Considerações Éticas e Legais sobre Obtenção de Órgãos de Prisioneiros Executados na China

In the past several decades, due to the severe shortage of transplantable organs, organ procurement from executed prisoners have been used to transplant organs, which goes against international ethics standards. As of January 2015, China phased out the use of executed prisoner organs and embarked on its transplant reform. Since then, many efforts have been made to meet the international ethics guidelines on organ transplants. In this study, we aim to elaborate on the status quo of organ procurement from executed prisoners from the perspective of ethics and law. Although China has made great progress in organ donation and transplantation, some Western transplant surgeons and bioethicists still hold outdated views on organ donation and transplantation in China, which will not bring any benefits to its development and will alienate it from the international transplant community. In this study, we propose that both the international transplant society and Chinese transplant community, with mutual cooperation and trust, should jointly make efforts to advance the development of organ donation and transplantation in China.En las últimas décadas, debido a la grave escasez de órganos trasplantables, la obtención de órganos de presos ejecutados se ha utilizado para trasplantar órganos, lo que contraviene las normas éticas internacionales. A partir de enero de 2015, China eliminó gradualmente el uso de órganos de prisioneros ejecutados y se embarcó en su reforma de trasplantes. Desde entonces, se han realizado muchos esfuerzos para cumplir con las directrices éticas internacionales sobre trasplantes de órganos. En este estudio, nuestro objetivo es profundizar en el status quo de la obtención de órganos de presos ejecutados desde la perspectiva de la ética y la ley. Aunque China ha logrado un gran progreso en la donación y el trasplante de órganos, algunos cirujanos de trasplantes y bioéticos occidentales todavía tienen opiniones obsoletas sobre la donación y el trasplante de órganos en China, lo que no traerá ningún beneficio para su desarrollo y lo alejará de la comunidad internacional de trasplantes. En este estudio, proponemos que tanto la sociedad internacional de trasplantes como la comunidad china de trasplantes, con cooperación y confianza mutuas, deben hacer esfuerzos conjuntos para avanzar en el desarrollo de la donación y el trasplante de órganos en China.Nas últimas décadas, devido à grave escassez de órgãos transplantáveis, a obtenção de órgãos de prisioneiros executados tem sido usada para o transplante de órgãos, o que vai contra padrões éticos internacionais. A partir de janeiro de 2015, a China eliminou o uso de órgãos de prisioneiros executados e lançou sua reforma em transplantes. Desde então, muitos esforços foram feitos para satisfazer diretrizes éticas internacionais sobre transplantes de órgãos. Nesse estudo, nós pretendemos estudar o status quo da obtenção de órgãos de prisioneiros executados desde uma perspectiva da ética e da lei. Embora a China tenha feito grandes progressos em doação e transplante de órgãos, alguns cirurgiões de transplantes e bioeticistas ocidentais ainda mantém visões desatualizadas sobre doação e transplante de órgãos na China, as quais não trarão quaisquer benefícios para seu desenvolvimento e irão aliená-las da comunidade de transplantes internacional. Nesse estudo, nós propomos que tanto a sociedade de transplante internacional e a comunidade de transplante chinesa, com cooperação e confiança mútuas, deveriam empreender esforços conjuntos para avançar o desenvolvimento de doação e transplante de órgãos na China

Predicting student success in Arcadia University’s math courses

This project examines the relative efficacy of Arcadia’s math placement test and math SAT scores in predicting student success, and explores whether SAT scores alone might suffice for certain courses

Efficient Failure Recovery in Large-scale Graph Processing Systems

Master'sMASTER OF SCIENC

Disputas éticas sobre transplante de órgãos vivos e as soluções aplicáveis a estas disputas na China

Objectives: In this study, we examine the ethical issues concerning living organ transplant in China. We attempt to review and analyze the ethical disputes that the living organ transplant faces in China and try to find applicable solutions to these disputes. Design: Ethical Analysis. Setting: Living organ transplant in China. Results: The ideal approaches to solving the ethical disputes involve (1) preventing disease, strengthening physical fitness, and improving the health of the national citizen; (2) encouraging the citizens to donate their organs after death; and (3) developing new technologies for organ transplant. Realistic approaches to addressing the ethical disputes over the living organ transplant include choosing the lesser of two evils, reducing the harm to the donor as much as possible and improving the transplant quality. Conclusions: The living organ transplant in China is an expedient measure instead of an ideal option and should be conducted under strict laws and regulations.Objetivos: En este estudio, examinamos los temas éticos respecto al trasplante de órganos vivos en China. Tratamos de revisar y analizar las disputas éticas que enfrenta el trasplante de órganos vivos en China y tratamos de encontrar soluciones aplicables a estas disputas. Diseño: Análisis ético. Configuración: Trasplante de órganos vivos en China. Resultados: Las aproximaciones ideales para resolver las disputas éticas incluyen (1) prevenir la enfermedad, fortalecer el estado físico y mejorar la salud del ciudadano; (2) animar a los ciudadanos a donar sus órganos después de la muerte; y (3) desarrollar nuevas tecnologías para el trasplante de órganos. Entre las aproximaciones realistas para abordar las disputas éticas sobre el trasplante de órganos vivos se encuentra elegir el mal menor, reduciendo el daño al donante cuanto sea posible y mejorando la calidad del trasplante. Conclusiones: El trasplante de órganos vivos en China es una medida conveniente más que una opción ideal y debería realizarse bajo estrictas leyes y regulaciones.Objetivos: Neste estudo, examinamos as questões éticas relativas ao transplante de órgãos vivos na China. Vamos tentar rever e analisar os conflitos éticos que o transplante de órgãos vivos enfrenta na China e tentar encontrar soluções aplicáveis a estas disputas. Projeto: Análise ética. Configuração: Transplante de órgão vivo na China. Resultados: As abordagens ideais para resolver os conflitos éticos envolvem (1) prevenção de doenças, fortalecimento da aptidão física e melhora da saúde do cidadão nacional; (2) incentivar os cidadãos a doar seus órgãos após a morte; e (3) desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias para transplante de órgão. Abordagens realistas para enfrentar as disputas éticas sobre o transplante de órgão vivos incluem escolher o menor de dois males, reduzindo o dano ao doador o máximo possível e melhorar a qualidade do transplante. Conclusões: Transplantes de órgãos vivos na China é uma medida conveniente ao invés de uma opção ideal e deve ser conduzida sob estritas leis e regulamentos

A Study on the Influence of Patient Participation on Patient Trust-Based on Sample Survey in China

Trust plays a central role in a doctor – patient relationship, and patient’s trust in doctors is the most important factor in trust relationship between the doctor and the patient. By reviewing the existing studies, this study proposes that patient participation is an antecedent variable influencing patient trust, and the patient can take the initiative to participate in diagnostic activities with the aim of establishing and maintaining the psychological contract with the doctor, thereby strengthening doctor-patient trust. In this study, we propose the model on the relationship between the patient participation, the patient’s psychological contract and the patient trust, and then conduct an empirical study. The research findings indicate that patient participation is an antecedent variable for the patient’s psychological contract and patient trust; the patient’s psychological contract is a mediator variable between the patient participation and the patient’s trust in doctor; patient participation can be categorized as three dimensions: information search, responsible behavior, and interpersonal relationship. Thus, we should encourage patient participation, advocate the shared decision-making, and promote the synergic improvement of interpersonal trust and universal trust between doctors and patients

Phase retrieval in x-ray imaging based on using structured illumination

A different x-ray phase contrast imaging technique based on the combination of structured illumination and an optimized hybrid input-output algorithm for phase and amplitude retrieval is presented and discussed. Based on a modified and flexible experimental setup, compared to standard propagation-based x-ray imaging setups, the method we propose here represents a real advance in the phase-contrast imaging technique relating to the determination of the phase and amplitude distribution. Moreover, in coherent diffractive imaging applications, the proposed technique may yield high spatial resolution with currently available imaging detectors

Carbon Quantum Dots Derived from Different Carbon Sources for Antibacterial Applications

Nanoparticles possess unique features due to their small size and can be composed of different surface chemistries. Carbon quantum dots possess several unique physico-chemical and antibacterial activities. This review provides an overview of different methods to prepare carbon quantum dots from different carbon sources in order to provide guidelines for choosing methods and carbon sources that yield carbon quantum dots with optimal antibacterial efficacy. Antibacterial activities of carbon quantum dots predominantly involve cell wall damage and disruption of the matrix of infectious biofilms through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to cause dispersal of infecting pathogens that enhance their susceptibility to antibiotics. Quaternized carbon quantum dots from organic carbon sources have been found to be equally efficacious for controlling wound infection and pneumonia in rodents as antibiotics. Carbon quantum dots derived through heating of natural carbon sources can inherit properties that resemble those of the carbon sources they are derived from. This makes antibiotics, medicinal herbs and plants or probiotic bacteria ideal sources for the synthesis of antibacterial carbon quantum dots. Importantly, carbon quantum dots have been suggested to yield a lower chance of inducing bacterial resistance than antibiotics, making carbon quantum dots attractive for large scale clinical use

Correlation of caecal microbiome endotoxins genes and intestinal immune cells in Eimeria tenella infection based on bioinformatics

IntroductionThe infection with Eimeria tenella (ET) can elicit expression of various intestinal immune cells, incite inflammation, disrupt intestinal homeostasis, and facilitate co-infection with diverse bacteria. However, the reciprocal interaction between intestinal immune cells and intestinal flora in the progression of ET-infection remains unclear.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between cecal microbial endotoxin (CME)-related genes and intestinal immunity in ET-infection, with subsequent identification of hub potential biomarker and immunotherapy target.MethodsDifferential expression genes (DEGs) within ET-infection and hub genes related to CME were identified through GSE39602 dataset based on bioinformatic methods and Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Moreover, immune infiltration was analyzed by CIBERSORT method. Subsequently, comprehensive functional enrichment analyses employing Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis along with Gene Ontology (GO), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) were performed.ResultsA total of 1089 DEGs and 25 hub genes were identified and CXCR4 was ultimately identified as a essential CME related potential biomarker and immunotherapy target in the ET-infection. Furthermore, activated natural killer cells, M0 macrophages, M2 macrophages, and T regulatory cells were identified as expressed intestinal immune cells. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that both DEGs and hub genes were significantly enriched in immune-related signaling pathways.ConclusionCXCR4 was identified as a pivotal CME-related potential biomarker and immunotherapy target for expression of intestinal immune cells during ET-infection. These findings have significant implications in elucidating the intricate interplay among ET-infection, CME, and intestinal immunity

3D Positioning Algorithm Design for RIS-aided mmWave Systems

In this paper, we investigate a three-dimensional (3D) positioning algorithm for a millimeter wave (mmWave) system, where the reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) are leveraged to enhance the positioning performance of mobile users (MUs). We propose a two-stage weight least square (TSWLS) algorithm to obtain the closed-form solution of the MU's position. In the first stage, we construct the pseudolinear equations based on the angle of arrival (AOA) and the time difference of arrival (TDOA) estimation at the RISs, then we obtain a preliminary estimation by solving these equations using the iterative weight least square (WLS) method. Based on the preliminary estimation in the first stage, a new set of pseudolinear equations are obtained, and a finer estimation is obtained by solving the equations using the WLS method in the second stage. By combining the estimation of both stages, the final estimation of the MU's position is obtained. Further, we study the theoretical bias of the proposed algorithm by considering the estimation error in both stages. Simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed positioning algorithm. Furthermore, it is also shown that the proposed algorithm still have good positioning performance with low SNR.Comment: Keywords: Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), intelligent reflecting surface (IRS