bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of vaccine wastage and associated factors in Rukungiri District, Southwestern Uganda, 2018–2019: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Kemigisha Miriah , Migisha Richard , Kyamwanga Imelda. T.
Published: May 2024

Background
Vaccine wastage undermines the cost-effectiveness of immunization programs, especially in resource-constrained settings. However, data on vaccine wastage in Uganda are limited. We assessed the magnitude of vaccine wastage, its causes, and associated factors in Rukungiri District, South-western Uganda.
Methods
In a cross-sectional mixed-methods study, we analyzed data from the District Health Information Systems database and immunization program records at health facilities in Rukungiri District for July 2018–June 2019. Wastage rates were calculated as the proportion of vaccine doses wasted after an immunization session, expressed as a percentage of the total doses opened. Chi-square or Fischer’s exact tests were used to examine the association between wastage and various factors. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with health workers involved in immunization activities and analyzed thematically.
Results
Vaccine wastage rates varied across different vaccines, with BCG at 81.1%, OPV at 31.6%, IPV at 31.3%, DPT-HepB-Hib at 20.0%, PCV-10 at 10.2%, MCV at 57.7%, and Rota virus vaccine at 2.1%. The main cause of wastage was discarding leftover doses. For BCG, larger health facilities had significantly lower wastage than smaller ones (Hospital 66.0%, HCIV 74.3%, HCIII 80.6%,HCII 87.0%, p = 0.005), facilities with predominantly small session sizes had higher wastage rates than those with mixed or large session sizes (84.4%vs64.3%vs62.0%p < 0.01) and fewer static sessions per month were associated with higher wastage (82.1%vs 66.0%p = 0.013). Good coverage was linked to lower wastage for DPT-HepB-Hib and PCV-10 (DPT-HepB-Hib 16.8% vs 31.2%p = 0.033 PCV-10 9.1%vs13.7%p = 0.001). Freeze-dried vaccines had a substantially higher wastage rate of 75.0% compared to liquid vaccines at 20.2% (p < 0.01). Injectable vaccines had a higher wastage rate (47.1%) than oral vaccines (22.6%, p < 0.01). Larger vial sizes were also associated with higher wastage rates. Knowledge and skills gaps were identified in stock and cold chain management practices.
Conclusion
Wastage rates for several vaccines exceeded national limits, primarily due to discarding leftover doses. Factors like vaccine type, administration method, vial size, and facility size influenced wastage. Targeted strategies, including stock management improvements and health worker training, could enhance immunization program cost-effectiveness and sustainability in the region
The effects of substitution degree in the carboxymethylation of jackfruit seed starch on starch digestibility
Authors: Pham Thu Ha , Nguyen Trung Duc , Pham Ngoc Anh , Le Hong Thuy , Nguyen Ngoc Tuan , Nguyen Thanh Tung
Published: May 2024

Starch from jackfruit seeds shows potential for use in food production processes with high starch content. Modification of jackfruit seed starch to increase the resistant starch content makes it a promising candidate for prebiotics in the food industry. This study chemically denatures starch through carboxymethylation at different concentrations of sodium hydroxide to investigate the effect of carboxymethyl substitution on digestible properties of the starch. Carboxymethylation exhibited a high degree of substitution from 0.28–0.57% as a function of the concentration of sodium hydroxide (5–10 wt%). The treatment enhanced the improvement of swelling, water solubility, and water/oil absorption. The resistant starch content increased from ~ 21 to ~ 39.67%. The degree of carboxymethyl group substitution was increased by increasing the NaOH concentration. However, the high degree of substitution showed structural deformation of the starch granules with a decrease in crystallinity from about 35 to 1% by SEM and XRD. The degree of carboxymethyl substitution increased resistant starch content, reduced rapidly digestible starch, and negligible impact to SDS. The results showed that jackfruit seed starch treated with 10% by weight of NaOH was the optimal value that increased carboxymethyl substitution to 0.57% and resistant starch content to ~ 40%. This concentration was also optimal for the functional properties of starch with the highest values of swelling degree (~ 27 g/g), water solubility (~ 50%), freeze-thaw stability (~ 20% of syneresis after 4 freeze-thaw cycles), and oil and water absorption (150% of oil absorption and 180% of water absorption).
Smart cities governance in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Duca Federica , Mutua Amy , Tetley-Brown Lucille , Karuri-Sebina Geci , Backhouse Judy
Published: May 2024

Urban scholarship and practices surrounding 'smart' cities address the growing datafication of urban life and governance, a process that has mixed outcomes, particularly for African cities. For this reason, this paper offers a systematic review of literature on smart cities in the South African Development Community (SADC) countries, with a focus on understanding the complexities of urban dynamics and governance within the region. It takes as its starting point the SmartCityZA collection in the uKESA repository, expanded and triangulated with a Scopus search. The novelty of this literature review is that it is constituted by policy documents and reports, as well as academic papers. This was done purposefully to interrogate not only the state of smart city knowledge in SADC but also the state of smart city practice in the region. The review found five important themes regarding smart governance in the region: (1) the social development promises of the smart city, (2) institutionalising smart city governance, (3) smart cities and digital citizenship, (4) smart city [as] infrastructure and (5) approaches to ‘smarting’ the city. The study recommends more attention to smart city agendas and to impacts from the digitalisation and datafication of urbanism, but also suggests more considered local and governance-oriented lenses for such agendas if they are to be relevant for communities in the SADC region. It concludes that whilst smart cities governance literature is plentiful in South Africa, more empirical research is needed, particularly in the other SADC countries.
Origin Vs Destination commodity Taxation with Heteregeneous Agents
Authors: BIKOB NICOLAS DJOB LI NGUE
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we set up a model allowing the comparison between origin and destination commodity taxation when there are distortions created by monopolistic competition. In this setting firms produce competitively, differentiated goods that are part of international trade using skilled and unskilled labours. The level of tax in one country affects the levels of wages of the skilled labor in the overall economy, thus the relocation of firms between countries and the return to capital. We make a comparison between destination and origin principles under monopolistic competition and show that the choice between origin and destination tax principle in this setting depends on which between high skilled or low skilled labors is used intensively, to be more accurate, when the ratio of the skilled labor intensity factor over the elasticity of substitution between any two variety is smaller than one-half, then the tax rate is higher (less subsidy) under the origin principle, whereas the opposite is true when the previous ratio exceeds one-half.
JEL Classifications: D43. F12. H21 .
Transcutaneous Versus Blood Gas Measurement of CO2 in Neonates: Variation by Method and Racial Group
Authors: Reichert Lara , Scott Samantha , Dugan Taylor , Setzen Sean , Feustel Paul , Pezzano Chad
Published: May 2024

Objective: Transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitors are used to non-invasively monitor blood CO2 levels in acute care settings, however, their accuracy has been shown to vary. We studied the correlation between transcutaneous monitors and arterial, capillary, and venous CO2 blood gas measurements in neonates. We also sought to examine any variability across different racial groups.
Design and Setting: Retrospective chart review at a level 4 NICU conducted at Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA.
Patients: Twenty-four NICU patients who underwent transcutaneous CO2 monitoring were studied over a 1-year period.
Interventions: None
Measurements and Main Results: Arterial, venous, and capillary CO2 measurements that occurred within one hour of transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitor measurement were collected. Arterial measurements maintained the highest degree of difference from transcutaneous values (degree of bias 9.3 torr). Venous monitoring and transcutaneous monitoring yielded the lowest degree of bias (-.46 torr), though this sample size was the lowest of our blood gas types. Capillary point-of-care testing values yielded an intermediate bias (4.12 torr). Greater agreement existed when blood gas PCO2 values increased over time for a given patient. No difference in the amount of bias was appreciated between racial groups.
Conclusions: Transcutaneous CO2 monitoring in neonatal patients is within the accepted manufacturer range of error when compared to blood gas analysis, and can be considered an accurate, noninvasive method of monitoring. Capillary point of care analysis is an efficient means of confirming transcutaneous monitoring and had better agreement than the more invasive arterial gases.
A Low-Light Image Enhancement Algorithm Based on Improved Pyramid Diffusion Model
Authors: Hu Xin , Wang Jinhua , He Ning , Wang Donghui
Published: May 2024

Images captured in low-light conditions often suffer from poor visibility, high noise levels, and significant detail loss. These issues can severely hinder subsequent visual tasks like object detection and facial recognition. Therefore, low-light image enhancement is a crucial yet challenging problem in computer vision, aiming to recover high-quality images.Pyramid-based Diffusion Model, a type of generative model capable of modeling and generating high-dimensional data distributions, have recently been explored for low-light image enhancement. However, a common limitation of diffusion models is the potential loss of detail in small areas due to the forward noising and reverse denoising process. To address this, the proposed algorithm integrates a novel attention mechanism that progressively utilizes depthwise separable convolution units with expanding convolutional kernels. This approach effectively enhances the network's ability to handle larger receptive fields, leading to better detail preservation. Furthermore, the algorithm incorporates a dual interpolation sampling method for improved detail recovery. Additionally, a new combination optimization model for loss functions is adopted. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the baseline network (which lacks color correction methods) on both subjective and objective evaluation metrics across LOL-v1, LOL-v2, and other unpaired datasets. This performance surpasses current mainstream low-light enhancement algorithms.
Spatial monitoring of open caissons via computervision approach
Authors: Wang Qunwei , Li Qun , Zhang Youliang
Published: May 2024

Monitoring of the open caissons during the sinking process is a crucial aspect in construction projects. Traditional methods such as Electric Level have limitations in providing continuous monitoring throughout the sinking process. To address this challenge, this paper introduces a novel approach utilizing computer vision and linear intensity change model for 3D reconstruction of open caissons and real-time monitoring of the caisson sinking. In this proposed approach, RGB-D camera was firstly calibrated for the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters. Then 3D coordinates of the open caisson were obtained via the calibrated IR sensors of RGB-D camera. Subsequently, the spatial visual image of the open caisson for display was calculated using RGB sensors and the 3D coordinates. During sinking, multiple RGB sensors combined with a linear intensity change model were used for monitoring settlement displacement. The spatial visual image of the open caisson was updated with the data of the settlement and out-plane displacement. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach are validated by examples. This innovative monitoring solution has the potential to revolutionize the construction process in open caisson, ensuring timely detection of any deviations and facilitating proactive decision-making for optimal project outcomes.
Combination Therapy Synergism Prediction for Virus Treatment Using Machine and Deep Learning Models
Authors: Majidifar Shayan , Zabihian Arash , Hooshmand Mohsen
Published: May 2024

Combining different therapies synergistically is an essential aspect of developing effective treatments. Although there is a wealth of research on computational prediction for new combination therapies, there is limited to no research on combination therapies in the treatment of viral diseases. This paper proposes AI-based models for predicting novel antiviral combinations to treat virus diseases synergistically. To do this, we assembled a comprehensive dataset comprising information on viral strains, drug compounds, and their known interactions. As far as we know, this is the first dataset and learning model on combination therapy for viruses. Our proposal includes a deep model and two machine learning models to optimize combination therapy. The machine learning models showed the highest performance among all methods, and the predicted values were validated by t-test, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed methods. One of the predicted combinations of acyclovir and ribavirin has been experimentally confirmed to have a synergistic antiviral effect against herpes simplex type-1 virus, as described in the literature.
Cardiovascular disease and breast cancer risk: a Multivariate Mendelian randomization
Authors: liu xiaolin , wang shan , lv hongwei , chen enli , Yu Jing
Published: May 2024

A potential link between stenotic cardiovascular disease (ischemic stroke, peripheral artery disease, unstable angina) and the risk of breast cancer has been identified in clinical practice. However, it is unclear whether there is a causal relationship between the two. In this study, we applied univariate (UVMR) and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) to explain the possible link between stenotic cardiovascular disease and breast cancer pathogenesis at the genetic level, and pointed out that the study of the correlation between lipid metabolism and the pathogenesis of pan-cancerous species, such as breast cancer, is an innovative direction of basic experiments. Objective: This study explored the causal effect between a history of stenotic cardiovascular disease and the risk of breast cancer. Methods: Genome⁃wide association study (GWAS) data were selected from breast cancer (n = 8,013) and ischemic stroke (n = 159,840), Peripheral artery disease (n = 44,986), and unstable angina pectoris (n = 18,152), which corresponded to the same ethnicity and were from different regions. In this study, causal effects were assessed using inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR ⁃ Egger regression, and weighted median (WM); UVMR and MVMR studies were conducted using several other methods as supplements. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using Cochran's Q test, MR⁃Egger regression intercept term, MR⁃PRESSO, and leave-one-out method to assess the stability and reliability of the results. Results: In UVMR, ischemic stroke, peripheral artery disease, and unstable angina were positively associated with lower risk of breast cancer; in MVMR, unstable angina was independently and significantly causally associated with lower risk of breast cancer (OR = 0.996,95% CI:0.992–0.999, P = 0.007) . Conclusion:This study found that people with stenotic cardiovascular disease have a lower risk of developing breast cancer, and in addition, there may be some unique correlation between unstable angina and the pathogenesis of breast cancer. There may be a correlation between the collection of stenotic cardiovascular disease genes and the pathogenesis of pan-cancer species. Lipid metabolism-related gene collections or molecular pathways may be relevant to the pathogenesis of breast cancer and possibly pan-cancer.
Domain-specific Digital Twin Platforms: Concept, Evaluation Framework and Case Study
Authors: Tang Zhao , Zhuang Dayuan , Zhang Jianjun
Published: May 2024

As digital twin (DT) applications continue to proliferate across diverse industries, a noticeable gap exists in the availability of evaluation methods or frameworks to aid in the selection and development of DT platforms, particularly for Domain-specific application. To address this gap, this paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation framework for DT platforms, with a focus on Domain-specific application. The framework uses the Best-Worst Method and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation method (BWM-FCE) to assess the performance, user experience, and economic effects of DT platforms. The proposed framework is applied to a case study of a high-speed railway DT platform and compared with other evaluation methods (Analytic Hierarchy Process and Best-Worst Method-Set Pair Analysis). The results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed framework and highlight its potential for guiding the development and selection of DT platforms for Domain-specific applications.
Synergistic enhancement of photocatalytic properties in ternary Cu2O/TiO2@Ti3C2Tx MXene composites
Authors: Fang Jing , Xu Tianxiang , Tan Lidan , Zhu Hui , Li Xuanke , Cong Ye
Published: May 2024

Water pollution has always been an inescapable challenge in the development of human society. Photocatalytic technology is regarded to be a promising strategy for water pollution control. In this work, a novel Cu2O/TiO2@Ti3C2Tx MXene photocatalyst is constructed to obtain diverse electron transport pathways, thereby promoting charge separation and achieving superior photocatalytic performance. The synergistic effects of composite photocatalytic materials are instrumental in degrading organic dyes under visible light. The successful construction of a heterojunction structure between Cu2O and in situ generated TiO2 mitigates charge recombination post-separation, significantly extending the lifetime of photogenerated carriers. Additionally, the incorporation of Ti3C2Tx serves as an effective conductive medium, facilitating the separation and transfer of photogenerated charges within the material. Therefore, the Cu2O/TiO2@Ti3C2Tx MXene composites exhibit exceptional photocatalytic activity, showcasing the best performance, achieving a degradation rate of 71.5% after 3 h of visible light irradiation. These findings underscore the potential of this new compound in enhancing photocatalytic organic degradation, highlighting the promising application prospects of photocatalytic materials.
Nephrotic syndrome and adrenoleukodystrophy in a 5-year-old boy
Authors: nicolescu corina ramona , Lavocat Marie-Pierre , Stephan Jean-Louis
Published: May 2024

Nephrotic syndrome is a common condition characterized by filtration of large amounts of protein, hypoalbuminemia, reduced plasma oncotic pressure, sodium retention, and edema. The mechanism(s) responsible for sodium retention in this condition is still controversial. Two different pathophysiological pathways have been proposed to explain edema formation: activation of neurohumoral effector mechanisms, including the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, or abnormal intrinsic/primary renal sodium retention.
A 5-year-old boy with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy presented with bilateral leg swelling, massive proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. Minimal change disease was diagnosed. The patient was initially treated with corticosteroids and experienced several relapses. The progression of fractional excretion of sodium correlated with proteinuria and undetectable aldosterone levels. This unusual finding suggests that the mechanism of tubular sodium avidity in this child with mineralocorticoid insufficiency was independent of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
Summary/what’s new - Our observation of the co-occurrence of nephrotic syndrome and adrenoleukodystrophy, which has not been previously reported, may confirm that intrarenal factors (separately from or in addition to aldosterone) are responsible for sodium reabsorption.
Tracing procedural justice at UNFCCC conferences through side events and interest group dynamics
Authors: Xie Judy Jingwei , Escher Nora , Dunn Matilda E. , Yu Yurong , Staffell Iain , Rogelj Joeri
Published: May 2024

Procedural justice is essential in climate negotiation spaces to ensure inclusivity and transparency in a global challenge. However, annual Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are increasing in size and complexity, which makes discourse and organisational relationships more uneven and harder to understand. Here, we analyse UNFCCC COP side events during 2003-2023 using topic modelling to understand the evolution of discourse and topic framing. We use participant nomination data to investigate how incumbent business interest groups access COPs and evaluate the relationships between side event organisers and speakers. Among energy side events, we identified growing interests in fossil fuels, marked by a uniquely collaborative organisation network of mainly NGOs. Incumbent corporations gain access to COPs through NGOs in developed countries and through governments in developing countries, with limited presence leading UNFCCC side events. We show the importance of systematically tracing and considering processes at COP as a first step to improving procedural justice at the highest level of global climate governance.
Survival of drug-resistant metastatic papillary thyroid cancer under drug treated conditions via upregulation of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 1
Authors: Kim Seok-Mo , Park Keunwan , Yun Hyeok Jun , Kim JungMin , Choi Kyung Hwa , Park Ki Cheong
Published: May 2024

Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is a general thyroid cancer subtype, however, PTC may develop metastasize or become recurrent via anti-cancer drug resistance, rendering it practically incurable. Therefore, effective and reliable clinical approaches are urgently required.
Methods: In this study, we demonstrated the coordinated upregulation of SERCA1 in metastatic PTC under anti-cancer drug treated conditions. SERCA1, in turn, is transcriptionally upregulated by CaMK2α via nuclear translocated NFκB. we propose a clinical approach that screens novel drug candidates based on target identification and numerous survival-involved gene validation in a patient-derived anti-cancer drug-resistant mediated lymph node metastatic PTC model. Results of lymph node metastatic PTC was compared to anti-cancer drug sensitive and main mass PTC on in vitro and in vivo model.
Results: Consequently, we identified sarco/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium ATPase 1 (SERCA1) in patient-derived metastatic PTC cells. SERCA1 was considerably increase under anti-cancer drug treated conditions such as sorafenib or lenvatinib by CaMK2α mediated nuclear translocated NFκB. SERCA is a critical component in cytosolic free calcium regulation. However, a cardiac dysfunction was inevitable in vivo because of non-specific inhibition of SERCA isoforms by conventional SERCA inhibitors. This study aimed to design a therapeutic approach with decrease of cardiac dysfunction via SERCA1-isoform specific inhibition by novel small molecules, CKP1 and CKP2 under severe ER stress condition in patient-derived metastatic papillary thyroid cancer. These novel SERCA1-specific inhibitors were remarkably increased tumor shrinkage in the patient-derived metastatic PTC xenograft tumor model without cardiac dysfunctionwhen combination treatment with anti-cancer drug, such as sorafenib and lenvatinib. Conclusively, these findings are clinically significant for novel combinatorial strategy development for effective refractory cancer cell treatments, especially in the case of anti-cancer drug-resistant mediated recurrent and metastatic cancer.
Conclusions
Here, we showed that increase of SERCA1 by CaMK2α mediated nuclear translocated NFκB was fundamentally responsible for cellular resistant for cytotoxic stress under sorafenib or levatinib treatment. These outcomes suggest progress for the novel combinatorial scheme that uses targeted therapy to treat malignant cancer cells, such as anti-cancer drug-resistant cancer cells.
Six phase inverter topology and control algorithm research with boost function
Authors: Xu Yeting , Qian Hongjiang , Qiu Xiaochu
Published: May 2024

Multi-phase motors are widely used in electric vehicles, aerospace, ship traction and other important systems. Conventional six-phase voltage inverters have the limitation that they can only step down the voltage, with the maximum magnitude of the output line voltage being 0.5 times that of the direct current (DC) side voltage. In order to overcome this limitation and thus meet some special occasions where the output voltage is much higher than the input DC voltage, it is necessary to consider alternative solutions. This paper proposes a split-source inverter (SSI) impedance network for an asymmetric six-phase voltage source inverter with an improved four-vector SVPWM and carrier-based modulation (CBM) algorithm. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the inverter process of DC-AC (alternating current) boosting can be achieved under the same switching state, and that the output voltage level of the inverter is adjustable. Furthermore, the DC-side capacitor voltage exhibits a faster boosting speed and smaller fluctuation. The feasibility of the boost function of the six-phase voltage source inverter is demonstrated.
Biosorption of Cd 2+ ions onto peel of Artocarpus nobilis Fruit: intra-particle diffusion and isotherm studies
Authors: Kotabewatta P. A. , Priyantha N.
Published: May 2024

The metal Cd, a toxic heavy metal, has a tendency to accumulate through food chains, causing health problems to various organisms; its removal from contaminated water systems is thus needed to safeguard the biosphere. Characterization experiments on the fruit peel of Artocarpus nobilis, an endemic plant to Sri Lanka, reveal that the surface of the biosorbent is negative, and that organic functional groups such as carboxylic acids, its derivatives and phenolic compounds present in the biosorbent undergo deprotonation showing strong affinity toward positively charged Cd2+ ions in aqueous medium. Systematic investigation conducted on the biosorbent shows its effectiveness as a biosorbent for Cd2+, leading to an excellent removal of 88% in batch experiments under optimized conditions of 150 min shaking time, 15 min settling time, 5.5–7.0 pH range at 150 rpm rotation speed. The extent of removal of Cd2+ is independent of both the heating time and heating temperature. Fitting of equilibrium biosorption data on linearized Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models leads to the regression coefficients of 0.976 and 0.896, respectively, and the biosorption capacity based on the former model is 1.37×104 mg kg−1. Moreover, dynamic adsorption models are also successfully fitted to the Cd2+ removal data taken under dynamic conditions. The effect of boundary layer thickness explained by the intra-particle diffusion model could be considered in extending the removal of Cd2+ at large-scale.
A High-dimensional Quaternion System-Based Method for Image Representation
Authors: He Xiu , Chen Yuyun , Zhang Lina
Published: May 2024

For centuries, the decimal number system always was dominant until the advent of digital computers, which brought the binary and other number systems into the spotlight. Nowadays, digital images represented in the computer are often to
use the binary form and they are presented the decimal form at the processing end. Except them, other numeral systems for image representation are also worth exploring. In addition, quaternion, as a high-dimensional mathematical tool, is
widely used in image processing. However, the current mainstream quaternion representation is only applicable to color image processing, and its applicability is limited. Hence, the paper introduces a novel quaternion numeral system for image representation, which is suitable not for color image but also for grayscale image. The representation scheme converts the traditional two-dimensional array representation of one image into a higher four-dimensional space. Then, some properties of the quaternion can be applied to image analysis and processing. Experiments show that the proposed representation method can retain the essence of the original image reversibly and losslessly. Furthermore, some potential image applications, such as image encryption and image scrambling, are demonstrated that the proposed method has an practical research value in image security.
Computation of Wiener and Hyper Wiener Indices in Several B-Complex Vitamins
Authors: Greeta T. , Jayalalitha G.
Published: May 2024

B vitamins are crucial for the proper functioning of our body. Vitamin B complex, comprising eight essential vitamins, supports growth and sustains energy levels. Graph theory aids chemists in systematically molecular modeling structures and reactions. Topological indices serve as mathematical descriptors, analyzing physicochemical properties. In this work, four B complex Vitamins—B1, B2, B3, and B6—are examined. The investigation centers on utilizing the distance matrix. It computes both the Wiener Index and Hyper Wiener Index, providing valuable perceptions toward the structural attributes of these vitamins. The outcomes of these metrics are systematically compared with the respective molecular weights of the vitamins. This comparison offers a comprehensive understanding of their chemical characteristics. It delves into the relationship among the structural features, topological indices, and molecular weights of essential B-complex vitamins. This paper explores enhancing our understanding of their biochemical roles and potential applications in health and medicine.
Polydopamine Surface Engineering of Iron Single-Atom Nanozyme: a Novel Strategy for Doxorubicin Immobilization, Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling and Synergistic Multimodel Therapy
Authors: Liu Meiling , Liu Jing , Wang Minjuan , Chen Haoyu , Yang Xing , Wei Mingjie , Wang Xingfeng , Shan Shigang , Zhu Xiaohua , Zhang Youyu , Yao Shouzhuo
Published: May 2024

The variation in tumor microenvironment, specifically the levels of cellular H2O2/O2/GSH, plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of cancer therapy in nanozyme-drug systems. In this study, bioinspired polydopamine was utilized to surface engineer the rhombic dodecahedron morphology iron-based SANzyme (Fe SANzyme), which exhibited multiple mimetic activities including oxidase (OXD)-like, peroxidase (POD)-like, catalase (CAT)-like, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-like activities. The Fe SAN-PDA was intricately designed as a nanoplatform for drug immobilization, remodeling the tumor microenvironment (TME) and enabling synergistic multimodal tumor therapy. The presence of abundant quinone structures on PDA surface facilitated the creation of a conductive microenvironment for the immobilization of doxorubicin (DOX) through Michael addition/Schiff base reaction. The Fe SAN-PDA@DOX can catalyze high level of H2O2 in TME to produce oxygen and alleviate hypoxia, convert the produced oxygen to the toxic ·OH, and deplete intracellular glutathione. Coating with hyaluronic acid (HA) enhanced the biocompatibility and targeting ability of the composite. The exceptional photothermal performance of Fe SAN-PDA@DOX@HA, combined with the nanozyme catalysis, resulted in sustained chemodynamic/photothermal/ chemotherapy is achieved in a mouse mammary carcinoma model. This research highlights the synergistic therapeutic effects resulting from the combination of the multi-enzymatic activities of Fe SAN with multifunctional PDA, offering a novel a novel strategy for doxorubicin immobilization, tumor microenvironment remodeling and synergistic multimodal therapy.
Modify Mistral Large Performance with Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) on the BIG-Bench Dataset
Authors: Fujiwara Haruka , Kimura Renta , Nakano Tokuniki
Published: May 2024

Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) provides a resource-efficient method for fine-tuning large language models, addressing significant computational challenges. Implementing LoRA in the Mistral Large model significantly enhances its performance across a range of complex tasks. The evaluation conducted on the BIG-Bench dataset reveals substantial improvements in accuracy, precision, recall, and perplexity, highlighting the effectiveness of LoRA in optimizing large language models. By focusing on low-rank approximations, LoRA reduces the computational burden of fine-tuning, enabling efficient adaptation without compromising performance. The empirical results demonstrate that the LoRA-adapted model excels in mathematical problem-solving, creative text generation, and common sense reasoning, making it a practical and scalable solution for diverse AI applications. Additionally, the integration of LoRA facilitates seamless implementation with existing transformer architectures, ensuring compatibility and efficiency. The study emphasizes the transformative potential of LoRA to drive significant advancements in natural language processing, providing a resource-efficient method for model adaptation that ultimately enhances the capabilities and applicability of AI systems across various domains. By addressing the challenges of computational resources and adaptation efficiency, LoRA paves the way for more robust and versatile applications of large language models in real-world scenarios.
Irritable Personality Trait and Type of Antidepressant Prescribed Moderates the Association between genotypes of HTR1A-rs6295 or HTR2A-rs6311 with Treatment Response.
Authors: Badamasi Ibrahim Mohammed , Lye Munn Sann , Ibrahim Normala , Razaq Nurul Asyikin Abdul , Ling King Hwa , Stanslas Johnson
Published: May 2024

Background
Currently, empiric treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) relies on the characteristics of the presenting patients.
Aim
The aim of the current study was to identify moderators for the association of SSRI treatment efficacy response phenotype with genotypes of HTR1A-rs6295 or HTR2A-rs6311 polymorphism in a population of MDD patients.
Methodology
The study included 300 patients with MDD. The assessment of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) treatment response was based on 50% reduction in the depressive score obtained within 6 weeks of treatment onset on the Montgomery asberg depression rating scale (MADRS-S) for each patient recruited in the psychiatric clinics of the four tertiary hospitals in the Klang valley region of Malaysia.
Result
The study population was made up of young adults (median age = 37.00years), mostly females (67.1%) with no family history of psychiatric illness (73.4%). MDD patients with the GA genotype for the HTR2A-rs6311 polymorphism and received escitalopram antidepressant were significantly (over-dominant model; P = 0.019, OR = 0.114 (0.019–0.701)) less likely to respond to treatment. The CG + GG genotype of HTR1A-rs6295 gene polymorphism was associated with significantly (recessive model: P = 0.019, OR = 0.146 (0.026–0.733)) reduced likelihood of responding to antidepressant treatment among the MDD patients with the irritability personality trait.
Conclusion
The association between the CG genotype of the HTR1A-rs6295 with poor SSRI treatment response is elaborated among patients that have an irritable personality. The role of medication type in determining the direction of association between genotype of the HTR2A-rs6311 with treatment response identified in the literature was also revalidated in the current study.
Impact of Storage Duration on Polyphenolic Composition, Biological Activities, and Biodegradation of Olive Mill Wastewater
Authors: Gueboudji Zakia , Kadi Kenza , Nagaz Kamel , Mahmoudi Maher , Bouhamda Talel , Addad Dalila , Yahya Leila Ben , Lachehib Belgacem
Published: May 2024

This study investigated the impact of storage duration on olive mill wastewater (OMW) quality and biological properties. Among two various olive varieties, Abani exhibited the highest phenolic compound concentration after 12 months of storage. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis identified 28 OMW constituents, with kampherol as the major one, and rosmarinic acid detected for the first time. Results showed significant differences in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities among samples. The inhibition of protein denaturation (IPD) test yielded the best value after 1 month for Abani OMW, while membrane-stabilizing potential (MSP) test values were highest after 12 months for the same variety. Anticoagulant activity, measured by activating partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT), significantly varied with storage time, with the most favorable values found in Zlitni OMW immediately after olive oil extraction. These findings illuminate OMW changes over time, bearing significance for OMW management and potential applications.
The Mediating Role of Intrinsic Motivation in the Effect of Rational Decision-Making on Academic Procrastination
Authors: Işıkgöz Mustafa Enes
Published: May 2024

Recent studies have shown that several psychological factors commonly found in students are associated with academic procrastination. In this study, the effects of rational decision-making and intrinsic motivation on the mechanisms of academic procrastination in college students were investigated. In this context, data were collected from 689 (383 male and 306 female) students enrolled in physical education and sports at universities in Turkey using rational decision-making, academic procrastination, and intrinsic motivation scales. The results showed that students' intrinsic motivation positively influences rational decision-making and negatively influences academic procrastination behavior. In addition, intrinsic motivation has a negative influence on academic procrastination behavior. On the other hand, intrinsic motivation plays a mediating role between rational decision-making and academic procrastination behavior with a high degree of effectiveness. The effect of intrinsic motivation on the effect of rational decision-making on academic procrastination behavior is 45.2%. Thus, intrinsic motivation indirectly and significantly offsets the negative effects of students' rational decision-making on academic procrastination behavior. Since the results of the study are not only scientifically but also practically important, the analytical relationship between students' decision-making styles and academic procrastination behavior as well as the necessary predictions for all motivational components underlying procrastination leading to academic failure should be made.
Role of individual entrepreneurial orientation and innovation in SME performance: Gender perspectives
Authors: Dewi Astuti Rifelly , Ezni Balqiah Tengku , Yuliati Elevita
Published: May 2024

Individual entrepreneurial orientation and innovation are essentials for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to drive their performance, including surviving or even growing during economic crises. The entrepreneur’s gender might have an impact on those relationships. Hence, this study aims to analyze whether there were some differences in the five dimensions of individual entrepreneurial orientation and differences in the influence of individual entrepreneurial orientation and innovation on performance between male and female entrepreneurs. The study was performed through an online survey of 352 SME owners in Indonesia. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and multi-group analysis were conducted to test the hypotheses. The results demonstrated that all dimensions of individual entrepreneurial orientation are valid for developing this construct, but only the risk-taking dimension distinguishes male and female entrepreneurs the most. Male entrepreneurs are more willing to take risks than female. Furthermore, individual entrepreneurial orientation affects performance mediated by innovation, and this effect is not different between male and female entrepreneurs. These findings enrich the literature on the impact of gender on entrepreneurial orientation and the influence of innovation on SME performance. In Indonesia, individual entrepreneurial orientation affects performance assisted by innovation; however, this influence is not different for SMEs managed by male and female entrepreneurs.
AcknowledgmentWe acknowledge and thank all of the respondents and parties who supported this research. This study was funded by the Directorate of Research and Community Engagement, Universitas Indonesia, contract number NKB-1782/UN2.RST/HKP.05.00/2020.
Effect of drying process on survival of environmental starter culture and nutritional value
Authors: SĘCZKOWSKA OLGA , BARTODZIEJSKA BEATA , MACIEJEWSKA NIKOLA , SZOSLAND-FAŁTYN ANNA , DOLATOWSKI ZBIGNIEW
Published: May 2024

Since Poland is one of the largest producers of rapeseed, the products of its processing – oil cake and rapeseed meal – could be promising alternatives in animal nutrition and, in the future, could also be used as food additives for humans. Fermentation, of these post-waste raw materials, eliminates the bitter taste and enriches the ferment with nutrients. Due to the fact that fermented rapeseed meal has a high water activity, it is possible to develop virtually all groups of microorganisms in it. Therefore, it is advisable to use a fixation method that will ensure the microbiological stability of the fermented product. The purpose of this study was to develop a starter culture for the fermentation of rapeseed meal and to investigate the effect of the drying process of fermented rapeseed meal on the survival rate of the starter culture. Fermented rapeseed meal was dried at 48°C for 33 h. After 30 days of storage of the dried meal, the survival rate of the starter culture was checked. Since the fermented rapeseed meal was meant to be used as feed for pigs, a low-temperature drying process was used in the study. Drying the fermented rapeseed meal made it possible to stabilize the product and allowed it to be stored safely, without signs of mold, for 30 days. The drying temperature of 48°C did not negatively affect the biological value of the nutrients or the survival of the starter culture in dried rapeseed meal after rehydration.
Democratism as a Basic Principle for Legislative Processes on Russia’s Federal Territories
Authors: Fomicheva Ol'ga
Published: May 2024

Democratism is a key principle of constitutional and legal regulation of all innovations in the legislative process. Public authorities of Russia’s federal territories need guarantees for their participation in the legislative process. The legal status of the Sirius Federal Territory remains dubious, which violates the rights of its residents to participate in solving national issues. The principle of democratism is violated when its forms are implemented by public authorities of the federal territory. A balance of interests between society and the state would be achieved if citizens could exercise their legislative rights, directly or through representative bodies of public authority. First, guarantees should be established in the norms of the general effect; second, a procedure should be elaborated on regulatory legal acts, depending on the region and its status. A legislative process is not only a set of forms of activity that turns a legislative idea into a draft law. It also presupposes the implementation of this process based on constitutional principles, i.e., democratism. This principle should become comprehensive since it provides all subjects with equal participation in the legislative process. In addition, democratism encourages all residents and /or representative bodies for such participation. As a result, it should not be subjected to restrictions depending on the type of territory. If guarantees for the implementation of the legislative initiative right are violated in the legislative process, they can be regulated by federal legislation. This procedure could help residents of the Sirius Federal Territory and extend these guarantees to identical territories, e.g., closed administrative-territorial entities, university towns, etc. The ultimate effectiveness of the legislative process depends on democratism.
Subpoena of Evidence from Arbitration Court
Authors: Kurnosov Aleksandr
Published: May 2024

International Commercial Arbitration is subject of Article 27, Law of the Russian Federation No. 5338‑1, July 07, 1993, while Arbitration Proceedings in the Russian Federation are described in Article 30, Federal Law No. 382-FZ of December 29, 2015. If a dispute settlement goes to institutional arbitration, a party or an arbitration court has the right to apply to a competent court with a subpoena of evidence. This article features the publication and execution of subpoena of evidence by arbitration court for the recovery of evidence. This category differs from other arbitration proceedings in that it requires a procedural appeal that initiates the proceedings, i.e., the subpoena of the arbitration court, and an applicant, i.e., the institutional arbitration court that is seeking assistance in the dispute. The author used the methods of teleological interpretation and functional analysis to justify the admissibility of normative provisions that exclude the right to issue a subpoena by ad hoc arbitrators and to send subpoena of evidence directly by the parties to the arbitration proceedings. The parties to the arbitration should be involved as interested parties. The applicant and the stakeholders have limited procedural rights and obligations since the court neither carries out jurisdictional activities nor considers the dispute per se, but coordinates assistance functions. As a result, some procedural shortcomings make it impossible to clarify the form and content of subpoena, as well as the type and content of documents that should be attached to it, e.g., an arbitration agreement, a state fee payment confirmation, a resolution on the arbitral panel, etc. The author also analyzed grounds for refusal to execute a subpoena of evidence. Excessive discretion and Delphic language should not violate the rights and legitimate interests of third parties, thus preventing them from participating in the arbitration.