bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fracture resistance and flexural strength of endodontically treated teeth restored by different short fiber resin composites: a preclinical study
Authors: Gamal Wael , Abdou Ahmed , Salem Ghada A.
Published: December 2022

Aim

To evaluate the effect of using different short fiber-reinforced resin composites on fracture resistance and flexural strength of endodontically treated tooth and compare it with nano-filled resin composite.

Methods

Sixty human premolars were used for the fracture resistance test. Root canals were sequentially enlarged using a Pro-taper system from SX to F3 and obturated with Gutta-percha. Mesio-Occluso-Distal (MOD) cavities were prepared in all teeth. Teeth were then divided into 3 groups (n = 20 each) based on the type of resin composite. Group 1: Alert fiber-reinforced resin composite, Group 2: EverX Flow fiber-reinforced resin composite, and Group 3: Z350 nano-filled resin composite. Each group were subjected to a load till fracture using a universal testing machine to measure the fracture resistance. For the flexural strength test, 10 specimens from each material were prepared and 3- point bending tests were performed. The results of both tests were analyzed by using Weibull analysis.

Results

Teeth restored with Ever X fiber-reinforced resin composite conveyed the highest significant fracture resistance and flexural strength value when compared to the other two materials.

Conclusions

Short Fiber-reinforced resin composite can be considered a better choice for the restoration of MOD cavities in endodontically treated teeth.
Prognostic markers of post-stroke depression (PROMoSD): study protocol of a prospective single-center observational study on raphe hypoechogenicity as a predictor of post-stroke depression
Authors: Richter Daniel , Ebert Andreas , Mazul-Wach Lisa , Ruland Quirin , Charles-James Jeyanthan , Gold Ralf , Tsivgoulis Georgios , Juckel Georg , Krogias Christos
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is an important and frequent non-motor complication after a stroke. As valid prediction of PSD occurrence is still not possible, the unselective use of preventive therapy in stroke patients has risen a questionable risk-to-benefit consideration. Therefore, there is a need to increase the prediction probability of PSD to identify patients at very high risk of a depressive complication who might benefit from preventive therapy. In this context, a brainstem raphe hypoechogenicity (BRH) in transcranial sonography (TCS) has previously been associated with depressive symptoms in a broad spectrum of diseases. BRH might therefore represent a valid maker of vulnerability for depressive symptoms that could be of interest in the risk assessment of PSD occurrence.

Methods

In the prognostic markers of post-stroke depression (PROMoSD) study, a prospective, observational, single-center, investigator-initiated study, we aim to include 100 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Besides data on clinical characteristics and baseline psychiatric assessment, we conduct a TCS examination to identify patients with BRH. The primary outcome is the incidence of PSD three months after inclusion, determined by a blinded investigator according to the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) criteria.

Perspective

The results of PROMoSD will answer the question of whether screening of BRH after AIS improves the prediction of PSD occurrence. A positive result of this study could have direct consequences on psychiatric support after AIS by streamlining diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier no. NCT05580198.
Clinical characterization of 72 patients with del(22)(q11.2q11.2) from different ethnic backgrounds
Authors: Méndez-Rosado Luis A. , de León-Ojeda Norma , García Alina , Sheth Frenny , Gaadi Asmaa , Bousfiha Ahmed Aziz , Lehlimi Mouna , Natiq Abdelhafid , Kurinnaia Oxana S. , Vorsanova Svetlana G. , Iourov Ivan , Huhle Dagmar , Liehr Thomas
Published: December 2022

Background

DiGeorge syndrome (DGS), caused by a deletion del(22)(q11.2q11.2), is the most frequently observed microdeletion syndrome. There is a vast clinical heterogeneity in DGS, and several studies suggested also heterogeneity of clinical signs and phenotypic appearance to be related to ethnic differences. Here, clinical characteristics of 72 patients with molecular diagnosed deletion del(22)(q11.2q11.2) derived from different countries from Europe, America, Africa, and Asia are summarized and compared.

Results

Unless ethnic differences, the expected major clinical signs were present in all cases. Frequent clinical manifestations found in this study were congenital heart disease with 68% (49/72), followed by dysmorphic features found in 61% (44/72); neurodevelopmental disorders were present in 43% (31/72) and thymus hypoplasia/aplasia in 32% (23/72). However, clinical features of the patients appeared/were recognized at different times during their lives. Within the group, under 2 years predominated heart disease, dysmorphic features, and hypocalcemia and/or hypoparathyroidism. In the group older than 2 years, the following combination of clinical findings was most frequent: dysmorphic features, congenital heart disease, intellectual disability, and immunological disorders. In the eight cases detected prenatally, abnormal sonographic findings were the major clinical signs (cardiovascular malformations and renal malformations).

Conclusions

Despite the heterogeneous nature of the sample analyzed, a number of clinical findings could be highlighted to be useful for the clinical delineation of this DGS. Interestingly, diagnostic indicators may vary depending on the age at diagnosis. Finally, apparent differences in DGS patients from different regions seem to be rather due to applied test systems than to real differences in patients from different ethnicities.
A rare case report of endovascular management of pediatric spinal arteriovenous malformation
Authors: Amaravadi Srikanth , Bhanu Kovilapu Uday , Maheshwari Saurabh , Dhagat Peeyush , Pandey Shweta , Menon Sumesh
Published: December 2022

Background

Spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVM) consist of a heterogeneous group of pathological vascular entities that affect the spinal cord parenchyma either directly or indirectly.

Case presentation

We present an unusual case of spinal arteriovenous malformation (type 2) in an 18-month-old girl who presented with weakness of both lower limbs and urinary incontinence. She was diagnosed with a spinal AVM with large intramedullary nidus and paraspinal extension which was managed with endovascular embolization.

Conclusion

Spinal cord AVM in children can be debilitating. If presented early, patient can be taken up for embolization, which is a relatively safe procedure with better neurological outcome. Our case illustrates the successful role of interventional radiology in the treatment of this rare condition.
Cytotoxic effects of Trachyspermum ammi and Ferula assafoetida on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Moulazadeh Alireza , Ranjbar Razieh , Dakhili Ardestani Amin , Ranjbar Kamran , Farjadfar Akbar , Kouhpayeh Seyyed Amin , Abdollahi Abbas , Najafipour Sohrab
Published: December 2022

Background

The induction of oxidative stress is one of the most important cancer etiologies. Plant essential oils contain many effective antioxidant compounds in improving oxidative stress. In the present study, the pharmacological potential of Trachyspermum ammi essential oil (TAEO) and Ferula assafoetida essential oil (FAEO) was compared in oxidative stress improvement and cytotoxic effect. TAEO and FAEO were prepared by Clevenger apparatus, and the medicinal compounds in the essential oils were evaluated by GC–MS assay. The TAEO and FAEO were also evaluated as to their phenolic and flavonoid content, monovalent reducing power, and total radical scavenging activity, respectively, by Folin–Ciocalteu, aluminum chloride, FRAP, and DPPH methods. The cytotoxic effect of the TAEO and FAEO was evaluated by MTT assay on MCF-7 (ER+) and MDA-MB-468 (ER−) breast cancer cell lines.

Results

The GC–MS analysis indicated that thymol and (E)-Sec-Butyl propenyl disulfide, respectively, were the highest components of TAEO and FAEO. The phenolic content (P < 0.0001), flavonoid content (P < 0.0001), reducing power (P < 0.0001), radical scavenging activity (P < 0.0001), and cytotoxic effect (P < 0.05) of TAEO were significantly higher than FAEO. The IC50 value of the cytotoxic effect of TAEO on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 after 72 h of incubation was, respectively, 192.5 ± 42.57 and 331.4 ± 7.24 ppm.

Conclusion

The cytotoxic effect of TAEO was more potent on the MCF-7 cell line, probably in an estrogen-dependent manner of cellular growth inhibition. It appears that TAEO has a high capacity for improving oxidative stress and inhibiting cell proliferation in breast cancer.
Dysregulation of intraovarian redox status and steroidogenesis pathway in letrozole-induced PCOS rat model: a possible modulatory role of l-Carnitine
Authors: Elmosalamy Sherif H. , Elleithy Ebtihal M. M. , Ahmed Zainab Sabry Othman , Rashad Maha M. , Ali Ghada E. , Hassan Neven H.
Published: December 2022

Background

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive disorder associated with several endocrine and metabolic alterations. The mechanism underlying this syndrome is controversial. On the other hand, drugs used for the treatment are associated with several side effects and poor in controlling PCOS phenotype. l-Carnitine (LC) has been reported to have a significant regulatory function on the redox and metabolic status of female reproductive system. Nevertheless, its regulatory pathways to regulate PCOS are still under investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of LC on the steroidogenic pathways, oxidative stress markers and metabolic profile in letrozole (LTZ)-induced PCOS rat model.

Methods

For this aim, animals were divided into four groups (n = 6). Control group, untreated letrozole-induced PCOS group (1 mg/kg bwt) for 21 days, PCOS group treated with l-Carnitine (100 mg/kg bwt) for 14 days and PCOS group treated with clomiphene citrate (2 mg/kg bwt) for 14 days. Finally, body and ovarian weight, metabolic state(glucose and lipid profile), hormonal assays (testosterone, 17 β estradiol, LH and FSH levels), intraovarian relative gene expression (CYP17A1, StAR, CYP11A1 and CYP19A1 genes), ovarian redox state (malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione content (GSH) and catalase enzyme activity (CAT)) as well as serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were detected. Also, histomorphometric ovarian evaluation (number and diameter of cystic follicles, granulosa cell thickness and theca cell thickness) as well as immune expression of caspase-3 of granulosa cells of cystic follicles were determined.

Results

LC significantly improved ovarian redox state (GSH, MDA and CAT), steroidogenic pathways gene expression (CYP17A1, StAR, CYP11A1 and CYP19A1 genes), hormonal profile (Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and estradiol), metabolic state (Glucose and lipid profile) histomorphometric alterations and decreased caspase 3 immune reaction of granulosa cells.

Conclusion

l-Carnitine supplementation can ameliorate the PCOS phenotype through its energetic, antioxidant and antiapoptotic functions as well as steroidogenesis regulatory role. This protocol could be modified to produce the best therapeutic benefits, and it could be regarded as a prospective therapeutic intervention for PCOS.
Traditional and novel diagnostic biomarkers for acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Khalil Husam
Published: December 2022

Background

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of death worldwide. The first hours of acute myocardial infarction are correlated with the highest risk of death. Therefore, early diagnosis of the infarction seriously affects the efficacy of the treatment administered to the patient. Misdiagnosing patients with chest pain often leads to inappropriate admission of them as acute myocardial infarction patients. The physical examination of the patient, the electrocardiogram, and the assessment of cardiac biomarkers all play an important role in the early diagnosis of acute ischemia, along with the patient's medical history.

Main body

The present review highlights a number of different biomarkers that are released and elevated in blood during an acute myocardial infarction.

Conclusions

Analysis of cardiac biomarkers has become the first-line diagnostic tool used in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Novel markers of acute myocardial infarction, when added to routinely used markers, can provide added value not only in the earlier detection of acute myocardial infarction but also in monitoring the clinical progress of the disease, predicting its consequences, evaluating its prognosis, detecting recurrence, and managing its treatment. This leads to a lower mortality rate associated with acute myocardial infarction.

cMyC, IMA, S100, and MicroRNAs can serve as markers of early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, whereas myeloperoxidase, sCD40L, PAPPA, and TNF-α can be used to monitor the clinical progress of the disease. In addition, H-FABP, GDF-15, F2 isoprostanes, and ST2 can serve as predictors of AMI complications and mortality. Copeptin, ST2, and SIRT can be useful as prognostic markers of acute myocardial infarction.
Progressive collapse analysis of prestressed concrete girder bridges using improved applied element method
Authors: Abdelaziz Mohamed Magdi , Gomaa Mohamed Sayed , El-Ghazaly Hany Ahmed
Published: December 2022

In this paper, the Improved Applied Element Method (IAEM), which was originally developed as an effective analysis technique for large-scale bonded and unbonded prestressed structures, is utilized to carry out failure modeling of prestressed bridges under different hazard loads. A typical prestressed concrete girder bridge is analyzed under two hazardous loading scenarios. The first one is applying a detonation charge located in the middle of the central span, while the second scenario is a sudden failure of a column representing a truck or a vessel colliding with the bridge pier. For both scenarios, the collapse analyses of the bridge structure after damage are explored. In addition, the mechanism and severity of damage in the bridge pier and deck are investigated. Both material and geometric nonlinearities are considered in the analysis. Moreover, it considers contact-impact, re-contact, and inertia effects, and hence, it can track the collapse stages of the structure as well as debris movement until the complete collapse of the structure. The results show a strong capability for simulating the total performance of the bridges from early the stages of loading until the total collapse, with a clear graphic representation of the collapse phenomena.
CanRisk-Prostate: A Comprehensive, Externally Validated Risk Model for the Prediction of Future Prostate Cancer
Authors: Nyberg Tommy , Brook Mark N. , Ficorella Lorenzo , Lee Andrew , Dennis Joe , Yang Xin , Wilcox Naomi , Dadaev Tokhir , Govindasami Koveela , Lush Michael , Leslie Goska , Lophatananon Artitaya , Muir Kenneth , Bancroft Elizabeth , Easton Douglas F. , Tischkowitz Marc , Kote-Jarai Zsofia , Eeles Rosalind , Antoniou Antonis C.
Published: December 2022

PURPOSE

Prostate cancer (PCa) is highly heritable. No validated PCa risk model currently exists. We therefore sought to develop a genetic risk model that can provide personalized predicted PCa risks on the basis of known moderate- to high-risk pathogenic variants, low-risk common genetic variants, and explicit cancer family history, and to externally validate the model in an independent prospective cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We developed a risk model using a kin-cohort comprising individuals from 16,633 PCa families ascertained in the United Kingdom from 1993 to 2017 from the UK Genetic Prostate Cancer Study, and complex segregation analysis adjusting for ascertainment. The model was externally validated in 170,850 unaffected men (7,624 incident PCas) recruited from 2006 to 2010 to the independent UK Biobank prospective cohort study.

RESULTS

The most parsimonious model included the effects of pathogenic variants in BRCA2, HOXB13, and BRCA1, and a polygenic score on the basis of 268 common low-risk variants. Residual familial risk was modeled by a hypothetical recessively inherited variant and a polygenic component whose standard deviation decreased log-linearly with age. The model predicted familial risks that were consistent with those reported in previous observational studies. In the validation cohort, the model discriminated well between unaffected men and men with incident PCas within 5 years (C-index, 0.790; 95% CI, 0.783 to 0.797) and 10 years (C-index, 0.772; 95% CI, 0.768 to 0.777). The 50% of men with highest predicted risks captured 86.3% of PCa cases within 10 years.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first validated risk model offering personalized PCa risks. The model will assist in counseling men concerned about their risk and can facilitate future risk-stratified population screening approaches.
Foot extension and retraction in the clamCalyptogena okutaniiwithout any Keber's valve: an inflatable fastener bag model
Authors: Seo Eriko , Ohishi Kazue , Imaizumi-Ohashi Yoshie , Yokoi-Hayakawa Mika , Yamaguchi Tsuyoshi , Seo Yoshiteru
Published: December 2022

In order to investigate the foot manipulation of a clam without a Keber's valve, Calyptogena okutanii was examined by light microscopy, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. The foot chamber was divided into two compartments by a dense muscle fastener zone (FZ) comprising a pedal artery and sinuses in the mid-sagittal plane in between muscles running in the anterior–posterior oblique direction. The distal part of the foot chamber (inflatable fastener bag, IFB) had a loose superficial muscle layer. The proximal part of the foot chamber (visceral reservoir, VR) was covered by a dense superficial muscle layer. The outlet of the VR was connected with the hinge ligament duct, consisting of the hinge ligament, a pair of shells and the pericardium. Based on these anatomical structures, foot extension starts from contraction of muscles in the FZ, so that flow in the FZ is stopped. Then, the superficial muscles of the foot contract, and the pressure of the IFB increases so that the foot can extend. Foot retraction starts from the relaxation of muscles in the FZ so that the hemolymph returns to the VR. The hinge ligament duct allows a constant return flow from the foot chamber to the gills and the heart. The heart rate and the flow in the FZ, which decreased and increased during the foot extension and retraction, respectively, supported this model. In conclusion, the FZ of Calyptogena okutanii could be an alternative to Keber’s valve in Anodonta, playing a similar role.
Από τη γλώσσα στη στρατηγική επικοινωνία
Authors: Αδαμόπουλος Χρήστος
Published: December 2022

Στόχος της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η ανάδειξη των ζητημάτων που προκύπτουν σε σχέση με τη χρήση νεοελληνικής ορολογίας στα δημόσια έγγραφα, η διαφάνεια και η σαφήνεια των οποίων είναι κεφαλαιώδους σημασίας για την επικοινωνία και γενικότερα για τη σχέση μεταξύ Δημοσίου και Υπαλλήλων του καθώς και Δημοσίου και Πολίτη, αναφορικά με την αποτελεσματική και δίκαιη Δημόσια Διοίκηση. Η έρευνα αυτή διεξήχθη σε σχέση με τη γλωσσική κατάρτιση που παρέχει η δημόσια εκπαίδευση στους πολίτες και τους δημοσίους υπαλλήλους και ειδικότερα αναδεικνύει πτυχές και εκφάνσεις που σχετίζονται, άλλοτε άμεσα και άλλοτε έμμεσα με την επικοινωνία όπως αναπτύσσεται ανάμεσα στη Δημόσια Διοίκηση και τους υπαλλήλους της, αφενός, και ανάμεσα στη Διοίκηση και τους πολίτες, αφετέρου.Ειδικότερα, η μελέτη αναλύει την Επικοινωνία, ως την αδιάλειπτη εκείνη ανθρώπινη δραστηριότητα μέσω της οποίας διενεργείται κάθε διάδραση στο πλαίσιο της Δημόσιας Διοίκησης, με εστίαση στη Στρατηγική Επικοινωνία, ως διεπιστημονικό και ολιστικό εργαλείο επίτευξης επικοινωνιακών εγχειρημάτων. Επίσης, καταγράφει και σχολιάζει τον τρόπο οργάνωσης και λειτουργίας της ενδοοργανωσιακής γραπτής επικοινωνίας στον κοινωνικό «χώρο» της Ελληνικής Δημόσιας Διοίκησης, όπως διεξάγεται μέσω των διοικητικών εγγράφων, με εστίαση στη γλώσσα, τη σύνταξη και το ύφος συγγραφής τους. Επιπλέον, παρουσιάζει το σχεδιασμό, τον προγραμματισμό και την οργάνωση της έρευνας πεδίου με έμφαση στην ανάλυση και την αιτιολόγηση της επιλεγμένης μεθοδολογίας ως έγκυρου επιστημονικού εργαλείου για την εξαγωγή αξιόπιστων, ασφαλών και αντικειμενικών συμπερασμάτων και τη διατύπωση ανάλογων και κατάλληλων προτάσεων βελτιστοποίησης του διερευνώμενου κοινωνιογλωσσικού ζητήματος, ενώ καταγράφει και σχολιάζει τις πληροφορίες που αντλήθηκαν από τις απαντήσεις των δημοσίων υπαλλήλων οι οποίοι συμμετείχαν εθελοντικά στην έρευνα πεδίου. Τέλος, επιχειρεί μια σύντομη αλλά εμπεριστατωμένη αναδρομή στην ιστορική παρουσία του φαινομένου με εστίαση στον τρόπο με τον οποίο το επίσημο Ελληνικό Κράτος έχει διαχειριστεί την κατάσταση αυτή από την εποχή της Μεταπολίτευσης έως τις ημέρες μας και παράλληλα παραθέτει και αναλύει τις σχετικές προτάσεις εξυγίανσης τις οποίες διατύπωσαν οι συμμετέχοντες, δημόσιοι υπάλληλοι, στην έρευνα πεδίου.
Προδιαγραφική αναλυτική δεδομένων με διαδραστική ενισχυτική μάθηση στη λήψη αποφάσεων
Authors: Λεπενιώτη Αικατερίνη
Published: December 2022

Η προδιαγραφική αναλυτική δεδομένων θεωρείται ως το επόμενο βήμα εξέλιξης και ωρίμανσης της αναλυτικής δεδομένων, η οποία, μέσω της βέλτιστης και έγκαιρης λήψης αποφάσεων, οδηγεί στην βελτιστοποίηση της επιχειρηματικής απόδοσης.Προς αυτήν την κατεύθυνση, η παρούσα διατριβή εστιάζει στην αξιοποίηση των αποτελεσμάτων της προβλεπτικής αναλυτικής σε συνδυασμό με την οδηγούμενη από δεδομένα λήψη αποφάσεων, τους αλγορίθμους μηχανικής μάθησης και τις τεχνολογίες δεδομένων μεγάλης κλίμακας προκειμένου να υποστηρίξει την επίλυση πολύπλοκων προβλημάτων προδιαγραφικής αναλυτικής δεδομένων διαφόρων γνωστικών πεδίων. Για το σκοπό αυτό, διαμορφώνει ένα πλαίσιο προδιαγραφικής αναλυτικής, το οποίο μπορεί να καθοδηγήσει την ανάπτυξη διαφόρων προδιαγραφικών μεθόδων, ικανών να παρέχουν προσαρμόσιμες, αυτοματοποιημένες, περιοριζόμενες, βέλτιστες και έγκαιρες αποφάσεις. Το αναπτυχθέν πλαίσιο πραγματώνεται μέσω της μεθόδου προδιαγραφικής αναλυτικής που αποτελεί την βασική συνεισφορά της παρούσας διατριβής. Η προτεινόμενη μέθοδος βασίζεται στον τομέα της Διαδραστικής Ενισχυτικής Μάθησης Πολλαπλών Κριτηρίων (Interactive Multi-Objective Reinforcement Learning). Μοντελοποιεί δυναμικά το πρόβλημα απόφασης και παράγει βελτιστοποιημένες προτάσεις, λαμβάνοντας υπόψιν περισσότερα από ένα κριτήρια βελτιστοποίησης, ενώ παράλληλα, μέσω της διαδραστικής αλληλεπίδρασης, ενσωματώνει την προτίμηση του αποφασίζοντα στη διαδικασία απόφασης. Ακολούθως, αναπτύσσεται πληροφοριακό σύστημα το οποίο υλοποιεί την προτεινόμενη προσέγγιση. Η προτεινόμενη μέθοδος εφαρμόζεται στο πεδίο των χρηματιστηριακών επενδύσεων. Εκεί, αξιολογείται η απόδοσή της συγκριτικά με παραδοσιακές μεθόδους επενδυτικών αποφάσεων και η προσαρμοστικότητά της σύμφωνα με τις προτιμήσεις του ανθρώπου για διαφορετικά επενδυτικά προφίλ.
Significant demotivating factors affecting Saudi EFL students: An investigative study with PYP students
Authors: Alqasham Fahd Hamad
Published: December 2022

Background: Motivation has long been seen as a deciding factor in the learning of a foreign language and in ensuring success for the learners. As a corollary to this, demotivation adversely affects learning success and negatively influences learning outcomes. The present study examines the factors that negatively affect Saudi EFL learners.  

Methods: The study subjects are 45 male and 35 female learners, and the data were collected using a 50-item questionnaire. The factors under study are course instructor, course-content and facilities, attitude towards EFL and socio-cultural factors.  Data have been analyzed using the SPSS software.  

Results: Results show that the factors around socio-cultural, and course instructor (M=4.06, 3.67) respectively were the most influential in aggravating the student's demotivation. Furthermore, experience of failure is at play as a moderate factor (M=2.84) whereas the course content and facilities and attitude towards EFL factors, (M=2.57; M=1.83) are perceived as less influential factors in demotivating the EFL students. Findings also show a marginal non-significant difference between male and female participants regarding perceptions of the demotivating factors (males = 5.30, females= 5.70); the difference is not significant, P=, .834.  

Conclusions: It is presumed that the findings of this study might be helpful for EFL learners and instructors of Saudi Arabia in devising coping strategies to overcome demotivation.
bacto_tracker: a method for single-cell tracking of M. xanthus in dense and multispecies colonies
Authors: Rombouts Sara , Fiche Jean-Bernard , Mignot Tam , Nollmann Marcelo
Published: December 2022

Cell motility and predation are important for the dynamics of many multi-cellular ecosystems, such as the gut or the soil. Approaches to image cell dynamics in such complex systems are scant, and high-throughput analysis methods to segment and track single-cell behaviors are currently lacking. Here, we addressed these limitations by implementing a fast fluorescence microscopy technique enabling the high-resolution acquisition of cell movement over large areas and long time periods.  Next, we applied deep learning  to semantically segment two different bacteria species within complex micro-environments . We implemented a method to build single cell traces by combining the cell masks from different time points to follow the dynamics of single cells with high spatial and temporal resolutions and over long periods of time. We applied and validated these methods by characterizing the dynamics of Escherichia coli predation by Myxococcus xanthus.
Achieving good health with a low environmental footprint – A comparison of national indicators
Authors: Mustard Connor , Haines Sir Andrew , Belesova Dr. Kristine , Cousens Professor Simon
Published: December 2022

Background

Integrated metrics that account for resource use and human health are essential to help identify and support human development pathways that safeguard planetary health. We identify countries that achieved the highest levels of health and development at the lowest cost to Earth’s natural capital and report ecological within-country analyses of associations between indicators of environmental sustainability, human health, and development.

Methods

We used mixed-effects multiple linear regression models of Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) and Human Capital (HC) related to Ecological Footprint (EF) and CO2 production emissions, controlling for Gini coefficient and population density applied to data of 216 countries from 1991-2016. We performed stratified analyses by country income level and used likelihood-ratio tests to test for interaction.

Results

Only Jamaica (1991) and Sri Lanka (2016) achieved high HALE at sustainable EF levels. Each 10% increase in EF was associated with 0·20 (95%CI 0·16,0·24) and 0·21 (95%CI 0·19,0·23) increases in HALE and HC respectively; increases in CO2 production emissions were also associated with increased HALE and HC. There was strong evidence for interaction by income level for each model (p<0·016). Stratified analyses showed that in high income nations HALE and HC decreased with increased levels of EF and CO2.

Conclusions

Countries with high health metrics at sustainable EF levels may offer valuable lessons for sustainable national development policies. Increased environmental footprint and CO2 emissions appear associated with higher levels of human health and development only up to a certain level of income.
Phytoadaptogen reverses the adverse effects of Naftussya bioactive water on dynamic muscle performance in healthy rats
Authors: Fihura Oksana , Ruzhylo Sofiya , Zakalyak Nataliya
Published: December 2022

Background.. Muscular performance is considered one of the attributes of health and non-specific resistance. Phytoadaptogens occupy an important place in the arsenal of means of increasing non-specific resistance and stress resistance. Many years of research of the Truskavetsian Scientific School of Balneology have demonstrated the adaptogenic properties of the main therapeutic factor of the resort, Naftussya bioactive water, as well as ozokerite and mineral baths. However, in contrast to the beneficial effect of the latter on stress resistance and the neuro-endocrine-immune complex, the effect on the physical performance is ambiguous. The purpose of this study is to test the ability of phytocomposition to prevent the adverse actotropic effect of Naftussya bioactive water at rats. Material and methods. The experimentt have been carried out at 42 female rats. Rats of the control group for 7 days loaded through a tube with tap daily water (2 mL once), while the animals of the other groups received according to a similar scheme daily water with the addition of 0,1 mL of Balm; bioactive Naftussya water per se or with the addition of 0,1 mL of Balm. The day after completion the course of water loads in the animal determined the urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids, assessed the mineralocorticoid activity (MCA) by the urine K/Na ratio as well as the state of neutrophil phagocytosis by the number of absorbed latex particles. Results. It was found that the weekly use of Naftyssya bioactive water reduces the duration of swimming of rats to exhaustion by 30% compared to the daily water control. Addition of phytoadaptogen to Naftyssya softens its negative actotropic effect by up to -9%, and adding Balsam to daily water prolongs the maximum duration of swimming compared to the control by 11%. A positive correlation of the swimming test with 17-KS excretion and water diuresis was revealed, but a negative correlation with MCA, spontaneous diuresis and neutrophils phagocytosis. Conclusion. Phytoadaptogen reverses the adverse effects of Naftussya bioactive water on dynamic muscle performance in healthy rats by mitigating the decrease in the excretion of 17-ketosteroids and increased mineralocorticoid activity.
Quality Enhancement of Physical Education in Chinese Universities from the Perspective of the Supply-side Structural Reform
Authors: Tang Ying , Wu Rui , Wang Meiling
Published: December 2022

The overall characteristics of higher education in China have been transformed from extensible development to connotative development, which is consistent with the core content of improving quality and effect in the strategy of supply-side structural reform. In response to the current dilemma of the supply-side output of physical education in Chinese universities, it calls for a balance between the demand and supply for higher physical education. In terms of exploring factors that contribute to a high-quality education system from the perspective of supply-side structural reform, the supplier, the content, the mode, and the conditions of the supply side is supposed to be optimized by improving the teaching abilities of the leading suppliers, optimizing the output of the supply content, facilitating a collaborative supply model, and expanding the online supply field. Accordingly, the coordinated and unified development of the supply and demand of physical education for college students can be promoted, to enhance the quality of physical education in Chinese universities.
The European Union versus Russian Disinformation
Authors: Nitszke Agnieszka
Published: December 2022

The war in Ukraine has made public opinion and policy makers aware of the Russian Federation as a major threat to international security, but also to the internal security of the European Union. The military threat is only one of the instruments used by this state. For years, a different type of Russian activity in the EU has been observed, consisting in creating an alternative picture of the situation in Ukraine, and interfering in political processes in selected countries. All these activities are aimed at undermining the cohesion and solidarity of the EU, which, from Moscow’s perspective, is a threat to its political interests as a result of the Union’s promotion of democratic values and principles and human rights in the international environment. The article presents selected disinformation campaigns carried out by Russia in the EU and then analyses the actions the Union has taken in response. Conclusions and recommendations were formulated in the end.
Analisis Yuridis Putusan KPPU No. 15/KPPU-I/2019 Terhadap Pengenaan Sanksi Pelaporan Tertulis Jasa Angkutan Udara
Authors: Buana Sandy Ekki Wiratama , Dewi Ratna
Published: December 2022

Dunia usaha pada akhir tahun 2019 menjadi sorotan publik, ketika lahirnya Putusan KPPU No. 15/KPPU-I/2019. Dimana putusan KPPU tersebut telah memutuskan tujuh maskapai terbukti melakukan pelanggaran persaingan usaha karena dianggap melakukan perjanjian bersama-sama dalam menetapkan harga tiket pesawat. Namun yang menjadi sorotan menurut penulis dan beberapa sumber dalam putusan ini yaitu putusan KPPU yang hanya memberikan sanksi berupa pelaporan saja tanpa mengenakan sanksi denda kepada para pelaku usaha yang terbukti secara sah dan meyakinkan melakukan persaingan usaha tidak sehat, dimana hal tersebut merupakan hal yang cenderung kurang adil dan pasti dalam proses penegakan hukum. Tujuan penelitian ini bertujuan melakukan tinjauan sejauh mana kemanfaatan putusan KPPU yang hanya memberikan sanksi berupa pelaporan saja tanpa mengenakan sanksi denda, dimana hal tersebut merupakan hal yang cenderung kurang adil dan pasti dalam proses penegakan hukum. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian hukum normatif, dengan menggunakan sumber data sekunder dengan bahan hukum primer dan sekunder. Hasil pembahasan menjelaskan bahwa putusan KPPU tersebut menurut beberapa sumber dan penulis cenderung kurang adil dan pasti dalam proses penegakan hukum. Mengingat ke tujuh maskapai penerbangan tersebut secara  sah dan meyakinkan telah melakukan ketentuan pelanggaran Pasal 5 Undang-Undang No. 5 Tahun 1999, namun yang menjadi koreksi harusnya dapat pula dijatuhkan ancaman sanksi denda dalam Pasal 47 ayat (2) huruf g Undang-Undang Nomor 5 Tahun 1999, akan tetapi KPPU tidak menjatuhkan sanksi denda. Kesimpulan dalam penelitian ini terhadap putusan KPPU menurut penulis kurang memberikan efek jera kepada para pelaku usaha yang terbukti secara sah dan meyakinkan melakukan persaingan usaha tidak sehat.
Kata Kunci: Pelaporan tertulis; KPPU; Pelaku Usaha;
Sumpah Pemutus: Konstruksi Hukum terhadap Putusan Pengadilan Nomor 13/Pdt.G/2019/PN.Bkt
Authors: Rachmawati Wida , Marwa Muhammad Habibi Miftakhul
Published: December 2022

Sumpah pemutus termasuk alat bukti yang digunakan dalam proses pembuktian di pengadilan. Tujuan pelaksanaan sumpah adalah supaya orang yang bersumpah memberikan keterangan yang jujur, sehingga dapat mengakhiri sengketa di antara para pihak. Rumusan masalah penelitian ini adalah bagaimana konstruksi hukum sumpah pemutus dalam Putusan Pengadilan Nomor 13/Pdt.G/2019/PN.Bkt. Penelitian ini termasuk jenis penelitian hukum normatif dengan menggunakan data sekunder sebagai data utama, dan didukung wawancara. Pengumpulan datanya menggunakan teknik study literature dengan jenis pendekatan kasus (kasus approach). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sumpah pemutus telah diatur Pasal 1929 sampai dengan Pasal 1945 KUHPer, Pasal 156 dan Pasal 177 HIR serta Pasal 183 RBg. Sumpah pemutus memiliki kekuatan pembuktian sempurna, mengikat, menentukan, dan mengakhiri sengketa. Hakim dalam pertimbangan Putusan Nomor 13/Pdt.G/2019/PN.Bkt salah menerapkan hukum karena sumpah pemutus yang dimohonkan tidak memenuhi syarat formil dan materiil. Putusan tingkat pertama yang terdapat kekeliruan hakim dalam menerapkan hukum acara dapat diajukan permohonan pada tingkatan banding, kasasi dan peninjauan kembali selama syarat pengajuan masih dalam batas waktu yang telah ditentukan. Terhadap sumpah pemutus palsu maka dapat dilakukan upaya hukum peninjauan kembali.
Ravenscroft’s Enterprise and its impact on the development of English lead crystal glass
Authors: Noble Michael
Published: December 2022

The conventional view that George Ravenscroft’s patent of 1674 was granted for the invention of lead glass has been questioned in recent years, the wording in the patent entry book stating, quite simply, ‘A grant to George Ravenscroft Gent. of the sole use and benefit of his invention of Cristaline Glass resembling Rock Cristall, for drinking glasses, for the term and space of seven years, March 19th 1673/4.’ Undoubtedly lead glass emerged from this early enterprise, but this seems to be more the result of changes to the raw materials used rather than being part of the original concept.
Fast fringe projection profilometry using 3  +  1 phase retrieval strategy and fringe order correction
Authors: Li Fanfei , Hu Jingcheng , Zhang Shaohui , Hu Yao , Xia Chenxu , Hao Qun
Published: December 2022

Fringe projection profilometry (FPP) has attracted wide attention in optical 3D measurement field for its high resolution, high accuracy, and simple system construction. However, the inherent requirements of FPP’s measurement speed and accuracy are contradictory. We adopt a

3

+

1

phase retrieval strategy combining phase shift and the Hilbert transform algorithm to achieve high-speed, high-precision simultaneous measurements with only four binary fringe patterns. Furthermore, when using temporal phase unwrapping, fringe order errors (FOEs) are inevitable. Although these FOEs do not affect neighboring pixels, they are brought into the final point cloud coordinates by the absolute phase value. We propose a fringe order correction method to eliminate FOEs. The feasibility and effectiveness of this method are verified by the experimental results.
Optimized dithering approach for 3D shape measurement using a phase-based chaos genetic algorithm
Authors: Zhang Peng , Lu Bo , Wang Shifeng , Meng Xin , Chen Tiankai , Hu Shimin
Published: December 2022

A binary defocusing method has a significant impact on improving 3D shape measurement quality for digital fringe projector (DFP) techniques. In this paper, an optimization framework using the dithering method is presented. This framework utilizes genetic algorithm and chaos maps to optimize the bidirectional error-diffusion coefficients. It can effectively avoid quantization errors of binary patterns in a specific direction and obtain the fringe patterns with better symmetry and higher quality. In the process of the optimization, chaos initialization algorithms are used to generate a series of bidirectional error-diffusion coefficients as initial individuals. Additionally, mutation factors generated by chaotic maps, compared with the mutation rate, determine whether the individual position will mutate. Both simulations and experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can improve the quality of phase and reconstruction at different defocus levels.
Imaging Chiral Plasmons
Authors: Okamoto Hiromi , Hashiyada Shun , Nishiyama Yoshio , Narushima Tetsuya
Published: December 2022

Chirality is a broad concept that characterizes structures of systems in almost all hierarchy of materials in natural sciences. Molecular chirality is sometimes essential in biological functions. Also in nanomaterials sciences, chirality plays a key role. It is of fundamental importance to investigate internal structures (geometrical distributions) of chiral optical responses in nanomaterials, to design chiral features of the materials and their functions. We developed near-field optical activity (typically circular dichroism, CD) imaging systems that allow us to visualize local structures of optical activity in nanomaterials, and observed near-field CD images of two-dimensional gold nanostructures fabricated with electron beam lithography lift-off technique. We found that the amplitudes of local CD signals were as large as 100 times the macroscopic CD signals of the same samples, for two-dimensional chiral gold nanostructures [1]. Even highly symmetric achiral structures that never give CD signals macroscopically gave locally very strong CD signals (a typical example for a rectangular nanostructure is shown in Figure 1) [2,3]. In this case, average of the signal over the nanostructure yielded roughly null CD intensity. While achiral nanostructures show in general local CD activities as mentioned above, circularly symmetric (two-dimensionally isotropic) nanostructures, such as circular disks, never give CD signals at any local positions. However, when the circular disk is illuminated with linearly polarized light, the circular symmetry is broken, and thus the system potentially yields locally chiral optical (i.e., circularly polarized) fields. To demonstrate that, we extended the near-field CD microscope, and enabled irradiation of well- defined linearly polarized near-field on the sample and detection of scattered-field ellipticity and polarization azimuth angle. We found for circular gold disks that the scattered field was actually elliptically polarized. The ellipticity and the azimuth angle of the scattered field depended on the incident polarization angle and relative position on the disk.
DUV nano-Raman microscopy with plasmonic tip
Authors: Taguchi Atsushi , Saitoh Kohta , Kawata Satoshi
Published: December 2022

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is a unique and indispensable imaging technique which enables analysis of nano-materials with a spatial resolution of a few tens of nanometers together with a strong enhancement of weak Raman signals from the nanometric volume of a sample [1]. The strong enhancement and photon localization is realized with plasmonic metallic tips [2]. While gold and silver, commonly used tip materials, are effective plasmonic metals in the visible wavelengths, in the deep UV (DUV) wavelength region, these metals behave absorptive dielectrics but not as metal. This has limited the use of TERS in the visible wavelengths. However, DUV is an interesting wavelength region in spectroscopy and microscopy because molecules such as nucleotides and proteins show characteristic resonance Raman scatterings, which can be effectively combined with plasmonic tip-enhancement.
Improving detection limit of surface plasmon resonance biosensor using digital method
Authors: Pan Ming-Yang , Lee Kuang-Li , Wang Likang , Wei Pei-Kuen
Published: December 2022

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor has been widely used in detection of biomolecular interaction due to its advantages of label-free and high sensitivity. The ligand-modified sensor surface specifically captures the analyte which results in a small increase of the refractive index (RI) that can be measured from the change in the optical response, such as intensity and wavelength. However, in real application of ultralow concentration, the distribution of caperaturing biomolecules on the sensing surface is usually nonuniform. The corresponding signals are averaged by whole detection area that hinder the improvement of limit of detection (LOD). The digital detection method provides an alternative approach for low-concentration detection[1]. By dividing the detection space into many small volumes, isolated signals in each volumes are counted.
Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering imaging of nerves under rigid endoscopy
Authors: Hirose Keigo , Fukushima Shuichiro , Furukawa Taichi , Hashimoto Mamoru
Published: December 2022

Nerve-sparing laparoscopic surgery is a minimally-invasive operation to remove the malignant tumor with preserving neurological functions. In particular, nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy and proctectomy have contributed to maintaining urinary function because many nerves are placed in pelvic region. A surgeon easily identifies and preserves relatively-thick nerves, such as neurovascular bundle and cavernous nerve. However, small and almost colorless nerves which also play an important role in urinary function are often overlooked because the discrimination of these nerves is difficult under human eyes or conventional endoscopy using visible light sources. Therefore, an imaging tool for detection of nerves has been desired to improve the recovery rate of urinary function.
Accelerating Image Acquisition in Line-Illumination Raman Microscopy
Authors: Mochizuki Kentaro , Lee Taeho , Fujita Katsumasa
Published: December 2022

Acceleration of image acquisition in Raman microscopy has been one of issues in order to fully utilize the technique in a wide-range of applications. In our previous research, we introduced line-illumination in Raman microscopy and achieved the image acquisition more than 2-order of magnitude faster than a conventional confocal Raman microscopy [1, 2]. Here, we report a use of multi-line illumination in Raman microscopy for further acceleration of image acquisition speed.
TiO2-based nanocomposites with metallic nanostructures on nanobranched substrate for photocatalytic water splitting
Authors: Ho Hsin-Chia , Yeh Min-Hsin , Hwang Bing-Joe , Hsueh Chun-Hway
Published: December 2022

Plasmon-induced photocatalyst has found its application in the clean and renewable energy issue due to its combination of the large absorption and resonance in the visible region for plasmonic nanostructures with the ability of producing the electron-hole pairs in the ultraviolet range for semiconductors (e.g., TiO2). The Schottky barrier at the interface between metals and semiconductors could assist in separating electrons and holes, and increase the photocatalytic efficiency because the Fermi levels of plasmonic metals are lower than semiconductors. Several mechanisms have been proposed for different systems, including plasmonic heating, plasmonic-excited charge transfer, resonant energy transfer, and plasmonic-enhanced scattering, but none could perfectly explain all the phenomena to date [1]. In this study, Au and Ag nanotriangles synthesized by reduction of metal precursor were deposited on the surface of nanobranched TiO2 arrays, which were prepared by hydrothermal methods. The photoactivity enhancement was evaluated using three-electrode system illuminated with the solar simulator. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method was performed to investigate the electric field enhancement at the interface between Au (or Ag) nanoparticles and TiO2 arrays upon illumination.
Optical Anapole Mode with Planar Metamaterials
Authors: Chung Tsung Lin , Lee Wei Hou , Wu Pin Chieh , Liao Chun Yen , Wu Pei Ru , Tsai Din Ping
Published: December 2022

Natural toroidal molecules, such as biomolecules [1] and proteins [2], possess toroidal dipole moments that are hard to be detected, which leads to extensive studies of artificial toroidal materials. Metamaterials [3-4] are sub-wavelength artificial structures that can be specifically designed to manipulate the intensity of induced electromagnetic multidipoles. Recently, toroidal metamaterials [5-6] have been widely investigated to enhance toroidal dipole moments while the other multipoles are eliminated due to the spacial symmetry. However, to effectively excite a toroidal dipole, a specific excitation method is necessary since a closed-loop of induced magnetic dipoles in a toroidal metamaterial weakly interact with the external wave. This is a key issue that has to be carefully taken into account in existing toroidal experiments. Moreover, most of generated toroidal dipole moments are either aligned vertically to the substrate surface or embedded in a dielectric, leading to another constraint for further applications. In this paper, we present a novel design for a toroidal metamaterial with multilayered structures, which composed of a gold dumbbell-shaped aperture and a vertical split-ring resonator (VSRR). The induced toroidal dipoles show several advantages like free-standing and vertically oscillating configuration that are distinguishable from previously reported works. It is worth to mention that the non-radiating from the destructive interference from the toroidal and electric dipoles can also be generated in our proposed structures.