bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fortaleciendo la autonomía en el aprendizaje. Un estudio experimental con estudiantes de educación técnica productiva
Authors: Ramos Cruz Gladys , Valencia-Jarama Jorge Luis , Garro-Aburto Luzmila Lourdes
Published: October 2023

Uno de los propósitos de la modalidad Educación Técnico Productiva es fortalecer las competencias laborales, ello requiere de un aprendizaje autónomo para apropiarse del conocimiento y lo apliquen de manera independiente minimizando la deserción y el poco interés en este tipo de estudio; convirtiéndose este en un desafío pedagógico para el docente. Para lo cual, se planteó como objetivo analizar la influencia del programa aprendo emprendo para la vida para desarrollar el aprendizaje autónomo en estudiantes de educación técnica. El diseño fue cuasiexperimental con pre y pos-test. Se trabajó con una muestra de 28 estudiantes, 13 estudiantes en grupo control y 15 en grupo experimental. Se aplicó el cuestionario tipo Likert con tres dimensiones: planificación, ejecución y autorreflexión. Los resultados develan que posterior a la aplicación del programa, se evidencian mejoras en la autonomía del aprendizaje y sus componentes. En conclusión, el programa fue efectivo, existe mayor nivel de autonomía en el aprendizaje de las estudiantes de peluquería.
EFEKTIFITAS ASUHAN BERPUSAT PADA KELUARGA DALAM KELAS ANTENATAL TERHADAP PENURUNAN STRES WANITA HAMIL
Authors: Ulfah Kurniaty , Nurchasanah Yuni
Published: October 2023

Stres dalam kehamilan berhubungan erat dengan kejadian persalinan prematur. Estimasi tingkat kelahiran prematur di Indonesia adalah 15,5%. Diperlukan upaya preventif untuk mengurangi tingkat stres wanita pada masa kehamilan. Salah satu upaya tersebut adalah asuhan berpusat pada keluarga. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penerapan model ini dapat meningkatkan kepuasan pasien dan hasil asuhan, serta mengurangi cemas dan stres. Namun, penerapannya dalam asuhan kehamilan di Indonesia masih terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektifitas penerapan asuhan berpusat pada keluarga dalam kelas antenatal terhadap penurunan stres wanita dalam kehamilan. Penelitian ini merupakan quasi eksperimen dengan rancangan pre and post-test with control. Besar sampel ibu hamil setiap kelompok adalah 44. Teknik sampling dilakukan secara consecutive. Kuesioner Revised Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (NuPDQ) digunakan untuk mengukur stres wanita hamil. Pengolahan data dilakukan secara komputerisasi dengan SPSS. Analisis data menggunakan uji nonparametrik. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa tidak terdapat perbedaan penurunan tingkat stres wanita hamil secara bermakna antara kelompok yang mengikuti kelas antenatal FCC maupun kelompok kontrol (p>0,05). Hal ini diduga karena kurang optimalnya dukungan suami selama kelas antenatal dan wanita hamil yang menjadi sampel penelitian memiliki risiko rendah terhadap stres dalam kehamilan. Diperlukan penelitian lanjutan terkait efektifitas kelas antenatal FCC pada kelompok wanita hamil yang berisiko lebih tinggi mengalami stres/cemas/depresi.
Joint Extraction of Organizations and Relations for Emergency Response Plans With Rich Semantic Information Based On Multi-Head Attention Mechanism
Authors: Liu Tong , Liu Haoyu , Ni Weijian , Si Mengxiao
Published: October 2023

At present, deep learning-based joint entity-relation extraction models are gradually able to accomplish complex tasks, but the research progress in specific fields is relatively slow. Compared with other fields, emergency plan text has the characteristics of high entity density, long text, and many professional terms, which make some general models unable to handle the semantic information of emergency plan text well. Therefore, this paper addresses the problem of complex semantics of emergency plan text, and proposes a joint extraction model of emergency plan organization and relationship based on multi-Head Attention Mechanism (MA-JE) to enrich semantic information, starting from multiple perspectives and different levels to obtain contextual information, aiming to deeply mine and use sentence semantic information through deep feature extraction of emergency plan text. The proposed model and the baseline model are experimented separately on the Chinese emergency response plan dataset, and the results show that the proposed approach outperforms existing baseline models for joint extraction of entity and their relations. In addition, ablation experiments were performed to verify the validity of each module in the model.
Computational Intelligence Based Point of Interest Detection by Video Surveillance Implementations
Authors: Tercan Emre , Tapkın Serkan , Küçük Furkan , Demirtaş Ali , Özbayoğlu Ahmet , Türker Abdussamet
Published: October 2023

Latest advancement of the computer vision literature and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) reveal many opportunities that are being actively used in various research areas. One of the most important examples for these areas is autonomous vehicles and mapping systems. Point of interest detection is a rising field within autonomous video tracking and autonomous mapping systems. Within the last few years, the number of implementations and research papers started rising due to the advancements in the new deep learning systems. In this paper, our aim is to survey the existing studies implemented on point of interest detection systems that focus on objects on the road (like lanes, road marks), or objects on the roadside (like road signs, restaurants or temporary establishments) so that they can be used for autonomous vehicles and automatic mapping systems. Meanwhile, the roadside point of interest detection problem has been addressed from a transportation industry perspective. At the same time, a deep learning based point of interest detection model based on roadside gas station identification will be introduced as proof of the anticipated concept. Instead of using an internet connection for point of interest retrieval, the proposed model has the capability to work offline for more robustness. A variety of models have been analysed and their detection speed and accuracy performances are compared. Our preliminary results show that it is possible to develop a model achieving a satisfactory real-time performance that can be embedded into autonomous cars such that streaming video analysis and point of interest detection might be achievable in actual utilisation for future implementations.
Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii, CMV, and Rubella Seropositivity and Avidity Tests in the First Trimester of Pregnancy: Why to Test?
Authors: UĞUR Ayşe Rüveyda , ESENKAYA Ümmügülsüm , GÜNENC Oğuzhan
Published: October 2023

Objective: The influence of intrauterine and perinatal infections on fetal and neonatal mortality rates and childhood morbidity is substantial. Toxoplasmosis gondii, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and rubella are widely recognized as the major causative agents of in utero infection. The surveillance of preventable and treatable diseases within populations at risk are crucial for public health. The objective of this study is to investigate the seropositivity rates and avidity incidences of T. gondii, CMV, and rubella in pregnant women during the first trimester.

Methods: The electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method (Elecsys, Roche, Germany) was employed for the detection of the anti-Toxo IgM, anti-Toxo IgG, anti-CMV IgM, anti-CMV IgG, anti-rubella IgM, and anti-rubella IgG during the time period of January 1, 2021, to June 15, 2023. The anti-Toxo IgG, anti-CMV, and anti-rubella IgG avidity tests were performed with the enzyme-linked fluorescent assay method (VIDAS, bioMérieux, France).

Results: The T. gondii IgM incidance was 2.1%; and the T. gondii IgG seroprevalance was 22%. For T. gondii, low avidity was observed in 13.6% (n = 31) of cases, while high avidity index was detected in 75.8% (n = 172) of cases. The anti-CMV IgM incidance was 1.6%; while IgG seroprevalance was 96.9%. The IgG avidity with a high index for CMV was determined as 99.4%. The anti-rubella IgM incidance was 0.8%; while the IgG seroprevalance was found to be 98.7%. The IgG avidity with a high index for Rubella was 99.1%.

Conclusion: Seroprevalance of T.gondii, CMV, and rubella may vary according to geographical and socioeconomic conditions. Treatment for T. gondii diagnosed during pregnancy, preventive behavioral measures for CMV and vaccination against rubella prior to pregnancy may help reduce congenital infections. The prioritization of T. gondii, CMV, and rubella screening in high-risk populations, including women of reproductive age and pregnant women, is crucial for public health.
Laser Scribing of Graphene Oxide Using Bessel Beam for Humidity Sensing
Authors: Li Ruo-Zhou , Yan Jing , Qu Ke , Yu Ying
Published: October 2023

Laser-scribed graphene oxide (GO) shows great promise for high-performance, cost-effective humidity sensors. However, when using the commonly employed Gaussian beam, the Rayleigh length is relatively short, leading to potential stability issues during large-area processing, especially when defocusing occurs. In this paper, we utilize a diffraction-free Bessel beam to one-step fabricate reduced graphene oxide (rGO) electrodes specifically designed for humidity sensing applications. The effects of defocusing and laser power on the line width and resistance of the fabricated electrodes are investigated, giving the optimal processing parameters for Bessel laser writing of GO. The line width, resistance, and sheet resistance of the rGO electrode are stable at a defocusing distance within ±1.00 mm. Defocusing also proves to be effective in reducing the ablation region during the fabrication process. The temperature and humidity responses of the electrodes are examined, focusing on those fabricated with typical defocusing settings, and the related mechanisms are discussed. Proof-of-principle rGO/GO/rGO humidity sensors are demonstrated, and were one-step fabricated using a Bessel beam with both focusing and defocusing settings. The corresponding humidity response results evidence that rGO humidity sensors can be fabricated using a Bessel beam, even in the defocusing cases. The investigation into the Bessel-beam-based laser fabrication technique offers promising prospects for rapid, flexible, and cost-effective production of graphene-based humidity sensors. Meanwhile, the study of defocusing may enhance the fabrication stability to withstand defocusing conditions effectively.
The Autonomous Pipeline Navigation of a Cockroach Bio-Robot with Enhanced Walking Stimuli
Authors: Ma Songsong , Chen Yuansheng , Yang Songlin , Liu Shen , Tang Lingqi , Li Bing , Li Yao
Published: October 2023

Tens of crawling bio-robots with cockroaches as the mobile platform have been developed with various functions. Compared with artificial crawling robots of the same size, they revealed better flexibility, larger payload, and stronger endurance. These features made bio-robots ideal for pipeline inspection scenarios because the advancements in locomotion mechanisms and efficient power systems are still hurdles for current artificial systems. In this study, we controlled the bio-robot to crawl in the confined dark pipeline and achieved autonomous motion control with the help of an onboard sensing system. Specifically, a micro-camera was mounted on the electronic backpack of the cockroach for image collection, and an IMU sensor was used to compute its body orientation. The electronic backpack transmitted images to the host computer for junction recognition and distance estimation. Meanwhile, the insect's habituation to electrical stimulation has long been an uncertain factor in the control of bio-robots. Here, a synergistic stimulation strategy was proposed to markedly reduce the habituation and increase the number of effective turning controls to over 100 times. It is also found that both the increase of payload and the application of stimulations could promote the metabolic rate by monitoring carbon dioxide release. With the integration of synergistic stimulation and autonomous control, we demonstrated the fully autonomous pipeline navigation with our cockroach bio-robot, which realized the cycle number of approximately 10 in a roll. This research provides a novel technology that has the potential for practical applications in the future.
A Structure-Based Allosteric Modulator Design Paradigm
Authors: Li Mingyu , Lan Xiaobin , Lu Xun , Zhang Jian
Published: October 2023

Importance:
Allosteric drugs bound to topologically distal allosteric sites hold a substantial promise in modulating therapeutic targets deemed undruggable at their orthosteric sites. Traditionally, allosteric modulator discovery has predominantly relied on serendipitous high-throughput screening. Nevertheless, the landscape has undergone a transformative shift due to recent advancements in our understanding of allosteric modulation mechanisms, coupled with a significant increase in the accessibility of allosteric structural data. These factors have extensively promoted the development of various computational methodologies, especially for machine-learning approaches, to guide the rational design of structure-based allosteric modulators.
Highlights:
We here presented a comprehensive structure-based allosteric modulator design paradigm encompassing 3 critical stages: drug target acquisition, allosteric binding site, and modulator discovery. The recent advances in computational methods in each stage are encapsulated. Furthermore, we delve into analyzing the successes and obstacles encountered in the rational design of allosteric modulators.
Conclusion:
The structure-based allosteric modulator design paradigm holds immense potential for the rational design of allosteric modulators. We hope that this review would heighten awareness of the use of structure-based computational methodologies in advancing the field of allosteric drug discovery.
Regulatory Mechanisms for Transcriptional Bursting Revealed by an Event-Based Model
Authors: Wu Renjie , Zhou Bangyan , Wang Wei , Liu Feng
Published: October 2023

Gene transcription often occurs in discrete bursts, and it can be difficult to deduce the underlying regulatory mechanisms for transcriptional bursting with limited experimental data. Here, we categorize numerous states of single eukaryotic genes and identify 6 essential transcriptional events, each comprising a series of state transitions; transcriptional bursting is characterized as a sequence of 4 events, capable of being organized in various configurations, in addition to the beginning and ending events. By associating transcriptional kinetics with mean durations and recurrence probabilities of the events, we unravel how transcriptional bursting is modulated by various regulators including transcription factors. Through analytical derivation and numerical simulation, this study reveals key state transitions contributing to transcriptional sensitivity and specificity, typical characteristics of burst profiles, global constraints on intrinsic transcriptional noise, major regulatory modes in individual genes and across the genome, and requirements for fast gene induction upon stimulation. It is illustrated how biochemical reactions on different time scales are modulated to separately shape the durations and ordering of the events. Our results suggest that transcriptional patterns are essentially controlled by a shared set of transcriptional events occurring under specific promoter architectures and regulatory modes, the number of which is actually limited.
Interindividual Age-Independent Differences in Human CX43 Impact Ventricular Arrhythmic Risk
Authors: García-Mendívil Laura , Pérez-Zabalza María , Oliver-Gelabert Antoni , Vallejo-Gil José María , Fañanás-Mastral Javier , Vázquez-Sancho Manuel , Bellido-Morales Javier André , Vaca-Núñez Alexánder Sebastián , Ballester-Cuenca Carlos , Diez Emiliano , Ordovás Laura , Pueyo Esther
Published: October 2023

Connexin 43 (CX43) is one of the major components of gap junctions, the structures responsible for the intercellular communication and transmission of the electrical impulse in the left ventricle. There is limited information on the histological changes of CX43 with age and their effect on electrophysiology, especially in humans. Here, we analyzed left ventricular biopsies from living donors starting at midlife to characterize age-related CX43 remodeling. We assessed its quantity, degree of lateralization, and spatial heterogeneity together with fibrotic deposition. We observed no significant age-related remodeling of CX43. Only spatial heterogeneity increased slightly with age, and this increase was better explained by biological age than by chronological age. Importantly, we found that CX43 features varied considerably among individuals in our population with no relevant relationship to age or fibrosis content, in contrast to animal species. We used our experimental results to feed computational models of human ventricular electrophysiology and to assess the effects of interindividual differences in specific features of CX43 and fibrosis on conduction velocity, action potential duration, and arrhythmogenicity. We found that larger amounts of fibrosis were associated with the highest arrhythmic risk, with this risk being increased when fibrosis deposition was combined with a reduction in CX43 amount and/or with an increase in CX43 spatial heterogeneity. These mechanisms underlying high arrhythmic risk in some individuals were not associated with age in our study population. In conclusion, our data rule out CX43 remodeling as an age-related arrhythmic substrate in the population beyond midlife, but highlight its potential as a proarrhythmic factor at the individual level, especially when combined with increased fibrosis.
DeepSecE: A Deep-Learning-Based Framework for Multiclass Prediction of Secreted Proteins in Gram-Negative Bacteria
Authors: Zhang Yumeng , Guan Jiahao , Li Chen , Wang Zhikang , Deng Zixin , Gasser Robin B. , Song Jiangning , Ou Hong-Yu
Published: October 2023

Proteins secreted by Gram-negative bacteria are tightly linked to the virulence and adaptability of these microbes to environmental changes. Accurate identification of such secreted proteins can facilitate the investigations of infections and diseases caused by these bacterial pathogens. However, current bioinformatic methods for predicting bacterial secreted substrate proteins have limited computational efficiency and application scope on a genome-wide scale. Here, we propose a novel deep-learning-based framework—DeepSecE—for the simultaneous inference of multiple distinct groups of secreted proteins produced by Gram-negative bacteria. DeepSecE remarkably improves their classification from nonsecreted proteins using a pretrained protein language model and transformer, achieving a macro-average accuracy of 0.883 on 5-fold cross-validation. Performance benchmarking suggests that DeepSecE achieves competitive performance with the state-of-the-art binary predictors specialized for individual types of secreted substrates. The attention mechanism corroborates salient patterns and motifs at the N or C termini of the protein sequences. Using this pipeline, we further investigate the genome-wide prediction of novel secreted proteins and their taxonomic distribution across ~1,000 Gram-negative bacterial genomes. The present analysis demonstrates that DeepSecE has major potential for the discovery of disease-associated secreted proteins in a diverse range of Gram-negative bacteria. An online web server of DeepSecE is also publicly available to predict and explore various secreted substrate proteins via the input of bacterial genome sequences.
Flexible Crystal Heterojunctions of Low-Dimensional Organic Metal Halides Enabling Color-Tunable Space-Resolved Optical Waveguides
Authors: Lin Yuhang , Liu Shuya , Yan Dongpeng
Published: October 2023

Molecular luminescent materials with optical waveguide have wide application prospects in light-emitting diodes, sensors, and logic gates. However, the majority of traditional optical waveguide systems are based on brittle molecular crystals, which limited the fabrication, transportation, storage, and adaptation of flexible devices under diverse application situations. To date, the design and synthesis of photofunctional materials with high flexibility, novel optical waveguide, and multi-port color-tunable emission in the same solid-state system remain an open challenge. Here, we have constructed new types of zero-dimensional organic metal halides (Au-4-dimethylaminopyridine [DMAP] and In-DMAP) with a rarely high elasticity and rather low loss coefficients for optical waveguide. Theoretical calculations on the intermolecular interactions showed that the high elasticity of 2 molecular crystalline materials was original from their herringbone structure and slip plane. Based on one-dimensional flexible microrods of 2 crystals and the 2-dimensional microplate of the Mn-DMAP, heterojunctions with multi-color and space-resolved optical waveguides have been fabricated. The formation mechanism of heterojunctions is based on the surface selective growth on account of the low lattice mismatch ratio between contacting crystal planes. Therefore, this work describes the first attempt to the design of metal-halide-based crystal heterojunctions with high flexibility and optical waveguide, expanding the prospects of traditional luminescent materials for smart optical devices, such as logic gates and multiplexers.
Lunar Evolution Analysis Based on Numerical Simulations of Typical Lunar Impact Craters
Authors: Yue Zongyu , Li Huacheng , Zhang Nan , Gou Sheng , Lin Yangting
Published: October 2023

Impact craters are one of the most important landforms on the lunar surface, playing a crucial role in the formation and later evolution of the Moon. For example, as a primary source of remote sensing observations and lunar samples, lunar regolith is predominantly composed of impact ejecta. Based on their morphologies, lunar impact craters with increasing sizes can be classified into simple craters, complex craters, and multiring basins, and they play different roles in lunar evolution. In our study, we conducted numerical simulations of the South Pole-Aitken basin and the Orientale basin on the lunar surface, as well as the Aristarchus complex crater and the Zhinyu simple crater. The resultant effects of them are further analyzed. Because Zhinyu crater is relatively close to the Chang’e-4 landing site, while Aristarchus crater is relatively close to the Chang’e-5 landing site, their simulation results have direct significance for interpreting the corresponding exploration data from both missions. The numerical simulation results demonstrate that the formation of large basins not only affects the subsurface structure within the basin but also significantly disturbs the surrounding geological layers. Complex and simple craters mainly disturb the subsurface layers within the crater, but complex craters can cause uplift of the underlying strata. These impact processes dominate the primary geological framework of the lunar surface, depositing ejecta materials of varying thicknesses from different depths, which has important implications for future sample collection missions. In conclusion, impact processes are one of the primary driving forces in the lunar evolution.
Accuracy Evaluation of Marginalized Unscented Kalman Filter
Authors: Yan Han , Liu Hanyu , Sun Xiucong , Xu Ming
Published: October 2023

Compared with a conventional unscented Kalman filter (UKF), the recently proposed marginalized unscented Kalman filter (MUKF) uses a partially sampling strategy to achieve similar filter accuracy with fewer sigma points, demonstrating its powerful ability to deal with state estimation with mixed linearity and nonlinearity. However, the hypothesis that the accuracy of MUKF is equivalent to that of UKF is not true for all systems. In this paper, it is proved that when the state equation is expressed as a differential equation, the accuracy of MUKF is equivalent to that of UKF only when the propagations of the states to be sampled and the states not to be sampled in MUKF are independent of each other. The above condition corresponds to a common problem in engineering, which is a system with measurement biases. Through theoretical proof and numerical simulation, it is verified in this paper that for the systems with measurement biases, the differences of the computed means and covariances in filtering recursions between MUKF and UKF are restricted to the same order infinitesimal as the square of the scaling parameter. To sum up, this paper evaluates the accuracy of MUKF, providing references for engineers to choose MUKF or UKF in different systems.
Orbital Interception Pursuit Strategy for Random Evasion Using Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Jiang Rui , Ye Dong , Xiao Yan , Sun Zhaowei , Zhang Zeming
Published: October 2023

Aiming at the interception problem of noncooperative evader spacecraft adopting random maneuver strategy in one-to-one orbital pursuit–evasion problem, an interception strategy with decision-making training mechanism for the pursuer based on deep reinforcement learning is proposed. Its core purpose is to improve the success rate of interception in the environment with high uncertainty. First of all, a multi-impulse orbit transfer model of pursuer and evader is established, and a modular deep reinforcement learning training method is built. Second, an effective reward mechanism is proposed to train the pursuer to choose the impulse direction and impulse interval of the orbit transfer and to learn the successful interception strategy with the optimal fuel and time. Finally, with the evader taking a random maneuver decision in each episode of training, the trained decision-making strategy is applied to the pursuer, the corresponding interception success rate of which is further analyzed. The results show that the pursuer trained can obtain universal and variable interception strategy. In each round of pursuit–evasion, with random maneuver strategy of the evader, the pursuer can adopt similar optimal decisions to deal with high-dimensional environments and thoroughly random state space, maintaining high interception success rate.
Integration of Communication and Navigation Technologies toward LEO-Enabled 6G Networks: A Survey
Authors: Liao Yihai , Liu Sicong , Hong Xuemin , Shi Jianghong , Cheng Ling
Published: October 2023

As the number of wireless applications and devices grows, higher standards for the quality of service and navigation performance of mobile networks are required. Numerous critical applications, including unmanned aerial vehicles, internet of things, digital twin, and military systems, require reliable communication and accurate navigation services. To meet these requirements, the development of the sixth generation (6G) network is necessary. 6G networks provide seamless 3-dimensional coverage in space–air–ground–sea area, as well as deep coupling of communication, sensing, and computation. 6G networks will be combined with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to construct a universal and intelligent integrated system of communication, sensing, and computing by utilizing the benefits of LEO satellites, such as miniaturization, modularity, large bandwidth, low latency, and wide area coverage. One of the critical construction tasks in this system is the integration of communication and navigation (ICAN), which can break the limitations of the global navigation satellite system, provide high-precision, robust navigation capability, and enable high-quality communication services. In this article, a comprehensive survey is presented for ICAN technologies toward LEO-enabled 6G networks (LEO-ICAN), including the framework design, system implementation, and key technologies. We also highlight the challenges and opportunities ahead faced by the LEO-ICAN system. Finally, the prospect development and future research trends are discussed, and a few ideas for practical and effective LEO-ICAN solutions are provided. This survey provides a reference for the theoretical design, technological innovation, and system implementation of LEO-ICAN, which is capable of coping with the demand of massive access and global seamless coverage in the upcoming 6G network era.
Explaining the Experiences of Operating Room Nurses From Surgery of Patients With Blood-Borne Diseases: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Moradzadeh Mojtaba , Imani Behzad , Zandi Shirdel , Zolhavarieh Seyed Mohammad
Published: October 2023

Background: Operating room nurses are exposed to blood-borne diseases, so it is important to examine their experience to prevent possible injuries. Based on this, the present study was conducted with the aim of explaining the experience of operating room nurses in the surgery of patients with blood-borne diseases. Methods: The research design is a descriptive phenomenological study. Sampling was performed purposefully, and participants were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using semi-structured oral interviews and then analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Results: In this study, data were obtained through interviews with 15 operating room nurses. As a result of data analysis, 5 main themes and 16 sub-themes were identified, including a tense role, respect for patients’ privacy, functional compatibility, desire to have an experienced team, and the heroic feeling. Conclusion: Nurses experience negative and positive emotions while attending the surgery of the mentioned patients. In order to increase the quality of care and reduce burnout of nurses, these feelings should be paid attention to.
The Second Case Report of Cellular Cannibalism in Ameloblastoma
Authors: Zargaran Massoumeh , Jamshidi Shokoofeh , Amjadian Mohiadin
Published: October 2023

Cellular cannibalism (CC) is a phenomenon during which the tumor cell engulfs other cells, including sibling tumor cells or non-tumor cells such as neutrophils and lymphocytes (known as Xeno-CC). This case report aimed to present CC in three ameloblastomas. Microscopically, hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides of 14 ameloblastoma cases were observed at 400× magnification to identify CC. The findings revealed that 3 cases (21.42 %), including 2 plexiform and 1 follicular ameloblastoma were identified with CC and neutrophil Xeno-CC in stellate reticulum-like cells. Furthermore, a few CC were seen in peripheral ameloblast-like tumor cells. CC has been described as an exclusive morphologic feature of malignancies; however, since it has been reported in benign tumor cells such as ameloblastoma, it seems that this concept needs to be revised. Given the relation between CC and aggressiveness of tumor lesions, this phenomenon can be suggested as one of the predicting factors for aggressive biologic behavior of ameloblastoma.
Comparison of the Passivity between CAD/CAM Implant Frameworks and Three Different Conventional Techniques Before and After Applying Veneering Porcelain
Authors: Nakhaei Mohammadreza , Moraditalab Azizollah , Mottaghianfar Atefe , Nodehi Davood
Published: October 2023

Background: The passivity of the fit may be at risk during the casting as well as the firing of the veneering ceramic. In this study, the comparison of the passivity between computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) implant frameworks and three different conventional techniques before and after applying veneering porcelain was investigated. Methods: In this laboratory cross-sectional study, four groups (n=6) of 3-unit screw-retained implant-supported denture prostheses (ISDPs) were fabricated on a master model with 2 implants. The study groups were as follows: conventional casting with Ni-Cr alloy (group 1), casting with Ni-Cr alloy followed by sectioning and soldering the samples (group 2), double casting with Ni-Cr framework (group 3), and using CAD/CAM-fabricated framework (group 4). All frameworks received porcelain veneer. The one-screw test was performed before and after veneering to measure the vertical misfit at the abutment-framework interface using a stereomicroscope. The mean vertical misfit values were determined at the buccal, lingual, and proximal aspects. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc tests (α=0.05). Results: The accuracy of the fit varied significantly before and after veneering among the study groups (P<0.001). Frameworks prepared with CAD/CAM showed lower mean marginal misfit values compared to the other fabrication methods (P<0.001). Conclusions: Firing the veneering porcelain attached to a screw-retained ISDP may have an adverse effect on the accuracy of the fit. Soft non-pre-sintered CAD/CAM frameworks had better passivity compared to other three conventional methods applied.
Online and Offline Virtual Training Versus Traditional Training on Theoretical Knowledge of Dentistry Students in Primary Tooth Pulp Treatment
Authors: Kamalisabeti Arghavan , Salehi Sedeh Siavash , Rafatjou Rezvan , Farhadian Maryam
Published: October 2023

Background: Higher education faced difficult conditions caused by the coronavirus pandemic after January 2020. In such a situation, education through virtual space was one of the highly important and considerable proposed programs. So far, to our knowledge, no study has compared online and offline virtual education with traditional education in dentistry students. Accordingly, this study compared the efficacy of online and offline virtual training on theoretical knowledge of dentistry students in primary tooth pulp treatment with that of traditional training. Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted on dental students who have taken the theoretical pediatrics 2 course in the second half of the academic year 2020-2021. All students were randomly divided into three groups of 20 people, including online and offline virtual training and traditional training (control) groups. Educational contents were delivered to students in the form of an identical PowerPoint for all groups. The PowerPoint slides were prepared and virtual and face-to-face classes were held by the same person (Instructor). In addition, the pre-test and post-test were performed virtually with the same questions (20 questions designed by the instructor). Finally, SPSS-23 was used to describe and analyze the data. Results: The participants were 60 students with an average age of 23±0.48 years, including 42 males (70.0%.). No significant difference was observed among groups in terms of gender, age, grade point average (GPA), and pre-test score (P>0.05). The post-test score was significantly higher than the pre-test score (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in terms of post-test and "post-test-pre-test" scores among the groups (P>0.05). GPA was significantly correlated with the post-test score (P<0.001) and score changes (post-test-pre-test score) (P<0.001). Conclusions: It was found that online and offline virtual education are two suitable alternatives for the traditional education of dental students in the primary teeth pulp treatment course.
Effect of Er,Cr:YSGG and Nd:YAG Lasers on Microleakage of Composite Resin Restorations Using Universal Adhesives
Authors: Khamverdi Zahra , Rezaei-Soufi Loghman , Sobhi Poor Jalil , Ahmadi Ali , Javanrouh Niloufar
Published: October 2023

Background: Clinical long-term success of bonded restorations is depended to reduce marginal microleakage and the laser application with combination of new bonding systems may play positive role. The aim of this study was comparative evaluation of Er,Cr:YSGG and Nd:YAG lasers effect on microleakage of class V composite resin restorations using several universal adhesives. Methods: In this in vitro study, standard class V cavities were prepared on both lingual and buccal surfaces of 72 intact premolar teeth. For evaluation of microleakage, the cavities were divided into 9 groups according to conditioning method (n=15): G1: G-Premio Bond [GP]; G2: Scotchbond Universal Adhesive [SU]; G3: All-Bond Universal [AB]; G4: GP+Nd:YAG Laser; G5: SU+Nd:YAG Laser; G6: AB+Nd:YAG Laser; G7: GP+Er,Cr:YSGG Laser; G8: SU+Er,Cr:YSGG Laser; and G9: AB+Er,Cr:YSGG Laser. The cavities were filled with composite resin and then subjected to thermocycling, placed in methylene blue solutions, embedded in resin blocks and vertically cut in the bucco­lingual direction. The microleakage in occlusal and gingival margins was defined as linear penetration of methylene blue and determined with a stereomicroscope to assign microleakage scores using a four­point scale. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software and Kruskal-wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Microleakage scores had statistically significant different before and after laser irradiation in dependent to the adhesive used (P<0.05) but there were no significant different between Nd:YAG and ER,Cr:YSGG laser, also between different universal adhesives (GP, SU, AB). The results showed that total microleakage scores of occlusal margins had significant statistical different in comparison with gingival margins (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results indicate that Nd:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG lasers irradiation, after using the investigated universal adhesives, had a positive effect on reducing the microleakage of composite Class V restorations. The microleakage rate was shown to be independent of adhesives and lasers type used in this study.
Antibacterial Activity of Different Artemisia dracunculus Extracts Against Dental Caries-Related Pathogens
Authors: Arabestani Bita , Babaeekhou Laleh , Ghane Maryam
Published: October 2023

Background: This study investigated the antibacterial properties of four types of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) extracts against two caries contributing bacteria, namely, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Methods: The extracts of A. dracunculus were prepared using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water solvents. In addition, the diameter of inhibition zones, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined, and finally, MTT (tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay) was used to analyze the cytotoxic effects of the extracts. Results: The well-diffusion method showed the antibacterial property of four tested extracts against bacteria. Methanol and water extracts made the highest inhibition zone diameters (P<0.001). This was true for both tested bacteria. The mIC of the methanol, water, n-hexane, and ethyl acetate extracts were 0.78, 1.5, 3.1, and 1.5 mg/mL, as well as 0.78, 0.78, 1.5, and 1.5 mg/mL against S. mutans and S. sobrinus, respectively. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for methanolic, aqueous, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane extracts were 0.78, 0.78, 1.56, and 3.12 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: The results provided a rational reason for the traditional use of A. dracunculus extracts against anti-caries-related bacteria. The methanolic extract demonstrated better activity, thus methanol can probably extract a wider range of plant compounds with antibacterial effects.
Medical Waste Increase During COVID-19 Pandemic in Asia: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Jafarzadeh Nematollah , Maleki Heydar
Published: October 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevalence increased hospital admissions and caused a higher rate of medical waste. In this study, the status of medical wastes and recommended disinfecting methods were reviewed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia. The published papers, library searching, and website browsing with no language restrictions were used to conduct this analytical-descriptive study before the pandemic until the early months of 2020. The results showed that generation rates of medical waste (GRMW), including surgical gloves, face masks, and the like increased by 10%, 12%, 23%, 28%, 97%, 425, and 1262% in Iran, Tehran, China, Malaysia, Dhaka, Wuhan, and King Abdullah University Hospital, respectively, in 2020 regarding the normal period without any pandemic. The capital or the most engaged city in each country produced higher GRMW compared with the whole country so that the GRMW in Iran, Bangladesh, and China were 13.2%, 29.2%, and 70.4% lower than that in Tehran, Dhaka, and Wuhan, respectively. The GRMW also indicated reverse trends with the number of hospital beds, population, and accumulated confirmed cases.
Diagnosis Reliability of ChatGPT for Journal Evaluation
Authors: Dadkhah Mehdi , Oermann Marilyn H , Hegedüs Mihály , Raman Raghu , Dávid Lóránt Dénes
Published: October 2023

Purpose: Academic and other researchers have limited tools with which to address the current proliferation of predatory and hijacked journals. These journals can have negative effects on science, research funding, and the dissemination of information. As most predatory and hijacked journals are not error free, this study used ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence technology tool, to conduct an evaluation of journal quality. Methods: Predatory and hijacked journals were analyzed for reliability using ChatGPT, and the reliability of result have been discussed. Results: It shows that ChatGPT is an unreliable tool for journal quality evaluation for both hijacked and predatory journals. Conclusion: To show how address this gap, an early trial version of Journal Checker Chatbot has been developed and is discussed as an alternative chatbot that can assist researchers in detecting hijacked journals.
Frequency, Associated Factors, Clinical Symptoms, and Subtypes of Blastocystis sp. in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Healthy Individuals: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Norouzi Mojtaba , Pirestani Majid , Arefian Ehsan , Dalimi Abdolhossein , Sadraei Javid , Mirjalali Hamed , Olyaiee Alireza
Published: October 2023

Background: Blastocystis sp. is a widespread gastrointestinal inhabitant in human fecal samples that may present with diarrhea, vomiting, stomachache, and even irritating bowel syndrome (IBS). The probable association between Blastocystis infection and IBS has been the focus of many recent studies. Objectives: The current study investigated the frequency, associated risk factors, clinical symptoms, and subtypes of Blastocystis sp. among IBS and control individuals. Materials and Methods: In total, 202 stool samples (101 IBS patients and 101 control group) were collected upon giving consent. In addition, a questionnaire was completed by individuals, including demographic information. Fecal examination was performed using the direct microscopic, culture (DMEM), and molecular method. Results: The mean±standard deviation for the age of the involved subjects was 40.86±15.36 and 38.89±15.57 in the case and control groups, respectively. Further, among IBS patients and the control group, 53 (52.48%) and 50 (49.51%) were males and 48 (47.52%) and 51 (50.49%) were females, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age and gender (P>0.05). In this study, 35 (17.32%), 68 (33.66%), and 62 (30.69%) using direct, culture, and molecular methods, respectively, were positive regarding Blastocystis sp., and no statistically significant difference was observed in this regard (P>0.05). Based on molecular findings, subtypes 1 (21.28%) and 3 (6.93%) were the most common in both groups, which did not demonstrate a statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion: In general, although the predominant subtype in the IBS group is subtype 1, this difference between the case and control groups was not statistically significant. Specific subtypes of Blastocystis have only been associated with gut dysbiosis. The accurate diagnosis of this parasite, especially at the phenotypic and genotypic levels, along with its correlation with the gut microbiota, should be considered in future studies on IBS patients.
An Overview on the Function of Probiotics and Their Positive Effects on Enhancing Intestinal Immune Responses
Authors: Pishkar Seyed Edalat , Mesdaghinia Elaheh , yazdanpanah Zeinab , Ferdowsi Pegah , Zarei Yazdeli Mohadeseh
Published: October 2023

Probiotics are alive and beneficial microorganisms that affect the body’s microbial flora when consumed by humans or animals and have beneficial effects on the health of the host. Nowadays, probiotics are considered a factor in the prevention of many infectious diseases and cancers. Given the particular importance of probiotics, this study aimed to narratively review previous studies on the mode of action of probiotics and the beneficial effects of probiotics on enhancing intestinal immune responses. Articles on this topic were searched in Google Scholar, Springer, Science Direct, and Clinical Trial databases, and systematic review articles examining the effects of probiotics on the function of the intestinal immune response were included in the study. The results of the research showed that probiotics can boost the body’s immune system, break down food due to their ability to produce enzymes, lower the pH of the environment, and secrete bacteriocins. Furthermore, the effect of probiotics on the modulation mechanisms of the innate defense responses of the intestinal epithelium, including the stimulation of trefoil factor 3, induction of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) secretion, stimulation of secretory immunoglobulin production, and stimulation of toll-like receptors increase in heat shock protein production, modulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and regulation of mucins by probiotics. Therefore, probiotics are expected to be used as an adjunct treatment for many digestive and infectious diseases.
Comparative Study of the Effect of Sophora alopecuroides Plant Extract on Trichomonas vaginalis Parasite In Vitro
Authors: Khoeeniha Sedigheh , Sadraei Javid , Pirestani Majid , Bahadory Saeed
Published: October 2023

Background: Trichomoniasis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis is considered one of the most important worldwide non-viral sexually transmitted infections. The remaining clinical symptoms of the disease after treatment with metronidazole confirm the presence of metronidazole-resistant strains. Objectives: Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of the extract of the root and leaf of the Sophora alopecuroides plant on the growth and inhibition of the growth of T. vaginalis parasite. Methods: Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of S. alopecuroides plant roots and leaves with concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 5 mg/mL, as well as metronidazole were exposed to 105 parasites and mouse macrophage cells in 24 and 48 hours. To determine the toxicity of the extract on the cells, mice peritoneal cells were used for the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide test. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration and 50% cytotoxic concentration values were evaluated by PRISM GraphPad software, and analysis of variance and t test were employed for statistical comparisons by SPSS-23. Results: The aqueous-alkaline compounds of the root of the S. alopecuroides plant demonstrated a promising effect on inhibiting parasite growth, but the therapeutic index of the aqueous extract of its leaves was less effective than the rest of the extracts and metronidazole. After 24 hours, at a concentration of 2.5%, the aqueous extract of the root had the most effect with 69.4%, and the aqueous extract of the leaf had the least effect with 34.68% of growth inhibition. However, none of the extracts had a greater inhibitory effect than metronidazole, but after 48 hours, the effect of the extract caused more inhibition due to time. Conclusion: Overall, the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves and roots of the S. alopecuroides plant had suitable anti-trichomonas effects. In addition, the aqueous leaf extract had a good effect with the least toxicity. Considering that this research was performed for the first time, to generalize the results, extensive research is needed in in vivo conditions.