bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Mineral composition, Phytochemical and Proximate Constituents of three Culinary Spices in Nigeria: A Comparative Study
Authors: Evuen Uduenevwo Francis , Okolie Ngozi Paulinus , Apiamu Augustine 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
A comparative assessment of the quantitative mineral composition, phytochemical and proximate constituents of Xylopia aethiopica (fruits), Piper guineense (seeds) and Rhaphiostylis beninensis (roots) was done using standard protocols. Mineral analysis of the culinary spices revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Selenium, Copper, Calcium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Potassium and Sodium contents of the spices. The respective concentrations of Iron and Selenium (16.03 ± 0.01, 0.25 ± 0.01 mg/L) in R. beninensis were the highest and lowest of all mineral elements evaluated in the three spices. Similarly, the carbohydrate and moisture contents (81.24 ± 0.25%, 0.71 ± 0.01%) of R. beninensis were the highest and lowest among all proximate parameters evaluated in the three spices. However, the Fibre contents of R. beninensis and P. guineense and the ash contents of P. guineense and X. aethiopica respectively, showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). Moreover, flavonoid and oxalate concentrations (4.04 ± 0.09%, 0.25 ± 0.04%) in X. aethiopica were the highest and lowest of phytochemicals in the three spices respectively. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the tannin content of P. guineense and X. aethiopica spices respectively. Similar trends were observed between the oxalate contents of R. beninensis and X. aethiopica, the phytate contents of R. beninensis and P. guineense and the saponin contents of the three spices respectively. These results indicate that the spices are notable sources of essential nutrients and phytochemicals. Therefore, they are possible candidates in the search for natural ingredients to formulate drugs and nutraceuticals by pharmaceutical industries.
Vision Transformer based System for Fruit Quality Evaluation
Authors: Kumar Tanushri , R Shivani 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Purpose Fruit quality assessment is one of the most pressing issues in the farming industry. Agriculturists would benefit significantly from the capacity to recognize the freshness of fruits, as it will allow them to optimize the harvesting stage and avoid reaping either underdeveloped or overdeveloped natural products. Productivity has decreased due to a lack of low-cost technology and equitable access. Despite large-scale agricultural mechanization in some parts of the country, most agricultural operations are still carried out by hand with simple instruments. The goal of this research is to automate the task of evaluating fruit quality. Methods Transformers were first presented in the field of natural language processing, and they offer dramatic performance improvements over existing models in NLP like as LSTMs and GRU. The Vision Transformer, or ViT, is an image classification model that uses a Transformer-like design over image patches. Results Vision transformer exhibited far superior results compared to CNN models. The models were evaluated on various metrics and the vision transformer model generated the highest accuracy compared to convolutional neural network models such as InceptionNet and EfficientNet. Conclusions Vision Transformers exhibited superior performance in fruit quality evaluation compared to traditional CNN model approaches. For future works, this model can be used to develop an efficient quality control system Automation of the quality prediction process can greatly reduce food and agricultural produce wastage.
Rapid detection of bovine rotavirus A by isothermal reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification assays
Authors: Liu Yuelin , Liu Libing , Wang Jinfeng , Sun Xiaoxia , Gao Yaxin , Yuan Wanzhe , Wang Jianchang , Li Ruiwen 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Bovine rotavirus A (BRVA) is considered to be the most common pathogen of severe diarrhea in cattle worldwide, which could lead to the death of newborn calves and cause the significant economic losses to the cattle industry. As a novel isothermal nucleic acid amplification technique, recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) has been applied widely for the rapid detection of different important pathogens in human and animals.
Results
Targeting the VP6 gene of BRVA, an RT-RPA assay based on the fluorescence monitoring (real-time RT-RPA) and an RT-RPA assay combined with a lateral flow strip (LFS RT-RPA) were successfully developed. The RT-RPA assays allowed the exponential amplification of the target fragment in 20 minutes. After incubation of the LFS RT-RPA on a metal bath at 40°C, the results were displayed on the lateral flow strip within 5 min, while real-time RT-RPA allowed the real-time observation of the results in Genie III at 42°C. Both of the two assays showed high specificity for BRVA without any cross-reaction with the other tested pathogens causing diarrhea in cattle. With the standard RNA of BRVA serving as a template, the limit of detection for real-time RT-RPA and LFS RT-RPA were 1.4 × 102 copies per reaction and 1.4 × 101 copies per reaction, respectively. In the 134 fecal samples collected from cattle with diarrhea, the BRVA RNA positive rate were 45.52% (61/134) and 46.27% (62/134) in real-time RT-RPA and LFS RT-RPA, respectively. Compared to a previously published real-time PCR, the real-time RT-RPA and LFS RT-RPA showed a diagnostic specificity of 100%, diagnostic sensitivity of 98.39% and 100%, and a kappa coefficient of 0.985 and 1.0, respectively.
Conclusions
In this study, BRVA was successfully detected in cattle fecal samples by the developed real-time RT-RPA and LFS RT-RPA assays. The developed RT-RPA assays had great potential for the rapid detection of BRVA in under-equipped diagnostic laboratory and the point-of-need diagnosis at quarantine stations and farms, which is of great importance to control BRVA-associated diarrhea in cattle herds.
Orally bioavailable Bruton’s tyrosine kinase proteolysis-targeting chimeras active against wild-type and C481 mutant BTKs in murine hematology models
Authors: Lim Ye Seul , Yoo Sun-Mi , Patil Vineet , Kim Han Wool , Kim Hyun-Hwi , Suh Beomseon , Park Ji Youn , Jeong Na-rae , Park Chi Hoon , Ryu Je Ho , Lee Byung-Hoon , Kim Pilho , Lee Song Hee 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is an important signaling hub that activates the B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling cascade. BCR activation can contribute to the growth and survival of B-cell lymphoma or leukemia. The inhibition of the BCR signaling pathway is critical for blocking downstream events and treating B-cell lymphomas. Herein, we report potent and orally available proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) that target BTK to inactivate BCR signaling.
Methods
Fluorescence resonance energy transfer signals were used to assess BTK and cereblon (CRBN) ternary complex formation with Mab anti-6His-Eu cryptate and Mab anti-glutathione-S-transferase-XL665. BTK and CRBN binding activities were investigated using in vitro target binding assays. Subsequently, SDS-PAGE and western blotting of whole cell lysates was performed, followed by immunofluorescence analysis of TMD-8 cells. ELISA was performed in TMD-8 cells treated with 0.01 µM PROTAC, ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, ARQ-531, Binder, or MT-802 to measure CCL3 and CCL4 levels. Tandem ubiquitin-binding elements pull-down assay was used to characterize UBX-382 in Ramos cells. Various cells treated with inhibitor or PROTAC were assessed for proliferation and viability. Wild-type- or BTK-transfected cells were transplanted in CB17/SCID mice and the established tumors were assessed using immunohistochemistry.
Results
Of the PROTACs tested, UBX-382 showed superior degradation activity for wild-type (WT) and mutant BTK proteins in a single-digit nanomolar range of DC50 in DLBCL cell line. UBX-382 was effective on seven out of eight known BTK mutants in in vitro experiment and was highly effective in inhibiting tumor growth in murine xenograft models harboring WT or C481S mutant BTK-expressing TMD-8 cells over ibrutinib, ARQ-531, and MT-802. Remarkably, oral dosing of UBX-382 for less than 2-weeks led to complete tumor regression in 3 and 10 mg/kg groups in murine xenograft models. UBX-382 also provoked the cell-type-dependent and selective degradation of CRBN neo-substrates in various hematological cancer cells.
Conclusions
These results suggest that UBX-382 treatment is a promising therapeutic strategy for B-cell-related blood cancers with improved efficacy and diverse applicability.
Gliclazide prevents irradiation-induced cardiotoxicity and lung injury through inhibiting Oxidative Stress: a biochemical and histopathological study
Authors: Amiri Fereshteh Talebpour , Arzani Sourosh , Farzipour Soghra , Hosseinimehr Seyed Jalal 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Cardiotoxicity and lung injury are two of the main side effects of oxidative stress following radiotherapy in patients with thoracic region cancer. Gliclazide (GLZ) as an antihyperglycemic drug has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of GLZ in cardiotoxicity and lung injury induced by irradiation (IR).
Materials and methods
In this experimental study, Sixty-four mice were divided into eight groups: control, GLZ (5, 10, and 25 mg/kg), IR (6 Gy), and IR + GLZ (in three doses). GLZ was administrated for 8 consecutive successive days and mice were exposed with IR on the 9th day of study. On the 10th day of study, tissue biochemical assay and at 14th day of study, histopathological assay were performed to evaluate for cardiotoxicity and lung injury.
Results
The findings revealed that IR induces atypical features in heart and lung histostructure, and oxidative stress (an increase of MDA, PC levels, and decrease of GSH content) in these tissues. GLZ administration preserved heart and lung damages and improves oxidative stress markers in mice.
Conclusion
Data have authenticated that GLZ could protect heart and lung histostructure against oxidative stress-induced injury through inhibiting oxidative stress.
TIGIT is Positively Associated with Advanced Human Glioma and Displays an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment
Authors: Qandouci Ahmed , Ghouzlani Amina , Kone Abdou-Samad , Lakhdar Abdelhakim , Badou Abdallah 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background: Diffuse glioma is a malignant human brain cancer that is hard to overcome. This represents a high risk of mortality. The current challenge is limited to the control of tumor progression and survival improvement.Immunotherapy consists of stimulating the immune system in order to eliminate the non-self-elements that damage the human body, including cancer cells. However, in human glioma, the current immunotherapeutic targets did not show significant benefit. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the expression and potential role of a new immunosuppressive molecule, TIGIT in glioma patients. Patients and Methods: A cohort of 667 patients from the TCGA database along with a cohort of 53 Moroccan patients, were analyzed in order to assess the role of TIGIT in human glioma progression and to estimate whether blocking this immune checkpoint molecule would be of a potential therapeutic benefit.Real time RT-PCR from fresh human biopsies and bioinformatics approaches were both used in this study. Results: Our results showed that high expression of TIGIT had prognostic value with some known clinical glioma risk factors such as sex, age and mutation status. High expression of TIGIT was positively associated with an advanced grade of glioma. Moreover, elevated levels of TIGIT were correlated to higher rates of FoxP3, a regulatory T-cell marker that reflects a strong immunosuppressive microenvironment. Interestingly, TIGIT showed strong association with Treg cell-secreted cytokines (TGF-beta and IL-10), supporting the likely involvement of TIGIT in the exhaustion of the intra-tumoral immune cells. Finally, elevated rates of TIGIT were significantly associated to elevated rates of other inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules (PD-1, VISTA and Tim-3) in human glioma patients.Conclusions: TIGIT blockade might be of valuable therapeutic benefit in patients with advanced gliomas.
Incidence and risk factors for early and late reoperation following lumbar fusion surgery
Authors: Wang Shuaikang , Wang Peng , Li Xiang-yu , Kong Chao , Cui Peng , Lu Shi-bao 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Study Design. Retrospective Cohort StudyPurpose. The aim of our study was to determine the rates and indications of reoperations following primary lumbar fusion, as well as the independent risk factors for early and late reoperation.Methods. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent lumbar fusion surgery between January 2017 and September 2020. All patients were followed up for more than 1 year. Characteristics, laboratory tests, primary diagnosis and surgery-related variables were compared among the early reoperation (< three months), the late reoperation (> three months) and the non-reoperation groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for early and late reoperations.Results. Of 877 patients included in our studies, 34 patients underwent early reoperation, and 35 patients underwent late reoperation. The cumulative reoperation rate was about 3.9% (95%CI, 2.6%-5.2%) at three months,5.6% (95%CI, 4.1%–7.1%) at 1 year and 7.1% (95%CI 5.4%–8.8%) at 2 years. Multivariable analysis indicated that osteoporosis (odds ratio [OR] 3.8, 95%CI 1.3-10.9, p=0.01) and diabetes (OR 2.2, 95%CI 1.1-4.5, p=0.03) were independently associated with early reoperation and multilevel fusion (OR 2.4, 95%CI 1.0-5.5, p=0.03) was independently associated with late reoperation.Conclusions. The most common reasons for early reoperation and late operation were surgical site infection and adjacent segment diseases, respectively. Osteoporosis and diabetes were independent risk factors for early reoperation and multilevel fusion was independent risk factor for late reoperation. Surgeons should pay more attention to these patients and future studies should consider the effects of follow-up periods on results.
Optimal Design of Circuit Breaker Based on Flower Pollination Algorithm
Authors: LI Guodong , XIE Min , TIAN Yunhe 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
The flower pollination algorithm is a new meta-heuristic algorithm that simulates the pollination behavior of flowers in nature. Aiming at the problem that the basic flower pollination algorithm is easy to fall into the local optimum and the later convergence speed is slow, the "adaptive-mutation catfish" flower pollination algorithm is proposed, Introduce the adaptive step size in the global pollination stage, introduce the mutation strategy and catfish effect in the local pollination stage, and use the classic test function to analyze the performance of the improved algorithm. The improved flower pollination algorithm is applied to the high breaking and comprehensive optimization design of the circuit breaker, the mathematical model of the high breaking and comprehensive optimization of the circuit breaker is constructed, and the optimal design method of the circuit breaker based on the flower pollination algorithm is given. The results show that the circuit breaker optimization design method based on flower pollination algorithm is feasible, and the improved flower pollination algorithm is effective.
A Preliminary Research of Cystoprostatectomy on Patients with Prostate Cancer Extending to Bladder
Authors: Sun Xiaoliang , Liu Min , Zhao Yong , Leng Kang , Zhang Haiyang 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
This is an exploratory research of cystoprostatectomy (CP) in treating prostate cancer (PCa) extending to bladder, which aimed to evaluate the effects of CP on long-term survival outcomes and improving quality of life (QoL) on these patients.
Methods
A total of 27 PCa patients extending to bladder were subjected to CP and followed-up at regular intervals in our center. Prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) recurrence-free survival (PFS) were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Multivariate Cox regression was performed to evaluate clinical characteristics predicting survivals. QoL and pelvic symptoms were also evaluated.
Results
Median follow-up was 42.0 months. Five patients (18.5%) died as a direct result of tumor progression. Median PCSS was not reached over the period of follow-up. 5-year PCSS rate was 82.1%. PSA recurrence after surgery was observed in 11 patients (40.7%). Median PFS was 66.0 months. 5-year PFS rate was 58.5%. Multivariate analysis showed Gleason score (≥ 8) (hazard ratio (HR) 2.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28–4.04, p = 0.033), positive local lymph node status (HR 3.52, 95% CI 1.57–7.38, p = 0.006) and bladder muscle-invasion (HR 4.75, 95% CI 1.37–7.53, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of worse PCSS. The number of patients suffering pelvic symptoms was significantly decreased, and QoL scores were significantly down-regulated after surgeries.
Conclusion
CP offered effective and durable palliation in patients of locally advanced prostate cancer with invasion of bladder, providing better QoL and relieving local symptoms.
Role discovery in node-attributed public transportation networks: The study of St Petersburg city open data
Authors: Lytkin Yuri , Chunaev Petr , Gradov Timofey , Boytsov Anton , Saitov Irek 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
In this paper, we propose a framework for solving the novel problem of role discovery in a public transportation network (PTN). We model a PTN as a weighted node-attributed network whose nodes are public transport stations (stops) grouped with respect to their geospatial position, node attributes store information about social infrastructure around the stations (stops), and weighted links integrate information about the travelling distance and the number of hops in the transportation routs between the stations (stops). Our framework discovers meaningful node roles in terms of both topological and infrastructural features of a PTN and is capable of extracting useful insights about the overall PTN’s efficiency. We apply the framework to the newly collected open data of St Petersburg, Russia, and point out some transportation and infrastructural weaknesses that should be taken into consideration by the city administration to improve the PTN in the future.
Co-existence of astrocytoma and hurtle cell carcinoma with rare metastasis pattern
Authors: Baratpour Iraj , Fakhrolmobasheri Mohammad , Boroujeni Golshan Golshan Taghipour , Vanani Vahid Reisi , Ghahfarrokhi Azar Baradaran 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Hurtle cell thyroid carcinoma is a rare types of thyroid cancer that include 3% of all thyroid malignancies. It is generally more aggressive than other thyroid cancers and can metastasis to various body organs. Metastasis of thyroid cancers to the paranasal sinuses is very rare. Thyroid cancer metastasis to the brain is also very rare. In this report, we described the rare case of hurtle cell thyroid carcinoma metastasized to the frontal sinus with coexistence of fibrillary astrocytoma in the adjacent frontal lobe of brain.
Foreign Aids and Economic Growth in Africa: Does Third-Country Effect Matter?
Authors: Bila Santos Necas , Khumalo Zitsile , Arogundade Sodiq 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Different regions are linked through different factors such as climate, and border sharing. Apart from this, African countries have developed significant links as a result of globalization, economic integration, and trade liberalization. Since any country's economic growth is influenced by the performance of its neighbours, these ties have resulted in spatial dependence among these countries. On this basis, the significance of spatial interactions between countries cannot be overemphasised. It is for this reason that the study investigated spatial dependence between African countries. The study employed non-spatial (FE, GMM) and spatial (SDM, SAM, and SEM) econometrics techniques and data ranging from 1996 to 2019 to examine the impact of ODA on Economic growth in Africa and its spillover effects. Based on the graphs and the Moran I test, the findings reveal that i) there is spatial dependence among African countries ii) The GMM results indicate that the ODA impact was positive and statistically significant but smaller in magnitude compared to the magnitude of the spatial models’ coefficients. This suggests that not controlling for space heterogeneity will possibly underestimate the real impact of ODA on GDP. Secondly, the study found that the weighted GDP was positive and statistically significant, which indicates that an increase in the GDP of a certain country has a positive and statistically significant impact on their neighbour’s economic growth. Based on the findings of the study, it is suggested that countries should improve their relationships and partnerships if they want ODA to provide the desired benefits across Africa.
Design review of a Locally Innovated Single Piston Diesel engine in Uganda
Authors: Wafula Simon Peter , Kirabira John Baptist , Norbert Mukasa 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Engineering designs are important in engine production. This research aimed at incorporating engineering principles and practices into the developed single piston diesel engine at Kevoton. Tests on the already innovated engine were carried out to evaluate the performance of the existing engines in terms of power, torque, rpm and exhaust temperature. Designs of the major components were generated together with material selection, which helped in determining whether the used material was appropriate for engine production. Results showed that the engine runs at a speed of 1800 rpm, a torque of 5 Nm, and a power of 10 HP with 2.4 liters per hour of fuel. The major components of the engine include the engine piston, the crankshaft, connecting rod, cylinder head and the camshaft. The power obtained after carrying out the new design was 13 HP, with a 5 Nm torque as well as 1 liter of fuel consumed per hour. It was realized that some components were not meeting the design specifications and the design was below the minimum required power of 13 HP. Power produced was less than 13 HP that was required to handle the purpose of engine manufacture, the engine was designed to be a prime mover to do most of the local. It was identified that the need of the engine should be considered as a primary requirement when coming up with the designs, the choice of injectors affect the amount of exhaust and engine testing requires consideration while designing an engine.