bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Students' Perception toward the Use of Pair Work Strategy in Writing Descriptive Text at Senior High School Level
Authors: Divarianti Ririn , Abbas M. Fadhly Farhy
Published: February 2024

Learning difficulties become one of inhibiting factors in the learning process, to produce a good quality of writing, students have various options of writing strategies. This study aims to find out students' perception toward the use of pair work strategy in writing descriptive text at SMA smart Indonesia. The method of this research was descriptive quantitative research with survey design. This research was conducted from December 2021 to January 2022. The instruments used in this research were questionnaire which consisted of 16 items. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics in the form of summation of scores, mean, standard deviation and then interpreted descriptively. The result of the findings revealed that the students have high level perception.  It was proved by the mean score, benefit gained 4.23. Learning Improvement gained 4.26, and motivation gained 4.37. Overall, students' perception toward the use of pair work strategy  in writing descriptive text have a positive and categorized into very high average score was 4.27. In  conclusion, pair work strategy in the writing learning process provided more opportunities for students to be more active in the learning process and pair work can develop students' writing skills because pair work provided significant benefits for students, especially in the learning process in SMA Smart Indonesia.
Transdermal scopolamine for the treatment of recurrent parotid sialocele: a case report
Authors: Lee Chi Hyun , Yi Changryul Claud , Bae Yong Chan , Lee Jae Woo , Lee Byung-Joo , Kim Joo Hyoung
Published: February 2024

Recurrent parotid sialocele is rare and challenging to treat. Treatment options are limited for cases of parotid sialocele that recur despite ductal ligation. This case study presents a patient who underwent wide excision of the right buccal mucosa due to squamous cell carcinoma. During the wide excision, a segment of the parotid duct was excised, and ductal ligation was performed to prevent the occurrence of a sialocele, followed by reconstruction using a folded anterolateral thigh free flap. Twenty-two days after surgery, parotid sialocele occurred despite the initial ductal ligation and subsequent ductal ligation was performed; however, the sialocele recurred. As an alternative therapeutic option, a transdermal scopolamine patch was applied for 3 weeks, with one patch used every 3 days. The results were encouraging, with complete resolution of the sialocele. A transdermal scopolamine offers a noninvasive, convenient method of treating parotid sialocele with minimal side effects. The successful outcome of this case suggests that a transdermal scopolamine can be an effective therapeutic option for recurrent parotid sialocele in conjunction with surgical treatment.
Demographic review of aesthetic surgery for patients with facial palsy
Authors: Lee Min Young , Kim Yun Jung , Kim Young Seok , Roh Tai Suk , Yun In Sik
Published: February 2024

Background: This study analyzed the demographic characteristics of patients with facial palsy who were treated using either dynamic or static procedures. This study aimed to compare the frequency of procedure implementation and age distribution between the two groups.Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients treated for facial palsy at a single institution from 2014 to 2022. Among cases included in our study, dynamic procedures involved cross-facial nerve graft and latissimus dorsi or gracilis muscle flap transfer. Static procedures included gold weight insertion, canthopexy, browlift, and thread lift/static slings.Results: Among the 31 patients included in our study, eight (25.8%) incorporated dynamic techniques, and the average age of patients was 44.75 years (range, 24–68 years) with a male to female ratio of 1:4. The remaining 23 patients (74.2%) underwent a static procedure, of which the average age was 59.17 years (range, 23–81 years) which was statistically significantly higher than the average age of 44.75 of dynamic patients (p= 0.013). Regarding the timing of treatment after diagnosis, no patient underwent dynamic procedures more than 20 years after initial diagnosis. A greater diversity in the timing of treatment was observed in the static group. All patients who underwent dynamic procedures were treated using static procedures during the study period.Conclusion: Because aesthetics-based static techniques are typically quick outpatient procedures that can be performed under local anesthesia, our study shows that these are often preferred treatments for all age groups, especially for debilitated or older patients. Further research is required to investigate the long-term functional outcomes of these surgical techniques in a wider population of patients.
MODELING AN INDUSTRIAL ROBOTIC MANIPULATOR IN THE ELECTROMECHANICAL DOMAIN
Authors: Maria Pappalardo Carmine , Guida Domenico
Published: February 2024

In this work, a prototype of a robotic manipulator is developed and its dynamic analysis is per- formed. The system under study was analyzed in a multi-domain environment using two MATLAB tool- boxes, that is, Simscape Multibody and Simscape Electrical. By doing so, an accurate electromechanical model was constructed in this paper. Subsequently, a nonlinear controller was designed for the trajectory tracking of the end effector of the robotic manipulator. The control architecture employed in this work is a Proportional-Derivative (PD) control scheme, which is widely used in industrial applications. The nu- merical results presented in the paper demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology followed in this investigation.
THE INFLUENCE OF THE CATALYST ON THE RATE CONSTANT OF THE CHEMICAL REACTION OF ESTERIFICATION OF OLEIC ACID WITH METHANOL
Authors: Pečar Darja , Mićić Vladan , Goršek Andreja
Published: February 2024

Catalysis and catalysts play an important role in modern technology. Catalysis means a change in the rate of a chemical reaction under the influence of a substance that does not change chemically as a result of the reaction. This substance is called a catalyst. The catalyzed reaction proceeds on a different reaction path than the uncatalyzed reaction, thanks to the participation of the catalyst. The reactants are absorbed on the surface of the catalyst, and then a mutual reaction of the adsorbed species occurs. The reaction produc- es a product that is desorbed from the surface, while the catalyst remains unchanged and ready for a new reaction cycle. An important piece of information for evaluating the quality of a catalyst is the rate of the reaction in which it participates. The subject of kinetic research is the study of the influence of process pa- rameters on the reaction rate. It is safe to say that the study of reaction kinetics is a central part of chemical reaction engineering. Therefore, the study of the kinetics of real heterogeneous catalysts is of particular im- portance, both for the improvement of existing catalysts and for the development of new ones. These tests involve determining the influence of process parameters such as the type of catalyst present, temperature, pressure, and concentration of reactants and products on the reaction rate. In this work, the influence of the mass of the catalyst at a certain temperature on the rate constant of the chemical reaction of esterification of oleic acid with methanol was studied. The catalyst used was mesoporous silica, an amorphous solid that can be obtained by drying hydrogels. It was found that as the mass of the catalyst increases, the rate of the chemical reaction constant also increases, i.e. the rate of the esterification reaction increases.
Study of morphology and orchid mycorrhizal associations in Malaxis rheedei
Authors: Jyothsna B. S. , Mahendran Radha , Mishra Manish Raj , Dey Sanjay , Srivastava Deepti
Published: February 2024

The mycorrhizal association in orchids is a striking example of mutualism, where the orchid and the associated mycorrhizal fungi exchange essential nutrients and support each other’s growth and reproduction. The present study focused on a selected terrestrial orchid which is noteworthy for its medicinal value. We aimed to investigate the specific mycorrhizal associations to understand how these interactions influence the morphology of their roots. The morphological characteristics of roots were studied using light microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy studies were conducted to analyze and measure fungal hyphae and peloton sizes as well as to know about fungal colonization distribution. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted to identify the mycorrhizal fungi. Colonization was seen in the 91% root cortex proving high mycorrhizal association. Hyphae appeared in the form of peloton patches at the cortex, occupying up to 62% of the cortical space. The root length with an intact peloton was noted 30% more than the degraded peloton. A single fungus, Tulasnella calospora was isolated from the roots. It was identified using phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences. Identification of this orchid-mycorrhizal association has the potential to address ecological challenges, contribute to its conservation, and unlock the phytochemical potential of plant-fungus interactions for drug development.
Leaf-variegated mutations induced using gamma irradiation of Anubias minima
Authors: Limtiyayotin Mayuree , Sukin Natnichaphu , Jompuk Choosak , Jompuk Peeranuch
Published: February 2024

The effects of chronic gamma irradiation on leaf mutations of Anubias minima were investigated. Tissue cultures of A. minima were exposed to chronic gamma radiation in a gamma room using Cobalt-60 sources at the Nuclear Technology Research Center, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand. Samples received a total dose of 0, 26.58, 41.12, 65.31, 79.81, 103.81, and 127.91 Gy at a dose rate of 0.6 Gy/h. At 60 days after irradiation, the number of surviving plantlets and the number of new shoots were counted and compared with the controls (0 Gy) to calculate the 50% lethal dose (LD50) and 50% growth reduction (GR50). The results showed that the radiation dose did not affect plant survival, but the GR50 was about 125 Gy in the M1V1 generation. After that, subcultures of new plantlets were transferred to a new medium, and the next generations were observed to note any new mutated characteristics after gamma irradiation. In the M1V9 generation, variegated leaf mutants could be selected. There were four different types of mutant leaves: Dark green leaves with light green specks, dark green leaves with white specks, light green leaves with dark green veins and specks, and white leaves with dark green veins and specks. After 3 months, the selected mutants of A. minima tissue transplanted into water tanks were healthy and had 100% survival.
A nephrological perspective of herbal remedies on the progression of chronic kidney disease: A systematic review
Authors: AlAhmad Mohammad M. , Namer Yamama Al , Palaian Subish , Alomar Muaed Jamal
Published: February 2024

Medicinal herbs are currently making a comeback as they appear to offer advantages over pharmaceuticals in combating chronic kidney disease progression. Conclusive evidence of their safety and efficacy is lacking. Therefore, this unfunded review was conducted to provide a more detailed picture of this issue, serving as a fruitful addition to the literature pool concerned with phytochemicals safety and efficacy in this disease. A systematic approach using specific search terms was used to find 49 articles meeting the study’s inclusion criteria after the study authors scrutinized the articles from different perspectives independently. Many plants were able to delay disease progression by lowering blood pressure via suppression of the renin-angiotensin system, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and increasing nitric oxide levels; lowering blood glucose levels; improving lipid profile via lipid resistance and oxidation induction; lowering proteinuria; and lowering serum uric acid levels as uricostatic or uricosuric agents, or both. In contrast, some herbal preparations increased blood pressure, induced insulin resistance, and promoted uric acid production through their adrenergic components or mineralocorticoid-like effects. In conclusion, based on the validity of the results obtained, recommendations were made for the proper use of herbal medicines in patients with vulnerable kidneys and for future research directions.
Synthetic aperture optical image restoration based on multi-scale feature enhancement
Authors: Zhang Yin-Sheng , Tong Jun-Yi , Chen Ge , Shan Meng-Jiao , Wang Shuo-Yang , Shan Hui-Lin ,   Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Integrated Circuit Reliability Technology and Testing System, Wuxi University, Wuxi 214105, China,   School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Published: February 2024

With the wide applications of high-resolution imaging technology in topographic mapping, astronomical observation, and military reconnaissance and other fields, the requirements for imaging resolution of optical system are becoming higher and higher . According to the diffraction limit and Rayleigh criterion, the imaging resolution of the optical system is proportional to the size of the aperture of the system, but affected by the material and the processing of the optical component: the single aperture of the optical system cannot be infinitely enlarged. Therefore the synthetic aperture technology is proposed to replace the single large aperture optical system. Owing to the effect of sub-aperture arrangement and light scattering, the imaging of synthetic aperture optical system will be degraded because of insufficient light area and phase distortion. The traditional imaging restoration algorithm of synthetic aperture optical system is sensitive to noise, overly relies on degraded model, requires a lot of manually designed models, and has poor adaptability. To solve this problem, a multi-scale feature enhancement method of restoring the synthetic aperture optical image is proposed in this work. U-Net is used to obtain multi-scale feature, and self-attention in mixed domain is used to improve the ability of of the network to extract the features in space and channel. Multi-scale feature fusion module and feature enhancement module are constructed to fuse the information between features on different scales. The information interaction mode of the codec layer is optimized, the attention of the whole network to the real structure of the original image is enhanced, and the artifact interference caused by ringing is avoided in the process of restoration. The final experimental results are 1.51%, 4.42% and 5.22% higher than those from the advanced deep learning algorithms in the evaluation indexes of peak signal-to-noise ratio, structural similarity and perceived similarity, respectively. In addition, the method presented in this work has a good restoration effect on the degraded images to different degrees of synthetic aperture, and can effectively restore the degraded images and the images with abnormal light, so as to solve the problem of imaging degradation of synthetic aperture optical system. The feasibility of deep learning method in synthetic aperture optical image restoration is proved.
Optical phased array output beam calibration method based on Adam algorithm
Authors: Wang Zi-Hao , Long Ye , Qiu Ke , Xu Jia-Mu , Sun Yan-Ling , Fan Xiu-Hong , Ma Lin , Liao Jia-Li , Kang Yong-Qiang ,   School of Optoelectronic Engineering, Xidian University, Xi’an 710071, China,   Xi’an Microelectronics Technology Institute, Xi’an 710000, China
Published: February 2024

Optical phased array (OPA) technology, as a pivotal component of laser detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems, plays a crucial role in augmenting the application efficiency in fields such as autonomous driving, precision measurement, and remote sensing detection. With the escalating demands for high-resolution imaging, the array size of OPAs is continuously expanding, imposing higher requirements on the calibration precision and efficiency of the output beam. Existing calibration algorithms, such as the simultaneous perturbation stochastic gradient descent (SPGD) and the Gerchberg-Saxton (GS) algorithm, often face challenges of prolonging calibration times and insufficient precision when dealing with large-scale OPA systems.

In order to address this problem, our study introduces the Adam optimization algorithm, renowned for its adaptive learning rate feature, into the calibration process of OPA output beams. Through simulation modeling and experimental validation, this work comprehensively examines the differences in performance between the Adam algorithm and conventional SPGD and GS algorithms in beam calibration, especially under various OPA array configurations. For a 16×16 OPA array, the application of the Adam algorithm significantly enhances the peak side lobe ratio (PSLR) to over 15.98 dB, while notably reducing the number of iterations to less than 600, thereby shortening the calibration cycle and improving calibration precision effectively.

Furthermore, this work provides an in-depth analysis of parameter selection, convergence speed, and stability of the Adam algorithm in OPA calibration, offering detailed guidance for achieving more efficient and high-quality beam calibration. Through comparative analysis, this work not only demonstrates the substantial advantages of the Adam algorithm in enhancing OPA calibration efficiency, reducing calibration duration, and optimizing output beam quality but also emphasizes its critical role in advancing OPA technology.

The main contribution of this work lies in providing an innovative algorithmic approach for achieving efficient calibration of OPA output beams, which has important theoretical and practical significance for advancing the LiDAR technology, particularly in the field of high-precision beam control. Moreover, by applying optimized algorithms, this study not only improves the performance of OPA technology within existing domains but also paves new ways for its application in emerging fields such as optical communication, optical networking, and high-resolution imaging.
Multi-feature fusion and dandelion optimizer based model for automatically diagnosing the gastrointestinal diseases
Authors: Kiziloluk Soner , Yildirim Muhammed , Bingol Harun , Alatas Bilal
Published: February 2024

It is a known fact that gastrointestinal diseases are extremely common among the public. The most common of these diseases are gastritis, reflux, and dyspepsia. Since the symptoms of these diseases are similar, diagnosis can often be confused. Therefore, it is of great importance to make these diagnoses faster and more accurate by using computer-aided systems. Therefore, in this article, a new artificial intelligence-based hybrid method was developed to classify images with high accuracy of anatomical landmarks that cause gastrointestinal diseases, pathological findings and polyps removed during endoscopy, which usually cause cancer. In the proposed method, firstly trained InceptionV3 and MobileNetV2 architectures are used and feature extraction is performed with these two architectures. Then, the features obtained from InceptionV3 and MobileNetV2 architectures are merged. Thanks to this merging process, different features belonging to the same images were brought together. However, these features contain irrelevant and redundant features that may have a negative impact on classification performance. Therefore, Dandelion Optimizer (DO), one of the most recent metaheuristic optimization algorithms, was used as a feature selector to select the appropriate features to improve the classification performance and support vector machine (SVM) was used as a classifier. In the experimental study, the proposed method was also compared with different convolutional neural network (CNN) models and it was found that the proposed method achieved better results. The accuracy value obtained in the proposed model is 93.88%.
Stress-induced changes in cognitive function and intestinal barrier integrity can be ameliorated by venlafaxine and synbiotic supplementations
Authors: Lapmanee Sarawut , Supkamonseni Nattapon , Bhubhanil Sakkarin , Treesaksrisakul Nattakan , Sirithanakorn Chaiyos , Khongkow Mattaka , Namdee Katawut , Surinlert Piyaporn , Tipbunjong Chittipong , Wongchitrat Prapimpun
Published: February 2024

Stress profoundly impacts various aspects of both physical and psychological well-being. Our previous study demonstrated that venlafaxine (Vlx) and synbiotic (Syn) treatment attenuated learned fear-like behavior and recognition memory impairment in immobilized-stressed rats. In this study, we further investigated the physical, behavior, and cellular mechanisms underlying the effects of Syn and/or Vlx treatment on brain and intestinal functions in stressed rats. Adult male Wistar rats, aged 8 weeks old were subjected to 14 days of immobilization stress showed a decrease in body weight gain and food intake as well as an increase in water consumption, urinary corticosterone levels, and adrenal gland weight. Supplementation of Syn and/or Vlx in stressed rats resulted in mitigation of weight loss, restoration of normal food and fluid intake, and normalization of corticosterone levels. Behavioral analysis showed that treatment with Syn and/or Vlx enhanced depressive-like behaviors and improved spatial learning-memory impairment in stressed rats. Hippocampal dentate gyrus showed stress-induced neuronal cell death, which was attenuated by Syn and/or Vlx treatment. Stress-induced ileum inflammation and increased intestinal permeability were both effectively reduced by the supplementation of Syn. In addition, Syn and Vlx partly contributed to affecting the expression of the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus and intestines of stressed rats, suggesting particularly protective effects on both the gut barrier and the brain. This study highlights the intricate interplay between stress physiological responses in the brain and gut. Syn intervention alleviate stress-induced neuronal cell death and modulate depression- and memory impairment-like behaviors, and improve stress-induced gut barrier dysfunction which were similar to those of Vlx. These findings enhance our understanding of stress-related health conditions and suggest the synbiotic intervention may be a promising approach to ameliorate deleterious effects of stress on the gut-brain axis.
Relationship between accelerometer-measured sleep duration and Stroop performance: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study among young adults
Authors: You Yanwei , Liu Jianxiu , Li Xingtian , Wang Peng , Liu Ruidong , Ma Xindong
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Short sleep is becoming more common in modern society. This study aimed to explore the relationship between accelerometer-measured sleep duration and cognitive performance among young adults as well as the underlying hemodynamic mechanisms.

Methods

A total of 58 participants were included in this study. Participants were asked to wear an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer to identify their sleep duration for 7 consecutive days. Cognitive function was assessed by the Stroop test. Two conditions, including the congruent and incongruent Stroop, were set. In addition, stratified analyses were used to examine sensitivity. 24-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) equipment was applied to measure hemodynamic changes of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during cognitive tasks.

Results

Results showed that sleep duration was positively associated with accuracy of the incongruent Stroop test (0.001 (0.000, 0.002), p = 0.042). Compared with the regular sleep (≥7 h) group, lower accuracy of the incongruent Stroop test (−0.012 (−0.023, −0.002), p = 0.024) was observed in the severe short sleep (<6 h). Moreover, a stratified analysis was conducted to examining gender, age, BMI, birthplace, and education’s impact on sleep duration and the incongruent Stroop test accuracy, confirming a consistent correlation across all demographics. In the severe short sleep group, the activation of left middle frontal gyri and right dorsolateral superior frontal gyri were negatively associated with the cognitive performance.

Conclusions

This study emphasized the importance of maintaining enough sleep schedules in young college students from a fNIRS perspective. The findings of this study could potentially be used to guide sleep time in young adults and help them make sleep schemes.
Cytological Diagnosis of Malignant Pleural Effusion Caused by Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Series of Four Cases
Authors: Rajeev Resmi , Suma MT , Valooran Jini L
Published: February 2024

The majority of malignant pleural effusions are caused by adenocarcinomas, with the most common primary sites being the lung and breast in men and women, respectively. Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in serous effusions is rare, accounting for less than 3% of all malignant effusions. The most common primary site of origin for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma involving serous effusions is the lung, followed by the head and neck, oesophagus, and cervix. Well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in pleural effusion, characterised by keratinised cells with hyperchromatic nuclei, tadpole cells, and fiber cells, is exceedingly rare. Poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas often present a diagnostic challenge and can be mistaken for poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, malignant mesothelioma, or reactive mesothelial hyperplasia. Immunohistochemistry is often required for a definitive diagnosis. Making an accurate diagnosis is crucial for providing optimal treatment to the patient. In this series, four cases (56 years old male,69 years old male, 60 years old female and 81 years old male) of malignant pleural effusion caused by metastatic squamous cell carcinoma arising from the lung, oropharynx, cervix, and oesophagus were examined. While one of the cases involved a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with characteristic cellular morphology that allowed for a straightforward diagnosis, the other three cases were poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas that required cell block preparation and immunohistochemistry for confirmation.
An Unusual Case of Anaemic Retinopathy Secondary to Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Authors: Raveekumaran Vignessh , Balaji Ananya , Selvaraj Sethuraj , Mary J Jenifer Florence
Published: February 2024

Anaemia has varied ocular presentations, ranging from simple conjunctival pallor to retinal abnormalities. Anaemic Retinopathy (AR) is a secondary retinal pathological symptom that can range from asymptomatic to developing retinal abnormalities. The increase in the severity of anaemia will ultimately increase the risk of retinopathy. While the outcomes might be similar to hypertensive or diabetic retinopathy, further comprehensive systemic and clinical evaluation is warranted. The incidence of AR, its associations with varying degrees of anaemia severity, and other haematological variables is still debated. Visual loss due to retinal abnormalities in anaemia is a rare clinical entity, despite its long-standing existence. Hereby, the authors present a case of a patient presenting with AR. A 19-year-old woman with a history of heavy menstrual bleeding was admitted for a sudden, painless, non progressive loss of vision in her left eye. Upon examination, her fundus revealed several Roth spots affecting all four quadrants and the macula, alongside a large and small preretinal haemorrhage in the nasal region and in the macula. Blood investigations revealed a Haemoglobin (Hb) of 2.4 g/dL and other reports suggestive of iron deficiency. She was diagnosed with iron-deficiency anaemia, with retinopathy as the most remarkable feature. She was treated with blood transfusion and Iron-folic Acid (IFA) supplementation, which showed a prompt response in the resolution of haemorrhage. She was discharged on IFA supplementation with planned follow-up for Ophthalmology and Gynaecology visits along with dietary advice.
Outcomes of Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease Treated by Aorto-femoro-popliteal and Distal Bypass Surgeries: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Lakshmidharan Mohan , Shivali R
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Aortoiliac occlusive disease can contribute to lower extremity ischaemic symptoms requiring intervention. Though proximal aorto-femoral bypass surgery has been the mainstay of intervention, the delayed healing in many patients necessitates exploration of other techniques, including sequential revascularisation. Aim: To estimate the outcomes of aortoiliac occlusive disease treated by aorto-femoro-popliteal and distal bypass surgeries. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted to determine the treatment outcomes of 25 patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease visiting a tertiary care centre of Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India from October 2012 to December 2014. Data regarding the aetiology of the disease, co-morbidities including substance use, degree of disease involvement, and treatment modalities were collected. Data was analysed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22.0. The Chi-square test was used to compare outcomes with different treatment modalities, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 58.3±2 years (range 40 to 70 years). The study noted that the most common aetiology for aortoiliac occlusive disease was atherosclerosis in 18 (72%) cases. The most common associated co-morbidity was smoking in 18 (72%) cases. Abnormal profunda patency was noted in 15 (60%) cases and synthetic Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was used in 80% of sequential bypass cases. A significantly higher proportion (86.7% vs 30%) of people treated by the sequential procedure achieved relief from claudication pain (p-value<0.05). The complication noted after the proximal bypass was pseudoaneurysm (20%), and the only complication noted after the sequential bypass was graft thrombosis (13.33%). The mean Ankle-brachial Index (ABI) score and ulcer healing time were also significantly higher in the sequential bypass procedure (p-value<0.05). Conclusion: Sequential bypass offers better advantages than proximal bypass for treating aortoiliac occlusive disease. It was found to be a safe and effective method for successful limb salvage, ensuring successful limb revascularisation and sufficient outflow to maintain graft patency.
Influence of Growth Regulators Application on Seed Development and Maturation in Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.)
Authors: Vanitha C  , Kathiravan M  , Umarani R  , Sathiya K
Published: February 2024

The experiment was carried out at National Pulses Research Centre (NPRC), Vamban, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to assess the effect of growth regulators foliar sprayon seed development and maturation in Pigeonpea VBN (Rg) 3. Plant growth regulators viz., GA3 (200 ppm) and chlormequat chloride(CCC) 200 ppm were sprayed at vegetative (65 DAS) and flowering stage (80 DAS). The plants without any foliar spraying treatment considered as control. When 50 percent of the plants in a population have reached bud initiation stage, the buds were tagged and collected at five days interval from 5th day upto45th days after initiation (DAI).  The variation in pod colour, changes in pod length and weight, seed fresh and dry weight, moisture content, germination and seedling vigour were recorded at regular intervals of five days up to 45 days after flower initiation. The results revealed that the maximum pod length, fresh and dry weight of pod and seed, seed germination and seedling vigour was observed in pigeonpea at 30 days after floral initiation (DAI) in chlormequat chloride (CCC) 200 ppm foliar treatment. The control i.e. without any foliar treatment had attained the physiological maturity at 35 DAI by recording all the physiological parameters viz. maximum pod length, fresh and dry weight, seed germination and seedling vigour. In pigeonpea, application of CCC @ 200 ppm as foliar treatmentleadsto attain physiological maturity at 30 days after initiation of flowering (DAI) by recording the highest seed weight, germination and seedling dry weight over control.
Effect of Micro Organic Fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Threatened Melientha suavis Pierre Species in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam
Authors: Tuan Nguyen Minh , Nga Dang Thi To
Published: February 2024

The experiment was conducted at Thai Nguyen province to evaluate the response of micro-organic fertilizer on growth of vegetative and yield of Melientha suavis Pierre species in the spring and summer season 2023. The experiment included four treatments was designed in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The characteristics include height of plant, diameter of trunk, leaf number, leaf size and yield were measured. The results indicated that applying the T3 treatment greatly in response enhancing height of plant, diameter of trunk, leaf number as well as leaf size compared to untreated control. Furthermore, application of the T3 treatment have the best results in yield of 380.0 kg/ha and 313.3 kg/ha in the spring and summer season, respectively. Therefore, the result could recommend applying micro-organic fertilizer can be practical tool for increasing growth of vegetative as well as yield in Melientha suavis pierre under field conditions.
Conjoint Application of Lime, Organics, Inorganic Fertilizers, and Bio-fertilizers Increases Groundnut Productivity, Available Phosphorus and Microbial Biomass Phosphorus in Acidic Soil of Tripura, India
Authors: Dey D. , Kundu M. C. , Sen D. , Sachan M. S.
Published: February 2024

In Tripura, India the soil productivity is less due to its light texture, acidic in nature, low fertility status, low microbial activity. Thus, a field experiment on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) was carried out on acidic soil of Khowai district of Tripura during 2017 and 2018 to evaluate the impact of the application of various combinations of lime, farm yard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), and rhizobium with the recommended doses of NPK on groundnut productivity, available phosphorus (P) and microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) content of acidic experimental soil. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design (RBD) with 13 treatments with various combinations of application of lime, farm yard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), and rhizobium with the recommended doses (RD) of NPK, each having 3 replications. Both initial and post-harvest soil samples were collected and analyzed to estimate the available P and MBP content. Results indicated that the use of the different combinations of the RD of NPK accompanied by the application of lime, organic manure (FYM or PM) and seed treatment with Rhizobium significantly increased available P and MBP content in the post-harvest soil which has resulted in increased seed yield of groundnut compared to the RD of NPK alone. Again, the use of RD of NPK @ 20:60:40 kg ha-1 conjointly with lime (@ 1/5th LR), PM (@ 5 t ha-1), and treating the seeds with Rhizobium @ 20 g kg-1 of seed might be recommended to the growers in achieving higher groundnut productivity with better return in acid soil of Tripura, India, as it showed maximum enhancement in groundnut productivity as well as available P2O5 content in post-harvest soil.
Synthesize and Characterization of Pt-supported Co-ZIF for Catalytic Hydrocracking and Hydroisomerization of n-Hexadecane
Authors: Hidayati Luthfiana Nurul , Aulia Fauzan , Napitupulu Sebastian Ulido , Adhyaksa Gede Widia Pratama , Dahnum Deliana
Published: February 2024

Zeolitic Imidazole Frameworks (ZIFs) are prospective porous materials as catalyst support due to their relatively large surface area, and tunability in size, structure, and porosity. Recent studies have also shown that ZIF is the best candidate for various catalytic redox reactions such as the oxidation of benzyl aromatic hydrocarbons. In this study, the synthesized Pt catalyst supported on Co-ZIF was varied by the organic ligands: imidazole, benzimidazole, and 1-(3-aminopropyl) imidazole, then followed by impregnation of Pt precursor. The catalysts were characterized its physical and chemicals properties such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Brunauer Emmet Teller (BET), Temperature-Programmed Desorption (NH3-TPD and CO2-TPD). The prepared catalysts were evaluated for catalytic hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of n-hexadecane in a 100 ml-batch reactor. GC-MS analysis presented that the Pt/ZIF catalyst with imidazole ligands has better performance than others. Hence, the optimization of n-Hexadecane conversion was carried out by the Pt/ZIF-imidazole catalyst varying the amount of metal loading, time and temperature reaction. The results showed that the reaction temperature of 350 ºC using 20 bar H2 for 4 h and the addition of 15 wt% Pt successfully achieved 90.77% conversion and produced the highest yield of isomers and alkanes, 4.04% and 35.75%, respectively. Copyright © 2024 by Authors, Published by BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Optical properties and quantum yield determination in photocatalytic suspensions
Authors: Loddo V. , Addamo M. , Augugliaro V. , Palmisano L. , Schiavello M. , Garrone E.
Published: April 2006

Knowledge of the optical properties of photocatalytic suspensions is vital for a correct comparison of their energetic efficiency. In this work, the determination of both absorption and scattering coefficients of aqueous suspensions of commercial TiO2 powders irradiated by monochromatic light was carried out by measuring only one quantity—the transmitted photon flow—as a function of the catalyst mass and by applying an asymptotic form of the Kubelka–Munk solution of the radiative transfer equation. Applying a nonlinear fitting procedure the evaluation of the actual values of absorption and scattering coefficients was carried out. The limit for optically thick media of the Kubelka–Munk equation is shown to assume the form of a standard Lambert–Beer absorption formula. The determination of absorbed photon flow was then used to determine the quantum yield value for the phenol photocatalytic oxidation reaction. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Preference for sons and sex ratio in two non‐western societies
Authors: Crognier E. , Baali A. , Hilali M.‐K. , Villena M. , Vargas E.
Published: April 2006

Moroccan Berbers and the Bolivian Aymara are two unrelated peasant groups living in adverse environments with a still rather traditional agriculture. Precarious life conditions may be responsible for the importance given to male labor and hence for the cultural preference conferred on male descent. This preference, expressed in the social valorization of sons to the detriment of daughters, is more emphasized if the socioeconomic status of the family is lower. Interpreted according to the cost/benefit approach of Fisher (1958 Genetical Thoery of Natural Selection, New York: Dover) of variations in the sex ratio and to its later developments (Trivers and Willard 1973 Science 179:90–91; Trivers 1985 Social Evolution, Menlo Park: Benjamin/Cummings; Hewlett 1991 J. Anthropol. Res. 47:1–37; Smith 1993 Ethol. Sociobiol. 14:39–44), these cultural characteristics could determine that parents bias the care allocated to their progeny in favor of sons, to the detriment of daughters. This could eventually affect their respective survival and finally modify the offspring tertiary sex ratio. This study compares differences in survival as indicators of parental care according to a child's sex and across three economic strata: poor, medium, and high. The Moroccan data express no other sex differences in survival than an advantage for daughters during the preweaning period in the medium and high strata. Within the same sex and across economic strata, a greater mortality between age 10–20 years is observed for boys of the poorest stratum. The Aymara data do not show sex differences by economic stratum, except for an advantage to daughters between birth and 5 years in the medium group, and no survival differences within the same sex across economic strata. These results suggest either that despite the social valorization of male progeny no differences in parental care according to sex occur, or that their magnitude is not great enough to contrast the survival of sons and daughters. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 18:325–334, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biological aging and Cox hazard analysis of mortality trends in a Mennonite community from south‐central Kansas
Authors: Melton Phillip E. , Zlojutro M. , Kimminau K. , Crawford M.H.
Published: April 2006

This study investigated mortality in 568 individuals from the Goessel Mennonite community in rural central Kansas. There were three main objectives to this research: 1) characterize mortality trends within a biologically well‐defined Mennonite community; 2) determine what biochemical, morphological, and physiological risk factors could be related to all‐cause mortality, stratified by age and sex; and 3) compare these results to previously described variables that were associated with both biological age and mortality in this population. Mortality data were obtained from three sources: Kansas Vital Records, the Social Security death index, and church records. In total, 221 (39%) individuals were found to have died in this population between January 1980–June 2002. Analogous to the larger US population, the three leading causes of death in this community were heart disease, cancer, and stroke, accounting for 60% of all deaths. Besides advancing age, the greatest biological risk factor in this population was decreased amounts of albumin in men (relative risk, 2.47), potentially indicating underreported cases of either chronic kidney disease or frailty syndrome for males. Cox proportional hazard models demonstrated that increased amounts of total cholesterol may provide a protective effect for elderly individuals. We conclude, based on the previously described heritability of both albumin (h2= 0.40) and total cholesterol (h2= 0.50) in this population, that underlying genetic factors associated with both chronic degenerative diseases and biological aging may have important implications for understanding mortality patterns in this community. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 18:387–401, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Randomized, controlled trial of dextromethorphan/quinidine for pseudobulbar affect in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Panitch Hillel S. , Thisted Ronald A. , Smith Richard A. , Wynn Daniel R. , Wymer James P. , Achiron Anat , Vollmer Timothy L. , Mandler Raul N. , Dietrich Dennis W. , Fletcher Malcolm , Pope Laura E. , Berg James E. , Miller Ariel
Published: April 2006

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of DM/Q (capsules containing dextromethorphan [DM] and quinidine [Q]) compared with placebo, taken twice daily, for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect over a 12‐week period in multiple sclerosis patients.

Methods

A total of 150 patients were randomized in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study to assess pseudobulbar affect with the validated Center for Neurologic Study‐Lability Scale. Each patient also recorded the number of episodes experienced between visits, estimated quality of life and quality of relationships on visual analog scales, and completed a pain rating scale.

Results

Patients receiving DM/Q had greater reductions in Center for Neurologic Study‐Lability Scale scores than those receiving placebo (p < 0.0001) at all clinic visits (days 15, 29, 57, and 85). All secondary end points also favored DM/Q, including the number of crying or laughing episodes (p ≤ 0.0077), quality of life (p < 0.0001), quality of relationships (p = 0.0001), and pain intensity score (p = 0.0271). DM/Q was well tolerated; only dizziness occurred with greater frequency than with placebo.

Interpretation

Results in multiple sclerosis patients were similar to those of a previous study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, demonstrating that DM/Q may be beneficial in treating potentially disabling pseudobulbar affect in a variety of neurological disorders. Ann Neurol 2006;59:780–787
Identification by 19F NMR of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants Possessing Prolyl Oligopeptidase Inhibitory Activity
Authors: Tarragó Teresa , Frutos Silvia , Rodriguez‐Mias Ricard A. , Giralt Ernest
Published: April 2006

Prolyl oligopeptidase is a cytosolic serine peptidase that hydrolyzes proline‐containing peptides at the carboxy termini of the proline residues. This peptidase has been associated with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, and related neuropsychiatric disorders and might therefore have important clinical implications. Traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) plants provide a rich source of unexplored compounds for strategies to find novel POP inhibitors, but the traditional methodologies used to identify POP inhibitors could have some limitations when working with natural products: interference with the colorimetric or fluorimetric detection methods commonly used to screen for POP inhibitors can result in the generation of false positives or false negatives. Since NMR screening is less prone to such interference, we decided to explore the use of 19F NMR to screen for POP inhibitors. We synthesized a new 19F‐labeled POP substrate—Z‐Gly‐Pro‐Phe‐4(CF3)‐NH2—and used it to search for new POP inhibitors in TCM plant extracts. We identified several plants with high POP‐inhibitory activity and show here that the combination of 19F NMR and TCM plant extracts is a useful tool for identifying new POP inhibitors.
Lewis Base Catalyzed Mannich‐Type Reactions between Trimethylsilyl Enol Ethers and Aldimines
Authors: Fujisawa Hidehiko , Takahashi Eiki , Mukaiyama Teruaki
Published: April 2006

Lewis base catalyzed Mannich‐type reaction between trimethylsilyl enol ethers and N‐tosylaldimines is described. Nitrogen anions generated from amides or imides such as lithium benzamide or potassium phthalimide are found to be effective Lewis base catalysts in DMF at room temperature to afford the corresponding β‐amino carbonyl compounds in good to high yields; the oxygen anion generated from carboxylic acids such as lithium acetate was also found to be effective in dry DMF. The above‐mentioned lithium acetate‐catalyzed Mannich‐type reaction between aldimines and various trimethylsilyl (TMS) enol ethers such as silyl ketene acetal proceeded smoothly even in water‐containing DMF. Then, Lewis base catalyzed three‐component Mannich‐type reactions of TMS enol ether, tosylamide, and aromatic aldehyde having electron‐withdrawing group such as p‐nitrobenzaldehyde were investigated. The reaction proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding β‐amino ester in good yield. Further, ammonium carboxylates such as tetrabutyl ammonium acetate or tetrabutyl ammonium benzoate were found to be more effective Lewis base catalysts in the above‐mentioned Mannich‐type reaction. The synthesis proceeded in various solvents at lower temperatures. The reaction between aldimines and TMS enol ethers generated from thioester and various ketones such as propiophenone or cyclohexanone also proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding β‐amino carbonyl compounds in high yields with good to high anti‐selectivities.
Catalytic Allylic Alkylation via the Cross‐Dehydrogenative‐Coupling Reaction Between Allylic sp3 C—H and Methylenic sp3 C—H Bonds.
Authors: Li Zhiping , Li Chao‐Jun
Published: April 2006

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.
A New and Efficient Method for the Trifluoromethylation of Carbonyl Compounds with Trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane in DMSO.
Authors: Iwanami Katsuyuki , Oriyama Takeshi
Published: April 2006

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.