bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facile Photochemical Synthesis and Characterization of Highly Luminescent Gold Nanoparticles as Versatile Probes for Bioimaging Applications
Authors: Yang Lulu , Yan Feihong , Zhu Shengcang , Liu Helin , Wang Jianhai , Wang Lijun , Hong Yuankai , Fu Limin , Zhang Jianping , Chen Xia , Song Xiaojing , Zhang Weibo , Han Rongcheng , Jiang Yuqiang , Sha Yinlin , Liu Zhiyong
Published: April 2024

Luminescent gold nanoparticles (L-AuNPs) with sizes larger than 2 nm have attracted significant interest as a novel type of nanomaterial, particularly in the field of biomedical imaging, owing to their distinctive optical properties and excellent biocompatibility. Nevertheless, the prevalent method for synthesizing these L-AuNPs is thermal reduction, and there remains room for enhancing their photoluminescence (PL) emission efficiency. Herein, we report a facile photochemical route for the preparation of highly L-AuNPs (L-AuNP@HTT) coated with 2-n-hexylthio-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-thiol (HTT). These L-AuNP@HTT possess a diameter of 3.19 nm and exhibit exceptional optical properties, including a high quantum yield (φ ~12%), an extremely long luminescence lifetime (~1 μs), a symmetric PL profile, as well as a narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM ≤ 49 nm). Furthermore, they display an unusually large two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections (σ) of up to 8.0 × 104 GM (1 GM = 10-50 cm4 s photon-1). After encapsulation in a polymer matrix (namely p-AuNPs), the TPA cross-sections could be further enhanced to 1.1 × 108 GM per particle, and these prepared p-AuNPs show high photostability and efficient mitochondrial targeting. With these p-AuNPs, high-quality mitochondrial-targeted two-photon excited luminescence (TPEL) imaging, deep tissue time-gated TPEL imaging, and in vivo computed tomography (CT) imaging have been successfully achieved. These results pave the way for the facile synthesis of highly luminescent gold nanoparticles for a wide range of bioimaging applications.
Synthesis of Y zeolite via acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate
Authors: Zhou Bosen , Zhao Yinghao , Lai Zhengbo , Zhou Hualan , Zhu Jing , Wang ShengKang , Zhao Yibo
Published: April 2024

The siliceous precursor was hydrolyzed from tetraethylsilicic acid (TEOS) under acidic conditions, then sodium aluminate and sodium hydroxide were added, and Y zeolite was obtained by hydrothermal crystallization under alkaline conditions. The key synthesis parameters, such as reactant molar ratios, crystallization temperature and time were changed to optimize the synthesis conditions. The obtained products were characterized by XRD, SEM, N2 adsorption and ICP elemental analysis. The well-crystallized Y zeolite was successfully synthesized by hydrolysis of TEOS catalyzed by sulfuric acid at low crystallization temperature 85℃ which has a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio（SAR）of 5.55.
Navigating Latency Hurdles: An In-Depth Examination of a Cloud-Powered GNSS Real-Time Positioning Application on Mobile Devices
Authors: Olcina Jorge Hernández , Julián Ana Anquela , Furones Ángel Martín
Published: April 2024

A growing dependence on real-time positioning apps for navigation, safety, and location-based services necessitates a deep understanding of latency challenges within cloud-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) solutions. This study analyses a GNSS real-time positioning app on smartphones that utilizes cloud computing for positioning data delivery. The study investigates and quantifies diverse latency contributors throughout the system architecture, including GNSS signal acquisition, data transmission, cloud processing, and result dissemination. Controlled experiments and real-world scenarios are employed to assess the influence of network conditions, device capabilities, and cloud server load on overall positioning latency. Findings highlight system bottlenecks and their relative contributions to latency. Additionally, practical recommendations are presented for developers and cloud service providers to mitigate these challenges and guarantee an optimal user experience for real-time positioning applications. This study not only elucidates the complex interplay of factors affecting GNSS app latency, but also paves the way for future advancements in cloud-based positioning solutions, ensuring the accuracy and timeliness critical for safety-critical and emerging applications.
Associated Risk Factors of Human Papillomavirus infection and Cervical Dysplasia among Women in Kaduna State Nigeria
Authors: ADEJO Daniel Stephen , AMINU Maryam , ELLA Elijah Ekah , Oguntayo Adekunle O , Murtala Abubakar
Published: April 2024

Cervical dysplasia (CD) is precancerous condition in which healthy cells on the cervix undergo some abnormal changes. The abnormal cells are not cancerous, but can develop into cancer if not discovered early and treated. About 250,000 to 1 million women in the U.S. get diagnosed with CD each year. The main cause of CD is human papillomavirus virus (HPV) which spreads through sexual contact. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV causes more than 9 out of 10 cervical cancers. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors for HPV and CD among apparently healthy women in Kaduna State, Nigeria. This is a cross – sectional study involved five hundred and fifteen consented women of reproductive age across the three Senatorial zones of Kaduna State between September 2019 and March 2022. Using structured questionnaires which sought information on their socio-demographic characteristics, and lifestyle behavior including sexual history, the cervical smears were taken using the Liquid Base Cytology technique for detecting HPV using Polymerase Chain Reaction and the studied by a cytologist adopting the Bethesda methods. The results revealed the prevalence of HPV and cervical dysplasia in the study population to be 11.8% and 6.4% respectively. The main risk factor for HPV infection was age (P=0.043). Risk factors for CD include age (P= 0.001), Socio economic class (P=0.009), and alcohol consumption (P =0.0049). Parity of more than four is a risk factors for both HPV infection (P= 0.023) and CD (P= 0.025).The results were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Cross‑tabulation was used to explore statistical associations between categorical variables. Variables were summarized using frequency distribution, means, proportions, and findings were presented in tables and pie charts. Chi‑square statistic was used to assess the association between categorical variables. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. The prevalence of HPV and CD in asymptomatic women among the study population is 11.8% and 6.4% respectively. Risk factors for HPV infection and CD were found to be significant in this study were parity of more than 4 (P=0.023) and age (P= 0.01). Other risk factors studied include level of education, marital status, types of marriage use of hormonal contraceptives, menarche alcohol consumption and smoking but were not statistically significant in this study.
Anthelmintic efficacy and phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract of the discarded Schumannianthus dichotomus stem- a waste product of the local handicraft industry of Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India
Authors: Gupta Manjil , Saha Rachita , Saha Subrata , Kar Pradip Kumar
Published: April 2024

Purpose:This study aims to explore the anthelmintic potential of the ethanolic extract derived from the discarded stem ofSchumannianthus dichotomuson the cestodeRaillietinaspp. Additionally, phytochemical screening of the extracts seeks to elucidate the presence of bioactive compounds responsible for the observed anthelmintic activity.Methods:Raillietinaspp., the model parasite, was collected from the intestine of freshly slaughtered fowl and treated with different doses of ethanolic extract and fractions ofSchumannianthus dichotomusfor motility assays to determine the most efficacious dose. Changes in the ultrastructure of the worms were investigated through TEM and SEM. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytochemicals in the crude extract as well as GCMS analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction were also done.Results:The worms showed dose dependent reduction in motility and survival. The most efficacious dose and fraction were determined to be 20 mg/ml and ethyl acetate fraction respectively. Changes in tegument and internal structures were evidenced by SEM and TEM observations. The crude extract was found rich in alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids. GCMS analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction identified five major compounds out of which Phthalic acid, di(2-propylpentyl) ester may be the major bioactive component responsible for the anthelmintic activity.Conclusion:Our study firmly establishes the anthelmintic potential of the waste part ofSchumannianthus dichotomusand prospects its valorisation.
Acute Augmentations to Psychological Therapies in Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Pennesi Jamie-Lee , Johnson Catherine , Radunz Marcela , Wade Tracey D
Published: April 2024

Purpose of Review: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the use and efficacy of acute augmentation therapies in eating disorders. We were interested to understand the range of augmentations used and whether augmentation made a psychological therapy for eating disorders more effective.
Recent Findings: A meta-analysis addressing this topic across psychological disorders found augmentation significantly improved psychological therapies with strongest findings for augmentations targeting biological mechanisms. The meta-analysis, however, only included one paper examining people with eating disorders.
Summary: Our systematic review identified 29 studies, with a subset of 17 randomised trials (N = 1179, 95.9% female) included in the meta-analysis. We found a significant effect of acute augmentations to psychological therapy on eating disorder outcomes (Hedges’ g = 0.16, 95% CI: [0.04, 0.29]). Acute augmentation looks to be a promising approach, but more studies are required to identify specific augmentations for different groups.
Disentangling the taxonomy of Parides burchellanus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) and related taxa
Authors: Freitas André , Brevignon Christian R. , Silva-Brandão Karina Lucas
Published: April 2024

With eight described taxa, the “panthonus clade” of Parides Hübner, [1819] has been the subject of some recent taxonomic rearrangements, including the number of species that composed this clade. Based on new molecular data, including sequences of the type species of the two putative species of this group, namely Parides burchellanus (Westwood, 1872) and P. panthonus panthonus (Cramer, 1780), a new phylogenetic hypothesis is presented to this clade. The obtained phylogeny recovered the “panthonus clade” monophyletic and divided in two sub-clades. Based on this tree and genetic distances, the “panthonus clade” is composed by two species: 1) P. burchellanus, which has no recognized subspecies, and 2) P. panthonus (Cramer, 1780), with seven described subspecies. The present study provided significant contributions towards the systematics of the “panthonus clade”. As such, this marks an important first step towards supporting future studies of the ecology, biogeography, and species conservation within this clade.
Synthesis and evaluation of tannin-thiosemicarbazide-formaldehyde resin for selective adsorption of silver ion from aqueous solutions
Authors: Sun Xubing , Yin Shiyu , You Yaohui
Published: April 2024

In order to anchor chelating groups with nitrogen and sulfur atoms on tannin, a novel adsorbent (Tannin-thiosemicarbazide-formaldehyde resin) was prepared through Mannich reaction by using blank wattle tannin, thiosemicarbazide and formaldehyde as raw materials. And the adsorption behavior of Ag+ from aqueous solution on the resin was evaluated in batch adsorption experiments. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR) and elemental analyzer were applied to verify the successful immobilization. The surface morphology, thermal stability and pore structure of the resin were also characterized. The results showed that the adsorption isotherm of Ag+ on the resin was described well by the Freundlich model. The Ag+ adsorption equilibrium achieved within 180 min and the kinetic data were fitted better by the Pseudo-second-order kinetic equation in comparison with the Pseudo-first-order and Intraparticle diffusion equations. The adsorption capacity increased first and then trended to be stable with the increase of pH ranging from 1.0 to 7.0 and the resin exhibited high selectivity toward Ag+ in relation to Pb2+, Cd2+, Ni2+ and Ca2+. After three cycles of regeneration and reuse, the adsorption capacity was 1.68mmol/g (84.0% of removal efficiency). Based on the experimental results and various characterization instruments, the adsorption mechanism of Ag+ on the resin was attributed to inner-sphere complexation and chelation between Ag+ and multi-electron-rich atoms ( N, O, and S), in which S atom played the most important role.
Pattern and predictive factors of occult contralateral central lymph node metastases in unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma with ipsilateral clinical lymph node metastasis
Authors: Liu Chunhao , Zhao Hao , Lu Ying , Xia Yu , Liu Ziwen , Chen Ge , Liu Yuewu , Liu Shuzhou , Gao Luying , Li Xiaoyi
Published: April 2024

Background
No significant difference in disease-specific survival and recurrence-free survival exists between papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients with high-risk features subjected to lobectomy and thyroidectomy. However, it is unclear which type of patients with unilateral PTC combined with ipsilateral clinical involved lymph nodes (cN1) can receive a less aggressive treatment.
Methods
We collected the medical records of 631 patients diagnosed with unilateral PTC and ipsilateral cN1. These patients initially underwent total thyroidectomy and bilateral central lymph node dissection (LND), with or without lateral LND. We conducted an analysis to investigate the associations between contralateral occult central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) and clinicopathologic factors.
Results
The proportion of contralateral occult CLNM was 38.9%. age ≤ 45 years, tumor diameter > 1 cm, obesity, and involvement of lymph node regions ≥ 2 were independent risk factors for contralateral occult CLNM. Multifocality and ipsilateral neck high-volume lymph node metastases were independent risk factors among the postoperative pathological factors. A predicting model was developed to quantify the risk of each factor, which revealed that patients without any of the risk factors mentioned above had a 20–30% probability of contralateral occult CLNM, whereas the probability was greater than 60% when all factors were present.
Conclusion
Although the rate of contralateral occult CLNM was not low in patients with unilateral PTC combined with ipsilateral cN1, the scope of surgery could be reduced for non-obese patients with over 45 years old, tumor diameter ≤ 1 cm, and only one preoperative lymph node region involved.
Lasmiditan Ameliorates Serotonergic Itch in Mice: Possible Involvement of 5-HT1F Receptors
Authors: Afrooghe Arya , Ahmadi Elham , Babaei Mohammadreza , Soltani Zahra Ebrahim , Elahi Mohammad , Shayan Maryam , Jafari Razieh Mohammad , Dehpour Ahmad-Reza
Published: April 2024

Purpose
Previously, some allergic conditions involving pruritus have been linked to migraine, raising the possibility that migraine and itching may be governed by similar underlying mechanisms. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of lasmiditan, a highly selective agonist of the 5-Hydroxytriptamin 1F receptor (5-HT1FR) and a recently approved medication for the treatment of migraine headaches, in ameliorating serotonergic itching.
Methods
Eight animals were randomly assigned to each of the study groups: (1) “Sham”: The sham group was given intradermal injections of normal saline (2) “Ctrl”: The control group was injected with intradermal doses of 5-HT, which was used to induce itching. (3) “Las 0.3”, “Las 1”, and “Las 3” groups: injected with 5-HT as well as intraperitoneal lasmiditan at different dose levels (0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg, respectively). scratching behavior was recorded for 60 minutes, and the skin tissue of three mice was sampled at the end of the behavioral experiment to assess the levels of TLR-4, IL-31, 5-HT1FR, CGRP & TRPV4.
Results
In the present study, we found that Lasmiditan when administered at 1mg/kg effectively reduced serotonin-induced itching compared to the “Ctrl” group (P < 0.0001). Following the administration of Lasmiditan (1mg/kg), the expression levels of the 5-HT2A receptor significantly increased (P < 0.01). Further, the levels of TLR-4, IL-31, CGRP & TRPV4 were substantially reduced upon the administration of Lasmiditan (1mg/kg).
Conclusions
We found that Lasmiditan is effective in reducing serotonergic itch in mice through its interaction with the 5-HT1F receptor in the skin tissue of mice.
The impact of fetal gender on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in twin gestation
Authors: Eliner Or , Schreiber Hanoch , Cohen Gal , Biron-Shental Tal , Kovo Michal
Published: April 2024

Objective: This study aimed to examine the influence of fetal gender on obstetric outcomes in twins based on their location in the uterus.
Study design: Retrospective study. Maternal and obstetrics outcomes were compared among three groups: male-male, female-female, and male-female groups. Comparison of neonatal outcomes was performed between four groups: male A-male B, male A-female B, and female A-male B, female A-female B groups.
Results: A total of 1073 twin gestations were included, comprising 288 male-male, 288 female-female, and 497 male-female groups. Higher rates for NICU admission were observed when fetus A was male compared to female. Adverse composite neonatal outcome was more common in the male-male group, compared to female-male group, and compared to female-female group.
Conclusion: Twin gestation with first twin male tends to have worse neonatal outcome compared to those with a first twin female. The presence of a male co-twin increases the risk of adverse outcome.
Trend and variability analysis of rainfall at Jaldhaka River Basin in the Himalayan Foreland, India
Authors: Das Mantu , Saha Snehasish
Published: April 2024

Understanding the mechanics of future climate and land use requires an understanding of hydrological consequences, which include changes in soil usage. The study's analysis of rainfall data from 13 monitoring stations spread over the Jaldhaka River Basin on monthly, seasonal and annual time periods revealed the substantial temporal pattern. Using data from 1901 to 2022 (122 years) from thirteen IMD gridded stations spread over the Jaldhaka River Basin in India, the temporal variation and trends of the annual, seasonal and monthly rainfall distribution at the Himalayan Foreland were investigated. The nonparametric Mann-Kendal (MK) & modified Mann-Kendal (MMK) along with Sen’s non-parametric estimator of slope and Buishand U test were applied to detect trends and step change analysis, respectively. Three distinct time series' autocorrelation coefficients (ACCs) were computed at a one-time lag and assessed at the 95% significance level in order to apply the MMK test. Significant positive and negative trends have been noticed in the monthly, seasonal, and yearly rainfall time series in all 13 IMD gridded stations in and around the Indian Jaldhaka River Basin (JRB), according to the analysis's findings. In the ArcGIS 10.8 environment, the Thiessen polygon (TP) method was used to interpolate the spatial variation of the monthly, seasonal, and yearly rainfall time series data. In the Jaldhaka River Basin, rainfall patterns and variability study, together with accompanying maps, would be helpful to local stakeholders in organising the effective use of water resources.
Spatiotemporal Expression Patterns of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Receptors in Rat Testis and Epididymis throughout Postnatal Development
Authors: ÖZBEK Mehmet , BEYAZ Feyzullah , HİTİT Mustafa , ÖZTOP Mustafa , KARACA Harun , ERGÜN Emel , CABİR Ahmet , ERGÜN Levent
Published: April 2024

VEGF signaling has a crucial role in regulating the differentiation and proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells, as well as controlling vascular permeability in the epididymis. VEGF primarily exert their effects by binding to VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3. The objective of this work was to assess the expression of VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 in the rat testis and epididymis during postnatal development using immunohistochemical and Western blotting techniques. The presence of VEGF was exclusively observed in specialized germ cells subsequent to the elongated spermatid stage in the mature phase. VEGF expression was observed in Leydig cells at all phases of postnatal development, but only in mature Sertoli cells throughout the postpubertal and mature periods. Leydig cells demonstrated positive immunostaining for both VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, while Sertoli cells showed no positivity for either receptor. VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 expression was not observed in germ cells throughout the neonatal and prepubertal phases. VEGFR-1 expression was only present in germ cells at the elongated spermatid stage within the seminiferous tubules during the postpubertal and mature periods. Conversely, VEGFR-2 was detected in both elongated spermatids and spermatogonia. Different levels of VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 expression were found in different parts of the epididymis. This study reports a differential expression pattern of VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 in the testis and epididymis during postnatal development. Puberty appears to have an essential impact on overall expression profiles of these proteins. More studies are required to better understand the functions of VEGF and its receptors in male reproductive physiology.
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response Among Patients with Locally Advanced Breast Cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Mulu Desta , assefa Mathewos , Kantelhardt Eva J. , Jemal Ahmedin , Kalayu Mebrahtu , Alemayehu Mussie
Published: April 2024

Background: Breast cancer is the most common diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females in Ethiopia and in many parts of the world. In sub-Saharan African countries including Ethiopia, a high proportion of breast cancer patients present with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. LABC is primarily treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before surgery. There is, however no data on response rate and resectability of LABC after NACT in Ethiopia.
Methods: A retrospective study was applied to assess response and resectability of locally advanced breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Among 141 breast cancer patients evaluated by breast surgeons and oncologists at a breast multidisciplinary team (MDT) clinic in Tikur Anbessa Hospital from September 2017 to August 2019, 63 patients were excluded because their tumors were resectable without down staging. Of these 78 patients with unresectable tumors, 27 patients were excluded from the study because they received <4 cycles of NACT or were lost to follow-up, leaving 51 patients for the final analysis. Patients were given either 4 cycles of NACT with doxorubicin (60mg/m2) + cyclophosphamide (600mg/m2) (AC) or 8 cycles of (4 cycles of AC + 4 cycles of paclitaxel (175mg/m2)) (AC – T) every 3 weeks. After chemotherapy patients were reevaluated at MDT for modified radical mastectomy. Demographic and clinical data were collected from patient charts and analyzed using SPSS 25 software.
Results: Among the 51 patients with LABC who received NACT, eleven patients (21.6 %) had complete clinical response (cCR), 31 patients (60.8 %) had partial clinical response (cPR), 3 patients (5.9 %) had stable disease (SD), and 6 patients (11.8 %) had progressive disease (PD). Forty-one patients (80.4 %) underwent mastectomy, and margin status was negative in 23 patients (56.1 %), positive in 16 patients (39 %) and unknown in 2 patients (4.9 %). Only 4 patients (9.8 %) had complete pathologic response (pCR) after NACT. Patients who received AC – T (NACT) had slightly significant overall clinical response rate (p = 0.099) and cCR (p = 0.037) compared to patients who received AC NACT.
Conclusion: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with LABC in Ethiopia setting has significantly reduced tumor size in most patients, allowing modified radical mastectomy with clear margin. Eight cycles of chemotherapy have a slightly higher overall response rate and complete clinical response rate than 4 cycles.
The Effect of Dynamic Tape's Directional Support on Shoulder Fatigue and Pitching Performance in Amateur Baseball Players: A Randomized Crossover Trial Dynamic tape and shoulder fatigue
Authors: Huang Haw-Ming , Hsu Chih Yang , Hsu TingHsuan , Hsieh I-Fan , Yang Po-Chieh , Cheng Yu-Hsuan
Published: April 2024

Background: To evaluate whether the application of Dynamic tape to the pitching shoulder could result in reduced shoulder fatigue, reduced delayed onset muscle soreness, or improved performance.
Methods:
This is a randomized crossover study, in which participants and investigators were blinded, included 20 amateur adult baseball players without shoulder pain. Sham taping and Dynamic taping were randomized, using an internal rotation support taping method in both groups. Bilateral shoulder strength and range of motion were measured with a handheld dynamometer and clinical goniometer before and after each test. The percentage of strength decrease, range of motion, pitch velocity, spin rate, and shoulder pain were recorded. The post-pitching decrease in strength and percentage of strength decrease were calculated by paired t-test and the pitching speed and spin rates in the innings for both the sham and Dynamic taping groups were analyzed using two-way ANOVA.
Results:
Compared with the sham group, the Dynamic tape group showed a significant decrease in internal rotation strength (-1.4% vs. 7.0%, p=0.03). However, no significant differences were observed in other strength declines, shoulder range of motion, pain, pitching velocity, or spin rate.
Conclusions: Dynamic tape reduced direction-specific shoulder fatigue but did not significantly enhance pitching performance or prevent delayed onset muscle soreness.
Trial registration:
ClinicalTrials: N201912094
Green extraction method: Microwave-assisted water extraction followed by HILIC-HRMS analysis for the characterization of the polar metabolome in plants
Authors: Louis Alexandra , Chich Jean François , Chepca Hadrien , Schmitz Isabelle , Hugueney Philippe , Maia-Grondard Alessandra
Published: April 2024

Background: Hydrophilic compounds, such as amino-acids, organic acids and sugars among others, are present in large amounts in plant cells. Analysis and quantification of these major hydrophilic compounds is particularly relevant in plant sciences since they greatly impact the quality of plant-derived products and plant-pathogen relationship. Our objective was to develop and validate a complete analysis workflow combining microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HILIC-HRMS) for quantitative analysis of these hydrophilic compounds in plant tissues.
Results: Water-based Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) methods for hydrophilic compounds were compared using HILIC-HRMS. The newly-developed method involved 20 s MAE extraction time followed by a 10 min HILIC-HRMS analysis. This bioanalytical method was validated for 24 polar metabolites, including amino-acids, organic acids and sugars, to ensure the reliability of analytical results: selectivity, limits of detection and quantification, calibration range and precision. Depending on the compounds, quantification limit was as low as 0.10 mM up to 4.50 mM.
Conclusions: A method involving water-based MAE extraction coupled to HILIC-HRMS was developed for the relative quantification of free amino acids, organic acids and sugars in plant tissues. This method is amenable for high throughput analysis of major polar metabolites from small amounts of plant material.
Developing Sign Language Recognition Model for Afaan Oromoo Words Using a Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Bedaso Muktar , Hussein Antu , Diriba Chala
Published: April 2024

The 2021 WHO report highlighted that over 5% of the global population experiences hearing impairment, with Ethiopia facing an even higher prevalence of over 10%. Unfortunately, the educational landscape in Ethiopia has not adequately accommodated deaf students, particularly those from the Oromoo nation, as sign language support remains scarce. This lack of accessibility hinders deaf individuals from participating fully in educational opportunities, perpetuating inequality. In response to these challenges, a researcher has proposed an innovative solution utilizing deep learning techniques for automatic recognition of Afaan Oromoo sign language. This model aims to bridge the gap by providing deaf individuals with equal access to education. The proposed system comprises crucial stages including image preprocessing, feature extraction, feature learning, and classification. During preprocessing, video data is converted to image frames, standardized in size, and noise is removed. Feature extraction utilizes Gabor filtering to extract representative features, while convolutional neural networks facilitate feature learning. The model, trained on a dataset of 2025 images, achieved a remarkable 92.98% testing accuracy using ResNet-50 for classification. The researcher emphasizes the importance of further exploration, particularly in handling real-time data with complex background variations. This pioneering effort not only addresses the educational disparity faced by the deaf community in Ethiopia but also sets a precedent for leveraging technology to foster inclusivity and accessibility on a global scale.
Mach number effects on shock-boundary layer interactions over curved surfaces of supersonic turbine cascades
Authors: Lui Hugo F. S. , Wolf William R. , Ricciardi Tulio R. , Gaitonde Datta V.
Published: April 2024

The effects of inlet Mach number on the unsteadiness of shock-boundary layer interactions (SBLIs) over curved surfaces are investigated for a supersonic turbine cascade using wall-resolved large eddy simulations. Three inlet Mach numbers, 1.85, 2.00, and 2.15 are considered at a chord-based Reynolds number 395000. The curved walls of the airfoils impact the SBLIs due to the state of the incoming boundary layers and local pressure gradients. On the suction side, due to the convex wall, the boundary layer entering the SBLI evolves under a favorable pressure gradient and bulk dilatation. On the other hand, the concave wall on the pressure side imposes an adverse pressure gradient and bulk compression. Variations in the inlet Mach number induce different shock impingement locations, enhancing these effects. A detailed characterization of the suction side boundary layers indicates that a higher Mach number leads to larger shape factors, favoring separation and larger bubbles, while the reverse holds for the pressure side. A time-frequency analysis reveals the presence of intermittent events in the separated flow occurring predominantly at low-frequencies on the suction side and at mid-frequencies on the pressure side. Increasing the inlet Mach number leads to an increase in the time scales of the intermittent events on the suction side, which are associated with instants when high-speed streaks penetrate the bubble, causing local flow reattachment and bubble contractions. Instantaneous flow visualizations show the presence of streamwise vortices developing on the turbulent boundary layers on both airfoil sides and along the bubbles. These vortices influence the formation of the large-scale longitudinal structures in the boundary layers, affecting the mass imbalance inside the separation bubbles.
Drug survival and adherence to biologic agents in patients with inflammatory bowel disease from a large health maintenance organization
Authors: Rosenberg Vered , Chodick Gabriel , Faccin Freddy , Kariv Revital
Published: April 2024

Background
With the increasing use of biologic therapies for the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it is important to understand their real-world persistence and adherence rates.
Aims
To assess adherence, drug survival, and risk for discontinuation with biologics in a large cohort of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)
Methods
Adult biologic treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients with CD and UC who initiated treatment with a biologic drug or tofacitinib during 2015–2017 with a large, state-mandated healthcare provider in Israel were included. Adherence and discontinuation rates were recorded. Risk for discontinuation was estimated using the Cox proportional hazard model.
Results
A total of 889 patients with CD (44.2% female; mean [SD] age, 36.9 [14.2] years; 73.0% biologic-naive) and 255 patients with UC (52.9% female, mean [SD] age, 41.3 [15.6] years; 71.8% biologic-naive) were included. Among patients with CD and UC receiving their first biologic, high adherence was calculated in 75.7% and 80.3%, respectively. Over the course of one year of follow-up, 32.1% of patients with CD and 37.0% of patients with UC discontinued their biologic therapy. In UC, patients receiving vedolizumab were less likely to discontinue treatment compared with those receiving adalimumab, whereas in CD, both treatments were at similar risk for discontinuation.
Conclusions
Although drug adherence was satisfactory, persistence rates for patients with IBD receiving biologics were suboptimal and varied based on disease, treatment episode, and treatment received.
A Molecular Docking Study between Heavy Metals and Hydrophilic Hsp70 Protein to Explore Binding Pockets
Authors: Mitra Pritish , Singha Sourav , Roy Payel , Saha Deblina , Chatterjee Sabyasachi
Published: April 2024

Microorganisms are abundant resident of whole biosphere and exert influential activity on various numerous biological phenomena. Sources of heavy metal contaminants include refineries, effluent outfalls from factories, waste treatment facilities and different anthropogenic products. Heavy metal pollution is now getting a prime concern for whole world including India also. For example, increased levels of lead, cadmiumfound in river ecosystem of West Bengal. The non-essential minerals cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb)linkedwith damageof vital organs. Remediation of pollutant is required to clean up society. Bioremediation includes use of biological agents such as bacteria are an essential component in the removal process of the contaminants. It is demonstrated that thermophilic bacteria secrete some special protein like heat shock protein to inhale such stress condition. Microbial Hsp70 (DnaK) proteins function to degrade noxious chemicals including heavy metals. Archaeal and bacterial Hsp70 proteins were retrieved and named as BHSP70 to explore and analyze. Three-dimensional structure and quality of protein was predicted and validated. BHSP70-114 of Sulfobacillus acidophilus was selected for metal docking study to visualize their multi-metal resistance capabilities. Best docked model of Hsp70 protein with heavy metals was evaluated with PyMolto inspect the intramolecular interaction. In this in silicostudy, few recognized key amino acid residues like Asp, Asn, Glu, Gln, His, Ser, Cys, Ala were identified, involve in heavy metal (Cd, Pb) binding. Recent approach also provides an important basis to inspect protein engineering for optimum use of bacterial Hsp70 protein to reduce or remove heavy metals from biosphere.
Nutritional composition, chemical profile and antioxidant potential of black puçá fruit (Mouriri pusa) as a strategy for valuing native Brazilian fruits
Authors: Silva Romilda Ramos , Leal Gabriela Fonseca , Gomes Camila Costa , Oliveira José Eduardo Bento , Soares Camila Mariane da Silva , Morais Rômulo Alves , Martins Glêndara Aparecida de Souza
Published: April 2024

The black puçá (Mouriri Pusa) is an unconventional fruit from the Cerrado region of Brazil, commonly known as jabuticaba of forest. However, data on its nutritional composition phytochemical composition are limited. In this study, the nutritional composition, physicochemical characteristics, profile of carbohydrates and organic acids, phenolics and flavonoids individual, amino acids composition, bioactive substances, and antioxidant potential were investigated in the pulp, peel, and seed fractions of puçá-preto. The results confirm that puçá-preto is an important nutritional source. The main organic acids were malic acid (187.54 − 290.50 mg g−1) followed by tartaric acid (57.89 − 134.79 mg g−1). 8 of the 9 essential amino acids were determined in black puçá, with arginine acid (0.24 – 2.03 g 100 g−1) being the majority, followed by glutamic acid (0.34 – 1.87 g 100 g−1). It presented satisfactory results for vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins, demonstrating potential for pigment extraction. The pulp and peel showed good antioxidant activity in relation to the capture of free radicals by the DPPH method and the reduction of ferric ions in the pulp. In regard to individual phenolic compounds, quercetin was the major compound in the pulp fraction (4.69 µg mL−1); on the other hand, kaempferol had greater expression in the peels (20.78 µg mL−1), while myricetin was quantified only in the seeds (10.67 µg mL−1). The results showed that buritirana is rich in nutrients and bioactive products and can be fully utilized. The products resulting from buritirana processing can be applied in the food, and pharmaceutical industries.
DFT study of electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes of 1H-indole and benzyl bromide derivatives: mechanism exploration and theoretical prediction
Authors: Liu Zhao , Wang Shutao , Liu Zhiqiang , Ding Yating , Hu Yansong , Liu Runzhang , Zhang Zhengze , Lei Junqiang
Published: April 2024

Organic synthesis methods initiated by visible light have received increasing attention from synthetic chemists. Reactions initiated by EDA complexes do not require the use of toxic or expensive photoredox catalysts compared to traditional photoreaction processes. However, this kind of reaction requires the structure of the substrate, so it is important to study the detailed and systematic reaction mechanism for its design. The EDA complexes of substituted 1 H-indole and substituted benzyl bromide derivatives were studied by density functional theory (DFT). The difference between EDA complexes with substituents of different kinds and locations were compared by theoretical study and new EDA complex was predicted.
From Thessaloniki to Selânik: the long continuity of urban ceramic production in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean
Authors: Živković Jelena , Raptis Konstantinos T. , Slambeas Periklis
Published: April 2024

Ceramics of Late Byzantine and Ottoman Thessaloniki (the 13th-19th centuries) were studied with archaeological and scientific methods aiming to characterise the ceramic production in this major city of the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean. The paper explored the impact that the Ottoman conquest, migrations and socio-economic changes in the city have had on the ceramic production technology. With this aim, common pottery and tobacco pipes excavated at the site of Hamza Bey Mosque, located in the centre of historical Thessaloniki, were subjected to macroscopic, petrographic and chemical analyses. The integrated results contributed to the identification of several urban potting traditions that can be associated with distinct workshops. The production of glazed tableware is characterised by the long technological continuity, spanning between the 13th and 19th centuries, despite frequent changes of decorative styles that followed consumption trends. This continuity is visible in all production sequences, from the procurement of raw materials to the application of high-lead glazes. In addition, another two potting traditions of the Ottoman period introduced technological diversity that could reflect the socio-economic complexity of Thessaloniki between the 15th and 19th centuries.
In silico comparison of apigenin and related compounds with diverse pharmacological activities using AutoDock 4.2.6
Authors: Peanlikhit Tanat , Aryal Uma , Welsh James , Shroyer Kenneth , Rithidech Kanokporn
Published: April 2024

In recent years, molecular docking has been used to predict the binding affinity and interaction between flavonoids (ligands) and specific protein targets (receptors). However, existing studies have focused on a limited number of flavonoids with a small number of targeted proteins. In this study, on the other hand, we used the AutoDock 4.2.6 molecular docking software to compare the binding energy values and interactions of apigenin and 15 flavonoids with 24 different proteins known to be associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, carcinogenesis, and bacterial infections. This comparison will be important for the development of flavonoid-based drugs, allowing for the optimization of flavonoid drugs to better interact with their target proteins alone or in combination with conventional drugs. We used three-dimensional crystal structures of the receptors to identify the amino acids in the active site for docking purposes. Our goal was to identify potential inhibitors of these proteins and understand the structural configurations of flavonoids that affect their binding energy (binding affinity or inhibitory effects). We found that apigenin was a highly effective inhibitor for all tested proteins, with the highest binding energy of -8.21 kcal/mol with p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases and the lowest binding energy of -5.34 kcal/mol with cyclin-dependent kinase 4. In fact, apigenin and most of the tested flavonoids were better inhibitors for xanthine oxidase or DNA methyltransferase than known inhibitors. Our results also suggest that apigenin and selected flavonoids could be used to inhibit the oncogenic activity of KRAS mutations at codon 12 (i.e., G12C, G12D, and G12V) frequently found in solid tumors since they possess high binding energies with these mutated proteins. This finding offers an advantage over targeted therapy drugs that focus on specific KRAS mutations. Furthermore, most flavonoids have good safety profiles, so our resulting data are crucial for developing flavonoid-based drugs and present new insights into developing effective treatments that can attenuate the resistance and side effects of chemotherapy.
The simplified quantum circuits for implementing quantum teleportation
Authors: Zhang Wen-Xiu , Song Guo-Zhu , Wei Hai-Rui
Published: April 2024

It is crucial to design quantum circuits as small as possible and as shallow as possible for quantum information processing tasks. We design quantum circuits with simplified gate-count, cost, and depth for implementing quantum teleportation among various entangled channels. Here the gate-count/cost/depth of the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger-based quantum teleportation is reduced from 10/6/8 to 9/4/6, the two-qubit-cluster-based quantum teleportation is reduced from 9/4/5 to 6/3/5, the three-qubit-cluster-based quantum teleportation is reduced from 12/6/7 to 8/4/5, the Brown-based quantum teleportation is reduced from 25/15/17 to 18/8/7, the Borras-based quantum teleportation is reduced from 36/25/20 to 15/8/11, and the entanglement-swapping-based quantum teleportation is reduced from 13/8/8 to 10/5/5. Note that, no feed-forward recover operation is required in the simplified schemes. Moreover, the experimentally demonstrations on IBM quantum computer indicate that our simplified and compressed schemes can be realized with good fidelity.
Assessment of Human Resource for Eye Health Services in Southern Ethiopia.
Authors: MEHARI ZELALEM , Nariani Ashiyana
Published: April 2024

Background
Human resources in eye health are critical to significant reductions in blindness and low vision on a global and regional scale. Blindness and visual impairment affect the quality of life, poverty rates, and employment and educational opportunities of people with visual impairment. This study aimed to assess the availability and distribution of human resources for eye care to determine gaps in eliminating preventable and treatable blindness.
Methods
The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data was collected on the type and number of eye care professionals and their distribution from all government, private, and NGO/Mission eye care facilities in the two regions.
Result
Out of the 77 public hospitals and 642 public health centers, only 39 (5.4%) have been provided eye care services. A total of 48 facilities were provided with eye care services, each of which served 388,765 populations in two regions. Thirty-nine (81.3%) were government-owned, 5 (10.4%) were private for-profit, and 4 (8.3%) were NGO/Mission owned. In these facilities, a total of 217 eye care professionals were practicing: of these, 30 were ophthalmologists, 10 cataract surgeons, 93 optometrists, 62 ophthalmic nurses, 6 ophthalmic officers, one low vision specialist, and 15 optical technicians. The mean number of cataract operations performed per unit was 860 (Range: 30–2,800). The CSR of the SNNPR and Sidama regions was 1086 operations/ million population/year in 2022. From all level eye care centers in the study area, 50% provided cataract surgery services, 19% provided glaucoma surgery services, and 90% provided refraction services. Only one facility had pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) and Intravitreal injection services. However, none of the facilities provided a vitro-retinal surgery service.
Conclusion
The human resource for eye care in southern Ethiopia must be improved, falling far below the numbers required by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the IAPB Africa Strategic Plan. Eye care professionals need to be better distributed, as there is a severe shortage of ophthalmic professionals in rural regions. Most of the human resources for the eye health workforce in the area are located in urban cities.
Production of chloroauric acid from electronic waste in salt solution by AC electrolysis
Authors: Yoshizawa Miku , Suda Chihiro , Mori Yuika , Ueda Masaki , Aoshika Kei , Oya Kei , Takami Tomohide
Published: April 2024

Extraction of gold from electronic waste were commonly conducted using aqua regia. Here, we have shown a method to produce chloroauric acid in salt solution by bipolar AC electrolysis. The developed bipolar AC electrolysis method provides an environment-friendly process to extract gold from electronic waste containing gold without using any strong acids such as aqua regia.
Relationship between internal and external training load metrics on neuromuscular performance
Authors: Collins James J. , Malone Shane , Collins Kieran D.
Published: April 2024

The study investigates the association between internal and external training load on neuromuscular performance (NMP) on elite soccer players. Thirty-five professional soccer players from a single squad participated in the study. Players performed a countermovement jump as a surrogate measure of NMP. Tests were conducted the day prior to a game. Internal load was measured using session rating of perceived exertion, with external load analysed through 10 Hz GPS units. Measures of external load included total distance, high-speed running, sprint distance, accelerations and decelerations. Measures of NMP were RSI-mod, time to take off (TTTO) and jump height (JH). Within a 7-day training window, total distance (ES = 0.03) and acceleration (ES = 0.04) had a significant interaction with NMP. Within a 14-day training window, RSI-mod and TTTO had a significant interaction with internal load (ES = 0.01; ES = 1.54) and high-speed running (ES = 0.02; ES = 1.44), JH and total distance had a significant interaction (ES = 1.867). For the 28-day training window, JH and sprint distance had a significant interaction (ES = 1.86). Practitioners should use a multi-metric approach with measures of NMP and loading to gain a greater understanding of their athletes.