bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metformin inhibits melanin synthesis and melanosome transfer through the cAMP pathway
Authors: Liu Xing , Sun Xiaojie , Liu Yunyao , Wang Wenzhu , Yang Hedan , Ge Yiping , Yang Yin , Chen Xu , Lin Tong
Published: September 2024

Several studies have demonstrated the inhibitory effect of metformin on pigmentation. However, the effect of metformin on melanosome transfer remains unknown. The goals of this study were to elucidate the effects of metformin on melanogenesis and melanosome transfer and explore the related mechanisms. We determined that, compared with those in the control zebrafish, the area occupied by pigment granules, melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and the expression levels of melanogenesis genes and melanosome transfer-related genes were reduced in metformin-treated zebrafish. In human primary melanocytes, MNT1 cells/B16F10 cells, metformin also plays a negative role in melanin synthesis regardless of health status and α-MSH-induced pigmentation. Unlike arbutin, metformin inhibited the formation of dendrites and filopodia-like structures and suppressed melanosome transfer. After treatment with metformin, the cAMP content was reduced, the expression of MITF and downstream molecules was downregulated, and the expression of Rho GTPases was changed. Furthermore, metformin partially abrogated the changes in genes regulating melanin synthesis, melanosome transfer and the cytoskeleton induced by a cAMP activator. Our study revealed that metformin can serve as a candidate depigmentation agent.
Evaluating the effectiveness of different media for wildfire information dissemination under multiple scenarios in eight provinces of China
Authors: Duo Meng , Hu Jun , Ni Xiaoyong , Yang Yongsheng , Chen Anying
Published: September 2024

During a wildfire, timely dissemination of disaster information is crucial in reducing the public's exposure to hazards and allowing for early adoption of necessary precautions and safe evacuation. However, ensuring the timely dissemination of information presents a great challenge in the event of a great wildfire. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of several information dissemination channels, including Short Messaging Service (SMS), Television (TV), online social networks, and offline disaster information officers under multiple wildfire scenarios comprehensively, focusing on eight provinces with high wildfire risk in China. By using statistical data, the study dynamically fits the usage of different information media to analyze the information coverage over time under multiple wildfire scenarios, including daytime information release, nighttime information release and signal interruption. The results of the study show that the SMS channel has the fastest dissemination speed and the largest number of recipients, and disaster information officers will play an important role in the case of paralyzed communication facilities. While TV is less effective than online social media in disseminating information, it remains a key channel for some areas. These findings can assist relevant authorities to choose the appropriate information dissemination channels under different scenarios to ensure that pre-warning information can be delivered to the public in a timely and efficient manner, thus reducing the losses and risks associated with wildfires.
Tetrahedral versus Octahedral Interstitials Sites for Oxygen Solutes in NbTiZr Medium-Entropy Alloy
Authors: Ding Jun , Zhang Bozhao , An Yaqiong , Liu Chang , Ma En
Published: September 2024

Oxygen interstitial solutes have traditionally been thought to occupy only octahedral interstices in body-centered cubic (bcc) metals. However, there is ongoing debate about the competition between tetrahedral and octahedral interstitial sites for oxygen solutes in multi-principal element alloys, especially following recent experimental evidence obtained using deep-sub-angstrom-resolution electron ptychography. The driving force and atomistic mechanism behind the observed preference switch remain unclear. In this study, we systematically investigate the competition between tetrahedral and octahedral sites for oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon solute atoms in bcc NbTiZr alloys using density functional theory calculations. At dilute concentrations, these small interstitial solutes are observed to preferentially reside in octahedral interstices. Notably, we demonstrate that solutes can switch from octahedral to tetrahedral sites with increasing lattice expansion, interstitial solute concentration, and spatial heterogeneity. This transition is explained by a crossover in elastic strain energy associated with solutes in the two competing interstices. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the behavior of small interstitial solutes and their solid solution strengthening effects in bcc multi-principal element alloys.
Prophylactic efficacy and safety evaluation of locally isolated strain Levilactobacillus brevis (MF179529), commercial probiotics and yeast: A comparison
Authors: Riaz Ayesha , Abbas Safeer , Arshad Muhammad , Arshad Najma , Shah Anis Ali , Iftikhar Muhammad , Shaffique Shifa , Gatasheh Mansour K.
Published: September 2024

Aims:To anticipate the ban on antibiotic growth promoters in poultry researchers are trying to find safe alternatives from natural resources. The probiotics of Lactobacillus genus are among the promising candidates. The efficacy of probiotics is considered species, strain and source specific. In this study Levilactobacillus brevis, MF179529 comparison was performed with commercial probiotic and yeast.
Methods and results: This study provides a comparison of safety and prophylactic efficiency of (i) locally isolated potential probiotic strain, L. brevis, MF179529, (ii) commercial probiotics, Floramix plus , (iii) yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and (iv) their two combinations on limiting avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) induced colibacillosis in chicken. All probiotics inhibited infection induced anemia but results were more pronounced in groups I. Birds of group I displayed significantly (p < 0.05) higher general health scores, lower mortality and tissue bacterial load. APEC infection leads to reduction in relative weight of spleen. However, all probiotic treated groups displayed relatively normal spleen weight.
Conclusion:Animals receiving L. brevis MF179529 displayed lower blood cholesterol (p < 0.05), which might be considered a favorable characteristic of meat quality. No adverse effects were observed in other hematological and serological parameters.
Significance of study: L. brevis MF179529 and its combination with commercial probiotics is a better and safe alternative of antibiotic growth promoters in poultry.
Long Short-Term Memory based fault tolerance control: an intelligent approach to control a system efficiently exposed to faults.
Authors: El-Mahdy Mostafa H. , Ali Abdelrahman O. , Hassan O. H. , El_Gendy Eman M. , Saafan Mahmoud M
Published: September 2024

Fault-Tolerant Control (FTC) is a crucial field within control systems engineering that focuses on designing systems capable of maintaining desired performance and stability even in the presence of faults. This study introduces a data-driven fault-tolerant control system that enhances the operation of control systems in the presence of faults. The system is designed on a single Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), which replaces the units responsible for diagnosis and control reconfiguration. The LSTM-FTC system does not require diagnostic and process models, which is a significant advantage over traditional model-based methods. The factory I/O is interfaced with MATLAB through the implementation of the digital twin idea, which allows for the simulation and validation of the suggested approaches. These approaches are then applied to an assembler case study that included both faultless and multiple faulty sensors. The training process reaches 6553 iterations with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) equal to \(\:5\times\:{10}^{-3}\) at six minutes and 17 seconds. The results of the simulation demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. The accuracy of the system outputs in the faultless and worst-case scenarios are 92.81% and 67.16% respectively.
A multifunctional polymer for optimization of the cement spacers: oil-based drilling fluids removal, rheology regulation
Authors: Meng Renzhou , Xia Xiujian , Yu Yongjin , Qi Fengzhong , Zhang Chi , Sun Jinsheng , Wang Chengwen
Published: September 2024

A multifunctional polymer (HAMP) for performance optimization of the spacers is presented based on 2-Acrylamido-2-Methyl Propane Sulfonic Acid (AMPS), Maleic Anhydride (MA), Acrylic Acid (AA) and surfactant monomer. Specifically, HAMP was endowed with amphiphilic properties and thermo-associate behavior by introducing surfactant monomer and hydrophobic groups, respectively. Thus, HAMP has the potential for synergies with surfactant due to their amphiphilic properties, and exhibits thermo-thickening behavior due to the thermo-associate behavior. These two properties are applied to the removal of oil-based drilling fluids and to increase the stability of spacers. Tests shows that: HAMP can synergize with ionic/non-ionic surfactant to increase the interface activity of surfactant/HAMP mixture; HAMP solution exhibits continuous thermo-thickening behavior at temperature above 70°C when its concentration is higher than 0.3%, which can mitigate the consistency reduction of spacers at high temperature; The surfactant/HAMP mixture has higher removal efficiency and better temperature and salt resistance than the single surfactant solution; Rheological property changes little in the range from 25℃ to 90℃, and 0.3% HAMP can prevent the sedimentation of weighted spacer. Series of mechanism experiments indicate that: more association forms a denser micro network at higher temperature, which leads to the thermo-thickening behavior of HAMP; The groups with different charges and hydrophobic groups in HAMP can make it better adsorbed on the surface and the components the oil-based filter cake, resulting in wetting modification of the surface and stabilizing oil-base components, which are conducive to the removal of the oil-based drilling fluid. It is hoped that the multifunctional polymer proposed in this paper can be applied in various fields.
Perceptions and experiences related to use of breast milk from another mother in central Nepal: a qualitative study
Authors: Shrestha Akina , Gulrajani Natalie , Ginsburg Amy Sarah , Laleau Victoria , Gade Soujanya , Flaherman Valerie , Puri Mahesh C. , Dongol Srijana
Published: September 2024

Background
When maternal breast milk is unavailable in sufficient quantity for infant needs, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of human donor breast milk if safe, affordable, and available. However, in Nepal and most other low- and middle-income countries, there are significant barriers to accessing safe and affordable donor breast milk, including a paucity of milk banks. An in-depth understanding of perceptions and experiences in Nepal related to use of donor breast milk could inform the development of interventions to address identified barriers.
Methods
From December 2019 to January 2020, we conducted a qualitative study, including focus group discussions (FGDs) with parents and community health workers, and key informant interviews with public health stakeholders in Dhulikhel Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk District, Nepal. In total, 44 individuals participated in five FGDs, including two with mothers, one with fathers, and two with community health workers. Nine key informant interviews were conducted with stakeholders. Thematic analyses of translated transcripts were undertaken to explore perceptions and experiences of participants related to use of human donor breast milk.
Results
Several participants in this study reported that informal breast milk sharing between relatives and neighbors is common when a mother’s breast milk is unavailable or insufficient; such sharing can occur via direct breastfeeding or milk expression. Numerous potential benefits with breast milk sharing were described, including overcoming initial difficulties with milk supply in the postpartum period, convenience when mothers are unavailable, and reduced risk of infant infection and gastrointestinal distress. Hesitancies to breast milk sharing included the risk of disease transmission from donor to infant and the possibility of decreased bonding between mother and infant. Some participants expressed that animal milk is preferable to breast milk sharing when mother’s own milk is not available.
Conclusion
Participants were aware of the potential benefits of donor breast milk but identified numerous barriers to widespread adoption, including concerns about infectious diseases and mother-infant bonding, and preference for animal milks over another mother’s milk. Addressing these concerns may help increase the acceptance and practice of donating and using human donor breast milk among mothers in Nepal.
Acceptability, engagement, outcomes, and dose-response associations of a mindfulness-based meditation app in individuals waiting for psychological services
Authors: Daros Alexander R. , Patel Alina , Otevwe Oghenetega , Sotelo Santiago , Saab Bechara J. , Quilty Lena C.
Published: September 2024

Background
While mindfulness apps have received growing clinical attention, their integration within health systems has received limited empirical investigation. In this study, we evaluated a mindfulness app as a low-intensity treatment option for adults waiting for psychological services. A non-randomized clinical trial was conducted with a 4-week acute intervention period with an 8-week follow-up. Adults (N = 193) with moderate depression and anxiety symptoms, completed a baseline session and received access to AmDTx, a mobile mindfulness training app. Additional assessments were completed at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Descriptive statistics of attrition, adoption, acceptability, and engagement were computed. Linear mixed models estimated treatment outcomes for functional disability (primary endpoint), depression, anxiety, stress, rumination, and mindful awareness/acceptance. We also evaluated the dose-response association between app use and functional disability.
Results
Using intent-to-treat analyses, there was a 75% adoption of the app and a 30% attrition rate in the first 4 weeks. In addition, 1.09 hours of meditation time and 9.16 exercises were recorded on average within the first 4 weeks. Participants reported positive credibility, acceptability, and usability ratings on established measures. Treatment effects were observed in the expected direction for all outcomes but one (mindful awareness). Dose-response relationships indicated that increases in app engagement correlated with decreases in functional disability.
Conclusions
The findings reinforce the potential for AmDTx, and mindfulness apps more broadly, to serve as low-intensity tools to alleviate unmet service needs and impart clinically meaningful benefit for a significant subset of those waiting for psychological services.
Clinical Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05211960, Registered 2022-01-26.
The influence of cryostimulation on reducing inflammation and improving motor skills in football players
Authors: Różycka Izabela , Latour Ewa , Kasperska Anna , Ostapiuk-Karolczuk Joanna , Latour Emilia , Skarpańska-Stejnborn Anna
Published: September 2024

Introduction:
Cryostimulation is one of the methods used for enchancing post-exercise recovery, involving short-term (3 min) exposure of the body to extremely low temperatures, oscillating between -100°C and -190°C. The purpose of this intervention is to reduce inflammation and alleviate physical as well as mental fatigue, which helps prepare the body for further exercise in the course of the training process.
Methods:
The study was conducted to determine the effect of five days of Partial-Body Criostimulation on inflammation and motor skills in soccer players. A group of 24 football players was randomly divided into a test group subject to cryostimulation (-140°C ± 20°C, 3 min, 5 days) and a control group. Before the cryostimulation session, both groups underwent visual-motor ability tests, which were repeated on the last day of the study. Blood samples were collected at four time points (P0 - 1st day, P1 - 3rd day, P2 - 5th day, P3 - 2 days after the test). Levels of creatine kinase, TNFα, IL-6, IL-10, testosterone and cortisol were determined in the samples.
Results:
Analysis of the results revealed a significant improvement in motor function (reaction time, RT) in the experimental group by 2.43 seconds (p=0.001) compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between control and experimental groups regarding parameters determined in blood samples.
Conclusions:
The applied five-day cryostimulation regimen did not significantly affect the profile of inflammatory markers in soccer players. However, a reduction in visuo-motor reaction time (RT) was registered in cryostimulation-treated soccer players, suggesting the potential benefits of this method in improving motor skills.
Trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06549933, retrospectively registered on 10.08.2024 .
Understanding Parental Awareness of Child Developmental Milestones in West Bank-Palestine: A Cross-Sectional study
Authors: AWAD MOHAMMAD YASER HASAN , WARASNA HAYA JEBREEN MOHAMMED , SHAHIN FARAH BILAL YOUSEF , AWAD BASHAR YASER HASAN , Jobran Afnan W.M. , Abdulrazzak Mohammed , Owais Tarek A.
Published: September 2024

Objective: Parental knowledge of children's developmental milestones is associated with more effective childcare practices and improved overall outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess parents' knowledge levels regarding their children's developmental milestones and the information sources they use in the West Bank of Palestine.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire that had already been verified. Multivariable logistic regression and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The study included parents aged 18 years or older who reside in the West Bank, Palestine and had at least one child under the age of 14. Participants were selected from ten West Bank cities. The data were collected between January and March 2024.
Results: This study included 619 parents aged 18 years or older residing in the West Bank of Palestine. Most respondents (76.0%) demonstrated a “poor” level of knowledge in all four domains. There was a statistically significant association between gender and knowledge level (p ≤ 0.05), females demonstrated a higher proportion of acceptable knowledge (26.5%) than males (13.3%). Among the four domains of child development, parents had the highest level of knowledge of physical development (57.22%). This was followed by cognitive development (27.30%), emotional development (24.81%), and social development (18.83%). Only a few parents (9.2%) claimed that they always relied on health care professionals for information.
Conclusion: There is a significant gap in parents' understanding of developmental milestones, raising serious concerns about children's health in West Bank, Palestine. Currently, healthcare institutions and pediatricians play limited roles in health education. Implementing effective health education programs and strategies is essential to enhance child development outcomes in the community.
The market of infidelity: The Effect of Party Switching on Lawmaking Productivity. Evidence from Italy
Authors: Nizza Umberto
Published: September 2024

This paper explores the phenomenon of party switching in the Italian parliament, wherein elected politicians frequently shift allegiance from one party to another, often at the expense of voter representation. Analyzing data on parliamentarians spanning 2008 to 2013 and utilizing an instrumental variable approach, the study reaffirms existing literature highlighting the influence of historical institutions on cultural beliefs and norms. These enduring legacies, passed down across generations, significantly impact the establishment, framework, and operation of current institutions. The manuscript specifically reveals that politicians elected in regions historically linked to enduring feudal values from pre-unitary kingdoms are more prone to defection and changing political affiliations. This tendency to switch parties reflects specific social norms and institutional influences deeply rooted in established clientelist practices. Ultimately, the evidence presented underscores how parliamentarians' defection diminishes legislative productivity, substituting particular interests for the nation's welfare. In summary, these findings demonstrate the persistent impact of informal cultural values originating from centuries-old institutions, shaping incentives and behaviors in contemporary politics despite the absence of formal institutional changes.
JEL Codes: D72; K16
E-Health Literacy Level and Its Predictors among Primary School Teachers in Sabzevar City in 2021
Authors: Nowrozian Zahra , Khankolabi Mehdi , Shahrabadi Reza , Gharib Mitra , Saadati Hassan , Nowrouzian Saeed
Published: September 2024

Background and aim:
The present study aims to investigate E-health literacy and its related factors among primary school teachers in Sabzevar city.
Method
The current cross-sectional descriptive analytical study was conducted on 252 primary school teachers in Sabzevar city in 2021. The data collection tool included a three-part questionnaire. The first part included 21 demographic questions, the second part of the questionnaire included 8 questions regarding E-health literacy, and the third part consisted of 10 questions created by the researcher to complete the standard questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software and the statistical significance level was P ≤ 0.05.
Results
The mean scores of E-health literacy of the teachers according to the standard and complete questionnaires were 25.44 ± 5.90 and 60.17 ± 10.17, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the E-health literacy levels of the subjects according to the evaluation of the level of general health, regular physical activity, general knowledge in the field of health, the amount of using the Internet, the use of information related to health through social networks based on both questionnaires (standard/complete). For the standard and complete questionnaires, the multiple correlation coefficient values were 0.48 and 0.52, respectively. The adjustment coefficient value for both questionnaires (R2Adjusted = 0.20).
Conclusion
The e-health literacy of the teachers in this study was not appropriate. The mastery of cyberspace, the level of education, having traditional health literacy were among the most important factors affecting the improvement of teachers' electronic health literacy.
Global, regional, and national burden of atrial fibrillation and flutter and associated heart failure from 1990 to 2021 and projections to 2050: insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Authors: Xie Bin , Huang Xiaojun , Li Weiwen , Lin Ying , Xu Xinwu
Published: September 2024

Background
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) are growing global health concerns. The increasing burden of these conditions highlights the need for comprehensive insights into their global impact and epidemiological trends. This study assesses the global burden and trends of AF/AFL, as well as AF/AFL-associated heart failure over time: 1990 to 2021, with forecasts to 2050.
Methods
We leveraged data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021 to examine the burden and trends of AF/AFL and associated heart failure across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. The incidence, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), years lived with disability (YLD), and average annual percentage changes were computed. A Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) model was applied to forecast the trends of AF/AFL from 2022 to 2050.
Results
The number of incidence, prevalence, DALY, and YLD for AF/AFL, as well as the burden of AF/AFL-related heart failure, significantly increased from 1990 to 2021. However, age-standardized rates for these metrics showed only minor fluctuations. The burden was highest among the elderly and varied by sociodemographic index (SDI), with the greatest increase observed in the middle SDI region. Global increases in AF/AFL burden were primarily driven by population growth and aging. Projections indicate that the AF/AFL burden will continue rising through 2050.
Conclusion
The global burden of AF/AFL and associated heart failure has steadily increased. Public health strategies targeting high-burden regions and the elderly are required to mitigate its impact on global public health.
Molecular simulations of enzymatic phosphorylation of disordered proteins and their condensates
Authors: Stelzl Lukas , Zippo Emanuele , Dormann Dorothee , Speck Thomas
Published: September 2024

Understanding the condensation and aggregation of intrinsically disordered proteins in a non-equilibrium environment is crucial for unraveling many biological processes. Active enzymes catalyse many processes by consuming chemical fuels such as ATP.
Enzymes called kinases phosphorylate disordered regions of proteins and thus profoundly affect their properties and interactions. Protein phosphorylation is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases and may modulate pathogenesis.
However, how protein sequence and molecular recognition of a disordered protein by kinases determine phosphorylation patterns is not understood. In principle, molecular dynamics simulations hold the promise to resolve how phosphorylation affects disordered proteins and their assemblies. In practice, chemically-detailed simulations of enzymatic reactions and the dynamics of enzymes are highly challenging, in particular it is difficult to verify whether implementations of driven simulations are thermodynamically consistent.
We can now address this problem with residue-level coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, integrating Metropolis Monte Carlo steps to model chemical reactions.
Importantly, we show how to verify by Markov-state modeling that the realization of a non-equilibrium steady state satisfies local-detailed balance.
We investigate TDP-43 phosphorylation by the kinase CK1δ in simulations, examining patterns of phosphorylation and assessing its preventive role in chain aggregation, which may be a cytoprotective mechanism in neurodegenerative diseases.
We find that the degree of residue phosphorylation is determined by sequence preference and charges, rather than by the position in the chain.
The phosphorylation frequency is also affected by the phosphorylation patterns, since the interactions between CK1δ and TDP-43 actively change after each reaction.
For TDP-43, our simulations show condensates dissolution through phosphorylation with kinases binding to the condensates and phosphorylating TDP-43 in the condensates.
The Magnitude of Secondary Infertility and Associated Factors among Married Women Attending Outpatient Clinics, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Abtew Kumlachew Mergiaw
Published: September 2024

Background
Infertility is the inability to attain a pregnancy in a woman (15–49 years) with regular unprotected sexual intercourse for one year. Globally, 10% − 15% of couples suffer from infertility. Infertility is a current threat to the social, economic, and psychological well-being of couples in most countries including Ethiopia. This research article aimed to assess the magnitude of secondary infertility and its associated factors among infertile women in two hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study design was used to assess factors affecting fertility. The study enrolled 355 cases aged 15 to 49 years in two teaching hospitals.
Results
Secondary infertility accounts for 33.2% of cases in the study area. Low educational status (primary to secondary school level) (AOR = 2.67; 95% CI: (1.15, 6.22), history of abortion (AOR = 4.56; 95% CI: (1.54, 13.5), previous contraceptive utilization (AOR = 2.87; 95% CI: (1.37, 6.03), history of pelvic inflammatory disease (AOR = 3.49; 95% CI: (1.22, 10.2) and previous pelvic surgery (AOR = 9.3; 95% CI: (2.89, 30.14) were significantly associated with secondary infertility among the study participants.
Conclusion
Women who have low education, previous history of abortion, use of contraception, and pelvic inflammatory disease had increased risks of developing infertility.
R, the reproduction number, in COVID-19 epidemic decision-making
Authors: Stein-Zamir Chen , Gdalevich Michael
Published: September 2024

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic flooded the public discourse and media with a multitude of epidemiological terms. Among them, the Reproduction number (R) was in overabundance. Our aim was to assess the impact of daily R data on the epidemiological analysis of the outbreak in Israel and subsequent decisions.
Methods
The period between September 2020 and January 2022 was included in the study. That corresponded with mass usage of PCR tests, prior to Omicron upsurge and the increasing introduction of antigen tests, with lower sensitivity and specificity. The analysis of COVID-19 incidence involved employing graphical representations of daily R values. These computations, derived from the data encompassing the summation of the preceding 10 days, were compared with the daily case number curve during the study period.
Results
Between September 2020 and January 2022 there were three major waves of COVID-19 morbidity. Study of the incidence and R values presents discrepancies, that are inherent in the process of data collection on the one hand and the computation of R on the other.
Conclusions
Applying R in policymaking is challenging, due to gaps regarding timeliness and actual incident case numbers. Albeit an important biological and epidemiological parameter, R is less suited to support on-going decision-making process, and may have been over-used throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Alternatively, an in-depth analysis of incidence and trends may provide better approach to public health decision-making.
The Multicollinearity Effect on the Performance of Machine Learning Algorithms: Case Examples in Healthcare Modelling
Authors: Yıldırım Hasan
Published: September 2024

Background: The data extracted from various fields inherently consists of extremely correlated measurements in parallel with the exponential increase in the size of the data that need to be interpreted owing to the technological advances. This problem, called the multicollinearity, influences the performance of both statistical and machine learning algorithms. Statistical models proposed as a potential remedy to this problem have not been sufficiently evaluated in the literature. Therefore, a comprehensive comparison of statistical and machine learning models is required for addressing the multicollinearity problem.

Methods: Statistical models (including Ridge, Liu, Lasso and Elastic Net regression) and the eight most important machine learning algorithms (including Cart, Knn, Mlp, MARS, Cubist, Svm, Bagging and XGBoost) are comprehensively compared by using two different healthcare datasets (including Body Fat and Cancer) having multicollinearity problem. The performance of the models is assessed through cross validation methods via root mean square error, mean absolute error and r-squared criteria.

Results: The results of the study revealed that statistical models outperformed machine learning models in terms of root mean square error, mean absolute error and r-squared criteria in both training and testing performance. Particularly the Liu regression often achieved better relative performance (up to 7.60% to 46.08% for Body Fat data set and up to 1.55% to 21.53% for Cancer data set on training performance and up to 1.56% to 38.08% for Body Fat data set and up to 3.50% to 23.29% for Cancer data set on testing performance) among regression methods as well as compared to machine algorithms.

Conclusions: Liu regression is mostly disregarded in the machine learning literature, but since it outperforms the most powerful and widely used machine learning algorithms, it appears to be a promising tool in almost all fields, especially for regression-based studies including data with multicollinearity problem.
Using 3D U-Net for Brain Tumour Segmentation from Magnetic Resonance Images
Authors: Ateş Muhammed Uhudhan , Günlü Recep Tahir , Ekinci Ekin , Garip Zeynep
Published: September 2024

Brain tumours within the skull can lead to serious health issues. The rapid and accurate detection and segmentation of tumour regions allow patients to receive appropriate treatment at an early stage, increasing their chances of recovery and survival. Various medical imaging methods, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron and digital pathology, Emission Tomography (PET), Computed Tomography (CT) are used for the detection of brain tumours. Nowadays, with advancing technology and hardware, concepts like artificial intelligence and deep learning (DL) are becoming increasingly popular. Many artificial intelligence methods are also being utilized in studies on brain tumour segmentation. This paper proposes a 3D U-Net DL model for brain tumour segmentation. The training and testing processes are carried out on the Brain Tumour Segmentation (BraTS) 2020 dataset, which is widely used in the literature. As a result, an Intersection over Union (IoU) score of 0.81, a dice score of 0.87 and a pixel accuracy of 0.99 are achieved. The proposed model has the potential to assist experts in diagnosing the disease and developing appropriate treatment plans, thanks to its ability to segment brain tumours quickly and with high accuracy.
The behavior evolution and case simulation of water rights trading in water transfer projects
Authors: Lu Yali , Jiao Cong , Si Baojiang , Qin Menghan
Published: September 2024

Due to the difference in the economic and social development level of each area of the water transfer project, there will be a lack of water resources in some areas, while water resources in some other areas have a surplus, resulting in the imbalance of water resources. However, the transaction willingness of both parties is not strong, and the seller has the psychology of “reluctant to sell”. The buyer hopes to make free water allocation through the government. The paper analyzes the feasibility and influence of solving the imbalance of water resources in water transfer projects through the market mechanism by the evolutionary game approach. The water right transaction between Zhengzhou and Nanyang in the middle route of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project is taken as a case for simulation. The study shows t: the lower the marginal return of the water resources in the water-rich area is, the higher the water-scarce area is, the easier to promote water rights trading; the higher the environmental and social benefits for both parties are, the easier the water rights trading; the lower the transaction cost of both parties is, the easier the water rights trading.
Sistema pedagógico de gestión de la calidad (SPGC) en instituciones educativas
Authors: Martínez Valle Melisa Inmaculada , Sánchez Buitrago Jorge Oswaldo
Published: September 2024

El interés de las Instituciones Educativas (IED) de básica y media por lograr un mejoramiento significativo en la calidad de sus procesos se ha convertido en un gran reto. Una de las estrategias en este sentido, ha sido la implementación de los Sistemas de Gestión de Calidad (SGC); los cuales se han convertido en una alternativa de planificación, sistematización, ejecución y seguimiento para las IED. Sin embargo, se observa que estos sistemas no siempre consultan las realidades institucionales, porque de manera reiterada se deja a un lado la esencia pedagógica de las IED; se desconoce, incluso, dando prevalencia a racionalidades empresariales y administrativistas propias de los sistemas de calidad; lo que evidencia el desplazamiento del Discurso Pedagógico (DP) por la preponderancia desmesurada del Discurso Administrativo (DA) en las prácticas de gestión asociadas a los SGC en las IED. La novedad en este libro es sustentar que cuando un SGC se reconfigura como un SPGC (SISTEMA PEDAGÓGICO DE GESTIÓN DE LA CALIDAD), responde de mejor forma a las particularidades de las IED y contribuye al mejoramiento de la calidad integral institucional, pensada también siempre desde y en función de la esencia pedagógica propia de tales instituciones; por eso su centralidad en el DP, desde el cual se puede dotar de nuevos sentidos, principios, significados y orientaciones a la praxis de gestión en las IED; aquí los SPGC se asumen e implementan como dispositivos pedagógicos para la mejor de la calidad educativa; este el reto que se asume al proponer un SPGC.
Buscando el (buen) sentido en la transformación del sistema alimentario en México a través de las narrativas contrahegemónicas emergentes en las comunidades indígenas y rurales de Oaxaca
Authors: Denham Diana , Gladstone Fiona
Published: September 2024

Mexico is in the grips of a public health crisis related to its changing food system, characterized by dramatic increases in diet-related illness. Ideas about how to reverse these trends stretch from top-down nutrition education to demands for regulation of the food and beverage industry. Taking a different approach, this paper focuses on the perspectives and practices of rural Oaxacans, drawn from qualitative research conducted in seven communities over six years. We find an emergent critique of the contemporary capitalist food system rooted in embodied engagements with food production, preparation, consumption, and community history. We analyze these findings through the lens of Gramsci’s concept of ‘good sense,’ understood as the critical-thinking basis for revolutionary transformation among subaltern classes. We situate this idea within literature on embodied knowledge and visceral politics, suggesting that such ideas and perceptions have the potential to challenge the growing hegemony of the corporate food system and contribute to broader social movements in defense of land and life.
Bioelectronic Medicines-A Novel Approach of Therapeutics in Current Epoch
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Ashawat Mahendra Singh , Pandit Vinay , Kumar Pravin
Published: September 2024

Background:

Bioelectronic medicines aim to diagnose and treat a wide range of illnesses and ailments,
including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, asthma, paralysis,
blindness, bleeding, ischemia, organ transplantation, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.
The focus of bioelectronic medicine is on electrical signaling of the nervous system. Understanding the nervous
system's regulatory roles and developing technologies that record, activate, or inhibit neural signaling to
influence particular biological pathways.

Objective:

Bioelectronic medicine is an emerging therapeutic option with the interconnection between molecular
medicine, neuroscience, and bioengineering. The creation of nerve stimulating devices that communicate
with both the central and peripheral nervous systems has the potential to completely transform how we treat disorders.
Although early clinical applications have been largely effective across entire nerves, the ultimate goal
is to create implantable, miniature closed-loop systems that can precisely identify and modulate individual
nerve fibers to treat a wide range of disorders.

Methodology:

The data bases such as PubMed, and Clinicaltrial.gov.in were searched for scientific research,
review and clinical trials on bioelectronic medicine.

Conclusion:

The field of bioelectronic medicine is trending at present. In recent years, researchers have extended
the field’s applications, undertaken promising clinical trials, and begun delivering therapies to patients,
thus creating the groundwork for significant future advancements. Countries and organizations must collaborate
across industries and regions to establish an atmosphere and guidelines that foster the advancement of the
field and the fulfillment of its prospective advantages.
Nanocarrier-Based Delivery Approaches of Mangiferin: An Updated Review on Leveraging Biopharmaceutical Characteristics of the Bioactive
Authors: Vishwakarma Km Khushboo , Hafeez Abdul , Usmani Shazia Afzal , Noor Layba , Khan Ishma Rahela
Published: September 2024

In recent years, bioactive constituents from plants have been investigated as an
alternative to synthetic approaches of therapeutics. Mangiferin (MGF) is a xanthone glycoside
extracted from Mangifera indica and has shown numerous medicinal properties, such as
antimicrobial, anti-diarrhoeal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anti-tumours,
and anti-diabetic effects. However, there are numerous challenges to its effective therapeutic
usage, including its low water solubility, limited absorption, and poor bioavailability. Nano
formulation approaches in recent years exhibited potential for the delivery of
phytoconstituents with key benefits of high entrapment, sustained release, enhanced solubility,
stability, improved pharmacokinetics, and site-specific drug delivery. Numerous techniques
have been employed for the fabrication of MGF-loaded Nano formulations, and each
technique has its advantages and limitations. The nanocarriers that have been employed to
fabricate MGF nanoformulations for various therapeutic purposes include; polymeric
nanoparticles, nanostructure, lipid carriers, polymeric micelles, Nano emulsions,
microemulsion & self-microemulsifying drug delivery system, solid lipid nanoparticles, gold
nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, transfersomes, nanoliposomes, ethosomes & transethosomes,
and glycethosomes. Different biopharmaceutical characteristics (size, shape, entrapment
efficiency, zeta potential, in vitro drug release, ex vivo drug permeation,, and in vivo studies)
of the mentioned MGF-loaded nanocarriers have been methodically discussed. Patent reports
are also included to further strengthen the potential of MGF in the management of diseases.
The Effect of Erythromycin in Macrolide-Resistant Bordetella pertussis: Inhibitory Effect on Growth, Toxin Expression, and Virulence
Authors: Jiang Kaichong , Luan Yang , Wang Wei , Xue Da , Tang Shuyue , Peng Xiaokang , Liu Xiaoguai , Wang Zengguo
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

The macrolide-resistant Bordetella pertussis (MRBp) has appeared in
Asia and has even been prevalent in China. Since the antibiotic sensitivity test is not carried out
in the clinical setting, macrolide is still the first choice of antibiotic in MRBp infection. Further,
the macrolide therapy for pertussis needs to be revised. Macrolide has always shown a positive
effect on other macrolide-resistant bacterium infections in clinical applications. However, the
mechanism of macrolide on MRBp remains unclear.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of virulence of MRBp under
the sub-MIC erythromycin.

Methods:

This study evaluated a representative isolate BP19147 (ptxP1/fhaB3-MRBp) under a
series of sub-inhibitory concentrations of erythromycin. We measured the growth curve, biofilm
formation, and autoaggregation assay under Stainer and Scholte (SS) broth. The relative gene
expression was detected by RT-qPCR.

Results:

The proteomics was detected by label-fee DIA. The growth ability and virulence factors
of MR isolate BP19147 were inhibited by sub-MIC of erythromycin and had a concentration-
dependent effect. From the proteomics results, the pertussis toxin, filamentous haemagglutinin,
and pertactin did not show a statistical difference (p >0.05). Other virulence factors (including
dermonecrotic toxin, Invasive Adenylate cyclase/haemolysin. etc) showed a statistical
difference (p <0.05). In the KEGG enrichment, the BvgAS system, biofilm formation, and some
adaptive systems were inhibited by erythromycin.

Conclusion:

The sub-MIC of erythromycin may reduce the virulence of MRBp, which will provide
a theoretical basis for the rational use of erythromycin for MRBp infection and help the
development of new antibiotics.
Fascin Inhibitor NP-G2-044 Decreases Cell Metastasis and Increases Overall Survival of Mice-Bearing Lung Cancers
Authors: Zhang Zhi-hua , Liu Xin-yan , Feng Jun-peng , Li Li-fang , Li Xing-bing , Guo Su-min , Liu Li-hua , Wu Shu-cai
Published: September 2024

Aim:

Fascin is an actin-binding protein that promotes tumor metastasis. The
inhibition of fascin on the progress of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not very
clear. Hence, this study explored the potential effect of NP-G2-044, a novel fascin
inhibitor, in human NSCLC lines and the Lewis lung cancer (LCC) mice model.

Methods:

The growth of cells was analyzed via CCK-8 assays, and the flow cytometry
was adopted for cell cycle and apoptosis analysis, as well as the migration and
invasion of NSCLC cells with or without NP-G2-044. The therapy of NP-G2-044, which
synergizes with cisplatin and PD-1, was evaluated in the established xenograft Lewis’s
lung cancer of mice.

Results:

Fascin was overexpressed in human NSCLC cells, and inhibition of fascin by
NP-G2-044 attenuated NSCLC cell growth and remarkably undermined the ability of
migration and invasion in vitro, which was related to the reduced epithelialmesenchymal
transition (EMT) including downregulation of N-cadherin and vimentin,
and upregulation of E-cadherin. Further results implied that the above changes may be
partially mediated by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In vivo, NP-G2-044 slowed down
tumor development and enhanced overall survival alone, leading to synergistic anticancer
effects with cisplatin or PD-1 inhibitor.

Conclusion:

Fascin inhibition could inhibit the metastasis of NSCLC and has the
potential to enhance the efficacy of cisplatin and PD-1 inhibitors by blocking the Wnt/β-
catenin pathway.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices for Occurrence of Weight Gain Among the Night Shift Working Professionals in Maharashtra, India: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Medithi Srujana , Shapariya Prarthana , Muley Arti
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

The biological clock or circadian rhythm of an organism is a set of regular
oscillations. Working at night or on night shifts disrupts the circadian rhythm. When the circadian
rhythm is disrupted, concentrations of adiponectin and leptin (satiety hormones) rise at night,
leading to overeating and fat gain, while lack of sleep elevates ghrelin levels of the hunger hormone.
Thus, the current study sought to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices about the
dietary and lifestyle factors amongst night-shift working professionals and to assess the influence
of knowledge and attitudes on their practices.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among individuals working night shifts in Maharashtra.
A pre-tested questionnaire consisting of questions related to their knowledge, diet, and
lifestyle was recorded and scored.

Results:

Among the 206 participants, a maximum of them were male (57.1%). Approximately
72.8% of respondents were quite young (25-30 years) and had been working the night shift for a
period of 9-12 months. The majority (76.6%) of respondents had no medical conditions. Many
(42.7%) of the night-shift working professionals were found to be obese. Significance was observed
between knowledge and attitude among the overweight BMI category.

Conclusion:

The participants had good knowledge in terms of dietary habits and lifestyle-related
factors. However, this was not reflected in their attitudes and practices. Therefore, interventional
research targeting attitudes and behaviors is required to improve behavioral patterns among overweight/
obese people.