bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolated Femoral Bifurcation Endarterectomy or Combined with Bypass Surgery in Patients with Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia
Authors: Ahmic Edin , Hitzl Wolfgang , Seitelberger Rainald , Linni Klaus
Published: January 2024

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients suffering from chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) and tissue loss treated with primary isolated femoral bifurcation endarterectomy (FBE) or with FBE combined with bypass surgery.
Methods: This retrospective study was performed in a tertiary university based care center. Between January 2008 and December 2019 a prospectively collected database of patients suffering from CLTI and tissue loss and undergoing either primary FBE (group A) or FBE in combination with bypass surgery (group B) was analysed. Study endpoints were ulcer healing, primary and secondary patency rate, limb salvage and survival.
Results: In total, FBE was performed in 73 and FBE with bypass in 60 patients. Between both groups there were no significant differences regarding demographic data or the Global Limb Anatomic Staging System (GLASS) grade III and IV of femoropopliteal lesions. After 3 years, ulcer healing could be achieved in 72% of FBE and in 75% of FBE with bypass patients. The primary patency rate was 95% and 91% for FBE and 83% and 80% for FBE with bypass after one and three years, respectively. The 3-year limb salvage rate was 78% for FBE and 84% for FBE with bypass. The secondary patency rate after one and three years was 99% and 97% for FBE and 93% and 88% for FBE with bypass.
Conclusion: FBE and FBE with bypass are equally effective for ulcer healing in cases of combined CFA and superficial femoral artery lesions. There was no significant difference between both groups regarding primary and secondary patency
Lattice Boltzmann Method-based Numerical Simulation for Heavy Metal Migration Process during Deep-sea Mining
Authors: Yin Lei , Chen Dongdong , Yang Yunqi , Wei Xuedan , Dai Houping , Zeng Juan , Huo Hanxin
Published: January 2024

During deep-sea mining, the heavy metals pollutants can cause contamination in the marine environment. In this paper, the multiphasic coupling model is established to describe the heavy metal migration process during deep-sea mining, which takes the effects of convection-diffusion, adsorption-desorption and sedimentation-resuspension of heavy metals in the aquatic environment into full consideration. Due to the advantages of Lattice Boltzmann method, it is adopted to numerically solve the multiphasic coupling model and achieve the simulation for heavy metal migration process during deep-sea mining. In addition, taking Cadmium as an example, the concentration variations are discussed and analyzed in detail. Based on the established model and Lattice Boltzmann method, the concentration distribution of heavy metals can be accurately described to provide the reasonable bases for the evaluation of marine environmental protection.
Evaluating Compliance with Local and International Food Labeling Standards in Urban Tanzania; a Cross Sectional Study of Pre-Packaged Snacks in Dar es Salaam
Authors: Rusobya Hassan , Mashili Fredirick , Ebrahim Ashabilan A , Kimera Zuhura
Published: January 2024

Urbanization influences food culture, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where there is an increasing consumption of processed and pre-packaged foods. This shift is contributing to a rise in non-communicable diseases. Food labeling standards are crucial for regulating manufacturing practices and aiding consumers in making healthy food choices. We aimed to assess the compliance of local and imported pre-packaged snacks with Tanzanian and international labeling standards in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 snack products. A checklist based on Tanzanian and Codex labeling standards was used to evaluate adherence. We also examined factors influencing adherence, such as product origin, price, category, purchase location, and package size. The majority of the snacks demonstrated partial adherence to labeling standards. Imported products showed significantly better full adherence to both Tanzanian and International standards. Notably, over half of the products used English for labeling, and infrequently used the recommended World Health Organization Front-of-Pack nutrition Labeling. Product category, origin, and package size were significantly associated with higher levels of International standard adherence (p<0.05). The inadequate adherence to mandatory labeling standards, scarce use of Swahili and FoPL highlight the need to strengthen labeling practices and potential challenges faced by consumers in understanding nutritional information. Thus, strengthening and emphasizing good labeling practices is of urgency as we seek to address diet-related Non-communicable diseases.
The Effects of Global Market Changes’ on Automotive Manufacturing and Embedded Software
Authors: Dakić Pavle , Stupavský Igor , Todorović Vladimir
Published: January 2024

The procedures used to create modern cars require extensive thought in various relevant scientific domains. Arguably, the most challenging obstacle facing the automobile sector is managing production facilities by integrating software production lines and CI/CD. All this is determined by market demands, the engine of a vehicle, and the complexity of assembling the entire car and installing its corresponding embedded software. As a result, concerns about various types of global change have grown, as well as the lack of the ability to use fossil fuels, creating a substantial impact on the purchase and sale of modern automobiles. The research foundation is reflected in covering strategies for the deployment and administration of software, as well as opportunities for business improvement in particular production processes. This article strives to provide a summary of a scientific investigation of original equipment manufacturers, market segmentation, and the effects of global market changes on automotive manufacturing by examining the correlation between certain changes in the purchase of a specific brand and the powertrain of a vehicle. The research tries to examine numerous datasets from the United States of America and Washington State, on the basis of which we may estimate possible future changes in the automotive industry’s sales.
The Solubility of Antimony (Sb) in Liquid Hydrocarbons and Its Im-Plication for the Ore-Forming Process of Orogenic Antimony-Gold Deposits in Southern Tibet
Authors: Su Yue , Sun Xiaoming , Ding Zhengpeng
Published: January 2024

Orogenic antimony-gold deposits contribute significantly to the global antimony resource base. China's orogenic antimony-gold deposits are primarily in southern Tibet. Investigations indicate that antimony combines and migrates with sulfur hydroxides in ore-forming fluids. Previous research on fluid inclusions in orogenic antimony-gold ores with sedimentary rock accommodation revealed the presence of organic inclusions, including liquid hydrocarbons, alongside common components such as CO2, H2O, CH4, and NaCl. However, the impact of liquid hydrocarbons on antimony migration and mineralization is still de-batable. To investigate the transportability of antimony by liquid hydrocarbons in orogenic antimony ores, we selected n-dodecanethiol and n-dodecane as the subjects. We measured the solubility and occurrence form of antimony in these compounds at various temperatures and durations. The results indicate that after 5 and 10 days of reaction at 100 °C, the antimony concentrations in the n-dodecanethiol and n-dodecane groups were 67.44±7.62 ppm, 75.15±16.74 ppm, 1.40±1.02 ppm, and 3.02±3.09 ppm, respectively. At 150 °C for 5 and 10 days, the respective concentrations were 50.58±5.39 ppm, 77.26±45.20 ppm, 2.66±3.08 ppm, and 2.41±2.03 ppm. At 200 °C for 5 and 10 days, the corresponding concentrations were 339.76±71.94 ppm, 218.97±25.03 ppm and 6.53±7.17 ppm, 2.27±0.82 ppm (n=3). The measured solubility of antimony in the n-dodecanethiol group increased gradually with rising temperature. The solubility of antimony in the n-dodecane group was low and notably inferior to that observed in the n-dodecanethiol group. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis demonstrated a distinct thiol (R-SH) peak at 163.31 eV and compound peaks of antimony reacting with thiols at 162.06 and 160.87 eV. This suggests that antimony predominantly forms complexes with thiols for migration. Our findings suggest that specific liquid hy-drocarbon components, predominantly thiols, can interact with antimony at metallogenic temperatures and persist in ore-forming fluids, facilitating migration and mineral enrichment. Earlier experimental studies on gold and crude oil have indicated that liquid hydrocarbons also play an essential role in the transportation and enrichment of gold during the formation of gold deposits, thus indicating that liquid hydrocarbons possess the considerable potential to act as an ore-forming fluid during orogenic antimony-gold deposit formation in southern Tibet.
The Effect of Using Aerosol Variables on the Performance of Deep Learning-based GHI Forecasting Models
Authors: Alkhayat Ghadah , Hamid Hasan Syed , Mehmood Rashid
Published: January 2024

Solar energy adoption worldwide has expanded exponentially due to a surge in international interest in producing clean energy and the declining cost of solar power plants and their technology. It is anticipated that by 2050, solar will have surpassed fossil fuels to become the primary source of energy. However, one of the main challenges associated with solar energy production is the instability of photovoltaic (PV) power generation because of weather changes. Short-term forecasting of the power output of photovoltaic systems is essential for efficient management of the power grid and energy markets. This paper aims to evaluate the ability of deep learning (DL) models to provide accurate forecasting of hourly global horizontal irradiance (GHI) using different sets of features, including weather and aerosol variables along with solar radiation components. The results show that the best forecast skills are achieved by the long short-term memory autoencoder (LSTM-AE) model.
Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: The Contrast between Indoors and Outdoors
Authors: Beggs Clive B , Abid Rabia , Motallebi Fariborz , Samad Abdus , Venkatesan Nithya , Avital Eldad J.
Published: January 2024

Covid-19 is an airborne disease, with the vast majority of infections occurring indoors. By comparison, little transmission occurs outdoors. Here, we investigate the airborne transmission pathways that differentiate the indoors from outdoors, and conclude that profound differences exist, which help to explain why SARS-CoV-2 transmission is much more prevalent indoors. Near and far-field transmission pathways are discussed along with factors that affect infection risk, with aerosol concentration, air entrainment, thermal plumes, and occupancy duration all identified as being influential. In particular, we present the fundamental equations that underpin the Wells-Riley model, and show the mathematical relationship between inhaled virus particles and quanta of infection. A simple model is also presented for assessing infection risk in spaces with incomplete air mixing. Transmission risk is assessed in terms of aerosol concentration using simple 1D equations, followed by a description of thermal plume-ceiling interactions. With respect to this, we present new experimental results using Schlieren-visualisation and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based on the Eulerian-Lagrangian approach. Pathways of airborne infection are discussed, with the key differences identified between indoors and outdoors. In particular, the contribution of thermal and exhalation plumes is evaluated, and the presence of near-field/far-field feedback loop postulated, which is absent outdoors.
The Use of Egg and Egg Compounds in Companion Animal Health
Authors: Beasley Shea , Hiidenhovi Jaakko
Published: January 2024

Hen egg is a bioavailable and a palatable source of protein, fatty acids and vitamins. Egg being a bird embryo, it is adapted as an important part of a high quality carnivore and scavenger diet through evolution. The biological value of egg protein is near to 100 % with the ten essential amino acids, excluding taurine, required by cats and dogs. Functions of over 400 bioactive proteins are growingly recognized in targeting to support pet health. Egg shell membrane contains several of these biomolecules and has shown effect on joint and skin health, anti-inflammatory and antimi-crobial effect in adaptive immunity as well as in gastrointestinal disorders, such as metabolic diseases and obesity. The lipid composition of eggs is unique for an animal product with two-thirds of un-saturated fatty acids consisting of linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and do-cosahexaenoic acid. Eggs are also a diverse source of vitamins providing both water and fat soluble vitamins, especially choline. The nutritional value of an egg assists in maintaining health and shows potential supporting the mobility, cognitive and gastrointestinal health as well as skin repair.
A New Hyperspectral Change Detection (HCD-Net) Framework Based on Double Stream CNN and Attention Module
Authors: Seydi Seyd Teymoor , Boueshagh Mahboubeh , Namjoo Foad , Minouei Seyed Mohammad , Nikraftar Zahir , Amani Meisam
Published: January 2024

Human activities and natural events alter the earth’s surface and pose a constant threat to the environment. Thus, accurately monitoring and predicting these changes in a timely manner is crucial to provide solutions and mitigate the environmental consequences beforehand. This research introduces a novel framework, called HCD-Net, for change detection using bi-temporal hyperspectral images. The framework is based on double-stream deep feature extraction and an attention mechanism. The first stream focuses on deep feature extraction through 3D convolution layers and 3D Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) blocks. The second stream focuses on deep feature extraction through 2D convolution and 2D SE blocks. The extracted deep features are then concatenated and fed to dense layers for decision-making. The efficiency of HCD-Net is compared to the state-of-the-art change detection methods. Additionally, the bi-temporal Airborne Visible InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) hyperspectral dataset was used for further evaluation of the change detection results. The results show that HCD-Net has a higher accuracy and the lowest false alarm rate, where the overall classification accuracy is above 96%, and the kappa coefficient is over 0.9.
Anti-cariogenic Effects of S. cerevisiae and S. boulardii in S. mutans–C. albicans Cross-Kingdom In Vitro Model
Authors: Yousif Dina , Wu Yan , Gonzales Alexandria Azul , Mathieu Christa , Zeng Yan , Lee Sample , Terando Sabrina , Li Ting , Xiao Jin
Published: January 2024

Despite well-documented health benefits of probiotics Saccharomyces, its application in oral health has not been comprehensively assessed. Dental caries is a transmissible disease initiated by acid production of cariogenic bacteria and yeast, such as Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, on tooth enamel and followed by subsequent enamel demineralization. Here, we investigated the effect of two Saccharomyces strains (Saccharomyces boulardii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on S. mutans-C. albicans cross-kingdom interactions using a cariogenic planktonic model. Viable cells, pH changes and gene expression were measured. S. cerevisiae and S. boulardii inhibited the growth of C. albicans either in dual-, or multi-species conditions. Saccharomyces also inhibited C. albicans hyphal formation. Furthermore, Saccharomyces reduced the acidity of the culture medium which usually plummeted below pH 5 when S. mutans and C. albicans were present in the model. The presence of Saccharomyces maintained the culture medium above 6 even after overnight incubation, demonstrating a protective potential against dental enamel demineralization. S. boulardii significantly downregulated S. mutans atpD and eno genes expression. Overall, our results shed light on a new promising candidate, Saccharomyces, for dental caries prevention due to its potential to create a less cariogenic environment marked by a neutral pH and reduced growth of C. albicans.
Circadian Rhythm Perturbation Aggravates Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice
Authors: Amara Joseph , Itani Tarek , Hajal Joelle , Bakhos Jules-Joel , Saliba Youakim , Aboushanab Saied A. , Kovaleva Elena G. , Fares Nassim , Mondragon Alicia C. , miranda lopez Jose Manuel
Published: January 2024

Circadian rhythm disruption is increasingly considered an environmental risk factor for the development and exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease. We have reported in a previous study that nychthemeral dysregulation is associated with an increase in intestinal barrier permeability and inflammation in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. To investigate the effect of circadian rhythm disruption on the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota (GM). Sixty male C57BL/6J mice were divided initially to two groups, the shifted group (n=30) exposed to circadian shifts for three months and the non-shifted group (n=30) under a normal light-dark cycle. The mice of the shifted group were cyclically housed for five days under the normal 12:12 hour light-dark cycle followed by another five days under reversed light-dark cycle. At the end of the three months a colitis was induced by 2 % DSS given in the drinking water of 30 mice. Animals were then divided into four groups (n=15 per group), sham group non-shifted (Sham-NS), sham group shifted (Sham-S) and DSS non-shifted (DSS-NS) and DSS shifted (DSS-S). Fecal samples were collected from rectal content to investigate changes in GM composition by DNA extraction followed by high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The mouse GM was dominated by three phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio decreased in mice with induced colitis. The richness and diversity of the GM were reduced in the colitis group, especially in the group with inverted circadian rhythm. Moreover, GM composition was also modified in the inverted circadian rhythm group, with an increase in Alloprevotella, Turicibacter, Bacteroides and Streptococcus genera. Circadian rhythm inversion exacerbates GM dysbiosis to a less rich and diversified extent in a DSS-induced colitis model. These findings shows a possible interplay between circadian rhythm disruption, GM dynamics, and colitis pathogenesis.
Three New Species of the Freshwater Shrimp Genus Caridina from Australia
Authors: Klotz Werner , Von Rintelen Thomas , Von Rintelen Kristina
Published: January 2024

Three new species of genus Caridina are described from the northernmost part of Australia. Caridina darwin n. sp. resembles Caridina temasek Choy & Ng, 1991 from Singapore but differs in the armature of the rostrum, development of epipods on pereiopods and in lacking an appendix interna on male´s first pleopods. Caridina magnovis n. sp. resembles Caridina serratirostris de Man, 1892 but differs from this species in the armature of the ventral margin of the rostrum, a shorter stylocerite, a stouter carpus of first pereiopod, number and size of spiniform setae on third and fifth pereiopods, the shape of the preanal carina and in egg size. Caridina wilsoni n. sp. resembles Caridina gracilirostris de Man, 1892 but differs in egg size and some length to wide ratio of segments of the pereiopods. Detailed morphological descriptions of all three new species are given. A molecular phylogeny (mt DNA 16S) supports the morphospecies hypotheses and illustrates the phylogenetic relationship with morphologically similar species from outside Australia.
Risk of Severe COVID-19-Related Outcomes among Patients with Cirrhosis: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Canada
Authors: Velásquez García Héctor Alexander , Adu Prince A. , Okonkwo-Dappa Ada , Makuza Jean Damascene , Cua Georgine , Binka Mawuena , Wilton James , Sbihi Hind , Janjua Naveed Z.
Published: January 2024

We assessed the association between cirrhosis and severe COVID-19-related outcomes among people with laboratory-diagnosed COVID-19 infection in British Columbia, Canada. We used data from the British Columbia (BC) COVID-19 Cohort, a population-based cohort that integrates data on all individuals tested for COVID-19 with data on hospitalizations, medical visits, emergency room visits, prescription drugs, chronic conditions, and deaths in the Canadian province of BC. We included all individuals, aged ≥ 18 who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, from January 01, 2021, to December 31, 2021. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between cirrhosis status and COVID-19-related hospitalization and ICU admission. Of the 162,509 individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were included in the analysis, 768 (0.5%) had cirrhosis. In the multivariable models, cirrhosis was associated with increased odds of hospitalization (aOR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.58 – 2.47) and ICU admission (aOR=3.33, 95% CI: 2.56 – 4.35). In the analyses stratified by age, we found that the increased odds of ICU admission among people with cirrhosis were present in all the assessed age-groups. Cirrhosis is associated with increased odds of hospitalization and ICU admission among COVID-19 patients.
Research Status and Development Trend of High-Pressure Water Jet Nozzle
Authors: Niu Hongjie , Hou Yuntao , Lei Yafei , Li Dongyang , Yang Yi , Song Guoyu
Published: January 2024

Abstract:High-pressure water jet technology has received extensive attention and application due to its high efficiency and environmental protection characteristics. The high-pressure water jet nozzle is its core component, and the research on the high-pressure water jet nozzle is conducive to improving the jet performance and improving the jet efficiency. This paper introduces the characteristics of water jet and the working principle of pure water jet, abrasive water jet, pulsed water jet and cavitation water jet, reviews the theoretical analysis and experiment of the predecessor's nozzle, briefly explains the application of high-pressure water jet and looks forward to the development trend of this technology.
Targeting CDK9 in Cancer: An Integrated Approach of Combining In-Silico Screening with Experimental Validation for Novel Degraders
Authors: Koirala Mahesh , DiPaola Mario
Published: January 2024

The persistent threat of cancer remains a significant hurdle for global health, prompting the exploration of innovative approaches in the quest for successful therapeutic interventions. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), a central player in transcription regulation and cell cycle progression, has emerged as a promising target to combat cancer. Its pivotal role in oncogenic pathways and the pressing need for novel cancer treatments has propelled CDK9 into the spotlight of drug discovery efforts. This article presents a comprehensive study that connects a multidisciplinary approach, combining computational methodologies, experimental validation, and the transformative PROTAC (Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera) technology. By uniting these diverse techniques, we aim to identify, characterize, and optimize a new class of degraders targeting CDK9. We explore these compounds for kinase inhibitory properties and potential to induce targeted protein degradation, offering a novel and potentially more sustainable approach to cancer therapy. This cohesive strategy expresses the interface between computational predictions and experimental insights, with the ultimate goal of advancing the development of effective anticancer therapeutics targeting CDK9.
The Evaluation of a Novel Denitrifying Woodchip Bioreactor: Fairmont, MN USA
Authors: Xu Limeimei , Holmberg Kerry , Magner Joe
Published: January 2024

The risk of nitrate contamination became a reality for Fairmont in Minnesota, when water rich in NO3-N exceeded the drinking water standard of 10-mg/L. This was unexpected because this city draws its municipal water from a chain of lakes that were fed primarily by shallow groundwater under row-crop land use. Spring soil thaw drives cold water into subsurface pipe where almost no NO3-N reduction occurs. This paper focuses on NO3-N reduction before entering the lakes and no other nitrogen management practices in the watershed. A novel denitrifying bioreactor was constructed behind a sediment forebay which then flowed into a chamber covered by a greenhouse, before entering a woodchip bioreactor. In 2022 and 2023, water depth, dissolved oxygen, and temperature were measured at several locations and continuous NO3-N concentration at the entry and exit of the bioreactor. The results showed better performance at a low water depth with lower dissolved oxygen, and higher water temperature. The greenhouse raised the inlet temperature in 2022 but did not in 2023. The forebay and the greenhouse may have impeded the denitrification process due to the high dissolved oxygen concentrations in the influent and the stratification of dissolved oxygen caused by algae in the bioreactor.
Polyphenols: Role in Modulating Immune Function and Obesity
Authors: Mamun Md Abdullah Al , Rakib Ahmed , Mandal Mousumi , Kumar Santosh , Singla Bhupesh , SINGH UDAI P
Published: January 2024

Polyphenols, long-used components of medicinal plants, have drawn great interest in recent years as potential therapeutic agents because of their safety, efficacy, and wide range of biological effects. Approximately 74% of the world's population still uses plant-based medicines, indicating the ongoing significance of phytochemicals for human health. The study emphasizes the growing body of research examining the role of polyphenols in uncovering their anti-adipogenic and anti-obesity properties. Functions of polyphenols including phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, glycosides, and phenolic acids are distinct due to changes in chemical diversity, and structural characteristics. This review methodically investigates the mechanism of how naturally occurring polyphenols mediate obesity and metabolic function. To this end, hormonal control of hunger has the potential to inhibit pro-obesity enzymes such as pancreatic lipase, the promotion of energy expenditure, and the modulation of adipocytokine production. Specifically, polyphenols affect insulin, a hormone that is essential for regulating blood sugar, and they also play a role in part in a complex web of factors that affect the progression of obesity. This review also explores the immunomodulatory properties of polyphenols, providing insight into their ability to improve immune function. The effects of polyphenols on gut health, improving the number of commensal bacteria, cytokine production suppression, and immune cell mediation, including natural killer cells and macrophages. Taken together, continuous studies are required for prudent and precise mechanisms underlying polyphenols' therapeutic potential in obesity and immunomodulation. In the interim, this review emphasizes the holistic approach to health and promotes the consumption of a wide range of foods and drinks high in polyphenols. This review lays the groundwork for future developments, indicating that the components of polyphenols and their derivatives may provide the answer to urgent worldwide health issues. This compilation of the body of knowledge paves the way for future discoveries in the global treatment of pressing health concerns in obesity and metabolic diseases.
Self-Completion Questionnaire on Sleep Evaluation in Patients Undergoing Oxaliplatin Therapy: An Observational Study
Authors: Mussa Maria Valentina , Allegra Sarah , Armando Tiziana , Storto Silvana , Ghezzo Beatrice , Soave Giulia , Abbadessa Giuliana , Chiara Francesco , Di Maio Massimo , Dagnoni Fiammetta Maria , De Francia Silvia
Published: January 2024

Sleep is a fundamental human need: sleep disruption, in fact, causes an increase in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, metabolic effects, changes in circadian rhythms and pro-inflammatory responses. Sci-entific literature is finally starting to pay attention to the central role of sleep-wake rhythm alterations for patients health. Oxaliplatin is used extensively for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer and other malignancies, with increased frequency of use in recent years. This study aims to understand the effects of sleep-wake rhythm alterations on health and quality of life on cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin. Study has been conducted through the creation and distribution of questionnaires to patients to inves-tigate the potential alteration of the sleep-wake quality. Evaluating the influence of the collected variables on sleep quality, only liver and biliary tract and pancreas tumor lo-calization, in males, and previous difficulty sleeping, and anxiety, worries and stress, in females, resulted statistically significant. The results obtained may serve as foundation for designing awareness campaigns and updating of patients, healthcare personnel and caregivers, to improve health and quality of patients life.
Revolutionizing Soil Remediation: Exploring the Frontiers of Bioremediation through the Performance Evaluation of Vernonia Galamensis and Vernonia Amydalina Spices in Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil
Authors: JOHNSON. NNADIKWE
Published: January 2024

The detrimental consequences of soil pollution caused by crude oil or petroleum products are immense, leading to land degradation, property damage, and rendering agricultural practices ineffective. Extensive research has been conducted in the field of soil remediation, but further studies are still required to explore additional details of the remedial process. As a result, this study focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of Vernonia Galamensis and Vernonia Amygdalina, commonly known as bitter leaf, in remediating hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. In the analysis of micro-organisms, it was found that the bitter leaf extracts contained three types of bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The leaf extracts were prepared using different methods, including sun drying, room drying, and using them in their wet form, which were then blended into the contaminated soil. The study also took into consideration three different types of soil: sandy-loamy soil, clay soil, and swamp soil. These advanced techniques and considerations are relevant to the topic of revolutionizing soil remediation, as they explore the potential of bitter leaf extracts and different soil types in effectively mitigating the effects of hydrocarbon contamination.The findings revealed that the wet blended extracts of Vernonia performed exceptionally well in the remediation process, surpassing a 50% reduction in the initial contamination levels. The study involved utilizing a quantity of bitter leaf ranging from 10g to 40g, which was added to the contaminated soils and monitored for a duration of 40 days. Remarkably, this approach led to a significant decrease in the concentration of contaminants within the soil, indicating the effectiveness of the bitter leaf extracts in the remediation process. Towards the conclusion of the study, predictive models were constructed to forecast the impact of hydrocarbon content, as well as the levels of lead, zinc, and chromium in the soil. These variables served as the dependent variables in the models, while the mass of bitter leaf, the duration of treatment, and the pH of the soil were considered as independent variables. Significantly, the models achieved a level of significance of less than 0.05, indicating their statistical validity. Furthermore, the r2 value, which represents the goodness of fit, demonstrated an appreciable level of accuracy in predicting the remediation effects. These results highlight the potential of the developed models in assessing and predicting the remedial outcomes of hydrocarbon contamination using bitter leaf extract.
Sensitive and Specific Analyses of Colorectal Cancer Recurrence through Multiplex superRCA Mutation Detection in Blood Plasma
Authors: Sandberg Emma , Nunes Luís , Edqvist Per-Henrik , Mathot Lucy , Chen Lei , Edgren Tomas , Al Nassralla Shahed , Glimelius Bengt , Landegren Ulf , Sjöblom Tobias
Published: January 2024

Mutation analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has applications in monitoring of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients for recurrence. Considering the low tumor fraction of ctDNA in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) isolated from blood plasma, the sensitivity of the detection method is important. Here, plasma DNA collected at diagnosis and follow-up from 25 CRC patients was analyzed using a multiplex superRCA mutation detection assay. The assay was also performed on genomic DNA (gDNA) from tumor and normal tissue from 20 of these patients. The lower limit of detection for most sequence variants was in the range of 10^-5, while when analyzing cfDNA from plasma with a typical input of 33 ng, the practical detection limit was ~10^-4 or 0.01% mutant allele frequency (MAF). In 17 of 19 patients with identified hotspot mutations in tumor gDNA, at least one hotspot mutation could be detected in plasma DNA at the time of diagnosis. The MAF increased at subsequent time points in four of the patients who experienced a clinical relapse. Multiplex superRCA analysis of the remaining six patients did not reveal any hotspot mutations. In conclusion, multiplex superRCA assays proved suitable for monitoring CRC patients by analyzing hotspot mutations in cfDNA, and dynamic changes in MAF were observed in patients with clinical relapse.
Current Insights in Prolactin Signaling and Ovulatory Function in Health and Disease
Authors: Szukiewicz Dariusz
Published: January 2024

Prolactin (PRL) is a pleiotropic hormone released from lactotrophic cells of the anterior pituitary gland that also originates from extrapituitary sources and plays an important role in regulating lactation in mammals, as well as other actions. Acting in an endocrine and paracrine/autocrine manner, PRL regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, thus influencing the maturation of ovarian follicles and ovulation. This review provides a detailed discussion of the current knowledge on the role of PRL in the context of ovulation and ovulatory disorders, particularly with regard to hyperprolactinemia, which is one of the most common causes of infertility in women. Much attention has been given to the PRL structure and the PRL receptor (PRLR), as well as the diverse functions of PRLR signaling under normal and pathological conditions. The hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle in connection with folliculogenesis and ovulation, as well as the current classifications of ovulation disorders, are also described. Finally, the state of knowledge regarding the importance of TIDA (tuberoinfundibular dopamine), KNDγ (kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin) and GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) neurons in PRL- and kisspeptin (KP)-dependent regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in women is reviewed. Based on this review, a rationale for influencing PRL signaling pathways in therapeutic activities accompanying ovulation disorders is presented.
Levees and dams at Fort Riley, Kansas, and the response to the 1951 flood
Authors: Adams Sunny , Schmidt Aaron , Smith Adam
Published: January 2024

This project provides a historic context and inventory for the levees and dams constructed at Fort Riley, Kansas. The purpose of this historic con-text and inventory is to determine the levees and dams’ eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Determinations of eligibility to the NRHP are then made based on the significance of the levees and dams and the degree to which they retain their integrity for conveying that significance. The authors inventoried and evaluated three levees and two lake dams on the installation. Based on the historic context and inventory, researchers for this project have determined that none of the levees and dams are eligible for the inclusion in the NRHP nor was there enough evidence for a noncontiguous historic district at Fort Riley.
Comparison of Dexmedetomidine Versus Fentanyl as an Adjuvent to Epidural Ropivacaine in the Patient Undergoing Lower Limb, Lower Abdomen Surgery
Authors:   Senior resident, Department of Anesthesia, Government Medical College, Kota 324001, Rajasthan, India., Goyal Anuj , Shukla Chetan ,   Senior professor, Department of Anesthesia, Government Medical College, Kota 324001, Rajasthan, India., Khandelwal Vijeta ,   Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Government Medical College, Kota 324001, Rajasthan, India.
Published: January 2024

Background: Ropivacaine, the pure S enantiomer of propivacaine, due to its less lipophilicity than bupivacaine does not produce cardiotoxicity or neurotoxicity and causes less motor blockade. Dexmedetomidine the newer selective alpha 2 adrenergic agonist has several advantages when given through epidural route as a neuraxial adjuvant. Aim: To compare 0.75% Inj. Ropivacaine with Inj. Fentanyl and 0.75% Inj. Ropivacaine with Inj. Dexmedetomidine epidurally for the duration of analgesia, hemodynamic changes, degree of motor blockade and occurrence of side effects. Materials and Methods: 60 patients undergoing lower limb, lower abdomen surgeries were randomized to two groups. Group RF (n=30) received 0.75% Inj. Ropivacaine 15 ml with Inj. Fentanyl 1 mcg/kg in 2 ml preparation. whereas Group RD (n=30) received 0.75% Inj. Ropivacaine 15 ml with Inj. Dexmedetomidine 1 mcg /kg in 2ml preparation. Quality of sensory block, motor block, pulse rate, blood pressure, pain assessment and any adverse outcome were noted. Results: Dexmedetomidine fastens the onset of analgesia, prolongs the duration of analgesia thereby reducing the doses of rescue analgesics post operatively, improves the quality of motor blockade without aggravating changes in haemodynamic parameters and has less adverse effects. Conclusion: We conclude that dexmedetomidine serves as a good neuraxial adjuvant when added to 0.75% ropivacaine in epidural anesthesia given for lower limb, lower abdomen surgery.
Anesthetic Management in a Case of Rett Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors:   Senior consultant, Department of Anesthesia,  Fortis Hospital, Mumbai 400080, Maharashtra, India., Chhabra Anita R , Sawant Nishigandha G ,   Senior consultant, Department of Anesthesia,  Fortis Hospital, Mumbai 400080, Maharashtra, India., Shetty Vijay L ,   Head, Department of Anesthesia,  Fortis Hospital, Mumbai 400080, Maharashtra, India., Ganatra Atul M ,   Senior Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fortis Hospital, Mumbai 400080, Maharashtra, India.
Published: January 2024

Rett syndrome (RS) is a progressive neurological disorder that almost exclusively affects females. It is characterized by severe mental retardation following a period of normal development during childhood. Classical features include autism, stereotypical hand movements, seizures, microcephaly and abnormal respiratory control. Anesthetic challenges in patients with RS include difficult airway, seizure management, positioning, increased sensitivity to sedatives, autonomic dysfunction, anesthesia-triggered episodes of apnoea, hypoxemia and sudden death. Here, we describe the successful anesthetic management of a 13-year-old patient with RS exhibiting most of these features who underwent laparoscopic SOS open ovarian cystectomy and hysterectomy.
Epidural Anesthesia for Intracapsular Neck of Femur Fracture with Pituitary Macroadenoma
Authors:   Post graduate, Department of Anesthesiology, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad 500082, Andhra Pradesh, India., Bharadwaj Vamshi , ... Sirajuddin ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad 500082, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Published: January 2024

Anesthesia for patient with pituitary adenoma posted for non-neurosurgical surgeries is a challenge to the anesthesiologist with the risk of sudden change in intracranial dynamics during administration of spinal anesthesia or during stress response of general anesthesia. We reported a case of intracapsular neck of femur fracture with pituitary macroadenoma managed with epidural anesthesia.
Reperfusion Induced Fatal Hemorrhagic Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report
Authors:   Junior Resident, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India., G Gokul , Raoof MP Abdul ,   Senior Resident, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India., Yadav Abhishek ,   Additional Professor, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India., Ranjan Amar ,   Additional Professor, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India., S Manivel. ,   Junior Resident,  Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
Published: January 2024

Sudden death due to coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death globally. Occlusive coronary artery disease results in ischemia of myocardial tissue and subsequent infarction. Various treatment modalities like blood thinners, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) etc are being employed in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, these modalities have their own limitations. In this case, reperfusion therapy resulted in hemorrhagic myocardial infarction (HMI) with a fatal outcome. An adult male with history of sudden collapse was brought to the emergency department, where he was declared as brought dead. He underwent reperfusion therapy and was on blood thinners, 4 days before the incident. On autopsy, we could find the features of hemorrhagic myocardial infarction grossly and the same was confirmed histopathologically. Though reperfusion injuries are commonly documented, deaths due to hemorrhagic myocardial Infarction, which is one of the rare complications of reperfusion therapy, are rarely reported. The important role of forensic pathologists in this case is to identify the rare causes, which led the patient to death during management of occlusive coronary artery disease.
Oil Production Rate Forecasting by SA-LSTM Model in Tight Reservoirs
Authors: He Denghui , Qu Yaguang , Sheng Guanglong , Wang Bin , Yan Xu , Tao Zhen , Lei Meng
Published: January 2024

The accurate forecasting of oil field production rate is a crucial indicator for each oil field’s successful development, but due to the complicated reservoir conditions and unknown underground environment, the high accuracy of production rate forecasting is a popular challenge. To find a low time consumption and high accuracy method for forecasting production rate, the current paper proposes a hybrid model, Simulated Annealing Long Short-Term Memory network (SA-LSTM), based on the daily oil production rate of tight reservoirs with the in situ data of injection and production rates in fractures. Furthermore, forecasting results are compared with the numerical simulation model output. The LSTM can effectively learn time-sequence problems, while SA can optimize the hyperparameters (learning rate, batch size, and decay rate) in LSTM to achieve higher accuracy. By conducting the optimized hyperparameters into the LSTM model, the daily oil production rate can be forecasted well. After training and predicting on existing production data, three different methods were used to forecast daily oil production for the next 300 days. The results were then validated using numerical simulations to compare the forecasting of LSTM and SA-LSTM. The results show that SA-LSTM can more efficiently and accurately predict daily oil production. The fitting accuracies of the three methods are as follows: numerical reservoir simulation (96.2%), LSTM (98.1%), and SA-LSTM (98.7%). The effectiveness of SA-LSTM in production rate is particularly outstanding. Using the same SA-LSTM model, we input the daily oil production data of twenty oil wells in the same block and make production prediction, and the effect is remarkable.
How discipline shapes the meaning of value creation in higher education; implications for enterprise, entrepreneurship and employability.
Authors: Hatt Lucy , Nolan Jane , Watts Carys
Published: January 2024

This paper sets out the importance of teaching contextualized understandings of value within different disciplinary contexts in order to enhance employability and to foster greater levels of engagement with enterprise and entrepreneurship education.
Key research has recognised the broader benefits of enterprise and entrepreneurship education, including that of developing graduate employability. Yet enterprise and entrepreneurship may not feel comfortable or relevant to students (EEUK, 2012; Henry, 2013). It has been identified that students can better relate to enterprise and entrepreneurship when it is contextualised in professions, sectors and communities of practice, moving away from a focus on venture creation and start up (Gibb, 2005). We argue that taking an approach which is explicitly based on value creation is a crucial driver of student engagement with enterprise and entrepreneurship education. This needs to be based in students’ individual values, embedded in their disciplines, and related to the communities of practice which as graduates they will go on to be part of. When grounded in the creation of value at an individual, disciplinary, and societal level, enterprise and entrepreneurship education can appeal to a wider constituency of students. In this paper, we discuss how value creation is understood in three diverse academic disciplines, Business, Biomedical Science and Music. Building on key research and drawing on our extensive practice as educators, we argue that explicitly foregrounding understandings of value within our different disciplinary contexts and developing appropriately contextualized, experiential forms of value creation-based pedagogy, is key to student engagement and enhances graduate employability.
The influence of food-based enrichment on the behaviour of captive red pandas Ailurus fulgens fulgens
Authors: Khan Aamer Sohel
Published: January 2024

Developing simple and innovative ways to provide feed to captive animals, especially those kept for captive breeding programs is essential because food-based enrichment has a beneficial effect on animal welfare. The red panda is a threatened species and needs support in developing a successful captive breeding program. Indian captive population of red pandas exhibit stereotypic behaviour to some extent (Khan et al., 2022) which could interfere with species biology and hinder captive breeding success. Therefore to combat stress zoos must design effective enrichments. Food-based enrichments are ideal to maintain animal welfare. I studied the effect of feed dispersal on the behaviour of captive red pandas in India. This study analysed whether pacing and aggressive behaviour were reduced, and foraging behaviour increased, when food was spatially distributed around the enclosure (mimicking the panda’s natural habitat) compared to food served on a common platform. Results showed that dispersing the food (known as food-based enrichment) increased the level of behavioural diversity by 1.6 times and foraging by 3.6 times. Similarly, pacing decreased by 5.8 times and aggression by almost three times in the subjects. Individual analysis suggests that behavioural diversity in the male doubled when food was dispersed around the enclosure. This suggests that spatially distributing bamboo stimulates foraging behaviour and limits stereotypical behaviour, such as pacing, in captive red pandas. This study showed that planning simple and innovative food-based enrichments in captivity supports natural behaviours and reduces abnormal behaviours ultimately supporting species conservation.