bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seasonal and sex-related variation in vitamin D status and its association with other biochemical markers in young individuals: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Mendes Marcela Moraes , Araújo Maísa Miranda , Botelho Patrícia Borges , de Carvalho Kênia Mara Baiocchi 
Published: March 2024

Background
While several studies have investigated the association between vitamin D deficiency and biochemical parameters, the results are still inconsistent and mostly overlook seasonal variations. This study explored the relationships between 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations, biochemical markers, and seasonal variation among young males and females.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 203 individuals aged 18–24 years of both sexes residing in Brasilia, Brazil (latitude: 15°S). Sociodemographic variables, season of blood collection, and serum levels of 25(OH)D, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glucose, insulin, hs-CRP, parathyroid hormone, ionized calcium, and alkaline phosphatase were included. Descriptive statistics and differences among groups, correlations, and linear regression tests were performed.

Results
The mean age of the participants was 21.17±1.7 years, and the mean serum 25(OH)D level was 25.76±7.0 ng/mL. Of the participants, 50.7% had vitamin D insufficiency (20 to 29.9 ng/mL), and 23.2% were vitamin D deficient (≤20 ng/mL). Vitamin D deficiency was higher in the spring (53.2%) and among females (29.5%). In young men with vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency (≤29.9 ng/mL) (n = 49), 25(OH)D levels were inversely correlated with HOMA-β (r = -0.234, p = 0.032) and triglyceride (r = -0.415, p = 0.003) levels. However, there were no significant correlations between 25(OH)D concentrations and biochemical markers among women with insufficient and deficient vitamin D levels.

Conclusion
This study found a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency among young individuals living in Brasília, Brazil, particularly women and during the spring season. Our findings suggest that lower 25(OH)D levels (≤29.9 ng/mL) may be associated with insulin resistance and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in young men studied. However, further studies with larger representative samples are needed to explore the mechanisms underlying the association between vitamin D and biochemical parameters.
Successful Endoscopic Retrograde Appendicitis Therapy Following a Recent ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Suarez Zoilo K. , Samhoun Jalal , Drourr Joshua , Nagi Talwinder , Haider Muhammad A. , Vallejo Charles , Touqir Zahra , Forcione David 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT
Acute appendicitis is one of the most common abdominal surgical emergencies. A laparoscopic or open appendectomy has traditionally been the gold standard. Antibiotic therapy has recently been found to be noninferior. The treatment of acute uncomplicated appendicitis remains a challenge, especially in the presence of an appendicolith. We present a case of a 59-year-old man with recent ST-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent successful endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy.
Chromolaena odorata L. Leaf Extract Elevates Cytotoxicity of Doxorubicin on 4T1 Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Putri Amaliya Permata , Rahmawati Desty Restia , Rahman Faaza Aulia , Meiyanto Edy , Ikawati Muthi 
Published: March 2024

Chemotherapeutic agents for breast cancer such as doxorubicin can attack normal cells as the side effects. Chromolaena odorata L. and its chemical content, sinensetin, have potential anticancer and antioxidant properties. The objective of this research is to examine the anticancer properties of C. odorata leaves extract and sinensetin on 4T1 triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells combined with doxorubicin. The MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay on 4T1 cells was used to determine the IC50 and the Combination Index (CI) of the two agents in combination. Washing out the treatment and determining the cells viability after a few days was done to evaluate the persistence of the effects to cancer cells. Chromolaena odorata extract (COE) obtained was proven to contain sinensetin which gave a positive signal on the chromatogram. COE and sinensetin were moderately cytotoxic to 4T1 cells with IC50 value of 53 μg/mL and 58 μM (21.6 μg/mL), respectively. Both compounds were synergist (CI<0.7) to strong synergist (CI<0.3) when combined with doxorubicin (IC50 90 nM = 0.05 μg/mL). COE and sinensetin exhibited moderate and not cytotoxic against Vero cells with IC50 values of 60 μg/mL and 243 μM (90.43 μg/mL), respectively. Both COE and sinensetin showed selectivity index values of >1 (1.13 and 4.19, respectively). Moreover, the cytotoxic effects of COE on 4T1 cells was persisted until 48 h after removing COE from the medium, indicating the tumor-suppression potency of COE. Our findings strengthen the scientific basis of C. odorata leaves extract to be developed as a co-chemotherapeutics agent for doxorubicin on TNBC.Keywords: Chromolaena odorata L., breast cancer cells, doxorubicin, co-chemotherapy, kidney cells.
Global structure of positive and sign-changing periodic solutions for the equations with Minkowski-curvature operator
Authors: Ma Ruyun , Zhao Zhongzi , Su Xiaoxiao 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
We show the existence of unbounded connected components of 2π-periodic positive solutions for the equations with one-dimensional Minkowski-curvature operator

−

u

′

1
−

u

′
2

′

=
λ
a

(

x

)

f

(

u
,

u

′

)

,

x
∈
R
,

$-{\left(\frac{{u}^{\prime }}{\sqrt{1-{u}^{\prime 2}}}\right)}^{\prime }=\lambda a\left(x\right)f\left(u,{u}^{\prime }\right), x\in \mathbb{R},$

where λ > 0 is a parameter,

a
∈
C

(

R
,
R

)

$a\in C\left(\mathbb{R},\mathbb{R}\right)$

is a 2π-periodic sign-changing function with

∫

0

2
π

a

(

x

)

d
x
<
0

${\int }_{0}^{2\pi }a\left(x\right)\mathrm{d}x{< }0$

,

f
∈
C

(

R
×
R
,
R

)

$f\in C\left(\mathbb{R}{\times}\mathbb{R},\mathbb{R}\right)$

satisfies a generalized regular-oscillation condition. Moreover, for the special case that f does not contain derivative term, we also investigate the global structure of 2π-periodic odd/even sign-changing solutions set under some parity conditions. The proof of our main results are based upon bifurcation techniques.
Curriculum design in teaching Chinese characters to American students: when and what?
Authors: Zhang Shenglan 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Chinese characters have been the most challenging aspect of the language to American learners. Whether or not and how to teach Chinese characters to beginner learners have been debated since the 1930s. Nowadays, the ubiquitous presence of computers and tablets has complicated how Chinese characters should be integrated in the curriculum. It is important to systematically review what scholars have proposed regarding curriculum design for teaching characters in the United States. In this systematic review study, an exhaustive search through the past nine decades of scholarship on teaching Chinese characters identified 16 peer-reviewed journal articles published since 1937 that focused on teaching Chinese characters at the level of course design and overall curriculum design for a Chinese program. Two themes regarding character teaching – when and what to teach – were identified. Each theme was analyzed in detail, and a tentative model was proposed based on that analysis.
探究影響漢語雙及物構式語句產出之要素
Authors: 蕭惠貞  , 詹士微  , 魏吟玲  
Published: March 2024

提 要
本研究旨在探討「動詞」、「義項」、「信息原則」對雙及物構式產出之影響, 並以四個漢語動詞 (「送、發、丟、分」) 為例, 透過「義項接受度評分」與「成對描述圖片」兩項實驗, 考察「漢語母語者」與「日籍學習者」產出語句的差異。研究結果顯示: 其一, 受習得順序、構式搭配與動詞類別的影響, 母語者傾向將動詞「發、丟」用於與格構式, 而動詞「送、分」則同時可用於與格、雙賓構式, 日籍學習者多產出動詞前給雙賓構式; 其二, 當動詞義項分別表示現場給予或遠程給予意義時, 母語者傾向選用不同的構式以區分兩者, 日籍學習者僅在動詞「丟」的兩個義項呈現差異; 其三, 母語者產出句式時存在一定程度的信息結構意識, 而學習者尚無; 其四, 學習者與母語者偏好使用的構式有所不同, 且多有偏誤, 顯示日籍學習者產出雙及物構式時仍受母語或習得順序的制約。
The impact of health education intervention on perceptions of menstrual cup among college going female students in peri-urban Bangalore
Authors: James Ciril , Binu Diya Mary , Regy Minitta Maria , Fathima Farah Naaz , Johnson Avita Rose , Varghese Jilshy 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Objectives
To assess the impact of health educational intervention on perceptions of menstrual cup usage among female students enrolled in a degree college in Bangalore district.

Methods
An interventional study was conducted among female students studying in a degree college in peri-urban Bangalore. Universal sampling was followed and a prior face validated questionnaire was administered to the students after to assess their perceptions, followed by a health education intervention. The subjects were followed up after a period of one month, to assess the impact of health education in changing their perception towards menstrual cups.

Results
Among 83 study participants with mean age 19.5±0.95 years, post intervention we found a 42 % increase in the total awareness score and a 35 % increase in total attitude score towards menstrual cup use. There was an increase by 36.1 % (p<0.001) among participants who considered menstrual cup better than sanitary napkins. A reduction by 27.7 % (p=0.024) of reported fear of pain and discomfort while using menstrual cup was noted.

Conclusions
There was a significant improvement in the overall awareness about how to use a menstrual cup, advantages, and attitude towards the usage of menstrual cups following the health educational intervention. Health education was found to have a positive impact on perceptions of menstrual cup.
Emission and performance investigation of mango seed oil biodiesel supplied with n-pentanol and n-hexanol additives and optimization of fuel blends using modified deep neural network
Authors: Rami Reddy S. , Sarangi Saroj Kumar 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
In this study, the emission and performance characteristics of single-cylinder diesel engines were tested using various biodiesel blends prepared by mixing diesel with mango seed oil biodiesel (MSOB). Furthermore, the effect of n-amyl and n-hexanol alcohol additions on the performance and emission results of manufactured biodiesel blends is investigated and compared with diesel fuel. On the other hand, a hybrid deep neural network (DNN) based on the manta ray foraging optimization (MRFO) method is developed to forecast ideal biodiesel blends in order to reduce emissions from diesel engines while improving performance. The optimal brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for this study were 32.3916 % for 75 % diesel + 20 % MSOB + 5 % n-hexanol fuel and 0.0453 kg/kWh for 75 % diesel + 20 % MSOB + 5 % n-amyl fuel, respectively. The optimal emissions from the test engine were 0.1034 % CO from 60 % diesel + 20 % MSOB + 20 % n-hexanol and 28.886 ppm HC from 75 % diesel + 20 % MSOB + 5 % n-hexanol fuel. The optimal smoke and NO
x
levels are achieved with a blend of 60 % diesel, 20 % MSOB, 5 % n-amyl, and 5 % n-hexane. Moreover, the developed DNN-MRFO achieved 0.9979, 0.9992 and 0.9975 overall regression coefficients during training, validation and testing. The root mean square error (RMSE) of DNN-MRFO also ranges from 0.019 to 0.032.
A Comparative Study of Automated Quantification in Digital Insurance
Authors: Infantino Marta 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Insurance companies have always been at the forefront of developments in the processing of large volumes of data. This paper investigates in a comparative perspective the implications of the increasing reliance by insurers on automated quantification, examining developments of insurance law and technology in continental Europe, the common law (particularly the United States), and mainland China. The paper sheds light on the challenges brought by automated quantification in digital insurance, reviews the regulatory options that may address such challenges and inquires into the regulatory approaches pursued in different regions of the world. The comparative analysis of the strategies pursued will show that, when thinking about regulatory options for digital insurance, it is important to keep in mind that the shift to automated quantification, although global, raises different risks and opportunities depending on the contexts and the legal frameworks in which it takes place. The variance of contexts and legal frameworks explains why the impact of automated quantification in insurance is for the time being strong in the common law world, present but less intrusive in China, and proceeding at an even slower pace in continental Europe.
The crystal structure of N′-{5-[2-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy) acetamido]-4-hydroxy-1,6-diphenylhexan-2-yl}-3-methyl-2-(2-oxo-1,3-diazinan-1-yl)butanamide hydrate
Authors: Mokoto Tebogo M. L. , Lemmerer Andreas , Sayed Yasien , Smith Mark G. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
2(C37H47N4O5·3(H2O), triclinic, P1 (no. 1), a = 11.6319(7) Å, b = 13.9452(7) Å, c = 24.1727(14) Å, α = 106.203°, β = 103.296°, γ = 90.777°, V = 3651.7(4) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0682, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1899, T = 123 K.
Health benefit of lipid composition of orange (Citrus sinensis) fruit pulp at different maturation stages
Authors: Ortutu Stella Chintua , Aremu Matthew Olaleke , Otobo Grace , Onyeije Ugomma Chibuzo 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which was adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, is ‘Good Health and Wellbeing’. To contribute in the actualization of this goal, the lipid composition of unripe (UR), about to ripe (AR), and ripe (RP) Citrus sinensis fruit pulps were evaluated using standard analytical techniques. The result showed that the same fatty acids and phospholipids were found in all the fruit pulps examined. The most abundant fatty acid in the fruit pulps was palmitoleic acid with concentration (%) of 26.48, 27.82 and 27.14 for UR, AR, and RP samples respectively. This was followed by oleic acid (25.36 %, 29.13 %, 28.66 %), palmitic acid (25.98 %, 20.14 %, 21.66 %), linoleic acid (12.30 %, 11.18 %, 11.33 %), linolenic acid (7.52 %, 8.71 %, 8.19 %), and stearic acid (1.95 %, 2.73 %, 2.72 %) for UR, AR, and RP fruit pulps respectively. The samples contain healthy saturated and unsaturated fatty acid with the concentration of unsaturated fatty acid (71.75 %, 76.92 %, 75.40 %) being prominent in UR, AR, and RP samples respectively. The most prominent phospholipids (mg/100 g) in the fruit pulps was phosphatidylethanolamine with concentrations of 5.86, 6.47, and 6.03 for AR, UR, and RP samples respectively. This was followed by phosphatidylcholine (4.02 mg/100 g, 4.52 mg/100 g, 4.22 mg/100 g), phosphatic acid (3.59 mg/100 g, 4.02 mg/100 g, 3.89 mg/100 g), diphosphatidylglycerol (3.38 mg/100 g, 3.79 mg/100 g, 3.59 mg/100 g), phosphatidylinositol (1.92 mg/100 g, 2.24 mg/100 g, 2.21 mg/100 g), phosphatidylserine (1.86 mg/100 g, 2.08 mg/100 g, 1.91 mg/100 g) and phosphatidylglycerol (1.07 mg/100 g, 1.21 mg/100 g, 1.18 mg/100 g) for UR, AR and RP fruit pulps respectively. The result revealed that Citrus sinensis is a healthy low fat food at every maturation stage and that the fatty acid and phospholipid composition increased as the fruit pulp ripened.
In silico studies on the anti-acne potential of Garcinia mangostana xanthones and benzophenones
Authors: Blicharska Natalia , Ben Ahmed Ziyad , Jackson Simon , Rotondo Dino , Seidel Veronique 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Garcinia mangostana fruits are used traditionally for inflammatory skin conditions, including acne. In this study, an in silico approach was employed to predict the interactions of G. mangostana xanthones and benzophenones with three proteins involved in the pathogenicity of acne, namely the human JNK1, Cutibacterium acnes KAS III and exo-β-1,4-mannosidase. Molecular docking analysis was performed using Autodock Vina. The highest docking scores and size-independent ligand efficiency values towards JNK1, C. acnes KAS III and exo-β-1,4-mannosidase were obtained for garcinoxanthone T, gentisein/2,4,6,3′,5′-pentahydroxybenzophenone and mangostanaxanthone VI, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the potential of xanthones and benzophenones to interact with C. acnes KAS III. Molecular dynamics simulations using GROMACS indicated that the JNK1-garcinoxanthone T complex had the highest stability of all ligand–protein complexes, with a high number of hydrogen bonds predicted to form between this ligand and its target. Petra/Osiris/Molinspiration (POM) analysis was also conducted to determine pharmacophore sites and predict the molecular properties of ligands influencing ADMET. All ligands, except for mangostanaxanthone VI, showed good membrane permeability. Garcinoxanthone T, gentisein and 2,4,6,3′,5′-pentahydroxybenzophenone were identified as the most promising compounds to explore further, including in experimental studies, for their anti-acne potential.
In vitro and in silico antiproliferative potential of isolated flavonoids constitutes from Pistacia integerrima
Authors: Rauf Abdur , Rashid Umer , Akram Zuneera , Ghafoor Momina , Muhammad Naveed , Al Masoud Najla , Alomar Taghrid S. , Naz Saima , Iriti Marcello 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Cancer is one of the most demanding domains for innovative, effective, safe, and affordable therapeutically active chemicals. The main aim of this study is to research new phytochemicals with anticancer activity. The current experiment identified and analyzed six compounds for anti-cancer potential supported by molecular simulation studies. The defatted methanolic extract underwent column chromatography, resulting in the isolation of six flavonoids. These include 3,5,7,4′-tetrahydroxy-flavanone (1), naringenin (2), 3,5,4′-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-flavanone (3), sakuranetin (4), spinacetin (5), and patuletin (6). The isolated compounds (1–6) were assessed for in vitro anti-cancer activity against various cell lines such as HepG2 (hepatoma G2), A498 (kidney), NCI-H226 (lungs), and MDR2780AD (human ovarian). The maximum antiproliferative effect was against HepG2 and MDR2780AD. When compounds 6, 5, and 1 were compared to a standard anti-cancer medicine (paclitaxel) with an IC50 of 7.32, it was shown that compounds 6, 5, and 1 exhibited significant activity against HepG2 with IC50 values of 14.65, 20.87, and 27.09 µM, respectively. All tested compounds showed an IC50 of less than 1 µM and had notable effects against MDR2780 AD cell lines. Compound 6 exhibited notable potency against the HepG2, A498, and MDR2780AD cell lines, among the six compounds that were evaluated. In contrast, compound 3 demonstrated the most pronounced impact on the NCI-H226 cell line. Docking investigations were performed using tubulin as the specific target concerning PDB ID 4O2B. The six compounds under investigation interact hydrophobically and hydrophilically with tubulin-binding site amino acid residues.
Integrating Machine Learning for Improved Prediction of Temperature and Moisture in Pavement Granular Layers
Authors: Huang Yunyan , Molavi Nojumi Mohamad , Hashemian Leila , Bayat Alireza 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Pavement temperature and moisture content within the base and subgrade layers affect the load-bearing capacity of the pavement and dominate the pavement performance in cold regions. Accurately predicting pavement temperature and moisture content can improve pavement design and management. Conventional approaches, including numerical and statistical models, have been implemented to predict pavement temperature and soil moisture content. However, they have weaknesses, such as being only suitable for warm regions or only for predicting pavement temperature within the asphalt layer. Furthermore, none of them can simultaneously predict the pavement temperature and moisture content. To address this issue, data collected from an instrumented test road in Alberta, Canada, were used to train a model to predict the daily average pavement temperature and moisture content at various depths through three parameters, namely depth, day of the year, and air temperature. The MATLAB toolbox, Neural Net Fitting, was used, and the performance of three built-in algorithms, Levenberg–Marquardt, Bayesian regularization, and Scaled conjugate gradient backpropagation, was compared. The model with Bayesian regularization showed the highest accuracy, with an R2 value of 0.99 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.49°C for pavement temperature prediction, and an R2 value of 0.95 and an RMSE of 0.025 m3/m3 for moisture content prediction. The model developed in this research is the first to simultaneously estimate pavement temperature and moisture content, so its performance was separately compared with two existing models in the literature. The artificial neural network (ANN) model shows higher accuracy than the two existing models, so it was found that the ANN could be a robust method for pavement temperature and moisture content prediction at various depths.
Shear wave elastography for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis
Authors: Akramova E. G. , Kapustina E. P. 
Published: March 2024

Aim. To evaluate the potential of shear wave elastography to determine the duration of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, the effectiveness of direct anticoagulation and patient management strategy.Material and methods. Duplex lower extremity vein scanning, supplemented by shear wave elastography with determination of the average, minimum and maximum Young's modulus, was performed in 98 patients with acute, subacute and chronic thrombosis of the iliac and femoral veins on days 1, 3 and 6 of hospitalization. Based on the coefficient of determination (R2) of the median Young's modulus of a venous thrombus at different stages of thrombosis, the significance of its changes was assessed. Diagnostic information content of Young's modulus was calculated by comparing with the histological data of 17 blood clots removed during surgery.Results. As the age of both iliac and femoral vein thrombus increased, the median of the maximum, average and minimum Young's modulus at all stages of thrombosis steadily increased (R2=0,99). The median of the average Young's modulus at the acute stage was determined to be <17 kPa; at the subacute stage — in the range of 17-32 kPa and chronic — >32 kPa. According to shear wave elastography, in patients with acute and subacute stages of thrombosis, by the 6th day of anticoagulant therapy, the thrombus stiffness increased (R2=0,91-0,96), while in the chronic thrombosis group only a tendency to decrease was observed. The diagnostic information value of studying a thrombus using shear wave elastography relative to its histological examination turned out to be sufficient for use in clinical practice. In acute femoral vein thrombosis, the indication for radical treatment was the average Young's modulus ≤8,1 kPa, the minimum Young's modulus ≤1,7 kPa (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values varied in the range of 64,3-88,9%); in subacute — ≤23,0 kPa and ≤11,3 kPa, respectively (55,6-100%).Conclusion. The results indicate that the diagnostic information value of shear wave elastography indicators is sufficient to determine the stage of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis in clinical practice.