bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation between Nutritional Intake and Body Composition in Adolescents with Thalassemia Major
Authors: Fitrianto Agus , Wahidiyat Pustika Amalia , Prawitasari Titis , Sekarsari Damayanti 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background: Growth failure is common in thalassemia major (TM) patients. Measurement of lean body mass, fat mass, and bone mass density (BMD) are important components in assessing the body composition and nutritional status of TM patients. There are no previous studies in Indonesia that have evaluated the correlation between macronutrient or micronutrient intake and body composition in adolescents with TM.
Methods: This study included 55 subjects with TM aged 10-18 years old at the Thalassemia Center of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital Jakarta. Macronutrient and micronutrient intake were evaluated using a three-day food record. Fat mass, lean mass, and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Vitamin D levels were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The data was analyzed with Pearson and Spearman correlations, depending on the type of distribution.
Results: Energy intake was significantly associated with muscle mass, fat mass, and BMD (r = 0.35, 0.39, and 0.27 respectively, p-value <0.05). There was a significant correlation between protein intake on muscle mass, fat mass, and BMD (r = 0.60, 0.37, and 0.31 respectively, p-value <0.05). There was a mild correlation between energy intake and fat mass percentage in male and female subjects (r= 0,25, p= 0,017; r= 0,38, p= 0,02). There was no correlation between carbohydrate, fat, and protein, vitamin D, vitamin E, calcium, and folic acid on the proportion of muscle mass percentage, fat mass percentage, and BMD.
Conclusion: More than half of adolescent TM patients are malnourished and lack protein intake. Body composition correlates with total calorie intake.
Learner agency in undergraduate dental education- a scoping review through self-regulated and self-directed learning
Authors: Gupta Nidhi , Ali Kamran , Jiang Dan , Fink Trine , Du Xiangyun 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Learner agency (LA) involves students actively engaging in their learning process and shaping their educational experiences through autonomy, self-regulation, and decision-making. In professional education, particularly within health professions, LA is critical for fostering adaptability and lifelong learning. This scoping review explores how LA, alongside concepts such as self-regulated learning (SRL) and self-directed learning (SDL), is addressed in undergraduate dental education, aiming to understand its implications and strategies for enhancing student agency in this context.
Methods
The scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework and examined literature on SRL, SDL, and LA in undergraduate dental education from 1994–April 2024 across five databases: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, ProQuest Central, and Web of Science. A manual search of the cited references was also conducted. Relevant studies were screened, and the findings were summarized to offer a comprehensive overview and identify research gaps.
Results
In total, 33 studies were included in the review. The results revealed a strong interconnection between intrapersonal, behavioral, and contextual dimensions in shaping learner agency (LA) through self-regulated learning (SRL) and self-directed learning (SDL) among undergraduate dental students. The studies analyzed, predominantly quantitative, highlighted the multifaceted relationships among SRL, SDL, and LA, emphasizing its significance for educational practice and policy.
Conclusions
Self-regulated learning (SRL) and self-directed learning (SDL) are crucial for developing learner agency (LA), aiding undergraduate students' transition into independent professionals and fostering lifelong learning behaviors. Educational strategies should prioritize empowering students to become independent learners, reducing their reliance on faculty. Further research is needed to identify effective methods for promoting LA development among dental students.
Effect of Negotiation Skills Training program on Head Nurses' Knowledge and behavior
Authors: Moustafa Hanaa Mahmoud , Badran Fawzia , Mahmoud Rabab 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background: Negotiating is a common occurrence and a significant part of everyday tasks for head nurses. The ability of the head nurse to effectively negotiate is a crucial management tool for work management in healthcare facilities.
Aim: The present study aimed to assess the effect of negotiation skills training program on head nurses' knowledge and behavior.
Methods: A pretest-posttest, one-group quasi-experimental design was conducted at Menoufia University Hospitals. It is located in Shebeen, Elkom City, Cairo, Egypt. All head nurses and their assistants and their number 64 head nurses.
Results: The results indicated that a minority of head nurses had satisfactory knowledge regarding negotiation in the pretest phase and obviously increased in the posttest to be more than three quarters and slightly decreased in the follow-up phase. Also, a minority had a high negotiation behavior level in the pretest phase and increased to be more than half in the posttest with a slight decrease in the follow-up stage. There was a highly statistically significant difference between pre-, post-, and follow-up results regarding negotiation knowledge and behavior.
Conclusion: The study revealed that the head nurse’s knowledge and behavior increased markedly after implementing the negotiation skills training program.
Recommendations: Conduct continuous education and training programs for stimulating and developing head nurses’ knowledge, behavior regarding negotiation, and hospital administration should support the importance of negotiation skills to both head nurses and organizations.
Trial Registration Number [TRN] The study protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University (code number: NUR 23.10.131).
Habitat Suitability Model of Some Important Large Mammals In The Western Black Sea Region
Authors: UGIŞ Abdullah , AKKUZU Erol , Evcin Özkan 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The Western Black Sea region in Türkiye harbors diverse ecosystems that support a variety of wildlife, including several important large mammal species. Understanding the habitat suitability of these species is crucial for effective conservation and management strategies. In this study large mammal species existing in Kastamonu Balldağ and Kurtgirmez located Western Black Sea region were determined by using the camera trap method. Brown bear (Ursus arctos), jackal (Canis aureus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), wolf (Canis lupus), marten (Martes sp.), badger (Meles meles), otter (Lutra lutra), fox (Vulpes vulpes), lynx (Lynx lynx), wild boar (Sus scrofa), wild cat (Felis silvestris) and Brown hare (Lepus europeaus) were identified. Habitat suitability models were created for Canis lupus, Capreolus capreolus and Ursus arctos mammal species using MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy) modeling approach. Presence data of target species were collected through field surveys, to create habitat suitibility models with environmental variables such as slope, aspect, ruggedness index, elevation, topographic position index, solar radiation index, landform, road density, settlement areas, and forest condition. The MaxEnt models were trained using these data to predict habitat suitability across the region. Our results reveal spatial patterns of habitat suitability for each species, highlighting areas of high suitability that may serve as priority conservation areas. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of our findings for conservation planning and management efforts in the Western Black Sea region, emphasizing the importance of integrating habitat suitability models into decision-making processes to ensure the long-term persistence of these important mammal species.
EEG - Based Brain Signals Analysis for Imagined Digit Recognition
Authors: Singh Gaurav , P Adira , Leema Anny , P Balakrishnan 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

A new system of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) is outlined in this paper that can classify the imagined digits (0-9) from a subject through the use of EEG signals captured from industry-standard EEG signal detectors like Muse, etc. [1] training systems based on deep learning models. For this purpose, we used Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) combined as CNN-RNN to capture the spatial and temporal aspects found in electroencephalography signals in a single model. Accurate filtering techniques were applied in this process which include namely bandpass filtering, Independent Component Analysis (ICA), baseline correction, Common Average Reference (CAR), artifact rejection, channel interpolation and z-score normalisation using the standardised 10/20 electrode placement system for non-invasive EEG acquisition. The model is trained on a pre-existing dataset of Visually Evoked Potentials (VEPs) linked with visual stimuli for digits 0 to 9 which contains over 2.5 GB of train-test samples of EEG from MindBigData [1]. The experimental results show that our proposed CNN+RNN scheme outperforms previous state-of-the-art techniques by obtaining an average accuracy rate of 73% on the test set. This research work contributes to advancing EEG-based BCIs, showcasing the potential for real-time digit recognition tasks.
Effect of hyposalivation on masticatory movements while eating several crackers in healthy individuals
Authors: Ikeura Kazuki , Ochiai Yuto , Sasa Anna , Ono Kazuhiro , Takei Ryo , Washio Hideaki , Takahashi Hajime , Magara Jin , Tsujimura Takanori , Inoue Makoto 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Saliva serves to lubricate the food bolus, which suggests that saliva aids in swallowing. This study aimed to examine how a reduction in salivary flow changes mastication of solid foods with several types of hardness, taste and fat content. Twenty-one healthy adults were instructed to masticate four foods, namely rice crackers with (rice cracker 1) and without fat content and seasoning (rice cracker 2), flour crackers with fat content, and potato starch crackers without fat content, on their habitual masticatory side. Electromyograms of the masseter and suprahyoid muscles on the left and right, and subjective feeling of ease of mastication and swallowing were recorded before and after atropine sulfate administration (1 mg) to reduce salivary flow. Hyposalivation significantly extended the masticatory duration and increased the number of masticatory cycles in all of the test foods with increase of number of masticatory cycles only for rice cracker 1 and flour crackers. An increase in the masticatory cycle time and suprahyoid activity was observed from the middle to late stage of mastication with hyposalivation for rice cracker 2 and flour crackers. For potato crackers, the masticatory cycle time a bit increased throughout the masticatory period with hyposalivation without changes of muscle activity per masticatory cycles in which the size of the bolus was the largest. There was no difference in these values between the various conditions for rice cracker 1. Stimulated salivary flow was the largest for rice cracker 1. Not only fat content but also tastants and/or nutrition facts may compensate for difficulty in mastication.
Morphophysiological and phytochemical properties of peppermint ecotypes: a comprehensive study in 11 provinces of Iran
Authors: Sarkhosh Mahdi Rezaee , Abbaszadeh Bohloul , Ardakani M. Reza , Habibi Davoud , lkaei Mohammad Nabi 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

In order to evaluate the quantity and quality of 11 peppermint ecotypes, rhizomes were collected from the producing provinces and tested at the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands in 2021 and 2022. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference, in years in the morphological traits, shoot yield, the percentage of leaves and shoot essential oil, the yield of shoot essential oil, flavonoid, chlorophyll a, b, all essential oil compounds, total nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, cadmium and lead absorption. Mean comparison of years showed that the highest shoot yield (5656.88 kg/ha), leaf essential oil percentage (2.48 percent), shoot essential oil percentage (1.87 percent) was obtained in the second year. The highest shoot yield with 6559 kg/ha and shoot essential oil percentage with 2.2% was obtained from Markazi province. The most menthone with 23.7% belonged to Mazandaran. The highest amount of menthol was in Kermanshah, with 59%. The result of cluster analysis showed that 11 accessions were placed in three main clusters. The results show the difference in the quantity and quality, absorption of macro, micro and heavy metal elements of different ecotypes and it is better to do preliminary tests and choose the appropriate ecotypes for specific uses (food, medicine, cosmetics and hygiene) before planting peppermint.
Using synthetic data to develop machine learning models to predict the performance of fiber- reinforced concrete
Authors: Silva Victor Hugo Peres , Pessoa Carolina Luiza Emereciana , Sousa Derica dos Santos , Stefani Ricardo 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Concrete is a widely used construction material due to its high compressive strength. However, its durability is often compromised by the development of cracks caused by tensile stress within structures. These cracks can occur during the drying process, leading to water infiltration and corrosion of the concrete reinforcement, which subsequently require repair. As a result, innovative technologies, such as self-repairing concrete and crack control, have become crucial in reducing the costs associated with structural repairs. Given this context, this study investigated novel crack control technologies in concrete structures using a machine learning model that can accurately predict the performance of a specific fiber in fiber-reinforced concrete using a comprehensive dataset. The dataset was compiled from 18 studies and further augmented using synthetic data generation techniques. It encompassed 13 different fiber types and a total of 1953 fiber-reinforced concrete formulations. The computational model was then implemented in Python, and multiple linear regression (MLR), support vector regression (SVR), Random Forest and GradientBootsting techniques were employed to develop the prediction model. The results showed that Random Forest (R² = 0.887 and RMSE = 0.110), GradientBoosting (R² = 0.868 and RMSE = 0.368) and SVR models (R² = 0.856 and RMSE = 0.376) outperformed its MLR counterpart (R² = 0.587 and RMSE = 0.637). Moreover, Random Forest shows a lower RMSE, making it more suitable to accurately predict the performance of the performance of fiber-reinforced concrete.
Optimizing Brassica napus Resilience to Lead Toxicity: The Combined Effects of Fullerenol Nanoparticles and AMF on Antioxidant Systems
Authors: Shah Anis Ali , Usman Sheeraz , Noreen Zahra , Kaleem Muhammad , Shafique Shiffa , El-Sheikh Mohamed A. , Ibrahim Zakir , Sehar Shafaque 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Crop plants are severely affected by heavy metals (HMs) leading to food scarcity and economical loss. Lead (Pb) is outsourced by use of lead based fertilizers, lead batteries, mining, smelting and metal processing. It greatly reduced growth, development and yield of crops cultivated on contaminated sites. In this study, ameliorative role of carbon based fullerenol nanoparticles (FNPs) along with AMF inoculation was examined on Brassica napus L. grown in Pb contaminated soil. A pot experiment in 3 way completely randomize fashion with three replicates was conducted under natural conditions. For Pb stress, 200 µM PbCl2 solution was used at rate of 1 L per pot. Fullerenol nanoparticles (FNPs) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich and applied via foliar spray at 3 mM concentration. For AMF inoculation rhizospheric soil was colleccted from Sorghum bicolor fields and used in this experiment. Results of the study showed that Pb toxicity greatly reduced growth of B. napus plants. It lowered photosynthesis and gas exchange related attributes. Pb contamination caused oxidative stress, evident from elevated level of malondialdehye (MDA), lipid peroxidation and electrolytic leakage. It also triggered antioxidant defense system of B. napus. These plants also had high Pb metal ions in their root and shoot compared with control. Foliar application of FNPs along with AMF inoculation effectively mitigated oxidative stress caused by Pb and reduced its accumulation in root and shoot of B. napus plants. These treatments modulated phytosynthetic machinery, antioxidant defense mechanism and nutrients uptake in B. napus plants. It is concluded that use of carbon-based nano particles in combination with AMF can effectively mitigate HMs stress in crop plants grown in contaminated soil.
Optical Semantic Communication through Multimode Fiber: From Symbol Transmission to Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Wu Hao , Zheng Gao , Jiang Ting , Zhang Mingming , Tang Ming 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

We propose and validate a novel optical semantic transmission scheme using multimode fiber (MMF). By leveraging the frequency sensitivity of intermodal dispersion in MMFs, we achieve high-dimensional semantic encoding and decoding in the frequency domain. Our system maps symbols to 128 distinct frequencies spaced at 600 kHz intervals, demonstrating a seven-fold increase in capacity compared to conventional communication encoding. We further enhance spectral efficiency by implementing 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4), achieving 9.12 bits/s/Hz without decoding errors. Additionally, we explore the application of this system for sentiment analysis using the IMDb movie review dataset. By encoding semantically similar symbols to adjacent frequencies, the system's noise tolerance is effectively improved, facilitating accurate sentiment analysis. This work highlights the potential of MMF-based semantic communication to enhance both capacity and robustness in optical communication systems, offering promising applications in bandwidth-constrained and noisy environments.
Gallium-68 labelled aptamer assay for Staphylococcus aureus detection
Authors: Bargh Saharnaz , Kocak Ceren Ozkul , Ozalp Veli C. , Erdogan Suna 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus infection can result in a serious inflammatory condition of bone tissue, osteomyelitis with significant challenges in diagnostics. The cell surface components of the bacteria can serve as binding sites for the precise and targeted delivery of diagnostic imaging agents. We created a novel infection imaging substance using a Gallium 68 (Ga-68) labelled aptamer that specifically targets S. aureus bacteria. The targeting aptamer was selected by cell-SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) procedure with affinity constant at 2260 ± 634 CFU/mL. the linear detection range was between 250 and 2 x 10 4 CFU/mL. the limit of detection for s. aureus was 171 CFU/mL. The aptamer was conjugated to Ga-68 by DOTA procedure. Radioactive assays in vitro were specific for S. aureus between 10 3 and 2x10 4 CFU/mL. The encouraging outcomes indicate that this aptamer probe holds substantial promise for future in vivo experimentation, which might aid in clarifying its suitability for diagnosing S. aureus.
Mercury determination in edible oils – A combination of Reversed-Phase Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction and CVG-ICP-MS
Authors: Andriolli Cristian R. , Henn Alessandra S. , Flores Erico M. M. , Flores Eder L. M. , Picoloto Rochele S. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

A method for Hg determination in edible oils based on reversed-phase dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and cold vapor generation coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed. Operational parameters were 5 g of edible oil, 0.5 mL of n-propanol and 0.5 mL of 6 mol L-1 HCl used as dispersant and extractant solvents, respectively, heating (10 min at 80 °C), stirring (60 s), and centrifugation (5 min). No statistical difference (t-test, 95%) was observed for the accuracy assessment using a certified reference material. Moreover, recovery experiments were performed by addition of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 µg g-1 of Hg, and recoveries were close to 100%. A low limit of quantification (0.35 ng g-1) and relative standard deviation (7%) were obtained. Finally, the proposed method presented advantages, such as high throughput, easy-to-use instrumentation for sample preparation, high pre-concentration factor, low consumption of reagents, and low waste generation.
Parkinson’s disease is characterized by vitamin B6-dependent inflammatory kynurenine pathway dysfunction
Authors: Wilson Edward , Umans Jacob , Swarovski Michelle , Minhas Paras , Midttun Øivind , Ulvik Arve Arve , Shahid-Besanti Marian , Linortner Patricia , Mhatre Siddhita , Wang Qian , Channappa Divya , Corso Nicole , Tian Lu , Fredericks Carolyn , Kerchner Geoffrey , Plowey Edward , Cholerton Brenna , Ueland Per , Zabetian Cyrus , Gray Nora , Quinn Joseph , Montine Thomas , Sha Sharon , Longo Frank , Wolk David , Chen-Plotkin Alice , Henderson Victor , Wyss-Coray Tony , Wagner Anthony , Mormino Elizabeth , Aghaeepour Nima , Poston Kathleen , Andreasson Katrin 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex multisystem disorder clinically characterized by motor, non-motor, and premotor manifestations. Pathologically, PD involves neuronal loss in the substantia nigra, striatal dopamine deficiency, and accumulation of intracellular inclusions containing aggregates of α-synuclein. Recent studies demonstrate that PD is associated with dysregulated metabolic flux through the kynurenine pathway (KP), in which tryptophan is converted to kynurenine (KYN), and KYN is subsequently metabolized to neuroactive compounds quinolinic acid (QA) and kynurenic acid (KA). This multicenter study used highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass-spectrometry to compare blood and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) KP metabolites between 158 unimpaired older adults and 177 participants with PD. Results indicate that increased neuroexcitatory QA/KA ratio in both plasma and CSF of PD participants associated with peripheral and cerebral inflammation and vitamin B6 deficiency. Furthermore, increased QA tracked with CSF tau and severity of both motor and non-motor PD clinical dysfunction. Importantly, plasma and CSF kynurenine metabolites classified PD participants with a high degree of accuracy (AUC = 0.897). Finally, analysis of metabolite data revealed subgroups with distinct KP profiles, and these were subsequently found to display distinct PD clinical features. Together, these data further support the hypothesis that the KP serves as a site of brain and periphery crosstalk, integrating B-vitamin status, inflammation and metabolism to ultimately influence PD clinical manifestation.