bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishing Pelvimetry-Based Machine Learning Models to Predict Surgical Difficulty in Laparoscopic Intersphincteric Resection in Patients With Low Rectal Cancer
Authors: Tian shunhua , Zhao Chengxiong , Hu Hang , Hu Jinxiang , Liu Bo , Hu Heng , Chen Baoxiang , Ren Xianghai , Jiang Congqing
Published: April 2023

Aim Intersphincteric resection (ISR) is an anus-preserving procedure for the treatment of low rectal cancer. However, some patients have difficult ISR procedures due to pelvic stenosis. We aim to build a machine learning (ML) model to predict the difficulty of ISR.Methods We retrospectively collected information of 163 patients with low rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic ISR from January 2017 to August 2022. The prediction models of surgical difficulty were constructed by five MLs. External validation of the European MRI and Rectal Cancer Surgery (EuMaRCS) score was also performed.Results Of 163 patients,36 (22.1%) were assessed as difficult, and 127 (77.9%) were assessed as non-difficult. 9 variables were finally included through lasso regression and binary logistic regression. Two main types of models were constructed, with one retaining all variables, with random forest (RF) performing best (accuracy, 0.878; positive predictive value [PPV], 1; negative predictive value [NPV], 0.867; sensitivity, 0.4; specificity, 1; area under the curve [AUC], 0.877; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.732–1). The other category retained the 9 variables screened, with support vector machine (SVM) performing best(accuracy, 0.857; PPV, 0.636; NPV, 0.921; sensitivity, 0.7; specificity, 0.897; AUC, 0.854; 95% CI, 0.698–1). The EuMaRCS score did not show a better predictive performance in our study.Conclusions The ML models we developed were found to be more accurate in comparison to the EuMaRCS score. The pelvimetry-based ML model can be used as an effective predictive tool for identifying the difficulty of ISR for low rectal cancer.
Referrals to outpatient specialist child and adolescent psychiatry services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia
Authors: Havaši Nejc , Vinko Matej , Anderluh Marija , Breznikar David
Published: April 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Climate change will lead to a significant reduction in the global cultivation of Panicum milliaceum
Authors: Huang Yi , Yang Yang , Zeng Zhefe , Jiang Xue , Liu Mei , Yang Jingtian
Published: April 2023

Panicum milliaceum is a C4 crop with characteristics of drought resistance, infertility tolerance and wide adaptability. It is a specialty crop for maintaining agricultural stability in arid and infertile areas of the world. Predicting the potential global geographic distribution of Panicum milliaceum and clarifying its ecological requirements will help advance the development of agriculture, which is important for maintaining human health and solving the global food crisis. Based on 5637 global distribution records of Panicum milliaceum and environmental factor variables, this study predicted the potential global geographic distribution of Panicum milliaceum in the present and future using the Maxent model and ArcGIS software. The contribution of environmental factor variables was used to assess the constraints on the potential geographic distribution of Panicum milliaceum. The accuracy of the Maxent model predictions was evaluated by three assessments of AUC values, TSS values and kappa statistics. The results showed that the Maxent model predicted high accuracy, and the simulation results were credible. The current total suitable habitat area of Panicum milliaceum was 4563.82×104 km2, mainly distributed in UNITED STATES, BRAZIL, AUSTRALIA, CHINA, INDIA, RUSSIAN FEDERATION. The high suitable habitat area of Panicum milliaceum was 484.95×104 km2, accounting for 10.63% of the total suitable habitat area, mainly distributed in the UNITED STATES, RUSSIAN FEDERATION, FRANCE, UKRAINE, AUSTRALIA, GERMANY, etc. Soil factor (hswd)was the most important environmental factor limiting the potential geographic distribution of Panicum milliaceum, followed by precipitation factor (Precipitation of Driest Month, bio14) and temperature factor (Mean Temperature of Wettest Quarter, bio8). Under the four future climate change scenarios, the area of the potential geographic distribution of Panicum milliaceum decreases to different extents at different levels compared to the contemporary period. Therefore, climate change may significantly affect the global distribution pattern of Panicum milliaceum cultivation in the future, and thus reshape the global Panicum milliaceum production and trade patterns.
Pairing-based Accountable Subgroup Multi-signatures with Verifiable Group Setup
Authors: Ağırtaş Ahmet Ramazan , Yayla Oğuz
Published: April 2023

An accountable subgroup multi-signature is a kind of multi-signature scheme in which any subgroup S of a group G of potential signers jointly sign a message m, ensuring that each member of S is accountable for the resulting signature. In this paper, we propose three novel pairing-based accountable subgroup multi-signature (ASM) schemes, which are secure against existential forgery under chosen-message attacks and computational co-Diffie-Hellman assumption. In the first one, we use Feldman’s verifiable secret sharing scheme as an implicit authentication and proof-of-possession for setting up group G. In the second one, the members participating in authentication are decided by the subgroup. In the third one, we consider a designated combiner managing the authentication process. All schemes we propose here require fewer computations in the signature generation, signature aggregation, and verification phases than the pairing-based ASM scheme proposed by Boneh, Drijvers and Neven. Moreover, our first and third ones solve the open problem of constructing an ASM scheme in which the subgroup S of signers is unknown before the signature generation. Besides, we give a method of eliminating the combiner in case of knowing the subgroup of signers S in advance. Further, we extend our proposed schemes to aggregated versions. For N accountable subgroup multi-signatures, aggregated versions of our proposed schemes output an aggregated signature with the size of a single group (G1 ) element and require N + 1 pairings in aggregated signature verification. In contrast, the partially aggregated ASM scheme of Boneh, Drijvers and Neven gives an aggregated signature with the size of N + 1 group elements and requires 2N + 1 pairings in aggregated signature verification.
Comorbidities contributing to high-cost hospital care for patients with COPD exacerbation
Authors: Wang Mingdie , Wang Fengyan , Shi Jingrong , Zhang Dongying , Jian Wenhua , Chen Yijun , Feng Jieyu , Zheng Jinping , Liang Zhenyu
Published: April 2023

Objective Although comorbidities are prevalent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, little is known about the impact of comorbidities on hospitalization costs for COPD in Chinese hospitals. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of comorbidities on hospital costs in patients with COPD.Methods We conducted a real-world, retrospective, observational study. Patients with the major discharge diagnosis of COPD at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between December 2013 and December 2020 were enrolled. Demographic and clinical parameters were sourced from hospital data and medical records. The top 20% of patients by cost were included in the high-cost group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the comorbidities associated with hospitalization costs. A comorbidity network was built to complement and extend the results of the multivariate analysis.Results In total, 75.7% of COPD patients had comorbidities, and the number of comorbidities had an impact on the hospitalization cost. The results of multivariate analysis showed that the comorbidities contributing to hospital costs were pulmonary embolism, sick sinus syndrome, pneumomycosis, lymphoma, lung cancer, venous thromboembolism, aneurysm, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, and fatty liver. The results of the comorbidity network analysis were consistent with those of the multivariate analysis.Conclusion The comorbidities can influence the burden of care for patients with COPD. Therefore, attention should be paid to early risk assessment and long-term interventions for these comorbidities in COPD patients.
Effect of Acetosyringone, Sucrose and Nutrients on Transgenic Hairy Root Induction in Chenopodium quinoa using different Rhizobium rhizogenesstrains
Authors: Massah Maedeh , Rabiei Mohammad
Published: April 2023

Quinoa is a plant with special nutritional and biological properties and tolerant in strict environmental conditions, which can be considered to a strategic product for the future food supply of mankind, as a pseudocereal. Quinoa root is rich in bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant activity and diverse medicinal and nutritional properties that can have a potential for commercialization. The use of cultivation and propagation techniques in controlled laboratory conditions, such as the induction of differentiated tissues of hairy roots, allows the production of plants and the rapid and massive access to secondary metabolites. In this research, the induction of hairy roots was evaluated using four Rhizobium rhizogenes strains, including A4, A7, 11325, and ATCC 15834, in quinoa and the effect of different concentrations of acetosyringone and sucrose and removal of macro elements in the culture medium in increasing the rooting performance of R. rhizogenes was investigated. The results showed the different effects of the mutual effect of different concentrations of sucrose and acetosyringone, as well as the commonly used elements of the half strength MS culture medium on the biomass of hairy roots. The most optimal conditions for the induction of hairy roots culture were obtained in half strength MS culture medium, containing 30 g/l sucrose and 1 mM acetosyringone and without NH4NO3 salt. This efficient protocol provides a basis for future studies to be able to use the induced hairy root as a source of valuable secondary metabolites of quinoa root and create a new approach for exploiting the nutritional, medicinal and health compounds of the quinoa plant.
Gooseberry Anthocyanins Alleviates Insulin Resistance by Regulating Ceramide Metabolism in High Fat Diet Mice
Authors: Tang Xian , Gao Jun , Huang Jinpeng , Zhang Chenjuan , Liu Hongwei , Wei Jie
Published: April 2023

In order to explore the effect and mechanism of Gooseberry anthocyanins (GA) on reducing the ceramide content to reduce Insulin Resistance (IR) in mice.Molecular docking, Real-Time PCR and Western Blotting were used to explore the molecular mechanism and the effects of different doses GA in high-fat diet (HFD) mice.The results showed that the binding energy of anthocyanins on CerS6 was in the range of -8.2 to 5.2 kcal/mol, with low energy parameters and good binding positions. GA could effectively inhibit visceral fat, liver index, TC, TG and LDL-C, and improved HDL-C, GSH-Px and SOD.GA decreased the level of Insulin sensitivity index from-5.15 to-4.54 and improved insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance in HFD mice. Real-Time PCR and Western blotting results showed that GA could reducemRNA levels of inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α, inhibit the expression of CerS6,PKCζ, PPARγ, CD36 and enhance the expression of SphK2, Akt, p-Akt/Akt, ISR. This study revealed the molecular mechanism of improving insulin resistance of GA in S1P/Cer signaling pathway, and provided theoretical support for preventive treatment of obesity related diseases by polyphenols.
The Vacuum-plasma Nanotechnologies Avinit
Authors: Sagalovych Olexiy , Sagalovych Vlad , Dudnik Stanislav F. , Olejnik Oleksandr k. , Popov Viktor
Published: April 2023

This paper reports the development of the Avinit vacuum plasma nanotechnology for applying multicomponent functional coatings and for modifying surfaces in order to improve the operational characteristics of materials, components, and parts for the aviation and technical purposes.
Underlying the technology are the processes of atomic-ion surface modification and the formation of nanolayer coatings under the influence of the nonequilibrium low-temperature plasma.
Special features of the Avinit nanotechnology include
· integrated application use of vacuum plasma processes activated by the nonequilibrium low-temperature plasma;
· the transition to a nano range to apply multi-component multilayer and nanolayer coatings with predefined characteristics.
In order to apply functional multilayer composite coatings, a technological vacuum-plasma automated cluster Avinit was devised and designed, which makes it possible to implement comprehensive methods for applying coatings (plasma-chemical CVD, vacuum-plasma PVD), the processes of ion saturation and ion surface treatment), combined within a single technological cycle.
The technological parameters of multilayer coating application processes have been refined in the "metal-nitrogen" and "metal-carbon" systems.
Experimental results of the metal-physical and tribological studies confirm the possibility of low-temperature (< 200 ºC) application of wear-resistant high-hard Avinit coatings based on metal nitrides and carbides under the modes that allow for good adhesion to the substrate materials (steel with precision surface Ra=0.025 µm) without reducing the strength characteristics of steel and without deterioration in the purity class of the resulting surface.
A new technique for strengthening and improving the wear resistance of articles made of steel and alloys by the Avinit N plasma precision nitriding in high-density plasma of nitrogen and argon has been developed. In this case, the formation process of a nitrided layer is significantly intensified, the hardness and wear resistance of parts increase without warping while maintaining the original geometric dimensions of the nitrided parts (precision nitriding "to size" with an accuracy of 1‒2 µm).
The reported results of the metal-physical and tribological studies are the basis for choosing coating materials to improve the efficiency of working surfaces of precision friction pairs in the "coating-steel" and "coating-coating" systems.
The paper gives examples of the industrial implementation of the Avinit technologies to increase the resource and reliability of aviation-technical articles in assembly and engine engineering.
Study of Systemic Disorders Associated With Pituitary Tumors in Damascus Hospital
Authors: Thuloj Obaida Ezzat , Alrawashdeh Mohammad Ahmad , Hammoud Taghrid
Published: April 2023

Background
Pituitary tumors are mostly benign masses and are rarely malignant. Pituitary tumors are either secretory or non-secretory tumors. Pituitary tumors are presented with a variety of symptoms based on the hormone that is secreted.
Methods
A cross-sectional study conducted in Damascus hospital containing 150 patients between the years 2012 and 2022 based on a specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Results
Results have shown a correlation between metabolic disorders and being female compared to males. In addition, gastrointestinal symptoms were noticeable in patients with a positive family history.
Conclusion
In this study patients with pituitary tumors presented with a variety of symptoms, which depicts the importance of having more studies done in the future regarding these conditions.
Big Data Analytics as an elementary Customer Loyalty Instrument for German banks – an empirical approach from a banker’s perspective
Authors: Giebe Carsten , Zwerenz Dirk , Hammerström Lennart
Published: April 2023

The German banking sector is undergoing a massive transformation phase due to increasing digitalization. This challenge is enormously influenced by demographic change, the low-interest phase, technological progress as well as supervision and regulation. As a result, banks in Germany are forced to deal with strategies for customer centricity. In this context, Big Data analytics can be seen as a useful tool to better understand customers, e.g. by predicting product affinities, purchase probabilities or distribution channel preferences. The consolidated view of Big Data Analytics and Customer Centricity is already considered in the scientific literature. The studies on the combination of Big Data Analytics and the German banking sector, on the other hand, are rudimentary so far. The main purpose of this research is to answer the following research questions: [I: “Does Big Data Analytics improve the quality of advice (measured by the principles of client advisory services) from an advisor’s perspective and does it have an influence on customer loyalty?”] and [II: To what extent can Big Data Analytics make a positive contribution to the situation of banks in the age of digitalization?”]. To answer the research questions, the results of a survey of banking experts (N = 43) form the backbone of this empirical research. The findings of this paper can be of benefit to researchers and practitioners alike, in order to make the potential of big data analytics recognizable and usable for banks in the context of customer centricity.
Properties of fermionic systems with the path-integral ground state method
Authors: Ujevic Sebastian , Zampronio Vinicius , de Abreu Bruno R. , Vitiello Silvio A.
Published: April 2023

We investigate strongly correlated many-body systems composed of bosons and fermions with a fully quantum treatment using the path-integral ground state method, PIGS. To account for the Fermi-Dirac statistics, we implement the fixed-node approximation into PIGS, which we then call FN-PIGS. In great detail, we discuss the pair density matrices we use to construct the full density operator in coordinate representation, a vital ingredient of the method. We consider the harmonic oscillator as a proof-of-concept and, as a platform representing quantum many-body systems, we explore helium atoms. Pure ^44He systems demonstrate most of the features of the method. Complementarily, for pure ^33He, the fixed-node approximation resolves the ubiquitous sign problem stemming from anti-symmetric wave functions. Finally, we investigate ^33He-^44He mixtures, demonstrating the method’s robustness. One of the main features of FN-PIGS is its ability to estimate any property at temperature T = 0T=0 without any additional bias apart from the FN approximation; biases from long simulations are also excluded. In particular, we calculate the correlation function of pairs of equal and opposite spins and precise values of the ^33He kinetic energy in the mixture.
Blockchain technologies in accounting: bibliometric analysis
Authors: Kravchenko Olena , Nebaba Natalia , O. Aiyedogbon John
Published: April 2023

The purpose of the paper is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of scientific literature on the use of blockchain technologies in accounting for the period 2013–2022 based on the use of a number of special methods and tools, including Scopus and WoS, VOSviewer, Publish or Perish, Google Trends, and Google Books Ngram Viewer. Based on the results of the bibliometric analysis of relevant scientific publications, a map of the relationships between the concepts of «blockchain» and «accounting» with other categories was formed, which allowed identifying seven clusters. Based on the results of the analysis of the evolutionary time block of blockchain technology research, it was possible to identify several main periods during which the main accents in this area changed. It has been proven that it was in 2020–2021 that the interest of researchers was directed to considering blockchains as tools for working with financial and accounting information. An analysis of the space-time dimension of bibliometric analysis in Ukraine showed that the publication activity of research on the use of blockchain technologies in accounting has intensified since the second half of 2021. Analysis using Google Books and Google Trends confirmed the absence of analogies in the dynamics of changes in search queries «blockchain» and «accounting». The use of bibliometric analysis tools allowed identifying the most relevant works by the searched terms. Relevance was mostly determined by the significance of the scientific work and the scientific cluster. On the basis of these works, key theses are presented, which will become the basis for further empirical research on the chosen topic.
Determinants of consumer motivation to use online food delivery apps: An empirical investigation of Bangladesh
Authors: Julfikar Ali Mohammed , Atikur Rahaman Md. , Bin Latif Wasib , Ahammad Issa , Mobarak Karim Md.
Published: April 2023

This study aims to investigate the influencing elements of consumers’ behavioral intention to use online food delivery apps in Bangladesh. MS Excel and SPSS were used to calculate the relevant information. The targeted population of this study is the current users of online food delivery apps in Bangladesh. The final sample size is 368, with a response rate of 92%. The information was gathered from the respondents through a web-based survey in Google Forms. Due to the nature of the study object, the purposeful sampling method has been used and is quantitative and exploratory. The results show that five predictors affect consumers’ intention to use food delivery apps. The findings demonstrate that social influence, perceived trust, perceived safety, performance expectancy, and effort expectancy significantly affect the consumers’ usage intention of food delivery apps. The study also found that perceived trust is the strongest predictor of usage intention among five intention predictors. However, following an extensive literature review, only a few studies have been conducted in this context, so there is a deficiency in investigating key influencing factors of users’ motivation to adopt online food delivery apps in Bangladesh. Therefore, this study could be indispensable for app delivery operators, governmental and non-governmental organizations, businesses, and researchers to make policies and strategies to create intention among consumers to use online food delivery apps.
Features of the Application of Digital Technology in Criminal Proceedings of the BRICS Countries
Authors: Rusman G. , D’Orio E. , Popova E. , Kipouras P.
Published: April 2023

The current pace of technological development creates new opportunities for improvements in various spheres of human activity, including the sphere of criminal proceedings. In the BRICS countries, the achievements of modern technological developments, in particular the use of digital technology in criminal proceedings, have their own unique characteristics. This article describes the current state of criminal proceedings in the BRICS member countries. The authors analyze practices in criminal proceedings with the aim of identifying best practices, advantages and disadvantages of using digital technology in the criminal justice sector, as well as outlining prospects for the development of this technology in the BRICS countries. The authors come to the conclusion that the use of digital technology in criminal proceedings should contribute to increased access to justice, procedural economy and effective investigation, and as a result, a fair verdict in criminal cases in all of the BRICS member states.
Level of Electronic Transparency of Peruvian Ministries
Authors: Navarro Yulisa
Published: April 2023

This article increases information in electronic transparency. The main objective of this paper was to determine the transparency level of official web portals of the Peruvian ministries, as well as to uncover correlations between the levels of transparency, the type of ministry and / or the number of years past since the web portal has been working, or the gender of the responsible. In the first part of this work, I present a brief theoretical framework which establishes the principles of transparency regarding public information managed by the Peruvian State Administrative Entities. For this study two methodologies were used, the first one was the implementation of indicator’s table elaborated based on the Law of transparency for the collection and processing of data to obtain an objective diagnosis of the electronic transparency of the Peruvian Ministries, the second methodology was an correlation analysis, used to find those possible relationships between the variables chosen to be analyzed. The analysis allowed a diagnosis of the electronic transparency situation at ministerial level to 2017. As a main result, it was known which were the Ministries with the highest rate of compliance with the law for 2017 and also which are those that need more supervision to achieve their objective. The conclusion of the study was that, the Transparency Law has not yet been 100% implemented by more than 90% of the ministries.
Natural Coumarin Derivatives Targeting Melanoma
Authors: Silva Leandro Rocha , Nunes Jéssica Alves , Zhan Peng , Łączkowski Krzysztof Z. , Cardoso Sílvia Helena , da Silva-Júnior Edeildo Ferreira
Published: April 2023

In general, a cancerous process starts from uncontrolled cell growth, apoptosis,
and rapid proliferation of cellular clones, as well as, reactive oxygen species (ROS)
and imbalance of ROS-antioxidant production also could be involved in the genesis of
the disease. Cancer has accounted for millions of deaths worldwide every year, representing
a relevant threat to human lives. In this context, malignant melanoma represents the
most aggressive and deadliest type of cancer, leading to increased rates of patient deaths.
Natural active compounds have demonstrated their pharmacological benefits in several
different studies. Among these compounds, coumarin analogs have demonstrated promising
biological profiles, considering their efficacy and low toxicity. In this context, this
phytochemical oxygenated core has been broadly investigated since it presents several biological
properties of interest in the medicinal field. Herein, we reported a complete
compilation of studies focused on natural coumarins against melanoma, as well as, tyrosinase
since it is a cooper-catalyzed oxidase that performs an essential role during melanogenesis
(Eu-melanins and Pheo-melanins), which is associated with melanoma. Thus,
three different subclasses of natural coumarin were described in detail, such as simple
coumarin core, furanocoumarins, pyranocoumarins, and pyrone-substituents. Additionally,
insights on tyrosinase have been provided, allowing an overview of some structural/-
functional aspects of its enzyme, such as the presence of a binuclear type 3 cooper coordination
at the binding site of this target, acting as cofactors. Posteriorly, several coumarin-
based analogs with anti-tyrosinase activity also were reported and discussed. Finally,
we believe that unprecedented review can be a valuable source of information, which can
be used to design and develop novel coumarin-based analogs targeting melanoma and also
tyrosinase enzyme, contributing to the advances in the field of natural products.
Safety Analysis of Bapineuzumab in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gao Yaqi , Guo Jing , Zhang Fang , Li Yanfang
Published: April 2023

Background:

Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide, and very few
drugs are available for its treatment. Monoclonal antibodies have shown promising effects in the
treatment of various types of diseases. Bapineuzumab is one of the humanized monoclonal antibodies,
which have shown promising effects in AD patients. Bapineuzumab has shown efficacy in
the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. However, its safety is still unclear.

Objective:

Thus, the main objective of the current study is to find out the exact safety profile of
bapineuzumab in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Methods:

We performed a web-based literature search of PubMed and clinical trial websites using
the relevant keywords. Data were extracted from eligible records, and the risk ratio (RR) was calculated
with a 95% confidence interval (CI). All the analyses were performed using Review Manager
software (version 5.3 for windows). Heterogeneity was measured by Chi-square and I-square
tests.

Results:

Non-significant association of bapineuzumab with serious treatment-emergent adverse
events [RR: 1.11 (0.92, 1.35)], headache [RR: 1.03 (0.81, 1.32)], delirium [RR: 2.21 (0.36, 13.53)],
vomiting [RR: 0.92 (0.55, 1.55)], hypertension [RR: 0.49 (0.12, 2.12)], convulsions [RR:2.23
(0.42, 11.71)], falls [RR: 0.98 (0.80, 1.21)], fatal AEs [RR: 1.18 (0.59, 2.39)], and neoplasms
[RR:1.81 (0.07, 49.52)] was reported; however, a significant association was found with vasogenic
edema [RR: 22.58 (3.48, 146.44)].

Conclusion:

Based on available evidence, bapineuzumab is found to be safe in the treatment of
AD patients. However, vasogenic edema should be considered.
Synthesis of 5-(trifluoroacetyl)imidazoles from Bromoenones and
Benzimidamides via Aza-Michael Initiated Ring Closure Reaction
Authors: Romanov Alexey R. , Kondrashov Evgeniy V. , Zinchenko Sergey V.
Published: April 2023

Introduction:

A simple method for the preparation of 5-(trifluoroacetyl)imidazoles was
elaborated.

Methods:

The reaction of trifluoromethyl(α-bromoalkenyl)ketones with benzimidamides was employed
to afford the target heterocycles in good yields.

Results:

The assembly of imidazole core proceeds via aza-Michael adduct formation followed by
intramolecular nucleophilic substitution and spontaneous aromatization as an oxidation sequence.

Conclusion:

The yields of target imidazoles can be improved by the use of soft oxidizing agents.
Phytochemical Constituents’ Analysis of Rhanterium adpressum Coss &
Durieu Flowers Extracts and their α-amylase and α-glucosidase Inhibition
Properties
Authors: Boussoussa Hadjer , Benabed Houda Khadidja , Khacheba Ihcen , Yousfi Mohamed
Published: April 2023

Background:

Rhanterium adpressum is an endemic and desert plant found in Algerian Sahara,
it is used by the local population in cheese production and folk medicine as an antidiuretic and antimicrobial.

Objective:

This study aimed to analyse the phytochemical composition of Rhanterium adpressum extracts
by GC-MS and assess their inhibitory potential on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes linked
to diabetes.

Methods:

Two solvents were used for extraction: petroleum ether and dichloromethane. The obtained
extracts were then analysed by GC-MS and in vitro tested for their antidiabetic activity.

Results:

GC-MS analysis of extracts from R. adpressum flowers revealed various phytocompounds,
such as (-)-Spathulenol, alpha.-Amyrin, Lupeol and Cedran-diol in petroleum ether extract; 1HCycloprop[
e]azulen-7-ol, 5(1H)-Azulenone and alpha-cardinol in dichloromethane extract. Petroleum
ether extract exhibited a good in vitro antidiabetic activity in comparison to dichloromethane extract.

Conclusion:

This research confirms the antidiabetic activity of petroleum ether extract when compared
with dichloromethane extract; other studies are needed for purification and in vivo study of biocompounds
from Rhanterium adpressum. This investigation offers scientific data that flowers of
Rhanterium adpressum exhibit in vitro anti-diabetic effect.
Association between Glucose-lowering Treatments and Risk of Diabetic
Retinopathy in People with Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Hasselstrøm  Jensen Jakob , Vestergaard Peter , Hasselstrøm Jensen Morten
Published: April 2023

Introduction:

Glycaemic variability is possibly linked to the development of diabetic
retinopathy, and newer second-line glucose-lowering treatments in type 2 diabetes might reduce
glycaemic variability.

Aim:

This study aimed to investigate whether newer second-line glucose-lowering treatments are
associated with an alternative risk of developing diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

A nationwide cohort of people with type 2 diabetes on second-line glucose-lowering
treatment regimens in 2008-2018 was extracted from the Danish National Patient Registry. Adjusted
time to diabetic retinopathy was estimated with a Cox Proportional Hazards model. The model
was adjusted for age, sex, diabetes duration, alcohol abuse, treatment start year, education, income,
history of late-diabetic complications, history of non-fatal major adverse cardiovascular events,
history of chronic kidney disease, and history of hypoglycaemic episodes.

Results:

Treatment regimens of metformin + basal insulin (HR: 3.15, 95% CI: 2.42-4.10) and metformin
+ glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1-RA, HR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.09-1.96) were
associated with an increased risk of diabetic retinopathy compared with metformin + dipeptidyl
peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i). Treatment with metformin + sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor
(SGLT2i, HR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.28-2.11) was associated with the numerically lowest risk of
diabetic retinopathy compared with all regimens investigated.

Conclusion:

Findings from this study indicate that basal insulin and GLP-1-RA are suboptimal second-
line choices for people with type 2 diabetes at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. However,
many other considerations concerning the choice of second-line glucose-lowering treatment
for type 2 diabetes patients should be taken into account.
Assessment of Small Diameter Steel Pile as a Stabilizing Element for Transmission Tower Slope Stability
Authors: Binti Katman Herda Yati , Lee Choon Yong , Zulnisyam Dalia Utama , Baharuddin Intan Nor Zuliana , Pauzi Nur Irfah Mohd
Published: April 2023

Background:

Stabilization of unstable slopes with relatively large reinforced concrete piles has been widely adopted over the past several decades. Small diameter steel piles have several advantages as a slope reinforcement technique for an unstable transmission tower slope where space and access restrictions that typically occur render alternate approaches unfeasible.

Methods:

In this study, a numerical performance assessment of small diameter steel pile as a stabilizing element for transmission tower slope stability was carried out using an uncoupled analysis, in which the pile response and slope stability are considered separately. Numerical evaluations are presented and the influencing parameters that could affect the behavior of reinforcing piles to increase transmission tower slope stability are investigated.

Results:

The numerical analysis results indicate that the soil properties, slope geometry, pile location, pile diameter, pile length and number of pile rows have a combined effect on the performance of small diameter steel piles to stabilize transmission tower slopes.

Conclusion:

The numerical assessment can satisfactorily capture some fundamental response of transmission tower slope reinforced with multi-row small diameter steel piles.
Verrucous Carcinoma, A Very Well Differentiated Form of OSCC? - An Immunochemical Exploratory Study
Authors: Yellapurkar Shweta , Boaz Karen , N Srikant , Manaktala Nidhi , KP Nandita , Lewis Amitha J.
Published: April 2023

Introduction:

Verrucous carcinoma shows an analogous biological behaviour to well-differentiated Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). So, it is a difficult task to differentiate the above two entities based on clinical and pathological behaviour. Immunohistochemical studies can help in investigating the differences between the biological behaviours of these carcinomas. Laminin may be used as a status indicator of intact or degraded basement membrane during tumorigenesis. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the immunohistochemical expression of laminin in different grades histological grades of OSCC and VC.

Methods:

Laminin expression was evaluated in 31 biopsy-proven cases of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) and 10 cases of Verrucous Carcinoma (VC).

Results:

We observed that most cases of VC (90%) were negative or mildly stained for cytoplasmic laminin while the majority of cases of OSCC (74.2%) stained moderately for the same. Further, VC cases showed a total absence of linear laminin staining around the tumour-host interface in contrast to 13% of OSCC cases that were correspondingly stained (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

The present study, therefore concludes that the interface expression in Verrucous Carcinoma distinctly differed from that in well-differentiated Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cytoplasmic laminin expression increased and interface staining decreased with unfavourable clinicopathological outcomes thereby rendering laminin an expedient marker in evaluating the histological differentiation and aggressiveness of oral carcinoma
A Review Study of the Mechanical Characteristics of Nano Concrete Reinforced with Hybrid Fiber
Authors: Chiadighikaobi Paschal Chimeremeze , Ali Qais Qais Abdulrahman , Adegoke Muritala Adedapo , Paul Vladimir Jean , Saad Lina Abass , Al-Brees Roaa Hilmi Kadhim , Obende Babatunde Adegoke
Published: April 2023

Due to poor strength and hardness, low tensile strength, and inadequate cracking resistance, conventional concrete has recently posed a significant barrier to the modernization of the structural sector. To solve these issues, researchers investigated and found ways of implementing nanotechnology in concrete production. Nano concrete can be produced by incorporating nanomaterials in the concrete mix. This concrete type can also be reinforced by incorporating hybrid fibers and nanofibers. This review paper conducted an in-depth study on two types of nanomaterials that could be used in the production of nano concrete. Additionally, hybrid fibers were used to strengthen nano concrete. The objective of this paper was to identify some nanomaterials used in the production of nano concrete. Even though this unique hybrid material has been the subject of several investigations, there have only been a few reviews on its production procedures, effectiveness, and performance of this type of concrete. To identify these nanomaterials, their potential, and their properties, a review method was used to study previous works of some researchers and scientists on related and similar works. Some properties of these nanomaterials were discussed in this paper. Summarizing and concluding the research works of previous authors and this current study, it was found that nano concrete has better properties compared to normal conventional concrete. However, there are some limitations associated with the uses and applications of these nanomaterials in concrete for mass production. By tracking the beginning and spread of cracks, it was discovered that mixing various fiber types into a concrete mix enhances the cementitious matrix's strength qualities. The mechanical and toughness characteristics of fiber-reinforced concrete mixtures may be significantly improved by incorporating composites hybrid fiber composites that utilize the synergistic impact of nano- and micro-additives.
Detection of Prostate Cancer using Ensemble based Bi-directional Long
Short Term Memory Network
Authors: Kaulgud Sanjeev , Hulipalled Vishwanath , Patil Siddanagouda Somanagouda , Metipatil Prabhuraj
Published: April 2023

Aim and Background:

In recent periods, micro-array data analysis using soft computing
and machine learning techniques gained more interest among researchers to detect prostate cancer.
Due to the small sample size of micro-array data with a larger number of attributes, traditional machine
learning techniques face difficulty detecting prostate cancer.

Methodology:

The selection of relevant genes exploits useful information about micro-array data,
which enhances the accuracy of detection. In this research, the samples are acquired from the gene
expression omnibus database, particularly related to the prostate cancer GEO IDs such as GSE
21034, GSE 15484 and GSE 3325/GSE 3998. In addition, ensemble feature optimization technique
and Bidirectional Long Short Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) network are employed for detecting prostate
cancer from the microarray data of gene expression.

Results:

The ensemble feature optimization technique includes 4 metaheuristic optimizers that select
the top 2000 genes from each GEO IDs, which are relevant to prostate cancer. Next, the selected
genes are given to the Bi-LSTM network for classifying the normal and prostate cancer subjects.

Conclusion:

The simulation analysis revealed that the ensemble based Bi-LSTM network obtained
99.13%, 98.97%, and 94.12% of accuracy on the GEO IDs like GSE 3325/GSE 3998, GSE 21034,
and GSE 15484.
Voriconazole Loaded Lipidic Nanoparticles for Ophthalmic Delivery:
Development Using QbD Combined with Risk-based Approach
Authors: Patel Akanksha , Dharamsi Abhay
Published: April 2023

Background:

Voriconazole (VRZ) is widely used for fungal keratitis topically. It is spar-ingly water soluble and has limited permeability which can lead to poor bioavailability. Nanostruc-tured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) are selected as a carrier for voriconazole as they increase solubility while the lipidic character of the formulation facilitates permeation..

Objectives:

Objectives:

• To develop a new method of preparation of lipidic nanoparticles

• To apply Quality by design and risk-based approach to find variables

• To optimize variables and find the design space

• To evaluate and characterize the optimized formulation

Methods:

The present study is an attempt to address the challenges in the formulation of NLCs us-ing a high-speed homogenizer. Quality by Design approach was used to find the material attributes and process parameters playing a significant role in the formulation development. Quality Target product profile was prepared, and failure mode and effect analysis was performed for a better un-derstanding of the risks, ways to alleviate risks, and finally, to propose a control strategy. The for-mulation was optimized by using 3-levels 3-factors central composite design, and design space was obtained by using graphical optimization. The morphology of the particles was studied by using Transmission Electron Microscope. In vitro drug release study was performed using Franz diffusion cell.

Results:

The amount of solid lipid, solid lipid to total lipid ratio, and concentration of surfactant were found to be high risk variables and their effects on the product quality were examined using Central composite design considering particle size, particle size distribution and %entrapment efficiency as dependent variables. Optimized NLC had a particle size of 72.58 nm with PDI 0.137 and %entrapment efficiency of 78.79%. The in vitro drug release study showed sustained drug release over the period of 24 hrs and followed the Higuchi model with a fickian diffusion mecha-nism.

Conclusion:

The present study successfully explored QbD along with Risk-based approach for the development of voriconazole containing lipidic nanoparticles.
A Convolution Neural Network-based Approach for Metal Surface
Roughness Evaluation
Authors: Pan Zengren , Liu Yanhui , Li Zhiwei , Xun Qiwen , Wu Ying
Published: April 2023

Background:

Metal surface roughness detection is an essential step of quality control
in the metal processing industry. Due to the high manual involvement and poor efficiency of traditional
roughness testing, rapid automated vision detection has received increasing attention in
product quality control. Many methods have focused on extracting features related to roughness
from images by means of mathematical statistics. However, these methods often rely on extensive
experiments and complex calculations, while being sensitive to external environmental disturbances.

Methods:

In this paper, a convolution neural network-based approach for metal surface roughness
evaluation has been proposed. The convolutional neural network was initialized using a transfer
learning strategy, and the data augmentation technique was applied to the benchmark dataset for
sample expansion.

Results:

To evaluate this approach, samples of 4 types of roughness classes were prepared. The
samples were divided into a training set, validation set, and test set in the ratio of 7:2:1. The accuracy
of the neural network on the test set was found to be above 86%.

Conclusion:

The effectiveness of the proposed approach and its superiority over manual detection
have been demonstrated in the experiments.
Biomaterials in Medical Applications
Authors: yadav Sonia , Varghese Sruthy , Devi Reena , Kumar Davinder , Khatri Naveen , Singh Gajendra , Kumar Virender
Published: April 2023

Biomaterials, a fascinating and highly interdisciplinary field, have become integral to
improving modern man's conditions and quality of life. It is done by many health-related problems
arising from many sources. The first batch of biomaterials was produced as implants and
medical equipment in the 1960s and 1970s. Biomaterials are primarily used in medicine and may
be directly or indirectly exposed to biological systems. For instance, we could use them in cultures
and mediums for cell development, plasma protein testing, biomolecular processing cultures,
diagnostic gene chips, and packaging materials primarily for medical items. Biomaterials
should have certain qualities for human-related problems, like being non-carcinogenic, not being
pyrogenic or toxic, completely plasma compatible, and anti-inflammatory. This paper introduces
the history, classification, and ideal parameters of biomaterials and where they are used in the
current scenarios in the medical field, providing a brief outlook on the future.
Estimation
Authors: Kahl Alandra
Published: April 2023

It is critically important for researchers to select the correct sample size to
determine the population means. By understanding the difference between small and
large sample sets, researchers can then construct intervals of confidence that assist in
determining the population means. Confidence intervals are the margins of the error
present within the dataset and are included to show the confidence of the researcher in
the integrity of their dataset. Common confidence intervals are 90%, 95%, and 99%.
The Z confidence level is calculated to show where the mean is likely to fall, and the T
confidence level is used only when the sample size is smaller than 30 samples.
Hypothesis Testing
Authors: Kahl Alandra
Published: April 2023

Hypothesis testing is a simple way to construct information about a dataset
and to determine if that information is true or false. Another method to think about
hypothesis testing is to use it as a way to decide whether an assumption about a dataset
succeeds and is supported or fails and is not supported. It is used frequently in science
and medicine to better understand the effects of drugs and treatments.