bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Nutrition Support Team Led by General Surgeons Decreases Inappropriate Use of Total Parenteral Nutrition on a Surgical Service
Authors: Saalwachter A.R. , Evans H.L. , Willcutts K.F. , O'Donnell K.B. , Radigan A.E. , Mcelearney S.T. , Smith R.L. , Chong T.W. , Schirmer B.D. , Pruett T.L. , Sawyer R.G.
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this study was to decrease the number of inappropriate orders for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in surgical patients. From February 1999 through November 2000 and between July 2001 and June 2002, the surgeon-guided adult nutrition support team (NST) at a university hospital monitored new TPN orders for appropriateness and specific indication. In April 1999, the NST was given authority to discontinue inappropriate TPN orders. Indications, based on the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) standards, included short gut, severe pancreatitis, severe malnutrition/catabolism with inability to enterally feed ≥5 days, inability to enterally feed ≥50 per cent of nutritional needs ≥9 days, enterocutaneous fistula, intraabdominal leak, bowel obstruction, chylothorax, ischemic bowel, hemodynamic instability, massive gastrointestinal bleed, and lack of abdominal wall integrity. The number of inappropriate TPN orders declined from 62/194 (32.0%) in the first 11 months of the study to 22/168 (13.1%) in the second 11 months ( P < 0.0001). This number further declined to 17/215 (7.9%) in the final 12 months of data collection, but compared to the second 11 months, this decrease was not statistically significant ( P = 0.1347). The involvement of a surgical NST was associated with a reduction in inappropriate TPN orders without a change in overall use.
Three-Year Financial Analysis of Minimally Invasive Radio-guided Parathyroidectomy
Authors: Hutchinson Julie R. , Yandell David W. , Bumpous Jeffrey M. , Fleming Muffin M. , Flynn Michael B.
Published: November 2022

Minimally invasive radio-guided parathyroidectomy (MIRP) has had a high success rate in correcting hypercalcemia, along with a low morbidity rate and high patient satisfaction. Our study was conducted in an attempt to analyze the cost-effectiveness of MIRP in patients treated for primary hyperparathyroidism. We conducted a retrospective study of the total charges of three groups of patients undergoing surgery for previously untreated hyperparathyroidism in a single health care system. The three study groups included patients undergoing traditional bilateral neck exploration, MIRP, and neck exploration guided by intraoperative parathormone (PTH) assay. Charges were stratified into preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative categories. The average total charge was $8,512 for MIRP, $12,723 for traditional neck exploration, and $13,011 for bilateral neck exploration with PTH assay. The decreased charge for MIRP was due to reduced operating room time, anesthesia costs, length of hospitalization, and an avoidance of the use of intraoperative tissue analysis and PTH assay. There was a greater than $4,000 savings with MIRP as compared with the more extensive neck exploration. These savings more than compensate for the cost of technology (preoperative sestamibi scan and intraoperative gamma probe) necessary to perform radio-guided parathyroidectomy.
Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography for monitoring an embolized renal artery aneurysm: A case report and literature review
Authors: Yang Xin-Zhi , Li Peng-Yu , Zhang Bi-Hui , Yan Zi-Guang , Niu Guo-Chen , Yang Min
Published: November 2022

This case report describes a 69-year-old male patient with a renal artery aneurysm that was followed up with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography at 8 months after coil embolization treatment. Due to the disappearance of residual lumen with few metal artifacts, the therapeutic effect was satisfactory. At present, the indications for the treatment of renal artery aneurysms are still controversial and there are very few reports of postembolization images of renal artery aneurysms, with no criteria for reintervention and few reports for monitoring the embolized aneurysms. Further reports and research are still needed for the treatment of this rare disease.
Fixing Work, and Moving Beyond It
Authors: Liu Cathy Yang , Doussard Marc , Lowe Nichola
Published: November 2022

This commentary reviews the challenges facing both U.S. workers and the central place of work in economic development. As the Great Resignation demonstrates, work is not working well for large portions of the population. The authors review the diversification of workers and the diversification of work arrangements in recent decades, noting the immense challenges the system faces. They then shift focus to solutions, beginning with workplace development, or interventions to improve employment and productivity within the workplace. Finally, the authors consider universal public services and other investments that improve economic outcomes by addressing employees’ needs beyond work.
Comparison of mechanical and tribological properties of diamond-like carbon coatings doped with Europium and Gadolinium produced by HiPIMS
Authors: Fontes Marcos Alves , Serra Ricardo Gil Henriques , Fernandes Filipe Daniel , Cavaleiro Rodrigues de Carvalho Albano Augusto , Ferreira Fábio Emanuel de Sousa
Published: November 2022

Hydrogen-free diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films can be employed for numerous applications, including engine components, once they exhibit good properties for that. They have been used as coatings due to their attractive properties, including high hardness, high wear resistance, and low CoF even under high load/pressure. One of the major limitations of hard hydrogen-free ta-C coatings applications is related to the low reactivity with oil additives used nowadays. The Ionic liquids (ILs) emerged as a novel class of lubricants that can be used in future lubricated systems due to possessing unique physical properties, like high thermal stability and conductivity. To improve the lubrication performance of DLC with ILs, the films were doped with rare earth metals such as Gd and Eu. These non-carbide-forming elements can be introduced in the DLC matrix, incorporated as single atoms, and improve the surface adsorption and reactivity of phosphorus-based IL, and consequently, the lubricating properties of DLC/ILs sliding contacts. However, many demanding applications require good performance across the different regimes (from boundary to hydrodynamic regime). Across all regimes, the boundary is the most challenging, where metal-to-metal contact occurs. Therefore, it is essential to study the influence of the doping elements on the doped-DLCs performance under the boundary regime. For comparison, a pure-DLC was used. In this study, Eu and Gd-DLC tribological systems are characterized by pin-on-disk test in dry conditions and by scratch test. Also, mechanical properties are studied through nano-indentation. Results show that samples doped with a low atomic concentration of Eu or Gd (1%–3%), despite having a CoF higher than un-doped DLC films, show typical values for pure-DLC coatings, like low specific wear rate (<10−16 m3/Nm) and high hardness (23 GPa), permitting, in the future, the combination of novel nanostructured alloyed-DLCs and ILs needed to achieve the optimal lubrication performance.
Torsional and compressive properties of bolted joint under forward-reverse tightening
Authors: Tan Longfei , Yan Cheng , Yi Hai , Zhang Wei , Qiu Xiaowei , Sun Wei
Published: November 2022

Obtaining the stress evolution law of bolted joint during the assembly process is of great significance for tightening process design and improving assembly performance. In this study, the bolt tightening analytical model is used to obtain the deformation coordination mechanism. Then, the evolution law of the stress during assembly process are obtained by FEA model, and the influence of different assembly parameters on the stress change is analyzed. Finally, the bolt tightening experiment is carried out, which verified the theoretical hypothesis and the FEA model. The results show that: in addition to the tensile normal stress, the thread torque also generates torsional shear stress that causes the torsional deformation of the screw during the tightening process. The torsional shear stress can be reduced by forward-reverse tightening process. Meanwhile, the utilization rate of bolted joint can be improved. This can increase the assembly design margin and improve the assembly performance.
Two Thymomas of Different Histological Subtypes Arising in a Giant Thymolipoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Daniel Vincent C. , Shilo Konstantin
Published: November 2022

Thymolipoma is a rare benign tumor of the anterior mediastinum. Only a few reports describing thymoma arising within a thymolipoma have been documented in the literature. We report herein a detailed description of thymolipoma giving rise to 2 thymomas of different histological subtypes. A 74-year-old male with history of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma gradually developed 2 soft tissue nodules within a large right hemithorax fatty mass that was present for the past 20 years. Computed tomography (CT)-guided needle biopsy revealed one of the soft tissue nodules to be a thymoma, and the entire mass was surgically resected. Final pathological examination demonstrated the mass to be a thymolipoma containing a micronodular thymoma with lymphoid stroma as well as a WHO type B1 thymoma. No evidence of disease recurrence was seen at the time of his 7-year follow-up. This case documents a rare presentation of thymolipoma harboring 2 thymomas of different histological subtypes and highlights the need for early surgical resection of thymolipomas, as they may harbor malignant nodules.
Perceptions of Armed School Police: Exploring Views by Race in 2019 and 2020
Authors: Montes Andrea N. , Hughes Cresean , Stanek Kayleigh A.
Published: November 2022

The current study uses data from two independent surveys administered through Academic Prolific's online opt-in panel to explore whether there may be racial differences in views of armed school police. We use two distinct samples and t-tests to compare views of Black and White individuals in 2019 and 2020, respectively, as well as views in 2019 and 2020 generally. We then employ regression analyses of the 2020 survey data to test whether race was associated with views of armed school police. Some similarities in views emerged. In 2019, Black and White individuals had similiar views of whether armed police keep schools safe as well as whether they were comfortable sending their child to a school with police. However, differences in views were also found. In 2019 and 2020, mean scores for beliefs of whether armed police act with students’ best interest was lower among Blacks than Whites. In 2020, the mean score for Blacks was lower that it was for Whites when asked about whether armed police keep schools safe and whether they would be comfortable sending their child to a school with police. In 2020, Black individuals were less likely to agree that school police implement their duties in ways that are fair, respectful, and keep students' interests in mind. We conclude by discussing implications for scholarship and policy about school policing and school safety generally.
Use of fulvic acid-like compounds from pulp-derived black liquor for enhancing the selenium content of peanut buds
Authors: Ding Feng , Wei Xiaofeng , Dao Yuanren , Zhao Fei , Wang Ruiming , Li Piwu
Published: November 2022

Background

Cleaner production involving the extraction of useful material from the black liquor by-product of straw pulp would be environmentally beneficial and would permit increased wastewater usage.

Results

The fulvic-acid-like components of pulp black liquor (PFA) with molecular weights below 10 kDa were isolated. The chemical and physiological characteristics of PFAs were investigated. Selenite can enhance the selenium nutrition level of crops, but excessive selenite may be toxic to plant growth. In order to explore how to increase selenite tolerance and selenium accumulation in peanut, the effects of PFA on selenium-associated properties in peanut seedlings were examined by growing seedlings with sodium selenite (0, 5, 15, and 25 mg·L− 1 Na2SeO3, 15 mg·L− 1 Na2SeO3 solution containing 60 mg-C/L PFA, and 25 mg·L− 1 Na2SeO3 containing 60 mg-C/L PFA).

Conclusion

The results showed that with 15 mg·L− 1 Na2SeO3, PFA significantly increased both the total and hypocotyl fresh weight of the seedlings but reduced the fresh weight of the root. PFA also effectively promoted the conversion of Se from inorganic to organic compounds in the root and hypocotyl, increased the soluble total sugar and soluble protein contents of the hypocotyl, and thus improved the edible quality and food safety of the selenium-enriched peanut buds. The results suggest that PFA can be used as an innovative bio-based substance for selenium-enriched sprout vegetable production.
Systematic analysis of Histidine photosphoto transfer gene family in cotton and functional characterization in response to salt and around tolerance
Authors: Zhao Lanjie , Sun Liangqing , Guo Lixue , Lu Xuke , Malik Waqar Afzal , Chen Xiugui , Wang Delong , Wang Junjuan , Wang Shuai , Chen Chao , Nie Taili , Ye Wuwei
Published: November 2022

Background

Phosphorylation regulated by the two-component system (TCS) is a very important approach signal transduction in most of living organisms. Histidine phosphotransfer (HP) is one of the important members of the TCS system. Members of theHPgene family have implications in plant stresses tolerance and have been deeply studied in several crops. However, upland cotton is still lacking with complete systematic examination of theHPgene family.

Results

A total of 103HPgene family members were identified. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogeny of HPs distributed them into 7 clades that contain the highly conserved amino acid residue “XHQXKGSSXS”, similar to theArabidopsisHP protein. Gene duplication relationship showed the expansion ofHPgene family being subjected with whole-genome duplication (WGD) in cotton. Varying expression profiles of HPs illustrates their multiple roles under altering environments particularly the abiotic stresses. Analysis is of transcriptome data signifies the important roles played by HP genes against abiotic stresses. Moreover, protein regulatory network analysis and VIGS mediated functional approaches of twoHPgenes (GhHP23andGhHP27) supports their predictor roles in salt and drought stress tolerance.

Conclusions

This study provides new bases for systematic examination ofHPgenes in upland cotton, which formulated the genetic makeup for their future survey and examination of their potential use in cotton production.
Prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among high school students in, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021
Authors: Nakie Girum , Segon Tesfaye , Melkam Mamaru , Desalegn Getachew Tesfaw , Zeleke Tadele Amare
Published: November 2022

Background

Many studies have revealed that students’ performance in school, is affected by symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, which may impair their academic achievement, and lead to school dropout. However, to date, no studies have evaluated these three disorders among high school students in Africa. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and their associated factors among high school students in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 849 participants from six high schools in Northwest Ethiopia. A self-administered Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 25.0 software to identify factors associated with DAS, and bi-variable and multi-variable analyses were performed.

Results

The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 41.4, 66.7, and 52.2% respectively. Being female (AOR = 1.304, 95% CI = 1.006–1.849), higher risky khat chewers (AOR = 5.595, 95% CI = 2.357–11.132), having social phobia (AOR = 1.416, 95% CI = 1.045–1.919) were associated with depression. Being higher risky cigarette smokers (AOR = 4.777, 95% CI = 1.407–7304), having a history of chronic medical illness (AOR = 2.099, 95% CI = 1.045–4.218), and having a family history of mental illness (AOR = 1.777, 95% CI = 1.028–3.073) associated with anxiety. Stress was associated with high-risk alcohol drinkers (AOR = 1.828, 95% CI = 1.012–3.303), rural residency (AOR = 1.395, 95%CI = 1.010–1.925), and low social support (AOR 1.7391, 95% CI = 1.203–2.515).

Conclusion

The burden of DAS among high school students was found to be high. Female sex, chewing khat, and having social phobia are associated with depression. Conversely, smoking cigarettes, having a chronic medical illness, and having a family history of mental illness are all linked to anxiety. Being a highly risky alcoholic drinker, having poor social support, and being a rural resident are positively associated with stress. Therefore, extending mental health services to all high schools, and strengthening the existing counseling services, are recommended.
The association between social determinants of health and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a secondary analysis among four racial/ethnic groups
Authors: Luo Yan , Li Qingyi , Jeong Haelim , Cheatham Leah
Published: November 2022

Background

Racial disparities in psychological distress associated with COVID-19 remain unclear in the U.S. This study aims to investigate the associations between social determinants of health and COVID-19-related psychological distress across different racial/ethnic groups in the US (i.e., non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Asians, and non-Hispanic African Americans).

Methods

This study used cross-sectional data from the 2020 California Health Interview Survey Adult Data Files (N = 21,280). Adjusting for covariates—including age, gender, COVID-19 pandemic challenges, and risk of severe illness from COVID-19—four sets of weighted binary logistic regressions were conducted.

Results

The rates of moderate/severe psychological distress significantly varied across four racial/ethnic groups (p < 0.001), with the highest rate found in the Hispanic group. Across the five domains of social determinants of health, we found that unemployment, food insecurity, housing instability, high educational attainment, usual source of health care, delayed medical care, and low neighborhood social cohesion and safety were associated with high levels of psychological distress in at least one racial/ethnic group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study suggests that Hispanic adults face more adverse social determinants of health and are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Public health practice and policy should highlight social determinants of heath that are associated with different racial/ethnic groups and develop tailored programs to reduce psychological distress.
Predicting moral intelligence in nursing students and its relationships with self-compassion, and cultural competence: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Nobahar Monir , Yarahmadi Sajad , Raiesdana Nayyereh , Delshad Elham Shahidi , Hajizadegan Fatemeh , Ebrahimzadeh Farzad
Published: November 2022

Background

In the recent era, nursing needs employees with moral intelligence, cultural competence, and self-compassion skills more than ever. This study aimed to determine the predictors of moral intelligence and its relationship with self-compassion and cultural competence in nursing students.

Methods

This cross-sectional and multi-center descriptive study was conducted in 2022. With convenience sampling, 250 nursing students from three Iranian universities participated in this study. Data gathering included the Moral Intelligence Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale (short form), and Cultural Competency Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the correlation between variables, and hierarchical regression.

Results

The results showed that nursing students had good moral intelligence (72.63 ± 11.38), moderate self-compassion (37.19 ± 5.02), and poor cultural competence (50.06 ± 13.15). No statistically significant relationship was observed between self-compassion and cultural competence (r = 0.11, p = 0.07). Moral intelligence with marital status (r = 0.16, p = 0.01), academic year (r = 0.14, p = 0.03) and self-compassion (r = 0.33, p < 0.001) had a significant relationship in such a way that these variables explained 15% of moral intelligence and self-compassion had the highest impact (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Considering the moderate level of self-compassion and the poor level of cultural competence reported in the undergraduate nursing students, and also that self-compassion was known to be a predictive factor for moral intelligence, planners and educators must pay more attention to promoting self-compassion and cultural competency in the curriculum and conduct studies to find ways to improve them.
Factors associated with health facility delivery among reproductive age women in Nepal: an analysis of Nepal multiple indicator cluster survey 2019
Authors: Thapa Naba Raj , Upreti Shanti Prasad
Published: November 2022

Background

Despite existing efforts to improve maternal health in Nepal, delivery in a health facility with skilled providers is still a major health concern in Nepal. This study aimed to examine the factors associated with delivery in a health facility with skilled providers among women aged 15–49 years in Nepal.

Methods

This study used data from Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. This survey was a two-stage, stratified cluster sampling. A total of 1,950 married women aged 15–49 years who had at least one live birth in the last two years preceding the survey were included in the analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed in this study.

Results

Seventy-five percent of women are delivered in a health facility with skilled providers. Women from urban areas (AOR = 1.74, p < 0.01), women residing in Sudurpaschim province (AOR = 5.64, p < 0.001), women with first parity (AOR = 2.82, p < 0.001), and women from rich household status (AOR = 4.60, p < 0.001) and women who attained at least four ANC visits (AOR = 10.81, p < 0.001) were associated with higher odds of delivering in a health facility. Women who were more educated and used the internet were more likely to deliver in a health facility by a skilled provider.

Conclusion

Place of residence, household wealth status, and ANC visits appear to be the strongest predictors of health facility delivery with skilled providers in Nepal. Disparities in delivery in a health facility with skilled providers persist among provinces and caste/ethnicity.
circRNAs and their relationship with breast cancer: a review
Authors: Zhang Fan , Li Liying , Fan Zhimin
Published: November 2022

Background

Recently, an increasing number of studies have been conducted on circular RNAs (circRNAs) that have demonstrated their different roles in a variety of biological processes. Moreover, a large number of circRNAs have been shown to be involved in the occurrence and development of breast cancer (BC).

Main body

Both functional and mechanistic experiments have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) can act as competing endogenous RNAs by sponging miRNAs, encoding proteins, and regulating parental genes. In doing so, circRNAs modulate the proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and invasion of BC cells in vitro as well as tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Moreover, scores of circRNAs have been demonstrated to be related to clinicopathological features, prognosis, and treatment sensitivity in patients with BC; many circRNAs have shown potential as biomarkers for diagnosis, drug sensitivity, and prognosis prediction. Furthermore, researchers have focused on circRNAs as potential therapeutic targets.

Conclusion

In this review, we briefly summarize the functions and categories of circRNAs, their different roles in BC, and recent research and therapeutic progress related to circRNAs.
An inverse boundary value problem for transverse vibrations of a bar
Authors: Mehraliyev Yashar T. , Huntul M. J. , Ramazanova Aysel T. , Tamsir Mohammad , Emadifar Homan
Published: November 2022

In this article, we study an inverse problem (IP) for a fourth-order hyperbolic equation with nonlocal boundary conditions. This IP is reduced to the not self-adjoint boundary value problem (BVP) with corresponding boundary condition. Then, we use the separation of variables method, to reduce the not self-adjoint BVP to an integral equation. The existence and uniqueness of the integral equation are established by the contraction mappings principle and it is concluded that this solution is unique for a not-adjoint BVP. The existence and uniqueness of a nonlocal BVP with integral condition is proved. In addition, the fourth-order hyperbolic PDE is discretized using a collocation technique based on the quintic B-spline (QnB-spline) functions and reformed by the Tikhonov regularization function. The noise and analytical data are considered. The numerical outcome for a standard numerical example is discussed. Furthermore, the stability of the discretized system is also analyzed. The rate of convergence (ROC) of the method is also obtained.
Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (YFAS 2.0) and modified YFAS 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0): Rasch analysis and differential item functioning
Authors: Saffari Mohsen , Fan Chia-Wei , Chang Yen-Ling , Huang Po-Ching , Tung Serene En Hui , Poon Wai Chuen , Lin Chien-Ching , Yang Wen-Chi , Lin Chung-Ying , Potenza Marc N.
Published: November 2022

Background

Food addiction (FA) is a prevalent concern that may manifest as poorly controlled food consumption and promote overweight/obesity. Thus, having a well-established instrument for assessment may facilitate better prevention and treatment. The current study investigated the psychometric properties of two common measures of FA (i.e., the Yale Food Addiction Scale [YFAS] 2.0 and its modified version, mYFAS 2.0) using a robust statistical analysis (Rasch model).

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, the scales were sent to 974 students studying in higher education (60% females) in Taiwan through online media including email and social networks. Rasch modeling was used to assess dimensionality, difficulty level, and item misfit and hierarchy. Differential item functioning (DIF) was performed to examine consistency of the items across gender and weight status.

Results

Rasch analysis indicated 3 items of the 35 items belonging to the YFAS 2.0 (8.6%) and none belonging to the mYFAS 2.0 were misfit. Unidimensionality and construct validity of both scales were supported by appropriate goodness-of-fit for diagnostic criteria. The person separation was 3.14 (reliability = 0.91) for the YFAS 2.0 and 2.17 (reliability = 0.82) for mYFAS 2.0, indicating the scales could distinguish participants into more than 3 strata. Only one substantial DIF was found for diagnostic criteria of “Failure to fulfill major role obligation” in the YFAS 2.0 across gender.

Conclusion

According to Rasch modeling, both the YFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0 have acceptable construct validity in Chinese-speaking youth. Scoring methods using either diagnostic criteria or symptom counts for both the YFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0 are supported by the present Rasch findings.
The effect of tacrolimus-induced toxicity on metabolic profiling in target tissues of mice
Authors: Xie Dadi , Guo Jinxiu , Dang Ruili , Li Yanan , Si Qingying , Han Wenxiu , Wang Shan , Wei Ning , Meng Junjun , Wu Linlin
Published: November 2022

Tacrolimus (Tac) is a common immunosuppressant that used in organ transplantation. However, its therapeutic index is narrow, and it is prone to adverse side effects, along with an increased risk of toxicity, namely, cardio-, nephro-, hepato-, and neurotoxicity. Prior metabolomic investigations involving Tac-driven toxicity primarily focused on changes in individual organs. However, extensive research on multiple matrices is uncommon. Hence, in this research, the authors systemically evaluated Tac-mediated toxicity in major organs, namely, serum, brain, heart, liver, lung, kidney, and intestines, using gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The authors also employed multivariate analyses, including orthogonal projections to the latent structure (OPLS) and t-test, to screen 8 serum metabolites, namely, D-proline, glycerol, D-fructose, D-glucitol, sulfurous acid, 1-monopalmitin (MG (16:0/0:0/0:0)), glycerol monostearate (MG (0:0/18:0/0:0)), and cholesterol. Metabolic changes within the brain involved alterations in the levels of butanamide, tartronic acid, aminomalonic acid, scyllo-inositol, dihydromorphine, myo-inositol, and 11-octadecenoic acid. Within the heart, the acetone and D-fructose metabolites were altered. In the liver, D-glucitol, L-sorbose, palmitic acid, myo-inositol, and uridine were altered. In the lung, L-lactic acid, L-5-oxoproline, L-threonine, phosphoric acid, phosphorylethanolamine, D-allose, and cholesterol were altered. Lastly, in the kidney, L-valine and D-glucose were altered. Our findings will provide a systematic evaluation of the metabolic alterations in target organs within a Tac-driven toxicity mouse model.
An overview of torrefied bioresource briquettes: quality-influencing parameters, enhancement through torrefaction and applications
Authors: Waheed M. A. , Akogun O. A. , Enweremadu C. C.
Published: November 2022

In recent years, the need for clean, viable and sustainable source of alternative fuel is on the rampage in the global space due to the challenges posed by human factors including fossil induced emissions, fuel shortage and its ever-rising prices. These challenges are the major reason to utilize alternative source of energy such as lignocellulosic biomass as domestic and industrial feedstock. However, biomass in their raw form is problematic for application, hence, a dire need for torrefaction pre-treatment is required. The torrefaction option could ameliorate biomass limitations such as low heating value, high volatile matter, low bulk density, hygroscopic and combustion behaviour, low energy density and its fibrous nature. The torrefied product in powder form could cause air pollution and make utilization, handling, transportation, and storage challenging, hence, densification into product of higher density briquettes. This paper therefore provides an overview on the performance of torrefied briquettes from agricultural wastes. The review discusses biomass and their constituents, torrefaction pre-treatment, briquetting of torrefied biomass, the parameters influencing the quality, behaviour and applications of torrefied briquettes, and way forward in the briquetting sector in the developing world.
Primary health care situations in remote rural villages of the Savannakhet province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Authors: Nonaka Daisuke , Inthavong Nouhak , Takahashi Kenzo , Chanthakoumane Ketmany , Toyama Yuko , Luangphaxay Chanthaly , Pongvongsa Tiengkham , Kounnavong Sengchanh
Published: November 2022

Background

To improve the health of the rural population in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), the government has emphasized a primary health care approach in the Health Sector Reform Strategy by 2025. The objective of the present study was to describe the health-related situations of remote rural villages of the Lao PDR to inform strategies for promoting primary health care in such villages.

Methods

Ten remote rural villages were purposively selected from the catchment areas of two health centers in the Xepon district, Savannakhet province. The surveyors collected data by conducting a questionnaire-based interview with village health volunteers and by observing the village environment in 2018. The survey focused on village situations on the eight elements of primary health care (health education; food supply and nutrition; safe water and basic sanitation; maternal and child health care; immunization; prevention and control of locally endemic diseases; treatment of common diseases and injuries; and provision of essential drug).

Results

The common health problems were diarrhea, followed by malaria, and cough. The identified possible risk factors for the health problems were not washing hands with soap, open defecation, not boiling drinking water, not exclusively breastfeeding, presence of animal feces on the village ground, absence of garbage management system, not using a bed net when sleeping in the forest, and exposure to indoor cooking and tobacco smoke. In many villages, villagers were not able to eat enough food and did not eat protein-rich food and vegetables daily.

Conclusions

Potential risk factors for the reported common health problems were often prevalent in the study villages. Villagers can address most of these risk factors, as interventions to address such risk factors do not require a large financial input. There is a need for intersectoral actions between the health and other sectors to address food shortages and indoor air pollution due to indoor cooking using biomass fuel.
MICEmi: A method to identify cognitive endophenotypes of mental illnesses
Authors: Correa-Ghisays Patricia , Vicent Sánchez-Ortí Joan , Balanzá-Martínez Vicent , Fuentes-Durá Inmaculada , Martinez-Aran Anabel , Ruiz-Bolo Lara , Correa-Estrada Paulina , Ruiz-Ruiz Juan Carlos , Selva-Vera Gabriel , Vila-Francés Joan , Macias Saint-Gerons Diego , San-Martín Constanza , Ayesa-Arriola Rosa , Tabarés-Seisdedos Rafael
Published: November 2022

Background

Characterizing neurocognitive endophenotypes of mental illnesses (MIs) could be useful for identifying at-risk individuals, increasing early diagnosis, improving disease subtyping, and proposing therapeutic strategies to reduce the negative effects of the symptoms, in addition to serving as a scientific basis to unravel the physiopathology of the disease. However, a standardized algorithm to determine cognitive endophenotypes has not yet been developed. The main objective of this study was to present a method for the identification of endophenotypes in MI research.

Methods

For this purpose, a 14-expert working group used a scoping review methodology and designed a method that includes a scoring template with five criteria and indicators, a strategy for their verification, and a decision tree.

Conclusions

This work is ongoing since it is necessary to obtain external validation of the applicability of the method in future research.
An Afropolitan in South Asia
Authors: Okereke Emeka , Krishnamurthy Mathangi
Published: November 2022

In this photo essay, the authors gather a set of photographs of only partially visible subjects to speak about the tense and unpredictable encounters between different postcolonial histories. Staged as a conversation between an anthropologist and a photographer, the essay touches on the necessary modalities of such encounters, be it surprise, friendship, location and dislocation, or sometimes even invisibility. Central to the essay are conversations about encounters between the authors themselves, mediated by the sights, sounds, and serendipities of the postcolonial city. Using the Invisible Borders Trans-African Project—a decade-long venture bringing together artists, photographers, and writers in road trips across Africa—as a starting point, the essay considers the implications of broadening this imaginary into other borders and postcolonial border beings and whether this might constitute a particular kind of utopian project.
Synthesis and Photocatalytic Applications of Functionalized Carbon Quantum Dots
Authors: Yadav Nisha , Gaikwad Rahul P , Mishra Vivek , Gawande Manoj B
Published: November 2022

Environmental degradation and energy shortages are becoming increasingly important as science and technology advance. Here, we review the photocatalytic approach of functionalized carbon quantum dots (CQDs) along with their up-converted photoluminescence behaviour, as well as their photoinduced electron transfer capabilities, opening a new path to effective metal-free photocatalyst. In this article, we are focusing on the recent invention of CQDs and CQD-based photocatalyst for environmental remediation such as dye degradation, CO2 conversion, and water splitting along with the categorization and synthesis of CQDs-derived photocatalysts, and applications for environmental concerns. Although it is essential to incorporate multiple perspectives, since CQDs and CQD-derived photocatalysts have varied perspectives to tackle unique environmental applications, our analysis is expected to offer additional details on CQD synthesis methods, tuning photocatalytic properties of CQDs with surface groups, and the mechanism of degradation of CQDs and CQD-based photocatalysts.
Interaction, Stereotypes, and Performance: Evidence from South Africa
Authors: Corno Lucia , La Ferrara Eliana , Burns Justine
Published: November 2022

We exploit a policy designed to randomly allocate roommates in a large South African university to investigate whether interracial interaction affects stereotypes, attitudes and performance. Using implicit association tests, we find that living with a roommate of a different race reduces White students' negative stereotypes towards Black students and increases interracial friendships. Interaction also affects academic outcomes: Black students improve their GPA, pass more exams and have lower dropout rates. This effect is not driven by roommate's ability. (JEL D91, I23, J15, O12)
Trading on Sunspots
Authors: Jovanovic Boyan , Tsyrennikov Viktor
Published: November 2022

In a model with multiple Pareto-ranked equilibria, we show that the set of equilibria shrinks if we allow trade in assets that pay based on the realization of a sunspot acting as an equilibrium-selection device. When the probability of a low-output outcome is high, the desire to insure against it leads the poor to promise large transfers to the rich in the high-output state. The rich then lose the incentive to exert the effort needed to sustain the high output. Thus the opening of financial markets may destroy the high equilibrium. (JEL D51, D53, D82, E44, G12, G14, G21)
Genocide and the right to exist in international law
Authors: Κούρτης Δημήτριος
Published: November 2022

The present study focuses on the collective right of national, ethnic, racial, and religious groups to exist, as this right is recognized and guaranteed by the Genocide Convention. It explores the typology of the right to exist. It explores the normative history of the collective right and engages critically with the prevailing interpretations of its constitutive elements. Then, it presents the way in which the collective right to exist is introduced into the structure of genocide and other genocidal offenses qua endangerment crimes. Finally, it analyzes the typologies of victimhood accommodated by the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It suggests an alternative way to remedy collective victimhood stemming from the violation of the right to exist.
Abstractions for software testing
Authors: Σωτηρόπουλος Θεόδωρος
Published: November 2022

Οι προγραμματιστές στην βιομηχανία του λογισμικού ξοδεύουν σημαντικό μέρος του χρόνου τους στην δοκιμή του λογισμικού τους και στην διόρθωση σφαλμάτων λογισμικού. Για να γίνει αυτό πιο αποτελεσματικά, υιοθετούν αυτοματοποιημένα εργαλεία εύρεσης σφαλμάτων στη διαδικασία ανάπτυξής του λογισμικού τους. Τέτοια εργαλεία εύρεσης σφαλμάτων βασίζονται στην ανάλυση του κώδικα ή τεχνικές ελέγχου λογισμικού και ο στόχος τους είναι ο εντοπισμός σφαλμάτων λογισμικού, που διαφορετικά θα ήταν δύσκολο να αποκαλυφθούν μέσω χειροκίνητων δοκιμών.Μία τρέχουσα πρόκληση στον αυτόματο έλεγχο λογισμικού είναι η ανίχνευση βαθιά κρυμμένων ελαττωμάτων σε λογισμικό που παρουσιάζει περίπλοκη λειτουργικότητα. Τέτοιου είδους σφάλματα είναι πολύ εύκολο να παραμείνουν απαρατήρητα, δεδομένου ότι το λογισμικό δεν εμφανίζει προειδοποιήσεις ή άλλες αστοχίες κατά την εκτέλεσή του. Επίσης, ένα άλλο σημαντικό μειονέκτημα των υπαρχόντων εργαλείων για ανίχνευσης σφαλμάτων λογισμικού είναι η περιορισμένη εφαρμοσιμότητά τους. Πράγματι, πολλά από αυτά τα εργαλεία είναι προσαρμοσμένα για συγκεκριμένο είδος λογισμικού.Η διατριβή ερευνά την βελτίωση της αποτελεσματικότητας του αυτόματου ελέγχου λογισμικού εισάγοντας τεχνικές αφαίρεσης στην διεργασία του ελέγχου. Ο σκοπός αυτών των τεχνικών αφαίρεσης είναι η δημιουργία μια κοινής πλατφόρμας για τον εντοπισμό σφαλμάτων σε συστήματα και προγράμματα λογισμικού που παρουσιάζουν ανομοιογενείς λειτουργικότητες, διεπαφές ή σημασιολογίες. Η παρούσα διατριβή εισάγει δύο τεχνικές αφαίρεσης και μέσω αυτών, λύνει τρία σημαντικά προβλήματα: την αυτόματη ανίχνευση (1) σφαλμάτων τύπων σε μεταγλωττιστές, (2) σφαλμάτων σε λογισμικό οδηγούμενο από τα δεδομένα, και (3) σφαλμάτων εξαρτήσεων στους πόρους του συστήματος αρχείων.Η εργασία που παρουσιάστηκε σε αυτή τη διατριβή βελτίωσε ουσιαστικά την αξιοπιστία του καθιερωμένου λογισμικού που χρησιμοποιείται από εκατομμύρια χρήστες και εφαρμογές. Συνολικά, οι τεχνικές και τα εργαλεία εύρεσης σφαλμάτων μας οδήγησαν στην αποκάλυψη και τη διόρθωση περισσότερων από 400 σφαλμάτων που βρέθηκαν σε δημοφιλή συστήματα λογισμικού.Αυτή η διατριβή παρουσιάζει πρακτικό αντίκτυπο στη βιομηχανία λογισμικού και ανοίγει νέες ερευνητικές ευκαιρίες που σχετίζονται με την εφαρμογή εννοιών γλώσσων προγραμματισμού στον έλεγχο του λογισμικού.
A search for Supersymmetry in the compressed mass spectrum in events with three soft leptons and missing transverse momentum in the final state in the CMS experiment at the LHC
Authors: Παπαβέργου Ιωάννα
Published: November 2022

Στην παρούσα διατριβή διερευνάται η ύπαρξη Υπερσυμμετρίας (SUSY) με μοντέλα συμπιεσμένου φάσματος μάζας μεταξύ των υπερσυμμετρικών σωματιδίων, τα οποία προβλέπουν παρατηρήσιμες τελικές καταστάσεις που περιλαμβάνουν σωματίδια του Καθιερωμένου Προτύπου (SM) χαμηλής εγκάρσιας ορμής και εγκάρσια ελλείπουσα ενέργεια (MET). Η ανάλυση επικεντρώνεται σε τελικές καταστάσεις με δύο ή τρία λεπτόνια (ηλεκτρόνια ή μιόνια), οι οποίες έχουν συνολικά μικρότερο υπόβαθρο από διεργασίες του SM σε σύγκριση με τις αδρονικές τελικές καταστάσεις που προβλέπουν αυτά τα μοντέλα. Το κύριο υπόβαθρο στις λεπτονικές τελικές καταστάσεις που εξετάζονται προέρχεται από εσφαλμένη ταυτοποίηση λεπτονίων που είτε δεν είναι γνήσια (αδρόνια που έχουν κατά λάθος αναγνωριστεί ως λεπτόνια) είτε δεν προέρχονται από το σημείο κύριας αλληλεπίδρασης όπου μπορούν να παραχθούν υπερσυμμετρικά σωματίδια. Στη διατριβή εφαρμόζονται προωθημένες τεχνικές εκτίμησης αυτού του υπόβαθρου, εκτιμώνται οι συνεισφορές από όλες τις διεργασίες του SM που παράγουν τις διερευνώμενες τελικές καταστάσεις και οι εκτιμήσεις συγκρίνονται με τα δεδομένα του πειράματος με βάση επιλεγμένες κατανομές κινηματικών μεταβλητών ευαίσθητων σε διασπάσεις υπερσυμμετρικών σωματιδίων. Δεν παρατηρείται κατά τη σύγκριση κάποια συνεισφορά τέτοιων διασπάσεων, οπότε με στατιστική συμπερασματολογία εξάγονται όρια αποκλεισμού των εξεταζόμενων μοντέλων συναρτήσει των μαζών των υπερσυμμετρικών σωματιδίων.
Application development on embedded systems
Authors: Κουσιόπουλος Γεώργιος-Παναγιώτης
Published: November 2022

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή διαπραγματεύεται την σχεδίαση και υλοποίηση μεθόδων σε ενσωματωμένα συστήματα, οι οποίες αφορούν την εκτίμηση της θέσης και του μεγέθους διαρροών σε μεταλλικούς σωλήνες. Η εμφάνιση διαρροών σε δίκτυα σωληνώσεων αποτελεί σοβαρό πρόβλημα τόσο στη βιομηχανία, όσο και σε αστικές εφαρμογές. Για το λόγο αυτό, μία πληθώρα ερευνητών έχει ασχοληθεί με την σχεδίαση συστημάτων επίβλεψης σωληνώσεων για τον έγκαιρο και αξιόπιστο εντοπισμό διαρροών. Έτσι, πραγματοποιήθηκε μία λεπτομερής μελέτη της σχετικής βιβλιογραφίας. Καθώς οι μη παρεμβατικές μέθοδοι εκτίμησης θέσης και μεγέθους διαρροής που αναπτύχθηκαν στη συγκεκριμένη διατριβή στηρίζονται στα ακουστικά σήματα τα οποία εμφανίζονται σε έναν σωλήνα λόγω διαρροής, εξετάζονται οι φυσικοί μηχανισμοί και η μαθηματική περιγραφή των ακουστικών κυμάτων, όπως επίσης και οι τύποι αισθητήρων που μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν για την ανίχνευσή τους. Επιπλέον, γίνεται παρουσίαση των μαθηματικών εργαλείων και των τεχνικών επεξεργασίας σήματος που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν κατά την σχεδίαση των μεθόδων. Αρχικά, με βάση τη σχετική βιβλιογραφία καθώς και πειραματικά δεδομένα από πραγματικές μετρήσεις διαρροών, σχεδιάστηκε ένας αριθμός ακουστικών μεθόδων εντοπισμού θέσης διαρροής. Στις μεθόδους αυτές η εύρεση του σημείου διαρροής επιτυγχάνεται είτε μέσω υπολογισμού χρονικών διαφορών άφιξης των ακουστικών σημάτων διαρροής στους αισθητήρες που είναι τοποθετημένοι στο σωλήνα, είτε μέσω του φαινομένου της απόσβεσης την οποία υφίστανται τα ακουστικά κύματα κατά την διάρκεια της διάδοσής τους. Επιπλέον, για την ανάπτυξη των μεθόδων ελήφθη υπόψη η στοχαστική (μη αιτιοκρατική) φύση των σημάτων διαρροής, καθώς επίσης και κάποια φυσικά φαινόμενα σχετιζόμενα με τη διάδοση των ακουστικών κυμάτων, όπως η διασπορά, η φασματικά εξαρτώμενη απόσβεση και ο συντονισμός. Από την άλλη πλευρά, η ακουστική μέθοδος εκτίμησης μεγέθους διαρροής η οποία αναπτύχθηκε στην παρούσα διατριβή συνδυάζει την πληροφορία σχετικά με τη θέση του σημείου διαρροής με την τεχνική της πολλαπλής γραμμικής προσαρμογής ώστε να επιτύχει την ταξινόμηση μίας διαρροής σε κάποια από τις τρεις διαθέσιμες κατηγορίες (δηλ. «μικρή», «μεσαία» ή «μεγάλη» διαρροή) με βάση το μέγεθός της, παρέχοντας έτσι μία εικόνα σχετικά με την σοβαρότητα της κατάστασης. Οι μέθοδοι εκτίμησης θέσης και μεγέθους διαρροής στην παρούσα διατριβή αναπτύχθηκαν με την βοήθεια των λογισμικών LabVIEW και Matlab, όπως επίσης και με τη χρήση της γλώσσας προγραμματισμού C++. Τέλος, κάποιες επιλεγμένες από τις αναπτυχθείσες μεθόδους της παρούσας διατριβής υλοποιήθηκαν (σε C++) πάνω σε ένα ενσωματωμένο σύστημα χαμηλού κόστους. Το σύστημα αυτό αποτελείται από δύο κόμβους, καθένας από τους οποίους περιλαμβάνει έναν ακουστικό αισθητήρα, έναν μετατροπέα A/D, μία μονάδα GPS και την πλατφόρμα υλικού Raspberry Pi 4B. Πάνω στη συγκεκριμένη πλατφόρμα εξετάστηκαν η ακρίβεια των μεθόδων, ο χρόνος εκτέλεσης και η κατανάλωση μνήμης και πραγματοποιήθηκε μελέτη της επίδρασης των τιμών των βασικών παραμέτρων του συστήματος στην απόδοσή του.