bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review: Synthesis of Urea in Several Methods
Authors: Pradana Asep Rizki , Royani Asep , Zulfikri Kiki , Tuffahati Nabila , Azzahra Rahma Zulfa , Amini Tasya Qori , Dani Nandiyanto Asep Bayu
Published: March 2021

Urea (CO (NH)2) is one of the compositions in making fertilizer. Fertilizer is crucial, especially for plant growth (affecting plant fertility). If a plant had urea fertilizer on the soil, nitrogen in the fertilizer releases quickly, and it will cause environmental pollution. Therefore, many studies want to develop urea fertilizer to be more efficient to use. The purpose of this review is to find the most appropriate method for the efficient use of urea as seen from the material used, the technique used, and the results obtained. This review shows that the most appropriate method is the slow release method with NaOH and fly ash ingredients. Because this method can increase the effective utilization of urea, reduce environmental pollution, and be relatively more straightforward, the raw material is more affordable and spread widely in the market.

 
Design of a compact dual-channel panoramic annular lens with a large
aperture and high resolution
Authors: Gao Shaohua , Tsyganok Elena A. , Xu Xiping
Published: March 2021

We propose a compact dual-channel panoramic annular lens (PAL) with a large aperture and high resolution to solve three major shortcomings of conventional PAL systems: resolution, imaging quality, and compactness. Using polarization technology, the system integrates two optical channels to eliminate the central blind area. Using our PAL aperture ray-tracing model, the large aperture PAL system with a low F-number of 2.5 and a diameter ratio of 1.5 is realized. The field of view (FoV) of the front channel is

360
∘

×
(

0
∘

−

45
∘

)

, and the FoV of the side channel is

360
∘

×
(

45
∘

−

100
∘

)

. Both channels apply Q-type aspheres. The Airy radii of the front channel and the side channel are 1.801 and 1.798 µm, respectively. It indicates that they match the 1.8 µm pixel sensor and can form a great image on the same sensor. The modulation transfer function at 157 lp/mm is greater than 0.4 over the entire FoV. The F-

θ

distortion is less than 5%, and the relative illuminance is higher than 0.78 in the two channels. The excellent imaging results prove the feasibility of our PAL design method and the advantages of the compact dual-channel PAL system for space-constrained scenes.
Optical grinder: sorting of trapped particles by orbital angular momentum
Authors: Bobkova Valeriia , Stegemann Jan , Droop Ramon , Otte Eileen , Denz Cornelia
Published: March 2021

We customize a transversely structured, tunable light landscape on the basis of orbital angular momentum (OAM)-carrying beams for the purpose of advanced optical manipulation. Combining Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) modes with helical phase fronts of opposite OAM handedness, counter-rotating transfer of OAM is enabled in a concentric intensity structure, creating a dynamic "grinding" scenario on dielectric microparticles. We demonstrate the ability to trap and rotate silica spheres of various sizes and exploit the light fields’ feature to spatially separate trapped objects by their size. We show the adaptability of the light field depending on the chosen LG mode indices, allowing on-demand tuning of the trapping potential and sorting criteria. The versatility of our approach for biomedical application is examined by spatial discriminating yeast cells and silica spheres of distinct diameter.
Multifunctional optoelectronic device based on graphene-coupled silicon photonic crystal cavities
Authors: Chen Xiaoxu , Wang Fangjie , Gu Qiongqiong , Yang Jinghui , Yu Mingbin , Kwong Dim-lee , Wong Chee Wei , Yang Huomu , Zhou Hao , Zhou Shouhuan
Published: March 2021

We present a hybrid device based on graphene-coupled silicon (Si) photonic crystal (PhC) cavities, featuring triple light detection, modulation, and switching. Through depositing single-layer graphene onto the PhC cavity, the light-graphene interaction can be enhanced greatly, which enables significant detection and modulation of the resonant wavelength. The device is designed to generate a photocurrent directly by the photovoltaic effect and has an external responsivity of ∼14 mA/W at 1530.8 nm (on resonance), which is about 10 times higher than that off-resonance. Based on the thermo-optical effect of silicon and graphene, the device is also demonstrated in electro-optical and all-optical modulation. Also, due to the high-quality (Q) factor of the resonate cavity, the device can implement low threshold optical bistable switching, and it promises a fast response speed, with a rise (fall) time of ∼0.4 μs (∼0.5 μs) in the all-optical switch and a rise (fall) time of ∼0.5 μs (∼0.5 μs) in the electro-optical hybrid switch. The multifunctional photodetector, modulator, and optical bistable switch are achieved in a single device, which greatly reduces the photonic overhead and provides potential applications for future integrated optoelectronics.
Temperature-independent ultra-sensitive refractive index sensor based on hollow-core silica tubes and tapers
Authors: Wu Shun , Cheng Haihao , Ma Jianwen , Yang Xuemei , Wang Shun , Lu Peixiang
Published: March 2021

We demonstrate a simple and ultra-sensitive refractive index (RI) sensor using a hollow-core silica tube (HCST) sandwiched between an up-taper and a down-taper in single mode fibers (SMF). According to our theoretical analysis, the interference spectrum comes from a combination of a three-beam multi-mode interference and anti-resonance effects. RI sensing will affect the mode interference. By demodulating the fringe contrast of the interference spectra, an ultrahigh sensitivity of -120.18 dB/RIU is achieved, implying a RI resolution of ∼ 8×10−6 in the RI range from 1.35 to 1.43. What’s more, the sensor has great temperature insensitivity of -0.0085 dB/°C, indicating an extremely low cross sensitivity of 7×10−5 RIU/°C, which further benefits its practical application. The proposed configuration does not require special fiber or fabrication technique. In addition, the sensor’s other merits such as simple and compact structure and ease offabrication offer the potential in biochemical sensing applications.
Wideband and high-resolution spectroscopy based on an ultra-fine electro-optic frequency comb with seed lightwave selection via injection locking
Authors: Xu Bingxin , Fan Xinyu , Wang Shuai , He Zuyuan
Published: March 2021

The digital ultra-fine electro-optic frequency comb (UFEOFC) enables high-resolution spectroscopy in various applications with a limited bandwidth. In this Letter, we propose a novel, to the best of our knowledge, UFEOFC-based dual-comb spectroscopy to realize megahertz resolution and broadened bandwidth. An UFEOFC with 1 MHz line-spacing and 18 GHz bandwidth is generated and resolved in a dual-comb interferometer working in quasi-integer-ratio mode. One line selected from a master EOFC with 18 GHz line-spacing via optical injection locking serves as the seed lightwave. Successive selection of 20 lines realizes wideband measurement covering 360 GHz, and a reflectance spectrum of a phase-shift fiber Bragg grating is obtained in the demonstration. A spectrum with 360,000 lines is demodulated in 26 ms due to the low injection lock dead time set to be

300

µ

s

between adjacent lines, by which the figure of merit reaches

3.39
×

10
7

. The system promotes more prospects in practical spectroscopic and sensing applications.
Detection of gene cis-regulatory element perturbations in single-cell transcriptomes
Authors: Yeo Grace Hui Ting , Juez Oscar , Chen Qing , Banerjee Budhaditya , Chu Lendy , Shen Max W. , Sabry May , Logister Ive , Sherwood Richard I. , Gifford David K.
Published: March 2021

We introduce poly-adenine CRISPR gRNA-based single-cell RNA-sequencing (pAC-Seq), a method that enables the direct observation of guide RNAs (gRNAs) in scRNA-seq. We use pAC-Seq to assess the phenotypic consequences of CRISPR/Cas9 based alterations of gene cis-regulatory regions. We show that pAC-Seq is able to detect cis-regulatory-induced alteration of target gene expression even when biallelic loss of target gene expression occurs in only ~5% of cells. This low rate of biallelic loss significantly increases the number of cells required to detect the consequences of changes to the regulatory genome, but can be ameliorated by transcript-targeted sequencing. Based on our experimental results we model the power to detect regulatory genome induced transcriptomic effects based on the rate of mono/biallelic loss, baseline gene expression, and the number of cells per target gRNA.
PDKit: A data science toolkit for the digital assessment of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Stamate Cosmin , Saez Pons Joan , Weston David , Roussos George
Published: March 2021

PDkit is an open source software toolkit supporting the collaborative development of novel methods of digital assessment for Parkinson’s Disease, using symptom measurements captured continuously by wearables (passive monitoring) or by high-use-frequency smartphone apps (active monitoring). The goal of the toolkit is to help address the current lack of algorithmic and model transparency in this area by facilitating open sharing of standardised methods that allow the comparison of results across multiple centres and hardware variations. PDkit adopts the information-processing pipeline abstraction incorporating stages for data ingestion, quality of information augmentation, feature extraction, biomarker estimation and finally, scoring using standard clinical scales. Additionally, a dataflow programming framework is provided to support high performance computations. The practical use of PDkit is demonstrated in the context of the CUSSP clinical trial in the UK. The toolkit is implemented in the python programming language, the de facto standard for modern data science applications, and is widely available under the MIT license.
Arts engagement trends in the United Kingdom and their mental and social wellbeing implications: HEartS Survey
Authors: Tymoszuk Urszula , Spiro Neta , Perkins Rosie , Mason-Bertrand Adele , Gee Kate , Williamon Aaron
Published: March 2021

Evidence on the role of the arts in promoting health and wellbeing has grown over the last two decades. In the United Kingdom, studies using secondary data sources have documented temporal variations in levels of arts engagement in the population, its determinants and its mental wellbeing implications. However, arts engagement is often characterized by prioritizing “high-brow” art forms. In this article, we introduce the HEartS Survey, a tool that aims to increase the balance between inclusivity and brevity of existing arts engagement measures and to focus specifically on the connection between arts engagement and social wellbeing. We explore trends in participatory and receptive engagement with literary, visual, performing, crafts and decorative arts among 5,338 adults in the UK in 2018–2019 using summative engagement scores and cluster analysis. Regression models, adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and social covariates, examine correlations between arts engagement and psychological and social wellbeing measures. Over 97% of respondents reported engagement in one or more arts activities at least once during 2018–2019, with reading and listening to music being the most popular activities. Arts engagement grouped into three distinct clusters: 19.8% constituted “low engagers” whose main source of engagement was occasional reading; 44.4% constituted “receptive consumers” who read and listened to music frequently and engaged with popular receptive arts activities such as cinema, live music, theater, exhibitions, and museums; and 35.8% constituted “omnivores” who frequently engaged in almost all arts activities. In agreement with existing studies, more arts engagement was associated with higher levels of wellbeing, social connectedness, and lower odds of intense social loneliness. In contrast, we found a positive association between more arts engagement, depression, and intense emotional loneliness for the most highly engaged omnivores. We conclude that arts engagement in the population forms specific profiles with distinct characteristics and consider implications for mental and social wellbeing.
Effects of different fertilization rates on growth, yield, quality and partial factor productivity of tomato under non-pressure gravity irrigation
Authors: Du Qing-Jie , Xiao Huai-Juan , Li Juan-Qi , Zhang Jia-Xin , Zhou Lu-Yao , Wang Ji-Qing
Published: March 2021

To select the optimum fertilizer application under specific irrigation levels and to provide a reliable fertigation system for tomato plants, an experiment was conducted by using a microporous membrane for water-fertilizer integration under non-pressure gravity. A compound fertilizer (N:P2O5:K2O, 18:7:20) was adopted for topdressing at four levels, 1290 kg/ha, 1140 kg/ha, 990 kg/ha, and 840 kg/ha, and the locally recommended level of 1875 kg/ha was used as the control to explore the effects of different fertilizer application rates on growth, nutrient distribution, quality, yield, and partial factor of productivity (PFP) in tomato. The new regime of microporous membrane water-fertilizer integration under non-pressure gravity irrigation reduced the fertilizer application rate while promoting plant growth in the early and intermediate stages. Except for the 990 kg/ha fertilizer treatment, yields per plant and per plot for each fertilizer application rate were higher than or equal to those of the control. The new regime could effectively improve PFP and reduce soil nutrient enrichment. Fertilizer at 840 kg/ha showed the optimum results by increasing PFP by 75.72% as compared to control. In conclusion, the fertilizer rate at 840 kg/ha has not only maintained the productivity of soil but also tomato growth and quality of fruit which makes the non-pressure gravity irrigation a potential and cost-effective way for fertilizer application.
Symptom Checklist-90-Revised: A structural examination in relation to family functioning
Authors: Gomez Rapson , Stavropoulos Vasileios , Zarate Daniel , Palikara Olympia
Published: March 2021

The accurate assessment of psychopathological behaviours of adolescents and young adults is imperative. Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) is one of the most comprehensive and widely used scales addressing this purpose internationally. Interestingly, associations between the different SCL-90 symptoms and family functioning have been highlighted. Nevertheless, the scale’s factorial structure has often been challenged. To contribute in this area, this study scrutinizes the psychopathological dimensions of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) in a large cohort of high school students (Mean age = 16.16; SD = .911) from Greece. It addresses this aim by: a) using first order and bi-factor confirmatory factor analysis, and exploratory structural equation models and; b) investigating the factors’ associations with family functioning. A total of 2090 public Greek High School students completed the SCL-90-R and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale IV (FACES-IV) covering family functioning, satisfaction and communication. Six different solutions, yielded by separate permutations of CFA, ESEM, and bifactor models, were evaluated. Based on global fit, the clarity, reliabilities and the family functioning links of the dimensions in the models, the ESEM oblique model with the theorized nine factors emerged as the optimum. This model had adequate fit, and symptom dimensions were well defined. Also six of the nine factors demonstrated external associations with family functioning, satisfaction and communication. The clinical assessment benefits of these results are discussed.
Poor adherence to TB diagnosis guidelines among under-five children with severe acute malnutrition in central India: A missed window of opportunity?
Authors: Singh Akash Ranjan , Kumar Amber , Shewade Hemant Deepak , Dhingra Bhavna
Published: March 2021

Background

In India, under-five children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) are referred to Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers (NRCs). NRCs screen the causes of SAM including tuberculosis (TB). The national TB programme recommends upfront testing with a rapid molecular test if TB is suspected in children.

Objective

We estimated the yield of and adherence to the TB diagnostic guidelines (clinical assessment and assessment for microbiological confirmation) among under-five children with SAM admitted at NRCs (six in district Sagar and four in district Sheopur) of Madhya Pradesh, India in 2017. We also explored the challenges in screening from the health care providers’ perspective.

Methods

It was an explanatory mixed method study. The NRC records were reviewed This was followed by three key informant interviews and three focus group discussions among staff of NRC and TB programme. Manual descriptive thematic analysis was performed.

Results

Of 3230, a total of 2665(83%) children underwent Mantoux test, 2438(75%) underwent physical examination, 2277(70%) were asked about the symptoms suggestive of TB, 1220(38%) underwent chest radiograph and 485(15%) were asked for recent contact with TB. A total of 547(17%) underwent assessment for microbiological confirmation. Of 547, a total of 229 gastric aspirate specimens underwent rapid molecular test (24% positive) and 318 underwent sputum microscopy (44% positive). A total of 223 were diagnosed as TB (195 microbiologically and 28 clinically confirmed) and 209 were initiated on anti-TB treatment. The treatment outcome was favourable (cure or treatment completed) for 70(31%) and not recorded for 121(54%). The main perceived challenges in screening for TB were poor team skills, lack of diagnostic facilities and poor understanding of the guidelines due to inadequate training.

Conclusion

Though NRCs provided a unique window of opportunity for the screening and management of TB among under-five children with SAM, the utilization of this opportunity remained suboptimal.
Minimal role of interleukin 6 and toll-like receptor 2 and 4 in murine models of immune-mediated bone marrow failure
Authors: Solorzano Sabrina , Kim Jisoo , Chen Jichun , Feng Xingmin , Young Neal S.
Published: March 2021

Immune aplastic anemia (AA) results from T cell attack on hematopoietic cells, resulting in bone marrow hypocellularity and pancytopenia. Animal models have been successfully developed to study pathophysiological mechanisms in AA. While we have systemically defined the critical components of the adaptive immune response in the pathogenesis of immune marrow failure using this model, the role of innate immunity has not been fully investigated. Here, we demonstrate that lymph node (LN) cells from B6-based donor mice carrying IL-6, TLR2, or TLR4 gene deletions were fully functional in inducing severe pancytopenia and bone marrow failure (BMF) when infused into MHC-mismatched CByB6F1 recipients. Conversely, B6-based recipient mice with IL-6, TLR2, and TLR4 deletion backgrounds were all susceptible to immune-mediated BMF relative to wild-type B6 recipients following infusion of MHC-mismatched LN cells from FVB donors, but the disease appeared more severe in IL-6 deficient mice. We conclude that IL-6, TLR2, and TLR4, molecular elements important in maintenance of normal innate immunity, have limited roles in a murine model of immune-mediated BMF. Rather, adaptive immunity appears to be the major contributor to the animal disease.
Key hepatic metabolic pathways are altered in germ-free mice during pregnancy
Authors: Han Lyrialle W. , Shi Yuanyuan , Paquette Alison , Wang Lu , Bammler Theo K. , Mao Qingcheng
Published: March 2021

Pregnancy is associated with metabolic changes to accommodate the mother and her growing fetus. The microbiome has been shown to modulate host metabolism of endogenous and exogenous substances. However, the combined effects of pregnancy and the microbiome on host metabolism have not been investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate how the microbiome affects overall hepatic metabolic processes during pregnancy. We assessed these changes within 4 groups of C57BL/6 mice: conventional non-pregnant, conventional pregnant, germ-free non-pregnant, and germ-free pregnant mice. We performed RNA-seq analysis on liver tissues and LC-MS/MS analysis of the plasma to assess the effects of pregnancy and the microbiome on hepatic transcriptome and untargeted plasma metabolome to describe metabolic changes as results of both pregnancy and lack of microbiome. By integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics data, we identified eight metabolic pathways that were significantly enriched for differentially expressed genes associated with pregnancy in both conventional and germ-free mice. Notably, of the eight pathways, 4 pathways (retinol metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis) which are all critical for normal pregnancy and fetal development were affected by the germ-free status in pregnant mice, but not at all in non-pregnant mice, indicating that the alterations in these four pathways caused by the lack of microbiome are unique for pregnancy. These results provide novel insight into the role of the microbiome in modulating host metabolic processes critical for maternal health and fetal development during pregnancy.
The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in inflammatory bowel disease in China: A case-control study
Authors: Ding Zhao-Hui , Xu Xiao-Ping , Wang Tian-Rong , Liang Xiao , Ran Zhi-Hua , Lu Hong
Published: March 2021

Background & aims

Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection remains high in China though the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between the prevalence ofH.pyloriand inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods

Hospitalized IBD patients including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) who had testedH.pyloriantibody were enrolled. Controls were chose from age- and sex- matched healthy physical examination people who hadH.pyloriantibody test in a 1:2 fashion (IBD patients:controls). IBD medical history was recorded. All patients were typed by the Montreal classification. Mayo Clinic score and the Harvey-Bradshaw Severity Index were used to evaluate their disease activity. Patients and controls that hadH.pylorieradication therapy before were excluded.

Results

Two hundred and sixty IBD patients including 213 CD patients and 47 UC patients, and 520 controls were involved in this study. The prevalence ofH.pyloriinfection in IBD patients (9.6%, 25/260) and IBD newly diagnosed patients (12.1%, 8/66), as well as CD patients (8.9%, 19/213) including CD newly diagnosed patients (10.6%, 5/47) and UC patients (12.8%, 6/47) was significantly lower than controls (29.8%, 155/520) (p= 2.796*10−10, 0.007, 5.723*10−9, 0.016, 0.014), while there was no statistically difference between UC newly diagnosed patients and the controls, and IBD patients with different disease type, disease activity and treatment history.

Conclusions

H.pyloriinfection had a negative association with IBD, especially CD.
Examining the antecedents and consequences of mobile travel app engagement
Authors: Tian Zemin , Shi Zhangyu , Cheng Qian
Published: March 2021

How and why customers engage with mobile travel apps is vital to mobile marketing of travel-related companies. This paper discusses the antecedents and consequences of mobile travel app engagement. Specifically, this study aims to understand how travel app attributes stimulate mobile travel app engagement and lead to purchase intention. A research model is established based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model and the model is tested by Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM). The results show that ease of use, compatibility, and UI attractiveness positively influence mobile travel app engagement, and in turn, affect purchase intention. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis shows that the attributes affecting mobile travel app engagement differ across different customer groups. This paper discusses some theoretical and practical implications.
Favorable prognosis of patients who received adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy after radiotherapy achieving undetectable levels of prostate-specific antigen in high- or very high-risk prostate cancer
Authors: Jeong Jae-Uk , Nam Taek-Keun , Song Ju-Young , Yoon Mee Sun , Ahn Sung-Ja , Chung Woong-Ki , Cho Ick Joon , Kim Yong-Hyub , Cho Shin Haeng , Jung Seung Il , Kang Taek Won , Kwon Dong Deuk
Published: March 2021

Introduction

To determine the prognostic significance of long-term adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (A-ADT) over 1 year in achieving undetectable levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) less than 0.001 ng/mL in prostate cancer patients with high- or very high-risk prostate cancer who underwent radiotherapy (RT).

Materials and methods

A total of 197 patients with prostate cancer received RT, with a follow-up of ≥12 months. Biochemical failure was defined as PSA ≥nadir + 2 ng/mL after RT. We analyzed clinical outcomes, including survival, failure patterns, and prognostic factors affecting outcomes.

Results

Biochemical failure-free survival (BCFFS), clinical failure-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival (OS) rates at 5 years were 91.1%, 95.4%, 96.9%, 99.5%, and 89.1%, respectively. Administration of long-term A-ADT significantly predicted favorable BCFFS (p = 0.027) and OS (p < 0.001) in multivariate analysis. Nadir PSA ≤0.001 ng/mL was an independent prognostic factor for BCFFS (p = 0.006) and OS (p = 0.021). The use of long-term A-ADT significantly affected nadir PSA ≤0.001 ng/mL (p < 0.001). The patients with A-ADT for 1 year or longer had better BCFFS or OS than those for less than 1 year or those without A-ADT (p < 0.001). The best prognosis was demonstrated in patients treated with long-term A-ADT and nadir PSA ≤0.001 ng/mL in BCFFS (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The addition of long-term A-ADT over 1 year to RT demonstrated good treatment outcomes in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. Achieving a nadir PSA value ≤0.001 ng/mL using combination therapy with RT and A-ADT is a powerful clinical predictor of treatment outcomes.
Individual-, household- and community-level determinants of infant mortality in Ethiopia
Authors: Kiross Girmay Tsegay , Chojenta Catherine , Barker Daniel , Loxton Deborah
Published: March 2021

Introduction

People living in the same area share similar determinants of infant mortality, such as access to healthcare. The community’s prevailing norms and attitudes about health behaviours could also influence the health care decisions made by individuals. In diversified communities like Ethiopia, differences in child health outcomes might not be due to variation in individual and family characteristics alone, but also due to differences in the socioeconomic characteristics of the community where the child lives. While individual level characteristics have been examined to some extent, almost all studies into infant mortality conducted in Ethiopia have failed to consider the impact of community-level characteristics. Therefore, this study aims to identify individual and community level determinants of infant mortality in Ethiopia.

Method

Data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey in 2016 were used for this study. A total of 10641 live births were included in this analysis. A multi-level logistic regression analysis was used to examine both individual and community level determinants while accounting for the hierarchal structure of the data.

Results

Individual-level characteristics such as infant sex have a statistically significant association with infant mortality. The odds of infant death before one year was 50% higher for males than females (AOR = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.25–2.20; p-value <0.001). At the community level, infants from pastoralist areas (Somali and Afar regions) were 1.4 more likely die compared with infants living in the Agrarian area such as Amhara, Tigray, and Oromia regions; AOR = 1.44; 95% CI; 1.02–2.06; p-value = 0.039).

Conclusion

Individual, household and community level characteristics have a statistically significant association with infant mortality. In addition to the individual based interventions already in place, household and community-based interventions such as focusing on socially and economically disadvantaged regions in Ethiopia could help to reduce infant mortality.
Early post-partum viremia predicts long-term non-suppression of viral load in HIV-positive women on ART in Malawi: Implications for the elimination of infant transmission
Authors: Landes Megan , van Lettow Monique , van Oosterhout Joep J. , Schouten Erik , Auld Andrew , Kalua Thokozani , Jahn Andreas , Tippett Barr Beth A.
Published: March 2021

Background

Long-term viral load (VL) suppression among HIV-positive, reproductive-aged women on ART is key to eliminating mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) but few data exist from sub-Saharan Africa. We report trends in post-partum VL in Malawian women on ART and factors associated with detectable VL up to 24 months post-partum.

Methods

1–6 months post-partum mothers, screened HIV-positive at outpatient clinics in Malawi, were enrolled (2014–2016) with their infants. At enrollment, 12- and 24-months post-partum socio-demographic and PMTCT indicators were collected. Venous samples were collected for determination of maternal VL (limit of detection 40 copies/ml). Results were returned to clinics for routine management.

Results

596/1281 (46.5%) women were retained in the study to 24 months. Those retained were older (p<0.01), had higher parity (p = 0.03) and more likely to have undetectable VL at enrollment than those lost to follow-up (80.0% vs 70.2%, p<0.01). Of 590 women on ART (median 30.1 months; inter-quartile range 26.8–61.3), 442 (74.9%) with complete VL data at 3 visits were included in further analysis. Prevalence of detectable VL at 12 and 24 months was higher among women with detectable VL at enrollment than among those with undetectable VL (74 detectable VL results/66 women vs. 19/359; p<0.001). In multivariable analysis (adjusted for age, parity, education, partner disclosure, timing of ART start and self-reported adherence), detectable VL at 24 months was 9 times more likely among women with 1 prior detectable VL (aOR 9.0; 95%CI 3.5–23.0, p<0.001) and 226 times more likely for women with 2 prior detectable VLs (aOR 226.4; 95%CI 73.0–701.8, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Detectable virus early post-partum strongly increases risk of ongoing post-partum viremia. Due to high loss to follow-up, the true incidence of detectable VL over time is probably underestimated. These findings have implications for MTCT, as well as for the mothers, and call for intensified VL monitoring and targeted adherence support for women during pregnancy and post-partum.
Formación inicial del profesorado brasileño en prevención del riesgo social según la legislación educativa
Authors: Ventura Gomes da Silva Magda Maria
Published: March 2021

Este artículo presenta los resultados del análisis de contenido realizado, a través del software Atlas.ti, a la legislación que regula la formación inicial del profesorado brasileño. En Brasil se accede a la carrera docente desde la Licenciatura en Pedagogía y desde el resto de las licenciaturas. Esta doble vía de acceso a la profesión docente obliga a analizar seis documentos legislativos. Los documentos analizados van desde las dos últimas leyes de educación vigentes en Brasil –Ley de Directrices y Bases de la Educación Nacional (Ley n.º 9.394, 1996) y la Ley que aprueba el Plan Nacional de Educación (Ley n.º 13.005, 2014)– hasta las cuatro Directrices Curriculares Nacionales. Las directrices curriculares nacionales, en Brasil, rigen la formación del profesorado en los cursos de Pedagogía (Parecer CNE/CP n.º 5, 2005; Resolución, CNE/CP n.º 1, 2006), así como en el resto de las licenciaturas (Parecer CNE/CP n.º 2, 2015; Resolución CNE/CP n.º 2, 2015). El objetivo de este artículo descriptivo de análisis documental del contenido de la legislación educativa vigente consiste en encontrar, tanto implícita como explícitamente, la capacitación ofrecida a los profesores en formación, sobre un aspecto primordial en la sociedad brasileña: la prevención del riesgo social. Las conclusiones de esta investigación cualitativa permiten afirmar dos hechos. Por un lado, se indica que en la legislación analizada existe una preocupación explícita desigual (dependiendo del documento analizado) por reducir manifestaciones visibles de riesgo social cristalizado. Por otro lado, se afirma que no existe referencia explícita a la formación docente para poder prevenir, desde la escuela, el riesgo social en las nuevas generaciones. Ante esta contradicción entre idea teórica y realización práctica se concluye afirmando que la prevención del riesgo social no debe considerarse una competencia docente en la formación del profesorado novel brasileño.
A digitalizáció és a társadalmi innovációk összefüggései
Authors: Karajz Sándor
Published: March 2021

A társadalmi innovációk folyamatát és eredményességét nagymértékben befolyásolja a technikai fejlődés. E fejlődés aktuális folyamatát Ipar 4.0-nak nevezzük. Az ipar 4.0 legfontosabb jellemzője a digitalizáció, amely jelentősen átalakítja a hagyományos társadalmi struktúrákat, befolyásolja az értékteremtő folyamatokat. A digitalizáció napjainkban egyre többször megjelenik a társadalmi innovációkban, megváltoztatva az ilyen típusú innovációs folyamatokat. Az Ipar 4.0 eredményei alapján a társadalmi innovációk területén is egyre több olyan megoldást találunk, amely a digitalizációra, az automatizálásra épül. A tanulmány célja a digitalizáció és a társadalmi innováció ismertetése és jellemzése, a két folyamat kapcsolatának értelmezése, illetve a digitális társadalmi innováció bemutatása nemzetközi példákon keresztül.
A kockázati tőke szerepe a digitális transzformációban, különös tekintettel a vállalati fejlesztőtőke-befektetésekre
Authors: Kosztopulosz Andreász
Published: March 2021

Az új, diszruptív technológiákra épülő digitális forradalom drámai hatást gyakorol a gazdaság működésére, a vállalkozói stratégiákra és a vállalati versenyképességre. Ebben az új környezetben a kockázati tőke, mind a formális, mind pedig az informális szegmense, az utóbbival kapcsolatosan főként a vállalatközi fejlesztőtőke, pótolhatatlan finanszírozói szerepet tölt be. Míg az intézményi befektetők szinte kizárólagosan a pénzügyi megtérülésre koncentrálnak, a vállalati fejlesztőtőke-befektetők esetén a stratégiai célok is felértékelődnek. A tanulmányban a kockázati tőke és azon belül is a vállalatközi fejlesztőke szerepét vizsgáljuk meg a digitális transzformáció előmozdításában a legfrissebb statisztikák és a nemzetközi kutatási eredmények tükrében.
Is Palatal Rugae Morphology Stable in Patients Treated with Myofunctional Therapy in Skeletal Class II Cases?
Authors: Ahuja Monika M. , Kamble Ranjit H. , Shrivastava Sunita , Gurudatta Navjeet S. , Bidwai Pooja S. , Nambiar Karthika M.
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND Palatine rugae are small transverse structures present in the anterior 2 / 3rd of the palate. These rugae are protected by various structures of the oral cavity. They are immovable structures but variations in the oral cavity may lead to alterations in these small structures. There have been many studies that have quoted changes in these rugae patterns with various tooth movements whereas various other studies demonstrate no significant changes. None of the studies in specific have mentioned about palatal rugae changes with myofunctional appliances. The objective of this research was to evaluate the palatal rugae morphology and its stability after myofunctional therapy, as expansion and movement of teeth might lead to changes in these rugae. METHODS A total of 90 maxillary casts, 30 of Class I, 30 of Class II pre-treatment and casts of same subjects after myofunctional therapy, patients age ranging between 10 and 13 years were selected for the study. Length, intermedial and interlateral distances, angle of divergence and position of rugae were studied based on Lysell Classification 1955 and Thomas and Kotze Classification 1983. RESULTS Secondary and fragmentary rugae were found to be statistically significant as they were increased in Class II samples compared to Class I. The rugae in Class II samples were found to be shorter and therefore significant results were seen. IM1, IM2, IM4, IM5 and IM6 were found to be statistically significant respectively. Similarly, IL2, IL4, IL5 and IL6 were appreciable. IM1 was found to be appreciable. IL1, IL2, IL3 and IL4 were statistically significant. Significant difference was found in mean rugae value among Class I and Class II pre-treatment groups. Statistically significant difference was found in mean rugae value among Class I and Class II pre-treatment group. Incisive papilla to posterior border of last rugae (IP-PBA) was found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Myofunctional therapy did have an effect on the rugae pattern. But the age group of 10 – 13 years consisted of growing individuals. Therefore, it could not be concluded as to whether the changes were because of growth taking place or because of myofunctional therapy. KEY WORDS Palatine Rugae, Myofunctional Appliances, Class II Malocclusion
Investigation of the Relationship between Care Giving Burden and Quality of Life of Caregivers of Cancer Patients
Authors: Eskin Serap Gokce , Yuksel Ruveyda , Bulut Hulya
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND We wanted to evaluate the effect of caregiver burden on quality of life of the cancer patient caregivers. METHODS This research was conducted as an analytical cross-sectional study. The study population comprised of caregivers of patients, who were receiving treatment in the chemotherapy unit of a branch hospital. 466 caregivers who participated in the study comprised the sample of the research. The research data was collected using “Demographic Data Form”, “Zarit Burden Interview”, and “Caregiver Quality of Life Scale-Cancer”. RESULTS Among the participants, 71.2 % were females and average age was 44.80 ± 13.76. It was concluded that certain qualifications of the caregivers such as educational status, income levels, another family member with cancer diagnosis, and having support in caregiving process affected the quality of life of the caregivers. Burden scale score was 32.41, and quality of life scale score was 89.83. It was determined that there was a negative and strong relationship between the burden scale and quality of life scale. Presence of another individual with cancer in the family, receiving support, conditions arising from the caregiving process, such as affected health, having marital difficulties were found to affect the burden of caregiving. CONCLUSIONS It was determined that there was a negative, strong relationship between the caregiver burden and quality of life. In line with these results, it is suggested that interventional and qualitative studies should be conducted on the caregivers in order to define their caregiver burden and evaluate their lifestyles. KEY WORDS Cancer, Care Giver, Burden, Quality of Life
Assessment of Stature from Hand Span - A Cross Sectional Descriptive Investigation among Undergraduate Medical Students
Authors: Kathapillai Mani
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND Hand size measurements are commonly used references when instruments are not available and still practiced in rural and even in urban areas of Tamil Nadu. Ancient literature evidences have adequate support for their usage. We wanted to correlate hand span length, hand breadth, and hand length with the stature of an individual. We also wanted to compare the level of correlation of hand span length between males and females. METHODS 214 students were recruited for this study as a convenient sample size. Male students were 122, females were 92. They were aged between 18 - 23 years of Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute. Hand span is the distance between tips of the casually extended pollex and minimus. RESULTS The results of Pearson’s correlations were moderately significant between height and the hand breadth (0.315), between height and weight (0.340), and between height and hand length (0.387). The extent of correlation was significant between height and the hand span (0.954) in case of males. In case of females, value of the correlation was also moderately significant between height and the hand breadth (0.619), between height and weight (0.392), between height and hand length (0.515) and between height and the hand span (0.973). CONCLUSIONS The stature was reliably estimated from the hand span length, and the same could be applied for the medicolegal, and forensic purposes. KEY WORDS Hand Span, Stature, Medico Legal, Anthropometry
Antimicrobial Resistance in Urinary Isolates of Escherichia coli with Special Reference to Fluoroquinolone Resistance and Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) Production
Authors: Rajowar Jyoti , Akoijam Sangeeta Dey , Sen Aninda , Akhter Kahkashan , Singh Shreshy
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND The commonest bacterial agent involved in causation of urinary tract infection (UTI) is Escherichia coli, both in the community as well as in the hospital. In this study Escherichia coli strains isolated from patients with UTI were studied especially for extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production and determination of fluoroquinolone resistance. METHODS This descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Katihar Medical College and Hospital from December 2018 to May 2020. Urine samples from suspected UTI cases were processed and bacterial isolates were identified as per standard protocol. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by Kirby-Bauer discdiffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. ESBL detection was done as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. RESULTS Out of 3938 urine samples received in the microbiology laboratory, 708 samples showed significant growth of various bacteria and candida species, out of these only 105 patients had urinary tract infection caused by Escherichia coli. The male to female ratio was 0.25:1. Isolates were highly sensitive to nitrofurantoin (80.9 %) followed by amikacin (72.4 %) and imipenem (71.5 %). Maximum resistance was seen with amoxicillin (98.1 %), cefuroxime (96.2 %), cefpodoxime and cefotaxime (90.5 %), ceftriaxone (85.7 %), nalidixic acid (91.4 %) and ciprofloxacin (70.5 %). 70.5 % were found to be ESBL producers and 29.5 % were non-ESBL producers. The double disc synergy test (DDST) could detect only 42.8 % of ESBL producers whereas phenotypic confirmatory disc diffusion (PCDDT) detected 70.5 % of ESBL producers. CONCLUSIONS It was seen in the present study that a high proportion of community acquired strains of Escherichia coli were ESBL producers. In this study, 70.5 % of Escherichia coli strains were ESBL positive. It can therefore be recommended that all gram-negative isolates be tested for ESBL production preferably by the PCDDT test as this test was found to be most sensitive for detection of ESBL production. The PCDDT test requires minimum laboratory infrastructure, is cheap and easy as compared to molecular methods. KEY WORDS Escherichia coli, UTI, ESBL, PCDDT, DDST
Interdisciplinary Management of Gummy Smile and Fluorosis – A Case Report
Authors: Mavely Arun V. , Mittal Akanksha , Basavaraju Suman , Gehlot Paras Mull , Manjunath Vinutha
Published: March 2021

An unpleasant smile can have a psychosocial effect leading to lack of self-esteem and a challenge in social relations. A perfect smile is a balance among 3 parameters: the white (teeth), the pink (gum) and the lips. A predictable smile correction warrants a multidisciplinary approach and good treatment planning. We planned for a minimally invasive interdisciplinary treatment approach for the restoration of a gummy smile with dental fluorosis in a young female patient. An interdisciplinary management of smile correction is crucial for successful results. Lasers for soft tissue management and minimal tooth preparation for direct composite veneer restorations being minimally invasive periodontal and restorative approaches were the key to success with exceptional patient satisfaction. Minimally invasive procedures in interdisciplinary dentistry should be embraced in the management of procedures requiring correction of both hard and soft tissues, for successful outcomes. Pre-treatment mock-up can build patients' confidence in dentistry and are useful tools for planning treatments with a predictable outcome. A beautiful smile is the fruit of a coordinated and balanced interplay between teeth, gingiva and lips. A compromise in any of these cornerstones can impair the beauty of a smile. Thorough knowledge and understanding about the various elements involved and their harmonious synchronisation makes smile makeovers a challenging task. One such challenge is the treatment of gummy smile. A gummy smile is a clinical condition that has gained tremendous focus and attention recently. Gummy smile is the excessive gingival display when a person smiles. It has been defined as a nonpathological condition causing aesthetic disharmony in which more than 3 mm of gingival tissue is exposed while smiling.1 Aetiology of a gummy smile can be multifactorial and the main factors being altered passive eruption (APE), vertical maxillary excess and upper lip hypermobility. The diagnosis must be accurate to deliver the appropriate line of treatment. Based on the complexity of the underlying aetiological factors involved, the treatment modalities also change from conservative approaches like aesthetic restorations and orthodontic tooth movements to periodontal and maxillofacial surgical procedures.2 Altered passive eruption (APE) also knows as “impaired passive eruption” is a clinical condition characterised by the coronally positioned marginal gingiva in relation to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ). Passive eruption is a physiological phase involved in the process of tooth eruption. As the teeth meet the occlusal plane, the soft tissue covering the teeth migrates apically till the CEJ is reached. Retardation in this process causes failure of the gingiva to migrate apically, resulting in short clinical crowns and excessive soft tissue exposure while smiling. This is visualised as a gummy smile.
When was the State Historical Museum of the South Urals founded?
Authors: Antipin N.
Published: March 2021

The article reconstructs the initial period of the history of the State Historical Museum of the Southern Urals (Chelyabinsk). The purpose of the article is to determine the date of foundation of the museum, for which a wide range of archival sources is analyzed. The modern museum adopted the July 1, 1923 as the founding date. The article proves that the museum’s founding date should be considered September 5, 1913, when a meeting of teachers, local historians and local authorities was held in Chelyabinsk, at which a decision was made to organize natural Museum of History and the local branch of the Ural Society of Natural History Lovers. The article shows that the period 1913—1923. in the history of the museum is filled with events, continuity from the first meeting to the opening on July 1, 1923 can be traced.