bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time to HIV viral rebound and frequency of post-treatment control after analytical interruption of antiretroviral therapy: An individual data-based meta-analysis of 24 prospective studies
Authors: Gunst Jesper , Gohil Jesal , Li Jonathan , Bosch Ronald , White Andrea , Seamon Catherine , Chun Tae-Wook , Mothe Beatriz , Gittens Kathleen , Praiss Lauren , De Scheerder Marie-Angélique , Vandekerckhove Linos , Escandón Kevin , Thorkelson Ann , Schacker Timothy , SenGupta Devi , Brander Christian , Papasavvas Emmanouil , Montaner Luis , Martinez-Picado Javier , Calin Ruxandra , Castagna Antonella , Muccini Camilla , Jong Wesley , Leal Lorna , Garcia Felipe , Gruters Rob , Tipoe Timothy , Frater John , Søgaard Ole , Fidler Sarah
Published: September 2024

Background: There is a global need to explore novel interventions conferring sustained HIV control without antiretroviral therapy (ART). The only current strategy to test efficacy is through an analytical treatment interruption (ATI). Inclusion of ‘placebo’ controls in future clinical trials poses ethical, logistical, and economic challenges and might be unnecessary if sufficient up-to-date data exists from non-intervention cohorts of people with HIV (PWH) who stop ART. To understand viral rebound dynamics and rates of post-treatment HIV control in the absence of any intervention, we undertook an individual participant data meta-analysis on time to viral rebound after ATI.
Methods: We included individual-level data from clinical studies with >5 separate available plasma HIV RNA viral load (pVL) measurements within the first 84 days post-ATI in PWH receiving either placebo or no intervention. Eligible prospective studies were identified through literature search on PubMed. Early-ART was defined as ART initiation within 6 months of HIV acquisition; others were classified as late-ART or unknown.
Results: In total, 24 studies published between 2000-2024 with 382 individuals were included. Median participant age was 42 years, 91% male, 75% white, 45% received early-ART. Median time to pVL >50, >400, and >10,000 copies/mL was 16 days (interquartile range [IQR]:13–25), 21 (IQR:15–28), and 32 (IQR:20–35), respectively. Post-treatment control defined as pVL <50 copies/mL at day 84 occurred in 4% (n=14) of participants (6% for early-ART and 1% for late-ART). Multivariable analysis identified at late ART initiation as an independent risk factor for earlier VL rebound (hazard ratio [HR] 1.25, P=0.005).
Conclusion: Sustained control of pVL <50 copies/ml after 84 days off ART is rare in PWH who stop therapy, especially in those starting ART late. When designing future interventional HIV cure/remission trials, these findings help inform study size and design, potentially removing the need for a placebo arm thereby minimizing unnecessary risks to participants and their partners, while optimising resources.
Chess Games as a Method for File Encryption and Storage
Authors: Ahmed Md Shaheer , MaryAnkitha P , Anitha P U , Raju M Rama , Kumar BV Pranay
Published: September 2024

This paper introduces a novel approach to file encryption using chess games as a medium for encoding and storing digital information. By assigning binary values to legal chess moves, files are transformed into sequences of chess games that can be reconstructed to retrieve the original data. This method leverages the complexity of chess gameplay to create a form of steganography, making the encoded data less detectable. While the system offers a unique solution for secure, low-bandwidth communication, it faces practical limitations regarding speed and scalability for larger files. The study evaluates the performance, encryption efficiency, and security aspects of this technique, offering insights into potential applications and areas for further development.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices towards Dengue Fever among University Students in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Usmani Nasimul Ghani , Chandra Pradip , Hassan Tamanna , Debnath Sourav Chandra , Munmun Sunjida , Amin Md. Bony , Pial Sirajul Islam , Miah Md. Asaduzzaman , Hasanuzzaman Md. , Rahman Md. Hafizur , Hassan Md. Nazmul
Published: September 2024

Background Inadequate knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) on dengue fever (DF) can substantially affect vulnerable people like Bangladeshi university students because of their living status. However, it has never been explored. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the level of KAP regarding DF among university students of Bangladesh.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2023 to January 2024 among 671 university students through convenient sampling. All statistical analysis was performed at 0.05 α level and Hosmer-Lemeshow test was checked to certain the Goodness of fit of the logistic regression models.Results 30.4% of university students had good knowledge on DF and 35.9% had good practice on DF in spite of having higher attitude level (72.28%). Knowledge (aOR:1.7, 95%CI: 1.2–2.5) and attitude (aOR:1.7, 95%CI: 1.2–2.5) were positively associated among participants who had dengue related subjects. Participants who faced dengue cases among their family members (aOR:1.7, 95%CI: 1.2–2.4) had significant level of preventive practices.Conclusions Overall knowledge and practice level were poor among university students. Awareness regarding dengue fever should be created among university students. In addition, knowledge and attitude should be converted to preventive practices among these vulnerable groups.
Community-based monitoring reveals the impacts of the permanent river drought imposed by the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant at Volta Grande do Xingu, Amazonia
Authors: Juruna Josiel Jacinto Pereira , Silva Raimundo da Cruz e , Reis Orcylene Barbosa dos , Assunção Amildon Moura , Silva Anderson Sampaio da , Silva Helio Bezerra da , Juruna Jailson Jacinto Pereira , Nunes Josimary Abreu , Kleme Micaele Souza Santos , Ferreira Paulo Passos , Juruna Ronald Txakui Viana da Silva , Santos Rosilene Sousa dos , Lima Sara Rodrigues , Lima Sebastião Bezerra , Pereira Tarukawa Juruna da Cruz , Quaresma Adriano , de Queiroz Alexya Cunha , Sawakuchi André Oliveira , Ribas Camila Cherem , Ritter Camila Duarte , Carneiro Cristiane Costa , De Paula Eder Mileno Silva , Zuquim Gabriela , Wahnfried Ingo , de Jesus Jandessa Silva , Muriel-Cunha Janice , Zuanon Jansen , Pezzuti Juarez Carlos Brito , de Medeiros Marksuel Sandro Silva , Lopes Priscila F. M. , Mantovanelli Thais Regina
Published: September 2024

Hydroelectric dams, once seen as clean and renewable energy sources, have been the subject of extensive research, particularly concerning their socio-environmental impacts. The Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) relies on the operation of two dams, diverting water from a 130 km stretch of the Xingu River to generate energy, disrupting the natural flooding cycle along the Volta Grande do Xingu (VGX) and creating a riverine hydrological condition equivalent to a prolonged extreme dry season in the watershed. Before the Belo Monte HPP, local communities relied on the predictability of the seasonally flooded forest and the synchrony of the reproductive cycle of a highly diverse fish assemblage. VGX residents observed the transformation firsthand, noting the water discharge shortage that critically undermined the river's capacity to sustain vital ecosystem processes that support local people's lives. The Belo Monte HPP environmental licensing process ignored the vital link between the river's flood pulse, the aquatic and seasonally flooded ecosystems, and the traditional lifestyles of VGX residents. The local communities reacted and sought partnerships, establishing the Independent Territorial Environmental Monitoring Program (MATI-VGX). Data acquired by the MATI-VGX evidenced the drastic transformations of traditional lifestyles, shifts in fishing practices, and a significant decline in fishing yield, jeopardizing food sovereignty and security. Here we present evidence of hydrological-induced disruptions in ecological cycles along the VGX, which are intrinsically connected to the modes of life of local populations. To ensure the ecological sustainability of the VGX, the Belo Monte HPP operation must change to support key spawning areas, maintain water quality, avoid short-term water discharge fluctuations, and emulate natural interannual discharge variability, mitigating the flood pulse disruption. Local ecological knowledge should never be ignored in projects where local communities are the most affected. These communities should be central in decision-making regarding socio-environmental impact assessment, mitigation, and monitoring.
Investigation of novel regulatory mechanisms of TRIM29 in BC, GC, and CRC patients: systems biology approach to find novel non-coding interactions
Authors: Sharifi Nafiseh , Delgoshae Ghazal , Palomi Behnaz Saeidi , Parvaz Pooria , Khezrian Danial , Esfahani Niloofar Nasr , Ebrahimi Helia , Dehghan Erfan , Shirdeli Sayedeh Zahra , Rezaei Mohammad , Azadeh Mansoureh
Published: September 2024

Background
The rising cancer mortality and increasing incidence demand further investigation, particularly for breast cancer (BC), the leading cause of cancer deaths in women, gastric cancer (GC), among the top five global cancers, and colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common in men and second in women. Numerous studies have shown that mRNAs and lncRNAs play key roles in cancer regulation. Dysregulation of lncRNAs like NORAD, MIR497-HG, and the TRIM29 gene has been reported in various cancers. This research aimed to explore their potential as biomarkers and tumor suppressors in BC, GC, and CRC.
Methods
High-throughput gene expression analysis was conducted using R Studio (v4.4.1) with datasets GSE134359, GSE54129, and GSE81558 from GEO. Data normalization and visualization were done with gplots, ggplot2, factoextra, reshape2, EnhancedVolcano, VennDiagram, and pheatmap gplots. PPI networks were sourced from STRING, and pathway enrichment was analyzed via Enrichr and Reactome. Gene ontology and expression analysis were performed using Enrichr and ENCORI, while GEPIA2 was used for correlation and survival analysis. Data visualization was done through NetworkAnalyst and R Studio. qRT-PCR validated the findings in BC, GC, and CRC samples, with data analyzed via the ddCt method using GraphPad Prism (v10.3.1).
Results
Bioinformatics and qRT-PCR analyses revealed TRIM29 was downregulated in BC and upregulated in CRC, but It reduced in GC despite microarray data suggesting otherwise. TRIM29 showed significant interaction with hsa-miRNA-3940-5p. MIR497-HG expression was notably reduced in BC, GC, and CRC across both microarray and qRT-PCR. It also exhibited strong links with MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, and MUC5B. While ENCORI indicated a slight decrease in NORAD expression in BC, qRT-PCR results were not significant. However, NORAD was significantly upregulated in GC and CRC, interacting with key cancer-related genes like MUC4, MUC2, MUC16, MUC3A, and MUC5AC.
Conclusion
Our findings highlight TRIM29's significant involvement in interferon gamma signaling and Interferon Signaling pathways, where dysregulation can contribute to tumorigenic processes cancer in BC, GC, and CRC. MIR497-HG and NORAD seem to interact with mRNAs and indirectly contribute to signaling pathways that impact tumorigenesis in these cancers. TRIM29, NORAD, and MIR497-HG are potential diagnostic biomarkers in GC and CRC. However, for BC just TRIM29 and MIR497-HG Show diagnostic significance. Our study found strong positive correlations between TRIM29 and the lncRNAs MIR497-HG and NORAD in BC, GC, CRC. The robust associations, particularly between TRIM29 and MIR497-HG in BC and GC, suggest that these interactions may play a role in tumorigenesis.
Optimizing Text Summarization with Reinforcement Learning from Propagation Feedback Using Large Language Models
Authors: Andersen Nejey , Fitzpatrick Connor , Muller Anselm , Kovacs Stefan , Desai Rajiv
Published: September 2024

Automated text summarization is increasingly crucial due to the vast amounts of information generated daily across various domains, necessitating the development of models that can produce concise and coherent summaries. The integration of reinforcement learning with an enhanced Mistral LLM introduces a novel approach that dynamically refines summarization tasks through iterative feedback, resulting in improved quality and relevance. The proposed model utilizes architectural modifications, including multi-head attention and gated mechanisms, alongside a propagation feedback mechanism within the reinforcement learning framework, to optimize the generation of summaries. Experimental results reveal that the enhanced model surpasses traditional and contemporary baselines in key evaluation metrics such as ROUGE, BLEU, and METEOR scores, indicating a higher degree of fluency, coherence, and informativeness. The qualitative assessment further corroborates the model's ability to generate human-like summaries, making it a valuable tool for applications requiring the distillation of large volumes of text into essential information. Additionally, the research provides insights into the potential use of reinforcement learning for enhancing LLMs in various text generation tasks, demonstrating significant implications for future advancements in text summarization and related areas.
Elevated eosinophils predict acute exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Authors: burghli Shadi , Bardan Hussam Al
Published: September 2024

Background: This research aims to determine the prevalence of blood eosinophilia in patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and its association with the severity of the exacerbation.
Methods and materials: The study included 105 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD admitted to Aleppo University Hospital during the period from 1/3/2023 to 1/3/2024, 29 patients had eosinophilia at admission and 76 patients did not have eosinophilia at admission. The prevalence of comorbidities was compared between these two groups and the inflammatory activity accompanying the exacerbation in each of them was studied through clinical and laboratory indicators which are associated with the severity of the exacerbation, using appropriate statistical tests such as the Independent Sample T Test and Chi square, and through the SPSS-26 program.
Results: The prevalence of blood eosinophilia in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD at admission was 27.6%. Patients with no eosinophilia were characterized by higher mean values of leukocyte count, neutrophils, ESR, and CRP (higher mean values of which correlate with severity of the exacerbation) and lower mean value of platelets (lower mean values of which correlate with severity of the exacerbation), as well as the incidence of acute respiratory failure, the need for non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation, the mean of length of stay in hospital and mortality were greater in this group compared to who do not have eosinophilia.
Conclusions: Blood eosinophilia is quite common (27.6%) in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, and patients who have eosinophilia at admission have less exacerbation severity clinically and laboratory compared to patients who do not have eosinophilia.
Safeguarding Prompt Robustness: Evaluating Protection Methods Against Adversarial Text Generation in Large Language Models
Authors: Kaczmarek Samaiyae , Buren Felix van , Petros Konstantinos
Published: September 2024

The increasing sophistication of adversarial attacks on text generation models has raised significant concerns regarding the security and reliability of automated text generation systems. Addressing this challenge, the research introduces a novel framework that combines multiple protection methods to enhance the robustness of prompt security against a wide range of adversarial strategies. The proposed multi-layered defense system integrates input filtering, model fine-tuning, reinforcement learning, and other techniques to create a comprehensive approach that can dynamically adapt to different types of adversarial attacks, effectively mitigating their impact while preserving the quality of generated responses. The empirical evaluation, which encompassed various adversarial scenarios, demonstrated the combined framework's superior performance over individual protection methods, highlighting its ability to significantly reduce the success rate of attacks while maintaining high levels of coherence and relevance in the outputs. The study's contributions lie in its demonstration of how leveraging the complementary strengths of diverse protective mechanisms can lead to a more resilient and adaptable defense system, offering valuable insights into the development of secure and reliable text generation models.
Potenciais interações medicamentosas graves quanto à frequência, tipo e fatores associados em pacientes admitidos em um hospital geral
Authors: Monte Sueli , Saldanha Valdjane , Martins Rand , Diniz Rodrigo
Published: September 2024

Caracterizar as potenciais interações medicamentosas graves (IMP’s) quanto à prevalência, tipo e fatores associados em pacientes admitidos em um hospital geral. Corte transversal de um estudo prospectivo e longitudinal conduzido em um hospital geral, no período de dois anos, para o qual foram coletadas variáveis relacionadas aos pacientes, clínica da internação, número de internações e classe farmacológica dos medicamentos prescritos. Foram incluídos pacientes internados em dois dias previamente aleatorizados na semana, com idade ≥18 anos, sob uso de pelo menos um medicamento e com mínimo 24 horas de internação. Foram avaliadas 1.403 prescrições e dos 11.280 medicamentos prescritos, 1.173 (10,4%) estavam relacionados com IMP do tipo D e 333 (3%) do tipo X. Após análise por regressão logística, encontrou-se possível relação entre ocorrência de IMP com a especialidade na qual o paciente foi internado: a cardiologia (2,60 [OR]; p < 0,01) e cirurgia vascular (2,36 [OR]; p = 0,05) foram as clínicas que apresentaram maior risco. Por último, foi encontrado um total de 1.499 pares de IMP’s (D e X). Aproximadamente 50% dos pacientes internados apresentaram alguma IMP, com uma correlação maior às especialidades da cardiologia e cirurgia vascular.
Micorremediação de efluente do processamento da mandioca em batelada dispersa
Authors: Marinho Glória Maria , Chaves Aguiar Barbosa Barbara , De Araújo Rodrigues Pessoa Kelly , Barros Silveira Brasil Renata
Published: September 2024

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a capacidade remoção de matéria orgânica e de cianeto pelo fungo filamentoso Aspergillus niger AN 400 em reatores operados em bateladas. O experimento foi conduzido em duas etapas: I - teste de toxicidade; etapa II - operação com reatores com biomassa dispersa e variação de condições operacionais. Durante a segunda etapa foram realizadas as análises de demanda química de oxigênio - DQO, potencial hidrogeniônico e cianeto. A espécie fúngica Aspergillus niger AN 400 foi capaz de crescer em todas as concentrações de manipueira testadas no teste de toxicidade. Na etapa II a melhor remoção de DQO foi de 91% nos reatores RFN, que continham suplementação de nitrogênio. Já para remoção de cianeto, o maior percentual foi obtido nos RFS (96,75%), em 168 h de operação, reatores com adição de sacarose. Os resultados indicaram que Aspergillus niger AN 400 conseguiu crescer em todas as concentrações de manipueira e que a concentração de cianeto e de DQO do efluente final estão de acordo com os limites requeridos pela legislação brasileira para lançamento.
Percepções de moradores de comunidades rurais sobre o celular: um olhar bioecológico sobre a ecologia algorítmica
Authors: Bitencourt Ricardo Barbosa , Amorim Ricardo José Rocha , Amorim Dinani Gomes
Published: September 2024

A expansão do acesso à internet ganhou força nos últimos anos, inclusive em áreas não urbanas. Esse acesso vem sendo incorporado ao cotidiano e ocupando espaços em contextos que anteriormente eram reservados para atividades mais coletivas ou de integração com o espaço onde se vive. Embora mudanças no cotidiano após a inclusão tecnológica sejam esperadas, o fato de o celular concentrar múltiplas funções rompe a ideia de utilização de um dispositivo para um fim específico, impactando, dessa forma, as rotinas pessoais, comunitárias e profissionais de seus usuários. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar uma análise a partir da teoria bioecológica de Urie Bronfenbrenner sobre as percepções dos moradores de duas comunidades rurais, destacando a influência do uso ou da presença do telefone celular e da internet. Participaram da pesquisa 24 pessoas (22 usuários de telefone e 2 não) escolhidas através da metodologia de amostragem Snowball. O trabalho aponta diferenças nos resultados de inserções tecnológicas anteriores, como antenas rurais e orelhões, no cotidiano das pessoas, ao passo que demonstra o caráter ambíguo sobre o papel desses recursos que, ao mesmo tempo que facilitam o cotidiano e aproximam as pessoas, prejudicam as relações e deixam seus usuários vulneráveis a adoecimentos causados pelo uso abusivo dos equipamentos.
Flux-tunable Kitaev chain in a quantum dot array
Authors: Torres Luna Juan Daniel , Bozkurt A. Mert , Wimmer Michael , Liu Chun-Xiao
Published: September 2024

Connecting quantum dots through Andreev bound states in a semiconductor-superconductor hybrid provides a platform to create a Kitaev chain. Interestingly, in a double quantum dot, a pair of poor man’s Majorana zero modes can emerge when the system is fine-tuned to a sweet spot, where superconducting and normal couplings are equal in magnitude. Control of the Andreev bound states is crucial for achieving this, usually implemented by varying its chemical potential. In this work, we propose using Andreev bound states in a short Josephson junction to mediate both types of couplings, with the ratio tunable by the phase difference across the junction. Now a minimal Kitaev chain can be easily tuned into the strong coupling regime by varying the phase and junction asymmetry, even without changing the dot-hybrid coupling strength. Furthermore, we identify an optimal sweet spot at \piπ phase, enhancing the excitation gap and robustness against phase fluctuations. Our proposal introduces a new device platform and a new tuning method for realizing quantum-dot-based Kitaev chains.
HYDROPHILIC MATRIX TABLETS AS ORAL CONTROLLED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN 20TH CENTURY: A REVIEW
Authors:   Department of Pharmaceutics, CMR College of Pharmacy, Medchal, Hyderabad, Telangana., Rama Rao Tadikonda
Published: September 2024

Matrix systems are easy to formulate compared to other controlled release dosage forms. The manufacture of matrix tablets involves the direct compression of blend of drug, retardant material and additives to form a tablet in which drug is embedded in a matrix core of the retardant. Alternatively, retardant-drug blends may be granulated prior to compression. Of the three classes of retardant material used to formulate matrix tablets, polymers that form hydrophilic matrices are attracting the attention of pharmaceutical technologists. These polymers include Methyl cellulose (MC), Hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC), Hydroxy popyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (NaCMC), carbomers, chitosan, plant gums etc. The hydrophilic matrix-formers alone or in combination with other excipients form gels in situ on coming in contact with biological fluids which control the drug release. The present review gives a detailed account on the factors to be considered in the design of hydrophilic matrix systems, formulation of hydrophilic matrix tablets, in vitro and in vivo evaluation methods and advances in the design of hydrophilic matrix tablets. This review further focuses on the development of oral controlled drug delivery systems using hydrophilic matrix carriers in 20th century.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INSULIN VARIETIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY: A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Authors: K. Aldosari Mohammed , N. Aldajani Faten , F. Alotaibi Hadyah
Published: September 2024

Obesity remains a critical global health issue, closely intertwined with metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of obesity continues to surge, and the need for effective strategies to manage both obesity and its associated comorbidities has become increasingly pressing. Traditionally, insulin therapy has been associated with weight gain, posing additional challenges for obese individuals with diabetes. However, recent advancements in insulin formulations, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists and amylin agonists, have opened new pathways for dual managing obesity and glycemic control. This systematic review examines the relationship between insulin formulations and obesity control, focusing on injectable medications such as VictozaÂ®, SaxendaÂ®, OzempicÂ®, and MounjaroÂ®. These drugs belong to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class and have shown significant promise in promoting weight loss, enhancing glycemic control, and managing obesity-related comorbidities. Additionally, the overall effectiveness of these treatments is incorporated in a meta-analysis of relevant clinical trials in the management of obesity.
ASSESSING THE ROLE OF EARLY CLINICAL EXPOSURE IN ANATOMY: A PERCEPTION AND FEEDBACK
Authors:   Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Sitapur., Yadav Swati , Pandey Priyanka ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Sitapur., Pasricha Navbir ,   Professor (Junior grade), Department of Anatomy, Dr.RamManoharLohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow., Bhatnagar Rajan ,   Professor & Head, Department of Anatomy, Dr.RamManoharLohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
Published: September 2024

Introduction: As students enter, they start learning three basic science topics namely Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry. Exposing the students to clinical cases as early as first year assists the student to learn relevant anatomy and its importance to medical diagnosis. So the challenge is to include such a method in medical education that would enhance the clinical education quality and one such method is Early Clinical Exposure (ECE). Early Clinical Exposure (ECE) is nothing but preparing the first year MBBS students to meet and learn from the patients. Methodology: Online case based lectures on the 2 topics of ECE were taken for phase I MBBS students of 2019-20 batch in Dr. Ram ManoharLohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. Zoom Pro Platform was used after getting approval from Institutional Ethics Committee. For these sessions MCQ based pre and post test was designed to assess the effectiveness of case based approach rather than traditional way of teaching clinical anatomy and their feedback for the ECE was taken voluntarily on 5-pointlikert scale. Total 100 students participated in the study and the mean score of pre and post test was tabulated. Paired T Test was used to calculate the level of significance between pre and posttest of both the sessions. Results: Analysis shows significance difference between pretest and post test scores of the students in both ECE I And ECE II (p-value 0.000). Satisfaction Index was 86% . Conclusion: Early Clinical Exposure may be an effective technique to supplement the traditional teaching and improve the performance, knowledge and motivation due to better comprehension and correlation.
NEURAL NETWORKS AND DEEP LEARNING: ENHANCING AI THROUGH NEURAL NETWORK OPTIMIZATION
Authors: Mehrotra Ravi
Published: September 2024

Neural networks and deep learning have profoundly impacted artificial intelligence (AI), driving advancements across numerous applications. However, optimizing these networks remains a critical challenge, necessitating sophisticated techniques and methodologies. This article explores the state-of-the-art in neural network optimization, delving into advanced gradient descent variants, regularization methods, learning rate schedulers, batch normalization, and cutting-edge architectures. We discuss their theoretical underpinnings, implementation complexities, and empirical results, providing insights into how these optimization strategies contribute to the development of high-performance AI systems. Case studies in image classification and natural language processing illustrate practical applications and outcomes. The article concludes with an examination of current challenges and future directions in neural network optimization, emphasizing the need for scalable, interpretable, and robust solutions.
Inteligência artificial: Vigiexcelência, uma estratégia desenvolvida durante a pandemia de Covid-19
Authors: Ramos Eliza Miranda , Carvalho Alexandra Maria Almeida
Published: September 2024

Objetivo: Descrever o processo de desenvolvimento de uma IA com o uso de Machine Learning para a tomada de decisões relacionadas ao Covid-19. Metodologia: Este estudo quantitativo, descritivo e exploratório utilizou dados secundários de domínio público dos sistemas da rede SUS, coletados na plataforma OpenDataSUS e na rede municipal de saúde. O objetivo foi descrever o processo de desenvolvimento de uma IA chamada VIGIEXCELÊNCIA com o uso de Machine Learning para tomada de decisão rápida em resposta à Covid-19. Resultado: Pelo meio do uso do machine learning o algoritmo foi capaz de realizar avaliações e fornecer respostas rápidas com base em modelos preditivos. Conclusão: O uso de IA na vigilância epidemiológica melhora a prestação de serviço de saúde.
Children and the Risk Society in Algeria: The COVID-19 Pandemic as a Model
Authors: Naima Zidan
Published: September 2024

This study aims to describe and analyze the trajectory of children in a society exposed to risks, using the COVID-19 pandemic as an example. Due to concerns over virus transmission, the Algerian government, like many others worldwide, has enforced quarantine and home confinement policies. The aim was to prevent the spread of the virus and reduce the number of victims. As a preventive measure, schools were closed from March 12, 2020. The government also imposed partial or total containment measures depending on the severity of the situation in each region. This situation forced people, including children, to stay at home, even though it was not always safe for them. The lockdown has caused significant changes to children's daily routines. Their education, activities, free time and social relationships have been profoundly affected. These upheavals have had repercussions on their psychological, mental and social well-being.
Dynamic monitoring of open-surface water bodies in the middle reaches of the Tarim River based on the GEE cloud platform
Authors: Wu Jie , Gao Fan , Xu Hailiang , He Bing , Liu Kun
Published: September 2024

This study innovatively utilizes the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform, combined with a multispectral index rule set, to address the challenges of extracting open-surface water bodies in the middle reaches of the Tarim River Basin (MROTR). To overcome the limitations of traditional index methods, particularly the reduced extraction accuracy caused by mixed pixels in arid environments, this research integrates indices such as MNDWI, NDVI, and EVI for automated water extraction, significantly enhancing the precision of water body delineation. By analyzing the spatiotemporal changes in open-surface water area (SWA) from 1990 to 2022, a notable increase in SWA was observed following the implementation of ecological gate-controlled water management, while a decreasing trend was identified within an 8-km range from the riverbanks. The results show a 93.7% accuracy in surface water identification and an SWA growth rate of 12.47 km2/year, with 96% of this growth attributed to seasonal water areas. Runoff loss decreased by 8.53% in the S1 and S2 regions but increased by 7.76% in the S3 and S4 regions. The mixed index rule method proved effective for large-scale water detection, offering new insights for managing arid region water resources.
Comparative study of reservoir operations using TLBO, PSO and DE optimization techniques: an experiment on the Hirakud reservoir, Odisha, India
Authors: Samal Padminee , Patnaik Pooja , Samantaray Sandeep , Swain Prakash C.
Published: September 2024

With the enduring progression of high population density, social economy and requirements of water supply, irrigation and hydropower, the water resource scarcity problem has been exacerbated in Odisha. Hence, the judicial operation of the Hirakud reservoir, which is considered the lifeline of Odisha, has become appreciably essential. Among various optimization techniques, metaheuristic algorithms are advanced techniques which can be applied for the optimal operation of a water reservoir. In this work, three metaheuristic algorithm-based optimization techniques, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Differential Evolution (DE) and Teaching–Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) algorithms, are applied for optimal water management of the Hirakud reservoir. From the result, it was found that the efficiency of TLBO for irrigation release during the non-monsoon period was 99.45% compared with PSO with an efficiency of 97.3% and DE with an efficiency of 95.6%. The efficiency of TLBO for hydropower generation was 99.6%, whereas for PSO it was 98.8% and for DE it was 98.5%. It is found from the above experiment that TLBO showed a better performance than PSO and DE optimization techniques for the water management of the Hirakud reservoir. These metaheuristic techniques will provide suitable guidance for reservoir operations at times when the presence of experts is a must but they may not be available.
A sustainable design approach of a mega hostel: a study based at NIT, Srinagar, Kashmir, India
Authors: Mir Adfar Bashir , Bahadur Faizan Tahir , Khaja Mohammad Aasif , Ghani Waseem , Choudhary Zahoor , Kumar Satyendra , Beigh Farah Amin , Firdous Bahadur Falaq , Taley Waseem Rashid , Ahmad Danish
Published: September 2024

In a sustainable building design, energy, water and resource optimization are key considerations, along with minimizing impacts on the ecology and environment. In this case study, water-related issues are considered from a sustainability perspective. The main objective of this study is to provide a sustainable design for a mega-hostel at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, with the aim of achieving an eco-friendly design which minimizes its dependence on external sources of energy. Rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse and the installation of a biogas plant are the three main techniques considered in this project. Rainfall data was collected and water demands for the mega-hostel and greywater produced by the mega-hostel were estimated. Potential rainwater harvesting, dimensions of a storage tank, first flush volume, discharges and dimensions of gutters have been calculated in this study. Greywater quantity has been calculated and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) to treat greywater is suggested, because it is space-optimized. Dimensions of a biogas plant and the quantity of gas released have also been estimated based on the amount of food waste generated by the mega-hostel.
Assessing water supply/demand dynamic balance in arid environments with policy options: a case study of Kuwait
Authors: Hadi Khalid , Aliewi Amjad , Sadeqi Dalal , Abdulhadi Ahmed
Published: September 2024

The water situation in arid environments is fragile because of climate change, population growth, economic development, irrational behavior in consumption patterns, and water pollution, which in their entirety threaten water security for such environments. The Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) (a planning software) was used to assess the actual (2000–2023) water supply sustainability with realistic annual growth rates to project (2024–2035) water demands for Kuwait's water future. The actual total water supply was found to be 1,375 Mm3/yr, of which 44% was for domestic, 5% for industrial, and 51% for agricultural water uses. It was also found that the per capita consumption for domestic and industrial purposes was 214 m3/yr. Suitable growth rates were as follows: 2, 1.5, and 1% for domestic, industrial, and agricultural sectors, respectively. This will result in water shortage of 235 Mm3/yr during the period 2024–2035. Kuwait is called to implement strategic solutions to fully reuse treated wastewater and the virtual water concept for agricultural development purposes. This study demonstrates that when Kuwait implements these solutions, it can reduce CO2 emissions by 1.175 million tons saving $573 million annually. With the proper measures and policies, Kuwait can reduce their bulk water demand by 235 million cubic meters saving $1.15 billion dollars per year.
A technical–scientific content management system on water reuse as an environmental education tool: the experience of a Portugal/Brazil partnership
Authors: Santos Ana Silvia Pereira , Vieira José Manuel Pereira , Lima Maíra Araujo de Mendonça , Soares Sérgio Rodrigues Ayrimoraes , Pereira Lilian Velloso , Sampaio Vanda Maria Pereira , Lima Edimar Lisbôa de Souza , Pavan Frank de Souza , Lima Maria Manuela Carvalho Lemos , Araujo Bruna Magalhães
Published: September 2024

This study presents the Instituto Reúso de Água (IRdA) as a high-quality environmental education tool. The results measured the reach of IRdA's direct (webinars, learning series, and mentoring) and indirect (technical–scientific repository and the production of more easily assimilated data) educational actions since its conception (Period 01), operation of the platform (Period 02), and operation of IRdA (Period 03), through its digital platform and social media. The direct actions proved to be effective in disseminating knowledge, highlighting a preference for the topic ‘regulation’ and adherence to content produced in different video formats. On the other hand, the indirect actions showed that the scientific approach is less accessed due to its complex language. However, when presented into more accessible data, scientific content gains confidence and can be of great relevance for the transformation of society. The results corroborate the current trend of greater educational reach in a free and digital format to build a society truly committed to water reuse and its more efficient management.
Muerte y emociones en el Cercado Grande de los Santuarios, Tunja (Colombia), periodo Muisca Tardío (1000 - 1550 d.C.)
Authors: Pratt Melissa
Published: September 2024

El Cercado Grande de los Santuarios es un sitio arqueológico ubicado en Tunja, en los actuales predios de la Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia (UPTC). Desde las primeras investigaciones, se estudió la variabilidad mortuoria del Cercado para dar cuenta de la organización sociopolítica de las sociedades muiscas e identificar las transformaciones que tuvieron los patrones funerarios entre los periodos Herrera y Muisca Tardío. En este artículo, se presenta una aproximación preliminar al entendimiento de aspectos poco explorados de la conmemoración de la muerte en las sociedades muiscas, como la agencia y las emociones de los individuos que se reunieron en un momento solemne y trascendental para ritualizar la pérdida de un ser social. El objetivo es explorar, desde las ideas que han surgido en el seno de las perspectivas contemporáneas de la arqueología de la muerte, en qué manera las emociones de los participantes de un ritual afectan y transforman el curso de las prácticas mortuorias. Para esto se realizó un análisis arqueotanatológico por medio del registro fotográfico de tres enterramientos del Cercado, excavados entre el 2019-2020 por el Área de Arqueología de INERCO. Los resultados del análisis permitieron problematizar, a la luz de la arqueología de las emociones, algunas actitudes hacia la muerte de las sociedades muiscas, como la exclusividad de entierros primarios y la presencia de bienes de tumba. A partir de esto, se concluyó que la emoción es una de las variables que afecta la naturaleza y la apariencia del registro arqueológico de las prácticas mortuorias, y se estableció la necesidad de ampliar el horizonte de interpretación de los contextos funerarios por medio de las nuevas estructuras epistemológicas y metodologías que han surgido en las últimas décadas en la arqueología de la muerte.
búsqueda del ethos público en la administración pública
Authors: Sánchez González José Juan , Sanabria López Juan José
Published: September 2024

En este artículo se argumenta que la administración pública (como estudio del objeto) en los siglos XX y XXI ha tenido cinco tipos de ethos en la administración pública (como objeto de estudio). Mediante la investigación documental y el análisis comparado de autores es posible establecer los valores relevantes para el ethos de la administración pública. Algunas conclusiones relevantes son que el ethos en la administración pública proporciona a los servidores públicos un conjunto común de valores, principios, normas y estándares para guiar su trabajo; garantiza que el gobierno sea transparente, responsable y centrado en el bien público; proporciona un marco para la conducta ética y ayuda a promover la inclusión, la innovación y el profesionalismo en el sector público, y que la administración pública puede afrontar los grandes desafíos del mundo moderno y atender las necesidades de la sociedad de manera significativa y efectiva.
An Integrated Approach of Network Pharmacology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Docking, and Experimental Verification Uncovers Prunellae Spica as the Potential Medicine of Prognosis Improvement for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Jiahui , Zhang Xinyan
Published: September 2024

Background:

Prunellae Spica (PS), the spike from Prunella vulgaris L., is a traditional Chinese
medicine that can treat Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), whereas its molecular mechanisms and
effects on the prognosis of patients remain unclear.

Methods:

Our study aimed to identify the potential anti-OSCC targets of PS and explore its mechanisms and
effects on prognosis through network pharmacology, bioinformatics analysis, molecular docking, and in-vitro
cell assays.

Results:

Sixty-two potential targets of 11 active anti-OSCC ingredients of PS were identified, with Quercetin,
the core ingredient of PS, exhibiting the most significant number of OSCC-related targets. GO analysis indicated
that the primary biological processes involved in OSCC treatment by PS were the cellular response to
nitrogen compound, response to xenobiotic stimulus, and cellular response to organonitrogen compound.
KEGG analysis revealed that pathways in cancer were the top highly enriched signaling pathway in the treatment
of OSCC by PS. DisGeNET analysis is mainly about Lip and Oral Cavity Carcinoma. More importantly,
6 of the 62 targets were markedly related to prognosis. Molecular docking revealed high affinities between the
key component and the prognosis-related target proteins. Treatment of OSCC cell line SCC-25 with Quercetin
could inhibit malignant biological behaviors, such as cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration,
as well as affect the targets related to prognosis and promote autophagy.

Conclusion:

Overall, these results suggest that PS plays a significant role in treating and improving the prognosis
of OSCC by directly influencing various processes in OSCC.
DDP Induced Cytotoxicity through miR-215-5p/COL5A1/FSTL1 Axis to Regulate Autophagy in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells
Authors: Zhao Xinguo , Zhang Hongming , Gu Longqiang , Zhang Hailin , Cao Honggang
Published: September 2024

Background:

Cisplatin (DDP) resistance remains a major challenge in the treatment
of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Autophagy is an important mechanism to generate drug resistance.
It has been established that COL5A1 has been shown to accelerate LUAD metastasis
and affect cellular processes.

Methods:

We investigated the role of COL5A1 in DDP resistance using the H1299/DDP and
A549/DDP cell lines. Flow cytometry, CCK8, and western blot assays were used to detect apoptosis,
cell viability, and autophagy. In addition, upstream miRNAs were screened using bioinformatics
methods. MS2-RIP assay and luciferase reporter gene assay were used to validate
miRNA interaction with COL5A1. Transfection experiments and western blot experiments were
performed to investigate miRNA targeting to COL5A1 and its regulation of autophagy through
FSTL1. The role of miRNA and COL5A1 in LUAD cisplatin resistance was also verified in
vivo.

Results:

The down-regulation of COL5A1 significantly reduced the survival and autophagy of
DDP-resistant cells while enhancing apoptosis. MiR-215-5p was found to be a direct regulator of
COL5A1, which affects autophagy through FSTL1.

Conclusion:

The present study demonstrated that miR-215-5p regulated COL5A1 to modulate
FSTL1 and autophagy, thereby attenuating LUAD resistance to DDP. These findings deepen the
understanding of LUAD pathogenesis and provide potential insights into therapeutic strategies.
Characteristics of Oxidative Phosphorylation-Related Subtypes and
Construction of a Prognostic Signature in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Lu Jiaojiao , Zhen Shuai , Li Xu
Published: September 2024

Background:

Ovarian cancer is associated with a high mortality rate. Oxidative Phosphorylation
(OXPHOS) is an active metabolic pathway in cancer; nevertheless, its role in ovarian
cancer continues to be ambiguous. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the prognostic
value of OXPHOS-related genes and the immune landscape in ovarian cancer.

Methods:

We obtained public ovarian cancer-related datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas
(TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases and recognized OXPHOS-related genes
from the GeneCards database and literature. Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify
prognostic OXPHOS-related genes and develop a prognostic nomogram based on the OXPHOS
score and clinicopathological features of patients. Functional enrichment analyses were employed
to identify related processes.

Results:

A 12-gene signature was identified to classify the ovarian cancer patients into high- and
low-risk groups. The Immunophenoscore (IPS) was higher in the OXPHOS score-high group than
in the OXPHOS score-low group, suggesting a better response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Functional enrichment analyses unveiled that OXPHOS-related genes were considerably abundant
in a series of immune processes. The calibration curves of the constructed prognostic nomograms at
1, 2, and 3 years exhibited strong concordance between the anticipated and observed survival probabilities
of ovarian cancer patients.

Conclusion:

We have constructed a prognostic model containing 12 OXPHOS-related genes and
demonstrated its strong predictive value in ovarian cancer patients. OXPHOS has been found to be
closely linked to immune infiltration and the reaction to immunotherapy, which may contribute to
improving individualized treatment and prognostic evaluation in ovarian cancer.