bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Inflation Rate on the Agricultural and Manufacturing Sector in Nigeria (1990-2021)
Authors: Adeoye Peter Ayodeji
Published: August 2024

This work examines the effect of inflation rate on the performance of manufacturing and agricultural sectors. Yearly data were used from 1975 to 2020. The Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) was used to analyse the data, and the yearly data were sourced from Word Development indicator (WDI) and Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN) Statistical Bulletin. This research work considers inflation rate, credit to private sector (PRIVATECREDIT), manufacturing capacity utilization (MCAPUTIL), foreign direct investment (FDI), credit to agriculture (AGRICCREDIT), agriculture equipment (AGRICEQUIP)and Exchange rate (EXCH) as independent variables on agricultural output and MVA. Based on ARDL approach, based on ARDL approach, test was carried out on each dependent variable and the independent variable to check the long and short run regression findings for the coefficient of the lagged values of the dependent and independent variables. Some diagnostic test like the serial correlation test, heteroskedasticity test, and stability test were also carried out on the variables. From the results obtained, agricultural equipment, and exchange rate are statistically significance to agricultural output. Foreign direct investment, and inflation rate has statistical significance on manufacturing output. It is therefore recommended that Government should always check on the increase of inflation rate and how it is affecting the performance of the manufacturing sector and agricultural sectors so as to provide necessary solution in case if any problem arises. There should be an encouragement of foreign investment into the manufacturing sector in the country.
Spatial Analysis of Sustainable and Agricultural Development in Southern Brazil
Authors: Lisbinski Fernanda Cigainski , Freitas Felipe André Oliveira
Published: August 2024

This work sought to create and analyze a Sustainable and Agricultural Development Index (SADI) for the municipalities that make up the Southern Region of the country. For this, the methodology used was the factor analysis through the analysis of principal components and, subsequently, the exploratory analysis of spatial data (ESDA) was performed, verifying the distribution of the indicator. The main results revealed that the values found for the indicators showed a medium-low degree, considering that the highest value found was 0.5885 and the others presented values below 0.5. The municipalities with the highest indicators, with the highest degree of sustainable and agricultural development, were Curitiba (PR) (0.5885); Capivari do Sul (RS) (0.4541); and Paranapoema (PR) (0.4536). While the lowest indicators, with a lower degree of sustainable and agricultural development, were: Bombinhas (SC), (0.1843); Governador Celso Ramos (SC) (0.2170); and Matinhos (PR) (0.2172). Regarding the ESDA, it showed strong evidence of a positive and significant spatial correlation between the municipalities analyzed, in addition, there was a high disparity in the sustainable and agricultural development of the municipalities that make up these states.
Innovations in economic assessment of drought: an application to the US southwest
Authors: Shadabi Leila , Ward Frank A.
Published: August 2024

While numerous studies have examined the economic repercussions of drought, there remains a gap in integrated analyses comprehensively assessing its economic effects, especially where there is no drought adaptation policy under debate calling for a standard cost-benefit analysis. This work's first contribution comes from the development of a non-linear econometric model predicting total county income for several counties and years, for which population growth in some regions showed increasing water use despite the presence of drought. Using the arid southwest US state of New Mexico as a case study for the drought years of 2017–2019, this work develops a second innovation to assess drought damages based on comparing changes in per capita water use from 2015 to those later years. Using those two innovations, total economic damages to water users summed over the three drought years amount to $1.983 billion, just under 1% of the state's total income for that period. Overall, the effects of drought in New Mexico were more modest than anticipated partly because water users in this state showed remarkable resilience in handling water shortages due to several unique structural features of the state's income generation processes.
Factors influencing households' satisfaction with drinking water availability in Bujumbura Municipality, Burundi
Authors: Barankanira Emmanuel , Nkurunziza Innocent , Bisore Simon , Niyongabo Désiré
Published: August 2024

Consumer satisfaction and drinking water availability in evolving urban settings are major issues and their understanding is a key to improving water service quality and managing water utility. This study aims to examine factors influencing subscribers' satisfaction with drinking water availability in the Municipality of Bujumbura, Burundi. To achieve this, a survey was carried out from 3 to 21 May 2021 on a random sample of 391 subscribers. The outcome variable was the logarithm of the odds of being satisfied with drinking water availability and explanatory variables included sociodemographic factors (commune, gender, age, education level, marital status, and religion), water distribution factors and co-production-related factors. The chi-square test (Fisher's exact test if conditions are not met) and binary fixed-effects logistic regression models were applied to these data using R software, version 4.1.2. Findings showed that the time of drinking water supply and frequency of water-related outages significantly influenced satisfaction with drinking water availability after adjustment for age. This study could help decision-makers who are in charge of drinking water distribution identify other factors associated with water availability satisfaction in Bujumbura Municipality and other urban settings.
Spatiotemporal variation in water quality and its association with cyanobacterial diversity in the Hirakud Reservoir, Sambalpur, Odisha, India
Authors: Sahu Ashish Kumar , Mir Showkat Ahmad , Nayak Binata , Baitharu Iswar
Published: August 2024

The present study evaluates the impact of seasonal variation on the water quality and the cyanobacterial diversity in the Hirakud Reservoir. Different physicochemical water quality parameters were determined using standard methods as prescribed by American Public Health Association (APHA). Morphometric identification of cyanobacterial species and their diversity in reservoir water were assessed during three different seasons. The Trophic State Index (TSI) of the reservoir was calculated based on the depth of the water and the phosphate and chlorophyll-a contents. The physicochemical parameters of the water samples revealed a minimum of 3.8 mg/L of dissolved oxygen during the pre-monsoon season, and a maximum of 6.2 mg/L during the monsoon season. Nitrate content in water was found to be maximum (12.7 mg/L) in the post-monsoon season, whereas total phosphate concentration was recorded to be maximum (4.17 mg/L) during the pre-monsoon period. Higher cyanobacterial diversity was observed during pre-monsoon and was mostly dominated by Microcystis species. Cyanobacterial species such as Anabaena, Calothrix, Oscillatoria, Chroococcus, Phormidium, Cylindrospermum, Nostoc, Spirulina, and Phormidium were recorded in the reservoir. The TSI analysis indicated that the reservoir is in transition from the mesotrophic state to the eutrophic state. Principal Component Analysis indicated that increased anthropogenic activities upstream and around the reservoir contributed significantly to nutrient enrichment and subsequent deterioration of water quality.
Educação linguística em espanhol com crianças
Authors: Campos Rodrigo da Silva , Paulino Jorge Cardoso , Vargens Dayala Paiva de Medeiros
Published: August 2024

Este artigo debate práticas antirracistas tomando como foco a educação linguística em espanhol com crianças. Seu objetivo é apresentar e analisar criticamente uma atividade didática elaborada por licenciandos do curso de Letras: Português/Espanhol, vinculados ao projeto de extensão “Oficina de Línguas Adicionais para Crianças (LICOMzinho)”, da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Alinhado à perspectiva intercultural crítica (Candau, 2008, 2016, 2018), aos estudos antirracistas (Silva Junior; Almeida, 2020), decoloniais (Walsh, 2007; Pinto; Mignolo, 2015), bem como à abordagem de Solé (2005) sobre o ensino da compreensão leitora e do lugar da leitura literária nas aulas de línguas (Santos, 2012, 2018), conclui-se, pela análise geral do material didático, que o tema racial está presente, indicando avanços nos estudos antirracistas na formação inicial de professores. No entanto, um exame mais minucioso das atividades didáticas revela uma exploração limitada da identificação racial dos estudantes e das subjetividades associadas a esse processo. Assim, percebe-se que ainda é necessário expandir e aprofundar essa discussão para alcançar desdobramentos mais efetivos em favor de uma educação linguística antirracista para crianças.
A teoria da causalidade em O livro sobre o Puro Bem (Liber de causis)
Authors: Sousa Meline
Published: August 2024

O objetivo deste artigo é mostrar como o autor de O livro sobre o Puro Bem, conhecido pelos filósofos latinos como Liber de causis (LdC), desenvolve uma metafísica da causalidade ao propor uma abordagem das causas em um domínio diferente da filosofia natural. Seguindo a linha interpretativa mais recente que toma o conteúdo do LdC como um modelo filosófico original, buscarei apresentar e explicar os critérios que fundamentam a distinção causal (Causa Primeira, intelecto e alma) e a primazia absoluta da Causa Primeira: universalidade, autonomia, anterioridade e eternidade. Na sequência, mostrarei como, a partir da distinção entre a Causa Primeira e o intelecto, decorrem dois tipos de causalidade, a criação (causa de ser) e a informação (causa de forma). Por fim, introduzo brevemente um dos problemas centrais da teoria da causalidade do LdC, a dizer, se a atividade criadora da Causa Primeira depende de um intermediário.
Expression, Purification, and Evaluation of Antibody Responses and Antibody-Immunogen Complex Simulation of a Designed Multi-Epitope Vaccine against SARS-COV-2
Authors: Jamal Ghadir A. , Jahangirian Ehsan , Tarrahimofrad Hossein
Published: August 2024

Background:

The spread of the COVID-19 disease is the result of an infection caused
by the SARS-CoV2 virus. Four crucial proteins, spike (S), membrane (M), nucleocapsid (N), and
envelope (E) in coronaviruses have been considered to a large extent.

Objective:

This research aimed to express the recombinant protein of a multiepitope immunogen
construct and evaluate the immunogenicity of the multiepitope vaccine that was previously designed
as a candidate immunogenic against SARS-Cov-2.

Materials and Methods:

Plasmid pET26b was transferred to the expression host E. coli BL21
(DE3) and the recombinant protein was expressed with IPTG induction. The recombinant protein
was purified by Ni-NTA column affinity chromatography, and western blotting was used to confirm
it. Finally, mice were immunized with recombinant protein in three doses. Then, the interaction
of the 3D structure of the vaccine with the human neutralizing antibodies3D structures (7BWJ
and 7K8N) antibody was evaluated by docking and molecular dynamics simulation.

Results:

The optimized gene had a codon compatibility index of 0.96. The expression of the recombinant
protein of the SARS-Cov-2 vaccine in an E. coli host led to the production of the recombinant
protein with a weight of about 70 kDa with a concentration of 0.7 mg/ml. Immunization
of mice with recombinant protein of SARS-Cov-2 vaccine-induced IgG serum antibody response.
Statistical analysis showed that the antibody titer in comparison with the control sample
has a significant difference, and the antibody titer was acceptable up to 1/256000 dilution. The simulation
of vaccine binding with human antibodies by molecular dynamics showed that Root
Mean Square Deviation (RMSD), Root Mean Square Fluctuation (RMSF), Radius of Gyration,
and H-bond as well as van der Waals energies and electrostatic of Molecular mechanics Poisson–
Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) analysis have stable interaction.

Conclusion:

This recombinant protein can probably be used as an immunogen candidate for the
development of vaccines against SARS-CoV2 in future research.
Hepatic Metabolic Enzyme Activity with Endogenous Substances-Current Status, Challenges and Limitations
Authors: Kou Wen , Wu Xinan
Published: August 2024

Precision dosing is essential in improving drug efficacy and minimizing adverse reactions, especially
in liver impaired patients. However, there is no objective index to directly evaluate the body's ability to metabolize
specific drugs. Many factors affect the activity of enzymes, and alter the systemic exposure of substrate
drugs, like genetic polymorphism, drug-drug interactions and physiological/pathological state. So, quantifying
the activities of enzymes dynamically would be helpful to make precision dosing. Recently, some endogenous
substrates of enzymes, such as 6β-hydroxycortisol (6β-OH-cortisol)/cortisol and 6β-hydroxycortisone,
have been identified to investigate variations in drug enzymes in humans. Clinical data obtained support
their performance as surrogate probes in terms of reflecting the activities of corresponding enzyme. Therefore,
a group of Monitored endogenous biomarkers in multiple points can address the uncertainty in drug metabolization
in the preclinical phase and have the potential to fulfill precision dosing. This review focuses on recent
progress in the contribution of endogenous substances to drug precision dosing, factors that influence enzyme
activities, and drug exposure in vivo.
Melanin Synthesized by the Endophytic Aureobasidium Pullulans AKW: A Multifaceted Biomolecule with Antioxidant, Wound Healing, and Selective Anti-Cancer Activity
Authors: Elattar Khaled M. , Ghoniem Abeer A. , Al-Askar Abdulaziz A. , El-Gazzar Usama Bhgat , El-Hersh Mohammed S. , Elsherbiny Elsherbiny A. , Eldadamony Noha M. , Saber WesamEldin I.A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction:

This study explores the potential of the endophytic fungus Aureobasidium
pullulans AKW for melanin production and its anticancer activity.

Method:

We report a significant achievement: A. pullulans AKW synthesized 4.89 g/l of melanin
in a simple fermentation medium devoid of tyrosine, a precursor typically required for melanin
biosynthesis. This suggests a potentially novel pathway for melanin production compared to previous
studies relying on complex media and tyrosine. Furthermore, the isolated and characterized
melanin exhibited promising selectivity as an anti-cancer agent. It triggered apoptosis in A431 cancer
cells, demonstrating some selectivity compared to normal cells. This selectivity was confirmed
by IC50 values and further supported by gene expression changes in A431 cells. Melanin treatment
downregulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 gene while upregulating pro-apoptotic Bax and p53 genes,
indicating its ability to induce programmed cell death in cancer cells.

Result:

Our results demonstrate that A. pullulans AKW-derived melanin exhibits cytotoxic effects
against A431, HEPG2, and MCF7 cell lines. Interestingly, the present fungal strain synthesized
melanin in a simple medium without requiring precursors.

Conclusion:

The selective activity of the current melanin towards cancer cells, its ability to induce
apoptosis, and its relatively low toxicity towards normal cells warrant further investigation
for its development as a novel therapeutic option.
Advancements in Computational Approaches for Antidiabetic Drug Discovery: A Review
Authors: Rossafi Bouchra , Abchir Oussama , El Kouali Mhammed , Chtita Samir
Published: August 2024

Diabetes mellitus (DM) manifests as a complex and chronic metabolic disorder, posing
a significant threat to global public health and contributing substantially to mortality rates. It is
characterized by elevated blood glucose levels or hyperglycemia and requires effective preventive
and therapeutic strategies. One promising approach involves targeting the inhibition of α-
glucosidase and α-amylase, key enzymes responsible for carbohydrate hydrolysis. Inhibiting these
enzymes proves beneficial in reducing postprandial glucose levels and mitigating postprandial
hyperglycemia. However, existing antidiabetic medications are associated with undesirable side
effects, highlighting the need to develop new molecules with increased efficacy and reduced side
effects. Traditional methods for designing such molecules are often lengthy and costly. To address
this, computer-based molecular modeling tools offer a promising approach to evaluate the antidiabetic
activities of chemical compounds. This review aims to compile information on chemical
compounds assessed for their anti-diabetic activities through molecular modeling, with a particular
focus on the period from 2020 to 2023.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People Newly Diagnosed with HIV and those Already in -care in Türkiye
Authors: Arzu Nazlı , Sabri Atalay , Nazlıhan Yalcın , Gamze Helvacı , Hividar Altan , Deniz Gokengin
Published: August 2024

Background:

COVID-19 has inevitably influenced health systems. HIV testing rates
have been reduced, and access to antiretroviral treatment has been scaled down. We evaluated the
impact of COVID-19 on the management of people living with HIV (PLWH) in Türkiye.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional study in three tertiary care hospitals. We compared the
baseline characteristics at the first visit and viral suppression rates at the 24th week of new HIV
diagnoses during the pandemic with those during the previous two years. To observe the effect
of the pandemic on people living with HIV who were already in care, we compared the metabolic
and clinical parameters like weight, blood pressure, blood lipid levels, fasting glucose levels, and
liver and renal function tests, of the same people before and during the pandemic.

Results:

The first group included 380 cases (127 diagnosed during the pandemic and 253 diagnosed
during the previous year). The demographic characteristics were similar. The newly diagnosed
PLWH during the pandemic had significantly higher baseline HIV RNA levels (p=0.005),
a lower number of clinical visits (p=0.0005), and a lower number of cases with undetectable viral
loads at 24 weeks of treatment (p=0.0005) than those diagnosed during the pre-pandemic period.

:

The second group included 261 individuals with a mean follow-up duration of 24.7 (SD± 3.5;
min- max 12-144) months. The comparison of laboratory parameters revealed that in the postpandemic
period, virologic suppression was maintained at 90.1%, body mass index (p=0,0001),
total cholesterol (p=0,0001), and LDL levels (p=0,0001) increased significantly, and creatinine
levels decreased significantly (p=0,0001).

Conclusion:

Our study showed that COVID-19 deteriorated the HIV management of PLHIV.
Strengthening the medical infrastructure of basic services for PLWH is critical for future crises.
Advancement in Mechanistic Alteration of IGFs Family of Receptors to
Target Prostate and Cervical Cancer: An Updated Review
Authors: Das Nag Srilekha , Rakshit Pallabita , Sarkar Nandan , De Sourav , Banerjee Sabyasachi , Banerjee Subhasis , S K Ashok Kumar
Published: August 2024

Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGFs) significantly impact mammalian physiology, including
growth, development, ageing, and disease progression. The IGF system is composed of various
growth factor receptors, including IGF-1R and IGF-2R. Serum IGF-1 levels and IGF-1R activation,
along with downstream signaling components, are increasingly recognized as key factors in the expansion
of prostate and cervical cancer. The study on IGF-1/IGF-1R activity and regulation is crucial
in PCa research and cervical cancer studies. This signaling pathway significantly influences various
cancer cell processes, such as survival, migration, and resistance to treatment. The inhibitors targeting
IGF-1/IGF-1R have been developed to prevent the progression of cancer. The use of nanotechnology,
including trap decoys, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, and protein nanotubes, has significantly
improved the treatment of cervical cancer. These agents have shown promise in preclinical models
for cervical cancer research, but their efficacy in PCa patients requires clinical trial validation. Combining
androgen deprivation therapy or chemotherapy with IGF-1R antagonists, using consistent predictive
markers and evolving novel agents, may improve the results. This review highlights the importance
of IGF-1 signaling in PCa and cervical cancer development and underscores its significance
in potential cancer therapy strategies. The study has also explored prospective approaches to the next
generation of IGF axis-targeting drugs.
Study on the Prediction of Liver Injury in Acute Pancreatitis Patients by Radiomic Model Based on Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography
Authors: Liu Lu , Yu Ningjun , Liu Tingting , Chen Shujun , Pu Yu , Zhang Xiaoming , Li Xinghui
Published: August 2024

Objectives:

This study aimed to predict liver injury in AP patients by establishing a radiomics model based on CECT.

Methods:

A total of 1223 radiomic features were extracted from late arterial-phase pancreatic CECT images of 209 AP patients (146 in the training cohort
and 63 in the test cohort), and the optimal radiomic features retained after dimensionality reduction by LASSO were used to construct a radiomic
model through logistic regression analysis. In addition, clinical features were compiled to develop a clinical model, and a joint model was
established by combining the best radiomic features and clinical features to evaluate the practicality and application value of the radiomic models,
clinical model, and combined model.

Results:

Four potential features were selected from the pancreatic parenchyma to construct the radiomic model, and the AUC of the radiomic model was
significantly greater than that of the clinical model for both the training cohort (0.993 vs. 0.653, p = 0.000) and test cohort (0.910 vs. 0.574, p =
0.000). The joint model had a greater AUC than the radiomics model for both the training cohort (0.997 vs. 0.993, p = 0.357) and the test cohort
(0.925 vs. 0.910, p = 0.302).

Conclusion:

The radiomic model based on CECT has good performance in predicting liver injury in AP patients and can guide clinical decision-making and
improve the prognosis of patients with AP.
Inhibitory Effects of Aspirin and Ibuprofen Overdose on Cholinesterase
Activity: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies
Authors: Saberi-Hasanabadi Parisa , Dezfulynejad Hesam , Mohammadi Hamidreza
Published: August 2024

Background:

In recent years, it has been reported that long-term use of Non-Steroidal
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) may have protective effects against neurodegenerative diseases
by inhibiting the activity of cholinesterase enzymes. The exact biological mechanism of
these protective effects is not yet known. This study aims to assess the in vivo and in vitro effects
of aspirin and ibuprofen injection on the activity of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase.

Materials and Methods:

In this experimental study, 70 adult male mice (20-25 g) were divided
randomly into 7 groups (n= 10) including a control group that received normal saline and other
groups that received different dosages of aspirin and ibuprofen (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) in the
form of intraperitoneal injection. Mice were anesthetized by ether, and blood samples were taken
from the heart. Ellman´s methods were used to measure cholinesterase, erythrocytes, and serum,
respectively.

objective:

This study aims to assess the in vivo and in vitro effects of aspirin and ibuprofen injection on the activity of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase.

Results:

The activity of cholinesterase enzymes in serum and erythrocytes decreased significantly
(P<0.0001) in treated groups with aspirin and ibuprofen compared to the control samples after
3 and 24 hours. However, these inhibitory effects were variable depending on the dose of the injected
drugs, and they were statistically significant at higher injection doses in vitro and in vivo
analysis.

Conclusion:

The result of this study showed that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can inhibit
the activity of the cholinesterase enzymes in both in vivo and in vitro conditions compared
to the control group.
Screening and Identification of Natural Compounds as Potential Inhibitors of Glutamate Racemase, an Emerging Drug Target of Food Pathogen E. coli O157:H7: An In-silico Approach to Combat Increasing Drug Resistance
Authors: Kumar Rajnish , Gupta Samarth , Adhana Sujata , Khanna Anoushka , Sahoo Sibasis , Faiza Muniba , Baweja Renu , Pandey Archna , Mittal Avneesh , Chaudhry Uma
Published: August 2024

Background:

Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (E. coli O157:H7), capable of causing serious food-borne illnesses, is extensively studied and is known to be transmitted through animal reservoirs or person-to-person contact, leading to severe disease outbreaks. The emergence of antibiotic resistance in these strains, coupled with increased adverse effects of existing therapeutics, underscores the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies.

Objective:

This study aims to evaluate Glutamate Racemase (MurI protein) of the food-path-ogenic E. coli O157:H7 (EC MurI) as a novel drug target. Furthermore, the study seeks to identify new compounds with potential inhibitory effects against this protein.

Methods:

Using computational tools, the study identified inhibitor binding sites on EC MurI and identified relevant inhibitors capable of binding to these sites. Molecular docking tech-niques were employed to assess potential hits, and selected compounds were further analyzed for their structural activity and binding affinity to the protein.

Results:

The results of the study revealed that Frigocyclinone and Deslanoside, exhibited the best binding affinity with EC-MurI. Subsequent molecular dynamic (MD) simulations of the selected complexes indicated that both compounds were stable. This suggests that Frigocy-clinone and Deslanoside have the potential to serve as potent inhibitors of EC-MurI.

Conclusion:

In summary, this study highlights the urgent need for alternative therapies against food-pathogenic E. coli, focusing on E. coli O157:H7. Evaluation of Glutamate Race-mase as a drug target identified Frigocyclinone and Deslanoside as promising inhibitors. MD simulations indicated their stability, suggesting their potential as lead molecules for further research and treatment development.
A Review of the Difficulties Faced by Low and Middle-income Countries in Hygiene and Healthcare Practices
Authors: Girdhar Jashan , Shandilya Kapil , Husaain Munnawar , Kaur Parneet , Mahajan Shushank , Singh Tarun , Chawla Isha , Dhanawat Meenakshi
Published: August 2024

Hygiene has been identified as an important step in anticipating health-related pollution,
with conflicting reports about consistent sanitation standards in the nation. This narrative
review of published studies has led to the discussion of hand hygiene and health practices, as
well as the identification of necessary methods that are available in low and middle-income
countries. An effective survey of accessible information is conducted in this way based on review
questions. A number of 372 articles were found on the web, and 32 articles were used in
the final analysis. Overall, the standard of hand hygiene is set at 20.49%. Difficulties identified
for the people in low or middle-income countries are poor awareness and sound information
about hand hygiene, lack of resources including water, soap, hand scrubbing gel, etc., as misinterpretations
related to hand hygiene practices. People are paying more attention to
healthcare-related illnesses as it becomes increasingly clear that most of them may be prevented.
The free evidence-based practice states that to lower the danger of contamination, hand
hygiene should be properly adhered to. The difficulties recognized in this review are reliable,
with the discoveries of studies that have been led somewhere else. By conducting a basic examination
of the "Clean Care is Safer Care" as an excellent arrangement of WHO’s global
initiative activity on patient well-being programs, developing nations will have more time to
consider the essential approaches for the use of fundamental disease prevention exercises in our
health care settings.
A Study of Micellar Catalyses on Oxidation of Glycine by QDC in the Presence of Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) in Aqueous Perchloric Acid Medium
Authors: Meena Priyanka , Meena Kamini , Dhanraj  , Yadav Manju Bala
Published: August 2024

Aims:

To study the micellar effect of SDS on the oxidation of glycine by
Quinolinium Dichromate (QDC) in perchloric acid medium.

Background:

Among the amino acids, glycine plays a major role in multiple metabolic
reactions, such as glutathione synthesis and one-carbon metabolism. The oxidation of
glycine has received importance because it is the major neurotransmitter inhibitor in the
spinal cord and brainstem. In the oxidation process of amino acids, highly toxic chromium
(VI) compounds are converted into non-toxic chromium (III) by quinolinium dichromate
(QDC) oxidant in an appropriate pH value medium.

Objective:

1. To study the catalytic role of anionic surfactant (SDS) on the oxidation of
glycine by QDC through micellization, evaluation of critical micelles concentration
(CMC) in the presence and absence of glycine and other surface properties along with
thermodynamic quantities. 2. Determination of rate constant and order of reaction with
respect to QDC, glycine, acid and surfactant which will help to study the kinetics of the
reaction 3. Analysis of oxidation product by FT-IR and calculation of activation parameters.
4. Synthesis of oxidant (QDC) and its characterization by UV-Visible spectrophotometer
and NMR spectroscopy.

Methods:

The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically at λmax = 440 nm using
Systronics Spectrophotometer-166 and 2203. The reaction mixture containing glycine,
perchloric acid, SDS and water was taken in a separate flask in a thermostat and the oxidation
reaction was started by adding the required amount of oxidant.

Results:

First-order kinetics was observed with respect to oxidant, glycine and hydrogen
ions. The rate of reaction increased remarkably with an increase in the concentration of
surfactant (SDS). The kinetic results show that the ionic strength variation does not have
any significant effect on the rate whereas the increase in the dielectric constant of the
medium shows a remarkable effect on the rate constant. From stoichiometry study, it was
found that 2 moles of oxidant (QDC) consumed 3 moles of glycine to produce aldehyde
(Formaldehyde).

Conclusion:

The observed negative value of (ΔS) entropy of activation and positive
(ΔH) enthalpy of activation suggests a more ordered activated complex formation and
highly solvated transition state. The kinetics of the reaction in a perchloric acid medium
is found to be accelerated in the presence of surfactant (SDS). The kinetics of the reaction
follow pseudo first-order decay of Cr(VI) species (QDC), a unity dependence of rate
on glycine and perchloric acid. The oxidation product formaldehyde was identified by
FTIR. NMR spectrum analysis of synthesized QDC shows a resemblance with pure
QDC.
Graphene-based Nanomaterials As Catalysts for the Synthesis of Medicinally Privileged Heterocycles: Importance and Outlook
Authors: Roy Babli , Basu Basudeb
Published: August 2024

:

Catalysis is an integral part of sustainable and green chemical processes. During the last two decades, the wonder 2D carbon material with
honeycomb structure, graphene, and other functionalized graphenes have emerged as extremely versatile and robust nanomaterials in
heterogeneous catalysis. The incredible catalytic efficacy of such carbon nanomaterials relies on their unique physicochemical properties, including
large surface area, diverse catalytic active sites, multiple chemical functionalities, tunable electron density, synergistic effect, etc., making them
noteworthy as metal-free catalysts and catalytic supports.

:

The article presents an overview of the catalytic applications of various graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs), either metal-free or embedded with
metal/metal oxide NPs, in synthesizing medicinally privileged heterocyclic compounds. It also summarizes the general methodologies for
preparing graphene and various GBNs, their chemical structures, characterization techniques, and discussions on the potential active sites that are
responsible for wider catalytic activity. Overall discussions unequivocally establish a promising paradigm for uncovering more innovative
graphene-based materials and their subsequent applications in diverse fields, including heterogeneous catalysis.
Phytochemical Marker-based Analysis, Antioxidant Potential, and Shelf-Life Study of Geographically Different Samples of Tinospora cordifolia (Stem)
Authors: Gandhi Yashika , Mishra Sujeet K , Kumar Vijay , Rawat Hemant , Kumar Ravi , Singh Gagandeep , Singh Ravindra , Singh Arjun , Narasimhaji Ch Venkata , Srikanth Narayanam , Acharya Rabinarayan
Published: August 2024

Background:

Tinospora cordifolia (TC), commonly referred to as Guduchi, holds a prominent position in the Indian traditional system of medicine and has been
cited in Ayurvedic literature for its efficacy in the treatment of a range of ailments, including jaundice, urinary issues, diabetes, prolonged diarrhea,
skin conditions, stomachaches, and dysentery.

Methods:

The present study analyzed the content of phytochemical markers present in the stems of TC collected from five distinct geographical locations
(TC-01 to TC-05) and assessed the corresponding variations in their in-vitro antioxidant potential.

Results:

Lupeol content in various samples of TC varied from 217.9 to 510.9 μg/mg, while palmatine ranged from 0.002% to 0.025%. Total phenolic
content (TPC) ranged from 0.77 to 6.35 mg GAE/g wt., and total flavonoid content (TFC) from 12.15 to 20.03 mg QCE/g wt., with IC50 values
between 21.02 and 81.81 mg/mL. Elemental analysis of TC-01 to TC-05 showed significant essential elements and permissible levels of heavy
metals. A shelf-life study of TC samples indicated stability beyond three years.

Conclusion:

The considerable diversity in phytochemical content and antioxidant values underscores the substantial influence of geographical variation on the
therapeutic potential of TC.
Lipid Drug Conjugates in Pharmaceutical Formulations and Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Talele Chitrali , Talele Dipali , Shah Niyati , Kumari Mamta , Sadhu Piyushkumar , Aundhia Chintan
Published: August 2024

Drugs that have been covalently altered with lipids are known as lipid-drug conjugates.
Drug characteristics are altered and their lipophilicity is increased when lipids are conjugated to
drug molecules. The conjugates exhibit a number of benefits, including increased oral bioavailability,
improved lymphatic targeting, improved tumor targeting, and reduced cytotoxicity. Different
conjugation techniques and chemical bridges can be utilized to create lipid-drug conjugates depending
on the chemical makeup of medicines and lipids. For lipid-drug conjugates to function at
their best, linkers and/or conjugation techniques are essential. They control how medications are
released from lipid-drug conjugates. The numerous lipids utilized to make lipid-drug conjugates
and the various conjugation techniques are outlined in this article. Although these conjugates can
be delivered without a delivery vehicle, many of them are put into suitable delivery techniques.
Drug loading into lipophilic parts of vehicles can be considerably improved by the lipid component
in the conjugates, leading to combinations with significant drug content and superior
stability.
Multimodal Large Language Models in Health Care: Applications, Challenges, and Future Outlook
Authors: AlSaad Rawan , Abd-alrazaq Alaa , Boughorbel Sabri , Ahmed Arfan , Renault Max-Antoine , Damseh Rafat , Sheikh Javaid
Published: August 2024

In the complex and multidimensional field of medicine, multimodal data are prevalent and crucial for informed clinical decisions. Multimodal data span a broad spectrum of data types, including medical images (eg, MRI and CT scans), time-series data (eg, sensor data from wearable devices and electronic health records), audio recordings (eg, heart and respiratory sounds and patient interviews), text (eg, clinical notes and research articles), videos (eg, surgical procedures), and omics data (eg, genomics and proteomics). While advancements in large language models (LLMs) have enabled new applications for knowledge retrieval and processing in the medical field, most LLMs remain limited to processing unimodal data, typically text-based content, and often overlook the importance of integrating the diverse data modalities encountered in clinical practice. This paper aims to present a detailed, practical, and solution-oriented perspective on the use of multimodal LLMs (M-LLMs) in the medical field. Our investigation spanned M-LLM foundational principles, current and potential applications, technical and ethical challenges, and future research directions. By connecting these elements, we aimed to provide a comprehensive framework that links diverse aspects of M-LLMs, offering a unified vision for their future in health care. This approach aims to guide both future research and practical implementations of M-LLMs in health care, positioning them as a paradigm shift toward integrated, multimodal data–driven medical practice. We anticipate that this work will spark further discussion and inspire the development of innovative approaches in the next generation of medical M-LLM systems.
Empathy Toward Artificial Intelligence Versus Human Experiences and the Role of Transparency in Mental Health and Social Support Chatbot Design: Comparative Study
Authors: Shen Jocelyn , DiPaola Daniella , Ali Safinah , Sap Maarten , Park Hae Won , Breazeal Cynthia
Published: August 2024

Background

Empathy is a driving force in our connection to others, our mental well-being, and resilience to challenges. With the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems, mental health chatbots, and AI social support companions, it is important to understand how empathy unfolds toward stories from human versus AI narrators and how transparency plays a role in user emotions.

Objective

We aim to understand how empathy shifts across human-written versus AI-written stories, and how these findings inform ethical implications and human-centered design of using mental health chatbots as objects of empathy.

Methods

We conducted crowd-sourced studies with 985 participants who each wrote a personal story and then rated empathy toward 2 retrieved stories, where one was written by a language model, and another was written by a human. Our studies varied disclosing whether a story was written by a human or an AI system to see how transparent author information affects empathy toward the narrator. We conducted mixed methods analyses: through statistical tests, we compared user’s self-reported state empathy toward the stories across different conditions. In addition, we qualitatively coded open-ended feedback about reactions to the stories to understand how and why transparency affects empathy toward human versus AI storytellers.

Results

We found that participants significantly empathized with human-written over AI-written stories in almost all conditions, regardless of whether they are aware (t196=7.07, P<.001, Cohen d=0.60) or not aware (t298=3.46, P<.001, Cohen d=0.24) that an AI system wrote the story. We also found that participants reported greater willingness to empathize with AI-written stories when there was transparency about the story author (t494=–5.49, P<.001, Cohen d=0.36).

Conclusions

Our work sheds light on how empathy toward AI or human narrators is tied to the way the text is presented, thus informing ethical considerations of empathetic artificial social support or mental health chatbots.
Therapeutic Guidelines for self-management of major depressive disorder: scoping review (Preprint)
Authors: do Perpétuo Socorro de Sousa Nóbrega Sr Sr Maria , de Campos Tiburcio Sr Priscila , Maria Marcheti Sr Sr Priscila , Miori Pascon Sr Sr Daniela , Montebello Junior Sr Sr Marco Antônio , Alzete de Lima Sr Sr Maria , Neves da Nova Fernandes Sr Sr Carla Sílvia , Samarina Vilaça de Brito Santos Sr Célia
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND

Abstract

Background: Major Depressive Disorder affects millions of people globally, causing significant impacts on individuals' health and functionality. Given the difficulty of treatment adherence due to adverse effects, and considering the growing adoption of technologies, the Self-Management-in-Mental Health project emerged. This project aims to promote patient autonomy through the development of a self-management support app for Major Depressive Disorder, providing evidence-based therapeutic guidance.

OBJECTIVE

Objective: To identify therapeutic guidelines for the symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder in scientific production.

METHODS

Method: a scoping review, following the recommendations of the JBI, conducted on 18 databases and 4 secondary information sources. The studies were collected between March and July 2022 and updated in June 2023.

RESULTS

Results: 63 studies published between 2011 and 2023 were included. Among the therapeutic guidelines identified, mapped and categorized, the following stood out: adoption of healthy habits (53.25%), integrative and complementary practices (52.11%), psychotherapy (30.99%), consultation with a health professional (21.13%), relaxation techniques (16.09%), pharmacological therapy (14.01%), leisure/pleasurable activities (9.86%).

CONCLUSIONS

Conclusion: therapeutic guidance has contributed to promoting self-management and is an important resource for health professionals in playing the role of facilitator in developing knowledge and skills for possible complications of Major Depressive Disorder.
Development of Clinical Diagnostic Models for Girls with Central Precocious Puberty in China: Machine-learning Approaches and Interpreting with XAI (Preprint)
Authors: Zhu Xiaoxiao , Xue Weirong , Qin Jiajia , Zhao Meng , Wu Bin , Li Shengli , Jin Yingliang
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND

Background: The incidence of central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls has been steadily increasing. However, stimulation tests remain costly, time-consuming, and painful. Despite efforts to simplify these tests or identify alternative biomarkers, consensus has not been achieved.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to develop a machine learning (ML) assisted diagnostic model for CPP, predicting girls' responses to stimulation tests to avoid unnecessary procedures.

METHODS

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 320 girls treated at Xuzhou Medical University Affiliated Hospital and Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital from 2019 to 2023, who underwent GnRH agonist stimulation tests. We utilized 11 variables including clinical data, bone age (BA), pituitary length, and incorporated six variables extracted from pelvic ultrasound reports to assess the value of pelvic ultrasound in CPP diagnosis. The optimal model was selected based on comprehensive metrics from training and validation data. Additionally, we employed three descriptive ML interpretability methods to elucidate the model.

RESULTS

Results: Among 320 girls suspected of CPP,188(58.75%) were diagnosed with CPP. The multi-layer perceptron (MLP) model demonstrated excellent performance metrics, sensitivity (0.969), specificity (1), positive predictive value (PPV) (1), negative predictive value (NPV) (0.958), F1-score (0.9846), Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) (0.964), accuracy (0.982), and achieved a high area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.9908, and area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC) of 0.9946. Pelvic ultrasound showed supportive roles in CPP diagnosis, with uterine length contributing more significantly than uterine volume. Consistent results from SHAP, LIME, and Break Down methods indicated that BA, chronological age (CA), and basal luteinizing hormone (LH) were the three most important factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Conclusion: Our study is the first to integrate LIME, SHAP, and Break Down methods for CPP diagnosis. The predictive model we developed exhibited overall good performance, serving as a pre-screening tool before stimulation tests to reduce unnecessary procedures and aid clinicians in making informed decisions. LIME, SHAP, and DALEX demonstrated robust performance as explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methods.
Research on the Value Evaluation Model of Medical Science Data: Study Design (Preprint)
Authors: Wang Dandan , Liu Yaning
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND

Background: Open platforms have a substantial impact on the value release of medical research data. Although the development of related platforms is underway, the issue of low data value release persists.

OBJECTIVE

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to present a set of realistic and reasonable data value evaluation processes and methods for the medical science data open platform to enable it manage data and release data value.

METHODS

Methods: This paper creates a medical science data value evaluation index system using information system success, the technological acceptability model, and consumer perceived value theory. Data is collected using a variety of platforms, and empirical analysis is performed using the entropy weight TOPSIS technique.

RESULTS

Results: In this study, we constructed a medical science data value assessment index system, measured the important assessment dimensions such as intrinsic data quality, extrinsic data quality, platform service quality, and user-perceived usefulness; and constructed a medical science data value assessment model, which measured the overall low level of data value of the selected platforms.

CONCLUSIONS

Conclusions: The evaluation index system and evaluation model developed in this study have a scientific basis and can be utilized not only to optimize the platform's data value evaluation process, but also to increase the platform's overall data value level and encourage users to reuse data.