bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Security and Privacy of Educational Computational Intelligence
Authors: Al-Tamimi Shahad , Abu Al-Haija Qasem
Published: October 2024

In today's technological era, educators need to safeguard the security and privacy of their data by employing Computational Intelligence (CI). CI is an aspect of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that concentrates on developing algorithms and systems capable of solving tough societal problems. Several methodologies informed by biological systems and natural events used in CI include Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), fuzzy systems, evolutionary computation, and swarm intelligence. Therefore, CI systems learn and adapt over time, improving performance through experience and interaction with their environment. This versatility and durability render CI valuable for various applications, including data analysis, pattern identification, control systems, and decision-making processes. Confidentiality is critical for securing sensitive information. CI uses sophisticated computational techniques to improve learning experiences, instructional practices, and educational outcomes.
Ethical Implications of Invasive Methods in Neuromarketing Research
Authors: Kaur Gaganjot , Sharma Shalini , Reepu
Published: October 2024

The essence of marketing lies in establishing a connection between products and consumers to drive sales. Effective marketing not only informs but also engages and sustains the targeted audience. Traditional marketing research methods, while valuable, are limited by time constraints and potential inaccuracies in data collection. As consumer preferences evolve rapidly, businesses increasingly use innovative techniques like Neuromarketing. Neuromarketing employs neuroscience and marketing principles to tap into consumers' cognitive and emotional responses, using fMRI, EEG, and physiological measurements to understand preferences and decision-making processes more accurately. While Neuromarketing offers profound insights into consumer behavior and enhances marketing strategies, it raises ethical concerns regarding consumer privacy, autonomy, and vulnerability. This chapter oversees Neuromarketing's emergence, applications, benefits, and moral implications in contemporary marketing practices.
Neuromarketing Intelligence to Understand Customer Behaviour
Authors: Bhandari Arabinda
Published: October 2024

For a long time, neuromarketing has garnered significantly greater attention when it comes to understanding customer behaviour. However, the field has diverged and become fragmented. As a result, the purpose of this article is to perform a thorough study of existing literature in order to know how neuromarketing can helps to understand customer behaviour, and to develop a conceptual framework. This study conducts a systematic literature review based on the PRISMA framework based on 398 Scopus-indexed articles published since 2005. Based on the synthesis, this study created a conceptual framework that depicts the antecedents, mediators, and outcomes of neuromarketing research to better understand consumer behaviour. Furthermore, this work recognized some ignored areas and suggested some research options in neuromarketing research. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study to develop the conceptual framework to understand the consumer behaviour best on neuromarketing articles published during 2005 to 2022.
Neuromarketing Insights Into the Lactovegetarian Consumer Mind
Authors: Thakur Jyoti , Malhan Shivani
Published: October 2024

The lactovegetarian movement has transcended its origins as a dietary choice to become a multifaceted phenomenon encompassing ethical, environmental, and health-conscious considerations. As consumers become increasingly discerning about the products they purchase and the companies they support, businesses must adapt their marketing approaches to resonate with this rapidly growing and conscientious demographic. Neuromarketing, the application of neuroscience principles to marketing practices, offers a potent tool for unraveling the intricate cognitive and emotional processes that shape lactovegetarian consumer behaviour. This comprehensive research paper synthesises findings from neuroscience, psychology, consumer behaviour studies, and prior neuroimaging investigations to explore the neural underpinnings of lactovegetarian consumer decision-making. The insights shed light on the ethical motivations, emotional drivers, health/environmental consciousness, social identity dynamics, and trust factors influencing lactovegetarians. By leveraging these findings, businesses can develop more effective marketing strategies tailored to the lactovegetarian mindset - crafting compelling narratives, fostering trust, and aligning offerings with this segment's deeply held values and aspirations. After extracting Scopus publications on neuromarketing till April,2024 underlying themes of the research was studied using VOS Viewer.
The Fashion Consumer's Attitude When Confronted With Communication Actions of Social Causes and Their Influence on the Purchase Decision
Authors: Pimenta Sara Rodrigues , Catarino André Whiteman , Serra da Fonseca Manuel José , Sousa Bruno Barbosa
Published: October 2024

The increasing social concern and the attempt to change behaviours make more and more fashion brands interested in and working with social causes. In general marketing of social causes seeks the benefit of the community in which the brand is inserted. As a result of this study authors intend to understand the attitude of the fashion consumer in relation to marketing actions of social causes and their influence on the purchase decision. It is also intended to show in one study two aspects, that of the brands and the consumers. The constructs under analysis showed that there is an increasing concern for what is called “a socially active individual”. The study points to the fact that it is possible to verify an effective influence of the marketing strategies of social causes and what these could influence positively the purchase decision.
Role and Importance of Sustainable Bleisure Travel in India
Authors: Parashar Arunesh , Kumar Narendra , Agarwal Prachi
Published: October 2024

Bleisure travel combines business and leisure activities and presents a unique opportunity to promote sustainability within the tourism industry. The chapter aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of significance of sustainable bleisure travel in promoting a balanced approach to tourism that respects and preserves natural resources while fostering holistic well-being. Though self-elaborated conceptual figures, the authors tried to explain the concept of nature-based health tourism with sustainable bleisure travel that helps to reform and regenerate the ancient practices of being health. The chapter highlights the importance and need of sustainable practices in current scenario and also describes the practice of blending nature-based health tourism practice for bleisure travel to offer health workplace for employees because today's healthy workplace includes both health protection and promotion. Conversely, the chapter outlines challenges, possibilities, and recommendations such as the development of eco-friendly infrastructure, implementation of unified sustainability guidelines, and promotion of holistic nature-based health packages that align with India's cultural heritage for business travellers.
Numerical Analyses for Aerodynamic and Noise Characteristics of Helicopter Scissors Tail Rotor
Authors:   Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Nanjing, Zhu Zheng , Zhao Qi-Jun
Published: October 2024

Numerical analyses for aerodynamic and noise characteristics of helicopter scissors tail rotor both in hover and forward flight are conducted. A solver named CFD/FW-H method which combines the CFD method and FW-H approach is established to predict the noise characteristics of scissors tail rotor. In this solver, based on the moving-embedded grid system, a CFD simulation method for aerodynamic characteristics of scissors tail rotor is developed by solving the unsteady RANS equations with Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model, and the discretization of convective fluxes is completed by ROE-MUSCL scheme. Then, the differences on aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics between the two types of scissors tail rotors (Configuration L and Configuration U) are discussed. Also, the influences of the two configuration parameters (scissors angle and vertical space) on their aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics have been analyzed both in hover and forward flight. Additionally an optimization procedure based on surrogate model is employed to conduct the optimization for aerodynamic and noise characteristics of scissors tail rotor in hover. It is demonstrated that the aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of a scissors tail rotor are not always better than those of a conventional one. In addition, Configuration L shows more advantages of improving the aerodynamic and noise characteristics than Configuration U due to the weaker blade-vortex interaction.
Stability of Rotorcraft for Interplanetary Space Flight
Authors:   NASA Langley Research Center, Warren Jerry ,   Duke University, Gibbs S. , Wilkie W. , Dowell Earl
Published: October 2024

NASA is currently exploring propellantless spacecraft propulsion technologies required to enable missions ranging from orbital debris capture and removal to station keeping in unstable locations in space to deep space exploration. In this paper we explore the stability of a particular propellantless spacecraft, a spinning, helicopter-like solar sail. We demonstrate the possibility of an instability due to the coupling between the structural dynamics and the solar radiation forcing using a nonlinear model. We show that our model reproduces previously published results and compares well with simulations conducted using a finite element simulation. In addition the paper explores the stability of a proposed spinning solar sail during deployment and identifies critical combinations of spin rate and lengths that increase the possibility of an instability arising.
CFD Calculations on the Unsteady Aerodynamic Force of Tilt-rotor in Conversion Mode
Authors:   Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Peng Li , Qi-Jun Zhao , Qiu-xian Zhu
Published: October 2024

In order to calculate the unsteady aerodynamic force of tilt-rotor in conversion mode, VBM (Virtual Blade Model), RBM (Real Blade Model) and HBM (Hybrid Blade Model) are established respectively. A new multi-layer moving-embedded grid technique is presented to reduce the numerical dissipation of the tilt-rotor wake. In this method, grid generated abound the rotor accounts for rigid blade motions and a new searching scheme is implemented to search suitable donor elements in moving-embedded grids to translate information between the viscous flow and inviscid flow zones. In these CFD methods, a dual-time method is employed to fulfil the calculation of unsteady flowfield of tilt-rotor, and a second-order centred difference scheme by introducing artificial viscosity is used to calculate the flux. In order to improve the computing efficiency, the SMPD model parallel acceleration technology adopted, according to the characteristics of the current grid system. The lift and drag distributions of NACA0012 airfoil, the dynamic pressure distributions on a typical rotor and the sectional pressure distributions on XV-15 tilt-rotor in hovering flight are calculated respectively, and the developed VBM and RBM model are validated by comparing the calculated results with available experimental data. Then, unsteady aerodynamic force and flowfield of XV-15 tilt-rotor in different modes, such as fixed conversion mode at different tilt angles (15-deg, 30-deg, 60-deg), and full conversion cases from 0-deg to 90-deg, are numerically simulated by the VBM/RBM/HBM respectively. By analyses and comparisons on the simulated results about unsteady aerodynamic forces of tilt-rotor in different modes, some meaningful conclusions about distorted blade-tip vortex distribution and unsteady aerodynamic force variation in conversion mode are obtained, and these investigated results could provide a good foundation for tilt-rotor aircraft design in the future.
Measurements of the Plume-like Three-Dimensionality of Rotor-Induced Dust Fields
Authors:   University of Maryland, Sydney Anish , Leishman J.
Published: October 2024

To better understand the problem of rotor-induced particle motion and rotorcraft brownout, time-resolved, dual-phase particle image velocimetry and particle tracking velocimetry measurements were made in the flow produced by a small laboratory rotor that was hovering over a mobile sediment bed. The main goal was to further investigate the three-dimensionality of the rotor wake and how its interaction with the sediment bed led to the formation of distinct columnar plumes of uplifted sediment particles. Dual-phase flow measurements were made in both vertical and horizontal planes around the rotor and near the ground. The results showed that the rotor wake was extremely three-dimensional, with non-uniform velocities near the ground that resulted in the radially asymmetric uplift of particles throughout the flow field. The helicoidal vortex filament developed wave-like displacements along their lengths, which caused some parts of the filaments to convect closer to the ground. The parts of the filaments that were closer to the ground were observed to interact with the near-wall flow there, sometimes causing the boundary layer to briefly detach and introduce secondary vorticity into the flow. Adjacent turns of the interdigitated helicoidal vortex filaments often merged together, creating significantly larger upwash/downwash regions near the ground, which produced discrete bursts of sediment mobilization and uplift.
UH-60A Rotor Tip Vortex Prediction and Comparison to Full-Scale Wind Tunnel Measurements
Authors:   Science and Technology Corp., Jayaraman Buvana ,   US Army, Potsdam Mark
Published: October 2024

Structural dynamics coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations using the US Army and HPCMP CREATE-AV™ Helios flow solver are compared with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) data on a full-scale UH-60A rotor in the 40- by 80-foot National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex wind tunnel. The PIV data was obtained on the advancing side of the rotor disk. Helios CFD results use two near-body modules, NSU3D and OVERFLOW, with highly refined unstructured and structured meshes. Off-body wake grid spacings, as small as 1.7% chord, are investigated using adaptive mesh refinement (AMR). High-speed and low-speed descending flight test conditions are studied. For the finest mesh spacing the wake vortical structures compare exceptionally well qualitatively, although the CFD flow field is seen to be smoother, more distinct, and periodic. CFD is used effectively to trace the origin of vortical structures on the PIV plane due to the tip vortices, trim tab, and blade twist/planform. Structures emanating from the high twist and swept planform region of the UH-60A are noticeably discrete and independently persistent. Quantitative vortex properties (core radius, circulation, and location) are in general agreement between simulation and experiment, although the vortex evolution is not captured accurately and the trajectories are offset. Overall, the CFD results show that with sufficient grid resolution, wake convection over a distance of at least a blade radius can be reasonably computed, with eventual application to rotor-fuselage interaction problems.
Several Nominal Distances for Rotorcraft Gaussian Process Metamodels in the Presence of Categorical Alternatives
Authors:   Georgia Institute of Technology, Río José , Mavris Dimitri
Published: October 2024

Designers desire to enable in early design stages more sophisticated but also computationally burdensome simulation tools to obtain better performing initial designs that are more valuable in subsequent design stages. The Hamming nominal distance has been used to build efficient Gaussian process metamodels, called mixed-integer-categorical (MIC) surrogates, that leverage trends which are similar across categorical alternatives in typical engineering objectives. This paper proposes and studies other nominal distances for constructing these MIC surrogates. These meta-models based on the proposed nominal distances are built and their performance indicators are compared when modeling a noise-free canonical function and the computationally noisy UH60A hover power consumption with a choice of several airfoil sections which represents the categorical variable. This paper shows that the use of the Hamming distance and the intrinsic distance, based on an underlying parametrization in the categorical variable, are the most efficient nominal distance for implementing MIC metamodels when approximating the noise-free canonical function and the UH60A hover power consumption.
Methodology for Equivalent Level of Safety Certification of US Army Rotorcraft in Required Navigational Performance in Area Navigation Controlled Airspace
Authors:   US Army, SanFilippo Charles ,   Camber Corp., Lance Jonathan , Emore Graham , Gulley Mark
Published: October 2024

A methodology to demonstrate an Equivalent Level of Safety (ELS) for U.S. Army Rotorcraft operation in Required Navigational Performance in Area Navigation (RNP RNAV) Airspace; the results of the evaluation using this methodology; and suggestions for methodology improvement in future applications. The methodology for ELS certification is addressed in terms of Accuracy, Integrity, Continuity, Flight Management Functionality, and Requirements Traceability. The first three are addressed analytically as a statistical value for confidence as well as a practical demonstration of performance, the fourth is demonstrated during flight test, and the latter is documentation for detail. The test article was the U.S. Army CH-47F Cargo Helicopter. U. S. Army Rotorcraft receiving an ELS Certification to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines per this methodology can be approved to operate in RNP RNAV civil controlled airspace.
Display Symbology for a Rotary-wing Air Racer
Authors:   Georgia Institute of Technology, Feigh Karen ,   Georgia Institute of Technology, Lamour Romain
Published: October 2024

The analysis and design of a new helicopter man-machine interface for a hypothetical rotary-wing air racer as envisioned by the AHS 2012 student design competition is presented. The associated piloting task was modeled using Cognitive Engineering techniques, namely Hierarchical Task Analysis and Abstraction Hierarchy. It was shown that a better integration of collective and pitch control would ease considerably aggressive helicopter flight under manual control while improving the pilot awareness of the constraints limiting the flight envelope. A specific interface could therefore improve both the safety and the performance of helicopters used under such conditions. A corresponding symbology meant to be drawn on either a Head-Up Display (HUD) or a Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD), was conceived using the outcome of this analysis and Ecological Interface Design guidelines. A qualitative evaluation of the symbology seems to show that such an interface would be useful for helicopter applications requiring high agility and most notably quick longitudinal accelerations and decelerations.
Terrain and Obstacle Avoidance Displays for Low-Level Helicopter Operations in Degraded Visual Environments
Authors:   Haifa University, Kahana Allon ,   NASA, Sweet Barbara ,   Maof HFE Israel, Rottem-Hovev Michal ,   US Army, Szoboszlay Zoltan
Published: October 2024

Hazards to helicopter low level flight include terrain as well as obstacles such as antennas and electric wires on the flight route. New passive warning systems and active obstacle detection sensors can provide avoidance information and warning of potential collision. However new methods must be developed and tested for how this information is presented to the pilot during flight. The aim of the study is to develop and test obstacle display concepts that help the pilot to maintain low level flight and while avoiding obstacles. It compares two different Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) symbology concepts: The spatial display that shows flight obstacles on a spatial presentation of the environment, and the 3D guidance symbology that indicate to the pilot the flight direction and altitude to avoid obstacles. Four HMD displays were compared representing the two concepts in a PC-based simulated tactic flight task. Twenty one pilots completed a low level flight task using both display types (in two experiments). Task performance was measured for the primary task (maintaining low level flight), and secondary task (detection and classification of targets during flight). Results show better task performance when using the Blinking Scene Linked (BSL) obstacle display, which was the type of display that presented spatial information.
Morphometric and clinical analysis and nutritional and dietary management of malnourished adult patients in the Marrakech Tensift Al Haouz region, Morocco
Authors: Belmoudden Hiba , Al Ibrahmi Btihaj , Bour Abdellatif
Published: October 2024

This study examined the morphometric and clinical aspects as well as the nutritional and dietary management of undernourished adult patients in the Marrakech Tensift Al Haouz region, Morocco. It highlighted the specific challenges faced by these patients, in particular the significant differences in nutritional requirements and management strategies. Our results showed a significant increase in caloric intake from 19.97±0.64 kcal/kg/d to 27.23±0.12 kcal/kg/d for all patients. Muscle mass increased from 16.71±4.76 kg to 18.75±3.58 kg. The mean albumin increased to 35.9 g/L, indicating an improved protein reserve. Similarly, pre-albumin increased to 186.3 mg/dL, suggesting a rapid response to nutritional intake. At the same time, C-reactive protein levels fell, indicating a reduction in systemic inflammation. In addition, it is important to note that body mass index differed between the sexes, with women tending to gain muscle mass more slowly than men. The results highlight the urgent need to adopt a personalized approach to improving the health and well-being of undernourished patients by adjusting nutritional and dietary interventions to the specific needs of each individual.
The foolish wisdom of humans versus the wise wisdom of God in the book of Isaiah
Authors: Van der Walt Chris
Published: October 2024

When wisdom in the book of Isaiah is investigated, there is a deviation from the normal sense of understanding wisdom as a particular mental ability. What is out of the ordinary about the use of wisdom in the book of Isaiah is that it is used more often for clearly unwise people than for the wisdom of God. In ten texts, mainly from Isaiah 1−39, the ‘wisdom’ of the unwise is juxtaposed with the wisdom of God. In these texts, all the dominant powers in the Ancient Near East are addressed. In this manner, facets of God’s wisdom are brought to the fore, which is not evident in the semantic meaning of the חָכָם word group, where wisdom typically carries the idea of normativity, or good character and virtue (Pr 1:1–7). Therefore, the focus of this article will be to show how the actions of Yahweh toward both his people and his adversaries portray his wisdom, with a clear indication of what his wisdom entails in the book of Isaiah. This study calls for the re-evaluation of wisdom, advocating for a theocentric understanding that aligns with Yahweh’s will expressed in covenantal fidelity.Contribution: The article contributed to the widening of understanding God’s wisdom by showing how his practical plans emanate from his complete understanding of all events, highlighting an often overlooked aspect of the meaning of the חָכָם word group.
Water shortage: Assessment and analysis on a regional scale
Authors: Macedo Yuri M. , De Souza Jhonathan L. , Troleis Adriano L.
Published: October 2024

This paper, adopting theoretical-methodological assumptions, aims to analyse the risk of municipal urban water shortage in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil, through the results of the Water Shortage Risk Index (WSRI). The WSRI is the product of the analysis of 19 variables, in a systemic perspective that involves environmental, infrastructural, socioeconomic and state planning indicators. The survey was carried out in the 153 municipalities that make up the water supply system managed by the state concessionaire (representing 92% of the 167 municipalities in the State), in its seven water supply regions. The WSRI result identified 49.0% of the municipalities analysed in the ‘high’ and ‘very high’ risk classes; 40.5% as ‘medium’ risk and 10.0% as ‘low’ risk, with no occurrences of ‘very low’ risk. In absolute values, 1 municipality was classified as ‘very high’; 74 were classified as ‘high’; 62 as ‘average’; and 16 were considered to be at ‘low’ risk of water shortages.Contribution: To decrease and/or mitigate the results of the WSRI in the State, the transposition of basins, integration of supply systems, hydrogeological research, among others, were proposed.
Imaging of pelvic floor disorders involving the posterior compartment on dynamic MR defaecography
Authors: Dhadve Rajshree U. , Krishnani Karishma S. , Kalekar Tushar , Durgi Eshan C. , Agarwal Urvashi , M. Suhas , Kumar Divyajat
Published: October 2024

Disorders related to defaecation are widely common in the population and are often overlooked. Patients may present with a wide variety of symptoms such as constipation, faecal incontinence, painful defaecation, incomplete defaecation, hard stools, rectal bleeding, and mass per rectum. Complete clinical examination with radiological imaging, using dynamic MR Defaecography, can help in assessing, grading, and managing posterior compartment pelvic floor disorders and complex dysfunctions. The cases reveal a spectrum of pelvic floor disorders and complex dysfunctions including spastic pelvic floor syndrome, Grade 3 anorectal descent with rectocoele and cystocoele, tri-compartmental descent with obstructed defaecation syndrome, complete external rectal prolapse with Grade 3 abnormal anorectal descent and rectal intussusception.Contribution: This case series emphasises the importance of understanding the correlation of clinical and radiological imaging findings in posterior compartment pelvic floor dysfunctions through a series of cases presenting with clinical complaints related to defaecation.
South African higher education: A toxic milieu of neoliberalism, colonialism and anti-Blackness
Authors: Maistry Suriamurthee M.
Published: October 2024

Post-colonial higher education contexts experience a never-ending recuperation from the multiple violences imposed by colonisation. Coloniality has largely been successful in maintaining a hegemonic hold by white settler colonisers in various facets of higher education despite attempts to decolonise this sector and attempts at transformation. The problem that this article addresses is that these decolonial and transformation initiatives are usually circumscribed within neoliberal parameters that simply perpetuate white hegemony. There appears to be oblivion as to how neoliberalism impacts Black subjects in academia and how historic colonial practices have seamlessly effectuated neoliberal tenets in new cycles of racial repression, issues that this article takes up. Methodologically, this conceptual article applies the tenets of Critical University Studies (CUS) and invokes the principles of Unapologetic Black Inquiry (UBI) to examine neoliberal racialisation, (c)overt anti-Blackness sentiment, the academe’s preoccupation with white sensitivities and the systematic silencing of dissent through neoliberal mechanisms of discipline and control. This article concludes with caution of how a critique of neoliberalism has expediently been trumpeted as the new danger that academia needs to respond to. The effect might be at the expense of evading issues of deep-seated racism that continue to prevail.Contribution: This article makes a specific contribution to the field of CUS and addresses the relationship between colonial continuity and neoliberalism, focusing on the differential experiences of the Black academic subject. It also theorises the notion of camouflage and deflection from racism as a priority social justice imperative.
Pentraxin-3 marker as a predictor of cardiovascular events in obstructive sleep apnea; a cross-sectional study
Authors: Magdy Doaa M. , Sayed Suzan S. , El Zohne Randa A. , Ali Ali A.
Published: October 2024

Introduction

A large population suffers from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Most of these individuals (almost 90%) are either unrecognized or untreated OSA. These patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in OSA compared with the clinically relevant biological markers (HbA1c, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid, and fibrinogen) and to evaluate the relationship between PTX3 levels and risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Patients and methods

This research used a cross-sectional design and enrolled 100 participants with suspected OSA. All the participants underwent a full clinical history, a STOP-Bang questionnaire, and a polysomnography (PSG) study, and the serum biomarkers were also analyzed.

Results

The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from PSG was used to measure the OSA severity, and the individuals were distributed into three groups accordingly. Our findings showed that there was a significant difference in Pentraxin 3 and fibrinogen levels between patients with mild or moderate OSA and those with severe OSA. Pentraxin 3, at a cutoff point of greater than 4.25 ng/ml, had the highest prognostic accuracy in OSA (96%), with an AUC of 0.96. Regression analysis revealed that Pentraxin 3, with a cutoff point greater than 4.25, and CRP were significant predictors of cardiovascular disease in individuals with OSA. Furthermore, Pentraxin 3 (with a cutoff point of greater than 4.25 ng/ml) and fibrinogen were significant predictors of pulmonary embolism in patients with OSA.

Conclusion

Serum PTX3 was higher in patients with severe OSA than in those with mild- to moderate OSA. Furthermore, we found that OSA severity as indicated by the AHI was significantly correlated with serum PTX3. PTX3 and CRP are useful markers of cardiovascular risk in OSA.
A novel interleukin 36 gamma for diagnosing and differentiating malignant from infectious pleural effusion
Authors: Amin Nashwa A. , Mohamed Asmaa E. , Wahdan , Shimaa M.E. , Ramadan Amira E. , Mohammed Shimaa M. , Abd-Elraouf Marwa S.E. , Diab Kout A.M.
Published: October 2024

Background

Pleural effusions can be caused by various diseases, making their diagnosis challenging. Light’s criteria are often used to distinguish transudative and exudative effusions. Exudative effusions have a more complex etiology, including parapneumonic, tuberculous, and malignant effusion.

Objectives

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and sensitivity of Interleukin 36 gamma (IL-36γ) as a diagnostic marker for differentiating between malignant and infectious pleural effusions.

Methods

The study involved 100 patients with pleural effusion. Patients were categorized into five groups based on their final diagnosis. An ELISA technique was used to quantitatively measure the levels of pleural fluid IL-36γ.

Results

The results showed that pleural IL-36γ levels were higher in tuberculous pleural effusion compared with malignant, transudative, and uncomplicated pleural effusion. In contrast, pleural IL-36γ levels were higher in complicated pleural effusion compared with tuberculous, malignant, transudative, and uncomplicated pleural effusion.

Conclusion

Based on the study’s findings, it was concluded that pleural IL-36γ is a novel biomarker that can be used to diagnose and differentiate malignant pleural effusion from infectious pleural effusion.
Contribution of QuantiFERON TB gold in tube to the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy: a monocentric prospective study
Authors: Yahiaoui Rachida , Ketfi Abdelbassat , Meçabih Fethi , Hakem Djennette , Ramdani Nadjia , Amrane Rabah
Published: October 2024

Introduction

The diagnosis of tuberculous (TB) pleurisy remains difficult because of its paucibacillary character. Several authors have studied the usefulness of interferon gamma release assays in the early diagnosis of TB pleurisy, whereas these tests are designed for the detection of latent TB infection.

Our objective is to study the performance and clinical relevance of QuantiFERON TB Gold in Tube (QFT-GIT) in the diagnosis of TB pleurisy in Algeria.

Patients and methods

QFT-GIT was tested in vitro in serum and pleural fluid on a prospective recruitment of 158 immunocompetent patients with pleural effusion.

Results

Of the 158 cases of pleurisy identified, 84 (53.84%) were TB, diagnosed and proven by conventional methods, and 72 (46.15%) were non-TB, of whom 67 (93%) were confirmed of neoplastic origin, five (7%) secondary to a systemic disease and two of nonspecific inflammatory origin. Our results showed a high pleural sensitivity of QFT-GIT (97.62%) compared to serum sensitivity (80.95%). In contrast, serum specificity (83.78%) was higher than pleural specificity (72.97%).

When we used the optimal values from the receiver operation characteristics curve analysis, the area under the curve of interferon-gamma produced by the QFT-GIT test was significantly higher in the pleural fluid than in the blood. Area under the curve of TB antigen interferon-gamma response was 92, 18 [95% confidence interval (CI)=87.56–96.79], nil tube was 95.71% (95% CI=92.43–99), and mitogen tube was 65.34 (95% CI=57.71–72.98).

Conclusion

QFT-GIT in pleural fluid appears in our study as a useful test for the diagnosis of TB pleurisy, but its diagnostic accuracy needs to be validated in further large-scale research.
Assessment of endobronchial chemotherapy in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma
Authors: Elsaidy Ibrahim M. , Abdel Dayem Aya M. , Abd Elfattah Nevine M. , Diab Haytham S. , Saad Amr S.
Published: October 2024

Background

Malignant airway obstruction is commonly found in patients with lung cancer and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Relieving malignant obstruction may improve symptoms, quality of life, and life expectancy. The aim of the present work is to determine the efficacy of endobronchial intratumoral injection of 5-Fluorouracil as a chemotherapeutic agent in palliative care for patients with inoperable nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and methods

A total of 30 patients diagnosed as inoperable advanced-stage NSCLC were included into this randomized prospective controlled comparative study and divided into two groups (group A: 15 patients received the conventional sessions of systemic chemotherapy only and group B: 15 patients received the conventional sessions of systemic chemotherapy in addition to two to three sessions of local endobronchial intratumoral chemotherapy using 5-fluorouracil). Patient characteristics, histology, airways infiltrated with the tumor, performance status, treatment cycles, complications, and therapeutic outcomes were evaluated. Tumor response was analyzed based on bronchoscopic evaluation performed on completion of the final treatment session.

Results

There was no significant difference in the total objective response between patients who used systemic chemotherapy alone for treatment of advanced NSCLC and those who used systemic chemotherapy in addition to sessions of local chemotherapy using 5-fluorouracil that was injected intratumorally through bronchoscopy in multiple sessions.

Conclusion

We concluded that endobronchial intratumoral chemotherapy using 5-fluorouracil is not an effective promising treatment approach for palliative treatment of patients with advanced malignant endobronchial NSCLC.
Assessing the Physical and Clinical Characteristics of a New Adjustable Compression Wrap: Insights from a Single-center Pilot Study in India
Authors: Jindal Ravul , Benigni Jean-Patrick , Uhl Jean-Francois , Jindal Kush , Filori Pascal , Jain Nityanand
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

Adjustable wraps are a revolutionary avenue in compression therapy because of their ease of application and removal, as well as their ability to be manipulated and readjusted, particularly in older adult patients with leg ulcers.

Methods:

We analyzed the physical and clinical features of a new adjustable wrap marketed by Vein Care, India. Hirai leg was used to demonstrate the stiffness of the wrap, followed by validation on five healthy male participants. Next, we conducted a pilot clinical study to assess the effect of wearing the wrap for 4 h on volume reduction in seven patients with open leg venous ulcers.

Results:

The Vein Care Calf Compression Wrap® functioned similarly to a short stretch bandage, which we demonstrated through the tests performed on Hirai’s leg and on healthy participants. In the pilot clinical study, following 4 h of application, a statistically significant decrease in total leg volume (median 34.5 cc; P = 0.018) was observed. Moreover, a significant decrease in volume at the calf level compared to the lower leg (P = 0.038) was noticed. However, no significant correlations were found in volumetric reduction with age or body mass index. The wrap posed challenges in applying pressure exceeding 40 mmHg due to its unique composition, stretch, and stiffness properties. This characteristic is especially significant for patients with diabetic or mixed arteriovenous ulcers (ankle–brachial index >0.5 and <0.8).

Conclusions:

The wrap’s clinical utility and effectiveness necessitate additional clinical trials and studies with a greater number of patients from diverse demographics.
Novel Biomarkers in Vascular Diseases: From Discovery to Clinical Translation
Authors: Elsaka Omar
Published: October 2024

Endothelial activation as well as dysfunction is a major factor in atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disorders, and cardiorenal syndrome. Endothelial dysfunction is additionally associated with metabolic syndrome as well as type II diabetes. The hunt for distinctive as well as sensitive biomarkers of endothelial activity and dysfunction may have substantial therapeutic consequences. This review pinpoints the variations in biomarkers that occur between endothelial activation and endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular illnesses, and then briefly highlights the most significant biomarkers of endothelial activation. Biomarkers of endothelial activation consist of endothelial adhesion molecules, as well as cytokines, and C-reactive protein, along with CD62E++/E-selectin activated endothelial microparticles, and oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, together with asymmetric dimethylarginine as well as endocan. This study also includes an update on the new biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) (e.g., MMP-7, MMP-9), along with ANGPTL2, and endoglin, together with annexin V++ endothelium apoptotic microparticles, and serum homocysteine. Finally, this study stresses the limits of biomarkers of endothelium activation and dysfunction in clinical situations.
Reliable Landmarks for Common Femoral Artery Cannulation: Femoral Head or Inguinal Skin Crease?
Authors: Beyranvand Mohammad Reza , Piranfar Mohammad Asadpour , Sheibani Mehdi , Tajabadi Sara Nasiri , Manhoobi Hootan
Published: October 2024

Context:

Angiography catheterization through the femoral artery (FA) carries risks of vascular complications. The optimal site for puncture is above the common FA bifurcation (CFAB) and below the inferior epigastric artery.

Aims:

This study aims to assess the relationship of the inguinal skin crease with the position of the femoral head and the CFAB.

Settings:

From March 2014 to March 2015, this study was conducted in a single center.

Materials and Methods:

Patients above 18 years were eligible for coronary angiography through the trans-FA. The FA cannulation was carried out using an 18G needle. A contrast medium was injected to visualize the common FA (CFA), the CFAB, and the inferior epigastric artery. A reference point was placed tangent to the inguinal skin crease.

Results:

There were 185 patients, with a mean age of 61.47 ± 8.95 years, and 53.2% were men. CFAB was inferior to the midline of the femoral head in 94.6% of patients and, in relation to the inguinal skin crease, was inferior, equal, and superior in about one-third of patients; the position of the inguinal skin crease was inferior to the midline of the femoral head in 98.1%. The position of the inferior epigastric artery was superior to the femoral head in all patients. There was no significant difference based on gender or body mass index comparison.

Conclusions:

Because femoral head fluoroscopy is less commonly used as a landmark for a puncture during FA cannulation, the inguinal skin crease may be an applicable point for CFA puncture.
Reshaping Arteriotomy at the Corners Eases End-to-side Anastomosis: Results and Description of S-shaped Arteriotomy Technique
Authors: Dabas Ajay Kumar , Biswas Brijesh Kanti , Jha Manvendu , Gupta Aditya , Kadian Abhishek , Mishra Makrand , Pateriya Mohit
Published: October 2024

Background:

End to side anastomosis (ESA) poses difficulty at corners in small calibre vessels. S shaped arteriotomy (SSA) overcomes this.

Aims:

This study presents the results of SSA and explains the concept involved.

Settings and Design:

It is an observational study with retrospective analysis.

Methods and Material:

SSA coverts a narrow V at the corners into a broader U which pry open the edges. Altered dynamics acting on arterial wall result in this. SSA was utilised for carrying out arteriovenous fistulas [radio- cephalic and brachio-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs)] and crural bypasses. The patency of AVFs was determined by doppler and / or ability to carry out successful dialysis. Crural bypass were followed by doppler and/ or CT angiography for patency.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Results are presented as a descriptive analysis.

Results:

One hundred ESAs were done. This included sixty- five radio cephalic AVFs, twenty brachio-cephalic AVFs and fifteen femoro-crural bypasses. The mean diameter of the radial artery was 1.97 +/- 0.24mm; while the average diameter of brachial artery was 3.3 +/- 0.43mm; and that of crural arteries was 2.4 +/- 0.43mm. Twelve radio cephalic AVFs thrombosed, but rest of AVFs matured with a mean follow up of 6 months. The total follow up for crural bypasses was 21 months. The cumulative patency rate was 100 percent at 10 months and 82% at 21 months.

Conclusions:

SSA helps in better visualising of the corners and facilitates ESA with satisfactory results. This happens due to redistribution of forces acting on the arterial wall.
Hexokinase Domain Containing 1 (HKDC1) Gene Variants and Their Association With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Mini-Review
Authors: Kanthimathi Sekar , Popova Polina , Mohan Viswanathan , Hannah Wesley , Anjana Ranjit Mohan , Radha Venkatesan
Published: October 2024

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic disorder during the gestational period. Maternal glucose metabolism differs significantly from nonpregnant levels during pregnancy, with increased insulin resistance being the main physiological response. Maternal glucose levels during pregnancy, have a significant impact on the development of early and long-term metabolic health of the offspring. Therefore, a better understanding of the GDM pathophysiology is needed. Hexokinase domain containing 1 (HKDC1) gene was discovered as a gene related to glucose metabolism during pregnancy compared with nongravid state. HKDC1 plays a critical role in glucose homeostasis during pregnancy. Haplotypes of HKDC1 genetic variants associated with 2-h plasma glucose (2hPG) in pregnancy, disrupt regulatory element activity, thereby reducing HKDC1 expression in different tissues. The association of HKDC1 variants with gestational diabetes and 2hPG was investigated in several ethnic groups. These studies suggested that HKDC1 plays a more important role in glucose metabolism during pregnancy than outside of it and also demonstrated that while GDM and type 2 diabetes mellitus have many similarities, there are differences in at least one underlying pathway. This review focuses on the findings of the genetic studies on HKDC1 and GDM.
Small-cancellation groups with and without sigma-compact Morse boundary
Authors: Zbinden Stefanie
Published: October 2024

We provide examples of classical

C'(1/6)

-small-cancellation groups which have non-

\sigma

-compact Morse boundary. These are first known examples of groups with non-

\sigma

-compact Morse boundary. Some

C'(1/6)

-small-cancellation groups do have

\sigma

-compact Morse boundary, so this property distinguishes quasi-isometry types of small-cancellation groups. In fact, we give a complete description of when Morse boundaries of

C'(1/6)

-groups have

\sigma

-compact Morse boundary. We also provide examples of

C'(1/6)

-groups where all Morse rays are strongly contracting.
Torosites: A New Microbially Mediated Speleothem from Sistema los Toros, Nuevo Léon, Mexico
Authors: Melim Leslie , Hunter James , Minton Mark
Published: October 2024

Although several kinds of speleothems are known to grow with pendant morphology (i.e., helictites, pool fingers, and stalactites), we describe here a new form found in Sistema Los Toros, Nuevo Léon, Mexico, which we propose to call torosites. A laminated, bladed, spar crust grew beneath remnants of a stromatolitic micritic crust and extended mostly downward as irregular finger-like protrusions (torosites) that are 2–3 mm wide and 2–3 cm long. Although mainly pendants, the individual torosites are quite irregular with growth sideways and even upward in places. The torosites thicken and thin, like knuckles on a finger, but maintain a relatively uniform diameter. Laminations in the bladed spar and protrusions are defined by micritic intervals with minor intermixed detrital grains (clay, quartz, and carbonate silt) and rare, ropy biofilm. Bladed-spar crystals nucleate off thicker detrital layers, but they extend through thinner lamina. The torosites lack the central canal of helictites and most stalactites. Unlike pool fingers and stalactites, torosites only grow on the end of the speleothem, not on the sides. We hypothesize that the torosites grew from dripping water at their ends. Microbial biofilm communities colonized the growth surface, probably during drier conditions, forming the micritic layers. We speculate that the microbial mat likely caused the irregular sideways growth, but we cannot identify how on these fossil forms. Torosites are unique and add to the growing list of known microbially mediated speleothems.