Negative Pearson Correlation Research Articles

Two-photon nanolithography of sub-micrometer thickness microlenses designed by NPCC assisted Rayleigh Sommerfeld diffraction integral

Recent development of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and inverse design methods have demonstrated their prospective significance for planar diffractive lens design, with a plethora of optical lenses designed for wavelengths ranging from visible to Thz wavelengths. However, previous research to design planner diffractive lenses only considers the maximum intensity in the focus area or its derivatives as the optimization function, leaving the intensity outside the focus area unconsidered. We proposed and investigated a two-dimensional (2D) physics-driven ANN method assisted by the negative Pearson correlation coefficient (NPCC) to design microlenses with varied focusing distances, which takes the entire 2D intensity distribution at the focus plane as an optimization function. Taking advantage of 3D two-photon nanolithographic technology, sub-micrometer thickness microlenses with varied focusing lengths are designed and fabricated, achieving an average focusing efficiency of around 35%, and an average focusing spot size of about 1 µm. Furthermore, a microlens array (19 by 19 microlenses with a total size of 4 mm2) with a curved focusing plane was fabricated and integrated into a CMOS sensor, achieving direct object imaging under incoherent white light illumination. Our results demonstrate that the NPCC is a very useful optimization function for designing planar diffractive lenses, and the use of NPCC in ANNs is of great potential for the future design of functional diffractive optical elements in optics and nanophotonics.

Metabolic Profiling of ‘Elstar’ and ‘Nicoter’ Apples: Impact of Storage Time, Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere and 1-MCP Treatment

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of CA and DCA on sugars, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), anaerobic metabolism and some volatile compounds of ‘Elstar’ and ‘Nicoter’ apples. This study also aimed to evaluate the effect of ethylene action blocking by 1-MCP (0.650 ppm). The storage conditions tested for both cultivars were (1) CA; (2) DCA-CF; (3) DCA-RQ 1.3; (4) DCA-RQ 1.5; (5) DCA-CD 1.1; and (6) DCA-CD 1.3. The lowest oxygen limit (LOL) was higher for the ‘Nicoter’ apples, and the three DCA methods were able to detect this difference between the cultivars. Sorbitol had a trend of accumulation when the fruit was stored under DCA-RQ and DCA-CD, especially in higher RQ and CD, showing a negative Pearson correlation with the oxygen partial pressure over the storage period. The 1-MCP treatment induced sorbitol accumulation even when the fruit was stored under CA. The TCA intermediaries, such as citrate, 2-oxoglutarate, succinate, fumarate and oxaloacetate, were the most affected by the atmosphere conditions and the 1-MCP treatment for both cultivars. Malic acid was more affected by the storage time than the atmosphere conditions. Succinate and fumarate had an accumulation trend when the fruit was stored under DCA-RQ.

Computational screening and investigation of ligand effect on TM single atom catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Here, we studied the stability, electronic characteristics, and HER catalytic performance of transition metal single atom catalysts, both with and without the presence of chlorine ligand. The findings indicate that all catalysts, except for Au, Au-Cl, Ag, Ag-Cl, are thermodynamically stable. We found 3d transition metals are more stable than those in the 4d and 5d series. Ag-Cl, Sc, Ag, Fe-Cl, and Cr-Cl have the poorest electrochemical stability. We found a negative Pearson correlation between Fermi energy and formation energy for TM-Cl, which is opposite to the trend observed for bare TM catalysts. The higher HER activity of chlorine bonded system for the early 3d TM suggests that the downshifting of the d-band center facilitates the activity. We also observed a periodic trend in the d-band center for both TM and TM-Cl systems. Mn-Cl, Cr-Cl, Ti-Cl, Fe-Cl, V-Cl and Zn emerged as the superior catalysts in our study series.

Correlation of American Urological Association Symptom Index Domains with Uroflowmetric Peak Flow in Thai Patients with Suspected Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlations between the obstructive and irritative domain scores of the total AUA-SI and the uroflowmetric peak flow rate (Qmax) in Thai patients suspected of having benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 510 patients who presented with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) and were suspected of having BPH at the Urology Outpatient Department of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand. A self-administered AUA-SI score was used to determine the severity of symptoms, and uroflowmetry was conducted to determine parameters, including flow rate variable. Results: A significant correlation was observed between the AUA-SI score and uroflowmetric peak flow (Qmax). The AUA-SI and its obstructive domain had weak negative Pearson correlations with uroflowmetric peak flow (r = −0.164 and −0.185, respectively; P < 0.01). The irritative domain was inversely associated with Qmax (r = 0.097, P = 0.028). However, when patients in each subgroup with mild (AUA-SI = 0 - 7), moderate (AUA-SI = 8–19), and severe symptoms (AUA-SI = 20–35) were considered, the relationship was found to be not significant. Conclusion: The study revealed a significant weak negative correlation between the AUA-SI score and Qmax, but no significant correlations were found between the obstructive and irritative domains and Qmax in the subgroup analysis.

Prediction of angular correction following first metatarsal-phalangeal joint arthrodesis

The literature has established that the first metatarsal-phalangeal joint arthrodesis procedure will provide some correction of the first intermetatarsal and hallux valgus angles. But while this has previously primarily been investigated as a simple association (i.e. comparison of pre-operative to post-operative values), the objective of this investigation was to consider angular change as a continuous variable and to specifically correlate it with pre-operative values. Radiographs from 100 consecutive first metatarsal-phalangeal joint arthrodeses meeting selection criteria were evaluated. A negative Pearson correlation coefficient was observed between the pre-operative first intermetatarsal angle and intraoperative change in the first intermetatarsal angle (Pearson -0.547; p<0.001). In other words, with progressively increased levels of pre-operative intermetatarsal angle deformity, one should expect greater intermetatarsal angle correction. The relationship is described by the equation Y = 2.82 – 0.38X indicating that for every one degree of pre-operative intermetatarsal deformity over approximately 7 degrees, 0.38 degrees of post-operative correction might be expected. A negative Pearson correlation was observed between the pre-operative hallux valgus angle and the intraoperative change in the first hallux valgus angle (Pearson -0.806; p<0.001). In other words, with progressively increased levels of pre-operative hallux valgus angle deformity, one should expect greater hallux valgus correction. The relationship is described by the equation Y = 5.5 – 0.63X indicating that for every one degree of pre-operative hallux valgus angle deformity over approximately 9 degrees, 0.63 degrees of hallux valgus angle post-operative correction might be expected. Results of this investigation demonstrate a statistical correlation between pre-operative radiographic deformity and intermetatarsal angle and hallux valgus angle post-operative correction, and might provide foot and ankle surgeons with a degree pre-operative prediction of expected angular correction following the procedure. Level of Evidence3

Assessment of Hyperacute Cerebral Ischemia Using Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of cerebral ischemia severity is crucial for clinical decision making. Laser speckle contrast imaging-based cerebral blood flow imaging can help assess the severity of cerebral ischemia by monitoring changes in blood flow. Method: In this study, we simulated hyperacute ischemia in rats, isolating arterial and venous flow-related signals from cortical vasculature. Pearson correlation was used to examine the correlation between damaged vessels. Granger causality analysis was used to investigate causality correlation in ischemic vessels. Results: Resting state analysis revealed a negative Pearson correlation between regional arteries and veins. Following cerebral ischemia induction, a positive artery-vein correlation emerged, which vanished after blood flow reperfusion. Granger causality analysis demonstrating enhanced causality coefficients for middle artery-vein pairs during occlusion, with a stronger left-right arterial effect than that of right-left, which persisted after reperfusion. Conclusions: These processing approaches amplify the understanding of cerebral ischemic images, promising potential future diagnostic advancements.

New strategy to optimize in-situ fenton oxidation for TPH contaminated soil remediation via artificial neural network approach

In-situ remediation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contaminated soils via Fenton oxidation is a promising approach. However, determining the proper injection amount of H2O2 and Fe source over the Fenton reaction in the complex geological conditions for in-situ TPH soil remediation remains a daunting challenge. Herein, we introduced a practical and novel approach using soft computational models, a multilayer perception artificial neural network (MPLNN), for predicting the TPH removal performance. In this study, we conducted 48 sets of TPH removal experiments using Fenton oxidation to determine the TPH removal performance of a wide range of different ground conditions and generated 336 data points. As a result, a negative Pearson correlation coefficient was obtained in the Fe injection mass and the natural presence of Fe mineral in the soil, indicating that the excess of Fe could significantly retarded the TPH removal performance in the Fenton reaction. In addition, the MPLNN model with 6-6-1 training using Scaled conjugate gradient backpropagation (SCG) with tangent sigmoid as the transfer function demonstrated a high accuracy for TPH removal prediction with the correlation determination of 0.974 and mean square error value of 0.0259. The optimized MPLNN model achieved less than 20% error for predicting TPH removal performance in actual TPH-contaminated soil via Fenton oxidation. Hence, the proposed MPLNN can be useful in improving the Fenton oxidation of TPH removal performance in-situ soil remediation.

Interfacial adhesion features of high-viscosity asphalt and aggregate under water conditioning: Micro perspective and molecular simulation

Interface properties between asphalt and aggregate intimately affect the service performance and long-term durability of asphalt pavement. This study seeks to explore the interfacial adhesion features of high-viscosity asphalt (HVA)-aggregate under water conditioning to provide the understanding for the moisture damage of HVA-aggregate interface and asphalt pavement. To this end, the HVA was initially suffered from different durations of water conditioning, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) test was employed to gather the microscopic phase structure and adhesion force of water-conditioned HVA and aggregate, to analyze the adhesion variations of HVA-aggregate interface. Further, molecular dynamics method was used to simulate the changing process and influencing mechanism of adhesion effect at the HVA-aggregate interface under water immersion. The findings indicated that with the increasing water immersion, Catana phase of HVAs vanished, and concave and convex structures appeared on the surface, along with pit groove dispersion phase structures. Longer immersion time resulted in augmented surface roughness of HVA and a more dispersed height distribution in the area domain, most notably during the initial stages of water immersion. Aging increased sensitivity to immersion duration in terms of surface roughness, mechanical properties and adhesion ability of HVAs. Water immersion had a diminishing effect on the mechanical properties of HVA at different aging degrees, although it increased the micro-mechanical modulus of HVAs and impaired the interface adhesion with aggregates. Under water immersion, the phase structure and mechanical properties of HVAs and the interface adhesion indexes all distinguished a prominent negative Pearson correlation (correlation coefficient |R| > 0.7000), and these factors were critical for HVA-aggregate interface adhesion, as alterations in surface phase structure and micro-mechanical traits of HVAs triggered variations in the HVA-aggregate interface adhesion. In addition, water content in the interface layer, simulation temperature and mineral anisotropy significantly affected the interfacial adhesion of HVA and aggregate in water environment. The introduction of water and the rise of temperature considerably weakened the interfacial adhesion effect of asphalt-aggregate system, and the interface adhesion failure occurred once the water layer thickness surpassed 5 Å. Comparatively, the HVA-calcite system demonstrated better interfacial adhesion competence than the HVA-α-quartz system, and the HVA-calcite {1 0 4} system showed the optimal interfacial adhesion.

Phytotoxicity of Dactylonectria spp. exudates on kiwifruit vine and profile of secondary metabolites for understanding their relationship with the host plant

Kiwifruit vine decline syndrome (KVDS), which is responsible for a progressive decline in yields in Italy, is linked to a non-specific reduction in root development, the biotic or abiotic causes of which are still unclear. Dactylonectria is one of the most common soil-borne fungi associated with kiwifruit vines, However, its role in KVDS has not yet been clarified; therefore, Dactylonectria functional relationship with kiwifruit vine at rhizosphere level was investigated focusing solely on its exudates. Six isolates, four from kiwifruit-bearing soils belonging to D. torresensis. D. ecuadoriensis, D. novozelandica and D. pauciseptata, and two D. torresensis from a virgin soil, was tested for phytotoxicity of exudates by growing kiwifruit in vitro plants on MS media amended at 50% with sterile fungal filtrates. Parallelly, low molecular weight (LMW) metabolic profile of fungal filtrates was evaluated with untargeted metabolomics approach using LC-MS/TOF. The fungal isolates from kiwifruit bearing soil were much richer in LMW metabolites than those from virgin soil. Non host specific mycotoxins such as Aflaxoxin B2, Alternariol and Alterlactone were found in these isolates along with a number of metabolites most of which were characterised by antimicrobial properties. D. torresensis isolates were clearly discriminated from the other three species based on metabolic profile. A negative Pearson correlation between the growth index of kiwifruit vitro-plants and LMW metabolite count per isolate (richness) showed that the latter were associated with phytotoxicity, but the degree of correlation (r = −0.639) indicated that they were not the only component responsible. The results suggest that kiwifruit vines may alter the composition of the Dactylonectria spp. community in the root zone, which in turn may directly or indirectly contribute to kiwifruit vine decline syndrome.

The Expression of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha (HIF-1α) as a Potential Target for Hypoxic Therapy in COVID-19 Cases

Background: The cellular response to hypoxia is characterized by the stabilization of the HIF-1α protein, which will form a transcription factor that activates genes for low oxygen adaptation. Positive cases of COVID-19 are often characterized by hypoxia, especially in patients with comorbidities. This hypoxic condition will mediate drug resistance or weaken the patient's condition, resulting in lengthening treatment time and even causing death. This study aims to analyze the cellular expression of the HIF-1α gene in patients confirmed positive for COVID-19 with the alpha, beta, delta, and omicron variants. Methods: The research design used was observational, with parameters measuring HIF-1 mRNA expression (RT-PCR, protein (ELISA), and its correlation. The samples used were nose-throat swabs from COVID-19 patients. Results: The expression of HIF-1α mRNA and protein levels produced in variants of COVID-19 patients was compared with controls (times; ng/mL): alpha (0.53; 18.08), beta (0.92; 19.98), delta (0.65; 25.83), and omicron (0.73; 19.85) (Kruskal-Wallis test, p &lt;0.01). The correlation between mRNA expression of HIF-1α and HIF-1α proteins was found to be significantly negative (Pearson Correlation test R = -0.589). Conclusion: In this study, it was found that a decrease in HIF-1α mRNA expression (the result of transcription) increased the levels of HIF-1α protein (the result of translation) and stable HIF-1α expression. Moreover, cellular hypoxia occurred in patients with confirmed positive for COVID-19, with the alpha, beta, delta, and omicron variants. This study can be used as a basis for therapy to control viruses that cause hypoxia in the future. result: The expression of HIF-1α mRNA and protein levels produced in variants of COVID-19 patients compared with controls (times; ng/mL): alpha (0.53; 18.08), beta (0.92; 19.98), delta (0.65 ; 25.83), omicron (0.73; 19.85) (Kruskal Wallis test, p &lt;0.01); The correlation between mRNA expression of HIF-1α and HIF-1α proteins obtained strong negative results (Pearson Correlation test R = -0.589 ).

Low Dietary Betaine Intake Is Associated with Increased Blood Cholesterol in Mexican Subjects.

Betaine, an osmolyte derivative of the metabolite choline and the amino acid glycine, acts as a methyl donor in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine and is involved in the maintenance of adequate lipid metabolism. There is growing evidence for the role of betaine in the development of various lipid-related diseases, including dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to analyze associations between betaine intake and blood lipid profiles in Mexican subjects. A total of 212 adults were randomly recruited in the city of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Betaine intake was estimated using Nutritionist Pro software. Body composition and metabolic measurements were obtained by conventional methods. In the total sample, the average intake of betaine was 14.32 mg/d. Individuals were categorized into three groups according to tertiles of betaine consumption: tertile/group 1 (<4.16 mg/d), tertile/group 2 (4.16-12.02 mg/d), and tertile/group 3 (>12.02 mg/d). Compared to group 3, subjects within group 1 had higher serum levels of total cholesterol (p = 0.001), LDL-c (p = 0.026), and non-HDL-c (p = 0.021). In addition, significant negative Pearson correlations were found between betaine intake and the serum levels of total cholesterol (r = -0.432, 95% CI, -0.684, -0.185, p = 0.001), LDL-c (r = -0.370, 95% CI, -0.606, -0.134, p = 0.002), and non-HDL-c (r = -0.351, 95%CI, -0.604, -0.098, p = 0.007). Our results show that a low intake of betaine is associated with elevated blood cholesterol levels in Mexican subjects. On this basis, betaine consumption could be used as an additional dietary measure for cardiovascular care. However, additional studies are required to confirm our results in other Mexican regions as well as in other populations worldwide.

INFLIXIMAB AND ITS BIOSIMILARS FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE: ANALYSIS OF MEDICARE PART D CLAIMS AND COSTS

Abstract INTRODUCTION Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) presents a multifaceted healthcare challenge, and biologics have emerged as crucial in its management. The introduction of biosimilars, designed to enhance cost-efficiency and access, has garnered significant attention. This analysis of the Medicare Part D database assesses trends in total drug claims and costs for infliximab and its biosimilars, specifically, infliximab-dyyb (FDA approved in 2016) and infliximab-abda (FDA approved in 2017). This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the influence of biosimilars on the utilization and cost trends of infliximab in the context of IBD. METHODS We used Python to extract all instances of infliximab, infliximab-dyyb, and infliximab-abda prescriptions, occurring at least once between 2013-2021 in each state from the Medicare Part D prescribers database. Univariate regressions were performed independently for each state to identify the slope and significance of the change in total drug claims and costs over time. The Pearson correlation coefficient (R) was calculated for each state, and we examined national trends to determine if a consistent pattern emerged. Two study periods, 2013-2017 and 2017-2021, were used to represent infliximab trends before and after the introduction of biosimilars, respectively. North Dakota and South Dakota were excluded from the study due to data limitations, while the Virgin Islands were included. RESULTS Our analysis revealed varied shifts in the utilization of infliximab across states following the introduction of biosimilars (Figure 1). At the national level, biosimilars exhibited increased utilization. In contrast, both the utilization and cost of infliximab continued to rise; however, the rate of increase decelerated (Table 1). This deceleration suggests that the introduction of biosimilars has influenced prescribing patterns. DISCUSSION Our findings underscore transformations in the landscape of biologic utilization for IBD, subsequent to the introduction of biosimilars. The ascension of biosimilars, marked by their increased utilization, signals their acceptance due to cost-effectiveness. Meanwhile, the utilization of infliximab appears to plateau, potentially reflecting the influence of biosimilars on prescribing patterns. Given the high cost of biologics, sustained efforts are imperative to address the overall cost of therapy and management for IBD patients. While promising trends are evident with increased biosimilar utilization and cost savings, ongoing initiatives are essential to optimize the cost-effectiveness of biologic treatments, ensuring accessible care for IBD patients without compromising outcomes. Figure 1 State trends in total infliximab claims from 2017-2021 in the Medicare Part D database. Negative Pearson correlation coefficients indicate an overall decrease in infliximab claims from 2017-2021, while positive values indicate an overall increase in claims. Table 1 US national trends in total Medicare Part D claims and costs for infliximab and its biosimilars from 2013-2021.

Analysis of the Influence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Strains on Changes in the Hexachlorobenzene Content in Fermented Mare Milk during Refrigerated Storage.

(1) Background: Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a persistent organic pollutant that is possibly carcinogenic to humans. It is still found in the environment, humans and animals, and in foods, including milk and dairy products; (2) Methods: The influence of the probiotic cultures Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LCR and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum LP on the possibility of effecting the biodegradation of HCB in dairy products fermented from mare milk was investigated, taking into account the product storage time (maximum 21 days). HCB content was determined using the GC/MS method; (3) Results: A strong negative Pearson correlation (p < 0.05) was found between HCB concentration and the refrigeration storage time of the fermented beverages. The highest HCB reduction was observed in milk fermented with both Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LCR and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum LP (78.77%), while the lowest was noted when only Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum LP was used (73.79%); (4) Conclusions: This pilot study confirmed that probiotics commonly used to give products health-promoting properties can also contribute to reducing the content of undesirable substances, and the bacterial cultures used might provide an alternative method for reducing HCB residues in fermented drinks.

Characterization of the mechanical properties of the cortex region of human hair fibers by multiparametric atomic force microscopy mapping

We show the benefit of the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in spectroscopy force mode (FV: force volume) for evaluation of the cosmetic active effectiveness in improving the mechanical properties of human hair fibers cortex region. For this, we characterized human hair fibers without and with chemical damage caused by bleaching process. Fiber and resin (embedding material) data were obtained simultaneously in the mapping in order to have the resin data as a reference to ensure a coherent comparison between data from the different fiber groups. Our AFM results, which were evaluated using statistical tests, demonstrated the degradation of fibers after bleaching, corroborating the findings of transmission electron microscopy analysis and the effectiveness of a cosmetic active ingredient in improving the Young's modulus (elastic modulus) (E) of the damaged fibers. We also found a radial decrease in the natural logarithm of Young's modulus ln(E) along the cross-section of the active group fiber, which is compatible with confocal Raman spectroscopy analysis by other authors, demonstrating variation of the active permeation with depth. We note that Young's modulus was also determined by a tensile tester (macro-scale technique), in which it was not possible to obtain statistically significant differences between the groups, evidencing the advantage of the FV-AFM analysis. We also found an increase in ln(E) accompanied by a decrease in maximum adhesion force between tip and sample (negative Pearson correlation coefficient). This result can be explained by the fact that structures composed of hydrophobic components have a higher Young's modulus than structures composed of hydrophilic components.•Bleaching damage and cosmetic hair treatment assessed by AFM, TEM, and tensile tester.•Young's modulus by AFM nanoindentation of hair fibers monitored by sample standard.•Young's modulus changes radially along the cross-section due to the cosmetic active.•AFM data show statistically significant differences among sample groups.•Tensile tester was not able to show statistically significant differences.

Assessment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Role of Spirituality Amongst Caregivers of Pediatric Cancer Patients in Pakistan

Objective: This study examined the levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in pediatric cancer caregivers and the impact of spirituality on PTSD in Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital &amp; Research Centre, Peshawar, Northwest General Hospital &amp; Research Centre, Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad and Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan from January 2023 to March 2023.Methods: The study comprised 153 Caregivers of pediatric cancer patients aged One month –12 Years using convenience sampling. The PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) and Caregiver's Spirituality Scale (CSS-10) were used to collect data. Results: Results of the study found that 81 caregivers (52.94%) had high PTSD, and 96 (62.74%) had high spirituality. Females reported higher PTSD and spirituality than guys. Graduates have more PTSD and spirituality than illiterates and matriculate. PTSD and spirituality had a negative Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Conclusion: The study emphasizes spirituality as a caregiver's mental health protector. Healthcare practitioners caring for pediatric cancer patients can use the findings to lessen PTSD symptoms by targeting caregivers' spiritual needs. Convenience sampling and self-report measurements decrease generalizability. Future study is needed to investigate the association between PTSD and spirituality in caregivers of pediatric cancer patients.How to cite this: Bashir N, Ain Q, Karim N, Niazi H, Khan MI, Asghar AK. Assessment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Role of Spirituality Amongst Caregivers of Pediatric Cancer Patients in Pakistan. Life and Science. 2024; 5(1): 33-40. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.440

FINANCIAL OUTSOURCING IN THE ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FISCAL REVENUE MANAGEMENT

Despite changes in regulatory policy, greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere have not decreased. A methodology for the search and selection of sources of financing for activities to combat climate change is proposed. The basis of the research methodology is the bibliometric and predictive analysis of the generated databases. It is proposed to use not only environmental tax revenues but also other sources of financing as part of mixed capital. It was revealed that the dynamics of environmental tax revenues are inferior to the dynamics of total tax revenues in GDP. The largest share of environmental taxes belongs to transport and energy taxes. The use of logical and predictive research approaches demonstrated that environmental revenues were insufficient and that extra funding and financial outsourcing were required for climate change activities. As a result of the correlation analysis, the most significant environmental revenues were for the following countries: France (0.981), Belgium (0.976), Greece (0.976), Austria (0.972), and Portugal (0.969). A negative Pearson correlation coefficient occurred for the countries: Denmark (-0.040), and Sweden (-0.101). To increase the significance of the coefficient, it is proposed to change the elements of environmental taxes in these countries. An outsourcer providing financial services to clients forms a regional environmental financial system. This will increase the rate of capital turnover and reduce the need for capital. The outsourcer will reduce "cash gaps" by promptly attracting financial tools and financial management techniques, accelerate the turnover period of mixed capital, and boost the effectiveness of managing environmental tax revenues.

The Prognostic Value of Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio, Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio, and Monocyte-Lymphocyte Ratio in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)-A Retrospective Single Center Study and a Literature Review.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and pallets-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are currently validated as cheap and accessible biomarkers in different types of solid tumors, including head and neck cancers (HNC). To evaluate the possible purposes and biomarker value of NLR, PLR, and MLR recorded pre-treatment (radiotherapy/chemotherapy) in HNC. From 190 patients with HNC included in the oncology records in the oncology outpatient clinic of the Craiova County Emergency Hospital (from January 2002 to December 2022), 39 cases met the inclusion criteria (squamous cell carcinoma and the possibility to calculate the pre-treatment (chemotherapy/radiotherapy) value of NLR, PLR, and MLR. Overall survival (OS) values were correlated with NLR, PLR, and MLR. The median values for NLR, PLR, and MLR were 6.15 (1.24-69), 200.79 (61.3-1775.0), and 0.53 (0.12-5.5), respectively. In the study, the mean values for NLR, PLR, and MLR of 2.88, 142.97, and 0.36, respectively, were obtained. The median OS in the study group was 11 months (1-120). Although a negative Pearson's correlation was present, the relationship between the variables was only weak, with values of R = 0.07, p = 0.67, R = 0.02, p = 0.31, and R = 0.07, p = 0.62 being related to NLR, PLR, and MLR, respectively, in correlation with OS. The median values of NLR, PLR, and MLR were calculated (1.53, 90.32, and 0.18, respectively) for the HNC cases with pre-treatment values of NLR < 2 and for the HNC cases with NLR values ≥ 6 (23.5, 232.78, and 0.79, respectively). The median OS for cases with NLR < 2 and NLR ≥ 6 were 17.4 and 13 months, respectively. The comparative analysis of the data highlights a benefit to OS for cases low values of NLR. The role of not only borderline NLR values (between 2 and 6) as a prognostic marker in HNSCC but also the inclusion of PLR and MLR in a prognostic score must also be defined in the future. Prospective studies with more uniformly selected inclusion criteria could demonstrate the value of pre-treatment NLR, PLR, and MLR for treatment stratification through the intensification or de-escalation of non-surgical curative treatment in HNSCC.

Mycophenolic acid therapeutic drug monitoring using area under the curve in pediatric heart transplant recipients.

Pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid (MPA) display substantial interpatient variability, with up to 10-fold difference of exposure in individual patients under a fixed-dose regimen. MPA trough level (C0) monitoring is common in clinical practice but has not proven sufficiently informative in predicting MPA exposure or patient outcomes, especially in children. No limited sampling strategies (LSSs) have been generated from pediatric heart transplant (HTx) recipients to estimate MPA AUC. Single-center, observational analysis of 135 de novo pediatric HTx recipients ≤21years old who underwent MPA AUC between 2011 and 2021. Median age was 4years (IQR .6-12.1). Median time from transplant to MPA AUC sampling was 15days (IQR 11-19). MMF doses (mg or mg/day) had low, negative Pearson correlation coefficients (r) while doses adjusted for weight or body surface area had low correlation with Trapezoidal MPA AUC0-24h (r=.3 and .383, respectively). MPA C0 had weak association (r=.451) with Trapezoidal MPA AUC0-24h . LSS with two pharmacokinetic sampling time points at 90 (C3 ) and 360 (C5 )min after MMF administration (estimated AUC0-24h =32.82+4.12×C3 +11.53×C5 ) showed strong correlation with Trapezoidal MPA AUC0-24h (r=.87). MMF at fixed or weight-adjusted doses, as well as MPA trough levels, correlate poorly with MPA AUC0-24h . We developed novel LSSs to estimate Trapezoidal MPA AUC from a large cohort of pediatric HTx recipients. Validation of our LSSs should be completed in a separate cohort of pediatric HTx recipients.

Competitive sorption and desorption of cadmium, lead, and zinc onto peat, compost, and biochar

Soil and water contamination by potentially toxic metals (PTMs) has exerted adverse environmental impacts, which justifies studies of promising remediation alternatives. This article investigated the competitive sorption of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) onto peat, compost, and biochar derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), but its main innovation was the post-sorption assessment. The effects of contact time on competition between contaminants were systematically analyzed by batch experiments and the effectiveness of the sorption process was evaluated in desorption tests (H2O, HCl, NaOH, and NaCl) and sequential extraction. Kinetic data were well-fitted to pseudo-first-order (PFO) and pseudo-second-order (PSO) models and the intra-particle diffusion model revealed the existence of multiple linear regions, indicating the sorption process was controlled by a multi-step mechanism. The sorption capacities followed a biochar > compost > peat order, with biochar retaining more than 99% of Cd, Pb, and Zn in all samples. The general order of desorption percentage was peat > compost > biochar, with a below 0.60% biochar release, suggesting the importance of chemical processes. HCl solution (more acid pH) showed the highest release of previously sorbed contaminants and, therefore, can be employed for the reuse of sorbents (sorption/desorption cycles). The only exception was Pb desorption on biochar, with maximum release in NaOH solution. A negative Pearson correlation with F1 (acid-soluble/exchangeable fraction) for Cd and Zn and a positive one with the other steps were reported. Pb exhibited an opposite behavior, showing the highest sorption performances and the lowest desorption rates for all sorbents, justified by positive correlations with F4 (residual fraction) and negative ones with desorption. The findings suggest the evaluated sorbents, especially compost and biochar, can be effective materials in the simultaneous sorption of Cd, Pb, and Zn in wastewater, as well as an amendment for PTMs immobilization in contaminated soils.

Association of Cord Ferritin Levels with Brain Stem Evoked Response Audiometry in Newborns.

Iron is an important nutrient and it plays a pivotal role in myelin formation and neurotransmitter synthesis, thus contributing to normal neurological activity. Ferritin is a reliable indicator of the tissue iron stores and in-utero stores can be well measured by cord ferritin levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of umbilical cord ferritin levels (CFL) on the brain stem evoked response audiometry (BERA) This prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care centre of North India with a sample size of 100 inborn neonates. After evaluation of the umbilical cord ferritin levels the study cohort was divided into Group A( UCF<75ng/ml) and Group B(UCF>75ng/dl). All subjects were subjected to BERA. A detailed analysis of CFL and BERA was done and statistically analysed. Neonates in group B had significantly prolonged absolute peak latency of wave I, III and V and interpeak latency of wave III-V when compared to group A. The Pearson correlation also showed negative correlation of CFL with absolute peak latency of wave I, III, and V and interpeak latency of wave III-V. Among the maternal and neonatal variables, highly significant correlation was noted between absolute latency of wave I, III and V, CFL and cord hematocrit. The Pearson correlation showed negative correlation of absolute peak latency of wave I, III and V with maternal haemoglobin (Hb), neonatal birth weight, CFL,s and cord hematocrit values. A negative Pearson correlation was noted between interpeak latency of wave III-V with neonatal birth weight and cord hematocrit level, interpeak latency of wave I-V with neonatal birth weight and between interpeak latency of wave I-III with cord hematocrit values. CFL's significantly affect the absolute peak latency of wave I, III and V and it also affects the interpeak latency of wave III-V. This may be attributed to slow conduction time secondary to altered myelination. CFL's should be considered as a routine protocol in neonates to detect early compromises in the process of myelination and brain maturation.