bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic analysis of one-stage radical resection of interruption of aortic arch combined with ventricular septal defect in infants
Authors: Song Hailong , Cao Lijing , Zhang Huijun
Published: July 2022

Background: To analyze the risk factors of death and aortic stenosis (AS) in infants with interruption of aortic arch (IAA) combined with ventricular septal defect (VSD).Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 152 children with IAA combined with VSD who were admitted to our hospital from January 2006 to January 2022, including 85 cases of type A, 57 cases of type B and 10 cases of type C, and who had undergone one-stage radical surgery. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of death and AS after one-stage radical resection. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze postoperative overall survival rate, and R software was used to draw survival curve. Results: Of all patients, 22 cases (14.47%) died after surgery, and 27 cases (17.76%) experienced AS. The 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year, and 5-year survival rates were 94.06%, 94.06%, 90.10%, 88.12%, 86.80%, 86.14%, 86.14% and 85.48%, respectively.Low body weight (P=0.004), large ratio of VSD diameter/diameter of aortic root (VSD/AO) (P=0.008), long duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (P=0.002), long hypothermic circulatory arrest (P=0.036), the period of surgery (from January 2006 to December 2013) (P= 0.038), and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction (P=0.000) were related risk factors for postoperative mortality. Of these, low body weight ( P = 0.004 ), large ratio of VSD/AO ( P = 0.044 ), long duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (P = 0.044), and combined LVOT (P = 0.000) were independent risk factors for postoperative mortality. The time of surgery (from January 2006 to December 2013) (P=0.046), and the addition of anastomosis with autologous pericardium to the anterior aortic wall (P=0.015) were associated risk factors for postoperative AS, and the latter (P=0.021) was the independent risk factor for postoperative AS. Conclusions: The mortality and AS rate are still high in infants with IAA and VSD after one-stage radical surgery. Patients with low body weight, large ratio of VSD/AO, long duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, LVOT and anastomosis with autologous pericardium to the anterior aortic wall have poor prognosis.
Influence of Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines during Pathogenesis Atherosclerosis: A Dynamical Approach
Authors: Adak Asish , Devi Arpita , Gupta Praveen Kumar
Published: July 2022

The role of anti-cytokines in atherosclerosis is to reduce the inflammation in the intima. In some situations, certain anti-inflammatory cytokines like TGF-beta and IL-6 have shown the characteristics like a pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are showing different nature. In this study, a dynamical atherosclerosis model is proposed in the form of reaction-diffusion equation with consideration of immune cells, pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The existence and uniqueness is discussed for reaction dynamical system. The three equilibrium points, non-inflammatory, chronic and coexistence, and their local stability are also determined for the model. Bellman and Cooke’s theorem is applied to illustrate the global stability at the coexistence equilibrium point. The effects of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines have discussed. The analytical and numerical studies evidently indicate that inflammation behaves differently when a certain amount of anti-inflammatory cytokines will behave like pro-inflammatory cytokines. The numerical simulations are demonstrated for different impact of reduction rate of macrophages due to presence of anti-inflammatory cytokines, inhibition time, and the portion of anti-inflammatory cytokines behaving like pro-inflammatory cytokines through graphically.
Developing NWO Navigate: An App for Navigating Stroke Care
Authors: Hassan Ayman , Belamri Rachid , Diner Trina , Cristofaro Keli , Dillistone Lucas , Khallouki Hajar , Ahghari Mahvareh , Littlefield Shalyn , Siddiqui Rabail , MacDonald Russell , Savage David
Published: July 2022

BackgroundA coordinated system of care is essential to provide timely access to treatment for patients who present with a suspected acute stroke. In Northwestern Ontario (NWO), Canada, resources are limited and healthcare providers often must transfer stroke patients to different hospital locations to access to care within recommended timeframes. However, healthcare providers, who are often situated temporarily in NWO or provide care remotely, may lack sufficient information about which transfer route would be the most efficient and appropriate for the circumstance. Suboptimal decision-making may lead to multiple transfers before reaching definitive stroke care, resulting in poor outcomes and additional cost to the patient and the healthcare system. To address these issues, a comprehensive geomapping navigation and estimation application “NWO Navigate” was developed to improve timely access to definitive care. NWO Navigate uses a database to store and retrieve information about stroke services, historical emergency services data, Google Maps API, and OpenWeatherMap APIs to determine routing to definitive care facility.ResultsThe approach involved a retrospective simulation study for development of a geomapping system. Historical data from land and air emergency medical services of previous patient transportation times between hospital locations was collected and processed. This data was used to develop a prediction model using machine learning methods and incorporated into a mobile application. The aim of the application is to aid healthcare providers by presenting the best possible transfer options for a stroke patient based on the circumstances such as last time the patient was known to be well, patient location, treatment options, imaging availability.ConclusionThe obtained experimental results demonstrate that the proposed application has the potential to be a significant tool for healthcare providers navigating stroke care in NWO, impacting patient care and outcomes. The next step for the application is to undergo usability testing with the end-users to ensure the tool provides the assistance needed when caring for a stroke patient.
FPGA Implementation of an Efficient Phase Shift Beamformer for Narrow Band Sub-GHz Applications
Authors: Jeyakumar P , Dhamodaran M , Thanapal P , Navaneethan C , Meenatchi S
Published: July 2022

Beams are formed by multi-element arrays. These beams are focused on the direction of arriving signals, with an intention of maximizing the received signal power. The signals with noise and interference arrived from a distinct direction will be estimated by ULA (Uniform Linear Array) with 10 antenna elements. An emerging signal will be phase-shifted with the help of phase shift beamformer. The vector angle is computed from the signal cluster by using Coordinate Rotation Digital Computer (CORDIC) algorithm. This algorithm can be employed in the view of finding phase shift and frequency offset. As Beamformer assumes the incoming signal as narrow banded, a phase shift can approximate the required delay and perpetuates the incoming signal strength. The beamformer is implemented in Xilinx Vivado for simulation and synthesized using both Virtex-7 and Spartan-7 FPGA devices and their results are compared. From the obtained results, it is evident that the proposed design is formidable pertaining to power and delay. This design can operate at 100MHZ with total on-chip power consumption of 725mW.
Probing CO2 emission in Chengdu based on STRIPAT model and Tapio decoupling
Authors: yang fengmei , Shi Longyu , Gao Lijie
Published: July 2022

Climate change has triggered a series of environmental disasters and has become the focus of global attention. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the prominent contributor of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the major driver of global warming. Conducting CO2 emission projections and identifying the decoupling relationship between CO2 emission and economic growth are significant guidelines for assessing carbon reduction measures and green economic development. Chengdu has excellent potential carbon peak in advance and joined the China’s Alliance of Pioneer Peaking Cities (APPC) in 2015. This study accounts for the CO2 emission of Chengdu from 2009 to 2020 in terms of energy activities, industrial processes, agriculture and animal husbandry, land use change and forestry, and waste disposal, then it follows the STIRPAT model to project CO2 emission for the four scenarios from 2021-2035 and uses the Tapio decoupling model to analyze the CO2 emission and economic growth decoupling status. The results show that: 1. The increase in energy consumption is the leading cause of the growth of CO2 emission in Chengdu. 2. The carbon peak time of Chengdu occurs in 2025, and the business as usual scenario can be regarded as the most appropriate development scenario, under which Chengdu achieves carbon peak in line with its current development plan. 3. Energy intensity and GDP per capita are the two main influencing factors of Chengdu’s CO2 emission. 4. During the outlook period, Chengdu's CO2 emission and economic growth will change from weak decoupling to strong decoupling, reaching an ideal state. The results are of great reference value for evaluating the implementation effect of the APPC.
Cross-cultural adaptation of AD-8 into Amharic for operationalizing the detection of cognitive impairment in a primary care setting of Ethiopia
Authors: Gugssa Seid Ali , Zenebe Yared , Seeger Susanne , Comeau Dawn , Derbew Miliard
Published: July 2022

Background
Cross-Cultural adaptation of a cognitive screening instrument requires careful planning and its implementation is complex, expensive and time consuming. This study aims to cross culturally adapt AD8 using the WHO translation and adaptation process guidelines in preparation for the development of a mobile health based dementia screening app at the primary care center of Ethiopia.
Methods
The panel discussed forward and backward translated AD8 instrument items alongside with the original English version of AD8 and Lawshe’s CVR critical value to adapt them to the interim final and the reconciled Amharic versions of AD8 respectively. The reconciled Amharic version was pilot tested, a cognitive interview was conducted, and the results were analyzed and a summary report was generated to adapt it to the final Amharic version of AD8.
Results
The Lawshe’s CVR value was less than the expected CVR critical value (0.75) for all of the forward translated items of AD8 except for the ‘Question items # 3 &7’. The panel substituted words and/or phrases in the title, instructions and ‘Question items # 1 & 6’; and added ‘Radio’ to the Question item # 4. The Lawshe’s CVR value (1.0) was greater than the expected CVR critical value (0.75) for all of the backward translated instrument items of AD8. The internal reliability of the reconciled Amharic version of AD8 was very good with a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.875. Cognitive interview study participants verbalized lived experiences to reason and explain the way the reconciled Amharic version of AD8 question items was understood. The reconciled Amharic version was adapted without any modification as the final Amharic version of AD8.
Conclusion
changes made, reasons for change, and a vote of consensus for each question item of AD8 was documented at every step of deliberations of the panel. The Amharic version of AD8 demonstrated a very good internal reliability with strong item correlation. The Amharic version of AD8 fulfills the perquisite for the development of mobile health based AD8 dementia screening at primary care settings of Ethiopia and aligns with the WHO task-shifting strategy of dementia screening.
Expression of Candidate Marker Genes of Sugar Starvation is Enhanced in Growth-Suppressed Parthenocarpic Cucumber Fruit
Authors: Tazuke Akio , Murakami Kaori , Kinoshita Tsuguki , Asayama Munehiko , Kuboyama Tsutomu
Published: July 2022

Background In plant, sugar starvation occurs in many stress conditions. Although the involvement plant hormones is known, the underlying mechanism of fruit parthenocarpy is not known. Investigation of sugar starvation in growth suppressed parthenocarpic fruit may shed light on the parthenocarpy mechanism.Method Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruits were followed and harvested at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 days after anthesis, and the expression of eight candidate marker genes of sugar starvation and sugar concentration were examined.Results A growth analysis of fruits showed variability in the onset of exponential growth. Fruits in which growth was suppressed for more than 8 days after anthesis tended to abort. The variation in transcript levels was very high. The correlation matrix of the transcript level of the genes and the time course of the expression of the eight genes led to their classification into three groups. This varying pattern of gene expression may reflect the dynamics of parthenocarpic fruit. Moreover, the gene expression patterns and hexose concentration suggested that sugar starvation occurs in parthenocarpic fruit in which growth is suppressed. Therefore, the asparagine synthetase gene and the Cucumis sativus Somatic Embryogenesis Zinc Finger 1 (CsSEF1), Cucumis sativus Fruit Defoliation Induced 1 (CsFDI1), CsaV3_1G000860, CsaV3_3G041280, and CsaV3_3G023510 genes were regarded as good marker genes of sugar starvation.Conclusion The occurrence of sugar starvation suggests the low sink activity precedes the decline in fruit growth. This suggests the sink activity is the control point of parthenocarpic fruit set.
Impact of shared decision-making in patients with atrial fibrillation eligible for novel oral anticoagulant therapy
Authors: Chen Ching-Pei , Yang Yuan-Po , Wu Wei-Tsung , Tu Chung-Ming , Huang Hung-Kain , Chu Chun-Yuan , Huang Chi-Cheng , Chien Szu-Chi , Jhuo Shih-Jie , Wu Yen-Wen , Lin Tsung-Hsien
Published: July 2022

Shared decision-making (SDM) promotes greater patient awareness about medical conditions and treatments, and facilitates patient involvement in care decisions. This two-stage multicenter study evaluated the impact of SDM in Taiwanese adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) eligible for novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC) therapy. Participants were NOAC-naïve (case) or dabigatran-experienced (control). During Stage I, case participants (n = 124) completed a semi-structured survey before and after viewing SDM materials on stroke prevention for AF. The surveys collected data on anxiety about AF, confidence in healthcare professionals, usefulness of SDM materials, and perception of different NOACs. During Stage II, both case participants (n = 87) and control participants (n = 104) completed another survey. Fewer case participants were anxious about AF (p < 0.01), and more had confidence in healthcare professionals (p < 0.01) after viewing the SDM materials than before. Most case participants (≥ 90%) rated the SDM materials “very helpful”. Dabigatran was the NOAC of choice after viewing the SDM materials among 90% of case participants. In Stage II, participants viewing SDM before initiating dabigatran had lower anxiety (case, 43%; control, 53%; p < 0.01) and a higher level of trust (case, 92%; control, 84%; p < 0.01). In conclusion, SDM reduced anxiety and improved trust in healthcare professionals among NOAC-naïve participants with AF.
Ethical Human Augmentation in the Military - A Comparison and Analysis of National and International Frameworks, Regulation, and Approval Processes
Authors: Whetham David , Purves Duncan , Nericcio Lorenzo , Auzanneau Margaux , Engleland Anicée van
Published: July 2022

The potential for human augmentation in the military has notably increased in recent years. Medical, genetic, and technological augmentation all stand to fundamentally alter the way that warfighters engage with each other—as well as interact with the world outside of combat. This presents challenging and novel ethical questions. The past decade has seen the emergence of national and international ethics frameworks built to guide the development and implementation of military technologies, designed to augment, or modify the performance of human soldiers. These frameworks draw from the fields of bioethics, risk assessment, and just war theory, and so have important similarities. They also differ in critical ways. This survey begins by exploring the complexity of defining human augmentation and analysing several general international bioethics frameworks whose codes might bear on the ethical issues related to human augmentation in the military. It then highlights the normative principles at work across different governance frameworks and identifies issues in need of greater conceptual clarity and substantive deliberation for the purposes of arriving at international consensus. Each existing framework, along with various relevant international regulations and approval processes is critiqued, guiding the discussion toward the steps that must be taken if a more comprehensive international framework for the governance of human augmentation is to be developed.
Innovative hierarchical X-ray imaging approach to assess the sequential evolution of multi-organ damage in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Palermo Francesca , Pieroni Nicola , Sanna Alessia , Parodi Benedetta , Venturi Consuelo , Provinciali Ginevra Begani , Massimi Lorenzo , Maugeri Laura , Marra Gian Paolo , Longo Elena , D'Amico Lorenzo , Saccomano Giulia , Perrin Jonathan , Tromba Giuliana , Bukreeva Inna , Fratini Michela , Gigli Giuseppe , de Rosbo Nicole Kerlero , Cedola Alessia
Published: July 2022

The 3D complexity of biological tissues and the intricate structural-functional connections call for modern X-ray imaging approaches to overcome the limitations of classical imaging. Unlike other imaging techniques, X-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) offers an unprecedented hierarchical 3D imaging approach to investigate different disease-relevant networks at levels ranging from the single cell through to the intact organ as a whole.

We study the evolution of tissue damage and inflammation in different organs affected by the disease in the murine model for multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinating autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). XPCT identifies and monitors structural and cellular alterations throughout the CNS, but also in the gut and eye, of mice induced to develop MS-like disease and sacrificed at pre-symptomatic and symptomatic time points. This study provides the sequential evolution of multi-organ damages in MS murine model showing the disease development and progression which is of obvious relevance for the human case.
Bifurcation Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus with Non-Cytolytic Cure Process on Infected Liver and Blood Cells
Authors: Mamo Tesfaye Tefera
Published: July 2022

The phenomenon of bifurcation in disease transmission models has been observed in a number of epidemiological models. The consequence of bifurcation is that the classical requirement of the reproduction number being less than unity becomes only a necessary, but not sufficient, for disease elimination. This paper addresses the problem of finding the causes of bifurcation in standard deterministic models for the spread of HBV diseases with non-Cytolytic cure processes on infected liver and blood cells. The model contains logistic growth of healthy live and blood cells and non -Cytolytic cure processes of infected cells. I have got that the model exhibits back ward and forward bifurcations with some conditions. The existence of a backward bifurcation is an interesting artifact since this means that the disease cannot be eradicated by simply reducing the value of the basic reproduction number below 1.This can have important implications on drug therapy protocols, since it sheds light on possible control mechanisms for disease eradication.
Clinician acceptability of an antibiotic prescribing knowledge support system for primary care: a mixed-method evaluation of features and context
Authors: Ruth Hurley , Jury Francine , Tjeerd P. van Staa , Victoria Palin , Christopher J. Armitage
Published: July 2022

Background: Overprescribing of antibiotics is a major concern as it contributes to antimicrobial resistance. Research has found highly variable antibiotic prescribing in (UK) primary care, and to support more effective stewardship, the BRIT Project (Building Rapid Interventions to optimise prescribing) is implementing an eHealth Knowledge Support System. This will provide unique individualised analytics information to clinicians and patients at the point of care. The objective of the current study was to gauge the acceptability of the system to prescribing healthcare professionals and highlight factors to maximise intervention uptake.Methods: Two mixed-method co-design workshops were held online with primary care prescribing healthcare professionals (n=16). Usefulness ratings of example features were collected using online polls and online whiteboards. Verbal discussion and textual comments were analysed thematically using inductive (participant-centred) and deductive perspectives (using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability). Results: Hierarchical thematic coding generated three overarching themes relevant to intervention use and development. Clinician concerns (focal issues) were safe prescribing, accessible information, autonomy, avoiding duplication, technical issues and time. Requirements were ease and efficiency of use, integration of systems, patient-centeredness, personalisation and training. Important features of the system included extraction of pertinent information from patient records (such as antibiotic prescribing history), recommended actions, personalised treatment, risk indicators and electronic patient communication leaflets. Anticipated acceptability and intention to use the knowledge support system was moderate to high. Time was identified as a focal cost/ burden, but this would be outweighed if the system improved patient outcomes and increased prescribing confidence.Conclusion: Clinicians anticipate that an eHealth knowledge support system will be a useful and acceptable way to optimise antibiotic prescribing at the point of care. The mixed method workshop highlighted issues to assist person-centred eHealth intervention development, such as the value of communicating patient outcomes. Important features were identified including the ability to efficiently extract and summarise pertinent information from the patient records, provide explainable and transparent risk information, and personalised information to support patient communication. The Theoretical Framework of Acceptability enabled structured, theoretically sound feedback and creation of a profile to benchmark future evaluations. This may encourage a consistent user-focused approach to guide future eHealth intervention development.
Functional analysis of bacteriophage cf-m3 intergenic region for superinfection immunity regulation
Authors: Cheng Ching-Ming , Yang Chia-Chin , Wang Zih-Yun
Published: July 2022

To understand the immunity determinants of bacteriophage cf, we applied DNA shuffling to mutate the intergenic region (IG) for isolation of possible cf immunity mutants. After superinfection screening, an immunity mutant cf-m3 was obtained with a 106-109 fold greater superinfection ability compared with wild type cf. Nine mutations were characterized, four located within the coding region for a hypothetical repressor, PT gene (ORF165), and five located upstream of the PT coding region. To establish whether the major immunity determinant is the predicted PT protein or in the cis region, phage cf-ls-P and cf-ls-R were generated which showed as low superinfection efficiency as the wild type cf and had no superinfection ability on the cf-lysogen, respectively. This result indicates that rather than superinfection inhibition, the PT protein and the un-transcribed cis element function individually as positive regulators for cf superinfection immunity. Greater superinfection ability depends on the simultaneous presence of both elements. To learn more about the regulation of cf immunity, we characterized in silico the wild-type genome of cf (NCBI NC_001396) and the 61 non-redundant clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) spacers of Xanthomonas citri identified from 643 CRISPR spacers of 28 strains in the CRISPR database. No homology between CRISPR spacers and the cf genome was found. This indicates that the cf acts through a different immunity mechanism from the CRISPR system. This work yields further insight into the mechanism of cf superinfection immunity.
The geological situation in Abu-Jir Faults Zone, western Iraq: evidence from the radioactivity in Hit –Haditha area
Authors: Ali Kamal K.
Published: July 2022

Total radioactivity measurement (cps) in fifty-nine sites was achieved in the Hit- Kubaiysa- Haditha area. Geological samples (soil and rock) from those sites were analyzed for Ra-226, U-238, Th-232, and K-40 using Gamma spectroscopy system based on high pure germanium. The study aims to assess the radioactivity in the study area and attempt to understand the relationship between radioactivity and the geological situation in the area. The results showed that many sites have relatively high total radioactivity exceeding the background radioactivity by many times. The radioactivity concentrated in areas around the springs spreading in the area caused by the high concentration of Ra-226 which being have disequilibrium with its parent U-238. Some areas also have a relatively high concentration of U-238 in depressions areas where the upper part of the Euphrates Formation is outcropped. Based on the pattern of the spread of total radioactivity in the study area, the extension of the Euphrates Fault Zone and the Abu Jir Fault Zone could be determined, which extends towards northwest-southeast, in addition to the delineation of some of the recent faults that intersect with these zones in an east-west direction, most of which follow the spreading pattern of the springs in the region.
Intermodel uncertainty in Response of the Pacific Walker Circulation to Global Warming
Authors: Han Zi-Wen , Zheng Xiao-Tong
Published: July 2022

The Pacific Walker circulation (PWC) is one of the major atmospheric circulations that plays an essential role in ocean-atmosphere interactions and global climate. The response of the PWC to greenhouse warming remains a mystery and model results are inconsistent. Based on multimodel simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6), this study explores the intermodel uncertainty of the change in the PWC under global warming. The combination of the El Niño-like warming pattern and the interbasin warming contrast between the Indian and the Pacific Oceans strengthens (weakens) the west (east) branch of the Pacific trade winds, resulting in a structural shifting of the PWC. By conducting a set of Atmosphere General Circulation Model (AGCM) experiments, we demonstrate that the western Pacific warming plays a critical role in driving the PWC shift. An intensified western Pacific warming counteracts the effect of Indian Ocean warming on the PWC, leading to a uniformly weakened PWC in the tropical Pacific due to the SST gradient. In contrast, a decreased warming in the western Pacific strengthens the west branch of the PWC, shifting the turning longitude of zonal wind changes eastward. Further analysis reveals that the intermodel uncertainty of change in the PWC depends on the model biases. Our finding highlights that the relative warming pattern in the Indian and Pacific Oceans determines the PWC change in a warmer climate.
A network perspective on the ecology of gut microbiota and progression of Type 2 Diabetes: linkages to keystone taxa in a Mexican cohort
Authors: Esquivel-Herná Diego Armando , Martínez-López Yoscelina Estrella , Sánchez-Castañeda Jean Paul , Neri-Rosario Daniel , Padrón-Manrique Cristian , Girón-Villalobos David , Mendoza-Ortíz Cristian , Resendis-Antonio Osbaldo
Published: July 2022

Background
The human gut microbiota (GM) is a dynamic system which ecological interactions among the community members affect the host metabolism. Understanding the principles that rule the bidirectional communication between GM and its host, is one of the most valuable enterprise for uncovering how bacterial ecology influences the clinical variables in the host.
Results
Here, we used SparCC to infer association networks in 16S rRNA gene amplicon data from the GM of a cohort of Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in different stages: NG (normoglycemic), IFG (impaired fasting glucose), IGT (impaired glucose tolerance), IFG + IGT (impaired fasting glucose plus impaired glucose tolerance), T2D and T2D treated (T2D with a 5-year ongoing treatment). By exploring the network topology from the different stages of T2D, we observed that, as the disease progress, the networks lose the association between bacteria. It suggests that the microbial community becomes highly sensitive to perturbations in individuals with T2D. With the purpose to identify those genera that guide this transition, we computationally found keystone taxa (driver nodes) and core genera for a Mexican T2D cohort. Altogether, we suggest a set of genera driving the progress of the T2D in a Mexican cohort, among them Ruminococcaceae NK4A214 group, Ruminococcaceae UCG-010, Ruminococcaceae UCG-002, Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, Alistipes, Anaerostipes, and Terrisporobacter.
Conclusions
Based on a network approach, this study suggests a set of genera that can serve as a potential biomarker to distinguish the distinct degree of advances in T2D for a Mexican cohort of patients. Beyond limiting our conclusion to one population, we present a computational pipeline to link ecological networks and clinical stages in T2D, and desirable aim to advance in the field of precision medicine.
Seasonal Variability in Plankton Community in Lolab Freshwater Streams- a Lotic System of North Western Himalayas
Authors: Rashid Sumaira , Majeed Lone Rafiya , Anadrabi Syed javid Ahmad
Published: July 2022

Variability in the plankton community with respect to physico chemical parameters was studied for a year (2018-2019). The study area has a moderate climate with four seasons, i.e., spring, summer, autumn and winter. Eleven study sites were selected from the study area on an average distance of 5km, and samples were collected and analysed in the laboratory. Average rainfall, flow velocity, conductivity, ammonical nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ortho phosphorus, dissolved silica, and air temperature showed significant differences among all study sites and seasons i,e p < 0.05, while pH, Dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus and water temperature showed no significant difference. Almost all parameters showed a positive correlation except for pH, and average rainfall showed a negative correlation with other parameters maximum times. The composition and occurrence of plankton were recorded in the various sites during the study period. A total number of 68 taxa were recorded during four seasons in the Lolab watershed, with a total number of species of 4092 in spring, followed by 3204 in summer, 1860 in autumn, and 1553 in winter. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) ordination was utilized to determine plankton abundance in relation to physicochemical parameters. The distribution of plankton in the water body was dominated by nitrate, phosphate, and dissolved oxygen, indicating that the river is still quite productive in producing food species for higher aquatic life. However, precautions should be made to keep the river from deteriorating further due to varying degrees of human activity.
Cornstarch protocol for nocturnal hypoglycemia in adult patient with mitochondrial disorder
Authors: Winikka Laura , Thomas Austin , Huang Michael , Chen Jeffrey
Published: July 2022

Mitochondrial disorders (MTDs) are a group of rare, highly heterogeneous disorders most commonly involving genetic defects in the oxidation-phosphorylation pathway. Multiple organ systems can be affected, though endocrine related conditions are particularly common. Non-diabetic patients with MTD have been found to have significantly increased rates of hypoglycemic episodes compared to the general population. Here we present a case of recurrent nocturnal hypoglycemic episodes in a 29-year-old male with unspecified mitochondrial myopathy who underwent extensive hypoglycemia testing which came back negative. The patient was ultimately started on a cornstarch therapy adapted from the treatment protocol for glycogen storage disease type Ia, leading to a resolution of his nocturnal hypoglycemia. The stabilization of blood glucose levels in this case suggests that the cornstarch protocol of 1.6 g/kg body weight before bedtime may be a viable treatment option for non-diabetic hypoglycemia in MTDs.
Knowledge Guided Multi-filter Residual Convolutional Neural Network for ICD Coding from Clinical Text
Authors: Boukhers Zeyd , Goswami Prantik , Jürjens Jan
Published: July 2022

Recent research works on automatic ICD coding demonstrated that Deep Neural Network models are efficient in capturing essential features from textual clinical data to predict the ICD code of the disease. However, it has been discovered that since these models rely only on training examples, they cannot grasp most of the relationships between medical entities present in new clinical texts. To overcome this, this paper introduces KG-MultiResCNN - Knowledge Guided Multi-filter Residual Convolutional Neural Network, a DNN model that relies, in addition to training examples, on external knowledge that embeds the relationships between the medical entities found in the clinical text. Specifically, we use the Wikidata Knowledge Graph (KG) to extract the relationship embeddings of medical entities. With this combination, our guided model is better at predicting the correct ICD codes. The extensive experiments with MIMIC-III dataset showed that KG-MultiResCNN outperformed the current state-of-the-art model and other baseline approaches.
Distillation of nonlocality in porous solids
Authors: Patnaik Sansit , Jokar Mehdi , Ding Wei , Semperlotti Fabio
Published: July 2022

Nonlocal interactions are intrinsic to multiscale heterogeneous solids. The strength of the interactions exhibits a position-dependent (heterogeneous) character whose spatial distribution strongly correlates with the underlying microstructure. In this work, a variable-order fractional calculus-based framework to distill the position-dependent nonlocal effects is developed. By considering the example of porous plates, theoretical and numerical analyses will illustrate the ability of variable-order mechanics to enable parsimonious and causal models via a synthetic variable-order map that naturally measures the non-classical role of the microstructure in determining the macroscopic response. Parsimony and causality ultimately enable the variable-order model to meaningfully measure the heterogeneous nonlocality and embed it in the variable-order map. The characteristic measure for nonlocality, different from the entanglement noted in the local porosity map, indicates a distillation of the macroscopic nonlocality, analogous to quantum nonlocality distillation. The macroscopic distillation also enables the additivity of the order map, that is the ability of assembled variable-order maps to capture the response of combined porous plates.
Assessment of HRQoL and its Determinants for Kidney Stone Formers in urological settings of Pakistan
Authors: Ali Zulnorain , Khan Ahmad , Mehmood Tahir , Malik Obaidullah , Khan Jallat , el-emir zein
Published: July 2022

Background
Quality of life is the central health-improving goal. Urolithiasis is a complex disease related to disease-related morbidity and consequently effecting patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The study aims to evaluate the HRQoL and markers of HRQoL of kidney stone formers using a disease-specific instrument.
Methods
HRQoL of kidney stone formers were compared with healthy individuals using Wisconsin stone quality of life (WISQoL) questionnaire. A prospective, cross-sectional, case-control study was conducted at different urological settings of Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Result
Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) analysis depicted that compared with healthy individuals stone formers reported statistically significant (p < 0.001) differences in HRQoL in overall health and all the four domains of WISQoL i.e., social, emotional, disease impact and impact on vitality. Regression analysis evaluated that demographic factors, clinical features of the disease and surgical procedure for active removal of stone are major determinants of QoL for stone formers (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
It was concluded that urolithiasis, its various disease related characteristics along with its management choices, is compromising patient’s quality of life in all major domains of health. WISQoL questionnaire was proved to be a reliable disease-specific instrument for the assessment of HRQoL of kidney stone patients.
Economics of enterprises, territories and macroeconomic systems in the conditions of digital transformations: from stability and
Authors: MELNYK LEONID HR. , MATSENKO OLEKSANDR M. , DERYKOLENKO OLEKSANDR M. , KYRYLENKO MAKSYM V. , STARODUB IHOR A.
Published: July 2022

The article investigates the concept of fragility. The authors analyze this phenomenon in the transition of economic systems to the digital economy. Based on the analysis of scientific publications, especially N. Taleb, the definition of "fragility" is formulated as a property of the system to become more stable and perfect under the influence of adverse factors. The key components based on which the phenomenon of anti-fragility is realized analyzed: changes, errors and moderate stresses. The main sources of non-deterministic (indeterminate, random) changes are formulated, as a result of which conditions may arise those force systems to use anti-fragility agents. Three bases of a phase of origin and realization of economic systems actions for the formation of their properties of fragility are formulated: decrease in efficiency, the emergence of virtual states, selection of options for implementation. The principles of ensuring anti-fragility of economic systems are developed: application of innovations, tolerance to changes, elimination of fragile components, self-management of the team, minimization of excessive risk, formation of resource reserve, focus on strategic goals, activation of nonlinear thinking. Key recommendations on the fragile management of economic systems are added. The principle applies to linear logic: under different conditions – a different strategy. It is concluded that anti-fragility is a universal tool suitable for different organizations, regardless of their parameters. Due to this phenomenon, the leaders of economic systems can influence the state of their organizations under the influence of external factors, which they are unable to control. Such factors may include a change in demand for certain products, fluctuations in economic conditions, the transformation of consumer behaviour, changes in the circumstances of competition, economic conditions, social and political events, etc.
Familiarity and Use of Biostimulants by the Georgia Golf Industry: Information from a Survey of Golf Course Superintendents
Authors: Pennisi Svoboda V. , Habteselassie Mussie , Kostandini Genti , Waltz Freddie C.
Published: July 2022

Golf course superintendents are often under pressure to maintain high-quality turf. Such demand entails use of inputs, which can include biostimulants that are often marketed as a way of combating plant stress and improving turf quality. However, the extent of their use by superintendents and their level of efficacy are not well understood. This survey study was designed to better describe biostimulant use by the golf industry and to gain insights on the research needs of superintendents to address them effectively. A survey instrument was developed using online software and included a total of 13 questions relating to general familiarity with biostimulants and specific familiarity with five biological products. The instrument was disseminated electronically via the online survey tool to attendees (N = 80) during the annual conference of the Georgia Golf Environmental Summit in 2022. The respondents were from 62 golf courses, geographically representing the entire state of Georgia. The response rate was 62.5%. The majority of the respondents (86%) were familiar with biostimulants. The main reason for using biostimulants was predominantly agronomic, indicating a focus on turf performance and aesthetics. Of the respondents who used biostimulants, the overwhelming majority (93%) use humic acids and plant growth hormone-containing biostimulants. Respondents also indicated that research in microbial products would be the most relevant to the industry. This may be explained by the challenges in using such products (shelf life and microbial survival in soil). In conclusion, the survey indicated that Georgia golf course superintendents have high a level of familiarity with biostimulants. The survey yielded useful results to help formulate future research objectives to better serve the Georgia golf course industry.
Entegre Bulanık AHP ve Bulanık VIKOR Yöntemleriyle Tesis Yeri Seçimi
Authors: TERME Beyza , ÇİÇEK İrem , KİRAZ Alper
Published: July 2022

Kar amacı güden her işletmenin varoluş sebebi maksimum faydayla faaliyet göstermektir. Maksimum fayda sağlama yolunda stratejik kararlar önemlidir. Bu kararlar işletmeleri uzun dönemde etkiler ve hata yapılırsa büyük maliyetler oluşabilir. Stratejik kararlardan biri tesis yeri seçimidir. Tesis yeri yatırımı karar vericilerin hedefleri doğrultusunda karlı sonuçlanmalıdır. Çalışmada Ark Pres Emniyet Kemerleri A.Ş. için tesis yeri seçimi problemi ele alınmıştır. İşletmedeki karar vericilerin kriterlerin önem düzeylerinin tek bir kararda olmaması problemi karmaşıklaştırmıştır. Çözümde Çok Kriterli Karar Verme tekniklerinden Bulanık Analitik Hiyerarşi Prosesi (BAHP) ve Bulanık Çok Kriterli Optimizasyon ve Uzlaşık Çözüm (Bulanık VIKOR) yöntemleri uygulanmıştır. Bulanık AHP ile karar vericilerin değerlendirmeleri doğrultusunda kriterler ağırlıklandırılmış, Bulanık VIKOR ile bu ağırlıklar kullanılarak alternatifler sıralanmış ve seçim yapılmıştır. Çalışmada ana kriter ağırlıklarından en önemlisi maliyet, alt kriter ağırlıklarından en önemlisi işçilik maliyetleri olarak belirlenmiştir. Uygulama sonucunda işletmenin tesis yeri beş alternatif arasından en uygun olan Kocaeli - Arslanbey Organize Sanayi Bölgesi seçilmiştir.
Influence of Nano-Silica on the Mechanical Properties of Jute/Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composites
Authors: ERKLİĞ Ahmet , BOZKURT Ömer Yavuz , AL-TEKREETI Wassan Falah
Published: July 2022

Natural composites have gained importance recently due to increasing environmental factors and relatively low cost. Although their biodegradability, low density, and high processability, the use of natural fibers in composite materials as the only reinforcement phase faces with some challenges due to their disadvantages such as high moisture absorption and low mechanical properties. To overcome these issues, the natural fibers are generally utilized in composite materials by synthesizing with synthetic fibers. In this context, jute/epoxy composites have been hybridized with glass fiber layers and nano-silica particles to improve low mechanical properties, and the contributions of hybridization on mechanical properties are investigated through performing tensile, bending, and impact tests. Nano-silica particles in the ratio of 1%, 2%, and 3% by weight have been used in composite production. Three different hybrid configurations (G1J6G1, J3G2J3, J2G1J2G1J2) are tested as well as pure jute/epoxy and pure glass/epoxy composites. According to the experimental results, nano-silica additive has a significant effect on both non-hybrid and hybrid fiber reinforced composites. By using the glass fiber layer on the outer surface, the

highest tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact behavior have been achieved in the G1J6G1 hybrid configuration.
Возможности студентов медицинского университета в реализации направлений волонтерской деятельности по работе с детьми из неблагополучных семей
Authors: Полянская П. Г. , Недуруева Т. В.
Published: July 2022

The article discusses the implementation of directions for using the volunteer resource to solve significant problems of modern society. The article presents the results of a sociological study of medical volunteers of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Kursk State Medical University” of the Ministry of Health of Russia in order to study their attitude to personal participation in volunteer activities”; the experience of the youth club “Vysota” of the Solntsevskaya secondary school of the Solntsevsky district of the Kursk region is presented; the technology “get into a good company” is described, aimed at involving children from disadvantaged families in organizing and holding events together with socially active youth.
“Theatre is not a casual engagement, it is a daily ritual”: Imphal and the Chorus Repertory Theatre as the Sites of Performance
Authors:   Associate Professor, Department of English, B.H. College, Assam (Gauhati University), Das Subhash Chandra , Prodhani Jyotirmoy ,   Professor, Department of English at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Meghalaya
Published: July 2022

The paper contains an exclusive interview of Ratan Thiyam (1948), the famous theatre director from the Northeast and one of the major protagonists of the Theatre of Roots movement in India. The paper also provides the authors’ experience with the place, Imphal, (capital of Manipur state), its people, and its milieu which intimately informed the creative self of Thiyam and his theatre abode—the Chorus Repertory Theatre (CRT). Manipur is a state of an enigma for many outside the state, not only in the mainland but even in other parts of the Northeast as well because Manipur is seen as a place that has been a theatre of political turmoil and unrest following protracted militancy, ethnic anxieties and the tumults of identity assertions besides being subjected to the draconian AFSPA for the longest period of time. Against such a backdrop life continues to thrive in Imphal which provides elaborate nuances and contradictions turning the cityscape itself into a space of performance. The interview was taken on the sidelines of the National Theatre Festival 2017, at the CRT where some of the significant contemporary Indian plays were also performed including Thiyam’s Urubhangam. The paper attempts to look at Thiyam’s theatre against the cultural and spatial context of Manipur and to see how theatre can evolve as an organic form of artistic expression.