bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The peculiarities of thiol-disulfide metabolism in patients with diabetes mellitus and pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Todoriko L.D. , Lesnic E.V. , Semianiv I.O. , Pankiv V.I. , Shevchenko O.S. , Domanchuk T.I.
Published: February 2025

Background. Glutathione (L-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine, GSH) and the enzymes of the glutathione cycle play an important role in the immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The purpose of the study was to assess the main peculiarities and differences of the thiol-disulfide metabolism in patients with drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) developed on the background of diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and methods. A prospective case-control study was conducted between 2018 and 2022 and included 173 TB patients divided into 3 groups: 1st study group (N = 54) — new cases of drug-susceptible tuberculosis and DM; 2nd study group (N = 56) — new cases of MDR-TB and DM; 3rd study group (N = 63) — non-diabetic patients with progressive TB. These groups were compared with a control group of 36 healthy people. The investigations were conducted according to the national protocol and biochemical assessment standards. Results. In diabetic TB patients, the antioxidant status was enhanced according to the biomarkers, such as total GSH, free –SH groups, total –SH groups, GST, SOD, CAT, GPO, and GR, compared to non-diabetic TB patients. This suggested the existence of an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of oxidants. No statistical difference was revealed when comparing the GSH system biomarkers in patients with drug-resistant and susceptible TB. Conclusions. The antioxidant defense was more depleted in diabetic patients, with a greater decrease in MDR-TB group. In non-diabetic TB patients, the total and reduced GSH did not differ compared to healthy individuals, while free –SH groups, total –SH groups, GST, SOD, CAT, GPO, and GR were lower. Even the GSH metabolism biomarkers were lower in the group of patients with drug-resistant TB; the statistical difference was not achieved.
Relationship of transforming growth factor β1 with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Hudz A.S. , Serhiyenko V.A. , Kudryl I.V. , Guryanov V.G. , Kovtun M.I. , Ziablitsev S.V.
Published: February 2025

Background. It is known that in diabetic retinopathy (DR), impaired transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) signaling is accompanied by pathological angiogenesis, disruption of the blood-eye barrier, activation of inflammation and tissue fibrosis. The purpose of the study was to establish the relationship between the content of TGF-β1 in blood serum and intraocular fluid (IOF) and the progression of DR in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using neural network modeling. Materials and methods. The study included the results of the examination of 102 people with T2DM, who were divided into 3 groups according to the stages of DR: the first one — non-proliferative DR (NPDR, 35 people), the second one — preproliferative (PPDR, 34 people) and the third one — proliferative (PDR, 33 people). The control group consisted of 61 individuals. The patients underwent standard ophthalmic examinations. TGF-β1 in blood serum and IOF was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Invitrogen Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA). Statistical analysis of the results was performed using the MedCalc software pa­ckage (MedCalc SoftWare bvba, 1993–2013) and a two-layer neural network model with a linear postsynaptic potential function. Results. Using the genetic selection algorithm, 3 features were identified that were associated with DR: diabetes compensation and TGF-β1 content in blood and IOF. T2DM was compensated in 38 (37.3 %) patients, while in 64 cases (62.7 %), it was uncompensated. The proportion of the latter was higher in PDR than in NPDR and PPDR (p < 0.05). In PDR, the TGF-β1 content in IOF was significantly higher than in NPDR and PPDR (p < 0.05). A three-factor classification model was created on the identified features, which included a system of equations that predicted PDR with 100% accuracy. The overall prediction accuracy of the model was 88.2 % (95% CI 80.4–93.8 %). Conclusions. In this study, the value of indicators such as diabetes compensation and TGF-β1 content in serum and IOF for the progression of DR to PDR was shown using the method of neural network modeling.
Associations of glycated hemoglobin with hemoglobin levels and erythrocyte parameters
Authors: Dzis Ye.I. , Tomashevska O.Ya. , Dzis I.Ye. , Tomashevska N.Ya.
Published: February 2025

Background. In patients with diabetes mellitus, pathologic changes occur in multiple organs and systems, the pathogenesis of which involves inflammatory reactions. The chronic inflammatory process can lead to the development of anemia. Several changes in red blood cells have been found to affect the processes of hemoglobin glycation, making it difficult to diagnose carbohydrate metabolism disorders. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the concentration of hemoglobin and erythrocyte parameters. Materials and methods. A complete blood count and HbA1c levels were analyzed in 756 subjects (443 women and 313 men) who underwent examination at the MeDis laboratory (Lviv) in 2020. Statistical processing of the data was performed using Student’s t, Pearson’s r, chi-square, and Fisher’s exact test. Results. Positive correlations of HbA1c with hemoglobin levels (r = 0.10, p = 0.015), neutrophil count (r = 0.08, p = 0.036), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r = 0.15, p < 0.001) were found in the examined subjects. There was a nega­tive correlation between ESR and hemoglobin le­vels (r = –0.42, p < 0.01). The subjects were divided into three groups according to HbA1c levels: group 1 — < 5.7 % (n = 431), group 2 — 5.7–6.4 % (n = 166), and group 3 — ≥ 6.5 % (n = 159). A positive correlation between HbA1c and hemoglobin levels was confirmed only in group 1 (r = 0.37, p < 0.001) and in women in general (r = 0.14, p = 0.002). ESR was higher in groups 2 and 3 compared to group 1 (p < 0.05). Anemia was detected in 132 (17.5 %) patients. The preva­lence of hypochromic anemia was 30.0, 66.7, and 58.1 % in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p = 0.001). Mean corpuscular hemoglobin was lower in group 3 compared to group 1 (p = 0.028). In all 100 wo­men with anemia, there was a negative correlation between HbA1c and hemoglobin levels (r = –0.24, p = 0.016), mean corpuscular volume (r = –0.34, p = 0.001), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (r = –0.31, p = 0.002). Conclusions. An increase in HbA1c is associated with increased signs of systemic inflammatory response and the development of hypochromic anemia. HbA1c and hemoglobin levels are inversely correlated with each other depending on gender, glycemic status, and the presence of anemia.
The role of oxidative stress in the development of autoimmune thyroiditis: current state of the problem (literature review)
Authors: Shydlovsky A.V. , Morozovych I.I.
Published: February 2025

The review article examines the issues of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) pathogenesis. Analysis of current scientific data revealed an increase in the number of cases of this disease (6–11 % worldwide among the adult population), and the need for further research to understand its etiology, diagnosis and treatment is emerging. This review considers oxidative stress that is the accumulation of active harmful agents (free radicals, prooxidants, reactive oxygen species), which initiate cell damage and lead to the development of various pathological conditions. The study on the mechanism of free-radical damage caused by reactive oxygen species will open opportunities for the introduction and optimization of antioxidant therapy of patients with AIT in order to slow down the progression of the disease. In the occurrence of damage to thyroid cells, the formation of antibodies and lymphocytic infiltration of the gland play an important role. It has been noted that genetic factors precede the occurrence of pathological changes. Loss of immune tolerance to thyroid autoantigens such as thyroid peroxidase (TPO), thyroglobulin (TG) is the basis for the deve­lopment of AIT. The important role of oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species in the pathogenesis of the disease has been noted. It has been shown that at its onset, AIT is asymptomatic, the formation of antibodies to TPO and TG precedes disease occurrence and may indicate latent AIT. The prevalence of latent AIT varies in different countries of the world and ranges from 2 to 20 %, and among women, it was 4–6 times higher than in men. Over time, latent AIT turns into subclinical and overt thyroiditis with hypothyroidism. The incidence of overt AIT in different countries ranges from 27 to 273 per 100,000 population. Diagnosis of AIT is made by clinical signs, positivity to serum antibodies against TPO, TG and lymphocytic infiltration on cytological examination. The main treatment direction is the management of hypothyroidism with hormone replacement therapy. A relationship between AIT and a possible malignant transformation has been suggested in several studies and involves immunological/hormonal pathogenic links although specific correlation is still debated and needs to be further investigated in prospective studies.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, and alpha-lipoic acid
Authors: Serhiyenko V.A. , Chemerys O.M. , Holovach S.Y. , Serhiyenko A.A.
Published: February 2025

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prognostic factor for the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), increases the risk of cardiometabolic pathologies and neurodegenerative diseases. At the same time, T2DM and MetS can also cause the development of major neurosis-like and psychiatric symptoms characteristic of PTSD. Their influence can manifested through negative effects on the central nervous system, in particular the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress and chronic low-grade inflammation play an important role in the pathophysiology of PTSD, MetS, and T2DM, making them the main therapeutic targets. Targeted effects on oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation and mitochondrial metabolism disorders, the use of antioxidants, in particular α-lipoic acid (ALA), can positively affect not only the course of comorbidities but also the main manifestations of PTSD. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that ALA modulates a number of pathways associated with oxidative stress. In addition, the results of clinical trials confirm the antioxidant mechanism of ALA action in patients with obesity, MetS, diabetes type 1 and 2. The neuroprotective activity of ALA is being actively studied and is proving promising as a therapeutic approach in the treatment of PTSD and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite the significant therapeutic potential of ALA, its clinical application is limited by several significant barriers. In particular, clinical trials lack standardized treatment protocols, as well as a detailed assessment of the effectiveness of ALA alone. In addition, the pharmacokinetic profile of ALA remains limited, which is one of the main factors that hinder its use. In this context, there are certain prospects for the development of ALA transportation systems based on nanoparticles, which can potentially solve a number of these problems. In addition, the technologies of so­lid lipid nanoparticles such as niosomes, liposomes, nanostructured lipid carriers and micelles provide the possibility of local or systemic use of ALA. However, further preclinical and clinical studies are needed to definitively determine the clinical feasibility and therapeutic potential of ALA. The search was conducted in Scopus, Science Direct (from Elsevier) and PubMed, including MEDLINE databases. The keywords used were “α-lipoic acid”, “post-traumatic stress disorder”, “diabetes mellitus”, “metabolic syndrome”. A manual search of the bibliography of publications was used to identify study results that could not be found during the online search.
Multifocal metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case report and literature review
Authors: Sheptukha S. , Khoperiya V. , Mostiuk O. , Kolotusha V.
Published: February 2025

Background. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common form of malignant tumor of the thyroid gland, accounting for about 1 % of all newly diagnosed malignant neoplasms. The average age of onset for PTC is 50 years, with a predominance of female patients (3 : 1). In most cases, a long course and a favorable prognosis characterize PTC. However, certain pathological features may indicate aggressive metastatic disease. The results of diagnosis and treatment are described in a clinical case of multifocal metastatic PTC. The presence of vascular, extra-organic invasion and metastases necessitate the selection of more aggressive treatment and monitoring. Materials and methods. We analyzed primary medical documentation, the surgical protocol, the results of blood examination, instrumental, cytological and pathohistological studies in a 34-year-old female. Results. The patient was diagnosed with PTC based on the results of preoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and underwent thyroidectomy, central and lateral neck dissection. Pathological examination confirmed multifocal PTC on the background of chronic thyroiditis, with metastases to the central lymph nodes. In the postoperative period, the patient underwent ablation with I131. Conclusions. Performing FNAB with subsequent cytological analysis in the preoperative period is critical in establishing the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma and determining the extent of surgery. Effective surgical treatment followed by pathological examination is crucial for determining subsequent radioiodine therapy.
Estudio in situ de la evolución del comportamiento reológico de una espuma modelo para la estimulación hidráulica de yacimientos
Authors: Mancheno Padilla Germania Guadalupe , Medina Bañuelos Esteban Francisco , Marín Santibáñez Benjamín Marcos
Published: February 2025

Las espumas son sistemas multifásicos compuestos de una fase gaseosa (entre 55 y 95 %) dispersa en dominios discretos (burbujas) a través de una fase continua acuosa. Estos sistemas aparecen tanto en la vida cotidiana como en procesos industriales. Nos encontramos con espumas al lavar nuestros trastes y ropas, cuando nos duchamos y también aparecen como fijadores para el cabello o productos de afeitar. También se usan en la extinción de incendios. Recientemente, las espumas se están utilizando como fluidos de estimulación hidráulica de yacimientos, debido principalmente a dos atractivas ventajas: son amigables con el medio ambiente, ya que reducen enormemente el consumo de agua durante el proceso de recuperación de hidrocarburos, y poseen un comportamiento reológico favorable, es decir, que tienen esfuerzo de cedencia, conocido en la industria como “yield point”, y viscosidades relativamente altas. Estas características reológicas resultan en el transporte óptimo del apuntalante que permite mantener abierta la fractura o red de fracturas creada a través de la formación productora. El apuntalante impide el colapso de las fracturas, favoreciendo la recuperación de los hidrocarburos. Sin embargo, el comportamiento reológico de las espumas (gas-líquido), incluidas las de fractura, es complejo y evoluciona en el tiempo debido a la coalescencia de las burbujas inducida por el drenado de la fase líquida. Esto dificulta su caracterización reológica y el entendimiento de su comportamiento durante el flujo. Por lo anterior, en este trabajo se estudió el comportamiento reológico de una espuma modelo como fluido de estimulación hidráulica y se presenta una metodología confiable para investigar su comportamiento reológico in situ como función del tiempo.
Almacenamiento de hidrógeno en materiales sólidos
Authors: Suárez Alcántara Karina
Published: February 2025

Se presenta de forma breve la importancia del almacenamiento de hidrógeno. Se hace un resumen de los tipos de almacenamiento de hidrógeno, así como de las principales familias de materiales almacenadores de hidrógeno. También, se explica a las aleaciones de alta entropía como nuevos materiales de almacenamiento de hidrógeno, con capacidad de ajustar las propiedades de almacenamiento de hidrógeno en comparación con otro tipo de aleaciones.
An In vitro investigation of Lactobacillus plantarum F4 Strain’s Anti-sickling and Fetal Hemoglobin Inducing Effects on Sickled Erythrocytes
Authors: Shah Firdosh , Shah Saloni R. , Pramanik Aasruti S. , Kumar Prasant , Laddha Naresh C. , Dwivedi Mitesh
Published: February 2025

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a blood illness occurs due to point mutation in the β-globin gene and leads to serious health problems. The aim of the study was to assess probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum F4’s (L. plantarum F4) capacity to induce fetal hemoglobin (HbF) synthesis and anti-sickling effects in sickle erythrocytes isolated from individuals with sickle cell disease. Erythrocytes were isolated from 15 SCD patients and 5 controls blood samples. Erythrocytes were treated with L. plantarum F4 culture supernatant (CS) at concentrations of 30% and 60% (v/v) for up to 120 minutes, following lysozyme treatment to purify the supernatant. The Emmel test was conducted by microscopic observation after treating the samples with different doses and durations of L. plantarum F4 (CS). HPLC was utilized to assess the HbF levels in patients, while normal saline and hydroxyurea served as negative and positive controls. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA and Student’s t-test, were conducted to compare treatment effects. Results demonstrated that at a concentration of 30% (v/v) for 120 minutes, L. plantarum F4 (CS) significantly decreased sickling of SCD erythrocytes (p < 0.0001) and was equivalent to the common medication hydroxyurea. Additionally, compared to the negative control, L. plantarum F4 (CS) considerably raised the HbF% in the erythrocytes of SCD patients (p < 0.0001). For the first time, our study suggests that L. plantarum F4 significantly enhance HbF and anti-sickling activity in sickled erythrocytes, in vitro and can be further explored for in vivo animal model study and developing therapeutics for SCD.
Biological Control of Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes Using Associated Fungi
Authors:   General authority for operating and maintaining Tigris River basin, Ministry of Water Resources in Salaheddine, Iraq, El-Shandah Ahmad Natiq , Hassan Abdallah Abdelkarim ,   Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tikrit University, Iraq, Bakr Safaa Zakaria ,   Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tikrit University, Iraq
Published: February 2025

El-Shandah, A.N., A.A. Hasan and S.Z. Bakr. 2024. Biological Control of Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes Using
Associated Fungi. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(4): 534-540. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001264
The fungi associated with water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) were isolated and identified from different regions on the Tigris River,
including; Samarra, Al Dhuluiya, Al Mutasim and Al Shirqat within Salaheddine province. The pathogenic fungal isolates of water hyacinth
were molecularly identified, using nucleotide sequence analysis of 5.8S rRNA gene as: Umbelopsis isabellina strain Has.AA-30, Umbelopsis
isabellina strain Has.AA-31, Alternaria alternata strain Has.AA-32, Alternaria eichhorniae strain Has.AA-33 and Alternaria tenuissima
strain Has.AA-34. The highly pathogenic five fungal isolates were deposited in GenBank under the accession numbers OP251452.1,
OP251368.1, OP251367.1, OP251453.1 and OP251365.1, respectively. The results obtained showed the presence of 11 fungal isolates with
pathogenic effect on the Nile flower weed, with a significant superiority of the spore suspension and filtrate of the isolate Has.AA-33 that
showed highest infection severity of 80.7%, followed by the isolates Has.AA-30, Has.AA-31, Has.AA-31, Has.AA-32 and Has.AA-34,
whereas no infection was recorded in the control treatment.
Keywords: Water hyacinth, Tigris River, Eichhornia crassipes, pathogenic fungi, biological control, molecular identification.
Investigating the Impact of Abamectin on Dust Mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus Density and Anatomical Features of Date Fruits cv. Halawi
Authors:   Date Palm Research Centre, University of Basrah, Basra, Iraq, Aldosary N. , Khalaf Y.N ,   Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, Basra, Iraq, Abdullah A.S.A ,   Date Palm Research Centre, University of Basrah, Basra, Iraq, Rahdi A.H ,   Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, Basra, Iraq, Aldarwich M.A ,   Date Palm Research Centre, University of Basrah, Basra, Iraq
Published: February 2025

Aldosary, N., Y.N. Kalaf, A.S.A. Abdullah, A.H. Radhi and M.A. Al-Darwish. 2024. Investigating the Impact of
Abamectin on Dust Mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus Density and Anatomical Features of Date Fruits cv. Halawi. Arab
Journal of Plant Protection, 42(4): 511-517. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001269
The high nutritional value and economic importance of date fruits are compromised by severe damage caused by pests such as the dust
mite Oligonychus afrasiaticus. To control this pest, chemicals such as Abamectin are commonly used, although this may cause changes in the
anatomical characteristics of date fruits. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Abamectin on the density of dust mites and the anatomical
features of cv. Halawi dates. Date fruits were sprayed with Abamectin (1.8% EC) in five concentrations (0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 ml/L)
during the Hababuk stage, and dust mite density and several anatomical characteristics of the fruits were evaluated. The results obtained showed
a decrease in dust mite population density with increasing Abamectin concentration and a significant impact on certain anatomical features of
date fruits. The highest thickness of the exocarp, cuticle, epidermis, hypodermis, stoncells, outer mesocarp, and inner mesocarp, as well as the
number of pith cells were observed at the concentration of 1.0 ml/L. However, a reduction in the tannin layer was detected at higher
concentrations. Positive correlations were found between Abamectin concentration and the thickness of certain fruit components, as well as
the number of pith cells, whereas a negative correlation was found with dust mite population density. The study concluded that Abamectin
application directly reduces dust mite density and improves the anatomical characteristics of date fruits.
Keywords: Abamectin, date palm, dust mite, pest density, anatomical characteristics.
The Effect of the Extract from the Different Growth Stages of the Fungus Ganoderma lucidium on the Infection of Three Watermelon Varieties with Watermelon mosaic virus
Authors:   Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tikrit University, Salaheddine Governorate, Iraq, Sultan Yasmin Bassem , Al Fahad Maad Abdel Wahab ,   Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tikrit University, Salaheddine Governorate, Iraq
Published: February 2025

Sultan, Y.B. and M.A. Alfahad. 2024. The Effect of the Extract from the Different Growth Stages of the Fungus
Ganoderma lucidium on the Infection of Three Watermelon Varieties with Watermelon mosaic virus. Arab Journal of
Plant Protection, 42(4): 545-551. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001273
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ganoderma lucidium extract on Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) infection of watermelon
plants. Virus diagnosis was based on the symptoms produced on indicator plants, in addition to using the immunostrip assay. The treatment
with the extract of G. lucidium mixture (mycelium + fruiting body) reduced WMV infection rate on all three watermelon cultivars, and was
superior to all other treatments. The G. lucidium mixture extract was also superior in reducing the severity of WMV infection. The same
treatment gave a significant increase in chlorophyll content, leaf area and specific activity of the enzyme polyphenol oxidase, in addition to
the increase in crop yield.
Keywords: Watermelon mosaic virus, diagnosis, control, fungal extract
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Parasitoid Cotesia glomerata L. on Larval Stages of Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris brassica L. Under Laboratory Condition in Latakia, Syria
Authors:   Plant Protection Division, Directorate of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Latakia, Syria, Baddour Zeina S. , Ramadan Ali Mohamad ,   Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria;, Mohammed Iyad M. ,   Directorate of Plant Protection, Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Damascus, Syria
Published: February 2025

Baddour, Z.S., A.M. Ramadhan and I. Mohammed. 2024. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Parasitoid Cotesia
glomerata L. on Larval Stages of Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris brassica L. Under Laboratory Condition in Latakia, Syria.
Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(4): 518-525. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001274
The effect of larval instars of the cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassica L. on biological characteristics of the endoparasitoid, Cotesia
glomerata during the 2021 season under laboratory conditions (25±2°C, RH 60±5%, photo period of 16 hr light: 8 hr dark) was investigated.
The results obtained showed that the larval instars of P. brassica had a significant impact on the fitness of the parasitoid C. glomerata. Fecundity
varied depending on the host larval stage. The highest fecundity rate of 78.11 % was obtained when the parasitoid fed on the 1st larval stage,
whereas it reached 72.2 and 72.43 % when fed on the 2nd and 3rd stage larvae, respectively. The duration of the parasitoid life cycle from
oviposition to adult emergence reached 23.41, 25.31 and 26.62 days when fed on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd larval instars, respectively. Parasitism rate
reached 88.67, 81.34 and 72.64 % when fed on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd instars, respectively. The other biological parameters such as sex ratio,
longevity and fitness changed according to the larval instar fed on. The results obtained from this study suggest that 2nd and 3rd instars of P.
brassica would be the best host stages for mass production of C. glomerata in the laboratory and the best host stages to target for effective
control of P. brassica in the field.
Keywords: Pieris brassicae, parasitoid, Cotesia glomerata, biological parameters, larval stage.
Estimating the Damage of Birds to Wheat, Gurma Melon and Cowpea Crops During the Ripening Period at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt
Authors:   Plant Protection Department, Agriculture faculty, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt, Salama M.A. , Aamir M.I. ,   Plant Protection Department, Agriculture faculty, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt, Farag A.A.G. ,   Plant Protection Department, Agriculture faculty, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt, Issa M. A. ,   Harmful Animal Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, Egypt., Hendawy M.A. ,   Plant Protection Department, Agriculture faculty, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Published: February 2025

Salama, M.A., M.I. Aamir, A.A. Gh. Farag, M.A. Issa and M.A. Hendawy. 2024. Estimating the Damage of Birds to
Wheat, Gurma Melon and Cowpea Crops During the Ripening Period at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Arab Journal of
Plant Protection, 42(4): 552-557. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001281
The damage caused by birds to wheat crop is increasing during the ripening stage. The house sparrow, Passer domesticus niloticus is
the main bird pest that attacks wheat spikes during the ripening stage (milk, dough, and mature levels) during 2020 and 2021 seasons. The 6th
week of the ripening period suffered the highest damage in all samples compared with other weeks. The samples collected from the field edge
showed the highest damage, with 13.05 and 6.75% yield loss during 2020 and 2021, respectively. The samples collected at 6 m from borders
didn't show any damage. The statistical analysis indicated that there were significant differences between the tested distances in all weeks of
the repining stage during 2020 and 2021 seasons. The gurma melon fruits were attacked by hooded crow, Corvus corone during the ripening
stage and the mean proportion of damaged fruits reached 9.47% at the 6th week of fruit development. The special features of the gurma melon
plants made it easy for hooded crows to land and take off, thus the birds attacked the crop at any point in the field, thus there was no significant
difference between the fruit damage level and distance from the field border. Cowpea was an attractive crop for many bird species such as
pigeons and house sparrows. Birds did attack the cowpea pods during the ripening stage, with 6.97% damage during this stage.
Keywords: Damage, birds, house sparrow, hooded crow, wheat, gurma melon, cowpea.
Evaluating Host Preference and the Population Dynamics of Insect Pests and Spider Mite and Their Associated Predators on Solanaceous Crops
Authors:   Economic Entomology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kafr El-Sheikh, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, Abou-Attia F.A.M. , Hamouda H.S ,   Economic Entomology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kafr El-Sheikh, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, Kassem S.A ,   Vegetables Pests Research Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Kafr El-Sheikh Egypt., Rakha O.M ,   Economic Entomology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kafr El-Sheikh, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt
Published: February 2025

Experiments were carried out at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kafr elsheikh University, during 2020 and 2021 summer seasons. The objectives were to observe population fluctuations of some arthropod pests and their preference to three solanaceous crops: eggplant, tomato and pepper. The study also examined the correlation between predators and certain pests. In addition to the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch and Tuta absoluta, five piercing-sucking insects infested each of the vegetable crops; Aphis spp., Thrips tabaci Lindeman, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.), Empoasca spp. and Phenacoccus hirsutus Green. Results obtained revealed that eggplant was the most preferred solanaceous host that harboured 81.17% out of total aphids, B. tabaci (87.07%), Empoasca spp. (53.51%), P. hirsutus (65.78%) and T. urticae (95.33%). The second preferred host was tomato that had 58.17 and 88.83% out of total populations of T. tabaci and T. absoluta, respectively. Pepper plants were mostly the least preferred host. Five predatory species were found associated with the above mentioned pests. These arthropod predators were spiders, Scymnus spp., Orius spp., Chrysoperla carnea and Coccinella spp. Highly significant positive correlations were found between aphids and each of Scymnus spp. and Coccinella spp. In addition, the correlations between T. tabaci and Orius spp., and between Empoasca spp. and spiders were highly positively significant. Results highlighted that eggplant was the most infested by the piercing-sucking insects and the spider mite T. urticae compared to tomato and pepper.
Susceptibility of Some Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Varieties to Soft Rot Disease Caused by Enterobacter cloacae and its Relationship to the Biochemical Contents of its Tubers
Authors:   Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Kufa, Iraq, Al Aboudi H. R. D , Al Rikabi F.A ,   Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Kufa, Iraq
Published: February 2025

This study investigated the susceptibility of 30 potato varieties to soft rot disease caused by the bacterium Enterobacter cloacae and its effect on the starch, potassium, and ascorbic acid content of tubers. The results obtained showed that the Elmundo variety was the most susceptible to the disease, with the diameter of inhibition zone reaching 8.90 cm within 6 days, followed by the Burren variety (7.87 cm), with a significant difference to all other varieties. The varieties most resistant to bacterial soft rot disease were Lady Rositta and Amarin, with a significant difference from all other tested varieties, as the inhibition zone reached 0.33 and 0.37 cm, respectively. The results obtained also showed that the tubers of the “Lady Rositta” variety were significantly superior in starch content, which reached 23.02%, whereas the lowest starch content was in the “Donata” variety, which reached 4.52%. The “Universa” potato variety had significantly the highest potassium content, which reached 4.645%. The “Lady Rositta” potato variety had the highest ascorbic acid content, which reached 0.84%, with a significant difference from all other varieties. The “Fandango” variety had the lowest content of ascorbic acid of 0.06%. Increase in starch, ascorbic acid and potassium content in the tubers has a role in giving their cell walls strength and rigidity and make them resistant to infection with bacteria that cause the soft rot disease. In addition, potassium is an important nutrient for plant growth in general and has a major role in increasing the thickness of the cell wall, which makes the latter resistant to harsh conditions.
Bibliometric Analysis of Artificial Intelligence on Consumer Purchase Intention in E-Retailing
Authors: S. Menaka  , V. Selvam
Published: February 2025

This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on consumer purchase intentions in the e-retailing sector. By examining data from over 500 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2023, sourced from leading academic databases such as SCOPUS and Web of Science, these study maps the intellectual and research activities in this burgeoning field. The key AI technologies analzsed include machine learning, natural language processing, and data mining, which enhance personalized shopping experiences, recommend products, and provide virtually assisted sales. The analysis revealed significant growth in research output, highlighting four primary themes: personalized recommender systems, chatbots and virtual assistants, customer sentiment analysis, and predictive analytics. These themes underscore AI’s role of AI in improving consumer satisfaction, loyalty, and conversion rates. Despite these advancements, gaps remain in areas such as the ethical implications of its AI, long-term effects on consumer behavior, and cross-cultural impacts. Addressing these gaps could pave the way for future research and more responsible AI deployment in e-retail.
Implementation of An Ultra-Low-Power High-Speed CLB Using A Memory Element And Its Power Dissipation Analysis for FPGA with Quantum-dot Cellular Automata
Authors: Anjaiah Talamala  , Patro Ajit Kumar , Pinninti Kishore
Published: February 2025

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) was popular due to its very low power consumption and fast operating speed. QCA Designers are fascinated with developing and implementing nanoscale devices of digital circuits with rapid operating speed, low power consumption, and less area requirement. This paper describes an efficient layout design of CLB for FPGA implemented using Lookup Tables (LUTs) constructed by using efficient Multiplexers and DFF. A 4-input LUT is implemented using 2x1 multiplexers, and D Flip Flop is incorporated into the LUT to frame CLB. Programmable routing resources for signal propagation and control are done by quantum cells. The proposed D Flip Flop was implemented with an area-efficient and less delay requirement. The functionality of the D Flip Flop in the CLB was analyzed using the simulation results of the QCA Designer tool. It is implemented with 53 quantum cells in a small area of 0.07µm2 and a delay of one clock cycle. Furthermore, the flexible logic block developed using the proposed D Flip Flop structure has proven to be the best among existing modules. The CLB architecture has 655 quantum cells spread across 1.32 µm2 with three clock cycles delay and a power dissipation of 43. 33nW. It is clear that the present is a better and more effective solution in terms of area, complexity, cell count, and latency. The QCA Pro and QCA Designer software is used for all designs and simulation results.
A Deep auto encoder based Framework for efficient weather forecasting
Authors: Rajitha Kotoju  , B.N.V. Uma Shankar  , Ravinder Reddy Baireddy  , M. Aruna  , Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed Alnaser  , Imad Hammood Sharqi
Published: February 2025

Weather forecasting has plethora of benefits in different domains. Traditional weather forecasting approaches applied science and technology towards predicting weather conditions in given place and time. With the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) there are increased possibilities in the area of weather forecasting research. Instead of ground level observations, AI approaches learn from historical data and also current atmosphere data to come up with predictions. We suggested a framework for autonomous weather forecasting based on deep learning. Our framework is a variant of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model which exploits encoder and decoder to learn parameterizations from the given data and forecast weather. The proposed model is capable of interpreting spatial information associated with geopotential field and automatically infers forecasting knowhow with higher accuracy levels. A variable selection process is incorporated to determine geopotential height that has impact on the weather conditions. We proposed an algorithm known as Deep Weather Forecasting (DWF) to realize the proposed framework. Our empirical study has revealed that the proposed framework is used to evaluate different deep learning models and comparing their performance.  Our deep learning models outperformed many existing regression models. U-Net showed highest performance with least MAE 0.2268 when compared with all other models.
The distribution of bismuth in the process of reductive smelting of lead agglomerate
Authors: Osmani Afrim , Bastri Zeka  , Muharrem Zabeli
Published: February 2025

The world production of bismuth is largely supported by the pyro metallurgical processes of obtaining lead, where in this case bismuth is concentrated in gross lead around 94-98 %, from which elementary bismuth is exploited in the case of debismuthization. Bismuth production in the Trepça complex was based on its concentration in lead-zinc composite ores, with about 0.17 % Bi. While the concentration of bismuth in lead concentrates varies and ranges from 0.03-0.15 % Bi. Well, in addition to gross lead, bismuth is also concentrated in all other by-products of the process in which Pb is also concentrated. As a result of this, the recovery rate of bismuth in the case of bismuth enrichment is low and is around 65-78 % Bi. The rate of distribution of Bi in the products of the Pb refinery is as follows: 78 % of bismuth passes into refined bismuth; 6.62 % in Ca-Mg-Bi powder. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to intensify the debismuthization process by improving the recovery rate of Bi, where only the use of Ca as a reagent can reduce the content of Bi in Pb up to 0.04-0.005 %, while the use of only Mg as a reagent can to reduce the content of Bi in Pb up to 0.5 %. While the joint use of Ca and Mg, in a ratio of 1:2, can reduce the content of Bi in Pb to a value of 0.01 %. In cases where deep debismuthiation is required, then the amount of Sb in the molten lead is intervened and in this case the amount of bismuth in the lead is reduced to the values of 0.004 % Bi.
PSO-ACO based ANN Approach for Credit Card Fraud Detection
Authors: Sheokand Shuchita , Beniwal Sunita
Published: February 2025

Credit card fraud is a major problem for both consumers and institutions in the ever-changing financial environment of today. Credit card fraud detection is a significant challenge in financial security, and a novel approach is proposed to enhance its accuracy. This work intends to detect fraudulent transactions on credit cards by use of PSO along with ACO in combination. The Hybrid PSO-ACO based ANN model uses PSO and ACO to refine the training process, resulting in improved classification performance. PSO optimizes the network's epoch settings and batch processing, while ACO fine-tunes batch selections. Experiments on two credit card transaction datasets show that the Hybrid PSO-ACO based ANN outperforms conventional ANN models and other optimization-based ANN approaches in terms of accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. The proposed model improves generalizing to fresh data, reduces overfitting, and balances minority class data. This work highlights the potential of combining multiple optimization techniques to advance fraud detection capabilities and provides a robust framework for future research
A study on asset pricing in stock market based on Hopfield neural network
Authors: Sun Tansi
Published: February 2025

Nowadays, with globalisation and financial globalisation, stock markets are becoming more and more complex, which cannot be explained by classical financial analysis. In this paper, Hopfield neural network is used to describe the complex nonlinear and asymmetric financial system in detail, and a stock market prediction method is proposed. The specific results are as follows: Hopfield neural network is introduced, and the network structure, operation mode and convergence principle are described in detail. Finally, the performance of FNN is successfully simulated. On the basis of the simulation model, we used the Hopfield neural network based on FSK and applied it to the FSK based on RFE-GSWOA-Hopfield; the MAPE value, the RMSE value, and the MAE value of the model proposed in this paper reached the minimum values in several models, which were 29.206, 0.594,23.131, and the R2 reaches the maximum value of 0.952 in several models.In addition, the experiments also prove that the RFE-GSWOA-Hopfield model is better in prediction efficiency and optimisation accuracy.
EfficientNet-Based Architecture for Tomato Leaf Disease Prediction Using Transfer Learning in Precision Agriculture
Authors: Mishra Pragnyaban , Ponnana Sai Hemika , Siripurapu Kanaka Sarat , Tatipudi Hemavarun , Alluru Vaishnavi
Published: February 2025

Tomato cultivation is a significant field crop operation in the world
and a primary source of yield. Tomato plants are more susceptible to
many diseases, which impact yield and product quality. The detection of
disease by conventional methods, such as visual inspection, takes a long
time and is unreliable, thus resulting in a delay in management. This
study proposes a new method for disease detection of tomato leaves using
EfficientNet, a machine learning algorithm that will ensure accurate
results without significant computational slowdowns. It uses the
PlantVillage dataset, containing images of tomato leaves. Employing a
mix of transfer learning and data augmentation, a specialized
Convolutional Neural Network model - in this instance, EfficientNet -
has been created. The main aim of the model is to successfully identify
major diseases like Early Blight, Late Blight, and Septoria Leaf Spot
and provide farmers worldwide with a reliable automated system for early
diagnosis and treatment. By increasing disease detection, this research
reduces crop loss per pesticide applied, thereby achieving more
sustainable and precise farming and economic gain for local farmers. The
model is an EfficientNet architecture with batch normalization, dropout,
and dense layers to ensure optimal feature extraction and sorting into
11 disease classes—the model utilized transfer learning and adaptive
optimization algorithms. The model outputs a test accuracy of 98.37%
and an F1 Score of 0.9836, indicating that the model is efficient and
trustworthy in disease recognition. This performance is significant in
agricultural diagnosis. It reduces losses and promotes sustainable
agriculture.
Exploring the Interplay of Product Attributes, CEO Brand Image and Purchase Intention in the Cosmetic Industry: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Naseri Roszi Naszariah Nasni , Esa Maryam Mohd , Ibrahim Roslinawati , Jais Zurairah
Published: February 2025

The cosmetics industry is highly competitive, with consumer purchase intentions influenced by both tangible attributes, such as product quality, and intangible factors, such as CEO branding. This study explores the interplay between product attributes and CEO brand image, emphasizing the role of mediating factors such as perceived quality, brand image, and information search behavior. By utilizing the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Cue Utilization Theory (CUT), the research provides insights into how intrinsic (e.g., product features) and extrinsic (e.g., branding) cues shape consumer decisions. Case studies of successful Malaysian CEOs, including Naeemah Abdul Rahman of Nurraysa, highlight how personal branding aligned with ethical and cultural values drives loyalty and trust. The findings offer a comprehensive framework for understanding consumer behavior and provide actionable strategies for marketers to enhance engagement and differentiation in a saturated market. Practical implications include leveraging emerging technologies, such as augmented reality, to complement branding strategies and improve consumer experience. Future research should address regional and cultural nuances and explore the long-term impacts of CEO branding on customer loyalty and brand equity.
Older workers in the Baltic States over the pandemic year: share corona survey results
Authors:   Riga Stradins University, Rajevska Olga , Reine Agnese ,   Riga Stradins University, Baltmane Diana ,   Riga Stradins University, Gehtmane-Hofmane Ilona ,   Riga Stradins University
Published: February 2025

The study is based on the dataset collected within the framework of the Survey of Health, Ageing and
Retirement (SHARE), namely in two subsequent SHARE Corona Surveys via computer-assisted telephone interviews: in June-August 2020 and in June-August 2021. The survey is targeted specifically at collecting data on the living situation of people who are 50 years and older during the pandemic across Europe. The objective of the research is to analyse the change observed in the respondents between 2020 and 2021, how the continuing Covid-19 crisis influenced their work and employment, their retirement decisions, and what kind of financial support and from what sources they received due to the pandemic. The situation in Latvia is examined against the background of the other Baltic States as well as other European countries. Despite the effects of the Covid-19, the levels of employment among the 50+ population remain high and do not demonstrate a trend to decline. A considerable share of the study population in Latvia received some kind of additional financial support from the government helping to mitigate the financial cost of the crisis. As concerns the changes in working time among those who remained in employment, for the absolute majority of the Baltic participants there were no changes compared to the situation one year before, as well as to the place of work. Recent developments in the labour legislation in Latvia related to the creating of the legal framework for remote work.
Advantages and disadvantages of unregistered work in Poland
Authors:   The Mazovian State University in Plock, Szewczyk–Jarocka Mariola
Published: February 2025

The main goal of the present research is to define the most important advantages and disadvantages of unregistered work. The research was performed in 2021 with the use of quantitative method, CATI technique, on a group of respondents reaching 600 unregistered unemployed. The sample was representative in terms of gender, age and province. With reference to advantages of unregistered work, the respondents assigned the highest rates to the factors related to the source of additional or basic means of maintenance, followed by improvement of the financial condition of their households and reduction of poverty. As the greatest disadvantage of unregistered work, the respondents indicated complete lack of health protection and unfavourable working conditions.