bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automatic recognition and calculation of softwood ray height based on tangential section images by using YOLOv5
Authors: Guo Yong , Lin Qizhao , Weng Jinfang , Wang Weisheng , Wang Hong , Chen Wenyin
Published: April 2023

In order to achieve rapid acquisition, identification and measurement of the average ray height of softwood based on tangential section photographs, a new method is proposed. Firstly, labels the digital image of the softwood tangential section with the 100 magnification, that is, mark the rays and scales on the image, and establish the dataset; Secondly, the dataset is randomly divided into training set and validation set. YOLOv5s is used for model training to obtain the best target recognition model of rays and scale. The experimental results show that the model trained with YOLOv5s can achieve 93.5% accuracy, 95.6% recall and 96.7% average accuracy in the validation set; Thirdly, using the YOLOv5s trained model, a visual program for automatically calculating the ray height and obtaining the ray characteristics of softwood is designed, which lowered the threshold for wood identification workers to use such software.
Effects of Nostoc Commune Extract on the Cerebral Oxidative and Neuroinflammatory Status in a Mice Model of Schizophrenia
Authors: bahnamiri Parisa jahani , Moghaddam Akbar Hajizadeh , Ranjbar Mojtaba , Nazifi Ehsan
Published: April 2023

Cyanobacterium Nostoc commune has long been used to alleviate various diseases. This research aims to examine the effects of Nostoc commune extract (NCE) against behavioral disorders, cerebral oxidative stress, and inflammatory damage in the ketamine-induced schizophrenia model. Oral NCE administration (70 and 150 mg/kg/d) is performed after intraperitoneal ketamine injection (20 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days. The forced swimming and open field tests are used to assess schizophrenia-like behaviors. After the behavioral test, dopamine (DA) level, oxidative stress markers, as well as the interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression are measured in the cerebral cortex. Based on the obtained results, NCE treatment ameliorates KET-induced anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in OFT and FST, respectively. NCE considerably decreases the malondialdehyde (MDA) and DA levels, as well as IL-6 and TNF-α expressions, in mice with schizophrenia-like symptoms. Also, a significant increase is observed in the glutathione (GSH) level and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione reductase (GRx) activity in cerebral tissue. The present study shows that NCE treatment effectively improves KET-induced schizophrenia-like behaviors and oxidative and inflammatory damage. Therefore, NCE, via its bioactive constituents, could have strong neuroprotective effects in the schizophrenia-like model.
A characterization of two-weight norm inequalities for multidimensionalHausdorff operators on Lebesgue spaces
Authors: Bandaliyev Rovshan , Aliyeva Dunya
Published: April 2023

In this paper we give necessary conditions and sufficient conditions for the boundedness of multidimensional Hausdorff operator on weighted Lebesgue spaces. In particular, weestablish necessary and sufficient conditions for the boundedness of special type multidimensional Hausdorff operator on weighted Lebesgue spaces for monotone radial weight functions.Also, we get similar results for important operators of harmonic analysis which are specialcases of the multidimensional Hausdorff operator. The results are illustrated by a number ofexamples.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2010): 28C99; 46E30; 47G10.
Investigating the Complexities of VOC Pollution in Mexico City: A Source Apportionment Approach
Authors: Alam Mohammad Jahirul , Rappenglück Bernhard , Retama Armando
Published: April 2023

In this study we analyze an air quality data set, which was collected in the vicinity of the center of Mexico City during the ozone season from March to May 2016. It includes 33 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the sum of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particle matter with a diameter less than 1 μm (PM1). We use the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor model to apportion ambient VOC concentrations into nine emission source factors, The analysis for all the data reveals the following breakdown of emission factors: secondary aerosol precursors, accounting for 21.7% of the total mass, followed by the source factors NO2 (20.4%), traffic-1 (19.3%), traffic-2 (16.2%), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (7.3%), geogenic (5.3%), biogenic (4.5%), incomplete fuel evaporation (2.7%), and solvents (2.2%). While the use of fossil fuel through various types of combustion and evaporation continues to be major fraction in Mexico City, additional sources could be identified. Apart from biogenic sources which tend to be more important closer to the end of the ozone season a second natural emission factors termed “geogenic” was identified. Overall, anthropogenic sources contribute almost 90%. Diurnal plots and bivariate plots show the relative importance of these emission source factors on different temporal and spatial scales which can be applied in emission control policies for Mexico City.
Influence of Different Fuels in the Combustion Synthesis of TiO2 Photoelectrodes Produced Using the Layer-by-Layer Technique
Authors: Gil Ana Paula Torrecillas , Camargo Luan Pereira , Lucilha Adriana Campano , Lucilha-Junior João Ricardo Campano , Silva Paulo Rogério Catarini da , de Matos Roberto , Dall'Antonia Luiz Henrique
Published: April 2023

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles were synthesized using combustion synthesis with different fuels and immobilized onto the ITO electrode surface using the Layer-by-Layer technique. The properties of the TiO2 were significantly influenced by the type of fuel used during synthesis (citric acid, L-alanine, glycine, or urea) and pH due to factors such as the fuel's reducing power and its complexation with the oxotitanium(IV) cation, [Ti = O]2+. Citric acid and L-alanine fuels formed only the anatase phase of TiO2, while glycine and urea formed mixtures of the anatase and brookite phases. Complete conversion to TiO2 at lower temperatures was observed when using urea. The band gap energy exhibited a significant decrease in the obtained materials compared to bulk TiO2 (3.2 eV). Urea and L-alanine fuels produced materials with smaller crystallite sizes and higher specific surface areas. Urea was the fuel that yielded TiO2 photoelectrodes with the best photoelectrocatalytic for the methylene blue discoloration reaction.
Application of machine learning polymer models explaining hypokalemia in COVID-19 patients
Authors: BASU ANAMIKA
Published: April 2023

Machine learning (ML) methods are used in genomics studies for elucidation of three-dimensional structure of chromatin in genome. In chromatin, the formation of loop in 3D structure, controls the expression of specific genes in transcription and replication level. There is a 100% sequence similarity between SARS CoV2 and human genome for seventy-one nucleotide sequence in chromosome 2. This short stretch of nucleotide sequence has been thoroughly analyzed with the help of UCSC Genome Brower. A few machine learning models for construction of 3D structure of human genome for this specific chromosomal region have been explored. In the specific chromosomal region, the presence of a protein coding gene (KCNJ3), enhancer, promoter and LTR region are identified. With the help of machine learning methods, the loop formation on the genome structure has been conformed. Topologically Associating Domains (TADs) in this specific chromosomal region are also predicted. The loop formation along the chromosomal region facilitates the binding of RNA polymerase II and CTCF in the promoter region of KCNJ3 gene. During transcription of KCNJ3 gene, epigenetic control of this gene expression occurs through acetylation in histone protein present in nucleosome complex. Thus, the rate of gene expression of KCNJ3 gene increases, which rises the K+ concentration inside the cells, resulting in hypokalemia in blood serum of COVID-19 patients.
Peptidoglycan in osteoarthritis synovial tissue is associated with joint inflammation
Authors: Holub Meaghan N , Wahhab Amanda , Rouse Joseph R , Danner Rebecca , McClune Mecaila M , Dressler Jules M , Strle Klemen , Jutras Brandon L , Edelstein Adam I , Lochhead Robert B
Published: April 2023

Objectives Peptidoglycan (PG) is an arthritogenic bacterial cell wall component whose role in human osteoarthritis is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine if PG is present in synovial tissue of osteoarthritis patients at the time of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and if its presence is associated with inflammation and patient reported outcomes.Methods Intraoperative synovial tissue and synovial fluid samples were obtained from 56 patients undergoing primary TKA, none of whom had history of infection. PG in synovial tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Synovial tissue inflammation and fibrosis were assessed by histopathology and synovial fluid cytokine quantification. Primary human fibroblasts isolated from arthritis synovial tissue were stimulated with PG to determine inflammatory cytokine response.Results A total of 33/56 (59%) of primary TKA synovial tissue samples were positive for PG by IHC, with mean 8 PG occurrences per 10 mm2 of tissue in PG-positive samples. Synovial tissue inflammation and elevated IL-6 in synovial fluid positively correlated with PG positivity. Primary human fibroblasts stimulated with PG secreted high levels of IL-6, consistent with ex vivo findings. Interestingly, we observed a significant inverse correlation between PG and age at time of TKA, indicating younger age at time of TKA was associated with higher PG levels.Conclusion Peptidoglycan is commonly found in synovial tissue from patients undergoing TKA. Our data indicate that PG may play an important role in inflammatory synovitis, particularly in patients who undergo TKA at a relatively younger age.
A 400V Buck Converter Integrated with Gate- Drivers and Low-Voltage Control in a 25V- 600V Mixed-Mode SiC CMOS Technology
Authors: Gupta Utsav , Zhang Hua , Liu Tianshi , Isukapati Sundar , Ashik Emran , Morgan Adam , Lee Bongmook , Sung Woongje , Agarwal Anant , Fayed Ayman
Published: April 2023

This paper offers the first demonstration of the design and layout of a fully integrated power converter in a monolithic Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology. A 400V Buck Converter integrated with Gate-Drivers and Low-Voltage Control circuitry in a 25V-600V Mixed-Mode SiC CMOS technology has been presented in this paper. A new SiC technology has been developed for this design which has a feature size of 1µm. This technology allows integration of High-Voltage Power FETs and Low-Voltage CMOS circuits on the same die with a common substrate. Both high-side and low-side Power FETs are N-type hence a bootstrap circuit is used, and the gate drivers use an isolated capacitive level shifter to translate the signals from the 25V domain to the 400V domain which is the input voltage of the Buck Converter. The load current is 1A and the nominal output voltage is 100V thereby meaning that the output power is 100W. The switching frequency is up to 1MHz, and the duty cycle can range from 10% to 90% signifying a wide range of operation of the converter.
Appropriateness of Antibiotic Prescriptions Among Non-Severe Febrile Patients in Primary Care in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Moreira José , Lamas Cristiane , Fernandez-Carballo B. Leticia , Escadafal Camille , Dittrich Sabine , Brasil Patrícia , Siqueira André M.
Published: April 2023

Background: Overuse of antibiotics is a global health threat, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Most studies on antibiotic use in LMICs have focused on hospital settings, leaving a knowledge gap in primary care settings where a significant proportion of antibiotic use occurs. This study aimed to estimate the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions among acute non-severely ill febrile patients attending primary care level in urban Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on consecutive febrile patients aged 2-65 years presenting with an axillary temperature (≥ 37.5° C) for a week or less at two primary care clinics and two emergency departments (EDs) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Comprehensive clinical and laboratory data were gathered to investigate the cause of fever. We reviewed each consult where antibiotic prescription occurred, including its indication and appropriateness against international guidelines. Descriptive statistics and logistical regression models were performed to identify factors associated with inappropriate prescribing.
Results: 500 participants were enrolled, with antibiotic prescribed in 30.6% of visits. Antibiotic prescriptions were considered inappropriate 75% of cases, predominantly due to inappropriate indication (91.3%). The most common reason for prescribing antibiotics was acute respiratory infection (35%). Older participants, those enrolled during the summer, and those attending an EDs were more likely to receive an inappropriate prescription, while those reporting recent antibiotic use and those treated for urinary infection s were less likely to receive an inappropriate prescription.
Conclusions: This study highlights the high prevalence of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions in primary care settings in urban Rio de Janeiro, emphasizing the need for targeted antimicrobial stewardship interventions to improve prescription practices in LMIC. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03047642
Analysis of the structure, thermal, and molecular dynamics of organic–inorganic hybrid [NH 2 (CH 3 ) 2 ] 2 CdBr 4 crystal at phases IV, III, II, and I
Authors: Kim Sun Ha , Joo Young Lak , Lim Ae Ran
Published: April 2023

A comprehensive understanding of the physicochemical properties of organic–inorganic hybrids is essential for their application. Therefore, a single crystal of [NH2(CH3)2]2CdBr4 was grown; the crystal structure was monoclinic, and the phase transition temperatures for the four phases IV, III, II, and I were 383 K (TC1), 417 K (TC2), and 427 K (TC3). Furthermore, the chemical shifts caused by the local field around 1H, 13C, 14N, and 113Cd changed continuously with temperature, especially near TC1, indicating that the local environment changes with temperature. Owing to the large change in 113Cd chemical shifts, the coordination geometry of Br around Cd in the CdBr4 tetrahedra changes near TC1. Therefore, it is thought that Br plays a significant role in the N‒H···Br hydrogen bond. Finally, the spin-lattice relaxation time T1ρ, representing the energy transfer around the 1H and 13C atoms of the cation, changed significantly with temperature. The activation energies obtained from the T1ρ results were two times larger at high temperatures than at low temperatures. This study provides an understanding of the fundamental properties of organic–inorganic hybrid compounds to broaden their applications.
Film and Stress Analysis Based on Large-span Single-layer Spherical Reticulated Shell
Authors: Fan Jingfeng , Mei Erzhao , Zhao Zhanguo , Tang Xiaoning
Published: April 2023

The paper analyzes the film sticking technology and stress of large-span single-layer spherical reticulated shell structure,uses SolidWorks,a three-dimensional software,to simply model the large-span single-layer spherical reticulated shell structure, analyzes the stress of triangle frame after filming by theoretical analysis and ANSYS simulation software.In the research, the experimenter makes one kind of film cutting device plate used for triangle frame.The film cutting by film cutting device plate not only can save cost and reduce labor intensity during sticking film,but also position the film accurately and improves the overall stiffness of the spherical reticulated shell.By analyzing the real stress situation in the actual operation process of large-span reticulated shell structure,the mechanical loading test was used to analyze the overall mechanical properties of the spherical reticulated shell structure before and after film sticking,and verified that the overall mechanical properties and stiffness of large-span reticulated shell structure are improved after film sticking by using film cutting device is used.The test analyses are basically consistent with the simulation analyses,which further verifies the feasibility of the film cutting device and the rationality of the design of large-span reticulated shell structure,which provides a reference for the further design of large-span reticulated shell structure.
Study on Ecological Environment Protection and Impact Based on TOPSIS Multi-index Evaluation
Authors: Sun Hao , Zhang Ran , Ren Peng
Published: April 2023

Today, 40% of the world's land is threatened by desertification, nearly 500000 square kilometers of land is turned into desert every year. Environmental protection is urgent. Saihanba National Forest Park in Hebei Province is a national nature reserve approved by the State Council. however, 20 years ago, the area was faced with increased desertification, soil erosion and loss of biodiversity. It is of great significance for ecological construction to study the influence of Saihanba forest farm construction on ecological environment. In this paper, the ecological environment impact assessment model of Saihanba forest farm is established, the environmental conditions before and after the restoration of Saihanba are compared and analyzed. First of all, this paper selects five indicators: the average gale days in typical years, CO2SC, PM2.5, forest coverage and terrestrial wild vertebrate species data, and uses the TOPSIS evaluation method based on AHP to establish assessment model to quantitatively evaluate the impact of Saihanba restoration on the environment. The analysis shows that with the restoration of Saihanba, the ecological environment in the area continues to improve, the forest coverage continues to increase, the average number of gale days continues to decrease, and the species of wild animals continue to improve.
Supervised and Unsupervised Deep LearningApproaches for EEG Seizure Prediction
Authors: Georgis-Yap Zakary , Popovic Milos , Khan Shehroz
Published: April 2023

Epilepsy affects more than 50 million people worldwide, making it one of the world’s most prevalent neurological diseases. The main symptom of epilepsy is seizures, which occur abruptly and can cause serious injury or death. The ability to predict the occurrence of an epileptic seizure could alleviate many risks and stresses people with epilepsy face. Most of the previous work is focused at seizure detection, we pivot our focus to seizure prediction problem. We formulate the problem of detecting preictal (or pre-seizure) with reference to normal EEG as a precursor to incoming seizure. To this end, we developed several supervised deep learning approaches model to identify preictal EEG from normal EEG. We further develop novel unsupervised deep learning approaches to train the models on only normal EEG, and detecting pre-seizure EEG as an anomalous event. These deep learning models were trained and evaluated on two large EEG seizure datasets in a person-specific manner. We found that both supervised and unsupervised approaches are feasible; however, their performance varies depending on the patient, approach and architecture. This new line of research has the potential to develop therapeutic interventions and save human lives.
Establishment and validation of diagnostic nomograms for patients with early gastric cancer
Authors: Yang Jiali , Lu Xiaming , Qian Yetao , Tao Jiale , Chen Wanyuan , Ru Guoqing , Jin Yanling
Published: April 2023

Purpose
Gastric cancer is often detected in the late stages, due to which its mortality rate remains high. Early detection of gastric cancer could significantly improve the prognosis of patients since the survival rate of early gastric cancer after treatment exceeds 96%. This study aimed to analyze early gastric cancer (EGC) risk factors and construct a nomogram model to predict EGC patients.
Methods
A retrospective study was conducted on 589 patients, including 325 patients with EGC and 264 patients with benign gastric disease. Age, sex, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), creatinine, hypertension, diabetes and other clinical data were collected accordingly. A nomogram was then constructed using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. Moreover, a correction curve and AUCs were utilized to determine the accuracy of our model.
Results
Our findings revealed that sex, age, NLR, creatinine, basophil, hypertension and diabetes were risk factors for EGC. A predictive nomogram model was constructed based on the above risk factors showing good consistency and accuracy (AUC = 0.77), the validation cohort showed good consistency(AUC = 0.776).
Conclusion
The nomogram model presented good reliability, and it will help clinicians to predict and diagnose EGC patients timely while avoiding unnecessary gastrectomy.
Impact of surgical case order on percutaneous kyphoplasty for painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture: a retrospective study of 1214 cases
Authors: Shen Hao , Fang Xiang , Deng Zicheng , Zhou Feng , Yang Huilin
Published: April 2023

Introduction
Although percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) has been proven to be an effective approach for painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF), controversy still exists regarding the effect of surgical case order on perioperative complications and clinical outcomes of PKP in the process of OVCF treatment.
Methods
A total of 1214 patients (1487 vertebral bodies) who were diagnosed with OVCFs and treated with PKP at our institution from January 2014 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. All the enrolled patients were divided into four groups according to surgical case order. Demographic data and perioperative details were collected and analyzed. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were recorded for the measurement of pain management. The anterior vertebral height restoration rate (AVHRR) and kyphotic Cobb angle correction rate (CR) were calculated to assess kyphosis correction. Binary logistic regression was used to elucidate the effect of surgical case order on bone cement leakage.
Results
The average age of the patients in the first case was significantly higher than that of the patients in the other three groups (P < 0.05). A significantly longer operative time of the first case was revealed compared to the others (P < 0.05). No difference in pain management and kyphosis correction was demonstrated among the four groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of cement leakage was found unchanged (P= 0.741). Surgical case order was proven not to be an independent risk factor for bone cement leakage (P = 0.675).
Conclusion
Surgical case order has no significant influence on perioperative complications and clinical or radiological outcomes of PKP.
MLK4 as an immune marker and its correlation with immune infiltration in Cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma(CESC)
Authors: Gong Meng , Shen Fujin , Li Yang , Hong Li , Ming Lei
Published: April 2023

Mixed pedigree kinase 4 (MLK4) is a member of the serine/threonine kinases mixed pedigree kinase (MLKs) family. Few reports on immune-related targets in Cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma CESC, and the role of MLK4 in cervical cancer remains to be studied. The expression of MLK4 in CESC was analyzed by TCGA database, and the effect of MLK4 on immune invasion was evaluated. Tissue microarray was used to verify the expression of MLK4 in CESC patients, and it was found that MLK4 was significantly overexpressed in CESC, and significantly correlated with CESC grade. Multiple analysis algorithms showed that the high expression of MLK4 was negatively correlated with immune cell infiltration in CESC. Analysis showed that MLK4 expression was negatively correlated with the infiltration of various immune cells including CD8 + T cells, and MLK4 mRNA expression was positively correlated with immune checkpoints PD-L1,CTLA4, LAG3, and negatively correlated with immune promotion genes CD86 and CD80. Furtherly, In vitro assays were conducted to identify the biological behavior of MLK4 in C33A cells. The downregulation of MLK4 resulted in reduced cell proliferation and invasion in C33A cells, as revealed by the EDU and transwell assays. QPCR results show that knock down MLK4 would inhibit the expression of classical biochemical markers CEA、AFP and HCG. Therefore, MLk4 may play a critical role in Cervical cancer.
Research on image recognition of three fritillaria cirrhosa species based on deep learning
Authors: Chen Yuxiu , Li Yuyan , Zhang Sheng
Published: April 2023

Based on the deep learning method, a network model that can quickly and accurately identify the species of fritillaria cirrhosa species was constructed. Taking three kinds of fritillaria cirrhosa images, the learning method based on deep residual convolutional neural network was used to input the unprocessed original image directly as input, and the features of the image were extracted through convolution and pooling operations. On this basis, the ResNet34 model was improved, and the additional fully connected layer was added in front of the Softmax classifier to improve the learning ability of the network model. Visual analysis of the training process was carried out to determine the optimal number of iterations for model training and ensure the recognition accuracy. Total of 3915 images of three kinds of fritillaria cirrhosae were used as data sources for the experiments, among which 160 images of each type were randomly selected to form the validation set, and 60 Songbei, 54 Qingbei, and 58 Lubei images were selected to form the test set. The final training set recognition accuracy rate was 95.8%, the validation set accuracy rate reached 92.3%, and the test set accuracy rate was 88.7%. The image recognition method of fritillaria cirrhosa based on deep learning proposed in this paper is effective and feasible, which can quickly and accurately identify the species of fritillaria cirrhosa species, and provides a new idea for the intelligent recognition of Chinese medicinal materials.
Mechanism of berberine regulating ox-LDL induced endothelial pyroptosis based on TXNIP / NLRP3 / GSDMD pathway
Authors: 于 莉莉 , Wang Tingting , Shen Xiangli , shang Shasha , li Yonglin , Wang Jianru , Chen Yushan
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to explore the regulatory effect of berberine on ox LDL induced HUVECs pyroptosis, and reveal the possible molecular mechanism and target of berberine in preventing and treating coronary atherosclerosis. The experiment used 50μg/mL ox-LDL to stimulate HUVECs to construct an in vitro inflammatory injury model, and the protective effect of berberine at a concentration of 20 μmol/L on HUVECs. Pathway phase proteins and cytokines were detected using methods such as ELISA, scanning electron microscopy, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR. We found that ox-LDL can induce pyroptosis in HUVECs, including pyroptosis related proteins NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, and downstream products IL-18 and IL-1β，the levels of LDH were significantly increased, and berberine intervention can reduce the expression levels of these indicators, indicating that BBR may inhibit ox-LDL induced HUVECs pyroptosis by downregulating the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway. We further infected HUVECs with TXNIP Lentivirus to construct overexpression of TXNIP. The results showed that TXNIP can regulate NLRP3 mediated pyroptosis, while berberine can inhibit the expression of TXNIP. The specific molecular mechanism may be realized by downregulating the TXNIP/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway.
Elevated serum high triglyceride-glucose index is Independently Associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute pancreatitis
Authors: Sayiti Niyaziaili , Li Qian , Deng Jiaxiang
Published: April 2023

Background: The Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is considered to be a simple and reliable surrogate for insulin resistance and an independent predictor of metabolic syndrome. Due to a lack of data on the TyG index in acute pancreatitis (AP). we aimed to investigate the predictive value of the TyG index for the prognosis of severe AP.
Methods: The medical data of subjects diagnosed with acute pancreatitis who were hospitalized at Wannan Medical College Yiji Shan Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were retrieved from the database and retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the Atlanta classification. The TyG index was calculated as follows: ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting plasma glucose (mg/ dL)/2]. The major adverse outcome was disease severity, intensive care unit admission, and mortality.
Results: A total of 404 patients with acute pancreatitis were included, of whom 59 developed severe acute pancreatitis. The TyG index was higher in the SAP group than in the non-SAP group (8.44 ± 1.53 vs 7.58 ± 1.34, p < 0.05). The area under the TyG index for predicting severe AP was 0.670 (95% CI 0.595 - 0.745, p < 0.05). In multivariate logistic regression, after adjusting for covariates, the TyG index was an independent risk factor for either intensive care unit admission (OR: 1.358, 95% CI: 1.101-1.676, P＜0.05) or severe AP (OR: 1.513, 95% CI: 1.247-1.834, P＜0.05).
Conclusions:The TyG index is an independent prognostic factor in patients with acute pancreatitis.
Pollen Germination and Tube Growth in Northern Highbush Blueberry are Inhibited by Extreme Heat
Authors: Walters Jenna , Isaacs Rufus
Published: April 2023

The increasing intensity and frequency of extreme heat events threaten crop productivity globally. Certain phases of plant reproduction necessary for fertilization are highly sensitive to extreme heat, particularly during pollen development, germination, and tube elongation. However, few studies have assessed the effects of extreme heat on pollen performance in perennial crop plants. To understand how northern highbush blueberry pollen responds to high temperatures, we quantified pollen germination and pollen tube growth in vitro using four commercially relevant cultivars (Bluecrop, Elliott, Jersey, and Liberty) in climate-controlled chambers. We also tested recovery from high heat in ‘Bluecrop’ to determine whether pollen tubes can still germinate and grow after short bursts of extreme heat. We found the highest proportion of germinated pollen tetrads and the greatest pollen tube growth at 20 and 30 °C, and the lowest levels at 10 and 40 °C, with nearly complete inhibition at 40 °C. Exposure to between 30 and 40 °C revealed significant reduction in pollen germination and tube growth above 35 °C across all cultivars and assessment times. Exposure to 37.5 °C for only 4 hours resulted in substantial reductions in pollen germination and pollen tube growth, even after pollen was moved to optimal conditions of 25 °C. Extreme heat exposure, even for a short duration, significantly limits blueberry pollen germination and tube development. This is expected to have cascading effects on fruit set and crop yield. The nonreversibility of the effects on pollen highlights the need to prevent fields reaching damaging temperatures by developing crop monitoring and management strategies to protect crops during bloom.
Physiological and Nutrient Responses to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, or Potassium Deficiency of Hydroponically Grown Strawberry
Authors: Jiang Wei , Zhang Jia , Jia Zhi-Hang , Zhang Ting , Zhang Wen-Jie , Wei Meng
Published: April 2023

Nutrient-depleted soil is a major constraint for crop production, particularly for fruits. Here, we investigated the different response of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) deficiency on the growth and development of strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) in sand culture under greenhouse conditions. Compared with K, the lack of N or P is more unfavorable to strawberry growth and development. N deficiency affected shoot-root (S/R) ratio at different growth stages, and decreased the shoot biomass. P deficiency greatly increased the N content but decreased K content of the plants, which means P is of advantage to regulate the absorption and utilization of N and K nutrients in plants. Meanwhile, P has a profound influence on fruit quality, such as total soluble (TSS) sugar content. K deficiency is not conducive to fruit coloring and the formation of high-quality commercial fruits. The results contribute to a better understanding of the difference of N, P, or K deficiency on strawberry growth, nutrient absorption, and fruit quality during the whole growth period.
Exploring Dual Pathology: Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Cuartas Arias Jorge Mauricio
Published: April 2023

Exploring Dual Pathology: Opportunities and Challenges
Effect of Marketing Occupational Therapy Services on Client-Centredness in Nigeria
Authors: Iki Victor Oghenenyerovwome
Published: April 2023

This study assesses marketing strategies that can be adopted in marketing occupational therapy (OT); ascertains the target of OT marketing efforts and identified the barriers to client-centredness in OT. All these were with the view to investigate the extent to which marketing OT services influence client-centredness in Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 33 currently licensed and practicing OT practitioners in Nigeria who responded to questions like the types of marketing strategies that OT can adopt, target for OT marketing efforts, the extent to which marketing OT can influence client-centredness, and barriers to client-centredness in OT. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics while the major objective of the study was tested using a one-way analysis of variance. The results of this survey showed that marketing strategies like building relationships with physicians and professionals allied to medicine, improving quality of service and professionalism, and digital marketing/internet have a significant effect on client-centredness in terms of occupational therapists’ desire for professionalism in practice, and respect for client’s subjective experience in occupational performance; targets for OT marketing efforts are clients, physicians and professionals allied to medicine, donors, community services, business managers, developers and investors, policy makers, insurance companies, and attorneys; and barriers to client-centredness in OT are inefficiency of the facility, lack of client demand to contribute during goal-setting and decision making, clients are not aware of client-centredness, indifference and lack of motivation of clients toward achieving occupational performance amongst others. In conclusion, marketing occupational therapy services can significantly affect client-centredness in Nigeria. Keywords: Client-centredness, Marketing, Nigeria, Occupational therapy, Services.
Factors Associated with Accessibility and Utilization of Adolescent Health Services in Chingola, Zambia
Authors: Musonda Judith
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this paper was to explore the factors associated with accessibility and utilization of adolescent health services in Chingola, Zambia. The study was done among secondary school students in their junior and senior grades. Data were collected from four focus group discussions and four key informants’ interviews. Data management analysis principles illuminating verbatim quotations are used to illustrate findings. The study findings indicate that lack of information and stigmatization were some of the factors identified to be the barriers to adolescents’ health. The paper further outlines the proposed solutions which include establishing and strengthening the linkage between the schools and health facilities adolescent health services and creating awareness among the adolescents. Further, the paper gives the future direction that clinics and health centres should take advantage of technology and use electronic means to increase awareness of available reproductive health services for adolescents and that they should have door to door programs for the community aimed at sensitizing adolescents on reproductive health. In conclusion, it is indicated that improving the utilization of adolescent health services is a global dream. This dream can be realized only if the efforts are made to reach the adolescent population. Keywords: Accessibility, Adolescent Health Services, Stigmatization, Utilization.
Yerel Yönetimlerin Perspektifinden Geriatri Turizmi Potansiyelinin Değerlendirilmesi: Akyazı Örneği
Authors: GÜRKAN Ahmet Selçuk , KESKİN Cansu
Published: April 2023

Dünyada ve Türkiye’de gün geçtikçe artan yaşlı nüfusa bağlı olarak turistik ihtiyaçlar da değişmektedir. Üçüncü yaş turist grubu olarak adlandırılan yaşlı turist grubunun 65 yaş üstü bireylerden oluştuğu düşünüldüğünde daha sessiz ve doğal alanlar ile sağlık turizmi kapsamında seyahatlerini şekillendirdikleri söylenebilir. 2023 turizm vizyonunda belirtildiği gibi turizmin çeşitlendirilerek 12 aya yayılması derinlemesine ele alınan konulardan bir tanesidir. Sağlık turizmi ve sağlık turizminin çeşitlerinden bir tanesi olan geriatri turizmi, turizmin çeşitlendirilmesi için önemli alternatiflerdendir. Bu bağlamda Marmara Bölgesinde yer alan Sakarya ili Akyazı ilçesi geriatri turizmi potansiyeli taşıyan önemli yerleşim yerlerinden bir tanesi olarak görülmektedir. Akyazı; kaplıcası, temiz havası, yaylaları, ormanları ve İstanbul, Ankara, Bursa, Kocaeli gibi büyük şehirlere yakın bir konumda bulunması ile geriatri turizmi için oldukça elverişli bir destinasyondur. Bu noktada çalışmanın amacı yerel yönetimlerin perspektifinden Akyazı’nın geriatri turizmi potansiyelini değerlendirmektir. Çalışma kapsamında yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme tekniği kullanılarak Akyazı yerel yönetimlerinde görevli 12 katılımcı ile görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Akyazı’da görev yapan bu yerel yöneticilerin Sakarya ili Akyazı ilçesi hakkında verdikleri bilgiler doğrultusunda, Akyazı’nın geriatri turizmi potansiyeli tespit edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Araştırma bulgularına göre; Kuzuluk Kaplıcası, Keremali Yaylası, Sülüklü göl ve diğer doğal güzellikler geriatri turizmi potansiyeli kapsamında Akyazı’nın güçlü yönleri olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Konaklama tesisi sayısı ve tanıtım yönünde yaşanan eksikliklerin giderilmesi halinde ilçenin sahip olduğu geriatrik turist grubunun bölgeyi daha çok ziyaret edeceği düşünülmektedir.
Bir Dijital Pazarlama Segmenti Olarak Çocuklar: YouTube
Authors: MERMER ÜZÜMLÜ Aytuğ , GÜVEN Faruk
Published: April 2023

Son yıllarda çocukları hedefleyen pazarlama anlayışı oldukça gelişmiştir. Akıllı cihazlar çok sayıda uygulama ve içerik içermekte, dolayısıyla çocuklar sayısız içeriği küçük yaştan itibaren tüketmektedir. Bu uygulamaların içerisinde yer alan reklamlar ve içeriklerde yer alan anlatım şekilleri kimi zaman yeni duygu ve davranışlar inşa etmekte, kimi zaman ise belli klişeleri tekrar dolaşıma sokmaktadır. İnternette yer alan sosyal medya fenomenlerini yakından takip eden küçük çocuklar, reklam ile içerik arasındaki farkı kavrayamamaktadır. Bu çalışmada dünya çapında en popüler olan ve çocuklara yönelik fenomenlik yapan içerik sağlayıcının içerik analizi pazarlama ve tüketici perspektifinden yapılmıştır. Çalışmanın bulgularında en temelde, keyifli ve mutlu yaşamanın tüketim ile gerçekleştirilebileceğine yönlendirme olduğu görülmektedir. Tüketilecek emtialar ile ilgili olarak ise inşa edilen anlamlar kimi zaman açık, kimi zaman ise örtülü olarak sunulmaktadır. Ayrıca ürün tasarım, ambalaj, sunum ve pazarlama yoluyla toplumsal cinsiyet kimliklerinin yeniden üretilmesi, erkek ve kız çocuklar arasındaki farklılıkların vurgulandığı görülmektedir. Ürünlerin bozulup kırıldığı durumlarda tamir yerine hızlı bir biçimde yenisinin satın alınması fikri işlenmekte ve ürünlerin ebat olarak daha büyük olanın makbul olduğu vurgulanmaktadır. Küçük dimağlara oldukça manipülatif ve yönlendirici içerik yayını yapan bu tip videolara karşı gerek YouTube gibi platform sahiplerinin yapay zekâ ile içerik analizi yapması, gerekse düzenleyici kurumların bu içerikleri daha yakından takip etmesi, ebeveynlerin dijital medya okuryazarlıklarını artırmaları ve en nihayetinde ürün tanıtımı yapan firmaların daha duyarlı olmaları ve pazarlama etik ilkelerine uymaları politika tavsiyesi olarak yer almaktadır.
Islamic Finance-Based Financing Mechanism Proposals to Support Local Economic Development
Authors: TEKDOĞAN Ömer Faruk
Published: April 2023

In most countries, the main financing source for local governments for infrastructure projects comes from the central government’s budget. However, considering the growing urban population, this source will be insufficient to meet the likely increasing infrastructure expenditures in the future as it is now. Local governments must explore alternative financing methods, including accession to capital markets. Nevertheless, most local governments, especially the small and medium-sized ones, do not have access to capital markets, due to their low creditworthiness and insufficient technical and administrative capacity. For this reason, some supportive mechanisms to increase the creditworthiness of local governments within the scope of the conventional financial system have been developed in many countries. Aspired by the well-proven methods of the conventional financial system, this paper proposes some supportive financing mechanisms for local governments based on Islamic financial principles. These mechanisms could help local governments to access capital with higher creditworthiness and contribute to the development of Islamic capital markets. In order to lower the borrowing costs for local governments by giving them direct or indirect access to capital markets, this study suggests five possible Islamic financing methods. However, because to the novelty of the subject, it attempts to lay the groundwork for future research that will yield fresh perspectives on this issue.
Imperialism and the End of Chieftaincy in Colonial Ghana, 1925-1950
Authors: ABASS Usman
Published: April 2023

Nearly all the literature on colonialism in Africa focuses on African resistance rather than the roles of the Traditional Rulers in its formation. Thus, this paper is a deviation from that. This paper intends to portray the position of the Chiefs in the colonial enterprise, and how it led to the decline of the chieftaincy institution in Ghana. In doing so, I trace the events that attracted Europeans and subsequently led to the imposition of colonialism in Ghana, and how those interactions modify the status quo thus leading to new social stratifications and hierarchical formations. The peak of European imperialism’s drive coincided with the formative stages of most African States. So, it prevented the development of large States on the African continent. The study, thus, explores the impact of British imperialists and administrators in colonial Ghana in the face of the modus operandi and modus vivendi of the Chiefs. Although the Gold Coast Colony was established in July 1874, the Chiefs remained at the helm of affairs until they decided in 1925 to work with the colonial regime in administering the territory. Thus, as this “error” indubitably marked the beginning of the end for the Chiefs and the Chieftaincy Institution, it paved the way for the emergence of the leadership of the educated class by the middle of the twentieth century. The paper uses archival sources with secondary sources. The archival documents will explicate how deeply the Chiefs partook in establishing Colonialism in Ghana.
Effect of the Temperature and Molar Ratio of Water-Oil on the Enzymatic Hydrolysis Kinetics of the Soybean Oil: Experimental and Mathematical Modeling
Authors: Porcel Meline , Staudt Júnior , Spohr Gustavo , da Silva Camila , Borba Carlos
Published: April 2023

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the kinetics of the hydrolysis of soybean oil by the action of the Lipozyme® TL IM enzyme varying the operational conditions of molar ratio water/oil (9:1-60:1) and temperature (40-64 °C). To describe the experimental data, a mathematical model based on the kinetic mechanism of Ping-Pong Bi Bi (PPBB) was proposed, in which the following steps were not considered formation of the complex enzyme/oil substrate, and formation of the acylated enzyme/oil substrate complex. The results of enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean oil indicated a yield in free fatty acids of 76% at the molar ratio of 46:1 and temperature of 52 °C. Furthermore, based on the values of the determination coefficient and root mean square error, the mathematical model based on the kinetic mechanism of PPBB showed good agreement with the experimental data in a relatively wide temperature range. Thus, it can be a useful tool for the optimization and assessment of the mechanisms of enzymatic hydrolysis of vegetable oil.
Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles Capped with Proteins: Timed Knowledge and Perspectives
Authors: Durán Nelson , Fávaro Wagner , Alborés Silvana , da Costa Thyerre , Tasic Ljubica
Published: April 2023

Biogenic silver nanoparticles are synthesized through silver(I) reduction, which is promoted by biomolecules available in the biological world and mostly obtained from plant extracts, fungal bioproduction, and some bacteria. The exact mechanisms accounting for such oxidoreduction processes are not fully known. However, some studies have already mentioned oxidoreductases, cofactors (nicotinamide adenine dinucelotide hydrogen (NADH), dihydroflavine-adenine dinucleotid (FADH2)), and phenolic compounds, as the main reductive species engaged in the formation of silver(0) and silver nanoparticles (silver NPs) synthesis. Biosynthesis is a one-pot process that leads to stable silver NP colloids that, regarding their size, shape, and uniformity, can be successfully controlled; and show great stability when one takes into account their surface capping by some biomolecules that as well take part in their synthesis. Although great efforts have been made to feature capping biomolecules and their interactions with silver NP surfaces, knowledge of the quantity (exact number per cm2 ) and type of biomolecules that cap or surround silver NPs remains limited. The literature provides detailed information on protein capping, but it still shows gaps regarding many aspects of fine biophysical protein featuring. The reason why certain proteins prefer to interact with silver NP surface and form chemical bonds, whereas others rather have intermolecular interaction with the first layer of proteins remains unknown. Assessing capping proteins’ involvement in the bioactivity of biogenic silver NPs is another relevant research field. Certain proteins enhance bioactivity of silver NPs and lower toxicity; however, the way antimicrobial processes benefit from protein capping is yet to be discovered. Finally, biogenic silver NPs can be found both in the environment and in water; moreover, their additional activity and behavior must be known or, at least, hypothesized.