bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Community-Based Nursing Intervention for Asthmatic Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Chiqiong , He Fengying
Published: October 2023

Background: Preventive care can support and direct the nurse's efforts to deliver an asthma intervention for children as part of nursing interventions. Despite the significance, there have been few meta studies demonstrating the effectiveness of nursing interventions for the treatment of childhood asthma that includes only randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Therefore, this meta study was conducted to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of nursing care interventions for the management of childhood asthma.
Methods: STATA 14.2 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA) was used to conduct the meta-analysis. From 1964 to July 2022, we searched Medline, the Cochrane library, EMBASE, Scopus Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Depending on the type of outcome, a meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model, pooled weight mean difference (WMD), standardised mean difference (SMD), and/or risk ratio (RR) with stated 95 percent confidence intervals (CIs). PRISMA guidelines were followed for conducing this study.
Results: Nine studies were analysed in total. The pooled RR for emergency visits was 0.49 (95%CI: 0.32 to 0.77), for hospitalizations was 0.64 (95%CI: 0.21 to 1.89). The pooled SMD for frequency of asthma attacks was -2.88 (95%CI: -3.22 to -2.54), quality of life was 0.49 (95%CI: 0.22 to 0.75) and asthma control was 1.25 (95%CI: -0.77 to 3.28).
Conclusion: Paediatric asthma patients who received nursing interventions reported an improved quality of life and a decrease in emergencies and acute attacks due to asthma. Future RCTs should focus on uncovering the short- and long-term effects of these nursing interventions to provide optimal management and care.
Reporting on the Status of Nutrition Programs of Higher Education in the Syrian Arab Republic: A Current Snapshot
Authors: Mahrous Lana , Benajiba Nada , Dodge Elizabeth , Bakri Anoud N. , Salsa Ghadir Helal , Chavarria Enmanuel A. , Aboul-Enein Basil H.
Published: October 2023

Background: The Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) is experiencing high rates of malnutrition. While many adults experience overweight and obesity, as a direct result of the continuing conflict, SAR is also noted as one of the most food-insecure regions in the Arab world. To combat the health impacts and outcomes related to diet and dietary behaviors, trained nutrition professionals are needed. We aimed to examine current nutrition-affiliated programs offered in post-secondary institutions in the SAR.
Methods: The search was conducted between Jan and Feb 2021. An electronic review of universities and colleges’ websites, department webpages, and academic programs’ homepages and resources of all the private and public universities in SAR was conducted to find programs related to nutrition, nutrition sciences, and dietetics.
Results: Only 13%, or 4 out of 30 SAR colleges and universities had bachelor’s programs in nutrition or nutrition science, and none had nutrition programs at the graduate or terminal degree levels.
Conclusion: A pathway for integration of graduates from nutrition sciences into the healthcare and public health workforce should be defined and an understanding of the value of those with a degree in nutrition should be cultivated in clinical and community care settings. Partnering with existing or creating independent organizations charged with defining the scope of practice and ensuring educational quality and competence of graduating students, as well as readiness to practice as part of a healthcare team or in a public health nutrition role will be integral to moving the nutrition profession forward in the SAR.
Analyzing a New Model of Medical Tourism Policy: Target Country-Specific Models and Marketing Strategies
Authors: Kim Kyoung-Lee , Seo Byung-Ro
Published: October 2023

Background: The three-year the pandemic has increased the preference for "safer and healthier" medical tourism destinations at a global level. Busan in South Korea aims to increase its competitiveness as a "medical city" destination. This study aimed to explore the best marketing strategies designed based on country-specific attraction model.
Methods: We collected data from surveys with 10 participants of a focus group from the medical tourism field in Busan and 352 participants of doctors, stakeholders, and moderators working in the medical tourism field in Nov and Dec 2022 to investigate key success factors for the medical tourism in Busan.
Results: The interview identified key target countries and effective strategies such as ease of visa acquisition, non-face-to-face care, insurance billing systems, foreign language expertise, win-win systems for agencies and healthcare organizations, and international accessibility. When participants were asked about their country-specific attraction for patients, they ranked healthcare quality and tourism resources as both important and satisfactory. Although cultural environment, economic support, and administrative support were ranked important, they were less satisfactory. For Japanese patients, the infrastructure showed high levels of importance and satisfaction.
Conclusion: This study identified specific items for a new model of patient attraction customized to target countries. This model was based on cultural background and preferences of each target country. Strategies are needed to strengthen the cultural environment and administrative support. Results of this study can be used to promote medical cities through target specific policies.
Identification of Family with Sequence Similarity 110 Member C (FAM110C) as a Candidate Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Glioma
Authors: Ren Deshuai , Zhuang Xiaoyu , Lv Yanxin , Zhang Yun , Xu Jiazhi , Gao Fengquan , Chen Dagang , Wang Yu
Published: October 2023

Background: Gliomas are the most frequent and dangerous primary cerebral tumors. Therefore, there is a need to develop molecular targets for the diagnosis and treatment for glioma.
Methods: In September 2020, we retrieved the expression matrix of glioblastoma (GBM) sufferers and pertinent clinical data from the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database. Prognostic differences between various families with sequence similarity 110 member C (FAM110C) expression groups were assessed by Kaplan-Meier with log-rank test. The R platform get used to assess the accuracy of FAM110C delivery in predicting the prognosis of PDAC using a time-dependent receptor operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The delivery level of FAM110C was determined by qRT-PCR and western blot. Gene set enrichment investigated possible mechanisms between different FAM110C expression groups in GBM (GSEA). The impact of FAM110C on glioma cell movement was discovered using migration test. The drug's gene-targeting impact was validated by the CCK8 test.
Results: A total of 173 GBM samples were obtained from the TCGA database, with 148 including information on IDH1 mutations and 151 containing information on overall survival. The mRNA expression level of FAM110C was greater in wild-type GBM, according to qRT-PCR data. The connection between FAM110C expression and Hallmark, GO, and KEGG pathway gene sets was investigated using GSEA software. We used migration test to assess the impact of FAM110C on glioma motility in order to confirm the findings of the GSEA analysis.
Conclusion: FAM110C might get used as a possible diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for wild-type GBM, and its inhibition could be used to prevention and treatment wild-type GBM.
Influence of Early Family Nurturing Environment on Children’s Psychological and Emotional Social Development
Authors: Wang Yujie
Published: October 2023

Background: A good family environment and rearing mode play important roles in children’s physical and psychological growth. This study aims to clarify the specific influence of early family nurturing environment on children’s emotional and social development through longitudinal observation to provide theoretical reference for promoting the healthy development of children’s bodies and minds.
Methods: Overall, 1320 parents of children aged 2 to 6 yr old in Xinyang City, Henan Province in 2021, were selected by stratified sampling. The children’s physical and mental development, family rearing environment and emotional and social development were investigated by questionnaire.
Results: 58.03% family rearing environment is good, 27.95% normal, and 14.02% bad. There were significant differences in positive rates of adaptive ability, social behavior, language, developmental quotient score and emotional sociality among children in different families (all P<0.05). Language/cognition was significantly positively correlated with adaptive ability, social behavior, language and developmental quotient (all P<0.05), and social adjustment/self-care was significantly positively correlated with adaptive ability, social behavior, language and developmental quotient (all P<0.05). Emotional warmth/environmental atmosphere was negatively correlated with implicit behavior and disorder and positively correlated with ability (all P<0.05). Language/cognition was positively correlated with explicit behavior and ability (all P<0.05). Social adjustment/self-care was negatively correlated with explicit behavior and positively correlated with ability (all P<0.05); Neglect/punishment was significantly negatively correlated with explicit behavior, implicit behavior and disorder and significantly positively correlated with ability (all P<0.05).
Conclusion: The early family environment affects children’s physical, mental, emotional and social development.
The Burden of Premature Mortality in Southern Iran during 2004-2019 Using Standard Expected Years of Life Lost: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Mirahmadizadeh Alireza , Hassanzadeh Jafar , Janfada Maryam , Azarbakhsh Habibollah
Published: October 2023

Background: Traditionally, mortality rates are used to estimate public health problems and determine the relative significance of different causes of mortality, but they cannot necessarily determine the burden of premature death.  We aimed to investigate the 16-year trend of burden of premature mortality in Southern Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all deaths due to various causes of death in Fars Province from the electronic population-based death registration system (EDRS) were obtained. Crude and age-standardized mortality rate, Years of Life Lost (YLL) and YLL rate data were calculated and to examine the trend, joinpoint regression was used.  
Results: During the study period, 281,903 deaths occurred, of which, 59.85% (n=168,735) occurred in men. Also, 42.18% of these deaths (n=118,610) occurred due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The total number of YLLs due to premature death was 4,154,828 years. Of these, 2,591,564 years (62.37%) were in men. The highest number of YLL was due to CVDs, external causes of death and cancer. Trend of YLL rate due to premature mortality was decreasing: the annual percent change (APC) was -2.1% (95% CI -2.6 to -1.6, P<0.001) for males, -0.9% (95% CI -1.4 to -0.4, P=0.002) (P=0.002) for females.
Conclusion: Although the trend of premature death has been decreasing during the years of study, but the seven major causes of premature death in 2004 to 2019 were non-communicable diseases, especially ischemic heart diseases, stroke, external cause of morbidity, and cancer.  Furthermore, our findings indicate a change in the role of non-communicable diseases in premature mortality in recent years.
Factors Affecting Survival of Patients with Cervical Cancer
Authors: Hasankhani Mohammadreza Balooch , Jahani Yunes , Bazrafshan Azam , Yazdizadeh Ashraf , Karamoozian Ali
Published: October 2023

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. We aimed to identify the factors affecting the survival rate of cervical cancer patients, as these factors are vital for preventing the progression and effective treatment of cancer.
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 254 patients with cervical cancer who were registered in The Kerman Population-Based Cancer Registry (KPBCR) between 2012 and 2022 and whose status was known to be alive or dead were enrolled. Since the proportional hazard assumption was not established for the type of treatment, the extended Cox model was used to determine the variables influencing the survival of the patients.
Results: The mean survival time of the patients was 91.28 ± 3.02 months. The results of fitting the extended Cox model showed that the risk of death increases by 1.02 per year of age at diagnosis (HR=1.02; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.04). Moreover, for a one-unit increase in body mass index (BMI), the risk of death increased by 0.93 (HR=0.93; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.98). The risk of death in patients with disease stages III&IV was 3.08 times that of patients with disease stages I&II (HR=3.08; 95% CI: 1.05, 9.03). The risk of death in patients receiving at least one of the radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments after 18 months was 7.11 times that of patients undergoing surgery (HR=7.11; 95% CI: 1.69, 29.91).
Conclusion: The age of diagnosis, BMI, disease stage, and type of treatment significantly affect the survival of patients. Thus, raising women's awareness of periodical examinations and early diagnosis can reduce the risk of death and prevent cervical cancer progression.
Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Pharyngeal Airway According to Craniofacial Morphology
Authors: Ahn Hyun-Na , Jeon Eun-Young , Park Sa-Beom , Park Jong-Tae
Published: October 2023

The Article Abstract is not available.
To Be or Not to Be: Addressing of PRISMA Checklist for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Authors: Amiri Fatemeh , Shiani Amir , Mirzaei Maryam
Published: October 2023

The Article Abstract is not available.
Management of Injury Risk for Continuous Participation in Badminton
Authors: Jeon Jin-Wook , Cho Ji-Hoon
Published: October 2023

The Article Abstract is not available.
Intercultural education through awakening to languages approach
Authors:   Global Studeis Education Association, Bae Jin Ah
Published: October 2023

The awakening to languages approach originated in the 1980s with Eric Hawkins' awareness of language movement in the United Kingdom, and today it has attracted great attention in Europe and many countries around the world. The awakening to languages approach based on plurilingualism, which values an individual's use of various languages, recognizing and respecting linguistic and cultural diversity. This approach is also highly related to intercultural education and is considered an essential educational approach to the current situation in Korea, where a multicultural society is accelerating. This study introduces the awakening to languages approach and programs based on it, which are drawing great attention in Europe and North America. It also examines the implications that the awakening to languages approach can bring to multicultural education in Korea as part of intercultural education.
The Role of Masyumi's Book "Djihad dan Qitaal" in Indonesia's Post-Independence War Efforts: A Historical and Legal Appraisal of Islamic Jus in Bello
Authors: Muhammadin Fajri Matahati , El-Mechwar Fairuz
Published: October 2023

During the post-Independence wars in Indonesia, Masyumi as the largest Islamic political party played a significant role in encouraging the Muslims to fight against the Kingdom of the Netherlands who wanted to reclaim Indonesia. Among Masyumi’s contribution to this effort was the publication of a book entitled “Djihad dan Qitaal” written by KH E. Abdoerrahman. This book serves as an Islamic guide for jihad fi sabilillah by outlining at least three things: (a) the necessity of jihad during that time in history, (b) the virtues of jihad in Islam, and (c) the principles of lawful conduct of jihad or “Islamic jus in bello”. Especially focusing on item (c) above, this research utilizes literature research and interview (obtaining secondary data) to examine the text and context of this book to see the extent of its contribution both from a historical and legal perspective. For the legal perspective, this research explores both the Islamic laws of war (fiqh al-jihad) and the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) applicable at the time around the publication of the book. It is hypothesized that Masyumi’s “Djihad dan Qitaal” not only was an essential contribution to the post-independence war efforts at the time, but that it also provides important legal resources and strengthen compliance to the Islamic laws of war and IHL.
Infant mortality before and during COVID-19 pandemic in a district of Istanbul
Authors: ÇAVDAR Sabanur , TOKAÇ FARIMAZ Ayşe Zülal , KÜÇÜKALİ Hüseyin , PALTEKİ Ayşe Seval , ATAÇ Ömer , HAYRAN Osman
Published: October 2023

Objective: The infant mortality rate is one of the most important indicators providing information on maternal and infant health. It can be affected by changes of social and environmental factors. The aim of this study is to evaluate infant mortality in 2019 and 2020 years at the local level, considering the beginning of the pandemic period. Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study are infants registered in a district of Istanbul in 2019 and 2020. Infant mortality rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were calculated. Antenatal healthcare and delivery practices in addition to the underlying risk factors for infant deaths were identified and compared by the year of mortality. All study data were collected from the district health information system. Results: Fifty-one infant deaths included in the study were residents of the district. Infant mortality rates were calculated as 4.8 and 5.1 per thousand live births for the years 2019 and 2020. Neonatal mortality rates were 3.9 and 2.7; postneonatal mortality rates were 0.9 and 2.4 per thousand live births, respectively by the years. No statistically significant difference was found between maternal and infant characteristics of the two years. The number of pregnancy follow-up records was significantly higher for the infants that died in 2020 compared to 2019. Yet, there wasn’t any difference in number of prenatal physician visits. Conclusion: Increase in the infant mortality rate during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period is due to postneonatal mortality. The increase in postneonatal mortality is related to deaths caused by infections. This finding should be investigated with the healthcare accessibility and other characteristics of the infants. Our experience during the study revealed a room for improvement in access to data on always-important public health indicators, which would support evidence-based decision-making even in difficult times.
Biased Random Process of Randomly Moving Particles with Fixed Mean and Group Velocities
Authors: Guo Tao
Published: October 2023

In a particle swarm with a fixed kinetic energy, the constituent particles move randomly and their velocity magnitudes follow a Maxwell distribution characterized by specific parameters. Within a certain time frame, particles in a sub-swarm may exhibit a bias in their movement direction. Thus, the particles may exhibit a special characteristic (biased random motion), where the group velocity in a particular direction remains constant u. For this biased particle swarm, composed of randomly moving particles with a fixed average speed c, particles have a higher probability of moving in a specific direction. Conversely, their likelihood of moving in all other directions is equally reduced. This study starts from the perspective of biased random walks and using Mathematica software proves that the diffusion rate of particles (in the reference frame Ru observed from R0) in all directions is slower than that of an unbiased particle swarm with the same average speed c. Specifically, the degree of reduction is determined by the Lorentz-like factor. Lastly, we present the Ito equation for this biased random motion and provide associated verification examples. This study aims to serve as a reference for comprehending the underlying principles of the special relativity effect.
Enhancing Sealing Performance of Bolted-Ball Joint by Gaskets: Numerical Simulation and Experiment
Authors: Du Wen , Gu Jinchao , Sheng Guilin , Guo Guang , Zhao Yongrun , Liu Zhijian
Published: October 2023

The steel grid structure with bolted ball joints is gaining popularity in offshore platforms and aquaculture cages, but the corrosion resistance of these joints is a critical safety concern. This article introduces an innovative method to enhance the sealing performance of bolted ball joints, preventing seawater ingress and corrosion. The approach involves creating a sealed surface within the contact gap between the sleeve and connecting components. Circular grooves and sealing washers are added to both ends of the sleeve. A two-dimensional finite element analysis model of the bolted ball joint with the sealing structure was created using SOLIDWORKS and ANSYS. The study analyzes the sealing gasket's contact pressure at various compression levels and evaluates its performance with bubble tests for air tightness. Research results show a linear relationship between contact pressure and compression rate, with a sealing pressure of 5.95MPa achieved at a 14% compression rate. This simple, cost-effective sealing method effectively prevents corrosion from seawater, making it ideal for marine environments.
Hyponatremia Promotes Cancer Growth in a Murine Xenograft Model of Neuroblastoma
Authors: Marroncini Giada , Naldi Laura , Fibbi Benedetta , Errico Alice , Polvani Simone , Brogi Marco , Fanelli Alessandra , Maggi Mario , Peri Alessandro
Published: October 2023

In cancer patients, hyponatremia is detected in about 40% of cases at hospital admission and has been associated to a worse outcome. We have previously observed that cancer cells from differ-ent tissues show a significantly increased proliferation rate and invasion potential, when cul-tured in low extracellular [Na+]. We have recently developed an animal model of hyponatremia using Foxn1nu/nu mice. The aim of the present study was to compare tumor growth and inva-sivity of the neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-AS in hyponatremic vs. normonatremic mice. Ani-mals were subcutaneously implanted with luciferase-expressing SK-N-AS cells. When masses reached about 100 mm3, hyponatremia was induced in a subgroup of animals via desmopressin infusion. Tumor masses were significantly greater in hyponatremic mice, starting from day 14 and until the day of sacrifice (day 28). Immunohistochemical analysis showed a more intense vascularization and higher levels of expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen, chro-mogranin A and heme oxigenase-1 gene in hyponatremic mice. Finally, metalloproteases were also more abundantly expressed in hyponatremic animals compared to control ones. To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo demonstration that hyponatremia is associated to increased cancer growth by activating molecular mechanisms that promote proliferation, angiogenesis and invasivity.
Rapid Visual Detection of African Swine Fever Virus Using CRISPR-LwCas13a Lateral Flow Strip Based on Structural Protein Gene D117L
Authors: Zhang Desheng , Jiang Sen , Xia Nengwen , Zhang Jiajia , Liu Anjing , Deng Dafu , Zhang Chenyang , Chen Nanhua , Meurens Francois , Zheng Wanglong , Zhu Jianzhong
Published: October 2023

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large double stranded DNA arbovirus that is highly contagious and seriously endangers the lives of domestic and wild pigs. In the past decade, African swine fever (ASF) has spread in many countries in the Caucasus, Russian Federation, Eastern Europe and Asia, causing significant losses to the pig industry. At present, there is a lack of effective vaccine and treatment for ASF. Therefore, the rapid and accurate detection is crucial for ASF prevention and control. In this study, we have developed a portable lateral flow strip (LFS) detection method mediated by recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and DNA enzyme (LwCas13a), which is performed at 37 ℃ and visualized by eyes without the need for complex instruments. This RPA-LwCas13a-LFS is based on the ASFV structural protein p17 gene (D117L), with a detection sensitivity up to 2 gene copies. This method is highly specific and has no cross reactivity to 7 other pig viruses. In the detection of 33 clinical samples, the p17 (D117L) RPA-LwCas13a-LFS had 100% coincidence with conventional quantitative PCR (qPCR). These findings demonstrate the potential of this simple, rapid, sensitive, and specific ASFV detection method for on-site ASFV detection.
Analysis of Depigmenting Substances of Interest (Hydroquinone, Kojic Acid and Clobetasol Propionate) Contained in Lightening Cosmetic Products Marketed in Burkina Faso
Authors: YAMEOGO B. Gérard Josias , ILBOUDO B. A. Lydiane Sandra , OUEDRAOGO Nomtondo Amina , BELEM Mohamed , NIKIEMA Ouéogo , GOUMBRI W. Bertrand , SOMBIE B. Charles , ZIME DIAWARA Hermine , KABRE Elie , SEMDE Rasmané
Published: October 2023

The practice of voluntary depigmentation is still prevalent in Africa, with a wide range of lightening cosmetics used. Our objective was to research and quantify three regulated and/or prohibited depigmenting ingredients present in lightening cosmetics sold in Ouagadougou. Twenty-nine lightening cosmetic samples were collected from vendors and HPLC analysis was subsequently conducted to identify and measure the concentrations of hydroquinone, clobetasol propionate, and kojic acid. The presence of hydroquinone was indicated on the label of 13.79% of the products, while 51.72% contained it after analysis. Furthermore, none of the products mentioned a concentration of hydroquinone exceeding 2.00%, even though 27.58% of them contained high concentrations. For clobetasol propionate, its presence was stated on the labels of 13.79% of the products, while 31.03% contained it. One sample had a clobetasol content exceeding 0.05%, although none mentioned a concentration higher than this value. Finally, while 24.13% of the samples claimed to contain kojic acid, only 17.24% did. We also observed that 41.38% of the samples contained combinations of two depigmenting ingredients investigated, with a predominance of the hydroquinone + clobetasol propionate (27.38%). These results demonstrate that manufacturers' declarations regarding the compositions of active ingredients in lightening cosmetics can sometimes be deceptive.
A Compact Particle Detector for Space-Based Applications: Development of the Low Energy Module (LEM) for the NUSES Space Mission
Authors: Nicolaidis Riccardo , Nozzoli Francesco , Pepponi Giancarlo
Published: October 2023

NUSES is a planned space mission aiming to test innovative observational and technological approaches related to the study of low-energy cosmic rays, gamma rays and high-energy astrophysical neutrinos. Two scientific payloads will be hosted onboard the NUSES space mission: Terzina and Zirè. Terzina will be an optical telescope readout by SiPM arrays, for the detection and study of Cerenkov light emitted by Extensive Air Showers generated by high-energy cosmic rays and neutrinos in the atmosphere. Zirè will focus on the detection of protons and electrons up to a few hundred MeV and to 0.1-10 MeV photons and will include the Low Energy Module (LEM). The LEM will be a particle spectrometer devoted to the observation of fluxes of low-energy electrons in the 0.1-7 MeV range and protons in the 3-50 MeV range along the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) followed by the hosting platform. The detection of Particle Bursts (PBs) in this Physics channel of interest could give new insight into the understanding of complex phenomena such as eventual correlations between seismic events or volcanic activity with the collective motion of particles in the plasma populating van Allen belts. With its compact sizes and limited acceptance, the LEM will allow the exploration of hostile environments such as the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) and the inner van Allen belt, in which are expected electron fluxes of the order of 106−7 cm−2 sr−1 s−1. Concerning the vast literature of space-based particle spectrometers, the innovative aspect of the LEM resides in its compactness, within 10x10x10 cm3, and in its “active collimation” approach dealing with the problem of multiple scattering at these very low energies. In this work, the geometry of the detector, its detection concept, its operation modes and the hardware adopted will be presented. Some preliminary results from the Monte Carlo simulation (Geant4) will be shown.
Calpain and Cardiometabolic Diseases
Authors: Miyazaki Takuro
Published: October 2023

Calpain is delineated as a superfamily of cysteine proteases containing a CysPC motif within their genes. Among the fifteen species of mammalian homologs, calpain-1 and -2, which are categorized as conventional isozymes, execute limited proteolysis in a calcium-dependent fashion. Accordingly, the calpain system participates in physiological and pathological phenomena, encompassing cell migration, apoptosis, skeletal muscle integrity, and synaptic plasticity. The dysregulation of the calpain system has been inextricably linked to a multitude of diseases, such as ischemic and degenerative diseases, rendering it a subject of profound interest in the fields of basic research and pharmaceutical development aimed at therapeutic interventions. Recent investigations have unveiled the contributions of both conventional and unconventional calpains to the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic disorders, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and hepatic diseases. Consequently, the present review accentuates the pivotal role of calpains in the complications of cardiometabolic diseases and embarks upon a discourse regarding calpains as molecular targets.
Multimodal Assessment of Cognitive Workload Using Neural, Subjective and Behavioural Measures in Smart Factory Settings
Authors: Zakeri Zohreh , Arif Arshia , Omurtag Ahmet , Breedon Philip , Khalid Azfar
Published: October 2023

Collaborative robots (cobots) have largely replaced conventional industrial robots in today’s workplaces, particularly in manufacturing setups due to their improved performance and intelligent design. In the framework of Industry 5.0, humans are working alongside cobots to accomplish the required level of automation. However, human-robot interaction has brought up concerns regarding human factors (HF) and ergonomics. A human worker may experience cognitive stress as a result of cobots' irresponsive nature in unpredictably occurring situations, which adversely affects productivity. Therefore, there is a necessity to measure stress to enhance a human worker’s performance in a human-robot collaborative environment. In this study, factory workers’ mental workload has been assessed using physiological, behavioural, and subjective measures. Electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals have been collected to acquire brain signals and track hemodynamic activity, respectively. The effect of task complexity, cobot’s movement speed, and cobot’s payload capacity on the mental stress of a human worker have been observed, for a task designed in the context of a smart factory. Task complexity and cobot’s speed have proved to be more impactful. As physiological measures are unbiased and more authentic means to estimate stress, eventually, they may replace the other conventional measures if they prove to correlate with the results of traditional ones. Here, regression and artificial neural networks (ANN) have been utilised to determine the correlation between physiological data and subjective and behavioural measures. Regression has performed better for most of the targets and the best correlation (rsq-adj = 0.654146) has been achieved for predicting missed beeps, behavioural measure, using a combination of multiple EEG and fNIRS predictors. The k-nearest neighbours (KNN) algorithm has been used to evaluate the accuracy of correlation between traditional measures and physiological variables, with highest accuracy of 77.8% achieved for missed beeps as the target. Results show that physiological measures can be more insightful and have the tendency to replace other biased parameters.
Probiotics as Antibiotic Alternatives for Salmonella Control in Poultry Industry
Authors: Limmaneevichitr Jidapa
Published: October 2023

The utilization of probiotics in poultry production has an increased interest in recent years, driven by the need for sustainable and efficient poultry farming practices to meet the growing demand for poultry products globally. Concurrently, the poultry industry faces significant challenges, including the threat of Salmonella infections, which can have severe effects on poultry health, food safety, and human well-being. This paper explores probiotics for poultry and their potential to reduce the risk of Salmonella infections and mitigate antibiotic resistance. It reviews the mechanisms which probiotics may control Salmonella and presents important criteria for selecting effective probiotics in poultry. The paper also addresses various studies highlighting the additional benefits of probiotics in poultry production. While probiotics offer promise in enhancing poultry well-being, challenges and limitations in their use must also be considered. This comprehensive review aims to provide insights of probiotics in poultry health and their potential to safeguard animal welfare and human health while optimizing poultry production.
Predicting the Severity of Hepatitis C Using Machine Learning Models
Authors: Santos Dheiver
Published: October 2023

Hepatitis C presents a significant global health challenge, necessitating early diagnosis and precise severity classification for timely medical intervention. This study explores the application of machine learning techniques to predict the severity of hepatitis C, leveraging an extensive dataset. Our approach encompasses rigorous data preprocessing, advanced model development, and fine-tuned hyperparameter optimization to ensure accurate and reliable predictions. We evaluated four classification models: Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and Support Vector Machine (SVM), comparing their accuracy in classifying patients. The results showed that the Random Forest and Gradient Boosting models outperformed the others with an accuracy of approximately 93.50%, demonstrating their potential in assisting Hepatitis C diagnosis. Further model enhancements through hyperparameter tuning and feature engineering can improve the precision of Hepatitis C diagnosis, contributing to better patient care.
Improving Radar Reflectivity Reconstruction with Himawari-9 and Unet++ for Off-shore Weather Monitoring
Authors: Wan Bingcheng , Gao Chloe Yuchao
Published: October 2023

Weather radar plays a crucial role in the monitoring of severe convective weather. However, due to its limited detection range, it cannot conduct effective monitoring in remote offshore areas. Therefore, this paper utilized the Unet++ to establish a model for retrieving radar composite reflectivity based on Himawari-9 satellite datasets. In the process of comparative analysis, we found that both satellite and radar data exhibit significant diurnal cycles, but there are notable differences in their variation characteristics. To address this, we established 4 comparative models to test the influence of latitude and diurnal cycles on the inversion results. The results show that adding the distribution map of the minimum cloud-top brightness temperature at the corresponding time in the model can effectively reduce the root mean square error (RMSE) of the model and enhance the accuracy of severe convective weather monitoring. This conclusion can be applied in the future to enhance and improve satellite quantitative precipitation estimation.
Algorithm on Transform Fractal Domain AA-F
Authors: Pérez Labardi Alen
Published: October 2023

In this work we present a novel steganography algorithm, based on Fractal Transform domain, combined with the principles of Cryptography. The proposed method uses a private key, which will indicate which segment of the image will be taken and encoded with the Fractal Transform, to then insert the secret bits in the transformed coefficients, thus generating the stego image.
Do Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder Receive More Sedatives in the Emergency Department? A Case Matched Cohort Study
Authors: Arasu Ramesh , Das Soumitra , Thomas Naveen
Published: October 2023

Adult patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit a range of behaviours that can be disruptive to the medical care of themselves and other patients and as a result, are at higher risk of being sedated. The aim of the present study was to determine whether patients with ASD presenting to hospital for acute psychiatric crises re-ceive more sedative medications compared to similar patients without ASD. 43 adult patients with a previous di-agnosis of ASD who were referred to the mental health team at a single, large emergency department in metro-politan Victoria over the year of 2021 were identified and matched with an equal number of controls within the same cohort. Sedative medications were converted to diazepam and chlorpromazine equivalent doses and com-pared using repeated measures T-tests. Patients with ASD received 5.1mg more diazepam-equivalent benzodiaz-epines on average compared to matched controls (95%CI: 0.41-9.71). This difference was statistically significant (T=2.20, df=42, p=0.034). There was no significance difference in chlorpromazine-equivalent antipsychotic doses. Clinicians should be aware of the higher dose of sedatives, and consider other means of behavioural management in these patients.
Evidence-Based Decision-Making in the Implementation of Devolved Functions: An Analysis of the Uptake of Research Findings, Innovations, and Technologies
Authors: Mogendi Joseph Birundu , Wanyande Peter , Jonyo Fred Opiyo
Published: October 2023

This study is grounded on evidence-based decision-making in the implementation of devolved functions in Kenya. Promulgation of the constitution of Kenya 2010 set stage for devolution of functions, power, resources, and representation closer to the people. The researcher applies principles of technology acceptance modelling to investigate the extrinsic factors, Perceived-Ease-Of-Use, Perceived-Usefulness, attitudes, behavioural-intention and actual use of Research findings, Innovations and Technologies. Furthermore, the researcher applies contingent valuation technique to investigate cost-benefit analysis of using research findings, innovations and technologies. Multi-stage cluster sample of 156 managers from ten counties, randomly distributed in the six devolved functions that were randomly selected, including: agriculture, county health service, early childhood education and village polytechnic, natural resources and environment, county administration and governance, and county public works and services, took part in this study. Building on basic statistical analysis, structural equation modelling was employed to explain the adoption process. Results proved that all TAM model constructs were decisive in the adoption process. Furthermore, managers were willing to pay extra to optimize decision making and for accrued benefits on service delivery. Findings from this study are critical for stimulating the uptake of research findings, innovations, and technologies in making informed decisions for improved service delivery.
One Step Closer to Enigmatic USCα Methanotrophs: Isolation of a Methylocapsa-Like Bacterium from a Subarctic Soil
Authors: Danilova Olga V. , Oshkin Igor Y. , Belova Svetlana E. , Miroshnikov Kirill K. , Ivanova Anastasia A. , Dedysh Svetlana N.
Published: October 2023

Scavenging of atmospheric trace gases has been recognized as one of the lifestyle-defining capabilities of microorganisms in terrestrial polar ecosystems. Several metagenome-assembled genomes of as-yet-uncultivated methanotrophic bacteria, which consume atmospheric CH4 in these ecosystems, have been retrieved in cultivation-independent studies. In this study, we isolated and characterized a representative of these methanotrophs, strain D3K7, from a subarctic soil of Northern Russia. Strain D3K7 grows on methane and methanol in a wide range of temperatures, between 5 and 30°C. Weak growth was also observed on acetate. The presence of acetate in the culture medium stimulated growth at low CH4 concentrations (~100 p.p.m.v.). The finished genome sequence of strain D3K7 is 4.15 Mb in size and contains about 3700 protein-encoding genes. According to the result of phylogenomic analysis, this bacterium forms a common clade with metagenome-assembled genomes obtained from the active layer of a permafrost thaw gradient in Stordalen Mire, Abisco, Sweeden, and the mineral cryosol at Axel Heiberg Island in the Canadian high Arctic. This clade occupies a phylogenetic position in between characterized Methylocapsa methanotrophs and representatives of the as-yet-uncultivated Upland Soil Cluster Alpha (USCα). As shown by the global distribution analysis, D3K7-like methanotrophs colonize mostly northern terrestrial ecosystems, such as polar deserts, subarctic soils, permafrost environments, but also occur in boreal peatlands or high-latitude habitats.
Modification of Genes Expression of Tomato Plants through Foliar Flavonoids Application in Relation to Enhanced Growth
Authors: Martinez-Alonso Alberto , Yepes-Molina Lucia , Guarnizo Angel L , Carvajal Micaela
Published: October 2023

The exogenous application of phenolic compounds is increasingly recognized as a valuable strategy for promoting growth and mitigating the adverse effects of abiotic stress. However, the biostimulant effect under optimal conditions have not been thoroughly explored. In this study, we investigated the impact of foliar application of flavonoids, specifically Crop Bio Life (CBL), on tomato plants grown under controlled conditions. Our study focused on determining growth parameters, such as cell size, and assessing the concentration of hormones. Principal component analysis (PCA) from all physiological variables were determined. Additionally, we utilized high-throughput mRNA sequencing technology and bioinformatic methodologies to robustly analyze the transcriptomes of tomato leaves regulated by flavonoids. The findings revealed that CBL primarily influenced cells enlargement, leading to increased growth. Furthermore, CBL-treated plants exhibited higher concentrations of the hormone zeatin but lower concentrations of IAA. Moreover, RNAseq analysis indicated that CBL-treated plants required increased mineral transport and water uptake, as evidenced by gene expression patterns. Genes related to pathways such as fatty acid degradation, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and ABC transporters showed regulatory mechanisms governing internal flavonoid biosynthesis, transport, and tissue concentration, ultimately resulting in higher flavonoid concentrations in tomato leaves.
Neutrino Energy Formula Different from the Planck Energy Formula
Authors: Qin Sheng
Published: October 2023

This paper is the third application-oriented paper based on the "unified theory of forces" and also addresses the shortcomings of previous research in fully explaining the origin and nature of the weak force. The main conclusions of this paper are as follows: (1) It is argued that neutrinos are generated by the gravitational field, and their generation mechanism is similar to the radiation of photons from electron orbital transitions. Particles undergoing orbital transitions in a gravitational field will emit neutrinos. (2) We rigorously derive the energy formula for neutrinos and demonstrate that the energy formula for neutrinos does not comply with the Planck energy formula. Neutrinos with higher energy have longer wavelengths and are more easily observed in experiments.
Gerây Hânedanına Mensup Bir Kadın Sultan: Kaya Sultân ve Muhallefâtı
Authors: DOĞAN Ahmet
Published: October 2023

Kırım Yarımadası İlk Çağlardan itibaren Türk topluluklara ev sahipliği yapmış olan bir coğrafyadır. Bu coğrafyada kurulmuş en önemli devletlerden biri Kırım Hanlığıdır. Hacı Gerây tarafından kurulan hanlık, 1475 yılında Osmanlı Devleti egemenliğine girmiş ve bu tarihten 1774 yılına kadarda Osmanlı tarafından nasb olunan hanlar tarafından yönetilmiştir. Bu süre zarfı içerisindeki en önemli hanlardan biri de I. Selim Gerây Han’dır. Selim Gerây gibi evlatları da Kırımlılar tarafından çok sevilmişlerdir. Oğulları, hanlık ve Kalgay sultânlık makamlarına getirilmiştir. Kızlarından biri olan Kaya Sultân da Kırımlılar tarafından sevilen ve itibar edilen biri olmuştur. Kaya Sultan, I. Selim Geray Han’ın kızı olması hasebiyle sultan olarak anılmış olmakla birlikte aynı zamanda hanın kız kardeşi olması nedeniyle de hanikedir. Kaya Sultan da birçok han kızı gibi Karaçi beyleriyle evlendirilmiştir. Kocası, Karaçi beylerinin en güçlüsü ve zenginlerinden biri olan Şirin sülalesine mensup Seferşah Mirza’dır. Annesi ise Gülendam Bikeç’tir. Kaya Sultan vefat ettiğinde sadece Bahadırşah Mirza adında bir oğlu vardı. Kaya Sultan, döneminin en güçlü kadınlarından biridir. Bu çalışmada, onun vefâtından sonra geride bıraktığı muhallefâtı incelenerek 18. yüzyılda bölgede yaşayan kadınların mal varlıkları ve sahip oldukları haklar değerlendirilecektir. Bu çalışmayla birlikte; Kırım tarihi, Kırım’da kadınların yönetimdeki etkisi ve sahip oldukları ekonomik ve yönetsel haklar irdelenerek tarih çalışmalarına katkı sağlanmış olunacaktır.
Seismic Characteristics and AVO Response for Non-Uniform Miocene Reservoirs in Offshore Eastern Mediterranean Region, Egypt
Authors: El-Ata Ahmed S. Abu , El-Gendy Nader H. , El-Nikhely Adly H. , Raslan Samir , El-Oribi Mahmoud , Barakat Moataz
Published: October 2023

The Eastern Mediterranean region, extending from the Offshore Nile Delta Cone of Egypt to the Levant Basin, is a confirmed hydrocarbon rich territory with several giant gas discoveries. Numerous gas fields have been discovered in the Miocene reservoirs within the Nile Delta Cone, and in the Levant Basin. The Miocene sedimentary sequences in this region are extremely heterogeneous, consisting mainly of turbiditic slope deposits, channels, and basin floor fans that were capped by evaporites during the Messinian Salinity Crisis. As a result, there is ambiguity regarding the seismic characteristics and interpreted attributes of this heterogeneous section. The study area is located in the Offshore North Sinai Basin, where a thick Early Miocene section was deposited midway between the Nile Delta province that includes El-Fayrouz discovery and the Levant Basin which includes Tamar, Tanin and several other discoveries. This study uses quantitative seismic interpretations methods, such as amplitude variations with offset (AVO), fluid replacement modeling to assess the seismic acoustic impedance trend with depth. Also, determine the seismic amplitude response for the brine and gas sands reservoir of the Early and Late Miocene section, to link the unexplored study area within the North Sinai Offshore basin with the explored Nile Delta and Levant Basins. In addition to evaluate direct hydrocarbon indicator (DHI) of the diming seismic amplitude that is compatible with the structure last closed contour of the Syrian Arc anticline of the Early Miocene reservoirs (EMT-1 prospect). Different ventages of 2D & 3D seismic data, 6wells and different published data used in this study. The quantitative interpretation shows the pitfalls of the acoustic impedance trend and seismic response dependency on depth for gas and brine sand which lead to drill EMT-1 dry well. Also, the fluid replacement, P-wave velocity (Vp) and density (ρ) modeling confirming that the seismic diming amplitude is due to seismic processing uncertainty, which solved by readjust the overburden Messinian salt processing velocity model. This research concluded that the seismic quantitative interpretations were successfully used to assess the acoustic impedance versus depth and DHI pitfalls., also, assess the processing workflow that could enhance the seismic image.