A high-order nonlinear Schrödinger equation with the weak non-local nonlinearity and its optical solitons

Abstract The present paper explores a high-order nonlinear Schrodinger equation in a non-Kerr law media with the weak non-local nonlinearity describing solitons' propagation through nonlinear optical fibers. To this end, the real and imaginary parts of the model are firstly extracted using a wave variable transformation. The modified Kudryashov method and symbolic computations are then adopted to successfully retrieve optical solitons of the model. The results presented in the current study demonstrate the great performance of the modified Kudryashov method in handling high-order nonlinear Schrodinger equations

Toward the existence and uniqueness of solutions for fractional integro-differential equations under uncertainty

The main contribution of the current paper is to obtain new results on the existence and uniqueness of the solution of fractional integro-differential equations under uncertainty with nonlocal conditions. For this purpose, we have used two basic tools, the contraction mapping principle and Krasnoselskii's fixed-point theorem. Indeed, we have considered the original problem involving fuzzy Caputo differentiability, together with fuzzy nonlinear condition

The behavior of logistic equation with alley effect in fuzzy environment: fuzzy differential equation approach

In this paper a fuzzy logistic equation with alley effect is introduced by considering some parameter as fuzzy numbers. Due to presence of the fuzzy number the corresponding differential equation in logistic equation model with alley effect becomes fuzzy differential equation. Considering generalized Hukuhara derivative approach the fuzzy logistic equation converted to system of two crisp differential equations. We obtain the conditions of stability criterion for different cases. Different numerical examples are given to support our work

Prevalence and Correlates of Hepatitis C Infection among Male Injection Drug Users in Detention, Tehran, Iran

For the benefit of planning for the future care and treatment of people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to help guide prevention and control programs, data are needed on HCV seroprevalence and associated risk factors. We conducted a cross-sectional sero-behavioral survey of injection drug users (IDU) detained for mandatory rehabilitation during a police sweep of Tehran, Iran, in early 2006. During the study period, a consecutive sample comprising 454 of 499 (91.0%) men arrested and determined to be IDU by urine test and physical examination consented to a face-to-face interview and blood collection for HCV antibody testing. Overall, HCV prevalence was 80.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 76.2–83.6). Factors independently associated with HCV infection included history of incarceration (adjusted OR 4.35, 95% CI 1.88–10.08), age of first injection ≤25 years (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.09–6.82), and history of tattooing (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.05–5.17). HCV prevalence in this population of IDU upon intake to jail was extremely high and possibly approaching saturation. Findings support that incarceration is contributing to the increased spread of HCV infection in Iran and calls for urgent increased availability of HCV treatment, long-term preparation for the care of complications of chronic infection, and rapid scale-up of programs for the primary prevention of parenterally transmitted infections among drug users

Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990–2017 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Health system planning requires careful assessment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemiology, but data for morbidity and mortality of this disease are scarce or non-existent in many countries. We estimated the global, regional, and national burden of CKD, as well as the burden of cardiovascular disease and gout attributable to impaired kidney function, for the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017. We use the term CKD to refer to the morbidity and mortality that can be directly attributed to all stages of CKD, and we use the term impaired kidney function to refer to the additional risk of CKD from cardiovascular disease and gout. Methods The main data sources we used were published literature, vital registration systems, end-stage kidney disease registries, and household surveys. Estimates of CKD burden were produced using a Cause of Death Ensemble model and a Bayesian meta-regression analytical tool, and included incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability, mortality, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). A comparative risk assessment approach was used to estimate the proportion of cardiovascular diseases and gout burden attributable to impaired kidney function. Findings Globally, in 2017, 1·2 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·2 to 1·3) people died from CKD. The global all-age mortality rate from CKD increased 41·5% (95% UI 35·2 to 46·5) between 1990 and 2017, although there was no significant change in the age-standardised mortality rate (2·8%, −1·5 to 6·3). In 2017, 697·5 million (95% UI 649·2 to 752·0) cases of all-stage CKD were recorded, for a global prevalence of 9·1% (8·5 to 9·8). The global all-age prevalence of CKD increased 29·3% (95% UI 26·4 to 32·6) since 1990, whereas the age-standardised prevalence remained stable (1·2%, −1·1 to 3·5). CKD resulted in 35·8 million (95% UI 33·7 to 38·0) DALYs in 2017, with diabetic nephropathy accounting for almost a third of DALYs. Most of the burden of CKD was concentrated in the three lowest quintiles of Socio-demographic Index (SDI). In several regions, particularly Oceania, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, the burden of CKD was much higher than expected for the level of development, whereas the disease burden in western, eastern, and central sub-Saharan Africa, east Asia, south Asia, central and eastern Europe, Australasia, and western Europe was lower than expected. 1·4 million (95% UI 1·2 to 1·6) cardiovascular disease-related deaths and 25·3 million (22·2 to 28·9) cardiovascular disease DALYs were attributable to impaired kidney function. Interpretation Kidney disease has a major effect on global health, both as a direct cause of global morbidity and mortality and as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. CKD is largely preventable and treatable and deserves greater attention in global health policy decision making, particularly in locations with low and middle SDI

Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-Adjusted life-years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2017 : A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study

Importance: Cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now widely recognized as a threat to global development. The latest United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs reaffirmed this observation and also highlighted the slow progress in meeting the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the third Sustainable Development Goal. Lack of situational analyses, priority setting, and budgeting have been identified as major obstacles in achieving these goals. All of these have in common that they require information on the local cancer epidemiology. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is uniquely poised to provide these crucial data. Objective: To describe cancer burden for 29 cancer groups in 195 countries from 1990 through 2017 to provide data needed for cancer control planning. Evidence Review: We used the GBD study estimation methods to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-Adjusted life-years (DALYs). Results are presented at the national level as well as by Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income, educational attainment, and total fertility rate. We also analyzed the influence of the epidemiological vs the demographic transition on cancer incidence. Findings: In 2017, there were 24.5 million incident cancer cases worldwide (16.8 million without nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC]) and 9.6 million cancer deaths. The majority of cancer DALYs came from years of life lost (97%), and only 3% came from years lived with disability. The odds of developing cancer were the lowest in the low SDI quintile (1 in 7) and the highest in the high SDI quintile (1 in 2) for both sexes. In 2017, the most common incident cancers in men were NMSC (4.3 million incident cases); tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer (1.5 million incident cases); and prostate cancer (1.3 million incident cases). The most common causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for men were TBL cancer (1.3 million deaths and 28.4 million DALYs), liver cancer (572000 deaths and 15.2 million DALYs), and stomach cancer (542000 deaths and 12.2 million DALYs). For women in 2017, the most common incident cancers were NMSC (3.3 million incident cases), breast cancer (1.9 million incident cases), and colorectal cancer (819000 incident cases). The leading causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for women were breast cancer (601000 deaths and 17.4 million DALYs), TBL cancer (596000 deaths and 12.6 million DALYs), and colorectal cancer (414000 deaths and 8.3 million DALYs). Conclusions and Relevance: The national epidemiological profiles of cancer burden in the GBD study show large heterogeneities, which are a reflection of different exposures to risk factors, economic settings, lifestyles, and access to care and screening. The GBD study can be used by policy makers and other stakeholders to develop and improve national and local cancer control in order to achieve the global targets and improve equity in cancer care. © 2019 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

A Hydrogen-Bonded Extracellular Matrix-Mimicking Bactericidal Hydrogel with Radical Scavenging and Hemostatic Function for pH-Responsive Wound Healing Acceleration

Generation of reactive oxygen species, delayed blood clotting, prolonged inflammation, bacterial infection, and slow cell proliferation are the main challenges of effective wound repair. Herein, a multifunctional extracellular matrix‐mimicking hydrogel is fabricated through abundant hydrogen bonding among the functional groups of gelatin and tannic acid (TA) as a green chemistry approach. The hydrogel shows adjustable physicochemical properties by altering the concentration of TA and it represents high safety features both in vitro and in vivo on fibroblasts, red blood cells, and mice organs. In addition to the merit of facile encapsulation of cell proliferation‐inducing hydrophilic drugs, accelerated healing of skin injury is obtained through pH‐dependent release of TA and its multifaceted mechanisms as an antibacterial, antioxidant, hemostatic, and anti‐inflammatory moiety. The developed gelatin‐TA (GelTA) hydrogel also shows an outstanding effect on the formation of extracellular matrix and wound closure in vivo via offered cell adhesion sites in the backbone of gelatin that provide increased re‐epithelialization and better collagen deposition. These results suggest that the multifunctional GelTA hydrogel is a promising candidate for the clinical treatment of full‐thickness wounds and further development of wound dressing materials that releases active agents in the neutral or slightly basic environment of infected nonhealing wounds.Peer reviewe

The impact of a dedicated coronavirus disease 2019 primary angioplasty protocol on time components related to ST‑segment elevation myocardial infarction management in a 24/7 primary percutaneous coronary intervention–capable hospital

Background: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) as the treatment of choice for ST‑segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) should be rapidly performed. It is necessary to use preventive strategies during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) outbreak, which is an ongoing global concern. However, critical times in STEMI management may be influenced by the implementation of infection control protocols. Aims: We aimed to investigate the impact of our dedicated COVID‑19 PPCI protocol on time components related to STEMI care and catheterization laboratory personnel safety. A subendpoint analysis to compare patient outcomes at a median time of 70 days during the pandemic with those of patients treated in the preceding year was another objective of our study. Methods: Patients with STEMI who underwent PPCI were included in this study. Chest computed tomography (CT) and real‑time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (rRT‑PCR) tests were performed in patients suspected of having COVID‑19. A total of 178 patients admitted between February 29 and April 30, 2020 were compared with 146 patients admitted between March 1 and April 30, 2019. Results: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection was confirmed by rRT‑PCR in 7 cases. In 6 out of 7 patients, CT was indicative of COVID‑19. There were no differences between the study groups regarding critical time intervals for reperfusion in STEMI. The 70‑day mortality rate before and during the pandemic was 2.73% and 4.49%, respectively (P = 0.4). Conclusions: The implementation of the dedicated COVID‑19 PPCI protocol in patients with STEMI allowed us to achieve similar target times for reperfusion, short‑term clinical outcomes, and staff safety as in the prepandemic era