bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atención al parto planificado en casa asistido por matrona/matrón en Chile
Authors: Pantoja Manzanarez Loreto , Castillo Aguilera Francisca , Cornejo Olivares Constanza , Hidalgo Faúndez Camila
Published: June 2023

Con la reintegración del protagonismo de las mujeres en procesos fisiológicos resurgió la idea del parto en domicilio. Objetivo. Describir los resultados obstétricos y perinatales del parto planificado en domicilio asistido por matronas de la Asociación Maternas Chile A.G., entre los años 2015-2021 en Chile. Material y Método. Estudio cuantitativo, observacional, transversal. Resultados. La población estudiada fue de 847 mujeres; 742 tuvieron un parto en casa atendido por profesional matrona. Un 49,12% de las mujeres terminó con un periné indemne y un 8,54% tuvo complicaciones posparto, de ellas, un 2,13% debieron ser trasladadas a un centro asistencial. Los motivos de traslado más frecuentes no tuvieron relación estadística significativa con la edad materna ni paridad. Un 6,2% de los recién nacidos tuvieron un diagnóstico adicional. Conclusiones. Los resultados de este estudio concuerdan con estudios internacionales que indican baja incidencia en morbi-mortalidad de los partos domiciliarios. Sin embargo, se hace imprescindible la instauración de políticas públicas y protocolos que establezcan directrices para esta atención y la necesidad de coordinación directa con la red asistencial, con el fin de favorecer los resultados maternos-fetales.
Adaptable middle-skilled labor: a neglected roadblock to photonics industry growth
Authors: Moore Elizabeth A. , Field Frank R. , Saini Sajan , Roth Richard , Kimerling Lionel C. , Westerman George , Kirchain Randolph
Published: June 2023

A roadblock to long-term growth of the photonics industry is the
availability of well-trained, adaptable middle-skilled workers. This
research characterizes the middle-skilled workforce gap, including the
quantity required and skills needed. We estimate that 42,000 new
technical middle-skilled workers are needed by 2030, requiring another
100 technician programs nationwide. Training skills along the supply
chain are critical; programs must emphasize testing, troubleshooting,
and process design. Middle-skilled workers trained in critical
thinking will enable an adaptable workforce capable of handling
technology evolution. Finally, recommendations for the academia,
industry, and middle-skilled training ecosystem are included to ensure
that the latter evolves with technology development.
High-precision temperature-compensated fiber Bragg grating axial strain sensing system based on a dual-loop optoelectronic oscillator with the enhanced Vernier effect
Authors: Gao Lingge , Wang Yiping , Tian Xiaozhong , Xiao Yunhao , Liu Qiang , Zhu Dan
Published: June 2023

A temperature-compensated fiber Bragg grating (FBG) axial strain sensor based on a two-dual-loop optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) with the enhanced Vernier effect is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensing head consists of two cascaded FBGs, one of which acts as a sensing FBG to measure both the axial strain and temperature and the other as a reference FBG to detect temperature. Acting as the optical carrier, the reflected optical signal of the sensing head is divided into two paths with opposite dispersion coefficients and slightly different lengths to achieve an enhanced Vernier effect. After being divided by a wavelength division multiplexer, the optical signal launches into two electrical paths with different electrical bandpass filters (EBPFs) for frequency division multiplexing. The EBPF I selects the microwave signal generated by the sensing FBG, while the EBPF II selects the microwave signal generated by the reference FBG. Therefore, the axial strain and temperature can be recovered by recording the microwave frequency within EBPF I, and the temperature can be interrogated by tracking the microwave frequency within EBPF II. The axial strain applied on the sensing FBG can be distinguished by solving the cross-sensitivity matrix. The results show that the sensitivity of the dual-loop OEO is much greater than that of the single-loop OEO. The maximum measurement error for the axial strain is 0.112µε, and the maximum temperature compensation error is as low as 0.024°C in the dual-loop OEO, which is far less than that in the single-loop OEO. The enhanced Vernier effect not only improves the sensitivity, but also reduces the temperature compensation error.
High-power two-color Kerr frequency comb generation on the gallium phosphide-on-insulator platform at SWIR and MIR spectra
Authors: Ji Houling , Geng Zhaoting , Cheng Weiren , Wu Pengzhuo , Yu Zhuoyu , Liu Yihan , Yu Xiaolun , Li Yi , Zhao Qiancheng
Published: June 2023

Optical frequency combs (OFCs) covering multiple spectral windows are of great interest as broadband coherent light sources. Pushing into high powers for traditional single OFCs as well as nonlinear frequency translated OFCs led to the narrowing of their bandwidths. Here, we present a hybrid integrated solution on the gallium phosphide-on-insulator (GaP-OI) platform to generate high-power two-color Kerr frequency combs at both the short-wave infrared (SWIR) and the mid-infrared (MIR) spectra. The design consists of a GaP-OI resonator with a partially etched gap for frequency comb generation at the two colors and a modal phase-matched strip waveguide for a second-harmonic generation (SHG). The resonator has a 3.25 µm wide anomalous dispersion window, which is enabled by mode hybridization and higher-order modes waveguide dispersion. The pump light at 1550 nm wavelength is frequency doubled from the 3100 nm wavelength light source, with a normalized SHG conversion efficiency of  793%W−1cm−2. We also propose the ring-bus coupler design to efficiently deliver optical power into the resonator while suppressing the leakage out of the resonator. The simulated two-color combs show a bandwidth of 87 nm above the −30dBm power level at the SWIR spectrum and a bandwidth of  749 nm above the same power level at the MIR spectrum. Our proposed two-color OFC generation scheme levitates the ceiling in terms of high power and broad bandwidth simultaneously on a single platform, paving the way toward monolithic solutions to integrated broadband coherent sources.
Quadrupolar susceptibility modeling of substrated metasurfaces with application to the generalized Brewster effect
Authors: Tiukuvaara Ville , Martin Olivier J. F. , Achouri Karim
Published: June 2023

We derive generalized sheet transition conditions (GSTCs) including dipoles and quadrupoles, using generalized functions (distributions). This derivation verifies that the GSTCs are valid for metasurfaces in non-homogeneous environments, such as for practical metasurfaces fabricated on a substrate. The inclusion of quadrupoles and modeling of spatial dispersion provides additional hyper-susceptibility components which serve as degrees of freedom for wave transformations. We leverage them to demonstrate a generalized Brewster effect with multiple angles of incidence at which reflection is suppressed, along with an “anti-Brewster” effect where transmission is suppressed.
Widely-tunable all-fiber Tm doped MOPA with > 1 kW of output power
Authors: Ren Chuanyong , Shen Yiqi , Zheng Yuhao , Mao Yuji , Wang Fei , Shen Deyuan , Zhu Heyuan
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we report on a high-power and widely tunable thulium-doped fiber laser (TDFL) based on a monolithic master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) system. The master oscillator is a Tm fiber ring laser incorporating a tunable bandpass filter to realize narrow linewidth and wavelength tunable operation. The MOPA generated 1010 W ∼1039 W of output power over a tuning range of 107 nm from 1943 to 2050nm with slope efficiencies of more than 51% and spectra linewidth of ∼0.5 nm. Power stability (RMS) in ∼10 min scale is measured to be ∼0.52%. A diffraction-limited beam quality factor M2 of ∼1.18 is measured at 920 W of laser output. Output power is pump-limited without the onset of parasitic oscillation or amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) even at the maximum power level. This is the first demonstration, to the best of our knowledge, on an all-fiber integrated wavelength-tunable TDFL at 2 µm with output power exceeding 1 kW.
Autophagy prevents early proinflammatory responses and neutrophil recruitment during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection without affecting pathogen burden in macrophages
Authors: Kinsella Rachel L. , Kimmey Jacqueline M. , Smirnov Asya , Woodson Reilly , Gaggioli Margaret R. , Chavez Sthefany M. , Kreamalmeyer Darren , Stallings Christina L.
Published: June 2023

The immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection determines tuberculosis disease outcomes, yet we have an incomplete understanding of what immune factors contribute to a protective immune response. Neutrophilic inflammation has been associated with poor disease prognosis in humans and in animal models during M. tuberculosis infection and, therefore, must be tightly regulated. ATG5 is an essential autophagy protein that is required in innate immune cells to control neutrophil-dominated inflammation and promote survival during M. tuberculosis infection; however, the mechanistic basis for how ATG5 regulates neutrophil recruitment is unknown. To interrogate what innate immune cells require ATG5 to control neutrophil recruitment during M. tuberculosis infection, we used different mouse strains that conditionally delete Atg5 in specific cell types. We found that ATG5 is required in CD11c+ cells (lung macrophages and dendritic cells) to control the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines during M. tuberculosis infection, which would otherwise promote neutrophil recruitment. This role for ATG5 is autophagy dependent, but independent of mitophagy, LC3-associated phagocytosis, and inflammasome activation, which are the most well-characterized ways that autophagy proteins regulate inflammation. In addition to the increased proinflammatory cytokine production from macrophages during M. tuberculosis infection, loss of ATG5 in innate immune cells also results in an early induction of TH17 responses. Despite prior published in vitro cell culture experiments supporting a role for autophagy in controlling M. tuberculosis replication in macrophages, the effects of autophagy on inflammatory responses occur without changes in M. tuberculosis burden in macrophages. These findings reveal new roles for autophagy proteins in lung resident macrophages and dendritic cells that are required to suppress inflammatory responses that are associated with poor control of M. tuberculosis infection.
Optimizing tuberculosis treatment efficacy: Comparing the standard regimen with Moxifloxacin-containing regimens
Authors: Budak Maral , Cicchese Joseph M. , Maiello Pauline , Borish H. Jacob , White Alexander G. , Chishti Harris B. , Tomko Jaime , Frye L. James , Fillmore Daniel , Kracinovsky Kara , Sakal Jennifer , Scanga Charles A. , Lin Philana Ling , Dartois Véronique , Linderman Jennifer J. , Flynn JoAnne L. , Kirschner Denise E.
Published: June 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world, causing ~1.5 million deaths every year. The World Health Organization initiated an End TB Strategy that aims to reduce TB-related deaths in 2035 by 95%. Recent research goals have focused on discovering more effective and more patient-friendly antibiotic drug regimens to increase patient compliance and decrease emergence of resistant TB. Moxifloxacin is one promising antibiotic that may improve the current standard regimen by shortening treatment time. Clinical trials and in vivo mouse studies suggest that regimens containing moxifloxacin have better bactericidal activity. However, testing every possible combination regimen with moxifloxacin either in vivo or clinically is not feasible due to experimental and clinical limitations. To identify better regimens more systematically, we simulated pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of various regimens (with and without moxifloxacin) to evaluate efficacies, and then compared our predictions to both clinical trials and nonhuman primate studies performed herein. We used GranSim, our well-established hybrid agent-based model that simulates granuloma formation and antibiotic treatment, for this task. In addition, we established a multiple-objective optimization pipeline using GranSim to discover optimized regimens based on treatment objectives of interest, i.e., minimizing total drug dosage and lowering time needed to sterilize granulomas. Our approach can efficiently test many regimens and successfully identify optimal regimens to inform pre-clinical studies or clinical trials and ultimately accelerate the TB regimen discovery process.
Effects of climate change on soil health resulting in an increased global spread of neglected tropical diseases
Authors: Wasan John Paul M. , Wasan Kishor M.
Published: June 2023

Although it is commonly accepted that climate change will increase the range and abundance of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through increased rainfall and temperature, the role of soil and influence of soil health on this effect is not well understood. We propose that understanding the influence of climate change on the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soils can explain how favourable environmental conditions for NTDs and vectors of NTDs to reproduce form. This, in turn, can assist local public health experts in predicting and managing the spread of NTDs. We also suggest that unlike unpredictable climatic factors, soil health can be directly managed through appropriate land use practices. This viewpoint seeks to start a discussion between soil scientists and healthcare professionals on how to achieve common goals and strategies required to manage the spread of NTDs.
Demographic, social, and behavioral correlates of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in a representative, population-based study of Minnesota residents
Authors: Abhold Jordan , Wozniak Abigail , Mulcahy John , Walsh Sara , Zepeda Evelyn , Demmer Ryan , Yendell Stephanie , Hedberg Craig , Ulrich Angela , Wurtz Rebecca , Beebe Timothy
Published: June 2023

Background

Monitoring COVID-19 infection risk in the general population is a public health priority. Few studies have measured seropositivity using representative, probability samples. The present study measured seropositivity in a representative population of Minnesota residents prior to vaccines and assess the characteristics, behaviors, and beliefs of the population at the outset of the pandemic and their association with subsequent infection.

Methods

Participants in the Minnesota COVID-19 Antibody Study (MCAS) were recruited from residents of Minnesota who participated in the COVID-19 Household Impact Survey (CIS), a population-based survey that collected data on physical health, mental health, and economic security information between April 20 and June 8 of 2020. This was followed by collection of antibody test results between December 29, 2020 and February 26, 2021. Demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal exposures were assessed for association with the outcome of interest, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Of the 907 potential participants from the CIS, 585 respondents then consented to participate in the antibody testing (64.4% consent rate). Of these, results from 537 test kits were included in the final analytic sample, and 51 participants (9.5%) were seropositive. The overall weighted seroprevalence was calculated to be 11.81% (95% CI, 7.30%-16.32%) at of the time of test collection. In adjusted multivariate logistic regression models, significant associations between seroprevalence and the following were observed; being from 23–64 and 65+ age groups were both associated with higher odds of COVID-19 seropositivity compared to the 18–22 age group (17.8 [1.2–260.1] and 24.7 [1.5–404.4] respectively). When compared to a less than $30k annual income reference group, all higher income groups had significantly lower odds of seropositivity. Reporting practicing a number of 10 (median reported value in sample) or more of 19 potential COVID-19 mitigation factors (e.g. handwashing and mask wearing) was associated with lower odds of seropositivity (0.4 [0.1–0.99]) Finally, the presence of at least one household member in the age range of 6 to 17 years old was associated with higher odds of seropositivity (8.3 [1.2–57.0]).

Conclusions

The adjusted odds ratio of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was significantly positively associated with increasing age and having household member(s) in the 6–17 year age group, while increasing income levels and a mitigation score at or above the median were shown to be significantly protective factors.
The effect of emotion regulation on emotional eating among undergraduate students in China: The chain mediating role of impulsivity and depressive symptoms
Authors: Yang Huimin , Zhou Xinyi , Xie Longjiao , Sun Jing
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to examine the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and emotional eating and the role of impulsivity and depressive symptoms in mediating this chain. Four hundred ninety-four undergraduate students participated in the study. A self-designed questionnaire was used in the survey from February 6 to 13, 2022, to finish our purpose, including the Emotional Eating Scale (EES-R), Depression Scale (CES-D), Short Version of the Impulsivity Behavior Scale (UPPS-P) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). The results showed that 1) difficulties in emotion regulation, impulsivity, depressive symptoms, and emotional eating were correlated; 2) impulsivity and depressive symptoms separately mediated the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and emotional eating; 3) impulsivity and depressive symptoms played a chain mediating role between difficulties in emotion regulation and emotional eating. The current study provided a better understanding of the psychologically related pathway of emotional eating. The results would be helpful for prevention and intervention of emotional eating among undergraduate students.
First virological and pathological study of Göttingen Minipigs with Dippity Pig Syndrome (DPS)
Authors: Jhelum Hina , Grand Nanna , Jacobsen Kirsten Rosenmay , Halecker Sabrina , Salerno Michelle , Prate Robert , Krüger Luise , Kristiansen Yannick , Krabben Ludwig , Möller Lars , Laue Michael , Kaufer Benedikt , Kaaber Kari , Denner Joachim
Published: June 2023

Dippity Pig Syndrome (DPS) is a well-known but rare complex of clinical signs affecting minipigs, which has not been thoroughly investigated yet. Clinically affected animals show acute appearance of red, exudating lesions across the spine. The lesions are painful, evidenced by arching of the back (dipping), and the onset of clinical signs is generally sudden. In order to understand the pathogenesis, histological and virological investigations were performed in affected and unaffected Göttingen Minipigs (GöMPs). The following DNA viruses were screened for using PCR-based methods: Porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV), which is a porcine roseolovirus (PCMV/PRV), porcine lymphotropic herpesviruses (PLHV-1, PLHV-2, PLHV-3), porcine circoviruses (PCV1, PCV2, PCV3, PCV4), porcine parvovirus 1 (PPV1), and Torque Teno sus viruses (TTSuV1, TTSuV2). Screening was also performed for integrated porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV-A, PERV-B, PERV-C) and recombinant PERV-A/C and their expression as well as for the RNA viruses hepatitis E virus (HEV) and SARS-CoV-2. Eight clinically affected and one unaffected GöMPs were analyzed. Additional unaffected minipigs had been analyzed in the past. The analyzed GöMPs contained PERV-A and PERV-B integrated in the genome, which are present in all pigs and PERV-C, which is present in most, but not all pigs. In one affected GöMPs recombinant PERV-A/C was detected in blood. In this animal a very high expression of PERV mRNA was observed. PCMV/PRV was found in three affected animals, PCV1 was found in three animals with DPS and in the unaffected minipig, and PCV3 was detected in two animals with DPS and in the unaffected minipig. Most importantly, in one animal only PLHV-3 was detected. It was found in the affected and unaffected skin, and in other organs. Unfortunately, PLHV-3 could not be studied in all other affected minipigs. None of the other viruses were detected and using electron microscopy, no virus particles were found in the affected skin. No porcine virus RNA with exception of PERV and astrovirus RNA were detected in the affected skin by next generation sequencing. This data identified some virus infections in GöMPs with DPS and assign a special role to PLHV-3. Since PCMV/PRV, PCV1, PCV3 and PLHV-3 were also found in unaffected animals, a multifactorial cause of DPS is suggested. However, elimination of the viruses from GöMPs may prevent DPS.
Comparison of Bayesian methods for incorporating adult clinical trial data to improve certainty of treatment effect estimates in children
Authors: Walker Ruth , Phillips Bob , Dias Sofia
Published: June 2023

There are challenges associated with recruiting children to take part in randomised clinical trials and as a result, compared to adults, in many disease areas we are less certain about which treatments are most safe and effective. This can lead to weaker recommendations about which treatments to prescribe in practice. However, it may be possible to ‘borrow strength’ from adult evidence to improve our understanding of which treatments work best in children, and many different statistical methods are available to conduct these analyses. In this paper we discuss four Bayesian methods for extrapolating adult clinical trial evidence to children. Using an exemplar dataset, we compare the effect of their modelling assumptions on the estimated treatment effect and associated heterogeneity. These modelling assumptions range from adult evidence being completely generalisable to being completely unrelated to the children’s evidence. We finally discuss the appropriateness of these modelling assumptions in the context of estimating treatment effect in children.
Niche suitability and spatial distribution patterns of anurans in a unique Ecoregion mosaic of Northern Pakistan
Authors: Rais Muhammad , Nawaz Muhammad Ali , Gray Russell J. , Qadir Waqas , Ali Syeda Maria , Saeed Muhammad , Akram Ayesha , Ahmed Waseem , Sajjad Anum , Leston Lionel
Published: June 2023

The lack of information regarding biodiversity status hampers designing and implementing conservation strategies and achieving future targets. Northern Pakistan consists of a unique ecoregion mosaic which supports a myriad of environmental niches for anuran diversity in comparison to the deserts and xeric shrublands throughout the rest of the country. In order to study the niche suitability, species overlap and distribution patterns in Pakistan, we collected observational data for nine anuran species across several distinct ecoregions by surveying 87 randomly selected locations from 2016 to 2018 in Rawalpindi District and Islamabad Capital Territory. Our model showed that the precipitation of the warmest and coldest quarter, distance to rivers and vegetation were the greatest drivers of anuran distribution, expectedly indicating that the presence of humid forests and proximity to waterways greatly influences the habitable range of anurans in Pakistan. Sympatric overlap between species occurred at significantly higher density in tropical and subtropical coniferous forests than in other ecoregion types. We found species such as Minervarya spp., Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Euphlyctis spp. preferred the lowlands in proximal, central and southern parts of the study area proximal to urban settlements, with little vegetation and higher average temperatures. Duttaphrynus bengalensis and D. stomaticus had scattered distributions throughout the study area with no clear preference for elevation. Sphaerotheca pashchima was patchily distributed in the midwestern extent of the study area as well as the foothills to the north. Microhyla nilphamariensis was widely distributed throughout the study area with a preference for both lowlands and montane terrain. Endemic frogs (Nanorana vicina and Allopaa hazarensis) were observed only in locations with higher elevations, higher density of streams and lower average temperatures as compared to the other seven species sampled. It is recommended to provide legal protection to amphibians of Pakistan, especially endemic species, through revision in the existing wildlife laws. We suggest studying the effectiveness of existing amphibian tunnels and corridors or designing new ones tailored to the needs of our species to prevent their local extinction due to ongoing or proposed urban development which might affect their dispersal and colonization.
Environmental protection tax and green innovation of heavily polluting enterprises: A quasi-natural experiment based on the implementation of China’s environmental protection tax law
Authors: Deng Juqiu , Yang Jiayu , Liu Zhenyu , Tan Qingyang
Published: June 2023

Environmental protection tax is an important tool for directing environmentally friendly growth in heavily polluting enterprises, but existing research has yet to provide consistent conclusions on whether and how environmental protection tax can promote green innovation in heavily polluting industries. The paper uses a double difference model based on data from Chinese listed companies in heavily polluting industries from 2012 to 2021 to empirically investigate whether environmental protection tax drives green innovation behavior of heavily polluting enterprises. The findings show that the environmental protection tax increases the degree of green innovation in heavily polluting enterprises, primarily through the anti-driving effect, in which an increase in environmental management expenses forces firms to increase their R&D investment, which improves the degree of green technical innovation. Furthermore, the environmental protection tax has a strong promotion effect on heavy polluters’ green innovation for state-owned enterprises and those in growing period or located in high marketization regions. However, this promotion effect is insignificant for non-state-owned enterprises and those in recession period, and environmental protection tax hinders green innovation of enterprises in mature period and those located in low marketization regions. Accordingly, it is suggested to improve preferential tax policies, increase investment in corporate green innovation and strengthen the supervision of environmental tax.
Incidence and risk factors of postoperative acute myocardial injury in noncardiac patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chang Yuan , Zhou Mengjiao , Huang Jing , Wang Yanqiong , Shao Jianlin
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Postoperative myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery is common and is associated with short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. However, the incidence and risk factors for postoperative acute myocardial injury (POAMI) are currently unknown due to inconsistent definitions.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed and Web of Science to identify studies that applied the change value of preoperative and postoperative cardiac troponins to define cardiac injury. We estimated the pooled incidence, risk factors, and 30-day and long-term mortality of POAMI in noncardiac patients. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42023401607.

Results

Ten cohorts containing 11,494 patients were included for analysis. The pooled incidence of POAMI was 20% (95% CI: 16% to 23%). Preoperative hypertension (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.30 to 1.66), cardiac failure (OR: 2.63; 95% CI: 2.01 to 3.44), renal impairment (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.48 to 1.86), diabetes (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.27 to 1.61), and preoperative beta-blocker intake (OR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.49) were the risk factors for POAMI. Age (mean difference: 2.08 years; 95% CI: -0.47 to 4.62), sex (male, OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.77 to 1.76), body mass index (mean difference: 0.35; 95% CI: -0.86 to 1.57), preoperative coronary artery disease (OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 0.85 to 5.21), stroke (OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.50 to 1.59) and preoperative statins intake (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.21 to 2.02) were not associated with POAMI. Patients with POAMI had higher preoperative hsTnT levels (mean difference: 5.92 ng/L; 95% CI: 4.17 to 7.67) and lower preoperative hemoglobin levels (mean difference: -1.29 g/dL; 95% CI: -1.43 to -1.15) than patients without.

Conclusion

Based on this meta-analysis, approximately 1 in 5 of noncardiac patients develop POAMI. However, the lack of a universally recognized definition for POAMI, which incorporates diverse cardiac biomarkers and patient groups, poses a challenge in accurately characterizing its incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes.
Development of a rapid and sensitive real-time diagnostic assay to detect and quantify Aphanomyces invadans, the causative agent of epizootic ulcerative syndrome
Authors: Ho Diem Tho , Kim Nameun , Lee Yoonhang , Yun Dongbin , Sung MinJi , Mansour El-Matbouli , Pradhan P. K. , Sood Neeraj , Kim Wi-Sik , Park Chan-Il , Kim Ki Hong , Kim Do-Hyung
Published: June 2023

The oomycete Aphanomyces invadans causes epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS), a World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH)-listed disease that has seriously impacted a wide range of fish worldwide. Currently, only three conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are recommended for the detection of A. invadans. The robust quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay has recently become more important due to its highly accurate nature and the applicability of qPCR-based environmental DNA (eDNA) detection in the monitoring of pathogens in aquatic environments. Therefore, in this study, we developed a novel TaqMan probe-based qPCR method to sensitively and quantitatively detect A. invadans. The assay limit of detection was determined using 10-fold serial dilutions of linearized A. invadans plasmid. Assay sensitivity was assessed in the presence of interfering substances and compared to three WOAH-listed primers using the mycelia and zoospores of A. invadans with and without fish muscle tissue. The assay specificity was also theoretically and experimentally assessed against other oomycetes, fish muscle tissue, and water samples. The assay’s repeatability and reproducibility were determined. In this study, the limit of detection of the developed assay was 7.24 copies of A. invadans genomic DNA per reaction (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.75 to 19.05 copies/reaction). The assay showed the same sensitivity in the presence of other substances. Compared to the WOAH-recommended PCR assays, this assay had 10-times higher sensitivity for all tested samples. There were no cross-reactions with other closely related oomycetes, fish muscle, or water samples, indicating that the assay was highly specific for A. invadans. The repeatability and reproducibility tests showed little variation, ranging from 0.1–0.9% and 0.04–1.1%, respectively, indicating the high consistency, repeatability, and reliability of the developed assay. This highly rapid, sensitive, specific, and consistent EUS qPCR assay would be of importance in transboundary disease management and the monitoring of pathogens in aquatic environments.
A novel systems solution for accurate colorimetric measurement through smartphone-based augmented reality
Authors: Zhang Guixiang , Song Shuang , Panescu Jenny , Shapiro Nicholas , Dannemiller Karen C. , Qin Rongjun
Published: June 2023

Quantifying the colors of objects is useful in a wide range of applications, including medical diagnosis, agricultural monitoring, and food safety. Accurate colorimetric measurement of objects is a laborious process normally performed through a color matching test in the laboratory. A promising alternative is to use digital images for colorimetric measurement, due to their portability and ease of use. However, image-based measurements suffer from errors caused by the non-linear image formation process and unpredictable environmental lighting. Solutions to this problem often perform relative color correction among multiple images through discrete color reference boards, which may yield biased results due to the lack of continuous observation. In this paper, we propose a smartphone-based solution, that couples a designated color reference board with a novel color correction algorithm, to achieve accurate and absolute color measurements. Our color reference board contains multiple color stripes with continuous color sampling at the sides. A novel correction algorithm is proposed to utilize a first-order spatial varying regression model to perform the color correction, which leverages both the absolute color magnitude and scale to maximize the correction accuracy. The proposed algorithm is implemented as a “human-in-the-loop” smartphone application, where users are guided by an augmented reality scheme with a marker tracking module to take images at an angle that minimizes the impact of non-Lambertian reflectance. Our experimental results show that our colorimetric measurement is device independent and can reduce up to 90% color variance for images collected under different lighting conditions. In the application of reading pH values from test papers, we show that our system performs 200% better than human reading. The designed color reference board, the correction algorithm, and our augmented reality guiding approach form an integrated system as a novel solution to measure color with increased accuracy. This technique has the flexibility to improve color reading performance in systems beyond existing applications, evidenced by both qualitative and quantitative experiments on example applications such as pH-test reading.
Monitoring medicine prescriptions before, during and after pregnancy in Italy
Authors: Fortinguerra Filomena , Belleudi Valeria , Poggi Francesca Romana , Perna Serena , Bortolus Renata , Donati Serena , D’Aloja Paola , Da Cas Roberto , Clavenna Antonio , Locatelli Anna , Addis Antonio , Davoli Marina , Trotta Francesco ,   MoM-Net group
Published: June 2023

Background

The use of medications during pregnancy is a common event worldwide. Monitoring medicine prescriptions in clinical practice is a necessary step in assessing the impact of therapeutic choices in pregnant women as well as the adherence to clinical guidelines. The aim of this study was to provide prevalence data on medication use before, during and after pregnancy in the Italian population.

Methods

A retrospective prevalence study using administrative healthcare databases was conducted. A cohort of 449,012 pregnant women (15–49 years) residing in eight Italian regions (59% of national population), who delivered in 2016–2018, were enrolled. The prevalence of medication use was estimated as the proportion (%) of pregnant women with any prescription.

Results

About 73.1% of enrolled women received at least one drug prescription during pregnancy, 57.1% in pre-pregnancy and 59.3% in postpartum period. The prevalence of drug prescriptions increased with maternal age, especially during the 1sttrimester of pregnancy. The most prescribed medicine was folic acid (34.6%), followed by progesterone (19%), both concentrated in 1sttrimester of pregnancy (29.2% and 14.8%, respectively). Eight of the top 30 most prescribed medications were antibiotics, whose prevalence was higher during 2ndtrimester of pregnancy in women ≥ 40 years (21.6%). An increase in prescriptions of anti-hypertensives, antidiabetics, thyroid hormone and heparin preparations was observed during pregnancy; on the contrary, a decrease was found for chronic therapies, such as anti-epileptics or lipid-modifying agents.

Conclusions

This study represents the largest and most representative population-based study illustrating the medication prescription patterns before, during and after pregnancy in Italy. The observed prescriptive trends were comparable to those reported in other European countries. Given the limited information on medication use in Italian pregnant women, the performed analyses provide an updated overview of drug prescribing in this population, which can help to identify critical aspects in clinical practice and to improve the medical care of pregnant and childbearing women in Italy.
Global metabolomics study on the pathogenesis of pediatric medulloblastoma via UPLC- Q/E-MS/MS
Authors: Huang Zhehao , Li Xianglan , Wei Bo , Yu Yin
Published: June 2023

Medulloblastoma is one of the most frequent malignant brain tumors in infancy and childhood. Early diagnosis and treatment are quite crucial for the prognosis. However, the pathogenesis of medulloblastoma is still not completely clarified. High-resolution mass spectrometry has enabled a comprehensive investigation on the mechanism of disease from the perspective of metabolism. Herein, we compared the difference of metabolic profiles of serum between medulloblastoma (n = 33) and healthy control (HC, n = 16) by using UPLC-Q/E-MS/MS. Principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) intuitively revealed the significantly distinct metabolic profiles between medulloblastoma and HC (p < 0.01 for permutation test on OPLS-DA model). Total of 25 significantly changed metabolites were identified. ROC analysis reported that six of them (Phosphatidic acid (8:0/15:0), 3’-Sialyllactose, Isocoproporphyrin, Acetylspermidine, Fructoseglycine and 3-Hydroxydodecanedioate) showed high specificity and precision to be potential diagnosis biomarkers (AUC > 0.98). Functional analysis discovered that there are four pathways notably perturbed for medulloblastoma. These pathways are related with the dysfunction of arachidonic acid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and folate-related metabolism. The target intervention on these pathways may reduce the mortality of medulloblastoma.
Behavioral health and experience of violence among cisgender heterosexual and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, and asexual (LGBTQA+) adolescents in Thailand
Authors: Wichaidit Wit , Mattawanon Natnita , Somboonmark Witchaya , Prodtongsom Nattaphorn , Chongsuvivatwong Virasakdi , Assanangkornchai Sawitri
Published: June 2023

Background

Assessment of health disparities between population groups is essential to provide basic information for resource prioritization in public health. The objective of this study is to assess the extent that behavioral health outcomes and experience of violence varied between cisgender heterosexual adolescents and those who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, and asexual (LGBTQA+) in the 5th National School Survey on Alcohol Consumption, Substance Use and Other Health-Risk Behaviors.

Methods

We surveyed secondary school students in years 7, 9 and 11 in 113 schools in Thailand. We used self-administered questionnaires to ask participants about their gender identity and sexual orientation and classified participants as cisgender heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, or asexual, stratified by sex assigned at birth. We also measured depressive symptoms, suicidality, sexual behaviors, alcohol and tobacco use, drug use, and past-year experience of violence. We analyzed the survey data using descriptive statistics with adjustment for sampling weights.

Results

Our analyses included data from 23,659 participants who returned adequately-completed questionnaires. Among participants included in our analyses, 23 percent identified as LGBTQA+ with the most common identity being bisexual/polysexual girls. Participants who identified as LGBTQA+ were more likely to be in older year levels and attending general education schools rather than vocational schools. LGBTQA+ participants generally had higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, suicidality, and alcohol use than cisgender heterosexual participants, whereas the prevalence of sexual behaviors, lifetime history of illicit drug use, and past-year history of violence varied widely between groups.

Conclusion

We found disparities in behavioral health between cisgender heterosexual participants and LGBTQA+ participants. However, issues regarding potential misclassification of participants, limitation of past-year history of behaviors to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of data from youths outside the formal education system should be considered as caveats in the interpretation of the study findings.
Determinants of knowledge of the highest conception probability period among reproductive age women in Low-Income African countries: A multilevel analysis based on the recent Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Diress Mengistie , Gashaneh Belay Daniel , Abdu Seid Mohammed , Birhan Eshetu Habitu , Ayelign Kibret Anteneh , Chilot Dagmawi , Melese Mihret , Sinamaw Deresse , Simegn Wudneh , Mohammed Seid Abdulwase , Agmas Andualem Amare , Anmut Bitew Desalegn , Yismaw Gela Yibeltal
Published: June 2023

Background

Adequate knowledge about the highest conception probability period in the reproductive cycle allows individuals and couples to attain or avoid their fertility probabilities. Poor knowledge of conception probability period leads to undesirable outcomes like unwanted pregnancy, miscarriage, and abortion. Determinants of knowledge of highest conception probability period were not well studied on economically disadvantaged countries. Therefore, our study aimed to identify individual and community level factors of knowledge of the highest conception probability period among women of reproductive age in low income African countries.

Methods

The appended and latest Demographic and Health Survey datasets of 15 low-income African countries was used for analysis. Model fitness was done using the Intraclass correlation coefficient, median odds ratio, and deviance. A model with the lowest deviance (model-III) was selected as the best model. Multilevel logistic regression model was used to identify determinant factors of knowledge of the highest conception probability period. In the final model, adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was reported and variables with p<0.05 were considered as statistically significant with knowledge of the highest conception probability period.

Results

Total weighted sample of 235,574 reproductive aged women with a median age of 27 years were included. The correct knowledge of the highest conception probability period among the study participants was 24.04% (95%CI = 23.87–24.22%). Maternal age groups ((20–24 (AOR = 1.49; 95%CI = 1.44–1.55), 25–29 (AOR = 1.62; 1.56–1.68), 35–39 (AOR = 1.76; 1.68–1.84), 40–44 (AOR = 1.75; 1.67–1.83), and 45–49 (AOR = 1.83; 1.74–1.93)), marital status((currently in union (AOR = 1.75; 1.16; 1.13–1.20), formerly in union (AOR = 1.75; 1.11; 1.06–1.16)), better educational status ((secondary (AOR = 2.08; 2.01–2.14) and higher(AOR = 3.36; 3.18–3.55)), higher wealth index ((middle (AOR = 1.08; 1.04–1.12), richer (AOR = 1.24; 1.20–1.28), and richest (AOR = 1.51; 1.45–1.57)), knowledge of contraceptive methods (AOR = 2.63; 2.49–2.77), current contraceptive use (AOR = 1.14; 1.11–1.16), and urban residency (AOR = 1.26; 1.21–1.29) were statistically significant with knowledge of the highest conception probability period.

Conclusion

In this study, knowledge of the highest conception probability period among women of reproductive age in low-income African countries was low. Therefore, improving the fertility awareness through comprehensive reproductive education or counseling could be one of the operational ways to control unintended pregnancy.
Uncovering tomato candidate genes associated with drought tolerance using Solanum pennellii introgression lines
Authors: Pessoa Herika Paula , Dariva Françoise Dalprá , Copati Mariane Gonçalves Ferreira , de Paula Ramon Gonçalves , de Oliveira Dias Felipe , Gomes Carlos Nick
Published: June 2023

Tomato plants are sensitive to drought stress throughout their growth cycle. To be considered drought-tolerant, a cultivar should display tolerance at all developmental stages. This study aimed to evaluate whetherSolanum pennelliiintrogression lines (ILs) previously selected as drought-tolerant during germination/seedling growth maintained this tolerance in the vegetative/reproductive stage. We then investigated these ILs to uncover candidate genes. The plants were subjected to two different environmental conditions: well-watered and drought-stressed (water withheld for ≤ 20 d after flowering). Phenotyping for morphological, physiological, fruit quality, and yield-related traits was performed, and the data was analyzed using a mixed-model approach. Using a multi-trait index that relies on factor analysis and genotype-ideotype distance (FAI-BLUP index), the genotypes were ordered based on how far they were from the drought-tolerant ideotype. Afterward, the tomato IL population map furnished by the SOL Genomics Network was utilized to identify introgressed segments of significance for the identification of candidate genes. Significant genotypic differences were found in the yield, water content, mean weight, length, and width of the fruit, the percentage of fruits displaying blossom-end rot, and titratable acidity. The drought-tolerance ideotype was built considering the maximum values for the fruit water content, number of fruits, mean fruit weight, and yield, minimum values for blossom-end rot, and mean values for titratable acidity. IL 1-4-18, IL 7-4-1, IL 7–1, IL 7-5-5, and IL 1–2 were ranked above M-82 and therefore considered drought-tolerant during the vegetative/reproductive stage. IL 1-4-18 and IL1-2 sustained drought tolerance displayed during germination/seedling growth into the vegetative/reproductive stage. The following candidate genes associated with drought tolerance were identified:AHG2,At1g55840,PRXIIF,SAP5,REF4-RELATED 1,PRXQ,CFS1,LCD,CCD1, andSCS. Because they are already associated with genetic markers, they can be transferred to elite tomato cultivars through marker-assisted technology after validation.
Examining the characteristics of social and behavior change communication intervention costs in low- and middle-income countries: A hedonic method approach
Authors: Bollinger Lori A. , Bellows Nicole , Linder Rachael
Published: June 2023

Understanding the costs of health interventions is critical for generating budgets, planning and managing programs, and conducting economic evaluations to use when allocating scarce resources. Here, we utilize techniques from the hedonic pricing literature to estimate the characteristics of the costs of social and behavior change communication (SBCC) interventions, which aim to improve health-seeking behaviors and important intermediate determinants to behavior change. SBCC encompasses a wide range of interventions including mass media (e.g., radio, television), mid media (e.g., community announcements, live dramas), digital media (e.g., short message service/phone reminders, social media), interpersonal communication (e.g., individual or group counseling), and provider-based SBCC interventions focused on improving provider attitudes and provider-client communication. While studies have reported on the costs of specific SBCC interventions in low- and middle-income countries, little has been done to examine SBCC costs across multiple studies and interventions. We use compiled data across multiple SBCC intervention types, health areas, and low- and middle-income countries to explore the characteristics of the costs of SBCC interventions. Despite the wide variation seen in the unit cost data, we can explain between 63 and 97 percent of total variance and identify a statistically significant set of characteristics (e.g., health area) for media and interpersonal communication interventions. Intervention intensity is an important determinant for both media and interpersonal communication, with costs increasing as intervention intensity increases; other important characteristics for media interventions include intervention subtype, target population group, and country income as measured by per capita Gross National Income. Important characteristics for interpersonal communication interventions include health area, intervention subtype, target population group and geographic scope.