bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The accuracy of a recombinant antigen immunochromatographic test for the detection of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in migrants from sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Tamarozzi Francesca , Longoni Silvia Stefania , Mazzi Cristina , Rizzi Eleonora , Noordin Rahmah , Buonfrate Dora
Published: April 2022

Background

Strongyloidiasis, a nematode infection which is mainly caused by Strongyloides stercoralis in humans, can lead to a fatal syndrome in immunocompromised individuals. Its diagnosis is challenging due to the absence of a diagnostic gold standard. The infection is highly prevalent in migrants from endemic countries in tropical and subtropical areas, and a rapid diagnostic test would be helpful for screening purposes. The aim of this study was to estimate the accuracy of a novel immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the diagnosis of S. stercoralis infection.

Methods

A single-centre diagnostic accuracy study was undertaken using well-characterized frozen sera available from the biobank of a referral hospital for parasitic diseases in Italy. The included sera were from migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, and matching results were available for agar plate culture and/or polymerase chain reaction for S. stercoralis; moreover, the results of both a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test and an in-house immunofluorescence test for strongyloidiasis were made available. Laboratory staff who read the ICT results were blinded as regards the results of the other tests. Two readers independently read the ICT, and a third one was involved when results were discrepant. The accuracy of the ICT was assessed both against the results of the panel of faecal tests and by latent class analysis (LCA).

Results

Agreement between the readers was excellent [Cohen’s κ = 92.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 88.3–97.1%]. When assessed against the results of the faecal tests, the sensitivity and specificity of the ICT were 82.4% (95% CI 75.7–89.0%) and 73.8% (95% CI 66.8–80.9%), respectively. According to the LCA, the sensitivity and specificity were 86.3% (95% CI 80.1–92.5%) and 73.9% (95% CI 67.0–80.8%), respectively.

Conclusions

The results of the ICT demonstrated ease of interpretation. The accuracy proved good, though the sensitivity might be further improved for screening purposes.

Graphical Abstract
Evaluating a capacity development intervention in health economics among producers and users of evidence in Nigeria: a case study in Getting Research Into Policy and Practice (GRIPP) in Anambra State
Authors: Ezenduka Charles C. , Onwujekwe Obinna E.
Published: April 2022

Background

The use of research evidence to inform policy and practice cannot be overemphasized especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). To promote the use of research evidence in the provision of health services for enhanced effective control of communicable diseases in developing countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Health Policy Research Group (HPRG) commissioned a capacity development workshop in health economics among producers and users of research evidence in the healthcare system of Anambra state, south east Nigeria. This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of the workshop training on selected stakeholders on the use of health economics evidence to inform health policy and practice in the state.

Methods

Participants were purposively selected based either as producers and users of evidence at various levels of healthcare decision making in Anambra state, comprising mostly senior managers and executives from the ministry of health, the academic and health institutions in the state. A two-day capacity development workshop was conducted to train the participants on the use of economic evidence to inform health policy and practice. Pre-post test approach and group exercises were used to assess the knowledge and impact of the training exercises on the participants regarding the use of health economics evidence. Analysis was based on the framework of process-output-outcome-impact approach using the pre-post test and scores technique to assess the impact of the training programme.

Results

Pretest average scores varied from 39.7% to 60.5% while posttest scores varied from 47.6% to 65.7%, showing big differences in individual scores among participants, between the producers and users of evidence both prior to and after the training. The significant differences between the test scores indicated success in increasing the knowledge of participants on the use of health economics evidence. Results corroborated participants’ perceptions that the workshop impacted positively on their ability to apply the knowledge of health economic evidence to inform decision making in their respective practices.

Conclusion

Findings underscored the need for regular upgrade of stakeholders in the health system for enhanced uptake and sustainability of the programme to achieve the desired goal of getting research into policy and practice in the state applicable to other settings.
ASFV pD345L protein negatively regulates NF-κB signalling by inhibiting IKK kinase activity
Authors: Chen Huan , Wang Zhenzhong , Gao Xiaoyu , Lv Jiaxuan , Hu Yongxin , Jung Yong-Sam , Zhu Shanyuan , Wu Xiaodong , Qian Yingjuan , Dai Jianjun
Published: April 2022

The NF-κB pathway is an essential signalling cascade in the defence against viral infections, including African swine fever virus (ASFV) infection. ASFV encodes more than 151 proteins via its own transcription machinery and possesses a great capacity to evade or subvert antiviral innate immune responses. Although some of these viral proteins have been reported, many remain unknown. Here, we show that pD345L, an ASFV-encoded lambda-like exonuclease, acts as an inhibitor of cGAS/STING-mediated NF-κB signalling by blocking the IkappaB kinase (IKKα/β) activity. Specifically, we showed that overexpression of pD345L suppresses cGAS/STING-induced IFNβ and NF-κB activation, resulting in decreased transcription of IFNβ and several proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα. In addition, we showed that pD345L acts at or downstream of IKK and upstream of p65. Importantly, we found that pD345L associates with the KD and HLH domains of IKKα and the LZ domain of IKKβ and thus interrupts their kinase activity towards the downstream substrate IκBα. Finally, we showed that pD345L-mediated inhibition of NF-κB signalling was independent of its exonuclease activity. Considering these results collectively, we concluded that pD345L blocks IKKα/β kinase activity via protein–protein interactions and thus disrupts cGAS/STING-mediated NF-κB signalling.
Effects of soil properties and carbon substrates on bacterial diversity of two sunflower farms
Authors: Nwachukwu Blessing Chidinma , Ayangbenro Ayansina Segun , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti
Published: April 2022

The sustainable production of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is crucial and one way to accomplish this feat is to have an understanding of the beneficial bacteria of sunflower rhizosphere. Similarly, the respiratory response of these bacteria needs to be studied to understand their roles in the ecosystem. This study was therefore conceptualized to gain insights into the effects of soil properties and carbon substrate utilization on bacterial community diversity of sunflower rhizosphere grown in Ditsobottla and Kraaipan, North West Province, South Africa. Extracted DNA from sunflower rhizosphere and bulk soils was subjected to 16S amplicon sequencing. Significant differences were observed in the alpha and beta diversities of the soil bacterial communities (p < 0.05). At the order level, among all the bacterial taxa captured in the farms, Bacillales were the most dominant. The abundance of Lactobacillales, Bacillales, Rhizobiales, Enterobacteriales, Burkholderiales, Flavobacteriales, Sphingomonadales, Myxococcales, and Nitrosomonadales obtained from Ditsobottla rhizosphere soil (R1) was positively influenced by organic matter (OM), while the abundance of Planctomycetales, Cytophagales, Gemmatimonadales, Nitrospirales and Caulobacteriales from Kraaipan rhizosphere soil (R2) was positively influenced by total N and pH. Bacterial communities of all the soil samples utilized the different carbon substrates (three amino acids, six carbohydrates, and three carboxylic acids) as an energy source. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were only observed in tryptophan and methionine amended soils. Unclassified bacteria were also captured in this study, such bacteria can further be harnessed for sustainable production of sunflower and other agricultural crops.
Strategies to overcome vaccine hesitancy: a systematic review
Authors: Singh Prem , Dhalaria Pritu , Kashyap Satabdi , Soni Gopal Krishna , Nandi Partha , Ghosh Shreeparna , Mohapatra Mrinal Kar , Rastogi Apurva , Prakash Divya
Published: April 2022

Background

Vaccination, albeit a necessity in the prevention of infectious diseases, requires appropriate strategies for addressing vaccine hesitancy at an individual and community level. However, there remains a glaring scarcity of available literature in that regard. Therefore, this review aims to scrutinize globally tested interventions to increase the vaccination uptake by addressing vaccine hesitancy at various stages of these interventions across the globe and help policy makers in implementing appropriate strategies to address the issue.

Methods

A systematic review of descriptive and analytic studies was conducted using specific key word searches to identify literature containing information about interventions directed at vaccine hesitancy. The search was done using PubMed, Global Health, and Science Direct databases. Data extraction was based on study characteristics such as author details; study design; and type, duration, and outcome of an intervention.

Results

A total of 105 studies were identified of which 33 studies were included in the final review. Community-based interventions, monetary incentives, and technology-based health literacy demonstrated significant improvement in the utilization of immunization services. On the other hand, media-based intervention studies did not bring about a desired change in overcoming vaccine hesitancy.

Conclusion

This study indicates that the strategies should be based on the need and reasons for vaccine hesitancy for the targeted population. A multidimensional approach involving community members, families, and individuals is required to address this challenging issue.
SRTdb: an omnibus for human tissue and cancer-specific RNA transcripts
Authors: Shi Qili , Liu Teng , Hu Wei , Chen Zhiao , He Xianghuo , Li Shengli
Published: April 2022

The production of functional mature RNA transcripts from genes undergoes various pre-transcriptional regulation and post-transcriptional modifications. Accumulating studies demonstrated that gene transcription carries out in tissue and cancer type-dependent ways. However, RNA transcript-level specificity analysis in large-scale transcriptomics data across different normal tissue and cancer types is lacking. We applied reference-based de novo transcript assembly and quantification of 27,741 samples across 33 cancer types, 29 tissue types, and 25 cancer cell line types. We totally identified 231,836 specific RNA transcripts (SRTs) across various tissue and cancer types, most of which are found independent of specific genes. Almost half of tumor SRTs are also tissue-specific but in different tissues. Furthermore, we found that 10 ~ 20% of tumor SRTs in most tumor types were testis-specific. The SRT database (SRTdb) was constructed based on these resources. Taking liver cancer as an example, we showed how SRTdb resource is utilized to optimize the identification of RNA transcripts for more precision diagnosis of particular cancers. Our results provide a useful resource for exploring transcript specificity across various cancer and tissue types, and boost the precision medicine for tumor patients.
The evaluation of decision-to-delivery interval in category-1 emergency cesarean section: a report of six cases
Authors: Kotera Atsushi
Published: April 2022

Background

In category-1 emergency cesarean section, decision-to-delivery interval (DDI) is an important indicator for evaluating the quality of maternity care. I thus evaluated DDI and neonatal outcome in category-1 emergency cesarean section in our institution.

Case presentation

I collected data from the six patients undergoing category-1 emergency cesarean section performed between October 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021. The average age and gestational age were 32 years old (range, 21–42) and 34 weeks (range, 26–40), respectively. Three patients suffered from abruptio placenta and the others fetal distress. All the surgeries were performed under general anesthesia, and the average DDI was 21 min (range, 10–29). The morality was 25% in neonates whose gestational ages of >35 weeks, and that was 67% in neonates whose gestational ages of <27 weeks.

Conclusions

DDI was achieved within 30 min in all the patients, and the mortality of neonate might depend on gestational age.
Highlight selection of radiochemistry and radiopharmacy developments by editorial board
Authors: Bernardes Emerson , Caravan Peter , van Dam R. Michael , Deuther-Conrad Winnie , Ellis Beverley , Furumoto Shozo , Guillet Benjamin , Huang Ya-Yao , Jia Hongmei , Laverman Peter , Li Zijing , Liu Zhaofei , Lodi Filippo , Miao Yubin , Perk Lars , Schirrmacher Ralf , Vercoullie Johnny , Yang Hua , Yang Min , Yang Xing , Zhang Junbo , Zhang Ming-Rong , Zhu Hua
Published: April 2022

Background

The Editorial Board of EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry releases a biyearly highlight commentary to update the readership on trends in the field of radiopharmaceutical development.

Results

This commentary of highlights has resulted in 23 different topics selected by each member of the Editorial Board addressing a variety of aspects ranging from novel radiochemistry to first in man application of novel radiopharmaceuticals and also a contribution in relation to MRI-agents is included.

Conclusion

Trends in (radio)chemistry and radiopharmacy are highlighted demonstrating the progress in the research field being the scope of EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry.
Management of false passage complication during operative hysteroscopy
Authors: Hota T. , Abuzeid O. M. , Raju R. , Holmes J. , Hebert J. , Abuzeid M. I.
Published: April 2022

Background

False passage is a possible complication during operative hysteroscopy and can lead to termination of the intended procedure. The aim of this study is to describe two techniques to overcome the complication of false passage during operative hysteroscopy.

Results

This is a retrospective case series of 9 patients who had a false passage during operative hysteroscopy for Müllerian anomaly or endometrial polyps. The diagnosis was immediately made by visualization of a lattice network of myometrial fibers without normal landmarks of the endometrial cavity and tubal ostia. Once a false passage was suspected, an attempt was made to overcome this complication and complete the intended operative hysteroscopy. The hysteroscope was slowly withdrawn to identify both the false passage and the opening towards the internal cervical os. The hysteroscope was tilted towards the opening to the internal cervical os, and it was carefully advanced under direct vision into the endometrial cavity. In two patients, this technique failed because the opening to the internal cervical os was small, so the bridge of tissue between the internal os and false passage was partially divided using hysteroscopic scissors or a straight resectoscope loop, allowing for entry into the endometrial cavity. The intended procedures were completed successfully in all patients. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred as a result of the two techniques.

Conclusions

The techniques described in this study, to overcome false passage during operative hysteroscopy, appear to be safe, effective, and easy to perform. They enable the surgeon to complete the intended procedure.
Assessment of intravoxel incoherent motion MR imaging for differential diagnosis of breast lesions and evaluation of response: a systematic review
Authors: Sahib Mohannad Ahmed , Arvin Arian , Ahmadinejad Nasrin , Bustan Raad Ajeel , Dakhil Hussein Abed
Published: April 2022

Background

The current study aimed to assess the performance for quantitative differentiation and evaluation of response in categorized observations from intravoxel incoherent motion analyses of patients based on breast tumors. To assess the presence of heterogeneity, the Cochran's Q tests for heterogeneity with a significance level of P < 0.1 and I2 statistic with values > 75% were used. A random-effects meta-analysis model was used to estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals of the true diffusivity (D), pseudo-diffusivity (D*), perfusion fraction (f) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were calculated, and publication bias was evaluated using the Begg's and Egger's tests and also funnel plot. Data were analyzed by STATA v 16 (StataCorp, College Station).

Results

The pooled D value demonstrated good measurement performance showed a sensitivity 86%, specificity 86%, and AUC 0.91 (SMD − 1.50, P < 0.001) in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions, which was comparable to that of the ADC that showed a sensitivity of 76%, specificity 79%, and AUC 0.85 (SMD 1.34, P = 0.01), then by the f it showed a sensitivity 80%, specificity 76%, and AUC 0.85 (SMD 0.89, P = 0.001), and D* showed a sensitivity 84%, specificity 59%, and AUC 0.71 (SMD − 0.30, P = 0.20).

Conclusion

The estimated sensitivity and specificity in the current meta-analysis were acceptable. So, this approach can be used as a suitable method in the differentiation and evaluation response of breast tumors.
Beyond the Traditional Classroom: Increased Course Structure and Cooperative Learning Remove Differences in Achievement between Students in an In-Person versus Hybrid Microbiology Course
Authors: Foster-Hartnett Dawn , Mwakalundwa Gwantwa , Bofenkamp Lisa , Patton Liz , Nguyen Richard , Goodman-Mamula Patricia
Published: April 2022

In a hybrid microbiology lecture/lab course with interventions that encouraged collaborative learning and the increased structure of online discussions, students reported similarly high levels of team satisfaction (assessed using Comprehensive Assessment of Team Member Effectiveness) and similar exam scores as students in a parallel section with more traditional face-to-face lectures.
Elastic geometric-mean reverse time migration for source imaging
Authors: Bai Tong , Lyu Bin , Li Fangyu , Williamson Paul , Nakata Nori
Published: April 2022

Passive source location is a fundamental problem in earthquake seismology and reservoir characterization with fluid injection. It has been shown that geometric-mean reverse time migration (GmRTM) can produce source images with improved resolution and fewer migration artifacts than conventional time-reversal imaging in acoustic media. However, the acoustic assumption often requires data windowing and polarity correction when we apply it to the elastic data, which involves manual efforts and introduces uncertainties. Therefore, we have extended this crosscorrelation-based GmRTM imaging method to elastic media. Back-propagation and Helmholtz decomposition are conducted individually for each receiver wavefield, after which we apply zero-lag crosscorrelations over the decoupled P or/and S wavefields to obtain the corresponding P-, S-, and PS-source images. Considering the influences of random noise, anisotropy, and interferences from multiple sources, we test the proposed elastic GmRTM method on a synthetic example with a layered model and determine its advantages over other imaging conditions (e.g., time-reversal imaging). The method is further validated using another synthetic test based on the elastic Marmousi model and a field-data example from Oklahoma.
Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy in Patients With Colorectal Cancer Harboring Microsatellite Instability/Mismatch Repair Deficiency in 2022
Authors: André Thierry , Cohen Romain , Salem Mohamed E.
Published: April 2022

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are shown to be effective among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) harboring high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and/or mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), with U.S. Food and Drug Administration approvals for all lines of therapy. In Europe, only pembrolizumab in the first line and the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab beyond the first line are approved. Many questions remain about the clinical management of MSI-H/dMMR CRC. Biomarkers predictive of immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance among MSI-H/dMMR tumors are needed (1) to select the best treatment for patients with CRC (anti–PD-[L]1 monotherapy alone or combined with anti–CTLA-4 or chemotherapy) and (2) to develop new treatment strategies for patients whose disease progressed after immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy. The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings is also of great interest for patients harboring MSI-H/dMMR, especially as a substantial proportion have Lynch syndrome or are at high risk of developing cancers in their lifetime and sporadic MSI-H/dMMR cancers occur most frequently in elderly and frail patients. Thus, CRC is not one, but two different diseases: (1) MSI-H/dMMR CRC (seen in 5% of mCRC and 15% of non-mCRC), which is genetically unstable with a high mutational load and many neoantigens, and for which immune checkpoint inhibitors radically changed clinical management, and (2) microsatellite stable CRC with chromosomal instability, for which immune checkpoint inhibitors are not proven efficient.
Moving From Theory to Practice in Oncology Education When Virtual Is Your Reality
Authors: Rangachari Deepa , Im Annie , Brondfield Sam
Published: April 2022

Evidence-based education is crucial for meeting the evolving needs of learners in the oncology workforce, given the growing demand for well-trained providers and the rapidly changing complexities of cancer care. With the onset of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic, innovative means of delivering educational content in a virtual setting have become a necessary reality. Knowledge of learning science can be translated into concrete, pragmatic methods for using evidence-based education in a virtual world and affords important opportunities for innovation and inclusion across a broad network of educators and learners. We offer key insights and tools to promote attention to and agility with teaching in virtual settings to meet the needs of contemporary educators and learners.
Low-risk Lifestyle and Health Factors and Risk of Mortality and Vascular Complications in Chinese Patients With Diabetes
Authors: Sun Zhijia , Hu Yizhen , Yu Canqing , Guo Yu , Pang Yuanjie , Sun Dianjianyi , Pei Pei , Yang Ling , Chen Yiping , Du Huaidong , Jin Jianrong , Burgess Sushila , Hacker Alex , Chen Junshi , Chen Zhengming , Lv Jun , Li Liming
Published: April 2022

Background

There is an evidence gap about whether a low-risk lifestyle is as important as achieving blood pressure (BP) and random blood glucose (RBG) control.

Objectives

To explore the long-term impacts and relative importance of low-risk lifestyle and health factors on the risk of all-cause and cancer mortality and macrovascular and microvascular complications among patients with diabetes.

Methods

This study included 26,004 diabetes patients in the China Kadoorie Biobank. We defined 5 lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, and waist-to-hip ratio) and 2 health factors (BP and RBG). Cox regression was used to yield adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and CIs for individual and combined lifestyle and health factors with the risks of diabetes-related outcomes.

Results

There were 5063 deaths, 6848 macrovascular complications, and 2055 microvascular complications that occurred during a median follow-up of 10.2 years. Combined low-risk lifestyle factors were associated with lower risk of all main outcomes, with HRs (95% CIs) for participants having 4 to 5 low-risk factors vs 0 to 1 of 0.50 (0.44-0.57) for all-cause mortality, 0.55 (0.43-0.71) for cancer mortality, 0.60 (0.54-0.67) for macrovascular complications, and 0.75 (0.62-0.91) for microvascular complications. The combined 4 to 5 low-risk lifestyle factors showed relative importance in predicting all-cause and cancer mortality and macrovascular complications.

Conclusions

Assuming causality exists, our findings suggest that adopting a low-risk lifestyle should be regarded as important as achieving ideal BP and glycemic goals in the prevention and management of diabetes-related adverse outcomes.
Three-axis classification of mouse lung mesenchymal cells reveals two populations of myofibroblasts
Authors: Narvaez del Pilar Odemaris , Gacha Garay Maria Jose , Chen Jichao
Published: April 2022

The mesenchyme consists of heterogeneous cell populations that support neighboring structures and are integral to intercellular signaling, but are poorly defined morphologically and molecularly. Leveraging single-cell RNA-sequencing, 3D imaging and lineage tracing, we classify the mouse lung mesenchyme into three proximal–distal axes that are associated with the endothelium, epithelium and interstitium, respectively. From proximal to distal: the vascular axis includes vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes that transition as arterioles and venules ramify into capillaries; the epithelial axis includes airway smooth muscle cells and two populations of myofibroblasts – ductal myofibroblasts, surrounding alveolar ducts and marked by CDH4, HHIP and LGR6, which persist post-alveologenesis, and alveolar myofibroblasts, surrounding alveoli and marked by high expression of PDGFRA, which undergo developmental apoptosis; and the interstitial axis, residing between the epithelial and vascular trees and sharing the marker MEOX2, includes fibroblasts in the bronchovascular bundle and the alveolar interstitium, which are marked by IL33/DNER/PI16 and Wnt2, respectively. Single-cell imaging reveals a distinct morphology of mesenchymal cell populations. This classification provides a conceptual and experimental framework applicable to other organs.
Hump-Shaped Cross-Price Effects and the Extensive Margin in Cross-Border Shopping
Authors: Friberg Richard , Steen Frode , Ulsaker Simen A.
Published: April 2022

This paper examines the effect of cross-border shopping on grocery demand in Norway using monthly store × category sales data from Norway’s largest grocery chain 2012–2016. The sensitivity of demand to the foreign price is hump-shaped and greatest 30–60 minutes’ driving distance from the closest foreign store. Combining continuous demand, fixed costs of cross-border shopping, and linear transport costs a la Hotelling, we show how this hump shape can arise through a combination of intensive and extensive margins of cross-border shopping. Our conclusions are further supported by novel survey evidence and cross-border traffic data. (JEL D12, F31, L11, L81)
Intermediation and Steering: Competition in Prices and Commissions
Authors: Teh Tat-How , Wright Julian
Published: April 2022

We explore the implications of steering by an informed profit-maximizing intermediary. The intermediary steers consumers by recommending firms, taking into account both the commissions firms offer and the prices they set. Such steering results in higher commissions and consumer prices, so that consumers only benefit from intermediation when their search cost is sufficiently high. Steering reverses the normal relationship between competition and price, with prices increasing in the number of competing firms. We use the framework to study various policies including commission caps (absolute or relative), commission disclosure, promoting information provision, and penalties for inappropriate advice. (JEL D11, D12, D82, D83)
Bad News Turned Good: Reversal under Censorship
Authors: Smirnov Aleksei , Starkov Egor
Published: April 2022

Sellers often have the power to censor the reviews of their products. We explore the effect of these censorship policies in markets where some consumers are unaware of possible censorship. We find that if the share of such “naïve” consumers is not too large, then rational consumers treat any bad review that is revealed in equilibrium as good news about product quality. This makes bad reviews worth revealing and allows the seller to use them to signal his product’s quality to rational consumers. (JEL D82, D83, L15)
Electromagnetic wave propagation in photonic crystals and metamaterials
Authors: Μαβίδης Χαράλαμπος
Published: April 2022

Οι μεγάλη πρόοδος της νανοτεχνολογίας κατά τον 20ο αιώνα οδήγησε σε πολυάριθμες νέες εφαρμογές που σχετίζονται με διάδοση και έλεγχο ηλεκτρομαγνητικών κυμάτων. Επιπλέον, οδήγησε στην επινόηση και δημιουργία σύνθετων τεχνητών δομών/υλικών με οπτικές ιδιότητες που μπορούν να σχεδιαστούν με κατάλληλο σχεδιασμό της γεωμετρίας της δομής. Οι δομές αυτές επιδεικνύουν, μεταξύ άλλων, ιδιότητες ανεπίτευκτες με φυσικά υλικά, και επίσης επιτρέπουν εξερεύνηση πτυχών της αλληλεπίδρασης φωτός-ύλης που δεν είχαν εξερευνηθεί στο παρελθόν. Χαρακτηριστικά παραδείγματα τεχνητών φωτονικών δομών είναι οι φωτονικοί κρύσταλλοι και τα μεταϋλικά/μεταεπιφάνειες. Στην παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή μελετώνται τρία διαφορετικά τέτοια φωτονικά συστήματα. Συγκεκριμένα:(1) Υπολογίζεται η Τοπική Πυκνότητας Φωτονικών Καταστάσεων (LDOS) ως συνάρτηση της θέσης μέσα σε έναν πεπερασμένο τρισδιάστατο φωτονικό κρύσταλλο, και προτείνεται αναλυτικό μοντέλο για τη διερεύνηση και φυσική ερμηνεία των αποτελεσμάτων.(2) Μέσω κατάλληλης επέκτασης της μεθόδου Πινάκων Μεταφοράς μελετώνται οι συνθήκες για τέλεια απορρόφηση ηλεκτρομαγνητικής ακτινοβολίας από επίπεδες διαστρωματικές δομές αποτελούμενες από ένα διηλεκτρικό ανάμεσα σε μια λεπτή αγώγιμη μεμβράνη και έναν μεταλλικό ανακλαστήρα. Εξετάζονται τρεις διαφορετικές περιπτώσεις αγώγιμης μεμβράνης: (α) μεταλλική μεμβράνη; (β) στρώμα γραφενίου; (γ) μεταεπιφάνεια με ηλεκτρική και μαγνητική αγωγιμότητα/απόκριση.(3) Μέσω της θεωρίας του Mie σε συνδυασμό με τη μέθοδο Πινάκων Μεταφοράς για κυλινδρικές δομές, εξετάζεται η σκέδαση ηλεκτρομαγνητικών κυμάτων από πολύ-στρωματικούς κυλίνδρους που περιλαμβάνουν μεταεπιφάνεια με ηλεκτρική και μαγνητική αγωγιμότητα στις διεπιφάνειές τους. Επιπλέον, γίνεται επέκταση μιας θεωρίας Μέσου Πεδίου ώστε να μπορεί να εφαρμοστεί σε συστήματα τέτοιων κυλίνδρων. Μέσω της θεωρίας αυτής εξετάζονται τρία διαφορετικά συστήματα/μεταϋλικά: (α) κύλινδροι που αποτελούνται από πολαριτονικά υλικά; (β) νανοσωλήνες με ένα ή περισσότερα στρώματα γραφενίου; (γ) νανοσωλήνες από μεταεπιφάνειες με ηλεκτρική και μαγνητική αγωγιμότητα/απόκριση. Για όλα αυτά τα συστήματα υπολογίζονται οι παράμετροι που απαιτούνται για επίτευξη ασυνήθιστων και ενδιαφέροντων/χρήσιμων οπτικών ιδιοτήτων, όπως, π.χ., υπερβολική σχέση διασποράς, αρνητικός δείκτη διάθλασης, διηλεκτρική σταθερά κοντά στο μηδέν και άλλες.
Trauma toracico
Authors: Τσαγκαρόπουλος Σωκράτης
Published: April 2022

Το μεμονωμένο θωρακικό τραύμα ευθύνεται για περίπου το 25% των θανάτων από ατυχήματα και συμβάλλει σημαντικά στο 50% των υπόλοιπων θανάτων. Εξακολουθεί να είναι ένα μείζον πρόβλημα δημόσιας υγείας παγκοσμίως καθώς σχετίζεται με υψηλή νοσηρότητα και θνησιμότητα τόσο στις ανεπτυγμένες όσο και στις αναπτυσσόμενες χώρες. Αναφέρεται, επίσης, ότι είναι η κύρια αιτία θανάτου, νοσηλείας και μόνιμης αναπηρίας κατά τις τέσσερις πρώτες δεκαετίες της ζωής.Ο στόχος αυτής της αναδρομικής μελέτης είναι να διερευνήσει την επίπτωση, τον τύπο του τραύματος, την παθογένεση (μηχανισμός τραυματισμού) και την επιλεγμένη θεραπεία του θωρακικού τραύματος. Μέσω της ανάλυσης των δεδομένων που λαμβάνονται, θα προσπαθήσουμε να κάνουμε μια σύγκριση με τα δεδομένα από τη διεθνή βιβλιογραφία.Το θωρακικό τραύμα δεν φαίνεται να έχει διαφορά κατανομής μεταξύ των διαφόρων δεκαετιών ζωής, παρόλο που, αριθμητικά, οι άντρες μεταξύ της 2ης και της 3ης δεκαετίας της ζωής υπερτερούσαν. Περίπου οι μισοί από τους ασθενείς είχαν μεμονωμένα ή πολλαπλά κατάγματα πλευρών. Το 37,2% των ασθενών διαγνώστηκε με πνευμοθώρακα, ενώ το 25,4% με αιματηρή υπεζωκοτική συλλογή. Τα κατάγματα στέρνου ήταν η τέταρτη αιτία προσέλευσης στο τμήμα επειγόντων περιστατικών. Η ρήξη διαφράγματος, η θλάση του καρδιακού μη, το μεσοθωρακικό αιμάτωμα, η ρήξη τραχείας και η τρώση του πνευμονικού παρεγχύματος ήταν σπάνιες βλάβες. Αξίζει να σημειωθεί, η σπάνια παρουσίαση ενός ασθενούς με μετατραυματικό χυλοθώρακα και ενός με τρώση της αριστερής υποκλείδιας φλέβας. Συνολικά, μεταξύ των 532 ασθενών που συμπεριλήφθηκαν στη μελέτη, 423 (79,5%) ασθενείς παρουσίασαν μεμονωμένο τραύμα στα όργανα του θώρακα. Στο υπόλοιπο 109 (20,5%) συνυπήρχε βλάβη τουλάχιστον ενός άλλου συστήματος. Οι κλειστοί τραυματισμοί του θώρακα ήταν 475 (89,3%) εκ των οποίων υπήρχαν 334 (62,8%) τροχαία ατυχήματα και 124 (23,3%) περιπτώσεις τραυματισμού από πτώση εξ ύψους. Τα τροχαία ατυχήματα αφορούσαν ατυχήματα με αυτοκίνητο (οδηγός ή συνεπιβάτης) ή/και με εμπλοκή πεζών. Αντίθετα, οι ανοιχτοί τραυματισμοί ήταν 57 (10,7%) εκ των οποίων οι τραυματισμοί από πυροβόλο όπλο ήταν 9 (1,7%), ενώ 48 (9%) τραυματισμοί οφείλονταν σε νύσσον όργανο. Σε 339 ασθενείς, η συντηρητική αντιμετώπιση ήταν η θεραπεία επιλογής. Οι ασθενείς αυτοί έμειναν στο νοσοκομείο για 3,3 ημέρες κατά μέσο όρο. Η θνησιμότητα μετά από απομονωμένο θωρακικό τραύμα ή σχετιζόμενη με εξωθωρακικό τραύμα ήταν 0,58%. Η απουσία εμφανών βλαβών στο θωρακικό επίπεδο μετά από τραύμα δεν αποκλείει την παρουσία σοβαρών εσωτερικών τραυματισμών. Επομένως, είναι ζωτικής σημασίας να γνωρίζουμε τις συνθήκες και τη δύναμη υπό την οποία συνέβη το τραύμα. Το τραύμα εξακολουθεί να είναι ένα κοινωνικό πρόβλημα ακόμη και τον εικοστό αιώνα και η σωστή διαχείριση του πρέπει να ξεκινήσει με την αντίληψη του προβλήματος. Είναι χρήσιμη η βελτίωση των οδικών και εργασιακών συνθηκών.
Protocol for the Addressing the Social Determinants and Consequences of Tuberculosis in Nepal (ASCOT) pilot trial
Authors: Rai Bhola , Dixit Kritika , Dhital Raghu , Rishal Poonam , Gurung Suman Chandra , Paudel Puskar Raj , Mishra Gokul , Bonnett Laura , Siqueira-Filha Noemia , Khanal Mukti Nath , Lonnroth Knut , Squire S Bertel , Caws Maxine , Wingfield Tom
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization’s End TB (tuberculosis) Strategy advocates social and economic support for TB-affected households but evidence from low-income settings is scarce. We will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a locally-appropriate socioeconomic support intervention for TB-affected households in Nepal.

METHODS: We will conduct a pilot randomised-controlled trial with mixed-methods process evaluation in four TB-endemic, impoverished districts of Nepal: Pyuthan, Chitwan, Mahottari, and Morang. We will recruit 128 people with TB notified to the Nepal National TB Program (NTP) and 40 multisectoral stakeholders including NTP staff, civil-society members, policy-makers, and ASCOT (Addressing the Social Determinants and Consequences of Tuberculosis) team members. People with TB will be randomised 1:1:1:1 to four study arms (n=32 each): control; social support; economic support; and combined social and economic (socioeconomic) support. Social support will be TB education and peer-led mutual-support TB Clubs providing TB education and stigma-reduction counselling. Economic support will be monthly unconditional cash transfers during TB treatment with expectations (not conditions) of meeting NTP goals. At 0, 2, and 6 months following TB treatment initiation, participants will be asked to complete a survey detailing the social determinants and consequences of TB and their feedback on ASCOT. Complementary process evaluation will use focus group discussions (FGD), key informant interviews (KII), and a workshop with multi-sectoral stakeholders to consider the challenges to ASCOT’s implementation and scale-up. A sample of ~100 people with TB is recommended to estimate TB-related costs. Information power is estimated to be reached with approximately 25 FGD and 15 KII participants.

CONCLUSIONS: The ASCOT pilot trial will both generate robust evidence on a locally-appropriate, socioeconomic support intervention for TB-affected households in Nepal and inform a large-scale future ASCOT trial, which will evaluate the intervention’s impact on catastrophic costs mitigation and TB outcomes.

The trial is registered with the ISRCTN (ISRCTN17025974).
Special educational training and counselling for teachers in an inclusive kindergarten group: an action research
Authors: Häidkind Pille , Šuman Carolina , Vint Kristi
Published: April 2022

Erivajadustega lapsed vajavad õppimisel teistest enam toetust ning keskkonnas tehtavad kohandused peaksid kindlustama kvaliteetse alushariduse kõikidele sama rühmaruumi jagavatele lastele (Barton & Smith, 2015; Næsby, 2020). Tegevusuuringu eesmärk oli katsetada eripedagoogiliste koolituste ja nõustamise kombinatsiooni õpetajate toetamisel ning hinnata selle sobilikkust kaasava hariduse edenemiseks lasteaiarühma tasandil. Kahes aia- ja kahes sobitusrühmas kaardistati eelnev olukord. Seejärel said õpetajad osaleda asutuse tellitud eripedagoogilistel koolitustel ja õpetajaid (N = 8) nõustati veebi vahendusel. Järgnes nõustamisel kokkulepitu rakendamine rühmades 6–8 nädala jooksul ja lõpuks hinnati muutust ning pakutud sekkumiste asjakohasust ja kasulikkust. Õpetajad leidsid, et eripedagoogilised koolitused ja nõustamine toetasid kaasava hariduse rakendamist (viiepalliskaalal oli keskmine hinnang 3,6). Uuringu käigus tõusis esile vajadus muuta tõhusamaks koostööd rühmas töötavate täiskasvanute vahel.

 Summary
A problem shared is a problem halved: satisfaction with classmates and life as a student among the children who have experienced bullying at school
Authors: Beilmann Mai , Soo Kadri , Kutsar Dagmar
Published: April 2022

Õpilaste parem toimetulek eri suhtlussituatsioonides on oluline tegur, mida õppeprotsessi kaudu koolis toetada, panustades seeläbi heaolu suurenemisse nii hetkeolukordades kui ka edaspidises elus. Süsteemsele arendustegevusele aitab kaasa parem arusaam nendest aspektidest, mis vajaksid konkreetses klassis tuge. Selleks on õpetajatele ning tugipersonalile kasutamiseks loodud eksamite infosüsteemis paiknevad arvutitestid. Suhtlus- ja enesemääratluspädevuse testi kasutusvõimaluste paremaks kirjeldamiseks on oluline uurida, kuidas on testi tulemused seotud teiste õpilaste toimetulekut kirjeldavate näitajatega. Siinse artikli eesmärk on kirjeldada 2. klassi valimil (n = 250), kuidas on omavahel seotud õpilaste suhtlus- ja enesemääratluspädevuse testi tulemused ning õpetajate (n = 16) ja lastevanemate (n = 109) hinnatud tugevused (prosotsiaalsus) ning raskused (internaliseeritud ja eksternaliseeritud probleemid), mis on kaardistatud tugevuste ja raskuste küsimustiku (SDQ) kaudu. Tulemustest selgus, et arvutitestis paremaid tulemusi saanud õpilased said õpetajatelt kõrgemad prosotsiaalsuse hinnangud ning madalamaid internaliseeritud ja eksternaliseeritud probleemide hinnangud; lastevanemate hinnangud ei olnud testitulemustega oluliselt seotud. 

 Summary
The identity of young academics at the University of Tartu, in the light of neoliberal controls
Authors: Steinbach Kadri , Kõuts-Klemm Ragne , Remmik Marvi
Published: April 2022

Viimastel kümnenditel on uurijate tähelepanu keskpunktis olnud neoliberaalne pööre kõrghariduses, mille olulisemate ilmingutena nähakse orienteerumist "turu" nõuetele, tudengite muutumist klientideks, projektipõhisust. Neoliberaalne pööre mõjutab ka õppejõudude ametialast enesemääratlust, mille üheks tulemuseks on mõõdikute rolli suurenemine õppejõu töö hindamisel. Artikli eesmärk on analüüsida, millist tähendust omistavad õppejõud mõõdikutele oma ametialase enesemääratluse eri tasanditel: individuaalsel, organisatoorsel ning riigi tasandil. Selleks tehti poolstruktureeritud intervjuud Tartu Ülikooli alla 40-aastaste kaasprofessoritega. Intervjuud näitasid, et õppejõud tajuvad teravalt mõõdikute mõju – individuaalsel tasandil tekitab see pingeid ning stressi, organisatsiooni tasandil on probleemiks lineaarne karjäärimudel ja liigne ühtlustamine ning riigi tasandil kõrghariduse rahastusega kaasnev probleemistik.

 Summary
Maakivi ehitusmaterjalina: töötlemine ja kasutus
Authors: Peebo Alo , Rennu Madis
Published: April 2022

Fieldstone has been used as a building material for many centuries. In Estonia, two large groups of stone suitable for building can be distinguished in terms of architectural outcome and construction technique: calcareous stones (mostly carbonate flagstone and dolomite) and granite boulders, or field stones. The latter cover a broad spectrum of natural igneous and metamorphic rocks (rapakivi granite, diabases, gneiss etc.). In this article, we focus on natural stone belonging to the second group: in particular how it can be processed – split with wedges or a sledgehammer – and historical means of transporting stones. We also take a look at the ethical, aesthetic and cultural aspects of fieldstone use.Field stones were carried to Estonia by the continental glacier. In general, it can be said that fieldstone is a hard and strong stone suitable for use as a building material, which due to its density and low porosity can be used in underground and other supporting structures. These properties mean that fieldstone’s thermal conductivity is high, which is why it is not suitable for building dwellings. It has most commonly been used to build stables, cellars, barns and, to a lesser extent, taverns and other public buildings.Fieldstone is a material with a small ecological footprint which does not participate directly in the carbon cycle, as does timber. Fieldstone processing and transport is relatively energy-intensive, but this is compensated for by the longevity of the structures made. Visually, fieldstone is a very strong and eye-catching material. The surface of each stone is different, making each structure unique. The strong visual message and the long tradition of using fieldstone as a building material are the main factors that guarantee that there are people in Estonia who still commission fieldstone buildings and smaller items.
Seminar "Päritud oskused. Visuaalse dokumenteerimise võimalused" / Visual documentation in words and images
Authors: Matsin Ave
Published: April 2022

On 20 November 2013, the Department of Estonian Native Crafts University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy organized a seminar in Viljandi devoted to studying native artisanal skills. The best way to acquire and pass on skills is to work with a master. But how and how much can technical processes be visually documented so that they are a valuable resource for other masters and researchers? At the seminar, Ave Matsin, Helgi Põllo, Anu Pink, Imre Annus and Vaike Reemann delivered presentations that drew attention to questions and problems related to visual documentation. Setting of goals was considered the most important point: what is documented and how it is documented. Another area of discussion focused on the extent to which, if at all, a documenter (videographer or photographer) should themselves be proficient in the technique being studied. The presentations were followed by workshops by National Museum specialists Anu Ansu and Maido Selgmäe, where film and photography matters were discussed in more detail. To sum up, the seminar left participants with the message that various possibilities of visual documentation represent important instruments for recording for posterity and studying native technologies as well as a way to find and implement new sources.

Keywords: inherited skills, skills, visual documentation
Lõimeripstehnikas põrandakatete kudumine Avinurmes 1950.–1970. aastatel kui piirkondlik pärandoskus / Production of Rep Weave Floor Coverings in Avinurme in the 1950s to the 1970s as a Regional Inherited Skill
Authors: Västrik Veinika
Published: April 2022

The making of rep weave floor coverings was an important source of income in Avinurme, a northern Estonian settlement, from the 1950s to the 1970s. Weaving began for commercial reasons after collective farms were established in 1949, when alternative sources of income were sought, given that such farms only paid meagre wages. At the time, any sort of entrepreneurship was prohibited and punishable as “speculation” and thussales activities were banned, so the sellers sought to leave village council inspectors with the impression that the weaving was being done for their own family. A unique cultural phenomenon thus developed, which was shaped (and eventually fell into decline) for the following period-specific reasons: cotton yarn could be obtained from the Kreenholm textile mill in Narva. This was suited to the rep weaving technique; floor rugs were not available in shops; all households had looms; and rep weave rugs were considered to be more classy than rag rugs.In spite of the illegality of the activity, commercial weaving persisted for decades. Due to the wide territorial range of the sales, the Avinurme rugs had an impact on home furnishing culture almost all over Estonia.The special feature of the Avinurme practice was the use of a thinner and finer pattern warp (the so-called no. 10 thread) in conjunction with a thicker and coarser background warp; the dark weft is visible through the thin warp and is conducive to the formation of the pattern.Other features peculiar to the Avinurme rep woven rugs include composition featuring a double cross of rhombuses, which are not to be found in any printed source. In addition, the region in question had a rich array of patterns of combinations of squares and rectangles. Brown often featured as the warp colour in combination with beige or orange tones; the background warp was frequently made up of brightly coloured lengthwise-striped patterns along the patterned edges.The tradition of weaving these types of rugs and blankets started to decline in the late 1970s when industrially-produced floor coverings became available in retail stores, leading to changes in interior furnishing fashions. Purchasing power had also improved over the decades, and hand-woven traditional floor coverings were seen as old-fashioned in this context.
Helmevöö – kas linnasakste poekaup või Eesti talunaiste käsitöö? / Beaded Belts – Store-bought Goods for Urban Aristocrats or Estonian Peasant Women’s Handicraft?
Authors: Kont Ülli
Published: April 2022

Men’s leather belts decorated with glass bead embroidery comprise a small and little-known, but nevertheless exceptional part of the Estonian ethnographic heritage. The belts can be found in museums in Estonia, but up to the present day they have not been much analysed. Data indicates that beaded belts appeared as part of men’s clothing in the 1820s when they were worn with both national costumes and city-type clothes. Beaded belts were most popular in the second half of the 19th century. As researchers have perceived them to be items of little interest, they have not been consciously associated with traditional folk art and national costume: the belt-making methods and material were not considered traditional because the beads were bought in shops. This is why the various methods used to embroider and sew beaded belts have so far escaped study, and why the author of this article is now making her own contribution to this area.