bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acceptability of artificial intelligence-based retina screening in general population
Authors: Shah Payal , Mishra Divyansh , Shanmugam Mahesh , Vighnesh M J , Jayaraj Hariprasad 
Published: March 2022

Purpose:
A deep learning system (DLS) using artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a very promising technology in the future of healthcare diagnostics. While the concept of telehealth is emerging in every field of medicine, AI assistance in diagnosis can become a great tool for successful screening in telemedicine and teleophthalmology. The aim of our study was to assess the acceptability of AI-based retina screening.

Methods:
This was a prospective non-randomized study performed in the outpatient department of a tertiary eye care hospital. Patients older than 18 years who came for a regular eye check-up or a routine retina screening were recruited in the study. Fundus images of the posterior pole were captured on fundus on a phone camera (REMIDIO™, India) with a built-in AI software (Netra.AI) that can identify normal versus abnormal retina. The patients were then given an 8-point questionnaire to assess their acceptance and willingness toward AI-based screening. We recruited 104 participants.

Results:
We found that 90.4% were willing for an AI-based fundus screening; 96.2% were satisfied with AI-based screening. Patients with diabetes (P = 0.03) and the male population (P = 0.029) were more satisfied with the AI-based screening. The majority (i.e., 97.1%) felt that AI-based screening gave them a better understanding of their eye condition and 37.5% felt that AI-based retina screening prior to a doctor’s visit can help in routine screening

Conclusion:
Considering the current COVID-19 pandemic situation across the globe, this study highlights the importance of AI-based telescreening and positive patient approach toward this technology.
Visual impairment in children with multiple disabilities in schools for children with special needs in South India
Authors: Bhaskaran Sahithya , Flora Jeyaseeli , Perumalsamy Vijayalakshmi , Durairaj Deepa Chitra 
Published: March 2022

Purpose:
To understand/assess ocular and functional vision impairment in children with multiple disabilities with a functional vision assessment battery in addition to standard ophthalmic examinations in an outreach setting.

Methods:
Seven schools for children with special needs, 243 children in total, were screened for ocular disorders and functional vision impairment through school camps.

Results:
Among them, 37% had refractive errors needing spectacle correction. With standard ocular testing methods, the visual impairment was around 32%, but when functional vision was assessed, the functional vision impairment amounted to 70% in these children. The presence of functional vision impairment was found to be independent of the associated disability. Assessment of visual capacities such as visual closure, saccade pursuits, optic ataxia, and developmental milestones early on can help in suspecting the presence of CVI

Conclusion:
Children with multiple disabilities are more at risk of functional vision impairment, which significantly impairs their ability to function in daily life. A complete functional vision assessment becomes essential to plan early intervention for these children. The significant proportion of vision impairment and functional vision loss in our study indicates the need for coordinated structured programs to address vision-related problems in children with multiple disabilities.
Comparison of corneal endothelial changes following phacoemulsification in diabetic and non-diabetic patients
Authors: Chaurasia Rajendra Kumar , Khasnavis Arpita , Mittal Jimmy 
Published: March 2022

Purpose:
To study corneal endothelial changes post phacoemulsification in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Methods:
A comparative, prospective, observational study was conducted on 100 diabetic and 100 non-diabetics who underwent phacoemulsification. All patients were operated by the same surgeon by using the phaco chop technique to exclude any surgeon-related bias. Endothelial cell count, CCT, and coefficient of variance (CV) were measured with a specular microscope along with BCVA preoperatively and at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 3 months postoperatively. For statistical analysis, data were analyzed by using SPSS (version 27.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Data were summarized as mean and standard deviation for numerical variables and count and percentages for categorical variables. Chi square test, independent sample T test, and paired T test were used to compare the data. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:
Postoperatively at 1 week, 4-week, and 3 months follow-up intervals, the mean endothelial cell count and coefficient of variance were significantly higher, and the mean percentage of hexagonal cells was significantly lower in non diabetic as compared to the diabetic group. A significant difference in mean central corneal thickness of the two groups was observed at 1-week and 4-weeks postoperative intervals; at both these intervals, the mean value was significantly higher in non diabetic as compared to the non-diabetic group. However, at 3-months post-operative interval, the difference between the two groups was not significant statistically. Mean BCVA values were significantly higher in diabetic as compared to the diabetic group at all three follow-up intervals.

Conclusion:
The findings of the present study show that endothelial cell characteristics are adversely affected in diabetic eyes as compared to non-diabetic patients undergoing phacoemulsification; this might also have an effect on the visual outcomes.
Comparison of effective phacoemulsification time and corneal endothelial cell loss using three different ultrasound frequencies: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Dewan Taru , Malik Praveen K , Tomar Preeti 
Published: March 2022

Purpose:
Comparison of three ultrasound (US) frequencies for phacoemulsification of hard cataracts to determine a frequency that makes phacoemulsification more efficacious and safer.

Methods:
A randomized controlled trial was undertaken at a medical college and hospital. In total, 207 patients with grade 5.6–6.9 (LOCS III) senile cataract were randomized into three groups. Group I underwent phacoemulsification with 28-kHz frequency, group II with 42-kHz frequency, and group III with 53-kHz frequency. The effective phacoemulsification time (EPT) and estimated fluid usage (EFU) were compared intraoperatively. The endothelial cell parameters were analyzed for 6 months.

Results:
The groups were matched for age (P = 0.467), gender (P = 0.497), nuclear grade (P = 0.321), and anterior chamber depth (P = 0.635). The EPT and EFU were significantly lower in group III, compared to group II and group I, with P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively. Postoperatively, the endothelial cell density (ECD) was significantly higher in group III at 1 month (P < 0.0001), 3 months (P < 0.0001), and 6 months (P < 0.0001). The percentages of ECD loss were also significantly lower in group III; the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001) up to 6 months postoperatively

Conclusion:
Higher frequency ultrasound was associated with a lower EPT and EFU as well as better endothelial preservation than lower frequencies in hard cataracts.
Utilizing human intelligence in artificial intelligence for detecting glaucomatous fundus images using human-in-the-loop machine learning
Authors: Ramesh Prasanna Venkatesh , Subramaniam Tamilselvan , Ray Prajnya , Devadas Aji Kunnath , Ramesh Shruthy Vaishali , Ansar Sheik Mohamed , Ramesh Meena Kumari , Rajasekaran Ramesh , Parthasarathi Sathyan 
Published: March 2022

Purpose:
For diagnosing glaucomatous damage, we have employed a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) from TrueColor confocal fundus images to conquer the black box dilemma in artificial intelligence (AI). This neural network with CNN architecture with human-in-the-loop (HITL) data annotation helps not only in diagnosing glaucoma but also in predicting and locating detailed signs in the glaucomatous fundus, such as splinter hemorrhages, glaucomatous optic atrophy, vertical glaucomatous cupping, peripapillary atrophy, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect.

Methods:
The training was done on a well-curated private dataset of 1,400 high-resolution confocal fundus images, out of which 1,120 images (80%) were used exclusively for training and 280 images (20%) were used exclusively for testing. A custom trained You Only Look Once version 5 (YOLOv5)-based object detection methodology was used to identify the underlying conditions precisely. Twenty-six predefined medical conditions were annotated by a team of humans (comprising two glaucoma specialists and two optometrists) by using the Microsoft Visual Object Tagging Tool (VoTT) tool. The 280 testing images were split into three groups (90,100, and 90 images) for three test runs done once every 15 days.

Results:
Test results showed consistent increments in the accuracy, from 94.44% to 98.89%, in predicting the glaucoma diagnosis along with the detailed signs of the glaucomatous fundus

Conclusion:
Utilizing human intelligence in AI for detecting glaucomatous fundus images by using HITL machine learning has never been reported in the literature before. This AI model not only has good sensitivity and specificity in accurate glaucoma predictions but is also an explainable AI, thus overcoming the black box dilemma.
Acute acquired comitant esotropia precipitated by excessive near work during the COVID-19-induced home confinement
Authors: Neena R , Remya S , Anantharaman Giridhar 
Published: March 2022

Purpose:
To evaluate the causes of acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) in young adults and children in the setting of COVID-19-induced home confinement.

Methods:
A retrospective, clinical study of all patients, who presented to the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus services of a tertiary eye care center in South India from August 2020 to January 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, with acute-onset, comitant esotropia.

Results:
11 (73.3%) of the total 15 patients were students, above 10 years and with a mean age of 16.8 years. 12 patients (80%) had more than 8 hours of near activity a day with a mean duration of 8.6 hours per day. The most common near activity was online classes, followed by job-related work and mobile games, and 86.7% used smartphones for near work. The average esotropia was 22.73 prism diopter (PD) for distance and 18.73 PD for near. Majority (66.6%) had hyperopia with basic or divergence insufficiency esotropia, and the remaining 33.3% had myopia and fitted in to the Bielschowsky type AACE. There was no precipitating event other than sustained near work in all, except in one patient who also had fever prior to the onset of esotropia

Conclusion:
The habit of long-time and sustained near work, especially on smartphones, may increase the risk of inducement of AACE.
Transconjunctival botulinum toxin injection into the lacrimal gland in crocodile tears syndrome
Authors: Pattanayak Sabyasachi , Sharma Pramod Kumar , Samikhya Swati , Khuntia Ipsita , Patra Kalyani 
Published: March 2022

Purpose:
To determine the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin injection into the lacrimal gland as a symptomatic treatment of crocodile tear syndrome (CTS).

Methods:
Our study included six patients of unilateral gustatory hyper lacrimation following either an episode of facial paralysis or post trauma or any related surgery that posed a risk of damaging the facial nerve. Detailed history regarding previous trauma, duration of facial paralysis, previous significant surgery, and duration of steroid use following facial paralysis was noted. Schirmer’s test was done at baseline and 3 months follow-up. Patients’ consent was taken prior to treatment with botulinum toxin injection in the lacrimal gland. Repeat injection of 5 U botulinum toxin (type A) was administered into the lacrimal gland of all patients transconjunctivally within an interval of 1 week. All patients were followed up with Schirmer’s test at 6 weeks and 3 months. Any complications during treatment were recorded.

Results:
All six patients showed complete or partial disappearance of reflex lacrimation while chewing following botulinum injection measured by a significant reduction in Schirmer’s value. When comparing Schirmer test values before (27.8 ± 3.58 mm) and after (11.6 ± 2.28 mm) BTX-A injection, the differences observed (P = 0.002) were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Only two patients developed mild transitory ptosis. No other complications were noted

Conclusion:
Transconjunctival botulinum toxin injection into the lacrimal gland is an effective and safe method to decrease reflex lacrimation during eating or chewing in CTS or gustatory hyper-lacrimation syndrome.
Comparing miR-16 and miR-1228 as an optimal endogenous control for quantification of circulating microRNAs in colorectal cancer patients
Authors: Yang Chia-Lin , Tsai Fu-Ming , Chen Chuang-Wei , Hsiao Kuan-Hong , Chen Jia-Hui , Kao Woei-Yau 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACT

Objectives:
Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been discovered to play a novel role in intercellular communication and cancer biology. They are emerging candidates for noninvasive molecular biomarkers of cancer and other diseases. However, current translational researches have been limited by the lack of consensus on the optimal endogenous control of circulating miRNAs quantitation. In this study, we compared two promising miRNAs, miR-1228 and miR-16, as an endogenous control. The effects of normalizers on the relative quantification of circulating miR-31 in plasma samples of colorectal cancer (CRC) were also assessed.

Materials and Methods:
The cel-miR-39 was a spiked-in RNA used as an external control and added to plasma samples before RNA extraction. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technology was used to analyze the expression levels of circulating miRNAs in plasma samples of 4 healthy controls and 14 CRC patients. The expression stability of the candidate controls was compared by Ct analysis and NormFinder algorithms.

Results:
There was no significant difference in expression level of miR-16 and miR-1228 between healthy control group and before or after therapy of CRC patient groups. The expression of miR-1228 has smaller the range Ct values (28.25-25.64)compared with those of miR-16 (24.91-20.34). The stability value of miR-1228 (0.102) is lower than that of miR-16 (0.350). The expression of miR-1228 endogenous reference candidate has lower stability value and smaller the range Ct values compared with those in miR-16. According to the range Ct values and stability value, miR-1228 is better than miR-16 as endogenous control in CRC patients. There are significant differences in circulating miR-31 expression between healthy control and CRC patients when miR-1228 was used to standardize miR-31 expression.

Conclusions:
miR-1228 is recommended as a better endogenous control in quantification of circulating miRNAs in CRC patients.
Computer-aided discovery, design, and investigation of COVID-19 therapeutics
Authors: Chang Chun-Chun , Hsu Hao-Jen , Wu Tien-Yuan , Liou Je-Wen 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently the most serious public health threat faced by mankind. Thus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, is being intensively investigated. Several vaccines are now available for clinical use. However, owing to the highly mutated nature of RNA viruses, the SARS-CoV-2 is changing at a rapid speed. Breakthrough infections by SARS-CoV-2 variants have been seen in vaccinated individuals. As a result, effective therapeutics for treating COVID-19 patients is urgently required. With the advance of computer technology, computational methods have become increasingly powerful in the biomedical research and pharmaceutical drug discovery. The applications of these techniques have largely reduced the costs and simplified processes of pharmaceutical drug developments. Intensive and extensive studies on SARS-CoV-2 proteins have been carried out and three-dimensional structures of the major SARS-CoV-2 proteins have been resolved and deposited in the Protein Data Bank. These structures provide the foundations for drug discovery and design using the structure-based computations, such as molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. In this review, introduction to the applications of computational methods in the discovery and design of novel drugs and repurposing of existing drugs for the treatments of COVID-19 is given. The examples of computer-aided investigations and screening of COVID-19 effective therapeutic compounds, functional peptides, as well as effective molecules from the herb medicines are discussed.
Around the Danzer problem and the construction of dense forests
Authors: Adiceam Faustin 
Published: March 2022

A 1965 problem due to Danzer asks whether there exists a set with finite density in Euclidean space intersecting any convex body of volume one. A suitable weakening of the volume constraint leads one to the (much more recent) problem of constructing
dense forests
. These are discrete point sets becoming uniformly close to long enough line segments.

Progress towards these problems has so far involved a wide range of ideas surrounding areas as varied as combinatorial and computation geometry, convex geometry, Diophantine approximation, discrepancy theory, the theory of dynamical systems, the theory of exponential sums, Fourier analysis, homogeneous dynamics, the mathematical theory of quasicrystals and probability theory.
The goal of this paper is to survey the known results related to the Danzer problem and to the construction of dense forests, to generalise some of them and to state a number of open problems to make further progress towards this longstanding question.
Application of Urine and Copro Antigen Assays after Primary Infection and Drug Treatment in an Experimental Opisthorchiasis Animal Model
Authors: Worasith Chanika , Kopolrat Kulthida Y. , Pitaksakulrat Opal , Homwong Chutima , Kittirat Yingpinyapat , Wongphutorn Phattharaphon , Sithithaworn Jiraporn , Sithithaworn Paiboon 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACT.
Infection by Opisthorchis viverrini causes significant health problems, including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA); thus control and elimination of this trematode is an important strategy for the reduction of CCA. Currently, urine and copro antigen detection is more sensitive than parasitological examination of the feces for the diagnosis of opisthorchiasis. Given limitations in human studies, we used an animal model to quantify the parasite antigen profiles in urine and feces in O. viverrine–infected hamsters, and postdrug treatment. The positive detections of O. viverrini antigen began from week 1 in urine and week 2 in feces after infection until week 28 of the study. The recoveries of O. viverrini worms were detected starting from week 1 and eggs of O. viverrini were detected in feces from week 3 after infection and remained detectable throughout the study period. There was a significant positive correlation of urine and copro antigen levels with the number of fecal egg counts (P < 0.01) and worm recovery (P < 0.01). In the drug-treatment experiment, treatment of infected hamsters with praziquantel (PZQ) significantly reduced worm burden, fecal egg output, and antigen in urine and feces compared with the untreated controls (P < 0.001). At 4 weeks posttreatment, the egg and worm reduction rates were 100% and 95.5%, respectively. The positive antigen detections in urine and feces corresponded with partial worm clearance from praziquantel treatment. This study demonstrated a direct link of urine and copro antigen tests with worms infecting the liver thereby reaffirming the reliability of urine and copro antigen assay in opisthorchiasis diagnosis.
Synthesis and efficiency of new pyridine, chromene and thiazole containing compounds as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents
Authors: El-Hagrassey Eman A. , Abdel-Latif Ehab , Abdel-Fattah Gamal M. 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACT. The versatile scaffold, N'-(2-cyanoacetyl)-2-hydroxybenzohydrazide (3) was utilized in the production of new pyridine, chromene and thiazole derivatives as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. The synthetic strategy involves the treatment of precursor 3 with various arylidene-malononitrile and 3-aryl-2-cyanoacrylate compounds to furnish substituted pyridines 5 and 7. The interaction of 3 with salicylaldehyde and/or phenyl isothiocyanate followed by cyclization with chloroacetone produced the corresponding 2-imino-2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazide and (thiazol-2-ylidene-acetyl)-salicylic acid hydrazide compounds 8 and 9, respectively. The structural features of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by using spectroscopic methods such as (IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS). The new pyridine, chromene and thiazole products showed potent antioxidants and antimicrobial activities. The thiazole derivative 9 exhibited the highest anti-bacterial and antifungal activities against S. aureus (75.0%) and B. subtilis (73.9%) and C. albicans (66.6%). The combination between salicylic acid hydrazide and thiazole moieties in the hybrid 9 indicated the best antioxidant activity (87.9%).

KEY WORDS: Salicylic hydrazide, Arylidene-malononitrile, Pyridine, Thiazole, Antioxidant

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(1), 137-148.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i1.12
Assessment of a Nigerian chalcopyrite ore dissolution in sulfuric acid medium
Authors: Ayinla Kuranga I. , Baba Alafara A. , Akanji Fausat T. , Ambo Amos I. , Adekola Folahan A. 
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACT. This paper presents a study of dissolution kinetics of a Nigerian chalcopyrite ore in sulfuric acid lixiviant. The effects of acid concentration, temperature and particle diameter on the dissolution rates of chalcopyrite ore have been examined. The dissolution rates are significantly influenced by increase in temperature, hydrogen ion concentration [H+], and decrease in particle diameter. The experimental data for the dissolution rate have been analyzed with the shrinking core model which shows the rate controlling step for the dissolution of chalcopyrite ore occurs via surface chemical solution. With 4 M H2SO4 solution, about 91.6% of 10 g/L chalcopyrite ore at 80 oC was dissolved within 120 min using -90+75 µm particle diameter. The reaction order with respect to hydrogen ion concentration was found to be 0.57 with correlation coefficient 0.968. The calculated activation energy, (Ea) value of 44.9 kJ/mol for the dissolution process was established. However, the SEM morphology of the residues from leaching process showed that about 8.4% of the initial solid material contained admixtures of Fukuchilite (Cu0.42Fe0.58S2), and elemental sulphur (So) and are formed around the shrinking core of the unreacted material.

KEY WORDS: Chalcopyrite, Sulfuric acid, Dissolution kinetics

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(1), 187-196.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i1.15