bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Placental disposition of cannabidiol: An ex vivo perfusion study
Authors: Berman Erez , Erenburg Natalia , Beloosesky Ron , Eyal Sara , Kovo Michal
Published: October 2023

Objective

In the absence of safety data in humans, the use of cannabidiol (CBD) is not recommended during pregnancy. Yet >50% of pregnancies in women with epilepsy are unintended, making fetal exposure to CBD possible. As a small‐molecule, highly lipid‐soluble drug, CBD is likely to be distributed into the placenta and cross it. To estimate the placental distribution profile of CBD and its potential short‐term placental effects, we conducted an ex vivo perfusion study in human placentas.

Methods

Placentas were obtained from healthy women undergoing cesarean deliveries. Selected cotyledons were cannulated and perfused for 180 min with a CBD‐containing medium (250 ng/mL, .796 μmol·L−1; representative of a low therapeutic concentration; n = 8). CBD concentrations were determined at 180 min in the medium and placental tissue using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. A customized gene panel array was used to analyze the expression of selected genes in the perfused placental cotyledons as well as in placentas perfused with 1000 ng/mL CBD (3.18 μmol·L−1; high therapeutic concentration; n = 8) and in those exposed to the vehicle.

Results

CBD was sequestered in the placental tissue, exhibiting significant variability across samples (median = 5342 ng/g tissue, range = 1066–9351 ng/g tissue). CBD concentrations in the fetal compartment were one fifth of those measured in the maternal compartment (median = 59 ng/mL, range = 48–72 ng/mL vs. 280 = ng/mL, range = 159–388 ng/mL, respectively; p < .01). Placental gene expression was not significantly altered by CBD.

Significance

The placenta acts as a depot compartment for CBD, slowing down its distribution to the fetus. This phenomenon might yield flatter but prolonged fetal CBD levels in vivo. The attenuated transplacental CBD transfer does not imply that its use by pregnant women is safe for the fetus. Only pregnancy registries and neurocognitive assessments would establish the risk of being antenatally exposed to CBD.
Asian Corporate Governance—and the Case of Dual‐Class Shares: CARE Conference | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | June 9, 2014
Authors: Chan K. C.
Published: October 2023

The case of the Alibaba IPO illustrates the divergence of corporate governance standards between the United States and many other markets, and reopens the debate on the one‐share one‐vote principle. Since corporate governance standards develop in ways that reflect the history and legal and political environments of different countries, we should not expect to see a global convergence of these standards—nor is it generally desirable to transplant policies from one market to another without understanding their historical backgrounds.

Nevertheless, the U.S. approach to regulation raises the concern that competition among exchanges will cause issuers to “shop around” and tempt the exchanges to relax their standards in a race to the bottom. While market participants and regulators outside of the U.S. debate whether and how to modify the one‐share, one‐vote rule, they face challenges in coming up with new rules that strike the right balance between effective corporate governance and market development.
Son of Enron: Investors Weigh the Risks of Chinese Variable Interest Entities
Authors: Gillis Paul , Lowry Michelle René
Published: October 2023

Investors are heading back to China after ending a buyers' strike in response to numerous accounting scandals and corporate governance failures. There have been several successful IPOs in recent months, and the market is awaiting the listing of the internet giant The Alibaba Group.

The Alibaba IPO has focused investor attention on the use of the variable interest entity (or VIE) structure by other overseas listed Chinese companies as well as Alibaba. The VIE structure allows outside investors some measure of influence or control over Chinese operations that is exercised through contracts instead of actual equity ownership. By using such contracts, companies are able to circumvent Chinese laws that severely restrict ownership in many industries, including the internet sector.

The contracts attempt to replicate the benefits of direct ownership, but do so imperfectly. The biggest concern over the VIE structure is the enforceability of the contracts. China has a law that invalidates contracts that attempt to do what is illegal through legal means. One court case involving a VIE‐like structure led China's Supreme Court to rule that the contracts were unenforceable, and arbitrators reached the same decision.

The biggest nightmare of investors in Chinese VIE structures is that the Chinese owner of the operating company could choose to abrogate the contracts and take ownership of the VIE. The highest profile example of this took place in 2011, when Alipay faced increased regulatory scrutiny and Jack Ma responded by extracting it from the Alibaba Group.

The fix for China's VIE problem has to come from Chinese regulators, and reforms to foreign investment rules that have been proposed may make the VIE structure obsolete. But until then, investors have to weigh the unusual risk of investing in companies that they do not own.
The State of the Public Corporation: Not So Much an Eclipse as an Evolution
Authors: Ciccotello Conrad S.
Published: October 2023

By some measures, the U.S. public corporation appears to be in the midst of a significant decline, as Michael Jensen predicted 25 years ago in a Harvard Business Review article called “The Eclipse of the Public Corporation.” Based on an analysis of ten industries during the 48‐year period from 1966 through the end of 2013, the author reports a 60% drop in the number of publicly traded U.S. companies, as measured from each of the industry peaks to the end of 2013. Mergers and acquisitions, together with the private‐equity transactions hailed by Jensen in his 1989 HBR article, have contributed significantly to this reduction in numbers. But so has the remarkable growth of “uncorporate” (or pass‐through) structures such as Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), both of which address governance as well as tax problems faced by public C‐corporations.

But along with this drop in numbers, the author's analysis of the performance of U.S. public companies—as measured both by operating returns on equity and Tobin's Q ratios—also shows a growing separation of the “best” from the “rest” over time. Intense global product market competition, the growing benefits (and urgency) of achieving efficient scope and scale, high U.S. corporate income tax rates, and a vigorous market for corporate control are all significantly “thinning the herd” of public corporations. The “winners” have been emerging as larger, more efficient, and more influential enterprises than ever before, as the rise of massive U.S. multinationals (and, in countries outside the U.S., state‐owned enterprises) over the past two decades has increasingly blurred the line between private business and government.

Viewed in this light, the overall trends, both in the U.S. and abroad, suggest an evolution rather than an eclipse of the public corporation. Such trends also suggest that over the next 25 years, the success of the public corporation will increasingly depend on issues such as its ability to resolve conflicts between controlling shareholders (including sovereign governments) and minority shareholders, regulatory (in particular, antitrust) policy, and the role (and investment horizons) of activist shareholders.
Morphological features of the greater occipital nerve and its possible importance for interventional procedures
Authors: Saglam Latif , Gayretli Ozcan , Coskun Osman , Kale Aysin
Published: October 2023

Being one of the most prevalent neurological symptoms, headaches are burdensome and costly. Blocks and decompression surgeries of the greater occipital nerve (GON) have been frequently used for migraine, cervicogenic headache, and occipital neuralgia which are classified under headache by International Headache Society. Knowledge of complex anatomy of GON is crucial for its decompression surgery and block. This study was performed to elucidate anatomical features of this nerve in detail. Forty‐one cadavers were dissected bilaterally. According to its morphological features, GON was classified into four main types that included 18 subtypes. Moreover, potential compression points of the nerve were defined. The number of branches of the GON up to semispinalis capitis muscle and the number of its branches that were sent to this muscle were recorded. The most common variant was that the GON pierced the aponeurosis of the trapezius muscle, curved around the lower edge of the obliquus capitis inferior muscle, and was loosely attached to the obliquus capitis inferior muscle (Type 2; 61 sides, 74.4%). In the subtypes, the most common form was Type 2‐A (44 sides, 53.6%), in which the GON pierced the aponeurosis of each of the trapezius muscle and fibers of semispinalis muscle at one point and there was a single crossing of the GON and occipital artery. Six potential compression points of the GON were detected. The first point was where the nerve crossed the lower border of the obliquus capitis inferior muscle. The second and third points were at its piercing of the semispinalis capitis muscle and the muscle fibers/aponeurosis of the trapezius, respectively. Fourth, fifth, and sixth compression points of GON were located where the GON and occipital artery crossed each other for the first, second, and third times, respectively. On 69 sides, 1–4 branches of the GON up to the semispinalis capitis muscle were observed (median = 1), while 1–4 branches of GON were sent to the semispinalis capitis muscle on 67 sides (median = 1). The novel anatomical findings described in this study may play a significant role in increasing the success rate of invasive interventions related with the GON.
Boundless Partnership: 19th‐Century Literature and Dance
Authors: Wilson Cheryl A.
Published: October 2023

Dancing bodies and scenes of dance appear throughout the 19th‐century literature. Bringing the dance historical perspective to literary studies helps to situate texts within important social and cultural contexts and also raises questions about the presence of moving bodies within texts and how those bodies might have been deployed by the 19th‐century writers. Recently, scholars have attempted to bridge the gap between dancing bodies and textual bodies by bringing dance history and criticism into conversation with the article of the 19th‐century literary texts, creating the field of dance and literature studies. This field has rich potential for interdisciplinary studies and also much to offer both literary studies and dance history.
Shakespeare and History Writing
Authors: Breen Dan
Published: October 2023

This article addresses recent developments in literary‐critical studies of Shakespeare's status within the wider field of early modern historiography. Since the advent of new historicist criticism, Shakespeare's plays have been read with increasing regularity as contributing to a broader early modern historical culture, in which writers of traditionally “literary” and traditionally “historiographical” texts alike considered questions of politics, philosophy, and religion. Complementing this opening up of the category of historical writing is a similarly expanding sense of what it is that might be considered a “history play.” Along with the plays dramatizing medieval English history, scholars have begun to examine the Roman tragedies and the late plays addressing the legendary history of Britain for their contributions to cultural discourses of nationalism, sovereignty, citizenship, and identity. In addition, performance studies criticism has challenged the field to consider theatrical performance itself as a discrete and heretofore overlooked mode of historical representation, while attention to the historiographical status of material objects has shed light on the different ways in which non‐textual artifacts can both shape and produce multiple aspects of cultural history. Further work with specifically early modern conceptions of material history and renewed and deliberate efforts to open the field of literary and theatrical studies to scholars in other fields promise to add a great deal to this newly emerging version of a historiographically engaged Shakespeare, who appears in many ways to exhibit more strikingly humanist sympathies than scholars have acknowledged during the last several decades.
Inferring the distribution of norovirus in individual oysters below the limit of quantification by pooled sampling
Authors: Wang Jianxin , Zhou Chen , Wang Yeru
Published: October 2023

Norovirus (NoV) in oysters is a food safety risk of much concern. In order to assess the risk of the exposure, the distribution of the number of NoV copies contained in each oyster should be acquired first for comprehensively quantifying the associated risks. However, the part of the distribution below the limit of quantification cannot be obtained directly by laboratory detecting methods, which hampers accurate assessment. To tackle this challenging problem, a systematic method (Distribution Inference Method by Pooled Sampling) is proposed to infer the unobservable part of distribution based upon all measurements of the pooled samples with n = 2. Using convolutional integrals and real‐coded genetic algorithm for inferring, this method has neither requirements for the type or properties of the original distribution, nor requirements for historical data, even nor requirements for the relationship between observable and unobservable parts of the distribution. A series of experiments were conducted on simulated datasets of a variety of types, including normal distribution, uniform distribution, gamma distribution, lognormal distribution, zero‐inflated Poisson distribution, their combinations, and even their splicing, covering common distribution types in oyster NoV scenario and more general scenarios. The results show that almost all inferred simulation data and their original counterparts passed Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests, which implies that they are essential of the same distribution. Based on this method, a ready‐to‐use web system was developed for researchers to infer their original distribution with pooled‐sampling measurements from the detection of NoV or even other substances.
The Deviance and Relationship between Locus of Control, Control Ratio, and Self‐Control
Authors: Markovizky Matan , Shafran Yoel
Published: October 2023

The purpose of the current study is to examine the widely used term controllability through analysis of three important factors, based on three known theories of delinquency: The first factor, the control ratio, is the relationship between people's perception of their control over their environment and their perception of the environment's control over them (Tittle, Control Balance: Toward a General Theory of Deviance, Westview, 1995; Tittle, Theor. Criminol., 8, 2004, 395; Tittle, Recent Developments in Criminological Theory, Routledge, 2017). The second factor, locus of control, differentiates between people who think they control their own lives and those who feel that their lives control them (Rotter, Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80 (1, Whole No. 609), 1966). Finally, the third factor, self‐control, relates to people's ability to direct their behavior (Gottfredson & Hirschi, A general Theory of Crime, Stanford University, 1990). Five research hypotheses were examined: (1) the higher the internal locus of control, the lower the external locus of control – fate and others; (2) the higher the self‐control, the higher the internal locus of control/control ratio; (3) the greater the lack of control (i.e., the lower the control ratio), the greater the external locus of control; (4) the lower the self‐control, the higher the external locus of control/lack of control; (5) the higher the control ratio, the higher the internal locus of control. Questionnaires were completed by 215 undergraduate students from four different faculties from the same university, 53 males and 58 females studying psychology or social work (i.e., therapy‐oriented disciplines), 58 males and 46 females studying economics or law (i.e., non‐therapy‐oriented disciplines). The findings of the study reinforced all five hypotheses, thereby providing an additional layer of infrastructure for conducting the important mapping of various factors that are part of controllability. The results also enabled ties and connections to be made between these and additional factors, on the road to understanding, coping with and intervening in a range of human activities in general, and deviant behavior specifically.
Leading the pack: Best practices in comparative canine cancer genomics to inform human oncology
Authors: London Cheryl A. , Gardner Heather , Zhao Shaying , Knapp Deborah W. , Utturkar Sagar M. , Duval Dawn L. , Chambers Melissa R. , Ostrander Elaine , Trent Jeffrey M. , Kuffel Gina
Published: October 2023

Pet dogs develop spontaneous cancers at a rate estimated to be five times higher than that of humans, providing a unique opportunity to study disease biology and evaluate novel therapeutic strategies in a model system that possesses an intact immune system and mirrors key aspects of human cancer biology. Despite decades of interest, effective utilization of pet dog cancers has been hindered by a limited repertoire of necessary cellular and molecular reagents for both in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as a dearth of information regarding the genomic landscape of these cancers. Recently, many of these critical gaps have been addressed through the generation of a highly annotated canine reference genome, the creation of several tools necessary for multi‐omic analysis of canine tumours, and the development of a centralized repository for key genomic and associated clinical information from canine cancer patients, the Integrated Canine Data Commons. Together, these advances have catalysed multidisciplinary efforts designed to integrate the study of pet dog cancers more effectively into the translational continuum, with the ultimate goal of improving human outcomes. The current review summarizes this recent progress and provides a guide to resources and tools available for comparative study of pet dog cancers.
Tomography of Detectors Taking Dead Time into Account
Authors: Bogdanov Yu. I. , Katamadze K. G. , Borshchevskaya N. A. , Avosopiants G. V. , Bogdanova N. A. , Kulik S. P. , Lukichev V. F.
Published: October 2023

Using numerical simulation methods that take into account the dead time effect, algorithms are developed to calculate the detector’s response for photon fluxes with different photon number distributions, including the Poisson, Fock, and thermal distributions. Based on the results obtained, a detector tomography method is developed, as well as an algorithm for identifying the corresponding elements of a positive operator-valued measure (POVM). Experimental studies using coherent states demonstrate close agreement between the calculation results and experimental data.
Private pharmacies as healthcare providers in Odisha, India: analysis and implications for universal health coverage
Authors: Kalita Anuska , Bose Bijetri , Woskie Liana , Haakenstad Annie , Cooper Jan E , Yip Winnie
Published: October 2023

Introduction

In India, as in many low-income and middle-income countries, the private sector provides a large share of health care. Pharmacies represent a major share of private care, yet there are few studies on their role as healthcare providers. Our study examines: (1) What are the characteristics of and services provided by private pharmacies and how do these compare with other outpatient care providers? (2) What are the characteristics of patients who opted to use private pharmacies? (3) What are the reasons why people seek healthcare from private pharmacies? (4) What are the quality of services and cost of care for these patients? Based on our findings, we discuss some policy implications for universal health coverage in the Indian context.

Methods

We analyse data from four surveys in Odisha, one of India’s poorest states: a household survey on health-seeking behaviours and reasons for healthcare choices (N=7567), a survey of private pharmacies (N=1021), a survey of public sector primary care facilities (N=358), and a survey of private-sector solo-providers (N=684).

Results

17% of the households seek outpatient care from private pharmacies (similar to rates for public primary-care facilities). 25% of the pharmacies were not registered appropriately under Indian regulations, 90% reported providing medical advice, and 26% reported substituting prescribed drugs. Private pharmacies had longer staffed hours and better stocks of essential drugs than public primary-care facilities. Patients reported choosing private pharmacies because of convenience and better drug stocks; reported higher satisfaction and lower out-of-pocket expenditure with private pharmacies than with other providers.

Conclusion

This is the first large-scale study of private pharmacies in India, with a comparison to other healthcare providers and users’ perceptions and experiences of their services. To move towards universal health coverage, India, a country with a pluralistic health system, needs a comprehensive health systems approach that incorporates both the public and private sectors, including private pharmacies.
Engaging the private sector to deliver quality maternal and newborn health services for universal health coverage: lessons from policy dialogues
Authors: Lattof Samantha R , Maliqi Blerta , Yaqub Nuhu , Asiedu Ernest Konadu , Ukaire Binyerem , Ojo Olumuyiwa , Goodman Catherine , Ross Susan Rae , Hailegebriel Tedbabe D , Appleford Gabrielle , George Joby
Published: October 2023

The private health sector is becoming increasingly important in discussions on improving the quality of care for maternal and newborn health (MNH). Yet information rarely addresses what engaging the private sector for MNH means and how to do it. In 2019, the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (the Network) initiated exploratory research to better understand how to ensure that the private sector delivers quality care and what the public sector must do to facilitate and sustain this process. This article details the approach and lessons learnt from two Network countries, Ghana and Nigeria, where teams explored the mechanisms for engaging the private sector in delivering MNH services with quality. The situational analyses in Ghana and Nigeria revealed challenges in engaging the private sector, including lack of accurate data, mistrust and an unlevel playing field. Challenging market conditions hindered a greater private sector role in delivering quality MNH services. Based on these analyses, participants at multistakeholder workshops recommended actions addressing policy/administration, regulation and service delivery. The findings from this research help strengthen the evidence base on engaging the private sector to deliver quality MNH services and show that this likely requires engagement with broader health systems factors. In recognition of this need for a balanced approach and the new WHO private sector strategy, the WHO has updated the tools and process for countries interested in conducting this research. The Nigerian Ministry of Health is stewarding additional policy dialogues to further engage the private sector.
Generalized models for black-bounce solutions in f(R) gravity
Authors: Fabris Júlio C. , Junior Ednaldo L. B. , Rodrigues Manuel E.
Published: October 2023

In this article, the implementation of black-bounce solutions in f(R) theories is investigated. Black-bounce solutions are regular configurations of the static spherically symmetric space-time, containing both black holes and wormholes structures. In General Relativity (GR), black-bounce solution implies violation of the energy conditions. We investigate the same issue in f(R) theories using two strategies: first, supposing a given form for the f(R) function and then determining the matter behavior; second, imposing a condition on the matter density and obtaining the resulting f(R) function. In all cases, a given structure for the metric functions is supposed. Violation of the energy conditions still occur but they are less severe than in the corresponding GR cases. We propose a zero-density model that has horizons, which differs from the GR case. We also propose a model with positive energy density and show that $$\rho +p_r>0$$

ρ
+

p
r

>
0

, which was not the case in GR.
Comparison of the Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life, Sleep Quality, and Oral Health Literacy in Sleep and Awake Bruxism: Results from Family Medicine Practice
Authors: Mercan Başpınar Melike , Mercan Çiğdem , Mercan Metin , Arslan Aras Merve
Published: October 2023

Objectives. Bruxism is a common oral behaviour. This study aimed to compare oral health‐related quality of life, sleep quality, and oral health literacy in patients with and without possible sleep bruxism (SB) and awake bruxism (AB). Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study including 249 volunteers was conducted in a family medicine clinic of a tertiary hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. The American Sleep Medicine Association Bruxism Diagnostic Criteria, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) tool, Decay Missing Filled Total Teeth (DMFT) score, and Health Literacy Dental Scale-Short Form (HeLD-14) were assessed by face-to-face interviews. Data were examined using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests, Spearman correlation, and logistic regression analysis. Results. The presence of SB and AB was detected as 41.4% and 21.7%, respectively, among 91 males and 158 females, with a mean age of 36.64 ± 11.60 years. Sleep and awake bruxers had a lower oral health-related quality of life (odds ratio (OR): 0.816, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.770–0.864 and OR: 0.923, 95% CI = 0.956–0.982, respectively). Poor sleep quality was detected 1.28 times higher in sleep bruxism (OR: 1.277, 95% CI = 1.152–1.415) and 1.14 times higher in awake bruxism (OR: 1.141, 95% CI = 1.230−1.058). The DMFT score was found to be 1.13 times higher in SB (OR: 1.129, 95% CI = 1.043–1.223). A higher HeLD-14 score was associated with a lower DMFT score (

p
<
0.001

; r = −0.240). The oral health literacy score was lower in AB and SB groups than in patients without bruxism, but it was not statistically significant (

p
=
0.267

,

p
=
0.376

). Conclusion. A lower oral health-related quality of life and poor sleep quality would be expected in the presence of SB or AB. However, patients may not be aware of it unless asked by a physician regardless of oral health literacy level.
Efficiency of Automated Viral RNA Purification for Pediatric Studies of Dengue and Zika in Hyperendemic Areas
Authors: Delgado Sandra L. , Perilla Piedad M. , Salgado Doris M. , Rojas María Clemencia , Narváez Carlos F.
Published: October 2023

The isolation of nucleic acids is a critical and limiting step for molecular assays, which prompted the arrival in Colombia of automated purification instruments during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The local application of this technology in the study of tropical diseases, such as dengue and zika, is beginning to be tested. We evaluated the efficiency of the automated extraction of viral RNA for studies of pediatric dengue and zika. Clinical samples of children with dengue that were well characterized through RNA isolation by silica columns and serotype-specific nested RT-PCR (DENV-1 n = 7, DENV-2 n = 5, and negatives n = 8) in addition to 40 pediatric plasma samples spiked with ZIKV (strain PRVA BC59) and 209 from negative pre-epidemic children were analyzed. RNA from patients was extracted by two automated standard and high-throughput protocols on the KingFisher™ Flex instrument. The isolated RNA was evaluated for concentration and purity by spectrophotometry, for structural and functional integrity by electrophoresis and expression of the RNase P gene, and usefulness in serotype-specific DENV detection by conventional and real-time RT-PCR. For the evaluation of ZIKV RNA, the commercial TaqMan Triplex® assay was used, along with a well-tested in-house RT-qPCR assay. The concentration of RNA (5.2 vs. 7.5 ng/μL,

P
=
0.03

) and the number of integral bands (9 vs. 11) were higher with the high-throughput protocol. However, the number of specimens serotyped for DENV by RT-qPCR was comparable for both protocols. The cycle thresholds of the TaqMan Triplex® commercial kit and the in-house assay for the detection of plasma ZIKV RNA isolated with the standard protocol showed a strong association (r = 0.93,

P
<
0.0001

) and a Cohen Kappa index of 0.98 when all 249 samples were analyzed. These preliminary results suggest that automated instruments could be used in studies of cocirculating flaviviruses that have represented a public health problem in recent decades in Colombia. They boast advantages such as efficiency, precision, time savings, and lower risk of cross-contamination.
A Preliminary Method for Tracking In-Season Grapevine Cluster Closure Using Image Segmentation and Image Thresholding
Authors: Trivedi Manushi , Zhou Yuwei , Moon Jonathan Hyun , Meyers James , Jiang Yu , Lu Guoyu , Vanden Heuvel Justine
Published: October 2023

Mapping and monitoring cluster morphology provides insights for disease risk assessment, quality control in wine production, and understanding environmental influences on cluster shape. During the progression of grapevine morphology, cluster closure (CC) (also called bunch closure) is the stage when berries touch one another. This study used mobile phone images to develop a direct quantification method for tracking CC in three grapevine cultivars (Riesling, Pinot gris, and Cabernet Franc). A total of 809 cluster images from fruit set to veraison were analyzed using two image segmentation methods: (i) a Pyramid Scene Parsing Network (PSPNet) to extract cluster boundaries and (ii) Otsu’s image thresholding method to calculate % CC based on gaps between the berries. PSPNet produced high accuracy (mean accuracy = 0.98, mean intersection over union (mIoU) = 0.95) with mIoU > 0.90 for both cluster and noncluster classes. Otsu’s thresholding method resulted in <2% falsely classified gap and berry pixels affecting quantified % CC. The progression of CC was described using basic statistics (mean and standard deviation) and using a curve fit. The CC curve showed an asymptotic trend, with a higher rate of progression observed in the first three weeks, followed by a gradual approach towards an asymptote. We propose that the X value (in this example, number of weeks past berry set) at which the CC progression curve reaches the asymptote be considered as the official phenological stage of CC. The developed method provides a continuous scale of CC throughout the season, potentially serving as a valuable open-source research tool for studying grapevine cluster phenology and factors affecting CC.
Effects of Augmented Reality in Primary Education: A Literature Review
Authors: Basumatary Dipali , Maity Ranjan
Published: October 2023

Augmented reality can provide an interactive learning environment. This leads to an exploration of new possibilities in the educational domain. In this work, a systematic literature review of AR applications developed for preschool and primary education is presented. To conduct this review, the Google Scholar database was used. The articles were screened using a set of five inclusion-exclusion criteria for suitability. In total, seventy-one articles published between 2012 to 2021 were selected. Of those, forty-five are conference papers, one is a book chapter, and the remaining twenty-five are journals. These works were analyzed by nine research questions proposed by us. We identified enjoyment, engagement, and learning gains as the key achievements of AR-based applications. Besides this, improvement in motivation, learning interest, participation, understanding, and self-learning are also found important in our review. Although, there are challenges—usability issues, technical problems, acceptance, cognitive overload, and health issues; however, due to their numerous benefits, AR-based applications may be another mode of teaching-learning method in the near future.
Comparing the Efficacy of Local Corticosteroid Injection, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in the Treatment of Pes Anserine Bursitis: A Prospective, Randomized, Comparative Study
Authors: Gouda Wesam , Abbas Awad S. , Abdel-Aziz Tarek M. , Shoaeir Mohamed Z. , Ahmed Walid , Moshrif Abdelhfeez , Mosallam Ahmed , Kamal Mohamed
Published: October 2023

Background. Pes anserine bursitis (PAB) is one of the most common causes of painful knee syndromes. This study aimed at examining the efficacy of local corticosteroid injection, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) as different modalities to alleviate pain and enhance function in patients with pes anserine bursitis (PAB). Methods. A prospective, randomized, comparative study was conducted on 180 patients diagnosed with chronic PAB. They were equally divided into three groups as follows: Group I received a local corticosteroid injection of 40 mg of methylprednisolone acetate/1 ml; Group II received a PRP injection; and in Group III, ESWT was used. Outcome measures included the visual analog scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) pain score, WOMAC physical function score, and Ritchie articular index (RAI) for tenderness, which were recorded at the baseline, after 1 week, and after 8 weeks. Results. Before the application of procedures, there was a statistically significant increase in the WOMAC pain score in the local corticosteroid group compared to the PRP group and the ESWT group (

P
<
0.001

). After the application of procedures, there was a statistically significant improvement in the 1-week and 8-week WOMAC pain score, WOMAC physical function score, and VAS in the local corticosteroid group in comparison to the PRP group and the ESWT group. (

P
<
0.001

). Moreover, RAI for tenderness shows statistically significant improvement at 8 weeks in the local corticosteroid groups compared to the PRP groups (

P
<
0.001

) and ESWT groups (

P
<
0.001

). Similarly, a statistically significant difference was found between the PRP and ESWT groups (

P
=
0.023

). Conclusion. Our data suggest that in patients with PAB, local corticosteroid injection is more efficient than PRP injection and ESWT for reducing pain and enhancing function.
Partial Differential Equations in Zero-Sum Differential Game and Applications on Coronavirus
Authors: Megahed Abd El-Monem A. , Madkour H. F. A.
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we studied a zero-sum game described by the partial differential equations as an application on Coronavirus. The game contains two players, player 1 is Coronavirus and player 2 is the population. We used

∞

-Laplacian which is denoted by

∆

∞

. We added the time variable to the partial differential equation to see the behaviour of the spreading of Coronavirus. We used analytical methods, the Homotopy Perturbation Method and New Iterative Method, for solving the partial differential equation. A comparison between the two methods to the residual error is made. We showed in the graph the decreasing of spreading for Coronavirus with increasing the area with the time.
The Effects of Ninjinyoeito on Impaired Spatial Memory and Prefrontal Cortical Synaptic Plasticity through α‐Amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐4‐isoxazole Propionic Acid Receptor Subunit in a Rat Model with Cerebral Ischemia and β‐Amyloid Injection
Authors: Nagao Masaki , Hatae Akinobu , Mine Kazuma , Tsutsumi Soichiro , Omori Hiroya , Hirata Marika , Arimatsu Maaya , Taniguchi Chise , Watanabe Takuya , Kubota Kaori , Katsurabayashi Shutaro , Iwasaki Katsunori
Published: October 2023

Ninjinyoeito (NYT), a traditional Japanese medicine, is effective for improving physical strength and treating fatigue and anorexia. Recently, a clinical report revealed that NYT ameliorates cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients, although the mechanisms remain unclear. AD is a neurodegenerative disorder accompanied by a progressive deficit in memory. Current therapeutic agents are largely ineffective in treating cognitive dysfunction in AD patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of NYT on spatial memory impairment in a rat model of dementia. Rats were prepared with transient cerebral ischemia and intraventricular injection of β‐amyloid1-42 for 7 days (CI + Aβ). NYT was orally administered for 7 days after cerebral ischemia. We evaluated spatial memory using the Morris water maze and investigated the expression of α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐4‐isoxazole propionic acid receptor subunits, the phosphorylation level of glutamate receptor A (GluA)1 at serine sites S831 and S845, and the Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of CI + Aβ rats. In the CI + Aβ rats, NYT treatment shortened the extended time to reach the platform. However, NYT did not restore the decrease in the hippocampal GluA1, GluA2, or CaMKII expression but increased prefrontal cortical phosphorylation levels of S845‐GluA1 and CaMKII. Therefore, NYT may alleviate spatial memory impairment by promoting glutamatergic transmission involved in the phosphorylation of S845‐GluA1 and CaMKII in the prefrontal cortex of CI + Aβ rats. Our results suggest that NYT is a valuable treatment for AD patients.
A Space-Time Model for Demand in Free-Floating Carsharing Systems
Authors: Bürgin Reto , Muratori Corrado , Roca-Riu Mireia , Heitz Christoph
Published: October 2023

A novel model approach is proposed to estimate the spatiotemporal distribution of demand for free-floating carsharing. The proposed model is based on a Poisson regression model for right-censored data and estimates possibly time-varying demand rates of small subareas of a service region based on booking data with spatiotemporal information on pickups and dropoffs of cars. The approach allows operators to gain insights into the spatiotemporal distribution of demand for their service and to estimate the loss of demand due to unavailability of cars. Moreover, it can also be used as an input to improve the design of the service, through relocation techniques or to analyze the service with macrosimulation models. In addition, the approach is applied to a case study with real data.
Behavioral Phenotype, Electroclinical Features, and Treatment Options in Twins with Lrp2 Candidate Variants (Donnay–Barrow/Foar Syndrome)
Authors: Mingarelli Alessia , Pipitone Giovanni Battista , Torini Giacomo , Patricelli Maria Grazia , Totaro Martina , Colonna Clara , Carrera Paola , Raviglione Federico
Published: October 2023

The LRP2 gene encodes megalin (LRP-2/GP330), a large single-spanning transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as a multiligand endocytotic receptor and mediates the reabsorption of albumin in the proximal renal tubule. LRP2 is implicated in an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by dimorphisms, ocular anomalies, sensorineural deafness, proteinuria, epilepsy, and intellectual disability: a clinical condition called Donnai–Barrow syndrome (DBS) or facio-oculo-acoustico-renal (FOAR) syndrome. Pathogenic variants in LRP2 have been reported in fewer than 60 patients, but a detailed description of seizures, electroencephalographic patterns, imaging findings, behavioral phenotype, and long-term follow-up is still needed. We provide a clinical report of two mono-chorionic twins with LRP2-related disease manifesting developmental delay, autistic features, seizures, proteinuria, and sleep disorders. By sequencing clinical exome, LRP2 candidate rare variants, c.6815G > A, p. (Arg2272His), inherited from the mother and c.12725A > G, p. (Asp4242Gly), inherited from the father, were identified. During follow-up, at the age of 7, the main clinical features of the patients included insomnia, autistic features, severe psychomotor delay, and absent speech. The patients were under treatment with risperidone, antiseizure medications (ASMs), and supplementation of alpha-lactalbumin for self-injury and sleep disturbance. Our study confirmed the wide spectrum of behavioral and neurological and psychiatric features of this rare condition, suggesting new treatment options.
Knowledge and Attitude of Undergraduate Health Professions Students towards Hepatitis B and C
Authors: Alzahrani Ali Rashash R.
Published: October 2023

The current study sought to establish the attitude and knowledge level of medical science students in Tibah University towards hepatitis B and C. A cross-sectional study involving 369 students drawn from the faculties of medicine, dentistry, applied medical sciences, pharmacy, nursing, and medical rehabilitation sciences was conducted where a standardised questionnaire was used to determine the attitude and knowledge level of undergraduate students drawn from the college of medicine in Tibah University, Saudi Arabia, regarding viral infections. With a mean of 0.71, 0.69, and 0.66 and a standard deviation (SD) of 0.24, 0.34, and 0.24 for virology and transmission, symptoms and clinical outcomes, and treatment and prevention, respectively, the knowledge level of the health professions students towards hepatitis B and C infections was significant. The knowledge level about the infections was higher among male students than among female students. Similarly, students in their final years of medical school had significantly higher knowledge levels about hepatitis B and C than their counterparts in their first years of medical school. There was also a positive correlation between the attitude of the health professions students towards the disease and their knowledge levels of the disease. Findings indicate that enhanced instruction on the nature, virology, transmission, symptoms, treatment, clinical outcomes, and prevention of hepatitis B and C can help improve the knowledge levels and attitude of the health professions students towards the disease and its management.
Parametric Analysis of Electrostatic Comb Drive for Resonant Sensors Operating under Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Chen Shiping , Yu Zhanqing , Mou Ya , Shi Jiaxu
Published: October 2023

The microelectrostatic comb resonator’s issues with high driving voltage and strong feed‐through coupling noise limit its practical use. In earlier studies, the design and structural optimization of microcomb resonators generally focused on lowering beam stiffness and raising electrostatic force density to enhance resonance displacement and lower driving voltage. However, for a microresonator that performs high‐speed resonance in the air, it is required to consider the three influencing elements of the electrostatic field, structural mechanics, and fluid mechanics to achieve the best dynamic resonance amplitude. In this paper, the parametric analysis of the comb‐driven resonator is carried out. First, the comb‐driven electrostatic force and all air‐damping terms are investigated using an electrostatic force analytical model considering edge effects, a damping analytical model simplified based on the thin‐film damping model, and the finite element model. The analysis results agree with the simulated results. To more accurately quantify the dynamic electrostatic force and damping coefficient, the electrostatic–structure–fluid three‐field indirect coupling model was used, and the law of the resonant amplitude of the resonator as a function of the structural parameters was obtained. The results show that, for the electrostatic comb resonator that oscillates at atmospheric pressure, to obtain a high‐voltage driving efficiency, a thin polysilicon film can be used to design narrow comb fingers that are dense in the vertical direction and loose in the lateral direction. To validate the accuracy of the model and the results of parameter analysis, an electrostatic comb‐drive resonator with shapes optimized from numerical simulations was fabricated. The results show that the driving efficiency is enhanced by 102%, with the chip area increased by 29%, which shows the superiority of parameter optimization.
A Case-Control Seroprevalence Survey of Toxoplasmosis in Hemodialysis Patients and Healthy Subjects in Kazeroon and Jahrom Districts in Fars Province, Southern Iran
Authors: Kadkhodaei Shahin , Jahromi Zahra Kargar , Taghipour Ali , Rezanezhad Hassan , Solhjoo Kavous
Published: October 2023

Opportunistic parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) are capable of causing neurological and ocular manifestations in patients undergoing hemodialysis. By designing a matched case-control study, we conducted a seromolecular survey of T. gondii in hemodialysis patients compared to a healthy group from Jahrom and Kazeroon cities in Fars Province, Iran. For this purpose, 75 hemodialysis patients from Kazeroon city, 75 hemodialysis patients from Jahrom city, and 75 healthy individuals were recruited for the study. The serum levels of specific immunoglobulins (IgG/IgM) in the case and control groups were evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Also, buffy coat samples were used to extract genomic DNA. Then, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was accomplished using the RE and GRA6 genes of T. gondii. A standard questionnaire containing demographic factors was administered. Although the seroprevalence of the anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in hemodialysis patients from Kazeroon (18.66% (14/75)) and Jahrom (25.33% (19/75)) was higher than that in the control group (13.33% (10/75)), no statistically significant difference was observed between the case and control groups (

P

value = 0.373 from Kazeroon and

P

value = 0.354 from Jahrom). Among the studied variables, only residence (urban) was significantly associated with the anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in the case group from Kazeroon. Also, no IgM antibody titers and DNA of T. gondii were detected in the case and control groups from both cities. Although high seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody was seen in hemodialysis patients, further epidemiological studies with larger samples need to be done in Jahrom and Kazeroon cities and in other parts of Iran. It is also necessary for health officials to establish programs for the prevention and control of T. gondii infection in hemodialysis patients.
The Current State of the Art and Advancements, Challenges, and Future of Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace Applications
Authors: Getachew Melkamu Tadesse , Shiferaw Menberu Zeleke , Ayele Bekalu Sintayehu
Published: October 2023

Additive manufacturing has revolutionized the manufacturing industry, particularly in aerospace. This paper provides an overview of the advancements, state-of-the-art, challenges, and future of additive manufacturing in the aerospace industry. It begins by discussing the workflow of additive manufacturing and the comparison of software required for modeling and slicing the designed models. Various types of additive manufacturing processes used in the aerospace industry with their postprocessing challenges and solutions are also presented in detail. Besides, the challenges and limitations that come with the use of additive manufacturing in aerospace are also outlined. The paper investigated that the use of additive manufacturing in aerospace has given several advantages such as the ability to produce complex geometries, reduce material waste, and improve design flexibility. The future of additive manufacturing in aerospace looks promising, with the potential for even more cost-effective and efficient production. The paper concludes that additive manufacturing has proven to be a game-changer in aerospace presenting different advanced aerospace components in detail, with continued research and development shaping the future of manufacturing and production. With advancements in technology and processes, additive manufacturing for aerospace can overcome the challenges and become a reliable and cost-effective alternative to traditional manufacturing methods.