bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Μελέτη του ρόλου των ιδιαίτερα αυξημένων επιπέδων της HDL χοληστερόλης αλλά και της λειτουργικότητας των κλασμάτων της σε σχέση με την ακεραιότητα του ενδοθηλιακού γλυκοκάλυκα και την αρτηριακή σκληρία σε ασθενείς με ιδιοπαθή υπέρταση
Authors: Μπενάς Δημήτριος
Published: April 2023

Εισαγωγή: Το κάπνισμα και η HDL χοληστερόλη (HDL-C) αποτελούν μείζονες παράγοντες καρδιαγγειακού κινδύνου με αντίστροφη δράση. Οι καπνιστές παρουσιάζουν επηρεασμένη ενδοθηλιακή λειτουργία (η οποία εκφράζεται από διαταραχή της ακεραιότητας του ενδοθηλιακού γλυκοκάλυκα-ΕΓ) και αυξημένη αορτική σκληρία, στοιχεία που υποδηλώνουνυποκλινική βλάβη οργάνων-στόχων, σε υπερτασικούς ασθενείς. Τα αυξημένα επίπεδα HDL-C διαδραματίζουν προστατευτικό ρόλο ενάντια στην καρδιαγγειακή νόσο. Σε προηγούμενη μελέτη αναδείξαμε ότι σε μεσήλικεςυπερτασικούς ασθενείς τα επίπεδα HDL-C μεταξύ 71 και 101mg/dl παρουσιάζουν ανάστροφη συσχέτιση με την περιοχή οριακής διάχυσης των υπογλώσσιων μικροαγγείων διαμέτρου 5 έως 9μm (PBR5-9) του ΕΓ, ασκώνταςπιθανά προστατευτική δράση στο ενδοθήλιο. Στην παρούσα μελέτη διερευνήσαμε το ρόλο των αυξημένων επιπέδων HDL-C στην αορτική σκληρία και την ακεραιότητα του ΕΓ με βάση το φύλο και την καπνιστική συνήθεια σε μεσήλικες υπερτασικούς ασθενείς υπό αγωγή.Μέθοδοι: Μελετήσαμε 193 υπερτασικούς ασθενείς υπό αγωγή (μέση ηλικία = 61 ± 11 έτη, 58% γυναίκες, 28% καπνιστές), τους οποίους ταξινομήσαμε σε 4 ομάδες με βάση το φύλο και την καπνιστική συνήθεια. Αξιολογήσαμε την αρτηριακή πίεση ιατρείου, το λιπιδαιμικό προφίλ νηστείας {ολική χοληστερόλη, HDL-C, LDL χοληστερόλη (LDL-C) και τριγλυκερίδια}, τηναορτική σκληρία, μέσω του υπολογισμού της καρωτιδο-μηριαίας ταχύτητας σφυγμικού κύματος (PWV) και την ενδοθηλιακή λειτουργία, μέσω του υπολογισμού της PBR5-9, ενός μη επεμβατικού δείκτη αξιολόγησης του πάχους του ΕΓ (υψηλές τιμές PBR αντιστοιχούν σε μειωμένο πάχος ΕΓ).Αποτελέσματα: Στο σύνολο του πληθυσμού, τα επίπεδα της HDL-C παρουσίασαν ανάστροφη συσχέτιση με τη PWV (r = −0.15, p = 0.03) και τη PBR5-9 (r = −0.15, p = 0.03). Επιπλέον, η HDL-C παρουσίασε ανάστροφη συσχέτιση με τη PBR5-9 στους άντρες (r = −0.29, p = 0.008), τόσο καπνιστές (r = −0.35, p < 0.05) όσο και μη καπνιστές (r = −0.27, p < 0.05) και τη PWV στις γυναίκες μη καπνίστριες (r = −0.28, p = 0.009). Από τη διενέργεια ανάλυσης πολλαπλής παλινδρόμησης, χρησιμοποιώντας την ηλικία, το βάρος, το 131 κάπνισμα, τα επίπεδα της HDL-C και της LDL-C, ως ανεξάρτητες μεταβλητές,διαπιστώσαμε ότι η HDL-C σχετίζεται ανεξάρτητα με τη PWV (β = −0.14, p = 0.02) στο σύνολο του πληθυσμού και με τη PBR5-9 στους άντρες (β = −0.28, p = 0.01).Συμπεράσματα: Τα αυξημένα επίπεδα HDL-C σχετίζονται με μειωμένη αορτική σκληρία σε μεσήλικες υπερτασικούς ασθενείς, τόσο σε άντρες όσο και γυναίκες. Παράλληλα, φαίνεται ότι ασκούν προστατευτική δράση στη δομή του ΕΓ μόνο σε άντρες υπερτασικούς ασθενείς (τόσο σε καπνιστές όσο και μη-καπνιστές) και όχι σε γυναίκες (οι οποίες παρουσιάζουν συνήθως υψηλότερες τιμές HDL-C), γεγονός που πιθανά υποδηλώνει τη μεγαλύτερη σημασία τους για την προστασία του ενδοθηλίου στους άντρες.
Analysis and visualization of directed graphs
Authors: Λιονάκης Παναγιώτης
Published: April 2023

Η απεικόνιση των Γράφων, χρησιμοποιείται ευρέως για την οπτικοποίηση δεδομένων ή πληροφοριών.Αν και είναι σημαντικό να εμφανίζονται όλες οι πληροφορίες που αντιπροσωπεύονται από τις ακμές και τους κόμβους του γράφου, υπάρχουν περιπτώσεις όπου αυτό είναι είτε αδύνατο λόγω της πολυπλοκότητας και του μεγέθους του γράφου ή ακόμα και παραπλανητικό. Αυτό έγκειται στο γεγονός ότι οι εν λόγω γράφοι ενδέχεται να είναι αρκετά πυκνοί, ενώ άλλες περιπτώσεις σχετίζονται με προσωπικά δεδομένα και την ιδιωτικότητα (π.χ. κοινωνικά δίκτυα). Για να ξεπεραστεί αυτή η πρόκληση, διαφορετικές προσεγγίσεις σχετίζονται με την απόκρυψη της περιττής ή πλεονάζουσας πληροφορίας ή ακόμα και τη μερική αντικατάσταση του αρχικού γράφου με υπογράφο ή με μια περίληψη αυτού. Ο βασικός στόχος της παρούσας διατριβής είναι η λεπτομερής διερεύνηση περί οπτικοποίησης και ανάλυσης μεγάλων γράφων. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, αναφορικά με την οπτικοποίηση, σχεδιάζουμε και υλοποιούμε μια σειρά από διαφορετικές προσεγγίσεις ενός νέου μοντέλου γραφικής αναπαράστασης που εστιάζουν στην βελτίωση της γραφικής αναπαράστασης, προκειμένου να μειωθεί η οπτική πολυπλοκότητα του γραφήματος, πάνω από εξελιγμένες τεχνικές σχεδίασης για γράφους. Οι τεχνικές αυτές μπορούν να κατηγοριοποιηθούν σε δύο κύριες ομάδες. Η πρώτη κατηγορία σχετίζεται με τις γωνίες ενώ η δεύτερη με την αφαίρεση άκρων. Τα πειραματικά αποτελέσματα ανέδειξαν ότι αυτές οι τεχνικές παράγουν προοδευτικά πιο αφαιρετικά γραφήματα. Δεν εισάγονται εικονικοί κόμβοι και οι κόμβοι κάθε διαδρομής/καναλιού είναι κάθετα ευθυγραμμισμένοι. Η αξία της προσέγγισής μας είναι ότι παρέχει μια γενική αλλά παραμετροποιήσιμη μέθοδο οπτικοποίησης συναρτήσει του δοθέντος σεναρίου. Επιπροσθέτως, ασχολούμαστε με μεθόδους ομαδοποίησης κόμβων με παρόμοια χαρακτηριστικά, οι οποίες ομαδοποιούν τον γράφο βάσει των πληροφοριών που προέρχονται από τις ακμές, και οι οποίες μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν για την καλύτερη οπτικοποίηση πολύπλοκων δικτύων. Προκειμένου, να αξιολογήσουμε τις τεχνικές σχεδιαστικής διάταξης, συγκρίνουμε τη χρηστικότητα των αποτελεσμάτων διαφόρων εκδόσεων του νέου μας μοντέλου με τα αντίστοιχα αποτελέσματα που παράγονται από παρόμοιες τεχνικές ιεραρχικής σχεδίασης. Ως αποτέλεσμα, τονίζουμε τις γενικές κατευθυντήριες γραμμές και παρέχουμε πληροφορίες σχετικά με τους παράγοντες της αποτελεσματικότητας. Οι τεχνικές μας απαιτούν σχεδόν γραμμικό χρόνο. Επιπλέον, σχεδιάζουμε και εφαρμόζουμε μία συγκριτική αξιολόγηση βασισμένη σε Δραστηριότητες με χρήστες, προκειμένου να εξαγάγουμε το επίπεδο ικανοποίησής τους καθώς και να αναδείξουμε τα όποια πιθανά προβλήματα και δυσκολίες. Τα αποτελέσματα αναδεικνύουν ότι τα γραφήματα βάσει του προτεινόμενου μοντέλου μας, έχουν μικρότερο αριθμό γωνιών και απαιτούν σημαντικά μικρότερη γεωμετρική περιοχή ενώ το μοντέλο μας προτιμάται στη συνολική βαθμολογία σε σύγκριση με το άλλο μοντέλο.
Ο άγιος Ιερώνυμος και οι γυναίκες
Authors: Θεοδωρακάκη Καλλιόπη
Published: April 2023

Ο άγιος Ιερώνυμος θεωρείται μία από τις μεγαλύτερες θεολογικές προσωπικότητες της Ύστερης Αρχαιότητας. Πρόκειται για ένα σπουδαίο λόγιο, έναν ακούραστο εργάτη των γραμμάτων της ρωμαϊκής Ύστερης Αρχαιότητας, ο οποίος σημάδεψε με το τεράστιο θεολογικό και φιλολογικό του έργο τον 4ο και 5ο αιώνα. Για την εποχή του ο Ιερώνυμος ήταν πρωτοπόρος. Έχει τη διάκριση ότι ήταν ο πρώτος Λατίνος χριστιανός συγγραφέας που στήριξε τις πνευματικές του θέσεις, κυρίως κατά την άσκησή του ως μοναχός στην ανατολική έρημο. Ο Ιερώνυμος ήταν επίσης, ο πρώτος που έγινε γνωστός ως μεταφραστής, κριτικός κειμένων και ερμηνευτής της Βίβλου, έχοντας γνώση ανάγνωσης του κειμένου της στις πρωτότυπες γλώσσες. Η παρούσα διατριβή πραγματεύεται τη σχέση κύκλου ευσεβών κυριών της ρωμαϊκής αριστοκρατίας με τον ασκητικό τρόπο ζωής σε συνάφεια με τη γέννηση και διαμόρφωση του γυναικείου μοναστικού βίου στην Ύστερη Αρχαιότητα στη Δύση (4ος – 5ος αιώνας μ.Χ.), μέσω της μελέτης της σχετικής επιστολογραφίας του αγίου Ιερωνύμου με σημείο αναφοράς την εξύμνηση του γυναικείου ασκητισμού, φτάνοντας στην ταύτισή του με την παρθενία. Το θέμα παρουσιάζει ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον, δεδομένου ότι, κατά τη χρονική περίοδο που εστιάζει η έρευνά μας, συντελούνται πολλές αλλαγές που διαμορφώνουν νέες ιστορικές, πολιτισμικές και κοινωνικές συνθήκες. Τα ερευνητικά ερωτήματα που θέσαμε, επικεντρώνονται στην ανάδειξη της θέσης της γυναίκας, η οποία επιθυμεί να ακολουθήσει τον ασκητικό τρόπο ζωής κατά την Ύστερη Αρχαιότητα και στην καταγραφή των ιερωνυμικών απόψεων για τα μείζονα ζητήματα εκκλησιαστικής κοινωνικής δραστηριότητας της εποχής, όπως η διατήρηση της παρθενίας, η χηρεία, ο γάμος, η εγκράτεια, η ευρύτερη κοινωνική ζωή των γυναικών, ο καλλωπισμός κ.ά.. Επιπροσθέτως, μελετήσαμε τον τρόπο σκέψης και δράσης των γυναικών που, είτε ανήκαν στον κύκλο των μαθητριών του, είτε απευθύνονταν σε αυτόν δια αλληλογραφίας, χωρίς την ύπαρξη προσωπικής γνωριμίας. Σημαντική θέση στην παρούσα διατριβή κατέχει η ανάδειξη και ο σχολιασμός των σχέσεων αλληλεπίδρασης που αναπτύσσονται μεταξύ του αγίου Ιερωνύμου και των γυναικών αυτών σε βάθος χρόνου. Πεδίο της έρευνας αποτελούν οι επιστολές του αγίου, οι οποίες εστάλησαν σε συγκεκριμένες γυναίκες μέσα σε τριάντα περίπου χρόνια συγγραφικής δραστηριότητας.
Political and ethical landscape of brain organoid research
Authors: Schneider Eric , Samsa Leigh Ann , Dubljević Veljko
Published: April 2023

Human cerebral organoids (hCOs), produced in labs through directed cell culture of embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells, closely replicate the 3-dimensional architecture of the human brain on a micro scale. This technology has been used to model neurological disease and shows promise to complement or supplant animal subjects in preclinical therapeutic investigation. However, attention must be paid by researchers and institutions to the various ethical concerns associated with hCO development. Human-animal chimeras produced through the grafting of hCOs have shown integration of neurological function, calling into question the moral status of both the animal chimeras and the organoid itself. Sensationalist reporting on such acts may also prompt public backlash, potentially jeopardizing hCO research and the promised benefits thereof. Moreover, concerns arise over privacy and consent for past and prospective donors of stem cells used to produce organoids. Genetic information may be considered privileged to the public domain and disrupted trust can reduce the supply of willing donors. Though hCOs are believed thus far to lack the capacity for consciousness and cognitive function, consideration must be given to their potential status as moral agents with further development or enhancement. Boundaries concerning organoids adhered to by researchers have been largely voluntary and informal to this point. By edict or by the power of the purse, governmental regulatory agencies ought to formalize necessary guidelines to ensure compliance with ethical principles and the adequate representation of all affected stakeholders in future decisions.
Hyflex Pedagogies: Nurturing teacher presence in multi-modal learning spaces post pandemic
Authors: O'Ceallaigh TJ , Connolly Cornelia , O Brien Emma
Published: April 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the demand for new modes of teaching and learning. One such approach is Hybrid-Flexible or HyFlex. Utilising a HyFlex model, teachers teach students at the same time face-to-face (f2f) and synchronously online through video-conferencing software while enabling other students to engage in asynchronous learning. Designing, developing and facilitating multiple modes of participation in HyFlex is a challenging endeavor which calls for specialized pedagogical knowledge, competencies and skills. To date, there is a dearth of literature which explores the pedagogies that integrate physical and virtual learning spaces to successfully support the HyFlex learning environment. One of the most widely adopted pedagogies during the pandemic was the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model which focuses on presence as a concept and how social, cognitive, teacher and emotional presence can support student learning in an online environment. The paper analyses the literature to explore the meaning of presence and CoI in a hyflex learning environment. It explores the role of the teacher in designing the optimum learning environment for students. However the role of presence in a hybrid learning environment has not been explored. This paper argues that teachers need to understand how students exist in learning spaces and how the can be co-present in physical, synchronous and asynchronous spaces to enable them to ensure equitable access and design inclusive hyflex learning environments.
La época épica del teatro contemporáneo (1984-1998). Crítica y po(i)ética de la puesta en escena
Authors: Chaparro Amaya Adolfo
Published: April 2023

Durante las últimas dos décadas del siglo XX, los teatros de todo el mundo gozaron de una dinámica generalizada de innovación, experimentación y connivencia creativa con las artes literarias, visuales, musicales y dancísticas. Los grupos colombianos también participaron de esa renovación de temáticas y estilos. Además, por una feliz casualidad, en Colombia se volvió a realizar el Festival Internacional de Teatro de Manizales y se creó el Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro en Bogotá. La memoria de esa experiencia, así como el seguimiento de los grandes maestros de la puesta en escena en teatros de todo el mundo, hacen de este libro una summa significativa de la creación teatral en ese período. El núcleo del texto es la reseña crítica de más de cien obras vistas por el autor, pero ofrece también elementos teóricos de las grandes corrientes del teatro del siglo XX, entrevistas a actores, directores y críticos, el testimonio de la irrupción desbordante de la danza-teatro, y una semblanza en profundidad de referentes del arte teatral contemporáneo, como Tadeusz Kantor, Bob Wilson, Teodorus Terzopoulos y Ushio Amagatsu. En ese recorrido, el autor no solo indaga la riqueza estilística y las claves de la construcción po(i)ética de cada puesta en escena, sino también la fuerza del pensamiento propia de los creadores teatrales.
Minkowski Centers via Robust Optimization: Computation and Applications
Authors: den Hertog Dick , Pauphilet Jean , Soali Mohamed Yahya
Published: April 2023

Properly defining the center of a set has been a longstanding question in applied mathematics, with implications in numerical geometry, physics, and optimization algorithms. Minkowski centers are one such definition, whose theoretical benefits are numerous and well documented. In this paper, we revisit the advantages of Minkowski centers from a computational, rather than theoretical, perspective. First, we show that Minkowski centers are solutions to a robust optimization problem. Under this lens, we then provide computationally tractable reformulations or approximations for a series of sets, including polyhedra, polyhedral projections, and intersections of ellipsoids. Computationally, we illustrate that Minkowski centers are viable alternatives to other centers, such as Chebyshev or analytic centers, and can speed up the convergence of numerical algorithms like hit-and-run and cutting-plane methods. We hope our work sheds new and practical light on Minkowski centers and exposes their potential benefits as a computational tool.
Journal scan
Authors: Welyczko Nikki
Published: April 2023

A brief overview of recently published articles on gastroenterology, hepatology and stoma care
Non-medical prescribing for clinical nurse endoscopists: advantages and overcoming barriers
Authors: Boon Claire , Cagayon Hazel , Sharples Debbie , Donnelly Leigh
Published: April 2023

A clinical nurse endoscopist team share their experience of becoming non-medical prescribers and explore the benefits it has brought to their service
Spinel NiAl2O4 Based Catalysts: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Yu Xinmiao , Wang Shifa , Gao Huajing
Published: April 2023

Nickel aluminate (NiAl2O4) is a kind of partially antispinel structure oxide. Because of its excellent electronic structure and energy level structure, high thermal stability and high charge transfer and separation efficiency, it has a potential application prospect in catalytic oxidation, photocatalysis, adsorption and other fields. In this paper, the synthesis methods of different NiAl2O4-based catalysts, their applications in catalytic field and related catalytic mechanisms are reviewed from the appearance of single component NiAl2O4, ion-doped NiAl2O4 and multiheterojunction NiAl2O4 catalysts. The application of NiAl2O4 photocatalysts in the field of photocatalysis has gradually shifted from the degradation of dyes to the degradation of drugs, so its photocatalytic mechanism and degradation path need to be further studied. This review points out the direction for the future research of NiAl2O4 based catalysts in the field of catalysis.
Performance Analysis of Conventional MPPT Techniques for a Solar PV System
Authors: Charu Km , Thakur Padmanabh , Ansari Fahim
Published: April 2023

The effectiveness and accuracy of two different MPPT methods of solar photovoltaic (PV), namely Perturb & Observe (P&O) and Constant Current (CC) have been investigated in this study. The main objective of this study is to test the impacts of temperature and solar irradiance (insolation) variations on solar PV output power which are achieved through these methods. Usually, solar insolation and temperature are the two most important influencing factors that have a significant impact on the output power (Pout). Here, the two conventional MPPT techniques have been applied to analyze the response through power characteristics curves of solar PV systems subject to changing environmental conditions. The MPPT techniques have been implemented on the solar PV system using MATLAB®. Additionally, the output power curves at various irradiances are shown in this work. The research demonstrates that the P&O-based MPPT method outperforms the CC-based MPPT method.
Dual-waveguide stacked graphene light modulator based on an MZI structure
Authors: Zhan Xiang , Xu Chuanpei , Hu Cong , Song Yuxin
Published: April 2023

In order to solve the defects of the high driving voltage and a large volume of the existing electro-optical modulators, a double-waveguide stacked graphene optical modulator based on a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer structure is designed in this paper. First, the modulator size of traditional planar structure is effectively reduced by stacking two modulators vertically. Secondly, by changing the relative position of the electrode and the waveguide, the coupling effect of the electrode and the waveguide is enhanced, and the driving voltage is reduced. Finally, the performance of the designed electro-optic modulator is verified by the finite element method. The half-wave voltage of 0.55 V · cm and the modulation bandwidth of 58.8 GHz are realized on the basis of the length of 1.14 mm. The insertion loss is 1.15 dB, and the return loss is −44.8dB.
SBS suppression using PRBS phase modulation with different orders
Authors: Young J. T. , Menyuk C. R. , Hu J.
Published: April 2023

The Brillouin instability (BI) caused by stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) can limit the output power of high-energy laser amplifiers. Pseudo-random bitstream (PRBS) phase modulation is an effective modulation technique to suppress BI. In this paper, we study the impact of the PRBS order and modulation frequency on the BI threshold for different Brillouin linewidths. PRBS phase modulation with a higher order will break the power into a larger number of frequency tones with a lower maximum power in each tone, leading to a higher BI threshold and a smaller tone spacing. However, the BI threshold may saturate when the tone spacing in the power spectra approaches the Brillouin linewidth. For a given Brillouin linewidth, our results allow us to determine the order of PRBS beyond which there is no further improvement in the threshold. When a specific threshold power is desired, the minimum PRBS order required decreases as the Brillouin linewidth increases. When the PRBS order is too large, the BI threshold deteriorates, and this deterioration occurs at smaller PRBS orders as the Brillouin linewidth increases. We investigate the dependence of the optimal PRBS order on the averaging time and fiber length, and we did not find a significant dependence. We also derive a simple equation that relates the BI threshold for different PRBS orders. Hence, the increase in BI threshold using an arbitrary order PRBS phase modulation may be predicted using the BI threshold from a lower PRBS order, which is computationally less time-consuming to compute.
Inequitable care delivery toward COVID-19 positive people of color and people with disabilities
Authors: Lee Danbi , Kett Paula M. , Mohammed Selina A. , Frogner Bianca K. , Sabin Janice
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to explore provider observations of inequitable care delivery towards COVID-19 positive patients who are Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color (BIPOC) and/or have disabilities and to identify ways the health workforce may be contributing to and compounding inequitable care. We conducted semi-structured interviews between April and November 2021 with frontline healthcare providers from Washington, Florida, Illinois, and New York. Using thematic analysis, major themes related to discriminatory treatment included decreased care, delayed care, and fewer options for care. Healthcare providers’ bias and stigma, organizational bias, lack of resources, fear of transmission, and burnout were mentioned as drivers for discriminatory treatment. COVID-19 related health system policies such as visitor restrictions and telehealth follow-ups inadvertently resulted in discriminatory practices towards BIPOC patients and patients with disabilities. As patients experience lower quality healthcare during the pandemic, COVID-19-related restrictions and policies compounded existing inequitable care for these populations.
Spatio-temporal estimates of HIV risk group proportions for adolescent girls and young women across 13 priority countries in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Howes Adam , Risher Kathryn A. , Nguyen Van Kính , Stevens Oliver , Jia Katherine M. , Wolock Timothy M. , Esra Rachel T. , Zembe Lycias , Wanyeki Ian , Mahy Mary , Benedikt Clemens , Flaxman Seth R. , Eaton Jeffrey W.
Published: April 2023

The Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 identifies adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) as a priority population for HIV prevention, and recommends differentiating intervention portfolios geographically based on local HIV incidence and individual risk behaviours. We estimated prevalence of HIV risk behaviours and associated HIV incidence at health district level among AGYW living in 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We analysed 46 geospatially-referenced national household surveys conducted between 1999-2018 across 13 high HIV burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Female survey respondents aged 15-29 years were classified into four risk groups (not sexually active, cohabiting, non-regular or multiple partner[s] and female sex workers [FSW]) based on reported sexual behaviour. We used a Bayesian spatio-temporal multinomial regression model to estimate the proportion of AGYW in each risk group stratified by district, year, and five-year age group. Using subnational estimates of HIV prevalence and incidence produced by countries with support from UNAIDS, we estimated new HIV infections in each risk group by district and age group. We then assessed the efficiency of prioritising interventions according to risk group. Data consisted of 274,970 female survey respondents aged 15-29. Among women aged 20-29, cohabiting (63.1%) was more common in eastern Africa than non-regular or multiple partner(s) (21.3%), while in southern countries non-regular or multiple partner(s) (58.9%) were more common than cohabiting (23.4%). Risk group proportions varied substantially across age groups (65.9% of total variation explained), countries (20.9%), and between districts within each country (11.3%), but changed little over time (0.9%). Prioritisation based on behavioural risk, in combination with location- and age-based prioritisation, reduced the proportion of population required to be reached in order to find half of all expected new infections from 19.4% to 10.6%. FSW were 1.3% of the population but 10.6% of all expected new infections. Our risk group estimates provide data for HIV programmes to set targets and implement differentiated prevention strategies outlined in the Global AIDS Strategy. Successfully implementing this approach would result in more efficiently reaching substantially more of those at risk for infections.
Simulated patient training to improve youth engagement in HIV care in Kenya: A stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kohler Pamela K. , Mugo Cyrus , Wilson Kate S. , Moraa Hellen , Onyango Alvin , Tapia Kenneth , Pike Kenneth , Mburu Caren , Nduati Margaret , Guthrie Brandon , Richardson Barbra A. , Owens Tamara , Bukusi David , Inwani Irene , John-Stewart Grace , Wamalwa Dalton
Published: April 2023

Youth living with HIV (YLHIV) report that negative interactions with health care workers (HCWs) affects willingness to return to care. This stepped wedge randomized trial evaluated effectiveness of a standardized patient actor (SP) HCW training intervention on adolescent engagement in care in Kenya. HCWs caring for YLHIV at 24 clinics received training on adolescent care, values clarification, communication, and motivational interviewing, with 7 SP encounters followed by facilitated feedback of videotaped interactions. Facilities were randomized to timing of the intervention. The primary outcome was defined as return within 3 months after first visit (engagement) among YLHIV who were either newly enrolled or who returned to care after >3 months out of care. Visit data was abstracted from electronic medical records. Generalized linear mixed models adjusted for time, being newly enrolled, and clustering by facility. YLHIV were surveyed regarding satisfaction with care. Overall, 139 HCWs were trained, and medical records were abstracted for 4,595 YLHIV. Median YLHIV age was 21 (IQR 19–23); 82% were female, 77% were newly enrolled in care, and 75% returned within 3 months. Half (54%) of trained HCWs remained at their clinics 9 months post-training. YLHIV engagement improved over time (global Wald test, p = 0.10). In adjusted models, the intervention showed no significant effect on engagement [adjusted Prevalence Ratio (aPR) = 0.95, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.88–1.02]. Newly enrolled YLHIV had significantly higher engagement than those with prior lapses in care (aPR = 1.18, 95%CI: 1.05–1.33). Continuous satisfaction with care scores were significantly higher by wave 3 compared to baseline (coefficient = 0.38, 95%CI: 0.19–0.58). Despite provider skill improvement, there was no effect of SP training on YLHIV engagement in care. This may be due to temporal improvements or turnover of trained HCWs. Strategies to retain SP-training benefits need to address HCW turnover. YLHIV with prior gaps in care may need more intensive support. Registration CT #: NCT02928900. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02928900.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on obstetrical care at a tertiary care facility in Mombasa, Kenya: Time-series analyses and staff perspectives
Authors: Long Jessica E. , Wanje George , Aliyan Nawal , Okello Dickson , Richardson Barbra A. , Wanjiru-Korir Nyambura , Shikely Khadija , Abubakar Aisha , Oginga Pauline , McClelland R. Scott
Published: April 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption in healthcare delivery due to reductions in both health facility capacity and care-seeking behavior. For women experiencing obstetric complications, access to comprehensive emergency obstetric care is critical for maternal and child health. In Kenya, pandemic-related restrictions began in March 2020 and were compounded by a healthcare worker strike in December 2020. We examined medical record data at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, a large public hospital, and conducted staff interviews to understand how healthcare disruptions impacted care delivery and perinatal outcomes. Routinely collected data from all mother-baby dyads admitted to the Labor and Delivery Ward from January 2019 through March 2021 were included in interrupted time-series analyses. Outcomes included number of admissions and proportion of deliveries that resulted in caesarean sections and adverse birth outcomes. Interviews were conducted with nurses and medical officers to understand how the pandemic impacted clinical care. Pre-pandemic, the ward averaged 810 admissions/month, compared to 492 admissions/month post-pandemic (average monthly decrease: 24.9 admissions; 95% CI: -48.0, -1.8). The proportion of stillbirths increased 0.3% per month during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period (95% CI: 0.1, 0.4). No significant differences were seen in the proportion of other adverse obstetrical outcomes. Interview results suggested that pandemic-related disruptions included reduced access to surgical theaters and protective equipment, and absence of COVID-19 guidelines. While these disruptions were perceived as impacting care for high-risk pregnancies, providers believed that overall quality of care did not diminish during the pandemic. However, they expressed concern about a likely increase in at-home births. In conclusion, while the pandemic had minimal adverse impact on hospital-based obstetrical outcomes, it reduced the number of patients able to access care. Emergency preparedness guidelines and public health messaging promoting timely obstetrical care are needed to ensure continuation of services during future healthcare disruptions.
Solving the multicommodity flow problem using an evolutionary routing algorithm in a computer network environment
Authors: Farrugia Noel , Briffa Johann A. , Buttigieg Victor
Published: April 2023

The continued increase in Internet traffic requires that routing algorithms make the best use of all available network resources. Most of the current deployed networks are not doing so due to their use of single path routing algorithms. In this work we propose the use of a multipath capable routing algorithm using Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs) that take into account all the traffic going over the network and the link capacities by leveraging the information available at the Software Defined Network (SDN) controller. The designed routing algorithm uses Per-Packet multipath routing to make the best use of the network’s resources. Per-Packet multipath is known to have adverse affects when used with TCP, so we propose modifications to the Multipath TCP (MPTCP) protocol to overcome this. Network simulations are performed on a real world network model with 41 nodes and 60 bidirectional links. Results for the EA routing solution with the modified MPTCP protocol show a 29% increase in the total network Goodput, and a more than 50% average reduction in a flow’s end-to-end delay, when compared to OSPF and standard TCP under the same network topology and flow request conditions.
Can’t We Do Better? A cost-benefit analysis of proposal writing in a competitive funding environment
Authors: Schweiger Gerald
Published: April 2023

This article presents an analysis of third-party funding in Austria for energy research, including an analysis of the costs and benefits of writing proposals and of the trust proposal applicants place in the application process. For this purpose, applicants from research and industry applying for government-funded energy research grants in Austria were surveyed. Preparing a new proposal takes about 50 working days; at the current success rate, about 300 person-days are spent preparing proposals for a single proposal to be funded.More than 90% of researchers perceive that they currently spend too much time preparing proposals and only 10% of researchers believe that the current competitive third-party funding system has a positive effect on the quality of research. Furthermore, researchers have limited trust in the objectivity of proposal review processes.
Spatial distribution of elements, environmental effects, and economic potential of waste from the Aksu ferroalloy plant [Kazakhstan]
Authors: Safarov Ruslan , Berdenov Zharas , Urlibay Raushan , Nossenko Yuriy , Shomanova Zhanat , Bexeitova Zhuldyz , Kulak Andrej , Varga Imre , Balog Andrej , Domjánné Rita Nyizsalovszki , Dávid Lóránt Dénes
Published: April 2023

The utilization or secondary use of technogenic waste is a relevant problem for the current economy. To assess the environmental influence and economic potential, it is necessary to study the elemental content of technogenic objects and to reveal the tendencies of the spatial distribution of elements, components, and indices such as the pollution coefficient. In this study, we performed elemental analysis, and calculation of indicators: average gross content, hazard quotients, concentration coefficients of metals, and total pollution coefficients of ground samples taken from the ash-slag storage of the Aksu ferroalloy plant [Aksu, Pavlodar region, Kazakhstan]. Maps of the spatial distribution of concentrations of elements and total pollution coefficients were created. The territory of the studied ash-slag storage by the level of soil contamination should be considered as an environmental disaster zone. The given statistical data on the number of oncological and respiratory diseases indirectly indicated the negative influence of open storage of ash-slag waste. The studied ground was of chromium-manganese geochemical specialization. The calculated volume of the accumulated waste mass by the approximating method was 1 054 638.0 m3. The calculated approximate weight of the accumulated waste was 23 679 576.0864 tons, including 1 822 972.2 tons of chromium, 1 727 354.0 tons of manganese, and 953 813.3 tons of iron. The large amounts of valuable components retained in the waste mass led us to conclude that the studied technogenic object can be considered as a secondary field to produce various technological products. Moreover, valuable metals can be extracted as metal concentrates.
Predictive value of bile acids as metabolite biomarkers for gallstones: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Han Xu , Wang Juan , Wu Yingnan , Gu Hao , Zhao Ning , Liao Xing , Jiang Miao
Published: April 2023

Background

Plenty of studies have focused on the bile acids profile in gallstones. The objective of our systematic review is to provide a comprehensive summary about bile acids profiles in gallstones and analyzes the difference between gallstones and control group in diverse samples, determining the characteristic bile acids as the metabolite biomarkers for predicting gallstone.

Methods

EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang databases, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Information Resource Integration Service Platform (CQVIP), and China Biology Medicine Disc (SinoMed) will be searched with the keywords of gallstones and metabolomics. The screening process will be performed strictly according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The CONSORT checklist and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) will assess the risk of bias for randomized controlled trials and observational studies, respectively. The qualitative review will be conducted to summarize the bile acids profile in gallstones. The concentrations of bile acids in both case group and control group will be the primary outcomes to perform the meta-analyses.

Expected results

Our systematic review will find the characteristic bile acids as the candidate metabolite biomarkers which equipped potential value to predict gallstones.

Conclusion

Expanding the current knowledge on the physiopathology of gallstones and identifying novel predictive biomarkers can help to facilitate the detection and management of gallstones. Consequently, we expect this protocol to be a reasonable method to filtrate candidate differential bile acids which have potential value to predict gallstones.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022339649.
Urban-rural disparity in stunting among Ethiopian children aged 6–59 months old: A multivariate decomposition analysis of 2019 Mini-EDHS
Authors: Tadesse Sisay Eshete , Mekonnen Tefera Chane , Dewau Reta , Zerga Aregash Abebayehu , Kebede Natnael , Feleke Yitbarek Wasihun , Muche Amare
Published: April 2023

Background

Childhood stunting is still a global public health challenge, including in Ethiopia. Over the past decade, in developing countries, stunting has been characterized by large rural and urban disparities. To design an effective intervention, it is necessary to understand the urban and rural disparities in stunting.

Objective

To assess the urban-rural disparities in stunting among Ethiopian children aged 6–59 months.

Methods

This study was done based on the data obtained from the 2019 mini-Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia and ICF international. The result of descriptive statistics was reported using the mean with standard deviation, frequency, percentages, graphs, and tables. A multivariate decomposition analysis was used to decompose the urban-rural disparity in stunting into two components: one that is explained by residence differences in the level of the determinants (covariate effects), and the other component is explained by differences in the effect of the covariates on the outcome (coefficient effects). The results were robust to the different decomposition weighting schemes.

Result

The prevalence of stunting among Ethiopian children aged 6–59 months was 37.8% (95% CI: 36.8%, 39.6%). The difference in stunting prevalence between urban and rural residences was high (rural prevalence was 41.5%, while in urban areas it was 25.5%). Endowment and coefficient factors explained the urban-rural disparity in stunting with magnitudes of 35.26% and 64.74%, respectively. Maternal educational status, sex, and age of children were the determinants of the urban-rural disparity in stunting.

Conclusion and recommendation

There is a significant stunting disparity among urban and rural children in Ethiopia. A larger portion of the urban-rural stunting disparity was explained by coefficient effects (differences in behaviour). Maternal educational status, sex, and age of children were the determinants of the disparity. So, to narrow this disparity, emphasis should be given to both resource distribution and the appropriate utilization of available interventions, including improvement of maternal education and consideration of sex and age differences during child feeding practices.
Hippocampal 4-Hz oscillations emerge during stationary running in a wheel and are resistant to medial septum inactivation
Authors: de Lima Ivan Alisson Cavalcante Nunes , Belchior Hindiael
Published: April 2023

Recent studies described 2–4 Hz oscillations in the hippocampus of rats performing stationary locomotion on treadmills and other apparatus. Since the 2–4 Hz rhythm shares common features with theta (5–12 Hz) oscillations—such as a positive amplitude-running speed relationship and modulation of spiking activity—many have questioned whether these rhythms are related or independently generated. Here, we analyzed local field potentials and spiking activity from the dorsal CA1 of rats executing a spatial alternation task and running for ~15 s in a wheel during the intertrial intervals both before and after muscimol injection into the medial septum. We observed remarkable 4-Hz oscillations during wheel runs, which presented amplitude positively correlated with running speed. Surprisingly, the amplitude of 4-Hz and theta oscillations were inversely related. Medial septum inactivation abolished hippocampal theta but preserved 4-Hz oscillations. It also affected the entrainment of pyramidal cells and interneurons by 4-Hz rhythmic activity. In all, these results dissociate the underlying mechanism of 4-Hz and theta oscillations in the rat hippocampus.
Corticosteroids for severe acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in intensive care: From the French OUTCOMEREA cohort
Authors: Galerneau Louis Marie , Bailly Sébastien , Terzi Nicolas , Ruckly Stéphane , Garrouste-Orgeas Maïté , Cohen Yves , Hong Tuan Ha Vivien , Gainnier Marc , Siami Shidasp , Dupuis Claire , Darmon Michael , Azoulay Elie , Forel Jean-Marie , Sigaud Florian , Adrie Christophe , Goldgran-Toledano Dany , Ferré Alexis , de Montmollin Etienne , Argaud Laurent , Reignier Jean , Pepin Jean-Louis , Timsit Jean-François ,   on behalf of the OUTCOMEREA network
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a frequent cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. However, data are scarce and conflicting regarding the impact of systemic corticosteroid treatment in critically ill patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of systemic corticosteroids on the occurrence of death or need for continuous invasive mechanical ventilation at day 28 after ICU admission.

Methods

In the OutcomeReaTM prospective French national ICU database, we assessed the impact of corticosteroids at admission (daily dose ≥ 0.5 mg/kg of prednisone or equivalent during the first 24 hours ICU stay) on a composite outcome (death or invasive mechanical ventilation) using an inverse probability treatment weighting.

Results

Between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2018, 391 out of 1,247 patients with acute exacerbations of COPDs received corticosteroids at ICU admission. Corticosteroids improved the main composite endpoint (OR = 0.70 [0.49; 0.99], p = 0.044. However, for the subgroup of most severe COPD patients, this did not occur (OR = 1.12 [0.53; 2.36], p = 0. 770). There was no significant impact of corticosteroids on rates of non-invasive ventilation failure, length of ICU or hospital stay, mortality or on the duration of mechanical ventilation. Patients on corticosteroids had the same prevalence of nosocomial infections as those without corticosteroids, but more glycaemic disorders.

Conclusion

Using systemic corticosteroids for acute exacerbation of COPD at ICU admission had a positive effect on a composite outcome defined by death or need for invasive mechanical ventilation at day 28.
The proteasome regulator Rpn4 controls antifungal drug tolerance by coupling protein homeostasis with metabolic responses to drug stress
Authors: Yau Ka Pui Sharon , Weerasinghe Harshini , Olivier Francios A. B. , Lo Tricia L. , Powell David R. , Koch Barbara , Beilharz Traude H. , Traven Ana
Published: April 2023

Fungal pathogens overcome antifungal drug therapy by classic resistance mechanisms, such as increased efflux or changes to the drug target. However, even when a fungal strain is susceptible, trailing or persistent microbial growth in the presence of an antifungal drug can contribute to therapeutic failure. This trailing growth is caused by adaptive physiological changes that enable the growth of a subpopulation of fungal cells in high drug concentrations, in what is described as drug tolerance. Mechanistically, antifungal drug tolerance is incompletely understood. Here we report that the transcriptional activator Rpn4 is important for drug tolerance in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Deletion of RPN4 eliminates tolerance to the commonly used antifungal drug fluconazole. We defined the mechanism and show that Rpn4 controls fluconazole tolerance via two target pathways. First, Rpn4 activates proteasome gene expression, which enables sufficient proteasome capacity to overcome fluconazole-induced proteotoxicity and the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins targeted for degradation. Consistently, inhibition of the proteasome with MG132 eliminates fluconazole tolerance and resistance, and phenocopies the rpn4Δ/Δ mutant for loss of tolerance. Second, Rpn4 is required for wild type expression of the genes required for the synthesis of the membrane lipid ergosterol. Our data indicates that this function of Rpn4 is required for mitigating the inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis by fluconazole. Based on our findings, we propose that Rpn4 is a central hub for fluconazole tolerance in C. albicans by coupling the regulation of protein homeostasis (proteostasis) and lipid metabolism to overcome drug-induced proteotoxicity and membrane stress.
Findings of new and rare species of vascular plants in mires of the Urals and the Trans-Urals
Authors: Ivchenko Tatyana G. , Knyazev Machail S. , Smirnova (Makarova) Marina A. , Erokhina Olga V.
Published: April 2023

The materials of the article contain data on the findings of 30 species of vascular plants from the territory of the Urals and the Trans-Urals. Among them, there are two new species for this territory, one for the Sverdlovsk Region – Phragmites altissimus, and one for the Kurgan Region – Rhinanthus songaricus. The second finding of the alien species Bidens frondosa for the Kurgan Region is reported. An information about the new locality of Liparis loeselii, which is included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation, is presented as well, along with the data about the findings of 26 other rare species of vascular plants in the mires of the South Ural region, listed in the Red Data Books of the region. The article makes important additions to the knowledge of the distribution of protected vascular plant species in the study region.
Romani Communities and Transformative Change: A New Social Europe. (eds. Andrew Ryder, Marius Taba and Nidhi Trehan, Policy Press, 2021)
Authors: Mishra Malay
Published: April 2023

Review of the book Romani Communities and Transformative Change: A New Social Europe. (eds. Andrew Ryder, Marius Taba and Nidhi Trehan, Policy Press, 2021).
Identification of Potent Natural Inhibitor Against Papain Like Protease of SARS CoV 2 an in Silico Approach
Authors: Kandalkar Ankita , Dinesh Anushka , Nagare Sagar
Published: April 2023

One of the most complicated tasks the healthcare system has faced in recent years has been the development of a curative treatment to stop the progression of the SARS CoV-2 virus. No consensus has been reached on a medical cure to slow the virus spread. From this point of view, investigating existing drugs such as SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors is an appropriate technique. With critical involvement in viral replication and host-immune suppression, Papain-like protease (PL-pro) is recognized as a key enzyme target for drug development among other SARS-CoV-2 druggable targets. Phytolignans have a wide range of physiological effects, making them an appealing drug for antiviral study. We used an insilico method to target SARS CoV-2 PL-pro with phytolignans in our investigation. The chemical structures of phytolignans were obtained from PubChem, whereas the protease structure 6WX4was obtained from the Protein Data Bank website. The PyRx software was used for molecular docking.Of all the phytolignans examined, Sesamolin has the greatest binding affinity of -8.4 kcal/mol towards PL-pro.The docking results revealed that phytolignans are potent inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease and that they may be verified further in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that Sesamolin might be used as a medication to block the action of SARS CoV-2 PL-pro.
Resilience and Coping Are they Different
Authors: Midha Shefali
Published: April 2023

The concepts of resilience and coping share an intertwined relationship with each other to the extent thatquestions arise whether the two are different constructs or one encompasses the other. The present study aimed at analysing the correlated and conjoint factorial nature of two popular measures of resilience and coping, namely the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale (CD-RISC); and the Coping Styles Questionnaire (CSQ) in the Indian population. The sample consisted of 184 participants within the age range of 18-30 years. Results depicted that adaptive coping styles correlated with resilience. The factor analysis of CD-RISC provided two factors, whereas CSQ provided four different factors. The joint factor analysis provided four factors with significant overlap between adaptive coping and resilience.