bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct and indirect associations among mothers’ invalidating childhood environment, emotion regulation difficulties, and parental apology
Authors: Adams-Clark Alexis A. , Lee Angela H. , Everett Yoel , Zarosinski Arianna , Martin Christina Gamache , Zalewski Maureen
Published: August 2022

Background

Effective emotion regulation abilities are essential for engaging in positive, validating parenting practices. Yet, many parents report difficulties with both emotion regulation and positive parenting, and these difficulties may in part be the result of parents’ own childhood experiences of invalidation. Building upon prior literature documenting the intergenerational transmission of invalidation and emotion dysregulation, the present study examined the associations between these constructs and a specific parenting practice – parental apology – that can be conceptualized as a type of validating parenting practice.

Methods

Using a sample of 186 community mothers, we tested direct and indirect relationships via correlational and path analysis between participants’ retrospective reports of parental invalidation during childhood, difficulties with emotion regulation, and two aspects of parental apology – proclivity (i.e., participants’ self-reported propensity to apologize to their child) and effectiveness (i.e., participants’ inclusion of specific apology content when prompted to write a child-directed apology). Parental invalidation, difficulties with emotion regulation, and parental apology proclivity were measured via self-report questionnaires. Apology effectiveness was measured by coding written responses to a hypothetical vignette.

Results

There was a significant negative bivariate relationship between difficulties with emotion regulation and parental apology proclivity and effectiveness. Parents’ own childhood experiences of invalidation were linked to parental apology indirectly via emotion regulation difficulties.

Conclusions

Results suggest that mothers with greater difficulties regulating emotions may be less able to or have a lower proclivity to apologize to their child when appropriate. Thus, parent apology may be an important addition to current calls for parent validation training.
Survival and predictors of mortality among HIV-positive children on antiretroviral therapy in public hospitals
Authors: Biyazin Yalemgeta , Wondwossen Kalkidan , Wubie Azene Bantie , Getachew Melese , Gebremichael Bereket
Published: August 2022

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome had created enormous challenges worldwide, and continues to be the world’s serious health and development challenges. Globally, at the end 2017, there were 1.8 million children (< 15 years) living with HIV. The survival of HIV-positive children treated with ART depends on a variety of factors, which might vary greatly with economic, socio-demographic, behavioral risk, and health factors. This study aimed to assess survival status and predictors of mortality among HIV-positive children on antiretroviral therapy at East Gojjam Zone Public hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution-based retrospective cohort study was conducted in selected hospitals of the East Gojjam zone, Northwest Ethiopia, among < 15-year-old children who were newly enrolled in HIV care clinic from January 1st, 2014 to December 31, 2018. Data were collected from patient charts from March 1 to 22, 2019 using a standardized checklist. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 24. A Kaplan–Meier curve and log-rank test were used to estimate the survival time and compare survival curves between variables. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards model was fitted to identify predictors of survival status taking p-value < 0.05 as statistically significant.

Result

In this study, a total of 251 HIV-positive children on ART were followed up for a total of 60 months, with a mean survival time of 55.54 (± 0.83) (95% CI: 53.90–57.17) months. The overall mortality incidence rate in the cohort during the 626 Child-Year-Observation (CYO) was 2.56/100 CYO. The overall estimated survival probability after starting ART was 0.90 at 60 months of follow-up. In this study age < 5 years, Hgb < 10 gm/dl, CD4 count below threshold, cotrimoxazole preventive therapy, and subnormal weight for height were statistically significant predictors of survival status (P < 0.05).

Conclusion and recommendation

Age, hemoglobin level, CD4 count, weight for height, and not taking cotrimoxazole preventive therapy were independent predictors of mortality. Therefore, concerned stakeholders should focus on the above-mentioned predictors of mortality and nutritional interventions to enhance the survival of HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy.
Failure of primary ACL repair with dynamic intraligamentary stabilization may result in a high risk of two-stage ACL reconstruction: a case series of ten patients
Authors: Cristiani Riccardo , Mouton Caroline , Siboni Renaud , Pioger Charles , Seil Romain
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Dynamic Intraligamentary Stabilization (DIS) is a technique for the repair of acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential challenges of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) following failure of DIS.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of patients with failure of primary ACL repair performed with DIS was undertaken. Failure was defined as abnormal knee laxity (positive Lachman and/or pivot shift) and/or severely restricted range of motion. Medical and surgical records were reviewed and preoperative standard anteroposterior and lateral X-rays were assessed.

Results

Between July 2015 and May 2022, 10 patients (3 males, 7 females, median age 28 years, range 18–52 years) with failure of DIS were referred to and surgically treated at a single centre. In four patients, single-stage ACLR was performed following the removal of the tibial monoblock. In six patients, arthrofibrosis and excessive tibial tunnel enlargement following the removal of the monoblock prevented single-stage ACLR. These patients underwent arthroscopic arthrolysis and tibial tunnel bone grafting as a first-stage revision procedure.

Conclusion

In the present case series, single-stage ACLR was performed in only four (40%) of ten patients following failure of ACL repair with DIS. Arthrofibrosis and excessive tibial tunnel enlargement following the removal of the monoblock prevented single-stage ACLR in six (60%) patients. It is important for clinicians to inform patients that, in the event of failure of ACL repair with DIS, they may run a high risk of undergoing two-stage ACLR.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, Case Series.
The role of probiotics in the treatment of adult atopic dermatitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Umborowati Menul Ayu , Damayanti Damayanti , Anggraeni Sylvia , Endaryanto Anang , Surono Ingrid S. , Effendy Isaak , Prakoeswa Cita Rosita Sigit
Published: August 2022

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is chronic inflammatory skin disease that is relapsing and a serious condition that disrupts the quality of life of affected individuals. Probiotics are an immunomodulator that can enhance the immune control of atopic dermatitis.

Methods

All randomized controlled trials of probiotics for the treatment of adult AD published before December 2020 were included in this study from the PubMed databases and manual searching.

Results

Six randomized controlled trials (n = 241) were selected for this meta-analysis study. Probiotics were effective in treating adult patients with AD, indicated by the decrease in Scoring Atopic Dermatitis/SCORAD (Mean Difference (MD)  − 7.90, 95% CI − 7.25 to − 6.92; p < 0.00001; I2 = 96%) and improved quality of life (MD − 7.68, 95% CI − 14.08 to − 1.29; p = 0.02; I2 = 47%) which were statistically significant. However, skin severity, itch severity, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), IL-4, TFN-γ, and IgE showed no significant difference in this meta-analysis study (p > 0.05).

Limitations

The study found no available data for side effects of probiotics.

Strength

This meta-analysis analyzed a total of 241 AD patients of Asian and European origin.

Conclusion

The use of probiotics decreased SCORAD significantly in adult patients with AD. Probiotics can improve the quality of life of patients with AD.

Capsule summary

The use of probiotics in atopic dermatitis has been widely studied, with controversial results. This meta-analysis suggests that the use of probiotics can improve SCORAD and the quality of life of patients with atopic dermatitis.
Effects of hydrophilic polymer-embedded membrane on permeability and cell adhesion during continuous hemofiltration
Authors: Kobayashi Kozue , Kurihara Yoshitaka , Ueki Shunichi , Kokubo Kenichi , Kubota Masaru , Kobayashi Hirosuke
Published: August 2022

Background and Aims

Clotting within the membrane and/or venous ‘air trap’ chamber is common problems during continuous blood purification therapy. Frequent clotting during continuous blood purification therapy leads to inadequate solute removal, an increased circuit and filter cost, and an increased burden for the medical staff. Improvements in filter membrane materials may reduce the extent of clotting and prolong the filter life. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the characteristics of an NV polymer-embedded membrane (NV-PS) after long-term use, especially the adhesiveness of blood cells and changes in the solute removal performance.

Methods

Continuous hemofiltration (CHF) experiments using a permeate recycle mode were performed for 24 h using the same porcine whole blood divided into two portions to compare the NV-PS with a conventional polysulfone membrane (PS). The activated clotting time was adjusted to within a range of 300–400 s. The change in the dextran sieving coefficient (SC) of the membrane and the residual blood clots in the filters were evaluated after the completion of the CHF experiment.

Results

The increase in the transmembrane pressure and the pressure drop of the hemofilter were significantly smaller using the NV-PS than with the PS. For larger molecules (SC $$ \leqq $$
≦
0.4), the reduction in SC after blood contact was significantly smaller for the NV-PS. Fewer blood cells remained in the residual blood clots when the NV-PS was used.

Conclusion

NV-PS has the advantages of showing a lower degree of reduction of the solute removal performance and also a lower degree of clogging of the hollow fibers during prolonged circulation. These characteristics may be expected to be advantageous when this membrane is used for continuous blood purification therapy in acute-phase patients.
Melatonin as a treatment for migraine sufferers: a systematic review
Authors: Adnyana I Made Oka , Tertia Clarissa , Widyadharma I Putu Eka , Mahadewi Ni Putu Ayu Putri
Published: August 2022

Background

Migraine is a primary headache with a prevalence of 12–20% in the world. Approximately 38% sufferers were indicated for prophylactic therapy, but only a small proportion (3–13%) received prophylactic therapy. The role of melatonin in migraine is to protect the brain against toxins through anti-free radical activity, inhibition of the release of inflammatory factors and neurotransmitters.

Results

This review uses the PRISMA protocol and uses source from Pubmed. A total of 142 articles were found according to the search strategy. 5 articles were collected with a randomized-controlled trial design that matched the inclusion criteria. Of the 5 articles, there were only 2 articles that proved significant where melatonin gave better results compared to placebo in migraine sufferers, especially in the frequency of attacks, duration, and reduction in the use of other analgesics. Based on the dose and duration of melatonin administration, although most use a dose of 3 mg melatonin with a duration of 2–3 months, this still needs to be investigated further because the available data are not sufficient. In addition, the use of melatonin before going to bed at night is said to be better because it is associated with the majority of side effects that occur, namely sleepiness.

Conclusion

Studies on melatonin and migraine with a randomized-controlled trial design are still limited so there is not enough evidence to support the administration of melatonin as a treatment for migraine sufferers, including the safety and side effects, especially for a long period of time.
Nurses’ perception and compliance with personal protective equipment and hand hygiene during the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Elshaer Noha , Agage Hesham
Published: August 2022

Background

Healthcare workers' (HCWs) compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) measures during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial to reducing the spread of infection to their colleagues, families, and community. This study assessed the risk perception and compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, hand hygiene, and specific IPC measures and explored the factors associated with compliance among nurses during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt.

Methods

A hospital-based cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Alexandria Main University Hospital (AMUH) in Alexandria city from May to August 2021, where 354 nurses were included with a response rate of 94.9%. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results

The overall compliance with PPE usage, hand hygiene, and IPC measures was 81.9%. The mean risk perception score was 40.9 ± 3.3. More than 95% of nurses were aware of the high risk of COVID-19 infection at their workplace, the serious consequences of the disease, and the risk that can be minimized by using PPE, whereas a relatively low percentage of nurses believed that the risk of COVID-19 infection could be reduced by using a surgical mask (19.2%) or gloves (50.5%). Good compliance was independently predicted by risk perception (OR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.13, 1.39), and knowledge about PPE usage and hand hygiene (OR = 3.53; 95%CI = 2.40, 5.19). Facilitators of compliance with the PPE usage were attending suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases in their hospital ($$\overline{x}$$

x
¯

= 9.82), comfort to use the PPE ($$\overline{x}$$

x
¯

= 9.16), availability of PPE ($$\overline{x}$$

x
¯

= 8.96), hospital policy ($$\overline{x}$$

x
¯

= 8.74), and senior compliance ($$\overline{x}$$

x
¯

= 6.5).

Conclusions

Nurses at AMUH reported high risk perceptions. The rate of compliance with PPE usage, hand hygiene, and IPC measures was 81.9%. The personal risk perception and knowledge about the PPE usage and hand hygiene are the keys to improving compliance in a healthcare facility.
Vaccine development against Schmallenberg virus: from classical inactivated to modified-live to scaffold particle vaccines
Authors: Wernike Kerstin , Aebischer Andrea , Audonnet Jean-Christophe , Beer Martin
Published: August 2022

Background

Subsequent to its first detection in 2011, the insect-transmitted bunyavirus Schmallenberg virus (SBV; genus Orthobunyavirus) caused a large-scale epizootic of fetal malformation in the European ruminant population. By now, SBV established an enzootic status in Central Europe with regular wave-like re-emergence, which has prompted intensive research efforts in order to elucidate the pathogenesis and to develop countermeasures. Since different orthobunyaviruses share a very similar structural organization, SBV has become an important model virus to study orthobunyaviruses in general and for the development of vaccines. In this review article, we summarize which vaccine formulations have been tested to prevent SBV infections in livestock animals.

Main

In a first step, inactivated SBV candidate vaccines were developed, which efficiently protected against an experimental SBV infection. Due to the inability to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (= DIVA capability), a series of further approaches ranging from modified live, live-vectored, subunit and DNA-mediated vaccine delivery to multimeric antigen-presentation on scaffold particles was developed and evaluated. In short, it was repeatedly demonstrated that the N-terminal half of the glycoprotein Gc, composed of the Gc head and the head-stalk, is highly immunogenic, with a superior immunogenicity of the complete head-stalk domain compared to the Gc head only. Furthermore, in all Gc protein-based vaccine candidates, immunized animals can be readily discriminated from animals infected with the field virus by the absence of antibodies against the viral N-protein.

Conclusions

Using SBV as a model virus, several vaccination-challenge studies in target species underscored the superior performance of antigenic domains compared to linear epitopes regarding their immunogenicity. In addition, it could be shown that holistic approaches combining immunization-challenge infection studies with structural analyses provide essential knowledge required for an improved vaccine design.
Enhanced radiation characteristics of regular dodecagon split ring resonator (D-SRR)-based microstrip patch antenna employing dielectric superstrate for THz applications
Authors: Benkhallouk Kaddour , Bendaoudi Amina , Berka Mohammed , Mahdjoub Zoubir
Published: August 2022

In a world where communication requires ever faster data transmission capable of transmitting high speeds. In order to reach and transmit this high speed, it is necessary to increase the frequency that carries the information. For this, scientists are interested in the terahertz (THz) range which, thanks to its high frequencies between 0.1 THz and 30 THz, offers the possibility of increasing the data rate. This letter presents the inclusion of Dodecagon Split Ring Resonator (D-SRR) in rectangular microstrip patch antenna and its effect in the performance of the proposed antenna. The metamaterial design employs two types of SRRs resonators shapes such as the Dodecagon Broadside Coupled Split Ring Resonator (DBC-SRR) and Dodecagon Split Ring Resonator (D-SRR). The model applied uses a local field approach and allowed to obtain the dispersion characteristics of discrete negative magnetic permeability. The proposed antenna substrate uses Arlon AD1000 material, which helps to attain high gain and good directivity at THz frequency. The antenna performance is investigated with and without superstrate. The operating frequencies of the proposed antenna vary in the range of 0.66 - 0.69 THz and shows maximum gain of 10.4 dB and maximum directivity of 9.84 dB. HFSS software tool helps to simulate the parametric analysis of the proposed antenna design. This novel structure may find applications in terahertz imaging, remote systems and may find manifold possibilities in the medical field.
Unsupervised clustering of SARS-CoV-2 using deep convolutional autoencoder
Authors: Sherif Fayroz F. , Ahmed Khaled S.
Published: August 2022

SARS-CoV-2’s population structure might have a substantial impact on public health management and diagnostics if it can be identified. It is critical to rapidly monitor and characterize their lineages circulating globally for a more accurate diagnosis, improved care, and faster treatment. For a clearer picture of the SARS-CoV-2 population structure, clustering the sequencing data is essential. Here, deep clustering techniques were used to automatically group 29,017 different strains of SARS-CoV-2 into clusters. We aim to identify the main clusters of SARS-CoV-2 population structure based on convolutional autoencoder (CAE) trained with numerical feature vectors mapped from coronavirus Spike peptide sequences. Our clustering findings revealed that there are six large SARS-CoV-2 population clusters (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6). These clusters contained 43 unique lineages in which the 29,017 publicly accessible strains were dispersed. In all the resulting six clusters, the genetic distances within the same cluster (intra-cluster distances) are less than the distances between inter-clusters (P-value 0.0019, Wilcoxon rank-sum test). This indicates substantial evidence of a connection between the cluster’s lineages. Furthermore, comparisons of the K-means and hierarchical clustering methods have been examined against the proposed deep learning clustering method. The intra-cluster genetic distances of the proposed method were smaller than those of K-means alone and hierarchical clustering methods. We used T-distributed stochastic-neighbor embedding (t-SNE) to show the outcomes of the deep learning clustering. The strains were isolated correctly between clusters in the t-SNE plot. Our results showed that the (C5) cluster exclusively includes Gamma lineage (P.1) only, suggesting that strains of P.1 in C5 are more diversified than those in the other clusters. Our study indicates that the genetic similarity between strains in the same cluster enables a better understanding of the major features of the unknown population lineages when compared to some of the more prevalent viral isolates. This information helps researchers figure out how the virus changed over time and spread to people all over the world.
Approach to the Patient on Antihypertensive Therapy: Screen for Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Mulatero Paolo , Bertello Chiara , Veglio Franco , Monticone Silvia
Published: August 2022

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a condition that is still largely overlooked, resulting in a considerable burden of mortality and morbidity. This is despite decades of clinical and translational research on the deleterious effects of aldosterone on the cardiovascular system and the publication of several guidelines and consensuses on its diagnosis and treatment. One of the main reasons for the low rate of testing is the difficulty of screening patients on antihypertensive therapy that potentially interferes with aldosterone and renin levels and thus confound the interpretation of the aldosterone to renin ratio, the accepted and conventionally used screening test. To avoid interference, usually the therapies that affect the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system are withdrawn and substituted with noninterfering medications. However, in many cases the screening test can be confidently interpreted even when such therapies are not discontinued. In this review, we will evaluate the effects of antihypertensive therapies on the screening test for PA and suggest a practical approach for its interpretation.
Climate Change and the New Polar Aesthetics
Authors: Bloom Lisa E.
Published: August 2022

In Climate Change and the New Polar Aesthetics, Lisa E. Bloom considers the ways artists, filmmakers, and activists engaged with the Arctic and Antarctic to represent our current environmental crises and reconstruct public understandings of them. Bloom engages feminist, Black, Indigenous, and non-Western perspectives to address the exigencies of the experience of the Anthropocene and its attendant ecosystem failures, rising sea levels, and climate-led migrations. As opposed to mainstream media depictions of climate change that feature apocalyptic spectacles of distant melting ice and desperate polar bears, artists such as Katja Aglert, Subhankar Banerjee, Joyce Campbell, Judit Hersko, Roni Horn, Isaac Julien, Zacharias Kunuk, Connie Samaras, and activist art collectives take a more complex poetic and political approach. In their films and visual and conceptual art, these artists link climate change to its social roots in colonialism and capitalism while challenging the suppression of information about environmental destruction and critiquing Western art institutions for their complicity. Bloom’s examination and contextualization of new polar aesthetics makes environmental degradation more legible while demonstrating that our own political agency is central to imagining and constructing a better world.
Effects of punctate skin grafting combined with or without irrigation on skin graft survival, redness and swelling score and pain in treatment of large-area residual burn wounds
Authors: Wan Lei , Zhou Jin , Li Linjie
Published: August 2022

Objective: To investigate the effects of punctate skin grafting combined with or without irrigation on skin graft survival, redness and swelling score and pain in the treatment of large-area residual burn wounds.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 102 patients with large-area burns treated in Huangshi Central Hospital from May 2017 to May 2020. According to different treatment methods, they were divided into combination group (treated with punctate skin grafting combined with irrigation) and grafting group (mainly treated with punctate skin grafting). The positive rate of bacterial culture of wound secretions, pain score and redness and swelling score were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Additionally, linear logistic analysis of the influencing factors was carried out.

Results: The positive rate of bacterial culture of wound secretions decreased to 29.4% in the combination group and 49.0% in the grafting group (p< 0.05). The skin graft survival rate of the combination group was (82.17 ± 7.44) %, which was higher than that of the grafting group (61.53 ± 7.46) %, the wound healing time was (14.56 ± 3.51) d, which was shorter than that of the grafting group (21.36 ± 4.69) d, and the pain score (3.26 ± 0.36) and redness and swelling score (1.16 ± 0.68) were lower than those of the grafting group (4.79± 0.46) and (2.56 ± 0.85), respectively (all p< 0.05). The wound healing time was positively correlated with pain score (r = 0.767, p< 0.05) and redness and swelling score (r = 0.672, p< 0.05), while negatively correlated with skin graft survival rate (r= -0.289, P<0.01), meeting linear equation y = -8.451 + 4.542a + 0.087b + 1.012c (a, pain score; b, skin graft survival rate; c, redness and swelling score).

Conclusions: Punctate skin grafting combined with irrigation in the treatment of large-area residual burn wounds presents great effects on skin graft survival, redness and swelling score and pain, and is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.7.5522

How to cite this:Wan L, Zhou J, Li L. Effects of punctate skin grafting combined with or without irrigation on skin graft survival, redness and swelling score and pain in treatment of large-area residual burn wounds. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(7):---------.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.7.5522

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Η Αρχαία Ελληνική Ιστορία στα εγχειρίδια Παγκόσμιας Ιστορίας (1999-2013) της Δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης των ΗΠΑ
Authors: Σιδηρόπουλος Βασίλειος
Published: August 2022

Η κοινωνία στις Η.Π.Α είναι πολυπολιτισμική, ετερογενής και ποικιλόμορφη, ενώ το τοπίο της εκπαίδευσης στις Η.Π.Α. είναι αποκεντρωμένο, πολυσχιδές, χαοτικό με τις ανάγκες και τις προτεραιότητες της εκπαιδευτικής διαδικασίας διαφορετικές για κάθε πολιτεία. Το σχολικό εγχειρίδιο αποτελεί το κυριότερο εργαλείο της διδακτικής διαδικασίας, καθώς παρουσιάζει οργανωμένα τη γνώση της εκάστοτε επιστημονικής περιοχής που πραγματεύεται, ενώ η αξιοποίησή του έως σήμερα θεωρείται αυτονόητη αφού συνιστά το παλαιότερο μέσο διδασκαλίας. Ακόμα και σήμερα, που η τεχνολογία έχει εξελιχθεί υπέρμετρα, το σχολικό εγχειρίδιο θεωρείται κύρια πηγή πληροφόρησης και αναπόσπαστο στοιχείο της μαθησιακής διαδικασίας και της διδακτικής για κάθε τάξη και σχολική βαθμίδα, βάσει του ισχύοντος επίσημου προγράμματος σπουδών, εξυπηρετώντας πολλαπλές ανάγκες της εκπαιδευτικής διαδικασίας και του πολυπολιτισμικού κοινωνικού περιβάλλοντος των σύγχρονων κοινωνιών. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, η παρούσα διατριβή ερευνά την παρουσία της Αρχαίας Ελληνικής Ιστορίας μέσα από τα σχολικά εγχειρίδια της Δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης στις Η.Π.Α, με σκοπό να αναδειχθεί ο τρόπος με τον οποίο η Αρχαία Ελληνική Ιστορία βοηθά στην συγκρότηση κριτικά εγγράμματων υποκειμένων, που αξιοποιώντας τη γνώση της ελληνικής αρχαιότητας, μέσα από τα σχολικά εγχειρίδια της Παγκόσμιας Ιστορίας, εσωτερικεύουν τις ιδιαιτερότητες της αμερικανικής κοινωνίας, προσαρμόζονται στις Εθνικές προτεραιότητες και λειτουργούν ως ενεργοί δημοκρατικά δρώντες και δυνάμει λήπτες αποφάσεων
Evaluation of LNAPL distribution and mobility in heterogeneous porous media under water table fluctuations
Authors: Γάτσιος Ευάγγελος
Published: August 2022

Η συγκεκριμένη έρευνα επικεντρώνεται στην εξέταση της κατανομής και της κινητικότητας του LNAPL σε ετερογενή πορώδη μέσα υπό την επίδραση των διακυμάνσεων του υδροφόρου ορίζοντα. Αν και έχει αναγνωριστεί ότι οι αλλαγές της ποτενσιομετρικής επιφάνειας (Zaw) μπορεί να διαδραματίσουν κρίσιμο ρόλο στη μεταβιβαστικότητα του LNAPL (Tn), σχετικές δημοσιευμένες εργασίες πεδίου είναι περιορισμένες και παρέχεται ελάχιστη εικόνα σχετικά με τον αντίκτυπο της γεωλογικής ετερογένειας και της πολύπλοκης κατανομής NAPL. Αυτή η ερευνητική εργασία περιλαμβάνει μελέτες πεδίου σε μια ετερογενή περιοχή ρυπασμένη με βενζίνη που παρουσιάζει εποχιακές διακυμάνσεις του υδροφόρου ορίζοντα 2 - 3 m. Η κατανομή του LNAPL και οι υδρογεωλογικές συνθήκες αξιολογήθηκαν χρησιμοποιώντας διαγράμματα διαγνωστικού μετρητή, υδροστρωματογραφίες, συγκεντρώσεις ρύπων στους γεωλογικούς πυρήνες, μεθόδους χαρακτηρισμού υψηλής ανάλυσης, προσομοιώσεις LDRM και δοκιμές baildown. Το Tn αξιολογήθηκε με τη χρήση δοκιμών bail-down τόσο κατά τις εποχιακές διακυμάνσεις του υδροφόρου ορίζοντα όσο και κατά τη διάρκεια των διαφόρων υδραυλικών συνθηκών/τεχνολογιών (skimming, water-enhanced skimming, vacuum-enhanced skimming and water- and vacuum-enhanced skimming).Συλλογικά αυτά τα εργαλεία και οι προσεγγίσεις έχουν δώσει χρήσιμες πληροφορίες για τη διανομή και την κινητικότητα του NAPL τόσο σε φυσικές όσο και σε τεχνητές υδραυλικές συνθήκες κατά τις εποχιακές αλλαγές και τις εφαρμογές μαζικής ανάκτησης. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι οι υδρογεωλογικές συνθήκες του NAPL σχετίζονταν με τη συμπεριφορά του Zaw και τόσο περιορισμένες όσο και μη περιορισμένες υδρογεωλογικές συνθήκες μπορούν να βρεθούν στην ίδια γεώτρηση εποχιακά. Επιπλέον, σε ετερογενείς θέσεις η στρωματογραφία μπορεί να υπερισχύσει των τυπικών μοτίβων κηλίδων που σχετίζονται με ομοιογενή συστήματα. Το Tn κυμαινόταν από 0,03 m2/ημέρα έως 2,13 m2/ημέρα υπό μη πεπιεσμένες συνθήκες LNAPL, παρουσιάζοντας έντονη χωρική μεταβλητότητα. Μια αντίστροφη σχέση μεταξύ του Zaw και του Tn βρέθηκε υπό φυσικές συνθήκες. Η περιοχή με ευρύτερη κατανομή NAPL και υψηλότερους κορεσμούς NAPL ήταν λιγότερο ευαίσθητη στις αλλαγές στο Zaw κατά τη διάρκεια των δοκιμών skimming. Οι υπολογισμένες τιμές Tn από τις δοκιμές bail-down και skimming ήταν σε στενή συμφωνία και έδειξαν παρόμοιες τάσεις στις περισσότερες περιπτώσεις. Ωστόσο, σε περιοχές με στενή κατανομή NAPL και χαμηλούς κορεσμούς NAPL, η απόκλιση μεταξύ των δύο μεθόδων παρουσίασε σαφώς υψηλότερες διαφορές και σχετιζόταν με το Zaw. Κάτω από το σταθερό Zaw, το Tn βρέθηκε να είναι μια σχετικά αξιόπιστη μέτρηση για την ανάκτηση LNAPL. Αντίθετα, οι μεταβλητές συνθήκες του υδροφόρου ορίζοντα επηρέασαν την εξέλιξη του Tn. Κατά συνέπεια, οι επαγγελματίες εξυγίανσης, οι ερευνητές και οι νομοθέτες θα πρέπει να λάβουν υπόψη τη σχέση μεταξύ Tn, κατανομής LNAPL, γεωλογικής κατάστασης και χρονικών επιπτώσεων για μια πιο αποτελεσματική διαχείριση των ρυπασμένων περιοχών από το NAPL.
Clinical and bacteriological outcomes in patients with urinary tract infections presenting to primary care in Harare, Zimbabwe: a cohort study
Authors: Olaru Ioana D. , Chisenga Mutsawashe , Yeung Shunmay , Chonzi Prosper , Masunda Kudzai P.E. , Ferrand Rashida A. , Kranzer Katharina
Published: August 2022

Background: Treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs) is usually empiric and is based on local antimicrobial resistance data. These data, however, are scarce in low-resource settings. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of antibiotic treatment on clinical and bacteriological outcomes in patients presenting with UTI symptoms to primary care in Harare.

Methods: This cohort study enrolled participants presenting with UTI symptoms to 10 primary healthcare clinics in Harare between July 2019 and July 2020. A questionnaire was administered and a urine sample was collected for culture. If the urine culture showed growth of ≥105 colony forming units/mL of a uropathogen, a follow up visit at 7-21 days was conducted.

Results: The analysis included 168 participants with a median age of 33.6 years (IQR 25.1-51.4) and of whom 131/168 (78.0%) were female. Effective treatment was taken by 54/168 (32.1%) participants. The urine culture was negative at follow up in 41/54 (75.9%) of participants who took appropriate treatment and in 33/114 (28.9%, p<0.001) of those who did not. Symptoms had improved or resolved in 52/54 (96.3%) of those on appropriate treatment and in 71/114 (62.3%, p<0.001) of those without.

Conclusion: The findings of this study show that effective treatment leads to symptom resolution and bacterial clearance in people presenting with UTIs to primary care. Although UTIs are not life-threatening and can resolve without treatment, they do impact on quality of life, highlighting the need for optimised treatment recommendations.
Risk factors for infectious keratitis - a literature review
Authors: Sereda Dominika , Nieścior Hubert , Metelska Aleksandra , Metelski Jakub , Szwed Monika
Published: August 2022

Introduction and purpose 

Infectious keratitis represents the leading cause of corneal blindness worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Both risk factors and etiological patterns vary between economically developed and developing regions, with bacterial predominance in the former and fungal predominance in the latter. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the risk factors in relation to infectious keratitis.

Description of the state of knowledge 

Infectious keratitis is a painful and potentially vision-threatening ophthalmic condition characterized by decreased vision, photophobia and eye redness. In severe cases, it may require hospital admission for intensive medical treatment or surgical interventions. It can be caused by a wide array of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites or polymicrobial infection. The most commonly observed predisposing factors for infectious keratitis include contact lens wear, trauma, ocular surface diseases, post-corneal surgery and systemic or local immunosuppression. Manual workers in construction or agricultural industry, exposed to vegetative matter, organic materials and animal products are particularly at risk. Higher rate of incidence is also observed in regions with poor environmental and personal hygiene, low level of education, poor access to sanitation and healthcare facility.

Summary 

Persistent prevalence of infectious keratitis in both developed and developing countries makes it a serious medical problem. Prevention, proper diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial for positive visual outcome.
Sex-specific Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Women
Authors: Płaczek Alicja , Machaj Dominik , Białas Filip , Cyboran Katarzyna , Siedlak Agnieszka
Published: August 2022

CVD is the leading cause of death for women worldwide. The symptoms of CVD in women may be less specific than in men, so women are less likely to be properly diagnosed and adequately treated. Women experience a proportional increase in cardiovascular risk on risk factors that are common to both genders. In addition, women have endocrine-related factors that increase their susceptibility to CVD. 1 in 3 women die from CVD, and 45% of women over the age of 20 have some form of CVD. [33] We must exploit gender differences to ensure optimal medical care. Detection of CVD risk factors and preventive measures in this regard are essential for proper cardiovascular care among women.
Badania dialektologiczne dotyczące gwary kliszczackiej
Authors: Rak Maciej
Published: August 2022

DIALECTOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE KLISZCZAK DIALECT The article is the fourth in a series in which the author discusses the achievements of Polish dialectology in research on the Goralian part of Małopolska. The focus here is on research into the Kliszczak dialect. The most prolific writer on this topic (and more precisely, on the variety spoken in the village of Więciórka) was Marian Kucała. The article also provides arguments in favour of introducing the term Kliszczak dialect into dialectological research.
Gwara Pcimia (powiat myślenicki) dawniej i dziś
Authors: Brytan-Ciepielak Monika
Published: August 2022

THE PCIM DIALECT (THE MYŚLENICE DISTRICT) THEN AND NOW The article aims to describe the variety spoken by the inhabitants of Pcim in the Myślenice district from the past up until today. The author analyses aspects of phonetics and inflection based on fieldwork carried out in the Kliszczak dialect area in the Beskid Wyspowy and the Beskid Makowski since 2015. The contemporary Pcim dialect is then evaluated in the light of earlier research conducted by Stanisław Dobrzycki, Mieczysław Małecki, Jadwiga Mońkówna and Jerzy Reichan. In her conclusion the author demonstrates the similarities and differences between the Pcim dialect then and now and summarizes the changes that the variety has undergone throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
Status i perspektywy Kliszczaków. Badania opinii mieszkańców pogranicza powiatów suskiego i myślenickiego – zarys problematyki
Authors: Skałka Jakub
Published: August 2022

THE STATUS AND THE PROSPECTS OF THE KLISZCZAK GORALS: AN OPINION SURVEY AMONG THE INHABITANTS OF THE BORDERLAND BETWEEN THE SUCHA AND MYŚLENICE DISTRICTS: AN OUTLINE The article discusses a questionnaire study which aimed to survey the opinions of the inhabitants of the borderland between the Sucha Beskidzka and Myślenice counties about the Kliszczak Gorals. The questions addressed to the inhabitants of villages historically associated with Kliszczak Gorals concerned their sense of identity, their knowledge about the dialect, tradition or clothing, and their attitude towards them. An important goal was also to ask the respondents for their opinions about institutions (cultural centers, local authorities, folk music bands) and the actions taken by them to promote the region and the ethnos. Based on the material collected, the article also proposes further lines of research. The questionnaire survey was conducted via the Internet. The participants included 16 men and 13 women (N = 29), aged from 18 to 75, living in 9 villages.
Zakazany pisarz – Pobratymiec
Authors: Dyrcz Bartłomiej
Published: August 2022

BANNED WRITER The article develops a profile of Jan Szczęsny Płatkowski (1864-1938), a writer who lived and worked in Myślenice at the turn of the 20th century. His life and oeuvre require detailed research, which is why the current discussion only outlines the most important facts from his biography and basic information about his diverse literary output concerning the Myślenice area and the villages inhabited by the Kliszczak Gorals. The article cites a passage from a short story recorded between the villages of Łętownia and Tokarnia, published in 1931 in Poznań as Hallo Hallo!: radiomonologi; Gawędy beskidzkie [Hello, hello!; Radio monologues; Tales from the Beskids]. The article also includes Legenda o Diabelskim Kamieniu w Stróży [The Legend of the Devil’s Stone in Stróża], written in the Kliszczak dialect. These quoted passages illustrate the character and uniqueness of the local dialect. In his works Jan Szczęsny Płatkowski shows interest in the surrounding world. He was deeply preoccupied by recording folk tales, on which he based his stage plays called folk pictures.
Middle-Power Alignment in the Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Securing Agency through Neo-Middle-Power Diplomacy
Authors: Nagy Stephen R.
Published: August 2022

executive summary: This article explores how middle powers in the Indo-Pacific are engaging in a new type of diplomacy, one that includes lobbying, insulating, and rulemaking in the realms of security, trade, and international law, to protect their national interests from Sino-U.S. strategic competition. main argument
The change in the power balance associated with China's re-emergence as Asia's largest economy has brought concerns about Sino-U.S. strategic competition and raised questions about U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific region among many U.S.-aligned middle powers, such as Australia, Japan, Canada, and India. Specific challenges that China is creating include fomenting instability in the maritime domain, fracturing the openness of the emerging digital economy, and practicing coercive economic behavior, to which middle powers are especially vulnerable. Therefore, the Indo-Pacific's middle powers are aligning to adapt to these changing dynamics and transforming their diplomacy and cooperation into "neo-middle-power diplomacy." This new type of diplomacy is proactive and engages in behavior that includes lobbying, insulating, and rulemaking in the realms of security, trade, and international law. It aims to ensure that middle powers' interests are not deleteriously affected by the Sino-U.S. rivalry. policy implications
• Like-minded middle powers should actively seek out alignment partners inside and outside the region based on a convergence of interests. U.S. involvement is preferred but not a prerequisite for alignment and cooperation. • Middle powers should focus cooperation on key areas based on the synergy of their respective comparative advantages. Ideally, these would stress capability-based contributions, such as intelligence gathering, rather than the capacity of the resources available for cooperation. Examples include regularized humanitarian and disaster-relief activities; maritime cooperation in the East and South China Seas, Taiwan Strait, and Indian Ocean; and joint transits in the Indo-Pacific. • Middle powers should prioritize their interests in free trade and "data free flow with trust" in the digital economy to both provide economic incentives to emerging states in the region and develop trade safety-net agreements that will allow them to support each other when subject to economic coercion.
Cross spring leaf-based high-sensitivity low-frequency dual-FBG acceleration sensor
Authors: Teng Yuntian , Zhang Bingbing , Fan Xiaoyong , Ma Jiemei , Qiu Zhongchao
Published: August 2022

The measurement of low-frequency vibration signals is of great significance in seismic monitoring, health monitoring of large and medium-sized engineering structures, and resource exploration. In view of the low sensitivity of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) acceleration sensors in measuring low-frequency vibration signals, a high-sensitivity, low-frequency dual-FBG acceleration sensor is proposed. Theoretical formula derivation and ANSYS software were used to optimize the design and simulation analysis of the structural parameters of the sensor. The real sensor was made based on the simulation results, and a test system was established to test its performance. According to the findings, the natural frequency of the acceleration sensor is 65 Hz. It gives a flat sensitivity response in the low frequency band of 3–45 Hz. The dynamic range is 92.63 dB at 10 Hz, the acceleration sensitivity is 1498.29 pm/g, and the linearity

R

2

is 0.9998. The relative standard deviation of the sensor repeatability is 1.75%, and the transverse crosstalk in the working frequency band is

−

33.99

d
B

. Designed with a high sensitivity and excellent temperature compensation capacity in the low-frequency band, the designed sensor is suitable for low- and medium-frequency vibration detection in engineering.
Bulk second-order optical nonlinearities in centrosymmetric materials
Authors: García Jairo D. , Gómez Fabiola , Velázquez Víctor , Rodríguez Boris A.
Published: August 2022

The semiclassical theory of electrical susceptibility predicts null even-order susceptibilities for all centrosymmetric materials. However, second harmonic generation and other even-order nonlinear optical phenomena are often seen in them. Contributions due to magnetic dipoles, bulk quadrupoles, or symmetry ruptures describe many of these effects, but not all of them, as can be seen in some experiments recalled here. This work presents an extension of the theory that renders more general expressions for susceptibilities. According to these expressions, bulk even-order susceptibilities may eventually transform as pseudo-tensors and, therefore, may have nonzero values in centrosymmetric structures. We show examples of how this fact provides an alternative or simpler explanation of the conflicting experiments. Our result may have important implications in lasing, communications, imaging, quantum optics, quantum computing, and other fields, as it widens the family of materials in which to look for nonlinear effects such as second harmonic generation, the Pockels effect, spontaneous parametric downconversion, and other phenomena.
Experimental analysis and simulation of the optical properties of gold nano-particles on sodium alginate
Authors: Summonte Caterina , Maurizi Alberto , Rizzoli Rita , Tamarri Fabrizio , Bertoldo Monica , Bolognini Gabriele , Maccagnani Piera
Published: August 2022

The reflectance and transmittance spectra of a set of thin gold films on sodium alginate are measured and simulated in the framework of the generalized transfer matrix method. In the simulation, the dielectric function for the nano-particles (NP) was modified from that of gold bulk by using a variable damping energy. A Lorentz oscillator was used to describe the localized surface plasmon resonance. The results elucidate the structural arrangement of the deposited material on the specific substrate. The collision frequency obtained from the simulation indicates that the aggregation of the NPs at the nanoscopic level correlates with the electrical properties. The intense surface plasmon resonance remains visible for film thicknesses up to 10 nm, in spite of the increasing loss of particle separation. In addition to the attained results, the developed methodology can be usefully applied on other case studies for a thorough characterization of the formation of the growing NP films on the specific substrate.
Disaster event effects on cat and dog populations within United States animal care facility services: A cross sectional study
Authors: Rowitt Janice Baldwin , Brown Heidi E.
Published: August 2022

It is unclear how disaster events, which are expected to increase due to climate change, will affect animal care services. Understanding the impacts they have on cat and dog populations, and how to integrate animal welfare into disaster preparedness, can facilitate disaster response and improve population health outcomes. Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) disaster data were merged with shelter intake data from SAC (Shelter Animals Count) to compare total number of animals and total number of animals euthanized the month of disaster to the subsequent month and to the same month in the subsequent year. Analyses were stratified by animal (dog /cat), disaster (hurricane/fire), and animal care service type and compared using Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. On average, government animal services (GAS) in counties experiencing a hurricane report an increase in dogs in the facility the month (p<0.05) and year (p<0.05) after a hurricane. In contrast, government contract (GC) and non-government contract (NGC) organizations report fewer cats the month after (both p<0.001) a hurricane. While fire in the county had limited effect on dog occupancy across all facility types, more organizations reported higher numbers of cats the month of a fire compared with the month after (GC p<0.001, GAS p<0.05) and more cats euthanized the month (GC p<0.01) and year (GC p<0.05, GAS p<0.05) after a fire. These findings indicate significant fluctuations in animal service needs during and after disaster events. Using a One Health approach to incorporate animal service organizations in human climate adaptation planning can increase community resilience during disaster events.