bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pelvic floor physical therapy in patients with chronic anal fissure: Long term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Reijn-Baggen Daniëlle A. van , Elzevier Henk W. , Putter Hein , Pelger Rob C.M. , Han-Geurts Ingrid J.M
Published: August 2022

Background Chronic anal fissure is a common benign anorectal disease with a high recurrence rate. Pelvic floor physical therapy has been proven effective in the short-term management in patients with chronic anal fissure and pelvic floor dysfunction (PAF-trial). The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes of the PAF-trial and fissure recurrence in patients who completed the 2 months of pelvic floor physical therapy at 1-year follow-up.Methods Electromyographic registration of the pelvic floor, digital rectal examination, visual analog scales, patient related outcome measurements and quality of life were assessed at baseline, and at 1 year after inclusion. The primary outcome was muscle tone at rest during electromyographic registration of the pelvic floor at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes contained fissure recurrence, pain ratings, pelvic floor dysfunction, complaint reduction measured with a proctology specific patient-reported outcome measurement and quality of life. Results The treatment protocol was followed by 137 patients. 97 patients (71%) completed the 1-year follow-up, 48 women (49.5%) and 49 men (50.5%) with a mean age of 44,4 ±11.6 years (range 19-68). In the total group of patients, mean resting electromyographic values of the pelvic floor significantly improved from baseline to follow-up at 1 year (mean estimated difference 2.20 µV; 95% CI, 1.79 to 2.61; p<0.001). After 1 year, the fissure recurred in 15 patients (15.5%). VAS-pain significantly decreased from baseline to follow-up (mean estimated difference 4.16; 95% CI, 3.75 to 4.58; p<0.001). Dyssynergia was found in 72.9% at baseline and decreased to 14.4% at 1-year follow-up (p<0.001). Complaint reduction measured with the Proctoprom, significantly improved from baseline to 1-year follow-up (p<0.001). Quality of life (RAND-36) significantly improved in eight of nine domains at 1-year follow-up. No significant improvement was found in the domain vitality.Conclusions In the PAF-trial, we demonstrated that pelvic floor physical therapy yields a significant and clinical benefit in the time course and therefore should be advocated as adjuvant conservative treatment in patients with chronic anal fissure.
Comparison of preservation, dissection of 50% and 100% inferior pulmonary ligament during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in upper lobectomy of lung cancer
Authors: Kang Jianhong , Abudurufu Maimaiti , Zhang Shuwei , Luo Honghe , Jiang Wei
Published: August 2022

Background
Preservation or dissection of the inferior pulmonary ligament (IPL) during performing upper lobectomy by video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) remains controversial. Also, whether dissecting 50%IPL can combine the advantages of both preservation and dissection or not remains controversial as well. This retrospective study analyzed the short-term clinical effects of preservation, dissection of 50%IPL, and dissection of 100%IPL during VATS for upper lobectomy.
Methods
A total of 104 patients with lung cancer who underwent VATS of upper lobectomy from May 2019 to December 2020 were selected and divided into three groups, 34 cases of preserving IPL as control group A, 35 cases of dissecting 50% IPL as group B, and 35 cases of dissecting 100% IPL as group C. This study mainly analyzed surgery time, intraoperative blood loss and intraoperative infusion volume, postoperative outcomes such as drainage time, hospital stay, and complications such as atelectasis, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and white blood cell count (WBC), and neutrophils (NEU) in these cases.
Results
No significant differences were identified in surgery time(P = 0.526). Intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in groups B and C than in group A (P = 0.000). Intraoperative infusion volume in group B was significantly lower than that in group C and group A (P = 0.009). The postoperative drainage time of group B was similar to that in group C, and was significantly lower than that of group A (P = 0.001). Group B had the shortest duration of postoperative hospital stay, and group C was slightly lower than group A (P = 0.001). No significant differences were demonstrated in atelectasis, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, postoperative WBC and postoperative NEU (P = 0.133,0.596,0.361,0.305, and 0.278 respectively). However, the prevalence of total complications in group B was the lowest, and in Group C was slightly lower than that in group A (P = 0.038). The results were similar in the left and right upper lungs.
Conclusions
The drainage time, hospital stay, and postoperative complications of dissecting 50%IPL were less than those of dissecting 100%IPL and IPL preservation. The intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage time of dissecting 100%IPL were slightly lower than preservation, and the intraoperative infusion volume and complications were similar to preservation.
High resolution mutated dynamic precision power gated comparator for 9-bit SAR ADC
Authors: Thamaraimanalan T. , Venkatesan C.
Published: August 2022

Comparator design is a major challenge during the implementation of high resolution SAR ADCs. In this research, a mutated dynamic power gated comparator is designed to achieve the SAR ADC with ultra-low power and enhanced gain. The proposed power gated comparator is designed using 45nm CMOS technology, and it is tested at 3.3V and 5V. High speed and low power are achieved through transistor sizing and power gating techniques. Mismatch of transistors, the offset value is appropriately calculated using the input resistance of the differential amplifier and trans conductance. Also, the offset cancellation and digital calibration techniques are included in the design to enhance the precision, and to improve the performance of ADCs. For the proposed comparator, phase margin, gain, ICMR, power consumption, offset voltage, slew rate, load capacitance, propagation delay, kickback noise, and settling time are compared with the conventional comparator. The proposed design consumes only 4.2mW while operating at 5V and 1.5mW when the input voltage is 3.3V. The effective resolution of the SAR ADC is observed as 8.2 bit with the proposed power gated comparator.
Producing of high-transparent antiscratch nanohybrid thin films on polycarbonate substrate
Authors: Kiomarsipour Narges , Eshaghi Akbar , Ramazani Mazaher , Zabolian Hosein , Abbasi-Firouzjaha Marzieh
Published: August 2022

In the present work, a new aqueous sol–gel procedure has been used for producing hard transparent organic–inorganic nanohybrid coatings on polycarbonate (PC) substrate for improving its optical and mechanical properties. Sol-gel thins films were prepared by mixing Si and Al aqueous precursors and applied them on the cold plasma treated PC substrate. TEOS, GPTMS and aluminum tri sec-butoxide were used as main precursors. In order to improve the adhesion strength onto polymer, PC substrates were treated by Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) system being conducted at atmosphere pressure in open air. The effects of sol ratios, curing temperature and aging time on the prepared coatings properties were investigated. Chemical, structural, morphological, optical and mechanical characteristics of the samples were studied by ATR-FTIR, EDS, XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, UV/vis spectroscopy, pencil hardness and eraser scratch methods. The obtained results indicated that the water contact angle of PC (73.24°) decreased to 6.32° by 45 second plasma treatment due to added functional groups on the treated surfaces. All of the films showed higher optical transmittance (89%) than the raw PC (86%) that was stemmed from the lower refractive index of the prepared films. Films indicated good adhesion onto the plasma treated substrates (5B). The pencil hardness of the PC substrate (4B) improved to 3H (8 pencil grade increment) with just a single layer coating (about 200 nm thickness) due to the preparation of new hard structures of interlocked Si and Al atoms.
Honey origin authentication using cyclic voltammetry and nanostructured carbon electrodes
Authors: Anizelli Camilla Pastore , Santos Luana Dalagrana dos , Ribeiro Vítor Antônio Vitale , Scholz Maria Brígida dos Santos , Killner Mario Henrique Montazzolli , Dias Luís Avelino Guimarães , Bona Evandro
Published: August 2022

Honey is a sweet substance that bees produce from the nectar of flowers. The geographic origin is an intrinsic factor for the characteristics of honey, which are evaluated through physicochemical analyzes that demand high analysis time and cost. Cyclic voltammetry can be used as an alternative analytical tool for the discrimination of honey samples, being a fast, simple, and inexpensive technique. This study aimed to apply cyclic voltammetry for honey origin authentication from Ortigueira (Paraná – Brazil) using graphite electrodes modified with nanoparticles of nickel oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, and carbon nanotubes. The voltammograms collected were treated using chemometric methods for exploratory analysis and classification. The principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that cyclic voltammetry had better discrimination performance than the physicochemical analysis. The best classification model (PLS-DA) was also obtained with data from cyclic voltammetry with a percentage of correct classification for the prediction set of 94.44%. On the other hand, the PLS-DA model with physicochemical data achieved 88.57% of correct classification in the prediction set. The PLS-DA model using the voltammograms obtained with the developed electrodes showed more accuracy and greater selectivity when compared to the PLS-DA model built with the physicochemical data. Furthermore, the electrochemical system developed has low cost and allows quick analyzes that can be applied to verify the authenticity of the geographical origin of honey samples.
Obesity is associated with a distinct innate immune phenotype in severe COVID-19 patients
Authors: Resende Ayane , de Oliveira Yrna Lorena , de Franca Mariana , Correa Cristiane , Fukutani Kiyoshi , Lipscomb Michael , de Moura Tatiana
Published: August 2022

Background/Objectives: Obesity is a chronic inflammatory disease that may impair immunity against SARS-Cov-2 in severe disease states. This study investigated whether the innate immune compartment is associated with obesity in severe COVID-19.Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled twenty-seven ICU COVID-19 patients that were assigned to obese (BMI≥30 kg/m², n=9) and non-obese (BMI<30kg/m², n=18) groups. Thirteen non-obese healthy adults composed the control group. Monocytes, NK, and both Low-Density (LD) and High-Density (HD) neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood samples and analyzed by flow cytometry to evaluate the frequency and expression patterns of surface receptors associated with innate immune effector responses. sTREM-1 and IL-6 levels from patients’ sera were quantified by ELISA. Results: The frequency of monocytes was negatively correlated with BMI, while NK and neutrophils were positively associated (p<0.05). A reduction of peripheral monocytes was observed in obese patients, and these cells showed a higher expression of PD-L1 than non-obese (p=0.04). HLA-DR expression on CD14+ monocytes was negatively associated with BMI (p=0.03) and total leukocytes (p=0.005). Patients with obesity also demonstrated a higher frequency of NK cells (p=0.01) and a hyperactivated phenotype (CD16+CD182+TREM-1+) in HD neutrophils (p=0.01). This phenotype was positively correlated with total leukocytes (p=0.01) and negatively correlated with the total numbers of HLA-DR+ monocytes in obese group (p=0.001). An increased expression of CD16 (p=0.01) and TREM-1+ (p=0.005) on mature HD neutrophils was detected in obese patients. In this group, CD16 was negatively correlated with IL-6 levels (p=0.03) and TREM-1+ positively correlated with PD-L1 on neutrophils (p=0.03). Furthermore, sTREM-1 levels correlated with PD-L1 of monocytes and LD neutrophils (p=0.02). Finally, aging may exacerbate cytotoxic and suppressive activity. Conclusion: Our data support that obesity differentially affected innate immune response in severe COVID-19 and highlight immune markers that should be further investigated as predictors for monitoring treatment in severe patients with comorbidities.
IPTS-TiO2 treated wood with anti-weathering properties by UV shielding
Authors: Shi Danchen , Wang Wenxuan , Liang Daxin , He Zengcheng , Wang Yonggui , Xiao Zefang , Yu Yang , Wang Haigang , Xie Yanjun
Published: August 2022

Plantation poplar is one of the most commonly used fast-growing woods in China. However, it can be easily weathered by climatic conditions (such as sunlight irradiation, rain, temperature change and oxidation), resulting in the degradation of wood properties. UV-induced discoloration is a noticeable issue to wood for outdoor use. In this study, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were modified onto the surface of wood via 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (IPTS) bridge. Artificial accelerated QUV weathering tests were carried out to evaluate the anti-weathering properties after IPTS-TiO2 modification. During treatment, TiO2 nanoparticles were bonded with IPTS and grafted onto the wood surface with isocyanate group. TiO2 nanoparticles played a role as UV filter, reducing degradation, and IPTS helped reduce the discoloration of wood. From FTIR results, the photodegradation of lignin was inhibited effectively during the weathering process. After artificial weathering, the values of L*, a* and b* of the IPTS-TiO2 treated wood were 80.16, 5.27 and 21.06, respectively. The results suggest the feasibility of IPTS-TiO2 modification for improving the anti-weathering properties of polar wood and providing an effective strategy for industrial wood modification.
Comprehensive Analyses of One-carbon Metabolism Related Genes and Their Association with Prognosis, Tumor microenvironment, Chemotherapy Resistance and Immunotherapy in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhou Ning , Tang Quanying , Yu Haochuan , Li Tong , Ren Fan , Zu Lingling , Chen Gang , Chen Jun , Xu Song
Published: August 2022

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common type of lung cancer and is a global public health concern. One-carbon (1C) metabolism plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of multiple cancer types. However, there are limited studies investigating 1C metabolism in LUAD. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of 1C metabolism-related genes in LUAD and to explore the potential correlation of these genes with gene methylation, the tumor microenvironment, and immunotherapy.Methods: We identified 26 1C metabolism-related genes and performed a Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of these genes. Consensus clustering was further performed to determine the 1C metabolism-related gene patterns in LUAD. The clinical and molecular characteristics of subgroups were investigated based on consensus clustering. CIBERSORT and ssGSEA algorithms were used to calculate the relative infiltration levels of multiple immune cell subsets. The relationship between 1C metabolism-related genes and drug sensitivity to immunotherapy was evaluated using the CellMiner database and IMvigor210 cohort, respectively.Results: The expression levels of 23 1C metabolism-related genes were significantly different between LUAD tumor tissues and normal tissues. Seventeen of these genes were related to prognosis. Two clusters (cluster 1 and cluster 2) were identified among 497 LUAD samples based on the expression of 7 prognosis-related genes. Distinct expression patterns were observed between the two clusters. Compared to cluster 2, cluster 1 was characterized by inferior overall survival (OS) (median OS= 41 vs. 60 months, p=0.00031), increased tumor mutation burden (15.8 vs. 7.5 mut/Mb, p<0.001), high expression of PD-1 (p<0.001) and PD-L1 (p<0.001), as well as enhanced immune infiltration. 1C metabolism-related genes were positively correlated with the expression of methylation enzymes, and a lower methylation level was observed in cluster 1 (p=0.0062). Patients in cluster 1 were resistant to chemotherapy drugs including pemetrexed, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, etoposide, oxaliplatin, and carboplatin. The specific expression pattern of 1C metabolism-related genes was correlated with a better OS in patients treated with immunotherapy (median OS: 11.2 vs. 7.8 months, p=0.0034). Conclusions: This study highlights that 1C metabolism is correlated with the prognosis of LUAD patients and immunotherapy efficacy. Our findings provide novel insights into the role of 1C metabolism in the occurrence, development, and treatment of LUAD, and can assist in guiding immunotherapy for LUAD patients.
Overweight or Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease among older Australian adults, even in the absence of cardiometabolic risk factors: A Bayesian survival analysis from the Hunter Community Study.
Authors: McEvoy Mark , Wynne Katie , Attia John , Oldmeadow Christopher , Inder Kerry , Kelly Brian , Hancock Stephen , Opio Jacob
Published: August 2022

Objective
To estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older adults with overweight or obesity without metabolic risk factors using a Bayesian survival analysis.
Design:
Prospective cohort study with median follow-up of 9.7 years.
Setting:
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Participants
: A total of 2313 community-dwelling older men and women.
Intervention/exposure:
Participants without known CVD and with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 18.5 kgm2 were stratified by BMI and metabolic risk to create six BMI-metabolic health categories. Metabolic risk was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria for metabolic syndrome. “Metabolically healthy” was defined as absence of metabolic risk factors. Bayesian survival analysis, incorporating prior information from a previously published meta-analysis was used to assess the effect of BMI-metabolic health categories on time from recruitment to CVD.
Main Outcome:
Incident physician-diagnosed CVD, defined as fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal or nonfatal stroke, angina, or coronary revascularisation procedure, was determined by linkage to hospital admissions records and Medicare Australia data. Secondary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality.
Results
From 2313 adults with complete metabolic health data over a median follow-up of 9.7 years, 283 incident CVD events, 58 CVD related deaths and 277 deaths from any cause occurred. In an adjusted Bayesian survival model of complete cases with informative prior and metabolically healthy normal weight as the reference group, the risk of CVD was increased in metabolically healthy overweight (HR = 1.52, 95% credible interval 0.96–2.36), and in metabolically healthy obesity (HR = 1.86, 95% credible interval 1.14–3.08). Imputation of missing metabolic health and confounding data did not change the results.
Conclusion
There was increased risk of CVD in older adults with overweight or obesity, even in the absence of any metabolic abnormality. This argues against the notion of “metabolically healthy” overweight or obesity.
Isolation of bioactive molecule from Indian hog plum (Spondias mangifera Willd.) fruit
Authors: Sivaprasad M. , Policegoudra R. S. , Aradhya S. M.
Published: August 2022

Fresh Indian hog plum fruits (Spondias mangifera Willd.) were sliced, dried and powdered. Sequential extraction of this fruit powder was carried out using hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and methanol. When these extracts were tested for different bioactivities, methanol extract showed the highest antioxidant activity and this extract was used to extract the bioactive molecule by silica gel column chromatography for isolating the pure bioactive molecule. The structure of the bioactive molecule was elucidated by analyzing UV, IR, LC-MS and 2D-HMQCT NMR spectral data and named it as Spondiol. This bioactive molecule showed an EC50 value of 80, 104, 161 and 196 for DPPH radical scavenging activity, Superoxide radical scavenging activity, Lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity and metal chelating activity respectively. Spondiol also inhibited platelet aggregation with IC50 of 250 mg and 350 mg when induced by collagen and Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) respectively. It also controlled the growth of bacteria viz., b. subtilis, M. luteus, S. fecalis, S. aureus, S. typhi, S. dysenteriae, K. pneumoniae and S. aureus.
Maximum-norm a posteriori error bounds for an extrapolated Euler/finite element discretisation of parabolic equations
Authors: Linss Torsten , Radojev Goran
Published: August 2022

A class of linear parabolic equations are considered. We give a posteriori error estimates in the maximum norm for a method that comprises extrapolation applied to the backward Euler method in time and finite element discretisations in space. We use the idea of elliptic reconstructions and certain bounds for the Green’s function of the parabolic operator.AMS subject classification (2000): 65M15, 65M60.
Defunctioning stoma before neoadjuvant treatment or resection of endoscopically obstructing rectal cancer
Authors: Sandén Gustav , Svensson Johan , Ljuslinder Ingrid , Rutegård Martin
Published: August 2022

Aim
To investigate whether patients with endoscopically untraversable rectal cancer may benefit from a defunctioning stoma created before initiation of neoadjuvant therapy or resectional surgery.
Methods
This is a retrospective study comprising patients diagnosed with rectal cancer during the years 2007–2020 in Region Västerbotten, Sweden. The primary outcome was time between diagnosis and any treatment, while survival and the incidence of complications were secondary outcomes. Data were obtained from the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry and medical records. Kaplan-Meier failure curves were used for visualization, and a multivariable Cox regression model was employed to adjust for confounding.
Results
Out of 843 patients, 57 with endoscopically obstructing rectal cancer remained after applying exclusion criteria. Some 12/57 (21%) patients received a planned defunctioning stoma before treatment (planned stoma group), and the remainder received upfront neoadjuvant therapy or surgery (control group). Median time to any treatment was 51 days for the planned stoma group and 36 days for the control group, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.28 (95% confidence interval: 0.12–0.64). There was no significant difference in survival between the groups. As for complications, these occurred at a rate of 5/12 (42%) and 7/45 (16%) in the planned stoma group and control group, respectively.
Conclusion
A planned stoma results in treatment delay, but it remains unclear whether this is clinically relevant. Complications were more common in the planned stoma group, although the data are limited. While larger studies are needed, it seems feasible to avoid defunctioning stomas even in endoscopically obstructing rectal cancers.
An investigation on the monkeypox virus dynamics in Human and Rodents population for a deterministic mathematical model
Authors: Leandry Leonce
Published: August 2022

A deterministic mathematical model was formulated for the two populations with vaccination and quarantine intervention which is proved to be well defined with positive invariant Domain. The disease free and endemic equilibrium were found and analyzed which are globally stable for the effective reproduction number of both the Human and Rodents if less than unit at disease free and greater than unit at endemic equilibrium. The sensitivity analysis were performed and the most sensitive parameters were determined. Furthermore, the analysis has been done by using the estimated parameters and the graphical analysis were presented. The results show reproduction number is 0.00000024768 for Human and 5.3749 for Rodents which revealed that the main contribution of infection is from the Rodents population not only that but also the study reveals that the increase in vaccination and quarantine together could reduce the reproduction number hence eradicate the virus.
Using histogram analysis of the intrinsic brain activity mapping to identify essential tremor
Authors: Xiao Pan , Tao Li , Zhang Xiaoyu , Li Qin , Gui Hong’e , Xu Bintao , Zhang Xueyan , He Wanlin , Chen Huiyue , Wang Hansheng , Lv Fajin , Luo Tianyou , Cheng Oumei , Luo Jin , Man Yun , Xiao Zheng , Fang Weidong
Published: August 2022

Background Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common movement disorders. Histogram analysis based on brain intrinsic activity imaging has a promising way to identify ET patients from healthy controls (HCs) and further explore the spontaneous brain activity changes and build the potential diagnostic biomarker in ET patients. Methods The histogram features extracted from 133 ET patients and 135 well-matched HCs as the input features. Then, a two-sample t-test, the mutual information, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) methods were applied to reduce the feature dimensionality. Support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) were used to differentiate ET and HCs and the classification performance was compared in the testing set. Moreover, correlation analysis was carried out between the selected histogram features and clinical tremor characteristics. Results Each classifier achieved a good classification performance in training and testing sets. The mean accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) of SVM, LR, RF, and KNN in the testing set were 92.62%, 0.948; 92.01%, 0.942; 93.88%, 0.941; 92.27%, 0.939, respectively. The most power discriminative features were mainly located in the cerebello-thalamo-motor and non-motor cortical pathways. Correlation analysis showed that there were 2 histogram features negatively and 1 positively correlated with tremor severity. Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that the histogram analysis of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) images with multiple machine learning algorithms could identify ET patients from HCs, and help to understand the spontaneous brain activity pathogenesis mechanisms in ET patients.
Semblance of a Physician: Medical students’ experiences during Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus consultation simulation
Authors: Neto Gabriel Lavorato , Turato Egberto Ribeiro , Parisi Maria Cândida Ribeiro
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVE:To understand fourth-year medical students’ experiences in a Performance-Based Education theatrical intervention in the clinical management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus 2 (T2DM) in Primary Care.METHODOLOGY:Qualitative design in which 10 students were interviewed after intervention of the following two T2DM management scenarios: 1) the diagnosis and initiation of the therapeutic plan; 2) initiation of insulin therapy. The symbolic meanings that the students attributed to the experience are described and discussed following the Balint Medical Psychology framework and literature on T2DM in undergraduate studies in medicine. RESULTS:We present two categories: 1) Concerning the symbolic meanings of T2DM and its management and; 2) Regarding the role of the performer towards the person with T2DM, their colleagues and the T2DM clinic. CONCLUSION:Subjective factors in teaching T2DM management that need to be addressed are: anxieties and negative ideas about the treatment and difficulty of exercising the role of a physician. Teaching-learning through Performance-Based Learning (PBL) makes it possible to address these issues. The results are theoretical resources that can be incorporated into teaching-learning strategies through reflection aimed at developing T2DM management skills in the work profile of general practitioners in Primary Care.
Expectations of Tutte-related functions of random ranked sets with multiplicities
Authors: Tran Tan Nhat
Published: August 2022

Employing two models, we show that various counting functions of a random variable defined by restriction or contraction of a ranked set with multiplicity (e.g., classical and arithmetic matroids) have expectations given by the corresponding multivariate Tutte polynomial. The first model is based on a generalization of a convolution formula of Kung (2010), extending from matroids to ranked sets with multiplicities. This model enables us to compute the expectations of many familiar polynomials, such as the chromatic, flow and Ehrhart polynomials, generalizing the classical results of Welsh (1996) on random graphs. The second model is designed to compute the expectations of invariants that are generally not evaluations of the polynomials mentioned above, such as the number of connected components of an intersection of hypersurfaces in an abelian Lie group arrangement, and the number of lattice points in a half-open zonotope. In particular, both models yield new probabilistic interpretations of the arithmetic Tutte polynomial and $G$-Tutte polynomial. A simple convolution-like formula for the Ehrhart polynomials of lattice zonotopes which seems to be new will also be given.
A preoperative MRI-based prediction model for biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy
Authors: Pan Minjie , Li Shouchun , Liu Fade , Liang Linghui , Shang Jinwei , Xia Wei , Cheng Gong , Hua Lixin
Published: August 2022

Objective: To propose and verify whether MRI-based model can reduce the incidence of postoperative biochemical failure (BF) in patients with PCa.Design: The center retrospectively analyzed 967 patients who accepted prostate bpMRI and radical prostatectomy (RP) from June 2018 to January 2020. Then, the included 446 patients were randomized into a research cohort (n=335) and validation cohort (n=111) at a ratio of 3:1. In addition to clinical variables, MRI models also include MRI parameters. The AUC of ROC and decision curve is analyzed.Main outcomes: Risk of postoperative BF, defined as persistent high or re-elevated PSA levels in patients with PCa who lack evidence of clinical recurrence.Result: Overall, in the research cohort (age, 69 [63 - 74] years) and the validation cohort (age, 69 [64 - 74] years), the incidence of postoperative BF was 22.39% and 27.02%, respectively. In the research cohort, the AUC of baseline model and MRI model were 0.780 and 0.857, respectively, with significant difference (P < 0.05). The results in the validation cohort were consistent (0.753 vs. 0.865, P < 0.05). At a 20% risk threshold, The false positive rate of MRI model was lower than that of baseline model (31% [95% CI, 9%-39%] vs 44% [95% CI, 15%-64%]), with the true positive rate has only decreased a little (83% [95% CI,63%-94%] vs 87% [95% CI, 75%-100%]). 32 of 100 RPs can been performed, with no raise in quantity of patients with missed BF.Conclusion: We developed and verified a MRI-based prediction model that predicts the incidence of BF in patients after RP through preoperative clinical variables and MRI-related variables. This model could be helpful for clinical work.
Sorafenib Inhibits Doxorubicin-Induced PD-L1 Upregulation to Improve Immunosuppressive Microenvironment in Osteosarcoma
Authors: Wang Jizhuang , Hu Fangqiong , Yu Pei , Wang Jun , Liu Zhuochao , Bao Qiyuan , Wen Junxiang
Published: August 2022

Purpose: Although undergoing conventional chemotherapy significantly improves the prognosis of osteosarcoma, chemoresistance and failure of therapy is still a significant challenge. Furthermore, conventional chemotherapy, like doxorubicin, would upregulate the expression of Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) which caused an immunosuppressive microenvironment and unsatisfied treatment result in Osteosarcoma. Thus, it is urgent to explore a strategy to overcome this disadvantage.Methods: Human Osteosarcoma cell line MG63 and mouse Osteosarcoma cell line K7 were included in this study. Subcutaneous tumor model was used by injection K7 cells in BALB/C mice to test the effect of doxorubicin and sorafenib on tumor growth. PD-L1 expression was tested in vitro (flow cytometry, western blot and PCR) and in vivo (flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry). Proportion of immune cells (CD4, CD8, Tregs and cytotoxic T lymphocytes) in vivo was analyzed with flow cytometry.Results: Combination of sorafenib and doxorubicin inhibited tumor growth significantly in vivo. Doxorubicin increased PD-L1 expression in vitro and in vivo, while sorafenib inhibited doxorubicin-induced PD-L1 upregulation in vitro and in vivo. Proportion of interferon-γ-secreting CD8+ T lymphocytes in tumor tissue was increased significantly when combined sorafenib with doxorubicin, while proportion of CD4, CD8 and Tregs was not significantly changed. Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases (ERK) pathway could be one of the key mechanisms by which doxorubicin induced upregulation of PD-L1 in osteosarcoma cells.Conclusion: Combination of sorafenib and conventional chemotherapeutic reagents is a potent strategy to improve treatment effectiveness by modulating tumor micro environment in Osteosarcoma through increasing proportion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
Multi-decadal change in summer mean water temperature in Lake Konnevesi, Finland (1984-2021)
Authors: Noori Roohollah , Woolway R. Iestyn , Jun Changhyun , Bateni Sayed M. , Maghrebi Mohsen , Pulkkanen Merja
Published: August 2022

Depth-resolved water temperature data on the thermal environment of lakes are often hindered by sparse temporal frequency, limited depth resolution, or short duration that create many challenges for long-term analysis. Where high frequency and depth-resolved data exist, they can provide a wealth of knowledge about how lakes are responding to a changing climate. In this study, we analyzed 302 profiles of summer mean water temperature (July to September), which includes 6756 unique observations, from Lake Konnevesi (Finland) and investigated changes in lake surface and deep-water temperature from 1984 to 2021. Statistical analysis of this dataset suggests a substantial warming of lake surface water temperature (0.41 °C decade-1) but no significant change in the deepest layer (0.00 °C decade-1). Our analysis also suggested the inter-annual variability in lake surface temperature correlated significantly with the upward trends of summer mean air temperature and solar radiation, but suggested no significant effect of observed changes in ice break-up dates or changes in near-surface wind speed. None of the investigated predictors correlated with the change in deep-water temperature. Due to the variable response of lake surface and bottom water temperature to climate change in this high-latitude lake, our data suggest a substantial increase in lake thermal stability. Our study supports the growing literature on lake thermal responses to climate change, and illustrates the unique contrast of climate change impacts at the surface and at depth in lake ecosystems, with deep waters acting as a potential thermal refuge to aquatic organisms within a warming world.
Health Risk Vulnerability of Farm Community to Pesticide Application in Upper Jhelum Basin of Kashmir Himalaya, India
Authors: Ganaie M. Imran , Dev Aisha , Wani Manzoor A. , Mayer Ishtiaq A.
Published: August 2022

Ever growing population constantly put pressure on natural resources to cope with demands for their survival. This is particularly true with agriculture sector with reference to food and cash crops. Technology is playing its role in enhancing crop production. As such pesticides and chemical fertilizers have become an inseparable part of current agriculture and horticulture system. At the same time adverse impacts of such type of technology is seen on environment, ecosystems and on human and animal life. The present study has been conducted on the farm community of Kashmir Valley to assess pesticide poisoning in them . A Cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 farmers related to various health parameters to access their well-being by using statistical and mathematical techniques. The most frequently reported symptoms associated with pesticides were related to vision ailments (RRs = 3.90 ; X2 = 55.94), followed by nerve disorder system (RRs = 1.84 ; X2 = 17.26), dermal (RRs = 2.08 ; X2 = 17.40), general symptoms (RRs = 1.06 ; X2 = 0.27), gastro-intestinal tract infections (RRs = 1.62 ; X2 = 1.46) and respiratory disorders (RRs = 1.48 ; X2 = 0.82). Chi-square analysis and odds ratios show significant association between the farmer's educational level (X2 = 8.16) and pesticide poisoning. The study revealed that farmers were exposed to highly harmful pesticides, inadequate safety measures followed in handling pesticide application. Hence, the role of educational and training interventions on pesticide handling requires attention at community and panchayat level.
A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ON THE ROLE OF EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WORK IN INTEGRATING AUTISTIC CHILDREN INTO SOCIETY
Authors: ÖZSUNGUR Fahri
Published: August 2022

The aim of this study is to determine the educational role of social work in the social integration of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder, which is a social issue, through a qualitative research method. The study was carried out with twelve educator employees of three special education practice first-grade schools that teach children with autism spectrum disorder and are affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. The theoretical basis of the study is social learning, system, social exchange theories, and cognitive behavioral therapy, problem-solving, and crisis intervention models. According to the results of the study carried out with the interpretive phenomenology method, it was determined that social work had roles in the social integration of children with autism spectrum disorders such as family, education, care, counseling, sustainable innovation, and ethics. The results determined that ethics in social work was easy, equal, and free access to service. Innovation in social work includes new approaches in education and training, new methods, improvement and continuity in service, adaptation to change, and self-renewal. The problems experienced in the educational function of social work were basically determined as the lack of expertise of the educators, the ethical and social problems raised by the implementation of care and education services in schools by a single teacher, the lack of technological infrastructure of the schools, the deficiencies in the activities that need to be carried out for the children to socialize, the deficiencies in the education of families about autism, the problem with female students' personal care being provided by female staff.
ANNELERE GÖRE KANSERLİ ÇOCUKLARININ YAŞAM KALİTELERİ: NİTEL BİR ARAŞTIRMA
Authors: GÜNEŞ Lugen Ceren , DURUALP Ender
Published: August 2022

Hastanede yatan iki-yedi yaş arasındaki kanserli çocukların yaşam kalitelerinin anne görüşlerine göre incelenmesini amaçlayan araştırma, nitel boyutta olgubilim (fenomenoloji) desendedir. Araştırmanın çalışma grubu, Ankara’da bulunan iki üniversite hastanesinin onkoloji servisinde yatan, kanser tanısını en az altı ay önce almış, majör fizik ve motor gelişim bozukluğu olmayan 10 çocuğun annesinden oluşmaktadır. Araştırmanın verileri “Genel Bilgi Formu” ve “Anne Görüşme Formu” ile toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde içerik analizi ve betimsel analiz yönteminden yararlanılmıştır. Annelerin çoğunluğu kanser hastası olan çocuklarının; fiziksel sorunlar yaşadığını, tanı ve tedavi sürecinde olumsuz duygu değişimleri yaşadığını belirtmiştir. Anneler, çocuklarının sosyal, duygusal, dil ve kaba motor gelişimlerinin olumsuz etkilendiğini, fiziksel sorunlarının olduğunu, iletişim sorunları yaşadıklarını, oyun yaşantılarının değiştiğini ve yaşam kalitelerinin hastalıktan etkilendiğini belirtmişlerdir. Ayrıca, çocuklarının tanı ve tedavi sürecinde çocuk gelişimci ile karşılaştıklarını, hizmet aldıklarını ve aldıkları çocuk gelişimi hizmetlerinden memnun olduklarını ifade etmişlerdir. Ortaya çıkan temalar doğrultusunda, kanserli çocukların yaşamış olduğu fiziksel sorunlar, duygu değişimleri, gelişimleri, fiziksel sorunları, iletişim sorunları, oyun yaşantıları, yaşam kaliteleri ve çocuk gelişimcilerle karşılaşma durumları ile ilgili sonuçlara ulaşılmıştır.
Analysis of Electronic Channel Service Quality on Customer Satisfaction of Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Amora Ivone Fradia , Supriyanto Supriyanto
Published: August 2022

AbstractPurpose - This study aims to examine and analyze how the influence of Electronic Channel (E-Channel) service quality on customer satisfaction of Bank Syariah Indonesia.Method - The research uses a quantitative approach. The population used in this study is the customers of Bank Syariah Indonesia using E-Channel. With the number of samples in this study amounted to 100 respondents.Result - The variables of reliability, privacy and easy to use have a positive and significant effect on customer satisfaction. Meanwhile, the efficiency variable has a negative and significant effect on customer satisfaction. And for the design variable has no effect on customer satisfaction.Implication - The implication is that the quality of e-channel services (electronic channel) provided by the bank will affect customer satisfaction.Originality - This study analyzes the quality of service in the E-Channel includes five components, namely Reliability, Efficiency, Privacy/Security, Design, and Easy to Use on customer satisfaction.
Islamic Ethical Leadership: Improving the Performance of Sharia Financial Institutions with CSR during the Covid 19 Pandemic
Authors: Trihudiyatmanto Muhammad , Asmarajati Dian
Published: August 2022

AbstractPurpose - This research was conducted with the aim of identifying the relationship between Islamic Ethical leadership on organizational performance with social responsibility as a mediation moderated by the covid 19 pandemic.Method - The research data were obtained from BMT Al-Amin located in Wonosobo Regency, Central Java Province. Samples were taken from the population using census sampling. Data collection is taken directly from the object of research through a questionnaire. Then the data were analysed by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with Amos software version 20.Result - From the research that has been done, it is found that Islamic Ethical leadership has an effect on organizational performance at BMT Al-Amin. CSR apparently does not mediate the relationship of Islamic Ethical leadership to organizational performance. And the COVID-19 pandemic has also not moderated CSR's relationship to organizational performance.Implication - This study uses data on BMT Al-Amin, Wonosobo Regency, Central Java Province.Originality- This paper looks at the relationship of ethical leadership to organizational performance with social responsibility as a mediation moderated by the covid 19 pandemic in order to support the creation of BMT growth in Wonosobo Regency during the covid 19 pandemic which is influenced by ethical leadership attitudes through CSR.
XA yapıdaki Ti2RuSn ters-Heusler alaşımının yapısal, elektronik, elastik ve termodinamik özelliklerinin teorik olarak incelenmesi
Authors: ALBAYRAK Erol
Published: August 2022

Ters-Heusler (XA) yapıdaki üçlü Ti2RuSn alaşımının bazı yapısal özellikleri, manyetikliği, elektronik yapısı ve ayrıca elastisitesi DFT olarak bilinen yoğunluk fonksiyonel teorisi içerisinde yer alan genelleştirilmiş grandyent kabulleri kullanılarak incelenmiştir. Hesaplanan optimize edilmiş örgü sabitinin, toplam manyetik momentin ve elektronik bant yapısının literatürde yer alan mevcut verilerle uyumlu olduğu
görüldü. Spin polarize bant hesaplamasından, Ti2RuSn alaşımı spin-aşağı yöneliminde 0.405 eV'luk bir yasak enerji aralığına sahipken, spin-yukarı yöneliminde metalik özellik göstermekte olduğu ve bundan dolayı yarı metalik ferromanyetik bir doğaya sahip olduğu tahmin edildi. İkinci dereceden elastik sabitlerinin sonuçlarının, bu alaşım için Born mekanik kararlılık kriterlerini karşıladığı ve mekanik olarak kararlı olduğu anlaşıldı. Ayrıca, Pugh kriterlerine göre B/G oranı 3.23 olan bu alaşımın 1.75 sınırından büyük olması nedeniyle sünek bir doğaya sahip olduğu ve anizotropi faktörü (A) 2.88 olması nedeniyle anizotropik davranış gösterdiği tespit edildi. İncelenen bu alaşımın spin elektroniği uygulamaları için umut verici bir aday olduğu söylenebilir.
Kesir Dereceli PI Denetleyici ve Dinamik Talep Cevabı İçeren Zaman Gecikmeli Bir Bölgeli Yük Frekans Kontrol Sistemlerinin Kararlılık Bölgelerinin Belirlenmesi
Authors: KATİPOĞLU Deniz
Published: August 2022

Bu araştırmada, dinamik talep cevabı (DTC) içeren zaman gecikmeli bir bölgeli yük frekans kontrol (YFK) sisteminde kesir dereceli oransal - integral (FOPI) denetleyicinin sistemin kararlılığını garantileyen parametre değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Tüm FOPI kontrolör kazançlarını hesaplamak için etkili ve basit bir grafiksel yöntem uygulanmıştır. Belirli bir zaman gecikmesi için yöntem, FOPI denetleyicinin parametre uzayında bir kararlılık bölgesi oluşturan tüm dengeleyici orantılı-integral (PI) denetleyici kazançlarını (𝐾𝑃, 𝐾𝐼) düzleminde hesaplamaktadır. Bu işlem, sistemin karakteristik denkleminin reel ve sanal kısımları sıfıra eşitlenerek gerçekleştirilmiştir. Son olarak, Matlab/Simulink ortamında yapılan benzetim çalışmaları yardımıyla FOPI denetleyici içeren bir bölgeli YFK-DTC sistemi için elde edilen sonuçlar doğrulanmıştır.
Theoretical Investigation of 1H and 13C NMR Spectra of Diethanol Amine Dithiocarbamate RAFT Agent
Authors: GÖREN Kenan , BAĞLAN Mehmet , ÇAKMAK İsmail
Published: August 2022

In this study, quantum chemical studies of diethanolamine dithiocarbamate (DADC) RAFT compound were carried out. For this purpose, the composite was optimized by using the DFT / B3LYP method 6-311G and the B3PW91 method SDD basis set. By using the optimized structure obtained according to the GIAO
method, 1H and 13C NMR chemical shift values in the gas phase were calculated. According to the results obtained, it was seen that the theoretical data were coherent with the experimental data. In addition, in the theoretical part of the study, the FT-IR frequency values of the compound synthesized by using the same methods and basic set were compared experimentally and theoretically. In addition, the structure details and analysis of molecules, electronic properties such as HOMO and LUMO energies, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and thermodynamic properties have been performed. The electric dipole moment (μ) and the initial hyperpolarizability (β) values of the studied molecule were calculated by using ab initio quantum mechanical calculations. In addition, the calculated results show that the (DADC) molecule can have nonlinear optical (NLO) behavior with nonzero values. Neutral Band Orbital (NBO) analysis has been calculated with DFT / B3PW91/SDD basis set.