bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Role of PET CT in Staging and Management of Penile Cancer
Authors: Mirvald Cristian , Garaz Radion , Sinescu Ioanel , Preda Adrian , Labanaris Apostolos , Yossepowitch Ofer , Tsaur Igor , Surcel Cristian
Published: July 2024

Penile cancer (PeCa) is a rare urological malignancy characterized by significant geographic variations in both incidence and mortality rates. Due to its rarity and the consequent lack of randomized trials, current management is based on retrospective studies and small prospective trials. In addition, the diagnostic pathways and treatment strategies exhibit substantial heterogeneity, differing significantly between less developed and well-developed countries. The prognosis of PeCa is determined by the presence and extent of regional lymph node (LN) involvement. Therefore, early detection and treatment of LN metastasis is paramount to ensure better outcomes. In recent decades, the overall survival for PeCa has increased, mainly due to advancements in imaging techniques and risk stratification. We aim to provide an overview of the current role of PET CT imaging in the management of patients with PeCa.
A Novel Geothermal Wellbore Model Based on the Drift-Flux Approach
Authors: Yuan Yin , Li Weiqing , Zhang Jiawen , Lei Junkai , Xu Xianghong , Bian Lihan
Published: July 2024

Geothermal energy, being a clean energy source, has immense potential, and accurate wellbore modeling is crucial for optimizing the drilling process and ensuring safety. This paper presents a novel geothermal wellbore model based on the drift-flux approach, tested under three different temperature and pressure well conditions. The proposed model integrates the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy, incorporating the gas-liquid two-phase flow drift-flux model and heat transfer model. Key features include handling heat transfer between the for-mation and the wellbore, addressing the slip relationship between gas and liquid phases, and accounting for wellbore friction. The nonlinear equations are discretized using the finite differ-ence method, and the highly nonlinear system is solved using the Newton-Raphson method. Numerical simulation, validation, and comparison with existing models demonstrate the en-hanced accuracy of this model. In our tests, the model achieved high accuracy in calculating bottom hole pressure and temperature, with Mean Relative Errors (MRE) significantly lower than those of other models. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing drilling parameters and ensuring drilling safety. Comparisons indicate that this approach significantly outperforms others in capturing the complex dynamics of geothermal wellbores, making it a superior tool for geo-thermal energy development.
On the Use of Pharmacies to Establish a Defibrillator Network: A Data Driven Case Study for the Area of the Peloponnese
Authors: Wallace Manolis , Champilomatis Christos , Ventirozou Panagiota , Pappas Georgios , Poulopoulos Vassilis , Vassilakis Costas
Published: July 2024

Sudden cardiac arrest (SAC) is a leading cause of mortality. In recent years, though, many lives have been saved through the use of defibrillators by random bystanders. As a result, defibrillators have been popping up in various locations. In this work we propose a state mandate demanding the presence of a defibrillator at every pharmacy store and argue that it could greatly enhance and augment the impact of the defibrillator network. We support our claim via detailed calculations of the immediate (a defibrillator readily available) and partial (a defibrillator available at a reasonable distance) population coverage achievable by the implementation of our proposal, taking the Argolis area in Peloponnese Greece as a case study. Our findings indicate that, in addition to other benefits, the use of pharmacies to establish a defibrillator network could bring an eight-fold increase in the immediate population coverage of defibrillators and would provide immediate / partial access to a defibrillator to 18 / 24 incidents of SCA per year that would otherwise lead to death, potentially leading to the saving of numerous lives. Alternative scenaria are also discussed.
Initial Wear of Fixed Diamond Wire Tool –Effect of Slurry Assisted Slicing on Machining Mechanism—
Authors: Moriyama Shinya , Yazawa Takanori , Otsubo Tatsuki , Harada Koichiro
Published: July 2024

In this study, we investigated the effect of adding cerium oxide (CeO2) particles to the cutting fluid on the machining mechanism when slicing sapphire wafers using an electrodeposited diamond wire tool. The results showed that the added CeO2 acted to suppress wire tool deflection and promote initial wear of the nickel plating to rapidly expose the abrasive grains. In addition, elemental analysis of the shed wear particles suggested that they were adsorbed particles of nickel plating and sapphire. It was statistically confirmed that the CeO2 slurry reduced the size of the wear particles. In addition, the machining force was measured, and it was found that the CeO2 slurry reduced the machining force. Based on these results, it is the CeO2 slurry likely changed the wear mode from severe to mild and suppressed the lifting of the tool because smaller wear particle were formed. This suppressed wire tool deflection and stabilized the machining pressure to make the abrasive grains uniformly contact and remove material from the workpiece. Therefore, the number of cutting grains increased and the depth of cut per grain was kept small, which likely resulted in a transition to the crack-free ductile mode.
Effect of Noise on Accuracy of Grain Size Evaluation by Magnetic Barkhausen Noise Analysis
Authors: Omae Kanna , Yamazaki Takahiro , Sano Kohya , Oka Chiemi , Sakurai Junpei , Hata Seiichi
Published: July 2024

Magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN) is a magnetic signal caused by domain wall motion and is used for non-destructive testing and evaluation of ferromagnetic materials because of its sensitivity to both mechanical and magnetic properties. Recently, machine learning models have been employed to evaluate materials based on MBN; however, the application of material evaluation to low-volume targets is challenging because of their low signal-to-noise ratio, which is due to their low volume. Therefore, understanding the influence of the signal-to-noise ratio is important, particularly for low-volume objects. However, very few reports have quantitatively assessed the influence of noise in MBN analysis. In this study, we focused on noise to improve the accuracy of MBN analysis using machine learning, investigated its impact on the prediction accuracy of machine learning models, and explored methods to mitigate its effects. A method for grain size evaluation based on MBN analysis was adopted and performed for Fe-Co alloy wires with different grain sizes. After the measurement of MBN, the relationship between the extracted features from the analysis of MBN by fast Fourier transform and grain size was learned using a gradient boosting decision tree to create a grain size evaluation model, and the coefficient of determination was used to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the grain size evaluation. The machine learning model demonstrated high prediction accuracy (R2 = 0.926) across the entire grain size range. Using the model to assess the effect of signal-to-noise ratio, experiments were also conducted using MBN time-series data with artificially applied Gaussian noise. Additionally, from the insight of the distribution of predicted grain sizes, we confirmed that a noise reduction method by averaging the MBN prediction results can improve the prediction accuracy by reducing the effect of noise as expected. This research will lead to the adoption of MBN applications, which are simple and practical methods of material evaluation, for the micro–nano discipline.
The Role of the Coordination Council on the Issues of Sanitary Protection of the Territories of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States from the Importation and Spread of Particularly Dangerous Infectious Diseases in the Formation of a Unified System for Monitoring and Responding to Emergencies of Sanitary-Epidemiological Nature in the CIS
Authors: Karnaukhov I. G. , Kas’yan Zh. A. , Shcherbakova S. A. , Kutyrev V. V.
Published: July 2024

Ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population is impossible without the development of international cooperation in the field of preventing and responding to biological emergency situations. To date, a unified system of monitoring and prompt response to emergencies in the field of public health of sanitary-epidemiological nature has almost been formed in the space of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). To implement legitimate interaction between the Commonwealth countries, it is necessary to develop a regulatory and methodological framework. For this purpose, the Coordination Council on the issues of sanitary protection of the territories of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States from the importation and spread of particularly dangerous infectious diseases has drawn a number of interstate documents, which were subsequently put into effect in the CIS. The paper presents the activities of the Coordination Council aimed at establishing and maintaining the functioning of a unified system for monitoring and prompt response to emergency situations and developing a regulatory and methodological framework that allows legitimate interaction between the Commonwealth countries.
Genomic Analysis of Vibrio cholerae Strains Isolated in Siberia and the Far East during the Seventh Cholera Pandemic: Determining the Appurtenance to Global Phylogenetic Lines
Authors: Mironova L. V. , Fedotova I. S. , Galach’yants Yu. P. , Ponomareva A. S. , Erdyneev S. V. , Khunkheeva Zh. Yu. , Basov E. A. , Fortunatova A. V. , Balakhonov S. V.
Published: July 2024

The aim was to determine the phylogenetic position and features of the genome organization of individual groups of Vibrio cholerae strains isolated in Siberia and the Far East under different epidemiological situations during the seventh cholera pandemic.

Materials and methods. We examined 275 V. cholerae strains, isolated during epidemic complications and during the cholera-free period in Siberia and the Far East, with different profiles of the main genomic loci of pathogenicity. The genomes of 969 V. cholerae strains from GenBank were used for phylogenetic analysis. The phylogeny reconstruction was carried out through calculating the distances between strains based on the occurrence of k-mers. The search, analysis and visualization of the loci structure in mobile genetic elements in V. cholerae genomes were performed using the blastn and Prokka programs and the author’s R and Python scripts.

Results and discussion. Strains of V. cholerae isolated in Siberia and the Far East have been included in three global phylogenetic lines – L2, L3, L4. The distribution of strains from Siberia and the Far East along phylogenetic lines corresponds to the epidemiological situation in which they were isolated. We have identified the differentiation of strains by groups consistent with the global waves of spread of the etiological agent of the seventh cholera pandemic. We also traced potential paths for the import of the cholera pathogen into the territory of the Russian Federation. It has been revealed that spontaneous mutants that lost cholera toxin genes during storage and cultivation on nutrient media belong to the L2 phylogenetic lineage as well as toxigenic El Tor vibrios. The structural analysis confirms the differences in their genome organization and strains that do not have a CTX prophage during primary PCR screening. We recommend a two-stage algorithm of phylogenetic analysis within the framework of genomic monitoring of cholera agent: the first stage is a simplified assessment based on the occurrence of k-mers for express epidemiological analysis; the second stage is an in-depth analysis of genomes using a complex of phylogenetic methods for the reconstruction of links in individual epidemic complications, to establish patterns of origin and time of divergence of the pathogen clones.
Epidemiological Aspects of the Incidence of West Nile Fever in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2023
Authors: Patyashina M. A. , Sizova E. P. , Avdonina L. G. , Badamshina G. G. , Stavropol’skaya L. V. , Aleshina A. G. , Karpova I. A. , Goncharova A. V. , Nurtdinova A. R. , Antonov A. S.
Published: July 2024

The aim of the work was to study the epidemiological situation on West Nile fever (WNF) in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2023.

Materials and methods. An operational epidemiological analysis of WNF cases registered in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2023 was performed. In order to establish sources and risk factors for infection of the population, 987 samples of zoo-entomological material were examined for the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) markers. A set of laboratory diagnostic methods was used: ELISA, RT-PCR, sequencing.

Results and discussion. It has been established that all cases of WNF were registered in the region in the summer-autumn period of 2023, mainly in August, among residents of the city of Kazan who had not traveled outside the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan over the past six months. The incidence rate of WNF in the Republic of Tatarstan was 0.20 per 100 thousand population, the mortality rate reached 12.5 %. Signs of damage to the central nervous system were present in 6 out of 8 (75 %) patients. The majority of people with severe clinical symptoms belonged to older age groups and had concomitant diseases. Cases of the infection were reported in all age groups, with the exception of children and adolescents. The spatial characteristics of morbidity have been investigated, indicating the diffuse nature of the distribution of cases. The integrated use of methods, consisting in the concurrent use of polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, made it possible to laboratory confirm cases of WNF in patients at different stages of the disease. The circulation of a subvariant of the WNV of the second genotype in the Republic of Tatarstan, currently dominant in the southern and central regions of Russia, has been established. A set of measures has been proposed to optimize epidemiological surveillance and control of WNF in the Republic of Tatarstan.
Comparative Study of Pathomorphological Changes in Animal Lung Tissue when Modeling Infection Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Virus
Authors: Shipovalov A. V. , Kudrov G. A. , Ivleva E. K. , Omigov V. V. , P’yankov O. V. , Taranov O. S.
Published: July 2024

The aim of the work was to study the features of the infectious process in the lungs of animals used as models for assessing SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity.

Materials and methods. The strain of SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant virus was used in the work. The experiments were carried out on linear and transgenic mice, Syrian hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets and two types of primates: rhesus macaques and green monkey. The pathomorphological examination was performed by optical microscopy of histological lung preparations using a computerized microscope with digital microphotography.

Results and discussion. A comparative histological analysis of the lungs in six different types of laboratory animals was carried out when modeling a new coronavirus infection; similar morphometric signs of the severity of the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in sensitive animals were determined, and a dose-dependent correlation of pathological changes in lung tissues with intranasal administration of various infectious doses was revealed. The features of pathomorphological changes in six different animal species in the simulation of a new coronavirus infection have been characterized, and their dose-dependent nature determined. The presented research results can be used to select a model animal for the purpose of in-depth study of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 caused by newly isolated coronavirus variants, the dynamics of immune reactions of the body during the development of the disease, as well as in vivo studies of the protective effect of promising therapeutic drugs and vaccines.
Investigation of Malaria Parasitemia among Asymptomatic Individuals in Designated Districts of Central and Muchinga Provinces of Zambia – A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Loti P. , Nyirenda S. S. , Chisulo F. K. , Chama A. , Singogo M. , Chileshe D. B. , Mwansa J. L.
Published: July 2024

The aim of the study was to investigate asymptomatic malaria in health-conscious population across four selected districts. Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium spp. transmitted through bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Asymptomatic malaria refers to the presence of malaria parasites in vivo without symptoms, which usually provides a reservoir for the disease transmission.

Materials and methods. Blood collected in EDTA underwent testing through RDT (SD Bioline one-step malaria antigen P.f. (HRP-II) rapid test kits), while thin and thick blood smears Giemsa stained were microscopically examined.

Results and discussion. Out of 385 individuals examined, 84 people (21.8 %) tested positive for malaria using RDT and 101/385 (26.2 %) – through microscopy. Microscopic examination further identified 27 individuals (7.0 %) with gametocytes and 74 (19.2 %) – with trophozoites. Intriguingly, 17 (4.4 %) samples showed negative results in RDT but exhibited trophozoites and gametocytes upon smear examination. District-wise analysis demonstrated the highest malaria positivity rate in Kanchibiya district, with 32 cases (8.3 %) detected by RDT and 35 (8.5 %) – through microscopy. Chitambo district followed closely: with RDT and microscopy values of 25 (6.5 %) and 33 (8.4 %), respectively; while Mpika and Serenje districts had 13 (3.4 %) and 14 (3.6 %) prevalence, respectively, with RDT and microscopy at 12 (3.1 %) in both districts [x2 =16.3, p-value=0.0118]. The study also revealed that 365/385 (95 %) of the participants demonstrated knowledge and positive attitudes toward malaria. Our findings accentuate the presence of asymptomatic malaria, encompassing trophozoites and gametocytes, among seemingly healthy individuals which poses a health risk to the community. Therefore, it is imperative to implement preventive chemotherapy and strengthen vector control efforts against malaria in order to reduce the infection rate.
Systems of Phage Resistance in Vibrio cholerae Strains
Authors: Kuratashvili A. Yu. , Plekhanov N. A. , Karpunina L. V. , Zadnova S. P.
Published: July 2024

The aim of the review is to analyze the literature data on systems of resistance to lytic cholera phages in Vibrio cholerae strains. Cholera phages are both present in the water of open reservoirs and isolated together with the pathogen from cholera patients. The mechanisms of molecular protection of V. cholerae from phages are similar to these systems of other bacteria, act at all stages of phage infection and include the following stages: prevention of phage adsorption, degradation of phage nucleic acids and inhibition of the formation of phage particles. Blocking the interaction of a phage with a bacterial cell occurs as a result of modification of receptors and the production of extracellular polysaccharides that create a physical barrier between the phages and the cell surface. If the phage DNA does enter the cells, it is destroyed by restriction-modification enzymes, as well as by the adaptive immune system CRISPR-Cas. The most numerous are the mechanisms for blocking the formation of phage particles in cells. This process occurs with the participation of phage-inducible PLE islands, the BREX bacteriophage exclusion system and abortive Abi infection, including the cyclic oligonucleotide-based anti-phage signaling system (CBASS) and the toxin-antitoxin system. During Abi infection, cells infected with the phage self-destruct and die before mature phage particles are formed, which contributes to the preservation of the V. cholerae population. The molecular mechanisms of a number of anti-phage systems have not yet been fully elucidated, which indicates the need for further study of the phage-host relations.
Oral Vaccines for Prevention of Bacterial Infections: Development Strategies and Prospects
Authors: Svetoch T. E. , Trunyakova A. S. , Dentovskaya S. V.
Published: July 2024

Oral vaccines are drawing more attention due to their ease of administration, lesser invasiveness, and greater safety in general. The review discusses the benefits of oral vaccination in stimulating humoral and cellular immune responses at the systemic and mucosal level to provide expanded and longer-lasting protection. Aspects related to the structure of the intestine and immunological recognition of the antigen during the transformation process after penetration into the intestine are analyzed. Approaches used to improve the effectiveness of oral vaccines are considered. Problems such as instability and lack of effectiveness of oral vaccines are discussed, as well as recent developments of adjuvants and delivery systems based on mineral salts, substances of microbial origin, saponins, polymers, micro- and nanoparticles, liposomes, which have the potential to increase the effectiveness of oral vaccines. A brief analysis of licensed oral vaccines is given and the data on the development of prototype vaccine preparations using modern methods of genetics, molecular biology and immunology, as well as the mechanisms of inducing an immune response are summarized.
Review on the Epizootiological Situation on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Globally and in Russia in 2023
Authors: Vasil’tsova N. N. , Panova A. S. , Petrov V. N. , Danilenko A. V. , Svyatchenko S. V. , Ivanova K. I. , Onkhonova G. S. , Goncharova N. I. , Ryzhikov A. B. , Marchenko V. Yu.
Published: July 2024

The year 2023 saw a challenging epizootiological and epidemiological situation regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza. The virus affected 150 bird species and dozens of mammal species. More than 650 outbreaks were reported in poultry across 29 countries, resulting in the death or destruction of approximately 19 million specimens. There was a high incidence of the influenza among wild birds (approximately 3,000 outbreaks in 65 countries) and mammals (more than 16,000 cases). The majority of outbreaks in wild birds, poultry and mammals were caused by influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses. Many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America experienced the outbreaks throughout the year. For the first time, a polar bear death from A(H5N1) virus was documented. Moreover, molecular markers of virus adaptation to mammals were found in PB2 proteins of 50 % of influenza A(H5N1) viruses that caused the death of animals. During the year 2023, human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses were reported in Cambodia, Chile, China, and the UK. In addition, human infections with A(H3N8), A(H5N6), A(H9N2) and A(H10N5) viruses were reported in China. In Russia in 2023, outbreaks among wild birds and poultry were registered in 25 regions, as well as an outbreak among fur seals in the Sakhalin Region. The stated outbreaks were caused by highly virulent influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b. Hemagglutinin sequences of all Russian viruses analyzed in this study in 2023 were genetically close to the WHO candidate vaccine strains A/Astrakhan/3212/2020 (H5N8), A/chicken/ Ghana/AVL-763_21VIR7050-39/2021 (H5N1) and A/American Wigeon/South Carolina/22-000345-001/2021 (H5N1). All studied A(H5N1) viruses were antigenically similar to the A/Astrakhan/3212/2020 vaccine strain.
Cholera Toxin Production and Localization in Vesicles of Vibrio cholerae El Tor Genovariants
Authors: Alekseeva L. P. , Yakusheva O. A. , Evdokimova V. V. , Meloyan M. G. , Zyuzina V. P.
Published: July 2024

The aim was to assess the level of toxin production in Vibrio cholerae El Tor genovariants and to determine the localization of cholera toxin in vesicles.

Materials and methods. The work is performed on typical strains and genovariants of V. cholerae El Tor, which were grown in AKI liquid nutrient medium and the one prepared according to J. Hyan recipe, providing for high toxin production under aeration conditions. The decontaminated supernatants of the studied strains served as a source for extraction of toxin preparations and membrane vesicles. The localization of cholera toxin inside or on the outer surface of vesicles was determined through polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), immunoblotting, GM1-ELISA, indirect uncompetitive ELISA, cell culture models CHO-K1, HuTu 80.

Results and discussion. Vesicle preparations containing cholera toxin have been isolated from the supernatants of genovariants and typical V. cholerae El Tor with a high level of toxin production. After separation of the vesicles using PAGE, followed by immunoblot with a specific antitoxic serum, it has been found that cholera toxin retains the complete structure, including both subunits. Unlike CT secreted into the culture medium, vesicle-associated one does not bind to both the GM1 receptor of gangliosides sensitized on plates and on the surface of cell cultures, which indicates its absence on the outer surface of vesicles. The location of CT in the cavity of vesicles is also evidenced by their positive reaction with specific antitoxic antibodies after degradation of EDTA. The absence of the toxin on the outer surface of vesicles in typical strains and strains of V. cholerae El Tor genovariants excludes its binding with the GM1 receptor and suggests the possibility of their penetration into target cells via GM-independent pathways. The choice of the pathways by which the vesicle-associated toxin is transferred to host cells is probably determined by the location of the toxin, i.e. it is associated with the internal structures of vesicles or placement on their surface.
Features of Sporulation of the Main Genetic Lines of Bacillus anthracis
Authors: Eremenko E. I. , Ryazanova A. G. , Pechkovsky G. A. , Pisarenko S. V. , Kovalev D. A. , Aksenova L. Yu. , Semenova O. V. , Kulichenko A. N.
Published: July 2024

The aim of the work was to characterize sporulation genes and proteins in Bacillus anthracis strains of major genetic lineages.

Materials and methods. Genome analysis was carried out in silico using the genome of the Ames Ancestor strain as a reference one, 47 B. anthracis strains from the GenBank NCBI database, belonging to the main lineages A, B, C, the genome of the CI strain Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis, 7 strains from the collection of Stavropol Research Anti-Plague Institute of the Rospotrebnadzor, as well as the NCBI Protein Database resource. Identification of polymorphisms was performed in BLASTn, BLASTp, MEGA X, MAUVE, and Tandem Repeat Finder software. Gene and protein sequences were aligned using MEGA X program.

Results and discussion. A comparison of polymorphisms in sporulation proteins and genes of three major genetic lineages has showed that the number of all forms in B. anthracis strains of B, C lineages and Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis exceeds those in strains of lineage A by 4,5–10, 6,8–92 and 160–2078 times, respectively. A larger number of non-synonymous SNPs in sporulation genes with changes in the amino acid composition and function of proteins in B. anthracis strains of the major genetic lines B, C and B. cereus biovar anthracis than in strains of lineage A suggests their limited adaptive capabilities and may be one of the explanations for their lower prevalence as compared to line A.
Modern Challenges to the System of Sanitary Protection of the Russian Federation
Authors: Zubova A. A. , Ivanova A. V. , Safronov V. A. , Treskin A. A. , Skudareva O. N.
Published: July 2024

The current study summarizes and analyzes new challenges to the sanitary protection of the Russian Federation related to the dynamics of the epidemiological situation in the countries of the world and trends in the structure of international passenger traffic.

The aim is to improve approaches to reducing the risks of importation of dangerous infectious diseases based on development of additional criteria for dynamic assessment of epidemiological disadvantage in foreign countries and individualization of risk determination in relation to all in-coming flights.

Materials and methods. The present-day epidemiological situation was analyzed using data from reports and periodicals of WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministries of Health of the countries and scientific publications. Information on the structure of passenger traffic is provided according to the portal of the Unified Interagency Information and Statistical System (pre-pandemic period – 2018, first half of the year 2023). Statistics on transport communication was obtained from the public reports of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and the Federal Air Transport Agency for 2022 and the first half of the year 2023. Information on the results of the sanitary-quarantine control (SQC) is presented according to the data logged in the automated information system “Perimeter”.

Results and discussion. Taking into account the analyzed data in regard to the new threats to the system of sanitary protection of the territory of the Russian Federation, infections in the list of infectious diseases, requiring sanitary protection measures, should be differentiated into two categories based on the criteria of significance for implementation of SQC. A set of criteria, including retrospective analysis of morbidity, the presence of persistent conditions of stable circulation of the pathogen and the possibility of transmission from person to person in case of introduction into the territory of the Russian Federation, has been put forward for the most relevant medium-term assessment of the risk of importation. In addition, the increasing threats and challenges to sanitary protection dictate the need to use advanced information technologies within the framework of sanitary-quarantine control.
Determination of Optimum Refactoring Sequence for Maximizing the Maintainability of Object-Oriented Systems using Machine Learning algorithms
Authors: Tarwani Sandhya , Chug Anuradha
Published: July 2024

Refactoring is the technique of changing internal attributes without affecting the external attributes in an optimized manner. Bad smells lead to various problems in source code that further increase the requirement for refactoring. Initially, in this paper, prioritization of classes is done with the help of newly proposed metric called Quality Decline Factor (QDF), which takes into account an appropriate ratio of software metrics along with eleven types of bad smells detected. Further, bad smells are removed by applying refactoring techniques and change in metrics is observed. Afterwards, Machine learning algorithms are used to assign weights to each of the metrics and another new metric, Total Refactoring Index (TRI) is proposed. TRI takes combination of assigned weights and the effect of change in metrics to determine optimum refactoring sequence. Results show that the Decision Tree Forest algorithm is best suited to determine the refactoring sequence. After applying this technique, it was observed that 94.9% of the efforts were saved. This study would be beneficial for the software maintainers as beforehand sequences will be known. Further, their focus would only be centred on a limited portion of the code that contains more bad smells, hence completing the project within real-time constraints.
Breast cancer related lymphedema in a cohort of Nigerian breast cancer survivors
Authors: Olasehinde Olalekan , Wuraola Funmilola , Bernardo Matteo Di , Knapp Gregory , Omisore Adeleye , Aderounmu Adewale , Oladele Ayodeji , Awe Mercy Omotola , Mohammed Tajudeen , Romanoff Anya , Kingham Peter Thomas , Mango Victoria , Adisa Adewale , Alatise Olusegun
Published: July 2024

Purpose
Breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is a common complication of breast cancer treatment. Despite patients in sub-Saharan Africa being significantly at risk, very limited data exist on the subject in this context. Hence this study.
Methods
A crossectional study of survivors, at least 6 months post-mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Lymphedema was diagnosed using multiple techniques: self-report of arm swelling, arm measurement (≥ 2cm difference from contralateral arm), > 10% difference in extracellular water (ECW) using bioimpedance analysis and a lower threshold of 5% to include patients with subclinical lymphedema. With self-report as the reference, the accuracy of the various diagnostic methods was assessed. The relationship between lymphedema and clinical variables was tested using univariate logistic regression analysis.
Results
Fifty one patients with a median age of 51years and a median duration of 40 months post-surgery (10–62 months) were evaluated. The prevalence of lymphedema was 39.2% based on symptoms, 33% using arm measurements, 22.2% using bioimpedance analysis at a threshold of > 10% difference in ECW and 46.7% at a threshold of 5%. ECW difference of > 5% had the highest sensitivity (65%) while ECW difference at 10% threshold had the highest specificity (89%). Obesity was the only variable associated with lymphedema in this cohort (p = 0.018).
Conclusion
This is the first series on BCRL among survivors using conventional and contemporary detection techniques in the Nigerian context. The high rate reported in this cohort provides a strong justification to preemptively adopt interventions to either mitigate its occurrence or limit its progression.
Alcohol use and associated factors among Adults in Bahir Dar city administration, Amhara, Ethiopia
Authors: Damtie Nega Stotaw , Wondiye Habtamu , Belachew Melash , Stotaw Nega
Published: July 2024

Background: Globally, about 3 million people die every year due to the harmful use of alcohol. Although a strategy designed to reduce the harmful use of alcohol globally, the magnitude of alcohol consumption, especially in developing countries remains high. There is scanty information in Bahir Dar City on the prevalence of alcohol use and associated factors among adults. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol use and associated factors among adults in Bahir Dar city, Amhara, Ethiopia
Method: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted. The study used face-to-face interviews and a multistage sampling technique was used to collect data from 648 adults in Bahir Dar city from October 10-27, 2019. Data were cleaned and analyzed by a statistical package for social science version 23. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors associated with alcohol use and significant predictors were declared at P<0.05.
Result: The prevalence of alcohol use among adults was 16.5% with 95%CI (14%, 19%). In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, being male (AOR=5.19, 95% CI=2.74- 9.83), age 38-47 years (AOR=2.58, 95% CI=1.11-5.97), tobacco use (AOR=5.08, 95%CI=2.80-9.23) and felt a worthless person (AOR=3.50, 95% CI=1.76 - 6.98) were factors significantly associated with alcohol use.
Conclusion: In this study the prevalence of alcohol use was low. Being male, age 38-47 years, only read & write, primary education, unemployed, self-employed, employed, student, income, and tobacco use were significantly associated with alcohol use. The national and regional health bureau should identify intervention strategies for the above-mentioned factors to reduce the harmful effect of alcohol use.
Preparation of Ca-Mg double-doped mesoporous silica nanoparticles and their drug-loading and drug-releasing properties
Authors: Zhang Qian , Huang Jiamin , Liu Chao , Chen Ruihua , Tang Xiaohui , Wang Mei
Published: July 2024

Objective: To prepare Doxorubicin-loaded Ca-Mg double-doped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Ca-Mg@SiO2@DOX) and examine their properties.
Methods: Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and Ca-Mg@SiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal method and evaluated for particle size, zeta potential, morphology, and elemental distribution. SiO2@DOX nanoparticles and Ca-Mg@SiO2@DOX nanoparticles were prepared by electrostatic adsorption to investigate their properties, such as particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, stability, release degree, biosafety, and in vitro antitumor property.
Results: MSNs and SiO2@DOX nanoparticles were successfully prepared with a particle size of about 200-300 nm and negatively charged; the MSNs and SiO2@DOX nanoparticles were regular spherical, and the Ca and Mg doped nanoparticles showed irregular spherical shape, and mapping measured the Ca and Mg elements contains were 2.92% and 1.19% respectively. SiO2@DOX nanoparticles and Ca-Mg@SiO2@DOX nanoparticles were successfully prepared with a particle size of about 300-400 nm, also negatively charged, encapsulation efficiency of about 90%, and a drug loading efficiency of 10%, with a slower release compared to DOX of solution. The release of Ca-Mg@SiO2@DOX nanoparticles was faster in an acid condition. All samples’ hemolysis efficiency was less than 5%. Cellular toxicity showed that SiO2@DOX nanoparticles and Ca-Mg@SiO2@DOX nanoparticles are toxic to lower than free DOX. Living and dead cell staining experiments showed similar situations. Cell uptake showed that cell uptake is higher compared with free DOX Ca-Mg@SiO2@DOX nanoparticles.
Conclusion: We successfully prepared Ca-Mg@SiO2@DOX nanoparticles, which have a suitable particle size, zeta potential, and stability, which are released faster in acid conditions, which can reduce the toxicity of DOX, boost cell uptake, and have good antitumor properties.
Treatment Outcome of Community Acquired Pneumonia among Pediatric Patients Admitted to Pediatrics Wards at University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross sectional study
Authors: Tadege Eshete , Hayelom Hiluf Maldey , Adugna Boressa , Birhan Nigussie , Asmamaw Kifle
Published: July 2024

Background
Pneumonia claims the lives of more children around the world than any other infectious disease. Community-acquired pneumonia remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
Objective
The objective of this study was to determine treatment outcome of community acquired pneumonia among pediatric patients.
Method
A Cross sectional study was conducted from March 30, 2019 to June 30, 2019 and included patients who were admitted to pediatrics wards from September 1, 2015 to March 30, 2019. The study included pediatric age groups between one month and fifteen years old. Study Participants were selected based on the diagnosis of Community acquired pneumonia. Systematic random sampling technique was used. All the statistical data were carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 20) and descriptive statistics were presented using means with standard deviation and percentages. Binary logistic regression model was fitted to measure the association between independent and dependent variables including duration of signs and symptoms. 95% Confidence interval was used. Statistically significant at P < 0.05.
Results
A total of 385 patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia were included in this study of whom 368(95.65%) were discharged and 17(4.4%) of patients were dead. Drug therapy change (AOR 20.308(3.666-112.501), P = 0.001), Prescribing and taking of large number of drugs (above 5 drugs) (AOR 0.067, CI (0.015–0.313), P = 0.001), Loss of appetite (AOR 38.641, CI (5.454-273.769), P = 0.000), and Blood transfusion (AOR 10.514, CI (1.752–63.113), P = 0.01) have significant association with the treatment outcome of death.
Conclusion and recommendation:
Drug therapy change, taking large number of drugs, Loss of appetite and Blood transfusion, were significantly associated with increased mortality of children with pneumonia. Optimal duration of drug therapy and prescribing and providing of different classes of drugs can prevent childhood mortality from community acquired pneumonia.
Deep Learning for Traffic Prediction and Trend Deviation Identification: A Case Study in Hong Kong
Authors: Zou Xiexin , Chung Edward , Ye Hongbo , Zhang Haolin
Published: July 2024

This paper presents a robust method for predicting traffic volume and speed on major strategy routes in Hong Kong, leveraging data from data.gov.hk and employing deep learning models. The proposed approach provides future predictions ranging from 6 minutes to one hour, considering the reliability of traffic detectors. The method involves extracting hidden deep features from the historical data of each detector to derive the detector profile. Subsequently, detectors are grouped into clusters based on the similarity of their profiles. A CNN-LSTM prediction model is provided for each cluster. The proposed approach demonstrates its resilience to detector failures. Various tests evaluating prediction performance across detector failure rates ranging from 1% to 20% validate its capability to deliver accurate predictions despite the presence of failed detectors. Without failed detectors, MAE, RMSE, and MAPE for traffic volume prediction for the next 6 minutes are 5.17 vehicles/6 minutes, 7.64 vehicles/6 minutes, and 14.07%, respectively. For traffic speed prediction are 3.70 km/h, 6.32 km/h, and 6.33%. Considering a failure rate of approximately 6% in the Hong Kong dataset, when 6% of the detectors failed, the MAE, RMSE, and MAPE for traffic volume prediction are 5.24 vehicles/6 minutes, 7.81 vehicles/6 minutes, and 14.21%, respectively. The corresponding values for traffic speed prediction are 3.87 km/h, 6.55 km/h, and 6.68%. However, the limitation of the proposed method is its potential to underperform when predicting rare or unseen scenarios, indicating the need for future research to incorporate additional data sources and methods to enhance predictive performance.
Histopathology Based Study of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) Fish Species as a Biomarker for Water Pollution Evaluation in the Southern Gulf of Lake Tana, Ethiopia
Authors: Getnet Mengesha Ayehu , Mekonnen Muluken Yayeh , Yimam Hailu Mazengia , Berihun Asnakew Mulaw , Malede Birhan Anagaw
Published: July 2024

In the past decade, the increasing distribution of pollutants in the aquatic environment have been observed and causing an integrative effects on the fishes. Likewise, due to anthropogenic activities southern gulf of Lake Tana is an impacted region and the production of Nile tilapia fishes is reduced. For this reason, the aim of this study was to conduct a histopathological based study of simple randomly sampled 48 Nile tilapia fishes’ health status at the southern gulf of lake-tana and aquaculture using a cross-sectional study from February 2023 to May 2023. The study evaluated the histopathology of gill, liver, gonads and spleen organs using a descriptive statistics accompanied with 2 x 2 contingency table and t-test analysis. During the study peroid different histological alterations were detected and the numbers of fishes affected by a specific histological alteration were presented as percentage prevalence, hence from the total fishes examined; hyperplasia (54.15%) followed by pigment deposits (52%), haemorhage (50%) and immune cell infiltration (50%) respectively, were the most frequently detected alterations, hoewever, Nile tilapias from the southern gulf of lake-Tana were 1.4 (odds ratio) times more likely showed histopathological alterations than those from the aquaculture although statistically, was not significant (p > 0.05). In addition, the study found, mean value of fish index (95.3) and regressive indices of gill (13.6), liver (14.8) and gonad (12.3); moreover, inflammatory indices of spleen organ (11.3) and mean severity grade value of gill (2.35) and gonad (1.7) organs respectively, were values obtained from the southern gulf of lake Tana and all those values were significantly higher (p < 0.05) from this site as compared to the aquaculture. In general, it has found tilapias from southern gulf of lake-Tana were showed higher pathological severity as compared with the aquarium. Among the four target organs evaluated, liver organs were observed the most damaged while gonads were the least impacted organs. Therefore, it has concluded that tilapia fishes are living under abnormal condition so to ensure sustainable fishery, water pollutant sources from Bahirdar city must receive proper attention and future studies should consider age differences, seasonal variation and detection of specific pollutants.
Temporal and spatial variations of urban surface temperature and correlation study of influencing factors
Authors: Ding Lei , Xiao Xiao , Wang Haitao
Published: July 2024

Current studies on the effect of urban form on land surface temperature (LST) are mostly conducted from the daytime and 2D morphological perspectives, with less attention paid to the vertical structure of urban areas and their seasonal and diurnal variations, which have a significant impact on heat redistribution. In our study, we selected the spatial scale of urban neighbourhoods and calculated six 3D building form factors, and used the Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) to quantify the effects of 3D building form on LST production captured by Landsat thermal sensors between seasons and Day/Night. The results show that MH, BD, and FAR are seasonal stabilising factors, with MH having the strongest cooling effect on LST, with a four-season average of 2.1°C and a diurnal difference in its effect on LST. There is a strong positive correlation between BD and LST during the daytime, and the strongest heating effect is in autumn, up to 3.5°C. BVD, GFA, and SVF are seasonal variation factors, with GFA and SVF having a cooling effect in all seasons except spring, and BVD having a slight cooling effect in autumn. These results will provide a reference for future urban planning and mitigation of urban heat island effect.