bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transversus Abdominis Plane Block with Different Bupivacaine Concentrations in Children Undergoing Unilateral Inguinal Hernia Repair: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Karadeniz Meltem Savran , Atasever Ayşe Gülşah , Salviz Emine Aysu , Bingül Emre Sertaç , Çiftçi Hayriye Şentürk , Dinçer Müşerref Beril , Sungur Mukadder Orhan
Published: September 2022

Background: Current knowledge on the ideal local anesthetic concentration for the ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) in pediatrics is scarce. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of US-guided TAPB at two different concentrations of bupivacaine in pediatrics undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair.
Methods: After random allocation, 74 children aged 1-8 were randomized to receive US-guided TAPB by using 1 mg.kg-1 bupivacaine as either 0,25% (0,4 ml.kg-1) (Group 1) or 0,125% (0,8 ml.kg-1) (Group 2) concentration. All blocks were performed under general anesthesia, immediately after the induction, unilaterally with an intercostoiliac approach. All subjects received intravenous 15 mg/kg paracetamol 0.15 mg/kg dexamethasone and 0.1 mg/kg ondansetron intraoperatively. The primary outcome was the efficacy and is assessed by postoperative FLACC behavioral pain assessment score at 15’, 30’, 45’, 1h, 2h, 6h, and 24h. The secondary outcomes were to assess the total dose of rescue analgesic consumption, length of hospital stay, the incidence of side effects, complications and satisfaction levels of the patients’ parents and the surgeons.
Results: Sixty-four children were recruited for the study. Postoperative pain scores were equal between the two groups. There was no need for a rescue analgesic in any group after the postoperative 6thhour. No local or systemic complication or side effect related to anesthesia or surgery was reported.
Conclusion: TAPB using 1 mg.kg-1 bupivacaine administered as either high volume/low concentration or low volume/high concentration was providing both adequate analgesia and no side effects. TAPB is an effective analgesic technique for children undergoing inguinal hernia repair.
Successful implementation of community-based health services in conflict- Lessons from the Central African Republic and South Sudan
Authors: Rab* Faiza , Razavi S. Donya , Kone Mariam , Sohani Salim , Assefa Mekdes E. , Tiwana Muhammad Haaris , Rossi Rodolfo
Published: September 2022

Background
The delivery of quality healthcare for women and children in conflict-affected settings remains a challenge that cannot be mitigated unless global health policymakers and implementers find an effective modality in these contexts. CRC and ICRC used an integrated public health approach to pilot a program for delivering community-based health services in the Central African Republic (CAR) and South Sudan in partnership with National Red Cross Societies in both countries. This study explored the feasibility, barriers, and strategies for context-specific agile programming in armed conflict affected settings.
Methods
A mixed-methods study design was used for this study. Focus groups with community health workers/volunteers, community elders, men, women, and adolescents in the community and key informant interviews with program implementers were conducted in CAR and South Sudan. Additional data related to program activities and qualitative data to validate findings from focal group discussions and key informant interviews were extracted from program implementation reports. Data were analyzed using a content analysis approach and triangulated during the study analysis and inference.
Results
In total, 15 focus groups and 16 key informant interviews were conducted, and 169 people participated in the study. Engaging community elders emerged as an overarching theme underpinning the importance of gaining community trust. The feasibility of service delivery in armed conflict settings depends on well-defined and clear messaging, community inclusiveness and a localized plan for delivery of services. Security and knowledge gaps, including language barriers and gaps in literacy, impacted service delivery. Empowering women and adolescents and providing context-specific resources can mitigate some barriers. Community engagement, collaboration and negotiating safe passage, comprehensive delivery of services and continued training were key strategies identified for agile programming in conflict settings.
Conclusion
Using an integrative community-based approach to health service delivery in CAR and South Sudan is an effective approach for humanitarian organizations operating in conflict-affected areas. To achieve successful, agile, and responsive implementation of health services in a conflict-affected setting, decision-makers should focus on effectively engaging communities, bridge inequities through the engagement of vulnerable groups, and contextualize service delivery with the support of local actors.
Analytical approach for nonlinear vibration response of the thin cylindrical shell with a straight crack
Authors: Wang Tong , Wang Chengyan , Yin Yaxing , Zhang Yankang , Li Lin , Tan Dapeng
Published: September 2022

Thin cylindrical shells are susceptible to cracking under long-term load and external impact, and it is of considerable scientific and technical value to investigate the nonlinear vibration response characteristics and monitor the health condition of the shell structure. Based on the Flügge shell theory, the nonlinear dynamic model for the thin cylindrical shell is established. By the partial Fourier transform combined with the residue theorem, the forced vibration generation and propagation mechanism of the thin cylindrical shell are investigated, and the analytical solution of forced vibration displacement in the space domain is obtained. Then, the local flexibility matrix is derived from the perspective of fracture mechanics, and the continuous coordination condition on both sides of the straight crack is constructed using the Linear Spring Model (LSM). Combined with the wave superposition principle, the analytical approach for nonlinear vibration response is proposed to reveal the evolution law of vibration characteristics of the thin cylindrical shell with a straight crack, and then a straight crack identification method based on natural frequency isolines and amplitude maximization methods is presented. Finally, the effect of various morphological information of the straight crack on the nonlinear vibration response characteristics of the thin cylindrical shell is studied in detail, and a numerical case is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed straight crack identification method.
Glycine to oligoglycine via sequential trimetaphosphate activation steps in drying environments
Authors: Boigenzahn Hayley , Yin John
Published: September 2022

Polyphosphate-mediated peptide bond formation is central to protein synthesis in modern organisms, but a simpler form of activation likely preceded the emergence of proteins and RNA. One suggested scenario involves trimetaphosphate (TP), an inorganic phosphate that promotes peptide condensation. Peptide bond formation can also be promoted by high pH and drying, but the interaction of these factors with TP has yet to be characterized kinetically. We studied the formation of glycine oligomers formed under initially alkaline conditions in the presence of TP during the process of drying. Oligopeptide products sampled over 24 hours were analyzed by functionalization and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorption (UV-HPLC). As they dried, two different pH-dependent mechanisms dominated during different stages of the process. The first mechanism occurs in alkaline solutions and activates monomer amino acids to form dimers while reducing the pH. Our results then become consistent with a second mechanism that proceeds at neutral pH and consumes dimers to form longer products. The possibility that a series of reactions might occur where the first reaction changes the environment to favor the second, and so on, may have broader implications for prebiotic polymerization. Studying how the environment changes during time-varying conditions, like drying, could help us understand how organic polymers formed during the origin of life.
Multi-objective Robust Simultaneous Arrival Matching for Aerial Swarms
Authors: Fu Qianyi , Fang Shiyu , Li Jun , Zhao Wenjie
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we present an efficient approach to solving the simultaneous arrival matching problem for aerial swarm robots under complex constraints. By leveraging Pontryagin’sminimum principle, we derive the assignment cost for any robot-target pair, which takes into account the motion planning for the simultaneous arrival of each aerial robot. Then we explicitly formulate the simultaneous arrival matching problem as a multi-objective optimization problem and present a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition(MOEA/D) with problem-specific improvement for simultaneous arrival matching (SAM),called MOEA/D-SAM. Simulation results show that the MOEA/D-SAM outperforms significantly general-purpose MOEA/D, and an off-the-shelf multi-objective algorithm, i.e., NSGA-II. The advantages of the MOEA/D-SAM over the single-objective optimization algorithm are also shown.
Cardiac hemangioma presenting as a primary cardiac tumor
Authors: Berdica Leart , Kola Erisa , Nakuci Daniela , Horjeti Edlira , Alimehmeti Mehdi
Published: September 2022

Cardiac hemangiomas are very rare benign cardiac tumors. They can present at any age and clinical presentation varies according to location and size. In our patient the tumor was located in the left atrium. Left atrial hemangiomas, especially those attached to the left atrium wall, may be mistakenly diagnosed as myxomas. Therefore, we report a rare case of a cardiac hemangioma diagnosed clinically as cardiac myxoma. The tumor was removed surgically for further microscopic examination.
Ursolic acid enhances gemcitabine - induced apoptosis in bladder cancer via the PI3K/AKT and JNK signaling pathways
Authors: Huang Xiaolong , Sun Yan , Zhu Junlong , Tong Hang , Wen Peng , He Weiyang
Published: September 2022

Background Gemcitabine (GEM) plays an important role in the chemotherapy of bladder cancer（BCa）. However, the chemoresistance and adverse effects of gemcitabine limit its effectiveness. Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural compound that exists in many natural medicinal plants and fruits, and has been demonstrated to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy in multiple cancers. The present study aimed to observe the antitumor effects of a combination of GEM and UA in human bladder cancer cell lines, and to investigate the possible underlying mechanisms.
Methods The human bladder cancer cell lines T24 and 5637 were treated with GEM and/or UA in vitro. Cell viability was measured by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Apoptosis was detected by Hoechst 33258 staining, western blot and flow cytometry. Protein expression of signaling pathways was detected by western blot.
Results UA synergistically inhibited proliferation with GEM in human bladder cancer cells. Compared with GEM treatment alone in T24 and 5637 cells, the combination of GEM and UA can enhance the antitumor effect. The PI3K/AKT and JNK signaling pathways are involved in human bladder cancer cells treated with GEM and UA. Both the Akt activator SC79 and the JNK inhibitor SP600125 reduced the expression of cleaved-PARP and cleaved-caspase3.
Conclusions our present data demonstrated that UA enhanced GEM-induced apoptosis by inactivating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and activating the JNK signaling pathway. The combinational treatment strategy of GEM and UA may provide a potential rational basis for the clinical treatment of BCa.
Potential benefits of public-private partnerships to improve the efficiency of urban wastewater treatment
Authors: Meng Fanxin , Cheng Shulei , Yu Yu , Chen Jiandong , Chen Yongtao , Liu Gengyuan , Fan Wei
Published: September 2022

Continuous improvement of urban wastewater treatment efficiency (UWTE) requires effective government supervision and increased private capital. However, it is unknown to what extent this public-private partnership (PPP) can improve the UWTE. We collected data from 1,303 urban wastewater treatment PPP projects in 283 prefecture-level cities in China from 2014 to 2019. These data were analysed using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Tobit regression model to evaluate the effect of the PPP model on the UWTE. The UWTE was significantly higher in prefecture-level cities that introduced the PPP model in the construction and operation of a wastewater treatment infrastructure, especially those with a feasibility gap subsidy, competitive procurement, privatised operation, and non-demonstration. Furthermore, PPPs’ effect on UWTE were limited by the level of economic development, marketisation, and climatic conditions. This study presents a model for the construction and operation wastewater treatment infrastructure in developing countries lacking public funds.
Small airway dysfunction is an early physiological characteristic of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis : a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Lei Yuqiong , Dai Haotian , Zhang Jingyuan , Liu Zeyu , Xu Yongle , Zhong Cheng , Zheng Qi , Lu Yi , Yang Wenlan , Ren Tao
Published: September 2022

Background: Recently, the central position of small airways in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) has been gradually recognized and accepted with evidence of small airway anatomical and genetic abnormalities. However, the small airway physiology of IPF patients remained unclear. This study aimed to assess the small airway physiology of IPF patients using pulmonary function test (PFT).
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 138 IPF patients' and 186 control patients' small airway lung function data and medical records. A 1:1 propensity score match(PSM) for age, sex, smoking status and BMI was completed priors to the group comparison between IPF patients and controls. In addition, patients were divided into three groups according to FVC decline degree with cut-off values of 75% and 55%, and the small airway function was compared between the three groups. The impulse oscillometry system (IOS) diagnosis value was evaluated in 60 IPF patients.
Results: The total cohort comprised 138 subjects, with 53(38.4%) diagnosed with SAD. After PSM, IPF patients were predisposed to SAD compared with controls (38.0% vs.15.2%, p=0.001). Compared small airway function between patients with different disease severities, we found even for patients in the mild disease group whose FVC is almost normal, 30.6% (n=22) were diagnosed with spirometry-SAD. And we found MEF50(98.2% vs. 87.4% vs. 52.4%, p=0.001), MEF25(74.2% vs.71.9% vs. 61.3%, p=0.062) and MMEF(77.2% vs. 74.6% vs. 44.6%, p=0.002) were deteriorated with the severity of disease. The incidence of spirometry-SAD in more severe patients was higher than those with less severe disease(p=0.021). Applying IOS to 60 IPF patients, 41(68.3%) were diagnosed with IOS-SAD. There was poor concordance between spirometry and IOS for the diagnosis of SAD (Kappa value=-0.068, p=0.542). IOS showed higher sensitivity than spirometry. For patients with abnormal lung function (FVC<80%),this advantage could be even more obvious.
Conclusions: This study revealed that SAD was a common lesion of IPF patients. It should be emphasized that SAD could occur at the early stages of disease when the lung capacity has not decreased, and the incidence and degree of dysfunction were progressively aggravated with disease progression. Additionally, IOS was a powerful complementary tool for diagnosing SAD, especially for IPF patients with decreased lung function.
Skin-Integrated stretchable actuators toward skin-compatible haptic feedback and closed-loop human-machine interactions
Authors: Yao Shanshan , Chen Si , Chen Yanjun , Yang Ji , Han Teng
Published: September 2022

Skin-Integrated haptic interfaces that can relay a wealth of information from the machine side to the user side, leveraging the skin’s versatile haptic perception capabilities, are of great interest. Haptic feedback facilitates a deeper level of human-machine interactions, improves the efficiency, productivity, and safety of machine control, and enables a more immersive engagement in the virtual environment. However, existing haptic devices are not yet able to produce haptic cues that are compatible with the functionality and mechanical properties of the skin. In this work, we present the materials, structures, and applications of stretchable soft actuators for haptic feedback, which can match the perception range, spatial resolution, and stretchability of the skin. Pressure-amplification structures are fabricated using a scalable self-assembly process to ensure an output pressure beyond the skin perception threshold. Due to the minimized device size, the actuator array can be fabricated with a sufficiently high spatial resolution, which makes the haptic device applicable for all skin locations, including locations with the highest spatial acuity. The actuators can be stretched up to the elastic range of the skin without sacrificing the actuation performance. A haptic feedback system is demonstrated by employing the developed soft actuators and highly sensitive pressure sensors. Two proof-of-concept applications are developed to illustrate the capability of transferring information related to surface textures and object shapes acquired at the robot side (using sensing elements) to the user side (using haptic stimulation to the skin surface). The developed haptic feedback system lays the ground for bilateral human-machine interactions in industrial robotics, prosthetics, teleoperation, VR/AR, and other fields where haptic feedback can be beneficial.
Computational Analysis of Ventricular Mechanics in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients
Authors: Mojumder Joy , Fan Lei , Nguyen Thuy , Campbell Kenneth S , Wenk Jonathan F , Guccione Julius M , Abraham Theodore , Lee Lik Chuan
Published: September 2022

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heart disease that is associated with many pathological features, such as a reduction in global longitudinal strain (GLS), myofiber disarray and hypertrophy. The effects of these features on left ventricle (LV) function are, however, not clear in two phenotypes of HCM, namely, obstructive and non-obstructive. To address this issue, we developed patient specific computational models of the LV using clinical measurements of 2 female HCM patients and a control subject. Left ventricular mechanics was described using an active stress formulation and myofiber disarray was described using a structural tensor in the constitutive models. Unloaded LV configuration for each subject was first determined from their respective end-diastole LV geometries segmented from the cardiac magnetic resonance images, and an empirical single-beat estimation of the end-diastolic pressure volume relationship. The LV was then connected to a closed-loop circulatory model and calibrated using the clinically measured LV pressure and volume waveforms, peak GLS and blood pressure. Without consideration of myofiber disarray, peak myofiber tension was found to be lowest in the obstructive HCM subject (60 kPa), followed by the non-obstructive subject (242 kPa) and the control subject (375 kPa). With increasing myofiber disarray, we found that peak tension has to increase in the HCM models to match the clinical measurements. In the obstructive HCM patient, however, peak tension is still depressed (cf. normal subject) at the largest degree of myofiber disarray found in the clinic. The computational modeling workflow proposed here can be used in future studies with more HCM patient data.
The profile and determinants of delayed care-seeking and diagnosis among patients with imported malaria: a retrospective study in China, 2014–2021
Authors: Zhang Tao , Wang Duoquan , Qian Yingjun , Ruan Wei , Liu Ying , Xia Jing , Yan Hui , Sui Yuan , Lu Shenning , Xu Xian , Jiang Jingjing , Lyu Xiaofeng , Wang Shuqi , Li Shizhu , Li Weidong
Published: September 2022

Background: In areas where malaria has been eliminated, delayed care-seeking and diagnosis of imported malaria are constant threats. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the profile and determinants of delayed care-seeking and diagnosis among patients with imported malaria in China. These new findings may provide a basis for developing novel approaches to prevent the re-establishment of malaria.
Methods: This retrospective study assessed surveillance data obtained from 2014 to 2021 in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Henan, Hubei, and Zhejiang, and the Guangxi autonomous region. Epidemiological characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Furthermore, factors associated with delayed care-seeking and diagnosis among imported malaria cases were identified using multivariate logistic regression.
Results: Overall, 11.81% and 30.08% of imported malaria cases had delays in seeking care and diagnosis, respectively.
During the study period, there was a decreasing trend in the proportion of imported malaria cases with delayed care-seeking (χ2=36.099, P＜0.001) and diagnosis (χ2=11.395, P=0.001). In multivariate analysis, independent risk factors associated with delayed care-seeking include provinces (Guangxi as reference), consultations in high-level facilities for the first medical visit, infections with non-falciparum species, and older age. However, provinces (Guangxi as reference), the purpose of traveling (labour as reference), and infections with non-falciparum species increased the risk of delayed diagnosis. Delayed care-seeking (adjusted odds ratio: 1.79, p=0.001) and diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio: 1.62, p=0.004) were risk factors for severe disease development.
Conclusions: Based on this study’s findings, we strongly advocate for improved access to quality healthcare to reduce the rate of misdiagnosis at the first visit. Infections caused by non-falciparum species should be highlighted, and more sensitive and specific point-of-care detection methods for non-falciparum species should be developed and implemented. In addition, education programs should be enhanced to reach target populations at risk of malaria infection. All these factors may reduce delayed care-seeking and diagnosis of imported malaria.
Low spatial frequency laser-induced periodic surface structures in fused silica inscribed by widely tunable femtosecond laser pulses
Authors: Navickas Marius , Grigutis Robertas , Jukna Vytautas , Tamošauskas Gintaras , Dubietis Audrius
Published: September 2022

The formation and evolution of laser-induced periodic surface structures in fused silica under irradiation of widely tunable (in the1−3 μm range) linearly polarized femtosecond (200 fs) pulses was studied experimentally. The structures were inscribed inhigh fluence regime (exceeding the surface ablation threshold for a single pulse) and characterized by using scanning electronmicroscopy and two dimensional Fourier transform. The results revealed rapid (after irradiation with a few successive pulses)formation of periodic laser-induced periodic surface structures aligned parallel to laser polarization, whose period increases withincreasing the inscription wavelength, obeying the λ/n law. With further increase of number of pulses, the generated structuresgradually reorganize into laser polarization-independent low spatial frequency annular structures associated with formation ofthe damage crater, which fully established after irradiation with a few tens of successive laser pulses. This particular evolutionscenario was observed over the entire wavelength tuning range of incident pulses.
MicroRNA-125b as a valuable predictive marker for outcome after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Rafiee Mohammad , Amiri Fatemeh , Mohamadi Mohammad Hossein , Hajifathali Abbas
Published: September 2022

Background: Relapse is a frequent occurrence in autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), and early relapse after AHSCT results in poor survival and low quality of life. Predictive marker determination for AHSCT outcomes could be helpful in the prevention of relapse through personalized medicine. Here the predictive value of circulatory microRNAs (miRs) expression for AHSCT outcomes was studied.
Methods: 50 MM and lymphoma candidates for AHSCT were participated in this study. Two plasma samples were obtained before AHSCT from each candidate; one before mobilization and the other after conditioning. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were isolated by ultracentrifugation. miR-125b, miR-126, miR-150, and miR-155 expression were analyzed in both plasma and EVs using real time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Other data related to AHSCT and its outcomes was also collected. The predictive value of miRs and other factors for outcomes was assessed by multi-variant analysis.
Results: By 90 weeks follow up after AHSCT, multi-variant and ROC analysis showed miR-125b as a predictive marker for relapse, high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The cumulative incidence of relapse, high LDH, and high ESR increased with an increase in circulatory miR-125b expression.
Conclusion: miR-125b could be applicable in prognosis evaluation and also create a possible new targeted therapy opportunity for enhanced outcomes and survival after AHSCT.
Characterization of Immune Exhaustion and Suppression in the Tumor Microenvironment of Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma
Authors: Anagnostou Theodora , Yang Zhi-Zhang , Jalali Shahrzad , Kim Hyo Jin , Tang Xinyi , Yu Yue , Pritchett Joshua , Villasboas Jose , Price-Troska Tammy , mondello patrizia , Novak Anne , Ansell Stephen
Published: September 2022

The role and immunological constitution of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in splenic marginal zone lymphoma (sMZL) is largely unknown and studies on the phenotype and subset composition of intratumoral T cells are lacking. In the present study, we evaluated 36 sMZL spleen specimens by single cell analysis to gain a better understanding of the TME in sMZL. Using mass cytometry (CyTOF), we observed that the TME in sMZL is distinct from that of control non-malignant reactive spleen (rSP). We found that the number of TFH cells varied greatly in sMZL, ICOS+ TFH cells were more abundant in sMZL than rSP, and TFH cells positively correlated with increased numbers of memory B cells. Treg cell analysis revealed that TIGIT+ Treg cells are enriched in sMZL and correlate with suppression of TH17 and TH22 cells. Intratumoral CD8+ T cells were comprised of subsets of short-lived, exhausted and late-stage differentiated cells, thereby functionally impaired. We observed that T-cell exhaustion was present in sMZL and TIM-3 expression on PD-1low cells identified cells with severe immune dysfunction. Gene expression profiling by CITE-seq analysis validated this finding. Taken together, our data sugget that the TME as a whole, and T-cell population specifically, are heterogenous in sMZL and immune exhaustion is one of the major factors impairing T-cell function.
Distribution and pollution characteristics of organophosphate esters: reflected by tree rings of arbor species
Authors: Song Jiaojiao , Xiong Xiaoyu , Yin Hongling , Xiong Yuanming , Fang Shuhong
Published: September 2022

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are a kind of emerging pollutants. Tree rings are long-lasting reservoirs of OPEs in the environment and can be analyzed to indicate OPEs contamination in the sampling region. Currently, research on OPEs in tree rings is still limited. In this study, tree rings of 5 arbor species from Sichuan Province, China, were sampled to study the occurrence and distribution of 6 OPEs, which were quantitatively analyzed by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The total concentrations of OPEs in all samples ranged from 189.79 (Fir species) to 341.23 ng/g (Toona sinensis), with average concentration of 284.77 ± 46.66 ng/g. The concentrations of OPEs in the 5 arbor species showed no significant difference. Tree rings of arbor species could be used as good passive samplers to show the occurrence and distribution of OPEs in the regional environment. Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) was the dominant OPEs followed by tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP). Tris (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) showed relatively stable concentrations in each arbor species, while the other 4 OPEs including TBEP, triphenyl phosphate (TPhP), tri(chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) and TCEP had significantly different concentrations. Interestingly, the absorption and accumulation of OPEs by tree rings of arbor species was quite different from that of inorganic elements reported by other studies.
Tunable bidirectional perfect THz absorber realized by graphene-based one-dimensional photonic crystals
Authors: Zhang Pingsheng , Deng Xin-Hua , Liu Hongfei , Yuan Jiren
Published: September 2022

In this paper, a perfect absorption structure of graphene-based one-dimensional photonic crystals (1DPC) with tunable absorption channels and absorptivity is proposed. The proposed structure can achieve four perfect absorption peaks with the absorptivity of 99.31%, 99.88%, 99.74% and 99.32% at the same time, and the absorptivity of all absorption peaks is more than 95%. By tuning the period number of 1DPC, the number of absorption peaks and absorption efficiency can be changed. In addition, we use this structure to design two different bidirectional absorbers. The designed bidirectional absorber can tailor the perfect absorption frequency with the absorptivity of more than 99.51%, and can change the absorption channel from single channel to double channel and double channel to multi-channel under the forward and backward incidence. This work not only fills the gap in the design of bidirectional perfect absorbers for 1DPC, but also provides a scheme for the design of multifunctional devices.
Initial serum CA-125 and HE4 levels as predictors for optimal surgical cytoreduction in patients with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Li Jinjin , Chang Xiaoxia , Du Kaiwen , Li Qian , Tang Junying
Published: September 2022

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) lacks specific symptoms and screening methods, and most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage with worse prognosis. Currently, the major treatment approaches for advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma (AEOC) have been primary debulking surgery (PDS) followed by platinum-based chemotherapy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS). Serum CA125 has been widely used as an indicator for OC diagnosis and management. It is generally believed that preoperative serum CA125 level is associated with tumor burden, and some studies have attempted to evaluate its level to obtain optimal resection rate. HE4 is also a promising biomarker for OC. The aim of the study is to explore whether serum CA125 and HE4 levels in stage III epithelial ovarian cancer predict optimal surgical cytoreductive outcomes.
Methods: The clinical data of 201 stage III ovarian cancer patients, diagnosed at our institution from January 2013 to June 2019, were retrospectively collected. According to the initial treatment modality, patients were divided into groups: NACT followed by IDS (89 women) group and by PDS (112 women) group. Differences in patient characteristics were compared using the chi-square test and t-test, and disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. ROC analysis was used to determine the cut-off values of serum CA-125 and HE4.
Results: The medium initial serum levels of CA125 (1359.6 IU/ml vs.759.5 IU/ml, p ˂ 0.001) and HE4 (661 pmol/L vs. 244 pmol/L, p ˂ 0.001) were significantly higher in the NACT group compared with those in the PDS group. Serum CA125 and HE4 levels after NACT decreased by 96.30% and 96.23%, respectively. If the preoperative serum CA-125 value was 500 IU/ml, the probability of achieving R0 was 63.9%. When the preoperative serum HE4 value was 250pmol/L, there was a 65.80% chance of obtaining complete gross cytoreduction. The median DFS was 20 months and 20.5 months in the NACT and PDS groups, respectively. No significant difference in DFS was observed between the two groups (p = 0.851).
Conclusion: The efficacy of NACT combined with IDS treatment and PDS for advanced ovarian cancer are comparable. Initial serum CA125 and HE4 levels of 500IU/ml and 250 pmol/L are appropriate cut-off values for predicting the absence of gross residual lesions. CA125 and HE4 values can serve as predictors of optimal surgical cytoreduction. Nevertheless, more clinical studies are needed for further validation.
Distance measures on intuitionistic fuzzy sets based oncross-information dissimilarity and their diverse applications
Authors: Gogoi Surabhi , Gohain Brindaban , Chutia Rituparna
Published: September 2022

In this paper, two new distance measures are introduced, which might be used in various application problems in decision-making, pattern recognition, and clustering. Intuitionistic fuzzy sets are sources of information that contain both the membership and non-membership degrees of the elements in the set. As such, distance measures based on geometric concepts are sometimes misleading. Hence, six parameters are identified to construct the distance measures. These parameters are membership information dissimilarity, non-membership information dissimilarity, hesitancy information dissimilarity, product cross-information dissimilarity, maximum cross-information dissimilarity, and minimum cross-information dissimilarity. Among all the parameters, the product cross-information dissimilarity is being newly introduced in this work. Compensations for the proposed distance measures are established by various counterintuitive problems in decision-making and pattern recognition. Finally, validation of the proposed distance measures is established by diverse problems of applications in decision-making, pattern recognition, and clustering problems.
The Effect of the Health Literacy Levels of Teachers on their Vaccine Hesitancy
Authors: Yeşiltepe Akgün , Çal Ayşe
Published: September 2022

Teachers assume important responsibilities in improving the health literacy levels of the society. Health literacy and vaccination are important prerequisites for health protection and promotion. This study aimed to investigate the effect of teachers' health literacy levels on their vaccine hesitancy. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2022. A total of 391 teachers working in schools affiliated to XXX Provincial Directorate of National Education participated in the study. The Personal Information Form, the Health Literacy Instrument-Short Form, and the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale were used to collect data. The Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test, Bonferroni analysis and Spearman correlation test were performed. The health literacy and vaccine hesitancy levels of the teachers were found to be moderate. A negative and weak significant relationship was observed between health literacy and vaccine hesitancy, indicating that as health literacy increases, vaccine hesitancy may decrease. In addition, it was revealed that general health perception and over-the-counter drug use are associated with health literacy, and age, income status and place of residence are associated with vaccine hesitancy. The health literacy and vaccine hesitancy levels of teachers should be improved. As health literacy increases, vaccine hesitancy decreases, which is an important finding in terms of increasing the effectiveness of vaccination programs.
Allergic rhinitis children with obesity are more vulnerable to air pollution: a cross sectional study
Authors: Li Ruo-Ling , Wu Chia-Ta , Chen Shan-Ming , Lue Ko-Huang , Lee Shiuan-Shinn , Ku Min-Sho
Published: September 2022

The association between air pollution, allergic rhinitis (AR), and obesity has not been studied. From 2007 to 2011, 52 obese and 152 non-obese children (7–17 years old) with AR from Taichung, Taiwan, were recruited from a hospital in the same city. Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) and nasal peak expiratory flow (NPEF) were tested once and randomly on different days over the 5 years. Correlations between the scores and rates of the two tests and mean air pollutant concentrations within 7 days before were compared. Air pollutants included SO2, CO, PM10, PM2.5, NO, NO2, and non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC). In obese AR children, correlation between higher CO, PM10,, PM2.5 concentrations and higher nasal discomfort and symptoms (higher quality of life scores) were noted. Correlation between higher CO, PM10, PM2.5, NMHC concentrations and higher nasal mucosa inflammation and obstruction (lower NPEF rates) was also noted. In non-obese AR children, no correlation was noted between air pollution and PRQLQ and NPEF. Obesity negatively affected AR severity when these AR children experienced higher concentrations of CO, PM10, and PM2.5. In these children, increased nasal obstruction and inflammation induced by air pollutants might be the mechanism explaining this association.
Stability and Hopf Bifurcation of an (n + 2)-Neuron BP-Like Delayed Neural Network with Multiple Layers
Authors: He jiajin , Xiao Min , Lu Yunxiang , Sun Yonghui , Cao Jinde
Published: September 2022

The issue of dynamic behaviours of neural network has received considerable attention. Substantial research has been undertaken on the bifurcation of low-dimensional simplifified neural networks. However, few fruits about the bifurcation behaviours of high-dimensional artifificial neural networks exist. BP(back propagation) neural networks as the basis of constructing many advanced artifificial neural networks possess superior research value. Theoretical research is more sophisticated due to BP neural networks’ high-dimensional properties and complex topology properties, and many blind spots need to be improved urgently. This paper set out to investigate the stability and Hopf bifurcation of an (n + 2)-neuron BP-like delayed neural network with multiple layers composed of the input, hidden, and output layers. Firstly, the formula of Coates flflow graph is innovatively applied to obtain characteristic equation. Then, some suffiffifficient conditions are deduced to ensure the network’s stability at the equilibrium point and the Hopf bifurcation’s occurrence. Finally, numerical simulations are established to demonstrate the theoretical results. It is effffectively indicated that delays’ increasing will lead to the Hopf bifurcation, ulteriorly bringing about oscillation and instability. Furthermore, the impact of self-feedback coeffiffifficient and neuron number on the Hopf bifurcation’s occurrence are also taken into account.
Associations of serum lipid level with risk of gastric cancer: A longitudinal study over 8 years
Authors: Li Jing , Li Siyu , Zhang Desheng , Yang Jingli , Chen Yarong , Hu Yujia , Xu Lulu , Zhang Lizhen , Wang Zhongge , Chen Ruirui , Bai Yana , Cheng Zhiyuan
Published: September 2022

Purpose The association of lipid metabolism linked the risk of gastric cancer (GC) was widely debated. We aimed to explore the longitudinal associations between total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with the incident risk of GC.
Methods The serum lipids were quarterly stratified based on the distribution of GC-free populations. The Cox proportional hazard models and restricted cubic spline models were applied to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and dose-response association of GC under different sub-analyses. The interactions of serum lipids on GC incidence were tested by generalized additive models.
Results After average 7.2±1.2 years follow-up, 248 primary GCincident cases were collected among 45,642 cancer-free baseline individuals.In total population, the hazard risks (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of TG (HR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.02-2.29) and LDL-C (HR=2.21, 95% CI: 1.51-3.24) were significantly increased when the Q4 stratum compared with Q1. While decreased HR was found in the Q4 stratum of HDL-C (HR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.26-0.67). Further sub-analyses testified these associations in males solely. The highest GC incident risk was plainly visible when both HDL-C and LDL-C were abnormal (HR=5.38, 95% CI: 3.43-8.45), followed by excess TG and hypo-HDL-C group (HR=2.75, 95% CI: 1.89-4.00) and excess TG and LDL-C group (HR=2.55, 95% CI: 1.78- 3.64) compared with normal lipid group.
Conclusion Lipid metabolism abnormalities could be important risk factors for GC. Additionally, a combination of any abnormalities among TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C would interactively elevate the incidence risk of GC.
Superconducting Characteristics of a Carbon/N-Alkane Mixture above Room Temperature
Authors: Kawashima Yasushi
Published: September 2022

The search for superconductors with higher critical temperatures is an important research topic. Currently, superconductivity above room temperature (20°C) has only been observed under very high pressures (above 200 GPa). In this study, the resistance of a pitch-based carbon fiber/n-alkane (n-CkH2k+2, k = 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 16) mixture in a heated Teflon tube was measured using a two-terminal measurement system to confirm the presence of a superconducting phase at temperatures above room temperature and at ambient pressure. The results showed that the resistance suddenly increased at temperatures between 367.77 and 504.24 K (Tincrease) and that the amount of change in resistance at Tincrease varied by two orders of magnitude between the samples. Measurements and calculations showed that n-alkanes did not reach their boiling point at Tincrease, indicating that this rapid increase in resistance was a property of the mixture. The extremely large range of resistance of the mixture above Tincrease was due to the variation in the aspect ratios of the pitch-based carbon fibers inserted into the Teflon tubes. However, these large variations were not observed at temperatures below Tincrease, suggesting that n-alkanes dramatically reduce the resistance of the mixture at temperatures below Tincrease. The sudden increase in resistance at Tincrease and the alkane effect support the hypothesis that Tincrease is the critical temperature for superconductivity and indicates the existence of superconductors with critical temperatures above 500 K at ambient pressure.
How relevant is it? Public Elementary School Teachers Encounter Ancient Jewish Texts
Authors: Teomim-Ben Menachem Esty , Elkad-Lehman Ilana
Published: September 2022

This study deals with a learning encounter in a havruta (pair) setting of teachers of public elementary schools in Israel with an ancient legend (Aggadah) drawn from sixth-century Jewish culture. The objective of this study is to examine the teacher’s attitude to the text through a study of the dialogue created in the encounter with the text in the havruta setting. Participants in the study included two groups of mostly women teachers of Hebrew language (L-1): 15 teachers in Group 1, and 14 teachers in Group 2. The groups came from two large and demographically different cities in Israel. The teachers were asked to study the story in pairs and to consider its suitability for teaching in their class. After the legend was studied, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with the teachers. The study corpus included 12 recordings of havruta learning, nine semi-structured interviews and ten lesson plans for teaching the legend in the class. The findings of the study point to different attitudes to the teaching of the text in the class between the groups and to differences in the perception of the relevance of the text for the teachers themselves and for their students. The discussion is based on the definition of relevance (Sperber & Wilson, 1995; Dascal, 1977) as a relative function of efficiency: the maximum contexts and meaning that the listener can extract with minimum effort. This definition explains the sense of relevance or irrelevance of the text as perceived by the participants in the study.
THE ONLINE STUDY OF LITERATURE IN ISRAELI TEACHER-EDUCATION COLLEGES: FRAMEWORK AND GUIDELINES
Authors: Segev Yael , Levin Orna
Published: September 2022

Studying literature online has become common in teacher-education colleges since the increase of online learning in the higher education arena. The aim of this study was to identify the primary components of online literature lessons as perceived by preservice teachers (PSTs). Using a qualitative, multiple case study approach, data from a heterogeneous population of 90 PSTs attending three Israeli teacher-education colleges were retrieved, using discussions, questionnaires, and interviews. Thematic-cognitive data analysis yielded three major themes related to technological aspects, teachers’ knowledge, and PSTs' subjective experiences of an online literature lesson. Based on these findings, a theoretical model was constructed for developing guidelines for teaching literature online. Given that there is no existing framework for conducting literature lessons online, this study contributes to the literature by extending the resources available for understanding and researching pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for teaching literature.
MONDIALISATION DE LETAT DE DROIT : UNIVERSALITE ET EQUIVOCITE
Authors:   Maitre-Assistant En Ethique, Philosophie Morale Et Politique Universite de Kara., Donyo Koffi Agbenoko
Published: September 2022

Since the end of the bipolar order, the rule of law, as political and ethical values, has externalized the internal sovereignty of States to impose itself as values of international law. This movement of globalization of the rule of law has been materialized through several constitutions and is found in several universal instruments thus marking the reception of the rule of law by the international legal order. However, the question of the normative universality of the rule of law comes up against certain ambiguities. Through an analytical-critical approach, our work will consist in demonstrating that despite the limits of universal applicability of the rule of law, it represents an inherent dimension of human nature.
LEGAL PROTECTION FOR INDUSTRIAL INVENTIONS IN THE UNIFIED PATENT LAW OF THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COUNTRIES
Authors:   Prince Sultan University - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Abdul Hadi Atim Muhammad Zbida
Published: September 2022

In the past years, the world witnessed great interest in intellectual and industrial property, due to the huge technological and industrial development revolution that the world witnessed, and the great and developing countries raced to own it. This led to the issuance of international agreements regulating intellectual and industrial property in its various forms, especially inventions With the issuance of Arab national legislation regulating rules that protect inventions, Therefore, the research article aimed to identify the rules of legal protection for industrial inventions in the unified law of the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. By following the comparative analytical descriptive approach, the study reached several results, the most important of which is the existence of legal rules regulating inventions and protecting the patent owner. The most important recommendations were the need to encourage the authoring and publishing of legal literature concerned with industrial property.
PRIMARY NORMO-PHOSPHATEMIC TUMORAL CALCINOSIS - A RARE ENTITY
Authors:   Post-Graduate Trainee, Dept. Of OrthopaedicSurgery, AGMC &GBPH, Tripura., Ranjan Shashi , Reang Santosh ,   Associate Professor, Dept. Of OrthopaedicSurgery, AGMC & GBPH, Tripura., Debnath Anupam ,   Assistant Professor, Dept. Of OrthopaedicSurgery, AGMC & GBPH, Tripura., Golasangi Chidanand ,   Post-Graduate Trainee, Dept. Of OrthopaedicSurgery, AGMC & GBPH, Tripura.
Published: September 2022

Tumoral calcinosis is a rare benign condition, characterized by massive deposition of calcium salts into peri-articular soft tissues. Majority are secondary to underlying chronic disorders like chronic renal failure. Primary Normo-phosphatemicTumoral Calcinosis is a rare entity. I hereby, report a case of primary normo-phosphatemictumoral calcinosis in a 11 years old female patient, managed by complete surgical excision.