bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient Detection of Pancreatic-Cancer Biomarkers using Functionalized Titanium Carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXenes
Authors: Kumar Narender , Hussain Tanveer , Shen Lei , Feng Yuan Ping , Tit Nacir
Published: August 2024

Early diagnosis of cancer is crucially important for prescribing a therapy plan to possibly save human lives. Towards this end, one amongst the pathologies is to consider the efficient detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) related, for instance, to the pancreatic cancer existing in exhaled breath of patients. The scope of the present investigation is to search for suitable materials used for detecting these VOCs with high sensitivity and selectivity. The density functional theory (DFT) is employed to study the adsorption of three pancreatic cancer biomarkers; namely, (i) 2-pentanone (2p-none), (ii) 4-ethyl-1-2-dimethylbenzene (4E1-2DMB), and (iii) N-nonanal (N-nonal) on the pristine titanium carbides MXenes (Ti3C2Tx, Tx = O, S, F) as well as doped with selected transition metals “TMs” (e.g., Co, Cu, Fe, Ni). At the level of pristine MXenes, a clear selective adsorption towards the three VOCs is obtained as compared to the interfering air molecules (N2, O2, CO2, H2O) with suitable adsorption energies ranging from − 0.60 eV to -1.10 eV. Furthermore, the strongest adsorption of VOCs is always found to correspond to Ti3C2O2 MXenes. Four different scenarios of TM-doping were considered and among which two cases are found to be effective to enhance the adsorptions of VOCs with effects on Fermi states. These latter two cases correspond to TM-doping O site and TM ad-atom. Adsorptions of VOCs on Cu-doped MXenes is found to have mimic effect on Fermi states and thus Cu should be excluded from the candidature. We concluded that TM-doping Ti3C2O2 MXenes (with TM = Co, Fe, Ni) should be a good candidate material for fabrication of platform of disposable biosensor with high selectivity towards the detection of pancreatic cancer biomarkers.
A case of adolescent lactation due to the drug blonanserin
Authors: Tang Peiyuan , Wang Chongze , Hong Wu , Yi Zhenghui , Lv Qinyu
Published: August 2024

Background Second-generation antipsychotic drugs are increasingly used to treat depressive disorders with psychotic symptoms. In addition to effectively managing psychotic symptoms, second-generation antipsychotics can also result in adverse drug reactions in patients., which should not be underestimated.
Case presentation We report the case of 14 years old unmarried female patient with depression. At first, she started with moping and gradually developed into self-injury and whispering. After antidepressant treatment combined with the second-generation antipsychotic drug blonanserin, the patient's psychotic and depressive symptoms improved significantly, while the patient developed lactation, which stopped after the medication was changed.
Conclusions Although Blonanserin's clinical trials have reported rare adverse reactions like elevated prolactin levels and even lactation, caution is still needed in clinical application of the drug. This case is expected to improve psychiatrists' choice of antidepressant therapy in combination with antipsychotic drugs.
Safety assessment of brodalumab: Real world adverse event analysis from the FAERS database
Authors: Wan Yue , Zhou Yang , Chen Wenjin , Li Huanhuan , Huang Jingjing , Li Jianhong
Published: August 2024

Objective: This study aims to analyse adverse drug events (ADE) related to brodalumab from the first quarter of 2017 and the fourth quarter of 2023 from FAERS database.
Methods: The ADE data related to brodalumab from 2017 Q1 to 2023 Q4 were collected. After standardizing the data, a variety of signal quantification techniques, including ROR, PRR, BCPNN, and MGPS were used for analysis.
Results: Among the 6083 ADE reports with brodalumab as the primary suspected drug, 168 preferred terms (PT) of adverse reactions spanning 23 different system organ classes (SOC) were identified. Specifically, palmoplantar pustulosis(n = 8 , ROR 99.43, PRR 99.29, IC 6.6, EBGM 97.21), extranodal marginal zone b-cell lymphoma (malt type) (n = 3 , ROR 63.94, PRR 63.9, IC 5.98, EBGM 63.04)and calcium metabolism disorder(n = 3, ROR 259.37 , PRR 259.23 , IC 7.94 , EBGM 245.4) presented strong ADE signals, which aren't explicitly detailed in the drug's guidelines.
Conclusion: Although brodalumab offers significant therapeutic advantages, it is also associated with a range of adverse reactions. Clinicians should diligently monitor for the onset of palmoplantar pustulosis, extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MALT type), disturbances in calcium metabolism, and other potential complications during its clinical use.
Profile and Characterization of Insecticide Resistance Mechanisms in the Anopheles gambiae s.l. Population of Sierra Leone
Authors: Opondo Kevin Ochieng , Alyko Evelyne , Smith Samuel , Levine Rebecca , Donnelly Jenny , Hughes Tony , Schnabel David , Jose Ramlat , Jalloh Alpha , Lolleh Umaru , Conteh Samuel , Iyikirenga Laurent , Jacob Djenam , Mokuena Miriam , Yamba Frederick , Yihdego Yemane
Published: August 2024

Background
Information on the status of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors is critical for implementing effective malaria vector control. The Sierra Leone National Malaria Control Program, in collaboration with the PMI VectorLink project, assessed the resistance status to insecticides commonly used in public health, and associated resistance mechanisms in Anopheles gambiae s.l., the main vector of malaria in Sierra Leone.
Methods
The susceptibility of An. gambiae s.l. against pyrethroids with and without piperonyl butoxide (PBO), chlorfenapyr, clothianidin, bendiocarb and pirimiphos-methyl was evaluated in four districts of Sierra Leone in 2018 and 2019 using WHO and CDC bottle bioassay protocols. A subset of samples that were exposed to the insecticides were screened for molecular markers of insecticide resistance, knock-down resistance (kdr) L1014F, 1014S and N1575Y, and (Ace-1-G119S).
Results
Anopheles gambiae s.l. from all sites were resistant to the diagnostic doses of three pyrethroids: deltamethrin, permethrin and alpha-cypermethrin. Intensity of resistance to all three pyrethroids was high, with less than 95% mortality at 10X concentration. However, pre-exposure of An. gambiae s.l. to PBO increased overall mortality by 41.6%, 50.0% and 44.0% for deltamethrin, permethrin and alpha-cypermethrin, respectively. The vector was susceptible to chlorfenapyr, clothianidin and pirimiphos-methyl, while bendiocarb showed possible resistance. The frequency of kdr alleles was 98.2% for L1014F, 2.1% for 1014S and 8.9% for N1575Y, while the frequency of the Ace-1 G119S allele was 13.6%. Significant deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and deficiency of heterozygotes was detected only at the G119S locus of An. gambiae s.l. (p < 0.0001). Of the 191 An. gambiae s.l. that were molecularly identified to the species level, 81.7% were An. gambiae (95% CI 75.3–86.7), followed by An. coluzzii (17.8%, 95% CI (12.8–24.1) with one hybrid of An. gambiae/An. coluzzii 0.5%, 95% CI (0.03–3.3).
Conclusion
Malaria vectors were highly resistant to pyrethroids but exposure to PBO partially restored susceptibility in An. gambiae s.l. in Sierra Leone. Malaria vectors were susceptible to chlorfenapyr, clothianidin and pirimiphos-methyl with possible resistance to bendiocarb. These data informed the selection and distribution of ITN PBO in Sierra Leone’s mass campaigns in 2020 and selection of clothianidin for indoor residual spraying in 2021.
Investigating the regulatory mechanism of glucose metabolism by ubiquitin-like protein MNSFβ
Authors: Kono Megumi , Yamasaki Kyoko , Nakamura Morihiko
Published: August 2024

Background
Monoclonal nonspecific suppressor factor β (MNSFβ), a ubiquitously expressed member of the ubiquitin-like protein family, is associated with diverse cell regulatory functions. It has been implicated in glycolysis regulation and cell proliferation enhancement in the macrophage-like cell line Raw264.7. This study aims to show that HIF-1α regulates MNSFβ-mediated metabolic reprogramming.
Methods and results
In Raw264.7 cells, MNSFβ siRNA increased the oxygen consumption rate and ROS production but decreased ATP levels. Cells with MNSFβ knockdown showed a markedly increased ATP reduction rate upon the addition of oligomycin, a mitochondrial ATP synthase inhibitor. In addition, MNSFβ siRNA decreased the expression levels of mRNA and protein of HIF-1α—a regulator of glucose metabolism. Evaluation of the effect of MNSFβ on glucose metabolism in murine peritoneal macrophages revealed no changes in lactate production, glucose consumption, or ROS production.
Conclusion
MNSFβ affects both glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism, suggesting HIF-1α involvement in the MNSFβ-regulated glucose metabolism in Raw264.7 cells.
Mast cell tryptase is involved in the pathogenesis of POI by inducing ovarian fibrosis via protease-activated receptor-2 signaling.
Authors: Wang Chaojun , Zhang Xiang , Zhang Jun
Published: August 2024

Ovarian fibrosis is a basic histologic feature of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), which poses a great threat to women of reproductive age. Collagen abundance in ovarian theca-stroma cells contributes to ovarian fibrogenesis. However, the role and mechanism of mast cells in the development of POI have not yet been determined. Our study for the first time found that tryptase secreted by activated mast cells induced COL1A1 and COL1A2 production, two subunits of collagen I in mouse theca–stroma cells by protease-activated receptor-2 signaling. Inhibition of PAR2 or Bcl-xL attenuated the increases of COL1A1 and COL1A2 caused by tryptase. In addition, knockdown of RNF152 reversed the downregulation of collagen production caused by si-Bcl-xL. Clinically, tryptase levels in serum and follicular fluid were higher in both bPOI and POI patients than in controls. Tryptase concentrations in serum and follicular fluid were positively associated with follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) and negatively associated with anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). Cromolyn sodium, a mast cell stabilizer, reduces collagen I production, but has no effect on hormone synthesis and follicle number in a cisplatin-induced POI mouse model. Our findings shed new insights into the biological function of tryptase in ovarian fibrosis and POI.
Exploring the mechanism of resistance of Rhizoctonia cerealis to trifloxystrobin
Authors: Zhou Feng , Xu Si-chao , Shi Yan-chao , Sun Ming-han , Qiao Tian-tian , Li Zhen-kang , Zhang Jia-le , Li Cheng-wei , Liu Run-qiang
Published: August 2024

Wheat sheath eyespot (WES) is an important disease in wheat production. Due to the lack of wheat varieties with stable resistance and high yield, chemical agents are currently the main control method. Trifloxystrobin has good control effects on a variety of plant pathogenic fungi due to its wide fungicidal spectrum and high fungicidal activity. Laboratory preliminary studies have shown that trifloxystrobin has good antibacterial activity against Rhizoctonia cerealis, but is there a risk of drug resistance after long-term application? And what is the mechanism by which R. cerealis develops resistance to it? Both need further study. In this study, the trifloxystrobin-resistant R. cerealis obtained by drug domestication in the early stage of the laboratory was used as the main research material to study the biological characteristics and R. cerealis resistance mechanism to trifloxystrobin. Our results showed that compared with the sensitive isolates, the mycelial growth rate of the trifloxystrobin-resistant R. cerealis mutant was reduced, the ability to produce sclerotia was enhanced, the pathogenicity to the host wheat was enhanced, and it was more sensitive to temperature. At the same time, the results of osmotic pressure measurement showed that compared with the sensitive strain, the mycelial growth rate of the trifloxystrobin-resistant R. cerealis mutant under different pH and salt stresses had no significant difference, while low concentration (< 20 g/L) of glucose stress promoted the mycelial growth of the trifloxystrobin-resistant R. cerealis mutants to a certain extent. In addition, there was no cross-resistance between trifloxystrobin-resistant R. cerealis and the commonly used fungicides difenoconazole, flufenoxazole, flutriafol, tebuconazole, metconazole and carbendazim, and there was negative cross-resistance between it and propiconazole, hexaconazole, thiofuran and fluazinam, that is, the above fungicides can be used as alternative fungicides in areas where wheat sheath blight is resistant to trifloxystrobin. The research results provide data support for clarifying the resistance mechanism of R. cerealis to trifloxystrobin, which is of great significance for effectively preventing and controlling wheat sheath blight and ensuring the safe production of wheat.
Investigation of morphologies and structures of Phloretin drug and PEG-b-PLA diblocks: A Dissipative particle dynamics simulations study
Authors: Lin ye , Jin Yongchao , liu Dongmei , bo huifeng , wang xiyin
Published: August 2024

Polymeric drug carriers have conventionally been recognized for their significance in augmenting drug stability and solubility. Poly(lactide) (PLA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are two polymers that have received considerable attention in this context. However, a comprehensive exploration of the factors that impact the final morphology and structure of both PEG-b-PLA copolymer and phloretin drug has yet to be undertaken. In this study, we present findings from a comprehensive investigation into the self-assembly behavior of PEG-PLA copolymers and Phloretin drug in aqueous environments, utilizing DPD simulations. Our simulations show that phloretin drug and PEG-b-PLA could self-assemble into core-shell spherical micelles. The spherical micelles are comprised of the phloretin hydrophobic core, the PLA hydrophobic middle layer, and the PEG hydrophilic shell. As the PEG5-b-PLA10 concentration increases, the Phloretin-loaded PEG-b-PLA system undergoes a structural evolution from spherical micelles to cylindrical micelles, ultimately forming perforated layered structures. Additionally, their self-assembly morphologies can also be regulated by the PEG-b-PLA copolymer compositions. Specifically, and PEG5-b-PLA10, PEG5-b-PLA15, PEG5-b-PLA20 copolymers demonstrate the ability to form well-organized core-shell configurations. PEG5-b-PLA10 exhibits a drug load of 0.08, which would be more appropriate to loading the phloretin drug, in comparison with the PEG5-b-PLA15 and PEG5-b-PLA20 systems. For PEG5-b-PLA10 system, the simulation results show that the suitable concentration of PEG5-b-PLA10 copolymer is 10-15%. These simulation results offer novel insights into the self-assembly process of Phloretin drug and PEG-b-PLA diblocks, elucidating the underlying physical mechanisms at the molecular level.
Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease: A Comprehensive Approach Using Advanced Virtual Screening, Molecular Dynamics, and In Vitro Validation
Authors: Gevorgyan Smbat , Khachatryan Hamlet , Shavina Anastasiya , Gharaghani Sajjad , Zakaryan Hovakim
Published: August 2024

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, driven by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, necessitates the development of effective therapeutics. The main protease of the virus, Mpro, is a key target due to its crucial role in viral replication. Our study presents a novel approach combining ligand-based pharmacophore modeling with structure-based advanced virtual screening (AVS) to identify potential inhibitors of Mpro. We screened around 200 million compounds using this integrated methodology, resulting in a shortlist of promising compounds. These were further scrutinized through molecular dynamics simulations, revealing their interaction dynamics with Mpro. Subsequent in vitro assays using the SARS-2 Mpro enzyme identified two compounds exhibiting significant micromolar inhibitory activity. These findings provide valuable scaffolds for the development of advanced therapeutics targeting Mpro. The comprehensive nature of our approach, spanning computational predictions to experimental validations, offers a robust pathway for rapid and efficient identification of potential drug candidates against COVID-19.
Human genetic variation determines 24-hour rhythmic gene expression and disease risk
Authors: Guan Dongyin , Chen Ying , Liu Panpan , Sabo Aniko
Published: August 2024

24-hour biological rhythms are essential to maintain physiological homeostasis. Disruption of these rhythms increases the risks of multiple diseases. The biological rhythms are known to have a genetic basis formed by core clock genes, but how individual genetic variation shapes the oscillating transcriptome and contributes to human chronophysiology and disease risk is largely unknown. Here, we mapped interactions between temporal gene expression and genotype to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) contributing to rhythmic gene expression. These newly identified QTLs were termed as rhythmic QTLs (rhyQTLs), which determine previously unappreciated rhythmic genes in human subpopulations with specific genotypes. Functionally, rhyQTLs and their associated rhythmic genes contribute extensively to essential chronophysiological processes, including bile acid and lipid metabolism. The identification of rhyQTLs sheds light on the genetic mechanisms of gene rhythmicity, offers mechanistic insights into variations in human disease risk, and enables precision chronotherapeutic approaches for patients.
Neurofeedback for Anorexia — RelaxNeuron — Aimed in Dissolving the Root Neuronal Cause
Authors: Matsuyanagi Kana
Published: August 2024

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by an relentless pursuit of thinness and strict restriction of food. The current therapeutic approaches for AN predominantly revolve around outpatient psychotherapies, which create significant financial barriers for the majority of affected patients, hindering their access to treatment. Nonetheless, AN exhibits one of the highest mortality and relapse rates among psychological disorders, underscoring the urgent need to provide patients with an affordable self-treatment tool, enabling those unable to access conventional medical intervention to address their condition autonomously. To this end, a novel neurofeedback software, termed RelaxNeuron, was developed with the objective of providing an economical and portable means to aid individuals in self-managing AN. Electroencephalography was chosen as the preferred modality for RelaxNeuron, as it aligns with the study's goal of supplying a cost-effective and convenient solution for addressing AN. The primary aim of the software is to ameliorate the negative emotional responses towards food stimuli and the accompanying aberrant eye-tracking patterns observed in AN patients, ultimately alleviating the profound fear towards food—an elemental symptom and, conceivably, the fundamental etiology of AN. The core functionality of RelaxNeuron hinges on the acquisition and analysis of Electroencephalography signals, alongside an electrocardiogram signal, to infer the user's emotional state while viewing dynamic food-related imagery on the screen. Moreover, the software quantifies the user's performance in accurately tracking the moving food image. Subsequently, these two parameters undergo further processing in the subsequent algorithm, informing the delivery of either negative or positive feedback to the user. Preliminary test results have exhibited promising outcomes, suggesting the potential advantages of employing RelaxNeuron in the treatment of AN, as evidenced by its capacity to enhance emotional regulation and attentional processing through repetitive and persistent therapeutic interventions.
Characterization and Antifungal Potential of Green-Synthesized Copper Nanoparticles Using Waste Leaf Biomass
Authors: Yadava Yathin Puchery , Raju Vishnu , Chathoth Anish Mavila , Vasu Anoop Elaveettil , Vijayaraghavan Reshmy , Surendran Aneesh Kunnapillil
Published: August 2024

The synthesis of metal nanoparticles is of great interest among the research community due to their versatile physical, chemical and antimicrobial properties and myriads of applications. Researchers across the world employ various protocols to synthesize metallic nanoparticles. However, the synthesis of nanoparticles using biomaterials, i.e., green synthesis, has advantages over conventional methods because they use toxic reagents and produce harmful byproducts. In this study, plant leaf extracts rich in flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, and alkaloids obtained from four different species-neem, teak, senna and lantana-were used to synthesize copper nanoparticles from CuSO4 (0.1 M) solution. Plant extracts act as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents simultaneously. Characterization via UV‒Vis spectroscopy, FE-SEM, EDXS, FT-IR, TGA and XRD as well as yield analysis was performed for the green synthesized CuNPs. The maximum yield was obtained from teak leaf extract followed by senna, lantana and neem. FE-SEM images revealed the shape and nano dimension of the CuNPs. The presence of CuNPs was also confirmed from the UV‒Vis spectra which showed a characteristic peak between 300 and 350 nm. The CuNPs were further analyzed through EDXS, FTIR, XRD and TGA which showed characteristic peak regions in the graph. Additionally, the antifungal potential of the CuNPs was tested using Corynespora cassiicola by the poison food technique. Overall, this study provides an insight into the importance of selecting suitable plant extracts for the production of CuNPs in a cost effective and environmentally friendly way.
Clinical significance of Serum APOC2 in type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess
Authors: Huang Ying , Chen Xiaoqin , Guo Hongyan , Zhang Xin , Hu Yuhai , Chen Tianbin
Published: August 2024

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic value of serum APOC2 in patients with diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess.
Methods: From April 2023 to July 2023, 77 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were included in The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University which divided into two groups: diabetes mellitus (n=55) and diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess (n=22). Additionally, 27 healthy individuals served as the control group. Serum APOC2 levels were detected and compared among the groups. ROC curve and logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum APOC2.
Results: Serum APOC2 levels were significantly higher in diabetes mellitus patients compared to the healthy control group (4.681 vs 3.490 mg/dL, P=0.008). In diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess patients, APOC2 levels were significantly reduced (4.681 vs 2.470 mg/dL, P<0.001), but increased post-treatment (2.470 vs 4.323 mg/dL, P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed high diagnostic accuracy for serum APOC2 in diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess (AUC=0.945, 95% CI: 0.870-0.999). Logistic regression analysis revealed that reduced serum APOC2 levels are a risk factor for diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess (OR=0.02, 95% CI=0.01~0.16, P=0.012). The diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess patients with lower APOC2 levels had higher ALT (101 U/L vs 31 U/L, P=0.038) and AST levels (55 U/L vs 28 U/L, P=0.007), suggesting that reduced serum APOC2 levels are associated with liver function damage.
Conclusion: Serum APOC2 levels were significantly decreased in patients with diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess, serving as a potential marker for predicting the occurrence of this condition. Lower levels of APOC2 are strongly linked to liver function impairment.
Morbidity and Mortality Conference in Ophthalmology: Pilot Study on Maximizing Quality while Optimizing Education
Authors: Mudalegundi Shwetha , Melson Andrew , Zhang Alice Yang , Tu Daniel , Rosenberg Jamie , Moore Daniel , Knoch Daniel , Kang Jessica Minjy , Woreta Fasika , Green Laura , Swamy Ramya , Tannan Anjali , Ramanathan Saras
Published: August 2024

Purpose/Background: Discussion of medical and surgical adverse events between peers and learners allows for all members of the learning community to benefit from lessons learned while assessing and resolving that situation. Little is known about the ways academic ophthalmology departments discuss adverse events, or how those discussions impact attending and resident education. This pilot study surveys US academic ophthalmology residency programs using a mixed methods analysis to determine the current frequency, structure, purpose, and outcomes of morbidity and mortality or other quality improvement conferences.
Design/Methods: An 25-item electronic questionnaire was e-mailed to 121 program directors with a request to each PD to forward the same 25-item questionnaire to their respective residents. The response period was between May 2023 and July 2023, with two reminders. Questionnaire items were grouped into the following themes: demographics; timing, frequency, and structure; purpose and goals; perceived outcome; and obstacles/areas for improvement.
Results: Responses were received from 30/121 (25%) of program directors and 26/1989 (1%) residents. The majority or 31/56 (56%) of respondents’ programs held M&M conferences quarterly, while the frequency range was weekly to quarterly. Residents involved in the patient’s care often were the ones to present (51%) cases which were usually determined by a provider-generated list (53%). Most respondents reported the lack of an anonymous case submission method (75%) and only 31% of participants stated that they had a formalized process for following up on systems issues identified in M&M. The primary obstacle to effective M&Ms was reported to be the fear of judgement/embarrassment or repercussions.
Conclusion: There is significant variation in the way complications are discussed in ophthalmology departments across the country. This study demonstrates a near universal need for increased frequency and duration of M&Ms, a formal complication/mistake reporting system, and a formal follow-up on systems issues identified during M&M. These best practices can benefit the culture around discussing complications and increase adoption of M&M conferences in ophthalmology to facilitate better patient safety and outcomes.
Espousing Environmental Pollution Management and Control by Exploring the Bioenergy Properties of Coconut Shell Nanoparticles
Authors: Abubakar Ruhiya , Aymeric N’da Comoe Axel , Acakpovi Amevi , Anabiah Solomon Nsor
Published: August 2024

Energy in all forms is a key requirement for human livelihoods and socio-economic development. However, overreliance on a single sthece of energy can cause energy management issues because of the occurrence of system over-burdening. Thus, the utilization of other forms of energy is highly promoted worldwide, with a clear emphasis on enhancing environmentalism and reducing pollution through waste management and control. This paper considers the use of digital image processing in the form of pattern recognition to extract the pattern of a coconut shell and charcoal wood to show the correlation between their patterns and thus deduce the energy properties of the coconut shell. A 3D camera is used to capture the digital image of the preprocessed coconut shell. The appropriate algorithm is then written on the MATLAB software toolbox to manipulate and translate the digital images, hence revealing its hidden nature. The technical process of scrutinizing the hidden properties involves the changes of pixels of the images, enhancement and thresholding; which is the pattern revealing step. Finally, the automatic pattern recognition toolbox acts to recognize the resemblance of the pattern of the coconut shells to the wood charcoal in order to analyze the pattern directly and determine the energy property percentage indices of the agent under test. The results indicate that coconut shells is carbon based, first- generation bioenergy crop and has high bioenergy properties and again a lower ignition property compared to charcoal wood.
Performance Comparison Of SDN Controllers In Different Network Topologies
Authors: Ali Umair
Published: August 2024

The development of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) has completely changed the way networks are optimized and controlled. Still, network topologies and SDN controller performance are important factors that need to be thoroughly examined. In this study the evaluation of four well-known SDN controllers: Ryu, Floodlight, OpenDayLight, and ONOS across five different network topologies: Single, Linear, Tree, Torus, and Custom are examined. We conducted extensive experiments using Mininet and Iperf to measure latency, jitter, packet loss, and throughput. It is clear from the results that Ryu performs better than the others, and Linear topology is the most effective. Notably, the best performance is obtained when Ryu and Linear topology work together. Our results suggest that Ryu and linear topology are the best combination for high-performance networks, which has significant implications for the design and deployment of SDN networks. On the other hand, other controllers and topologies are more suitable for certain use cases, such as large networks, research and development, small networks, and custom applications. this study provides invaluable information for researchers, practitioners, and network administrators looking to maximize SDN network performance and realize its full potential.
A challenging case of drug-induced cholestatic liver injury: How to approach?
Authors: Badwei Nourhan
Published: August 2024

Background
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) of cholestatic pattern presents a significant burden to the health care system. It is one of the most challenging liver disorders faced by hepatologists. It can have several histological features of different prognoses. The diagnosis depends on the exclusion of other related differential diagnoses. However, there is insufficient data on effective therapeutic strategies for such disorders.
Case presentation:
A female patient presenting with jaundice and pruritis that was eventually diagnosed as DILI of cholestatic pattern after exclusion of various related D.D.
Conclusion
we aimed to summarize the issues related to pathophysiology, clinical approach and management of such a challenging liver disorder.
Alterations of White Matter Structure in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Studies
Authors: Lotfinia Shahab , Afshar Amin , Roozbeh Mahrooz , Pakdaman Hossein , Roozbeh Mehrdad
Published: August 2024

Background
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition with numerous and varied symptoms. Abnormal central pain processing underlies fibromyalgia, according to brain imaging studies. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) has effectively been used in pain research. In this research, we review studies that have used DTI for assessing white matter changes in patients with fibromyalgia.
Method
A systematic review on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted. Studies using DTI were included if they had compared the white matter changes in patients with fibromyalgia with controls. Studies with other imaging techniques and with languages other than English were excluded.
Results
The analysis included the results of 10 articles in which 215 patients were examined with DTI. The findings revealed widespread white matter brain abnormalities in regions such as the thalamus, frontal cortex, corpus callosum, and global white matter organization.
Discussion
This review provides primary evidence of white matter organization changes in patients with fibromyalgia. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between these white matter changes and the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia, as well as to develop more effective treatment strategies for this debilitating condition.
Psychoeducation Interventions after Brain Injury – A Scoping Review
Authors: Dulhanty Louise , Patel Hiren
Published: August 2024

Background and aims: Psychoeducation is an intervention which involves structured disease specific information and support aimed at improving coping and understanding. Evidence has shown that this type of intervention improves outcome in mental illness and other medical illnesses. The aim of this scoping review is to identify the available evidence and key concepts relating to psychoeducational interventions following acute brain injury.
Methods: This review was reported in line with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. Three electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO) were searched for articles relating to psychoeducation interventions following acute brain injury. Search retrieved 5.492 articles (after removal of duplicates), titles, abstracts and full texts were screened, and data extracted for included studies. The quality of randomised control studies was assessed using JADAD scale. TIDieR scale was used to describe interventions.
Results: Twenty-seven studies were included with a total of 1726 participants. Eighteen of the studies were randomised control studies, all with a JADAD score ≥ 2.
Thirteen studies were in stroke, eight in traumatic brain injury and six in acquired brain injury. There was heterogeneity in study design, intervention and outcome measures used. Eleven randomised control studies showed significant improvements in fatigue, emotion, or quality of life.
Conclusion: Psychoeducation may improve life after brain injury, however interventions to date have been varied and used a wide range of outcome measures. Standardisation would be needed to facilitate reproducibility.
Diagnostic accuracy of LiquidArray MTB-XDR VER1.0 for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, fluoroquinolone, amikacin, ethambutol, and linezolid susceptibility
Authors: Grant Theron
Published: August 2024

Drug susceptibility testing (DST) is essential for effectively starting people on effective tuberculosis (TB) regimens. No accuracy data exists for the new high-throughput LiquidArray MTB-XDR (LA-XDR) test, which detects Mycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex (MTBC) and susceptibility to the fluoroquinolones, amikacin, ethambutol, and linezolid (the latter two drugs have no rapid molecular DSTs available). We enrolled (n=720) people with presumptive TB who provided two sputa for Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and culture (MTBC reference standard). Phenotypic DST and Sanger sequencing served as a composite reference standard. Manual FluoroLyse and automated GenoXtract-fleXT (fleXT) DNA extraction methods were compared. For MTBC, LA-XDR using fleXT-extracted or FluoroLyse-extracted DNA had similar sensitivities (85-87%; which improved upon eluate retesting) and specificities (99%). Drug susceptibility sensitivities varied: 94% (86, 98) for fluoroquinolones, 64% (45, 80) for amikacin, and 88% (79, 93) for ethambutol (specificities 97-100%). LA-XDR detected 86% (6/7) phenotypically resistant linezolid isolates. LA-XDR with fleXT had indeterminate proportions of 8% (21/251) for fluoroquinolones, 1% (2/251) for ethambutol, 25% (63/251) for amikacin, and 37% (93/251) for linezolid. In a hypothetical population of 100 smear-negative fluoroquinolones-resistant cases, 24% (24/100) could be missed due to an unsuccessful result (1 fleXT error and, for LA-XDR, 2 invalid results, 15 MTBC-negative, 6 fluoroquinolone-indeterminate, 1 false-susceptible). LA-XDR met the minimum WHO target product profile for a next-generation sputum-based moderate complexity DST with high sensitivity for fluoroquinolones and ethambutol resistance, moderate sensitivity for amikacin resistance, and promise for linezolid resistance, for which more data are needed. Improved MTBC detection would reduce missed resistance.
The Role of Ecotourism in Sustainable Development: A Comprehensive Systematic Review
Authors: Patil Shivanand , Pattanshetti Muragesh
Published: August 2024

Ecotourism, as a form of sustainable tourism, has gained prominence for its potential to promote environmental conservation, economic growth, and cultural preservation. This systematic review explores the multifaceted impacts of ecotourism on sustainable development by analyzing 250 peer-reviewed studies published over the last 20 years. The methodology employed includes a comprehensive search of databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus, followed by a rigorous screening and quality assessment process based on established criteria. The findings indicate that ecotourism significantly contributes to environmental conservation through funding and awareness, although it can also pose challenges such as wildlife disturbance and habitat degradation if not properly managed. Economically, ecotourism creates jobs, supports local businesses, and funds conservation projects, while culturally, it aids in the preservation of heritage and promotes respect for indigenous practices. Effective governance and community involvement are critical for the success and sustainability of ecotourism initiatives. The review underscores the importance of policy development, capacity building, and robust monitoring systems to enhance the positive impacts of ecotourism. Future research should focus on detailed case studies, longitudinal analyses, and impact assessments to further understand and optimize the role of ecotourism in sustainable development.
Evaluating and Improving Patient Satisfaction with Health-care Quality Standards in Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Kumar Nitish , Sharma Neeraj Kumar
Published: August 2024

The level of contentment shown by one’s patients is a crucial indicator of quality. Measuring patient satisfaction is useful for several purposes, including investigation, management, and strategic development. Patient happiness should be used as a yardstick for measuring the effectiveness of medical professionals in their daily work. Whole quality management relies heavily on patient happiness as a metric of success. The ultimate goal of any survey of in-patients should be to have those staying at the facility feel as satisfied as possible with their care.
Effects of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers on the Immune System of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Challenged Hamsters
Authors: Mubbunu Lumamba , Simukoko Humphrey , ombe Bernard Hang’ , Mwaanga Edwell
Published: August 2024

The severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 observed in patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus disease have created controversy as to why this was the case and the role of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin enzyme inhibitors was not ruled out as a contributing factor. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and ARBs on respiratory immunity. The study used a Syrian hamster as an animal model to study the effects of ARBs and ACEIs on the immune system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-challenged hamsters; fever was a response variable. The hamsters were randomly separated into three groups of six. One group was administered enalapril, another with losartan, and the last group was administered water for 30 days. After 30 days, the hamsters were inoculated with 0.2 mL of 1.5 × 108 cfu/mL of P. aeruginosa. After 18 h from the inoculation time, the temperature was taken every 2 h for 36 h. The temperature in all groups ranged from 35.5°C to 37.2°C with an average of 36.1°C and there was no mortality recorded at the end of 14 days. The results were analyzed using Dunnett multiple comparisons analysis of variance using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27. There were no significant differences in temperature between hamsters treated with enalapril or losartan and those treated with water (control). In addition, no hamster developed fever. In conclusion, enalapril and losartan may not negatively affect the respiratory immunity. Effects of ACEIs and ARBs on the immune system of P. aeruginosa challenged hamsters.
Proniosome-Based Transdermal Drug Delivery of Resveratrol
Authors: Sharma Bhawana , Mishra Amul , Sharma Piush , Garg Shiv , Dwivedi Abhishek , Rathor Savita
Published: August 2024

Vesicular systems have been receiving a lot of interest as a carrier for advanced drug delivery. The present investigation aimed at the development and characterization of proniosome based transdermal delivery of resveratrol. The proniosomal structure was a liquid crystalline-compact niosomes hybrid which could be converted into niosomes upon hydration by skin itself. To optimize the formulation, various proniosomes composed of various ratios of sorbitan fatty acid esters, polysorbates, cholesterol, and lecithin were prepared by the coacervation-phase separation method. From each of the prepared proniosomes, the entrapment efficiency with span 60 was found to be the highest. The effects of cholesterol, phospholipids, and solvents were also assessed. Optimized formulation was characterized for entrapment efficiency, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, in vitro release study, vesicle size, and stability studies at 4°C and room temperature. Thus, proniosome was found to be a promising carrier system for resveratrol because of ease of preparation and better bioavailability.
Effect of Psychological First Aid Training on Knowledge and Self-efficacy of Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Nair Rathish , Mohanan Keerthi , Jayakrishnan K. , Jain Meha , Thomas Priyanka Elizabeth , Visanth V. S. , Ranjan Alok
Published: August 2024

Psychological first aid (PFA) is an approach used to provide first-hand psychosocial support to individuals who are exposed to the acute aftermath of an adversity such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though PFA is being used worldwide at times of disasters or emergencies, few researches have been carried out in terms of PFA training of health care professionals. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the effect of PFA training on knowledge and self-efficacy of nurses. A two-armed randomized controlled trial was utilized in the study. Purposive sampling technique with random allocation and assessments at 3 time points was applied. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires and socio-demographic variables performa. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric tests as data were not normally distributed. The findings of the Wilcoxon sign-rank test ranks of knowledge were (Z = −3.53, P < 0.01) and (Z = −1.3, P = 1.92) among experimental and control groups. Meanwhile, scores of self-efficacy for both groups were (Z = −4.26, P < 0.01) and (Z = −1.04, P = 0.3). Mann Whitney U-test revealed non-significant scores (U = 895.00, P = 1.99) for knowledge and significant scores (U = 798.50, P = 0.043) for self-efficacy. The findings of the Friedman test of differences showed results that were significant (15.24 at P < 0.01) in the intervention group and non-significant (2.28 at P = 0.32) in the control group for knowledge and self-efficacy. Overall, study findings demonstrated that the necessary training of nurses on PFA aids in building knowledge and self-efficacy in rendering psychosocial interventions.
Knowledge and Beliefs Regarding Physiotherapy among General Population: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Sharma Vishali , Suhail Ammar , Quais Sarah
Published: August 2024

Physiotherapy is an established health-care profession that assists individuals in maintaining, improving, and restoring body functions to live a disability-free life. Lack of education and awareness among the general population may affect the use of physiotherapy care. At large, awareness and beliefs affect the autonomy, growth, and utilization of physiotherapy services. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey of the general population was conducted to investigate knowledge and beliefs. The survey yielded a total of 138 responses. The survey consisted of three sections: introduction, essential information, and questions related to knowledge and beliefs about physiotherapy (PT) practice. The majority of the respondents were aware of physiotherapy (87%). A low level of awareness was found about consulting a physiotherapist as the first contact practitioner; 69% (n = 95) of respondents said they needed a referral for physiotherapy services. Most study participants, 87% (n = 120), lacked awareness of various specialties in physiotherapy. Some prevailing beliefs were identified within the population, with 88% (n = 122) holding the notion that “physiotherapy is always painful.” In addition, most respondents expressed that physiotherapy services are crucial for patients in the intensive care unit. Although the study participants were aware of the term physiotherapy, many other domains related to physiotherapy need to be highlighted, and the public needs to be informed about the scope of physiotherapy practice and its role in the health-care system.
Perceptions of Self-directed Learning among Preclinical Medical Students at Universiti Teknologi MARA
Authors:   Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia, Abdul Nasir Nurul Alimah , Hong Wei Han ,   Medical Education and Research Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Pallath Vinod ,   Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Published: August 2024

Self-directed learning (SDL) is an important aspect of lifelong learning. Medical knowledge is constantly changing, so, medical students need good SDL abilities to ensure improvement in their academic performance and future work service. This study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of SDL abilities among preclinical medical students at Universiti Teknologi MARA and identify the factors that motivated or discouraged them to undertake SDL. A validated 20-item SDL instrument (SDLI) was used to assess the SDL abilities of the students. They were also asked to respond to open-ended questions about the influencing factors in implementing SDL. The 232 respondents were comprised of Year 1 and Year 2 medical students. The mean SDLI scores of the respondents were higher than those obtained in other studies using the same instrument, indicating these respondents had good SDL abilities. No significant differences in SDLI scores were identified in terms of gender, academic background, or academic year. Important promoting factors for implementing SDL reports included guidance from lecturers or faculty, as well as support from friends and family. Distractions from current technology and social media were listed as significant discouraging factors for implementing SDL. The influencing factors reported in this study should assist the faculty in designing appropriate teaching-learning activities that guide and support SDL.
Experiential Learning Values Based on Kolb Theory: A Qualitative Output in the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Authors:   Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia, Ahmad Anisa , Abd Rahim Ahmad Fuad ,   Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia, Wan Mohammad Wan Mohd Zahiruddin ,   Department of Public Health, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti ains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia, Mat Nor Mohd Zarawi ,   Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia
Published: August 2024

Clinical placements serve as workplace-based experiences, which is essential for medical students to develop their skills to become competent doctors. Multiple teaching and learning methods are implemented to achieve these goals, e.g. lectures, problem-based learning, simulations, community-based education, and work-place based learning, i.e. in hospital settings. Three online focus group discussion (FGD) were conducted to explore student’s experiential learning in clinical placement. Thematic analyses were implemented to emerge the themes. Nine themes which were derived: authentic work-process experience, gaining insights from patient conditions, contextual feedback, conceptualised professional attributes, ideate future career, enhance self-regulation, practice communicative approach, practice collaborative learning and acquisition of clinical skills. The themes were discussed according to the phases in the Kolb experiential learning cycle. The findings can serve as the basis for reflection and feedback in clinical placements.