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Let (M,∂M,g)\left(M,\partial M,g) be a compact Riemannian manifold with boundary. As a generalization of the Yamabe invariant with boundary Y(M,∂M,g)Y\left(M,\partial M,g), we define the kth Yamabe invariant with boundary Yk(M,∂M,g){Y}_{k}\left(M,\partial M,g). We prove some of its properties and study when it can be attained by the generalized metric. We also prove a version of conformal Schwarz lemma on (M,∂M,g)\left(M,\partial M,g) by using the Yamabe flow with boundary.

Endotracheal intubation is a medical procedure to secure a patient’s airways, which can be challenging in emergency situations due to an individual’s anatomy. Intubation blades can benefit from an adjustable design with shape memory alloys. We present a novel blade design with two degrees of freedom, continuously transforming a straight into a curved blade. Our demonstrators reached mean angular deflections up to 16∘ without exceeding outer blade temperatures of 40∘C. Mean forces of almost 24N were applicable. This approach has the potential to reduce the complexity of intubation procedures and increase the success rate, especially in time-critical emergency situations.

This work focuses on a dynamic electrical circuit whose dynamics are affine in the control input. Such dynamics are considered to be re-expressed in a canonical form, namely the port-Hamiltonian (pH) representation with dissipation, where the Hamiltonian is a quadratic function and has the unit of energy or power. On this basis, it allows revealing the transformation of energy (or power) inside the system, including the energy supply, storage and dissipation, thereby facilitating Lyapunov-based or energy-related control approaches for stabilization and optimization purposes. Two pH representations are proposed and compared; the first one is established with difficult-to-measure states while the second one is obtained with easier-to-measure states.

Association rule mining (ARM) is a technique for discovering meaningful associations within databases, typically handling discrete and categorical data. Recent advancements in ARM have concentrated on refining calculations to reveal connections among various databases. The integration of shuffled frog leaping optimization (SFLO) processes has played a crucial role in this pursuit. This paper introduces an innovative SFLO-based method for performance analysis. To generate association rules, we utilize the apriori algorithm and incorporate frog encoding within the SFLO method. A key advantage of this approach is its one-time database filtering, significantly boosting efficiency in terms of CPU time and memory usage. Furthermore, we enhance the optimization process's efficacy and precision by employing multiple measures with the modified SFLO techniques for mining such information.The proposed approach, implemented using MongoDB, underscores that our performance analysis yields notably superior outcomes compared to alternative methods. This research holds implications for fruit shape database mining, providing robust support for fruit class classification.

In median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), the median arcuate ligament compresses the celiac trunk and surrounding nerves leading to chronic functional abdominal pain and vague gastrointestinal symptoms. MALS can be effectively treated by dividing the arcuate ligament through open surgery or laparoscopy. This is a rare vascular condition and mostly encountered in adult patients. We hereby report a case of a pediatric patient diagnosed with MALS and treated successfully by laparoscopic approach. An 11-year-old girl presented with severe abdominal cramps for 3 months, accompanied by nonbilious vomiting. Computed tomography (CT) angiography demonstrated clear images of celiac trunk compression suggesting MALS. Laparoscopic surgery to cut the ligament and decompress the celiac artery was performed. The patient was discharged on day 7 postoperative with no recurrence of symptoms after 12 months of follow-up. This report suggested the diagnostic value of CT scan, and the safety and the feasibility of laparoscopic surgical techniques to treat MALS in children.

Summary: DNA-modifying enzymes are crucial in biological processes and have significant clinical implications. Traditional quantification methods often overlook enzymatic activity, the true determinants of enzymes’ functions. We present hydrogel Bead-based Isothermal Detection (BEAD-ID), utilizing uniform hydrogel bead-based microreactors to evaluate DNA-modifying enzyme activity on-bead. We fabricated homogeneous oligo-conjugated polyacrylamide (oligo-PAA) beads via droplet microfluidics, optimized for capturing and amplifying enzyme-modified nanosensors. By incorporating DNA oligos within the hydrogel network, BEAD-ID retains isothermally amplified products, facilitating in situ detection of enzyme activities on-bead. We validate BEAD-ID by quantifying human topoisomerase I (TOP1) and restriction endonuclease EcoRI, showing a direct correlation between enzyme concentration and fluorescence intensity, demonstrating the platform’s sensitivity (6.25 nM TOP1, 6.25 U/μL EcoRI) and reliability in food matrix (25 U/μL EcoRI). Additionally, a customized flow cytometry-mimicking setup allows high-throughput detection at 352 Hz with objective assessment. BEAD-ID, offering flexibility and scalability, is a promising tool for studying DNA-modifying enzymes.

Wang Chun Kwok,1 Terence Chi Chun Tam,1 James Chung Man Ho,1 David Chi Leung Lam,1 Mary Sau-Man Ip,1 Pak Leung Ho2 1Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Microbiology and Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Pak Leung Ho, Department of Microbiology and Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of China, Tel +852-2255-2584, Fax +852 2855 1241, Email plho@hku.hkIntroduction: Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (NMV-r) and molnupiravir (MOL) were developed as out-patient anti-viral for mild COVID-19. There was limited data on their role in treating COVID-19 for hospitalized patients, especially among adult patients who are unvaccinated and had chronic respiratory diseases.Methods: A territory-wide retrospective study was conducted in Hong Kong to compare the efficacy of NMV-r and MOL against COVID-19 in unvaccinated adult patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis and interstitial lung diseases presenting with moderate COVID-19 from 16th February 2022 to 15th March 2023.Results: A total of 1354 patients were included, 738 received NMV-r and 616 received MOL. NMV-r was more effective in reducing 90-day mortality with adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) of 0.508 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.314– 0.822, p = 0.006). Patients who received NMV-r also had significantly shorter length of stay (LOS) than those receiving MOL, with median LOS of 4 (Interquartile range [IQR] = 2– 7) for NMV-r and 6 (IQR = 3– 10) for MOL (p-value < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the development of respiratory failure and severe respiratory failure in the two groups.Discussion: NMV-r was more effective than MOL among unvaccinated adults with chronic respiratory diseases who were hospitalized for moderate COVID-19 without hypoxaemia on admission.Keywords: asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, COVID-19

Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) is used for the treatment of hepatitis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, but long-term use can cause osteoporosis. In this study, the effect of ADV on the osteocyte maturation process was evaluated at the level of undifferentiated cells using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteoblasts (MG63). First, MSCs and MG63 cells were treated with ADV at different concentrations, and then a Cell Counting Kit-8 analysis was performed to determine the effect on the proliferation of each cell. Additionally, crystal violet and Hoechst staining were performed for the morphological analysis of each cell and nucleus. To determine the cause of cell hypertrophy, the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) expression was investigated, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and activity were measured to determine the degree of differentiation of the MSCs and MG63 cells into mature osteocytes. The results confirmed that the ADV increases the expression of TGF-β in MSCs and MG63 cells, causing cellular and nuclear hypertrophy, and can cause osteoporosis by inhibiting cell proliferation and affecting the differentiation of mature osteocytes. Therefore, it is believed that these results can be used as a basis for understanding the adverse effects of ADV at a cytological level in basic medicine and clinical research.

Gallbladder rupture caused by blunt abdominal trauma is an uncommon injury, particularly in children. This condition occurs even less frequently in children with common bile duct cysts. The history is difficult to obtain, the clinical symptoms are indistinct, and their assessment is obscured by a slew of other lesions. Radiography cannot produce clear images. Thus, the diagnosis is frequently delayed and confirmed only during surgery. Case reports of gallbladder injury after abdominal trauma are relatively rare and there are only 50 case reports in literature for 100 years. Herein, we present the case of an 18-month-old girl who had a ruptured gallbladder funnel due to blunt abdominal trauma caused by domestic violence, with an early clinical presentation of septic shock and chylous effusion. The patient underwent surgery after being diagnosed with chylous ascites that had not responded to medical treatment. Based on the findings, single-stage laparoscopic surgery is confirmed to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder injury in the presence of a common bile duct cyst.

With the development of Computer Vision, we can effectively and accurately identify trees, fruit or object images. But to build a high-performance image dataset for tree identification problems in Agriculture is a challenge. Realizing that Vietnam is a country with strong agriculture with many tropical fruits grown widely such as Dragon fruit, Mangosteen, Mango, Orange, Lychee, Longan … We chose the Dragon Fruit tree for the data set. of my proposed images, all images will be collected using the close-up method, including tasks such as taking photos of Dragon Fruit trees from many angles and in different conditions (weather, temperature, light, …). In this article, we want to improve the data quality of the collected images so we have applied image processing techniques such as noise filtering (using Gaussian filter), image quality enhancement (image rotation), flip the image, zoom out, zoom in, etc.). From the collected Dragon Fruit tree data set, we will propose to use the Faster R–CNN model for this data set to build a tree and Dragon Fruit identification system.

Three-dimensional (3D) spheroid models are crucial for cancer research, offering more accurate insights into tumour biology and drug responses than traditional 2D cell cultures. However, inconsistent and low-throughput spheroid production has hindered their application in drug screening. Here, we present an automated high-throughput platform for a spheroid selection, fabrication, and sorting system (SFSS) to produce uniform gelatine-encapsulated spheroids (GESs) with high efficiency. SFSS integrates advanced imaging, analysis, photo-triggered fabrication, and microfluidic sorting to precisely control spheroid size, shape, and viability. Our data demonstrate that our SFSS can produce over 50 GESs with consistent size and circularity in 30 min with over 97% sorting accuracy while maintaining cell viability and structural integrity. We demonstrated that the GESs can be used for drug screening and potentially for various assays. Thus, the SFSS could significantly enhance the efficiency of generating uniform spheroids, facilitating their application in drug development to investigate complex biological systems and drug responses in a more physiologically relevant context.

Seifu M Abera,1,2 Colin O’Donnell,3 Taufiq Salahuddin,1,2 Krishna Prabhu,4 Carol E Simons,1 P Michael Ho,5,6 Stephen W Waldo,3,5,6 Jacob A Doll1– 3 1Section of Cardiology, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA; 2Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; 3Department of Veterans Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking Program, VHA Office of Quality and Patient Safety, Washington, DC, USA; 4Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA; 5Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA; 6Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USACorrespondence: Jacob A Doll, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S. Columbian Way, S111-CARDIO, Seattle, WA, 98108, USA, Tel +1 206-277-6199, Fax +1 206-764-2257, Email jdoll@uw.eduObjective: Adherence to anti-platelet medications is critical following coronary stenting, but prior studies indicate that clinician assessment and patient self-assessment of adherence are poorly correlated with future medication-taking behavior. We therefore sought to determine if integrated pharmacy data can be used to identify patients at high risk of non-adherence after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).Methods: Using Veteran Affairs (VA) Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking (CART) data linked with pharmacy records, we assessed adherence to cardiovascular medications from 2012 to 2018. Adherence was defined as the proportion of days covered (PDC) ≥ 0.80. We assessed the association of pre-PCI adherence with post-PCI adherence to P2Y12 inhibitors and clinical outcomes using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models, respectively.Results: Among 56,357 patients, 66.0% filled at least 1 cardiovascular medication within VA for the year prior to PCI and were evaluable for adherence. Pre-PCI non-adherence was 20.7%, and non-adherent patients were more likely to be younger and present non-electively. Non-adherent patients were less likely to adhere to P2Y12 inhibitor therapy after PCI (Adjusted OR 0.45 C.I. 0.41– 0.46), compared with adherent patients, and had a higher adjusted risk of mortality (HR 1.17 C.I. 1.03– 1.33).Conclusion: Adherence to cardiovascular medications prior to PCI can be assessed for most patients using pharmacy data, and past adherence is associated with future adherence and mortality after PCI. Use of integrated pharmacy data to identify high-risk patients could improve outcomes and cost-effectiveness of adherence interventions.Plain Language Summary: Why was the study done?: Non-adherence to anti-platelet medications is common following coronary stenting procedures and is associated with worse outcomes, but predicting non-adherence is challenging.What did the researchers do and find?: The researchers examined pharmacy fill-based adherence assessments before and after stenting procedures. Pharmacy data can provide adherence estimates for most patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention, and these estimates are associated with downstream medication-taking behavior and clinical outcomes.What do the results mean?: Health systems should seek to integrate pharmacy-based adherence estimates into routine care for patients with cardiovascular disease. Identification and targeting of patients at high-risk for non-adherence may improve the impact and cost-effectiveness of future research and health policy interventions aimed at improving adherence.Keywords: percutaneous coronary intervention, medication adherence

In mobile electric drive systems, the Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM) drive system is preferred for development because of its high efficiency, power density, and low maintenance cost advantages. The PMSM speed control method based on the active and reactive power control of the inverter eliminates the division of the control area based on the reference speed. In order to improve the ability to respond quickly to PMSM speed changes caused by load torque changes or reference speed changes, the article proposes a control method using an advanced Fuzzy PI controller instead of a traditional PI control in the speed control loop. The results obtained by simulation on MATLAB/Simulink demonstrate that the tracking control quality robustly remains at the working point in the steady state and simultaneously reduces the tracking error to the new reference speed and load torque values.

Although post-traumatic intrahepatic pseudoaneurysms are rare in adults and even more uncommon in children, this serious complication can result in life-threatening bleeding. Most case studies have recommended surgical or endovascular interventions for preventing rupture or managing the bleeding from a ruptured intrahepatic pseudoaneurysm. Some studies also reported pseudoaneurysms could resolve without intervention and advised conservative therapy. In this case study, we describe a 19-month-old boy diagnosed with an intrahepatic pseudoaneurysm, upper gastrointestinal bleeding from the biliary tract, and hematoma infection. The patient received successful conservative treatment. After 36 days, the patient was discharged without signs of gastrointestinal bleeding and the steady shrinkage of the hematoma surrounding the pseudoaneurysm. The pseudoaneurysm and hematoma vanished at follow-up 18 months after the trauma. Conservative treatment may be considered a viable option, particularly for cases of post-traumatic intrahepatic pseudoaneurysms in children.

Wang Chun Kwok,1,&ast; Sze Him Isaac Leung,2,&ast; Terence Chi Chun Tam,1 James Chung Man Ho,1 David Chi-Leung Lam,1 Mary Sau Man Ip,1 Pak Leung Ho3 1Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Statistics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Microbiology and Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Pak Leung Ho, Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of China, Tel +852 2255 2584, Fax +852 2855 1241, Email plho@hku.hkBackground: While different COVID-19 vaccines have been developed, there has been lack of data on the efficacy comparison between mRNA and inactivated whole virus vaccine among patients with chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and bronchiectasis.Methods: This was a retrospective case control study on the efficacy of BNT162b2 (mRNA vaccine) and CoronaVac (inactivated whole virus vaccine) against COVID-19 in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. A total of 327 patients were included, with 109 patients infected with COVID-19 matched with 218 patients without COVID-19. The co-primary outcomes were vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19, COVID-19-related hospitalization and COVID-19-related respiratory failure. Vaccine effectiveness was calculated using the formula (1-adjusted odds ratio) x 100.Results: Patients who received at least 2 doses of CoronaVac had lower risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 and developing respiratory failure than those who did not have vaccination, with adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.189 (95% CI = 0.050– 0.714, p = 0.014) and 0.128 (95% CI = 0.026– 0.638, p = 0.012) respectively. Patients who received at least 2 doses of BNT162b2 had lower risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 and developing respiratory failure than those who did not have vaccination with adjusted OR of 0.207 (95% CI = 0.043– 0.962, p = 0.050) and 0.093 (95% CI = 0.011– 0.827, p = 0.033) respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the risks of being hospitalized for COVID-19 and developing respiratory failure between patients who received at least 2 doses of CoronaVac or BNT162b2.Conclusion: BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccines are effective in preventing hospitalization for COVID-19 and respiratory failure complicating COVID-19 among patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Patients with chronic respiratory diseases should be encouraged to have COVID-19 vaccination.Keywords: COVID-19, COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis, vaccine

This study synthesized and modified a semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel from polyacrylamide, N,N′-dimethylacrylamide, and maleic acid in a potassium hydroxide solution. The chemical composition, interior morphology, thermal properties, mechanical characteristics, and swelling behaviors of the initial hydrogel (SH) and modified hydrogel (SB) in water, salt solutions, and buffer solutions were investigated. Hydrogels were used as phosphate fertilizer (PF) carriers and applied in farming techniques by evaluating their impact on soil properties and the growth of mustard greens. Fourier-transform infrared spectra confirmed the chemical composition of SH, SB, and PF-adsorbed hydrogels. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that modification increased the largest pore size from 817 to 1513 µm for SH and SB hydrogels, respectively. After modification, the hydrogels had positive changes in the swelling ratio, swelling kinetics, thermal properties, mechanical and rheological properties, PF absorption, and PF release. The modification also increased the maximum amount of PF loaded into the hydrogel from 710.8 mg/g to 770.9 mg/g, while the maximum % release of PF slightly increased from 84.42% to 85.80%. In addition, to evaluate the PF release mechanism and the factors that influence this process, four kinetic models were applied to confirm the best-fit model, which included zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer–Peppas. In addition, after six cycles of absorption and release in the soil, the hydrogels retained their original shapes, causing no alkalinization or acidification. At the same time, the moisture content was higher as SB was used. Finally, modifying the hydrogel increased the mustard greens’ lifespan from 20 to 32 days. These results showed the potential applications of modified semi–IPN hydrogel materials in cultivation.

This study is aimed at assessing radiation hazards associated with natural radioactivity in common building materials used in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Thirty-six samples from eighteen types of building materials were collected to measure activity concentrations using the gross alpha/beta counting system and gamma-ray spectrometry. The gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations ranged from 94.7 ± 31.3 to 1045.1 ± 112.3 Bqkg-1 and 104.9 ± 4.7 to 834.4 ± 37.1 Bqkg-1, respectively. In addition, the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were also determined, which ranged from 4.1 ± 0.1 to 53.5 ± 0.4 Bqkg-1, 5.7 ± 0.1 to 83.6 ± 0.8 Bqkg-1, and 14.9 ± 0.8 to 664.9 ± 10.6 Bqkg-1, respectively. The indices including radium equivalent activity, external and internal radiation hazard, gamma and alpha indices, activity utilization index, and annual effective dose, were calculated to evaluate the radiological hazards of natural radioactivity. The results showed that these indices were below the recommended safety limits for most investigated samples except six brick samples, whose activity utilization indexes are slightly higher than the safety limit. Even so, all annual effective doses of the samples were found to be below the world average.

Objectives There are no real-world data describing infection morbidity in relapsed/refractory myeloma (RRMM) patients treated with anti-CD38 isatuximab in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (IsaPomDex). In this UK-wide retrospective study, we set out to evaluate infections experienced by routine care patients who received this novel therapy across 24 cancer centres during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods The primary endpoint was infection morbidity (incidence, grading, hospitalization) as well as infection-related deaths. Secondary outcomes were clinical predictors of increased incidence of any grade (G2–5) and high grade (≥G3) infections.Results In a total cohort of 107 patients who received a median (IQR) of 4 cycles (2–8), 23.4% of patients experienced ≥1 any grade (G2–5) infections (total of 31 episodes) and 18.7% of patients experienced ≥1 high grade (≥G3) infections (total of 22 episodes). Median time (IQR) from start of therapy to first episode was 29 days (16–75). Six patients experienced COVID-19 infection, of whom 5 were not vaccinated and 1 was fully vaccinated. The cumulative duration of infection-related hospitalizations was 159 days. The multivariate (MVA) Poisson Regression analysis demonstrated that a higher co-morbidity burden with Charlson Co-morbidity Index (CCI) score ≥4 (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 3, p = 0.012) and sub-optimal myeloma response less than a partial response (

Abstract Objective To estimate the costs from delaying major amputation in patients with concurrent diabetic foot ulcer and peripheral vascular disease. We seek to model economic benefits from saved costs from promoting timely major amputations among these patients. Methods Retrospective modeling using data from National University Hospital, Singapore. We identified patients who might have delayed major amputations by applying a hierarchical clustering algorithm. We then modeled the transitions of all patients over time with a Markov process using a number of relevant health states to enable estimation of cost outcomes. We next summarized the expected changes to the bed days used and cost outcomes arising from reassigning some patients who may have had a delayed amputation to timely amputation. The findings from the sample were scaled to reflect national incidence rates for this disease for the years 2014–2019 in Singapore. Results and Conclusions Nine of the 137 patients (6.57%) would be suitable for a major amputation at 3 months, yet in reality, their amputation was delayed. Based on this, and assuming a timely amputation is done for the entire population of patients in Singapore we expect annual savings of 264,791 bed days and $211 million in costs. These findings are preliminary and uncertain. The value of this paper is to show a method for estimating outcomes, report the findings from a small sample, and stimulate future research. New cohort studies might be designed to capture a wider range of outcomes and recruit a larger sample of individuals.

Pancreaticopleural fistula is an extremely rare complication of pancreatic duct injury. The reported treatments include conservative approaches, such as pleural drainage, and interventional approaches, such as sphincter stenting via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and surgery. However, no specific consensus treatment has been defined. We present 2 cases of pediatric patients with pancreaticopleural fistulas due to pancreatic trauma and pancreatitis that were successfully treated surgically. The most prominent symptom in both cases was dyspnea caused by pleural effusion. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography scans showed large pleural effusions and visible fistulas from the pancreatic duct to the thoracic cavity through the esophageal hiatus and aortic hiatus. Following unsuccessful conservative treatment using pleural drainage, the 2 patients underwent surgical fistulo-jejunostomy and cystojejunostomy. Both patients were stable and were discharged on postoperative days 10 and 12. Conservative treatment for pancreaticopleural fistula often fails, and a surgical approach, such as fistulo-jejunostomy and cystojejunostomy, can serve as an efficacious management strategy when conservative treatment fails.

Background and Aim: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, painful, degenerative inflammatory disease of the synovial joints. Regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease OA pain can have severe side effects, such as gastric irritation, ulcers, and heart problems. Natural products are extensively used to minimize OA-associated pain and inflammatory reactions. Lilium lancifolium is commonly used to alleviate several diseases through its anti-inflammatory effects. This study examined the impact of L. lancifolium extract on alleviating pain and inflammation associated with articular cartilage damage. Materials and Methods: Hydro-ethanol extracts of the L. lancifolium bulb were used. The experimental animals (adult beagle dogs) were divided into four groups: sham, which received neither treatment nor surgery; placebo, which received an empty gelatin capsule; glucosamine, which received glutamine (60 mg/kg); and L. lancifolium, which received an L. lancifolium extract-filled (60 mg/kg) gelatin capsule for 8 weeks. OA was induced by an expert orthopedic surgeon in 2-year-old dogs through resection of cranial cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament. Inflammatory cytokines, enzymes, lameness score, radiology, and histological changes were assessed. Results: Our experiments showed that long-term oral therapy with L. lancifolium alleviated inflammation and increased histological damage. L. lancifolium treatment effectively reduced cytokines, such as interleukin-6, metalloproteinase-9, leukotriene-4, prostaglandin, and cyclo-oxygenase in dogs with OA, suggesting the potential to minimize inflammatory reactions in OA. L. lancifolium showed anti-inflammatory qualities in dogs with OA. This effect was comparable with that of glucosamine OA treatment. Conclusion: L. lancifolium supplementation represents a possible therapeutic and management option in this model of OA.

This survey was performed to monitor the spread of specific mosquito-borne pathogens at Jeonbuk. The frequency of occurrence of mosquito borne pathogens including Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, Zika virus, and yellow fever virus was assessed by collecting mosquitoes twice a month from March to December 2021 from various areas in Jeonbuk. A total of 15,975 mosquitoes from 15 species and 7 genera were collected. The highest number of 9,116 mosquitoes (trap index: TI, 506.4) were collected in the Wanju cattle pen, followed by the habitat for migratory birds and the downtown area in Jeonju. In the Gunsan habitat for migratory birds, 3,217 mosquitoes (TI, 178.7) were collected in the reed fields, 356 (TI, 19.7) in the men’s toilets, and 1,948 (TI, 108.2) in the women’s toilets. In Jeonju, 677 mosquitoes (TI, 37.6) were collected in the Deokjin park, 358 (TI, 19.8) in the Deokjin-gu office, and 303 (TI, 16.8) at the Jeonbuk National University. The largest population of mosquitoes was collected in the men’s toilets in Gunsan and the Deokjin Park in downtown Jeonju. The results of the RT-PCR confirmation to determine the pathogen infection of the collected mosquitoes were all negative. These results provide a basis for tackling integrated mosquito-borne diseases in the Jeonbuk region.

The process of decision making has been examined for several years. Additionally, the link between intelligence and decision making has found a negative correlation between impulsivity and intelligence. While relatively new, the scientific study of attitudes toward celebrities adds a plethora of information regarding the link between cognitive measures and celebrity admiration. To date, there is no known study determining how decision making styles relate to intelligence as well as if there is a relationship between decision making styles and celebrity admiration. The main purpose of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the General Decision-making Scale (GDMS) and find out if any relationship exists between celebrity admiration and decision making. We administered the Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS-D), brief measures of crystallized and fluid intelligence, and the General Decision- making Scale (GDMS) to 143 college students. We compared the five subscales of the GDMS to the celebrity and intelligence measures. As expected, Rational decision-making was negatively correlated with Avoidant and Spontaneous decision-making styles. Avoidant and Spontaneous decision-making styles were positively related to each other. Avoidant decision-making was positively correlated with attitude toward one’s favorite celebrity. Results were discussed and recommendations for further research were offered. These findings continue to contribute to the scientific conversation about influences on decision making.

The weighted Yamabe problem introduced by Case is the generalization of the Gagliardo-Nirenberg inequalities to smooth metric measure spaces. More precisely, given a smooth metric measure space (M,g,e−ϕdVg,m)\left(M,g,{e}^{-\phi }{\rm{d}}{V}_{g},m), the weighted Yamabe problem consists on finding another smooth metric measure space conformal to (M,g,e−ϕdVg,m)\left(M,g,{e}^{-\phi }{\rm{d}}{V}_{g},m) such that its weighted scalar curvature is equal to λ+μe−ϕ∕m\lambda +\mu {e}^{-\phi /m} for some constants μ\mu and λ\lambda , satisfying a certain condition. In this article, we consider the problem of prescribing the weighted scalar curvature. We first prove some uniqueness and nonuniqueness results and then some existence result about prescribing the weighted scalar curvature. We also estimate the first nonzero eigenvalue of the weighted Laplacian of (M,g,e−ϕdVg,m)\left(M,g,{e}^{-\phi }{\rm{d}}{V}_{g},m). On the other hand, we prove a version of the conformal Schwarz lemma on (M,g,e−ϕdVg,m)\left(M,g,{e}^{-\phi }{\rm{d}}{V}_{g},m). All these results are achieved by using geometric flows related to the weighted Yamabe flow. We also prove the backward uniqueness of the weighted Yamabe flow. Finally, we consider weighted Yamabe solitons, which are the self-similar solutions of the weighted Yamabe flow.

Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation in the mucosal or submucosal layer of the colon. Previous studies have reported that obesity increases the prevalence of ulcerative colitis and aggravates the progression. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate whether curcumin inhibits the progression of ulcerative colitis caused by obesity. Mice were bred on a high-fat diet to induce obesity, and curcumin was administered with the high-fat diet to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect. To induce ulcerative colitis, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was administered orally, and clinical symptoms of colitis were subsequently observed. For histological evaluation of curcumin, the colon, liver and abdominal fat tissue samples were prepared and analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Our results confirm that consumption of curcumin resulted in decreasing the score of the disease activity index, and inhibited shortening of the colon length. In addition, inflammatory cell infiltration and mucosal damage were inhibited in the colon tissue of ulcerative colitis exacerbated by obesity. We further confirmed that exposure to curcumin significantly reduced the steatosis area of the liver and adipocytes of abdominal fat. In conclusion, we believe that curcumin can be applied as a therapeutic agent to treat ulcerative colitis, by inhibiting the progression of colitis caused by obesity.

Portal vein aneurysm (PVA) is rarely encountered, and published papers describing this etiology in adults and children typically include only case reports or small case series. We present a clinical case of PVA in a child associated with severe complications, including diffuse thrombosis of the portal venous system. A 10-year-old boy presented with abdominal pain and vomiting, resulting in an initial diagnosis of pancreatic head tumor based on suspicious images on abdominal grayscale ultrasound. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography confirmed a diagnosis of occlusive PVA thrombosis (36 × 37 × 95 mm). Lacking drastic symptoms, the patient was treated with conservative anticoagulant therapy. On follow-up, the thrombosis appeared to shrink gradually and disappeared at 6 months based on Doppler ultrasound imaging. The PVA was reduced in size, and hepatopetal flow was restored. Surgeons and radiologists should be aware of this rare entity to ensure that a precise diagnosis can be established and to provide suitable treatment.

Objective: Previous psychological research has been made on the role of perceived stress on musculoskeletal pain among adolescents and people working in different job sectors. However, no research has been made on this subject toward the Chinese population and especially the Hong Kong population. Hence, the objective of this research is to evaluate the effects and relationship between perceived stress and musculoskeletal pain and identify the statistical reasoning results of the research through looking into the specific situation in Hong Kong. Methods: In this research, data from Perceived Stress Scale-14 and a self-made pain questionnaire on perceived stress and musculoskeletal pain were collected from the patients of a registered chiropractor in Hong Kong to provide an in-depth study of how musculoskeletal pain correlated with perceived stress and how an individual's mental health would further be affected by both subjects among the Hong Kong population. Results: The findings of the research indicated that perceived stress is correlated with a combination of rather than one type of musculoskeletal pain and there is a significant correlation between one's posture, musculoskeletal pain, and psychological distress. In addition, in terms of the situation in Hong Kong; the working lifestyle and the prevalence of sedentary lifestyle may act as a risk factor on the results related to one's posture being correlated to musculoskeletal pain and perceived stress. Conclusion: It is hoped that this research could enlighten people working in the clinical psychology and chiropractor industries in Hong Kong on the subject of perceived stress and musculoskeletal pain and inform psychology researchers from other countries the situation regarding bodily pain and perceived stress in Hong Kong.

The recovery of biocompatible implantable biomaterials from biowaste is a significant method for protecting both human health and the environment concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of using hydroxyapatite (HAp) granules derived from planktonic exoskeleton bone in the ocean (OceanBone-HAp) as a bone graft substitute. The morphology and physiochemical properties of the OceanBone-HAp were evaluated using SEM, XRD and FT-IR. In addition, the absence of heavy metals and abundance of trace elements in OceanBone-HAp was confirmed using ICP-OES analysis. Moreover, in vitro results showed that OceanBone-HAp improved cell proliferation, adhesion, differentiation, and infiltration, compared to stoichiometric synthetic HAp granules (pure HAp). Additionally, OceanBone-HAp improved the expression of osteogenic related markers, by upregulation of ALP, collagen type-1αI(Col1αI), osteocalcin (OCN), and bone sialoprotein (BSP), which was confirmed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, in vivo bone regeneration was also evaluated using a rabbit calvarial defect model, and the results showed that the area of mature bone formation was significantly higher for OceanBone-HAp than pure HAp. These results demonstrated that OceanBone-HAp granules have good potential for use in bone healing as a bone graft material.

Previous research concerning religiosity and consumer behaviors highlights that consumers are possibly affected by religion in areas such as life satisfaction, faith, ethics, and materialism. Analysis, however, has yet to develop a systematic framework that examines the effects of particular religious commitments on consumer behaviors, such as life satisfaction, ethical decisions, and intentions of loyalty, which is the main incentive for us to conduct this research. This study which takes into account Catholic affiliation in the Vietnamese context intends to develop the literature on the relationship between religiosity and consumer behaviors. Specifically, aiming to explore potential mediators in the interrelationship between religious commitments and customer loyalty intentions at convenience stores, the research incorporates ethical judgements and life satisfaction. The Structural Equation Modeling method is utilized to analyze the surveyed data from 388 Catholics for hypothesis testing. According to the tested results, satisfaction with life plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between religious commitments and customer loyalty. On the other hand, ethical judgements serve as an important mediator that considerably enhances the impact of intrinsic religiosity on consumer loyalty. The findings also provide an insightful view of the sociology of religion regarding business enterprises.