Open Type Research Articles

Morphological variants of Rouviere's sulcus and its significance in a patient undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: An emerging paradigm.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold-standard treatment for symptomatic cholelithiasis. To prevent bile duct injuries, various practices are recommended, one of which is the identification of Rouviere's sulcus (RS) and starting dissection above its level. So far, no uniform anatomical description of RS is available in the literature. After prospective observation of 302 patients, we have proposed a new classification based solely on gross morphology. The purpose of this study is to make surgeons well acquainted with its different anatomical variations and its significance for the prevention of complications. We performed a prospective analysis of 302 patients during LC, and various morphological variants of RS and its relationship with hepatobiliary anatomy were recorded. We have used the nomenclature as described by previous authors and added a few. A total of 330 patients were included in our study. We could not visualise the sulcus due to dense adhesion in 28 patients. RS was absent in 24.1% of cases and was present in various forms in 75.8% of cases. Amongst these, the open type was found in 28.8% of cases, fused type was found in 4.8% of cases, groove type was found in 24.8% of cases, pit type was found in 8.2% of cases, close type was found in 14.4% of cases, slit type was found in 8.7% of cases and scar type was found in 10% of cases. Using RS as a landmark, we could perform surgery safely in all cases. The RS can be described as closed, slit, open, fused, groove, pit or scar type.

Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Wildfire Regimes in Miombo of the LevasFlor Forest Concession, Central Mozambique

Wildfires are an intrinsic and vital driving factor in the Miombo ecosystem. Understanding fire regimes in Miombo is crucial for its ecological sustainability. Miombo is dominant in Central Mozambique, having one of the highest fire incidences in the country. This study evaluated the spatio-temporal patterns of fire regimes (intensity, seasonality, frequency and fire return interval) in the LevasFlor Forest Concession (LFC), Central Mozambique using remotely sensed data from 2001 to 2022. We conducted hotspot spatial statistics using the Getis-Ord Gi* method to assess fire distribution and patterns. The results revealed that 88% of the study area was burnt at least once from 2001 to 2022, with an average burned area of 9733 ha/year (21% of LFC’s total area). Fires were more likely to occur (74.4%) in open and deciduous Miombo types. A total of 84% of the studied area, burned in a range of 4 to 22 years of fire return interval (FRI) over the 21 assessed. Only 16% of the area was affected by high to very high FRI (1 to 4 years), with an average FRI of 4.43 years. Generally, fires are more frequent and intense in September and October. These results highlight the usefulness of remote sensing in evaluating long-term spatiotemporal fire trends for effective fire management strategies and control measures in African savanna ecosystems.

Fuzzy reliability algorithm for the shutdown system of research reactor

Abstract Probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) has been applied to evaluate the safety of nuclear reactor systems. The results of PSA are used by designers, utilities and regulatory body to confirm the reactor design, to change operation procedures, to enhance the reliability of safety systems, or to modify regulation. Fault tree analysis (FTA) has been used as a deductive means for PSA. System components are assumed to always have defined failure probabilities; however, in reality this assumption is questionable and sometimes there is insufficient data about the failure probability of some components. To solve this problem, fuzzy approaches have been proposed and implemented. The aim of this study is to apply a fuzzy reliability algorithm to estimate basic events failure probabilities for the shutdown system of a research reactor. The reactor is a 22 MW light water open pool type material test reactor and the shutdown system is responsible for the fast shutdown of the reactor whenever safety limits are exceeded. Then, to illustrate the ability of the algorithm, the results are compared with real basic event failure probabilities. The results verify the competence of the algorithm and confirm that it can be applied as an alternative method when quantitative data are not available. Also, a risk importance measure is done on the fault tree of the shutdown system to illustrate which components need to be focused for improvements to achieve the safe operation of shutdown system.

Application of Open Panicle Traits in Improving the Filling Characteristics at the Base of Indica Rice Panicles.

Panicle-type structure is an important factor affecting rice yield, and an excellent panicle type has become a key indicator in rice breeding. In this study, the indica rice variety R766, which has an open panicle type, was obtained through natural mutation and hybrid selection. Through analyzing differences in panicle structure, panicle yield, and chemical composition between open panicle rice R766 and conventional panicle rice R2928, we found that the angles of the middle and lower branches in R766 were 186.99% and 135.93% greater than those in R2928, respectively. By comparing the grain-filling characteristics of different panicle positions in the two rice varieties, we found that the grain filling at the middle and lower panicle positions of R2928 was significantly lower, accompanied by an increase in the percentage of empty spikelets. However, in R766, the grain-filling rates in the middle and lower panicle positions were consistent with those in the upper panicle position, with significantly higher rates of grain filling and grain plumpness in the middle and lower panicle positions than in R2928. The empty grain rate at the lower panicle position of R766 was 15.25% lower than that of R2928, and the grain filling was 24.75% higher than that of R2928. Additionally, the variation in the 1000-grain weight of grains at different panicle positions in R766 was relatively small, with decreases of 1.55% and 0.38% in the middle and lower panicle positions, respectively, compared with the upper position, whereas R2928 showed decreases of 5.99% and 7.12% in the 1000-grain weight of grains at the middle and lower panicle positions, respectively, compared with the upper position. The cellulose content in the stems of R766 was 7.51% higher than that of R2928, with no significant difference in the cellulose content in the panicle axis and primary branches compared to R2928. The lignin content of the panicle axis in R766 was 8.03% higher than that in R2928, whereas there was no significant difference between the lignin content of the stems and primary branches. This preliminary study revealed the open panicle characteristics of R766 and the reasons for its high basal grain setting rate. This study provides a reference for promoting this open panicle-type indica rice variety to improve yield and disease resistance in environments with high humidity and low sunlight levels.

Comparing the treatment of endometriosis-related pain by excision of endometriosis or hysterectomy: A multicentre prospective cohort study.

To compare the effectiveness of endometriosis excision alone to excision plus hysterectomy, with and without bilateral oophorectomy, for endometriosis-related symptoms. Multicentre prospective cohort. Eighty-six specialist endometriosis centres. Women undergoing rectovaginal endometriosis surgery between 2009 and 2021. We performed multivariable regression with random effects for patient and centre, controlling for age, BMI, smoking, laparoscopic versus open approach and type of bowel surgery performed, with sensitivity analysis for loss to follow-up. Pain scores, bowel symptoms and quality-of-life measures. Compared to endometriosis excision alone, women undergoing hysterectomy with conservation of ovaries had greater improvement in non-cyclical pain (MD: 1.41/10, 95% CI: 1.03-1.78, p < 0.001), dyspareunia (MD: 1.12/10, 95% CI: 0.71-1.53, p < 0.001), back pain (MD: 1.29/10, 95% CI: 0.92-1.67, p < 0.001) and quality-of-life scores (MD: 8.77/100, 95% CI: 5.79-11.75, p < 0.001) at 24 months post-operatively. Women undergoing hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy also had greater improvement in non-cyclical pelvic pain (MD: 2.22/10, 95% CI: 1.80-2.63, p < 0.001), dyspareunia (MD: 1.05/10, 95% CI: 0.59-1.52, p < 0.001), back pain (MD: 1.18/10, 95% CI: 0.77-1.59, p < 0.001) and quality of life (MD: 12.41/100, 95% CI: 9.07-15.74, p < 0.001) at 24 months compared to endometriosis excision alone. Compared to hysterectomy with ovarian conservation, hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy was associated with greater improvement in non-cyclical pelvic pain (MD: 0.81/10, 95% CI: 0.32-1.30, p = 0.001) at 24 months and quality of life (MD: 3.74/100, 95% CI: 0.56-6.92, p = 0.021) at 12 months, although this result was sensitive to loss to follow-up. Patients who undergo endometriosis excision plus hysterectomy experience greater improvement in pain and quality of life compared to those who have endometriosis excision alone. There are additional benefits of bilateral oophorectomy with hysterectomy, although its value is less clear due to loss of follow-up.

Ultrastructure and Spectral Characteristics of the Compound Eye of Asiophrida xanthospilota (Baly, 1881) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae).

In this study, the morphology and ultrastructure of the compound eye of Asi. xanthospilota were examined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), micro-computed tomography (μCT), and 3D reconstruction. Spectral sensitivity was investigated by electroretinogram (ERG) tests and phototropism experiments. The compound eye of Asi. xanthospilota is of the apposition type, consisting of 611.00 ± 17.53 ommatidia in males and 634.8 0 ± 24.73 ommatidia in females. Each ommatidium is composed of a subplano-convex cornea, an acone consisting of four cone cells, eight retinular cells along with the rhabdom, two primary pigment cells, and about 23 secondary pigment cells. The open type of rhabdom in Asi. xanthospilota consists of six peripheral rhabdomeres contributed by the six peripheral retinular cells (R1~R6) and two distally attached rhabdomeric segments generated solely by R7, while R8 do not contribute to the rhabdom. The orientation of microvilli indicates that Asi. xanthospilota is unlikely to be a polarization-sensitive species. ERG testing showed that both males and females reacted to stimuli from red, yellow, green, blue, and ultraviolet light. Both males and females exhibited strong responses to blue and green light but weak responses to red light. The phototropism experiments showed that both males and females exhibited positive phototaxis to all five lights, with blue light significantly stronger than the others.

Multifocal character of lesions in gunshot open globe injury type B in experiment

BACKGROUND: An increase was noted in the number of gunshot eyeball injuries, which are accompanied by low functional outcomes. Reproduction and experimental study of this type of eye injury would help improving the functional and cosmetic treatment results in patients. AIM: The aim of the study is to investigate gunshot open globe injury type B (penetrating wound without intraocular foreign body) on a standardized experimental model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A complete investigation of the standardized model of gunshot open globe injury type B (penetrating wound without intraocular foreign body) simulated on the ballistic test facility was carried out. The experiment was accomplished at the ophthalmology chair on 36 rabbits (71 eyes). The injury was inflicted in the projection of the ciliary body — zone II (Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology). The examination in the control period included ophthalmologic (ophthalmoscopy, full field electroretinography, optical coherence tomography), biochemical (testing of vitreous fibronectin level), histological and radiological (magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound examination) methods. Statistical non-parametric methods of data analysis were used. RESULTS: The analysis of gunshot open globe injury type B model demonstrated the rate and multiple foci of abnormalities practically of all eyeball structures. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time ever, the characteristics of gunshot open globe injury type B model were studied using a new complex of methods, their high reproducibility (91.5–100%) was demonstrated. Based on recorded abnormalities in all ocular structures, including proliferative vitreoretinopathy, the multifocal character of damage in this type of injury is validated.

The relationship between preoperative hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score and right colon cancer surgery outcomes: a retrospective cohort study

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the association between the preoperative Hemoglobin Albumin Lymphocyte Platelet (HALP) score and surgical outcomes in right colon cancer patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective right colon adenocarcinoma surgery from January 2017 to June 2023 at Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital. The HALP score, calculated from hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet levels, aimed to predict perioperative morbidity through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The study involved 67 patients, mostly male with an average age of 68.28 years, undergoing 46 open and 21 laparoscopic surgeries. Although the HALP score's cutoff value was established, it did not significantly predict perioperative morbidity (P&amp;gt;0.05). However, lower platelet counts (&amp;lt;318×103/L) and open surgery type correlated significantly with higher morbidity (P&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusions: This study reveals that the HALP score may not effectively predict perioperative morbidity in right colon cancer surgeries, highlighting platelet counts as a more promising marker. Our findings also confirm the increased morbidity associated with open surgeries, challenging existing assumptions and guiding clinical practice.

Research on natural ventilation of a community library related to epidemiological insight by using CFD simulation method

Abstract Spreading through airflow is one of the most common routes for the transmission of viruses, which may result in serious public health problems. To acquire a healthy space for the community library, designing a reasonable ventilation system is a vital measure which can reduce the risk of transmission of the virus effectively. The purpose of this research is to study natural ventilation methods in an epidemiological insight for the design of a healthy community library by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation. Five typical opening types of windows were selected and studied in the research on the ventilation of the yoga room of a community library, with airflow evaluated by the ACH method, so as to search for the most suitable window type to avoid airborne virus transmission. The results acquired by SOLIDWORKS simulation showed that 75%, 90%, and 100% openings corresponding to Jalousie, casement, and double casement window types respectively are optimal in community space. The natural ventilation design by proper windows can be applied in the community library and other public spaces.

Distribution Status of Invasive Alien Species in the Estuarine Wetlands in East and South Coast, Korea

Based on the results of survey on estuarine ecosystem conducted from 2021 to 2023, this study analyzed the distribution pattern of invasive alien species. A total of six invasive alien species (&lt;i&gt;Micropterus salmoides&lt;/i&gt; [&lt;i&gt;M. salmoides&lt;/i&gt;], &lt;i&gt;Lepomis macrochirus&lt;/i&gt; [&lt;i&gt;L. macrochirus&lt;/i&gt;], &lt;i&gt;Lithobates catesbeianus&lt;/i&gt; [&lt;i&gt;L. catesbeianus&lt;/i&gt;], &lt;i&gt;Trachemys scripta&lt;/i&gt; [&lt;i&gt;T. scripta&lt;/i&gt;], &lt;i&gt;Pseudemys concinna&lt;/i&gt; [&lt;i&gt;P. concinna&lt;/i&gt;], and &lt;i&gt;Pseudemys nelsoni&lt;/i&gt; [&lt;i&gt;P. nelsoni&lt;/i&gt;]) were identified across 118 estuarine wetlands. The survey revealed 960 individuals of &lt;i&gt;M. salmoides&lt;/i&gt;, 2,596 individuals of &lt;i&gt;L. macrochirus&lt;/i&gt;, 1,088 individuals of &lt;i&gt;L. catesbeianus&lt;/i&gt;, and 44 individuals of &lt;i&gt;T. scripta&lt;/i&gt;, while 1 individual of &lt;i&gt;P. concinna&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;P. nelsoni&lt;/i&gt; were found. These invasive species were found to be densely distributed in estuarine wetlands in the Haenam and Goheung regions of the southern coast. Furthermore, the distribution density varied depending on the characteristics and locations of the estuarine wetlands. It was observed that the distribution density was higher in closed type than in open type, in riverine than in lacustrine, and in the south coast than in the east coast. Once the basic survey of estuarine wetlands located on the west coast is completed, a clearer understanding of the nationwide distribution characteristics of invasive alien species in estuarine wetlands can be achieved. This information will be crucial for formulating appropriate management strategies tailored to the characteristics of wetlands or coastal areas in the future.

Introducing Green, Eco-Friendly Practices and Circular Economy Principles in Vocational Education Through a Novel Analysis-Synthesis Method: Design, Implementation and Evaluation

Purpose: A novel, Project- and Collaborative Learning-based educational method is proposed, implemented and evaluated in this paper. The aim is to exploit hands-on laboratory modules in Vocational Education in order to experientially introduce students to green, eco-friendly practices and the principles of sustainability and circular economy. Besides their apparent individual and social benefits, such knowledge and skills are also expected to raise qualifications and employability of Vocational Education graduates. Methods: The proposed method is tested through a quasi-experimental methodology, via an educational intervention with a class of Vocational Lyceum students, in the field of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. The learning content focuses on the reclaiming and reuse of operational components from damaged electrical/electronic equipment at end-of-life stage. Through repeated Analysis and Synthesis phases, students learn to extract, measure, classify and reuse operational components either to repair similar equipment or to design and construct novel devices. Results: Evaluation is carried out via closed and open type activities as well as by observation sheets of the teacher. Learning outcomes are evaluated through knowledge post-tests of the closed type while social/emotional outcomes are evaluated through questionnaires. Evaluation results indicate that the proposed method does produce cognitive and social/emotional skills gains for the students. The development of metacognitive skills and the stimulation of imagination and innovative thinking in the students is also observed by the teacher, but not formally evaluated due to practical constraints. Conclusions: The proposed method is implemented and pilot-tested with positive results both as to the cognitive and as to the social/emotional domain – yet, these results are of an indicative value, due to the limited scale of the educational intervention. Future research is necessary in order to evaluate the proposed method in extent and possibly compare results across education grades or engineering fields, as the method is generic enough to be easily adaptable for different ages/grades and engineering/technical fields of study.

Pattern of SAQ Used in MBBS First Professional Anatomy Question Papers of Public Universities of Bangladesh

Introduction: Assessment is a very important method of measurement of medical education. Anatomy is an essential part of undergraduate medical curriculum. Short answer question (SAQ) has a better content coverage as compared to long essay question. Objective: To be assess the pattern of SAQ in MBBS first professional written anatomy question papers of public universities of Bangladesh. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Armed Forces Medical College in the department of Anatomy, Dhaka Cantonment. For this study, SAQ papers of anatomy of nine first professional MBBS examinations of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka University (DU) and Chittagong University (CU) from May 2017 to November 2021were collected. These were classified as parts and segments. Each segment was categorized as definition, draw and label, unique and open type. They werecalculated as number of segments as well as total weightage. Result: On analysis it was found that the percentage of weightage of definition type questions of BUP, DU and CU were 3.53±2.03, 2.43±1.42 and 2.89±1.12; draw and label type 12.84±4.44, 15.98±3.13,17.053±.65; unique type 24.16±9.88,31.33±6.14, 26.47±3.84 and for open type 56.13±4.77,60.72±5.15, 53.73+5.29. Significant difference was found in draw and label type question in between BUP and CU, in unique type question in between BUP and DU and DU and CU, in open type question in between DU and CU. Conclusion: Different types of SAQ are used to determine the level of cognitive domain. Proper distribution of types of SAQ shall ensure the proportion of these domain mentioned in the curriculum. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 19, No 2(December) 2023: 7-11

An experimental and numerical study on two-way RC slabs with openings strengthened by ferrocement technique

This study investigates the impact of creating a central square opening on reinforced concrete slabs and assesses the strengthening process using ferrocement layers. The investigated key parameters were the opening sizes, type, number, and extension length (outside the opening sides) of steel mesh layers used to strengthen the tested slabs. The experimental program included the preparation and testing of twelve two-way reinforced concrete slabs with identical dimensions, thickness, and reinforcement, but were different with respect to opening sizes and strengthening schemes. Four slabs acted as control specimens without strengthening; one was solid; the other three had different opening sizes; and the other eight slabs were strengthened using a ferrocement layer of 2 cm thickness applied on the bottom of the slab around the openings with various reinforcement schemes which included the number, type, and extension length (outside the opening) of steel mesh. All slabs were supported along the four sides with a clear span of 1 m in both directions and tested under four-point loading. The test results demonstrate that creating an opening in the slab decreases the ultimate load by 21.5 %, 31.9 %, and 40.7 % for opening dimensions (15, 25, and 35 cm), respectively. Using the ferrocement strengthening method helps to increase slabs’ flexural load-carrying capacities and reduce crack propagation from opening corners. The study found that strengthening specimens with opening sizes of 15, 25, and 35 cm increased their flexural load-carrying capacities by 26 %, 33 %, and 34 %, respectively. The expanded steel mesh type also resulted in a higher ultimate load by 6–7 % than the welded mesh type. When the length of the strengthening ferrocement layers was doubled, the ultimate load went up by 6–7 %. Increasing steel mesh layer numbers from 1 to 4 increased the ultimate load by 25 % to 40 % compared to the corresponding un-strengthened slab with an opening. The maximum load of a slab with an opening was achieved by applying a 2 cm thickness of ferrocement layer reinforced with expanded metal mesh, with extension lengths equal to the opening's length. The study utilizes commercial software ABAQUS for finite element analysis (FEA) to validate the experimental results, resulting in a great agreement between the analysis and the experimental findings.

Opportunities to reduce environmental burden by recycling fabric waste in a woollen fabric company

PurposeWool fiber is accepted as one of the natural and renewable sources and has been used in the apparel and textile industry since ancient times. However, wool fiber has the highest global warming potential value among conventional fibres due to its high land use and high methane gas generation. This study aimed to recycle the wool fabric wastes and also to create a mini eco-collection by using the produced yarns.Design/methodology/approachThis manuscript aimed to evaluate the fabric wastes of a woolen fabric producer company. Fabric wastes were opened with two different opening systems and fiber properties were determined. First, conventional ring yarns were produced in the company’s own spinning mill by mixing the opened fibres with the long fiber wastes of the company. In addition, opening wastes were mixed with different fibres (polyester, long wool waste, and Tencel fibres) between 25% and 70% in the short-staple yarn spinning mill and used in the production of conventional ring and OE-rotor yarns. Most of the yarns contained waste fibres at 50%. Recycled and virgin yarns were used as a weft and warp yarn and a total of 270 woven fabric samples were obtained and fabric properties were examined. Also, a fabric collection was created. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was made for one of the selected yarns.FindingsAt the end of the study, it was determined that it was possible to produce yarn and fabric samples from fiber blends containing high waste fiber ratios beyond 50%. All the woven fabric samples produced from conventional ring and OE-rotor yarns gave higher breaking, tearing and stitch slip strength values in the weft and warp direction than limit quality values of the company. In addition, abrasion resistance and WIRA steam stability properties of the fabric samples were also sufficient. Environmental analysis of the recycling of the wastes showed a possible decrease of about 9940034.3 kg CO2e per year in the global warming potential. In addition, fiber raw material expenses reduced yarn production cost about 50% in case of opened fabric waste usage. However, due to insufficient pilling resistance results, it was decided to evaluate the woven fabrics for the product groups such as shawls and blankets, where pilling resistance is less sought.Originality/valueThe original aspects of the article can be summarized under two headings. First, there are limited studies on the evaluation of wool wastes compared to cotton and polyester fibres and the number of samples examined was limited. However, this study was quite comprehensive in terms of opening type (rag and tearing), spinning systems (long and short spinning processes), fiber blends (waste 100% and blends with polyester, long wool waste and Tencel fibres) and yarn counts (coarser and finer). Recycled and virgin yarns were used as a weft and warp yarn and a total of 270 woven fabric samples were obtained using different colour combinations and weave types. All processes from fabric waste to product production were followed and evaluated. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost analysis was also done. The second unique aspect is that the problem of a real wool company was handled by taking the waste of the woolen company and a collection was created for the customer group of the company. Production was made under real production conditions. Therefore, this study will provide important findings to the research field about recycling, sustainability etc.

Clinical classification, staging and treatment strategy of radionecrosis of the nasopharynx and skull base

Objective:To establish a staging system for guiding clinical treatment and prognostic risk assessment by retrospectively analyzing the cases with radionecrosis of the nasopharynx and skull base （RNSB） after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods:A total of 86 cases of RNSB from January 2019 to December 2022 visited Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck, the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Seventeen patients gave up the treatment, and 69 patients who underwent treatment were included for analysis. By analyzing the results of electronic nasopharyngolaryngoscopy combined with magnetic resonance （MR）, CT, and other imaging examinations, a staging system for RNSB was proposed. The relationship between the staging system and the surgical effectiveness and clinical prognosis was further analyzed. Results:According to the severity and extent of destruction of soft tissue, bone, and the adjacent neurovascular structures, the RNSB was categorized into closed type （n=5） and open type （n=64）, of which the open type was subdivided into five types: type Ⅰ（n=4）, type Ⅱ（n=6）, type Ⅲ（n=39, of which 21 cases were type Ⅲa and 18 cases were type Ⅲb）, type Ⅳ（n=12）, and type Ⅴ（n=8）. The clinical stage of RNSB were classified based on nasopharyngolaryngoscopy and imaging examinations, receiving the second course of radiotherapy or not, the involvement of the infection site, the extent of bone destruction, the degree of internal carotid artery involvement, and the degree of brain tissue necrosis: stageⅠ（1-2 scores）, 11 cases at stageⅡ（3-4 scores）, 24 cases at stage Ⅲ（5-6 scores）, and 30 cases at stage Ⅳ（ ≥ 7 scores or more）. Twenty-two patients chose conservative treatment （2 patients at stage Ⅰ, 3 patients at stage Ⅱ, 7 patients at stage Ⅲ, and 10 patients at stage Ⅳ）. Forty-seven patients chose nasal endoscopic surgical treatment （2 patients at stage Ⅰ, 8 patients at stage Ⅱ, 17 patients at stage Ⅲ, and 20 patients at stage Ⅳ）, of which 16 cases had received free mucosal flap and/or stented septum mucosal flap repair. Patients at stages Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ achieved satisfactory efficacy after surgical treatment. In addition, higher clinical stage was found to correlate with the worse prognosis and higher incidence of perioperative complications, which included failure of healing because of surgical site infection, cerebrospinal fluid nasal leakage, progressive osteonecrosis, nasopharyngeal hemorrhage, and death. Conclusion:The staging system proposed in our study can be used for early detection of RNSB during regular follow-up, and is also valuable for clinical treatment guidance and prognosis assessment.

Association Between Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Type II Diabetes Mellitus in Benghazi, Libya

Glaucoma, a leading cause of permanent blindness in the world, primarily affects older adults and is classified into four types, with diabetes mellitus potentially influencing the condition. The study aims to identify the link between Diabetes mellitus type two and Primary open angle Glaucoma. Subject and method A case-control study at Benghazi Educational Eye Hospital from December 2023 to February 2024. examined diabetic patients with and without glaucoma. Participants underwent ophthalmic examinations, including visual acuity, and gonioscopy. Patients with history of type two diabetes were included. The mean age of cases was significantly higher than controls [P=0.001]. There were significant differences in best corrected visual acuity between the two groups [P=0.035], Participants with high a [HbA1c] were more likely to have an advanced primary open angle glaucoma type. Participants with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus had higher intraocular pressure levels compared to the control group, [p=0.013]. There was a statistically significant difference in Retinal nerve fibers layers thickness in right eye, and Retinal nerve fibers layer thickness in left eye, between the case and control groups, [P= 0.041, 0.005 respectively. The age 66-75 years had a significantly higher risk of primary open angle glaucoma. A negative correlation between the duration of diabetes and Pattern standard deviation in left eye [ P = 0.051], as well as Visual Field left [P = 0.002]. The study reveals a significant link between diabetes mellitus type two and primary open angle glaucoma, with factors like higher intraocular pressure and older age causing higher incidence. early detection and management of risk factors could prevent or delay glaucoma onset.

Analysis and NDT applications of a gas discharge electroacoustic transducer

In this study, a gas discharge electroacoustic transducer (GDEAT) based on a pulsed electric discharge in the air under atmospheric pressure has been investigated. By evaluating acoustic pressure and recording amplitude-frequency characteristics of membranes, the acoustic characteristic of GDEATs have been obtained in the frequency range from 40 Hz to 4 MHz. The electro-thermo-acoustic processes have been studied in gas discharge systems of an open type where the electrode space is in a direct contact with the ambient. Some features of using the above-mentioned GDEATs in nondestructive testing (NDT) of materials have been demonstrated. It has been shown that, on one hand, the wear of both electrodes and insulation limits a work life of a transducer electrode system, but, from the other hand, this may lead to deposition of micro-particles on the surface of an object under test. The wear of electrode systems was evaluated quantitatively, and the results of the chemical analysis of deposited micro-particles have been presented. The use of a GDEATs for non-contact stimulation of local resonant vibrations in subsurface defects and visualizing vibrations by means of laser dopler vibrometry has been shown in the case of NDT of a glass fiber composite.

Resource recombination perspective on open eco‐innovation: Open innovation type, strategic orientation, and green innovation

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the missing links in open eco‐innovation by focusing on the following questions, which existing studies have limited attention in the existing literature: (1) Given the level of breadth and depth of a firm's open eco‐innovation, how can open innovation types be distinguished? (2) In what way does the open innovation type differ in implementing an open eco‐innovation strategy? and (3) How do open innovation strategic differences affect green innovation performance? Drawing upon the knowledge‐based view and dynamic capability perspective, this study provides theoretical grounds for a firm's breadth and depth of an open eco‐innovation strategy. It suggests a 2 2 resource recombination framework to differentiate between four open innovation types for green innovation: Maverick, Best friend, True, and Cherry‐picker. Using data from 2496 manufacturing firms in South Korea, we applied a k‐means cluster analysis to generate four groups and conducted regression analyses to confirm hypotheses. Our findings supported the influence of open innovation type on strategic orientation; however, the effect was not observed in Best Friend. Additionally, ambidextrous strategic orientation significantly influenced green innovation compared to either exploitative or explorative strategic orientations.

Experimental and analytical investigation of opening effects on the in-plane capacity of unreinforced masonry wall

A test programme consisting of four half-scale URM walls was conducted under quasi-static cyclic loading to evaluate the negative influence of openings. Test results showed that the masonry adjacent to the opening experienced significant damage, and the specimens with a door opening was found to have complete detachment of the masonry pier, resulting in a reduction in the capacity of more than 25%. Furthermore, a detailed parametric nonlinear finite element analysis was performed to assess the influence of parameters affecting the in-plane load capacity of the URM wall. Numerical results showed that depending upon the size and location of openings and the material and geometric properties of walls, the in-plane load capacity was reduced by 6–82%. Considering the results of available experimental studies and present numerical analyses, a simplified equation was proposed to estimate the reduction in the in-plane load capacity of the specimen with different types of openings. The analytical study demonstrated that the proposed equation effectively provided reliable and consistent predictions of the strength reduction factor for walls with different types of openings.

Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Visual Impairment and Blindness: 2013-2022

This study aims to find out more details about the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness (JVIB) published in 2013–2022, as seen from the distribution of documents per year, document type, open access type, author country, productive authors, citation analysis, article citation rate, journal cite score rate, publication trends based on keyword occurrence, and publication trends by year. The research employs bibliometric analysis, gathering data from the Scopus database on June 13, 2023. Data is then processed and analyzed using the Publish or Perish (PoP) and VOSviewer applications to visualize the results. The results concluded that JVIB is a reputable international journal with a Q3 rating managed by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) with a frequency of publication of six times in one volume. A total of 686 documents have been published from 2013 to 2022, divided into articles, notes, editorials, letters, erratums, and reviews. America is the most dominant country, contributing a total of 490 documents. Emerson, R.W., became the most productive author with 50 documents. JVIB was cited 2710 times, with a per-article citation rate of 271.00, an h-index of 21, a g-index of 31, an hI, norm 12, HLA of 1.20, and hA-index 5. The current publication trend identified publications discussing vision rehabilitation.