bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus with Developing Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity
Authors: Khoshtinat Narges , Moayeri Maryam , Fakhredin Hanieh , Farahani Afsar Dastjani , Ghassemi Fariba , Mahmoudi Alireza , Nabavi Amin , Bazvand Fatemeh
Published: November 2024

Background
To assess the impact of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in comparison with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), as well as combined presence both gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (GDM-HDP), as perinatal risk factors affecting the severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Methods
The hospital records of all premature infants referred to a tertiary center between 2020 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Infants born to mothers with GDM, HDP, or both were selected for analysis. Demographic variables, perinatal risk factors, as well as clinical and treatment characteristics of the infants were collected and analyzed.
Results
A total of 1161 infants and 2322 eyes, including HDP group (1110 eyes from 555 infants), GDM group (944 eyes from 472 infants), and GDM-HDP group (268 eyes from 134 infants), were enrolled. The mean gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) for all infants were 31.6 ± 2.5 weeks and 1572 ± 427 g, respectively. A higher percentage of eyes (76.5%) in the GDM group were classified as ROP compared to the HDP group (71.6%), with the prevalence of severe ROP also higher in the GDM group (13.5%) than in the HDP group (9.9%; P < 0.05 for both comparisons). The rates of ROP and severe ROP were similar between the GDM and GDM-HDP groups. When considering only infants with BW < 1500, the GDM group still exhibited a higher rate of ROP and severe ROP compared to the HDP group. Treatment was required in 17.5% of eyes in the GDM group, 16.8% in the GDM-HDP group, and 13.9% in the HDP group (P = 0.071).
Conclusion
GDM can be implied as a risk factor for ROP and developing severe ROP. The data indicates that careful monitoring and management of GDM during pregnancy may be crucial in mitigating the risk of severe ROP.
Molecular Characterization and Genetic Analysis of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b in Seagulls from Dukan Lake, Iraq
Authors: Sheikh Mohammed Omar Baba , Rashid Peshnyar M. Atta , Rahim Zhino Hussen , Marouf Ari Salahadin , Saeed Star Sharif
Published: November 2024

Avian influenza virus (AIV) remains a significant global threat, with periodic reemergence in Iraq. This study marks the first molecular characterization of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in seagulls. The H5N1 AIV was identified during outbreaks in 2024 at Dukan Lake in Sulaimani province. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA gene revealed that the Dukan Lake strain belongs to subclade 2.3.4.4b, clustering closely with Kazakhstan strains (A/mute swan/Mangystau and A/Arakol Lake) with DNA identities of 99.38% and 98.82%, respectively. Genetic analysis showed a polybasic amino acid cleavage site motif (PLREKRRKRGLF) in the HA gene. Additionally, receptor binding domain (RBD) analysis indicated a preference for the avian α-2, 3 SA receptor over the mammalian α-2, 6 SA receptor. The NA gene analysis revealed amino acid residues D199, I223, S247, and H275, which are susceptible to antiviral drugs. The molecular analysis of the H5N1 Dukan Lake seagull strain provides insights into how the virus spreads among different species and countries, which is crucial for global health security and the development of effective control measures.
Beyond AI: Fooling DNN Model in Physical World
Authors: Manna Debasmita , Tripathy Somanath
Published: November 2024

Deep neural networks (DNNs) are becoming increasingly crucial across various fields, but their wide adoption raises critical security concerns. This paper proposes an attack that discreetly manipulates model predictions by strategically embedding a tiny patch into the input image. This adversarial patch remains imperceptible to human observers yet effectively compels the model to misclassified the input into a predetermined target label. Unlike traditional attacks, it bypasses the need for expensive and time-consuming model retraining or manipulation. Three different types of datasets (MNIST, CIFAR-10, and GTSRB) are used to demonstrate the attack. It is observed that our proposed method attains a higher attack success rate apart from compromising the test accuracy for clean input samples. Neural network models are vulnerable to adversarial attacks, where carefully crafted poisoned/toxic input resulting incorrect predictions or decisions, posing significant security risks across various applications. We propose an attack which could successfully misclassified an input by 50% without re-training/altering the model. The proposed method carefully generates a patch which changes the victim label into the desired label (target label), by injecting the patch with the original image. Also, the patch is placed in a corner, so as not to affect the visual impact.
Attenuation of natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity by interaction between NKp30 of NK cells and dipeptidase 1 of colon cancer cells
Authors: Kim Jong-Tae , Park Eun Sun , Hwang Yo Sep , Yoon Hyang Ran , Yoon Suk Ran , Cho Hee Jun , Lee Hee Gu
Published: November 2024

Background
Natural killer (NK) cells detect and respond to tumor cells for conducting immune surveillance, which is important for preventing tumor growth and metastasis. However, tumors have mechanisms to evade immune surveillance. NKp30 is a potent natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) on NK cells; however, NK cytotoxicity varies depending on ligand binding to cancer cells. We report that the killing activity of NK cells is attenuated by the interaction between NKp30 of NK92 cells and dipeptidase 1 (DPEP1) in colon cancer cells.
Materials and methods
We identified DPEP1 as an NKp30 ligand in KM12C colon cancer cells and verified this by coimmunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. Additionally, DPEP1 was overexpressed in HCT116 cells or knocked down in KM12C cells to assess the effects on cytotoxicity of NK cells. A mouse xenograft model was established to assess the effect of DPEP1 on tumor size.
Results
In DPEP1 knockdown KM12C cells, NK cell cytotoxicity increased by approximately 12%, whereas in DPEP1-overexpressing HCT116 cells, NK cytotoxicity decreased by approximately 16%. In addition, DPEP1 was released through exosomes, and secreted DPEP1 inhibited the expression and secretion of perforin, granzyme B, and CD109a in NK92 cells. In xenografted mice injected with NK92 cells after tumor induction, tumors induced by HCT116/DPEP1 cells were 43% larger than those induced by HCT116 control cells that did not express DPEP1.
Conclusions
Therefore, immunotherapy may be improved by increasing NK cell cytotoxicity by interfering with or avoiding the interaction between DPEP1 and NKp30.
Contrastive Distillation Learning with Sparse Spatial Aggregation
Authors: Cheng Dan , Yin Jun
Published: November 2024

Contrastive learning has advanced significantly and demonstrates excellent transfer learning capabilities. Knowledge distillation is one of the most effective methods of model compression for computer vision. When combined with contrastive learning, it can achieve even better results. Current knowledge distillation techniques based on contrastive learning struggle to efficiently utilize the information from both student and teacher models, often missing out on optimizing the contrastive framework. This results in a less effective knowledge transfer process, limiting the potential improvements in model performance and representation quality. To address this limitation, we propose a new contrastive distillation learning method by redesigning the contrastive learning framework and incorporating sparse spatial aggregation. This method introduces a novel integration of feature alignment and spatial aggregation mechanism to enhance the learning process. It ensures that the representations obtained by the model fully capture the semantics of the original input. Compared to traditional unsupervised learning methods, our approach demonstrates superior performance in both pre-training and transfer learning. It achieves 71.6 Acc@1, 57.6 AP, 75.8 mIoU, 39.8/34.8 AP on ImageNet linear classification, Pascal VOC object detection, Cityscapes semantic segmentation, MS-COCO object detection and instance segmentation. Moreover, our method exhibits stable training and does not require large pre-training batch-sizes or numerous epochs.
Antigen B from Echinococcus granulosus regulates T cells function through STAT3 inhibition in immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Zhang Yunfei , Yue Yingbin , Cheng Yongfeng , Jiao Hongjie , Yan Mei
Published: November 2024

Dysregulation of T cell homeostasis is a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), a condition hallmarked by a decrease in platelet counts. Antigen B (AgB), a predominant immunodominant protein found in the cyst fluid of Echinococcus granulosus, has demonstrated the capacity to modulate T cell differentiation, thereby dampening inflammatory responses. However, the potential of AgB to modulate immune responses in ITP remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated the capacity of AgB to regulate T cell functions within the context of ITP. Our findings reveal that AgB fosters the generation and differentiation of regulatory T (Treg) cells, enhancing their immunosuppressive capabilities. AgB treatment ameliorated thrombocytopenia and rebalanced the equilibrium between Treg and T helper cells (Th) in a passive ITP murine model. The therapeutic effects of AgB on CD4 + T cell subpopulations were negated by Treg depletion, indicating their necessity for AgB's action. Furthermore, AgB curtailed the production of proinflammatory cytokines and suppressed the activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) in ITP. The inhibition of STAT3 was shown to abrogate the regulatory function of AgB on Treg cells. Subsequent investigations demonstrated that AgB enhanced the degradation of STAT3 through the promotion of TRAF6-mediated ubiquitination. In summary, AgB rectifies T cell homeostasis and bolsters the immunosuppressive function of Treg cells by facilitating TRAF6-mediated STAT3 ubiquitination, thereby offering relief from ITP.
CalciumZero: A Toolbox for Fluorescence Calcium Imaging on iPSC Derived Brain Organoids
Authors: He Xiaofu , Wang Yian , Gao Yutong , Wang Xuchen , Sun Zhixiong , Zhu Huixiang , Leong Kam , Xu Bin
Published: November 2024

Calcium plays an important role in regulating various neuronal activities in human brains. Investigating the dynamics of the calcium level in neurons is essential not just for understanding the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders but also as a quantitative gauge to evaluate the influence of drugs on neuron activities. Accessing human brain tissue to study neuron activities has historically been challenging due to ethical concerns. However, a significant breakthrough in the field has emerged with the advent of utilizing patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to culture neurons and develop brain organoids. This innovative approach provides a promising modeling system to overcome these critical obstacles. Many robust calcium imaging analysis tools have been developed for calcium activity analysis. However, most of the tools are designed for calcium signal detection only. There are limited choices for in-depth downstream applications, particularly in discerning differences between patient and normal calcium dynamics and their responses to drug treatment obtained from human iPSC-based models.Moreover, end-user researchers usually face a considerable challenge in mastering the entire analysis procedure and obtaining critical outputs due to the steep learning curve associated with these available tools. Therefore, we developed CalciumZero, a user-friendly toolbox to satisfy the unmet needs in calcium activity studies in human iPSC-based 3D-organoid/neurosphere models. CalciumZero includes a graphical user interface (GUI), which provides end-user iconic visualization and smooth adjustments on parameter tuning. It streamlines the entire analysis process, offering full automation with just one click after parameter optimization. In addition, it includes supplementary features to statistically evaluate the impact on disease etiology and the detection of drug candidate effects on calcium activities. These evaluations will enhance the analysis of imaging data obtained from patient iPSC-derived brain organoid/neurosphere models, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the results.
Unveiling the impact of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics on meadow soil health
Authors: Liu Shuming , Chen Binglin , Wang Kaili , Wang Jinghuizi , Suo Yan , Yang Xiaoyu , Zhu Yaokun , Zhang Jiaxing , Lu Mengchu , Liu Yunqing
Published: November 2024

Soil microplastics (MPs) pollution has garnered considerable attention in recent years. The use of biodegradable plastics for mulching has led to significant quantities of plastic entering agro-ecosystems. However, the effects of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) plastics on meadow soils remain underexplored. This study investigates the impacts of PLA microplastics of varying particle sizes and concentrations on soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and microbial communities through a 60-day incubation experiment. PLA-MPs increased the pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN) and available potassium (AK) content, as well as enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (S-SOD), peroxidase (S-POD), soil catalase (S-CAT), β-glucosidase(S-β-GC) and urease (S-UE) activities. Conversely, a decrease in alkaline phosphatase (S-ALP) activity was observed. The influence of PLA-MPs on soil physicochemical properties was more pronounced with larger particle sizes, whereas smaller particles had a greater effect on enzyme activities. Additionally, PLA-MPs led to an increase in the abundance of Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadota, while the abundance of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Patescibacteria declined. Mental test analysis indicated that pH, AK, S-UE, and S-β-GC are the primary factors influencing microbial community composition. Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt2) analysis demonstrated that PLA-MPs modify bacterial metabolic pathways. Our results suggest that particle size and concentration of PLA-MPs differentially affect soil nutrients and microbial community structure and function, with more significant effects observed at larger particle sizes and higher concentrations.
Antiepileptic and Neuroprotective Effects of Teriflunomide on Experimental Acute Epilepsy Model
Authors: Yoldaş Meyri Arzu , Akünal Canan , Çetinkaya Ayhan , Deniz Ömür Gülsüm
Published: November 2024

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective and antiepileptic efficacy of teriflunomide(TRD) in a pentylenetetrazol(PTZ) induced acute seizure model in rats.
Methods Diazepam(DZ), whose antiepileptic activity is well known, was compared with TRD in the PTZ induced acute seizure model. The antineuroinflammatory, antioxidant properties of TRD and its place in antiepileptic treatment were investigated. Thirty-five adult male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups of seven animals each. Seizure activity induced with PTZ was observed for 30 min using a video camera, recorded, and evaluated using the Racine scale. Data analysis was performed with seizure scoring. Brain tissues were subjected to histopathological and stereological examination. Following sacrification, left hemisphere brain tissues were homogenized and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2), hemoxygenase-1(HO-1), and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α) values ​​were examined by ELISA method. Tissue samples taken from the right brain hemispheres were examined by immunohistochemical staining.
Results In the acute experimental epilepsy model, TRD exhibited antiepileptic effects by prolonging myoclonic jerk and generalized tonic-clonic seizure onset times and reducing myoclonic tonic-clonic seizure severity and duration. At the same time, even when used alone as a pretreatment antiepileptic, TRD showed antioxidant, and antineuroinflammatory effects by increasing HO-1 levels in brain tissue. Histopathological examination also revealed significant neuroprotective effects of TRD in the brain.
Conclusion TRD may be a promising agent with anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects.
Exploring the Perspectives of Persons with Visual Impairments on COVID-19 Cartoons in Malawian Newspapers
Authors: Kachimanga Harriet , Ngoma Chimwemwe
Published: November 2024

Cartooning has long served as an important instrument for communicating various social issues. However, as pictures are designed to interact and are deemed more powerful than words, persons with visual impairments could be seen as not accessing the full benefits of cartoon-based communication. In the absence of assistive technologies, persons with visual impairments rely hugely on descriptions provided by others. Despite this reliance, little is known about how persons with visual impairments engage with such media when it is described to them. This study explores how persons with visual impairments understand and interpret cartoon depictions of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. Using a qualitative approach and a descriptive research design, the study employed purposive sampling through the Malawi Union of the Blind to select 30 participants. Twelve cartoons from four major Malawian newspapers were analyzed. The cartoons were described to participants, and their feedback was collected through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis of the responses identified the following key themes including the economic impact of COVID-19, scapegoating, hypocrisy and compliance, mental health, negligence in safety measures, and the gravity of the pandemic.
Drift of the Gulf Stream towards its northern limit over the last half-century
Authors: Taylor Arnold , Stephens John
Published: November 2024

The latitude of the north wall of the Gulf Stream along the US seaboard has been recorded in the Gulf Stream North Wall (GSNW) Index for over half a century from 1966 to 2023. The first half of this series shows the position fluctuating about a steady northward drift but this drift ceased in the second half. The same abrupt change is seen in the data of Joyce et al. from 200m depth which begin back to 1954 and extend further east. Monthly values of the GSNW index have been used to estimate how the occurrence of extreme meanders has changed over the 58-year period. Southern extremes follow the same pattern of change as the annual average positions but northern extremes show no northward drift. It may be the Gulf Stream has approached its northern limit. The transition has accompanied the rise in the number of warm-core rings observed by Gangopadhyay and colleagues and this may have been part of the process preventing further northward drift.
Investigating the Relationship Between Adherence to Traditional Medicine Nutritional Patterns and the Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms Among Medical Students of Shiraz Medical School
Authors: Mardani •	Maryam , Nimrouzi Majid
Published: November 2024

Background: Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM), which emphasizes dietary principles tailored to individual temperament, may offer a non-pharmacological approach to managing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. This study investigates associations between TPM dietary adherence and the prevalence of GI symptoms among medical students, a high-stress demographic prone to digestive issues.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 215 medical students from Shiraz Medical School completed validated instruments, including the Traditional Medicine Nutrition and Temperament Questionnaire, Rome III Criteria, and a Lifestyle Hygiene Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Chi-square tests and logistic regression to assess relationships between TPM adherence, temperament, and GI symptoms.
Results: Higher adherence to TPM dietary practices was significantly associated with fewer GI symptoms (p = 0.005), particularly abdominal discomfort and bloating. Females reported a higher prevalence of symptoms (p < 0.05), and dry temperament was associated with increased bloating (p = 0.21). Logistic regression highlighted TPM adherence as a protective factor, reducing symptom likelihood by 20-30%.
Conclusion: TPM dietary practices provide a feasible, non-pharmacological option for managing GI symptoms in high-stress populations. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to confirm these findings across diverse groups.
The sugary enhancer1 (se1) Allele Is Associated with Significant Decreases in Carotenoids and Tocotrienols in Yellow (Y1) sugary1 (su1) Sweet Corn
Authors: Branch Carl , Baseggio Matheus , Resende Marcio , Tracy William F.
Published: November 2024

A distinctive phenotype of homozygous sugary enhancer1 (se1) sweet corn (Zea mays) inbreds and hybrids is a light-yellow color in mature kernels. Carotenoid pigments contribute to yellow endosperm color in maize and are of nutritional importance in the human diet along with the related tocochromanols, the E vitamins. Tocochromanols, including both tocopherols and tocotrienols, are antioxidants important in human nutrition and cardiovascular health. Effects of the presence of sugary enhancer1 allele on carotenoid and tocochromanol levels in homozygous su1, Y1 endosperm were evaluated in the Wisconsin Sweet Corn Diversity Panel. Although population structure was present in the panel, the majority of variation in carotenoid levels was explained by genotype at the se1 locus. se1 was associated with significant decreases in the amount of lutein (34%) and zeaxanthin (36%) and decreases of tocotrienols by 12% to 65%. There were no significant differences in β-carotene and tocopherol levels between the two groups. Given that the biosynthesis pathways for carotenoids and tocochromanols are well defined, these differences in carotenoids and tocotrienols between su1Se1 and su1se1 inbreds point to a broader role of se1 alleles in metabolic pathways beyond endosperm starch production.
Extremality as a consistency condition on subregion duality
Authors: Soni Ronak M.
Published: November 2024

In JT gravity coupled to a CFT, I argue without using the path integral that the entanglement wedge of a boundary region is bounded by a quantum extremal surface (QES). For any candidate not bounded by a QES, a unitary in the complement can make reconstruction within the candidate inconsistent with boundary causality. The case without islands is a direct consequence of subregion duality, and the case with islands can also be dealt with with a stronger assumption.
Enforcement of consumer rights protection laws and intention to reuse digital financial services among Generation Z youth: Empirical evidence from Vietnamese commercial banks
Authors: Cao Dinh Lanh , Phan Thanh Hai
Published: November 2024

Digital financial services are crucial in boosting the competitive edge of businesses and economies in numerous developing nations. This study aims to explore the factors that affect consumers’ perceptions of the implementation of consumer protection laws and their willingness to continue using digital financial services. Data were collected through interviews with 689 Gen Z consumers (born after 1996) who have used digital financial services in Vietnamese commercial banks. The results of the partial least square – structural equation modeling indicate that six factors influence attitudes toward the enforcement of consumer protection laws, in descending order: perceived benefits, understanding of legal regulations, perceived asymmetry, perceived risk, understanding of technology and digital finance, and understanding of dispute resolution. Additionally, attitudes toward law enforcement, as well as understanding of technology and digital finance, positively impact consumers’ intention to reuse digital financial services, while perceived risk has the opposite effect. Furthermore, all six independent factors impact the intention to reuse digital financial services through the mediating role of attitudes toward the enforcement of consumer protection laws. The study’s findings also lay the groundwork for policy recommendations for legislative authorities and strategic guidance for service providers and consumers in emerging markets in the future.
AcknowledgmentThis study is the result of collaboration between researchers from the University of Law, Hue University, and School of Business and Economics, Duy Tan University. The authors would like to thank both institutions for their support and facilitation in the publication of this research. This study was conducted under project code DHH2024-12-85, Decision No. 298/QĐ-ĐHH dated March 27, 2024, issued by the Director of Hue University.
Determinants of investment satisfaction among young investors in Indonesia
Authors: Colline Fredella , Rusmanto Toto , Leonarda Warganegara Dezie , R. I. Hutagaol Yanthi
Published: November 2024

Indonesian stock market is dominated by young and relatively inexperienced traders who often depend on the recommendations of influencers or bloggers in social media. This will then make them dependent and conduct frequent trading, which also means higher transaction costs that diminish their profits and increase their risks, thus decreasing investor satisfaction. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of perceived investor sophistication and social media influence on investment satisfaction mediated with perceived investment return as a mediating element. The analysis focused on young investors aged 18 to 30 who have invested in shares on the Indonesian Stock Exchange for at least one year. A quantitative method was adopted using questionnaires to collect data from 344 respondents. Furthermore, data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling – Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS) with SMART PLS 4.0 software. The results showed that both perceived investor sophistication and investment return significantly affected investment satisfaction with beta coefficients of 0.416 and 0.358, respectively. Perceived investor sophistication also significantly influenced perceived investment return with a beta coefficient of 0.557. Additionally, social media influence significantly affected perceived investment return with a beta coefficient of 0.103. This social media influence did not directly impact investment satisfaction but through the perceived investment return, which was further found to fully mediate the impact of social media influence on investment satisfaction. Perceived investment return also partially mediated the effect of investor sophistication on Investment Satisfaction.
Rapid Synthesis of Novel Pyrazino-Pyrido-Pyrimidinones Derived from Fumiquinazoline Alkaloids
Authors: F. Marchiori Marcelo , Carvalho Ivone
Published: November 2024

2,5-Diketopiperazines (2,5-DKPs) are valued in Medicinal Chemistry for their diverse properties and are considered privileged structures. The natural alkaloids class of fumiquinazolines, combining 2,5-DKP and quinazolinone cores within a pyrazino[1,2-b]quinazoline-3,6-dione framework, is known for its broad biological activity. Although few synthetic approaches to such structures have been explored, this study focuses on synthesizing novel fumiquinazolines analogs featuring a pyrazinopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-5,7-dione core bearing various substituents on the pyrazine moiety (C-6 and C-9), classified into three series (A, B, and C). To investigate an efficient sequential one-pot method, we used a pyridine precursor and L-amino acids in two condensation and cyclization reactions, under controlled microwave irradiations at lower temperatures than previously reported. This approach generated protected bicyclic intermediates, particularly pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one derivatives, which were smoothly deprotected, allowing for final intramolecular cyclization to yield disubstituted fumiquinazoline analogs (series A) without observed epimerization. The optimized protocol revealed greater efficiency for monosubstituted analogs (series B and C), speeding up the tricyclic products synthesis without the need for intermediates isolation and deprotection. Overall, this study demonstrates the incorporation of diverse protected amino acids, featuring different electronic and structural side chains, via a rapid and effective sequential one-pot strategy, resulting in the synthesis of 19 novel fumiquinazoline analogs.
Lipid Composition and Cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β1 Evaluation of Prebiotic Ice Cream Containing Human Milk
Authors: C. Castro Matheus , S. Alves Eloize , F. Saqueti Bruno Henrique , R. Ferreira Cintia Stephany , V. Zacarias Joana Maira , L. Visentainer Jeane Eliete , S. Madrona Grasiele , O. Santos Oscar , V. Visentainer Jesui
Published: November 2024

Human milk (HM) is recognized as an ideal nutritional source to meet the developmental needs of babies. However, a significant portion does not meet quality standards for immediate consumption, rendering it an interesting raw material for the production of by-products. This study aimed to evaluate the lipid composition and cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) in ice cream containing HM. Three formulations were developed: F1 with 93.46% HM, F2 with 46.73% cows’ milk and 46.73% HM, and F3 with 46.73% infant formula and 46.73% HM. Fatty acids (FA) and their nutritional quality, the triacylglycerol (TAG) profile, and the concentrations of cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β1 were analyzed. F1 and F3 exhibited the highest concentrations of essential FAs (18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3) compared to F2. This trend extended to eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid, with higher values in F1 (10.62 ± 0.26) and F3 (11.16 ± 0.28) versus F2 (3.67 ± 0.18). Both cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β1, present in the ice creams, experienced a decrease in concentration due to the processing of the raw materials. Therefore, ice creams produced with HM have promising potential, making them recommended for use, providing a new destination for waste, and creating a novel product that can be used as a complementary food.
Comparative life cycle assessment of on-site sanitation systems using lagoons or drying beds for fecal sludge treatment in low-income tropical countries
Authors: Jean-Baptiste Davidson , Monette Frédéric
Published: November 2024

Environmental challenges in low-income countries, such as Haiti, persist due to inadequate sanitation infrastructure. This study assesses the environmental impacts of nine on-site sanitation systems to identify those with the least environmental impacts and explore improvement options. Nine scenarios were developed, each representing different systems for managing 1 ton of fecal sludge over 1 year. The ‘Impact World + ’ and ‘IPCC 2013 GWP 100a’ methods evaluated impacts on ecosystems, human health, and climate change. Data sources included interviews, weighing records, and scientific publications. Results show that Scenario 8 (Flush Toilet – Evacuation – Planted Drying Beds) is most impactful on health (1.17 × 10−2 DALY), while Scenario 1 (Composting Toilet – Evacuation – Unplanted Drying Beds) is least impactful (1.77 × 10−3 DALY). For ecosystem impacts, Scenario 2 (Container-based Toilet – Evacuation – Planted Drying Beds) is most impactful (3.81 × 103 PDF·m2·year), while Scenario 6 (VIP latrine – Evacuation – Lagoons) is least impactful (3.52 × 103 PDF·m2·year). Key hotspots include toilet paper, wood shavings, GHG emissions, and water use. The study recommends an integrated approach combining environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) with life cycle cost assessment and social LCA for sustainable decision-making on sanitation systems in low-income countries.
Reportaż radiowy w czasie pandemii
Authors: Białek Monika
Published: November 2024

Reportaż radiowy, gatunek dziennikarski z pogranicza informacji, publicystyki i sztuki, żywo zareagował na zmiany społeczne wywołane czasem epidemii.  Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie tego, w jaki sposób stan izolacji (sytuacja społeczna, zewnętrzna) wpłynął na zmiany w reportażu radiowym (zmiany w obrębie gatunku). Materiał badawczy stanowią reportaże radiowe, zrealizowane i wyemitowane w Polskim Radiu, które powstały w okresie izolacji społecznej zarządzonej w czasie pandemii, czyli w roku 2020. Szczegółowej analizie poddano sześć reportaży dźwiękowych, zrealizowanych przez dziennikarzy związanych ze Studiem Reportażu i Dokumentu Polskiego Radia w Warszawie. W artykule przedstawiono, jak zmienił się proces twórczy w zakresie wyboru tematu, zbierania materiałów oraz sposoby realizacji.
Teoria cywilizacji w koncepcji Feliksa Konecznego. Refleksje prawne, etyczne i teologiczne
Authors: Rosa Jacek , Badźmirowska-Masłowska Katarzyna
Published: November 2024

Współczesne wyzwania rodzą potrzebę jasnego zrozumienia wartości słowa w jego pełnym znaczeniu, które zakłada odpowiedzialności i trudności jakimi wiąże się pojęcie cywilizacji. W powyższym artykule zostaną przedstawione wybrane myśli dotyczące spojrzenia Feliksa Konecznego na rozumienie, czym jest cywilizacja. Autorzy próbują te refleksje dotyczące cywilizacji ująć z trzech płaszczyzn: prawnej, etycznej i teologicznej.
Emerging Challenges and Innovations in the Management of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae Infections in Hospital Settings”
Authors: Sathyanarayana Pravalika , Y. Sharadadevi Mannur , Mudigubba Manoj Kumar , Lingaiah Mahadevamma
Published: November 2024

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae represent a crucial global public health issue. The challenges associated with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are multifac-eted. This review article aims to explore and comprehend the emerging challenges and the latest developments in the management of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infec-tions. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Studies published from database inception until May 2024 were included. Articles were selected based on relevance, study design, and quality. Data from clinical trials, observational studies, and reviews were synthesized to provide a detailed over-view of the current state of knowledge on carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. The re-view identifies key epidemiological trends, including geographic variations and risk factors associated with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Mechanisms of resistance are elu-cidated, focusing on carbapenemase production and other related factors. Current treatment options are assessed, with an emphasis on newer antibiotic combinations such as ceftazidime/avibactam, meropenem/vaborbactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam, and cefepime/en-metazobactam. The review also highlights emerging therapeutic approaches, including novel antibiotics and non-traditional approaches like phage therapy, fecal microbiota transplanta-tion, probiotics, antimicrobial peptides, vaccines, and herbal drugs. Additionally, the review also reflects on effective infection prevention and control strategies. While research efforts to explore newer combinations and alternate approaches to treat carbapenem-resistant Entero-bacteriaceae infections are crucial, the importance of stringent infection prevention and con-trol strategies cannot be overstated. This dual focus is essential to address both the immediate and long-term challenges posed by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae
The Present Difficulties and Potential Benefits of Dopaminergic Agents in Parkinson's Disease Treatment
Authors: Kumar Shivendra , Bharadwaj Harsh , Saha Sunam , Singh Kuldeep , Kumar Parshant , Arora Swamita , Chandra Deep , Vij Deepali , Srivastava Shilpa , Gupta Kapil , Srivastava Ashish
Published: November 2024

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition characterized by bradykinesia,
rigidity, tremors, and impaired balance, among other motor impairments. The issue arises
from dopaminergic neurons located in the spinal column of the brain. This research report examines
the therapeutic potential of dopaminergic medications in the management of Parkinson's disease.
The central concept of Parkinson's disease (PD) revolves around the notion that dopaminergic
pathways exert significant influence over the regulation of movement. The book examines various
dopaminergic medications, elucidating their mechanisms of action and the impact they exert on dopamine
signaling. Examples of these medications include levodopa, dopamine agonists, and monoamine
oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors. Although dopaminergic medicines initially aid in the treatment
of Parkinson's disease (PD), prolonged usage of these medications gives rise to several complications.
Experiencing dyskinesias and motor fluctuations, characterized by episodes of involuntary
movements and behaviors that are undesired, is a significant challenge. This study investigates
the underlying causes of these difficulties and explores potential treatment options, including the
use of controlled-release formulations and further therapy. The book discusses the non-motor symptoms
of Parkinson's disease (PD), as well as the use of dopaminergic medications to treat mood disorders,
autonomic dysfunction, and cognitive loss. Dopaminergic medications remain crucial in reducing
motor symptoms and enhancing the quality of life for those with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's
disease (PD) is a complex condition with multiple distinct variations. In order to address its
existing challenges and explore its potential implications for future Parkinson's disease medications,
a comprehensive and effectively coordinated strategy is required.
Performance Analysis of EMG Signal Classification Methods for Hand Gesture Recognition in Stroke Rehabilitation
Authors: Winursito Anggun , Arifin Fatchul , Muslikhin Muslikhin , Artanto Herjuna , Caryn Femilia Hardina
Published: November 2024

This study evaluates the performance of different classification methods in classifying healthy individuals and stroke patients. The hand gesture variations of the subjects were also analyzed based on electromyography (EMG) signals. Several classification methods were tested in this analysis to find out which method had the most suitable performance. The results showed that Decision Tree and Naive Bayes classifiers achieved the highest performance in classifying EMG signals from healthy individuals and stroke patients, with both methods showing high accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. Specifically, Decision Tree excelled in overall accuracy and recall, while Naive Bayes showed superior precision. For hand gesture recognition, SVM, KNN, and Random Forest classifiers showed similarly high performance, achieving accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score above 82%. Naive Bayes also performed well, especially in precision, while Decision Tree performed poorly compared to other methods. This insight can form the basis for the development of more effective and personalized rehabilitation systems for stroke patients, by utilizing reliable and accurate EMG signal classification
The Implementation of Occupational Health and Safety Using Zerosicks in Indonesia Vocational Education
Authors: Ismara Ketut Ima , Kurniawan Arie Wibowo , Kasjono Heru Subaris , Zamtinah Zamtinah , Mustaqim Bima , Fathurrahman Haris Imam Karim , Adnanda Azka
Published: November 2024

This study aims to determine (1) the implementation of occupational health and safety (OHS) using the Zerosicks method in vocational education and (2) the significant relationship between each aspect of the countenance stake evaluation model. The model consists of 3 stages: input (Antecedent), process (Transaction), and output. Then, the population in this study involved 727 students with a sample size of 258.03, and this research was conducted in April-June 2021 at the Prambanan Muhammadiyah Vocational High School. Furthermore, the data analysis techniques used were quantitative descriptive and SEM (Structural Equation Modeling). The study findings reveal that (1) the antecedent stage, encompassing environment, hazard, risk, knowledge, and standardization indicators, is evaluated as excellent by teachers and predominantly good by students. In the Transaction stage, focusing on risk management control, solution, implementation, and culture indicators, teachers rate it as good to perfect, while students generally rate it as very good to good. Moreover, the output stage, comprising control and OHS behavior awareness indicators, is deemed outstanding by both teachers and students. (2) The indicators of the model are valid and achievable following the results of the confirmatory factor analysis, and the structure of the theoretical model fulfils the Goodness of Fit criteria for empirical data because it has six criteria. Furthermore, an antecedent has a significant effect on Transaction and OHS Output, while a Transaction has a significant effect on OHS Output.
Low-Cost Vehicle Security System Using Location Change and Vehicle Status Based on Internet of Things
Authors: Afandi Mas Aly , Purnama Sevia Indah , Wibisono Gunawan
Published: November 2024

Motor vehicle theft is a crime that can potentially harm the owner of the vehicle. This crime should be anticipated, and a security system should be implemented to avoid vehicle theft. Research about vehicle security systems has run into an uptrend. Previous research has already developed security system devices for vehicles with many peripherals. This study aims to develop a new low-cost vehicle security device with location change calculation to cut unused peripherals. The proposed device has a logic checker, horn controller, and vehicle controller as security systems. According to the testing result, the device can detect the vehicle status from off to on while the security system is active. The device will turn on the horn and turn the vehicle off. This function always works at 100%. This device also detects theft according to the location change. This feature works at a 100% rate, with an average error reading location of 4,83m and an average error distance calculation of 0,91m. This distance is tolerable because the owner can still see the vehicle. This research result proves that the device can be used to secure the vehicle. This device's performance will increase if placed outside the building. The data was also successfully sent to the IoT platform without data loss or incomplete data. Compared with other research, the proposed device has fewer peripherals with the same or more security features.
Revolutionizing Ethnographic Collection Introduction through Augmented Reality Technology in Museum
Authors: Mewengkang Alfrina , Sumual Herry , Teruna Ilyas
Published: November 2024

The North Sulawesi Provincial State Museum is one of the tourist destinations that offers a profound experience in exploring the historical, cultural, and tourism heritage of Indonesia. Visitors can learn about various valuable historical collections, including ethnographic collections, which hold significant historical value. However, the information provided about the ethnographic collection is very limited, making it challenging for visitors to understand and appreciate it. This research aims to develop an application for recognizing the museum's ethnographic collection using Augmented Reality (AR) technology, which will make it easier for visitors to obtain information about the collection. This application was designed and developed using the Multimedia Development Life Cycle (MDLC) method, which consists of six stages: conceptualization, design, material gathering, assembly, testing, and distribution. The result of this research is an Android-based AR Museum application that can display information about the ethnographic collection in the form of text, sound, and 3D images. This application can enhance the visitor experience, especially in understanding and appreciating the cultural heritage and traditions represented in the ethnographic collection of the North Sulawesi Provincial State Museum. Additionally, this application can improve the accessibility of information about the ethnographic collection and promote the museum as a center for heritage preservation, education, and culture.
Dynamic Bidirectional Associations Between Global Positioning System Mobility and Ecological Momentary Assessment of Mood Symptoms in Mood Disorders: Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Lee Ting-Yi , Chen Ching-Hsuan , Chen I-Ming , Chen Hsi-Chung , Liu Chih-Min , Wu Shu-I , Hsiao Chuhsing Kate , Kuo Po-Hsiu
Published: November 2024

Background

Although significant research has explored the digital phenotype in mood disorders, the time-lagged and bidirectional relationship between mood and global positioning system (GPS) mobility remains relatively unexplored. Leveraging the widespread use of smartphones, we examined correlations between mood and behavioral changes, which could inform future scalable interventions and personalized mental health monitoring.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the bidirectional time lag relationships between passive GPS data and active ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data collected via smartphone app technology.

Methods

Between March 2020 and May 2022, we recruited 45 participants (mean age 42.3 years, SD 12.1 years) who were followed up for 6 months: 35 individuals diagnosed with mood disorders referred by psychiatrists and 10 healthy control participants. This resulted in a total of 5248 person-days of data. Over 6 months, we collected 2 types of smartphone data: passive data on movement patterns with nearly 100,000 GPS data points per individual and active data through EMA capturing daily mood levels, including fatigue, irritability, depressed, and manic mood. Our study is limited to Android users due to operating system constraints.

Results

Our findings revealed a significant negative correlation between normalized entropy (r=–0.353; P=.04) and weekly depressed mood as well as between location variance (r=–0.364; P=.03) and depressed mood. In participants with mood disorders, we observed bidirectional time-lagged associations. Specifically, changes in homestay were positively associated with fatigue (β=0.256; P=.03), depressed mood (β=0.235; P=.01), and irritability (β=0.149; P=.03). A decrease in location variance was significantly associated with higher depressed mood the following day (β=–0.015; P=.009). Conversely, an increase in depressed mood was significantly associated with reduced location variance the next day (β=–0.869; P<.001). These findings suggest a dynamic interplay between mood symptoms and mobility patterns.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the potential of utilizing active EMA data to assess mood levels and passive GPS data to analyze mobility behaviors, with implications for managing disease progression in patients. Monitoring location variance and homestay can provide valuable insights into this process. The daily use of smartphones has proven to be a convenient method for monitoring patients’ conditions. Interventions should prioritize promoting physical movement while discouraging prolonged periods of staying at home.