bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Life Cycle Assessment of Plant-Based vs. Beef Burgers: A Case Study in the UK
Authors: Tang Meshach , Miri Taghi , Soltani Fakhteh , Onyeaka Helen , Al-Sharify Zainab T.
Published: May 2024

As the world attempts to decarbonise the food industry and limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, plant-based meat analogues (PBMAs) have emerged as a sustainable alternative to traditional meat. The objective of this study is to assess the environmental impacts of PBMAs compared to traditional beef burgers, aiming to address the research gap in the life cycle assessments (LCAs) of publicly available PBMA recipes. Utilising a cradle-to-fork system boundary, this research conducted a rigorous LCA on a 100 g plant-based burger patty and its beef burger (BB) counterpart, each produced in the UK but sourced from different global locations. The results demonstrated that the plant-based burger had significantly lower environmental impacts across several categories, including a 65% reduction in global warming potential and a 45% reduction in water consumption. A simple extrapolation illustrated that if the UK population switched from beef to meat analogue patties, 3 million tonnes of CO2e could be saved annually, corresponding to 0.74% of the country’s yearly territorial GHG emissions. Scenario analyses displayed how the environmental impact of the MA patty remained stable regardless of changes in exportation, ingredient origin or soy protein sourcing. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis conducted with an alternative characterisation method corroborated the initial findings, whilst uncertainty analysis ensured that nearly all of the conclusions generated from the original comparison were robust. Future studies should conduct LCAs on PBMA patties with commercial recipes using varied plant-based sources, as well as fully understanding any potential health implications of long-term PBMA consumption.
Optimal Allocation of Capacitor Banks and Distributed Generation: A Comparison of Recently Developed Metaheuristic Optimization Techniques on the Real Distribution Networks of ALG-AB-Hassi Sida, Algeria
Authors: Fettah Khaled , Guia Talal , Salhi Ahmed , Mouassa Souhil , Bosisio Alessandro , Shirvani Rouzbeh
Published: May 2024

Recent advancements in renewable energy technologies, alongside changes in utility infrastructure and progressive government policies, have bolstered the integration of renewable-based distributed generation units within distribution systems. This paper introduces the Energy Valley Optimizer, a novel tool designed for the strategic placement of distributed generation units and capacitor banks. This placement is crucial not only for optimizing energy loss and enhancing bus voltage stability but also for promoting sustainable energy use and reducing environmental impact over the long term. By minimizing energy loss and voltage fluctuations, the optimizer contributes to a more sustainable and resilient energy system. It achieves this through the optimal allocation of resources across various load patterns within a 24 h period and is tested on the ALG-AB-Hassi-Sida 157-bus distribution network in South Algeria. Comparative analysis with existing algorithms—such as the Liver Cancer Algorithm, Walrus Optimization Algorithm, and Zebra Optimization Algorithm—demonstrates the superior performance of the Energy Valley Optimizer. It not only enhances technical and economic efficiencies but also significantly lowers the total cost of energy over 24 years, thus supporting sustainable development goals in energy management.
Dynamics of Heat Island Intensity in a Rapidly Urbanizing Area and the Cooling Effect of Ecological Land: A Case Study in Suzhou, Yangtze River Delta
Authors: Sun Jingyi , Li Haidong , Xiao Ruya , Yao Guohui , Zou Fengli
Published: May 2024

Ecological land could play an important function in climate regulation to mitigate urban heat islands (UHIs) and enhance the quality of the living environment. In this work, we chose Suzhou as our case study for urban agglomeration in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), eastern China. In this city, we analyzed the dynamics of heat island intensity from 2000 to 2021 by retrieving land surface temperature (LST). Subsequently, we examined the relationship between the urban thermal environment pattern and land use change, and finally, we explored the cooling effect provided by ecological land. The results indicated that, in 2000, the city’s UHI effect primarily centered around the central urban region as a singular patch; however, since 2014, the patch UHI effect in the central urban region has been mitigated, and the original small hotspots have converged into a large, contiguous expanse spreading outward. As the shift has occurred from low- to high-temperature zones, the proportion of conversion between ecological land has been decreasing, while the opposite trend has been seen for the proportions of ecological land transferred out and for unchanged artificial surfaces. The normalized difference built-up index was found to be the main contributor to the UHI effect, followed by the normalized difference vegetation index. These findings provide novel insights into the regulation of ecosystem services during urban expansion and offer a reference for improving the function of the cooling effect through urban renewal activities and the optimization of spatial planning.
Are Natural Resources Harmful to the Ecology? Fresh Insights from Middle East and North African Resource-Abundant Countries
Authors: Touati Kamel , Ben-Salha Ousama
Published: May 2024

The Middle East and North African (MENA) region is among the regions most impacted by global warming and climate change. At the same time, the region accounts for 58% of global oil reserves and 43% of global natural gas reserves. It is, therefore, important to assess the role of natural resource abundance in the environmental degradation faced by MENA resource-abundant countries. This study contributes to this research area by exploring the short- and long-term repercussions of natural resources on the ecological footprint (EFP) of eight resource-rich MENA countries between 2000 and 2021. The research performs both aggregate and disaggregate assessments by considering the total resource rents, as well as specific rents of oil, natural gas, and minerals. The pooled mean group estimator indicates that a rise of 1% in total natural resources induces an increase of 0.053% in the EFP, implying that natural resources are harmful to the environment. The disaggregate analysis shows that oil rents have the most adverse environmental effects in the long run, followed by natural gas. Finally, mineral rents are determined to be neutral vis-à-vis the environment. In light of these findings, policy recommendations for reducing the adverse environmental impacts of natural resources are suggested.
Crowdfunding in Portugal—Using the Raize Platform to Ensure the Sustainability of Companies and Projects
Authors: Torres Bruno , Serrasqueiro Zélia , Oliveira Márcio
Published: May 2024

This study aims to analyse the reasons why entrepreneurs choose to use collaborative financing through the Raize platform to finance their companies or projects through peer-to-peer crowdfunding (loans). This study is pertinent because it deals with an innovative, differentiated topic that presents itself as a possible disruptive form of financing and an alternative to traditional bank financing. Its use and significant take-up and the rapid and continuous growth of users on this type of crowdfunding platform is a strong sign of the need to better understand and study this phenomenon, its benefits, weaknesses, gaps and future mutations. Based on a comprehensive literature review and sound research methods such as exploratory qualitative multiple-case analysis, the aim is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the reasons why entrepreneurs and businesses choose crowdfunding through the Raize platform as a financing alternative. The aims of this study are to understand how financial accessibility, trust in the investor community, ease of use of the platform, competitiveness of fees and preference for crowdfunding over bank financing influence entrepreneurs’ decision to fund themselves through the Raize platform. The results reveal that entrepreneurs opt for the Raize platform due to a combination of factors. These reasons, clearly highlighted, provide a deeper understanding of entrepreneurs’ decision making in relation to financing their projects through crowdfunding. This study not only contributes to the literature on crowdfunding and entrepreneurship, but also offers practical pointers for entrepreneurs looking to obtain funding through a new financing system that is offered through the Raize platform, as it continues to support innovation and business growth in Portugal. Such funding contributes to and enhances the sustainability of companies in terms of their funding profile and attractive positioning in the market.
Comparative Numerical Analysis of Keyhole Shape and Penetration Depth in Laser Spot Welding of Aluminum with Power Wave Modulation
Authors: SaediArdahaei Saeid , Pham Xuan-Tan
Published: May 2024

Keyhole mode laser welding is a valuable technique for welding thick materials in industrial applications. However, its susceptibility to fluctuations and instabilities poses challenges, leading to defects that compromise weld quality. Observing the keyhole during laser welding is challenging due to bright process radiation, and existing observation methods are complex and expensive. This paper alternatively presents a novel numerical modeling approach for laser spot welding of aluminum through a modified mixture theory, a modified level-set (LS) method, and a thermal enthalpy porosity technique. The effects of laser parameters on keyhole penetration depth are investigated, with a focus on laser power, spot radius, frequency, and pulse wave modulation in pulsed wave (PW) versus continuous wave (CW) laser welding. PW laser welding involves the careful modulation of power waves, specifically adjusting the pulse width, pulse number, and pulse shapes. Results indicate a greater than 80 percent increase in the keyhole penetration depth with higher laser power, pulse width, and pulse number, as well as decreased spot radius. Keyhole instabilities are also more pronounced with higher pulse width/numbers and frequencies. Notably, the rectangular pulse shape demonstrates substantially deeper penetration compared to CW welding and other pulse shapes. This study enhances understanding of weld pool dynamics and provides insights into optimizing laser welding parameters to mitigate defects and improve weld quality.
Sensitive Detection and Differentiation of Biologically Active Ricin and Abrin in Complex Matrices via Specific Neutralizing Antibody-Based Cytotoxicity Assay
Authors: Li Zhi , Ma Bo , Gong Mengqiang , Guo Lei , Wang Lili , Xu Hua , Xie Jianwei
Published: May 2024

Ricin and abrin are highly potent plant-derived toxins, categorized as type II ribosome-inactivating proteins. High toxicity, accessibility, and the lack of effective countermeasures make them potential agents in bioterrorism and biowarfare, posing significant threats to public safety. Despite the existence of many effective analytical strategies for detecting these two lethal toxins, current methods are often hindered by limitations such as insufficient sensitivity, complex sample preparation, and most importantly, the inability to distinguish between biologically active and inactive toxin. In this study, a cytotoxicity assay was developed to detect active ricin and abrin based on their potent cell-killing capability. Among nine human cell lines derived from various organs, HeLa cells exhibited exceptional sensitivity, with limits of detection reaching 0.3 ng/mL and 0.03 ng/mL for ricin and abrin, respectively. Subsequently, toxin-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies MIL50 and 10D8 were used to facilitate the precise identification and differentiation of ricin and abrin. The method provides straightforward and sensitive detection in complex matrices including milk, plasma, coffee, orange juice, and tea via a simple serial-dilution procedure without any complex purification and enrichment steps. Furthermore, this assay was successfully applied in the unambiguous identification of active ricin and abrin in samples from OPCW biotoxin exercises.
The Dual-Pseudotyped Lentiviral Vector with VSV-G and Sendai Virus HN Enhances Infection Efficiency through the Synergistic Effect of the Envelope Proteins
Authors: Jargalsaikhan Bat-Erdene , Muto Masanaga , Been Youngeun , Matsumoto Shoma , Okamura Eiichi , Takahashi Tadanobu , Narimichi Yutaka , Kurebayashi Yuuki , Takeuchi Hideyuki , Shinohara Takashi , Yamamoto Ryo , Ema Masatsugu
Published: May 2024

A gene delivery system utilizing lentiviral vectors (LVs) requires high transduction efficiency for successful application in human gene therapy. Pseudotyping allows viral tropism to be expanded, widening the usage of LVs. While vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSV-G) single-pseudotyped LVs are commonly used, dual-pseudotyping is less frequently employed because of its increased complexity. In this study, we examined the potential of phenotypically mixed heterologous dual-pseudotyped LVs with VSV-G and Sendai virus hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (SeV-HN) glycoproteins, termed V/HN-LV. Our findings demonstrated the significantly improved transduction efficiency of V/HN-LV in various cell lines of mice, cynomolgus monkeys, and humans compared with LV pseudotyped with VSV-G alone. Notably, V/HN-LV showed higher transduction efficiency in human cells, including hematopoietic stem cells. The efficient incorporation of wild-type SeV-HN into V/HN-LV depended on VSV-G. SeV-HN removed sialic acid from VSV-G, and the desialylation of VSV-G increased V/HN-LV infectivity. Furthermore, V/HN-LV acquired the ability to recognize sialic acid, particularly N-acetylneuraminic acid on the host cell, enhancing LV infectivity. Overall, VSV-G and SeV-HN synergistically improve LV transduction efficiency and broaden its tropism, indicating their potential use in gene delivery.
Development of a Fully Protective Pandemic Avian Influenza Subunit Vaccine in Insect Pupae
Authors: Falcón Ana , Martínez-Pulgarín Susana , López-Serrano Sergi , Reytor Edel , Cid Miguel , Nuñez Maria , Córdoba Lorena , Darji Ayub , Escribano José
Published: May 2024

In this study, we pioneered an alternative technology for manufacturing subunit influenza hemagglutinin (HA)-based vaccines. This innovative method involves harnessing the pupae of the Lepidoptera Trichoplusia ni (T. ni) as natural biofactories in combination with baculovirus vectors (using CrisBio® technology). We engineered recombinant baculoviruses encoding two versions of the HA protein (trimeric or monomeric) derived from a pandemic avian H7N1 virus A strain (A/chicken/Italy/5093/99). These were then used to infect T. ni pupae, resulting in the production of the desired recombinant antigens. The obtained HA proteins were purified using affinity chromatography, consistently yielding approximately 75 mg/L of insect extract. The vaccine antigen effectively immunized poultry, which were subsequently challenged with a virulent H7N1 avian influenza virus. Following infection, all vaccinated animals survived without displaying any clinical symptoms, while none of the mock-vaccinated control animals survived. The CrisBio®-derived antigens induced high titers of HA-specific antibodies in the vaccinated poultry, demonstrating hemagglutination inhibition activity against avian H7N1 and human H7N9 viruses. These results suggest that the CrisBio® technology platform has the potential to address major industry challenges associated with producing recombinant influenza subunit vaccines, such as enhancing production yields, scalability, and the speed of development, facilitating the global deployment of highly effective influenza vaccines.
Stick–Slip Suppression in Drill String Systems Using a Novel Adaptive Sliding Mode Control Approach
Authors: Zribi Fourat , Sidhom Lilia , Gharib Mohamed
Published: May 2024

A novel control technique is presented in this paper, which is based on a first-order adaptive sliding mode that ensures convergence in a finite time without any prior information on the upper limits of the parametric uncertainties and/or external disturbances. Based on an exponent reaching law, this controller uses two dynamically adaptive control gains. Once the sliding mode is reached, the dynamic gains decrease in order to loosen the system’s constraints, which guarantees minimal control effort. The proof of convergence was demonstrated according to Lyapunov’s criterion. The proposed algorithm was applied to a drill string system to evaluate its performance because such systems present variable operating conditions caused by, for example, the type of rock. The effectiveness of the proposed controller was evaluated by conducting a comparative study that involved comparing it against a commonly used sliding mode controller, as well as other recent adaptive sliding mode control techniques. The different mathematical performance measures included energy consumption. The proposed algorithm had the best performance measures with the lowest energy consumption and it was able to significantly improve the functioning of the drill string system. The results indicated that the proposed controller had 20% less chattering than the classic SM controller. Finally, the proposed controller was the most robust to uncertainties in system parameters and external disturbances, thus demonstrating the auto-adjustable features of the controller.
Advances in Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites for Water and Wastewater Treatment: A Review
Authors: Tripathy Jasaswini , Mishra Akanshya , Pandey Mayank , Thakur Rakesh Ranjan , Chand Sasmita , Rout Prangya Ranjan , Shahid Muhammad Kashif
Published: May 2024

Addressing water scarcity and pollution is imperative in tackling global environmental challenges, prompting the exploration of innovative techniques for effective water and wastewater treatment. Nanotechnology presents promising solutions through the customization of nanoparticles and nanocomposites specifically designed for water purification applications. This review delves into recent advancements in nanoparticle-based technologies for water treatment, with a particular focus on their synthesis methodologies, intrinsic properties, and versatile applications. A wide range of nanoparticles, ranging from metal nanoparticles to carbon-based nanomaterials, along with hybrid nanocomposites such as metal/metal oxide-based nanocomposites, polymer-based nanocomposites, and others, were emphasized for eliminating contaminants from water and wastewater matrices. Furthermore, this review elucidates the underlying mechanisms governing pollutant removal processes, encompassing adsorption, catalysis, and membrane filtration, facilitated by nanoparticles. Additionally, it explores the environmental implications and challenges associated with the widespread deployment of nanoparticle-based water-treatment technologies. By amalgamating existing research findings, this review provides valuable insights into the potential of nanoparticles and nanocomposites in mitigating water-related challenges and presents recommendations for future research trajectories and technological advancements in this domain.
Landscape Pattern Changes of Aquatic Vegetation Communities and Their Response to Hydrological Processes in Poyang Lake, China
Authors: Zhu Zhengtao , Wang Huilin , Yang Zhonghua , Huai Wenxin , Huang Dong , Chen Xiaohong
Published: May 2024

Hydrology is an important environmental factor for the evolution of wetland landscape patterns. In the past 20 years, Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, has experienced significant inundation shrinkage and water level decrease, posing a significant threat to the local vegetation community. To explore the potential relationship between aquatic vegetation and hydrological processes in the recent hydrological situation, in this study, the landscape patterns of aquatic vegetation communities in Poyang Lake were studied using time-series Landsat remote sensing images and a support vector machine classifier. The stepwise regression analysis method was adopted to analyze the relationship between the vegetation area and hydrological factors. The results indicated that the area of submerged and emergent vegetation in the entire lake decreased significantly from 2001 to 2017, whereas the area of moist vegetation showed a remarkably increasing trend. The average distribution elevation of the submerged vegetation increased by 0.06 m per year. The corresponding landscape patterns showed that the degree of fragmentation of aquatic vegetation communities in Poyang Lake increased. Several hydrological factors were selected to quantify the potential impact of water level fluctuations. The correlation analysis results indicated that hydrological conditions during the rising- and high-water periods may be the key factors affecting the area of aquatic vegetation. This study systematically investigated the evolution of vegetation communities in Poyang Lake wetlands over the past two decades, which contributes to the protection and management of this unique ecosystem.
Research on Stability Control of Distributed Drive Vehicle with Four-Wheel Steering
Authors: Zhang Jiahao , Liu Chengye , Zhao Jingbo , Liu Haimei
Published: May 2024

The four-wheel steering distributed drive vehicle is a novel type of vehicle with independent control over the four-wheel angle and wheel torque. A method for jointly controlling the distribution of the wheel angle and torque is proposed based on this characteristic. Firstly, the two-degrees-of-freedom model and ideal reference model of four-wheel steering vehicle are established; then, the four-wheel steering controller and torque distribution controller are designed. The rear wheel angle is controlled by the feedforward controller and the feedback controller. The feedforward controller takes the side slip angle of the center of mass as the control target, and the feedback controller takes the yaw angle as the control target. Torque is controlled by two control layers, the additional yaw moment of the upper layer is calculated by the vehicle motion state and fuzzy control theory, and the lower layer distributes wheel torque through the road adhesion coefficient and wheel load. Finally, a simulation platform is established to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm.
Prognostic and Predictive Value of Memory T-cells in Peripheral Blood in Patients with Inoperable or Metastatic Melanoma
Authors:   N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Novik A.V. , Kudryavtsev I.V. , Nekhayeva T.L. , Yemelyanova N.V. , Danilova A.B. , Yefremova N.A. , Anokhina Ye.M. , Semyonova А.I. , Latipova D.Kh. ,   Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Teletayeva G.M. , Protsenko S.A. , Balduyeva I.A.
Published: May 2024

The generation, differentiation and maintenance of memory T-cells in the functionally optimal state is crucial for the effectiveness of the formation of antitumor immunity, including against the background of the use of immuno-oncological drugs in melanoma. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that the level of T-cells in the peripheral blood can serve as a marker of the therapy and survival of patients with melanoma effectiveness
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients with Primary Melanoma: Single Centre Experience
Authors:   N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ebert M.A. , Zinovyev G.V. , Gafton G.I. , Chuglova D.A. , Artemyeva A.S. , Popovich A.S. , Krzhivitsky P.I. , Gafton I.G. , Sinyachkin M.S. , Romanova S.G.
Published: May 2024

Evaluation of sentinel lymph node (SLN) is crucial for cutaneous melanoma staging and treatment in patients with clinically negative lymph nodes. We evaluated patients’ outcome who underwent SLN biopsy (SLNB) in NMRC of N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology for skin melanoma between July of 2018 and March of 2021. SLNB was performed in 310 patients with an average age of 53.6 years. 67.4% of patients were female and 32.6% were male. The stage distribution was following: pT1 – 65 (21%), pT2 – 103 (33.2%), pT3 – 84 (27%), pT4 – 58 (18.8%). SLNB was performed with excision of the primary tumor in 71 cases (22.9%), delayed – 239 (77.1%). Average amount of days between excisional biopsy and re-excision of a postoperative scar with SLNB was 44.8 (range 12 to 190 days). Metastasis was detected in 42 cases (13.5%). In 7 cases SLNB was performed simultaneously with excision of the primary skin melanoma, in 35 cases it was delayed. After detection of metastasis in SLN, 100% of patients receive immunotherapy in various modes. The median follow-up time was 13.1 months (range 1 to 27 months). In ῾negative’ SLN group there were 3 cases of regional lymph node disease (in 6, 8 and 12 months, respectively). In all cases metastasis was recorded in the lymphatic collector, in which the SLN was removed. 5 patients had true scar recurrence. SLNB is an effective method for early diagnosis of regional metastases, which allows to start systemic treatment and improve patient’s outcome.
Immunotherapy of Metastatic Melanoma Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Authors:   Saint-Petersburg State University, Zhukova N.V. , Orlova R.V. , Kaledina Ye.A. , Malkova A.M. , Naymushina P.A. , Belyak N.P. , Demchenkova A.S. ,   City Clinical Oncology Center, Saint-Petersburg
Published: May 2024

For a long time, the main drug for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma remained dacarbazine, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1975. This method of treatment could hardly guarantee the significant increase in overall survival. Taking in account the high immunogenicity of melanoma, back in the XIX and XX centuries, scientists began to develop immuno-oncological drugs aimed at activating antitumor immunity. Many studies were conducted before the goal was achieved. So in the arsenal of an oncologist there appeared check-point inhibitors – which are in fact the most effective method of treating melanoma, which radically changed the prognosis of the disease.
Possibilities of Cytological Examination of Exudates from Serous Cavities in the Diagnosis of Oncopathology in a Multidisciplinary Hospital
Authors:   Krasnodar Scientific Research Institute – Regional Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after S.V. Ochapovsky, Pavlyuk K.S. , Leonov M.G. , Slavnova E.N. , Sinitskaya T.V. , Gospirovich O.V. , Artemova E.A. ,   Novorossiysk Oncological Dispensary No. 3,   Kuban State Medical University,   P.A. Herzen Moscow Research Oncological Institute, Akobyan A.V.
Published: May 2024

Cytological criteria of tumors in exudate fluids are associated with certain subjective difficulties, one of which is the differential diagnosis of proliferating mesothelial and malignant neoplasm cells. The study aimed to show the possibilities of cytological examination of exudates from serous cavities in the diagnosis of oncopathology. Material and methods. From 2018 to 2021, 10,082 serous cavity effusions (pleural – 8,166 (81%), abdominal cavity – 1,512 (15%), pericardial – 404 (4%)) were included in the cytological examination. Microscopic examination of traditional preparations was carried out, and immunocytochemical (ICC) examination was carried out in difficult diagnostic situations. Results. Analysis of the study showed that by the traditional cytological method in effusion fluids in women, metastatic lesions of the serous cavities were diagnosed in 672 cases (58%), mainly due to the progression of breast cancer (26%). In men, pleurisy was mainly due to metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the lung – 266 cases (23%). ICC research increased the diagnostic accuracy of cytological examination by 62–93% and the specificity – by 95–99%. Conclusions. An algorithm has been developed for conducting ICS studies, differing in the number of monoclonal antibodies used, to determine the histological form of a malignant tumor and the source organ of metastasis. In specific cases, conducting ICR studies with 2–3 monoclonal antibodies may be quite enough to confirm the histological form of the tumor and, where necessary, perform additional ICR studies without significant loss of time for obtaining results.
Experience in Organizing a Reference Center for Double Reading of Mammographic Images in the Krasnoyarsk Territory
Authors:   V.F. Voyno-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Safontsev I.P. , Zukov R.A. , Permyakova K.D. , Merkulova N.A. , Suvorova M.A. ,   A.I. Kryzhanovsky Krasnoyarsk Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary
Published: May 2024

Early detection of breast cancer with the help of systematic mammographic screening makes it possible to identify lesions whose treatment is more effective and, in general, more favorable for the quality of life. The further tactics of diagnosis and treatment depend on the timeliness and correctness of the diagnosis. The quality control of the research should be carried out by experts of specialized reference centers. The article presents the experience of the Krasnoyarsk Territory on the double reading of mammograms.
Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Population Screening of Skin Tumors
Authors:   Privolzhsky Research Medical University, Nizhny Novgorod, Uskova K.A. , Garanina O.E. , Ukharov A.O. , Klemenova I.A. , Gamayunov S.V. , Mironycheva A.M. , Dardyk V.I. , Burdakov A.V. , Shlivko I.L. ,   Bauman Moscow State Technical University,   Nizhny Novgorod Regional Oncology Center,   "AIMED" Limited liability company, Moscow,   Рeoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Stepanova Ya.L. , Sayfullina V.A. , Korotkiy S.S.
Published: May 2024

BCC/SCC and melanoma are the most common types of skin cancer. Low public awareness, unavailability of local professional dermatological expertise, and ineffective screening programs prevent early detection critical for successful treatment. Aim. Evaluate capabilities of AI-powered mobile application for population screening. Materials and methods. We proposed a free mobile application for regular skin self-examination based on AI analysis of photos taken using a smartphone enriched with demographic data and risk factors. Our model provides a binary output (malignant/benign), encouraging people to see dermatologists for an in-depth examination if a risk of a malignant skin tumor is detected. Results. We received and processed 500,000+ images of skin neoplasms taken by 290,000 users from 86 regions of the Russian Federation from 01.2021 to 12.2022. The images were accompanied by demographic data and responses to a questionnaire on cancer risk factors. 5,957 cases of BCC/SCC and 7,622 cases of melanoma were detected. Analysis of the campaign results revealed a significantly higher prevalence of malignant skin tumors per 100,000 population. Our results exposed a much younger average age of skin cancer patients in both men and women populations compared to official statistics, with a difference of 15 years. Conclusion. The AI-based mobile application proved to be a feasible vehicle for skin cancer mass screening campaigns requiring no significant investment from the public health authorities. The proposed tool provides an efficient way to increase public awareness about skin cancer and associated risk factors as well as encourages people to seek dermatologists’ help in case of skin cancer risk.
Anatomical characteristics and clinical rationale of endobiliary surgeries for benign obstructional jaundice
Authors:   Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, Kashaeva M. D. , Proshin A. V. ,   Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University,   City Clinical Hospital named after V.V. Veresaev, Proshina L. G. ,   Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, Shvetsov D. A. ,   Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, Dyukov D. S. ,   Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University
Published: May 2024

Variants of the anatomical structure of the bile ducts were studied based on endobiliary cholangiography performed in 150 patients who were treated in surgical clinics with a diagnosis of obstructive jaundice of non-tumor etiology, and a retrospective and prospective analysis of the results of their treatment was carried out. The study included the sequence of treatment and diagnostic techniques, the content of preoperative preparation and the alternation of various minimally invasive endobiliary operations. The patients were divided into control and main groups. The control group consisted of 30 patients who were operated on immediately after short-term preoperative preparation; they underwent cholecystectomy, choledocholithotomy with external drainage of the common bile duct. The main group included 120 patients who, along with special preoperative preparation, underwent two- or three-stage surgical interventions on the biliary tract. Various variants of the structure of both extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts were identified, which were taken into account during the surgery and the formation of endobiliary approaches. Decompression of the biliary tract was carried out on the second or third day against the background of active infusion therapy, which continued in the postoperative period. The use of the method of percutaneous transhepatic decompression of the biliary tract using external-internal drainage is possible for any type of bile duct structure. This technique allows to reduce the percentage of postoperative complications from 46% to 23% and reduces the number of deaths from 34% to 11.7%. The use of preoperative preparation and endobiliary drainage methods stabilizes the condition of patients in the preoperative period, relieves the phenomena of cholestasis and cholangitis and allows surgical intervention to be performed under more favorable conditions.
Reactive changes in testicular endocrinocytes after hypogonadism and its substitution therapy in experiment
Authors:   Institute of Experimental Medicine, Lisovsky A. D.
Published: May 2024

This study is devoted to the morphofunctional substantiation of the model of male hypogonadism and the establishment of the effectiveness of its substitution therapy using morphological methods. There were 6 groups of adult male rats (4 individuals in each) studied. Four groups of rats were experimental. Under anesthesia, the left and right spermatic cords with the vascular bundle were tied with a temporary ligature, inducing hypogonadism. In the first two experimental groups of rats, the ligature was applied for 30 and 60 minutes (respectively). Animals of the other two experimental groups received substitution therapy by introducing kisspeptin K6. Animals of the third experimental group began to receive kisspeptin a few minutes after restoration of testicular blood flow (ex tempore), and the rats of the fourth group — after 3 days. The duration of substitution therapy was 7 days. In the right and left histological sections of the testis (n = 8), the number of viable and dying interstitial endocrine cells was counted (under the control of the ongoing immunohistochemical reaction with caspase 3), the percentage of these cell types from their total number was calculated, and the area of viable endocrinocytes was determined. The significance of differences in the median, upper and lower quartiles of the compared parameters was determined using the nonparametric Mann–Whitney test. It has been established that the modeling of male hypogonadism by applying a double-sided ligature to the vessels of the spermatic cord for 60 minutes and experiencing it by the animals for the next 10 days induces pronounced reactive changes and death of some interstitial cells, inhibition and cessation of spermatogenesis. Kisspeptin KS6, administered ex tempore and regularly after acute ischemia, has a protective effect on interstitial endocrinocytes, including anti-apoptotic, restoring spermatogenesis, probably through activation of the central links of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis
The role of morphological examination and laboratory methods in the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis
Authors:   Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, Rumyantsev Yе. Yе. , Strikanov I. A. ,   Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University
Published: May 2024

The article discusses the issues of diagnosing autoimmune hepatitis and the importance of timely liver biopsy with histological examination. Due to the lack of specific diagnostic markers and vast heterogeneity of clinical, laboratory and histological features, and also considering relatively rare incidence of the disease, the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis can be difficult. Therefore, this review summarises the etiopathogenesis, clinical, serological and histological manifestations of autoimmune hepatitis. Special attention is paid to the different specificity of morphological features such as portal hepatitis, centrilobular necroses, rosette formation, emperipolesis and their significance depending on the presence of laboratory signs of autoimmune hepatitis. Visual examples of morphological manifestations are presented. The article also emphasises the importance of a comprehensive approach to signs and symptoms for the detection of autoimmune hepatitis and differential diagnosis with other liver pathologies: viral hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, primary cholangitis, and Wilson's disease. Consideration of all available data is crucial in the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis.
When Politics Are Sacralized
Authors: Editors Intersections
Published: May 2024

A description of the book "When Politics are Sacralized" by Nadim R. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian.
Achieving Coexistence After Colonialism
Authors: Editors Intersections
Published: May 2024

A reflection piece on a Harvard University workshop entitled “Pluralism, Coexistence, and Conflict in Muslim Societies" that explored pluralism and politics in Islamic societies.
Climate Change Refugees Need More Legal Protections
Authors: Editors Intersections
Published: May 2024

This article showcases Jayesh Rathod's proposals to reexamine international laws and policies to answer the specific needs of environmental refugees.
Who Speaks for Islam?
Authors: Editors Intersections
Published: May 2024

This article showcases the "New Guardians of Religion" report which examines the influence of religious actors on Muslim politics and populations.
Interventions in Peacemaking
Authors: Editors Intersections
Published: May 2024

This articles summarizes conflict interventions made by special delegations from Tanenbaum's Peacemakers in Action Network in Honduras and Nigeria.
Conversations on Religion and Diplomacy
Authors: Editors Intersections
Published: May 2024

This article summarizes meetings of the scholars and diplomats who make up the Transatlantic Policy Network on Religion and Diplomacy. It also describes public webinars organized by the TPNRD to explore pressing issues in the realm of religion and global affairs.
ANEMIA HEMOLÍTICA IMUNOMEDIADA (AHIM): RELATO DE CASO
Authors: Rafaelly Curado Oliveira Barbosa Camila , Da Silva Gomes Victoria , Tatiana Brockes Sandra , Moreira do Nascimento Rocha Josefa
Published: May 2024

A anemia hemolítica imunomediada (AHIM) é uma condição em que ocorre uma falha no reconhecimento do próprio e os anticorpos passam a opsonizar antígenos na superfície eritrocitária, em uma reação de hipersensibilidade geralmente do tipo II. Na AHIM intravascular, ocorre lise dos eritrócitos dentro dos vasos sanguíneos. Na extravascular, as hemácias são fagocitadas por macrófagos de órgãos como o baço, medula óssea e fígado. A doença pode ser primária, secundária (a fatores como infecções, neoplasias, medicamentos, eritrólise neonatal e transfusões sanguíneas) ou idiopática. O diagnóstico se baseia em sinais clínicos de anemia e exames laboratoriais que mostram anemia regenerativa, hemólise e presença de anticorpos direcionados contra as hemácias. O caso relatado é de um animal que apresentou obstrução por uretrólito e hidronefrose. Após os procedimentos de retrohidropropulsão e cistotomia o paciente apresentou queda gradual e significativa em eritrograma. Também foram verificadas neutrofilia com desvio à esquerda, monócitos ativados, trombocitopenia seguida de trombocitose, soro ictérico e hemoglobinúria. O teste de autoaglutinação revelou resultado positivo. Em mielograma verificou-se hipercelularidade eritrocítica e megacariocítica, e hipocelularidade granulocítica. A ceftriaxona foi relatada como uma das principais causas de AHIM e está associada a casos clínicos graves. Não existe um exame padrão para o diagnóstico da AHIM, sendo necessário combinar vários exames, como teste de Coombs e teste de autoaglutinação, e histórico do paciente. Na AHIM primária o tratamento é baseado em terapia imunossupressora. Na AHIM secundária, a doença primária deve ser tratada antes do tratamento específico da anemia. O prognóstico da AHIM é geralmente reservado.
Artikel Reviu: Hubungan Antara Diet dan Asma pada Anak
Authors: Palaguna Sriwati
Published: May 2024

Asma adalah penyakit saluran nafas kronis yang banyak ditemukan pada anak-anak dan menjadi masalah kesehatan global. Asma ditandai dengan berbagai gejala mulai dari sesak nafas, batuk, mengi, nyeri dada, dan rasa berat dada. Asma berdampak pada berbagai aspek kehidupan dan asma yang berat dapat mengancam kehidupan. Tatalaksana asma meliputi tatalaksana farmakologi dan non-farmakologi. Beberapa studi menunjukkan bahwa diet berkaitan dengan terjadinya atau perburukan asma. Diet yang sehat berkaitan dengan risiko kekambuhan dan terjadinya asma yang lebih rendah. Sedangkan konsumsi makanan cepat saji dan makanan olahan berdampak buruk pada asma. Intervensi diet dapat dipertimbangkan sebagai pada anak-anak, khususnya yang memiliki riwayat asma.
Asthma is a chronic airway disease commonly found in children and is a global health problem. Asthma is characterized by a variety of symptoms ranging from shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, and chest heaviness. Asthma affects many aspects of life and severe asthma can be life threatening. Asthma management includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. Several studies have shown that diet is associated with the occurrence or worsening of asthma. A healthy diet is associated with a lower risk of asthma recurrence and occurrence. Whereas consumption of fast food and processed food adversely affects asthma. Dietary interventions can be considered as in children, especially those with a history of asthma.
DEVELOPMENT OF MOBILE APPLICATION FOR SIGN LANGUAGE TRANSLATION USING DEEP LEARNING TECHNIQUE
Authors: Omodunbi B. A. , Soladoye A. A. , Okomba N. S. , Asaolu O. , Ayoola J. I., , Odeyemi P. B.
Published: May 2024

Sign Language is a visual and gestural language used by deaf and hard-of-hearing people to communicate. However, communication between hearing and non-hearing individuals can be challenging due to the language barrier. In order to overcome this barrier, a Mobile based Translator is being proposed using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to recognize and translate hand gestures in real-time. The proposed system consists of a CNN model trained on a large dataset of hand gestures that includes various signs, such as the alphabet, numbers, and common phrases to recognize various signs, and a backend server to handle the translation of the recognized signs into text. The system was implemented using various CNN architectures like ResNet, MobileNet and VGG-16, where the later gave the best accuracy of 97.69%. The trained VGG-16 model recognizes the signs by extracting features from the images of the hand gestures and using these features to classify the gestures. Once a gesture is recognized, the backend server translates it into text using a pre-defined mapping of signs to words or phrases. The translated text will then be displayed to the user in real-time on the mobile app, enabling seamless communication between hearing and non-hearing individuals. The proposed system was implemented as a mobile app using Flutter, which is a cross-platform development framework. This mobile app make communication easier for vulnerable and enable sharing of information without any discrimination.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION AND INTELLIGENT PREDICTION OF MECHANICAL STRENGTH OF PERVIOUS CONCRETE
Authors: Adejumo A.L., , Jimoh M. O., , Alabi O.H. , Ameen I.O. , Olawale S.O.A.
Published: May 2024

This study determines the mechanical strength characteristics of pervious concrete using fuzzy logic. During construction, the process of determining the quality of concrete produced takes about 28 days before testing, training the fuzzy logic model through the research data gotten from the laboratory experiments in order to intelligently predict the mechanical strength of pervious concrete. Crushed granite was used in this experiment to ensure the pervious concrete has a little degree of fine aggregates and the maximum size of coarse aggregate used was 20 mm. Compressive, flexural and split tensile strength tests were carried out on pervious concrete of mixing ratios 1:4, 1:5 and 1:6 with each of the mixing ratios having varying water to cement ratios of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7. The developed fuzzy logic model was applied to predict the mechanical strengths of the concrete by using data obtained from experimental results, with input parameters of water content, crushing value, weight and density and the mechanical strengths as the output parameters employing the triangular membership function. The model was calibrated using the error measures of the root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and R squared were computed for the model. In this study, it was observed that higher water to cement ratio slightly reduces the mechanical strength of PC but increases the workability compared to increase in cement to granite ratio which notably increases the strength and reduced the workability, alternatively, higher water to cement ratio causes a notable decrease in permeability of the pervious concrete. The correlation between the experimental and predicted values was excellent. This shows that fuzzy logic can be used to predict the mechanical properties of pervious concrete, and fuzzy logic can also be used to appropriately deduce missing values in the mechanical properties of PC subject to further research
ANTIMICROBIAL POTENCY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL CONTENTS OF THREE COMMON NIGERIA MEDICINAL PLANTS’ LEAF EXTRACTS
Authors: Wahab A.A. , Jimoh M.A. , Olatunji O.A. , Adegbite-Badmus M.K. , Adeyemi F.M , Yusuf-Omoloye N.A. , Ogunlana O.E. , Adekunle O.C.
Published: May 2024

Morinda lucida, Tithonia diversifolia and Carica papaya are three medicinal plants commonly used for curing several diseases in traditional medicine. However, comparative scientific information as regards their antibacterial, antifungal, and phytochemical properties remains limited. Fresh leaves of Morinda lucida, Tithonia diversifolia, and Carica papaya were harvested and extracted by soaking pulverized samples of the plants in 250 mL of water and ethanol. The phytochemical constituents were determined by subjecting the decoction to qualitative and quantitative tests using standard methods. The antimicrobial and antifungal activities were determined by solidified Mueller-Hinton agar plate and solidified Potato Dextrose agar plate respectively. Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids were shown to be the primary metabolites in the ethanolic extract of the three plant species. Cardiac glycosides are only present in T. diversifolia. Aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of the three species had significant, but varying antibacterial activity and no antifungal properties. Ethanolic extracts of Morinda lucida were the most active against Escherichia coli with a 30 mm zone of inhibition and very active against Klebsiella pneumonia and Enterobacter aerogenes with 28 mm and 24 mm zone of inhibition, respectively. The aqueous extracts of T. diversifolia were more active against Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marscences, and Enterobacter aerogenes than ethanolic extract. The ethanolic decoction of C. papaya was active against Enterococci. This study showed that depending on the decoction solvent and the microbes under investigation, the leaf extracts of the three plant species have a tolerable but variable level of activity.