Effective Factors Research Articles

Artificial gravity: an effective countermeasure for microgravity-induced headward fluid shift?

Long-duration spaceflight is associated with pathophysiological changes in the intracranial compartment hypothetically linked to microgravity-induced headward fluid shift. This study aimed to determine whether daily artificial gravity (AG) sessions can mitigate these effects, supporting its application as a countermeasure to spaceflight. Twenty-four healthy adult volunteers (16 men) were exposed to 60 days of 6° head-down tilt bed rest (HDTBR) as a ground-based analog of chronic headward fluid shift. Subjects were divided equally into three groups: no AG (control), daily 30-min intermittent AG (iAG), and daily 30-min continuous (cAG). Internal carotid artery (ICA) stroke volume (ICASV), ICA resistive index (ICARI), ICA flow rate (ICAFR), aqueductal cerebral spinal fluid flow velocity (CSFV), and intracranial volumetrics were quantified at 3 T. MRI was performed at baseline, 14 and 52 days into HDTBR, and 3 days after HDTBR (recovery). A mixed model approach was used with intervention and time as the fixed effect factors and the subject as the random effect factor. Compared with baseline, HDTBR was characterized by expansion of lateral ventricular, white matter, gray matter, and brain + total intracranial cerebral spinal fluid volumes, increased CSFv, decreased ICASV, and decreased ICAFR by 52 days into HBTBR (All Ps < 0.05). ICARI was only increased 14 days into HDTBR (P < 0.05). Neither iAG nor cAG significantly affected measurements compared with HDTBR alone, indicating that 30 min of daily exposure was insufficient to mitigate the intracranial effects of headward fluid shift. Greater AG session exposure time, gravitational force, or both are suggested for future countermeasure research.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Brief exposure to continuous or intermittent artificial gravity via short-arm centrifugation was insufficient in mitigating the intracranial pathophysiological effects of the headward fluid shift simulated during head-down tilt bed rest (HDTBR). Our results suggest that greater centrifugation session duration, gravitational force, or both may be required to prevent the development of spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome and should be considered in future ground-based countermeasure studies.

Effectiveness and impact factors of passive convergence-permeable reactive barrier (PC-PRB): Insights from tracer simulation study

Passive convergence-permeable reactive barrier (PC-PRB) represents a green and sustainable technology for in-situ remediation of contaminated groundwater. A laboratory-scale PC-PRB tracer simulation system was established to quantify its contaminant plume capture performance using image analysis method. Results indicate that PC-PRB captures the plume 65% wider than C-PRB, which means that fewer PRB sizes and materials volume would be necessary to treat an equivalent contaminated plume. This improvement is due to a significant drawdown within the PC-PRB's passive well, known as the passive hydraulic decompression-convergent flow effect. We further evaluated the effects of water pipe length, hydraulic gradient, and media particle size on PC-PRB's plume capture performance. Results indicate that an increased water pipe length enhances the PC-PRB's plume capture capacity due to greater well drawdown. PC-PRB not only captures the plume but also acts as a hydraulic barrier. The retardation effect of PC-PRB on plume migration increases with water pipe length. Conversely, both hydraulic gradient and media particle size impact the plume capture capacity of PC-PRB by modifying groundwater flow velocity and pollutant dispersion. An increase in either hydraulic gradient or media particle size decreases the plume capture performance of PC-PRB. Therefore, PC-PRB technology may be more effective in contaminated sites characterized by low hydraulic gradients and permeability. Overall, PC-PRB demonstrates significant effectiveness in enhancing plume capture performance, which can notably reduce remediation costs and environmental footprint, broadening its application scope.

Design and Performance Analysis of A Linear Switched Reluctance Motor Considering End Effects

Introduction: In recent years, linear actuators have gained significant attention due to their ability to provide direct linear movement without the need for motion transformation devices. One significant challenge in the design and modeling of linear actuators is the occurrence of longitudinal end-effects. The finite length of the translator stack in linear actuators causes an unbalanced phase force, leading to discrepancies between the phases at the end and center of the actuator. Neglecting these end-effects can lead to inaccuracies in the actuator's performance and control. Methods: The objective of this study is to develop a comprehensive approach for the design, sizing, and modeling of the actuator to ensure optimal performance. An energy conversion procedure calculates the thrust force and determines the actuator's geometrical parameters. A numerical model based on the finite element method is developed to analyze the actuator's magnetic behavior and establish its characteristics. Furthermore, a thorough analysis of the end effect is conducted using two-dimensional finite element analysis. Results: To accurately capture the actuator's dynamic response and enable precise control, a mathematical model is formulated, incorporating the nonlinear behavior of inductance and incorporating the end effect factor. The proposed model demonstrates high accuracy and provides a solid foundation for the control of the linear switched reluctance actuator. Conclusion: Overall, this study contributes to the advancement of direct drive systems for industrial applications by providing a detailed design procedure and an accurate modeling approach for the linear actuator, enabling more efficient and precise control strategies.

The Role of Circular RNA in the Pathogenesis of Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Cancer Patients: Focus on the Pathogenesis and Future Perspective.

Cardiotoxicity is a serious challenge cancer patients face today. Various factors are involved in cardiotoxicity. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are one of the effective factors in the occurrence and prevention of cardiotoxicity. circRNAs can lead to increased proliferation, apoptosis, and regeneration of cardiomyocytes by regulating the molecular pathways, as well as increasing or decreasing gene expression; some circRNAs have a dual role in cardiomyocyte regeneration or death. Identifying each of the pathways related to these processes can be effective on managing patients and preventing cardiotoxicity. In this study, an overview of the molecular pathways involved in cardiotoxicity by circRNAs and their effects on the downstream factors have been discussed.

Sex differences in paediatric onset hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heterogeneous disease characterised by age related incomplete penetrance and variable long term outcomes. Sex differences have been described in both the clinical phenotype and natural history of adults with the disease, which have been attributed to both biological (eg sex hormone effect) and non-biological (eg societal and cultural effects) factors. It is unknown if similar sex differences exist in childhood-onset HCM. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the influence of biological sex on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with HCM. Methods Retrospective cohort study from an international registry of patients diagnosed under the age of 18 years with HCM. Patients with syndromic disease (RASopathy syndromes, inborn errors of metabolism, neuromuscular disease) were excluded. Sex differences in baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were described. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality or cardiac transplantation, Major Arrhythmic Cardiac Event (MACE) and heart failure event (defined as heart failure death or cardiac transplantation) Results Of 1262 patients, 851 (67.4%) were male (median age 11 yrs (IQR 7.4, 14.4) vs 11.1 (IQR 6.9, 14.0) in females, p=0.0312). Female patients were more likely to have a sarcomeric variant identified (n=208, 85.6% vs 388 (79.4%), p=0.041) despite equivalent genetic testing utilisation between sexes. Female patients were more likely to have severe heart failure symptoms (NYHA 3 or 4) (n=19, 6.1% vs n=20, 2.5% p value 0.030) but there was no difference in the proportion on medical therapy (male n=328, 39.7%, female n=167, 41.8, p value 0.476). The clinical phenotype in terms of degree of hypertrophy, left atrial size and left ventricular outflow tract gradient did not differ by sex. Over a median follow up of 5.2 years (IQR 2.4, 9.9) all-cause mortality or cardiac transplantation did not vary by sex but females were more likely to experience a heart failure event (females 0.6/100,000 pt years (95% CI 0.39-0.92) vs males 0.32/100,000 pt years (95% CI 0.21 – 0.50), hazard ratio 1.89, p value 0.0467). The incidence of MACE did not differ by sex but there was a trend towards higher implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation in females (n=123, 30.7% vs n=210, 25.4%, p value 0.051). Conclusions For the first time, this study has shown sex differences in paediatric-onset hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Despite no difference in baseline clinical phenotype, young female patients are more likely to experience heart failure symptoms and heart failure events over follow up. Further studies are required to explore the underlying mechanisms for these observed differences.Table summarising outcomes by sexSurvival free from heart failure

Factors Affecting the Early Diagnosis of Smear-positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Patients in Qom Province, Iran

Background and Objectives: According to the report of the World Health Organization (WHO), almost one-third of the world’s population is infected with tuberculosis (TB). The delay in TB diagnosis, in addition to increasing mortality, can increase the duration of disease transmission. This study aims to identify the factors affecting the early detection of smear-positive pulmonary TB in Patients in Qom Province, Iran. Methods: In this case-control study, 120 patients with smear-positive pulmonary TB (60 with a diagnosis delayed for more than three months and 60 with a timely diagnosis) diagnosed from 2018 to 2021 in Qom Province participated. To determine the factors effective in early diagnosis of pulmonary TB, the odds ratio of each factor was calculated, and logistic regression analysis was used for data analysis. Results: The prescription of the sputum test at the first visit had the most significant effect on the early diagnosis of pulmonary TB (odds ratio=161, P&lt;0.001). The TB in patients who visited the clinics and those visited by general practitioners was diagnosed with a higher delay. The lack of knowledge of existing TB diagnosis and treatment services in health centers had increased the diagnosis delay by 2.3. Occupation, gender, and place of residence were not found to be effective factors. Conclusion: It seems that most doctors in Iran neglect to prescribe a sputum test for patients suspected of pulmonary TB and only prescribe chest x-rays. Training and informing doctors, private medical centers, and pharmacies in referring patients suspected of pulmonary TB to the health centers where the patients live can cause timely diagnosis of pulmonary TB.

Dielectric relaxation study of pyridine-n-propyl alcohol mixture using time domain reflectometry technique

ABSTRACT The Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) technique was used to analyse the complex permittivity spectra of the Pyridine-n-propyl alcohol mixture across the concentration and temperature range of 10–25°C. The Cole-Davidson model was used to match the Pyridine- n-propyl alcohol complex permittivity spectra. The nonlinear least squares fit approach has been used to obtain the Static dielectric constant (ε0), Relaxation time (τ), Effective Kirkwood correlation factor (geff) Excess permittivity ε 0 E , Thermodynamic parameters (activation enthalpy and activation entropy), and Bruggeman factor (fB). Furthermore, the analysis of excess characteristics and the Bruggeman factor points towards the presence of hydrogen bonding between the pyridine and n-propyl alcohol molecules.

Advances in photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline using graphene-based composites in water: a systematic review and future directions.

In this study, a comprehensive systematic review was conducted to better recognize the applicability of graphene-based photocatalytic processes for the degradation of tetracycline (TC) from water. A broad search strategy was developed for English language articles available in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The effect of parameters such as pH, TC concentration, photocatalyst dose, radiation source intensity, and the effect of graphene on the process, kinetics, and reuse of the photocatalyst were investigated. A total of 63 out of a possible 3498 retrieved records met inclusion criteria. The results showed that most related studies have increased since 2019. About 46.7% of the articles showed 90-100% TC removal efficiency and 59.52% of the studies had optimal pH equal to 5 and 6. Also, the widespread use of visible light had a significant trend. The effect of the dose of graphene in the catalyst was one of the most important and effective factors on the process; hence, the difference in efficiency with and without graphene was completely evident. This review indicated that the presence of graphene has been able to have a positive effect on increasing the efficiency of oxidation processes, and it can be used for environmental pollutants remediation.

Motivation For Implementing Halal Standards In Umkm Food And Beverage DKI Jakarta

The MSME industrial sector is a vital economic driver and the primary pillar of Indonesia's economic structure. In 2019, Indonesia's GDP totaled IDR 15.83 trillion, with MSMEs accounting for IDR 9.48 trillion. Halal certification for MSMEs has become a strategic priority for the government as it seeks to strengthen the MSME industry and increase global competitiveness. Despite the fact that this halal certification is being regarded as a critical instrument for MSMEs' comeback, the bulk of them still lack it. As a result, this study focuses on the variables that encourage MSMEs (reputation enhancement, religiosity, process improvement, product quality improvement, and market share) to accelerate the adoption of halal standards among halal food and beverage producers in DKI Jakarta. To do this, the researchers used a quantitative research methodology. Primary data were acquired by surveys and processed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that all five criteria have a considerable beneficial impact on driving MSMEs to apply halal standards, with market share being the most effective factor. Finally, internal motivation is crucial to the adoption of halal standards among halal food and beverage MSMEs in DKI Jakarta.

Multi-Objective Design and Optimization of Hardware-Friendly Grid-Based Sparse MIMO Arrays

A comprehensive design framework is proposed for optimizing sparse MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) arrays to enhance multi-target detection. The framework emphasizes efficient utilization of antenna resources, including strategies for minimizing inter-element mutual coupling and exploring alternative grid-based sparse array (GBSA) configurations by efficiently separating interacting elements. Alternative strategies are explored to enhance angular beamforming metrics, including beamwidth (BW), peak-to-sidelobe ratio (PSLR), and grating lobe limited field of view. Additionally, a set of performance metrics is introduced to evaluate virtual aperture effectiveness and beamwidth loss factors. The framework explores optimization strategies for the partial sharing of antenna elements, specifically tailored for multi-mode radar applications, utilizing the desirability function to enhance performance across various operational modes. A novel machine learning initialization approach is introduced for rapid convergence. Key observations include the potential for peak-to-sidelobe ratio (PSLR) reduction in dense arrays and insights into GBSA feasibility and performance compared to uniform arrays. The study validates the efficacy of the proposed framework through simulated and measured results. The study emphasizes the importance of effective sparse array processing in multi-target scenarios and highlights the advantages of the proposed design framework. The proposed design framework for grid-spaced sparse arrays stands out for its superior efficiency and applicability in processing hardware compared to both uniform and non-uniform arrays.

Application of Geographic Information System (GIS), for Crisis Management

Natural disasters have always existed as a natural phenomenon throughout the life of the earth. The occurrence of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, storms, etc. in most cases have destructive effects on human settlements and heavy casualties on their residents. It has destroyed the buildings and infrastructures of such areas and imposed unfortunate economic and social consequences on cities and countries. Despite many scientific advances, mankind is still not able to prevent and resist these natural events. Natural disaster management and sustainable development are considered an integrated issue today. Due to limited resources, real development will not be possible without integration with disaster reduction programs. Earthquakes as a natural phenomenon do not have adverse results by themselves. What makes this phenomenon a disaster is the lack of prevention and lack of preparation to deal with its consequences. Therefore, one of the most necessary measures is to apply "principles of crisis management". Crisis management measures can be summarized in three parts: 1. Prevention, 2. Response, and 3. Reconstruction. Therefore, the title is the most important discussion in the strategy of reducing the effects of earthquakes. In this research, we seek to find the best location for crisis management support bases in Malair City, which first identified the effective factors and criteria in the location of relief centers during a crisis. Then, the AHP model was used to determine the importance and value of each criterion and effective elements in the decision, and a questionnaire was designed and distributed among experts and specialists. In the next step, the weight of each of the decision criteria and elements was determined using the hierarchical analysis process method and Expert Choice software. Then, using the field method, figures of the studied area were updated and prepared. In the next step, all information layers were converted to raster in the geographic information system (GIS). Finally, using the Index overlay method, the layers were combined. Three locations were suggested as the best locations for crisis management support bases in Malayer City. Among them, two options, one in the eastern part of the city on Molvi Street, and the other in the southern part of the city on Motahari Street, have been proposed as the best options. In terms of accessibility, they are in a good position. An option, that has a lower score, is located in the southeastern part of the city on Sheikh Kilini Street.

Searching for Health Information on the Internet; Determining the Relationship Between Nurses’ Cyberchondria Levels, Health Anxiety, and Effective Factors

Searching for Health Information on the Internet; Determining the Relationship Between Nurses’ Cyberchondria Levels, Health Anxiety, and Effective Factors

Prevalence and association of uncorrected refractive error among Chinese adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Uncorrected refractive error (URE) is one of the main causes of visual impairments. URE may reduce interaction and learning in the classroom, leading to social isolation, irreversible amblyopia, lack of external knowledge, and restrictions on education and employment opportunities. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence and related factors of URE in adolescents using epidemiological surveys and questionnaire surveys related to lifestyle habits. A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted in Nantong, China, including adolescents 12-19 years of age from 16 schools. URE was defined as presenting visual acuity worse than 6/12 and improving to ≥ 1 lines after correction in either eye. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate specific correlations between URE and related lifestyle parameters. Non-cycloplegic autorefraction was assessed for each adolescent. A total of 2,910 adolescents were analyzed, of which 50.3% (n = 1,465) were male, and 49.7% (n = 1,445) were female. The mean age was 15.23 ± 1.77 years. The overall prevalence of URE was 23.7%. The total prevalence of REC and eREC was 85.1% and 71.7%, respectively, and both of them showed an increasing trend with age (Ptrend = 0.018 and Ptrend = 0.019, respectively). A higher prevalence of URE was related to myopia, anisometropia, and increased daily use of electronic products. Timely visual examination by medical institutions, more extracurricular homework, and older age were protective factors for URE. Among the 689 adolescents with URE, 362 (52.5%) did not receive any refractive correction, and 327 (47.5%) used corrected glasses. URE was highly prevalent among adolescents in China. Myopia was the most important risk factor for URE. The impact of anisometropia and increased daily use of electronic devices on URE was significant. Timely visual examinations by medical institutions served as an effective protective factor against URE. Further research on adjusting intervention strategies is therefore needed to eliminate preventable visual impairments.

Prognostic factors for intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct following surgical resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a biliary neoplasm characterized by intraductal papillary growth and varying degrees of malignant transformation. This study aimed to identify effective prognostic factors (PFs) for predicting the prognosis of IPNB after surgical resection, addressing the gap in the higher level evidence. We systematically searched databases from their inception to October 10, 2023. Data on 12 predetermined PFs were collected and subjected to a meta-analysis. Forest plots were used to summarize the findings. Fifteen studies with a total of 2311 patients were included. Among the PFs examined, extrahepatic tumor location (HR, 2.97; 95% CI 1.68-5.23), subclassification type 2 (HR, 2.62; 95% CI 1.45-4.76), R1 resection (HR, 2.47; 95% CI 1.73-3.51), elevated CA19-9 level (HR, 3.25; 95% CI 1.91-5.54), tumor multiplicity (HR, 2.65; 95% CI 1.40-5.02), and adjacent organ invasion (HR, 3.17; 95% CI 2.01-5.00) were associated with a poorer prognosis. Additionally, the combined HR values indicated that lymph node metastasis and poor tumor differentiation were linked to a worse prognosis, although both exhibited significant heterogeneity. Our study offers valuable insights for enhancing postoperative prognostication and treatment decision-making for IPNB patients with IPNB. These findings warrant further validation in future prospective studies.

3D limit analysis of reinforced concrete with sliding along smeared cracks

Limit analysis (LA) is successfully used for investigating the bearing capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Some cautions must be taken when using this method for RC since the concrete component exhibits a softening behavior with decreasing strength and limited ductility. A commonly adopted provision consists of considering isotropic reduced values of concrete strength to be input in the analysis (empirical effectiveness factors). In this paper, an alternative and completely new approach is proposed and investigated in which concrete strength is weakened in a more targeted manner. To that purpose, the commonly used 3D truncated Mohr-Coulomb (TMC) criterion is adopted to classically describe the compressive, tensile, and shear failure of concrete. However, TMC is here in an original way enriched by additional constraints that allow to account for weakness and anisotropy induced by preferential failure patterns, assumed a priori. The limit analysis approach is then formulated for two dual analyses in the convex optimization framework, making it possible to quantify the numerical error and obtain a lower and an upper bound of the limit load. Numerical examples illustrate the agreement of the formulation with academic results and laboratory tests.

Causes of Nurses' Migration, A Systematic Review

Background and Objectives: One of the foundations of the health system are nurses. Migration is one of the factors of reducing and losing this valuable capital. Methods: In this systematic review study, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SID, Magiran and Google Scholar databases were searched without time limit and based on the Prisma method, and in order to evaluate the quality of the articles, critical evaluation checklists of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) were used. Results: First, 265 articles were extracted. After screening and removing duplicate articles, unrelated, without complete text, the qualitative evaluation stage was performed, and finally 17 articles were included in the study. No intervention was reported in the articles and no study prioritized the identified effective factors. The causes affecting migration were classified into two main categories: Causes related to the country of origin (push factors) and causes related to the destination country (pull factors). The factors in the countries of origin and destination were counted in three areas: individual factors, social factors and cultural factors. Income, job position, job security, continuing education facilities and educational technology, team relations and facilities in the work environment and family status were identified as the most important factors affecting migration. Conclusion: Nurses and especially young nurses from third world countries had a high desire to immigrate. Considering the multi-dimensional causes affecting the migration of nurses, in order to manage this phenomenon effectively, special attention and structural reforms in the social, cultural, political and economic dimensions are needed

Comparison of Microleakage of Monolithic Zirconia after Surface Treatment and Thermal Cycles Using Data Analysis Software

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the microleakage of monolithic zirconia after different surface treatments using computer software. Materials and Methods: Three different monolithic zirconia ML (Multilayered), STML (Super Translucent Multilayered), UTML (Ultra Translucent Multilayered) were prepared as discs with a diameter of 15 mm and a thickness of 1.2 mm. Four different surface treatments (Hydrofluoric acid, Tribochemical silica coating, Hydrofluoric acid application + Tribochemical silica coating, Milling + Tribochemical silica coating + Hydrofluoric acid application) were applied to the prepared samples according to their groups (n=8). Samples, Group C: Control group, Group HF: Hydrofluoric acid application, Group T: Tribochemical silica coating, Group HF+T: Hydrofluoric acid application + Tribochemical silica coating, Group F+HF+T: Milling + Tribochemical silica coating + Hydrofluoric acid application, then adhesive system was applied to all specimens and repaired with resin cement. The specimens were thermocycled for one year aging and then immersed in basic fuchsin solution to evaluate microleakage. The specimens were separated with a micro-cut device and evaluated under a stereomicroscope. The dimensions of the images were measured in Python program and the permeability and surface treatments of the zirconia samples were compared. Statistical analysis was performed by two-way ANOVA (p&lt;0.05). Results: UTML F+HF+T showed the lowest microleakage (12.15 ± 1.69), while ML C showed the highest microleakage (73.93 ± 1.59). Among the zirconia specimens, the highest adaptation was obtained in the UTML zirconia (37.59 ± 23.58). Conclusion: According to the data obtained, milling + tribochemical silica coating + acid application surface treatments are recommended for the repair of monolithic zirconia restorations. The sintering temperature and Yttrium Oxide (Y2O3) content of the monolithic zirconia used are effective factors in microleakage after repair.

Power Factor Optimization with Cos Phi Mode Trainee

The power factor cos phi measures the efficiency of using electrical power in a system. A low power factor indicates the presence of high reactive power consumption, which can lead to increased energy losses and operational costs. To overcome this problem, an effective power factor regulation system is required. This research designed and developed the Cos Phi Trainer, which operates in two modes, manual and automatic, to improve the power factor at an electrical load. The system is designed to give users a practical understanding of measuring and improving power factors by setting up compensation capacitors. In manual mode, the user directly sets the value of the capacitor used to fix the power factor. While in automatic mode, the system uses current and voltage sensors to measure the power factor value in real-time and automatically adjusts the capacitor to achieve the optimal power factor. The trainer has an easy-to-use interface and a measurement panel that displays important parameters such as current, voltage, active power, reactive power, and power factor. The test results show that the system can significantly increase the power factor in manual and automatic modes. Thus, this Cos Phi Trainer is an effective tool for training in the laboratory of Indorama Engineering Polytechnic and teaching about electrical power management and energy loss reduction in the electrical system. Keywords: Power factor, manual, active power, reactive power, trainer

Associations between elevated uric acid and brain imaging abnormalities in pediatric patients with methylmalonic acidemia under 5 years of age

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is the most common inborn organic acidemia, presenting multisystemic complications. Uric acid may have neurotoxic or neuroprotective effects due to its antioxidant or pro-inflammatory properties; however, its role in MMA brain injury remains unclear. We examined the correlation between the serum uric acid levels and brain imaging features of MMA. Data were collected from a cross-sectional study of 216 patients with MMA and 216 healthy matched controls aged 0–5 years in China. Serum uric acid levels were measured, and magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings were retrieved from hospital records. Overall, 74.1% patients had brain abnormalities. Patients in the MMA group with abnormal brain imaging had higher serum uric acid levels than those in the MMA normal brain imaging and control groups. The area under the curve of serum uric acid was 0.74, 0.91, and 0.93 for MMA diagnosis with abnormal brain images, basal ganglia changes, and globus pallidus changes, respectively. Higher serum uric acid levels were independently associated with abnormal brain images. Children aged < 5 years with abnormal brain images in MMA exhibit elevated serum uric acid levels, serving as an effective auxiliary diagnostic indicator and independent risk factor for brain tissue injury.

Understanding the Drivers of Adoption for Blockchain-enabled Intelligent Transportation Systems

This study tended to present a model for examining the effective factors on adoption of blockchain-based intelligent transportation systems (ITS). The methodology employed was correlational descriptive approach using structural equation modeling. The research involved collecting data through a survey, which was completed by 368 individuals residing in prominent cities across Iran. The findings of the study suggest that perceived quality of digital services significantly impacts perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and trust in a positive manner. Additionally, the positive influence of information technology infrastructure and social influence on perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness is evident. Moreover, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness play pivotal roles in building trust and fostering adoption of blockchain-based ITS. The study also highlights the positive and significant impact of transparent governance on trust and adoption. Furthermore, policies and regulations are identified as key drivers of perceived usefulness and adoption of such systems. Lastly, perceived trust and security are found to positively influence adoption. These findings underscore the potential of the examined variables to serve as robust predictors for the adoption of blockchain-based ITS by citizens.