bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designs of metareflectors based on nanodisk and annular hole arrays with polarization independence, switching, and broad bandwidth characteristics
Authors: Xu Xiaocan , Lin Yu-Sheng , Fang Rongpeng , Yang Bo-Ru
Published: September 2021

We propose two tunable metareflectors (MRs) composed of a suspending nanodisk and an annular hole on silicon (Si) substrate with aluminum (Al) mirrors atop. They are denoted as MR-1 and MR-2 for the former and latter, respectively. The proposed MRs exhibit high-efficient cyan-magenta-yellow (CMY) color filtering, and ultrabroad tuning range characteristics. The electromagnetic energy of the resonant wavelength is confined within the suspending nanostructure and bottom Al mirror and then performed a perfect absorption. By changing the height between suspending nanostructure and the bottom Al mirror, MRs exhibit active tuning and single-/dual-resonance switching characteristics spanning the entire visible spectra range. Furthermore, the resonant wavelengths of MRs are sensitive to the surrounding ambient media, which are red-shifted and modulated from single- to dual-resonance by changing the environmental refraction index. The corresponding sensitivities are 500 nm/RIU and 360 nm/RIU for MR-1, 289 nm/RIU and 270 nm/RIU for MR-2, respectively. These results provide an effective strategy for use in high-resolution displays, high-sensitive sensors, optical switches, optical communications, and flexible virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR) applications.
Determination of the refractive index modulation of PQ:PMMA holographic phase gratings over a large spectral range through a two-level approximation of the electric susceptibility
Authors: Gamboa Julian , Hamidfar Tabassom , Bonacum Jason , Shahriar Selim M.
Published: September 2021

Phenanthrenequinone doped poly(methyl methacrylate) is a well-known holographic polymer used in many applications. It is important to consider the refractive index modulation (Δn) when designing a phase grating, as it heavily influences the diffraction efficiency. However, due to the behavior of the electric susceptibility in this material, the Δn will be different at varying reconstructed wavelengths. Here, we report on the observation of the difference in this modulation for various wavelengths. We develop a model for a two-level approximation of the electric susceptibility, based on the absorption spectrum of the material, to estimate the read wavelength dependence of the modulation for a given sample, and find our results to be in good agreement with this model.
Development of a 3-transcript host expression assay to differentiate between viral and bacterial infections in pigs
Authors: Hjertner Bernt , Lützelschwab Claudia , Schieck Elise , Nzau Benjamin , Henson Sonal , Sjölund Marie , Fossum Caroline , Magnusson Ulf
Published: September 2021

Indiscriminate use of antibiotics to treat infections that are of viral origin contributes to unnecessary use which potentially may induce resistance in commensal bacteria. To counteract this a number of host gene transcriptional studies have been conducted to identify genes that are differently expressed during bacterial and viral infections in humans, and thus could be used as a tool to base decisions on the use of antibiotics. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the potential of a selection of genes that have been considered biomarkers in humans, to differentially diagnose bacterial from viral infections in the pig. First porcine PBMC were induced with six toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists (FliC, LPS, ODN 2216, Pam3CSK4, poly I:C, R848) to mimic host gene expression induced by bacterial or viral pathogens, or exposed to heat-killed Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae or a split influenza virus. Genes that were differentially expressed between bacterial and viral inducers were further evaluated on clinical material comprising eleven healthy pigs, and six pigs infected with A. pleuropneumoniae. This comprised three virally upregulated genes (IFI44L, MxA, RSAD2) and four bacterially upregulated genes (IL-1β, IL-8, FAM89A, S100PBP). All six infected pigs could be differentially diagnosed to healthy pigs using a host gene transcription assay based on the geometric average of the bacterially induced genes IL-8 and S100PBP over that of the virally induced gene MxA.
Supervised sequential pattern mining of event sequences in sport to identify important patterns of play: An application to rugby union
Authors: Bunker Rory , Fujii Keisuke , Hanada Hiroyuki , Takeuchi Ichiro
Published: September 2021

Given a set of sequences comprised of time-ordered events, sequential pattern mining is useful to identify frequent subsequences from different sequences or within the same sequence. However, in sport, these techniques cannot determine the importance of particular patterns of play to good or bad outcomes, which is often of greater interest to coaches and performance analysts. In this study, we apply a recently proposed supervised sequential pattern mining algorithm called safe pattern pruning (SPP) to 490 labelled event sequences representing passages of play from one rugby team’s matches in the 2018 Japan Top League season. We obtain patterns that are the most discriminative between scoring and non-scoring outcomes from both the team’s and opposition teams’ perspectives using SPP, and compare these with the most frequent patterns obtained with well-known unsupervised sequential pattern mining algorithms when applied to subsets of the original dataset, split on the label. From our obtained results, line breaks, successful line-outs, regained kicks in play, repeated phase-breakdown play, and failed exit plays by the opposition team were found to be the patterns that discriminated most between the team scoring and not scoring. Opposition team line breaks, errors made by the team, opposition team line-outs, and repeated phase-breakdown play by the opposition team were found to be the patterns that discriminated most between the opposition team scoring and not scoring. It was also found that, probably because of the supervised nature and pruning/safe-screening mechanisms of SPP, compared to the patterns obtained by the unsupervised methods, those obtained by SPP were more sophisticated in terms of containing a greater variety of events, and when interpreted, the SPP-obtained patterns would also be more useful for coaches and performance analysts.
Effect of advanced periodontal self-care in patients with early-stage periodontal diseases on endothelial function: An open-label, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Okada Ayako , Murata Takatoshi , Matin Khairul , Ariyoshi Meu , Otsuka Ryoko , Yamashita Mamiko , Suzuki Masayuki , Wakiyama Rumi , Tateno Ken , Suzuki Megumi , Aoyagi Hitomi , Uematsu Hiromi , Imamura Akiko , Kosaka Miki , Mizukaki Tomoko , Sato Tsutomu , Kawahara Hiroshi , Hanada Nobuhiro
Published: September 2021

Although a significant association between periodontal disease and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has been reported, their cause-to-effect relationship remains controversial. This randomized controlled clinical trial aimed to investigate the effect of advanced self-care on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease-related vascular function markers flow-mediated brachial artery dilatation (FMD) and serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) level in patients with early-stage periodontal disease. The study was designed as a parallel group, 3-month follow-up, open-label, randomized controlled trial. The control group received standard care for periodontal diseases, whereas the test group additionally applied disinfectant using a custom-fabricated prescription tray for advanced self-care twice a day. Overall, 110 patients provided data for FMD and serum ADMA level. No significant improvements in FMD were observed in the control (mean increase, −0.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.0–0.8; P = 0.805) or test (mean increase, −0.3%; 95% CI, −1.1–0.4; P = 0.398) group. No significant changes in serum ADMA levels were observed (mean reduction, 0.01 μmol/L; 95% CI, −0.00–0.02; P = 0.366 and mean reduction, 0.00 μmol/L; 95% CI, −0.01–0.01; P = 0.349, respectively). No significant between-group differences were found in FMD (mean difference, −0.2%; 95% CI, −1.4–0.9; p = 0.708) or serum ADMA levels (mean difference, 0.01 nmol/L; 95% CI, −0.00–0.03; p = 0.122). Significant improvements in the average probing pocket depth were observed in the control and test groups. The bleeding on probing score in the test group was significantly reduced, while that in the control group was reduced, although not significantly. Periodontal care for a 3-month duration did not provide better endothelial function although improvements of periodontal status in patients with early-stage periodontal diseases. This trial is registered in UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/; ID: UMIN000023395).
Adverse outcomes after partner bereavement in people with reduced kidney function: Parallel cohort studies in England and Denmark
Authors: Bidulka Patrick , Vestergaard Søren Viborg , Hlupeni Admire , Kjærsgaard Anders , Wong Angel Y. S. , Langan Sinéad M. , Schmidt Sigrun Alba Johannesdottir , Lyon Susan , Christiansen Christian Fynbo , Nitsch Dorothea
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To investigate whether partner bereavement is associated with adverse cardiovascular and kidney-related events in people with reduced kidney function.

Design

Two parallel matched cohort studies using linked routinely collected health data.

Setting

England (general practices and hospitals using linked Clinical Practice Research Datalink, Hospital Episode Statistics, and Office of National Statistics) and Denmark (hospitals and community pharmacies using the Danish National Patient, Prescription and Education Registries and the Civil Registration System).

Participants

Bereaved people with reduced kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60mL/min/1.73m2 (England) or hospital-coded chronic kidney disease (Denmark)) and non-bereaved people with reduced kidney function similarly defined, matched on age, sex, general practice (England), and county of residence (Denmark) and followed-up from the bereavement date of the exposed person.

Main outcome measures

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) or acute kidney injury (AKI) hospitalization, or death.

Results

In people with reduced kidney function, we identified 19,820 (England) and 5,408 (Denmark) bereaved individuals and matched them with 134,828 (England) and 35,741 (Denmark) non-bereaved individuals. Among the bereaved, the rates of hospitalizations (per 1000 person-years) with CVD were 31.7 (95%-CI: 30.5–32.9) in England and 78.8 (95%-CI: 74.9–82.9) in Denmark; the rates of hospitalizations with AKI were 13.2 (95%-CI: 12.5–14.0) in England and 11.2 (95%-CI: 9.9–12.7) in Denmark; and the rates of death were 70.2 (95%-CI: 68.5–72.0) in England and 126.4 (95%-CI: 121.8–131.1) in Denmark. After adjusting for confounders, we found increased rates of CVD (England, HR 1.06 [95%-CI: 1.01–1.12]; Denmark, HR 1.10 [95%-CI: 1.04–1.17]), of AKI (England, HR 1.20 [95%-CI: 1.10–1.31]; Denmark HR 1.36 [95%-CI: 1.17–1.58]), and of death (England, HR 1.10 [95%-CI: 1.05–1.14]; Denmark HR 1.20 [95%-CI: 1.15–1.25]) in bereaved compared with non-bereaved people.

Conclusions

Partner bereavement is associated with an increased rate of CVD and AKI hospitalization, and death in people with reduced kidney function. Additional supportive care for this at-risk population may help prevent serious adverse events.
Roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study
Authors: Naidoo Vivian , Suleman Fatima , Bangalee Varsha
Published: September 2021

Background

The implementation of Universal Health Coverage in SA has sought to focus on promoting affordable health care services that are accessible to all citizens. In this regard, pharmacists are expected to play a pivotal function in the revitalization of primary health care (PHC) during this transition by the expansion of their practice roles.

Objectives

To assess the readiness and perceptions of pharmacists to expand their roles in an integrated health care system. To determine the availability and pricing of primary health care services currently provided within a community pharmacy environment and to evaluate suitable reimbursement for the provision of such services by a community pharmacist.

Methods

Community pharmacists’ across SA were invited to participate in an online survey-based study. The survey consisted of both open- and closed-ended questions. Descriptive statistics for closed-ended questions were generated and analysed using Microsoft Excel®and Survey Monkey®. Responses for the open-ended questions were transcribed, analysed, and reported as emerging themes.

Results

Six hundred and sixty-four pharmacists’ responded to the online survey. Seventy-five percent of pharmacists’ reported that with appropriate training, a transition into a more patient-centered role might be beneficial in the re-engineering of the PHC system. However, in order to adopt these new roles, appropriate reimbursement structures are required. The current fee levied by pharmacists in community pharmacies that offered these PHC services was found to be lower to that recommended by the South African Pharmacy Council; this disparity is primarily due to a lack of information and policy standardisation. Therefore, in order to ensure that fees levied are fair, comprehensive service package guidelines are required.

Conclusions

This study provides baseline data for policy makers on pharmacists’ readiness to transition into expanded roles. Furthermore, it can be used as a foundation to establish appropriate reimbursement frameworks for pharmacists providing PHC services.
Effects of different vegetable rotations on the rhizosphere bacterial community and tomato growth in a continuous tomato cropping substrate
Authors: Jin Li , Lyu Jian , Jin Ning , Xie Jianming , Wu Yue , Zhang Guobin , Feng Zhi , Tang Zhongqi , Liu Zeci , Luo Shilei , Yu Jihua
Published: September 2021

In this study, High throughput sequencing was used to analyze the effects of different vegetable rotations on the rhizosphere bacterial diversity and community structure in a substrate that was used for continuous tomato cropping (CK). The vegetable rotations tested were cabbage/tomato (B), kidney bean/tomato (D), and celery/tomato (Q). The results revealed that the substrate bacterial diversity and richness of each crop rotation were higher than those of CK. The highest bacterial diversity was found in the B substrate, followed by the Q and D substrates. Further comparison showed that the rhizosphere bacterial community structure of Q substrate was significantly different to that of CK. Compared with the CK, the Q substrate had a significantly higher relative abundance of several dominant microflora, such as Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes. Additionally, the Q rotation significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Actinobacteria_unclassified and Anaerolineaceae_unclassified. A redundancy analysis showed that Most dominant bacteria correlated positively with the substrate pH, total N, and alkali-hydrolyzable N but negatively with the available P, available K, total P, total K, and organic matter contents and substrate EC. The substrates after crop rotation improved the growth and physiological condition of the subsequent tomato plants, among which those from the Q rotation performed the best. Therefore, celery rotation not only increased the richness and diversity of bacterial communities in the substrate but also significantly increased the richness of the beneficial bacterial communities, allowing better maintenance of the substrate microenvironment for the healthy growth of crops.
Guiding cell adhesion and motility by modulating cross-linking and topographic properties of microgel arrays
Authors: Riegert Janine , Töpel Alexander , Schieren Jana , Coryn Renee , Dibenedetto Stella , Braunmiller Dominik , Zajt Kamil , Schalla Carmen , Rütten Stephan , Zenke Martin , Pich Andrij , Sechi Antonio
Published: September 2021

Biomaterial-driven modulation of cell adhesion and migration is a challenging aspect of tissue engineering. Here, we investigated the impact of surface-bound microgel arrays with variable geometry and adjustable cross-linking properties on cell adhesion and migration. We show that cell migration is inversely correlated with microgel array spacing, whereas directionality increases as array spacing increases. Focal adhesion dynamics is also modulated by microgel topography resulting in less dynamic focal adhesions on surface-bound microgels. Microgels also modulate the motility and adhesion of Sertoli cells used as a model for cell migration and adhesion. Both focal adhesion dynamics and speed are reduced on microgels. Interestingly, Gas2L1, a component of the cytoskeleton that mediates the interaction between microtubules and microfilaments, is dispensable for the regulation of cell adhesion and migration on microgels. Finally, increasing microgel cross-linking causes a clear reduction of focal adhesion turnover in Sertoli cells. These findings not only show that spacing and rigidity of surface-grafted microgels arrays can be effectively used to modulate cell adhesion and motility of diverse cellular systems, but they also form the basis for future developments in the fields of medicine and tissue engineering.
Association between body weight misperception and dietary patterns in Brazilian adolescents: Cross-sectional study using ERICA data
Authors: Silva Simoni Urbano da , Alves Mariane de Almeida , Vasconcelos Francisco de Assis Guedes de , Gonçalves Vivian Siqueira Santos , Barufaldi Laura Augusta , Carvalho Kenia Mara Baiocchi de
Published: September 2021

The association between body image and eating behaviors or weight control strategies has been demonstrated in the scientific literature, but there is a lack of evidence on the association between weight misperception and food consumption indicators in adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the association between weight misperception and dietary patterns (DPs) in the Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA). It was a national school-based cross-sectional study conducted among students aged 12–17 years. Data were collected in the form of anthropometric measurements, responses in self-answered questionnaires, and 24-h dietary recall. The following variables were assessed: weight underestimation and overestimation (independent variables), which were defined as the presence of a disagreement between nutritional status and self-perceived weight; dietary patterns (dependent variables), defined by a posteriori method using principal component factor analysis; and individual and demographic variables (covariates). Data analysis was performed using the Poisson regression models method, stratified by sex. A total of 52,038 adolescents with normal weights were evaluated. The weight misperception prevalence was 34.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33.0, 35.0). Three DPs were identified: “Traditional Brazilian,” “Processed meat sandwiches and coffee,” and “Ultra-processed and sweet foods.” In girls, weight underestimation was directly associated with the “Traditional Brazilian” (1.24; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.43) and “Ultra-processed and sweet foods” DPs (1.29; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.54), and overestimation was inversely associated with all the DPs. In boys, a direct association between underestimation and the “Ultra-processed and sweet foods” DP (1.29; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.51) was found. Overestimation was inversely associated with the “Traditional Brazilian” DP (0.79; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.99). The inverse association between overestimation and the “Traditional Brazilian” DP, and the direct association between underestimation and the “Ultra-processed and sweet foods” DP indicated that weight misperception was related to unhealthy eating habits in Brazilian adolescents.
Bullying in the clinical setting: Lived experiences of nursing students in the Central Region of Ghana
Authors: Amoo Sara Ama , Menlah Awube , Garti Isabella , Appiah Evans Osei
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Nursing students are confronted with bullies in the classroom and during clinical placement. Acquisition of the necessary psychomotor skills intended during clinical placements may be impeded when workplace bullies intimidate students. This study aimed to describe the various bullying behaviours experienced by nursing students and their effects during clinical placement in the Central Region of Ghana.

Methods

A qualitative phenomenological descriptive approach using a semi-structured interview guide was employed to collect data from nursing students in focus groups. Overall, six (6) focus groups were used, with five (5) students in each group comprising males and females. The sample size was based on data saturation and was saturated on the six focus group discussions giving a sample size of 30. Purposive sampling was used to select students who had been on the ward at least three clinical placements and had experienced bullying in the clinical setting. In-depth interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis.

Results

The study revealed that nursing students had experienced bullying practices such as shouting, isolation, humiliation and being assigned tasks below their competency level. In addition, findings showed that bullying led to a loss of confidence and caused stress and anxiety in nursing students.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is recommended that nursing students are mentored holistically in a caring and accepting environment where they will be supported to achieve their learning goals, build their confidence, and develop their personal and professional identity.
The care needs of persons with oropharyngeal dysphagia and their informal caregivers: A scoping review
Authors: Ninfa Aurora , Crispiatico Valeria , Pizzorni Nicole , Bassi Marta , Casazza Giovanni , Schindler Antonio , Delle Fave Antonella
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Besides affecting physical health, Oropharyngeal Dysphagia (OD) entails limitations in daily activities and social participation for both patients and their informal caregivers. The identification of OD-related needs is crucial for designing appropriate person-centered interventions.

Aims

To explore and map the literature investigating the care needs related to OD management of adult persons with OD and their informal caregivers during the last 20 years.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted and reported following PRISMA guidelines. Five electronic databases and reference lists of eligible publications were searched for original works in English or Italian, published between January 2000 and February 2021. Two independent raters assessed studies’ eligibility and extracted data; a third rater resolved disagreements. Extracted care needs were analyzed using a Best fit framework synthesis approach.

Results

Out of 2,534 records preliminarily identified, 15 studies were included in the review and 266 care needs were extracted. All studies were conducted in Western countries. Research methods primarily consisted of qualitative interviews and focus groups (14 studies, 93.3%); head and neck cancer was the most frequent cause of patients’ dysphagia (8 studies, 53.3%); caregivers’ perspective was seldom investigated (5 studies, 33.3%). Both patients and caregivers primarily reported social (N = 77; 28.9%) and practical (N = 67; 25.2%) needs, followed by informational (N = 55; 20.7%) and psychological (N = 54; 20.3%) ones. Only patients reported physical needs (N = 13; 4.9%), while spiritual needs were not cited.

Conclusions

The recurrence of personal and social needs besides physical ones highlighted the manifold impact of OD on patients’ and caregivers’ lives. Larger and more focused studies are required in order to design tools and interventions tailored to patients’ and caregivers’ needs.
Dear student, what should I write on my wall? A case study on academic uses of Facebook and Instagram during the pandemic
Authors: Coman Claudiu , Mesesan-Schmitz Luiza , Tiru Laurentiu Gabriel , Grosseck Gabriela , Bularca Maria Cristina
Published: September 2021

Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, discussions about online learning referred to the use of e-learning platforms and social networks as auxiliary tools in the educational process. Due to the pandemic, universities were forced to adopt an exclusive online teaching process and most universities today use platforms dedicated to online learning such as Moodle platforms. In this context, we were interested in analyzing the attitude of students regarding the way social networks could be integrated into the educational process, and if the positive attitude of students towards social networks and their use for academic purposes, proven in previous studies, remains positive under the conditions generated by the pandemic. In this regard, the present study aimed at identifying the attitude of Romanian students towards the use of Facebook and Instagram as educational tools and the circumstances in which students believe these platforms could be used by them and their teachers. An online survey was conducted on 872 students from public higher education institutions in Romania. Based on the exploratory factor analysis and the parametric test, the empirical results show that students have a slightly positive attitude towards using Facebook in the educational process, but they have a more reticent, less positive attitude towards using Instagram. Thus, the most appropriate contexts in which these platforms could be used are represented by extracurricular activities. A higher preference for the use of Facebook rather than Instagram, was identified among master and PhD students. No major differences were revealed in student subgroups sorted by gender or study domain.
Seagrass habitat suitability model for Redang Marine Park using multibeam echosounder data: Testing different spatial resolutions and analysis window sizes
Authors: Muhamad Muhammad Abdul Hakim , Che Hasan Rozaimi , Md Said Najhan , Ooi Jillian Lean-Sim
Published: September 2021

Integrating Multibeam Echosounder (MBES) data (bathymetry and backscatter) and underwater video technology allows scientists to study marine habitats. However, use of such data in modeling suitable seagrass habitats in Malaysian coastal waters is still limited. This study tested multiple spatial resolutions (1 and 50 m) and analysis window sizes (3 × 3, 9 × 9, and 21 × 21 cells) probably suitable for seagrass-habitat relationships in Redang Marine Park, Terengganu, Malaysia. A maximum entropy algorithm was applied, using 12 bathymetric and backscatter predictors to develop a total of 6 seagrass habitat suitability models. The results indicated that both fine and coarse spatial resolution datasets could produce models with high accuracy (>90%). However, the models derived from the coarser resolution dataset displayed inconsistent habitat suitability maps for different analysis window sizes. In contrast, habitat models derived from the fine resolution dataset exhibited similar habitat distribution patterns for three different analysis window sizes. Bathymetry was found to be the most influential predictor in all the models. The backscatter predictors, such as angular range analysis inversion parameters (characterization and grain size), gray-level co-occurrence texture predictors, and backscatter intensity levels, were more important for coarse resolution models. Areas of highest habitat suitability for seagrass were predicted to be in shallower (<20 m) waters and scattered between fringing reefs (east to south). Some fragmented, highly suitable habitats were also identified in the shallower (<20 m) areas in the northwest of the prediction models and scattered between fringing reefs. This study highlighted the importance of investigating the suitable spatial resolution and analysis window size of predictors from MBES for modeling suitable seagrass habitats. The findings provide important insight on the use of remote acoustic sonar data to study and map seagrass distribution in Malaysia coastal water.
Choroidal features in flat irregular pigment epithelial detachment associated with Chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: Avascular versus vascularized
Authors: Faghihi Hooshang , Mahmoudi Alireza , Pour Elias Khalili , Ebrahimiadib Nazanin , Fadakar Kaveh , Ghassemi Fariba , Mirshahi Ahmad , Khodabande Alireza , Khojasteh Hassan , Bazvand Fatemeh , Mehrabi Bahar Mohammadreza , Riazi-Esfahani Hamid
Published: September 2021

Purpose

To investigate the differences in the choroidal biomarkers between two forms of flat irregular pigment epithelial detachment (FIPED): avascular (aFIPED) and vascularized (vFIPED) in eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Materials and methods

Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) was done in eyes with FIPED correlated to chronic CSC, fellow eyes, and also in healthy eyes from gender- and age-matched subjects. Eyes with FIPED were classified into two subgroups based on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings: vFIPED and aFIPED. Different choroidal biomarkers such as subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), total choroidal area (TCA), and choroidal vascular index (CVI) were compared between the groups.

Results

Forty-four eyes from 42 patients with chronic CSC and FIPED along with 40 eyes from 20 healthy subjects were included. OCTA identified vascularization in 14 eyes in the FIPED group (31.8%). Mean SFCT was higher in the FIPED group compared to two other groups (p = 0.005). In comparison to patients with aFIPED, patients with vFIPED had lower SFCT (p = 0.003) and higher CVI (p = 0.020) based on multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

It seems that measurement of CVI along with SFCT may help to differentiate aFIPED from vFIPED in patients with CSC. Further longitudinal studies would be required to confirm the clinical significance of these findings.
In vitro effect of ferrous sulphate on bovine spermatozoa motility parameters, viability and Annexin V-labeled membrane changes
Authors: Knazicka Zuzana , Duranova Hana , Fialkova Veronika , Miskeje Michal , Jambor Tomas , Makarevich Alexander V. , Roychoudhury Shubhadeep , Kovacik Anton , Massanyi Peter , Lukac Norbert
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study was to assess the dose- and time-dependentin vitroeffects of ferrous sulphate (FeSO4.7H2O) on the motility parameters, viability, structural and functional activity of bovine spermatozoa. Spermatozoa motility parameters were determined after exposure to concentrations (3.90, 7.80, 15.60, 31.20, 62.50, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 μM) of FeSO4.7H2O using the SpermVisionTMCASA (Computer Assisted Semen Analyzer) system in different time periods. Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the Annexin V-Fluos was applied to detect the membrane integrity of spermatozoa. The initial spermatozoa motility showed increased average values at all experimental concentrations compared to the control group (culture medium without FeSO4.7H2O). After 2 h, FeSO4.7H2O stimulated the overall percentage of spermatozoa motility at the concentrations of ≤ 125 μM. However, experimental administration of 250 μM of FeSO4.7H2O significantly (P < 0.001) decreased the spermatozoa motility but had no negative effect on the cell viability (P < 0.05) (Time 2 h). The lowest viability was noted after the addition of ≥ 500 μM of FeSO4.7H2O (P < 0.001). The concentrations of ≤ 62.50 μM of FeSO4.7H2O markedly stimulated (P < 0.001) spermatozoa activity after 24 h of exposure, while at high concentrations of ≥ 500 μM of FeSO4.7H2O the overall percentage of spermatozoa motility was significantly inhibited (P < 0.001) and it elicited cytotoxic action. Fluorescence analysis confirmed that spermatozoa incubated with higher concentrations (≥ 500 μM) of FeSO4.7H2O displayed apoptotic changes, as detected in head membrane (acrosomal part) and mitochondrial portion of spermatozoa. Moreover, the highest concentration and the longest time of exposure (1000 μM of FeSO4.7H2O; Time 6 h) induced even necrotic alterations to spermatozoa. These results suggest that high concentrations of FeSO4.7H2O are able to induce toxic effects on the structure and function of spermatozoa, while low concentrations may have the positive effect on the fertilization potential of spermatozoa.
Immunological exhaustion: How to make a disparate concept operational?
Authors: Kaminski Hannah , Lemoine Maël , Pradeu Thomas
Published: September 2021

In this essay, we show that 3 distinct approaches to immunological exhaustion coexist and that they only partially overlap, generating potential misunderstandings. Exploring cases ranging from viral infections to cancer, we propose that it is crucial, for experimental and therapeutic purposes, to clarify these approaches and their interconnections so as to make the concept of exhaustion genuinely operational.
The fragmentation of the writing self: Using dialogic reflection to explore the writing process of an autobiographical novel
Authors: Adji Alberta Natasia
Published: September 2021

In this article, the author-researcher presents three intertwined texts: excerpts from an autobiographical novel, extracts from a reflexive journal written during the writing of that novel, as well as a theorized account and analysis of the overarching creative process. These texts talk to each other as a form of intertextuality in the similar way that the three generations of a Chinese Indonesian family depicted in the novel interact with one another and present differing perspectives and fresh insights. The issues of the writer’s inner voices and multiplicity of the self feature prominently in this work, the result of a deep and critical engagement with the author-researcher’s creative writing and reflective thinking processes. Together, these three interrelated texts capture and explore multiple perspectives interacting during the writing process while at the same time present how the self and sites of meaning-making can be constructed through writing.
Sparganosis (Spirometra spp.) in Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator): A medical implications for veterinarians, breeders, and consumers
Authors: Yudhana Aditya , Praja Ratih Novita , Kartikasari Anjani Marisa
Published: September 2021

Background and Aim: The high prevalence of sparganosis has been reported globally, especially in Asian countries where the majority of individuals consume raw meat from wild-caught reptiles. In Indonesia, similar cases regarding the high prevalence of sparganosis were recorded from wild reptiles such as snakes that utilized for culinary purposes, whereas, there are no data regarding other species such as water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator), which also provided as daily culinary with a high number of trades. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prevalence of sparganosis in water monitor lizard (V. salvator), which is frequently utilized as culinary products in East Java Province, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods: A total of 313 living wild-caught and captive-bred Asian water monitor lizards were collected from the reptile markets and breeders. All samples were euthanized and observed for the presence of plerocercoid. Identification of the plerocercoid as larval infective stage was made using carmine staining method.

Results: The total prevalence of sparganosis was recorded at 69.64%. A total of 393 plerocercoids were collected in which divided 280 (71.24%) infecting muscles and 113 (28.75%) located in subcutaneous tissues.

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this study not only recorded as the first evidence but also confirms the role of monitor lizards as sparganosis transmitters in Asia and reveals additional routes of sparganosis transmission in Indonesian reptiles. Local conservation laws should be strengthened to effectively control or ban wildlife trade in traditional markets. Moreover, public awareness regarding sparganosis as a neglected zoonotic disease should be applied to prevent disease transmission in Indonesia.
Measuring the sustainability of beef supply chain with rapid appraisal for beef supply chain
Authors: Susanty Aries , Purwaningsih Ratna , Santoso Haryo , Arista Anggun Novi , Tjahjono Benny
Published: September 2021

Background and Aim: Nationally, there has always been a gap between the demand for beef and its supply, although supply growth is proportional with demand growth and even exceeds it in some regions in Indonesia. This research study aims to measure the sustainability status of the beef supply chain and applies the developed measurement system to a specific beef supply chain by identifying suitable indicators and their scale. Moreover, this research study provides some recommendations for the improvement of the sustainability status of the beef supply chain.

Materials and Methods: In this research study, 11 and nine indicators were analyzed to assess the sustainability status of the beef supply chain at the farm and slaughterhouse chain levels. A rapid appraisal for beef supply chain was applied to rapidly assess the sustainability status of beef supply chains using Multidimensional Scaling (MDS). The Delphi method was utilized as an iterative process to collect data and obtain consensus of experts' judgments regarding the policies that should be implemented to improve the most sensitive indicator affecting the economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

Results: Analysis of ordination with MDS shows the regional sustainability index value for multidimensional approaches of beef cattle farms and beef slaughterhouses. The sustainability index value for beef cattle farms was 56.14 (moderately sustainable), 48.02 (fairly unsustainable), and 48.77 (fairly unsustainable) in Semarang, Sragen, and Boyolali, respectively. Moreover, the sustainability index value for beef slaughterhouses was 47.05 (fairly unsustainable), 54.83 (moderately sustainable), and 54.19 (moderately sustainable) in Semarang, Sragen, and Boyolali, respectively. Policy recommendation was focused on the basis of the results of leverage analysis, which highlighted the most indicative factor affecting sustainability for each dimension.

Conclusion: Measurement results revealed that the achievement of beef supply chain sustainability requires targeted efforts through the deployment of several policies as the current status of sustainability in beef farms and beef slaughterhouses was only inclined toward moderately sustainable and fairly unsustainable. Although all the surveyed regions in this study can meet the regional needs of beef meat on their own and even distribute the excess to other regions, none of the beef supply chains of the surveyed region indicated good sustainability.
Comuna 13 estudio de caso: la historia relatada en las paredes como estrategia de emprendimiento social
Authors: Pedraza-Pacheco Flor Adriana , Santana-Murcia Andrés Rodrigo
Published: September 2021

El estudio de caso ha demostrado ser una herramienta metodológica adecuada para la investigación científica en diferentes áreas del conocimiento, dada su facilidad para obtener información desde fuentes cualitativas y cuantitativas. El artículo presenta el trabajo adelantado por los semilleros de investigación Pedagogía del Diseño, y Patrimonio Cultural, de la Facultad de Diseño de la Universidad Católica de Colombia, a lo largo de 2018, 2019 y 2020, en la ciudad de Medellín, Antioquia. La investigación dio inicio con la identificación de lo que significa para la comunidad barrial de la Comuna 13 el patrimonio cultural, material e inmaterial, a partir del análisis de eventos patrimoniales no reconocidos y su contrastación con las variables descriptivas definidas por United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2003). En este orden de ideas, se seleccionó el Tour del Grafiti como evento patrimonial no reconocido. Su análisis parte del reconocimiento comunitario del grafiti como expresión artística y la importancia del tour como proyecto de emprendimiento social de la zona.
Zwierzęcy bohaterowie w powieści Crobinhoodovi Dunji Kalilić. Na tropie stereotypów
Authors: Ślawska Magdalena
Published: September 2021

This article analyses how animal characters were presented in the novel Crobinhoodovi by Dunja Kalilić, which belongs to the trend called ratni dječji roman in Croatian literature and shows the Serbian aggression against Croatia. The attention was paid in particular to the issue of stereotypes. The work consists of six parts. The first one is dedicated to the development of Croatian children’s animal studies. The second part shows the ways of portraying the war in Croatian literature for the youngest. The third part focuses on stereotypes about animals, the fourth one describes the stereotypical images of animals and people presented in the writer’s work, and the fifth part deals with national stereotypes. The last part is a summary of the considerations and presents the conclusion that the novel Crobinhoodovi makes it a goal to properly shape the child’s worldview, which is achieved by building and consolidating the negative stereotype of the Serbian soldiers.
New Lexical and Phraseological Faunal Units in the Language Observatory of the University of Warsaw from a Cross-Linguistic Polish-English Perspective
Authors: Szerszunowicz Joanna
Published: September 2021

The aim of the present paper is to discuss the new Polish faunal lexical and phraseological units from a cross-linguistic perspective. The research corpus is compiled on the basis of Obserwatorium Językowe Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego (the Language Observatory of the University of Warsaw) – an online source containing the items which are in use and which have not been included in dictionaries so far. The English equivalents allocated for these units are analysed and divided into four groups: quasi-absolute, partial, parallel and zero counterparts.
Собака як спостерігач і свідок історії (за романом Вікторії Амеліної Дім для Дома)
Authors: Поліщук Ярослав , Пухонська Оксана
Published: September 2021

The authors of the article analyze one of the contemporary Ukrainian novels – Home for Dom (Дім для Дома, 2015) of Viktoria Amelina. Original feature of the plot is that protagonist and narrator of this work is dog Dom (Dominic). Writer, using an animalistic hero, has achieved not only a success between readers but she also has founded a new version for emotional rethinking of the past. The matter is that Viktoria Amelina tried to reveal the peculiarities of individual, family, city and national memory. Dog’s perception of the past in the novel is the author’s effort to replace accents from total estimates to relative and subtle ones. Different “faces” of memory is a value which writer shows in the examples of one Lviv family history. She combines all difficult and contradictory processes of the twentieth century – wars, genocides, repression, deportation, enslavement of man and people.
ARTYSTYCZNE UCIELEŚNIENIE CECH ‘NOWEJ SZCZEROŚCI’ W POWIEŚCI SOFII ANDRUCHOWYCZ AMADOKA
Authors: Hrebeniuk Tetiana
Published: September 2021

W artykule poddano analizie powieść Sofii Andruchowycz Amadoka jako artystyczną eksplikację istotnego we współczesnych badaniach socjohumanitarnych pojęcia postpamięci, zaproponowanego przez Marianne Hirsch, czyli „struktury inter- i transpokoleniowego przekazu traumatycznej wiedzy i doświadczenia”. Sofia Andruchowycz proponuje czytelnikowi rodzaj eksperymentu – zaszczepienia sztucznych wspomnień, transmitowania traumatycznych przeżyć poprzednich pokoleń człowiekowi, który stracił pamięć z powodu rany odniesionej na wojnie w Donbasie. Celem pracy jest analiza zmysłowości powieści Amadoka w kontekście kojarzonego ze światopoglądem metamodernu etycznego i estetycznego ruchu ‘nowej szczerości’. W szczególności przedmiotem uwagi jest realizacja w powieści ukraińskiej pisarki takich cech artystycznego ruchu ‘nowej szczerości’, jak poważny, nieironiczny ton narracji; odwoływanie się do emocji, uczuć na kartkach książki (lub zauważanie ich nieobecności tam, gdzie powinny być); świadomość sprzeczności i ambiwalencji ludzkich uczuć; wątpliwości podmiotu co do jego własnej zdolności do bycia szczerym; manipulacja wiarą i zaufaniem czytelnika; waga tego, co zostało „poza stroną”.
Performance enhancement of commercial ethylene oxide reactor by artificial intelligence approach
Authors: Chowdhury Somnath , Lahiri Sandip Kumar , Hens Abhiram , Katiyar Samarth
Published: September 2021

The present work emphasizes the development of a generic methodology that addresses the core issue of any running chemical plant, i.e., how to maintain a delicate balance between profit and environmental impact. Here, an ethylene oxide (EO) production plant has been taken as a case study. The production of EO takes place in a multiphase catalytic reactor, the reliable first principle-based model of which is still not available in the literature. Artificial neural network (ANN) was therefore applied to develop a data-driven model of the complex reactor with the help of actual industrial data. The model successfully built up a correlation between the catalyst selectivity and temperature with other operational parameters. A hybrid multi-objective metaheuristic optimization technique, namely ANN-multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) algorithm was used to develop a Pareto diagram of selectivity versus reactor temperature. The Pareto diagram will help the plant engineers to make a strategy on what operating conditions to be maintained to make a delicate balance between profit and environmental impact. It was also found that by applying this hybrid ANN-MOGA modeling and optimization technique, for a 720 KTA ethylene glycol plant, approximately 32,345 ton/year of carbon-di-oxide emission into the atmosphere can be reduced. Along with the reduction of environmental impact, this hybrid approach enables the plant to reduce raw material cost of nine million USD per annum simultaneously.
Effects of Zr and Sc additions on precipitation of α-Al(FeMn)Si dispersoids under various heat treatments in Al–Mg–Si AA6082 alloys
Authors: Liu Kun , Elgallad Emad , Li Chen , Chen X.-Grant.
Published: September 2021

The present work investigated the influence of Zr and Sc on the evolution of α-Al(FeMn)Si dispersoids (“α-dispersoids") in Al–Mg–Si alloys. Both the individual addition of Zr and the combined additions of Sc and Zr increased the size but decreased the number density of the α-dispersoids, indicating the reduction in the formation of α-dispersoids. However, the reduction levels were the most significant when heat-treated at 350 °C in the alloy with both Sc and Zr and at 400 °C in the alloy with only Zr, which were likely related to the different interactions between intermediate B’ precipitates and α-dispersoids with the addition of Zr and Sc. Although the α-dispersoids were suppressed in the Zr/Sc-containing alloys, their microhardness was generally higher than the base alloy, which can be attributed to the strengthening contribution induced by Zr and Sc either from their solid solution hardening or the precipitation hardening of Al3Zr/Al3(Sc, Zr) dispersoids.