bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing service availability and readiness of healthcare facilities to manage diabetes mellitus in Bangladesh: Findings from a nationwide survey
Authors: Chowdhury Hasina Akhter , Paromita Progga , Mayaboti Cinderella Akbar , Rakhshanda Shagoofa , Rahman Farah Naz , Abedin Minhazul , Rahman A. K. M. Fazlur , Mashreky Saidur Rahman
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases (NCDs)as well as a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Around 80% diabetic patients live in low- and middle-income countries. In Bangladesh, there is a scarcity of data on the quality of DM management within health facilities. This study aims to describe service availability and readiness for DM at all tiers of health facilities using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) standard tool.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey was conducted in 266 health facilities all across Bangladesh using the WHO SARA standard tool. Descriptive analyses for the availability of DM services was carried out. Composite scores for facility readiness index (RI) were calculated in four domains: staff and guideline, basic equipment, diagnostic capacity, and essential medicines. Indices were stratified by facility level and a cut off value of 70% was considered as ‘ready’ to manage diabetes at each facility level.

Results

The mean RI score of tertiary and specialized hospitals was above the cutoff value of 70% (RI: 79%), whereas for District Hospitals (DHs), Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs) and NGO and Private hospitals the RI scores were other levels of 65%, 51% and 62% respectively. This indicating that only the tertiary level of health facilities was ready to manage DM. However, it has been observed that the RI scores of the essential medicine domain was low at all levels of health facilities including tertiary-level.

Conclusions

The study revealed only tertiary level facilities were ready to manage DM. However, like other facilities, they require an adequate supply of essential medicines. Alongside the inadequate supply of medicines, shortage of trained staff and unavailability of guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of DM also contributed to the low RI score for rest of the facilities.
Experimental investigation of orangutans’ lithic percussive and sharp stone tool behaviours
Authors: Motes-Rodrigo Alba , McPherron Shannon P. , Archer Will , Hernandez-Aguilar R. Adriana , Tennie Claudio
Published: February 2022

Early stone tools, and in particular sharp stone tools, arguably represent one of the most important technological milestones in human evolution. The production and use of sharp stone tools significantly widened the ecological niche of our ancestors, allowing them to exploit novel food resources. However, despite their importance, it is still unclear how these early lithic technologies emerged and which behaviours served as stepping-stones for the development of systematic lithic production in our lineage. One approach to answer this question is to collect comparative data on the stone tool making and using abilities of our closest living relatives, the great apes, to reconstruct the potential stone-related behaviours of early hominins. To this end, we tested both the individual and the social learning abilities of five orangutans to make and use stone tools. Although the orangutans did not make sharp stone tools initially, three individuals spontaneously engaged in lithic percussion, and sharp stone pieces were produced under later experimental conditions. Furthermore, when provided with a human-made sharp stone, one orangutan spontaneously used it as a cutting tool. Contrary to previous experiments, social demonstrations did not considerably improve the stone tool making and using abilities of orangutans. Our study is the first to systematically investigate the stone tool making and using abilities of untrained, unenculturated orangutans showing that two proposed pre-requisites for the emergence of early lithic technologies–lithic percussion and the recognition of sharp-edged stones as cutting tools–are present in this species. We discuss the implications that ours and previous great ape stone tool experiments have for understanding the initial stages of lithic technologies in our lineage.
Labour market marginalisation in young refugees and their majority peers in Denmark and Sweden: The role of common mental disorders and secondary school completion
Authors: de Montgomery Christopher Jamil , Norredam Marie , Krasnik Allan , Petersen Jørgen Holm , Björkenstam Emma , Berg Lisa , Hjern Anders , Sijbrandij Marit , Klimek Peter , Mittendorfer-Rutz Ellenor
Published: February 2022

Background

Due to the circumstances of their early lives, young refugees are at risk of experiencing adverse labour market and health outcomes. The post-settlement environment is thought to play a decisive role in determining how this vulnerability plays out. This study compared trends in labour market marginalisation in young refugees and their majority peers during early adulthood in two national contexts, Denmark and Sweden, and explored the mediating role of common mental disorders and secondary school completions.

Methods

Using registry data, 13,390/45,687 refugees were included in Denmark/Sweden and 1:5 matched to majority peers. Inequalities in labour market marginalisation were investigated during 2012–2015 in each country using linear probability models and mediation analysis. Country trends were standardised to account for differences in observed population characteristics.

Results

The risk of marginalisation was 2.1–2.3 times higher among young refugees compared with their majority peers, but the risk decreased with age in Sweden and increased in Denmark for refugees. Birth-cohort differences drove the increase in Denmark, while trends were consistent across birth-cohorts in Sweden. Differences in population characteristics did not contribute to country differences. Common mental disorders did not mediate the inequality in either country, but secondary school completions did (77–85% of associations eliminated).

Conclusions

The findings document both the vulnerability of young refugees to labour market marginalisation and the variability in this vulnerability across post-settlement contexts. While the contrast in policy climates in Denmark and Sweden sharpened over time, the risk of marginalisation appeared more similar in younger cohorts, pointing to the importance of factors other than national immigration and integration policies. Institutional efforts to assist young refugees through secondary education are likely to have long-lasting consequences for their socio-economic trajectories.
Evaluation of a credit-bearing online administered happiness course on undergraduates’ mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hobbs Catherine , Jelbert Sarah , Santos Laurie R. , Hood Bruce
Published: February 2022

Psychoeducational courses focused on positive psychology interventions have been shown to benefit student well-being. However, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying social restrictions, many educators have had to deliver their courses online. Given that online teaching presents a very different university experience for students, do psychoeducational courses provide similar well-being benefits in an online format? In this pre-registered study (https://osf.io/3f89m), we demonstrate that despite the challenges of remote learning, first year university students (N = 166) taking an online “Science of Happiness” course during the first term experienced positive benefits to mental well-being in comparison to a wait-list control group (N = 198) registered to take the course in the second term. Specifically, university students currently taking the course maintained their mental well-being over the semester relative to the wait-list control who showed a significant decline in well-being and increase in anxiety during the same period. Our findings suggest that the online-administered “Science of Happiness” course delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a protective effect on mental well-being. We also observed that engagement with the course was high, though there was no evidence that this factor mediated the positive effects we observed. However, we did find evidence that prior interest in increasing well-being influenced the effects of the course; participants with lower well-being interest showed less of a benefit. Our results suggest that online psychoeducational courses might provide a relatively cheap, flexible, and efficient means of providing support as part of an integrated approach to student mental well-being.
Visual perspective-taking ability in 7- and 12-month-old infants
Authors: Ikeda Ayaka , Kanakogi Yasuhiro , Hirai Masahiro
Published: February 2022

Understanding how we see the world is different from how other people see it is a crucial part of social cognition and is known as visual perspective-taking. Although previous studies have demonstrated that 14-month-old infants have the capacity to compute the visual perspectives of others, it remains unknown whether infants under 12 months also have this ability. In this study, we modified a conventional gaze-following experimental setting in which one toy was placed in front of a model and was hidden by a barrier (Blocked Line of Sight Condition), and another toy was placed without a barrier (Clear Line of Sight Condition). We examined the visual perspective-taking abilities of 48 infants aged 7 and 12 months by measuring the infants’ gaze shift towards the gaze-cued toy object with and without a barrier. The results demonstrated that 12-month-old infants could correctly follow a model’s gaze if the model’s line of sight was clear. In contrast, 7-month-old infants showed no evidence of such capacity. Our findings indicate that 12-month-old infants seem to have the capacity to compute the visual perspective of others.
A simplified method for evaluating swallowing ability and estimating malnutrition risk: A pilot study in older adults
Authors: Limpuangthip Nareudee , Komin Orapin , Tatiyapongpaiboon Teerawut
Published: February 2022

Objectives

The aim of this pilot study was to develop a Thai-version of a simple swallowing questionnaire, called the T-SSQ, and to evaluate the association between malnutrition risk and swallowing ability, determined objectively by tongue strength and subjectively by the T-SSQ. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to determine which swallowing indices better estimate malnutrition in older adults.

Methods

This cross-sectional study comprised two phases: Phase I, development and cross-cultural translation of the T-SSQ; and Phase II, application of the T-SSQ in 60 older adults. In Phase I, content and face validity of the T-SSQ was evaluated by 10 experts and 15 older adults. In Phase II, the convergent validity of the T-SSQ was evaluated by determining its association with objective tongue strength. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Thai-version of the Mini-Nutritional Assessment. Covariates included sociodemographic characteristics, and oral and health-related status. Adjusting for covariates, the associations between the two swallowing indices and malnutrition risk were determined using multivariable regression analyses. A cut-off value for low tongue strength was determined using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and sensitivity analysis between the swallowing indices and malnutrition risk was performed.

Results

The T-SSQ comprised 4-items of common signs and symptoms of a swallowing problem. Its content and face validity were verified. Older adults were considered as having a swallowing problem when at least one item was reported. Convergent validity of the subjective index was shown by significantly different tongue strength values between the participants with and without a swallowing problem (p for independent t-test = 0.014). Based on the highest area under the ROC curve, an 18-kPa cut-off value was chosen to classify low tongue strength. Having a swallowing problem and low tongue strength was significantly associated with malnutrition risk. The positive predictive value of the subjective swallowing index was 1.8-fold higher than objective tongue strength.

Conclusions

Self-reported swallowing problems determined by the T-SSQ can be used as a subjective index for evaluating swallowing ability in older adults. Subjective swallowing problems and objective tongue strength were associated with malnutrition risk. However, the T-SSQ estimated malnutrition risk better than the objective index.
Infection clusters can elevate risk of diagnostic target failure for detection of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Lopez Denise , Roberts Jill , Bourgeois Marie , Kootstra Joshua , Minnick Sharon , Black Allison , Mauss Joshua , Flores Nick
Published: February 2022

The C29197T mutation is one of 4 point mutations known to cause N-gene target failure (NGTF) in the Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 and Xpert Omni SARS-CoV-2 assays from Cepheid (Sunnyvale, CA). We describe a high local prevalence in January of 8.5% (CI 4.9–14.2%) for the C29197T mutation, which was over 3-fold higher than the prevalence estimated statewide in California during the same time frame, 2.5% (CI 2.1–2.8%). Using phylogenetic analysis, we discovered that this increase in prevalence was due, at least in part, to a disproportionately large infection cluster of unknown origin. This study emphasizes the importance of sequencing at the local jurisdictional level and demonstrates the impact that regional variation can have when assessing risk due to point mutations that impact clinical test performance. It also reinforces the need for diligent reporting of abnormal test results by clinical laboratories, especially during Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) periods, as additional information is gathered about the target organism and the performance of EUA-authorized tests over time.
The association between heart rate behavior and gait performance: The moderating effect of frailty
Authors: Ruberto Kayleigh , Ehsani Hossein , Parvaneh Saman , Mohler Jane , Fain Mindy , Sweitzer Nancy K. , Toosizadeh Nima
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Research suggests that frailty not only influence individual systems, but also it affects the interconnection between them. However, no study exists to show how the interplay between cardiovascular and motor performance is compromised with frailty.

Aim

To investigate the effect of frailty on the association between heart rate (HR) dynamics and gait performance.

Methods

Eighty-five older adults (≥65 years and able to walk 9.14 meters) were recruited (October 2016—March 2018) and categorized into 26 non-frail (age = 78.65±7.46 years) and 59 pre-frail/frail individuals (age = 81.01±8.17) based on the Fried frailty phenotype. Participants performed gait tasks while equipped with a wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor attached to the chest, as well as wearable gyroscopes for gait assessment. HR dynamic parameters were extracted, including time to peak HR and percentage increase in HR in response to walking. Using the gyroscope sensors gait parameters were recorded including stride length, stride velocity, mean swing velocity, and double support.

Results

Among the pre-frail/frail group, time to peak HR was significantly correlated with all gait parameters (p<0.0001, r = 0.51–0.59); however, for the non-frail group, none of the correlations between HR dynamics and gait performance parameters were significant (p>0.45, r = 0.03–0.15). The moderation analysis of time to peak HR, demonstrated a significant interaction effect of HR dynamics and frailty status on walking velocity (p<0.01), and the interaction effect was marginally non-significant for other gait parameters (p>0.10).

Conclusions

Current findings, for the first time, suggest that a compromised motor and cardiac autonomic interaction exist among pre-frail/frail older adults; an impaired HR performance (i.e., slower increase of HR in response to stressors) may lead to a slower walking performance. Assessing physical performance and its corresponding HR behavior should be studied as a tool for frailty screening and providing insights about the underlying cardiovascular-related mechanism leading to physical frailty.
Adenoma Detection Rates in 45-49 Year Old Persons Undergoing Screening Colonoscopy: Analysis from the GIQuIC Registry
Authors: Bilal Mohammad , Holub Jennifer , Greenwald David , Pochapin Mark B. , Rex Douglas K. , Shaukat Aasma
Published: February 2022

Introduction:

The impact of lowering the colon cancer screening age from 50 to 45 years on endoscopist adenoma detection rate (ADR) is not well studied.

Methods:

We used average risk screening colonoscopies submitted to the GI Quality Improvement Consortium, Ltd. registry from 2014-2020 among individuals age 45 to 75 years. We used one way ANOVA test to determine differences between ADRs among 45-49, 50-54 and 50-75 year-olds.

Results:

A total of 2,806,539 screening colonoscopies were performed by 814 endoscopists. The mean ADR in the 45-49 group was 28.6% compared to 31.8% for 50-54 group (p<0.001) and 36.3% for 50-75 (p<0.001).

Discussion:

Endoscopists might see a small drop in their ADR once a higher proportion of 45-49 year old patients start undergoing screening colonoscopy.
Diversity, Nest Preferences, and Forage Plants of Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) from West Halmahera, North Moluccas, Indonesia
Authors: Salatnaya Hearty , Fuah A M , Engel M S , Sumantri Cece , Widiatmaka Widiatmaka , Kahono S
Published: February 2022

Survey of stingless bee diversity, nesting preferences, and forage plants was conducted in West Halmahera across 134 collection sites. This research was aimed to determine species diversity, nesting preference and habitat, and dominant forage plants. There were three species found, the most common species being Tetragonula clypearis (Friese), followed by T. sapiens (Cockerell), and last T. biroi (Friese). Based on the morphology characters of each species, the key identification was provided. The most colonies were found in public houses (80.39%), followed by plantations (13.73%), and the community forest (5.88%), respectively.Most colonies nested in stone cavities, parts of the houses, wooden materials, tree trunks, logs, tree roots, bamboo, and sometimes iron cavities. The forage plants consist of forage plantation, crops, fruits, vegetables, ornamental flowers, wild plants and shrubs. The three species found were new record in West Halmahera. Bees lived in various hollow places that were safe for their colony. Bees made use of a variety of flowering plants and secrete resins around the nest site.
McCune–Albright syndrome: description of three clinical cases, features of diagnostics and treatment
Authors: Rozhinskaya L. Ya. , Sardaeva D. G. , Kalinchenko N. Y. , Chukanova A. M. , Tarbaeva N. V. , Buryakina S. A. , Vladimirova V. P. , Belaya Z. E. , Melnichenko G. A.
Published: February 2022

McCune Albright syndrome (MAS) is a rare disorder caused by a sporadic postzygotic mutation in the GNAS gene, which encodes the alpha subunit of the Gs signaling protein.

Permanent activation of the Gs protein leads to uncontrolled production of intracellular cAMP, and autonomic hyperfunction of target organs. Estimated prevalence of the disease – 1\100000 to 1\1000000. For the first time, MAS syndrome was described in 1936 as a triad of symptoms – fibrous dysplasia of bones (FD), spots on the skin of the color of «coffee with milk» and premature sexual development. However, it is now known, that the phenotype of the disease is much more complex. This is primarily due to the mosaic type of mutation in the GNAS gene, which determines a wide range of clinical manifestations, and presents certain difficulties in the diagnosis of this syndrome. Various endocrinopathies can be manifestations of MAS like an acromegaly, a hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, hypophospatemic osteomalacia as well as damage to other organs and systems, namely the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, hepato-biliary cardiovascular systems. This article presents three late diagnosed clinical cases of MAS in patients with coffee-milk spots and FD, multinodular goiter; in two cases in combination with acromegaly. We have demonstrated the possibilities of drug therapy for acromegaly in MAS, as well as the experience of using bisphosphonate for the treatment of FD.

The knowledge of clinical manifestations of the MAS, early diagnostics and possibilities of drug therapy in the management of these patients have the important prognostic value for improving the quality of patient’s life.
Strategi Dakwah Jaringan Pemuda dan Remaja Masjid Indonesia (JPRMI) di Kota Bukittinggi
Authors: Haq Arinil
Published: February 2022

This research is based on the problem that some youths and adolescents in the City of Bukittinggi behave in a deviant manner and far from being religious. Therefore, an appropriate da'wah strategy is needed, as carried out by the Indonesian Mosque Youth and Youth Network (JPRMI). The purpose of this study was to describe the da'wah strategy carried out by JPRMI in Bukittinggi City. This research was conducted with a descriptive approach, using the theory of Abu Al-Fath Al-Bayanuni on the Da'wah Strategy. The results showed that JPRMI's da'wah strategy in Bukittinggi City included sentimental strategies, rational strategies and sensory strategies which were implemented in the form of da'wah programs. However, the da'wah strategy implemented by JPRMI did not work well because of the inhibiting factors.
[Penelitian ini didasari oleh permasalahan bahwa sebagian pemuda dan remaja di Kota Bukittinggi memiliki perilaku yang jauh dari nilai moral agama. Maka dari itu dibutuhkan strategi dakwah yang tepat, sebagaimana dilakukan oleh Jaringan Pemuda dan Remaja Masjid Indonesia (JPRMI). Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menggambarkan strategi dakwah yang dilakukan oleh JPRMI di Kota Bukittinggi. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan pendekatan kualitatif dekskriptif, dan dikaji dengan menggunakan teori dari Abu Al-Fath Al-Bayanuni tentang Strategi Dakwah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa strategi dakwah JPRMI di Kota Bukittinggi meliputi strategi sentimentil, strategi rasional dan strategi indrawi yang diimplementasikan dalam bentuk program dakwah. Meski demikian, strategi dakwah yang dilaksanakan JPRMI kurang berjalan dengan baik karena adanya faktor-faktor penghambat.]
Participación social y capacidad cognitiva del adulto mayor con enfermedad crónica
Authors: Leitón Espinoza Zoila Esperanza , Fajardo-Ramos Elizabeth , Henao-Castaño Ángela María
Published: February 2022

Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre la capacidad cognitiva y la participación social del adulto mayor con enfermedad crónica. Metodología: Estudio observacional, muestra de 1110 personas adultas mayores que re presentan a las 12 provincias de la región La Libertad (Perú). Se utilizó el Instrumento Evaluación Cognitiva, Modificada Minimental State Examination (MMSE) y el Instrumento de Participación Social. Resultados: La evaluación cognitiva sugiere deterioro del 6,4 % y valores de normalidad cognitiva del 93,6 %. Se encontró una relación significativa entre el estado cognitivo con el género y la edad P < 0. 001. Las principales enfermedades encontradas fueron: Hiperten sión arterial (55,3 %), artritis (38,1 %) y diabetes mellitus (16 %). La participación social en su mayoría fue regular (62.2 %), buena (19,5 %) y deficiente (18.4 %). Se encontró signifi cancia estadística entre participación social y cognición. Conclusiones: La participación social y el estado cognitivo respalda la salud positiva, brinda compromiso o flujo de experiencias que son intrínsecamente satisfactorias, transmitien do un sentido del propósito y la oportunidad de relaciones sociales positivas, contribuyen do así a disminuir el riesgo de muerte a todas las edades. El compromiso social e intelectual va unido a una buena salud autopercibida y objetiva, así como a un buen funcionamiento cognitivo. Palabras clave: cognición, participación social, adulto mayor, cuidado, enfermería.
Kayu Sisa Setelah Penebangan Hutan Alam di Indonesia: Suatu Tinjauan Sistematis
Authors: Budiaman Ahmad , Audia Linda
Published: February 2022

Kayu sisa penebangan selain berperan penting dalam menjaga keseimbangan ekosistem hutan, juga berpotensi memberikan kontribusi ekonomi dan sosial. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menghimpun dan menganalisis hasil-hasil penelitian terkait kuantitas, sumber dan potensi pemanfaatan kayu sisa tebangan pada pengusahaan hutan alam di Indonesia. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode tinjauan sistematis. Pencarian literatur yang sistematis dan komprehensif dilakukan di SINTA, Research Gate, Science Direct, dan Google Scholar, yang dipublikasikan dalam kurun waktu 1990-2020. Kombinasi kata kunci yang digunakan dalam pencarian literatur adalah kayu sisa pemanenan hutan, limbah pemanenan hutan, kayu sisa penebangan hutan, limbah penebangan hutan, felling waste, felling residue,  cutting waste, cutting residue logging residue, logging waste dan forest residue.  Kayu sisa tebangan pada pengusahaan hutan alam dapat mencapai 45% dari volume kayu yang ditebang.  Sebagian besar penelitian melaporkan bahwa kayu sisa tebangan pada pengusahaan hutan alam berasal dari batang bebas cabang.  Sebagian kecil kayu sisa penebangan memiliki potensi sebagai bahan baku industri perkayuan. Pemanfaatan kayu sisa tebangan secara komersial masih mengalami kendala teknis dan ekonomi.ABSTRACTLogging residues, besides playing an important role in maintaining the balance of forest ecosystems, also have potential economic and social contributions. This study aimed to collect and analyze research results related to the quantity, source, and potential use of logging residues in natural forest concessions in Indonesia. This study used a systematic review method. A systematic and comprehensive literature search was conducted at SINTA, Research Gate, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, published between 1990 and 2020. The combination of keywords used in the literature search were timber harvesting residues, forest harvesting waste, logging residues, logging waste, felling waste, felling residue, cutting waste, cutting residue, logging waste, and forest residue. The volume of logging residues in the natural forest concessions can reach up to 45% of the volume of the felled tree. Most of the studies reported that the logging residues in the natural forest concessions came mainly from the branch-free stem. A small portion of the logging residue has potential as raw material for the timber industries. The commercial use of logging residues is still facing a technical and economical problem.
Ultrasensitive assay for saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection
Authors: Ren Annie , Sohaei Dorsa , Ulndreaj Antigona , Pons-Belda Oscar D. , Fernandez-Uriarte Amaia , Zacharioudakis Ioannis , Sigal George B. , Stengelin Martin , Mathew Anu , Campbell Christopher , Padmanabhan Nikhil , Romero Daniel , Joe Jessica , Soosaipillai Antoninus , Kulasingam Vathany , Mazzulli Tony , Li Xinliu A. , McGeer Allison , Diamandis Eleftherios P. , Prassas Ioannis
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Widespread SARS-CoV-2 testing is invaluable for identifying asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic individuals. There remains a technological gap for highly reliable, easy, and quick SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests suitable for frequent mass testing. Compared to nasopharyngeal (NP) swab-based tests, saliva-based methods are attractive due to easier and safer sampling. Current saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (RATs) are hindered by limited analytical sensitivity. Here, we report one of the first ultrasensitive, saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 antigen assays with an analytical sensitivity of <0.32 pg/mL, corresponding to four viral RNA copies/µL, which is comparable to that of PCR-based tests.

Methods

Using the novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL)-based immunoassay, we measured the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen concentration in 105 salivas, obtained from non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 patients. We then verified the results with a second, independent cohort of 689 patients (3.8% SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate). We also compared our method with a widely used point-of-care rapid test.

Results

In the first cohort, at 100% specificity, the sensitivity was 92%. Our assay correctly identified samples with viral loads up to 35 CT cycles by saliva-based PCR. Paired NP swab-based PCR results were obtained for 86 cases. Our assay showed high concordance with saliva-based and NP swab-based PCR in samples with negative (<0.32 pg/mL) and strongly positive (>2 pg/mL) N antigen concentrations. In the second cohort, at 100% specificity, sensitivity was also 92%. Our assay is about 700-fold more sensitive than the Abbott Panbio Rapid Test.

Conclusions

We demonstrated the ultrasensitivity and specificity assay and its concordance with PCR. This novel assay is especially valuable when compliance to frequent swabbing may be problematic.
An approach for determining allowable between reagent lot variation
Authors: van Schrojenstein Lantman Marith , Çubukçu Hikmet Can , Boursier Guilaine , Panteghini Mauro , Bernabeu-Andreu Francisco A. , Milinkovic Neda , Mesko Brguljan Pika , Linko Solveig , Brugnoni Duilio , O’Kelly Ruth , Kroupis Christos , Lohmander Maria , Šprongl Luděk , Vanstapel Florent , Thelen Marc
Published: February 2022

Clinicians trust medical laboratories to provide reliable results on which they rely for clinical decisions. Laboratories fulfil their responsibility for accurate and consistent results by utilizing an arsenal of approaches, ranging from validation and verification experiments to daily quality control procedures. All these procedures verify, on different moments, that the results of a certain examination procedure have analytical performance characteristics (APC) that meet analytical performance specifications (APS) set for a particular intended use. The APC can in part be determined by estimating the measurement uncertainty component under conditions of within-laboratory precision (uRw), which comprises all components influencing the measurement uncertainty of random sources. To maintain the adequacy of their measurement procedures, laboratories need to distinguish aspects that are manageable vs. those that are not. One of the aspects that may influenceuRwis the momentary significant bias caused by shifts in reagent and/or calibrator lots, which, when accepted or unnoticed, become a factor of the APC. In this paper, we postulate a model for allocating a part of allowableuRwto between-reagent lot variation, based on the need for long-term consistency of the measurement variability for that specific measurand. The allocation manages the ratio between short-term and long-term variation and indicates laboratories when to reject or correct certain variations due to reagent lots.
Language as semiosis: a neo-structuralist perspective in the light of pragmaticism
Authors: Shapiro Michael
Published: February 2022

Presented is an analysis an analysis of language structure in the round incorporating the elements of Charles Sanders Peirce’s pragmaticism and his apothegm “My language is the sum total of myself” together with a program for reorienting linguistics in the twenty-first century. Postulated as a fundamental principle is the idea that the locus of linguistic reality is the act, the creative moment of speech – a moment made possible by the existing structure of language with its general rules but which transforms that structure, so that linguistic structure is itself always in flux, always being modified by acts of speech. Adduced in illustrative support are data and analyses drawn from the author’s blog (www.languagelore.net) and from his recent book, The speaking self: Language lore and English usage (2nd edn., 2017). Included in Appendices form are fundamental concepts of Peirce’s semeiotic as summarized from Max Fisch’s classical description.
“Click” assembly of novel dual inhibitors of AChE and MAO-B from pyridoxine derivatives for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Jia Zhao , Wen Huiyun , Huang Saipeng , Luo Yane , Gao Juanjuan , Wang Ruijie , Wan Kaikai , Xue Weiming
Published: February 2022

This study fast synthesizes numerous functionalized pyridoxines using click chemistry and assayedin vitroas inhibitors of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase, and two monoamine oxidase (MAO) isoforms, MAO-A and MAO-B. Most of the obtained compounds demonstrate good AChE and selective MAO-B inhibitory activities in the micromolar range, especially one compound, called4k5, exhibits excellent inhibitory performance against AChE (IC50= 0.0816 ± 0.075 μM) and MAO-B (IC50= 0.039 ± 0.003 μM). Finally, a docking study is carried out, demonstrating potential binding orientations and interactions of the compounds in terms of the AChE and MAO-B active sites.
Design and analysis of closed loop control of power-converters for forming droop-controlled AC–DC subgrids of an islanded hybrid AC–DC microgrid
Authors: Shravan R. V. S. E. , Vyjayanthi C.
Published: February 2022

Hybrid AC–DC microgrid (HMG) is formed by connecting separate AC and DC microgrids with an interlinking converter (IC). In islanded mode of operation of the HMG its AC and DC subgrids are droop controlled to achieve power-sharing. The power flow between the subgrids happens through the IC, which regulates the amount of power being transferred based on the values of the frequency of AC bus voltage and the voltage at the DC bus. This paper presents the utilization of power-electronic converters to form the droop-controlled AC–DC subgrids of an islanded HMG which will be beneficial for further studies of IC and HMG. The detailed design and analysis of the closed-loop control system parameters of both the power converters is presented. The results obtained from simulations carried out in MATLAB/Simulink, and the real-time simulation results obtained by implementation using OPAL-RT OP4500 real-time digital simulator hardware are presented for the verification.
Deformation behaviour of strontium titanate between room temperature and 1800 K under ambient pressure
Authors: Taeri S. , Brunner D. , Sigle W. , Rühle M.
Published: February 2022

SrTiO3 was plastically deformed in compression along different crystal axes between room temperature and 1800 K. Data obtained from deformation experiments as well as from light optical and electron optical studies are presented. Irrespective of the compression axis orientation, the material exhibits a strongly pronounced ductile-to-brittle-to-ductile behaviour. For the <100> compression axis the slip system <110>{110} is active both at low and high temperatures. For compression axes other than <100> the <110>{110} system is active only at low temperatures whereas at high temperatures the <100>{110} system dominates. This behaviour is discussed in terms of dislocation core structures.
The deformation response of ultra-thin polymer films on steel sheet in a tensile straining test: the role of slip bands emerging at the polymer/metal interface
Authors: Baumert Birgit , Stratmann Martin , Rohwerder Michael
Published: February 2022

Forming of pre-coated sheet metal becomes of increasing importance in various fields of industrial application. In the recent years, ultra-thin plasma-polymer films have emerged as promising candidates as pre-treatments for steel sheet. Not much, however, is known about the forming behaviour of ultra-thin polymer coatings on ductile substrates, while an extensive literature exists for the reverse case, metal films on polymer, or brittle films on deformable substrates in general. For these cases, advanced models exist, mostly based on the so-called shear lag approximation. The heterogenous, highly localized strain and stress distribution, typical of ductile substrates, as well as out of plane displacements at the interface are disregarded, but cannot be neglected at the high strain levels of interest for elastic polymer films. This paper will focus on the role of slip bands on cracking of ultra-thin polymer films.
Relationships between chemical and tracer diffusion coefficients in strongly ionic crystals
Authors: Belova Irina V. , Murch Graeme E.
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we make extensive use of various sum-rules relating the phenomenological transport coefficients in randomly mixed systems in order to address cation chemical interdiffusion and tracer diffusion in strongly ionic crystals such as alkali and silver halides and alkaline earth fluorides, oxides and silicates showing Schottky disorder. We derive general expressions for the intrinsic and inter-diffusivities for the case of unbound vacancies. Next, we derive a general expression relating the chemical interdiffusivity and the cation and anion tracer diffusivities. This expression reduces to the well-known Darken-Manning and Nernst-Planck equations according to the relative magnitude of the anion mobility. This analysis is repeated for the vacancy-pair mechanism. It is shown that the resulting expressions have exactly the same formal structure as for the unbound vacancies case, but the internal structure of the transport quantities differs because of the different correlation behaviour of the vacancy-pair mechanism compared with that of unbound vacancies.
Misorientations and geometrically necessary dislocations in deformed copper crystals: A microstructural analysis of X-ray rocking curves
Authors: Mughrabi Haël , Obst Bernhard
Published: February 2022

In this study, the deformation-induced misorientations that are typically found in face-centred cubic single crystals deformed in single slip into stage II (and early stage III) of the work-hardening curve are discussed with respect to the experimentally observed broadening of X-ray rocking curves. By making use of well-established empirical relationships between characteristic features of the microstructure and the flow stress, some of the ambiguities of earlier interpretations of rocking curves could be avoided, and relationships between the half-widths of the rocking curves, the density of geometrically necessary dislocations, and the flow stress could be derived for both the tilt misorientations due to the kink bands lying perpendicular to the primary Burgers vector and the twist misorientations originating from the dislocation networks (grids, sheets) lying parallel to the primary glide plane. An evaluation of largely unpublished experimental rocking-curve data obtained on different crystallographic sections of deformed copper single crystals yielded a linear relationship between the broadening of the rocking curves and the flow stress. In terms of the predictions of the model developed, this implies that the ratio of the density of the geometrically necessary dislocations (that are responsible for the misorientations) to the total dislocation density remains constant during deformation, at least up to flow stresses of about 50 MPa. The absolute densities of the geometrically necessary dislocations are found to be a small fraction (at most ca. 5%) of the total dislocation densities. In terms of the evolution laws of deformation-induced dislocation boundaries proposed in the literature, it is concluded that both kink bands and grids/ sheets follow the characteristics of so-called geometrically necessary boundaries.
Nanoindentation applied on a tungsten–copper composite before and after high-pressure torsion
Authors: Schöberl Thomas , Sabirov Ilshat , Pippan Reinhard
Published: February 2022

Nanoindentation experiments were performed before and after severe plastic deformation of W–Cu composites at room temperature, 200, and 400 °C. The strains were induced by high-pressure torsion (HPT). For the highest degrees of deformation, a particle size of 10 – 20 nanometer was achieved. The nanohardness of copper increased remarkably with increasing deformation, the hardness of tungsten was enhanced only slightly. A temperature of 400 °C during HPT significantly lowered the Cu hardness, probably recrystallisation during HPT had taken place, the hardness of tungsten, however, kept unaffected. With decreasing particle size, the influence of the adjacent material on the measured properties increased as well as the scatter of hardness and modulus. Proceeding to very small particle and grain sizes, the particles became smaller than the size of the indent. Thus, hardness and modulus values reflected some average over that of pure tungsten and copper.
Inklusive Lerngruppen im DaZ- und DaF-Unterricht – am Beispiel neu zugewanderter tauber und schwerhöriger Schülerinnen und Schüler
Authors: Marx Nicole , Urbann Katharina
Published: February 2022

Inklusive Lerngruppen, wie taube und schwerhörige Schülerinnen und Schüler mit einem zusätzlichen Förderbedarf im Bereich DaZ, wurden bislang im Rahmen der Fremdsprachendidaktik kaum betrachtet. Der Beitrag versucht eine Zusammenfassung von Informationen über sprachliche Erwerbsverläufe, Lehrkraftausbildung und eingesetzte Unterrichtsmaßnahmen für diese Zielgruppe und stellt Desiderate für die Weiterarbeit in diesen Bereichen auf.
The effects of G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) on cardiac glucose metabolism in diabetic ovariectomized female rats
Authors: Shahbazian Mohammad , Jafarynezhad Faezeh , Yadeghari Maryam , Farhadi Zeinab , Samani Sanaz Lotfi , Esmailidehaj Mansour , Safari Fatemeh , Azizian Hossein
Published: February 2022

Background

Diabetic cardiometabolic disorders are characterized by significant changes in cardiac metabolism and are increased in postmenopausal women, which emphasize the role of 17β-estradiol (E2). Despite this, there are few safe and effective pharmacological treatments for these disorders. The role of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPR30), which mediates the non-genomic effects of E2, is mostly unexplored.

Methods

In this study, we used ovariectomy (menopausal model) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) rats’ models to evaluate the preclinical action of G-1 (GPR30 agonist) against cardiometabolic disorders. T2D was induced by a high-fat diet and a low dose of streptozotocin. G-1 was administrated for six weeks after the establishment of T2D.

Results

We found that G-1 counteracts the effects of T2D and ovariectomy by increasing the body weight, reducing fasting blood sugar, heart weight, and heart weight to body weight ratio. Also, both ovariectomy and T2D led to decreases in the cardiac protein levels of hexokinase 2 (HK2) and GLUT4, while G-1–treated female rats reversed these changes and only increased HK2 protein level. In addition, T2D and ovariectomy increased glucose and glycogen content in the heart, but G-1 treatment significantly reduced them.

Conclusions

In conclusion, our work demonstrates that G-1 as a selective GPR30 agonist is a viable therapeutic approach against T2D and cardiometabolic diseases in multiple preclinical female models.
From Persuasion to Acceptance of Closeness: La Projimidad as an Essential Attribute of God in Luke 10:25–37
Authors: Bonilla Diego Fernando Bedoya , Mora Carlos Arboleda
Published: February 2022

The linguistic method of the New Rhetoric and Argumentation (developed by authors such as Chaim Perelman and Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca) seeks to persuade an audience utilizing logical and practical arguments, in order to achieve adherence to a thesis that wants to be effectively communicated. This method can be applied to biblical texts to convince about an issue and produce a performative (transforming) effect. This article aims to apply some elements of this method to the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37. Jesus, with the argumentative force of metaphor, not only answers the question “who is my neighbor?” but also reveals an eventual attribute of God: closeness. In the Samaritan, who is moved with compassion to care for a wounded man, God’s proximity is revealed. In the Samaritan’s mercy, God is manifested as an event of closeness.
“Opioids are opioids” – A phenomenographic analyses of physicians’ understanding of what makes the initial prescription of opioids become long-term opioid therapy
Authors: Ljungvall Hanna , Öster Caisa , Katila Lenka , Åsenlöf Pernilla
Published: February 2022

Objectives

To explore prescribers’ understanding of what makes initial prescription of opioids become long-term opioid therapy (opioids >90 days).

Methods

A qualitative research design, phenomenography, was used for this study. Fifteen attending physicians working within primary, secondary and tertiary care in Sweden in the fields of general practice, rehab medicine, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, or obstetrics and gynecology were purposively recruited consecutively until categorical saturation was reached. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. The transcripts were analyzed and categorized by two researchers. A third researcher checked for consistency between the data and the categories. An outcome space was constructed representing the logical relationship between the categories.

Results

The analysis identified six categories: The addictive opioid, The deserving patient, The ignorant prescriber, The lost patient, The compassionate prescriber, and The exposed prescriber. The differences in conceptions among the categories were clarified through three main contributors related to opioid therapy: prescriber’s characteristics, patient’s characteristics, and the healthcare organization.

Conclusions

Opioids were understood as being addictive with long-term use promoting a downward spiral of tolerance and withdrawal driving the pain, leading to continued prescription. Long-term opioid therapy could be justified for patients who improved in function, and who were perceived as trustworthy. Inadequate follow-up of patients, poor training in pain management and addiction medicine, personal attitudes and beliefs about opioids, a perceived professional obligation to treat patients with pain, and lack of collegial support, were factors understood to promote clinically unindicated long-term opioid therapy.
A genetic algorithm for image reconstruction in electrical impedance tomography for gesture recognition
Authors: Hafsa Mariem , Ben Atitallah Bilel , Ben Salah Taha , Essoukri Ben Amara Najoua , Kanoun Olfa
Published: February 2022

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an imaging method for characterizing the inner conductivity distribution of an object based on the measured boundary voltages resulting from the injection of an AC signal, followed by an image reconstruction procedure. An algorithm tries to solve an ill-posed inverse problem making it challenging to reconstruct an accurate image. To overcome this, we propose a genetic algorithm (GA) for the image reconstruction with a non-blind search method considering prior knowledge about the possible conductivity distribution in the initial search space. To validate the algorithm, experiments have been conducted in a water tank. The algorithm’s performance was evaluated regarding image quality and processing time, being able to minimize the corresponding quality function to 0.0505 with 100 generations using the non-blind search and the uniform crossover/random mutation. Compared to traditional methods, the GA achieves significantly better image quality. It has been implemented as an image reconstruction algorithm for gesture recognition. EIT measurements have been conducted with six persons performing American sign numbers (0–9) resulting in 1800 reconstructed images. They were classified by a previously developed convolutional neural network (CNN), reaching a 92 % accuracy, which is a very good achievement in the case of multiple subjects.