bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prescription drugs with potential for misuse: protocol for a multi-indicator analysis of supply, detection and the associated health burden in Ireland between 2010 and 2020
Authors: Cousins Gráinne , Durand Louise , O’Kane Aoife , Tierney Julie , Maguire Richard , Stokes Siobhán , O’Reilly Deirdre , Arensman Ella , Bennett Kathleen E , Vázquez María Otero , Corcoran Paul , Lyons Suzi , Kavanagh Yvonne , Keenan Eamon
Published: March 2023

Introduction

There is an increasing concern about the misuse of prescription drugs. Misuse refers to the intentional repurposing of prescribed drugs and/or the use of illicitly sourced prescription drugs, which may be counterfeit or contaminated. Drugs with the greatest potential for misuse are prescription opioids, gabapentinoids, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs and stimulants.

Objective

The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the supply, patterns of use and health burden associated with prescription drugs with potential for misuse (PDPM) in Ireland between 2010 and 2020. Three inter-related studies will be carried out. The first study will describe trends in supply of PDPM using law enforcement drug seizures data and national prescription records from national community and prison settings. The second study aims to estimate trends in the detection of PDPM across multiple early warning systems using national forensic toxicology data. The third study aims to quantify the health burden associated with PDPM nationally, using epidemiological indicators of drug-poisoning deaths, non-fatal intentional drug overdose presentations to hospitals and drug treatment demand.

Methods and analysis

A retrospective observational study design, with repeated cross-sectional analyses, using negative binomial regression models or, where appropriate, joinpoint regression.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received approval from the RCSI Ethics Committee (REC202202020). Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, scientific and drug policy meetings and with key stakeholders via research briefs.
Health and medical professionals’ antenatal HIV testing practices and perceived barriers to routine testing in Tasmania, Australia: a qualitative study
Authors: Ayton Jennifer Elizabeth , Bennett-Daly Grace , Nguyen Amy , Owen Louise
Published: March 2023

Objectives

This study sought to explore health and medical professionals’ antenatal HIV testing practices and the perceived barriers to routine testing in Tasmania, Australia.

Design

This qualitative study undertook a Foucauldian-informed discourse analysis of 23 one-to-one semistructured phone interviews. The focus of our analysis was on language as a medium for interactions between clinicians and their patients.

Setting

Primary health care and antenatal health services in the north, northwest and southern Tasmania, Australia.

Participants

Twenty-three health and medical professionals (midwives (n=10), general practitioners (n=9) and obstetricians (n=4)) providing antenatal care.

Results

Antenatal HIV testing is practised within a discourse of ambiguous terminology, stigma and the perception that HIV is a theoretical risk, generating confusion among clinicians as to how and who is tested. This creates clinical hesitancy towards antenatal HIV testing, a barrier to universal prenatal HIV testing.

Conclusion

Antenatal HIV testing is undertaken within a discordant discourse generating clinical hesitancy where HIV is perceived as a theoretical risk and surrounded by stigma. Using neutral language and replacing the words ‘routine’ and ‘recommended’ with ‘universal’ testing in public health policy and clinical guidelines could increase health providers’ confidence and reduce ambiguity and the legacy of HIV stigma.
Using pooled urogenital, anorectal and oropharyngeal specimens to detectChlamydia trachomatisandNeisseria gonorrhoeaeamong men who have sex with men in China: a multisite diagnostic accuracy study
Authors: Jiang Ting-Ting , Cao Ning-Xiao , Shi Mei-Qin , Jia Tian-Jian , Zhou Qian , Liu Jing-Wei , Zhang Jin , Zhang Yan , Yin Yue-Ping , Chen Xiang-Sheng
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Screening forChlamydia trachomatis(CT) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae(NG) at both urogenital and extragenital sites has been recommended in many countries. Testing of the infections using pooled specimens from urogenital and extragenital sites offer the opportunity to shorten the testing time and reduce the testing cost. Ex-ante pooling is placing the original single-site specimens in a tube with transport media, while ex-post pooling is making a pool of the transport media from both anorectal and oropharyngeal specimens and the urine. This study aimed to conduct a multisite performance evaluation of two pool-specimen approaches (ex-ante and ex-post) in detection of CT and NG using the Cobas 4800 platform among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China.

Design

Diagnostic accuracy study.

Setting, participants and outcome measures

Participants were recruited from MSM communities at six cities in China. Two oropharyngeal and anorectal swabs collected by clinical staff and 20 mL first-void urine collected by the participant himself were used for evaluating sensitivity and specificity.

Results

A total of 1311 specimens were collected from 437 participants in six cities. The sensitivities of ex-ante pooling approach as compared with single-specimen approach (reference standard) were 98.7% (95% CI, 92.7% to 100.0%) for detection of CT and 89.7% (95% CI, 75.8% to 97.1%) for NG, and the specificities were 99.5% (95% CI, 98.0% to 99.9%) and 98.7% (95% CI, 97.1% to 99.6%), respectively. The sensitivities of ex-post pooling approach were 98.7% (95% CI, 92.7% to 100.0%) for CT and 100.0% (95% CI, 91.0% to 100.0%) for NG, and the specificities were 100.0% (95% CI, 99.0% to 100.0%) and 100.0% (95% CI, 99.1% to 100.0%), respectively.

Conclusions

The ex-ante and ex-post pooling approaches show good sensitivity and specificity in detecting urogenital and extragenital CT and/or NG, indicating that these approaches can be used in epidemiological surveillance and clinical management of CT and NG infections, particularly among MSM population.
Intraoperative pharmacologic opioid minimisation strategies and patient-centred outcomes after surgery: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Verret Michael , Lam Nhat Hung , Fergusson Dean A , G Nicholls Stuart , Turgeon Alexis F , McIsaac Daniel I , Gilron Ian , Hamtiaux Myriam , Srichandramohan Sriyathavan , Al-Mazidi Abdulaziz , A Fergusson Nicholas , Hutton Brian , Zivkovic Fiona , Graham Megan , Geist Allison , Lê Maxime , Berube Melanie , Poulin Patricia , Shorr Risa , Daudt Helena , Martel Guillaume , McVicar Jason , Moloo Husein , Lalu Manoj M
Published: March 2023

Introduction

For close to a century opioid administration has been a standard of care to complement anaesthesia during surgery. Considering the worldwide opioid epidemic, this practice is now being challenged and there is a growing use of systemic pharmacological opioid minimising strategies. Our aim is to conduct a scoping review that will examine clinical trials that have evaluated the impact of intraoperative opioid minimisation strategies on patient-centred outcomes and identify promising strategies.

Methods and analysis

Our scoping review will follow the framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley. We will search MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science and CINAHL from their inception approximately in March 2023. We will include randomised controlled trials, assessing the impact of systemic intraoperative pharmacologic opioid minimisation strategies on patient-centred outcomes. We define an opioid minimisation strategy as any non-opioid drug with antinociceptive properties administered during the intraoperative period. Patient-centred outcomes will be defined and classified based on the consensus definitions established by the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine initiative (StEP-COMPAC group) and informed by knowledge users and patient partners. We will use a coproduction approach involving interested parties. Our multidisciplinary team includes knowledge users, patient partners, methodologists and knowledge user organisations. Knowledge users will provide input on methods, outcomes, clinical significance of findings, implementation and feasibility. Patient partners will participate in assessing the relevance of our design, methods and outcomes and help to facilitate evidence translation. We will provide a thorough description of available clinical trials, compare their reported patient-centred outcome measures with established recommendations and identify promising strategies.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required for the review. Our scoping review will inform future research including clinical trials and systematic reviews through identification of important intraoperative interventions. Results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication, presentation at conferences and through our network of knowledge user collaborators.

Registration

Open Science Foundation (currently embargoed)
Can youth-engaged research facilitate equitable access to contraception in Canada? The qualitative study protocol for the Ask Us project
Authors: Munro Sarah , Di Meglio Giuseppina , Williams Aleyah , Barbic Skye Pamela , Begun Stephanie , Black Amanda , Carson Andrea , Fortin Michelle , Jacob Kaiya , Khan Zeba , Martin-Misener Ruth , Meherali Salima , Paller Victoria , Seiyad Hajar , Vallée Carol-Anne , Wahl Kate , Norman Wendy V
Published: March 2023

Introduction

There is little to no evidence in Canada on the barriers that youth face when accessing contraception. We seek to identify the contraception access, experiences, beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and needs of youth in Canada, from the perspectives of youth and youth service providers.

Methods and analysis

This prospective, mixed-methods, integrated knowledge mobilisation study, the Ask Us project, will involve a national sample of youth, healthcare and social service providers, and policy makers recruited via a novel relational mapping and outreach approach led by youth. Phase I will centre the voices of youth and their service providers through in-depth one-on-one interviews. We will explore the factors influencing youth access to contraception, theoretically guided by Levesque’s Access to Care framework. Phase II will focus on the cocreation and evaluation of knowledge translation products (youth stories) with youth, service providers, and policy makers.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was received from the University of British Columbia’s Research Ethics Board (H21-01091). Full open-access publication of the work will be sought in an international peer-reviewed journal. Findings will be disseminated to youth and service providers through social media, newsletters, and communities of practice, and to policy makers through invited evidence briefs and face-to-face presentations.
Cohort profile: Impact of Maternal and Paternal Mental Health – Assessing Concurrent Depression, Anxiety and Comorbidity in the Canadian Family (IMPACT study)
Authors: Dennis Cindy-Lee , Vigod Simone , Grigoriadis Sophie , Brown Hillary , Brennenstuhl Sarah , Dol Justine , Wade Mark , Falah-Hassani Kobra , Shiri Rahman , Marini Flavia
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper describes a prospective cohort, Impact of Maternal and Paternal Mental Health: Assessing Concurrent Depression, Anxiety and Comorbidity in The Canadian Family (IMPACT) study, which followed maternal–paternal dyads and their children across the first 2 years post partum.

Participants

A total of 3217 cohabitating maternal–paternal dyads were recruited into the study from 2014 to 2018. Each dyad member separately completed online questionnaires at baseline (<3 weeks post partum) and again at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months on a variety of measures, including mental health, parenting environment, family functioning and child health and development.

Findings to date

At baseline, the mean maternal age was 31.9±4.2 years and 33.8±5.0 years for fathers. Overall, 12.8% of families had a household income below the poverty line of $C50 000, and 1 in 5 mothers and 1 in 4 fathers were not born in Canada. One in 10 women experienced depressive symptoms during pregnancy (9.7%) and 1 in 6 had markedly anxious symptoms (15.4%) while 1 in 20 men reported feeling depression during their partner’s pregnancy and 1 in 10 had marked anxiety (10.1%). Approximately 91% of mothers and 82% of fathers completed the 12-month questionnaire as did 88% of mothers and 78% of fathers at 24 months postpartum.

Future plans

The IMPACT study will examine the influence of parental mental illness in the first 2 years of a child’s life with a focus on understanding the mechanisms by which single (maternal or paternal) versus dual (maternal and paternal) parental depression, anxiety and comorbidity symptoms affect family and infant outcomes. Future analyses planned to address the research objectives of IMPACT will consider the longitudinal design and dyadic interparental relationship.
Prevalence of self-reported chronic conditions and poor health among older adults with and without vision impairment in China: a nationally representative cross-sectional survey
Authors: Gu Yiran , Cheng Haozhe , Liu Xiaoyun , Dong Xiaodong , Congdon Nathan , Ma Xiaochen
Published: March 2023

Objective

To examine the self-reported prevalence of 13 chronic conditions and poor health among Chinese adults aged 45 years and older with and without self-reported vision impairment.

Design

Cross-sectional study from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2018, a nationally representative survey of Chinese adults aged 45 years and older involving 19 374 participants.

Methods

We used logistic regression to assess the association between vision impairment and 13 common chronic conditions and between vision impairment and poor health for those with any of these chronic conditions.

Results

Older people with self-reported vision impairment were significantly more likely to report all 13 chronic conditions (all p<0·05). After controlling for age, gender, education, residential status (rural vs urban), smoking and BMI, the highest adjusted odds were for hearing impairment (OR=4.00 (95% CI 3·60 to 4·44]) and depression (OR=2.28 (95% CI 2.06 to 2.51)). The lowest risk, though still significant, was for diabetes (OR=1·33 (95% CI 1.11 to 2.05)) and hypertension (OR=1.20 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.38)). After controlling for these potential confounding factors, among older people with chronic conditions, those with vision impairment were 2.20 to 4.04 times more likely to have poor health, compared with those without vision impairment (all p<0.001), with the exception of cancer (p=0.595).

Conclusions

Higher prevalence of chronic conditions is strongly associated with vision impairment among older Chinese adults and poor health is strongly associated with vision impairment among people with chronic conditions.
An examination of factors contributing to the racial disparity and disproportionality of paediatric firearm-related homicide: a mixed-methods analysis using the national violent death reporting system (NVDRS)
Authors: Hunter Amy A , Schwab-Reese Laura , DiVietro Susan , Green Christa
Published: March 2023

Firearms are a leading cause of paediatric mortality in the United States. This study examines the contributing factors of racial disparity and disproportionality among paediatric firearm decedents aged 0–17 years.

We used the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to assess the individual and incident-level circumstances of paediatric firearm homicides from 2014 to 2018 in 17 US states.

Among 1085 paediatric firearm homicides, non-Hispanic blacks (NHB) died at a rate three times greater than their proportion in the general population; they were nine times as likely to die by firearm homicide as non-Hispanic whites (NHW). NHW children were more often the victims of firearm homicide perpetrated by a parent/caregiver, and of homicide-suicides.

Violence interruption programmes among NHB youth, and family-based interventions among NHW youth may be effective in preventing firearm homicide and homicide-suicide. Systematic investigations into firearm homicide perpetrators are necessary to better understand observed racial disparities.
Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment—Achilles thresholds for minimal important change and return to presymptom activity level in active soldiers with mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy
Authors: Paantjens M A , Helmhout P H , Backx F J G , Bakker E W P
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (mid-AT) is common in soldiers, significantly impacting activity levels and operational readiness. Currently, Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment—Achilles (VISA-A) represents the gold standard to evaluate pain and function in mid-AT. Our objective was to estimate VISA-A thresholds for minimal important change (MIC) and patient-acceptable symptom state for return to the presymptom activity level (PASS-RTA), in soldiers treated with a conservative programme for mid-AT.

Methods

A total of 40 soldiers (40 unilateral symptomatic Achilles tendons) were included in this prospective cohort study. Pain and function were evaluated using VISA-A. Self-perceived recovery was assessed with the Global Perceived Effect scale. The predictive modelling method (MIC-predict) was used to estimate MIC VISA-A post-treatment (after 26 weeks) and after 1 year of follow-up. The post-treatment PASS-RTA VISA-A was estimated using receiver operating characteristic statistics. The PASS-RTA was determined by calculating Youden’s index value closest to 1.

Results

The adjusted MIC-predict was 6.97 points (95% CI 4.18 to 9.76) after 26 weeks and 7.37 points (95% CI 4.58 to 10.2) after 1 year of follow-up post-treatment.

The post-treatment PASS-RTA was 95.5 points (95% CI 92.2 to 97.8).

Conclusions

A VISA-A change score of 7 points, post-treatment and at 1 year of follow-up, can be considered a minimal within-person change over time, above which soldiers with mid-AT perceive themselves importantly changed. Soldiers consider their symptoms to be acceptable for return to their presymptom activity level at a post-treatment VISA-A score of 96 points or higher.

Trial registration number

NL69527.028.19.
Potential impacts of spatial restrictions on tobacco retail availability in China: a simulation study in Shanghai
Authors: Zheng Chunyu , Pearce Jamie , Feng Zhiqiang
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Regulating tobacco retail availability provides promising new opportunities for effective tobacco control. This study simulates the potential impacts of introducing spatial restrictions on the availability of tobacco in Shanghai, the largest city in China.

Methods

Twelve stakeholder-informed simulation scenarios under four types of spatial restrictions were considered: (1) capping, (2) ban of sales, (3) minimum spacing and (4) school-buffer exclusion zone. Tobacco retailer data for Shanghai (n=19 413) were used. The main outcome was per cent reduction in retail availability measured by population-weighted kernel density estimation across neighbourhoods, and impacts on social inequality in availability were estimated using the Kruskal-Wallis test and effect size estimation. All analyses were further stratified by three levels of urbanity to examine geographical disparities in overall effectiveness and equity of the simulation scenarios.

Results

All simulation scenarios have the potential to reduce availability, with overall reductions ranging from 8.60% to 85.45%. Compared with the baseline, the effect size regarding the association between availability and neighbourhood deprivation quintiles suggests that the most effective scenario, ‘500 m minimum spacing’ between retailers, increased the social inequality in availability (p<0.001). Conversely, school-buffer scenarios were both effective and equitable. Additionally, the effectiveness and the equity impact of scenarios varied by urbanity level.

Conclusion

Spatial restrictions offer potential new policy opportunities to reduce retail availability, but some may increase social inequality in accessing tobacco. For effective tobacco control, policymakers should consider the overall and equity impacts of spatial restrictions when developing comprehensive tobacco retail regulations.
Maximizing synchronous transfer between metro and buses considering connection level
Authors: Lai Yuanwen , Fan Yanhui , Rao Yinsheng , Easa Said M. , Chen Jiafan , Zhao YinZhu
Published: March 2023

Transfer between the metro (underground railway system) and buses is standard in many cities, and the simultaneous arrival of these two modes can provide passengers with a smoother transfer experience. However, previous synchronous transfer studies rarely consider different public transport modes simultaneously. This paper presents an optimization model that maximizes the number of metro and bus network synchronizations considering the connection level. An improved algorithm that combines simulated annealing (SA) and artificial bee colony (ABC) is proposed. The best nectar source position in history is combined with the SA operation. The ABC and simulated annealing and improved artificial bee colony (SA–IABC) algorithms are used to solve the model using the Nanmendou metro station and the bus stations within 1.2 km around it in Fuzhou City, China. The results show that ABC and improved SA–IABC algorithms increase the synchronization times of the metro and bus network by 17% and 24% on average, respectively, without expanding the departure frequency.
Study of 6,8He+p elastic scattering using the BHF formalism with three-body forces
Authors: Sharma Manjari , Rafi Syed , Haider Wasi
Published: March 2023

In the present work, we have analyzed the elastic scattering data of 6He+p at 25.6, 38.6, 40.9, and 71 MeV/A and 8He+p at 15.6, 25.6, 32.5, 66, and 72 MeV/A, using the microscopic local optical potential calculated within the framework of the Brueckner–Hartree–Fock (BHF) formalism. The calculation requires mainly two inputs: (1) the nucleon–nucleon (NN) interaction and (2) the nucleon distributions in target nuclei. In the present work, realistic internucleon (NN) potential from Argonne v18 (AV18) and the Urbana IX (UVIX) model of three-body forces with several nucleon density distributions are used for generating the nucleon–nucleus optical potential. We have used the exact method for calculating both the direct and the exchange parts of the spin–orbit potential. We confirm the earlier results that the spin–orbit potential for these neutron-rich nuclei is diffused and extended. Our results show that the different density distributions reproduce rather well the experimental differential cross sections for both isotopes, while the phenomenological density with a two-neutron halo gives satisfactory results for 6He-p analyzing power data. None of the densities used for 8He can reproduce the experimentally analyzed power data. Our analysis reveals that the calculated microscopic optical potentials, with and without three-body forces using the BHF approach, provide satisfactory agreement with the elastic scattering data for 6,8He+p.
Thermodynamics and weak cosmic censorship conjecture with pressure in the rotating BTZ black holes
Authors: Hu Xin-Yun , Zeng Xiao-Xiong
Published: March 2023

As a charged spinning fermion drops into a charged rotating BTZ black hole, we investigate the laws of thermodynamics and weak cosmic censorship conjecture with and without pressure, respectively. For the case without pressure, the first law, second law, as well as the weak cosmic censorship are found to be valid. While for the case with pressure, though the first law is still valid, the second law and the weak cosmic censorship conjecture are found to be violable, depending on the charge, angular momentum, AdS radius, and their variations. In addition, in both cases, the configurations of the extremal black holes are found to be stable since the final states of the extremal black holes are still extremal black holes. While for the near-extremal black holes, their configurations are not stable.
Characterising dark matter-induced neutrino potentials
Authors: Salla Gabriel M.
Published: March 2023

In this paper we explore interactions between neutrinos and dark matter. In particular, we study how the propagation of astrophysical neutrinos can be modified by computing the most general potential generated by the galactic DM background. We use on-shell techniques to compute this potential in a completely model independent way and obtain an expression valid for any dark matter mass and spin. Afterwards, we use this expression to analyse under what circumstances such potential can be important at the phenomenological level, and we find that under some assumptions only ultra light scalar dark matter could be of any relevance to oscillation experiments.
Extended Bose–Einstein condensate dark matter in viscous Gauss–Bonnet gravity
Authors: Mahichi E. , Amani Alireza , Ramzanpour M. A.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we study the [Formula: see text] gravity model with an interacting model by flat-FRW metric in a viscous fluid. We consider that the universe dominates with components of dark matter and dark energy. This means that the dark matter component derives from Extended Bose–Einstein Condensate (EBEC) and the components of dark energy arise from the [Formula: see text] gravity. After obtaining the Einstein equation, the energy density and the pressure of dark energy are written in terms of the geometry of the curvature and the Gauss–Bonnet terms, and components of dark matter and viscous fluid. Also, the corresponding continuity equations are written with the presence of interaction terms. In what follows, we employ the EBEC regime instead of the normal dark matter by the dark matter Equation of State (EoS) as [Formula: see text], which arises from the gravitational form. The EoS can be expressed from the perspective of the virial expansion, in which the first and second terms represent normal dark matter and quantum ground state. Next, the corresponding Friedmann equations reconstruct in terms of the redshift parameter, then by using the scenario of the power-law cosmology for the scale factor, we fit the present model with the Hubble amounts of 51 supernova data by the likelihood analysis. In that case, we acquire the cosmological parameters of dark energy in terms of the redshift parameter, and by plotting these graphs, we see that the universe is currently undergoing an accelerated expansion phase. Finally, we investigate the stability of the present model with the sound speed parameter.
Finite difference analysis of power-law nanofluid with thermal radiation and bioconvection
Authors: Hayat T. , Ullah Inayat , Muhammad K. , Alsaedi A.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we study bioconvection radiative flow of power-law nanofluid. Nanofluid characteristics are incorporated by utilizing the Buongiorno model. The influence of motile gyrotactic microorganism is retained. Magnetohydrodynamics and time-dependent aspects are under consideration. Related governing expressions are transformed into dimensionless partial differential system. The resulting nonlinear system is tackled through finite difference technique. Outcomes of emerging variables like Prandtl number, Hartmann number, Buoyancy ratio parameter, Grashof number, Peclet number, bioconvection Rayleigh number, Peclet number, radiation and Schmidt number are graphically discussed. Velocity is controlled by higher Hartman number while it boosts against higher Grashof and bioconvection Rayleigh numbers, buoyancy ratio and stretching parameters. Higher radiation, Brownian and thermophoresis parameters lead to intensification in temperature profile while it reduces for higher Prandtl number. Bioconvection profile reduces against higher Peclet and Lewis numbers.
Stability and Bifurcation Analysis of the Caputo Fractional-Order Asymptomatic COVID-19 Model with Multiple Time-Delays
Authors: Rihan Fathalla A. , Udhayakumar K. , Sottocornola Nicola , Anwar M.-Naim , Khaliq Abdul Q. M.
Published: March 2023

Throughout the last few decades, fractional-order models have been used in many fields of science and engineering, applied mathematics, and biotechnology. Fractional-order differential equations are beneficial for incorporating memory and hereditary properties into systems. Our paper proposes an asymptomatic COVID-19 model with three delay terms [Formula: see text] and fractional-order [Formula: see text]. Multiple constant time delays are included in the model to account for the latency of infection in a vector. We study the necessary and sufficient criteria for stability of steady states and Hopf bifurcations based on the three constant time-delays, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]. Hopf bifurcation occurs in the addressed model at the estimated bifurcation points [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]. The numerical simulations fit to real observations proving the effectiveness of the theoretical results. Fractional-order and time-delays successfully enhance the dynamics and strengthen the stability condition of the asymptomatic COVID-19 model.
Bifurcation Analysis of a Modified Leslie–Gower Predator–Prey System
Authors: Jia Xintian , Huang Kunlun , Li Cuiping
Published: March 2023

The Leslie–Gower model, a kind of predator–prey model with weak Allee effect, is studied in this paper. The existence and stability of non-negative equilibria are first discussed. Then, we investigate several bifurcation phenomena undergoing positive equilibria, such as saddle-node bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation and Bogdanov–Takens bifurcation, etc. Some possible dynamical behaviors of this model are illustrated by numerical simulation. The bifurcation diagrams for the cases of codimensions 2 and 3 are given respectively. The coexistence of a periodic cycle and a homoclinic cycle, and two limit cycles enclosing an unstable equilibrium are also proved. This appears to be the first study of the Leslie–Gower model including the influence of weak Allee effect on prey.
Dynamics of a Kuramoto Model with Two-Body and Three-Body Interactions
Authors: Huang Muyang , Xue Yu , Luo Haojie , Wang Yi , Tang Yuan , Wen Qiyun
Published: March 2023

In this paper, in order to study the dynamic behavior of the three-body interaction, the generalized Kuramoto model with bimodal frequency distribution under the joint interaction of two-body and three-body is proposed. The comparative numerical results of the phase synchronization paths of the three-body interaction under different coupling strengths show that the three-body interaction can transform the continuous transition process into the first-order transition process. Interestingly, the change from continuous to discontinuous transition due to the variation of the coupling strength of the three-body interaction is similar to the shape of the bimodal distribution of the natural frequency. The critical coupling strength of the two-body interaction of synchronous transition is derived from the Ott–Antonsen–Ansatz method. The numerical results are consistent with the theoretical ones. The findings help our understanding of the transformation process from being continuous to discontinuous.
Preparation and Characterization of Zn2MoO4(OH)2 Nanosheets with Photoelectric Activity
Authors: Wen Puhong , He Qian , Yan Xine
Published: March 2023

The orthorhombic Zn2MoO4(OH)2 nanosheets have been prepared by using orthorhombic ([Formula: see text]Mo4O13 nanosheets as a raw material. Under the irradiation of ultraviolet light, the photocurrent density produced by splitting water by using the Zn2MoO4(OH)2 nanosheets as a photocatalyst is 5.6 [Formula: see text], and the hydrogen production is 41.8 [Formula: see text]mol ⋅ [Formula: see text], which is 4.7 times of the control ST01. The experimental results show that it is a photocatalyst with excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency.
Magneto-Optical Spectroscopy of Nanocomposites (CoFeZr)x(Al2O3)100−x
Authors: Gan’shina Elena A. , Granovsky Alexandr B. , Garshin Vladimir V. , Pripechenkov Ilya M. , Sitnikov Alexandr V. , Volochaev Mikhail N. , Ryl’kov Vladimir V. , Nikolaev Sergey N.
Published: March 2023

We present results of magneto-optical investigations of (CoFeZr)[Formula: see text](Al2O[Formula: see text] film nanocomposites in transverse Kerr effect (TKE) geometry in the spectral range 0.5–4.0[Formula: see text]eV and magnetic field up to 3.0[Formula: see text]kOe. Nanocomposites were deposited onto a glass-ceramic substrate by ion-beam sputtering. The TKE response at room temperature strongly depends on the wavelength of light, applied magnetic field H and the volume metallic fraction. From the analysis of the field dependences of TKE at different wavelengths, it follows that in the as-deposited samples, the interaction between nanoparticles at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]at.% is small and the nanocomposite is an ensemble of superparamagnetic particles; as x increases to 32[Formula: see text]at.%, a superspinglass-type state arises, then, in the vicinity of 34[Formula: see text]at.%, along with individual superparamagnetic particles, superferromagnetic regions appear. Long-range ferromagnetic order arises at concentrations x less than the percolation threshold for conductivity [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]at.%. In the presence of two different magnetic states in the samples, TKE is not proportional to the magnetization. Both the field dependences at near-infrared region and the spectral dependences of TKE change significantly after annealing of the samples, while the changes in the field dependences of the magnetization are almost imperceptibly.
Allocating the tracking error for the multi-asset-class fund by reconciling bottom-up model with top-down model
Authors: Sermsakskul Korkiat , Suchintabandid Sira
Published: March 2023

In a portfolio with multiple asset classes, each having its own benchmark, an alpha-seeking manager must decide how much tracking error (TE) to incur in each asset class, subject to given TE constraints. This paper helps practitioners clarify how to formulate this TE-allocation problem from a top-down perspective. By reconciling with a conceptual bottom-up formulation, we discover that the validity of the top-down model relies crucially on how one specifies the correlation structure of the asset classes’ alphas. We propose a method for estimating this correlation structure that helps users of the top-down model avoid misallocation of TEs.
Geoacoustic Inversion with a Single Vector Sensor and Multichannel Dispersion Curves
Authors: Guarino Alexandre L. , Smith Kevin B. , Gemba Kay L. , Godin Oleg A.
Published: March 2023

This paper discusses the value added by using a single vector sensor over a conventional pressure-only hydrophone for geoacoustic inversions. Inversion methods based on genetic algorithms are used to estimate the seabed properties. Synthetic signals of impulsive arrivals first are modeled using KRAKEN and RAM propagation models, each being modified to predict components of the vector field. While KRAKEN is utilized to directly compute dispersion curves, RAM provides full-field results that require the application of time warping to separate the modal arrivals. Combinations of dispersion curves utilizing all vector sensor channels are compared to curves estimated with the pressure-only channel. Within the time warping analysis, both binary masking and band-pass filter masking methods are applied to compare stability of results. The environment modeled for the synthetic analysis and inversion method utilize sound speed profiles measured during the Monterey Bay 2019 at-sea experiment and assume a sediment layer of constant thickness overlying a deeper sub-bottom type. White noise is added to the synthetic data at different signal-to-noise ratios to evaluate the impact of signal excess on the results. A hybrid optimization approach is used to improve the results of the genetic algorithm method. The analysis with synthetic data is consistent with the analysis of broadband, impulsive data collected from the experiment, indicating that the additional information from the vertical velocity channel further improves the geoacoustic parameter estimates.
PKAD-2: New Entries and Expansion of Functionalities of the Database of Experimentally Measured pKa’s of Proteins
Authors: Ancona Nicolas , Bastola Ananta , Alexov Emil
Published: March 2023

Almost all biological reactions are pH-dependent and understanding the origin of pH dependence requires knowledge of the pKa’s of ionizable groups. Here, we report a new edition of PKAD, the PKAD-2, which is a database of experimentally measured pKa’s of proteins, both wild-type and mutant proteins. The new addition includes 117 wild-type and 54 mutant pKa values, resulting in total 1742 experimentally measured pKa’s. The new edition of PKAD-2 includes eight new wild-type and 12 new mutant proteins, resulting in total of 220 proteins. This new edition incorporates a visual 3D image of the highlighted residue of interest within the corresponding protein or protein complex. Hydrogen bonds (HB) were identified, counted and implemented as a search feature. Other new search features include the number of neighboring [Formula: see text] Å from the heaviest atom of the side chain of a given amino acid. Here, we present PKAD-2 with the intention to continuously incorporate novel features and current data with the goal to be used as a benchmark for computational methods.
Wearable Microfluidics for Continuous Assay
Authors: Lin Pei-Heng , Nien Hsin-Hua , Li Bor-Ran
Published: March 2023

The development of wearable devices provides approaches for the realization of self-health care. Easily carried wearable devices allow individual health monitoring at any place whenever necessary. There are various interesting monitoring targets, including body motion, organ pressure, and biomarkers. An efficient use of space in one small device is a promising resolution to increase the functions of wearable devices. Through integration of a microfluidic system into wearable devices, embedding complicated structures in one design becomes possible and can enable multifunction analyses within a limited device volume. This article reviews the reported microfluidic wearable devices, introduces applications to different biofluids, discusses characteristics of the design strategies and sensing principles, and highlights the attractive configurations of each device. This review seeks to provide a detailed summary of recent advanced microfluidic wearable devices. The overview of advanced key components is the basis for the development of future microfluidic wearable devices.
Causes of Mutation Rate Variability in Plant Genomes
Authors: Quiroz Daniela , Lensink Mariele , Kliebenstein Daniel J. , Monroe J. Grey
Published: March 2023

Mutation is the source of all heritable diversity, the essential material of evolution and breeding. While mutation rates are often regarded as constant, variability in mutation rates has been observed at nearly every level—varying across mutation types, genome locations, gene functions, epigenomic contexts, environmental conditions, genotypes, and species. This mutation rate variation arises from differential rates of DNA damage, repair, and transposable element activation and insertion that together produce what is measured by DNA mutation rates. We review historical and recent investigations into the causes and consequences of mutation rate variability in plants by focusing on the mechanisms shaping this variation. Emerging mechanistic models point to the evolvability of mutation rate variation across genomes via mechanisms that target DNA repair, shaping the diversification of plants at phenotypic and genomic scales.
Plant Hormone Transport and Localization: Signaling Molecules on the Move
Authors: Zhang Yuqin , Berman Amichai , Shani Eilon
Published: March 2023

Plant hormones are a group of small signaling molecules produced by plants at very low concentrations that have the ability to move and function at distal sites. Hormone homeostasis is critical to balance plant growth and development and is regulated at multiple levels, including hormone biosynthesis, catabolism, perception, and transduction. In addition, plants move hormones over short and long distances to regulate various developmental processes and responses to environmental factors. Transporters coordinate these movements, resulting in hormone maxima, gradients, and cellular and subcellular sinks. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of most of the characterized plant hormone transporters with respect to biochemical, physiological, and developmental activities. We further discuss the subcellular localizations of transporters, their substrate specificities, and the need for multiple transporters for the same hormone in the context of plant growth and development.
Everything You Wanted to Know about Deep Eutectic Solvents but Were Afraid to Be Told
Authors: Abranches Dinis O. , Coutinho João A.P.
Published: March 2023

Are deep eutectic solvents (DESs) a promising alternative to conventional solvents? Perhaps, but their development is hindered by a plethora of misconceptions. These are carefully analyzed here, beginning with the very meaning of DESs, which has strayed far beyond its original scope of eutectic mixtures of Lewis or Brønsted acids and bases. Instead, a definition that is grounded on thermodynamic principles and distinguishes between eutectic and deep eutectic is encouraged, and the types of precursors that can be used to prepare DESs are reviewed. Landmark works surrounding the sustainability, stability, toxicity, and biodegradability of these solvents are also discussed, revealing piling evidence that numerous DESs reported thus far, particularly those that are choline based, lack sufficient sustainability-related traits to be considered green solvents. Finally, emerging DES applications are reviewed, emphasizing their most remarkable feature: the ability to liquefy a solid compound with a target property, allowing its use as a liquid solvent.
Exploring Optimal Li-ion Substitution for High Na-content P2-Na0.67+a
[Li
x
Ni0.33−y
Mn0.67−z
]O2 Cathodes for Sodium-ion Batteries
Authors: Ghosh Arindam , Senthilkumar Baskar , Ghosh Subham , Amonpattaratkit Penphitcha , Senguttuvan Premkumar
Published: March 2023

P2-type Na0.67[Ni0.33Mn0.67]O2 layered oxide cathode is attractive for practical Na-ion battery application due to its high voltage Ni4+/Ni2+ redox and good air-stability. However, it suffers from rapid capacity decay originating from high voltage P2-O2 transformation. To alleviate this issue, herein we explore optimum Li-substitution into the transition metal layer of Na0.67[Ni0.33Mn0.67]O2 to tailor a series of high Na-content P2-type cathodes. Among them, Na0.85[Li0.14Ni0.29Mn0.57]O2 cathode with optimal Li-substitution exhibits reversible capacities of ∼168 mAh g−1 at 0.1C rate and good cycling stability (82% of retention after 100 cycles at 1C rate). In-situ XRD measurement reveals the formation of complete solid-solution and X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies confirm the participation of Ni4+/Ni2+ and Mn4+/Mn3+ redox couples during Na (de)intercalation of the Na0.85[Li0.14Ni0.29Mn0.57]O2. A full Na-ion cell (Na0.85[Li0.14Ni0.29Mn0.57]O2||hard carbon) is demonstrated with an energy density of 420 Wh kg−1.
Pharmacometrics: A New Era of Pharmacotherapy and Drug Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Khadka Sitaram , Saleem Mohammad , Rasheed Huma , Kunwar Bimal , Ali Moshin
Published: March 2023

Pharmacotherapy, in many cases, is practiced at a suboptimal level of performance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) although stupendous amounts of data are available regularly. The process of drug development is time-consuming, costly, and is also associated with loads of hurdles related to the safety concerns of the compounds. This review was conducted with the objective to emphasize the role of pharmacometrics in pharmacotherapy and the drug development process in LMICs for rational drug therapy. Pharmacometrics is widely applied for the rational clinical pharmacokinetic (PK) practice through the population pharmacokinetic (popPK) modeling and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling approach. The scope of pharmacometrics practice is getting wider day by day with the untiring efforts of pharmacometricians. The basis for pharmacometrics analysis is the computer-based modeling and simulation of pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) data supplemented by characterization of important aspects of drug safety and efficacy. Pharmacometrics can be considered an invaluable tool not only for new drug development with maximum safety and efficacy but also for dose optimization in clinical settings. Due to the convenience of using sparse and routine patient data, a significant advantage exists in this regard for LMICs which would otherwise lag behind in clinical trials.
Effect of Self-Directed Home Therapy Adherence Combined with TheraBracelet on Poststroke Hand Recovery: A Pilot Study
Authors: Scronce Gabrielle , Ramakrishnan Viswanathan , Vatinno Amanda A. , Seo Na Jin
Published: March 2023

Hand impairment is a common consequence of stroke, resulting in long-term disability and reduced quality of life. Recovery may be augmented through self-directed therapy activities at home, complemented by the use of rehabilitation devices such as peripheral sensory stimulation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of adherence to self-directed therapy and the use of TheraBracelet (subsensory random-frequency vibratory stimulation) on hand function for stroke survivors. In a double-blind, randomized controlled pilot trial, 12 chronic stroke survivors were assigned to a treatment or control group (

n
=
6

/group). All participants were instructed to perform 200 repetitions of therapeutic hand tasks 5 days/week while wearing a wrist-worn device 8 hours/day for 4 weeks. The treatment group received TheraBracelet vibration from the device, while the control group received no vibration. Home task repetition adherence and device wear logs, as well as hand function assessment (Stroke Impact Scale Hand domain), were obtained weekly. Repetition adherence was comparable between groups but varied among participants. Participants wore the device to a greater extent than adhering to completing repetitions. A linear mixed model analysis showed a significant interaction between repetition and group (

p
=
0.01

), with greater adherence resulting in greater hand function change for the treatment group (

r
=
0.94

;

R

2

=
0.88

), but not for the control group. Secondary analysis revealed that repetition adherence was greater for those with lower motor capacity and greater self-efficacy at baseline. This pilot study suggests that adherence to self-directed therapy at home combined with subsensory stimulation may affect recovery outcomes in stroke survivors. This trial is registered with NCT04026399.