General anesthetic agents induce neurotoxicity through oligodendrocytes in the developing brain

General anesthetic agents can impact brain function through interactions with neurons and their effects on glial cells.Oligodendrocytes perform essential roles in the central nervous system,including myelin sheath formation,axonal metabolism,and neuroplasticity regulation.They are particularly vulnerable to the effects of general anesthetic agents resulting in impaired proliferation,differentiation,and apoptosis.Neurologists are increasingly interested in the effects of general anesthetic agents on oligodendrocytes.These agents not only act on the surface receptors of oligodendrocytes to elicit neuroinflammation through modulation of signaling pathways,but also disrupt metabolic processes and alter the expression of genes involved in oligodendrocyte development and function.In this review,we summarize the effects of general anesthetic agents on oligodendrocytes.We anticipate that future research will continue to explore these effects and develop strategies to decrease the incidence of adverse reactions associated with the use of general anesthetic agents.

Extended wet sieving method for determination of complete particle size distribution of general soils

The traditional standard wet sieving method uses steel sieves with aperture?0.063 mm and can only determine the particle size distribution(PSD)of gravel and sand in general soil.This paper extends the traditional method and presents an extended wet sieving method.The extended method uses both the steel sieves and the nylon filter cloth sieves.The apertures of the cloth sieves are smaller than 0.063 mm and equal 0.048 mm,0.038 mm,0.014 mm,0.012 mm,0.0063 mm,0.004 mm,0.003 mm,0.002 mm,and 0.001 mm,respectively.The extended method uses five steps to separate the general soil into many material sub-groups of gravel,sand,silt and clay with known particle size ranges.The complete PSD of the general soil is then calculated from the dry masses of the individual material sub-groups.The extended method is demonstrated with a general soil of completely decomposed granite(CDG)in Hong Kong,China.The silt and clay materials with different particle size ranges are further examined,checked and verified using stereomicroscopic observation,physical and chemical property tests.The results further confirm the correctness of the extended wet sieving method.

General anesthetic agents induce neurotoxicity through astrocytes

Neuroscientists have recognized the importance of astrocytes in regulating neurological function and their influence on the release of glial transmitters.Few studies,however,have focused on the effects of general anesthetic agents on neuroglia or astrocytes.Astrocytes can also be an important target of general anesthetic agents as they exert not only sedative,analgesic,and amnesic effects but also mediate general anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity and postoperative cognitive dysfunction.Here,we analyzed recent advances in understanding the mechanism of general anesthetic agents on astrocytes,and found that exposure to general anesthetic agents will destroy the morphology and proliferation of astrocytes,in addition to acting on the receptors on their surface,which not only affect Ca^(2+)signaling,inhibit the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and lactate from astrocytes,but are even involved in the regulation of the pro-and anti-inflammatory processes of astrocytes.These would obviously affect the communication between astrocytes as well as between astrocytes and neighboring neurons,other neuroglia,and vascular cells.In this review,we summarize how general anesthetic agents act on neurons via astrocytes,and explore potential mechanisms of action of general anesthetic agents on the nervous system.We hope that this review will provide a new direction for mitigating the neurotoxicity of general anesthetic agents.

Transparent and Accountable Training Data Sharing in Decentralized Machine Learning Systems

In Decentralized Machine Learning(DML)systems,system participants contribute their resources to assist others in developing machine learning solutions.Identifying malicious contributions in DML systems is challenging,which has led to the exploration of blockchain technology.Blockchain leverages its transparency and immutability to record the provenance and reliability of training data.However,storing massive datasets or implementing model evaluation processes on smart contracts incurs high computational costs.Additionally,current research on preventing malicious contributions in DML systems primarily focuses on protecting models from being exploited by workers who contribute incorrect or misleading data.However,less attention has been paid to the scenario where malicious requesters intentionally manipulate test data during evaluation to gain an unfair advantage.This paper proposes a transparent and accountable training data sharing method that securely shares data among potentially malicious system participants.First,we introduce a blockchain-based DML system architecture that supports secure training data sharing through the IPFS network.Second,we design a blockchain smart contract to transparently split training datasets into training and test datasets,respectively,without involving system participants.Under the system,transparent and accountable training data sharing can be achieved with attribute-based proxy re-encryption.We demonstrate the security analysis for the system,and conduct experiments on the Ethereum and IPFS platforms to show the feasibility and practicality of the system.

A nonlocal dispersal and time delayed HIV infection model with general incidences

Biologically,because of the impact of reproduction period and nonlocal dispersal of HIV-infected cells,time delay and spatial heterogeneity should be considered.In this paper,we establish an HIV infection model with nonlocal dispersal and infection age.Moreover,applying the theory of Fourier transformation and von Foerster rule,we transform the model to an integrodifferential equation with nonlocal time delay and dispersal.The well-posedness,positivity,and boundedness of the solution for the model are studied.

NORMALIZED SOLUTIONS FOR THE GENERAL KIRCHHOFF TYPE EQUATIONS

In the present paper,we prove the existence,non-existence and multiplicity of positive normalized solutions(λ_(c),u_(c))∈R×H^(1)(R^(N))to the general Kirchhoff problem-M■,satisfying the normalization constraint f_(R)^N u^2dx=c,where M∈C([0,∞))is a given function satisfying some suitable assumptions.Our argument is not by the classical variational method,but by a global branch approach developed by Jeanjean et al.[J Math Pures Appl,2024,183:44–75]and a direct correspondence,so we can handle in a unified way the nonlinearities g(s),which are either mass subcritical,mass critical or mass supercritical.

Higher-order expansions of powered extremes of logarithmic general error distribution

In this paper,Let M_(n)denote the maximum of logarithmic general error distribution with parameter v≥1.Higher-order expansions for distributions of powered extremes M_(n)^(p)are derived under an optimal choice of normalizing constants.It is shown that M_(n)^(p),when v=1,converges to the Frechet extreme value distribution at the rate of 1/n,and if v>1 then M_(n)^(p)converges to the Gumbel extreme value distribution at the rate of(loglogn)^(2)=(log n)^(1-1/v).

Image Steganography by Pixel-Value Differencing Using General Quantization Ranges

A new steganographic method by pixel-value differencing(PVD)using general quantization ranges of pixel pairs’difference values is proposed.The objective of this method is to provide a data embedding technique with a range table with range widths not limited to powers of 2,extending PVD-based methods to enhance their flexibility and data-embedding rates without changing their capabilities to resist security attacks.Specifically,the conventional PVD technique partitions a grayscale image into 1×2 non-overlapping blocks.The entire range[0,255]of all possible absolute values of the pixel pairs’grayscale differences in the blocks is divided into multiple quantization ranges.The width of each quantization range is a power of two to facilitate the direct embedding of the bit information with high embedding rates.Without using power-of-two range widths,the embedding rates can drop using conventional embedding techniques.In contrast,the proposed method uses general quantization range widths,and a multiple-based number conversion mechanism is employed skillfully to implement the use of nonpower-of-two range widths,with each pixel pair being employed to embed a digit in the multiple-based number.All the message bits are converted into a big multiple-based number whose digits can be embedded into the pixel pairs with a higher embedding rate.Good experimental results showed the feasibility of the proposed method and its resistance to security attacks.In addition,implementation examples are provided,where the proposed method adopts non-power-of-two range widths and employsmultiple-based number conversion to expand the data-hiding and steganalysis-resisting capabilities of other PVD methods.

Intelligent Transformation: General Intelligence Theory

This paper aims to formalize a general definition of intelligence beyond human intelligence. We accomplish this by re-imagining the concept of equality as a fundamental abstraction for relation. We discover that the concept of equality = limits the sensitivity of our mathematics to abstract relationships. We propose a new relation principle that does not rely on the concept of equality but is consistent with existing mathematical abstractions. In essence, this paper proposes a conceptual framework for general interaction and argues that this framework is also an abstraction that satisfies the definition of Intelligence. Hence, we define intelligence as a formalization of generality, represented by the abstraction ∆∞Ο, where each symbol represents the concepts infinitesimal, infinite, and finite respectively. In essence, this paper proposes a General Language Model (GLM), where the abstraction ∆∞Ο represents the foundational relationship of the model. This relation is colloquially termed “The theory of everything”.

Impact of an official accountability audit on industrial structure adjustment:a case study of environmental regulation in China

As a unique environmental regulation in China,the official accountability audit was piloted in 2014.With a focus on prioritizing the ecological environment,officials in pilot districts have implemented economic construction,adjusted industrial structures,and promoted coordinated development between the economy and environment.The effects of implementation have garnered widespread attention from society.However,there is limited research on the impact of an accountability audit on industrial structure adjustments.Using the“Accountability Audit of Officials for Natural Resource Assets(Trial)”released in 2015 as a quasi-natural experiment,this study collected panel data from 279 cities between 2013 and 2017.It then empirically analyzed the impact mechanism and effects of the accountability audit on industrial structure adjustment using the Propensity Score Matching and Difference-in-Differences model.The research findings indicate that the accountability audit directly impacted industrial structure adjustment,promoting the upgrading of the primary industry to the secondary industry and restricting the development of the tertiary industry.In addition,the audit is beneficial for enterprise entry,but not conducive to technological innovation,and has no significant impact on foreign direct investment.This conclusion fills a gap in the existing research and provides valuable insights for policymakers.

Accountable capability improvement based on interpretable capability evaluation using belief rule base

A new approach is proposed in this study for accountable capability improvement based on interpretable capability evaluation using the belief rule base(BRB).Firstly,a capability evaluation model is constructed and optimized.Then,the key sub-capabilities are identified by quantitatively calculating the contributions made by each sub-capability to the overall capability.Finally,the overall capability is improved by optimizing the identified key sub-capabilities.The theoretical contributions of the proposed approach are as follows.(i)An interpretable capability evaluation model is constructed by employing BRB which can provide complete access to decision-makers.(ii)Key sub-capabilities are identified according to the quantitative contribution analysis results.(iii)Accountable capability improvement is carried out by only optimizing the identified key sub-capabilities.Case study results show that“Surveillance”,“Positioning”,and“Identification”are identified as key sub-capabilities with a summed contribution of 75.55%in an analytical and deducible fashion based on the interpretable capability evaluation model.As a result,the overall capability is improved by optimizing only the identified key sub-capabilities.The overall capability can be greatly improved from 59.20%to 81.80%with a minimum cost of 397.Furthermore,this paper also investigates how optimizing the BRB with more collected data would affect the evaluation results:only optimizing“Surveillance”and“Positioning”can also improve the overall capability to 81.34%with a cost of 370,which thus validates the efficiency of the proposed approach.

A NOTE ON THE GENERAL STABILIZATION OF DISCRETE FEEDBACK CONTROL FOR NON-AUTONOMOUS HYBRID NEUTRAL STOCHASTIC SYSTEMS WITH A DELAY

Discrete feedback control was designed to stabilize an unstable hybrid neutral stochastic differential delay system(HNSDDS) under a highly nonlinear constraint in the H_∞ and exponential forms.Nevertheless,the existing work just adapted to autonomous cases,and the obtained results were mainly on exponential stabilization.In comparison with autonomous cases,non-autonomous systems are of great interest and represent an important challenge.Accordingly,discrete feedback control has here been adjusted with a time factor to stabilize an unstable non-autonomous HNSDDS,in which new Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals and some novel technologies are adopted.It should be noted,in particular,that the stabilization can be achieved not only in the routine H_∞ and exponential forms,but also the polynomial form and even a general form.

Cost Control Strategies for Hubei General Highway Greening Project

In order to respond to the national policy of focusing on the service of building a new development pattern and promoting high-quality development,and to reduce the cost of greening projects while ensuring the effect of highway landscape,a process and cost control points of highway greening design,construction,and maintenance are summarized through a review of the literature.Additionally,this paper examines the attributes of highway greening and proposes cost control strategies that are aligned with these attributes.It is proposed that the implementation of cost control strategies for highway greening should commence at the project establishment phase,with the objective of establishing a comprehensive and effective cost management control system.While guaranteeing the greening landscape effect and the duration of the project,it is essential to regulate the crucial nodes in each phase of the design,construction,and maintenance process.Furthermore,it is vital to facilitate close collaboration between all parties involved,thereby reducing costs,conserving resources,and lowering energy consumption.This approach can also lead to enhanced economic and social benefits for highway greening projects.

Influencing factors and risk prediction model for emergence agitation after general anesthesia for primary liver cancer

BACKGROUND General anesthesia is commonly used in the surgical management of gastrointestinal tumors;however,it can lead to emergence agitation(EA).EA is a common complication associated with general anesthesia,often characterized by behaviors,such as crying,struggling,and involuntary limb movements in patients.If treatment is delayed,there is a risk of incision cracking and bleeding,which can significantly affect surgical outcomes.Therefore,having a proper understanding of the factors influencing the occurrence of EA and implementing early preventive measures may reduce the incidence of agitation during the recovery phase from general anesthesia,which is beneficial for improving patient prognosis.AIM To analyze influencing factors and develop a risk prediction model for EA occurrence following general anesthesia for primary liver cancer.METHODS Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 200 patients who underwent hepatoma resection under general anesthesia at Wenzhou Central Hospital(January 2020 to December 2023)was conducted.Post-surgery,the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale was used to evaluate EA presence,noting EA incidence after general anesthesia.Patients were categorized by EA presence postoperatively,and the influencing factors were analyzed using logistic regression.A nomogram-based risk prediction model was constructed and evaluated for differentiation and fit using receiver operating characteristics and calibration curves.RESULTS EA occurred in 51(25.5%)patients.Multivariate analysis identified advanced age,American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)grade Ⅲ,indwelling catheter use,and postoperative pain as risk factors for EA(P<0.05).Conversely,postoperative analgesia was a protective factor against EA(P<0.05).The area under the curve of the nomogram was 0.972[95%confidence interval(CI):0.947-0.997]for the training set and 0.979(95%CI:0.951-1.000)for the test set.Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a good fit(χ^(2)=5.483,P=0.705),and calibration curves showed agreement between predicted and actual EA incidence.CONCLUSION Age,ASA grade,catheter use,postoperative pain,and analgesia significantly influence EA occurrence.A nomogram constructed using these factors demonstrates strong predictive accuracy.

The Influence of Information Technology(IT)on Accrual Accounting Adoption:The Case of the Jordanian Public Sector

Jordan is one of many countries that intends to reform its public sector by adopting accrual accounting,which is primarily carried out through the International Public Sector Accounting Standards(IPSAS)implementation plan,scheduled to be completed by 2021.Considering the difficulties of adoption,this process cannot be completed without an appropriate Information Technology(IT)system capable of providing the accounting information required for this reform.Therefore,this study aims to examine the influence of IT on accrual accounting adoption in the Jordanian public sector.The study employed the quantitative survey approach.Based on 331 usable questionnaires,the descriptive findings showed that the use of IT in the Jordanian public sector is relevant to daily accounting transactions in general and to accrual accounting in particular.The regression analysis showed a positive,significant relationship between IT use and accrual accounting practice.The IT specialist should be able to understand the needs of public sector in adopting accrual-based accounting.In line with today’s digitalization age,which integrates advanced technologies and numerous techniques,this study suggests that a combination of accounting and IT experts is a value added to sharpen the competitiveness of public sector reform.This study contributes to the extant literature in public sector,concerning the relationship between IT and accrual accounting adoption in the context of Jordan.

Epidemiological, Clinical Aspects and Factors Associated with Typical Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in the General Population of Parakou, Republic of Benin

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a benign and chronic disease that can impair the quality of life. Objective: To study the epidemiological, clinical aspects and factors associated with typical GERD in the general population of Parakou in the Republic of Benin. Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with prospective data collection which took place from May 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019. The study population consisted of any subject aged at least 15 years and living in Parakou. Subjects aged at least 15 years, present on the day of the survey and having given their free and informed verbal consent were included. The Short form of QRS®(Reflux-Qual Short form) questionnaire and the “Hospital Anxiety and Depression” score were used to assess the quality of life and anxiety/depression, respectively. The sampling was probabilistic through a 2-stage cluster sampling. The variable of interest was the presence of GERD. Results: Out of 390 subjects surveyed, 28 had symptoms of typical GERD, representing a prevalence of 7.18%. The average age of these subjects was 27.11 ± 7.88 years. Fifteen subjects (53.57%) were male, giving a sex ratio of 1.15. Fourteen (50%) had a secondary level of education, 12 (42.86%) were pupils/students, 18 (64.29%) were single. The monthly income of 22 subjects (78.57%) was lower than the guaranteed interprofessional minimum wage (40,000 FCFA). The average duration of progression of symptoms was 15.89 ± 4.97 months. Symptoms occurred less than twice a week in 22 subjects (78.57%). The clinical manifestations were both diurnal and nocturnal in 12 subjects (42.86%). None of the 28 subjects with GERD had clinical warning signs. Asthma, diabetes, consumption of high fat or spice foods, carbonated drinks, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcoholic beverages and tobacco were statistically associated with the occurrence of GERD. Each of the 28 subjects had at least one associated factor. A significant impair in quality of life was observed in 27 patients (96.43%). Conclusion: Typical GERD is relatively common in the general population of Parakou in the Republic of Benin. It often affects young males. Among the risk factors identified, the most common are carbonated drinks, spicy meals and diabetes. GERD significantly impairs quality of life. Raising awareness about the disease and its associated factors is necessary among the general population.

Assessing Financial Management Practices and Accounting Mechanisms in Agricultural Cooperatives:A Case Study From Nepal

The study focuses on assessing the financial management practices and accounting mechanisms in agricultural cooperatives in Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan,Dang District,Nepal with a focus on understanding their implications for financial performance and organizational effectiveness.The sample size of total cooperatives(n=46)was divided into Savings and Credit Cooperatives(n=18)and Multipurpose Cooperatives(n=28),respectively,with a total number of respondents(n=138)categorized into managing directors,employees,and general members.Using a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative analysis of financial data with qualitative insights gathered through interviews and surveys,the study emphasizes the importance of modern financial practices,improved reporting mechanisms,and relevant staff training for long-term sustainability.Recommendations include the integration of criteria and evaluation tools to assess cooperative performance,with Hamro Pahunch Multipurpose Cooperative identified as a high performer.Emphasizing the need for robust financial management strategies to navigate the complexity of the agricultural sector,manage risks,and achieve sustainable development,the study notes frequent preparation of financial management reports on a monthly and annual basis,and predominantly annual accounting management.Most cooperatives are using computerized models to present financial positions,but face challenges such as lack of marketing infrastructure,cooperative skills,and technical support.Ultimately,the study advocates for educating policy makers,cooperative leaders,practitioners and stakeholders on the role of effective financial management and accounting in enhancing the resilience,expansion and socio-economic impact of agricultural cooperatives,thereby fostering their long-term prosperity and viability as drivers of rural development and empowerment.

“Flow” Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Depression Treatment in a Primary Healthcare General Practice—An Open-Label Cohort Study Measuring Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S) Outcomes

Background: Flow FL-100 is a transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) device self-administered by a patient at home in combination with a software application delivered wellbeing behaviour therapy training. tDCS has evidence of effectiveness in treating symptoms of depression. Purpose/Aim: This post marketing study evaluated the effect of Flow on depression for primary care general practice patients with depression symptoms. Methods: Open-label patient cohort design with no control group. Inclusion criteria were aged 18 years or over and reporting depression symptoms. Participants self-administered five 30 minute tDCS sessions per week for the first three weeks, and then 3 sessions per week following this. Three, six and ten week assessment with participant self-report measure: Montgomery- Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S). Results: MADRS-S remission rates were between 29% - 30% at three weeks, 33% - 34% at six-weeks and 50% at 10-weeks treatment. There was a significant improvement in MADRS-S with large effect sizes at all time points. Conclusions: Flow tDCS can be delivered through a primary healthcare general practice service and patients will choose to use. Flow tDCS provides an effective depression treatment in addition and as an alternative to antidepressants and psychotherapy. tDCS has evidence as an effective depression treatment, and the widespread availability of tDCS in primary care general practice should be considered.

Pathological and Etiological Aspects of Nephrotic Syndrome at the Niamey General Reference Hospital

Introduction: Studies have been conducted on nephrotic syndrome in Niger. The study aimed to determine the histological and etiological aspects of nephrotic syndrome. Patients and Method: This was a retrospective study from February 1st, 2018 to January 31st, 2024. All patients with nephrotic syndrome who underwent renal biopsy were included. Samples were analyzed at the anatomy-cytology pathology laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine in Dakar (Senegal). The variables studied included clinical, biological, histological and etiological characteristics. Data were analyzed using Excel 2013 and Epi-info 7.2.0 software. Results: The study included 119 patients with nephrotic syndrome. Prevalence of nephrotic syndrome was 11.24%. The male-to-female ratio was 2.25:1. The mean age at diagnosis was between 34.5 ± 18.84 years. Edema was the reason for admission in 40.34% of cases. The nephrotic syndrome was impure in 63.86% of cases. Nine histological lesions were identified. Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (40.09%), minimal change disease (23.53%), membranous nephropathy (13.45%), diabetic nephropathy (10.92%), membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis (3.36%), acute glomerulonephritis (3.36%), glomerular thrombotic microangiopathy (2.52%), non-IgA mesengial proliferative glomerulonephritis (1.68%) and amyloidosis (0.84%). Nephrotic syndrome was primary in 57.98% of cases. Secondary etiologies were dominated by diabetes (11.76%), followed by hepatitis B virus (9.24%), lupus, lymphoma, malaria, syphilis, cryoglobulinemia, sickle cell disease and HIV. Conclusion: Future studies should investigate the causes of glomerulopathy secondary to chronic tubulointerstitial lesions.

The Impact of Transformational Leadership on Commitment to Change Among Jordanian Government Accountant Toward IPSAS Implementation

IPSAS was accepted by Jordan’s government in accordance with worldwide trends.The Jordanian Ministry of Finance launched cash-basis IPSAS in 2015 and planned to implement accrual accounting by January 1,2021.However,the commitment to change remains uneven,hindering the full shift.Moving from old accounting processes to new ones is tough.Even then,it hasn’t been implemented,creating a gap due to the difficulty in committing to new accounting standards throughout implementation due to obstacles.Thus,knowing government accountants’issues is essential to applying IPSAS in government accounting.This study examines how transformational leadership affects government accountants’commitment to IPSAS adoption in Jordan’s public sector.This study used a quantitative approach to survey Jordanian Ministry of Finance accountants.The 384-person study had a 78%response rate.Additionally,PLS-SEM was used to confirm variable relationships.Transformational leadership positively predicted IPSAS implementation,according to the study.