bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of cultural safety and ethical space within postcolonial healthcare for Maasai in Tanzania
Authors: Mtuy Tara B , Mepukori Jeremiah , Seeley Janet , Burton Matthew J , Lees Shelley
Published: November 2022

The history of the Maasai tribe in northern Tanzania is characterised by marginalisation, discrimination and political subjugation. Inequities, enacted through power relations, influence healthcare access, practices and outcomes among the Maasai. Cultural safety and ethical space provide lenses into social, political and historical influences on access to care, helping to understand the realities of historically marginalised populations such as the Maasai, and responses to health services. This study aims to examine Maasai experiences of accessing and uptake of health services within a postcolonial discourse in Tanzania. In an ethnographic study examining access and perceptions of healthcare services in Maasai communities, lead authors conducted participant observations and at health facilities to document experiences. Household interviews, a group oral history and interviews with NGOs working with Maasai communities, contributed to the data analysed. Inductive thematic analysis was used to understand healthcare experiences within a framework of cultural safety and ethical space. Despite trust in biomedicine, Maasai people have a strong desire for health services with particular characteristics. Quality of care, including facilities and diagnostics available and used, was important. A sense of fairness was a determinant in respecting services including ‘first come first serve’ system and transparency when unable to treat a condition. Trust in health services was also influenced by personal interactions with health workers, including provision of health information provided to patients and instances of being mistreated. These findings offer an understanding of ways in which spaces of healthcare can be more approachable and trusted by Maasai. Incorporating cultural safety and ethical spaces to understand healthcare access can help to reduce the power imbalance possibly resulting from a history of marginalisation. This can inform development of culturally appropriate programmes, used to educate healthcare professionals and advocate for improved healthcare services for marginalised groups.
Multicentre registration of wake-up stroke in China (MCRWUSC): a protocol for a prospective, multicentre, registry-based cohort study
Authors: Zhang Zengyu , Yang Hualan , Tu Zhilan , Nepal Gaurav , Ojha Rajeev , Xi Yan , Qiao Jianlan , Hu Mengting , Li Chao , Lin Fuchun , Zhou Lili , Jin Pengpeng , Hou Shuangxing
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Wake-up stroke (WUS) is a type of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) that occurs during sleep with unknown time of symptom onset. The best treatment is usually not suitable for WUS, as thrombolysis is usually provided to patients who had a symptomatic AIS within a definite 4.5 hours, and WUS remains a therapeutic quandary. Efforts to explore the onset time characteristics of patients who had a WUS and the risk factors affecting poor prognosis support a role for providing new insights by performing multicentre cohort study.

Methods and analysis

This multicentre, nationwide prospective registry will include 21 comprehensive stroke centres, with a goal of recruiting 550 patients who had a WUS in China. In this study, clinical data including patient’s clinical characteristics, stroke onset time, imaging findings, therapeutic interventions and prognosis (the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score and the modified Rankin Scale Score at different time points) will be used to develop prediction models for stroke onset time and prognostic evaluation using the fast-processing of ischemic stroke software. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors influencing prognosis, to investigate the relationship between the time when the symptoms are found and the actual onset time and to establish an artificial intelligence-based model to predict the prognosis of patients who had a WUS.

Ethics and dissemination

This study is approved by the ethics committee of Shanghai Pudong Hospital (Shanghai, China) and rest of all participating centres. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

PROSPERO registration number

ChiCTR2100049133.
Exploring experiences and health-related quality of life of caregivers of patients who start home dialysis: study protocol for a prospective, multicentre cohort study
Authors: van Lieshout TS , Vonk S , Driehuis E , Roeterdink AJ , Goto NA , Vogels TJFM , Kooijman WCS , Bart JAJ , Broese van Groenou MI , van Jaarsveld BC , Abrahams AC
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Starting dialysis not only has a major impact on the life of patients but also on their informal caregivers. Previous research shows greater burden and lower quality of life among caregivers of dialysis patients compared with the general population. Unfortunately, the evidence on the course of both positive and negative experience in caregivers of incident dialysis patients is scarce. Furthermore, well-designed, prospective, multicentre studies comparing caregiving of home dialysis patients with in-centre dialysis patients are lacking. This paper proposes a protocol to assess the trajectory of experiences (both positive and negative) and quality of life of caregivers of home dialysis patients compared with caregivers of in-centre dialysis patients.

Methods and analysis

This paper presents a protocol for a prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study which extends the ongoing Dutch nOcturnal and hoME dialysis Study To Improve Clinical Outcomes (DOMESTICO). This study will include at least 200 adult caregivers of patients who start dialysis therapy and have been included in the DOMESTICO study. Positive experiences of the caregivers will be the primary outcome parameter of this study, and negative experiences and health-related quality of life the secondary outcome parameters. Required support will be investigated as an exploratory finding. Outcome parameters will be assessed at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months after start of dialysis using validated questionnaires.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for this study has been obtained from the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the Amsterdam University Medical Centre. The results of this study will be disseminated by publication in a peer-reviewed journal and through presentations at conferences and seminars.
Establishing breast feeding in infants with Down syndrome: the FADES cohort experience
Authors: Williams Georgina M , Leary Sam , Leadbetter Sofia , Toms Stu , Mortimer Georgina , Scorrer Tim , Gillespie Kathleen , Shield Julian P H
Published: November 2022

Objective

To describe breastfeeding prevalence and maternal experience in infants with trisomy 21.

Design

Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting

Participants from UK recruited through websites, social media and local collaborators: neonatologists, community paediatricians and research nurses.

Subjects

Infants under the age of 8 months with Down syndrome (DS) recruited to the Feeding and Autoimmunity in Down Syndrome Evaluation Study between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2017. Seventy participants: median age 20 weeks (IQR 13–29 weeks) at initial questionnaire.

Main outcome measure

Breastfeeding prevalence at 6 weeks and 6 months among infants with DS.

Results

The prevalence of exclusive breast feeding among study participants was similar to the general population (13/61, 21% vs 23% at 6 weeks, 2/54, 4% vs 1% at 6 months). However, the prevalence of breast feeding (exclusive or combination feeding) among the study participants was higher than the general population (39/61 64% vs 55% at 6 weeks, 32/59 54% vs 34% at 6 months).

Conclusion

Although there may be challenges in establishing breast feeding in infants with DS, our data suggest that exclusive breast feeding is possible for some, and the prevalence of breast feeding is comparable to the prevalence in the general population.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN12415856
Optimising ambulance conveyance rates and staff costs by adjusting proportions of rapid-response vehicles and dual-crewed ambulances: an economic decision analytical modelling study
Authors: Ridyard Colin , Smith Murray , Spaight Robert , Law Graham Richard , Siriwardena Aloysius Niroshan
Published: November 2022

Aim

To model optimum proportions of dual-crewed ambulances (DCAs) and rapid-response vehicles (RRVs) in Ambulance Trusts with a view to generating a policy brief for one Ambulance Trust and a modelling tool for other Trusts on the strategic procurement and allocation of emergency vehicle (EV) resources.

Methods

Historical EV assignments for 12 months of emergency calls in 2019 were provided by an NHS Ambulance Trust and analysed for backup, see and treat, and patient to hospital conveyance. Unit costs were derived for paramedics and technicians using Agenda for Change pay rates. Time cycles were assigned for RRV and DCA attendances and unit costs assigned to these. Information was put into a decision analytical model to estimate the costs and numbers of vehicles attending incidents based on relative proportions of available RRVs and DCAs.

Results

Of 711 992 calls attended by 837 107 EVs, 514 766 (72.3%) required at least one emergency department conveyance. The rate of conveyance was significantly lower when RRVs arrived first on the scene. 27 883 out of 529 693 (5.3%) DCAs first arriving at an incident required some backup, and this was also factored into the model. Modelling demonstrated high conveyance rates were counterproductive when increasing the relative proportions of RRVs to DCAs. For example, with conveyance rates of 65%, increasing the RRVs increased the cost and numbers of vehicles attending per incident. At lower conveyance rates, however, there was a levelling around 30% where it could become cost-effective to increase the relative proportions of RRVs to DCAs.

Conclusion

At current overall conveyance rates, there is no benefit in increasing the relative proportions of RRVs to DCAs unless additional benefits can be realised that bring the conveyance rates down.
Echoes of the past: prevalence and correlates of PTSD among formerly abducted youths in northern Uganda: findings from the WAYS study
Authors: Amone-P'Olak Kennedy , Omech Bernard , Kakinda Adrian Ivan , Kibedi Henry
Published: November 2022

Background

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has considerable and persistent effects on survivors of war, particularly in postconflict areas. Yet, evidence on what keeps survivors on the path of PTSD remains scarce.

Aims

The current study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of PTSD symptoms among the war-affected population in northern Uganda.

Methods

Data from 476 war-affected youths (aged 20–27 years) who had participated in a longitudinal cohort study were analysed to describe the enduring associations of background and postwar environmental risk factors with PTSD symptoms. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised was used to evaluate symptoms of PTSD. Descriptive statistics were used to compute background and postwar environmental correlates. Binary logistic regression analyses were fitted to assess the magnitude of the effects of the correlates on PTSD symptoms.

Results

Background and postwar environmental factors (eg, sexual abuse and injury in captivity) were significantly associated with PTSD symptoms. Postwar environmental factors associated with PTSD symptoms included postwar hardships, stigma/discrimination, chronic illness, community relations, family acceptance and general functioning, among others. The odds ratios (ORs) for post-war hardships were 2.41 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.63 to 3.56) and 2.90 (95% CI: 2.03 to 4.14) for high and severe PTSD, respectively. For stigma/discrimination, compared with higher scores, the ORs were 3.38 (95% CI: 2.22 to 5.17) and 4.12 (95% CI: 2.69 to 6.30) for high and severe PTSD symptoms, respectively.

Conclusions

Background and postwar environmental stressors exacerbate the severity of PTSD symptoms in survivors of war and should form the basis for interventions to alleviate the toxic effects of war on survivors.
CSF ferritin in the clinicopathological progression of Alzheimer’s disease and associations with APOE and inflammation biomarkers
Authors: Ayton Scott , Janelidze Shorena , Kalinowski Pawel , Palmqvist Sebastian , Belaidi Abdel Ali , Stomrud Erik , Roberts Anne , Roberts Blaine , Hansson Oskar , Bush Ashley Ian
Published: November 2022

Background

A putative role for iron in driving Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression is complicated by previously reported associations with neuroinflammation, apolipoprotein E and AD proteinopathy. To establish how iron interacts with clinicopathological features of AD and at what disease stage iron influences cognitive outcomes, we investigated the association of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of iron (ferritin), inflammation (acute phase response proteins) and apolipoproteins with pathological biomarkers (CSF Aβ42/t-tau, p-tau181), clinical staging and longitudinal cognitive deterioration in subjects from the BioFINDER cohort, with replication of key results in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort.

Methods

Ferritin, acute phase response proteins (n=9) and apolipoproteins (n=6) were measured in CSF samples from BioFINDER (n=1239; 4 years cognitive follow-up) participants stratified by cognitive status (cognitively unimpaired, mild cognitive impairment, AD) and for the presence of amyloid and tangle pathology using CSF Aβ42/t-tau (A+) and p-tau181 (T+). The ferritin and apolipoprotein E associations were replicated in the ADNI (n=264) cohort.

Results

In both cohorts, ferritin and apoE were elevated in A-T+ and A+T+ subjects (16%–40%), but not clinical diagnosis. Other apolipoproteins and acute phase response proteins increased with clinical diagnosis, not pathology. CSF ferritin was positively associated with p-tau181, which was mediated by apolipoprotein E. An optimised threshold of ferritin predicted cognitive deterioration in mild cognitive impairment subjects in the BioFINDER cohort, especially those people classified as A-T- and A+T-.

Conclusions

CSF markers of iron and neuroinflammation have distinct associations with disease stages, while iron may be more intimately associated with apolipoprotein E and tau pathology.
Tobacco imagery in popular films in China from 2001 to 2020: a declining trend
Authors: Li Xuping , Niu Lu , Kuang Yiying , Mei Jinglan , Li Ruimin , Li Tonghe , Ding Jing , Xiao Shuiyuan
Published: November 2022

Background

Exposure to tobacco imagery in films can result in tobacco use among adolescents and young adults. Efforts have been made to limit tobacco imagery in films in China. Our study investigates the level and trend of tobacco imagery in popular films in China from 2001 to 2020.

Methods

The running time of the 20 top-grossing films in China annually from 2001 to 2020 was divided into 5 min intervals, and those containing tobacco imagery were coded for the following aspects: country of origin, presence of warning, presence of minors and the presence of tobacco brands.

Results

We coded 9423 five-minute intervals across 400 films. Tobacco imagery occurred in 1344 intervals across 239 films. There was a declining trend in the proportion of films (r=−0.515, p=0.022) and the proportion of intervals (r=−0.004, p<0.001) with tobacco imagery over time. None of the films with tobacco imagery contained a warning for their audience against smoking. Chinese films contained more tobacco imagery than international films, and tobacco imagery related to minors and tobacco brands were present despite regulations.

Conclusion

Tobacco imagery remains in films in China. The relevant authorities and film producers should ban films with tobacco imagery in China; for example, they should ban films with tobacco imagery from participating in awards, add warnings to films with tobacco imagery and give films containing tobacco imagery a default ‘R’ classification.
Perceptions of telemedicine at a pediatric otolaryngology-head and neck surgery program
Authors: Gwilt Claire , Metzger Gregory , Jatana Kris , Bourgeois Tran , Walz Patrick
Published: November 2022

Objective

With few studies investigating the effectiveness of telemedicine (TM) in pediatric otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat; ENT), its role in clinical practice is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate provider perspectives regarding utility of TM in pediatric ENT practice.

Methods

A survey gauging the relative merits of TM visits for common pediatric ENT chief complaints and postoperative visits was distributed to all pediatric ENT providers at a tertiary care, free-standing children’s hospital. Respondents were asked to assess the effectiveness of TM visits compared with in-person visits for completing the following tasks: history collection, physical examination, medical decision-making, and patient counseling.

Results

Providers rated TM visits as less useful than in-person visits for completing the most predefined tasks but did identify advantages in history taking via TM for the majority of complaints. Compared with providers with ≥10 years of experience, those with <10 years of experience found TM to be more effective than the in-person appointment for making clinical decisions for patients presenting with recurrent/chronic pharyngitis, neck masses, and stridor/noisy breathing. Opinions regarding the utility of TM for postoperative visits were mixed, with adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy and superficial procedures being most frequently deemed appropriate for TM.

Conclusions

The introduction of TM to pediatric ENT faces limitations in detailed examination of areas not accessible without specialized instrumentation. Due to its strength in history taking, results suggest an asynchronous, ‘store and forward’ encounter followed by an in-person physical examination to confirm the diagnosis and treatment plan could be beneficial.
Quantifying reliability of liquefaction severity map developed from sparse cone penetration tests
Authors: Guan Zheng , Wang Yu
Published: November 2022

The liquefaction potential index (LPI) is widely used for evaluating the severity of liquefaction manifestation at the ground surface (e.g., settlement, lateral spreading, sand boils, and crack) and for developing liquefaction severity maps. Over the last two decades, several methods, such as cumulative probability distribution of LPI and geostatistics-based LPI mapping, have been proposed to develop a liquefaction severity map from in situ tests (e.g., cone penetration tests, CPT), which are often sparsely performed in sites. These methods are either based on an assumption of statistical homogeneity within each geologic unit or a stationary Gaussian model. However, subsurface soils frequently show significant spatial variability and LPI data obtained at different geological units usually exhibit non-stationary characteristics. More importantly, existing methods offer little insight into the reliability level of the obtained liquefaction severity map. To address these issues, this study proposes a non-parametric and data-driven method for CPT-based liquefaction severity mapping and, for the first time ever, quantification of the liquefaction severity maps’ reliability level using the probability of mis-predicting liquefaction severity from the map. Both synthetic and real-life data are used to demonstrate and validate the proposed method. The illustration examples indicate that the proposed method can properly deal with non-stationary LPI data from different geological units and quantify the mis-prediction probability of liquefaction severity at each point of the map.
Synthesis and characterization of new Co(II), Rh(III), and Pt(II) guanidine and thiourea complexes
Authors: Da Weihao , Jones T. Harri , Lin J.-B. , Blight Barry A.
Published: November 2022

Guanidine- and thiourea-based complexes have been the subject of extensive study due to their wide range of potential applications, including but not limited to anti-cancer drugs, ion transporters, and sensors. Building upon previous work done in this group, we aimed to demonstrate a new series of organometallic complexes based on functionally diverse guanidine and thiourea ligands. Herein, the synthesis and characterization of new platinum, rhodium, and cobalt complexes is presented. While most of these complexes conformed to properties and behaviours in line with previous work, one complex based on a Pt(II) and guanidine derivative exhibited unusual supramolecular properties, demonstrating a larger self-assembled dimer consisting of six Pt(II) cations.
Inverse method applied to autonomous broadband hydroacoustic survey detects higher densities of zooplankton in near-surface aggregations than vessel-based net survey
Authors: Dunn Muriel , Pedersen Geir , Basedow Sünnje L. , Daase Malin , Falk-Petersen Stig , Bachelot Loïc , Camus Lionel , Geoffroy Maxime
Published: November 2022

Throughout all oceans, aggregations of zooplankton and ichthyoplankton appear as horizontal sound scattering layers (SSLs) when detected with active acoustic techniques. Quantifying the composition and density of these layers is prone to sampling biases. We conducted a net and trawl survey of the epipelagic fauna in northern Norway (70° N) in June 2018 while an autonomous surface vehicle equipped with a broadband echosounder (283–383 kHz) surveyed the same region. Densities from the autonomous hydroacoustic survey were calculated using forward estimates from the relative density from the net and trawl, and inversion estimates with statistical data-fitting. All four methods (net, trawl, acoustic forward and inverse methods) identified that copepods dominated the epipelagic SSL, while pteropods, amphipods and fish larvae were present in low densities. The density estimates calculated with the inverse method were higher for mobile zooplankton, such as euphausiid larvae, than with the other methods. We concluded that the inverse method applied to broadband autonomous acoustic surveys can improve density estimates of epipelagic organisms by diminishing avoidance biases and increasing the spatio-temporal resolution of ship-based surveys.
Colossal dielectric response and complex impedance analysis of LaFeO3 ceramics
Authors: Sahoo Sushrisangita , Andryushin K. P. , Mahapatra P. K. , Choudhary R. N. P.
Published: November 2022

The present investigations mainly focused on the colossal dielectric response and complex impedance analysis of LaFeO3 ceramics. The studied sample was prepared by a citrate gel method. Structural and microstructural properties are analyzed from the XRD pattern and SEM micrograph. The anomalies in the dielectric constant versus temperature plots are analyzed on the basis of polarization induced by the Maxwell-Wagner mechanisms and ferromagnetic interaction between the Fe[Formula: see text] ions driven by the oxygen vacancy mediated Fe[Formula: see text]–V[Formula: see text] –Fe[Formula: see text] exchange interaction A giant dielectric permittivity in the order of [Formula: see text]105 was observed in the sample even at the room temperature for 100 Hz. The colossal dielectric constant in LaFeO3 is mainly driven by the internal barrier layer capacitor (IBLC) formation. The formation of IBLC was explained on the basis of highly insulating grain boundary and less resistive/semiconducting grain, which was confirmed from both the resistance and capacitance of grain and grain boundary from the impedance analysis. The non-Debye-type relaxation process associated with the grain and grain boundary effect was investigated from the broad and asymmetric relaxation peak. The relaxation time for both the grain and grain boundary effect was also calculated. In addition to this, we have also analyzed the normalized bode plot of imaginary part of impedance and electrical modulus which suggests the relaxation process dominated by the short-range movement of charge carriers.
A Study on the Effects of Potassium Permanganate on the Functionalization of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Le Thi Mai Hoa
Published: November 2022

In this work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are functionalized by a wet chemical oxidation method using a mixture of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) at 70 °C, for 12 h. The effects of various KMnO4 amounts on the functionalization of MWCNTs are studied and reported. The surface morphologies, structural properties, dispersion and thermal stability of the MWCNTs are characterized using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The FE-SEM images display some surface roughness, cutting and open ends of functionalized MWCNTs (f-MWCNTs). The TGA curves of f-MWCNTs indicate a weight loss between 150 °C and 350 °C, which is attributed to the loss of carboxyl groups on the MWCNTs surface and the weight loss is increased when KMnO4 mass is increased. The highest weight loss value of 22.23% is recorded for the oxidation treatment with a mixture of 5 M H2SO4 and 200 mg KMnO4. UV–vis measurements indicate that the f-MWCNTs are highly dispersed in the aquoues solution in comparision to the pristine MWCNTs (p-MWCNTs). And f-MWCNTs with higher functionalization degree show better dispersibility. This study provides a great prospect of effective method to cut, end-open, functionalize and disperse MWCNTs.
Specific modulation of presynaptic and recurrent inhibition of the soleus muscle during lengthening and shortening submaximal and maximal contractions
Authors: Papitsa Athina , Paizis Christos , Papaiordanidou Maria , Martin Alain
Published: November 2022

Presynaptic (PI) and recurrent inhibitions (RI) were studied during passive muscle lengthening and eccentric contractions. Results indicate that the increased PI during passive muscle lengthening accounts for the decreased spinal excitability at rest. During eccentric contraction both mechanisms contribute to spinal excitability modulation. The same amount of PI was observed during eccentric contractions, while RI decreased as developed torque increased. This distinct modulation according to torque level suggests a distinct supraspinal control of these mechanisms.
Muscle stretching induces the mechanoreflex response in human arterial blood pressure
Authors: Nakamura Nobuhiro , Heng Peng , Hayashi Naoyuki
Published: November 2022

The muscle mechanoreflex was considered to have a small contribution to cardiovascular regulation during exercise in healthy humans. In contrast, the results of this study indicate that static stretching of the forearm induces a pressor response in healthy humans and suggest that the mechanoreflex explicitly induces the pressor response during exercise in humans. The methods applied are useful for evaluating the pressor response to the mechanoreflex regardless of health, aging, and disease.
Therapeutic response to bronchial thermoplasty: toward feasibility of patient selection based on modeling predictions
Authors: Donovan G. M. , Noble P. B. , Langton D.
Published: November 2022

Bronchial thermoplasty is a treatment for asthma that targets the airway smooth muscle directly. We demonstrate the feasibility and constraints of predicting patient-specific response to thermoplasty using a computational model informed by pretreatment CT scans at different lung volumes. Predictions are compared with functional outcomes and posttreatment CT scans. This has the potential to form the basis for improved clinical practice.
Multibox Three-Dimensional Packing Problems for Heterogeneous Extrudable Items
Authors: Zhao Junhui , Zhou Li , Wang Fan , Liu Huwei , Yang Jianglong
Published: November 2022

Aiming at the multibox 3D packing problem of heterogeneous extrudable items in e-commerce retail department stores, the optimization goal is to select appropriate packaging materials for packing all items in the order. On this basis, the number of packaging materials used is the least and the space utilization rate is high. A heuristic algorithm is designed. Firstly, the items are sorted in descending order according to volume, and then the items are boxed according to the rule of “layer generation.” In order to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the algorithm, the data provided by a large domestic e-commerce platform are used to analyse and compare the space utilization of packaging materials under the conditions of no extrusion operation and extrusion operation. The feasibility and effectiveness of the algorithm in the packaging and delivery link in the storage field of e-commerce retail department stores are proved.
HMGB3 Targeted by miR-145-5p Impacts Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, and Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Hu Yangying , Wu Deqi , Huang Rong , Shi Zhijie
Published: November 2022

This study focused on the investigation into how HMGB3 works in breast cancer (BC) progression. Firstly, we analyzed the relationship between HMGB3 and BC patients through the TCGA database. We performed qRT-PCR for determining the HMGB3 mRNA level and Western blot for detecting the protein level of HMGB3 in BC cell lines. CCK-8, flow cytometry, transwell, and wound healing assays were utilized to detect the effect of HMGB3 on BC cell phenotypes. Next, the prediction of the binding site shared by miR-145-5p and HMGB3 was performed by the bioinformatics method. The targeting relationship between miR-145-5p and HMGB3 was validated by using dual-luciferase assay. Finally, rescue experiments were employed for assessing the effect of the miR-145-5p/HMGB3 axis on BC cells. HMGB3 was demonstrated to have a high-level expression in BC cell lines and facilitated BC progression. On the contrary, miR-145-5p was shown a low-level expression in BC cell lines, which could target HMGB3. miR-145-5p restrained the proliferation, migration, and invasion of BC cells via inhibiting HMGB3.
Determinants of Maize Production and Its Supply Response in Kenya
Authors: Nyakora Masese Allan , Mary Mbithi Lucia , Joshi Niraj Prakash , Masese Machuka Samson
Published: November 2022

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an essential crop in Kenya and its production has a direct implication on food and economic security. However, in Kenya, there is a gap between what is being produced and what is being consumed. This gap is growing and, hence, remains a policy concern. Under this backdrop, this study aimed to estimate thecombined contribution of maize area harvested, expenditure on fertilizers,number of tractors used, and maize seed quantity to national maize productionin Kenya using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) and Nerlove Model. The findings indicate that maize production in Kenya is negatively associated with maize area harvested, expenditure on fertilizers, and the number of tractors used. However, there is a positive relationship between maize production and maize seed quantity. The response of maize production depicted that the price of maize in the previous period determined the production levels in the current period positively; however, as we move further away, the price level in the fourth period depicted a negative relationship. This study recommended that the government provide an adequate quantity of maize seeds to boost maize production. It also recommended that farmers be educated on the proper use of fertilizers and the optimum use of tractors and land. Furthermore, the government needs to ensure a favorable and stable price for farmers to contribute to increased maize production.
Adsorptive Removal of Alizarin Red S onto Sulfuric Acid-Modified Avocado Seeds: Kinetics, Equilibrium, and Thermodynamic Studies
Authors: Bharath Balji G. , Senthil Kumar P.
Published: November 2022

The present work evaluates the synthesis of a novel, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly chemically-treated avocado seed powder (CTASP) as an adsorbent in removing alizarin red S (ARS) from synthetic solution. By using a set of analytical techniques, including FTIR, XRD, EDX, RS, and SEM, the adsorbent was characterized for its physical and chemical properties. Batch study experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of the CTASP as an adsorbent. The maximum adsorption capacity of 67.08 mgg-1 was attained at optimum conditions of 3 gL-1 adsorbent dosage, pH 3, contact time of 30 min, and at temperature 303 K. After 30 minutes, the equilibrium was reached, and the experimental data was explained for isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic processes. The results indicated that pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Freundlich isotherm were the best fits for the data. The findings of the analysis of the thermodynamic parameters for the process showed that the system was an exothermic and spontaneous. According to the desorption studies, 0.1 M NaOH can be utilized as a separating reagent to desorb 90.53% of ARS that was adsorbed. Regeneration experiments were conducted to make the process more practical and affordable, and it was discovered that the CTASP adsorbent could be successfully regenerated up to four times. In comparison with other adsorbents, the current low-cost adsorbent had the exceptional regenerative capability and delivered multilayer adsorption capacity. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that the CTASP is an effective material for the detoxification of ARS dye from wastewater.
Warning and Nursing Experience of Anesthesia Depth Monitoring for Patients with General Anesthesia Delayed to Leave Anesthesia Recovery Room and Delirium
Authors: Xuan Hongmei , Xu Keping
Published: November 2022

Affected by the residues of narcotic drugs, patients under general anesthesia are vulnerable to emergence of agitation, delirium, hemodynamic changes, and other adverse events in the recovery period of anesthesia. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the observation and care of these patients. Depth of anesthesia monitoring (DAM) has always been a concern for anesthesiologists, but there are few reports related to it. This study compared the early warning value of DAM for patients under general anesthesia with delayed exit from the anesthesia recovery unit (PACU) and delirium and summarized the related nursing experience. The results showed that DAM could reduce the incidence of complications in patients under general anesthesia, reduce the incidence of delirium, shorten the time of postoperative anesthesia recovery and PACU observation time, reduce the workload of nursing staff, and improve nursing satisfaction. DAM plays an important role in improving the quality and efficiency of care in PACU.
Exploring the Knowledge and Attitude of the Taxi Drivers in the Field of Traffic Rules and Regulations
Authors: Khani Jeihooni Ali , Rakhshani Tayebeh , Keshavarzi Arash , Kashfi Seyyed Mansour , Frarouei Mohammad , Kamyab Amirhossein
Published: November 2022

Background. In all countries, the knowledge of driving guidelines is the most important and critical mechanism to ensure the safety of drivers. Naturally, it is expected that more knowledge and attitude towards driving laws would result in fewer driving violations. The aim of this research is to investigate both the knowledge and attitude of taxi drivers in the field of traffic rules and regulations in Shiraz city, Fars province, in 2019. Methods. This research is a cross-sectional study, based on which about 1077 taxi drivers were randomly chosen in Shiraz city, Iran. The data collection tool is a demographic information questionnaire and a questionnaire on driving guidance. After collecting these questionnaires, the obtained data were entered into SPSS version 20 and then analyzed by descriptive analyses (mean, standard deviation, and percentage). Afterward, the independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient are implemented and investigated. Results. The mean and standard deviation of knowledge score in drivers were about 26.8 ± 55.2 while the mean and standard deviation of drivers’ attitude were about 98.16 ± 59.3. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between the variables studied (R = −0.07;P=0.02) and drivers’ attitudes toward driving (P=0.01). Conclusion. The results of this research show that the mean scores of knowledge and attitude of taxi drivers in Shiraz city are moderate in terms of driving rules and regulations; moreover, among taxi drivers of increasing age, the average score of knowledge was lower.
Research on the Driven Path of Ambidextrous Innovation of Science and Technology Enterprises: An Exploration Based on Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Authors: Guo Jinhua , Zhang Ying , Cao Cuizhen
Published: November 2022

Ambidextrous innovation is an essential way for enterprises to respond to environmental changes and create competitive advantage. This study constructs the “technology-organization-environment” (TOE) framework of enterprise ambidextrous innovation, aiming to explore the configuration effect of the linkage matching of technology, organization, and environment on enterprise ambidextrous innovation and the differentiated driving mode of enterprise ambidextrous innovation. In the study, the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is used to conduct an empirical study on the samples of 34 listed companies on the Science and Technology Innovation Board. The findings are as follows: (1) technical conditions (hardware facilities and software facilities), organizational conditions (human capital investment and R&D investment), and environmental conditions (market competition and government subsidies) are not necessary conditions for ambidextrous innovation individually; (2) there are three driven paths of ambidextrous innovation, namely, the technology-driven path under the pressure of market competition, the technology-promoted path under government support, and the resource-rich proactive change path. The conclusion has enlightening significance for guiding enterprises to attach importance to the technology and organizational conditions in the process of enterprise ambidextrous innovation.
Development of Verification Device for Multitarget Radar Velocimeter Based on Echo Signal Simulation Technology
Authors: Shao Jianwen , Chen Wenhua , Shen Xiaomin , Pan Jun , Zhao Cunbin , Zhao Chenxin
Published: November 2022

Speeding is one of the leading causes of traffic crashes worldwide. Radar velocimeter is widely used in the capture monitoring of road overspeed violations, which can effectively reduce the probability of traffic accidents and protect people’s life and property safety to the greatest extent. As a new type of radar velocimeter, multitarget radar velocimeter (MTRV) can monitor the speed of more than two vehicles at the same time. However, the verification method and device of MTRV’s performance need to be studied. In order to solve the problem of performance verification for MTRV, a verification device based on echo signal simulation technology is developed in this paper. The measurement mechanism of MTRV with different performance including velocity, distance, and angle is first introduced. Then, a verification method based on the echo signal simulation technology is proposed. The verification device can receive the emission signal of MTRV and process the signal by echo simulation technology, including target generation, Doppler frequency shift, time delay, and angel control, and targets are simulated with nominal velocity, distance, and angle value. The processed echo signal with simulated nominal parameter values is reflected to the MTRV. After the echo signal is received and processed by MTRV, the measurement values of simulated velocity, distance, and angle for targets are obtained. Comparing the measured values of the MTRV with the simulated nominal values of the verification device, the measurement error of MTRV is obtained. The verification device of MTRV is realized to verify the accuracy and reliability of the MTRV measurement results. The simulated velocity range of the verification device is up to (-300~300) km/h, and the simulated distance range of the verification device is up to (10~45) m when the simulated incident angle range was within the range of (-60~60)°. The simulation target generation for the two targets of the device is also verified. And the maximum permissible error (MPE) of the simulated velocity was ±0.05 km/h, the MPE of simulated distance is ±0.3 m, and the MPE of simulated angle is ±0.2°. Finally, the verification and uncertainty evaluation results of the MTRV sample validated the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed verification method and the developed verification device of MTRV.
Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Protects Trabecular Meshwork Cells from Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Zhou Linbin , He Jing Na , Du Lin , Ho Bo Man , Ng Danny Siu-Chun , Chan Poemen P. , Tham Clement C. , Pang Chi Pui , Chu Wai Kit
Published: November 2022

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common form of glaucoma, for which elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor. IOP is mainly regulated by dynamic balance of aqueous humor (AH) production and outflow via the conventional trabecular meshwork/Schlemm’s canal (TM/SC) pathway. Dysfunctions of TM cells due to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress have been demonstrated to increase the resistance of AH outflow, resulting in IOP elevation. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenolic component in green tea, has been shown to alleviate ER stress in several diseases while its potential roles in alleviating ER stress in TM cells have not been determined. In this study, we investigate the mitigation of tunicamycin-induced ER stress in TM cells by EGCG. MTT assay was used to measure the cell viability of human TM (HTM) cells and primary porcine TM (PTM) cells. ER stress levels in both HTM cells and primary PTM cells were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The primary PTM cells isolated from porcine TM tissues were characterized by immunostaining. We found that 40 μM and 80 μM EGCG pretreatment substantially promoted HTM cell survival under 3 μM tunicamycin-induced ER stress. Pretreatment of 40 μM EGCG markedly reduced the expression of ER stress markers ATF4, HSPA5, and DDIT3, evoked by 3 μM tunicamycin in HTM cells. Furthermore, 40 μM EGCG pretreatment significantly decreased the expressions of ATF4, HSPA5, and DDIT3 at the mRNA level induced by 3 μM tunicamycin and improved cell viability in primary PTM cells. Our results show that EGCG is capable of protecting TM cells from ER stress. EGCG provides a promising therapeutic option for POAG treatment.
Research on the Residual Carrying Capacity of Composite Decks with MCL Connectors under Fatigue Load
Authors: Li Xiaolong , Wang Jun , Liu Zerui
Published: November 2022

To investigate the mechanical behavior of the profiled steel‐concrete composite deck with modified clothoid (MCL) connectors under fatigue load, a method for calculating the residual carrying capacity of the composite deck is proposed, and a finite element (FE) model is established to analyze the mechanism of the composite decks after fatigue failure. The maximum error between the theoretical method and the test result is 4%, and for the finite element model, the maximum error is 9%. The result indicates that the residual carrying capacities of the composite deck obtained from the theoretical method and the finite element model accord well with the test results. Parametric analysis is performed to investigate the influence of the shear span length Lsp, the modified clothoid shape connector spacing Lmc, and the upper flange depth hc of the concrete slab. It reveals that with the increase of the shear span length and the MCL connector spacing, the residual carrying capacity decreases exponentially. Additionally, the relation between hc and the residual capacity of the composite deck is linear. The study is helpful for the fatigue design of the profiled steel‐concrete composite decks.
Quantitative NMR Interpretation without Reference
Authors: Rubim de Santana Priscila Ivo , Diz de Almeida Joyce Sobreiro Francisco , França Tanos Celmar Costa , Junker Jochen
Published: November 2022

As has been documented numerous times over the years, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments are intrinsically quantitative. Still, quantitative NMR methods have not been widely adopted or largely introduced into pharmacopoeias. Here, we describe the quantitative interpretation of the 1D proton NMR experiment using only absolute signal intensities with the variation of common experimental parameters and their application.
Characterization of Thermal Properties of Highland Bamboo Fibers
Authors: Ebissa Dawit Tessema , Tesfaye Tamrat , Ayele Delele Worku
Published: November 2022

Characterization of thermal properties of different ages highland bamboo fiber attributes extracted chemically and mechanically is the focus of this study. Samples of length 25–30 cm were harvested at various ages from the middle of the stem, which was then soaked in different NaOH weight-by-volume concentrations and soaked in water for different days. Using a rolling machine that has three rollers, the fiber is mechanically extracted. The sample was subjected to different analyses for each corresponding age (1, 2, and 3 years) and NaOH concentration (untreated, 1%, 2%, and 3%) levels using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, derivative thermogravimetric analysis, and differential thermal analysis for thermal property characterization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for morphological studies, whereas Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used for the identification of functional groups of the fibers. The surface appearance of the cell wall and microfibril aggregates were changed by alkali treatment. From the SEM results, 3% NaOH-treated fiber resulted in more wrinkles on the surface of bamboo fibers when compared with the 1% and 2% NaOH bamboo fibers. Using thermal analysis measurements, this study investigated that weight loss increased as alkali concentration increased, but the scenario functioned for proper concentration. The first degradation stage is responsible for the biggest weight loss since it includes the disintegration of all of the fiber’s primary components (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin).