bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extracting Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) from Photovoltaic Modules for Wastewater Remediation
Authors: Pham Huu Khue , Sim Ying , Carboni Michaël , Meyer Daniel , Mathews Nripan
Published: January 2022

Photovoltaic (PV) energy adoption has increased drastically over the years and is expected to become a mainstream energy source for the future. However, waste management remains a problem as more PV panels reach their end-of-life. Many strategies have been employed to recycle PV panels, but upcycling efforts to form high-value products from these PV panels are underexplored. In this paper, we have developed 3 different synthetic routes to generate metal-organic framework (MOF), MIL-53(Al), by utilizing the polymeric backsheet and aluminum from solar panels. Characterisations have been performed to evaluate the morphologies, thermal stability, crystallinity, and specific surface areas of the MOFs synthesized. The adsorption performances of these MOFs on cationic Methylene Blue (MB) and anionic Methyl Orange (MO) were determined to be ranging from 186.2 to 263.2 mg/g for MB, and 256.4 to 304.0 mg/g for MO. These results therefore suggest the potential of upcycling solar panels waste to form metal-organic framework for application in wastewater remediation to remove cationic and anionic dyes.
RETRACTED: Influence of S1PR3 expression on the glioma microenvironment and prognostic significance in low-grade gliomas
Authors: Chen Fan , Zhong Ying , Xie Xuan , Wang Liang
Published: January 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Study on the effect of double-sided laser welding of NiTi shape memory alloys wire
Authors: Ge Fuguo , Zeng Zhi , Peng Bei , Teshome Fissha Biruke , Chen Long
Published: January 2022

NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) have important applications in intelligent system design and development due to their flexibility in integration through welding or joining techniques. In this work, both single-sided laser welding and double-sided laser welding processes were used for the welding of NiTi SMAs wire. Then, the macro-morphology, microstructure, phase transformation behavior, mechanical performance, fracture surface characteristics and cyclic tensile properties of the samples obtained under the two welding processes were investigated. The results showed that there were dendrites and equiaxed grains in the fusion zone (FZ) of the double-sided welding samples, without obvious welding defects. Although the phase transformation temperature in the FZ of the samples obtained by the two processes was significantly increased, the temperature rise of the double-sided welded samples was relatively lower. The double-sided welded samples had better tensile strength and elongation, and all samples were ductile fracture. The double-sided welded samples exhibited significant functional fatigue properties improvements compared with the residual strains of the single-sided welded samples in the 1st and 15th cycle tensile tests. This work will improve the performance of NiTi SMAs wire for welding integration applications in smart system design and production.
Automatic Assessment of Calcified Plaque and Nodule by Optical Coherence Tomography Adopting Deep Learning Mode
Authors: Chen Tao , Yu Huai , Jia Haibo , Dai Jiannan , Fang Chao , Ma Lijia , Liu Huimin , Xu Manen , Yu Bo
Published: January 2022

Purpose: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become the best imaging tool in assessment of calcified plaque and nodule. However, every OCT pullback has large number of images and artificial analysis need too much time and energy, so it is not suitable for clinical application. This study aimed to develop and validate an automatic assessment of calcified plaque and nodule by OCT using deep learning model.Methods: The OCT images of calcified plaque and nodule were labeled by two expert readers based on the consensus. A deep learning model with a Multi-Scale and Multi-Task u-net network (MS-MT u-net) was developed. Then with the ground truth labeled by expert readers as reference, the diagnostic accuracy and agreement of the model would be validated.Results: For the pixel-wise evaluation of calcified plaque, the model had a high performance with precision (93.95%), recall (88.95%) and F1 score (91.38%). For the lesion-level evaluation of calcified plaque, the quantitative metrics by the model correlated excellent with the ground truth (calcium score, r=0.90, p< 0.01; calcified volume, r=0.99, p＜0.01). For calcified nodules, the model showed an excellent diagnostic performance of model including sensitivity (91.7%), specificity (89.3%) and accuracy (91.0%).Conclusions: We developed a novel deep learning model for identifying attributes of calcified plaque and nodule. This model provides an excellent diagnostic accuracy and agreement with the ground truth, which reduces subjectivity of manual measurements and saves lots of time. These findings would help practitioners efficiently adopting appropriate therapeutic strategy in the treatment of calcified lesions.
Moxibustion Combined With Wuqinxi For Relieving Neck Pain In Cervical Spondylosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Yang Shenqiao , Xu Zhangmeng , Zhou Tiantian , Yang Xingyue , Hui Yuhao , Zhou Hui , Fang Zimin
Published: January 2022

Background: Evidence has shown that moxibustion and wuqinxi can relieve neck pain respectively, however the combined effect of the two treatments is still unclear. This study aim to investigate the alleviating effect of moxibustion combined with wuqinxi exercises on neck pain in patients with cervical spondylosis.Methods: One hundred patients with neck pain due to cervical spondylosis were screened and randomly equally divided into a moxibustion group (MG), a wuqinxi group (WG), a combination group (receiving moxibustion combined with wuqinxi) (MW), and a control group (CG). The MG received moxibustion for 20 min each time; the WG were required to practice wuqinxi for 20 min each time; the MW received moxibustion and practiced wuqinxi; and the CG were treated after the trial. The frequency of treatment was five times per week. The primary outcome measured was the change in the simple McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) score between pre- and post-intervention measurements.Results: There were no significant differences at baseline among the four groups. After the intervention, the MPQ scores of the MG (6.9±3.9), WG (7.6±3.6), and MW (4.6±2.7) were significantly lower than that of the CG (16.4±4.3). The MPQ score decreased by 10.0±6.3 in the MG, 11.3±6.8 in the WG, 13.1±5.2 in the MW, and −0.2±3.0 in the CG. There were no significant differences in the change in MPQ score between the MW, MG and WG. The neck disability index (NDI), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores of the MG, WG, and MW all decreased, but those of the CG did not change significantly. In comparison with the MG and WG, the changes in the NDI, SAS, and SDS scores of the MW were not significantly different.Conclusion: Our study suggests that four weeks of moxibustion or wuqinxi can alleviate symptoms of neck pain in patients with cervical spondylosis. However, the effect of moxibustion combined with wuqinxi was no better than that of moxibustion or wuqinxi alone.Trial registration: ChiCTR2000034258. Retrospectively registered: 29/06/2020.
Buspirone Effectiveness in treatment of SSRI induced Bruxism, a comprehensive systematic review
Authors: Zarzar Luluwa , Khalifa Samar
Published: January 2022

The aim of this paper is to do a systematic review using the PRISMA flow system about Buspirone role in treatment of induced bruxism by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs families. We did a comparison between patients with bruxism who received intervention by Buspirone and the controls of Buspirone intervention in a review. We included in the review the research articles including case reports and full text articles and excluded the systematic and literature reviews in purpose of having specific data about the topic. The databases were Pubmed and Google scholar.
Global profiling of alternative splicing in non-small cell lung cancer reveals novel histological and population differences
Authors: Zeeshan Saman , Mendelez Rony A. , Zingone Adriana , Khiabanian Hossein , Pine Sharon R. , Ryan Bríd M.
Published: January 2022

Lung cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers with higher incidence and mortality rates in African-American (AA) men compared to European-American (EA) men. Here, we report high-confidence alternative splicing (AS) events from high-throughput, high-depth total RNA-sequencing of lung tumors and non-tumor adjacent tissues (NATs) from two independent cohorts of patients with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. We uncover tumor subtype- and population-specific AS events different between AAs and EAs, associated with oncogenic signaling pathways, cell surface proteins, and cancer driver genes. We highlight significant AS events in SYNE2 specific to LUAD in both populations as well as those in CD44 from EAs and TMBIM6 from AAs specific to LUAD. Our large survey of lung tumors presents a rich data resource that can help uncover new therapeutic vulnerabilities that potentially advance health equity.
Hypo vs. hyperthyroid eye disease: Is there any difference?
Authors: Eshraghi Bahram , Pourazizi Mohsen , Abbasi Maryam , mohammadbeigy iman
Published: January 2022

Background

Thyroid-eye disease (TED) is the most common extra-thyroidal presentation of graves’ disease. We performed this study to compare clinical characteristics of TED in hypothyroid vs. hyperthyroid patients.
Methods

This was a retrospective analytical cross-sectional study in which we compared demographics, severity (EUGOGO classification) and activity (clinical activity score) of TED, thyroid disease duration, TED duration and clinical signs between hypothyroid eye disease (Ho-TED) and hyperthyroid eye disease (Hr-TED).
Results

Three hundred and seventy-four patients (341 Hr-TED and 33 Ho-TED) with a female to male ratio of 1.4:1 were identified in our study. Female to male ratio was 1.3:1 in hyperthyroid and 4.5:1 in hypothyroid group (P=0.005). The duration of thyroid disease was longer in Ho-TED (P=0.002) while the duration of eye disease was longer in Hr-TED (P=0.92). Most of the patients in hyperthyroid (153,48.1%) and hypothyroid group (24, 80.0%) developed eye involvement after thyroid disease (P=0.003). Severity (P=0.13) and activity (P=0.11) was not different between Hr-TED and Ho-TED patients (Table 1).
Conclusion

The result of our study showed several differences between the Hr/Ho TED patients included sex, duration of thyroid disease and pattern of eye involving.
Suicide vs Homicide Firearm Injury Patterns, Weapons, and Mortality: A Study of the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB)
Authors: Foote Christopher Wayne , Doan Xuan-Lan , Vanier Cheryl , Cruz Bianca , Sarani Babak , Palacio Carlos H.
Published: January 2022

Background: Gun related mortality rate in the USA surpassed other developed countries. This study hypothesizes that injury patterns, weapon type, and mortality differ between suicide groups as opposed to homicide. Methods: The National Trauma Database (NDTB) was queried from January 2017 to December 2019. All firearm related injuries were included, and weapon type was abstracted. Differences between homicide and suicide groups by sex, age, race, and injury severity were compared using a Mann-Whitney test for numerical data and Fisher’s exact test for categorical data. The association between weapon type and mortality relative to suicide as opposed to homicide was assessed in Fisher’s exact tests. Significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: There was 100,031 homicide and 11,714 suicide subjects met inclusion criteria. Homicides were mostly assault victims (97.6%), male (88%), black (62%), less severe injury (mean ISS 12.07) and median age 20 years old (IQR: 14, 30), (p < 0.01). Suicides were mostly male (83%), white (79%), more severe injury (mean ISS 20.73), and median age of 36 years old (IQR: 19, 54, p < 0.01). Suicide group had higher odds of head/neck (OR=13.6) or face (OR=5.7) injuries, with lower odds of injury to chest (OR=0.55), abdominal or pelvic contents (OR=0.25), extremities or pelvic girdle (OR=0.15), or external areas (OR=0.32). Mortality rate was higher for suicide group (44.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 43.9%, 45.7%) compared to the homicide group (11.5%; 95% CI: 11.3%, 11.7%). Conclusions: Suicide had higher mortality, more severe injuries, and more head/neck/facial injuries than homicide. Majority of suicides were with handguns. Level of Evidence: Level IV
Effects of Intravitreal Injection of Hypoxia-Induced Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes on Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Fu Yan , Gu Zhao-Hui , Wen Xiao-Ying , Yang Na
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the effect of intravitreal injection of hypoxia-induced human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (hypo-hucMSC-Exs) on retinal microvasculature in rats with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and to determine whether hypo-hucMSC-Exs exhibit greater effects on DR than human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (hucMSC-Exs)METHODS: Exosomes were isolated from normal hucMSCs culture media and hypoxic preconditioning culture media. transmission electron microscope, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and western blot were applied to identification of hucMSC-Exs. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were used as a model for DR. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) was conducted to evaluate retinal microvasculature changes in vivo 4 week, 8 weeks and 12 weeks following intravitreal injection.RESULTS: The control group did not experience any significant change throughout the study. After STZ injection, all rats developed hyperglycemia. The development of retinal microvascular changes include tortuous vessels, massive microaneurysms and late leakage of fluorescein dye was visualized using FFA after induction of DR. This response was ameliorated in diabetic rats treated with hucMSC-Exs. To further investigate the effects of hypo-hucMSC-Exs we found that injection with hypo-hucMSC-Exs remarkably reduced the microvasculature lesions compared with the hucMSC-Exs group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that intravitreal injection of hucMSC-Exs prevented diabetes-induced microvasculature lesions. hypo-hucMSC-Exs could enhance this effects and could be considered as a potential target for DR prevention and treatment.
Public Control: Problems Of Formation And Organization Of Public Control İn Azerbaijan
Authors: Salmanov Khatai
Published: January 2022

A number of scientific discussions and arguments were summarized in the research. The primary purpose of the research is to study the role and significance of public control, and the current circumstance and issues related to general control in Azerbaijan. Research and systematization of scientific sources show that there are issues with public control in Azerbaijan and a number of enhancements are required. The foundation of a transparent public control mechanism in Azerbaijan is one of the state’s priorities. In this sense, the relevance of the research includes the analysis of public control in Azerbaijan and the problems in this area. The research was conducted in the following sequence: – General information about the control system has been given; – The main structural elements of the public control process have been identified; – Stages, principles, methods, forms, control aspects of public control have been analyzed; – The current state of public control in Azerbaijan has been analyzed. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research work includes the perspectives on researchers, theories, scientific articles, scientific research related to public control and its improvement. The objects of research incorporate the mechanisms of public control, assessment of the present status of public control in Azerbaijan and the problems of organizing public control. The research is based on scientific-theoretical approaches and empirical analysis. Research has shown empirically and theoretically that development is impossible without public control, and that the application of public control has become a necessity. At the end of the research, conclusions and recommendations were made in accordance with the research. The consequences of the research are useful in the development of programs, projects and proposals related to public control, in research work, in overcoming the existing problems related to public control. Public control plays an important role in the successful development of public administration, increases the flexibility and efficiency of public administration. The main purpose of public control is to support the adoption of decisions in accordance with the law, improve the quality of work and management of government agencies, protection of the rights and freedoms and interests of citizens.
Exploring The Innovativeness Of The South Caucasus Economies: Main Trends And Factors
Authors: Niftiyev Ibrahim , Yagublu Nargiz , Akbarli Narmin
Published: January 2022

The main purpose of the present research is to establish an exploratory picture of innovativeness in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The main trends and key determinants of innovativeness in the South Caucasus have rarely been investigated in mainstream economic research. However, the South Caucasus is a rapidly developing post-Soviet region, and it is geographically strategic for several key players in the global economy, including China and the European Union (EU). In fact, the role of the South Caucasus in international economic agreements is growing due to increased partnerships between Eastern and Western countries. Thus, the region’s current and future innovativeness will determine its integration into global value chains (GVCs). This study employs figure analysis to examine and compare the innovativeness of individual countries and the region as a whole against relevant economic and institutional indicators discussed in the literature. Using scatter plots, a polynomial trendline approach allowed the data to be divided into more meaningful periods of analysis to better understand peaks and dips in national innovativeness in association with selected economic and institutional indicators in the South Caucasus. Overall, the results show that economic growth and economic freedom play an important role in innovativeness in the South Caucasus, while institutional factors present more of a mixed picture. More specifically, the region’s overall innovativeness was positively correlated with rule of law and property rights to a certain extent, but this association was not consistent. In addition, Armenia and Georgia experienced higher growth in national innovativeness between 2011 and 2020, while this growth was weaker in Azerbaijan. This paper’s results may help the South Caucasus countries conceptualize their innovativeness in terms of the region’s overall innovativeness and key economic and institutional variables. Moreover, more sophisticated quantitative techniques and econometric models may be applied in future research.
Quality Of Education System As A Determinant Of Socio-Economic Development: Assessment Of Technological Level Of Readyness
Authors: Artyukhov Artem , Volk Iurii , Krmelova Vladimira , Krmela Jan
Published: January 2022

The article is devoted to finding ways to assess the quality of educational activities at the university through analogies between tangible (technical) and intangible systems. The approach to determining the level of technological readiness for implementation (TRL) was used as a tool to assess the level of development of the quality of education system. The abstract-logical method and the method of induction-deduction were used in the analysis of the causal relationship between the quality of education and the assessment of the technological level of development readiness. Bibliometric analysis was performed using SciVal and VOSviewer tools based on data from the scientific-metric databases Scopus and Web of Science. Based on bibliometric analysis, it was found that currently the TRL approach has not been used to describe the dynamic system of education quality, as it is not adapted to intangible systems. A link was also established between the search query technology readiness level and socio-economic indicators of technology implementation in industry. The description of each level of technological readiness of development on the example of the system quality of education with consistent progress in the development of quality assurance system and a brief description of each level of the studied intangible system. An example of determining the technological level of development readiness using the NYSERDA calculator is given. The results of the work can be useful for universities that build an effective internal system of quality assurance in education as an algorithm for consistent transition between levels of readiness and the relevant indicators of a particular technological level.
PRIMARY MENINGOCOCCAL ARTHRITIS: A CASE REPORT
Authors:   Laboratory of Bacteriology and Virology, Arrazi Hospital, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Morocco., F. Babokh ,   Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco., M. Dahchem ,   Department of Pediatric Surgery A, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Morocco.,   Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco., Aassri S. El ,   Laboratory of Bacteriology and Virology, Arrazi Hospital, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Morocco.,   Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco., F. Debbagh ,   Laboratory of Bacteriology and Virology, Arrazi Hospital, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Morocco.,   Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco., Elhanchi A. Lamrani ,   Laboratory of Bacteriology and Virology, Arrazi Hospital, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Morocco.,   Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco., T. Salama ,   Department of Pediatric Surgery A, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Morocco.,   Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco., Fezzazi R. El ,   Department of Pediatric Surgery A, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Morocco.,   Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco., N. Soraa ,   Laboratory of Bacteriology and Virology, Arrazi Hospital, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Morocco.,   Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
Published: January 2022

Neisseria meningitidis is a gram-negative diplococcus often associated with invasive infections such as meningitis and fulminant sepsis. primary meningococcal septic arthritis (PMSA) is extremely rare. Diagnosis should be prompt and is based on isolation of the germ from synovial fluid or blood culture. This observation reports the case of a 6 -year- old girl who presented to the pediatric emergency room with a painful right knee associated with fever and purpuric spots. The neurological examination was strictly normal with no signs of meningeal involvement. Arthrotomy and drainage were performed. The cytobacteriological examination of the synovial fluid allowed the isolation of a strain of N. meningitidis sensitive to ceftriaxone on culture media. Intravenous antibiotic therapy was then started. The patient improved after adequate treatment. Conclusion: This observation illustrates an unusual presentation of Neisseria meningitidis infections. Prompt bacteriological diagnosis and early treatment combining antibiotics and joint drainage prevented complications in this patient.
The Need for Mandatory Mental Health Continuing Education among Registered Nurses
Authors: Singh Nilam Kumari
Published: January 2022

Continuing medical education is integral to lifelong learning and constitutes a vital aspect of keeping registered nurses’ knowledge and skills up to date. This supports best practices and the effectiveness of any interventions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the need for mandatory mental health continuing education for practicing registered nurses. This was a descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study with a sample size of 27 registered nurses working in Health care settings in the Cayman Islands. These participants were selected using non-probability sampling technique. Convenience sampling was the chosen method. A 25 items Questionnaire was used to collect the data. Closed-ended questions, and a Likert scale were used to collect the demographic data and to measure the nurses’ perceptions of the need for the intervention under study. Analysis of the data was accomplished with Microsoft Excel. Descriptive statistics were generated. The results revealed that only a few registered nurses were extremely confident (7.40%) or quite confident (37.0 4%) in their ability to manage the care of patients with mental illnesses. The majority (88.89%) of nurses believed that there is a need for continuous medical education in mental health topics and that it should be mandatory (92%) for registered nurses. They believe and that this will make them more confident in their delivery of care to patients with underlying mental illnesses. Hence, it can be concluded that continuing education in this aspect of nursing will be beneficial for both them and the patients they care for.
A Comparative Study on the Level of Moral Distress of Medical-Surgical Nurses in Hail Saudi Arabia during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Llego Jordan H.
Published: January 2022

This study is a part of a wider study. The purpose of this study is to look at the differences between the level of moral distress of medical-surgical nurses in Hail Saudi Arabia and their demographics. This study used a descriptive-comparative research design using the Moral Distress Questionnaire through an online survey. There are 274 respondents in this study. The statistical test used is frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and one-way ANOVA. Results include regarding sex, t-test scored t (272) =-4.48; p=<0.001. Concerning civil status, t-test scored t (272) =0.35; p=0.72. Regarding age, one-way ANOVA score F (3,270) =1.78; p= 0.15. About the place of work, t-test scored t (272) =3.73; p=<0.001. Regarding years of experience one-way ANOVA scored F (2,269) =2.61; p= 0.04. Finally, on religious affiliation one-way ANOVA scored F (2,271) =2.32; p=0.10. The researchers conclude that the level of their moral distress varies with their sex, place of work, and years of experience. However, moral distress does not change with their civil status, age, and religious affiliation.
Algorithm of construction of effective explicit methods for structurally partitioned systems of ordinary differential equations
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Olemskoy Igor V. , Eremin Alexey S. ,   St. Petersburg State University
Published: January 2022

Systems of ordinary differential equations partitioned on base of their right-hand side dependencies on the unknown functions are considered. Explicit multischeme Runge—Kutta methods for such systems are presented. These methods require fewer right-hand side computations (stages) than classic single-scheme Runge— Kutta methods to provide the same order of convergence. The full system of order conditions is presented. This system is reduced to several independent linear systems with help of the simplifying relations. The algorithm of computing the order conditions system solution with six free parameters is given. A particular choice of free parameters and the corresponding computational scheme are presented. The advantage of the presented methods is shown by the numerical comparison to the known classic six order method by J. C. Butcher.
Optimal control of a differential-difference parabolic system with distributed parameters on the graph
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Zhabko Alexey P. , Provotorov Vyacheslav V. ,   Voronezh State University, Shindyapin Andrey I. ,   Eduardo Mondlane University
Published: January 2022

In the paper be considered the problem of optimal control of the differential-difference equation with distributed parameters on the graph in the class of summable functions. Particular attention is given to the connection of the differential-differential system with the evolutionary differential system and the search conditions in which the properties of the differential system are preserved. This connection establishes a universal method of semi- digitization by temporal variable for differential system, providing an effective tool in finding conditions of uniqueness solvability and continuity on the initial data for the differential- differential system. A priori estimates of the norms of a weak solution of differential- differential system give an opportunity to establish not only the solvability of this system but also the existence of a weak solution of the evolutionary differential system. For the differential-difference system analysis of the optimal control problem is presented, containing natural in that cases a additional study of the problem with a time lag. This essentially uses the conjugate state of the system and the conjugate system for a differential-difference system — defining ratios that determine optimal control or the set optimal controls. The work shows courses to transfer the results in case of analysis of optimal control problems in the class of functions with bearer in network-like domains. The transition from an evolutionary differential system to a differential-difference system was a natural step in the study of applied problems of the theory of the transfer of solid mediums. The obtained results underlie the analysis of optimal control problems for differential systems with distributed parameters on a graph, which have interesting analogies with multiphase problems of multidimensional hydrodynamics.
Digital control of output variables in a given range considering delay
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Sotnikova Margarita V. , Sevostyanov Ruslan A. ,   St. Petersburg State University
Published: January 2022

The article is devoted to the control of a dynamic object with the retention of controlled variables in the required range, taking into account the high dimension of input and output, time delay, constraints and external disturbances. The formalized statement of the problem of digital control synthesis is considered. An approach based on the use of predictive models is proposed. Its key feature is the introduction of a specialized quality functional that reflects the specifics of the problem, the error functional. This functional plays the role of a penalty for the output of controlled variables that go beyond the specified range. It is shown that the implementation of the control law is reduced to solving the problem of quadratic program- ming at each instant of discrete time. The results obtained are illustrated by an example of controlling the oil refining process in a distillation column.
Protocol for short-term tumor development, as an option for the study of chemopreventive agents
Authors: Cid-Gallegos María Stephanie , Sánchez-Chino Xariss M. , Álvarez-González Isela , Madrigal Bujaidar Eduardo , Vásquez-Garzón Verónica R. , Baltiérrez Hoyos Rafael , Jiménez Martínez Cristian
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Colon cancer diagnosis is usually performed late; so, it is necessary to search for prevention options. In vivo models are an option for the evaluation of chemopreventive agents, which are based mainly on the induction and promotion of carcinogenesis; however, they take a long time. This work aimed to evaluate and propose a carcinogenesis model, with tumor manifestation in a short time to prove the efficacy of chemopreventive compounds.
Method: Colon carcinogenesis was induced in three groups (n = 7) male BALB/c mice with azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). The damage was assessed 14 weeks after the induction. Protocols were: 1) P1: two AOM injections and two DSS cycles at 1.5 % for five days, with three resting days between cycles; 2) P2: one AOM injection and two DSS cycles at 2 % for seven days with five rest days, and 3) P3: one AOM injection and two DSS cycles at 2 % for four days, with four resting days. Negative control was used in parallel, P0: with one injection of saline solution and water ad libitum. Weight, disease activity index (DAI), survival, tumor incidence, lipids, and protein oxidation were determined.
Results: P2 showed greater severity in the assessed signs (100 % tumor incidence, colon weight/length ratio 101.68 ± 2.99 mg/cm), with low survival (43 %). P1 depicted lower mortality (14 %) and 83 % tumor incidence, without a significant difference to P2. P3 developed the disease but to a lesser degree (33 % tumor incidence). Furthermore, the three protocols showed lipid oxidation (0.4-0.58 ng/μg of protein) and proteins oxidation (0.6-1 ng/μg of protein). The P1 and P3 induction protocols presented less mortality, weight loss, and acceptable DAI, a weight/length ratio higher than the negative control and presence of tumors.
Discussion: The use of AOM (10mg/kg) combined with DSS (1.5-2 %) are suitable models to evaluate the carcinogenic effect of compounds of interest, inflammation signs, lipids and proteins oxidation and a survival number adequate to perform the statistical analysis leading to accurate conclusions. Therefore, P1 and P3 are protocols that can be used in chemoprevention assays with satisfactory results.
Drinking water quality and health risk assessment of intake and point-of-use water sources in Tano North Municipality, Ghana
Authors: Yeboah Saeed Ibn Idris K. , Antwi-Agyei Prince , Domfeh Martin Kyereh
Published: January 2022

This study assessed the change in the quality of drinking water from the intake to point-of-use and the health risk to consumers of the water sources in a farming community in Ghana. Water samples were collected from five intake sources and point-of-use sources from 31 households. A quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) was used to estimate the health risk. All the physicochemical parameters were found to be within the WHO guidelines except pH and water hardness. Again, none of the physicochemical parameters showed a significant difference between intake and point-of-use water sources. There were, however, significant differences in the mean total and fecal coliforms between the intake source and point-of-use source (3.63 vs 4.57 log CFU/100 mL and 1.38 vs 2.83 log CFU/100 mL, respectively). The results of the QMRA showed that the disease burden arising from exposure to river and spring water sources were above the WHO reference tolerable risk level of 1 × 10−6 Disability-Adjusted Life Years per person per year. The results of this study are expected to influence relevant stakeholders toward initiating plans that could mitigate the spread of waterborne diseases and avert the related economic implications in the study community.
Application of the Water Service Sustainability Index to water services in sub-Saharan Africa: the case studies of eight councils in the Southern region of Cameroon (Central Africa)
Authors: Mvongo Victor Dang , Defo Célestin , Tchoffo Martin
Published: January 2022

The aim of this article is to assess the sustainability of rural water service in the Mvila Division (Southern region of Cameroon) in order to constructively feed the debate on the most effective ways to improve access to rural water service in sub-Saharan Africa. The methodological approach was based on the application of the Water Service Sustainability Index (WSSI) and was implemented through technical inspection of the rural drinking water supply system (RDWSS), the semi-structured interview, and a survey of 103 service providers. Results show that the sustainability performance of rural water service in the Mvila Division is poor–medium. The highest aggregate value of the WSSI was obtained in the Mvangan council (59.54%) followed by the Ngoulemakong council (47.99%), Biwong Bulu (38.53%), Efoulan (33.99%), Biwong Bane (31.51%), Ebolowa I (28.96%), Ebolowa II (28.19%), and Mengong (26.57%). Results also show that rural water service is influenced by factors such as the low pricing of rural water service, climate risk, the poor structuring of the maintenance chain, and the weak commitment of the municipal authorities. However, this study represents only a current snapshot of rural water service delivery conditions and should be conducted at regular intervals to track changes in overall and local conditions.
Parasitological, microbiological, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of raw and drinking water in a tourist city in the tri-border region of South America
Authors: Scherer Gustavo Strieder , Leal Diego Averaldo Guiguet , Greinert Goulart Juliane Araújo , Araújo Ronalda Silva , Beux Marcia Regina , Moreira Neide Martins
Published: January 2022

Despite the large amounts of freshwater available in Brazil, the deterioration of surface water can represent a risk of waterborne disease for national and international tourists. The main goal of this study was to assess the quality of drinking water in the triple border region of Brazil before and after being treated in water treatment plants (WTPs) and in Municipal Early Childhood Education Centers (MECECs), in terms of parasitological, microbiological, and physical–chemical aspects. Different water samples were monitored: raw water (RW), treated water (TW), and tap water from the MECECs, giving 60 samples in total, to investigate the presence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium, microbiological indicators, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and antimicrobial resistance profiles using conventional microbiological assays and parasitological, immunological, and molecular techniques. The results obtained were compared with the reference values recommended by the legislation of drinking water in Brazil. For the first time, contamination by Cryptosporidium and Giardia was demonstrated in RW used to supply WTPs, in TW of Foz do Iguaçu, and in water destined for consumption by children. A total of 52 bacterial isolates were obtained, with high percentages of multidrug resistance to antibiotics, including a carbapenem-resistant profile, highlighting the need to improve quality control standards.
SOME PENITENTIAL ASPECTS OF THE OLD IRISH “VOYAGES” (IMMRAMA)
Authors: BOGDANOVA Anastasiia A.
Published: January 2022

This article identifies some of the penitential semantic elements from two fragments of “The Voyage of Mail-Duin” and “Voyage of Wa Korr”, which are part of the group of Old Irish stories about voyages (OE Immrama). The first plot is connected with a hermit thief who was forced by God’s providence to give up his riches and retire to the island (episode 10th); the second is connected with the crime of the Wa Korra brothers, who ravaged the churches of Connaught and killed the clerics.
As a source base, the early medieval Irish penitentiaries in Latin of the 5th-8th centuries, preserved in the manuscripts of the 9th-12th centuries, are involved: “The First Synod of Patrick”, the penitentiaries of Saints Gilda, Finnian, Columban, Kummene. The penitential aspects of Immrama have been in the orbit of scientific interests of scientists since the beginning of the 20th century and in recent decades, work in this direction is still ongoing.
In the course of a comparative analysis, it was found that penitentiaries and these fragments of Immrama have certain connotations in the relationship between offense and sanction. The legal categories of exile, fasting, compensation for material damage find their application in relation to serious crimes or “sins”: murder and theft of church property. However, there are a number of important differences in small details: in the understanding of the category of “expulsion” or “excommunication” in the penitentiaries and in the “Voyages”; in the duration of fasting and repentance. Unfortunately, the hermeneutics of the penitential meaning of “Voyages” in those plots where not clergymen (hermits) but laymen appear, is also difficult.
A Review on CRISPR-mediated Epigenome Editing: A Future Directive
for Therapeutic Management of Cancer
Authors: Ghosh Dipanjan , Chakravarti Rudra , Lenka Swadhin Kumar , Gautam Anupam , Singh Rajveer , Ravichandiran Velayutham , Roy Syamal
Published: January 2022

Recent studies have shed light on the role of epigenetic marks in certain diseases like
cancer, type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and cardiovascular dysfunction, to name a few.
Epigenetic marks like DNA methylation and histone acetylation are randomly altered in the disease
state. It has been seen that methylation of DNA and histones can result in down-regulation of gene
expression, whereas histone acetylation, ubiquitination, and phosphorylation are linked to enhanced
expression of genes. How can we precisely target such epigenetic aberrations to prevent the
advent of diseases? The answer lies in the amalgamation of the efficient genome editing technique,
CRISPR, with certain effector molecules that can alter the status of epigenetic marks as well as employ
certain transcriptional activators or repressors. In this review, we have discussed the rationale
of epigenetic editing as a therapeutic strategy and how CRISPR-Cas9 technology coupled with epigenetic
effector tags can efficiently edit epigenetic targets. In the later part, we have discussed how
certain epigenetic effectors are tagged with dCas9 to elicit epigenetic changes in cancer. Increased
interest in exploring the epigenetic background of cancer and non-communicable diseases like type
II diabetes mellitus and obesity accompanied with technological breakthroughs has made it possible
to perform large-scale epigenome studies.
Lipid-based Nanoparticles for the Targeted Delivery of Anticancer Drugs:
A Review
Authors: Moghaddam Mehrdad Moosazadeh , Khodaverdi Hamed , Zeini Maryam Shokrian , Vazifedust Soheil , Akbariqomi Mostafa , Tebyaniyan Hamid
Published: January 2022

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Although chemotherapeutic
agents have been effectively designed to increase the survival rates of some patients, the designed chemotherapeutic
agents necessarily deliver toxic chemotherapeutic drugs to healthy tissues, resulting in
serious side effects. Cancer cells can often acquire drug resistance after repeatedly administering current
chemotherapeutic agents, restricting their efficacy. Given such obstacles, investigators have attempted
to distribute chemotherapeutic agents using targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs), especially
nanotechnology-based DDSs. The lipid-based nanoparticles (LBNPs) are a large and complex class of
substances utilized to manage various diseases, especially cancers. Liposomes seem to be the most frequently
employed LBNPs, owing to their high biocompatibility, bioactivity, stability, and flexibility.
Solid lipid NPs and non-structured lipid carriers have lately received a lot of interest. In addition, several
reports focused on novel therapies via LBNPs to manage various forms of cancer. In the present
research, the latest improvements in applying LBNPs have been shown to deliver different therapeutic
agents to cancerous cells and be a quite successful candidate in cancer therapy.
Emerging Prospects for the Study of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells using
Patient-derived Organoids
Authors: Ding Ling , Yang Yuning , Lu Qin , Cao Zhiyun , Weygant Nathaniel
Published: January 2022

Human colorectal cancer (CRC) patient-derived organoids (PDOs) are a powerful ex
vivo platform to directly assess the impact of molecular alterations and therapies on tumor cell proliferation,
differentiation, response to chemotherapy, tumor-microenvironment interactions, and
other facets of CRC biology. Next-generation sequencing studies have demonstrated that CRC is a
highly heterogeneous disease with multiple distinct subtypes. PDOs are a promising new tool to
study CRC due to their ability to accurately recapitulate their source tumor and thus reproduce this
heterogeneity. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art for CRC PDOs in the study of cancer
stem cells (CSCs) and the cancer stem cell niche. Areas of focus include the relevance of PDOs to
understanding CSC-related paracrine signaling, identifying interactions between CSCs and the tumor
microenvironment, and modeling CSC-driven resistance to chemotherapies and targeted therapies.
Finally, we summarize current findings regarding the identification and verification of CSC
targets using PDOs and their potential use in personalized medicine.
Pharmacy and Exercise as Complimentary Partners for Successful Cardiovascular
Ageing
Authors: Howlett Luke A. , Jones Sandra A. , Lancaster Matthew K.
Published: January 2022

Diseases of the cardiovascular system have been the biggest cause of mortality for the
majority of the last century, currently contributing to almost a third of deaths every year globally.
Ageing associates with changes to the structure and function of the heart and vascular system that
progressively increase the incidence of abnormalities, morbidity, and cardiovascular disease. The
burden of ageing and its relationship to cardiovascular disease risk highlights the need for more research
into the underlying mechanisms involved and how they may be treated and/or prevented.
Factors influencing adrenergic dysfunction may explain a significant part of the age-related deterioration
in health and responsiveness of the cardiovascular system. Increased sympathetic activity in
old age overstimulates adrenergic receptors and causes detrimental changes within the associated
signalling mechanisms, including a reduction in receptor number and downstream effector efficiency.
Pharmacological agents, such as metformin, resveratrol, beta-blockers, and angiotensin converting
enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, have been identified as potential anti-ageing therapies with cardiovascular
effects, which may be beneficial in treating the decline in cardiovascular function with old
age. Regular exercise has also shown promise in the prevention and treatment of harmful age-related
effects on the cardiovascular system. This review will investigate age-associated vascular and
cardiac remodelling, and the link between adrenergic dysfunction and vascular and cardiac control.
This review will also consider whether pharmacological or non-pharmacological therapies are most
effective, or indeed complimentary to potentially optimised ageing of the cardiovascular system
and improved quality of life in the elderly.