bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating Students' Perceptions of DingTalk System Features Based on the Technology Acceptance Model
Authors: Peng Danhua
Published: June 2023

The integration of online education is crucial in modern education, with the DingTalk platform being a popular choice among teachers. However, limited empirical research has explored students' perceptions of DingTalk. Therefore, this study employs qualitative and quantitative approaches to investigate students' perceptions of the DingTalk system characteristics. The quantitative analysis involves 250 participants and utilizes regression analysis to assess the relationship between the features of the DingTalk system and students' perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and continuance intention to use, indicating that it significantly influences students' perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and continuance intention to use. The qualitative analysis involves semi-structured interviews with a randomly selected sample of six individuals. These interviews provide in-depth insights into students' perceptions of the DingTalk system features. The findings of this study have significant implications for educators, policymakers, and other interested stakeholders.
Porphyrin-Based Carbon Dots for Efficient Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Methanol
Authors: Dang Yong Qiang , Feng Xiang Yu , Li Bo Ni , Huang Rui , Jia Jia , Zhang Jian Lan , Zhang Ya Ting
Published: June 2023

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction to solar fuel is a potential way to overcome the problem of high carbon dioxide concentrations; however, the process still faces enormous challenges, such as the low light absorption efficiency and high carrier recombination rates. This work synthesized tetraphenylporphyrin-based carbon dots (TPP-CDs) for the photocatalytic CO2 reduction to CH3OH under simulated sunlight to extend the absorption region of the CDs. The conduction band of the TPP-CDs has a sufficiently negative reduction potential to reduce CO2. TPP-CDs containing 1 wt.% TPP achieved an optimum CH3OH production rate of 173.35 μmol·gcat-1·h-1, with a remarkable 2.06-fold increase compared to pristine CDs without TPP. In this study, TPP-CDs were synthesized by changing the CD precursors to improve the utilization of visible light and apply them to the photocatalytic reduction of CO2.
Parametric Optimization of Aluminium Alloy 1100 Friction Stir Welding Using Adapted Vertical Milling Machine
Authors: Abioye Taiwo Ebenezer , Olugbusi Ogunleye Ojo
Published: June 2023

Friction stir welding is now increasingly being applied to joining aluminum alloys and other non-ferrous metals because the process has been established to be more suitable for joining soft metals. Compared with the facilities required for fusion welding, procuring friction stir welding machine is capital intensive and its utilization in the underdeveloped nations is very scanty. In this work, some experimental works were done so as determine the optimized process parameters for friction stir welding of aluminium alloys using an adapted vertical milling machine. The focus is to optimize the friction stir welding of AA1100 using an adapted vertical milling machine so as to obtain high quality weldments in terms of hardness and tensile strength. Friction stir welding of AA1100 was performed within a process window. The process parameters were optimized for improved hardness and tensile strength. The hardness property of the welded joints was measured using Brinnel hardness tester while the tensile strength was measured using Instron universal testing machine. Within the range of parameters utilized in this work, the hardness and tensile strength of the friction stir welded joint of AA1100 ranged between 15.30—35.32 BHN and 48.66 – 99.12 MPa respectively. The highest hardness value of 35.32 BHN was found at optimum parametric setting of 900 rpm rotational speed, 40 mm/min traverse speed and 2o tilt angle while the highest tensile strength of 99.12 MPa was obtained at optimal processing parameters of 900 rpm rotational speed, 25 mm/min traverse speed and 2o tilt angle. The ANOVA revealed that rotational speed followed by tilt angle has the most significant effect on the tensile strength of the weldment. The tilt angle and the traverse speed effects were found significant on the hardness of the weldments.
Design, Enhanced Photoluminescence Properties of Ti Incorporated Zr-Networked 4-[Formyl (Hydroxymethylidene)-4-Sulfanyl] Benzoic Acid Metal Organic Frameworks
Authors: Bagihalli Gangadhar , Manhas Nidhi , Yallur Basappa C. , Batakurki Sheetal
Published: June 2023

Present study reports the enhanced photoluminescence properties of Ti incorporated Zr networked 4-{formyl (Hydroxymethylidine)-4-Sulfanyl] Benzoic Acid. The as-synthesized metal organic framework (MOF) was synthesized by solvothermal process and was analyzed by SEM (scanning electron microscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction spectroscopy) and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The as-synthesized MOFs are well crystalline with average particle size of 35 to 56 nm. From XRD data X-ray diffraction patterns which illustrated the well maintained topological structure during the cation exchange process. From scanning electron microscopy study it shows irregular shape of MOFs.
Hybrid MOFs Supercapacitor: A Mini Review
Authors: Sharma Kalpana , Gupta Tribikram , Vaijayanthimala S. , Yogamalar N. Rajeswari , Adimule Vinayak
Published: June 2023

In the world of energy storage devices, Supercapacitors occupy a very unique and pivotal position. Their rapid rate of discharge gives them high power density. They have high reversibility and are robust to a large number of charging and discharging cycles. Sustained research has revealed a certain set of properties and behaviour, that every prospective candidate supercapacitor material must possess. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with unique textural properties, excellent specific surface area, tuneable porous structure and distinctively advantageous electrochemical behaviour are prominent candidates for the use in energy storage applications. However pristine MOF based materials are handicapped due to their low conductivity and poor mechanical stability. These inherent deficiencies can be overcome by hybridizing pristine MOFs with other materials like carbon materials (Activated Carbon, Graphene and Carbon Nano Tubes), conducting polymers, metals, and small molecules through variety of methods. This review puts the spotlight on the utilization, growth and various forms of hybrid materials based on MOFs for supercapacitor applications. It also highlights the various surface engineering techniques on the materials for high potential applications.
Multi-Response Optimization of Drilling Parameters for Aluminum Metal Matrix Composite Using Entropy Weighted Grey Relational Analysis
Authors: Ghalme Sachin G. , Karolczak Pawel
Published: June 2023

The present work aims to understand the effect of drilling parameters (drill speed and feed rate) during the drilling of saffil fiber-reinforced Al metal matrix composite (MMC) under dry conditions. The effect of drilling parameters on individual response characteristics is evaluated and the optimum drilling parameters are also investigated using a multi-response optimization technique known as Entropy Weighted Grey Relational Analysis (EWGRA). The drilling parameter optimization has been performed with aim of minimizing the surface roughness of drilled hole, roundness error in drilled hole and feed force during drilling. Weights were assigned to individual responses with the Entropy weight method and Grey relational grades were calculated to obtain the optimal level for drilling parameters. To achieve the minimum values for all output responses the optimal value of drill speed is 22 m/min and the feed rate is 0.075 mm/rev.
Retinoic Acid Signaling Is Required for Dendritic Cell Maturation and the Induction of T Cell Immunity
Authors: Farazuddin Mohammad , Ludka Nicholas , Friesen Leon , Landers Jeffrey J , O’Konek Jessica J , Kim Chang H , Baker James R
Published: June 2023

Vitamin A and its biologically active metabolites, all-trans and 9-cis retinoic acid (RA), are thought to be important in generating and modulating immune function. However, RA modulates the function of many types of immune cells, and its specific role in dendritic cell (DC) activation, Ag presentation, and T cell effector function has not been fully characterized. Because RA works primarily through RA receptor (RAR)α, we examined mice with a myeloid cell–specific defect in RA signaling. These transgenic mice have a CD11c-cre–driven expression of a truncated form of RARα that specifically blocks the signaling of all forms of RARs in myeloid cells. This defect results in abnormal DC function, with impaired DC maturation and activation, and reduced Ag uptake and processing. These DC abnormalities were associated with a reduced ability to mount Ag-specific T cell responses to immunization despite having normally functioning T cells. In contrast, the loss of DC-specific RA signaling did not significantly alter levels of Ag-specific Abs postimmunization and resulted in an increase in bronchial IgA. Our findings indicate that RA signaling in DCs is crucial for immune activation, and its absence impairs the development of Ag-specific effector functions of T cell immunity.
NK Cells from Human Cytomegalovirus–Seropositive Individuals Have a Distinct Metabolic Profile That Correlates with Elevated mTOR Signaling
Authors: Lozada John R , Zhang Bin , Miller Jeffrey S , Cichocki Frank
Published: June 2023

CMV can elicit adaptive immune features in both mouse and human NK cells. Mouse Ly49H+ NK cells expand 100- to 1000-fold in response to mouse CMV infection and persist for months after exposure. Human NKG2C+ NK cells also expand after human CMV (HCMV) infection and persist for months. The clonal expansion of adaptive NK cells is likely an energy-intensive process, and the metabolic requirements that support adaptive NK cell expansion and persistence remain largely uncharacterized. We previously reported that NK cells from HCMV-seropositive donors had increased maximum capacity for both glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation relative to NK cells from HCMV-seronegative donors. In this article, we report an extension of this work in which we analyzed the metabolomes of NK cells from HCMV-seropositive donors with NKG2C+ expansions and NK cells from HCMV seronegative donors without such expansions. NK cells from HCMV+ donors exhibited striking elevations in purine and pyrimidine deoxyribonucleotides, along with moderate increases in plasma membrane components. Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that, as a part of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), bridges nutrient signaling to metabolic processes necessary for cell growth. Signaling through mTORC1 induces both nucleotide and lipid synthesis. We observed elevated mTORC1 signaling on activation in both NKG2C− and NKG2C+ NK cells from HCMV+ donors relative to those from HCMV− donors, demonstrating a correlation between higher mTORC1 activity and synthesis of key metabolites for cell growth and division.
CD103 Regulates Dermal Regulatory T Cell Motility and Interactions with CD11c-Expressing Leukocytes to Control Skin Inflammation
Authors: Norman M Ursula , Chow Zachary , Hall Pam , Le Anne Cao , O’Sullivan Kim M , Snelgrove Sarah L , Deane James A , Hickey Michael J
Published: June 2023

Dermal regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for maintenance of skin homeostasis and control of skin inflammatory responses. In mice, Tregs in the skin are characterized by high expression of CD103, the αE integrin. Evidence indicates that CD103 promotes Treg retention within the skin, although the mechanism underlying this effect is unknown. The main ligand of CD103, E-cadherin, is predominantly expressed by cells in the epidermis. However, because Tregs are predominantly located within the dermis, the nature of the interactions between E-cadherin and CD103-expressing Tregs is unclear. In this study, we used multiphoton intravital microscopy to examine the contribution of CD103 to Treg behavior in resting and inflamed skin of mice undergoing oxazolone-induced contact hypersensitivity. Inhibition of CD103 in uninflamed skin did not alter Treg behavior, whereas 48 h after inducing contact hypersensitivity by oxazolone challenge, CD103 inhibition increased Treg migration. This coincided with E-cadherin upregulation on infiltrating myeloid leukocytes in the dermis. Using CD11c-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) × Foxp3-GFP dual-reporter mice, inhibition of CD103 was found to reduce Treg interactions with dermal dendritic cells. CD103 inhibition also resulted in increased recruitment of effector CD4+ T cells and IFN-γ expression in challenged skin and resulted in reduced glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein expression on Tregs. These results demonstrate that CD103 controls intradermal Treg migration, but only at later stages in the inflammatory response, when E-cadherin expression in the dermis is increased, and provide evidence that CD103-mediated interactions between Tregs and dermal dendritic cells support regulation of skin inflammation.
Strategie di insegnamento del pensiero critico nella pratica clinica infermieristica avanzata: protocollo di una scoping review
Authors: Giuffrida Silvia , Ramacciati Nicola , Silano Verdian , Baldon Alessia , Bianchi Monica , Prandi Cesarina
Published: June 2023

Introduzione: Il progetto di ricerca nasce da unâ€™esperienza formativa nellâ€™ambito del Master of Science in Cure infermieristiche della Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI) che si prefigge di ampliare le competenze professionali nellâ€™ambito della pratica infermieristica avanzata. Lâ€™obiettivo Ã© quello di preparare professionisti che raggiungano un alto livello di competenza nella pratica clinica per fronteggiare le sfide del sistema sanitario, caratterizzato da complessitÃ , cronicitÃ  e multimorbiditÃ . La capacitÃ  dellâ€™infermiere di migliorare la qualitÃ  dellâ€™assistenza dipende in gran parte dallo sviluppo delle competenze di ragionamento clinico e pensiero critico essenziali al processo decisionale. Entrambi questi concetti descrivono il processo mentale che lâ€™infermiere compie nel fare le scelte migliori per il proprio assistito. Emerge lâ€™importanza di rinforzare lâ€™apprendimento di queste competenze attraverso specifiche metodiche didattiche. Ãˆ presentato il protocollo di ricerca per lo sviluppo di una scoping review, con lâ€™obiettivo di rilevare gli studi in letteratura relativi alle migliori strategie di insegnamento relative al ragionamento clinico. Metodi e analisi: La scoping review sarÃ  svolta sul modello di Arksey e Oâ€™Malley, con il supporto delle linee guida Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis â€“ Scoping Reviews del Joanna Briggs Institute. La revisione della letteratura sarÃ  condotta nei database: PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Scopus e OVID. Saranno considerate le pubblicazioni degli ultimi 5 anni, in lingua inglese, italiana, francese e tedesca. Secondo specifici criteri di inclusione tre autori valuteranno in modo indipendente gli articoli per titoli, abstract e full-text. I risultati saranno riportati in forma narrativa e attraverso il supporto di grafici e tabelle. Diffusione dei risultati: questa review fornirÃ  una visione attuale e completa delle strategie didattiche piÃ¹ efficaci per lo sviluppo del ragionamento clinico nella pratica clinica avanzata. I dati raccolti verranno condivisi con la comunitÃ  scientifica professionale. Parole chiave: infermieristica clinica avanzata, formazione infermieristica, insegnamento, ragionamento clinico, pensiero critico.
Valutazione del delirium nellâ€™anziano in pronto soccorso: una revisione narrativa della letteratura
Authors: Ramacciani Isermann Christian , Rosati Moris , Marzocchi Katia , Righi Lorenzo
Published: June 2023

Introduzione: Il delirium Ã¨ un problema tuttâ€™altro che raro in pronto soccorso (PS): in letteratura emerge che un paziente su dieci sperimenti questa sindrome. Gli strumenti di screening propri di altri setting di cura raramente sono utilizzati in PS sia per la loro complessitÃ  che per la scarsa formazione. Anche fattori ambientali caratteristici del PS, come il sovraffollamento e lâ€™elevato flusso di lavoro, possono contribuire a un loro ridotto utilizzo. Lâ€™obiettivo di questo lavoro, pertanto, Ã¨ quello di ricercare in letteratura le evidenze piÃ¹ aggiornate e verificare quale metodo di valutazione, adoperabile dal personale non specialistico, sia il piÃ¹ efficace nellâ€™identificare precocemente il Delirium nelle persone anziane in Pronto Soccorso. Materiali e metodi: Ãˆ stata effettuata una revisione della letteratura consultando le banche dati MEDLINE (interfaccia PubMed) e CINAHL nel periodo che 13/04/2019-28/04/2019, limitando la ricerca con retroattivitÃ  di 5 anni, lingua inglese o italiana e disponibilitÃ  del full text. Risultati: Negli 11 studi inclusi nella revisione sono state analizzate le scale Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), le sue versioni modificate mCAM-ED, bCAM e CAM-ICU, lâ€™Assessment Test for delirium and cognitive impairment (4AT), la Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS) e la sua versione â€œModifiedâ€. Due lavori hanno valutato strumenti diversi dalle scale: lo screening di fragilitÃ  clinica e fattori di rischio. Conclusioni: La 4AT sembra emergere come piÃ¹ idonea per la valutazione del delirium in pronto soccorso: ha un tempo di somministrazione pari a 2 minuti, puÃ² essere eseguita dal personale infermieristico e mostra delle buone prestazioni diagnostiche sia in presenza che in assenza di decadimento cognitivo. Sono necessari perÃ² ulteriori studi per testarne lâ€™utilizzo in PS, anche in comparazione con altri strumenti. Parole chiave: Delirium; Scores; Pronto Soccorso.
Lâ€™aspirazione endotracheale del neonato intubato: indagine conoscitiva sui criteri decisionali infermieristici
Authors: Da Rin Della Mora Roberta , Calza Simona , Brizzolara Erica , Serveli Simona , Subbrero Milvia , Scelsi Silvia
Published: June 2023

Introduzione: La gestione delle vie aeree Ã¨ cruciale per il supporto vitale; lâ€™aspirazione endotracheale, che consente di rimuovere le secrezioni presenti in trachea e nei bronchi principali, rappresenta uno degli aspetti piÃ¹ critici dellâ€™attivitÃ  infermieristica. Dati i potenziali effetti dannosi, Ã¨ importante identificare i criteri sulla base dei quali viene effettuata e le modalitÃ  di effettuazione. Obiettivo: Descrivere i criteri decisionali relativi allâ€™aspirazione endotracheale del nato a termine e pretermine da parte del personale infermieristico di due UU.OO. di area critica di un ospedale pediatrico italiano di terzo livello. Metodo: Survey con questionario validato. Risultati: I criteri sulla base dei quali identificare il bisogno di aspirazione endotracheale considerati piÃ¹ importanti riguardano gli indicatori di ostruzione del tubo endotracheale da parte di secrezioni, anche se una minoranza ritiene molto importante lâ€™aspirazione a orari fissi, modalitÃ  sconsigliata e, pur trattandosi di una procedura infermieristica, un terzo dei rispondenti ritiene importantissima lâ€™indicazione/prescrizione del medico; il calibro del tubo endotracheale Ã¨ ritenuto importante/importantissimo nella scelta della dimensione del catetere da utilizzare, e la lunghezza del tubo endotracheale Ã¨ considerata molto importante/importantissima nel determinare la profonditÃ  di aspirazione. Il peso del neonato e le caratteristiche delle secrezioni sono considerati importanti nel determinare la pressione negativa; la comparsa di desaturazione, cianosi e alterazioni emodinamiche sono considerati i criteri piÃ¹ importanti per determinare la durata della procedura. Lâ€™iperossigenazione Ã¨ effettuata piÃ¹ nel nato a termine che nel pretermine; le instillazioni con soluzione fisiologica, aspetto controverso in letteratura, sono effettuate a volte dalla maggioranza dei rispondenti; lâ€™igiene orale Ã¨ effettuata dalla quasi totalitÃ  dei rispondenti. Conclusioni: Non emergono differenze sostanziali relativamente alla maggior parte dei criteri decisionali tra nato a termine e pretermine, anche se i risultati dimostrano uniformitÃ  per alcuni criteri e carenza di uniformitÃ  per altri. Parole chiave: criteri decisionali, aspirazione endotracheale, neonato a termine, pretermine.
Intrathyroidal thymic carcinoma not so indolent a neoplasm?
Authors: Anila KR , Nair Iswarya S. , Nair Lekha M. , Thomas Shaji
Published: June 2023

Intrathyroidal thymic carcinoma (ITC) is a very rare malignant epithelial tumor of the thyroid gland with thymic epithelial differentiation. Here, we are reporting the case of an eighty-year-old man who at presentation had extrathyroidal spread to the larynx and metastasis to regional lymph nodes. Though the tumor had a relatively low-grade morphology, there were areas of high mitotic activity with areas of necrosis. The classically described ivory-white gross appearance of the tumor, histomorphology of thick bands dividing the tumor into lobules, squamous cell differentiation, tight whorls of cells resembling Hassall’s corpuscle, and areas showing dense lymphocytic infiltration, together with an immunoprofile of CD5, Ckit, Tumor protein 63 (p63), and B-cell lymphoma 2 gene (bcl2) positivity, helped in diagnosing this rare entity. Though classically ITC is said to have a good prognosis, cases with spread to adjacent organs and lymph node metastasis may not have an indolent course.
Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST)
Authors: Savoia Paulo , Jayanthi Shri Krishna , Chammas Maria Cristina
Published: June 2023

The main cause of death in traumas is hypovolemic shock. Physical examination is limited to detect hemopericardium, hemoperitoneum, and hemopneumothorax. Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard for traumatic injury evaluation. However, CT is not always available, is more expensive, and there are transportation issues, especially in hemodynamically unstable patients. In this scenario, a rapid, reproducible, portable, and noninvasive method such as ultrasound emerged, directed for detecting hemopericardium, hemoperitoneum, and hemopneumothorax, in a “point of care” modality, known as the focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) protocol. With decades of experience, spread worldwide, and recommended by the most prestigious trauma care guidelines, FAST is a bedside ultrasound to be performed when accessing circulation issues of trauma patients. It is indicated to hemodynamically unstable patients with blunt abdominal trauma, with penetrating trauma of the thoracoabdominal transition (where there is doubt of penetrating the abdominal cavity) and for any patient with the cause of the instability unknown. There are four regions to be examined in the traditional FAST protocol: pericardium (to detect cardiac tamponade), right upper abdominal quadrant, left upper abdominal quadrant, and pelvis (to detect hemoperitoneum). The called extended FAST (e-FAST) protocol also searches the pleural spaces for hemothorax and pneumothorax. It is important to know the false positives and false negatives of the protocol, as well as its limitations. FAST/e-FAST protocol is designed to provide a simple “yes or no” answer regarding the presence of bleeding. It is not intended to quantify the bleeding nor evaluate organ lesions due to its limited accuracy for these purposes. Moreover, the amount of bleeding and/or the identification of organ lesions will not change patient’s management: Hemodynamically unstable patients with positive FAST must go to the operating room without delay. CT should be considered for hemodynamically stable patients.
Assessment of the Adherence of Radiologists in Reporting the Ovarian Cysts to the 2010 Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Guidelines
Authors: Zarei Fariba , Khatamizadeh Nargessadat , Zeinali-Rafsanjani Banafsheh
Published: June 2023

Background:

The objective of this study was to determine the adherence of radiologists to the guideline of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU)-2010 for the follow-up of ovarian cysts in patients during 2015–2016.

Methods:

The patients’ data, referring for transvaginal and pelvic ultrasonography, suffering from ovarian cyst were assessed in terms of menopause status, cyst size, and type, as well as follow-ups recommended by radiologist to assess the adherence of reports to SRU-2010.

Results:

Three hundred and sixty-four sonography reports were investigated. Seventy-seven percent of the reports had adhered to SRU-2010, 9.9% and 9.1% had under/overmanagement, and 4.1% was incomplete. 94.2% and 5.8% of cases were in pre/postmenopause status, respectively. The highest adherence belonged to cysts in size <1 cm, 1–3 cm, 5–7 cm. The highest adherence, over/undermanagement, and incomplete reports belonged to corpus luteum, hemorrhagic, dermoid cysts, and nodules without flow. The adherence of sonography reports to SRU-2010 for accidental ovarian cysts was 76.9%.

Conclusion:

The tendency for overmanagement of simple cysts in premenopausal women and the tendency for undermanagement in simple cysts and in postmenopausal women were higher, respectively. It is expected that more training of the guideline to radiologists will lead to the reduction of unnecessary follow-up, which in turn leads to reduced patient’s anxiety and cost of treatment.
Ultrasound Color Pattern of Colonic Hamartomatous Polyps
Authors: Chen Chih-Hsuan , Chen Yang-Yuan , Yen Hsu-Heng
Published: June 2023

Colonic hamartomatous polyps are clinically benign tumors. Colonic hamartomas are polypoid lesions that are rare in adults and most commonly encountered in infants and children. We report an unusual case of giant colonic hamartomatous polyps that were found incidentally during a medical workup for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding in a 26-year-old woman. We present the color Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography scan, and endoscopic pattern of colonic hamartomatous polyps.
Adhesions Detection and Staging Classification for Preoperative Assessment of Difficult Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies: A Prospective Case–Control Study
Authors: Kapoor Atul , Sidhu Bholla Singh , Singh Jasdeep , Brar Navjot , Singh Paramjit , Kapur Aprajita
Published: June 2023

Background:

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the treatment of choice for cholelithiasis; however, there are procedural difficulties in determining preoperative detection of a difficult LC. The current methods using clinical and sonographic variables to identify difficult LCs have limitations to identify gallbladder adhesions which form the most common cause. We present a new method of evaluation using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI)-based virtual touch imaging (VTI) for the detection and classification of these patients.

Methods:

Fifty consecutive patients of cholelithiasis were evaluated preoperatively using conventional scoring system (CSS) and by new adhesion detection and staging (ADS) system, and patients were classified into three classes (I–III) with class I being easy, II and III being moderate-to-high difficulty LCs. Peroperative classification was done based on the difficulty level during surgery after visualization of gallbladder adhesions. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curves (AUCs) of both systems were compared.

Results:

Out of 50 patients, 72% and 54% of patients were in class I by CSS and ADS classification, while 28% and 46% were in class II and III, respectively, and were labeled as difficult LC cases; differences being two classifications were statistically significant (P = 0.02). Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and accuracy for ADS were 91%, 100%, 93.1%, and 96.0%, and for CSS, 60.9%, 100%, 75%, and 82% with AUCs of 1.0 and 0.63, respectively.

Conclusion:

ARFI-based VTI accurately detects gallbladder adhesions and can determine the difficult cases of LCs preoperatively using ADS classification and shows higher accuracy than CSS classification, which results in lower operative time and risk of complications.
Intestinal Ultrasound in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Novel and Increasingly Important Tool
Authors: Lin Wei-Chen , Chang Chen-Wang , Chen Ming-Jen , Wang Horng-Yuan
Published: June 2023

New and efficacious medical therapies have become available that have greatly enhanced clinicians’ ability to manage inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). IBD activity should be assessed regularly in scheduled examinations as the part of a treat-to-target strategy for IBD care. The gold-standard approach to investigating IBD is colonoscopy, but this is an invasive procedure. Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) has played a crucial role in recent years regarding the assessment of IBD activity because it is noninvasive, safe, reproducible, and inexpensive. IUS findings could inform changes in therapeutic interventions for IBDs; this would necessitate fewer endoscopies and enable faster decision-making processes. Furthermore, patients are accepting and tolerant of IUS examinations. This review outlines the current evidence and gives indication regarding the use of IUS in the management of IBDs.
Update of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound in Musculoskeletal Medicine: Clinical Perspectives – A Review
Authors: Chen Shao-Yu , Wang Yao-Wei , Chen Wen-Shiang , Hsiao Ming-Yen
Published: June 2023

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) uses an intravascular contrast agent to enhance blood flow signals and assess microcirculation in different parts of the human body. Over the past decade, CEUS has become more widely applied in musculoskeletal (MSK) medicine, and the current review aims to systematically summarize current research on the application of CEUS in the MSK field, focusing on 67 articles published between January 2001 and June 2021 in online databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. CEUS has been widely used for the clinical assessment of muscle microcirculation, tendinopathy, fracture nonunions, sports-related injuries, arthritis, peripheral nerves, and tumors, and can serve as an objective and quantitative evaluation tool for prognosis and outcome prediction. Optimal CEUS parameters and diagnostic cut off values for each disease category remain to be confirmed.
Validation of wound healing property of Siddha herbal extractive preparation Ellukai Thol Uppu (salt extraction from pericarp of Sesamum indicum)
Authors: Cholarajan Rahini Nivedhidha , Thiraviasundaram Sasi Priya , Sahnthirappan Sivakkumar , Ramasamy Meenakumari
Published: June 2023

Background:

The belief of general public and globalization on Siddha medicine led to the stable growth of Indian traditional medicine, thereby necessitating the standardization of Siddha formulation and pharmacopeia standards for their quality control. Ellukai Thol Uppu (ETU) is a Siddha formulation extracted from Sesamum indicum by Siddha traditional method used for excision wound. The present study aimed to study the standardization parameters and screen the antimicrobial and wound-healing properties.

Objective:

The present study aimed to study the standardization parameters and screen the antimicrobial and wound-healing properties.

Materials and Methods:

ETU was prepared from Sesamum indicum as per the literature, and subjected to study the standardization parameters such as physicochemical analysis and heavy metal analysis were done by using AYUSH testing protocol, and screening of acute toxicity was done by organisation for economic co-operation and development method, and wound healing property was done by using excision wound method.

Result:

The study results revealed that the drug ETU is free from any microbial contaminations and has no toxicity effect. The drug ETU possesses antimicrobial and wound-healing properties.

Conclusion:

The derived results could serve as a ready reference for quality control and pharmacological property assessment of the drug.
Characterization and screening of antidiabetic property of Siddha drug Puttransoru by using in vitro alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibition assay
Authors: Sundaram Sasi Priya Thiravia , Cholarajan Rahini Nivedhidha , Sahnthirappan Sivakkumar , Ramasamy Meenakumari
Published: June 2023

Background:

Diabetes mellitus is a major noncommunicable disease worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, it is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose, which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Many researchers were presently aiming to establish novel drugs from natural resources.

Objective:

The present study aimed to analyze the physico chemical properties and nutritional value and to screen the glucose uptake activity (antidiabetic) of Puttransoru (PS) using in vitro prohibition assay.

Materials and Methods:

The in vitro antidiabetic assay was carried out by inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase method.

Results:

The results of in vitro antidiabetic assay revealed that PS showed significant inhibition against alpha-glucosidase enzyme with a maximum inhibition of about 41.3% and the corresponding IC50 is 1009 μg/mL, a similar pattern of activity were observed against alpha-amylase enzyme with the inhibition of 55.91%, and the corresponding IC50 is 539.7 μg/mL.

Conclusion:

It was concluded from the results that the test drug PS reveals potential antidiabetic activity by effective inhibition of both alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes. However, the principle nutrient and components that are responsible for the inhibitory action need to be further identified and characterized.
Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Pediatric Pneumonia in a Tertiary Center in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Po-Yuan , Tseng Wei-Chieh , Wu En-Ting , Lu Frank L. , Wang Ching-Chia
Published: June 2023

Background:

Pneumonia is a common disease in children, and causes a substantial burden both on patients and health care systems. Comparison between community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and the prognosticator of hospitalized pneumonia patients in Taiwan is unclear.

Materials and Methods:

In this retrospective study, data from hospitalized children aged <18 years with a diagnosis of pneumonia from 2012 to 2013 in our institutional database were investigated. Demographic characteristics, laboratory data, identified pathogens, and treatment course was recorded for analysis. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

A total of 548 patients with 598 episodes of pneumonia (male/female ratio = 1.08) were enrolled in the database. Underlying diseases are more common in patients with HAP than those with CAP. Patients with HAP had a higher mortality and length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay than that of those with CAP. C-reactive protein (CRP) and band form plus segment neutrophil percentage were higher in patients with CAP. In multivariate analysis of CAP group, underlying disease, CRP, and band form plus segment neutrophil percentage were independent prognosticators of admission to ICU. Underlying disease and CRP were independent prognosticators of mortality. The most common pathogens were respiratory syncytial virus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and influenza virus.

Conclusions:

Patients with HAP had significantly higher mortality rates and longer lengths of hospital and ICU stay than those with CAP. CRP was an independent prognosticator of admission to ICU and mortality in patients with CAP, and also served as a prognosticator of mortality in patients with HAP.
Effects of irritable bowel syndrome on the health-related quality of life among the Saudi population
Authors: Aljahdli Emad S. , Badroun Ftoon , Mushaeb Hanan H. , Aljohani Raghad , Albisher Sara , Basalaim Leena , Baeisa Salma
Published: June 2023

Background:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive system disorder. Patients with IBS have a significantly lower quality of life (QoL). In this study, we aimed to assess how IBS affects the Saudi Arabian population’s health-related (HR)-QoL.

Methods:

A cross-sectional Web-based survey was conducted with a representative sample (n = 1346) of patients who met the Rome IV criteria for IBS from all regions of the country between February and May 2021. The questionnaire surveyed participants’ socio-demographic data (nationality, sex, age, region, marital status, level of education, and occupation) and included 24 questions on IBS divided into four categories: (1) diagnosis; (2) symptoms; (3) impact on patients’ lives; and (4) management methods. The HR-QoL score was calculated using a five-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating worse QoL.

Results:

Most patients (83.3%) were diagnosed by a physician, and 66.7% had a family member or a friend with IBS. Mixed IBS was the most common type of IBS (26.4%). Factors associated with poor QoL and significantly associated with IBS included female sex, initial diagnosis by a general physician, intermittent symptoms, and being asymptomatic for weeks to months.

Conclusions:

Greater attention to the QoL of patients with IBS is required to help them deal with IBS and create supportive environments to reduce its psychological effects.
Mesnevî’de Geçen “Yol Kesici Dört Kuş”un Hikâyesi
Authors: KÜÇÜK Sezai , YÜCE Nurgül
Published: June 2023

Mevlânâ Celâleddin-i Rûmî Mesnevî’nin beşinci cildinin hemen başında Bakara sûresinin 260. âyetinden ilham alarak yol kesici dört kuşun hikâyesini anlatır. Mevlânâ’ya göre bu hikâyede geçen kaz, tavus, kuzgun ve horozdan ibaret dört kuşun her biri, çok yeme, baş ve lider olma, gösteriş, tûl-i emel yani bitmek tükenmek bilmeyen arzu gibi kötü huyların sembolüdür. İnsan bu kötü huylardan riyâzet ve mücâhede prensiplerini uygulayarak, fakr ve fenâ yolunu seçerek kurtulabilir. Böylece riyâzet ve mücâhede sürecindeki gayretlerinin maksadına ulaşabilir, diğer bir anlatımla insan-ı kâmil vasfına nail olabilir. Hz. Âdem kıssasına geçişler yapılarak konu kadim bir hakikate bağlanmış ve yeme hırsı, baş olma sevdası ve gösteriş tutkusu, tûl-i emel, şehvet düşkünlüğü gibi hastalıkların insanlık tarihi kadar eski olduğu mesajı verilmiştir. Mevlânâ Bakara sûresinin 260. âyetini ruhların manen dirilmesi şeklinde yorumlamıştır. Bu çalışmada yol kesici dört kuş hikâyesindeki tahkiye ve temsil yolu ile anlatım ele alınacak ve hikâyede geçen metaforik dilin işaret ettiği tasavvufî yorumlar ortaya konulacaktır.
Autumn Production of Romaine Lettuce on an Extensive Green Roof
Authors:   Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Walters Stuart , Thomas V. ,   Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Midden Karen ,   Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Groninger John ,   Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Published: June 2023

Extensive green roofs provide a significant amount of potential available space to expand urban agriculture. Successful crop production in this type of growing system requires growers to overcome temperature extremes, as well as drought conditions and low fertility associated with a shallow and porous rooting substrate. Four cultivars of Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa) that included ‘Outredgeous’, 'Parris Island Cos', 'Rouge d'Hiver', and 'Rubens Baby', were grown to maturity in an 8 cm deep expanded lightweight clay substrate on an extensive green roof during the autumn production seasons of 2012 and 2013. Fast and slow release fertilizer regimes popular with growers and a no fertilizer control were provided along with supplemental water via drip irrigation as needed. Chlorophyll content, as measured by a SPAD meter, provided a useful indicator of crop plant vigor and overall plant productivity. Abnormally cold growing conditions during the critical maturation period in autumn 2013 resulted in lower yields compared to 2012. Results indicated that lettuce productivity was improved by the addition of fertilizers, with the fast release providing the greatest growth and productivity. These results demonstrate the feasibility of producing a nutritious and popular autumn crop on an extensive green roof suitable for local urban food systems. However, this research also highlights the vulnerabilities of this system to weather. Utility of green infrastructure for teaching urban agriculture and plant biology is also discussed.
The Practitioner Guide to Participatory Research with Groups and Communities
Authors: Stuart Kaz , Maynard Lucy
Published: June 2023

Avoiding both over-simplification and jargon-riddled complexity, this book is an invaluable, straightforward guide to participatory research for you and your fellow practitioners working with community groups and organisations.
The Pursuit of Possibility
Authors: Thrift Nigel
Published: June 2023

Nigel Thrift explores recent changes in the British research university that threaten to erode the quality of these higher education institutions. He considers what a research university has now become by examining the quandaries that have arisen from a succession of misplaced strategies and false expectations.
Spectra of Oscillation and Rotatability Exponents of Solutions of Homogeneous Differential Systems
Authors: Сташ А.Х.
Published: June 2023

Известно, что все слабые показатели блуждаемости, как и нижний сильный показатель блуждаемости, на множестве решений линейных однородных треугольных дифференциальных систем с непрерывными ограниченными на положительной полуоси коэффициентами равны нулю. При этом верхний сильный показатель блуждаемости некоторого решения из указанного множества может принимать положительное значение. В данной работе полностью изучены показатели ориентированной врашаемости и показатели колеблемости знаков, нулей, корней и гиперкорней решений линейных однородных треугольных дифференциальных систем с непрерывными (необязательно ограниченными) на положительной полуоси коэффициентами. Установлено, что у любого решения треугольной системы дифференциальных уравнений его показатели колеблемости и врашаемости являются точными, абсолютными и совпадают между собой. Также показано, что спектры этих показателей (т. е. множества значений на ненулевых решениях) треугольных систем состоят из одного нулевого значения. Полученные результаты позволяют сделать вывод, что показатели ориентированной вращаемости и показатели колеблемости, несмотря на их простые и естественные определения, не являются в теории колебаний аналогами показателя Перрона. Кроме того, установлено совпадение спектров каждого (сильного или слабого, верхнего или нижнего) показателя ориентированной вращаемости и показателя колеблемости знаков, нулей, корней и гиперкорней взаимно-сопряженных линейных однородных систем дифференциальных уравнений с непрерывными на положительной полуоси коэффициентами.
Geotechnical Inspections and Geotechnical Applications in Underground Rail System Constructions: Halkalı - İstanbul Airport Metro Line Example
Authors: KELEŞ Rabia , VURAL İsa
Published: June 2023

In this study, geological researches carried out before the construction of underground rail systems and geotechnical application methods preferred during the construction were examined within the scope of Halkalı-İstanbul Airport metro project. The metro line consists of a total of 66.2 km long underground tunnels, 31.3×2 km main line and 1.8×2 km repertorium connection line. 1006 soil and 1230 rock samples were collected for the main line whose geological research was carried out with 198 core drillings with a total length of 9588.5 m. The results of the laboratory tests on the samples and the field tests carried out in the boreholes were obtained. In addition, a total of four two-dimensional inverted solution resistor underground sections were obtained by using the Multiple Electrode Electrical Resistance Tomography measurement method in the middle of two lines (Line-1 Km. 61+440 – 61 +660 /Line-2 Km: 61 +400 - 61+620), in the Olympic Stadium station (Km: 62+215 – 62 +490) and in the TBM route (Line-2 Km: 62 +835 – 63+050). The geological sections obtained from the drillings and the geophysical sections obtained by the electrical resistivity method were compared.
INVESTIGATION OF SOME BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF PROPOLIS IN HAWTHORN VINEGAR EXTRACT
Authors: BILDIR Büşra , DEMİRKAN Zeynep , KAYA Bülent , CAF Fatma
Published: June 2023

With the determination of the biological activity of different components in the chemistry of propolis, its importance has increased day by day and its use in the field of integrative medicine has become widespread. Propolis is not used in its crude form due to its physical properties, it have to be extracted. The type of solvent used in the extraction process is very important for the efficiency of the biological activity of propolis. Solvents commonly used in propolis extraction; are water, ethanol and methanol. Besides being very easy to extract propolis components using ethanol; extraction of propolis with ethanol creates a usage limit for children, pregnant women and muslim people that don't use alcohol. The limited use of ethanol and the fact that it has some harm to health have led researchers to search for different types of solvents. As a result of these researches, vegetable oils and various vinegars have started to be in the literature as an alternative solvent. In our study, the vinegar of hawthorn fruit, which is rich in flavonoids and has been used in integrative medicine for many years, was used in the extraction of propolis. Solubility of propolis with hawthorn vinegar, physicochemical properties (pH, titratable acidity, ºbrix and color) and bioactive properties (phenolic, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities) in terms of researched. As a result of the research, it was observed that propolis increased the bioactive properties of hawthorn vinegar. As a result of the research, it was observed that propolis increased the bioactive properties of hawthorn vinegar. It is thought that propolisadded hawthorn vinegar will provide functionality in dishes where vinegar is used today, in salads, and even in foodstuffs such as brine and pickles.
Classifying RNA Strands with A Novel Graph Representation Based on the Sequence Free Energy
Authors: ALGÜL Enes
Published: June 2023

ABSTRACT Ribonucleic acids (RNA) are macromolecules in all living cell, and they are mediators between DNA and protein. Structurally, RNAs are more similar to the DNA. In this paper, we introduce a compact graph representation utilizing the Minimum Free Energy (MFE) of RNA molecules' secondary structure. This representation represents structural components of secondary RNAs as edges of the graphs, and MFE of these components represents their edge weights. The labeling process is used to determine these weights by considering both the MFE of the 2D RNA structures, and the specific settings in the RNA structures. This encoding is used to make the representation more compact by giving a unique graph representation for the secondary structural elements in the graph. Armed with the representation, we apply graph-based algorithms to categorize RNA molecules. We also present the result of the cutting-edge graph-based methods (All Paths Cycle Embeddings (APC), Shortest Paths Kernel/Embedding (SP), and Weisfeiler - Lehman and Optimal Assignment Kernel (WLOA)) on our dataset [1] using this new graph representation. Finally, we compare the results of the graph-based algorithms to a standard bioinformatics algorithm (Needleman-Wunsch) used for DNA and RNA comparison.