bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A simple index to predict healing in venous leg ulcers: a secondary analysis from four randomised controlled trials
Authors: Jull Andrew , Lu Han , Jiang Yannan
Published: October 2023

Objective:

To investigate whether the use of a simple baseline measurement predicts venous leg ulcer healing at 12 and 24 weeks.

Method:

This was a secondary analysis of a cohort of four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of treatments adjuvant to compression. Self-reported ulcer duration, and measured ulcer length and width, to calculate estimated ulcer area, were used to obtain a Margolis index score. The score created three prognostic strata for likelihood to heal within 24 weeks, and the number of participants healed and time-to-healing were compared.

Results:

There were a total of 802 participants across the four RCTs—408 (50.9%) in two 12-week trials and 394 (49.1%) in two 24-week trials. The mean age of participants was 63.7±17.6 years, and 372 were female (46.4%). The Margolis index score at baseline was 0 for 320 participants (predicted normal healing); 1 for 334 participants; and 2 for 148 participants (both 1 and 2 predicted slow-to-heal). Overall, 248 (77.5%) of those participants who scored 0 at baseline healed within 24 weeks, compared with 182 (54.5%) of participants who scored 1, and 30 (20.3%) participants who scored 2. The median time-to-healing was 40 (24–62) days, 57 (35–100) days and 86.5 (56–151) days, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.69 and 0.77, respectively, for the 12 and 24 week trials.

Conclusion:

A simple baseline index identifies participants with normal or slow-to-heal wounds and could be used to demonstrate prognostic balance between treatment groups in trials. This approach could also be used in clinical practice to assist with managing expectations and for early identification of patients who may best benefit from adjuvant treatments.
A temperature-sensitive, high-adhesion medical tape: a comparative, single-blind clinical trial
Authors: Swanson Shawn , Luu Vivian , Smith Ryan , Gross Allayna , Tudor Joelle , MacKenzie Devin , Taroc Ann-Marie , Gow Kenneth W , Nelson Leonard Y , Seibel Eric J
Published: October 2023

Objective:

Medical adhesives are used to secure wound care dressings and other critical devices to the skin. While high peel-strength adhesives provide more secure skin attachment, they are difficult to remove from the skin and are correlated with medical adhesive-related skin injuries (MARSI), including skin tears, and an increased risk of infection. Lower-adhesion medical tapes may be applied to avoid MARSI, leading to dressing or device dislodgement and further medical complications.

Method:

This paper reports on the clinical testing of a new, high-adhesion medical tape, ThermoTape (University of Washington, US), designed for low skin trauma upon release. ThermoTape was benchmarked with Tegaderm (3M, US) and Kind Removal Tape (KRT) (3M, US). All three tapes were applied to both the left and right forearm of healthy volunteers and were removed 24 hours later—the right arm without applying heat and the left arm by applying a heat pack for 30 seconds before removal. Tape wear, self-reported pain (0–10 scale) and skin redness 15 minutes after removal were recorded.

Results:

This was a 53-subject comparative, single-blind clinical trial. There were clinically and statistically significant results supporting reduced pain during removal of ThermoTape with warming, with an average 58% decrease in pain, paired with a statistically significant 45% reduction in skin redness (p<0.01 for both values). In contrast, there were statistically insignificant differences in pain and redness for removal of Tegaderm and KRT with warming. ThermoTape after warming, in comparison with Tegaderm without warming, produced a reduced pain score of >1 on the 0–10 Wong–Baker/Face pain scale, which was statistically significant (p<0.01).

Conclusion:

These results provide compelling evidence that warming ThermoTape prior to removal can reduce pain and injury when compared with standard medical tapes. This could allow for stronger attachment of wound care dressings and critical medical devices while reducing cases of MARSI.
Profile of patients with burns according to seasonal changes
Authors: Taş Ilhan , Yiğit Ebral
Published: October 2023

Objective:

In this study, the aim was to discuss the effects of seasonal changes on the patient profile and number of patients hospitalised at our burn centre.

Method:

All cases of burns that occurred between 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2020 at our hospital were investigated.

Results:

In total, 1417 patients were investigated, 799 of whom were male (56.4%) and 618 (43.6%) were female. The number of patients with burns in the 1–4 years age group was the highest of all the age groups. Scald burns and electrical burns were mostly observed in the spring; flame burns were mostly observed in the winter, and hot object contact and chemical burns were mostly observed in the summer. When considered in total, burn cases were mostly observed in spring and autumn.

Conclusion:

Understanding seasonal epidemiology of burn injuries can facilitate seasonal injury prevention campaigns and education efforts. Burn centres can also allocate resources appropriately, according to the patient volume and possible burn outcomes for each season.
Use of Ilizarov technique for bilateral knees flexion contracture in Juvenile-onset ankylosing spondylitis: A case report
Authors: Xia Li-Wei , Xu Cheng , Huang Jian-Han
Published: October 2023

Time series analysis is a valuable tool in epidemiology that complements the classical epidemiological models in two different ways: Prediction and forecast. Prediction is related to explaining past and current data based on various internal and external influences that may or may not have a causative role. Forecasting is an exploration of the possible future values based on the predictive ability of the model and hypothesized future values of the external and/or internal influences. The time series analysis approach has the advantage of being easier to use (in the cases of more straightforward and linear models such as Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average). Still, it is limited in forecasting time, unlike the classical models such as Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed. Its applicability in forecasting comes from its better accuracy for short-term prediction. In its basic form, it does not assume much theoretical knowledge of the mechanisms of spreading and mutating pathogens or the reaction of people and regulatory structures (governments, companies, etc. ). Instead, it estimates from the data directly. Its predictive ability allows testing hypotheses for different factors that positively or negatively contribute to the pandemic spread; be it school closures, emerging variants, etc. It can be used in mortality or hospital risk estimation from new cases, seroprevalence studies, assessing properties of emerging variants, and estimating excess mortality and its relationship with a pandemic.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning in motor recovery: A rehabilitation medicine perspective
Authors: Swarnakar Raktim , Yadav Shiv Lal
Published: October 2023

Time series analysis is a valuable tool in epidemiology that complements the classical epidemiological models in two different ways: Prediction and forecast. Prediction is related to explaining past and current data based on various internal and external influences that may or may not have a causative role. Forecasting is an exploration of the possible future values based on the predictive ability of the model and hypothesized future values of the external and/or internal influences. The time series analysis approach has the advantage of being easier to use (in the cases of more straightforward and linear models such as Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average). Still, it is limited in forecasting time, unlike the classical models such as Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed. Its applicability in forecasting comes from its better accuracy for short-term prediction. In its basic form, it does not assume much theoretical knowledge of the mechanisms of spreading and mutating pathogens or the reaction of people and regulatory structures (governments, companies, etc. ). Instead, it estimates from the data directly. Its predictive ability allows testing hypotheses for different factors that positively or negatively contribute to the pandemic spread; be it school closures, emerging variants, etc. It can be used in mortality or hospital risk estimation from new cases, seroprevalence studies, assessing properties of emerging variants, and estimating excess mortality and its relationship with a pandemic.
GPU-accelerated full-field modelling of highly dispersive ultrafast optical parametric oscillators
Authors: Robarts Sebastian , Hunter Diana , Reid Derryck , McCracken Richard
Published: October 2023

We demonstrate GPU-accelerated modelling of ultrafast optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) via the 𝜒(2) nonlinear envelope equation with 1265× improvement in execution time compared with a CPU-based approach. Incorporating an adaptive step-size algorithm and absorbing boundary conditions, our model is capable of simulating OPOs containing long (>10mm) nonlinear crystals or significant intracavity dispersion with outputs generated in less than 1 minute, allowing the investigation of systems that were previously computationally prohibitive to explore. We implement real-world parameters such as optical coatings, material absorption, and non-ideal poling domains within quasi-phase matched nonlinear crystals, producing excellent agreement with the spectral tuning behaviour and average power from a previously reported prism-based OPO. Our digital twinning approach provides a low-cost iterative development platform for ultrafast OPOs.
Broadband 2x2 multimode-interference coupler on a silicon-nitride platform
Authors: ai xiheng , Zhang Yang , Hsu Wei-lun , Veilleux Sylvain , Dagenais Mario
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we present the design, optimization, and implementation of a sub-wavelength grating (SWG) multi-mode interference coupler (MMI) on a silicon nitride photonic integrated circuit (PIC) platform with a significantly enhanced bandwidth compared to the conventional MMI. We demonstrate the extension of the SWG MMI theory, previously presented for the silicon-on-insulator platform, to the Si3N4/SiO2 platform. Our approach involves an initial parameter optimization for a non-paired design, followed by a shift to a paired design that offers enhanced bandwidth and a smaller footprint. The optimized SWG MMI exhibits a 1 dB bandwidth of 300nm for both the insertion loss and power imbalance, making it a significant addition to silicon nitride photonics.
Temperature sensitive contact modes allosterically gate TRPV3
Authors: Burns Daniel , Venditti Vincenzo , Potoyan Davit A.
Published: October 2023

TRPV Ion channels are sophisticated molecular sensors designed to respond to distinct temperature thresholds. The recent surge in cryo-EM structures has provided numerous insights into the structural rearrangements accompanying their opening and closing; however, the molecular mechanisms by which TRPV channels establish precise and robust temperature sensing remain elusive. In this work we employ molecular simulations, multi-ensemble contact analysis, graph theory, and machine learning techniques to reveal the temperature-sensitive residue-residue interactions driving allostery in TRPV3. We find that groups of residues exhibiting similar temperature-dependent contact frequency profiles cluster at specific regions of the channel. The dominant mode clusters on the ankyrin repeat domain and displays a linear melting trend while others display non-linear trends. These modes describe the residue-level temperature response patterns that underlie the channel’s functional dynamics. With network analysis, we find that the community structure of the channel changes with temperature. And that a network of high centrality contacts connects distant regions of the protomer to the gate, serving as a means for the temperature-sensitive contact modes to allosterically regulate channel gating. Using a random forest model, we show that the contact states of specific temperature-sensitive modes are indeed predictive of the channel gate’s state. Supporting the physical validity of these modes and networks are several residues identified with our analyses that are reported in literature to be functionally critical. Our results offer high resolution insight into thermo-TRP channel function and demonstrate the utility of temperature-sensitive contact analysis.
CAG repeat expansion in the Huntington’s disease gene shapes linear and circular RNAs biogenesis
Authors: Ayyildiz Dilara , Bergonzoni Guendalina , Monziani Alan , Tripathi Takshashila , Döring Jessica , Kerschbamer Emanuela , Di Leva Francesca , Pennati Elia , Donini Luisa , Kovalenko Marina , Zasso Jacopo , Conti Luciano , Wheeler Vanessa C. , Dieterich Christoph , Piazza Silvano , Dassi Erik , Biagioli Marta
Published: October 2023

Alternative splicing (AS) appears to be altered in Huntington’s disease (HD), but its significance for early, pre-symptomatic disease stages has not been inspected. Here, taking advantage of Htt CAG knock-in mouse in vitro and in vivo models, we demonstrate a correlation between Htt CAG repeat length and increased aberrant linear AS, specifically affecting neural progenitors and, in vivo, the striatum prior to overt behavioral phenotypes stages. Remarkably, a significant proportion (36%) of the aberrantly spliced isoforms are not-functional and meant to non-sense mediated decay (NMD). The expanded Htt CAG repeats further reflect on a previously neglected, global impairment of back-splicing, leading to decreased circular RNAs production in neural progenitors. Integrative transcriptomic analyses unveil a network of transcriptionally altered micro-RNAs and RNA-binding proteins (Celf, hnRNPs, Ptbp, Srsf, Upf1, Ythd2) which might influence the AS machinery, primarily in neural cells. We suggest that this unbalanced expression of linear and circular RNAs might alter neural fitness, contributing to HD pathogenesis.
Prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of hypothyroidism among pregnant women in the health region of Lleida: A cohort study
Authors: Siscart Júlia , Perejón Daniel , Serna Maria Catalina , Oros Miriam , Godoy Pere , Sole Eduard
Published: October 2023

Background

Primary maternal hypothyroidism is defined as the increase of TSH levels in serum during pregnancy. Hypothyroidism in pregnancy is the second most common endocrine disease, after diabetes mellitus, with a prevalence ranging between 3.2 and 5.5%. Its variability depends on ethnical differences. Hypothyroidism in pregnancy is associated with other chronic diseases and fetal and maternal outcomes.

Objective

To analyze the prevalence of hypothyroidism among multiethnic pregnant women, and to evaluate the comorbidity with chronic diseases and outcomes leaded during pregnancy and newborn.

Methods

Retrospective observational cohort study in pregnant women during the years 2012–2018 in the health region of Lleida. The relationship of hypothyroidism with different variables was analyzed by calculating the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) with multivariate logistic regression models.

Results

We analyzed a sample of 17177 pregnant women, which represents more than 92% of the total of pregnant women in the health region of Lleida. The annual prevalence of hypothyroidism was 5.7–7.1%. According to the region of origin, the lowest prevalence was found in the population from Sub Saharian Africa (2.1%), while the highest was from Asia and the Middle East (8.6%). Other factors associated with hypothyroidism were age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. In addition, we did not observe an effect of hypothyroidism on the course of pregnancy, childbirth, and on the newborn. Finally, there was a good control of the disease during pregnancy.

Conclusions

The prevalence of hypothyroidism in pregnancy was 6,5% in this study which depends on the country of origin, lower values were found in Sub Saharian African women and higher in those from Asia and the Middle East. Hypothyroidism was associated with age, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, or dyslipidemia, and was not related to the Apgar score or the weight of the newborn.
Clinical epidemiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children and adolescents. The LiverKids: Study protocol
Authors: Chacón Carla , Arteaga Ingrid , Martínez-Escudé Alba , Ruiz Rojano Irene , Lamonja-Vicente Noemí , Caballeria Llorenç , Ribatallada Diez Ana María , Schröder Helmut , Montraveta Montserrat , Bovo Maria Victoria , Ginés Pere , Pera Guillem , Diez-Fadrique Galadriel , Pachón-Camacho Alba , Alonso Núria , Graupera Isabel , Torán-Monserrat Pere , Expósito Carmen
Published: October 2023

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly increasing alongside overweight and obesity, not only in adults but also in children and adolescents. It is unknown what impact the development of NAFLD in childhood may have in later life. The importance of early detection and treatment lies in its potential for progression to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver-related death, as well as its associated extrahepatic comorbidities. Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE) with Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) is an effective, non-invasive and safe diagnostic method to estimate the degree of fibrosis and steatosis in the liver, but little is known about its applicability in the paediatric population.

Aims

1) To assess the prevalence of significant liver fibrosis (Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM) ≥6.5 kPa) using VCTE, and that of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (≥225 dB/m) using CAP in children and adolescents. 2) To determine the optimal cut-off points of the CAP to achieve maximum concordance with the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings in the diagnosis of mild, moderate and severe NAFLD in children and adolescents.

Methods

Cross-sectional population-based study which will include 2,866 subjects aged between 9 and 16 years. Participants will undergo: anamnesis, physical examination, blood extraction, VCTE, MRI and questionnaires on socio-demographic data, personal and family medical history and lifestyle assessment.

Applicability and relevance

The study aims to establish the foundations for the use of VCTE in children and adolescents in order to achieve early diagnosis of NAFLD. Moreover, it will serve to understand in further detail the disease and to identify the risk groups of children and adolescents who may be at risk of developing it. Ultimately, this will help determine to which subgroups of the population we need to target resources for prevention and early detection of this entity, as well as possible intervention for its treatment.

Trial registration

The LiverKids study is registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05526274).
On the conservation of white-clawed crayfish in the Iberian Peninsula: Unraveling its genetic diversity and structure, and origin
Authors: Martínez-Ríos María , Martín-Torrijos Laura , Casabella-Herrero Gloria , Tedesco Perla , Machordom Annie , Diéguez-Uribeondo Javier
Published: October 2023

European crayfish species are a clear example of the drastic decline that freshwater species are experiencing. In particular, the native species of the Iberian Peninsula, the white clawed-crayfish (WCC) Austropotamobius pallipes, is listed as “endangered” by the IUCN and included in Annex II of the EU Habitat Directive and requires especially attention. Currently, implemented conservation management strategies require a better understanding of the genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns, as well as of its evolutionary history. For this purpose, we have generated the largest datasets of two informative ribosomal mitochondrial DNA regions, i.e., cytochrome oxidase subunit I and 16S, from selected populations of the WCC covering its geographical distribution. These datasets allowed us to analyze in detail the (i) genetic diversity and structure of WCC populations, and (ii) divergence times for Iberian populations by testing three evolutionary scenarios with different mtDNA substitution rates (low, intermediate, and high rates). The results indicate high levels of haplotype diversity and a complex geographical structure for WCC in the Iberian Peninsula. The diversity found includes new unique haplotypes from the Iberian Peninsula and reveals that most of the WCC genetic variability is concentrated in the northern and central-eastern regions. Despite the fact that molecular dating analyses provided divergence times that were not statistically supported, the proposed scenarios were congruent with previous studies, which related the origin of these populations with paleogeographic events during the Pleistocene, which suggests an Iberian origin for these WCC. All results generated in this study, indicate that the alternative hypothesis of an introduced origin of the Iberian WCC is highly improbable. The result of this study, therefore, has allowed us to better understand of the genetic diversity, structure patterns, and evolutionary history of the WCC in the Iberian Peninsula, which is crucial for the management and conservation needs of this endangered species.
Decision avoidance and post-decision regret: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Han Qing , Quadflieg Susanne , Ludwig Casimir J. H.
Published: October 2023

Decision Avoidance (DA) strategies allow people to forego or abandon effortful deliberation by postponing, bypassing, or delegating a decision. DA is thought to reduce regret, primarily by allowing decision makers to evade personal responsibility for potential negative outcomes. We tested this relation between DA and post-decision regret in a multilevel meta-analysis of 59 effect estimates coming from 13 papers. Five DA strategies were considered: status quo preservation, action omission, inaction inertia, choice delegation and choice deferral. Across all effects and DA strategies, there was a non-significant trend toward DA reducing regret (Hedges’ g = -0.23, p = 0.063). When assessing individual strategies, we found that only status quo preservation reduced regret reliably (Hedges’ g = -0.45, p = 0.006). The relationship between DA and regret was unclear for the other DA strategies. We tested a number of moderators for the effect. Only ‘previous experience’ (i.e., the outcome of a previous decision) influenced the relation between DA and regret reliably. That is, if participants choose the DA option when the same choice previously led to a negative outcome, regret is actually enhanced. Overall, there is clear evidence that status quo preservation can reduce regret, but it is currently unclear whether the same holds for other DA strategies.
Virtual pivot point: Always experimentally observed in human walking?
Authors: Vielemeyer Johanna , Schreff Lucas , Hochstein Stefan , Müller Roy
Published: October 2023

A main challenge in human walking is maintaining stability. One strategy to balance the whole body dynamically is to direct the ground reaction forces toward a point above the center of mass, called virtual pivot point (VPP). This strategy could be observed in various experimental studies for human and animal gait. A VPP was also observed when VPP input variables like center of mass or ground reaction forces were perturbed. In this study, the kinetic and kinematic consequences of a center of pressure manipulation and the influence on the VPP are investigated. Thus, eleven participants walked with manipulated center of pressure (i.e. barefoot, backwards, with a rigid sole, with stilts, and in handstand compared to shoe walking). In all conditions a VPP could be observed, only one participant showed no VPP in handstand walking. The vertical VPP position only differs between shoe walking and rigid sole walking, there are no significant differences between the conditions in the horizontal VPP position and the spread around the VPP. However, it is conceivable that for more severe gait changes, walking without VPP could be observed. To further analyze this issue, the authors provide a VPP calculation tool for testing data regarding the existence of the VPP.
Modelling elephant corridors over two decades reveals opportunities for conserving connectivity across a large protected area network
Authors: Giliba Richard A. , Kiffner Christian , Fust Pascal , Loos Jacqueline
Published: October 2023

Protected area (PA) connectivity is pivotal for the persistence of wide-ranging wildlife species, but is challenged by habitat loss and fragmentation. We analyzed habitat suitability and connectivity for the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) across PAs in south-western Tanzania in 2000, 2010, and 2019. We quantified land-use changes through remote sensing data; estimated habitat suitability through aerial survey data, remotely sensed variables and ensemble species distribution models; modelled least-cost corridors; identified the relative importance of each corridor for the connectivity of the PA network and potential bottlenecks over time through circuit theory; and validated corridors through local ecological knowledge and ground wildlife surveys. From 2000 to 2019, cropland increased from 7% to 13% in the region, with an average expansion of 634 km2 per year. Distance from cropland influenced elephant distribution models the most. Despite cropland expansion, the locations of the modelled elephant corridors (n = 10) remained similar throughout the survey period. Based on local ecological knowledge, nine of the modelled corridors were active, whereas one modelled corridor had been inactive since the 1970s. Based on circuit theory, we prioritize three corridors for PA connectivity. Key indicators of corridor quality varied over time, whereas elephant movement through some corridors appears to have become costlier over time. Our results suggest that, over the past two decades, functional connectivity across the surveyed landscape has largely persisted. Beyond providing crucial information for spatial prioritization of conservation actions, our approach highlights the importance of modeling functional connectivity over time and verifying corridor models with ground-truthed data.
A new method for safety helmet detection based on convolutional neural network
Authors: Qian YueJing , Wang Bo
Published: October 2023

Considering practical issues such as cost control of hardware facilities in engineering projects, it is a challenge to design a robust safety helmet detection method, which can be implemented on mobile or embedded devices with limited computing power. This paper presents an approach to optimize the BottleneckCSP structure in the YOLOv5 backbone network, which can greatly reduce the complexity of the model without changing the size of the network input and output. To eliminate the information loss caused by upsampling and enhance the semantic information of the feature map on the reverse path, this paper designs an upsampling feature enhancement module. Besides, To avoid the negative impact of redundant information generated by feature fusion on the detection results, this paper introduces a self-attention mechanism. That is, using the designed channel attention module and location attention module, adjacent shallow feature maps and upsampled feature maps are adaptively fused to generate new feature maps with strong semantics and precise location information. Compared with the existing methods with the fastest inference speed, under the same compute capability, the proposed method not only has faster inference speed, the FPS can reach 416, but also has better performance with mAP of 94.2%.
A Study on the Acculturation Attitudes and Life Satisfaction of Married Migrant Women
Authors: Lee Dong-Eun
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study is to analyze how social support and acculturation attitudes of women from marriage immigrant families in are related to life satisfaction. In addition, we examined the characteristics of the society to which migrants belong, as well as the differences according to the resilience of migrants and the discrimination experiences perceived by migrants. In this study, the phenomenon of living and experiencing in Korea was understood or interpreted through in-depth interviews and self-written questionnaires of research participants. A case study was conducted on married migrant women from six countries who have lived in Korea for more than ten years. As a result of the study, it was found that in the acculturation attitudes of integration, the case of high resilience, the group with less perceived discrimination experience, and the group with a lot of social support had high life satisfaction.
Approach and Avoidance Factors of Psychological Counseling Perceived by Chinese International Students
Authors: An Hyeshin , Jang Yoojin
Published: October 2023

This study aims to explore approach and avoidance factors of psychological counseling perceived by Chinese international students. In-depth interviews were conducted with Chinese international students who had counseling experience. The collected ideas were compiled and summarized into statements. Participants then classified the statements according to similarity and rated the importance of each statement. Applying the Concept Mapping, the dimensions of approach and avoidance factors of counseling were identified, which were divided into 2 dimensions of individual and social factors. These results showed that cultural factors played a key role in seeking professional help such as counseling. In addition, the 8 clusters of approach factors and avoidance factors showed that, due to experiencing a great deal of cultural differences and discrimination in Korea, Chinese international students displayed a preference for official and professional service, such as counseling. Finally, the differences in perceived importance between the counselor group and the client group were compared using a go-zone graph. It was found that clients perceived problem solving through an expert who is socially unrelated to them as the most important. This study sheds light on the specific and actual perceptions held by Chinese international students who have directly experienced counseling. This study contributes to a better understanding of how Chinese international students seek psychological assistance, underscores the provision of culturally appropriate counseling services, and offers recommendations for policy initiatives and implementation at both governmental and university levels. The significance of this study lies in its presentation of concrete measures aimed at enhancing psychological support for Chinese international students.
Processes of spatial concentration and specialisation of industry by the intensity of R&D work in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship (Poland)
Authors: Brezdeń Paweł , Sikorski Dominik
Published: October 2023

The aim of this article is to assess the spatial diversity and to identify the spatial distribution of industry, as well as the directions and scales of its transformations based on the processes of spatial concentration and specialisation of the industrial activity from the perspective of the intensity of research and development (R&D) work in the areas of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. The analysis of the location of industrial activity was conducted based on the entities registered in section C (manufacturing) of the Polish Classification of Activity (PKD). Spatial structures of the industry innovation are presented by applying the classification of manufacturing concerning the intensity of R&D for high-technology, medium high-technology, medium low-technology and low-technology industries. The research was conducted for municipalities divided into cities and rural areas. The results indicate significant changes that took place in the years 2009–2020 in the spatial structure of the whole region, as well as in the urban spatial distribution due to the occurring processes of concentration and specialisation of industrial activity. These changes were simultaneously accompanied by the decreasing level of the concentration of industrial production. Additionally, the Lower Silesian Voivodeship is also characterised by significant spatial diversity of the concentration and specialisation processes of industrial activity. The identified regularities demonstrate the growing role of the suburban zones of large cities, which is particularly visible in the example of Wrocław, an area of intensive diffusion of industrial activity from the central hub. These processes also diffuse into smaller urban centres in the voivodeship.
Cohesion Policy and environmental protection: The attitude of Polish public organisations
Authors: Herodowicz Tomasz
Published: October 2023

The quality of public organisations, which is highly dependent on the institutional quality, is one of the fundamental factors determining policy effectiveness and socio-economic growth trajectories in a long-term perspective. The article provides an insight into the topic of the informal institutions characterising Polish public organisations by paying special attention to informal institutions referring to the awareness of the need for sustainability and an attitude towards Cohesion Policy implementation in the field of environmental protection. Therefore, the main research goal was to verify the following hypothesis: “The staff of Polish public organisations are characterised by the awareness of the need for sustainability and a positive attitude towards Cohesion Policy implementation in the field of environmental protection”. To this end, a direct research technique (e-questionnaire) involving representatives of organisations responsible for Cohesion Policy implementation and for natural environment protection was applied. This made it possible to gather unique data and to elaborate the structure indicators describing the beliefs of staff employed in public organisations. Overall, their positive attitude towards the directions and assumptions of Cohesion Policy in the field of environmental protection was proved. The examined groups of organisations were characterised by a similar way of thinking about Cohesion Policy funds as an environmental protection factor, which seems to be an important institutional building block affecting Cohesion Policy effectiveness. Some of the respondents demonstrated critical thinking, and they developed their own ideas regarding the most important environmental protection factors including mainly both formal and informal institutional elements, such as legal regulations or ecological education.
Prediction of plasma volume and total hemoglobin mass with machine learning
Authors: Moreillon B. , Krumm B. , Saugy J. J. , Saugy M. , Botrè F. , Vesin J. M. , Faiss R.
Published: October 2023

Hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) is used for the clinical diagnosis of anemia, and in sports as a marker of blood doping. [Hb] is however subject to significant variations mainly due to shifts in plasma volume (PV). This study proposes a newly developed model able to accurately predict total hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) and PV from a single complete blood count (CBC) and anthropometric variables in healthy subject. Seven hundred and sixty‐nine CBC coupled to measures of Hbmass and PV using a CO‐rebreathing method were used with a machine learning tool to calculate an estimation model. The predictive model resulted in a root mean square error of 33.2 g and 35.6 g for Hbmass, and 179 mL and 244 mL for PV, in women and men, respectively. Measured and predicted data were significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with a coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.76 to 0.90 for Hbmass and PV, in both women and men. The Bland–Altman bias was on average 0.23 for Hbmass and 4.15 for PV. We herewith present a model with a robust prediction potential for Hbmass and PV. Such model would be relevant in providing complementary data in contexts such as the epidemiology of anemia or the individual monitoring of [Hb] in anti‐doping.
Universal convex covering problems under translations and discrete rotations
Authors: Jung Mook Kwon , Yoon Sang Duk , Ahn Hee-Kap , Tokuyama Takeshi
Published: October 2023

We consider the smallest-area universal covering of planar objects of perimeter 2 (or equivalently, closed curves of length 2) allowing translations and discrete rotations. In particular, we show that the solution is an equilateral triangle of height 1 when translations and discrete rotations of π are allowed. We also give convex coverings of closed curves of length 2 under translations and discrete rotations of multiples of π/2 and of 2π/3. We show that no proper closed subset of that covering is a covering for discrete rotations of multiples of π/2, which is an equilateral triangle of height smaller than 1, and conjecture that such a covering is the smallest-area convex covering. Finally, we give the smallest-area convex coverings of all unit segments under translations and discrete rotations of 2π/k for all integers k=3.
Development of fiber compound foaming agent and experimental study on application performance of foamed lightweight soil
Authors: Qiu Youqiang , Wang Yijun , Liu Yang , Zhang Liujun , Chen Yashao , Li Chenyang , Wu Tong , Wang Chaoxiang
Published: October 2023

In order to prepare high-performance foaming agent for field-cast foamed lightweight soil, the fiber compound foaming agent was prepared by the combination of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and nonionic surfactant alkyl polyglucoside (APG), supplemented by hydrolyzed polyacryamide (HPAM) as the foam stabilizer. The effects of the mass ratio of surfactant and the content of foam stabilizer on the properties of fiber compound foaming agent were compared and analyzed by testing the surface tension, viscosity, foam volume, and foam half-life. Based on the analysis of foam volume and foam stability of foaming agent, the optimal mass ratio of surfactant and the optimal content of foam stabilizer were optimized. In addition, based on the optimized fiber compound foaming agent to prepare foamed lightweight soil, the influence of different foaming agent concentrations on the application performance of foamed lightweight soil was studied, and the appropriate concentration of fiber compound foaming agent solution was further optimized. Thus, the optimum reaction conditions for preparing SDS-APG compound foaming agent containing foam stabilizer HPAM were proposed as follows: mass ratio of SDS to APG was 2:1, concentration of HPAM was 3.75 wt‰, and concentration of foaming agent was 9.21 wt%.
The Humanities of Contagion: How Literary and Visual Representations of the “Spanish” Flu Pandemic Complement, Complicate and Calibrate COVID-19 Narratives
Authors: Welang Nahum
Published: October 2023

My article examines how literary and visual representations of the “Spanish” Flu contagion foreshadow and generate critical discourses about pandemics. D.H. Lawrence’s novella The Fox characterises paranoia about biological abnormality and loss of agency as a likely reaction to epidemic threats, Josep Pla’s literary non-fiction The Gray Notebook explores how the act of forgetting functions as a coping mechanism during the experience of contagion, and John Singer Sargent’s painting The Interior of a Hospital Tent problematises the contradiction between forgetfulness and pandemic preparedness. Because these works utilise subtle but effective metaphors to understand, remember, and ethicise the trauma of living through a global contagion, they reveal the unexpected ways that metaphors rethink or generate critical resources about pandemics such as COVID-19. My article thus argues that the ability of these works to complement, complicate, and ultimately calibrate hegemonic narratives about COVID-19 makes a persuasive case for the educational relevance of humanistic insights.
Nahrungsmittel als Sprach- und Kulturbrücke im deutsch-albanischen Sprachkontakt in Kosovo
Authors: Hamiti Vjosa , Dushi Arlinda
Published: October 2023

Abstrakt

Der vorliegende Beitrag widmet sich der Analyse des Einflusses der deutschen Sprache auf die Entwicklung des Albanischen in Kosovo im Rahmen interkultureller Begegnungen. Die Forschungsmethodik umfasst drei Phasen, nämlich die Analyse des Zustands, der Einwanderungszeit und schließlich Einwanderungswege von deutschen Entlehnungen. Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf der lexikalischen Analyse der Verwendung deutscher Entlehnungen im Albanischen, insbesondere in Kosovo. Ob ein Einfluss der deutschen Sprache auf das Albanische als Nachweis interkultureller Interaktion festgestellt werden kann, steht im Mittelpunkt der Untersuchung. Zudem wird der konkrete Umfang dieser Beeinflussung analysiert. Die Untersuchung berücksichtigt nicht nur zwischenmenschliche Aushandlungsprozesse, sondern auch zwischensprachliche Ereignisse, die im Kontext hybrider Kultur in Interaktionen hervorgehoben werden. Dabei werden die Konzepte der Transkulturalität und Interkulturalität herangezogen. Frühere Forschungsarbeiten haben zwar das Ausmaß des Gebrauchs deutscher Entlehnungen im Albanischen in Kosovo untersucht. Die vorliegende Untersuchung zielt nun darauf ab, diese Forschungen zu erweitern. Für die Analyse des Anwendungsbereichs deutscher Entlehnungen wurden verschiedene lexikalische Methoden angewendet. Die Untersuchung basiert auf einer langfristigen Feldforschung. Ein eigens erstellter Korpus liefert relevante Daten und ermöglicht wertvolle Einblicke in dieses sprachliche Phänomen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Untersuchung können als zusätzliches Material für künftige Forschungen zum deutsch-albanischen Sprachkontakt dienen.
Blood pressure lowering effects of Vernonia amygdalina Del. Aqueous fraction on hypertensive Wistar Kyoto rats
Authors: Juwita Dian Ayu , Farinka Rindang , Abdillah Rahmad , Rachmaini Fitri
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Vernonia amygdalina (VA) is a plant that consumed as vegetable by Indonesians contained numerous secondary metabolites. VA’s pharmacological action, including its antioxidant properties, anticancer, antidiabetic, and hepatoprotective. The purpose of this research is to reveal the activity of Vernonia amygdalina. leafs aqueous fraction (VALAF) as a blood pressure-lowering agent in hypertensive model.

Methods

Combination of prednisone and NaCl were used as hypertensive inducer. The animals were split into five different groups, normal control group treated with distilled water, treatment VALAF groups with dose of 10; 20 and 40 mg/kg BW respectively, while the last group was treated with captopril at dose of 2.25 mg/kg BW. All animals were given an oral treatment for 15 days. On days 5, 10, and 15, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and blood flow (BF) were all measured. On days 0 and 15, NO level were assessed. All data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, and Duncan Multiple Range Test.

Results

The V. amygdalina leaf aqueous fraction has blood pressure lowering activity. The blood pressure parameter of the rats treated with VALAF were lower as compared to the normal control group (p<0.05). NO levels in the VALAF group were not significantly higher than in the normal control group (p>0.05). The VALAF 20 give the greatest percentage of decrease in blood pressure, heart rate and blood volume on the 15th day of examination.

Conclusions

These study indicated that V. amygdalina leaf aqueous fraction has the potential to be an alternative therapy for managing blood pressure in hypertensive animal models.
Causes of adverse outcomes in acute intestinal obstruction
Authors: Madyarov Valentin , Kuzikeev Marat , Malgazhdarov Maulen , Abzalbek Yestay , Zhapbarkulova Gulnara
Published: October 2023

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to analyse the effectiveness of methods of diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute intestinal obstruction.

Methods

A total of 123 patients were examined, who were diagnosed based on history, an overview X-ray of the abdominal cavity, a contrast examination of the intestine, and contrast marks according to Yu. L. Shalkov and irrigoscopy. 57.4 % of patients had all typical aspects of the disease, 17.7 % – indolent aspects, and 4.8 % – atypical. In the case of colonic obstruction, the method of irrigoscopy is informative. To restore intestinal function, patients with acute intestinal obstruction of the small intestine are indicated with a Yu. L. Shalkov nasogastroenteral tube or a double-drainage nasointestinal tube. And with the colonic form of the disease, it is necessary to perform a Hartmann-type operation and establish a Maidl-type anastomosis.

Results

It was noted that with indolent or atypical aspects of the disease, patients received medical care late. It is shown that in the case of resection of necrotic areas of the intestine, it is informative to determine the resection boundary using the vasoscopy method using a 1 % aqueous solution of methylene blue. It was found that the optimal distance from the edge of the resection is 3 cm.

Conclusions

The results of this study are of interest to clinicians who are engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute intestinal obstruction.
Paradise Found or Common Sense Lost? Göbekli Tepe’s Last Decade as a Pre-Farming Cult Centre
Authors: Banning Edward B.
Published: October 2023

The spectacular finds at Turkey’s Göbekli Tepe have fired the imaginations of archaeologists and the general public alike. Reflecting on developments at and about the site since the 2011 publication of a critique of the site’s dominant interpretation as a hunter-gatherer cult centre, this article shows that some elements of that critique, including assertions about roofing and a residential population, have gained traction, while others have fallen on deaf ears. Göbekli Tepe has also become the locus of discussion and speculation in disciplines ranging from astronomy and religion to psychology and architectural history, while also inspiring pseudoscientific claims that associate the site with the Garden of Eden, a supposed technologically sophisticated pre-Holocene civilization or extraterrestrial visitors.
TOPSIS YÖNTEMİ: OECD ÜLKELERİNİN EKONOMİK, FİNANSAL VE SAĞLIK GÖSTERGELERİNİN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ
Authors: KAVAS Yusuf Bahadır , ERTAŞ Abdulkadir
Published: October 2023

Bu çalışma, 2019 yılı itibariyle 31 adet OECD ülkesinin ekonomik, finansal ve sağlık göstergelerini TOPSIS yöntemi kullanarak değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Ekonomik ve finansal göstergelerden; finansal gelişmişlik endeksi, ekonomik küreselleşme endeksi, finansal özgürlük indeksi (0-100), 100.000 yetişkin başına ATM sayısı, işgücüne katılım oranı ve kişi başına düşen GSYH (Cari $) kullanılmıştır. Temel sağlık göstergelerinden olan doğumda beklenen yaşam süresi, gayri safi yurtiçi hasılanın yüzdesi olarak sağlık harcamaları, doktor sayısı, aşılanan çocukların yüzdesi ve kişi başına düşen gayri safi yurtiçi hasıla gibi veriler çalışmanın değişkenleri olarak TOPSIS yönteminde değerlendirme kriterleri olarak ele alınmıştır. Sonuçlar, ekonomik, finansal ve sağlık göstergeleri açısından en başarılı olan ve en az başarılı olan ülkeleri sıralamaktadır. Ayrıca, her bir gösterge için en iyi ve en kötü performans gösteren ülkeler de belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, bu çalışma, ekonomik, finansal ve sağlık göstergeleri açısından OECD ülkelerinin performansını değerlendirmek için TOPSIS yönteminin kullanılabilirliğini göstermektedir. Bu çalışmanın sonuçları, ülkelerin ekonomik, finansal ve sağlık açısından diğer ülkeler ile kıyaslandığında hangi konumda olduğu konusunda bilgi vermektedir. Bu sonuçlara göre politika yapıcıların daha çok hangi alanlara yönelmeleri gerektiği politikalarının ve programlarının geliştirilmesinde faydalı olabilir.