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The process of generating radiology reports is often time-consuming and labor-intensive, prone to incompleteness, heterogeneity, and errors. By employing natural language processing (NLP)-based techniques, this study explores the potential for enhancing the efficiency of radiology report generation through the remarkable capabilities of ChatGPT (Generative Pre-training Transformer), a prominent large language model (LLM). Using a sample of 1000 records from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) Chest X-ray Database, this investigation employed Claude.ai to extract initial radiological report keywords. ChatGPT then generated radiology reports using a consistent 3-step prompt template outline. Various lexical and sentence similarity techniques were employed to evaluate the correspondence between the AI assistant-generated reports and reference reports authored by medical professionals. Results showed varying performance among NLP models, with Bart (Bidirectional and Auto-Regressive Transformers) and XLM (Cross-lingual Language Model) displaying high proficiency (mean similarity scores up to 99.3%), closely mirroring physician reports. Conversely, DeBERTa (Decoding-enhanced BERT with disentangled attention) and sequence-matching models scored lower, indicating less alignment with medical language. In the Impression section, the Word-Embedding model excelled with a mean similarity of 84.4%, while others like the Jaccard index showed lower performance. Overall, the study highlights significant variations across NLP models in their ability to generate radiology reports consistent with medical professionals' language. Pairwise comparisons and Kruskal–Wallis tests confirmed these differences, emphasizing the need for careful selection and evaluation of NLP models in radiology report generation. This research underscores the potential of ChatGPT to streamline and improve the radiology reporting process, with implications for enhancing efficiency and accuracy in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aortic dissection is a rare but potentially lethal disorder and may be associated with electrocardiogram (ECG) changes. In this study, we aim to investigate ECG-related parameters alongside clinical presentations of type A aortic dissection to come up with the predictive factors for the severity of the disease and its mortality rate. In this retrospective study, 201 patients with type A aortic dissection were studied between March 2015 and March 2020. Two expert cardiologists blinded to the diagnosis studied former and new patients' ECGs and recorded changes. Two-hundred and one patients, including 143 (71.1%) men and 58 (28.9%) women, presented with acute dissection of the aorta, were studied. Forty-four (21.8%) and 84 (41.7%) patients had ST-segment elevation and depression in ECG, respectively. Bivariate analysis revealed that higher heart rate (p = 0.006), longer QTc (p = 0.044), and ST-segment elevation in aVR lead (p = 0.044) were associated with mortality in the patients. Multivariate regression showed higher heart rate (OR = 1.022, CI = 1.003–1.041, p = 0.012) and ST-segment elevation in aVR (OR = 4.854, CI = 2.255–10.477, p < 0.001) were independently associated with increased odds of mortality in aortic dissection patients. ROC curve analysis showed heart rate equal to or >60 per minute (AUC = 0.625, sensitivity = 86%, specificity = 10%, p = 0.019) and ST-segment elevation in aVR >0.5 mm (AUC = 0.854, sensitivity = 75%, specificity = 92%, p < 0.001) were associated with a higher mortality rate. Heart rate equal or >60 and ST-segment elevation >0.5 mm in aVR lead can be used as predictive factors for mortality of patients with type A aortic dissection. • Higher heart rate was associated with increased odds of mortality. • ST-segment elevation in aVR was associated with increased odds of mortality. • Heart rate equal to or > 60 is a predicting factor for patients' mortality. • ST elevation >0.5 mm in aVR is a predicting factor for patients' mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • co-HTC of SB and DSS was used to waste management and lead adsorption. • Cold-alkali activation improved adsorption capacity. • Optimum co-HTC conditions were found using the RSM method. • Appropriate waste management and suitable adsorbent were earned. Integrated biomass waste management and fresh water supply are crucial environmental problems that researchers are laboring to clarify today. The co-hydrothermal carbonization (co-HTC) of sugarcane bagasse (SB) and digested sewage sludge (DSS), with KOH activation, for SB and DSS waste management, was accomplished. In this research, the effect of process parameters and biomass ratio during co-HTC on modified hydrochar adsorption capacities was critically evaluated. To optimize operating parameters (temperature, time, catalyst/precursor ratio, water/precursor ratio, and SB/DSS ratio, response surface methodology was used. The optimum condition was 180 °C, 9.6 h, 3/1 DSS/SB ratio (w w), 5.00 water/precursor ratio (w w), and 3.50 ZnCl 2 /precursor ratio (w w). The optimum hydochar was featured using BET, SEM, FTIR, TGA, and elemental analysis and used to study the adsorptive ability of lead. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic model matched reasonably with the Langmuir (127.61 mg g) and pseudo-second-order models (130.68 mg g). Moreover, the kinetic adsorption studies showed that 85 percent of adsorption capacity was achieved in the first 15 min. Our study strongly confirmed that co-HTC of DSS and SB, can be used as a green and environmental safety approach for sludge management and clean water supplement followed by lead removal with acceptable reusability of adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odontogenic fibromyxoma is a rare variant of odontogenic myxoma with more dispersed collagen fibers. This tumor shows different radiographic patterns, including "soap bubble," "tennis racket," and "honeycomb". The "sunray" or "sunburst" is an infrequent radiographic pattern. The rarity of odontogenic fibromyxoma and this radiographic presentation as a usual presence in malignancies such as osteosarcomas leads to confusion in the differential diagnosis of the lesion with a radiological presentation of "sunray" appearance before doing histopathological evaluations. Therefore, reports of such cases make clinicians facing unusual radiographic manifestations include better diagnostic and treatment choices. This case report presents the diagnosis and surgical treatment of a mandibular central odontogenic fibromyxoma in a 17-year-old female who has a rare radiographic finding as a "sunray" appearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have evaluated the economic evaluation of a group of medications known as novel oral anticoagulant drugs (NOACs) in recent years. The aim of this study is to review and systematically analyze the cost-utility studies results of warfarin compared with other NOAC drugs in atrial fibrillation patients. A systematic review was performed to identify all studies evaluating the NOAC medications in comparison with warfarin. For this purpose, PubMed, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from 2013 to 2022. Articles were independently screened with inclusion criteria, and full texts were reviewed. First, the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards checklist was used to evaluate the quality of the articles. Then, the costs and outcomes of the studies were analyzed, and findings were appraised critically. A total of 84 costs-per-quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) cases were extracted from the studies in which the share of rivaroxaban, edoxaban, apixaban, and dabigatran were 31%, 13%, 29%, and 27%, respectively. The median cost per QALY of rivaroxaban, edoxaban, apixaban, and dabigatran was 21 910$/QALY, 22 096$/QALY, 17 765$/QALY, and 24 161$/QALY, respectively. Subgroup analysis based on perspective showed that dabigatran had the highest incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and edoxaban had the lowest ICER value. Edoxaban and apixaban had the highest and the lowest cost per QALY from an insurance perspective, respectively. Despite the differences and variations in the economic evaluation studies of NOAC drugs, these drugs have shown acceptable cost-effectiveness in developed and developing countries. Among NOAC drugs, apixaban has the lowest ICER and the highest cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crash forecasting enables safety planners to take appropriate actions before casualty or loss occurs. Identifying and analyzing the attributes influencing forecasting accuracy is of great importance in road crash forecasting. This study aims to model the forecasting accuracy of 31 provinces using their macroeconomic variables and road traffic indicators. Iran's road crashes throughout 2011–2018 are calibrated and cross-validated using the Holt-Winters (HW) forecasting method. The sensitivity of crash forecast reliability is studied by a regression model. The results suggested that the root mean square error (RMSE) of crash prediction increased among the provinces with higher and more variant average monthly crashes. On the contrary, the accuracy of crash prediction improved in provinces with higher per capita GDP, and higher traffic exposure. A 1% increase in crash variability, average historical crash count, GDP per capita, and traffic exposure, respectively, resulted in a 0.65%, 0.52%, −0.38%, and −0.13% change in the RMSE of forecasting. The addition of traffic exposure and macroeconomic factors significantly enhanced the model fit and improved the adjusted R-squared by 14% compared to the reduced model that only used the historical average and variability of crash count as the independent variables. The findings of this research suggest planners and policymakers should consider the notable influence of macroeconomic factors and traffic indicators on the crash forecasting accuracy. • This research models the accuracy of monthly road crash counts in Iran. • Holt-Winters' method is used to acquire the monthly provincial crash count forecast and accuracy. • Macroeconomic and traffic indicators are used in an OLS regression to model the accuracy of forecast among the provinces. • Provinces with a higher average annual hourly traffic and per capita GDP had more accurate forecasts. • Provinces with a higher historical average crash count and crash count variability had less accurate forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, developing bioactive and biocompatible materials based on Mg and Mg-alloys for implant applications has drawn attention among researchers owing to their suitable body degradability. Implementing Mg and its alloys reduces the risk of long-term incompatibility with tissues because of their close mechanical properties and no need for re-operation to remove the implant. Nevertheless, the degradation rate of the implant needs to be controlled because production of hydrogen gas and accumulation of its bubbles increases local pH around the implants. To confine the integrity of implants and the body, the corrosion concern in the body fluid requires to be addressed. Surface modification as one of the effective strategies can improve corrosion resistance. Besides, it creates a suitable surface for bone grafting and cell growth. The development of proper surface-coated implants needs appropriate techniques and approaches. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coating can provide long-term protection by providing a ceramic layer and improving the implant's biocompatibility. Herein, a general review of in-vivo and in-vitro evaluation of PEO coatings on Mg and Mg-alloys has been carried out. Recent advances in surface modification on Mg and Mg-alloys have been discussed, however, the need for reliable laboratory models to predict in-vivo degradation is still valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the widespread use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients and physicians alike, there is no accurate evidence regarding the effects of vitamin D supplementation on treatment-induced pain in cancer patients. Thus, the aim of this systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the impact of vitamin D administration on therapy-related pain in subjects diagnosed with malignant disorders. We searched the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar databases up to October 2020 to identify published RCTs that investigated the use of vitamin D in the management of treatment-induced pain in individuals with cancer. Nine RCTs were detected. The median duration of the intervention was of 24 weeks (range 12-52 weeks) and dose of vitamin D employed was 2000-50000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly orally each day. Six RCTs reported a significant reduction in pain, whereas three did not detect a notable decrease of this variable. Of the six studies that reported an alleviation of pain, an RCT which recruited 60 participants and lasted for 24 weeks consisted of supplementation with high doses of vitamin D2 weekly for 8 weeks in women receiving anastrozole as adjuvant therapy, then supplementation with vitamin D2 monthly for 4 months, effectively alleviated the aromatase inhibitor-associated musculoskeletal syndrome (AIMSS). The results of the same RCT also suggested a beneficial effect of vitamin D on musculoskeletal pain. Our results suggest that the supplementation with high doses of vitamin D in cancer patients with low serum levels of vitamin D, can be effective in reducing treatment-related pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millimeter-Wave (mmWave) communication can be highly affected by blockages, which can drastically decrease the signal strength at the receiver side. To overcome the impact of blockages, predicting the optimal mitigation technique and accurately estimating the duration of the blockage events are crucial for maintaining reliable and high-performance mmWave communication systems. Prior works on mitigating blockages have proposed a variety of model and protocol-based blockage mitigation solutions that concentrate on a singular technique at a time, like switching the current beam to an alternative beam at the current base station or client. In this paper, we tackle the overarching question: what blockage mitigation technique should be employed? and what is the optimal sub-selection within that technique? We also address the blockage duration estimation problem. We solve these problems by developing a Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) model, trained on data from periodic message exchanges in mmWave systems. We tested our neural network models by utilizing a mmWave simulator that is commercially available and widely used in wireless communication to compile a large amount of dataset for this purpose. Our findings reveal that our proposed method introduces no extra communication overhead, while achieving remarkable accuracy, exceeding 91%, in predicting the optimal blockage mitigation technique. Moreover, the blockage duration estimation model achieves a very high accuracy with a residual mean error of less than 0.04 s. Finally, we demonstrate that our proposed blockage mitigation method substantially boosts the volume of data transferred in comparison to various other blockage mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital Core Analysis (DCA) has emerged as a crucial instrument in reservoir characterization in recent times. With the advent of high-resolution micro-CT imaging, it is now possible to visualize the three-dimensional microstructures of in-situ pores and flow patterns within rocks. DCA offers several notable benefits over traditional techniques, such as a higher density of measurements, faster processing times, and the preservation of rock samples. It also demonstrates considerable flexibility with challenging core conditions and can derive numerous parameters from each individual sample. The objective of this work is to utilise DCA data from Otway formation to enhance reservoir characterisation and CO 2 plume forecast. However, a critical challenge is that these data are obtained at a micro-scale, necessitating an upscaling of DCA properties from the micro-scale to core scale, and subsequently to the site and field scale, for compatibility with reservoir simulation and field studies. This study proposes an implicit and iterative method to upscale DCA properties and explore the impact of facies order and size on the upscaling process of relative permeability and capillary pressure. This method is implemented in an open-source simulator known as the Matlab Reservoir Simulation Toolbox (MRST). The findings indicate that relative permeability and capillary pressure outcomes from upscaling are influenced by order and portion of facies. This highlights the importance of considering both the size and arrangement of facies during the upscaling process, given their potential impact on fluid dynamics and the accuracy of reservoir simulation results. • Upscaling digital core data from micro scale to core, log, and reservoir model scales is outlined. • A randomized and iterative upscaling method with high performance is introduced. • The significant impact of facies order and portion on upscaling relative permeability and capillary pressure is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastatic prostate cancer is the most common malignant cancer and the second leading cause of death due to various types of cancer among men after lung cancer. This study aimed to analyze the cost-effectiveness of triptorelin, goserelin, and leuprolide in the treatment of the patients with metastatic prostate cancer from the societal perspective in Iran in 2020. This is a cost-effectiveness study in which a 20-year Markov transition modeling was applied. In this study, local cost and quality-of-life data of each health state were gathered from cohort of patients. The TreeAge pro 2020 and Microsoft Excel 2016 software were used to simulate cost-effectiveness of each treatment in the long term. The one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were also performed to measure robustness of the model outputs. The findings indicated that the mean costs and utility gained over a 20-year horizon for goserelin, triptorelin, and leuprolide treatments were $ 13 539.13 and 6.365 quality-adjusted life-years (QALY), $ 18 124.75 and 6.658 QALY, and $ 26 006.92 and 6.856 QALY, respectively. Goserelin was considered as a superior treatment option, given the estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. The one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the study outcomes. According to the results of the present study, goserelin was the most effective and cost-effective strategy versus 2 other options. It could be recommended to policy makers of the Iran healthcare system to prioritize it in clinical guidelines and reimbursement policies. • Depending on the progression of the disease, several treatment strategies for prostate cancer are available, including radiotherapy, prostatectomy, freezing prostate tissue, chemotherapy, and hormone. The more advanced the disease is, the less likely the treatment will be successful, and even in some severe cases it could cause mortality. In hormone therapy, synthetic analogs of gonadotropin-releasing hormone medicines, including goserelin, triptorelin, and leuprolide, are widely used. • Despite the high economic burden of the disease in Iran, no economic evaluation has been done on it, and this is the first research carried out on the cost-effectiveness of hormone therapy for metastatic prostate cancer with 3 medicines, including leuprolide, triptorelin, and goserelin, in Iran. Other strengths of the present research are the inclusion of all the costs, including direct medical and nonmedical costs, as well as the indirect costs in the model, and the use of cost and effectiveness data locally and based on observations through the patients' self-report. • Results showed, the cost of hormone therapy for metastatic prostate cancer was high, and goserelin was considered the most cost-effective strategy in this study because of its lower cost, acceptable utility, and high effectiveness, as well as the major costs for the patients being direct medical costs; therefore, health policymakers and managers should try to increase insurance coverage for medicines and reduce the patients' out-of-pocket payments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different methods of treating tubal ectopic pregnancy in the south of Iran. This study was an economic evaluation that analyzed and compared the cost-effectiveness and cost utility of 3 treatment methods, including single-dose methotrexate, double-dose methotrexate, and surgery in patients with tubal ectopic pregnancy. In this study, a decision tree model was used. The outcomes included in the model were the percentage of successful treatment and the average utility score of each treatment method. The study was conducted from the social perspective, and a one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed to measure the effects of uncertainty. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of surgery compared with single-dose methotrexate was positive and equal to $5812 purchasing power parity; moreover, the results of one-way analysis showed the highest sensitivity toward the effectiveness of single-dose methotrexate. Scatter plots also revealed that surgery in 82% and 96% of simulations was at the acceptable region compared with a single-dose and double-dose methotrexate, respectively and was below the threshold. It was identified as a more cost-effective strategy. Furthermore, the acceptability curves showed that in 81.4% of simulations, surgery was the most cost-effective treatment for thresholds less than $20 950 purchasing power parity. On the basis of the results of this study, surgery can be used as the first line of treatment for ectopic pregnancy. In addition, the best drug strategy was single-dose methotrexate because this strategy reduced costs and increased treatment success and quality-adjusted life-years compared with double-dose methotrexate. • Ectopic pregnancy is one of the most important causes of mortality and disabilities in women of reproductive age. The incidence of this disease has increased significantly in the last century, but the rate is currently relatively stable. • Laparoscopy or laparotomies are 2 standard methods used for the treatment of an ectopic pregnancy. Nonetheless, the use of these methods depends on the size and location of the ectopic mass and the hemodynamic stability of the patient. • Successful treatment of ectopic pregnancy can increase the quality of life of patients undergoing treatment and decrease their suffering from mental illness and physical problems after the disease. • Surgery is a superior treatment strategy and can be used as a high-priority method, as compared with single-dose and double-dose methotrexate. In addition, the best drug strategy is single-dose methotrexate. It is suggested that surgery and single-dose methotrexate can be used as the first line of treatment for ectopic pregnancy to reduce the burden of disease and financial burden in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale and Objectives: Hyposmia/anosmia is common among patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Various imaging modalities have been used to assess olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19. In this systematic review, we sought to categorize and summarize the imaging data in COVID-19-induced anosmia.Material and Methods: Eligible articles were included after a comprehensive review using online databases including Google scholar, Scopus, PubMed, Web of science and Elsevier. Duplicate results, conference abstracts, reviews, and studies in languages other than English were excluded.Results: In total, 305 patients undergoing MRI/functional MRI (177), CT of paranasal sinuses (129), and PET/CT or PET/MRI scans (14) were included. Out of a total of 218 findings reported on MRI, 80 were reported on early (≤ 1 month) and 85 on late (>1 month) imaging in relation to the onset of anosmia. Overall, OB morphology and T2-weighted or FLAIR signal intensity were normal in 68/218 (31.2%), while partial or complete opacification of OC was observed in 60/218 (27.5%). T2 hyperintensity in OB was detected in 11/80 (13.75%) and 18/85 (21.17%) on early and late imaging, respectively. Moreover, OB atrophy was reported in 1/80 (1.25%) on early and in 9/85 (10.58%) on late imaging. Last, among a total of 129 CT scans included, paranasal sinuses were evalualted in 88 (68.21%), which were reported as normal in most cases (77/88, [87.5%]).Conclusion: In this systematic review, normal morphology and T2/FLAIR signal intensity in OB and OC obstruction were the most common findings in COVID-19-induced anosmia, while paranasal sinuses were normal in most cases. OC obstruction is the likely mechanism for olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19. Abnormalities in OB signal intensity and OB atrophy suggest that central mechanisms may also play a role in late stage in COVID-19-induced anosmia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale and Objectives: Despite all the benefits and effectiveness of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines mentioned in recent clinical trials, some post-vaccination side effects such as lymphadenopathy (LAP) were observed. The present study reviewed all studies with imaging findings presentation of LAP after COVID-19 vaccination.Materials and Methods: We conducted a literature search in online databases, including Scopus, Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, Embase (Elsevier), Cochrane library, and Google Scholar.Results: A total of 19 studies (68 cases), including 60 (88.2%) females and eight (11.8%) males with a presentation of LAP after COVID-19 vaccination, were reviewed. LAP was identified after first or second dosages of three types of COVID-19 vaccines, including Pfizer-BioNTech (n = 30, 44.1%), Moderna (n = 17, 25%), and Oxford-AstraZeneca (n = 1, 1.5%). In 20 (29.4%) cases, vaccine type was not reported or only reported as mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The median days of LAP presentation after the first and second dosages of COVID-19 vaccination, were 12 and 5 days, respectively. Most of the LAP imaging findings related to COVID-19 vaccination (n = 66, 97%) were seen from first day to 4 weeks after vaccination. However, LAP remained after 5 and 6 weeks of the first and second dosages of COVID-19 vaccination with decreased lymph nodes' size and residual cortical thickening in two cases.Conclusion: This review study of cases with LAP-associated COVID-19 vaccination guides radiologists and physicians to rely on patient's clinical context and updated resources to prevent potential disease upstaging and change in therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn (Basidiomycota, Cantharellales) is the main causal agent of rice sheath blight (RSB), which causes serious yield losses worldwide. The lack of rice varieties with resistance against RSB, which has a high sclerotia (dense masses of hyphal cells that function as compact survival structures in the fungal life cycle, enabling the fungus to endure adverse conditions and serve as reservoirs for subsequent growth and reproduction) survival rate, and the wide host range of R. solani , create basic challenges in the control of RSB. Overwinter sclerotium is the primary source of infection during the tillering stage of rice growth. In R. solani , a loose type of sclerotia is present. The sclerotia are primarily formed of compact masses of monilioid cells, but they may also be composed of undifferentiated hyphae. Three stages of sclerotial metamorphosis process are based on phenotypic changes, including the mycelium stage, the initial sclerotia stage (formation of monilioid cells), and sclerotia maturation. The metamorphosis of sclerotia involves the energy metabolism pathways and signal transduction pathways in the cell. In addition, there is evidence that the expression of genes encoding cell cycle activities may be important for sclerotia formation. During sclerotia metamorphosis, R. solani significantly expresses genes that encode antioxidants and respond to stimuli. The oxidative bursts begin in the initial sclerotia metamorphosis stage; at this time, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are mostly produced at the hyphal branches. In this sense, two classes of proteins related to glycosyltransferases B and the RNA recognition motif superfamily play a critical role in the sclerotial metamorphosis process in R. solani as scavengers of free radicals. The analysis of metabolic differences during sclerotia metamorphosis indicates that the NO metabolism may play an important role in sclerotia metamorphosis. Moreover, an increase in glycerophosphoethanolamines (PE) and glycerophosphoserines (PS) levels may indicate an advanced state of differentiation in mature R. solani sclerotia. Understanding the mechanisms involved in the sclerotial metamorphosis of R. solani can introduce new strategies for the management of RSB. In this review, we discuss the putative signaling and regulation mechanisms (such as quorum sensing) involved in the metamorphosis of sclerotia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide sequestration in geological formations has been proposed as a promising solution to reach net zero carbon emissions but the success of underground CO 2 storage in sandstone formations depends on the brine/CO 2 wettability of sandstone. Research evidence showed that natural geological formation is hydrophobic even in the presence of minute concentration of inherent organic acids. This study investigates the effect of methylene blue (MB) on CO 2 wettability of organic-acid contaminated quartz through the tilted plate contact angle measurement method. Pure quartz substrates were aged in a stearic acid/n-decane solution for one week and subsequently modified with different concentrations of MB (ranging from 10 to 100 mg/L) at a temperature of 60 °C. Advancing (θ a) and receding (θ r) contact angles were measured under varying conditions of temperature (25 °C and 50 °C), pressure (ranging from 10 to 20 MPa), and salinity (0–0.3 M). The experimental results indicate that pure quartz, when aged in a stearic acid solution, becomes CO 2 -wet at all temperature, pressure, and salinity conditions. However, at any physio-thermal condition, the wettability of the quartz surfaces was reversed when treated with different concentrations of MB, transitioning to a water-wet state. The findings of this research demonstrate the potential of MB to modify the wetting behaviour of quartz surfaces and enhance CO 2 residual trapping in sandstone formations. • Methylene blue was used to alter wettability of sandstone reservoirs. • The contact angle decreased with increasing methylene blue concentration. • Contact angle increased with temperature, pressure, and salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas extraction from Coal Bed Methane has proved challenging mainly due to the low permeability of coals. This study investigated a combination of 2 stimulation techniques, Liquid Nitrogen (LN 2) fracturing and acidizing, to increase pore structure and cleat network connectivity in coals. Microcomputed Tomography (μ-CT) scanning results suggested that a combination of those 2 applications, in either sequence of implementation, has substantial potential in recovering mineralized fractures and inducing new fractures; thus, leading to wide-open cleat networks. X-ray images show that if LN 2 fracturing of coal is preceded by acidizing, the stimulation efficiency increases from more than double the initial value to over 700% of it, where a porosity of 12% can be achieved. Alternatively, the efficiency of acidizing in porosity enhancement can increase from 300% to 530% when a preceding application of LN 2 freezing provides an open cleat network to facilitate acid access to remote areas. Acid diffusion and digital microscopy images also determined that in fractured coal, HCl concentrations of both 1% and 3% can result in desirable demineralization (13% porosity increment), whereas in the acidizing of original coals, 1% HCl might not be promising. Further, the latter experiments created a wide and connected cleat network after LN 2 fracturing of efficiently acid-stimulated coal. Therefore, a combination of two enhanced recovery techniques, acidizing and LN 2 fracturing, was used in this study to achieve a dramatically boosted cleat network in coals. Additionally, an analytical model was developed to predict the acid reaction rate with coal minerals; it had a good match with experimental results. • Application of two stimulation processes (liquid nitrogen and acidizing) to enhance production in mineralized coal samples. • Optimization in consequence of liquid nitrogen and acid application and in percentage of acid used. • Introduce a mathematical model and validate it with experimental results to predict porosity changes due to acid reactions. • Micro-CT study of the experimental results before and after stimulation and characterize the porosity across the core samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We examined the effect of aromatherapy with/without music during pregnancy. • Anxiety impacts upon the accuracy of fetal non-stress test (NST) results. • Lavender oil aromatherapy with/without music reduces anxiety/improves NST results. • Aromatherapy with/without music increases fetal heart rate accelerations/movements. • Lavender oil aromatherapy with/without music should be considered during pregnancy. The non-stress test (NST) is commonly recommended for assessing fetal wellbeing. Anxiety in pregnancy can affect NST results and thus rates of false-positive results can increase. This study aimed to explore whether lavender oil inhalation administered in conjunction with music therapy is more effective in reducing anxiety and NST results during pregnancy than the use of lavender oil alone. This randomized clinical trial included 195 primiparous participants who were randomly assigned either to a control group, or one of two intervention groups receiving 1) lavender oil inhalation, 2) lavender oil inhalation and music therapy. Twenty minutes prior undertaking the NST, participants in the intervention groups inhaled four drops of 10% lavender oil. In the lavender/aromatherapy-music group, nature sounds were also played through earphones. Prior to the intervention and 20-minutes following the NST, state anxiety was measured as the primary outcome using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). NST results were assessed as secondary outcomes. For blinding, data was gathered by people unaware of the intervention. The mean number of fetal heart rate accelerations, fetal movements, and the number of reactive NST results were more statistically significant in the two intervention groups than in the control group (p < 0.001). After adjusting baseline variation, when compared to control group, the mean score of state anxiety was significantly lower in the lavender/aromatherapy group (β = − 7.03 , 95 % confidence interval (CI) : − 8.83 , − 5.24) and lavender/aromatherapy-music group (β = − 9.27 , 95 % CI : − 11.1 , − 7.49) than in the control group. Moreover, when compared to control group, the severity of state anxiety was significantly lower in the lavender/aromatherapy group (β = − 3.84 , 95 % CI : − 5.58 , − 2.10) and the lavender/aromatherapy-music group (β = − 5.01 , 95 % CI : − 7.05 , − 2.97) than in the control group. No adverse events were observed. The effects of using aromatherapy with lavender oil in conjunction with music therapy on state anxiety and NST results during pregnancy were similar to those resulting from the use of aromatherapy with lavender oil alone. Overall, the application of lavender oil as aromatherapy with or without music therapy is effective in reducing state anxiety during pregnancy and enhancing NST results. This trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials 22/12/2020 with code IRCT20090810002324N17. URL of registry: https://fa.irct.ir/trial/51378. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Day case tonsillectomy compared with inpatient tonsillectomy has increasingly become a trend for many patients undergoing elective surgeries. Unjustified stays of tonsillectomy can be avoided by day case surgery, which consequently reduces treatment costs. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the cost and effectiveness of day case tonsillectomy compared with inpatient tonsillectomy. This cost-effectiveness study was performed on 300 patients from May 2017 to April 2018. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: day case (n = 150) and inpatient (n = 150). Consequences used in model included incidence of bleeding, blood transfusion, and reoperation frequency within 2 weeks after surgery and also the patients' pain during 24 hours after surgery. Costs were collected from societal perspective, so the costs included direct medical and nonmedical costs as well as indirect costs. One-way sensitivity analysis was conducted to measure the uncertainty effects of the parameters. The collected data were analyzed using software TreeAge and Excel 2016. Day case tonsillectomy was more cost-effective than inpatient. Mean total costs in day case and inpatient were $915.1 and $1227.9, respectively. Besides, the mean effectiveness was 0.921 and 0.914 percent, respectively. Also, 1-way sensitivity analysis proved the robustness of the results of study. Day case tonsillectomy is a cost-effective strategy and can be suggested as a good alternative for a wide range of patients after tonsillectomy. Supporting day case surgery for tonsillectomy cases can significantly reduce the financial burden. • Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgeries in the field of otolaryngology but may have complications such as bleeding, pain, and even death. • Day case tonsillectomy was more cost-effective than the inpatient one. • Day case tonsillectomy is completely reasonable. This method reduces waiting time for selective surgery, implements a reservation system, and introduces the treatment centers for patients, which require significant changes in the manner of surgery [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been several reports of the incidental detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pneumonia on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) studies, which represent the potential role of molecular imaging in the detection and management of coronavirus disease 2019. Here, we systematically review the value of PET/CT in this setting. We conducted a systematic search on June 23, 2020, for PET studies with findings suggestive of coronavirus disease 2019. Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were used. Patients with at least one PET/CT imaging evaluation were included in the study. Fifty-two patients in 30 publications with a mean age of 60 ± 12.74 (age range; 27-87) were included in this study, of which 28 (53.8%) were male, and 19 (36.5%) were female. In 5 (9.7%) patients, gender was not reported. PET/CT was performed with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose for 48 (92.3%), 18F-choline for 3 (5.8%), and 68Ga-PSMA for 1 (1.9%) patients. The mean SUV max of pulmonary lesions with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake was 4.9 ± 2.3. Moreover, 39 (75%) cases had an underlying malignancy, including 18 different type of primary cancers and 6 (11.5%) patients with metastatic disease. The most common pulmonary findings in PET/CT were bilateral hypermetabolic ground-glass opacities in 39 (75%), consolidation in 18 (34.6%), and interlobular thickening in 4 (7.6%). In addition, mediastinal 14 (27%) and hilar 10 (19.2%) lymph node involvement with increased metabolic activity was frequently identified. Early diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pneumonia is not only crucial for both appropriate patient management but also helps to ensure appropriate postexposure precautions are implemented for the department and hospital staff and those who have been in contact with the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Oncolytic viruses have been regarded as a promising tool for targeted therapy of cancer, accomplishing high efficacy and specificity with this strategy is challenging. Oncolytic virotherapy is one of the novel therapeutic methods recently used for the therapy of human malignancies. Cervical cancer is on the major public health problem and the second most common cause of cancer death among females in less developed countries. The aim of this study was mainly to determine the apoptosis effect of oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in TC-1 cell line. In the current study, the oncolytic NDV, vaccine strain LaSota, was used to infect murine TC-1 cells of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated carcinoma which expressing human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) E6/E7 antigens in vitro. The effectiveness of NDV for cervical cancer cell line was investigated by evaluating the antitumor activity of oncolytic NDV and the involved mechanisms. Antitumor activities of oncolytic NDV were assessed by cell proliferation (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release analysis. In addition, molecular changes of early stage of apoptosis and the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed by flow cytometry and Western Blot in NDV-treated TC-1 cells. The results showed that NDV treatment significantly decreased the viability of a TC-1 cell line and suppressed the growth by inducing apoptotic cell death. In addition, we demonstrated that NDV-induced apoptosis of TC-1 cells is mediated by ROS production. In summary, our findings suggest that oncolytic NDV is a possible therapeutic candidate as a selective antitumor agent for the treatment of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droughts, floods, and dust storms have increased the vulnerability of farm families in developing countries. Well-timed and effective interventions could reduce vulnerability to natural hazards. However, the adoption of adaptive strategies is significantly influenced by the farmers' viewpoints about the causes and effects of natural hazards and their perceived capacity to deal with these crises. This study employed the Q methodology to investigate farmers' viewpoints on vulnerability and adaptation to natural hazards in the Sistan Plain, Iran. The Q-sort procedure was conducted with the participation of 29 farmers, and the qmethod package in R software was used to analyze the Q-factor. The results revealed four types of perceptions regarding vulnerability and adaptation to natural hazards: passive-oriented, pragmatic activists, consequentialists, and change-averse. Different viewpoints demonstrate that farmers have divergent opinions regarding vulnerability and adaptation to natural hazards. Identifying these viewpoints can provide useful information for policymaking and the scaling up of specific adaptive strategies for each group, which can eventually enhance farmers' resilience to natural disasters. • Natural hazards are integral parts of the relationships between Sistan farmers and the environment. • The Q methodology is helpful in identifying farmers' perceptions of vulnerability and adaptation to natural hazards. • Q-factor analysis revealed four types of perceptions regarding vulnerability and adaptation to natural hazards: passive-oriented, pragmatic activists, consequentialists, and change-averse. • Identifying farmers' viewpoints facilitates the scaling up of specific adaptive strategies for each group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixing of Al 2 O 3, superactive carbon (SAC), and Si-ZIF-8 nanoparticles in alkanol amine solvents with aqueous and hybrid context were used to study the absorption of carbon dioxide. Hybrid-based nanofluids composed of aqueous N - methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) + Sulfolane (SFL) + small amount of nano particles including- γ -Al 2 O 3 , Si-ZIF-8 and SAC in three concentrations levels, were prepared by weighting each components. The Zeta potential of suspensions was found that γ -Al 2 O 3 , Si-ZIF-8 and super activated carbon is stable in aqueous solvents. Absorption measurements were performed using the static method at a temperature of T = 313.15 K, gas partial pressure ranges up to about 1.2 MPa, nanoparticle concentrations of 0.02 – 0.50 by weight percent, and fixed concentration of MDEA (40 wt%) and SFL (30 wt%). It was found that in the hybrid context (i.e., MDEA 40 wt% + SFL 30 wt%), the addition of γ -Al 2 O 3 (0.1 wt%), Si-ZIF-8 (0.02 wt%) and SAC (0.1 wt%) has maximum effect on CO 2 absorption. In aqueous context (i.e., MDEA 40 wt%), nanofluids used in the present study have no significant effect on CO 2 capacity. The importance of the addition of SFL in nanofluids was discussed, and the experimental solubility data was modeled using Genetic Programming approach. Average absolute relative deviation (AARD), Coefficient of determination R 2, as well as Root mean square error (RMSE) were 10.43% & 8.94%, 0.985 & 0.983, 0.051 & 0.054 for training and validating data, respectively. It is found that the determined parameters give satisfactory predictions in the modeling of the solubility. • Improving the CO2 capture up to 27.5% by adding Super Active Carbon in aqueous Sulfolane+MDEA. • Improving the CO2 capture up to 50% by adding Si-Zif8 in aqueous Sulfolane+MDEA. • Improving the CO2 capture up to 30% by adding gamma-Alumina in aqueous Sulfolane+MDEA. • A new mathematical equation for predicting CO2 solubility in the presence of all three gas-liquid-solid phases via genetic programming method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nonlinear refractive index is proposed as a useful indicator for cell damage detection. • Z-scan technique can be used as an auxiliary technique for cytotoxicity assessments. • Z-scan technique also enables to determine whether or not a nanocomplex is internalized into the cells. • This technique may be considered by the nano-bio-technologists as a rapid and inexpensive endpoint test. Current methods for determining the cellular effects of a treatment modality need expensive materials and much time to provide a researcher with results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of nonlinear optical characteristics of cancer cells using Z-scan technique to monitor the level of cellular uptake and cell damage caused by a nanotechnology based treatment modality. Two nanocomplexes were synthesized and characterized. The first one was made of alginate hydrogel co-loaded with cisplatin and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) named as ACA nanocomplex. The second one, named as AA nanocomplex, was the same as ACA, but without cisplatin and this AA nanocomplex was considered as the control for ACA. Different groups of CT26 mouse colon cancer cell line received various treatments of cisplatin, ACA, and AA nanocomplexes and then the samples were prepared for Z-scan studies. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity induced by different treatment modalities. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were used for qualitative and quantitative assessments of the level of AuNPs cellular uptake. The trend of nonlinear optical properties changes for treated cells was in agreement with MTT, TEM and ICP-MS results. Z-scan technique was able to successfully indicate the occurrence of cell damage. It was also capable to determine the intensity of cell damage induced by ACA nanocomplex in comparison to free cisplatin. Furthermore, Z-scan results showed that it was able to discriminate the differences of optical properties of the cells incubated with ACA nanocomplex for various incubation times. Nonlinear optical characteristics of a cell may be considered as a reliable indicator to predict the level of cellular effects induced by a nanotechnology based treatment modality. The protocol suggested in this article does not waste materials, not take much time to provide the results, and it is inexpensive technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria of the Pseudomonas putida group are studied for a large panel of properties ranging from plant growth promotion and bioremediation to pathogenicity. To date, most of the classification of individual pseudomonads from this group relies on 16S RNA gene analysis, which is insufficient for accurate taxonomic characterization within bacterial species complexes of the Pseudomonas putida group. Here, a collection of 20 of these bacteria, isolated from various soils, was assessed via multi-locus sequence analysis of rpoD , gyrB and rrs genes. The 20 strains clustered in 7 different clades of the P. putida group. One strain per cluster was sequenced and results were compared to complete genome sequences of type strains of the P. putida group. Phylogenetic analyses, average nucleotide identity data and digital DNA hybridizations, combined to phenotypic characteristics, resulted in the proposition and description of four new species i.e. Pseudomonas alloputida Kh7 T (= LMG 29756 T = CFBP 8484 T) sp. nov. , Pseudomonas inefficax JV551A3 T (= DSM108619 T = CFBP 8493 T) sp. nov. , Pseudomonas persica RUB6 T (= LMG 29757 T = CFBP 8486 T) sp. nov. and Pseudomonas shirazica VM14 T (= LMG 29953 T = CFBP 8487 T) sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Wettability of CO 2 -brine-mineral systems plays a vital role during geological CO 2 -storage. Residual trapping is lower in deep saline aquifers where the CO 2 is migrating through quartz rich reservoirs but CO 2 accumulation within a three-way structural closure would have a high storage volume due to higher CO 2 saturation in hydrophobic quartz rich reservoir rock. However, such wettability is only poorly understood at realistic subsurface conditions, which are anoxic or reducing. As a consequence of the reducing environment, the geological formations (i.e. deep saline aquifers) contain appreciable concentrations of various organic acids. We thus demonstrate here what impact traces of organic acids exposed to storage rock have on their wettability. Technically, we tested hexanoic acid, lauric acid, stearic acid and lignoceric acid and measured wettability as a function of organic acid concentration at realistic storage conditions (i.e. 25 MPa and 323 K (50 °C)). In addition, measurements were also conducted at ambient conditions in order to quantify the incremental pressure effect on wettability. Clearly, the quartz surface turned significantly less water-wet with increasing organic acid concentrations, even at trace concentrations. Importantly, we identified a threshold concentration at ˜10−6 M organic acid, above which quartz wetting behaviour shifts from strongly water-wet to an intermediate-wet state. This wettability shift may have important consequences for CO 2 residual trapping capacities, which may be significantly lower than for traditionally assumed water-wet conditions where CO 2 is migrating through quartz rich reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adipokines are associated with several oxidative stress-related diseases and pathologic conditions. We aimed to assess the association between antioxidants and adipokines in obese adults. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 160 obese women were included. Body composition and anthropometric characteristics were measured. Dietary intakes were assessed by 3-day, 24-h dietary recall. Blood samples were obtained following an overnight fasting. Serum concentrations of adipokines including progranulin, retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and Angiopoietin-related growth factor 6 (ANGPTL6) was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ANCOVA and the linear regression model analysis was performed to assess the relationship between Progranulin, RBP4, AnGPTL6, and antioxidants. Mean age of included women was 39.31 ± 12.10. Mean and standard deviation for BMI was 35.05 ± 4.26 in this obese population. There was a positive significant association between ANGPTL6 and vitamin D intake (p < 0.001). Also, there was a marginal association between RBP4 and vitamin A (p = 0.063) intake, but after adjustment age, and fat mass, we found a significant association (p = 0.008). However, the associations between dietary antioxidants, progranulin, and ANGPTL6 were not statistically significant. ANGPTL6 and RBP4 levels directly associated with dietary vitamins D and A intake, respectively. But, according to the results, the association between ANGPTL6 and vitamin D was bidirectional. The suggested associations probably can be useful in the development of interventional studies for management of chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Molecular Communication via Diffusion (MCvD) is a promising paradigm which enables nano-machines to communicate with each other. However, the reliability of existing communication systems degrades rapidly as the distance between the transmitters and the receivers grows. To solve this issue, relaying schemes must be implemented in practice. In this paper, we study two relaying schemes: In the first case, the relay node decodes the incoming signal symbol and forwards it to the receiver using a different types of molecules. Then, the receiver detects the information bits by only considering the molecules from the relay node. In the second case, the receiver considers both types of molecules sent from the transmitter and the relay node. Closed-form expression for the end-to-end bit error probability of the these two schemes are derived. Also, we obtain optimal relay location for both schemes. Moreover, we study the optimal threshold, concentration, baud-rate and timing offset to mitigate the overall Inter-Symbol Interference(ISI) and obtain maximum throughput in the relay network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In diffusion-based molecular communication simple modulation techniques based on the concentration, type, or released time of molecules are commonly used. However, random delay of the diffused molecules in environment can cause some strong inter-symbol interference (ISI) among consecutive symbols. Due to the limited computational capabilities of nano-machines, sophisticated modulation and coding schemes cannot be used to resolve this issue. In this paper, we propose several new, yet simple, ISI-resistant coding schemes for diffusion-based communications over a one-dimensional noiseless channel. These schemes map the information bits into variable length codewords and place time-gaps between the consecutive codewords to mitigate ISI issue. Our analytical and simulation results indicate that the proposed schemes provide superior performances in terms of probability of error and throughput compared to the existing schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The aim of this paper is to propose a new hybridized framework for analyzing the performance issues of a chemical process plant by utilizing uncertain, imprecise and vague information. In the proposed framework, Fuzzy Lambda–Tau (FLT) approach has been used for computing reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) parameters of the considered system. Further, for enhancing the RAM characteristics of the system, improved Fuzzy Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) approach is adopted. Under improved Fuzzy FMEA approach, defined Fuzzy linguistic rating values in the form of triangular and trapezoidal Fuzzy numbers have been assigned by the experts to each risk factor of the listed failure causes. The proposed framework is demonstrated with an industrial application in a chlorine production plant of a chemical process industry. The results show decreasing trend for system availability and deposition of solid Nacl, mechanical failure, corrosion due to wet chlorine, scanty lubrication, improper adsorption and valve malfunctioning are identified as the most critical failure causes for the considered system. A comparative performance analysis between the proposed framework, Fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (Fuzzy TOPSIS), Fuzzy evaluation based on distance from average solution (Fuzzy EDAS) and Fuzzy Vlse Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (Fuzzy VIKOR) are then carried out to show the competence of the proposed framework. It is expected that the analytical results would be highly useful in formulating an optimal maintenance policy for such complex systems and may also be used for improving performance of similar plants. Graphical abstract Highlights • A new hybridized framework for performance analysis has been proposed. • The proposed framework is tested in a Chlorine production plant. • Failure and repair time data for RAM analysis is used. • Risky components were identified for improving system's RAM parameters. • Comparative performance analysis has been done for testing the stability of proposed framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, deep learning has proven to be a successful technique especially in medical image analysis. This paper aims to highlight the importance of deep learning architectures in lung disease diagnosis using CXR images. Related articles were identified through searches of electronic resources, including IEEE, Springer, Elsevier, PubMed, Nature and, Hindawi digital library. The inclusion of articles was based on high-performance artificial intelligence models, developed for the classification of possible findings in CXR images published from 2018 to 2023. After the quality assessment of papers, 129 articles were included according to PRISMA guidelines. Papers were studied by types of lung disease, data source, algorithm type, and outcome metrics. Three main categories of computer-aided lung disease detection were covered: traditional machine learning, deep learning-based methods, and combination of aforementioned methods for all lung diseases. The results showed that various pre-trained networks including ResNet, VGG, and DenseNet, are the most frequently used CNN architectures and would result in a notable increase in sensitivity and accuracy. Recent research suggests that utilizing a combination of deep networks with a robust machine learning classifier can outperform deep learning approaches that rely solely on fully connected neural networks as their classifier. Finally, the limitations of the existing literature and potential future research opportunities in possible findings in CXR images using deep learning architectures are discussed in this systematic review. • A systematic review based on PRISMA framework on machine learning applications to analyze chest X-ray images. • Trends of architectures used in last 5 years. • Preprocessing and processing techniques used by the researchers. • Future trends and open problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most commonly affected area of the heart in penetrating chest trauma is the right ventricle. The occurrence of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) after penetrating trauma to the left chest has an incidence of 1% to 5%. We describe a 27-year-old man with a history of the surgical repair of right ventricular free-wall rupture due to a stab wound to the chest and a posterior muscular VSD, which was diagnosed with transthoracic echocardiography postoperatively. We closed the VSD with a symmetric occluder successfully. < Learning objective: Cardiac penetrating trauma is not always limited to the right ventricular free wall and may involve the cardiac valves, the heart septa, the coronary arteries, and the conduction system. Traumatic ventricular septal defect (VSDs) can be treated surgically or percutaneously with occluder devices. It appears that the device closure of this type of acquired VSD is a reasonable therapeutic choice, especially in patients with a history of recent cardiac surgery for the repair of right ventricular free wall rupture.> [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Metabolically Healthy Obese (MHO) is called to obese people that their insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles and inflammatory profiles are favorable, and there are no signs of hypertension and cardio-metabolic diseases. The metabolically unhealthy obese (MUHO) is the opposite. A Body Shape Index (ABSI) is a marker to identifying abdominal obesity that is derived from weight, height and waist circumference (WC). Several studies have reported ABSI is associated with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension and higher mortality rate. Materials and methods A total of 305 overweight and obese women were included in the current comparative cross-sectional study. Body composition was measured using body composition analyzer. Blood samples were obtained. The usual food intake of evaluated through the use of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Results The results of this study revealed that there is a significant relationship between ABSI and MHO and MUHO (p = 0.04) and area under the ROC curve was 0.60. Also there is a significant relationship between BMI, fat mass index (FMI), free fat mass index (FFMI), neck circumference (NC), WC, fat mass (FM) and metabolic healthy status (MHS). The largest area under the ROC curve belonged to NC, WC, FM and BMI (0.66). Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that there is a significant relationship between ABSI, BMI, FMI, FFMI, NC, WC, FM and MHS. The largest area under the ROC curve was related to the NC, WC, FM and BMI not ABSI, that means NC, WC, FM and BMI have maximum sensitivity and specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex and unique production mechanism of CBM has been examined extensively; however, production from such reservoirs requires more investigation to be well-understood, predicted and enhanced. This study is aimed at probing the significance of some controlling parameters on CBM performance by a statistical approach. The relative impact of five CBM reservoir parameters (reservoir pressure, cleat permeability and porosity, Young's modulus and Langmuir pressure) on the performance of natural depletion as well as Enhanced Coalbed Methane (ECBM) were numerically investigated. Recovery factor (RF) for primary depletion and ECBM, original gas in place (OGIP) and CO 2 storage were the investigated responses. In order to conduct the research, a synthetic CBM reservoir model was constructed using a commercial reservoir simulator. Since the effects of reservoir parameters on CBM production are quite complicated, it was intended to explore the potential interaction effects between the parameters along with the relative impact of each parameter. Therefore, a professional statistical software, Design Expert, was selected to determine the parameters' effects. The results show that while recovery factor value in primary recovery has positive correlations with all of the five parameters, cleat permeability and Langmuir pressure play the most significant roles. For ECBM by CO 2 injection, cleat permeability has the most significant effect on recovery factor measure, followed by cleat porosity. The predicted model for ECBM recovery factor suggests that Young's modulus, opposite to the primary recovery condition, has an adverse relationship with RF and the cleat porosity-permeability interaction has a considerable negative effect on RF measure. The predicted coalbed methane OGIP model proposes that in comparison with pressure and Langmuir pressure, the relative impacts of the other three parameters are negligible. Furthermore, results reveal that CO 2 storage is positively affected by cleat porosity and permeability, and negatively affected by Young's modulus and Langmuir pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To conduct a systematic review, including meta-analysis, of published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of cumin to determine the effect on anthropometric and metabolic indices in overweight and/or type 2 diabetics, relative to controls. Methods Studies were identified by a search of electronic databases before December 2017. Combined and stratified analyses were used. Results Seven trials were identified, and data from 412 subjects were included. Pooled analysis showed improvements in bodyweight, body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) by −1.74 kg, −0.67 kg/m 2 and −17.82 mg/dL respectively. Significant findings were also observed in triglycerides (TG) [WMD: −21.23 (95% CI: −37.64 to −4.82; P < 0.001, I 2 = 92%)] and HDL-c (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) [WMD: 4.16 (95%CI: 3.30, 5.01; P < 0.001, I 2  = 82%)] following cumin intake. No changes were found in controls. Conclusions Cumin improves anthropometric and metabolic indices in overweight and/or type 2 diabetic subjects. The changes were related to the clinical condition and quality assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanophotonics research relies heavily on state-of-the-art and costly nano and microfabrication technologies. While such technologies are fairly mature, their implementation in large-scale manufacturing of photonic devices is not straightforward. This is a major roadblock for integrating nanophotonic functionalities, such as flat optics or high definition, ink-free color printing, into real life applications. In particular, optical metasurfaces – nanoscale textured surfaces with engineered optical properties – hold great potential for a myriad of such applications. Digital laser printing has recently been introduced as a low-cost lithography solution, which allows the fabrication of high-resolution features on optical substrates. By exploiting resonant opto-thermal modification of individual nanoscale elements, laser printing can achieve nanometer-sized resolution. In addition, the concept of digital resonant laser printing at the nanoscale supports mass-customization and may therefore convert nanophotonic science into everyday consumer products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]