bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Replicating and Extending the Reliability, Criterion Validity, and Treatment Sensitivity of The Shortened PANSS for Pediatric Trials
Authors: Busner Joan , Youngstrom Eric A. , Langfus Joshua A. , Daniel David G. , Findling Robert L.
Published: September 2023

Question: Do the shortened Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) [1] versions recently developed from a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) pediatric dataset continue to perform well in a third independent randomized double-blind clinical trial of adolescents with schizophrenia?
Findings: Secondary analysis of the double-blind, placebo-controlled aripiprazole pivotal trial data (N=302) found that the 10-item (and 20-item) PANSS versions on which we have previously reported [2] continued to provide high reliability, strong convergent correlation with expected measures, and treatment effects that equaled those found in the 30-item adult PANSS.
Meaning: Our shortened PANSS, derived originally from the randomized non-placebo controlled NIMH Treatment of Early Onset Schizophrenia Spectrum study (TEOSS) [3], and independently replicated in both the placebo-controlled paliperidone pivotal trial for adolescents with schizophrenia [4], and now the placebo-controlled aripiprazole pivotal trial for adolescents with schizophrenia, has again performed as well as the full 30 item adult-patient derived PANSS. The findings suggest it is possible to reduce the PANSS interview by 2 thirds, thus reducing burden on families and pediatric patients as well as administration and training costs, while maintaining high reliability, validity, and sensitivity to treatment equal to that of the 30-item version.
The influence of human papillomavirus infection on risk of colorectal cancer:a mendelian randomization study
Authors: Pei Bo , Liu Peijun , Peng Shixuan , Zhou Fuxiang
Published: September 2023

Background
Despite the well-established link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical and anogenital cancers, there is ongoing debate regarding the relationship between HPV and colorectal cancer (CRC).
Methods
We evaluated the causal connection between HPV infection and CRC utilizing Mendelian randomization(MR) analyses.Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets for HPV were obtained from the IEU Open GWAS project. A large summary of colorectal adenocarcinoma and colorectal cancer data from the FinnGen database was used as the outcome.
Results
Our analysis revealed a significant association between genetically predicted HPV-16 infection and the risk of paternal colorectal adenocarcinoma (HPV-16: OR 1.058, 95% CI 1.013 to1.102; p = 0.011), as well as CRC (HPV-16: OR 1.045 95% CI 1.005 to 1.085; p = 0.025). However, similar results were not found in the subtype of HPV-18, colorectal adenocarcinoma (OR: 0.955, 95% CI: 0.893–1.0022; p = 0.184), and CRC (OR: 0.949, 95% CI: 0.889–1.0011 ; p = 0.106).
Conclusion
These findings provide compelling evidence for a causal effect of HPV-16 on the development of CRC. Further investigations into the underlying mechanisms and elucidation of this association are necessary to identify viable interventions for the prevention and treatment of HPV-16-associated CRC.
Estimation of the number of monotone intervals for iterations of the tent map
Authors: Chen Kai , Shi Yongguo
Published: September 2023

The tent map with two parameters has wonderful and complexdynamic properties. We present the relationship between topological entropyand the number of monotonic intervals for iterations of the tent map. Wedivide the parameter region into some sub-regions, and estimate the corre-sponding growth rate of the number of monotonic intervals.
AMS(2020) subject classifications. 37E05, 37C25
BETTER LIFE- Guidelines for Chronic Disease Prevention and Screening for people aged 18-39 years: a harmonized literature review
Authors: Moqueet Nasheed , Cornacchi Sylvie D. , Antony Jesmin , Khalil Ielaf , Manca Donna , Fernandes Carolina , Paszat Lawrence , Aubrey-Bassler Kris , Grunfeld Eva , Sopcak Nicolette , Pinto Andrew , Konkin Jill , Nykiforuk Candace , Rabeneck Linda , Selby Peter , Wall Becky , O'Brien Mary Ann , Lofters Aisha
Published: September 2023

Background
The original ‘BETTER’ (Building on Existing Tools To Improve Chronic Disease Prevention and Screening in Primary Care) approach consisted of a prevention-focused visit between participants aged 40–65 years and a “Prevention Practitioner” (PP), who empowered the participant to set achievable prevention and screening goals for cancers and chronic diseases. BETTER was successfully adapted for economically deprived communities (BETTER HEALTH). We conducted an evidence review of guidelines in preparation for adapting the ‘BETTER HEALTH’ approach for younger adults aged 18–39 years living with lower income, a group known to have earlier mortality due to a higher prevalence of preventable chronic diseases than their peers with higher income.
Methods
We searched multiple electronic databases and grey literature for clinical practice guidelines on prevention/screening and included those that met the following criteria: published in English from 2008–2020 in Canada or any of the following countries (Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States and England); and addressed prevention or screening. We assessed quality using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool and extracted data from sources with overall scores of 5 or higher. Final recommendations were compiled after harmonization with input from diverse stakeholders (co-investigators, PPs, and the Community Advisory Committee).
Results
We included a total of 85 guidelines, and developed a final list of 42 recommendations for 18–39 year-olds across 21 topics. Specific recommendations fell under the following topics: cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, lifestyle (alcohol; healthy nutrition/physical activity); healthy relationships and healthy sexuality, immunization, oral health, social determinants of health, and substance use.
Conclusion
We identified evidence-based guidelines on prevention/screening actions for adults 18–39 years old and relevant for those living with lower income.
The complete mitogenome of Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and phylogenetic analysis of Liopygia
Authors: Feng Yakai , Ren Lipin , Wang Shiwen , Jia Kaile , Wang Feng , Jiang Hai , Huang Jingjing , Guo Yadong
Published: September 2023

Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) is considered to be of great medical, forensic, and ecological importance. However, complete mitogenome information for this species is still scarce. Here, the first complete sequencing of the mitogenome of S. argyrostoma was sequenced and analyzed. The mitogenome of S. argyrostoma was 16,454 bp in size with an AT content of 75.7 %. The gene order and direction among species within the Liopygia subgenus were highly conserved, and no gene rearrangement was found in S. argyrostoma. Selection pressure analysis revealed that all the PCG genes evolved under strong purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that S. argyrostoma was closely related to S. ruficornis. The results obtained in this study not only enrich the existing molecular databases of this group but also provide valuable information for subsequent species identification and phylogenetic analysis.
Osteosarcoma Tumor Detection using Different Transfer Learning Models
Authors: Meem Raisa Fairooz , Hasan Khandaker Tabin
Published: September 2023

The clinical image analysis field has increasingly embraced the utilization of transfer learning models due to their reduced computational complexity and improved accuracy, among other benefits. These models, which are pre-trained and do not require training from scratch, eliminate the need for extensive datasets. While transfer learning models are primarily employed for brain, breast, or lung image analysis, other areas such as bone marrow cell detection or bone cancer detection can also derive advantages from their use, particularly considering the limited availability of large datasets for these specific tasks. This research paper investigates the performance of various transfer learning models for the detection of osteosarcoma tumours, a form of bone cancer predominantly found in the long bones of the body's cells. The dataset comprises histopathology images stained with H\&E, categorized into four groups: Viable Tumor, Non-viable Tumor, Non-Tumor, and Viable Non-viable. The datasets were randomly split into training and test sets, following an 80-20 ratio, with 80% used for training and 20% for testing. Four models were evaluated for comparison: EfficientNetB7, InceptionResNetV2, NasNetLarge, and ResNet50. All these models were pre-trained on ImageNet. According to the results, InceptionResNetV2 achieved the highest accuracy (93.29%), followed by NasNetLarge (90.91%), ResNet50 (89.83%), and EfficientNetB7 (62.77%). InceptionResNetV2 also exhibited the highest precision (0.8658) and recall (0.8658) values among the four models.
Assessment of Dietary Patterns in Celiac Disease Patients Using Factor Analysis Method and Its Relationship with Dietary Intake and Anthropometric Measurements
Authors: Morvaridi Mehrnaz , Sadeghi Narges , Alavinejad Pezhman , Sadeghian Mehdi , Tahvilian Negin , Behbahani Hossein Bavi , Ebrahimi Sara , Farsi Farnaz
Published: September 2023

Background/Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is a systemic and autoimmune enteropathy of the gastrointestinal tract with malabsorption characteristics. The only effective treatment for CD is to strict adherence a gluten-free diet (GFD) throughout life. the objective of this study was evaluated the dietary patterns in celiac disease patients and its relationship with dietary intake and anthropometric measurements in Iran.
Subjects/Methods: This is a case control study on 110 patients with celiac disease who were referred to the Celiac Association of Khuzestan, Iran. Nutritional information was collected using a validated 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The software Stata (StataCorp, Version 14.0) was used to analyze the data. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to obtain patients' dietary patterns.
Results: There was a significant relationship between age, BMI, and total energy intake with quartiles of healthy dietary pattern score (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, and P = 0.001, respectively). Also, there was a significant relationship between total energy intake with quartiles of unhealthy dietary pattern score and traditional dietary pattern (P < 0.001 and p=0.005 respectively). Moreover, there was a significant association of odd ratio for celiac disease and traditional dietary pattern score.
Conclusions: The main findings of our study revealed that the patients who consumed healthy dietary patterns had lower odds ratio of the celiac disease incidence. Although, the rate of adhere to healthy eating pattern was related to increase BMI and daily calorie intake with rising age of participants.
Neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy for pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: case report
Authors: Xu Chang , Zhao Guangyin , Zhang Hongyu , Ge Di , Gu Jie
Published: September 2023

Background: Pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (pLCNEC) represents a rare malignancy characterized by its aggressive behavior and a notably high recurrence rate. Remarkably, there is currently no established standard treatment protocol for this condition.
Case Description: In this report, we present an intriguing case of pLCNEC diagnosed at clinical-stage IIB. This case involves a 64-year-old man with a smoking history spanning four decades. In our approach, we initiated a course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in combination with pembrolizumab, administered for two cycles prior to surgical resection. This innovative treatment strategy resulted in a significant pathological response, culminating in a major pathological remission (MPR). As of the time of composing this report, the patient has been diligently monitored for 33 months post-surgery, exhibiting no indications of recurrence, and has demonstrated exceptional tolerance to the entire treatment regimen.
Conclusions: We have first reported a clinically successful case of neoadjuvant combination chemotherapy with pembrolizumab in the treatment of pLCNEC. This case offers promising clinical insights and suggests that this therapeutic approach could be a viable option for managing pLCNEC.
Causes and pattern of eye diseases in children attending the paediatric eye unit of Ahmadu Bello University teaching hospital, Shika, Zaria
Authors: Orugun Ayodele Jacob , kabir Oladigbolu kehinde , Pam Victoria H
Published: September 2023

Background
To determine the causes and pattern of eye diseases in children 0-15 years of age attending the Paediatric unit of the Department of Ophthalmology Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika, Zaria with a view of obtaining data for planning of children eye care in the hospital and in similar hospitals around the area.
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. All children that met the inclusion criteria were recruited. Visual acuity assessments were done in verbal children using Snellen’s chart, Tumbling E-Chart and picture charts while preferential looking, fixation, objection to occlusion were used for preverbal patients. Anterior segment examination was done using a loupe or slit lamp biomicroscope as appropriate while posterior segment was examined by direct ophthalmoscopy. Manual refraction was done using streak retinoscope (cycloplegic refraction when required)
Result:
A total of 12,516 patients attended the Ophthalmology out-patient clinic of the hospital during the 30- month study period (May 2014- Oct. 2016); 1,760 (14.1%) were patients 0- 15 years of age (study population).A total of 448 children were recruited for the study. The male to female ratio M: F was 1.3:1. Allergic conjunctivitis 181 (40.4%), refractive error 42 (9.4%) and infective conjunctivitis 39 (8.7%) were the most common ocular disorders seen. The prevalence of visual impairment was 34.4%.Trauma was the most common cause of uniocular visual impairment. The proportion of blind eyes was 3.1% (n=12)
Conclusions:
The common ocular disorders seen among the children were treatable causes of visual impairment. Public health education is necessary to create awareness on the causes of blindness. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the ocular disorders with respect to age and gender of the children.
ICP-MS-based quantitative analysis of multi-elements in commonly edible products using different microwave-assisted acid extraction (MW-AAE) methods
Authors: POTHURAJU NARESH , P Harish Kumar , Jagdale Rushikant , V Udaya Kumar , Gajbhiye Rahul L. , Parihar Vipan K , V Ravichandiran , P Ramalingam
Published: September 2023

This study quantified 13 hazardous heavy metals in 24 edible products, sourced from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal regions of India. An inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for determining the 13 elements of ICH3D document including Class 1 (Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead), Class 2A (Cobalt, Vanadium, Nickle), Class 2B (Thallium, Palladium, Selenium, Silver), and Class 3 (Barium, Copper, Chromium). The certified reference material of 29-Analyte /IMS-102 peach leaves was used for validating the digestion procedure. The elements were extracted from food products using different microwave assisted acid extraction (MW-AAE) procedures viz. method A, B, and C under closed conditions. The ICP-MS conditions demonstrated more sensitive detection for cd (0.009 ppb), Co (0.0098 ppb), Ti (0.0049 ppb) and Ag (0.0006 ppb) and recorded more than 50 ppt (0.05 ppb) for As, Pb, Ni, V, Se and Ba with acceptable BEC levels in the linearity range of 0.1 to 2000 ppb (r2 > 0.9). The precision % RSD and the % recovery (IS: Y, Tb, Sc) for all food products was acceptable. Among the digestion methods, the method A demonstrated more superior detection to Cd, V, Ag, Cu, Ba and Cr, whilst method B detected Thallium. Both methods B and C were equally detected As and Pd. All digestions afforded Pb, Co, Ni, Th and Cu at precise levels. Amongst the elements, Hg, V, Ni, Pd, TI, Pt, and Sb were below the permissible limits whilst As, Pb, Cd, Se, Cr, Cu, Co, Ba, Mo and Ag, were above the limits. The principal component analysis for comparison of digestion procedures revealed that the method-A digestion afforded better extraction for sensitive detection, nevertheless correlation was significant for elements detection from methods A, B, and C.
Endometrioid Carcinoma of the Ovarian Resembling Wolffian Tumor: a case report
Authors: Wang Juan , Hao Xue , Wang Yuan , Zhao Linyuan , Li Yuehong , Wu Wenxin , Zhang Xianghong , Cui Jinfeng
Published: September 2023

Background Endometrioid carcinoma is a common epithelial malignant tumor in the female reproductive system. It mainly occurs in the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Endometrioid carcinoma reassembling Wolffian tumor, similar to Wolffian tumor, is a type of endometrial carcinoma with a very rare histological structure. At present, only 23 cases have been reported in domestic and foreign literature, of which 2 cases occurred in the ovary and 21 cases occurred in the fallopian tube lumen. Here, we report a case of endometrioid carcinoma of the ovarian resembling FATWO and review the literature.
Case presentation A 65-year-old female patient presented with dysuria for one month. CT showed a pelvic mass. Macroscopically, the tumors form a solid mass with a gray-red to tan. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of tubular, balk and solid structures, among which many small crowded glands. The small and round tubular structure was composed of simple cuboidal epithelium, and eosinophilic secretions can be seen in the lumen. Immunohistochemical staining showed that CK-Pan, EMA, ER, PR, CK8/18 and CEA were positive in the tumor cells, but WT-1, PAX-8, TTF-1, GATA3, calretinin and α-inhibin negtive, wild-type P53, Ki67 index was 10%. The final diagnosis was endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary resembling Wolffian tumor. The patient was followed up for 1 year and 9 months without recurrence.
Conclusions We review the previously published cases of endometrioid carcinomas of the resembling FATWO, and discuss the principal differential diagnosis of the tumor in the ovary.
Assessment of Transportation Networks Using Multi- Criteria Analysis Methods: Case Study of Transportation Infrastructure Axes of Mongolia
Authors: Urantamir G. , Altanbagana M. , Battsengel V. , Saruul G. , Bayarjargal M. , Tseyenkhand P.
Published: September 2023

Due to globalization and widening regional cooperation, needs of social and economic development, and scientific and technological development, it is necessary to adapt the planning of the transportation infrastructure axes not only with the internal situation, but also with regional economic integration, trade, transit and neighboring countries’ main trunk lines and the transportation infrastructure. The purpose of this study is to determine the vertical and horizontal axes that are located optimally at the regional level, have good geographical conditions for roads, connect major economic regions and centers where goods, industry and population are concentrated, and have a transportation and logistics networks using the potential assessment. The axes and corridors of the transportation infrastructure approved by the Parlament of Mongolia and proposed by academic researchers and international organizations were considered as research objects. In the potential scenarios, a multi-criteria analysis method was used to evaluate the potential using 19 indicators of 9 groups. As a result of the assessment, 4 vertical and 1 horizontal axes were identified to support the social and economic development of Mongolia. The vertical axes of this transportation infrastructure are important for intensifying the development of interstate trade and transport, supporting national and regional social and economic development, and creating economic growth. However, the horizontal axes of the transportation infrastructure is important for connecting the vertical axes, territorial integrity, and creating appropriate conditions for population localization and settlement.
Real-world efficacy and safety of Rituximab, Lenalidomide and İbrutinib combination in patients with Relapsed and/or Refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Koyun Derya , Şahin Uğur , Gökmen Ayla , Özcan Muhit
Published: September 2023

Background
Relapsed or refractory (R/R) Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is associated with poor outcomes and the therapic options are limited. Recently, rituximab, lenalidomide, and ibrutinib (RLI) suggest promising efficacy in some clinical studies. Consequently, we evaluated the RLI in a real-life setting.
Methods
This retrospective, single-center study analyzed the outcomes of RLI as an off label salvage theraphy in patients with R/R NHL from June 2020-April 2022.
Results
We analyzed twenty-one patients including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (n = 16), primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) (n = 2), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (n = 2), marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) (n = 1). The most common adverse events (AEs) were fatigue (48%), neutropenia (48%), infection (33%). The median TTR (time to response) was 2 months (range, 1.7–3.8). The ORR (overall response rate) was 38% (95% CI 15%-61%) with 29% CR (complete response) and 9% PR (partial response). The median DoR (duration of response) was 12.8 months (range, 4.4–19.5+). The median OS (overall survival) was 7.9 months (95% CI 2.2–13.5) and median PFS (progression free survival) was 3.5 months (95% CI 0.0-8.3).
Conclusions
Our results suggest that RLI is a viable therapeutic option with promising activity and favorable toxicity profile in patients with R/R NHL.
Detection of trace element levels in biological samples of drug abuser: Halani Sindh, Pakistan
Authors: Chang Sajjad Ali , Balouch Aamna , Nahyoon Waheed Ali , Raja Aamir Ali
Published: September 2023

Illicit drug use has become a global issue, posing significant health, socioeconomic, and cultural risks. The study examined essential trace metal selenium, zinc and copper in blood concentrations, serum and scalp hair samples, from male 240 drug-abuse subjects/patients aged 18–45 categorized into three age groups. The study compared 45 healthy subjects of the same age group using an acid-digestion method supported during sample preparation a microwave oven. The technique atomic-absorption spectrophotometry was employed to identify essential and toxic elements, utilizing certified reference materials for accuracy. Drug abusers' Se and Zn concentrations are lower than those of referent subjects, potentially increasing vulnerability to infection due to poor nutritional status or other contaminants.
Delineation of Aquifer Storage Capacity in Response to Regional Groundwater Development
Authors: Alao Joseph Omeiza , Abduwahab Obanero O. , Lawal Hammed Adeniyi , Mary Ekwu Tongha , Yusuf Mumeen Adebayo , Fahad Abubakar , Abdulsalami Momoh-Jimoh
Published: September 2023

Developing aquifers as part of sustainability efforts towards groundwater development is a tactical approach to meeting water demand and management objectives. Delineation of aquifer storage capacity (ASC) and longitudinal conductance (S_L) is a good approach in an attempt to increase water supply. Due to site-specific needs and demands, ASC and S_L play an all-important role in regional groundwater development and sustainability. This study applied Schlumberger and 2D electrical resistivity image (ERI) to determine the regional aquifer thickness in an attempt to assess the strength of ASC and also evaluation of a local S_L that can also be applicable regional scales using fifteen (15) VES points with one orthogonal profile of 2D ERI. The study shows that the layer resistivity values of the regional aquifer range from 39.9 Ωm – 105 Ωm, while the aquifer layer thickness values spread from 15 m – 44 m and the overburden thickness overlays the aquifer unit extends from 5 m to 10 m. The deeper aquifer zones were delineated within the depth of 30 m – 44 m, and the zones are considered to be suitable for groundwater development. The weathered/fractured basemen, which constitute the regional aquifer are delineated. The weathered layer with appreciably low resistivity values with thick aquifer regolith has also been identified as most suitable for borehole siting. The weathered/fractured encountered within thick aquifer regolith indicates a high storage capacity and positive groundwater development. The longitudinal conductance, SL and transverse resistance, RT estimated from aquifer parameters vary between 0.21 Ω-1-0.85 Ω-1 and 1695 Ωm2-3124Ωm2 respectively. The SL values show that that study area falls within moderate (0.20 Ω-1-0.69 Ω-1) and good (0.7 Ω-1-0.49 Ω-1) ASC, which invariably improved the regional aquifer recovery processing.
Relocating rice cultivation domestically is conducive to climate mitigation and land utilization without compromising food security
Authors: Lee Huey-Lin , Pao Shang-Hung , Lin Chiao-Wen , Lin Wei‐Jen , Chang En-Tse , Chen Wei-Chung , Lee Li-Hua , Wang Ching-Wen , Lin Hsing-Juh
Published: September 2023

Apart from agronomic advancements and field management, spatial redistribution of rice cultivation areas can be an effective way to cut CH4 emissions. Coupling the linear programming approach with subregional in situ CH4 measurements to reveal heterogeneity in locality and cropping season, we assessed the potential of CH4 mitigation via spatial redistribution of Taiwan’s rice cultivation areas without slashing rice production. Our results showed (1) 1,961 kilotons CO2e, or 18%, can be cut from pre-relocation for the normal crop year 2017, which outperforms peak annual carbon sequestration from accumulated afforestation; and (2) saving 9,518 hectares of rice paddies in selected subregions for growing soybean could significantly raise national self-sufficiency rate in soybean from 2% to 8%. We discuss here the feasibility of spatially relocating rice cultivation in the Taiwanese policy context and implications for Asian rice-growing countries in their pursuit of climate mitigation and food security.
THERMORESPONSIVE CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTALS PROTECTING MACROPHAGE CELLS FROM OXIDATIVE STRESS
Authors: Pinheiro José , Marques Nívia , Silva Maylla , Rocha Hugo , Balaban Rosangela
Published: September 2023

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were grafted with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) chains, by means of the grafting from route, using the TEMED/KPS redox pair as free-radical initiators. The confirmation of grafting was revealed by 13C NMR spectra. In a test with murine macrophages (RAW 264.7 cell line), CNC-g-PNIPAM copolymers did not affect cell viability nor RAW cell oxide nitric production. Raw cells exposed to oxidative stress induced by H2O2 decreased the cell viability (~ 60%) and increased lipid peroxidation, as revealed by malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. The most effective protection against the oxidative damage, with cell viability of 100%, was provided by 50 µg mL-1 of CNC-g-PNIPAM synthesized with 1:1 CNC:NIPAM mass ratio. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the levels of GSH, MDA and SOD between cells treated with the modified CNC and cells not exposed to peroxide. These results indicate that the antioxidant properties of CNC-g-PNIPAM may be useful in possible applications in health treatments.
Characteristics of leachate from landfills and dumpsites in Asia, Africa and Latin America: a review update
Authors: Vinti Giovanni , Tudor Terry , Vaccari Mentore
Published: September 2023

Using published data, this chapter updated a previous review to examine differences in pollutant levels in the leachate between landfills and dumpsites in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. A total of 3584 scientific articles published between 2018 and 2022 were initially identified in Scopus. After reviewing the abstracts, only 434 studies were selected, and the full text was examined. Finally, 38 studies were included in the review. However, some studies assessed more than one waste disposal site. Thus, 58 landfills and dumpsites were included. The most significant difference in the leachate between dumpsites and landfills generally occurred in climatic zone A. Indeed, significantly higher values in dumpsites were found for Cr, Ni, and Zn. Comparing the findings with the previous review confirms the differences in the levels of Cd and Pb between landfills and dumpsites. To mitigate these risks, it is vital for there to be investments in improving the waste management infrastructure and systems in Global South countries. In addition, there should be improved governance structures to enhance the enforcement of the existing policies.
Anaerobic treatment of landfill leachate
Authors: Tawfik Ahmed , Tyagi Vinay Kumar
Published: September 2023

Anaerobic technologies are the most suitable treatment processes of the landfill leachate, and offer advantages, that is, application of high organic loading rates (OLRs), low operational costs, and biogas productivity. However, the efficiency of anaerobic reactors are highly dependent on the temperature, OLR, ammonia loading rate, sludge loading rate, and reactors configurations. Those factors affect the microbial activities, hydrolysis of leachate and enzyme activities. Moreover, the anaerobic reactors are subjected to biomass washout that impairs the efficiency of the technology. Therefore, intentional sludge discharge is necessary to control the food-to-substrate ratio that highly affects the performance of anaerobic process. The removal of organics is quite high (>90% of BOD) from the leachate by anaerobic digesters where low requirement dose of phosphorous are needed for anaerobes growing, low excess sludge productivity, low energy consumption, and usage. Moreover, the technology produces hydrogen and methane from leachate. Nevertheless, the presence of high concentrations of ammonia in the leachate could highly inhibit the anaerobes and leads to process failure. Therefore, two-stage anaerobic reactors are recommended at low OLR to achieve a good effluent quality complying for discharge and/or reuse.
Landfill leachate pollution index
Authors: Thalla Arun Kumar , Ambujan Anakha , Kubsad Vijay
Published: September 2023

A major portion of wastes generated due to rapid industrialization and urbanization ends up in landfills. The leachate generated as a consequence of physical and chemical changes in landfills can pose danger to the water and soil in the proximity. Poorly designed, faulty monitoring of leachate-handling systems could lead to unfortunate contamination affecting human and livestock health as well as adversely affecting agriculture and soil. An urgent need to quantify the contamination caused due to faulty handling of hazardous waste landfill (HWL) leachate has been felt. The leachate pollution index (LPI) has been an essential tool for quantifying the leachate contamination potential. The existing index was developed based on criteria, in particular, the toxicity and availability of the pollutants in the leachate from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill sites, and thus many pollutants which are present in HWL leachate in significant concentrations were screened out. However, with rapid industrialization, the quantities of hazardous waste generated and its dumping in HWLs and the toxicity associated or rendered with it is not dealt currently but there is an urgent need for the same. Thus, pollutants such as halogenated organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals such as selenium need to be considered in the formulation of LPI for hazardous waste landfills. In this chapter, a review of sources of hazardous wastes, their conventional handling methods, developing LPI for MSW landfill sites, and further how the same can be modified to develop LPI for HWLs are discussed. The procedure stated for LPI development in this study can serve as an essential tool for quantifying the leachate contamination potential, can be used as a comparison tool for different HWL leachates, furthermore, and for ranking landfill sites based on the contamination potential.
Prevalence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in landfill leachate
Authors: Gunjyal Neelam , Ojha Chandra Shekhar Prasad , Tygai Vinay Kumar
Published: September 2023

Landfills are an essential source of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and can potentially risk humans and the environment. Landfills receive heavy metals, organic matter, microbial consortia, antibiotics, antibiotic residue, and biomedical waste, which enhance the prevalence of antibiotics, ARGs, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs). The critical problem is the transfer of antibiotics and ARGs in groundwater, surface water, food web, and the surrounding environment through landfill leachate. In this chapter, we have discussed several studies on antibiotics and ARGs in landfill leachates, such as a review of the source of antibiotics and ARGs in landfills, a discussion of the correlation between antibiotics, antibiotic residue, and heavy metals on ARGs, a summary about the impact of various physicochemical parameters, environmental, and social factors which influences the antibiotics and ARGs, landfill age, and effect of antibiotics and ARGs on groundwater and surface water. Finally, this chapter fills the current gaps not examined until now. Especially in developing countries such as India, it is essential to research antibiotics and ARGs in landfill leachate.
Bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated environment: developed strategies and potential use of biosurfactants as chelators
Authors: Inès Mnif , Mekki Salwa , Dhouha Ghribi
Published: September 2023

Heavy metal pollution damages the ecosystems and presents a major problem for public health. Thus, an urgent need was developed to decrease the high levels of heavy metals in the soil and aquatic environments. With this aim, numerous physicochemical strategies were developed. However, they are money-consuming, require the use of energy and chemical additives and can release secondary compounds that can pollute and cause great damage to the environment. Then, biological methods based on the investigation of bacteria, fungi and plants along with their derived secondary active metabolites became the best alternatives. Using plant capacities, different phytoremediation strategies were developed such as phytoextraction, phytovolatilization, rhizofiltration and phytostabilization. Regarding bioremediation, bacterial biosorption of heavy metals, biolixiviation and lagooning offer great potential for their environmental cleaning. Additionally, the use of secondary active metabolites, such as biosurfactants, is well-studied. Generally, they are a class of structurally very varied molecules commonly synthesized by many microorganisms with amphiphilic character. Owing to their anionic charge, they have the capacity to sequestrate heavy metals permitting their elimination. Glycolipids and lipopeptides are among the most recognized biosurfactants with interesting heavy metal chelating properties.
Anthropomorphizing Nature as a Tool for Environmental Education. Opinions of Pedagogy Students in the Context of Represented Environmental Ethics
Authors: Kozłowska Agnieszka , Czapla Małgorzata
Published: September 2023

The purpose of the study was to check pedagogy students’ opinions on using anthropomorphizing nature for the development of pro-environmental knowledge and behaviour in the context of their own environmental ethics orientations.  An online survey for university pedagogy students from Poznan, Poland, was conducted. N=221 respondents, of whom 97% were women, filled out the questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used for closed questions on students’ opinions about using anthropomorphizing nature for environmental education. To find out the respondents’ environmental ethics orientations, content analysis of answers to open questions was used, applying theory-based categories of environmental orientations derived from environmental ethics (anthropocentrism, biocentrism). The findings revealed that the majority of students believe that anthropomorphism of nature helps in the development of pro-environmental behaviour (62.4%) and knowledge (55.8%). In justification, most (63.8%) presented anthropocentric attitudes; 27.5% of answers were biocentric, and 8.8% - mixed eclectic. According to the other questions the respondents supported biocentric environmental norms. Their justifications, however, again revealed mostly anthropocentric motivations 63.2%. Conclusion: Pedagogy students, although they support biocentric norms, believe that anthropomorphism of nature will be the right tool for environmental education, and use anthropocentric arguments in their justifications. In their future pedagogical practice, they will rather develop anthropocentric orientations in children, building positive attitudes towards nature on (false) belief in similarities of human and non-human living organisms, instead of recognition of their “otherness” and intrinsic value.
Association Between Breastfeeding Attitudes and Depression Risk of Mothers in COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: BAYKAL AKMEŞE Zehra
Published: September 2023

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the level of breastfeeding attitude and its association with risk of depression among mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In the cross-sectional analytics study, the minimum number of samples to be reached was calculated (n=327). Data were collected from 393 mothers with the Google survey method. Questionnaire Form, Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IFAS) forms were used as data collection tools. Variables related to socio-demographic characteristics are shown by number and percentage distribution. The effects of categorical variables, which are thought to affect the mean scores of EPDS and IFAS, were evaluated with t-test and chi-square analysis in independent groups. The relationship between the mean scores of the scale is shown by the correlation coefficient. p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean IFAS score was 65.54±6.74, and the mean EPDS score was 10.70±6.25. IFAS scores of mothers at risk for depression (64.78±6.85) were found to be significantly lower (p < 0.05) than mothers who were not at risk for depression. Conclusion: In the COVID-19 pandemic, it was determined that the breastfeeding attitudes of mothers at risk for depression were lower than those of mothers who were not at risk for depression.
Image-based Quality Identification of Black Soybean (Glycine soja) Using Convolutional Neural Network
Authors:   Universitas Brawijaya, Effendi Mas'ud , Ramadhan Naufal Hilmi ,   Universitas Brawijaya, Hidayat Arif ,   Universitas Brawijaya
Published: September 2023

The problem faced in identifying the quality of black soybeans is that the quality of the assessment is inconsistent and it takes a relatively long time. This study aims to determine the best convolutional neural network architecture by comparing the performance of Custom CNN, MobileNetV2, and ResNet-34 architectures in identifying the quality level (grade) of black soybeans. The quality of black soybean is split into 4 different classes based on physical characteristics (split, damaged, other colors, wrinkles, dirt) and moisture content test. The number of images used is 1300 images, with the ratio of training data, validation data, and testing data are 50:25:25, 60:25:15, and 70:20:10. The best model for identifying the quality based on the physical characteristics is the MobileNetV2 architecture with a ratio of 50:25:25 which produces an accuracy of 90.18%. Morover, the best model for identifying the quality based on the moisture content is the ResNet-34 architecture with a ratio of 70:20:10, which produces an accuracy of 78.12%. The best overall accuracy in identifying the quality based on both physical characteristics and moisture content is the ResNet-34 architecture, with a ratio of 70:20:10, with an average accuracy of testing data of 79.21%.
Constructivism, Identity, and Discourse in Terrorism
Authors: Tulga Ahmet Yigitalp
Published: September 2023

Terrorism is a phenomenon with a long history. Scholars from many different disciplines research terrorism. One of the disciplines studying the phenomenon of terrorism is International Relations. Significantly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the discipline's interest in terrorism increased dramatically. However, increasing academic studies since the early 2000s did not lead to an increase in the contribution of the field to Terrorism Studies. The state-centric perspective of Neorealism and Neoliberalism is a fundamental reason behind this problem. Constructivism offers an alternative to the state-centric view. In this context, I examine the role of identity and discourse on terrorism by adopting the Constructivist perspective. Within this scope, the manifestos of eight different terrorists within three various terrorist organizations were examined. In parallel, news about the terrorists whose manifestos were examined was analyzed. Using text analysis, results suggest that both terrorists and the media divide the world into two "us" and "them." The results of this study provide interesting insights and empirical implications on International Relations. In this research, I give an overview of this research area. I then discuss this research's primary results and explain why the Constructivist approach, identity, and discourse are essential in terrorism research.
Health Providers’ Perceptions and Experiences of Using mHealth for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases: Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis
Authors: Gu Yu , Guan Yushan , Meng Zhaolin
Published: September 2023

Background

Mobile health (mHealth) technology has great potential for addressing the epidemic of chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs) by assisting health providers (HPs) with managing these diseases. However, there is currently limited evidence regarding the acceptance of mHealth among HPs, which is a key prerequisite for harnessing this potential.

Objective

This review aimed to investigate the perceptions and experiences of HPs regarding the barriers to and facilitators of mHealth use for CNCDs.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (via Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library (via Ovid) for studies that assessed the perceptions and experiences of HPs regarding the barriers to and facilitators of mHealth use for CNCDs. Qualitative studies and mixed methods studies involving qualitative methods published in English were included. Data synthesis and interpretation were performed using a thematic synthesis approach.

Results

A total of 18,242 studies were identified, of which 24 (0.13%) met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 6 themes related to facilitators were identified, namely empowering patient self-management, increasing efficiency, improving access to care, increasing the quality of care, improving satisfaction, and improving the usability of the internet and mobile software. Furthermore, 8 themes related to barriers were identified, namely limitation due to digital literacy, personal habits, or health problems; concern about additional burden; uncertainty around the value of mHealth technology; fear of medicolegal risks; lack of comfortable design and experience; lack of resources and incentives; lack of policy guidance and regulation; and worrisome side effects resulting from the use of mHealth.

Conclusions

This study contributes to the understanding of the beneficial factors of and obstacles to mHealth adoption by HPs for CNCDs. The findings of this study may provide significant insights for health care workers and policy makers who seek ways to improve the adoption of mHealth by HPs for CNCDs.
Application of Extreme Learning Machine Method With Particle Swarm Optimization to Classify of Heart Disease
Authors: Ariyanti Adela Putri , Mazdadi Muhammad Itqan , Farmadi Andi - , Muliadi Muliadi , Herteno Rudy
Published: September 2023

Penyakit jantung koroner adalah tersumbatnya suplai darah jantung. Penyakit jantung adalah penyebab utama kematian di seluruh dunia. Berbagai faktor risiko berkontribusi terhadap penyakit jantung, termasuk merokok, gaya hidup tidak sehat, kolesterol tinggi, dan hipertensi. Dengan demikian, prediksi penyakit dapat dilakukan untuk mengidentifikasi individu yang berisiko guna mencegah peningkatan kematian akibat penyakit jantung. Penambangan data, khususnya metode Extreme Machine Learning (ELM), biasanya digunakan untuk tujuan ini. ELM adalah metode jaringan saraf dalam kecepatan pelatihan dan tidak memerlukan propagasi balik, dan menentukan jumlah node tersembunyi yang optimal dan mencapai hasil yang akurat tetap menjadi tantangan. Pada penelitian ini, ELM dengan Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) diusulkan untuk mengoptimalkan klasifikasi penyakit jantung, yang bertujuan untuk mencapai hasil optimal dengan pembelajaran cepat. Penelitian ini mengikuti proses yang sistematis, termasuk pengumpulan data, preprocessing, pemodelan, dan evaluasi menggunakan analisis matriks konfusi. Hasil dan pembahasan menyajikan efektivitas metode yang diusulkan dengan mengevaluasi akurasi klasifikasi berdasarkan berbagai parameter, seperti ukuran populasi, jumlah node tersembunyi, dan iterasi. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa ELM dengan optimasi PSO dapat memberikan hasil klasifikasi yang akurat untuk diagnosis penyakit jantung, dengan tingkat akurasi yang menjanjikan.
Managing Consumers’ Adoption of Artificial Intelligence-Based Financial Robo-Advisory Services: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Ashrafi Dewan Mehrab
Published: September 2023

Introduction/Main Objectives: This study investigates the determinants of willingness to use financial robo-advisory services. The study aims to identify the intertwined roles of perceived value, perceived risk, and perceived financial knowledge in consumers’ acceptance of financial robo-advisory services. Background Problem: Fintech and AI-based applications have opened up new prospects for financial management, but studies into the adoption and implementation of robo-advisors are limited and scant. Novelty: The study offers novel insights by exploring the direct and indirect effects of perceived value and risk on consumer deci­sions around adopting robo-advisory services. The study also identifies other major drivers of robo-advisory service adoption and formulates a comprehensive model. Research Methods: A quantitative method using a deductive approach was applied, with PLS-SEM performed on a sample of 285 respondents from Bangladesh. The sample was gathered using a purposive sampling method. Findings/Results: Findings revealed that while relative advantage and perceived innovativeness positively affected perceived value and adoption intention, complexity negatively impacted perceived value and adoption intention. The findings also highlighted that attitude had a negative effect on perceived risk and intention to adopt robo-advisory services. The mediating impact of perceived value and risk in predicting the relationship between relative advantage, attitude and behavioral intention to adopt robo-advisory services was also identified. Moreover, the study revealed that perceived financial knowledge moderated the relationship between perceived value and behavioral intention. Conclusion: This study contributes to the existing body of literature by showing the intertwined roles of perceived value, perceived risk, and perceived financial knowledge in consumer acceptance of robo-advisory services. The study provides meaningful insights for financial institutions, and policymakers seeking to make robo-advisory services more reliable and acceptable to consumers through innovative service design and positioning.