bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post Covid-19: Exploring Religiosity, Educational Engagement, and Campus Life among College Students
Authors: Eslit Edgar
Published: August 2023

Amidst the transformative backdrop of the post-Covid-19 context, the researcher embarks on a qualitative exploratory study to investigate the intricate interplay of religiosity, educational engagement, and campus life among college students at St. Michael's College, Iligan City. Guided by a theoretical framework integrating Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, Fredricks et al.'s engagement theory, and Pascarella & Terenzini's educational impact theory, this study delves into the dynamic fruition of religiosity in response to the pandemic's impact. Employing purposeful and maximum variation sampling, the investigation unravels narratives from interviews, focus group discussions, and observations. Through thematic analysis, themes of "Adaptive Integration," "Religious Resilience," "Community Nexus," "Challenges of Synchronization," and "Identity Negotiation" emerge. In the discourse of these themes, strategies students employ to navigate challenges arising from this confluence are unearthed. Rooted in a deep understanding of the context, this study presents implications for fostering holistic growth within an inclusive educational environment. As the findings and insights are presented, stakeholders are invited to reimagine the role of religiosity, educational engagement, and campus life in shaping the holistic student experience in a world forever changed.
Antibacterial and Anti-quorum Sensing Activity of PAMAM G4 Loaded Quorum Quencher Peptide against MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus and Agr Mutants
Authors: Alenazi Naifa A.
Published: August 2023

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) exerts a considerable concern in healthcare and the community. Globally MRSA strains cause numerous infections with high morbidity and mortality rates. The success of MRSA is a result of the extensive production of virulence factors. With the limited treatment options for the MRSA infection and growing resistance problem, an urgent call is needed to search for an alternative to antibiotics. One of the promising strategies is targeting the quorum sensing (QS) system, of the MRSA, by using a dendrimer loaded with kinase inhibitor peptide. This study formulates a poly-amidoamine dendrimers (PAMAM) G4 dendrimers loaded with Quorum Quencher (QQ), QQ3 peptide which is a Histidine Kinase inhibitor. The physicochemical properties of the formula were characterized using different in-vitro analysis method such as Zetasizer and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The antibacterial activity and anti-virulence effect of the formula was tested against MRSA and different mutant stains using growth assay, haemolysis assay and biofilm assay. Overall, QQ3-G4 complex showed antibacterial and anti-virulence activity and it can be a potential alternative treatment to overcome antimicrobial resistance and treat MRSA infection.
Fragilidad y riesgo de fracturas en adultos mayores con sobrepeso y obesidad del Centro Médico Naval
Authors:   , Lazo Coz Olenka Estefani , Guerra Cabrera Milagritos del Pilar
Published: August 2023

Antecedentes y objetivo: La fragilidad es un síndrome geriátrico que causa decaimiento, disminución de peso, cansancio y marcha lenta que conduce a una menor actividad. Se conoce que la fragilidad se ve influenciada por factores endógenos como la edad, el sobrepeso y la obesidad; sin embargo, hay pocos estudios sobre el riesgo que estos pacientes tienen de desarrollar fracturas en nuestro medio. Por ello, este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la frecuencia de fracturas según la presencia de fragilidad en adultos mayores con sobrepeso y obesidad. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio analítico, transversal, retrospectivo en pacientes atendidos en el Centro Médico Naval durante el periodo 2010-2015. Se incluyó pacientes mayores de 60 años con IMC mayor o igual a 25 Kg/m2. Se excluyó dependientes severos, inmunosuprimidos, malnutridos y con información incompleta. Los casos de fracturas se identificaron de los antecedentes, mientras que para la fragilidad se aplicaron los criterios de Fried. Resultados: Se contó con datos de 746 participantes, 286 (38.3%) mujeres y 460 (61.7%) varones, de 77.9 ± 9 años, con promedio de IMC de 30.4 ± 4.73 Kg/m2. Hubo 53 (7.1%) pacientes con alguna fractura, de los cuales 22 (41.5%) tuvieron fragilidad (p<0.01). Dentro de los criterios de fragilidad, la velocidad de marcha, fuerza muscular y agotamiento se relacionaron con la prevalencia de fracturas (p<0.05). Además, la fragilidad generó una razón de prevalencia de 3.0 (1.8-5.1) para fracturas y 2.7 (1.5-4.7) en el modelo ajustado. Conclusiones: Este estudio demostró que la fragilidad se encuentra en el 41.5% de pacientes con fracturas e incrementa tres veces su prevalencia en adultos mayores con sobrepeso u obesidad.
Models for Topographic Ground Motion Amplification based on Finite Element Analyses
Authors: Kim Byungmin , Park Kyoungsoo , Baek Hyunil , Lee Junyoung , Kweon Chulmin
Published: August 2023

Ground motions can be altered when they encounter surface topographic irregularities. This study investigates a variety of topographic factors, such as the relative elevation, slope angle, and curvature, that can influence ground motion amplifications. The finite element analysis with absorbing boundary layer is performed using actual topography data and ground motions from earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 3.8 to 9 recorded in Japan. While identifying the effect of wave velocity on ground motion amplification, we account for the variability in the topography and three sets of shear and longitudinal wave velocities by considering five cross-sectional profiles for the topographic models in the numerical analyses. We demonstrate that the topographic amplification factor, which is the ratio of the estimated spectral acceleration on the surface to the median spectral acceleration within the entire surface domain, is significantly influenced by curvature and relative elevation. We propose models to estimate ground motion amplifications using these two topographic factors — curvature and relative elevation — as variables.
Social network analysis for medical narcotics in South Korea: focusing on patients and healthcare organizations
Authors: Kim Sang-Yoon , Cho Nam-Wook
Published: August 2023

Background: Medical narcotics must be administered under medical supervision because of their potential for misuse and abuse, leading to more dangerous and addictive substances. The control of medical narcotics requires close monitoring to ensure that they remain safe and effective. This study proposes a methodology that can effectively identify the overprescription of medical narcotics in hospitals and patients.
Methods: Social network analysis (SNA) was applied to prescription networks for medical narcotics. Prescription data were obtained from the Narcotics Information Management System (NIMS) in South Korea, which contains all data narcotic usage nationwide. Two-mode networks comprising hospitals and patients were constructed based on comprehensive prescription data from 2020 to 2021 for three major narcotics: appetite suppressants, Zolpidem, and Propofol. Two-mode networks were then converted into one-mode networks for hospitals. Network structures and characteristics were analyzed to identify hospitals suspected of overprescribing and propose a method to better control medical narcotics.
Results: The SNA identified hospitals that overprescribed medical narcotics. Patients suspected of experiencing narcotic addiction seek treatment in such hospitals. The structure of the network was also different for the three narcotics; while appetite suppressants and propofol networks had a more centralized structure; zolpidem networks showed a less centralized but more fragmented structure. During the analysis of the two-mode networks, two types of hospitals caught our attention: one with a high degree, meaning that potential abusers have frequently visited the hospital, and the other with a high weighted degree, meaning that the hospital may overprescribe. For appetite suppressants, these two types of hospitals matched 84.6%, compared with 30.0% for Propofol. Regarding hospital size, clinics had the largest share of the network, with the highest degree for the three narcotics. Zolpidem had the highest weighted degree in clinics, and Propofol had the highest weighted degree in general hospitals. Patients using appetite suppressants were most likely to visit multiple locations, whereas those using Zolpidem and Propofol tended to form communities around their neighborhoods.
Conclusions: This study presented a network analysis of prescriptions for all medical narcotics across the country.
The significance of this study lies in its analysis of nationwide narcotic use reports and the differences observed across different types of narcotics. The social network structure between hospitals and patients varies depending on the composition of the medical narcotics. Therefore, these characteristics should be considered when controlling medication with narcotics. The results of this study provide guidelines for controlling narcotic use in other countries.
SmartTur+ECO: a conversational recommender system for tourism
Authors: Carrillo Juan Carlos , Beltran Victoria , Sebastia Laura , Onaindia Eva
Published: August 2023

This paper describes SmartTur+ECO, a conversational recommender system for tourist attractions. It extracts the basic trip data and elicits user preferences through a multi-round interaction with the user guided by a chatbot. In our case, the main advantages of using a conversational recommender system are that we are facing a user-cold start problem because no user history is available, and regarding tourism, it is very likely for most of the users to be a first-time visit to the destination. The preference elicitation process is based on an exploit-explore approach that leverages the similarity between POIs, represented as sentence embeddings generated from the POI description. Finally, the most suitable attractions are recommended and organized in a multi-day plan that considers opening hours and the location of these attractions.
Bias assessment and correction for Levin’s population attributable fraction in the presence of confounding
Authors: Ferguson John , Alvarez Alberto , Mulligan Martin , Judge Conor , O'Donnell Martin
Published: August 2023

In 1953, Morton Levin introduced a simple approach to estimating population attributable fractions (PAF) depending only on risk factor prevalence and relative risk. This formula and its extensions are still in widespread use today, particularly to estimate PAF in populations where individual data is unavailable. Unfortunately, Levin’s approach is known to be asymptotically biased for the PAF when the risk factor-disease relationship is confounded even if relative risks that are correctly adjusted for confounding are used in the estimator. An alternative estimator, first introduced by Miettinen in 1972, is unbiased for the PAF provided the true relative risk is invariant across confounder strata. However, despite its statistical superiority, Miettinen’s estimator is seldom used in practice, as its direct application requires an estimate of risk factor prevalence within disease cases rather than an estimate of risk factor prevalence in the general population. Here we describe a simple re-expression of Miettinen’s estimand that depends on the causal relative risk, the unadjusted relative risk and the population risk factor prevalence. While this re-expression is not new, it has been underappreciated in the literature, and the associated estimator may be useful in estimating PAF in populations when individual data is unavailable provided estimated adjusted and unadjusted relative risks can be transported to the population of interest. Using the re-expressed estimand, we develop novel analytic formulae for the relative and absolute asymptotic bias in Levin’s formula, solidifying earlier work by Darrow and Steenland that used simulations to investigate this bias. We extend all results to settings with non-binary valued risk factors and continuous exposures and discuss the utility of these results in estimating PAF in practice.
Prognostic Difference Between Surgery and External Radiation in Patients with Stage I Liver Cancer Based on Competitive Risk Model and Conditional Survival Rate
Authors: Chen Rong , An Yanli , Xu Muhao , Ren Boping
Published: August 2023

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the difference in prognosis of patients with early-stage liver cancer after surgery or external radiation.MethodsBetween 2010 and 2015, 2155 patients with AJCC 7th stage I liver cancer were enrolled in the SEER database. Among these, 1972 patients had undergone surgery and 183 had undergone external beam radiation. The main research endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). The competitive risk model was used to calculate the risk ratio of liver cancer-specific deaths when there was a competitive risk. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method using a 1:1 ratio was used to match confounders such as sex, age, and treatment method. Conditional survival was dynamically assessed for patient survival after surgery or external radiation.ResultsMultivariate analysis of the competitive risk model showed that age, disease diagnosis time, grade, and treatment [surgery and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT)] were independent prognostic factors for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Surgery had a higher survival improvement rate than that of EBRT. As the survival of patients with liver cancer increased, the survival curve of surgery declined more slowly than that of radiotherapy patients and stabilized around 3 years after surgery. The survival curve of radiotherapy patients significantly dropped within 4 years and then stabilized.ConclusionSurgery was better than EBRT for patients with stage I liver cancer. Close follow-up was required for 3 years after surgery or 4 years after external radiation. This study can help clinicians make better informed clinical decisions.
Appropriate Parameters for growth Reduction of microorganisms in White leg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and Splendid Squid (Loligo formosana) by Plasma Activated Water
Authors: Vichiansan Norrapon , Phan-umong Pornkaran , Mekwilai Thippawan , Kumla Jaturong , Leksakul Komgrit , Lumyong Saisamorn , Boonyawan Dheerawan , Poramapijitwat Pipath
Published: August 2023

The study focuses on the application of PAW inactivation for exporting white leg shrimp and splendid squid. The experiment determined the maximum hydrogen peroxide concentration in PAW by utilizing a full factorial design with two-level factors. Subsequently, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted using Minitab. The results indicated that a gas flow rate of a mixture of Ar (98%) and O2 (2%) at 25 L/min, with a discharge time of 120 minutes, generated the optimal concentration of H2O2 in PAW at 13.30 mg/L, as per the response optimizer. The use of PAW to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in white leg shrimp and splendid squid demonstrated that inactivation with PAW, soaked for 10 minutes, resulted in a reduction of total microorganisms to less than 6 Log CFU/g. Additionally, an examination of the nutrition of aquaculture food revealed that PAW-immersed white leg shrimp and splendid squid showed different effects on protein and lipid changes. The results suggest that PAW could be a viable option for decontaminating aquatic food products. However, it is important to consider that oxidation may pose a challenge in certain products.
​Analysis of NDP gene mutations and clinical features in FEVR patients
Authors: Li Qi , He Liying , Tao Xueying , Cen Chao , Gong Liyan , Zhou Wenke , Liu Ya , Li Chunmei
Published: August 2023

Purpose Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a group of single-gene inherited fundus diseases characterized by abnormal retinal vascular development. In this study, we analyzed mutations in the NDP gene and clinical phenotypes in FEVR children screened for neonatal eye diseases.Methods Children diagnosed with FEVR based on RETCAM fundus feature changes were collected, and 3-5ml peripheral venous blood was collected from patients and family members.LRP5, FZD4, TSPAN12, NDP, ZNF408, KIF11, CFTR, CAPN5, SLC9A3 and ADGRG2 were used for gene sequencing and analysis. The Polyphen2 and SIFT software identified deleterious and possible protein structural changes caused by the mutated locus of this gene, and analyzed the phenotypic characteristics of patients with the mutation.Results Among 90 probands in Chongqing area, 37 cases of FEVR - related gene mutation were detected, o one proband with NDP gene mutation (1.11%), accounting for 2.56% of the total number of mutations. The clinical phenotype was relatively mild. The 20th exon of the proband NDP was C. G58a (G20R). Gene sequencing analysis suggested that the source of the mutation was maternal, Polyphen2_HDIV predictive analysis suggested that it could be harmful, and SIFT and Polyphen2_HVAR analyses suggested that it was harmless. Mutations in genes related to NDP were not detected in 16 probands from Xinjiang.Conclusion In Chongqing,CHINA, the detection rate of FEVR caused by mutations in the NDP gene is low. We should focus on early screening for neonatal eye diseases, which can detect and diagnose FEVR early and prevent serious complications.
Multi-level Analysis of Access to Drinking Water in Rural Communes in the South of the Kaffrine Region - Senegal
Authors: FALL Mamadou , KANE Coura , NIANG Awa
Published: August 2023

Access to water is a fundamental right recognized by the United Nations, and is essential to achieving the goals of sustainable development. In sub-Saharan Africa, the problem of access to water is acute and is exacerbated by climate change, which is causing a severe deterioration in rainfall. As a result, some areas are drying up and aquifers and water points are becoming saline. This situation is leading to a serious water crisis. This crisis is particularly acute in desert and Sahelian regions. The aim of this article is to analyze the factors underlying problems of access to water in rural communes in the south of the Kaffrine region. The methodology is based on the adoption of a multi-level analysis model, which is justified by the multidimensional nature of water in terms of its access and uses. The results show that households have difficulty accessing water and that women travel several kilometers to use water points
Plasma Proteome Association with Coronary Heart Disease and Carotid Intima Media Thickness: results from the KORA F4 study
Authors: Elhadad Mohamed A. , Gómez-Alonso Monica del C. , Chen Chien-Wei , Neumeyer Sonja , Delerue Thomas , Rathmann Wolfgang , Näbauer Michael , Meisinger Christa , Kääb Stefan , Seissler Jochen , Graumann Johannes , Koenig Wolfgang , Suhre Karsten , Gieger Christian , Völker Uwe , Peters Annette , Hammer Elke , Waldenberger Melanie
Published: August 2023

Background and aims: Atherosclerosis is the main cause of stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD), both leading mortality causes worldwide. Proteomics, as a high-throughput method, could provide helpful insights into the pathological mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis. In this study, we characterized the associations of plasma protein levels with CHD and with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), as a surrogate measure of atherosclerosis.
Methods: The discovery phase included 1000 participants from the KORA F4 study, whose plasma protein levels were quantified using the aptamer-based SOMAscan proteomics platform. We evaluated the associations of plasma protein levels with CHD using logistic regression, and with CIMT using linear regression. For both outcomes we applied two models: an age-sex adjusted model, and a model additionally adjusted for body mass index, smoking status, physical activity, diabetes status, hypertension status, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels (fully-adjusted model). The replication phase included a matched case-control sample from the independent KORA F3 study, using ELISA-based measurements of galectin-4. Pathway analysis was performed with nominally associated proteins (p-value < 0.05) from the fully-adjusted model.
Results: In the KORA F4 sample, after Bonferroni correction, we found CHD to be associated with five proteins using the age-sex adjusted model: galectin-4 (LGALS4), renin (REN), cathepsin H (CTSH), and coagulation factors X and Xa (F10). The fully-adjusted model yielded only the positive association of galectin-4 (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.3 - 1.93), which was successfully replicated in the KORA F3 sample (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.09 - 1.88). For CIMT, we found four proteins to be associated using the age-sex adjusted model namely: cytoplasmic protein NCK1 (NCK1), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), growth hormone receptor (GHR), and GDNF family receptor alpha-1 (GFRA1). After assessing the fully-adjusted model, only NCK1 remained significant (ꞵ = 0.017, p-value = 1.39e-06). Upstream regulators of galectin-4 and NCK1 identified from pathway analysis were predicted to be involved in inflammation pathways.
Conclusions: Our proteome-wide association study identified galectin-4 to be associated with CHD and NCK1 to be associated with CIMT. Inflammatory pathways underlying the identified associations highlight the importance of inflammation in the development and progression of CHD.
Regional-scale evaluation of uncertainty in the multi-model simulation of climate change impact on maize and wheat yield
Authors: Rettie Fasil Mequanint , Gayler Sebastian , Weber Tobias KD , Tesfaye Kindie , Bendel Daniela , Streck Thilo
Published: August 2023

The challenges of climate change, even under the milder scenarios, require urgent adaptation and mitigation strategies. Whilequantifying the potential impacts of climate change involves modeling work, providing decision-relevant evidence is challengingdue to many sources of uncertainty involved in the estimation process. In this study, we examined regional-scale impact ofclimate change on maize and wheat in Ethiopia using three well calibrated and validated process-based crop models. Thecrop models were driven by gridded and high-resolution climate projections from nine global climate models (GCMs) underthree emission scenarios with CO2 fertilization effect considered. The large ensemble of model simulations allows us tocomprehensively quantify the uncertainties in the model estimated climate change impact, thereby increasing the confidence inthe simulations. Our results show that the national projected median and 5th percentile wheat yield was reduced by 4% and18%, respectively by the end of the 21th century under the high-emission scenario (SSP5-8.5). In contrast, national maizemedian yield increased by 2.5%, with the 5th percentile yield projected to decrease by up to 4%. The CO2 fertilization isexpected to have a compensatory effect on the projected wheat (up to 17%) and maize (up to 12%) yield changes. The largestcontributors to overall yield change uncertainty was identified to be the spread in the crop models followed by GCM spread. Weconcluded that by understanding the sources of uncertainty and using techniques to quantify and manage it, it is possible toimprove the accuracy of model predictions and make better decisions in the face of climate change.
Proposal for Zero Energy Housing Prototypes in Jordan
Authors: Albdour Mohammad S. , Alhomaidat Fadi , Alrsai Mahmoud , Alsanat Husam , Al-Zaidyeen Sleiman M.M
Published: August 2023

The residential sector in Jordan, as in many other countries worldwide, suffers from deficient energy building design, mainly due to improper building design and/or inappropriate selection of energy-related systems. Introducing residential buildings with zero-energy design can benefit designers, owners, and policymakers. The main aim of this study was to minimize energy usage and maximize the use of renewable energy in residential buildings. National statistics and an online survey were used to design the most acceptable architectural models. Recommended specifications for achieving zero-energy targets were then included based on various design guides and protocols. A building energy simulation tool was also employed to verify the annual energy consumption of the proposed prototypes. The simulated models proved the accuracy of the proposed designs when compared to the reported annual energy consumption. This article lays the foundation for a zero-energy design guide for residential buildings in Jordan and other countries with similar building and weather characteristics.
Calibration Methods in Imbalanced Binary Classification
Authors: Guilbert Théo , Caelen Olivier , Chirita Andrei , Saerens Marco
Published: August 2023

The calibration problem in machine learning classification tasks arises when a model's output score does not align with the ground truth observed probability. There exist several parametric and non-parametric post-processing methods that can help to calibrate an existing classifier. In this work, we focus on binary classification cases where the dataset is imbalanced, meaning that the negative class significantly outnumbers the positive one. We propose new parametric calibration methods specific to this case and a new calibration measure focusing on the primary objective in imbalanced problems: detecting infrequent positive cases. Experiments on several datasets show that, for unbalanced problems, our approaches outperform state-of-the-art methods in many cases.
Preserving the Past, Ensuring the Future: Analyzing Air Quality at India's Heritage Sites Amidst Climate, Lockdown, and Solutions
Authors: Arif Mohd , Sachdeva Saloni , Mangla Sherry
Published: August 2023

India, one of the most dynamic ancient civilizations, possesses a multitude of historical artifacts, with 37 of its notable architectural structures recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Yet, the ever-changing climate, especially air pollution, expedites the natural deterioration of historic sites and diminishes their aesthetic appeal, causing socio-economic damage.With this in mind, the current study aims at offering a logical scientific foundation for the implications of air pollution, seasonal shifts, and COVID-19 on 14 significant historical places in India during the year 2019-20. The highest amounts of atmospheric pollution and an AQI of 102–141 were observed in Delhi, making it the most polluted city, and intensifies the risk of cultural sites to corrode and deteriorate. In general, winter season had elevated levels of NO2 and particle pollution (PM2.5, PM10), whereas summer had the higher levels of O3. However, during the lockdown period of 5 months, the particulate matter concentration sharply declined by 70%, which otherwise remains constant over the year. Depending on different geographic locations and anthropogenic factors, dose-response statistics indicate that the corrosion threats to historic limestone and sandstone buildings are at an all-time high situation in the majority of the sites. On the other hand, various air quality management challenges are also discussed in the paper, along with the information on available approaches or government initiatives and efficient approaches to protect heritage sites against rapid degradation across the country. Conclusively, the present research provides a sound scientific foundation to advance adequate policy-making on risk management and an effective national mandate to guard cultural heritage sites against corrosion.
Bismuth-Based Mesoporous Nanoball Carrying Sorafenib for Synergistic Photothermal and Molecularly-Targeted Therapy in an Orthotopic Hepatocellular Carcinoma Xenograft Mouse Model
Authors: Zhang Guang-Cong , Song Kang , Wang Xiao-Fan , He Zong-Yan , Du Jun , Sun Jia-Lei , Xu Ru-Chen , Liu Zhi-Yong , Wang Fu , Qi Zhuo-Ran , Yu Xiang-Nan , Miao Yu-Qing , Dong Ling , Weng Shu-Qiang , Shen Xi-Zhong , Liu Tao-Tao , Li Yu-Hao , Zhu Ji-Min
Published: August 2023

Background Sorafenib (SOR), a multi-kinase inhibitor for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has limited clinical application due to severe side effects and evident drug resistance. To overcome these challenges, a bismuth-based nanomaterial (BOS) is herein developed to achieve thermal injury-assisted continuous targeted therapy in HCC. Results Initially, the mesoporous nanomaterial was loaded with SOR to form BOS@SOR nano-carrier system for SOR delivery and controlled release. Notably, compared with targeted or photothermal therapy alone, the combinational therapy of the nano-carrier system displayed impaired cellular proliferation and increased propensity toward apoptosis. After evaluating thein vivoefficacy, BOS@SOR was subjected to hemolysis and biochemistry analysis, exhibiting excellent biocompatibility. Meanwhile, BOS@SOR could indicate the size and location of HCCviathe more excellent computed tomography contrast enhancement. Combined with the photothermal therapy ability of bismuth, BOS@SOR exhibited synergistic anti-tumor activity and markedly reduced tumor growth in an orthotopic xenograft HCC model. Conclusions Taken together, the bismuth-based nano-theranostic platform could improve the therapeutic effect of SOR and serve as an effective strategy for HCC treatment.
Association between time to treatment and outcome in branch vein occlusion
Authors: Kitano Marie , Aoki Shuichiro , Kitamoto Kohdai , Ueda Kohei , Azuma Keiko , Fujino Ryosuke , Inoue Tatsuya , Obata Ryo
Published: August 2023

Purpose
To investigate the association between the time from onset to initial treatment and changes in visual acuity or the number of treatments in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.
Methods
Thirty-nine eyes of 39 consecutive patients with untreated acute-phase BVO. The patients were initially treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy and additional pro re nata therapy within six months of onset. The patients were classified according to the time from disease onset to the first treatment (group A: 28 days or less, group B: over 28 days).
Results
The mean age was 73 ± 8 years (53 to 88). The mean the first treatment time was 31.6 ± 17.9 days. The mean logMAR visual acuity at first treatment was 0.37 ± 0.30. The mean number of treatments was 3.1 ± 1.7. No significant association was observed between the time from onset to the first treatment and changes in the logMAR visual acuity. Patients in group A and central macular thickness at the initial visit were independently associated with the number of treatments at one year (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively).
Conclusions
At one year, the time between onset to the start of anti-VEGF therapy for BVO was not associated with subsequent visual acuity changes.
High solubility of cellulose in slow-cooling alkaline systems and interacting modes of alkali and urea at the molecular level
Authors: Ai Shuo , Huang Zhenhua , Yu Wanguo , Huang Chengdu
Published: August 2023

The dissolution of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in a urea-NaOH system is beneficial for its mechanical processing, but the solubility has been low. The MCC solubility was greatly improved to 14 wt% under a slow-cooling condition with a cooling rate of − 0.3°C/min. The cooling curve or thermal history played a crucial role in the dissolution process. An exotherm (31.9 ± 1.6 J/g MCC) was detected by DSC only under the slow-cooling condition, and the cryogenic dissolution of MCC is attributed to the exothermic interaction between MCC and solvent. More importantly, the low cooling rate promoted the dissolution of MCC by providing enough time for the diffusion of OH− and urea into MCC granules at higher temperatures. The Raman spectral data showed that the intramolecularly and intermolecularly hydrogen bonds in cellulose were cleavaged by NaOH and urea, respectively. XPS and solid-state 13C NMR results showed that hydrogen bonds were generated after dissolution, and a dual-hydrogen-bond binding mode between urea and cellulose was confirmed by DFT calculations. The increase of entropy dominated the spontaneity of cryogenic dissolution of MCC, and the decrease of enthalpy played a minor role. The high solubility of MCC in the slow-cooling process and the dissolution mechanism are beneficial for the studies on cellulose modification and mechanical processing.
Addictive Behavior and Mental Health of Adolescents in Bangladesh: Evidence from Global School-Based Health Survey
Authors: Hossain Sorif , Chowdhury Promit Barua , Mohsin Md. , Biswas Raaj Kishore
Published: August 2023

Aim
This study aims to evaluate the factors associated with addictive behaviour and the mental health of adolescents aged 11–17.
Subject and Methods:
Bivariate analysis and weight-adjusted logistic regression were fitted to a sample size of 2989 adolescents in Bangladesh.
Results
One in ten and one in four adolescents had different substance addictions and some forms of mental health condition, respectively. Sex of participants, being bullied, use of tobacco among parents, parental understanding of their adolescent’s problems, and food affordability were significantly associated with addictive behaviours of adolescents. Bullied males with non-empathetic parents were found to be more vulnerable to addictive behaviors and bullied females showed higher tendencies to mental health issues.
Conclusion
Identifying the vulnerable cohorts and designing interventional policies alongside collaborative efforts can pave the way to sound health and well-being for youths in Bangladesh.
Effect of Triquetrum Bone Excision in Total Wrist Arthrodesis
Authors: Yamak Kamil , Tapan Mehmet
Published: August 2023

Background
Ulnar impaction syndrome is one of the established causes of persistent postoperative discomfort and dissatisfaction following well-performed wrist arthrodesis. This syndrome however remains understudied, and it is unclear how often it occurs in patients. Moreover, while previous studies have led to several recommendations for the treatment of ulnocarpal impaction following arthrodesis surgery, many treatment options currently available may cause the pain in the wrist to be replaced by another type of pain. The aim of this study was to examine the results of excision of the triquetrum and its use as a graft during arthrodesis in patients who underwent total wrist arthrodesis due to end-stage wrist arthrosis and had ulnocarpal impaction causing limitation of pronation/supination of the forearm.
Methods
Three patients who underwent triquetrum excision were included in this study. Potential complications following surgical treatment and union status were evaluated, and Quick-DASH scores were assessed pre- and postoperatively.
Results
The patients were followed up for an average of 18 months. Before surgical treatment, the average motion for forearm supination in patients was 35 (30–40) degrees and the range for pronation was 45 (35–45) degrees. The mean Quick-DASH score before surgical treatment was 69.7 (63.6–75) degrees. In the controls, at the end of the follow-up period, the mean range of motion for forearm supination was 81.6 (80–85) degrees and the mean range for pronation was 85 (80–90) degrees. The mean QuickDASH score was 5.3 (2,3–9.1). No major complication was observed.
Conclusions
Based on our findings, we recommend that in cases with positive ulnar variance, no arthrosis in the distal radioulnar joint, painful and preoperative or intraoperative limited pronation/supination, triquetrum excision be routinely performed with total wrist arthrodesis.
Deacetylase SIRT3 alleviates neuropathic pain by improving mitochondrial fission and fusion in spinal dorsal horn neurons
Authors: Sun Yanyan , Yang Qingqing , Xie Liu , Xu Yiran , Ren Xiuhua , Xu Yuanzhi , Zhang Jingjing , Zhao Sen , Zhang Yidan , Niu Jianbin , Si Tianen , Zang Weidong , Cao Jing
Published: August 2023

Background:The mitochondria contribute to neuropathic pain (NP) by regulating mitochondrial function and cellular redox capacity. Sirtuin3 (SIRT3), an NAD+-dependent deacetylase primarily expressed in the mitochondria, is involved in the regulation of mitochondrial proteins. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SIRT3 within succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) on mitochondrial function and NP in mice with chronic constriction injury (CCI).Methods:Wild-type littermates underwent CCI surgery at 8-10 weeks postnatally. Western-blot and immunofluorescence was applied to detect the changes of SIRT3 protein in SDH after CCI. Lentivirus-SIRT3 and SIRT3-knockout mice (SIRT3-/-) were used to overexpress or knockdown of SIRT3. Mitochondrial fluorescence probe and electron microscope were used to observe the changes of mitochondrial morphology. ROS fluorescent probe dihydroethidium (DHE) and antioxidant enzyme kit were employed to determine the level of oxidative stress in SDH.Results:SIRT3 protein levels were significantly decreased in CCI mice. Overexpression of spinal SIRT3 by intrathecal injection of LV-SIRT3 attenuates pain hypersensitivity in CCI mice. Transgenic SIRT3-knockout mice (SIRT3-/-) show pain allergy in the physiological state. SIRT3 plays a major role in the regulation of mitochondrial fusion protein expression in optic atrophy 1 (OPA1). Ultrastructural analysis showed that CCI and SIRT3-/- mice induced mitochondria with smaller perimeters, areas, and interconnectivity in the SDH. CCI and SIRT3 deletion significantly increased oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased ROS levels and decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the SDH.Conclusion:Taken together, these results suggest that SIRT3 attenuates pain hypersensitivity in mice by regulating dynamic changes and oxidative stress in mitochondria.
The perceptions of frail older adults on contributing factors causing the onset of crises leading to hospital admissions; a qualitative study
Authors: Hoitinga Gercora , Kolk Daisy , MacNeil-Vroomen Janet , Rijkenberg Saskia , Melkert Karianne , Buurman Bianca M.
Published: August 2023

Background Frail older adults living alone are frequently admitted to the emergency department (ED) with a chronic disease exacerbation and are at high risk for adverse outcomes like morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of frail patients who lived alone, on possible contributing factors causing a health crisis as perceived in the approximately nine months leading up to an ED-visit, and to create a combined patient journey map. Method An exploratory-descriptive qualitative study was conducted, using purposive sampling to recruit frail older patients of an urban academic ED. Semi-structured interviews were performed and analysed by thematic analysis. Patient journey mapping was used to identify, combine, and depict chronological similarities. Results Fifteen interviews contained five themes: ‘continuity of healthcare’, ‘self-perception on frailty’, ‘self-management’, ‘impact of support system within an urban environment’, and ‘acute event prior to ED-visit’. The patient journey map identified uncoordinated care by healthcare providers, deterioration from at least six months before the ED-visit, and an unexpected event that leads to an acute health problem four weeks prior to the ED-visit. Conclusion While patients were aware of the health event leading to the acute hospitalization, they were less aware of the impact of contributing cascading events in the months before. The journey map suggest strategies can be applied to inform older adults, be more patient-oriented, and provide an anticipated plan towards advance care, healthy ageing, and admission avoidance.
Polysaccharide from Inga edulis Pods: Emulsifying Potential and Evaluation of the Extraction Conditions Using Taguchi Approach
Authors: Arruda Tathilene , Rodrigues Francisco , Rodrigues Francisco , Chaves Pedro , da Silva Lucas Mateus , Ricardo Nágila Maria
Published: August 2023

Inga edulis fruits, an important cultivation commonly associated with coffee and cacao farming, were collected from Baturité, located in Ceará, Brazil. Polysaccharides from Inga edulis pods were extracted using citric acid solution, and the impact of the extraction conditions in the properties of the resultant polysaccharide such as the degree of methyl-esterification behavior and galacturonic content were evaluated utilizing Taguchi approach, an efficient and easy statistical tool. For the study, the extraction conditions applied were pH (2.4, 5 and 7), time (1, 2 and 3 h) and temperature (70, 80 and 90 °C). The condition which provides the higher degree of methyl esterification allied to higher galacturonic acid content was pH 2.4, time 1 h and temperature 90 °C. For this condition, the extraction yield obtained was 3.97% m/m polysaccharide/botanical material. The emulsifying capacity and emulsion stability were also evaluated, and the emulsions with lower concentrations of polysaccharide provided the best results about emulsifying action. In the best of our efforts in research, the characterization of polysaccharide from fruit pods of Inga edulis is reported for the first time and this research contributes to the knowledge about botanical potential of this vegetal species and reinforces its potential as industrial crop.
Rice husk charcoal and acid modified rice husk charcoal for efficient adsorption of methyl orange
Authors: Zaman Samina , Fatema Mst. Kaniz , Sen Sujoy , Zaman Rafiuz , Chakraborty Tapos Kumar , Tasnime Nishat , Islam Monirul , Haque Sangina , Habib Ahsan , Ghosh Gopal Chandra
Published: August 2023

In this study, methyl orange (MO) was removed from solution using rice husk charcoal (RHC) and acid modified rice husk charcoal (AMRHC). In batch adsorption mode, contact time (1–240 min), pH (3–10), adsorbent dose (1–30 g/L), and initial MO concentration (10–100 mg/L) were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the adsorbent's surface morphology and chemistry. At equilibrium, the highest removal of MO by RHC and AMRHC were 89 and 99%, respectively. Removal efficiency increased with increasing adsorbent dose, while the opposite was observed for adsorption capacity because of the availability of unsaturated adsorption sites. RHC and AMRHC were best described by the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models, with maximum adsorption capacities of 4.57 and 11.53 mg/g, respectively. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model fitted well for both adsorption and chemisorption, and the process was controlled by multi-step diffusion. Thermodynamic measurements proved that dye adsorption is a spontaneous endothermic process.
Avaliação das mudanças no ensino da radiologia odontológica adotadas durante a pandemia em todo o Brasil
Authors: Rodrigues Lizandra Gonzaga , Ribeiro Isabela de Castro , Manzi Flávio Ricardo
Published: August 2023

Este estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar o ensino da Radiologia Odontológica no Brasil durante a pandemia da COVID-19. A metodologia foi desenvolvida a partir de um questionário on-line aplicado no período de maio a outubro de 2021, abordando quatro tópicos: perfil dos docentes, dificuldades encontradas no ensino durante o período pandêmico, aprendizados adquiridos em lecionar na pandemia e mudanças que permanecerão após o fim pandemia. A amostra foi caracterizada por 61 professores da área de Radiologia Odontológica que lecionam em pelo menos um dos três níveis de atuação em Escolas de Odontologia localizadas em todo o território brasileiro. A maioria dos docentes atuava no nível de graduação em capitais da região Sudeste, com carga horária entre 20 e 40 horas semanais. A pandemia trouxe diversos desafios ao ensino, que estimularam os docentes a implementarem novas estratégias de aprendizado que poderão continuar sendo efetivas mesmo após o fim da pandemia.
Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE)
Authors: Álvarez Viñas Milena , Sanz Vanesa , Rodríguez-Seoane Paula , López Hortas Lucía , Flórez Fernández Noelia , Dolores Torres María , Domínguez Herminia
Published: August 2023

 Microwave assistance is an optimum strategy to shorten time, solvent, and energy consumption during the extraction of target solutes from different sources. This intensification strategy has been successfully applied to laboratory methods to enhance the extraction performance of a number of bioactive compounds of interest for food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. This chapter presents an overview of the fundamentals, equipment configurations, combinations with other techniques, and some representative applications for the extraction of compounds from food products and byproducts.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' CONSCIOUS AWARENESS, HOPE LEVELS, LIFE SATISFIED
Authors: Gürsel İrem Nur , Çakır Mehmet Ali
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between university students' levels of mindfulness, life satisfaction and hope. In the study, the relational survey model was used to examine university students in terms of mindfulness, life satisfaction and hope levels. The study group of the research consists of 201 university students, 138 female and 63 male, studying at Mehmet Akif Ersoy University in the fall semester of the 2022-2023 academic year. Research data were collected using the "Cognitive and Affective Awareness Scale", "Continuous Hope Scale", "Life Satisfaction Scale", and personal information form. As a result of the Pearson Correlation analysis test, it was determined that there was a positive and significant relationship between university students' mindfulness, life satisfaction and hope levels. According to the research findings, it is seen that there is a positive and significant relationship between university students' mindfulness, life satisfaction and hope levels. While it is seen that there is a low level of positive and significant relationship between mindfulness and hope level; There is a significant and positive moderate relationship between mindfulness and life satisfaction. Looking at the results, it can be said that as the level of conscious awareness of university students increases, their life satisfaction and hope levels increase.