Correction to:Nano-Micro Letters(2025)17:123 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01654-y Following publication of the original article[1],the authors reported that Dr.Mohamed Bououdina’s affiliation needed to be corre...Correction to:Nano-Micro Letters(2025)17:123 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01654-y Following publication of the original article[1],the authors reported that Dr.Mohamed Bououdina’s affiliation needed to be corrected from 1 to 2.The correct author affiliation has been provided in this Correction and the original article[1]has been corrected.展开更多
Introduction: Family planning is one of the pillars of the Safe Motherhood Initiative which is aimed at reducing unwanted pregnancy and maternal death. Objective: To evaluate the uptake, efficacy, and safety profile o...Introduction: Family planning is one of the pillars of the Safe Motherhood Initiative which is aimed at reducing unwanted pregnancy and maternal death. Objective: To evaluate the uptake, efficacy, and safety profile of 68 mg etonogestrel subdermal implant in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AEFUTHA), Ebonyi State. Materials and Methods: A 5-year retrospective descriptive analysis was carried out on 68 mg etonogestrel subdermal implant uptake among family planning attendees in AEFUTHA. The medical records of the clients that had 68 mg etonogestrel subdermal implant insertion were studied. Socio-demographic characteristics, side effects, discontinuation, and reasons for discontinuation were extracted and analyzed. Analysis was done with SPSS version 20. Data obtained were represented using frequency tables and pie chart. Results: During the study period, 2538 women accepted various methods of contraception, 14.3% (364) of the women used Implanon. The mean age of 68 mg etonogestrel subdermal implant users was 30.7 ± 13.4 years with a range of 20 - 44. Multiparous clients constituted 54.5%. The majority (55.2%) had secondary education as their highest level of education. Less than 20% of the acceptors had side effects, the commonest 24 (42.9%) being prolonged menstrual flow and followed by irregular menstrual flow 18 (32.1%). Discontinuation rate was 17.9%;desire to conceive. 40 (61.5%) was the commonest reason for discontinuation. Only one (0.3%) acceptor reported serious itching at the site of insertion. None of the women reported pregnancy during the period of use (Pearl Index = 0). Conclusion: The acceptance rate of 68 mg etonogestrel subdermal implant among the women is low, however, it is found be effective with good continuation rate in the center. Efforts should be made to increase its uptake so as to prevent unwanted pregnancy and associated sequelae.展开更多
Background: Unsafe abortion (USA) is defined as the termination of a non-desired pregnancy, performed by an unqualified person or in an environment without minimum medical standards, or both. It can impact negatively ...Background: Unsafe abortion (USA) is defined as the termination of a non-desired pregnancy, performed by an unqualified person or in an environment without minimum medical standards, or both. It can impact negatively the fertility in the future by tubo-peritoneal lesions. The current study aimed to highlight the infertility factors associated with USA. Material and Methods: From January 1st 2000 to December 31st 2021, a total of 3876 patients that sought care for infertility in the University Clinic of Kinshasa and the Edith Medical Center were enrolled. The socio-demographic, clinical and paraclinical variables were recorded and analyzed in relation to USA history. Results: The patients’ average age was 33.4 ± 5.7 years. Half of them were housewives;about sixty percent of the patients were nulliparous (59.31%). Seventy percent had a secondary infertility with 43.33% having a history of unsafe abortion. The main diagnosis was genital infections and uterus myoma. The chronic endometritis, bilateral tubal occlusion and Uterine synechiae were more associated with USA group. The spermogram anomalies and other partners’ lesions seemed of infectious origin. Conclusion: The USA remains a more frequent phenomenon in our setting. The chronic endometritis, bilateral tubal occlusion, uterine synechiae and indirectly uterus myoma were the infertility factors related to USA. The genital infection of any origin seems to be the main denominator underlying the female and the male infertility in our setting.展开更多
Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the main mediator of the Renin-Angiotensin-System acting on AT<sub>1</sub> and other AT receptors. It is regarded as a pleiotropic agent that induces many actions, including func...Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the main mediator of the Renin-Angiotensin-System acting on AT<sub>1</sub> and other AT receptors. It is regarded as a pleiotropic agent that induces many actions, including functioning as a growth factor, and as a contractile hormone, among others. The aim of this work was to examine the impact of Ang II on the expression and function of α<sub>1</sub>-adrenergic receptors (α<sub>1</sub>-ARs) in cultured rat aorta, and aorta-derived smooth muscle cells. Isolated Wistar rat aorta was incubated for 24 h in DMEM at 37˚C, then subjected to isometric tension and to the action of added norepinephrine, in concentration-response curves. Ang II was added (1 × 10<sup>−5</sup> M), and in some experiments, 5-Methylurapidil (α<sub>1A</sub>-AR antagonist), AH11110A (α<sub>1B</sub>-AR antagonist), or BMY-7378 (α<sub>1D</sub>-AR antagonist), were used to identify the α<sub>1</sub>-AR involved in the response. Desensitization of the contractile response to norepinephrine was observed due to incubation time, and by the Ang II action. α<sub>1D</sub>-AR was protected from desensitization by BMY-7378;while RS-100329 and prazosin partially mitigated desensitization. In another set of experiments, isolated aorta-derived smooth muscle cells were exposed to Ang II and α<sub>1</sub>-ARs proteins were evaluated. α<sub>1D</sub>-AR increased at 30 and 60 min post Ang II exposure, the α<sub>1A</sub>-AR diminished from 1 to 4 h, while α<sub>1B</sub>-AR remained unchanged over 24 h of Ang II exposure. Ang II induced an increase of α<sub>1D</sub>-AR at short times, and BMY-7378 protected α<sub>1D</sub>-AR from desensitization.展开更多
This study was aimed to investigate the effects of hydrothermal aging, propene and SO<sub>2</sub> poisoning on the ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (NH<sub>3</sub>-SCR) performance of both...This study was aimed to investigate the effects of hydrothermal aging, propene and SO<sub>2</sub> poisoning on the ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (NH<sub>3</sub>-SCR) performance of both Cu-SAPO-34 and Cu-ZSM-5. The catalytic activities of fresh, aged and poisoned samples were tested in ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (NH<sub>3</sub>-SCR) of NO<sub>x</sub> conditions. The XRD, TG and N<sub>2</sub>-desorption results showed that the structures of the Cu-SAPO-34 and Cu-ZSM-5 remained intact after 750˚C hydrothermally aged, SO<sub>2</sub> and propene poisoned. After hydrothermal aging at 750˚C for 12 h, the NO reduction performance of Cu-ZSM-5 was significantly reduced at lower temperatures, while that of Cu-SAPO-34 was less affected. Moreover, Cu-SAPO-34 catalyst showed high NO conversion with SO<sub>2</sub> or propene compared to Cu-ZSM-5. However, Cu-ZSM-5 showed a larger drop in catalytic activity with SO<sub>2</sub> or propene compared to Cu-SAPO-34 catalyst. The H<sub>2</sub>-TPR results showed that Cu<sup>2 </sup> ions could be reduced to Cu<sup> </sup> and Cu<sup>0</sup> for Cu-ZSM-5, while no significant transformation of copper species was observed for Cu-SAPO-34. Meanwhile, the UV-vis DRS results showed that CuO species were formed in Cu-ZSM-5, while little changes were observed for the Cu-SAPO-34. Cu-SAPO-34 showed high sulfur and hydrocarbon poison resistance compared to Cu-ZSM-5. In summary, Cu-SAPO-34 with small-pore zeolite showed higher hydrothermal stability and better hydrocarbon and sulfur poison resistant than Cu-ZSM-5 with medium-pore.展开更多
In this paper, we modify the Bregman APG<sub>s</sub> (BAPG<sub>s</sub>) method proposed in (Wang, L, et al.) for solving the support vector machine problem with truncated loss (HTPSVM) given in...In this paper, we modify the Bregman APG<sub>s</sub> (BAPG<sub>s</sub>) method proposed in (Wang, L, et al.) for solving the support vector machine problem with truncated loss (HTPSVM) given in (Zhu, W, et al.), we also add an adaptive parameter selection technique based on (Ren, K, et al.). In each iteration, we use the linear approximation method to get the explicit solution of the subproblem and set a function to apply the Bregman distance. Finally, numerical experiments are performed to verify the efficiency of BAPG<sub>s</sub>.展开更多
Background: Sub arachnoid block (SAB) performed by traditional landmark palpation technique can be inaccurate. This problem is exacerbated by altered patient anatomy due to obesity and age-related changes. A pre-proce...Background: Sub arachnoid block (SAB) performed by traditional landmark palpation technique can be inaccurate. This problem is exacerbated by altered patient anatomy due to obesity and age-related changes. A pre-procedural ultrasound scan of the lumbar spine has been shown to be of benefit in guiding lumbar epidural insertion in obstetric patients. Information on the use of real-time ultrasound (RUS) guided SAB, to date, been limited. This study compared RUS guided SAB to traditional landmark guided technique in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for different surgical procedures. Methods: This was a prospective, single center, comparative observational study conducted in the department of anesthesiology at our center. 560 patients who underwent spinal anesthesia either by landmark based technique or real-time ultrasound-guided methods. The primary outcome was the first attempt success rate of dural puncture when employing the two methods. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in the two study groups. The first attempt success rate of dural puncture in landmark guided group was 64.3% compared to 72.6% in the ultrasound guided group. This difference was not statistically significant. The procedure performance time was significantly shorter with landmark palpation compared to use of real-time ultrasound guided method. Conclusion: Use of RUS-guided technique does not significantly improve the first attempt success rate of SAB dural puncture during spinal anesthesia compared to the traditional landmark-guided technique.展开更多
The lethal dose LD<sub>50</sub> represents the most important experimental value for acute toxicity. The simple logarithmic calculation of -log<sub>10</sub> LD<sub>50</sub> = value ...The lethal dose LD<sub>50</sub> represents the most important experimental value for acute toxicity. The simple logarithmic calculation of -log<sub>10</sub> LD<sub>50</sub> = value leads to the possible poison power pLD. As with the pH or pK value, respectively, for acid or the scale of earthquake intensities the logarithm helps making large differences of orders of magnitude easier to understand since they are more comparable. The higher the pLD value, the higher is the power of poison. An increase of the pLD value by 1 stands for a tenfold increase in toxicity. The lethal acute dose for water, one of the most important and at the same time non-toxic substances of all, is about one tenth of the body weight. This leads to a possible pLD value for water of 1, an ideal starting value for a logarithmic poison scale.展开更多
Global efforts for environmental cleanliness through the control of gaseous emissions from vehicles are gaining momentum and attracting increasing attention. Calibration plays a crucial role in these efforts by ensuri...Global efforts for environmental cleanliness through the control of gaseous emissions from vehicles are gaining momentum and attracting increasing attention. Calibration plays a crucial role in these efforts by ensuring the quantitative assessment of emissions for informed decisions on environmental treatments. This paper describes a method for the calibration of CO/CO<sub>2</sub> monitors used for periodic inspections of vehicles in cites. The calibration was performed in the selected ranges: 900 - 12,000 µmol/mol for CO and 2000 - 20,000 µmol/mol for CO<sub>2</sub>. The traceability of the measurement results to the SI units was ensured by using certified reference materials from CO/N<sub>2</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> primary gas mixtures. The method performance was evaluated by assessing its linearity, accuracy, precision, bias, and uncertainty of the calibration results. The calibration data exhibited a strong linear trend with R² values close to 1, indicating an excellent fit between the measured values and the calibration lines. Precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (%RSD), ranged from 0.48 to 4.56% for CO and from 0.97 to 3.53% for CO<sub>2</sub>, staying well below the 5% threshold for reporting results at a 95% confidence level. Accuracy measured as percent recovery, was consistently high (≥ 99.1%) for CO and ranged from 84.90% to 101.54% across the calibration range for CO<sub>2</sub>. In addition, the method exhibited minimal bias for both CO and CO<sub>2</sub> calibrations and thus provided a reliable and accurate approach for calibrating CO/CO<sub>2</sub> monitors used in vehicle inspections. Thus, it ensures the effectiveness of exhaust emission control for better environment.展开更多
This research investigates the comparative efficacy of generating zero divisor graphs (ZDGs) of the ring of integers ℤ<sub>n</sub> modulo n using MAPLE algorithm. Zero divisor graphs, pivotal in the study ...This research investigates the comparative efficacy of generating zero divisor graphs (ZDGs) of the ring of integers ℤ<sub>n</sub> modulo n using MAPLE algorithm. Zero divisor graphs, pivotal in the study of ring theory, depict relationships between elements of a ring that multiply to zero. The paper explores the development and implementation of algorithms in MAPLE for constructing these ZDGs. The comparative study aims to discern the strengths, limitations, and computational efficiency of different MAPLE algorithms for creating zero divisor graphs offering insights for mathematicians, researchers, and computational enthusiasts involved in ring theory and mathematical computations.展开更多
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of flavonoids from the stem and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSFs) against Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>-induced oligodendrocytes (OL) damage. ...Aim: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of flavonoids from the stem and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSFs) against Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>-induced oligodendrocytes (OL) damage. Methods: Immunofluorescence was used for the detection of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), a characteristic protein of rat oligodendrocytes (OLN-93 cells). To evaluate the potential protective effects of SSFs on OLN-93 cells injured by Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>, an injury model was established by subjecting OLN-93 cells to Aβ<sub>1-42</sub> exposed. Cell morphology was examined using an inverted microscope, while cell viability was assessed using the colorimetric method of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Additionally, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured using the pyruvic acid reduction assay. The Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) injection was used as a positive control. Results: A total of >95% of the MAG immunofluorescence-positive cells were identified as oligodendrocytes. Gradually increasing concentrations of SSFs impaired the cells, and the maximum nondetrimental dose for OLN-93 cells was 75 mg/L. This study assessed the effects of SSFs on OLN-93 cells damaged by Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>. The results indicated that SSFs significantly improved OLN-93 cell morphological abnormal changes, increased the OLN-93 cell survival rate, and reduced LDH release. Conclusion: SSFs can alleviate Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>-induced damage of OL.展开更多
In this article, we deal with weak solutions to non-degenerate sub-elliptic equations in the Heisenberg group, and study the regularities of solutions. We establish horizontal Calderón-Zygmund type estimate in Be...In this article, we deal with weak solutions to non-degenerate sub-elliptic equations in the Heisenberg group, and study the regularities of solutions. We establish horizontal Calderón-Zygmund type estimate in Besov spaces with more general assumptions on coefficients for both homogeneous equations and non-homogeneous equations. This study of regularity estimates expands the Calderón-Zygmund theory in the Heisenberg group.展开更多
Introduction: Hepatitis B is an infectious disease that remains a real public health problem in Africa. Students represent a group at risk for this disease. The objective of this study was to estimate the hepatitis B ...Introduction: Hepatitis B is an infectious disease that remains a real public health problem in Africa. Students represent a group at risk for this disease. The objective of this study was to estimate the hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate among students in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A systematic search of databases (PubMed, AJOL) and a manual search of Google Scholar was conducted to retrieve all published studies reporting hepatitis B vaccination coverage among students in sub-Saharan Africa. The pooled coverage rate was estimated with a 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: A total of 35 studies were included and included 20,520 students. The mean age was 22.1 ± 5.1 years with a predominance of female sex (sex ratio F/M = 1.05). The vaccination coverage rate was 28.8% [95% CI: 22.9% - 34.7%]. Disaggregation allowed to estimate coverage rates of 29.8% [95% CI: 22.9% - 36.7%], 23.4% [95% CI: 9.4% - 37.4%] and 17.0% [95% CI: 14.4% - 19.5%] respectively in West Africa, East Africa and Central Africa. Conclusion: Less than a third of students in sub-Saharan Africa are protected against hepatitis B. However, the majority of this target group is at risk of infection. It would be relevant to screen and, if necessary, vaccinate all new students.展开更多
Research background: Breast cancer remains a major public health problem, with a high number of new cases and deaths each year. However, despite advances in research to improve this disease, there is a high rate of la...Research background: Breast cancer remains a major public health problem, with a high number of new cases and deaths each year. However, despite advances in research to improve this disease, there is a high rate of late detection, leading to diagnosis at an advanced stage and a reduced chance of survival. Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with late detection of breast cancer in women in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2014 to 2020.Setting: This systematic review focuses on sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We searched for articles in four databases (PubMed, Embase, Global-Health and CINAHL) between 2014 and 2020 and performed a narrative synthesis to organize and group the different factors associated with late breast cancer detection. Result: After reviewing 583 publications, 6 studies were selected, highlighting factors such as lack of awareness, knowledge gaps, difficulties in accessing health services and financial constraints associated with late breast cancer screening. The participants, who ranged in number from 20 to 1776, were mainly aged between 18 and 25, with a mean age of 25 years and 6 months. Conclusion: The analysis enabled us to identify various factors associated with late breast cancer screening. Collaboration between health professionals, community organizations and policy-makers is essential to foster an environment conducive to the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.展开更多
Influenced by Late Cretaceous tectonic uplift,fluid inclusion techniques were employed to determine the hydrocarbon accumulation stages of the Chang 7_(3) sub-member in the Zhijing-Ansai area.There were two fluorescen...Influenced by Late Cretaceous tectonic uplift,fluid inclusion techniques were employed to determine the hydrocarbon accumulation stages of the Chang 7_(3) sub-member in the Zhijing-Ansai area.There were two fluorescent oil inclusions in the Chang 7_(3) sub-member.The green fluorescent oil inclusions indicated the relatively low-maturity oil,the homogenization temperatures of coeval aqueous inclusions were 83.8-89.5℃.The blue fluorescent oil inclusions indicated the relatively high-maturity oil,the homogenization temperatures of coeval aqueous inclusions exhibited two peaks which were 90.6-109.4℃and 110.1-137.4℃.Combining the burial-thermal history of four wells,there were three stages of hydrocarbon accumulation.A smallscale charging of the relatively low-maturity oil occurred around 131-122 Ma.During the large-scale charging of the high-maturity oil,the hydrocarbon generation of source rock peaked(c.114 to 100 Ma).Late tectonic uplift resulted in an oil adjustment stage(88-72 Ma),corresponding to the high-maturity oil charging time.展开更多
We report the performances of a chalcopyrite Cu(In, Ga)Se<sub>2 </sub>CIGS-based thin-film solar cell with a newly employed high conductive n-Si layer. The data analysis was performed with the help of the ...We report the performances of a chalcopyrite Cu(In, Ga)Se<sub>2 </sub>CIGS-based thin-film solar cell with a newly employed high conductive n-Si layer. The data analysis was performed with the help of the 1D-Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (1D-SCAPS) software program. The new device structure is based on the CIGS layer as the absorber layer, n-Si as the high conductive layer, i-In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, and i-ZnO as the buffer and window layers, respectively. The optimum CIGS bandgap was determined first and used to simulate and analyze the cell performance throughout the experiment. This analysis revealed that the absorber layer’s optimum bandgap value has to be 1.4 eV to achieve maximum efficiency of 22.57%. Subsequently, output solar cell parameters were analyzed as a function of CIGS layer thickness, defect density, and the operating temperature with an optimized n-Si layer. The newly modeled device has a p-CIGS/n-Si/In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/Al-ZnO structure. The main objective was to improve the overall cell performance while optimizing the thickness of absorber layers, defect density, bandgap, and operating temperature with the newly employed optimized n-Si layer. The increase of absorber layer thickness from 0.2 - 2 µm showed an upward trend in the cell’s performance, while the increase of defect density and operating temperature showed a downward trend in solar cell performance. This study illustrates that the proposed cell structure shows higher cell performances and can be fabricated on the lab-scale and industrial levels.展开更多
Silane coupling agent KH560 was used to modify the surface of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> in ethanol-aqueous solution with different proportions. The particle size of nano-α-Al<sub&...Silane coupling agent KH560 was used to modify the surface of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> in ethanol-aqueous solution with different proportions. The particle size of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> was determined by nano-particle size analyzer, and the effects of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> content, ethanol-aqueous solution ratio and KH560 dosage on the dispersion and particle size of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> were investigated. The material structure before and after modification was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Aqueous polyurethane resin and inorganic components are combined with modified nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> dispersion to form chromium-free passivation solution. The solution is coated on the galvanized sheet, the adhesion and surface hardness are tested, the bonding strength of the coating and the surface hardness of the substrate are discussed. The corrosion resistance and surface morphology of the matrix were investigated by electrochemical test, neutral salt spray test and scanning electron microscope test. The chromium-free passivation film formed after the modification of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> increases the surface hardness of galvanized sheet by about 85%. The corrosion resistance of the film is better than that of a single polyurethane film. The results show that the surface hardness and corrosion resistance of polyurethane resin composite passivation film are significantly improved by the introduction of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>.展开更多
文摘Correction to:Nano-Micro Letters(2025)17:123 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01654-y Following publication of the original article[1],the authors reported that Dr.Mohamed Bououdina’s affiliation needed to be corrected from 1 to 2.The correct author affiliation has been provided in this Correction and the original article[1]has been corrected.
文摘Introduction: Family planning is one of the pillars of the Safe Motherhood Initiative which is aimed at reducing unwanted pregnancy and maternal death. Objective: To evaluate the uptake, efficacy, and safety profile of 68 mg etonogestrel subdermal implant in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AEFUTHA), Ebonyi State. Materials and Methods: A 5-year retrospective descriptive analysis was carried out on 68 mg etonogestrel subdermal implant uptake among family planning attendees in AEFUTHA. The medical records of the clients that had 68 mg etonogestrel subdermal implant insertion were studied. Socio-demographic characteristics, side effects, discontinuation, and reasons for discontinuation were extracted and analyzed. Analysis was done with SPSS version 20. Data obtained were represented using frequency tables and pie chart. Results: During the study period, 2538 women accepted various methods of contraception, 14.3% (364) of the women used Implanon. The mean age of 68 mg etonogestrel subdermal implant users was 30.7 ± 13.4 years with a range of 20 - 44. Multiparous clients constituted 54.5%. The majority (55.2%) had secondary education as their highest level of education. Less than 20% of the acceptors had side effects, the commonest 24 (42.9%) being prolonged menstrual flow and followed by irregular menstrual flow 18 (32.1%). Discontinuation rate was 17.9%;desire to conceive. 40 (61.5%) was the commonest reason for discontinuation. Only one (0.3%) acceptor reported serious itching at the site of insertion. None of the women reported pregnancy during the period of use (Pearl Index = 0). Conclusion: The acceptance rate of 68 mg etonogestrel subdermal implant among the women is low, however, it is found be effective with good continuation rate in the center. Efforts should be made to increase its uptake so as to prevent unwanted pregnancy and associated sequelae.
文摘Background: Unsafe abortion (USA) is defined as the termination of a non-desired pregnancy, performed by an unqualified person or in an environment without minimum medical standards, or both. It can impact negatively the fertility in the future by tubo-peritoneal lesions. The current study aimed to highlight the infertility factors associated with USA. Material and Methods: From January 1st 2000 to December 31st 2021, a total of 3876 patients that sought care for infertility in the University Clinic of Kinshasa and the Edith Medical Center were enrolled. The socio-demographic, clinical and paraclinical variables were recorded and analyzed in relation to USA history. Results: The patients’ average age was 33.4 ± 5.7 years. Half of them were housewives;about sixty percent of the patients were nulliparous (59.31%). Seventy percent had a secondary infertility with 43.33% having a history of unsafe abortion. The main diagnosis was genital infections and uterus myoma. The chronic endometritis, bilateral tubal occlusion and Uterine synechiae were more associated with USA group. The spermogram anomalies and other partners’ lesions seemed of infectious origin. Conclusion: The USA remains a more frequent phenomenon in our setting. The chronic endometritis, bilateral tubal occlusion, uterine synechiae and indirectly uterus myoma were the infertility factors related to USA. The genital infection of any origin seems to be the main denominator underlying the female and the male infertility in our setting.
文摘Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the main mediator of the Renin-Angiotensin-System acting on AT<sub>1</sub> and other AT receptors. It is regarded as a pleiotropic agent that induces many actions, including functioning as a growth factor, and as a contractile hormone, among others. The aim of this work was to examine the impact of Ang II on the expression and function of α<sub>1</sub>-adrenergic receptors (α<sub>1</sub>-ARs) in cultured rat aorta, and aorta-derived smooth muscle cells. Isolated Wistar rat aorta was incubated for 24 h in DMEM at 37˚C, then subjected to isometric tension and to the action of added norepinephrine, in concentration-response curves. Ang II was added (1 × 10<sup>−5</sup> M), and in some experiments, 5-Methylurapidil (α<sub>1A</sub>-AR antagonist), AH11110A (α<sub>1B</sub>-AR antagonist), or BMY-7378 (α<sub>1D</sub>-AR antagonist), were used to identify the α<sub>1</sub>-AR involved in the response. Desensitization of the contractile response to norepinephrine was observed due to incubation time, and by the Ang II action. α<sub>1D</sub>-AR was protected from desensitization by BMY-7378;while RS-100329 and prazosin partially mitigated desensitization. In another set of experiments, isolated aorta-derived smooth muscle cells were exposed to Ang II and α<sub>1</sub>-ARs proteins were evaluated. α<sub>1D</sub>-AR increased at 30 and 60 min post Ang II exposure, the α<sub>1A</sub>-AR diminished from 1 to 4 h, while α<sub>1B</sub>-AR remained unchanged over 24 h of Ang II exposure. Ang II induced an increase of α<sub>1D</sub>-AR at short times, and BMY-7378 protected α<sub>1D</sub>-AR from desensitization.
文摘This study was aimed to investigate the effects of hydrothermal aging, propene and SO<sub>2</sub> poisoning on the ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (NH<sub>3</sub>-SCR) performance of both Cu-SAPO-34 and Cu-ZSM-5. The catalytic activities of fresh, aged and poisoned samples were tested in ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (NH<sub>3</sub>-SCR) of NO<sub>x</sub> conditions. The XRD, TG and N<sub>2</sub>-desorption results showed that the structures of the Cu-SAPO-34 and Cu-ZSM-5 remained intact after 750˚C hydrothermally aged, SO<sub>2</sub> and propene poisoned. After hydrothermal aging at 750˚C for 12 h, the NO reduction performance of Cu-ZSM-5 was significantly reduced at lower temperatures, while that of Cu-SAPO-34 was less affected. Moreover, Cu-SAPO-34 catalyst showed high NO conversion with SO<sub>2</sub> or propene compared to Cu-ZSM-5. However, Cu-ZSM-5 showed a larger drop in catalytic activity with SO<sub>2</sub> or propene compared to Cu-SAPO-34 catalyst. The H<sub>2</sub>-TPR results showed that Cu<sup>2 </sup> ions could be reduced to Cu<sup> </sup> and Cu<sup>0</sup> for Cu-ZSM-5, while no significant transformation of copper species was observed for Cu-SAPO-34. Meanwhile, the UV-vis DRS results showed that CuO species were formed in Cu-ZSM-5, while little changes were observed for the Cu-SAPO-34. Cu-SAPO-34 showed high sulfur and hydrocarbon poison resistance compared to Cu-ZSM-5. In summary, Cu-SAPO-34 with small-pore zeolite showed higher hydrothermal stability and better hydrocarbon and sulfur poison resistant than Cu-ZSM-5 with medium-pore.
文摘In this paper, we modify the Bregman APG<sub>s</sub> (BAPG<sub>s</sub>) method proposed in (Wang, L, et al.) for solving the support vector machine problem with truncated loss (HTPSVM) given in (Zhu, W, et al.), we also add an adaptive parameter selection technique based on (Ren, K, et al.). In each iteration, we use the linear approximation method to get the explicit solution of the subproblem and set a function to apply the Bregman distance. Finally, numerical experiments are performed to verify the efficiency of BAPG<sub>s</sub>.
文摘Background: Sub arachnoid block (SAB) performed by traditional landmark palpation technique can be inaccurate. This problem is exacerbated by altered patient anatomy due to obesity and age-related changes. A pre-procedural ultrasound scan of the lumbar spine has been shown to be of benefit in guiding lumbar epidural insertion in obstetric patients. Information on the use of real-time ultrasound (RUS) guided SAB, to date, been limited. This study compared RUS guided SAB to traditional landmark guided technique in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for different surgical procedures. Methods: This was a prospective, single center, comparative observational study conducted in the department of anesthesiology at our center. 560 patients who underwent spinal anesthesia either by landmark based technique or real-time ultrasound-guided methods. The primary outcome was the first attempt success rate of dural puncture when employing the two methods. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in the two study groups. The first attempt success rate of dural puncture in landmark guided group was 64.3% compared to 72.6% in the ultrasound guided group. This difference was not statistically significant. The procedure performance time was significantly shorter with landmark palpation compared to use of real-time ultrasound guided method. Conclusion: Use of RUS-guided technique does not significantly improve the first attempt success rate of SAB dural puncture during spinal anesthesia compared to the traditional landmark-guided technique.
文摘The lethal dose LD<sub>50</sub> represents the most important experimental value for acute toxicity. The simple logarithmic calculation of -log<sub>10</sub> LD<sub>50</sub> = value leads to the possible poison power pLD. As with the pH or pK value, respectively, for acid or the scale of earthquake intensities the logarithm helps making large differences of orders of magnitude easier to understand since they are more comparable. The higher the pLD value, the higher is the power of poison. An increase of the pLD value by 1 stands for a tenfold increase in toxicity. The lethal acute dose for water, one of the most important and at the same time non-toxic substances of all, is about one tenth of the body weight. This leads to a possible pLD value for water of 1, an ideal starting value for a logarithmic poison scale.
文摘Global efforts for environmental cleanliness through the control of gaseous emissions from vehicles are gaining momentum and attracting increasing attention. Calibration plays a crucial role in these efforts by ensuring the quantitative assessment of emissions for informed decisions on environmental treatments. This paper describes a method for the calibration of CO/CO<sub>2</sub> monitors used for periodic inspections of vehicles in cites. The calibration was performed in the selected ranges: 900 - 12,000 µmol/mol for CO and 2000 - 20,000 µmol/mol for CO<sub>2</sub>. The traceability of the measurement results to the SI units was ensured by using certified reference materials from CO/N<sub>2</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> primary gas mixtures. The method performance was evaluated by assessing its linearity, accuracy, precision, bias, and uncertainty of the calibration results. The calibration data exhibited a strong linear trend with R² values close to 1, indicating an excellent fit between the measured values and the calibration lines. Precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (%RSD), ranged from 0.48 to 4.56% for CO and from 0.97 to 3.53% for CO<sub>2</sub>, staying well below the 5% threshold for reporting results at a 95% confidence level. Accuracy measured as percent recovery, was consistently high (≥ 99.1%) for CO and ranged from 84.90% to 101.54% across the calibration range for CO<sub>2</sub>. In addition, the method exhibited minimal bias for both CO and CO<sub>2</sub> calibrations and thus provided a reliable and accurate approach for calibrating CO/CO<sub>2</sub> monitors used in vehicle inspections. Thus, it ensures the effectiveness of exhaust emission control for better environment.
文摘This research investigates the comparative efficacy of generating zero divisor graphs (ZDGs) of the ring of integers ℤ<sub>n</sub> modulo n using MAPLE algorithm. Zero divisor graphs, pivotal in the study of ring theory, depict relationships between elements of a ring that multiply to zero. The paper explores the development and implementation of algorithms in MAPLE for constructing these ZDGs. The comparative study aims to discern the strengths, limitations, and computational efficiency of different MAPLE algorithms for creating zero divisor graphs offering insights for mathematicians, researchers, and computational enthusiasts involved in ring theory and mathematical computations.
文摘Aim: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of flavonoids from the stem and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSFs) against Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>-induced oligodendrocytes (OL) damage. Methods: Immunofluorescence was used for the detection of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), a characteristic protein of rat oligodendrocytes (OLN-93 cells). To evaluate the potential protective effects of SSFs on OLN-93 cells injured by Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>, an injury model was established by subjecting OLN-93 cells to Aβ<sub>1-42</sub> exposed. Cell morphology was examined using an inverted microscope, while cell viability was assessed using the colorimetric method of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Additionally, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured using the pyruvic acid reduction assay. The Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) injection was used as a positive control. Results: A total of >95% of the MAG immunofluorescence-positive cells were identified as oligodendrocytes. Gradually increasing concentrations of SSFs impaired the cells, and the maximum nondetrimental dose for OLN-93 cells was 75 mg/L. This study assessed the effects of SSFs on OLN-93 cells damaged by Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>. The results indicated that SSFs significantly improved OLN-93 cell morphological abnormal changes, increased the OLN-93 cell survival rate, and reduced LDH release. Conclusion: SSFs can alleviate Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>-induced damage of OL.
文摘In this article, we deal with weak solutions to non-degenerate sub-elliptic equations in the Heisenberg group, and study the regularities of solutions. We establish horizontal Calderón-Zygmund type estimate in Besov spaces with more general assumptions on coefficients for both homogeneous equations and non-homogeneous equations. This study of regularity estimates expands the Calderón-Zygmund theory in the Heisenberg group.
文摘Introduction: Hepatitis B is an infectious disease that remains a real public health problem in Africa. Students represent a group at risk for this disease. The objective of this study was to estimate the hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate among students in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A systematic search of databases (PubMed, AJOL) and a manual search of Google Scholar was conducted to retrieve all published studies reporting hepatitis B vaccination coverage among students in sub-Saharan Africa. The pooled coverage rate was estimated with a 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: A total of 35 studies were included and included 20,520 students. The mean age was 22.1 ± 5.1 years with a predominance of female sex (sex ratio F/M = 1.05). The vaccination coverage rate was 28.8% [95% CI: 22.9% - 34.7%]. Disaggregation allowed to estimate coverage rates of 29.8% [95% CI: 22.9% - 36.7%], 23.4% [95% CI: 9.4% - 37.4%] and 17.0% [95% CI: 14.4% - 19.5%] respectively in West Africa, East Africa and Central Africa. Conclusion: Less than a third of students in sub-Saharan Africa are protected against hepatitis B. However, the majority of this target group is at risk of infection. It would be relevant to screen and, if necessary, vaccinate all new students.
文摘Research background: Breast cancer remains a major public health problem, with a high number of new cases and deaths each year. However, despite advances in research to improve this disease, there is a high rate of late detection, leading to diagnosis at an advanced stage and a reduced chance of survival. Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with late detection of breast cancer in women in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2014 to 2020.Setting: This systematic review focuses on sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We searched for articles in four databases (PubMed, Embase, Global-Health and CINAHL) between 2014 and 2020 and performed a narrative synthesis to organize and group the different factors associated with late breast cancer detection. Result: After reviewing 583 publications, 6 studies were selected, highlighting factors such as lack of awareness, knowledge gaps, difficulties in accessing health services and financial constraints associated with late breast cancer screening. The participants, who ranged in number from 20 to 1776, were mainly aged between 18 and 25, with a mean age of 25 years and 6 months. Conclusion: The analysis enabled us to identify various factors associated with late breast cancer screening. Collaboration between health professionals, community organizations and policy-makers is essential to foster an environment conducive to the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.
文摘Influenced by Late Cretaceous tectonic uplift,fluid inclusion techniques were employed to determine the hydrocarbon accumulation stages of the Chang 7_(3) sub-member in the Zhijing-Ansai area.There were two fluorescent oil inclusions in the Chang 7_(3) sub-member.The green fluorescent oil inclusions indicated the relatively low-maturity oil,the homogenization temperatures of coeval aqueous inclusions were 83.8-89.5℃.The blue fluorescent oil inclusions indicated the relatively high-maturity oil,the homogenization temperatures of coeval aqueous inclusions exhibited two peaks which were 90.6-109.4℃and 110.1-137.4℃.Combining the burial-thermal history of four wells,there were three stages of hydrocarbon accumulation.A smallscale charging of the relatively low-maturity oil occurred around 131-122 Ma.During the large-scale charging of the high-maturity oil,the hydrocarbon generation of source rock peaked(c.114 to 100 Ma).Late tectonic uplift resulted in an oil adjustment stage(88-72 Ma),corresponding to the high-maturity oil charging time.
文摘We report the performances of a chalcopyrite Cu(In, Ga)Se<sub>2 </sub>CIGS-based thin-film solar cell with a newly employed high conductive n-Si layer. The data analysis was performed with the help of the 1D-Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (1D-SCAPS) software program. The new device structure is based on the CIGS layer as the absorber layer, n-Si as the high conductive layer, i-In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, and i-ZnO as the buffer and window layers, respectively. The optimum CIGS bandgap was determined first and used to simulate and analyze the cell performance throughout the experiment. This analysis revealed that the absorber layer’s optimum bandgap value has to be 1.4 eV to achieve maximum efficiency of 22.57%. Subsequently, output solar cell parameters were analyzed as a function of CIGS layer thickness, defect density, and the operating temperature with an optimized n-Si layer. The newly modeled device has a p-CIGS/n-Si/In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/Al-ZnO structure. The main objective was to improve the overall cell performance while optimizing the thickness of absorber layers, defect density, bandgap, and operating temperature with the newly employed optimized n-Si layer. The increase of absorber layer thickness from 0.2 - 2 µm showed an upward trend in the cell’s performance, while the increase of defect density and operating temperature showed a downward trend in solar cell performance. This study illustrates that the proposed cell structure shows higher cell performances and can be fabricated on the lab-scale and industrial levels.
文摘Silane coupling agent KH560 was used to modify the surface of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> in ethanol-aqueous solution with different proportions. The particle size of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> was determined by nano-particle size analyzer, and the effects of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> content, ethanol-aqueous solution ratio and KH560 dosage on the dispersion and particle size of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> were investigated. The material structure before and after modification was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Aqueous polyurethane resin and inorganic components are combined with modified nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> dispersion to form chromium-free passivation solution. The solution is coated on the galvanized sheet, the adhesion and surface hardness are tested, the bonding strength of the coating and the surface hardness of the substrate are discussed. The corrosion resistance and surface morphology of the matrix were investigated by electrochemical test, neutral salt spray test and scanning electron microscope test. The chromium-free passivation film formed after the modification of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> increases the surface hardness of galvanized sheet by about 85%. The corrosion resistance of the film is better than that of a single polyurethane film. The results show that the surface hardness and corrosion resistance of polyurethane resin composite passivation film are significantly improved by the introduction of nano-α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>.
