bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time and Motion at the Endoscopy Unit—A University Hospital Experience
Authors: Söderberg Simon , Nyhlin Nils , Moro Axelina , Figaro Christina , Fransson Emelie , Stefansdotter Jennie , Schagerström Malin , Lindblad Maria , Ahlzén Martin , Zukovets Olga , Borell Sofia , Johansson Viktoria , Axman Marianne , Wendt Anette , Falck Hanna , van Nieuwenhoven Michiel A.
Published: March 2023

Background/aims

An effective workflow at the endoscopy unit is important for optimal production. We conducted a time-and-motion study to identify the amount of time that patients spend during the different steps of a regular endoscopy procedure and compared propofol with midazolam sedation.

Methods

Data from 376 patients were prospectively collected. Durations of the different procedure steps were measured. Correlations between recovery times, age, and dose of sedative were calculated. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate how various factors affect recovery time.

Results

The use of midazolam resulted in significantly shorter procedure duration for gastroscopy (5.1 vs 8.3 min), shorter endoscopist delay duration for either types of endoscopy (5.9 vs 8.3 min for gastroscopy and 6.7 vs 11.4 min for colonoscopy), shorter endoscopy room duration for gastroscopy (22.2 vs 30.0 min), shorter recovery time for colonoscopy (23.4 vs 27.4 min) and shorter Endoscopy Unit Duration for either type of endoscopy (77.1 vs 101.4 min for gastroscopy and 99.6 vs 123.2 min for colonoscopy). There was a weak correlation between dose of midazolam and recovery time.

Conclusions

In contrast to other studies, propofol administration leads to more time spent at different steps in the workflow at our unit. Implementing propofol sedation will not improve efficacy if other steps in the workflow are not taken into account.
Switching performance assessment of gate-all-around InAs–Si vertical TFET with triple metal gate, a simulation study
Authors: Madadi Dariush , Mohammadi Saeed
Published: March 2023

This study presents a gate-all-around InAs–Si vertical tunnel field-effect transistor with a triple metal gate (VTG-TFET). We obtained improved switching characteristics for the proposed design because of the improved electrostatic control on the channel and the narrow bandgap source. It shows an Ion of 392 μA/μm, an Ioff of 8.8 × 10−17 A/μm, an Ion/Ioff ratio of about 4.4 × 1012, and a minimum subthreshold slope of 9.3 mV/dec at Vd = 1 V. We also analyze the influence of the gate oxide and metal work functions on the transistor characteristics. A numerical device simulator, calibrated to the experimental data of a vertical InAs–Si gate all around TFET, is used to accurately predict different features of the device. Our simulations demonstrate that the proposed vertical TFET, as a fast-switching and very low power device, is a promising transistor for digital applications.
Precise diagnosis and typing of early-stage renal immunoglobulin-derived amyloidosis by label-free quantification of parallel reaction monitoring-based targeted proteomics
Authors: Li Yuan , Zhang Ying , Zhou Xinjin , Xue Xinli , Wang Muxi , Kang Dedong , Zhou Yali , Hu Ruimin , Quan Songxia , Xing Guolan , Yang Jinghua
Published: March 2023

Background

Early diagnosis and typing are crucial for improving the prognosis of patients with renal amyloidosis. Currently, Untargeted proteomics based precise diagnosis and typing of amyloid deposits are crucial for guiding patient management. Although untargeted proteomics achieve ultra-high-throughput by selecting the most abundant eluting cationic peptide precursors in series for tandem MS events, it lacks in sensitivity and reproducibility, which may not be suitable for early-stage renal amyloidosis with minor damages. Here, we aimed to develop parallel reaction monitoring (PRM)-based targeted proteomics to achieve high sensitivity and specificity by determining absolute abundances and codetecting all transitions of highly repeatable peptides of preselected amyloid signature and typing proteins in identifying early-stage renal immunoglobulin-derived amyloidosis.

Methods and results

In 10 discovery cohort cases, Congo red-stained FFPE slices were micro-dissected and analyzed by data-dependent acquisition-based untargeted proteomics for preselection of typing specific proteins and peptides. Further, a list of proteolytic peptides from amyloidogenic proteins and internal standard proteins were quantified by PRM-based targeted proteomics to validate performance for diagnosis and typing in 26 validation cohort cases. The diagnosis and typing effectiveness of PRM-based targeted proteomics in 10 early-stage renal amyloid cases was assessed via a comparison with untargeted proteomics. A peptide panel of amyloid signature proteins, immunoglobulin light chain and heave chain in PRM-based targeted proteomics showed significantly distinguishing ability and amyloid typing performance in patients. The diagnostic algorithm of targeted proteomics with a low amount of amyloid deposits in early-stage renal immunoglobulin-derived amyloidosis showed better performance than untargeted proteomics in amyloidosis typing.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the utility of these prioritized peptides in PRM-based targeted proteomics ensure high sensitivity and reliability for identifying early-stage renal amyloidosis. Owing to the development and clinical application of this method, rapid acceleration of the early diagnosis, and typing of renal amyloidosis is expected.
AMPA and NMDA receptor antibody autoimmune encephalitis preceded by ocular myasthenia gravis: a case report
Authors: Schäfer Jakob , Christensen Peter Brøgger , Jensen Kimmo
Published: March 2023

Background

α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors mediate excitatory neurotransmission in the brain and may be targeted by autoantibodies, leading to autoimmune synaptic encephalitis (AE). AE can be associated with other autoimmune diseases. However, the cooccurrence of anti-AMPA and NMDA receptor AE together with myasthenia gravis (MG) is unusual.

Case presentation

A 24-year-old previously healthy male presented with seronegative ocular MG, the diagnosis of which was supported by single-fiber electrophysiology findings. Three months later, he developed AE, initially being positive for AMPA receptor antibodies and subsequently for NMDA receptor antibodies. No underlying malignancy was found. In response to aggressive immunosuppressive treatment, he recovered (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score change from 5 to 1). Despite some cognitive problems at the 1-year follow-up, which were not revealed using the mRS, he was able to return to his studies.

Conclusions

AE may coexist with other autoimmune disorders. Patients with seronegative MG, including ocular MG, may develop autoimmune encephalitis with more than one cell-surface antibody.
Diagnostic value of combining preoperative inflammatory markers ratios with CA199 for patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer
Authors: Gu Yuanlong , Hua Qianjin , Li Zhipeng , Zhang Xingli , Lou Changjie , Zhang Yangfen , Wang Wei , Cai Peiyuan , Zhao Juan
Published: March 2023

Background

An early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (PC) is extremely difficult because of the lack of sensitive liquid biopsy methods and effective biomarkers. We attempted to evaluate whether circulating inflammatory marker could complement CA199 for the detection of early-stage PC.

Methods

We enrolled 430 patients with early-stage PC, 287 patients with other pancreatic tumors (OPT), and 401 healthy controls (HC). The patients and HC were randomly divided into a training set (n = 872) and two testing sets (n1 = 218, n2 = 28). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were investigated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of circulating inflammatory markers ratios, CA199, and combinations of the markers ratios in the training set, which would then be validated in the two testing sets.

Results

Circulating fibrinogen, neutrophils, and monocytes in patients with PC were significantly higher while circulating albumin, prealbumin, lymphocytes, and platelets of patients with PC were significantly lower compared to those of HC and OPT (all P < 0.05). The fibrinogen-to-albumin (FAR), fibrinogen-to-prealbumin (FPR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR), and fibrinogen-to-lymphocyte (FLR) ratios were significantly higher while the prognostic nutrition index values (PNI) were lower in patients with PC than in HC and OPT (all P < 0.05). Combining the FAR, FPR, and FLR with CA199 exhibited the best diagnostic value for distinguishing patients with early-stage PC from HC with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.964, and for distinguishing patients with early-stage PC from OPT with an AUC of 0.924 in the training sets. In the testing set, compared with HC, the combination markers had powerful efficiency for PC with an AUC 0.947 and AUC 0.942 when comparing PC with OPT. The AUC was 0.915 for the combination of CA199, FAR, FPR, and FLR for differentiating between patients with pancreatic head cancer (PHC) and other pancreatic head tumors (OPHT), and 0.894 for differentiating between patients with pancreatic body and tail cancer (PBTC) and other pancreatic body and tail tumors (OPBTT).

Conclusion

A combination of FAR, FPR, FLR, and CA199 may serve as a potential non-invasive biomarker for differentiating early-stage PC from HC and OPT, especially early-stage PHC.
Child exposure to domestic violence, substance dependence and suicide resilience in child laborers
Authors: Mohammadi Fateme , Oshvandi Khodayar , Shamsaei Farshid , Khodaveisi Masoud , Khazaei Salman , Masoumi Seyedeh Zahra
Published: March 2023

Background

Child laborers are often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. Child laborers are one of the most vulnerable groups in domestic violence. Domestic violence severely affects the physical and mental health, and consequently affects substance dependence and resilience to suicide of these children. Accordingly, it is essential to examine domestic violence, substance dependence, and suicidal ideation in working children.

Objectives

the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between exposure to domestic violence and substance dependence and suicide resilience on the other among child laborers in Iran.

Methods

This study employed cross-sectional research. 600 child laborers were selected via convenience and snow ball sampling from one rehabilitation and welfare center and three charity organization societies in the west of Iran, from January to August 2022. They completed questionnaires. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22 and with using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and ANOVA, independent t-test and the multiple linear regression model with a backward strategy.

Results

Findings showed that exposure to domestic violence has a strong and direct correlation with substance dependence (r = 0.94, p < 0.001) and strong and indirect correlation with suicide resilience (r =- 0.91, p < 0.001). Also substance dependence has a strong and direct correlation with suicide resilience (r = -0.87, p < 0.001) in child laborers. Variables of substance dependence, suicide resilience, gender, guardian’s disease status, living status and age can predict 76.51% of the variance in domestic violence in these children.

Conclusion

Child laborers experience a lot of domestic violence, which severely affects their suicide resilience and substance dependence in them. Therefore, there is an urgent need for systematic support programs with content (teaching self-care behaviors, stress management, avoiding tense and violent environments) in order to support of these children and reduce domestic violence against them and subsequently reduce substance improve abuse resilience to suicide in these children.
Association of spinopelvic index with proximal junctional failure developing in adult spinal deformity after surgical treatment: an observational study
Authors: Zhang Zifang , Chen Shang , Jia Shu , Chen Renchang , Li Nianhu , Meng Chunyang
Published: March 2023

Background

Those pelvic parameters of sacral slope (SS) and pelvic tilt (PT) correlated significantly to lumbar spine and hip joints respectively. We proposed the match between SS and PT, namely spinopelvic index (SPI), in order to investigate whether the SPI correlated to proximal junctional failure (PJF) in adult spinal deformity (ASD) after correction surgery.

Methods

Ninety-nine ASD patients who had undergone long-fusion (≥ 5 vertebras) surgeries were reviewed retrospectively in two medical institutions from January 2018 to December 2019. Those SPI were calculated with the equation: SPI = SS/PT, and analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. All participants were subdivided into the observational and control group. Comparisons of demographics, surgical and radiographic data between the two groups were performed. A Kaplan–Meier curve and log-rank test was used to analyze the differences in PJF-free survival time, and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) were recorded respectively.

Results

Nineteen patients suffering from PJF had much smaller postoperative SPI (P = 0.015), but much larger TK postoperatively (P < 0.001). ROC analysis determined the best cutoff value of 0.82 for SPI (sensitivity = 88.5%, specificity = 57.9%; AUC = 0.719, 95%CI: 0.612–0.864; P = 0.003). There were 19 and 80 cases in the observational (SPI ≤ 0.82) and control group (SPI > 0.82) respectively. The incidence of PJF in the observational group was much higher (11/19 VS 8/80, P < 0.001); further logistic regression analysis showed that SPI ≤ 0.82 was associated with increased odds of PJF (odds ratio: 12.375; 95%CI: 3.851–39.771). PJF-free survival time in the observational group decreased significantly (P < 0.001, log-rank test), moreover, multivariate analysis demonstrated that a value of SPI ≤ 0.82 (HR 6.626, 95%CI: 1.981–12.165) was significantly associated with PJF.

Conclusions

For ASD patients underwent long-fusion surgeries, the SPI should be over 0.82. The incidence of PJF may increase by 12-fold in such individuals with the immediate SPI ≤ 0.82 postoperatively.
Independent and interactive effect of type 2 diabetes and hypertension on memory functions in middle aged adults
Authors: Kálcza Jánosi Kinga , Lukács Andrea
Published: March 2023

Background

The study distinguishes the effect of type 2 diabetes and hypertension on cognitive functions when the two diseases are alone or when they occur together, compared to healthy individuals.

Methods

A total of 143 middle-aged adults were screened using the Wechsler Memory Scale – Revised psychometric test (verbal memory, visual memory, attention/concentration and delayed memory). Participants were divided into four groups based on their diseases: patients with type 2 diabetes (36), patients with hypertension (30), patients having both diseases (33), and healthy controls (44).

Results

This study found no differences among investigated groups in verbal and visual memory, however, hypertension and both-disease group performed unfavorably compared to patients with diabetes and to healthy individuals in attention/concentration and delayed memory.

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that there is a relationship between hypertension and cognitive dysfunction, whereas type 2 diabetes without consequences was not proved to have an association with cognitive decline in middle-aged people.
Changes in maternal heart rate in delayed post-partum preeclampsia
Authors: Ravid Dorit , Ovadia Michal , Asali Aula , Nisim Shlomo , Gershnabel Sivan Farladansky , Biron-Shental Tal , Weitzner Omer
Published: March 2023

Aim

Delayed-onset postpartum preeclampsia (PET) is defined as a new diagnosis of preeclampsia presenting 48 h to 6 weeks postpartum. This disorder is infrequent and associated with a higher incidence of complications as compared to antepartum PET. There seems to be a need to further characterize this disorder. The aim of the study was to investigate the difference of maternal heart rate in women with delayed onset postpartum preeclampsia as compared to healthy controls.

Methods

The medical files of all women who were readmitted with delayed onset postpartum preeclampsia during 2014–2020 were reviewed. Data on maternal physiological characteristics were compared to healthy control group of women at the same post-partum day, with uncomplicated pregnancies.

Results

Included 45 women with the diagnosis of delayed onset of preeclampsia at 6.3 ± 2.86 post-partum day. As compared to controls (n = 49), women with delayed post-partum were older, 34.6 ± 5.4 vs. 32.3 ± 4.7 years, p = 0.003. There were no differences between groups regarding maternal gravidity, parity, BMI (kg/m2) or Hb level at delivery day. Women with delayed post-partum preeclampsia had lower mean pulse rate as compared to controls, 58 ± 15 bpm vs. 83 ± 11.6 bpm, respectively, P < 0.0001. Only 17% of the women in the delayed onset group had pulse rate above 70 bpm as compared to 83% in the control group.

Conclusions

Maternal low heart rate in cases with delayed onset of post-partum preeclampsia is an important clinical characteristic that may reflect baroreceptors response to maternal hypertension.
Anterior gradient 2 induces resistance to sorafenib via endoplasmic reticulum stress regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Tsai Hung-Wen , Chen Yi-Li , Wang Chun-I , Hsieh Ching‑Chuan , Lin Yang-Hsiang , Chu Pei-Ming , Wu Yuh-Harn , Huang Yi-Ching , Chen Cheng-Yi
Published: March 2023

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for almost 80% of all liver cancer cases and is the sixth most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The survival rate of sorafenib-treated advanced HCC patients is still unsatisfactory. Unfortunately, no useful biomarkers have been verified to predict sorafenib efficacy in HCC.

Results

We assessed a sorafenib resistance-related microarray dataset and found that anterior gradient 2 (AGR2) is highly associated with overall and recurrence-free survival and with several clinical parameters in HCC. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of AGR2 in sorafenib resistance and HCC progression remain unknown. We found that sorafenib induces AGR2 secretion via posttranslational modification and that AGR2 plays a critical role in sorafenib-regulated cell viability and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and induces apoptosis in sorafenib-sensitive cells. In sorafenib-sensitive cells, sorafenib downregulates intracellular AGR2 and conversely induces AGR2 secretion, which suppresses its regulation of ER stress and cell survival. In contrast, AGR2 is highly intracellularly expressed in sorafenib-resistant cells, which supports ER homeostasis and cell survival. We suggest that AGR2 regulates ER stress to influence HCC progression and sorafenib resistance.

Conclusions

This is the first study to report that AGR2 can modulate ER homeostasis via the IRE1α-XBP1 cascade to regulate HCC progression and sorafenib resistance. Elucidation of the predictive value of AGR2 and its molecular and cellular mechanisms in sorafenib resistance could provide additional options for HCC treatment.
Glofitamab therapy for diffuse large B cell lymphoma: latest updates from the 2022 ASH Annual Meeting
Authors: Wang Chaoyu , Liu Yao
Published: March 2023

Over one-third of B cell lymphomas are not effectively treated by R-CHOP chemotherapy. When lymphoma relapses or is refractory, the prognosis becomes very poor. Due to this fact, there is an urgent and clear requirement for a more effective, novel treatment option. Glofitamab is a CD20xCD3 T-cell-engaging, bispecific antibody capable of recruiting T cells to tumor cells. We have summarized several of the latest reports on glofitamab use in B cell lymphoma therapy from the 2022 ASH Annual Meeting (ASH2022).
The resonance fluorescence cascade of a laser-excited two-level atom
Authors: Reynaud Serge
Published: March 2023

The cascade of fluorescence photons by a two-level atom excited by coherent laser light is reviewed. The discussion emphasizes the random nature of resonance fluorescence and uses the distribution of delays between two successively emitted photons as the primary characterization of the process. Other characterizations such as photon counting and photon correlation are deduced.
SETD2 non genomic loss of function in advanced systemic mastocytosis is mediated by an Aurora kinase A/MDM2 axis and can be therapeutically targeted
Authors: Mancini Manuela , Monaldi Cecilia , De Santis Sara , Papayannidis Cristina , Rondoni Michela , Sartor Chiara , Bruno Samantha , Pagano Livio , Criscuolo Marianna , Zanotti Roberta , Bonifacio Massimiliano , Tosi Patrizia , Arock Michel , Valent Peter , Cavo Michele , Soverini Simona
Published: March 2023

Background

The SETD2 tumor suppressor gene encodes a histone methyltransferase that safeguards transcription fidelity and genomic integrity via trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 36 (H3K36Me3). SETD2 loss of function has been observed in solid and hematologic malignancies. We have recently reported that most patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis (AdvSM) and some with indolent or smoldering SM display H3K36Me3 deficiency as a result of a reversible loss of SETD2 due to reduced protein stability.

Methods

Experiments were conducted in SETD2-proficient (ROSAKIT D816V) and -deficient (HMC-1.2) cell lines and in primary cells from patients with various SM subtypes. A short interfering RNA approach was used to silence SETD2 (in ROSAKIT D816V cells), MDM2 and AURKA (in HMC-1.2 cells). Protein expression and post-translational modifications were assessed by WB and immunoblotting. Protein interactions were tested by using co-immunoprecipitation. Apoptotic cell death was evaluated by flow cytometry after annexin V and propidium iodide staining, respectively. Drug cytotoxicity in in vitro experiments was evaluated by clonogenic assays.

Results

Here, we show that the proteasome inhibitors suppress cell growth and induce apoptosis in neoplastic mast cells by promoting SETD2/H3K36Me3 re-expression. Moreover, we found that Aurora kinase A and MDM2 are implicated in SETD2 loss of function in AdvSM. In line with this observation, direct or indirect targeting of Aurora kinase A with alisertib or volasertib induced reduction of clonogenic potential and apoptosis in human mast cell lines and primary neoplastic cells from patients with AdvSM. Efficacy of Aurora A or proteasome inhibitors was comparable to that of the KIT inhibitor avapritinib. Moreover, combination of alisertib (Aurora A inhibitor) or bortezomib (proteasome inhibitor) with avapritinib allowed to use lower doses of each drug to achieve comparable cytotoxic effects.

Conclusions

Our mechanistic insights into SETD2 non-genomic loss of function in AdvSM highlight the potential value of novel therapeutic targets and agents for the treatment of patients who fail or do not tolerate midostaurin or avapritinib.
A facilitated social innovation: stakeholder groups using Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles for perinatal health across levels of the health system in Cao Bang province, Vietnam
Authors: Bergström Anna , Hoa Dinh Phuong , Nga Nguyen Thu , Hoa Trieu , Tu Tran Thanh , Lien Pham Thi Lan , Trang Tran , Wallin Lars , Persson Lars-Åke , Eriksson Leif
Published: March 2023

Background

Universal coverage of evidence-based interventions for perinatal health, often part of evidence-based guidelines, could prevent most perinatal deaths, particularly if entire communities were engaged in the implementation. Social innovations may provide creative solutions to the implementation of evidence-based guidelines, but successful use of social innovations relies on the engagement of communities and health system actors. This proof-of-concept study aimed to assess whether an earlier successful social innovation for improved neonatal survival that employed regular facilitated Plan-Do-Study-Act meetings on the commune level was feasible and acceptable when implemented on multiple levels of the health system (52 health units) and resulted in actions with plausibly favourable effects on perinatal health and survival in Cao Bang province, northern Vietnam.

Methods

The Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework guided the implementation and evaluation of the Perinatal Knowledge-Into-Practice (PeriKIP) project. Data collection included facilitators’ diaries, health workers’ knowledge on perinatal care, structured observations of antenatal care, focus group discussions with facilitators, their mentors and representatives of different actors of the initiated stakeholder groups and an individual interview with the Reproductive Health Centre director. Clinical experts assessed the relevance of the identified problems and actions taken based on facilitators’ diaries. Descriptive statistics included proportions, means, and t-tests for the knowledge assessment and observations. Qualitative data were analysed by content analysis.

Results

The social innovation resulted in the identification of about 500 relevant problems. Also, 75% of planned actions to overcome prioritised problems were undertaken, results presented and a plan for new actions to achieve the group’s goals to enhance perinatal health. The facilitators had significant roles, ensuring that the stakeholder groups were established based on principles of mutual respect. Overall, the knowledge of perinatal health and performance of antenatal care improved over the intervention period.

Conclusions

The establishment of facilitated local stakeholder groups can remedy the need for tailored interventions and grassroots involvement in perinatal health and provide a scalable structure for focused efforts to reduce preventable deaths and promote health and well-being.
Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) evolvement and expanded scope in Ethiopia
Authors: Seyoum Habtamu , Feleke Zinabie , Bikila Dinkineh , Yaregal Alebel , Demisie Amsalu , Ali Seid , Fisseha Salem , Abebe Yigeremu , Battu Audrey , Lam Felix , Bayisa Regasa
Published: March 2023

As a key partner of Ministry of Health (MOH) Ethiopia, The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) had been implementing the Child Survival Project (CSP) since October 2015. Strengthening DTC was one of its focuses to improve overall supply chain management (SCM). The objective of this study are to review the evolution of DTCs in Ethiopia from their early years to current practice and identify the major driving and hindering factors for their functionality.

A descriptive mixed study design was employed. The study made use of qualitative data supplemented with quantitative data, generated from both primary and secondary sources through key informant interviews and desk review methods.

DTCs were introduced in Ethiopia in the early 1980s. The mandate of DTCs has been given to four different government organizations during that time. As a result, due to a lack of coordination among these organizations, its implementation was lagging. Recently, the government and its partners have given attention to DTCs. More than 5847 professionals underwent DTC training from 2016 onwards. DTC establishment in health facilities improved from 85% to 98% between 2015 and 2019 during baseline and end-line assessments carried out by CHAI/CSP. Similarly, DTC functionality in HFs improved from 20% to 63%. The CHAI/CSP regular supervision data analysis revealed that DTC establishment improved from 83% to 100% of HFs, while its functionality improved from 5% to 72% between 2016 and 2019, respectively. A chi-square test of independence examining the relationship between facility and pharmacy head training on DTCs and functionality of DTC in the same facility revealed a significant association between the two variables at p<0.0001.

Conclusions: Providing consistent capacity building and availing strong monitoring and evaluation system improves functionality of DTCs. Moreover, national coordinating bodies for DTCs and similar structures at Regional Health Bureaus and woreda health offices should be established.
Design of Miniaturized Half-Mode Substrate Integrated Waveguide Dual-Mode Dual-Band Filter for X and Ku Band Applications
Authors:   Department of Electronic Engineering, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Mutepfe Cleophas D. K. , Srivastava Viranjay M.
Published: March 2023

With the advancement in technology, devices are required to have superior performance and be as small in size as possible, due to compactness of electronic devices. Most of these devices don't meet all criterias in one go. To enhance the criteria matching, in this work, two dual-band filters have been designed. The first one uses a SIW multi-mode resonator, two of which are magnetically coupled to form a dual-band filter. To achieve miniaturization, the full-mode multi-mode resonator is cut into two using the diagonal symmetry line. This results in a Half-Mode Substrate Integrated Waveguide (HMSIW) resonator used in the dualband second-order filter design. Using this HMSIW, a size reduction of 50% was achieved while operating at the same frequencies as in the full mode structure. This aids to reduce the size of microwave devices and increase in selectivity. Rogers substrate with a permittivity of 2.2 has been used to design the filter. Center frequencies of operation are 9.5 GHz and 13.8 GHz for the first and second pass-bands, respectively. The insertion loss recorded was 1 dB and 3 dB for the first and second pass-band, respectively.
„Włocławski” fragment karolińskiego lekcjonarza z przełomu VIII i IX wieku
Authors: Starzyński Marcin
Published: March 2023

Artykuł mieści analizę fragmentu karolińskiego lekcjonarza, spisanego najpewniej w skryptorium katedry w Salzburgu w latach 780-820, znalezionego przed II wojną światową w Bibliotece Kapitulnej we Włocławku i przechowywanego od tego czasu w Pracowni Nauk Pomocniczych Historii i Źródłoznawstwa Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego.
Tłok pieczęci arcybiskupa gnieźnieńskiego znaleziony w Horstmar w Westfalii
Authors: Grünewald Christoph , Ilisch Peter , Jurek Tomasz
Published: March 2023

Artykuł dotyczy zniszczonego tłoka pieczętnego znalezionego opodal zamku Horstmar, rezydencji biskupów Münster w Westfalii. Tłok należał do jednego z arcybiskupów gnieźnieńskich, najpewniej długo przebywającego w Awinionie Borzysława (1314-1317), i stanowił jego pieczęć jako elekta. Artykuł prezentuje też (z reprodukcjami) nieznane dotąd egzemplarze pieczęci arcybiskupów.
Homo agens czy homo technicus? Kim jest człowiek w świecie hybrydalnym
Authors: Surawska Monika
Published: March 2023

Human functioning in the hybrid world, from the perspective of the humanities and
social sciences, not only is an important cognitive issue, but also a huge challenge for
individuals and entire societies. A man in the new dual reality is not and will not be
the same as a few decades ago. He still undertakes many activities and satisfies his
needs, but at the same time he uses new opportunities that displace what is known and
safe. The paper is an attempt to answer the questions of who is human in the new, hybrid
world and whether living in this dual reality allows him to achieve full
well-being?
Skuteczność stosowania technologii informacyjnej w edukacji szkolnej
Authors: Bartkowiak Anna
Published: March 2023

The paper presents the review of works from the end of the 20th century and the
beginning of the 21st century summarizing research on the role of information technology
in school education around the world, including Poland. The paper shows the conclusions
from meta-analysis based on works by e.g., J. Kulik, J. Sivini-Kachala, T. Fuchs and L.
Woessmann, O. Falck and the report titled “Cyfrowa Szkoła” (“Digital School”). In some
areas, the results of the presented studies are inconsistent. However, most of the
papers prove that properly selected information tools have a positive impact on
students, their skills and achievements. On the other hand, the key factor of
effectiveness is the digital competence of the teachers and their skills in selecting
and applying appropriate methods.
Cyberbullying jako nowe zjawisko przemocy elektronicznej patologizujące zachowanie
młodzieży
Authors: Migała Paweł
Published: March 2023

We live at the beginning of the 21st century – the century of information
technology development. The first mass media used by people was radio, landline
telephone, then television. The computer is already a widely used multimedia today, and
creates numerous opportunities, but also poses many threats. New technologies offer
opportunities for development, but they are also becoming more and more dangerous for
humans. Virtual space has ceased to be only a friendly place of work, leisure, and
entertainment, but has also become a threat. Never before in the history of mankind has
a device created so many opportunities and at the same time so many dangers. The rapid
increase in interest in the new medium has caused scientists in many countries to carry
out research projects that allow them to get acquainted with many new issues, including
the problem of electronic aggression. At this stage of analysis, there are more
questions than answers. It should be emphasized that this is a current and new problem,
and with the passage of time its scale is intensified, bringing serious
consequences.
Managing the Personalized Order-Holding Problem in Online Retailing
Authors: Chen Shouchang , Yan Zhenzhen , Lim Yun Fong
Published: March 2023

Problem definition: A significant percentage of online consumers place consecutive orders within a short duration. To reduce the total order arrangement cost, an online retailer may consolidate consecutive orders from the same consumer. We investigate how long the retailer should hold the consumer’s orders before sending them to a third-party logistics provider (3PL) for processing. In this order-holding problem, we optimize the holding time to balance the total order arrangement cost and the potential delay in delivery. Methodology/results: We model the order-holding problem as a Markov decision process. We show that the optimal order-holding decisions follow a threshold-type policy that is straightforward to implement: Hold any pending orders if the holding time is within a threshold or send them to the 3PL otherwise. Whenever the consumer places a new order, the holding time is reset, and the threshold is updated based on a cumulative set of the past consecutive orders in the consumer’s shopping journey. Using a consumer’s sequential decision model, we personalize the threshold by finding its closed-form expression in the consumer’s order features. We determine the model’s coefficients and evaluate the threshold-type policy using the data of the 2020 MSOM Data Driven Research Challenge. Extensive numerical experiments suggest that the personalized threshold-type policy outperforms two commonly used benchmarks by having fewer order arrangements or shorter holding times. Furthermore, personalizing the order-holding decisions is significantly more valuable for “enterprise” customers. Managerial implications: Our research suggests a higher threshold for consumers who are more likely to place consecutive orders within a short duration. The consumers’ demographic information has a significant effect on the threshold. Specifically, the threshold is higher for “plus” consumers, female consumers, and consumers in the age group of 16–25 years. The threshold for tier 1 cities is lower than that for tier 2 to tier 4 cities but higher than that for tier 5 cities.

History: This paper has been accepted as part of the 2020 MSOM Data Driven Challenge.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 71931009, 72201237, and 72231009], the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong [Grants 15501920 and 15501221], the Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund [Tier 1, Grant RG17/21; Tier 2, Grant MOE2019-T2-1-045], the Association of South-East Asian Nations Business Research Initiative Grant [Grant G17C20421], and the Neptune Orient Lines [Fellowship NOL21RP04].

Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2023.1201 .
Frontiers in Service Science: Data-Driven Revenue Management: The Interplay of Data, Model, and Decisions
Authors: Chen Ningyuan , Hu Ming
Published: March 2023

Revenue management (RM) is the application of analytical methodologies and tools that predict consumer behavior and optimize product availability and prices to maximize a firm’s revenue or profit. In the last decade, data has been playing an increasingly crucial role in business decision making. As firms rely more on collected or acquired data to make business decisions, it brings opportunities and challenges to the RM research community. In this review paper, we systematically categorize the related literature by how a study is “driven” by data and focus on studies that explore the interplay between two or three of the elements: data, model, and decisions, in which the data element must be present. Specifically, we cover five data-driven RM research areas, including inference (data to model), predict then optimize (data to model to decisions), online learning (data to model to decisions to new data in a loop), end-to-end decision making (data directly to decisions), and experimental design (decisions to data to model). Finally, we point out future research directions.

Funding: The research of N. Chen is partly supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery [Grant RGPIN-2020-04038]. The research of M. Hu is in part supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [Grant RGPIN-2021-04295].
BRUXA RADIOTIVA
Authors: Silva Freitas Raquel , De Almeida Farias Neto Cloves , Nascimento Silva Pedro Henrique , Guimarães Cerqueira Francina Estefânia , Fernandes de Fernandes Iranderly
Published: March 2023

No decorrer da história da humanidade, a mulher sempre sofreu preconceitos e enfrentou diversas barreiras em busca de seus direitos. Nesta incessante busca, diversas mulheres contribuíram significativamente para o desenvolvimento da ciência. Diante disto, no presente trabalho será abordado a vida e a carreira da brilhante cientista Marie Curie, a qual tornou-se a primeira mulher a ser laureada no prêmio Nobel, e a única pessoa a ser laureada em campos científicos diferentes. Sua vida foi repletas de desafios e êxitos, desde a saída de sua cidade natal, seu casamento com Pierre Curie, seu romance com Paul Langevi, e o mais importante os seus trabalhos sobre a radioatividade, a descoberta do polônio e do rádio. Marie se tornou um símbolo para as mulheres cientistas, a “bruxa” perpassa seus ensinamentos de coragem, perseverança e ensinamento científico, mesmo após a sua morte.
DEZ ANOS DEPOIS: UM ESTUDO DE CASO COM LIVROS DIDÁTICOS ENVOLVENDO FÍSICA ACÚSTICA
Authors: Santos Azevedo Jacson , Nairon Monteiro Júnior Francisco
Published: March 2023

A análise de livros didáticos é uma realidade consolidada nas pesquisas em ensino de Ciências no Brasil. Em tais análises,considerando os livros didáticos de Física, encontram-se uma quantidade considerável de estudos e pesquisas englobandodiversos conteúdos da física, como astronomia, termodinâmica, física moderna e eletromagnetismo, dentre outros.Pretendemos neste artigo dar prosseguimento ao trabalho de investigação iniciado no final dos anos 1990 por MonteiroJúnior e Medeiros (1998; 1999) concernente à avaliação de como o conceito de timbre é apresentado em livros didáticosde física, além de outros conteúdos relacionados ao estudo da acústica. Em seguida, Monteiro Júnior e Carvalho (2011)voltaram a dar continuidade à mesma pesquisa, entretanto, com a adição de um novo parâmetro, a saber, o estudo daspaisagens sonoras, conceito este desenvolvido pelo músico e educador canadense Raymond Murray Schafer. Portanto,alinhados com essa tradição, transcorridos dez anos desde a última pesquisa mencionada, analisamos três coleçõesaprovadas pelo Plano Nacional do Livro Didático 2018 (PNLD 2018), componente currícular Física. Para tal, adotamoscomo recurso metodológico um estudo de caso, utilizando as mesmas categorias da última pesquisa, mas lançando mão demais uma, relacionada à acústica musical, denominada ‘Escala de igual temperamento’. Os resultados obtidos apontampara algumas melhorias nos livros analisados, muito embora antigas lacunas ainda persistam.
Mueller matrix imaging polarimeter at the wavelength of 265  nm
Authors: Li Yuanhe , Li Yanqiu , Liu Ke , Zhou Guodong , Liu Lihui , Liu Aijun , Ma Ziyu
Published: March 2023

Mueller matrix imaging polarimeters (MMIPs) have been developed in the wavelength region of >400nm with great potential in many fields yet leaving a void of instrumentation and application in the ultraviolet (UV) region. For the first time to our knowledge, an UV-MMIP is developed for high resolution, sensitivity, and accuracy at the wavelength of 265 nm. A modified polarization state analyzer is designed and applied to suppress stray light for nice polarization images, and the errors of the measured Mueller matrices are calibrated to lower than 0.007 in pixel level. The finer performance of the UV-MMIP is demonstrated by the measurements of unstained cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) specimens. The contrasts of depolarization images obtained by the UV-MMIP are dramatically improved over those obtained by our previous VIS-MMIP at the wavelength of 650 nm. A distinct evolution of depolarization in normal cervical epithelium tissue, CIN-I, CIN-II, and CIN-III specimens can be observed by the UV-MMIP with mean depolarization promotion by up to 20 times. This evolution could provide important evidence for CIN staging but can hardly be distinguished by the VIS-MMIP. The results prove that the UV-MMIP could be an effective tool in polarimetric applications with higher sensitivity.
Hyperbolic metamaterial structures based on graphene for THz super-resolution imaging applications: publisher’s note
Authors: Hao Shixuan , Wang Jicheng , Fanayev Ivan , Khakhomov Sergei , Li Jingwen
Published: March 2023

This publisher’s note contains corrections to a production-related error to Opt. Mater. Express 13, 247 (2023)10.1364/OME.477107.
Cytokine profiling of samples positive for Chlamydia trachomatis and Human papillomavirus
Authors: Lugo Larissa Zatorre Almeida , Puga Marco Antonio Moreira , Jacob Camila Mareti Bonin , Padovani Cacilda Tezelli Junqueira , Nocetti Mariana Calarge , Tupiná Maisa Souza , Pina Ana Flávia Silva , de Freitas Jennifer Naed Martins , Ferreira Alda Maria Teixeira , Fernandes Carlos Eurico dos Santos , Bovo Adriane Cristina , Resende Júlio César Possati , Tozetti Inês Aparecida
Published: March 2023

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is closely associated with cervical carcinoma. Co-infection in the endocervical environment with other microorganisms, such asChlamydia trachomatis, may increase the risk of HPV infection and neoplastic progression. While in some individuals,Chlamydia trachomatisinfection is resolved with the activation of Th1/IFN-γ-mediated immune response, others develop a chronic infection marked by Th2-mediated immune response, resulting in intracellular persistence of the bacterium and increasing the risk of HPV infection. This work aimed to quantify cytokines of the Th1/Th2/Th17 profile in exfoliated cervix cells (ECC) and peripheral blood (PB) of patients positive forChlamydia trachomatisDNA, patients positive for Papillomavirus DNA, and healthy patients. Cytokine levels were quantified by flow cytometry in ECC and PB samples from patients positive forC.trachomatisDNA (n = 18), patients positive for HPV DNA (n = 30), and healthy patients (n = 17) treated at the Hospital de Amor, Campo Grande-MS. After analysis, a higher concentration of IL-17, IL-6, and IL-4 (p <0.05) in ECC; INF-γ and IL-10 (p <0.05) in PB was found in samples from patients positive forC.trachomatisDNA compared to samples from healthy patients. When comparing samples from patients positive for HPV DNA, there was a higher concentration of cytokines IL-17, IL-10, IL-6, and IL-4 (p <0.05) in ECC and IL-4 and IL-2 (p <0.05) in PB of patients positive forC.trachomatisDNA. These results suggest that induction of Th2- and Th17 mediated immune response occurs in patients positive forC.trachomatisDNA, indicating chronic infection. Our results also demonstrate a high concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines in ECC of patients positive forC.trachomatisDNA.
Defining and quantifying fatigue in the rugby codes
Authors: Naughton Mitchell , Scott Tannath , Weaving Dan , Solomon Colin , McLean Scott
Published: March 2023

The rugby codes (i.e., rugby union, rugby league, rugby sevens [termed ‘rugby’]) are team-sports that impose multiple complex physical, perceptual, and technical demands on players which leads to substantial player fatigue post-match. In the post-match period, fatigue manifests through multiple domains and negatively influences recovery. There is, however, currently no definition of fatigue contextualised to the unique characteristics of rugby (e.g., locomotor and collision loads). Similarly, the methods and metrics which practitioners consider when quantifying the components of post-match fatigue and subsequent recovery are not known. The aims of this study were to develop a definition of fatigue in rugby, to determine agreement with this common definition of fatigue, and to outline which methods and metrics are considered important and feasible to implement to quantify post-match fatigue. Subject matter experts (SME) undertook a two-round online Delphi questionnaire (round one; n = 42, round two; n = 23). SME responses in round one were analysed to derive a definition of fatigue, which after discussion and agreement by the investigators, obtained 96% agreement in round two. The SME agreed that fatigue in rugby refers to a reduction in performance-related task ability which is underpinned by time-dependent negative changes within and between cognitive, neuromuscular, perceptual, physiological, emotional, and technical/tactical domains. Further, there were 33 items in the neuromuscular performance, cardio-autonomic, or self-report domains achieved consensus for importance and/or feasibility to implement. Highly rated methods and metrics included countermovement jump force/power (neuromuscular performance), heart rate variability (cardio-autonomic measures), and soreness, mood, stress, and sleep quality (self-reported assessments). A monitoring system including highly-rated fatigue monitoring objective and subjective methods and metrics in rugby is presented. Practical recommendations of objective and subjective measures, and broader considerations for testing and analysing the resulting data in relation to monitoring fatigue are provided.
Letter from the editor
Authors: Vaughan Hunter
Published: March 2023

This letter from the editorial introduces the global context for the publication of issue 3.2, lays out the issue’s contents and announces important editorial changes moving forward.