bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surveillance Mammography Behaviors in Black and White Breast Cancer Survivors: Behavioral Risk Factors and Surveillance System, 2016
Authors: Edmonds Megan C. , Dahman Bassam , Kim Sunny Jung , McGuire Kandace P. , Sheppard Vanessa B.
Published: March 2023

Background

Surveillance mammography is recommended annually for early detection of disease relapse among breast cancer survivors; yet Black women have poorer national rates of surveillance mammography compared to White women. Factors that influence racial disparities in surveillance mammography rates are poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the contribution of health care access, socioeconomic status, and perceived health status on adherence to surveillance mammography among breast cancer survivors.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey among Black and White women ≥ 18 years, who reported a breast cancer diagnosis and completed breast surgery and adjuvant treatment from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System National Survey (BRFSS). Bivariate associations (chi-squared, t-test) for independent variables (e.g., health insurance, marital status) were analyzed with adherence to nationally recommended surveillance guidelines defined as two levels: adherent (received a mammogram in the last 12 months), vs. non- adherent (“received a mammogram in the last 2–5 years, 5 or more years or unsure). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between study variables with adherence, while adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Of 963 breast cancer survivors, 91.7% were White women with an average age of 65. 71.7% reported a surveillance mammogram in the last 12 months, while 28.2% did not. Diagnosed > 5 years (p < 0.001); not having a routine checkup visit within 12 months (p = 0.045); and not seeing a doctor when needed due to cost (p = 0.026), were significantly related to survivor’s non-adherence to surveillance mammography guidelines. A significant interaction was found between race and residential area (p < 0.001). Compared to White women, Black women living in metropolitan/suburban residential areas were more likely to receive surveillance guidelines (OR:3.77;95% CI: 1.32–10.81); however Black women living in non-metropolitan areas were less likely to receive a surveillance mammogram compared to White women living in non-metropolitan areas (OR: 0.04; 95% CI: 0.00–0.50).

Conclusion

Findings from our study further explain the impact of socioeconomic disparities on racial differences in the use of surveillance mammography among breast cancer survivors. Black women living in non-metropolitan counties are an important subgroup for future research and screening and navigation interventions.
Endometrioid adenocarcinoma arising in adenomyosis in a patient with pelvic organ prolapse—case report
Authors: Wang Jing , Wang Qingyuan , Wang Wenyan , Yang Jian , Xia Jingxian , Wei Yanan
Published: March 2023

Background

Adenomyosis is a frequent finding in endometrial carcinoma patients. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma is the most common type of endometrial carcinoma; however, endometrioid adenocarcinoma arising from adenomyosis is extremely rare.

Case presentation

In this case report, we describe a 69-year-old woman who required surgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The patient had been postmenopausal for 20 years and had no abnormal bleeding after menopause. The patient underwent transvaginal hysterectomy, repair of anterior and posterior vaginal walls, ischium fascial fixation and repair of an old perineal laceration. Histological examination of surgical specimens revealed endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus. Bilateral adnexectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy and para-aortic lymphadenectomy were then performed. The postoperative histopathological diagnosis was stage IB endometrial cancer (endometrioid carcinoma G2).

Conclusions

In summary, endometrioid adenocarcinoma arising from adenomyosis (EC-AIA) is a rare entity and the early diagnosis is difficult. Adequate preoperative assessment and enhanced inquiry of occult clinical symptoms of postmenopausal women before hysterectomy may contribute to the diagnosis of EC-AIA preoperatively.
Medical students’ reflective capacity and its role in their critical thinking disposition
Authors: Khoshgoftar Zohreh , Barkhordari-Sharifabad Maasoumeh
Published: March 2023

Background

Developing reflective capacity and critical thinking is one of the prerequisites of education in health professions, especially medicine. This study aimed to determine the reflective capacity of medical students and its role in their critical thinking disposition.

Methods

In this cross-sectional descriptive research, conducted in 2022, a total of 240 medical intern students were selected using the convenient sampling method. Data were collected using a reflective capacity questionnaire and critical thinking disposition questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS20.

Results

The mean reflective capacity was 4.53 ± 0.50, and mean critical thinking disposition was 127.52 ± 10.85. Among the dimensions of reflection, “active self-appraisal (SA)” and “reflective with others (RO)” had the highest and lowest means, respectively. The dimensions of critical thinking disposition with the highest and lowest means were related to innovation and intellectual maturity, respectively. Reflective capacity and its dimensions were found to have a direct and statistically significant relationship with critical thinking disposition and its dimensions. Regression analysis results showed that reflective capacity accounts for 28% of students’ critical thinking disposition.

Conclusion

The relationship between students’ reflective capacity and their critical thinking disposition has rendered reflection as one of the necessary components of medical education. Thus, determining the learning activities by considering the reflection process and models will be very effective in creating and strengthening critical thinking disposition.
Getting the pieces to fit: NHS and third sector collaboration to enhance crisis mental health service provision for young people
Authors: Dutton Bobbie , Humphrey Neil , Qualter Pamela
Published: March 2023

Background

The increase in demand for young people’s mental health services has been met by a growth of co-located mental health service provision in the NHS and third sector. This research explores the benefits and challenges of the NHS collaborating with a charity to provide a step-down crisis mental health service for young people in Greater Manchester, and suggests how the collaboration between the NHS and third sector may be improved for future projects.

Methods

Working from a critical realist paradigm, this qualitative case study utilised thematic analysis of 9 in-depth interviews with operational stakeholders from 3 operational layers, to explore insiders’ perspectives of the benefits and challenges of collaboration between the NHS and third sector in the context of the ‘Safe Zones’ initiative.

Results

Themes relating to perceived benefits of collaboration were: doing things differently, flexibility, a hybrid approach, shared expertise, and shared learning. These were counterbalanced by perceived challenges: getting the pieces to fit, obtaining a shared vision, geography, lack of referrals, and timing. The importance of effective communication (e.g. of shared vision, standard operating procedures, key performance indicators) was noted as central to addressing challenges and reaping benefits.

Conclusions

NHS and third sector collaboration can yield a range of benefits, some of which can mitigate against the perceived inflexibility and restrictive nature of usual mental health service provision, thereby providing a vehicle for innovation in step-down crisis care for young people.
Policy actors’ perceptions of public participation to tackle health inequalities in Scotland: a paradox?
Authors: McHugh Neil , Baker Rachel , Bambra Clare
Published: March 2023

Background

Health inequalities are persistent and widening with transformative policy change needed. Radically shifting policy to tackle upstream causes of inequalities is likely to require public participation to provide a mandate, evidence and to address questions of co-design, implementation and acceptability. The aim of this paper is to explore perceptions among policy actors on why and how the public should be involved in policymaking for health inequalities.

Methods

In 2019–2020, we conducted exploratory, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 21 Scottish policy actors from a range of public sector bodies and agencies and third sector organisations that work in, or across, health and non-health sectors. Data were analysed thematically and used to examine implications for the development of participatory policymaking.

Results

Policy actors viewed public participation in policymaking as intrinsically valuable for democratic reasons, but the main, and more challenging, concern was with how it could affect positive policy change. Participation was seen as instrumental in two overlapping ways: as evidence to improve policies to tackle health inequalities and to achieve public acceptance for implementing more transformative policies. However, our analysis suggests a paradox: whilst policy actors place importance on the instrumental value of public participation, they simultaneously believe the public hold views about health inequalities that would prevent transformative change. Finally, despite broad agreement on the need to improve public participation in policy development, policy actors were uncertain about how to make the necessary changes due to conceptual, methodological and practical challenges.

Conclusions

Policy actors believe in the importance of public participation in policy to address health inequalities for intrinsic and instrumental reasons. Yet, there is an evident tension between seeing public participation as a route to upstream policies and a belief that public views might be misinformed, individualistic, short-term or self-interested and doubts about how to make public participation meaningful. We lack good insight into what the public think about policy solutions to health inequalities. We propose that research needs to shift from describing the problem to focusing more on potential solutions and outline a potential way forward to undertake effective public participation to tackle health inequalities.
Switched hyperbolic balance laws and differential algebraic equations
Authors: Borsche Raul , Garavello Mauro , Kocoglu Damla
Published: March 2023

Motivated by several applications, we investigate the well-posedness of a switched system composed by a system of linear hyperbolic balance laws and by a system of linear algebraic differential equations. This setting includes networks and looped systems of hyperbolic balance laws. The obtained results are globally in time, provided that the inputs have finite (but not necessarily small) total variation.
Stress sensitivity of elastic moduli in high-porosity cemented sandstone — Heuristic models and experimental data
Authors: Yu Jiaxin , Duffaut Kenneth , Avseth Per
Published: March 2023

Quantitative description of the reservoir rock stress sensitivity is critical for seismic modeling and interpretation. Laboratory studies have indicated that the wave velocity of high porosity cemented sandstone is asymmetrically much more sensitive to stress unloading than stress loading. However, there is a lack of a simple rock physics model that is capable of describing the asymmetric stress sensitivity of reservoir rock. A new rock physics model is developed by extending an existing rock physics model based on contact theory combined with elastic bounds. The new model relates the stress softening of rock to cement cracking and crumbling induced by stress release. The diluting factor is introduced to describe the weakening of effective cement and analyze the increase of stress sensitivity when the stress is gradually removed. The combination of the new model and its base model forms a rock physics modeling workflow that can accurately describe the evolution of velocities measured in samples undergoing stress loading and unloading. The model performance is compared with samples representing synthetic weakly cemented glass bead pack and sandstone manufactured with different cements at different forming stress levels. The modeling results are in accordance with the measured stress sensitivities of wave velocities. The sequential model calibration using a simple constraint optimization approach yields important calibration parameters that are indicative of the elastic stress sensitivity and damage behavior in the studied rocks. The model can be particularly interesting for time-lapse monitoring of fluid injection and seismic interpretation of overpressured reservoir rock.
Trust and Regulation: Assuring Scientific Independence in the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization Process
Authors: Patel Neeraj G. , Kesselheim Aaron S. , Darrow Jonathan J.
Published: March 2023

Since 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has had the authority to allow access to unapproved medical products via the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) pathway during times of emergency. It was rarely used until the COVID-19 pandemic, when concerns arose regarding the role of political pressure in the FDA's issuance of some EUAs, such as for hydroxychloroquine. Although US government officials should be responsive to the public, democratic accountability must be balanced against the need for thoughtful science-based decision-making. Inadequate agency independence can diminish public confidence in government leaders and the FDA. To consider whether reform of the EUA process might be appropriate, we considered three possible sources of inspiration for balancing independence and accountability in government scientific decision-making: models in other countries, models in other US agencies, and models within the FDA itself. Strategies used in these settings include: (1) expanding the role of advisory committees, (2) increasing transparency of the agency's decision-making process and supporting rationale, and (3) improving management of internal agency disagreement. Such reforms could improve public trust in public health regulation both related to and separate from future emergencies.
On the Importance and Intrinsic Difficulties of Incorporating Health Insurance Benefits in Absolute Poverty Trends
Authors: Remler Dahlia K. , Korenman Sanders
Published: March 2023

Context: US government poverty measures do not include health insurance in the threshold or health insurance benefits in resources. Yet the 2019 Economic Report of the President presented long-term trends using the full-income poverty measure (FPM), which includes health insurance benefits as resources. A 2021 technical advisory report recommended statistical agencies produce absolute poverty trends with and without health insurance.

Methods: The authors analyzed the conceptual validity and relevance of long-term absolute poverty trends incorporating health insurance benefits. They estimated the extent to which the FPM credits health insurance benefits with meeting nonhealth needs.

Findings: In FPM estimates, health insurance benefits alone remove many households from poverty. Long-term absolute poverty trends incorporating health insurance benefits have intrinsic difficulties, because health insurance benefits are in-kind, mostly nonfungible, and large, and because health care undergoes substantial technological change—features that interact to undermine validity. Valid poverty measures with health insurance benefits require resources and thresholds consistent at each point in time, while absolute poverty measures require thresholds constant in real terms over time. These goals conflict.

Conclusions: Statistical agencies should not produce absolute poverty trends incorporating health insurance benefits. Instead, they should focus on less-absolute poverty measures with health insurance benefits.
Fabrication and Characterization of Nickel Nanoparticles using Calotropis gigantea for Antimalarial Applications
Authors: S. Peer Mohamed
Published: March 2023

Malaria diagnosis using sophisticated methods is highly expensive and time-consuming. The development of sensitive, selective, robust, accurate, fast and low-cost clinical diagnosis techniques has been a major focus of researchers in recent years. In this work, nickel nanoparticles have been synthesized successfully using Calotropis gigantea leaf extract, by Co-precipitation method and then characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis.) spectroscopic techniques. FT-IR spectra showed a sharp peak at 699 cm -1 and a broad peak ranging from 2500 - 3500 cm-1 ensuring the construction of nickel nanoparticles. X-ray Diffraction pattern revealed a face-centered cubic structure. The SEM image has shown the spherical structure with a rough area. The results obtained were satisfactory in terms of antimalarial applications of the nickel nanoparticles.
Changing a Reflex Motor Pattern Using the Allyane Technique: Case Report of a Dancer’s Chronic Ankle Instability
Authors: Colombié Jean-Baptiste , Ladoucette Stéphane
Published: March 2023

Introduction: The treatment of chronic ankle instability (CAI) is quite long and problematic. In dance, about 53% of dancers have CAI. CAI is a major cause of musculoskeletal disorders such as sprains, posterior ankle impingement, and shin splints. Moreover, CAI leads to a loss of confidence and becomes a key factor for reducing or stopping dance. This case report assesses the effectiveness of the Allyane technique on CAI. Furthermore, it provides a better understanding of this pathology. The Allyane process is a neuromuscular reprogramming method based on the scientific background of neuroscience. Its aim is to strongly activate the afferent pathways of the reticular formation, responsible for voluntary motor learning. It uses mental skill imagery, afferent kinaesthetic sensations, and specific sequences of low-frequency sounds coming from a patented medical device. Case Report: A. Is a 15-year-old female dancer who practices ballet 8 h per week. She has suffered from CAI for 3 years, with repeated sprains as well as a loss in confidence, with a direct implication on her career. Despite physiotherapy rehabilitation, her CAI tests were still deficient and she still felt strongly apprehensive while dancing. Conclusion: After 2 h of the Allyane technique, we notice a 195% gain of strength of the peroneus, 266% for the posterior tibialis, and 141% for the anterior tibialis muscles. Side hop test and the functional test (Cumberland Ankle Instability tool) normalized. 6 week later, the control assessment confirms this screening and gibes an idea of the durability of the technic. This neuroreprogramming method could not only open the door to interesting perspectives in the treatment of CAI, but it can also help in the understanding of this pathology in case of central muscle inhibitions. Keywords: Chronic ankle instability, dance, neuromuscular reprogramming method, Allyane.
A priori and a posteriori error analysis of the first order hyperbolic equation by using DG method
Authors: Hossain Muhammad Shakhawat , Xiong Chunguang , Sun Huafei
Published: March 2023

In this research article, a discontinuous Galerkin method with a weighted parameterθand a penalty parameterγis proposed for solving the first order hyperbolic equation. The key aim of this method is to design an error estimation for both a priori and a posteriori error analysis on general finite element meshes. It is also exposed to the reliability and effectiveness of both parameters in the order of convergence of the solutions. For a posteriori error estimation, residual adaptive mesh- refining algorithm is employed. A series of numerical experiments are illustrated that demonstrate the efficiency of the method.
Effects of nonantibiotic growth promoter combinations on growth performance, nutrient utilization, digestive enzymes, intestinal morphology, and cecal microflora of broilers
Authors: Li Zunyan , Zhang Beibei , Zhu Weimin , Lin Yingting , Chen Jia , Zhu Fenghua , Guo Yixuan
Published: March 2023

Given the ban on antibiotic growth promoters, the effects of nonantibiotic alternative growth promoter combinations (NAGPCs) on the growth performance, nutrient utilization, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, and cecal microflora of broilers were evaluated. All birds were fed pellets of two basal diets—starter (0–21 d) and grower (22–42 d)—with either enramycin (ENR) or NAGPC supplemented. 1) control + ENR; 2) control diet (CON, basal diet); 3) control + mannose oligosaccharide (MOS) + mannanase (MAN) + sodium butyrate (SB) (MMS); 4) control + MOS + MAN +Bacillus subtilis(BS) (MMB); 5) control + MOS + fruit oligosaccharide (FOS) + SB (MFS); 6) control + FOS + BS (MFB); 7) control + MOS + FOS + MAN (MFM); 8) control + MOS + BS + phytase (PT) (MBP). ENR, MOS, FOS, SB, MAN, PT, and BS were added at 100, 2,000, 9,000, 1,500, 300, 37, and 500 mg/kg, respectively. The experiment used a completely random block design with six replicates per group: 2400 Ross 308 broilers in the starter phase and 768 in the grower phase. All NAGPCs significantly improved body weight gain (P < 0.01), utilization of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein (P < 0.05), villus height and villus height/crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.01), and decreased the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01) at d 21 and 42. MMS, MMB, MFB, and MFM duodenum trypsin, lipase, and amylase activities increased significantly (P < 0.05) at d 21 and 42. On d 21 and 42, MMS, MMB, and MBP increased the abundance ofFirmicutesandBacteroideswhereas MMB, MFB, and MBP decreased the abundance ofProteobacteria, compared to ENR and CON. Overall, the NAGPCs were found to have some beneficial effects and may be used as effective antibiotic replacements in broilers.
InTrack project ˗ Theoretical framework, design, and methods: A study protocol
Authors: Thuany Mabliny , Gomes Thayse Natacha , Weiss Katja , Scheer Volker , Hill Lee , Rolim Ramiro , Knechtle Beat , Moura dos Santos Marcos André
Published: March 2023

Sports performance is the result of a complex interaction between individual and environmental factors. The purpose of this paper is to explain the methods used in the InTrack Project, a cross-sectional and cross-cultural project developed to investigate the variance in the performance of runners from different countries and to understand whether the differences in the performance can be explained by micro-level (athletes characteristics and proximal environment), meso-level (the distal environment that plays a relevant role on the relationships established at micro-level), and the macro-level (environmental features that shape countries characteristics). The sample will be comprised of runners, of both sexes, from four countries. Data collection will be performed in two steps: i) Individual information and ii) Country-level information. At the individual level, data will be obtained from an online survey. At the country level, characteristics data will be obtained from the secondary data available (demographic, social, and economic variables). Statistical procedures expected to be used include multilevel analysis, latent class analysis, addictive and multiplicative interaction in regression models. This wealth of information is of relevance to fill gaps regarding the existence of variables to connect different levels of information, and to provide scientific support about environmental characteristics important to predict runners’ performance within and between countries.
Determinants of immunization status among 12–24 months old children in Ethiopia: Using 2019 Ethiopian mini demographic and health survey data
Authors: Metkie Kassahun Animut , Melese Getasew Berhanu , W/silassie Behailu Dessalegn , Ali Fatuma Ebrahim
Published: March 2023

Background

Vaccination is a global success story, one of the most effective and successful health interventions for health and development, saving the lives of millions of children every year. In 2018, nearly 870,000 Ethiopian children did not receive the life-saving measles, diphtheria, and tetanus vaccines. This study aimed to determine what factors influence children’s immunization status in Ethiopia.

Methods

Immunization status was examined in a sample of 1843 children aged 12–24 months using data from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey 2019. The study used percentages to show the prevalence of immunization status among children. The marginal likelihood effect was used to determine the impact of each category of the explanatory variable on one response category of immunization status. Ordinal logistic regression models were constructed, and the best-fitting model was selected to identify significant immunization status variables.

Results

The immunization prevalence among children was 72.2% (34.2% fully immunized and 38.0% partially immunized), while about 27.8% of children were non-immunized. The fitted partial proportional odds model revealed that child immunization status was significantly associated with region afar (OR = 7.90; CI: 4.78–11.92), family planning use (OR = 0.69; CI: 0.54–0.88), residence (OR = 2.22;CI: 1.60–3.09), antenatal visit (OR = 0.73;CI: 0.53–0.99), and delivery place (OR = 0.65;CI: 0.50–0.84).

Conclusions

Vaccinating children was a significant step forward in improving and protecting child health in Ethiopia, as the proportion of non-immunized children was about 27.8%. The study showed that the prevalence of non-immunization status among rural children was 33.6% and about 36.6% among children from non-educated mothers. As a result, it is agreeable that treatments are better to focus on targeting essential childhood vaccinations by promoting maternal education about family planning, antenatal visits, and maternal access to health care.
The role of data imbalance bias in the prediction of protein stability change upon mutation
Authors: Fang Jianwen
Published: March 2023

There is a controversy over what causes the low robustness of some programs for predicting protein stability change upon mutation. Some researchers suggested that low-quality data and insufficiently informative features are the primary reasons, while others attributed the problem largely to a bias caused by data imbalance as there are more destabilizing mutations than stabilizing ones. In this study, a simple approach was developed to construct a balanced dataset that was then conjugated with a leave-one-protein-out approach to illustrate that the bias may not be the primary reason for poor performance. A balanced dataset with some seemly good conventional n-fold CV results should not be used as a proof that a model for predicting protein stability change upon mutations is robust. Thus, some of the existing algorithms need to be re-examined before any practical applications. Also, more emphasis should be put on obtaining high quality and quantity of data and features in future research.
Current concepts on Pseudomonas aeruginosa interaction with human airway epithelium
Authors: Muggeo Anaëlle , Coraux Christelle , Guillard Thomas
Published: March 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major, but opportunistic, respiratory pathogen, which rarely infects healthy individuals, mainly due to the barrier effect of the human airway epithelium (HAE). This review explores the interaction of P. aeruginosa with HAE and the progression of the infection. The basolateral part of the epithelium, which includes the basolateral membrane of the epithelial cells and the basement membrane, is inaccessible in normal tight epithelia with intact junctions. We highlight how P. aeruginosa exploits weaknesses in the HAE barrier to gain access to the basolateral part of the epithelium. This access is crucial to initiate respiratory infection and is mainly observed in the injured epithelium, in repairing or chronically remodeled epithelium, and during extrusion of senescent cells or cell multiplication during normal epithelium renewal. The subsequent adhesion of the bacteria and cytotoxic action of virulence factors, including the toxins delivered by the type 3 secretion system (T3SS), lead to retractions and cell death. Eventually, P. aeruginosa progressively reaches the basement membrane and propagates radially through the basal part of the epithelium to disseminate using twitching and flagellar motility.
Ultrasonic Assisted Facile Synthesis of CuO Nanoparticles and Used as Insecticide for Mosquito Control
Authors: Palanisamy Karumalaiyan , Gurunathan Velayutham , Sivapriya Jothilingam
Published: March 2023

The present study deals with the fabrication of copper oxide nanoparticles with high purity via ultrasonic assisted chemical precipitation method. Synthesized CuO nano-mosquitocides rely on the polyvinyl pyrrolidine (PVP) as stabilizing agent. Synthesized CuO nanoparticles were confirmed via UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, EDX, Fourier-transform infrared and SEM mapping studies. The crystallite size from XRD studies revealed around 13.44 nm. The synthesized CuO nanoparticle was further assessed for mosquito larvicidal activity against south-urban mosquito larvae Aedes aegypti. The synthesized CuO nanoparticle displayed significant activity against Aedes aegypti with the LD50 value of 43.95 μg/mL than precursor copper chloride dihydrate and control permethrin with the LD50 value of 94.31 and 72.44 μg/mL.
Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles using Leaf Extract of Causonis trifolia (L.) and its Applications on Germination and Growth Enhancement of Mustard Seeds
Authors: Rani N. Usha , Peddi Pavani , Tulasi S Lakshmi , PrasadaRao P.T.S.R.K.
Published: March 2023

The present work reported the seed germination and plant growth activity studies on mustard seeds using bio-inspired green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The ZnO NPs were synthesized via green method utilizing Causonis trifolia (L.) plant leaf extract as a capping as well as reducing agent. The synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been characterized by using powder XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy), emission SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and UV-visible spectroscopy. Based on various characterizations, it was proved that the nanoparticles were hexagonal Wurtzite form with more or less spherical in shape having an average particle size of 58 nm that contains 78% of metallic zinc. Seed germination and plant growth activity studies of ZnO NPs have been performed on mustard seeds through the pot method. The result revealed a high seed germination rate (91.7%) of mustard seeds when comparing observed in control pots (62.1%). Further dose-dependent studies also performed under the same condition. The measurements of each plant shoot length and root length have performed after six days. The mustard plants root grown in pots with ZnO NPs at 1000 mg/Kg (6.9 cm) have grown 627% higher and plants in pots with ZnO NPs at 100 mg/Kg (4.8 cm) have grown 436% higher than the control pot (1.1 cm). The shoot length of the mustard plant at ZnO NPs at 1000 mg/Kg (9.8 cm) has grown 316% at 100 mg/Kg (6.7 cm) has grown 216% higher than the control pot (3.1 cm). The results indicate that the synthesized ZnO NPs could potentially be used as an enrichment fertilizer to improve agricultural output.
Curcumin-Based Heterocycles: Synthesis, Antimicrobial Genotoxicity and Molecular Docking
Authors: Al-Kerm Rola , Qrareya Hisham , Hamed Othman , Adwan Ghaleb , Al-Kerm Rana , Dagdag Omar , Sawafta Ashraf
Published: March 2023

Curcumin is a natural compound with numerous biological activities and a precursor for many drugs. Development of a convenient one pot synthetic method for synthesizing curcumin-based diazepines and diazoles having antibacterial activities is focussed in this study. A one pot condensation process was developed for synthesizing a novel class of curcumin-based diazoles and diazepines by reacting curcumin with 2-diamino compounds and hydrazines in presence of sulfuric acid as catalyst. IR and 1H NMR were used to characterize the molecular composition of the synthesized curcumin derivatives. The synthesized derivatives were tested for their in vitro antibacterial efficacy against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The MIC concentrations ranged from 1.56 to 200 μg/mL. Ampicillin exhibited synergistic effects with compounds C1, C3, C4 and C8. In the genotoxicity test, compound C3 was found to have no effect on the DNA molecules of E. coli strains, suggesting that it is not mutagenic and/or genotoxic. Compound C2 had the strongest interaction with the investigated protein receptor sites when blind molecular docking was conducted on all compounds. Since both H-donating and H-accepting sites of this molecule interact efficiently during the docking. In addition, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) study showed that compound C2 do not contradict the Lipinski’s rule of drug likeness and showed a low level of passive human gastrointestinal absorption. The results indicated that C2 could be most promising among the studied compounds.
Mixed Ligand Complexes of Cobalt(II): Synthesis, Reactivity, Physico-Chemical and Spectroscopic Studies
Authors: Das Arijit , Debnath Paresh , Paul Bijaya , Bhowmik Kartick Lal , Bhattacharya Abhijit , Ganguly Banti
Published: March 2023

The mixed ligand complexes of Co(II) metal ions with some heterocyclic nitrogen bases along with 1-cyano-1-carboethoxyethylene-2,2-dithiolate ion (CED2−) of the compositions, Co(N-N)(CED)·2H2O [N-N = o-phen/2,2′-bipy] and Co(N-N)(CED)L2 [N-N = o-phen/2,2′-bipy, CED2– = 1-cyano-1-carboethoxyethylene-2,2-dithiolate, L = γ-picoline (γ-pic), β-picoline (β-pic), α-picoline (α-pic), pyridine (py)] were characterized and isolated by analytical data as well as physico-chemical methods for example infrared spectroscopy, electronic, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance. The complexes are soluble in coordinating solvents like DMSO and DMF and decompose below 250 ºC. The synthesized complexes in DMF solution are non-electrolytic as shown by their molar conductance data. The calculated magnetic moments suggest that the synthesixed cobalt(II) compounds are paramagnetic and produce a low-spin environment for the Co(II) ion. Thermal studies reveal that Co(N-N) contains two coordinated water molecules (CED)·2H2O. Electronic spectra of cobalt(II) complexes with mixed ligands in DMF solution are consistent with distorted octahedral stereochemistry. The IR studies indicates that the CED2- ion exhibits bidentate chelating behaviour and that heterocyclic nitrogen donors coordinate to Co atoms (II). Reaction with heterocyclic nitrogen donors (γ-picoline, β-picoline, α-picoline, pyridine) signifying the ligand exchange reaction.
Phytochemical Analysis of Wrightia tinctoria Leaves and Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles for the Remediation of Water Pollutants
Authors: Kavikala N. , Shankar S. , Karthika S. , Maheswari B. Latha
Published: March 2023

In this work, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were fabricated using aqueous extract of Wrightia tinctoria leaves for evaluating its catalytic and antibacterial efficacy against water contaminants. The qualitative phytochemical estimation showed the presence of secondary metabolites alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids and biomolecules carbohydrates and proteins in different solvent extracts. The quantitative estimation for phytochemicals showed total phenols (39.59 mg/g), total flavonoids (44.34 mg/g), total alkaloids (149.56 mg/g) and total tannins (56.47 mg/g). The GC-MS analysis revealed the bioactive compound mome inositol as the major phytochemical present in W. tinctoria leaves. The characterization of ZnO nanoparticles with XRD showed Bragg’s reflections at 2θ angles of 31.76º, 34.47º, 36.23º, 47.48º, 56.59º, 62.99º and 68.00º which confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite structure and size (86 nm) of the nanoparticles. The SEM analysis showed that the morphology of synthesized was spherical structure with uniform distribution. The ZnO nanoparticles effectively inhibited the growth of water contaminating bacterial pathogens viz. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebshiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO oxide nanoparticles in degrading textile dyes, methylene blue and methyl orange was found to be effective.
Synthesis, Characterization, DFT Studies of Novel Phase Transfer Catalyst and Application in O-Propargylation Reaction
Authors: Ezhilarasu D. , Rani S.
Published: March 2023

The present work reports the synthesis and characterization of 1-benzyl-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,4(7)-diene dibromide for phase transfer catalyst (PTC) applications. The derived quaternary salt was characterized by UV, FTIR and NMR spectral techniques. The structure has been optimized by density functional theory (DFT) in water and diethyl ether solvation conditions. The DFT outcomes showed the good chemical potential of the compound between 2.15 eV and 6.8 eV in both media. Extended research examined the nature of phase transfer by adjusting dosage, temperature and solvents in the O-propargylation reaction under normal conditions for useful precursor synthesis. The kinetic data revealed that the novel bisite quaternary amine bromide salt was effective in a variety of conditions. The chlorobenzene and water biphasic system yielded 88% of bioactive molecule precursor when compare to other immiscible systems.
Synthesis, Characterization of Zirconia and Molybdenum Doped on Silica: Study their Catalytic Activity for Oxidation of Sulphides
Authors: Muftah Amal A. , Sayyad Ramejabi , Waghmode Shobha , Shukla Supriya , Gadale Sharda
Published: March 2023

To explore the structural, green methodology and thermal stability for synthesizing series of ternary mixed metal oxides were prepared by doping ZrO2 and MoO3 on SiO2 (ZMS) by sol-gel method. Catalysts were examined by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and TEM techniques. Both oxides showed the high stability with nanocrystalline nature and the catalytic activity of synthesized ZMS catalyst were tested for oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides at room temperature. Gas chromatography was used to analyze the products. A high selectivity obtained by nicely controlled a variation of catalyst amount as well as amounts of oxidant applied. Recycling experiments explained that the synthesized ZMS catalysts can be recycled many times without major loss of their activity. The catalytic system provided a number of advantages including clean, use of green solvent and easy handling strategy for the synthesis of sulfoxides at mild conditions.
Copper(II) Catalyzed Oxidation of Aliphatic Thiols (Thioglycolic Acid and 2-Mercaptoethanol) by Heteroleptic Co(III)-Bound Superoxo Complex
Authors: Mandal A.
Published: March 2023

In aqueous acid media (0.02-0.06 M), two aliphatic thiols (RSH) viz. thioglycolic acid (TGA) and mercapto ethanol (MERCAP) were oxidized by heteroleptic metal bound superoxo complex, [(dien)(en)CoIII(O2)CoIII(en)(dien)]5+ (1) (en = ethylenediamine, NH2CH2CH2NH2 and dien = diethylenetriamime, NH2(CH2)2NH(CH2)2NH2) to the corresponding disulphides. Complex 1 is reduced to its corresponding peroxo complex, [(dien)(en)CoIII(O2)CoIII(en)(dien)]4+ (2) in these reactions. The oxidation of both thiols were dramatically catalyzed by the presence of Cu2+ ion. The observed rate constant ko was found to be proportional to [RSH]2 and [Cu]T2 (where [Cu]T is the analytical concentration of Cu2+). The rate of reaction decreases with increasing ionic strength (I) of the reaction media and ko is also proportional to [H+]2–. The experimental observation suggests that a 1:2 anionic complex formed between Cu2+ and RSH participates in the redox cycle.
Thermal, Mechanical and Swelling Studies of Semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Network Composed of Natural Rubber and Polyacrylamide
Authors: Nath Manju R , Mohanan A.
Published: March 2023

Semi-interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) composed of two polymers, namely natural rubber (NR) and polyacrylamide (PAAm) were prepared by crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. The NR/PAAm semi-IPN films were developed by varying the concentration of crosslinking agents and the polymer blend ratios. The impact of preparation parameters on the mechanical properties was studied. The semi-IPN was characterized by FTIR, DTG, TG and SEM. Swelling studies were done by using toluene as solvent. The kinetics and mechanism of swelling were investigated and the initial rate of swelling, swelling constant, swelling exponent, equilibrium swelling and diffusion coefficient were also determined.
Solvation Dynamics of Oxadiazoles as Potential Candidate for Drug Preparation
Authors: Kumar Vikash , Kumar Ravindra , Kumar Nagendra , Kumar Sumit
Published: March 2023

Oral ingestion is one of the popularly employed procedures for the drug delivery as the administration of drugs is easy compared to the other alternatives such as injection. Therefore, the drug preparation is affected by dissolution rate, metabolism as per system requirements, drug permeability as well as solubility of the drug. The current study focused on the solvation dynamics of oxadiazole derivatives to attain its candidature against drug preparation. Different derivatives are extensively explored using ab initio molecular dynamics and quantum chemical calculation tools. The molecular dynamics study depicts the total energy as the addition of kinetic as well as potential energies with the progress of simulation time in fs. Oxadiazole derivative solvation efficiency was also investigated, along with its main solvent interaction sites. Derivatives of 1,3,4-oxadiazole were analyzed to determine their band gap energies, softness, hardness, ionization potential, chemical potential, electrophilicity, nucleophilicity, electronegativity and also their pharmacological effects.
Clinical Presentation of Alpha-Gal Syndrome in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Response to Mammalian Dietary Elimination
Authors: Busing Jordan D. , Stone Cosby A. , Nicholson Maribeth R.
Published: March 2023

INTRODUCTION:

Alpha-gal syndrome is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated delayed hypersensitivity reaction to nonprimate mammalian products, which has a newly established gastrointestinal (GI) phenotype in adults. We assessed the GI presentation and treatment response in children.

METHODS:

This is a retrospective study of patients presenting in a pediatric gastroenterology clinic tested for alpha-gal IgE.

RESULTS:

Forty of 199 patients (20%) tested had a positive alpha-gal-specific IgE, with 77.5% reporting GI symptoms in isolation. Of the 30 that attempted dietary elimination, 8 (27%) experienced full resolution of symptoms.

DISCUSSION:

Alpha-gal syndrome can present with isolated GI symptoms in children.
Factors Influencing Customer Attitudes towards Online Food Delivery Application after the COVID-19 Epidemic in Jordanian Restaurants
Authors: NAJDAWI Bashar M. AL , KHASAWNEH Mohammad , AL-MAKHADMAHj Issam Mohammad , SHATNAWI Hakam , KHALEEFAHj Qusay , AL ROUSAN Ramzi
Published: March 2023

Although several studies on technology trends and acceptance have been undertaken, few studies investigate the factors that influence customer attitudes toward food delivery apps depending on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The purpose of the study is to examine the use of Online Food Delivery (OFD) in Jordanian restaurants after the COVID-19 epidemic by applying UTAUT. In the northern and central regions of Jordan, 722 online questionnaires were gathered using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results reveal that three factors significantly affect customers' decisions to use the OFD service: behavioral intention, pricing, and social influence. Furthermore, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, price value, habit positivity, trust, and perceived credibility significantly influence the behavioral intention to use. In addition, the moderating impacts of age, gender, and experience were examined using multigroup analysis. Some of the model's expected associations were shown to be moderated by the users' experience, but gender and age had no significant influence. The results have consequences for both research and practice implications.
Strong convergence of the thresholding scheme for the mean curvature flow of mean convex sets
Authors: Fuchs Jakob , Laux Tim
Published: March 2023

In this work, we analyze Merriman, Bence and Osher’s thresholding scheme, a time discretization for mean curvature flow. We restrict to the two-phase setting and mean convex initial conditions. In the sense of the minimizing movements interpretation of Esedoğlu and Otto, we show the time-integrated energy of the approximation to converge to the time-integrated energy of the limit. As a corollary, the conditional convergence results of Otto and one of the authors become unconditional in the two-phase mean convex case. Our results are general enough to handle the extension of the scheme to anisotropic flows for which a non-negative kernel can be chosen.
Scattering properties of Sturm-Liouville equations with sign-alternating weight and transmission condition at turning point
Authors: Çoşkun Nimet , Görgülü Merve
Published: March 2023

In this article, we focus on the scattering analysis of Sturm-Liouville type singular operator including an impulsive condition and turning point. In the classical literature, there are plenty of papers considering the positive values of the weight function in both continuous and discontinuous cases. However, this article differs from the others in terms of the impulsive condition appearing at the turning point. We generate the scattering function, resolvent operator, and discrete spectrum of the operator using the hyperbolic representations of the fundamental solutions. Finally, we create an example to show the article’s primary conclusions.
Existence and Finite-Time Stability Results for Impulsive Caputo-Type Fractional Stochastic Differential Equations with Time Delays
Authors: Tian Mengquan , Luo Danfeng
Published: March 2023

This paper mainly discusses the existence and finite-time stability of solutions for impulsive fractional stochastic differential equations (IFSDEs). By applying the Picard-Lindelöf iteration method of successive approximation scheme, we establish the existence results of solutions. Subsequently, the uniqueness of solution is derived by the method of contradiction. In addition, we investigate the finite-time stability by means of the generalized Grönwall-Bellman inequality. As an application, examples are provided to expound our theoretical conclusions.