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- Brady, MC, et al.
(författare)
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Precision rehabilitation for aphasia by patient age, sex, aphasia severity, and time since stroke? A prespecified, systematic review-based, individual participant data, network, subgroup meta-analysis
- 2022
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Ingår i: International journal of stroke : official journal of the International Stroke Society. - : SAGE Publications. - 1747-4949. ; 17:10, s. 1067-1077
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stroke rehabilitation interventions are routinely personalized to address individuals’ needs, goals, and challenges based on evidence from aggregated randomized controlled trials (RCT) data and meta-syntheses. Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analyses may better inform the development of precision rehabilitation approaches, quantifying treatment responses while adjusting for confounders and reducing ecological bias. Aim: We explored associations between speech and language therapy (SLT) interventions frequency (days/week), intensity (h/week), and dosage (total SLT-hours) and language outcomes for different age, sex, aphasia severity, and chronicity subgroups by undertaking prespecified subgroup network meta-analyses of the RELEASE database. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and trial registrations were systematically searched (inception-Sept2015) for RCTs, including ⩾ 10 IPD on stroke-related aphasia. We extracted demographic, stroke, aphasia, SLT, and risk of bias data. Overall-language ability, auditory comprehension, and functional communication outcomes were standardized. A one-stage, random effects, network meta-analysis approach filtered IPD into a single optimal model, examining SLT regimen and language recovery from baseline to first post-intervention follow-up, adjusting for covariates identified a-priori. Data were dichotomized by age (⩽/> 65 years), aphasia severity (mild–moderate/ moderate–severe based on language outcomes’ median value), chronicity (⩽/> 3 months), and sex subgroups. We reported estimates of means and 95% confidence intervals. Where relative variance was high (> 50%), results were reported for completeness. Results: 959 IPD (25 RCTs) were analyzed. For working-age participants, greatest language gains from baseline occurred alongside moderate to high-intensity SLT (functional communication 3-to-4 h/week; overall-language and comprehension > 9 h/week); older participants’ greatest gains occurred alongside low-intensity SLT (⩽ 2 h/week) except for auditory comprehension (> 9 h/week). For both age-groups, SLT-frequency and dosage associated with best language gains were similar. Participants ⩽ 3 months post-onset demonstrated greatest overall-language gains for SLT at low intensity/moderate dosage (⩽ 2 SLT-h/week; 20-to-50 h); for those > 3 months, post-stroke greatest gains were associated with moderate-intensity/high-dosage SLT (3–4 SLT-h/week; ⩾ 50 hours). For moderate–severe participants, 4 SLT-days/week conferred the greatest language gains across outcomes, with auditory comprehension gains only observed for ⩾ 4 SLT-days/week; mild–moderate participants’ greatest functional communication gains were associated with similar frequency (⩾ 4 SLT-days/week) and greatest overall-language gains with higher frequency SLT (⩾ 6 days/weekly). Males’ greatest gains were associated with SLT of moderate (functional communication; 3-to-4 h/weekly) or high intensity (overall-language and auditory comprehension; (> 9 h/weekly) compared to females for whom the greatest gains were associated with lower-intensity SLT (< 2 SLT-h/weekly). Consistencies across subgroups were also evident; greatest overall-language gains were associated with 20-to-50 SLT-h in total; auditory comprehension gains were generally observed when SLT > 9 h over ⩾ 4 days/week. Conclusions: We observed a treatment response in most subgroups’ overall-language, auditory comprehension, and functional communication language gains. For some, the maximum treatment response varied in association with different SLT-frequency, intensity, and dosage. Where differences were observed, working-aged, chronic, mild–moderate, and male subgroups experienced their greatest language gains alongside high-frequency/intensity SLT. In contrast, older, moderate–severely impaired, and female subgroups within 3 months of aphasia onset made their greatest gains for lower-intensity SLT. The acceptability, clinical, and cost effectiveness of precision aphasia rehabilitation approaches based on age, sex, aphasia severity, and chronicity should be evaluated in future clinical RCTs.
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- Ruppel, M. M., et al.
(författare)
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Organic Compounds, Radiocarbon, Trace Elements and Atmospheric Transport Illuminating Sources of Elemental Carbon in a 300-Year Svalbard Ice Core
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres. - 2169-897X .- 2169-8996. ; 128:16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Black carbon (BC) particles produced by incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels warm the atmosphere and decrease the reflectivity of snow and ice, hastening their melt. Although the significance of BC in Arctic climate change is widely acknowledged, observations on its deposition and sources are few. We present BC source types in a 300-year (1700-2005) Svalbard ice core by analysis of particle-bound organic compounds, radiocarbon, and trace elements. According to the radiocarbon results, 58% of the deposited elemental carbon (EC, thermal-optical proxy of BC) is of non-fossil origin throughout the record, while the organic compounds suggest a higher percentage (68%). The contribution of fossil fuels to EC is suggested to have been elevated between 1860 and 1920, particularly based on the organics and trace element data. A second increase in fossil fuel sources seems to have occurred near the end of the record: according to radiocarbon measurements between 1960 and 1990, while the organics and trace element data suggest that the contribution of fossil fuels has increased since the 1970s to the end of the record, along with observed increasing EC deposition. Modeled atmospheric transport between 1948 and 2004 shows that increasing EC deposition observed at the glacier during that period can be associated with increased atmospheric transport from Far East Asia. Further observational BC source data are essential to help target climate change mitigation efforts. The combination of robust radiocarbon with organic compound analyses requiring low sample amounts seems a promising approach for comprehensive Arctic BC source apportionment.
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- El-Aarag, Bishoy, et al.
(författare)
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New metal complexes derived from diacetylmonoxime-n(4)antipyrinylthiosemicarbazone : Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of antitumor activity against Ehrlich solid tumors induced in mice
- 2021
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Ingår i: Arabian Journal of Chemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 1878-5352 .- 1878-5379. ; 14:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study aimed to synthesize new metal complexes of diacetylmonoxime-N(4)antipyrinylthiosemicarbazone ligand and evaluate their antitumor activity. New complexes with ferric, cobalt, nickel and copper ions were prepared. Elemental, 1H Nuclear magnetic resonance, Mass spectroscopy, Electron paramagnetic resonance, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Ultraviolet–visible and thermal gravimetric analysis were used to characterize the obtained complexes 1–11. An in vivo tumor model was established to investigate the effect of the naked ligand and its metal complexes 2, 5 and 8. Ehrlich ascites carcinoma solid tumor was induced in mice through subcutaneous inoculation of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. The volumes of the formed solid tumors, the alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, albumin concentration in the serum, as well as the levels of Ki67 and p53 proteins in tumor and liver tissues were detected. All the tested complexes, especially complex 5, possessed proliferative inhibition manifested as the reduction of the tumor volume, Alanine aminotransferase & Aspartate aminotransferase activity, and the level of the Ki67 protein. Additionally, they restored the albumin concentration to normal levels as well increased the level of pro-apoptotic p53 protein. In conclusion, the antitumor activity of the newly synthesized metal complexes against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma solid tumors was proved to be mediated by the inhibition of Ki67 and induction of p53 proteins.
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- Eldeeb, Tarek M., et al.
(författare)
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Novel three-dimensional chitosan-carbon nanotube–PVA nanocomposite hydrogel for removal of Cr6+ from wastewater
- 2020
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Ingår i: Desalination and Water Treatment. - : Desalination Publications. - 1944-3994. ; 184, s. 163-177
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A novel hybrid nanocomposite adsorbent was prepared by encapsulation of multi-walled carbon nano-tubes within polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan hydrogel (Cs/MWCNT/PVA) and cross-linked with glu-taraldehyde. The chemical reactions between the components affected the position and intensities of the infrared bands. This nanocomposite has excellent Cr6+ ions adsorption efficiency. The optimal conditions of the process as a function of the solution pH, contact time, ionic strength, and sorbent weight were investigated. The batch equilibrium experiments revealed that the most suitable pH for chromium adsorption was at 1.5. The maximum adsorption capacity for the hydrogel was 217.4 mg g–1 as estimated by the Langmuir model. Other isotherm models, such as Freundlich and Temkin, were used to analyze the experimental data and the models’ parameters were evaluated. The pseudo-first and second-order, Elovich, intraparticle diffusion, and film diffusion kinetic models were also inves-tigated. The obtained results enabled to estimate the possibility to use the Cs/MWCNT/PVA hydrogel in the removal of Cr6+ ions from wastewater by adsorption.
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- Megzari, Abdelmoujib, et al.
(författare)
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Applications, challenges, and solutions to single- and multi-objective critical node detection problems : a survey
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Supercomputing. - : Springer Nature. - 0920-8542 .- 1573-0484. ; 79:17, s. 19770-19808
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recognizing critical nodes in complex networks has emerged as a challenging task across several application areas. The critical node detection problem (CNDP) is an optimization challenge that entails determining the subset of nodes whose removal adversely affects network connectivity and performance based on certain predetermined criteria. The problem of recognizing critical nodes has received significant consideration since it is a vital challenge in a multitude of application areas. As a result, many variants have been proposed on the basis of numerous metrics. In this survey, we discuss different applications, challenges, and solutions to single- and multi-objective CNDP. We review and classify different recent advancements and obtained outcomes for each variant, proposed from 2017 to 2022. To our best knowledge, this is the first survey on the heuristic optimization-based solutions for CNDP that have been developed in recent years. This study also provides researchers with future insight into filling gaps in the critical nodes research field and identifying emerging research trends in this area.
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- Salman, Muhammad, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of Conspiracy Beliefs, Vaccine Hesitancy, and Willingness to Pay towards COVID-19 Vaccines in Six Countries from Asian and African Regions : A Large Multinational Analysis
- 2022
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Ingår i: Vaccines. - : MDPI. - 2076-393X. ; 10:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vaccination protects people from serious illness and associated complications. Conspiracy theories and misinformation on vaccines have been rampant during the COVID-19 pandemic and are considered significant drivers of vaccine hesitancy. Since vaccine hesitancy can undermine efforts to immunize the population against COVID-19 and interferes with the vaccination rate, this study aimed to ascertain the COVID-19-vaccine-related conspiracy beliefs, vaccine hesitancy, views regarding vaccine mandates, and willingness to pay for vaccines among the general population. A web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted (April-August 2021) among the adult population in six countries (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, India, Malaysia, Sudan, and Egypt). Participants were recruited using an exponential, non-discriminate snowball sampling method. A validated self-completed electronic questionnaire was used for the data collection. All the participants responded to questions on various domains of the study instrument, including conspiracy beliefs, vaccine hesitancy, and willingness to pay. The responses were scored according to predefined criteria and stratified into various groups. All data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22. A total of 2481 responses were included in the study (Pakistan 24.1%, Saudi Arabia 19.5%, India 11.6%, Malaysia 8.1%, Sudan 19.3%, and Egypt 17.3%). There was a preponderance of participants <= 40 years old (18-25 years: 55.8%, 26-40 years: 28.5%) and females (57.1%). The average score of the COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy belief scale (C19V-CBS) was 2.30 +/- 2.12 (median 2; range 0-7). Our analysis showed that 30% of the respondents were found to achieve the ideal score of zero, indicating no conspiracy belief. The mean score of the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale (C19V-HS) was 25.93 +/- 8.11 (range: 10-50). The majority (45.7%) had C19V-HA scores of 21-30 and nearly 28% achieved a score greater than 30, indicating a higher degree of hesitancy. There was a significant positive correlation between conspiracy beliefs and vaccine hesitancy (Spearman's rho = 0.547, p < 0.001). Half of the study population were against the vaccine mandate. Respondents in favor of governmental enforcement of COVID-19 vaccines had significantly (p < 0.001) lower scores on the C19V-CBS and C19V-HS scale. Nearly 52% reported that they would only take vaccine if it were free, and only 24% were willing to pay for COVID-19 vaccines. A high prevalence of conspiracy beliefs and vaccine hesitancy was observed in the targeted countries. Our findings highlight the dire need for aggressive measures to counter the conspiracy beliefs and factors underlying this vaccine hesitancy.
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