Individual Applications Research Articles

Nanoparticles synergy: Enhancing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cadmium tolerance with iron oxide and selenium

Nanotechnology is capturing great interest worldwide due to their stirring applications in various fields and also individual application of iron oxide nanoparticle (FeO − NPs) and selenium nanoparticles (Se − NPs) have been studied in many literatures. However, the combined application of FeO and Se − NPs is a novel approach and studied in only few studies. For this purpose, a pot experiment was conducted to examine various growth and biochemical parameters in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under the toxic concentration of cadmium (Cd) i.e., 50 mg kg−1 which were primed with combined application of two levels of FeO and Se − NPs i.e., 15 and 30 mg L−1 respectively. The results showed that the Cd toxicity in the soil showed a significantly (P < 0.05) declined in the growth, gas exchange attributes, sugars, AsA-GSH cycle, cellular fractionation, proline metabolism in T. aestivum. However, Cd toxicity significantly (P < 0.05) increased oxidative stress biomarkers, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants including their gene expression in T. aestivum. Although, the application of FeO and Se − NPs showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the plant growth and biomass, gas exchange characteristics, enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds and their gene expression and also decreased the oxidative stress, and Cd uptake. In addition, individual or combined application of FeO and Se − NPs enhanced the cellular fractionation and decreases the proline metabolism and AsA − GSH cycle in T. aestivum. These results open new insights for sustainable agriculture practices and hold immense promise in addressing the pressing challenges of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils.

Unlocking synergies of Mg(OH)2 and rice husk silica as dual additives for tailored pore properties, selectivity, and antifouling performances of PES membrane

This research investigates the synergistic impact of incorporating Mg(OH)2 and rice husk silica additives during membrane fabrication to enhance both selectivity and resistance to fouling. The main objective is to harness the enhanced hydrophilicity provided by both additives to elevate membrane characteristics and performance, while also addressing the individual limitations of each additive when used separately. The introduction of Mg(OH)2 and silica is performed on the polyethersulfone (PES) membrane via blending method. The findings of the research show that combination of Mg(OH)2 and silica as additive result in exceptional attributes of the PES membrane, in comparison to membranes modified with each additive separately. This membrane demonstrates outstanding characteristics, including a remarkable porosity of 60.7 %, and exceptional antifouling capability, as evidenced by an impressive Flux Recovery Ratio (FRR) of 84.7 %, thereby enhancing its practical utility. These collective findings underscore the remarkable potential of combining Mg(OH)2 and rice husk silica as beneficial hybrid additives for membrane fabrication. The synergistic approach holds great promise for enhancing membrane properties and overcoming constraints associated with the individual application of each additive.

Co-application of biochar and salt tolerant PGPR to improve soil quality and wheat production in a naturally saline soil

Soil salinity is a global problem that drastically reduces crop productivity. Therefore, there is a need to make saline soils productive. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and biochar have been shown to increase crop productivity and soil fertility when applied separately. However, their co-application in this regard has not been studied extensively. In this study, a biochar was co-applied with Bacillus thuringiensis or Bacillus tropicus, characterized as P-solubilizing and salt-tolerant PGPR, to wheat grown in a naturally saline soil (EC 8.12 dS m−1). Co-application of biochar with PGPR increased the number of tillers & spikes, straw yield, and 100-grain weight by 16–28.57%, 26.9–36.6%, 18–21.8%, and 34–37.9% respectively. This led to a 37% and 34% increase in grain yield in the case of co-application with B. thuringiensis and B. tropicus respectively. The higher growth and yield were thanks to better plant nutrition and mitigated salinity stress under co-application. Briefly, the co-application increased phosphorus content in grain, straw, and roots by up to 9–43%, 45–69%, and 5–21.5% respectively, which was higher than that in individual applications of biochar or any PGPR. In addition, co-application increased microbial biomass by 61–77% and soil available phosphorus by 37–53% across two PGPR. Evidently, the co-application contributed to increased P nutrition in two ways. Firstly, the biochar itself served as a source of available P. Secondly, the PGPR solubilized it more abundantly when biochar was there. As far the salinity stress, biochar, its co-application with B. thuringiensis, and with B. tropicus increased soil K+/Na+ by 36%, 72% and 44% respectively leading to 40%, 63%, and 55% higher K+/Na+ in grain, straw, and roots respectively. Overall, our results indicate that biochar and PGPR worked in tandem to substantially improve soil quality and wheat production compared to their sole applications. We conclude that co-application of salt tolerant PGPR and biochar is a more sustainable and better technology to produce wheat in a naturally saline soil compared to their sole applications.

Neues Zulassungsverfahren Humanmedizin: höhere individuelle Gerechtigkeit, aber Verstärkung des Landarztmangels?

ZusammenfassungHintergrundDas Bundesverfassungsgericht hat 2017 die Wartezeitquote und die Beschränkung der Ortspräferenzen bei der Vergabe der Studienplätze in der Humanmedizin als verfassungswidrig erklärt und einen Bundeslandausgleich für Abiturnoten gefordert. Daraufhin wurde ab 2020 die Wartezeitquote durch die „Zusätzliche Eignungsquote“ ersetzt, die Zahl der Ortspräferenzen nicht mehr begrenzt und ein Abiturnotenausgleich eingeführt. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht, welche Auswirkungen diese Umstellung auf die neuen Erstsemester hat.MethodenDaten der Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung wurden für die letzten beiden Wintersemester (WS) vor und die ersten 3 WS nach der Umstellung verglichen.Ergebnisse und DiskussionWährend sich der Einfluss des neuen Verfahrens auf die Studierenden mit vorheriger medizinnaher Ausbildung noch nicht endgültig beurteilen lässt, bleiben durchschnittliche Abiturnote und Frauenanteile annähernd unverändert und der Studienort ist nach wie vor bevorzugt wohnortsnah. Die Studierenden sind jünger geworden und der Länderausgleich gleicht die Chancen für Abiturient:innen aus Bundesländern mit besseren und schlechteren Abiturnoten an. Ein neues Ungleichgewicht entsteht jedoch, weil der Länderausgleich die Anzahl der Bewerber:innen berücksichtigt – und ländlich geprägte Bundesländer weniger Bewerber:innen hervorbringen. Da aber Landärzt:innen häufig auch ursprünglich aus ländlichen Gebieten stammen, ist eine Verschärfung des Ärzt:innenmangels gerade in den neuen Bundesländern ein mögliches Zukunftsszenario. Ein veränderter Notenausgleichsmechanismus könnte hier zusätzlich zur Landarztquote entgegenwirken.

The Effect of Epidural Electrical Stimulation Application in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a significant cause of disability, affecting both children and adults worldwide. These injuries can arise from various conditions, including traumatic, vascular, tumor-related, infection-related, inflammatory (such as multiple sclerosis), or neurodegenerative (like motor neuron disease) origins. Among these, traumatic spinal cord injuries caused by reasons like falls and traffic accidents stand out, particularly in developed countries. Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) was initially used to inhibit chronic pain. Subsequent studies have shown its effectiveness in individuals with SCI. In research spanning from the past to the present, EES applications have been utilized for activities such as motor function improvement, sensory enhancement, bowel functions, increased sexual functionality, and regulating heart rhythms in people with SCI. However, the exact impact of EES remains inconclusive at present and is still a subject of debate.

The use of mobile health applications in empowering self-management of type 2 diabetes: a literature review

The use of mobile health applications is vital for achieving glycemic control, promoting lifestyle changes, and empowering self-management in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This literature review aims to assess the effectiveness of mobile health applications in empowering self-management among type 2 diabetes patients. A thorough search was conducted in databases like PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, ULAKBIM National Database, and Medline between January 2020 and March 2023, using keywords such as "mobile health, mobile applications, type 2 diabetes, diabetes self-management, nursing." The search yielded 525 articles, out of which 34 studies in Turkish or English that evaluated the effectiveness of mobile health applications in individuals aged 18 years and above with type 2 diabetes were included in the review. Recent studies demonstrate a growing utilization of mobile health applications for the management of treatment and care in individuals with type 2 diabetes. These applications have been shown to empower self-management by promoting dietary adherence, regular blood sugar monitoring, regular physical activity, reduced medication requirements, and decreased HbA1c levels. Additionally, mobile health applications have been found to reduce face-to-face counseling time and healthcare costs. In conclusion, mobile health applications offer promising solutions for improving self-management and healthcare outcomes for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Further research and continued integration of these applications into clinical practice are essential to optimize their benefits and address the challenges faced by diabetes patients worldwide.

The application and sustainable development of coral in traditional medicine and its chemical composition, pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical research.

This review discusses the variety, chemical composition, pharmacological effects, toxicology, and clinical research of corals used in traditional medicine in the past twodecades. At present, several types of medicinal coral resources are identified, which are used in 56 formulas such as traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine, Mongolian medicine, and Uyghur medicine. A total of 34 families and 99 genera of corals are involved in medical research, with the Alcyoniidae family and Sarcophyton genus being the main research objects. Based on the structural types of compounds and the families and genera of corals, this review summarizes the compounds primarily reported during the period, including terpenoids, steroids, nitrogen-containing compounds, and other terpenoids dominated by sesquiterpene and diterpenes. The biological activities of coral include cytotoxicity (antitumor and anticancer), anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, immunosuppressive, antioxidant, and neurological properties, and a detailed summary of the mechanisms underlying these activities or related targets is provided. Coral toxicity mostly occurs in the marine ornamental soft coral Zoanthidae family, with palytoxin as the main toxic compound. In addition, nonpeptide neurotoxins are extracted from aquatic corals. The compatibility of coral-related preparations did not show significant acute toxicity, but if used for a long time, it will still cause toxicity to the liver, kidneys, lungs, and other internal organs in a dose-dependent manner. In clinical applications, individual application of coral is often used as a substitute for orthopedic materials to treat diseases such as bone defects and bone hyperplasia. Second, coral is primarily available in the form of compound preparations, such as Ershiwuwei Shanhu pills and Shanhu Qishiwei pills, which are widely used in the treatment of neurological diseases such as migraine, primary headache, epilepsy, cerebral infarction, hypertension, and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is undeniable that the effectiveness of coral research has exacerbated the endangered status of corals. Therefore, there should be no distinction between the advantages and disadvantages of listed endangered species, and it is imperative to completely prohibit their use and provide equal protection to help them recover to their normal numbers. This article can provide some reference for research on coral chemical composition, biological activity, chemical ecology, and the discovery of marine drug lead compounds. At the same time, it calls for people to protect endangered corals from the perspectives of prohibition, substitution, and synthesis.

Arabic gum/chitosan/Zn–NPs composite film maintains the quality of Hass avocado fruit by delaying ripening and activating enzymatic defense mechanisms

Avocado fruit is a climacteric fruit that has a short life after harvest. Chitosan (Ch) and Arabic gum (AG) have a pronounced effect on the storability of fruits. This investigation aimed to determine the effect of individual or combined use of Ch and AG as well as Ch/AG enriched with 2, 4, 8% Zn–NPs on physio-biochemical attributes and antioxidant capacity of Hass avocado fruit during cold storage (7 °C). The result showed that Ch or AG alone succeeded in maintaining fruit quality of Hass fruit during cold storage. Also, combined application of Ch/AG was more effective than individual application of Ch or AG in reducing fruit weight and polyphenol oxidase activity (PPO) as well as increasing total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Moreover, Ch/AG coating enriched with 8% Zn–NPs recorded the lowest fruit weight loss, fruit decay %, TSS fruit content, fruit firmness and improved fruit skin and pulp color significantly compared to Ch/AG and control. Coating with Ch/AG/2%Zn NPs recorded the highest peroxidase (POD) activity, while Ch/AG/8% Zn–NPs recorded the highest TAC and the lowest PPO activity. Moreover, enriched Ch/GA with Zn–NPs recorded the highest CAT and POD activity compared to the control. This study shows the efficiency of Ch/AG enriched with Zn–NPs on preserving Hass avocado fruit quality during cold storage by delaying ripening process and activating enzymatic defense mechanisms.

The Use of Scoring Rubrics in University

This study examines the application of scoring rubrics as an evaluative instrument in higher education environments. Specifically, it explores the advantages, validity, and reliability associated with their use. Scoring rubrics provide a systematic and unbiased methodology for assessing various academic assignments, assisting educators in delivering constructive feedback and promoting student development. The study delves into the benefits associated with the utilization of rubrics, which encompass improved levels of transparency, uniformity, and fairness in the grading process. Furthermore, it investigates the validity and reliability of rubrics, ensuring the precision and consistency of evaluation outcomes. Moreover, this study explores the utilization of holistic and analytic rubrics within Malaysian universities, providing an analysis of their individual applications and advantages in the evaluation procedure. In the pursuit of improving assessment methods, institutions are increasingly recognizing the significance of including scoring rubrics as a valuable instrument to facilitate high-quality education and foster student achievement.

Assessing Theory of Mind in Children: A Tablet-Based Adaptation of a Classic Picture Sequencing Task.

Correctly assessing children's theory of mind (TOM) is essential to clinical practice. Yet, most tasks heavily rely on language, which is an obstacle for several populations. Langdon and Coltheart's (Cognition 71(1):43-71, 1999) Picture Sequencing Task (PST), developed for research purposes, avoids this limitation through a minimally-verbal procedure. We thus developed a tablet adaptation of this task for individual application, engaging children's motivation and allowing response times collection. To assess this tablet-PST, we first tested a large sample of neurotypical children (6-11 years-old, N = 248), whose results confirmed the task's structural and content validity, and permitted the construction of three standardized clinical indices. In a second experiment, we applied those to previously diagnosed autistic children (N = 23), who were expected to show atypical TOM performance. Children's outcomes were consistent with what was hypothesized and confirmed the task's external validity and moderate clinical sensitivity. The tablet-PST thus appears as a suitable tool, providing detailed profiles to inform clinical decisions.

The utilization of video laryngoscopy in nasotracheal intubation for oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures: a narrative review.

The video laryngoscope is a novel instrument for intubation that enables indirect visualization of the upper airway. It is recognized for its ability to enhance Cormack-Lehane grades in the management of difficult airways. Notably, video laryngoscopy is associated with equal or higher rates of intubation success within a shorter time frame than direct laryngoscopy. Video laryngoscopy facilitates faster and easier visualization of the glottis and reduces the need for Magill forceps, thereby shortening the intubation time. Despite the advanced glottic visualization afforded by video laryngoscopy, nasotracheal tube insertion and advancement occasionally fail. This is particularly evident during nasotracheal intubation, where oropharyngeal blood or secretions may obstruct the visual field on the monitor, thereby complicating video laryngoscopy. Moreover, the use of Magill forceps is markedly challenging or nearly unfeasible in this context, especially in pediatric cases. Furthermore, the substantial blade size of video laryngoscopes may restrict their applicability in individuals with limited oral apertures. This study aimed to review the literature on video laryngoscopy, discuss its clinical role in nasotracheal intubation, and address the challenges that anesthesiologists may encounter during the intubation process.

3D printing applications on textiles: Measurement of air permeability for potential use in stab-proof vests

The most important piece of safety equipment is developed as a reinforced piece of body armor to resist attacks to the upper parts of the body so as to save the lives of its wearers to offer protection against stabbing with sharp-tipped objects. The majority of commercial stab resistant armors are not comfortable for users to wear during their whole duty shift. The three-dimensional (3D) printing has given great opportunity to develop equipment for a particular and individual application with the incorporation of performance and comfort. Stab protective armor has been developed by 3D printing without compromising the protection performance for a particular energy level to improve the comfort of the armor vest so that users are willing to wear during their whole duty shift. In this study, air permeability is used to measure the comfort tendency of the protective armor as a safety gear without reducing the protection performance. In this study the effect of textile materials and structures, shapes of 3D prints as the segmentation of scales, size of scales, parts of the full vest, attachments, and air exposure sides of the panel are investigated. The result revealed that the air permeability of the 3D printed protective armor vest improved the comfort as compared to the commercially available armor vests of both from a single plate and large sized segmented scales.

A micro-scale humanized ventilator-on-a-chip to examine the injurious effects of mechanical ventilation.

Patients with compromised respiratory function frequently require mechanical ventilation to survive. Unfortunately, non-uniform ventilation of injured lungs generates complex mechanical forces that lead to ventilator induced lung injury (VILI). Although investigators have developed lung-on-a-chip systems to simulate normal respiration, modeling the complex mechanics of VILI as well as the subsequent recovery phase is a challenge. Here we present a novel humanized in vitro ventilator-on-a-chip (VOC) model of the lung microenvironment that simulates the different types of injurious forces generated in the lung during mechanical ventilation. We used transepithelial/endothelial electrical impedance measurements to investigate how individual and simultaneous application of mechanical forces alters real-time changes in barrier integrity during and after injury. We find that compressive stress (i.e. barotrauma) does not significantly alter barrier integrity while over-distention (20% cyclic radial strain, volutrauma) results in decreased barrier integrity that quickly recovers upon removal of mechanical stress. Conversely, surface tension forces generated during airway reopening (atelectrauma), result in a rapid loss of barrier integrity with a delayed recovery relative to volutrauma. Simultaneous application of cyclic stretching (volutrauma) and airway reopening (atelectrauma), indicates that the surface tension forces associated with reopening fluid-occluded lung regions are the primary driver of barrier disruption. Thus, our novel VOC system can monitor the effects of different types of injurious forces on barrier disruption and recovery in real-time and can be used to interogate the biomechanical mechanisms of VILI.

In vivo studies could not confirm in vitro prophylactic synergism between Moringa essential oil and Lactobacillus reuteri (MT180537).

Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is a recently defined vaginal recurring infection, which is treated with antibiotics. However, excessive and prolonged use of antibiotics disrupts healthy vaginal microflora and leads to the emergence of antibiotic resistance among pathogens. This situation has directed researchers to explore alternative antimicrobials. The current study describes in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial efficacy and pharmaceutical interactions between plant essential oils (EOs) and five lactic acid bacteria (LABs), isolated from the healthy vagina, against E. faecalis, one of the major etiological agents of AV. In vitro experiments confirm good antimicrobial activity of both plant EOs and cell free supernatant (CFS) from LABs. Based on high antimicrobial efficacy, Moringa essential oil (MO) was selected to determine its nature of interaction with CFS of five LAB strains. Synergism was recorded between MO and CFS of L. reuteri (MT180537). To validate in vitro findings, prophylactic responses of individual and synergistic application of MO and L. reuteri (MT180537) were evaluated in an E. faecalis (MW051601) induced AV murine model. The prophylactic efficacy was evidenced by a reduction in intensity of clinical symptoms, E. faecalis (MW051601) count per vaginal tissue along with a reduction in AV associated changes in histological markers of infection in animals receiving Moringa essential oil and L. reuteri (MT180537) alone or in combination. However, significant synergism between Moringa essential oil and L. reuteri (MT180537) could not be observed. Our data confirms the importance of in vivo experiments in deducing pharmacological interactions.

De-intensification of postoperative radiotherapy in head and neck cancer irrespective of human papillomavirus status-results of a prospective multicenter phase II trial (DIREKHT Trial).

Current standard treatment concepts in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are based on former studies using 2D and 3D treatment plans. However, modern radiation techniques allow for a more precise and individual dose application. Therefore, in a clearly defined patient population, de-intensified risk-adapted radiation is investigated. Patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC after surgery (with resection margins ≥1 mm and cM0) with the following tumor stages (TNM 7th Edition) were eligible for the study: oral cavity, oropharynx, or larynx: pT1-3, pN0-pN2b; hypopharynx: pT1-2, pN1. The patients should have either a low risk of local recurrence [≤pT2, resection margin ≥5 mm, no peritumoral lymphangiosis (L0), and no perineural invasion] or contralateral lymph node metastasis (≤3 ipsilateral lymph node metastases, in case of well-lateralized oropharyngeal or oral cavity cancer contralateral cN0, otherwise pN0). Patients were assigned to three different treatment regimes with reduction of the treated volume, radiation dose, or both, according to tumor stage and results of surgery performed. The primary objective was to show an LRR of <10% after 2 years. A total of 150 patients were enrolled. Tumor localizations were as follows: n = 53 (35.3%), oral cavity; n = 94 (62.7%), oropharynx (82% HPV-positive); n = 2 (1.3%), hypopharynx; and n = 1 (0.7%), larynx. A total of 61 patients (41.0%) were stage IVA, 81 (54.0%) were stage III, and 8 (5.3%) were stage II. Median follow-up was 36 months. Cumulative incidence of 2y-LRR was 5.6% (95% CI: 1.7%-9.2%) in the whole study population and 14.1% (95% CI: 3.8%-23.2%) in patients with oral cavity cancer. Cumulative incidence of 2y-LRR in non-irradiated or dose-reduced regions was 3.5% (95% CI: 0.4%-6.5%). After 2 years, disease-free survival was 92% (95% CI: 87%-96%) and overall survival was 94% (95% CI: 90%-98%) for the complete study cohort. Acute III° toxicity was as follows: dysphagia, 30%; xerostomia, 7%; mucositis, 19%; and dermatitis, 4%. Dysphagia and xerostomia decrease over time. After 27 months, late dysphagia III° and xerostomia II° were 1% and 9%, respectively. The study met its primary objective. De-intensification of postoperative radiotherapy irrespective of HPV status in a predefined patient population is associated with a favorable toxicity profile without compromising LRR. In an unplanned subgroup analysis, a significantly increased risk of LRR was observed in patients with oral cavity cancer. In these patients, de-intensified radiotherapy should be applied with caution.

User-Controlled Privacy: Taint, Track, and Control

We develop the first language-based, Privacy by Design approach that provides support for a rich class of privacy policies. The policies are user-defined, rather than programmer-defined, and support fine-grained information flow restrictions (considering individual application inputs and outputs) with temporal constraints. Our approach, called Taint, Track, and Control (TTC), combines dynamic information-flow control and runtime verification to enforce these policies in the presence of malicious users and developers. We provide TTC's semantics and proofs of its correct enforcement, formalized in the Isabelle/HOL proof assistant. We also implement our approach in a web development framework and port three baseline applications from previous work into this framework for evaluation. Overall, our approach enforces expressive user-defined privacy policies with practical runtime performance.

The application of biochar improves the nutrient supply efficiency of organic fertilizer, sustains soil quality and promotes sustainable crop production

AbstractRapeseed meal, a nutritious organic fertilizer (OF), contributes to improving soil environment and crop productivity. However, there are also problems, namely slow fertilizer efficiency and low nutrient utilization during the growing season. This 2‐year field trial was conducted to explore the effect of biochar addition on improving the nutrient availability of OF through a comparative study of various biochar application rates under rice‐rapeseed rotation conditions. The findings revealed that, compared to the individual application of chemical fertilizers (CF), OF alone decreased rice yield (2%/2%) and rapeseed yield (6%/10%) in 2019/2020. Compared with OF, combining biochar (15 t ha−1) with OF (OF + B15) significantly increased rice yield (17%/10%) and rapeseed yield (25%/20%) in the first/second year. Additionally, OF + B15 still increased rice yield (14%/7%) and rapeseed yield (12%/13%) for two consecutive years compared to CF. The co‐application of biochar and OF had positive impacts on soil physicochemical properties and enzymes. Compared to OF, OF + B15 elevated soil organic carbon (SOC) by 57%–81%, soil catalase 19%, invertase 14%–20%, urease 17%–19%, and phosphatase 13%–17% during rice season, and similarly increased SOC by 77%–90%, soil catalase 14%–16%, invertase 14%–20%, urease 18%–24%, and phosphatase 16%–17% in rapeseed season. Biochar addition improved soil conditions and enzymatic activities, and the available nutrient supply of OF. Also, the co‐application of biochar and rapeseed meal surpassed the effect of chemical fertilizer alone on the growth and yield of crops. Therefore, biochar coupling with organic fertilizer is an effective fertilization strategy based on resource recycling, which promotes both crop yield and sustainable agriculture.

Predictive value of Caprini risk assessment model, D-dimer, and fibrinogen levels on lower extremity deep vein thrombosis in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Research indicates that individuals experiencing hemorrhagic stroke face a greater likelihood of developing lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) compared to those with ischemic stroke. This study aimed to assess the predictive capacity of the Caprini risk assessment model (RAM), D-dimer (D-D) levels, and fibrinogen (FIB) levels for lower extremity DVT in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). This study involved a retrospective analysis of medical records from all sICH patients admitted to Shanghai General Hospital between June 2020 and June 2023. Within 48 h of admission, patients underwent routine screening via color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS). Patients were categorized into the DVT and control groups based on the occurrence of lower extremity DVT during hospitalization. Differences in Caprini RAM, D-dimer, and FIB levels between the two groups were compared. The sensitivity and specificity of combined Caprini RAM, peripheral blood D-dimer, and FIB levels in predicting lower extremity DVT in sICH patients were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves assessed the overall predictive accuracy of Caprini RAM, D-D, and FIB levels. The study involving 842 sICH patients revealed 225 patients with DVT and 617 patients without DVT. Caprini RAM, D-D, and FIB levels were significantly higher in the DVT group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Sensitivity values for Caprini RAM, D-D, and FIB levels in predicting lower extremity DVT in sICH patients were 0.920, 0.893, and 0.680, respectively, while specificities were 0.840, 0.680, and 0.747, respectively. The ROC curve analysis demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.947 for combined DVT prediction, with 97.33% sensitivity and 92.00% specificity, indicating superior predictive value compared to individual applications of Caprini RAM, D-D, and FIB levels. The combined utilization of Caprini RAM, D-D, and FIB levels holds significant clinical relevance in predicting lower extremity DVT in sICH patients.

Multi-material additive manufacturing through electrostatic metal powder attraction and laser-induced forward transfer

The possibility to produce multi-materials and functionally graded materials opens new opportunities within material development, not only to explore new possibilities for combinations of different materials, but also to develop entirely new materials. Materials that are customized for individual applications and purposes down to the level of a single product. Here a process is described, where applied voltage onto a machine element results in an electrostatic attraction of powder. The machine element has certain electrical abilities and is transparent to certain wavelengths of light. The powder attraction is relatively uncomplex using a high DC voltage source with low amperage. The attracted powder on the machine element is selectively transferred to the workpiece by using laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT). The final goal is to melt the transferred powder onto the workpiece with the laser from LIFT. This part of the process and its developments are discussed in detail. Thereby, the powder is selectively added to the workpiece surface, making it possible to apply a combination of different materials without contaminating the powder stock.

Türkiye İnsan Hakları Ve Eşitlik Kurumuna Yapılan Şikayet Başvurularında Kabul Edilebilirlik Koşulları

Ulusal insan hakları kurumları (UİHK), insanların temel haklarının ulusal düzeyde korunması ve geliştirilmesi için önemli mekanizmalar olarak kabul edilmektedir. 2016 yılında 6701 sayılı Kanun ile kurulan Türkiye İnsan Hakları ve Eşitlik Kurumu (TİHEK) 24.11.2017 tarihinden itibaren bazı konularda şikâyet başvurusu almaya başlamıştır. TİHEK’e ayrımcılığa maruz kalan kişiler ile ulusal önleme mekanizması çerçevesinde özgürlüklerinden yoksun bırakılan kişiler başvuru yapabilmektedir. TİHEK, insan hakları ihlallerine karşı resen araştırma yapmak, suç niteliği taşıyan eylem varsa ilgililer hakkında suç duyurusunda bulunmak, bu ihlallerin sona erdirilmesi için gerekli girişimlerde bulunmak yetkisine de sahiptir. Bu makale, TİHEK’e yapılan bireysel başvurularda kişi yönünden yetki (ratione personae), konu yönünden yetki (ratione materiae), zaman bakımından yetki (ratione temporis) ve yer bakımından yetkiye (ratione loci) ilişkin kabul edilebilirlik koşullarına odaklanmaktadır. Kabul edilirlik koşulları TİHEK kararları ışığı altında incelenmiş ve TİHEK’e başvurunun niteliği ile Kamu Denetçiliği Kurumu ve Anayasa Mahkemesinin temel hakların korunması hakkındaki başvuruların niteliği bakımından karşılaştırma yapılmıştır.