled
Trials were searched until 4 May, 2021. We selected randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that have assessed
the effect of herbal medicine on hypothyroidism.

Results:

Out of 771 articles, 4 trials with 186 participants were included. In one study, Nigella sativa
L. caused a significant decrease in weight (P=0.004) and body mass index (BMI) (P=0.002). TSH levels
were reported to be decreased and T3 increased in the treatment group (P =0.03) (P=0.008), respectively.
In another study on Nigella sativa L., results did not show a significant difference between
the two groups (p=0.02). A significant decrease in total cholesterol (CHL) and fasting blood sugar
(FBS) was reported in participants with negative anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies. In patients
with positive anti-TPO antibodies, a significant increase in total cholesterol and FBS was observed
in the intervention group (p=0.02). In the third RCT, T3 in the ashwagandha group at 4 and 8
weeks significantly increased by 18.6% (p=0.012) and 41.5% (p < 0.001), respectively. A noticeable
increase was found in the T4 level from baseline by 9.3% (p= 0.002) and 19.6% (p < 0.001) at 4 and 8
weeks, respectively. TSH levels fell remarkably in the intervention group compared to placebo at 4
weeks (p <0.001) and 8 weeks (p <0.001), respectively. In the last article selected, Mentha x Piperita
L. showed no significant difference in fatigue scores between intervention and control groups at the
midpoint (day 7), while fatigue scores improved in the intervention group in all subscales compared to
the control group on day 14.

Conclusion:

Some herbal remedies, including Nigella sativa L., ashwagandha, and Mentha x Piperita
L., can improve the signs and symptoms of primary hypothyroidism, but using a more extensive and
advanced methodology will provide us with more complete results.
Alpha Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide, Neuropeptide Y, and Substance P
as Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Disease Activity and Severity in Multiple
Sclerosis
Authors: Al-Keilani Maha S. , Almomani Basima A. , Jaradat Saied A. , Al-Sawalha Nour A. , Qawasmeh Majdi Al
Published: April 2023

Background:

Alpha calcitonin gene-related peptide (aCGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and
substance P (SP) are neuropeptides that have emerged recently as potent immunomodulatory factors
with potential as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective:

The study aimed to detect serum levels of aCGRP, NPY, and SP in MS patients versus
healthy controls and their association with disease activity and severity.

Methods:

Serum levels were measured in MS patients and age and sex-matched healthy controls using
ELISA.

Results:

We included 67 MS patients: 61 relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) and 6 progressive MS
(PR-MS), and 67 healthy controls. Serum NPY level was found to be lower in MS patients than in
healthy controls (p < 0.001). Serum aCGRP level was higher in PR-MS compared to RR-MS (p =
0.007) and healthy controls (p = 0.001), and it positively correlated with EDSS (r = 0.270, p = 0.028).
Serum NPY level was significantly higher in RR-MS and PR-MS than in healthy controls (p < 0.001
and p = 0.001, respectively), and it was lower in patients with mild or moderate/severe disease than in
healthy controls (p <0.001). Significant inverse correlations were found between SP level and MS
disease duration (r = -0.279, p = 0.022) and duration of current DMT (r = -0.315, p = 0.042).

Conclusion:

Lower serum levels of NPY were revealed in MS patients compared to healthy controls.
Since serum levels of aCGRP are significantly associated with disease activity and severity, it is a potential
disease progression marker.
Accuracy in the Marginal Adaptation and/or Internal Adaptation of Full-coverage Fixed Prostheses Made with Digital Impressions and Conventional Impressions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cajas-Guamán María , Cabrera-Toro María , Astudillo-Ortiz Jaime , Abad-Salinas Yulissa , Astudillo-Rubio Daniela , Delgado-Gaete Bolívar
Published: April 2023

Aim:

The study aimed to verify compliance of the systematic reviews with the requirements established by the scientific community and demonstrate the validity and reliability of the systematic reviews conducted on the accuracy (marginal adaptation and/or internal adaptation) of the full-coverage fixed prostheses made with digital impressions versus conventional impressions.

Methods:

A search was performed for systematic reviews in three electronic databases, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as in the gray literature. In the search strategy, medical subject heading (MeSH) words were used in PubMed, and free terms were used for the titles and abstracts of each article. Each keyword was separated by the Boolean operator OR and later combined with the Boolean operator AND. Six systematic reviews were included for qualitative synthesis. To assess the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews, the AMSTAR 2 tool was used.

Results:

The search yielded 131 studies, of which 78 remained after removing duplicates. The title and abstract of each chosen study were assessed, and 22 articles were included for full-text reading. Finally, six studies were included, of which three studies were considered to have low confidence, while the other three were considered to have critically low confidence. In addition, the six SRs evaluated the adaptation or marginal fit, while only three studies measured internal adaptation.

Conclusion:

The use of digital impressions in single fixed prostheses maintains a marginal level within the limit of clinical acceptability; however, the methodological quality of systematic reviews is poor, according to the AMSTAR 2 tool.