bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large area ion beam sputtered dielectric ultrafast mirrors for petawatt laser beamlines
Authors: Willemsen Thomas , Chaulagain Uddhab , Havlíčková Irena , Borneis Stefan , Ebert Wolfgang , Ehlers Henrik , Gauch Melanie , Groß Tobias , Kramer Daniel , Laštovička Tomáš , Nejdl Jaroslav , Rus Bedřich , Schrader Konrad , Tolenis Tomas , Vaněk František , Velpula Praveen K. , Weber Stefan
Published: February 2022

The latest advances in petawatt laser technology within the ELI Beamlines project have stimulated the development of large surface area dielectrically coated mirrors meeting all demanding requirements for guiding the compressed 30 J, 25 fs HAPLS laser beam at 10 Hz repetition rate and a center wavelength of 810 nm entirely in vacuum. We describe the production and evaluation of Ta2O5/HfO2/SiO2 ion beam sputtered coated (440 × 290 × 75) mm3 beam transport mirrors. No crazing was observed after thirty vacuum-air cycles. A laser induced damage threshold of 0.76 J/cm2 (fluence on mirror surface) was achieved and maintained at high shot rates.
Efficient method to improve the distribution probability of dissipative soliton and noise-like pulse in all-normal-dispersion fiber lasers
Authors: Li Xingliang , Zhang Shumin , Liu Jingmin , Yang Zhenjun
Published: February 2022

Inspired by the chirped pulse amplification technique, herein, we show an efficient method to improve the distribution probability of dissipative soliton and noise-like pulse in all-normal-dispersion fiber lasers by using an intracavity pulse power editing (PPE) technique for the first time. The dissipative-soliton fiber laser is thus simplified into three parts: a PPE link, a saturable absorber (SA), and a spectral filter. Pulse with different peak powers can be edited in the PPE link, then undergo the positive- or reverse-saturable absorption of the SA, and finally pass through the filter. Further, just by assigning the length of single-mode fiber (SMF) at different positions in the PPE link with a fixed cavity length, four pulse patterns, including dissipative soliton (DS), DS molecules, a bound pattern of DS and noise-like pulse (NLP), and pure NLP, can be controllably produced in fiber lasers. The observed bound pattern of DS and NLP is a new addition to the pulse dynamic pattern family. It is found that the longer the SMF after the gain fiber is, the pulse will be severely broadened. This pulse can easily enter the positive-saturable absorption region of most saturated absorption curves, which will increase the probability of DS radiation; if the SMF behind the gain fiber is shorter, the pulse is not severely broadened. The pulse has a high probability of entering the reverse-saturable absorption range of most saturated absorption curves, resulting in a higher likelihood of generating NLP. In experiments, it is only necessary to increase the SMF length between the gain fiber and the isolator to build a DS fiber laser; however, to construct an NLP fiber laser, only the SMF length between the gain fiber and the isolator needs to be shortened. The experimental results agree well with the numerical predictions. The results significantly broaden the design possibilities for pulse lasers, making them much more accessible to produce specific pulse patterns.
Remote sensing image cloud removal by deep image prior with a multitemporal constraint
Authors: Zhang Yuanpei , Zhao Ci , Wu Ying , Luo Junqiang
Published: February 2022

The existence of clouds largely goes against the monitoring of Earth from remote sensing satellites, and how to remove these clouds is of vital importance. To address the issue, we propose a generative method with two main aspects: 1) we introduce deep image prior as the generator to reconstruct the missing information covered by clouds; 2) to ensure the spatial information of reconstruction results, we attempt to make use of optical images from other periods as the constraint. The paper presents both simulation and real data experiments conducted with Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 data. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method outperforms the traditional cloud removal methods in both qualitative and quantitative evaluation results.
Constructing and validating a transferable epidemic risk index in data scarce environments using open data: A case study for dengue in the Philippines
Authors: Hierink Fleur , Margutti Jacopo , van den Homberg Marc , Ray Nicolas
Published: February 2022

Epidemics are among the most costly and destructive natural hazards globally. To reduce the impacts of infectious disease outbreaks, the development of a risk index for infectious diseases can be effective, by shifting infectious disease control from emergency response to early detection and prevention.

In this study, we introduce a methodology to construct and validate an epidemic risk index using only open data, with a specific focus on scalability. The external validation of our risk index makes use of distance sampling to correct for underreporting of infections, which is often a major source of biases, based on geographical accessibility to health facilities. We apply this methodology to assess the risk of dengue in the Philippines.

The results show that the computed dengue risk correlates well with standard epidemiological metrics, i.e. dengue incidence (p = 0.002). Here, dengue risk constitutes of the two dimensions susceptibility and exposure. Susceptibility was particularly associated with dengue incidence (p = 0.048) and dengue case fatality rate (CFR) (p = 0.029). Exposure had lower correlations to dengue incidence (p = 0.193) and CFR (p = 0.162). Highest risk indices were seen in the south of the country, mainly among regions with relatively high susceptibility to dengue outbreaks.

Our findings reflect that the modelled epidemic risk index is a strong indication of sub-national dengue disease patterns and has therefore proven suitability for disease risk assessments in the absence of timely epidemiological data. The presented methodology enables the construction of a practical, evidence-based tool to support public health and humanitarian decision-making processes with simple, understandable metrics. The index overcomes the main limitations of existing indices in terms of construction and actionability.
Stock prediction based on bidirectional gated recurrent unit with convolutional neural network and feature selection
Authors: Zhou Qihang , Zhou Changjun , Wang Xiao
Published: February 2022

With the development of recent years, the field of deep learning has made great progress. Compared with the traditional machine learning algorithm, deep learning can better find the rules in the data and achieve better fitting effect. In this paper, we propose a hybrid stock forecasting model based on Feature Selection, Convolutional Neural Network and Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (FS-CNN-BGRU). Feature Selection (FS) can select the data with better performance for the results as the input data after data normalization. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is responsible for feature extraction. It can extract the local features of the data, pay attention to more local information, and reduce the amount of calculation. The Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BGRU) can process the data with time series, so that it can have better performance for the data with time series attributes. In the experiment, we used single CNN, LSTM and GRU models and mixed models CNN-LSTM, CNN-GRU and FS-CNN-BGRU (the model used in this manuscript). The results show that the performance of the hybrid model (FS-CNN-BGRU) is better than other single models, which has a certain reference value.
Changes in corneal densitometry after long-term orthokeratology for myopia and short-term discontinuation
Authors: Zhao Lianghui , Jing Lili , Li Jie , Du Xianli
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To quantify changes in corneal densitometry after long-term orthokeratology treatment in myopic children and to analyze the reversibility one month after discontinuation.

Methods

Seventy-four myopic subjects aged 8–16 years, who wore orthokeratology lenses for two years, were divided into relatively steep- (lens movement within 1.0–1.5 mm, thirty-six participants) and flat-fitting groups (lens movement within 1.5–2.0 mm, thirty-eight participants). Based on refractive errors, they were divided into low and moderate myopia groups (thirty-seven participants in each group). Corneal densitometry was performed using Pentacam (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) at each follow-up timepoint. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare the parameters before and after orthokeratology.

Results

The corneal densitometry values over the 0–10 mm diameter area increased from 12.84±1.38 grayscale units (GSU) at baseline to 13.59±1.42 GSU after three-month orthokeratology (P = .001) and reached 14.92±1.45 GSU at two years (P < .001). An increase in densitometry began at one month (P = .001) over the 0–2 mm annulus compared with that at three months over the 2–6 mm and 6–10 mm zones (P = .002,.014). The densitometry values significantly increased at three months in the relatively steep-fitting group (P = .003) and at one year in the relatively flat-fitting group (P = .001). After discontinuation of orthokeratology for one month, the values showed no significant decrease.

Conclusions

Long-term orthokeratology treatment causes a small but statistically significant increase in corneal densitometry values. During the first year, the onset of these changes was related to the fitting mode. Corneal densitometry values showed no significant reduction after one-month discontinuation.
Parous rate and longevity of anophelines mosquitoes in bure district, northwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Adugna Tilahun , Getu Emana , Yewhelew Delenasaw
Published: February 2022

The intensity of malaria transmission is measured by parous rate, daily survival rate, human blood meal frequency, sporozoite rate, and entomological inoculation rates. Female parous status is a key index of vector competence, adult vector longevity, recruitment rate of adult, and the length of a gonotrophic cycle. Hence, the present study was aimed to investigate the parous rate and the longevity of Anopheles mosquitoes in Bure District, Northwestern Ethiopia. Parous rate was estimated as the number of mosquitoes with parous ovaries divided by the number of females dissected multiplied by 100. Mosquito life expectancy (longevity as d) was estimated by. One way- ANOVA was applied to confirm the presence of parous rate difference in the villages (p < 0.05). A total of 952 unfed hosts-seeking Anopheles mosquitoes was dissected for parous rate determination. The overall parous rate of An. arabiensis in the district was 52.0%, and the highest parous rate was recorded in Shnebekuma than other villages (F 2, 33 = 6.974; p = 0.003). Similarly, the parous rate of An. cinereus showed significant variation among villages (F 2, 33 = 5.044, p = 0.012) and the highest rate (63.0%) was recorded in Bukta. The mean longevity of An. funestus, An. arabiensis, An. coustani, An. squamosus, An. pharoensis, and An. cinereus was 6.5 days, 4.6 days, 3.5 days, 3.7 days, 2.7 days, and 2.2 days, respectively. The longevity of each species was not sufficient to complete the life cycle of malaria parasite for malaria transmission throughout the year because P. falciparum requires from 12–14 day.
Interventions for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli gastroenteritis and risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome: A population-based matched case control study
Authors: Myojin Shota , Pak Kyongsun , Sako Mayumi , Kobayashi Tohru , Takahashi Takuri , Sunagawa Tomimasa , Tsuboi Norihiko , Ishikura Kenji , Kubota Masaya , Kubota Mitsuru , Igarashi Takashi , Morioka Ichiro , Miyairi Isao
Published: February 2022

Background

The role of antibiotics in the treatment of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection is controversial.

Objectives

To evaluate the association between treatment (antibiotics, antidiarrheal agents, and probiotics) for STEC infection and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) development.

Patients and methods

We performed a population-based matched case-control study using the data from the National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (NESID) between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018. We identified all patients with STEC infection and HUS as cases and matched patients with STEC infection without HUS as controls, with a case-control a ratio of 1:5. Further medical information was obtained by a standardized questionnaire. Multivariable conditional logistic regression model was used.

Results

7760 patients with STEC infection were registered in the NESID. 182 patients with HUS and 910 matched controls without HUS were selected. 90 patients with HUS (68 children and 22 adults) and 371 patients without HUS (266 children and 105 adults) were included in the main analysis. The matched ORs of any antibiotics and fosfomycin for HUS in children were 0.56 (95% CI 0.32–0.98), 0.58 (0.34–1.01). The matched ORs for HUS were 2.07 (1.07–4.03), 0.86 (0.46−1.61) in all ages treated with antidiarrheal agent and probiotics.

Conclusions

Antibiotics, especially fosfomycin, may prevent the development of HUS in children, while use of antidiarrheal agents should be avoided.
Preliminary experience with continuous right ventricular pressure and transesophageal echocardiography monitoring in orthotopic liver transplantation
Authors: Miles Lachlan F. , Couture Etienne J. , Potes Cristhian , Makar Timothy , Fernando Malindra C. , Hungenahally Akshay , Mathieson Matthew D. , Perlman Hannah , Perini Marcos V. , Thind Dilraj , Weinberg Laurence , Denault André Y.
Published: February 2022

Background

Despite increasing attention in the cardiac anesthesiology literature, continuous measurement of right ventricular pressure using a pulmonary artery catheter has not been described in orthotopic liver transplantation, despite similarities in the anesthetic approach to the two populations. We describe our preliminary experience with this technique in orthotopic liver transplantation, and by combining various derived measures with trans-esophageal echocardiography, make some early observations regarding the response of these measures of right ventricular function during the procedure.

Methods

In this case series, ten patients (five men and five women) undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation in our institution had their surgeries performed while monitored with a pulmonary artery catheter with continuous right ventricular port transduction and trans-esophageal echocardiography. We recorded various right ventricular waveform (early-to-end diastolic pressure difference, right ventricular outflow tract gradient, right ventricular dP/dT and right ventricular end-diastolic pressure) and echocardiographic (right ventricular fractional area change, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, right ventricular lateral wall strain) and described their change relative to baseline at timepoints five minutes before and after portal vein reperfusion, immediately after hepatic artery reperfusion and on abdominal closure.

Results

Except for tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion at five minutes prior to reperfusion (mean −0.8 cm; 95% CI−1.4, –0.3; p = 0.007), no echocardiographic metric was statistically significantly different at any timepoint relative to baseline. In contrast, changes in right ventricular outflow tract gradient and right ventricular dP/dt were highly significant at multiple timepoints, generally peaking immediately before or after reperfusion before reducing, but not returning to baseline in the neohepatic phase. Nine of 10 participants in this series demonstrated a degree of dynamic right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, which met criteria for hemodynamic significance (> 25 mmHg) in two participants. These changes were not materially affected by cardiac index.

Conclusions

Dynamic right ventricular outflow tract obstruction of varying severity appears common in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. These results are hypothesis generating and will form the basis of future prospective research.
A social network analysis of tourism cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta: A supply and demand perspective
Authors: Wang Yuewei , Xi Mengmeng , Chen Hang , Wu Xinyang
Published: February 2022

This study explores the spatial structure of regional tourism cooperation networks among 27 cities in the Yangtze River Delta from the perspective of supply and demand. Data from the supply network were collected from official news released by the Chinese government and quotations for tour routes published by travel agencies. Travel notes published on tourists’ blog community platforms about their travel experiences were used as source data for the demand network. The degree of cooperation between the cities was analyzed based on the frequency of occurrence and co-occurrence of information on tourist attractions or cities in the Yangtze River Delta region in tourist notes, tourist route quotes, and official news. This study divides 27 cities in the Yangtze River Delta region into three categories: those where supply matches demand (e.g., Shanghai and Nanjing), nine cities where there is a demand lag (e.g., Zhenjiang), and 16 cities where there is a supply lag (e.g., Wuxi). Investigating the differences between the supply and demand networks is helpful to understand the effectiveness of regional tourism cooperation mechanisms and government policies, which is crucial for the sustainability and good governance of regional tourism.
Use of GPS to measure external load and estimate the incidence of muscle injuries in men’s football: A novel descriptive study
Authors: Guitart Marc , Casals Martí , Casamichana David , Cortés Jordi , Valle Francesc Xavier , McCall Alan , Cos Francesc , Rodas Gil
Published: February 2022

Measurement of external load in players provides objective information to optimise the weekly balance between training and recovery to improve performance and prevent injuries. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence of sports-related muscle injuries of the lower limb in relation to external load, measured by global positioning system (GPS), in football players. A descriptive study was carried out. Data were collected from 71 professional male football players (30 professionals and 41 youth players) from an elite football club competing in the Spanish and European League in the 2017–2018 season. As external load variables, we measured High Metabolic Load Distance (HMLD), High Speed Running (HSR), Player Load (PL), and Total Distance (TD) through GPS. Injury rate (IR) was calculated both in relation to such GPS load metrics and to load exposure time. We considered categories (youth and professional), playing positions (centre back, full back, midfielder, and forward), and training day with respect to match-day (-4MD, -3MD, -2MD, -1MD, MD, +1MD, +2MD). The GPS load metrics HMLD, HSR, PL, and TD showed very similar patterns across categories and positions, but varied according to training session or MD. The highest loads were observed on MD and three days prior to the match (-3MD). Similarly, the overall IR, both calculated per load exposure time and per GPS load metrics, was highest on MD and -3MD. Again, no differences were observed between youth and professional players. Midfielders demonstrated the highest IR in all metrics, followed by the forwards. In conclusion, this study suggests that external load and incidence of muscle injuries are directly proportional. Therefore, the measurement of more external load variables other than load exposure time, such as the GPS metrics HMLD, HSR, PL, and TD may help to describe the pattern and magnitude of injuries. Future studies based on ours may help to further improve the understanding of the incidence of muscle injuries on the basis of external loads measurements in different football teams.
Exploring HbA1c variation between Australian diabetes centres: The impact of centre-level and patient-level factors
Authors: Quigley Matthew , Earnest Arul , Szwarcbard Naomi , Wischer Natalie , Andrikopoulos Sofianos , Green Sally , Zoungas Sophia
Published: February 2022

Background

Increasing global diabetes incidence has profound implications for health systems and for people living with diabetes. Guidelines have established clinical targets but there may be variation in clinical outcomes including HbA1c, based on location and practice size. Investigating this variation may help identify factors amenable to systemic improvement interventions. The aims of this study were to identify centre-specific and patient-specific factors associated with variation in HbA1c levels and to determine how these associations contribute to variation in performance across diabetes centres.

Methods

This cross-sectional study analysed data for 5,872 people with type 1 (n = 1,729) or type 2 (n = 4,143) diabetes mellitus collected through the Australian National Diabetes Audit (ANDA). A linear mixed-effects model examined centre-level and patient-level factors associated with variation in HbA1c levels.

Results

Mean age was: 43±17 years (type 1), 64±13 (type 2); median disease duration: 18 years (10,29) (type 1), 12 years (6,20) (type 2); female: 52% (type 1), 45% (type 2). For people with type 1 diabetes, volume of patients was associated with increases in HbA1c (p = 0.019). For people with type 2 diabetes, type of centre was associated with reduction in HbA1c (p <0.001), but location and patient volume were not. Associated patient-level factors associated with increases in HbA1c included past hyperglycaemic emergencies (type 1 and type 2, p<0.001) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status (type 2, p<0.001). Being a non-smoker was associated with reductions in HbA1c (type 1 and type 2, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Centre-level and patient-level factors were associated with variation in HbA1c, but patient-level factors had greater impact. Interventions targeting patient-level factors conducted at a centre level including sick-day management, smoking cessation programs and culturally appropriate diabetes education for and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may be more important for improving glycaemic control than targeting factors related to the Centre itself.
Merged swing-muscle synergies and their relation to walking characteristics in subacute post-stroke patients: An observational study
Authors: Mizuta Naomichi , Hasui Naruhito , Nishi Yuki , Higa Yasutaka , Matsunaga Ayaka , Deguchi Junji , Yamamoto Yasutada , Nakatani Tomoki , Taguchi Junji , Morioka Shu
Published: February 2022

In post-stroke patients, muscle synergy (the coordination of motor modules during walking) is impaired. In some patients, the muscle synergy termed module 1 (hip/knee extensors) is merged with module 2 (ankle plantar flexors), and in other cases, module 1 is merged with module 4 (knee flexors). However, post-stroke individuals with a merging pattern of module 3 (hip flexor and ankle dorsiflexor) and module 4, which is the swing-muscle synergy, have not been reported. This study aimed to determine the muscle-synergy merging subtypes of post-stroke during comfortable walking speed (cws). We also examined the effect of experimental lower-limb angle modulation on the muscle synergy patterns of walking in each subtype. Forty-one participants were assessed under three conditions: cws, long stepping on the paretic side (p-long), and long stepping on the non-paretic side (np-long). Lower-limb flexion and extension angles and the electromyogram were measured during walking. Subtype classification was based on the merging pattern of the muscle synergies, and we examined the effect of different lower-limb angles on the muscle synergies. We identified three merging subtypes: module 1 with module 2 (subtype 1), module 1 with module 4 (subtype 2), and module 3 with module 4 (subtype 3). In the cws condition, the lower-limb flexion angle was reduced in subtype 3, and the lower-limb extension angle was decreased in subtype 1. A more complex muscle synergy was observed only in subtype 3 in the p-long condition versus cws (p = 0.036). This subtype classification of walking impairments based on the merging pattern of the muscle synergies could be useful for the selection of a rehabilitation strategy according to the individual’s particular neurological condition. Rehabilitation with increased lower-limb flexion may be effective for the training of patients with merging of modules 3 and 4 in comfortable walking.
Isolated periodic wave trains in a generalized Burgers–Huxley equation
Authors: Wang Qinlong , Xiong Yu'e , Huang Wentao , Romanovski Valery
Published: February 2022

We study the isolated periodic wave trains in a class of modified generalized Burgers–Huxley equation. The planar systems with
a degenerate equilibrium arising after the traveling transformation are investigated. By finding certain positive definite Lyapunov functions in the neighborhood of the degenerate singular points and the Hopf bifurcation points, the number of possible limit cycles in the corresponding planar systems is determined. The existence of isolated periodic wave trains in the equation is established, which is universal for any positive integer
n
in this model. Within the process, one interesting example is obtained, namely a series of limit cycles bifurcating from a semi-hyperbolic singular point with one zero eigenvalue and one non-zero eigenvalue for its Jacobi matrix.
Byzantine Epigrams on the Cross and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
Authors: Kantaras Anastasios
Published: February 2022

This article presents the Byzantine epigrams centred around the cross and the crucifixion as compiled by one of the most emblematic scholar figures of the Church in the beginning of the 11th century, namely John Mauropous. The goal of this article is to present the main patterns from those epigrams, spot potential influences from other texts of a preceding time as well as draw basic conclusions.
Acting-Out Maternal Trauma: Lola Arias’sMelancolía y manifestaciones(2012)
Authors: Longinovic Nina
Published: February 2022

Written as an extension to her best-known play Mi vida después (2009)– in which the adult children of victims and victimizers of the dictatorship recall portions of their parents’ stories, Lola Arias’s Melancolía y manifestaciones is a loosely-bound collage of scenes recalling the playwright’s mother’s long bout with depression. At the beginning of the play, audiences are told that the mother begins to suffer from this depression following the playwright’s birth, which in turn happens to coincide with the first year of the military junta in Argentina. As a biodrama with a political subtext, the play has been read as a form of post-dictatorship testimonio, yet this essay argues that Arias’s use of Brechtian realism, absurdist humor and postmodern theatrical strategies has the effect of distancing audiences from the emotions associated with traumatic testimonial narratives.
Hibris literaria, eco-autismo y empatía enLa mujer que buceó dentro del corazón del mundode Sabina Berman
Authors: Ugarte Ana
Published: February 2022

La mujer que buceó dentro del corazón del mundo (2010), una ficción autobiográfica narrada por una mujer con síndrome Asperger, construye el autismo como un ethos capaz de interceptar, debilitar y deconstruir la violencia extractivista y patriarcal que consume el planeta. Este artículo explora una idiosincrasia narrativa que aquí denomino hibris literaria: un exceso de confianza en los poderes del medio literario para representar con solvencia la alteridad del personaje. Este exceso implica una yuxtaposición éticamente problemática entre el proceso de figuración ficcional inherente a cualquier novela y la imposibilidad de tal ejercicio de figuración atribuido a la cognición de las personas con Asperger.
Rojo y negro: Feminismo con disimulo en las filas de Falange Española
Authors: Encinas Silvia
Published: February 2022

Al demostrar un rol militante activo y en igualdad con sus compañeros de filas de la Quinta Columna falangista, la protagonista de la película Rojo y negro (1942), de Carlos Arévalo, contradice el tipo de mujer sumisa que propugnará el franquismo una vez asentado. En este artículo, examino cómo la película refleja el modelo ideal falangista encarnado en el género femenino, cuyos valores de servicio y entrega se consideran, a un tiempo, cualidades femeninas y militares. Con ello, la protagonista aspira a lograr un mayor grado de autonomía fuera del espacio doméstico.
De la repetición naturalista en la literatura latinoamericana: Narrativa prostibularia y condición periférica enLa novia oscurade Laura Restrepo
Authors: Teixeira Esther
Published: February 2022

Este ensayo tiene como objetivo demostrar cómo Laura Restrepo incorpora elementos de la estética naturalista decimonónica para abordar la temática de la prostitución en La novia oscura (1999). En la visión de Restrepo, tanto la prostituta como su cliente, el obrero, son sometidos a estructuras sociales que los oprimen. Asimismo, tras el uso de la prostitución como alegoría, la obra invita a una reflexión de la prostitución como contaminación simbólica que afecta, no solo a la protagonista, Sayonara, sino a los habitantes del microcosmos colombiano de Tora.
Book Review: Memories of Terror: Essays on Recent History
Authors: Gabriele Elizabeth
Published: February 2022

Memories of Terror: Essays on Recent History is an interesting collection of essays that engages marginalized World War II stories.
Nanoparticles Impression on Creatine Kinase Activity
Authors: Al-Sadoon Taghreed H
Published: February 2022

Nanoparticles (NPs) are purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (730785). Sodium citrate as stabilizer comprises 10 nm particle size (TEM), dispersion (NPs), stabilizer Silver, and 0.02 mg/mL in aqueous buffer relative molecular mass (107.87). The concentration number (3.6×1012) packaging 25mL in a glass bottle. 10 nm diameter golden nanoparticles OD 1, stable 0.1 mM suspension is an aqueous salt solution that contains common salt, dihydrogen phosphate, and dilute phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). It also contains potassium dihydrogen phosphate and potassium chloride in certain formulations. While the pH rises, the role of the buffer is to regulate it. NPs, equipped with (Sigma-Aldrich752584) relative molecular mass (196.97). Structural and optical nanoparticles are studied. Findings show a nanoparticle size of approximately 10 nanometers. The silver and gold sources’ impact on healthy people’s creatine kinase (CK) activity within the blood was in vitro-studied. The results indicated that the nanoparticles of silver and gold had a dissimilar impact on serum CK activity. The gold particles tonic impacts serum CK activity and increases the activity of enzymes as the concentration of nanoparticles increases because it acts as an enzyme activator. At the same time, silver nanoscale has an inhibitory effect thereon.
Modifications of Hydroxyapatite by Gallium Ion as a Coating on Dental Ti6Al4V for Corrosion Protection
Authors: Ali Muneam Hussein
Published: February 2022

Gallium ion (Ga) was substituted for bioactive ions in the hydroxyapatite "HA" coating formed on the "Ti-6Al-4V ELI" dental alloy (Gr.23) utilizing electrochemical deposition in this study. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the deposited layers (SEM). Electrochemical methods potentiodynamic polarization curves were used to study and characterize the corrosion behavior of Gr.23 alloy in an artificial saliva environment at temperatures ranging from 298 to 328K. After modification coating of HA with Ga at 298K, corrosion protection increased from (50.49) percent (coated Gr.23 by HA without Ga) to (76.0) percent. The coating thickness was estimated using a cross-sectional SEM micrograph; the thickness of the coatings for HA and Ga-HA coatings were (3.51 and 3.62 m, respectively).
Validation Efficiency of Radiation on Serratia Marcescens
Authors: Sabaa Hanaa Salih
Published: February 2022

Background: Serratia marcescens is a pathogen bacterium (gram negative) that has a rod shape; it is considered as high risk bacteria as antibiotic resistance, and a lot of studies were carried out to limit S. marcescens activity using radiation. Objective: This research aimed to determine the activity of S. marcescens against certain antibiotic, and the radiation affect on this bacterium. Materials and Methods: 25 of diagnosed S. marcescens cross-sectional study design, were collected from Baghdad hospitals from different patients, the patients were vestige to radiation by cultivated on media at 37°C to reach the culture of the stationary-phase, then centrifugation (for 10 minutes at 5000 rpm), and suspended in saline. Then exposed to diverse types of radiations (using only one millimeter), the collected data then compared with group that was not exposed to radiation (control group), rediluted and inoculated in media, cultivated within test tube containing distilled water 5ml, then exposing to an different radiosources including CS137 and CO60 with activity 1-10 μci at different radiation doses for one hour. Results: The results exhibition of gamma, beta rays emitted by CO60 with activity 1 μci on S. marscences inclusive D (1hrs.)=1.55599*10-5, D (2hrs.)=3.111989*10-5, D (3hrs.)=4.86798*10-5 were viable cell in 1hr and compared with control=196. The results of exhibition of Gamm, Beta rays emitted by CO60 with activity 10 μci on S. marcescens inclusive D(1hrs.)= 2.3323* 10-5, D (2hrs.)= 4.6647*10-5, D (3hrs.)= 6.99705*10-5 were viable cell in 1hr, and compared with control=196. Same measurement was carried out for gamma, Beta rays emitted by Cs137 with activity 1 μci and 10 μci and compared with control=196. Statistical Analysis System-SAS program all results are significant. Conclusions: S. marcescens shows high resistance as a multidrug resistance, radiation emitted from semiconductor laser have high efficiency for killing S. marcescens.
Analysis of levels and Clinical value of CA19-9, NLR and SIRI in patients with Pancreatic Cancer with different Clinical Features
Authors: Min Li , Ziyu Dong , Xiaofei Zhang , Shunhe Xue , Bolin Wang
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to investigate the levels of cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SIRI) in patients with pancreatic cancer with different clinical features and their clinical value. For this purpose, 78 patients with pancreatic cancer treated in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2021 were divided into two groups according to the NLR and SIRI calculated by blood routine and biochemical examination before operation. To observe and analyze the relationship between serum CA19-19 levels, clinical features and NLR and SIRI values in patients with different clinical stages and tumor diameter, and the diagnostic value of CA19-9, NLR and SIRI in pancreatic cancer. The results showed that the level of serum CA19-9 in patients with stage IV pancreatic cancer was significantly higher than that in patients with stage I, II and III, and the level of CA19-9 in patients with stage III was higher than that in patients with stage I and II, and the level of CA19-9 in patients with stage II was higher than that in patients with stage I. The level of CA19-9 in patients with pancreatic cancer with tumor diameter ≥ 5cm was significantly higher than that in patients with tumor diameter < 5cm. The percentage of patients with age ≤ 60 years old in high NLR group (83.78%) was significantly higher than that in low NLR group (63.41%), and the rate of patients with tumor diameter ≥ 5cm in the high SIRI group (54.05%) was significantly higher than that in low NLR group (26.83%). The rate of patients with tumor diameter ≥ 5cm in the high SIRI group (61.92%) was significantly higher than that in the low SIRI group (31.58%). Among the single indexes, the sensitivity of CA19-9 in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was the highest (93.10%). The specificity of Siri in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was 89.70%. The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection were 89.7% and 70.00%, respectively. In general, the level of serum CA19-9 in patients with pancreatic cancer increases gradually with the increase of clinical stage and tumor diameter. NLR value is related to patient age and tumor diameter, and SIRI value is related to tumor diameter. Combined detection of CA19-9, NLR and SIRI are of higher value in the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Remifentanil Anesthesia on the Expression of Apoptosis-Related Proteins Bcl-2 and Bax in Rat Myocardial Cells with Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Li Jie , Wang Shuguang , Huang Shaoyan , Shao Wei , Zhang Jianzhong
Published: February 2022

Ischemia-reperfusion damage to the myocardium is inevitable. This study mainly explored the effect of remifentanil anesthesia on the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2 and Bax in rat myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Select 48 mice (n=6). First, prepare solutions of different concentrations of remifentanil. A model of ischemia-reperfusion cardiomyocytes was established, and 6 slices of tissue were taken from each specimen, and the positive cells were observed with an optical microscope and magnified 100 times. Bcl-2 and Bax were positive in the cytoplasm and yellowish-brown particles in the inner membrane. According to the distribution of positive cells, randomly select 3 clear fields of view from each part, count the number of positive cells in each field, and then take the average of the proportion of positive cells to get Bcl-2 or Bax protein-positive Index (PEI). Comparison of mRNA levels in each group: Compared with the R3 group, the ratio of the M, R1, and R2 groups increased, and the mRNA expression level of the M group increased almost 3 times, P<0.05. The results of the study show that remifentanil reduces the mortality of myocardial cells by regulating the appearance of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins, and has a certain protective effect on the rat heart during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. There is no statistically significant difference in the protective effect of remifentanil on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion.
Nanoformulations of curcumin and quercetin with silver nanoparticles for inactivation of bacteria
Authors: Alavi Mehran , Adulrahman Nareen Arif , Haleem Azad Abduljabar , Al-Râwanduzi Ahmed Diyar Hussein , Khusro Ameer , Abdelgawad Mohamed A , Ghoneim Mohammed M. , Batiha Gaber El-Saber , Kahrizi Danial , Martinez Fleming , Koirala Niranjan
Published: February 2022

Antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria to various types of antibiotics has resulted in the necessity of new effective strategies to get around this problem. In recent investigations, metal or metal oxide nanoparticles specifically silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been employed successfully to hinder antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. However, AgNPs at high concentrations have cytotoxicity for eukaryotic cells which, application of other biocompatible materials particularly plant secondary metabolites of curcumin and quercetin to reduce cytotoxicity is a critical affair. These compounds may be used directly or indirectly to produce AgNPs. In this regard, modified NPs by curcumin and quercetin have shown an increased therapeutic effect and biocompatibility and biodegredibility properties. Therefore, here, recent advances and challenges about antibacterial and biocompatibility properties of nanoformulation of AgNPs with curcumin and quercetin are presented.
miR-129-5p Plays an Anticancer Role in Colon Cancer by Targeting RSF1
Authors: Hao Junfeng , Wei Hongxia , Qi Yabin , Liu Haiwang
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of miR-129-5p on colon cancer by targeting RSF1. For this purpose, real-time quantitative PCR was used to analyze whether the expression of miR-129-5p in colon cancer and adjacent normal tissues had an impact on the proliferation and apoptosis of cancer cells (CC). We evaluated the role of miR-129-5p by targeting RSF1 in colon cancer tissue in the experimental group. But in the control group, only miR-129-5p was considered as a protective factor. Finally, we retrospectively analyzed data of 56 cases of colon cancer patients admitted to our clinical department between January 2019 and December 2019. Twenty-eight cases were investigated through just miR-129-5p protective factors for cancer (group A). The other 28 cases were studied by miR-129-5p anti-cancer agent and a completed RSF1 carcinoma factors for cancer (group B). We evaluated the comparative analysis of the patient's age and gender, clinical indicators (including for the first time of hospitalization and postoperative hospital stay, three times of anal exhaust), and complications (including chills, vomiting, hypertension, diabetes). The results showed that miR-129-5p had a more substantial effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of CC by targeting RSF1.
Effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress, liver function, insulin resistance and vascular endothelial function in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Zheng Yong , Shi Hongning , Zhou Yahao , Wang Ayong , Kang Dufu , Kang Limin
Published: February 2022

It is aimed to compare whether there are differences in endoplasmic reticulum stress, liver function, insulin resistance, and vascular endothelial function in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Forty patients with NAFLD, 38 patients with NAFLD combined with T2DM, and 30 patients with normal liver tissue were selected. They were set as Group A, Group B and Group C respectively. The expression level of glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94) and biochemical indicators such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides (TG), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and fasting insulin (FINS) were measured. Also, the calculation of the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index was performed. The reactive hyperemia index (RHI) was detected to evaluate the vascular endothelial function of patients. The comparison between groups and multi-factor analysis of the influencing factors of RHI was conducted. Compared with Group C, the expressions in Group A and Group B were distinctly enhanced (P <0.05). Also, the expression of GRP94 protein in Group B was distinctly higher than that in Group A (P <0.05). The average optical density values of Groups A, B, and C were 0.327 ± 0.007, 0.350 ± 0.009, and 0.299 ± 0.006, respectively. A comparison between the three groups was performed. The differences had statistical significance (P <0.05). The differences in the TG, ALT, AST, GGT, FINS and HOMA-IR between Group A and Group B had statistical significance (P <0.05). The RHI values of Groups A, B, and C were 1.59 ± 0.23, 1.79 ± 0.32, and 2.05 ± 0.47, respectively. A comparison between the three groups was performed. The differences had statistical significance (P <0.05). FFA, ALT and FBG in patients with NAFLD are risk factors for endothelial dysfunction (P <0.05). The liver damage caused by NAFLD may be related to the expression of GRP94. FFA, ALT and FBG are risk factors for endothelial dysfunction in NAFLD patients.
Efficacy and safety of transarterial infusion of anti-PD-1 in the treatment of advanced or metastatic acral and mucosal melanomas
Authors: Qianqi Chen , Yan Zhao , Yueqiang Tang , Jiangman Duan , Xiaohong Fu , Qiming Zhou
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transarterial infusion of programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) antibody therapy in advanced or metastatic acral and mucosal melanomas. Eleven patients with acral or mucosal melanoma were referred to the department of Internal Medicine-Oncology in Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital from January 2019 to August 2020. These patients received transarterial infusions of PD-1 antibody and intravenous infusions of albumin-bound paclitaxel. The median duration of follow-up was 8 months. The patients were treated with transarterial infusion of PD-1 antibody and intravenous infusion of albumin-bound paclitaxel. in study, We collected and recorded immunotherapy-related adverse events. The results showed that the response rate (RR) and the disease control rate (DCR) of the patients (seven with acral melanoma, four with mucosal melanoma) were 54.5 % and 90.9 %, respectively. No grade 3–4 adverse events or major complications were observed during the study. The median progression-free survival was 10 months. The transarterial infusion of PD-1 antibody has remission and control effects on acral and mucosal melanomas, which is important for the clinical care of these patients.
The effect of neonatal nursing care on clinical symptoms and intestinal flora of children with acute diarrhea
Authors: Wang Linxue
Published: February 2022

Nursing care for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is very complex and may affect the function of the infant microbiome. Several factors inherent in staying in the intensive care unit, such as the use of antibiotics, non-antibiotic drug interventions, nutritional components, and various invasive procedures, including surgery, are associated with disruption of the host microbiota. Therefore, the NICU nurse needs to consider effect factors on the microbial growth and the role that the microbiome may play in causing disease since admission to the NICU. In this study, we describe the association between the gut microbiome and neonatal nursing care at the NICU and the cellular and molecular factors affecting the intestinal flora of children with acute diarrhea.
Diagnostic and prognostic value of combined detection of serum Tg, IFN - γ and TgAb in thyroid adenoma
Authors: Min Sun , Xiaxing Liu , Yu Bai , Yinghua An , Yaoni Li , Jinbo Wang
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to explore the value of combined detection of serum thyroglobulin (Tg), interferon - γ (IFN - γ) and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) in the diagnosis and prognosis of thyroid adenoma (TA). For this purpose, 100 patients with TA in our hospital from January 2017 to December 2020 were selected as the observation group, and they were divided into good prognosis group (83 cases) and poor prognosis group (17 cases) according to the surgical treatment; another 50 healthy people who received physical examination in our hospital. The levels of serum Tg, IFN - γ and TgAb in each group were detected and compared; the diagnostic and prognostic value of combined detection of serum Tg, IFN - γ and TgAb in thyroid adenoma were analyzed. Results showed that compared with the control group, the levels of Tg and TgAb in the observation group were significantly increased, and the levels of IFN - γ were significantly decreased (P < 0.05); compared with the poor prognosis group, the levels of Tg and TgAb in the good prognosis group were significantly decreased, and the levels of IFN - γ were significantly increased (P < 0.05); The area under curve (AUC) of the combined detection of serum Tg, IFN-γ and TgAb for TA diagnosis and prognosis assessment was significantly higher than the value detected by a single indicator. In general, the combined detection of serum Tg, IFN - γ and TgAb has high diagnostic and prognostic value for TA, and has high clinical reference value.