bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computer-Based Clinical Examination (CCE) in Surgery: Would It Complement or Replace the OSCE in the Post-COVID-19 Era?
Authors: E H A El Shallaly Gamal , M Bafadni Mudather , M A Abdelmaged Hozifa , H A Hamza Maysa
Published: September 2023

Objectives: Surgical clinical assessment of medical students is confronted by many challenges particularly the increasing numbers of students with limited resources, and pandemics. The search for new tools of assessment continues. Our objectives were: (1) To develop a computer-based clinical exam (CCE) and identify its characteristics (2) To assess its acceptability of the students. Method: The study was conducted at the Surgical Department, Alzaiem Alazhari University (AAU) between February and August, 2017. We used the modular objectoriented dynamic learning environment (MOODLE) program as a platform to upload and deliver the exam. The exam consisted of 45 questions (stations). Each consisted of a clinical scenario accompanied by a photograph (of a patient or investigation) or short video followed by multiple choice questions (MCQs). A questionnaire was designed to get the students’ feedback. We analyzed the questionnaire and scores obtained by the students and compared them to their performance in other tools of the surgical exam, using SPSS statistical program. Results: The study included 188 final year medical students. There was a highly significant correlation of the CCE scores of each student with their final result (r= 0.67), and with other tools of the surgery exam particularly the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Students’ acceptability was high. Conclusion: The CCE is valid and practicable. It saves time and is popular with the students and tutors. It complements the OSCE in the assessment of clinical competency and allows wide coverage of the curriculum. It is expected to gain importance and popularity in the post-COVID-19 era.
Measuring Nurses’ Satisfaction in Primary Health Care Centers at Khartoum, Sudan
Authors: Hussein Ahmed Abdalla Yahya
Published: September 2023

Background: The primary healthcare sector has experienced significant growth globally, and the nursing workforce has also expanded in recent decades in response to health system reforms. This study aims to assess job satisfaction among primary healthcare nurses in Khartoum, Sudan. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 primary healthcare centers on 50 nurses who were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using an online questionnaire and it was analyzed using SPSS. Results: The findings of this study indicate that the job satisfaction level among nurses working at primary healthcare centers in Khartoum was high (4.4/5). Most nurses reported high satisfaction with all items including protocols, salary, environment, and relationships. The study also found a significant correlation between nurses’ sex and experience with their level of job satisfaction. Female nurses reported significantly higher job satisfaction (4.4/5) compared to male nurses (3.6/5), (p-value = 0.04). Additionally, nurses with fewer years of experience reported significantly higher job satisfaction compared to those with more years of experience (p-value = 0.03). Conclusion: The study concludes that nurses working at primary healthcare centers in Khartoum have high job satisfaction, particularly regarding the working environment, salary, relationships, and availability of guidelines. Female nurses and those with less experience have significantly higher job satisfaction.
Out-of-Wedlock Pregnancy Among Single Mothers in Khartoum, Sudan: Sociodemographic Characteristics, Causes, and Consequences
Authors: Abdelgadir Ali Mohamed Amal , Ahmed Apaker Babiker Elshafee , Mohmoud Godat Sohair , Mohammed Gomaa Doalbet Salma , AF Ahmed Aida , Hamed Mohamed Ali Maha , Ahmed Obadi Abdalkhaliq , Mohammed Ali Mustafa Amna , Awad Elkarim Taha Amani , Elnour Eltayeb Elbashir Amira , Gasim Ahmed Ragaa , A Alghamdi Fahad , AM Ahmed Waled
Published: September 2023

Background: Out-of-wedlock childbearing is a global phenomenon that has lifelong consequences on the lives of both mothers and their children. The aim of this study is to identify the sociodemographic characteristics, causes, and consequences of outof- wedlock pregnancy among single mothers in Khartoum, Sudan.Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Mygoma Orphanage Center (MOC) and Shamaa Rehabilitation Center (SRC) using convenience sampling among 200 participants. A validated questionnaire with 25 items was used to collect data. The data were entered into Epi-Data Manager and analyzed using the SPSS. Results: The study found that most of the single mothers in Khartoum who gave birth out of wedlock were young and had just completed their university education. Most of them discovered their pregnancy during the second or third trimester, and nearly half of them did not receive any antenatal care. The majority of the children born to these mothers were preterm and had a low birth weight. Additionally, many mothers reported experiencing social stigma and rejection from their families due to their out-of-wedlock pregnancy. The study also highlighted loneliness, stress, and romantic relations as the main causes of out-of-wedlock pregnancy among single mothers in Khartoum, Sudan.Conclusion: The study provides useful insights into the sociodemographic characteristics, causes, and consequences of out-of-wedlock pregnancy among single mothers in Khartoum, Sudan. Social stigma and lack of support were identified as significant barriers to the reintegration of single mothers and their children into society. Future research should focus on investigating the long-term effects of outof- wedlock pregnancy on mothers and their children.
Management Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Gomez Maria Isabel
Published: September 2023

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide. This represents a growing public health problem. It is well known the relationship between chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, and one of the main objectives of the treatment is based on the prevention and education of patients and optimal pharmacological management. The prevention of CKD demands a multifaceted approach that addresses glycemic control, blood pressure management, and lipid control. These preventive measures, combined with dietary modifications, exercise, and patient education, can significantly reduce the risk of CKD development and progression. Accordingly, managing CKD in type 2 diabetes patients demands a comprehensive and individualized approach, considering these conditions’ multifaceted nature. With the right strategies and a patient-centered approach, it is possible to mitigate the impact of CKD, improve patient outcomes, and empower individuals to take control of their health in the face of these complex health challenges. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for preventing and treating chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes and delay progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
Electoral suffrage between legitimate rights and national rights (Malaysia as a model)
Authors: الشميري د. حكيم إبراهيم عبد الجبار
Published: September 2023

Islamic political scholars have determined that Islamic legislation has a unique system and specific methods for selecting rulers. This system is subject to established religious mechanisms, criteria, and conditions. This Islamic system was clearly evident during the establishment of the Islamic state, particularly after the passing of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Consultation (shura) was employed among Muslims to choose a caliph, and no one was appointed as a ruler after him. This study aims to highlight the principles of Islamic politics through analyzing Quranic and Prophetic texts, examining the foundations of general and specific religious rulings, and applying them to the Malaysian elections as a model. The significance of the topic lies in the importance of transparency and integrity in presidential and parliamentary elections and their consequential effects. The researcher employed various methods including extrapolation, analysis, comparison, and conclusion. The researcher concluded that the Islamic political system has distinct electoral criteria that set it apart from global constitutions, and Islamic law attaches significant importance to electoral participation. Participation is both a religious and constitutional obligation for those qualified to take part in elections.
The Impact of Management Information Systems on Strategic Success: A Field Study in Islamic Banks Operating in Aden, Yemen
Authors: الحمادي د. بشير محمد , عبد القوي عبده حسين , ثابت عبد الملك فرحان , مهذب عبده محمد , محمد أنغام علي , عبده صبري محمد , عاطف عبد الحافظ هيثم
Published: September 2023

The study aimed to identify the impact of management information systems in its four dimensions (human resources, material resources, software, information security) on the strategic success in its three dimensions (survival, growth, adaptation) in Yemeni Islamic banks operating in the city of Aden (Tadhamon International Bank, Saba Islamic Bank, CAC Islamic Bank). The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach, and the study population consisted of the administrative leaders working in those banks, and their number was (56). The study used the questionnaire as a tool (f)or data collection, and it employed the statistical program (SPSS) for data analysis. The study reached a number of conclusions, the most important of which are: In general, there is an impact of management information systems on the strategic success, and there is an impact for each of the four dimensions of management information systems (human resources, material resources, software, information security) on the strategic success of the banks in the study population. The level of management information systems in banks provides the study population with a very high level on the variable itself and at the level of dimensions such as (physical resources, software, information security). Further, there is an impact of management information systems on strategic system at a high-level of a dimension such as (human resources). There is also an impact with regard to dimensions such as (growth, adaptation) and a very high level of impact on a dimension such as (survival). The study recommended that banks should make use of strengths, addressing points of weaknesses, seizing opportunities, and overcoming threats in order to achieve their objectives. It also suggested conducting another scientific study on the impact of management information systems in strategic control in other dimensions of management information systems and this can be determined according to the specialized functions of banks.
Recent progress of enhanced bubble separation in alkaline water electrolyzer
Authors: Yang Lin , Gao Lingyu , Shan Guixuan , Huo Xinyi , Zhang Mengfei , Wang Yuxuan , Liu Xingyu , Kong Aiqun , Wu Jiangjiexing , Zhang Jinli
Published: September 2023

Alkaline water electrolysis has a large industrial application and development potential in hydrogen energy owing to its high maturity and low cost. However, its moderate energy efficiency, especially caused by bubble effects, inhibits its use for large-scale hydrogen production. To overcome this shortcoming, this review first analyzes the bubble effect and summarizes the external operation methods, such as external field intensification, flow operation, fluctuation operation, and surfactant addition to the electrolyte, to enhance bubble separation in the electrolyzer. Then, electrode and flow channel structure optimization, particularly superhydrophilic and superaerophobic electrodes, and flow channels with varying heights, square column arrangements, and inlet/outlet numbers are highlighted. Finally, future research directions in alkaline water electrolysis technology are suggested to advance the industrial application of large-scale alkaline water electrolysis.
Using An Evaluation Framework to Direct Public Engagement Work: 2017-2022 with Case Studies
Authors:   University of Dundee, Cameron Amy , Floyd Ali ,   University of Dundee, Hardee Erin ,   University of Dundee, Mackintosh Ailsa , Stanley-Wall Nicola ,   University of Dundee, Quinn Emma
Published: September 2023

We are the School of Life Sciences Public Engagement team. This team encompasses the Schools Outreach Organiser and Public Engagement and Communications Officer as well as the WCAIR Public Engagement Manager and Public Engagement Officer and the Academic Lead. We provide support for the staff and students within the School of Life Sciences in engaging with the public, including training, resource development, administrative support, and specialist expertise. We have staff and student development, and social purpose at the heart of all that we do. In 2017 we defined four main aims as part of our new Public Engagement with Research Strategy: → Build on our creative partnerships to deliver a high-quality, innovative engagement programme. This will inspire participation in and understanding of our research, making science relevant for everyone. → Engage a diverse range of people with our research. → Consult with our local communities to widen our reach and meet their needs. → Promote and support a culture of active participation in public engagement within our life sciences community. In 2018, we worked with Evaluation Support Scotland to set up our evaluation framework. Some of the evaluation outcomes, and their associated indicators, were set to evidence the good work we were already doing. Some were set to drive us to improve our practice. Over the past five years, we have used the framework to monitor our work. Each annual reflection gave us confidence in some areas but also pushed us to re-examine some of our long-standing practices and assumptions and refine the framework to meet changing needs. Here we showcase how we used the evaluation framework to guide our work and in doing so, provide a flavour of the public engagement activities the School of Life Sciences undertakes. We demonstrate how we knew if we were being successful, where we had more work to do, and where we were unrealistic with our expectations.
The Historical and Epidemiological Events that Preceded and Accompanied the Adjustment of the Description of a Pandemic on the WHO Website in 2009 and 2011
Authors: Teppone Mikhail
Published: September 2023

Background: An analysis of the pages of the WHO website on the influenza pandemic revealed changes in the use of the term "pandemic" that occurred in 2009 and 2011. Materials and methods: Since the cause of the change in the description of a pandemic on the WHO website in 2009 and 2011 is not clear, analyses of the literature related to the epidemics and pandemics, WHO documents, WHO website, and articles published in journals and the Internet have been done.Results: Until early May 2009, the description of the pandemic focused on "enormous numbers of cases and deaths." On May 6, 2009, a new description of the pandemic was published, focusing on the prevalence of the disease, but in 2011 it reverted to the initial one without any comments. From the perspective of the WHO document issued in 2009, the declaration of a swine flu pandemic in June 2009 seemed justified. However, considering the previous pandemic history, common sense, and the consequences of declaring a pandemic for a disease not accompanied by a high number of cases and high mortality, it was a premature move.Conclusion: Since the primary factor hindering the development of a pandemic is the effectiveness of treating infectious diseases, but not a definition of a pandemic, to minimize the likelihood of a new pandemic, it is necessary to improve the quality of special medical education and to study and adapt to modern conditions all effective drugs and methods used in the past.
Carbon Dioxide Fluxes and Influencing Factors in the Momoge Salt Marsh Ecosystem, Jilin Province, China
Authors: Ma Qiongfang , Zhang Chaofan , Chen Ling , Yao Mingyuan , Yang Fan , Yu Haixia , Fan Shengnong , Yan Hong , Li Wei
Published: September 2023

Abstract: This study observes the characteristics and influencing factors of carbon fluxes of the Momoge salt marsh ecosystem over four years, which behaves as a CO2 sink. The daily, seasonal, and interannual variations of CO2 fluxes in the Momoge salt marshes were observed using the eddy covariance method and compared with various environmental factors. An overall daily “U” shaped distribution was observed, with uptake during the day (negative values) and release at night (positive values). Annually, the carbon fluxes in the study area roughly exhibit a “V” shape. Carbon fluxes during the non-growing season predominantly showed positive values, indicating the release of CO2 into the atmosphere. Photosynthetically active radiation was the primary influencing factor affecting hourly and daytime variations in net ecosystem exchange (NEE) during the growing season, while temperature was the main factor influencing nighttime NEE dynamics. Air temperature, soil temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, precipitation, and water level all had significant impacts on daily net CO2 exchange. At the monthly scale, larger values of soil temperature, air temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, and aboveground biomass correspond to a stronger carbon absorption capacity of the ecosystem. Overall, temperature remains the primary factor for carbon fluxes in the Momoge wetlands.
Can Nanowires Coalesce?
Authors: Dubrovskii Vladimir G.
Published: September 2023

Coalescence of nanowires and other three-dimensional structures into continuous film is desirable for growing low dislocation density III-nitride and III-V materials on lattice-mismatched substrates, and interesting from the fundamental viewpoint. Here, we develop a growth model for vertical nanowires which, under rather general assumptions on the solid-like coalescence process within the Kolmogorov crystallization theory, results in a morphological diagram for the asymptotic coverage of a substrate surface. The coverage is presented as a function of two variables, the material collection efficiency on the top nanowire facet a, and the normalized surface diffusion flux of adatoms from the NW sidewalls b. The full coalescence of nanowires is possible only when a=1 regardless of b. At a>1, which is usual for vapor-liquid-solid growth with a catalyst droplet, nanowires can only partly merge but never coalesce into continuous film. These results can be used for predicting and controlling the degree of surface coverage by nanowires and three-dimensional islands by tuning the surface density, droplet size, adatoms diffusivity, and geometry of the initial structures in the vapor-liquid-solid, selective area or self-induced growth processes in different epitaxy techniques.
Auditory Challenges and Listening Effort in School-Age Children with Autism: Insights from Pupillary Dynamics during Speech in Noise Perception
Authors: Xu Suyun , Zhang Hua , Fan Juan , Jiang Xiaoming , Zhang Minyue , Guan Jingjing , Ding Hongwei , Zhang Yang
Published: September 2023

Purpose: School-age children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) often experience difficulties in speech-in-noise (SiN) perception, leading to increased listening effort that impacts their well-being and academic performance. This study aimed to investigate the SiN processing challenges faced by Mandarin-speaking children with ASC and its impact on their listening effort. Methods: Participants completed sentence recognition tests in both quiet and noisy conditions, with a steady-state noise masker presented at 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio in the noisy condition. We compared recognition accuracy and task-evoked pupil responses from 23 Mandarin-speaking children with ASC to 19 age-matched neurotypical (NT) counterparts to gauge their behavioral performance and listening effort during these auditory tasks. Results: The ASC group demonstrated notably decreased accuracy in noise compared to their NT peers, suggesting poorer SiN perception. Pupillometric data further revealed significantly larger peak dilations in the ASC group than in the NT group under comparable conditions. Importantly, the ASC group's peak dilation in quiet mirrored the NT group's in noise. However, the ASC group exhibited shorter peak latencies and reduced mean dilations than the NT group in similar conditions. Such patterns indicate the ASC group might initially experience a heightened cognitive load but utilize fewer cognitive resources as the task continued, indicating an atypical allocation of cognitive resources and a potential tendency towards relatively superficial and automated auditory processing. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the unique SiN processing challenges children with ASC face, underscoring the importance of a nuanced, individual-centric approach for interventions and support.
Thermal Properties of TiO2 Nanoparticles Treated Transformer Oil and Coconut Oil
Authors: Koswattage Kaveenga Rasika , Induranga Ashan , Galpaya Chanaka , Vithanage Vimukthi
Published: September 2023

Heat transfer fluids are used in various industrial systems to maintain them in perfect operating conditions. Extensive research efforts have been dedicated to enhance the thermal properties of these heat transfer fluids to improve their efficiency. Developing nanofluids is a potential candidate for such enhancements. This study investigates the impact of incorporating TiO2 nanoparticles into two types of oils: transformer oil (NYTRO LIBRA) and virgin coconut oil (manufactured by Govi Aruna Pvt. Ltd.) at different temperatures and with varying volume fractions. The nanofluids were prepared using a two-step method by adding CTAB (Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) surfactant. To minimize nanoparticle agglomeration, this study employed relatively low-volume fractions. Thermal properties by means of thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and volumetric heat capacity were measured in accordance with ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standard methods, using a multifunctional thermal conductivity meter (LAMBDA thermal conductivity meter). The measured thermal conductivity values were compared with theoretical models and previous research findings. It was confirmed that the modification of thermal properties was enhanced by doping TiO2 nanoparticles with different volume fraction.
Automatic Roadside Camera Calibration with Transformers
Authors: Li Yong , Zhao Zhiguo , Chen Yunli , Zhang Xiaoting , Tian Rui
Published: September 2023

Previous camera self-calibration methods have exhibited certain notable shortcomings. On one hand, they either exclusively emphasized scene cues or solely focused on vehicle-related cues, resulting in a lack of adaptability to diverse scenarios and a limited number of effective features. Furthermore, these methods either solely utilized geometric features within traffic scenes or exclusively extracted semantic information, failing to comprehensively consider both aspects. This limited the comprehensive feature extraction from scenes, ultimately leading to a decrease in calibration accuracy. Additionally, conventional vanishing point-based self-calibration methods often required the design of additional edge-background models and manual parameter tuning, thereby increasing operational complexity and the potential for errors. Given these observed limitations, and in order to address these challenges, we propose an innovative roadside camera self-calibration model based on the Transformer architecture. This model possesses a unique capability to simultaneously learn scene features and vehicle features within traffic scenarios while considering both geometric and semantic information. Through this approach, our model can overcome the constraints of prior methods, enhancing calibration accuracy and robustness while reducing operational complexity and the potential for errors. Our method outperforms existing approaches on both real-world dataset scenarios and publicly available datasets, demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach.
Integrated Remote Sensing Investigation for Suspected Landslide: A Case Study of the Genie Slope in the Sichuan-Tibet Transportation Corridor, China
Authors: Yu Wenlong , Li Weile , Lu Huiyan , Xu Zhengxuan , Wang Dong , Dong Xiujun , Li Pengfei
Published: September 2023

The current deformation and stable state of slopes with historical shatter signs is a concern for engineering construction. Suspected landslide scarps were discovered at the rear edge of the slope of the Genie in the Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor during a field investigation. In order to qualitatively determine the current status of the surface deformation of this slope, this paper uses high-resolution optical remote sensing, airborne LiDAR and InSAR technologies for comprehensive analysis. The interpretation of high-resolution optical and airborne LiDAR data revealed that the rear edge of the slope exhibits three levels of scarps. However, no deformation was detected with the D-InSAR analysis of ALOS-1 radar images from 2007 to 2008 or with the Stacking-InSAR and SBAS-InSAR processing of Sentinel-1A radar images from 2017 to 2020. A geological model of the slope was established in combination with field investigation stipulating that the slope is composed of steep anti-dip layered dolomite limestone and that the scarps at the rear edge of the slope were caused by historical shallow toppling. Further research is recommended to determine the extent of toppling deformation and evaluate the slope stability under the disturbance of tunnel excavation.
Evaluating the Sustainable Human Resource Management in Manufacturing Firms Using Single-Valued Neutrosophic Distance Measure-Based RANCOM-AROMAN Model
Authors: Rani Pratibha , Mishra Arunodaya Raj , Alrasheedi Adel Fahad , Xie Bo , DWIVEDI RAJEEV
Published: September 2023

Along with the economic growth, the companies must contribute to social progress and promote environmental sustainability in equal harmony. Sustainable human resource management (SHRM) strategies make it possible to attain the economic, social and environmental goals of a firm. In this regard, a survey method is discussed using the literature review and online questionnaire to identify the main factors/indicators during the SHRM evaluation of manufacturing firms in India. Uncertainty is commonly occurred in the assessment of SHRM factors. As a generalized version of fuzzy sets, single-valued neutrosophic set (SVNS) has been demonstrated as a valuable tool to illustrate the indeterminate, inconsistent and uncertain data of realistic decision-making problems. Considering the idea of SVNSs, this study develops a hybrid multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) approach for assessing the SHRM of manufacturing firms under uncertainty settings. For this purpose, an SVN-alternative ranking order method accounting for two-step normalization (AROMAN) is proposed based on VIFI-score function-based decision experts’ (DEs’) weighting tool and integrated criteria weight-determining model to solve the MCGDM problems with fully unknown DEs and criteria weights. In this regard, we develop new SVN-distance measure to compute the degree of difference between SVNSs. Some examples are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of developed measure over the existing ones. In addition, new criteria weight-determination model is presented with the integration of objective weights through IVIF-distance measure-based model and subjective weights through ranking comparison (RANCOM) tool on SVNSs. The proposed ranking method is applied to an empirical study of SHRM assessment for manufacturing firms in India, which shows its applicability and feasibility. In this study, the evaluation criteria are characterized into social, environmental and economic aspects with DE’s opinions. Comparative and sensitivity analyses are made to show the strength and steadiness of presented approach. This study provides an innovative MCGDM analysis framework, which makes a significant contribution to the SHRM assessment problem under indeterminate, inconsistent and uncertain setting.
Effects Of Organic Fertilization on Biomass Production in Urochloa spp. Pastures and Soil Biological and Physical Properties in the Colombian Amazon Region
Authors: Alvarez Faver , Ríos Paula , Sterling Armando
Published: September 2023

The objective of this was to evaluate the effects of organic fertilization on biomass production in Urochloa spp. pastures, and the soil biological and physical properties in the Colombian Amazon region. Three pastures crops (Urochloa decumbens, Urochloa humidicola and Urochloa brizantha) with 5 years old were examined in a hill landscape. A randomized complete blocks design covering an area of 5005 m2, with 1 m separation between units to minimize edge effects. Highly significant differences in Urochloa spp. biomass production were observed before and after organic fertilization (i.e., initial time: 992.19±97.66 kg DM ha-1 vs. final time: 1920.94±155.44 kg DM ha-1 vs.), but not between different fertilization treatments. The interaction between the treatment and time was significant for total density (p=0.0300) and richness (p=0.0300) of soil macrofauna. Furthermore, the interaction between treatment and soil depth was significant for bulk density (p=0.0187). The linear mixed effects analysis showed that soil bulk density and penetration resistance were lower in 0 - 10 cm depth than that observed in 10 - 20 depth and 20 - 30 cm depth. Overall, the application of organic fertilizers had a significant and positive effect on Urochloa spp. forage biomass and on the physical and biological properties of soils that had historically been affected by extensive livestock farming in a deforested hill landscape in the Colombian Amazon region.
Analytical prediction of the number of Bénard cells manifesting in cylindrical(axi-symmetric) and two-dimensional rectangular enclosures for a given aspect ratio
Authors: Siddheshwar P. G. , Lakshmi K. M. , Laroze David , Kanchana C.
Published: September 2023

The paper reports an analytical study of two problems of Rayleigh-Bénard convection(RBC): one in a Newtonian liquid occupying an axi-symmetric cylindrical enclosure(CE) and second in a two-dimensional rectangular enclosure(RE). Linear stability analysis is employed to obtain information on the onset of convection in terms of a critical Rayleigh number, Ra, as a function of the aspect ratio, Ro. The nature and the flow structures of the convective cells, at the onset of convection, are predicted theoretically by plotting the streamlines for different values of Ro. Not so shallow(Ro<1 or Ro≪1), and very shallow enclosures(Ro≫1) are considered. Concepts of cell-width and the wave number are respectively used in these two types of enclosures. An explicit analytical expression for the number of cells as a function of Ro is obtained theoretically. Exact prediction of the critical value of Ra, viz., Rac, as a function of Ro is also made. These are new findings in the case of both CE and RE. The fundamental differences between the problems of CE and RE are also highlighted.
Improving Adversarial Robustness via Distillation-based Purification
Authors: Koo Inhwa , Chae Dong-Kyu , Lee Sang-Chul
Published: September 2023

Despite the impressive performance of deep neural networks on many different vision tasks, they have been known to be vulnerable to intentionally added noise to input images. To combat these adversarial examples (AEs), improving the adversarial robustness of models has emerged as an important research topic, and research has been conducted in various directions including adversarial training, image denoising, and adversarial purification. Among them, this paper focuses on adversarial purification, which is a kind of pre-processing that removes noise before AEs enter a classification model. The advantage of adversarial purification is that it can improve robustness without affecting the model’s nature, while another defense techniques like adversarial training suffer from a decrease in model accuracy. Our proposed purification framework utilizes a Convolutional Autoencoder as a base model to capture the features of images and their spatial structure. We further aim to improve the adversarial robustness of our purification model by distilling the knowledge from teacher models. To this end, we train two Convolutional Autoencoders (teachers), one with adversarial training and the other with normal training. Then, through ensemble knowledge distillation, we transfer the ability of denoising and restoring of original images to the student model (purification model). Our extensive experiments confirm that our student model achieves high purification performance(i.e., how accurately a pre-trained classification model classifies purified images). The ablation study confirms the positive effect of our idea of ensemble knowledge distillation from two teachers on performance.
Rehabilitation Chair Design Based on Functional Technology Matrix and Multi-Level Evaluation Methods
Authors: Yang Xinyan , Zhang Zhongfeng
Published: September 2023

In order to meet the diversified rehabilitation needs of people, it is necessary to design a product for active rehabilitation of patients. Existing rehabilitation chairs use intelligent massage, which can cause problems such as large massage area, inability to local massage, large chair size, and inability to meet the continuous use of the damaged parts. In this paper, modular design method and multi-layer evaluation method are used to solve the problems related to rehabilitation chairs. The authors use the questionnaire survey method and the functional technology matrix method to determine the functional requirements of the rehabilitation chair, and then use the multilevel evaluation methods, including the AHP method, entropy weight method main and grey correlation analysis, to optimize the functional solutions of the rehabilitation chair, and finally obtain a chair for the rehabilitation of patients with upper and lower limb disorders. Problems such as generalisation of rehabilitation scope and non-durable use of components were solved, and the purpose of active exercise was achieved. This study verifies that the use of multilevel decision evaluation method can effectively improve the efficiency of programme decision-making, and provides theoretical and practical basis for the design of similar products.
Zebrafish as an Emerging Model for Sarcopenia: Considerations, Current Insights, and Future Directions
Authors: Callegari Santiago , Mirzaei Foad , Agbaria Lila , Shariff Sanobar , Kantawala Burhan , Moronge Desmond , Ogendi Brian M. O.
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Sarcopenia poses a significant challenge to public health and can severely impact the quality of life of aging populations. Despite extensive efforts to study muscle degeneration using traditional animal models, there is still a lack of effective diagnostic tools, precise biomarkers, and treatments for sarcopenia. Zebrafish models have emerged as powerful tools in biomedical research, providing unique insights into age-related muscle disorders like sarcopenia. The advantages of using zebrafish models include their rapid growth outside of the embryo, optical transparency during early developmental stages, high reproductive potential, ease of husbandry, compact size, and genetic tractability. By deepening our understanding of the molecular processes underlying sarcopenia, we may develop novel diagnostic tools and effective treatments that can improve the lives of aging individuals affected by this condition. This review aims to explore the unique advantages of zebrafish as a model for sarcopenia research, highlight recent breakthroughs, outline potential avenues for future investigations, and emphasize the distinctive contributions that zebrafish models offer. Our research endeavors to contribute significantly to addressing the urgent need for practical solutions to the impact of sarcopenia on aging populations, ultimately striving to enhance the quality of life for individuals affected by this condition.
Identification and Validation of a PEX5-Dependent Signature for Prognostic Prediction in Glioma
Authors: Qin Xuhui , Wang Bing , Lu Xia , Song Yanyang , Wang Wei
Published: September 2023

Gliomas, the most prevalent and lethal form of brain cancer, are known to exhibit metabolic alterations that facilitate tumor growth, invasion, and resistance to therapies. Peroxisomes, essential organelles responsible for fatty acid oxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, rely on the receptor PEX5 for the import of metabolic enzymes into their matrix. However, the prognostic significance of PEX5 for glioma patients remains unclear. We developed a robust prognosis model based on PEX5-dependent signature. This signature not only serves as a robust prognosis model capable of accurately predicting outcomes for glioma patients but also effectively distinguishes several clinicopathological features, including the grade, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation, and 1p19q codeletion status. Furthermore, we developed a nomogram that integrates the prognostic model with other clinicopathological factors, demonstrating highly accurate performance in estimating patient survival. Patients classified into the high-risk group based on our prognostic model exhibit an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Finally, we validated that the peroxisomal localization of the signature genes depends on PEX5 and demonstrated that PEX5 is required for cell growth, migration and invasion of glioma cells. These findings identify the PEX5-dependent signature as a promising prognostic tool for gliomas.
Impact of sarcopenia on long-term outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with trans-arterial radioembolization: A retrospective multi-center study
Authors: Nam Heechul , Yang Hyun , Chun Ho Soo , Lee Han Ah , Nam Joon Yeul , Jang Jeong Won , Seo Yeon Seok , Kim Do Young , Kim Yoon Jun , Bae Si Hyun
Published: September 2023

Trans-arterial radioembolization (TARE) is a form of radiation therapy performed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via selective intra-arterial injection of Yttrium-90 loaded microspheres. This was a multicenter retrospective study of consecutive patients with HCC who underwent TARE between July 2009 and May 2019. Using pre-treatment computed tomography imaging, the total cross-sectional area (cm2) of the abdominal skeletal muscle at the third lumbar vertebra was measured. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated by normalizing the muscle area to patient height. In total, 347 patients (median age, 65 years; 284 male) were included in the study. A total of 108 (31.1%) patients had portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and 126 (36.3%) were classified as sarcopenic. The median overall survival (OS) was 28.1 months (95% CI, 24.8-35.7) and median progression-free survival was 8.0 months (95% CI, 6.4-9.4). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that sarcopenia (hazard ratio [HR], 1.36; 95% CI, 1.00-1.85, p = 0.05), PVTT (HR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.33-2.49, p < 0.01), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (≥200 ng/mL) (HR 1.41; 95% CI, 1.04-1.92, p = 0.03), and albumin-bilirubin grade (2-3) (HR 1.74; 95% CI, 1.24-2.43, p < 0.01) were independently associated with poor OS. TARE provided favorable long-term outcomes for patients with advanced HCC. Pre-treatment sarcopenia independently associated with survival, suggesting its utility as a surrogate biomarker for identifying TARE candidates.
Camphor Sulfonimine Compounds: Bottom-Up Design of MOF’s from Organic Frameworks Based on X-rayS and DFT-D3
Authors: Galvão Adelino M. , Costa Joana P. , Carvalho M. Fernanda N. N.
Published: September 2023

DFT-D3 calculations based on structural X-ray diffraction data obtained for 3-oxo-camphorsulfonyl imine (1), camphorsulfonyl chloride (2) and seven camphor sulfonimines (O2SNC10H13NR, L1-L7) from which L2 (R=4-OHC6H4), L4 (R=4-ClC6H4) and L6 (R=3,5-(CH3)2C6H3) are new, provide information into the intra and inter molecular interactions with concomitant elucidation of the supramolecular arrangement of the compounds. The DFT D3 calculations performed in small clusters of 2 or 3 molecular units reproduce the interactions observed by X-ray analyses showing that as a general trend the structural arrangement of the molecules is driven by electronic rather than by packing parameters.
In all compounds the self-assembly of 3D structures involves the sulfonyl imine group ( NSO2) either to establish hydrogen bonds, through the oxygen atoms or non-classic oxygen-aliphatic hydrogen or non-bonding interactions (NBI) which also involve the sulfonyl oxygens. Interestingly, the camphor sulfonimine compounds (L2, L3) having protic groups (R=C6H4X: X=OH, L2 or X=NH2, L3) at the aromatic imine substituents (=NR) present an extra π-π stacking which is absent in the other compounds aromatic derivatives.
The X-ray analysis shows that all the reported camphor sulfonimine compounds display the E configuration with respect to the imine substituent (R).
The study of the redox behavior of the compounds by cyclic voltammetry allows an insight into the solution properties of the compounds and the rationalization of the molecular interactions that stand in the solid and solution states.
Camphor sulfonimine compounds (L) display appropriate binding atoms to coordinate transition metals. The herein results show that monodentate coordination through the nitrogen atom of the sulfonimine 5-membered ring to the {Ag(NO3)} metal center is favored. When this imine nitrogen atom is not itself involved in the Organic Framework DFT-D3 calculations shows that the complexation does not affect the non-covalent interactions that are reproduced in the MOF structure.
Design, Implementation and Evaluation of an Innovative Pilot Intervention to Improve the Quality of Life of the Family of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities. A Quantitative Analysis
Authors: Pedioti Nektaria , Lioliou Stavroula , Koutra Katerina , Parlalis Stavros , Papadakaki Maria
Published: September 2023

Background: The high prevalence of learning disabilities among children confirm that learning disabilities are surprisingly common. In absence of routine screening, many children still go undetected with a huge individual and family burden, while at the same time existing interventions are conflicting. The purpose of the study is to report on the design, implementation and evaluation of an innovative pilot intervention aiming to improve the quality of life of the family of students with specific learning disabilities.
Method: For the purposes of this study, we used an experimental research design, using two groups (intervention and control). The intervention included four meetings with parents of children from the intervention group. To assess the quality of life of the students' family and the parenting style, the following measuring tools were used. They conducted at times and locations convenient to each participant. The instruments used to measure outcomes were two standard weighted questionnaires, the parenting style questionnaire and the family quality of life questionnaire.
Findings: The results showed that the intervention program had significantly positive effects on both parenting style and children’s quality of life. Specifically, a decrease in parental authoritarianism and an increase in parental support were observed. Also, an increase in child-parent interaction, emotional and general well-being was found.
Conclusion: The intervention program did improve the quality of life of the children by increasing all the variables related to the measurement of their quality of life.
In the Eye of the Beholder: Measuring and Standardising Light for Laboratory Mammals
Authors: Lucas Robert J , Allan Annette , brainard george , brown timothy , dauchy robert , didikoglu altug , do Michael , gaskill brianna , hattar samer , hawkins penny , Hut Roelof , McDowell Richard , Nelson Randy , Prince Jan-Bas , Schmidt Tiffany , Takahashi Joseph , Verma Vandana , Voiker Vootele , Wells Sara , Peirson Stuart
Published: September 2023

Light enables vision and exerts widespread effects on physiology and behaviour, including regulating circadian rhythms, sleep, hormone synthesis, affective state, and cognitive processes. Appropriate lighting in animal facilities may support welfare and ensure that animals enter experiments in a controlled physiological and behavioural state. Proper consideration of light during experimentation - both when it is explicitly employed as an independent variable and as a general feature of the environment - has the potential to provide more informative experimental designs and more reliable outcomes, contributing to Reduction and Refinement, helping to ensure more ethical animal use, and improving data quality. As such, it is unfortunate that ambient light for animals is typically quantified in units (lux) designed for human observers. We report the consensus views of an expert working group, with expertise spanning mammalian photobiology, neurobiology and animal husbandry and welfare, convened in February 2023 to agree upon metrics for light appropriate for non-human mammals and their application to improve animal welfare and the quality of animal research. We conclude that species-specific versions of the recently standardised a-opic metrology represent the best available approach to quantifying light. We provide methods for measuring these quantities; practical guidance for their implementation in husbandry and experimentation; and quantitative guidance on appropriate light exposure for laboratory mammals.
Numerical Investigation of Pile-Soil Interaction Problem under Dynamic Loads
Authors: Bildik Selçuk , Tanrıöver Haluk
Published: September 2023

One of the most important problems of geotechnical engineering is the design of pile foundations. Piles are generally designed for vertical and horizontal static loads. However, it is important to design piles against dynamic loads in regions with high seismicity. This study verified a centrifuge experiment obtained from the literature with a finite element program. With the kinematic interaction analyses made for this purpose, the effect of parameters such as layered soil, groundwater, pile stiffness, and earthquake acceleration were investigated numerically. According to the results obtained, it was understood that the earthquake magnitude is the most important parameter in kinematic interaction analyses. In addition, in layered soil conditions, the fact that 75% of the pile length is in the weak soil creates the most unfavorable situation. It has been observed that pile stiffness and groundwater level also have certain effects on the kinematic interaction.