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Mixed atrial septal defects (ASDs) involving inferior vena cava (IVC)-type sinus venosus and secundum types and mixed partial anomalous pulmonary, systemic, and hepatic venous drainage are rare. We describe a 3-year-old acyanotic boy who presented with a large mixed inferior sinus venosus and secundum-type ASD. He exhibited an abnormal connection between the right upper pulmonary vein and the right atrium. Additionally, the IVC and a hepatic vein drained abnormally into the left atrium. The patient also had valvular and supravalvular pulmonary stenosis, as well as a small patent ductus arteriosus. The ASD was surgically closed using a pericardial patch, positioned lower than usual to reroute the IVC and hepatic vein flow into the right atrium. The surgery was successful, with no residual lesions or complications. The patient recovered without issues and was discharged smoothly. At the 6-month follow-up, the child's cardiac examination and oxygen saturation were normal. Furthermore, echocardiography confirmed normal drainage of the systemic and hepatic veins into the right atrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): To compare the diagnostic performance of [68Ga]-Ga-FAPI-46 and [18F]-FDG PET/CT imaging for the detection of lesions and disease staging in breast cancer. Methods: Twelve female patients with breast cancer (mean age= 49.2±13.29 years) and previous [18F]-FDG PET/CT were recruited in the study. [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 imaging performed in all patients within one month after [18F]-FDG PET/CT imaging. The acquired PET/CT data with both tracers were reconstructed. Tracer avid lesions with each PET tracer were identified and the semi-quantitative parameters i.e. SUVmax, lesion counts and target-to-background ratio (TBRmax) were analyzed. Results: Physiologic distribution of [68Ga]-Ga-FAPI-46 was observed in the liver, blood pool and kidneys, whereas no tracer uptake was noted in the brain and heart. The mean liver SUVmax for [68Ga] Ga-FAPI-46 was 1.5±0.1 which was lower than that noted for [18F]-FDG PET/CT (2.9±0.2). Likewise, the mean blood pool SUVmax value for [68Ga]-Ga-FAPI-46 was lower than [18F]-FDG PET/CT (1.7±0.1 versus 2.0±0.1). [68Ga]-Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT demonstrated higher tracer uptake in the lesions detected in the brain, bone, internal mammary and lymph nodes in 4/12 patients. The overall lesions detections and the mean SUVmax values did not differ significantly between the two techniques. On the other hand, [68Ga]-Ga-FAPI-46 demonstrated higher mean TBRmax than [18F] FDG PET/CT particularly for lesions detected in kidneys, chest wall, mediastinum, and musculoskeletal lesions. However, both techniques offered identical TNM staging. Conclusion: The findings of this preliminary study demonstrated that [68Ga]-Ga-FAPI-46 and [18F]-FDG PET/CT offered identical disease staging in the breast cancer patients. [68Ga]-Ga-FAPI-46 showed lower liver and blood pool uptake and an enhanced tumor-to-background ratio, thereby suggesting its potential for improved lesions detection. This may open opportunity for emerging FAP based radioligand for therapeutic applications in advanced stage breast cancers. However, this needs validation in a larger number of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responsible, efficient, and environmentally conscious energy consumption practices are increasingly essential for ensuring the reliability of the modern electricity grid. This study focuses on leveraging time series analysis to improve forecasting accuracy, crucial for various application domains where real-world time series data often exhibit complex, non-linear patterns. Our approach advocates for utilizing long short-term memory (LSTM) and bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) models for precise time series forecasting. To ensure a fair evaluation, we compare the performance of our proposed approach with traditional neural networks, time-series forecasting methods, and conventional decline curves. Additionally, individual models based on LSTM, Bi-LSTM, and other machine learning methods are implemented for a comprehensive assessment. Experimental results consistently demonstrate that our proposed model outperforms all benchmarking methods in terms of mean absolute error (MAE) across most datasets. Addressing the imbalance between activations by consumer and prosumer groups, our predictions show superior performance compared to several traditional forecasting methods, such as the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model. Specifically, the root mean square error (RMSE) of Bi-LSTM is 5.35%, 46.08%, and 50.6% lower than LSTM, ARIMA, and SARIMA, respectively, on the May test data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Electrical & Computer Engineering Innovations (JECEI) is the property of Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Several studies have looked into the effectiveness of bleomycin treatment for warts using various injection methods, such as intralesional injection, multiple puncture technique, jet injection, and moonlet needle prick method, in various concentrations and doses. However, injection methods have been linked to acute pain and bleeding. The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of microneedling combination with topical bleomycin and cryotherapy in the treatment of resistant warts on the hands and feet. This randomized clinical trial, conducted at Sina Hospital in Tabriz, involved 90 patients with treatment-resistant warts on their hands and feet. Treatment measures were repeated every two weeks in treatment-resistant patients who did not react to four cryotherapy sessions or whose lesions remained stable for six months. Each wart lesion was randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: topical bleomycin with microneedling or cryotherapy. The effectiveness of the treatment in weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 with PGA and PaGA, the amount of clearance, and side effects were evaluated in each session and the 8th week. Pain during therapy was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 10. The patients’ mean age was 33.65 ± 12.24 years, with 63.3% being female. A total of 186 resistant wart lesions were treated, with 98 (52.7%) situated in the palmar region and 88 (47.3%) in the plantar region. In palm lesions, the bleomycin micro-needling group had a considerably greater clearance rate than the cryotherapy group (86.4% vs. 61.9%; p = 0.001). In foot lesions, the bleomycin microneedling group had a greater clearance rate than the cryotherapy group, although there was no statistically significant difference (69.6% vs. 54.2%; p = 0.209). In the eighth week following the intervention, the number of lesions and the diameter of warts on the palms and feet decreased significantly in the bleomycin microneedling group when compared to the cryotherapy group. Bleomycin microneedling had no adverse effects; however, in patients undergoing cryotherapy, local pain, blisters, and scars were noted. Bleomycin microneedling has a higher therapeutic efficiency than cryotherapy for treating refractory hand and foot warts, and it removes lesions more effectively. In addition, this therapeutic method is safer and has fewer side effects than cryotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is a global issue, with over 1.9 billion adults overweight. Disruption of circadian rhythms (CR) leads to obesity and metabolic disorders. Dietary nutrition significantly impacts sleep disorders and disruption in CR, influencing hormones and inflammation, which can contribute to insomnia. The dietary insulin index (DII) and dietary insulin load (DIL) are important factors in determining sleep quality. The current study aims to investigate the association between DII and DIL with CR and sleep quality among with overweight and obesity women. Methods: A case-control study involved 280 overweight/obese women aged 25–40 from Tehran University Medical Science. They were assessed for dietary intake, physical activity, and sleep using validated questionnaires. The study also assessed body composition, bioelectrical impedance analysis, biochemical components, anthropometric components, and blood pressure. Socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics, such as age, educational level, physical activity, and smoking habits, were also assessed through questionnaires. Result: In the crude and adjustment models, high adherence of DII compared with lower adherence increased the odds of poor sleep quality index among participants. This significant association remained even after adjustment for confounding variables (P < 0.05), such that the odds of poor sleep quality index was 1.92 times higher. Conclusion: This study showed high adherence to DII and DIL may cause CR disruption. Furthermore, higher adherence to DII lead to poor sleep quality in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a Plasmon-induced tunable meta-surface for multiband absorption. It consists of a graphene disk that facilitates perfect absorption; whereas, the dual bias graphene pattern creates an enhanced evanescent wave that facilitates the meta-surface to work as a sensor. The modeling and numerical analysis are carried out using Finite Element Method-based software, CST microwave studio. By exploiting graphene's tunable properties we demonstrate a multiband super absorption spectrum having a maximum absorption of 99.7% in a frequency range of 0.1–2.0 THz, 6 THz, 9.5 THz, 16 THz, 19.5 THz, and 22.5 THz that also maintain unique optical performance over a wide incidence angle. Further results show sensitivity analysis and comparison of developed equivalent circuit models with full-wave simulation. Also, the total height of the proposed absorber is about 5µm, makes it ultra-thin device with multiple absorption peaks in whole THz spectrum and beyond. Such a high performance wave absorber is in great demand for medical imaging and sensing. Such a robust meta-absorber is an ideal block for several bio sensing applications if the spacer is replaced via any known biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can be challenging to treat, especially in advanced stages. Radiotherapy is one of the main treatment modalities for melanoma, but its efficacy can be limited due to the radioresistance of melanoma cells. Recently, there has been growing interest in using high-Z metal nanoparticles (NPs) to enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy for melanoma. This review provides an overview of the current state of radiotherapy for melanoma and discusses the physical and biological mechanisms of radiosensitization through high-Z metal NPs. Additionally, it summarizes the latest research on using high-Z metal NPs to sensitize melanoma cells to radiation, both in vitro and in vivo. By examining the available evidence, this review aims to shed light on the potential of high-Z metal NPs in improving radiotherapy outcomes for patients with melanoma. Graphical Abstract Article highlights Melanoma, a lethal skin cancer from melanocytes, causes 75% of skin cancer-related deaths worldwide. Rising incidence necessitates urgent interventions. Traditional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) have limitations. Nanomedicine, using nanoparticles (NPs) sized 1–100 nm, shows promise in enhancing cancer treatment, especially high-Z metal NPs (e.g., gold, platinum, gadolinium) in improving RT outcomes for melanoma. Radiotherapy for melanoma RT is vital for melanoma management, especially when surgery is not viable or cancer has spread. Combining RT with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) improves outcomes in brain metastases. Fractionated RT enhances T cell responses, similar to vaccines. Studies suggest higher radiation doses may be more effective, with clinical studies indicating a median total dose of 30 Gy and BED >39.0 Gy10. High-Z metal NPs can enhance RT by targeting cancer cells precisely while sparing healthy tissue. High-Z metal NPs for radiotherapy of melanoma High-Z metal NPs like gold, magnetic iron oxide, gadolinium, copper-cysteamine and platinum enhance RT efficacy while preserving healthy tissue. Gold NPs enhance RT through unique properties like surface plasmon resonance. mIONs offer RT combined with hyperthermia, enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Gadolinium enhances MRI and RT, with AGuIX® NPs allowing precise imaging and targeted therapy. Other high-Z metals like copper-cysteamine and platinum enhance ROS production, improving treatment outcomes. Nanoparticle physicochemistry & radiosensitization Key design factors include material, size, shape, surface coating and charge. NP size affects biodistribution and clearance, with optimal sizes for tumor uptake being 20–60 nm. NP concentration and surface charge impact RT enhancement and cytocompatibility. Synthesis methods, including chemical, physical and green, ensure biocompatibility and reduced toxicity. Coatings improve stability and targeting, essential for passive and active strategies, enhancing treatment efficacy. Mechanisms of High-Z Metal NPs radiosensitization Radiosensitization involves physical, chemical and biological phases. High-Z metal NPs enhance RT through the photoelectric effect and sary electron production, increasing local radiation doses. They modulate chemical reactions, enhancing DNA damage and ROS production. Biologically, NPs disrupt cell cycles, delay DNA repair and induce oxidative stress, increasing tumor cell radiosensitivity. Conclusion High-Z metal nanoparticles show significant promise in enhancing radiotherapy for melanoma. Benefits include efficient x-ray absorption, targeted delivery and induction of oxidative stress. Key challenges like ensuring biocompatibility, understanding mechanisms and optimizing NP design need addressing before clinical translation. Continued research is essential for developing effective and safe NP-based therapies. Future perspectives Future prospects include using NPs for targeted radiation doses to melanoma cells, optimizing delivery strategies and conducting preclinical and clinical studies to validate efficacy and safety. Continued innovations in nanomedicine could lead to more targeted, effective and personalized cancer treatments, transforming oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a robust optimization of a hybrid photovoltaic-wind-battery (PV/WT/Batt) system in distribution networks to reduce active losses and voltage deviation while also enhancing network customer reliability considering production and network load uncertainties. The best installation position and capacity of the hybrid system (HS) are found via an improved crow search algorithm with an inertia weight technique. The robust optimization issue, taking into account the risk of uncertainty, is described using the gap information decision theory method. The proposed approach is used with 33- and 69-bus networks. The results reveal that the HS optimization in the network reduces active losses and voltage variations, while improving network customer reliability. The robust optimization results show that in the 33-bus network, the system remains resilient to prediction errors under the worst-case uncertainty scenario, with a 44.53% reduction in production and a 22.18% increase in network demand for a 30% uncertainty budget. Similarly, in the 69-bus network, the system withstands a 36.22% reduction in production and a 16.97% increase in load for a 25% uncertainty budget. When comparing stochastic and robust methods, it was found that the stochastic Monte Carlo method could not consistently provide a reliable solution for all objectives under uncertainty, whereas the robust approach successfully managed the maximum uncertainty related to renewable generation and network demand across different uncertainty budgets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of hypercalciuria in children is 3%–10% globally and up to 35% in the United States. Hypercalciuria in children has many presentations; it causes different metabolic disorders and can negatively affect a child's growth. It also increases the risk of low bone mineral density and urinary tract infections. In addition, it is the most widespread cause of persistent microscopic hematuria. Changes in the diet and medications in cases of advanced stage can be useful to prevent further complications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypercalciuria and to investigate its relationship with different factors in children aged 2–16 years with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria in 2020 in the Children's Medical Center hospital. This retrospective cross‐sectional study was performed in a population of children aged 2–16 years old with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria who were referred to the Children's Medical Center clinic in 2020. Data such as age, sex, serum creatinine level, and proteinuria were extracted from the patient's medical records, and their relationship with hypercalciuria was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. According to the inclusion criteria, 166 children with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria (72 boys and 94 girls) were included in this study. The prevalence of hypercalciuria (ratio of random urine calcium to creatinine more than 0.2) in these patients was estimated at 25% with a confidence interval of 18%–32%. In order of prevalence, the most common conditions accompanying microscopic hematuria were kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and proteinuria. The age of patients with hypercalciuria was 2 years younger on average. Each year of age increase and every 5 years of age increase between the ages of 2 and 16 years reduced the chance of hypercalciuria in this category of patients by 12% and 45%, respectively. Our findings also showed that children with a positive history of kidney stones were about 2.2 times more likely to have hypercalciuria than their counterparts, which is considered a medium effect size. Our results showed that hypercalciuria in children with hematuria is significantly related to younger age and a positive history of kidney stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Follicular delivery is one of the targeted drug delivery methods aiming to target the hair follicles. The accumulation and retention time of targeted drugs is enhanced when nanoparticles are used as drug carriers. Particle size is one of the important factors affecting the penetration and accumulation of particles in the hair follicles, and there is a controversy in different studies for the best particle size for follicular delivery. Mouse models are mostly used in clinical trials for dermal, transdermal, and follicular delivery studies. Also, it is essential to investigate the reliability of the results between human studies and mouse models. Methods: Curcumin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), as a fluorescent agent, with three different particle size ranges were prepared using the hot homogenization method and applied topically on the mouse and human study groups. Biopsies were taken from applied areas on different days after using the formulation. The histopathology studies were done on the skin biopsies of both groups using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). We compared the confocal laser scanning microscope pictures of different groups, in terms of penetration and retention time of nanoparticles in human and mouse hair follicles. Results: The best particle size in both models was the 400 nm group but the penetration and accumulation of particles in human and mouse hair follicles were totally different even for the 400 nm group. In human studies, 400 nm particles showed good accumulation after seven days; this result can help to increase the formulation using intervals. Conclusion: The best particle size for human and mouse follicular drug delivery is around 400 nm and although mouse models are not completely suitable for follicular delivery studies, they can be used in some conditions as experimental models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study a super absorbent polymer (SAP) based on acrylic acid (AAc) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), as an environmentally friendly material, was prepared using gamma irradiation. Gamma radiation was applied to synthesize CMC/AAc SAPs in the range of 5 to 20 kGy absorbed doses. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to determine the polymerization and grafting monomer to CMC in SAP formation. The effect of radiation dose, CMC concentration on the gel content, swelling behavior and absorption under load (AUL) in water and saline solution were investigated. Based on the results with increasing irradiation dose from 10 to 20 kGy the water and saline solution absorption of the SAP decrease in SAPs containing 1 and 2% CMC, but increases in SAP containing 0.5% CMC. Also, by raise in the irradiation dose from 10 to 20 kGy AUL decreases. The results suggest that 0.5% CMC/AAc SAPs synthesized using the irradiation method may be suitable for medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to develop a robust and efficient system to identify ties and ballasts in motion using a variety of non-contact sensors mounted on a robotic rail cart. The sensors include distance LiDAR sensors and inductive proximity sensors for ferrous materials to collect data while traversing railroad tracks. Many existing tie/ballast health monitoring devices cannot be mounted on Hyrail vehicles for in-motion inspection due to their inability to filter out unwanted targets (i.e., ties or ballasts). The system studied here addresses that limitation by exploring several approaches based on distance LiDAR sensors. The first approach is based on calculating the running standard deviation of the measured distance from LiDAR sensors to tie or ballast surfaces. The second approach uses machine learning (ML) methods that combine two primary algorithms (Logistic Regression and Decision Tree) and three preprocessing methods (six models in total). The results indicate that the optimal configuration for non-contact, in-motion differentiation of ties and ballasts is integrating two distance LiDAR sensors with a Decision Tree model. This configuration provides rapid, accurate, and robust tie/ballast differentiation. The study also facilitates further sensor and inspection research and development in railroad track maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Carotid artery web is a possible cause of ischemic stroke, especially in young patients who lack conventional risk factors. The immediate and long‐term outcomes are not well studied. We aimed to determine the association between an ipsilateral carotid web and in‐hospital stroke recurrence. Methods: We analyzed data from adult patients admitted with an acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion at a Comprehensive Stroke Center between July 2015 and March 2023. The primary outcome was in‐hospital stroke recurrence and secondary outcome was in‐hospital recurrent LVO. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the association between ipsilateral carotid web and recurrent ischemic stroke and recurrent LVO. Results: Of the 1463 patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion, 27 (1.8%) had an ipsilateral carotid artery web. Patients with carotid web were younger (median age (IQR), 60 years (53–67 years) versus 74 years (62–84 years), P < 0.01) and less likely to be Caucasian (60% vs. 80%, p = 0.014). Of the 27 patients with carotid web, 18 (70%) had no identifiable competing stroke mechanism. When compared to patients without ipsilateral carotid web, those with an ipsilateral carotid web had a higher risk of recurrent ischemic stroke (adjusted RR: 4.38, 95% CI: 1.38–13.85) and recurrent ipsilateral large vessel occlusion (adjusted RR: 4.49, 95% CI: 1.41–14.21). Interpretation: Carotid webs are an under recognized cause of acute large vessel occlusion and are associated with higher risk of early recurrence. Studies are needed to validate our findings and test early revascularization strategies in patients with symptomatic carotid artery webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of BMC Ophthalmology is the property of BioMed Central and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study presents a novel method for planning the expansion of transmission lines and energy storage systems while considering the interconnectedness of electricity and gas networks. We developed a two-level stochastic planning model that addresses both the expansion of transmission and battery systems in the electrical grid and the behavior of the gas network. This research explores the challenges and effects of integrating high levels of renewable energy sources while ensuring security within both networks. Our model uses a stochastic mixed-integer non-linear programming approach. To solve this complex model, we applied the Human Evolutionary Model (HEM). We tested our approach on two case studies: a simple 6-node network and the more complex IEEE RTS 24-bus network for the electricity grid, combined with 5-node and 10-node gas networks, respectively. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of our model, particularly in scenarios where connections in the power and gas networks are disrupted, preventing load shedding even when integrated network connections are cut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent literature underlines the increasing use of online platforms in learning undergraduate mathematics, where students refer to these as supplementary resources to develop their mathematical understanding. Through an intrinsic case study, we focus on a highly viewed YouTube learning resource for learning derivative. The selected case is from 3Blue1Brown, a YouTube channel whose founder has received an award from the American Mathematical Society. The video has garnered more than 3.3 million views in the past couple of years. Reflecting on the relevant literature, a realization tree for derivative is developed and then used as an analytical tool to analyze this resource to explore what realizations have been used in it to facilitate students' understanding of derivative. The findings indicate that the analyzed YouTube resource discusses various realizations of derivative, including all its five main realizations, and effectively utilizes new digital technology for discussing these realizations. Such an exceptional resource for learning mathematics leads us to suggest that mathematics lecturers raise their awareness about such online free resources and incorporate them into their teaching packages when appropriate to facilitate student learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced therapeutic dressings are the current research interest that achieves rapid and complete wound healing. The healing of skin wounds demonstrates a remarkable cellular function process that is distinct in nature and involves the interaction of various cells, growth factors, and cytokines. In this study, nanofibrous scaffolds were prepared using poly(ε-caprolactone) and polylactic acid as mat scaffolds. Also, copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and curcumin were added to fabricate a hybrid nanocomposite scaffold using the electrospinning technique. The fabricated scaffolds were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), tensile analysis, porosity, and water vapor transmission rate. SEM analysis proved the nanostructured fibers have suitable porosity without any beads. The presence of CuNPs in the PCL-Cu nanofibrous mat was confirmed by TEM analysis. The tensile test confirmed an increase and decrease in the elongation ratio by CuNPs and curcumin addition, respectively. The biocompatibility and cell attachment to the nanofibers were proved by MTT and DAPI staining which proved a significantly positive effect of curcumin in the cell growth. The scaffold can hinder both the gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria through direct contact with them. This research study showed that the addition of CuNPs and curcumin in the hybrid nanocomposite scaffold compensates for each other's shortcomings and has the potential to be used in wound healing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of environmental degradation has become pertinent and the call for carbon neutrality has intensified in recent years. Achieving this target will require countries to meet the conditions of the sustainable development goals. To do this, the study applied spatiotemporal modelling and the generalized method of moments (GMM) to examine the nexus between economic growth (EG) and the load capacity factor (LCF) through environmental goods (ENG) and environmental tax (ENT) among European Union (EU) nations from 1995 to 2018. The findings demonstrate that spatial dependence leads to a change in EG and LCF that impacts the EG and LCF of the neighbouring countries. The study also found that there is a significant positive and bidirectional relationship between economic growth and load capacity factor. Moreover, the study revealed that a positive effect of ENG, ENT, REN and Human Capital Index (HCI) on EG, with a reducing effect from natural resource rents (NRR). Finally, HCI improves environmental quality, while ENG, ENT, REN and NRR degrade the environment. Our findings justify the need for EU countries and other developed nations to implement policies that will help achieve a green economic transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid industrialization and modernization have drastically impaired ecological sustainability and increased ecological footprint (EFP). Despite the vital relevance of renewable energy (REC) and green technological innovation (GTI), in many facets of life, the part played by these factors and their spatial spillover effects in exploring ecological sustainability in EU countries has yet to be well studied. Thus, using a spatial panel econometric technique, this research investigates the direct and spillover effects of GTI and REC on ecological sustainability in 20 selected EU nations between 1995 and 2018. First, the empirical results affirm a positive spatial connection of EFP across nations, implying that employing spatial models can provide more trustworthy results than traditional econometric approaches. Second, both GTI and REC tend to significantly promote domestic ecological sustainability. Third, the environmental quality of EU countries benefit from the high GTI, REC, and human capital of their neighboring nations. Fourth, economic growth and financial globalization (FG) have a negative and significant effect on environmental quality. Other empirical analyses indicated that the indirect effect of FG on EFP is positive and significant. With a focus on the EU countries, this paper assists policymakers in developing a comprehensive strategy for enhancing ecological responsibility via renewable energy and green technology innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton warehouses face unique inventory management challenges. This research addresses this challenge by proposing innovative strategies to enhance warehouse efficiency. Three key objectives are addressed: modeling cotton bale movements, evaluating an alternative to the current bale handling process, and evaluating an alternative to the current cotton bale marketing system. Results reveal significant cost savings. Changing bale receiving and placement strategy by using gin codes yields a $499,000 per-cycle reduction for an Oklahoma cotton warehouse case. Altering order fulfillment techniques, such as grouping 30 orders, saves $34,000 per cycle. Implementing quality-based bale substitution leads to a $1.3 million saving per cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to comprehensively assess the lubrication effect of leaves on wheel–rail contact dynamics using the Virginia Tech-Federal Railroad Administration (VT-FRA) Roller Rig, which closely simulates field conditions with precision and repeatability. Railway operators grapple with the seasonally recurring challenge of leaf contamination, which can cause partial loss of braking and lead to undesired events such as station overruns. Better understanding the adhesion-reducing impact of leaf contamination significantly improves railway engineering practices to counter their effects on train braking and traction. This experimental study evaluates the reduction in traction and braking forces (collectively called "adhesion") as a function of leaf volume, using two leaf species that commonly grow along U.S. railroad tracks. The test methods rely on the chosen leaves' transpiration characteristics while ensuring the result's reproducibility. Leaves were symmetrically positioned on the wheel surface, centered around the mid-rib area within the wear band, and taped on the edges far from the wear band. The critical test parameters (i.e., wheel load, wheel velocity, and percentage creepage) are kept constant among the tests. At the same time, leaf volume is reduced from a maximum amount that covers the entire wheel surface (100% coverage) to no leaves (0%). The latter is used as the baseline. The percentage creepage is kept constant at an exaggerated amount of 2% to accelerate the test time. The results indicate a nonlinear relationship between leaf volume and the loss of braking. Even a small amount of leaf contamination causes a significant reduction in adhesion by as much as 50% compared with no contamination (i.e., baseline). Increasing leaf volume results in contact saturation, beyond which adhesion is not reduced. The minimum adhesion observed in this study is 20% of the maximum adhesion that occurs when no leaf contamination is present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How subsurface anticlines (oil fields) link structurally with faults is of great relevance in the exploration and development of oil fields. In this context, we investigate the geometric relation between lower Balarud (LBR), upper Balarud (UBR) and Qaleh Nar (QN) subsurface anticlines that are the main oil fields in the Northern Dezful Embayment, central Zagros. The Asmari (As) and the Bangestan (Bng) reservoirs are studied geophysically using seismic profiles, well data and underground contour maps (UGC). Interpretation of 3500 m deep seismic profiles indicates the geometry of the studied subsurface anticlines differs vertically and horizontally to a significant proportion. The interpreted structures much resemble As and Bng horizons in each anticline. The UBR got overturned on the LBR due to thrusting possibly in the Late Miocene. The LBR, like a rabbit-ear structure, is situated at the northern edge of the QN. The lower and upper Chenareh and LBR and UBR resemble structurally and are separated mutually by a steep (strike-slip) fault. The fault separates the LBR and UBR from the QN. Interaction of different factors change in overburden pressure, rate of deformation and uplift in the different parts of the subsurface anticlines moved and accumulated Gachsaran Formation towards both limbs of the anticlines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Currently, there is no confirmed drug intervention in the treatment of methamphetamine (MA) dependence. In the present study, we tested the possible influence of venlafaxine in individuals with MA dependence. A total of 52 male patients (mean age: 33.93 years) diagnosed with MA dependence referred to Farabi Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran, was randomly assigned either to enlafaxine or a placebo condition. At the baseline, as well as 4 to 8 weeks later, patients completed questionnaires on depression, withdrawal symptoms, and cravings. The mean scores of withdrawal symptoms (hyperarousal, anxiety, reversed vegetative), depression, and cravings (desire & intention, negative reinforcement, and control) during the study and in both groups had a descending trend. Unlike the effect of the studied groups, the effect of time on the repeated measure model was significant. The mean of inverse symptoms, desire, and control from the fourth week to the end of the study did not have a statistically significant difference. The results showed that venlafaxine can be effective in reducing depression, withdrawal symptoms, and cravings in people who are dependent on MA, though these results were observed in parallel in the placebo group, and as such warrants further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common chronic diseases. The role of heart attacks in death and the shortening of life is considered one of the most emotionally and psychologically influential diseases among individuals; therefore, the use of psychological and medical treatments for this group of patients is emphasized. Objectives: The present study sought to assess the effectiveness of positive therapy in emotion regulation and distress tolerance in patients with coronary heart disease. Methods: The present study used quasi-experimental designs of pre-test and post-test followed up with a control group. The sample of this study included 45 subjects with coronary heart disease who were selected using available sampling in 2023. The distress tolerance questionnaire developed by Sevens and Gaher (2005) and the emotion regulation questionnaire developed by Granfsky et al. (2001) were used to collect the data in this study. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to analyze the data, and SPSS software (version 26) was used to carry out statistical analyses. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (0.05) in emotion regulation and distress tolerance in patients with coronary heart disease between the experimental and control groups. Conclusions: Positive therapy can be inferred to be an effective interventionmethod for enhancing emotion regulation and distress tolerance in patients with coronary heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of data in video transmission over an error-prone channel is inevitable. Video error concealment is a powerful tool for resolving the effects of these errors. In this paper, we conducted several experiments with various video sequences to estimate the distribution of motion vectors (MVs) surrounding the corrupted area. As a result of the experiments, the proposed method suggests an innovative generative clustering approach using the Gaussian mixture model (GMM). The proposed algorithm first measures the GMM's parameters based on the available surrounding MVs. Then each MV is assigned to exactly one cluster. Next, each cluster's likelihood is calculated, and the one is chosen based on the maximum likelihood criteria. Finally, new MVs are generated for the chosen cluster, and the MV that can minimize the boundary distortion is selected for the corrupted block. Comparison concerning recent state-of-the-art techniques shows progress in PSNR and SSIM for H.265/HEVC. The proposed method improves the average PSNR by up to 5.67 dB and an average increase of 0.1135 in SSIM. Moreover, the computational complexity of the proposed algorithm is context-adaptive and shows better performance for the videos with relatively uniform motions over the missing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing systems has accelerated in recent years, with a shift towards understanding operators’ well-being and resilience within the context of creating a human-centric manufacturing environment. In addition to measuring physical workload, monitoring operators’ cognitive workload is becoming a key element in maintaining a healthy and high-performing working environment in future digitalized manufacturing systems. The current approaches to the measurement of cognitive workload may be inadequate when human operators are faced with a series of new digitalized technologies, where their impact on operators’ mental workload and performance needs to be better understood. Therefore, a new method for measuring and determining the cognitive workload is required. Here, we propose a new method for determining cognitive-workload indices in a human-centric environment. The approach provides a method to define and verify the relationships between the factors of task complexity, cognitive workload, operators’ level of expertise, and indirectly, the operator performance level in a highly digitalized manufacturing environment. Our strategy is tested in a series of experiments where operators perform assembly tasks on a Wankel Engine block. The physiological signals from heartrate variability and pupillometry bio-markers of 17 operators were captured and analysed using eye-tracking and electrocardiogram sensors. The experimental results demonstrate statistically significant differences in both cardiac and pupillometry-based cognitive load indices across the four task complexity levels (rest, low, medium, and high). Notably, these developed indices also provide better indications of cognitive load responding to changes in complexity compared to other measures. Additionally, while experts appear to exhibit lower cognitive loads across all complexity levels, further analysis is required to confirm statistically significant differences. In conclusion, the results from both measurement sensors are found to be compatible and in support of the proposed new approach. Our strategy should be useful for designing and optimizing workplace environments based on the cognitive load experienced by operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the optimal short-term scheduling of an integrated heat and power microgrid (MG) considering load uncertainty. The MG comprises combined heat and power (CHP) units, a small thermal power plant, a small boiler, an electrical energy storage system and a thermal storage tank, and can further engage in electrical energy transactions with the upstream network regarded as the day-ahead market. Given the uncertain nature of the electrical and thermal load, a novel scenario-based robust optimization framework is developed to overcome the problem uncertainties. The effectiveness of the proposed scenario-based robust scheme against conventional deterministic and stochastic scheduling methods is verified through numerical simulation on a prototype MG. The results suggest that the proposed approach can effectively forecast the uncertainties in MG load and provide the operator with more realistic results to handle the consuming load uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is an emerging global chronic liver disease, has a close association with insulin resistance. We aimed to determine whether the Gly1057Asp (rs1805097) polymorphism of the insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) gene is associated with NAFLD. Methods Using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method, 135 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 135 controls underwent IRS2 genotype analysis. Results Genotype and allele distributions of the IRS2 gene Gly1057Asp variant conformed to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both the case and control groups (P >.05). The Asp/Asp genotype of IRS2 gene Gly1057Asp polymorphism compared with Gly/Gly genotype was associated with a 2.1-fold increased risk for NAFLD after adjustment for confounding factors (P =.029; odds ratio = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.23-3.97). Conclusion Our findings revealed for the first time that the Gly1057Asp Asp/Asp genotype of the IRS2 gene is a marker of increased NAFLD susceptibility; however, studies in other populations are required to confirm the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) is a rare congenital heart malformation in which 1 or more pulmonary veins drain into the systemic venous circulation or directly into the right atrium instead of the left atrium. It may occur alongside other congenital heart defects, including atrial septal defect (ASD). All patients with newly diagnosed ASD must be evaluated thoroughly for the likelihood of PAPVR to select surgical or percutaneous procedures. Here, we describe a 10-year-old girl with PAPVR who underwent percutaneous device closure of her secundum ASD with her PAPVR neglected at 3 years of age. We had to correct the anomalous venous connection by removing the device during an intricate procedure. The typical connection of the pulmonary veins to the left atrium was reported on her postoperative echocardiography 1 day after surgery. The patient was discharged without complications, and her first follow-up visit 7 days after discharge was unremarkable. While the most accurate diagnostic tools for PAPVR are cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomographic angiography, a careful examination of the pulmonary veins during pulmonary angiography or transesophageal echocardiography in children helps identify PAPVR in patients with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Video error concealment (EC) is a challenging issue, and one of the key challenges is accurately modeling motion vectors (MVs) in corrupted frames. To address this problem, we propose a novel Principal Component Analysis (PCA)-based model for EC that uses hierarchical clustering for MV estimation. Our approach has two main steps: first, we obtain the MV fields represented in the 2D plane, and second, we conceal the erroneous regions of the frame using a PCA-based hierarchical clustering algorithm. This algorithm selects the best MVs among the field candidates while maximizing the correlation of MVs in a cluster. Our approach outperforms recent related techniques in terms of PSNR and SSIM for the H.265/HEVC compression standard. Specifically, our method improves average PSNR by up to 4.99 dB and average SSIM by 0.029. Furthermore, our method has slightly lower computational complexity compared to the compared techniques, especially for videos with relatively uniform motion over the missing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Supportive end-of-life care plays a significant role for patients with cancer. Significantly, art and aesthetics in nursing are regarded as key components of nursing practice. They may contribute to supportive end-of-life care that nurses provide for patients with cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effectiveness of aesthetic care training on nurses' perceptions of end-of-life care in patients with cancer. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with two groups of nurses working in the oncology wards of two hospitals in Kerman, Iran. A sample consisting of 100 nurses was selected by census and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 49) and a control group (n = 51). The experimental group received educational workshops on aesthetic care over four weekly-held 90-minute sessions. Both groups completed the Oncology Nurses' Perceptions of End-Of-Life Care (ONPEoLC) Scale before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. The data were analyzed with SPSS software version 21 using t-test, Chi-square, and repeated measures ANOVA. The significance level was set to p < 0.05. Results: The mean baseline scores on the ONPEoLC Scale were 163.08 ± 13.58 in the experimental group and 163.27 ± 14.57 in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Post-intervention mean scores in the experimental and control groups were 187.1 ± 18.22 and 159.11 ± 22.11, respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). One month after the intervention, the experimental and control groups' mean scores were 190.89 ± 11.13 and 165.80 ± 11.69, respectively, with a significant difference between the groups (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, designing aesthetic care educational programs is an effective way to improve nurses' understanding of end-of-life care. Therefore, it is recommended that nursing faculties and educational policymakers utilize aesthetic care training to improve the nurses' perceptions of end-of-life care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new formulation for solving the expansion planning of transmission lines and energy storage systems while considering the integration of electricity and gas networks. The proposed model is a bi‐level stochastic planning model. It involves transmission and battery expansion planning at one level, and gas network modeling at the other. The study addresses the impact of high penetration of renewable resources and security constraints on both the electricity and gas networks within the context of network expansion planning. The proposed model is a stochastic mixed‐integer linear programming model at both levels, and its challenging solution is achieved through reformulation and decomposition methods. Two experimental networks are analyzed: a 6‐node network and the IEEE RTS 24‐bus network for the electricity network, coupled with 5‐node and 10‐node gas network systems. The results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed model. Simulation results indicate that the proposed model is highly effective in scenarios where power and gas network lines are disconnected, preventing load shedding even when the integrated network lines are disconnected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense interval training and moderate-intensity continuous exercise produce lipid droplets that change size and impact visceral adipose tissue. 50 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups, each consisting of 8 rats, in order to accomplish this objective. Regarding dietary intake, 2 clusters of 32 rats were subjected to a normal or elevated fat diet over 10 weeks. Post the induction of obesity, 16 animals were euthanized, with an equal number originating from both the high-fat and normal diet cohorts. The ramifications of a high-fat diet were examined through the utilization of samples. The remaining 24 rats were randomly allocated to 3 groups: a sedentary high-fat diet control group, a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocol group, and a moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) protocol group. The 12-week training program had 5 sessions per week. Western blot measurement of perilipin-1, CIDE, and Oil-Red proteins assessed lipid droplet size. Research indicates that HIIT and MICT training significantly decreased CIDEc protein levels (p<0.05) but not CIDEa. CIDEc protein upregulation and perilipin-1 downregulation cause obesity in high-fat diets. HIIT and MICT training reduce fat droplet size and CIDEc protein production. Enhancing perilipin-1, which breaks down fats, may reduce obesity by lowering lipid droplets and weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of diagnostic radiation in medical centers has spread due to the incidence of various diseases. Thus, it is essential that patients and medical staff wear protective clothing to protect themselves from their harmful effects. In the past, lead protective clothing has been used; however, the toxicity and heaviness of lead have limited the tendency to use these clothing. Recently, nanocomposites containing heavy element nanoparticles have been introduced as an alternative to lead coatings. In this study, hybrid nanocomposites containing ceria (CeO2), alumina (Al2O3), and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles were studied for this purpose. Ceria, alumina, and graphene oxide nanoparticles were mixed with polyethylenevinylacetate (EVA) dissolved in chloroform and casted on a glass plate to form nanocomposite films. The prepared nanoparticles and films were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis, and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis, and then the attenuation properties of the films against high-energy radiation (120 kV) were studied in two narrow and broad beam geometries. The results showed that hybrid films, despite having a lower percentage of nanoparticles, showed better attenuation properties, which indicated the synergistic effect of nanoparticles with different mechanisms in attenuating the radiations. The attenuation ability of these films was considerable due to their lower density compared to lead. The fabricated hybrid nanocomposite films with a suitable performance in attenuation of high-energy radiations used in therapeutic diagnostics, can be proposed as a suitable alternative to conventional lead clothing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of topical liposomal clarithromycin in combination with meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime® ) on cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions. Methods: This pilot, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial was conducted on patients with CL lesions. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the first group received liposomal clarithromycin in combination with Glucantime for 28 days, while the second group received Glucantime and a placebo. Afterward, patients were followed up at 1.5, 3, and 6 months after treatment initiation and were evaluated for recovery time, induration, and size of the lesions. Results: Sixty patients with CL lesions were divided into two separate groups with 30 members each and were examined. Within-group analysis revealed that recovery time in the clarithromycin group was 26.65 ± 5.12 days, while in the placebo group, it was 32.84 ± 24.43, which was statistically insignificant (p = 0.18). Lesion size comparison in the first and last follow-ups reduced in both groups: 7.73 ± 4.31 to 0.48 ± 0.50 in the clarithromycin group (p = 0.006) and 5.47 ± 5.83 to 0.76 ± 0.88 in the placebo group (p = 0.03). Moreover, the size of lesions in the intervention group was significantly reduced compared to that in the placebo group (p = 0.02). Recognizable induration reduction was observed in the clarithromycin group (2.60 ± 0.77 to 1.0 ± 0.00). No adverse effects attributable to clarithromycin were reported. Conclusion: The administration of liposomal clarithromycin in combination with systemic Glucantime had a significant beneficial effect on reducing lesion size in leishmaniasis. Further studies on larger populations are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of hotspots in photovoltaic panels is one of the most common problems of solar power plants, which reduces the output power of photovoltaic arrays and can also cause irreparable damage to the solar cells. There are several ways to identify hotspots, including using custom datasets using thermographic camera images, which will be later used to teach YOLO and Faster R-CNN computer vision algorithms. In practice, it is observed that the YOLO algorithm is many times faster than the Faster R-CNN in high-density solar panels. Therefore, the applied method is the safest choice for automatic hotspot detection in large-scale photovoltaic power plants to improve overall efficiency. In this paper, by comparing the performance of methods such as Faster R-CNN with YOLO, we concluded that the YOLO algorithm has far better advantages in terms of quality of detection, and speed. Therefore, this factor makes the use of YOLO significantly helps to speed up the troubleshooting of solar modules caused by hotspots, and this factor improves the efficiency of solar power plants in the long run. Meanwhile, in the studies for this paper, the results extracted by Python have been optimized as an algorithm to be used for hotspot detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a well-known group of the probiotic family, the Lactobacillus has increasingly contributed to hindering the growth of pathogens, particularly resistant species, in the last decades. Since antibiotic resistance has become a severe problem in global healthcare systems and considerably increased the mortality and morbidity rate in infectious diseases, we aimed to obtain a new stable formulation of Lactobacillus to overcome resistant infections. For this purpose, we designed various gel formulations containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in a water base and oil base gel, evaluated the probiotic stability in formulation to obtain an optimum formulation, and finally, investigated the antibacterial activities of that against two common hospital-associated multidrug-resistant pathogens, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Furthermore, the pharmaceutical aspects of the optimum formulation, including stability, homogeneity, spreadability, pH value, conductivity, and rheological behavior, were assessed. The results indicated that the optimum formulation based on glycerol exhibited desirable pharmaceutical properties, including long-term stability, a perfect level of homogeneity, an acceptable range of spreadability with pseudo-plastic thixotropic behavior, and a promising antibacterial potential against MRSA and VRE. Our findings indicate that this novel probiotic formulation could be an excellent candidate to cope with antibiotic-resistant species, representing a hopeful treatment potential for topical applications, particularly in incurable infections. However, further in vivo studies seem warranted to evaluate their bactericidal activity against multi-drug resistant microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolated congenital anomalous drainage of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and partial hepatic veins (HV) into the left atrium (LA) via an interatrial communication (IAC), associated with the normal connection of the IVC to the right atrium is exceedingly rare. Therefore, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the management of these cases. To date, there has been no report of abnormal IVC drainage caused by abnormal IVC‐IAC alignment. Much more frequently, patients have an abnormal connection or abnormal drainage mediated by a persistent Eustachian valve that allows blood to pass from the inferior vena cava to the left atrium. Herein, we report an 8‐year‐old boy with anomalous IVC and hepatic vein drainage into the LA due to IVC‐IAC malalignment. We describe the findings of multimodality imaging, including transthoracic, transesophageal, contrast, and speckle‐tracking echocardiography, cardiac angiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. We go over the diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls and caveats of this case that can apply to similar patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan is widely regarded as one of the world's most developed nations. The country's electronics industry, in particular, is consistently ranked among the global leaders in innovatiion. Industries such as automotive, construction, electronics, metal, and telecommunications, companies have traditionally leaned more heavily on debt financing for both their day-to-day operations and investment endeavors, rather than relying on equity financing. In Japan, debt financing is favored as cost-effective source of capital compared to equity financing. The study selected 257 automotive, construction, electronic, metal, and telecommunications companies between 2000 and 2021. To find the effect of financial leverage on financial performance, the study used the random effect and the GMM to estimate the effect of the firms' leverage on financial performance. The study found that interest coverage has a positive and statistically significant effect on ROA, ROE, and Tobin's Q. The study discovered that cash coverage has a positive and statistically significant effect on ROE. The study found that debt service obligations have a negative and statistically significant effect on financial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intro: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection is associated with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), which may be due to a prothrombotic state. Early reports have suggested high rates of reocclusion following mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with poor radiographic and clinical outcomes. We report our early experience using intra-procedural antithrombotics to address SARS-CoV-2 reocclusion. Methods: We identified 6 patients that experienced early reocclusion after MT for COVID-19-associated AIS through retrospective chart review abstracting their basic demographics, COVID-19 status, and stroke management. All these patients were treated after reocclusion with aspirin and cangrelor intra-procedurally, the latter of which was converted to ticagrelor post-procedurally. Some patients additionally received argatroban infusion intraprocedurally. Results: Mean age was 54. There were 3 post-procedural and 3 intra-procedural re-occlusions. After repeat thrombectomy and treatment with aspirin and cangrelor, those with post-procedure reocclusion did not show further reocclusion, while those with intra-procedural reocclusion showed radiographic improvement with intraprocedural cangrelor administration. Outcomes for these patients were poor, with a median mRS of 4. Two patients developed petechial hemorrhage of their stroke which was managed conservatively, and one developed a retroperitoneal hemorrhage from femoral access requiring transfusion. There were no patients who developed new parenchymal hematomas. Conclusion: COVID-19 AIS may be associated with a hypercoagulable state which risks malignant reocclusion complicating MT. We found antithrombotic treatment periprocedural cangrelor with or without argatroban transitioned to oral aspirin with ticagrelor to be a viable method for management of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]