bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immune status in women after COVID-19 living in the subarctic region
Authors: Shchegoleva L. S. , Shashkova E. Yu. , Kabbani M. S. , Filippova O. E.
Published: November 2024

Background. T cell immunity is known to play a central role in controlling SARSCoV- 2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2) infection, so it is critical to understand its role in recovery from COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), especially in the unfavorable conditions of the North.The aim. To assess the immune status of women after COVID-19 living in the subarctic region of the Russian Federation.Materials and methods. We examined a total of 50 women aged 36–46 years, including 38 vaccinated women 6 and 12 months after recovery from COVID-19 and 12 women (control group) who had not had COVID-19 and had not been vaccinated (Arkhangelsk region). We studied leukocyte count, leukogram and lymphocyte phenotypes (CD5+, CD8+, CD10+, CD16+, CD95+).Results. The contribution of monocytes to the formation of the adaptive immune response among female residents of the subarctic region decreases in those who have had mild COVID-19 and increases in those who have had moderate COVID-19. It was found that the imbalance in the formation of the immune response after COVID-19 is formed due to innate immunity (CD16+, neutrophils (r = 0.89; p < 0.001)), affects the adaptive immunity and depends on the severity of the disease and the time since recovery. The most significant contribution to the formation of the adaptive immune response was established due to cellmediated cytotoxicity (CD8+, CD16+) and the activity of apoptotic processes (CD95+) both after 6 and 12 months and does not depend on the severity of the COVID-19. The adaptive immune response formed 6 months after COVID-19 with a high level of cell-mediated cytotoxicity and activity of apoptotic processes prevailing over lymphoproliferation persists after 12 months, which indicates a tense state of immune homeostasis.Conclusion. In the examined women who had recovered from COVID-19, cellmediated cytotoxicity (CD8+, CD16+) is associated with the activation of the monocyte system, has a prolonged effect of up to 12 months and depends on the severity of the previous COVID-19 in 66.7–90 % of cases.
Comparative analysis of European subtype tick-borne encephalitis virus strains isolated from patients from Eastern Siberia and Eastern and Northern Europe
Authors: Kozlova I. V. , Suntsova O. V. , Tkachev S. E. , Paramonov A. I. , Doroschenko E. K. , Lisak O. V. , Okhotina Yu. S.
Published: November 2024

Background. Isolation of strains from tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) patients proved that the European subtype tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV-Eur) in Siberia is involved in regional human infectious pathology and causes a clinical picture similar to Western TBE. However, a comparative analysis of the genomes of TBEV-Eur strains isolated from TBE patients in Eastern Siberia and Europe has not been carried out.The aim. Genome comparative analysis and search for virulence determinants in TBEV-Eur strains isolated from patients in Eastern Siberia and Northern and Eastern Europe.Materials and methods. In current work, TBEV-Eur strain 1G-98 from the collection of Scientific Сentre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems (GenBank Acc. No. KY069119) was used. The analysis also included all complete genome sequences of TBEV-Eur strains from patients submitted in GenBank database at the time the study began. Complete genome sequencing of strain 1G-98 was performed using the Sanger method. The virulence of the strain was assessed by intracerebral and subcutaneous infection of laboratory mice.Results. It has been shown that, according to the coding region of the genomes, the level of differences between TBEV-Eur strains from Siberia does not exceed the previously established maximum for this subtype of 3.1 %. The strain 1G-98, isolated from the blood of TBE patient from the Irkutsk region demonstrated high cerebral and peripheral activity. In this strain, D67G mutation in E protein DII domain was revealed, which could potentially be associated with virulence, and a long deletion in the variable part of the 3’-noncoding genome region, comparable in length to the highly virulent strain Hypr from Europe was found.Conclusions. For the first time, a comparative analysis of the genomes of TBEV-Eur strains from TBE patients from the Asian part of Russia and Europe was carried out showing their genetic similarity, and potential virulence determinants were identified. Key words: tick-borne encephalitis virus, European subtype, genome, amino acid sequence, virulence determinants
Artificial intelligence in pharmacogenetics: A narrative review of current and future applications
Authors: Abdullaev M. A. , Kantemirova B. I. , Bashkina O. A. , Sychev D. A. , Ivanchuk O. V. , Romanova A. N.
Published: November 2024

Pharmacogenetics aims to investigate the correlation between patient genetic characteristics and the efficacy of pharmaceutical agents, while concurrently evaluating the risks of adverse reactions. This field of research necessitates the application of complex statistical analysis methodologies, and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities are increasingly being leveraged for such analyses. AI represents an advanced technology employed to automate the execution of tasks that traditionally demand substantial human intellectual effort. A review of scientific literature on the application of machine learning models in pharmacogenetic research has demonstrated that AI is a highly sophisticated and flexible tool capable of facilitating the widespread implementation of pharmacogenetics in clinical practice. A promising area for the application of AI in pharmacogenetics involves the integration of this technology into tasks related to the analysis, detection, prediction, and support of pharmacogenetic information and decision-making systems. The utilization of deep learning technologies has the potential to expand the understanding of drug pharmacodynamics, indications, and contraindications, which may potentially lead to the updating of educational and methodological literature on pharmacology and substantially advance the quality of patient pharmacotherapy. However, the implementation of AI technologies may be hindered by factors such as a shortage of qualified personnel, ethical disagreements, and complexities in legal regulation of this domain. Nonetheless, the application of AI technologies in pharmacogenetic research demonstrates high effectiveness and expediency, despite the existing challenges.
Features of damage to the central nervous system and mental sphere in patients with comorbid post-COVID syndrome
Authors: Beygel E. A. , Katamanova E. V. , Lakhman O. L. , Kazakova P. V. , Shevchenko O. I. , Pavlenko N. A. , Maraev M. D.
Published: November 2024

The prevalence of post-COVID syndrome in patients treated on an outpatient basis ranges from 10 to 35 %; it can reach 80 % in patients with severe coronavirus infection. It is currently hypothesized that long-COVID may be due to both the direct effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the biopsychosocial effects of COVID-19.The aim. To study the characteristics of damage to the central nervous system and mental sphere in patients with comorbid post-COVID syndrome.Materials and methods. To study the clinical features of the course of post-COVID syndrome, 98 patients who had suffered COVID-19 were examined. Of these, 18 (18.4 %) were men, 80 (81.6 %) were women. The mean age in the group was 56.05 ± 1.27 years. The examination program included a questionnaire, clinical examination, pulse oximetry, and assessment of exercise tolerance using the Borg scale. Statistical processing was carried out using the Statistica software package, version 6 (StatSoft Inc., USA). The results of the study are presented as a median, upper and lower quartiles. After analyzing the compliance of the studied indicators with the law of normal distribution (Shapiro – Wilk test), the groups were compared using the Wilcoxon test for pairwise comparison of related samples. Differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.Results. Our studies of comorbidity and complications after COVID-19 infection revealed the most frequent involvement of three systems in the pathological process: cardiovascular, nervous and endocrine. Metabolic syndrome was detected in 67 % and involvement of the cardiovascular system was detected in 48.8 % of those examined.One of the main manifestations of post-COVID syndrome is damage to the central nervous system and mental sphere in the form of mild cognitive and emotional-volitional disorders with asthenodepressive and anxiety-depressive disorders.Conclusion. The health status of patients after COVID-19 is significantly lower than that of the general population. The study results indicate an urgent need to study the pathogenesis of long COVID and develop effective interventions to reduce the risk of its development.
Pinching and detachment of the intraocular lens haptics during implantation
Authors: Direev A. O. , Egorova E. V.
Published: November 2024

Background. Modern small incision surgery involves the use of injection systems for implanting intraocular lenses (IOLs) into a capsule bag. As with any other stage of cataract phacoemulsification, there are also risks of complications during implantation, consisting in damage to IOLs of varying severity from microcracks of optics to detachment of haptic lens elements. There is no convincing data on the effect of micro-destruction of the optical part of the IOL on the functional results of lens surgery, however, damage to the lens support elements affects the effective position of the IOL, which leads to visual defects (glare, flare) and the inability to achieve calculated refraction. Pinching and/or detachment of the IOL haptics during implantation is a rare situation that every ophthalmic surgeon can encounter. At the same time, there are isolated works on this topic in the literature that do not describe ways to prevent and resolve this complication.The aim. To demonstrate, using clinical examples, surgical tactics for pinching and tearing of haptics of intraocular lenses during implantation. Material and methods. Clinical cases are presented using the example of patients with pinching and detachment of IOL haptics during implantation.Results. The presented clinical cases reflect the features of surgery for damage to the supporting elements of the intraocular lens.Conclusion. Pinching of haptic elements in the injector during implantation surgery can be resolved by simple dissection of the cartridge with a keratome knife. In the case of a haptic detachment, the use of the method of rear “capture” of IOL optics in the presence of a haptic stump of sufficient size (1 mm or more) allows the lens to be securely fixed in the central position.
Cytokine status and hemostasis disorders in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Gomellya M. V. , Mironova A. V. , Krupskaya T. S. , Tatarinova A. V.
Published: November 2024

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease in children under 16 years of age associated with pathological immune response to various antigens. Probable factors are infectious and immunogenetic. The process begins with the activation of humoral immunity. One of the key components of juvenile idiopathic arthritis pathogenesis is damage to the vascular endothelium. Immune complex vasculitis develops with hemostasis and microcirculation disorders in synovial membrane. Proinflammatory cytokines are produced, causing the destruction of the synovial membrane of the joint, cartilage, bone, contributing to the chronicity of the inflammatory process. In patients with rheumatic diseases, hemostatic changes occur in 4.5–63 % of cases, especially with high activity of the inflammatory process. In juvenile idiopathic arthritis, hemostasis disorders include thrombinemia, decreased antithrombin III, increased D-dimer level, and decreased fibrinolysis activity. Thrombodynamics test in adults with rheumatoid arthritis has shown the presence of a chronic hypercoagulable state. Rheumatoid arthritis is a risk factor for thrombotic complications in adults. There are no data on the study of thrombodynamic parameters in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Currently, the pathogenetic commonality between autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and immune-mediated antiphospholipid syndrome is known. The mechanisms of development of antiphospholipid syndrome are associated with an imbalance in the hemostasis system under the influence of autoantibodies to phospholipids of cell membranes, which can interact with endothelial cells, various components of the coagulation system, causing thrombotic complications. The importance of studying immune-mediated antiphospholipid syndrome in juvenile idiopathic arthritis is beyond doubt, but data on this issue in the pediatric population are extremely limited, including the relationship of antiphospholipid syndrome with immune hemostasis parameters. Single studies of immune-mediated antiphospholipid syndrome in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis indicate that antiphospholipid syndrome markers are found in all variants of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, although thrombotic complications are rare.
Clinical examples of the use of allogeneic platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of thermal skin burns in children
Authors: Shapetska N. M. , Potapnev M. P. , Degtyarev Yu. G. , Zelianko I. N.
Published: November 2024

It is quite difficult to determine both the method and timing of healing of a burn wound in children at the initial stages of treatment and during a visual clinical examination. In the treatment of thermal burns in children, preference is given to conservative methods, although they do not always lead to optimal healing of the burn. The use of PRP (platelet-rich plasma) in the treatment of burn wounds can have a beneficial effect on the timing and quality of healing of burned skin. Also, in certain cases, it allows to avoid surgical intervention in order to restore damaged skin or helps to reduce the volume and number of surgical operations when there is a shortage of donor resources. We present three clinical cases of using allogeneic PRP for the treatment of thermal burns of different etiologies (flame, hot liquid, contact). The use of PRP of the allogeneic type is due to the fact that children with burn injuries have limitations and contraindications to the use of autologous PRP. Allogeneic PRP and its use allow to reduce the time of epithelization of burn wounds of IIIAB degree (2–3 degrees according to ICD-10) and in some cases avoid surgical intervention to restore damaged skin. Its main advantages are good tolerability, relative availability, absence of contraindications and ease of use. Presented clinical examples for the first time clearly demonstrate the high effectiveness of allogeneic PRP in the treatment of thermal burns of different etiologies in children.
Evaluation of the clinical course of hypertensive disorders against the background of subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnant women
Authors: Usmanova M. D. , Nasirova F. Zh. , Usmanov Sh. K.
Published: November 2024

Background. Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, pose significant health risks. They require a personalized treatment approach due to their multifactorial nature. The presence of subclinical hypothyroidism may exacerbate these risks, making thyroid function monitoring before and during pregnancy particularly important.The aim. To investigate the clinical features and severity of hypertension in newly diagnosed subclinical hypothyroidism among women in Andijan.Methods. A case-control study conducted from November 2022 to April 2023 included 272 pregnant women aged 18 to 40 years without chronic diseases. The main group comprised 88 women diagnosed with hypertension after the 20th week of pregnancy. The control group consisted of 184 women without hypertension. The study excluded HIV-positive women, as well as those with congenital anomalies or who had undergone surgical interventions on the genitourinary and cardiovascular systems. Socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics of the participants were studied. The analysis revealed significant differences in age, activity level, place of residence, employment, and education, as well as a correlation between body mass index, health status, and hypertension severity.Results. The findings underscored the importance of thyroid function monitoring during pregnancy, linking hypertension to age, activity level, and obesity. This confirms the necessity for a comprehensive approach to pregnancy management, including thyroid function and lifestyle modifications.
CAR natural killer cell therapy: Natural killer cell activation and expansion
Authors: Fedorova P. O.
Published: November 2024

Currently, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an effective treatment method of hematological malignancies. However, T-lymphocyte-based immunotherapy has certain limitations for the scope of application of this approach. A promising alternative is CAR therapy based on natural killer (NK) cells, since it does not require detailed donor selection according to the human leukocyte antigen system; NK cells have a unique mechanism for recognizing and destroying tumor cells. In addition, NK cells do not cause severe toxic reactions when infused. The creation of a CAR NK product is a complex task includes cell culturing, using genetic engineering methods, and quality control testing of the resulting biomedical cell product (BMCP). For proliferation and effector function enhancement, NK cells require the presence of interleukins, feeder cells or their components, and immune system activators in the nutrient medium. This review focuses on various approaches to the activation and expansion of natural killer cells during cultivation, and also addresses the issues of the advantages and disadvantages of the chosen therapy and the regulatory aspects of creating a full-fledged BMCP.
Development of RT-qPCR assay for assessing the expression of ACTB and SDHA housekeeping genes in the cell cultures of mammalian hosts of zoonotic infections
Authors: Liapunova N. A. , Khasnatinov M. A. , Danchinova G. A. , Solovarov I. S.
Published: November 2024

Background. The molecular mechanisms behind the maintenance of zoonotic pathogens in nature can be better understood by examining the gene expression in host cells in response to the infection. Reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a powerful method to study gene expression, especially with the use of endogenous reference genes (RG) to normalize the data. Therefore, it is critical to develop the reliable qRT-PCR assay and validate that selected RGs are stably expressed in the studied organism or cell culture.The aim. In this work, we aimed to develop the real-time qRT-PCR method for detecting mRNA of two candidate RGs, succinate dehydrogenase subunit A (SDHA) and beta-actin (ACTB), in the cell lines of mammalian hosts of zoonotic infections.Materials and methods. The SPEV (porcine embryonic kidney cell line) and ApnK (Korean field mouse kidney cell line) cells were grown in 24-well culture plates. Total RNA/DNA was isolated from trypsin-detached cell monolayers. Genomic DNA in the samples was removed with RNase-free DNase I, and one-step RT-qPCR was performed using primers for SDHA and ACTB gene fragments and the corresponding TaqMan hydrolysis probes. The experiment was performed in 4 independent replicates.Results. In the Korean field mouse cells, the linearity, efficiency, repeatability, and reproducibility of the RT-qPCR for ACTB gene mRNA corresponded to the modern requirements. However, RT-qPCR for SDHA exhibited good linearity and efficiency of the reaction, but CV values for repeatability and reproducibility slightly exceeded the recommended standards. In porcine cells, both assays had acceptable parameters. Thus, to use the SDHA as RG for ApnK cells, a detailed study of the stability of its expression in this particular model is required.Conclusions. New qRT-PCR assay was developed to assess the expression of housekeeping genes ACTB and SDHA in the cells of the Korean field mouse and domestic pig. Further research is necessary to validate these genes as references for quantitative assessment of gene expression in the cells of mammalian hosts of zoonotic infections.
Boarding Issues facing by Girls during their Academic Career: A Pareto Analysis
Authors: Hussain Sheeba , Dahshilla Junejo
Published: November 2024

It commonly believes that boarding system is decorum where students get bundle of knowledge and experience. It is the precious time of life when the students live without their families with an anonymous one and gain experience about struggle for survival ship. During the boarding life students face lot of hurdles and problems. Boarding life taught how to face the challenges and pursue their career smoothly. Boarding system is the combination of values and culture. This study aims to explore the major problems or hindrance faces by the boarder girls during their academic career. Through literature survey ten problems are extracted and explored. The data for this study is collected from the higher education institutions in Pakistan. It was quantitative study. The data is collected through survey based designed close structured questionnaire. One hundred responds were collected in this study. The analysis was done through pie chart, bar chart and Pareto analysis in SPSS. The results reveal that the most focusing problem is over occupancy. The number of boarders is great than the capacity. The second most evaluated issue was unavailability of library facilities or improper space for study. This study recommended that university should redesign and revise their boarding polices and provide a better place for girls where they can live and study freely.
Explainable AI for dynamic ensemble models in high-stakes decision-making
Authors: Nishant Gadde  , Avaneesh Mohapatra  , Dheeraj Tallapragada  , Karan Mody  , Navnit Vijay  , Amar Gottumukhala
Published: November 2024

AI is replacing human decisions with algorithmic ones in finance, healthcare, and justice, among other high-stake domains. We develop in this study the use of ensemble machine learning models in predictions related to credit default risks using two different datasets of credit records and application records. We achieve more robust predictions by using a combination of Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and Decision Tree classifiers that use soft voting. Probably one of the most significant issues discussed in this research is class imbalance; defaults constitute only a really small fraction of cases compared to non-defaults in both datasets. In this respect, the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique was applied for balancing the classes by artificially creating synthetic samples of the minority class to have reasonably balanced training data. Ensemble model gave a respectable score of 0.88 on the ROC-AUC against the credit record dataset, where risk classification was dependent upon the 'STATUS' field. Applicants were divided into high-risk or low-risk candidates in case of an application record dataset, assuming income thresholds, and yielded an ideal score of 1.00 on the ROC-AUC. Precision-recall and ROC curves underlined the best class differentiation provided by models considering the imbalanced datasets. While these performances may have been quite strong for the ensemble models, the nature of the models is black-box, which can be an issue in financial domains where transparency is very much expected along with accountability. To this end, we suggest the inclusions of XAI techniques in future work: dynamically and in real time, explanations of model decisions. It will be certain that stakeholders have a belief not only in the accuracy of AI-driven decisions but also in the rationale behind them-developing trust and enhancing interpretability for credit risk predictions.
Classification and microbes involved in Plastic biodegradation: A review
Authors: Misbah Ullah  , Ubaid ur Rehman  , Abbas Khan  , Muhammad Bin Riaz  , Rizwan Khan  , Aiman  , Nimra Khan
Published: November 2024

Plastic is composed of synthetic and semi-synthetic compounds with immense applications. While Plastics are dangerous and harm the environment, their practice is causing their ingesting to grow. Outdated methods of plastic degradation through physical and chemical means like landfill, incineration, and recycling are expensive and perilous and release hazardous chemical substances to the environment. Thus, proper approaches are required to overcome this trick. Biodegradation through microbes on the other hand offers a hopeful solution. Presently, numerous categories of bacteria and other microbial species degrade plastic materials. Several steps are required in plastic biodegradation like biodeterioration, depolymerization, assimilation and mineralization. These processes will result in secretion of enzymes that degrade plastics and converts it into gasses and biomass along other biproducts.
The prevalance of dementia in patients with type- 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: KHAYUMPASHA  , VITHAL RAO  , SAYED MERAJ HUSSAINI  , MOHAMMED YASAR LADJI
Published: November 2024

Background: Dementia is a growing public health concern, particularly among individuals with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aims to investigate the prevalence of dementia in T2DM patients and identify the associated risk factors, including age, glycemic control, diabetes complications, disease duration, hypertension and smoking.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 260 patients with T2DM. Data on dementia diagnosis, HbA1c and fasting blood glucose (FBS) levels, duration of diabetes, hypertension status, and smoking history were collected and analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the associations between these variables and the prevalence of dementia.
Results: The study found that 34.2% of individuals with T2DM had dementia. Age was identified as the most significant risk factor, with higher prevalence in older age groups. Elevated HbA1c and FBS levels showed a strong statistical association with dementia, corroborated by a 5-fold increased risk at HbA1c levels above 7%. Longer duration of diabetes was associated with higher dementia prevalence, reaching 86.7% in patients with over 20 years of diabetes. Hypertension, particularly prolonged and untreated, significantly increased the risk of dementia, with a 50.7% prevalence among hypertensive diabetics. Smoking history also emerged as a notable risk factor for dementia patients who are smokers.
Conclusion: The findings highlight a substantial prevalence of dementia among T2DM patients and underscore the importance of comprehensive management of diabetes and its complications. Effective glycemic control, early intervention for diabetic complications, hypertension management, and smoking cessation are critical strategies to mitigate the risk of cognitive decline in this population. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and develop targeted prevention and treatment approaches.
Promoting healthcare workers' well-being in maternity wards: A case study on physical workload management
Authors: NARDJESSE BENSEKHRIA  , WISSAL BENHASSINE
Published: November 2024

This case study analyzes the physical workload regulation strategies adopted by healthcare staff in a specialized hospital facility in Algeria, facing staffing shortage challenges. The objective is to understand how medical teams manage the balance between care demands and their capabilities while preserving their well-being and quality of care.
The methodological approach combined a global analysis of organizational arrangements and a detailed analysis of individual and collective practices through interviews and field observations. The results reveal various regulations implemented at different levels: progressive staff assignments, adapted positions, task delegation, collective responsibility sharing, and activity grouping and prioritization.
Although these strategies allow caregivers to adapt to overload, they raise questions about their long-term impact on care quality. Absenteeism, perceived as a passive regulation mechanism, also reflects the limitations of individual solutions to structural problems.
This study advocates for a systemic approach integrating organizational, collective, and individual interventions to sustainably promote healthcare workers' well-being and quality of care in maternity wards within a context of staff shortage.
Subconscious Energy Healing Therapy (SEHT) in Anxiety Management: A Holistic Approach for Young Mental Health Professionals
Authors: Padmakali Banerjee  , Brahmdeep Sindhu  , Poonam Nayar  , Srishti Bhatt  , Astha Puri  , Shivam Gupta
Published: November 2024

Anxiety disorders are rapidly increasing among the youth, especially in India, where the pressure to succeed academically and professionally is immense. Conventional therapies, while effective, often address symptoms rather than root causes. Subconscious Energy Healing Therapy (SEHT) offers a holistic approach that combines energy work with subconscious reprogramming, allowing individuals to resolve deep emotional triggers that manifest as anxiety. This paper explores SEHT's application in anxiety management through case studies, existing research, and practical integration for young mental health professionals. With a growing body of evidence and real-world success, SEHT shows promise as a transformative tool in anxiety management. Subconscious Energy Healing Therapy (SEHT) is an innovative therapeutic approach that delves into the subconscious mind to release deep-seated emotions and patterns contributing to mental health conditions, particularly anxiety. Anxiety disorders have become increasingly prevalent among young professionals and students in India, necessitating effective and sustainable management techniques. SEHT combines traditional psychological principles with energy healing practices to help individuals address the root causes of anxiety, leading to long-term relief and emotional resilience. This concept note outlines the use of SEHT for anxiety management, highlights case studies from Indian contexts, and discusses the research supporting its efficacy. Additionally, it explores how young mental health professionals can integrate SEHT into their practices to better support individuals struggling with anxiety.
Efficacy of in-office and Home Bleaching Materials on Teeth Stained by Herbal Immune Boosters: In-Vitro Study
Authors: Khaled Aldalaan  , Khalid Alhazmi  , Abdulmajeed Alrumi  , Sliuman Alnashwan  , Raneem Bin Nafesah  , Asem Alshawi  , Manal AlQutub  , Tariq Alswayyed
Published: November 2024

Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate and contrast the bleaching effectiveness of at-home and in-office bleaching methods on the most popular herbal items.
Method: In this investigation; human premolar teeth that had been removed were submerged in saline; lemon; orange; cinnamon; curcuma; myrrh; and ginger; among other liquids. Seventy removed premolars; 10 in each of the seven groups; were used in this in vitro investigation. With the exception of discolored and carious teeth; the samples utilized in this investigation were removed human premolar teeth with undamaged buccal or lingual/palatal surfaces. To ensure that all seven groups' teeth had the right coloring effect; the teeth were submerged for 14 days.
Results: Across the in-office bleaching group; the highest shade improvement was in Curcuma group with a mean change in shade of 8.4; while the lowest was in orange-stained group with a mean change of 1.4. The highest shade changes among both types of bleaching and across all types of stains was in Curcuma in office bleached group while the lowest was cinnamon home bleached group. Cycles 2 and 3 showed less shade improvement with a total change of 11.4 for each of the cycles.
Conclusion: The amount of color improvement differs depending on the type of stain; curcuma stains exhibit the most improvement because of their original blackness; whilst cinnamon stains were difficult to remove because of their little discolouration
Strategic leadership and Change management in the County Government of Bungoma, Kenya: The moderating effect of Stakeholder Engagement
Authors: Ezekiel Wechuli Wanyama  , Kevin Ogonji Harris Muluka
Published: November 2024

The advent of County Governments in 2013 made many Kenyans optimistic that these devolved governments would deliver on public services more effectively compared to its predecessor. Nevertheless, the execution of various county plans, including the County Integrated Development Plans (CIDP), has not achieved the anticipated outcomes in numerous counties. Data from the Kenyan Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) reveals that merely 30% of change initiatives within Kenyan county governments are fully implemented. Strategic leadership and stakeholder engagement has been touted as a possible remedy to such scenarios. This study explored the relationship between strategic leadership and change management in Bungoma County's local governance, specifically investigating how stakeholder engagement moderates this relationship. Anchored on strategic leadership theory, the study conducted a census of 73 respondents, adhering to a positivist paradigm and utilizing a causal research design. Data was collected using questionnaires. A pilot was conducted in Kakamega County to ensure data quality. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 for inferential statistics. The findings revealed that strategic leadership has significant statistical effect on change management. Stakeholder engagement was found to have significant moderating influence on the relationship between strategic leadership and change management. The study concluded that stakeholder engagement significantly moderated the relationship between strategic leadership and change management in County Governments of Bungoma, Kenya. To improve management outcomes, it is recommended that the County Government of Bungoma focus on strengthening its strategic leadership practices, particularly in the areas of strategic planning, corporate culture and organizational control. This could be achieved through targeted leadership development programs that equip managers with the necessary skills to effectively lead change initiatives.
The Biochemical and histological effects of Kola Nitida on the pancreas biomarkers of lipid induced Wistar Rats
Authors: Oni Emmanuel Sunday  , Ogunmola Samuel Mayowa  , Ehiremen Samuel Ehimare  , Akinlabi Akinwale Majeed  , Farodoye Temitope Rebecca  , Bejide Ronald Ayodele
Published: November 2024

This study estimates the biochemical and histological effects of Kola Nitida on the Pancreas biomarkers of Wistar rats subjected to a high lipid diet. High lipid diet is known to induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and pancreatic dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate whether Kola Nitida, known for its bioactive compounds such flavonoids, caffeine, and theobromine, could protect the pancreas from lipid induced damage. The study was conducted within period of 6 months (April – September 2024). A total of 21 Male Wistar rats were purchased for this study. They were divided into five groups: Control group, Toxicity group, and three Kola Nitida-treated groups (100, 200, 300 mg/kg). After categorization of study animals, blood samples were drawn through cardiac puncture into Lithium heparin bottles using standard antiseptic techniques. Five millitres (5mls) of fasting blood samples collected from each group into Lithium heparin bottles was spun at 3500rpm for 5minutes to obtain plasma. Total cholesterol and Triglycerides were assayed based on enzymatic methods. High density Lipoprotein was assayed using precipitation and enzymatic methods, while Low density Lipoprotein (LDL) was calculated using Friedwald equation. The atherogenic indices; Castelli’s 1, Castelli’s 2 and Atherogenic Coefficient was calculated with their respective formulas. Additionally, histopathological evaluations were performed to observe structural changes in the pancreas using H&E. The results showed that the rats treated with Kola Nitida exhibited reduced and less fat deposition in the pancreas compared to the toxicity group only. Furthermore, pancreatic B-cell function was better and preserved in the Kola Nitida treated Wistar rats. The ANOVA results from the comparisons of the mean values obtained showed statistically significant difference in the Total cholesterol, Triglycerides, Low Density Lipoprotein and High-Density Lipoprotein of the Toxicity group, 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg compared with the control group. In conclusion this study clearly demonstrates that the administration of a high lipid diet and subsequent reversal with Kola Nitida induces statistically significant changes in the biological and histological parameters under investigation.
Impact of hypertension and diabetes on epidemiology of coronary artery disease
Authors: Ritika Deol  , Vishal Saina
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the epidemiological impact of hypertension and diabetes on coronary artery disease (CAD) in a sample of 391 patients from Jodhpur, India. Focusing on the prevalence, duration, and combined effects of these conditions, we assessed their relationships with overall quality of life, treatment satisfaction, and confidence in disease management. The correlation analysis indicated no statistically significant relationships between the duration of hypertension, diabetes, or CAD and quality of life or treatment satisfaction, suggesting these conditions might not independently drive quality-of-life changes within this cohort. Multiple regression analysis highlighted that only age had a significant effect on quality of life (p = 0.025), with older patients reporting slightly higher quality-of-life scores. This model, however, accounted for only 1.9% of the variance in quality of life, underscoring the need for further exploration of other contributing factors. Ordinal logistic regression revealed no significant predictors of confidence in managing conditions, suggesting that unexamined psychosocial or clinical factors may influence patients' self-assessment of disease management capabilities. These findings underscore the multifaceted epidemiological burden of managing comorbid hypertension, diabetes, and CAD, emphasizing the need for integrative public health strategies that address both medical and quality-of-life impacts to enhance patient outcomes in CAD populations.
Feminist Study of Sabiya Novel: Implications for Vocational School
Authors: Suciyanti  , Muhtarom Imam , Sugiarti Dewi Herlina
Published: November 2024

Independence is important for every individual, especially women, to express themselves freely and do whatever they want without depending on others. Independence does not only occur due to the influence of others, but can occur as a result of encouragement from oneself who is already aware of one's identity. This research aims to describe the value of independence contained in the novel Sabiya by Mellyana Dhian. This study uses qualitative research with a descriptive analysis method. The subject of the study uses the novel Sabiya by Mellayana Dhian and the object of the research is the value of independence. The data collection technique used in this study uses the technique of reading, recording and summarizing. The results of the study showed data the value of independence contained in the novel Sabiya by Mellyana Dhian including behavioral autonomy and emotional autonomy. The results of the analysis are then used as recommendations for teaching materials for novel texts in SMK.
Individual differences in working memory and attentional control continue to predict memory performance despite extensive learning
Authors: Zhao Chong , Vogel Edward
Published: November 2024

Individual differences in working memory predict a wide range of cognitive abilities. However, little research has been done on whether working memory continues to predict task performance after repetitive learning. Here, we tested whether working memory ability continued to predict long-term memory (LTM) performance for picture sequences even after participants showed massive learning. In Experiment 1-3, subjects performed source memory task in which they were presented a sequence of 30 objects shown in one of four quadrants and then were tested on each item’s position. We repeated this procedure for 5 times in Exp 1, and 12 times in Exp 2 and 3. Interestingly, we discovered that individual differences in working memory continually predicted LTM accuracy across all repetitions. In Experiment 4, we replicated the stable working memory demands with word pairs. In Experiment 5, we generalized the stable working memory demands model to attentional control abilities. Together, these results suggest that people, instead of relying less on working memory, optimized their working memory and attentional control throughout learning.
Bias Against Artificial Intelligence in Visual Art: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: de Rooij Alwin
Published: November 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of many visual art practices. Audiences, however, may have a bias against AI in visual art: knowing that AI was used to create art can broadly diminish aesthetic experience. Whether this bias occurs structurally and across the systems involved in an aesthetic experience remains an open question. To address this, a meta-analysis was conducted. The results showed significant negative but small pooled effect sizes for data categorised under the sensory-motor (6 studies, 16 effect sizes) and emotion-valuation (27 studies, 94 effect sizes) systems. For the knowledge-meaning system (27 studies, 94 effect sizes), a significant negative moderate pooled effect size was found. The bias' severity was significantly moderated by age, suggesting a generational shift in how audiences think about using AI in art creation, and by art style, image source, and situatedness. Significant residual heterogeneity suggested that the bias against AI in visual art is unlikely to be a structural phenomenon. Furthering our understanding of bias against AI requires future research on invisible human and machine authorship and the potential of AI for creating rich aesthetic experiences. Herewith, this meta-analysis contributes novel insights into the bias against AI in visual art.
Navigating the University Ped-Tech Wonderland: Freire meets Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Online Pedagogy
Authors: michelle.bedeker
Published: November 2024

Our leap into emergency online teaching (EOT) during the COVID-19 pandemic was like tumbling down a rabbit hole into a surreal digital landscape, where synchronous and asynchronous teaching spaces became our new wonderland, each presenting its challenges and surprises. However, we merely encountered countless tips and professional development advice about how technology and AI tools can replace face-to-face instruction, foregrounding a technocentric discourse that ignored the centrality of educational theories for online teaching to consolidate student learning. In this paper, I argue that prevailing educational conditions, influenced by technological advancements, can find valuable support in Freire’s age-old yet enduring educational philosophy. Such a philosophy requires us to reimagine how to shift from policing knowledge to embracing new pedagogies that instil in our students the ethics and values they need to navigate the vast information readily available for consumption. I conclude that, like Alice and the Mad Hatter, we must embrace creativity and curiosity to cultivate robust online educational spaces that foster values, ethics, and proactive dispositions essential for thriving in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world.
MILK PRODUCTIVITY OF BLACK-AND-WHITE HEIFERS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE INTENSITY OF THEIR REARING AND BODY TYPE
Authors: Oleynik Serhii , Ershov Alexander
Published: November 2024

Industrial dairy cattle breeding involves cows with improved
milk productivity in combination with an effective herd
management system. In the conditions of the North Caucasus,
black-and-white cattle are among the most common dairy
breeds. The aim of the research was to study the influence
of the intensity of cultivation and the type of physique of the
repair young black-and-white breed on the indicators of milk
productivity in a highly productive breeding herd. In the course
of the research, the following tasks were solved: the study of
live weight gains of repair young animals in ontogenesis; study
of the main parameters of milk productivity of controlled cows
after the first lactation: milk yield, milk fat and protein content;
study of the exterior and constitutional features of the first heifers
of the black-and-white breed in combination with the manifestation of productive qualities.
The results of the research work showed that the application
of the method of normalized distribution of heifers according
to the level of average daily live weight gains in the period
of 0–6 months allows us to identify the optimal technological
interval with a growth rate of young animals over 670 g, which
allows these heifers to get cows with milk productivity of 1
lactation 7572.3–7734 kg of milk, which is more by 8.2–9.4 %
more than taxes from other studied groups. The application of
the method of normalized distribution of animals by body type
allowed us to establish that the superiority of leptosomal type
animals in milk yield over peers of other groups is 3.81–7.65 %,
as well as in general and in terms of the yield of dairy components (fat + protein) by 10.23–12.7 %.
SOUNDSCAPE IN TIMES OF CHANGE: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE URBAN SOUNDSCAPE OF DIDOUCHE MOURAD STREET IN CONSTANTINE, ALGERIA
Authors: Asma Bensaada  , Soumia Bouzaher  , Amira Talbi
Published: November 2024

This research paper delves into the intricate relationship between soundscape, urban environments, and the impact of COVID-19, with a particular focus on Didouche Mourad street in Constantine, Algeria. The study aims to identify and emphasize the significance of this unique soundscape, both before and after the onset of the pandemic, by employing a multi-faceted research approach, combining site surveys, data collection tools, and an extensively administrated- questionnaire.
To understand the perception and importance of the soundscape in the lives of the inhabitants, a questionnaire was administered to 159 residents in the area, exploring how their experiences and perceptions of the soundscape changed in the wake of the pandemic. The questionnaire covered aspects such as the emotional impact of soundscapes, the recognition of sound landmarks, and their evolving roles in creating a sense of place and identity.
The survey results, along with the residents' perceptions and experiences, were considered to evaluate the changing importance of the soundscape within Didouche Mourad street in Constantine, Algeria, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This research paper sheds light on the impact of COVID-19 on the often-neglected auditory dimension of urban landscapes. By investigating the soundscape of Didouche Mourad street in Constantine and juxtaposing it with its urban features before and after the pandemic, the study uncovers the intertwined relationship between sound and place and how it evolved in response to the public health crisis. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamic nature of soundscapes in shaping urban identity and provide valuable insights for urban planning, preservation, and the enhancement of the human experience within urban spaces during and after significant disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic.