bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Capacitação de docentes para prática de Mindfulness em sala de aula: construção e validação de produto educacional
Authors: Barros Liliane , Garcia Rosamaria , Rodrigues Marcela
Published: March 2024

Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar os resultados da construção e validação de produtos educacionais sobre a prática de meditação Mindfulness para docentes de cursos técnicos da área da saúde. Trata-se de estudo metodológico, transversal, prospectivo, abordagem qualitativa, amostra não probabilística e selecionada por conveniência. Os produtos educacionais produzidos foram validados utilizando o Instrumento de Validação de Conteúdo Educativo em Saúde. Participaram 14 docentes dos cursos técnicos do Senac Tiradentes, município de São Paulo. Foram elaborados uma Aula Instrucional e um Guia Medita  & Ação. Os docentes descreveram que após a capacitação sentiram-se em paz, bem-estar, harmonia, calma, tranquilidade, melhora da concentração e foco e maior equilíbrio das emoções e pensamentos. A maior parte dos docentes relataram que se sentiram à vontade para praticar com os alunos e sugeriram que ocorressem mais práticas com os docentes para aumentar a segurança. Quanto à validação dos produtos educacionais, observou-se concordância acima de 80% para os critérios de estrutura/apresentação, objetivos e relevância. A prática da meditação pode ser utilizada como ferramenta para auxiliar o desenvolvimento de atividades pedagógicas em sala de aula. Sugere-se que novos estudos sejam realizados para analisar, a longo prazo, os efeitos da prática com os alunos.
The complex etiology of Epilepsy in the Middle East: Genetic analysis and HLA associations
Authors: Fadda Abeer , Alsabbagh Mohamed , Vasudeva Dhanya , Saeed Amira , Aglan Sara , Hubrack Satanay Z , Benini Ruba , Lo Bernice , Zamel Khaled
Published: March 2024

ObjectivesEpilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. The cost to the health system and the impact on quality of life for patients with intractable epilepsies and associated comorbidities is significant. Disease etiology and pathogenesis are still not well understood. Genetic variants have been shown to be associated with 70% of epilepsies, and the remaining 30% enigmatic. This knowledge gap necessitates further research. The goal of this study is to partially bridge this gap through the genetic analysis of a cohort of patients with epilepsy from an understudied and highly consanguineous population, primarily of ethnicities from the Middle East and North Africa region.MethodsWhole exome sequencing was carried out in 67 patients and their family members at a tertiary center in Qatar. The focus was on identifying deleterious genetic variants associated with epilepsy. Additionally, we performed in silico typing for 13 class I & II HLA genes and performed association analysis with disease status.ResultsApproximately 30% of cases were resolved through genetic analysis, revealing deleterious variants within 15 genes of established relevance to epilepsy and 5 others with weaker ties to the condition. These variants include single nucleotide variations (SNVs), small insertion/deletions (indels), copy number variations (CNVs) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH). Around 40% of the SNVs and indels are novel. The mode of inheritance is roughly evenly distributed between autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive, with two cases of X-linked recessive and one case of X-linked inheritance. Furthermore, we identified positive associations between epilepsy and allelesDRB1*07:01:01GandDRB4*01:01:01G, while alleleDRB3*01:01:02Gexhibited a negative association.SignificanceCollectively, these findings delineate novel variants and a multifaceted genetic etiology in epilepsy pathogenesis, encompassing both immune and non-immune genes.
Dispositional mindfulness: Is it related to knee osteoarthritis population’s common health problems?
Authors: Chu Su-Feng , Lin Li-Chen , Chiu Aih-Fung , Wang Hsiu-Hung
Published: March 2024

Background: A growing body of research supports dispositional mindfulness as important in influencing physical and mental health as well as physical activities in patients with chronic illnesses. Knee osteoarthritis (OA), which often causes health problems, is one of the most common chronic illnesses, but less is known about dispositional mindfulness in relation to this condition.
Objective: To explore possible associations between dispositional mindfulness and physical and mental health as well as physical activity in knee OA patients.
Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we recruited a purposive sample of orthopedic clinic patients in hospitals in Southern Taiwan. Instruments included the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Health-related characteristics were also measured. Demographic statistics, bivariate correlations, and multiple linear regression informed our exploration of potentially related factors for dispositional mindfulness.
Results: Participants with knee OA (N = 250) were mostly elderly (88%), female (70.5%), and married (84%). Marital status, perceived health status, depression, and physical activity were associated with dispositional mindfulness. Better perceived health, lower depression, and greater physical activity were significantly associated with greater dispositional mindfulness. However, the severity of symptoms, fear of falling, and exercise self-efficacy did not reach statistical significance in relation to dispositional mindfulness.
Conclusion: Greater emphasis should be placed on the cultivation of mindfulness to enhance individuals’ perceived health, decrease their depressive mood, and promote their engagement in physical activity, which could indirectly alleviate their experience of pain and improve their physical function, yielding better quality of life and well-being. Future research should focus on interventions to apply dispositional mindfulness in order to determine whether dispositional mindfulness can effectively improve physical and mental health as well as physical activity in those with knee OA.
222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the airborne virus in an occupied room.
Authors: Buonanno Manuela , Kleiman Norman , Welch David , Hashmi Raabia , Shuryak Igor , Brenner David
Published: March 2024

An emerging intervention for control of airborne-mediated pandemics and epidemics is whole-room far-UVC (200-235 nm). Laboratory studies have shown that 222-nm light inactivates airborne pathogens, potentially without harm to exposed occupants. While encouraging results have been reported in benchtop studies and in room-sized bioaerosol chambers, there is a need for quantitative studies of airborne pathogen reduction in occupied rooms. We quantified far-UVC mediated reduction of aerosolized murine norovirus (MNV) in an occupied mouse-cage cleaning room within an animal-care facility. Benchtop studies suggest that MNV is a conservative surrogate for airborne viruses such as influenza and coronavirus. Using four 222-nm fixtures installed in the ceiling, and staying well within current recommended regulatory limits, far-UVC reduced airborne infectious MNV by 99.8% (95% CI: 98.2-99.9%). Similar to previous room-sized bioaerosol chamber studies on far-UVC efficacy, these results suggest that aerosolized virus susceptibility is significantly higher in room-scale tests than in bench-scale laboratory studies. That said, as opposed to controlled laboratory studies, uncertainties in this study related to airflow patterns, virus residence time, and dose to the collected virus introduce uncertainty into the inactivation estimates. This study is the first to directly demonstrate far-UVC anti-microbial efficacy against airborne pathogens in an occupied indoor location.
Biomass waste-based material: Electrochemical performance and CO2 uptake capability
Authors: Trinh Kieu Trang , Kalderis Dimitrios , Tsubota Toshiki
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the utilization of Japanese cedar bark (JCB) waste for the preparation of chemically-activated porous biochar materials using K2CO3 (xKC, where x represents the K2CO3 to JCB weight ratio). The research explores the versatile applications of these biochar materials, specifically focusing on CO2 adsorption and as supercapacitors. A thorough analysis employing chemical composition, microstructure, gas adsorption isotherms is conducted to gain insights into the surface and structural properties of the materials. The CO2 adsorption and electrochemical performance are assessed through isotherms at 298K and various electrochemical techniques. The study identifies functional groups and pore structures as critical factors influencing the adsorption capacity of xKC. Among the samples, 2KC demonstrated the optimal CO2 adsorption (approximately 180 mg g− 1), while 6KC exhibited superior electrochemical stability, with a maximum capacitance of around 210 F g− 1 at 10 mA g− 1. This comprehensive exploration provides valuable insights into the impact of material properties on both CO2 adsorption and electrochemical behavior in K2CO3-activated biochar from JCB, suggesting promising interdisciplinary applications.
Cutting performance of positive rake angle inserts under the combined effect of chip breaker and surface micro-texture on the rake face
Authors: Liu Junhao , Su Guosheng , Xia Yan , Li Binxun , Sun Yujing , Du Jin , Fang Bin
Published: March 2024

The fabrication of micro-textures on the chip breakers of the inserts is infrequent, and examines on the combined effects of chip breakers and surface textures of the positive rake angle inserts on chip breaking, cooling, lubrication, and friction wear are relatively scarce. In this research, a nanosecond laser was used to create textures on the insert of the chip breakers. Under wet and dry cutting environments, the cutting force, cutting heat, chip breaking and insert wear of traditional and textured inserts were compared and analyzed. Discusses the mechanisms of the synergistic effects of the chip breaker and surface micro-texture on chip breaking, cooling lubrication, and friction wear. The result indicates that the combined effect of chip breaker and surface micro-textures reduces cutting forces and cutting heat, diminishes insert wear, and facilitates chip breaking. The result of this study provides an idea for an approach to the development and fabrication of high-quality inserts.
Would the occurrence of a Maunder-like solar minimum reverse the observed climate change?
Authors: Cataldi Marcio , Rangel Rafael , Galvez Vitor Luiz , Jerez Sonia , Montavez Juan Pedro , Marin Amar Halifa , Landau Luiz
Published: March 2024

This study investigates a hypothetical scenario in which a prolonged solar minimum, such as the Maunder minimum, is combined with an increase in CO2 emissions observed during the postindustrial period. For that purpose, two fully coupled state-of-the-art Earth system simulations were performed spanning the period 1850–2000. From the year 1950 onwards, the radiative forcings differed. One accounts for the observed radiative forcing, including the increase in CO2 concentrations in recent decades, while the other adds the artifact of a decrease in the solar constant of similar magnitude as that which occurred during the Maunder minimum four centuries ago, maintaining the increase in CO2. The model was evaluated by comparing the results of the simulations with the ERA5 data and the reanalysis data from the 20th century, versions 2 and 3. In some evaluations in this study, meridional averages were calculated at 30-degree latitude intervals to observe the differences between the effects of the Maunder minimum in each region of the planet. It was possible to see good consistency between the temperature differences in the second half of the 20th century simulated by the CESM and the data from the reanalysis in all the regions analysed, with the CESM variability remaining within what was observed between the reanalysis products themselves. The results showed that, when comparing the period 1950–2000 with the period 1851–1949, the Maunder Minimum experiment mitigated the warming of the planet in this period by approximately 50%, although it was unable to reverse it. In the periods where the greatest warming was observed, at the end of the 20th century, the Maunder minimum had the most significant influence on reducing this warming in the Southern Hemisphere and in the section between 0–30°N; this warming could be reduced by almost 70%, and it had a smaller or almost zero influence in the region between 30–90°N. However, even though the Maunder minimum mitigates warming, this trend has not been systematically reversed worldwide.
Adapting Organizational Culture Scale into Healthcare Professional Education: A Scale Validity and Reliability Analysis
Authors: Başer Aysel , Şahin Hatice , Sönmez Ömer Faruk , Arpaçay Duygu Kürklü
Published: March 2024

Background: This study aims to adapt and validate the Organizational Culture Scale (OCS) by İpek (1999) for higher education institutions in healthcare professional training, emphasizing the unique cultural dimensions within these settings. The importance of organizational culture in academic and scientific progress is highlighted, necessitating precise instruments for its assessment.
Methods: The adaptation involved expert consultations across health disciplines, removal of redundant items, and rigorous statistical validation, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, utilizing a sample of 402 students from various health-related faculties. The process was guided by established practices, including the Lawshe technique for content validity and the "tens" rule for sample size determination.
Results: The adapted scale, reduced to 23 items across six factors, demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability. The factor analysis accounted for 47.885% of the variance, with factors named success orientation, organizational belonging, process planning, organizational support, management power, and bureaucratic processes. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the scale's structure, and reliability analysis yielded a Cronbach's alpha of 0.860.
Conclusions: The study successfully adapts the OCS for healthcare professional education, offering a reliable and valid tool for assessing organizational culture in this context. The adapted scale provides insights into organizational culture's impact on educational quality, suggesting its use in strategic planning and improvement initiatives. Future research should continue validating the scale across different contexts.
A generative adversarial network using residual feature fusion for JPEG restoration and anti-forensics
Authors: Yang Gaoming , Feng Xiang , Zhang Ji , Fang Xianjin
Published: March 2024

JPEG image recovery involves eliminating artifacts introduced by JPEG compression, while anti-forensics specifically targets the removal of image processing traces caused by compression. Despite recent improvements in removing compression artifacts and anti-forensics using (generative adversarial networks) GANs, the high number of parameters makes it computationally complex and often overlooks certain hierarchical features. To address these issues, we propose a novel Residual Feature Fusion (RFF) framework as the backbone network of the generator. This framework has two structures that fuse residuals, made up of multiple modules. It adds skip connections to directly incorporate forward features in each local remaining branch. Furthermore, to enhance the capabilities of the RFF framework, we introduce an Improved Spatial Attention (ISA) block. The ISA block enhances the focus of the remaining features on the critical spatial content. Our final generator network is constructed by applying the proposed RFF framework and ISA blocks. Experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms existing JPEG anti-forensics techniques in terms of image quality while maintaining comparable anti-forensics performance.
Evolutionary trends in the elasmobranch neurocranium
Authors: Gayford Joel H. , Brazeau Martin D. , Naylor Gavin J.P.
Published: March 2024

The neurocranium (braincase) is one of the defining vertebrate characters. Housing the brain and other key sensory organs, articulating with the jaws and contributing to the shape of the anteriormost portion of the body, the braincase is undoubtedly of great functional importance. Through studying relationships between braincase shape and ecology we can gain an improved understanding of form-function relationships in extant and fossil taxa. Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) represent an important case study of vertebrate braincase diversity as their neurocranium is simplified and somewhat decoupled from other components of the cranium relative to other vertebrates. Little is known about the associtions between ecology and braincase shape in this clade. In this study we report patterns of mosaic cranial evolution in Elasmobranchii that differ significantly from those present in other clades. The degree of evolutionary modularity also differs between Selachii and Batoidea. In both cases innovation in the jaw suspension appears to have driven shifts in patterns of integration and modularity, subsequently facilitating ecological diversification. Our results confirm the importance of depth and biogeography as drivers of elasmobranch cranial diversity and indicate that skeletal articulation between the neurocranium and jaws represents a major constraint upon the evolution of braincase shape in vertebrates.
Stratospheric circulation response to stratospheric aerosol injections remains uncertain.
Authors: Diallo Mohamadou , Dunker Nils , Eichinger Roland , Ploeger Felix , Garny Hella , Ern Manfred , Ball William , Stenke Andrea , Revell Laura , Aquila Valentina , Tilmes Simone , Kinnison Douglas , Shepherd Theodore , Hegglin Michaela
Published: March 2024

Mitigating global warming through stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), which aims to reproduce the cooling effects of tropical volcanoes on surface climate, is emerging as a potential strategy for limiting near–surface global warming to around 1.5–2◦C above pre–industrial levels. However, knowledge of how the stratospheric circulation will respond to SAI, and the resulting feedback on surface climate and weather, remain highly uncertain. Here, we quantify the stratospheric circulation response to the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption and compare its response to a future global warming scenario with and without tropical SAI. We show that the shallow branch of the stratospheric circulation slows down in climate models and observations following tropical aerosol perturbations due to reduced lower stratospheric planetary and gravity wave breaking. However, the depth and strength of the deep branch response is highly uncertain. Climate models show a strengthening of the deep branch due to enhanced middle/upper stratospheric planetary and gravity wave breaking, contrasting with the observed weakening of the deep branch induced by reduced planetary and gravity wave forcing. As interest in SAI continues to grow, our results demonstrate the urgent need to study the impact of gravity/planetary wave uncertainty on ozone recovery, surface climate and weather.
Study of the plasma pinch and ion beam properties versus the nitrogen gas pressure using the Lee model code
Authors: Nassif Alaa , Sahyouni Walid , Zeidan Ola
Published: March 2024

This study presents the results of a series of numerical experiments that ‎were carried out using Lee code in order to study the ‎properties of plasma pinch versus nitrogen gas pressure and its ‎effect on the number and energy of ion beams emitted from the ‎two dense plasma focus devices PF400 and APF. The results showed ‎that the number of nitrogen ions ‎are 7.9×1013 ions (for PF400) and 3.82×1014 ions (for APF), while the highest ‎beam energy is 18 J for APF, due to the effect of the operating energy and ‎the parameters of the two studied devices on the ‎properties of the ion source (the pinch). This study presents the ‎properties of an ion source that can be used in practical applications. ‎ ‎
Design a Software Reference Architecture to Enhance Privacy and Security in Electronic Health Records
Authors: Tertulino Rodrigo , Ivaki Naghmeh , Morais Higor
Published: March 2024

Healthcare services and organizations rely on Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to manage, store, and transmit patient data records. Consequently, EHRs play a crucial role in providing high-quality services and maintaining the privacy and security of patients' sensitive data. However, designing such complex systems with security and privacy concerns is anything but simple. This study aims to propose a software reference architecture (SRA) tailored for Electronic Health Records (EHRs) with security and privacy considerations, intending to enhance the development of these systems. To achieve this goal, we analyze the classification of reference architectures (RAs), taking into account the primary security and privacy requirements of EHRs along with well-established architectural design methods. We propose a layered architecture for SRA with privacy and security considerations. Subsequently, we derive the following five architecture views for SRA: the feature diagram, the context diagram, the decomposition view, the layered view, and the deployment view. Each view showcases the SRA software architecture from a different perspective.Moreover, we conducted an evaluation of the proposed SRA through its application in a case study. Specifically, we applied the proposed SRA and derived the application architecture from a study focused on Brazilian EHRs. Our analysis highlights the potential issues arising from the absence of an SRA tailored for EHRs, particularly regarding privacy and security concerns surrounding patient data. Through this case study, we demonstrate the practical applicability of our proposed SRA in enhancing EHR systems.
An Empirical Investigation on the Underlying Factors of Recently Declining Air Pollution in China
Authors: Akça Emrah Eray , Tosun Tayfun Tuncay
Published: March 2024

This study analyses the underlying factors of recently declining air pollution in China, utilizing annual time series data spanning from 2000 to 2020 in the framework of the autoregressive distributed lag model approach. In the empirical setting, air pollution is represented by particulate matter 2.5 concentrations known as the most detrimental ambient pollutant, and the empirical model includes several socioeconomic potential determinants of air pollution. The main motivation behind the study is the downward tendency of air pollution in China as of the second decade of the 2000s. At this point, although it is commonly accepted that the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan implemented by the Chinese State Council has been effective, the underlying specific factors of declining air pollution are not clear. From this motivation, the study unveiled the positive impact of economic growth, industrialization, and foreign direct investment inflows on air pollution, while medium- and high-tech exports and coal rents are found negatively associated with air pollution. In this respect, overall results particularly emphasize the declining impact of an increase in medium- and high-tech exports on air pollution. In this context, to improve the air quality further, the study suggests that China should transform its industrialization structure toward specialization in medium- and high-tech products, and promote foreign direct investment inflows specialized in these types of products. The study provides additional policy recommendations for Chinese policymakers.
A Novel Imaging-Based Scoring System to Predict Progressive Kyphosis and Residual Back Pain Post-Percutaneous Kyphoplasty in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures
Authors: Jin Cong , Shang JinXiang , He Wei , Chen Xi , Zheng Jiewen , He Lei , Han Weiqi
Published: March 2024

A novel imaging-based scoring system (NIBSS) was developed to assess osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and predict progressive kyphosis (PK) and residual back pain (RBP) post-Percutaneous Kyphoplasty (PKP). We conducted a single-center retrospective study involving 129 OVCF patients treated with PKP from January 2020 to December 2022. Patients were categorized into low-score and high-score groups based on NIBSS, revealing significantly lower Vertebral Height Loss (VHL), Kyphosis angle (KA), and VAS/ODI scores in the low-score group (P < 0.05). High-score patients showed increased risk of PK and RBP (OR = 11.323 and OR = 13.591, respectively, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified independent risk factors for PK as NIBSS score, postoperative KA difference, black-liner signal, and postoperative ODI score. Additionally, independent risk factors for RBP were determined to be NIBSS score, postoperative KA, and Type D cement form. Our models exhibited strong discriminative performances (AUC = 0.923 and 0.894). NIBSS emerged as a pivotal predictor for adverse outcomes, advocating for tailored interventions in high-risk patients, such as rigid bracing, active osteoporosis treatment, or even adjunctive internal fixation. This study underscores the clinical utility of NIBSS in guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes post-PKP.
Ancestry-specific polygenic risk scores improve clinical
assessments of breast cancer risk in diverse populations
Authors: Busby George , Kulm Scott , Bolli Alessandro , Kintzle Jen , Domenico Paolo Di , Neary John , Morganstern Daniel , Bottà Giordano
Published: March 2024

A woman’s risk of breast cancer risk can be assessed through models that integrate physiological, environmental and genetic factors. Here we use genome-wide data from 309,479 women including 128,771 with clinical data to build and validate ancestry-specific polygenic risk scores (PRS) for breast cancer (BC) and use them to explore the interplay between clinical factors and rare and common genetic variation on cancer risk. We show that integrating PRSs into the Tyrer-Cuzick risk model improves the classification of risk in prospective cohort data from more than 100,000 women. Across different genetic ancestry groups, we show that PRSs identify women at equivalent risk of cancer as carriers of pathogenic variants in key BC susceptibility genes, but who are more than 5 times more numerous at the population level. The PRSs substantially improve BC risk stratification in women with monogenic BC susceptibility syndromes, with women with the highest PRS values having around twice the risk of those with the lowest values. Women with high PRS values accrue per annum risk more quickly and at younger ages than those with average or low PRS values, leading to a greater than 20 year age discrepancy in reaching guideline-delineated high-risk thresholds, depending on their PRS value. These results have important implications for BC risk mitigation in diverse populations and advocate for the inclusion of PRSs in breast cancer prevention strategies.
Experimental study on the deterioration law of saturated and dry porous rocks
Authors: Zheng Zheng Qiushuang , Pang Lifu , Liu Weitao
Published: March 2024

The coal seam floor is highly susceptible to the formation of hole defects after mining disturbance. And the destabilization of rocks containing hole defects and water saturation can affect the risk of burst water in the floor. Based on this, experimental studies were carried out on saturated and dry three-hole sandstone specimens using conventional triaxial compression experiments. The results show that after saturation with water, the compressive strength of the saturated specimens decreases with the increase of the surrounding pressure compared with the dry specimens. The weakening effect of water on the strength of the porous rock was 20.19% on average. The maximum degradation of compressive strength of saturated specimens is 61.31% greater than that of dry specimens by 50.15%. The weakening effect of water on the three-hole specimens is greater. The fracture damage form formed on the specimen surface under low perimeter pressure (2 ~ 10MPa) is dominated by inclined shear fracture and splitting fracture, which is mainly subjected to compression shear. The saturated and dry three-hole specimens under medium-perimeter pressure (18 ~ 26MPa) indicate that the number of fractures formed is low. The saturated and dry specimens indicate the formation of parallel or coplanar fracture system. The specimens indicate the formation of fractures subject to shear, tension and shear expansion damage. The saturated and dry three-hole specimens under high perimeter pressure (34–42 MPa) form damage damage zones around the holes, which are significantly damaged by tension and expansion. The damage form of the specimen is mainly shear expansion and tension damage.
Addressing differences in cancer: a framework for synergistic programming in cancer prevention and control
Authors: Fairman Ciaran M. , Kava Christine M. , Beima-Sofie K. , Sakhuja M. , Masud M. , Dias E. , Sheng J. , Gorzelitz J. , Morshed A. , Green B. B. , Skiba M. B. , Madhivanan P. , Parthasarathy N. , Hirschey R. , Weg M.W. Vander , Hebert J
Published: March 2024

Background: Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide and continues to disproportionately impact certain populations. Several frameworks have been developed that illustrate the multiple determinants of cancer. Expanding upon the work of others, we present an applied framework for cancer prevention and control designed to help clinicians, as well as public health practitioners and researchers, better address differences in cancer outcomes.
Methods: The framework was developed by the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network’s Health Behaviors Workgroup. An initial framework draft was developed based on workgroup discussion, public health theory, and rapid literature review on the determinants of cancer. The framework was refined through interviews and focus groups with Federally Qualified Health Center providers (n=2) and cancer patients (n=2); participants were asked to provide feedback on the framework’s causal pathways, completeness, and applicability to their work and personal life.
Results: The framework provides an overview of the relationships between sociodemographic inequalities, social and structural determinants, and key risk factors associated with cancer diagnosis, survivorship, and cancer morbidity and mortality across the lifespan. The framework emphasizes how health-risk behaviors like cigarette smoking interact with psychological, psychosocial, biological, and psychosocial risk factors, as well as healthcare-related behavior and other chronic diseases. Importantly, the framework emphasizes addressing social and structural determinants that influence health behaviors to reduce the burden of cancer and improve health equity. Aligned with previous theory, our framework underscores the importance of addressing co-occurring risk factors and disease states, understanding the complex relationships between factors that influence cancer, and assessing how multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage intersect to increase cancer risk across the lifespan.
Conclusions: This paper presents an applied framework for cancer prevention and control to address cancer differences. Because the framework highlights determinants and factors that influence cancer risk at multiple levels, it can be used to inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions to address cancer morbidity and mortality.
A Study of Risk Factors Associated with Clinical Outcomes Following Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis
Authors: Zheng Xiao , Wang Yunsheng , Wang Ruiling , Miao Dechao , Wang Feng , Tong Tong
Published: March 2024

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for the prognosis of degenerative lumbar scoliosis after surgery.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed to compare the preoperative and postoperative clinical data to assess the prognosis, and to evaluate the patients after surgery by combining the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) Quality of life. Based on different surgical outcomes, we divide patients into a better prognosis group and a poor prognosis group. Comprehensive risk factors were collected which may related to clinical outcomes included three aspects: patient general status, surgery-related data and imaging parameters. All risk factors were first analyzed through single risk factor analysis, and then multiple logistic regression analysis and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze factors related to prognosis after orthopedic surgery.
Results: One hundred and thirty-four patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis who undergone posterior surgery were included in this study. There were 36 men and 98 women with a mean age of 59.4±7.8 years. After identifying potential risk factors that may affect postoperative efficacy through univariate logistic regression, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the subcutaneous fat tissue thickness (SFTT) (OR=0.410, P=0.043) , MRI-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) (OR=0.076, P=0.037), Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) (OR=1.401, P=0.008) , degree of kyphosis correction (OR=1.399, P=0.021), sagittal balance correction distance (OR=2.634, P=0.011) were independent predictors of poor prognosis. ROC curve analysis showed that correction degree of kyphosis >20.23°(AUC=0.881, P=0.001), sagittal balance correction distance >2.92CM (AUC=0.834, P=0.001) , QCT >104.6mg/cm3(AUC=0.958, P=0.001)，VBQ <2.88(AUC=0.669, P=0.001)，SFTT <13.5 mm (AUC=0.740, P=0.001) were indicating good clinical efficacy.
Conclusions: In patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis, posterior decompression and fixed fusion surgery can significantly relieve pain and improve quality of life. Among the many factors that may affect prognosis, the correction of kyphosis and sagittal balance is particularly crucial for the postoperative quality of life. Due to the impact of SFTT, VBQ, and QCT on clinical prognosis, patients are encouraged to undergo anti-osteoporosis treatment and early lumbar and dorsal muscle exercise.
Effect of Steel Fibers on the Interfacial Shear Strength of Flyash and GGBS based Geopolymer concrete activated with water glass
Authors: Sangi Rajashekar , Bollaprag Sesha Sreenivas
Published: March 2024

Concrete, a fundamental construction material, heavily relies on cement, manufacturing process of cement results in significant CO2 emissions, posing environmental concerns. Hence, exploring substitutes for cement becomes imperative to mitigate CO2 emissions. Geopolymer materials emerge as promising alternatives capable of entirely replacing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). However, these materials necessitate activators to initiate the polymerization reaction. While Na2SiO3 and NaOH are commonly utilized as activators, their cost-effectiveness is questionable. Moreover, when Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) reacts rapidly with these activators. To address these issues and streamline concrete production, "water glass" is employed as an activator, offering a solution to avoid rapid setting and economize the production process. In other hand the production of mass concrete structures, interfaces and joints critical points where cracks may develop. To ensure monolithic behavior, shear ties were advised at the interface in order to establish strong bond strength. However, the efficiency of construction could be decreased by adding more shear ties. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the interfacial shear strength of Geopolymer concrete(GPC), With the addition of different percentages (0.5,1%, 1.5%, and 2%), and 30mm length of crimpled steel fibers together with shear ties at the interface of push-off specimens. The findings reveal that it is viable to replace two shear ties with one 8mm-2L shear tie and 1% crimped steel fibers of 30mm length.
Does pronator quadratus muscle tear in distal radius fractures affect patient outcomes? Analyses of 55 patients in a volar locking plate arm of a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Eikrem Morten , Lian Tom , Madsen Jan Erik , Figved Wender
Published: March 2024

Background:
The advantage of pronator quadratus (PQ) repair after internal fixation with the volar approach in distal radius fracture surgery has not been confirmed in the literature. The aim of this study was to compare grip strength, patient-reported outcomes and functional results between patients who had an intact PQ and patients who had a ruptured PQ before undergoing surgery with a volar locking plate for dorsally displaced unstable extra-articular distal radius fractures.
Methods:
A total of 120 patients aged 55 years and older were included in a randomized controlled trial comparing a volar locking plate with a dorsal nail plate. In 55 of 60 patients randomized to the volar plate group, the integrity of the pronator quadratus muscle was recorded during surgery. They were included in this study. The outcomes were the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Outcome Measure (QuickDASH) score, the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score, EQ-5D index and visual analogue scale (VAS) score, grip strength and range of motion (ROM).
Results:
The median age was 67 years (55 to 88) and the 1-year follow-up rate was 98%.
Patients with an identified intact PQ (28/55) before surgical release had better QuickDASH scores after 1 year (2.5 vs 8.0, mean difference 5.5, 95% CI: 1.3 to 9.8, p=0.028). Patients in the intact group had better EQ-5D Index scores after 1 year (0.94 vs 0.85, mean difference 0.089, 95% CI: 0.004 to 0.174, p=0.031), and had better grip strength throughout the trial, after 1 year: 24 kg vs 20 kg (mean difference 3.9; 95% CI: 0.3 to 7.6, p=0.016). After 1 year the intact group had regained 96% of their grip strength and the nonintact group 93% of their grip strength compared to the uninjured side. The observed differences may be of questionable clinical importance, as they were lower than those of previously proposed MCIDs.
Conclusions:
Patients with a distal radius fracture and ruptured PQ prior to surgery had higher QuickDASH scores and lower EQ-5D index scores after 1 year. The integrity of the pronator quadratus should be reported in future studies.
Level of Evidence:
Therapeutic Level 2b: Follow-up of control patients in an RCT.
Realistic real-time processing of anime portraits based on generative adversarial networks
Authors: Zhu Gaofeng , Qu Zhiguo , Sun Le , Liu Yuming , Yang Jianfeng
Published: March 2024

Nowadays, more and more brands use interesting anime characters to promote and increase brand awareness. However, real-time and interesting promotional materials are also one of the key factors to attract people, so real-time processing of anime characters has also become an effective way to enhance brand awareness. In recent years, with the rapid development of deep learning, image style conversion based on AI technology has become a much-attended artificial intelligence application, but it also suffers from the disadvantages of complex model structure, slow conversion speed, and inconspicuous identity features, which need to be improved. In view of this, this paper proposes an Anime Portrait Realization (ARF-GAN) algorithm based on Generative Adversarial Network. This algorithm is based on the CGAN architecture and also uses the U-net network structure with jump connections to connect the encoder's feature maps directly to the decoder, which in turn enables the network to reconstruct the output data in a better way and the network architecture is more lightweight. It also introduces the CBAM module, which can enhance the model's expressive and generative capabilities without increasing the model's complexity, and improve the model's real-time image processing capability. In addition, this paper also compensates for the problem of image blurring brought by the original architecture by introducing the deblurring module. Based on Windows 10 environment and Python 3.7 programming language, and experiments on CartoonFace, DanBooru dataset show that the proposed ARF-GAN has a better generative effect for the task of realizing anime portraits, and comparing with different types of image generating models, it shows better accuracy and lower accuracy in several evaluation indexes such as PSNR, SSIM, and so on. better accuracy and lower time complexity. This makes it more suitable for brand advertisement promotion, so it has good application value for improving in brand awareness.
PARP14 inhibits the inflammatory response of macrophages through the NF-κB pathway
Authors: Guo Xuefei , Zhao Yang
Published: March 2024

The poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) superfamily consists of 17 members, which regulate many biological processes in physiological or pathological conditions, such as DNA damage repair, anti-viral responses, and development of adaptive immune cells. Among them, PARP14 is the biggest member, containing two RNA recognition motifs at the N-terminal, three macro-domains, one WWE domain, and one PARP domain at the C-terminal, which was reported to regulate IL4/STAT6 signaling in adaptive immune cells. However, whether PARP14 participates in regulatinghost inflammatory response remainsunclear. In a previous study, we observed that virus infection and LPS treatment induced the transcription of Parp14. By comparing the primary macrophages derived from Parp14 KO and WT mice, we found that some inflammatory cytokines were significantly induced in KO macrophages. Still, theexpression of Ifnb1 had no significant difference compared to the WT macrophages. RNA-seq analysis showed that the KO group had a more robustinflammatory response but a weaker innate immune response upon stimulation. We validated these results by performing a knockdownof Parp14 in RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, the survival time of the KO mice was much shorter than that of the WT group upon LPS injection. Transcription factor enrichment analysis indicated that nuclear factor-kappaB1 (NF-κB1) may be the main reason for increasing the production of these inflammatory cytokines. As expected, the up-regulation wasdeleted upon the treatment of the inhibitor of NF-κB, JSH23. These data imply that PARP14 regulates inflammatory responses through the NF-κB pathway.
Good long-term results of sacral neuromodulation for endometriosis related chronic pelvic pain
Authors: Zegrea Adrian , Ojala Emilia , Kirss Jaan , Suvitie Pia , Varpe Pirita , Mäkelä-Kaikkonen Johanna , Rautio Tero , Seikkula Jaana , Ukkonen Mika , Lavonius Maija , Pinta Tarja
Published: March 2024

Background
Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is an established therapy in urology and gastroenterological surgery for treatment of overactive bladder symptoms, urge urinary incontinence or fecal incontinence. SNM has also been used with good results in patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Our aim was to analyze long-term results of SNM in Finnish patients with endometriosis related CPP.
Methods
This is a register-based retrospective study including all the endometriosis patients treated with SNM for CPP in Finland between 2004 and 2017. There were four centers where these procedures were performed, two University Hospitals and two Central Hospitals. Long-term results were assessed by phone interview in spring 2021.
Results
A total of 16 women with endometriosis, with a median age of 39 (25–50) years, underwent SNM treatment for chronic pelvic pain (CPP), with the median follow-up time of 73 (48–85) months. The Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) was implanted to 14 patients (88%). By the end of the follow-up period, 10 patients (62,5% of all patients and 71% of those who received IPG) had a functional SNM. Pain was assessed by numeral rating scale (NRS) and decreased from a median of 7.4 (3.6–10) to 2.25 (0-6.5).
Conclusions
SNM could be a good option in the treatment of endometriosis related chronic pelvic pain when standard therapy is not enough.
Study on Solution Combustion Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of V2O5-Cu as Cathode Materials for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries
Authors: Ma Jidong , Gu Xinya , Du Kai , Zhou Wenjun , Cui Jian , Gu Siyong , Zhang Houan
Published: March 2024

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered to be one of the most promising alternative energy sources due to their safety. Vanadium-based compounds, especially V2O5 cathode materials, have been widely studied due to the advantages of suitable working voltage windows and highly reversible redox reactions. However, the poor conductivity of V2O5 and its structural instability limit its application in AZIBs. In this paper, copper ions doped V2O5 was synthesized by a simple one-step solution combustion synthesis method to improve its structural stability and electrochemical performance. The modified material expanded the interlayer spacing and increased the ionic diffusion rate, and increased the concentration of low valence vanadium and oxygen vacancy, thereby increasing the electron mobility and promoting the electrochemical reaction, resulting in an enhanced discharge specific capacity of the material. Zinc-ion batteries assembled with V2O5-Cu as the cathode material can provide a high discharge specific capacity of 300 mAh g− 1 at 4 A g− 1, and have good cycling stability, with a capacity retention of 95% over 500 cycles.
Down-regulation of miR-138-5p by PP2A promoted apoptosis of spermatocytes
Authors: Wang Danni , Liu Xing , Chen Bingyan , Shang Yuwei , Wan Ting , Zhang Shu , Liu Huijun , Shi Yichao , chen xia , Sun huiting
Published: March 2024

Background
Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) plays a critical and multifaceted role in numerous physiological processes. Previously, we generated germ cell specific knockout mice for the PP2A catalytic subunit alpha subunit (Ppp2cacKO) by the cre-loxp system.
Methods and results
Through high-throughput miRNA sequencing of testis tissues and real‑time PCR, we identified a significant decrease in the expression of miR-138-5p in the testes of Ppp2cacKO mice. Here, we report that miR-138-5p affects the apoptosis and proliferation of GC2 cells. Importantly, multiple database predictions suggest that miR-138- 5p may target the transcriptional repressor Trps1. Consistent with this finding, we observed a significant overexpression of Trps1 in the testes of Ppp2cacKO mice. In addition, by transfection experiments, we confirmed that miR-138-5p negatively regulated Trps1 expression in GC2 cells.
Conclusion
In study, our findings suggest that miR-138-5p may promote spermatocyte apoptosis by targeting Trps1 after PP2A enzyme dysfunction.