bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Financial Reporting Quality in a Crisis Period
Authors: LOGHIN Radu-Daniel , DUMITRASCU Luminita-Mihaela ,   Bucharest University of Economic Studies
Published: November 2022

The Covid Pandemic has this far been a devastating event for the world economy, but it wasn’t the only crisis of the 2020 financial period. Despite the health emergency, military conflict has not halted since the dawn of the coronavirus plague. In the current paper the authors try to analyze the combined impact of the COVID pandemic and war for a sample of 352 Turkish and Azeri equities during the 2019 and 2020 financial periods. Their findings suggest that the Nagorno-Karabakh war enforced timeliness for Azeri and Turkish issuers while overall the relevance of financial statements has dropped during the crisis period of 2020. IFRS compliance became a significant moderating factor during the crisis period. Overall, the year 2020 has been a turning point for accounting practice.
O LUGAR DE BALSEMÃO: UM PROJETO DE CONQUISTA PORTUGUÊS NO RIO MADEIRA (1765-1772)
Authors: Vieira Ribeiro Otávio V´ítor
Published: November 2022

A urbanização da bacia amazônica, prevista no Diretório dos Índios (1757-1798), constituiu-se em uma política de conquista nos confins da América portuguesa, durante a segunda metade do século XVIII. As povoações civis, demarcavam a posse territorial e a civilização indígena, entre os domínios luso e castelhano. Considerando-se isto, o objetivo deste artigo reside em tratar do processo de instituição do Lugar de Balsemão, povoação estabelecida na cachoeira do Girau (rio Madeira), com índios Pamas, entre 1765 e 1772. Esta redução articulou a comunicação fluvial entre o Estado do Grão-Pará e a capitania de Mato Grosso, mediante o fornecimento de mão de obra indígena, canoas de transporte e provisões.
POLÍTICA INDIGENISTA DE CONTENÇÃO PARA CATEQUIZAÇÃO: FORMAS DE RETERRITORIALIZAÇÃO DOS GAVIÃO
Authors: Júnior Ribamar Ribeiro , Gomes da Silva Rayane
Published: November 2022

O presente trabalho tem objetivo  desvelar as estratégias da catequese e da evangelização dos missionários entre o início dos anos sessenta e meados dos anos setenta do século XX junto aos “Gavião”. Estas reflexões são parte de duas pesquisas etnográficas produzidas a partir da inserção dos pesquisadores na Terra Indígena Mãe Maria. Argumentamos que o contato sistemático foi seguido por um projeto de catequização/evangelização, investigamos essa relação com o território e a interpretação de diversos processos desta trajetória com a forte violência Estatal. Apresentamos neste artigo reflexões a partir dessa analise etnohistórica, com base nos dados das nossas pesquisas e com uma leitura mais contemporânea a partir da realidade dos “Gavião” vivenciada pela leitura etnográfica da documentação.
The Impact of Socio-Economic Activities on the Housing Quality Index (HCI) Of the Urban Axis Network in Romania Case Study: Urban Axis in Bistrita-Nasaud County
Authors: Tătar Marius Alexandru , Bâca Ioan
Published: November 2022

The size of the home is considered the most critical issue affecting the quality of life. This can be measured by the quality of the house and its environment. This paper highlights the housing quality index at the urban axis level in Bistrita-Nasaud county and the impact of socioeconomic activities on the index. The Household Quality of Life Index (HQLI) was calculated based on 11 variables. Household quality of life comprises two distinctive indices: the Housing Conditions Index (HCI) and the Asset Possession Index (API). The study found a variation in the housing condition variables across the urban focus areas. The impact of the socioeconomic environments is disproportionately dependent on the social-economic profile of the urban environments that make up the Urban Axis and the related economic activities that take place in the area of influence in the administrative-territorial units and the variability of the Housing Conditions Index This can be measured by the quality of the house and its environment. This paper highlights the housing quality index at the urban axis level in Bistrita-Nasaud county and the impact of socioeconomic activities on this index. The study area comprises territories in the municipality of Bistrita. The socio-economic context of the area has been the basis for understanding the patterns of evolution identified in the urban landscape, and being a driver in ongoing urban transformations and processes. The impact of the socio-economic is disproportionate to the socioeconomic profile of the urban environments that make up the Urban Axis and the economic activities related to the economic activities taking place in the catchment area in the administrative-territorial units, hence the variability of the Housing Conditions Index which is a system Housing Quality Indicator (HQI) is a tool for measuring and evaluating housing systems based on quality and not just cost.
Interlaboratory Comparison of 226Ra and 228Ra Activity Concentrations in Groundwater and Surface Water
Authors: Levy David B.
Published: November 2022

226Ra and 228Ra are typically monitored for groundwater and surface water compliance at legacy U mining and milling sites. Groundwater monitoring results for combined Ra (226Ra+228Ra) reported by the existing contract laboratory at a former U mine and mill Site (Wyoming, USA) have been highly variable and with increasing trends at the Site compliance and background wells since the method was changed in 2005. Sample reanalysis has indicated poor reproducibility and significant analytical error in 228Ra measurements. An interlaboratory comparison was conducted to evaluate the potential causes of the high variability and analytical error. Two different methods were used for 226Ra (M903.0 and M903.1) and 228Ra (M904.0 and Ra-05). 226Ra results were less variable compared to 228Ra, and 228Ra data from the existing laboratory were qualified as estimated with high bias due to detection of 228Ra in the field blank. Compliance with the 226Ra+228Ra groundwater standard was either met or not met, depending on which laboratory conducted the analyses. Specific laboratory techniques, rather than the analytical method, are contributing to elevated 228Ra values being reported. It was recommended that samples whose 226Ra+228Ra results exceed the Site standard in the future be reanalyzed by the existing laboratory with a sample split also being sent to an outside laboratory for confirmatory analysis.
N10-C11 Imine is Essential for Gram-negative Antibacterial Activity of Broad Spectrum Pyrrolobenzodiazepines
Authors: Picconi Pietro , Hind Charlotte K. , Sutton J. Mark , Rahman Khondaker Miraz
Published: November 2022

It is urgent to find new antibiotic classes to replenish the empty development pipeline of antibiotics. Recently, pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBDs) with a C8-linked aliphatic-heterocycle have been identified as a new broad spectrum antibiotic class with activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The active imine moiety of the reported lead pyrrolobenzodiazepine compounds was replaced with amide to obtain the non-DNA binding and non-cytotoxic dilactam analogues to further understand the structure activity relationship and improve the safety potential of this class. The synthesized compounds were tested against panels of multidrug resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including WHO priority pathogens. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for the dilactam analogues ranged from 4 – 32 mg/L for MDR Gram-positive bacteria, compared to 0.03 to 2 mg/L for the corresponding imine analogues while they were found to be inactive against MDR Gram-negative bacteria, with an MIC >32 mg/L, compared to an MIC of 0.5 to 32 mg/L. A molecular modelling study suggests the lack of imine functionality also affects the interaction of PBDs with DNA gyrase. This study suggests the presence of N10-C11 imine moiety is crucial for broad spectrum activity of pyrrolobenzodiazepines.
Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version Fear of Hospitalization Scale in Patients Undergoing Emergency Surgery
Authors: Sharif Nia Hamid , Janković Slobodan , Hanifi Nasrin
Published: November 2022

PurposeThis study was designed to characterize the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Fear of Hospitalization Scale (P-FHS).Design and methodsIn order to evaluate the validity and reliability of the translated scale, a cross-sectional design was employed. Ten experts evaluated the content validity of the Fear of Hospitalization Scale (FHS) after it had been back-translated into Persian. With 612 patients having emergency surgery, construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was followed.FindingsThe results of EFA (n = 306) showed that the fear of hospitalization had three factors. These three factors accounted for 45.28% of the total variance. Also, these factors were confirmed by CFA (n = 306) (root-mean-square error of approximation = (90%. confidence interval) = 0.050 [0.041, 0.058], goodness-of-fit index = 0.945, comparative fit index = 0.968, Non-Normal Fit Index = 0.948, incremental fit index = 0.968, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.959). The coefficients of Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega, composite reliability, and maximum reliability for all three factors were greater than 0.7, demonstrating satisfied internal consistency.Practice implicationAccording to the published results, the P-FHS is effective at measuring hospitalization anxiety in patients undergoing emergency surgery. It is advised that nurses in Iranian culture use a legitimate and trustworthy technique to pinpoint the causes of hospitalization anxiety in patients undergoing emergency surgery to give optimal care.
DESIGNING SPACE IN MUSEUM FACILITIES IN EUROPE
Authors:   Politechnika Warszawska, Poland Wydział Architektury Katedra Projektowania Urbanistycznego i Krajobrazu Wiejskiego, Purski Michał
Published: November 2022

The article presents research on the conscious shaping of museum spaces in Europe. The research focused on elements of architectural composition and spatial treatments experienced on three levels: pre-narratives, protonarrations and procedural narratives of the unconscious (Dimaggio, Semerari, 2001, 14: 1-23), as based solely on past experiences. sensual user. Selected elements influencing the user were divided into three categories: causing action, focusing attention or causing a reaction, and building awareness of space.
Excess Mortality From Non–COVID-19 Causes During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2020–2021
Authors: Todd Megan , Scheeres Annaka
Published: November 2022

Objectives. To estimate excess mortality from non–COVID-19 causes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and understand disparities by race/ethnicity, age, and sex.

Methods. We used Poisson regression models of weekly deaths using data from Pennsylvania’s vital registration system (2018–2021).

Results. There was significant excess mortality as a result of heart disease, homicide, diabetes, drug overdoses, traffic crashes, and falls in 2020–2021; the burden of this excess non–COVID-19 mortality fell on non-Hispanic Black Philadelphians. Among younger non-Hispanic Black men, homicide and drug overdoses were responsible for 54% and 18% of excess deaths—more than COVID-19 (17%). For younger non-Hispanic Black women, drug overdoses accounted for 51% of excess deaths, whereas COVID-19 accounted for 40%.

Conclusions. Excess mortality was not solely caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; the causative agent of COVID-19), particularly at younger ages. Indirect pandemic mortality exacerbated prepandemic disparities by race/ethnicity.

Public Health Implications. Excess mortality as a result of non–COVID-19 causes may reflect indirect pandemic mortality. National cause-of-death data lag behind local cause-of-death data; local data should be examined as an early indication of trends and disparities. Public health practitioners must center health equity in pandemic response and planning. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(12):1800–1803. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307096 )
Strain Field Evolution and Constitutive Model of Coal considering the Effect of Beddings
Authors: Wang Tao , Zhang Weizhong , Zhao Hongbao , Ge Lina , Li Wenpu , Zhang Huan
Published: November 2022

In order to study the bedding effect of coal and rock deformation, the surface deformation fields of coal and rock at different bedding angles were obtained by means of digital image correlation (DIC). By optimizing the statistical index describing the nonuniformity of strain field, the initiation and evolution characteristics of deformation localization were analyzed quantitatively. The concepts of equivalent cohesive force and equivalent tensile strength were put forward, and a transverse isotropic constitutive model of coal and rock was established. The results show that the maximum shear deformation field of uniaxial compressed coal and rock in parallel bedding is more likely to show the three-stage characteristics of uniform stage, localization stage, and failure stage. In the vertical and parallel bedding directions, the modified statistical index curve of coal and rock in the process of uniaxial compression shows typical two-stage characteristics. When loading perpendicular to bedding, the starting stress of deformation localization of coal and rock is closer to the peak strength, and when loading parallel to bedding, coal and rock are easier to show localization characteristics.
Prognostic Prediction Models for Postoperative Patients with Stage I to III Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study Based on Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Ji Xiaolin , Xu Shuo , Li Xiaoyu , Xu Jinhuan , Guo Yingjie , Tian Zibin
Published: November 2022

Background
To utilize the patient, tumor, and treatment features and compare the performance of machine learning algorithms, develop and validate models to predict overall, disease-free, recurrence-free, and distant metastasis-free survival, and screen important variables to improve the prognosis of patients in clinical settings.
Methods
More than 1,000 colorectal cancer patients who underwent curative resection were grouped according to 4 survival times (further categorized by 3- and 5-year) and divided into training sets and testing sets (9:1). Each 3-catergory survival time was predicted by 4 machine learning algorithms. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and average precision (AP) were our accuracy indicators. Vital parameters were screened by multivariate regression models. To achieve better prediction of multi-categorized survival times, we performed 10-fold cross-validation except for the recurrence-free survival model (5-fold cross-validation). We iterated 1000 times after hyperparameter optimization.
Results
The best AUCs were all greater than 0.90 except for the overall survival model (0.86). The best AP of the disease-free and distant metastasis-free survival models was 82.7%. The models performed well. Some of the important variables we screened were widely used important predictors for colorectal cancer patients’ prognoses, while others were not. Regarding algorithm performance, Logistic Regression, Linear Discriminant Analysis, and Support Vector Machine were chosen for recurrence-free and distant metastasis-free, overall, and disease-free models.
Conclusions
We constructed an independent, high-accuracy, important variable clarified machine learning architecture for predicting 3-catergorized survival times. This architecture might be a vital reference when managing colorectal cancer patients.
Implementing organized colorectal cancer screening programs – Protocol for a systematic review of determinants and strategies
Authors: Albers Bianca , Auer Reto , Caci Laura , Nyantakyi Emanuela , Plys Ekaterina , Podmore Clara , Riegel Franziska , Selby Kevin , Walder Joel , Clack Lauren
Published: November 2022

Background:
With a high mortality of 12.6% of all cancer cases, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a substantial burden of disease in Europe. In the past decade, more and more countries have introduced organized colorectal cancer screening programs, making systematic screening available to entire segments of a population, typically based on routine stool tests and/or colonoscopy. While the effectiveness of organized screening in reducing CRC incidence and mortality has been confirmed, studies continuously report persistent program implementation challenges. This systematic review will synthesize the literature on organized colorectal cancer screening programs. Its aim is to understand what is currently known about the barriers and facilitators, that influence the implementation of these programs, and about the implementation strategies used to navigate these determinants.
Methods:
A systematic review of primary studies of any research design will be conducted. CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus will be searched. Websites of (non-)government health care organizations and websites of organizations affiliated with authors of included studies will be screened for unpublished evaluation reports. Existing organized CRC screening programs will be contacted with a request to share program-specific grey literature. Two researchers will independently screen each publication in two rounds for eligibility. Included studies will focus on adult populations involved in the implementation of organized CRC screening programs and contain information about implementation determinants/ strategies. Publications will be assessed for their risk of bias. Data extraction will include study aim, design, location, setting, sample, methods, and measures; program characteristics; implementation stage, framework, determinant, strategies, and outcomes; and service and other outcome information. Findings will be synthesized narratively using the three stages of thematic synthesis.
Discussion:
With its sole focus on the implementation of organizedCRC screening programs, this review will help to fill a central knowledge gap in the literature on colorectal cancer screening. Its findings can inform the decision making in policy and practice needed to prioritize resources for establishing new and maintaining existing programs in the future.
Systematic review registration
PROSPERO (CRD42022306580)
Structured Inverted-File k-Means Clustering for High-Dimensional Sparse Data
Authors: Aoyama Kazuo , Saito Kazumi
Published: November 2022

This paper presents an architecture-friendly k-means clustering algorithm referred to as SIVF for a large-scale and high-dimensional sparse data set. Algorithm efficiency on time is often measured by the number of costly operations such as similarity calculations. In practice, it depends greatly on how an algorithm adapts to an architecture of the computer system which the algorithm is executed on. Our proposed SIVF is carefully designed so as to operate at high speed and suppress memory usage on modern CPU architectures. It exploits a structured inverted-file for a mean set with an invariant centroid-pair based filter (ICP) to decrease the number of similarity calculations in an architecture-friendly manner. The structured inverted-file with the ICP effectively reduce instructions as well as similarity calculations, suppressing pipeline hazards that may cause pipeline stalls. We demonstrate in our experiments on real large-scale document data sets that SIVF operates at higher speed and with lower memory consumption than existing algorithms. Our performance analysis reveals that SIVF works at high speed by suppressing performance degradation factors of the number of instructions, cache misses, and branch mispredictionsrather than less similarity calculations.
The 26S proteasome in Entamoeba histolytica: Functional annotation and modelling of beta4-beta5 subunits
Authors: Joshi Nidhi , Hosen SK Yasir , Narooka Anil Raj , Gourinath S. , Tiwari Swati
Published: November 2022

Background: Proteasomes are conserved proteases that are crucial for proteostasis in eukaryotes. They are promising drug targets for protozoan parasites. Despite this, the 26S proteasomes of the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica has not received much attention. This study reports a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the 26S proteasome subunits of Entamoeba histolytica and related Entamoeba species.
Results: While showing overall conservation, critical substitutions in structurally and functionally important residues were observed in both regulatory (RP) and core particle (CP) subunits. Comparative sequence analysis suggests that the substrate translocation channel of E. histolytica has a changed polarity, and is possibly wider, compared to host proteasomes. The proteolytic subunits show differences in the substrate binding sites, especially the S1 and S3 binding pockets of the b1 subunit, that show T22M, A27V, T31K R45T substitutions suggesting differences in size and charge of the pockets. Similarly, b2 has T52L and E22V and b5 has A22R, A27S, S115D and E116G substitutions. These changes in the substrate binding pockets suggest differences in substrate preference and susceptibility to inhibitors compared to host proteasomes. Computational models of β4 and β5 subunits, and a docked β4-β5 model were developed. A binding pocket between β4-β5, similar to that of Leishmania tarentolae was observed. Selective inhibitors for visceral leishmaniasis, LXE408 and compound 8, docked well to this pocket.
Conclusions: This sequence based analysis predicts potential points of differences from the host proteasomes that can be experimentally tested, and can be utilized to develop selective inhibitors against E. histolytica.
Spatial and Temporal distribution of Foot and Mouth disease in cattle in Uganda from 2010 – 2021 (A retrospective study)
Authors: Okello Justine , Okello Walter , Muhanguzi Sulman , Kakuru Clet , Nambo Esther , Omodo Michael , Ademun Rose Anna , Opiyo Felix Lakor , Odoch Terence , Kankya Clovice , Mwiine Frank , Nsawotebba Andrew
Published: November 2022

Background: Foot and Mouth disease is a notifiable trans-boundary disease, which is endemic in a large area of Sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda. Recently, the disease has emerged from new areas, with high impact, hence threatening the food security and livelihoods of different animal owners. This study described the temporal and spatial distribution of FMD in Uganda, and factors associated with its occurrence
Methods: Data previously archived at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in Uganda, from 2010 to 2021, were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, QGIS and R software
Results: A total of 22,690 FMD cases were reported in Uganda between 2010 and 2021 with an average and median of 1169 and 37 outbreaks per year respectively. In this period, FMD was reported at least once in 58 districts (43%) of all districts of the country (n = 135). The occurrence of FMD outbreaks was found to be seasonal with peak outbreaks in November and a low in August. FMD was reported all over the country, with the majority of cases 45% (10,211) reported from Eastern, 38% (8,685) from western region, 6% (1,354) from northern region and 11% (2,440) from central region. Most FMD cases were reported during the dry month of November, January, and February.
Conclusion: FMD occurred in all the four regions of the country and showed statistically significant decrease in the long-term trend. Numbers of outbreaks were relatively higher during dry season. The spatial and temporal distribution identified in this study should be considered in controlling the disease. As unregulated and frequent animal movements are the likely causes of high outbreak occurrence during the dry season, animal movement regulations should be considered for the long-term control of FMD.
Recommendation: Strategic vaccination of animals should commence at least a month prior to the onset dry season to ensure immunity against the virus, together with restrictions on animal movements during dry season and farmers have to be aware about the risk of unrestricted animal movement.
An exploratory approach to the implicit and explicit assessment of risk: Benefits of their combined use for the prediction of risk attitudes and risky behavior
Authors: Kim Do-Yeong , Park Junsu
Published: November 2022

Background
Exclusive reliance on declarative measures of risk attitude may lead to an incorrect overall picture of the construct and its relations with behavioral outcomes. This study approached these concerns from a social cognition perspective by looking at implicitly assessed attitudes toward risk measured using the implicit association test (IAT). We conducted two studies to identify the benefits of using the IAT in studying risk attitudes.
Methods
In Study 1, we recruited 62 students enrolled in an MBA program (older group) and asked them to complete the explicit and implicit attitudinal measures of the risk test, along with measures of risk-related personality traits. Newly collected data obtained from the older group were compared with corresponding data from their younger counterparts reported in a previous study. In Study 2, 53 students majoring in financial engineering (FE) were recruited and asked to complete explicit and implicit measures of financial risk attitudes. A week later, they were instructed to join a simulated real-world stock trading competition.
Results
Study 1 found theoretically expected age differences more manifest in implicit measures of risk attitude than conceptually corresponding explicit measures, further identifying psychosocial maturity as a mediator in an inverse age – implicit risk attitude relationship. Study 2 demonstrated that the prediction of individual differences in stock return performance is improved when the explicit risk control and implicit stock investment operate in a complementary manner; implicitly aggressive students who majored in FE had higher rates of return on stock when they were predisposed more explicitly to pursuing control over expected future returns.
Conclusion
These results suggest that implicit measurement approach serves as a useful complement to more traditional, explicit ones. It could propose a new perspective that offers a basis for providing insights into risky behavior and supplementing existing knowledge of human behaviors.
Causal Effect of Coeliac Disease on Thyroid Dysfunctions: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Wei Li , Song Shihan , Xu Ruihua , Chen Lili , Wu Wencan
Published: November 2022

Background
Various epidemiological reports demonstrate that celiac disease is associated with thyroid diseases, however, it remains controversial whether this association reflects causation. We aim to investigate whether there is a causal relationship between CD and hyper- / hypo-thyroidism using the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Methods
Genetic variants associated (P < 5×10− 8) with CD were extracted as exposure from the IEU GWAS database in UK Biobank participants, while the hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism summary statistics were retrieved as outcomes. Inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) method was the main MR analysis to evaluate the causal effect of CD on thyroid dysfunction risk. Then, MR-Egger and weighted median method were used for sensitivity analysis. Finally, Using Comprehensive sensitivity analyses to assessed heterogeneity and to excluded outliers with horizontal pleiotropic effects.
Results
IVW analysis didn't show a significant association between CD and hypothyroidism (OR = 1.97, 95% CI 0.9–4.29, P = 0.09). In contrast, genetic predisposition to CD was significantly associated with increased risk of hyperthyroidism (OR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.49–1.82, P = 1.17×−21). Multiple sensitivity analyses and statistical power endorsed the robustness of our MR results.
Conclusion
This study provided a genetic evidence that CD accounted for an increased risk of hyperthyroidism rather than hypothyroidism. Our findings suggest that justifies broader thyroid function and thyroid-associated-antibody screenings in CD patients.
24-Hour Efficacy of Single Primary Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty versus latanoprost eye drops for Naïve Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension Patients
Authors: Shi Yipeng , Zhang Yan , Sun Wenying , Huang Alex S. , Chen Shuang , Zhang Lixia , Wang Wei , Xie Like , Xie Xiaobin
Published: November 2022

This prospective, observer-masked, randomized clinical trial was conducted between December 2018 and June 2021 at Eye Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. A total of 45 glaucoma patients from Beijing, China were enrolled in this clinical trial to compare the short-term efficacy of primary single-selective laser trabeculloplasty (SLT) with 0.005% latanoprost eye drops for the treatment of 24-hour intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with newly diagnosed primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). Both SLT and latanoprost significantly decreased mean 24-hour IOP and peak IOP, although the latanoprost group effect was more potent when compared to the SLT group (both P < 0.05). Compared with the SLT group, the latanoprost group had a significant and stable decrease in IOP after treatment, and the latanoprost group had a more pronounced reduction in IOP at weeks 4 and 12 (P༜0.05), but had no effect at week 1 (P = 0.097). As a first-line treatment, both SLT and latanoprost eye drops are effective in newly diagnosed POAG and OHT patients. However, the latanoprost eye drops may be better in decreasing mean and peak 24-hour IOP and controlling 24-hour IOP fluctuation compared to SLT.
Increased Interleukin-6 is Associated with Long COVID-19: Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Yin Jing-Xian , Agbana Yannick Luther , Sun Zhi-Shan , Fei Si-Wei , Zhao Han-Qing , Zhou Xiao-Nong , Chen Jun-Hu , Kassegne Kokouvi
Published: November 2022

Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can involve persistence, sequelae, and other medical complications that last weeks to months to evolve into long COVID-19. Exploratory studies have suggested that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is related to COVID-19; however, no correlation between IL-6 and long COVID-19 is known. We designed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between IL-6 levels and long COVID-19.
Methods
Databases were systematically searched for articles with data on long COVID-19 and IL-6 levels published before August 31, 2022. A total of 22 published studies were eligible for inclusion following the PRISMA guidelines. Analysis of data was undertaken by using Cochran's Q test and the Higgins I-squared (I2) statistic for heterogeneity. Random-effect meta-analyses were conducted to pool the IL-6 levels of long COVID-19 patients and to compare the differences in IL-6 levels among the long COVID-19, healthy, non-post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (non-PASC), and acute COVID-19 populations. The funnel plot and Egger's test were used to assess potential publication bias. Sensitivity analysis was used to test the stability of the results.
Results
An increase in IL-6 levels was observed after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The pooled estimate of IL-6 revealed a mean value of 20.92 pg/ml (95% CI = 9.30–32.54 pg/ml, I2 = 100%, p < 0.01) for long COVID-19. The forest plot showed high levels of IL-6 levels with long COVID-19 compared to healthy controls (mean difference = 9.75 pg/ml, 95% CI = 5.75–13.75 pg/ml, I2 = 100%, p < 0.00001) and PASC category (mean difference = 3.32 pg/ml, 95% CI = 0.22–6.42 pg/ml, I2 = 88%, p = 0.04). The symmetry of the funnel plots was not obvious, and Egger’s test showed that there was no significant small study effect in all groups (long COVID-19 versus healthy controls, p = 0.24; long COVID-19 versus non-PASC, p = 0.31).
Conclusions
This study showed that increased IL-6 correlates with long COVID-19. Such an informative revelation suggests IL-6 as a basic determinant to predict long COVID-19 or at least inform on “early stage” of long COVID-19.
Robust stability/stabilization with variable convergence rate for uncertain impulsive stochastic systems
Authors: Li Yuanen , Zhang Huasheng , Xie Xiangpeng
Published: November 2022

This paper researches the interval-driven variable convergence rate robust stability/stabilization of uncertain impulsive stochastic systems. First, a new conception of variable convergence rate stability for uncertain impulsive stochastic systems is given in conjunction with the idea of generalized pole configurations. Also, a new criterion for variable convergence rate robust stability/stabilization of uncertain impulsive stochastic systems is given, which can reflect and regulate the convergence rate of the system state. In addition, a new algorithm is designed by means of an interval-driven stabilization method. This algorithm, combined with the variable convergence rate criterion, achieves accurate control of the convergence rate of the state at the operational level. Double instances are proposed to verify the superiority of the the method.
Nondestructive monitoring of annealing and chemical–mechanical planarization behavior using ellipsometry and deep learning
Authors: Song Yi , Sun Qimeng , Yang Dekun , Liu Tianjian , Liu Jianhong , Wang Shizhao , Hu Sizhou , Liu Sheng
Published: November 2022

The Cu-filling process in through-silicon via (TSV-Cu) is a key technology for chip stacking and three-dimensional vertical packaging. During this process, defects resulting from chemical–mechanical planarization (CMP) and annealing severely affect the reliability of the chips. Traditional methods of defect characterization are destructive and cumbersome. In this study, a new defect inspection method was developed using Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry. TSV-Cu with a 3-µm-diameter and 8-µm-deep Cu-filling showed three typical types of defects: over-dishing (defect-OD), protrusion (defect-P), and defect-free defects. The process window for each defect was 13 nm. First, the three typical defects caused by CMP and annealing were investigated. With single-channel deep learning and a Mueller matrix element (MME), the TSV-Cu defect types could be distinguished with an accuracy rate of 99.94%. Next, seven effective MMEs were used as seven channels in the artificial neural network to quantify the height variation in the Cu-filling in the z-direction. The accuracy rate was 98.92% after training, and the recognition accuracy reached 1 nm. The proposed approach rapidly and nondestructively evaluates the annealing bonding and CMP processes, which can improve the reliability of high-density integration.
Shadow imaging for panoptical visualization of brain tissue in vivo
Authors: Dembitskaya Yulia , Boyce Andrew , Idziak Agata , Pourkhalili Atefeh , Bourdeelles Guillaume Le , Girard Jordan , Arizono Misa , Ducros Mathieu , Sato-Fitoussi Marie ,   Amaia Ochoa de Amezaga1, Oizel Kristell , Bancelin Stephane , Mercier Luc , Pfeiffer Thomas , Thompson Roger , Kim Sun Kwang , Bikfalvi Andreas , Nägerl Valentin
Published: November 2022

Progress in neuroscience research hinges on technical advances in visualizing living brain tissue with high fidelity and facility. Current neuroanatomical imaging approaches either require tissue fixation, do not have cellular resolution or only give a fragmented view. Here, we show how regular light microscopy together with fluorescence labeling of the interstitial fluid in the extracellular space provide comprehensive optical access in real-time to the anatomical complexity and dynamics of living brain tissue.
Temporal chromatin accessibility changes define transcriptional states essential for osteosarcoma metastasis
Authors: Pontius William , Hong Ellen , Faber Zachary , Gray Jeremy , Peacock Craig , Bayles Ian , Lovrenert Katreya , Bartels Cynthia , Scacheri Peter
Published: November 2022

The metastasis-invasion cascade describes the series of steps required for a cancer cell to successfully spread from its primary tumor and ultimately grow within a secondary organ. Despite metastasis being a dynamic, multistep process, most omics studies to date have focused on comparing primary tumors to the metastatic deposits that define end-stage disease. This static approach means we lack information about the genomic and epigenomic changes that occur during the majority of tumor progression. One particularly understudied phase of tumor progression is metastatic colonization, during which cells must adapt to the new microenvironment of the secondary organ. Through temporal profiling of chromatin accessibility and gene expression in vivo, we identify dynamic changes in the epigenome that occur as osteosarcoma tumors form and grow within the lung microenvironment. Furthermore, we show through paired in vivo and in vitro CRISPR drop-out screens and pharmacological validation that the upstream transcription factors represent a class of metastasis-specific dependency genes. While current models depict lung colonization as a discrete step within the metastatic cascade, our study shows it is a defined trajectory through multiple epigenetic states, revealing new therapeutic opportunities undetectable with standard approaches.
Fundamentals of Low-Resistive 2D-Semiconductor Metal Contacts: An Ab-initio NEGF Study
Authors: Afzalian Aryan , Duflou Rutger , Pourtois Geoffrey , Houssa Michel
Published: November 2022

Metal contacts form one of the main limitations for the introduction of 2D materials in next-generation scaled devices. Through ab-initio simulation techniques, we shed light on the fundamental physics and screen several 2D and 3D top and side contacts metals. Our findings highlight that a low semiconducting-metal contact resistance can be achieved. By selecting an appropriate 2D metal, we demonstrate both ohmic or small Schottky barrier top and side contacts. This leads to low contact resistance and good device drive performance, provided the doping concentration is sufficiently high. Additionally, we show that this doping concentration can be achieved through electrostatic doping with a gate. Finally, we perform a screening of possible 2D-3D top contacts. Finding an ohmic 2D-3D contact without a Schottky barrier has proven difficult, but it is shown that for the case of intermediate interaction strength and a limited Schottky barrier, low contact resistances can be achieved.
Command Filter-Based Adaptive NN Fixed-Time Prescribed Performance Control for Nonstrict-Feedback Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Yang Xiaoli , Li Jing , Ge Shuzhi Sam , Liang Xiaoling
Published: November 2022

A command filter-based adaptive tracking control strategy is designed for a class of the nonstrict-feedback nonlinear systems. Compared with the existing performance functions, a new performance function, the fixed-time performance function, is proposed for the first time, which does not depend on the accurate initial value of the error signal and has the ability of finite-time convergence. Radial basis function neural network method is introduced to approximate the unknown nonlinear functions and the characteristic of the Gaussian basis functions is utilized to overcome the difficulties from the nonstrict-feedback structure. Moreover, in contrast to the traditional Backstepping technique, the command filter is introduced, which solves the “explosion of complexity” problem and relaxes the assumption on the reference signal. And then, it is guaranteed that the tracking error falls within a prescribed small neighborhood by the designed performance functions in fixed time and the closed-loop system is semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded (SGUUB). The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is verified by numerical simulation.
Prevalence and Associated Psychological Factors of Anxiety and Depression Among Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza: the Need for Interdepartmental Management Approach
Authors: Maghina Justine , Chibwae Alfred , Kapesa Anthony , Kiyeti Hauli
Published: November 2022

Background: The diagnosis of breast cancer and the traumatic treatment can cause profound emotional distress for breast cancer patients. Several psychological disorders are experienced by the patient with breast cancer at all the times studies identified. The burden of the psychological disorders, the factors associated and the psychological disorder interventions during breast cancer management have not been elucidated in Tanzania and other low-income settings. This study has therefore aimed at determining the prevalence and associated psychological factors of Anxiety and Depression among patients with breast cancer received hospitals therapy in tertiary care Hospital in Tanzania.
Methods:A cross-sectional design involved one hundred and thirty-one breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at Bugando Medical Centre from September 2017 to March 2018 The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to determine the prevalence and associated psychological factors of depression and anxiety of breast cancer patients.
Results:According to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Prevalence of depression among breast cancer patient in chemotherapy was 27 (20.6%). While, prevalence of anxiety in this study was 13 (9.9%). Severity of depression was significantly associated to having health insurance (p value 0.023 OR 0.438), religion (p value 0.045 OR 1.017) familial history of breast cancer (p value 0.041 OR 1.756).
Conclusion: Majority of participants in this study were in earlier stage of breast cancer. However, the prevalence of depression and anxiety among breast cancer patients in chemotherapy was unexpectedly high. The psychological factors associated with the depression and anxiety were those related to patient’s socio-economic circumstances affecting accessibility treatment rather than to the breast cancer as pathology or its treatment. This study recommends that there is a need for the interdepartmental approach in management of breast cancer patients especially those in chemotherapy. Mental health practitioners including Psychiatrist and Psychologist should be involved in the management of breast cancer especially during chemotherapy. Universal Coverage of the health services including health insurances should be promoted especially the cancer, psychiatric and psychological services.
The Survival Impact of Adjuvant Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy in Patients with Non-endometrioid Endometrial Carcinomas: a PSM-IPTW Analysis Based on SEER Database
Authors: Hao Zhimin , Yu Yangli
Published: November 2022

Purpose: To investigate outcomes of adjuvant treatments for non-endometrioid endometrial carcinomas (NEEC), as previous studies are limited by its rarity and heterogeneity.
Patients and methods: Patients with endometrial serous carcinoma (SC), clear cell carcinoma (CCC) and carcinosarcoma were identified between 2004 and 2018 from SEER database. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) technique were employed to balance confounding factors. Multivariate, exploratory subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate impact of adjuvant treatment on overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS).
Results: The cohort comprised 5577 serous, 977 clear cell, and 959 carcinosarcomas. Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CRT), chemotherapy alone, and radiotherapy alone were respectively administered in 42.21%, 47.27% and 10.58% of the whole cohort. Prior to adjusting, chemotherapy plus brachytherapy yielded the most beneficial effect among various treatments. After PSM-IPTW adjustment, CRT still demonstrated beneficial effect on OS and CSS. Subgroup analysis indicated CRT improved survival among various TNM stages, particularly with uterine carcinosarcoma. In the sensitivity analyses for serous histology, brachytherapy with or without chemotherapy appeared to benefit stage I-II patients. In stage III-IV SC patients, chemotherapy plus brachytherapy was still associated with improved cancer outcomes. When nodal metastases were identified, additional external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to CT was more utilized with survival improvement.
Conclusion: In NEEC patients, combined CRT yielded beneficial effects than any single mode. Both chemotherapy and brachytherapy promoted survival in early stage SC patients. Late stage SC patients may benefit from chemotherapy plus either EBRT or brachytherapy
Genetic Diversity and Local Adaption of Alfalfa Populations (Medicago sativa L.) under Long-Term Grazing
Authors: Wang Hu , Coulman Bruce , Bai Yuguang , Tarˈan Bunyamin , Biligetu Bill
Published: November 2022

Genomic information on alfalfa adaptation to long-term grazing is useful for alfalfa genetic improvement. In this study, 14 alfalfa populations were collected from long-term grazing sites (> 25 yrs) across four soil zones in western Canada. Six agro-morphological and three nutritive value traits were evaluated from 2018 to 2020. The genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) data of the alfalfa populations and environmental data were used for genotype-environment association (GEA). Alfalfa cultivars released between 1926–1980 were used to determine degree of genetic variation of the 14 populations. Both STRUCTURE and UPGMA based on 19,853 SNPs showed that the 14 alfalfa populations had varying levels of parentages from alfalfa sub-species Medicago sativa and M. falcata. The linear regression of STRUCTURE membership probability on phenotypic data indicated genetic variations of forage dry matter yield, spring vigor and plant height were low, but genetic variations of regrowth, fall plant height, days to flower and crude protein were still high for the 14 alfalfa populations. The GEA identified 31 SNPs associated with 13 candidate genes that were mainly associated with six environmental factors of the long-term grazing sites. Candidate genes underlying environmental factors were associated with a variety of proteins, which were involved in plant responses to abiotic stresses, i.e., drought, cold and salinity-alkali stresses.
Etiology and clinical characteristics of patients with severely impaired consciousness in prehospital settings: a retrospective study
Authors: Mizu Daisuke , Matsuoka Yoshinori , Nishida Haruka , Sakatani Tomoko , Teramoto Shoki , Ariyoshi Koichi
Published: November 2022

Background: Although patients with severely impaired consciousness require a rapid response, it is commonly difficult to obtain detailed histories and perform accurate physical examinations of these patients. Therefore, this study examined the causes of patients with severely impaired consciousness and the clinical characteristics in prehospital settings that are useful for differential diagnosis.
Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective study using data from the Kobe City Fire Department database. We retrospectively examined patients aged ≥16 years with Japan Coma Scale III-digit codes during paramedic contact and transported them to our hospital between January 2018 and December 2018. Furthermore, we evaluated the age, systolic blood pressure (sBP), presence of airway obstruction, and mortality for each final diagnosis.
Results: Overall, 227 patients were included in this study. One hundred and twelve patients (49.3%) were male, and the median age was 71 years (interquartile range 50–83 years). Stroke was the most common cause (30%). In addition, intoxication and psychiatric disorders were significantly more common in younger patients (P < 0.01). sBP was the highest inpatients with stroke. Airway obstruction was found most frequently in patients with stroke (73.5%), with a significant difference compared with other differential diseases,except for environmental disorders and cardiovascular diseases (P < 0.01). Mortality was the highest in stroke (55.9%), which was significantly higher than that for other differential diagnoses, except for environmental disorders and cardiovascular diseases.Among the patients with stroke, 45.6% had ocular abnormalities.
Conclusion: Stroke was the most common cause of severely impaired consciousness. However, age, sBP, the presence of airway obstruction, and ocular abnormalities can be useful indicators for differential diagnosis in prehospital settings in patients with severe disturbance of consciousness.