Goal Research Articles

Optimizing biomass energy production in the southern region of Iran: A deterministic MCDM and machine learning approach in GIS

This study employs a deterministic approach, distinguishing itself from other renewable energy evaluations, to assess the potential of electrical energy derived from biomass sources in the southern region of Iran. The primary objectives include pinpointing optimal locations for maximal biomass production and subsequent energy generation within distinct climates and topographies, using fuzzy- Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Additionally, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identify key factors influencing biomass and energy production. The study quantifies electrical and thermal energy derived from biomass sources across various climates. The findings indicate that regions with lower altitudes and humid climates (1530 km2) demonstrate superior biomass performance, leading to increased electrical and thermal energy production. The feature selection process highlights the significant impact of climate and soil characteristics on biomass production and energy output. Analysis of biomass energy production reveals maximum electrical energy production ranging from 674.88 kWh/ha to 711.36 kWh/ha. The results of the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) method confirm its high accuracy in estimating electrical energy, with a significant correlation coefficient of 0.98. We conclude that by identifying locations with the best biomass sources based on climate, it is possible to increase the derived electrical energy. These insights are critical for informing energy policies aimed at optimizing biomass energy production and its integration into sustainable power grids.

Comparison of clinical outcomes in women with surgically treated early primary cervical cancer: Lymphadenectomy versus sentinel lymph node biopsy.

The primary objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and biopsy techniques on the clinical outcomes of women with early primary cervical cancer. All consecutive women with clinically determined stage I-IIA cervical cancer who underwent lymph node assessment with either SLN mapping or conventional pelvic/para-aortic lymphadenectomy were reviewed. Women in the SLN group (n=33) had fewer total dissected pelvic nodes (8.3±5.9 versus 17.4±7.7, p<0.001), less intraoperative blood loss (513±332mL versus 1228±1170mL, p<0.001), a shorter length of hospital stay (7.1±2.4 versus 10.2±6.1 days, p=0.004) and a trend toward a lower incidence of lymphocysts (3% versus 14%, p=0.090) than women in the conventional lymphadenectomy group (n=74). The rates of recurrence-free survival (3-year: 87.6% vs. 82.9%) and overall survival (3-year: 100% vs. 91.0%) did not differ between the SLN group and the conventional lymphadenectomy group (p=0.846 and p=0.254, respectively). SLN biopsy does not seem to be associated with an inferior survival outcome compared with conventional lymphadenectomy in women with early primary cervical cancer. In addition, it is associated with less blood loss and a shorter length of hospital stay.

Frequency of weight and body composition increases in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients during first line therapy.

The primary objective of this study was to assess the frequency of body composition increases and their relationships to changes in body weight in two cohorts of real world, treatment-naïve, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. One cohort received the current standard of care (CSOC), which consisted of immunotherapy and newer chemotherapy regimens, and the other cohort was treated with the former standard of care (FSOC), consisting only of older platinum-containing regimens. CSOC (n=106) and FSOC (n=88) cohorts of advanced NSCLC patients were included in this study. Weights were collected at each clinical visit, and body composition analysis from routine chest computed tomography via automated segmentation software assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12weeks. Standard statistical methods were used to calculate relationships between changes in weight and in body composition. The CSOC cohort contained 106 stage IV NSCLC patients treated between 16/12/2014 and 22/10/2020 while the FSOC cohort contained 88 stage III/IV NSCLC patients treated between 16/6/2006 and 18/11/2014. While each cohort exhibited decreases in median weight, body mass index (BMI), mean skeletal muscle index (SMI) and subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI) at the 6 and 12week time points, a subset of patients experienced increases in these parameters. Using a threshold of ≥2.5% increase for weight, BMI, SMI, and SATI at the 12week time point, both cohorts showed similar (20.5% and 27.3%) increases in these parameters. With a cut point of ≥5% increase at 12weeks follow-up, 8.0% to 25.0% of the patients gained ≥5% in weight, BMI, SMI and SATI. Comparing these results in each cohort showed no significant differences. Pearson coefficients for weight change related to changes in SMI and SATI at 6 and 12weeks ranged from 0.31 to 0.58 with all P values <0.02. Pearson coefficients for weight change at 12weeks related to changes in VATI and IMATI ranged from 0.26 to 0.47 with all P values <0.05. Comparison of Pearson coefficients for each cohort showed no significant differences. Although decreases in median weight, BMI, SMI and SATI were observed in both cohorts, similar percentage of patients in each cohort experienced increases in these parameters. These findings, plus the positive correlations between longitudinal measurements of weight, muscle mass and adipose tissue, indicate that weight gain in these patients involves increases in both muscle mass and adipose tissue. Upon validation, these findings could have implications for clinical trial design and for translational research in cancer cachexia.

Fiscal policy in the face of the health crisis: A simulation using a hybrid DSGE‐SIR model

AbstractThis study employs a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, integrated with a Susceptible‐Infected‐Recovered (SIR) epidemiological framework, to assess the macroeconomic impacts of fiscal policy during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Morocco. Calibrated with Moroccan COVID‐19 data, the model links epidemiological dynamics to macroeconomic variables, offering a detailed analysis of fiscal interventions. The primary objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of various fiscal measures, including government spending shocks, consumption tax cuts, and labor tax reductions, in stimulating economic activity and supporting households and businesses impacted by the pandemic. The results indicate that government spending shocks significantly stimulated economic activity and employment, but also led to increased public debt and inflationary pressures, thereby illustrating the inherent trade‐offs. Consumption tax cuts, intended to boost demand, had mixed effects on inflation; while prices for some goods declined, higher demand caused price increases in others. Labor tax reductions, aimed at enhancing employment, generated varied effects on labor supply and contributed to rising public debt due to lower tax revenues. The study underscores the necessity of balanced fiscal strategies to achieve both immediate economic recovery and long‐term fiscal sustainability, highlighting the critical role of well‐calibrated fiscal policies in mitigating the economic consequences of pandemics.

Image based Modeling and Control for Batch Processes

This manuscript addresses the problem of leveraging thermal images for modeling and feedback control, specifically tailored for terminal quality control of batch processes. The primary objective, common in many batch processes, is to produce products with quality variables aligning with user specifications, available for measurement only at batch termination, precluding the direct use of classical control strategies. Furthermore, in many instances, traditional online sensors such as thermocouples may not be available, but instead spectral inputs like thermal images or acoustic data may be more readily available for feedback control. The challenge is to not only use the non-traditional sensor data for building a dynamic model but also to use that model for terminal quality control. The proposed approach involves a multi-layered modeling strategy. Initially, a dimensionality reduction technique is employed to condense the high-dimensional image into a set of representative outputs. Subsequently, subspace identification (SSID) is applied to develop a Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) State Space (SS) model between the inputs and the reduced outputs. Finally, a Partial Least Squares (PLS) model is constructed linking the terminal states of a batch (identified using SSID) with the product qualities obtained for that specific batch. This model is then incorporated into a Model Predictive Control (MPC) formulation. The effectiveness of the MPC is illustrated by showcasing its capability to generate products of high quality by deploying the MPC on a bi-axial lab-scale rotational molding setup.

Impact of anesthesiologist experience on neuraxial anesthesia outcomes in cesarean sections.

Despite the requirement for meticulous management of cesarean anesthesia, no study has explored the impact of novice trainee anesthesiologists in this field. This study assessed challenges in neuraxial anesthesia for cesarean sections and compared outcomes between novice and senior anesthesiologists. We retrospectively analyzed 446 cesarean sections with neuraxial anesthesia. The primary objective was to evaluate the impact of anesthesiologists' experience on the time required to administer neuraxial anesthesia and whether maternal body mass index (BMI) influenced this relationship. Secondary objectives included examining maternal hemodynamic variability, operative details, and newborn outcomes relative to the anesthesiologist's experience. Novice anesthesiologists required a significantly longer time to perform neuraxial anesthesia (24.9 [7.1] min vs. 18.2 [7.0] min, P<0.001) than their senior counterparts. A significant interaction was observed between anesthesiologist experience and maternal BMI on the time to administer neuraxial anesthesia (P=0.017), with a moderate correlation between BMI and administration time for novices (r=0.50, P<0.001) and only a slight correlation for seniors (r=0.17, P=0.001). Experience level did not significantly affect intraoperative hemodynamics, Apgar scores, or umbilical cord blood gas analyses. The effect of maternal BMI on the difficulty of performing neuraxial anesthesia in parturients can be more pronounced for novice anesthesiologists than for experienced ones. Despite requiring more time to perform neuraxial anesthesia, novice anesthesiologists do not significantly affect maternal hemodynamics or newborn distress during obstetric anesthesia, provided that they are under the supervision of experienced anesthesiologists.

Association between pre-arrest left ventricular ejection fraction and survival in nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) poses major public health issues. Pre-arrest heart function is a prognostic factor, but the specific contribution of pre-arrest echocardiographic evaluation in predicting OHCA outcome remains limited. The primary objective was to investigate the association between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured in echocardiography prior to OHCA and survival to hospital discharge. This multicenter retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the National Taiwan University Hospital and its affiliated hospitals. We included adult nontraumatic OHCA patients who were treated by the emergency medical services (EMS) and underwent echocardiography within 6 months prior to the OHCA event from January 2016 to December 2022. Data included demographics, preexisting diseases, resuscitation events, and echocardiographic reports. The primary outcome was the survival to hospital discharge after post-arrest care. Statistical analysis involved multivariable logistic regression to modify potential confounders, reported as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and evaluate the association between echocardiographic findings and survival to hospital discharge. This study analyzed 950 patients, with 33.6% surviving to discharge. A higher pre-arrest LVEF was independently associated with increased survival. Compared to patients with LVEF < 40%, those with LVEF between 40% and 60% had significantly higher odds of survival (aOR = 3.68, 95% CI = 2.14-6.35, P < 0.001), and those with LVEF > 60% had even greater odds of survival (aOR = 5.46, 95% CI = 3.09-9.66, P < 0.001). There was also an association between lower tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient and survival (aOR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.97-1.00, P = 0.015). Younger age, male gender, dyslipidemia, stroke, cancer, witnessed arrest, initial shockable rhythm, and shorter low-flow time are other significant predictors of survival. In adult, nontraumatic, EMS-treated OHCA patients, a higher LVEF 6 months prior to OHCA was associated with improved survival at hospital discharge.

Iltamiocel Autologous Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Stratified, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of iltamiocel investigational autologous muscle cell therapy in females with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Adult females were randomized 2:1 to iltamiocel (150 × 106 cells) or placebo and stratified by severity and prior SUI surgery. The primary objective was efficacy based on the frequency of stress incontinence episodes (SIE) recorded in a 3-day diary at 12 months posttreatment. After 12 months, placebo participants could elect to receive open-label iltamiocel. Efficacy and safety analyses were performed using all patients as treated populations. The study enrolled 311 patients, 297 were randomized to either iltamiocel (n = 199) or placebo (n = 98). Of the 295 participants that completed 12 months blinded follow-up, the proportion achieving the primary endpoint of ≥ 50% SIE reduction was not statistically different between treatment groups (52% vs. 53.6%; p = 0.798). A significantly greater proportion of iltamiocel participants in the prior SUI surgery stratum group achieved ≥ 75% SIE reduction compared with placebo, (40% vs. 16%; p = 0.037). Treatment response was maintained at 24 months in 78.4% and 64.9% of iltamiocel participants who achieved ≥ 50% and ≥ 75% SIE reduction, respectively, at Month 12. Adverse events related to the treatment were reported in 19 (9.5%) iltamiocel participants and 6 (6.1%) placebo participants. The study did not meet its primary endpoint however, iltamiocel cell therapy is safe and may be ideally suited to female patients who have undergone prior surgery for SUI. Additional study in this group of patients with high unmet medical needs is warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01893138; EudraCT number: 2014-002919-41.

Safety and clinical activity of BMS-986365 (CC-94676), a dual androgen receptor ligand-directed degrader and antagonist, in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) that progresses on androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) may continue to be driven by AR signaling. BMS-986365 is an orally administered ligand-directed degrader targeting the AR via a first-in-class dual mechanism of AR degradation and antagonism. CC-94676-PCA-001 (NCT04428788) is a phase 1 multicenter study of BMS-986365 in patients with progressive mCRPC. Patients who progressed on androgen deprivation therapy, ≥ 1 ARPI, and taxane chemotherapy (unless declined/ineligible) were enrolled. The study included dose escalation (Part A) and expansion (Part B) of BMS-986365 up to 900 mg twice daily (BID). Primary objectives were safety, tolerability, and to define maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and/or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Key secondary endpoints included decline in prostate-specific antigen ≥50% (PSA50) and radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS). Parts A and B enrolled 27 and 68 patients, respectively. In Part B, the median number of prior therapies was 4 (range 2-11). The most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were asymptomatic prolonged corrected QT interval (47%) and bradycardia (34%). Part A MTD was not reached and RP2D selection is ongoing. Across Part B three highest doses (400-900 mg BID, n = 60), PSA50 was 32% (n = 19), including 50% (n = 10/20) at 900 mg; median rPFS (95% CI) was 6.3 months (5.3-12.6), including 8.3 months (3.8-16.6) at 900 mg; and rPFS was longer in patients without versus with prior chemotherapy: 16.5 months (5.5-not evaluable) versus 5.5 months (2.7-8.3), respectively. Efficacy was observed in patients with AR ligand binding domain (LBD) WT or with AR LBD mutations. BMS-986365 was well tolerated, with a manageable safety profile, and demonstrated activity in heavily pretreated patients with potentially higher benefit in chemotherapy-naïve patients. These data show BMS-986365's potential to overcome resistance to current ARPIs, regardless of AR LBD mutation status.

Global contribution of suicide to maternal mortality: a systematic review protocol

IntroductionMaternal suicide is a significant contributor to maternal mortality with devastating consequences for women, families and society. Maternal mortality reporting systems differ across countries and there is no up-to-date overview...

Structural tensor and frequency guided semi-supervised segmentation for medical images.

The method of semi-supervised semantic segmentation entails training with a limited number of labeled samples alongside many unlabeled samples, aiming to reduce dependence on pixel-level annotations. Most semi-supervised semantic segmentation methods primarily focus on sample augmentation in spatial dimensions to reduce the shortage of labeled samples. These methods tend to ignore the structural information of objects. In addition, frequency-domain information also supplies another perspective to evaluate information from images, which includes different properties compared to the spatialdomain. In this study, we attempt to answer these two questions: (1) is it helpful to provide structural information of objects in semi-supervised semantic segmentation tasks for medical images? (2) is it more effective to evaluate the segmentation performance in the frequency domain compared to the spatial domain for semi-supervised medical image segmentation? Therefore, we seek to introduce structural and frequency information to improve the performance of semi-supervised semantic segmentation for medicalimages. We present a novel structural tensor loss (STL) to guide feature learning on the spatial domain for semi-supervised semantic segmentation. Specifically, STL utilizes the structural information encoded in the tensors to enforce the consistency of objects across spatial regions, thereby promoting more robust and accurate feature extraction. Additionally, we proposed a frequency-domain alignment loss (FAL) to enable the neural networks to learn frequency-domain information across different augmented samples. It leverages the inherent patterns present in frequency-domain representations to guide the network in capturing and aligning features across diverse augmentation variations, thereby enhancing the model's robustness for the inputting variations. We conduct our experiments on three benchmark datasets, which include MRI (ACDC) for cardiac, CT (Synapse) for abdomen organs, and ultrasound image (BUSI) for breast lesion segmentation. The experimental results demonstrate that our method outperforms state-of-the-art semi-supervised approaches regarding the Dice similaritycoefficient. We find the proposed approach could improve the final performance of the semi-supervised medical image segmentation task. It will help reduce the need for medical image labels. Our code will are available at https://github.com/apple1986/STLFAL.

The Study of Sensorimotor Circuit Assembly in Drosophila melanogaster Embryos and Larvae.

In animals, movement is generated by the activity of motor circuits housed in the vertebrate spinal cord or the arthropod nerve cord. How motor circuits form is a fundamental question, with wide-ranging impacts on the fields of development, neurobiology, medicine, evolution, and beyond. Until recently, studying circuit assembly had been experimentally difficult, with a paucity of suitable models. Due to the introduction of novel neuroscience tools (calcium imaging, optogenetics, connectomics), Drosophila embryos and larvae can be used as models to study motor circuit assembly. Here, we briefly review the knowledge relevant to motor circuit assembly in Drosophila larvae. We discuss the larval body and its movements, larval neurons and circuits in the motor system, and how the generation of neural diversity starting from stem cells relates to circuit formation. The long-term goal of Drosophila research in this field is to identify developmental rules, determine when the rules apply, generate an integrated understanding of motor circuit development, and uncover molecular mechanisms driving the assembly process. Motor circuits are an ancient part of the nervous system, and so far, the developmental programs guiding motor circuit assembly appear to be largely conserved across phyla. Thus, as methods improve in other systems, findings in Drosophila will provide foundational concepts that will inspire hypotheses in those systems.

Components of the Atrial fibrillation Better Care (ABC) pathway for holistic care of patients with atrial fibrillation: A Win Ratio analysis from the COOL-AF registry.

Compliance with integrated care based on the Atrial fibrillation Better Care (ABC) pathway has been associated with improved clinical outcomes. The primary objective of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of AF patients according to the compliant status of each component of the ABC pathway in a hierarchical win ratio approach. We studied AF patients in the COOL-AF registry. Each patient was followed every 6 months until 3 years. A Win ratio analysis was performed, as not all clinical outcomes are equivalent. The hierarchical outcomes were 1) all-cause death 2) intracranial hemorrhage 3) ischemic stroke/systemic embolism (SSE) 4) non-ICH major bleedings, and 5) acute myocardial infarction or heart failure. We also assessed Win ratio and win proportion variance over the follow-up time, and the variations over time. A total of 3405 patients (mean age 67.8±11.3; 41.8% female) were studied. Win ratio of ABC-compliant (all 3 components) vs ABC-not compliant was 1.57 (1.35-1.83), p <0.001. When adding TTR data for compliant criteria for those who were on warfarin, the win ratio increased to 2.28 (1.89-2.75), p <0.001. The A-compliant group (plus TTR data), B-compliant, and C-compliant had the win ratio of 1.81 (1.51-2.12), 1.82 (1.53-2.16), and 1.39 (1.18-1.62), all p-values <0.001, compared to not compliant group. Management of AF patients according to each component of the ABC pathway is associated with better clinical outcomes compared to those non-compliant to ABC pathway. This finding underscores the importance of a holistic management approach strategy for AF patients.

A systematic investigation of clear cell renal cell carcinoma using meta-analysis and systems biology approaches.

Renal cell carcinoma with clear cells (ccRCC) is the most frequent kind; it accounts for almost 70% of all kidney cancers. A primary objective of current research was to find genes that may be used in ccRCC gene therapy to understand better the molecular pathways underlying the disease. Based on PubMed microarray searches and meta-analyses, we compared overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates in ccRCC patients with those in healthy samples. The technique was followed by a KEGG pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) function analyses, both performed in conjunction with the approach. Tumor immune estimate and multi-gene biomarkers validation for clinical outcomes were performed at the molecular and clinical cohort levels. Our analysis included fourteen GEO datasets based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A meta-analysis procedure, network construction using PPIs, and four significant gene identification standard algorithms indicated that 11 genes had the most important differences. Ten genes were upregulated, and one was downregulated in the study. In order to analyze RFS and OS survival rates, 11 genes expressed in the GEPIA2 database were examined. Nearly nine of eleven significant genes have been found to beinvolved in tumor immunity. Furthermore, it was found that mRNA expression levels of these genes were significantly correlated with experimental literature studies on ccRCCs, which explained these findings. This study identified eleven gene panels associated with ccRCC growth and metastasis, as well as their immune system infiltration.

High-Risk Cannabis Use: A Proposal of an Operational Definition through Delphi Methodology for Scientific Consensus

Introduction: Cannabis ranks as one of the most widely used psychoactive substances worldwide. Its usage has been reported as a risk factor for developing a variety of physical and mental health issues, alongside social and economic problems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hazardous (or high-risk) substance use is defined as “a pattern of substance use that increases the risk of harmful consequences for the user.” The primary objective of this study was to achieve a consensus on an operational definition of high-risk cannabis use suitable for a European jurisdiction (Spain). Methods: A three round Delphi study was conducted. The Delphi technique entails group decision-making and iterative forecasting by consulting a panel of experts and conducting systematic feedback rounds. An online survey was distributed among a diverse expert panel comprising professionals from Spain working on fields related to cannabis use (research, policy planning, and clinical professionals). One-hundred ninety-nine invitations were sent to experts, of which forty-five (22.6%) accepted to participate. All participants were provided the option to revise a background document with the latest compiled scientific evidence and guidelines related to health and social conditions associated to cannabis usage. This background document also proposed the quantification of dose using a standardized unit established for the population of Spain (the Standard Joint Unit or SJU) based on quantity of cannabis main psychoactive constituent, 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (9-THC) (1 SJU = 1 joint = 0.25 g of cannabis = 7 mg of 9-THC). Three rounds of Likert scale and open-ended questions were administered until consensus, defined as ≥75% agreement, was attained. Results: Consensus was reached on defining high-risk cannabis use as the usage of more than 4 SJU (>28 mg THC) per week or any use of cannabis with potency >10% THC. Concurrent use of cannabis with other drugs was also considered high risk, while the smoked route was considered the riskiest administration route. It was also agreed that vulnerable groups for high-risk cannabis use (for whom any pattern of cannabis use represents high risk of harm) include individuals under the age of 21, pregnant or breastfeeding women, individuals with psychiatric history, those with medical health issues related to cannabis use, professional drivers and heavy machine operators. Conclusion: This operational definition of high-risk cannabis use for Spain elucidates usage patterns and individual vulnerability factors predictive of heightened harm. Its adoption holds potential to inform decision-making among individuals, professionals, and policy-makers, facilitating evidence-based interventions aimed at prevention and risk reduction.

Advances and guidance in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy: a review by the Andalusian Epilepsy Society of the new drugs cenobamate, fenfluramine and cannabidiol

This review, conducted by the Andalusian Epilepsy Society, provides an update on recent advances in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy, focusing on three new anti-seizure drugs: cenobamate, fenfluramine and cannabidiol. These emerging drugs offer new therapeutic alternatives for patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, Dravet syndrome, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The primary objective of this review is to provide healthcare professionals with an up-to-date overview of the efficacy, safety and potential clinical applications of these treatments, backed by the latest evidence. In addition to reviewing the available clinical evidence, the document addresses essential practical considerations for the implementation of these drugs in routine clinical practice, including aspects such as their dosage, drug interactions, and management of their side-effects. With this review, the Andalusian Epilepsy Society aims to contribute to improving the care for and quality of life of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and their families.

Social isolation and loneliness among people living with experience of homelessness: a scoping review

Social isolation and loneliness (SIL) are public health challenges that disproportionally affect individuals who experience structural and socio-economic exclusion. The social and health outcomes of SIL for people with experiences of being unhoused have largely remained unexplored. Yet, there is limited synthesis of literature focused on SIL to appropriately inform policy and targeted social interventions for people with homelessness experience. The aim of this scoping review is to synthesize evidence on SIL among people with lived experience of homelessness and explore how it negatively impacts their wellbeing. We carried out a comprehensive literature search from Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Sociological s, and Web of Science's Social Sciences Citation Index and Science Citation Index for peer-reviewed studies published between January 1st, 2000 to January 3rd, 2023. Studies went through title, abstract and full-text screening conducted independently by at least two reviewers. Included studies were then analyzed and synthesized to identify the conceptualizations of SIL, measurement tools and approaches, prevalence characterization, and relationship with social and health outcomes. The literature search yielded 5,294 papers after removing duplicate records. Following screening, we retained 27 qualitative studies, 23 quantitative studies and two mixed method studies. SIL was not the primary objective of most of the included articles. The prevalence of SIL among people with homelessness experience varied from 25 to 90% across studies. A range of measurement tools were used to measure SIL making it difficult to compare results across studies. Though the studies reported associations between SIL, health, wellbeing, and substance use, we found substantial gaps in the literature. Most of the quantitative studies were cross-sectional, and only one study used health administrative data to ascertain health outcomes. More studies are needed to better understand SIL among this population and to build evidence for actionable strategies and policies to address its social and health impacts.

Phytocompound profiling and GC-MS analysis of Lantana camara leaf extract

The primary objective of this investigation was to conduct an initial analysis of the chemical composition of Lantana camara leaves, with a specific focus on identifying potential pharmacologically active compounds. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to perform a preliminary phytochemical screening on various leaf extracts. The results identified multiple classes of phytoconstituents in Lantana camara leaves, including steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, quinones, carbohydrates, alkaloids, and phenols. A detailed analysis of the crude aqueous extract using GC-MS identified several biologically active components, such as 13-docosenamide, alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid, cyclo(L-prolyl-L-valine), and 2,5-piperazinedione etc. These compounds were present in varying proportions, indicating a complex chemical composition within the leaves of Lantana camara. The study's findings suggest that these identified chemicals may contribute to the plant's pharmacological properties and hold significant potential for innovative medical applications. The plant's bioactive compounds, including pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexadecanoic acid, hexahydro and oleic acid, point to a wide range of possible therapeutic benefits. This investigation provides valuable insights into the chemical constituents of Lantana camara and underscores the potential significance of these compounds in medicinal research. Furthermore, it opens up promising avenues for future studies and the exploration of new pharmaceutical opportunities.

Stochastic modeling of multiple-server charging stations for electric vehicle networks using feedback strategies: A queueing-theoretic approach

Nowadays, electric vehicles (EVs) significantly affect transportation as they provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fossil-fueled automobiles. Electric vehicles, which depend on energy stored in batteries, significantly contribute to environmental preservation and comply with worldwide efforts to tackle climate change. However, the growing demand for electric vehicles causes traditional power grids under pressure emphasizing the necessity of establishing a suitable infrastructure for charging electric vehicles. Charging stations are becoming increasingly critical since they allow for the recharging of electric vehicles and play a significant role in stabilizing the power system. In order to optimize charging station infrastructure with multiple servers, the current research incorporates a Markovian queueing modeling approach. The primary objective of the study is to address queue management concerns and boost overall productivity. Considering the real-world challenges, a queue-based stochastic model for multi-server EV systems and individual feedback strategies is developed. Subsequently, a transition state diagram is provided by balancing the input-output rates between the adjacent states. Next, the system of Chapman-Kolmogorov differential-difference equations is formulated to help understand mathematical modeling better. The matrix method is employed to demonstrate the state probability distribution in equilibrium. The infographics are utilized and incorporated for better visualization of the research findings. For a better understanding from an individual's point of view, numerous managerial insights are provided. Lastly, several concluding remarks and future perspectives are provided that can help decision-makers and practitioners to construct and analyze economic strategies based on EV management systems.

Prevalence of obstetric violence in high-income countries: A systematic review of mixed studies and meta-analysis of quantitative studies.

Obstetric violence, or mistreatment of women in obstetric care, can have severe consequences such as fear of future childbirth, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. The primary objective was to estimate the prevalence of obstetric violence in high-income countries. The secondary objective was to extract the main domains of obstetric violence perceived by women from qualitative studies. Following prospective registration (PROSPERO CRD42023468570), PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched with no restrictions. Included studies were cross-sectional, cohort, mixed methods, and qualitative studies based on populations from high-income countries. The review was conducted by two independent reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed. Rates of obstetric violence were pooled using random effects model, computing 95% confidence intervals (CI) and assessing heterogeneity using I2 statistic. Funnel plots and Egger's test were used to detect potential reporting biases and small-study effects. Of the 1821 records screened, 25 studies were included: 14 quantitative and 2 mixed methods studies, comprising 60 987 women, and 9 qualitative studies were included, comprising an additional 4356 women. 81.25% of quantitative studies, including the quantitative component of the mixed methods studies, were considered satisfactory or better regarding risk of bias. The prevalence of obstetric violence was overall 45.3% (95% CI 27.5-63.0; I2 = 100.0%). The prevalence of specific forms of mistreatment was also estimated. Lack of access to analgesia was 17.3% (95% CI 6.9-27.7; I2 = 99.7%). Ignored requests for help was 19.2% (95% CI 11.7-26.6; I2 = 99.0%). Shouting and scolding 19.7% (95% CI 13.0-26.4; I2 = 98.7%). The use of fundal pressure during the second stage of labor (Kristeller maneuver) was 30.3% (95% CI 22.1-38.5; I2 = 97.6%). There was no funnel asymmetry. Lack of information and/or consent were the most frequent domains extracted from the qualitative articles and the qualitative component of the mixed methods studies. The results demonstrate that obstetric violence is a prevalent problem that women in high-income countries experience. Lack of information and/or consent were the domains most frequently described in the qualitative studies and the qualitative component of the mixed methods studies.