bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low Diagnostic Performance of Thick Blood Smears of 50 µL in Comparison with Blood Direct Examination of 10 µL and Leukoconcentration Techniques among Loiasis-Suspected Patients with Low Microfilaremia in Gabon, Central Africa, using the STARD-BCLM Guidelines
Authors: M’Bondoukwé Noé Patrick , Owono-Medang Matthieu , Moussavou-Boussougou Marie Noëlle , Akoue Yvan , Migueba Valentin , Bulaev Dmitry , Neven Anouk , James Aurtin Joel Luice , Ntsame-Ella Julie , Mboumba Denise Patricia Mawili , Atsame Julienne , Vaillant Michel , Bouyou-Akotet Marielle Karine
Published: July 2023

Background
The aim of the study was to determine performance indicators of the Thick Blood Smear of 50 µL (TBS-50), following Standards for the Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-Bayesian Latent Class Analysis (STARD-BLCA) guidelines. TBS-50 was compared to two common parasitological techniques – the blood direct examination of 10 µL and the leukoconcentration of 5 mL.
Methods
The study population was recruited among the patients of the Department of Parasitology-Mycology-Tropical Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the Université des Sciences de la Santé between July 2018 and July 2019. Age, sex, symptoms and eosinophilia variables were recorded from laboratory registers and medical files. The blood direct examination of 10 µL, TBS-50 and the leukoconcentration technique of 5 mL were performed for each patient. The Classica formula and BLCA were used to determine the diagnostic accuracies of the three techniques as well as the prevalence. Three models were built within the framework of BCLA: main model I and alternative models II and III for sensitivity analysis considering the leukoconcentration technique as the gold standard.
Results
In total, 191 patients consented to be included. The prevalence of Loa loa microfilaremia was 9.4% [95% CI: 5.7–14.5] (n = 18/191) with direct blood examination/TBS-50 and 12.6% [8.2–18.1] (n = 24/191) for leukoconcentration. The mean microfilaremia levels were comparable between blood direct examination (1005 [200-15000] mf/mL) and TBS-50 (815 [100-16720] mf/mL) (p = 0.97). Comparing TBS-50/direct blood examination with the leukoconcentration method, the sensitivity was 75.0% [53.3–90.2], the specificity was 100.0% [97.8–100.0], the positive predictive value was 100.0% [81.5–100.0], and the negative predictive value was 96.5% [92.6–98.7]. The prevalence estimates of microfilaremic loiasis were 9.7% [6.2–13.7], 10.2% [6.3–14.4] and 11.2% [6.7–16.4], respectively, in ascending order of the models. The outputs of main model I showed a sensitivity of 78.9% [65.3–90.3], a specificity of 100.0% [99.3–100.0], a positive predictive value of 99.1% [87.2–100.0] and a negative predictive value of 93.0% [87.3–97.7] for direct blood examination/TBS-50.
Conclusions
TBS-50/blood direct examination has a low sensitivity. In one in five cases, the result will be falsely declared negative using these two methods.
Comparing Approximated Heat Stress Measures ﻿Across the United States
Authors: Ahn Yoonjung , Tuholske Cascade , Parks Robbie M.
Published: July 2023

Extreme heat is a great threat to human health, and a growing public health concern, with recent higher intensity and duration of heat days coupled with increasing population exposure to hot environments. Utilizing accurate weather information and measures that reflect what people experience is a key component to understanding extreme heat impacts on human health. Numerous studies have suggested various heat metrics Heat Index (HI) and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) have been widely used in heat exposure guidelines. However, there are few systematic comparisons of daily heat measures and weather variables such as daily relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation which are highly related to human body thermoregulation and physiologic impact of heat. We compared three relevant heat measures (HImax, WBGTBernard, and WBGTLiljegren), derived from three widely-used gridded weather datasets (ERA5, PRISM, and Daymet) with ground-based weather observations. The heat measures calculated from gridded weather data and station data showed fairly strong agreement (R2 0.82–0.96, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) 1.69–5.37°C). However, the discrepancies varied according to Köppen-Geiger climates (e.g., Adjusted R2 HImax (0.61–0.96), WBGTBernard (0.64–0.94), and WBGTLiljegren (0.34–0.94)). Gridded weather datasets offer a fairly reliable approach to assessing heat exposure of meteorological variables and heat measures. However, further research and establishing local ground station networks are necessary to reduce exposure measurement error and improve accuracy to ultimately better and more robustly understand the links between humid heat and health outcomes.
On-chip hybrid erbium-doped tellurium oxide-silicon nitride distributed Bragg reflector lasers
Authors: Frare Bruno L. Segat , Ahmadi Pooya Torab , Hashemi Batoul , Bonneville Dawson B. , Mbonde Hamidu M. , Frankis Henry C. , Knights Andrew P. , Mascher Peter , Bradley Jonathan D. B.
Published: July 2023

We demonstrate integrated on-chip erbium-doped tellurite (TeO2:Er3+) waveguide lasers fabricated on a wafer-scale silicon nitride platform. A 0.352-µm-thick TeO2:Er3+ coating was deposited as an active medium on 0.2-µm-thick, 1.2- and 1.6-µm-wide, and 22-mm-long silicon nitride waveguides with sidewall-patterned asymmetrical distributed Bragg reflector cavities. The lasers yield efficiencies between 0.06 and 0.36%, lasing threshold ranging from 13 to 26 mW, and emission within the C-band (1530–1565 nm). These results establish new opportunities for this hybrid tellurite glass-silicon nitride platform, such as the co-integration of passive components and light sources in the telecom window, and provide the foundation for the development of efficient, compact, and high-output-power on-chip erbium-doped tellurite waveguide lasers.
Prediction of histopathologic grades of bladder cancer with radiomics based on MRI: comparison with traditional MRI
Authors: Li Longchao , Zhang Jing , Zhe Xia , Tang Min , Zhang Li , Lei Xiaoyan , Zhang Xiaoling
Published: July 2023

Purpose
To compare Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics signatures and traditional MRI model for the preoperative prediction of bladder cancer (BCa) grade.
Methods
This retrospective study included 255 consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed 113 low-grade and 142 high-grade BCa who underwent preoperative MRI, including T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The traditional MRI nomogram model was developed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression by the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (mADC), vesical imaging reporting and data system (VI-RADS) scoring, tumor size and number of tumors. Volumes of interest were manually drawn on T2WI and ADC maps by two radiologists. Using ANOVA, correlation and LASSO methods to select features. Then, a logistic regression (LR) classifier was used to develop the radiomics signatures in the training set and assessed in the validation set. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to compare the diagnostic abilities of the radiomics and traditional MRI models by the DeLong test. Finally, decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed by estimating the clinical usefulness of the two models in both the training and validation sets.
Results
The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) of the traditional MRI model were 0.841 in the training cohort and 0.806 in the validation cohort. The AUCs of the three groups of radiomics model [ADC, T2WI, bi-parametric-MRI(bp-MRI, ADC and T2WI)]-based logistic regression analysis algorithms were 0.888, 0.875 and 0.899 in the training cohort and 0.863, 0.805 and 0.867 in the validation cohort, respectively. The combined radiomics model achieved higher AUCs than the traditional MRI model and was compared using the DeLong test (P = 0.026 and 0.023 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively). DCA indicated that the radiomics model had higher net benefits than the traditional MRI model.
Conclusions
The MRI radiomics model can be helpful for preoperatively predicting low-grade or high-grade BCa and outperformed the traditional MRI model.
Meta-analysis of root-associated microbial communities of widely distributed native and invasive Poaceae plants in Antarctic.
Authors: Wang Xumin , Qu Ying , Teng Xindong , Xu Li , Jin Liming , Xue Hao , Xun Zhuoran , Zhang Qingzheng , Wang Chenghong , Wang Lijun , Liu Xiumei , Wang Shuang , Zheng Li , Yu Yong , Qu Jiangyong , Xing Zhikai
Published: July 2023

Deschampsia antarctica Desv. and Poa annua L. are two Poaceae plants with enough endurance to successfully establish populations in the Antarctic region. Their adaptation to the Antarctic environment is closely linked to root-associated microbial communities. In this study, we obtained 16S rRNA sequencing data of the root-associated microbial communities of these two Poaceae plants from NCBI. Meta-analysis was used to investigate the similarities and differences between the root-endosphere and rhizosphere-dwelling microbial communities in these two Poaceae plants. Here we report that two Poaceae-Poaceae plants’ rhizospheric communities were found to be more species diversity than endospheric communities. The species diversity of P. annua was higher than that of D. antarctica in both endosphere and rhizosphere communities. Seven bacterial families form a core microbiome of two Antarctic Poaceae plants’ root endosphere, in which Microbacteriaceae appears to be obligatory root endophytes of the two Antarctic Poaceae plants. The core microbiome of the two Poaceae plants' rhizosphere has six bacterial families. Chitinophagaceae, Burkholderiaceae, and Flavobacteriaceae are most likely to play a crucial role in Poaceae plants' adaptation to cold Antarctic conditions. Sphingobacteriaceae, Caulobacteraceae, Gemmatimonadaceae, and Flavobacteriaceae have a great influence on two Antarctic Poaceae plants.
Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) communities in contrasting areas from the Western regions of Burkina Faso: species diversity, abundance and implication in pathogen transmission
Authors: KABORE Patindé Didier Alexandre , Soma Dieudonné Diloma , Gil Patricia , Kientega Mahamadi , Sawadogo Simon P. , Ouédraogo Georges Anicet , Perre Philippe , Baldet Thierry , Gutierrez Serafin , Dabiré Roch K.
Published: July 2023

Background: Mosquitoes (Diptera : Culicidae) are the arthropods that have the greatest negative impact on human health. The transformation of natural environments changing into urban and agricultural areas and population growing are phenomena that affect mosquito communities, thus influencing the risk of emerging or re-emerging vector-borne diseases. Here, we describe the diversity and abundance of adult mosquitoes in four environments with different anthropization levels (rural, urban, rice fields and forest) in a West African savannah zone.
Methods: Mosquitoes were collected from two region (Hauts-Bassins and Sud-Ouest) of Burkina Faso during five periods between August 2019 and June 2021. Sampling sites were grouped according to anthropized environments. Mosquitoes were collected using BG sentinel traps and Prokopack aspirator. Analyses were performed using R software version 4.1.2. Logistic regression by generalized mixed linear models were used to test the effect of environment on mosquito abundance and diversity. Alpha diversity analysis was also performed using Vegan package.
Results: A total of 10,625 adult mosquitoes were collected, belonging to 33 species, 5 genera: Culex, Aedes, Anopheles, Mansonia, and Ficalbia. The most dominant species were Cx. quinquefasciatus, An. gambiae s.l. and Ae. aegypti. Alpha diversity was similar across the regions. Habitat had a significant effect on mosquito species richness, Shannon index and Simpson index. The rural environment had the highest species richness (n = 28) followed by the forest environment (n= 24). The highest number (4,977/10,625) of mosquitoes was collected in urban environment.
Conclusions: The composition of mosquito communities depended on the type of environment, with fewer species in highly anthropized environments such as urban and rice fields areas. Diversity and abundance of mosquito vectors could expose human populations from each environment to a potential risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
Analytical Fitting of gamma-ray Photopeaks in Germanium Cross Strip Detectors
Authors: Boggs Steven E. , Pike Sean N.
Published: July 2023

In an ideal germanium detector, fully-absorbed monoenergetic gamma-rays will appear in the measured spectrum as a narrow peak, broadened into a Gaussian of width determined only by the statistical properties of charge cloud generation and the electronic noise of the readout electronics. Multielectrode detectors complicate this picture. Broadening of the charge clouds as they drift through the detector will lead to charge sharing between neighboring electrodes and, inevitably, low-energy tails on the photopeak spectra. We simulate charge sharing in our germanium cross strip detectors in order to reproduce the low-energy tails due to charge sharing. Our goal is to utilize these simulated spectra to develop an analytical fit (shape function) for the spectral lines that provides a robust and high-quality fit to the spectral profile, reliably reproduces the interaction energy, noise width, and the number of counts in both the true photopeak and the low-energy tail, and minimizes the number of additional parameters. Accurate modeling of the detailed line profiles is crucial for both calibration of the detectors as well as scientific interpretation of measured spectra.
Numerical method and Validation using ANN of Composite Steel-Concrete Beam for Optimized Geometry and Emplacement of Web Opening
Authors: Mastan Sheik , S Anandh , S Sindhu Nachiar
Published: July 2023

Composite steel-concrete beams are widely used in buildings and bridges due to their nature, ease of construction, low cost, and excellent structural performance. Ventilation ducts and pipes under beams in high-rise buildings restrict floor clearance. Composite steel-concrete beams with web openings can overcome the abovementioned impediments but have lower flexural strength and load-carrying capacity. This study has been conducted to optimize the geometry and emplacement of the opening for the enhancement of its structural behavior. Three geometries (circle, rectangle, and triangle) were considered in the composite steel-concrete beam and analyzed using ABAQUS v6.14. The optimized geometry is emplaced at varying positions between the end of the support and mid-the span. Based on stress concentration and the maximum stress resistance, the circular geometry placed at one-third of the span was effective from the numerical analysis. The load-carrying capacity of the beams was predicted using the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model, and the results were validated by Multiple Determination Coefficients (R2) and Mean Square Error (MSE). The results of R2 and MSE for all the models were found to be greater than 0.94 and less than 0.09, respectively. This indicates that ANN provides a perfect fit for the numerical data.
Statistical Inference on the Inverse Weibull Model ParametersBased on Generalized Fuzzy Order Statistics
Authors: Maswadah M.
Published: July 2023

In statistical inference, the parameter estimations for lifetime distribution usually deal with precise information. However, in real world situations, experimental performance results cannot always be recorded or measured precisely, and each observable event may only be identified with a fuzzy subset of the sample space. The mean objective of this work is to apply Bayes estimation for the inverse Weibull distribution parameters based on generalized fuzzy order statistics when the available observations are described by means of fuzzy information. The Bayesian estimates are compared to the maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) and the expectation maximization (EM) estimates, via Monte Carlo simulations, in terms of the mean square errors and mean percentage errors. The results are quite favorable to Bayes’ method, which provides better estimates and outperforms the maximum likelihood and the EM estimates for different sample sizes and several values for the true parameters. Finally, a numerical example is given to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method.
Illuminating T cell-dendritic cell interactions in vivo by FlAsHing antigens
Authors: Akkaya Munir , Souz Jafar Al , Williams Daniel , Kamdar Rahul , Kamenyeva Olena , Kabat Juraj , Shevach Ethan M. , Akkaya Billur
Published: July 2023

Delineating the complex network of interactions between antigen-specific T cells and antigen presenting cells (APCs) is crucial for effective precision therapies against cancer, chronic infections, and autoimmunity. However, the existing arsenal for examining antigen-specific T cell interactions is restricted to a select few antigen-T cell receptor pairs, with limited in situ utility. This lack of versatility is largely due to the disruptive effects of reagents on the immune synapse, which hinder real-time monitoring of antigen-specific interactions. To address this limitation, we have developed a novel and versatile immune monitoring strategy by adding a short cysteine-rich tag to antigenic peptides that emits fluorescence upon binding to thiol-reactive biarsenical hairpin compounds. Our findings demonstrate the specificity and durability of the novel antigen-targeting probes during dynamic immune monitoring in vitro and in vivo. This strategy opens new avenues for biological validation of T-cell receptors with newly identified epitopes by revealing the behavior of previously unrecognized antigen-receptor pairs, expanding our understanding of T cell responses.

The authors would like to note that Munir Akkaya and Jafar Al Souz contributed equally.
Isolation and biochemical characterization of endophytic bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophocusfrom native sugarcane cultivar of middle Gangetic plains of India
Authors: Kumar Ajeet , Meena Sunita Kumari , Sinha S.K. , Singh A.K. , Minnatullah  , Singh Sanjay Kumar
Published: July 2023

Nitrogenous fertilizer is one of the dominating fertilizers, having indirect negative effect on soil health. The concept of nitrogen fixation through endophytic bacterium has been gaining popularity among farming as well as scientific community. Sugarcane which is known as high nitrogen input crop, so here its supplementation plays very promising role through endophytic. So the alternative option of this fertilizer is Gluconacetobacter. This bacterium has the plant growth promoting capacity by production of phytohormones such as auxins and gibberellins. The present study is on the isolation, biochemical characterization and screening of endophytic bacterium, was isolated from different sugarcane cultivar (roots, stem and leaf). Total 115 isolates screened, out of which 15 efficient isolates were selected based on production of growth promoting hormones. An isolate from sugarcane cultivar CoP-9301, GdS08S fixed highest amount of nitrogen i.e., 153μg of N/mg of Carbon used maximum concentration of Indole acetic acid (7.58μg/ml) while isolate GdS15S produced highest concentration of Gibberellic acid (8.19μg/25ml) which was isolated from stem part of sugarcane cultiar Co-0238. The isolate GdS07R showed highest diameter () of phosphorus and zinc solubilization zone i.e. 4.22 cm and 4.52 cm respectively. The G. diazotrophicus is found within the plant tissue, the biosynthesis of IAA and GA suggests that the bacteria could promote rooting, cell elongation and improve sugarcane growth by direct effects on metabolic processes, in addition to their role in N fixation. The best 15 screened isolate have been tested for production of organic acid (Tartaric, Fumaric, Malonic, Gluconic, Citric, and Lactic) and titratable acidity. Our results showed the importance of endophytic bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophocusisolated from native sugarcane cultivars in flourishing microbial communities under intensive sugarcane cultivation system which may be act as key factor in development of more sustainable practices to feed a burgeoning population of middle gangetic plains of India. The isolated endophytic bacterium is a nitrogen fixing bacterium found in monocotyledon sugarcane plants, which actively fixes atmosphere nitrogen and provides significant amounts of nitrogen to growing crops.
Effect of loading rate on the dislocation emission from crack-tip under hydrogen environment
Authors: Zhao Kai , Zhao Fan , Lin Qi , Li Xiangdong , Xiao Jingping , Gu Yunjun , Chen Qifeng
Published: July 2023

The interplay between H atoms and crack-tip plasticity is essential to understand hydrogen embrittlement. By formulating a novel closed-form energy-based analytical model, the effect of hydrogen on the emission of dislocations in the vicinity of a crack-tip is investigated. Using fcc Ni as model material, the analytical model predicts that the critical radius of stably developed dislocation loop decreases with applied Mode-I stress intensity factor (SIF) KI. Combined with transition state theory, it is found that the most probable Mode-I SIF of Ni-H system increases with H concentration under lower loading rates, but is not sensitive to the H content under higher loading rates. Further atomistic simulations show that, 1) the critical SIF required for dislocation emission does not vary significantly with H concentration; 2) the dislocation loop is emitted from the crack-tip along the (111) slip plane at ~ KIe = 0.58~0.64 MPa√m, which is consistent with the present theoretical prediction ~ 0.63 MPa√m. This results thus indicate that the crack-tip plasticity is suppressed by the H insertion (i.e. the Song-Curtin nanohydride formation mechanism) under lower loading rates, but might not be influenced under higher loading rates.
Teaching a Graduate-level Research Methodology Course with Comprehensive COVID-19 Precautions: Implications for Safety Knowledge, Attitudes, Behavior, and Inclusivity
Authors: Hoerger MSCR PhD Michael
Published: July 2023

Background University instructors experience uncertainty regarding how to teach in person in effective, safe, and health-inclusive ways during periods of high COVID-19 transmission. This article provides a blueprint for implementing proven COVID-19 safety precautions based on a small graduate-level health psychology research methods course in 2023. Method The article describes communication with students regarding safety precautions, a COVID-19 safety video, and in-class safety precautions. Students (n = 11) completed outcome measures that included COVID-19 safety knowledge at baseline, post-video, and 2-months follow-up. They also completed measures of attitudes and behaviors and perceptions of health inclusivity at two-months follow-up and end-of-semester course evaluations. Results COVID-19 safety knowledge increased from 55.5% at baseline to 93.6% and 87.3% at post-test and follow-up,ps < .001. Students masked better (72.7%), promoted improved indoor air quality (90.9%), changed testing strategies (45.5%), helped others manage risk (27.3%), helped others to understand Long COVID (54.5%), and rated the course as more health-inclusive than their other courses (100%). Course evaluations were highly favorable, with 89.3% of all ratings and 96.4% of target ratings as at least a 4 out of 5. Discussion This article provides an illustrative example of how to implement an effective, safe, and health-inclusive learning environment in a university classroom during the ongoing COVID-19 airborne infectious disease pandemic. Students experienced improved knowledge of COVID-19 safety, changed attitudes and behaviors, found the class more inclusive than others, and evaluated the course favorably. Findings have implications for instructors wishing to improve classroom safety, collective bargaining negotiations, and future legal cases. Public Significance Statement: This article provides practical guidance on teaching in ways that are effective, safe, and inclusive during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings show that the course made students more knowledgeable about the pandemic, improved attitudes and behavior surrounding pandemic precautions, and led students to view the course as inclusive to people with health vulnerabilities.
Socially Responsible Businesses and Innovation Activity in Mexico: Do New Models Reduce CO2 Emissions?
Authors: German-Soto Vicente
Published: July 2023

This research investigates whether regions with a greater presence of socially responsible businesses (SRBs) and higher levels of innovation activity produce less CO2. SRBs create added social value and protect and care for the environment. This study adopts the empirical strategy of first identifying the companies among the 500 largest Mexican firms with an SRB distinction. Next, the SRBs are classified by state and source of capital (foreign or domestic). The sample represents 21 of the 32 Mexican states during the period 2010–2020. To reduce heterogeneity in the database and make the estimates more precise, regression models are based on the principal components method. The results confirm the effectiveness of SRBs at reducing CO2 emissions, with profitability and innovation estimated to have a greater impact than solvency and business growth. Source of capital did not change these findings, although the source of reductions differed. For domestic firms, most reductions derive from return on equity; for foreign firms, the reductions are most associated with innovation. In Mexico, the search for profitability can be achieved with social responsibility and environmental care, but this requires involving more organizations that prioritize the use of innovative techniques.
A rainfall-runoff simulation for semi-arid, large-size watershed area: a case study at Manjira River, India
Authors: Nagure A. S. , Shahapure S. S.
Published: July 2023

Extreme weather conditions like floods and droughts call for careful planning and management of water resources in order to prevent fatalities and other negative effects. Modern soft computing and machine learning approaches have provided a solution for simulating these hydrological phenomena despite the complexity and non-linear character of these phenomena, which depend on diverse parameters. Distributed or semi-distributed models for large-size watershed areas with geographical irregularity and heterogeneity necessitate a substantial amount of high-quality spatial data. This research uses 40 years (1981–2020) of daily rainfall-runoff data to illustrate the application of two data-driven models, random forest regression (RFR) and feed-forward neural network (FFNN), for semi-arid, large-size watershed areas. To understand the effect of input data, different input–output combinations were considered to simulate eight rainfall-runoff models. Results show that both RFR and FFNN models have successfully performed but RFR model performance is best with correlation coefficient values of 0.9928 (M6) and 0.9926 (M1).
Effects of Conjugation of Ferrocene and Gallic Acid On
desCys11/Lys12/Lys13-(p-BthTX-I)2K Peptide: Structure, Permeabilization
and Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Pereira Marina Rodrigues , dos Santos Vanessa Rodrigues , de Oliveira Warlley Campos , Duque Cristiane , da Silva Benise Ferreira , Santos-Filho Norival Alves , Carneiro Victor Alves , Lorenzón Esteban Nicolás , Cilli Eduardo Maffud
Published: July 2023

Background:

Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging global health challenge that has
led researchers to study alternatives to conventional antibiotics. A promising alternative is antimicrobial
peptides (AMPs), produced as the first line of defense by almost all living organisms. To
improve its biological activity, the conjugation of AMPs is a promising approach.

Objective:

In this study, we evaluated the N-terminal conjugation of p-Bt (a peptide derived from
Bothrops Jararacuçu`s venom) with ferrocene (Fc) and gallic acid (GA). Acetylated and linear versions
of p-Bt were also synthesized to evaluate the importance of N-terminal charge and dimeric
structure.

Methods:

The compounds were obtained using solid-phase peptide synthesis. Circular dichroism,
vesicle permeabilization, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity studies were conducted.

Results:

No increase in antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli was observed by adding either
Fc or GA to p-Bt. However, Fc-p-Bt and GA-p-Bt exhibited improved activity against Staphylococcus
aureus. No cytotoxicity upon fibroblast was observed for GA-p-Bt. On the other hand,
conjugation with Fc increased cytotoxicity. This toxicity may be related to the membrane permeabilization
capacity of this bioconjugate, which showed the highest carboxyfluorescein leakage in vesicle
permeabilization experiments.

Conclusion:

Considering these observations, our findings highlight the importance of adding bioactive
organic compounds in the N-terminal position as a tool to modulate the activity of AMPs.
Biological Importance of Phellodendrine in Traditional and Modern Medicines:
An Update on Therapeutic Potential in Medicine
Authors: Patel Kanika , Patel Dinesh Kumar
Published: July 2023

Background:

Herbal medicines have been used for the preparation of numerous pharmaceutical
products for the treatment of human disorders. Plant-derived products have been used
in medicine, nutraceuticals, perfumery, beverages, and cosmetics industries for different purposes.
Herbal medicines are mainly derived from different parts of plant materials. Phellodendron bark
has been widely known as one of the fundamental herbs of traditional Chinese medicine. Phellodendron
bark contains phellodendrine as a main active phytochemical. Phellodendrine
((7S,13aS)-3,10-dimethoxy-7-methyl-6,8,13,13atetrahydro-5H-isoquinolino[2,1-b]isoquinolin-7-
ium-2,11-diol), is a quaternary ammonium alkaloid.

Methods:

This present study aimed to investigate the biological potential and therapeutic effectiveness
of phellodendrine in medicine through scientific data analysis of different research works
on phellodendrine. The therapeutic value of phellodendrine was analyzed in the present work
through scientific data available in Google, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. All the
scientific data on phellodendrine were collected from these databases using the terms herbal drugs
and phellodendrine. Pharmacological and analytical data of phellodendrine were analyzed in the
present work in order to know the medicinal importance of phellodendrine.

Results:

Scientific data analysis of phellodendrine in the present work signified the biological importance
of phellodendrine in medicine. Phellodendrine has numerous beneficial aspects in medicine
due to its potential benefits in ulcerative colitis, inflammation, pancreatic cancer, nephritis, immune
response, acetylcholinesterase activity, psoriasis, arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and oxidative
stress. However, it also has significant effects on eicosanoid generation, neuraminidase-1, inflammasome
generation, cytochrome p450, taste receptors, and hepatic gluconeogenesis. Furthermore,
scientific data has indicated the presence of phellodendrine in different natural sources, including
Phellodendri cortex. Analytical data on phellodendrines has signified their importance in the isolation
and separation of pure phytochemicals in medicine. Pharmacokinetic parameters have highlighted
the tissue distribution of phellodendrine in different tissue of human beings and higher animals.

Conclusion:

In the present work, scientific data analysis has indicated the biological importance,
pharmacological activities, and analytical aspects of phellodendrine in medicine.
Solid-phase Spectrophotometric Determination of Synthetic Food Colourants
in Confectionery Products
Authors: Saranchina Nadezhda Vasilievna , Chubik Marianna Valerianovna , Ilyina Anzhelika Mikhailovna , Volgina Tatyana Nikolaevna , Gavrilenko Natalia Airatovna , Gavrilenko Mikhail Alekseevich
Published: July 2023

We suggest a simple method of solid-phase spectrophotometric determination of the
following synthetic food colourants: quinoline yellow Е104, sunset yellow FCF Е110, Ponceau 4R
Е124, patent blue V Е131, brilliant blue FCF Е133.

Methods:

The method implies the use of a polymethacrylate matrix for solid-phase extraction of
these colourants from confectionery products.

Results:

While the contact time for the matrix and the colourant solution was 15 minutes, the
detection limits were 1.7; 1.6; 5.8; 2.9; 2.9 mg·L–1 for colourants E104, E110, E124, E131, E133,
correspondingly. The standard deviation of the results by determination of synthetic food
colourants in confectionery products did not exceed 13 %.

Conclusion:

Compared to spectrophotometric determination involving liquid solvent extraction,
the method of determination of synthetic colourants we developed offers the following advantages:
sufficient increase of determination sensitivity, which results from accumulation of the analyte and
elimination of the possible aliquote turbidity as well as zero colourant loss by absorption into
supernatant liquid and the solid phase of the matrix.
Biological Applications of Ore Materials: Chili Absorption of Natural MG
and ZN Ions Released from Modified Serpentinite Powders
Authors: Hung Fei-Shuo
Published: July 2023

Introduction:

This study investigated the characteristics of the powder, the concentration
of the ions, and the growth characteristics of Chili that were irrigated with the natural magnesium–
zinc ionised water. The findings revealed that the ion dissolution rate was higher for greater
water temperatures.

Methods:

Extended sintering of the zinc-modified natural serpentinite powder at 400°C reduced
the number of dissolved magnesium ions and increased the number of dissolved zinc ions. The
Chili planting experiment was performed with two groups: 1) Chili irrigated with natural magnesium–
zinc ionised water (natural magnesium–zinc Chili) and 2) Chili irrigated with distilled water
(distilled-water Chili).

Results:

The natural magnesium–zinc Chilis were discovered to have higher concentrations of
magnesium and zinc ions in various parts. Furthermore, during the later stages of growth, the natural
magnesium–zinc Chili had a larger body and did not easily turn yellow, resulting in better
freshness. This study used modified serpentine powder to cultivate natural magnesium–zinc Chili.
Appropriate powder roasting conditions and the rates of magnesium and zinc dissolution were established,
and the growth characteristics of natural magnesium–zinc Chili were determined.

Conclusion:

The Chilis can help humans ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at
all ages by sufficient zinc and magnesium intake.
An Evidence Base for Heart Disease Prevention using a Mediterranean
Diet Comprised Primarily of Vegetarian Food
Authors: Gupta Umesh C. , Gupta Subhas C. , Gupta Shayle S.
Published: July 2023

Dietary patterns, nutrition, physical activity, air pollution, tobacco smoke, ethnicity
and genetics affect heart disease. Vegetarian food diets are one of the important factors in its
prevention and control. People living in the five blue zones, mostly consuming the Mediterranean
diet (MedDiet), have the highest longevity in the world and the least incidence of heart disease.
There are several forms of heart pathology, e.g., the most common coronary heart disease,
myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world and varies by race, where indigenous and
people of color have a higher risk for its complications than the white population. The morbidity
of cardiovascular pathology in the Afro-American community persists high and is a primary
source of disparities in life expectancy between Afro-Americans and whites in the United States.
Adherence to healthy diets higher in vegetable foods and lower in animal foods is correlated with
a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, morbidity and mortality in the general population. A detailed
literature review was performed of the Medline, EMBASE, and Ebsco databases to synthesize
and compare evidence on this topic to produce a review of the importance of a Mediterranean
diet in the prevention of heart disease. Consumption of a MedDiet consisting of fruits and
vegetables (including berries due to their high fibre and antioxidant content), nuts, whole grains,
leafy greens, beans like chickpeas, eggplants, Greek yogurt and extra virgin olive oil are associated
with longer life and lower incidence of heart disease. The latter diet is superior to consuming
large quantities of meat and refined carbohydrates, such as sucrose, high fructose corn syrup
and grains that have had the fibrous and nutritious parts removed.
The Utilisation of Animal By-products for the Production of Potential Biomaterial in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Maarof Manira , Binti Ibrahim Noor Amirrah , Thambirajoo Maheswary , Sallehuddin Nusaibah , Mh Busra Mohd Fauzi
Published: July 2023

The development of biomaterials in tissue engineering has already started
decades ago. A wide variety of biomaterials are being used as alternatives in clinical
applications. Lately, animal by-products have increased in demand for natural
substrates in various sectors. As in tissue engineering, animal-based biomaterials are
from different resources or origins of animal species that are being studied and applied
for disease treatments. In addition to this, novel biomaterials are being produced that
could imitate the physiology of natural healing mechanisms or the regeneration of
certain tissues. Thus, the efficiency in utilising animal by-products could alleviate the
waste management cost and scarcity of materials, which could reduce environmental
pollution. This book chapter discusses different classifications of animal byproducts,
their unique characteristics, and the advantages of these products that could embark as
new alternative approaches for treating diseases.
Carbohydrate and Fiber Intake on Fasting Blood Glucose Levels In Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus after Intervention of Brown Rice Diet
Authors: Cahyawardani Chyntia , Sulistyowati Etik , Widajati Endang
Published: July 2023

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia that occurs due to a decrease in insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells and insulin resistance. One of the pillars in the management of T2DM is medical nutrition therapy in the form of a balanced diet. A good intake of carbohydrates and fiber can help control fasting blood glucose levels of diabetic patients. This study aims to determine the relationship between carbohydrate and fiber intake on fasting blood glucose levels in patients with T2DM after the intervention of brown rice diet. The type used in this study was pre-experimental without control variables and the sample was not selected randomly. The design was one-shot case study by looking at the post-test results. The number of samples was 18 people aged 48–60 years. Data analysis used the Shapiro Wilk normality test and Spearman correlation test. The results showed that most of the respondents had normal carbohydrate intake (88.9%) and all respondents had good fiber intake (100%). Most of the respondents had uncontrolled fasting blood glucose levels (55.6%). There is no relationship between carbohydrate and fiber intake on fasting blood glucose levels after the intervention of a brown rice-based diet menu.
Organoleptic and Antioxidant Activities of Tomato, Pontianak Orange, and Carrot Juice for Cancer Patients
Authors: Rahman Nur , Khairuddin Khairuddin , Fasha Shaninditha Ajeng , Ayuningtyas Mirah Pradnya Dewi Ni Putu , Dwi Ayu Faradina Ary
Published: July 2023

Cancer has become a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with approximately 8.2 million deaths attributed to the disease in 2012. Antioxidants have demonstrated potential in combating cancer, and natural sources rich in vitamins, such as fruits and vegetables, are believed to be beneficial. This study aims to assess the chemical and organoleptic qualities of fruit and vegetable juice (tomatoes, Pontianak oranges, and carrots) as functional food for cancer patients. The study used an experimental design with a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) approach, with distinct processing techniques for each treatment level, and three replications were conducted. Data collection involved hedonic scale tests by 20 panelists to evaluate organoleptic quality, spectrophotometric tests to measure vitamin C levels, and DPPH tests to assess antioxidant activity. The results show that the processing of fruit and vegetable juice does not significantly influence vitamin C levels, aroma, or texture (p = 0.50). However, it has a significant effect on antioxidant levels, color, and taste of the juice (p=0.007).
Peer Tutoring on Fish and Vegetables-Based Diet Education to Prevent Anemia and Hypoalbuminemia in Adolescents
Authors: Mustafa Annasari , Widajati Endang , Halis Farida , Khairuddin Khairuddin
Published: July 2023

Early detection of nutritional problems is a vital skill for individuals as it enables timely prevention before any symptoms arise. This skill can be fostered through enhancing knowledge, practicing skills via educational activities and mentoring, and seeking support from peers who share similar challenges. This study aims to investigate the impact of peer tutoring on the development of a balanced menu and healthy snack consumption based on fish and vegetables among 11th-grade female students at a state high school in Singosari, Malang Regency. This study examined the effect of these interventions on the intake of energy, protein, and iron among the participants. Data were gathered by collecting food consumption data using the 24-hour food recall method and measurement of weight, height, Hb, and Albumin levels. The study employed a purposive sampling technique by conducting pretest, intervention, and post-test. The results showed significant improvements in the health indicators of the participants, including knowledge, intake, Hb, and Albumin levels (p=0.000; α=0.005). These findings demonstrate the potential of education and mentoring through peer tutoring in promoting healthy eating habits and preventing nutrition-related problems among female adolescents.
Diffraction of electromagnetic waves on one-dimensional diffraction gratings formed by slots in an absolutely absorbing screen
Authors: А. М. Lerer  , V.V. Makhno  , V.I. Kravchenko
Published: July 2023

Two-sided approximate boundary conditions are obtained for an absolutely absorbing ("black") layer lying on a multilayer dielectric. Paired summation equations (PSEs) are obtained for the tangent components of the electric and magnetic field strengths at the slots. These equations are solved by the Galerkin method with basis functions in the form of Chebyshev and Legendre polynomials. The resulting system of linear algebraic equations has fast internal convergence. To control the accuracy of the obtained solution, a dual problem is solved --- a lattice of "black stripes". In this case, the unknowns in the PSU are the current density on the strips. The properties of lattices are analyzed. Keywords: approximate boundary conditions, "black" screen, diffraction grating, pair summation equations, Galerkin's method.
Optical diffusion diagnostics of evolving polymer foams
Authors: Alonova M.V.  , Volchkov S.S.  , Zimnyakov D.A.  , Isaeva A.A.  , Isaeva E.A.  , Ushakova E.V.  , Ushakova O.V.
Published: July 2023

Various approaches to the optical diagnostics of evolving polymer foams formed as a result of a decrease in the external pressure according to a given scenario in the "polymer-supercritical fluid" systems are considered.Formed polymer foams are considered as a material platform for the creation of scaffolds for biomedical applications. Diagnostics of the current state of the foam was carried out by statistical analysis of the spatiotemporal fluctuations of the probe laser radiation,multiple scattered in the volume of the evolving foam, or by analyzing the fluorescent response during foaming of the "polymer-fluorophore" mixture, pumped by laser radiation in the absorption band of the fluorophore. A relationship has been established between the average lifetime of dynamic speckles in scattered laser light and a generalized parameter characterizing the foam expansion dynamics. It was also found that the waveguide effect in the walls of the formed pores has a significant influence on the fluorescent response of the evolving foam, leading to an increase in the characteristic dwell time of fluorescence radiation in the walls and, accordingly, to an increase in the contribution of the induced component to the fluorescent response. Keywords: fluorescent response, speckle correlometry, polylactide, foaming, supercritical carbon dioxide.
Processes of ablation and structures growth under the action of femtosecond laser pulses on the gallium surface in an ammonia medium
Authors: Kochuev D. A.  , Chernikov A. S.  , Abramov D. V.  , Voznesenskaya A. A.  , Chkalov R. V.  , Khorkov K. S.
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we present the results of processing metallic gallium in an ammonia vapor medium at 2 bar pressure by femtosecond laser pulses. The influence of the ammonia concentration and the mode of laser beam scanning on the result of laser action is considered. It has been established that an increase in the concentration of ammonia vapor and a change in the scanning regime lead to a radical change in the laser ablation process. A decrease in the scanning speed leads to the cessation of the ablation process and the development of the nitridation process of the gallium surface, accompanied by the formation of columnar structures up to 12 mm long and about 100 μm in diameter. The synthesized nanoparticles and structures were studied using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray analysis. Keywords: laser ablation, gallium nitride, gallium nitride nanoparticles manufacturing, ablative synthesis of gallium nitride nanoparticles.
Spectrophotometric method for studying the stability of late lanthanide complexes
Authors: Ts. B. Sumyanova  , V.P. Prizhilevskaya  , N.E. Borisova
Published: July 2023

The results of studying the effect of the central metal ion on the stability of gadolinium and holmium complexes with 1,10'-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid diamide are presented. The obtained values of the stability constants of the complexes turned out to be an order of magnitude lower than the previously known values for the complexes of these elements with 4,7-dichloro-1,10'-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid diamide. Keywords: spectrophotometry, gadolinium, holmium, contrast agents.
Measurement of distance by the maximum frequency of the interference signal with harmonic deviation of the wavelength of the self-mixing laser
Authors: Skripal An.V.  , Добдин C.Ю.  , Inkin M.G.  , Dzhafarov A.V.
Published: July 2023

A method is proposed for measuring absolute distances from the low-frequency spectrum of the interference signal of a frequency-modulated laser diode. The method of modulation of the self-mixing laser signal according to the harmonic law is used, in the spectrum of which a wide range of frequency components is observed. The connection between the maximum frequency of change of the interference signal and the absolute distance to the reflector is shown. A linear dependence of the frequency corresponding to the inflection region of the decay envelope of the interference signal spectrum on the distance is shown, which can be used to implement a non-contact distance measurement method with harmonic modulation of the self-mixing laser supply current. Keywords: laser interferometry, self-mixing laser, semiconductor laser, laser radiation modulation, distance measurement, signal spectral analysis.