Slight Improvement Research Articles

Ablative radiofrequency microplasma for lateral dermatochalasis-indications and treatment recommendations

To determine in which cases ablative radiofrequency microplasma is preferred for the treatment of lateral dermatochalasis over a surgical approach as well as discussing each method's benefits and limitations. Twenty-one patients underwent 3 interventions of plasma exeresis. Photographic and RCM images were acquired at baseline and 4 weeks after final plasma exeresis. The eyes were categorized into 3 groups based on the dermatochalasis severity (1- mild, 2- moderate, 3- severe). Additionally, a further division was conducted to assess the degree of enhancement observed after the treatment (1- slight improvement, 2- moderate improvement, 3- significant improvement). The classifications and assessments were performed by was graded by two trained dermatologists as blinded observers. A total of 21 eyes with a mean age of 54 years (range45-67 years) and 100% females were included in this study. The severity of dermatochalasis directly affects the clinical improvement (P=0.039) and the higher the severity, the more the improvement (R = -0.62). Noninvasive ablative microplasma may offer safe and effective therapy for upper eyelid dermatochalasis and can even be performed in patients at surgical risk. However, it may be suitable for grades 0 and 1 of DC. For more advanced grades a surgical solution achieves better results for the treatment of dermatochalasis of the upper eyelid.

Second-order conditions for spatio-temporally sparse optimal control via second subderivatives

We address second-order optimality conditions for optimal control problems involving sparsity functionals which induce spatio-temporal sparsity patterns. We employ the notion of (weak) second subderivatives. With this approach, we are able to reproduce the results from Casas, Herzog, and Wachsmuth (ESAIM COCV, 23, 2017, p. 263-295). Our analysis yields a slight improvement of one of these results and also opens the door for the sensitivity analysis of this class of problems.

EFFECTS OF STRETCHING ON ADOLESCENT TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES

Introduction. Flexibility, or joint range of motion, is often highlighted as a crucial aspect of physical fitness. It is commonly believed that improving flexibility can enhance performance and help lower the risk of injury. Methodology. This study involved a sample of 30 Track and Field athletes who were tested once before the stretching programs were applied (April 2024) and once after (October 2024). Results. The data from descriptive analyses for both tests before and after the application of stretching programs showed slight improvements in the SLJ, VJ, BOMBT, and SSPMBT metrics. The results from the comparative analysis of the VJ, SLJ 30-meter Flying Start, and BOMBTS indicators showed a statistically significant improvement from Test 1 to Test 2. The data from the descriptive analysis: M. Triceps Surae: Test 1 mean of 13.27 and Test 2 mean of 16.57 for the right limb; Test 1 mean of 13,2 and Test 2 mean of 17,4 for the left limb; Hamstring: Test 1 mean of 79.47 and Test 2 mean of 86.3, for right limb. Test 1 mean 79.37 and Test 2 mean 85.87 for the left limb; M. Rectus Femoris: Test 1 mean 151.33 and Test 2 mean 153.83 for the right limb. Test 1 mean of 150,9 and Test 2 of 154 for the left limb; M. Erector Spinae: Test 1 mean of 26.77 and Test 2 mean of 28.9. The improvement in the M. Triceps Surae R/L flexibility (The t-value of -2.35/-2.81 at a significance level of α = .05 suggests a statistically significant difference between the two test results, indicating the effectiveness of the applied intervention or training program. Conclusions. The comparative analysis of the Vertical Jump, Standing Long Jump, 30-meter Flying Start, and Backward Overhead Medicine Ball Throw indicators showed a statistically significant improvement from Test 1 to Test 2, indicating a positive effect on the development of speed and strength qualities during the application of the stretching programs. Additionally, Welch’s t-test results highlighted the effectiveness of the intervention program, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in the flexibility of the M. Triceps Surae R/L between Test 1 and Test 2.

Evaluation of the sustainable development efficiency of environment and energy in China

With the increasing global demand for sustainable development, China, being one of the world’s most populous countries, is confronted with increasingly prominent challenges in sustainable development of environment and energy, specifically in terms of environmental protection and energy transformation. To promote sustainable development in China’s environment and energy sector, this paper constructs an evaluation indicator system for sustainable development of environment and energy by integrating the relevant sustainable development goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The DEA-SBM model is employed for static analysis of the sustainable development efficiency and dynamic analysis is conducted using the Malmquist index, aiming to reveal regional differences and trends in the efficiency of sustainable development from 2016 to 2022. The results indicate that there is a significant disparity in the sustainable development efficiency of environment and energy among the 31 provinces in China. China has seen a slight overall improvement in the sustainable development of environment and energy, with a promotion of environmentally friendly development patterns. Moreover, technological innovation proves to be a key element in achieving more efficient and environmentally friendly development. In addition, the decomposition of technical efficiency change also makes the management level and factor allocation be attached importance.

Comparative Analysis and Reconstruction of the Fama-French Three-Factor, Five-Factor and Carhart Four-Factor Models on U.S. Consumer Discretionary Market

The stock market has been studied and analyzed by scholars and investors for a long time. This paper aims to compare the applicability of the Fama-French three-factor (FF3F), five-factor (FF5F), and Carhart four-factor models (Carhart 4F) in the U.S. consumer discretionary sector. For the market return, data is obtained from the U.S. Consumer Discretionary Sector ETF (VCR), covering a period from 2014 to 2024, comprising 120 months. Regression results indicate that the FF3F model performs the best, explaining 89.41% of the returns. Although the FF5F and Carhart 4F models show slight improvements, additional factors (WML, RMW, CMA) are statistically insignificant. A restructured model that contains market premium (Rm-Rf), size (SMB), and investment (CMA) factors is proved to be more effective, with market premium and small-cap stocks, as well as high investment firms, driving higher returns. This research provides experiential evidence on the efficacy of factor models in the U.S. consumer discretionary sector's stock market.

Pons herniation after skull base chondrosarcoma surgery: A rare complication after transclival endoscopic endonasal approach

Background: Intracranial chondrosarcomas are malignant tumors that most commonly affect the clivus region. For tumors in this location, the extended endoscopic endonasal approach could offer an alternative route. We present a case of pons herniation after this technique. Case Description: A 55-year-old female presented with a 6-month history of difficulty walking. The neurological evaluation showed asymmetric tetra paresis and involvement of the IX cranial nerve on the right side. Imaging exams showed a lesion at the upper clivus, with a possible diagnosis of chondrosarcoma. An extended transclival approach with partial resection and a multilayer closure were performed. The patient had a slight immediate improvement in muscle strength, and she was discharged home 5 days after surgery. Four weeks later, she evolved with worsening strength on the left side. A new image examination revealed an atypical protrusion of the pontine tissue through the bone defect at the opening of the clivus; a surgical revision was proposed, but the patient chose conservative management. Conclusion: Pontine herniation is a rare complication with no defined cause. The use of a rigid material for closure could reduce the chances of this complication, but futher studies are necessary to reinforce that hypothesis.

Estimating Extreme Drought Risk Through Classical and Bayesian Paradigms

ABSTRACTDrought poses significant challenges to both the environment and the economy, necessitating proactive mitigation strategies. This study introduces both classical and Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) extreme value probabilistic models for quantifying drought risk. The models utilise the generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution to characterise the distribution of standardised precipitation index (SPI) and non‐stationary standardised precipitation index (NSSPI) variables. Drought risk is probabilistically assessed across five regions in Baluchistan (a drought‐prone area of Pakistan) over two 20‐year periods per region. The study presents a novel approach in probabilistic quantification models, demonstrating slight performance improvement with the Bayesian MCMC paradigm, as evaluated by the continuously ranked probability scoring. Moreover, the application of the presented methodology can be extended to other climatic zones using Bayesian MCMC with informative priors constructed from historical records of the neighbouring regions.

Report shows slight improvement on grantmaker diversity, but compensation lagging behind inflation

Report shows slight improvement on grantmaker diversity, but compensation lagging behind inflation

Thirty-day oral exposure to acetamiprid induces biochemical and histological alterations in rat pancreas: protective effects of carnosine supplementation

Acetamiprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide used against various insect pests. Serious concerns are emerging regarding their adverse effects on non-target organisms and organs. This study aimed to investigate the mechanistic toxic effect of oral administration of acetamiprid at 21.7 and 43.4 mg/kg body weight on the histological structure and pancreatic function of male Wistar rats and the potential effect of carnosine in mitigating this toxicity for 30 consecutive days. Thirty-six animals were divided into six groups: the control group received distilled water, the second group received 200 mg/kg body weight of carnosine, two groups received 21.7 and 43.4 mg/kg of acetamiprid, and two groups received 21.7 and 43.4 mg/kg + 200 kg/kg body weight of acetamiprid and carnosine, respectively. Acetamiprid caused a significant decrease in body weight (p < 0.001), pancreatic somatic index (p < 0.001), and amylase level (p ≤ 0.0001) and increased lipase level (p ≤ 0.0001), blood glucose level (p ≤ 0.0001), histological scores (p ≤ 0.01), and malondialdehyde level (0.01<p < 0.0001). Administration of carnosine led to a slight improvement in the increase of lipase (p ≤ 0.01) and the decrease of amylase (p ≤ 0.001) secretions and prevention of histopathological features induced by acetamiprid. Our results pointed out for the first time the toxic effect of acetamiprid and the preventive effect of carnosine on rat pancreatic structure and function.

Uncommon presentation of left main congenital coronary aneurysm: a rare case report

Coronary aneurysm, a dilated segment of the coronary artery, is a rare condition with a prevalence ranging from 0.02% to 0.2%. According to the current literature, reports of large aneurysms in the left main artery are extremely rare. We present a case of a 43-year-old male patient presenting with cough, wheezing, and dyspnea after a cold. Initial examinations suggested viral myocarditis, but further evaluation revealed a giant aneurysm in the left main coronary artery. Due to the high surgical risk, conservative treatment was chosen. Follow-up assessments showed no significant changes in the coronary aneurysm, with slight improvement in dyspnea. This rare case of a left main congenital coronary aneurysm suggests that treatment should consider the patient's overall condition, thrombosis presence, suitability for anticoagulant therapy, and aneurysm location and size.

Evaluation of NUN-004, a Novel Engineered Ephrin Antagonist, in Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Phase I/Ib, Open-Label, Escalating Dose and Extended Access Study.

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma A4 (EphA4) is implicated in the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. EphA4 fusion protein (EphA4-Fc) inhibits EphA4 function in vivo but is too short-lived for prolonged therapy. NUN-004 (mEphA4-Fc) is a modified EphA4-Fc engineered for an extended half-life. This first-in-human phase I/Ib study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity and efficacy of NUN-004 in healthy volunteers and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this open-label study, Part 1 enrolled 20 healthy volunteers in five single ascending dose cohorts (1, 3, 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg), followed by Part 2, which enrolled eight patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in two multiple ascending dose cohorts (cycle 1: 15 and 30 mg/kg) who could continue into an extended access phase (cycles 2-6: 15 mg/kg) for a total of 6 months' treatment. All participants received intravenous NUN-004; multiple dosing was administered weekly in 28-day cycles. Primary endpoints included safety assessments, single-dose and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics, and anti-drug antibodies. Efficacy assessments were Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Function Rating Score Revised (ALSFRS-R) and forced vital capacity. NUN-004 was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events or discontinuations. NUN-004 exposure generally increased with dose. Single-dose half-life was 111.7 (± 22.8) h in healthy volunteers (n = 20) and 74.4 (± 19.4) h in patients (n = 6). Steady state was observed in patients by day 8. Steady-state half-life (cycle 1 doses 2-4) was 83.7 (± 26.6) to 101.1 (± 46.0) h. No antibody response was observed. ALSFRS-R showed a slight improvement (+0.09 points/month) to cycle 4 and a slight decline (-0.35 points/month) over the whole study. Forced vital capacity trends were consistent with ALSFRS-R. This study supports the safety, tolerability and extended half-life of NUN-004, and provides preliminary evidence for its ability to ameliorate disease progression in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cohort. Registered on ANZCTR under identifier ACTRN12621000514808 (3 May, 2021).

Latest Advancements in Credit Risk Assessment with Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques

Abstract A loan is vital for individuals and organizations to meet their goals. However, financial institutions face challenges like managing losses and missed opportunities in loan decisions. A key issue is the imbalanced datasets in credit risk assessment, hindering accurate predictions of defaulters. Previous research has utilized machine learning techniques, including single or multiple classifier systems, ensemble methods, and class-balancing approaches. This review summarizes various factors and machine learning methods for assessing credit risk, presented in a tabular format to provide valuable insights for researchers. It covers data complexity, minority class distribution, sampling techniques, feature selection, and meta-learning parameters. The goal is to help develop novel algorithms that outperform existing methods. Even a slight improvement in defaulter prediction rates could significantly influence society by saving millions for lenders.

Thrifty wide-context models of B cell receptor somatic hypermutation.

Somatic hypermutation (SHM) is the diversity-generating process in antibody affinity maturation. Probabilistic models of SHM are needed for analyzing rare mutations, for understanding the selective forces guiding affinity maturation, and for understanding the underlying biochemical process. High throughput data offers the potential to develop and fit models of SHM on relevant data sets. In this paper we model SHM using modern frameworks. We are motivated by recent work suggesting the importance of a wider context for SHM, however, assigning an independent rate to each k-mer leads to an exponential proliferation of parameters. Thus, using convolutions on 3-mer embeddings, we develop "thrifty" models of SHM that have fewer free parameters than a 5-mer model and yet have a significantly wider context. These offer a slight performance improvement over a 5-mer model. We also find that a per-site effect is not necessary to explain SHM patterns given nucleotide context. Also, the two current methods for fitting an SHM model - on out-of-frame sequence data and on synonymous mutations - produce significantly different results, and augmenting out-of-frame data with synonymous mutations does not aid out-of-sample performance.

The Effect of Metabolic Disease on Language and Swallowing Skills in Children: A Case Report

Objectives: The present research aims to highlight the impact of hyperammonemia, a common pediatric metabolic disease, on children’s language and feeding skills. This research was conducted through a literature review and the presentation of a 2.5-year-old girl diagnosed with hyperammonemia. Case Presentation: The research was conducted on a 2.5-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with a sudden-onset metabolic disorder that resulted in swallowing, speech, and language problems. The child’s receptive and productive language and feeding history were obtained through interviews with her mother. Formal and informal tests were used to assess the child’s language and feeding skills at two different times after the onset of symptoms. Discussion: This study presents a new and unique case of a child with very high levels of ammonia and severe clinical manifestations of cognitive, language, and motor dysfunctions. Although the child did not receive any direct interventions during the study, a secondary assessment revealed slight improvements in some language and oral motor skills, possibly due to maturation and advice provided by rehabilitation team members.

PREDICTION OF THE MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY CHARACTERISTICS OF DIESEL ENGINES USING AN ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK FOR PURE DIESEL FUEL, PURE HVO, AND A MIXTURE OF THESE FUELS IN THE RATIO 50/50 BY VOLUME

This research assesses the influence of different quantities of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in diesel fuel on the performance of the engine and the emissions it produces. The particular areas of interest are the level of smoke emitted and the brake thermal efficiency (BTE). A series of engine experiments were undertaken to quantify emissions and performance characteristics under various operating regimes using three distinct fuel blends: D100 (pure diesel), HVO50 (50% HVO mixture), and HVO100 (pure HVO). The results show a tendency to reduce soot emissions when the amount of HVO in the mixture reaches 50%, but in order to accurately determine the correlation between the amount of HVO and emissions, additional studies with various concentrations of HVO and diesel mixtures are necessary. Similarly, the results show a slight improvement in BTE stability with a 50% HVO blend, but more studies with different percentages of HVO diesel blends are needed to reliably determine changes in BTE. This indicates a trend of change in engine performance with increasing HVO concentration in diesel fuel. In order to forecast emissions and performance indicators under different operating scenarios, we used artificial neural networks ANNs, which demonstrated excellent prediction accuracy, exhibiting robust linear correlations between the expected and real values for all fuel types. This research emphasizes the advantages of utilizing HVO in diesel engines for both environmental impact and performance. It also emphasizes the usefulness of ANNs in optimizing engine settings to improve efficiency and minimize emissions. The results endorse the further use of HVO as a viable substitute for conventional diesel, leading to less ecological consequences and enhanced engine efficiency.

The ecological status and fisheries of Malampaya Sound, northwestern Palawan, Philippines

A review of the state of the marine ecosystem and fisheries of Malampaya Sound, Palawan was undertaken. A total of 30 papers relevant to the topic were selected and reviewed. The results showed that the rich and diverse coastal waters of Malampaya Sound harbor 8 species of seagrasses, 9 species of mangroves, 262 species of fish, and various species of corals and macroinvertebrates including the rare giant clams Tridacna spp. The Sound plays a vital role in the local economy because the local community uses it for subsistence fishing and as a source of livelihood. It is so productive that it was termed the “fishbowl of the country” because it provides a substantial contribution to the country’s fishery sector and economy. However, degradation continuously threatens it, most of which are interrelated anthropogenic issues. The declining environmental condition of the area prompted the government to close it for commercial fishing in the 1970s. Several conservation measures have been undertaken since then to preserve its remaining resources, including its declaration as a protected landscape and seascape in 2000. Despite this, if not for a slight improvement, the condition has worsened. So far, only the mangrove ecosystem has dramatically improved. Seagrass and coral reefs are still in poor to fair condition. A collective effort by the community and government agencies, with the support of the academe and non-government organizations, coupled with strict enforcement of existing laws, income diversification for the locals, monitoring of environmental parameters, and implementation of sustainable fishing practices, is necessary to achieve sustainable use of the area.

Experimental Study On The Performance Of A Compression Ignition Engine Fueled With Blends Of Waste Plastic Oil And Butanol

In recent years, the eco-friendly management of plastic waste has become a global area of interest. Some methods, such as incineration and landfilling, have been explored; however, they cause severe environmental impacts. Pyrolysis of plastic waste presents an environmentally friendly alternative for managing plastics. Through pyrolysis, plastic waste can be converted into hydrocarbon fuel, which can then be used in internal combustion engines to generate power and heat. Diesel engines were tested using fuel blends of D80P10N10 (80% diesel, 10% waste plastic oil, 10% butanol) and D80P20 (diesel and waste plastic oil). The effects of blending ratios on performance, combustion, and emission characteristics were investigated. The results showed slight improvements in brake power, brake thermal efficiency, and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for the test fuels D80P10N10 and D80P20 compared to pure diesel. Based on the performance and emission analysis, the D80P10N10 blend was identified as the most suitable alternative to replace diesel.

Bacterial nanocellulose production: Improvement in productivity and properties via a sustainable medium

High production cost is a significant barrier to commercial bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) production. This study addresses this issue using a low-cost molasses and cheese whey medium via Gluconacetobacter hansenii. The one-factor-at-a-time method investigated the effect of critical factors on BNC production, including total sugar and total protein concentrations (g/L), initial pH, and additives such as ethanol and acetic acid (%(v/v)). The productivity in the HS medium was 0.125 g/L/day, while the low-cost medium without additives achieved a productivity of 0.5275 g/L/day. Although the addition of ethanol decreased the productivity, the inclusion of 0.4 %(v/v) acetic acid increased the productivity to 0.64 g/L/day. Using the low-cost medium with acetic acid led to a 40-fold reduction in production costs compared to the HS medium. Furthermore, transitioning from HS media to the low-cost medium resulted in BNC with thicker fibres, a higher crystallinity index (%) and improved mechanical properties. The ratio of Iα/ Iβ in BNC produced in HS media decreased from 1.68 to 1.09 in the low-cost medium. The thermal properties of BNC produced in the low-cost medium also showed slight improvements compared to those in the HS medium. The degree of polymerization significantly increased from 1096 to 1457 in the low-cost medium compared to HS media. These findings highlight the potential of using a low-cost medium to produce BNC with enhanced properties, offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional plastics.

A comparative study on Arc- and vacuum induction-melting for Ti16.6Zr16.6Hf16.6Co10Ni20Cu20 high entropy shape memory Alloy Production

Arc-melting (AM) as a primary method for casting high entropy alloys (HEAs) ensures rapid alloy screening with minimal material input, high cost-effectiveness, and high cooling rates. However, the limitations of AM on a laboratory scale, particularly its constrained sample size and the necessity for remelting steps to ensure homogeneity, hampers thorough mechanical and functional testing of bulk materials. Therefore, this study features a comparative analysis between AM and vacuum induction-melting (VIM) techniques for High Entropy Shape Memory Alloys (HE-SMAs) production, focusing on the senary alloy Ti16.6Zr16.6Hf16.6Co10Ni20Cu20, known for its potential functional applications and high sensitivity to material inhomogeneity. The alloy’s composition, including high-melting point elements like Hf, Ti and Zr, makes it a well-suited candidate for assessing the capabilities of VIM in producing homogeneous bulk materials. The employment of binary pre-alloys in both AM and VIM processes reduced the necessity for remelting steps and ensured better initial quality for subsequent heat treatments. A homogenization treatment at 900 °C for 100 h of an AM-produced senary alloy showed only slight improvements compared to the same alloy produced via VIM, largely due to the slow diffusion of the larger Hf and Zr atoms from the dendrites into the solid solution. This suggests that VIM can achieve comparable levels of homogenization in substantially less time than required for AM-treated samples. The findings finally indicate that by using VIM, when combined with binary pre-alloys, one achieves more homogeneous alloys with reduced heat-treatment time, making it a viable method for HE-SMA production.

Effect of carbon ion implantation on the superconducting properties of MgB2 bulks prepared by powder-in-sealed-tube method

We studied the effect of carbon (C) ion implantation on the microstructure and superconducting properties of bulk MgB2 prepared by the powder-in-sealed-tube (PIST) method. FESEM and TEM analysis indicate microstructural changes due to carbon ion implantation. DC magnetization measurements reveal a slight improvement of TC and small ΔTC values due to ion implantation. The JC(B) characteristics of implanted samples show a significant enhancement of JC compared with pristine MgB2 at 10 and 20 K. MgB2 samples implanted with 80 keV carbon ions with a dose of 2 × 1016 ions cm−2 show maximum enhancement in JC i.e., 2.07 × 105 A/cm2 at 5 T and 10 K. The flux pinning force density curves are theoretically analyzed using the Dew-Hughes model. The results reveal that significant enhancements in the flux pinning properties are contributed by the normal point defects caused by carbon ion implantation, which acts as a strong pinning center.