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The ever increasing power demand has forced the power sector companies to increase their generation, transmission and distribution in turn increasing the number of power transformers in the system where necessary. Depending on the nature of operations, the transformers are chosen as either dry-type or liquid-cooled and the preference is mostly liquid cooled. Naphthenic oils have been the primary choice over the years and alternative solutions in the form of natural esters are researched extensively due to the environmental effects of Mineral Oil (MO). One such ester, Marula is presented in this research. The experiment places its focus on measurement of electrical, physical, chemical and thermal characteristics as per the standards of ASTM and IEC. The results prove the superior dielectric performance of MAO over MO. The antioxidant rich MAO exhibits superior dielectric properties and restores faster than MO after the instances of breakdown phenomena. The antioxidants show stability at both the low and high temperatures, and temperature causes minimum damage to antioxidants. In addition to that the use of such dielectric coolant minimizes the winding damage inside the transformer tank. Thus, it can be said that MAO is an excellent coolant and improves the efficiency of the transformer without the requirements of additional cooling devices.

The intrinsic ability of peripheral nerves to regenerate after injury is extremely limited, especially in case of severe injury. This often leads to poor motor function and permanent disability. Existing approaches for the treatment of injured nerves do not provide appropriate conditions to support survival and growth of nerve cells. This drawback can be compensated by the use of gene therapy and cell therapy-based drugs that locally provide an increase in the key regulators of nerve growth, including neurotrophic factors and extracellular matrix proteins. Each growth factor plays its own specific angiotrophic or neurotrophic role. Currently, growth factors are widely studied as accelerators of nerve regeneration. Particularly noteworthy is synergy between various growth factors, that is essential for both angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Fibroblast growth factor 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor are widely known for their proangiogenic effects. At the same time, fibroblast growth factor 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor stimulate neural cell growth and play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases of the peripheral nervous system. Taken together, their neurotrophic and angiogenic properties have positive effect on the regeneration process. In this review we provide an in-depth overview of the role of fibroblast growth factor 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in the regeneration of peripheral nerves, thus demonstrating their neurotherapeutic efficacy in improving neuron survival in the peripheral nervous system.

Timm Greulich, 1,* Anna Albert, 1,* Werner Cassel, 2 Tobias Boeselt, 1 Erika Peychev, 1 Andreas Klemmer, 1 Francini Ferrerira, 3 Christian Clarenbach, 4 Maria L Torres-Duran, 5, 6 Alice M Turner, 7 Marc Miravitlles 8 1University Medical Centre Giessen and Marburg, Philipps-University, Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany; 2University Medical Centre Giessen and Marburg, Philipps-University, Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Disorders Centre, Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany; 3Bioclever, Barcelona, Spain; 4Division of Pulmonology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 5Pneumology Department, Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro, AS Vigo, Spain; 6Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Galicia Sur (IISGS), Vigo, Spain; 7Respiratory Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; 8Pneumology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d´Hebron/Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Marc MiravitllesPneumology Department, Vall d´Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, P. Vall d’Hebron 119-129, Barcelona, 08035, SpainTel/Fax +34 932746083Email marcm@separ.esBackground: Augmentation therapy (AT) is the only specific treatment licensed for patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) associated lung disease. Since patients with severe AATD may have a very different prognosis and AT requires intravenous infusions for life, the decision to initiate AT may be challenging.Methods: This survey was conducted on 63 experts in AATD from 13 European countries about their opinions and attitudes regarding AT. Participants were asked to rank the importance of 11 identified factors related with the prescription of AT. In addition, each participant was asked to respond to the indication of AT for 30 out of 500 hypothetical cases developed with the combinations of the 11 factors. Each case was evaluated by 3 experts to check the concordance.Results: The variables that scored higher on preferences for initiating AT were AAT genotype (score 8.6 from a Likert scale 0– 10 (SD: 1.7)), AATD serum level (8.2 (SD:2.4)) and FEV1 (%) decline (7.9 (SD:2.4)). Among the 500 different cases, there was an agreement in indication of AT among the 3 experts in 291 (58.2%). Regarding the variables associated with AT, it was indicated to 81.9% of Pi*ZZ, 52.4% of Pi*SZ and 9.8% of Pi*MZ (p < 0.0001). For Pi*ZZ patients, multivariate analysis identified younger age, reduced FEV1 (%), higher FEV1 decline and worse emphysema as significantly associated with prescription (AUC = 0.8114); for Pi*SZ variables were younger age, worse FEV1 (%) and worse emphysema (AUC = 0.7414); and for Pi*MZ younger age, worse DLCO (%), higher DLCO decline and dyspnea (AUC = 0.8387).Conclusion: There is a high variability in the criteria for prescription of AT among European experts. Most cases were recommended AT according to guidelines, but a significant number of patients with genotype Pi*SZ and almost 10% Pi*MZ were recommended to initiate AT despite the lack of evidence of efficacy in these genotypes.Keywords: augmentation therapy, survey, EARCO, Europe

Purpose – This paper attempted to describe the online learning self-efficacy of Teacher education students from two groups with and without prior online learning experience in one state university in the Philippines. It further determined whether the self-efficacy of the two groups are comparable as to learning in the online environment, time management, and technology use. Methodology – The researchers utilized the Online Learning Self-Efficacy Scale (OLSES) to collect the necessary data to assess and compare the level of online learning self-efficacy of the respondents from the two groups. Three hundred and eighty-seven Teacher Education students with and without prior online learning experience participated in the study. Results – The study revealed that both groups rated their self-efficacy in learning in the online environment, time management, and technology use as very good. However, the students with online learning experience yielded a relatively higher online learning self-efficacy in all three domains compared to the students without an online learning experience. The study further showed that there is no significant difference in the online learning self-efficacy between the two groups. Conclusion – The Teacher Education students assessed their online learning self-efficacy as very good regardless of their online learning experience. Based on the results of the study, since the p-values of all variables do not exceed the critical value of 0.05, the null hypotheses were all accepted. This implied that there is no statistical difference that exists in the online learning self-efficacy of the students from the two groups. Recommendation – The academic institution, instructors, and students should include the online learning self-efficacy of the students in designing a comprehensive online learning program. It is also recommended to conduct experimental research and explore other demographic factors for future research directions to substantiate the results of the present study. Practical Implications – The higher education institutions would be able to develop a comprehensive design of online delivery of teaching and learning, grounded on the self-efficacy in online learning of the students, to accommodate the needs of various students who lack learning experiences in the context of online learning.

Abstract Background Analysis of dynamic metabolomics data holds the promise to improve our understanding of underlying mechanisms in metabolism. For example, it may detect changes in metabolism due to the onset of a disease. Dynamic or time-resolved metabolomics data can be arranged as a three-way array with entries organized according to a subjects mode, a metabolites mode and a time mode. While such time-evolving multiway data sets are increasingly collected, revealing the underlying mechanisms and their dynamics from such data remains challenging. For such data, one of the complexities is the presence of a superposition of several sources of variation: induced variation (due to experimental conditions or inborn errors), individual variation, and measurement error. Multiway data analysis (also known as tensor factorizations) has been successfully used in data mining to find the underlying patterns in multiway data. To explore the performance of multiway data analysis methods in terms of revealing the underlying mechanisms in dynamic metabolomics data, simulated data with known ground truth can be studied. Results We focus on simulated data arising from different dynamic models of increasing complexity, i.e., a simple linear system, a yeast glycolysis model, and a human cholesterol model. We generate data with induced variation as well as individual variation. Systematic experiments are performed to demonstrate the advantages and limitations of multiway data analysis in analyzing such dynamic metabolomics data and their capacity to disentangle the different sources of variations. We choose to use simulations since we want to understand the capability of multiway data analysis methods which is facilitated by knowing the ground truth. Conclusion Our numerical experiments demonstrate that despite the increasing complexity of the studied dynamic metabolic models, tensor factorization methods CANDECOMP/PARAFAC(CP) and Parallel Profiles with Linear Dependences (Paralind) can disentangle the sources of variations and thereby reveal the underlying mechanisms and their dynamics.

The authors present a strategy to construct dynamic biomolecular landscapes. Here, they derive a quantitative description of the distribution timescales and amplitudes of reorientational motion of POPC membranes from the combination of NMR relaxation data and frame analysis of MD simulations.

Abstract Background Sex influences outcome of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). If there is a relationship between sex and physical performance is unknown. Methods The analysis is based on older (≥70 years) ACS patients included in the FRASER, HULK, and LONGEVO SCA prospective studies. Physical performance was assessed by Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Results The study included 1388 patients, and 441 (32%) were women. At presentation, women were older and more compromised than men. After a median follow-up of 998 [730–1168] days, all-cause death occurred in 334 (24.1%) patients. At univariate analysis, female sex was related to increased risk of death. After adjustments for confounding factors, female sex was no longer associated with mortality. Women showed poor physical performance compared with men (p < 0.001). SPPB values emerged as an independent predictor of death. Including clinical features and SPPB in the multivariable model, we observed a paradigm shift in the prognostic role of female sex that becomes a protective factor (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.56–0.96). Sex and physical performance showed a significant interaction (p = 0.03). For lower SPPB values (poor physical performance), sex-related changes in mortality were not recorded, while in patients with higher SPPB values (preserved physical performance), female sex was associated with better survival. Conclusions Two key findings emerged from the present real-life cohort of older ACS patients: (i) physical performance strongly influences long-term mortality; (ii) women with preserved physical performance have a better outcome compared to men. Trial registration www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02386124 and NCT03021044

Abstract Though relatively rare in dogs, prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non‐cutaneous cancer in men. Human and canine prostate glands share many functional, anatomical and physiological features. Due to these similarities, canine PCa has been proposed as a model for PCa in men. PCa is typically androgen‐dependent at diagnosis in men and for this reason, androgen deprivation therapies (ADT) are important treatments for advanced PCa in men. In contrast, there is some evidence that PCa is diagnosed more commonly in castrate dogs, at which point, limited therapeutic options are available. In men, a major limitation of current ADT is that progression to a lethal and incurable form of PCa, termed castrate‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), is common. There is, therefore, an urgent need for a better understanding of the mechanism of PCa initiation and progression to CRPC to enable the development of novel therapeutic approaches. This review focuses on the functional, physiological, endocrine and histopathological similarities and differences in the prostate gland of these species. In particular, we focus on common physiological roles for androgen signalling in the prostate of men and dogs, we review the short‐ and longer‐term effects of castration on PCa incidence and progression in the dog and relate how this knowledge may be relevant to understanding the mechanisms of CRPC in men.

In this work, we evaluate the application of four different metaheuristic optimisation algorithms for solving the channel assignment problem in a multi-radio multi-channel Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) using Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA). The work advances a near optimal channel assignment (CA) in a WMN that uses DSA by applying soft computing methods. While CA in a WMN is well-studied, and CA for secondary user cognitive radio networks has also been studied in the literature, CA for our specific scenario of an infrastructure DSA-WMN is novel. This scenario poses new challenges because nodes are spread out geographically and so may have different allowed channels and experience different levels of external interference in different channels. A solution must meet two conflicting requirements simultaneously: 1) to avoid interference within the network and with external interference sources, and 2) maintain connectivity within the network; all while staying within the radio interface constraint, i.e., only assigning as many channels to a node as it has radios. We present a novel algorithm, used alongside the metaheuristic optimisation algorithms, which ensures the feasibility of solutions in the search space. Average Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio ( $SINR$ ) over the network is used as the performance measure, with the goal of optimisation being to find the highest average $SINR$ . This is a more realistic performance measure than the binary on/off conflict-based measures most common in the literature. Our energy-based method also has the unique advantage that it is protocol-agnostic, being able to avoid interference from external sources that use different protocols and standards. The algorithms that are compared in this work are Simulated Annealing (SA), the Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO), and Differential Evolution (DE). These algorithms were evaluated through the use of simulation in Network Simulator 3. Various parameters were experimented with for each of the employed algorithms. The resultant best set of parameters was used for the comparison of the four metaheuristic algorithms. It was found that the population-based algorithms (PSO, GA, and DE) all perform satisfactorily for this problem, although DE is superior to the others. SA can give acceptable solutions, but performs poorly in comparison to the population-based algorithms. The paper also considers the computational complexity of the methods. It is found that SA and DE perform well in this regard.

In recent years, the suspension system in modern vehicles has played a key role both as far as driving safety and comfort is concerned. To satisfy these vehicle performance specifications, active suspension is currently studied and implemented in practice in recent decades. In contrast to passive suspensions, by introducing force into system, active suspension can alter the suspension dynamic in real-time. A design of a controller is needed for real-time tuning of the control force in an active suspension system (ASS) to fulfill the challenging control objectives of suspension system comprising road handling, ride convenience, and travel suspension. This research proposed a novel ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm for solving multi-objective weight optimization problem of the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) for automobiles ASS. The optimization problem of ASS is to design a state-feedback controller (SFC) as a result ACO is used to find optimal LQR weights. Here both Q and R weight matrix of LQR is tuned. On a quarter-car ASS (QCASS) system, the effectiveness of ACO-tuned LQR is analytically checked with hardware in loop (HIL) analysis for an irregular road surface. Here, for experiment, ISO road D rough runway, bumpy path, and pulse-type road profile are taken into account. Experimental findings illustrate that the proposed procedure can substantially reduce the acceleration of the Car body due to irregular road profiles compared to classical tuned LQR and model predictive control (MPC). The proposed controller shows the profound impact on the efficiency of the control schemes for three different road profiles.

Embracing innovative vehicle technology in the transportation sector provides constructive solutions to the rising pollution levels and global warming. Developing Electric Vehicles (EV) with market competency, deploying standardized charging infrastructure in sufficient numbers, and government promotional policies all impact EV adoption and help reduce tail pipe emissions. To determine the key hurdles to EV adoption that still exist in today’s market, the comparison between the most preferred EV and the Conventionally Propelled Vehicle (CPV) is deliberated under various parameters like vehicle class, type, specification, performance, pricing etc. The research assessed the countries with the most CPV (China, the USA, Japan, Germany, and India), as well as the expertise and experience of the country (Norway) that pioneered the EV industry, to discover the key policies that will help accelerate EV adoption in their respective regions. Significant findings within the local market and across markets belonging to the countries of concern and research recommendations addressing the issues have been discussed as a result of the study conducted with data obtained from the vehicle manufacturer’s website, government statistical institutes, and other affiliated survey organizations, as well as technical reports published online. These qualitative and quantitative findings and recommendations will aid in the creation of EV and charging station designs, as well as the formulation of strategies aimed at generating more cost-effective EV designs that take into account local usage patterns, car kinds, and performance. It also assists legislators in their efforts to streamline EV policy. Consideration of these issues aids in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Purpose: We sought to scrutinize the current clinical profiles and postoperative outcomes, following aortic bifurcated bypass (ABB) for occlusive arterial disease, over the past ten years and compare them with our formerly published dataset. Methods: From January 2011 to December 2020, a prospective single hospital database was maintained for ABB procedures in patients with occlusive disease. Clinico-demographic profile and postoperative outcomes were surveyed and assessed for associations. Graft patency, amputation-free survival, and mortality were the primary end points. In addition, we did a comparison analysis with our historical cohort to appraise the shift in trends. Results: Over the past ten years, 140 patients (mean age of 54.5 years) underwent ABB procedures for aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). Majority were males (94.3%) with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (88.6%). Atherosclerosis was the most common etiology (85.7%). There was a significant increase in smoking (P < 0.001), dyslipidemia (P < 0.001), coronary artery disease (P < 0.001), chronic kidney disease (P = 0.05), flow limiting infra-inguinal disease (P < 0.001), intermediate graft thrombosis and primary amputation rates in the contemporary cohort (P = 0.050). No significant changes were noted in the 30-day mortality rates. The contemporary primary patency rate is 76.9%, and secondary patency rate is 94.2%, compared to an overall patency of 84% in the historical cohort. Conclusion: Our study highlighted the epidemiological shift transpiring in patients affected by AIOD in India. Despite challenging clinical profiles, our outcomes remain unchanged and are comparable to western literature.

In the realm of agricultural development, the pursuit of sustainability stands as a paramount objective, necessitating an integration of multifaceted expertise from diverse disciplines. Amidst this pursuit, understanding the perspectives of professionals in both the realms of economy and biology becomes imperative, serving as a cornerstone for innovative strategies. This study examines the viewpoints of economy and biology professionals on multidisciplinary innovations for sustainable agricultural development. Through qualitative analysis of interviews and focus groups, the research identifies key themes and challenges. Participants recognise the need for integrating diverse disciplines to address agricultural sustainability, emphasising the importance of economic viability and technological innovation. However, barriers such as high costs and limited access to resources hinder widespread adoption. Policy recommendations include incentivising sustainable practices and fostering collaboration between stakeholders. The results underscore the significance of multidisciplinary approaches in advancing sustainable agriculture, with implications for policy and practice.

Literary discussions are widely utilized in education, yet their profound impact on students' comprehension requires in-depth exploration. This paper delves into the influence of literary discussions on student comprehension and examines how these discussions can enhance students' understanding and analytical skills. Through literature reviews and case analyses, this study investigates teaching strategies, student engagement levels, classroom ambiance, and other factors involved in literary discussions, revealing the potential mechanisms through which literary discussions influence student comprehension. The paper explores variations in the application of literary discussions across different types of literary works (novels, poetry, drama, etc.) and their relationship with students' creative thinking. Finally, the paper provides recommendations to assist educators in effectively utilizing literary discussions to enhance students' comprehension skills. Students must have the opportunity to discuss literature in ways that provoke deep thought and meaning from each work they encounter. Therefore, English Language Arts teachers and instructors must be creative in finding unique ways in which they encourage their students to experience and respond to literature. This paper discusses a variety of strategies to implement in virtual and in-person classrooms, such as Socratic seminar, Teacher-led as a facilitator, Teacher-led as a promoter of diverse perspectives, Using student-generated discussion questions whole class, Using student-generated discussion questions in small groups, Using Close-ended questions, Using Open-ended questions, Inquiry-based, Making real-world connections to the literature, Literature Circles. These literary discussion strategies can be used for both fiction and nonfiction literature.

Bichronous online learning is the intentional blending of asynchronous and synchronous online learning experiences. Twelve award-winning online instructors participated in interviews to discuss best practices they use, and benefits and challenges in bichronous online courses. When sharing best practices for bichronous online courses, online instructors explained how they combined best practices in asynchronous and synchronous online learning. Asynchronous online best practices included course design and structure, resources, and instructor presence; and synchronous online best practices focused on formats, activities, and content of synchronous sessions, and community-building. The best practices, benefits and challenges discussed in this paper have implications for instructors who currently teach in a bichronous online format or may be considering it in the future, and for instructional designers and administrators who work with faculty on offering courses in this modality. Based on the data, the intentional blending of synchronous and asynchronous components has a lot of potential to enhance students' online learning experiences.

The remote sensing ground-based platform for atmospheric research hosted by the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence will be the key research infrastructure of the Cyprus Atmospheric Remote Sensing Observatory (CARO) in Limassol, Cyprus. Between the 27th of October to the 1st of November 2020, the lidar system observed a pronounced and well-aged stratospheric aerosol layer with a backscatter maximum around 10 km asl and clear wildfire smoke signatures. The observed smoke plume was caused by extreme wildfires on the west coast of the U.S. Long-range aerosol transport events observed over Limassol are used for the study of the influence of organic aerosol particles (serving as ice-nucleating particles, INPs) in a cirrus formation in the upper troposphere.

This paper presents a numerical study on the vertical (axial) and lateral (flexure) behavior of CFST (Concrete-Filled Steel Tube) columns with active hoop prestress achieved by bolting together two steel half-tubes. Twelve prototype CFST column specimens differing in the prestressing force (three levels) and in the gravity loading ratio (four levels) are analyzed; they are selected to represent typical ground columns of mid-rise buildings. Their structural behavior is simulated with a nonlinear model implemented in Abaqus; concrete and steel behavior are described with a damage-plasticity and a plasticity model, respectively. The concrete-steel interaction is represented by a hard (compression-only) surface-to-surface contact model. The calculations involve three consecutive loading steps: (i) transverse prestress, (ii) axial force, and (iii) lateral loading (shear force and bending moment). The calculation results show that the axial-flexural capacity of the prototype CFST columns is adequate. However, the hoop prestress benefit on axial compressive performance is not outstanding because the tube transverse Poisson expansion impairs the concrete confinement. The benefit in the flexural performance is smaller, due to the lack of sectional lateral expansion during bending. Preliminary studies on mid-rise buildings equipped with the prototype CFST columns show that their gravity and wind capacities are largely enough; conversely, their seismic strength is sufficient only for moderate earthquakes.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare autosomal recessive neuromuscular disease that is characterized by progressive muscle atrophy (degeneration), including skeletal muscles in charge of the ability to move. SMA is caused by defects in the SMN1 gene (Survival of Motor Neuron 1) which encodes a protein crucial for the survival and functionality of neuron cells called motor neurons. Decreased level of functioning SMN protein leads to progressive degeneration of alpha-motor neurons performing muscular motility. Over the past decade, many strategies directed for SMN-level-restoration emerged, such as gene replacement therapy (GRT), CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing, usage of antisense oligonucleotides and small-molecule modulators, and all have been showing their perspectives in SMA therapy. In this review, modern SMA therapy strategies are described, making it a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians and everyone interested in the progress of therapy of this serious disorder.

Amid Australia’s surging house prices, rental housing has become the safety net for young adults experiencing housing stress. The attention of policymakers is drawn towards the build-to-rent (BTR) housing model, a growing housing option for many young Australian adults. Although BTR’s integration into Australia’s housing and planning landscape is unfolding, the perception of young adults is lacking in policy reforms for this growing industry. This study examines the perspectives of young adults aged 18 to 34 years on the critical success factors (CSFs) of the BTR housing provision in Australia. The responses are analysed using an explanatory factor analysis, relative importance index, and ANOVA. Our findings show a critically low awareness of BTR among young adults in Australia. Respondents, between 18 and 24 years, are most concerned with public awareness, an indication of their desire for transparency and engagement in decision making at the policy level. Young adults rank regulation and government policy interventions as the most important CSF of BTR housing. This shows that they are more concerned about the affordability of BTR houses. This study concludes that young adults’ viewpoints on BTR are important in ongoing policy reforms. There is a need to ensure that this asset class is accessible and affordable to this target group.

Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is the most frequent type of acute coronary syndrome in the elderly. Antithrombotic therapy is the cornerstone of pharmacological therapy in the setting of an acute ischemic event, a clinical scenario in which thrombotic and bleeding risks ought to be considered, particularly in older patients. In this article, specific aspects of antithrombotic therapy in elderly patients with NSTEMI are reviewed, including pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics and different clinical situations. The role of frailty and other common geriatric conditions, that are associated with worse prognosis in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease, is also addressed.

We present a gradient method for designing cascaded diffractive optical elements (DOEs) consisting of several sequentially located phase DOEs. Using the unitarity property of the operator of light propagation through the cascaded DOE, we obtain explicit expressions for the derivatives of the error functional with respect to the phase functions of the cascaded DOE. We consider the application of the gradient method to the problem of focusing different incident beams to regions with different intensity distributions and to the problem of optical image classification. The presented description of the gradient method treats the problems of designing cascaded DOEs for focusing laser radiation and for image classification within a unified approach reducing the calculation of the derivatives of the error functionals to the same formula. We present examples of the calculation of single and cascaded DOEs for focusing different incident beams to different regions and for classifying handwritten digits, which demonstrate the high performance of the proposed method. The presented results may find application in the design of diffractive neural networks and systems for focusing laser radiation.

The biosafety of gene therapy remains a crucial issue for both the direct and cell-mediated delivery of recombinant cDNA encoding biologically active molecules for the pathogenetic correction of congenital or acquired disorders. The diversity of vector systems and cell carriers for the delivery of therapeutic genes revealed the difficulty of developing and implementing a safe and effective drug containing artificial genetic material for the treatment of human diseases in practical medicine. Therefore, in this study we assessed changes in the transcriptome and secretome of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCB-MCs) genetically modified using adenoviral vector (Ad5) carrying cDNA encoding human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) or reporter green fluorescent protein (GFP). A preliminary analysis of UCB-MCs transduced with Ad5-VEGF165 and Ad5-GFP with MOI of 10 showed efficient transgene expression in gene-modified UCB-MCs at mRNA and protein levels. The whole transcriptome sequencing of native UCB-MCs, UCB-MC+Ad5-VEGF165, and UCB-MC+Ad5-GFP demonstrated individual sample variability rather than the effect of Ad5 or the expression of recombinant vegf165 on UCB-MC transcriptomes. A multiplex secretome analysis indicated that neither the transduction of UCB-MCs with Ad5-GFP nor with Ad5-VEGF165 affects the secretion of the studied cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors by gene-modified cells. Here, we show that UCB-MCs transduced with Ad5 carrying cDNA encoding human VEGF165 efficiently express transgenes and preserve transcriptome and secretome patterns. This data demonstrates the biosafety of using UCB-MCs as cell carriers of therapeutic genes.

Antibiotics inhibit breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) by suppressing mitochondrial biogenesis. However, the effectiveness of antibiotics in clinical settings is inconsistent. This inconsistency raises the question of whether the tumor microenvironment, particularly hypoxia, plays a role in the response to antibiotics. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of five commonly used antibiotics for inhibiting CSCs under hypoxia using an MCF-7 cell line model. We assessed the number of CSCs through the mammosphere formation assay and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-bright cell count. Additionally, we examined the impact of antibiotics on the mitochondrial stress response and membrane potential. Furthermore, we analyzed the levels of proteins associated with therapeutic resistance. There was no significant difference in the number of CSCs between cells cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. However, hypoxia did affect the rate of CSC inhibition by antibiotics. Specifically, azithromycin was unable to inhibit sphere formation in hypoxia. Erythromycin and doxycycline did not reduce the ratio of ALDH-bright cells, despite decreasing the number of mammospheres. Furthermore, treatment with chloramphenicol, doxycycline, and tetracycline led to the overexpression of the breast cancer resistance protein. Our findings suggest that hypoxia may weaken the inhibitory effects of antibiotics on the breast cancer model.

Abstract Objective Tau hyperphosphorylation at threonine 217 (pT217) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has recently been linked to early amyloidosis and could serve as a highly sensitive biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, it remains unclear whether other tauopathies induce pT217 modifications. To determine if pT217 modification is specific to AD, CSF pT217 was measured in AD and other tauopathies. Methods Using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry methods, we compared CSF T217 phosphorylation occupancy (pT217/T217) and amyloid‐beta (Aβ) 42/40 ratio in cognitively normal individuals and those with symptomatic AD, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome, and sporadic and familial frontotemporal dementia. Results Individuals with AD had high CSF pT217/T217 and low Aβ42/40. In contrast, cognitively normal individuals and the majority of those with 4R tauopathies had low CSF pT217/T217 and normal Aβ 42/40. We identified a subgroup of individuals with increased CSF pT217/T217 and normal Aβ 42/40 ratio, most of whom were MAPT R406W mutation carriers. Diagnostic accuracies of CSF Aβ 42/40 and CSF pT217/T217, alone and in combination were compared. We show that CSF pT217/T217 × CSF Aβ 42/40 is a sensitive composite biomarker that can separate MAPT R406W carriers from cognitively normal individuals and those with other tauopathies. Interpretation MAPT R406W is a tau mutation that leads to 3R+4R tauopathy similar to AD, but without amyloid neuropathology. These findings suggest that change in CSF pT217/T217 ratio is not specific to AD and might reflect common downstream tau pathophysiology common to 3R+4R tauopathies.

Visuospatial processing is one of the important aspects of everyday life, whether it is to travel or to recognize the location of objects around. Visuospatial processing can be improved in various way, one of which is by using repetition. WorldVenture app was created to help its users improve their visuospatial capability by remembering landmarks in the city where they live. WorldVenture was created using flutter framework with five steps, namely literature study, data and information collection, application designing, testing, and evaluation. This app will have three main features: Flashcard, Quiz, and Notes. WorldVenture testing result, using questionnaires, showed 64,5% people out of 30 respondents rated WorldVenture excellent for improving visuospatial capabilities and as many as 35.5% of respondents rated it good.

Friction induced vibrations such as brake squealing, or juddering are still challenging topics in product engineering processes. So far, this topic was particularly relevant for the automobile industry because they were the main market for disc brake systems. However, since mobility habits change, disc brake system are more often to be found on bikes or e-scooters. In all of these systems, vibrations are excited in contacts on the micro scale but affect the user comfort and safety on the macro scale. Therefore, the aim of this cross-scale method is to analyze a system on a micro scale and to transfer the excitation mechanisms on a macro scale system. To address both scales, the current work presents a finite element model on the micro scale for the determination of the coefficient of friction, which is transferred to the macro scale and used in a multi-body simulation. Finally, a finite element modal analysis is conducted, which allowed us to evaluate the brake system behavior on base of an excitation.

Estimation and mapping of surface water quality are vital for the planning and sustainable management of inland reservoirs. The study aimed at retrieving and mapping water quality parameters (WQPs) of Owabi Dam reservoir from Sentinel-2 (S2) and Landsat 8 (L8) satellite data, using random forests (RF), support vector machines (SVM) and multiple linear regression (MLR) models. Water samples from 45 systematic plots were analysed for pH, turbidity, alkalinity, total dissolved solids and dissolved oxygen. The performances of all three models were compared in terms of adjusted coefficient of determination (R2.adj), and the root mean square error (RMSE) using repeated k-fold cross-validation procedure. To determine the status of water quality, pixel-level predictions were used to compute model-assisted estimates of WQPs and compared with reference values from the World Health Organization. Generally, all three models produced more accurate results for S2 compared to L8. On average, the inter-sensor relative efficiency showed that S2 outperformed L8 by 67% in retrieving WQPs of the Owabi Dam reservoir. S2 gave the highest accuracy for RF (R2.adj = 95–99%, RMSE = 0.02–3.03) and least for MLR (R2.adj = 55–91%, RMSE = 0.03–3.14). Compared to RF, SVM showed similar results for S2 but with slightly higher RMSEs (0.03–3.99). The estimated pH (7.06), total dissolved solids (39.19 mg/L) and alkalinity (179.60 mg/L) were within acceptable limits, except for turbidity (33.49 mg/L) which exceeded the reference thresholds. The S2 and RF models are recommended for the monitoring of surface water quality of the Owabi Dam reservoir.

Abstract Standard methods to assess the durability of vitrified radioactive waste were first developed in the 1980’s and, over the last 40 years, have evolved to yield a range of responses depending on experimental conditions and glass composition. Mechanistic understanding of glass dissolution has progressed in parallel, enhancing our interpretation of the data acquired. With the implementation of subsurface disposal for vitrified radioactive waste drawing closer, it is timely to review the available standard methodologies and reflect upon their relative advantages, limitations, and how the data obtained can be interpreted to support the post-closure safety case for radioactive waste disposal.

Abstract Background Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is associated with high recurrence rates. The costs associated with the treatment of recurrent POP are huge, and the burden from women who encounter recurrent POP, negatively impacts their quality of life. Estrogen therapy might improve surgical outcome for POP due to its potential beneficial effects. It is thought that vaginal estrogen therapy improves healing and long-term maintenance of connective tissue integrity. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of perioperative vaginal estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women undergoing POP surgery. Methods The EVA trial is a multi-center double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted in the Netherlands comparing the effectiveness and costs-effectiveness of vaginal estrogen therapy. This will be studied in 300 postmenopausal women undergoing primary POP surgery, with a POP-Q stage of ≥ 2. After randomization, participants administer vaginal estrogen cream or placebo cream from 4 to 6 weeks preoperative until 12 months postoperative. The primary outcome is subjective improvement of POP symptoms at 1 year follow-up, measured with the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale. Secondary outcomes are POP-Q anatomy in all compartments, re-interventions, surgery related complications, general and disease specific quality of life, sexual function, signs and complaints of vaginal atrophy, vaginal pH, adverse events, costs, and adherence to treatment. Follow up is scheduled at 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months postoperative. Data will be collected using validated questionnaires and out-patient visits including gynecological examination performed by an independent gynecologist. Discussion This study investigates whether perioperative vaginal estrogen will be cost-effective in the surgical treatment of POP in postmenopausal women. It is hypothesized that estrogen therapy will show a reduction in recurrent POP symptoms and a reduction in reoperations for POP, with subsequent improved quality of life among women and cost savings. Trial registrationNetherlands Trial Registry: NL6853; registered 19-02-2018, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6853 . EudraCT: 2017-003144-21; registered: 24-07-2017.

When immigrants move to a new city, they tend to develop distinct relationships with the urban landscape, which in turn becomes the new setting of their routine-based activities that evolve over time. Previous works in environmental psychology have quantitatively examined non-native residents' development of sense of place towards their new environment. In this paper, we introduce the spatial perspective into studying the sense of place experienced by non-natives in an urban context. We study the person-place bonds, relationships, and feelings cultivated by non-native residents living in the city of Lisbon (Portugal) through an online map-based survey. Then, we carried out spatial analysis aimed at distinguishing and visualizing the different facets of sense of place developed by two participant groups: short-term residents and long-term residents. Results showed that while short-term residents reported bonds with places, long-term residents' senses of place were more intense and broader throughout the city. The correlations, associations, and relationships between participant groups and the dimensions of sense of place allowed us to observe features and patterns that were previously described in the literature, although adding the spatial lenses can potentially provide better insights for urban planning, community development, and inclusive policies.

Introduction Various aspects of uncomplicated fractures of the cervical vertebrae in children and adolescents remain topical. Purpose To study incidence, character and type of uncomplicated fractures of the vertebrae of the cervical spine in children and adolescents. Materials and methods Out of 1000 children who had uncomplicated vertebral fractures, 27 (2.7 %) people were diagnosed with fractures at the cervical level. There were more boys among the injured – 77.77 % of the injured. 29.63 % of the patients were under the age of 12, and 70.37 % of – aged 12–17. Traditional methods for emergency traumatology were used for clinical diagnostics. Results In 17 (62.96 %) of the patients only the cervical vertebrae were compressed, in 10 (37.04 %) patients – both the thoracic vertebrae and the cervical vertebrae. Among the cervical vertebrae, compression of C7 vertebral body was most often observed – in 30.64 % of cases, less often – the body of C3 – in 4.08 % of cases. The main mechanism of injury was falling on head from a height of 2 m and more – 25.98 % of cases. Analysis of the character of C2 fractures showed that four patients had fractures of the odontoid process (three patients – type I, one – type III), one patient – fractures of the arches of this vertebra corresponding to type I. Fractures of subaxial location mainly corresponded to group "A" (subgroup I (36 compressed vertebrae), subgroup II (6 injured vertebrae)). In 2 cases, vertebral fractures were referred to group "B" (subgroup I). In 25 (92.59 %) clinical cases conservative treatment was used, in 2 (7.41 %) – there were indications for surgical treatment. The average duration of in-patient treatment for fractures of the cervical vertebrae was 9.4 days. Evaluation of long-term treatment results showed "good" results in 83.33 % of cases, satisfactory – in 16.67 % of clinical observations. Discussion The results that we have received are mainly comparable with the literature data on the main aspects of cervical trauma in children. At the same time, it is necessary to mention some differences. For example, many authors report that younger children most often get fractures of the C2 vertebra. According to our data, the average age of patients with these fractures was 14.8 years.

Postmodern menyebabkan semua menjadi relatif. Termasuk dalam melakukan kebenaran Firman Tuhan dan teladan dalam membangun karakter pemuda. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat implementasi bimbingan dan konseling yang digunakan Universitas Pelita Harapan dalam menunjang perkembangan karakter mahasiswa dan mengidentifikasi faktor-faktor hambatan yang terjadi dalam pelaksanaannya. Hasil penelitian ini adalah implementasi yang digunakan memprioritaskan nilai-nilai firman Tuhan. Target yang ingin dicapai adalah membentuk mahasiswa untuk memiliki karakter ilahi. Proses bimbingan dan konseling diberikan melalui: (1) Penasihat akademik; (2) Organisasi rohani spiritual growth for student; (3) Asrama; (4) Lembaga konseling HOPE. Proses bimbingan dan konseling dilaksanakan dalam bentuk: (1) Pendekatan peraturan lembaga; (2) Pemberian nasihat; (3) Pemuridan; (4) Sistem learning by doing; (5) Bimbingan kolaboratif lembaga; dan (6) Support academic. Faktor-faktor yang menjadi penghambat adalah: (1) Kompetensi SDM yang belum memadai; (2) Mahasiswa yang kurang berminat kepada program bimbingan dan konseling; dan (3) Mahasiswa yang belum dapat bersifat dewasa. Abstrac : Postmodern causes everything to be relative. Including in carrying out the truth of God's Word and example in building the character of youth. This study aims to look at the implementation of guidance and counseling used by Pelita Harapan University in supporting the development of student character and identify the obstacles that occur in its implementation. The result of this research is the implementation that is used to prioritize the values of God's word. The target to be achieved is to form students to have divine character. The process of guidance and counseling is provided through: (1) academic advisors; (2) spiritual organization spiritual growth for students; (3) Dormitory; (4) HOPE counseling agency. The guidance and counseling process is carried out in the form of: (1) Institutional regulatory approach; (2) Giving advice; (3) Discipleship; (4) learning by doing system; (5) Institutional collaborative guidance; and (6) academic support. The inhibiting factors are: (1) inadequate HR competencies; (2) Students who are less interested in the guidance and counseling program; and (3) Students who have not been able to become adults

Introduction: We hypothesized that the modified Fragility Index (mFI), which predicts surgical complications, would be applicable to surgical complications in patients older than 50 years with distal humerus fractures (DHF). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program database, including patients older than 50 years who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of a DHF. A 5-item mFI score was calculated. Postoperative complications, readmission and reoperation rates, and length of stay were recorded. Univariate as well as a multivariable statistical analysis was performed, controlling for age, sex, body mass index, length of stay, and operative time. Results: We identified 864 patients (mean age, 68.6 years ± 10.4), and 74.1% were female. As the mFI increased from 0 to 2 or greater, 30-day readmission rate increased from 3% to 10% (P value = .01), rate of discharge to rehabilitation facility increased from 12% to 32% (P value = .0), and any complication rate increased from 4% to 19% (P value = .0). Rates of pulmonary complications increased significantly in patients with the mFI of 2 or greater (P value = .047). Patients with the mFI of 2 or greater were nearly 4 times more likely to be readmitted within 30 days (odds ratio [OR] = 3.5, P value = .007) and had an increased OR of 30-day reoperation and any complication (OR = 3.7, P value = .02; OR = 4.5, P value = .00, respectively) on multivariate analysis. Conclusion: A fragility state is predictive of postoperative complications, readmission, and reoperation after surgical management of DHF. Our data suggest that a fragility evaluation can help inform surgical decision-making in patients older than 50 years with DHF.

Abstract Laboratory testing used to assess the long-term chemical durability of nuclear waste forms may not be applicable to disposal because the accelerated conditions may not represent disposal conditions. To address this, we examine the corrosion of vitrified archeological materials excavated from the near surface of a ~1500-year old Iron Age Swedish hillfort, Broborg, as an analog for the disposal of vitrified nuclear waste. We compare characterized site samples with corrosion characteristics generated by standard laboratory durability test methods including the product consistency test (PCT), the vapor hydration test (VHT), and the EPA Method 1313 test. Results show that the surficial layer of the Broborg samples resulting from VHT displays some similarities to the morphology of the surficial layer formed over longer timescales in the environment. This work provides improved understanding of long-term glass corrosion behavior in terms of the thickness, morphology, and chemistry of the surficial features that are formed.

Cererile repetate depuse de reclamanți în adresa Curţii Europene a Drepturilor Omului contra Republicii Moldova, unde erau descrise aceleași probleme legate de condițiile materiale de detenție cum ar fi, spre exemplu, supraaglomerarea penitenciarelor, lipsa de igienă şi a condiţiilor materiale adecvate, de proastă calitate şi cantitate insuficientă de alimente, precum şi de lipsa de îngrijiri medicale adecvate, a determinat Curtea să constate faptul că condițiile precare de detenţie în Republica Moldova reprezintă o problemă sistemică. Starea de fapt în care s-a pomenit Republica Moldova a condiționat punerea în aplicare fără întârziere al unor remedii cu efecte preventive şi compensatorii care să garanteze o despăgubire eficientă din partea statului pentru încălcările Convenției, încălcări care au avut loc nu numai în timpul detenției dar și în timpul cât persoana s-a aflat sub cercetare penală. Un astfel de remediu a fost recunoscut ca fiind mecanismul compensatoriu, prin intermediul căruia reclamantul poate să înainteze o cerere către instanța de judecată națională, care în caz că constată prezența unei încălcări a Convenției, este în drept prin aplicarea mecanismului compensatoriu să reducă o parte din pedeapsa privativă de libertate aplicată

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a global challenge to healthcare and society in the early 21st century. We report neuropathological changes in 52 patients aged between 22 years and 88 years (median 58 years) who were infected with the CoV-2 coronavirus. Patients died under various circumstances and had various pre-existing diseases. The inclusion criteria for this study were: positive result for the nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, diagnosis of pneumonia of SARS-CoV-2 or nucleoproteins of SARS-CoV-2 in pulmonary tissue confirmed by immunohistochemical methods (IHC). Samples from all brain structures and lung specimens were taken for histopathological examinations. Brain and pulmonary samples were stained typically with histological and immunohistochemical methods and small tissue fragments were examined with the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The light and electron microscopy examination confirmed the numerous neuropathological changes in the brains of the patients infected with the CoV-2. Many of these changes were caused by pre-existing diseases of patients and/or by necessary treatment. However, vascular lesions and the inflammatory process seem to be characteristic of the CoV-2 infection. In all of the structures of 52 brains of patients, damage of the vessel walls and morphological feature of the damage to the blood-brain barrier were observed. Lymphocytic and microglial infiltrates, both perivascular and diffuse, were also observed. Hence, the brain changes due to COVID-19 infection, could be called COVID-19 cerebral angiopathy with diffuse inflammation.

Abstract The oxygen adsorption and subsequent reduction on the {100} and {110} surfaces of 25% Ba-doped LaMnO3 (LBM25) have been studied at the density functional theory (DFT) with Hubbard correction and the results compared with adsorption on 25% Ca-doped LaMnO3 (LCM25) and Sr-doped LaMnO3 (LSM25). The trend in the reduction energies at the Mn cation sites are predicted to be in the order LSM25

Cancer is a leading cause of non-communicable morbidity and mortality throughout the world, similarly, in dogs, the most frequent cause of mortality is tumors. Some types of cancer, including osteosarcoma (OSA), occur at much higher rates in dogs than people. Dogs therefore not only require treatment themselves but can also act as an effective parallel patient population for the human disease equivalent. It should be noted that although there are many similarities between canine and human OSA, there are also key differences and it is important to research and highlight these features. Despite progress using chorioallantoic membrane models, 2D and 3D in vitro models, and rodent OSA models, many more insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms, drug development, and treatment are being discovered in a variety of canine OSA patient populations.

Newspaper editorials have been found to follow the same structure across cultures but tend to vary in how they realize their rhetorical strategies. Contextual factors are said to influence rhetorical strategies of editorials. This study examines the rhetorical strategies used in the editorials of the Daily Graphic of Ghana and the New York Times of the United States. The study is based on the theory of intercultural rhetoric which proposes that texts vary across cultures. Using the concept of genre analysis, the study was carried out within the classification of newspaper editorials into three schematic structures: namely, the introduction, the body and the conclusion. The results show that the editorials of the Daily Graphic mostly employ the rhetorical strategies of expressing worry about political actions and social issues and proposes a solution to the issues. The New York Times editorials on the other hand question political and social issues, criticize the actions taken and express a necessity for the issues to be addressed. The rhetorical strategies mostly used by the Daily Graphic are attributed to the traditional norms of communication in the Ghanaian society which does not permit criticism of authority while those mostly used by the New York times are attributed to the exercise of freedom of the press in the American society. The paper concludes that rhetorical strategies mostly used by the Daily Graphic have implications for instruction in journalism and media practice in Ghana.

Abstract Impedance spectroscopy is an electrochemical technique widely used for the electrical characterization of the behavior of biomaterials in all kinds of biosensors. Field‐effect devices, and in particular ion‐sensitive field‐effect transistors (ISFETs), have been extensively studied as transducers for biosensing. They however have not been much analyzed with impedance spectroscopy, because they typically generate non‐Faradaic capacitance measurements, since there is no charge transfer through the insulating gate in contact with the liquid solution. We have recently experimentally shown that Faradaic‐like impedance spectroscopy spectra can be obtained with ISFET devices, allowing high‐sensitivity measurements for different pH and biomarker concentrations. In this paper, we report that both Faradaic‐like and non‐Faradaic impedance behavior can be well understood by a DC and small‐signal AC model of the ISFET working in different conditions. Faradaic‐like impedance measurements are described by the operation of the ISFET in subthreshold conditions. A Nyquist plot semicircle is obtained, corresponding to the transimpedance 1/gm of the ISFET in parallel to the gate capacitances. We show that this behavior is independent of the presence of membrane material on the gate surface. In these conditions, the change in the semicircle diameter for different pH or biomarker concentrations can be understood by the change of 1/gm corresponding to a threshold voltage shift of the transistor. This description is illustrated with our recent results for pH measurements and the detection of tumor necrosis factor‐α with functionalized devices in standard solutions in the concentration range of 1–20 pg/ml. The use of the impedance spectroscopy technique takes advantage of the exponential behavior of the gm(VGS) curves in the subthreshold (weak inversion) operation of the ISFET. This results in a large signal amplification, where a small change in the threshold voltage results in a large change in the impedance spectrum, thus achieving an increased precision in the measurement of the device response to changes in the analyte concentration.

Remarkable progress in the fields of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) has led to an increased number of applications of (data-driven) AI systems for the partial or complete control of safety-critical systems. Recently, ML solutions have been particularly popular. Such approaches are often met with concerns regarding their correct and safe execution, which is often caused by missing knowledge or intransparency of their exact functionality. The investigation and derivation of methods for the safety assessment of AI systems are thus of great importance. Among others, these issues are addressed in the field of AI Safety. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of this field by means of a systematic literature review with special focus on the area of highly automated driving, as well as to present a selection of approaches and methods for the safety assessment of AI systems. Particularly, validation, verification, and testing are considered in light of this context. In the review process, two distinguished classes of approaches have been identified: On the one hand established methods, either referring to already published standards or well-established concepts from multiple research areas outside ML and AI. On the other hand newly developed approaches, including methods tailored to the scope of ML and AI which gained importance only in recent years.

The molecular underpinnings driving uveal melanoma (UM) progression are unknown. Here the authors show that loss of Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 triggers chromosomal instability, which promotes inflammatory signaling and migration in UM.

Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of unsuspected PJI when prosthetic revisions are thoroughly evaluated by PJI dedicated orthopedic surgeon before surgery. The hypothesis is that the incidence of unsuspected PJI is reduced by applying this protocol. Methods This is a historical cohort study carried out in one university hospital. The prosthetic revision assessment was carried out in January 2019. From that date on, all patients that were programmed for hip or knee revision (either by an orthopedic surgeon specialized or not in septic revisions) were scheduled for a preoperative visit with the same orthopedic surgeon specialized in septic revisions. The diagnostic algorithm applied was based on the Pro-Implant Foundation diagnostic criteria. Prior to the revision assessment, the indication for joint aspiration was done at the surgeons’ discretion (non-specialized in septic revisions) and the preoperative identification of PJI was also done by a hip or knee surgeon (not specialized in septic surgery). Results Based on the PIF criteria, there were 15 infections among the revisions in group 1 and 18 PJI in group 2 (p > 0.05). The most interesting finding was that there were 7 patients with unsuspected positive cultures in group 1. That represents 11% of all revisions. No patient in group 2 was found with unsuspected positive cultures (p

Abstract Objective This study aimed to assess health facilities’ readiness to provide safe surgical care during Ebola and COVID-19 era in Uganda and in the Eastern DR Congo. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in selected national, regional referral and general hospital facilities in Uganda and in the eastern part of DR Congo from 1st August 2020 to 30th October 2020. Data was analysed using Stata version 15. Results The participation rate was of 37.5 % (72/192) for both countries. None of the hospitals fulfilled the readiness criteria for safe surgical care provision in both countries. The mean bed capacity of participating health facilities (HF) was 184 in Eastern DR Congo and 274 in Uganda with an average surgical ward bed capacity of 22.3 % (41/184) and 20.4 % (56/274) respectively. The mean number of operating rooms was 2 and 3 in Eastern DR Congo and Uganda respectively. Nine hospitals (12.5 %) reported being able to test for Ebola and 25 (34.7 %) being able to test for COVID-19. Postponing of elective surgeries was reported by 10 (13.9) participating hospitals. Only 7 (9.7 %) hospitals reported having a specific operating room for suspect or confirmed cases of Ebola or COVID-19. Appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) was reported to be available in 60 (83.3 %) hospitals. Most of the staff had appropriate training on donning and doffing of PPE 40 (55.6 %). Specific teams and protocols for safe surgical care provision were reported to be present in 61 (84.7 %) and 56 (77.8 %) respectively in Uganda and Eastern DR Congo participating hospitals. Conclusions The lack of readiness to provide safe surgical care during Ebola and COVID-19 era across the participating hospitals in both countries indicate a need for strategies to enhance health facility supplies and readiness for safe surgical provision in resource-limited settings.

Abstract Most of the current cancer treatment approaches are invasive along with a broad spectrum of side effects. Furthermore, cancer drug resistance known as chemoresistance is a huge obstacle during treatment. This study aims to predict the resistance of several cancer cell-lines to a drug known as Cisplatin. In this papers the NCBI GEO database was used to obtain data and then the harvested data was normalized and its batch effects were corrected by the Combat software. In order to select the appropriate features for machine learning, the feature selection/reduction was performed based on the Fisher Score method. Six different algorithms were then used as machine learning algorithms to detect Cisplatin resistant and sensitive samples in cancer cell lines. Moreover, Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) between all the sensitive and resistance samples were harvested. The selected genes were enriched in biological pathways by the enrichr database. Topological analysis was then performed on the constructed networks using Cytoscape software. Finally, the biological description of the output genes from the performed analyses was investigated through literature review. Among the six classifiers which were trained to distinguish between cisplatin resistance samples and the sensitive ones, the KNN and the Naïve Bayes algorithms were proposed as the most convenient machines according to some calculated measures. Furthermore, the results of the systems biology analysis determined several potential chemoresistance genes among which PTGER3, YWHAH, CTNNB1, ANKRD50, EDNRB, ACSL6, IFNG and, CTNNB1 are topologically more important than others. These predictions pave the way for further experimental researches.

Tigernut (Cyperus esculentus var. sativus) is a type of sedge that is quickly becoming popular as a superfood. As demand for tigernut continues to increase, more information is needed to develop weed management strategies for the crop to maximize tuber yield and quality. However, no herbicide is currently labeled for use with tigernut. Experimental trials were conducted in 2017 and 2018 to assess crop safety and control of economically important weeds with preemergence herbicides for transplanted ‘NG3’ and ‘OG’ tigernut. Oxyfluorfen applied alone or mixed with pendimethalin provided excellent control (>85%) of smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus), carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata), and large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis), and it did not cause any tigernut injury, stunting, or yield reduction compared with the weed-free control. However, none of the treatments controlled hairy galinsoga (Galinsoga quadriradiata) satisfactorily 2 months after herbicide application. Bensulide alone or associated with oxyfluorfen caused 14% to 25% stunting of tigernut. Bensulide alone only provided short-term control of broadleaf weeds. Increased weed competition and tigernut phytotoxicity associated with bensulide resulted in a 39% reduction in tuber yield compared with oxyfluorfen alone. Finally, S-metolachlor caused up to 78% stunting and a 68% reduction in vegetative tigernut biomass (on average) compared with the weed-free control. Tuber yield was reduced 55% to 97% after S-metolachlor was applied at transplanting. Oxyfluorfen would provide effective weed control up to 8 weeks after treatment in fields where hairy galinsoga is not a weed of concern and fulfill the requirement of a weed-free period without affecting tuber yield of quality.