bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Retrospective Study of GTV Additive Accelerated Hyperfractionation Radiotherapy Combined with Concurrent Chemotherapy in Stage II-IIIa Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Huang Shulin , Pan Weihong , Xu Jingxuan , Tang Mutao , Sun Cheng , Zhu Wenjuan , Zhang Jianguang , Tan Yongli
Published: March 2023

Background
Among patients with inoperable or declined surgery for stage I-IIIa NSCLC, radiation therapy is the dominant treatment method. When SBRT is used, the outcome is comparable to surgery for stage I NSCLC. Increasing the cure rate and reducing radiation damage by modifying the dose-fraction-time pattern of radiation therapy for stage II-IIIa NSCLC is currently a top priority. In this study, we evaluated gross tumor volume (GTV) plus accelerated hyperfractionation radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy for stage II-IIIa NSCLC patients in a retrospective manner.
Methods Retrospective analysis of 168 cases with pathologically or cytologically confirmed stage II-IIIa (T1-4N0-2M0) who received accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy with wild-center field GTV plus (two different target areas, two different doses) (planned target volume (PTV): PTV 45Gy/25f, GTV 25Gy/25f after 6 hours, 5 days/week, 2 times/day, end of 5-6 weeks) and synchronized chemotherapy (platinum-containing double agent combination chemotherapy or oral etoposide capsules and vincristine capsules) in patients with NSCLC at our hospital from 2002.12-2017.12. Four to six weeks after treatment, the efficacy was evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours (RECIST), and toxic reactions during the treatment were observed. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method to calculate patients' local control rates (LC), overall survival rates (OS), and progression-free survival rates (PFS) at 1, 3, and 5 years. Multi-factor prognostic analysis was performed by the Logrank test, and univariate prognostic analysis and Cox model.
Results: The complete response rates (CR)were30.4%, partial response rates (PR) were 58.9% and stable disease rates (SD) were 7.7%. The LC rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 95.8%, 85.1% and 79.8%, respectively; the OS rates were 91.1%, 66.1% and 50.0%, and the PFS rates were 70.2%, 54.2% and 45.2%. All indicators were better than those of the standard conventional fractionated 60Gy/30F concurrent chemotherapy regimen. Since the second daily radiotherapy only irradiated GTV, the doses received by organs at risk (OAR) such as the lung, esophagus and heart could be controlled within the standard range, except for the high incidence of bone marrow suppression due to radiotherapy, the incidence of grade 2-3 lung radiation injury and esophageal radiation injury was ≤7%. Multivariate analysis revealed that clinical stage, platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens and type of pathology were independent risk factors for prognosis (P<0.05).
Conclusion GTV additive accelerated hyperfractionation radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy in patients with stage II-IIIa NSCLC has an encouraging efficacy profile with tolerable toxicity.
Evaluation of Landfill Site Suitability Using GIS, Remote Sensing, and the Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (AHP) Approach, Ethiopia
Authors: Desta Mulumebet Demeke , Tesseme Tamiru , Yigezu Tesfaye Tefera , Nigussie Asmare Belay
Published: March 2023

Determining a suitable location of landfill sites is a challenging and complicated process because it must consider social, environmental, and technical factors. This investigation used an integrated Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing, and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to find a suitable landfill site. Twelve factors, namely proximity to the river, road, residential area, groundwater depth, proximity to the borehole, slope, industrial area, soil, geology, land use/land cover (LULC), reservoir, and religious sites, were used in the present study as suitable site selection criteria. Each criterion was evaluated by experts with the aid of AHP and their suitability was classified by GIS. The final suitability map was produced by merging the weights of the criteria and the suitability of the factor maps. Four suitability classes (high, moderate, low, and unsuitable areas) were identified as a consequence of the AHP with GIS analysis, which represented 33.5 km2 (23%), 75.6 km2 (51.75%), 0.36km2 (0.25%), and 36.54 km2 (25%) of the total study area, respectively. Accordingly, three candidate landfill sites are suggested. The finding of this study indicated that the integration of GIS with AHP approaches is a promising option to obtain suitable landfill sites.
A Scoping Review of the Ethical Impacts of International Medical Electives on Local Students and Patient Care
Authors: Chmura Magdalena , Nagraj Shobhana
Published: March 2023

Background: International electives are often considered a valuable learning opportunity for medical students. Yet, as travelling to lower and middle income countries (LMICs) becomes more common following the global pandemic in 2020, ethical considerations of such practices re-emerge. We conducted a scoping review to assess the extent to which five ethical themes were addressed in existing literature about electives, with the aim of investigating the ethical impacts of medical student electives on local resources, patients and clinicians in LMICs.
Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Global Health and Embase databases using the search terms “(ethics) AND (medical electives)”. Thematic content analysis was undertaken using a combination of deductive and inductive themes. The deductive themes included: exceeding clinical competence, use of limited local resources, respect for patients and local culture, collaboration with local community/colleagues, and one-sided benefits in partnership. In addition, we also allowed for emerging themes within the data, and conducted a narrative synthesis of the results.
Results: A total of 37 papers discussed ethical issues relating to medical student international electives to LMICs. Most publications were written from the medical student perspective (n=14), rather than by the host-institution (n=5), with several written from third-party perspectives (n=18). Negative impacts on local host students and impact upon patient care, were identified as additional ethical considerations.
Conclusions: Our review demonstrated that there is limited awareness in the existing literature of the potential negative impacts of medical electives to local LMIC students’ access to medical education, and patient care. We recommend that these ethical themes should be further explored in pre-departure elective teaching courses, and post-elective debriefs to increase medical students’ awareness of the impact of their presence on host communities.
Conspicuous, green flowers are an honest signal of nectar rewards in a bird-pollinated tree (Fuchsia excorticata, Onagraceae)
Authors: Lim Ganges , Burns K. C.
Published: March 2023

Bird pollinated flowers typically appear ‘red’. Fuchsia excorticata (Onagraceae), a gynodioecious tree species endemic to New Zealand, is a notable exception. It produces ‘green’, cauliflorous flowers at early stages in flower ontogeny, when pistils are receptive. Flowers later turn ‘red’ as they lose their receptivity. We conducted field observations and spectrographic analyses to test whether: (1) receptive, green-phase flowers are actually more conspicuous to avian pollinators against their natural backgrounds than red-phase flowers, (2) green-phase flowers produce more nectar, and (3) relationships between flower conspicuousness and nectar production are similar in females and hermaphrodites. Results showed that the reflectance properties of green-phase flowers sharply contrast ‘orange’ tree bark, their natural visual background, rendering them more conspicuous to the avian eye than red-phase flowers. Green-phase flowers also produced more nectar than red-phase flowers as an honest signal of rewards. Similar results were observed in both female and hermaphrodite plants. Overall results provide an example of reversed flower-background colour contrasts, with ‘reddish’ hues being incorporated into the visual backgrounds of floral displays rather than being associated with the flowers themselves. They also illustrate that flower conspicuousness can serve as an honest signal of nectar rewards to pollinators.
Factors influencing career development and job satisfaction among anesthesia graduates: a cross-sectional study in China
Authors: Yang Fengyan , Jiang An , Xu Bing , Wei Kai , Jiang Zhengyu , Yu Jian , Xu Tianying , Zou Zui , Sun Yuming , Li Mi
Published: March 2023

Background In addition to providing painless and comfortable treatments to patients, anesthesiologists also ensure the safety of their lives and provide emergency services during public health emergencies, natural disasters, and trauma cases. Globally, the ratio of anesthesiologists to surgeons is 1:2.9, but only 1:7.5 in China, according to a WHO survey. In addition to an urgent need to train more anesthesia professionals, China should also pay attention to their career development and job satisfaction. To identify the relevant factors affecting job satisfaction, we conducted a survey among the graduates majored in anesthesiology at the Naval Medical University.
Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 595 college graduates majored in anesthesiology who graduated from 1995 to 2021. It contained demographic information, career development status, a job satisfaction scale, work pressure, and turnover intention of the graduates. A multivariate logistic model was used to analyze the influencing factors of satisfaction.
Results We received 318 valid questionnaires. According to the survey, 72.96% of respondents were satisfied with their current job, and the overall job satisfaction score was 3.54. According to the results of the logistic regression, age (p = 0.037), level of the medical institution (p < 0.001), and work pressure (p = 0.002) were independent variables associated with graduates' job satisfaction.
Conclusion Results indicate that job satisfaction of the graduates is comparable to levels in developed countries, however, the influencing factors are different, leading to different solutions for the improvement. Age, level of the medical institution, and work pressure all play an essential role in predicting job satisfaction. More targeted approaches are needed, for instance, providing more employment guidance for newly graduated trainees, offering more training opportunities for working groups in different positions, and providing clinicians with a better evaluation method. In addition to increasing job satisfaction, these measures may also be helpful to stabilize the anesthesia workforce and improve the attractiveness of the profession.
Effects of different exercise testing methods on left ventricular deformation and its correlation with cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in competitive athletes – semi-recumbent ergometer vs. treadmill testing
Authors: Kandels Joscha , Stöbe Stephan , Kogel Alexander , Hepp Pierre , Riepenhof Helge , Droste Jan-Niklas , Stoeggl Thomas , Marshall Robert Percy , Rudolph Ulrike , Laufs Ulrich , Fikenzer Sven , Hagendorff Andreas
Published: March 2023

Background
Global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global myocardial work index (GWI) allow early detection of subclinical changes in left ventricular (LV) systolic function. The aim of the study was to investigate the immediate effects of maximum physical exercise by different exercise testing methods on LV deformation parameters in competitive athletes and to analyze their correlation with cardiopulmonary exercise capacity.
Methods
To reach maximum physical exercise, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed by semi-recumbent ergometer in competitive handball players (n = 13) and by treadmill testing in competitive football players (n = 19). Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) indexed to body weight (relative VO2max) was measured in all athletes. Transthoracic echocardiography and blood pressure measurements were performed at rest and five minutes after CPET in all athletes. GLS, GWI and their changes before and after CPET (ΔGLS, ΔGWI) were correlated with (relative) VO2max.
Results
In handball and football players, GLS and GWI did not differ significantly before and after CPET. There were no significant correlations between GLS and relative VO2max, but moderate correlations were found between ΔGWI and relative VO2max in handball (r = 0.631; P = 0.021) and football players (r = 0.592; P = 0.008). Furthermore, handball (46.7 ml/min*kg ± 4.7 ml/min*kg vs. 37.4 ml/min*kg ± 4.2; P = 0.004) and football players (58.3 ml/min*kg ± 3.7 ml/min*kg vs. 49.7 ml/min*kg ± 6.8; P = 0.002) with an increased ΔGWI after CPET showed a significant higher relative VO2max.
Conclusion
Maximum physical exercise has an immediate effect on LV deformation, irrespective of the used testing method. The correlation of relative VO2max with ΔGWI, identifies GWI as an echocardiographic parameter for characterizing the current individual training status of athletes.
Rapid Identification of the Production Year of Pu-erh Raw Tea Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Authors: Tao Lei , Cai Guangyuan , Cheng Zhandong , Huang Lin , He Xiuwen , Xu Jiang , Yao Mingyin
Published: March 2023

The economic value and consumer acceptance of Pu-erh tea heavily depend on the production year. The present study aims to evaluate the potential of utilizing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in conjunction with chemometric models to identify Pu-erh raw tea from various production years. The research utilizes tea leaves from a common source in 2008, 2013, and 2018 as the analytical samples. One hundred spectral datasets were collected for each type of tea, and these datasets are randomly partitioned into cross-validation and test sets in a 3:2 ratio. Subsequently, by utilizing threshold peak finding to extract features from the baseline-corrected LIBS spectrum, 21 spectral datasets are identified and input into LDA, SVM, EML, and KNN classification models for analysis. Results demonstrate that the LDA model achieves superior performance in identifying tea leaf years, attaining a recognition rate of 98.75%. Additionally, the average recognition rate of the other three algorithms in three-classification tasks exceeds 90%. Overall, this study confirms the feasibility and effectiveness of utilizing LIBS in conjunction with machine learning algorithms for discriminating Pu-erh raw tea originating from different production years.
The changes of intrinsic connectivity contrast in young smokers
Authors: Zhou Yang , Xue Ting , Zhuang Xialie , Cheng Yongxin , Wang Juan , Dong Fang , Jia Shaodi , Zhang Fan , Lv Xiaoqi , Wang Hongde , Yuan Kai , Yu Dahua
Published: March 2023

Previous studies demonstrated that reward circuit plays an important role in smoking. The differences of functional and structural connectivity were found among several brain regions such as nucleus accumbens, thalamus and frontal lobe. However, few studies focused on functional connectivity in whole-brain voxel level of young smokers. In this study, intrinsic connectivity contrast (ICC) was used to perform voxel-based whole-brain analyses in 55 young smokers and 55 matched non-smokers to identify brain regions with significant group differences. ICC results showed that the connectivity of young smokers in Medial Frontal Cortex (MedFC) showed a significantly lower trend compared with the non-smokers. The seed-based functional connectivityanalysis about MedFC indicated that young smokers showed reduced connectivity between the MedFC and left hippocampus, left amygdala compared to non-smokers. In addition, correlation analysis showed that the ICC of MedFC in young smokers was significantly negatively correlated with Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and Questionnaire on Smoking Urges (QSU). The functional connectivity of the MedFC was significantly negatively correlated with Pack_years. Moreover, the mediation analysis indicated that ICC of MedFC completely mediated FTND and QSU of young smokers. The results suggest that nicotine accumulation may affect the conmunication of the frontal lobe with the whole brain to some extent, leading to changes in smoking cravings. These results demonstrate the importance of whole-brain analysis and highlight the effectiveness of a completely data-driven approach to the problem. The above research also provides in-depth insights into the mechanism of adolescent smoking addiction and related intervention treatment.
Reporting of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Associated Factors Among Nursing Assistants in Long-Term Care Facilities in South Korea
Authors: Kyung MinJung , Lee Soo-Jeong , Wagner Laura M. , Hong OiSaeng
Published: March 2023

Background
Nursing assistants are at increased risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs), and reporting of injuries and symptoms can be affected by various factors. The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristic of WRMSD reporting and identify associated factors among nursing assistants in long-term care settings in South Korea.
Methods
This study analyzed cross-sectional survey data from 200 nursing assistants in 19 long-term care facilities in Korea. Multivariable analyses were conducted to examine the association between WRMSD reporting and demographic and job characteristics, physical and psychosocial work factors, WRMSD characteristics, and WRMSD reporting attitudes.
Results
Of the participants, 53% had WRMSD in the past 12 months and only 13.5% of those with WRMSD notified it to their management. Reporting of WRMSDs was more prevalent in nursing assistants who perceived worker safety and health a priority in their management (adjusted OR [aOR] = 4.54; 95% Confidence interval [CI] = 1.54 − 13.36) and witnessed injury reporting of others (aOR = 4.55; 95% CI = 1.15–17.9). Conversely, nursing assistants with negative attitudes toward WRMSD reporting (aOR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.3–0.81) and those who changed job or tasks due to their symptoms (aOR = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.07–0.76) were less likely to report their WRMSDs to managers.
Conclusions
Underreporting of WRMSDs is prevalent among nursing assistants. This study findings suggest that underreporting may be mitigated by good workplace safety climate. Open communication among coworkers and between management and workers are needed, especially for workers with negative reporting attitudes.
Usefulness of a five-tiered clinicopathological classification in predicting treatment-related outcomes and multimodal therapeutic approaches in pituitary adenoma patients: retrospective analysis on a Portuguese cohort of 129 patients from a tertiary pituitary center
Authors: Peixe Carolina , Alexandre Maria Inês , Gomes Ana Raquel , Nobre Ema , Silva Ana Luísa , Oliveira Tiago , López-Presa Dolores , Faria Cláudia C. , Miguens José , Bugalho Maria João , Marques Pedro
Published: March 2023

Purpose: Trouillas’ clinicopathological classification is a five-tiered grading system designed to predict recurrence/progression in patients with pituitary adenomas (PAs). We aimed to study its usefulness in predicting PAs that will have a challenging disease course and may require more often complex multimodal and multiple therapeutic approaches.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of 129 patients with PAs operated in our institution between 2001 and 2020 (84 non-clinically functioning PAs, 32 acromegaly, 9 Cushing’s disease, 2 prolactinomas and 2 thyrotropinomas). Grading was based on invasion and proliferation: 1a (non-invasive, non-proliferative; n=59), 1b (non-invasive, proliferative; n=17), 2a (invasive, non-proliferative; n=38), and 2b (invasive, proliferative; n=15).
Results: Of the 129 patients, 68 (52.7%) were females, and the mean age at diagnosis was 53.7±15.4 years. The mean follow-up duration was 93.1±61.8 months. Grade 2b PAs when compared to other grades (2b-2a-1b-1a) had significantly higher rates of persistent tumor remnant within 1-year after operation (93-78-18-30%; p<0.001), active disease at last follow-up (40-27-12-10%; p=0.004), re-operation (27-16-0-5%; p=0.023), irradiation (53-38-12-7; p<0.001), multimodal treatment (67-49-18-25%; p=0.003), multiple treatment (33-27-6-9%; p=0.017). Patients with grade 2b PAs also required a higher mean number of treatments (2.6-2.1-1.2-1.4; p<0.001).
Conclusions: Trouillas’ clinicopathological classification is a suitable grading system to identify PAs that may be more refractory and more often require complex multimodal and multiple therapeutic approaches. Invasive PAs, especially grade 2b tumors, are more likely to need complex treatment approach, including radiotherapy, and may also display higher rates of active disease at last follow-up, despite being submitted to a higher number of treatments.
The effect of the embryo pooling method on the cumulative live birth rate in poor ovarian responders according to the Bologna criteria
Authors: Ge Qiu Lin , Chen Miao Xin , Li Kun Ming , Teng Xiao Ming , Chen Zhi Qin
Published: March 2023

Background
Although increasing the oocyte/embryo yield via an accumulation from consecutive stimulation cycles may be an effective approach towards improving IVF outcomes in POR patients, there are no robust data indicating the efficiency of the ‘accumulation scenario’ in women with a poor response undergoing IVF after multiple treatment cycles in a certain period of time.
Methods
This is a retrospective study of 276 infertile women in poor ovarian responders according to the Bologna criteria undergoing IVF between October 2016 to March 2020. Infertile women fulfilling the Bologna criteria in which at least two of the following three features (age ≥ 40 years, a previous POR, an abnormal ovarian reserve test) undergoing IVF were included. They used either embryo pooling (study group, n = 121) or conventional non-pooling strategy (control group, n = 155) at the discretion of the attending physicians. The primary outcome measure was the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) of which the ongoing status had to be achieved within 24 months since ovarian stimulation. LBR was calculated by including the first live birth generated during the 24 months period whether via fresh or FET cycles.
Results
Implantation rate was significantly lower in the study group compared to that in the control group(17.4%vs27.8%, P = 0.002). The CLBR after multiple IVF stimulation cycle and subsequent fresh embryo transfer and /or FET cycles within 24 months follow-up were significantly lower in the study group compared to that in the control group (31.4% (38/121) and 43.2% (67/151), RR = 0.727; 95%CI: 0.528-1.000). The average time from ovarian stimulation to live birth was significantly longer in the study group compared to the control group (20.5(15.4–25.8) months vs.16(14.5–22.6) months respectively, P < 0.001). In Kaplan-Meier analysis, the cumulative incidence of ongoing pregnancy leading to live birth was significantly lower in the study group compared with control group (Log rank test, chi-square = 21.958, P < 0.001). Cox proportional hazard modelling revealed that the embryo pooling (HR = 1.896; 95% CI: (1.114–3.229), P = 0.018), age of women, number of stimulation cycles per woman (HR = 0.900; 95% CI:(0.849–0.955), P < 0.001) were strongly associated with the CLBR after adjusting other confounding factors.
Conclusions
The embryo pooling strategy can achieve significantly lower cumulative live birth rate when compared with the conventional non-pooling strategy. Moreover, the time to live birth was significantly longer in the embryo pooling group than the non-pooling group.
Structured Equilibria for Dynamic Games with Asymmetric Information and Dependent Types
Authors: Heydaribeni Nasimeh , Anastasopoulos Achilleas
Published: March 2023

We consider a dynamic game with asymmetric information where each player observes privately a noisy version of a (hidden) state of the world V, resulting in dependent private observations. We study structured perfect Bayesian equilibria (PBE) that use private beliefs in their strategies as sufficient statistics for summarizing their observation history. The main difficulty in finding the appropriate sufficient statistic (state) for the structured strategies arises from the fact that players need to construct (private) beliefs on other players’ private beliefs on V, which in turn would imply that an infinite hierarchy of beliefs on beliefs needs to be constructed, rendering the problem unsolvable. We show that this is not the case: each player’s belief on other players’ beliefs on V can be characterized by her own belief on V and some appropriately defined public belief. We then specialize this setting to the case of a Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) non-zero-sum game and we characterize linear structured PBE that can be found through a backward/forward algorithm akin to dynamic programming for the standard LQG control problem. Unlike the standard LQG problem, however, some of the required quantities for the Kalman filter are observation-dependent and thus cannot be evaluated off-line through a forward recursion.
Treatability Study on Electroplating Effluent by Electro Coagulation
Authors: subburaj Usha
Published: March 2023

Studies have been conducted into the effectiveness of electro coagulation in the treatment of wastewater containing metal ions (Fe, Zn, Cr, Mn, and Cu). Several operational criteria, including Time, pH, Current, Voltage, combination of electrodes like Fe-Fe, Fe-Al, Al-Al &Al-Fe were evaluated in an attempt to enhance removal efficiency. In addition, the increase of voltage 2.5V, 5V, 10V accordingly the current density also varied 0.12A, 0.24A, 0.53A respectively. The amounts recovered from Iron, Manganese, Copper, Zinc was discovered to be substantially faster than Chromium as a result of different removal strategies. The method was effectively used to treat effluent from electroplating, where an optimum decrease of (Fe, Zn, Cr, Mn, Cu) concentrations beneath permissible limits was obtained, just after 60 min. The 100 percent removal efficiency of Zn, Cr, Cu, Mn were obtained by using the Fe-Fe electrode with 10V and 60 minutes. The iron was removed 100 percent in the combination of Al-Al electrode with 10V and 60 minutes. At the increased time interval, the use of iron electrode increases the concentration of Fe, because iron electrode was the sacrificial electrode.
Biomonitoring and Biomathematical Modeling of Health Risks Associated with Dumpsite Grown Vegetables in Lagos State
Authors: Otugboyega Joseph Olusoji , Madu Francis Ugochukwu , Otugboyega Olaide Oluwayemisi , Ojo Ayomipo Martins , Adeyeye Adeleke Joseph , Ajayi John Adekunle
Published: March 2023

Conversion of dumpsites to farm lands in several communities is a usual practice in Nigeria. Wastes accumulate heavy metals in a variety of forms. This study assessed the concentration, degrees of contamination and attendant health risk of heavy metals (HMs); using two major indigenous vegetables (Amaranthus viridis and Talinum triangulare) grown on five major dumpsites in Lagos state. After wet digestion, the mean concentrations of the HMs in the vegetable samples were evaluated using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Daily intake of Metals (DIM), tangent hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) biomathematics were employed in the assessment of non-carcinogenic health risk. Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) assessment was used to assess Carcinogenicity. HM concentrations detected fell within the following ranges: (0.59 to 0.37), (0.07 to 1.36), (0.30 to 2.21), (0.00 to 0.03) and (0.00 to 0.04) mg/kg; for zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), Iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr), respectively. Low to moderate variability and statistically significant differences were seen in the concentration of HMs in vegetables, (p<0.05). At Ikorodu, Pb concentration was above the world Health Organization (WHO) permissible range and has the highest contamination factor. DIM and THQ for Fe and Pb were above threshold values (>1); HI values for the vegetables exceeded WHO normal range (>1), except Abule-Egba samples. These values reveal great health risk from consumption of vegetables from four major sites. ILCR values for 43.3% of the samples were above the WHO (10-6) limits, indicating high risk of carcinogenicity over a life time of exposure.
Is the expansion of the subway network alone capable of improving local air quality? A study case in São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Leirião Luciana Ferreira Leite , Gabriel Ana Flávia Barbosa , Alencar Airlane Pereira , Miraglia Simone Georges El Khouri
Published: March 2023

One of the policies adopted to reduce vehicular emissions is subway network expansion. This work fitted interrupted regression models to investigate the effects of the inauguration of subway stations on the mean, trend, and seasonality of the NO, NO2, NOx, and PM10 local concentrations. The regions investigated in the city of São Paulo (Brazil) were Pinheiros, Butantã, and St. Amaro. In Pinheiros, after the inauguration of the subway station, there were downward trends for all pollutants. However, these trends were not significantly different from the trends observed before. In Butantã, only regarding NO, there was a significant reduction and seasonal change after the subway station’s inauguration. In St. Amaro, no trend in the PM10 concentration was noted. The absence of other transportation and land use policies in an integrative way to the subway network expansion may be responsible for the low air quality improvement. This study highlights that the expansion of the subway network must be integrated with other policies to improve local air quality.
Modelling of 12-DoF Parachute - Riser - Payload System Dynamics using Kane’s method
Authors: Iyer Prashant G
Published: March 2023

Dynamic behaviour of parachutes is highly complex and characterised by non-linear, time dependant Fluid Structure Interaction, which is computationally intensive and hence not a viable option for incorporating into trajectory simulations. The paper describes modelling of ”Computationally efficient, High Fidelity Multi-Body” Parachute - Elastic Riser - Payload system, capable of simulating trajectory from parachute deployment to parachute separation. The differential equations of motion, including the kinematical and kinetic relationships are derived using the matrix form of Kane’s method, which avoids the typical complexity involved in symbolic derivations, available in published literature.The developed model is validated with published literature results formulated using Newton Euler method and simulation results demonstrating the typical characteristic motion of the system during descend are presented.
Recurrent miscarriage associated with rare anti-PP1Pk antibody: a case series and literature review
Authors: Li Guohua , Du Mengyang , Deng Xujing , Wang Shuping , Du Qiaoling , Bao Shihua
Published: March 2023

Background:The anti-PP1Pk antibody is a rare antibody associated with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in the first trimester. As it is a rare entity, few reports have been published, especially in China. Currently, there is no specific treatment for RSA associated with anti-PP1Pk antibody because it is a naturally occurring antibody. This study aims to report three cases of RSA associated with the anti-PP1Pk antibody to share our experiences with its management.Methods:The three patients' medical information was obtained from the medical records. Intravenous immunoglobulin and/or plasmapheresis was offered to the patients. We also made an extension research of the related literature about RSA associated with anti-PP1Pk antibody.Results:Although patients received intervention, the maternal anti-PP1Pk antibody titer remained stable and did not decrease. There were no live births. We summarized publications about pregnancy in women with anti-PP1Pk antibodies.Conclusions:Early initiation of plasmapheresis in high-risk patients with anti-PP1Pk antibodies should be strongly considered.
Crosstalk between cholesterol and PIP2 in the regulation of Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels
Authors: Delgado-Ramírez Mayra , López-Serrano Ana Laura , Sánchez-Armass Sergio , Meza Ulises , Rodríguez-Menchaca Aldo A.
Published: March 2023

It is well known that Kv7 channels activation is critically dependent on the lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Furthermore, we have recently shown that Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels are finely modulated by cholesterol. In this study, we have investigated the crosstalk between cholesterol and PIP2 in the regulation of Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels transiently expressed in HEK-293 cells. To evaluate the effect of cholesterol on PIP2-mediated regulation of Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels, methyl-β-cyclodextrin was acutely applied to decrease the plasma membrane cholesterol level. Currents passing through Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels in cholesterol-depleted cells were less sensitive to PIP2 dephosphorylation strategies, either via the voltage-sensitive phosphatase Dr-VSP or the rapamycin-translocatable lipid 5-phosphatase system, compared to control cells, suggesting that cholesterol depletion limits the action of these phosphatases, probably by strengthening the interaction between Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels and PIP2. In contrast, the sensitivity of the Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels to acute membrane cholesterol depletion by methyl-β-cyclodextrin was not modified in channels with different apparent affinities for PIP2. Taken together, our results reveal a novel functional crosstalk between cholesterol and PIP2 in the regulation of Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels.
Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Values Predict Response to Brachytherapy in Bulky Cervical Cancer
Authors: Dong Elizabeth E , Xu Junqian , Kim Joo-Won , Bryan Jason , Appleton Jewel , Hamstra Daniel A , Ludwig Michelle S , Hanania Alexander N
Published: March 2023

Background
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) provides a measurement of tumor cellularity. We evaluated the potential of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values obtained from post-external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) DWI and prior to brachytherapy (BT) to predict for complete metabolic response (CMR) in bulky cervical cancer.
Methods
Clinical and DWI (b value = 500 s/mm2) data were obtained from patients undergoing interstitial BT with high-risk clinical target volumes (HR-CTVs) > 30cc. Gross tumor was contoured on co-registered T2 weighted images and 90th percentile ADC values were calculated. Patients were stratified by CMR (defined by PET-CT at three months post-BT). Relation of CMR with 90th percentile ADC values and other clinical factors (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histology, tumor and HR-CTV size, pre-treatment hemoglobin, and age) was assessed both in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Youden’s J statistic was used to identify a threshold value.
Results
Among 45 patients, twenty-eight (62%) achieved a CMR. On univariate analysis for CMR, only 90th percentile ADC value was significant (p = 0.029) while other imaging and clinical factors were not. Borderline significant factors were HR-CTV size (p = 0.054) and number of chemotherapy cycles (p = 0.078). On multivariate analysis 90th percentile ADC (p < 0.0001) and HR-CTV size (p < 0.003) were highly significant. Patients with 90th percentile ADC values above 2.10 x10− 3 mm2/s were 5.3 (95% CI, 1.34–24.4) times more likely to achieve CMR.
Conclusions
Clinical DWI may serve to risk-stratify patients undergoing interstitial BT for bulky cervical cancer.
Enhanced Body Pigmentation in Leopard Coral Grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) in Response to Environmental Background and Feed Additives
Authors: Chuang Hsiang-Chieh , Nian Cherry T. , Wang Hsu-Hsin , Cheng Ann-Chang
Published: March 2023

Groupers are among the most popular fish commodities worldwide owing to their palatability and appearance. However, their body pigmentation considerably affects their consumer acceptability and pricing, making their culture challenging. The present study aimed to improve the body pigmentation of the leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) by investigating the effects of tank color, shading, and feed additives over 28 days. The fish were reared in tanks of different colors (white, black, red, and green), and their net cages were shaded at 0%, 50%, and 80%. The fish reared in the black and green tanks or under 80% shading exhibited the most vibrant skin coloration. Skin color enhancement was tested in feeding trials, during which the fish were fed different concentrations of additives: astaxanthin (0 (control), 1000, 2000, and 3000 mg), vitamin E (1000, 2000, and 3000 mg), and plant extracts (250, 500, and 750 mg) kg-1 of diet. Fish fed the 3,000 mg of astaxanthin kg-1 diet displayed the best pigment enhancement, whereas those fed with vitamin E and plant extracts showed reduced pigmentation. Feeding with different ratios (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) of krill meal in the diet showed that body pigmentation was best enhanced by 20–30% krill meal. In conclusion, our results imply that black- and green-colored rearing tanks under 80% shading and a diet with 20–30% krill meal and 3,000 mg astaxanthin kg-1 constitute ideal conditions to enhance the body pigmentation of P. leopardus.
Inter-model Robustness of the Forced Change of the ENSO-Indian Summer Monsoon Teleconnection
Authors: Aneesh Sundaresan , Bódai Tamás
Published: March 2023

Concerning the robustness of the forced response of the ENSO - Indian monsoon teleconnection, three periods can be distinguished. (1) In the late 20th century, the change is insignificant in most models, which does not permit a statement on robustness in this period. This is in stark contrast with earlier claims of a weakening teleconnection allegedly detected from observational data. (2) Furthermore, we find it typical under global warming in the first part of the 21st century that the teleconnection is strengthening or non-decreasing. This considerable robustness is owed to an increasing ENSO variability as well as coupling strength. (3) In the end of the 21st century, however, under strong forcing, the teleconnection change is not robustly modelled: the ENSO variability change is not projected robustly across models, either wrt. the start or the rate of the ENSO variance decline, competing this time with an increase of the coupling strength.
WITHDRAWN: The confined stability region for 40 Ca + ions in a linear Paul trap
Authors: Kazem Basem R. , Saleh Mezher B. , Kazem Basem R.
Published: March 2023

As a result of the current increase in interest in quantum computing and the unrelenting attempt to develop and establish a quantum computer, Many researchers in this field have turned to designing appropriate algorithms or investigating the possibilities of controlling and manipulating the quantum state. One of the most promising techniques involves using single ionized atoms kept in Paul traps. Each ion's internal state represents the lowest quantum informational unit (a qubit). That research used the trapped ions 40Ca + to illustrate a quantum qubit. According to the Paul linear trap, one of the essential traps for confining ions in one dimension, they may be easily handled and controlled in the quantum state. We used MATLAB programs to simulate the factors affecting the confined state and their impact on it after resolving Mathieu's equation and determining the vibrational state of the ion. That consists of superposition cases between the secular monition and the Micromotion. The a and q values in Mathieu's equation are necessary for three-dimensional confinement for the solutions to be simultaneously stable in both directions. The parameter a depends on the Dc voltage, the ion's mass, the Radio frequencies, and the distance between the trap center and the electrodes. The control by a variable voltage provided it. In addition, it illustrates its effect in a specific chain of trapped ions. This study opens the door to understanding the ideal condition through which it ensures the best state of confinement and selecting what is necessary to reach the resonance state for ions transport from the state (4S1/2) to the state (4P1/2). After that, the manipulation of the quantum state begins.
Evaluation Lycopene effect as a monotherapy and add on to Clobetasol on Spleen inflammatory biomarkers and spleen index in IMQ induced psoriasis like inflammation in mice
Authors: Mohammed Samer Shukur , Mustafa Wael Waleed
Published: March 2023

Lycopene is a nutraceutical pigment present in red fruits and vegetables. many researches proved the positive impact of lycopene on many diseases throughout several years especially on inflammation conditions, cardiovascular illness, prostate cancer, and various dermatological disorders. Objective: two different concentrations of topical Lycopene as a monotherapy and as addition therapy to Clobetasol on a mouse induced Psoriasis previously by Imiquimod.
Methods: six groups that contain 8 mice in each group, totally 48 mice were used . Imiquimod was administered to five groups (except first Group , which is controlled group) for six consecutive days to induce psoriasis and further six days during application of tested agents. Group 2 received Petrolatum gel only for 6 consecutive days following six-days Imiquimod induction phase. Groups 3-6 received different materials Clobetasol propionate, 0.125 mg/ml and 0.25 mg/ml of Lycopene, and a combination of 0.05% Clobetasol with 0.25 mg/ml Lycopene, all tested material were applied as an ointment once daily for six days concomitantly with Imiquimod.
Results: Lycopene showed significant decrease on spleen index and was able to restore the level of spleen inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-23, NF-KB and IL-17,) to nearly normal one after utilizing Lycopene 0.25 mg/ml and when had been added to Clobetasol.
Conclusion: Lycopene shows significant spleen normalizing action against Imiquimod-induced psoriasis via its anti-inflammatory action.
The behavior of the Taylor rule in the presence of sovereign Sukuks based on the growth rate of the economy: An analysis by DSGE modelling
Authors: Ziky Mustapha , El Hamidi Nabil
Published: March 2023

The aim of this paper is to study the behavior of the Taylor rule in the presence of Sukuks. The New Keynesian model of Gali (2008)/Chapter 3 is used, due to its simplicity and small size. Nevertheless, such a model is suitable for examining the implications of monetary policy in the presence of sovereign Sukuks. The growth rate is used as the rate of return on sovereign Sukuks, which is closest to the profit and loss sharing approach, and is compared to the Gali’s baseline model. The results show that the introduction of sovereign Sukuks mitigates inflation and output gap shocks, but also limits the scope of the Taylor rule. Thus, an increase in the interest rate is offset by a flight of capital from sovereign Sukuks to treasury bonds, while a decrease in the interest rate leads to a flight from treasury bonds to sovereign Sukuks. In the extreme, if the preference for Sukuks is largely dominant, the Taylor rule tends to be obsolete, and vice versa.
Convergence conditions for continuous and discrete models of population dynamics
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Aleksandrov Alexander Yu.
Published: March 2023

Some classes of continuous and discrete generalized Volterra models of population dynamics are considered. It is supposed that there are relationships of the type "symbiosis", "compensationism" or "neutralism" between any two species in a biological community. The objective of the work is to obtain conditions under which the investigated models possess the convergence property. This means that the studying system admits a bounded solution that is globally asimptotically stable. To determine the required conditions, the V. I. Zubov's approach and its discrete-time counterpart are used. Constructions of Lyapunov functions are proposed, and with the aid of these functions, the convergence problem for the considered models is reduced to the problem of the existence of positive solutions for some systems of linear algebraic inequalities. In the case where parameters of models are almost periodic functions, the fulfilment of the derived conditions implies that limiting bounded solutions are almost periodic, as well. An example is presented illustrating the obtained theoretical conclusions.
The psychology of social cognition: Prospects for development in a changing society
Authors:   Russian State University for the Humanities, Martsinkovskaya Tatiana , Khoroshilov Dmitry ,   Russian State University for the Humanities
Published: March 2023

The results of theoretical and empirical research of the phenomenology and mechanisms of social cognition in the conditions of fluid modernity, social uncertainty and transitivity are summarized in this article. The starting point is the position of the scientific school of G. M. Andreeva, according to which social cognition is considered as an affective and cognitive process of constructing the image of the social world in the individual and public consciousness. A new transdisciplinary concept of social cognition, which integrates the principles of psychology of cultural activity and social constructionism, as well as theories of social representations and collective emotional experiences is presented. The new research direction that greatly expands the subject area of psychological investigation of social cognition — the social psychology of everyday life is verified. It is everyday life that acts as the optics of the analysis of subjective perception and emotional experience of social changes as a situation of uncertainty in various spheres of everyday life of society and culture (from new media to contemporary art). The proposed and implemented aesthetic paradigm in the social psychology of everyday life combines two ways of understanding, explaining and predicting social changes: scientific-conceptual and artistic-figurative (or visual). Thus, the aesthetic paradigm synthesizes the scientific and aesthetic discourses of psychology and art history. In this regard, it is a flexible methodological strategy that opens up the prospects for a multidimensional analysis of modern society and culture that cannot be conceptualized in traditional categories of social cognition (for example, mental models, categorization, causal attribution). On the basis of the aesthetic paradigm of everyday life, a new construct of precarity is introduced for domestic psychology, which means individual and collective emotion experience of total vulnerability, fragility and insecurity of a person in a situation of uncertainty. This construct makes it possible to analyze the affective states that characterize the mass consciousness of modern society. At the same time, specific instruments for studying the emotional experience of social change, including precarity, are qualitative methods for collecting, analyzing and interpreting data, which today unites in a sole methodological approach to the study of social cognition.
Pre-sowing soil carbon dioxide emissions of the following year from the silage maize field irrigated with different levels of wastewater in conventional and direct sowing practices
Authors: Yerli Caner , Sahin Ustun
Published: March 2023

While knowing CO2 emissions during the seasonal period are important, determining residual effect before sowing in the following year can be an available practice in improving wastewater irrigation strategies. Therefore, this study investigated CO2 emission from the silage maize field plots irrigated with wastewater at different levels under conventional and direct sowing in the pre-sowing period after two experimental years by comparing freshwater with full irrigation, and correlated with H2O emission and, soil moisture and temperatures. The results showed that irrigation with wastewater and conventional tillage in the previous two years resulted in higher CO2 emissions in the following period also, and 27 and 11% higher emissions were determined in irrigation with wastewater at 100 and 67% levels than full freshwater irrigation. In irrigation with wastewater at 100% level and direct sowing, soil moisture was found higher, while reduced H2O emission and the soil temperatures at 5 and 10 cm depths. Considering moisture conservation effect of direct sowing, it could be concluded that to reduce on the residual CO2 emission effect of irrigation with wastewater from previous years, deficit irrigation in direct sowing can be recommended practice.