bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Provocative measures in the sonographic evaluation of varicocele in obese patients and relation of different grades of varicocele with intra-testicular hemodynamics
Authors: Hasan Zain ul , Gilani Syed Amir , Hanif Asif , Bacha Raham , Fatima Zareen
Published: May 2024

Background
Doppler ultrasonography is typically used to diagnose as a non-invasive imaging technique for the evaluation of varicocele. The Valsalva maneuver and standing position cause reflux of blood through incompetent venous valves, aiding in identifying the varicocele. Varicocele also compromises blood return and leads to an increase in intratesticular artery resistance and pulsatility. However, the efficacy of the standing position Valsalva maneuver and intratesticular artery resistance and pulsatility indices in obese patients for diagnosing varicocele remains uncertain. Obesity presents unique challenges during sonography due to increased adipose tissue and altered venous hemodynamics.
Objective
To evaluate the effect of standing position and Valsalva maneuver on the sonographic diagnosis of varicocele in obese patients and the relation of different grades of varicocele with intratesticular hemodynamics.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted at Gilani Ultrasound Centre, Lahore, Pakistan, from March 2019 to October 2023 on 107 obese male patients, and comprised aged 20–45 years diagnosed with varicocele and infertility having varicocele. Patients with testicular surgery, anomalous genitalia, lower limb edema, abdominal ascites or pleural effusion were excluded.
Results
The mean age of 30.16 ± 3.62 (23 to 39) years. The mean of BMI was 34.51 ± 2.09 (30 to 40), the mean of right-sided varicose veins diameter in laying position was 2.16 ± 0.75 (0.8 to 5.1)mm, while the mean of right-sided varicose veins diameter in standing position was 2.5 ± 0.86 (1.1 to 6.0)mm, and the mean of left-sided varicose veins diameter in laying position was 2.63 ± 0.68 (0.9 to 5.5)mm, while the mean of left-sided varicose veins diameter in standing position was 3.11 ± 0.75 (1.3 to 6.4)mm. The mean of right-sided intratesticular artery resistive index was 0.63 ± 0.07 (0.49 to 0.88), while the mean of left-sided intratesticular artery resistive index was 0.67 ± 0.07 (0.50 to 0.92).
Conclusion
A significant impact of the provocative measures like standing position and Valsalva maneuver is observed on the sonographic diagnosis of varicocele and statically significant increases in the intratesticular artery resistive and pulsatility indices were noted.
The Validity of Content Mapping: Let’s Call a Spade a Spade
Authors: Kampen Jarl K. , Tobi Hilde , Hagenaars Jos , Breuer Marian
Published: May 2024

Concept Mapping (CM) is
promoted as a research method suitable for interdisciplinary and
international research, “… best suited to applications where
diverse or wide-ranging opinions need to be gathered and made sense
of." Our study does not support these claims. We created a
situation where 54 statements were sorted on just 2 different
attributes. Neither the conventional analytic approach in CM nor
alternative clustering algorithms appear able to reveal these
attributes. CM may be appropriate to use when groups can be assumed
to be homogeneous, but CM cannot test this assumption. Discovering
which attributes are used by sorters requires thematic analysis or
focus groups.
Observation on the effect of reconstruction of the forearm rotation function with an external fixator in the treatment of congenital radioulnar synostosis
Authors: Dong Yanzhao , xu Junfang , Wang Feipeng , Jia Yunheng , Feng GuoMing , Liu Yu , Xue Han
Published: May 2024

Purpose: To observe the effect of the forearm rotation function reconstruction with an external fixator in treating congenital radioulnar synostosis.
Methods: From July 2017 to July 2023, 6 patients (9 sides) with congenital radioulnar synostosis who underwent reconstruction of the forearm rotation with the external fixator were retrospectively analyzed. The extent of flexion and rotation, the of Broberg and Morrey scores, and the grade according to the classification system proposed by Failla et al were compared before and after the operation.
Results: All patients were followed up for an average of 12.00(8.00,38.50) months. The average range of rotation, the scores of Broberg and Morrey increased from 0°, 84.89 ±2.03 points to 83.22°±25.37°, 92.67 ± 1.66 points, respectively. The differences were statistically significant (t = 9.72, P < 0.01, t = 19.42, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in forearm flexion before and after the operation ( Z = 1.34, P = 0.18 ). According to the Failla classification system, 2 forearms were classified as poor preoperatively, 6 as fair and 1 as good. Two forearms were assessed as excellent, 6 as good and 1 as fair during the last follow-up.
Conclusion: Reconstruction of the forearm rotation function with an external fixator is safe and effective for treating congenital radioulnar synostosis. This technique can restore the partial rotational function of the forearm.
Virtual Screening of Molecules via Neural Fingerprint-based Deep Learning Technique
Authors: Monsia Rivaaj , Bhattacharyya Sudeep
Published: May 2024

A machine learning-based drug screening technique has been developed and optimized using convolutional neural network-derived fingerprints. The optimization of weights in the neural network-based fingerprinting technique was compared with fixed Morgan fingerprints in regard to binary classification on drug-target binding affinity. The assessment was carried out using six different target proteins using randomly chosen small molecules from the ZINC15 database for training. This new architecture proved to be more efficient in screening molecules that less favorably bind to specific targets and retaining molecules that favorably bind to it. Scientific contribution We have developed a new neural fingerprint-based screening model that has a significant ability to capture hits. Despite using a smaller dataset, this model is capable of mapping chemical space similar to other contemporary algorithms designed for molecular screening. The novelty of the present algorithm lies in the speed with which the models are trained and tuned before testing its predictive capabilities and hence is a significant step forward in the field of machine learning-embedded computational drug discovery.
Synthesis, characterization and humidity sensing applications of calcium oxide nanoparticles synthesized by facile chemical precipitation method
Authors: Khan Asif , Din Israf Ud
Published: May 2024

Calcium oxide nanoparticles were prepared by mixing aqueous calcium nitrate tetrahydrate solution with sodium hydroxide solution. After short time, a precipitate of white colour of calcium hydroxide was formed. This precipitate was then dried in an electric oven to form powder. The formed dried powder was then calcinated for 3 hours at about 600 oC by applying an electric furnace to form CaO nanoparticles. Characterization of the prepared nanomaterials was performed by applying various characterization methods. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis was performed to study the surface chemical properties, UV-Visible spectroscopy was studied to examine the optical characteristics of the formed materials, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was done to study the thermal stability of the products and nitrogen adsorption-desorption was carried out to find out the porosity and surface area of the formed sample calcium oxide nanopartilcles. Humidity sensing performance was studied by measuring the variations in resistance of the sensor using LCR meter as a result of changes in humidity levels in a sealed chamber. From the results of XPS, it was proved that the sample mainly contains calcium and oxygen along with small amounts of impurities such as magnesium, sodium and chlorine. UV-Visible spectra showed two absorption bands at 230 nm and 267 nm. A broad absorption band was also found ranging from 300 nm to 350 nm. The band gap energy calculated from UV-Visible results was observed as 3.39 eV. TGA study confirmed that the weight loss occurred in two steps at two different temperatures. From nitrogen adsorption-desorption, BET surface area was calculated to be 129.49 m2/g and BJH surface area was observed to be 101.34. The average pore size estimated from BJH pore size distribution was 1.704 nm and the average pore volume was observed as 0.238 cc/g. The humidity sensing data showed a decrease in resistance of the sample with increase in the value of humidity, while sensitivity of the sample was increased linearly with increase in humidity levels. The response and recovery times of the sensor were 79 sec and 147 sec respectively. Humidity sensor stability evaluated for 90 days at 15 days intervals were noted and the results indicated that the formed sensor was 65 % stable for the above mentioned period. The results of the studied parameters concluded that the prepared calcium oxide nanoparticles can be effectively used for humidity sensing applications.
Exploring the potential of designed peptides containing lysine and arginine repeats against VIM-2 metallo-beta-lactamases
Authors: Anand Ananya Anurag , Sahoo Amaresh Kumar , Samanta Sintu Kumar
Published: May 2024

The persistent development of bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics presents a serious risk to public health worldwide. The ability of metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) to hydrolyze a wide range of β-lactam antibiotics and render them ineffective makes them a difficult challenge. The creation of clinically useful inhibitors against MBLs like VIM-2 is still challenging. In this study, we examine the inhibitory capacity of peptides against VIM-2 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Deriving inspiration from earlier studies on arginine-rich peptides, we hypothesized that lysine repeats with similar nature may show comparable binding with VIM-2.We found that lysine repeats are much more stable than arginine repeats, and show comparable binding with VIM-2. Initially, we designed a library of peptides containing various combinations of lysine and arginine residues, with the sequence length of 30 amino acids. By means of computational modeling, P-P docking and molecular dynamics simulations, we evaluated the stability and binding affinity of these peptides in complex with VIM-2. Furthermore, peptides showing best binding with VIM-2 were subjected to optimization such that the length was reduced to 12 residues. This optimization of peptide length to reduce charge and potential toxicity enhances the translational prospects of the sequences. We observed that PolyKR (6) was found to be the lead candidate. We demonstrate that incorporation of KR repeats in peptide sequences can be of help in enhancing their binding affinity towards VIM-2. Further, wet-laboratory validation needs to be performed in order to study the interaction of the peptide with the VIM-2 MBL in detail.
A retrospective analysis of gastric cancer lymph node based on groups, regions, and stages
Authors: Song Si-kai , Zhu Jiang , Feng Hai-min , Ma An-she , Yang Chao-gang
Published: May 2024

Objective
The consistency between clinical staging and pathological staging of lymph nodes (LNs) in gastric cancer (GC) remains consistently low, and there is currently no standardized imaging criterion available for diagnosing lymph node metastasis (LNM). To clarify the differences in LNs among different groups, regions, and stages, we conducted a study on the LNs of patients with GC, utilizing imaging and histopathology as the fundamental basis.
Methods
This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 100 patients diagnosed with GC who underwent surgical treatment at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between January 2022 and May 2023. We collected the basic characteristics of patients, as well as pathological and radiological data of LNs, and compared these data among different groups, regions, and stages.
Results
In terms of pathology, a total of 3566 LNs were collected, with a median of 35 (17–72). In terms of imaging, a total of 2233 LNs were collected, with a median of 22 (3–47). Differences were observed in the long-axis diameter (LAD), short-axis diameter (SAD), ratios of long to short axis RLSA), and product of long and short axis (PLSA) between negative LNs and positive LNs. However, only within group 3 did the RLSA show statistical difference after conducting grouping analysis. The areas under the curve (AUC) for the LAD, SAD, PLSA, and their combination index (CI) in diagnosing LNM were 0.817, 0.817, 0.828, and 0.827 respectively. Diverse groups, regions, and stages exerted a more pronounced influence on LN groups 1–6, while exhibiting a comparatively lesser impact on LN groups 7–16.
Conclusion
The LAD, SAD, and PLSA exhibited significant diagnostic value for LNM and could be employed as diagnostic criteria; however, the RLSA demonstrated limited diagnostic value. The formulation of diagnostic criteria should consider the impact of groups, regions, and stages in order to enhance the sensitivity and specificity.
High Energy Density Radiative Transfer in the Diffusion Regime with Fourier Neural Operators
Authors: Farmer Joseph , Smith Ethan , Bennett William , McClarren Ryan
Published: May 2024

Radiative heat transfer is a fundamental process in high energy density physics and inertial fusion. Accurately predicting the behavior of Marshak waves across a wide range of material properties and drive conditions is crucial for design and analysis of these systems. Conventional numerical solvers and analytical approximations often face challenges in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency. In this work, we propose a novel approach to model Marshak waves using Fourier Neural Operators (FNO). We develop two FNO-based models: (1) a base model that learns the mapping between the drive condition and material properties to a solution approximation based on the widely used analytic model by Hammer \& Rosen (2003), and (2) a model that corrects the inaccuracies of the analytic approximation by learning the mapping to a more accurate numerical solution. Our results demonstrate the strong generalization capabilities of the FNOs and show significant improvements in prediction accuracy compared to the base analytic model.
Adopting a Framework for Rapid Real-World Data Analyses in Safety Signal Assessment
Authors: Wang Lu , Golchin Negar , von Klot Stephanie , Salinas Claudia A , Manlik Katrin , Patadia Vaishali , Miller Mary K , Asubonteng Julius , McDermott Rachel , Barberio Julie , Gipson Geoffrey
Published: May 2024

The expanding availability of real-world data (RWD) has led to an increase in both the interest and possibilities for using this information in postmarketing safety analyses and signal management. While there is enormous potential value from the safety insights generated through RWD, the analysis preparation, execution, and communication required to reliably deliver the evidence can be time consuming. Since the safety signal assessment process is a regulated and timebound process, any supporting RWD analyses require a rapid turnaround of well-designed and informative results. To address this challenge, a TransCelerate BioPharma working group was formed and developed a framework to help teams responsible for safety signal assessment overcome the challenges of working with RWD rapidly to deliver analyses within regulatory timelines. Here, a previously performed safety assessment was evaluated within the context of the developed framework to illustrate how the framework may be adopted in practice.
Synthesis, characterization, and biological activity using computational study of synthesized monocyclic β-lactam ligands
Authors: Shweta Shweta , Muhammad Shabbir , Mishra Mahesh Kumar , Chaudhry Aijaz Rasool , Ahmad Khursheed
Published: May 2024

The synthesis of monocyclic β-lactam ligands, their spectral as well as the X-ray crystallographic analysis, computational study, and biological activity are all covered in this article. The characterization of all these ligands is completed through FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and X-ray crystallography study. We applied computational study to analyze the biological activity of all the designed monocyclic β-lactam ligands (4a, 4b, 4c and 4d) against cancer. For this purpose, ligand-protein interactions are studied by molecular docking and quantum chemical computations. The frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) results show a clear intramolecular charge transfer from central core (azetidine) towards thiadiazole ring more like donor and acceptor groups. Molecular electrostatic potentials (MEPs) are visualized to get insights to electrophilic and nucleophilic regions of studied compounds with the help of specific color codes. We calculated and compared bond lengths, bond and torsional angles for optimized geometry of 4a using M06-2X functional and 6-31G* basis sets. The matrix metalloproteases (MMP-9) protein which actively causes proliferation of cancer cells. Molecular docking results indicate that ligands 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d show the maximum binding energies (B.E) of -9.0, -9.4, -7.8 and 9.0 kcal.mol− 1 with MMP-9 protein. The studied 2-D and 3-D interactions show that compound 4b and 4d interact more vigorously with MMP-9 protein through three hydrogen bonds in each complex. For compound 4a, density of states (DOS) plot is calculated by dividing the molecule into three fragments. DOS results provide the major contributions of fragments containing thiadiazole ring towards HOMO and LUMO at ~ -13 eV to 5 eV, respectively. The current investigation highlights the importance of the entitle compounds as efficient bioactive candidates against cancer as investigated through experimental and quantum computational techniques.
Phosphorus uptake and PSR gene expression in eucalypts plants under split root system
Authors: FerreiraTorres Luana , de Andrade Sara Adrián López , Mazzafera Paulo
Published: May 2024

Phosphorus (P) often limits plant growth and development because its availability in most soils is low, mainly in tropical soils. Various phosphate transporters and regulatory elements, including transcription factors, are involved in the uptake and transport of P from the soil into root cells and to other plant organs. The split-root technique was applied to three eucalypt species to understand better the mechanisms of the root-leaf signaling and remobilization response to P supply. Two-month-old seedlings of Eucalypts grandis, E. globulus, and E. tereticornis were used, with each half of the split root system placed in pots. The P treatments were: +P/+P, +P/-P, and-P/-P (+P = P supplementation and –P = P depleted). P was supplied as 440 μM nutrient solution. Eucalypts plants were grown for six weeks and RT-qPCR evaluated the expression of genes related to P uptake, transport, and utilization in roots and leaves. P supply on one side of the root seemed to compensate for the lack of P on the other side in the +P/-P treatment, so the plant did not show P stress responses, and root-to-root signaling and remobilization in this treatment differed depending on the species. The genes analyzed were mostly induced when plants were under P deprivation, and the expression response was species-dependent. Therefore, this indicates that different mechanisms may be involved in plant response to low P and that signaling control may also be linked to the adaptation of eucalypts species to low soil P.
Culturally-shaped Mindsets of Authoritarian Leadership: Power Motivation and Effectiveness Belief Promoted by Power Distance
Authors: Jiang Xinhui , Wang Maolin , Ma Chao , Chen Nannan
Published: May 2024

An intriguing paradox in organizational management is that authoritarian leadership continues to prevail, particularly in high power distance contexts, despite recurring adverse research outcomes. To explore this puzzle, this study integrated cultural and active leader-choice perspectives and proposed a comprehensive framework to illustrate how power distance shapes leaders’ social cognition and motivation toward authoritarian leadership, causing variations in its distribution within and between cultures. Two studies were conducted in China and the US. The results demonstrated that leaders’ power distance boosts their belief in the effectiveness of discipline-focused authoritarian leadership and need for power, resulting in the manifestation of discipline- or dominance-focused authoritarian leadership, respectively. In addition, Chinese leaders exhibited higher power distance scores and stronger beliefs in the effectiveness of authoritarian leadership than US leaders. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Strengthening Plant Health Systems in South Sudan: Addressing Challenges and Enhancing System Efficiency and Sustainability
Authors: Makale Fernadis , Ayuya Oscar Ingasia , Gama Peter B. S , Otieno Arnold Jong , Okeny Johnny , Mugambi Idah , Alworah Getrude Okutoyi , Jumason Abdul Hakim , Rware Harrison , Aman Catherine , Mbaka Zachary Simba , Ochilo Willis Ndeda
Published: May 2024

Climate change-induced invasive pests remain a major bottleneck to agricultural productivity and food security in South Sudan. Strengthening the plant health system has the potential to contribute to reducing crop losses caused by pests. A situational analysis was conducted to assess the current state and effectiveness of plant health functions in three counties in South Sudan. Descriptive findings of data collected from 960 farmers in Juba, Yambio, and Yei indicated low access to plant health services, including advisory and extension, training, and information. There was a high dependence on NGOs and UN agencies to provide plant health services, indicating a gap in government-led initiatives. Multivariate probit regression analysis revealed mixed effects of farmer advisory, agricultural training, and plant health information on crop rotation, crop diversification, row planting, chemical pesticides, early planting, and certified seed. This demonstrates a complex relationship between plant health services and on-farm practices. Socioeconomic variables also had varying effects on crop management practices, suggesting inequitable access to plant health services and resources. These findings have crucial implications for the plant health system in South Sudan, requiring the need for service accessibility, government involvement in plant health systems, strengthening of the policy and regulatory frameworks, and inclusivity in service provision.
Discrimination of Protein-Protein and Protein-Peptide Interactions using Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Kumar A. Kiran , Rathore R. S.
Published: May 2024

Protein-protein interactions (PPI) play important roles in almost all cellular processes. PPI also includes protein-peptide interactions (PPepI), which, by an estimate, account for 15–40% of all such interactions. Even though protein-protein and protein-peptide recognition mechanisms sound similar, seemingly subtle differences exist among them. Knowledge of such differences is essential for biologics design when augmentation or disruption of protein-protein interactions is substituted with peptide-based mimics. Peptide-based leads have multiple advantages, including longer shelf life, feasibility of oral delivery, flexibility of optimisation, screening, and versatility of mimetics synthesis. To characterise differences between protein-protein and protein-peptide interactions, we have used machine learning approaches to classify these interactions. We compiled three datasets, comprising protein-protein, protein-peptide, and non-interacting protein complexes, each of which has 212 high-quality crystal structures. We calculated 583 sequence and physicochemical properties based on the on the features of one protein partner in all three datasets. With the correlation-based feature selection attribute evaluator and the best first search method, 56 features were chosen for classification. We performed different supervised machine learning algorithms with a 10-fold cross-validation method for unbiased classification of PPI and PPepI datasets. The Bayesian network method yielded the highest accuracy of 80.53%. Further, to achieve the highest accuracy and identify relevant features that can be employed for peptide-based biologic design applications, we calculated 73 PPI-specific molecular descriptors and applied ML methods. Application of the simple logistic method resulted in the highest accuracy of 92.21% (recall 0.925, precision 0.920, ROC 0.978, and PRC 0.981). The present attempt to discriminate between the between the recognition mechanisms of protein-protein and protein-peptide in cellular processes should aid in the design of peptide-based biologics.
2.5-fold expansion of the genetic diversity of blunerviruses through plant (meta)transcriptome data-mining
Authors: Reddy T. Sudharshan , Sidharthan V. Kavi
Published: May 2024

Kitaviruses are plant-infecting, non-systemic disease-causing viruses with multipartite single-stranded RNA genomes. Despite their importance, knowledge on kitaviruses is limited in comparison with other plant virus groups, mainly because of the lesser number of identified and characterized kitaviruses and their isolates. In the present study, we explored plant (meta)transcriptome data available in public domain and identified genome sequences of fifteen putative novel blunerviruses in fifteen plant species, including three gymnospermic and three monocot species. Four RNA segments (RNAs 1–4) of ten identified viruses were recovered, whilst atleast two RNA segments were recovered for the remaining viruses. Monocistronic RNA1 of identified viruses encodes methyltransferase (MET)-helicase (HEL) polyprotein, except RNA1 of Nanmu blunervirus 1 that encodes a relatively larger MET-HEL-RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) polyprotein. Monocistronic RNAs 2 and 4, respectively of identified viruses, encode HEL-RdRp polyprotein and movement protein (MP). Three to four open reading frames (ORFs) were determined in RNA3 of identified viruses, of which the relatively conserved ORF3, always encodes the negevirus membrane protein (SP24) homolog. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the identified viruses with known blunerviruses. Based on genome organization, sequence identities of encoded proteins with known blunerviruses and phylogeny, the identified viruses are regarded as new members of the genus Blunervirus. The study paves way for initiating further studies on understanding the biological properties, economic importance and geographical distribution of identified blunerviruses.
Study of the response of myocardial infarction disease to thrombolytic therapy and its relationship to risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia)
Authors: Nabulsi Ahmad , Akasha Ahmad , nayef Abd al qader al
Published: May 2024

Objective
The research aims to study demographic and clinical factors associated with response to thrombolytic therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
Place of study:
Damascus Hospital
Study dates:
between 9/1/2018 and 9/1/2023.
Type of study:
Descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study
Patients:
The study included 223 patients with ST- segment elevation myocardial infarction who received thrombolytic therapy (mean age 57.6 years, male 77.1%).
Results
As a result, there was a complete response in 53.4%, and a partial response in 29.1%. Non-response rate of 17.5%. Failure of thrombolytic therapy was associated with increasing age (p < 0.001), hypertension (p: 0.004), diabetes (p < 0.001), increased duration from onset of chest pain to receiving thrombolytic therapy (p < 0.001), and higher High blood glucose (p < 0.001), high LDL cholesterol (p: 0.022), duration of diabetes (p < 0.001), and duration of hypertension (p < 0.001), are therefore considered risk factors for failure of thrombolytic therapy and reperfusion. Bloody.
Conclusion
Therefore, we suggest that cardiac catheterization should be the first line of treatment instead of thrombolytic therapy when it is available in elderly patients, patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, and when the period between the onset of chest pain and treatment exceeds 12 hours, due to its association with a high rate of failure of thrombolytic therapy.
How energy demand, poverty, and governance issues drive communities toward deforestation and carbon emissions
Authors: Tufail Muhammad , Khayyam Umer , Alvi Shahzad , Wilson Clevo
Published: May 2024

Pakistan, the 5th most populous country in the world, is also classified as one of the most affected by climate change. To blame is the ever-rising population growth, leading to higher energy demand that is dragging the rural communities towards forest resource depletion in order to meet household energy needs. It is impacting 4% of the country’s already limited forest reserves and creating excessive carbon emissions. This research analyzes deforestation rate, biomass and carbon losses and CO2 emissions in the Malakand Division, Pakistan. The data sources and models used were Landsat (8), GIS, and remote sensing, coupled with self-administered 521 household questionnaires deployed in 23 villages in the proximity of forest land. The results confirm deforestation is occurring at the annual rate of 0.74%yr-1, corresponding to a total emission of 1352055.64 MgCO2eqyr-1 over 17 years (2000-17). The risk of losing forest resources stands at 8,141 species yr-1. The drivers behind deforestation were fuelwood collection totalling 8,501,720 kg used to meet the energy needs of household and commercial activities. The reasons behind this exhaustive deforestation and resulting carbon emissions, as revealed by the household survey, were decling industrial economy and services sector, low off-farm wages and non-availability of financial credit to shift to other sources of income. This study calls for the provision of alternative livelihood opportunities and effective forest management to be associated with the REDD+ mechanism to protect forest resources and address global warming.
Sociolinguistic Variation in Urban Linguistic Landscapes
Authors: Henricson Sofie , Syrjälä Väinö , Bagna Carla , Bellinzona Martina
Published: May 2024

This book is about how urban linguistic landscapes reflect and create sociolinguistic, societal and urban dynamics, and how these relations can be scientifically explored. Focusing on the linguistic landscapes of selected cities in northern and southern Europe, it sheds light on how urban areas with diverse profiles differ, and how the linguistic landscapes change through tourism and migration, or in times of crisis. The chapters put forward sophisticated and novel ways of approaching urban sociolinguistics and they enhance understanding of the challenges and opportunities included in the study of sociolinguistic variation in these linguistic landscapes. The book is targeted at scholars in the field of urban sociolinguistics and those wishing to approach the subject through the lens of linguistic landscapes. It also gives interesting suggestions to people involved in language planning and policy reflection, as well as those engaged in urban redevelopment planning. Last but not least, it offers theoretical and methodological guidance to students and researchers in a variety of disciplines.
Avaliação da eficácia e durabilidade da Vacina Anti-HPV nos diferentes esquemas vacinais: Uma revisão sistemática
Authors: Sampaio Luiza Felicianno , Vilela Milena Morais , Barros Laiza Alencar Santos , Saddi Vera Aparecida , Ribeiro Andrea Alves
Published: May 2024

O HPV é o agente etiológico do câncer de colo de útero. É a segunda principal neoplasia entre as mulheres, quando considerados os países menos desenvolvidos e de baixa renda. Apesar do desenvolvimento de três imunizantes eficazes na prevenção de infecções e de lesões HPV-relacionadas, nem sempre se observa o cumprimento completo do esquema vacinal. Acredita-se que o número de doses seja um fator preponderante para a baixa adesão. Nesse intuito, o objetivo do estudo foi verificar se o esquema reduzido de doses tem uma eficácia e durabilidade comparáveis ao esquema ampliado. Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática da literatura cuja estratégia de pesquisa bibliográfica incluiu consulta às bases de pesquisa PubMed e SciELO no primeiro semestre de 2022. Os critérios de inclusão foram:  Estudos clínicos randomizados publicados em língua inglesa, portuguesa ou espanhola; Publicações dos últimos cinco anos; Publicações nas quais a intervenção é a aplicação da vacina na população adolescente ou adulta; Publicações que avaliam diferentes esquemas vacinais e Publicações com desfecho relacionado à eficácia e durabilidade dos esquemas vacinais. Os critérios foram avaliados por dois revisores independentes e o risco de viés das publicações foi analisado pelo checklist CONSORT. Foram reunidos 54 artigos, dos quais 12 foram elegíveis. Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que os esquemas reduzidos de uma ou duas doses possuem imunogenicidade, eficácia e durabilidade da proteção anti-HPV satisfatórias, sem prejuízos em relação a esquemas de três doses. Portanto,  esquemas reduzidos, se tornam uma estratégia de imunização , principalmente no que tange aos países em desenvolvimento, que teriam seus programas de vacinação fortalecidos e a cobertura vacinal ampliada.
Percepções de conselheiros tutelares frente às situações de violência contra crianças e adolescentes
Authors: Ribeiro Aline Cammarano , Pedroso Fernanda Ilha , Arboit Jaqueline , Honnef Fernanda , Cardoso de Paula Cristiane , Leal Tifany Colomé , Vanuza Monteiro Bugs Cintia , Schek Gabriele
Published: May 2024

Objetivo: Conhecer as percepções de Conselheiros Tutelares frente às situações de violência contra crianças e adolescentes. Método: Pesquisa exploratório-descritiva de abordagem qualitativa. Participaram do estudo 18 Conselheiros Tutelares de dois municípios da região central do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados no ano de 2021 pela técnica de Grupo Focal, após aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Os dados foram sistematizados e analisados pela Análise de Conteúdo Temática. Resultados: As percepções dos Conselheiros Tutelares frente às situações de violência contra crianças e adolescentes relacionam-se a sentimentos de tristeza, vulnerabilidade e desamparo da criança. Estas situações ocorrem desde a gestação até após o nascimento, incluindo a violência física, psicológica e sexual, perpetradas dentro da família. A identificação das situações de violência chega por meio de denúncias espontâneas, via contato telefônico, e ocorre a partir da experiência profissional. Considerações Finais: os conselheiros tutelares necessitam de espaços para discutir sobre os sentimentos que afloram nessa prática, qualificações constantes, devido à complexidade que envolve esse tema e as consequências ocasionadas na vida das crianças.
On the decisional problem based on matrix power function defined over non-commutative group
Authors: Mihalkovich Aleksejus , Zitkevicius Jokubas
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we perform statistical analysis for the decisional problem which is fundamental for the security of the key exchange protocol based on matrix power function. We have proven previously that the considered decisional problem is NP-complete and hence our proposal could potentially be quantum-safe. However, we did not explore the dependence of the complexity of the considered problem on the security parameters. Here we show that for small matrices certain information could be gained from the distribution of the entries of the public key matrices. On the other hand, we show that as the size of the matrices grows, the public key matrices are indistinguishable from truly random matrices.
Terrorist attacks in Türkiye: An analysis of counter-terrorism medicine
Authors: Kınık Kerem , Dağ Nihal , Koçak Hüseyin , Çalışkan Cüneyt
Published: May 2024

Aim: The objective of this research was to perform a counter-terrorism medicine analysis of terrorist attacks in Türkiye.

Methods: This study is a retrospective cross-sectional research. The study population consisted of terrorist incidents that occurred in Türkiye, as provided by the START Global Terrorism Database for the period from 1970 to 2020. Various characteristics of terror attacks in Türkiye were analyzed and presented in tabular form.

Results: Over the past 51 years, there have been a total of 4,485 terrorist incidents, with 91.2% reaching their intended targets as orchestrated by terrorist organizations in Türkiye. Of these incidents, 2,767 had detrimental economic impacts. Additionally, 17,570 individuals experienced adverse medical effects. Among the 81 provinces in Turkey, Istanbul witnessed the highest number of terrorist incidents and suffered the most significant medical consequences.

Conclusion: Türkiye has been significantly impacted by terrorist incidents over the past fifty years especially within the last decade, particularly in metropolitan provinces like Istanbul. These events have negatively affected both the health and economic well-being of many individuals. In response, while the country has implemented various security measures and preparedness strategies to mitigate such incidents, there is also a critical need to improve the readiness of healthcare services to effectively handle the potential consequences of terrorist attacks. This includes advancing anti-terror medicine and tactical medicine capabilities, as well as strengthening mass casualty management systems. Such improvements will ensure a more effective and coordinated response to large-scale emergencies, ultimately saving lives and reducing the long-term impacts on society.
Caracterización preliminar de las especies forestales del clado Campanulidas en el distrito de Olleros, Chachapoyas, Amazonas – Perú
Authors: Betty Betty , Jessy P. Jessy P. , Rosalynn Y. Rosalynn Y. , Oscar A. Oscar A. , Italo Italo
Published: May 2024

El objetivo del estudio fue caracterizar dendrológicamente las especies pertenecientes al clado Cam- panulidas en el distrito de Olleros, Amazonas, Perú, y determinar su estado de conservación. Las especies fueron recolectadas, preservadas y fotografiadas para su posterior depósito en el herbario KUELAP. Se registraron seis especies arbóreas, de las cuales tres pertenecen a la familia Asteraceae, una a Escalloniaceae, una a Columelliaceae y otra a Caprifoliaceae. Cinco de las especies están cate- gorizadas como Preocupación Menor (LC) según los criterios de la IUCN. Además, se identificaron dos nuevos registros para la región Amazonas: Gynoxys yananoensis y Smallanthus jelskii, ambas pertenecientes a la familia Asteraceae.
An Artificial Intelligence Driven Approach for Classification of Ophthalmic
Images using Convolutional Neural Network: An Experimental Study
Authors: Singh Shagundeep , Banoub Raphael , Sanghvi Harshal A. , Agarwal Ankur , Chalam K.V. , Gupta Shailesh , Pandya Abhijit S.
Published: May 2024

Background:

Early disease detection is emphasized within ophthalmology now more than ever, and as a result, clinicians and innovators turn to deep learning to
expedite accurate diagnosis and mitigate treatment delay. Efforts concentrate on the creation of deep learning systems that analyze clinical image
data to detect disease-specific features with maximum sensitivity. Moreover, these systems hold promise of early accurate diagnosis and treatment
of patients with common progressive diseases. DenseNet, ResNet, and VGG-16 are among a few of the deep learning Convolutional Neural
Network (CNN) algorithms that have been introduced and are being investigated for potential application within ophthalmology.

Methods:

In this study, the authors sought to create and evaluate a novel ensembled deep learning CNN model that analyzes a dataset of shuffled retinal color
fundus images (RCFIs) from eyes with various ocular disease features (cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy). Our aim was to determine (1) the
relative performance of our finalized model in classifying RCFIs according to disease and (2) the diagnostic potential of the finalized model to
serve as a screening test for specific diseases (cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy) upon presentation of RCFIs with diverse disease
manifestations.

Results:

We found adding convolutional layers to an existing VGG-16 model, which was named as a proposed model in this article that, resulted in
significantly increased performance with 98% accuracy (p<0.05), including good diagnostic potential for binary disease detection in cataract,
glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy.

Conclusion:

The proposed model was found to be suitable and accurate for a decision support system in Ophthalmology Clinical Framework.
Pemberian Ransum yang Ditambah Acidifier Dengan Inulin dan Enzim Papain Terhadap Perlemakan Daging dan Bobot Karkas Kalkun Jantan Fase Grower
Authors: Krismiyanto Lilik Krismiyanto, , Yunianto Vitus Dwi , Mangisah Istna , Crismawati Rizky
Published: May 2024

Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh penambahan acidifier dengan inulin dan enzim papain pada ransum terhadap kecernaan lemak kasar, massa lemak daging, bobot relatif lemak abdominal dan bobot karkas kalkun jantan fase grower. Ternak percobaan yang digunakan adalah kalkun jantan fase grower umur 13 minggu sebanyak 80 ekor dengan bobot badan ratarata 1.605,05Â±85,16 g. Bahan perlakuan yang digunakan yaitu acidifier (asam laktat, asam propionat dan asam formiat), inulin bersumber dari ekstrak akar sawi pahit dan enzim papain sintetik. Perlakuan yang diterapkan adalah T0 = ransum kontrol/RK ; T1 = RK + acidifier 1% ; T2 = RK + acidifier 1% + inulin 1,2% ; T3 = RK + acidifier 1% + enzim papain 0,15% ; T4 = RK + acidifier 1% + inulin 1,2% + enzim papain 0,15%. Parameter yang diukur yaitu kecernaan lemak kasar, massa lemak daging, bobot relatif lemak abdominal dan bobot karkas. Data dianalisis menggunakan analysis of variance pada taraf 5%, jika berpengaruh nyata dilanjutkan dengan uji ganda Duncan pada taraf 5% untuk mengetahui perbedaan antar perlakuan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan penambahan acidifier dengan inulin dan enzim papain pada ransum berpengaruh nyata (p<0,05) terhadap kecernaan lemak kasar, massa lemak daging, bobot relatif lemak abdominal dan bobot karkas kalkun jantan fase grower. Simpulan penelitian adalah penambahan acidifier 1% dengan inulin 1,2% dan enzim papain 0,15% pada ransum mampu menurunkan kecernaan lemak kasar, massa lemak daging dan bobot relatif lemak abdominal serta meningkatkan bobot karkas kalkun jantan fase grower.
Inseminasi Buatan Menggunakan Semen Beku Dosis Ganda Pada Sapi Perah Peranakan Friesian Holstein
Authors: Yekti Aulia Puspita Anugra , Bayuardhi Muhammad , Wahjuningsih Sri , Susilawati Trinil
Published: May 2024

Inseminasi Buatan (IB) adalah suatu teknologi reproduksi yang dapat diimplementasikan untuk meningkatkan populasi dan mutu genetik ternak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi keberhasilan IB dengan menggunakan dosis tunggal dan dosis ganda pada sapi peranakan Friesian Holstein (PFH). Penelitian ini dilakukan di desa Bendosari dan Sukamulya Kecamatan Pujon, Kabupaten Malang, Jawa Timur, Indonesia. Materi penelitian adalah sapi perah PFH sebanyak 99 ekor yang dipilih secara purposive sampling dengan kriteria yaitu memiliki BCS 2.5-3.5, sudah pernah melahirkan, mempunyai organ reproduksi yang sehat serta menunjukkan tanda estrus yang jelas. Perlakuan yang diberikan terdiri atas dua perlakuan yaitu 50 ekor sapi di IB dengan dosis tunggal (P0) dan 49 ekor sapi di IB dengan dosis ganda dengan waktu berbeda yaitu 2 dan 8 jam setelah munculnya estrus (P1). Deposisi semen yang digunakan adalah posisi 4 (korpus uteri). Pemeriksaan kebuntingan dilakukan dengan menggunakan ultrasonografi (USG). Parameter yang diamati adalah Non-Return Rate (NRR), Conception Rate (CR) dan Pregnancy Rate (PR). Analisa data dilakukan dengan menggunakan uji chi-square. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa persentase NRR1 dan NRR2 pada P0 adalah 70% dan 60%, sedangkan pada P1 adalah 81,63% dan 71,43%. Persentase CR pada P0 dan P1 masing-masing adalah 50% dan 57%, sedangkan nilai PR pada P0 dan P1 adalah 66% dan 67%. Hasil uji chi square menunjukkan nilai NRR dan CR menunjukkan hasil yang berbeda nyata (P<0,05), sedangkan PR tidak berbeda nyata (P>0,05). Kesimpulan pada penelitian ini bahwa metode IB semen beku dosis ganda pada waktu berbeda memiliki keberhasilan kebuntingan yang lebih baik dibandingkan dengan IB dosis tunggal.
Lista actualizada y nuevos registros de las catarinas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) del estado de Morelos, México
Authors: Trejo-Loyo Adriana Gabriela , Nestor Jorge , Marín-Jarillo Antonio
Published: May 2024

El estado de Morelos, México ha sido un sitio importante para la colecta y estudio de diversos grupos de insectos, entre ellos los coccinélidos; sin embargo, este grupo no había recibido suficiente atención y por esta razón no existe un listado actualizado de especies que incluya a las especies registradas y a las que están resguardadas en colecciones de insectos nacionales y estatales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue contribuir al conocimiento taxonómico de las catarinas de Morelos, para lo cual se revisaron los ejemplares de Coccinellidae Latreille, 1807, depositados en tres colecciones de insectos del estado de Morelos y tres nacionales. El material entomológico fue identificado mediante claves dicotómicas e información de artículos científicos, por lo que en algunas especies fue necesaria la extracción de los genitales masculinos. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica para incluir las especies registradas de manera aislada. El listado incluye un total de 100 especies, de las cuales 19 son nuevos registros para el estado. La validez del registro de las especies Azya luteipes Mulsant, 1850, Paraneda pallidula guticollis Mulsant, 1850, Hyperaspis bicruciata Mulsant, 1850, H. sexverrucata (Fabricius, 1801), Scymnus (Pullus) apicalis Mulsant, 1850 y S. (Pullus) auritulus Mulsant, 1850 es cuestionada debido a la distribución actual de las mismas.
Una mezcla de aceites esenciales como herramienta para el control de Musca domestica Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae)
Authors: Alavez-Rosas David , Cortés Martínez Fernando , Cruz Esteban Samuel , Malo Rivera Edi Álvaro
Published: May 2024

Resumen
Musca domestica Linnaeus, (Diptera: Muscidae) llamada mosca común o doméstica, es una plaga de importancia para la salud pública porque es vector de muchas enfermedades en humanos y animales. La aplicación de insecticidas sintéticos es la principal estrategia para controlar a estas moscas, pero el uso excesivo e indebido de estas sustancias pueden tener efectos adversos para el hombre y el medio ambiente. Además, esta mosca ha desarrollado resistencia a diversos insecticidas. Las mezclas de aceites esenciales son alternativas naturales para complementar el uso de insecticidas sintéticos para el control de esta plaga. En este estudio, comparamos los efectos insecticidas de una mezcla de cinco aceites esenciales comerciales y del piretroide lambda-cialotrina contra larvas y adultos de la mosca común. Además, describimos la influencia que tienen ambos tratamientos en el desarrollo de esta especie cuando fue tratado en el estado larval. Finalmente, analizamos la composición química de la mezcla mediante cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (CG-EM), para correlacionar la actividad biológica con los compuestos presentes en la mezcla. La mezcla de aceites esenciales mostró un mayor efecto larvicida en comparación con la lambda-cialotrina (5% de ingrediente activo) y mostró un efecto letal similar en los adultos. Ambos tratamientos provocaron efectos nocivos similares en el ciclo de vida de M. domestica. El análisis químico de la mezcla mostró la presencia de terpenos, terpenoides y un hidrocarburo. Encontramos diferencias en la composición química de los volátiles de la mezcla según el método de muestreo. Discutimos nuestros hallazgos en términos del manejo integrado de vectores.