The Impact of COVID-19 on Online Consumer Behavior for Sports Equipment: A Trend Analysis

This article proposes to examines how internet shopping for sports equipment changed during and after the COVID-19 outbreak in the UK. The goal of the study is to comprehend how the pandemic affected consumer behavior in relation to purchasing of sporting goods. Using Google search data for phrases related to sporting goods, the study looks for patterns and changes in customer interest over time. According to our findings, there were considerable shifts in the sports equipment search trends both during and after the epidemic, with a noticeable rise in searches for terms like home gym, fitness equipment, and fitness app, among others. According to the analysis, pandemic-related lockdowns and gym closures were the main causes of the rise in sports gear and fitness-related searches. The survey sheds light on how customers shop online, emphasizing the significance of the home gym trend as a reaction to the closing of conventional gyms and the demand for at-home fitness options. By offering insights into the changing customer behavior during a pandemic, this study adds novelty to the field of sports equipment sales. In their quest to comprehend shifts in customer behavior and modify their strategies in light of such shifts, marketers, corporations, and legislators may find the findings to have major practical ramifications. The research also gives prospects for future studies, such as the comparison of the results with other regions or the discovery of specific elements that influence consumer behavior in this setting

Ultra Deep Wave Equation Imaging and Illumination

In this project we developed and tested a novel technology, designed to enhance seismic resolution and imaging of ultra-deep complex geologic structures by using state-of-the-art wave-equation depth migration and wave-equation velocity model building technology for deeper data penetration and recovery, steeper dip and ultra-deep structure imaging, accurate velocity estimation for imaging and pore pressure prediction and accurate illumination and amplitude processing for extending the AVO prediction window. Ultra-deep wave-equation imaging provides greater resolution and accuracy under complex geologic structures where energy multipathing occurs, than what can be accomplished today with standard imaging technology. The objective of the research effort was to examine the feasibility of imaging ultra-deep structures onshore and offshore, by using (1) wave-equation migration, (2) angle-gathers velocity model building, and (3) wave-equation illumination and amplitude compensation. The effort consisted of answering critical technical questions that determine the feasibility of the proposed methodology, testing the theory on synthetic data, and finally applying the technology for imaging ultra-deep real data. Some of the questions answered by this research addressed: (1) the handling of true amplitudes in the downward continuation and imaging algorithm and the preservation of the amplitude with offset or amplitude with angle information required for AVO studies, (2) the effect of several imaging conditions on amplitudes, (3) non-elastic attenuation and approaches for recovering the amplitude and frequency, (4) the effect of aperture and illumination on imaging steep dips and on discriminating the velocities in the ultra-deep structures. All these effects were incorporated in the final imaging step of a real data set acquired specifically to address ultra-deep imaging issues, with large offsets (12,500 m) and long recording time (20 s)

Diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties in parotid tumor pathology – comments on a clinical case

Introduction. The parotid gland, the largest salivary gland, can be the site of various pathology. Any swelling located in the parotid gland requires thorough investigations. Symptoms usually include a painless, unilateral tumor, with a slow evolution. Histology establishes the therapeutic plan. Case presentation. We present the case of a 60 years-old patient, known with a tumoral mass in the parotid region for 3 years, who came to our clinic for a history of 3 months persistent dysphonia. Endoscopic laryngoscopy revealed a tumoral mass occupying two thirds of the right vocal cord, covered in keratin plates, with normal mobility of both vocal cords. From the patient’s record, we note an ultrasound fine needle aspiration biopsy, performed at the onset of the parotid tumoral mass, which did not reveal any malignancy criteria. Conclusions. Differential diagnosis for parotid gland pathology must include inflammatory, infectious and tumoral conditions. A complete set of investigations must be performed in order to establish the therapeutic approach. Treatment, depending on the histological type of the tumor, is commonly surgical and can be followed by radiotherapy and in some cases, chemotherapy

Endoscopic laser cordotomy for bilateral recurrent paralysis – comments on a clinical case

Introduction. Bilateral recurrent paralysis treatment has changed in the last decades as various procedures have been developed in order to superiorly preserve the functions of the larynx. For life-threatening situations tracheotomy remains the treatment of choice. Case presentation. In this article we present the case of a 64 year-old patient, known with bilateral recurrent paralysis, who presented to our clinic with mild to moderate inspiratory dyspnea on effort. The endoscopic examination revealed the vocal folds in paramedian position, with a respiratory space reduced by 80%. We performed an endoscopic posterior cordotomy, also known as Kashima procedure. Conclusions. Kashima procedure or endoscopic laser posterior cordotomy is a preferred technique with better long term outcomes. It prevents the necessity of tracheotomy and improves the quality of life of the patient, by both widening the airway and preserving phonation

Systemic immune-inflammation index predicts the clinical outcome in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer treated with sunitinib.

Background: In this retrospective analysis, we explored the prognostic and predictive value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), based on lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts, at baseline and changes at week 6 during first-line sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC).Results: Patients were stratified into high SII (? 730) and low SII (< 730) groups. SII was associated with objective response, p < 0.0001. The median PFS was 6.3 months (95% CI 5.5–8.9) in patients with SII ? 730 and 18.7 months (95% CI 14.7–22.8) in those with SII < 730, p < 0.0001. The median OS was 43.6 months (95% CI 35.3–52.1) in patients with SII < 730, and 13.5 months (95% CI 9.8–18.5) in those with SII ? 730, p < 0.0001. In multivariate analysis, performance status, IMDC score and SII were able to predict OS (HR = 3.29, HR = 1.71 and HR = 1.79, respectively).Materials and Methods: We included 335 consecutive RCC patients treated with first-line sunitinib. The X-tile 3.6.1 software (Yale University, New Haven, CT) was used for bioinformatic analysis of the data to determine the cutoff value of SII. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared with logrank test. The impact of SII conversion at week 6 of treatment on PFS and OS was evaluated by Cox regression analyses.Conclusions: The SII and its changes during treatment represent a powerful prognostic indicator of clinical outcome in patients with metastatic RCC

Archaeometrical Characterization of Romanian Late Bronze Age Ceramic Fragments

Knowledge of the past can provide information to protect the future and the potential of the technological development in the analytical sciences can be successfully applied for the study and conservation of cultural objects. In this context, in the present paper we propose an analytical methodology to characterize seven samples of ancient ceramic objects (dating to the Late Bronze Age). The samples were analyzed using optical microscopy, and all the samples presented a strong inhomogeneity on the surface, as suggested by the different colors of the ceramics. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) results reveal a relatively heterogenous composition of the samples, as well as strong differences between the different surfaces of each sample. By comparative analysis of the diffractograms recorded for both sides of the same samples were observed some differences, especially in terms of relative concentration of the component minerals, and, in lesser content, in terms of new phases present in the samples. Corroborated results obtained by XRF and X-ray diffraction (XRD) offered information regarding mineralogical composition of the samples: for some of them illite/muscovite and plagioclase phases are present in higher quantities or a lower quartz content. The presence of these components was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The thermal analysis completes the analytical investigation of the ceramic samples. The thermal behavior of the sample conducted to some explanation regarding the observed differences, due to the raw materials (that the major clay mineral in the samples is represented by illite) or to environmental factors during their burial in the soil

INfluenza Vaccine Indication During therapy with Immune checkpoint inhibitors: a transversal challenge. The INVIDIa study

Aim: Considering the unmet need for the counseling of cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (CKI) about influenza vaccination, an explorative study was planned to assess flu vaccine efficacy in this population. Methods: INVIDIa was a retrospective, multicenter study, enrolling consecutive advanced cancer outpatients receiving CKI during the influenza season 2016-2017. Results: Of 300 patients, 79 received flu vaccine. The incidence of influenza syndrome was 24.1% among vaccinated, versus 11.8% of controls; odds ratio: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.23-4.59; p = 0.009. The clinical ineffectiveness of vaccine was more pronounced among elderly: 37.8% among vaccinated patients, versus 6.1% of unvaccinated, odds ratio: 9.28; 95% CI: 2.77-31.14; p < 0.0001. Conclusion: Although influenza vaccine may be clinically ineffective in advanced cancer patients receiving CKI, it seems not to negatively impact the efficacy of anticancer therapy

The Use of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra Testing for Early Diagnosis of Tuberculosis: A Retrospective Study from a Single-Center Database

Tuberculosis (TB) is a multisystemic contagious disease produced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacteria (MTBC), with a prevalence of 65:100,000 inhabitants in Romania (six times higher than the European average). The diagnosis usually relies on the detection of MTBC in culture. Although this is a sensitive method of detection and remains the “gold standard”, the results are obtained after several weeks. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), being a quick and sensitive method, represent progress in the diagnosis of TB. The aim of this study is to assess the assumption that NAAT using Xpert MTB/RIF is an efficient method of TB diagnosis and has the capacity to reduce false-positive results. Pathological samples from 862 patients with TB suspicion were tested using microscopic examination, molecular testing and bacterial culture. The results show that the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra test has a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 96.4% compared with 54.8% sensitivity and 99.5% specificity for Ziehl–Neelsen stain microscopy, and an average of 30 days gained in the diagnosis of TB compared with bacterial culture. The implementation of molecular testing in TB laboratories leads to an important increase in early diagnostics of the disease and the prompter isolation and treatment of infected patients

Obtaining and conductive properties of a vanadate-borate-phosphate glass

Abstract Vanadate glasses exhibit semiconducting property at certain temperatures. This work demonstrates the conductivity of the composition 45V2O5–25B2O3–30P2O5, which is a new glass in the vanadium-boron-phosphorus ternary system that expands the glass forming area reported in literature data. The glass was obtained through a classical melt-quenching technique. The structural composition of the obtained glass was revealed with Raman spectroscopy and the amorphous characteristic has been highlighted with X-ray diffraction. The characteristic temperatures and the thermal expansion coefficient were determined by dilatometry. Based on the experimental measurements of electrical resistance, mathematical calculations were performed, resulting in a conductivity of 2.04·10−6 S/cm at 125 °C, and an activation energy of 42.91 kJ/mol for this glass. Impedance spectroscopy in DC and AC at 100 V and 100 Hz to 2 MHz, respectively, showed a lower activation energy of about 0.166 eV and transition temperatures of 24 °C and 11 °C, respectively. These results were compared with those from the literature considering the temperatures at which the reported conductivities were measured. This glass has potential applications in electronic devices and temperature sensors