bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and forms of sexual dysfunctions in Egyptian men with epilepsy in Helwan
Authors: Abou Elmaaty Ali Ahmed , El Sherifi Saad Shawki , Elserafy Tamer Sabry , Ismael Ahmed Fawzi
Published: September 2023

Background

Although there is a striking impact of epilepsy on sexual functions, this issue is avoided by the patients, because they consider it as a taboo that brings much shame to the complainer and also largely ignored by physicians and neurologists who involved in epileptic patient management. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence and forms of sexual dysfunction (SD) in Egyptian men with epilepsy and relating this dysfunction to the type of epilepsy and the existing sex hormone disturbance.

Methods

We recruited seventy male epileptic patients on anti-seizure medications and seventy healthy males aged-matched control subjects. We assessed their sexual functions using IIEF-15.

Results

The prevalence of SD in epileptic patients in our study was as follows: erectile function (64.3%), sexual desire (45.7%), intercourse satisfaction (37.2%) and orgasmic function (15.7%). We found statistically significant lower IIEF scores in uncontrolled versus controlled epileptic patients, in spite that total and free testosterone were not statistically significantly different between the two groups. Although a lower IIEF score in focal versus generalized epilepsy was noticed, but only orgasmic function achieved statistical significance (P = 0.049). Our results exhibited no statistically significant difference as regard treatment therapy in relation to sexual function and hormonal plasma level.

Conclusions

A higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction was observed in the epileptic patients especially in those with uncontrolled seizures. For that reason, the issues related to sexual activity should be clarified by physicians how are involved in managing the patients suffering from epilepsy.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension: from concise history to current management
Authors: Adnyana I Made Oka , Indah Carolin Tiara Lestari
Published: September 2023

Background

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), known as benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) since the report of Quincke in 1893, was described as a rare disorder of elevated intracranial hypertension with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and without any pathology. This review describes the history, pathophysiology, management, and prognosis of IIH; hence, the clinician can provide treatment based on the known possible mechanisms.

Results

Headache and visual obscuration are the most typical reported manifestation of IIH. The pathophysiology remains unknown; however, some theories relate to its mechanism, including obesity and metabolic dysregulation. It was diagnosed based on Friedman's criteria diagnosis. The management of IIH, consisting of conservative (control body weight), medical treatment, and surgical treatment, aims to reduce the symptoms and maintain visual function.

Conclusion

The pathophysiology of IIH underlies the current approaches and management. The recurrences in 1–5 years are likely developed after treatment; thus, long-term follow-up needs to consider depending on the severity of visual loss, papilledema, and symptoms.
Resting state EEG as biomarker of cognitive training and physical activity’s joint effect in Parkinson’s patients with mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Trenado Carlos , Trauberg Paula , Elben Saskia , Dimenshteyn Karina , Folkerts Ann-Kristin , Witt Karsten , Weiss Daniel , Liepelt-Scarfone Inga , Kalbe Elke , Wojtecki Lars
Published: September 2023

Background

Cognitive decline is a major factor for the deterioration of the quality of life in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease (PD). Recently, it was reported that cognitive training (CT) in PD patients with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) led to an increase of physical activity (PA) accompanied by improved executive function (EF). Moreover, PA has been shown to alter positively brain function and cognitive abilities in PD. Both observations suggest an interaction between CT and PA.

Objectives

A previous multicenter (MC) study was slightly significant when considering independent effects of interventions (CT and PA) on EF. Here, we use MC constituent single center data that showed no effect of interventions on EF. Thus, this exploratory study considers pooling data from both interventions to gain insight into a recently reported interaction between CT and PA and provide a proof of principle for the usefulness of resting state EEG as a neurophysiological biomarker of joint intervention’s effect on EF and attention in PD-MCI.

Methods

Pre- and post-intervention resting state EEG and neuropsychological scores (EF and attention) were obtained from 19 PD-MCI patients (10 (CT) and 9 (PA)). We focused our EEG analysis on frontal cortical areas due to their relevance on cognitive function.

Results

We found a significant joint effect of interventions on EF and a trend on attention, as well as trends for the negative correlation between attention and theta power (pre), the positive correlation between EF and alpha power (post) and a significant negative relationship between attention and theta power over time (post-pre).

Conclusions

Our results support the role of theta and alpha power at frontal areas as a biomarker for the therapeutic joint effect of interventions.
Jang, Korean fermented soybean product, the result of endeavors of ancients for the best taste of Korean diet
Authors: Kim Soon-Hee , Ko Juyeon , Kwon Dae Young
Published: September 2023

Each ethnic group has developed a food culture that enjoys delicious food by consuming natural materials or agricultural products from their respective regions. Because soybeans originated in Korea and are abundant there, a way to make delicious soybeans has been developed. Jang is a food made by fermenting soybeans, and representative types include doenjang, gochujang, kanjang, and cheongkukjang. Koreans usually season their food with jangs instead of salt. The representative seasoning of Korea traditional food is jang and yangnyom. When soybeans are fermented, soybean proteins decompose and produce fermentation by-products such as peptides, amino acids, and organic acids that provide new taste and flavor. Therefore, seasoning with jang provides a much richer taste than salt alone. Jang is an essential element of Korean food, adding taste and flavor to other dishes. Since jang is the most important and widely used food in Korean cuisine, Koreans have devoted all their efforts to making jang. These efforts include cleaning the surrounding environment, hanging meju (the blocked soybean) under the roof to dry, using charcoal and red pepper, and more. From a modern scientific perspective, their earnest devotion served functions of hygiene, moisture control, microbial inoculation, and salt control. Jang is a unique Korean food culture born from the tireless efforts of Korean mothers to feed their families with the most delicious food possible, even during times of food scarcity when they had to survive on rough grass.
The mesocortical dopaminergic system cannot explain hyperactivity in an animal model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)- Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
Authors: Gungor Aydin Aysegul , Adiguzel Esat
Published: September 2023

Background

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders with morphological brain abnormalities. There is a growing body of evidence that abnormalities in the dopaminergic system may account for ADHD pathogenesis. However, it is not clear whether the dopaminergic system is hyper or hypoactive. To determine whether the DA neurons and/or axons deficiency might be the cause of the postulated dopaminergic hypofunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, animal model of ADHD), this study examined the dopaminergic neurons and fibers in the brain tissues of SHRs and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY, control animals). Here, we performed immunohistochemical tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) staining on brain sections collected on juveniles from SHR and WKY. Moreover, behavioral testing to examine the hyperactivity in the open field area was also elucidated.

Results

The mesocortical dopaminergic system appears to be normal in juvenile SHR, as suggested by (i) no alteration in the area density of TH-immunoreactive (TH-ir) dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), (ii) no alterations in the volume density of TH-ir fibers in layer I of the prelimbic (PrL) subregion of medial PFC (mPFC), (iii) no alteration in the percentage of TH-ir dopaminergic fibers in layer I of the PrL subregion of mPFC as revealed by TH and/or DBH immunoreactivity. Furthermore, the SHR showed increased locomotor activity than WKY in the open field test.

Conclusions

The demonstration of no alteration in mesocortical dopaminergic neurons and fiber in SHR raises some concern about the position of SHR as an animal model of the inattentive subtype of ADHD. However, these results strengthen this strain as an animal model of hyperactive/impulsive subtype ADHD for future studies that may elucidate the underlying mechanism mediating hyperactivity and test various treatment strategies.
Measuring circularity potential for medical waste management – a dynamic circularity performance analysis
Authors: Yang Chih-Kai , Ma Hwong-Wen , Yuan Mei-Hua
Published: September 2023

The global transition towards circular economy (CE) signifies a shift in industrial waste management objective from “expansion of recycling industry” to achieve “waste as resource”. The medical industry has attracted CE research attention the due to its significant waste generation and relatively slower progress towards CE, despite the substantial recycling potential identified by the WHO. Studies indicate that this can be attributed to the hazardous nature of medical waste and the prioritization of safety in waste treatment over potential economic and health co-benefits.

Recognizing the limitations of current waste management performance evaluation framework, this research introduces the dynamic circularity performance index, and further introduces the two new indicators of “recycling circularity (Rc)” and “real circularity performance”, in conjunction with “recycling rate”, to enable industry-specific sustainability assessment of waste management performance.

The case study on Taiwan medical waste management performance from 2014 to 2021 on the four identified medical waste categories confirms the limitations of assessing performance solely based on the quantity-based metric of “recycling rate”. For example, the significant decline in the recycling rate from 33.1% to only 12.2% between 2019 and 2020 might be interpreted as a drop in environmental performance. However, the increase in both overall recycling efficiency and total volume of waste recycled, as demonstrated by “circularity performance” and “real circularity performance” reveals a well-maintained resource recovery performance in coping with the stunning 327% increase in total waste generation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, while the “recyclable waste’ category exhibits a significant increasing in the recycling rate over the assessment period, the “Rc” results highlight a degradation in recycling efficiency.

The synergistic effect of the newly introduced indicators unveils several unique phenomena affecting the CE transition of the medical industry. These includes regulatory control, the single-use mindset, hazardous nature of the waste, the classification of waste, policy incentives and recycling capacity.

Further improvement can be made to expand the coverage to all life cycle stages and refine the method for determining the relative circularity of treatment performance. Such advancements can attribute to enhance waste management performance assessment and the development of effective CE transition strategies and policies.
Monocyte and macrophage function in respiratory viral infections
Authors: Arish Mohd , Sun Jie
Published: September 2023

Pulmonary macrophages, such as tissue-resident alveolar and interstitial macrophages and recruited monocyte-derived macrophages, are the major macrophages present in the lungs during homeostasis and diseased conditions. While tissue-resident macrophages act as sentinels of the alveolar space and play an important role in maintaining homeostasis and immune regulation, recruited macrophages accumulate in the respiratory tract after acute viral infections. Despite sharing similar anatomical niches, these macrophages are distinct in terms of their origins, surface marker expression, and transcriptional profiles, which impart macrophages with distinguished characteristics in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. In this review, we summarize the current view on these macrophage populations, their shared functions, and what makes them distinct from each other in the context of homeostasis and respiratory viral infections.
Five-Year Overall Survival Analysis of the JIPANG Study: Pemetrexed or Vinorelbine Plus Cisplatin for Resected Stage II-IIIA Nonsquamous Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Kenmotsu Hirotsugu , Yamamoto Nobuyuki , Misumi Toshihiro , Yoh Kiyotaka , Saito Haruhiro , Sugawara Shunichi , Yamazaki Koji , Nakagawa Kazuhiko , Sugio Kenji , Seto Takashi , Toyooka Shinichi , Date Hiroshi , Mitsudomi Tetsuya , Okamoto Isamu , Yokoi Kohei , Saka Hideo , Okamoto Hiroaki , Takiguchi Yuichi , Takahashi Toshiaki , Tsuboi Masahiro
Published: September 2023

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.

The JIPANG study is an open-label phase III trial evaluating the efficacy of pemetrexed plus cisplatin (PemP) versus vinorelbine plus cisplatin (NP) as adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II-IIIA nonsquamous non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we report the long follow-up overall survival (OS) data. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive either PemP or NP. The primary end point was recurrence-free survival (RFS), and the secondary end point included OS. This analysis was performed using data collected 5 years after the last patient enrollment. Among 804 patients enrolled, 783 patients were eligible (384 for NP and 389 for PemP). The updated median RFS was 37.5 months in the NP arm and 43.4 months in the PemP arm with a hazard ratio of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.79 to 1.14). At a median follow-up of 77.3 months, the OS rates at 3 and 5 years were 84.1% and 75.6% versus 87.0% and 75.0% with a hazard ratio of 1.04 (95% CI, 0.81 to 1.34). This long-term follow-up analysis showed that PemP had similar efficacy to NP in both RFS and OS for this population, with one of the longest OS data compared with the historical data.
Parent Penalty: Parental Leave Experiences of Trainees and Early-Career Faculty in Oncology Subspecialties
Authors: Malapati Sindhu Janarthanam , Idossa Dame , Singh Sunny R.K. , Wei Zihan , Kiel Lauren , Chino Fumiko , Patel Monica Arun , Bruno Ximena Jordan , Florez Narjust
Published: September 2023

Oncology trainee/early-career faculty survey shows inadequate parental leave/lactation policies #parentpenalty
rasa1-related arteriovenous malformation is driven by aberrant venous signalling
Authors: Greysson-Wong Jasper , Rode Rachael , Ryu Jae-Ryeon , Chan Jo Li , Davari Paniz , Rinker Kristina D. , Childs Sarah J.
Published: September 2023

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) develop where abnormal endothelial signalling allows direct connections between arteries and veins. Mutations in RASA1, a Ras GTPase activating protein, lead to AVMs in humans and, as we show, in zebrafish rasa1 mutants. rasa1 mutants develop cavernous AVMs that subsume part of the dorsal aorta and multiple veins in the caudal venous plexus (CVP) – a venous vascular bed. The AVMs progressively enlarge and fill with slow-flowing blood. We show that the AVM results in both higher minimum and maximum flow velocities, resulting in increased pulsatility in the aorta and decreased pulsatility in the vein. These hemodynamic changes correlate with reduced expression of the flow-responsive transcription factor klf2a. Remodelling of the CVP is impaired with an excess of intraluminal pillars, which is a sign of incomplete intussusceptive angiogenesis. Mechanistically, we show that the AVM arises from ectopic activation of MEK/ERK in the vein of rasa1 mutants, and that cell size is also increased in the vein. Blocking MEK/ERK signalling prevents AVM initiation in mutants. Alterations in venous MEK/ERK therefore drive the initiation of rasa1 AVMs.
HAPI Fit: An Exercise Intervention to Improve Peak Aerobic Capacity in Young Adults Born Very Preterm
Authors: Bastien Tardif Camille , Mathieu Marie-Eve , Caru Maxime , Al-Simaani Amy , Girard-Bock Camille , Cloutier Anik , Stickland Mickael K. , Nuyt Anne Monique , Luu Thuy Mai
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Individuals born preterm have reduced aerobic capacity, which could be related to impaired organ development. Their capacity to improve aerobic capacity with exercise training could therefore be limited but this remains unknown. We aimed to test an exercise intervention to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in adults born preterm.

Methods

21 very preterm and 37 full-term individuals, aged 18-33 years, took part in a 14-week supervised exercise intervention of cardiovascular, resistance and flexibility training (2 groups and 1 individual sessions/week). Adherence and compliance to intervention was recorded. Primary outcome was change in peak oxygen consumption (peak

O2) measured pre- and post-intervention. Within and between-groups differences were estimated using non-parametric tests.

Results

Of 219 eligible individuals, 58 were enrolled and 14 participants dropped out over the course of the intervention. Among the 44 who completed the intervention, mean adherence was 82% and 66% for group and individual sessions, respectively. Compliance with training requirement varied between 71-100%. There was no difference in adherence between the preterm and full-term groups. Because only one preterm male met adherence criteria, subsequent analyses were done exclusively on females. Both the term and preterm groups achieved higher peak

O2 following the intervention [term = +4.2 (standard deviation 4.3) mL·min-1·kg-1, P < 0.01; preterm = +4.7 (2.9) mL·min-1·kg-1, P < 0.01]. There was no between-group difference in the response to the intervention (P = 0.729).

Conclusions

Recruitment and adherence to an exercise intervention are challenging. Results could indicate improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness in young women born preterm following current exercise program. Adaptation of this intervention is needed for wider uptake.
Psicologia 24 horas nas UTIs: uma herança pós-pandemia de COVID-19?
Authors: Barros Gabriel Martins de , Bonfim Cinthya Leal
Published: September 2023

A psicologia desempenha um papel essencial na UTI, fornecendo suporte emocional aos pacientes e suas famílias. A presença contínua de profissionais de psicologia tem evoluído ao longo dos anos e foi enfatizada durante a pandemia de COVID-19, com um enfoque especial ao cuidado da saúde mental. A implementação de um regime de plantão 24 horas de psicólogos na UTI poderia ser uma herança positiva, garantindo um atendimento personalizado e a detecção precoce de sofrimento psicológico. Essa abordagem também beneficiaria os profissionais de saúde, com diminuição de sobrecarga.
Case Report: Non-convulsive seizure following traumatic brain injury — a significant occurrence that needs to be considered due to potential long-term sequelae
Authors: Zafar Azra
Published: September 2023

Introduction/background

Non convulsive seizures (NCS) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) may remain undiagnosed due to lack of overt clinical manifestation and can have long-term sequelae due to delay in timely treatment. Occurrence of early NCS is known to have subsequent neurologic sequelae due to excitotoxic neuronal injury.

Case report

This is a case report of a young girl who sustained a TBI due to a motor vehicle accident (MVA) and was admitted with a fluctuating level of consciousness. Her clinical presentation was attributed to TBI; however as her conscious level did not recover, an electroencephalogram (EEG) was requested, which detected non convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). Anti-seizure medication (ASM) was started. Her follow-up EEG and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were suggestive of the potential adverse effects of prolonged NCSE.

Conclusion

NCS may remain undiagnosed in TBI due to a paucity of overt clinical manifestations. Every patient with TBI and altered consciousness at presentation should be evaluated by EEG immediately, if possible, in the emergency department to avoid long-term sequelae of NCS in such cases.
A qualitative exploration of advantages and disadvantages to using technology in the process of randomised controlled trial recruitment
Authors: Muldowney Lauren A. , Hynes Sinéad M. , Oglesby Megan , Dwyer Christopher P.
Published: September 2023

Background: Despite its importance, recruiting a sufficient sample size for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) can pose a significant challenge, which has real-world impact on reliability of evidence, trial completion and ultimately, patient care. Technology has potential to enhance the recruitment process, but there is a lack of evidence regarding its current use and effectiveness. Consistent with findings from the PRioRiTy I study, the current research aims to explore the advantages and disadvantages to using technology during the recruitment process for RCTs.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews (n=7) were conducted with researchers involved in RCT recruitment in Ireland. Subsequently, a Public & Patient Involvement (PPI) panel focus group (n=3) was conducted to add further depth to these findings. The data were qualitatively analysed through ‘Reflexive Thematic Analysis’ to extract prominent themes.

Results: A superordinate theme arose: ‘Tech is just a medium so that you can reach more people’, along with two themes, which were corroborated by the PPI focus group: ‘Technology is used if and when the benefits outweigh the costs’ and ‘Success of recruitment through technology depends on the nature of the study.’

Conclusions: This study provided a deeper understanding of the factors which influence researchers to employ technology in recruitment for RCTs. Implications suggest that future researchers should aim to adapt their recruitment approaches to meet digital tool preferences of their target cohort; and engage with patient groups in the community to allow networking opportunities for future studies. This research may contribute towards maximising efficiency in RCT recruitment.
Sport for All
Authors: Gooding Richard
Published: September 2023

The ‘skateboard’ chassis isn't necessarily right for every EV. E&HVTI investigates how WAE's new modular concept has been designed to accelerate the development of high performance sports cars
First Principles
Authors: Doyle Wesley
Published: September 2023

Hazim Nada is the man behind Italy's new ultra-premium electric vehicle brand, Aehra. He tells us that despite electrification offering manufacturers the opportunity to rewrite the automotive design rulebook, many choose not to, and why Aehra is different.
Electrifying an Icon
Authors: Fortune Kyle
Published: September 2023

Mercedes Benz is set to reveal its production-spec electric G-Class EQG in 2024, reinforcing its commitment to electrification. Before that, we get a first look at the vehicle as we go along for an off-road ride with engineers testing the prototype
Clean-Up Operation
Authors: Challen John
Published: September 2023

Lunaz burst onto the scene with conversions of classic passenger cars to EV. Now, it has set its sights on a very different area of the transport industry
Show Your Workings
Authors: Wordsworth Saul
Published: September 2023

CATERPILLAR BROKE ITS TRADITIONAL PROTOTYPE SILENCE AND BOTH DISPLAYED AND DISCUSSED ITS NEW 19-TONNE BATTERY ELECTRIC MEDIUM WHEEL LOADER, AT BAUMA MUNICH
ANADOLU SAHASI TÜRK HALK ŞİİRİNDE TURNA: DERDİÇOK ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: ÖZÇELİK Bedri
Published: September 2023

Orta Asya’da avcılık ve hayvancılıkla yaşamını sürdüren göçer-evli Türkler tarafından temeli atılan, Türk irfanının kültür miraslarından biri kabul edilen Anadolu sahası Türk halk şiiri, bu coğrafyada varlığını sürdüren kültürün, maddi ve manevi değerlerini nesilden nesile taşıyan, halkın güzellik anlayışını yansıtan edebi varlıklardan biridir. İnsan hayatının merkezinde yer alan tabiat, Türk halk şiir geleneğinin oluşumunda ve şekillenmesinde etkili olmuştur. Tabiatın asıl ve doğal unsurlarından olan hayvanlar, insanoğlunun kadim çağlarından beri en belirgin kültür dinamiklerinden kabul edilmiştir. Hayvanlar âleminde yer alan, kuş türlerinden biri olan ve Türk edebiyatının birçok alanında çağrışım sembolü olarak kabul edilen turna da Anadolu sahası Türk halk şiirinde yaygın bir motif olarak ele alınmış ve işlenmiştir. Anadolu insanının duygu, düşünce ve zevk anlayışını yansıtan Türk halk şiirinde turna motifinin bir imge şeklinde yer alışı ve Derdiçok’un turna motifli şiir örnekleri bu çalışmanın konusunu oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmanın amacı; bu coğrafyada meydana gelen, gelişen, olgunlaşan Türk halk şiirinde ve âşık tarzı Türk halk şiir geleneğinin tanınmış temsilcilerinden biri kabul edilen Derdiçok’un şiirlerinde turnanın, hangi özellikleriyle nasıl yer aldığının tespitini yapmak ve bu metinleri yorumlayarak alana katkı sağlamaktır. Çalışmada, Türk halk şiir geleneğinin çeşitli nazım şekil ve türlerinde, turnanın; güzelliği, sevgiliye benzeyen yönleri ve haber getirme-götürme nitelikleriyle ele alındığı tespit edilmiştir. Bunun yanında Afşin-Elbistan Kültür Havzası’nda XIX. yüzyılın son ve XX. yüzyılın ilk çeyreğinde yaşamış olan Derdiçok’un hayatı hakkında bilgiler verilmiş ve onun turna motifli şiirlerinin içerik analizi yapılmıştır. Neticede Derdiçok’un şiirlerinde de turnanın; Anadolu sahası Türk halk şiirindeki özellikleriyle yer aldığı görülmüş, aynı zamanda turnanın düşmanlarına karşı uyanık olması için şairin turnalara öğüt verdiği didaktik şiirleri ile onlarla dertleştiği söyleşme türü şiirleri tespit edilmiş ve onun turna motifli bütün şiir metinleri tahlil edilmiştir.
İSTANBUL TÜRBELER MÜZESİ’NDE BULUNAN BİR GRUP ŞİFA TASI
Authors: ALLAK Fırat
Published: September 2023

Tarih boyunca her toplum günlük yaşamın getirdiği farklı etkilerden korunmanın yollarını aramıştır. Böylece geleneksel inançlara bağlı olarak oluşturulmuş korunma şekiller ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu korunma şekilleri arasında en yaygın olanı şifa taslarıdır. Şifa tasları çeşitli hastalık ve sıkıntılardan kurtulmak için üzerine yazılan ayet, sayı ve harf vefkleri ile ikonografik anlamlar yüklenen çeşitli sembollerle bezenmiş küçük sanat eserleridir. Şifa tasları malzeme, süsleme ve nitelik gibi özellikleri itibariyle sanat tarihi kapsamı içerisinde değerlendirilmesinin yanı sıra dua, ayet, motif özellikleri göz önüne alındığında halk inancını yansıtması bakımından aynı zamanda halk bilimi disiplini içerisinde de önemli bir yer teşkil etmektedir. Şifa tasları bu açıdan bakıldığında bize sadece madeni eserler hakkında maddi ve somut bilgiler sunmaktan ziyade birçok kültürel, geleneksel özellikler barındırması ve insanların inanç sistemi ile bir geleneği anlatan özellikler sergilemesi yönünden de bir hayli ilginç ve farklı bir eser grubu olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır.

Bu çalışmada, İstanbul Türbeler Müzesi’nde bulunan bir grup şifa tası sanat tarihi disiplini çerçevesinde incelenmiştir. Maden sanatı içerisinde önemli bir yere sahip olan bu kapların üzerindeki dualar okunarak taslardaki ayetler ve süslemeler değerlendirilmeye çalışılmıştır. Ağırlıklı olarak pirinç madeninden döküm tekniği ile üretilen şifa taslarının özellikle Türk İslam sanatı içerisindeki yeri üzerinde durulmuştur.
Treatment of proximal humeral fractures accompanied by medial calcar fractures using fibular autografts: A retrospective, comparative cohort study
Authors: Liu Na , Wang Bing-Gang , Zhang Li-Feng
Published: September 2023

In recent years, metabolomics research has become a hot spot in the screening and treatment of cancer. It is a popular technique for the quantitative characterization of small molecular compounds in biological cells, tissues, organs or organisms. Further study of the tumor revealed that amino acid changes may occur early in the tumor. The rapid growth and metabolism required for survival result in tumors exhibiting an increased demand for amino acids. An abundant supply of amino acids is important for cancer to maintain its proliferative driving force. Changes in amino acid metabolism can be used to screen malignant tumors and improve therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, it is particularly important to study the characteristics of amino acid metabolism in colorectal cancer. This article reviews several specific amino acid metabolism characteristics in colorectal cancer.
Removal of a pulmonary artery foreign body during pulse ablation in a patient with atrial fibrillation: A case report
Authors: Yan Rui , Lei Xin-Yu , Li Jun , Jia Liang-Liang , Wang Hai-Xiong
Published: September 2023

In recent years, metabolomics research has become a hot spot in the screening and treatment of cancer. It is a popular technique for the quantitative characterization of small molecular compounds in biological cells, tissues, organs or organisms. Further study of the tumor revealed that amino acid changes may occur early in the tumor. The rapid growth and metabolism required for survival result in tumors exhibiting an increased demand for amino acids. An abundant supply of amino acids is important for cancer to maintain its proliferative driving force. Changes in amino acid metabolism can be used to screen malignant tumors and improve therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, it is particularly important to study the characteristics of amino acid metabolism in colorectal cancer. This article reviews several specific amino acid metabolism characteristics in colorectal cancer.
Revisiting Abolition and the Power of "We"
Authors: Carpenter Olivia
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Writing in 2021, as a follow up to the Summer 2020 Special Issue, "Scholarship in a Time of Crisis," I revisit the work of the pronoun "we" in official statements on Black Lives Matter now that the many academic institutions, major corporations, non-profits, small businesses, volunteer groups, social clubs, and Instagram accounts that penned some variation of the statement "We affirm that Black Lives Matter" have largely moved on to other priorities. I contend that 2021, much like 2020, contained several uncanny echoes of the abolition politics of the eighteenth century. The subject position "we" remains slippery and problematic—perhaps even more than in 2020—despite or perhaps because of apparent victories such as Derek Chauvin's conviction for the murder of George Floyd. I discuss the key ways this court case echoes the legal and political contexts of the late eighteenth-century abolition movement before pivoting to a reflection on eighteenth-century Black resistance, grassroots antiracist efforts, and some key takeaways for today's academics.
From Rights to Beliefs: The Geopolitics of Securitising AIDS
Authors: Kearns Gerry , Tucker Andrew
Published: September 2023

This essay extends research on the relationships between human security, biopolitics and geopolitics by examining the securitisation of HIV/AIDS. Taking the geopolitical moment of the end of the Cold War, we put forward two competing framings of AIDS as a geopolitical concern. One of these was liberal multiculturalism via an acceptance of a multilateral rights-based international framework, while the other was a form of unipolar colonialism whereby global governance was based on a subset of US national values. We then critically engage with both in relation to the development of international AIDS policies throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s. We conclude by reflecting on the wide-ranging implications of these pathways today.
Estimating refractive index of thin-film alloys of Cu, Ag, and Au by extension from those of the main metal
Authors: Ding Tevin , Lin Daniel , Ding Guowen
Published: September 2023

Due to dependence of nanostructural material properties on the deposition conditions, the refractive index (RI) of a thin-metal alloy can vary by over 100×. For a more accurate RI estimation of thin-film alloys under a specific deposition condition, a model of RI for untested alloys is derived by extension from the alloy’s main element properties. One of the key derivations is to simplify RI polynomial equations into monomial expressions through four assumptions. Thus, a ratio method can accurately predict the RI of thin-film alloys from the properties of their main metals under the same deposition condition. The model is valid in the red to infrared spectrum for thin-film alloys MX where M is one of copper, silver, or gold and X is one or more elements with total concentration <10%.
High-speed information reconciliation with syndrome-based early termination for continuous-variable quantum key distribution
Authors: Zhang Kun , Hou Jia , Jiang Xue-Qin , Bai Enjian , Huang Peng , Zeng Guihua
Published: September 2023

Information reconciliation (IR) is an indispensable component in the post-processing stage of continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD), which adopts error-correcting codes to address the asymmetry of secret keys. Currently, low-density parity-check (LDPC) decoding in IR is a post-processing bottleneck in high-speed CV-QKD systems since the upper bound on secret key rate is higher than the information throughput delivered by decoder. In this paper, we study the relationship between the syndrome variation pattern (SVP) in iterative decoding and reconciliation frame error rate. An early termination scheme based on SVP is proposed and applied to multidimensional reconciliation, which can increase information throughput by adaptively adjusting the iteration number of iterative decoding to real-time decoding status. Furthermore, we show that only the resulting syndrome of the highest-rate code part in Raptor-like LDPC codes needs to be calculated to verify whether the reconciliation is successful by studying the convergency of resulting syndrome, which can save a large fraction of computational resources for syndrome calculation. Simulation results show that information throughput of the proposed scheme can be improved by 617.1% compared to the existing scheme when the IR efficiency reaches 97.09%. The proposed scheme points out a new direction for breaking the post-processing bottleneck in high-speed CV-QKD systems.
Highly localized continuous wave optical vortex with controllable orbital angular momentum orientation and topological charge
Authors: Zeng Yongxi , Chen Jian , Teng Houan , Mo Dewei , Wu Pinghui , Chen Musheng , Yu Yanzhong , Zhan Qiwen
Published: September 2023

We report an approach to simultaneously control orbital angular momentum (OAM) orientation and topological charge in highly localized optical vortices by employing a 4π focusing system. The required continuous wave illumination field in the pupil planes is derived by superimposing the radiation pattern of only one dipole placed at the focal point of the high numerical aperture lens and the corresponding tailored spiral phase factor. The topological charge and OAM orientation of the obtained focused fields are quantitatively evaluated based on the focal field distributions calculated by the Richards-Wolf vector diffraction integration theory. Results show that the OAM of the generated optical vortices can be tailored by changing the oscillation orientation of the mimic dipole and the topological charge of the superimposed spiral phase term. The presented method may find potential applications in optical trapping, optical tweezers, light-matter interaction, etc.
Two-stage equalization for ultra-fast RSOP and inter symbol interference compensation based on a simplified Kalman filter
Authors: Lian Weihua , Tong Fei , Li Wei , Yu Shaohua , Hu Kaijing , Luo Ming , Hu Qianggao , Jiang Yi , Huang Liyan
Published: September 2023

We propose a two-stage equalization based on a simplified Kalman filter, which is used to solve the rapid rotation of the state of polarization (RSOP) that is caused by lightning strikes on optical cables and the extra inter symbol interference (ISI) introduced in the system. By analyzing the special expression of matrix coefficient in the Kalman filter under polarization demultiplexing, the simplified idea of a Kalman filter is provided, and its updating process is transformed into a kind of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) structure algorithm. At the same time, the second stage finite impulse response filter is used to solve the ISI that is difficult to be solved by a Kalman filter. The performance of the proposed algorithm was tested in a coherent system of 28Gbaud PDM-QPSK/16QAM. The results confirm that on the basis of lower complexity than a Kalman filter, the proposed algorithm reduces its complexity by more than 30% compared to traditional MIMO equalization algorithm under the premise of linear operation, and which also can handle RSOP of 20 Mrad/s. When the system suffers from the extra ISI due to the limited device bandwidth, the optical signal to noise ratio of the proposed algorithm is about 4 dB lower than the Kalman filter at the same bit error rate.
Optical-fiber-integrated high-speed organic phototransistor with broadband imaging capacity
Authors: Zheng Xialian , Du Qianqian , Zhao Jing , Li Mengru , Liu Qing , Ling Fengzhe , Zhang Yanxun , Wang Wenjun , Wang Fengqiu , Qin Shuchao
Published: September 2023

Fiber optic communication is becoming the central pillar of modern high-speed communication technology, which involves the abundant fiber components. Currently, most of photodetectors are fabricated on the silicon chip, so mass fiber-to-chip interfaces increase the complexity of advanced optoelectronic system, and also grow the risk of optical information loss. Here, we report an all-fiber organic phototransistor by employing rubrene single crystal and few-layer graphene to realize the “plug-to-play” operation. The device shows a broadband photoresponse from the ultraviolet to visible range, with fast response times of approximately 130/170 µs and reasonable specific detectivity of 6 × 109 Jones, which is close to the level of commercial on-chip device. Finally, several imaging applications are successfully demonstrated by deploying this all-fiber device. Our work provided an efficient strategy for fabricating all-fiber organic devices, and confirmed their significant potential in future optical fiber optoelectronics.
The human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus can produce the highest known number of meiotic crossovers
Authors: Auxier Ben , Debets Alfons J. M. , Stanford Felicia Adelina , Rhodes Johanna , Becker Frank M. , Reyes Marquez Francisca , Nijland Reindert , Dyer Paul S. , Fisher Matthew C. , van den Heuvel Joost , Snelders Eveline
Published: September 2023

Sexual reproduction involving meiosis is essential in most eukaryotes. This produces offspring with novel genotypes, both by segregation of parental chromosomes as well as crossovers between homologous chromosomes. A sexual cycle for the opportunistic human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is known, but the genetic consequences of meiosis have remained unknown. Among other Aspergilli, it is known that A. flavus has a moderately high recombination rate with an average of 4.2 crossovers per chromosome pair, whereas A. nidulans has in contrast a higher rate with 9.3 crossovers per chromosome pair. Here, we show in a cross between A. fumigatus strains that they produce an average of 29.9 crossovers per chromosome pair and large variation in total map length across additional strain crosses. This rate of crossovers per chromosome is more than twice that seen for any known organism, which we discuss in relation to other genetic model systems. We validate this high rate of crossovers through mapping of resistance to the laboratory antifungal acriflavine by using standing variation in an undescribed ABC efflux transporter. We then demonstrate that this rate of crossovers is sufficient to produce one of the common multidrug resistant haplotypes found in the cyp51A gene (TR34/L98H) in crosses among parents harboring either of 2 nearby genetic variants, possibly explaining the early spread of such haplotypes. Our results suggest that genomic studies in this species should reassess common assumptions about linkage between genetic regions. The finding of an unparalleled crossover rate in A. fumigatus provides opportunities to understand why these rates are not generally higher in other eukaryotes.
Estimating HIV incidence over a decade in Zimbabwe: A comparison of the catalytic and Farrington models
Authors: Birri Makota Rutendo Beauty , Musenge Eustasius
Published: September 2023

Over the years, numerous modelling studies have been proposed to estimate HIV incidence. As a result, this study aimed to evaluate two alternative methods for predicting HIV incidence in Zimbabwe between 2005 and 2015. We estimated HIV incidence from seroprevalence data using the catalytic and Farrington-2-parameter models. Data were obtained from 2005–06, 2010–11, and 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS). These models were validated at the micro and macro-level using community-based cohort incidence and empirical estimates from UNAIDS EPP/SPECTRUM, respectively. The HIV incidence for the catalytic model was 0.32% (CI: 0.28%, 0.36%), 0.36% (CI: 0.33%, 0.39%), and 0.28% (CI: 0.26%, 0.30%), for the years 2005–06, 2010–11, and 2015, respectively. The HIV incidence for the Farrington model was 0.21% (CI: 0.16%, 0.26%), 0.22% (CI: 0.20%, 0.25%), and 0.19% (CI: 0.16%, 0.22%), for the years 2005–06, 2010–11, and 2015, respectively. According to these findings, the catalytic model estimated a higher HIV incidence rate than the Farrington model. Compared to cohort estimates, the estimates were within the observed 95% confidence interval, with 88% and 75% agreement for the catalytic and Farrington models, respectively. The limits of agreement observed in the Bland-Altman plot were narrow for all plots, indicating that our model estimates were comparable to cohort estimates. Compared to UNAIDS estimates, the catalytic model predicted a progressive increase in HIV incidence for males throughout all survey years. Without a doubt, HIV incidence declined with each subsequent survey year for all models. To improve programmatic and policy decisions in the national HIV response, we recommend the triangulation of multiple methods for incidence estimation and interpretation of results. Multiple estimating approaches should be considered to reduce uncertainty in the estimations from various models.
Scale-up costs and societal benefits of psychological interventions for alcohol use and depressive disorders in India
Authors: Zadey Siddhesh
Published: September 2023

There is growing evidence for cost-effective psychological interventions by lay health workers for managing mental health problems. In India, Counseling for Alcohol Problems (CAP) and Healthy Activity Program (HAP) have been shown to have sustained cost-effectiveness for improving harmful alcohol use among males and depression remission among both sexes, respectively. We conducted a retrospective analysis of annual costs and economic benefits of CAP and HAP national scale-up with 2019 as the baseline. The CAP and HAP per capita integration costs were obtained from original studies, prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years for alcohol use disorders (AUD) and depressive disorders for 20–64 years old males and females from Global Burden of Disease study, and treatment gaps from National Mental Health Survey. We calculated three outcomes: 1) Programmatic scale-up costs for covering total or unmet needs. 2) Societal benefits from averted disease burden using human capital and value of life-year approaches. 3) Combinations of net benefits as differences between societal benefits and scale-up costs. Values were transformed to 2019 international dollars. CAP scale-up costs ranged from Int$ 2.03 (95%UI: 1.67, 2.44) billion to Int$ 6.34 (5.21, 7.61) billion while HAP ones ranged from Int$ 6.85 (5.61, 8.12) billion to Int$ 23.21 (19.03, 27.52) billion. Societal benefits due to averted AUD burden ranged from Int$ 11.51 (8.75, 14.90) billion to Int$ 38.73 (29.43, 50.11) billion and those due to averted depression burden ranged from Int$ 30.89 (20.77, 43.32) billion to Int$ 105.27 (70.78, 147.61) billion. All scenarios showed net positive benefits for CAP (Int$ 6.05–36.38 billion) and HAP (Int$ 11.12–93.50 billion) scale-up. The novel national-level scale-up estimates have actionable implications for mental health financing in India.
Self-reported diabetes or hypertension diagnoses and antenatal care among child-bearing women in rural Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Bear Allyson P. , Bennett Wendy L. , Katz Joanne , Lee Kyu Han , Chowdhury Atique Iqbal , Bari Sanwarul , El Arifeen Shams , Gurley Emily S.
Published: September 2023

Health care systems in low- and middle-income countries may not meet the needs of pregnant women where the burden of diabetes and hypertension is rapidly increasing. We asked recently pregnant women about ever having been screened for or diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes and their ANC-seeking experiences in a cross-sectional survey. We used chi-squared tests and logistic regression to test the associations between self-reported coverage of hypertension and diabetes screening, diagnoses, and elements of ANC by age, wealth, educational attainment, and gravidity. Among 4,692 respondents, for hypertension, 97% reported having been screened and 10% of screened women reported a diagnosis. Women 30–39 years of age (aOR 3.02, 95% CI 2.00, 4.56) or in the top wealth quintile (aOR 1.70, 95% CI 1.18, 2.44) were more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension compared to reference groups. Any hypertension diagnosis was associated with reporting four or more antenatal care contacts (44% vs. 35%, p < 0.01), blood pressure measurements (85% vs. 79%, p < 0.01), and urine tests (71% vs. 61%, p < 0.01) conducted during ANC visits. For diabetes, 46% of respondents reported having been screened and 3% of screened women reported a diagnosis. Women 30–39 years of age were more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes (aOR 8.19, 95% CI 1.74, 38.48) compared to the reference group. Any diabetes diagnosis was associated with reporting four or more ANC contacts (48% vs. 36%, p = 0.04) and having blood testing during pregnancy (83% vs. 66%, p < 0.01). However, the frequency and quality of ANC was below the national guidelines among all groups. Focused efforts to ensure that women receive the recommended number of ANC contacts, coupled with improved compliance with ANC guidelines, would improve awareness of hypertension and diabetes among women in Bangladesh.