bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Management of Amyand's Hernia: A Case Report
Authors: Siddiqui Abdullah Mohammed Shabee Ahmed , More Rajesh , Kamble Amar , More Shermeen 
Published: July 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Amyand’s hernia is a rare condition that involves the presence of the appendix in the inguinal hernia sac, accounting for around 1% of all inguinal hernias. There are no standardized protocols available for managing this condition, and diagnosis is usually made intraoperatively as presentation and workup may give no indication of the presence of the appendix in the sac. Due to the rarity of the disease and non-availability of standardized treatment protocols, decisions may be taken that might lead to increased patient mortality. Presentation of the Case: A 60-year-old male patient presented with a recent onset of right inguinoscrotal swelling. The diagnosis of right irreducible hernia was made, and an elective open inguinal hernioplasty was decided. Intraoperatively, a long tubular vermiform appendix was identified in the sac along with the caecum. The appendix and the caecum were reduced, and hernia repair with mesh was done with excellent outcome and good healing was seen on follow-up. Discussion: The management of Amyand’s hernia is dependent on the classification put forward by Losanoff and Basson based on the different conditions of the appendix and presence or absence of sepsis. The definitive diagnostic test of Amyand’s hernia pre-operatively is still a heavily debated topic. CT scan and sonography are the investigations that can most closely identify the appendix in the sac. Conclusion: This case report presents Amyand’s hernia which presented as an unremarkable irreducible right inguinal hernia which was diagnosed intraoperatively, classified as Type 1 Amyand’s hernia.
Medical Image Classification with On-Premise AutoML: Unveiling Insights through Comparative Analysis
Authors: Elangovan Kabilan , Lim Gilbert , Ting Daniel 
Published: July 2023

Abstract

Automated machine learning (AutoML) allows for the simplified application of machine learning to real-world problems, by the implicit handling of necessary steps such as data pre-processing, feature engineering, model selection and hyperparameter optimization. This has encouraged its use in medical applications such as imaging. However, the impact of common parameter choices such as the number of trials allowed, and the resolution of the input images, has not been comprehensively explored in existing literature. We therefore benchmark AutoKeras (AK), an open-source AutoML framework, against several bespoke deep learning architectures, on five public medical datasets representing a wide range of imaging modalities. It was found that AK could outperform the bespoke models in general, although at the cost of increased training time. Moreover, our experiments suggest that a large number of trials and higher resolutions may not be necessary for optimal performance to be achieved.
Prevalence, diversity, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus among patients with diabetic foot infections in a referral hospital in Tehran, Iran
Authors: Rahimi Fateh , Khashei Sanaz , Katouli Mohammad 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
The increasing incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major problem in the treatment of diabetic foot infections (DFIs). Due to the evolution of MRSA clones, and thereby inappropriate antibiotic therapy, typing of these strains in DFIs is needed to reduce their clonal dissemination in different regions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, diversity, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of MRSA isolated from patients with DFIs attending a referral hospital in Tehran, Iran during 2019–2020. Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing, ccr typing, PhP typing, and detection of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (pvl) gene were done to explore the diversity of the strains. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the strains were also determined using the disk diffusion method and broth microdilution assay. Of the 238 S. aureus strains isolated, 73 were identified as MRSA. The highest antibiotic resistance was seen against ciprofloxacin (86%), followed by kanamycin and tobramycin (84%). Overall, MRSA strains were categorized into 29 antibiotypes. Also, 49.3% of strains were known as high-level oxacillin-resistant strains (MIC ≥ 256 µg/ml). SCCmec type III and type 3 ccr were detected in 86.3% of strains and they were classified as hospital-acquired (HA)-MRSA. PhP typing revealed the presence of 8 common types (CTs) and 11 single types (STs), with CT2 comprising 41.1% of the strains. Our data suggest that MRSA strains isolated from DFIs in this country could be diverse and resistant to clinically important antibiotics. In this context diabetic patients can serve as a reservoir for dissemination of these bacteria between community and clinical environments.
Predatory efficiency of Danio rerio (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) and Poecilia reticulata (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) as a biocontrol agent of Aedes larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) under the laboratory condition in Bangladesh
Authors: Akter Tanjina , Begum Shefali , Akter Tangin 
Published: July 2023

Abstract

Background Several viral infections are transmitted by members of the genusAedes(Diptera: Culicidae). This study was conducted to evaluate the predatory potential ofDanio rerioZebrafish (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) andPoecilia reticulataGuppy (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) to controlAedesmosquito larvae and thereby manage dengue epidemics in a sustainable, and eco-friendly manner. Methods Under laboratory conditions, size-matched fish of each species were introduced into separate plastic containers containing 2 liters of tap water and 100 third instar larvae ofAedes. In addition, different prey combinations were used to assess the comparative predation potential of fish. Mosquito prey preferences were assessed using Manly’s preference index. Results Over 24-hours of laboratory conditions, a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the predatory efficiency of the studied fish species was reported where the predatory efficiency ofD. reriowas higher than that ofPo. reticulata. D. rerioshowed significantly (p < 0.05) higher predation efficiency and prey preference for 2nd instar larvae and pupae ofAedesthanPo. reticulataon the presence of alternative prey. Conclusions Based on predation efficiency and prey preference, this study suggests thatD. reriocan be evaluated as an alternative species toPo. reticulatain biological control as a more eco-friendly, low cost, and sustainable method for the management ofAedesmosquitoes.
Flexing your muscles with the exchange rate
The influence of trade openness and financial development
Authors: Mwinaayelle Seth 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
The paper investigates the impacts of exchange rate regimes on economic growth and productivity in Africa using the Generalized Method of Moments, which caters for country-specific and non-linear effects. The study divided African countries into two broad categories, thus countries that adopted the fixed exchange rate regimes and those that adopted the floating regimes. Countries that adopted the fixed exchange have no significant effect on GDP growth per capita. However, after the interaction of financial development with the exchange rate, it was found to have a positive significant effect on growth and productivity. Unfortunately, there was no significant effect between exchange and total factor productivity in countries that adopted floating due to the instability and predictability of the domestic currency. Trade openness also exhibited a significant effect on rigid exchange rate countries. The study recommends that African countries fix their domestic currency vis-à-vis the U.S. dollars. This will boost investment in domestic countries due to the certainty and predictability of the currency movement.
Left Atrial Volume Index, Other Systolic and Diastolic Transthoracic Echocardiographic Parameters as Early Predictors for Asymptomatic Trastuzumab Target Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction among HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Patients at a Tertiary Medical Center in Metro Manila – a Single-Center Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ong Renato , Ozaeta-Lorilla Maria Kristina Cecilia , Cuaresma Joseph Raymond , Parra Joseph , Lapitan Raul , Javier Saturnino 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackground:A quarter of breast cancer (BrCA) patients overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptors II (HER2); associated with aggressive tumor growth and adverse prognosis. Those undergoing cancer treatment with or without radiation therapy are at higher risk for developing cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD).Methods:This was a prospective cohort study with a computed sample size of 42 (margin of error set at 10% with confidence interval at 99%). The general objective was to determine the association of left atrial volume index (LAVI) with early asymptomatic CTRCD among HER2-positive BrCA patients receiving trastuzumab.Results:A total 45 patients were included in this study, 49% had LAVI > 27 ml/m2. More patients with LAVI > 27 ml/m2developed CTRCD. At baseline 2Decho, those who developed CTRCD had significantly higher median LV-GLS and median mitral EA ratio (all p < 0.05). On follow-up study, those with CTRCD had significantly lower median LV-GLS and median septal E (all p < 0.05). Consequently, those who developed CTRCD had significantly higher median relative reduction in LV-GLS and significantly higher decline in median mitral EA ratio (all p < 0.05). Asymptomatic CTRCD was significantly five times more likely among those stratified medium risk and higher [95% CI (1.109, 21.538)]. The odds of initiating cardioprotective strategy (CPS) before cancer therapy was significantly 70% less likely among those stratified low risk [95% CI (0.100, 0.998)], whereas the odds of initiating CPS during cancer therapy was significantly 15 times more likely among those stratified medium risk or higher [95% CI (1.622, 134.649)]. Adjusting for age and hypertension, the odds of developing asymptomatic CTRCD and initiating cardioprotective strategy during cancer therapy was significantly decreased by three per cent among those who have normal mitral EA ratio on baseline 2Decho [95% CI (0.952, 0.994) and 95% CI (0.957, 0.998), respectively]. Whereas initiating cardioprotective strategy before cancer therapy was significantly five per cent more likely when the mitral EA ratio was increased [95% CI (1.007, 1.063)].Conclusion:In this small study of 45 randomly selected HER2-positive breast cancer patients, left atrial volume index was not associated with development of asymptomatic cardiotoxicity. Mitral EA ratio was significantly associated with development of asymptomatic trastuzumab target cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction and significantly influence the decision in initiating cardioprotective strategy prior to and during cancer therapy among cancer patients.
A hybrid method for cross lingual semantic textual similarity
Authors: Bidgoli Behrouz Minaei , Abdous Mohammad , Piroozfar Poorya 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Today, it is particularly important to recognize the semantic similarity between texts in different languages due to the emergence of new natural language processing models like ChatGPT and Bard. These models can provide more accurate and comprehensive answers to users' questions by identifying semantic similarity between two texts in different languages. Cross-lingual semantic similarity refers to the process of calculating similarity between two pieces of text in different languages. This paper aims to present an improved method for finding similarities between sentences in different languages. Some of the current methods create the same vector space to achieve this, while others use machine translation to translate the text into another language and then determine similarity between the two sentences using monolingual sentence similarity methods. The degree of similarity is expressed as a number between 0 and 5. Over the past few years, the progress in language models based on transformers has paved the way for improvements in detecting text similarity. This article discusses the utilization of hybrid models with transformers to determine the semantic similarity of sentences in Persian and English languages utilizing the Persian-English corpus. According to our findings, this hybrid approach has a correlation rate of 95.28% in detecting the extent of semantic similarity between cross-lingual sentences. These results indicate that our method surpasses previous techniques for discovering similarities between sentences in different languages.
Inflammation and reduced hemoglobin levels are differentially associated with coronary artery disease in non-albuminuric subjects with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Donate-Correa Javier , Martín-Núñez Ernesto , González-Luis Ainhoa , Martín-Olivera Alberto , Navarro-González Juan F. , Mora-Fernández Carmen 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Aims
This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of inflammation and hemoglobin in relation to the risk of coronary artery disease in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and preserved kidney function.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 638 participants − 254 with T2DM- with no known cardiovascular disease, normal glomerular filtration rates and without albuminuria that were subjected to coronary angiography. Hemoglobin and serum levels of inflammatory markers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α and interleukin (IL) 6, were measured.
Results
Patients with diabetes and significant CAD presented increased levels of hs-CRP (46% increase, P = 0.02). However, neither the hs-CRP levels nor the cytokines were related to the severity of the stenosis in the group of subjects with diabetes in a multivariable analysis. Conversely, both inflammatory cytokines and albuminuria were directly related to the percentage of stenosis in subjects without T2DM (R2 = 0.038, P < 0.001). Patients with diabetes presented lower hemoglobin levels, particularly in those who also had significant CAD (14.4 [13.6–15.1] vs. 13.6 [12.2–14.8] g/dL, P = 0.03). Thus, subjects with diabetes and anemia presented increased coronary stenosis when compared with those without anemia (45% increase, P < 0.01). Similarly, hemoglobin levels and albuminuria were inversely related with the severity of stenosis exclusively in subjects with diabetes, even after adjusting for multiple confounding factors (R2 = 0.081, P < 0.001).
Conclusions
The results suggest that reductions in hemoglobin levels in subjects with T2DM and normoalbuminuria may constitute a more relevant risk factor for CAD than inflammation.
WITHDRAWN: “Stepwise or Concerted or a Hybrid Mechanism for Berberine Bridge Enzyme?”: A Computational Mechanistic Study by QM-MM and QM Methods
Authors: Yildiz Ibrahim 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Berberine bridge enzyme (BBE) is a plant-based amine oxidase that catalyzes conversion of (S)-reticuline into (S)-scoulerine using flavin as cofactor in a stereospecific way in an alkaloid biosynthesis pathway. Based on active site enzyme variants, a concerted mechanism was proposed involving hydride transfer, proton transfer, and substrate cyclization processes in a single step. In this mechanism, Glu417 residue acts as the catalytic base which deprotonates the phenolic proton of the substrate while a hydride ion transfers from the substrate to flavin and the substrate cyclizes. However, based on solvent and substrate deuterium kinetic isotope effect studies, it was proposed that the oxidation process occurs in a stepwise fashion in which a hydride ion transfer from substrate to flavin first, then cyclization of the substrate occurs together with the proton transfer process. In this study, we formulated computational models to elucidate the oxidation mechanism of (S)-reticuline into (S)-scoulerine using the crystal structure of enzyme complexed with (S)-reticuline. Both QM and QM-MM calculations revealed that a hybrid of concerted and stepwise mechanisms might be operative during the catalysis. It was found that a concerted hydride-proton transfer processes occurs forming a reactive intermediate which subsequently cyclize without an energy barrier as a decoupled step.
Ascophyllum nodosum extract treatment maintains the growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants during temporary drought stress
Authors: Ali Omar , Farrell Aidan D. , Ramsubhag Adesh , Jayaraman Jayaraj 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Abiotic stress, especially drought stress, is one of the principal constraints of crop productivity and is expected to worsen with climate change in the near future. This warrants the development of new technologies to decrease the impact of drought on crop productivity. Biostimulants made from seaweed extracts are one of the relatively new biological based inputs that can help mitigate the negative effects of abiotic stress on plants by enhancing growth, development, and stress tolerance. The current study evaluates the impact of Ascophyllum nodosum extract on tomato plants grown under different levels of water stress. Greenhouse studies were conducted to assess the effect of foliar spray (0.5%) of the extract on stomatal conductance, photosynthetic health, chlorophyll content, and biomass, for plants grown at moisture levels viz. 100%, 50%, and 25% of field capacity. A field study was also conducted with irrigation maintained at 100% and 25%. Additionally, the expression levels of marker genes associated with drought tolerance were evaluated using qPCR studies for Metacaspase 1 (LeMCA1), Non-specific lipid-transfer protein 2 (Itpg2), Late embryogenesis abundant protein (LEA) and Delta 1-pyrroline-5- carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) genes. Assays were also conducted for the osmolytes including proline and glycine betaine. Furthermore, the activities of antioxidant defense enzymes were evaluated for superoxide dismutase- SOD, catalase- CAT, peroxidase- POX, ascorbate peroxidase- APX and guaiacol peroxidase- GPX. The results of the greenhouse study indicated higher stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and Fv/Fm in stressed plants that were foliar sprayed with the A. nodosum extract. Seaweed extract-treated plants under water-stress conditions also had significantly greater shoot and root dry weights compared to control plants. The relative expression levels of the marker genes were also significantly increased in sprayed plants compared to control plants along with increased antioxidant enzymes activities and osmolyte contents. The field experiments revealed that seaweed extract-treated plants had significantly higher plant height and total yield under reduced irrigation compared to control plants, although both parameters remained lower than those seen under full irrigation. This study has produced encouraging findings on the application of Ascophyllum nodosum extract in crop systems, indicating that it may have a positive role in mitigating the effects of drought stress.
Adapting to Climate Risk? Local Population Dynamics in the United States
Authors: Indaco Agustín , Ortega Francesc 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Using a new composite climate-risk index, we show that population in high-risk counties has grown disproportionately over the last few decades, even relative to the corresponding commuting zone. We also find that the agglomeration is largely driven by increases in the (white) working-age population. In addition, we show that high-risk tracts have typically grown more than low-risk tracts within the same county, suggesting the presence of highly localized amenities in high-risk areas. We also document heterogeneous population dynamics along a number of dimensions. Specifically, population has been retreating from high-risk, low-urbanization locations, but continues to grow in high-risk areas with high residential capital. The findings above hold for the main climate hazards separately. However, we document that tracts with high risk of coastal flooding have grown significantly less than other tracts in the same county.
JEL Classifications: J3, J7
ABO blood group and the risk of CHB patients with decompensated cirrhosis: a case-control study
Authors: Yuan Huiming , Yang Donglei , Huang Yandi , Yang Rong , Gui Genyong , Cheng Xiaoming , Cui Dawei , Fan Jun 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Objective: ABO blood group, a genetic marker of blood, has been shown to be associated with risk of cardiovascular disease and several malignancies. The study aimed to assess whether there was associated with hepatitis B decompensated cirrhosis.
Results After adjusting for age, hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA nucleic acid (HBV-DNA), blood group A was an independent risk factor for decompensated cirrhosis compared to patients with type O. Age after multivariate stratified analysis showed that the risk of decompensated cirrhosis was also significantly higher in patients with aged 55 years or older with blood group A compared to blood group O. No significant differences were found in the severity of laboratory indicators in patients with decompensated cirrhosis among different ABO blood groups. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the survival rate of decompensated cirrhosis during the 12-month observation period among different ABO blood groups. Taken together, these findings indicated that the independent risk factor of developing decompensated cirrhosis was associated with A blood group, age and HBV-DNA levels in CHB patients.
Cloud Computing Load Prediction in Double-channel Residual Self-attention Temporal Convolutional Network with Weight Adaptive Updating
Authors: Lin Jiang , Guan Yepeng 
Published: July 2023

Abstract

Resource load prediction is a prominent challenge issue with the widespread adoption of cloud computing. A novel cloud computing load prediction method has been proposed in Double-channel residual Self-attention Temporal convolutional Network with Weight adaptive updating (DSTNW). A Double-channel Temporal convolution Network model (DTN) has been developed. The double-channel dilated causal convolution has been adopted to replace a single channel dilated causal convolution in the DTN. A residual temporal self-attention mechanism has been proposed to improve the performance of network and focus on features with significant contributions from the DTN. Some errors for single and stacked Double-channel residual Self-attention Temporal convolutional Network (DSTN) have been evaluated. An adaptive weight strategy has been proposed to assign corresponding weights for the single and stacked DSTNs, respectively. Experimental results highlight that the developed method has outstanding prediction performance for cloud computing in comparison with some state-of-the-arts.