Introduction: Standard procedures for surgical fixation of proximal femoral fractures (PFF) require an image intensifier which in developing countries remains a luxury. We hypothesized that, with a well-codified techn...Introduction: Standard procedures for surgical fixation of proximal femoral fractures (PFF) require an image intensifier which in developing countries remains a luxury. We hypothesized that, with a well-codified technique, the Watson Jones approach (WJA) without image intensifier nor traction table, can allow open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of PFF using Dynamic hip screw (DHS), with satisfactory outcome. Patients and methods: Forty one consecutive patients (mean age 59.5 ± 21.6 years, 61% males) who were followed in a Teaching Hospital for PFF treated by ORIF using the WJA and DHS from January 2016 to December 2020 were reassessed. The outcome measures were the quality of the reduction, the positioning of the implants, the tip-apex distance (TAD), the rate and delay of consolidation, the functional results using Postel Merle d’Aubigné (PMA) score, the rate of surgical site infection (SSI) and the overall mortality. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with mechanical failure. Results: The mean follow-up period was 33.8 ± 15.0 months. Fracture reduction was good in 31 (75.6%) cases and acceptable in 8(19.5%) cases. Implant position was fair to good in 37 (90.2%) patients. The mean TAD was 26.1 ± 3.9 mm. Three patients developed SSI. Consolidation was achieved in 38 (92.6%) patients. The functional results were good to excellent in 80.5% of patients. The overall mortality rate was 7.3%. There were an association between mechanical failure and osteoporosis (p = 0.04), fracture reduction (p = 0.003), and TAD (p = 0.025). In multivariate logistic regression, no independent factors were predictive of mechanical failure. Conclusion: This study shows that ORIF using DHS for PFF via the Watson-Jones approach without an image intensifier can give satisfactory anatomical and functional outcomes in low-resource settings. It provides and validates a reliable and reproducible technique that deserves to be diffused to surgeons in austere areas over the world.展开更多
Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is a widely used technique for data analysis and dimensionality reduction, but its sensitivity to feature scale and outliers limits its applicability. Robust Principal Component Anal...Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is a widely used technique for data analysis and dimensionality reduction, but its sensitivity to feature scale and outliers limits its applicability. Robust Principal Component Analysis (RPCA) addresses these limitations by decomposing data into a low-rank matrix capturing the underlying structure and a sparse matrix identifying outliers, enhancing robustness against noise and outliers. This paper introduces a novel RPCA variant, Robust PCA Integrating Sparse and Low-rank Priors (RPCA-SL). Each prior targets a specific aspect of the data’s underlying structure and their combination allows for a more nuanced and accurate separation of the main data components from outliers and noise. Then RPCA-SL is solved by employing a proximal gradient algorithm for improved anomaly detection and data decomposition. Experimental results on simulation and real data demonstrate significant advancements.展开更多
Fast-charging and low temperature operation are of vital importance for the further development of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),which is hindered by the utilization of conventional carbonate-based electrolytes due to t...Fast-charging and low temperature operation are of vital importance for the further development of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),which is hindered by the utilization of conventional carbonate-based electrolytes due to their slow kinetics,narrow operating temperature and voltage range.Herein,an acetonitrile(AN)-based localized high-concentration electrolyte(LHCE)is proposed to retain liquid state and high ionic conductivity at ultra-low temperatures while possessing high oxidation stability.We originally reveal the excellent thermal shielding effect of non-solvating diluent to prevent the aggregation of Li^(+) solvates as temperature drops,maintaining the merits of fast Li transport and facile desolvation as at room temperature,which bestows the graphite electrode with remarkable low temperature performance(264 mA h g^(-1) at-20 C).Remarkably,an extremely high capacity retention of 97%is achieved for high-voltage high-energy graphite||NCM batteries after 250 cycles at-20 C,and a high capacity of 110 mA h g^(-1)(71%of its room-temperature capacity)is retained at-30°C.The study unveils the key role of the non-solvating diluents and provides instructive guidance in designing electrolytes towards fast-charging and low temperature LIBs.展开更多
Electrolyte design holds the greatest opportunity for the development of batteries that are capable of sub-zero temperature operation.To get the most energy storage out of the battery at low temperatures,improvements ...Electrolyte design holds the greatest opportunity for the development of batteries that are capable of sub-zero temperature operation.To get the most energy storage out of the battery at low temperatures,improvements in electrolyte chemistry need to be coupled with optimized electrode materials and tailored electrolyte/electrode interphases.Herein,this review critically outlines electrolytes’limiting factors,including reduced ionic conductivity,large de-solvation energy,sluggish charge transfer,and slow Li-ion transportation across the electrolyte/electrode interphases,which affect the low-temperature performance of Li-metal batteries.Detailed theoretical derivations that explain the explicit influence of temperature on battery performance are presented to deepen understanding.Emerging improvement strategies from the aspects of electrolyte design and electrolyte/electrode interphase engineering are summarized and rigorously compared.Perspectives on future research are proposed to guide the ongoing exploration for better low-temperature Li-metal batteries.展开更多
The development of portable X-ray detectors is necessary for diagnosing fractures in unconscious patients in emergency situations.However,this is quite challenging because of the heavy weight of the scintillator and s...The development of portable X-ray detectors is necessary for diagnosing fractures in unconscious patients in emergency situations.However,this is quite challenging because of the heavy weight of the scintillator and silicon photodetectors.The weight and thickness of X-ray detectors can be reduced by replacing the silicon layer with an organic photodetectors.This study presents a novel bithienopyrroledione-based polymer donor that exhibits excellent photodetection properties even in a thick photoactive layer(~700 nm),owing to the symmetric backbone and highly soluble molecular structure of bithienopyrroledione.The ability of bithienopyrroledione-based polymer donor to strongly suppress the dark current density(Jd~10−10 A cm^(−2))at a negative bias(−2.0 V)while maintaining high responsivity(R=0.29 A W−1)even at a thickness of 700 nm results in a maximum shot-noise-limited specific detectivity of D_(sh)^(*)=2.18×10^(13)Jones in the organic photodetectors.Printed organic photodetectors are developed by slot-die coating for use in X-ray detectors,which exhibit D_(sh)^(*)=2.73×10^(12)Jones with clear rising(0.26 s)and falling(0.29 s)response times upon X-ray irradiation.Detection reliability is also proven by linear response of the X-ray detector,and the X-ray detection limit is 3 mA.展开更多
In practical applications,noble metal doping is often used to prepare high performance gas sensors,but more noble metal doping will lead to higher preparation costs.In this study,CeO_(2)/ZnO-Pd with low palladium cont...In practical applications,noble metal doping is often used to prepare high performance gas sensors,but more noble metal doping will lead to higher preparation costs.In this study,CeO_(2)/ZnO-Pd with low palladium content was prepared by ultrasonic method with fast response and high selectivity for acetone sensing.With the same amount of palladium added,the selectivity coefficient of CeO_(2)/ZnO-Pd is 1.88 times higher than that of the stirred sensor.Compared with the pure PdO-doped CeO_(2)/ZnO-PdO material,the content of Pd in CeO_(2)/ZnO-PdO is about 30%of that in CeO_(2)/ZnO-PdO,but the selectivity coefficient for acetone is 2.56 times higher.The CeO_(2)/ZnO-Pd sensor has a higher response(22.54)to 50×10^(−6) acetone at 300℃and the selectivity coefficient is 2.57 times that of the CeO_(2)/ZnO sensor.The sensor has a sub-second response time(0.6 s)and still has a 2.36 response to 330×10^(−9) of acetone.Ultrasonic doping makes Pd particles smaller and increases the contact area with gas.Meanwhile,the composition of n-p-n heterojunction and the synergistic effect of Pd/PdO improve the sensor performance.It shows that ultrasonic Pd doping provides a way to improve the utilization rate of doped metals and prepare highly selective gas sensors.展开更多
To clarify the response characteristics of broomcorn millet yield and quality to various fertilizers under low nitrogen conditions,the present study investigated the effects of different fertilization treatments,inclu...To clarify the response characteristics of broomcorn millet yield and quality to various fertilizers under low nitrogen conditions,the present study investigated the effects of different fertilization treatments,including no fertilization(HCK,CCK),urea(HF1,CF1),phosphate fertilizer(HF2,CF2),compound fertilizer(HF3,CF3),and organic fertilizer(HF4,CF4),on the agronomic traits,quality,and starch pasting properties of proso millet.As experimental materials,non-waxy proso millet(Hequ red proso millet,denoted as HQH)and waxy proso millet(Chishu 1,denoted as CS1)were utilized.The results showed that under low nitrogen conditions,urea treatment(HF1)significantly increased plant height and yield,and phosphate fertilizer treatment(HF2)significantly increased thousand-grain weight(TW).For waxy proso millet Chishu NO.1(CS1),urea treatment(CF1)significantly increased yield,phosphate fertilizer treatment(CF2)significantly influenced the height of the plants,and compound fertilizer treatment(CF3)significantly increased thousand-grain weight.In terms of quality,phosphate fertilizer treatment(CF2)and organic fertilizer treatment(CF4)resulted in a substantial augmentation of both the total starch content and amylose content of waxy proso millet Chishu NO.1(CS1),respectively,and organic fertilizer treatment(HF4,CF4)resulted in a notable enhancement of the protein content of proso millet.Organic fertilizer treatment(HF4)increased peak viscosity(PV),hot viscosity(HV),setback viscosity(SV),final viscosity(FV),breakdown viscosity(BV),pasting time(PTim),and pasting temperature(PTemp)of non-waxy proso millet.Phosphate fertilizer treatment(CF2)increased the peak viscosity(PV),hot viscosity(HV),breakdown viscosity(BV),final viscosity(FV),pasting time(PTim),and pasting temperature(PTemp)of waxy proso millet.Organic fertilizer treatment(HF4)and phosphate fertilizer treatment(CF2)under low nitrogen were the most effective in improving the comprehensive quality of non-waxy and waxy proso millet,respectively.The findings of our research elucidated the impacts of various fertilizers on the productivity and quality of non-waxy and waxy proso millet in nitrogen-deficient environments.Furthermore,this research offered a conceptual underpinning for attaining enhanced cultivation outcomes,encompassing both improved yield and quality,of proso millet in drought-prone regions.展开更多
Objective Keshan disease(KD)is a myocardial mitochondrial disease closely related to insufficient selenium(Se)and protein intake.PTEN induced putative kinase 1(PINK1)/Parkin mediated mitochondrial autophagy regulates ...Objective Keshan disease(KD)is a myocardial mitochondrial disease closely related to insufficient selenium(Se)and protein intake.PTEN induced putative kinase 1(PINK1)/Parkin mediated mitochondrial autophagy regulates various physiological and pathological processes in the body.This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between PINK1/Parkin-regulated mitochondrial autophagy and KD-related myocardial injury.Methods A low Se and low protein animal model was established.One hundred Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups(control group,low Se group,low protein group,low Se+low protein group,and corn from KD area group).The JC-1 method was used to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP).ELISA was used to detect serum creatine kinase MB(CK-MB),cardiac troponin I(cTnI),and mitochondrial-glutamicoxalacetic transaminase(M-GOT)levels.RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of PINK1,Parkin,sequestome 1(P62),and microtubule-associated proteins1A/1B light chain 3B(MAP1LC3B).Results The MMP was significantly decreased and the activity of CK-MB,cTnI,and M-GOT significantly increased in each experimental group(low Se group,low protein group,low Se+low protein group and corn from KD area group)compared with the control group(P<0.05 for all).The mRNA and protein expression levels of PINK1,Parkin and MAP1LC3B were profoundly increased,and those of P62 markedly decreased in the experimental groups compared with the control group(P<0.05 for all).Conclusion Low Se and low protein levels exacerbate myocardial damage in KD by affecting the PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitochondrial autophagy pathway.展开更多
Metalenses with achromatic performance offer a new opportunity for high-quality imaging with an ultracompact configuration;however,they suffer from complex fabrication processes and low focusing efficiency.In this stu...Metalenses with achromatic performance offer a new opportunity for high-quality imaging with an ultracompact configuration;however,they suffer from complex fabrication processes and low focusing efficiency.In this study,we propose an efficient design method for achromatic microlenses on a wavelength scale using materials with low dispersion,an adequately designed convex surface,and a thickness profile distribution.By taking into account the absolute chromatic aberration,relative focal length shift(FLS),and numerical aperture(NA),microlens with a certain focal length can be realized through our realized map of geometric features.Accordingly,the designed achromatic microlenses with low-dispersion fused silica were fabricated using a focused ion beam,and precise surface profiles were obtained.The fabricated microlenses exhibited a high average focusing efficiency of 65%at visible wavelengths of 410-680 nm and excellent achromatic capability via white light imaging.Moreover,the design exhibited the advantages of being polarization-insensitive and near-diffraction-limited.These results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed achromatic microlens design approach,which expands the prospects of miniaturized optics such as virtual and augmented reality,ultracompact microscopes,and biological endoscopy.展开更多
Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a birth weight strictly below 2500 g, whatever the term of pregnancy. It constitutes a major public health problem, both in dev...Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a birth weight strictly below 2500 g, whatever the term of pregnancy. It constitutes a major public health problem, both in developed and developing countries, due to its magnitude and its strong association with infant morbidity and mortality. Main objective was to study the factors associated with the occurrence of small-for-gestational-age newborns in Douala. Methodology: We carried out a cross-sectional analytical study with prospective data collection using a technical pretested sheet in the maternity wards of the Douala General Hospital, the Laquintinie Hospital, and the District hospitals of Deido, Nylon and Bonassama over a period of 4 months (January to April 2020). We were interested in any newborn, born alive, vaginally or by cesarean section, of low weight, seen in the first 24 hours from a full-term single-fetal pregnancy whose mother had given her consent. Our sampling was consecutive and non-exhaustive. We excluded newborns whose term was unclear and those with congenital malformations or signs of embryo-foetopathy. Data collection was done using survey sheets. Statistical analyzes were carried out with CS Pro 7.3 and SPSS version 25.0 software. The Student, Chi-square and Fischer tests were used to compare the means of the variables, the percentages with a significance threshold P value Results: During the study period, 305 full-term newborns were included, divided into 172 boys and 133 girls. The percentage of small-for-gestational-age newborns was 9.8%;after multivariate analysis by logistic regression to eliminate confounding factors, we found maternal factors associated with small for gestational age newborns;maternal age less than 20 years, primiparity, gestational age (37 - 38), a delay in prenatal visits greater than 14 weeks, anemia in pregnancy, positive toxoplasmosis serology in pregnancy, a body mass index of Conclusion: Our study revealed the potential determinants of low birth weight at term in the Cameroonian urban context and specifically in Douala.展开更多
The observation of geomagnetic field variations is an important approach to studying earthquake precursors.Since 1987,the China Earthquake Administration has explored this seismomagnetic relationship.In particular,the...The observation of geomagnetic field variations is an important approach to studying earthquake precursors.Since 1987,the China Earthquake Administration has explored this seismomagnetic relationship.In particular,they studied local magnetic field anomalies over the Chinese mainland for earthquake prediction.Owing to the years of research on the seismomagnetic relationship,earthquake prediction experts have concluded that the compressive magnetic effect,tectonic magnetic effect,electric magnetic fluid effect,and other factors contribute to preearthquake magnetic anomalies.However,this involves a small magnitude of magnetic field changes.It is difficult to relate them to the abnormal changes of the extremely large magnetic field in regions with extreme earthquakes owing to the high cost of professional geomagnetic equipment,thereby limiting large-scale deployment.Moreover,it is difficult to obtain strong magnetic field changes before an earthquake.The Tianjin Earthquake Agency has developed low-cost geomagnetic field observation equipment through the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei geomagnetic equipment test project.The new system was used to test the availability of equipment and determine the findings based on big data..展开更多
Background: Improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in health care settings is a critical prerequisite for achieving national health goals and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The World Health Organization (WHO) ...Background: Improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in health care settings is a critical prerequisite for achieving national health goals and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target for each United Nations member state to reach by 2030. Each member state is required to reach by 2022, 2025 and 2030 at least 60%, 80% and 100%, respectively of basic level of service of the five elements which are water, sanitation, hygiene, waste management and environmental cleaning. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate and document the current state of basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services in all lower-level health care facilities in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania as of July 2022. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 99 public dispensaries in the Dar es Salaam region’s five councils: Ubungo, Kigamboni, Kinondoni and Temeke Municipalities, and Ilala City. The interviewee form and observational checklists were both digitalized using the Kobo tool software. The respondents were health care facility in-charges or nurse in-charges. Data were downloaded, validated, and imported to Stata version 15 for analysis. Results: The basic WASH level per JMP is far below the target in 2022. Each member state by 2022 is required to reach at least 60% of the basic level of service of each element. We found a low coverage of basic WASH in the 99 dispensaries included in this study. The basic WASH coverage was met in only 10 (10.1%) of the dispensaries, while the remaining 89 (89.9%) dispensaries fall on limited WASH services. Conclusion: This study revealed lower coverage of basic WASH services in dispensaries. An urgent need is required to improve the status of WASH in all the dispensaries and facilitate the provision of quality health care services, patient safety and reduce health care associated infections.展开更多
Objective:To conduct a systematic examination and meta-analysis of the most reliable data from experimental studies evaluating the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma(PRP)on low ovarian reserve.Methods:A compr...Objective:To conduct a systematic examination and meta-analysis of the most reliable data from experimental studies evaluating the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma(PRP)on low ovarian reserve.Methods:A comprehensive search was performed utilizing pertinent search terms across electronic databases,including PubMed,Cochrane,and Google Scholar.We included studies that assigned infertile women with low ovarian reserve in experimental studies.Ovarian reserve parameters were measured before and after PRP injection into ovaries.The data of each study was retrieved and subsequently compiled.Results:Of 301 articles collected and reviewed,six studies were finally included in the meta-analysis.Following PRP injection,infertile women showed a non-significant increase in anti-Mullerian hormone(AMH)level(MD=0.10;95%CI-0.04,0.23),a significant increase in antral follicular count(AFC)(MD=1.88;95%CI 0.47,3.29),and a non-significant reduction in follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)level(MD=-0.22;95%CI-8.32,7.87).Conclusions:Autologous PRP may increase AFC,but not AMH.Although it is found beneficial in enhancing ovarian reserve(AFC),further research with strong evidence is still required.展开更多
Background: low back pain affects many individuals, with 80% classified as non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) due to mechanical rather than structural issues. The link between pelvic alignment and lumbopelvic-hip rota...Background: low back pain affects many individuals, with 80% classified as non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) due to mechanical rather than structural issues. The link between pelvic alignment and lumbopelvic-hip rotation movement for NSLBP is controversial. Methods: twenty males with NSLBP and 20 healthy males participated. Data collected included static pelvic asymmetry and active lumbopelvic-hip rotation with motion capture system for kinematic analysis. Results: Unpaired T test was used to compare the difference of kinematic parameters between two groups. NSLBP group showed significantly larger angles between the ASIS-PSIS line and the z-axis (p Conclusion: Evaluations focusing on bone structure alone may be inadequate. A more comprehensive approach including functional assessments like muscle strength and range of motion could be beneficial. Integrating lumbopelvic-hip movement patterns and pelvic symmetry into clinical assessments should be considered, as they may be influenced by physical activity.展开更多
Background: Since 2012, the World Health Organization has recommended intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPT-SP) to prevent malaria-related complications in pregnant women. Ten years fol...Background: Since 2012, the World Health Organization has recommended intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPT-SP) to prevent malaria-related complications in pregnant women. Ten years following these recommendations, we conducted this study to estimate the coverage for three doses of IPT-SP (IPT3) as well as the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW), and its associated factors in Lomé (Togo) in 2021. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2021. An exhaustive recruitment of women and their newborns was carried out in the maternity wards of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital Center. Data from antenatal consultations and clinical data of the newborns were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out to determine factors associated with LBW. Results: A total of 252 mother-child pairs were included in this study. Median age of the mothers was 27 years, IQR [24-31]. More than a third (35.3%) of the mothers were primigravida. IPT3 coverage was 66.7% and 14.7% of newborns had a LBW. The prevalence of LBW was 33.3% [23.3-43.4] in women who had received fewer than 3 doses of IPT-SP and 5.4% [2.0-8.8] in those who had received at least 3 doses of IPT-SP (p Conclusion: Ten years following recommendations of the WHO on IPT-SP, malaria prevention based on IPT-SP is not optimal among pregnant women in Lomé, and the proportion of LBW children remains high. Actions to strengthen the three-dose IPT-SP policy are needed to prevent malaria and its consequences among newborns in Togo.展开更多
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a very common health problem amongst the general population and a major cause of disability that affects work performance and well-being. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are especially at ...Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a very common health problem amongst the general population and a major cause of disability that affects work performance and well-being. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are especially at risk of developing LBP because of physical and emotional factors. Little is known about the burden of LBP in Cameroon. Objective: To determine the prevalence of low back pain and identify its associated factors among healthcare workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among healthcare workers in the Yaound Central Hospital and the Yaound University Teaching Hospital. The questionnaire collected data regarding recent, past year and lifetime occurrences of LBP, socio-demographics and work conditions. Data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: A total number of 268 HCWs participated in the study, including 197 (73.5%) females and 71 (26.5%) males. The mean age of the study participants was 40.60 8.38 years (extremes of 20 and 65 years). The lifetime, annual, and point prevalences of LBP among the participants were 67.5% (CI: 61.6 - 73.1), 61.5% (CI: 55.6 - 67.1) and 35.7% (CI: 29.7 - 41.5) respectively. Multivariate analysis confirmed a moderate stress level, a sedentary lifestyle, working in the medicine and specialities department, lifting heavy objects and bending to work as associated factors to LBP. Most sufferers had a minimal functional disability (65.7%) while 34.3% had a moderate to severe disability. Conclusions: Healthcare providers have a considerably high prevalence of low back pain. Factors associated with LBP found in this study were similar to those widely recognized in the literature. A substantial proportion of healthcare providers are suffering from functional disability associated with low back pain, affecting their social and work lives. There is a need for multilevel interventions to prevent and control low back pain in this highly vulnerable occupational group.展开更多
Introduction: Low back pain is nowadays a real public health problem in companies. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with chronic low back pain among workers of a mining...Introduction: Low back pain is nowadays a real public health problem in companies. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with chronic low back pain among workers of a mining company in Burkina Faso. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with a retrospective collection that took place from August 1, 2021 to March 16, 2022 in a gold mine in Burkina Faso. It focused on mine workers who participated in the 2019 annual medical visit. Results: Out of a total workforce of 880 workers who took part in the annual medical visit in 2019, 165 had chronic common low back pain, i.e. a prevalence of 18.75%. The average age of low back pain workers was 37.21 ± 7.5 years. Among the workers suffering from low back pain, 62 (37.58%) held the position of machine operator. Clinically, mechanical pain was found in 113 low back pain workers (76%) and twenty-nine (17.58%) had radicular pain. Standard radiography of the lumbar spine was abnormal in 129 workers (78.18%. In the univariate analysis, the factors associated with the pathology were sex, level of study, work station and seniority in the position. After a logistic regression, the factors associated with its occurrence were whole-body vibration (Fisher’s test = 12.7541;P = 0.000), male sex (Fisher’s test = 8.363;P = 0.004), and seniority for 4 to 5 years (Chi2 = 4.0234;p = 0.046). Conclusion: The study reveals the existence of chronic low back pain cases among the workers of the mining company. There is a predominance of the pathology in men, workers exposed to vibrations and those with a seniority of 4 to 5 years. It is necessary to establish a policy of prevention of low back pain for the benefit of workers, in particular those exposed to vibrations.展开更多
The efficient separation and collection of ammonia(NH_(3))during NH_(3) synthesis process is essential to improve the economic efficiency and protect the environment.In this work,ethanolammonium hydrochloride(EtOHACl)...The efficient separation and collection of ammonia(NH_(3))during NH_(3) synthesis process is essential to improve the economic efficiency and protect the environment.In this work,ethanolammonium hydrochloride(EtOHACl)and phenol(PhOH)were used to prepare a novel class of deep eutectic solvents(DESs)with multiple active sites and low viscosities.The NH_(3) separation performance of EtOHACl+PhOH DESs was analyzed completely.It is figured out that the NH_(3) absorption rates in EtOHACl+PhOH DESs are very fast.The NH_(3) absorption capacities are very high and reach up to 5.52 and 10.74 mol·kg1 at 11.2 and 100.4 kPa under 298.2 K,respectively.In addition,the EtOHACl+PhOH DESs present highly selective absorption of NH_(3) over N_(2) and H_(2) and good regenerative properties after seven cycles of absorption/desorption.The intrinsic separation mechanism of NH_(3) by EtOHACl+PhOH DESs was further revealed by spectroscopic analysis and quantum chemistry calculations.展开更多
Low molecular weight polysaccharides can be isolated from Sargassum thunbergii(LMPST)and in vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects on lipids.Two natures of LMPST were attained from S.thunb...Low molecular weight polysaccharides can be isolated from Sargassum thunbergii(LMPST)and in vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects on lipids.Two natures of LMPST were attained from S.thunbergii and appraised their LMPST on palmitic acid(PA)induced lipid accretion in Hep G2,and 3T3-L1 cells.LMPST treatment lessened lipid deposition and intracellular free fatty acid and triglyceride intensities in PA-treated above mentioned cells.The mechanistic study publicized that LMPST2 significantly suppressed adipogenesis and stimulated the PA-treated 3T3-L1 cells occupied in the lipolysis pathway.Furthermore,in PA-treated Hep G2 cells,the free fatty acid oxidation was significantly increased by LMPST2.Given these constructive properties of LMPST2 from S.thunbergii,is a potential candidate for diminishing the intracellular lipids,and for a therapeutic agent in those conditions.展开更多
In this study,the hydrogel network was reinforced by covalent-like hydrogen bonding,and the strong binding ability of boron-nitrogen coordination served as the main driving force.Among them,acrylamide(AM)and 3-acrylam...In this study,the hydrogel network was reinforced by covalent-like hydrogen bonding,and the strong binding ability of boron-nitrogen coordination served as the main driving force.Among them,acrylamide(AM)and 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid(AAPBA)were the main body,and the numerous hydroxyl groups in the trehalose(Treh)molecule and other polymer groups formed strong hydrogen bonding interactions to improve the mechanical properties of the PAM/PAAPBA/Treh(PAAT)hydrogel and ensured the simplicity of the synthesis process.The hydrogel possessed high strain at break(1239%),stress(64.7 kPa),low hysteresis(100%to 500%strain,corresponding to dissipation energy from 1.37 to 7.80 kJ/m^(3)),and outstanding cycling stability(retained more than 90%of maximum stress after 200 ten-sile cycles).By integrating carbon nanotubes(CNTs)into PAAT hydrogel(PAATC),the PAATC hydrogel with excellent strain response performance was successfully constructed.The PAATC conductive hydro-gel exhibited high sensitivity(gauge factor(GF)=10.58 and sensitivity(S)=0.304 kPa^(-1)),wide strain response range(0.5%-1000%),fast response time(450 ms),and short recovery time(350 ms),excellent fatigue resistance,and strain response stability.Furthermore,the PAATC-based triboelectric nanogener-ator(TENG)displayed outstanding energy harvesting performance,which shows its potential for appli-cation in self-powered electronic devices.展开更多
文摘Introduction: Standard procedures for surgical fixation of proximal femoral fractures (PFF) require an image intensifier which in developing countries remains a luxury. We hypothesized that, with a well-codified technique, the Watson Jones approach (WJA) without image intensifier nor traction table, can allow open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of PFF using Dynamic hip screw (DHS), with satisfactory outcome. Patients and methods: Forty one consecutive patients (mean age 59.5 ± 21.6 years, 61% males) who were followed in a Teaching Hospital for PFF treated by ORIF using the WJA and DHS from January 2016 to December 2020 were reassessed. The outcome measures were the quality of the reduction, the positioning of the implants, the tip-apex distance (TAD), the rate and delay of consolidation, the functional results using Postel Merle d’Aubigné (PMA) score, the rate of surgical site infection (SSI) and the overall mortality. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with mechanical failure. Results: The mean follow-up period was 33.8 ± 15.0 months. Fracture reduction was good in 31 (75.6%) cases and acceptable in 8(19.5%) cases. Implant position was fair to good in 37 (90.2%) patients. The mean TAD was 26.1 ± 3.9 mm. Three patients developed SSI. Consolidation was achieved in 38 (92.6%) patients. The functional results were good to excellent in 80.5% of patients. The overall mortality rate was 7.3%. There were an association between mechanical failure and osteoporosis (p = 0.04), fracture reduction (p = 0.003), and TAD (p = 0.025). In multivariate logistic regression, no independent factors were predictive of mechanical failure. Conclusion: This study shows that ORIF using DHS for PFF via the Watson-Jones approach without an image intensifier can give satisfactory anatomical and functional outcomes in low-resource settings. It provides and validates a reliable and reproducible technique that deserves to be diffused to surgeons in austere areas over the world.
文摘Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is a widely used technique for data analysis and dimensionality reduction, but its sensitivity to feature scale and outliers limits its applicability. Robust Principal Component Analysis (RPCA) addresses these limitations by decomposing data into a low-rank matrix capturing the underlying structure and a sparse matrix identifying outliers, enhancing robustness against noise and outliers. This paper introduces a novel RPCA variant, Robust PCA Integrating Sparse and Low-rank Priors (RPCA-SL). Each prior targets a specific aspect of the data’s underlying structure and their combination allows for a more nuanced and accurate separation of the main data components from outliers and noise. Then RPCA-SL is solved by employing a proximal gradient algorithm for improved anomaly detection and data decomposition. Experimental results on simulation and real data demonstrate significant advancements.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.92372123)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No.2022B1515020005)the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province (No.2020B0101030005)
文摘Fast-charging and low temperature operation are of vital importance for the further development of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),which is hindered by the utilization of conventional carbonate-based electrolytes due to their slow kinetics,narrow operating temperature and voltage range.Herein,an acetonitrile(AN)-based localized high-concentration electrolyte(LHCE)is proposed to retain liquid state and high ionic conductivity at ultra-low temperatures while possessing high oxidation stability.We originally reveal the excellent thermal shielding effect of non-solvating diluent to prevent the aggregation of Li^(+) solvates as temperature drops,maintaining the merits of fast Li transport and facile desolvation as at room temperature,which bestows the graphite electrode with remarkable low temperature performance(264 mA h g^(-1) at-20 C).Remarkably,an extremely high capacity retention of 97%is achieved for high-voltage high-energy graphite||NCM batteries after 250 cycles at-20 C,and a high capacity of 110 mA h g^(-1)(71%of its room-temperature capacity)is retained at-30°C.The study unveils the key role of the non-solvating diluents and provides instructive guidance in designing electrolytes towards fast-charging and low temperature LIBs.
基金The work described in this paper was fully supported by a Grant from the City University of Hong Kong(Project No.9610641).
文摘Electrolyte design holds the greatest opportunity for the development of batteries that are capable of sub-zero temperature operation.To get the most energy storage out of the battery at low temperatures,improvements in electrolyte chemistry need to be coupled with optimized electrode materials and tailored electrolyte/electrode interphases.Herein,this review critically outlines electrolytes’limiting factors,including reduced ionic conductivity,large de-solvation energy,sluggish charge transfer,and slow Li-ion transportation across the electrolyte/electrode interphases,which affect the low-temperature performance of Li-metal batteries.Detailed theoretical derivations that explain the explicit influence of temperature on battery performance are presented to deepen understanding.Emerging improvement strategies from the aspects of electrolyte design and electrolyte/electrode interphase engineering are summarized and rigorously compared.Perspectives on future research are proposed to guide the ongoing exploration for better low-temperature Li-metal batteries.
基金granted by the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology(KRICT)of the Republic of Korea(No.2422-10)the National Research Foundation(NRF)(NRF-2021R1C1C2007445 and RS-2023-00280495)of Republic of Korea.
文摘The development of portable X-ray detectors is necessary for diagnosing fractures in unconscious patients in emergency situations.However,this is quite challenging because of the heavy weight of the scintillator and silicon photodetectors.The weight and thickness of X-ray detectors can be reduced by replacing the silicon layer with an organic photodetectors.This study presents a novel bithienopyrroledione-based polymer donor that exhibits excellent photodetection properties even in a thick photoactive layer(~700 nm),owing to the symmetric backbone and highly soluble molecular structure of bithienopyrroledione.The ability of bithienopyrroledione-based polymer donor to strongly suppress the dark current density(Jd~10−10 A cm^(−2))at a negative bias(−2.0 V)while maintaining high responsivity(R=0.29 A W−1)even at a thickness of 700 nm results in a maximum shot-noise-limited specific detectivity of D_(sh)^(*)=2.18×10^(13)Jones in the organic photodetectors.Printed organic photodetectors are developed by slot-die coating for use in X-ray detectors,which exhibit D_(sh)^(*)=2.73×10^(12)Jones with clear rising(0.26 s)and falling(0.29 s)response times upon X-ray irradiation.Detection reliability is also proven by linear response of the X-ray detector,and the X-ray detection limit is 3 mA.
基金Project(2023JJ10005)supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,ChinaProjects(51772082,51804106)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China。
文摘In practical applications,noble metal doping is often used to prepare high performance gas sensors,but more noble metal doping will lead to higher preparation costs.In this study,CeO_(2)/ZnO-Pd with low palladium content was prepared by ultrasonic method with fast response and high selectivity for acetone sensing.With the same amount of palladium added,the selectivity coefficient of CeO_(2)/ZnO-Pd is 1.88 times higher than that of the stirred sensor.Compared with the pure PdO-doped CeO_(2)/ZnO-PdO material,the content of Pd in CeO_(2)/ZnO-PdO is about 30%of that in CeO_(2)/ZnO-PdO,but the selectivity coefficient for acetone is 2.56 times higher.The CeO_(2)/ZnO-Pd sensor has a higher response(22.54)to 50×10^(−6) acetone at 300℃and the selectivity coefficient is 2.57 times that of the CeO_(2)/ZnO sensor.The sensor has a sub-second response time(0.6 s)and still has a 2.36 response to 330×10^(−9) of acetone.Ultrasonic doping makes Pd particles smaller and increases the contact area with gas.Meanwhile,the composition of n-p-n heterojunction and the synergistic effect of Pd/PdO improve the sensor performance.It shows that ultrasonic Pd doping provides a way to improve the utilization rate of doped metals and prepare highly selective gas sensors.
基金funded by the earmarked fund for CARS(CARS-06-14.5-A16)the earmarked fund for Modern Agro-Industry Technology Research System(2024CYJSTX03-23)+1 种基金the Shanxi Provincial Key Research and Development Program(Program No.2022ZDYF110)the Central Guiding Local Science and Technology Development Funds(YDZJSX2022A044).
文摘To clarify the response characteristics of broomcorn millet yield and quality to various fertilizers under low nitrogen conditions,the present study investigated the effects of different fertilization treatments,including no fertilization(HCK,CCK),urea(HF1,CF1),phosphate fertilizer(HF2,CF2),compound fertilizer(HF3,CF3),and organic fertilizer(HF4,CF4),on the agronomic traits,quality,and starch pasting properties of proso millet.As experimental materials,non-waxy proso millet(Hequ red proso millet,denoted as HQH)and waxy proso millet(Chishu 1,denoted as CS1)were utilized.The results showed that under low nitrogen conditions,urea treatment(HF1)significantly increased plant height and yield,and phosphate fertilizer treatment(HF2)significantly increased thousand-grain weight(TW).For waxy proso millet Chishu NO.1(CS1),urea treatment(CF1)significantly increased yield,phosphate fertilizer treatment(CF2)significantly influenced the height of the plants,and compound fertilizer treatment(CF3)significantly increased thousand-grain weight.In terms of quality,phosphate fertilizer treatment(CF2)and organic fertilizer treatment(CF4)resulted in a substantial augmentation of both the total starch content and amylose content of waxy proso millet Chishu NO.1(CS1),respectively,and organic fertilizer treatment(HF4,CF4)resulted in a notable enhancement of the protein content of proso millet.Organic fertilizer treatment(HF4)increased peak viscosity(PV),hot viscosity(HV),setback viscosity(SV),final viscosity(FV),breakdown viscosity(BV),pasting time(PTim),and pasting temperature(PTemp)of non-waxy proso millet.Phosphate fertilizer treatment(CF2)increased the peak viscosity(PV),hot viscosity(HV),breakdown viscosity(BV),final viscosity(FV),pasting time(PTim),and pasting temperature(PTemp)of waxy proso millet.Organic fertilizer treatment(HF4)and phosphate fertilizer treatment(CF2)under low nitrogen were the most effective in improving the comprehensive quality of non-waxy and waxy proso millet,respectively.The findings of our research elucidated the impacts of various fertilizers on the productivity and quality of non-waxy and waxy proso millet in nitrogen-deficient environments.Furthermore,this research offered a conceptual underpinning for attaining enhanced cultivation outcomes,encompassing both improved yield and quality,of proso millet in drought-prone regions.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(No.LH2021H009).
文摘Objective Keshan disease(KD)is a myocardial mitochondrial disease closely related to insufficient selenium(Se)and protein intake.PTEN induced putative kinase 1(PINK1)/Parkin mediated mitochondrial autophagy regulates various physiological and pathological processes in the body.This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between PINK1/Parkin-regulated mitochondrial autophagy and KD-related myocardial injury.Methods A low Se and low protein animal model was established.One hundred Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups(control group,low Se group,low protein group,low Se+low protein group,and corn from KD area group).The JC-1 method was used to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP).ELISA was used to detect serum creatine kinase MB(CK-MB),cardiac troponin I(cTnI),and mitochondrial-glutamicoxalacetic transaminase(M-GOT)levels.RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of PINK1,Parkin,sequestome 1(P62),and microtubule-associated proteins1A/1B light chain 3B(MAP1LC3B).Results The MMP was significantly decreased and the activity of CK-MB,cTnI,and M-GOT significantly increased in each experimental group(low Se group,low protein group,low Se+low protein group and corn from KD area group)compared with the control group(P<0.05 for all).The mRNA and protein expression levels of PINK1,Parkin and MAP1LC3B were profoundly increased,and those of P62 markedly decreased in the experimental groups compared with the control group(P<0.05 for all).Conclusion Low Se and low protein levels exacerbate myocardial damage in KD by affecting the PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitochondrial autophagy pathway.
基金supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFB3806000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52325208 and 11974203)the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Project(Z191100004819002).
文摘Metalenses with achromatic performance offer a new opportunity for high-quality imaging with an ultracompact configuration;however,they suffer from complex fabrication processes and low focusing efficiency.In this study,we propose an efficient design method for achromatic microlenses on a wavelength scale using materials with low dispersion,an adequately designed convex surface,and a thickness profile distribution.By taking into account the absolute chromatic aberration,relative focal length shift(FLS),and numerical aperture(NA),microlens with a certain focal length can be realized through our realized map of geometric features.Accordingly,the designed achromatic microlenses with low-dispersion fused silica were fabricated using a focused ion beam,and precise surface profiles were obtained.The fabricated microlenses exhibited a high average focusing efficiency of 65%at visible wavelengths of 410-680 nm and excellent achromatic capability via white light imaging.Moreover,the design exhibited the advantages of being polarization-insensitive and near-diffraction-limited.These results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed achromatic microlens design approach,which expands the prospects of miniaturized optics such as virtual and augmented reality,ultracompact microscopes,and biological endoscopy.
文摘Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a birth weight strictly below 2500 g, whatever the term of pregnancy. It constitutes a major public health problem, both in developed and developing countries, due to its magnitude and its strong association with infant morbidity and mortality. Main objective was to study the factors associated with the occurrence of small-for-gestational-age newborns in Douala. Methodology: We carried out a cross-sectional analytical study with prospective data collection using a technical pretested sheet in the maternity wards of the Douala General Hospital, the Laquintinie Hospital, and the District hospitals of Deido, Nylon and Bonassama over a period of 4 months (January to April 2020). We were interested in any newborn, born alive, vaginally or by cesarean section, of low weight, seen in the first 24 hours from a full-term single-fetal pregnancy whose mother had given her consent. Our sampling was consecutive and non-exhaustive. We excluded newborns whose term was unclear and those with congenital malformations or signs of embryo-foetopathy. Data collection was done using survey sheets. Statistical analyzes were carried out with CS Pro 7.3 and SPSS version 25.0 software. The Student, Chi-square and Fischer tests were used to compare the means of the variables, the percentages with a significance threshold P value Results: During the study period, 305 full-term newborns were included, divided into 172 boys and 133 girls. The percentage of small-for-gestational-age newborns was 9.8%;after multivariate analysis by logistic regression to eliminate confounding factors, we found maternal factors associated with small for gestational age newborns;maternal age less than 20 years, primiparity, gestational age (37 - 38), a delay in prenatal visits greater than 14 weeks, anemia in pregnancy, positive toxoplasmosis serology in pregnancy, a body mass index of Conclusion: Our study revealed the potential determinants of low birth weight at term in the Cameroonian urban context and specifically in Douala.
基金supported by the Spark Program of Earthquake Science and Technology(No.XH23003C).
文摘The observation of geomagnetic field variations is an important approach to studying earthquake precursors.Since 1987,the China Earthquake Administration has explored this seismomagnetic relationship.In particular,they studied local magnetic field anomalies over the Chinese mainland for earthquake prediction.Owing to the years of research on the seismomagnetic relationship,earthquake prediction experts have concluded that the compressive magnetic effect,tectonic magnetic effect,electric magnetic fluid effect,and other factors contribute to preearthquake magnetic anomalies.However,this involves a small magnitude of magnetic field changes.It is difficult to relate them to the abnormal changes of the extremely large magnetic field in regions with extreme earthquakes owing to the high cost of professional geomagnetic equipment,thereby limiting large-scale deployment.Moreover,it is difficult to obtain strong magnetic field changes before an earthquake.The Tianjin Earthquake Agency has developed low-cost geomagnetic field observation equipment through the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei geomagnetic equipment test project.The new system was used to test the availability of equipment and determine the findings based on big data..
文摘Background: Improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in health care settings is a critical prerequisite for achieving national health goals and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target for each United Nations member state to reach by 2030. Each member state is required to reach by 2022, 2025 and 2030 at least 60%, 80% and 100%, respectively of basic level of service of the five elements which are water, sanitation, hygiene, waste management and environmental cleaning. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate and document the current state of basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services in all lower-level health care facilities in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania as of July 2022. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 99 public dispensaries in the Dar es Salaam region’s five councils: Ubungo, Kigamboni, Kinondoni and Temeke Municipalities, and Ilala City. The interviewee form and observational checklists were both digitalized using the Kobo tool software. The respondents were health care facility in-charges or nurse in-charges. Data were downloaded, validated, and imported to Stata version 15 for analysis. Results: The basic WASH level per JMP is far below the target in 2022. Each member state by 2022 is required to reach at least 60% of the basic level of service of each element. We found a low coverage of basic WASH in the 99 dispensaries included in this study. The basic WASH coverage was met in only 10 (10.1%) of the dispensaries, while the remaining 89 (89.9%) dispensaries fall on limited WASH services. Conclusion: This study revealed lower coverage of basic WASH services in dispensaries. An urgent need is required to improve the status of WASH in all the dispensaries and facilitate the provision of quality health care services, patient safety and reduce health care associated infections.
文摘Objective:To conduct a systematic examination and meta-analysis of the most reliable data from experimental studies evaluating the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma(PRP)on low ovarian reserve.Methods:A comprehensive search was performed utilizing pertinent search terms across electronic databases,including PubMed,Cochrane,and Google Scholar.We included studies that assigned infertile women with low ovarian reserve in experimental studies.Ovarian reserve parameters were measured before and after PRP injection into ovaries.The data of each study was retrieved and subsequently compiled.Results:Of 301 articles collected and reviewed,six studies were finally included in the meta-analysis.Following PRP injection,infertile women showed a non-significant increase in anti-Mullerian hormone(AMH)level(MD=0.10;95%CI-0.04,0.23),a significant increase in antral follicular count(AFC)(MD=1.88;95%CI 0.47,3.29),and a non-significant reduction in follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)level(MD=-0.22;95%CI-8.32,7.87).Conclusions:Autologous PRP may increase AFC,but not AMH.Although it is found beneficial in enhancing ovarian reserve(AFC),further research with strong evidence is still required.
文摘Background: low back pain affects many individuals, with 80% classified as non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) due to mechanical rather than structural issues. The link between pelvic alignment and lumbopelvic-hip rotation movement for NSLBP is controversial. Methods: twenty males with NSLBP and 20 healthy males participated. Data collected included static pelvic asymmetry and active lumbopelvic-hip rotation with motion capture system for kinematic analysis. Results: Unpaired T test was used to compare the difference of kinematic parameters between two groups. NSLBP group showed significantly larger angles between the ASIS-PSIS line and the z-axis (p Conclusion: Evaluations focusing on bone structure alone may be inadequate. A more comprehensive approach including functional assessments like muscle strength and range of motion could be beneficial. Integrating lumbopelvic-hip movement patterns and pelvic symmetry into clinical assessments should be considered, as they may be influenced by physical activity.
文摘Background: Since 2012, the World Health Organization has recommended intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPT-SP) to prevent malaria-related complications in pregnant women. Ten years following these recommendations, we conducted this study to estimate the coverage for three doses of IPT-SP (IPT3) as well as the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW), and its associated factors in Lomé (Togo) in 2021. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2021. An exhaustive recruitment of women and their newborns was carried out in the maternity wards of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital Center. Data from antenatal consultations and clinical data of the newborns were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out to determine factors associated with LBW. Results: A total of 252 mother-child pairs were included in this study. Median age of the mothers was 27 years, IQR [24-31]. More than a third (35.3%) of the mothers were primigravida. IPT3 coverage was 66.7% and 14.7% of newborns had a LBW. The prevalence of LBW was 33.3% [23.3-43.4] in women who had received fewer than 3 doses of IPT-SP and 5.4% [2.0-8.8] in those who had received at least 3 doses of IPT-SP (p Conclusion: Ten years following recommendations of the WHO on IPT-SP, malaria prevention based on IPT-SP is not optimal among pregnant women in Lomé, and the proportion of LBW children remains high. Actions to strengthen the three-dose IPT-SP policy are needed to prevent malaria and its consequences among newborns in Togo.
文摘Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a very common health problem amongst the general population and a major cause of disability that affects work performance and well-being. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are especially at risk of developing LBP because of physical and emotional factors. Little is known about the burden of LBP in Cameroon. Objective: To determine the prevalence of low back pain and identify its associated factors among healthcare workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among healthcare workers in the Yaound Central Hospital and the Yaound University Teaching Hospital. The questionnaire collected data regarding recent, past year and lifetime occurrences of LBP, socio-demographics and work conditions. Data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: A total number of 268 HCWs participated in the study, including 197 (73.5%) females and 71 (26.5%) males. The mean age of the study participants was 40.60 8.38 years (extremes of 20 and 65 years). The lifetime, annual, and point prevalences of LBP among the participants were 67.5% (CI: 61.6 - 73.1), 61.5% (CI: 55.6 - 67.1) and 35.7% (CI: 29.7 - 41.5) respectively. Multivariate analysis confirmed a moderate stress level, a sedentary lifestyle, working in the medicine and specialities department, lifting heavy objects and bending to work as associated factors to LBP. Most sufferers had a minimal functional disability (65.7%) while 34.3% had a moderate to severe disability. Conclusions: Healthcare providers have a considerably high prevalence of low back pain. Factors associated with LBP found in this study were similar to those widely recognized in the literature. A substantial proportion of healthcare providers are suffering from functional disability associated with low back pain, affecting their social and work lives. There is a need for multilevel interventions to prevent and control low back pain in this highly vulnerable occupational group.
文摘Introduction: Low back pain is nowadays a real public health problem in companies. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with chronic low back pain among workers of a mining company in Burkina Faso. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with a retrospective collection that took place from August 1, 2021 to March 16, 2022 in a gold mine in Burkina Faso. It focused on mine workers who participated in the 2019 annual medical visit. Results: Out of a total workforce of 880 workers who took part in the annual medical visit in 2019, 165 had chronic common low back pain, i.e. a prevalence of 18.75%. The average age of low back pain workers was 37.21 ± 7.5 years. Among the workers suffering from low back pain, 62 (37.58%) held the position of machine operator. Clinically, mechanical pain was found in 113 low back pain workers (76%) and twenty-nine (17.58%) had radicular pain. Standard radiography of the lumbar spine was abnormal in 129 workers (78.18%. In the univariate analysis, the factors associated with the pathology were sex, level of study, work station and seniority in the position. After a logistic regression, the factors associated with its occurrence were whole-body vibration (Fisher’s test = 12.7541;P = 0.000), male sex (Fisher’s test = 8.363;P = 0.004), and seniority for 4 to 5 years (Chi2 = 4.0234;p = 0.046). Conclusion: The study reveals the existence of chronic low back pain cases among the workers of the mining company. There is a predominance of the pathology in men, workers exposed to vibrations and those with a seniority of 4 to 5 years. It is necessary to establish a policy of prevention of low back pain for the benefit of workers, in particular those exposed to vibrations.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22221005 and 22008033).
文摘The efficient separation and collection of ammonia(NH_(3))during NH_(3) synthesis process is essential to improve the economic efficiency and protect the environment.In this work,ethanolammonium hydrochloride(EtOHACl)and phenol(PhOH)were used to prepare a novel class of deep eutectic solvents(DESs)with multiple active sites and low viscosities.The NH_(3) separation performance of EtOHACl+PhOH DESs was analyzed completely.It is figured out that the NH_(3) absorption rates in EtOHACl+PhOH DESs are very fast.The NH_(3) absorption capacities are very high and reach up to 5.52 and 10.74 mol·kg1 at 11.2 and 100.4 kPa under 298.2 K,respectively.In addition,the EtOHACl+PhOH DESs present highly selective absorption of NH_(3) over N_(2) and H_(2) and good regenerative properties after seven cycles of absorption/desorption.The intrinsic separation mechanism of NH_(3) by EtOHACl+PhOH DESs was further revealed by spectroscopic analysis and quantum chemistry calculations.
基金supported by Korea Institute of Marine Science&Technology Promotion(KIMST)funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries,Korea(20220488)。
文摘Low molecular weight polysaccharides can be isolated from Sargassum thunbergii(LMPST)and in vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects on lipids.Two natures of LMPST were attained from S.thunbergii and appraised their LMPST on palmitic acid(PA)induced lipid accretion in Hep G2,and 3T3-L1 cells.LMPST treatment lessened lipid deposition and intracellular free fatty acid and triglyceride intensities in PA-treated above mentioned cells.The mechanistic study publicized that LMPST2 significantly suppressed adipogenesis and stimulated the PA-treated 3T3-L1 cells occupied in the lipolysis pathway.Furthermore,in PA-treated Hep G2 cells,the free fatty acid oxidation was significantly increased by LMPST2.Given these constructive properties of LMPST2 from S.thunbergii,is a potential candidate for diminishing the intracellular lipids,and for a therapeutic agent in those conditions.
基金the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52002356)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2020M672269)the National Key R&D program of China (2019YFA0706802)
文摘In this study,the hydrogel network was reinforced by covalent-like hydrogen bonding,and the strong binding ability of boron-nitrogen coordination served as the main driving force.Among them,acrylamide(AM)and 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid(AAPBA)were the main body,and the numerous hydroxyl groups in the trehalose(Treh)molecule and other polymer groups formed strong hydrogen bonding interactions to improve the mechanical properties of the PAM/PAAPBA/Treh(PAAT)hydrogel and ensured the simplicity of the synthesis process.The hydrogel possessed high strain at break(1239%),stress(64.7 kPa),low hysteresis(100%to 500%strain,corresponding to dissipation energy from 1.37 to 7.80 kJ/m^(3)),and outstanding cycling stability(retained more than 90%of maximum stress after 200 ten-sile cycles).By integrating carbon nanotubes(CNTs)into PAAT hydrogel(PAATC),the PAATC hydrogel with excellent strain response performance was successfully constructed.The PAATC conductive hydro-gel exhibited high sensitivity(gauge factor(GF)=10.58 and sensitivity(S)=0.304 kPa^(-1)),wide strain response range(0.5%-1000%),fast response time(450 ms),and short recovery time(350 ms),excellent fatigue resistance,and strain response stability.Furthermore,the PAATC-based triboelectric nanogener-ator(TENG)displayed outstanding energy harvesting performance,which shows its potential for appli-cation in self-powered electronic devices.