bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical effectiveness and implementation outcomes of pMDI-to-DPI switch in children between 5 and 12 years of age: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Zain Amanda , Ng Alston Z Y , Yeo Inez , Watts Nick , Sevdalis Nick
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Inhalers are critical in asthma treatment, and inappropriate inhaler use leads to poor asthma outcomes. In adults and adolescents, dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are safe and effective alternatives to mainstay pressurised metered dose inhalers and could bridge the asthma care gap while also reducing the environmental burden of asthma care. Despite being licensed for use in ages 5 years old and older, the evidence for clinical effectiveness is less clear for patients between ages 5 and 12 years. This protocol describes a scoping review. The primary aim of the review is to identify and synthesise evidence on the clinical effectiveness of DPI use in children aged 5–12 years old with asthma and other wheezing conditions. The secondary aim of the review is to outline the implementation strategies and outcomes supporting the prescribing or switching to DPIs in children.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a systematic and comprehensive literature search across four electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and CINAHL) and grey literature. Screening and data extraction will be done independently by two review authors with discrepancies resolved through consensus. Data will be extracted and charted by two independent reviewers, then presented diagrammatically or tabulated with an accompanying narrative summary.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was not required for this study as it is a scoping review. The results of this scoping review will be submitted to a peer-reviewed scientific journal for publication.
Improving the diagnostic accuracy of referrals for papilloedema (DIPP) study: protocol for a mixed-methods study
Authors: Huntley Alyson , Skrobot Olivia , Ridd Matthew J , Sherratt Mary-Ann , Lucraft Marcia , Stokes Christina , Bowen Michael , Stuart Beth , Merriel Samuel William David , Atan Denize
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Papilloedema can be the first sign of life-threatening disease, for example, brain tumours. Due to the potential seriousness of this clinical sign, the detection of papilloedema would normally prompt urgent hospital referral for further investigation. The problem is that many benign structural variations of optic nerve anatomy can be mistaken for papilloedema, so-called pseudopapilloedema. The consequence is that many people are referred to hospital because they are incorrectly identified to have papilloedema when they don’t. As a result, hospital referrals of people with suspected papilloedema in England have increased sharply, leading to increased demand for overstretched hospital services and potentially longer waiting times for hospital appointments for those who do have papilloedema.

The work programme is aimed at the development of guidelines and educational materials that will help support health professionals to correctly identify people with papilloedema. This article describes the protocol for gathering evidence of current referral practices and pathways for people suspected to have papilloedema in England and the development of guidelines based on this evidence and extensive engagement with community- and hospital-based healthcare professionals, patients, and the public.

Methods and analysis

Both qualitative and quantitative data will be collected from Freedom of Information requests to Integrated Care Boards across England about how they organise their community and hospital services for people with suspected papilloedema, with and without headache. Surveys and qualitative interviews of relevant community and hospital healthcare professionals based in England will collect data on how and when people with papilloedema and pseudopapilloedema with or without headache are currently identified and referred to hospital, if needed. This information will be used to inform a Delphi process with the aim of reaching consensus among health professional experts, commissioners and patients on what the most evidence-based and safe diagnostic and referral practices should be for people with suspected papilloedema. The tailored guidelines will be written for healthcare professionals and patients. We will create a range of educational materials and a website designed for health professionals and patients to support the national roll-out and implementation of DIPP study guidelines.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was granted by the University of Bristol Faculty of Health Sciences Ethics committee (FREC reference: 12457) and Health Research Authority (IRAS no.: 320395). Results of the study will be published on our DIPP study website and disseminated to our stakeholder groups through peer-reviewed journal publications and conference presentations.
Barriers and facilitators to global access to life-saving skills training: an international cross-sectional survey
Authors: Stassen Willem , Chern Yeh Lai , Blewer Audrey L , Kong So Yeon Joyce , Lippert Freddy , Ong Marcus Eng Hock , Zhang Lin , Fu Wah Ho Andrew
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Emergency care begins in the community, who are often the first on the scene. Where emergency care systems are nascent or absent, bystanders represent the only prehospital emergency care that victims might receive. It is important to equip bystanders through life-saving skills training (LST). The aim of this study was to describe access to LST for laypersons globally and to determine barriers or facilitators for access to LST globally.

Methods

A global cross-sectional, online survey was undertaken with stakeholders involved in LST programmes and policies through purposive, snowball sampling. The invitation for participation was distributed to local, regional and international emergency care and resuscitation organisations and their membership. Data were collected using a custom-designed survey, based on the literature and following pilot testing. Data were analysed descriptively and visualised according to countries and regions. Logistic regression was used to identify variables predictive of LST.

Results

A total of 302 responses from 67 countries were analysed. Majority of responses were from high- or upper-middle income countries (61.2%) compared with low- or lower-middle income countries (38.8%). All respondents from Europe reported reliable access to LST. Of respondents who reported no LST is delivered, the highest proportion of these represented the Eastern Mediterranean (18.2%), Africa (17.1%) and South America (16.9%). The most common barrier to accessing LST were cultural views surrounding LST (69.2%), while the most common facilitator was interpersonal relationships to encourage the uptake of LST (71.9%). Country level of income (adjusted OR (AOR) 4.31 (95% CI 1.62 to 11.45), p<01), urban location (AOR 10.57 (95% CI 3.32 to 33.66), p<0.001) and level of EMS development (OR 5.73 (95% CI 1.47 to 22.30), p=0.01) were predictive of access to LST.

Conclusion

This study highlights considerable inequity in LST access globally. Future work should seek to mitigate barriers and leverage facilitators through participatory and community-oriented approaches to LST.
Epidemiological analysis of reported acute glyphosate poisoning in Malaysia: identifying risk factors and high-risk groups (2006–2023)
Authors: Razali Mohd Fadhli , Amir Shah Ruddin Nurul Iffah , Abdul Rani Noor Afiza , Mohamed Fahim , Ahmad Nurul Izzah , Leong Yin-Hui
Published: January 2025

Objective

Glyphosate is widely used in Malaysian agriculture but poses a significant under-reported public health concern due to poisoning. This paper aims to study the epidemiology of glyphosate poisoning in Malaysia, assessing severity, identifying risk factors, and high-risk groups.

Setting

All glyphosate-related data of the Malaysia National Poison Centre from 2006 to 2023.

Participants

Telephone inquiries of incidents involving glyphosate made by healthcare professionals across Malaysia. Information received was recorded according to WHO guidelines.

Outcomes

The outcome is to provide an overview of national glyphosate poisoning epidemiology, including identifying risk factors and high-risk groups to strategise appropriate measures.

Results

A total of 4548 glyphosate poisoning cases were reported, with males comprising 67.3% of cases. The most affected age groups were 21–30 years (25.5%) and 31–40 years (23.5%). Ingestion was the primary exposure route (93.0%). Intentional poisonings, mainly suicides, accounted for 68.4% (n=3078) of cases. Among the 1420 unintentional cases, 78.2% resulted from ingestion exposures. The incidence rate declined from 1.17 per 100 000 in 2011 to 0.61 in 2023. Significant associations were found between intentional ingestion and sociodemographic factors. From 2013 to 2023, 73.7% of cases were minor, 11.5% moderate, 0.8% severe and 0.1% fatal.

Conclusions

In Malaysia, the reported intentional glyphosate poisoning most commonly affects young adults, resulting in generally minor to moderate symptoms. The study highlights the need for stricter regulations on glyphosate use and improved mental health support, to mitigate poisoning risks. Continued surveillance and public education are essential to address this public health issue.
Dynamic duo: the differential impact of resorcinarenes on ferrocene redox couple in electroactive host–guest systems
Authors: Quintero-Arias Carlos , Osei Frank Boateng , Twum Kwaku , Lewis Tyra , Steinkamp Bret A. , McCormick Theresa M. , Beyeh Ngong Kodiah , Martic Sanela
Published: January 2025

Alternative to complex labelling of resorcinarene hosts with redox-active probes, noncovalent complex formation offers a unique avenue toward bifunctional hosts, which posses redox centers to transduce an electrochemical signal as well as maintaining a guest recognition site. Herein, N-alkyl ammonium resorcinarene halides (NARXs) hosts were evaluated with a well-known redox probe ferrocene (Fc). Specifically, the NARX hosts were designed based on the tuning of the resorcinarene upper rim to allow for hydrogen bonding, pi–pi stacking, ion and halogen binding interactions in organic environments. The NARX host induced a significant anodic shift of Fc E1/2; once formed, the Fc–NARX complex undergwent oxidation and reduction without Fc dissociation. Data indicate that hydrophobic interactions stabilize Fc interactions with the resorcinarene upper rim, which is directly related to the structural functionalization of the resorcinarene. Thus, we provide evidence for a controlled and tunable redox host–guest system with well-defined redox properties while maintaining the guest recognition site, suggesting that the host is bifunctional.
AI support meets AR visualization for Alice and Bob: personalized learning based on individual ChatGPT feedback in an AR quantum cryptography experiment for physics lab courses
Authors: Coban Atakan , Dzsotjan David , Küchemann Stefan , Durst Jürgen , Kuhn Jochen , Hoyer Christoph
Published: January 2025

Quantum cryptography is a central topic in the quantum technology field that is particularly important for secure communication. The training of qualified experts in this field is necessary for continuous development. However, the abstract and complex nature of quantum physics makes the topic difficult to understand. Augmented reality (AR) allows otherwise invisible abstract concepts to be visualized and enables interactive learning, offering significant potential for improving quantum physics education in university lab courses. In addition, personalized feedback on challenging concepts can facilitate learning, and large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can effectively deliver such feedback. This study combines these two aspects and explores the impact of an AR-based quantum cryptography experiment with integrated ChatGPT-based feedback on university students’ learning outcomes and cognitive processes. The study involved 21 groups (11 Group A; 10 Group B) of students in a physics laboratory course at a German university and used four open-ended questions to measure learning outcomes and gaze data as a learning process assessment. Statistical analysis was used to compare scores between feedback and non-feedback questions, and the effect of ChatGPT feedback on eye-tracking data was examined. The results show that ChatGPT feedback significantly improved learning outcomes and affected gaze data. While the feedback on conceptual questions tended to direct attention to the visualizations of the underlying model, the feedback on questions about experimental procedures increased visual attention to the real experimental materials. Overall, the results show that AI-based feedback draws visual attention towards task-relevant factors and increases learning performance in general.
The results of Punch, Brazilian, and Uniaxial compressive strength experiments on sulfate rocks with complex mineral composition
Authors: Rahimi Mohammad Reza , Mohammadi Seyed Davoud
Published: January 2025

Punch testing with different approaches has been used to know the compressive or tensile strength of rocks. In this research, by performing UCTs, BPTs, CPTs, BTs experiments and petrological studies, for the first time, the correlation between the results of these experiments and the mineral composition of sulfate rocks was investigated. The used rock blocks are mainly collected from the Gachsaran Formation outcrops at the four under construction reservoir dam sites (as well as from two points of the Aghajari Formation) in Iran. The regression analysis was used to study the correlations between UCS with block punch index (BPI) and cylindrical index (CPI) and Brazilian tensile strength (BTS) as well as BTS and CPI-BPI. By extracting 254 correlation equations, it was found that if the rock samples were taken from a specific geological point, the predominant correlation relationships were linear and with high determination coefficients, and therefore, the results of BPTs and CPTs can be used to predict compressive strength and tensile strength of rock with the same high reliability. In this study, for different mineral compositions of sulfate rocks, while presenting specific correlation relationships, the converting factors of BTS-CPI-BPI to UCS and CPI-BPI to BTS are presented.
Exploring Large Language Models for Feature Selection: A Data-centric Perspective
Authors: Li Dawei , Tan Zhen , Liu Huan
Published: January 2025

The rapid advancement of Large Language Models (LLMs) has significantly influenced various domains, leveraging their exceptional few-shot and zero-shot learning capabilities. In this work, we aim to explore and understand the LLMs-based feature selection methods from a data-centric perspective. We begin by categorizing existing feature selection methods with LLMs into two groups: data-driven feature selection which requires numerical values of samples to do statistical inference and text-based feature selection which utilizes prior knowledge of LLMs to do semantical associations using descriptive context. We conduct experiments in both classification and regression tasks with LLMs in various sizes (e.g., GPT-4, ChatGPT, and LLaMA-2). Our findings emphasize the effectiveness and robustness of text-based feature selection methods and showcase their potentials using a real-world medical application. We also discuss the challenges and future opportunities in employing LLMs for feature selection, offering insights for further research and development in this emerging field.
Causal inference under limited outcome observability: A case study with Pinterest Conversion Lift
Authors: Kang Min Kyoung
Published: January 2025

This paper compares the performance of several established causal inference estimators in measuring conversion related metrics for advertising measurement applications. Conversion lift measurement in advertising industry presents unique challenges due to complex data collection process, potential data losses, and complex customer behaviors leading up to conversion. Case studies with both simulated and real-world data demonstrated that doubly robust estimators outperform regression adjustment estimators in variance reduction for ad measurement use-cases. To further understand the results, we examine the impact of data loss on variance reduction by the estimators and find that the relationship between data loss and variance reduction performance varies by the estimators. Doubly robust estimators could effectively manage complex relationships introduced by data loss, maintaining superior performance over the difference-in-means and regression adjustment estimator in terms of precision under various circumstances. We provide computational cost perspectives as practical considerations for implementing doubly robust estimators in advertising measurement business solutions.
Fuzzy Weighted Principal Component Analysis for Anomaly Detection
Authors: Wang Sisi , Nie Feiping , Wang Zheng , Wang Rong , Li Xuelong
Published: January 2025

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is one of the most famous unsupervised dimensionality reduction algorithms and has been widely used in many fields. However, it is very sensitive to outliers, which reduces the robustness of the algorithm.. In recent years, many studies have tried to employ

\(\ell_{1}\)

-norm to improve the robustness of PCA, but they all lack rotation invariance or the solution is expensive. In this paper, we propose a novel robust principal component analysis, namely, Fuzzy Weighted Principal Component Analysis (FWPCA), which still uses squared

\(\ell_{2}\)

-norm to minimize reconstruction error and maintains rotation invariance of PCA. The biggest bright spot is that the contribution of data is restricted by fuzzy weights, so that the contribution of normal samples are much greater than noise or abnormal data, and realizes anomaly detection. Besides, a more reasonable data center can be obtained by solving the optimal mean to make projection matrix more accurate. Subsequently, an effective iterative optimization algorithm is developed to solve this problem, and its convergence is strictly proved. Extensive experimental results on face datasets and RGB anomaly detection datasets show the superiority of our proposed method.
Trust Models Go to the Web: Learning How to Trust Strangers
Authors: De Meo Pasquale , Prifti Ylli , Provetti Alessandro
Published: January 2025

We study emerging traits of interpersonal and social trust in online social networks of needs (OSNNs), where trust interactions start online and evolve into in-person meetings. We present a lightweight web scraping solution to harness data from online social networks; thanks to it we were able to monitor a nation-wide portal for childcare and see the evolution of online reviews from both families and carers. We analysed the data by first considering topological information to test centrality metrics as proxies for trustworthiness. Next, we focused on features/profile analysis and tested the Castelfranchi-Falcone trust model from Psychology (CF-T), fitting it to online reviews of childcare services. Even though such reviews are relatively scarce and seemingly skewed, we feature-engineered the CF-T model to predict the evolution of reviews, treated as proxies for trust. By aggregating CF-T scores at regional level we discovered a strong correlation with per capita GDP, which suggests that high levels of trust in social networks of needs reflect social capital.
Advances in Set Function Learning: A Survey of Techniques and Applications
Authors: Xie Jiahao , Tong Guangmo
Published: January 2025

Set function learning has emerged as a crucial area in machine learning, addressing the challenge of modeling functions that take sets as inputs. Unlike traditional machine learning that involves fixed-size input vectors where the order of features matters, set function learning demands methods that are invariant to permutations of the input set, presenting a unique and complex problem. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of the current development in set function learning, covering foundational theories, key methodologies, and diverse applications. We categorize and discuss existing approaches, focusing on deep learning approaches, such as DeepSets and Set Transformer-based methods, as well as other notable alternative methods beyond deep learning, offering a complete view of current models. We also introduce various applications and relevant datasets, such as point cloud processing and multi-label classification, highlighting the significant progress achieved by set function learning methods in these domains. Finally, we conclude by summarizing the current state of set function learning approaches and identifying promising future research directions, aiming to guide and inspire further advancements in this promising field.
Resource Sharing on the Internet: A Comprehensive Survey on ISP Peering
Authors: Mahmood Anindo , Yuksel Murat
Published: January 2025

Peering has rapidly emerged as a critical element of the Internet architecture in ensuring low latency, bandwidth efficient and high Quality-of-Service operation for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). In this article, we delve into the multifaceted domain of peering, providing a comprehensive overview of its fundamental elements. We investigate the various peering models and policies available to ISPs, as well as key players of the ecosystem. We also explore security risks associated with peering and available safeguards to mitigate them. Our goal is to review current industry practices and research literature to shed valuable insights into the complexities of ISP peering.
International and Historical Variation in the Age–Crime Curve
Authors: Steffensmeier Darrell , Slepicka Jessie , Schwartz Jennifer
Published: January 2025

Our goals were to assess competing narratives within criminology about contextual variation in the age–crime curve (ACC)—most prominently, whether the ACC shows constancy or difference across societies and historically and whether the prevalence of adolescent lawbreaking is high, with a majority of teens committing crime, contributing to a steep peak followed by rapid, continuous descent among adjacent adult age groups. We analyzed historical and cross-national evidence from numerous sources that revealed significant variance in ACCs. Strongly at odds with invariance projections of an adolescent peak and rapid descent, the predominant age–crime patterns outside the United States were postadolescent peaks and spread-out age distributions. Teen prevalence was typically much lower than the projection that a majority of teens commit crime, whereas the prevalence of adult crime was often sizable and serious. We illustrate using understudied societies how a socio-cultural framework that draws on age-graded expectations, social control practices, age-structured crime opportunities and stressors, and resultant lifestyle differences across significant life stages (adolescence, young adulthood, midlife) can apply to understanding cross-national differences in the age–crime relationship. Methodological challenges and future areas of research are discussed.
Studying Repeat Victimization: A Consideration of Measurement Issues
Authors: Metcalfe Christi , Brame Robert , Martin Tara E. , Gover Angela R.
Published: January 2025

Decades of research have recognized the phenomenon of repeat victimization and its policy relevance. Although there are continuing efforts to explain the theoretical underpinnings of repeat victimization, there are still measurement-related issues that limit our understanding of the topic and ability to inform interventions, including varying operational definitions, data constraints, and sampling and nonsampling error. In this article, we review theoretical advances in the literature over the past decade, propose operationalizations that can foster greater consistency across studies, comprehensively assess the data constraints around commonly used public data sources to study repeat victimization, and empirically demonstrate how one of these constraints—missing data—can be considered. Recommendations for future research in the area of repeat victimization are provided.
Ag2S-Film-Formation Mechanism in a Silver/Carbon Comb-Structured Biochemical Corrosion-Monitoring Sensor for Detecting H2S Released from Escherichia coli
Authors: Nakatsu Michiyo , Sugimoto Mai , Touge Chiyako , Nishimura Fumihiro , Sakamoto Hiroaki
Published: January 2025

Herein, we report a biochemical corrosion-monitoring (BCM) sensor for detecting live E.coli. To analyze the current generation mechanism in the H2S response of the Ag/C sensor, we investigated the Ag2S film deposited on the Ag electrode surface after the H2S response. XPS surface analysis confirmed that the film deposited on the Ag electrode surface had a single composition of Ag2S. The Ag2S film thickness of 23 nm estimated by XPS depth analysis and the Ag2S deposition range of 0–12 μm estimated from cathodic reduction stripping experiments significantly agreed with the Ag2S film thickness and deposition calculated from the electrical quantity of the sensor. Therefore, it was concluded that all the reaction charges of the sulfurization reaction of the Ag/C sensor were converted into galvanic current (I
gal), and the I
gal generation of the Ag/C sensor in the E.coli solution was due to the sulfurization reaction of the Ag electrode. The Ag2S film can be removed by constant current electrolysis or by dissolution using a sulfuric acid solution containing thiourea. The I
gal change in the E.coli solution of each sensor from which the Ag2S film was once removed was the same as that of an unused sensor.
Electrochemical Application of Pencil Graphite Electrode Decorated with Gold Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Monitoring of Meropenem in Human Plasma
Authors: Ali Salma N. , Mahmoud Amr M. , Saad Samah S. , Fayed Ahmed S. , Marzouk Hoda M.
Published: January 2025

A fast, reliable, and cost-effective electrochemical voltammetric sensor has been developed for the ultrasensitive detection of Meropenem (MER), a non-classical β-lactam antibiotic, for therapeutic monitoring purposes in the evolution of personalized medicine. Enhanced voltammetric response was attained at a disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE) decorated with electro-deposited gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs/PGE). Under optimized conditions, the modified sensor demonstrated a marked increase in the anodic peak current of meropenem compared to bare PGE. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) enabled the successful determination of MER across a linear concentration range of 1.0 × 10−8 and 7.0 × 10−5 M MER, with a detection limit of 3.31 × 10−9 M in Britton–Robinson buffer pH 2.0. The high sensitivity and reproducibility of the proposed sensor provided an effective sensing platform for MER in pharmaceutical formulations and spiked human plasma. The suggested sensor is capable of MER determination in human plasma as low as 5.0 × 10–7 M. It displayed a great potential for its point-of-care applicability for monitoring MER levels in human plasma, ensuring medication safety and efficacy for patients in critical care units. The proposed methodology was further assessed confirming the alliance with green and white analytical chemistry strategies.
Sulfamethoxazole Detection in Milk Using a Carbon-Based Printed Electrode: Enhanced Selectivity and Response Stability by Pulse-Amperometry
Authors: Boane Anastácio A. , Araújo Diele A. G. , Muñoz Rodrigo A. A. , Paixão Thiago R. L. C. , Richter Eduardo M.
Published: January 2025

A simple, low-cost, and lab-made carbon-based electrode was developed for the fast and selective determination of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in milk samples, requiring only minimal sample preparation (dilution in supporting electrolyte). A custom-made conductive ink (composed of glass varnish, graphite, acetone) was applied to a plastic surface to fabricate a flow-through amperometric sensor integrated into a portable Batch Injection Analysis (BIA) system. This method enhanced selectivity and reduced electrode contamination. The optimized pulsed amperometric waveform conditions included two detection pulses (+1.0 V and +1.3 V) and two cleaning pulses (+1.5 V and −1.5 V), resulting in a linear response from 1.0 to 20.0 μmol L−1, with a detection limit of 0.31 μmol L−1. The stability and reproducibility of the method were confirmed, exhibiting low relative standard deviations (RSD ≤ 8.3%). The system exhibited excellent recovery for spiked milk samples at concentrations of 5.0 μmol L−1 (68 ± 7%), 10.0 μmol L−1 (103 ± 7%), and 20.0 μmol L−1 (115 ± 7%), demonstrating high accuracy and minimal matrix interference. This approach offers a rapid, accurate, and reliable method for the analysis of complex samples, particularly for onsite detection of SMX in milk.
On‐Pump FIBTEM‐A5 Accurately Predicts the A5 Values After Protamine Administration
Authors: Vander Zwaag Stanislaw , Tomko Matus , Madej Tomas , Fassl Jens
Published: January 2025

Introduction: In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether the measurements of the fibrinogen‐dependent clot firmness in FIBTEM—one of the rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) assays—during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) accurately predict the values after protamine administration.

Materials and Methods: In this single‐center retrospective observational study, we analyzed a database of patients undergoing on‐pump surgeries between May 2022 and February 2024. We included patients in whom an intraoperative ROTEM examination during CPB and a follow‐up examination directly after protamine infusion were performed. We excluded patients who received either fibrinogen concentrate or fresh frozen plasma between the two examinations. FIBTEM A5 values in both examinations were compared. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare non‐normally distributed data. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the on‐pump and postprotamine FIBTEM A5 values.

Results: Seventy patients were included in the statistical analysis. There was a slight but statistically significant difference between FIBTEM A5 during CPB (median 16.0 mm, IQR 10.0–22.0) and after protamine administration (median 15.5 mm, IQR 8.7–22.3, p = 0.021). However, in linear regression analysis, FIBTEM A5 values during the last 30 min of the extracorporeal circulation were a significant predictor of FIBTEM A5 after protamine administration (R = 0.902, R2 = 0.813, adjusted R2 = 0.810, F(df regression, df residual) = 295.980, p < 0.001). The equation: y = 0.911x + 1 describes the line of best fit.

Conclusions: Within the normal range limits, there is a very strong correlation between on‐pump FIBTEM A5 values and FIBTEM A5 values after protamine administration.
Factors Influencing Solid Waste Management Practices and Challenges in Awi Administrative Zone, Northwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Atnkut Belsti , Nigussie Atalaye , Kumera Bulti , Tsega Alemu , Tiruneh Fekadu , Minale Wondwosson Kibrie , Anemut Fentanesh , Tazebew Ewunetu , Terefe Baye , Fassil Amare , Gebeyehu Getaneh , Astatkie Tess
Published: January 2025

Background: Effective management of solid waste, generated as a result of human activities, is crucial. However, improper solid waste management seriously threatens the environment and public health in developing countries including Ethiopia.

Objective: This study is aimed at assessing the status of solid waste management practices and identifying key factors in Awi Administrative Zone, Ethiopia.

Methods: A community‐based cross‐sectional study design was used to collect the data and then analyze using descriptive statistics and logistic regression modeling. The survey was conducted in select kebeles (wards) (administrative subdivisions) of Injibara, Dangila, and Chagni towns, using two‐stage sampling techniques. Primary and secondary data sources were utilized. The per capita waste generation rate was calculated based on the total solid waste generated in kilograms per total family size of households per year.

Results: The per capita per day solid waste generation rates for Injibara, Dangila, and Chagni were 0.443, 0.456, and 0.487 kg/capita/day, respectively. The composition of household solid waste mainly consisted of biodegradable and nonbiodegradable materials. It was concluded that a significant proportion of household solid waste comprised biodegradable organic matter, which could be efficiently recycled or decomposed through microbial activity. Of the households, 40.6% had access to door‐to‐door solid waste collection service, and 35.9% and 26.2% of the households disposed their solid waste on riverside bridge/drainage lines and roadside/open land, respectively. The regression analysis showed that the head of the household’s age, family size, monthly income, solid waste selling practice, solid waste reduction practice, awareness of solid waste disposal rules, frequency of household cleanup campaign participation, and awareness of the impacts of improper solid waste management on the environment and human health were significantly associated with improper solid waste management practices.

Conclusion: The study revealed poor performance in solid waste management in the study area, attributed to factors such as inadequate collection system design and schedule, open burning of refuse, substandard condition of the final dumpsite, and lack of community awareness leading to illegal dumping.

Recommendations: Based on the findings of the study, we recommend that the town municipality strengthen its door‐to‐door solid waste collection service and distribution of communal bin containers, conduct environmental assessments for better dumpsite selection, and implement a community‐based waste management system to ensure sustainable solutions and continuous education on proper solid waste management practices.
Administration of a Next‐Generation Probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917‐GLP‐1 Alleviates Diabetes in Mice With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Luo Jie , Fang Yilin , Qi Zhanghua , Cui Fengyang , Hu Hong , Li Shengjie , Chen Tingtao , Zhang Hongyan
Published: January 2025

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a persistent and steadily progressing metabolic condition distinguished by unregulated high levels of blood glucose. GLP1 receptor agonists have recently gained recognition as first‐line therapies in selected instances, as per the updated ADA guidelines, highlighting their efficacy not only in glycemic control but also in their broader health benefits. Nonetheless, the efficacy of GLP‐1 is limited by its brief duration of action, rapid clearance from the body, and challenges associated with subcutaneous administration. In this study, we examined the potential diabetes‐mitigating effects of a genetically engineered strain of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN)‐GLP‐1, previously developed by our group. We utilized mouse models for both Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to assess its efficacy. In the case of T1DM mice, the results revealed that EcN‐GLP‐1 resulted in a notable decrease in blood glucose levels. Furthermore, it exhibited a protective influence on the structural integrity of islet β‐cells; downregulated the expressions of key inflammatory markers such as TLR‐4, p‐NF‐κB/NF‐κB, and Bax/Bcl‐2; promoted the insulin secretion; and reinstated the perturbed diversity of microbial species to a normal state. Similarly, EcN‐GLP‐1 had a pronounced impact on T2DM mice, manifesting increased presence of islet β‐cells, decreased inflammatory response and apoptosis, and regulation of lipid metabolism in the liver. In summary, the genetically modified EcN‐GLP‐1 strain demonstrates the ability to alleviate diabetes by enhancing the islet β‐cell population, mitigating inflammatory reactions and apoptosis, optimizing liver lipid metabolism, and reinstating a balanced microbial diversity. These findings hold promise as a potential avenue for treating DM.
Fine‐Tuning BERT Models for Multiclass Amharic News Document Categorization
Authors: Endalie Demeke
Published: January 2025

Bidirectional encoder representation from transformer (BERT) models are increasingly being employed in the development of natural language processing (NLP) systems, predominantly for English and other European languages. However, because of the complexity of the language’s morphology and the scarcity of models and resources, the BERT model is not widely employed for Amharic text processing and other NLP applications. This paper describes the fine‐tuning of a pretrained BERT model to classify Amharic news documents into different news labels. We modified and retrained the model using a custom news document dataset separated into seven key categories. We utilized 2181 distinct Amharic news articles, each comprising a title, a summary lead, and a comprehensive main body. An experiment was carried out to assess the performance of the fine‐tuned BERT model, which achieved 88% accuracy, 88% precision, 87.61% recall, and 87.59% F1‐score, respectively. In addition, we evaluated our fine‐tuned model against baseline models such as bag‐of‐words with MLP, Word2Vec with MLP, and fastText classifier utilizing the identical dataset and preprocessing module. Our model outperformed these baselines by 6.3%, 14%, and 8% in terms of accuracy, respectively. In conclusion, our refined BERT model has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in the categorization of Amharic news documents, surpassing conventional methods. Future research could explore further fine‐tuning techniques and larger datasets to enhance performance.
Early Detection for Better Patient Outcome: A Case Report on Two Patients Presenting With Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia
Authors: Haile Alazar M. , Azale Abrham W. , Ayana Birhanu
Published: January 2025

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is an ultrarare disorder of endochondral ossification. It is unfamiliar to most care providers in low‐income countries such as Ethiopia. Even though the clinical presentation is typical, most cases remain misdiagnosed in our region. Moreover, we hypothesize that many such cases undergo unnecessary or harmful interventions for a painless lump. In Ethiopia, with a population of approximately 120 million, only one case has been reported in the literature so far. We present two cases that were referred to our institution for a biopsy of a mass. This report is aimed at summarizing the typical presentation of the disease and at highlighting the harmful interventions one should avoid in such patients. We also hope that this report serves as an entry point to try to find more patients with this similar condition early in their clinical course. Furthermore, we believe that in order to lessen the overall impact of the illness, it is crucial to provide caregivers with health education about the causes of disease flare‐ups.
Severe Mitral Regurgitation–Induced Acute Heart Failure due to Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis in a Patient With Urothelial Carcinoma Recurrence
Authors: Reis Catarina Santos , Dias Francisco , Granja Bárbara , Matos Maria Inês , Ribeiro Ana , Friões Fernando
Published: January 2025

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis is a rare condition characterized by the formation of noninfectious vegetations on the heart valves. It is related with systemic embolic phenomena occurring predominantly in advanced cancer stages, particularly adenocarcinomas. It is a diagnosis of exclusion based on the clinical context, echocardiographic findings of a vegetation, and negative blood cultures, and distinction between infective endocarditis is challenging. We report a case of a 66‐year‐old woman, with history of previously treated breast and urothelial carcinoma, presenting with constitutional syndrome and pulmonary thromboembolism. Computed tomography scan revealed systemic embolic phenomena and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathies. A vegetation in the mitral valve constituted a finding on echocardiography, causing severe mitral regurgitation, which led to severe acute heart failure and culminated in patient’s death. Subsequent results of immunohistochemistry of the lymph node biopsy yielded the recurrence of urothelial carcinoma.
Batch Optimization of Various Variables for Wastewater Treatment and Bioelectricity Generation Using Dual Chambered Microbial Fuel Cell
Authors: Ahmed Zarar , Ellahi Tehmoor , Ciobica Alin , Calin Gabriela , Burlui Vasile , Haroon Hajira
Published: January 2025

Energy crisis and wastewater treatment are critical global issues. In this study, a novel separator was made by boiling cotton rope with solutions of various salts and their concentrations. It was then employed in a dual‐chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) to treat municipal wastewater collected from 25 Area Wah Cantt, Punjab, Pakistan. Batch scale experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of various variables, that is, different salts (NaCl, KCl, and MgCl2) and their concentrations (0.2, 0.5, and 1 M) used in separator, wastewater volume (50, 500, and 1000 mL), and aluminum mesh thickness (0.6, 0.8, and 1 mm) on MFC performance in terms of current generation and wastewater treatment for 7 days. Analysis of collected wastewater showed that among the six studied physicochemical parameters, only two, that is, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were above the permissible limits of National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS). Results after MFC experiments showed that separator containing 0.5 M NaCl produced a significantly (p < 0.05) high current of 68.16 µA as compared to the other studied salts and their concentrations, whereas COD and BOD were reduced up to 124.15 and 62.12 mg L−1, respectively. A wastewater volume of 1000 mL generated a significantly (p < 0.05) high current of 83.41 µA compared to the other studied volumes, where COD and BOD residual values were 123.25 and 59.56 mg L−1, respectively. An aluminum mesh thickness of 1 mm produced a significantly (p < 0.05) high current of 103 µA, while 120.89 and 68.93 mg L−1 were achieved COD and BOD values, respectively. It was concluded that MFC performance was enhanced with an increase in wastewater volume and mesh thickness. Therefore, it is recommended that further pilot‐scale continuous studies be carried out to implement this research on a larger scale.
Efficient Micropropagation of Bistorta amplexicaulis (D.Don) Greene: An Important Medicinal Plant of Western Himalaya
Authors: Fayaz Mudasir , Singh Seema , Bhat Irshad Ahmad , Bhat Musadiq Hussain , Khanday Firdous Ahmad , Dar Alamgir Ahmad
Published: January 2025

Bistorta amplexicaulis (D.Don) Greene from the family Polygonaceae is an important medicinal plant species. The growing therapeutic use of B. amplexicaulis has led to its population depletion thus requiring its conservation. Herein, an efficient, reproducible and reliable propagation protocol system was established for B. amplexicaulis using nodal segments as explant. Various culture media were tested for the assessment of growth and development of this plant species. On the shoot proliferation and rhizogenesis of regenerated B. amplexicaulis plantlets, the effects of several plant growth regulators (PGRs) were assessed. Direct organogenesis from nodal segments was achieved by culturing the nodal explants on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2.0 mg·L−1 6‐benzylaminopurine (BAP). Shoot multiplication was widely affected by the kind and concentration of PGRs, and the subculturing of in vitro regenerated shootlets on fresh medium. After incubation for 4 weeks at optimum BAP concentration, cultures were transferred to secondary medium with BAP (optimized concentration) supplemented with different auxins (indole acetic acid, indole butyric acid, and naphthalene acetic acid [NAA]). Murashige and Skoog medium enriched with 2.0 mg·L−1 BAP showed the highest shoot induction response (83% ± 3.61%) with mean shoot number (4.67 ± 1.45) and shoot length of 4.33 ± 1.45 cm. Growth medium fortified with 1.0 mg·L−1α‐ NAA exhibited maximum rhizogenesis with 4.33 ± 0.88 roots and average root length as 5.50 ± 0.76 cm from regenerated B. amplexicaulis shoots. Acclimatized plants of B. amplexicaulis showed 90% survival. The projected protocol may serve as a treasured tool for the rapid and large‐scale multiplication of elite B. amplexicaulis and for germplasm conservation to ensure continuous supply of this plant amid the increasing demand.
Assessing Variances in Dentist’s Interpretations of Antibiotic Prophylaxis Guidelines: A Survey of Dental School Faculty
Authors: Bereckis Jennifer , Rowan Susan , Hanna Danny , Narvekar Aniruddh , Koerber Anne
Published: January 2025

Purpose: A recent review by the American Heart Association (AHA) noted a decrease in the prescription of antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) for infective endocarditis (IE) following the release of their guidelines in 2007. However, studies indicate dentists may still face challenges in identifying which procedures require AP and which procedures are considered to involve gingival manipulation (GM) requiring the need for AP.

Methods: A sample of dental school faculty was surveyed to assess their likelihood of prescribing AP for various dental procedures when treating individuals at high risk for IE and their perception of the likelihood of those procedures involving GM.

Results: A total of 134 individuals responded to the survey. Consensus on AP was not achieved for eight of 24 procedures, and consensus on GM was not achieved for four out of 24 procedures.

Conclusions: Data gathered revealed a difference of opinions among dental faculty concerning the appropriate dental procedures warranting the prescription of AP for patients at risk of IE. Similarly, there was a lack of consensus among dental faculty regarding dental procedures specifically involving GM. The discordance observed between these two categories implies a potential lack of clarity in the 2007 AHA guidelines. The criteria related to GM for determining the necessity of AP in high‐risk individuals may introduce confusion for dental faculty, possibly extending to dentists practicing in nonacademic settings. Such ambiguity can potentially contribute to inappropriate decision‐making regarding the prescription of AP.
Thermosonication: A Veritable Technique to Improve the Quality Attribute of Black Velvet Tamarind (Dialium guineense Wild) Beverage
Authors: Oladunjoye Adebola O. , Olorunsola Olamide D.
Published: January 2025

The use of emerging processing techniques as an alternative to conventional pasteurisation of fruit beverage has attracted increased attention in recent times. In this study, black velvet tamarind beverage (BVTB) subjected to thermosonication (TS) treatment (45 kHz, 200 W at 40°C, 50°C, and 60°C each for 10, 20, and 30 min) was compared with raw and pasteurised (90°C for 1 min) beverage. The samples obtained were assessed for their physicochemical and biofunctional properties, residual enzymatic activities, bioactive compounds, microbial safety, and sensory attributes. The pasteurised and thermosonicated samples presented no significant (p > 0.05) difference in the pH, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity. However, TS significantly (p < 0.05) increased colour (a∗) attribute (0.63–0.75), viscosity (42.60–84.00 cP), cloudiness (0.83–1.69), and browning (1.48–1.67) indices of the beverage. Moreover, progressive TS significantly inactivated residual enzymes of pectin methylesterase (PME), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Notably, TS at 40°C and 50°C conditions significantly improved ascorbic acid (17.08%–46.95%), phenolic compound (6.83%–22.53%), flavonoids (64.89%–80.82%), and antioxidant capacity (0.22%–7.4%), while treatment at 60°C reduced the bioactive compounds with increasing holding time. Importantly, both treatments reduced the microbiological population below the USFDA‐recommended level, and the sensory values from both treatments were not significantly different from the raw beverage. The results obtained showed that TS has the potential to improve the quality attributes of BVTB.