bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Copolyimides for gradient-index optics
Authors: Rosenberg Armand , Lee Sang Ho , Shirk James S.
Published: September 2022

Copolymerization offers a promising route to the accurate control of material properties, such as refractive index. For compatible polymers, an ability to produce copolymers with incrementally varying refractive indices is a basic requirement for fabricating gradient-index (GRIN) optics. To determine the accuracy of this approach, we examined the composition dependence of index in several optical copolyimides. We observed deviations from standard model predictions that exceed 5 × 10−3 at certain compositions, consistent with non-ideal copolymer formation. This implies that state-of-the-art GRIN optical design requires careful calibration of the composition dependence in these copolymers. We further found that birefringence is sensitive to the structures of the component polymers, and that the thermo-optic and thermal expansion coefficients vary linearly with composition, within the experimental uncertainty.
The effects on clinical trial activity of direct funding and taxation policy interventions made by government: A systematic review
Authors: Crosby Sam , Rajadurai Esther , Jan Stephen , Neal Bruce , Holden Richard
Published: September 2022

Context

Governments have attempted to increase clinical trial activity in their jurisdictions using a range of methods including targeted direct funding and industry tax rebates. The effectiveness of the different approaches employed is unclear.

Objective

To systematically review the effects of direct government financing interventions by allowing companies to reduce their tax payable on clinical trial activity.

Data sources

Pub Med, Scopus, Sage, ProQuest, Google Scholar and Google were searched up to the 11th of April 2022. In addition, the reference lists of all potentially eligible documents were hand searched to identify additional reports. Following feedback from co-authors, information on a small number of additional interventions were specifically sought out and included.

Data extraction

Summary information about potentially eligible reports were reviewed independently by two researchers, followed by extraction of data into a structured spreadsheet for eligible studies. The primary outcomes of interest were the number of clinical trials and the expenditure on clinical trials but data about other evaluations were also collected.

Results

There were 1694 potentially eligible reports that were reviewed. Full text assessments were done for 304, and 30 reports that provided data on 43 interventions were included– 29 that deployed targeted direct funding and 14 that provided tax rebates or exemptions. There were data describing effects on a primary outcome for 25/41 of the interventions. The most common types of interventions were direct funding to researchers via special granting mechanisms and tax offsets to companies and research organisations. All 25 of the studies for which data were available reported a positive impact on numbers and/or expenditure on clinical trials though the robustness of evaluations was limited for many. Estimates of the magnitude of effects of interventions were reported inconsistently, varied substantially, and could not be synthesised quantitatively, though targeted direct funding interventions appeared to be associated with more immediate impact on clinical trial activity.

Conclusion

There is a high likelihood that governments can increase clinical trial activity with either direct or indirect fiscal mechanisms. Direct funding may provide a more immediate and tangible return on investment than tax rebates.
Persistence of phenotypic responses to short-term heat stress in the tabletop coral Acropora hyacinthus
Authors: Walker Nia S. , Cornwell Brendan H. , Nestor Victor , Armstrong Katrina C. , Golbuu Yimnang , Palumbi Stephen R.
Published: September 2022

Widespread mapping of coral thermal resilience is essential for developing effective management strategies and requires replicable and rapid multi-location assays of heat resistance and recovery. One- or two-day short-term heat stress experiments have been previously employed to assess heat resistance, followed by single assays of bleaching condition. We tested the reliability of short-term heat stress resistance, and linked resistance and recovery assays, by monitoring the phenotypic response of fragments from 101 Acropora hyacinthus colonies located in Palau (Micronesia) to short-term heat stress. Following short-term heat stress, bleaching and mortality were recorded after 16 hours, daily for seven days, and after one and two months of recovery. To follow corals over time, we utilized a qualitative, non-destructive visual bleaching score metric that correlated with standard symbiont retention assays. The bleaching state of coral fragments 16 hours post-heat stress was highly indicative of their state over the next 7 days, suggesting that symbiont population sizes within corals may quickly stabilize post-heat stress. Bleaching 16 hours post-heat stress predicted likelihood of mortality over the subsequent 3–5 days, after which there was little additional mortality. Together, bleaching and mortality suggested that rapid assays of the phenotypic response following short-term heat stress were good metrics of the total heat treatment effect. Additionally, our data confirm geographic patterns of intraspecific variation in Palau and show that bleaching severity among colonies was highly correlated with mortality over the first week post-stress. We found high survival (98%) and visible recovery (100%) two months after heat stress among coral fragments that survived the first week post-stress. These findings help simplify rapid, widespread surveys of heat sensitivity in Acropora hyacinthus by showing that standardized short-term experiments can be confidently assayed after 16 hours, and that bleaching sensitivity may be linked to subsequent survival using experimental assessments.
Causal illusion in the core of pseudoscientific beliefs: The role of information interpretation and search strategies
Authors: Torres Marta N. , Barberia Itxaso , Rodríguez-Ferreiro Javier
Published: September 2022

The prevalence of pseudoscientific beliefs in our societies negatively influences relevant areas such as health or education. Causal illusions have been proposed as a possible cognitive basis for the development of such beliefs. The aim of our study was to further investigate the specific nature of the association between causal illusion and endorsement of pseudoscientific beliefs through an active contingency detection task. In this task, volunteers are given the opportunity to manipulate the presence or absence of a potential cause in order to explore its possible influence over the outcome. Responses provided are assumed to reflect both the participants’ information interpretation strategies as well as their information search strategies. Following a previous study investigating the association between causal illusion and the presence of paranormal beliefs, we expected that the association between causal illusion and pseudoscientific beliefs would disappear when controlling for the information search strategy (i.e., the proportion of trials in which the participants decided to present the potential cause). Volunteers with higher pseudoscientific beliefs also developed stronger causal illusions in active contingency detection tasks. This association appeared irrespective of the participants with more pseudoscientific beliefs showing (Experiment 2) or not (Experiment 1) differential search strategies. Our results suggest that both information interpretation and search strategies could be significantly associated to the development of pseudoscientific (and paranormal) beliefs.
An adaptive paradigm for detecting the individual duration of the preparatory period in the choice reaction time task
Authors: Soghoyan Gurgen , Aksiotis Vladislav , Rusinova Anna , Myachykov Andriy , Tumyalis Alexey
Published: September 2022

According to the sequential stage model, the selection and the execution of a motor response are two distinct independent processes. Here, we propose a new adaptive paradigm for identifying the individual duration of the response preparatory period based on the motor reaction time (RT) data. The results are compared using the paradigm with constant values of the preparatory period. Two groups of participants performed on either an easy (Group 1) or a hard (Group 2) response selection task with two types of stimuli based on the preparatory period parameters: (1) stimuli with a constant preparatory period duration of 0 or 1200 ms and (2) stimuli with adaptive preparatory period durations. Our analysis showed an increase in the duration of the response selection process as a function of increasing task complexity when using both paradigms with constant and adaptive values of the preparatory period duration. We conclude that the adaptive paradigm proposed in the current paper has several important advantages over the constant paradigm in terms of measuring the response accuracy while being equally efficiently in capturing other critical response parameters.
Opinions on integrating couple counselling and female sexual reproductive health services into Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision services in Lilongwe, Malawi
Authors: Maseko Bertha , Bula Agatha , Sasse Simone , Thom Annie , Tsidya Mercy , Tang Jennifer , Hosseinipour Mina C.
Published: September 2022

Background

Couples HIV Counselling and Testing (CHCT) has been found to be potentially beneficial than individual HIV Counselling and Testing for prevention and treatment of HIV. However, there are few health care opportunities for men and women to access health services together, leading to underutilization of CHCT service. Integrating female Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services into male-dominated service could be more effective than trying to integrate men’s health services into female-dominated health services. A potential site for male-female service integration could be Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) centers.

Methodology

We conducted a qualitative study in Lilongwe, Malawi between June to August 2018. Twenty VMMC clients, 20 peers and 20 VMMC providers completed individual in-depth interviews to share their opinions on what they thought about integrating CHCT and other SRH Services into VMMC services. These proposed SRH services include family planning, cervical cancer screening, sexually transmitted infection management and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Content analysis was used to analyze the results.

Results

All participants were receptive to integration of CHCT, and most accepted the integration of SRH services into VMMC Services. Most VMMC clients, peers and care providers said that CHCT integration would help couples to know their HIV status, prevent HIV transmission, encourage healthy relationships, and provide a chance for women to participate in VMMC counselling and wound care. However, integration of other services, such as family planning and cervical cancer screening, drew mixed opinions among participants. Most VMMC clients, peers and providers felt that integration of services would promote male involvement and increase men’s knowledge in feminine sexual reproductive health services. A few providers expressed concerns over service integration, citing reasons such as overcrowding, work overload, gender mixing, and lack of provider capacity and space. Most participants supported integrating PrEP with VMMC Services and felt that PrEP would complement VMMC in HIV prevention. Few providers, peers and VMMC clients felt the addition of PrEP to VMMC services would lead to high-risk sexual activity that would then increase the risk for HIV acquisition. A few participants recommended community sensitization when integrating some of sexual reproductive health services into VMMC Services to mitigate negative perceptions about VMMC services and encourage service uptake among couples

Conclusion

Most participants service providers, VMMC clients and Peers were receptive to integrating SRH services, particularly HIV prevention services such as CHCT and PrEP, into male dominated VMMC services. Adequate community sensitization is required when introducing other SRH services into VMMC services.
The associations between ADHD, pain, inflammation, and quality of life in children and adolescents—a clinical study protocol
Authors: Kerekes Nóra , Lundqvist Sara , Schubert Hjalmarsson Elke , Torinsson Naluai Åsa , Kantzer Anne-Katrin , Knez Rajna
Published: September 2022

New research shows that the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is increased in children and adolescents as well as in adults with chronic pain, compared to those without chronic pain. Children and adolescents with ADHD also have an increased incidence of various physical conditions associated with pain, and they more frequently suffer from inflammatory diseases. Moreover, parents of children with ADHD can often suffer from pain conditions. These epidemiological and clinical observations form the scientific basis of our study, which aims to map the relationships between ADHD, altered pain experiences/central sensitization, and inflammation in children and adolescents. We will investigate the presence of central sensitization in children and adolescents with newly diagnosed ADHD and compare it with those who have not been diagnosed with ADHD. Participants (and their biological parents) will complete surveys about their somatic health, pain experience, and quality of life. Biological samples (saliva and stool) will be collected, aiming to utilize proteome and metabolome data to discover disease mechanisms and to predict, prevent and treat them. The results from our investigation should enable an expanded understanding of the pathophysiology behind both ADHD and pain/central sensitization. Presently, there are no established protocols for addressing psychiatric symptoms when examining patients with pain conditions in a somatic care setting, nor is there any knowledge of offering patients with ADHD or other neurodevelopmental disorders adapted treatments for pain conditions. Our results, therefore, can contribute to the development of new treatment strategies for pathological pain conditions in children and adolescents with ADHD. They may also increase awareness about and provide opportunities for the treatment of attention and impulse control problems in children and adolescents with pain syndromes.
Evaluation of the Young, Deadly, Syphilis Free multi-media campaign in remote Australia
Authors: D’Costa Belinda , Lobo Roanna , Sibosado Amanda , Leavy Justine E. , Crawford Gemma , Ward James
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Since 2011, remote Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have experienced an outbreak of infectious syphilis, with young people aged 15–29 years over-represented in notifications. The Young Deadly Syphilis Free multi-media campaign was implemented in 12 remote regions in four Australian jurisdictions over nine months from 2017–2018. Campaign components included television and radio advertisements, social media posts, and health promotion resources available via a dedicated website. The aim of this research was to evaluate the impacts (proximal, mediator, distal) of the Young Deadly Syphilis Free campaign for young Aboriginal people and health and community workers residing in remote campaign regions.

Methods

A cross-sectional (post-only) evaluation design was used. Data were collected through online surveys; metrics for social media (Facebook, Instagram) were also collected to determine campaign engagement via social media. A 22-item young people survey assessed campaign awareness, exposure, message recognition and diagnostics (proximal variables); along with intended behaviour and knowledge and attitudes (mediator variables). A 24-item health and community worker survey assessed campaign awareness, exposure, message recognition and diagnostics (proximal variables); and changes in professional practice (distal variable). Descriptive statistics summarised demographic characteristics and univariate analysis examined associations between key variables.

Results

Just over half (n = 25, 58%) of young people and three quarters (n = 36; 75%) of health and community workers were aware of the campaign. Recognition of key campaign messages was high for both participant groups (>64%), and television, Facebook, and website were the most common campaign exposure routes. Positive impacts on intended behaviour (young people) and professional practice (health and community workers) were also reported. Facebook was effective in engaging some young people in campaign content and was preferred by young people for accessing information.

Conclusion

The findings point to the value of utilising a multi-media campaign in raising awareness about syphilis among young Aboriginal people and health and community workers in remote Australian regions. A longer-term campaign that accommodates the diverse needs of Aboriginal young people from geographically remote communities would optimise campaign impacts and support behavioural change.
Safety of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis
Authors: Yang I-Ning , Lu Chin-Li , Tang Hung-Jen , Kuo Yu-Chi , Tsai Li-Hwa , Tu Kuan Chieh , Wang Jhi-Joung , Chien Chih-Chiang
Published: September 2022

Background

COVID-19 vaccination is essential. However, no study has reported adverse events (AEs) after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD). This study investigated the AEs within 30-days after the first dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca) in ESRD patients on HD.

Methods and findings

A total of 270 ESRD patients on HD were enrolled in this study. To determine the significance of vascular access thrombosis (VAT) post vaccination, we performed a self-controlled case study (SCCS) analysis. Of these patients, 38.5% had local AEs; local pain (29.6%), tenderness (28.9%), and induration (15.6%) were the most common. Further, 62.2% had systemic AEs; fatigue (41.1%), feverishness (20%), and lethargy (19.9%) were the most common. In addition, post-vaccination thirst affected 18.9% of the participants with female predominance. Younger age, female sex, and diabetes mellitus were risk factors for AEs. Five patients had severe AEs, including fever (n = 1), herpes zoster (HZ) reactivation (n = 1), and acute VAT (n = 3). However, the SCCS analysis revealed no association between vaccination and VAT; the incidence rate ratio (IRR)-person ratio was 0.56 (95% CI 0.13–2.33) and 0.78 (95% CI 0.20–2.93) [IRR-event ratio 0.78 (95% CI 0.15–4.10) and 1.00 (95% CI 0.20–4.93)] in the 0–3 months and 3–6 months period prior to vaccination, respectively.

Conclusions

Though some ESRD patients on HD had local and systemic AEs after first-dose vaccination, the clinical significance of these symptoms was minor. Our study confirmed the safety profile of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in HD patients and presented a new viewpoint on vaccine-related AEs. The SCCS analysis did not find an elevated risk of VAT at 1 month following vaccination. Apart from VAT, other vaccine-related AEs, irrespective of local or systemic symptoms, had minor clinical significance on safety issues. Nonetheless, further coordinated, multi-center, or registry-based studies are needed to establish the causality.
Postoperative C-reactive protein as a predictive marker for surgical site infection after cesarean section: Retrospective analysis of 748 patients at a Japanese academic institution
Authors: Miyazaki Kazuko , Jwa Seung Chik , Katayama Eri , Tamaru Shunsuke , Ishihara Osamu , Kamei Yoshimasa
Published: September 2022

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common but potentially serious maternal complication of cesarean section (CS). C-reactive protein (CRP) can be used in early detection of SSI. However, its predictive value for post-cesarean SSI has never been investigated. This study aims to evaluate the predictive value of CRP for the development of SSI. This was a hospital-based retrospective cohort study of 748 pregnant women who underwent CS at our university hospital between January 2017 and December 2019. CRP was measured on postoperative days 1, 3, and 6. The predictive values of CRP for SSI were evaluated using receiver operating characteristics analysis. Forty-seven (6.3%) patients developed SSI, of whom 38 (80.9%) underwent emergency CS. Serum CRP levels were significantly higher in the SSI group than in the non-SSI group from postoperative day 1 (64 vs. 81 mg/L, p = 0.001); the difference became more evident on postoperative days 3 and 6. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for CRP on days 1, 3, and 6 was 0.58 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49 to 0.68), 0.70 (0.62 to 0.78) and 0.73 (0.65 to 0.81), respectively. The optimal cutoff value for day 3 and 6 CRP was 66.4 mg/L (sensitivity = 76.1% and specificity = 54.4%) and 22.2 mg/L (sensitivity = 76.5% and specificity = 63.2%), respectively. CRP on postoperative days 3 and 6 can be used as a predictive marker for the development of SSI after CS. Further studies to validate the predictive value in different populations is essential.
Natural diversity of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) gut bacteriome in various climatic and seasonal states
Authors: Papp Márton , Békési László , Farkas Róbert , Makrai László , Judge Maura Fiona , Maróti Gergely , Tőzsér Dóra , Solymosi Norbert
Published: September 2022

As pollinators and producers of numerous human-consumed products, honey bees have great ecological, economic and health importance. The composition of their bacteriota, for which the available knowledge is limited, is essential for their body’s functioning. Based on our survey, we performed a metagenomic analysis of samples collected by repeated sampling. We used geolocations that represent the climatic types of the study area over two nutritionally extreme periods (March and May) of the collection season. Regarding bacteriome composition, a significant difference was found between the samples from March and May. The samples’ bacteriome from March showed a significant composition difference between cooler and warmer regions. However, there were no significant bacteriome composition differences among the climatic classes of samples taken in May. Based on our results, one may conclude that the composition of healthy core bacteriomes in honey bees varies depending on the climatic and seasonal conditions. This is likely due to climatic factors and vegetation states determining the availability and nutrient content of flowering plants. The results of our study prove that in order to gain a thorough understanding of a microbiome’s natural diversity, we need to obtain the necessary information from extreme ranges within the host’s healthy state.
Identifying family-child activities among children with prenatal drug exposure in a Tribal Nation: Caregiver perspectives on barriers, facilitators and positive outcomes
Authors: Russette Helen , Brown Joshua , Belcourt Annie , McKay Kimber , Graham Niki , Semmens Erin O.
Published: September 2022

Background

Native American newborns experience high rates of prenatal drug exposure leading to devastating outcomes within Indigenous communities. Such children are at heightened risk of maladaptive outcomes if early intervention does not occur. A need exists to identify strategies that promote resilience.

Objectives

Identify barriers and facilitators that families experience in family-child engagement activities across the community, culture, outdoors, and home settings to inform a cultural-sensitive and community-relevant study aimed at quantifying positive family-child engagement activities as a resilience factor in this population.

Methods

Biological parents and caregivers to children, ages 0–3 years old with or without prenatal drug exposure (N = 15) were recruited from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to participate in an in-person semi-structured interview. Data analysis consisted of research yarning and directed content analysis to collect unique stories and to identify common activities, barriers, supports and positive outcomes to families, respectively.

Results

Attending multiple powwows/celebrations, swimming, and reading were the most mentioned activities. Cost and transportation were common barriers. The most common support mechanism provided was having family or friends present to participate in activities. Cultural knowledge and bonding were common positive outcomes for a child engaging in activities. A collection of stories identified both familial barriers to traditional ways of knowing and participation in community, and community-implemented efforts to bridge that gap among families with a history of drug and alcohol use.

Conclusions

This study identifies potential resilience factors specific to families to children with prenatal drug exposure that reside in Indigenous communities.
Contextual and psychosocial factors influencing caregiver safe disposal of child feces and child latrine training in rural Odisha, India
Authors: Sclar Gloria D. , Bauza Valerie , Bisoyi Alokananda , Clasen Thomas F. , Mosler Hans-Joachim
Published: September 2022

Child feces are an important source of fecal exposure in household environments. Typically, one of two behaviors is necessary to mitigate this risk: either caregivers dispose of their children’s feces into a latrine or children learn how to use a latrine. Although past studies have examined factors associated with these two behaviors collectively (i.e. “safe disposal”), there is a need to separately analyze these distinctive practices to better inform programming. This study aims to quantitatively examine contextual and psychosocial factors influencing caregiver safe disposal and, separately, child latrine training. We surveyed 791 primary female caregivers, who reported on 906 children <5 years old, across 74 villages in rural Odisha, India. At their last defecation event, 38% of children used the latrine and another 10% had their feces safely disposed of into the latrine. Since caregiver safe disposal was rare, we instead assessed safe disposal intention. We used linear regression and multilevel mixed effects models to examine contextual and psychosocial factors. For contextual factors, we found caregivers had stronger safe disposal intention when they came from wealthier households and had greater informational support, but weaker intention when their latrine was near the household. Caregivers more intensely practiced latrine training with their child when they themselves used the latrine for defecation, the latrine was fully intact, and they had greater instrumental support. For psychosocial factors, caregivers had stronger safe disposal intention when their households expected them to practice safe disposal, they felt strongly committed to the behavior, and had a plan for what to do when faced with a water shortage. Caregivers more intensely taught their child how to use the latrine when they believed their child was at risk of becoming sick if they practiced open defecation (OD); viewed child OD as unbeneficial; liked teaching their child; personally felt it was important for the child’s father to help; felt confident in their ability to teach their child; and had greater action control over their training practice. Interestingly, caregivers put less effort into latrine training when they felt more concerned for their child’s safety when the child defecated outside. These findings underscore the critical need to separately assess unique child feces management (CFM) practices and also provide a road map for practitioners on the types of behavior change strategies to consider in their CFM programming.
Not knowing enough, not having enough, not feeling wanted: Challenges of community health workers providing maternal and newborn services in Africa and Asia
Authors: Olaniran Abimbola , Banke-Thomas Aduragbemi , Bar-Zeev Sarah , Madaj Barbara
Published: September 2022

Background

Community health workers (CHWs) have been identified as a critical bridge to reaching many communities with essential health services based on their social and geographical proximity to community residents. However, various challenges limit their performance, especially in low-and middle-income countries. With the view to guiding global and local stakeholders on how best to support CHWs, this study explored common challenges of different CHW cadres in various contexts.

Methods

We conducted 36 focus group discussions and 131 key informant interviews in Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Malawi, and Nigeria. The study covered 10 CHW cadres grouped into Level 1 and Level 2 health paraprofessionals based on education and training duration, with the latter having a longer engagement. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

We identified three critical challenges of CHWs. First, inadequate knowledge affected service delivery and raised questions about the quality of CHW services. CHWs’ insufficient knowledge was partly explained by inadequate training opportunities and the inability to apply new knowledge due to equipment unavailability. Second, their capacity for service coverage was limited by a low level of infrastructural support, including lack of accommodation for Level 2 paraprofessional CHWs, inadequate supplies, and lack of transportation facilities to convey women in labour. Third, the social dimension relating to the acceptance of CHWs’ services was not guaranteed due to local socio-cultural beliefs, CHW demographic characteristics such as sex, and time conflict between CHWs’ health activities and community members’ daily routines.

Conclusion

To optimise the performance of CHWs in LMICs, pertinent stakeholders, including from the public and third sectors, require a holistic approach that addresses health system challenges relating to training and structural support while meaningfully engaging the community to implement social interventions that enhance acceptance of CHWs and their services.
Basic personal values in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: A two-wave longitudinal study
Authors: Vecchione Michele
Published: September 2022

This study investigated value change during two phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, one of the most affected countries in the world. The first wave of data was collected in summer 2020, when the virus was on the retreat. The second wave was collected in autumn, at the peak of the second pandemic wave (November 2020). We investigated how Schwartz’s higher-order values changed over the two waves of the study, using economic condition as a predictor of change. We also examined whether value change predicted subsequent value-expressive behavior. Results showed no mean-level change for self-enhancement, self-transcendence, conservation, and openness to change values, but significant interindividual differences in the amount of change for each of the four values. Economic condition emerged as a significant predictor of change in conservation values: Individuals with a decreasing income since the beginning of the pandemic were more likely to increase the importance assigned to these values with respect to individuals whose economic well-being has remained unchanged. Moreover, an increase in conservation and openness to change values predicted behaviors that are mostly expressive of these values, above and beyond value importance at Time 1. Results and their implications for the study of values are discussed.
Fibroblast growth factor 23 and kidney function in patients with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Takashi Yuichi , Maeda Yasutaka , Toyokawa Kyoko , Oda Naoki , Yoshioka Rie , Sekiguchi Dan , Minami Masae , Kawanami Daiji
Published: September 2022

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a key determinant of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Identifying factors associated with early glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline in T1D is important in prevention or early intervention for DKD. This study investigated whether phosphate metabolism, including fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is associated with the kidney function of patients with T1D. We randomly recruited 118 patients with T1D with a normal or mildly impaired kidney function [chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages of G1/G2, A1/A2], and measured their serum FGF23 levels. Serum FGF23 was significantly negatively associated with the estimated GFR (eGFR) (r = -0.292, P = 0.0016), but not urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR), and positively associated with serum phosphate (Pi; r = 0.273, P = 0.0027). Serum FGF23 increased with decreasing eGFR quartiles (P for linear trend = 0.0371), while FGF23 was modestly higher in the higher quartiles of UACR (not statistically significant). The multiple linear regression analysis also showed a significant inverse association between FGF23 and eGFR (Model 1: β = -0.149, P = 0.0429; Model 2: β = -0.141, P = 0.0370). The association remained significant after adjustment for Pi. We identified that FGF23 was inversely associated with the eGFR in T1D patients with a normal or mildly impaired kidney function.
Stigmatizing attitudes toward Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) in parents vs. non-parents: Effects of medication and genetic etiology
Authors: Isbell Linda M. , Kang Sungha , Barysky Gregory , Quinn Grace
Published: September 2022

Stigmatizing attitudes toward children with psychopathology represent a barrier to treatment and well-being, yet almost no research has investigated what contributes to these attitudes. This study examines the effects of medication treatment and genetic etiology on stigmatizing attitudes toward a relatively new and controversial disorder–Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD). Participants (159 parents, 225 non-parents) completed a vignette study on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) in which a child displayed behaviors consistent with DMDD. The child was described as either taking psychiatric medication or not, and the vignette described the child’s condition as either genetic or did not mention etiology. Participants who were parents reported greater stigma when the etiology (genetic prime vs. no prime) matched the perceived appropriate treatment (medication vs. no medication). Among parents, a child treated with medication who had a genetic disorder, and a child who was not treated with medication and for whom genetic etiology was not primed, were most stigmatized. No differences emerged among non-parents. These findings highlight the importance of considering multiple factors (parental status, congruence between treatment and perceived disorder etiology) when investigating mental health stigma and underscore the need to further investigate such nuances to inform anti-stigma interventions.
Whole genome sequence analysis of two subspecies of Companilactobacillus Futsaii and experimental verification of drug resistance and effect on the exploratory behavior of mice based on unique gene
Authors: Xin Zhao , Wei Xing , Jiao Qiuxia , Gou Qiufeng , Zhang Yumeng , Peng Chaoming , Pan Qu
Published: September 2022

This study characterized the whole genome of Companilactobacillus futsaii subsp. chongqingii CQ16Z1 isolated from Chongqing of China, performed genome sequence analysis with Companilactobacillus futsaii subsp. futsaii YM0097 isolated from Taiwan of China, and experimentally verified drug resistance and effect on the exploratory behavior of male C57BL/6 mice and analysis of gut microbiota and metabolomic studies. The genome of CQ16Z1 is 2.6 Mb. Sequence analysis between genomes showed that the two strains are Companilactobacillus futsaii. The unique genes of CQ16Z1 and YM0097 are 217 and 267, which account for 9% and 11% of the whole genomes, respectively. According to unique gene annotation, the results showed that genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism, environmental information processing, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis, phage and drug resistance are significantly different. The results of the drug resistance experiment showed that YM0097 had different degrees of resistance to 13 antibiotics, while CQ16Z1 was sensitive to more than half of them. YM0097 contains 9 prophage regions and CQ16Z1 contains 3 prophage regions. The results of the open field test showed that the time (P = 0.005; P = 0.047) and distance (P < 0.010; P = 0.046) of the central area of Y97 group and CQ group are significantly different from the control group. The results of the elevated plus maze test showed that compared with the control group, Y97 group had significant differences in the number of entries to the open arms and the percentage of open arms entry times (P = 0.004; P = 0.025), while the difference between the CQ group and the control group was not significant. YM0097 has a more obvious effect on the exploratory behavior of mice. The effects of YM0097 and CQ16Z1 on the intestinal flora of mice are also different. YM0097 may be more beneficial to the intestinal flora of the host. And LC/MS also showed that the metabolic effects of the two strains on the host are different. Finally, we believe that YM0097 is more suitable for application research as a psychobiotics.
What mechanism design helps to realize the innovation function of maker-spaces: A qualitative comparative analysis based on fuzzy sets
Authors: Zheng Jiancun , Shi Lu , Jiang Tianhong
Published: September 2022

Most of the existing studies on maker-space focus on internal subjects (such as makers) or external factors (such as policy support, ecological environment, and more). There has been relatively little discussion on the design of a series of mechanisms of maker-space. This paper theorizes the operating mechanism for platform services, resource gathering, network connections and endogenous cultural protection for the maker-space. It uses the method of fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to analyze data from 63 maker-spaces in Zhejiang Province. The study proposes a reasonable mechanism design scheme for maker-space. The results show that the innovativeness of a maker-space is the result of the synergistic effect of various operating mechanisms. Among them, the platform service function, the channel for gathering resources, the formal linkages, and the culture for sharing achievements are indispensable support mechanisms for maker-spaces. Two effective ways to promote innovation in maker-space are outlined: first, preventing interventions from external resource providers; second, building an inclusive culture of trial and error.
Circular economy priorities for photovoltaics in the energy transition
Authors: Mirletz Heather , Ovaitt Silvana , Sridhar Seetharaman , Barnes Teresa M.
Published: September 2022

Among the many ambitious decarbonization goals globally, the US intends grid decarbonization by 2035, requiring 1 TW of installed photovoltaics (PV), up from ~110 GW in 2021. This unprecedented global scale-up will stress existing PV supply chains with increased material and energy demands. By 2050, 1.75 TW of PV in the US cumulatively demands 97 million metric tonnes of virgin material and creates 8 million metric tonnes of life cycle waste. This analysis leverages the PV in Circular Economy tool (PV ICE) to evaluate two circular economy approaches, lifetime extension and closed-loop recycling, on their ability to reduce virgin material demands and life cycle wastes while meeting capacity goals. Modules with 50-year lifetimes can reduce virgin material demand by 3% through reduced deployment. Modules with 15-year lifetimes require an additional 1.2 TW of replacement modules to maintain capacity, increasing virgin material demand and waste unless >90% of module mass is closed-loop recycled. Currently, no PV technology is more than 90% closed-loop recycled. Glass, the majority of mass in all PV technologies and an energy intensive component with a problematic supply chain, should be targeted for a circular redesign. Our work contributes data-backed insights prioritizing circular PV strategies for a sustainable energy transition.
The preventive and therapeutic effects of probiotics on mastitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Qinghong , Xu Chuchu , Wang Mengqian , Zhu Jiayan , Yu Linghong , Yang Zimei , Liu Shan , Gao Xiufei
Published: September 2022

Acute mastitis is one of the main reasons why breastfeeding women stop breastfeeding, and medication should be used with caution. Considering the uncertainty of mastitis infection and the indications of antibiotic use, as well as the problem of drug resistance and the safety of medication during lactation, probiotics have become an alternative treatment choice. However, a meta-analysis of the effects of probiotics in preventing and treating lactational mastitis is still lacking. Therefore, we searched six electronic databases and the sites of clinical trial registration, a total of six randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis, which showed that oral probiotics during pregnancy can reduce the incidence of mastitis (RR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.69; p<0.0001). After oral administration of probiotics, the counts of bacteria in the milk of healthy people and mastitis patients were both significantly reduced (in healthy people: MD: -0.19, 95% CI: -0.23 to -0.16, p<0.00001; in mastitis patients: MD: -0.89, 95% CI: -1.34 to -0.43, p = 0.0001). These indicate that to a certain extent, probiotics are beneficial in reducing the incidence rate of mastitis during lactation and some related mastitis symptoms. However, high-quality multicenter clinical trials are still needed to support this result.
SARS-CoV-2 reinfections during the first three major COVID-19 waves in Bulgaria
Authors: Marinov Georgi K. , Mladenov Mladen , Rangachev Antoni , Alexiev Ivailo
Published: September 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the world over the past two years (2020-2021). One of the key questions about its future trajectory is the protection from subsequent infections and disease conferred by a previous infection, as the SARS-CoV-2 virus belongs to the coronaviruses, a group of viruses the members of which are known for their ability to reinfect convalescent individuals. Bulgaria, with high rates of previous infections combined with low vaccination rates and an elderly population, presents a somewhat unique context to study this question.

Methods

We use detailed governmental data on registered COVID-19 cases to evaluate the incidence and outcomes of COVID-19 reinfections in Bulgaria in the period between March 2020 and early December 2021.

Results

For the period analyzed, a total of 4,106 cases of individuals infected more than once were observed, including 31 cases of three infections and one of four infections. The number of reinfections increased dramatically during the Delta variant-driven wave of the pandemic towards the end of 2021. We observe a moderate reduction of severe outcomes (hospitalization and death) in reinfections relative to primary infections, and a more substantial reduction of severe outcomes in breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals.

Conclusions

In the available datasets from Bulgaria, prior infection appears to provide some protection from severe outcomes, but to a lower degree than the reduction in severity of breakthrough infections in the vaccinated compared to primary infections in the unvaccinated.
Lipopolysaccharide -mediated resistance to host antimicrobial peptides and hemocyte-derived reactive-oxygen species are the major Providencia alcalifaciens virulence factors in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Shaka Maria , Arias-Rojas Aranzazu , Hrdina Alexandra , Frahm Dagmar , Iatsenko Igor
Published: September 2022

Bacteria from the genusProvidenciaare ubiquitous Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens, causing “travelers’ diarrhea”, urinary tract, and other nosocomial infections in humans. SomeProvidenciastrains have also been isolated as natural pathogens ofDrosophila melanogaster. Despite clinical relevance and extensive use inDrosophilaimmunity research, little is known aboutProvidenciavirulence mechanisms and the corresponding insect host defenses. To close this knowledge gap, we investigated the virulence factors of a representativeProvidenciaspecies—P.alcalifacienswhich is highly virulent to fruit flies and amenable to genetic manipulations. We generated aP.alcalifacienstransposon mutant library and performed an unbiased forward genetics screenin vivofor attenuated mutants. Our screen uncovered 23 mutants with reduced virulence. The vast majority of them had disrupted genes linked to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis or modifications. These LPS mutants were sensitive to cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)in vitroand their virulence was restored inDrosophilamutants lacking most AMPs. Thus, LPS-mediated resistance to host AMPs is one of the virulence strategies ofP.alcalifaciens. Another subset ofP.alcalifaciensattenuated mutants exhibited increased susceptibility to reactive oxygen species (ROS)in vitroand their virulence was rescued by chemical scavenging of ROS in flies prior to infection. Using genetic analysis, we found that the enzyme Duox specifically in hemocytes is the source of bactericidal ROS targetingP.alcalifaciens. Consistently, the virulence of ROS-sensitiveP.alcalifaciensmutants was rescued in flies with Duox knockdown in hemocytes. Therefore, these genes function as virulence factors by helping bacteria to counteract the ROS immune response. Our reciprocal analysis of host-pathogen interactions betweenD.melanogaster and P.alcalifaciensidentified that AMPs and hemocyte-derived ROS are the major defense mechanisms againstP.alcalifaciens, while the ability of the pathogen to resist these host immune responses is its major virulence mechanism. Thus, our work revealed a host-pathogen conflict mediated by ROS and AMPs.
Iron status and developmental delay among children aged 24–36 months
Authors: Ferdi Jessica , Bardosono Saptawati , Medise Bernie Endyarni
Published: September 2022

Background Optimal child development is needed for adequate learning. Children, particularly toddlers, require iron for brain development, and consequently, overall development.

Objective To analyze for an association between iron status and developmental status in children aged 24–36 months.

Methods This explorative cross-sectional study was held in Kampung Melayu, Jakarta. Subjects were recruited using a total population sampling method. Data were collected through interview with parents, anthropometric examinations, and blood tests. Developmental status was determined using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ-3) and iron status was based on ferritin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and hemoglobin levels. Data analyses included Chi-square/Fisher’s exact, Mann-Whitney, and logistic regression tests.

Results Of 80 subjects, 17.5% had developmental delay and 41.3% had deficient iron status. There was no significant association between iron status and developmental status in bivariate analysis, but the logistic regression analysis revealed that iron status (OR=6.9; 95%CI 1.328 to 35.633; P=0.022) and nutritional status (OR=11.75; 95%CI 1.551 to 88.979; P=0.017) contributed to developmental delay.

Conclusion Better iron status and nutritional status are associated with better child development of children aged 24–36 months. So efforts are needed to maintain iron status as well as nutritional status.