bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sudden visual loss due to arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy: A rare manifestation of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Authors: Faraone Antonio , Fortini Alberto , Borgioli Vanni , Cappugi Chiara , Lo Forte Aldo , Bottaro Valeria Maria , Vaglio Augusto
Published: March 2024

Background: eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare multisystem inflammatory disease characterized by asthma, eosinophilia and granulomatous or vasculitic involvement of various organs. While the eye is uncommonly affected in patients with EGPA, multiple ophthalmic manifestations have been reported, which can result in serious visual impairment without timely treatment. Case report: we report the case of a 79-year-old woman with a history of asthma and nasal polyps who presented with low-grade fever, mild alteration of mental status, and fatigue. Chest X-ray revealed bilateral interstitial infiltrates. Lab tests showed elevated C-reactive protein level and eosinophilia (eosinophil count, 4.6 x109 cells/l); blood cultures and parasitological examination of stools tested negative. Four days after presentation, the patient reported sudden and severe blurring of vision in her left eye. Ophthalmological examination revealed bilateral swollen optic disc and visual field loss, more severe in the left eye. A diagnosis of EGPA complicated by arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (A-AION) was proposed, while an alternative or concurrent diagnosis of giant cell arteritis was ruled out based on clinical picture. Immunosuppressive treatment with high-dose intravenous glucocorticoids was promptly started. The patient’s visual defect did not improve; however, two months later, no worsening was registered on ophthalmic reassessment. Conclusions: A-AION is an infrequent but severe manifestation of EGPA, requiring prompt diagnosis and emergency-level glucocorticoid therapy to prevent any further vision loss. Disease awareness and a multidisciplinary approach are crucial to expedite diagnostic work-up and effective management of EGPA-related ocular complications.
Successful chemotherapy treatment for a tricuspid valvular stenosis patient due to right ventricular lymphoma
Authors: Chien Do Van , Quy Tran Quoc
Published: March 2024

Background: This study presents a patient diagnosed with tricuspid valvular stenosis due to right ventricular lymphoma, who was treated successfully. Case presentation: A 66-year-old man with a history of worsening shortness of breath during activity for the last three weeks sought medical attention. The patient later experienced swelling in the extremities, fluid build-up around the lungs and abdominal fluid accumulation, with no reported chest pain, fever, or weight loss. An echocardiogram found a mass in the lateral wall near the tricuspid valve of the right ventricle, leading to moderate tricuspid stenosis. The cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a lumpy, poorly defined mass that invaded the heart muscle and displayed varied enhancement after contrast administration. Suspicion arose for a malignant tumour or metastatic lesion due to its features and contrast uptake capability. A percutaneous biopsy was carried out on the mass in the right ventricle to confirm the diagnosis. The pathology report indicated a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After being diagnosed, the patient underwent chemotherapy using the R-CHOP regimen. Over time the symptoms improved, and echocardiograms revealed a decrease in the size of the tumour. After undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy, a cardiac MRI four months later showed no signs of a tumour. After that, the patient resumed their regular activities. Conclusion: Right ventricular tumours are mostly malignant lesions and often have an inferior prognosis. Early diagnosis with imaging techniques and myocardial biopsy is necessary to deliver life-saving treatment quickly.
A psicopolítica em Byung-Chul Han: introdução para a crítica das novas tecnologias-inovações de poder
Authors: Viana Moises dos Santos
Published: March 2024

Este trabalho visa apresentar o pensamento de Byung-Chul Han, especificamente o conceito de psicopolítica, a partir da leitura dos livros “A Sociedade do Cansaço” (2015); “Sociedade da Transparência” (2017); “No enxame: Perspectivas do digital” (2018c); “Psicopolítica” (2018a), com a perspectiva de relacionar a atualidade das condições de produção de tecnologia e ciência com a noção de política/poder. A análise dessas relações é feita a partir de mapas conceituais (autores, filosofia e conceitos) e indica a possibilidade de elaboração de um instrumental (método-ação) que pode se transformar em chaves para a compreensão do mundo das tecnologias e inovações.
A Piloting Study of Developing Social-Emotional Competence for Vietnamese High School Students
Authors: Nguyen Hong Hoang , Nguyen Minh Khang , Nguyen Quoc Khanh
Published: March 2024

The lives and learning experiences of high school students are increasingly intertwined with online activities. With the global trend of Education 4.0, equipping students with digital skills is essential, including the capacity for online social-emotional skills. Someone with social-emotional skills knows how to turn social media into a useful tool, providing opportunities for personal development. This study focuses on developing social-emotional competence for high school students in the context of the Education 4.0 trend. The project has developed a learning program consisting of 6 common social-emotional skill themes for both virtual and real environments and implemented a test on 34 students. Using experimental evaluation methods, classroom observation, and quantitative methods were employed to assess the effectiveness of the program. The results indicate a significant improvement in students' social-emotional competence, with an average score post-experiment of 3.7397. Our experimental model also achieved 63.6% of CASEL criteria for organizing social-emotional competence. Therefore, the study has strengthened the findings and achievements in the development of social-emotional competence training in the fields of educational psychology in Vietnam.
Using clinical cases to guide healthcare
Authors: Colwill Michael , Baillie Samantha , Pollok Richard , Poullis Andrew
Published: March 2024

Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been the gold standard in healthcare for nearly three centuries and aims to assist physicians in providing the safest and most effective healthcare for their patients. The well-established hierarchy of evidence lists systematic reviews and meta-analyses at the top however these methodologies are not always appropriate or possible and in these instances case-control studies, case series and case reports are utilised to support EBP. Case-control studies allow simultaneous study of multiple risk factors and can be performed rapidly and relatively cheaply. A recent example was during the Coronavirus pandemic where case-control studies were used to assess the efficacy of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers. Case series and case reports also play a role in EBP and are particularly useful to study rare diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease in transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. They are also vital in generating and disseminating early signals and encouraging further research. Whilst these methodologies have weaknesses, particularly with regards to bias and loss of patient confidentiality for rare pathologies, they have an important part to play in EBP and when appropriately utilised can significantly impact upon clinical practice.
Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells may be a viable treatment modality in cerebral palsy
Authors: Boyalı Osman , Kabatas Serdar , Civelek Erdinç , Ozdemir Omer , Bahar-Ozdemir Yeliz , Kaplan Necati , Savrunlu Eyüp Can , Karaöz Erdal
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a group of disorders affecting movement, balance, and posture. Disturbances in motor functions constitute the main body of CP symptoms. These symptoms surface in early childhood and patients are affected for the rest of their lives. Currently, treatment involves various pharmacotherapies for different types of CP, including antiepileptics for epilepsy and Botox A for focal spasticity. However, none of these methods can provide full symptom relief. This has prompted researchers to look for new treatment modalities, one of which is mesenchymal stem cell therapy (MSCT). Despite being a promising tool and offering a wide array of possibilities, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) still need to be investigated for their efficacy and safety.

AIM

To analyze the efficacy and safety of MSCT in CP patients.

METHODS

Our sample consists of four CP patients who cannot stand or walk without external support. All of these cases received allogeneic MSCT six times as 1 × 106/kg intrathecally, intravenously, and intramuscularly using umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSC). We monitored and assessed the patients pre- and post-treatment using the Wee Functional Independence Measure (WeeFIM), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and Manual Ability Classification Scale (MACS) instruments. We utilized the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) to measure spasticity.

RESULTS

We found significant improvements in MAS scores after the intervention on both sides. Two months: Right χ 2 = 4000, P = 0.046, left χ 2 = 4000, P = 0.046; four months: Right χ 2 = 4000, P = 0.046, left χ 2 = 4000, P = 0.046; 12 months: Right χ 2 = 4000, P = 0.046, left χ 2 = 4000, P = 0.046. However, there was no significant difference in motor functions based on WeeFIM results (P > 0.05). GMFCS and MACS scores differed significantly at 12 months after the intervention (P = 0.046, P = 0.046). Finally, there was no significant change in cognitive functions (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In light of our findings, we believe that UC-MSC therapy has a positive effect on spasticity, and it partially improves motor functions.
Construction of the underlying circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network and a new diagnostic model in ulcerative colitis by bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Yuan Yu-Yi , Wu Hui , Chen Qian-Yun , Fan Heng , Shuai Bo
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases through competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory mechanisms.

AIM

To investigate a circRNA-related ceRNA regulatory network and a new predictive model by circRNA to understand the diagnostic mechanism of circRNAs in ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

We obtained gene expression profiles of circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in UC from the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed based on circRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA interactions. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to identify the biological mechanisms involved in circRNAs. We identified the most relevant differential circRNAs for diagnosing UC and constructed a new predictive nomogram, whose efficacy was tested with the C-index, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), and decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was obtained, containing 12 circRNAs, three miRNAs, and 38 mRNAs. Two optimal prognostic-related differentially expressed circRNAs, hsa_circ_0085323 and hsa_circ_0036906, were included to construct a predictive nomogram. The model showed good discrimination, with a C-index of 1(> 0.9, high accuracy). ROC and DCA suggested that the nomogram had a beneficial diagnostic ability.

CONCLUSION

This novel predictive nomogram incorporating hsa_circ_0085323 and hsa_circ_0036906 can be conveniently used to predict the risk of UC. The circRNa-miRNA-mRNA network in UC could be more clinically significant.
3D prediction of curve progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis based on biplanar radiological reconstruction
Authors: Wan Hiu-Tung S. , Wong Darren L. L. , To Ching-Hang S. , Meng Nan , Zhang Teng , Cheung Jason P. Y.
Published: March 2024

Aims

This systematic review aims to identify 3D predictors derived from biplanar reconstruction, and to describe current methods for improving curve prediction in patients with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted by three independent investigators on MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Search terms included “adolescent idiopathic scoliosis”,“3D”, and “progression”. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were carefully defined to include clinical studies. Risk of bias was assessed with the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool (QUIPS) and Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS), and level of evidence for each predictor was rated with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. In all, 915 publications were identified, with 377 articles subjected to full-text screening; overall, 31 articles were included.

Results

Torsion index (TI) and apical vertebral rotation (AVR) were identified as accurate predictors of curve progression in early visits. Initial TI > 3.7° and AVR > 5.8° were predictive of curve progression. Thoracic hypokyphosis was inconsistently observed in progressive curves with weak evidence. While sagittal wedging was observed in mild curves, there is insufficient evidence for its correlation with curve progression. In curves with initial Cobb angle < 25°, Cobb angle was a poor predictor for future curve progression. Prediction accuracy was improved by incorporating serial reconstructions in stepwise layers. However, a lack of post-hoc analysis was identified in studies involving geometrical models.

Conclusion

For patients with mild curves, TI and AVR were identified as predictors of curve progression, with TI > 3.7° and AVR > 5.8° found to be important thresholds. Cobb angle acts as a poor predictor in mild curves, and more investigations are required to assess thoracic kyphosis and wedging as predictors. Cumulative reconstruction of radiographs improves prediction accuracy. Comprehensive analysis between progressive and non-progressive curves is recommended to extract meaningful thresholds for clinical prognostication.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(3):243–251.
Versatile luminescence thermometry via intense green defect emission from an infrared-pumped fluorosilicate optical fiber
Authors: Pietros Alexander R. , Rebeszko Kacper , Rosenbaum Jacob R. , Stone Miranda P. , Hawkins Thomas W. , Cavillon Maxime , Ballato John , Dragic Peter D.
Published: March 2024

An all-glass optical fiber capable of two distinct methods of optical thermometry is described. Specifically, a silica-clad, barium fluorosilicate glass core fiber, when pumped in the infrared, exhibits visibly intense green defect luminescence whose intensity and upper-state lifetime are strong functions of temperature. Intensity-based optical thermometry over the range from 25°C to 130°C is demonstrated, while a lifetime-based temperature sensitivity is shown from 25°C to 100°C. Time-domain measurements yield a relative sensitivity of 2.85%K−1at 373 K (100°C). A proof-of-concept distributed sensor system using a commercial digital single-lens reflex camera is presented, resulting in a measured maximum relative sensitivity of 1.13%K−1at 368 K (95°C). The sensing system described herein stands as a new blueprint for defect-based luminescence thermometry that takes advantage of pre-existing and relatively inexpensive optical components, and allows for the use of standard cameras or simply direct human observation.
Self Q-switched single-frequency all-fiber laser
Authors: Mei Jie , Yang Haolin , He Sailing
Published: March 2024

Here, we propose a self Q-switched single-frequency (SF) all-fiber laser. The intra-cavity Er:Yb co-doped fiber serves not only as an active fiber for lasing but also as a fiber-type saturable absorber (SA). The self-Q-switching behavior is induced by the ground-state reabsorption of the unpumped portion of the active fiber. To achieve SF operation, double fiber loops constructed by two 3 dB optical couplers (OCs) form a cascade sub-cavity, which serves as a mode selector with a narrow bandwidth. Taking the advantage of a high damage threshold of the fiber-type SA, microjoule-level self-Q-switched SF pulses are obtained with a narrow linewidth of ∼252kHz. Combed with the measured pulse width of ∼1.766µs, the corresponding time-bandwidth product is ∼0.445, which is very close to the Gaussian transform limit. The maximum output power of the pulsed SF laser can reach ∼100mW. By stretching the fiber Bragg grating (FBG), the wavelength of the pulsed SF laser can be tuned.
All-optical neuromorphic XOR and XNOR operation utilizing a photonic spiking neuron based on a passive add-drop microring resonator
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Jiang Ning , Li Anran , Zhang Yiqun , Hu Gang , Cao Yongsheng , Qiu Kun
Published: March 2024

We propose a concise hardware architecture supporting efficient exclusive OR (XOR) and exclusive NOR (XNOR) operations, by employing a single photonic spiking neuron based on a passive add-drop microring resonator (ADMRR). The threshold mechanism and inhibitory dynamics of the ADMRR-based spiking neuron are numerically discussed on the basis of the coupled mode theory. It is shown that a precise XOR operation in the ADMRR-based spiking neuron can be implemented by adjusting temporal differences within the inhibitory window. Additionally, within the same framework, the XNOR function can also be carried out by accumulating the input power over time to trigger an excitatory behavior. This work presents a novel, to the best of our knowledge, and pragmatic technique for optical neuromorphic computing and information processing utilizing passive devices.
Structural and optical performance of NiV/Ti multilayer mirrors for Z-pinch plasma diagnostic at the wavelength region of 350–450 eV
Authors: Wang Zile , Zhang Zhe , He Jialian , Giglia Angelo , Zhang Qiya , Qi Runze , Huang Qiushi , Yi Shengzhen , Zhang Zhong , Wang Zhanshan
Published: March 2024

This Letter reports on investigations of novel, to the best of our knowledge, NiV(Ni93V7)/Ti multilayer mirrors for the operation in the wavelength region of 350–450 eV. Such mirrors are promising optical components for the Z-pinch plasma diagnostic. The NiV/Ti multilayers show superior structural and optical performance compared to conventional Ni/Ti multilayers. Replacing Ni with NiV in multilayers decreases interface widths and enhances the contrast of the refractive index between the absorber and spacer layers. The improvement of interface quality contributes to the enhancement in reflectance. Under the grazing incidence of 13°, a peak reflectivity of 25.1% at 429 eV is achieved for NiV/Ti multilayers, while 17.7% at 427 eV for Ni/Ti.
Optical manipulation of ratio-designable Janus microspheres
Authors: Chen Yulu , Zhai Cong , Gao Xiaoqing , Wang Han , Lin Zuzeng , Zhou Xiaowei , Hu Chunguang
Published: March 2024

Angular optical trapping based on Janus microspheres has been proven to be a novel method to achieve controllable rotation. In contrast to natural birefringent crystals, Janus microspheres are chemically synthesized of two compositions with different refractive indices. Thus, their structures can be artificially regulated, which brings excellent potential for fine and multi-degree-of-freedom manipulation in the optical field. However, it is a considerable challenge to model the interaction of heterogeneous particles with the optical field, and there has also been no experimental study on the optical manipulation of microspheres with such designable refractive index distributions. How the specific structure affects the kinematic properties of Janus microspheres remains unknown. Here, we report systematic research on the optical trapping and rotating of various ratio-designable Janus microspheres. We employ an efficient T-matrix method to rapidly calculate the optical force and torque on Janus microspheres to obtain their trapped postures and rotational characteristics in the optical field. We have developed a robust microfluidic-based scheme to prepare Janus microspheres. Our experimental results demonstrate that within a specific ratio range, the rotation radii of microspheres vary linearly and the orientations of microsphere are always aligned with the light polarization direction. This is of great importance in guiding the design of Janus microspheres. And their orientations flip at a particular ratio, all consistent with the simulations. Our work provides a reliable theoretical analysis and experimental strategy for studying the interaction of heterogeneous particles with the optical field and further expands the diverse manipulation capabilities of optical tweezers.
Incidence of oncogenic HPV infection in women with and without mental illness: A population-based cohort study in Sweden
Authors: Herweijer Eva , Hu Kejia , Wang Jiangrong , Lu Donghao , Sparén Pär , Adami Hans-Olov , Valdimarsdóttir Unnur , Sundström Karin , Fang Fang
Published: March 2024

Background

Women with mental illness experience an increased risk of cervical cancer. The excess risk is partly due to low participation in cervical screening; however, it remains unknown whether it is also attributable to an increased risk of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). We aimed to examine whether women with mental illness had an increased infection rate of HPV compared to women without mental illness.

Methods and findings

Using a cohort design, we analyzed all 337,116 women aged 30 to 64 and living in Stockholm, who had a negative test result of 14 high-risk HPV subtypes in HPV-based screening, during August 2014 to December 2019. We defined women as exposed to mental illness if they had a specialist diagnosis of mental disorder or had a filled prescription of psychotropic medication. We identified incident infection of any high-risk HPV during follow-up and fitted multivariable Cox models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for HPV infection.

A total of 3,263 women were tested positive for high-risk HPV during follow-up (median: 2.21 years; range: 0 to 5.42 years). The absolute infection rate of HPV was higher among women with a specialist diagnosis of mental disorder (HR = 1.45; 95% CI [1.34, 1.57]; p < 0.001) or a filled prescription of psychotropic medication (HR = 1.67; 95% CI [1.55, 1.79]; p < 0.001), compared to women without such. The increment in absolute infection rate was noted for depression, anxiety, stress-related disorder, substance-related disorder, and ADHD, and for use of antidepressants, anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics, and was consistent across age groups.

The main limitations included selection of the female population in Stockholm as they must have at least 1 negative test result of HPV, and relatively short follow-up as HPV-based screening was only introduced in 2014 in Stockholm.

Conclusions

Mental illness is associated with an increased infection rate of high-risk HPV in women. Our findings motivate refined approaches to facilitate the WHO elimination agenda of cervical cancer among these marginalized women worldwide.
Adoption of policies to improve respectful maternity care in Timor-Leste
Authors: Fernandes Angelina da Costa , Supriyanto Stefanus , Wahyuni Chatarina Umbul , Notobroto Hari Basuki , Gregory Alexandra , Wild Kayli
Published: March 2024

Introduction

There are now well-established global standards for supporting improvement in women’s experience of maternity services, including frameworks for the prevention of mistreatment during childbirth. To support initiatives to improve the quality of care in maternal health services in Timor-Leste, we examine the adoption of global respectful maternity care standards in the national intrapartum care policy and in three urban birth facilities in Dili.

Methods

From May to July 2022, we conducted a desk review of the Timor-Leste National Intrapartum Care Standards and Clinical Protocols for Referral Facilities and Community Health Centres. This was followed by a health-facility audit of policies, guidelines and procedures in three main maternity facilities in the capital, Dili to examine the extent to which the WHO (2016) standards for women’s experiences of care have been adopted.

Results

Despite the availability of global guidelines, key standards to improve women’s experience of care have not been included in the National Intrapartum Care guidelines in Timor-Leste. There was no mention of avoiding mistreatment of women, needing informed consent for procedures, or strengthening women’s own capability and confidence. In the policy wording, women tended to be distanced from the care ‘procedures’ and the protocols could be improved by taking a more woman-centred approach. The results of the health facility assessment showed extremely low use of standards that improve women’s experiences of care. Health Facility 1 and 2 met two of the 21 quality measures, while Health Facility 3 met none of them.

Conclusion

The discourse communicated through policy fundamentally affects how health care issues are framed and how policies are enacted. Given the findings of this study, combined with previously documented issues around quality of care and low satisfaction with maternal health services, there is a need for a fundamental shift in the culture of care for women. This will require an immediate focus on leadership, training and policy-frameworks to increase respectful care for women in health facilities. It will also require longer-term effort to address the power imbalances that drive mistreatment of women within and across social systems, and to support models of care that inherently foster understanding and compassion.
Anticipated scarcity and stockpiling during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of perceived threat, childhood SES and materialism
Authors: Schumacher Anika , Micheli Leticia
Published: March 2024

Previous research has shown that perceived existential threat experienced during or shortly after the first wave of the global COVID-19 pandemic, engendered anticipated scarcity and stockpiling behavior. However, the relationship between anticipated scarcity and stockpiling may not hold unambiguously for everyone. Across two studies and one preregistered replication (N = 644), we show that perceived threat of COVID-19 is associated with stockpiling tendencies by increasing the anticipation of product scarcity–a resource threat. The association between anticipated product scarcity and stockpiling depends, however, on childhood socio-economic status (SES) and materialism. For individuals with low childhood SES, the anticipation of product scarcity was only associated with stockpiling among those who valued materialism. Individuals with high childhood SES, by contrast, stockpiled in response to anticipated scarcity regardless of their level of materialism. Our findings qualify previous literature on the association between perceived threat of COVID-19, anticipated scarcity and stockpiling during the COVID-19 pandemic and help reconcile contradictory predictions about the role of childhood SES in individuals’ consumption behavior in response to adversity.
Radiographic assessment of maxillary sinus membrane and lateral wall thickness using cone-beam CT in different facial types in southwestern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Saquib Abullais Shahabe , AlQahtani Saad M. , Alqahtani Salman , Alaamri Abdulrahman , Azhar Dawasaz Ali , Alqahtani Abdulelah , Dhadse Prasad V.
Published: March 2024

The anatomy of the edentulous posterior maxilla and maxillary sinus possess unique challenges in implant dentistry. The purpose of this study was to assess maxillary sinus membrane thickness (MT) and lateral wall thickness (LWT) in different facial index profiles and to describe the clinical implications. A retrospective image analysis of 75 CBCT scans was done, which yielded a total of 150 sinus images. The facial index was calculated as per the formula given in the text and grouped as euryprosopic, mesoprosopic and leptoprosopic. The images obtained were of 36 women (48%) and 39 men (52%), with maximum subjects in 30–39 years age group. MT and LWT were measured at three different points on the radiograph at every 3mm from the base of the sinus floor in premolar and molar regions of each image. Results showed females had significant differences from males in LWT in both premolar and molar regions (p = 0.018 and 0.032 respectively). Subjects in 40–49 years of age had significant differences (p = 0.021) in MT in premolar region only. Also, difference in MT in premolar and molar regions were also statistically significant. Lastly, the present study did not find any statistically significant difference in MT and LWT in all three facial indices groups. It can be concluded that different facial indices have no positive correlation with maxillary sinus membrane thickness and lateral wall thickness. Hence, surgical complications are avoidable with proper detailed knowledge and appropriate identification of the anatomic structures characteristic to the maxillary sinus.
Contribution of statistical learning in learning to read across languages
Authors: Ren Jinglei , Wang Min
Published: March 2024

Statistical Learning (SL) refers to human’s ability to detect regularities from environment Kirkham, N. Z. (2002) & Saffran, J. R. (1996). There has been a growing interest in understanding how sensitivity to statistical regularities influences learning to read. The current study systematically examined whether and how non-linguistic SL, Chinese SL, and English SL contribute to Chinese and English word reading among native Chinese-speaking 4th, 6th and 8th graders who learn English as a second language (L2). Children showed above-chance learning across all SL tasks and across all grades. In addition, developmental improvements were shown across at least two of the three grade ranges on all SL tasks. In terms of the contribution of SL to reading, non-linguistic auditory SL (ASL), English visual SL (VSL), and Chinese ASL accounted for a significant amount of variance in English L2 word reading. Non-linguistic ASL, Chinese VSL, English VSL, and English ASL accounted for a significant amount of variance in Chinese word reading. Our results provide clear and novel evidence for cross-linguistic contribution from Chinese SL to English reading, and from English SL to Chinese reading, highlighting a bi-directional relationship between SL in one language and reading in another language.
Indirect co-culture of osteoblasts and endothelial cells in vitro based on a biomimetic 3D composite hydrogel scaffold to promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts
Authors: Li Cheng , Chen Guanghui , Wang Yangyang , Xu Wenwu , Hu Minghui
Published: March 2024

The field of orthopedics has long struggled with the challenge of repairing and regenerating bone defects, which involves a complex process of osteogenesis requiring coordinated interactions among different types of cells. The crucial role of endothelial cells and osteoblasts in bone vascularization and osteogenesis underscores the importance of their intimate interaction. However, efforts to bioengineer bone tissue have been impeded by the difficulty in establishing proper angiogenesis and osteogenesis in tissue structures. This study presents a novel approach to bone tissue engineering, involving a three-dimensional composite hydrogel scaffold composed of sodium alginate microspheres encapsulated in type I collagen. Using this scaffold, a three-dimensional indirect co-culture system was established for osteoblasts and endothelial cells to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation potential of osteoblasts. Results demonstrate that the non-contact co-culture system of endothelial cells and osteoblasts constructed by the composite hydrogel scaffold loaded with microspheres holds promise for bone tissue engineering. The innovative concept of an indirect co-culture system presents exciting prospects for conducting intercellular communication studies and offers a valuable in vitro tissue platform to investigate tissue regeneration.
Hybrid optimization algorithm for enhanced performance and security of counter-flow shell and tube heat exchangers
Authors: Kiran Ajmeera , Nagaraju Ch , Babu J. Chinna , Venkatesh B , Kumar Adarsh , Khan Surbhi Bhatia , Albuali Abdullah , Basheer Shakila
Published: March 2024

A shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) for heat recovery applications was studied to discover the intricacies of its optimization. To optimize performance, a hybrid optimization methodology was developed by combining the Neural Fitting Tool (NFTool), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and Grey Relational Analysis (GRE). STHE heat exchangers were analyzed systematically using the Taguchi method to analyze the critical elements related to a particular response. To clarify the complex relationship between the heat exchanger efficiency and operational parameters, grey relational grades (GRGs) are first computed. A forecast of the grey relation coefficients was then conducted using NFTool to provide more insight into the complex dynamics. An optimized parameter with a grey coefficient was created after applying PSO analysis, resulting in a higher grey coefficient and improved performance of the heat exchanger. A major and far-reaching application of this study was based on heat recovery. A detailed comparison was conducted between the estimated values and the experimental results as a result of the hybrid optimization algorithm. In the current study, the results demonstrate that the proposed counter-flow shell and tube strategy is effective for optimizing performance.
Clinical challenges of biomechanical performance of narrow-diameter implants in maxillary posterior teeth in aging patients: A finite element analysis
Authors: Prasitwuttisak Saranyoo , Chantarapanich Nattapon , Apinyauppatham Komsan , Poomparnich Kopchai , Inglam Samroeng
Published: March 2024

This study evaluated the biomechanical performance of narrow-diameter implant (NDI) treatment in atrophic maxillary posterior teeth in aging patients by finite element analysis. The upper left posterior bone segment with first and second premolar teeth missing obtained from a patient’s cone beam computed tomography data was simulated with cortical bone thicknesses of 0.5 and 1.0 mm. Three model groups were analyzed. The Regimen group had NDIs of 3.3 × 10 mm in length with non-splinted crowns. Experimental-1 group had NDIs of 3.0 × 10 mm in length with non-splinted crowns and Experimental-2 group had NDIs of 3.0 × 10 mm in length with splinted crowns. The applied load was 56.9 N in three directions: axial (along the implant axis), oblique at 30° (30° to the bucco-palatal plane compared to the vertical axis of the tooth), and lateral load at 90° (90° in the bucco-palatal plane compared to the vertical axis of the tooth). The results of the von Mises stress on the implant fixture, the elastic strain, and principal value of stress on the crestal marginal bone were analyzed. The axial load direction was comparable in the von Mises stress values in all groups, which indicated it was not necessary to use splinted crowns. The elastic strain values in the axial and oblique directions were within the limits of Frost’s mechanostat theory. The principal value of stress in all groups were under the threshold of the compressive stress and tensile strength of cortical bone. In the oblique and lateral directions, the splinted crown showed better results for both the von Mises stress, elastic strain, and principal value of stress than the non-splinted crown. In conclusion, category 2 NDIs can be used in the upper premolar region of aging patients in the case of insufficient bone for category 3 NDI restorations.
Associations between hypertension with reproductive and menopausal factors: An integrated women’s health programme (IWHP) study
Authors: Wang Laureen Yi-Ting , Thu Win P. P. , Chan Yiong Huak , Logan Susan , Kramer Michael S. , Cauley Jane A. , Yong Eu-Leong
Published: March 2024

Background

Women are less likely to have classic cardiovascular risk factors than men, and events during their reproductive and menopausal years may increase hypertension risk. The aim of this study is to examine woman-specific factors, including menstrual, reproductive and pregnancy complications, in relation to the prevalence of hypertension in mid-life Asian women.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of 1146 healthy women aged 45–69 years, from a multi-ethnic Asian cohort. The women completed an extensive questionnaire that included their sociodemographic details, medical history, lifestyle and physical activity, and reproductive and menopausal history. They also underwent objectively measured physical performance tests and a dual X-ray absorptiometry scan. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 and/or diastolic BP ≥90mm Hg, past diagnosis by a physician, or use of antihypertensive medications. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the independent risk factors for hypertension.

Results

The average age of the 1146 women analysed was 56.3 (SD 6.2) years, and 55.2 percent of them were hypertensive. The prevalence of gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension was 12.6% and 9.4%, respectively. Besides age, abnormal menstrual cycle length at 25 years of age (OR:2.35, CI:1.34–4.13), preeclampsia (OR:2.46, CI:1.06–5.74), increased visceral adiposity (OR:4.21, CI:2.28–7.79) and reduced physical performance (OR:2.83, CI:1.46–5.47) were independently associated with hypertension in Asian women.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the necessity of including features of menstrual and reproductive history as possible indicators of hypertension risk in cardiovascular disease risk assessment and prevention among Asian women. Reducing visceral adiposity and exercise to improve physical performance may help women avoid developing hypertension.
Anomaly based multi-stage attack detection method
Authors: Ma Wei , Hou Yunyun , Jin Mingyu , Jian Pengpeng
Published: March 2024

Multi-stage attacks are one of the most critical security threats in the current cyberspace. To accurately identify multi-stage attacks, this paper proposes an anomaly-based multi-stage attack detection method. It constructs a Multi-Stage Profile (MSP) by modeling the stable system’s normal state to detect attack behaviors. Initially, the method employs Doc2Vec to vectorize alert messages generated by the intrusion detection systems (IDS), extracting profound inter-message correlations. Subsequently, Hidden Markov Models (HMM) are employed to model the normal system state, constructing an MSP, with relevant HMM parameters dynamically acquired via clustering algorithms. Finally, the detection of attacks is achieved by determining the anomaly threshold through the generation probability (GP). To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, experiments were conducted using three public datasets and compared with three advanced multi-stage attack detection methods. The experimental results demonstrate that our method achieves an accuracy of over 99% and precision of 100% in multi-stage attack detection. This confirms the effectiveness of our method in adapting to different attack scenarios and ultimately completing attack detection.
Non casas, sed etiam domos fundatas: as origens da Arquitetura a partir de Vitrúvio
Authors: Manenti Leandro
Published: March 2024

Este trabalho discute a origem do arquiteto e da Arquitetura apresentadas no tratado De Architectura de Vitrúvio e a sua associação com a imitação. Problematiza-se a versão vitruviana para o desenvolvimento do processo civilizatório e a sua vinculação com o arquiteto e o estabelecimento da Arquitetura como a ciência do arquiteto. Analisa-se a proposição de formação para os profissionais a partir de várias áreas, as quais garantiriam, segundo Vitrúvio, uma formação generalista e ao mesmo tempo especializada no seu campo. Discute-se, ainda, os atributos necessários, segundo o autor, para o bom profissional, que lhe permitiriam alcançar o reconhecimento pela sua autoridade.
La revisión de artículos es una actividad humana
Authors: Pardal-Refoyo José Luis
Published: March 2024

Editorial
Management in Japan
Authors: Ansho Jacob
Published: March 2024

In abstract,the researcher delves into the intricate landscape of management practices in Japan, exploring its unique blend of traditional values and modern strategies. From decision-making processes to employment structures, we uncover the essence of Japanese management.

The work begins by introducing the fundamental principles that govern Japanese management, including the emphasis on consensus decision-making and the pursuit of harmony in the workplace.

Next, the work examines the concept of lifetime employment, a hallmark of Japanese corporate culture, and its implications for employee loyalty and organizational stability. The researcher also explores the commitment to continuous training and skill development, which plays a crucial role in fostering employee growth and adaptability in Japanese companies.

Throughout the work, the researcher address the challenges and innovations shaping the evolving landscape of Japanese management, from globalization and demographic shifts to the innovative approaches adopted by organizations to remain competitive in today's changing business environment.

This cover page serves as an introduction to the multifaceted world of management in Japan, offering valuable insights for academics, professionals, and businesses seeking to navigate the complexities of the Japanese corporate landscape.
Advancing Vehicular Independence for the Visually Impaired Through Smart Technology
Authors: Nasser Nidal , Ali Asmaa , Karim Lutful , Al-Helali AbdulAziz
Published: March 2024

This paper introduces an integrated framework comprising emerging technologies to provide easy-to-use, effective, and smart transit services for visually impaired people (VIP). This framework uses IoT, IoD, GPS, crowdsensing, audio and video recording for collecting data about VIPs, and a central cloud server to process those data for a quick response to the request of VIP. A mobile application is used by VIPs to coordinate different components of this framework. Most existing mobile applications [1 – 31] provide very basic information to VIPs using Google location services and do not include these technologies. Moreover, most of these existing applications use artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms for data processing, analysis, and decision-making. The proposed framework uses AI and ML-based algorithms that make the framework more efficient in terms of faster decision-making and response to VIPs.
Structural and Material Analysis of an Electromagnetic Actuator for Pressure Control in an Internal Combustion Engine
Authors:   Politechnika Opolska, Mamala Jarosław , Graba Mariusz , Prażnowski Krzysztof , Tomczuk Bronisław , Waindok Andrzej
Published: March 2024

The article describes the process of selecting the design parameters of the electromagnetic actuator, which was used to regulate the compression pressure in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The electromagnetic actuator was installed in the timing system of a single-cylinder internal combustion engine, which forced its basic design parameters in terms of force and frequency of operation. For the electromagnetic actuator in question, field calculations of the esign variants of the linear electromagnetic actuator for two types of materials were conducted. The finite element method was applied to the computer-aided design of electromagnetic actuators. The influence of the magnetic circuit and the dimensions of the windings on the distribution of the magnetic field were analyzed. The thickness and height of the magnetic field induces, and the dimensions of the stator poles have been changed while maintaining the same external dimensions of the actuator for design reasons. All this work was aimed at improving the performance of the internal combustion engine in terms of improving efficiency in terms of partial engine loads. In this area, the internal combustion engine is characterized by low efficiency, significantly deviating from the maximum, and at the same time, during normal operation of vehicles is the area most often exploited.
NEEDS ANALYSIS FOR DEVELOPING AN AUGMENTED REALITY-BASED ECOSYSTEM MODULE ASSISTED BY ASSEMBLR APPLICATION FOR GRADE V ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Authors: Ulfah Tsaqifa Taqiyya
Published: March 2024

Technology is developing very rapidly and impacts all aspects, one of which is education. Based on these conditions, teachers must be able to conduct learning that is adaptive to technology. One of the utilization of technology in learning is learning media. IT-based learning media is very popular with students because it looks attractive and facilitates student understanding when learning. However, based on the facts, using technology media is not optimal. Based on these problems, this study aims to analyze the need for AR-based module development assisted by the Assemblr application. Researchers use qualitative methods. The data accumulation used by researchers is interviews, observations, and filling out online questionnaires. The results showed that 1) Students are already proficient in using cell phones and depend on gadgets. 2) Students like science learning on ecosystem material. 3) Students like colorful media such as videos. 4) The school needs to have its module. 5) Teachers and students must become more familiar with Augmented Reality technology. 6) Learning media that is often used package books and PPT so that it is less varied.
Socialization of Professional Zakat as An Effort to Raise Awareness of The Community Alms of Nitikan Village, Sorosutan Village, Umbulharjo District, Special Region of Yogyakarta
Authors: Khotimah Ayik Khusnul , Rofifah Shobihatun Nada , Rosyiddani Hamadan , Nurkholisah Neni , Radifan Muhammad Farkhan Nur , Afifah Afifah , Afifah Alifia Nur , Alvindi Rahmat , Ghifary Muhammad Iqbal , Zakiya Ghilmal Faiz , Faozi Khafid Akbar , Qurniawan Anton , Prabawantari Septigung
Published: March 2024

Community service activities are carried out by holding socialization on the importance of giving alms to women PKK (Family Welfare Empowerment) in Nitikan Village, Umbulharjo District, Yogyakarta City. This activity aims to increase public awareness and understanding of zakat payment. This activity takes the form of socialization using lecture and question and answer methods. The material consists of the definition of zakat, ashnaf zakat, zakat payment methods and case examples. The participants of the socialization consisted of 20 PKK (Family Welfare Empowerment) mothers in Nitikan village, 1 student from Widya Mataram University, and 1 student from Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa University.Keywords: Zakat, awareness, understanding, society.
“Sekolah Pasar” as an Effort to Revitalize Traditional Markets Become a Source of Economy and Learning Resources
Authors: Arum Fitri Atur , Pangestuti Dinik Fitri Rahajeng , Zahiroh Mun Yah , Banna Hasan Al
Published: March 2024

This study aims to find the best model to revitalize the market. The model designed in this study is expected to maintain the existence of traditional markets, improve technical and managerial human resource capabilities in managing markets, and achieve economic independence for traders. The method used in this research is Community Based Action Research, involving all stakeholders in the market which are packaged in the form of “Sekolah Pasar”. This method is carried out so that the model designed is the result of the elaboration and optimization of assets owned by the market in the form of physical assets, cultural assets, philosophical assets and assets in the form of skills. The result of this research is the design of a traditional market model that is in accordance with the potential of the market. The by-product of this research is an increase in the literacy and skills of market traders, traditional market curricula and value chain networks for markets.Keywords: Market School; Traditional Market; Market Revitalization