bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single Molecule Dissociation of a Mycotoxin/Aptamer Complex in an α-hemolysin Nanopore
Authors: Su Zhuoqun , Li Tong , Wu Di , Wu Yongning , Li Guoliang
Published: November 2023

Mycotoxins analysis is essential for food safety since mycotoxins can cause severe toxic effects on humans and animals health. The aptasensor has been shown as a powerful detection platform for mycotoxins analysis. Aptamer, as a key recognition element in aptasensor for mycotoxin, has been speculated to fold from linear strand into elaborate tertiary structures, forming a selective binding pocket for mycotoxin. Direct observation of the binding or dissociation between mycotoxin and its aptamer at single-molecule level however remains a challenge. In this paper, ochratoxin A (OTA) aptamer with a poly (dC)15 at 3' end is designed for the dissociation of OTA/aptamer complex and translocation in α-hemolysin (α-HL) nanopore. The large vestibule and the narrow constriction of α-HL allow the capture of OTA/aptamer complex and the dissociation, which can distinguish the conformation variation of OTA aptamer in the confined space. Under an appropriate condition, OTA/aptamer complex resulted in a distinguished type of current blockage (duration time > 200 ms) compared to the aptamer itself. The transient current oscillations were observed when OTA/aptamer complex was inside the vestibule of α-HL, followed by the escape to cis side (type I) or translocation to the trans side (type II). The single-molecule binding or dissociation properties between OTA and aptamer are affected by various factors like voltage, electrolytic buffer, as well as the existence of divalent cations. The result illustrated that biological nanopore may have the potential for uncovering the interaction mechanism between ochratoxin A and its aptamer.
Dyslipidemia is associated with sarcopenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the elderly
Authors: Bi Bingqing , Dong Xinying , Yan Meilin , Zhao Zhuo , Liu Ruitong , Li Shugang , Wu Hao
Published: November 2023

Purpose Sarcopenia is a pathological change characterized by muscle loss in older people. It was reported that sarcopenia was 3.1 mg/dL more common in females than in nonsarcopenic females. However, in another study, TG (1.57 ± 0.92 mmol/L) in sarcopenia patients was much lower than that in nonsarcopenia patients. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between sarcopenia and dyslipidemia.Methods We searched the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP Database) for case‒control studies to extract data on the odds ratio (OR) between sarcopenia and dyslipidemia and the mean values of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, and TG/HDL-C between sarcopenia and nonsarcopenia. The JBI guidelines were used to evaluate the quality. Excel 2021, Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 16.0 were used for the statistical analysis.Results Twenty studies were included in the meta-analysis, 19 of which were evaluated as good quality. The overall OR of the relationship between sarcopenia and dyslipidemia was 1.47, and the MD values of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, and TG/HDL-C were 1.10, 1.95, 1.27, 30.13, and 0.16, respectively. The MD of LDL-C in females was greater than that in males. The OR of the non-China region was greater than that of China. The MD of TC in people (> 60) was higher than that in people (20 to 60).Conclusion Dyslipidemia was associated with sarcopenia, dyslipidemia was a risk factor for sarcopenia, and sex, region and age were the influencing factors. The control of dyslipidemia plays a significant role in sarcopenia.
Network Information Dynamics Renormalization Group
Authors: Zhang Zhang , Ghavasieh Arsham , Zhang Jiang , De Domenico Manlio
Published: November 2023

Information dynamics is vital for many complex systems with networked backbones, from cells to societies. Recent advances in statistical physics have enabled capturing the macroscopic network properties, like how diverse the flow pathways are and how fast the signals can transport, based on the network counterparts of entropy and free energy. However, given the computational challenge posed by the large number of components in real-world systems, there is a need for advanced network renormalization--- i.e., compression--- methods providing simpler-to-read representations while preserving the flow of information between functional units across scales. We use graph neural networks to identify suitable groups of components for coarse-graining a network and achieve a low computational complexity suitable for practical application. Even for large compressions, our approach is highly effective in preserving the flow in synthetic and empirical networks, as demonstrated by theoretical analysis and numerical experiments. Remarkably, we find that the model works by merging nodes of similar ecological niches--- i.e., structural properties---, suggesting that they play redundant roles as senders or receivers of information. Our work offers a low-complexity renormalization method breaking the size barrier for meaningful compressions of extremely large networks, working as a multiscale topological lens in preserving the flow of information in biological, social, and technological systems better than existing alternatives mostly focused on structural properties of a network.
Valuation and Valorization of volaille’s wastes in fabrication of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and collagen from egg shells: waste recycling.
Authors: Rouabhi Rachid , Ziani Nihal , Abbassi Anfel , Zouaoui Sara , Bouzenzana Sarra
Published: November 2023

Around the world, large quantities of eggs are consumed in a variety of ways, producing enormous numbers of eggshells. These eggshells may wind up in landfills, rivers, or coastal waters, which may have an adverse effect on people's health, contaminate water supplies, or otherwise harm the environment. Additionally, in recent years, particular attention has been paid to industrial sectors that pollute the environment.
Eggshells have some organic membranes and contain a lot of CaCO3, although they are typically regarded as garbage. ES comprise roughly 95% calcium carbonate, and the ES membrane's fibrils are primarily made of proteins, around 10% of which are collagen (types I, V, and X).
Due to the versatility of both calcium carbonate and collagen in many fieldssuch as medicine, pharmaceutic, alimentation and cosmetic. In this study, we used waste eggshell as raw material to extract calcium carbonate and collagen as bio and natural products, in this study we gave an attempt to reduce waste eggshell, including environmental pollution, in order to preserve our health and achieve the zero-waste rule.
One (1) kg of eggshell collected from two different restaurants, we used just 100g of the extern membrane to extract CaCO3 and 50g from the inner membrane to extract collagen. The eggshells were cleaned and sterilized, both membranes were separated manually. The outer membrane was ground and mixed with 10% of acetic acid in order to extract CaCO3. The inner membrane went through two stages, the first one is the pre-treatment to remove impurity such as soluble non-collagenous compound, lipids, pigments and aftertaste. The second one is the extraction step of collagen by 0.5M of citric or acetic acid.
In this study, the presence of calcium carbonate content in ES was determined by back titration.
The result of this study was high yield of pure material of CaCO3 and collagen, the rest of the details and information you will get through the upcoming papers.
Calculating non-scalar diffraction efficiently via merging Braunbek method and Bluestein method
Authors: Yang Thomas
Published: November 2023

Diffraction is an optical phenomenon that is commonly investigated for its applications in many optical systems, such as diffractive optical elements, microscopy, and coronagraphs. Current models for predicting diffraction typically suffer from either efficiency or accuracy. This paper addressed both issues by implementing techniques inspired by Braunbek method and Bluestein method. A modification to the Kirchhoff’s boundary conditions is used to improve the theoretical model, and the Chirp-z transform is applied instead of the fast Fourier transform for more flexible calculations. A comparison between diffraction patterns for different models shows that the new method exceeds in accuracy. A comparison of time between numerical methods demonstrates that the chirp-z transform is faster in computation than the fast Fourier transform by about a minute. The method introduced provides many implications, such as the enhancement of dynamic optical systems and the improvement of flexibility in other realms of numerical Fourier transform.
Alterations in the transcript level of the CNTNAP2 gene could conceivably influence verbal Theory of Mind and estimate autism likelihood
Authors: Ghamari Rana , Tahmaseb Mohammad , Alizadeh Fatemeh , Mohammadzadeh Azar , Tavakolian Najmeh , Sarabi-Jamab Atiye , Tehrani-Doost Mehdi
Published: November 2023

Social cognition impairments in autism are supposed to be related to impairments in Theory of Mind (ToM), which is the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others. Language and ToM are intertwined components, and higher-order ToM manifestations cannot be achieved without language competencies. CNTNAP2 gene is associated with language and social cognition skills. Heretofore, no study has assessed the association of CNTNAP2expression with ASD and ToM. This study aimed at assessing CNTNAP2expression alteration in autistics and modeling autism leveraging cognitive and genetic measures. 43 children and adolescents with autism and 44 typically developed (TD) peers participated in the study. Real-time PCR was used to measure CNTNAP2 expression alteration. To assess verbal and non-verbal ToM and social functioning, Happe's Strange Stories test, Frith-Happe' animations, and social responsiveness scale were employed. Compared to TD group, we found a significant CNTNAP2 downregulation in autistic individuals. Moreover, the CNTNAP2 expression in TD group was significantly correlated with verbal ToM. Finally, the cognitive model suggested that non-verbal ToM parameters and CNTNAP2 expression could predict autism likelihood, and verbal ToM abilities moderate CNTNAP2 expression. Briefly, we found downregulation of CNTNAP2 in autistic individuals. Also, our results suggest a molecular-cognitive model for autism.
Explicit optical solitons of a perturbed Biswas-Milovic equation having parabolic-law nonlinearity and spatio-temporal dispersion
Authors: CINAR Melih
Published: November 2023

Objective – This paper deals with a new variant of the Biswas-Milovic equation, referred to as the perturbed Biswas-Milovic equation with parabolic-law nonlinearity in spatio-temporal dispersion. To our best knowledge, the considered equation which models the pulse propagation in optical fiber is studied for the first time, and the abundant optical solitons are successfully obtained utilizing the auxiliary equation method.
Methods – Utilizing a wave transformation technique on the considered Biswas-Milovic equation, and by distinguishing its real and imaginary components, we have been able to restructure the considered equation into a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The solutions for these ordinary differential equations, suggested by the auxiliary equation method, include certain undetermined parameters. These solutions are then incorporated into the nonlinear ordinary differential equation, leading to the formation of an algebraic equation system by collecting like terms of the unknown function and setting their coefficients to zero. The undetermined parameters, and consequently the solutions to the Biswas-Milovic equation, are derived by resolving this system.
Results – 3D, 2D, and contour graphs of the solution functions are plotted and interpreted to understand the physical behavior of the model. Furthermore, we also investigate the impact of the parameters such as the spatio-temporal dispersion and the parabolic nonlinearity on the behavior of the soliton.
Conclusion – The new model and findings may contribute to the understanding and characterization of the nonlinear behavior of pulse propagation in optical fibers, which is crucial for the development of optical communication systems.
Monitoring stratospheric morphology with cosmic-ray muons
Authors: Tanaka Hiroyuki K.M.
Published: November 2023

Anthropogenic-tropospheric-warming-induced Arctic stratospheric cooling can extend the longevity of the ozone hole, and may also have a significant influence on sudden stratospheric warming which can cause extreme weather events in Eurasia and North America. In order to quantify the mechanism of these influences, extensive numerical modeling studies have been conducted. These modeling studies currently depend on data from balloon networks or satellite-based “microwave sounders”. However, the balloon measurements give only localized pin-point data for short periods of time. Also, there are not enough microwave sounder devices currently in operation to provide continuous observations worldwide and some units are old and becoming outdated. Therefore, a new method is required to monitor the stratosphere (operating either solo or in tandem with balloons/satellites). In this paper, a new kind of muographic imagery technique called stratomap to map out spatiotemporal isobaric height variations of the lower stratosphere is proposed and demonstrated for the first time: seasonal variations in the lower stratosphere located above the southernmost Japan mainland were “stratomapped” out. It is anticipated that stratospheric morphology data will be useful for the numerical modeling of stratospheric dynamics since the spatiotemporal information on stratospheric deformation has strong links to stratospheric dynamics. Stratomap has the potential to improve our understanding of this crucial topic by providing an alternative/additional option for monitoring and providing up-to-date stratospheric data.
Study on Precursor Distribution of a No-inner-wall Deposition Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Used for Thin Film Deposition
Authors: He Tao , Qian Zhixin , Wang Qin , Zhang Yu , Wang Haoze , Zhang Jing , Fei Xiang , Xu Yu
Published: November 2023

An atmospheric pressure jet that effectively prevents inner wall deposition has been developed, and its precursor distribution and thin-film deposition characteristics have been studied. Through flow field simulation and particle tracing methods, it has been demonstrated that, under the protection of high-velocity discharge gas, the reactants will not diffuse to the inner wall of the plasma jet device, effectively preventing wall deposition. The pattern of the deposited film closely resembles the diffusion pattern of the precursor within the plasma jet apparatus. By investigating deposited films in different regions, the influence of precursor distribution on film morphology and composition has been studied. This plasma device offers a stable plasma plume for thin film deposition and nanoparticle preparation.
Analysing Temporal Cluster Evolution using Classification
Authors: Bhatia Piyush , Attrey Prince
Published: November 2023

Retailers operating across diverse locations and scales encounter operational challenges when devising business strategies that must accommodate the inherent heterogeneity among their stores. Traditionally, this complexity is tackled by clustering similar stores together. Over time, however, stores begin to behave differently. These changes might be due to the evolution of the purchasing behavior of customers, or due to changes in assortment and other macro-economic factors. These changes come to notice only once the business strategies start to fail and eventually lead to re-clustering of stores which brings along the time and effort required in creating and implementing updated business strategies as per newly formed clusters. It is reactive instead of proactive. Cluster stability analysis provides an efficient way to tackle this. Stability is built on top of clusters and is independent of the clustering algorithm used. The solution makes use of the original clustering data to build a classification model (Catboost Classifier), which can help assess the current state of the clusters, suggest store movement or re-clustering if the changes are drastic. The choice of clustering algorithm depends on the data, but to make it simple, Pycarate module has been embedded to suggest the best algorithm. When compared to the existing system, the cluster-and-classify system offers retailers an edge by recommending store movements during the course of the business cycle while maintaining cluster profiles and business strategies. This solution was tested on 2 different retailers where the results generated were similar to those received after re-clustering. This solution reduces the time required for re-clustering and saves efforts which would otherwise go into creating new business strategies on the newly formed store clusters, ranging from a few weeks to months
Improvement of the Simulated Southern Hemisphere Stratospheric Polar Vortex across Series of CMIPs
Authors: Feng Kexiang , Rao Jian , Chen Haohan , Ren Rongcai , Guo Dong
Published: November 2023

Modeling of the Antarctic stratospheric polar vortex from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (CMIP3) to phase 6 (CMIP6) is evaluated in this study. On average, a wide coverage of warm biases appears in the Antarctic stratosphere, which is greatest in the early CMIP and is gradually diminished in the two later CMIPs with the number of models producing QBO increasing. Four metrics of the Antarctic stratospheric polar vortex are assessed for three generations of CMIPs. Biases such as the overly weak strength, the overly large aspect ratio and the westward drifted vortex centroid are commonly shared across the CMIPs. While with improvements of the model resolution, model top, interactive chemistry and physical process, the intermodel spread narrows generation by generation, especially for high-top models than low-models in the simulation of vortex area. Further, Intermodel spread of Antarctic stratospheric vortex is obviously associated with the bias of austral winter sea surface temperature (SST). Specifically, a warm SST bias in the southern oceans, including southern Indian Ocean and southern Niño 1 + 2 regions is significantly linked to the weaker vortex strength and the westward-displaced vortex centroid, which can be partly attributed to the modifying of the upward propagations of planetary waves in tropical and extratropical oceans. The strengthened relationships in the focused regions further confirms the importance of the SST simulation for the stratosphere vortex simulation. In general, despite biases of the polar vortex existing across CMIPs, marked progresses have been achieved for most models.
Land use and land cover dynamics influence the thermal stress spread and energy demands
Authors: Adeyeri Oluwafemi E. , Zhou Wen , Laux Patrick , Wang Xuan , Dieng Diarra , Widana Lakshani A.E. , Usman Muhammad
Published: November 2023

This study examined the interaction between land use land cover (LULC) dynamics and thermal stress distribution using the universal thermal comfort index (UTCI) and different LULC classifications under two Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (i.e., SSP 370 and 585) climate and land use scenarios for the historical (1959–2014) and future period (2045–2100). The moderate to strong cold stress in the annual and winter climatology in the midlatitudes was replaced by no thermal stress in the summer, while the summertime ranged from moderate to strong heat stress. A negative correlation was observed between thermal stress and southern hemispheric primary forests. Perennial croplands had the most dynamic active change intensities during the historical period. Primary nonforest and secondary forests actively influenced global thermal stress. Areas in the tropics recording moderate heat stress coincided with secondary nonforest, pastureland and annual cropland expansions. The conversion of forest to range land and croplands and the subsequent negative forest trends increased the severity of thermal stress. The future projection showed more intense thermal stress; however, the SSP 585 signals were more potent. As a result, cooling demands will rise, and heating demands will decline; yet, improved thermal comfort necessitates a higher cooling capacity, especially in the summer. Thermal stress may make it difficult for many cooling systems to meet people’s energy demands. These could be a driving factor in shaping better land use policies, improved energy demand preparedness and elucidating the potentially severe impacts of thermal stress.
Effects of Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Low-frequency Pulsed Electrotherapy on Labor Pain in Women undergoing Trial of Labor: protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gu Yiyun , Wang Xiaojiao , Zhu Chunxiang , Min Hui , Zhang Jialu , Mao Liping , Gao Hua , Sun Hangyun , Zhu Xinli , Gu Chunyi
Published: November 2023

Background:Pain experienced during childbirth can have significant impacts on the progress of labor, as well as on the well-being of the mother and the fetus. The effective management of labor pain is a crucial aspect of childbirth management. Non-pharmacological methods of pain relief offer notable advantages compared to pharmacological approaches, including enhanced maternal and fetal safety, equitable healthcare access, and increased availability. Among the non-pharmacological options, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and acupoint stimulation are two commonly used methods for pain relief during labor. However, the clinical effects of these options are still inconsistent, inhibiting the generation of high-quality evidence for clinical practice. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of acupoint stimulation combined with low-frequency pulsed electrotherapy on labor pain in women undergoing trial of labor.Methods:This is a 12-month stepped wedge cluster randomized trial that will be conducted in 4 labor and delivery units (LDU) at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University. Each unit will receive four types of interventions: TENS, acupoint stimulation, TENS combined acupoint stimulation, and control. We aim to recruit approximately 588 pregnant women. The project will be evaluated using both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data will include the visual analog scale (VAS) scores, non-pharmacological to pharmacological pain management interval (NPI), rate of epidural analgesia, and childbirth outcomes. Qualitative data will include interviews with the women and midwives.Discussion:We introduce a new outcome indicator called nonpharmacological to pharmacological pain management interval (NPI) in our study to monitor whether the use of non-pharmacological pain relief measures can delay or avoid the use of epidural analgesia, in order to improve women’s childbirth experience and maternal-fetal health outcomes. In addition, the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods will also enrich the research of TENS and acupoint stimulation technology in the field of non-pharmacological labor pain relief and provide high-quality evidence for the future development of industry standards and guidelines.Trial registration:The study has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on March 23, 2023, with registration number ChiCTR2300069705.Trial registration number ChiCTR2300069705.
Machine Learning based Analysis of the Effect of Team Competition on College Students’ Academic Performance
Authors: Zhang Huiling , Wu Huatao , Li Zhengde , Gong Wenwen , Yan Yan
Published: November 2023

In the field of Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), machine learning techniques present a promising avenue for intelligent integration and processing of data from MEC terminals. Our study delves into the intersection of Machine Learning with MEC terminal data, exploring the complexity of team competition mechanisms based on social identity and competition theory. This exploration aims to enhance student participation and enthusiasm within university classrooms. However, despite of its potential benefit, there are still many unresolved issues: What type of students and teams benefit more from team competition? In what teaching context is team competition more effective? Which competition design methods better increase student academic performance? To answer these questions, we first de-sign a randomized field experiment among freshmen enrolled in college English course. Then, we collected data using mobile devices and analyzed the observational data to predict the individual treatment effect of academic performance in college English through linear and nonlinear machine learning models. Finally, by carefully investigating features of teams and individual student, we reduce the prediction error by up to 30%. In addition, through interpreting the predictive models, we discover some valuable insights regarding the practice of team competition in college classrooms.
Stable Elastic Nail Application with Poller K-wire for Pediatric Irreducible Distal Radius Metaphyseal-Diaphyseal Junction Fractures: A New Operative Technique
Authors: HOROZ Levent , CAKMAK Mehmet Fevzi , KIRCIL Cihan
Published: November 2023

Background
Surgical treatment of irreducible distal radius diaphyseal- metaphyseal junction fractures involves difficulties as the fracture remains too proximal for K-wire fixation and too distal for the elastic stable intramedullary nail. Our study aims to present the clinical results of applying an elastic stable intramedullary nail with a poller K-wire to achieve both reduction and stable fixation.
Patients and Methods
A retrospective analysis was performed on 26 patients who underwent ESIN with a poller K-wire for distal radius diaphyseal-metaphyseal region fracture. Reduction parameters such as residual angulation and alignment were evaluated on postoperative follow-up radiographs. Changes in angular and alignment parameters on follow-up radiographs were recorded. Wrist and forearm functions at the last follow-up were evaluated.
Result
There were 17 male and nine female patients with an average age of 10.9. The residual angulation in sagittal and coronal planes on immediate postoperative radiographs was 3° and 4°, respectively. The mean translation rate on immediate postoperative radiographs was 5% and 6% in the sagittal and coronal planes, respectively. No change was observed in translation rates in the last follow-ups, with an average of 1° of change in the coronal plane and 2° in the sagittal plane. No tendon injury or neurovascular injury was observed in any of the patients.
Conclusion
In the surgical treatment of pediatric distal radius diaphyseal metaphyseal junctional fractures, applying elastic stable intramedullary nailing with poller K-wire is an effective, safe, and novel method for achieving reduction and stable fixation.
Game Based Learning in der Ausbildung von Führungskräften – Das Planspiel „VITIS“
Authors: Kunovjanek Georg , Maier Georg , Greiner Josef
Published: November 2023

Dem Spiel liegt die militärwissenschaftliche Methode des taktischen Führungsverfahrens (vgl. RIENER, 2010) zugrunde. Das Konzept wurde gemeinsam mit der Universität Graz entwickelt und mittels experimenteller Methoden erprobt und umgesetzt. Das Planspiel „VITIS“ dient dazu, militärische und zivile Führungskräfte an tertiären Bildungseinrichtungen mit ihrer Führungsaufgabe zu konfrontieren und ihnen Möglichkeiten für erfolgreiches Führen zu vermitteln. Spannend scheint vor allem das „Erlebbar-machen“ von Führungsentscheidungen hinsichtlich der Faktoren Kraft-Zeit-Raum. Das Erlebte wird reflektiert und nachbesprochen. Die Analyse des Führungsverhaltens, des Weges zur Entscheidung und das Bewusstmachen der Auswirkungen von guten und schlechten Entscheidungen liegt im Fokus des Spieles.
Combining ALT/AST values with surgical APGAR score improves prediction of major complications after hepatectomy
Authors:   , Mitsiev Ivaylo
Published: November 2023

Background: Hepatectomy is a complex procedure with high morbidity and mortality. Early prediction/prevention of major complications is highly valuable for patient care. Surgical APGAR score (SAS) has been validated to predict post-surgical complications (PCs). Goal: We aimed to define a simple complications classification following hepatectomy based on a therapy-oriented severity Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC). Methods: 119 patients undergoing liver resection were included. PCs were determined at follow-up based on CDC. Clinicopathological factors were used to calculate SAS. A receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis estimated the predictive value of SAS for PCs. Circulating markers levels of liver injury were analyzed as critical elements on PCs. Results: SAS (P=0.008), estimated blood-loss (P=0.018) and operation time (P=0.0008) were associated with PCs. SAS was reduced in patients with (+) compared to those without (-) complications (6.64±1.84 vs 5.70±1.79, P=0.0079). The area-under-the-curve was 0.646 by ROC, indicating an acceptable discrimination with 65% possibility to distinguish (-) and (+) groups (P=0.004). Best cutoff value for SAS was ≤6/≥7, at which sensitivity and specificity were maximal. ALT/ASL levels were significantly different within the group with 9-10 SAS points (P=0.01 and 0.02). Conclusion: SAS provides accurate risk stratification for major PCs after hepatectomy, and might help improving the overall patient outcome.
Bibik-ni Mak Nenek: Book Review
Authors:   College of Creative Art, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Perdana Campus, Selangor, Malaysia, Neo David H.J.
Published: November 2023

This is one of the very few books written in Peranakan (mixed descent) Malay patois often referred to as Baba Malay. Once a lingua franca (Yoong and Zainab 2004, 180), Baba Malay is now a critically endangered language assessed by the Language Endangerment Index (Lee 2019, 123–124).
Pengaruh Muhammad ‘Abduh Terhadap Kemunculan Fundamentalis-Reformis Kaum Muda di Tanah Melayu (1900–1930)
Authors:   Pusat Kajian Sejarah, Politik dan Hal Ehwal Antarabangsa, Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia, Alias Adibah Yasmin , Saidin Mohd Irwan Syazli ,   Pusat Kajian Sejarah, Politik dan Hal Ehwal Antarabangsa, Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia, Haji Hamil Jamaie ,   Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University, DH1 3TU, Durham, United Kingdom
Published: November 2023

Kemunculan Kaum Muda di Tanah Melayu sekitar tahun 1900-an dilihat berjaya mengisi ruang vakum intelektual dalam memberi kesedaran kepada masyarakat Melayu. Keadaan masyarakat Melayu yang dijajah oleh British dilihat berada dalam situasi mundur bukan sahaja dari segi pendidikan dan ekonomi malah juga dari sudut kefahaman agama, iaitu terperangkap dalam amalan bertaklid dan unsur bidaah. Keadaan ini telah mendorong Kaum Muda bangkit memberi kesedaran kepada orang Melayu. Bertunjangkan konsep fundamentalisme, kajian ini membahaskan perkaitan antara fundamentalis-reformis dengan pengaruh Muhammad ‘Abduh terhadap pemikiran Kaum Muda. Kajian ini juga menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif menerusi sumber sekunder dan dianalisis secara deskriptif dengan melihat dari sudut historiografi. Hasil kajian ini menunjukkan aktivisme Kaum Muda boleh dikaitkan dengan terminologi fundamentalis-reformis berdasarkan ciri-ciri yang dikemukakan dalam fundamentalisme Islam. Dari sudut kefahaman agama, Kaum Muda mempunyai ciri-ciri sebagai fundamentalis iaitu melalui prinsip bahawa agama perlu kembali kepada al-Quran dan sunah. Namun demikian, dari sudut pemikiran, Kaum Muda mempunyai ciri-ciri reformisme dalam isu pendidikan, isu wanita dan kemunduran masyarakat Melayu. Malah, tidak dinafikan bahawa pemikiran Kaum Muda juga dipengaruhi oleh pemikiran dan idea reformisme Muhammad ‘Abduh berdasarkan penulisan yang disiarkan dalam majalah al-Imam dan al-Ikhwan. Kesimpulannya, aktivisme Kaum Muda di Tanah Melayu sangat berkait rapat dengan terma fundamentalis-reformis dan perjuangan mereka dipengaruhi oleh pemikiran reformisme Muhammad ‘Abduh.
River and Aquatic Insect: Awareness Level of Visitors at Recreational Rivers in the Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia
Authors:   School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Normi Norshamiera , Ab. Hamid Suhaila ,   School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Published: November 2023

Our government especially the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other non-government organisations (NGOs) have started to feel pressured about the environment, especially the freshwater ecosystem. Thus, several programmes such as “Love Our River” and “One State, One River” have been conducted. This study’s aim was to determine the level of river awareness and aquatic insect knowledge among the visitors at recreational rivers, to gauge whether they were willing to participate in awareness programmes, and to educate visitors on the importance of aquatic insects. Overall, 136 respondents were able to complete the face-to-face survey. Despite all the activities executed by the government, the awareness levels among visitors at recreational rivers were considered moderate. Aquatic insects were used as bio-monitoring tools to indicate the health of rivers and balance the river ecosystem. Respondents with higher education levels were expected to be more concerned about the existence of aquatic insects and their importance. Contrary to this study, only a few of them were familiar with aquatic insects. Fewer than half of the respondents were aware and well-informed of the existence of aquatic insects and only one-third of them had knowledge of aquatic insects. Only 63.2% of respondents were willing to take part in the awareness programmes.
A ship-in-a-bottle quantum gas microscope setup for magnetic mixtures
Authors: Sohmen Maximilian , Mark Manfred J. , Greiner Markus , Ferlaino Francesca
Published: November 2023

Quantum gas microscopes are versatile and powerful tools for fundamental science as well as promising candidates for enticing applications such as in quantum simulation or quantum computation. Here we present a quantum gas microscopy setup for experiments with highly magnetic atoms of the lanthanoid elements erbium and dysprosium. Our setup features a non-magnetic, non-conducting, large-working-distance, high-numerical-aperture, in-vacuum microscope objective, mounted inside a glue-free quartz glass cell. The quartz glass cell is enclosed by a compact multi-shell ferromagnetic shield that passively suppresses external magnetic field noise by a factor of more than a thousand. Our setup will enable direct manipulation and probing of the rich quantum many-body physics of dipolar atoms in optical lattices, and bears the potential to put exciting theory proposals - including exotic magnetic phases and quantum phase transitions - to an experimental test.
Comparison of 17β-estradiol, bisphenol-A and caffeine concentration levels before and after the water treatment plant
Authors: Schmitt Graziela Taís , Caetano Marcelo Oliveira , Marques Vinícius Martins , Kieling Amanda Gonçalves , Launay Marie , Acosta Muñiz Lilia Itzel , Gomes Luciana Paulo
Published: November 2023

This article compares the concentration levels of 17β-estradiol (E2), bisphenol-A (BPA) and caffeine (CAF) in the Sinos River, Brazil, which is a source of drinking water and the presence of contaminants after the conventional treatment in a municipal water treatment plant (WTP). A total of nine sampling campaigns were carried out, with sample collection in the Sinos River, upstream and downstream of the WTP, in addition to a drinking water sample (DW). The samples were extracted with solid phase extraction (SPE) and the concentration by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The maximum concentration in the Sinos River was 6,127.99 ng·L−1 for E2, 3,294.63 ng·L−1 for BPA and 1,221.95 ng·L−1 for CAF. In drinking water, the concentration range of E2, BPA and CAF was from less than the Detection Limit (DL) up to 437.50 ng·L−1, <DL up to 2,573.34 ng·L−1 and <DL up to 832.30 ng·L−1, respectively. In conclusion, the concentrations of these pollutants present in the Sinos River are high, which may represent a negative environmental impact on this water source. Drinking water indicates the need for a new treatment process that could promote the removal of these compounds.
Recent Development of DNA Gyrase Inhibitors: An Update
Authors: Piplani Poonam , Kumar Ajay , Kulshreshtha Akanksha , Vohra Tamanna , Piplani Vritti
Published: November 2023

Antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global public health threat that occurs
when bacterial or fungal infections do not respond to the drug regimen designed to treat these infections.
As a result, these microbes are not evaded and continue to grow. Antibiotic resistance against
natural and already-known antibiotics like Ciprofloxacin and Novobiocin can be overcome by developing
an agent that can act in different ways. The success of agents like Zodiflodacin and Zenoxacin
in clinical trials against DNA gyrase inhibitors that act on different sites of DNA gyrase has
resulted in further exploration of this target. However, due to the emergence of bacterial resistance
against these targets, there is a great need to design agents that can overcome this resistance and act
with greater efficacy. This review provides information on the synthetic and natural DNA gyrase
inhibitors that have been developed recently and their promising potential for combating antimicrobial
resistance. The review also presents information on molecules that are in clinical trials and their
current status. It also analysed the SAR studies and mechanisms of action of enlisted agents.
Transient Fever: The Sole Treatment-Related Adverse Event Associated
with Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Solid Clues from the Real World
Authors: Wang Yang , Mou Qiuying , Yi Hanxiao , Meng Zilu
Published: November 2023

Background:

The number of trials investigating mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) soars
within 3 years which urges a study analysing emerging MSC treatment-related adverse events.

Aim:

To assess the safety of MSC therapy and provide solid evidence for clinical translation of
MSC.

Methods:

A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published up to April 20th, 2023 was
performed. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidential intervals (CIs) were used to display pooled results.

Results:

152 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that incorporated 9228 individuals treated with MSCs
from autologous or allogenic adipose tissue, bone marrow, Wharton's Jelly, and placenta tissue were
included in the analysis. We discovered appropriate 21 MSC treatment-related adverse events
(TRAEs), of which fever [OR, 1.61, 95% CI: 1.22-2.11, p<0.01] was the sole event that was closely
associated with MSC therapy. MSCs also trended to lower the incidence rate of tachycardia [OR,
0.83, 95% CI: 0.64-1.09, p=0.14] and fatigue [OR, 0.18, 95% CI: 0.61-1.07, p=0.18]. A separate
analysis of studies with long-term follow-up (more than 1 year) demonstrated the close relationship
between MSCs and fever [OR, 1.75, 95% CI: 1.26-2.24, p<0.01]. The rest TRAEs did not associate
themselves with MSC therapy. Dose-response was also conducted for fever, linearity was discovered
between MSCs from allogeneic tissue and Wharton's Jelly and fever.

Conclusion:

To date, our results suggest that fever is the only AE closely associated with MSCs.
Clustering Countries based on the Trend of COVID-19 Mortality Rates: An Application of Growth Mixture Models
Authors: Balooch Hasankhani Mohammadreza , Jahani Yunes , Sharifi Hamid , Jafari-Khounigh Ali , Khorrami Zahra
Published: November 2023

Background:

The pattern of death due to COVID-19 is not the same worldwide and requires special approaches and strategies to identify.

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate the pattern of COVID-19 mortality rates in different countries using the Growth Mixture Model (GMM).

Methods:

This longitudinal study examined mortality trends due to COVID-19 for 214 countries during 2020-2022. Data were extracted from the World Health Organization reports. Countries were classified using Latent Growth Models (LGM) and GMM based on reported death trends.

Results:

Countries worldwide were classified into four clusters with different mortality patterns due to COVID-19. The highest increase in the death rate was related to cluster 2, including three countries of Iran, Peru, and Spain. The lowest increase in the death rate in each period belonged to cluster 1, which included about 60% of the world's countries. In cluster 3, most European countries, the United States, and a few countries from South America and Southeast Asia were placed. Italy was the only country in the fourth cluster.

Conclusion:

Our findings showed which countries performed better or worse in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Lived Experience of Women with Alopecia: A Qualitative Study Investigating the Psychological, Social and Emotional Impact of Alopecia in a Sample of Greek Women
Authors: Katara Paraskevi , Vlastos Dimitris D. , Theofilou Paraskevi
Published: November 2023

Background:

Alopecia is the most frequent cause of hair loss, burdening the patient's psychology through the aesthetic appearance and quality of life.

Aims:

The present research attempted to investigate the changes in the socio-emotional world of women with alopecia and their adaptation to all aspects of everyday life.

Methods:

A thematic qualitative analysis (with semi-structured interviews) was performed on 10 women with alopecia without any other underlying disease. The aim of the study is to record the experiential experience of each participant in order to enrich the literature on the quality of life of women with alopecia.

Results:

The overarching themes that emerged are four and include women's functioning and adaptability, environmental attitudes and expectations, women's attitudes towards treatment and, finally, the impact of the disease.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, although alopecia is not life-threatening, it seems to modify, at least initially, the way in which women re-adapt to their daily lives, to how they perceive social and partner relationships and themselves in terms of part of the work.
A New Deep Learning Model based on Neuroimaging for Predicting Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: P. Kiran , K. V. Sudheesh , Ravi Vinayakumar , Almeshari Meshari , Alzamil Yasser , D. S. Sunil Kumar , R. Harshitha
Published: November 2023

Background:

The psychological aspects of the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are significantly affected. These alterations in brain anatomy take place due to a variety of reasons, including the shrinking of grey and white matter in the brain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can be used to measure it, and these scans offer a chance for early identification of AD utilizing classification methods, like convolutional neural network (CNN). The majority of AD-related tests are now constrained by the test measures. It is, thus, crucial to find an affordable method for image categorization using minimal information. Because of developments in machine learning and medical imaging, the field of computerized health care has evolved rapidly. Recent developments in deep learning, in particular, herald a new era of clinical decision-making that is heavily reliant on multimedia systems.

Methods:

In the proposed work, we have investigated various CNN-based transfer-learning strategies for predicting AD using MRI scans of the brain's structural organization. According to an analysis of the data, the suggested model makes use of a number of sites related to Alzheimer's disease. In order to interpret structural brain pictures in both 2D and 3D, the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset includes straightforward CNN designs based on 2D and 3D convolutions.

Results:

According to these results, deep neural networks may be able to automatically learn which imaging biomarkers are indicative of Alzheimer's disease and exploit them for precise early disease detection. The proposed techniques have been found to achieve an accuracy of 93.24%.

Conclusion:

This research aimed to classify Alzheimer's disease (AD) using transfer learning. We have used strict pre-processing steps on raw MRI data from the ADNI dataset and used the AlexNet, i.e., Alzheimer's disease has been categorized using pre-processed data and the CNN classifier.
Audiovisual Technology for HIV/AIDS Prevention in the Elderly: Production and Validation
Authors: Vasconcelos Socorro Milena Rocha , Rocha Thais Milene , Feitoza Aline Rodrigues , Barbosa Maia Aika Barros , Lima Pereira Francisca Andressa , de Melo Perdigão Marcela Maria , de Albuquerque Greicy Machado Aguiar , de Oliveira Luize Caroline Sampaio , Cavalcante Laurineide de Fátima Diniz , de Morais Tânia Maria Vasconcelos , de Sousa Leilane Barbosa , Carneiro Rolim Karla Maria
Published: November 2023

Background:

The elderly population is vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, but there is a lack of educational materials for prevention specifically tailored to this age group.

Objectives:

This study aims to validate an educational audiovisual technology for HIV/AIDS prevention in the elderly.

Methods:

The study consists of two stages. The first stage involves developing an Educational Video (EV) based on a validated script. The second stage focuses on validating the EV through expert judges in nursing and audiovisual communication/cinema. The video production closely followed the validated script, and recordings were done in three predetermined scenarios. After final editing, the video underwent evaluation by judges who assessed its content and technique using a Likert response scale and the Content Validity Index (CVI). A concordance index of 80% or higher was considered acceptable. Twelve judges participated in the evaluation.

Results:

The educational video, the first of its kind nationally and internationally, achieved a CVI ranging from 0.8 to 1.00. The concordance index mostly fell between 80% and 100%. Judges provided feedback, including suggestions and disagreements, which were incorporated to enhance the effectiveness of the EV.

Conclusion:

The favorable CVI and positive reception from judges highlight the educational video's potential as a valuable tool for teaching HIV/AIDS prevention to the elderly. It can be utilized by various healthcare professionals in primary, secondary, and tertiary settings to enhance health education practices.
The Nurses' Knowledge and Compliance with Standard Precautions to prevent Healthcare-associated Infections
Authors: Da'seh Ayat , Al-Zaru Ibtisam M. , Hayajneh Audai A , Obaid Osama
Published: November 2023

Background:

Nursing knowledge and compliance with standard precautions are important for preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and protecting nursing personnel and patients from exposure to infectious microorganisms.

Objective:

The study aimed to assess the nurses’ knowledge of and compliance with standard precautions.

Methods:

This study used :a cross-sectional design. A total of 302 nurses were recruited from three Jordanian hospitals. Data were collected through two structured questionnaires: Standard Precautions Knowledge Questionnaire and Compliance with Standard Precautions Scale. Pearson’s correlation test was used to assess the correlation between nurses' knowledge and compliance with standard precautions.

Results:

The average knowledge score was 14.09 (SD=2.97), indicating a good level of knowledge regarding standard precautions. The average compliance score was 14.46. A significant positive and strong relationship was found between nurses’ knowledge and compliance with standard precautions (r=0.77, p <0.001).

Conclusion:

Continuous monitoring and evaluation of standard precautions are required to maintain and enhance compliance among nurses.