bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FDH knockout and TsFDH transformation led to enhance growth rate of Escherichia coli
Authors: Razavipour Roya , Ashtiani Saman Hosseini , Sepahy Abbas Akhavan , Modarressi Mohammad Hossein , Bambai Bijan
Published: February 2024

In this study, we sought to reduce the released CO2 into the atmosphere from bacterial growth by reducing formic acid conversion into CO2. Since E. coli is the biotechnological workhorse and its higher growth rate is desirable, another goal was to monitor the bacterial biomass after the metabolic engineering. The conversion of formic acid to CO2 is a crucial reaction. Therefore, we compared the growth of control strains, alongside two strains in which two different genes coding two formate dehydrogenase (FDH) subunits were deleted. The knockout bacteria grew better than the controls. Thiobacillus FDH (TsFDH) transformation increased the growth of both knockouts of E.coli compared with the controls and the knockouts strain without TsFDH. Through a transcriptomics-level analysis of the strain knockout genes, the genes negatively correlated with the target genes were shown to belong to tRNA-related pathways. Observing higher cell biomass for the knockout and transformed strains indicates possible underlying mechanisms leading to reduced carbon leakage and increased carbon assimilation, which need more detailed investigations. Gene expression correlations and pathway analysis outcomes suggested possible over-expression of the genes involved in tRNA processing and charging pathways.
Fuzzy risk analysis based on ranking generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers with different left-right heights by defuzzification using the volume of the solid of revolution about the axis
Authors: Palepu Sasikala , Peddi Phani Bushan Rao
Published: February 2024

Fuzzy numbers (FNs) are used to handle incomplete or unclear data. Ranking FNs is mainly used in decision-making to select the best alternative among the given alternatives and has applications in data analysis, artificial intelligence, and other fields of operations research. This paper introduces a novel technique for ranking generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers (GTrFNs) with varying left and right heights using a defuzzification technique based on the volume of the solid of revolution about an axis. For finding the defuzzified value of a fuzzy number (FN), we derive the positive and negative side volumes of the GTrFN with varying left and right heights along with its centroid. A score function is proposed on these volumes and centroid to get the defuzzified value of the FN, and using this value the best alternative is identified among the given. The suggested approach overcomes some of the limitations of existing techniques. As an application, the proposed method is applied to fuzzy risk analysis problems related to identifying the risk of being affected by type 2 diabetes in five persons with different risk-prone parameters.
Adequacy of Pain Management among Advanced Cancer Patients with Solid Tumors Attending Palliative Care Centers in Dar Es Salaam
Authors: Mwijage Judith , Kyejo Willbroad , Rubagumya Davis , Kombo Thabit , Mathew Blessing , Hooda Faisal , Makakala Mandela , Pallangyo Eunice , Chuwa Harrison
Published: February 2024

Background: Cancer pain presents a universal challenge for patients and their families, significantly impacting quality of life. While observational studies suggest an increase in palliative care programs in Tanzania, the adequacy of pain control for cancer patients remains underexplored. Addressing this gap is crucial for enhancing patient well-being and care quality.
Methodology: This analytical cross-sectional study, conducted from October to December 2021 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, involved 332 advanced cancer patients with solid tumors from the Aga Khan Hospital and Ocean Road Cancer Institute. A structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire comprising demographic data and factors influencing cancer-related pain (CRP) management was utilized. Additionally, the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI-SF) assessed pain intensity and interference. Statistical analysis, including chi-square tests and logistic regression, was performed using SPSS version 25 to evaluate factors associated with adequate CRP management.
Results: Among 332 participants, 199 (59.9%) experienced adequate pain management, with prevalence notably higher among females, patients from Aga Khan Hospital, divorced, employed, and tertiary-educated individuals. Multivariable analysis identified sex, employment status, and education level as significant predictors of adequate pain management, with females having twice the likelihood of adequacy compared to males (OR: 1.96; 95%CI: 1.06-3.66; p=0.033). Self-employed participants had significantly lower odds of adequate pain management compared to the employed (OR=0.08; 95%CI: 0.01-0.33; p=0.002), while unemployment was associated with a 91% lower likelihood of adequacy (OR=0.09; 95%CI: 0.01-0.42; p=0.006). Furthermore, individuals with primary education were 2.47 times more likely to report adequate pain management compared to those with nonformal education (OR: 2.47; 95%CI: 1.16-5.43; p=0.021).
Conclusion:The study highlights inadequate CRP management in Tanzania and emphasizes the influence of patient-related factors such as sex, employment status, and education level. These findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions to address disparities and enhance pain management strategies for cancer patients. Efforts to improve CRP management should consider sociodemographic factors to optimize care delivery and alleviate patient suffering effectively.
Splittings of operations for Lie-Poisson triple systems and related algebraic structures
Authors: Hassine Abdelkader Ben , Chtioui Taoufik , Mabrouk Sami , Zouidi Fatma
Published: February 2024

A Lie-Poisson triple system is a Lie triple system together with a commutative associative algebra structure related by a Leibniz rule. In this paper, we study representations theory and O-operators of Lie-Poisson triple systems. We show that a representation of a Lie-Poisson triple system has a dual representation under an additional condition. Next, we introduce a new algebraic structures corresponding to the splittings of operations of Malcev-Poisson algebras and Lie-Poisson triple systems called pre-Malcev-Poisson algebras and pre-Lie-Poisson triple systems in terms of representations and O-operators. In fact, we exhibit connections between (pre-)Poisson algebras, (pre-)Malcev-Poisson algebras and (pre-)Lie-Poisson triple systems.
MSC (2010): 17A40; 17A36; 17B10; 17B63; 17B38.
Assessment of knowledge and behaviors of an opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution program during the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Authors: Horace Alexis , Atawodi-Alhassan Ojochogwu
Published: February 2024

Background:
The state of Louisiana ranked 4th in the US for per capita overdose rates as 56 out of 100,000 persons died due to overdose and 1,300 of those deaths involved opioids. Opioid involved deaths increased 131% between 2019–2022. A pharmacist-led OEND program was developed at a SSP in New Orleans during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to increased client enrolment during that time. The purpose of this research is to characterize the clients who participated in the OEND and to assess their learned knowledge and behaviors over time.
Methods:
A pharmacist led OEND program was created in April 2020 at a syringe access program in New Orleans, Louisiana. OEND was provided by a licensed pharmacist and student pharmacists. OEND coincided with the SSPs activities one time a week. Participants first received harm reduction supplies through the syringe access program and then had the option of receiving OEND. Patients' demographic information was collected. Participants who said they received opioid overdose education from our OEND program were verbally given a knowledge and behavior assessment. Participants knowledge and behaviors were scored using a rubric.
Results:
A total of 32 OEND sessions were held from July 2020 through February 2023 resulting in 1453 overall participant interactions. Repeat participants completed 269 visits and averaged 2.3 visits in three years. The average age of participants who received OEND was 40 years old. Additionally, participants who accessed OEND were primarily white (68.1%, n = 989/1453) and mostly male (59.1%, n = 859/1453). Among the participants who visited the OEND station more than once, 160 responses were collected for how helpful the previous education session had been. Of these responses, 75% (= 120/160) were “Very helpful”. Average scores on our knowledge assessment showed no significant change over time for repeat visitors showing participants retained at least basic knowledge.
Conclusions:
OEND programs established at SSPs play an important role in providing education to PWUD. Participants knowledge sustained over time; however, refresher education sessions may be valuable to ensure participants stay accurately informed. Participants find OEND helpful. As naloxone continues to become increasingly available, OEND is necessary in preventing opioid overdose deaths.
Investigating Factors Influencing the Utilization of Nutrition Label Information in Dietary Decision-Making Among Tertiary Students in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study Design
Authors: Wormade Thywill Fafali , Kwarteng Emmanuel Bugyei , Bawua Serwaa Akoto
Published: February 2024

Background: Nutrition labeling is pivotal in empowering consumers to make informed food choices, especially during the transition to university life. The prevalence of pre-packaged foods among university students has influenced dietary decisions. Despite the benefits of nutrition labeling, a gap exists between availability and practical application, particularly among tertiary students. This study aims to investigate factors influencing nutrition label information use among tertiary students in the Ho municipality, guiding potential modifications to food laws and targeted interventions for healthier food choices.
Methods: The study adopted an analytical cross-sectional design, 347 students from two tertiary institutions in Ho municipality were selected using a multistage probability sampling approach. A self-administered questionnaire collected data on demographics, nutrition label knowledge, usage, and influencing factors. Data analysis employed EpiData 6.0 and Stata version 17.0, utilizing simple frequencies, percentages, means, medians, standard deviations, binary logistic regression, and odds ratios for associations.
Results: High prevalence (98.5%) of pre-packaged food consumption was observed, but only 45.4% accurately defined nutrition labels. Overall knowledge level indicated 57% of students possessed good nutrition label knowledge. Nutrition label usage was high (79.7%), with 22.3% always using label information for dietary decisions. Significant associations were found for factors like attractive packaging (AOR: 0.53; p-value: 0.049), special dietary needs (AOR: 0.35; p-value: 0.005), and advertisement (AOR: 0.33; p-value: 0.007) in logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion: The study uncovered prevalent consumption of pre-packaged foods, particularly biscuits, noodles, and dairy products, chosen for affordability and convenience. Despite claimed familiarity with nutrition labels (79.6%), a knowledge gap was identified, emphasizing the need for educational interventions. Findings underscore the importance of targeted educational programs to enhance understanding and consistent utilization of nutrition labels among students. The study recommends measures such as mandatory labeling, strict advertising regulations, targeted public education, and appealing label designs to enhance awareness and utilization among students.
When Microsurgery Becomes the Only Lifesaving Resource: An Institutional Experience Treating Patients from Low-Income Backgrounds Affected by Posterior Circulation Brain Aneurysms
Authors: Sánchez José Luis Acha , Montenegro Luis Contreras , Bocanegra-Becerra Jhon E. , Cueva Manuel , Bellido Adriana , Contreras Shamir , Santos Oscar , Oliveira Leonardo de Barros , Batista Sávio , Colán Jhair Alejandro
Published: February 2024

Background and objective Aneurysms of the posterior cerebral circulation constitute a burdensome condition with high mortality and morbidity. In the modern area of sophisticated technological advancements, there has been a trend toward favoring an endovascular approach over microsurgery for aneurysm cases. Nevertheless, this transition has yet to be mirrored in low-to-middle-income countries where endovascular therapy may not be widely available. Herein, we aim to illustrate our experience treating these challenging conditions in patients from low-income backgrounds and discuss the relevance of considering the clinical setting in the treatment decision algorithm.Methods The authors conducted a retrospective review of the health records of patients receiving microsurgical treatment for aneurysms in the posterior circulation, including the basilar artery (BA), posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) in an institution providing treatment to people of low-income backgrounds. Epidemiological data, microsurgical technique, and neurological function were retrieved and analyzed.Results Surgical clipping was employed for 12 patients (75% female) harboring 15 aneurysms (87% in the posterior circulation and 62% ruptured at presentation). Aneurysms were predominately located in the BA (62%), followed by the PCA (23%) and PICA (15%). Among neurological complications, 25% of patients developed paresis of the oculomotor nerve. The mortality rate was 17% owing to complications such as cerebral vasospasm, infarction, and severe intracranial hypertension. At the 6-month follow-up, 90% of patients had a good clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale score of 0–2).Conclusion The present case series illustrates the manifest role of microsurgical techniques for posterior circulation aneurysms, particularly in a scenario where endovascular techniques are not yet available. Importantly, this clinical setting pressure can provide an imperative need to strive for microsurgical mastery and an opportunity for neurosurgeons in training to gain a competitive advantage.
RETRACTED: Mechanisms of action of Qinghao in treating breast cancer and doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity based on network pharmacology and molecular docking
Authors: Pei Chongzhe , Yang Kuan , Chen Yan , Dong Yuxin , Meng Xinmin , Song Ningning
Published: February 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
PSALR: Parallel Sequence Alignment for long Sequence Read with Hash model
Authors: Nasrin Aghaee-Maybodi , Amin Nezarat , Sima Emadi , Reza Ghaffari Mohammad
Published: February 2024

Sequence alignment and genome mapping pose significant challenges, primarily focusing on speed and storage space requirements for mapped sequences. With the ever-increasing volume of DNA sequence data, it becomes imperative to develop efficient alignment methods that not only reduce storage demands but also offer rapid alignment. This study introduces the Parallel Sequence Alignment with a Hash-Based Model (PSALR) algorithm, specifically designed to enhance alignment speed and optimize storage space while maintaining utmost accuracy. In contrast to other algorithms like BLAST, PSALR efficiently indexes data using a hash table, resulting in reduced computational load and processing time. This algorithm utilizes data compression and packetization with conventional bandwidth sizes, distributing data among different nodes to reduce memory and transfer time. Upon receiving compressed data, nodes can seamlessly perform searching and mapping, eliminating the need for unpacking and decoding at the destination. As an additional innovation, PSALR not only divides sequences among processors but also breaks down large sequences into sub-sequences, forwarding them to nodes. This approach eliminates any restrictions on query length sent to nodes, and evaluation results are returned directly to the user without central node involvement. Another notable feature of PSALR is its utilization of overlapping sub-sequences within both query and reference sequences. This ensures that the search and mapping process includes all possible sub-sequences of the target sequence, rather than being limited to a subset. Performance tests indicate that the PSALR algorithm outperforms its counterparts, positioning it as a promising solution for efficient sequence alignment and genome mapping.
A Practical and Easy-to-use Tool for Estimating the Overall Survival of Elderly Patients with Non-Functional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Liao Jie , Chen Guanyuan , Wu Dan , Wang Na , Yang Taohua , Chen XU , Wang Liang , Li Zhendong
Published: February 2024

Background The objective of this study was to develop a nomogram for the prediction of overall survival (OS) in elderly patients diagnosed with non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-pNETs). Methods 1. Patients aged 65 years and older, who were diagnosed with NF-pNETs between 2004 and 2016, were selected for this study from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The enrolled patients were randomly divided into two cohorts - training and validation - in a ratio of 7:3. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was utilized to identify predictors associated with overall survival (OS) for constructing nomograms. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated using various metrics including concordance index (C-index), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration plots, net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and decision-curve analysis (DCA). Results The multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that age at diagnosis, primary site, histology grade, tumor size, N stage, M stage, and surgery status were independent covariates significantly associated with overall survival (OS). These factors were utilized to develop a nomogram. The constructed nomogram demonstrated a C-index greater than 0.75. Furthermore, the area under the curve (AUC) values indicated the superior discriminatory performance of the established nomogram compared to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging system for predicting OS. Calibration plots exhibited close alignment between predicted and actual survival rates. Additionally, both net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) showed positive improvements in the prediction accuracy of the nomogram over the TNM staging system in both training and validation cohorts. Finally, decision curve analysis (DCA) substantiated the substantial clinical utility of the developed nomogram. Conclusion We constructed a nomogram for predicting OS in elderly patients with NF-pNETs to help clinicians assess patient prognosis.
Measurement of Aluminum plasma Parameters by using Laser- induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Authors: Raheem Safa A. , Hatif Sami A. , Ali Alaa H.
Published: February 2024

In this paper, we have studied the effect of the laser wavelength on the emission lines and on the plasma parameters of aluminum. A Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser operating at fundamental mode (1064 nm) and second harmonic generation at (532 nm) has been used to ablate the aluminum surface. Identification of transition lines from spectrum was carried out by comparing spectral lines with NIST atomic database. The variations of temperature and electron density were studied as a function of laser energy. It was found that the electron temperature of the Al plasma increases rapidly with increasing laser energy.
Differential Testing Solidity Compiler through Deep Contract Manipulation and Mutation
Authors: Tian Zhenzhou , Wang Fanfan , Chen Yanping , Chen Lingwei
Published: February 2024

Solidity, the language utilized for developing smart contracts, has been gainingincreased importance in blockchain system. Ensuring bug-free of its accompanying language compiler, which converts the contract source codes into executablesfinally deployed on the blockchain, is thus of paramount importance. This studypresents DeSCDT, a Deep learning-based Solidity Compiler Differential Testingapproach, to explore possible defects in solidity compiler. At the core lies a wellbehaving deep contract generator following the Transformer architecture andlearnt with diverse contract code. From an initial seed pool of contracts carefully picked through semantic encoding and clustering, the generator is capableof stably producing highly syntactic-valid and functional-rich smart contracts,with three meticulously formulated generation strategies and a set of mutationoperations. Subsequently, in the meantime of compiling these generated contractsto trigger compiler crashes, a differential testing environment is setup to exploremisoptimization bugs, by observing the inconsistencies between the outcomes and the aspects including gas consumption and opcode size of the optimized and nonoptimized bytecodes. For the experiments, the syntactic validity and diversity ofthe contracts generated with DeSCDT, as well as its ability in discovering compiler defects, are investigated. The findings indicate that DeSCDT can effectivelygenerate syntactically correct contracts with a pass rate of 90.8% alongside highdiversity. Among the contracts tested for a 24-hour running of DeSCDT, 37.4%of them expose inconsistencies across the optimized and non-optimized versionof the same contract. Six bugs that could trigger direct crashing of the compilerhave also detected.
NeVer2: Learning and Verification of Neural Networks
Authors: Demarchi Stefano , Guidotti Dario , Pulina Luca , Tacchella Armando
Published: February 2024

NeVer2 is a cross-platform open-source tool to design, train and verify neural networks. NeVer2 integrates off-the-shelf learning libraries with our verification backend and makes their functionalities available through a graphical interface. A user can work out the structure of a neural network by dragging and dropping blocks on a canvas and then train the network by supplying a dataset source and the hyper-parameters through dialog boxes. Once the network is trained, verification amounts to (i) adding input pre-conditions and output post-conditions to the network through special blocks and (ii) starting verification in a "push-button" fashion. To the best of our knowledge, there is no other publicly available tool that integrates all such features at present. Here we provide a detailed description of NeVer2 including examples to demonstrate the seamless integration between design, training and verification. We further provide an experimental analysis on several verification benchmarks in order to show the trade-off between completeness and computability using different algorithms, including a comparison with the state-of-the-art tools α,β-CROWN and NNV for reference.
Performance of the reaction to obtain biodiesel, from used domestic oils, using microwaves as a heat source
Authors: Tang Modesto Lorenzo Vega , Valderrama Isidoro , Alcántara José Carlos , Guerrero Adolfo Enrique , Mendoza Jorge Luis , Moreno Walter , Vera Manuel Isaías
Published: February 2024

The main objective of this research work is to evaluate the performance of the reaction to obtain biodiesel from used domestic oils, as a function of time and catalyst, using microwaves as a heat source. A biodiesel was obtained that conforms to the technical considerations of National and International Standards; with 92 % yield, 12.62 cetane index, peroxide index of 0.3667, 102.63 iodine index, 3.65 mm2/s viscosity and a calorific value of 90 390 KJ/Kg. This work can serve as a model for the development of new biodiesel fuels that are interested in contributing to mitigate the environmental impact. It stresses the importance of producing an environmentally friendly fuel, mainly using an input with no commercial value, such as discarded domestic oil.
In this context, there is the other contribution of this thesis, the ostensible reduction of the biodiesel production time, which normally takes two hours on average, with microwave activation, is obtained in minutes. The novelty of this work consists in using a statistical method to indicate, in a theoretical way, values where we can start the research. Thus, the Two Level Factorial Design is used, obtaining two theoretical values: the microwave exposure time and the percentage of the catalyst. The experimental values were close to these statistical values obtained and indicated in this Thesis. This was of vital importance in the achievement of the proposed objectives.
Potential causal relationship between body mass index (BMI) and acute pancreatitis: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yang Si-Qi , Shi Qiao , Wang Wei-Xing
Published: February 2024

Objective: To investigate the causal relationship between body mass index (BMI) levels and acute pancreatitis using the two sample Mendelian randomization method (MR).
Method: Analyze the aggregated data from the gene wide association study (GWAS). The GWAS summary data used were all sourced from the European population. Using single nucleotide polymorphisms significantly correlated with body mass index levels as instrumental variables, a two sample Mendelian randomization analysis was performed using inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR Egger regression, and weighted median (WM) methods, respectively, to evaluate the causal effect of body mass index and acute pancreatitis using odds ratio (Oddsratio, OR). The body mass index data as an exposure factor was obtained from individuals of European ancestry in the UK Biobank (n=454884). We also used GWAS's publicly aggregated statistical dataset for self-reported non cancer disease codes: acute pancreatitis data included in the UK Biobank (n=463010)（ http://www.nealelab.is/uk-biobank ））as the ending.
Result: The IVW results showed that BMI was associated with acute pancreatitis（ β= 0.001969, se=0.0004278, P=0.000004189) showed a significant correlation, and the weighted median results were consistent with the IVW result（ β= 0.001901, se=0.0008264, P=0.02142), also confirming the causal relationship between BMI and acute pancreatitis. The MR Egger regression results confirm that directional pleiotropy is unlikely to bias the results (intercept=4.6E-07; P=0.983), but there is no causal relationship between BMI and acute pancreatitis（ β= 0.001943, se=0.001326, P=0.1442). Cochran's Q-test and funnel plot indicate no evidence of heterogeneity and asymmetry, indicating the absence of directed pleiotropy.
Conclusion: The results of MR analysis support a causal relationship between body mass index (BMI) and an increased risk of acute pancreatitis.
Coexisting germline variants of MLH1 and MSH6 in a patient with Lynch syndrome, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer
Authors: Umegaki Sho , Takahashi Masanobu , Hasegawa-Minato Junko , Kawamura Maako , Taniguchi Sakura , Komine Keigo , Tokunaga Hideki , Ouchi Kota , Imai Hiroo , Saijo Ken , Fujishima Fumiyoshi , Shimada Muneaki , Aoki Yoko , Ishioka Chikashi
Published: February 2024

Lynch syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a heterozygous pathogenic germline variant in mismatch repair (MMR) genes, including MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, and EPCAM. Lynch syndrome often causes a familial cluster of patients with malignant tumors. We describe a 37-year-old woman who presented with endometrioid carcinoma in the ovary and endometrium associated with Lynch syndrome. She carried two germline pathogenic variants, a recurrently reported MLH1 c.2250C > G (p. Tyr750*) and previously unreported MSH6 c.2385del (p. Ile795Metfs*15). The tumor cells showed microsatellite instability. Immunohistochemistry showed decreased MLH1 expression, loss of PMS2 expression, retained MSH2 expression, and loss of MSH6 expression, indicating that both variants impair protein stability, causing MMR deficiency. Whether these variants were inherited from her parents or occurred de novo is unknown. The tumor cells had somatic variants BRCA1 c.1016del and BRCA2 c.36dupT, which might be due to secondary mutation by MMR deficiency. The use of pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, resulted in a durable partial response of metastatic lung tumors. This case highlights the rare possibility of multiple germline variants in MMR genes in individuals with Lynch syndrome.
Polyp-DAM: Polyp segmentation via depth anything model
Authors: Zheng Zhuoran , Wu Chen , Wang Wei , Jin Yeying , Jia Xiuyi
Published: February 2024

Recently, large models (Segment Anything model) came on the scene to provide a new baseline for polyp segmentation tasks. This demonstrates that large models with a sufficient image level prior can achieve promising performance on a given task. In this paper, we unfold a new perspective on polyp segmentation modeling by leveraging the Depth Anything Model (DAM) to provide depth prior to polyp segmentation models. Specifically, the input polyp image is first passed through a frozen DAM to generate a depth map. The depth map and the input polyp images are then concatenated and fed into a convolutional neural network with multiscale to generate segmented images. Extensive experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, and in addition, we observe that our method still performs well on images of polyps with noise. The URL of our code is https://github.com/zzr-idam/Polyp-DAM.
Feeling and Acting in Teaching Classrooms: A Mixed-method Analysis of EFL Teachers’ Emotional Labour Strategies and their Discrete Emotions
Authors: Mameghani Alireza Afshar , Yousefi Mohammad Hossein , Asadollahfam Hassan , Mohammadi Roya Ranjbar
Published: February 2024

Research points to the important role emotion labour strategies play in workplace and academic performance, yet few studies have examined emotion labour strategies and discrete emotions in non-Western contexts in the field of ELT. The current study extends this research base by examining EFL teachers’ emotion labor strategies and the relationship with discrete emotions of two types of EFL teachers. To this end, a sample of 120 EFL teachers teaching in different schools in Tabriz, Iran was selected from both secondary and high schools. The instruments used in this study were two questionnaires and a semi-structured interview. The results of ANOVA and regression analysis demonstrated that there was a significant positive correlation between two groups of EFL teachers’ discrete emotions and emotional labor strategies scores. Moreover, the findings indicated that between the two components of the emotional labor strategies, the secondary school teachers’ only surface acting and the high school teachers’ surface acting and deep acting components. The results of semi-structured interview from ten EFL teachers approved the results obtained from the quantitative data and showed the importance of emotions in teaching contexts. The pedagogical implications are discussed.
Rhodiola rosea glycosides modulate ERβ/BNIP3-mediated mitochondrial autophagy in cerebral ischemic neuroprotection
Authors: Rong Xing , Li Yu , Yue Yuan-Jia , Ji Zhao , Wang Hui-Min , Liu Xin-Hong , Liu Xin-Hong , Jing Lin
Published: February 2024

Objectives: Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effect and mechanism of Rhodiola rosea glycosides(SAL) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) rats through the mitochondrial autophagy pathway mediated by estrogen receptor β (ERβ)/B-cell lymphoma-2/adenovirus E1B interacting protein 3 (BNIP3).
Methods: 135 SD rats were divided into OVX and model groups (OVX+MCAO/R),estradiol control group (OVX+MCAO/R+E2), ERβ inhibitor group (OVX+MCAO/R+SAL+PHTPP), autophagy inhibitor group (OVX+MCAO/R+SAL+Mdivi-1), and SAL low,medium, and high dose group (OVX+MCAO/R+SAL). MCAO/R+SAL), the middle cerebral artery embolism (MCAO/R) model was constructed using the wire embolism method, and reperfusion was performed for 24h after 1h of ischaemia. Neurological function scoring was performed after 24h of reperfusion; TTC staining was used to detect the volume of cerebral infarction; water content of brain tissue was determined by wet and dry gravimetry; the permeability of blood-brain barrier was determined by Evans blue (EB) content; the levels of oestrogen (E2), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were analysed by the kit; neuron pathology was observed on the ischemic side by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining; and the damage of neuron in brain tissue by Nissl staining was observed by the kit. Nissl staining was used to observe neuronal damage in brain tissue; transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe mitochondrial autophagosomes; and Western blotting was used to detect the expression of ERβ and autophagy-related proteins, BNIP3, NIX, Beclin-1 and LC3.
Results: There was no statistical difference (P>0.05) in Longa score, TTC, brain water content, EB, E2 and oxidative stress level, HE, Niehl's staining and transmission electron microscopy in the Con group compared with the OVX group, indicating that removal of the ovaries had no effect on the subsequent experiments; whereas, there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) and a decrease in the expression of autophagy-related proteins in the MCAO/R group compared with the E2 and SAL groups, indicating that Mdivi-1 and PHTPP inhibitor groups played a protective role against neural damage compared with the SAL-H group. It indicated that E2 and SAL exerted a protective effect against nerve injury; whereas the two inhibitor groups, Mdivi-1 and PHTPP, were statistically significantly different (P<0.05) compared with the SAL-H group, and the inhibitor group reversed the protective effect of SAL and decreased the expression of autophagy-related proteins, suggesting that SAL may protect neuronal cells through ERβ-mediated mitochondrial autophagy.
Conclusions: Conclusion SAL may improve neurological function in cerebral ischemic rats by modulating the level of ERβ/BNIP3-mediated mitochondrial self, providing a new way for drug development based on SAL combined with ERβ as a drug for cerebral ischemia.
The interplay among economic development, institutional quality and globalization: Evidence from emerging, developing, and least-developed countries
Authors: Elatroush Ibrahim
Published: February 2024

To achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs), there is an urgent need to enhance institutional quality (IQ) dimensions. Emerging, developing and least-developed countries are needed to improve their IQ scores to enhance low levels of economic development represented by human development index (HDI). In this regard, this paper aims to explore the role of IQ and globalization in economic development. The study involved a sample of 106 cross-countries classified into emerging, developing, and least-developed countries from 2000 to 2021. Econometric techniques include first and second-generation unit root tests, Dumitrescu Hurlin panel causality tests, a panel pooled mean group (PMG/ARDL), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) are employed. Empirical results reveal that IQ, globalization, inflowed foreign direct investment (FDI), and urbanization(UR) have positive impacts on the HDI for grouping countries. In contrast, corruption, governmental expenditure (GE), unemployment (UNE), trade openness (TO), and inflation have negative influences on the HDI. To meet the SDGs for emerging, developing, and least-developed countries, authorities, and policy makers must focus on policies and strategies aimed at eliminating corruption, enhancing transparency, ensuring proper and efficient GE, enhancing IQ dimensions, eliminating higher inflation rates, enhancing the globalization index (GI), and eliminating unemployment rates.
JEL Classification: C23; F63; H50; O10; O50
Correlates of verbal abuse among health workers in Greater Accra, Ghana: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Tawiah Philip Apraku , Appiah-Brempong Emmanuel , Okyere Paul , Adu-Fosu Geoffrey , Ashinyo Mary Eyram , Edziah Florence Shine , Daitey Emmanuel Amesimeku
Published: February 2024

Background
Workplace violence remains a critical public health issue, with verbal abuse being present in over 50% of reported cases. Additionally, instances of verbal abuse frequently remain unreported, resulting in a considerable proportion being inaccurately assessed and unrecorded. Significantly, there is scarcity of information on its predisposing factors. This study examined the relationship between socio-demographic, lifestyle, and occupational factors, and the prevalence of verbal abuse among health workers in Ghana.
Methods
A cross-sectional study with an analytical approach was conducted across multiple facilities in the Greater Accra region from January 30 to May 31, 2023. Study participants were selected through simple random sampling. The analysis was done using STATA 15 software. Factors linked to exposure to verbal abuse were determined using log-binomial regression analysis, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results
A survey was conducted among 602 health workers in ten (10) private and public hospitals. The prevalence of verbal abuse was 53.8% [95% CI: (49.7%-57.9%)]. Approximately half, 162 (50.0%) of verbal abuse occurrence were perpetrated by patients’ relatives. Being a housekeeper [APR = 1.49 (1.07, 2.08)], being on on-call duties [APR = 1.25 (1.08, 1.46)], and frequent exposure to work pressure [APR = 1.16 (1.00, 1.35)] were factors significantly associated with exposure to verbal abuse.
Conclusion
The exposure to verbal abuse among health workers was elevated. Nearly half of the reported verbal abuse cases were perpetrated by patients’ relatives. Housekeeping roles, pressure at work and on-call duties were related to verbal aggression among health workers in Ghana. Health administrators, managers, and policymakers can ease work pressure and on-call responsibilities in the healthcare sector by implementing measures to steadily augment the labour force.
The growth effect of drench treatments of a seaweed biostimulant made from Ecklonia maxima on transplanted Hass (c.v.) avocado clones within the propagation phase
Authors: Beck-Pay S. L.
Published: February 2024

The final stage of the commercial propagation of avocado (Persea americana) plants, requires plants to be replanted in larger bags for a growing out period, prior to being dispatched. The use of drench treatments of Afrikelp™ LG 1, a biostimulant extracted from the South African kelp Ecklonia maxima, on newly replanted clonal avocado (Hass on clonal Dusa rootstocks), was evaluated over a period of 10 weeks, for any growth benefits at this hardening off stage of propagation. Micro-clonal avocado plants were received in 98 plastic inserts and rebagged into 3.3 L Elle growbags containing pine bark augmented with 5g L− 1 Multicote™ 4 and under 40% black/ white shadenet. Three concentrations of Afrikelp™ LG 1 (0.5; 1.0 and 2.0%) together with a control treatment (water), were applied as 500 ml drench applications every two weeks, with a total of five applications. Two weeks after the final drench application, the plants were destructively harvested, and final growth measurements were recorded. Foliar samples from each treatment were sent for nutrient analysis (macro- and micro-nutrients). All Afrikelp™ LG 1 treated plants showed increases in growth, with 0.5% Afrikelp™ LG 1 treatment having significant (p < 0.05) increases in young foliar biomass and increases in percentage height, compared to the control. Even though most growth rate increases were non-significant, it is possible more significant results would be evident after a longer treatment period as most nurseries have a hardening off period of between 6 and 12 months before dispatch.
Nurses’ Use of Chiropractic for Relief of Back and Neck Pain
Authors: Vellan Regan T , Gantt Laura
Published: February 2024

Background
Because of the physical demands of the profession, nurses often experience back and neck pain. Chronic pain can affect productivity at work and push nurses to seek less physically taxing positions. With an increased demand for nurses, the wellbeing of these healthcare workers must be taken into consideration to maximize retention, quality patient care, and job satisfaction. However, few studies exist that describe nurses’ use of chiropractic therapy to manage back and neck pain. This study sought to fill that gap.
Methodology
The primary investigator obtained permission to recruit patients who were nurses from a chiropractic office in a town in eastern North Carolina. Those sought for this study frequented a chiropractor when dealing with back or other areas of discomfort and had work-related musculoskeletal pain. Narrative inquiry was employed for the study and participants engaged in one face-to-face interview in the chiropractic office.
Results
Six women ages 45 to 70 were recruited by word of mouth and referrals from the chiropractors. All participants had nursing degrees and experience, but not all were still in nursing practice. From the interviews, nurses’ experiences with back and neck pain before and after chiropractic were revealed. Chiropractic proved to be a beneficial treatment for those suffering pain who were both in and out of work. Nurses described the healing process as gradual, but all participants benefited. The nurses still in practice mentioned that chiropractic care improved their productivity at work; lifting and turning patients became easier. As patients, they received treatments ranging from adjustments to interferential therapy as well as insights into nutrition and stretching.
Conclusions
Nurses’ self-care is a frequent topic in current literature. However, the use of chiropractic therapy as a strategy for self-care has received limited attention. Future research related to self-care by nurses should include chiropractic among the therapies nurses may find beneficial.
Analysing the Link between Population Diversity, Population Growth, and Income: A Panel Data Study
Authors: Firdaus Irfan Aziz Al , Pradana Cokorda Bagus Ghana Indra , Sugiyanto Catur
Published: February 2024

Amidst shifting demographics across many countries, certain stylized facts related to fertility, population, and income have become less universally applicable. This research addresses a significant gap in literature by providing a comprehensive analysis on the relationship between population diversity, population growth, and income growth that incorporate both time-varying and cross-country components. Our study reveals a positive correlation between population diversity and population growth, suggesting that diversity along with migration contribute to population expansion due to strategic interactions among ethnic groups to compete for influences in society, hence fostering pronatalism policies. However, we found a negative association between population diversity and income growth, indicating potential ethnic conflict, rent-seeking behaviour, and other challenges that hinder policy implementation in highly diverse settings. Our findings underline the complex dynamics between these factors, emphasizing the need for further exploration.
JEL Classification: J1, O1, Z1
A Novel Framework for Image Encryption by Integrating Modified Moth Flame Optimization and Logistic Chaotic Map for Enhanced Security
Authors: Aggarwal Akshat , Awasthi Eshaan , Kukreja Deepika , Kedia Jyoti , Bala Indu
Published: February 2024

Preserving the confidentiality of sensitive image data is of paramount importance in the digital world. Therefore, an optimized image encryption algorithm is proposed in this paper for securing image-based communication. The proposed Modified Moth Flame Optimization Algorithm (MMFO) delved along with a Logistic Chaotic Map is used to obtain improved values of evaluation parameters such as Correlation Coefficient(CC), Image Entropy (IE), Unified Average Changing Intensity (UACI) and Normalized Pixel Change Rate (NPCR) along with Uniform Histograms for the encrypted image that outperforms various state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms coupled with diverse chaotic maps. Using multiple plain image-dependent session keys and a Logistic Chaotic map, several encrypted images are generated which act as an initial population for the Modified algorithm. The results are presented to validate the performance of the proposed algorithm. It has been observed that the proposed algorithm has a substantial de-correlation of adjacent pixels in the encrypted image, achieving values on the order of 10−6.
Experiences of and treatment preferences for insomnia in autistic adults: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Authors: Nijhof Dewy , Melville Craig , Rydzewska Ewelina , Meehan Lily , Gardani Maria
Published: February 2024

Insomnia and insomnia symptoms are frequent experiences of autistic people resulting in pronounced daytime effects and poor quality of life. This study employed an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach to explore lived experiences of autistic adults with insomnia, perspectives on current available interventions and future treatment preferences. Twelve participants (aged 21–48 years old) were interviewed following screening for insomnia, using the Sleep Condition Indicator (scores ranged from 1–12; cut off > 16). Each interview was analysed individually developing Personal Experiential Themes for each case, which were then mapped across cases based on identified patterns and connections. Results yielded rich personal accounts and identified two Group Experiential Themes: “The Night is Friendlier” and “It Doesn’t Really Work for Me”. Participants described experiences with sleeplessness throughout their adult lives and often since childhood. They discussed how the night time offers them a more relaxed and safe space to freely behave as they wish. Advice and interventions were viewed by participants via the prism of underlying social issues, such as autism acceptance and trust, and how these structures can affect participants’ experiences with insomnia, help seeking and effectiveness of current interventions. Our results highlight the need for inclusion of autistic people in insomnia research through co-production and co-creation as well as clinical practice and delivery. This is the first study to integrate perspectives and experiences of autistic people towards insomnia and sleep-related advice by health care professionals. Findings are discussed in relation to theoretical and practical implications, as well as directions for future research.