Etiology and management of urethral calculi:A systematic review of contemporary series

Objective:To conduct a systematic literature review on urethral calculi in a contemporary cohort describing etiology,investigation,and management patterns.Methods:A systematic search of MEDLINE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials(CENTRAL)databases was performed.Articles,including case reports and case series on urethral calculi published between January 2000 and December 2019,were included.Full-text manuscripts were reviewed for clinical parameters including symptomatology,etiology,medical history,investigations,treatment,and outcomes.Data were collated and analyzed with univariate methods.Results:Seventy-four publications met inclusion criteria,reporting on 95 cases.Voiding symptoms(41.1%),pain(40.0%),and acute urinary retention(32.6%)were common presenting features.Urethral calculi were most often initially investigated using plain X-ray(63.2%),with almost all radio-opaque(98.3%).Urethral calculi were frequently associated with coexistent bladder or upper urinary tract calculi(16.8%)and underlying urethral pathology(53.7%)including diverticulum(33.7%)or stricture(13.7%).Urethral calculi were most commonly managed with external urethrolithotomy(31.6%),retrograde manipulation(22.1%),and endoscopic in situ lithotripsy(17.9%).Conclusion:This unique systematic review of urethral calculi provided a summary of clinical features and treatment trends with a suggested treatment algorithm.Management in contemporary urological practice should be according to calculus size,shape,anatomical location,and presence of urethral pathology.

Smart Energy Management System Using Machine Learning

Energy management is an inspiring domain in developing of renewable energy sources.However,the growth of decentralized energy production is revealing an increased complexity for power grid managers,inferring more quality and reliability to regulate electricity flows and less imbalance between electricity production and demand.The major objective of an energy management system is to achieve optimum energy procurement and utilization throughout the organization,minimize energy costs without affecting production,and minimize environmental effects.Modern energy management is an essential and complex subject because of the excessive consumption in residential buildings,which necessitates energy optimization and increased user comfort.To address the issue of energy management,many researchers have developed various frameworks;while the objective of each framework was to sustain a balance between user comfort and energy consumption,this problem hasn’t been fully solved because of how difficult it is to solve it.An inclusive and Intelligent Energy Management System(IEMS)aims to provide overall energy efficiency regarding increased power generation,increase flexibility,increase renewable generation systems,improve energy consumption,reduce carbon dioxide emissions,improve stability,and reduce energy costs.Machine Learning(ML)is an emerging approach that may be beneficial to predict energy efficiency in a better way with the assistance of the Internet of Energy(IoE)network.The IoE network is playing a vital role in the energy sector for collecting effective data and usage,resulting in smart resource management.In this research work,an IEMS is proposed for Smart Cities(SC)using the ML technique to better resolve the energy management problem.The proposed system minimized the energy consumption with its intelligent nature and provided better outcomes than the previous approaches in terms of 92.11% accuracy,and 7.89% miss-rate.

Ethics of Human Resources Management in the Cameroonian Health System, Medical Nomadism and the Ineffectiveness of the Fight against High Blood Pressure

Context/objectives: The fight against Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is a long-term undertaking, which requires available, motivated and well-managed human resources (HR). The administrative management of skills on both qualitative and quantitative levels is one of the essential functions of a health system. To better implement policies of fight against High Blood Pressure (HBP) and other chronic diseases, it is important to establish strategies to retain health personnel. This loyalty requires favorable working conditions and consideration of the contribution-reward couple. Good working conditions are likely to reduce the phenomenon of medical nomadism;conversely, poor HR management can contribute to their exodus towards exotic “green pastures”, thus leading to an additional crisis in the Cameroonian health system. The fight against HBP is a complex, multifaceted and multifactorial reality that requires appropriate management model for all types of resources mainly HR. The main objective of this research is to show the impact of poor management of human resources in Cameroon health system on medical nomadism and the ineffectiveness of the fight against High Blood Pressure. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive survey among five hundred (500) health facilities in the center region of Cameroon has been conducted. A stratified probabilistic technique has been used, and the number of health facilities to be surveyed has been determined using the “sample size estimation table” of Depelteau. The physical questionnaires have been printed and then distributed to data collectors. After data collection, the latter were grouped during processing in Excel sheets. The Chi-square test was used for data with a qualitative value and that of Kolmogorov-Sminorf for data with a quantitative value to assess the normality and reliability of data. The Crochach’s Alpha reliability test allowed us to have a summary of the means and variances and then to search for intragroup correlations between variables. Descriptive analysis was possible with the XLSTAT 2016 software. Results: 43.60% of Health Facilities (HF) managers were unqualified. 82.20% of HF managers have staff in a situation of professional insecurity. They are mainly contractual (49.00), decision-making agents (24.40%), casual agents (08.80). The proportion of unstable personnel is average of 22.00% and very unstable, 12.00%.

Participatory Technique Supporting Environmental Management: A Systematic and Bibliometric Review

The increasing need to manage natural resources sustainably, driven by population growth, requires the simultaneous use of Participatory Techniques (PT) and landscape planning for structured decision-making. We conducted a bibliometric and systematic review to provide an overview of PT usage, identifying evolution in scientific production. We considered the number of publications and citations, prominent journals, and highly cited articles on scientific papers published in the Web of Science database between 1993 and 2023. A total of 415 articles related to PT were identified. After content evaluation, 19 critical articles were selected that underpin the growing combined use of models and indices with PT, enhancing the robustness and credibility of decision-making processes.

Mapping Climate Services for Disaster Risk Management: A Systematic Review and Research Gaps from a Policy Process Perspective

Climate services (CS) are crucial for mitigating and managing the impacts and risks associated with climate-induced disasters. While evidence over the past decade underscores their effectiveness across various domains, particularly agriculture, to maximize their potential, it is crucial to identify emerging priority areas and existing research gaps for future research agendas. As a contribution to this effort, this paper employs the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology to review the state-of-the-art in the field of climate services for disaster risk management. A comprehensive search across five literature databases combined with a snowball search method using ResearchRabbit was conducted and yielded 242 peer-reviewed articles, book sections, and reports over 2013-2023 after the screening process. The analysis revealed flood, drought, and food insecurity as major climate-related disasters addressed in the reviewed literature. Major climate services addressed included early warning systems, (sub)seasonal forecasts and impact-based warnings. Grounded in the policy processes’ theoretical perspective, the main focus identified and discussed three prevailing policy-oriented priority areas: 1) development of climate services, 2) use-adoption-uptake, and 3) evaluation of climate services. In response to the limitations of the prevalent supply-driven and top-down approach to climate services promotion, co-production emerges as a cross-cutting critical aspect of the identified priority areas. Despite the extensive research in the field, more attention is needed, particularly pronounced in the science-policy interface perspective, which in practice bridges scientific knowledge and policy decisions for effective policy processes. This perspective offers a valuable analytical lens as an entry point for further investigation. Hence, future research agendas would generate insightful evidence by scrutinizing this critical aspect given its importance to institutions and climate services capacity, to better understand intricate facets of the development and the integration of climate services into disaster risk management.

Regenerative Braking Energy Recovery System ofMetro Train Based on Dual-Mode PowerManagement

In order to fully utilize the regenerative braking energy of metro trains and stabilize the metro DC traction busbar voltage,a hybrid regenerative braking energy recovery system with a dual-mode power management strategy is proposed.Firstly,the construction of the hybrid regenerative braking energy recovery system is explained.Then,based on the power demand of low-voltage load in metro stations,a dual-mode power management strategy is proposed to allocate the reference power of each system according to the different working conditions,and the control methods of each system are set.Finally,the correctness and effectiveness of the dual-mode strategy are verified through simulation,and the proposed braking energy utilization scheme is compared with other singleform utilization schemes.The results illustrate that the hybrid system with the dual-mode strategy can effectively recycle the regenerative braking energy of metro train and inhibit the busbar voltage fluctuation;the proposed braking energy utilization scheme has certain advantages on energy recovery and DC bus voltage stabilization compared with other single-form schemes;the proposed power management strategy can correctly allocate the reference power of each system with a lower construction cost.

Development and Application of Integrated Indicators for Assessing Healthcare Waste Management Systems in Kenyan Hospitals

Healthcare waste management (HCWM) is an important aspect of healthcare delivery globally because of its hazardous and infectious components that have potential for adverse health and environmental impacts. The paper introduces a set of indicators for assessing HCWM systems in hospitals. These indicators are: HCWM policies and standard operating procedures, management and oversight, logistics and budget support, training and occupational health and safety, and treatment, disposal and waste treatment equipment housing. By plotting a mark on a continuum which is defined as good and poor on the extremes and is connected with all other marks in a spoke arrangement, it’s possible to describe a baseline for HCWM in any specific hospital. This baseline can be used to improve awareness of the actors and policy-makers, compare the same hospital at a different point in time, to compare observations by different evaluators and to track improvements. Results suggest that in Kenya, the application of such indicators is useful for evaluating which priorities should be addressed to improve outcomes in HCWM systems. Systematic sampling technique was used to identify and collect data by use of observational checklist, interviews, visual verification and review of documents and a HCWM assessment tool. The objective is to suggest an integrated management tool as a method to identify prevailing problems with a HCWM system. The method can be replicated in other contexts worldwide, with a focus on the developing world. The integrated indicators focus on management of HCW and not its potential impact on human health and environment, an area recognized to be critical for future research.

Improvement of the nutritional support management system for patients in intensive care units

BACKGROUND Nutritional support for patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit(ICU)is an important part of clinical treatment and care,but there are significant implementation difficulties.AIM To introduce a modified nutritional support management system for ICU patients based on closed-loop information management and psychological counseling.METHODS The division of functions,personnel training,system construction,development of an intelligent decision-making software system,quality control,and improvement of the whole process were carried out to systematically manage nutritional support for ICU patients.RESULTS Following the implementation of the whole process management system,the scores of ICU medical staff’s knowledge,attitudes/beliefs,and practices regarding nutritional support were comprehensively enhanced.The proportion of hospital bed-days of total enteral nutrition(EN)in ICU patients increased from 5.58%to 11.46%,and the proportion of EN plus parenteral nutrition increased from 42.71%to 47.07%.The rate of EN initiation within 48 h of ICU admission increased from 37.50%to 48.28%,and the EN compliance rate within 72 h elevated from 20.59%to 31.72%.After the implementation of the project,the Self-rating Anxiety Scale score decreased from 61.07±9.91 points to 52.03±9.02 points,the Self-rating Depression Scale score reduced from 62.47±10.50 points to 56.34±9.83 points,and the ICU stay decreased from 5.76±2.77 d to 5.10±2.12 d.CONCLUSION The nutritional support management system based on closed-loop information management and psychological counseling achieved remarkable results in clinical applications in ICU patients.

Systematic review of risk factors,prognosis,and management of colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND Colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma(CSRCC)is a rare clinical entity which accounts for approximately 1%of all colorectal cancers.Although multiple studies concerning this specific topic have been published in the past decades,the pathogenesis,associated risk factors,and potential implications on treatment are still poorly understood.Besides the low incidence,historically confusing histological criteria have resulted in confusing data.Nevertheless,the rising incidence of CSRCC along with relatively young age at presentation and associated dismal prognosis,highlight the actual interest to synthesize the known literature regarding CSRCC.AIM To provide an updated overview of risk factors,prognosis,and management of CSRCC.METHODS A literature search in the MEDLINE/PubMed database was conducted with the following search terms used:‘Signet ring cell carcinoma’and‘colorectal’.Studies in English language,published after January 1980,were included.Studies included in the qualitative synthesis were evaluated for content concerning epidemiology,risk factors,and clinical,diagnostic,histological,and molecular features,as well as metastatic pattern and therapeutic management.If possible,presented data was extracted in order to present a more detailed overview of the literature.RESULTS In total,67 articles were included for qualitative analysis,of which 54 were eligible for detailed data extraction.CSRCC has a reported incidence between 0.1%-2.4%and frequently presents with advanced disease stage at the time of diagnosis.CSRCC is associated with an impaired overall survival(5-year OS:0%-46%)and a worse stagecorrected outcome compared to mucinous and not otherwise specified adenocarcinoma.The systematic use of exploratory laparoscopy to determine the presence of peritoneal metastases has been advised.Surgery is the mainstay of treatment,although the rates of curative resection in CSRCC(21%-82%)are lower compared to those in other histological types.In case of peritoneal metastasis,cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy should only be proposed in selected patients.CONCLUSION CSRCC is a rare clinical entity most often characterized by young age and advanced disease at presentation.As such,diagnostic modalities and therapeutic approach should be tailored accordingly.

Research on Smart Energy Monitoring and Management System Based on Digital Twin Technology

Smart energy monitoring and management system lays a foundation for the application and development of smart energy. However, in recent years, the work efficiency of smart energy development enterprises has generally been low, and there is an urgent need to improve the application efficiency, resilience and sustainability of smart energy monitoring and management system. Digital twin technology provides a data-centric solution to improve smart energy monitoring and management system, bringing an opportunity to transform passive infrastructure assets into data-centric systems. This paper expounds on the concept and key technologies of digital twin, and designs a smart energy monitoring and management system based on digital twin technology, which has dual significance for promoting the development of smart energy field and promoting the application of digital twin.

Comparison of German and American Higher Education Accreditation Systems and Implications for Quality Management of Higher Education in China

At the present stage,China’s higher education has experienced continuous reform and enhancement,the scale of education has jumped to the forefront,and the quality of education has been continuously improved,which has made gratifying achievements.The development of China’s higher education has entered the critical node of improving quality and efficiency,and the importance of quality management as the central link in improving the quality of higher education is self-evident.Accreditation as an effective means of quality assurance,in Germany and the United States has formed a mature and perfect system and procedures.Therefore,analysing and learning from the quality management system of higher education in Germany and the United States has an important reference value for promoting the further development of quality management of higher education in China.

Towards Automated Assessment of Learning Management Systems in Higher Education Institutions in Zambia

Zambia like any other country in most African regions is still grappling with the dynamics of harnessing technology for the betterment of Higher Education. The onset of the Covid 19 pandemic brought a test for the preparedness of the Zambian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in harnessing technology for pedagogical activities. As countries worldwide switched to electronic learning during the pandemic, the same could not be said for Zambian HEIs. Zambian HEIs struggled to conduct pedagogical activities on learning management platforms. This study investigated the factors affecting the implementation and assessment of learning Management systems in Zambia’s HEIs. With its focus on assessing: 1) system features, 2) compliance with regulatory standards, 3) quality of service and 4) technology acceptance as the four key assessment areas of an LMS, this article proposed a model for assessing learning management systems in Zambian HEIs. To test the proposed model, a software tool was also developed.

AI-Driven Learning Management Systems:Modern Developments, Challenges and Future Trends during theAge of ChatGPT

COVID-19 pandemic restrictions limited all social activities to curtail the spread of the virus.The foremost and most prime sector among those affected were schools,colleges,and universities.The education system of entire nations had shifted to online education during this time.Many shortcomings of Learning Management Systems(LMSs)were detected to support education in an online mode that spawned the research in Artificial Intelligence(AI)based tools that are being developed by the research community to improve the effectiveness of LMSs.This paper presents a detailed survey of the different enhancements to LMSs,which are led by key advances in the area of AI to enhance the real-time and non-real-time user experience.The AI-based enhancements proposed to the LMSs start from the Application layer and Presentation layer in the form of flipped classroom models for the efficient learning environment and appropriately designed UI/UX for efficient utilization of LMS utilities and resources,including AI-based chatbots.Session layer enhancements are also required,such as AI-based online proctoring and user authentication using Biometrics.These extend to the Transport layer to support real-time and rate adaptive encrypted video transmission for user security/privacy and satisfactory working of AI-algorithms.It also needs the support of the Networking layer for IP-based geolocation features,the Virtual Private Network(VPN)feature,and the support of Software-Defined Networks(SDN)for optimum Quality of Service(QoS).Finally,in addition to these,non-real-time user experience is enhanced by other AI-based enhancements such as Plagiarism detection algorithms and Data Analytics.

Design and analysis of an advanced thermal management system for the solar close observations and proximity experiments spacecraft

In this paper,the mission and the thermal environment of the Solar Close Observations and Proximity Experiments(SCOPE)spacecraft are analyzed,and an advanced thermal management system(ATMS)is designed for it.The relationship and functions of the integrated database,the intelligent thermal control system and the efficient liquid cooling system in the ATMS are elaborated upon.For the complex thermal field regulation system and extreme space thermal environment,a modular simulation and thermal field planning method are proposed,and the feasibility of the planning algorithm is verified by numerical simulation.A solar array liquid cooling system is developed,and the system simulation results indicate that the temperatures of the solar arrays meet the requirements as the spacecraft flies by perihelion and aphelion.The advanced thermal management study supports the development of the SCOPE program and provides a reference for the thermal management in other deep-space exploration programs.

Exploring Efficient Salary Management Systems:A Case Study of Hefei Yusheng Hotel Management Co.,Ltd.

The issue of brain drain poses a significant obstacle to the development of the hotel and catering industry.Attracting and retaining skilled personnel to engage in management within this sector has emerged as a primary challenge.This paper examines the current landscape of China’s catering service industry and its salary management system,identifying key challenges encountered in salary management within the industry.Drawing upon salary management theory and insights into existing challenges,the paper proposes specific treatment measures and management strategies.

Development of an Information-Based Leadership Evaluation Index System for School Management Teams:A Comprehensive Approach

In the context of educational informatization reform,there are many uncertain factors in the process of education development.To optimize the educational environment so that it can be effectively combined with information technology,teachers need to change their teaching ideas,strengthen the school’s own adaptability to informatization,and promote the development of informatization construction in schools.As a branch of information leadership,the management team should establish an evaluation index system for information leadership in order to ensure the construction of school informatization,so as to provide a boost for the integration of school resources and information technology.Based on the overview and connotation of information-based leadership of the management team,this paper explores the construction of an evaluation index system of information-based leadership of the school management team,aiming to provide references for the research of relevant personnel in the future.

Application Strategy of Digital Comprehensive Management and Maintenance System for Bridges

Effective application of digital integrated management and maintenance systems is essential for successful operation and maintenance management of bridge projects.This article analyzes the application strategy of such systems.It provides an overview of comprehensive digital management and maintenance of bridges,an analysis of the basic components of the integrated management and maintenance system,and its application strategies.This study aims to offer guidance for the application of the system and to improve the quality of modern bridge engineering management and maintenance work.

Patient satisfaction and follow-up adherence to glaucoma case management clinic in China

AIM:To assess glaucoma patient satisfaction and follow-up adherence in case management and identify associated predictors to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes.METHODS:In this cross-sectional study,a total of 119 patients completed a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18 and a sociodemographic questionnaire.Clinical data was obtained from the case management system.Follow-up adherence was defined as completing each follow-up within±30d of the scheduled time set by ophthalmologists during the study period.RESULTS:Average satisfaction scored 78.65±7,with an average of 4.39±0.58 across the seven dimensions.Age negatively correlated with satisfaction(P=0.008),whilst patients with follow-up duration of 2 or more years reported higher satisfaction(P=0.045).Multivariate logistics regression analysis revealed that longer follow-up durations were associated with lower follow-up adherence(OR=0.97,95%CI,0.95-1.00,P=0.044).Additionally,patients with suspected glaucoma(OR=2.72,95%CI,1.03-7.20,P=0.044)and those with an annual income over 100000 Chinese yuan demonstrated higher adherence(OR=5.57,95%CI,1.00-30.89,P=0.049).CONCLUSION:The case management model proves effective for glaucoma patients,with positive adherence rates.The implementation of this model can be optimized in the future based on the identified factors and extended to glaucoma patients in more hospitals.

Advances in Zika virus vaccines and therapeutics:A systematic review

Zika virus(ZIKV)is the causative agent of a viral infection that causes neurological complications in newborns and adults worldwide.Its wide transmission route and alarming spread rates are of great concern to the scientific community.Numerous trials have been conducted to develop treatment options for ZIKV infection.This review highlights the latest developments in the fields of vaccinology and pharmaceuticals developments for ZIKV infection.A systematic and comprehensive approach was used to gather relevant and up-to-date data so that inferences could be made about the gaps in therapeutic development.The results indicate that several therapeutic interventions are being tested against ZIKV infection,such as DNA vaccines,subunit vaccines,live-attenuated vaccines,virus-vector-based vaccines,inactivated vaccines,virus-like particles,and mRNA-based vaccines.In addition,approved anti-ZIKV drugs that can reduce the global burden are discussed.Although many vaccine candidates for ZIKV are at different stages of development,none of them have received Food and Drug Authority approval for use up to now.The issue of side effects associated with these drugs in vulnerable newborns and pregnant women is a major obstacle in the therapeutic pathway.

Overview of the immunological mechanisms in hepatitis B virus reactivation:Implications for disease progression and management strategies

Hepatitis B virus(HBV)reactivation is a clinically significant challenge in disease management.This review explores the immunological mechanisms underlying HBV reactivation,emphasizing disease progression and management.It delves into host immune responses and reactivation’s delicate balance,spanning innate and adaptive immunity.Viral factors’disruption of this balance,as are interac-tions between viral antigens,immune cells,cytokine networks,and immune checkpoint pathways,are examined.Notably,the roles of T cells,natural killer cells,and antigen-presenting cells are discussed,highlighting their influence on disease progression.HBV reactivation’s impact on disease severity,hepatic flares,liver fibrosis progression,and hepatocellular carcinoma is detailed.Management strategies,including anti-viral and immunomodulatory approaches,are critically analyzed.The role of prophylactic anti-viral therapy during immunosuppressive treatments is explored alongside novel immunotherapeutic interventions to restore immune control and prevent reactivation.In conclusion,this compre-hensive review furnishes a holistic view of the immunological mechanisms that propel HBV reactivation.With a dedicated focus on understanding its implic-ations for disease progression and the prospects of efficient management stra-tegies,this article contributes significantly to the knowledge base.The more profound insights into the intricate interactions between viral elements and the immune system will inform evidence-based approaches,ultimately enhancing disease management and elevating patient outcomes.The dynamic landscape of management strategies is critically scrutinized,spanning anti-viral and immunomodulatory approaches.The role of prophylactic anti-viral therapy in preventing reactivation during immunosuppressive treatments and the potential of innovative immunotherapeutic interventions to restore immune control and proactively deter reactivation.