bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of WHO SMART Guidelines-Digital Adaptation Kits in Pathfinder Countries in Africa: Processes and Early Lessons Learned
Authors: Muliokela Rosemary K , Banda Kuwani , Hussen Abdulaziz Mohammed , Malumo Sarai Bvulani , Kashoka Andrew , Mwiche Angel , Chiboma Innocent , Barreix Maria , Nyirenda Muyereka , Sithole Zvanaka , Ratanaprayul Natschja , Endehabtu Berhanu Fikadie , Telake Hanna Abayneh , Weldeab Adane , Probert William J M , Tunçalp Ӧzge , Maya Ernest , Woldetsadik Mulatu , Tilahun Binyam , Guure Chris , Senya Kafui , Say Lale , Tamrat Tigest
Published: November 2024

Background

The adoption of digital systems requires processes for quality assurance and uptake of standards to achieve universal health coverage. The World Health Organization developed the Digital Adaptation Kits (DAKs) within the SMART (Standards-based, Machine-readable, Adaptive, Requirements-based, and Testable) guidelines framework to support the uptake of standards and recommendations through digital systems. DAKs are a software-neutral mechanism for translating narrative guidelines to support the design of digital systems. However, a systematic process is needed to implement and ensure the impact of DAKs in country contexts.

Objective

This paper details the structured process and stepwise approach to customize the DAKs to the national program and digital context in 5 countries in Africa with diverse program guideline uptake and significant digital health investments: Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. All these countries have existing digital systems, which have the potential to be updated with the DAKs.

Methods

A DAK assessment tool was developed and used to assess guideline digitization readiness and opportunities for system uptake in each country. Multistakeholder teams were established to conduct the content review and alignment of the generic DAK to national guidelines and protocols through a series of stakeholder consultations, including stakeholder orientation, content review and alignment, content validation, and software update meetings.

Implementation (Results)

Country adaptation processes identified requirements for national-level contextualization and highlighted opportunities for refinement of DAKs. Quality assurance of the content during the content review and validation processes ensured alignment with national protocols. Adaptation processes also facilitated the adoption of the DAKs approach into national guidelines and strategic documents for sexual and reproductive health.

Conclusions

Country experiences offered early insights into the opportunities and benefits of a structured approach to digitalizing primary health care services. They also highlighted how this process can be continuously refined and sustained to enhance country-level impact.
Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Reducing Psychological Distress in Health Care Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zhang Lin , Huang Shuang , Liu Sha , Huang Yuanxiu , Chen Shan , Hu Jinsong , Xu Mingzhong
Published: November 2024

Background

Psychological distress is prevalent among health care professionals and can lead to poor-quality patient care. Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy (iACT) is a promising intervention for improving mental health due to its low cost and easy access. However, there is limited evidence of its effectiveness in reducing health care professionals’ psychological distress.

Objective

This study aims to examine the effects of iACT on psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression) among health care professionals in China.

Methods

From October 2022 to February 2023, a total of 108 health care professionals were recruited via WeChat and randomized into a 6-week iACT intervention program with therapist support (n=54) or waitlist control group (n=54). The intervention included 21 self-guided sessions combining teaching videos, mindfulness practices, and journal writing, followed by 7 live conferences to share experiences and discuss questions, all conducted via WeChat. Primary outcomes (stress, anxiety, and depression) and secondary outcomes (burnout and psychological flexibility) were collected using the Sojump platform, the most popular web-based survey platform in China. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare the outcomes between groups and assess the effects of group, time, and group-by-time interaction. Subgroup and sensitive analyses were performed to test the robustness of our findings across various groups.

Results

Among the 108 health care professionals, 68 (63%) completed the follow-up assessment at week 10, including 35 (64.8%) in the iACT group and 33 (61.1%) in the waitlist control group. Of the 54 participants in the iACT group, all attended at least 2 sessions, and 25 attended all 28 sessions. On average, participants attended 20 (71%) sessions. The iACT group showed significant improvement in the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales-21 total score (d=0.82, 95% CI 0.39-1.26), and the effects were sustained for 4 weeks after the intervention (d=1.08, 95% CI 0.57-1.59). Compared to the control group, the iACT group showed significantly lower scores in burnout at week 6 (d=1.42, 95% CI 0.95-1.89) and week 10 (d=1.52, 95% CI 0.98-2.06). The iACT group showed significantly higher psychological flexibility at week 6 (d=1.23, 95% CI 0.77-1.69) and week 10 (d=1.15, 95% CI 0.64-1.66).

Conclusions

The iACT effectively decreased health care professionals’ psychological distress and burnout and improved their psychological flexibility. Our findings provide implications and guidance for the development and broad implementation of iACT in health care settings to improve the mental health of health care professionals.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Register ChiCTR2400093584; https://tinyurl.com/38werwsk
A New Research Model for Artificial Intelligence–Based Well-Being Chatbot Engagement: Survey Study (Preprint)
Authors: Yang Yanrong , Tavares Jorge , Oliveira Tiago
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND

Artificial intelligence (AI)–based chatbots have emerged as potential tools to assist individuals in reducing anxiety and supporting well-being.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify the factors that impact individuals’ intention to engage and their engagement behavior with AI-based well-being chatbots by using a novel research model to enhance service levels, thereby improving user experience and mental health intervention effectiveness.

METHODS

We conducted a web-based questionnaire survey of adult users of well-being chatbots in China via social media. Our survey collected demographic data, as well as a range of measures to assess relevant theoretical factors. Finally, 256 valid responses were obtained. The newly applied model was validated through the partial least squares structural equation modeling approach.

RESULTS

The model explained 62.8% (R2) of the variance in intention to engage and 74% (R2) of the variance in engagement behavior. Affect (β=.201; P=.002), social factors (β=.184; P=.007), and compatibility (β=.149; P=.03) were statistically significant for the intention to engage. Habit (β=.154; P=.01), trust (β=.253; P<.001), and intention to engage (β=.464; P<.001) were statistically significant for engagement behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

The new extended model provides a theoretical basis for studying users’ AI-based chatbot engagement behavior. This study highlights practical points for developers of AI-based well-being chatbots. It also highlights the importance of AI-based well-being chatbots to create an emotional connection with the users.
Impact of mHealth-Augmented Social Support on Healthcare Utilization Among Patients with Diabetes: A Secondary Analysis of the TExT-MEDS + FANS Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Hazime Danielle , Raffi Liza , Burner Elizabeth
Published: November 2024

UNSTRUCTURED

The rising cost of unscheduled acute healthcare, particularly for emergency department (ED) visits, poses significant financial burdens, especially for patients with diabetes, with US ED costs reaching $19.3 million in 2022. This study explores the impact of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention with augmented social support on healthcare utilization among diabetes patients through a secondary analysis of the TExT-MEDS + FANS randomized controlled trial. The trial involved 173 participants randomized into mHealth-augmented social support (FANS) and traditional support (mailed pamphlet) groups. Results showed significant reductions in acute unscheduled care visits for both groups during and after the intervention, with the FANS group experiencing a reduction of 1.04 visits during the intervention and 1.10 visits post-intervention, while the control group had reductions of 1.47 and 1.53 visits, respectively. Clinic visits increased during the intervention phase but did not sustain post-intervention, and hospitalizations modestly decreased in both groups. Gender and supporter relationship differences were observed, with females supported by spouses in the active control group showing the largest decrease in unscheduled care visits. The findings suggest that mHealth interventions combined with social support can effectively manage diabetes and reduce healthcare costs, particularly for groups with limited access to care.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

RR2-10.1016/j.cct.2019.03.003
Evaluation of Three Cucurbitaceae Cultivars Resistant against Begomoviruses Based on Morphological Symptoms and Molecular Analysis
Authors: Subiastuti Aprilia Sufi , Huda Muhammad Syafi’atol , Daryono Budi Setiadi
Published: November 2024

Cucurbitaceae is a group of annual horticultural crops with high economic prospects and benefits. The Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada has developed several new cultivars within the Cucurbitaceae family, such as the melon cultivar 'Hikapel', watermelon 'Citra Jingga', and butternut squash 'Citra Laga'. However, development of these cultivars has been hindered by yellow disease, typically triggered by Begomovirus infection. This study aimed to determine the morphological symptoms of yellow disease, to detect Begomovirus infection using molecular approach, and assess resistance levels of the three Cucurbitaceae cultivars. The method involved observing morphological symptoms in plants and measuring plant height. The degree of symptom severity was then converted into a vulnerability index (VI). The symptomatic leaf samples were tested using Krusty and Homer primer to confirm the symptoms caused by Begomovirus. The PCR results were sequenced and analyzed using Maximum Likelihood method in MEGA 11. The results showed that symptoms included curling tip of leaves, yellow mosaic on the leaves, and stunted growth in some plants, which were suggested as Begomovirus infection. Based on the Vulnerability Index (VI), the watermelon cultivar 'Hikapel' was considered susceptible to Begomovirus infection (VI = 85%), while the yellow squash 'Citra Laga' was moderately susceptible (VI = 57.5%). However, the watermelon 'Citra Jingga' was considered moderately resistant to this infection (VI = 50%). The presence of DNA the Begomovirus at three species Cucurbitaceae were characterized by a 550 bp band. The 'Hikapel' melon and 'Citra Laga' butternut were infected with Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), while the ‘Citra Jingga’ watermelon were infected with Squash leaf curl Philippine virus (SLCuPV).
SYNERGY OF SCIENCE AND TRADITION: A NANOTECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN REVOLUTION IN NATURAL MEDICINE
Authors: MARIMUTHU ANITHA , SEENIVASAN RAAGUL , PACHIYAPPAN JEY KUMAR , NIZAM IMRANKHAN , GANESH GNK
Published: November 2024

Usage of plants to treat various ailments is part and parcel of our tradition and culture. Most marketed formulations are directly or indirectly derived from plants only. Herbal plants are potential therapeutic agents against most life-threatening diseases. Despite these advantages, herbal medicines fail clinical trials due to their low aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. To get the maximum benefits out of herbal plants, we must incorporate medicinal herbs in nanotechnology. The nanotechnology approach not only protects herbal medicines in the body but also aids in delivering the same to the site of action with sustained release. The formulation of herbal nanomedicines will be a breakthrough in treating life-threatening diseases and will also aid in the delivery of drugs that conventionally cannot cross the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). The review summarizes the recent advancements of the various nanocarriers loaded with herbal extracts/Phytoconstituents developed to treat various diseases, especially cancer. It also highlights the regulatory requirements for herbal nanomedicines.
SUBLIMATION-BASED CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY (SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 9 and 15) TO DEVELOP CURCUMIN NANOPARTICLES BY SOLVENT-FREE GREEN CHEMISTRY METHOD FOR THEIR ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY
Authors: VISHT SHARAD
Published: November 2024

Objective: This research aimed to develop a new, cost-effective, solvent/surfactant/supercritical carbon dioxide-free, sublimation-based method to prepare curcumin nanoparticles. The research objective was to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-3,9 and 15). The problem of poor absorption of curcumin is sorted out by micro or nanonization, solid dispersion, solid solution, β-cyclodextrin complexation, micelle formation, and solution-enhanced dispersion by supercritical carbon dioxide.
Methods: The curcumin, mixed with menthol, was allowed to melt at 29 °C and placed under vacuum for 6 H (h). The menthol sublimates and leaves the curcumin particles as residue. The residual curcumin particles were characterised, and stability studies were also performed.
Results: The curcumin nanoparticles were stable, in the nano-size range (10-300 nm); Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the presence of CH3 and CH2 bending, aromatic C=C and C=O stretching, aromatic CC and OH stretching, aliphatic C-H bending, aromatic-OH bending with both pure curcumin and curcumin nanoparticles, that no change in bonds and groups, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed the temperature (T) =162.03, 185.64 and peak maximum is 177.986 for pure curcumin while T=164.43, 185.68 and peak maximum is 177.784 for curcumin nanoparticles that indicated compatibility between curcumin and menthol. The curcumin nanoparticles showed improved solubility, dissolution, and antioxidant activity by calculating Inhibitory Concentration50 (IC50) value 114.51 and in vitro cytotoxicity (IC50=165.6±0.084 µg/ml) of curcumin nanoparticles against MCF-7, a human breast cancer cell line with estrogen, progesterone, and glucocorticoid receptors.
Conclusion: It concluded that the sublimation technique can used to prepare the nanoparticles of drugs or might be for thermo-labile drugs.
SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES OF FENUGREEK SEED EXTRACT IN A DERMATOLOGICAL BASE FOR ALOPECIA: AN IN VIVO STUDY
Authors: PRABHU ANANTH , KOLAND MARINA , D. JYOTHI , S. M. SINDHOOR
Published: November 2024

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the potential of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN) of Fenugreek Seed Extract (FSE) in a dermatological base for its hair growth activity in alopecia
Methods: The optimized SLN formulation of FSE was loaded into neutralized Carbopol 934 gel, and its hair growth efficacy was studied in Wistar rats in terms of hair density and length. Alopecia was induced in the rats by administering cyclophosphamide at a dose of 40 mg/kg for three days. The formulations were applied to the skin for twenty-one days following the induction of the disease. The hair growth in FSE-SLN gel-treated groups were compared with disease control and other treatment groups using qualitative and quantitative assessments.
Results: FSE-SLN gel reduced the hair growth completion time comparable to that of the standard (p<0.01). The increase in hair length was significantly (p<0.01) greater in FSE SLN groups compared to groups treated with conventional gels, oils, and marketed formulations, demonstrating the superior hair growth efficacy of the developed FSE SLN.
Conclusion: SLNs can enhance the penetration of extract into the skin (stratum corneum) compared to oil and gels, thereby increasing treatment efficiency, targeting the epidermis, and reducing systemic absorption and related side effects. Consequently, the developed nanoformulation can be a substitute for in vivo hair growth activity.
MUNTINGIA CALABURA SILVER NANOPARTICLES DETERIORATE OXIDATIVE IMPAIRMENT WITH POTENT ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY
Authors: AHMED SIDHRA SYED ZAMEER , KHADER SYED ZAMEER AHMED , VALLIAMMAL ELAYABARATHI MURUGESAN , ALI SUNFIYA RAFEEK , SENTHILKUMAR MOTHEES , VENKATACHALAM MOHANAPRIYA , SARAVANAN NILAVENDAN , SENTHILKUMARAN DEEPTHY
Published: November 2024

Objective: The current study exemplifies the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Muntingia calabura L. (Mc-AgNP’s) fruit extract utilizing a green approach and testing the efficacy of synthesized NP’s.
Methods: The green synthesize approach was used to synthesis Mc-AgNP’s followed by characterization using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Radical scavenging activity was assessed using DPPH, FRAP, and H202, followed by antibacterial activity.
Results: The characteristic features of synthesized Muntingia calabura silver nanoparticles (Mc-AgNP’s) were analyzed using FT-IR which particularizes different functional groups with a broadband at 3408 cm-1 representing hydroxyl (-OH) stretching a peak at 1593.27 cm-1 corresponds to C = O groups in amide whereas a dip at 1383 cm-1 represents C-N amine and C-O stretching of alcohol groups were found. The Crystallinity of synthesized Mc-AgNP’s exhibited face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure and the bio-reduction of the silver ions in solution was monitored by Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The FESEM analysis indicates that Mc-AgNP’s were dispersed in the solution using micrographs and the size ranged from 10 to 60 nm. The synthesized Mc-AgNP’s efficiently scavenged free radicals in a dose-dependent manner with 69% for DPPH, 59.9% for FRAP, and 64% for H202 respectively. Further, the synthesized Mc-AgNP’s demonstrated a potent antimicrobial agent against tested bacterial and fungal strains with a maximum zone of inhibition observed in S. aureus, K. pneumonia, and P. vulgaris with 14.6, 13.8, and 12.4 mm. Similarly, antifungal activity with Trichoderma harzianum demonstrated the highest zone with 18 mm followed by Aspergillus oryzae with 7 mm.
Conclusion: These results highlight the interesting potential of synthesized Mc-AgNP’s as an effective source of bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant and antibacterial activity.
PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY OF HY-FOLIC® AND FOLIC ACID IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS
Authors: NAFRIALDI NAFRIALDI , SUYATNA FRANSISCUS D.
Published: November 2024

Objective: HY-FOLIC® is the active form of Folic Acid (FA) produced by PT Simex Pharmaceutical Indonesia containing (6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). We evaluated the pharmacokinetic profiles of HY-FOLIC® versus FA after single oral administration in healthy volunteers.
Methods: A randomized, open-label, 2-way crossover, single-dose design was conducted on 12 healthy subjects with two steps. In the first step, 6 subjects were given 1100 mcg of HY-FOLIC®(1.3 μmol), and 6 subjects were given an equimolar dose of 600 mcg of FA (1.3 μmol) in a fasting condition. Blood samples were taken before, and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 h after administration of products for measurement of peak concentration (Cmax), the Area Under the Curve at t-time (AUCt) and infinite time (AUCinf). After a washout period of 14 d, the same procedure was repeated in which the first 6 subjects received FA, and the second 6 subjects received HY-FOLIC®. Pharmacokinetic data of 5-MTHF and Unmetabolized Folic Acid (UMFA) were compared with paired t-tests.
Results: Cmax of 5-MTHF (mean±SD) following administration of HY-FOLIC®and FA were 46.91+28.16 vs 22.61+15.73 nmol/l, respectively (p=0.000); the AUCt were 214.47+183.46 vs 112.93+112.11 h. mmol/l (p=0.001). Conversely, Cmax of UMFA were 9.49+7.89 vs 21.97+14.79 nmol/l (p=0.003); AUCt 33.29+39.34 vs 78.16+58.93 h. nmol/l (p=0.001).
Conclusion: HY-FOLIC®is much more bioavailable than FA as indicated by much higher Cmax and AUCt of the active form of 5-MTHF.
A NETWORK PHARMACOLOGY-BASED DRUG REPURPOSING STUDY OF LEVETIRACETAM UNCOVERS ITS INTERACTION WITH MULTI-DRUG TARGETS IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Authors: PANDEY NEERAJ , KARTHIK V. P. , SELVA PREETHA , HAZEENA PHILO
Published: November 2024

Objective: The current study utilized network pharmacology to examine how Levetiracetam interacts with specific drug targets associated with Parkinson's Disease (PD) treatment.
Methods: We used information from Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) studies and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) pathway analysis to create a network that depicts the relationships between Levetiracetam and PD targets. Further investigation involved PPI analysis, molecular docking, and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation studies, ultimately pinpointing five protein targets. Their participation in pathways such as Ribonucleic acid Polymerase II-specific Deoxyribonucleic acid binding Transcription Factor Binding (Gene Ontology [GO]:0061629), Axon (GO: 0030424), and Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential was emphasized by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment. Additionally, Dopamine Receptor D2 (DRD2), Solute Carrier Family 6 Member 3 (SLC6A3), Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (GSK3B), Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase 1 (PARP1) and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) were identified as protein targets through PPI and molecular docking analysis.
Results: The results of molecular docking showed that protein targets, SLC6A3, have highest binding affinity with Levetiracetam. The MD Simulation result of Levetiracetam-SLC6A3 docked complex represented the complex to be quite stable with few conformational changes in the SLC6A3 structure. DRD2, SLC6A3, GSK3B, PARP1, MPO were recognized as the likely protein targets of Levetiracetam for treating PD. SLC6A3 was considered as a target of Levetiracetam in PD.
Conclusion: Our study revealed the mechanism of Levetiracetam in the treatment of PD and can contribute to more effective treatment for the same. By identifying key protein targets, this research lays the groundwork for future studies that could further explore Levetiracetam’s efficacy.
OPTIMIZED SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES FOR ENHANCED ORAL BIOAVAILABILITY AND OSTEOGENIC EFFECT OF IPRIFLAVONE: FORMULATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND IN VITRO EVALUATION
Authors: V. ANOOP NARAYANAN , JOHN ANISH , P. R. SUMUKH , PRIYA SNEH , RAVIRAJ CHAITHRA , ASHTEKAR HARSHA
Published: November 2024

Objective: This study aimed to enhance the oral bioavailability of Ipriflavone (IP) and evaluate its osteogenic effect on human osteosarcoma cells (MG-63) by developing Ipriflavone-loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (IP-SLN).
Methods: IP-SLNs were prepared using a modified solvent evaporation method with probe sonication. Formulation optimization employed Central Composite Design (CCD) with independent variables, including lipid amount, surfactant concentration, and sonication time. Characterization was performed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). In vitro drug release and ex vivo permeation studies were conducted to assess drug release kinetics and bioavailability. Cytotoxicity, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity, and calcium deposition studies on MG-63 cells evaluated osteogenic effects.
Results: TEM images showed round particles with an average diameter of 43.24±3 nm, a zeta potential of-9.53 mV, and a drug entrapment efficiency of 76.53±1.84%. In vitro drug release from IP-SLN was 79.02% compared to 14.21% from IP after 48 h, following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model and first-order kinetics. Ex vivo permeation of IP-SLN was approximately 2-fold higher than IP dispersion. Cytotoxicity studies revealed no toxicity on MG-63 cells. ALP activity and calcium deposition studies indicated that IP-SLN stimulated osteoblast differentiation, increasing alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that IP-SLN increased the relative bioavailability by 515% compared to ipriflavone.
Conclusion: IP-SLN formulations significantly improved the oral bioavailability and osteogenic effects of ipriflavone on MG-63 cells, suggesting potential for novel therapeutic applications in osteoporosis treatment.
OPTIMIZATION OF LC-MS/MS METHOD FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF METFORMIN AND ROSIGLITAZONE IN HUMAN PLASMA WITH BOX-BEHNKEN DESIGN
Authors: KAUSER RUBINA , PADAVALA SUNIL KUMAR CHAITANYA , PALANIVEL VENKATESAN
Published: November 2024

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a robust Liquid Chromatography – Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methodology for the precise quantification of metformin and rosiglitazone in human plasma.
Methods: A Design of Experiments (DOE) framework was utilized, specifically employing a Box-Behnken experimental design, to optimize critical parameters such as Capillary voltage, Cone voltage, Desolvation temperature, and Collision energy. Sample preparation involved protein precipitation using acetonitrile, simplifying the procedure. Chromatography was performed with a mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile (60:40 V/V) to enhance sensitivity and reproducibility. Quantification was achieved through Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) of the transition’s m/z 130.1 → m/z 60.1 for metformin, m/z 358.2 → m/z 134.9 for rosiglitazone, and m/z 206.3 → m/z 59.9 for phenformin. The methodology was validated according to regulatory guidelines.
Results: The developed methodology demonstrated selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability. The calibration curve showed linearity over the concentration range of 5 ng/ml to 1000 ng/ml for metformin and 1.5 ng/ml to 300 ng/ml for rosiglitazone. Accuracy and precision were within acceptable limits across calibration and quality control standards. Assessments of extraction recovery and matrix effects confirmed the robustness of the extraction procedure, with negligible interference from plasma components. Stability studies indicated that the method maintained acceptable limits for metformin and rosiglitazone concentrations under various storage and handling conditions.
Conclusion: The validated Liquid Chromatography – Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methodology provides a reliable and accurate platform for the quantification of metformin and rosiglitazone in human plasma. This method shows potential applications in pharmacokinetic studies and clinical research, ensuring consistent performance in routine analysis.
OPTIMIZATION OF PROCESS PARAMETERS FOR ENHANCING THE SKIN PERMEATION EFFICIENCY OF NISOLDIPINE LOADED ULTRA DEFORMABLE VESICLES IN TRANSDERMAL PATCHES
Authors: REDDY D. MAHESWARA , M. MOTHILAL
Published: November 2024

Objective: The study aimed to address the limitations of oral delivery and enhance the bioavailability of nisoldipine (NSD) through the development of transferosomal transdermal patches containing ultra-deformable transferosomes.
Methods: NSD, known for its low oral bioavailability and adverse effects, was encapsulated in transferosomes using a thin film hydration method. 17 formulations were made using Box Behnken Design, varying Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), span-80, and stirring speed, and were evaluated for vesicle size, Polydispersity Index (PDI), and Entrapment Efficiency (EE%). The optimal formulation, selected based on these parameters, was combined into Transdermal Patches (TPs). The patches underwent extensive testing for physicochemical properties, in vitro and ex-vivo permeation, and skin irritancy.
Results: The results showed transferosomes with Vesicle Sizes (VS) ranging from 124±2.25 to 400±1.55 nm and EE% from 52.88±0.23 to 90.01±1.58%, with Zeta Potentials (ZP) between-48 to-20 mV. The patch thickness (0.66±0.02 mm) and weight per square inch (382.1±1.69 mg) showed consistent manufacturing, while the Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVT) (1.54±0.01g/m²/24h), low moisture content (1.07±0.01%), and regulated moisture absorption (3.78±0.01%) maintained formulation stability. In vitro and ex-vivo permeation indicated superior drug permeation for transferosomal patches (NP) compared to plain nisoldipine patches (NP-N), with permeation directly proportional to PEG-400 concentration. Additionally, the transferosomal patches were found to be free from skin irritation.
Conclusion: The optimized Niosoldipine transferosomal patch (NP-3) composition displays good folding endurance (FE) 97.67±0.47, required for transdermal systems, and successfully allows drug permeation (DP) at 86.39±2.64% in a short timescale. Hence, the study concludes that transferosomal patches of NSD offer a promising approach for effective transdermal delivery, potentially improving hypertension management by providing a controlled and prolonged drug release.
T-KAER: Transparency-enhanced Knowledge-Augmented Entity Resolution Framework
Authors: Li Lan , Fang Liri , Liu Yiren , Torvik Vetle I. , Ludäscher Bertram
Published: November 2024

Entity resolution (ER) is the process of determining whether two representations refer to the same real-world entity and plays a crucial role in data curation and data cleaning. Recent studies have introduced the KAER framework, aiming to improve pre-trained language models by augmenting external knowledge. However, identifying and documenting the external knowledge that is being augmented and understanding its contribution to the model's predictions have received little to no attention in the research community. This paper addresses this gap by introducing T-KAER, the Transparency-enhanced Knowledge-Augmented Entity Resolution framework.
To enhance transparency, three Transparency-related Questions (T-Qs) have been proposed: T-Q(1): What is the experimental process for matching results based on data inputs? T-Q(2): Which semantic information does KAER augment in the raw data inputs? T-Q(3): Which semantic information of the augmented data inputs influences the predictions? To address the T-Qs, T-KAER is designed to improve transparency by documenting the entity resolution processes in log files.
In experiments, a citation dataset is used to demonstrate the transparency components of T-KAER. This demonstration showcases how T-KAER facilitates error analysis from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives, providing evidence on `"what" semantic information is augmented and ``"why" the augmented knowledge influences predictions differently.
Adaptive Learning Systems: Harnessing AI to Personalize Educational Outcomes
Authors: Gupta Tarang
Published: November 2024

This paper explores the transformative power ofAdaptive Learning Systems powered by Artificial Intelligence(ALS) to personalize educational outcomes for diverse learners in a way that adaptive learning approaches have the advantage of meeting the needs of the student’s learning style and pace, which traditional education methods have failed to do. It uses data analytics and machine learning algorithms in real time to tailor content and assessment to the specific needs of each learner. In our work, we break down mechanisms by which AI enables timely feedback, changes learning paths, and raises engagement that makes for a more effective and inclusive learningenvironment. Based on case studies and empirical analysis, the contribution of this research will show the added values and challenges AI adaptive learning solutions bring to different educational settings. The findings put so much importance on continuous assessment, hence integrating and harnessing pedagogical best practices for the maximization of AI effect on personal learning.
Deep Learning for Personalized Healthcare Recommendations
Authors: Pant Sakshi
Published: November 2024

Personalized healthcare refers to an evolving paradigm of providing appropriate medical treatments based on the particularities of the individual patient, where evidence-based management is enhanced with the use of technologies. Deep learning (DL) is placed within the umbrella of efficient systems known as artificial intelligence (AI), it assists in performing data processing with more accuracy, and making suggestions based on the unique health information of the health record e.g. EHRs, images and genetic data among others. This article gives an overview of deep learning techniques in developing personalized healthcare recommendations, including the major achieved algorithms, data sources and existing issues. and future work in exploring the ways deep learning can be harnessed for the development of personalized healthcare systems are presented.
La ética y su importancia en la implementación de políticas públicas del sector defensa colombiano
Authors: Obando Sánchez Alexander , Delgado Salazar Sergio
Published: November 2024

Este artículo es el producto del trabajo monográfico titulado La ética y su importancia en la implementación de políticas públicas del sector defensa colombiano, laureado en el programa de Maestría en Seguridad Pública (MASEP) de la Escuela de Policía “Miguel Antonio Lleras Pizarro”. En este contexto, se estructuró una estrategia pedagógica para aportar al desarrollo de la ética en la formulación e implementación de políticas públicas en el sector defensa colombiano, con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de vida en los territorios e impactar positivamente en la seguridad y el respeto por la vida de sus residentes. Desde el punto de vista metodológico, esta investigación se llevó a cabo utilizando una estructura documental descriptiva, acompañada del método mixto. Con lo cual se hizo necesario abordar los escenarios con características homogéneas y no homogéneas. En ambas, se recolectó información valiosa con el debido rigor; para ello, se diseñaron y se aplicaron encuestas y entrevistas a personal especializado en este tema. Finalmente, gracias al trabajo de campo y al ejercicio de referenciación profesional, se logró definir una estrategia aplicativa y evaluativa desde el contexto educativo, para optimizar el comportamiento ético en los funcionarios públicos encargados de la formulación de políticas públicas en el sector defensa.
Recreación por computadora de una precipitación con enganches entre barandales
Authors: Torres Zúñiga Vicente
Published: November 2024

Se presentan los detalles metodológicos de una simulación numérica por computadora que modela la caída de una persona, quien sufre varias colisiones durante su descenso. En una de estas colisiones, su brazo se engancha con parte de la estructura del edificio desde el cual cae. El cuerpo termina su movimiento en el interior de un pasillo, no en la parte más baja del edificio. Tales condiciones hacen singular al caso. Este tipo de herramientas son útiles para evaluar hipótesis en investigaciones forenses, por lo que requieren seguir etapas bien definidas en la construcción del escenario y el establecimiento de condiciones iniciales. Después, se deben evaluar diferentes intentos de simulación hasta alcanzar los datos de entrada que permitan obtener la recreación más coherente con las evidencias, especialmente en la producción de lesiones graves, como fracturas. Además, es fundamental evaluar la estabilidad de la simulación ante pequeñas variaciones en los parámetros iniciales, así como analizar los valores de desplazamiento, velocidad y aceleración durante el incidente, ya que estos datos se pueden asociar con momentos específicos de la producción de las evidencias. Por último, para evaluar el software se describe una prueba simple de simulación que muestra la concordancia entre los resultados numéricos y la teoría de la física de cuerpos en caída
Deserción de policías en formación: un estudio sobre causas de abandono a la vida policial
Authors: Sánchez Almeyda Sandra Noemí , Mandujano Montoya Anayely , Vera Zamora Priscila Alejandra
Published: November 2024

El presente artículo se centra en el análisis de la deserción de policías en formación, enfocándose en las posibles causas y en las estrategias que inciden en su retención para la vida policial. Se aplicó un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo-comparativo, no experimental de corte transversal, con una muestra aleatoria no probabilística de “n” cadetes que decidieron retirarse de su formación inicial, utilizando como instrumento una encuesta. Los resultados más relevantes que motivaron a abandonar su formación fue la familia y la adaptación a la vida policial, con lo que podemos comprender las causas subyacentes de la deserción y con ello proponer la implementación de medidas efectivas de retención para los policías en formación.
Conceptualisations of peace, its benefits, and strategies related to political orientation among Colombians
Authors: Pineda-Marín Claudia , Alfonso Murcia Diego , Camargo Martínez Laura , López Martínez José , Mendoza Medina Nicolás , Peña Quena , Trujillo Santiago María , Taylor Laura
Published: November 2024

Political orientation has been shown to affect the opinions of ordinary people when it comes to socio-political issues. In Colombia, 74% of citizens indicated that they did not identify with any political party; however, opinions against and in favour of peace and its processes are characterised by a dynamic of constant tension among citizens, similar to that among the country’s political parties: left, right, and centre. The purpose of the present study was to identify conceptualisations about peace, its benefits, and the strategies to achieve it after the peace agreement signed in 2016 between the government and the FARC guerrilla based on the political orientation reported by the participants. Textual data were analysed using KH-Coder software to identify co-occurrence networks of peace conceptualisations, benefits, and strategies. A total of 346 men and women participated in the study. Results show differences among the conceptualisations of peace and the peacebuilding process among supporters of each political orientation, including apolitical participants, although right-wing participants were the most differentiated. Results are discussed.
Recommended Elements of a Musculoskeletal Course for Fourth-Year Medical Students: A Modified Delphi Consensus
Authors: Knox Jordan , Carek Stephen M. , Cheerla Rajalakshmi , Cochella Susan , DeCastro Alexei O. , Deck Jason W. , DeStefano Sherilyn , Hartmark-Hill Jennifer , Petrizzi Michael , Sepdeham Dan , Sulapas Irvin , Wilcox James , Wise Matthew W. , Wu Velyn
Published: November 2024

Background and Objectives: A recognized gap exists between primary care physicians’ training in musculoskeletal (MSK) medicine and the burden of MSK complaints in primary care. Family medicine interns often lack adequate baseline MSK physical exam skills, which prompted a proposal to introduce a fourth-year preceptorship to reinforce MSK education. The aim of this study was to prioritize the most important elements to include in this new clinical rotation.
Methods: We employed a three-round, modified Delphi method to derive consensus. Eleven panelists with experience and expertise in MSK training, medical education, or both generated a list of 118 elements. Each panelist then ranked each element by level of importance, and we reviewed the results. The ranking process was repeated two more times with a goal of achieving consensus.
Results: Seventy-seven curricular elements (topics, skills, experiences) achieved consensus recommendation by being ranked either “fairly important” or “very important” for inclusion in the curriculum. Twenty-eight items were unanimously ranked “very important,” 42 received a mix of “very important” and “fairly important” rankings, and seven received unanimous ranking of “fairly important.” Three items were unanimously ranked “neither important nor unimportant.”
Conclusions: Longitudinal repetition of physical exam skills, reinforcement of relevant anatomy, and incorporation of specific frameworks for approaching MSK care are important components. Physical examination of the shoulder, knee, back, and hip are especially meaningful clinically.
The Estate and the City in I.A. Bunin’s Story “Mitya’s Love”
Authors:   Beihang University Institute of Foreign Languages, Wang Yue
Published: November 2024

Due to its moral and aesthetic foundations, love, and attachment to the homeland, the Russian estate literature has become a truly original phenomenon in the history of culture. Having found himself in new historical conditions marked by the fading and destruction of the once harmonious traditional world, I.A. Bunin continued the traditions of the 19th century “estate text”. Bunin’s story “Mitya’s Love” (1924) preserved the “city — estate” opposition characteristic of the “estate text” of the 19th – early 20th century; however, the writer introduced some changes to the estate plot and image system to reflect his view on historical events of the 20th century in Russia and the world and his reassessment of spiritual and moral values during emigration. These changes reveal a two-fold attitude of the emigrant writer to the phenomenon of manor: on the one hand, it is his nostalgia for the lost traditional “estate culture”; on the other hand, it is his understanding of the spiritual insufficiency and even extinction of the “estate culture” occurred in historical storms of the 20th century. Employing the perspective of a researcher guided by the values of Chinese culture, the article studies the dialectic of “estate” and “city” characters in Bunin’s “Mitya’s Love” — one of his first novels written during emigration.
The Sacred Vessel: Estates of the 20th Сentury and World History
Authors:   A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bogdanova Olga A.
Published: November 2024

The preface reveals the conceptual basis of the collective monograph “Estate and Dacha in the Literature of the Soviet Era: Losses and Gains” — the 8th issue of the scientific book series “Russian Estate in a Global Context”, as well as provides an overview and analysis of the topics and issues of its sections and the articles contained therein. Promising directions for further work within the framework of the series are outlined. With the whole set of articles, the collective monograph should answer the questions posed in its title: losses in the representations of the literary estate can be considered the departure of classical and Silver age traditions with their authenticity and personal experience of estate life; gains — the development of new modifications of the “estate topos” (estate-museum, collective writer’s estate, estate-sanatorium, etc.), the emergence and development of new themes (estate as Kitezh, estate as a refuge, estate and war, estate and forest, etc.), as well as the transformation of the “dacha topos” into a promising, widely branched cultural strategy and the formation of an original “dacha myth” on its basis.
“Winning Back Astraea’s Golden Age!”: оn the History of English Estate Allotments (19th – 21st Centuries)
Authors:   A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Veligorsky Georgy A.
Published: November 2024

The article diachronically traces the history of the English concept “allotment”: from the first use of this word in literature (the end of the 17th century), from the emergence of allotments as such at the beginning of the 19th century (“collective gardens” of the socialist projects of Fergus O’Conner and William Corbet) and their role in the country resurgence after the agrarian crisis and the “hungry forties”; to the formation of the concept of “allotment”, its understanding by British lawyers and philosophers; through the Victorian era (the gardening “boom” of the late 19th century, reflected in the work of many authors: the essays by Richard Jefferies (1870–1880s) and Kenneth Grahame (1890s), in the ballad “Thirty Bob a Week” (1891) by John Davidson, in Thomas Hardy’s novel “Tess of D’ Urbervilles” (1891), in Arthur Macken’s story “A Fragment of Life” (1903), etc.) — and to the “garden revival” of the 1930s, the “victory gardens” of the Second World War (1940s) and the continuing popularity of gardening to this day, which is reflected in thematic radio programs, television series, etc.
Ivo Andrić’s Dacha — the Birth of the “Hierotopos”
Authors:   University of Montenegro, Andrić Neda
Published: November 2024

In our paper, we have analysed the role of the dacha in the life and work of Ivo Andrić (1892–1975), a classic of Yugoslav literature and Nobel Prize winner (1961). In the spring, summer and early autumn of 1963–1968, the dacha, with a plot of land on the Adriatic coast, became the centre of his domestic and creative life and a source of inspiration. The “sunny” story “A Moment in Topla” (1963), on the one hand, conveys the atmosphere of the resort area of Topla in Montenegro, where the writer’s summer house was located. On the other hand, due to its rich history and beautiful nature, the space of Topla acquires the quality of heterotopia. In addition, Andrić’s ego-documents contain a testimony about how the writer reflected on his literary hero while standing on the balcony of his villa-house in Topla and looking at the chapel where the ruler of Montenegro in 1830–1851 and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Hills, Petar II Petrovic Njegos (1813–1851), was buried. Thanks to his intuitive insight, Andrić recognizes the process of maturation and development of poetic thought under the Mediterranean sun, not only in himself, but also in his hero. Being in the heterotopic space of Topla, like the prototype of his literary hero, the writer constructs the entire artistic world of the story as a hierotopia, i.e. a sacred space. Thus, the topicality of the dacha in the Yugoslav writer’s story is successively transformed into a heterotopia and then into a hierotopos.
Garden-estate in Persian Poetry (“My Garden” by Mehdi Akhavan Sales)
Authors:   The University of Tehran, Marzieh Yahyapour , Janolah Karimi-Motahhar ,   The University of Tehran
Published: November 2024

Poetry, carpet weaving and miniatures are outstanding arts of Iranian (Persian) culture, known all over the world. One of the main representations of these three arts is the Persian gardens. These are closed areas where plants, water and buildings are combined together. The Pasargad Garden, built by order of the Great Cyrus in 546 year BC, is considered a model for all subsequent Persian gardens. The garden occupies a special place in both classical and modern Persian poetry. The image of the garden has two meanings — material and spiritual (epistemological). Modern Iranian poets (Parvin Etesmi, Sohrab Sepehri, Mehdi Akhavan Sales, Saeh, Shafi Kadkani, etc.) use the natural garden to express mystical, romantic, socio-historical and political ideas. In the poem “My Garden” by M.A. Sales (1957), the description and symbolism of the autumn garden serves to comprehend the 1953 coup d’état in Iran. In this work, the garden is a symbol of the country and its intellectual community, the gardener is the government, the clouds are the public suffocation, the fallen leaves are the poverty and hardship of the Iranian people, the wind and rain are the unfortunate events, the spring is the hope for improvement, the destroyed fruits are the dead young men, and the yellow-horse is the army. The leafless Garden of Sales reflects the poet’s sociopolitical point of view on the situation in Iran in the 1950s. However, the patriotic poet loves his garden and continues to see its beauty. In Persian poetry of the 20th century, even a ruined garden traditionally remains a symbol of motherland and a beautiful undying life.