Background: Congenital heart disease is a public health issue due to its incidence and mortality rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term mortality of children with congenital heart disease admitte...Background: Congenital heart disease is a public health issue due to its incidence and mortality rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term mortality of children with congenital heart disease admitted to the Departmental University Hospital of Borgou/Alibori (CHUD-B/A) from 2011 to 2022. Methods: This descriptive longitudinal study with analytical aims covered 11 years (April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2022). It consisted of a review of the records of children under 15 years of age with echocardiographically confirmed congenital heart disease. This was followed by an interview with the parents to assess the children’s current condition. Data were entered using Kobocollect software and analyzed using R Studio 4.2.2. software. Results: A total of 143 complete files were retained. The median age at diagnosis was 14 months (IIQ: Q1 = 4;Q3 = 60) with a range of 2 days and 175 months, and the sex-ratio (M/F) was 0.96. Left-to-right shunts were the most frequent cardiopathy group (62.9%). Only 35 children (24.5%) benefited from restorative treatment. The mortality rate was 31.5%. Median survival under the maximum bias assumption was 114 months and 216 months under the assumption of minimum bias. Survival was significantly better in children with right-to-left shunts (p = 0.0049) under the assumption of minimum bias. The death risk factors were: age at diagnosis less than 12 months (aHR = 7.58;95% CI = 3.36 - 17.24;p Conclusion: The long-term mortality of congenital heart disease is high and favoured by the absence of restorative treatment. Local correction of congenital heart disease and medical follow-up will help to reduce this mortality.展开更多
Introduction: Pseudarthrosis (PSA) of the diaphysis of long bones still remains a current problem, despite improvements in the treatment of these fractures. Our study aims to study the epidemiological and therapeutic ...Introduction: Pseudarthrosis (PSA) of the diaphysis of long bones still remains a current problem, despite improvements in the treatment of these fractures. Our study aims to study the epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of PSA of the diaphysis of long bones. Method: This retrospective work concerns 30 cases of non-union of the diaphysis of long bones treated in the orthopedic and trauma surgery department at Donka National Hospital, during a period of 18 months from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Results: We recruited 30 patients, 80% of whom were male, with an average age of 39.9 years. Public road accidents (AVP) represented the main cause of fractures of the diaphysis of long bones 87%, they were open in 25 cases or 83%. The fractures were located in the middle 1/3 of the diaphysis of the long bones in 50% of cases. Treatment of initial fractures was traditional in 21 cases, orthopedic in 2 cases and surgical in 7 cases. It was aseptic nonunion in 28 cases (93%) and septic nonunion in 2 cases. They were hypertrophic in 7 cases, slightly hypertrophic in 5 cases, oligotrophic in 11 cases, atrophic in 6 cases and with bone defect in 1 case. The treatment was based on osteosynthesis including 16 cases of screwed “PV” plate: 7 cases of centromedullary “ECM” nailing, 2 cases of external fixator, 1 case of broaching and 4 cases of Plastering. The results according to ASAMI criteria on an anatomical level were excellent in 19 cases, good in 3 cases and poor in 3 cases, with a union rate of 76%. And 5 patients undergoing consolidation. Conclusion: Based on the literature data and the experience of our department, the true treatment of PSA requires correct management of the initial fracture without forgetting the interest in preventing AVP which appears to be an element essential, making it possible to reduce the incidence of fractures of the diaphysis.展开更多
Users face the threat of trajectory privacy leakage when using location-based service applications, especially when their behavior is collected and stored for a long period of time. This accumulated information is exp...Users face the threat of trajectory privacy leakage when using location-based service applications, especially when their behavior is collected and stored for a long period of time. This accumulated information is exploited by opponents, greatly increasing the risk of trajectory privacy leakage. This attack method is called a long-term observation attack. On the premise of ensuring lower time overhead and higher cache contribution rate, the existing methods cannot utilize cache to answer subsequent queries while also resisting long-term observation attacks. So this article proposes a trajectory privacy protection method to resist long-term observation attacks. This method combines caching technology and improves the existing differential privacy mechanism, while incorporating randomization factors that are difficult for attackers to recognize after long-term observation to enhance privacy. Search for locations in the cache of both the mobile client and edge server that can replace the user’s actual location. If there are replacement users in the cache, the query results can be obtained more quickly. Simultaneously obfuscating the spatiotemporal correlation of actual trajectories by generating confusion regions. If it does not exist, the obfuscated location generation method that resists long-term observation attacks is executed to generate the real anonymous area and send it to the service provider. The above steps can comprehensively protect the user’s trajectory privacy. The experimental results show that this method can protect user trajectories from long-term observation attacks while ensuring low time overhead and a high cache contribution rate.展开更多
The results of an experimental study of long-term relaxation of the photoelectret state of polycrystalline CdTe:(Ag, Cu, Cd) and Sb<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub>:Se films with an anomalous photovol...The results of an experimental study of long-term relaxation of the photoelectret state of polycrystalline CdTe:(Ag, Cu, Cd) and Sb<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub>:Se films with an anomalous photovoltaic property are presented. In such films, the residual photovoltage is caused by the separation of photocarriers by the built-in electrostatic field of the near-surface region of space charges and their asymmetric capture by deep levels of impurities or complexes, including impurity atoms and intrinsic defects, both in the bulk and on the surface of crystal grains. It has been shown that in activated films, a two-step exponential temporary relaxation of the initial photovoltage of the order of V<sub>APV</sub> ≈ (500-600) V is detected, and only 10% of it experiences long-term relaxation (t ≈ 100-120 min).展开更多
Based on the sheet, scanning electron microscope and high pressure mercury analysis method, this paper takes Jiyuan oilfield-Ma Jia mountain district 4 5 sandstone reservoir as the research object, from the reservoir ...Based on the sheet, scanning electron microscope and high pressure mercury analysis method, this paper takes Jiyuan oilfield-Ma Jia mountain district 4 5 sandstone reservoir as the research object, from the reservoir petrology, pore type and porosity, permeability, the system analyzed the reservoir characteristics and its control factors. The results show that the sandstone in the 4 5 section of Baoziwan-Majiashan area of Jiyuan oilfield is fine in size and high in filling content. The pore types were dominated by intergranular pores and dissolved pores, with a low face rate. The reservoir property is relatively poor, with mean porosity of 11.11% and mean permeability of 1.16 × 10<sup>−</sup><sup>3</sup> µm<sup>2</sup>. In the low porous, low otonic background, the development of relatively high pore hypertonic areas. Compaction and cementation should play a destructive role in reservoir properties, and dissolution should play a positive role in reservoir properties. Compaction adjusts the migration of clay minerals and miscellaneous bases in the original sediment in the study area, greatly reducing the porosity and permeability of the reservoir;the development of the cement cement, carbonate cementation and some quartz secondary compounds reduces the storage space;the dissolution effect, especially the secondary dissolution pores of the reservoir, which obviously improves the properties of the reservoir.展开更多
Heat-killed Bifidobacterium longum CLA8013 has been demonstrated to improve the frequency of defecation, straining, and pain during defecation in human placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group studies. We cond...Heat-killed Bifidobacterium longum CLA8013 has been demonstrated to improve the frequency of defecation, straining, and pain during defecation in human placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group studies. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the safety of both long-term and excessive intakes of heat-killed B. longum CLA8013, when used as a food with functional claims. In both tests, 30 healthy volunteers were divided into two groups: an active group that ingested heat-killed B. longum CLA8013 and a placebo group. In the long-term intake safety study, participants in the active group ingested 25 billion cells/day for 12 weeks. In the excessive intake safety study, participants in the active group ingested 125 billion cells/day for 4 weeks. Physical, hematological, biochemical, and urine examinations were conducted, and adverse events were evaluated in both studies. The studies revealed no abnormalities in any of the safety tests. In conclusion, no safety-related issues were identified with long-term or excessive intake of heat-killed B. longum CLA8013.展开更多
Long COVID has been studied as different sequelae that some individuals can develop after the acute phase of the disease. Persistent symptoms such as dry cough, fatigue, and dyspnea can remain after six months of COVI...Long COVID has been studied as different sequelae that some individuals can develop after the acute phase of the disease. Persistent symptoms such as dry cough, fatigue, and dyspnea can remain after six months of COVID-19 cure. Others such as lung fibrosis, kidney injury, and thrombotic risk also are observed. Here, a deep review of each human organ and system infected by the virus was performed aiming to show how molecules expression and cell signaling can induce the organism cure or injuries and, subsequently sequelae. The review also suggests the importance of public health surveillance for these cases including a more comprehensive analysis of molecular biology tools that can clarify and assist in the prognosis, treatment, and preventive methods for potentially more serious disorders in post-COVID-19 patients.展开更多
Background: Efforts have been made in Burkina Faso, a French-speaking country, since 2010 to improve healthcare access and provide affordable contraceptive methods to women. With the increasing prevalence of modern co...Background: Efforts have been made in Burkina Faso, a French-speaking country, since 2010 to improve healthcare access and provide affordable contraceptive methods to women. With the increasing prevalence of modern contraceptives in Burkina Faso, it is important to examine the socio-demographic factors that contribute to this new pattern of contraceptive use. This study aims to analyze the changes in socio-demographic factors associated with long-term contraceptive use and provide scientific evidence to guide policy development and action planning in family planning. Data and Methods: We utilized data from the 2010 Demographic and Health Survey, which included 17,087 women aged 15 - 49 years, and the 2015 Demographic and Health Module, which included 11,504 women in the same age group. For the analysis of contraceptive use, we focused on women who were in need of contraception (either met or unmet), of reproductive age, non-pregnant, and either married or sexually active but not married. We included users of modern reversible methods and excluded non-users, as well as users of traditional or permanent methods. Results: Our findings revealed a high prevalence of long-term contraceptive use across all categories;however, certain challenges were identified, such as lower levels of information about contraceptive methods among users and the persistence of inequalities. Family planning discussions and partner approval did not influence long-term contraceptive choice. Additionally, some providers selectively offered specific methods based on women’s life course characteristics, such as parity and marital status, despite evidence suggesting that young and nulliparous women can effectively use long-term methods. Conclusion: Given the high effectiveness of long-term contraceptive methods, it is crucial to address barriers that hinder their utilization among young and nulliparous women, as well as those who desire to delay pregnancy. Efforts should focus on improving knowledge and dispelling misconceptions surrounding long-term methods. Providers play a pivotal role in this process by adopting counseling strategies that enhance users’ understanding and facilitate informed decision-making regarding contraceptive options.展开更多
The topic of the long-term effects of COVID-19, so-called “long-COVID”, has gained increased attention. The US federal government announced plans to develop an interagency national research action plan to uncover mo...The topic of the long-term effects of COVID-19, so-called “long-COVID”, has gained increased attention. The US federal government announced plans to develop an interagency national research action plan to uncover more insights into the long-term effects of COVID-19. This study contributes to our understanding of the long-term effects of COVID-19 by quantifying patterns of healthcare utilization up to 360 days after an initial COVID-19 diagnosis occurring during the beginning of the pandemic (March-August 2020) in a very large nationally representative population of insured adults. We quantify actual COVID-19-related utilization (as opposed to reported symptoms) by accessing claims data to calculate average medical visits per patient per month by type of encounter (e.g. inpatient stay, physician visit). In contrast to many recent reports in the media, our results show that COVID-19-related utilization declines substantially after the first-month post-diagnosis and continues to decline throughout the study period to very low levels.展开更多
Malaria is still a major public health concern in Cameroon as more than 20 million people are at risk of the disease. Despite the government’s effort to scale up the distribution of long lasting insecticide-treated b...Malaria is still a major public health concern in Cameroon as more than 20 million people are at risk of the disease. Despite the government’s effort to scale up the distribution of long lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs), full ownership and optimal use is still limited. In 2021, over a million LLINs were made available for distribution in the South West Region. However, the current situation of malaria has not yet been ascertained following the 2021 mass distribution campaign (MDC). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine LLIN ownership, coverage, usage and the prevalence of malaria following the 2021 MDC in the Tiko Health District (THD), South West Region of Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was carried from May 1 to 27, 2022 in which a multi-stage sampling technique was used to enroll eligible participants. Data were collected from household heads using questionnaires and capillary blood samples collected from consented household members were used to test for malaria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 at 0.05 significance level. From the 150 households surveyed, 96 (64.0%) owned a mosquito net before the recent MDC. There was an overall significant increase (p p = 0.644) in LLINs ownership between areas where door-to-door (79.5%) and fixed “Hit and Run” (75.8%) strategies were used in the distribution of LLINs in THD. The prevalence of malaria was 10.2%. The regular use of LLINs was significantly associated (p = 0.007) with low malaria prevalence. The 2021 MDC had an impact on malaria prevalence in those who properly used them.展开更多
In this study, rainfall data from 19 stations in Saudi Arabia (SA) for the period 1985-2019 was utilized to investigate interannual, monthly, and seasonal rainfall variations and trends. The magnitudes of these trends...In this study, rainfall data from 19 stations in Saudi Arabia (SA) for the period 1985-2019 was utilized to investigate interannual, monthly, and seasonal rainfall variations and trends. The magnitudes of these trends were characterized and tested using Mann-Kendall (MK) rank statistics at different significance levels. During this study period, the mean rainfall in SA showed a slight and significant decreasing trend by about 2 mm/35 years. Investigation of seasonal trends of rainfall revealed that Winter and Spring rainfall decreased significantly by 2.7 mm/35 years and 5.4 mm/35 years respectively. Three months showed very slight significant decreasing trends of rainfall. These were the months of February, March and April. Mann-Kendall analyses were carried out to investigate the annual trends of rainfall during three sub-periods, i.e., 1985-1996, 1997-2008, and 2009-2019. The results revealed that while rainfall increased by 5.3 mm/12 years and 7.8 mm/11 years for the first and the third periods respectively, it decreased by about 11 mm/12 years during the second period. While trends of rainfall in Saudi Arabia are affected by large scale circulations and local factors, the effect of extraterrestrial factors, such as solar activity and its consequent effects on the climate may, additionally, play a potential role in affecting the pattern of rainfall in Saudi Arabia.展开更多
In this paper, we report a high power long-pulse single-frequency all-fiber amplifier at 1064 nm with near-diffraction-limited beam quality based on a polarization-maintaining tapered Yb-doped fiber (T-YDF). By applyi...In this paper, we report a high power long-pulse single-frequency all-fiber amplifier at 1064 nm with near-diffraction-limited beam quality based on a polarization-maintaining tapered Yb-doped fiber (T-YDF). By applying square wave pulse modulation to the diodes, with a frequency of 50 Hz and a pulse width of 668 μs, the peak power of the output laser reached 257 W with an average power of 8.65 W, linewidth of 10.6 kHz and M<sup>2</sup> < 1.5. .展开更多
Background: Long-acting and reversible contraceptive methods hold great potential as solutions to address the unmet need for contraception and the significant discontinuation rates, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. A...Background: Long-acting and reversible contraceptive methods hold great potential as solutions to address the unmet need for contraception and the significant discontinuation rates, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Among these methods, the Implant has gained popularity in sub-Saharan Africa, whereas the utilization of Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) has remained comparatively low, particularly in Burkina Faso. This study aims to evaluate the shifts in IUD and Implant usage from 2010 to 2020 and to pinpoint the factors influencing the choice of IUDs among LARCs users in Burkina Faso. Data and Methods: We conducted an analysis using data from Burkina Faso, drawn from the 2010 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the 2020 PMA Phase 1 data. The 2010 DHS garnered responses from 17,087 women aged 15 - 49, achieving a response rate of 98.4%. The 2020 PMA data collected responses from 6590 women aged 15 - 49, with a response rate of 95.8%. The final sample of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) users consisted of 1502 women, including 576 women from the 2010 survey and 926 women from the 2020 survey. Results: The study demonstrates an expansion of IUD usage to include socioeconomically disadvantaged segments among LARC users. However, higher levels of education, older age, and decisions influenced by healthcare providers are correlated with the preference for IUDs over Implants. The choice of IUDs is also connected to a comprehensive understanding of contraceptive methods, suggesting potential biases in the counseling process. Conclusion: Facilitating the broader adoption of IUDs among disadvantaged groups could be achieved by improving the accessibility of IUD products and services in rural areas. Nevertheless, there should be focused initiatives to enhance access to removal services, as this factor could dissuade specific users. Further efforts are required to train healthcare providers, aiming to mitigate biases in delivering Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs). Providers should provide impartial counseling, irrespective of the selected type of LARC.展开更多
Background: Risk stratification of long-term outcomes for patients undergoing Coronary artery bypass grafting has enormous potential clinical importance. Aim: To develop risk stratification models for predicting long-...Background: Risk stratification of long-term outcomes for patients undergoing Coronary artery bypass grafting has enormous potential clinical importance. Aim: To develop risk stratification models for predicting long-term outcomes following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods: We retrospectively revised the electronic medical records of 2330 patients who underwent adult Cardiac surgery between August 2016 and December 2022 at Madinah Cardiac Center, Saudi Arabia. Three hundred patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria of CABG operations with a complete follow-up period of at least 24 months, and data reporting. The collected data included patient demographics, comorbidities, laboratory data, pharmacotherapy, echocardiographic parameters, procedural details, postoperative data, in-hospital outcomes, and follow-up data. Our follow-up was depending on the clinical status (NYHA class), chest pain recurrence, medication dependence and echo follow-up. A univariate analysis was performed between each patient risk factor and the long-term outcome to determine the preoperative, operative, and postoperative factors significantly associated with each long-term outcome. Then a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed with a stepwise, forward selection procedure. Significant (p < 0.05) risk factors were identified and were used as candidate variables in the development of a multivariable risk prediction model. Results: The incidence of all-cause mortality during hospital admission or follow-up period was 2.3%. Other long-term outcomes included all-cause recurrent hospitalization (9.8%), recurrent chest pain (2.4%), and the need for revascularization by using a stent in 5 (3.0%) patients. Thirteen (4.4%) patients suffered heart failure and they were on the maximum anti-failure medications. The model for predicting all-cause mortality included the preoperative EF ≤ 35% (AOR: 30.757, p = 0.061), the bypass time (AOR: 1.029, p = 0.003), and the duration of ventilation following the operation (AOR: 1.237, p = 0.021). The model for risk stratification of recurrent hospitalization comprised the preoperative EF ≤ 35% (AOR: 6.198, p p = 0.023), low postoperative cardiac output (AOR: 3.622, p = 0.007), and the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AOR: 2.787, p = 0.038). Low postoperative cardiac output was the only predictor that significantly contributed to recurrent chest pain (AOR: 11.66, p = 0.004). Finally, the model consisted of low postoperative cardiac output (AOR: 5.976, p < 0.001) and postoperative ventricular fibrillation (AOR: 4.216, p = 0.019) was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of the future need for revascularization using a stent. Conclusions: A risk prediction model was developed in a Saudi cohort for predicting all-cause mortality risk during both hospital admission and the follow-up period of at least 24 months after isolated CABG surgery. A set of models were also developed for predicting long-term risks of all-cause recurrent hospitalization, recurrent chest pain, heart failure, and the need for revascularization by using stents.展开更多
The subject of the present paper is to prove that the recently introduced conjecture of boundedness puts a ban over the view of stability as asymptotic property. This result comes in sharp contrast with the prescripti...The subject of the present paper is to prove that the recently introduced conjecture of boundedness puts a ban over the view of stability as asymptotic property. This result comes in sharp contrast with the prescription of the traditional thermodynamics and statistical physics which consider the existence of equilibrium as asymptotic property of all systems. The difference commences from the use of infinitesimal calculus as the basic implement for modelling by the latter while the primary premise of the conjecture of boundedness is sustaining the energy/matter/information permanently bounded and finite. The latter property overrules the infinitesimal calculus as the major implement of modelling because, among all, it is proven that the traditional one suffers unsoluble difficulties.展开更多
文摘Background: Congenital heart disease is a public health issue due to its incidence and mortality rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term mortality of children with congenital heart disease admitted to the Departmental University Hospital of Borgou/Alibori (CHUD-B/A) from 2011 to 2022. Methods: This descriptive longitudinal study with analytical aims covered 11 years (April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2022). It consisted of a review of the records of children under 15 years of age with echocardiographically confirmed congenital heart disease. This was followed by an interview with the parents to assess the children’s current condition. Data were entered using Kobocollect software and analyzed using R Studio 4.2.2. software. Results: A total of 143 complete files were retained. The median age at diagnosis was 14 months (IIQ: Q1 = 4;Q3 = 60) with a range of 2 days and 175 months, and the sex-ratio (M/F) was 0.96. Left-to-right shunts were the most frequent cardiopathy group (62.9%). Only 35 children (24.5%) benefited from restorative treatment. The mortality rate was 31.5%. Median survival under the maximum bias assumption was 114 months and 216 months under the assumption of minimum bias. Survival was significantly better in children with right-to-left shunts (p = 0.0049) under the assumption of minimum bias. The death risk factors were: age at diagnosis less than 12 months (aHR = 7.58;95% CI = 3.36 - 17.24;p Conclusion: The long-term mortality of congenital heart disease is high and favoured by the absence of restorative treatment. Local correction of congenital heart disease and medical follow-up will help to reduce this mortality.
文摘Introduction: Pseudarthrosis (PSA) of the diaphysis of long bones still remains a current problem, despite improvements in the treatment of these fractures. Our study aims to study the epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of PSA of the diaphysis of long bones. Method: This retrospective work concerns 30 cases of non-union of the diaphysis of long bones treated in the orthopedic and trauma surgery department at Donka National Hospital, during a period of 18 months from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Results: We recruited 30 patients, 80% of whom were male, with an average age of 39.9 years. Public road accidents (AVP) represented the main cause of fractures of the diaphysis of long bones 87%, they were open in 25 cases or 83%. The fractures were located in the middle 1/3 of the diaphysis of the long bones in 50% of cases. Treatment of initial fractures was traditional in 21 cases, orthopedic in 2 cases and surgical in 7 cases. It was aseptic nonunion in 28 cases (93%) and septic nonunion in 2 cases. They were hypertrophic in 7 cases, slightly hypertrophic in 5 cases, oligotrophic in 11 cases, atrophic in 6 cases and with bone defect in 1 case. The treatment was based on osteosynthesis including 16 cases of screwed “PV” plate: 7 cases of centromedullary “ECM” nailing, 2 cases of external fixator, 1 case of broaching and 4 cases of Plastering. The results according to ASAMI criteria on an anatomical level were excellent in 19 cases, good in 3 cases and poor in 3 cases, with a union rate of 76%. And 5 patients undergoing consolidation. Conclusion: Based on the literature data and the experience of our department, the true treatment of PSA requires correct management of the initial fracture without forgetting the interest in preventing AVP which appears to be an element essential, making it possible to reduce the incidence of fractures of the diaphysis.
文摘Users face the threat of trajectory privacy leakage when using location-based service applications, especially when their behavior is collected and stored for a long period of time. This accumulated information is exploited by opponents, greatly increasing the risk of trajectory privacy leakage. This attack method is called a long-term observation attack. On the premise of ensuring lower time overhead and higher cache contribution rate, the existing methods cannot utilize cache to answer subsequent queries while also resisting long-term observation attacks. So this article proposes a trajectory privacy protection method to resist long-term observation attacks. This method combines caching technology and improves the existing differential privacy mechanism, while incorporating randomization factors that are difficult for attackers to recognize after long-term observation to enhance privacy. Search for locations in the cache of both the mobile client and edge server that can replace the user’s actual location. If there are replacement users in the cache, the query results can be obtained more quickly. Simultaneously obfuscating the spatiotemporal correlation of actual trajectories by generating confusion regions. If it does not exist, the obfuscated location generation method that resists long-term observation attacks is executed to generate the real anonymous area and send it to the service provider. The above steps can comprehensively protect the user’s trajectory privacy. The experimental results show that this method can protect user trajectories from long-term observation attacks while ensuring low time overhead and a high cache contribution rate.
文摘The results of an experimental study of long-term relaxation of the photoelectret state of polycrystalline CdTe:(Ag, Cu, Cd) and Sb<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub>:Se films with an anomalous photovoltaic property are presented. In such films, the residual photovoltage is caused by the separation of photocarriers by the built-in electrostatic field of the near-surface region of space charges and their asymmetric capture by deep levels of impurities or complexes, including impurity atoms and intrinsic defects, both in the bulk and on the surface of crystal grains. It has been shown that in activated films, a two-step exponential temporary relaxation of the initial photovoltage of the order of V<sub>APV</sub> ≈ (500-600) V is detected, and only 10% of it experiences long-term relaxation (t ≈ 100-120 min).
文摘Based on the sheet, scanning electron microscope and high pressure mercury analysis method, this paper takes Jiyuan oilfield-Ma Jia mountain district 4 5 sandstone reservoir as the research object, from the reservoir petrology, pore type and porosity, permeability, the system analyzed the reservoir characteristics and its control factors. The results show that the sandstone in the 4 5 section of Baoziwan-Majiashan area of Jiyuan oilfield is fine in size and high in filling content. The pore types were dominated by intergranular pores and dissolved pores, with a low face rate. The reservoir property is relatively poor, with mean porosity of 11.11% and mean permeability of 1.16 × 10<sup>−</sup><sup>3</sup> µm<sup>2</sup>. In the low porous, low otonic background, the development of relatively high pore hypertonic areas. Compaction and cementation should play a destructive role in reservoir properties, and dissolution should play a positive role in reservoir properties. Compaction adjusts the migration of clay minerals and miscellaneous bases in the original sediment in the study area, greatly reducing the porosity and permeability of the reservoir;the development of the cement cement, carbonate cementation and some quartz secondary compounds reduces the storage space;the dissolution effect, especially the secondary dissolution pores of the reservoir, which obviously improves the properties of the reservoir.
文摘Heat-killed Bifidobacterium longum CLA8013 has been demonstrated to improve the frequency of defecation, straining, and pain during defecation in human placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group studies. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the safety of both long-term and excessive intakes of heat-killed B. longum CLA8013, when used as a food with functional claims. In both tests, 30 healthy volunteers were divided into two groups: an active group that ingested heat-killed B. longum CLA8013 and a placebo group. In the long-term intake safety study, participants in the active group ingested 25 billion cells/day for 12 weeks. In the excessive intake safety study, participants in the active group ingested 125 billion cells/day for 4 weeks. Physical, hematological, biochemical, and urine examinations were conducted, and adverse events were evaluated in both studies. The studies revealed no abnormalities in any of the safety tests. In conclusion, no safety-related issues were identified with long-term or excessive intake of heat-killed B. longum CLA8013.
文摘Long COVID has been studied as different sequelae that some individuals can develop after the acute phase of the disease. Persistent symptoms such as dry cough, fatigue, and dyspnea can remain after six months of COVID-19 cure. Others such as lung fibrosis, kidney injury, and thrombotic risk also are observed. Here, a deep review of each human organ and system infected by the virus was performed aiming to show how molecules expression and cell signaling can induce the organism cure or injuries and, subsequently sequelae. The review also suggests the importance of public health surveillance for these cases including a more comprehensive analysis of molecular biology tools that can clarify and assist in the prognosis, treatment, and preventive methods for potentially more serious disorders in post-COVID-19 patients.
文摘Background: Efforts have been made in Burkina Faso, a French-speaking country, since 2010 to improve healthcare access and provide affordable contraceptive methods to women. With the increasing prevalence of modern contraceptives in Burkina Faso, it is important to examine the socio-demographic factors that contribute to this new pattern of contraceptive use. This study aims to analyze the changes in socio-demographic factors associated with long-term contraceptive use and provide scientific evidence to guide policy development and action planning in family planning. Data and Methods: We utilized data from the 2010 Demographic and Health Survey, which included 17,087 women aged 15 - 49 years, and the 2015 Demographic and Health Module, which included 11,504 women in the same age group. For the analysis of contraceptive use, we focused on women who were in need of contraception (either met or unmet), of reproductive age, non-pregnant, and either married or sexually active but not married. We included users of modern reversible methods and excluded non-users, as well as users of traditional or permanent methods. Results: Our findings revealed a high prevalence of long-term contraceptive use across all categories;however, certain challenges were identified, such as lower levels of information about contraceptive methods among users and the persistence of inequalities. Family planning discussions and partner approval did not influence long-term contraceptive choice. Additionally, some providers selectively offered specific methods based on women’s life course characteristics, such as parity and marital status, despite evidence suggesting that young and nulliparous women can effectively use long-term methods. Conclusion: Given the high effectiveness of long-term contraceptive methods, it is crucial to address barriers that hinder their utilization among young and nulliparous women, as well as those who desire to delay pregnancy. Efforts should focus on improving knowledge and dispelling misconceptions surrounding long-term methods. Providers play a pivotal role in this process by adopting counseling strategies that enhance users’ understanding and facilitate informed decision-making regarding contraceptive options.
文摘The topic of the long-term effects of COVID-19, so-called “long-COVID”, has gained increased attention. The US federal government announced plans to develop an interagency national research action plan to uncover more insights into the long-term effects of COVID-19. This study contributes to our understanding of the long-term effects of COVID-19 by quantifying patterns of healthcare utilization up to 360 days after an initial COVID-19 diagnosis occurring during the beginning of the pandemic (March-August 2020) in a very large nationally representative population of insured adults. We quantify actual COVID-19-related utilization (as opposed to reported symptoms) by accessing claims data to calculate average medical visits per patient per month by type of encounter (e.g. inpatient stay, physician visit). In contrast to many recent reports in the media, our results show that COVID-19-related utilization declines substantially after the first-month post-diagnosis and continues to decline throughout the study period to very low levels.
文摘Malaria is still a major public health concern in Cameroon as more than 20 million people are at risk of the disease. Despite the government’s effort to scale up the distribution of long lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs), full ownership and optimal use is still limited. In 2021, over a million LLINs were made available for distribution in the South West Region. However, the current situation of malaria has not yet been ascertained following the 2021 mass distribution campaign (MDC). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine LLIN ownership, coverage, usage and the prevalence of malaria following the 2021 MDC in the Tiko Health District (THD), South West Region of Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was carried from May 1 to 27, 2022 in which a multi-stage sampling technique was used to enroll eligible participants. Data were collected from household heads using questionnaires and capillary blood samples collected from consented household members were used to test for malaria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 at 0.05 significance level. From the 150 households surveyed, 96 (64.0%) owned a mosquito net before the recent MDC. There was an overall significant increase (p p = 0.644) in LLINs ownership between areas where door-to-door (79.5%) and fixed “Hit and Run” (75.8%) strategies were used in the distribution of LLINs in THD. The prevalence of malaria was 10.2%. The regular use of LLINs was significantly associated (p = 0.007) with low malaria prevalence. The 2021 MDC had an impact on malaria prevalence in those who properly used them.
文摘In this study, rainfall data from 19 stations in Saudi Arabia (SA) for the period 1985-2019 was utilized to investigate interannual, monthly, and seasonal rainfall variations and trends. The magnitudes of these trends were characterized and tested using Mann-Kendall (MK) rank statistics at different significance levels. During this study period, the mean rainfall in SA showed a slight and significant decreasing trend by about 2 mm/35 years. Investigation of seasonal trends of rainfall revealed that Winter and Spring rainfall decreased significantly by 2.7 mm/35 years and 5.4 mm/35 years respectively. Three months showed very slight significant decreasing trends of rainfall. These were the months of February, March and April. Mann-Kendall analyses were carried out to investigate the annual trends of rainfall during three sub-periods, i.e., 1985-1996, 1997-2008, and 2009-2019. The results revealed that while rainfall increased by 5.3 mm/12 years and 7.8 mm/11 years for the first and the third periods respectively, it decreased by about 11 mm/12 years during the second period. While trends of rainfall in Saudi Arabia are affected by large scale circulations and local factors, the effect of extraterrestrial factors, such as solar activity and its consequent effects on the climate may, additionally, play a potential role in affecting the pattern of rainfall in Saudi Arabia.
文摘In this paper, we report a high power long-pulse single-frequency all-fiber amplifier at 1064 nm with near-diffraction-limited beam quality based on a polarization-maintaining tapered Yb-doped fiber (T-YDF). By applying square wave pulse modulation to the diodes, with a frequency of 50 Hz and a pulse width of 668 μs, the peak power of the output laser reached 257 W with an average power of 8.65 W, linewidth of 10.6 kHz and M<sup>2</sup> < 1.5. .
文摘Background: Long-acting and reversible contraceptive methods hold great potential as solutions to address the unmet need for contraception and the significant discontinuation rates, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Among these methods, the Implant has gained popularity in sub-Saharan Africa, whereas the utilization of Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) has remained comparatively low, particularly in Burkina Faso. This study aims to evaluate the shifts in IUD and Implant usage from 2010 to 2020 and to pinpoint the factors influencing the choice of IUDs among LARCs users in Burkina Faso. Data and Methods: We conducted an analysis using data from Burkina Faso, drawn from the 2010 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the 2020 PMA Phase 1 data. The 2010 DHS garnered responses from 17,087 women aged 15 - 49, achieving a response rate of 98.4%. The 2020 PMA data collected responses from 6590 women aged 15 - 49, with a response rate of 95.8%. The final sample of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) users consisted of 1502 women, including 576 women from the 2010 survey and 926 women from the 2020 survey. Results: The study demonstrates an expansion of IUD usage to include socioeconomically disadvantaged segments among LARC users. However, higher levels of education, older age, and decisions influenced by healthcare providers are correlated with the preference for IUDs over Implants. The choice of IUDs is also connected to a comprehensive understanding of contraceptive methods, suggesting potential biases in the counseling process. Conclusion: Facilitating the broader adoption of IUDs among disadvantaged groups could be achieved by improving the accessibility of IUD products and services in rural areas. Nevertheless, there should be focused initiatives to enhance access to removal services, as this factor could dissuade specific users. Further efforts are required to train healthcare providers, aiming to mitigate biases in delivering Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs). Providers should provide impartial counseling, irrespective of the selected type of LARC.
文摘Background: Risk stratification of long-term outcomes for patients undergoing Coronary artery bypass grafting has enormous potential clinical importance. Aim: To develop risk stratification models for predicting long-term outcomes following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods: We retrospectively revised the electronic medical records of 2330 patients who underwent adult Cardiac surgery between August 2016 and December 2022 at Madinah Cardiac Center, Saudi Arabia. Three hundred patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria of CABG operations with a complete follow-up period of at least 24 months, and data reporting. The collected data included patient demographics, comorbidities, laboratory data, pharmacotherapy, echocardiographic parameters, procedural details, postoperative data, in-hospital outcomes, and follow-up data. Our follow-up was depending on the clinical status (NYHA class), chest pain recurrence, medication dependence and echo follow-up. A univariate analysis was performed between each patient risk factor and the long-term outcome to determine the preoperative, operative, and postoperative factors significantly associated with each long-term outcome. Then a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed with a stepwise, forward selection procedure. Significant (p < 0.05) risk factors were identified and were used as candidate variables in the development of a multivariable risk prediction model. Results: The incidence of all-cause mortality during hospital admission or follow-up period was 2.3%. Other long-term outcomes included all-cause recurrent hospitalization (9.8%), recurrent chest pain (2.4%), and the need for revascularization by using a stent in 5 (3.0%) patients. Thirteen (4.4%) patients suffered heart failure and they were on the maximum anti-failure medications. The model for predicting all-cause mortality included the preoperative EF ≤ 35% (AOR: 30.757, p = 0.061), the bypass time (AOR: 1.029, p = 0.003), and the duration of ventilation following the operation (AOR: 1.237, p = 0.021). The model for risk stratification of recurrent hospitalization comprised the preoperative EF ≤ 35% (AOR: 6.198, p p = 0.023), low postoperative cardiac output (AOR: 3.622, p = 0.007), and the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AOR: 2.787, p = 0.038). Low postoperative cardiac output was the only predictor that significantly contributed to recurrent chest pain (AOR: 11.66, p = 0.004). Finally, the model consisted of low postoperative cardiac output (AOR: 5.976, p < 0.001) and postoperative ventricular fibrillation (AOR: 4.216, p = 0.019) was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of the future need for revascularization using a stent. Conclusions: A risk prediction model was developed in a Saudi cohort for predicting all-cause mortality risk during both hospital admission and the follow-up period of at least 24 months after isolated CABG surgery. A set of models were also developed for predicting long-term risks of all-cause recurrent hospitalization, recurrent chest pain, heart failure, and the need for revascularization by using stents.
文摘The subject of the present paper is to prove that the recently introduced conjecture of boundedness puts a ban over the view of stability as asymptotic property. This result comes in sharp contrast with the prescription of the traditional thermodynamics and statistical physics which consider the existence of equilibrium as asymptotic property of all systems. The difference commences from the use of infinitesimal calculus as the basic implement for modelling by the latter while the primary premise of the conjecture of boundedness is sustaining the energy/matter/information permanently bounded and finite. The latter property overrules the infinitesimal calculus as the major implement of modelling because, among all, it is proven that the traditional one suffers unsoluble difficulties.
