Basic Characteristics Research Articles

Second ejaculation produces good quality sperm and blastocyst and decreases the rate of unexpected ICSI cycle: a propensity score-matched analysis

BackgroundSecond ejaculation can influence sperm quality which may define the first-line treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a second ejaculation in decreasing the unexpected intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) rate by a propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis.MethodsPatients who were projected to undergo IVF were included between January 2016 and November 2021 in this monocentric, retrospective analysis. 2782 patients included in the study, 143 and 2639 patients were non-randomized in the unexpected ICSI and IVF groups, respectively. One hundred fourteen patients with unexpected ICSI produced two semen samples on the day of ovum pick-up. After 1:4 PSM, we matched 61 patients in the second ejaculation IVF group to 238 patients in the conventional IVF group. Outcomes of sperm quality, fertilization rate, embryo quality, and pregnancy were compared.ResultsSecond ejaculation significantly improved sperm concentration, progressive motility before and after sperm swim-up, total progressive motility sperm count after swim-up, and decreased sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). Sixty-one of 114 (53.5%) unexpected ICSI couples had enough total progressive motility sperm for IVF with the second ejaculation. There were no differences in basic clinical characteristics between couples in second ejaculation IVF and matched-conventional IVF group. For the two groups, no differences were observed in IVF outcomes. However, a significant increase in good-quality blastocyst rate was observed for second-ejaculation IVF couples. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis also confirmed that the second ejaculation was an independent risk factor for the good quality blastocyst rate.ConclusionSecond ejaculation could be an economical and secure alternative to get good quality sperm, and blastocyst and decrease the rate of unexpected ICSI. Multicenter studies should be conducted to confirm the potential advantages of using second ejaculation IVF in effectively reducing the rate of ICSI.

Plasma synthetic jet actuator array driven by a programmable triggered Marx high-voltage generator

A plasma synthetic jet (PSJ) actuator array driven by a self-triggered Marx high-voltage generator can simultaneously actuate multichannel PSJ actuators to form jet arrays; however, the discharge frequency cannot be controlled by programmable electrical signals. To address this, programmable high-voltage pulses are used to trigger a Marx high-voltage generator and regulate the discharge frequency of the PSJ actuator array. The electrode gap range for achieving a programmable triggered discharge is determined, and typical discharge images and basic discharge characteristics are obtained. The effects of trigger frequency and voltage amplitude on the discharge frequency are studied. The high-speed Schlieren technique is used to obtain flow-field characteristics of five-channel PSJ actuators under a programmable triggered state. The programmable triggered Marx high-voltage generator can achieve programmable control of the discharge frequency with an approximate linear control range of 10–30 Hz and a nonlinear saturation range of 30–100 Hz. In the approximate linear control range, the discharge frequency increases almost linearly with trigger frequency under different trigger voltage amplitudes. One of the channels of the five-channel synthetic jet actuators achieves the highest jet height and speed of 70 m/s, while those of the others are similar but slightly lower. There is no significant decrease in the jet height or speed of the five-channel PSJ actuators with the increase in the trigger frequency, which is beneficial for flow-control applications.

Prevalence and factors associated with medication adherence in children with central precocious puberty: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of medication adherence in children with central precocious puberty (CPP), and provide references for clinical practice. Methods: Children under 12years of age with CPP and their caregivers at a women's and children's hospital were selected for a cross-sectional study from February to May 2023, and a questionnaire was used to collect basic characteristics of pediatric patients and their caregivers, information of medication, cognition of medication, and medication adherence. The 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) was adopted to assess medication adherence, and the potential influencing factors were explored by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 125 valid questionnaires were collected. The medication adherence rate of children with CPP reported by caregivers was 76.0%. The univariate analysis showed that the percentage of parental caregivers (p = 0.027), the age of caregivers (p = 0.029), the education level of caregivers (p = 0.001), the financial burden (p < 0.000), the incidence of adverse effects (p = 0.008), and the cognition of medication including the importance of medication (p = 0.002), the dosage of medication (p = 0.002), the adverse effects of medication (p = 0.007), the harm of non-compliance with medication (p < 0.000), and the evaluation of the price of medication (p = 0.003) in the poor adherence group were significantly inferior to those in the better adherence group. The multivariate analysis showed that the higher incidence of adverse effects (p = 0.20), not understanding the harm of non-compliance with medication (p = 0.004), and evaluation of the price of medication as expensive (p = 0.043) were independent risk factors for poor medication adherence. Conclusion: Medication adherence in children with CPP is relatively better, and the factors leading to poor medication adherence are mainly on the caregivers of pediatric patients. It is recommended to increase the health education among caregivers of children with CPP to enhance the cognition of the condition and medication, and further improve the therapeutic efficacy for CPP.

Design and construction of a fraction collector for liquid chromatography

The aim of this work is to design and implement a fraction collector for liquid chromatography, a chemical method to separate the components of a mixture. A fraction collector is a piece of equipment that automatically collects each of the recovered fractions. The collector´s CAD model (Computer Assisted Design), based on a Cartesian-type system, is developed in Autodesk's FUSION360 software, in which a stress and strain study is also carried out using finite element analysis to rule out any possible structural failure. Subsequently, for its implementation, the different components of the designed CAD model were built using 3D printing. The developed system takes as input variables the number of samples to collect and the time that must elapse before changing the head to the next tube to collect the next sample. For this, a control system is implemented using the Arduino uno development board, which controls the movement in the X and Y axes of the Cartesian system through two stepper motors, as well as the user interface that consists of an LCD screen and a group of buttons that allow you to set the operating parameters and visualize the status of the equipment. The equipment designed has shown functionality like that of commercial equipment with basic characteristics, which allows obtaining precise samples efficiently and at a lower cost.

A multi-dimensional analysis of pollen broadcasting concerns in Chinese population: a large-scale multi-center cross-sectional survey

Objective: To investigate the concern about pollen broadcasting in Chinese population from multiple dimensions and to understand the information about allergic rhinitis (AR) in China by analyzing related factors. Methods: From March 1 to September 30, 2022, a large-scale multi-center cross-sectional survey was conducted based on the Questionnaire Star platform in 21 Chinese hospitals. A total of 7 056 subjects from 7 regions in China: Northeast, North, East, Central, South, Southwest, and Northwest China were included. Basic characteristics (including social demographic characteristics and disease characteristics of AR patients), concern about pollen broadcasting, the willingness of pollen-induced AR (PiAR) patients to receive pollen broadcasting, and the treatment satisfaction rate of AR patients were collected. The chi-square test, multivariate linear regression model, and Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the concern about pollen broadcasting in the Chinese population and related factors from multiple dimensions. Results: Among 7 056 subjects, 23.02% were concerned about pollen broadcasting. Among 3 176 self-reported AR and 1 019 PiAR patients, 25.60% and 39.16% were concerned about pollen broadcasting, respectively, which was higher than that of non-AR or non-PiAR subjects (χ2 value was 21.74 and 175.11, respectively, both P<0.001). Among AR patients, the proportion of spring and autumn allergen-positive patients concerned about pollen broadcasting was higher than that in perennial allergen-positive patients (χ2 value was 20.90 and 19.51, respectively, both P<0.001). The proportion of AR patients with asthma, sinusitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases was higher than those without complications (χ2 value was 50.83, 21.97, 56.78, 7.62, respectively, all P<0.05). The proportion of AR patients in North China who could find pollen broadcasting locally was 31.01%, significantly higher than those in other regions (all P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression model analysis showed that among PiAR patients, those with higher per capita household income and higher AR disease cognition levels had been concerned about pollen broadcasting in the past, and those complicated with allergic conjunctivitis had stronger intention to receive pollen broadcasting (B value was 0.24, 0.13, 0.66, 0.47, respectively, all P<0.05). The higher the disease cognition level of PiAR patients, the stronger their willingness to actively participate in treatment (R2=0.72, P<0.001). Only 18.89% of AR patients felt satisfied with the treatment effect. Logistic regression analysis showed that in AR patients, the treatment satisfaction rate was significantly higher among those concerned about pollen broadcasting compared to those who were not (OR=1.83, P<0.001). Conclusions: Currently, the dissemination of pollen broadcasting in China is hindered by various factors such as disease cognition level. The treatment satisfaction among AR patients remains unsatisfactory.

Early Diagnosis of Syndromic Congenital Cataracts in a Large Cohort of Congenital Cataracts

PurposeTo explore the factors related to the diagnosis yield of syndromic congenital cataracts and describe the phenotype-genotype correlation in congenital cataract patients. DesignProspective cohort study. MethodsSetting: The participants from underwent clinical examinations between 2021 and 2022. Facial and anterior eye segment photographs, pre-and post-operative ocular parameters, and medical and family histories were recorded. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using whole-exome sequencing data. Statistical and correlation analyses were performed using the basic characteristics, deep phenotype, and genotype data. Participants: 115 unrelated congenital cataract patients. Interventions: performing clinical examinations, whole-exome sequencing (WES) and bioinformatics analysis for all participants. Main outcomes and measures: Factors related to genetic diagnosis yield of syndromic congenital cataracts. ResultsBilaterally asymmetrical cataracts were identified associating with syndromic congenital cataracts. The overall genetic diagnostic yield in the cohort was 72.2%. 34.8% of the probands were early diagnosed as various syndromes with the help of genetic information. Phenotype-genotype correlation was detected for some genes and deep phenotypes. ConclusionsWe highlight the importance of screening syndromic diseases in the patients with asymmetrical congenital cataracts. Application of WES help provide early diagnosis and treatment for the patients with syndromic congenital cataracts. This study also achieved a high genetic diagnostic yield, expanded the genotypic spectrum, and found phenotype-genotype correlations. A comprehensive analysis of cataract symmetricity, family history, and deep phenotypes makes the genotype prediction of some congenital cataract patients possible.

The influence of sense of coherence on psychological birth trauma: a parallel mediation model based on health Salutogenesis theory.

Psychological birth trauma has been associated with a variety of negative consequences for mothers, partners, newborns, and midwives. While prior research has identified demographic and clinical factors that may contribute to the development of psychological birth trauma, interventions targeting these factors can prove challenging. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore how psychological birth trauma is influenced by psychosocial factors including Sense of Coherence, Childbirth-related Fear, Social Support and Childbirth Readiness. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 tertiary or secondary hospitals in mainland China from November 2021 to June 2022. One thousand three hundred and sixty-six women were recruited totally. Data regarding basic characteristics, Sense of Coherence (SOC, Sense of Coherence Scale-3), Childbirth-related Fear (CBRF, Fear of Childbirth Scale), Social Support (SS, Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey), Childbirth Readiness (CR, Childbirth Readiness Scale) and Psychological Birth Trauma (PBT, Psychological Birth Trauma Scale) were collected. Parallel mediation analysis was adopted to identify the underlying mechanisms between study variables. It was found that: (1) SOC has been found to have both direct and indirect effects on PBT. Women with higher level of SOC tend to report lower level of PBT; (2) the indirect effect of SOC on PBT was significantly exerted through CBRF, SS and CR; (3) CBRF was found to weaken the protective effect of SOC, whereas SS and CR were found to enhance it. No significant difference was found in contracts of the three specific indirect effects. SOC, CBRF, SS, and CR should be paid enough attention when designing intervention programs for women who might experience PBT. Interventions targeting SOC and CR are more likely to yield positive outcomes.

The relationship between physical activity, self-efficacy and quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors: a multicenter cross-sectional study

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the current situation and factors influencing physical activity, self-efficacy, and quality of life in Chinese colorectal cancer survivors. Additionally, this study explored the associations between physical activity, self-efficacy, and quality of life.MethodsA multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 173 colorectal cancer survivors with a mean age of 59 years. Self-reported data on basic demographic characteristics, physical activity, self-efficacy, and quality of life were collected.ResultsAmong 173 colorectal cancer survivors, 90 (52.0%) were engaged in manual work. The self-efficacy score was found to be 25.99 ± 7.10, while the global health status score was 54.96 ± 21.56. Global health status was associated with sex, residence, chemoradiotherapy, and monthly income (p < 0.01). The self-efficacy score exhibited a significant positive correlation with quality of life, while demonstrating a negative correlation with symptom scores (p < 0.01). Recreational PA scores were positively associated with global health status (P < 0.05). Self-efficacy, recreational physical activity during winter, and whether the participants underwent chemoradiotherapy explained 29.3% of the variance in quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors.ConclusionsColorectal cancer survivors exhibited low levels of physical activity, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Their health is influenced by self-efficacy, recreational physical activity, and chemoradiotherapy. When developing intervention plans for colorectal cancer survivorship, it is crucial to consider survivors' self-efficacy and the type of physical activity in which they engage.

A Study on the Statistical Measurement of Chinas Modernization Based on the Electric Vehicle Industry Chain Development

According to the basic characteristics of a socialist modernization state in China, Chinas modernization aims for a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. China strives to achieve carbon peaking by 2030. Therefore, this article mainly focuses on the connection between the electric vehicle industry chain and the Chinese-style modernization, as well as an empirical analysis of Chinas 2030 carbon peaking goal. This article divides Chinas green modernization measurement into two parts. In the first part, Chinas green modernization can be measured by the level of modernization in each province. The article uses PCA (Principal Component Analysis) to reduce data dimensions and analyze correlations among selected indicators. Then, the Six-factor TOPSIS-Entropy Method is utilized for weight evaluation to calculate the level of modernization in different provinces, resulting in an overall domestic modernization level of 65.741%. In the second part, an empirical analysis of Chinas commitment to achieving carbon peaking by 2030 is conducted. An improved SIRD-NM dynamic model is employed to predict the number of new energy vehicles, and then the feasibility of achieving the commitment is studied. The results indicate that the contribution of the development of new energy vehicles to carbon peaking reaches 5.42%. China has a high feasibility of achieving carbon peaking by 2030.

Enhanceing antifungal activity of starch-based wood adhesive by Larch bio-oil

In order to enhance the antifungal activity of wood products with starch-based wood adhesive (SWA), the Larch bio-oil was involved in the synthetic of SWA as a fungicide. The chemical compositions of Larch bio-oil and its antifungal effects against three common molds (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum and Trichoderma viride) were evaluated, and the comparison of antifungal activity, basic characteristics and chemical structure between bio-oil starch-based wood adhesive (BSWA) and SWA were conducted. The results indicated that the Larch bio-oil was composed of considerable amounts of phenols, ketones, aldehydes and organic acids (total 71.0 %) and exhibited excellent antifungal activity against the tested molds with the inhibition zone diameters of 14.28–19.67 mm and the minimum inhibitory concentration of 25 %. Compared with SWA, the antifungal rating of BSWA was improved, and the bonding strength of BSWA increased by 53.4 % while the curing temperature decreased by 18.0 %. These improvements were supported by the changes in the chemical structure of adhesive after adding Larch bio-oil. In comparison with the SWA, the peaks of C2, C3, C5 and C6 of the starch molecular structure of BSWA in the 13C NMR analysis all decreased, while the peaks of C1 and C4 both increased. The results confirmed that Larch bio-oil could be used as a renewable substitute fungicide for SWA.

Neonatal and Infant Illnesses and Health Seeking Behavior Among Hilly (Porja) Tribal Community: A Qualitative Observational Study

Objectives: The study explores the health-seeking behavior for neonatal and infant illnesses of the Porja hilly tribe in Andhra Pradesh, India. Methods: This study was a community-based qualitative observational study conducted from July 2022 to February 2023. In-depth interviews ( n = 31) were conducted with parents of neonates and infants. Two focus group discussions (involving 12 each) were conducted to validate the findings with other female family members such as, grandmothers. Data collection was carried out by using a semi-structured questionnaire on traditional practices and basic socio-demographic characteristics along with an in-depth interview guide for undertaking qualitative interviews. Results: Qualitative findings were analyzed using the thematic framework approach, followed by the analysis of data from the field notes. Three themes (along with six sub-themes) were generated: (a) Early essential care, (b) Emergency of hospital care, (c) Effective Ethnomedical/Ritualistic Care (not requiring hospital care) which explained the tribal parents’ ways of care and treatment for their neonates and infants from various morbidity and mortality risks. Discussion: Culture-specified traditional beliefs play crucial roles in shaping the neonatal and infant health of indigenous hilly tribal communities. Preserving the beneficial traditional methods and preventing harmful practices can help improve the overall child health status in such resource scanty settings with inadequate neonatal services.

Sperm DNA fragmentation index affect pregnancy outcomes and offspring safety in assisted reproductive technology

The role of sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in investigating fertility, embryonic development, and pregnancy is of academic interest. However, there is ongoing controversy regarding the impact of DFI on pregnancy outcomes and the safety of offspring in the context of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). In this study, we conducted an analysis of clinical data obtained from 6330 patients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at the reproductive medical center of The First People's Hospital of Shangqiu and The Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The patients was stratified into two distinct groups: IVF group and ICSI group, Within each group, patients were further classified into three subgroups. IVF: group A (< 15%) included 3123 patients, group B (15–30%) included 561 patients, and group C (≥ 30%) included 46 patients. ICSI: group A (< 15%) included 1967 patients, group B (15–30%) included 462 patients, and group C (≥ 30%) included 171 patients. Data were collected and subjected to statistical analysis. There were no significant differences in the basic characteristics among the three groups, and the sperm DFI did not significantly affect the fertilization rates, pregnancy rates, stillbirth rates and the number of birth defects. However, the incidences of miscarriage rates in IVF/ICSI groups with DFI > 30% and DFI 15–30% were significantly higher than those in IVF/ICSI groups with DFI < 15%, and the miscarriage rates in ICSI group with DFI > 30% were significantly higher than DFI 15–30% group, the smooth fitting curve shows that there is a positive correlation between miscarriage rates and sperm DFI (OR 1.095; 95% CI 1.068–1.123; P < 0.001). The birth weight of infants in the IVF/ICSI groups with DFI > 30% and DFI 15–30% exhibited a statistically significant decrease compared to those in the IVF/ICSI groups with DFI < 15%. Furthermore, the birth weight of infants in the ICSI group with DFI > 30% was lower than that of the DFI 15–30% group. The smooth fitting curve analysis demonstrates a negative association between birth weight and sperm DFI (OR 0.913; 95% CI 0.890–0.937; P < 0.001). Sperm DFI has an impact on both miscarriage rates and birth weight in assisted reproductive technology. The smooth fitting curve analysis reveals a positive correlation between miscarriage rates and DFI, while a negative correlation is observed between birth weight and DFI.

Association between single nucleotide polymorphisms, TGF-β1 promoter methylation, and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disease in women. Hyperandrogenaemia (HA) and insulin resistance (IR) are the basic pathophysiological characteristics of PCOS. The aetiology of PCOS has not been fully identified and is generally believed to be related to the combined effects of genetic, metabolic, internal, and external factors. Current studies have not screened for PCOS susceptibility genes in a large population. Here, we aimed to study the effect of TGF-β1 methylation on the clinical PCOS phenotype. In this study, three generations of family members with PCOS with IR as the main characteristic were selected as research subjects. Through whole exome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, TGF-β1 was screened as the PCOS susceptibility gene in this family. The epigenetic DNA methylation level of TGF-β1 in peripheral blood was detected by heavy sulfite sequencing in patients with PCOS clinically characterised by IR, and the correlation between the DNA methylation level of the TGF-β1 gene and IR was analysed. We explored whether the degree of methylation of this gene affects IR and whether it participates in the occurrence and development of PCOS. The results of this study suggest that the hypomethylation of the CpG4 and CpG7 sites in the TGF-β1 gene promoter may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS IR by affecting the expression of the TGF-β1 gene. This study provides new insights into the aetiology and pathogenesis of PCOS.

Review of Mathematical Modeling Research: A Descriptive Content Analysis Study

Recently, mathematical models and modeling practices have become popular in associating mathematics with real-life problems and, hence understanding this relationship. Accordingly, the mathematical modeling skill has been adopted in the standards and by researchers. Understanding the use of mathematical modeling in the learning and teaching processes of mathematics education will contribute to the future of the field. This study aimed to review the trends in mathematical modeling literature using leading research studies. This study reviewed the various types of studies indexed in the Web of Science database between 2000 and 2021 regarding how they addressed modeling. As well as mathematical modeling approaches used, the studies were reviewed in terms of basic characteristics such as publication year, sample, and research method. We evaluated studies using a form developed by the researchers, and the study revealed an increase in the number of studies over the years, and the studies were conducted mostly with pre-service teachers. In addition, we observed that research studies employed mostly small samples to closely monitor the modeling process.

Pan PPAR agonist stimulation of induced MSCs produces extracellular vesicles with enhanced renoprotective effect for acute kidney injury

BackgroundAcute kidney injury (AKI) has a complex pathophysiology and imposes serious health concerns worldwide. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from induced mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) have been recognized as novel cell-free therapeutics for various inflammatory and degenerative disorders. In this study, we investigated whether iMSCs stimulated with a pan-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist could enhance the therapeutic efficacy of EVs against AKI.MethodsHuman iMSCs were primed with or without lanifibranor, a PPAR agonist for 24 h, and EVs were collected after an additional 24 h. The basic characteristics of EVs were evaluated using cryo-transmission electron microscopy imaging, immunoblot detection of EV markers, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and localization in AKI kidneys. In vitro, the potential of the EVs to promote the growth and survival of HK-2 cells undergoing cisplatin-induced apoptosis and anti-inflammatory effects in M1-polarized THP-1 was compared. Subsequently, AKI was induced in BALB/c mice using cisplatin. After 8 and 24 h of cisplatin treatment, iMSC-EVs or pan-PPAR-iMSC-EVs were injected intravascularly. At 96 h after cisplatin administration, the renoprotective effects of iMSC-EVs or pan-PPAR-iMSC-EVs in inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis were compared using serum biochemistry, histology, immunohistochemistry, and gene expression analysis by qPCR.ResultsBoth EV types expressed EV markers and had typical EV morphology, and their localization in the renal tissue was confirmed. The proliferation and survival of HK-2 cells were higher in pan-PPAR-iMSC-EVs than those in iMSC-EVs. In M1-polarized THP-1 cells, the reduction in the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines was more significant in pan-PPAR-iMSC-EVs than that in iMSC-EVs. In the mouse model of cisplatin-induced AKI, pan-PPAR-iMSC-EVs markedly enhanced renoprotective effects compared to iMSC-EVs. Specifically, pan-PPAR-iMSC-EVs reduced tissue inflammation, immune cell infiltration, and apoptosis. Pan-PPAR-iMSC-EVs also increased renal capillary density.ConclusionPriming iMSCs with a PPAR agonist significantly improved the therapeutic potential of EVs by reducing inflammation and apoptosis. The reported strategy may contribute to the development of a novel cell-free option for AKI treatment.Trial registration: Not applicable.

Parental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice toward their Epileptic Children, Baghdad, Iraq 2022

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. People who know less about epilepsy tend to have negative ideas about the disease. KAP of parents on epilepsy is crucial, especially to children below 13, as the child in this stage mostly depends on parents to get the answers to their concerns. Still, the over-protection from their families will create insecurity and reduce their self-esteem when they grow older. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and measure their association with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 107 parents with children who were diagnosed and received treatment for epilepsy. This study was conducted in the consultation clinics in the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Medical City in Baghdad-Iraq, from January through July 2022. A questionnaire was developed and filled out through direct interviews with the participants. The questionnaire was composed of five parts. The first part included primary sociodemographic data. The second part concerns the particular child’s basic characteristics and epilepsy history. The third part concerns the parents' knowledge about child epilepsy. The fourth part concerns parents' attitudes toward children with epilepsy. The fifth part is concerned with the practice of parents toward child epilepsy. Results: Good knowledge, attitude, and practices were seen among 61 (57.0%), 70 (65.4%), and 90 (84.1%) parents, respectively. Good parents’ knowledge of epilepsy was significantly associated with higher education (college) and with fewer family Members (&lt;5) (P&lt;0.001 and P=0.0002), respectively. In addition, a good parents’ attitude towards epilepsy was significantly associated with higher education (college) (P=0.015). Conclusion: About half of the parents have good knowledge, two third have a good attitude, and most have good practices towards epilepsy. Received: April. 2023 Accepted: Jul. 2023 Published: Jan 2024

Single-cell manipulation by two-dimensional micropatterning

Cells are highly sensitive to their geometrical and mechanical microenvironment that directly regulate cell shape, cytoskeleton and organelle, as well as the nucleus morphology and genetic expression. The emerging two-dimensional micropatterning techniques offer powerful tools to construct controllable and well-organized microenvironment for single-cell level investigations with qualitative analysis, cellular standardization, and in vivo environment mimicking. Here, we provide an overview of the basic principle and characteristics of the two most widely-used micropatterning techniques, including photolithographic micropatterning and soft lithography micropatterning. Moreover, we summarize the application of micropatterning technique in controlling cytoskeleton, cell migration, nucleus and gene expression, as well as intercellular communication.

ФОРМУВАННЯ МАРКЕТИНГОВИХ СТРАТЕГІЙ ВИВЕДЕННЯ НОВОГО ТОВАРУ НА РИНОК

The article reveals the features of introducing a new product to the market and examines the set of marketing strategies as they are applied on the market. The stages of product novelty are considered: the appearance of such a product that has no analogues; change of external design with direct observance of existing consumer properties; a change in consumer characteristics, which makes changes in the specific way of satisfying needs; improvement of basic technical characteristics without specific changes in production technologies. Methods of studying a new product include conducting special experiments and surveying consumers and specialists involved in the development and production of the product. The development of a new product is a complex process that includes the following stages: ideation, concept development, prototype development and testing, marketing research, production and implementation, monitoring and improvement. The reasons for the failure of new products on the market have been studied. Ways to reduce the risk of factors affecting the success of the release of new products are proposed. Marketing strategy is a mandatory component of the overall business strategy. It is proven that the choice of a specific strategy depends on the type of business the firm is engaged in. The formation of a strategy for the development of new products is carried out after analyzing the consumer market, the company's capabilities, analyzing competitors and the external environment, understanding the possibilities of the company's budget and other important issues. For such purposes, the strategy of diversification is most often used. If a company has a strong image in its industry, diversification can help attract new partners and expand its sphere of influence. For the successful implementation of the diversification strategy, the availability of sufficient financial resources is key. The strategy for the development of a new product on the market is the strategy of variation, with the help of which the firm can offer a new version of the product on the market, while the old one is subject to elimination (withdrawal from circulation). The use of a commodity strategy of diversification and variation depends on the specific conditions of the company's activity and is determined by the volume and level of economic efficiency of sales.

Diagnostics of the airless wheel by the combined method

For construction and road machinery, tubeless tires made on the basis of elastic polyurethanes are being used more often. The diagnosis of airless tires made of elastic polymer materials in order to determine the conditions of their safe operation is becoming more and more relevant. The use of roller stands does not give accurate results, because the round support surface of the rollers introduces distortion. A method of obtaining basic parameters and characteristics on simple stands is proposed. Use their values for tire research and diagnostics in software environments such as Ansys, Solidworks, AutoCad. For the designed and manufactured sample of an airless wheel on the stands, the dependences of the change in the static radius of the wheel depending on the load and the change in the deflection of the wheel depending on the lateral force at different loads on the wheel were obtained. They became the basis for the initial parameters and characteristics of the wheel modeled in the Solidworks environment. Its properties were simulated for three cases of wheel rolling: “driven wheel”, “driving wheel” and “free wheel”. The obtained results show that the most difficult mode is the movement of the wheel on the deformable support base. In this mode, the opposite sides of the spokes work in tension and compression when blowing the spokes to a vertical state. The values of stress do not exceed the critical allowable ones during rupture or during compression for polyurethane. Therefore, it can be diagnosed that the wheel is in satisfactory condition.

Quality indicators of roots and tubers stored in the storage facilities

From the technological point of view, it is shown in detail that, how to maintain storage conditions under moderate conditions and the possibility of extending shelf life with less waste and consists of approximate calculations and often does not correspond to practice. To determine the storage method in more detail, firstly a test was conducted on the storages methods tests. Only after the basic technological characteristics of a given storage method have been developed can a conclusion be drawn about its suitability for the task at hand. For example, if you plan to store potatoes or carrots until May-June, you should prepare a refrigerator. If the storage period is set until January, then warehouse with natural ventilation or cooling with outside air using a fan is sufficient.