bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nutritional status and its associated factors among elderly people in Ilu Aba Bor Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Shuremu Muluneh , Belachew Tefera , Hassen Kalkidan
Published: January 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and its associated factors among elderly people.

Design

A community-based cross-sectional study.

Setting

The study was conducted in urban and semiurban areas.

Participants

The study included 620 elderly community dwellers in Southwest Ethiopia from 3 October 2021 to 10 November 2021. Those who were seriously ill, could not get around or were on special diets were excluded from the study.

Outcome measure

The Mini Nutritional Assessment was used to evaluate nutritional status and the STEPwise approach was used to collect data on backgrounds and lifestyle. SPSS V.22.0 was used for data analysis. Logistic regression was computed. The level of significance was set at 0.05.

Results

Elderly people who were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition were found to make up 48.1% (44.1%to 52.1%) and 17.4% (14.5% to 20.6%) of the population, respectively. Those aged 80 years and older had a chance of being at risk of malnutrition (adjusted OR (AOR)=22.555; 95% CI: 7.963 to 63.881), while the odds of being malnourished were 11.5 times higher (AOR=11.755; 95% CI: 4.825 to 28.638). Informal education was a significant predictor of being at risk of malnutrition (AOR=6.102; 95% CI: 2.684 to 13.871). Urban dwellers were 8.9 times more likely to be malnourished. Inadequate financial resources make people 3.7 times more likely to be malnourished. A lower wealth index was a significant predictor of being at risk of malnutrition (AOR=4.156; 95% CI: 1.361 to 12.692). Single elderly people had a 3.4-fold higher risk of malnutrition. Elderly people with chronic pain, who were smokers and alcoholics, and who had depression were all at risk of nutritional problems.

Conclusion

The risk of malnutrition and malnourishment was high. Age, urbanisation, finances, education, economics, being a woman, smoking and alcohol are associated factors. Interventional studies are warranted to minimise malnutrition challenges in the study population.
Viral suppression and associated factors among children tested for HIV viral load at Amhara Public Health Institute, Dessie Branch, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Berihun Hailu , Bazie Getaw Walle , Beyene Altaseb , Zewdie Amare , Kebede Natnael
Published: January 2023

Objective

This study aims to assess viral suppression and associated factors among children tested for HIV viral load at the Amhara Public Health Institute, Dessie Branch, Ethiopia.

Design

An institutional cross-sectional study was conducted. An observational checklist was used to collect the data. Data were entered into EpiData and analysed using SPSS (V.25). The data were analysed descriptively. Variables with p=0.25 from the bivariable analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model, and significant variables (p=0.05) were retained in the multivariable model.

Setting and participants

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 522 randomly selected children tested for HIV viral load at the Amhara Public Health Institute, Dessie Branch, Ethiopia. The study included children under the age of 15 years with complete records.

Results

Viral suppression was 73% (95% CI: 60.41% to 77.63%). Treatment duration on antiretroviral therapy (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.207; 95% CI: 0.094 to 0.456) and regimen substitution (AOR=0.490; 95% CI: 0.306 to 0.784) were significantly associated with viral suppression rate.

Conclusions

In this study, the overall magnitude of viral suppression in Amhara Public Health Institute, Dessie Branch is low as compared with the WHO’s 95% viral suppression target. Viral suppression was significantly associated with antiretroviral therapy duration and regimen substitution.
Efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in Chinese patients with active psoriatic arthritis: a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
Authors: Leng Xiaomei , Lin Wei , Liu Shixue , Kanik Keith , Wang Cunshan , Wan Weiguo , Jiang Zhenyu , Liu Yi , Liu Shengyun , Zhang Zhuoli , Zhang Zhiyi , Xu Jian , Tan Wenfeng , Hu Jiankang , Li Jingyang , Liu Ju , Gunay Levent M. , Dina Oluwaseyi , Kinch Cassandra , Zeng Xiaofeng
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Efficacy and safety of tofacitinib, an oral Janus kinase inhibitor, were evaluated in a 6-month, double-blind, phase 3 study in Chinese patients with active (polyarthritic) psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and inadequate response to ≥1 conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug.

Methods

Patients were randomised (2:1) to tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (N=136) or placebo (N=68); switched to tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily after month (M)3 (blinded). Primary endpoint: American College of Rheumatology (ACR50) response at M3. Secondary endpoints (through M6) included: ACR20/50/70 response; change from baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI); ≥75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI75) response, and enthesitis and dactylitis resolution. Safety was assessed throughout.

Results

The primary endpoint was met (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, 38.2%; placebo, 5.9%; p<0.0001). M3 ACR20/ACR70/PASI75 responses, and enthesitis and dactylitis resolution rates, were higher and HAQ-DI reduction was greater for tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily versus placebo. Incidence of adverse events (AEs)/serious AEs (M0–3): 68.4%/0%, tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily; 75.0%/4.4%, placebo. One death was reported with placebo→tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (due to accident). One serious infection, non-serious herpes zoster, and lung cancer case each were reported with tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily; four serious infections and one non-serious herpes zoster case were reported with placebo→tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (M0–6). No non-melanoma skin cancer, major adverse cardiovascular or thromboembolism events were reported.

Conclusion

In Chinese patients with PsA, tofacitinib efficacy was greater than placebo (primary and secondary endpoints). Tofacitinib was well tolerated; safety outcomes were consistent with the established safety profile in PsA and other indications.

Trial registration number

NCT03486457.
Palliative care symptoms and problems in a culturally and linguistically diverse population: large retrospective cohort study
Authors: Roydhouse Jessica , Connolly Alanna , Daveson Barbara , de Graaff Barbara , Blanchard Megan , Currow David C
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Migrant Australians with cancer have higher unmet needs and poorer health-related quality of life. Less is known about their palliative care experience. We aimed to assess comparative symptom distress and problem severity for culturally and linguistically diverse Australians with cancer in palliative care.

Methods

This was a retrospective, consecutive cohort study using data from the Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration, which routinely collects standardised symptom assessments nationally at point-of-care. Adults with a cancer diagnosis who died 01/01/2016–31/12/2019 were included. The presence/absence ofpatient-reported symptom distressandclinician-rated problem severitywere compared between people who preferred English and people who preferred another language using logistic regression models. We also compared people who preferred English and the four most common non-English languages in the dataset: Chinese, Greek, Italian and Slavic.

Results

A total of 53 964 people with cancer died within the study period, allowing analysis of 104 064 assessments. People preferring non-English languages were less likely to report symptoms (pain: OR=0.89 (0.84 to 0.94); all other symptoms except fatigue OR<1 and CIs did not contain 1). Except for family/carer problems (OR=1.24 (1.12 to 1.31)), linguistically diverse people were less likely to report problems. Variation was seen between non-English language groups.

Conclusions

We did not find evidence of comparatively worse symptom distress or problem severity for nearly all scores for culturally and linguistically diverse Australians. Better symptom management or differential reporting may explain this. It is important to examine this further, including assessing differences within cultural and linguistic groups to ensure the delivery of high-quality palliative care.
Mechanical thrombectomy with combined stent retriever and contact aspiration versus stent retriever alone for acute large vessel occlusion: data from ANGEL-ACT registry
Authors: Huo Xiaochuan , Sun Dapeng , Hu Mingkai , Raynald  , Jia Baixue , Tong Xu , Ma Gaoting , Wang Anxin , Ma Ning , Gao Feng , Mo Dapeng , Miao Zhongrong
Published: January 2023

Background and purpose

An analysis of the ASTER 2 trial revealed similar final recanalisation levels and clinical outcomes in acute large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke between stent retrieval (SR) alone as a first-line mechanical thrombectomy (MT) technique (SR alone first-line) and concomitant use of contact aspiration (CA) plus SR as a first-line MT technique (SR+CA first-line). The purpose of the present study was to compare the safety and efficacy of SR+CA first-line with those of SR alone first-line for patients with LVO in China.

Methods

We conducted the present study by using the data from the ANGEL-ACT registry. We divided the selected patients into SR+CA first-line and SR alone first-line groups. We performed logistic regression and generalised linear models with adjustments to compare the angiographic and clinical outcomes, including successful/complete recanalisation after the first technique alone and all procedures, first-pass successful/complete recanalisation, number of passes, 90-day modified Rankin Scale, procedure duration, rescue treatment and intracranial haemorrhage within 24 hours.

Results

Of the 1233 enrolled patients, 1069 (86.7%) received SR alone first-line, and 164 (13.3%) received SR+CA first-line. SR+CA first-line was associated with more thrombectomy passes (3 (2–4) vs 2 (1–2); β=1.77, 95% CI=1.55 to 1.99, p<0.001), and longer procedure duration (86 (60–129) min vs 80 (50–122) min; β=10.76, 95% CI=1.08 to 20.43, p=0.029) than SR alone first-line group. Other outcomes were comparable (all p>0.05) between the two groups.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing SR+CA first-line had more thrombectomy passes and longer procedure duration than patients undergoing SR alone first-line. Additionally, we suggested that SR+CA first-line was not superior to SR alone first-line in final recanalisation level, first-pass recanalisation level and 90-day clinical outcomes in the Chinese population.
Surgeon compassion may mitigate quality of life disparities associated with health literacy
Authors: Hopp Morgan J , Soe-Lin Hahn , Lowe Trevor M , Chapple Kristina M , Bogert James N , Weinberg Jordan A
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Patients with health literacy (HL) disparities are less likely to comprehend hospital discharge instructions and less satisfied with physician communication. In this prospective cohort study, we sought to examine the interaction of HL, physician communication, and quality of life after hospital discharge among postoperative emergency surgery and trauma patients.

Methods

Emergency surgery and trauma surgery patients were prospectively enrolled between December 2020 and December 2021 at an urban level 1 trauma center. Newest Vital Sign (NVS) instrument was used to measure HL during hospitalization. After discharge, patients were administered Revised Trauma Quality of Life (RT-QOL) and Interpersonal Processes of Care (IPC) instruments. An adjusted regression model was used to determine associations among NVS the emotional well-being subscale on the RT-QOL, and patient perception of physician compassion and respect on the IPC.

Results

94 patients completed all instruments. HL was proficient (high HL) in 59.6% and less than proficient (low HL) in 40.4%. HL was positively associated with RT-QOL emotional well-being,r(94)=0.212, p=0.040. However, higher rating of surgeon compassion and respect on IPC moderated the relationship between HL and emotional well-being such that patients with low HL and high perception of physician compassion and respect had similar emotional well-being as the high HL group (p=0.042).

Conclusion

Favorable patient perception of surgeon compassion and respect was correlated with higher emotional well-being, independent of HL proficiency. Although the allocation of resources toward improving HL disparities remains warranted, improving patient perception of caregiver compassion during hospitalization may be a target of opportunity with respect to improving quality of life after hospital discharge.

Level of evidence

Level III.
General relativity versus dark matter for rotating galaxies
Authors: Srivastava Yogendra , Immirzi Giorgio , Swain John , Panella Orlando , Pacetti Simone
Published: January 2023

A very general class of axially symmetric metrics in general relativity (GR) that includes rotations is used to discuss the dynamics of rotationally supported galaxies. The exact vacuum solutions of the Einstein equations for this extended Weyl class of metrics allow us to rigorously deduce the following: (i) GR rotational velocity always exceeds the Newtonian velocity (thanks to Lenz’s law in GR). (ii) A non-vanishing intrinsic angular momentum (J) for a galaxy demands the asymptotic constancy of the Weyl (vectorial) length parameter (a)—a behaviour identical to that found for the Kerr metric. (iii) Asymptotic constancy of the same parameter a also demands a plateau in the rotational velocity. Unlike the Kerr metric, the extended Weyl metric can and has been continued within the galaxy, and it has been shown under what conditions Gauß and Ampére laws emerge along with Ludwig’s extended gravito-electromagnetism (GEM) theory with its attendant non-linear rate equations for the velocity field. Better estimates (than that from the Newtonian theory) for the escape velocity of the Sun have been presented.
Magnetic-induced spontaneous scalarization in dynamical Chern–Simons gravity
Authors: Zhang Shao-Jun , Wang Bin , Papantonopoulos Eleftherios , Wang Anzhong
Published: January 2023

In the framework of the dynamical Chern–Simons gravity, we study the scalar field perturbations of the Reissner–Nordström–Melvin spacetime, which describes a charged black hole permeated by a uniform magnetic field. In the presence of the magnetic field, the scalar field acquires an effective mass whose square takes negative value in the half domain of the angular direction. This inevitably introduces the tachyonic instability and associated spontaneous scalarization as long as the coupling constant between the scalar field and the Chern–Simons invariant exceeds a threshold value. We study the object pictures of the time evolutions of the scalar field perturbations at the linear level, and find that the presence of the magnetic field will dramatically change the waveforms and associated ringdown modes. Nonlinear evolutions for the unstable perturbations are also performed in the decoupling limit, which demonstrate the scalar cloud as the final fate. Influences of the coupling constant and the black hole charge on the wave dynamics are also studied.
Some physical properties of generalized quasi-Einstein spacetimes under Gray’s decomposition
Authors: Hazra Dipankar , De Uday Chand , Sarkar Avijit
Published: January 2023

In this study, we analyze generalized quasi-Einstein spacetimes endowed with Gray’s decomposition, as well as generalized Robertson–Walker spacetimes. It is shown that the Ricci tensor of a generalized quasi-Einstein spacetime assumes the form of a perfect fluid in all Gray’s subspaces under certain restrictions. Finally, it is established that a generalized quasi-Einstein generalized Robertson–Walker spacetime is a perfect fluid spacetime.
Ni–Co–Cu/Carbon Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Magnetic Properties
Authors: Gromov A. A. , Yakushko E. V. , Muratov D. G. , Kozitov L. V. , Lomov A. A. , Nalivaiko A. Yu. , Ozherelkov D. Yu. , Pelevin I. A. , Marinich S. B.
Published: January 2023

The advanced two-stage synthesis method of the Ni–Co–Cu/carbon magnetic nanocomposite as promising material for electromagnetic wave absorption was proposed. Synthesis condition for consolidated Ni–Co–Cu solid solution nanoparticles with an average size of less than 100[Formula: see text]nm uniformly distributed in the carbon matrix was discussed. The effect of different pyrolysis temperatures (500–700∘C) and Cu concentration in the precursor (from 5 to 30[Formula: see text]wt.%) on the microstructure of Ni–Co–Cu nanocomposite, its particle size and magnetic properties was investigated by of XRD, TEM and magnetic hysteresis.

The saturation magnetization and remanence showed non-monotonic dependences on Cu concentration in samples. The coercive force was varied from 110 to 177[Formula: see text]Oe depending on Cu content in nanoparticles. The correlation between magnetic properties and microstructure of Ni–Co–Cu/carbon nanocomposites was discussed assuming the transition of nanoparticles to superparamagnetic and single-domain states depending on their sizes.
Robot path planning using fusion algorithm of ant colony optimization and genetic algorithm
Authors: Ma Kangkang , Wang Lei , Cai Jingcao , Li Dongdong , Wang Anheng , Tan Tielong
Published: January 2023

Aiming at the shortcomings of single ant colony optimization such as many redundant nodes, slow convergence and low efficiency, based on the idea of “selection-crossover” of genetic algorithm, an improved fusion algorithm of ant colony optimization and genetic algorithm is proposed. In this paper, the fusion algorithm includes “optimal strategy” and “genetic region strategy”. The optimal strategy is that high-quality parents are selected by roulette in the first [Formula: see text] paths of each generation; genetic region strategy is that according to the path information of the parents, the grid map is divided into genetic area and nongenetic area. Genetic area refers to the area where the offspring ants can pass, and nongenetic area refers to the area where the offspring ants can’t pass; finally, the offspring ant searches the path in the genetic region to reduce the search range of the offspring ant and improve the convergence speed. Simulation results show that the fusion algorithm has faster searching speed and more stable convergence than the basic ant colony optimization and other improved ant colony optimization.
Tridigpu: A GPU Library for Block Tridiagonal and Banded Linear Equation Systems
Authors: Klein Christoph , Strzodka Robert
Published: January 2023

In this article, we present a CUDA library with a C API for solving block cyclic tridiagonal and banded systems on one GPU. The library can process block tridiagonal systems with block sizes from 1 × 1 (scalar) to 4 × 4 and banded systems with up to four sub- and superdiagonals. For the compute-intensive block size cases and cases with many right-hand sides, we write out an explicit factorization to memory; however, for the scalar case, the fastest approach is to only output the coarse system and recompute the factorization. Prominent features of the library are (scaled) partial pivoting for improved numeric stability; highest-performance kernels, which completely utilize GPU memory bandwidth; and support for multiple sparse or dense right-hand side and solution vectors. The additional memory consumption is only 5% of the original tridiagonal system, which enables the solution of systems up to GPU memory size. The performance of the state-of-the-art scalar tridiagonal solver of cuSPARSE is outperformed by factor 5 for large problem sizes of 2
25
unknowns, on a GeForce RTX 2080 Ti.
Reinforcement Learning for Quantitative Trading
Authors: Sun Shuo , Wang Rundong , An Bo
Published: January 2023

Quantitative trading (QT), which refers to the usage of mathematical models and data-driven techniques in analyzing the financial market, has been a popular topic in both academia and financial industry since 1970s. In the last decade,reinforcement learning (RL)has garnered significant interest in many domains such as robotics and video games, owing to its outstanding ability on solving complex sequential decision making problems. RL’s impact is pervasive, recently demonstrating its ability to conquer many challenging QT tasks. It is a flourishing research direction to explore RL techniques’ potential on QT tasks. This paper aims at providing a comprehensive survey of research efforts on RL-based methods for QT tasks. More concretely, we devise a taxonomy of RL-based QT models, along with a comprehensive summary of the state of the art. Finally, we discuss current challenges and propose future research directions in this exciting field.
Same Trend, Different Paths: Growth and Welfare Regimes Across Time and Space
Authors: Hassel Anke , Palier Bruno
Published: January 2023

The article reviews the recent advances in comparative political economy. It reconnects knowledge on growth regimes and welfare regimes by analyzing how growth and welfare regimes covary over both time and space. It underlines the fact that governments pursue different growth strategies to adjust to new economic environments, focusing in particular on welfare state reforms. Synthesizing the literature, we propose a definition of growth and welfare regimes that integrates different engines of growth as a way to track general trends in the evolution of capitalism. We analyze the main trends of three eras of capitalism: Fordism, neoliberal financialization, and the digitalized knowledge-based economy. We trace the various paths of change by identifying the five growth strategies governments have pursued to adapt their growth and welfare regimes to the new capitalist era. The result is not a typology of fixed types of capitalist models but a dynamic process of adjustment.
MIP-Based Sensor for Detection of Gut Microbiota Derived Trimethylamine
Authors: Jalandra Rekha , Lakshmi G. B. V. S. , Dhiman Tarun Kumar , Sharma Minakshi , Kumar Anil , Solanki Pratima R.
Published: January 2023

Trimethylamine (TMA), a gut microbiota-based metabolite is linked to human health and illness. The detection of TMA in bodily fluids is believed to be crucial in extrapolating the pathophysiology and treatment of a variety of disorders. As a result, the development of accurate and fast TMA detection methods might help us better understand the pathophysiology and diagnosis of disorders linked to TMA. The current study is the first to describe the construction of an electrochemical sensor based on a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for specific and sensitive detection of TMA in human body fluids such as urine. The MIP design was based on polydopamine (PDA), which was made with and without TMA using a polymerization technique. On the glass coated with indium tin oxide (ITO), the MIP, NIP, and non-sonicated polymer (PPy-TMA) were individually deposited. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to record the detection response and obtained a sensitivity of 80 nA ml μM−1 within a dynamic detection range of 0.5 μM to 400 mM. This sensor is simple to build; use and it can detect TMA in human fluids like urine with great precision. The current study lays the groundwork for developing MIP-based sensors to detect additional compounds that play role in human health and are originating from gut microbiota.
Analysis of the alveolar shape in 3-D
Authors: Reimelt Alex M. , Vasilescu Dragoș M. , Beare Richard , Labode Jonas , Knudsen Lars , Grothausmann Roman
Published: January 2023

Mechanical forces affect the alveolar shape, depending on location and tissue composition, and vary during the respiratory cycle. This study performs alveolar morphomics in different lobes of human lungs using models generated from three-dimensional (3-D) micro-computed tomography (microCT) images. Cylindrical tissue samples (1.6 cm × 2 cm) were extracted from two nontransplantable donor lungs (one ex-smoker and one smoker, 3 samples per subject) that were air-inflated and frozen solid in liquid nitrogen vapor. Samples were scanned with microCT (11 µm/voxel). Within representative cubic regions of interest (5.5 mm edge length), alveoli were segmented to produce corresponding 3-D models from which quantitative data were obtained. The surface of segmented alveoli (n_alv_total = 23,587) was divided into individual planar surfaces (facets) and angles between facet normals were calculated. Moreover, the number of neighboring alveoli was estimated for every alveolus. In this study, we examined intraindividual differences in alveolar morphology, which were reproducible in the lungs of two subjects. The main aspects are higher mean alveolar volumes (v_alv: 6.64 × 106 and 6.63 × 106 µm3 vs. 5.78 × 106 and 6.29 × 106 µm3) and surface sizes (s_alv: 0.19 and 0.18 mm2 vs. 0.17 mm2 in both lower lobes) in both upper lung lobes compared with the lower lobes. An increasing number of facets (f_alv) from top to bottom (12 and 14 in the upper lobes; 14 and 15 in the lower lobes), as well as a decreasing number of alveolar neighbors (nei_alv: 9 and 8 in the upper lobes; 8 and 7 in the lower lobes) from the upper lobes to the lower lobes were observed. We could observe an increasing ratio of alveolar entrance size to the surface size of the alveoli from top to bottom (S_ratio_alv: 0.71 and 0.64 in the upper lobes, 0.73 and 0.70 in the lower lobes). The angles between facet normals (ang_alv) were larger in the upper lobes (67.72° and 62.44°) of both lungs than in the lower lobes (66.19° and 61.30°). By using this new approach of analyzing alveolar 3-D data, which enables the estimation of facet, neighbor, and shape characteristics, we aimed to establish the baseline measures for in-depth studies of mechanical conditions and morphology.
Flexural Behavior of Graphite Tailings RC Beams in Chloride Environment
Authors: Feng Bo-Ya , Zhu Xun-Guo , Xia Hong-Chun , Yang Lin , Xie Te
Published: January 2023

This paper investigates the mechanical properties of graphite tailings concrete beams under various curing environments. The results show that the concentration of graphite tailings has an important influence on the mechanical properties of concrete. Finally, the bending characteristics of the beam and the modified bearing capacity calculation formula are obtained, which provides a theoretical basis and the reference value for the construction of green building materials. Through research, the main innovations and main findings of this paper are as follows: (1) In the three kinds of concrete experimental environment, the fracture load and ultimate load of concrete beams with graphite tailings replacement rate of 20% are the largest. (2) In the three kinds of concrete test environment, when the concrete test beams under the same load, with the increase of graphite tailings replacement rate, the mid-span deflection of concrete beams showed a trend of decreasing first and then increasing. When the replacement rate of graphite tailings sand is 20%, the mid-span deflection of the test beam is the smallest. (3) Through experiments, it is found that the normal section bearing capacity of graphite tailings concrete beams after chloride salt erosion conforms to the plane section assumption. After chlorine salt erosion, the strain of the longitudinal tensile steel bar of concrete beams with different graphite tailings sand replacement rates is the same as that of ordinary concrete beams, and the slope of the strain curve is the same, showing a linear trend. The experimental results show that the replacement rate of graphite tailings sand has an insignificant effect on the strain of steel bars. (4) The Gauss function is used to fit the experimental value of normal section bearing capacity of concrete beam, and the calculation formula of normal section ultimate bearing capacity of graphite tailings sand concrete beam under chloride environment is established. The research results of this paper have significant reference value for the study of mechanical properties of graphite tailings sand concrete components.
Special Considerations for Management of Diabetes in Adult Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Oyetoro Rebecca , Wiemer Layton , Bardhi Olgert , Louis Mariam , Jacob Rafik
Published: January 2023

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic health condition that is very prevalent worldwide. It has been demonstrated that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) are at a disproportionately high risk for developing diabetes. Persons with IDDs are estimated to be 2-3 times more likely to develop DM compared to the general population. The elevated risk of developing diabetes within the population of adults with IDDs is multifactorial and includes contributions from genetics, lifestyle, medication use and misuse, boundaries to appropriate medical care, a higher incidence of comorbid mental health disorders, and others. Further, inadequate screening for and management of diabetes for these patients results in heightened risk for adverse cardiovascular events and inferior health care outcomes. To improve patient outcomes for this unique patient population, health care providers need to be well trained in the optimal modalities of screening, diagnosis, and management of diabetes in adults with IDDs. This requires the development of effective diabetes intervention and health promotion programs aimed at patients with IDDs, utilizing a patient-centered approach to screening and management, and conducting further research to assess the impact of these interventions.
Tracking Peripheral Memory T Cell Subsets in Advanced Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Hypofractionated Radiotherapy and PD-1 Blockade
Authors: Kang Pengyuan , Yu Hong , Li Yunfei , Wen Xue , Ye Hua , Luo Yuhao , Yang Yaqi , Yuan Qing , Lin Sheng
Published: January 2023

Hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) or chemotherapy combined with programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade has achieved good clinical control in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the relative influence of HFRT + PD-1 blockade and chemo-immunotherapy on peripheral memory T cell subsets in NSCLC responders has not been evaluated in clinical practice. Thirty-nine patients with advanced NSCLC were enrolled. The frequencies of naive (Tn; CD45RA+CCR7+), central memory (Tcm; CD45RA–CCR7+), effector memory (Tem; CD45RA–CCR7–), and effector memory RA (TemRA; CD45RA+CCR7–) T cell subsets and PD-1 expression were analyzed in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells using flow cytometry from peripheral blood samples. The correlations of memory T cell subsets and PD-1 expression with overall survival in HFRT + PD-1 blockade group were examined using the Kaplan–Meier method. Patients with partial response to HFRT + PD-1 blockade showed reduction in Tn and expansion in TemRA cell subpopulations among CD8+ T cells and reduced PD-1+CD4+ and PD-1+CD8+ T cells, all of which were significantly correlated with overall survival. The responders to chemo-immunotherapy showed expansion of the TemRA and decrease of Tcm in CD8+ T cell subpopulation. Our findings show that HFRT+PD-1 blockade and chemo-immunotherapy combination therapies induce differential memory T cell subset differentiation, offering predictive markers for treatment response. Clinical Trial Information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/ChiCTR-1900027768.
An Explicit Method for Estimating the Average Reservoir Pressure and Gas in Place Based on the Gas Property Polynomial Function
Authors: Zhang Lixia , Jiang Hao , Li Yong , Song Xinmin , Li Yang
Published: January 2023

The fast and accurate determination of average reservoir pressure (ARP) and gas reserves is vital for the analysis and forecasting of gas well performance. An explicit and relatively rigorous method for estimating the ARP and gas in place, based on the dynamic material balance equation and the gas property polynomial function (GPPF), is presented to circumvent such drawbacks as high cost, empiricism, poor adaptability to variable production schedules, and the necessity for iteration processes, by which current approaches usually have been limited. The gas flow model is solved by introducing pseudofunctions and considering the compressibility effects of rock and irreducible water, and the pressure-rate correlations during boundary-dominated flow (BDF) which constitute the theoretical proofs of this method are derived from the superposition principle coupled with the constant rate solution. Production data under different production scenarios prove it effective. The error of estimation for formation pressure and gas reserves hardly ever goes beyond 4% given that the BDF condition is generally satisfied by the rate and bottom hole flowing pressure (BHP) data. We employ the GPPF to capture the nonlinear variations of gas viscosity andZ-factor, helpful to implement a quick conversion between pressure and pseudopressure and to solve the integral equation concerning pseudopressure and thus valid in overcoming the limitations of previous methods concerning pressure or pressure squared. The proposed methodology boasts its simpleness and practicability, which not only dispenses with iterations on pseudotime but also applies to various production systems of gas wells under constant BHP, constant rate, or variable BHP/variable rate conditions.
A New Method to Predict Shock-Type Coal-Gas Outburst Disaster and Its Application
Authors: Lyu Pengfei , Li Tan , Chen Xuehua
Published: January 2023

Coal-gas outburst is the one of most serious coal mine dynamic disasters which affects safety mining, with 39 deaths reported during 2019 in China. The mechanism of coal-gas outbursts is complex, and the prediction methods are immature at present. This article was based on previous research results. Firstly, the occurrence mechanism of coal-gas outburst disasters was summarized. It is clear that the occurrence of coal-gas outburst disasters is jointly affected based on the stability of the static structure of coal-rock, the gas parameters, and the release intensity of shock stress. Secondly, the stability evaluation models of coal-rock static structure, gas parameters, and shock stress release intensity were built, respectively, based on the influence factors. Then they were coupled and supposed to form a new prediction model. Finally, the prediction method was applied to the Ji15-17200 working face of No.12 coal mine in Pingmei company. The working face was divided into three danger levels including weak outburst danger area, medium outburst danger area, and strong outburst danger area. The accuracy of the predicted results was analyzed based on the actual mining condition of the Ji15-17200 working face. The results show that prediction accuracy is high, and it can be used for actual applications. The research results are of guiding significance to better prevent and control coal-gas outburst accidents and ensure safe production in coal mines.
Evaluation of the Diagnostic and Prognostic Accuracy of Artificial Intelligence in Endodontic Dentistry: A Comprehensive Review of Literature
Authors: Karobari Mohmed Isaqali , Adil Abdul Habeeb , Basheer Syed Nahid , Murugesan Sabari , Savadamoorthi Kamatchi Subramani , Mustafa Mohammed , Abdulwahed Abdulaziz , Almokhatieb Ahmed A.
Published: January 2023

Aim. This comprehensive review is aimed at evaluating the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of artificial intelligence in endodontic dentistry. Introduction. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a relatively new technology that has widespread use in dentistry. The AI technologies have primarily been used in dentistry to diagnose dental diseases, plan treatment, make clinical decisions, and predict the prognosis. AI models like convolutional neural networks (CNN) and artificial neural networks (ANN) have been used in endodontics to study root canal system anatomy, determine working length measurements, detect periapical lesions and root fractures, predict the success of retreatment procedures, and predict the viability of dental pulp stem cells. Methodology. The literature was searched in electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus, published over the last four decades (January 1980 to September 15, 2021) by using keywords such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, application, endodontics, and dentistry. Results. The preliminary search yielded 2560 articles relevant enough to the paper’s purpose. A total of 88 articles met the eligibility criteria. The majority of research on AI application in endodontics has concentrated on tracing apical foramen, verifying the working length, projection of periapical pathologies, root morphologies, and retreatment predictions and discovering the vertical root fractures. Conclusion. In endodontics, AI displayed accuracy in terms of diagnostic and prognostic evaluations. The use of AI can help enhance the treatment plan, which in turn can lead to an increase in the success rate of endodontic treatment outcomes. The AI is used extensively in endodontics and could help in clinical applications, such as detecting root fractures, periapical pathologies, determining working length, tracing apical foramen, the morphology of root, and disease prediction.
Primary Esophageal Lymphoma: A Histopathological Experience from Two Tertiary Hospitals, Western Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Maghrabi Jaudah , Al-Maghrabi Sahar
Published: January 2023

Background. Primary esophageal lymphoma (PEL) is a rare disorder. The objective of this study was to document the clinicopathological features of PEL at two tertiary hospitals in the western region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods. All PELs diagnosed between May 2002 and June 2022 were retrieved. Histopathological and immunohistochemical slides were reviewed. Additional immunohistochemistry stains were performed in selected cases. Follow-up data were collected. Results. There were only eight cases of PEL in the records of the two hospitals. The age of the patients ranged between 50 and 74 years (median 62 years and mean 62.5 years). There were six males (80%) and two females (20%). None of the patients were immunocompromised or had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The clinical manifestation included dysphagia and loss of weight. Six cases were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and two were low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Conclusion. PEL is an extremely rare disease with male predominance. DLBCL is the most common pathological type in our community. There was no relation to immune status or HIV infection in this series. Clinical presentations were typically dysphagia with weight loss. Further reporting of PEL cases might help explain this disease and improve its diagnosis and management.
Liver Microbiome in Healthy Rats: The Hidden Inhabitants of Hepatocytes
Authors: Sun Xiao Wei , Zhang Hua , Zhang Xiao , Xin Peng Fei , Gao Xue , Li Hong Rui , Zhou Cai Yun , Gao Wen Min , Kou Xuan Xuan , Zhang Jian Gang
Published: January 2023

The tumor and tissue microbiota of human beings have recently been investigated. Gut permeability is known as a possible resource for the positive detection of tissue bacteria. Herein, we report that microbiota were detected in high abundance in the hepatocytes of healthy rats and that they were shared with the gut microbiota to an extent. We assessed male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene. After the rats were sacrificed by blood drainage from the portal vein, we extracted total deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from their ileal and colonic contents and liver tissues. The V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced using an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. Sequences were assigned taxonomically by the SILVA database. We also detected bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in situ using immunofluorescence (IF) and western blotting and the 16S rRNA gene using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). In the livers of six rats, we detected

54,867.50
±
6450.03

effective tags of the 16S rRNA gene and clustered them into 1003 kinds of operational taxonomic units (OTUs;

805.67
±
70.14

, 729–893). Rats showed conservation of bacterial richness, abundance, and evenness. LPS and the 16S rRNA gene were detected in the nuclei of hepatocytes. The main function composition of the genomes of annotated bacteria was correlated with metabolism (

79.92
±
0.24
%

). Gram negativity was about 1.6 times higher than gram positivity. The liver microbiome was shared with both the small and large intestines but showed significantly higher richness and evenness than the gut microbiome, and the β-diversity results showed that the liver microbiome exhibited significantly higher similarity than the small and large intestines (

P
<
0.05

). Our results suggest that the bacteria in the liver microbiome are hidden intracellular inhabitants in healthy rat livers.
Propofol-Induced miR-493-3p Inhibits Growth and Invasion of Gastric Cancer through Suppression of DKK1-Mediated Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Activation
Authors: Zhan Kaishuai , Song Xiaodan , Zhang Qian , Yang Jianshu , Lu Shoutang
Published: January 2023

Purpose. Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors and also one of the most deadly tumors. In recent years, studies have shown that propofol can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of many tumor cells. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of propofol inhibition of the growth and invasion of GC cells. Methods. Human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 and human normal gastric epithelial cell GES-1 were cultured in high-glucose Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum at 37°C with 5% CO2. Propofol of different concentrations (0, 2, 5, and 10 μg/mL) was used to treat SGC-7901, and miR-493-3p inhibitor was transfected into SGC-7901. The cell proliferation of SGC-7901 was analyzed by MTT as well as colony formation assay. The qRT-PCR was used to assess the expression of mRNA for key genes. We examined the protein expression of DKK1 and relative markers with western blot. Putative binding places of miR-493-3p on the 3

′

-untranslated area of DKK1 were predicted using bioinformatics and dual-luciferase method. Results. Propofol prohibited phenotypic features of GC, according to our findings. Furthermore, research into the underlying mechanisms of propofol’s suppressive effects in GC cell proved that propofol therapy improved the degrees of expression of the potential tumor suppressor miR-493-3p. The inhibiting properties of propofol on GC cell development, migration, and invasion were abolished when propofol-induced miR493-3p was silenced with anti-miR-493-3p. We also found that this drug reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in SGC-7901 cells via inducing miR-493-3p. Propofol-induced miR-493-3p decreases GC cell development via targeting DKK1 and hence inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling, according to these findings. Conclusion. Propofol-induced miR-493-3p decreased GC cell development via targeting DKK1 and hence inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signaling, according to these findings.
Strategy of Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction in Residential Building Sector: A Case Study of Jiangsu Province, China
Authors: Jiang Tingting , Li Hongyang , Mao Peng , Wu Tongyuan , Skitmore Martin , Talebian Nima
Published: January 2023

The building sector is the second-largest energy consumer in China. With the proposal to reach a carbon peak by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, China attaches more importance to the energy conservation and emission reduction of the residential sector. To study the connection between socioeconomic factors and residential energy consumption (REC), this paper collects the data of 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu Province, China, from 2001 to 2019 to explore the REC impact factors by the STIRPAT model. The factors for modeling are identified from relevant studies and weighted by the independent weight coefficient method (IWCM). The regression result shows that the average number of persons per household, per capita housing construction area, urbanization rate, and cooling degree days have a significant positive impact on REC, while a negative correlation is found between per capita housing construction area, residential water consumption, and residential liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption. Strategies of energy conservation and emission reduction in residential building sector are explored based on the demonstration of the future REC pattern evolution and the changes in its impact factors.
Vaccine Boosting CAR-T Cell Therapy: Current and Future Strategies
Authors: Ansah Emmanuel Owusu , Baah Andy , Agyenim Emmanuel Boateng
Published: January 2023

Immunotherapy for cancer treatment is growing at an unprecedented rate since the inception of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells. However, the efficacy of CAR-T cells against solid tumors is hampered by various issues, including “on-target, off-tumor toxicities,” T cell exhaustion, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To overcome these limitations, recent advances focus on optimizing CAR-T cells using vaccines to develop more effective cell immunotherapies. Here, we summarize the most recent studies on how vaccine-based CAR-T therapies are advancing the response of cancer immunotherapy as well as the current state of their clinical and preclinical development. Finally, we share perspectives on how future studies can incorporate other strategies to augment the antitumor response of vaccine-assisted CAR-T cell therapy.
Evaluation of the Effect of Nanoparticle Graphene Oxide on Flexural Strength of Glass Ionomer Cements
Authors: Sharafeddin Farahnaz , Farhadpour Hajar , Hefzollah Reza
Published: January 2023

Aim. Glass ionomer (GIC) is a widely used restorative material in dentistry, but it has relatively weak mechanical properties. In this research, the effect of graphene oxide (GO) on the flexural strength of GIC was investigated. Materials and Methods. In this experimental study, 60 GIC samples in 6 groups of 10 were prepared, including Group 1: control conventional glass ionomer (CGIC), Group 2: CGIC + 1% wt of GO, Group 3: CGIC + 2% wt of GO, Group 4: control resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI), Group 5: RMGI + 1% wt of GO, and Group 6: RMGI + 2% wt of GO. The samples were kept for 24 hours. The flexural strength of the samples was measured by using a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and posthoc Tukey test. (

P
<
0.05

). Results. In the RMGI groups, the mean flexural strength value of the RMGI + 2% GO group was significantly higher than that of the RMGI control group (

P
=
0.027

). In the comparison of RMGI groups with their corresponding CGIC groups, the mean flexural strength values of all RMGI groups were significantly more than CGIC groups (

P
<
0.001

). RMGI + 1% GO was not significantly different from control RMGI and RMGI + 2% GO (

P
=
0.802

,

P
=
0.395

, respectively). There was no significant difference between CGIC groups. Conclusion. Adding 2% by weight of GO to RMGI increases the flexural strength of RMGI, which could be of great importance in clinical practice in order to reinforce the mechanical properties of this dental material. The flexural strength of RMGI is higher than that of CGIC.