bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of surgical outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy performed by a single experienced surgeon according to two reconstruction methods, including single-layer and double-layer renorrhaphy
Authors: Takagi Toshio , Yoshida Kazuhiko , Fukuda Hironori , Kobari Yuki , Ishihara Hiroki , Iizuka Junpei
Published: July 2024

Purpose: To compare surgical outcomes based on two reconstruction methods, including single-layer and double-layer renorrhaphy, in robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RAPN) performed by an experienced surgeon.
Methods: We included 655 patients who underwent RAPN between January 2019 and June 2023. Patients with multiple tumors or insufficient medical records were excluded; therefore, 554 patients were analyzed. Surgical outcomes were compared between single-layer renorrhaphy (outer cortical closure) and double-layer renorrhaphy (inner layer suture and outer cortical closure) after adjusting for the preoperative factors, such as sex, age, BMI, ASA score, preoperative eGFR, preoperative complications of diabetes or hypertension, surgical approach (transperitoneal or retroperitoneal), tumor size, and tumor complexity, using propensity score matching.
Results: Of 554 patients, 59 were classified into the single-layer group and 495 into the double-layer group. Before matching, more complicated and larger tumors were included in the double-layer group. After matching, 58 patients were included in each group. The single-layer group showed significantly shorter operative time (91 min vs. 100 min, P=0.0361), lower EBL (7.9 ml vs. 27 ml, p=0.021), and better preservation of the eGFR (-1.2% vs. -5.1%, p=0.0313). Other outcomes, such as perioperative complications and postoperative hospital stay, were not significantly different between the two groups.
Conclusions: This study revealed that single-layer reconstruction resulted in better surgical outcomes in terms of the operative time, EBL, and preservation of kidney function. Single-layer reconstruction may optimize RAPN in selected patients.
Could spontaneous interpersonal synchronization enhance athletes’ performance? A case report on the Japanese 100-m record race
Authors: Furukawa Hiroaki , Miyata Kohei , Richardson Michael J. , Varlet Manuel , Kudo Kazutoshi
Published: July 2024

Athletes’ performances are determined not only by individual abilities but also by environmental states, especially the behavior of competitors. Previous studies suggest that spontaneous interpersonal synchronization occurs when individuals can see/hear each other. Varlet and Richardson (2015) reported spontaneous interpersonal synchronization between Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay in the 100-m race in which Bolt broke the world record and Gay broke the US record. This report suggests that interpersonal synchronization may in some instances enhance an athlete’s performances. Here we report a new case of the potential positive effect of interpersonal synchronization on athletes’ performance. At the men’s 100-m final of the Fuse sprint held in Japan in 2021, the first-place sprinter, Yamagata, broke the Japanese 100-m record, and the second-place sprinter, Tada, set his new personal record. These two sprinters ran side-by-side throughout the race. To investigate whether interpersonal synchronization occurred between the two sprinters, we analyzed the video of the final race, which we compared to the chance level of synchronization determined from the preliminaries in which the sprinters ran in different races. Our results showed that the relative phase between the two sprinters was more consistently attracted towards inphase synchrony in the final race compared to the chance level synchronization determined from the preliminary races. This result supports the hypothesis that spontaneous interpersonal synchronization can occur between sprinters running next to each other. It is noteworthy that both world and Japanese 100-m records were set in races in which the first- and second-place sprinters synchronized their running movements. Our study provides further evidence that suggests interpersonal synchronization could enhance sprinters’ performance.
On the tail behavior for randomly weighted sums of dependent random variables with its applications to risk measures
Authors: Chen Zhangting , Cheng Dongya
Published: July 2024

This paper considers the asymptotic behavior for the tail probability of randomly weighted sum Sθ 2 = θ1X1+θ2X2, where X1, X2, θ1, and θ2 are non-negative dependent random variables with distributions F1, F2, G1, and G2, respectively. We obtain the tail-equivalence of P Sθ 2 > x and P(θ1X1 > x)+P(θ2X2 > x) as x → ∞ and some closure properties of distribution classes in three cases: (i). θ1, θ2 are bounded and F1, F2 are subexponential; (ii). θ1, θ2 satisfy the condition of Theorem 2.1 of Tang (2006) [33] and F1, F2 are subexponential with positive lower Matuszewska indices; (iii). θ1, θ2 satisfy the condition of Theorem 3.3 (iii) of Cline and Samorodnitsky (1994) [12] and F1, F2 are long-tailed and dominatedlyvarying- tailed. Furthermore, when F1 and F2 are regularly-varying-tailed, a more transparent result is established and applied to obtain asymptotic results for risk measures. Some numerical studies are conducted to check the accuracy of the obtained results.
Incidental Finding of Congenital Unileaflet Mitral Valve in a Young Patient Presenting with Complete Atrioventricular Block
Authors: Antit Saoussen , Soumer Khedija , Abdelhedi Marwa , Zidi Oumayma , Zakhama Lilia
Published: July 2024

Singular leaflet mitral valve is rare and complex entity that has only been described in a few case reports. It is commonly observed in infancy and combined with symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR). In most asymptomatic individuals, it is mainly attributed to hypoplastic posterior mitral leaflet and is usually revealed in adulthood by a complication. We present the case of a 30-year-old man who presented with chest pain and dyspnea for two days. The electrocardiogram showed complete atrioventricular block with a beat rate of 30 bpm. Echocardiogram revealed an elongated anterior mitral valve leaflet and an almost completely absent posterior mitral valve leaflet with no MR. Our case is unusual presentation of unileaflet mitral valve which should be investigated even in adulthood as these patients are likely to be at risk of developing or worsening MR later in life, hence, the importance of performing periodic echocardiograms in these patients in order to detect the progression of MR early.
Depression Among Saudi International University Students and Its Associated Risk Factors.
Authors: ALNAIM MOHAMMED A. , AlGhamdi Abdullah H. , AlJawair Mohammed R. , AlHadi Faisal A. , AlOmair Abdullah M. , Alsaad Ali
Published: July 2024

Introduction
Depression disorders are one of the most widespread mental disorders among college students. In university students, depression has been associated with lower academic performance, worse work performance, and increased dropout risk. his study aims to assess the prevalence of depression and highlight risk factors among Saudi international university students (IUS) in the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia.
Subject and methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted among Saudi students who chose to study abroad. A self-administered online questionnaire was sent to the students using an online survey. The questionnaire includes socio-demographic data (e.g., age, gender, specialty, etc.), medical characteristics, social status, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) to assess the student's depression.
Results
Of the 401 students, 52.4% were younger (age 18 – 25 years), and more than half were males (53.9%). Most of the participants were studying in the US (46.6%), followed by the UK (40.6%) and Australia (12.7%). The rate of major depression among Saudi students studying abroad was 40.4%. In univariate analysis, major depression was influenced by age, marital status, specialty, personal and family history of mental illness, contact with family and friends, and feeling like a stranger. However, after conducting multivariate regression analysis, previous diagnoses of mental illness and feeling a stranger were identified as the significant independent risk factors for major depression.
Conclusion
This study provides insights into the prevalence and risk factors associated with depression among Saudi IUS. The prevalence of major depression among Saudi IUS was 40.4%. Previous history of mental illness and feeling like strangers were identified as the most prominent risk factors in this study. Identifying the prevalence and contributing factors of depression can guide academic institutions and governments in the development of effective interventions and support for IUS’s mental well-being. Future research could diversify the sample and employ longitudinal designs.
Influence of PTFE Reinforcement on the Tribological Characteristics of Acetal Polymer Composites
Authors: Andukuri Ravindra , Sankaranarayana K.
Published: July 2024

This study examines the influence of PTFE reinforcement on the friction and wear properties of acetal polymer composites. The study investigates the influence of different factors that control wear, such as the specific rate of wear and friction coefficient, on the distance and velocity of sliding, the load applied, and the percentage of PTFE reinforcement by weight. This is done under dry sliding conditions using a pin-on-disc apparatus. The nanocomposites were formed by melting different weight percentages of PTFE (0, 5, 10, and 15 wt%) with acetal using a twin-screw extruder. The Taguchi technique was utilized to systematically collect data by implementing a design of experiments. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to assess the influence of process parameters on the friction coefficient and specific wear rate. The Taguchi method effectively identified the tribological properties and specifically identified the significant factors that influenced them. The results demonstrated that incorporating PTFE as a reinforcing agent in acetal composites leads to a substantial decrease in the friction coefficient and enhances the composites' resistance to wear. The findings of this study provide valuable knowledge for developing high-performance acetal polymer composites that have improved tribological properties.
Noninvasive focused ultrasound non-specifically activating spleen immunological function to suppress tumor proliferation: a new strategy for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Dong Wei , Wang Guihu , Li Senyang , Wang Qian , Li Wenjuan , Liu Heyuan , Liang Yingxue , Zhou Zhe , He Xinrui , Guo Wenlei , Yuan Jianing , Chai Yichao , Geng Jing , Li Zongfang
Published: July 2024

Splenic immunomodulation triggered by ultrasound shows a significant anti-inflammatory effect against various inflammatory diseases, whose mechanism is mainly attributable to the activation of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP). However, the potential role and underlying mechanism of splenic ultrasound stimulation in cancer management have been rarely reported and superficially defined. This study first assessed the universal therapeutic effect of focused ultrasound precisely stimulating spleen (FUS sti. spleen) on various tumors under specific ultrasonic dose. It fully demonstrated that FUS directly stimulated splenic immune cell proliferation and activation (especially NK and CD8 T cells) rather than CAP excitation to modulate splenic immune function. Particularly, NK cells are much more indispensable and important in responding to FUS stimulation for cancer suppression than CD8 T cells. RNA sequencing of NK and CD8 T cells, as well as in vitro experiments revealed that FUS firstly regulated calcium-related signaling pathways to further modulate other signaling pathways, such as ECM-receptor interaction, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, Rap1 signaling pathway and Hippo signaling pathway to promote immune cell proliferation, migration and activation to suppress cancer cell deterioration. Particularly, FUS sti. spleen and FUS intervention on the tumor synergistically induced the best tumor suppression than each of the two taken individually.
Flexible DC distribution network fault detection method based on MTF-EfficientNetV2 algorithm
Authors: Zeng Zhi-hui , Li Jia-yin , Wei Yan-fang , Wang Xiao-wei , Zheng Ying-ying , Zhang Yu-hai
Published: July 2024

Given the swift advancement of clean energy, flexible DC distribution network has become a research hotspot for future power grids. Existing DC line fault detection methods have problems such as low detection precision and vulnerability to resistance. For this reason, a fault detection method built on the upgraded EfficientNetV2 algorithm is proposed. Primarily, the fault transient voltage time-domain data are gathered. To enhance the variability of fault features, the data are transformed to a two-dimensional image by Markov variation field. Then, a dual-channel attention mechanism is used to shortlist and fuse the features with channel and spatial features, respectively. Finally, the fused features are fed into EfficientNetV2 for training. And the detection results are obtained by testing the model under different working conditions. The findings demonstrate the excellent detection accuracy of the approach. The average accuracy can reach 98.95%.
Feasibility study of an interconnection of electrical energy transmission networks: Case study of 4 countries in Central Africa and Nigeria
Authors: KUEDA Romain Platinie , André YOUMSSI
Published: July 2024

With the current trend and progress in science, the production of electrical energy can be done in one country and consumed in another. Central Africa is experiencing a paradoxical situation characterized, among other things, by low hydroelectric production, an electrification rate of 13% compared to 90% in North Africa and a very low level of interconnection of its electricity networks. Thus, the interconnection of the networks of the countries of Central Africa and Nigeria will aim not only to facilitate the energy integration of the sub-region but also to reduce the inconvenience caused to the populations of the sub-region. This study focuses on the feasibility of an interconnection between 4 countries in Central Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, DRC) and Nigeria by proposing a multi-terminal high voltage direct current transmission system that we simulated under MATLAB/Simulink software .
Assessing the Sustainable Blockchain-Metaverse-IoT Platform in the Healthcare Industry: An Intelligent Decision Support Model
Authors: Hezam Ibrahim M. , Ali Ahmed M. , Hameed Ibrahim A. , Sallam Karam , Abdel-Basset Mohamed
Published: July 2024

Healthcare services must fulfill patients’ desires for secure data sharing and high accessibility. Blockchain technology, through blockchain platforms (BPs), can overcome healthcare challenges. This study develops a decision-making methodology for selecting the best BP, by integrating blockchain with IoT and Metaverse, the proposed approach ensures data integrity, quality, privacy and security, secure data sharing, and interoperability. The decision-making methodology uses the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodology to handle conflicting criteria. Two MCDM methods are used in this study: CRiteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) for weight computation, and Ranking of Alternatives with Weights of Criterion (RAWEC) for alternative ranking. To deal with uncertainty, the concept of spherical fuzzy sets (SFSs) is utilized, The RAWEC method is extended under the SFSs for the first time. The proposed methodology is applied to a healthcare case study in a new town in Egypt, considering twenty-two criteria and fifteen alternatives. The results show that the performance criterion has the highest weight, and the latency criterion has the lowest. The sensitivity analysis was conducted to show the stability of the rank. A comparative study was performed to show the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Use of a portable field-adapted liquid chromatographic system (C-Vue machine) to estimate the quantity of deltamethrin on insecticide-treated nets paired with WHO cone bioassays to determine ITN bioefficacy as part of three-year durability monitoring in Mali
Authors: Cisse Moussa BM , Troare Ibrahim , Sow Mamadou , Dansoko Yacouba , Dembele Alice , Konate Lazeni , Sanou Jean Marie , Diarra Youssouf , Sissoko Samah , Dicko Abdourhamane , Magassa Mahamadou , Sangare Lansana , Kouambeng Celestin , Mihigo Jules , Mutwa Phillipe , Awolola Taiwo Samson , Marcet Paula , Koita Ousmane
Published: July 2024

Background
Monitoring insecticide levels and physical integrity over time is essential for assessing the durability of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), which largely depends on the net handling habits of users. This study aimed to determine the insecticide content and effectiveness of ITNs (Yorkool and PermaNet 2.0) at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after mass distribution in Mali.
Methods
At 12, 24 and 36 months postdistribution from 2018 to 2020, 30 nets were randomly collected from households in the districts of Kenieba and Kita in the southern part of Mali, together with information about ITN use and washing practices. The insecticidal effectiveness of the ITNs was assessed with the World Health Organization (WHO) cone test using a laboratory-reared susceptible colony of Anopheles coluzzii. The residual insecticide content was measured by a nondestructive sampling technique with a portable field-adapted liquid chromatographic system (C-Vue®) validated by running samples in parallel with standardized WHO HPLC methods.
Results
At each time point, nets were washed an average of three times over the previous 6 months, most commonly using detergent or bleach. For Yorkool nets, the average deltamethrin concentration was 55 mg/m2 at 6 months and gradually decreased to 14 mg/m2 at 36 months. The values for the PermaNet 2.0 nets were 45 mg/m2 at 6 months and 6 mg/m2 at 36 months. Until the 24-month evaluation, the proportion of nets with minimal effectiveness (at least 75% Knock Down "K.D." or 50% 24 h mortality) was greater than 80% for both net types and sites. According to the WHO criteria, the proportion of net who met the WHO optimal effectiveness criteria (at least 95% K.D. or 80% mortality) was less than 80%. The WHO standardized cone test and C-Vue evaluation demonstrated that net type effectiveness and insecticide content were consistently lower than expected at 3 years.
Conclusion
The nets did not meet the WHO criteria of optimal effectiveness for the efficacy of ITNs in this 3-year survey, and users washed nets with local soap containing detergent or bleach. The C-Vue portable chromatographic device was used successfully for the first time in Mali to measure the insecticide concentration of ITNs. These results were consistent with those of cone bioassays.
Combined effects of different temperature-time modes on the mechanical characteristics of sous-vide and conventional oven-cooked camel meat
Authors: Fickak A. A. , Othman M. B. , Hobani A. I. , Mohamed G. M. , Al- Ghamdi S. , Alfaifi B. , Elamin W. M.
Published: July 2024

Camel meat was subjected to sous-vide and conventional oven cooking at different combinations of temperature (70, 80, 90, and 100 °C) and time (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 minutes). The influence on the mechanical properties (shear force, penetration force, and texture profile) were studied. In general, our results revealed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between the sous-vide and conventional oven cooking methods for most of the studied parameters. Increasing the sous-vide cooking temperature-time combination resulted in lower shear and penetration forces. Moreover, a clear decline in meat hardness, chewiness, and gumminess was observed. Sous-vide cooking depends on water for cooking, where the thermal conductivity coefficient is high and uniform. The textural changes during sous-vide cooking made the meat more homogenous and tender. Conversely, the conventional oven method depends on dry air heat where the thermal conductivity coefficient is low in comparison with sous-vide cooking. The elevation of the penetration force, hardness, chewiness, and gumminess along with the increasing temperature-time values combination was obvious for the conventional oven-cooked meat.
Knowledge and management practices for disposable baby diapers among child caregivers in informal urban settlements in Uganda
Authors: Ssembuusi Allan , Wafula Solomon Tsebeni , Musoke David , Kasasa Simon
Published: July 2024

Proper handling of child faeces is essential in reducing exposure to pathogens in homes and the environment. The exponential rise in usage of disposable baby diapers requires understanding of caregivers' knowledge and management practices of disposable diapers. We interviewed 230 caregivers of under-five children in an informal settlement in Uganda about their knowledge and practices on used disposable baby diaper management and used logistic regression to assess factors associated with proper management of used diapers. Only 36.5% (84) of caregivers had high knowledge of proper used diaper management practices, and this was associated with having a child ≤12 months [Prevalence Ratio, PR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.04-3.01] and having tertiary education [PR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.12-3.92]. Most caregivers (63.5%, 146) indicated that diapers can be mixed with other general waste. Among the 173 who stored diapers before disposal, 83.2% (144) used polythene bags for storage. Overall, only 49.1% (113) caregivers had proper diaper waste management practices, which was inversely associated with having a young child (≤12 months) [PR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.48–0.95]. Findings highlight deficiencies in knowledge and diaper management practices and underscore the need to intensify awareness and education programmes on the best used diaper management practices.
Current research progress in the biological removal of emerging contaminants from the water environment
Authors: Senthil Rathi B. , Senthil Kumar P. , Parthasarathy V. , Gokul R. , Dharani R. , Lavanya R. , Rangasamy Gayathri
Published: July 2024

Hazardous pollutants include a variety of pollutants, including emerging contaminants (ECs), organic pollutants, inorganic pollutants, and heavy metals. Scientists have lately become interested in ECs in effluent because they represent serious hazards to both biodiversity and human health even at low concentrations. For the elimination of different ECs, several treatment technologies, including chemical-based, physical-based, and biological-based methods, have been developed. Nonetheless, no one technique can presently efficiently eradicate ECs; biological treatments are frequently found to be more beneficial. This review aims to give a brief analysis of the sources, kinds, impacts, and monitoring and detection techniques for ECs. This review provides information on such biological processes for the quick and eco-friendly removal methods of ECs from effluent. The article highlights the methodology used by the hybrid system to eliminate distinct EC types. The hybrid structure of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) accompanied by filtrations using membrane successfully got rid of a bunch of ECs. For the biosorptive elimination of pharmaceuticals various hybrid structures comprising constructed wetlands (CWs) and waste stabilization ponds demonstrated amazing possibilities. Future directions of study for the elimination of ECs using green, sustainable technologies and hybrid techniques have been proposed.
Expanding Arsenal against Ocular Diseases through Nanoemulsion:
Success So Far and the Road Ahead
Authors: Vikash Bala , Shashi  , Pandey Narendra Kumar , Kumar Bimlesh , Wadhwa Sheetu , Gupta Ritu , Goutam Umesh , Mittal Amit , Baghel Dileep Singh , Singh Sachin Kumar , Singh Saurabh
Published: July 2024

The eye is the most delicate organ protected by several complex biological barriers that
are static and dynamic. The presence of these ocular barriers retards drug absorption from topically applied dosage forms at the conjunctival sac. The efficient topical delivery of the drug into the
globe is more difficult to achieve, and there is a need to develop a topical formulation that may reduce the use of injections and increase patient compliance with decreased frequency of administration. With the advancements of research in nanotechnology, nanoemulsions can be used as biocompatible carriers to deliver the drug to the ocular cavity. The lipophilic globules can increase
the solubility of hydrophobic cargos, which provide increased permeation ability and ocular bioavailability, which can sustain drug release and corneal retention. Because of their small size, these
formulations do not cause blurring of vision. Over the past decade, Nanoemulsions (NEs) have
been used to treat several ocular diseases in the anterior eye segment. This review contains the
global economic burden of ocular diseases, challenges in formulating ocular formulations, and recent advances of these NEs as effective carriers for ocular drug delivery, highlighting their performance in pre-clinical studies.
Semisynthesis and DFT Study of New Michael Adducts using (E)-α-Atlantone, Isolated from Cedrus atlantica Essential Oil
Authors: Nejjari Rida , Bashir Maryam , Raji Houria , Es-Sounni Bouchra , Adardour Mohamed , Siddique Farhan , Bakhouch Mohamed , Mouzdahir Abdelkrim , Benharref Ahmed , Mazoir Noureddine , Chtita Samir
Published: July 2024

This work is devoted to the synthesis of divers Michael adducts from (E)-α-atlantone as an
α,β-unsaturated ketone isolated from Cedrus atlantica essential oil. The (E)-α-atlantone is subjected to
ethyl cyanoacetate, phenylmagnesium bromide, and ethanol to produce the corresponding 1,4-Michael
adducts in good yields. The conjugate addition of the appropriate reagents onto (E)-α-atlantone proceeds
in a regiospecific manner, closely governed by the nucleophilicity of the reagents as well as
their stereospecific blocking. The structure of the obtained Michael adducts is established using NMR
(1H & 13C) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Likewise, the DFT method was utilized to comprehend
the molecular properties, stability, and reactivity of the investigated compounds, as well as to
explain the proposed mechanism. The computed outcomes are in good agreement with the experimental
data.
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Polythiadiazoles from Bis-hydrazonoyl Dichlorides and Bis-(methyl-2-arylidene Hydrazone Carbodithioates)
Authors: Sayed Abdelwahed R. , Wiggins Jeffrey S.
Published: July 2024

Background:

Thiadiazoles exhibit a variety of biological activities, including antimicrobial, antiviral, antituberculosis, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, antitrypanosomal agent, and anticonvulsant properties.

Methods:

The new polymers are made in two distinct stages. The first stage is to prepare the starting material bis-(methyl-2-arylidenehydrazone-carbodithioates) via a condensation reaction between methyl-hydrazinecarbodithioate and dicarbonyl compounds in suitable solvent as isopropyl alcohol. The second stage for the synthesis of the final products poly(1,3,4-thiadiazoles) derivatives is the suitable bis-hydrazonoyl chloride reacted with an equal molar ratio of bis-(me-thyl-2-arylidenehy-drazonecarbodithioates) in dimethyl sulfoxide, with triethylamine and reflux until the methanethiol gas stopped evolving. FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), NMR (Nuclear magnetic resonance), and thermal investigation were used to identify and characterize the final products.

Results:

This work effectively synthesized new derivatives of poly(1,3,4-thiadiazoles) in good yields via the reaction of bis-hydrazonoyl dichlorides with bis-(methyl-2-arylidenehydrazone-carbodithioates). Two routes can be used to explain how the final poly(1,3,4-thiadiazoles) com-pounds are formed. The first route can be explained by nucleophile substitution of thiolate of bis(methyl-2-arylidenehydrazonecarbodithioates) to the chlorinated carbon of bis-hydrazonoyl dichlorides, followed by removal of HCl (hydrochloric acid) to provide an intermediate (S-al-kylated). This intermediate at once leads to an intramolecular cyclo-polycondensation by the exclusion of methanethiol gas to produce our ending products poly(1,3,4-thiadiazoles). The second route concluded [3+2] cycloaddition of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrilimines (generated in situ by treatment of bis-hydrazonoyl dichlorides with triethylamine) to thione (C=S) followed by removal of methanethiol to give poly(1,3,4-thiadiazoles) as depicted in schematic diagram.

Conclusion:

In this article, we reported an efficient method for the synthesis of the novel poly(1,3,4-thiadiazoles) from the reaction of bis-(methyl-2-arylidenehydrazonecarbodithioates) with bis-hydrazonoyl halides.
Late-onset Schmidt’s Syndrome Presenting with Severe Hyponatremia: A
Case Report
Authors: Pigni Stella , Cristofolini Giacomo , Jaafar Simona , Maida Giulia , Grossrubatscher Erika , Dalino Paolo , Carioni Emanuela , Mazziotti Gherardo , Lania Andrea , Zampetti Benedetta , Chiodini Iacopo
Published: July 2024

Background::

Schmidt’s syndrome (SS) is a subtype of polyglandular autoimmune
syndrome type-2 combining autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and autoimmune Addison's disease
(aAD). It occurs most frequently in young adult females, and aAD is the most common initial
manifestation [1]. We present a rare case of SS with late-onset aAD and severe hyponatremia as
the first sign.

Case Report::

A 73-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) with a 10-day
history of vomiting, diarrhea, and altered mental status. Her past medical history was remarkable
for AIT and hypokinetic cardiomyopathy. Moreover, she had recently undergone a 2-week
course of corticosteroid therapy for vertiginous symptoms, reporting subjective well-being. In
ED, she appeared confused and hypotensive. Blood tests revealed a sodium level of 99 mEq/l
with normal potassium. Initial treatment with saline infusions were started, followed by ex juvantibus
intravenous hydrocortisone awaiting hormone results, which proved consistent with
primary adrenal insufficiency (ACTH 1314 pg/ml, cortisol 4.72 ug/dL). Replacement therapy
with both hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone was then implemented, with substantial clinical
improvement and normalization of sodium levels. However, the patient later developed right
heart failure and hypokalemia, which were likely caused by overreplacement and resolved after
adjusting the treatment regimen. The final diagnosis of aAD was confirmed by positive adrenal
autoantibodies.

Conclusions::

aAD should be suspected in each case of severe hyponatremia [2], especially in
patients with AIT independent of age. Furthermore, caution is needed in managing high-dose
glucocorticoids along with fludrocortisone in elderly patients with cardiac disease to limit the
risk of excessive mineralocorticoid activity and heart failure [3].
O processo intelectivo do conhecimento moral em Tomás de Aquino: notas sobre a sindérese e a consciência
Authors: Ezídio Camila
Published: July 2024

We find in the moral philosophy of Thomas Aquinas the description of a cognitive process in confor-mity with the will, with a view to the realization of moral actions. The intellective power of human beings operates in many ways in this process, and when it comes to the practical part, that is, the part that deals with action, we have, for example, the exercise of synderesis, the apprehension of the intellect, the reasoning of reason, and the judgment of conscience. The objective of this text is to present, even if synthetically, each of the modes by which human intellection can operate. However, our intention is not to characterize them individually, on the contrary, our intention is to understand the relationship they establish between themselves as they form an epistemological apparatus that aims at the same object, in this case, the formulation of moral knowledge for the ordering of human action in the world.
El diálogo como forma de conocimiento en Pedro Compostelano
Authors: Carolo Tosar Rocío
Published: July 2024

Pedro Compostelano was one of the most important medieval authors of Santiago de Compostela. Just as authors of ancient philosophy did, Pedro Compostelano will opt for dialogue as a method of knowledge in his work titled The consolation of reason. This work is an ethical treatise through which the maidens Mundo (World), Carne (Flesh) and Razón (Reason) dialogue with a young man to advise him about which path in life he should take. What is intended with the following work is to show that behind the dialogue, sometimes dramatic, of the different characters, the work has a totally pedagogical character of guiding young people on the right path, illuminating the path of right reason that leads the human being to eternal glory.
Conocimiento médico y conocimiento teológico en Arnau de Vilanova
Authors: Mensa i Valls Jaume
Published: July 2024

Arnald of Villanova, a medical doctor by training and a theologian by vocation, has gone down in history as one of the most outstanding physicians of the Latin Middle Ages; his theological works, however, were condemned a few years after his death, and the possibility of their being known and studied only emerged just over a century ago. According to Arnald, medicine is a scientia while simultaneously being an ars operativa, both of which facets are indissociable. The physician is akin to a “minister of nature” who performs his role by way of his ars. This manner of understanding medicine presumes an “instrumentalist” conception of medical theory, a conception which sets Arnald of Villanova apart from both pure theoretical speculation and anti-intellectual empiricism.The Catalan physician conceives theological knowledge by analogy with its medical counterpart. The Christendom of his day appears to present symptoms of disease and, in the face of such a situation, Arnald, the medicus theologizans, prescribes a plan for reform.
Mediation of Entrepreneurial Motivation: The Role of Entrepreneur Learning, Self-Efficacy and Family Environment in Increasing Interest in Entrepreneurship
Authors: Martini Ida Ayu Oka ,   Universitas Pendidikan Nasional, Indonesia, Sari Desak Made Febri Purnama , Sarmawa I Wayan Gde , Qomariah Nurul , Ridwan Wachid ,   Universitas Pendidikan Nasional, Indonesia,   Universitas Warmadewa, Indonesia,   Universitas Muhammadiyah Jember, Indonesia,   Universitas Muhammadiyah Malaysia (UMAM), Malaysia
Published: July 2024

The recovery period from the COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated the acceleration of economic recovery in Indonesia, but the availability of job opportunities is still not optimal. In response, students' entrepreneurial interests must always be improved. The aim of this research is to analyze the influence of entrepreneurial learning, self-efficacy, and family environment, motivation and entrepreneurial interest. This research was designed as quantitative research with a causal type of research. The population in this research was all Denpasar Bali Private University students, with a sample of 250 students. The sampling technique uses purposive random sampling. The data in this research was obtained through a survey method using a questionnaire. The data analysis technique uses partial least squares. The research results show that entrepreneurial learning, self-efficacy, and family environment have a significant effect on entrepreneurial motivation. Likewise, self-efficacy, family environment, and entrepreneurial motivation also have a significant influence on entrepreneurial interest. However, entrepreneurial learning does not have a significant influence. Entrepreneurial motivation can act as a mediator in the influence of family environment on entrepreneurial interest but not on entrepreneurial learning and self-efficacy. It is hoped that this research can become a reference for the Government to develop strategies to fulfill the target of an entrepreneurial ratio of at least 4% of the population in order to accelerate Indonesia to become a developed country by 2045.
BUDIDAYA HIDROPONIK UNTUK TERAPI OKUPASI DAN PEMBERDAYAAN ORANG DENGAN GANGGUAN JIWA
Authors: Lavita Permata Arni Sari  , Wulandari Ratnasari  , Duvan Awang Prayoga  , Yoga Prasetya  , Nindy Puspitasari  , Verania Cahyadewi  , Ah. Sofi
Published: July 2024

This study aims to describe the implementation and advantages and disadvantages of hydroponic cultivation for occupational therapy for people with mental disorders. The Sambibulu Village Government has provided a place to facilitate the recovery of people with mental disorders through an integrated mental health service post or called mental health posyandu. Apart from focusing on healing, Sambibulu Village's mental health posyandu activities also provide training to people with mental disorders. The approach used is a personal approach through interviews, dialogue and observation, with the socialization method. The results of the study show that the implementation of hydroponic cultivation targeting ODGJ at Posyandu Jiwa, Sambibulu Village, Taman District, Sidoarjo Regency, takes the form of occupational therapy with a series of planning activity processes, making observations and preparing equipment, the implementation includes sowing seeds, as well as evaluating care until harvest time. Hydroponic cultivation activities have the advantage of providing occupational therapy for people with mental disorders, while the disadvantages include that the initial investment is quite large, which can be an obstacle if funds are limited and requires certain technical knowledge and skills in regulating pH and mixing nutrients.
PERAN KELOMPOK PERPUS JALANAN PURBALINGGA DALAM MENINGKATKAN MINAT BACA MASYARAKAT DI WILAYAH ALUNALUN PURBALINGGA
Authors: Martopo Bagas , Pratiwi Poerwanti Hadi
Published: July 2024

Kelompok Perpus Jalanan Purbalingga merupakan kelompok sosial yang dibentuk sebagai upaya memberikan rekreasi alternatif dalam segmentasi edukasi di wilayah Alun-alun Purbalingga sebagai ruang terbuka publik.. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui peran Kelompok Perpus Jalanan Purbalingga menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif, dijabarkan secara deskriptif dengan sumber-sumber data yang berasal dari observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Teknik sampling yang digunakan adalah purposive sampling. Validitas data menggunakan teknik trianggulasi dan menggunakan analisis interaktif Milles dan Huberman. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa peran Kelompok Perpus Jalanan adalah menyampaikan informasi dan publikasi, menggelar lapak buku rutin, mengadakan kegiatan diskusi dan kolaborasi. Terdapat beberapa faktor yang menjadi pendorong maupun penghambat dalam menjalankan peran-perannya tersebut. Faktor yang menjadi pendorong adalah eksistensi literasi Perpus Jalanan Purbalingga melalui koleksi buku bacaan yang dimiliki, jaringan media sosial dan solidaritas, dan dukungan masyarakat dalam bentuk kolaborasi. Adapun faktor yang menghambat kelompok adalah keterbatasan fasilitas dan pendanaan perpustakaan, cuaca, dan kesulitan regenerasi penggiat Perpus Jalanan Purbalingga.
Human-environment interactions in two Karst catchments – Gradole (NW Croatia) and Ljubija springs (NE Slovenia)
Authors: Špeh Natalija ,   Faculty of Environmental Protection, Velenje, Slovenia, Martinić Ivan , Barborič Blaž ,   University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Zagreb, Croatia,   Faculty of Environmental Protection, Velenje, Slovenia, Geodetic Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Published: July 2024

Land use and settlement dynamics of two rural areas defined by the contact karst spring is the subject of this paper. The research area consists of the spring catchment of Ljubija in the northeast part of Slovenia and Gradole, the most water-rich spring in Istria (northwest Croatia), have been surveyed in terms of environmental conditions, and social and historic land use aspects. We used Statistical data and Geographic Information System (GIS) methods. Via a multidisciplinary approach we discovered that: 1) environmentally, both areas are actively managed due to drinking water resources—Gradole has 9.8% and Ljubija 8.9% of protected area; 2) data regarding social features showed that human pressure has not negatively influenced the natural settings and water supply vulnerability—the area of the Ljubija spring catchment has lower population density compared to the area of the Gradole spring catchment (1.4 inhabitants/km2 compared to 38.7 inhabitants/km2), but the Ljubija area has more pronounced growth in the number of households—I2020/1948 = 115 compared to I2020/1948 = 88.1 at the Gradole spring catchment; and 3) the limited regeneration abilities of the karst water bodies have been preserved by the prevailing share of forest—land use data showed 84.8% for Ljubija and 34.4% for Gradole.
Enhancing Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Decisions With Interpretable Machine Learning Models for Predicting Hemoglobin A1c Changes: Machine Learning Model Development (Preprint)
Authors: Kurasawa Hisashi , Waki Kayo , Seki Tomohisa , Chiba Akihiro , Fujino Akinori , Hayashi Katsuyoshi , Nakahara Eri , Haga Tsuneyuki , Noguchi Takashi , Ohe Kazuhiko
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a significant global health challenge. Physicians need to assess whether future glycemic control will be poor on the current trajectory of usual care and usual-care treatment intensifications so that they can consider taking extra treatment measures to prevent poor outcomes. Predicting poor glycemic control from trends in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels is difficult due to the influence of seasonal fluctuations and other factors.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to develop a model that accurately predicts poor glycemic control among patients with T2D receiving usual care.

METHODS

Our machine learning model predicts poor glycemic control (HbA1c≥8%) using the transformer architecture, incorporating an attention mechanism to process irregularly spaced HbA1c time series and quantify temporal relationships of past HbA1c levels at each time point. We assessed the model using HbA1c levels from 7787 patients with T2D seeing specialist physicians at the University of Tokyo Hospital. The training data include instances of poor glycemic control occurring during usual care with usual-care treatment intensifications. We compared prediction accuracy, assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under the precision-recall curve, and the accuracy rate, to that of LightGBM.

RESULTS

The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under the precision-recall curve, and the accuracy rate (95% confidence limits) of the proposed model were 0.925 (95% CI 0.923-0.928), 0.864 (95% CI 0.852-0.875), and 0.864 (95% CI 0.86-0.869), respectively. The proposed model achieved high prediction accuracy comparable to or surpassing LightGBM’s performance. The model prioritized the most recent HbA1c levels for predictions. Older HbA1c levels in patients with poor glycemic control were slightly more influential in predictions compared to patients with good glycemic control.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed model accurately predicts poor glycemic control for patients with T2D receiving usual care, including patients receiving usual-care treatment intensifications, allowing physicians to identify cases warranting extraordinary treatment intensifications. If used by a nonspecialist, the model’s indication of likely future poor glycemic control may warrant a referral to a specialist. Future efforts could incorporate diverse and large-scale clinical data for improved accuracy.
Revisiting Weimar Film Reviewers’ Sentiments: Integrating Lexicon-Based Sentiment Analysis with Large Language Models
Authors: Campregher Paiva Isadora , Diecke Josephine
Published: July 2024

Film reviews are an obvious area for the application of sentiment analysis, but while this is common in the field of computer science, it has been mostly absent in film studies. Film scholars have quite rightly been skeptical of such techniques due to their inability to grasp nuanced critical texts. Recent technological developments have, however, given us cause to re-evaluate the usefulness of automated sentiment analysis for historical film reviews. The release of ever more sophisticated Large Language Models (LLMs) has shown that their capacity to handle nuanced language could overcome some of the shortcomings of lexicon-based sentiment analysis. Applying it to historical film reviews seemed logical and promising to us. Some of our early optimism was misplaced: while LLMs, and in particular ChatGPT, proved indeed to be much more adept at dealing with nuanced language, they are also difficult to control and implement in a consistent and reproducible way – two things that lexicon-based sentiment analysis excels at. Given these contrasting sets of strengths and weaknesses, we propose an innovative solution which combines the two, and has more accurate results. In a two-step process, we first harness ChatGPT’s more nuanced grasp of language to undertake a verbose sentiment analysis, in which the model is prompted to explain its judgment of the film reviews at length. We then apply a lexicon-based sentiment analysis (with Python’s NLTK library and its VADER lexicon) to the result of ChatGPT’s analysis, thus achieving systematic results. When applied to a corpus of 80 reviews of three canonical Weimar films (Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari, Metropolis and Nosferatu), this approach successfully recognized the sentiments of 88.75% of reviews, a considerable improvement when compared to the accuracy rate of the direct application of VADER to the reviews (66.25%). These results are particularly impressive given that this corpus is especially challenging for automated sentiment analysis, with a prevalence of macabre themes, which can easily trigger falsely negative results, and a high number of mixed reviews. We believe this hybrid approach could prove useful for application in large corpora, for which close reading of all reviews would be humanly impossible.
Quantifying Women’s Marginalisation in Ibero-American Film Culture During the First Half of the Twentieth Century: A Network-Science Proposal
Authors: Clariana-Rodagut Ainamar , Cardillo Alessio
Published: July 2024

The research presented here uses the tools of social network analysis to empirically show a socio-cultural phenomenon already addressed by the social sciences and history: the historical marginalisation of women in the field of cinema. The novelty of our approach lies in the use of a large amount of heterogeneous historical data. On the one hand, we built a network of interactions between people involved in the film field in Ibero-America during the first half of the twentieth century. On the other hand, we propose a k-core decomposition and a multi-layered analysis, as a quantitative way to study the position of women within the cultural melieu. After conducting our analysis, we concluded that women were mostly situated in the outer k-shells of the empirical network, and their distribution was not uniform across the k-shells. From a qualitative perspective, these results can be interpreted as the consequence of the lack of evidence of the participation of women in the public sphere.