bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performances of the SD Bioline®HBeAg Rapid Test Used Routinely for the Management of HBV-Infected Individuals in Burkina Faso
Authors: DERA Abdoulaye , SANOU Armel M. , OUATTARA Mathuola N. G. , ILBOUDO Abdoul Kader , LANKOANDE David B. , ILBOUDO Dieudonné , NAPON-ZONGO Delphine , GOMGNIMBOU Michel K.
Published: August 2023

Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) is a marker of wild-type hepatitis B virus replication. In resource-limited countries where access to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) remains a challenge, rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) constitute a good alternative. The HBeAg status is employed to evaluate eligibility for antiviral therapy and to prevent the transmission of hepatitis B from mother to child (PMTCT). The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of the SD-Bioline®HBeAg RDT commonly used for detecting HBeAg in laboratories in Burkina Faso. The sample panel used was collected from HBsAg positive patients received in the laboratory for the detection of HBeAg with the rapid test. The samples were retested for HBeAg using the VIDAS HBe/Anti-HBe enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) (Gold standard). Then, the viral load (VL) of HBV DNA was determined using the GENERIC HBV CHARGE VIRLAE kit (GHBV-CV). The diagnostic performances of the SD-Bioline®HBeAg and its agreement with the gold standard were calculated with their 95% confidence intervals. 340 sera obtained from HBsAg positive patients were included in this evaluation Compared to the VIDAS HBe/Anti-HBe ELFA test, the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the SD-Bioline®HBeAg test were 33.3% and 97.9% respectively. The concordance between the two tests was 0.42. Depending on the viral load, the Se and Sp varied from 8.8% and 98.3% for a VL < 2,000 IU/mL to 35.5% and 98.4% for a VL > 2,000,000 IU/mL. The results showed a low Sensibility of the SD-Bioline®HBeAg RDT test, indicating that its use is inappropriate for the clinical management of HBV-infected patients. They also highlight the urgent need to develop HBeAg rapid tests with better sensitivities.
Is It Worth Testing Large Numbers for Collatz Conjecture?
Authors: Goyal Gaurav
Published: August 2023

Starting with a positive odd integer $n$, apply a function $f(n)$ repetitively such that $f(n) = 3n + 1$ if $n \not\equiv 0 (\text{mod}\:2)$ or $f(n) = n/2$ if $n \equiv 0 (\text{mod}\:2)$. Let the sequence of all the odd integers obtained form an orbit $n, f^1(n) , f^2(n), \ldots, f^k(n), f^{k + 1}(n)$. The $k^{th}$ odd integer is written as $f^k(n) = (3^k + \mathbf{B(k)})/2^{\mathbf{z(k)}}$ where $\mathbf{B(k)}$ is the collection of terms without the coefficient $n$. We show that when $1 - \mathbf{B(k)}/(2^{\mathbf{z(k)}} n) \approx 1$, the condition for unbounded orbit is given by OEIS A022921. Further, if there exists at least one orbit for which $f^{k + 1}(n) = n$ when $(k + 1) < 3$, we show that there exists no orbit with $k + 1 > 3$ for which $f^{k + 1}(n) = n$. The final result is that the odd integers that can violate the Collatz conjecture are smaller than 5.
The Influence of Perceived Security in Childhood on Adult Self-Concept: the Mediating Role of Resilience and Self-Esteem
Authors: Martín Quintana Juan Carlos , Alemán Ramos Pedro Francisco , Morales Almeida Paula
Published: August 2023

Secure attachment, developed through consistent relationships with attachment figures in childhood, is a crucial factor in fostering healthy interpersonal relationships and a positive self-perception. This research aimed to assess how perceived security, as an indicator of secure attachment, predicts adult self-concept through the mediating effects of resilience and positive self-esteem. A quantitative, cross-sectional, and non-probabilistic study was conducted with 383 participants, of whom 76.2% were females, aged between 17 and 86 years (M = 28.52, SD = 12.23). Correlational analyses revealed significant positive associations between perceived security, self-concept, resilience, and positive self-esteem. Path analysis demonstrated that resilience and positive self-esteem sequentially mediate the relationship between perceived security during childhood and adult self-concept (Total Effect R2 = .34, F(1,381) = 193, p < .001; Indirect effect of sequential mediation b = .02, CI 95% [.01, .04]). Findings suggest that the ability to cope with ad-versity and personal acceptance underlie the impact of perceived security on self-concept. It is recommended to promote not only secure attachment in family interventions but also resilience and self-esteem in programs targeting adolescents, youth, and adults.
An IoT-based Home Telehealth System for Smart Healthcare by Monitoring Sleep and Water Usage: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Tang Zunyi , Jiang Linlin , Zhu Xin , Ming Huang
Published: August 2023

Recently, the Internet of Things (IoT) has attracted wide attention from many fields, especially healthcare, because of its large capacities of information perception and collection. In this paper, we present an IoT-based home telehealth system for providing smart healthcare management for individuals, especially older people. Each client node of the system is mainly composed of an electronic water meter that records the user's daily water usage and an unobtrusive sleep sensor that monitors the user's physiological parameters during sleep such as heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), body movement (BM), and states on the bed or outside the bed. The sleep sensor senses the biosignals and states by a sensor matrix composed of 12 piezoelectric sensors. The collected data can be transmitted to a remote centralized cloud service by a wireless home gateway for analyzing the living pattern and rhythm of users. Furthermore, the periodic feedback of results can be provided to users themselves as well as their family and health advisers. In the present study, data collections from a total of 18 older subjects were made for one year to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed system. By analyzing living pattern and rhythm, preliminary results indicate the effectiveness of the telehealth system and suggest the potential of the system regarding improvement of quality of life (QoL) of older people and promotion of their health.
Internal Marketing and Burnout: The Application of the Job Demands-Resources Model
Authors: Sobral Tiago Filipe Vilela , Santos Joana Vieira , Lopes Luis Felipe Dias , Gonçalves Sónia P.
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between IMO and burnout while assessing the contribution of job demands and resources on increasing internal orientation and worker well-being and, consequently, the levels of perceived performance; (2) Methods: Data were collected between April and December 2021 by completing an online questionnaire, developed in the Google Forms platform. The following descriptive statistics were analyzed: measures of central tendency (mean), dispersion (standard deviation), minimum value and maximum value. Next, Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to analyze the relationship between the variables under study.; (3) Results: The results showed the mediating effect of IMO between performance feedback and perceived performance, while burnout mediates the relationship between emotional and technology demands and perceived performance. (4) Conclusions: These conclusions demonstrate that constructive feedback might help a more efficient performance through better internal communication and the positive effects of technology demands could be the result of the interaction between personal and organizational resources.
Benzylfentanyl as a Surrogate Template for Fentanyl-Selective Imprinted Polymers
Authors: Hasan Md Ragib , Spivak David A.
Published: August 2023

The illicit use of fentanyl has led to hundreds of thousands of opioid-related deaths worldwide. Therefore, the detection of fentanyl by law enforcement and recreational users is of utmost importance. However, current detection methods are expensive, time-consuming, require special storage conditions and necessitate complex instrumentation that is generally unportable and requires skilled personnel to operate. An alternative approach would be using molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as the recognition component of a handheld sensor, testing strip, or color-based assay. In this work, a molecularly imprinted polymer was made by using methacrylic acid (MAA) and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the functional monomer and cross-linking monomer respectively, and benzylfentanyl (Bfen) as the template. The use of benzylfentanyl is advantageous because it closely resembles the structure of fentanyl but does not have any physiological effects as a narcotic. Important studies herein determined the optimum ratio of the template:functional monomer, with subsequent evaluations of selectivity versus the commonly encountered narcotics such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The data obtained from the HPLC analysis showed that the Bfen-MIP was successful in selectively binding the template and actual fentanyl, better than other common narcotics.
The Diversity of Gut Microbiota at Weaning Is Altered in Prolactin Receptor Null Mice
Authors: Luzardo-Ocampo Ivan , Ocampo-Ruiz Ana Luisa , Dena-Beltrán José L. , Martínez de la Escalera Gonzalo , Clapp Carmen , Macotela Yazmin
Published: August 2023

Maternal milk supports offspring development by providing microbiota, macronutrients, micronutrients, immune factors, and hormones. The hormone prolactin (PRL) is an important component of milk with protective effects against chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Because maternal milk regulates microbiota composition and microbiota protect against NCDs, we aimed to investigate whether PRL regulates gut microbiota in newborn mice. 16SrRNA sequencing of feces and bioinformatics analysis were performed to evaluate gut microbiota in mice null for the PRL receptor (Prlr-KO) at the onset of weaning (postnatal day 21). The normalized colon and cecal weights were higher and lower, respectively, in Prlr-KO mice relative to wild-type mice (Prlr-WT). Relative abundance (Simpson Evenness Index), phylogenetic diversity, and bacterial concentration in gut contents were lower in the absence of the PRL receptor. Eleven bacteria species, out of 470, differed between Prlr-KO and Prlr-WT mice with two bacterial genera (Anaerotruncus and Lachnospiraceae) related to NCD development being the most common in Prlr-KO. Furthermore, a higher metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides was predicted in Prlr-KO mice compared to Prlr-WT mice; these metabolites have antimicrobial properties and are present in microbe-associated pathogenicity. In summary, the absence of the PRL receptor changes intestinal microbiota composition, resulting in lower microbiota abundance and richness, which could contribute to NCD development.
pH Monitoring in Biological Environment: An Overview of Conventional to Cutting-Edge Sensing Platforms
Authors: Akhtar Mahmood Hassan , Nawaz Muhammad Azhar Hayat , Ning Liu , Qureshi Arsalan Ahmed , Li Ying , Han Wenzhao , Wang Yue , Li Li , Lv Yan , Yu Cong
Published: August 2023

pH is considered one of the paramount factors in bodily functions, because most of the cellular tasks exclusively rely on precise pH values. The regulation of pH is a necessary feature of the intracellular atmosphere and can be established as a strong indicator to judge a physiological abnormality in most of the cases. In this context, the current techniques for pH sensing provide us with the futuristic insight to further design therapeutic and diagnostic tools. Thus, pH-sensing (electrochemically and optically) is rapidly evolving toward exciting new applications and expanding researchers’ interests in many chemical contexts, especially in biomedical applications. The adaptation of cutting-edge technology is subsequently producing the modest form of these biosensors as wearable devices, which are providing us the opportunity to target the real-time collection of vital parameters, including pH for improved healthcare systems. The motif of this review is to provide an insight of trending tech-based systems employed in real time or in-vivo pH responsive monitoring. Herein, we briefly go through the pH regulation in the human body to help the beginners and scientific community with quick background knowledge, recent advances in the field, and pH detection in cancerous environments. In the end, we summarize our review by providing an outlook; challenges that need to be addressed and prospective integration of various pH in vivo platforms with modern electronics that can open new avenues of cutting-edge techniques for disease diagnostics and prevention.
Human Gut Microbiome in Heart Failure: Trying to Unmask an Emerging Organ
Authors: Paraskevaidis Ioannis , Xanthopoulos Andrew , Tsougkos Elias , Triposkiadis Filippos
Published: August 2023

There is a bidirectional relationship between the heart and the gut. Gut microbiome is an excellent gut-homeostasis keeper since controls the growth of potentially harmful bacteria and protects the microbiota environment. There is evidence suggesting that diet rich in fatty acid can be metabolized and converted by gut microbiome and hepatic enzymes to trimethyl-amine N-oxide (TMAO) a product that is associated with atherogenesis, platelet dysfunction, thrombotic events, coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure and ultimately death. Heart failure, by inducing gut ischemia and congestion and consequently gut barrier dysfunction promote an intestinal leak of microbes or even of their products, facilitating their entrance into the circulation and thus stimulating the low-grade inflammation and hence the immune response. Drugs used for heart failure may alter the gut microbiome, and conversely gut microbiome may modify the pharmacokinetic properties of the drugs. Modification of lifestyle based mainly on exercise and Mediterranean diet along with the use of pre- or probiotics may be beneficial to some extent for the gut microbiome environment. The potential role of gut microbiome in heart failure development and outcomes is a fruitful area of future research.
An in-Depth Study on the Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Apoptotic Potentials of Quercetin in Human Colon Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Bhatiya Meenu , Jain Samatha M , Das Alakesh , Pathak Surajit , Ahmad Sheikh F , Duttaroy Asim K , Banerjee Antara
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer morbidity and mortality globally. It is a multi-step process that involves genetic and epigenetic modifications leading to histological and morphological changes. Several complementary therapeutic options have been analyzed, shedding light on plant-based medication as a potential treatment for colon cancer. Flavonoids such as quercetin are known to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. This in vitro study examines quercetin's anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-angiogenesis effects and antioxidant properties in colon cancer cells. (2) Methods: The antioxidant capacity of quercetin-treated cells was investigated using biochemical assays, and angiogenesis and cytokine levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The epigenetic modulation and differential expression of aging, apoptotic, and proliferation genes, and Histone deacetylases (HDACs) were also investigated. (3) Results: In this study, the quercetin-treated group significantly reduced the antioxidant enzymes, cytokines, and VEGF levels, altering the expression of epigenetic factors. Quercetin also induced significant senescence in colon cancer cells. Moreover, a considerable increase was observed in the apoptotic and hTERT genes. In contrast, a decrease in p53, proliferation genes, and HDACs was observed, providing a basis for the clinical use of quercetin in cancer treatment. (4) Conclusion: In vitro studies showed that quercetin treatment efficiently induces senescence and apoptosis in colon cancer cells. We also found that quercetin effectively modulated the expression of p53, Wnt1, CTNNB1, and HDACs, indicating that it could be used to treat colon cancer.
Vulnerability of Water Resources to Drought Risk in Southeastern of Morocco: Case Study of Ziz Basin
Authors: Ben Salem Souad , Ben Salem Abdelkrim , Karmaoui Ahmed , Yacoubi Khebiza Mohammed
Published: August 2023

water resources in Morocco have been severely influenced by climate change (CC) and pro-longed drought, particularly, in the pre-Saharan zone. The Tafilalet region faces increasing pres-sure due to high demographic growth, increased demand for water, excessive groundwater con-sumption, and investment in agriculture. Using the Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP), this study assessed land cover and elevation and created future scenarios using the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standard Groundwater Level Index (SGI) to monitor hy-droclimate drought conditions in the Ziz watershed from 1989 to 2022. Results show decreasing precipitation, particularly from 2010-2020, with the last four years being the most challenging (SPI<-2). SPI and SGI have a high correlation, suggesting precipitation impacts groundwater in-dicators. Future scenarios predict a high risk of CC, with a 30% decrease in annual precipitation accumulation by 2100 under the optimistic scenario SSP126. Minimum temperature is expected to increase by 1.08°C (SSP126) and 2.61°C (SSP585), and maximum temperature by 1.05°C (SSP126) and 2.93°C (SSP585). Keywords: Climate Change, Water Resources, SPI, SGI, WEAP, Ziz watershed, Drought
Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for Radiosurgery of Brain Metastases: A Single-Center Study
Authors: Sánchez-Villalobos José Manuel , Berna-Serna Alfredo , Salinas-Ramos Juan , Escolar-Pérez Pedro Pablo , Andreu-Gálvez Marina , Martínez-Alonso Emma , Pérez-Vicente José Antonio , Alcaraz Miguel
Published: August 2023

Whole-brain radiation therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery are two treatment modalities commonly utilized to treat brain metastases (BMs). The aim of this study is to retrospectively analyze the main radio-oncologic and clinical-demographic aspects of a cohort of BM patients treated with Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for radiosurgery (VMAT-RS). This is a cross-sectional observational design study with retrospective review of medical records of patients with brain metastases treated with VMAT- RS between 2012 and 2018. Clinical and demographic data, with special attention to sex, age, primary tumor, brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE), number and brain location of BMs, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), the updated DS-GPA prognostic index and the survival estimated according to the Kaplan-Meier model from the date of radiosurgery were analyzed. One hundred and twenty-one patients with 229 BMs were treated with VMAT-RS. Patients presented 1-4 BMs, which were treated with 5 non-coplanar VMAT arcs. Sixty-eight percent of the patients had lung cancer and 35% of the BMs were in the frontal lobe. Proportion of local control was 88.5%. BTRE prevalence was 30.6%. The median survival time (MST) was 7.7 months. In the multivariate analysis of the Cox Regression model KPS70 (HRKPS<70=2.59; p=0.001) and higher DS-GPA (HRDS-GPAII =0.55, p=0.022; HRDS-GPAIII-IV =0.38, p=0.006) were associated with improved survival. In the univariate analysis, primary tumor, age and the presence of metastases in the posterior fossa (PFBMs) were also significative. In conclusion, the VMAT-RS is a technique with an overall survival comparable to other radiosurgery techniques. The median survival is significantly longer in those with higher KPS and DS-GPA. Other variables such as the type of primary tumor, age and PFBMs could also influence survival, although further studies are needed.
Double-Constrained Consensus Clustering with Application to Online Anti-Counterfeiting
Authors: Carpineto Claudio , Romano Giovanni
Published: August 2023

Semi-supervised consensus clustering is a promising strategy to compensate for the subjectivity of clustering and its sensitivity to design factors, with various techniques being recently proposed to integrate domain knowledge and multiple clustering partitions. In this article we present a new approach that makes double use of domain knowledge, namely to build the initial partitions as well as to combine them. In particular, we show how to model and integrate must-link and cannot-link constraints into the objective function of a generic consensus clustering (??) framework that maximizes the similarity between the consensus partition and the input partitions, which have, in turn, been enriched with the same constraints. In addition, borrowing from the theory of functional dependencies, the integrated framework exploits the notions of deductive closure and minimal cover to take full advantage of the logical implication between constraints. Using standard UCI benchmarks, we found that the resulting algorithm, termed ??? (double-Constrained Consensus Clustering), was more effective than plain ?? at combining base constrained partitions. We then argue that ??? is especially well-suited to profiling counterfeit e-commerce websites, because constraints can be acquired by leveraging specific domain features, and demonstrate its potential for detecting affiliate marketing programs. Taken together, our experiments suggest that ??? makes the process of clustering more robust and able to withstand changes in clustering algorithms, datasets, and features, with a remarkable improvement of average performance.
Ultra-High Resolution Electrocardiography Enables Earlier Detection of Transmural and Subendocardial Myocardial Ischemia Compared to Conventional Electrocardiography
Authors: Zaichenko Kirill V. , Kordyukova Anna A. , Sonin Dmitry L. , Galagudza Michael M.
Published: August 2023

The sensitivity of exercise ECG is marginally sufficient for detection of mild reduction of coronary blood flow in patients with early coronary atherosclerosis. Here we describe the application of new technique of ECG registration/analysis – ultrahigh resolution ECG (UHR ECG) – for early detection of myocardial ischemia (MIS). The utility of UHR ECG vs. conventional ECG (C ECG) was tested in anesthetized rats and pigs. Transmural MIS was induced in rats by the ligation of the left coronary artery (CA). In pigs, subendocardial ischemia of variable extent was produced by stepwise inflation of balloon within the right CA causing 25-100% reduction of its lumen. In rats, a reduction in power spectral density (PSD) in high-frequency (HF) channel of UHR ECG was registered at 60 s after ischemia (power 0.81±0.14 vs. 1.25±0.12 mW at baseline, p<0.01). This was not accompanied by any ST segment elevation on C ECG. In pigs, PSD in HF channel of UHR ECG was significantly decreased at 25% reduction of CA lumen, while ST segment on C ECG remained unchanged. In conclusion, UHR ECG enabled earlier detection of transmural MIS compared to C ECG. PSD in HF-channel of UHR ECG demonstrated greater sensitivity in the settings of subendocardial ischemia.
Delayed Presentation of Popliteal Artery Laceration Mimicking Baker Cyst After Arthroscopic Meniscectomy
Authors: K S Meghashyama , Korday Sujit , Patil Sandip Sonawane , Surushe Amit
Published: August 2023

Case:

We report a case of delayed presentation of popliteal artery laceration after arthroscopic meniscectomy. Three weeks after the procedure, the patient developed severe calf pain, swelling over the popliteal fossa, and foot drop, despite a normal initial postoperative period. Clinical examination and radiological investigations suggested a massive hematoma in the popliteal fossa. A decision was made to explore the popliteal artery and drain the hematoma after consultation with the vascular surgeon. A laceration was noted, and it was repaired.

Conclusion:

Orthopaedic surgeons should maintain a high index of suspicion regarding the possibility of this postoperative complication, especially after an arthroscopic meniscectomy.
Multiscale characterization of an extensive stromatolite field: a new correlation horizon for the Crato Member, Araripe Basin, Brazil
Authors: Silveira Luís Fernando , Borghi Leonardo , Bobco Fabia Emanuela Rafaloski , Araújo Bruno César , Kroth Mateus , Duarte Guilherme , Ferreira Laís de Oliveira , Mendonça Joalice de Oliveira
Published: August 2023

There is wide recognition of lacustrine sediments as excellent archives of a basin’s depositional history due to their high sensitivity to environmental changes. Among them, microbial limestones are one of the most valuable tools for paleoenvironmental reconstruction, because the biological agents responsible for their genesis tend to respond to short-lived variations of the depositional setting creating specific precipitation patterns. We here document and investigate the sedimentary features of a specific sedimentary layer, remarkable by the extraordinary lateral continuity of its textural attributes over kilometer distances. This marker horizon occurs among the first carbonate layers of the Crato Member (Aptian, Araripe Basin, NE Brazil), commonly assigned a paleolacustrine system. We build on a multiscale comparative analysis (mesoscale, microscale, and chemical) to outline the main processes and paleoenvironmental settings that prompted this interval’s widespread and laterally nearly uniform deposition. A lamination pattern identified in different well cores was scrutinized and compared, and shows striking lateral continuity attesting to autochthonous biologically induced mineralization as the primary mechanism of the formation of the microbialites. Compositional and stable-isotope results also show similar trends throughout the well cores, where minor differences represent the influence of local processes.

The studied interval encompasses the relatively swift transition of organic shales rich in ostracod valves to planar stromatolites, where both developed in the anoxic benthonic zone of a freshwater lake. The precipitation of the overlying thinly laminated limestones is related to a change in the carbonate genetic mechanism as a response to a more stable lacustrine stratification. The widespread formation of microbialites preserving an almost identical textural pattern must be related to a regional event, constituting a rare example of a preserved ancient biostrome. Moreover, the investigation of this sedimentary layer can further contribute to determining the roles of different biotic and abiotic processes in microbialite precipitation over large areas.
A Study on the Safety Management System of the UK Police for Mass Events
Authors:   Korean Association of Public Safety and Criminal Justice, Huh Koungmi
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this study is to find ways to improve related laws and systems by comparing the main characteristics related to the management of multiple events (assemblies and processions) by the UK police with those of Korea. Regarding multi-event management, comparing the UK and Korea. First, in the case of multi-event related laws, in the UK, they are systematically stipulated in the Public Order Act and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Court Act, but in Korea, there are various laws other than the Assembly and Demonstration Act. Second, regarding the management of multiple events, the British Public Order Act clearly stipulates the authority and responsibility of the government (Home Office), local governments, and the police. In Korea, the Assembly and Demonstration Act is the responsibility of the head of the National Police Agency, and the Police Act stipulates the responsibility of the local police. Third, in the UK, multi-event organizers can submit applications in a variety of ways, such as at the police station, on the City Council website, by e-mail or in person, but in Korea, the application must be submitted in person. Fourth, the UK has clearly defined the roles of organizers, order keepers, safety managers, and police of multi-events, but Korea is not clear. Fifth, the UK Police Act stipulated that the organizers should bear the cost when the police provided special services related to multi-events, but the Korean police argued that they could not exercise their police authority if they were not subject to report. Sixth, in the UK, event organizers, the police, and the city council maintain cooperative relationships and coordinate event plans, but in Korea, the chief of police has discretion.
Introduction plan for autonomous police officer recruitment system through core competency analysis by police job
Authors:   Korean Association of Public Safety and Criminal Justice, Heo Jun
Published: August 2023

In 2021, the 「Act on Organization and Operation of National Police and Autonomous Police」 was completely revised, and the autonomous police system was implemented in earnest. Based on this law, the national police affairs and the autonomous police affairs are divided, but the national police organization and the autonomous police organization are not clearly distinguished. Currently, the national police force and the autonomous police force are not distinguished, and new police officers are recruited equally. However, since the duties and roles of the National Police and the Autonomous Police are different, it is necessary to hire a police officer with the appropriate competence. Therefore, it is proposed to introduce a system that analyzes the capabilities of the autonomous police and hires suitable personnel for the autonomous police. By analyzing the 「Core Competency Guidebook by Police Job」 published by the National Police Agency, the competencies for each job of the autonomous police were derived. The competencies required for self-governing police officers were identified as ‘value competencies’, ‘job attitude competencies’, and ‘other competencies’, which are common competencies. Among them, some of the ‘value competency’ and ‘work attitude competency’ were excluded from the evaluation items of the first written test because it is more appropriate to evaluate them through a personality and aptitude test or an interview rather than a written test. In addition, it is proposed to use the NCS basic occupational competency evaluation as the most suitable method for evaluating the competence of autonomous police officers. As a way to evaluate ‘other competencies’, it is necessary to develop and apply case-oriented items that can evaluate job competencies rather than the existing written test method. The physical fitness test, personality and aptitude test, and interview test are operated similarly to the current recruitment system, and the written test needs many changes. In addition, the reflection rate of the written test should be lowered and the reflection rate of the physical fitness test should be raised. In order to operate such an autonomous police officer recruitment system, a nationwide recruitment agency will be needed.
Gender Integration in Korean Policing
Authors:   Korean Association of Public Safety and Criminal Justice, Kim Sang Ho
Published: August 2023

In this study, previous studies related to gender integration were reviewd and the actual situation was analyzed through a survey of police officers(N=473) working in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-Do. The results are as follows. First, Korean police officers most preferred female police officers performing the same tasks as male police officers except for high-risk tasks(Modified role, M=3.61). The preference for performing the same task regardless of risk(Integrated role, M=3.34) was higher than average(M=3.00), but the consent to performing specialized tasks, such as female offeders or children/juvenile work,(Traditional role, M=2.63) level was low. Second, the background variables and working environment variables of police officers had a certain influence on the attitude toward gender integration. The recently appointed police officers(20s and 30s, less than 10 years of service experience et al.) showed a different attitude from the other police officers, such as preferring a Unified role the most. Third, gender integration is affected by various factors, and self-efficacy has a positive effct on the Unified role attitude and a negative effect on the Traditional role attitude. Fourth, the preference for the Unified role of police officers had a significant positive effect on their job satisfaction. Based on these analysis results, the task of the Korean police for gender integration and the direction of follow-up research were examined.
Deciphering the lithium ion conduction mechanism in solid-electrolyte-interphase
Authors: Cui Guanglei , Sun Jinran , Yan Jingtong , Li Fan , Li Jiedong , Ma Jun , Zhang Shu , Hou Guangjin , Tang Yongfu , Dong Shanmu , Huang Jian Yu
Published: August 2023

The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) plays a critical role in determining the performance of lithium batteries, making it an area of increased scrutiny in research. Although the formation mechanism and structural model of SEI have been extensively reported, understanding the Li+ conduction mechanism within SEI has proven challenging due to its complex structure and the lack of advanced in-situ experimental techniques. In this study, we employed isotopic tracer experiments based on high-resolution 6Li NMR and TOF-SIMS techniques to illustrate the Li+ conduction path in the bulk structure of natural SEI. Importantly, in-situ TEM technology was utilized to visualize the Li+ conduction pathway through specific inorganic components of SEI, both in the bulk and on the surface. The critical experimental evidence provided by our work demonstrates that grain boundaries are not the sole pathway for Li+ conduction in SEI, which is imperative for optimizing the performance of lithium batteries and designing future SEI.
Image Captioning Using Improved YOLO V5 Model and Xception V3 Model
Authors: SAROJA M. , Mary Ani Brown
Published: August 2023

Image captioning provides the process of describing the content from an image The task of generating image captions considers object detection for single-line descriptions. To improve the quality of the generated caption, object detection features are applied. In this proposed work, features are extracted from improved YOLO V5 model. This improved YOLO V5 model enhances the performance of the object detection process. Xception V3 model is applied to generate the sequence of the word from predicted object feature. Finally the caption generated from Xception V3 is used to hear in voice and text with any selected language. Flickr 8k, Flicr30k and MSCOCO data sets are used for this proposed method. Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a technique used to understand the description of an image. This proposed method is very much used for visually impaired people. The results show that the proposed method provides 99.5% Accuracy, 99.1% Precision, 99.3% Recall, 99.4% F1 score on MS COCO data set using improved YOLO V5 model and Xception V3 model. Compared to the existing techniques, this proposed method shows 11–15% improved accuracy.
Single Image Haze Removal Techniques Based on Priors, Fusion and Deep Learning: A Comprehensive Survey
Authors: Varshney Vikas , Panda Jeebananda , Gupta Rashmi
Published: August 2023

Image haze removal has a significant involvement in numerous computer vision (CV) related uses. The primary purpose of the present article is to outline the current deep learning (based on CNN) processes used for single image dehazing. The previous problems with the haze removal methods based on multiple images are first addressed. Then, fundamental concepts of atmospheric scattering model and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) are explained. The currently available single image dehazing approaches are divided into 3 groups: prior based, image fusion based and deep learning based approaches. Highlights and challenges of these dehazing techniques are discussed. The synthetic and real datasets utilized by different researchers in dehazing techniques are described along with implementation details. The paper also mentions performance metrics for evaluating image quality.
Nonfunctional parathyroid carcinoma: two case reports and literature review
Authors: Yin Zhidong , Xu Xi , Cheng Lu , Kong Weike , He Yingfei , Wang Xiaogang
Published: August 2023

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare malignant endocrine tumor whoseunderlying pathobiological mechanism is still unclear. Herein, two cases of functioning/nonfunctioning PC are presented. Case 1 was a patient with a functional PC. The patient presented edema in both lower extremities causing pain and difficulty walking. The main clinical symptoms were elevated parathyroid hormone levels and hypercalcemia. A tumor mass of 27×37×41 mm in size waslocated below the right thyroid gland. The patientpresented evidence of multiple bone lesions, an abnormal increase in glucose metabolism, and left kidney atrophy with stones. Case 2 was diagnosed with non-functional PC. The patient presented no obvious clinical symptoms, but a thyroid nodule was diagnosed on physical examination. The nodule was 10 mm in diameter and waslocated below the left thyroid gland. Both patients were diagnosed by histopathological analysis and were treated by surgical excision; they received regular follow-up evaluations. Patient 1 died 18 months after surgery due to severe pulmonary infection and tracheal stenosis. Patient 2 survived without recurrence or metastasis. The diagnosis of PC relies mainly on apathological diagnosis, and surgical resection is the main treatment approach. Early diagnosis and complete resection of the lesion are key factors for defining prognosis. Postoperatively, patients require lifelong follow-up. Herein, we provide a description of the diagnostic workup and the treatment approach and review relevant studies. We summarize the clinicopathological characteristics of PC cases to provide evidence for early diagnosis and therapy, and to improve the prognosis of patients.
A Review of Personal Exposure Studies in Asian Public Transport Microenvironments: Lessons Learned and Future Directions
Authors: Otuyo Muhsin Kolapo , Nadzir Mohd Shahrul Mohd , Latif Mohd Talib , Din Shamzani affendy Mohd
Published: August 2023

This paper reviews personal exposure and air pollutant levels in Asian city transport microenvironments. It examines PM10, PM2.5, PM1, CO2, CH2O, and TVOC exposure in cars, buses, walking, and subways/trains. PM2.5 was the most studied pollutant, followed by PM10, PM1, CO2, and TVOC. Limited research focused on CH2O exposure. Exposure concentrations varied among cities and transport modes. Motor vehicle emissions, traffic, road dust, and open bus doors were primary exposure sources. Train stations and outdoor environments contributed to pollutant levels inside trains. Factors influencing exposure included ventilation, travel conditions, seat location, vehicle type, and meteorology. Inhalation exposure doses varied by mode. The review recommends standardized measurements, improved ventilation, filters, clean energy, and public education to reduce exposure. More research is needed in diverse Asian cities. This review aids policymakers, researchers, and advocates for air quality and public health.
Validation and Implementation of Pooled Testing Protocol for SARS-CoV-2 RTPCR: a strategy to counter delays in COVID-19 diagnosis
Authors: Anveshi Anupam , Saksena Rushika , Majhumdar Subhradeep , Kumar Dharmendra , Gaind Rajni
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) laid guidelines for pooled testing of SARS-CoV-2 in areas with low prevalence (< 5%) due to high cost and turn-around time of PCR test. This study evaluated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of pooled testing guidelines laid out by ICMR and performed the cost benefit analysis of the strategy.
METHODS
Study was divided in two phases. In first phase of study, 1000 samples were tested by pool and de-convoluted method to validate the pooling strategy advised by ICMR. A single pool was prepared from 5 VTMs of individual patients. RTPCR for E, ORF and RdRp genes was performed. In second phase, pooled testing strategy was applied to approximately 11,000 patient samples during low prevalence phase of Covid-19 pandemic, for cost benefit analysis.
RESULTS
Overall, sensitivity and specificity was >/= 95%. Negative predictive value was 99%; essential for mass screening. The average difference in CT values between pool and individual samples of E, ORF, and RdRp genes was 2.49, 2.62, and 2.28, respectively. Cost saved in second phase of study was INR 8,917,000/- .
CONCLUSION
The pooling strategy can be successfully applied for accurately and rapidly testing a large number samples. The cost saved was significant considering India is resource limited country with a large population.
Changes in the Ocular Surface Index after 25-Gauge Pars Plana Vitrectomy Using an Ocular Surface Analyzer
Authors: Chae Su Bong , Kim Dong Geun , Kwak Hyun Duck
Published: August 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes before and after 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) using an ocular surface analyzer.
Methods
The medical records of 82 patients and 163 eyes who underwent PPV were reviewed retrospectively. Non-invasive tear film break-up time (NITBUT), lipid layer thickness, meibomian gland loss, and tear meniscus height were measured at before surgery, one month, and three months after surgery. The changes in each index were statistically analyzed. In addition, risk factors that could reduce NITBUT at one month after surgery were analyzed.
Results
One month after surgery, the NITBUT was significantly decreased in the operative eyes compared to before surgery (p = 0.006, paired t-test). Compared with non-operative eyes, NITBUT in operative eyes decreased significantly at one month after surgery (p = 0.006, student t-test). Age (β=-0.248, p = 0.029, multiple linear regression) and preoperative NITBUT (β = 0.357, P = 0.002, multiple linear regression) were identified as significant risk factors associated with the decrease in NITBUT at one month after surgery.
Conclusion
25-gauge PPV can significantly reduce NITBUT at one month after surgery, and the risk factors are age and preoperative NITBUT. This may contribute to the development of dry eye disease after surgery.
Insulin and IGF-1 have both overlapping and distinct effects on CD4+ T cell mitochondria, metabolism, and function
Authors: Kiernan Kaitlin , Alwarawrah Yazan , Nichols Amanda , Danzaki Keiko , MacIver Nancie J.
Published: August 2023

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) are metabolic hormones with known effects on CD4+ T cells through insulin receptor (IR) and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling. Here, we describe specific and distinct roles for these hormones and receptors. We have found that IGF-1R, but not IR, expression is increased following CD4+ T cell activation or following differentiation toward Th17 cells. Although both insulin and IGF-1 increase glycolytic and oxidative metabolism of CD4+ T cells, insulin has a more potent effect. However, IGF-1 has a unique role and acts specifically on Th17 cells to increase IL-17 production and Th17 cell metabolism. Furthermore, IGF-1 decreases mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) in Th17 cells, providing a cytoprotective effect. Interestingly, both IR and IGF-1R are required for this effect of IGF-1 on mitochondria, which suggests that the hybrid IR/IGF-1R may be required for mediating the effect of IGF-1 on mitochondrial membrane potential and mROS production. Finally, we show that the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and mROS caused by IGF-1 is mediated by uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) activity, and the effects of IGF-1 on CD4+ T cell mitochondria and metabolism are reversed by UCP2 inhibition.
Increasing transcultural competence in clinical psychologists through a web-based training: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Studer Selina , Kleinstäuber Maria , von Lersner Ulrike , Weise Cornelia
Published: August 2023

Background: In mental health care, the number of patients with diverse cultural backgrounds is growing. Nevertheless, evaluated training programs for transcultural competence are missing. Barriers for engaging in transcultural therapy can be identified in patients as well as in therapists. Besides language barriers, clinical psychologists report insecurities, for example, fear of additional expenses when involving a language mediator, ethical concerns such as power imbalances, or fear of lack of knowledge or incorrect handling when working with patients from other cultures. Divergent values and concepts of disease, prejudices and stereotyping are also among the issues discussed as barriers to optimal psychotherapy care. The planned study aims to empower clinical psychologists to handle both their own as well as patients’ barriers through a web-based training on transcultural competence.
Methods: The training includes 6 modules, which are unlocked weekly. A total of N=174 clinical psychologists are randomly assigned to two groups: the training group (TG) works through the complete training over six weeks, which includes a variety of practical exercises and self-reflections. In addition, participants receive weekly written feedback from a trained psychologist. The waitlist control group (WL) completes the training after the end of the waiting period (2 months after the end of the TG’s training). The primary outcome is transcultural competence. Secondary outcomes consist of experiences in treating people from other cultures (number of patients, satisfaction and experience of competence in treatment, etc.). Data will be collected before and after the training as well as two and six months after the end of the training.
Discussion: This randomized controlled trial tests the efficacy of and satisfaction with a web-based training on transcultural competence for German-speaking clinical psychologists. If validated successfully, the training can represent a time- and place-flexible training opportunity that could be integrated into the continuing education of clinical psychologists in the long term.
Trial registration: DRKS00031105, registered on February 21, 2023.
Analysis of hidden blood loss and its risk factors in pelvic floor prolapse surgeryusingthe vaginal sacrospinous ligament suspension and laparoscopic uterosacral approaches
Authors: Pan Yihong , Cheng Yali , Liu Yanyun , Zhang Weidan , Wang You , Zeng Baojin , Ye Li , Cheng Fengyun , Tung Taohsin , Zheng Lingzhi
Published: August 2023

Aim: To investigate the risk factors of hidden blood loss(HBL)in the treatment of patients with pelvic floor prolapse.
Methods: This study enrolled 132 patients who had undergone either vaginal total hysterectomyand sacrospinous ligament fixation (Group1) or laparoscopic total hysterectomy and laparoscopic high uterosacral ligament suspension(Group2)from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2020. The patients’ demographic and perioperative characteristics were compared, and the risk factors for HBL were assessedusing logistic regression.
Results:Compared with the Group 2, the Group 1 had a longer duration of menopause, shorter surgical time, and lower hospitalization costs.. Furthermore, Group 1 mostly comprised severe prolapse cases and had greater total blood loss(TBL)and HBL. Intraoperative bleeding, postoperative hematocrit, surgical approach, menopausal age, and menopausaltimewere independent risk factors for HBL.
Conclusion: Sacrospinous ligament fixation（SSLF）is safe, effective, and convenient;itallows for a rapid recovery and is especially suitable for patients with severe prolapse.Therefore, this procedure should be used more widely. In addition, patients’ demographic characteristics and blood parameters must be considered when selecting the most appropriate surgical approach for each patient. Furthermore , HBL may be severely underestimated, which can affect patient’s prognosis, intraoperative surgeries should be carefully performed to reduce intraoperative HBL, thus ensuring that patients safely survive the postoperative stage.