In maritime safety research,risk is assessed usually within the framework of formal safety assessment(FSA),which provides a formal and systematic methodology to improve the safety of lives,assets,and the environment.A...In maritime safety research,risk is assessed usually within the framework of formal safety assessment(FSA),which provides a formal and systematic methodology to improve the safety of lives,assets,and the environment.A bespoke application of FSA to mitigate accidents in marine seismic surveying is put forward in this paper,with the aim of improving the safety of seismic vessel operations,within the context of developing an economically viable strategy.The work herein takes a close look at the hazards in North Sea offshore seismic surveying,in order to identify critical risk factors,leading to marine seismic survey accidents.The risk factors leading to undesirable events are analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively.A risk matrix is introduced to screen the identified undesirable events.Further to the screening,Fault Tree Analysis(FTA)is presented to investigate and analyse the most critical risks of seismic survey operation,taking into account the lack of historical data.The obtained results show that man overboard(MOB)event is a major risk factor in marine seismic survey operation;lack of training on safe work practice,slippery deck as a result of rain,snow or water splash,sea state affecting human judgement,and poor communication are identified as the critical risk contributors to the MOB event.Consequently,the risk control options are focused on the critical risk contributors for decision-making.Lastly,suggestions for the introduction and development of the FSA methodology are highlighted for safer marine and offshore operations in general.展开更多
In recent years,marine pilotage accidents occurring on a worldwide basis as a result of human error have not been ceased to transpire,despite advances in technology and a significant set of international conventions,r...In recent years,marine pilotage accidents occurring on a worldwide basis as a result of human error have not been ceased to transpire,despite advances in technology and a significant set of international conventions,regulations,and recommendations to reduce them.This paper aims to investigate the effect of human factors on the safety of maritime pilotage operations.The human factors that affect the operators who are performing ships’berthing operations have also been examined in detail.In this study,in order to determine the causes of human-related errors occurred in maritime pilotage accidents,a comprehensive literature review is carried out,and a considerable number of real past case examples and an analysis of the maritime accident investigation reports regarding pilotage operations events that occurred between 1995 and 2015 have been reviewed.To validate the identified humanrelated risk factors(HCFs)and explore other contributory factors,survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with domain experts have been conducted.A structural hierarchy diagram for the identified risk factors(HCFs)has been developed and validated through experienced experts belonging to the maritime sector.A questionnaire for pair-wise comparison is carried out and analysed using the analytic hierarchy process(AHP)approach to evaluate the weight and rank the importance of the identified human causal factors.The findings of this study will benefit the maritime industry,by identifying a new database on causal factors that are contributing to the occurrence of maritime pilotage disasters.The database can be used as a stand-alone reference or help implement effective risk reduction strategies to reduce the human error,that might occur during pilotage operations.展开更多
Group living may engender conflict over food,reproduction,or other resources and individuals must be able to manage conflict for social groups to persist.Submission signals are an adaptation for establishing and maint...Group living may engender conflict over food,reproduction,or other resources and individuals must be able to manage conflict for social groups to persist.Submission signals are an adaptation for establishing and maintaining social hierarchy position,allowing a subordinate individual to avoid protracted and costly aggressive interactions with dominant individuals.In the daffodil cichlid fish(Neolamprologus pulcher),subordinates may use submission signals to resolve conflicts with dominant individuals and maintain their social status within the group.The complexity of the physical environment may affect the value of submission signals compared with fleeing or avoidance,which may require certain physical features such as shelters to be effective.We investigated how the ecological context affected the expression of submission in subordinate daffodil cichlids by examining their behavior under different arrangements of the physical environment within their territories.We altered the number of shelters provided to daffodil cichlid groups and compared the interactions between dominant and subordinate individuals under each shelter condition by scoring the social and cooperative behaviors of the group members.We found that behaviors of group members were modulated by the environment:subordinates displayed fewer submission and fleeing behaviors in more structurally complex environments and dominants were more aggressive to subordinates when more shelters were present.Our results help to elucidate the role of the physical environment in the modulation of social interactions in group-living animals and may have implications for the welfare of captively housed social cichlid groups.展开更多
Traditional medicine(TM)has been more popular among pregnant women worldwide and has played a significant part in maternal health-care services in many nations.Herbs,herbal preparations,and finished herbal products al...Traditional medicine(TM)has been more popular among pregnant women worldwide and has played a significant part in maternal health-care services in many nations.Herbs,herbal preparations,and finished herbal products all contain active substances that are derived from plant parts or other plant components that are thought to have medicinal advantages.To diagnose,prevent,and treat illnesses as well as to enhance general well-being,about 80%of people use a variety of TM,including herbal remedies.A systematic search of Google Scholar and PubMed was performed utilizing an established scoping review framework by Joanna Briggs Institute from January 2012 to December 2022.A consequent title and abstract review of articles published on TM in the African context were completed.Of over 15,000 published studies identified,15 meeting the inclusion criteria were integrated into the following seven categorical themes:prevalence of TM use,source of information on TM use,reasons for use of TM,route of administration,common herbs used in pregnancy and labor,the effect of herbs used in pregnancy and labor,and predictors of use of TM.The studies reviewed were primarily in the context of an African setting on the use of TM regarding herbal medicine.Of all the articles,the highest number of studies was conducted in Zimbabwe.This review shows increased use of TM by women during pregnancy and labor with a reported prevalence rate varying from 12%to 60%.However,a decrease in use in the third trimester of pregnancy was reported.The most frequent source of information on the use of TM was from family and friends,while age,parity,education,and income were factors affecting use.In conclusion,the participants do not often disclose the use of TM during their antenatal attendance and the reason for use was accessibility and cost.Therefore,there is a need for further study on the safety and efficacy of TM use in pregnancy and labor.展开更多
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has encouraged its member countries to introduce Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) for ship operations since the end of the last century. FSA can be used through certain form...The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has encouraged its member countries to introduce Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) for ship operations since the end of the last century. FSA can be used through certain formal assessing steps to generate effective recommendations and cautions to control marine risks and improve the safety of ships. On the basis of the brief introduction of FSA, this paper describes the ideas of applying FSA to the prevention of human error in ship operations. It especially discusses the investigation and analysis of the information and data using navigation simulators and puts forward some suggestions for the introduction and development of the FSA research work for safer ship operations.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate tracking of magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) after intraportal transplantation.METHODS:Mononuclear cells were isolated from bone marrow aspirates of pigs by density gradient centrifuga...AIM:To evaluate tracking of magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) after intraportal transplantation.METHODS:Mononuclear cells were isolated from bone marrow aspirates of pigs by density gradient centrifugation,cultured and expanded,after which,they were incubated with super paramagnetic iron oxide(SPIO).Prussian blue staining was performed to highlight intracellular iron.To establish swine models of acute liver injury,0.5 g/kg D-galactosamine was administrated to 10 pigs,six of which were injected via their portal veins with SPIO-labeled MSCs,while the remaining four were injected with unlabeled cells.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) was performed with a clinical 1.5T MR scanner immediately before transplantation and 6 h,3 d,7 d and 14 d after transplantation.Prussian blue staining was again performed with the tissue slices at the endpoint.RESULTS:Prussian blue staining of SPIO-labeled MSCs had a labeling efficiency of almost 100%.Signal intensity loss in the liver by SPIO labeling on the FFE(T2*WI) sequence persisted until 14 d after transplantation.Histological analysis by Prussian blue staining confirmed homing of labeled MSCs in the liver after 14 d;primarily distributed in hepatic sinusoids and liver parenchyma.CONCLUSION:MSCs were successfully labeled with SPIO in vitro.MRI can monitor magnetically labeled MSCs transplanted into the liver.展开更多
The blood-spinal cord barrier plays a vital role in recovery after spinal cord injury.The neurovascular unit concept emphasizes the relationship between nerves and vessels in the brain,while the effect of the blood-sp...The blood-spinal cord barrier plays a vital role in recovery after spinal cord injury.The neurovascular unit concept emphasizes the relationship between nerves and vessels in the brain,while the effect of the blood-spinal cord barrier on the neurovascular unit is rarely reported in spinal cord injury studies.Mouse models of spinal cord injury were established by heavy object impact and then immediately injected with plateletderived growth factor(80μg/kg)at the injury site.Our results showed that after platelet-derived growth factor administration,spinal cord injury,neuronal apoptosis,and blood-spinal cord barrier permeability were reduced,excessive astrocyte proliferation and the autophagyrelated apoptosis signaling pathway were inhibited,collagen synthesis was increased,and mouse locomotor function was improved.In vitro,human umbilical vein endothelial cells were established by exposure to 200μM H2O2.At 2 hours prior to injury,in vitro cell models were treated with 5 ng/mL platelet-derived growth factor.Our results showed that expression of blood-spinal cord barrier-related proteins,including Occludin,Claudin 5,andβ-catenin,was significantly decreased and autophagy was significantly reduced.Additionally,the protective effects of platelet-derived growth factor could be reversed by intraperitoneal injection of 80 mg/kg chloroquine,an autophagy inhibitor,for 3 successive days prior to spinal cord injury.Our findings suggest that platelet-derived growth factor can promote endothelial cell repair by regulating autophagy,improve the function of the blood-spinal cord barrier,and promote the recovery of locomotor function post-spinal cord injury.Approval for animal experiments was obtained from the Animal Ethics Committee,Wenzhou Medical University,China(approval No.wydw2018-0043)in July 2018.展开更多
Bone is known to have a natural function to heal itself.However,if the bone damage is beyond a critical degree,intervention such as bone grafting may be imperative.In this work,the fabrication of a novel bone scaffold...Bone is known to have a natural function to heal itself.However,if the bone damage is beyond a critical degree,intervention such as bone grafting may be imperative.In this work,the fabrication of a novel bone scaffold composed of natural bone components and polycaprolactone(PCL)using 3D printing is put forward.α1,3-galactosyltransferase deficient pigs were used as the donor source of a xenograft.Decellularized porcine bone(DCB)with attenuated immunogenicity was used as the natural component of the scaffold with the aim to promote bone regeneration.The 3D printed DCB-PCL scaffolds combined essential advantages such as uniformity of the interconnected macropores and high porosity and enhanced compressive strength.The biological properties of the DCB-PCL scaffolds were evaluated by studying cell adhesion,viability,alkaline phosphatase activity and osteogenic gene expression of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.The in vitro results demonstrated that the DCB-PCL scaffolds exhibit an enhanced performance in promoting bone differentiation,which is correlated to the DCB content.Furthermore,critical-sized cranial rat defects were used to assess the effect of DCB-PCL scaffolds on bone regeneration in vivo.The results confirm that in comparison with PCL scaffolds,the DCB-PCL scaffolds can significantly improve new bone formation in cranial defects.Thus,the proposed 3D printed DCB-PCL scaffolds emerge as a promising regeneration alternative in the clinical treatment of large bone defects.展开更多
Hepatitis B-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) remains an intractable high-mortality solidtumor cancer that accounted for 42% of global HCC cases in 2019. Despite some developments in systemic therapy,only ...Hepatitis B-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) remains an intractable high-mortality solidtumor cancer that accounted for 42% of global HCC cases in 2019. Despite some developments in systemic therapy,only a small subset of late-stage HCC patients responds positively to recently developed therapeutic innovations.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as an ancillary epigenetic system that can regulate genome expression in all cancerpathways including HCC. The molecular mechanisms of miRNA regulation in cancer pathogenesis offered researchersa new approach that was widely hoped would translate into miRNA-based drugs and diagnostics. Thirty years on,miRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic agents for HCC remain a work-in-progress (WIP) and no current miRNAHCC clinical trial has progressed to Phase 4. The question remains why this is the case after 30 years and what is theway forward. The major findings and contribution of this paper are that it illustrates the complexity of the HBVmiRNA interactome in HBV-HCC in all cellular processes, as well as the ancillary role of miRNA in the epigeneticand immune systems. This is combined with a review of the outcomes and problems of clinical trials, to explain whymiRNA therapeutics and diagnostics have not progressed to approved drugs or serum-based diagnostic tests. The wayforward suggests a radical rethink might be so that involves the incorporation of AI, bioinformatics, andnanotechnology to solve the problem.展开更多
Objective:To assess and compare the relationship between spousal communication,fertility preference,and other factors with contraceptive use among married couples in Ekiti State,Nigeria.Methods:This cross-sectional st...Objective:To assess and compare the relationship between spousal communication,fertility preference,and other factors with contraceptive use among married couples in Ekiti State,Nigeria.Methods:This cross-sectional study was carried out in AdoEkiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State,Nigeria between the 12th of August 2017 and the 15th of February 2018.A pre-tested,semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 976 respondents by a multi-stage sampling technique.Data were analyzed(univariate,bivariate,and binary logistic regression analysis)using SPSS version 24.0.Factors that showed statistical significance(P<0.05)were included in a binary logistic regression to determine significant predictors of contraceptive use.Results:The proportion of respondents currently using contraceptives was 56.9%.The education status of the respondents revealed that those with primary education were more likely to use contraceptives than those without formal education[adjusted odds ratio(aOR)8.4,95%confidence interval(CI)1.97-36.2,P<0.001].Respondents with fair spousal communication were more likely to use contraceptive than those with poor communication(aOR 4.9,95%CI 2.80-8.71,P<0.001).In addition,fertility preference of 4 or less children was found to be significantly associated with contraceptive use(aOR 3.0,95%CI 1.67-5.50,P<0.001)compared to a preference of more than 4 children.Finally,the urban respondents were more likely to use contraceptives than those in the rural setting(aOR 1.7,95%CI 1.16-2.41,P=0.047).Conclusions:Educational status,residential site,spousal communication,and fertility preference significantly influence the level of contraceptive use among married couples.Couples should endeavor to discuss more on issues bordering on their fertility preference and contraceptive issue.Government should formulate policies to improve the rural uptake of contraceptives using identified target interventions.展开更多
The relationship between man and substances that have abuse potentials,and whose use has been associated with the development or progression of substance use disorders has continued to evolve in terms of geography,eco...The relationship between man and substances that have abuse potentials,and whose use has been associated with the development or progression of substance use disorders has continued to evolve in terms of geography,economic implications,and time.History shows that local plants with psychoactive constituents can get exported worldwide through global travel,commerce,or even conquest.Time and globalization also change people’s relationship with substances of abuse;hence,an area that was initially alien to certain substances might evolve to becoming a trafficking hub,and then a destination.A case in point is Africa where a rapidly increasing prevalence of substance use/abuse and substance use disorder among adolescents and young adults is putting enormous strain on the economy,healthcare system,and society at large.However,there appears to be a paucity of scientific literature and data on the epidemiology,risk assessment,and contributing factors to substance use and the development of substance use disorders across Africa.In this narrative review,we examine extant literature(PubMed,Google scholar,Medline)for information on the prevalence,trends,and influencers of substance use and the development of substance use disorders.This is with a view of understanding the determinants of substance use and factors that influence the development of substance use disorders in the region,and how this information can be channeled towards developing a comprehensive intervention and treatment program.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Adansonia(A.)digitata L on dexamethasone-induced testicular damage in male Wistar rats.Methods:Twenty adult male Wistar rats weighing 170-190 g were divided...Objective:To evaluate the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Adansonia(A.)digitata L on dexamethasone-induced testicular damage in male Wistar rats.Methods:Twenty adult male Wistar rats weighing 170-190 g were divided into four groups.GroupⅠreceived 0.5 mL of phosphate buffer orally for 28 days and served as the normal control group;groupⅡreceived 10 mg/kg of dexamethasone(a synthetic glucocorticoid)intraperitoneally for 7 days and 0.5 mL of phosphate buffer orally for 21 days,groupⅢreceived 10 mg/kg of dexamethasone for 7 days and 800 mg/kg of A.digitata extract orally for 21 days;groupⅣreceived 10 mg/kg of dexamethasone for 7 days and 300 mg/kg of vitamin-E orally for 21 days.Dexamethasone was administered intra-peritoneally for 7 days and all administration lasted for 28 days.The rats were sacrificed by anesthesia with diethyl ether and the testes of each animal were harvested.The testis was homogenized in 0.25 M sucrose at 4℃for biochemical and histological analyses.Results:Administration of dexamethasone significantly decreased body weight,glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PDH),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and glutathione peroxidase(GPx)(P<0.05),and significantly increased malondialdehyde(MDA)activities(P<0.05).The degeneration in the population of spermatogonia and vacuolation and abnormal widening of the interstitial spaces were observed in the rats treated with dexamethasone.However,administration of A.digitata significantly increased SOD,GPx,G6PDH,and LDH levels,significantly decreased MDA activities and improved the histoarchitecture of the testis(P<0.05).Conclusions:A.digitata may have an ameliorative effect on dexamethasone-induced testicular damage in Wistar rats because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.展开更多
We recently read the opinion piece titled“Why people should run after positive affective experiences instead of health benefits”,which was carried out by Maltagliati et al.^(1)and published in the Journal of Sport a...We recently read the opinion piece titled“Why people should run after positive affective experiences instead of health benefits”,which was carried out by Maltagliati et al.^(1)and published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science.The article started an important discussion about a physical activity(PA)promotion approach that encourages the use of affective experience to PA activity.Although we agree with the authors’point of view and believe that its message can generate an important insight for PA promotion,the authors presented a scenario where behavior change seems to be exclusively dependent on the individual.Recognizing the existence of other barriers to an active lifestyle(e.g.,social inequalities)could enhance the authors’suggested approach because many people live in conditions that reduce their opportunities to engage in affective experiences related to PA;furthermore,affective experiences can vary depending on individual context.展开更多
Alkaline water electrolysis provides a cost-efficient route for hydrogen production,thereby contributing to the reduction of fos-sil fuel dependence.This process involves two half-reactions-hydrogen evolution(HER)and ...Alkaline water electrolysis provides a cost-efficient route for hydrogen production,thereby contributing to the reduction of fos-sil fuel dependence.This process involves two half-reactions-hydrogen evolution(HER)and oxygen evolution reactions(OER)-both of which require efficient catalysts to overcome slug-gish kinetics.Ruthenium(Ru)has attracted considerable attention as a promising bifunctional catalyst due to its relatively low cost,hydrogen binding strength comparable to that of platinum(Pt)for HER,and OER activity approaching that of iridium(Ir)[1].Par-ticularly,downscaling Ru to the single-atom level enhances atomic utilization efficiency by leveraging unique structural characteris-tics,thus reducing overall Ru consumption.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tibetan medicine Ruyi Zhenbao Pills(RZPs)in the treatment of patients with motor and sensory dysfunction after stroke.Methods:A total of 120 convalescent stroke patient...Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tibetan medicine Ruyi Zhenbao Pills(RZPs)in the treatment of patients with motor and sensory dysfunction after stroke.Methods:A total of 120 convalescent stroke patients hospitalized in the Rehabilitation Department of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from June 2017 to December 2019 were enrolled in this trial.Patients were assigned to control(60 cases)and research(60 cases)groups by computer random assignment.All patients received internal treatment and modern rehabilitation training.On this basis,the research group was given oral RZPs for 4 weeks,while the control group was given oral placebo.The primary outcome was motor function of the affected side evaluated by simplified FuglMeyer Motion Assessment Scale(FMA-M).The secondary outcomes included sensory function,activity of daily living(ADL),quality of life,balance function,and pain,which were assessed by Fugl-Meyer Sensory Assessment Scale(FMA-S),Modified Barthel Index(MBI),Special Scale of the Quality of Life(SS-QOL),Berg Balance Scale(BBS),and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS),respectively.All of the assessments were performed before treatment,and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment.Vital signs,liver and kidney functions,routine blood test,blood coagulation profile,and routine urinalysis of patients were monitored.Results:After 4-week treatment,the FMA-M,BBS and FMA-S scores in the research group significantly increased compared with the control group(P<0.05).At 8-week follow-up,the BBS and MBI scores in the research group were higher than the control group(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups in the SS-QOL and VAS scores at 4 and 8 weeks(P>0.05).Moreover,after treatment,there was no significant difference in vital signs,liver and kidney functions,blood coagulation function,blood routine and urinalysis between the 2 groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:RZPs improved limb motor,balance,and sensory functions of stroke patients during recovery period with good safety.(Trial registration No.NCT04029701)展开更多
Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of Guihuang Formula(GHF) in treating patients with type Ⅲ prostatitis and Chinese medicine syndrome of dampness-heat and blood stasis. Methods: Sixty-six type Ⅲ prostati...Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of Guihuang Formula(GHF) in treating patients with type Ⅲ prostatitis and Chinese medicine syndrome of dampness-heat and blood stasis. Methods: Sixty-six type Ⅲ prostatitis patients with dampness-heat and blood stasis syndrome were randomly divided into the treatment group(GHF) and the control group(tamsulosin) using a random number table, with 33 cases each group. The treatment group received GHF twice a day, and the control group received tamsulosin 0.2 mg once daily before bedtime. Patients in both groups received treatment for 6 weeks and was followed up for 2 weeks. The outcomes included the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index(NIH-CPSI) score, Chinese Medicine Symptoms Score(CMSS), expressed prostatic secretions(EPS) and adverse events(AEs). Results: After treatment, the NIH-CPSI total score and domain scores of pain discomfort, urination and quality of life decreased significantly from the baseline in both groups(P<0.05). The CMSS score decreased in both groups(P<0.05). The white blood cell(WBC) count decreased and lecithin body count increased in both groups(P<0.05). GHF showed a more obvious advantage in reducing the pain discomfort and quality of life domain scores of NIH-CPSI, reducing the CMSS score, increasing the improvement rate of the WBC and lecithin body counts, compared with the control group(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in decreasing urination domain score of NIH-CPSI between two groups(P>0.05). In addition, no serious AEs were observed. Conclusion: GHF is effective in treating type Ⅲ prostatitis patients with dampness-heat and blood stasis syndrome without serious AEs.(Registration No. ChiCTR1900026966)展开更多
基金This project"Formal Safety Assessment of a Marine Seismic Survey Vessel Operation,Incorporating Risk Matrix and Fault Tree Analysis"has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 730888.
文摘In maritime safety research,risk is assessed usually within the framework of formal safety assessment(FSA),which provides a formal and systematic methodology to improve the safety of lives,assets,and the environment.A bespoke application of FSA to mitigate accidents in marine seismic surveying is put forward in this paper,with the aim of improving the safety of seismic vessel operations,within the context of developing an economically viable strategy.The work herein takes a close look at the hazards in North Sea offshore seismic surveying,in order to identify critical risk factors,leading to marine seismic survey accidents.The risk factors leading to undesirable events are analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively.A risk matrix is introduced to screen the identified undesirable events.Further to the screening,Fault Tree Analysis(FTA)is presented to investigate and analyse the most critical risks of seismic survey operation,taking into account the lack of historical data.The obtained results show that man overboard(MOB)event is a major risk factor in marine seismic survey operation;lack of training on safe work practice,slippery deck as a result of rain,snow or water splash,sea state affecting human judgement,and poor communication are identified as the critical risk contributors to the MOB event.Consequently,the risk control options are focused on the critical risk contributors for decision-making.Lastly,suggestions for the introduction and development of the FSA methodology are highlighted for safer marine and offshore operations in general.
文摘In recent years,marine pilotage accidents occurring on a worldwide basis as a result of human error have not been ceased to transpire,despite advances in technology and a significant set of international conventions,regulations,and recommendations to reduce them.This paper aims to investigate the effect of human factors on the safety of maritime pilotage operations.The human factors that affect the operators who are performing ships’berthing operations have also been examined in detail.In this study,in order to determine the causes of human-related errors occurred in maritime pilotage accidents,a comprehensive literature review is carried out,and a considerable number of real past case examples and an analysis of the maritime accident investigation reports regarding pilotage operations events that occurred between 1995 and 2015 have been reviewed.To validate the identified humanrelated risk factors(HCFs)and explore other contributory factors,survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with domain experts have been conducted.A structural hierarchy diagram for the identified risk factors(HCFs)has been developed and validated through experienced experts belonging to the maritime sector.A questionnaire for pair-wise comparison is carried out and analysed using the analytic hierarchy process(AHP)approach to evaluate the weight and rank the importance of the identified human causal factors.The findings of this study will benefit the maritime industry,by identifying a new database on causal factors that are contributing to the occurrence of maritime pilotage disasters.The database can be used as a stand-alone reference or help implement effective risk reduction strategies to reduce the human error,that might occur during pilotage operations.
基金supported by a Royal Society Research Grant(RGSR1191237)to ARsupported by a Liverpool John Moores University Faculty of Science PhD Studentship.
文摘Group living may engender conflict over food,reproduction,or other resources and individuals must be able to manage conflict for social groups to persist.Submission signals are an adaptation for establishing and maintaining social hierarchy position,allowing a subordinate individual to avoid protracted and costly aggressive interactions with dominant individuals.In the daffodil cichlid fish(Neolamprologus pulcher),subordinates may use submission signals to resolve conflicts with dominant individuals and maintain their social status within the group.The complexity of the physical environment may affect the value of submission signals compared with fleeing or avoidance,which may require certain physical features such as shelters to be effective.We investigated how the ecological context affected the expression of submission in subordinate daffodil cichlids by examining their behavior under different arrangements of the physical environment within their territories.We altered the number of shelters provided to daffodil cichlid groups and compared the interactions between dominant and subordinate individuals under each shelter condition by scoring the social and cooperative behaviors of the group members.We found that behaviors of group members were modulated by the environment:subordinates displayed fewer submission and fleeing behaviors in more structurally complex environments and dominants were more aggressive to subordinates when more shelters were present.Our results help to elucidate the role of the physical environment in the modulation of social interactions in group-living animals and may have implications for the welfare of captively housed social cichlid groups.
文摘Traditional medicine(TM)has been more popular among pregnant women worldwide and has played a significant part in maternal health-care services in many nations.Herbs,herbal preparations,and finished herbal products all contain active substances that are derived from plant parts or other plant components that are thought to have medicinal advantages.To diagnose,prevent,and treat illnesses as well as to enhance general well-being,about 80%of people use a variety of TM,including herbal remedies.A systematic search of Google Scholar and PubMed was performed utilizing an established scoping review framework by Joanna Briggs Institute from January 2012 to December 2022.A consequent title and abstract review of articles published on TM in the African context were completed.Of over 15,000 published studies identified,15 meeting the inclusion criteria were integrated into the following seven categorical themes:prevalence of TM use,source of information on TM use,reasons for use of TM,route of administration,common herbs used in pregnancy and labor,the effect of herbs used in pregnancy and labor,and predictors of use of TM.The studies reviewed were primarily in the context of an African setting on the use of TM regarding herbal medicine.Of all the articles,the highest number of studies was conducted in Zimbabwe.This review shows increased use of TM by women during pregnancy and labor with a reported prevalence rate varying from 12%to 60%.However,a decrease in use in the third trimester of pregnancy was reported.The most frequent source of information on the use of TM was from family and friends,while age,parity,education,and income were factors affecting use.In conclusion,the participants do not often disclose the use of TM during their antenatal attendance and the reason for use was accessibility and cost.Therefore,there is a need for further study on the safety and efficacy of TM use in pregnancy and labor.
文摘The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has encouraged its member countries to introduce Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) for ship operations since the end of the last century. FSA can be used through certain formal assessing steps to generate effective recommendations and cautions to control marine risks and improve the safety of ships. On the basis of the brief introduction of FSA, this paper describes the ideas of applying FSA to the prevention of human error in ship operations. It especially discusses the investigation and analysis of the information and data using navigation simulators and puts forward some suggestions for the introduction and development of the FSA research work for safer ship operations.
基金Supported by (partly) the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, No BK2007537key program of Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Public Health, No ZKX06015
文摘AIM:To evaluate tracking of magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) after intraportal transplantation.METHODS:Mononuclear cells were isolated from bone marrow aspirates of pigs by density gradient centrifugation,cultured and expanded,after which,they were incubated with super paramagnetic iron oxide(SPIO).Prussian blue staining was performed to highlight intracellular iron.To establish swine models of acute liver injury,0.5 g/kg D-galactosamine was administrated to 10 pigs,six of which were injected via their portal veins with SPIO-labeled MSCs,while the remaining four were injected with unlabeled cells.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) was performed with a clinical 1.5T MR scanner immediately before transplantation and 6 h,3 d,7 d and 14 d after transplantation.Prussian blue staining was again performed with the tissue slices at the endpoint.RESULTS:Prussian blue staining of SPIO-labeled MSCs had a labeling efficiency of almost 100%.Signal intensity loss in the liver by SPIO labeling on the FFE(T2*WI) sequence persisted until 14 d after transplantation.Histological analysis by Prussian blue staining confirmed homing of labeled MSCs in the liver after 14 d;primarily distributed in hepatic sinusoids and liver parenchyma.CONCLUSION:MSCs were successfully labeled with SPIO in vitro.MRI can monitor magnetically labeled MSCs transplanted into the liver.
基金This study was partly supported by research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81802251(to KX),81772450(to HYZ)and 81801233(to YQW)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province of China,Nos.LQ18H150003(to KX),LY19H150001(to DQC),LQ18H090011(to YQW)and LQ20C200015(to HJ)the Opening Project of Zhejiang Provincial Top Key Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences,No.YKFJ3-011(to KX).
文摘The blood-spinal cord barrier plays a vital role in recovery after spinal cord injury.The neurovascular unit concept emphasizes the relationship between nerves and vessels in the brain,while the effect of the blood-spinal cord barrier on the neurovascular unit is rarely reported in spinal cord injury studies.Mouse models of spinal cord injury were established by heavy object impact and then immediately injected with plateletderived growth factor(80μg/kg)at the injury site.Our results showed that after platelet-derived growth factor administration,spinal cord injury,neuronal apoptosis,and blood-spinal cord barrier permeability were reduced,excessive astrocyte proliferation and the autophagyrelated apoptosis signaling pathway were inhibited,collagen synthesis was increased,and mouse locomotor function was improved.In vitro,human umbilical vein endothelial cells were established by exposure to 200μM H2O2.At 2 hours prior to injury,in vitro cell models were treated with 5 ng/mL platelet-derived growth factor.Our results showed that expression of blood-spinal cord barrier-related proteins,including Occludin,Claudin 5,andβ-catenin,was significantly decreased and autophagy was significantly reduced.Additionally,the protective effects of platelet-derived growth factor could be reversed by intraperitoneal injection of 80 mg/kg chloroquine,an autophagy inhibitor,for 3 successive days prior to spinal cord injury.Our findings suggest that platelet-derived growth factor can promote endothelial cell repair by regulating autophagy,improve the function of the blood-spinal cord barrier,and promote the recovery of locomotor function post-spinal cord injury.Approval for animal experiments was obtained from the Animal Ethics Committee,Wenzhou Medical University,China(approval No.wydw2018-0043)in July 2018.
基金the financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China(81601626)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science of Foundation of China(Y20C070010)+1 种基金start-up funding from Wenzhou Institute,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences(WIUCASQD2019002)Singapore MOE Tier 1 Grant RG46/18.
文摘Bone is known to have a natural function to heal itself.However,if the bone damage is beyond a critical degree,intervention such as bone grafting may be imperative.In this work,the fabrication of a novel bone scaffold composed of natural bone components and polycaprolactone(PCL)using 3D printing is put forward.α1,3-galactosyltransferase deficient pigs were used as the donor source of a xenograft.Decellularized porcine bone(DCB)with attenuated immunogenicity was used as the natural component of the scaffold with the aim to promote bone regeneration.The 3D printed DCB-PCL scaffolds combined essential advantages such as uniformity of the interconnected macropores and high porosity and enhanced compressive strength.The biological properties of the DCB-PCL scaffolds were evaluated by studying cell adhesion,viability,alkaline phosphatase activity and osteogenic gene expression of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.The in vitro results demonstrated that the DCB-PCL scaffolds exhibit an enhanced performance in promoting bone differentiation,which is correlated to the DCB content.Furthermore,critical-sized cranial rat defects were used to assess the effect of DCB-PCL scaffolds on bone regeneration in vivo.The results confirm that in comparison with PCL scaffolds,the DCB-PCL scaffolds can significantly improve new bone formation in cranial defects.Thus,the proposed 3D printed DCB-PCL scaffolds emerge as a promising regeneration alternative in the clinical treatment of large bone defects.
文摘Hepatitis B-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) remains an intractable high-mortality solidtumor cancer that accounted for 42% of global HCC cases in 2019. Despite some developments in systemic therapy,only a small subset of late-stage HCC patients responds positively to recently developed therapeutic innovations.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as an ancillary epigenetic system that can regulate genome expression in all cancerpathways including HCC. The molecular mechanisms of miRNA regulation in cancer pathogenesis offered researchersa new approach that was widely hoped would translate into miRNA-based drugs and diagnostics. Thirty years on,miRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic agents for HCC remain a work-in-progress (WIP) and no current miRNAHCC clinical trial has progressed to Phase 4. The question remains why this is the case after 30 years and what is theway forward. The major findings and contribution of this paper are that it illustrates the complexity of the HBVmiRNA interactome in HBV-HCC in all cellular processes, as well as the ancillary role of miRNA in the epigeneticand immune systems. This is combined with a review of the outcomes and problems of clinical trials, to explain whymiRNA therapeutics and diagnostics have not progressed to approved drugs or serum-based diagnostic tests. The wayforward suggests a radical rethink might be so that involves the incorporation of AI, bioinformatics, andnanotechnology to solve the problem.
文摘Objective:To assess and compare the relationship between spousal communication,fertility preference,and other factors with contraceptive use among married couples in Ekiti State,Nigeria.Methods:This cross-sectional study was carried out in AdoEkiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State,Nigeria between the 12th of August 2017 and the 15th of February 2018.A pre-tested,semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 976 respondents by a multi-stage sampling technique.Data were analyzed(univariate,bivariate,and binary logistic regression analysis)using SPSS version 24.0.Factors that showed statistical significance(P<0.05)were included in a binary logistic regression to determine significant predictors of contraceptive use.Results:The proportion of respondents currently using contraceptives was 56.9%.The education status of the respondents revealed that those with primary education were more likely to use contraceptives than those without formal education[adjusted odds ratio(aOR)8.4,95%confidence interval(CI)1.97-36.2,P<0.001].Respondents with fair spousal communication were more likely to use contraceptive than those with poor communication(aOR 4.9,95%CI 2.80-8.71,P<0.001).In addition,fertility preference of 4 or less children was found to be significantly associated with contraceptive use(aOR 3.0,95%CI 1.67-5.50,P<0.001)compared to a preference of more than 4 children.Finally,the urban respondents were more likely to use contraceptives than those in the rural setting(aOR 1.7,95%CI 1.16-2.41,P=0.047).Conclusions:Educational status,residential site,spousal communication,and fertility preference significantly influence the level of contraceptive use among married couples.Couples should endeavor to discuss more on issues bordering on their fertility preference and contraceptive issue.Government should formulate policies to improve the rural uptake of contraceptives using identified target interventions.
文摘The relationship between man and substances that have abuse potentials,and whose use has been associated with the development or progression of substance use disorders has continued to evolve in terms of geography,economic implications,and time.History shows that local plants with psychoactive constituents can get exported worldwide through global travel,commerce,or even conquest.Time and globalization also change people’s relationship with substances of abuse;hence,an area that was initially alien to certain substances might evolve to becoming a trafficking hub,and then a destination.A case in point is Africa where a rapidly increasing prevalence of substance use/abuse and substance use disorder among adolescents and young adults is putting enormous strain on the economy,healthcare system,and society at large.However,there appears to be a paucity of scientific literature and data on the epidemiology,risk assessment,and contributing factors to substance use and the development of substance use disorders across Africa.In this narrative review,we examine extant literature(PubMed,Google scholar,Medline)for information on the prevalence,trends,and influencers of substance use and the development of substance use disorders.This is with a view of understanding the determinants of substance use and factors that influence the development of substance use disorders in the region,and how this information can be channeled towards developing a comprehensive intervention and treatment program.
文摘Objective:To evaluate the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Adansonia(A.)digitata L on dexamethasone-induced testicular damage in male Wistar rats.Methods:Twenty adult male Wistar rats weighing 170-190 g were divided into four groups.GroupⅠreceived 0.5 mL of phosphate buffer orally for 28 days and served as the normal control group;groupⅡreceived 10 mg/kg of dexamethasone(a synthetic glucocorticoid)intraperitoneally for 7 days and 0.5 mL of phosphate buffer orally for 21 days,groupⅢreceived 10 mg/kg of dexamethasone for 7 days and 800 mg/kg of A.digitata extract orally for 21 days;groupⅣreceived 10 mg/kg of dexamethasone for 7 days and 300 mg/kg of vitamin-E orally for 21 days.Dexamethasone was administered intra-peritoneally for 7 days and all administration lasted for 28 days.The rats were sacrificed by anesthesia with diethyl ether and the testes of each animal were harvested.The testis was homogenized in 0.25 M sucrose at 4℃for biochemical and histological analyses.Results:Administration of dexamethasone significantly decreased body weight,glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PDH),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and glutathione peroxidase(GPx)(P<0.05),and significantly increased malondialdehyde(MDA)activities(P<0.05).The degeneration in the population of spermatogonia and vacuolation and abnormal widening of the interstitial spaces were observed in the rats treated with dexamethasone.However,administration of A.digitata significantly increased SOD,GPx,G6PDH,and LDH levels,significantly decreased MDA activities and improved the histoarchitecture of the testis(P<0.05).Conclusions:A.digitata may have an ameliorative effect on dexamethasone-induced testicular damage in Wistar rats because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
基金supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) with a PhD scholarship (CAPES process:88887.605034/2021-00)a Research Internship Abroad scholarship (CAPES process:88881.846428/2023-01)+1 种基金supported by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) with a PhD scholarship (process:2019/24124-7)a Research Internship Abroad scholarship (process:2023/00790-3)
文摘We recently read the opinion piece titled“Why people should run after positive affective experiences instead of health benefits”,which was carried out by Maltagliati et al.^(1)and published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science.The article started an important discussion about a physical activity(PA)promotion approach that encourages the use of affective experience to PA activity.Although we agree with the authors’point of view and believe that its message can generate an important insight for PA promotion,the authors presented a scenario where behavior change seems to be exclusively dependent on the individual.Recognizing the existence of other barriers to an active lifestyle(e.g.,social inequalities)could enhance the authors’suggested approach because many people live in conditions that reduce their opportunities to engage in affective experiences related to PA;furthermore,affective experiences can vary depending on individual context.
基金supported by the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation,China(ZR2023LFG005,ZR2023MB122,and ZR2019PEM001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22138013,52301279 and 51901115)+2 种基金the Outstanding Youth Innovation Team of Universities in Shandong Province(2024KJH067)the Taishan Scholar Project(ts201712020)the Innovation fund project for graduate student of China Univer-sity of Petroleum(East China)supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(23CX04010A).
文摘Alkaline water electrolysis provides a cost-efficient route for hydrogen production,thereby contributing to the reduction of fos-sil fuel dependence.This process involves two half-reactions-hydrogen evolution(HER)and oxygen evolution reactions(OER)-both of which require efficient catalysts to overcome slug-gish kinetics.Ruthenium(Ru)has attracted considerable attention as a promising bifunctional catalyst due to its relatively low cost,hydrogen binding strength comparable to that of platinum(Pt)for HER,and OER activity approaching that of iridium(Ir)[1].Par-ticularly,downscaling Ru to the single-atom level enhances atomic utilization efficiency by leveraging unique structural characteris-tics,thus reducing overall Ru consumption.
基金Supported by SHEN Bao-fan Academic Experience Inheritance Studio of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine。
文摘Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tibetan medicine Ruyi Zhenbao Pills(RZPs)in the treatment of patients with motor and sensory dysfunction after stroke.Methods:A total of 120 convalescent stroke patients hospitalized in the Rehabilitation Department of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from June 2017 to December 2019 were enrolled in this trial.Patients were assigned to control(60 cases)and research(60 cases)groups by computer random assignment.All patients received internal treatment and modern rehabilitation training.On this basis,the research group was given oral RZPs for 4 weeks,while the control group was given oral placebo.The primary outcome was motor function of the affected side evaluated by simplified FuglMeyer Motion Assessment Scale(FMA-M).The secondary outcomes included sensory function,activity of daily living(ADL),quality of life,balance function,and pain,which were assessed by Fugl-Meyer Sensory Assessment Scale(FMA-S),Modified Barthel Index(MBI),Special Scale of the Quality of Life(SS-QOL),Berg Balance Scale(BBS),and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS),respectively.All of the assessments were performed before treatment,and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment.Vital signs,liver and kidney functions,routine blood test,blood coagulation profile,and routine urinalysis of patients were monitored.Results:After 4-week treatment,the FMA-M,BBS and FMA-S scores in the research group significantly increased compared with the control group(P<0.05).At 8-week follow-up,the BBS and MBI scores in the research group were higher than the control group(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups in the SS-QOL and VAS scores at 4 and 8 weeks(P>0.05).Moreover,after treatment,there was no significant difference in vital signs,liver and kidney functions,blood coagulation function,blood routine and urinalysis between the 2 groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:RZPs improved limb motor,balance,and sensory functions of stroke patients during recovery period with good safety.(Trial registration No.NCT04029701)
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.82104880)Scientific and Technological Innovation Project of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (No.CI2021A02208)the Nursery Project of Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (No.2019XYMP-23)。
文摘Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of Guihuang Formula(GHF) in treating patients with type Ⅲ prostatitis and Chinese medicine syndrome of dampness-heat and blood stasis. Methods: Sixty-six type Ⅲ prostatitis patients with dampness-heat and blood stasis syndrome were randomly divided into the treatment group(GHF) and the control group(tamsulosin) using a random number table, with 33 cases each group. The treatment group received GHF twice a day, and the control group received tamsulosin 0.2 mg once daily before bedtime. Patients in both groups received treatment for 6 weeks and was followed up for 2 weeks. The outcomes included the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index(NIH-CPSI) score, Chinese Medicine Symptoms Score(CMSS), expressed prostatic secretions(EPS) and adverse events(AEs). Results: After treatment, the NIH-CPSI total score and domain scores of pain discomfort, urination and quality of life decreased significantly from the baseline in both groups(P<0.05). The CMSS score decreased in both groups(P<0.05). The white blood cell(WBC) count decreased and lecithin body count increased in both groups(P<0.05). GHF showed a more obvious advantage in reducing the pain discomfort and quality of life domain scores of NIH-CPSI, reducing the CMSS score, increasing the improvement rate of the WBC and lecithin body counts, compared with the control group(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in decreasing urination domain score of NIH-CPSI between two groups(P>0.05). In addition, no serious AEs were observed. Conclusion: GHF is effective in treating type Ⅲ prostatitis patients with dampness-heat and blood stasis syndrome without serious AEs.(Registration No. ChiCTR1900026966)
