bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quelle autonomie pour les personnes atteintes de troubles mentaux ? Réflexions relatives à quelques arrêts récents de la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme
Authors: Ruet Céline
Published: March 2022

La Cour européenne des droits de l’homme valide le refus opposé à des choix de vie émis par des personnes mentalement vulnérables placées sous un régime de protection légale ou prend en compte l’autonomie de personnes atteintes de troubles mentaux mais aptes à consentir pour justifier un constat de non-violation de leur droit à la liberté ou à la vie. L’autonomie se voit ainsi parfois écartée, parfois retenue de manière déséquilibrée.
La force obligatoire de la Charte des droits fondamentaux de l’Union européenne
Authors: Gilliaux Pascal
Published: March 2022

La Charte des droits fondamentaux de l’Union européenne était à l’origine dépourvue de valeur contraignante. Néanmoins, au terme d’une évolution plutôt rapide, le Traité de Lisbonne lui a conféré la même valeur juridique que les traités (art. 6, § 1 er , du Traité sur l’Union européenne). Ce caractère contraignant est toutefois tempéré, d’une part, par une distinction entre droits, libertés et principes et, d’autre part, par l’obligation de prendre en considération le droit de l’Union et le droit des États membres pour déterminer la portée de nombreuses dispositions de la Charte.
Comment rendre crédible et effective la protection des droits humains écologiques par le Conseil de l’Europe ?
Authors: Lambert Elisabeth
Published: March 2022

Dans le contexte d’une réflexion initiée pour la Conférence organisée sous l’égide de la présidence géorgienne le 27 février 2020 pour laquelle l’auteure été sollicitée comme experte, il importe de s’interroger sur la façon dont l’Europe des 47 pourrait donner un nouvel élan à une meilleure garantie des droits humains environnementaux. Après avoir justifié le caractère insuffisant et inadapté d’un protocole additionnel à la Convention européenne des droits de l’homme, l’auteure expose les arguments qui militent pour une approche inclusive et dresse les lignes d’un nouveau régime à inventer. Elle conclut que les obstacles éventuels pour l’adoption d’un nouveau régime sont politiques et non juridiques.
Les juridictions de l’Union européenne et les droits fondamentaux
Authors: L’Institut de Droit Européen des Dr  , Maubernard Christophe , Blay-Grabarczyk Katarzyna , Milano Laure , Nivard Carole , Tinière Romain
Published: March 2022

Au cours de l’année 2019, la Cour de justice a rendu cent trente arrêts dans lesquels au moins une question renvoyait à l’interprétation et/ou à l’application des dispositions de la Charte des droits fondamentaux de l’Union. Si les solutions apportées par le juge de l’Union demeurent très hétérogènes en fonction des cas d’espèce et des voies de recours, deux tendances – presque contradictoires – peuvent être observées. D’une part, la Charte révèle peu à peu ses potentialités, au-delà des articles les plus couramment invoqués (droit au respect de la vie privée et familiale, protection des données à caractère personnel ou droit à un recours juridictionnel effectif), comme par exemple la protection des consommateurs (art. 38) ou encore l’accès aux services d’intérêt économique général (art. 36). D’autre part, et malgré ses potentialités, la Charte se trouve toujours doublement limitée : d’un côté, par la portée très variable de ses dispositions aggravée selon nous par l’arrêt Poplawski et, d’un autre côté, par l’interprétation fluctuante de la Cour de justice à l’égard du champ d’application de la Charte au cours de la mise en œuvre du droit de l’Union par les États membres.
La répression pénale des appels au boycott de produits israéliens en droit européen des droits de l’homme
Authors: Besse Thomas
Published: March 2022

La répression pénale des appels au boycott de produits étrangers, et en particulier de produits d’origine israélienne, est une problématique qui fait régulièrement surface depuis une quinzaine d’années, au gré de l’actualité géopolitique et, accessoirement, de l’actualité juridique. Cette pratique, qui s’inscrit indubitablement dans une démarche de revendication politique, interroge quant à sa licéité au regard des lois réprimant les délits d’expression à caractère discriminatoire, a fortiori dès lors qu’elle est exercée dans le contexte du conflit israélo-palestinien, terrain particulièrement fertile pour les manifestations haineuses. Si l’appel au boycott est susceptible de constituer une atteinte provisoire aux intérêts des producteurs visés, il est désormais clair qu’il appartient aux discours protégés, sous certaines conditions, par l’article 10 de la Convention européenne des droits de l’homme.
Les vidéosurveillances dans les entreprises et la protection de la vie privée des salariés
Authors: Pettiti Christophe
Published: March 2022

L’arrêt de la Grande chambre de la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme, du 17 octobre 2019, dans l’affaire López Ribalda et autres c. Espagne permet à la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme de s’interroger de nouveau sur la protection à apporter au salarié dans le cadre de sa vie professionnelle face à l’utilisation des vidéosurveillances dans les entreprises. Cette nouvelle affaire offre l’occasion de revenir sur cette construction difficile, et hésitante, de la jurisprudence de la Cour, et sur l’autonomie laissée aux juridictions nationales dans l’arbitrage des droits dans les relations de travail, avec parfois des juridictions nationales plus protectrices que le juge européen.
Recherches doctorales intéressant la formation des adultes : repérage et première analyse de thèses soutenues aux USA entre 2010 et 2020
Authors: Las Vergnas Olivier , Bury Patrick , Jeunesse Christophe
Published: March 2022

Contexte : Cette huitième contribution à la rubrique « vie de la recherche en formation des adultes » s’intéresse aux travaux développés aux USA dans le cadre des thèses de doctorat de recherche. Objectif : Dans l’esprit de ce qui a été fait pour la France (voir les dernières contributions de cette rubrique), l’objectif est de constituer un corpus regroupant les thèses concernées et soutenues pendant la dernière décennie pour le cartographier et identifier les principaux objets explorés et méthodes déployées. Méthode : L’idée est d’employer la même méthode qu’en France (requête ad hoc dans une base de référence, puis analyse lexicale sur les résumés), mais celle-ci est largement compliquée aux USA car les doctorats de recherche constituent un ensemble plus flou qu’en France – incluant en particulier des Ph.D., des Ed.D. ( Education Doctorate ) et des DBA – et ne font pas l’objet d’un dépôt légal obligatoire. Résultats : Concrètement est étudié un corpus de 597 thèses (340 Ed.D., 244 Ph.D., 3 DBA et 7 autres) repérées dans la base de données ProQuest Dissertation and Thesis qui regroupe à peu près ¼ des thèses de recherche soutenues aux USA. L’analyse de ce corpus montre qu’il est largement alimenté par de petites universités spécialisées et qu’il partage des objets communs avec son équivalent français autour des questions de transformation identitaire, de formation des enseignants et des soignants, d’apprentissage des langues étrangères et de formation en situation de travail.
Validation of the Questionnaire on Sexual and Reproductive Health Literacy for Adolescents Age 15 to 19 Years in Lao People's Democratic Republic
Authors: Vongxay Viengnakhone , Thongmixay Souksamone , Stoltenborg Lianne , Inthapanyo Amphone , Sychareun Vanphanom , Chaleunvong Kongmany , Rombout Essink Dirk
Published: March 2022

Background:

Beyond sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge, it is sexual and reproductive health literacy (SRHL) that reflects the capacity to deal with sexuality. Many interventions have been conducted to increase SRH knowledge in adolescents, but SRHL has rarely been measured, and a well-validated tool is needed to measure it. Objective: This study aimed to validate a tool to measure adolescent SRHL.

Methods:

Reliability, validity, and cultural equivalence were investigated using data from expert consultations, cognitive interviews, and two-pilot studies. Then adaptation was made to the SRHL questionnaire for correct use among Southeast Asian adolescents in Lao and in wider groups.

Key Results:

The SRHL tool was comprised of 39 question items focusing on teenage pregnancy, contraception, and abortion. Conceptual, item, and semantic equivalence were all met. Interviewer-administrated mode was found to be optimal. Each question offers the answer choices
very difficult
,
difficult
,
easy
, and
very easy
, with a good to excellent Cronbach's alpha (0.8–0.9); there were no missing items and no floor/ceiling effects. Construct validity was high as 6 of 7 hypotheses were confirmed.

Conclusion:

Validation was completed with good cross-cultural validity. The tool was shown to be effective in determining the level of SRHL in adolescents in Laos and potentially in other countries with similar cultures. [

HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice
. 2022;6(1):e37–e50.

]

Plain Language Summary:

To find out how much adolescents know about sexual and reproductive health, an appropriate instrument of measurement is needed. Using different methods, we investigated the performance of a new tool, namely the SRHL questionnaire, which has 39 questions and should be used with an interviewer to assist in recording responses. This new tool could be used effectively to determine the level of literacy on sexual and reproductive health among adolescents.
Impulsive conformable fractional stochastic differential equations with Poisson jumps
Authors: Ahmed Hamdy M.
Published: March 2022

In this article, periodic averaging method for impulsive conformable fractional stochastic differential equations with Poisson jumps are discussed. By using stochastic analysis, fractional calculus, Doob's martingale inequality and Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, we show that the solution of the conformable fractional impulsive stochastic differential equations with Poisson jumps converges to the corresponding averaged conformable fractional stochastic differential equations with Poisson jumps and without impulses.
Least energy sign-changing solutions of Kirchhoff equation on bounded domains
Authors: Li Xia ,   Department of Applied Mathematics, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730050, China, Guan Wen , Wang Da-Bin
Published: March 2022

We deal with sign-changing solutions for the Kirchhoff equation

   \begin{document}$ \begin{cases} -(a+ b\int _{\Omega}|\nabla u|^{2}dx)\Delta u = \lambda u+\mu|u|^{2}u, \; \ x\in\Omega, \\ u = 0, \; \ x\in \partial\Omega, \end{cases} $\end{document}

where $ a, b > 0 $ and $ \lambda, \mu\in\mathbb{R} $ being parameters, $ \Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^{3} $ is a bounded domain with smooth boundary $ \partial\Omega $. Combining Nehari manifold method with the quantitative deformation lemma, we prove that there exists $ \mu^{\ast} > 0 $ such that above problem has at least a least energy sign-changing (or nodal) solution if $ \lambda < a\lambda_{1} $ and $ \mu > \mu^{\ast} $, where $ \lambda_{1} > 0 $ is the first eigenvalue of $ (-\Delta u, H^{1}_{0}(\Omega)) $. It is noticed that the nonlinearity $ \lambda u+\mu|u|^{2}u $ fails to satisfy super-linear near zero and super-three-linear near infinity, respectively.
High order compact difference scheme for solving the time multi-term fractional sub-diffusion equations
Authors: Ren Lei ,   School of Mathematics and Statistics, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu 476000, China
Published: March 2022

In this paper, a high order compact finite difference is established for the time multi-term fractional sub-diffusion equation. The derived numerical differential formula can achieve second order accuracy in time and four order accuracy in space. A unconditionally stable and convergent difference scheme is presented, and a rigorous proof for the stability and convergence is given. Numerical results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed difference schemes.
Análisis experimental del comportamiento mecánico de tubos de hormigón reforzado con fibras híbridas
Authors: González Federico , Rougier Viviana
Published: March 2022

El hormigón reforzado con dos o más tipos fibras se denomina hormigón reforzado con fibras híbridas (HRFH). En este trabajo se evalúa el desempeño mecánico del HRFH, de acero y de polipropileno, en su aplicación en tubos de 600 mm de diámetro. Para ello, se determinan experimentalmente, a través del ensayo de compresión diametral, la capacidad de carga y el modo de falla de tubos de HRFH (THRFH) elaborados con dos dosificaciones distintas de fibras. Los resultados son comparados con los obtenidos del ensayo de tubos de hormigón reforzado con fibras de acero (THRFA), también elaborados con dos dosificaciones distintas de fibras, y tubos de hormigón armado (THA) con armadura tradicional de barras de acero. Los THRFH con las dosis de fibras híbridas utilizadas alcanzaron una resistencia equivalente a los THA y, además, mostraron un modo de falla dúctil, sin desprendimiento de hormigón o aplastamiento diametral luego de la rotura.
Food Selection by Spring-Migrating Green-Winged Teal
Authors: Klimas Samuel T. , Osborn Joshua M. , Yetter Aaron P. , Lancaster Joseph D. , Jacques Christopher N. , Fournier Auriel M.V. , Hagy Heath M.
Published: March 2022

The Mississippi Flyway supports millions of waterfowl during spring migration as individuals replenish vital nutrients en route to breeding locations. Green-winged teal Anas crecca consume natural plant and animal foods in shallow wetlands during autumn and winter, but little information is available to describe food use and selection during spring migration. We experimentally collected green-winged teal and quantified food use and availability to determine selection in the Illinois River Valley during February–April 2016–2018. We removed, dried, and weighed (±0.1 mg) food items by taxa from the upper digestive tract (proventriculus and esophagus) of birds and core samples for comparison. Additionally, we evaluated retention of common diet items between small (#60; 250 μm) and medium (#35; 500 μm) sieves and the effect of processing sieve size on selection coefficients. Seeds of moist-soil vegetation occurred in all green-winged teal diets, while invertebrates and vegetation material occurred in 67.4% and 25.8% of diets, respectively. Green-winged teal consumed 85.8% (CI95 = 81.2–90.3%) plant material and 14.2% (CI95 = 9.6–18.7%) invertebrates based on aggregate dry biomass. We failed to find support for selection of either plant or animal foods in general, but green-winged teal selected Cyperus spp., Ammannia spp., Leptochloa spp., and Potamogeton spp. and avoided Amaranthus spp., Ipomoea spp., Echinochloa spp., and Oligochaeta individual taxa. We found no support for a difference in selection ratios between sexes, but selection ratios differed among years and wetland connectivity regimes with changes in food availability. Sieve size had minimal impact on rank and selection intensity of most food items, but only small sieves captured Ammannia spp., which was an important diet item. We found no evidence that green-winged teal selected invertebrates in our midlatitude migration study area, as has been speculated for dabbling ducks in general during spring migration (i.e., spring diet-shift hypothesis). We encourage managers to provide shallowly flooded wetlands with desirable plant taxa (e.g., Cyperus spp., Ammannia spp., Leptochloa spp.) for green-winged teal by maintaining actively managed moist-soil wetlands that are made available during spring migration.
Virtual Worlds
Authors: Johnson Phylis
Published: March 2022

This chapter introduces the concept of the avatar as a human surrogate in a synthetic world, in which nearly all aspects of daily life are replicated. Further, one to a few virtual worlds have led to more than 100 virtual worlds, each catering to a variety of members, from children to senior adults as well as the physically challenged who are provided opportunities to work and play in this second space. In these worlds, meaningful communities are developed.
An Introduction to Picture Fuzzy Graph and Its Application to Select Best Routes in an Airlines Network
Authors: Amanathulla S. , Pal Madhumangal
Published: March 2022

A picture fuzzy set is an extension of intuitionistic fuzzy set. In this set, a new parameter called neutral value of an object is incorporated. Based on this set, the picture fuzzy graph is defined and investigated by several scientists. Picture fuzzy graph is a new type of fuzzy graph, and it is used for solving many real life problems. In this chapter, the concept of picture fuzzy set is presented. It also introduced the picture fuzzy graph and investigated some useful properties of picture fuzzy graph. Some fundamental terms like degree of a vertex, order and size of picture fuzzy graph, strong picture fuzzy graph, complete picture fuzzy graph, independent strong and independent weak picture fuzzy edge, bipartite picture fuzzy graph, complement of a picture fuzzy graph, path, strength of a path, connectedness, homomorphism, isomorphism, automorphism, Cartesian product, composition, etc. are defined and presented some properties. An application is provided to select best airline route among multiple paths.
Probability and Fuzziness
Authors: Dhar Mamoni
Published: March 2022

From the beginning of the theory of fuzzy sets, it has been a matter of concern for many researchers in the field to find an appropriate connection between probability and possibility. One such effort can be found in the randomness-fuzziness consistency principle where a fuzzy number of the type [α,β,γ] is expressed as a combination of two probability laws. The main intention of this work is to show that a fuzzy number of the type [α,β,β] or [β,β,γ] can be expressed by one probability law with the help of superimposition of uniformly fuzzy intervals.
Rough Neutrosophic Multisets
Authors: Alias Suriana , Mohamad Daud , Shuib Adibah
Published: March 2022

The effect of uncertainty in information raises human logical thinking due to many variabilities from expert decision making. The generalization of rough neutrosophic multisets theory tries to overcome this problem. The rough neutrosophic multisets allow the multiplicity of information represented by truth membership sequences, indeterminacy membership sequences, and falsity membership sequences. The lower and upper approximations belong to this triple membership sequence, making the information result more valuable since the relationship among this membership sequence makes sense. This chapter introduces the generalization of rough neutrosophic multisets with some operators and an illustrative example. The rough neutrosophic multisets basic operators, algebraic operators, and “AND” and “OR” operators are defined with some property propositions.
The Role of the Paper Packaging Industry in the Circular Economy
Authors: Karadayi-Usta Saliha
Published: March 2022

The circular economy movement has paved the way for the sustainable supply chains with its nature-friendly structure via recycling and repeated use of products. Hence, this study aims to determine the factors affecting the paper packaging industry in the circular economy in order to provide a conceptual model of the cause-and-effect relationships through neutrosophic cognitive mapping. Paper packaging machinery manufacturer Windmöller & Hölscher's representatives have been in-depth interviewed to gather their opinions. Since there are some relations that cannot be determined (i.e., existence of indeterminacy), neutrosophy became a necessity in this chapter. Delphi technique is implemented to obtain a single neutrosophic adjacency matrix. As a result, the sustainable supply chain structure based on environmental awareness and recycling has been modeled visually, and the causal relationships were determined.
An Adaptive eLearning Sequence Based on Neutrosophic Logic
Authors: Radwan Nouran M. , Hanna Wael K.
Published: March 2022

In recent years, e-learning has become a revolutionary competitive method. Adapting the content according to learner knowledge is a current challenge in e-learning systems. Currently, most of the e-learning systems evaluate the learner's knowledge level according to crisp responses that are taken during the learning process. Therefore, one of the most significant challenges in e-learning is how to improve the course adaptation in order to achieve high-quality interaction for all learners. Adaptation is an efficient way to help learners to learn their learning activities in easy and a suitable ways. However, there are many factors that lead to uncertainty about the learner evaluation process. This chapter presents a novel approach to handle imprecision, vagueness, ambiguity, and inconsistency in the learner evaluation process to recommend the suitable learning material according to the learner's knowledge level.
Application of Triangular Fuzzy Neutrosophic Number to an Effective Economic Order Quantity Model
Authors: Rajeswari S. , C. Sugapriya , Deivanayagam Pillai Nagarajan , Broumi Said , Smarandache Florentin
Published: March 2022

The advance payment of acquiring cost is mostly encouraged by both supplier and retailer in current situations. This chapter discusses the economic order quantity model with multiple payments of acquiring cost in advance at equal intervals. The current research examines two-warehouse economic order quantity model with imperfect items under neutrosophic environment by considering the proportion of defective product as triangular fuzzy neutrosophic number. An inventory model is framed, and the proposed model is formulated under triangular neutrosophic environment. The expected total profit and the optimal order quantity have been computed under both the crisp and the neutrosophic sense. De-neutrosophication of the proposed model has been done using expected value of triangular fuzzy neutrosophic number. The numerical illustration is analyzed in both crisp and neutrosophic situation along with the comparative studies. The sensitivity analysis is performed to show the effect of neutrosophication on defective rate along with the changes in parameters.
Neutrosophic TOPSIS Method for Sustainable Supplier Selection in a Discount Market Chain
Authors: Yapıcı Pehlivan Nimet , Yalçın Neşe
Published: March 2022

Sustainable supplier selection is one of the most important decisions for companies in sustainable supply chain management. Therefore, sustainable supplier performance evaluation and selection are of great importance in terms of economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainable development. Sustainable supplier selection problem can be considered as a multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. In the MCDM problems, decision-makers evaluate conflicting criteria and alternatives according to their own preferences/judgments. One of the most well-known MCDM methods is the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS). Neutrosophic set (NS) is an extension of fuzzy set where each element of the universe has the degrees of truth, indeterminacy, and falsity. A single-valued neutrosophic set (SVNS) is a special case of the neutrosophic set. This chapter aims to evaluate sustainable supplier selection in a Turkish discount market chain using the single-valued neutrosophic TOPSIS method based on normalized Euclidean and Hamming distances.
Forensic Accounting and Corporate Governance
Authors: Diab-Bahman Randa , Bahman Talal Abdullah
Published: March 2022

In this chapter, the necessity for compliance and corporate governance is discussed. It is essential to shine the limelight on these practices, and they are considered important for economic growth. Corporate governance is, in theory, a rather straightforward process with pre-determined policies and procedures. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that there are plenty of deficiencies in the way these procedures are being implemented. In fact, fraud is becoming more difficult to detect as strategies to fight corruption continue to be loosely implemented. Implications of conventional theory and traditional practices are discussed with an emphasis on today's standards, along with the objectivity of the underlying pillars of ethics, social norms, and personal values. The chapter highlights the importance of corporate governance and its added value to professional and social settings.
E-Commerce
Authors: Pinto de Lima Ana , Monteiro Nicolau Almeida
Published: March 2022

The age of market globalisation and on-line presence allows companies to improve their relations with customers as well as to establish more direct communication. The different shopping acts may be related to a person's utilitarian and hedonic values. A study carried out by Hootsuite revealed that clothing and beauty products were the most on-line bought items in Portugal in 2017. The study aims at understanding the motivations behind choosing on-line channels for buying those types of products, with a special emphasis on the different generations of buyers. The authors use an exploratory methodology based on an on-line survey with 280 responses. There is a stronger association between the utilitarian value and the intention to repeat a purchase than between the hedonic value and that intention. Generation X is more associated to the repurchase intention to repeat a purchase based on utilitarian values and Generation Z shows a stronger association between hedonic values and being a repeat customer.
A Case Study of Business Innovation Through Digital Technologies
Authors: Fan Qiuyan
Published: March 2022

This chapter provides a qualitative case study of Pinduoduo: China's fastest-growing e-commerce firm. As a disruptive organization entering the retail industry in 2015, Pinduoduo has become the third largest e-commerce platform in China. The spectacular success of the company has caught the attention of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors across the world. This study demonstrates that digital technologies have enabled Pinduoduo to develop innovative business model and establish closer and diverse links with partners and experiences with customers. The innovative business model and strategy of Pinduoduo are worth studying. This chapter aims to provide an understanding of the strategies that underpin the innovative business models of Pinduoduo and the impact of digital innovation and technologies on consumer's experiences. The research results demonstrate how Pinduoduo addresses the needs of overlooked customers in their market spaces through leveraging advanced digital technologies and innovating platform business models and developing digital ecosystems.
Digital Evolution in Brand Communication
Authors: Güven Esra
Published: March 2022

The developing technology and the changing world in this context have led to a digital transformation in the business world as well as individual and social lives. Such a transformation has also manifested itself in the marketing world, and traditional marketing has now begun to be replaced by digital marketing. This transformation, which manifests itself effectively in purchasing processes and consumer behaviour, has also started to stand out as a difference-making element in the competition of brands. In this chapter, the changes in digitalization and brand communication are discussed, and the basic tools and usage patterns used in digital marketing are detailed. In order to exemplify the digital transformation experienced in the marketing world, the effective marketing studies of Turkish Airlines and Toyota brands that attract attention in the digital world have been considered as two sample cases.
The Infamous “Like” Feature
Authors: Issa Helmi , Jabbouri Rachid
Published: March 2022

With the recent rise of excessive use of social media and its damaging effects, there is an urgent need to systematically recognize how users behave towards the “Like” button, which has been considered the most toxic feature on social media. To date, scholars know little about the neurophysiological responses of users towards the ‘Like’ feature despite its pervasiveness. Thus, through the lens of cybernetic theory, this research measured user behavior towards the “Like” feature by experimenting with two neuro tools (i.e., electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) and electroencephalography (EEG)). Sixteen participants, allocated within three separate groups, completed a simple experimental task of ‘’liking’’ content. Unexpectedly, the findings revealed that participants who frequently and infrequently received “Likes” shared similar biometrics (i.e., high neurophysiological activities). Furthermore, this research raised concerns over the underlying AI algorithms related to recommendation engines/systems.
A GIS-Based Spatial Variations Analysis of Water Quality in Domestic Wells in The Buttala Area, Sri Lanka
Authors: Wimalasena K. H. M. D. P. , Withanage W. K. N. C.
Published: March 2022

Water quality can be identified as the main agent of human health. Different approaches and techniques can be used to analyze groundwater quality. Among them, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is one of the approaches that can be utilized to analyze water quality levels in a spatial context and it provides more powerful tools that can be interpreted the spatial variation of the water quality parameters over the geographical space.Accordingly,the study was conducted to analyze spatial variations of the water quality in drinking wells in the Buttala Divisional Secretariat (DSD) which is an agricultural area in the dry zone.The methodological procedure is extremely important in this type of research thus, the spatial Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) procedure was used. Multi-criteria analysis has been widely applied to solve decision-making problems related to the environment, and natural resource management. In the study, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and MCDA integrated approach were used to visualize the spatial patterns of the water quality in the study area and to formulate the water quality index map.To generate the water quality index map, pH value, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), florid, and nitrate of 48 water samples were collected from the domestic well and tube wells from 10 Grama Niladari Divisions (GND) in Buttala DS.The ArcGIS 10.3 software was used for spatial analysis like Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) and kriging.The results revealed that 11.2% of the water of the drinking wells in the study area has a good fitness level, while 68.7% of wells show a moderate quality level. Out of the total samples is shown that 18.5% of wells had a poor-quality level, and 1.2%was found to be very poor for drinking purposes. And also, 0.4 % of the area is unsuitablefordrinking.The study shows that geospatial techniques are more effective for studying the water quality in any area in an accurate decision support tool.
A post-Jungian reading of the Book of Baruch
Authors: Kotzé Zacharias
Published: March 2022

It is often claimed that the use of depth psychology in the interpretation of ancient texts is irrelevant and methodologically unsound. Several typical Jungian archetypes, such as the shadow, the primordial mother, and the hero, were identified, interpreted and commented on from a post-Jungian perspective. The apocryphal Book of Baruch has typically been studied as a prime example of penitential prayer in the late Second Temple Period. In this study, the book was approached from the perspective of post-Jungian literary criticism. While Jungian literary criticism has become unfashionable as a result of Jung’s anti-feminist and anti-Semitic ideas, the usefulness of his theory to criticise itself was demonstrated. Although Jung’s work is haunted by racism, anti-feminism, and antisemitism, his work may still be useful for literary criticism from a psychological perspective.Contribution: The article demonstrated the value of the depth psychological approach to the interpretation of biblical material.
Clinical observation of local intervention combined with camrelizumab and apatinib in the treatment of metastatic soft-tissue sarcoma
Authors: Li Yan , Li Hai-Liang , Hu Hong-Tao , Shao Shan-Shan , Chen Cheng-Shi , Guo Chen-Yang , Zhao Yan , Yao Quan-Jun
Published: March 2022

Aims:

The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitor, local interventional therapy, and anti-angiogenic therapy in patients with metastatic soft-tissue sarcoma (mSTS).

Settings and Design:

We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of patients with mSTS who started treatment between September 2018 and June 2020 at our hospital.

Materials and Methods:

Overall, 33 patients with different subtypes of mSTS were included. Most primary tumors originated from the lungs, and the rest were scattered throughout the body. All patients were treated with camrelizumab combined with apatinib within 5 days of local interventional therapy using transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary end points were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and patient safety.

Results:

The median PFS, median overall survival (OS), ORR, and DCR were 8.8 months, 18.5 months, 36.4%, and 75.8%, respectively. Patients (n = 20) treated with RFA combined with TACE showed better responses than those treated with RFA alone (n = 13), with mPFS of 9.3 and 7.9 months (P = 0.044) and mOS of 19.0 and 16.2 months (P = 0.043), respectively. Patients (n = 8) with alveolar soft part sarcomas showed excellent efficacy, with ORR, DCR, mPFS, and mOS of 62.5%, 87.5%, 11.5 months, and 22.5 months, respectively. Grades 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 12 of 33 patients.

Conclusions:

Local intervention therapy combined with camrelizumab and apatinib is effective and safe for patients with mSTS and should be investigated in future clinical trials.
Airway stent placement for direct cricothyroid membrane puncture anesthesia with airway stricture or fistula
Authors: Chen Meng-Li , Li Hai-Liang , Hu Hong-Tao , Guo Chen-Yang , Yao Quan-Jun , Geng Xiang
Published: March 2022

Context:

Tracheal stent implantation with bronchoscope has become one of the main methods for the treatment of airway stenosis. Bronchoscopy is usually performed under local or general anesthesia.

Aims:

The aim of this study is to report our experience with direct cricothyroid membrane puncture anesthesia for airway stent placement.

Materials and Methods:

The medical records of 48 consecutive patients who underwent direct cricothyroid membrane puncture anesthesia for tracheal or bronchial stent placement were reviewed. The puncture site was chosen as the interspace between the thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage. Through the cricothyroid membrane, lidocaine was injected into the trachea to suppress the cough reflex. The airway stent was placed fluoroscopically at 48 patients at the trachea or bronchus. The success rate and complications of cricothyroid membrane puncture anesthesia were assessed.

Results:

Anesthesia was successfully performed in all 48 patients. Six patients needed 2–4 mL supplementary lidocaine by injection from the catheter or stent delivery system. Technical success of the stent insertion was achieved in all 48 cases. Small asymptomatic subcutaneous hemorrhage occurred at the puncture site in two patients, which disappeared 1 or 2 days after stent placement.

Conclusion:

Direct cricothyroid membrane puncture anesthesia for airway metal stent insertion is safe and effective.
Magnetic resonance-guided repeat biopsy of suspicious malignant lung lesions after an initial negative computed tomography-guided Biopsy
Authors: Yan Xing-Chang , Liu Ming , Li Pei-Pei , Guo Xiao-Tong , Xu Yu-Jun , He Xiang-Meng , Li Cheng-Li
Published: March 2022

Objective:

This study sought to establish the diagnostic utility of performing a second biopsy using an magnetic resonance (MR)-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) approach in patients with suspicious malignant lung lesions that had already undergone an initial negative computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy.

Materials and Methods:

This study evaluated 31 patients with suspicious lung lesions (18 males, 13 females; mean age: 62.1 ± 11.3 years) that had previously undergone CT-guided PTNB with negative pathological findings January 2015–November 2020. A final histopathological diagnosis was made based on resected lung lesion specimens or, when resection was not conducted, on clinical diagnosis following a ≥6-month follow-up. The diagnostic accuracy of MR-guided secondary lung biopsy was determined by comparing the lung biopsy results for each patient to their final diagnosis.

Results:

1.0T open MR-guided secondary lung biopsy was performed for 31 lesions (20 central, 11 peripheral; mean size, 5.3 ± 2.0 cm). The pathological results revealed 20/31 (64.5%) lesions to be malignant (14 adenocarcinoma, 4 squamous cell carcinoma, and 2 small-cell lung cancer) as detected by 1.0T open MR-guided PTNB and confirmed by surgical pathology and clinical follow-up. There were three instances of biopsy-induced complications including hemorrhage in 6.5% of the patients (2/31) and pneumothorax in 3.2% of the patients (1/31). No patients experienced severe complications.

Conclusion:

For individuals with clinically suspicious lung lesions that initially received negative CT-guided PTNB findings, 1.0T open MR-guided secondary lung biopsy is a safe and effective secondary diagnostic approach.
A phantom study using dual-energy spectral computed tomography imaging
Authors: Li Jun , Gao Jun , Wang Guangli , Cui Dingye , Deng Kai
Published: March 2022

Aims:

To assess the image quality of the two adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR and ASiR-V) algorithms for evaluating ground-glass nodules (GGNs) of the lung.

Subjects and Methods:

The chest phantom with ground-glass simulated pulmonary nodules was scanned by dual-energy spectral computed tomography (CT) using gemstone spectral imaging mode. The image was reconstructed with ASiR and ASiR-V from 0 (FBP) to 90% blending percentages, respectively. The average noise and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of reconstruction images were calculated. The data were statistically analyzed.

Results:

Compared with FBP, as the percentage of ASiR and ASiR-V increased from 10 to 90%, image noise reduced by 3.7%–45.2% and 14.1%–73.8%, respectively, and the SNR increased accordingly. There was significantly higher SNR value of ASiR-V images as the percentages of IR increased to 50% or greater, compared to those of ASiR. Subjective image quality scores of ASiR and ASiR-V improved significantly as percentage increased from 10 to 80% for ASiR and ASiR-V (peaked at 60% for both of them).

Conclusions:

Both ASiR and ASiR-V can reduce the image noise and improve the objective image quality for presenting pulmonary nodules on dual-energy spectral CT imaging compared with FBP. ASiR-V provided further image quality improvement than ASiR, and both ASiR and ASiR-V 60% had the highest image quality score.
The role of pyroptosis in lung cancer and compounds regulated pyroptosis of lung cancer cells
Authors: Tian Feng , Chen Xueyang , Yin Ke , Lin Xiaoyan , Song Yinghua
Published: March 2022

Pyroptosis is a caspase-1/3/4/5/8/11-mediated form of programmed cell death. It is primarily induced through two pathways – the canonical and noncanonical pathways. Following enzymatic cleavage, gasdermin D, a key substrate for pyroptosis, releases N-terminal fragments that form pores on the plasma membrane, triggering osmotic lysis, and eventually releases cytosolic material to trigger inflammatory responses. Various pyroptotic pathway mediators are involved in lung cancer initiation, proliferation, migration, and invasion, and an increasing number of anticancer compounds have been developed by regulating the pyroptotic pathway. This review aims to summarize recent progress in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis and the association between pyroptotic-related molecules and lung cancer. Moreover, we discussed more than 10 compounds that exerted antitumor properties by inducing pyroptosis of lung cancer cells.
A study on the antitumor effect of gemcitabine polybutylcy- anoacrylate nanoparticles coupled with Mucin 1 monoclonal antibody on pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Zhang Lin , Zhu Jianhua , Hou Yanhong , Li Chunmei , Liu Haorun
Published: March 2022

Context:

Previous studies have discovered a high expression rate of Mucin 1 (MUC1) in pancreatic cancer tissue, and its abnormal glycosylation causes MUC1 to expose new protein epitopes or glycoantigens.

Aims:

To investigate the therapeutic effect of drug-loaded gemcitabine polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles coupled with anti-human MUC1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) on human pancreatic cancer cell line and xenografts.

Settings and Design:

Randomized controlled trial.

Materials and Methods:

Gemcitabine-loaded nanospheres were prepared by emulsion polymerization; then, the anti-MUC1 mAb coupled with gemcitabine polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (MUC1-GEM-PBCA-NP) was prepared by chemical cross-linking. Cell-killing rates were detected by MTT assay in in vitro study, and changes in tumor cell cycle and apoptosis after treatment were detected by flow cytometry. Furthermore, in in vivo study, MUC1-GEM-PBCA-NP was injected into nude mice through the tail vein. Gemcitabine-loaded polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (GEM-PBCA-NP), gemcitabine bulk drug and empty nanoparticles (PBCA-NP), and normal saline blank control groups were established. Finally, data obtained were compared between groups.

Results:

Compared with the control group, the cell-killing rate of each experimental group was significantly different (P < 0.05) in in vitro study, among which the MUC1-GEM-PBCA-NP group was significantly higher than other groups (P < 0.05). In addition, the apoptosis rate of the MUC1-GEM-PBCA-NP treatment group was significantly higher than that of other groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in in vivo study, the tumor inhibition rate of the MUC1-GEM-PBCA-NP treatment group was (68.14% ±1.66%), which was significantly higher than other control groups (P < 0.05). Finally, at the end of the treatment, the average tumor mass of the MUC1-GEM-PBCA-NP treatment group was (471.61 mg ± 12.16 mg), which was significantly lower than those of other control groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

MUC1-GEM-PBCA-NP could have an excellent inhibitory effect on tumors; thus, requiring further study.
Extraforaminal lumbar herniated disc mimicking foraminal tumor
Authors: Avila Mauricio J. , Chua Richard V.
Published: March 2022

Herniated discs in the lumbar spine are common, however, extraforaminal disc herniations are less frequently encountered. Occasionally, rare disc herniations can mimic other pathologies such as nerve tumor. We present such case and a review of similar cases in the scientific literature. A 71-year-old male who presented with back pain and right-side sciatic pain. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a fusiform enhancing 3 cm × 2 cm lesion that was concerning for a nerve sheath tumor. A minimally invasive lateral trans-psoas approach was performed for a biopsy that revealed disc fragments and a full resection was performed. The patient's symptoms improved at follow-up. Although uncommon, extraforaminal disc herniations can be mistaken for peripheral nerve tumors on imaging. The spine surgeon should remain vigilant about these entities and plan the surgical treatment accordingly.
Cervical facet joint effusion
Authors: Kulkarni Arvind G. , Sagane Shrikant S.
Published: March 2022

Aims:

The aim of this study was to trace the association between cervical facet joint effusion and cervical degenerative spondylolisthesis (CDS). CDS has not received as much attention as its lumbar counterpart. Identification of features of instability on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial to avoid missing presence of CDS.

Materials and Methods:

The authors retrospectively reviewed cervical spine MRI scans and upright lateral flexion-extension radiographs of 17 consecutive patients at a single institution between January 2017 and June 2018 that revealed CDS. Presence of cervical facet joint effusion and CDS was recorded. Data were analyzed to deduce possibility of an association between cervical facet joint effusion and CDS.

Results:

Seventeen patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria of cervical spondylotic myelopathy associated with CDS. Out of these, 10 patients revealed facet joint effusion at C3-C4 (4 patients) and C4-C5 (6 patients) levels. The mean age of patients was 65.8 years (49–79) and M:F was 2.2:1. Amount of facet joint effusion varied and ranged from 1.6 mm to 4.7 mm on the axial images. Ten patients (58.82%) demonstrated facet joint effusion associated with mobile CDS. Seven patients (41.17%) with CDS and without facet effusion did not demonstrate mobility of more than 0.5 mm in flexion-extension radiographs.

Conclusion:

The current study acknowledges the association of “cervical facet effusion” and CDS. Clinically measurable facet joint effusion on MRI suggests the need for further attempts to diagnose CDS.
Complications of adult spinal deformity surgery
Authors: Akıntürk Nevhis , Zileli Mehmet , Yaman Onur
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

Adult spinal deformity incidence increases accordingly as the population ages. Even though surgery is the best option for the treatment, the complications due to surgery are pretty challenging. This study aims to review the complication rates of adult spinal deformity surgery.

Methods:

A literature review of the last decade was performed searching for the query “Adult spine deformity and complication.” This search yielded 2781 results, where 79 articles were chosen to investigate the complications of adult spinal deformity surgery. In addition, the demographic data, surgical interventions, and complications were extracted from the publications.

Results:

A total of 26,207 patients were analyzed, and 9138 complications were found (34.5%). Implant failure, including screw loosening, breakage, distal and proximal junctional kyphosis, were the most common complications. The neurologic complications were about 10.8%, and the infection rate was 3.6%. Cardiac and pulmonary complications were about 4.8%.

Discussion:

Age, body mass index, smoking, osteoporosis, and other comorbidities are the significant risk factors affecting adult spinal deformity surgery. Presurgical planning and preoperative risk factor assessment must be done to avoid complications. Furthermore, intra and postoperative complications affect the patients’ quality of life and length of stay, and hospital readmissions. Revision surgery also increases the risk of complications.

Conclusion:

Good patient evaluation before surgery and careful planning of the surgery are essential in avoiding complications of adult spinal deformity.