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Computational dosimetry has become the main tool for estimating induced electric fields within brain tissues in transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) which is recently attracting the attention of researches for motor function disturbances such as Parkinson’s disease. This paper investigates the effect of including or excluding the very thin meninges in computing tDCS electric fields using CST software. For this purpose, two models of the brain with and without meninges were used to induce electric field with two DC current electrodes (2 mA) in regions of the model referring to M1 and Prefrontal Cortex (FP2) similar to tDCS. Considering meninges, the results have shown differences in the induced field showing that there might be problems with conventional models in which meninges are not taken into account.

SUMMARY A practical application of 'beam on nonlinear Winkler foundation' approach has been utilized in this paper for a case study on seismic performance of concrete shear wall frames to assess the soil-foundation-structure interaction effects. A set of 3-, 6-, 10- and 15-story concrete shear wall frames located on hypothetically soft, medium and hard soils were designed and modeled using the OpenSees platform. The numerical model of each frame was constructed employing the distributed and lumped plasticity elements as well as the flexure-shear interaction displacement-based beam-column elements incorporating the soil-footing interface. Pushover analysis was performed, and the results were studied through two code-based viewpoints: (a) force-based design and (b) performance-based design. A comparison was made afterwards between the frame behaviors in the fixed-/flexible-base conditions. The results indicate some degree of inaccuracy in the fixed-base assumption, which is regularly applied in analysis and design practice. The study emphasizes on how the fixed-base assumption overestimates the design of the wall element and underestimates the design of the connected moment frame. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Early excision and grafting (E&G) of burn wounds has been reported to decrease hospital stay, hospital costs and septic complications, and some purport reduced mortality while decreasing hospital costs. In today''s practice, all burn wounds unlikely to achieve spontaneous closure within 3 weeks are excised and grafted. Early studies did not demonstrate dramatic differences in cosmetic or functional results. This is particularly true with burns of the face, hands and feet. In this study, early excision and skin grafting was compared with delayed skin grafting in deep hand burns. Materials and methods: From September 2006 to February 2008, 50 patients with hand burns and average burn size less than 30% total body surface area (TBSA) deep second- and third-degree were randomly divided into early E&G group (group I) and delayed grafting group (group II). Gradual and careful limb and digit range of motion was started on about 10th–14th postoperative day. We used a questionnaire based on the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire to evaluate final functional outcome. Further, hypertrophic scar formation, contracture and deformities were followed and managed accordingly. Results: The most common site of involvement was the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint with frequency of 39% and 40% in groups I and II, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups regarding deformity severity, scar formation, sensation, major activities and overall satisfaction. Discussion: In treating burns of the hand, the primary goal should always be to restore the functionality of the hand. Although early surgery shortens the healing time and lessens the hospital stay, our results did not show any significant difference between these two methods regarding the function, scar formation, daily activity limitation and overall satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct observation of tumor-immune interactions is unlikely in tumors with currently available technology, but computational simulations based on clinical data can provide insight to test hypotheses. It is hypothesized that patterns of collagen evolve as a mechanism of immune escape, but the exact nature of immune-collagen interactions is poorly understood. Spatial data quantifying collagen fiber alignment in squamous cell carcinomas indicates that late-stage disease is associated with highly aligned fibers. Our computational modeling framework discriminates between two hypotheses: immune cell migration that moves (1) parallel or (2) perpendicular to collagen fiber orientation. The modeling recapitulates immune-extracellular matrix interactions where collagen patterns provide immune protection, leading to an emergent inverse relationship between disease stage and immune coverage. Here, computational modeling provides important mechanistic insights by defining a kernel cell-cell interaction function that considers a spectrum of local (cell-scale) to global (tumor-scale) spatial interactions. Short-range interaction kernels provide a mechanism for tumor cell survival under conditions with strong Allee effects, while asymmetric tumor-immune interaction kernels lead to poor immune response. Thus, the length scale of tumor-immune interaction kernels drives tumor growth and infiltration., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To investigate sex, racial, and ethnic disparities in patient enrollment across cataract trials registered in the United States., Setting: Participants enrolled in high-quality (reduced risk of bias), U.S.-registered (on ClinicalTrials.gov ), cataract-related randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RCTs must be completed, have used double or greater masking, and have published results through the registry or a scholarly journal., Design: Cross-sectional database study., Methods: Trial (study sponsor country, study site location, trial initiation year, study phase, and study masking) and demographic data (sex, race, and ethnicity according to U.S. reporting guidelines) were collected. The Global Burden of Disease database provided sex-based cataract disease burdens. Pooled participation-to-prevalence ratios (PPRs) with 95% CIs were calculated for female sex, with values between 0.8 and 1.2 constituting sufficient study enrollment. Kruskal-Wallis tests (α = 0.05) with subsequent post hoc comparisons were used to evaluate demographic representations stratified by trial characteristics., Results: From 864 records, 100 clinical trials (N = 67 874) were identified, of which 97 (N = 67 697) reported sex demographics with a pooled female PPR of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.85-0.94). Of the 67 697 total participants, the absolute female enrollment was 19 062 (28.16%). Ethnicity and race were reported in 9 (N = 1792) and 26 trials (N = 23 181), respectively. Among trials that reported race, most were White (N = 19 574; 84.44%)., Conclusions: High-quality, U.S.-registered, cataract trials enrolled acceptable proportions of women. However, the absolute number of female and racialized participants was low. Race and ethnicity were underreported. Disparity trends predominately held across secondary variables. To promote generalizability, future trials should pursue equitable demographic enrollment., (Copyright © 2024 Published by Wolters Kluwer on behalf of ASCRS and ESCRS.)

Single quantum emitters embedded in solid-state hosts are an ideal platform for realizing quantum information processors and quantum network nodes. Among the currently investigated candidates, Er^{3+} ions are particularly appealing due to their 1.5  μm optical transition in the telecom band as well as their long spin coherence times. However, the long lifetimes of the excited state-generally in excess of 1 ms-along with the inhomogeneous broadening of the optical transition result in significant challenges. Photon emission rates are prohibitively small, and different emitters generally create photons with distinct spectra, thereby preventing multiphoton interference-a requirement for building large-scale, multinode quantum networks. Here we solve this challenge by demonstrating for the first time linear Stark tuning of the emission frequency of a single Er^{3+} ion. Our ions are embedded in a lithium niobate crystal and couple evanescently to a silicon nanophotonic crystal cavity that provides a strong increase of the measured decay rate. By applying an electric field along the crystal c axis, we achieve a Stark tuning greater than the ion's linewidth without changing the single-photon emission statistics of the ion. These results are a key step towards rare earth ion-based quantum networks.

Inflammatory bowel diseases including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in stools, weight loss, and fatigue. It presents in patients with varying severity from mild to severe depending on the inflammation. Detailed analysis and guidelines are required for the safe usage of biological therapies in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases as surgery is reserved for more complex cases. There is also geographical variation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence and prevalence based on environmental and climate changes, and socio-demographics. Studies also show that there is more hospitalization and reduced health-related quality of life in IBD patients when compared to normal people. We conducted an extensive literature database search for articles with keywords within the last 10 years on adults >18 years of age with IBD and its treatment, especially with ustekinumab. Ustekinumab is a human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) kappa monoclonal antibody, that blocks IL-12 and IL-23 and was approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate to severe IBD, especially in patients who are intolerant to immunomodulators or corticosteroids treatment. There are several retrospective studies that show the effectiveness of ustekinumab dosage escalation every four weeks in IBD patients. This escalation of dose not only improved the clinical outcome but also reduced the worsening of the disease. Previous studies also show the importance of considering dosage escalation before switching biological agents in the IBD treatment. Ustekinumab has also demonstrated both efficacy and safety in the induction and maintenance of the treatment of this disease. There are certain challenges and opportunities associated with ustekinumab usage in IBD patients that require further research. Ustekinumab seems to be more cost-effective in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-inhibitor failure population when compared to previously used biological treatment regimes., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Gara et al.)

Aims: We conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) to determine the effects of low-dose (20 mg/day or less) conventional statin therapy (CST) and high-dose (40 mg/day or more) intensive statin therapy (IST) on the frequency of Tregs and their associated cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-10, TGF-β) compared with control., Methods and Results: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases were searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to identify relevant articles published until June 2021. We pooled data extracted from the included studies using the standardized mean difference (SMD). A random-effects model was used to conduct this NMA. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran's Q test and the I2 test. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) was used to assess the quality of the study. Data analysis was conducted using R software.A total of 505 patients were enrolled in the five RCTs. NMA indicated a significant increase in Treg frequency in the CST group compared with the control group (SMD 1.77; 95% CI: 0.77-2.76; P = 0.0005) and a larger increase in the Treg frequency associated with the IST group compared with the control group (SMD 2.12; 95% CI: 1.15-3.10; P-value < 0.0001). However, there was significant heterogeneity and inconsistency among the included studies [τ2 = 0.6096; τ = 0.7808; I2 = 91.2% (80.5%; 96.0%)]. When compared with control, both CST and IST increased the levels of secreted IL-10 (SMD 2.69; 95% CI: 2.07-3.31; P-value < 0.0001 and SMD 2.14; 95% CI: 1.76-2.52; P-value < 0.0001). Compared with the control group, CST was associated with increased levels of TGF-β (SMD 3.83; 95% CI: 0.63-7.0; P-value = 0.0189); this association was not seen in the IST group. IFN-γ levels decreased significantly in both the IST and CST groups (SMD -1.52; 95% CI: -1.94-1.10; P-value < 0.0001 and SMD -2.34; 95% CI: -2.73-1.95; P-value < 0.0001, respectively)., Conclusion: The findings of our study indicated that both high- and low-dose statin groups increased Treg frequency compared with the control group. IST demonstrated greater benefits than CST. Furthermore, statin therapy increased IL-10 and TGF-β levels and decreased IFN-γ levels. Overall, these results have significant implications for patients with ACS who would benefit from Treg-induced immunomodulatory balance., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

An increasing corpus of data demonstrated the disruptive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food consumption habits, particularly food waste, but the Balkan area is often overlooked. Accordingly, this study investigates the immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer knowledge and reported behaviours linked to food waste in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research was based on an online survey with 2425 participants using the Google forms platform from 10 April to 10 May 2020. This period coincided with the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Consumers' behaviours regarding where and how often they buy food, their attitude towards food labels, food provision and particularly the amounts and values of food waste and how they handle it were investigated. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics methods, and the significance of the association between variables was determined using nonparametric and multivariate statistical tests. The study's findings revealed that (i) Bosnia has a low rate of household food waste and a favourable attitude towards food waste prevention, (ii) the majority of the respondents are familiar with the most common expiry labels, notably 'use by' and 'best before' and (iii) consumers adjusted their buying and consumption patterns due to the pandemic. The findings of this research are essential for developing evidence-based policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the post-pandemic recovery period since they are unique to that country. Indeed, the crisis' lessons and insights may be used to help move towards more sustainable consumption habits.

This research aims to determine the influence of COVID-19 on consumer knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to food waste in Iran. From April 24 to May 24, 2020, an online survey was conducted in Iran with a standard questionnaire delivered in Persian. Descriptive statistics and various non-parametric tests were used to analyse the survey results. The results reveal significant changes in how consumers shop and interact with food, with implications on household food wastage. Indeed, according to the survey findings: (i) Iran's households have a positive attitude toward reducing food waste; (ii) food waste dropped during the pandemic; (iii) consumers made fewer shopping trips and spent less on groceries during the pandemic; (iv) food waste did not increase during the month of Ramadan. The survey results provide valuable insights to reduce food wastage and address food security risks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. The paper results contribute to a better understanding of food waste management behaviours and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, which is paramount to designing effective, efficient, and sustainable recovery plans and policies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Background: To determine the mid-term outcomes of conventional cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) in patients with avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head and compare to patients with primary hip osteoarthritis (OA)., Method: A total of 330 consecutive primary THA procedures (AVN and OA) performed between 2010 and 2013 by a single surgeon and in a single center using the direct anterior approach (DAA) were included. Assessments including SF-36, WOMAC, and Harris Hip Scores (HHS) were retrieved from patients before the surgery and at the latest follow-up. Clinical and functional outcomes were compared between the AVN and OA groups., Results: A total of 294 consecutive THA (AVN = 107, OA = 187) with 104.4 ± 6.2 months follow-up were analyzed, which AVN patients were significantly younger (32.0 vs. 59.6 y/o). Corticosteroid 34 (31.8%), idiopathic AVN 31 (29.0%) and use of unapproved weight gain supplements (UWGS) 23 (21.5%) were the main reasons for AVN. Despite that preoperative scores were comparable ( P  > 0.05), the HHS, SF-36, and WOMAC scores are significantly higher in the AVN group after THA surgery ( P  < 0.05). Moreover, flexion and abduction ROM were significantly higher in the AVN group ( P  < 0.05). Regarding each complication, no significant difference was observed between groups. In the whole sample, there were 5 (1.7%) revisions due to loosening of acetabular components, all the OA group ( P  > 0.05)., Conclusion: Conventional cementless THA with highly cross-linked polyethylene provides satisfactory mid-term results in patients with AVN with a low rate of postoperative complications. Compared to primary OA patients, this group reaches superior postoperative scores., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 Delhi Orthopedic Association. All rights reserved.)

Patient engagement (PE) is a well-known strategy introduced and implemented by pharmaceutical and medical device companies for patient compliance and adherence to treatment protocols during clinical trials and care processes. This can affect a wider range of outcomes such as the quality of treatment decisions and quality of care outcomes. Few studies have paid attention to it. The involvement of patient is one of the crucial stakeholders of health care in their treatment that makes controversial opinions about the potential outcomes of their engagement in various aspects of healthcare. This scoping review was conducted in 2022 to collect the results of PE. The search was performed in the MEDLINE and Web of Sciences databases. The selected documents were categorized and reported by the direct content analysis method. Out of 3974 published documents, 17 articles were selected. Findings are categorized into 4 groups: (1) Health outcome, (2) patient compliance, (3) self-efficiency, and (4) return on investment. PE can improve both treatment outcomes and consequently patient satisfaction and health, as well as the productivity of the service provider. However, increasing self-care and patient adherence are among the positive effects of this engagement on the patient, and return on investment is still a challenge for PE., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Studies show that regularly consuming whole grains reduce the risk of obesity and a wide range of chronic diseases. Despite this, studies reveal that students are consuming fewer whole grains. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the barriers to the consumption of whole grains among Iranian students. This cross-sectional study examined students at Fasa, Iran in 2020-2021. The online questionnaires were completed by students after receiving informed consent. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26 and Chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression (P &gt; 0.05). The current study involved 1890 students (1287 (68.1%) girls and 603 (31.9%) boys). Despite the preference for white flour bread among 53.8% of all students, 77.4% ate other whole-grain products, and 75.2% consumed all products at least once a week. Additionally, barriers such as access issues (70.5%), family supply issues (91.8%), lack appeal (72.8%), non-consumption by classmates (96.2%), and high prices in recent years (43.9%) were identified as obstacles to whole grain consumption. Furthermore, white bread eating students had significantly lower appetite levels and tended to eat fast food more often than those who ate whole grains (P &lt; 0.05). We found that slightly more than half of the participants preferred to eat bread prepared with refined flour. Several other factors, including lack of access, lack of attractiveness, product price, parents not purchasing whole-grain products, students not paying attention to nutrition labels, peers' effect, and eating with friends instead of family, also contribute to students avoiding whole-grain products., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: COVID-19 is associated with several risk factors such as distinct ethnicities (genetic ancestry), races, sexes, age, pre-existing comorbidities, smoking, and genetics. The authors aim to evaluate the correlation between variability in the host genetics and the severity and susceptibility towards COVID-19 in this study., Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we retrieved all the relevant articles published until September 15, 2021, from two online databases: PubMed and Scopus., Findings: High-risk HLA haplotypes, higher expression of ACE polymorphisms, and several genes of cellular proteases such as TMPRSS2, FURIN, TLL-1 increase the risk of susceptibility and severity of COVID-19. In addition, upregulation of several genes encoding for both innate and acquired immune systems proteins, mainly CCR5, IFNs, TLR, DPPs, and TNF, positively correlate with COVID-19 severity. However, reduced expression or polymorphisms in genes affecting TLR and IFNλ increase COVID-19 severity., Conclusion: Higher expression, polymorphisms, mutations, and deletions of several genes are linked with the susceptibility, severity, and clinical outcomes of COVID-19. Early treatment and vaccination of individuals with genetic predisposition could help minimize the severity and mortality associated with COVID-19., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this scoping review was to review survey instruments for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and provide recommendations to construct a tool for PROMs specifically for breast cancer patients who have undergone surgery, to overcome the limitations of existing validated tools. A total of 924 articles were screened. Nine articles were selected based on the eligibility criteria. We found that PROMs' data collection along with advancements in the treatment of breast cancer and the resultant improved clinical outcomes, there is a growing appreciation and focus on improving patients' quality of life (QoL). Previous studies have shown that the assessment of PROMs is linked to a positive effect on patients' symptoms of distress, quality of life, acceptance, and satisfaction. Several PROMs tools have been validated for use in cancer survivors. However, it is unclear whether existing tools are appropriate for use in breast cancer patients who have undergone surgical treatment. Hence, we conducted a scoping review. Following a review of the current PROM related to breast cancer and the necessity to build specialized PROMs related to the outcomes of breast cancer surgery, we provide recommendations for the development of a comprehensive tool to overcome the limitations of existing PROMs tools., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Marzban et al.)

End-of-life medical services in the form of Hospice or Palliative care were initiated in the middle of 1900 in order to comfort the dying patients and support their families. There are a lot of similarities and differences between the two services. Many healthcare providers, including physicians, physician assistants, and nurses, are not fully trained or have comprehensive knowledge of these two types of end-of-life medical care. Through this paper, we aim to provide a thorough review of Hospice and Palliative care for internist and primary care physicians both in terms of indications or eligibility criteria; the similarities and differences between the two types of care; factors that disqualify an enrolled patient; and lastly, the role or use of Hospice and palliative care during COVID-19 pandemic., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)

Background: Patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present with various clinical presentations with majority of them developing pulmonary complications. This study focuses on cardiac implications of COVID-19 which are less discussed and thus will help to address cardiac implications of COVID-19., Methods: PubMed, PubMed Central, and Google Scholar were screened for articles which mentioned cardiac implications of COVID-19. NHLBI Study Quality Assessment Tools for the observational cohort and cross-sectional studies was used for assessing the risk of bias of our studies., Results: All 14 studies selected were good and had score of ≥9 by NHLBI Study Quality Assessment Tools. Cardiac complications of COVID-19 are common. They are associated with significant mortality. Also, people infected with COVID-19 with premorbid conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus have poor prognosis as compared to those without premorbid conditions. Cardiac biomarkers such as highly sensitive troponin I, creatinine, and creatinine kinase-MB on admission are good prognostic markers., Conclusions: Cardiac complications such as heart failure, myocardial injury, and arrhythmias are common among patients infected with COVID-19. Elevated cardiac markers and patients with cardiac complications require utmost care and continuous cardiac monitoring., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Rajaram Khanal et al.)

Paxlovid is a promising, orally bioavailable novel drug for SARS-CoV-2 with excellent safety profiles. Our main goal here is to explore the pharmacometric features of this new antiviral. To provide a detailed assessment of Paxlovid, we propose a hybrid multiscale mathematical approach. We demonstrate that the results of the present in silico evaluation match the clinical expectations remarkably well: on the one hand, our computations successfully replicate the outcome of an actual in vitro experiment; on the other hand, we verify both the sufficiency and the necessity of Paxlovid's two main components (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) for a simplified in vivo case. Moreover, in the simulated context of our computational framework, we visualize the importance of early interventions and identify the time window where a unit-length delay causes the highest level of tissue damage. Finally, the results' sensitivity to the diffusion coefficient of the virus is explored in detail.

Recently, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and their derivative exosome have become a promising approach in the context of liver diseases therapy, in particular, acute liver failure (ALF). In addition to their differentiation into hepatocytes in vivo, which is partially involved in liver regeneration, MSCs support liver regeneration as a result of their appreciated competencies, such as antiapoptotic, immunomodulatory, antifibrotic, and also antioxidant attributes. Further, MSCs-secreted molecules inspire hepatocyte proliferation in vivo, facilitating damaged tissue recovery in ALF. Given these properties, various MSCs-based approaches have evolved and resulted in encouraging outcomes in ALF animal models and also displayed safety and also modest efficacy in human studies, providing a new avenue for ALF therapy. Irrespective of MSCs-derived exosome, MSCs-based strategies in ALF include administration of native MSCs, genetically modified MSCs, pretreated MSCs, MSCs delivery using biomaterials, and also MSCs in combination with and other therapeutic molecules or modalities. Herein, we will deliver an overview regarding the therapeutic effects of the MSCs and their exosomes in ALF. As well, we will discuss recent progress in preclinical and clinical studies and current challenges in MSCs-based therapies in ALF, with a special focus on in vivo reports., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions worldwide with a high mortality rate due to a lack of definitive treatment. Despite having a wide range of clinical features, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has emerged as the primary cause of mortality in these patients. Risk factors and comorbidities like advanced age with limited lung function, pre-existing diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity have increased the risk for severe COVID-19 infection. Rise in inflammatory markers like transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 and 7 (MMP-1, MMP-7), along with collagen deposition at the site of lung injury, results in extensive lung scarring and fibrosis. Anti-fibrotic drugs, such as Pirfenidone and Nintedanib, have emerged as potential treatment options for post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. A lung transplant might be the only life-saving treatment. Despite the current advances in the management of COVID-19, there is still a considerable knowledge gap in the management of long-term sequelae in such patients, especially concerning pulmonary fibrosis. Follow up on the current clinical trials and research to test the efficacy of various anti-inflammatory drugs is needed to prevent long-term sequelae early mortality in these patients., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Mohammadi et al.)

This paper aims to study the perceptions of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on behaviors related to diet and food shopping on a sample of 356 adults in Oman. The study is based on the results of an Arabic-language online survey conducted between September 15 and October 10, 2020, using the Survey Monkey platform. The questionnaire had 25 questions (multiple options and one option), subdivided into three parts. Respondents were asked to disseminate the survey to their networks as part of the study's snowball sampling method. Descriptive statistics and various statistical tests (e.g., U-Mann Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, chi-square) have been used to evaluate the study results. The study showed a significant shift in the attitude and behavior of respondents regarding food and health. Indeed, the paper findings indicated (i) a shift to healthier diets, as shown by the fact that 45.5% of the participants increased their intake of fruits and vegetables, 42.4% ate more healthy foods, and 53.1% reduced their intake of unhealthy foods; (ii) an increase in the consumption of local products, owing to food safety concerns, with 25.8% of the cohort stating that they purchase more local food items; (iii) a shift in grocery shopping behaviors, especially with 28.1% of the participants buying more groceries online; (iv) the absence of panic buying in Oman, since 62.36% of the participants said they did not stockpile food items; and (v) a reduction of food waste. Indeed, 78.9% of the participants specified they were not wasting more food than average since the beginning of the pandemic, and 74.72% indicated they were more aware of how much food they were wasting. Surprisingly, COVID-19 appears to bring many beneficial adjustments in Oman to make food consumption more sustainable and healthier., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ben Hassen, El Bilali, Allahyari, Al Samman and Marzban.)

We argue that long optical storage times are required to establish entanglement at high rates over large distances using memory-based quantum repeaters. Triggered by this conclusion, we investigate the 795.325  nm^{3} H&#95;{6}↔^{3}H&#95;{4} transition of Tm:Y&#95;{3}Ga&#95;{5}O&#95;{12} (Tm:YGG). Most importantly, we find that the optical coherence time can reach 1.1 ms, and, using laser pulses, we demonstrate optical storage based on the atomic frequency comb protocol during up to 100  μs as well as a memory decay time T&#95;{m} of 13.1  μs. Possibilities of how to narrow the gap between the measured value of T&#95;{m} and its maximum of 275  μs are discussed. In addition, we demonstrate multiplexed storage, including with feed-forward selection, shifting and filtering of spectral modes, as well as quantum state storage using members of nonclassical photon pairs. Our results show the potential of Tm:YGG for creating multiplexed quantum memories with long optical storage times, and open the path to repeater-based quantum networks with high entanglement distribution rates.

We propose a hybrid partial differential equation-agent-based (PDE-ABM) model to describe the spatio-temporal viral dynamics in a cell population. The virus concentration is considered as a continuous variable and virus movement is modelled by diffusion, while changes in the states of cells (i.e. healthy, infected, dead) are represented by a stochastic ABM. The two subsystems are intertwined: the probability of an agent getting infected in the ABM depends on the local viral concentration, and the source term of viral production in the PDE is determined by the cells that are infected. We develop a computational tool that allows us to study the hybrid system and the generated spatial patterns in detail. We systematically compare the outputs with a classical ODE system of viral dynamics, and find that the ODE model is a good approximation only if the diffusion coefficient is large. We demonstrate that the model is able to predict SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics, and replicate the output of in vitro experiments. Applying the model to influenza as well, we can gain insight into why the outcomes of these two infections are different., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Development of resistance to chemotherapy in cancer patients strongly effects the outcome of the treatment. Due to chemotherapeutic agents, resistance can emerge by Darwinian evolution. Besides this, acquired drug resistance may arise via changes in gene expression. A recent discovery in cancer research uncovered a third possibility, indicating that this phenotype conversion can occur through the transfer of microvesicles from resistant to sensitive cells, a mechanism resembling the spread of an infectious agent. We present a model describing the evolution of sensitive and resistant tumour cells considering Darwinian selection, Lamarckian induction and microvesicle transfer. We identify three threshold parameters which determine the existence and stability of the three possible equilibria. Using a simple Dulac function, we give a complete description of the dynamics of the model depending on the three threshold parameters. We also establish an agent based model as a spatial version of the ODE model and compare the outputs of the two models. We find that although the ODE model does not provide spatial information about the structure of the tumour, it is capable to determine the outcome in terms of tumour size and distribution of cell types. We demonstrate the possible effects of increasing drug concentration, and characterize the possible bifurcation sequences. Our results show that the presence of microvesicle transfer cannot ruin a therapy that otherwise leads to extinction, however it may doom a partially successful therapy to failure., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is defined as a disorder in which the mean Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (mPAP) is greater than 20 mmHg at rest. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is considered when mPAP is > 20 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is ⩾ 3 WU. PAH is a chronic progressive disease resulting in right heart failure and premature death. It is postulated to be due to an inactivating mutation of a gene named bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR2), whose predominant function is halting vascular proliferation. It has a lamentable prognosis if not rapidly diagnosed and adequately treated. Treatment of PAH has evolved in the past few decades since many related pathways and potential therapeutic targets have been explored. Parenteral prostanoids are the most effective therapeutic options for PAH. Epoprostenol is a synthetic analog of prostacyclin and a potent vasodilator that was Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved in December 1995 for intravenous use to treat PAH. It has also been used to treat different PAH subtypes, including connective tissue-related PAH like lupus and systemic sclerosis, congenital heart disease, and drug-induced PAH. It is effective in reducing mortality rates and improving survival rates. Although the use of Epoprostenol for PAH is challenging, it has been one of the most successful therapies used. In this manuscript, we review the pathophysiology of PAH and the risk stratification tool. We also discuss the mechanism of action of PAH-targeted therapies while focusing on the role of epoprostenol that has been investigated in many clinical trials. Finally, we discuss two ongoing clinical trials which highlight some potential therapeutic options., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2021, Mohammadi et al.)

Introduction: Adenotonsillectomy is the main treatment for symptomatic tonsillar hypertrophy with postoperative pain as the most common associated complication. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of gabapentin with that reported for acetaminophen on the postoperative pain of adenotonsillectomy in children., Materials and Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial, a total of 60 children within the age range of 7-15 years undergoing adenotonsillectomy were randomly allocated to two groups of gabapentin (n=30) and acetaminophen (n=30). The first group received a 10 mg/kg dose of gabapentin suspension preoperatively and placebo (suppository) after the intubation. The second group received a 40 mg/kg dose of acetaminophen suppository and placebo suspension simultaneous with that in the case group. Using the pain scale (based on the score of visual analog scale, prescribed drugs, dosage as well as incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h after the surgery. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22.0). A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups considering the pain scores at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h after the surgery. In addition, the trend of pain intensity statistically decreased within 0 to 24 h in both acetaminophen (P<0.001) and gabapentin (P<0.001) groups. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the postoperative incidence of nausea and vomiting., Conclusion: The obtained results of the present study showed that the administration of gabapentin and acetaminophen significantly reduced the postoperative pain of tonsillectomy and need for narcotics in these patients after the surgery. However, in this study, there was no particular reported superiority for any of the two groups in terms of the effects of gabapentin suspension and rectal acetaminophen.