bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
American Sign Language Translation to Display the Text (Subtitles) using a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Ramadhan Muhammad Fajar , Samsuryadi Samsuryadi , Primanita Anggina
Published: December 2024

Sign language is a harmonious combination of hand gestures, postures, and facial expressions. One of the most used and also the most researched Sign Language is American Sign Language (ASL) because it is easier to implement and also more common to apply on a daily basic. More and more research related to American Sign Language aims to make it easier for the speech impaired to communicate with other normal people. Now, American Sign Language research is starting to refer to the vision of computers so that everyone in the world can easily understand American Sign Language through machine learning. Technology continues to develop sign language translation, especially American Sign Language using the Convolutional Neural Network. This study uses the Densenet201 and DenseNet201 PyTorch architectures to translate American Sign Language, then display the translation into written form on a monitor screen. There are 4 comparisons of data splits, namely 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:30. The results showed the best results on DenseNet201 PyTorch in the train-test dataset comparison of 70:30 with an accuracy of 0.99732, precision of 0.99737, recall (sensitivity) of 0.99732, specificity of 0.99990, F1-score of 0.99731, and error of 0.00268. The results of the translation of American Sign Language into written form were successfully carried out by performance evaluation using ROUGE-1 and ROUGE-L resulting in a precision of 0.14286, Recall (sensitivity) 0.14286, and F1-score.
Forecasting Poverty Ratios in Indonesia: A Time Series Modeling Approach
Authors: Hidayat Muhammad Fadlan , Citra Lovina Anabelle , Henryka Diva Nabila , Permai Syarifah Diana
Published: December 2024

Poverty is one of the main problems still faced by Indonesia today. To help find the right solution, an annual prediction of the poverty rate in Indonesia is needed. This study uses data on the 'Ratio of the Number of Poor People in Indonesia per year from 1998 to 2023' obtained from data.worldbank.org. The prediction methods used in this study include the Naïve Model, Double Moving Average, Double Exponential Smoothing, ARIMA, Time Series Regression, and Neural Network, with a total of 26 models. Of the 26 models, only 19 models passed the model comparison stage. Based on the evaluation results using the RMSE, MAE, MAPE, and MDAE metrics, it was concluded that the NNETAR Neural Network model showed the best performance among the six methods used to predict the poverty ratio in Indonesia.
Extract of Leaves (Terminalia catappa L.) to Improve Survival and Growth of Black Ghost Apteronotus albifrons
Authors: Nurhidayat Nurhidayat , Ajis Abdul , Nainggolan Armen , Murtado Akhamd , Prastowo Bambang Widyo , Hardi Esti Handayani , Fujaya Yushinta
Published: December 2024

This research aimed to determine the effect of Terminalia catappa extract on water quality, growth, and survival of black ghost fish (Apteronotus albifrons) juveniles. The container used is an aquarium measuring 30 x 20 x 21 cm with a water volume of 10 liters each. The test fish used came from farmers in Bogor. Fish were stocked at a stocking density of 4 fish/L with an average fish size of 2.89 cm. The maintenance medium was added with dry T. catappa leaves in different amounts as well as treatments, namely treatment 1 as control, treatment 2 with a dose of 1 g/L, treatment 3 with 2 g/L, and treatment 4 with a dose of 3 g/L each repeated 4 times. The type of feed used is tubifex worms with 2 administration times in the morning and evening ad libitum. The parameters observed were survival, growth (weight and length), and water quality. The results of the research show that the best medium for rearing black ghost fish seeds is the addition of 1 g/liter T catappa leaves. The highest survival was 31.25% while the lowest survival was in the control at 5%, the absolute length growth was 1.54 cm and the growth rate (weight) was 0.43 g. Survival is influenced by the hardness of the research media with a fairly large range of seed survival, the active substance given through T .catappa leaf extract can increase the growth and survival of Apteronotus albifrons.
Assessment of Controlled Spawning Practices and Female Broodstock Replacement on Reproductive and Production Metrics in Culture of Gourami (Osphronemus goramy)
Authors: Rifki Wibowo Angga , Sarida Munti , Yustiran Yudi
Published: December 2024

Gourami (Osphronemus goramy) is a freshwater fish species that has gained significant popularity among consumers due to its economic value and high nutritional content. However, various challenges in aquaculture have led to an imbalance in gurami production, influenced by factors such as low fecundity, fertilization rates, hatching success, and a limited spawning season that occurs only from February to July. Outside of this period, the spawning performance of gourami tends to decline. Consequently, it is essential to implement effective spawning manipulation techniques to enhance seed production in gurami aquaculture, particularly through controlled spawning methods that involve the replacement of female broodstock post-spawning to improve production outcomes. This study examines the production performance of controlled spawning (with broodstock replacement) versus uncontrolled spawning (without broodstock replacement) to fecundity, fertilization rates, hatching success, and the productivity of spawning containers. The research employs two treatments with three replications each: controlled and uncontrolled spawning. The findings indicate no significant differences (P>0.10) between controlled and unchecked spawning regarding fecundity, hatching success, fertilization rates, and spawning container productivity. Thus, it can be concluded that there are no significant differences in outcomes between the two treatments, suggesting that both methods can be effectively utilized.
Própolis e geoprópolis verde do semiárido do brasil: Caracterização química, origem botânica e atividade antioxidante
Authors:   , Ferreira Joselena Mendonça
Published: December 2024

Na região Nordeste do brasil, estudos que objetivam identificar os compostos presentes nas própolis tem se expandindo nos últimos anos. No entanto, até o presente momento, o conhecimento sobre própolis e geoprópolis da região de semiárido do Nordeste brasileiro é escasso. Para suprir essa necessidade, objetivou-se fazer uma investigação a respeito de um tipo de própolis e geoprópolis, ambos de coloração verde, produzidos nessa região. Foram coletadas amostras de própolis e de geoprópolis no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Também foram coletados folíolos jovens e maduros de jurema-preta (Mimosa tenuiflora), principal suspeita de ser fonte botânica dessas amostras. As amostras de própolis, geoprópolis e folíolos seguiram para análise em HPLS-DAD-MS/MS, onde foram quantificados e identificados os seus respectivos compostos fenólicos. Por fim, as amostras passaram por dois testes para identificação da origem botânica: 1) Comparação de compostos químicos presentes nos extratos dos folíolos de M. tenuiflora, a própolis e geoprópolis. 2) Comparação microscópica dos tecidos vegetais de M. tenuiflora com os encontrados nas amostras de própolis e geoprópolis. Na avaliação dos parâmetros básicos para comercialização, as amostras de própolis e geoprópolis obtiveram valores aceitáveis conforme a legislação vigente, apresentando alta atividade antioxidante. Estas possuíam níveis de flavonoides totais acima do comum para própolis brasileiras (117 e 98,5 g/kg-1, própolis e geoprópolis, respectivamente). Foram encontrados 18 compostos fenólicos nos extratos etanólicos de folíolos de M. tenuiflora e da própolis, na sua maioria flavonóis e chalconas. Desses, dez foram encontrados no extrato de geoprópolis verde, além de outros 6 compostos distintos. Na análise microscópica foram encontrados folíolos de M. tenuiflora, tanto na própolis como na geoprópolis. Também foi possível descrever algumas estruturas epidérmicas da planta e avaliar suas características particulares. Conclui-se que própolis e geoprópolis verdes do semiárido nordestino do Brasil possuem qualidade para comercialização, estando seus parâmetros dentro do indicado pela legislação, e que M. tenuiflora é a fonte botânica da própolis e geoprópolis verdes. Esse trabalho servirá como base para pesquisas futuras que visem a otimização da apicultura no semiárido brasileiro e preservação de espécies endêmicas importantes como M. tenuiflora
Herança dos teores de β-caroteno e sacarose em melão
Authors:   , Silva Juliana Maria Costa da
Published: December 2024

A melhoria da qualidade do melão é um dos objetivos principais de um programa de melhoramento genético. O conhecimento da herança do caráter auxilia o pesquisador na escolha da estratégia de melhoramento, dando maior segurança no processo seletivo e permitindo que os maiores valores genotípicos possam ser identificados e selecionados com economia de tempo e recursos. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar a herança do teor de β-caroteno, teor de sacarose e sólidos solúveis em melão. Foram avaliadas as gerações F1, F2, RC1, RC2 do cruzamento Védrantais x A-16 em blocos casualizados com três repetições. A linhagem A-16 (subsp. melo var. acidulus) tem mesocarpo branco, baixos teores de β-caroteno, sacarose e sólidos solúveis, ao passo que a linhagem Vedrantais (subsp. melo var. reticulatus) possui mesocarpo alaranjado e altos teores de β-caroteno, sacarose e sólidos solúveis. Foram estimados nove loci e uma dominância parcial envolvidos com o acúmulo de β-caroteno. As segregações nas gerações F2 e retrocruzamentos indicaram que o acúmulo de β-caroteno em melão é conferido por um gene de efeito maior com efeitos aditivos e de dominância associado aos poligenes com efeitos aditivos. Verificou-se que a sacarose é o principal fator que contabiliza a variabilidade genética e ambiental observada no teor de açúcar entre os genitores. Na herança do teor de sacarose, existe um gene de efeito maior com efeitos aditivos e de dominância associado aos poligenes com efeitos aditivos. A herança de sólidos solúveis envolve um gene maior com efeitos aditivos e de dominância associado aos poligenes com efeitos aditivos e a presença de epistasia
Clinical Pharmacology and Side Effects of Venetoclax in Hematologic Malignancies
Authors: Yan Yuting , Guo Yujiao , Wang Ziyi , He Wei , Zhu Yu , Zhao Xiaoli , Sun Luning , Wang Yongqing
Published: December 2024

:

Venetoclax is a first-in-class B-cell lymphoma/lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitor that induces apoptosis
in malignant cells through the inhibition of BCL-2. The clinical response to venetoclax exhibits heterogeneity,
and its sensitivity and resistance may be intricately linked to genetic expression. Pharmacokinetic studies
following doses of venetoclax (ranging from 100 to 1200mg) revealed a time to maximum observed plasma
concentration of 5-8 hours, with a maximum blood concentration of 1.58-3.89 μg/mL, and a 24-hour area under
the concentration-time curve of 12.7-62.8 μg·h/mL. Population-based pharmacokinetic investigations highlighted
that factors such as low-fat diet, race, and severe hepatic impairment play pivotal roles in influencing
venetoclax dose selection. Being a substrate for CYP3A4, P-glycoprotein, and breast cancer resistance protein,
venetoclax undergoes primary metabolism and clearance in the liver, displaying low accumulation in the
body.The significance of dose modifications (a 50% decrease with moderate and a 75% reduction with strong
CYP3A inhibitors) and a cautious two-hour interval when co-administered with P-glycoprotein inhibitors are
highlighted by insights from clinical medication interaction studies.

:

Moreover, an exposure-response relationship analysis indicates that venetoclax exposure significantly correlates
not only with overall survival and total response rate but also with the occurrence of ≥ 3-grade neutropenia.
In real-world studies, common or severe side effects of venetoclax include tumor lysis syndrome, myelosuppression,
nausea, diarrhea, constipation, infection, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and cardiac toxicity,
among others. In this review, we summarize the current clinical pharmacology studies and side effects of venetoclax,
which showed that the approved dosage of venetoclax is relatively wide, and the dosage for different
hematologic populations can be streamlined in the future.
A Mechanism-based Perspective on the Use of Flavonoids in the Treatment of Diabetes and its Complications
Authors: Pattanaik Sandesh Kumar , Anil Manisha Prajapati , Jena Sudipta , Rath Diptirani
Published: December 2024

Diabetes is a chronic, irreversible, non-infectious metabolic syndrome associated with
low insulin production by the pancreas or due to insulin resistance. The management landscape
for diabetes is swiftly evolving due to ongoing advancements. Conventional treatment approaches
have struggled to fully address the root causes of the disease while also carrying significant risks
of adverse effects. Flavonoids are an extensive class of phytonutrients present in grains, vegetables,
fruits, cocoa, tea, wine, and nuts. Many studies have reported that flavonoids have shown diversified
pharmacological activity in recent years. Thus, this review will give you an overview of
the significant anti-diabetic potential of promising flavonoids. Various search engines such as
PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and WoS have been explored by using the keywords “apigenin,”
“luteolin,” “naringenin,” “hesperidin,” “kaempferol,” “quercetin,” “myricetin” and “taxifolin”
with “anti-diabetic.” The anti-diabetic activity of flavonoids is attributed to various mechanisms,
including α glucosidase, α-amylase inhibitory effects, GLUT4 expression, antioxidant, and apoptosis.
However, their inadequate biopharmaceutical qualities make their effectiveness in clinical
translation constrained. This review aims to highlight plant-derived flavonoids through in-vitro, in-
-vivo, and clinical insights. Additionally, the review highlights the recent advancement in the drug
delivery system in diabetes to overcome the limitation of flavonoids.
Effect of hydrostatic thrust bearing oil pad structure on performance
Authors: Yang Xiaodong , liu shouguo , Wang Lutong , Liu Hongbo , Peng Jiakuan
Published: December 2024

Background:

The hydrostatic thrust bearing is a liquid lubrication technology based on
the principle of hydrostatic pressure, characterized by high load-carrying capacity, low friction, and
long lifespan. It has been widely applied in precision machinery and the spindles of high-speed,
high-precision equipment. The oil pad of the hydrostatic thrust bearing is a crucial component, and
its geometric structure significantly influences the bearing performance. During operation, the oil
film of the hydrostatic thrust bearing is subjected to high loads and temperatures. If the oil film does
not have sufficient strength, it can affect the normal operation of the bearing, leading to accidents.
The oil pad structure is a key factor affecting the strength of the oil film. Therefore, the rational design
of the oil pad structure is essential to ensure the performance of the hydrostatic bearing and
prolong its service life.

Objective:

This study aimed to summarize the impact of different oil pad structures on the performance
of hydrostatic thrust bearings, providing a basis for the future development of hydrostatic
thrust bearings.

Method:

A search for journals, patents, conferences, and papers related to hydrostatic thrust bearings
was conducted, and the impact of oil pad structures on hydrostatic thrust bearings was summarized
and analyzed.

Results:

Based on the research findings of numerous scholars, this study summarizes the impact of
oil pad structures on the performance of hydrostatic thrust bearings. It describes how the oil pad
shape, oil pocket shape, oil pocket depth, and microtextures affect the overall performance of thrust
bearings. The research methods employed are analyzed, and a concluding summary is provided regarding
the influence of bearing oil pad geometric structures on bearing performance.

Conclusion:

This paper provides guidance for the design and optimization of the oil pad in hydrostatic
thrust bearings. Finally, it outlines the future development trends of the oil pad in hydrostatic
thrust bearings and provides prospects for future development trends and key areas of focus for hydrostatic
thrust bearings.
Plant Species with Antimicrobial Effects and the Importance of a Standardization of Protocols for Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Nagpal Kajal , Rani Nidhi , Sharma Prerna , Verma Inderjeet , Dubey Abhilasha , Handa Uditi , Kansal Vanshika , Dhankar Sanchit
Published: December 2024

In modern times, microbial resistance is a global threat to health and development.
The misuse and inappropriate use of antimicrobials is the main cause of developing drugresistant
pathogens. It requires multiple areas in direction to attain sustainable advance goals. As
a result of microbial resistance, the necessity for costly medications and expenses are obstructed
worldwide. Due to rising attention in the research of new antimicrobial medicaments from a variety
of natural or synthetic sources to fight microbial resistance. Thus, natural antimicrobial
agents have been used to a great extent nowadays because plant-derived antimicrobial agents are
considered to be safer alternatives for health as compared to those synthetic antimicrobial agents.
Overall, the active ingredients, water, essential oils, and ethanolic extracts from selected plants
and the mixture of a variety of these natural extracts have been used for centuries, because they
possess antimicrobial activity which inhibits the growth of microbes. Natural plants as an antimicrobial
agent, like extracts of Curcuma longa L., Piper nigrum L., Vachellia leucophloea,
Eclipta prostrata, Ocimum sanctum L., Terminalia arjuna, Manihot esculenta Crantz, Lawsonia
inermis L., Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, Coriandrum sativum L.,
Carica papaya L., Cinnamomum tamala, and many others have been preferred and used for ages
because they are easily available worldwide. They are usually of low cost and have little or no
side effects. Several antimicrobial screening approaches like the disk-diffusion method, well diffusion
method, micro broth dilution assay, sterile disk method, and agar diffusion method are
generally cast off for measurement of reproducibility and standardization of these antimicrobial
agents. This review article is a comprehensive description of natural plants like Coriandrum sativum
L., Carica papaya L., Cinnamomum tamala, etc., containing those extracts used as antimicrobial
agents listed, and numerous in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods are reported.
These identified plant species and antimicrobial screening techniques hold the potential
for formulating these plants into antimicrobial drugs, warranting further study and exploration in
the field of medicine.
Personality and grocery hoarding during a pandemic
Authors: Roos John Magnus , Flodén Jonas , Woxenius Johan
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the relationship between personality traits and grocery hoarding. Data were obtained from a representative sample of the U.S. population (N = 1,149) through a web-based survey conducted during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Grocery hoarding was assessed as a dichotomous variable, capturing whether respondents stocked up on food or daily necessities beyond their usual purchases during the initial spread of Covid-19. Personality traits were measured using the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10). An independent t-test showed that individuals who engaged in grocery hoarding exhibited higher levels of Extraversion and Agreeableness compared to those who did not. Logistic regression analysis revealed that in the initial step, higher levels of Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Agreeableness significantly predicted grocery hoarding. However, after controlling for age, gender, and residential area, only Neuroticism and Agreeableness remained significant predictors, while Extraversion lost its effect. These findings suggest that grocery hoarding during the early stages of Covid-19 in the U.S. was associated with higher levels of Neuroticism and Agreeableness. The results align with some previous research but diverge from others, highlighting the need for further investigation into the role of personality traits in hoarding behaviors during crises.
Multi-Objective Optimization of MEMS-based Box Pattern Microheaters Using Response Surface Method
Authors: Setyawati Onny , Choiron Moch. Agus , Bangert Axel , Sandhagen Carl
Published: December 2024

We present a response surface method to evaluate multi-objective optimization for MEMS-based microheater design. Box pattern, the standard microheater shape, was selected in this study since it has a uniform temperature distribution compared to other patterns. The optimum parameters are used to obtain the maximum total current density and Joule heat.  Based on a hybrid of the Response Surface Method and Central Composited Design, the model simulation emerged with 25 sets of Design Experiments.  As expected, the voltage is proportional to the increased output temperature and Joule heat of the microheater. Material thermal conductivity, anchor length and thickness of the heating element are included as design variables for the optimization. The microheater thicknesses of 4.23 - 4.55 µm, length of 40 µm and thermal conductivity of materials of approximately between 52 to 66 Wm-1K-1 became the optimized results at 1 V input voltage to obtain a maximum Joule heat of 4.9x105 W/mm3 and total current density of 5.6x107 mA/mm2.
Aspek Pedagogik dan Konteks Materi Kimia dalam Pendidikan Kejuruan dan Teknik: Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Irawan Nisrina Zahira Putri , Anwar Sjaeful , Munawaroh Heli Siti Halimatul
Published: December 2024

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk: 1) Mengidentifikasi konteks materi kimia di pendidikan teknik dan kejuruan; 2) Menginvestigasi aspek pedagogik yang telah diterapkan pada pembelajaran kimia dalam pendidikan teknik dan kejuruan serta dampaknya terhadap kompetensi siswa/mahasiswa. Penelitian ini meninjau 33 artikel pada tahun 2020-2024 dari database Scopus dan Semantic Scholar. Temuan studi ini yaitu pendidikan teknik dan kejuruan paling banyak mengembangkan materi kimia yang berhubungan dengan konteks bahan bakar kendaraan bermotor, minyak bumi, dan pemanfaatan sel elektrokimia sebagai energi terbarukan. Pembelajaran berbasis TIK, STEM, dan pengembangan modul terbukti dapat meningkatkan penguasaan konsep kimia di pendidikan teknik dan kejuruan. Rekomendasi penelitian berikutnya adalah pengembangan konteks materi kimia yang dapat berdampkak terhadap keterampilan abad 21 seperti kreativitas, berpikir kritis, kolaborasi, pemecahan masalah, entrepreneurship, dan  metakognitif. Pengembangan tersebut dapat didukung dengan pendekatan STEM, Project-based Learning, Problem-based Learning, chemoentrepreneurship, etnokimia, serta media pembelajaran berbasis Artificial Intelligence atau Virtual Reality pada pembelajaran kimia di pendidikan kejuruan.
Assessing the impact of air quality on solar energy production
Authors:   College of Business and Economics, California State University, Los Angeles, USA, Sultan Vivian , Coleman D. J. ,   College of Business and Economics, California State University, Los Angeles, USA, Robles Erick ,   College of Business and Economics, California State University, Los Angeles, USA, Van Millen ,   College of Business and Economics, California State University, Los Angeles, USA
Published: December 2024

In studying fires and other natural disasters, air quality is often used to assess their severity. This study explores the relationship between air quality and solar energy production, focusing on how air pollutants affect solar output. We analyze four air quality indicators—ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂)—and their effects on photovoltaic performance using data analysis and geographic information systems. This research highlights the importance of understanding this connection to improve solar panel placement and efficiency. Hypothesis testing confirms a negative correlation between poor air quality and solar energy production.
Endoscopic treatment of obstructive ectopic ureterocele complexed with concomitant urolithiasis
Authors: Martov A. G. , Yarovoy S. K. , Tokhtiyev Z. T. , Dutov S. V. , Andronov A. S. , Adilkhanov M. M.
Published: December 2024

Ectopic ureterocele is a rare anomaly of the upper urinary tract, often accompanied by the growth of secondary stones caused by impaired urinary outflow. The article presents a clinical case, which shows the peculiarities of diagnosis and possibilities of surgery of this condition, including minimally invasive endoscopic interventions. Emphasis is placed on the consideration of different surgical approaches and their effectiveness in improving the quality of life of patients. Comparative analysis of different techniques shows that endoscopic correction, despite some limitations, remains the preferred option due to the low incidence of complications and rapid rehabilitation.
Testicular inguinal ectopia following hernia repair in children
Authors: Zolotukhin D. S. , Pavlova O. S. , Filatov I. A.
Published: December 2024

Introduction. Inguinal ectopic testis is a rare complication after inguinal hernia repair. In modern literature, there are few articles devoted to this problem.

Objective. To study the testicular elevation mechanisms after inguinal hernia surgery in children and methods to treat this complication.

Materials & methods. A cross-sectional retrospective analysis of medical records of male children who underwent inguinal plasty between January 2018 and December 2023 was performed at the Chelyabinsk Regional Children's Clinical Hospital. Those who underwent subsequent orchopexy for ipsilateral cryptorchidism were identified. Cryptorchidisms that were misdiagnosed were excluded.

Results. A total of 1140 boys with inguinal hernias were treated, of which 978 (86%) were operated on laparoscopically using the PIRS technique, and 162 (14%) underwent open hernia repair. In nine (0.7%) children, an ectopic testicle in the groin was detected after surgery. During orchiopexy, extensive adhesions and scars in the inguinal canal were found only in two cases after open plastic surgery. The processus vaginalis remained intact after laparoscopic repair and partially after open hernia repair.

Conclusion. Ectopic testicles in patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair can be successfully treated with orchiopexy performed through the inguinal approach.
Eliciting Preferences for the Uptake of Smoking Cessation Apps: Discrete Choice Experiment
Authors: Szinay Dorothy , Cameron Rory A , Jones Andy , Whitty Jennifer A , Chadborn Tim , Brown Jamie , Naughton Felix
Published: December 2024

Background

If the most evidence-based and effective smoking cessation apps are not selected by smokers wanting to quit, their potential to support cessation is limited.

Objective

This study sought to determine the attributes that influence smoking cessation app uptake and understand their relative importance to support future efforts to present evidence-based apps more effectively to maximize uptake.

Methods

Adult smokers from the United Kingdom were invited to participate in a discrete choice experiment. Participants made 12 choices between two hypothetical smoking cessation app alternatives, with five predefined attributes reflecting domains from the theoretical domains framework: (1) monthly price of the app (environmental resources), (2) credible source as app developer (social influence), (3) social proof as star rating (social influence), (4) app description type (beliefs about consequences), and (5) images shown (beliefs about consequences); or opting out (choosing neither app). Preferences and the relative importance of attributes were estimated using mixed logit modeling. Willingness to pay and predicted uptake of the most and least preferred app were also calculated.

Results

A total of 337 adult smokers completed the survey (n=168, 49.8% female; mean age 35, SD 11 years). Participants selected a smoking cessation app rather than opting out for 90% of the choices. Relative to other attributes, a 4.8-star user rating, representing social proof, was the strongest driver of app selection (mean preference parameter 2.27, SD 1.55; 95% CI 1.95-2.59). Participants preferred an app developed by health care–orientated trusted organization (credible source) over a hypothetical company (mean preference parameter 0.93, SD 1.23; 95% CI 0.72-1.15), with a logo and screenshots over logo only (mean preference parameter 0.39, SD 0.96; 95% CI 0.19-0.59), and with a lower monthly cost (mean preference parameter –0.38, SD 0.33; 95% CI –0.44 to –0.32). App description did not influence preferences. The uptake estimate for the best hypothetical app was 93% and for the worst, 3%. Participants were willing to pay a single payment of up to an additional US $6.96 (UK £5.49) for 4.8-star ratings, US $3.58 (UK £2.82) for 4-star ratings, and US $2.61(UK £2.06) for an app developed by a trusted organization.

Conclusions

On average, social proof appeared to be the most influential factor in app uptake, followed by credible source, one perceived as most likely to provide evidence-based apps. These attributes may support the selection of evidence-based apps.
Decomposition of Heart Failure Prevalence and Mortality Among Older Adults in the United States: Medicare-Based Partitioning Analysis
Authors: Yu Bin , Kravchenko Julia , Yashkin Arseniy , Akushevich Igor
Published: December 2024

Background

Heart failure (HF) is a challenging clinical and public health problem characterized by high prevalence and mortality among US older adults, along with a recent decline in HF prevalence and increase in mortality. The changes of prevalence can be decomposed into pre-existing disease prevalence, disease incidence, and respective survival, while the changes of mortality can be decomposed into mortality in the general population independent from HF, pre-existing HF prevalence, incidence, and respective survival. These epidemiological components may contribute differently to the changes in prevalence and mortality.

Objective

We aimed to investigate and compare the relative contributions of epidemiologic determinants in HF prevalence and mortality trends.

Methods

This study was a secondary data analysis of 5% of Medicare claims data for 1992‐2017 in the United States. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for older adults aged 65+ years as well as people with specific disabilities and end-stage renal disease. Age-adjusted prevalence and incidence-based mortality (IBM; all-cause mortality that occurred in patients with HF) were partitioned into their respective epidemiologic determinants using the partitioning analysis approach.

Results

The age-adjusted HF prevalence (1/100 person-years) increased from 11 in 1994 to 14.6 in 2005, followed by a decline to 12.6 in 2017, and the age-adjusted HF IBM (1/100,000) increased from 2220.8 in 1994 to 2563.7 in 2000, then declined to 2075.9 in 2016, followed by an increase to 2094.7 in 2017. The HF incidence (1/1000 person-years) declined from 29.4 in 1992 to 19.9 in 2017. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival trend showed declines in recent years. Partitioning of HF prevalence showed three phases: (1) decelerated increasing prevalence (1994‐2006), (2) accelerated declining prevalence (2007‐2014), and (3) decelerated declining prevalence (2015‐2017). During the whole period, the decreasing HF incidence contributed to the declines in prevalence, overpowering prevalence increases contributed from survival. Likewise, partitioning of HF IBM showed three phases: (1) decelerated increasing mortality (1994‐2001), (2) accelerated declining mortality (2002‐2012), and (3) decelerated declining mortality (2013‐2017). The decreasing HF incidence in 1994‐2017 and increasing survival in 2002‐2006 contributed to the declines in mortality, while the decreasing survival in 2007‐2017 contributed to the mortality increase.

Conclusions

Decade-long declines in HF prevalence and mortality mainly reflected decreasing incidence, while the most recent increase of mortality was predominantly due to the declining survival. If current trends persist, HF prevalence and mortality are forecasted to grow substantially in the next decade. Prevention strategies should continue the prevention of HF risk factors as well as improvement of treatment and management of HF after diagnosis.
Developing Assessments for Key Stakeholders in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease: Qualitative Pilot Study to Inform Designing of a Medical Education Toy
Authors: Barbazi Neda , Shin Ji Youn , Hiremath Gurumurthy , Lauff Carlye Anne
Published: December 2024

Background

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a birth defect of the heart that requires long-term care and often leads to additional health complications. Effective educational strategies are essential for improving health literacy and care outcomes. Despite affecting around 40,000 children annually in the United States, there is a gap in understanding children’s health literacy, parental educational burdens, and the efficiency of health care providers in delivering education.

Objective

This qualitative pilot study aims to develop tailored assessment tools to evaluate educational needs and burdens among children with CHD, their parents, and health care providers. These assessments will inform the design of medical education toys to enhance health management and outcomes for pediatric patients with CHD and key stakeholders.

Methods

Through stakeholder feedback from pediatric patients with CHD, parents, and health care providers, we developed three tailored assessments in two phases: (1) iterative development of the assessment tools and (2) pilot testing. In the first phase, we defined key concepts, conducted a literature review, and created initial drafts of the assessments. During the pilot-testing phase, 12 participants were recruited at the M Health Fairview Pediatric Specialty Clinic for Cardiology—Explorer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. We gathered feedback using qualitative methods, including cognitive interviews such as think-aloud techniques, verbal probing, and observations of nonverbal cues. The data were analyzed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each assessment item and areas for improvement.

Results

The 12 participants included children with CHD (n=5), parents (n=4), and health care providers (n=3). The results showed the feasibility and effectiveness of the tailored assessments. Participants showed high levels of engagement and found the assessment items relevant to their education needs. Iterative revisions based on participant feedback improved the assessments’ clarity, relevance, and engagement for all stakeholders, including children with CHD.

Conclusions

This pilot study emphasizes the importance of iterative assessment development, focusing on multistakeholder engagement. The insights gained from the development process will guide the creation of tailored assessments and inform the development of child-led educational interventions for pediatric populations with CHD.
Large Language Model's Advanced Reasoning Capabilities in Detecting Contraindications in Medical Exams (Preprint)
Authors: Yano Yuichiro , Ohashi Mizuki , Miyagami Taiju , Mori Hirotake , Nishizaki Yuji , Daida Hiroyuki , Naito Toshio
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

In medical practice, improving clinical reasoning and reducing diagnostic errors are essential. OpenAI introduced "OpenAI-o1" with enhanced capabilities for complex reasoning; however, it remains uncertain whether OpenAI-o1 can decrease diagnostic errors compared to the current model, GPT-4.

OBJECTIVE

We hypothesize that OpenAI-o1, compared to GPT-4, demonstrates greater proficiency in avoiding contraindicated options during the Japanese National Medical Licensing Examination (JNMLE), where candidates must avoid selecting any contraindicated options to pass.

METHODS

This study utilized questions from the JNMLE ranging from 2019 to 2024, specifically selecting those that included contraindications as potential answers. We administered 15 text-based questions to both GPT-4 and Open AI-o1 as follows.
Step 1: Each question was first submitted to either GPT-4 or Open AI-o1 in Japanese. The model was tasked with identifying the correct answer.
Step 2: The same question was presented to the model in Japanese. The model was instructed to select the contraindication instead of the correct answer.
Step 3: Steps 1 and 2 were repeated with the questions translated into English.

RESULTS

GPT-4 correctly answered 12 out of 15 questions (80%) and identified 11 contraindications (73%) in Japanese. In English, GPT-4 correctly answered 13 questions (87%) and identified 11 contraindications (73%). Conversely, Open AI-o1 correctly answered 15 questions (100%), and identified 13 contraindications in Japanese (87%).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to GPT-4, OpenAI-o1 demonstrated superior accuracy and the selection of contraindicated options in the JNMLE, particularly when using English. Further research is needed to explore whether these models can contribute to reducing medical diagnostic errors.
DiscHPO: Generative Models and Sentence Transformers for the Recognition and Normalisation of Continuous and Discontinuous Phenotype Mentions (Preprint)
Authors: Alhassan Areej , Schlegel Viktor , Aloud Monira , Batista-Navarro Riza , Nenadic Goran
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Extracting genetic phenotype mentions from clinical reports and normalising them to standardised concepts within the HPO ontology are essential for consistent interpretation and representation of genetic conditions. This is particularly important in fields such as dysmorphology and plays a key role in advancing personalised healthcare. However, modern clinical Named Entity Recognition (NER) methods face challenges in accurately identifying discontinuous mentions (i.e., entity spans that are interrupted by unrelated words) which can be found in these clinical reports.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to develop a system that can accurately extract and normalise genetic phenotypes, specifically from physical examination reports related to dysmorphology assessment. These mentions appear in both continuous and discontinuous lexical forms, with a focus on addressing challenging disjoint (discontinuous) entity spans.

METHODS

We introduce DiscHPO, a two-phase pipeline consisting of (1) a sequence-to-sequence NER model for span extraction, and (2) an entity normaliser that employs a Sentence Transformer bi-encoder for candidate generation and a cross-encoder re-ranker for selecting the best candidate as the normalised concept. This system was tested as part of our participation in Track 3 of the BioCreative VIII shared task.

RESULTS

For overall performance on the test set, the top-performing model for entity normalisation achieved an F1 score of 0.7229, while the best span extraction model reached an F1 score of 0.6647. Both scores surpassed those of two baseline models using the same dataset, indicating superior efficacy in handling both continuous and discontinuous spans. Approximately 14% of entity mentions in the dataset are disjoint spans. On the validation set, we were able to demonstrate our system's ability to recognise these mentions, with the model achieving an F1 score of 0.6235 for exact match on discontinuous spans only.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that exact extraction of entity spans may not always be necessary for successful normalisation. Partial mention matches can be sufficient as long as they capture the essential concept information, supporting the system’s utility in clinical downstream tasks.
Synthesis of Activated Carbon from Dragon Fruit Peel for Adsorption of Methyl Blue
Authors: Tran Thi Ngoc Diem , Tran Thi Tuu , Hoang Bich Ngoc , Lam Van Tan , Ngo Thi Cam Quyen
Published: December 2024

In this study, activated carbon from dragon fruit peel was synthesized and applied for its ability to adsorb organic pigments in water. The results obtained from the SEM and FTIR analyzes revealed the presence of the characteristic functional groups of activated carbon. The adsorption capacity of synthetic activated carbon was evaluated against methylene blue dye. This study also evaluated factors affecting the adsorption process, including time, content, temperature, concentration, and solution pH. The optimal adsorption conditions were recorded at pH 6, concentration 95 mg/L, time 43 min, and temperature 30 °C. At optimal adsorption conditions, the adsorption capacity predicted from the model is said to be 54.12 mg/g with an efficiency of 27.5%. The experimental data of the study were evaluated using adsorption kinetic models and adsorption isotherm models of the material. The results showed that the activated carbon material from dragon fruit peel is a potential material in the application for adsorbing pollutant dyes in wastewater.
Removal of para-Phenylenediamine (PPD) Dye from Its Aqueous Solution by Adsorption Using the Activated Carbon Nanoparticles
Authors: Bdewi Shabaa Fayyad , Hussein Hanaa Hassan , Azeez Shireen Abdulmohsin
Published: December 2024

This study focused on the development of an efficient preparation method of activated carbon for the removal of para-phenylenediamine (PPD) dye in an aqueous solution. Walnut shells, a readily accessible biomass source in northern Iraq, were processed into activated carbon (AC). Several techniques, such as FTIR, XRD, and SEM, were applied to describe and study the surface of AC. According to XRD analysis, all the reflection peaks with the relative intensities of various planes indicate that the obtained particle size was around 7.63 nm. The influences of contact time, adsorbent, and other variables (the thermodynamic parameters for the influence of temperature) were calculated after studying the dosage and initial concentration. The effects of the change in the acidity functions and the increasing temperature were also studied. The results found that the best adsorption occurred in 120 min, with a 0.1 g adsorbent substance weight and pH 5. The adsorption rate was at its best at a temperature of 318 K. The best-recorded adsorption rate was obtained when applying the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, and the adsorption processes were of a physical nature.
Synthesis and Characterization of Aluminosilicate Catalysts from Volcano Mud for Biofuel Production with Different Feedstocks
Authors: Hartati Hartati , A'yuni Qurrota , Dewi Nita Safira , Firda Putri Bintang Dea , Izzah Adiba Naila , Prasetyoko Didik , Harmami Harmami , Ahmad Shahrul Nizam
Published: December 2024

The increasing awareness of sustainable development goals has led to the intensive development of biofuel as a substitute for fossil fuels. This study investigates the potency of volcano mud (VM) as the precursor in synthesizing aluminosilicate catalysts for biofuel production. Three catalysts were synthesized, A3, A3T, and A5, in a manner to investigate the effect of tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) addition and hydrothermal time on the crystallinity, Si/Al ratio, and textural properties of the catalysts. The catalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts was evaluated in two different qualities of feedstock, i.e., oleic acid (OA) and waste cooking oil (WCO). It is found that A5 which is synthesized with longer hydrothermal of 5 h has desirable properties, a high mesoporous surface area of 159 m2/g, and a high acidity of 0.263 mmol/g. Catalyst A5 is proven to have similarly high catalytic activity in both WCO and OA feedstock, achieving a liquid yield of 93% with FAME selectivity of 95% for WCO and 95% liquid yield and FAME selectivity of 99% for OA feedstock. These results suggest that A5 is a versatile catalyst in biofuel production from either high or low-quality feedstocks.
Identifikasi Kalus Embriogenik pada Tanaman Kakao (Theobroma cacao L.) Klon Sulawesi 01
Authors: Duri Rijal Daivu , Salsabila Hilda Mutiara , Mumtaz Rahmanda , Rahmawati Rahmawati
Published: December 2024

Perbanyakan tanaman kakao (Theobroma cacao L.) di Indonesia masih sering dilakukan secara konvensional, seperti okulasi untuk mendapatkan bibit tanaman. Cara ini memiliki banyak kelemahan, diantaranya membutuhkan areal yang luas, tenaga kerja yang banyak, dan bibit yang dihasilkan relatif beragam. Berdasarkan hal tersebut, maka perlu dilakukan penelitian untuk mendapatkan bibit kakao dengan cara non konvensional yang lebih efektif. Cara tersebut dapat dilakukan melalui kultur jaringan. Pada prosesnya kultur jaringan memiliki tahapan yang panjang. Salah satu tahapan awal yang menunjang keberhasilan dalam kultur jaringan adalah induksi kalus. Tahapan ini dilakukan untuk mendapatkan potensi kalus embriogenik yang baik. Adapun tujuan dalam penelitian adalah melakukan identifikasi spesifik terhadap kalus embriogenik asal daun muda dan kuncup bunga kakao klon Sulawesi 01. Metode yang digunakan adalah identifikasi spesifik menggunakan mikroskop stereo Olympus. Kalus yang diidentifikasi merupakan hasil dari proses induksi kalus asal eksplan kuncup bunga dan daun muda kakao klon Sulawesi 01. Variabel pengamatan terdiri dari sifat, tekstur, dan warna kalus. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kuncup bunga kakao lebih cepat mengalami perkembangan kalus dibandingkan daun muda kakao, dibuktikan dengan adanya fase heart. Struktur remah, warna putih dan coklat kehitaman menunjukkan kalus embriogenik yang direkomendasikan.
Tanggap Pertumbuhan dan Pengakumulasian Metabolit Sekunder pada Tumbuhan Heliofitik Karamunting (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) terhadap Paparan Ultraviolet
Authors: Idris Muhammad , Putri Shintiya Rahmadhani , Suwirmen Suwirmen
Published: December 2024

Cahaya matahari mengandung sinar ultraviolet (UV) yang dapat menembus lapisan ozon, UV-A dan sebagian kecil UV-B, yang berpengaruh signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan tanaman. Tumbuhan di daerah tropis umumnya terpapar intensitas cahaya tinggi, termasuk UV. Karamunting (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) merupakan tumbuhan heliofit yang diperkirakan telah adaptif terhadap paparan UV. Penelitian ini dirancang untuk melihat pengaruh paparan UV dilingkungan terhadap pertumbuhan dan akumulasi metabolit sekunder pada anakan karamunting. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di kampus Universitas Andalas, Padang pada ketinggian sekitar 255 mdpl selama dua bulan (April-Juni, 2022). Metode eksperimental digunakan untuk menganalisis perbandingan respon antara anakan karamunting tidak terpapar dan terpapar UV. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tidak adanya perbedaan signifikan (uji t-test, p < 0,05) antara tumbuhan tidak terpapar dengan terpapar UV pada parameter pertambahan tinggi, jumlah daun, luas daun dan kandungan klorofil. Hasil analisis regresi terhadap tinggi anakan dan pertambahan tinggi selama perlakuan menunjukkan bahwa usia anakan yang digunakan sebagai sampel mempengaruhi respon terhadap paparan UV. Hasil analisis metabolit sekunder memperlihatkan bahwa terjadi peningkatan kandungan antosianin yang signifikan pada anakan karamunting yang terpapar UV namun tidak untuk kandungan flavonoid. Berdasarkan hal tersebut, pertumbuhan anakan karamunting secara umum tidak terpengaruh oleh paparan UV.