bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Importance of timing optimization for closed-loop applications of vagus nerve stimulation
Authors: Mylavarapu Ramanamurthy V. , Kanumuri Vivek V. , de Rivero Vaccari Juan Pablo , Misra Amrit , McMillan David W. , Ganzer Patrick D.
Published: April 2023

In recent decades, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy has become widely used for clinical applications including epilepsy, depression, and enhancing the effects of rehabilitation. However, several questions remain regarding optimization of this therapy to maximize clinical outcomes. Although stimulation parameters such as pulse width, amplitude, and frequency are well studied, the timing of stimulation delivery both acutely (with respect to disease events) and chronically (over the timeline of a disease’s progression) has generally received less attention. Leveraging such information would provide a framework for the implementation of next generation closed-loop VNS therapies. In this mini-review, we summarize a number of VNS therapies and discuss (1) general timing considerations for these applications and (2) open questions that could lead to further therapy optimization.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s contraceptive use: a mixed-methods study in South Africa and Zambia
Authors: Callahan Rebecca L. , Cartwright Alice F. , Beksinska Mags , Kasaro Margaret , Tang Jennifer H. , Milford Cecilia , Wong Christina , Velarde Marissa , Maphumulo Virginia , Fawzy Maria , Chinyama Manze , Chabu Esther , Mudenda Mayaba , Smit Jennifer
Published: April 2023

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected global access to health services, including contraception We sought to explore effects of the pandemic on family planning (FP) service provision and use in South Africa and Zambia, including on implant and intrauterine device (IUD) users’ desire and ability to obtain removal.

Methods: Between August 2020 and April 2021, we conducted surveys with 537 women participating in an ongoing longitudinal contraceptive continuation study. We also carried out in-depth interviews with 39 of the survey participants and 36 key informants involved in FP provision. We conducted descriptive analysis of survey responses and thematic analysis of interviews.

Results: Contraceptive use changed minimally in this sample with the emergence of COVID-19. Fewer than half of women (n=220) reported attempting to access FP since the start of the pandemic, the vast majority using short-acting methods. Among those who sought services, 95% obtained their preferred method. The proportion of women not using a method before and after pandemic start did not change in Zambia (31%); in South Africa, the proportion increased from 8% to 10%. Less than 7% of implant or IUD users in either country reported wanting removal. Among those who sought removal (n=22), 91% (n=10) in Zambia and 55% (n=6) in South Africa successfully obtained removal. In qualitative interviews, women with challenges accessing FP services mentioned long queues, deprioritization of contraceptive services, lack of transportation, stock-outs, and fear of contracting COVID-19 at a facility. Key informants reported stock-outs, especially of injectables, and staff shortages as barriers.

Conclusions: We did not find a substantial impact of COVID-19 on contraceptive access among this sample; however, providers and others involved in service provision identified risks to continuity of care. As the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, it continues to be important to monitor people’s ability to access their preferred contraceptive methods.
A hepatic manifestation of anorexia nervosa
Authors: Wallace Jodi-Anne M. , Udquim Krizia-Ivana T. , Starnes Thomas A. , Radhakrishnan Nila S.
Published: April 2023

A 30-year-old woman with a history of anorexia nervosa was admitted with weight loss, hypoglycaemia and electrolyte disturbances. During her admission, transaminases peaked at ALP 457 U/l, AST 817 U/l and ALT 1066 U/l. Imaging and laboratory findings were unrevealing, and she declined liver biopsy. Nutrition was introduced via a nasogastric tube and she demonstrated improvement in her laboratory values over several weeks. Her transaminitis was determined to be secondary to severe malnutrition, which has been previously described, but cases with such profound transaminitis are less common. Studies have demonstrated hepatic autophagocytosis as the likely cause.
Nutritional and Functional Quality of Mustard and Coriander Greens at Different Phases of Development
Authors: Das Manika , Dhar Arunima
Published: April 2023

Micronutrient deficiencies are a significant global health issue. More than 2 billion individuals worldwide are estimated to still be lacking in important vitamins and minerals today. The majority of these folks reside in developing countries and typically lack many micronutrients. Microgreens are immature edible vegetables has lots of potential health benefits, can grown easily. Mustard (Brassica nigra) and coriander (Corindrum sativum) greens are very common in India and can grow in Indian climate. People of both urban and rural population can afford and grow these.
The aim of the present study is to analyse nutritional and functional quality of mustard and coriander greens at different phases of development. For this mustard and coriander greens were grown and collected at different phases of development (microgreen, babygreen and maturegreen) and their nutritional (macronutrients & micronutrients) and phyto-chemicals analysis were performed. Functional properties (anti-oxidant & anti-microbial) of mustard and coriander green were also evaluated.
Result showed that micronutrients like beta carotene (66%), ascorbic acid(>100%), iron( 100%), calcium (28%), phosphorus(47%) level were higher in mustard microgreen compared to the mature green. In case of coriander green also micronutrients like beta carotene (86%), ascorbic acid (>100%), iron (90%), calcium (15% ), phosphorus(34%) level were also higher in microgreen compared to mature green. Mustard and coriander microgreens also showed potential anti-microbial activity against Escarechia coli and Bacillus subtilis.
Being a dense source of nutrients and phyto-chemicals mustard and coriander microgreens may be considered as super food and can be used to combat malnutrition and major disorders that occur in the human body.
Effect of Health-Related Behavior and Nutrition Intake on the Blood Lipids Levels
Authors: Lee Joo-Eun
Published: April 2023

Preventing hyperlipidemia remains of critical importance as one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death every year. Therefore, the present study investigated the effect of health-related behavior and nutritional intake on blood lipid levels in adult men and women. Survey data from the 2019 National Health and Nutrition Examination conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on 6,606 adults were analyzed to evaluate the effect of drinking, smoking, exercise, and nutrient intake on blood cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL cholesterol. Blood total cholesterol showed significant differences in the mean based on the level of drinking (P < 0.05), and blood HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride showed significant differences in the mean levels of drinking, smoking, and exercise (P < 0.001). In regression analysis, blood total cholesterol was significantly affected by body mass index (BMI), education level, and menopause (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). Blood HDL-cholesterol was significantly affected by BMI, menopause, drinking, smoking, exercise, dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids, and dietary cholesterol (P < 0.05, p < 0.01, P < 0.001), and blood triglyceride level was significantly affected by BMI, menopause, smoking, and exercise (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). Obesity, exercise, eating habits, smoking, and women's menopause were the main factors contributing to hyperlipidemia, so awareness of these factors should be raised.
Study of the Physicochemical Characteristics of Different Strawberries Consumed in Morocco
Authors: Sadik Hasnaa , Ouazzani Chadia , Moustaghfir Abdellah , Er-Ramly Azzeddine , Ghammarti Samira El , Touzani Asmae , Dami Abdallah , Ballouch Lhoussine
Published: April 2023

In Morocco, dietary habits are associated with excessive consumption of red meat and fatty foods, as well as foods that are high in sugar such as bread and cakes, while vegetables and fruits are consumed in insufficient quantities. However, fruits and vegetables are of great nutritional importance, as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and help prevent several diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and tumors. Strawberries, known for their sweet and tangy taste, are consumed with a variety of products from different origins in Morocco. This present work consists of the study of the organoleptic, physicochemical characteristics, total phenolic, and total flavonoid, Magnesium, Calcium, Chloride, Glucose, Polyphenols, and Flavonoids of nine samples of strawberries cultivated in different regions of Gharb (East of Morocco). The contents of magnesium, calcium, chloride, and fluoride vary from 19.4 to 34 mg/100 g, from 13.5 to 48.1 mg/100 g, from 82 to 1609 mg/100 g, and from 0.03 to 0.04 mg/l, respectively.
The amounts of sucrose, glucose ranged from 0.6 to 1.3 g/100g and from 1.35 to 2.45 g/100 g, respectively. The total phenolic contents (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) range from 61 to 151 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g of fresh weight and from 56 to 236 mg Quercetin equivalents (QE) /100 g of fresh weight, respectively. The strawberry sample grown in the Moulay Bousselham region has Ca, Cl, Mg, F, glucose, sucrose, and polyphenols superior to those of the samples cultivated in the regions of Larache and Benslimane. The results of the different samples of strawberries reveal the characteristics of acid nature, rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, minerals, citric acid and low in sugars. The variation of the different physicochemical parameters in strawberries varieties allows to classify strawberry samples according to their nutritional qualities, dietary interest and bring selection criteria for the consumer. These works aim to improve dietary habits by introducing new foods into meals, with the aim of improving the nutritional quality of the population.
Effect of Propolis as a Preservative Applied to Alpaca (Vicugna Pacos) Meat Hamburger, Huancavelica, Peru
Authors: Rodriguez Alfonso Ruiz , Areche Franklin Ore , Landeo Oliver Taype , Alejo Olga Vicentina Pacovilca- , Montesinos Cesar Cipriano Zea , Yapias Rafael Julian Malpartida , Sulca Jeny Yanet Marquez , Rivera Tania Jakeline Choque , Flores Denis Dante Corilla , Gamarra Flor Beatriz Lizárraga , Vilca Olivia Magaly Luque , Victorio Jimmy Pablo Echevarría , Camayo-Lapa Becquer Frauberth , Valladoli Cecilia Yanett Reategui , Huacho Russbelt Yaulilahua- , Ullah Sami
Published: April 2023

Natural preservatives have less of a negative effect on human health and other systems, making them the superior choice over conventional preservatives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of propolis, a natural preservative, affected the flavour and texture of an artisanal hamburger made with alpaca meat (Vicugna pacos). An experimental design with 5 treatments was established, a control treatment of alpaca hamburger with artificial preservative (T1) and four experimental treatments with the addition of propolis (0.25 ml, 0.50 ml, 0.75 ml and 1.0 ml in 100 g of meat mixture). The Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric variance test and the Mann-Whitney non-parametric test were utilised to examine the data collected from the randomised full blocks design of the experiment. Thirty semi-trained tasters evaluated propolis on its general look, smell, taste, colour, and texture, in addition to its antibacterial effects on Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that the bacterial count of S. aureus was kept at 1.5x10 CFU/g, which is between the allowable ranges of 102 and 103, suggesting that propolis has the ability to inhibit this bacteria. The sensory tests showed that the addition of propolis does not produce negative effects on the general appearance, smell, taste and texture compared to the control treatment (p > 0.05), only the color was affected (p < 0.05) only in doses greater than 0.5 ml per 100 g of meat mixture. In conclusion, the applicability of propolis as a preservative in the alpaca meat hamburger is verified.
Quality of White-Brined Nabulsi Cheese Made with Different Proportions of Sheep’s and Cows’ Milk
Authors: Abu-Alruz Khaled
Published: April 2023

Nabulsi cheese is the dominant white-brined cheese in Jordan and neighboring countries. Although this cheese is typically prepared using sheep’s milk, achieving large-scale production or attaining a specific quality involves the use of cows’ milk. Nabulsi cheese is kept in >18% brine for up to 1 year at room temperature (25 °C) and then soaked in water for desalting before eating. In this study, the effects of the milk type/combination used for production (100% sheep’s milk; 100% cows’ milk; 1:1, 3:1, or 1:3 sheep’s:cows’ milk mixture), desalting (salted vs. desalted cheese), and storage time (0, 6, and 12 months) on the cheese’s chemical composition directly after processing (in the salted form), texture (according to texture profile analysis “TPA”), and color (according to CIE lab color space) were assessed. The type or the combination of milk used does not affect the chemical composition of Nabulsi cheese, which was 43.35% ± 1.50 for moisture, 20.24% ± 0.59 for protein, 24.70% ± 1.53 for fat, 11.52% ± 0.60 for ash, 9.96% ± 0.44 for salt, and pH 6.43 ± 0.16. However, cheeses prepared using 100% sheep’s and 100% cows’ milk, respectively showed the highest (26.85%) and lowest (14.77%) yields. Desalting and milk type had the highest effects on cheese texture and color, respectively. Considering all tested parameters, mixing equal proportions of sheep’s and cows’ milk ensures that the Nabulsi cheese produced is similar to that produced from 100% sheep’s milk, albeit with increased cohesiveness (0.52 ± 0.07for cheese made from sheep’s milk and 0.59 ± 0.05 for 1:1 sheep’s: cows’ milk mixture).
A MODULAÇÃO DE EFEITOS EM MATÉRIA TRIBUTÁRIA E OS SEUS PARÂMETROS: A SEGURANÇA JURÍDICA E O EXCEPCIONAL INTERESSE SOCIAL / THE PROSPECTIVE EFFECTS IN TAX MATTERS AND ITS PARAMETERS: LEGAL CERTAINTY AND EXCEPTIONAL SOCIAL INTEREST
Authors: Faria Luiz Alberto Gurgel de , González Thiago Holanda
Published: April 2023

Resumo: O artigo examina os requisitos da segurança jurídica e do excepcional interesse social na modulação de efeitos das decisões em matéria tributária. Inicialmente, são discutidos os seus fundamentos legais, problematizando-se a abertura semântica dos requisitos autorizadores. Em seguida, analisa-se como a doutrina e a jurisprudência têm enfrentado a possibilidade de o Estado ser beneficiário das modulações de efeitos na seara tributária e em que medida são observados argumentos consequencialistas na fundamentação dos votos, tomando-se como base os acórdãos do Supremo Tribunal Federal proferidos na ADI 5.469/DF e no RE 574.706 ED/PR. Investiga-se, por fim, como as regras processuais podem contribuir para a observância de parâmetros legítimos para as decisões que aplicam a técnica modulatória e para sua adequada utilização. O estudo baseia-se em pesquisa bibliográfica e documental. Os resultados apresentados são qualitativos.Palavras-chave: Direito tributário. Modulação de efeitos. Segurança jurídica. Interesse social.  Princípio do contraditório.Abstract: The article examines the requirements of legal certainty and exceptional social interest in the prospective effects of judicial decisions in tax matters. Initially, its legal foundations are discussed, problematizing the semantic openness of the requirements. Next, we analyze how the doctrine and case law have faced the possibility of the State being a beneficiary of prospective effects in tax cases and to what extent consequentialist arguments are observed in the reasoning of theopinions, taking as a basis the judgments of the Supreme Court rendered in ADI 5.469/DF and RE 574.706 ED/PR. Finally, we investigate how procedural rules can contribute to the observance of legitimate parameters for the decisions that apply the prospective effects and for its adequate use. The study is based on bibliographic and documentary research. The results presented are qualitative.Keywords: Tax law. Prospective effects. Legal certainty. Social interest. Adversarial principle.
USEFULNESS OF ADAPTIVE OPTICS IMAGING IN OPHTHALMOLOGY
Authors:   Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Warsaw, Poland, Rerych Magdalena , Paczwa Katarzyna ,   Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Warsaw, Poland, Różycki Radosław ,   Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Warsaw, Poland, Gołębiewska Joanna ,   Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
Published: April 2023

Abstract: The methods of imaging posterior segment of the eye are still improving. Conventional colour fundus imaging, fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) have become routine in clinical practice to examine retinal diseases. This review presents the results of using adaptive optics (AO) to assess microvascular changes and cone parameters in retinal and systemic diseases. In the future, adaptive optics technology might be used as a non-invasive method in clinical practice not only in retinal diseases but also in diabetology and hypertensiology.
Modulation format recognition in a UVLC system based on reservoir computing with coordinate transformation and folding algorithm
Authors: Li Fujie , Lin Xianhao , Shi Jianyang , Li Ziwei , Chi Nan
Published: April 2023

Modulation format recognition (MFR) is one of the key technologies in adaptive optical systems and widely used in both commercial and civil applications. With the rapid development of deep learning, MFR algorithm based on neural networks (NN) has achieved impressive success. Due to the high complexity of underwater channels, to gain better performance of MFR tasks in underwater visible light communication (UVLC), the NN tend to be designed with a complex structure, which is costly in computation and hinders fast allocation and real-time processing. In this paper, we propose a lightweight and efficient method based on reservoir computing (RC), whose trainable parameters are only 0.3% of common NN-based methods. To improve the performance of RC in MFR tasks, we propose powerful feature extraction algorithms including coordinate transformation and folding algorithm. The proposed RC-based methods are implemented for six modulation formats, including OOK, 4QAM, 8QAM-DIA, 8QAM-CIR, 16APSK, and 16QAM. The experimental results show that our RC-based methods take only a few seconds for training process and under different pin voltages of LED, the accuracy for almost all exceeds 90%, and the highest is close to 100%. Analysis on how to design a well-performed RC to strike a balance between accuracy and time cost is also investigated, providing a useful guide for RC implementations in MFR.
Point cloud registration algorithm based on NPFC neighborhood feature descriptor
Authors: Xingyu Chen , Mingde Zhang , Le Xie
Published: April 2023

Point cloud registration technology is widely used in machine vision, reverse engineering, and other neighborhood applications, and its efficiency and accuracy have an important impact on product data models. Aiming at the problems of the traditional ICP registration algorithm, such as slow convergence speed and high requirements on the initial point cloud position, this paper proposes a point cloud registration algorithm based on the neighborhood point feature covariance matrix descriptors. First, the key points of the point cloud data are extracted by combining the average angle of the neighborhood normal vector and ISS algorithms; then, the NPFC descriptors of the key points are calculated, and the two-way nearest neighbor feature matching is performed according to the similarity of the NPFC to obtain the initial correspondence; for the initial correspondence, the RANSAC algorithm is used to reject the mismatches to obtain the final correspondence pairs, and the initial registration parameters are calculated by using the final correspondence; finally, the iterative nearest point algorithm is used to perform the fine registration. Experiments on public datasets show that NPFC descriptor has high descriptiveness and robustness in the face of noise. The registration results also confirm the superiority of our registration method in terms of accuracy and efficiency.
Combating castration-resistant prostate cancer by co-targeting the epigenetic regulators EZH2 and HDAC
Authors: Schade Amy E. , Kuzmickas Ryan , Rodriguez Carrie L. , Mattioli Kaia , Enos Miriam , Gardner Alycia , Cichowski Karen
Published: April 2023

While screening and early detection have reduced mortality from prostate cancer, castration-resistant disease (CRPC) is still incurable. Here, we report that combined EZH2/HDAC inhibitors potently kill CRPCs and cause dramatic tumor regression in aggressive human and mouse CRPC models. Notably, EZH2 and HDAC both transmit transcriptional repressive signals: regulating histone H3 methylation and histone deacetylation, respectively. Accordingly, we show that suppression of both EZH2 and HDAC are required to derepress/induce a subset of EZH2 targets, by promoting the sequential demethylation and acetylation of histone H3. Moreover, we find that the induction of one of these targets, ATF3, which is a broad stress response gene, is critical for the therapeutic response. Importantly, in human tumors, low ATF3 levels are associated with decreased survival. Moreover, EZH2- and ATF3-mediated transcriptional programs inversely correlate and are most highly/lowly expressed in advanced disease. Together, these studies identify a promising therapeutic strategy for CRPC and suggest that these two major epigenetic regulators buffer prostate cancers from a lethal response to cellular stresses, thereby conferring a tractable therapeutic vulnerability.
Dopamine depletion leads to pathological synchronization of distinct basal ganglia loops in the beta band
Authors: Ortone Andrea , Vergani Alberto Arturo , Ahmadipour Mahboubeh , Mannella Riccardo , Mazzoni Alberto
Published: April 2023

Motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) are associated with dopamine deficits and pathological oscillation of basal ganglia (BG) neurons in the β range ([12-30] Hz). However, how dopamine depletion affects the oscillation dynamics of BG nuclei is still unclear. With a spiking neurons model, we here capture the features of BG nuclei interactions leading to oscillations in dopamine-depleted condition. We highlight that both the loop between subthalamic nucleus (STN) and Globus Pallidus pars externa (GPe) and the loop between striatal fast spiking and medium spiny neurons and GPe display resonances in the β range, and synchronize to a common β frequency through interaction. Crucially, the synchronization depends on dopamine depletion: the two loops are largely independent for high levels of dopamine, but progressively synchronize as dopamine is depleted due to the increased strength of the striatal loop. The model is validated against recent experimental reports on the role of cortical inputs, STN and GPe activity in the generation of β oscillations. Our results highlight the role of the interplay between the GPe-STN and the GPe-striatum loop in generating sustained β oscillations in PD subjects, and explain how this interplay depends on the level of dopamine. This paves the way to the design of therapies specifically addressing the onset of pathological β oscillations.
Inequalities in provision of hip and knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis by age, sex, and social deprivation in England between 2007–2017: A population-based cohort study of the National Joint Registry
Authors: Lenguerrand Erik , Ben-Shlomo Yoav , Rangan Amar , Beswick Andrew , Whitehouse Michael R. , Deere Kevin , Sayers Adrian , Blom Ashley W. , Judge Andrew
Published: April 2023

Background

While the United Kingdom National Health Service aimed to reduce social inequalities in the provision of joint replacement, it is unclear whether these gaps have reduced. We describe secular trends in the provision of primary hip and knee replacement surgery between social deprivation groups.

Methods and findings

We used the National Joint Registry to identify all hip and knee replacements performed for osteoarthritis from 2007 to 2017 in England. The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2015 was used to identify the relative level of deprivation of the patient living area. Multilevel negative binomial regression models were used to model the differences in rates of joint replacement. Choropleth maps of hip and knee replacement provision were produced to identify the geographical variation in provision by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

A total of 675,342 primary hip and 834,146 primary knee replacements were studied. The mean age was 70 years old (standard deviation: 9) with 60% and 56% of women undergoing hip and knee replacements, respectively. The overall rate of hip replacement increased from 27 to 36 per 10,000 person-years and knee replacement from 33 to 46. Inequalities of provision between the most (reference) and least affluent areas have remained constant for both joints (hip: rate ratio (RR) = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [0.56, 0.60] in 2007, RR = 0.59 [0.58, 0.61] in 2017; knee: RR = 0.82 [0.80, 0.85] in 2007, RR = 0.81 [0.80, 0.83] in 2017). For hip replacement, CCGs with the highest concentration of deprived areas had lower overall provision rates, and CCGs with very few deprived areas had higher provision rates. There was no clear pattern of provision inequalities between CCGs and deprivation concentration for knee replacement.

Study limitations include the lack of publicly available information to explore these inequalities beyond age, sex, and geographical area. Information on clinical need for surgery or patient willingness to access care were unavailable.

Conclusions

In this study, we found that there were inequalities, which remained constant over time, especially in the provision of hip replacement, by degree of social deprivation. Providers of healthcare need to take action to reduce this unwarranted variation in provision of surgery.
Long-term projections of the impacts of warming temperatures on Zika and dengue risk in four Brazilian cities using a temperature-dependent basic reproduction number
Authors: Van Wyk Hannah , Eisenberg Joseph N. S. , Brouwer Andrew F.
Published: April 2023

For vector-borne diseases the basic reproduction number R 0, a measure of a disease’s epidemic potential, is highly temperature-dependent. Recent work characterizing these temperature dependencies has highlighted how climate change may impact geographic disease spread. We extend this prior work by examining how newly emerging diseases, like Zika, will be impacted by specific future climate change scenarios in four diverse regions of Brazil, a country that has been profoundly impacted by Zika. We estimated a R 0 ( T ), derived from a compartmental transmission model, characterizing Zika (and, for comparison, dengue) transmission potential as a function of temperature-dependent biological parameters specific to Aedes aegypti. We obtained historical temperature data for the five-year period 2015–2019 and projections for 2045–2049 by fitting cubic spline interpolations to data from simulated atmospheric data provided by the CMIP-6 project (specifically, generated by the GFDL-ESM4 model), which provides projections under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP). These four SSP scenarios correspond to varying levels of climate change severity. We applied this approach to four Brazilian cities (Manaus, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo) that represent diverse climatic regions. Our model predicts that the R 0 ( T ) for Zika peaks at 2.7 around 30°C, while for dengue it peaks at 6.8 around 31°C. We find that the epidemic potential of Zika will increase beyond current levels in Brazil in all of the climate scenarios. For Manaus, we predict that the annual R 0 range will increase from 2.1–2.5, to 2.3–2.7, for Recife we project an increase from 0.4–1.9 to 0.6–2.3, for Rio de Janeiro from 0–1.9 to 0–2.3, and for São Paulo from 0–0.3 to 0–0.7. As Zika immunity wanes and temperatures increase, there will be increasing epidemic potential and longer transmission seasons, especially in regions where transmission is currently marginal. Surveillance systems should be implemented and sustained for early detection.
Designing an eSports intervention for middle-aged and older adults in Hong Kong: Social marketing approach
Authors: Leung Ka-Man , Chu William
Published: April 2023

This study examined the perceptions and experiences of middle-aged and older adult participants in electronic sports (eSports) in Hong Kong (HK), China, by using the social marketing (SM) approach. This qualitative study applied SM approach to the design of a center-based eSports intervention for middle-aged and older adults in HK. Interviews were conducted with 39 adults stratified in terms of age (i.e., 45–64 vs. ≥65 years) and experience with eSports. Ten administrators working in community elderly centers were invited for semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis was performed on the data by incorporating SM. Main findings are presented in terms of five P’s. The product component of an eSports intervention includes the foundation of eSports (e.g., safety, eSports training), suitable games for older adults, and professional equipment (e.g., large-screen devices and motion-controlled Nintendo Switches). The price component comprises affordability and the frequency and duration of each eSport session, and the place component includes accessibility and spaces to play eSports. The promotion component should be educational in nature and can incorporate free trials and gaming days, short films about older adults playing eSports, promotional channels, physical evidence and annual eSports competitions. The people component consists of support from administrators and the center in charge, the availability of skilled program instructors and staff, and appropriate partnering, team sizes and instructor-to-participant ratios. The 5P’s enhance the design of future center-based eSports interventions and can help researchers and practitioners determine which aspects encourage middle-aged and older adults to participate in eSports.
Characterization of Monoamine Oxidase-A in tropical liver fluke, Fasciola gigantica
Authors: Beg Mirza Ahmar , Rehman Abdur , Rehman Lubna , Ullah Rizwan , Farhat Faiza , Wasim Sobia , Abidi S. M. A.
Published: April 2023

Fasciola gigantica, responsible for the zoonotic disease fasciolosis, pose a great threat to the livestock and human health worldwide. The triclabendazole (TCBZ) has been used for decades as a broad spectrum anthelmintic to control this perilous disease but the emergence of resistance in flukes against TCBZ has prompted researchers across the world to explore for new drugs and antigenic targets. World Health Organization has strongly recommended the utilization of neurobiologically significant biomolecules as new drug/antigenic targets because of their significant role in the physiology of parasites. Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) is an important neurobiological enzyme which catabolizes aminergic neurotransmitters thus preventing prolonged excitation of neurons and in non-neuronal cells it prevents cellular toxicity due to accumulation of toxic monoamines. Owing to the important role of MAO in the survival and perpetuation of parasites, multipronged approaches were undertaken for the characterization of MAO-A in F. gigantica. The activity of MAO was found to be 1.5 times higher in the mitochondrial samples than the whole homogenate samples. The adult worms of the F. gigantica appeared to possess both the isoforms of MAO i.e., MAO-A and MAO-B. The zymographic studies revealed strong enzyme activity in its native state as assessed through prominent dark bands at 250KDa in the zymogram. The enzyme was also found to be highly immunogenic as revealed by high antibody titer at 1:6400 dilution. The immunogenicity of MAO-A enzyme was further established in the Western Blots in which a strong band of 50KDa was distinctly evident. Despite ubiquitous presence of MAO in F. gigantica some regions like tegumental surface and intestinal caecae displayed strong immunofluorescence as compared to other regions. The detection of MAO-A in the F. gigantica samples in Dot-Blot assay indicate a great potential of this molecule for the immunodiagnostics of fasciolosis, particularly in the field conditions. The enzyme activity was sensitive to the specific inhibitor clorgyline in a concentration dependant manner, particularly in the late incubation period. The zymographic results also exhibited similar trend. The strong intensity of spots in Dot-blots indicate high immunogenicity of the MAO protein. The intensity of bands/spots in the samples of worms treated with clorgyline also declined, clearly indicating that the tropical liver fluke possesses prominent MAO-A activity.
Psychological safety in European medical students’ last supervised patient encounter: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Thyness Cathinka , Grimstad Hilde , Steinsbekk Aslak
Published: April 2023

Objective

To investigate the association between European medical students’ psychological safety in and experiences from their last supervised patient encounter.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional online survey among European medical students. Bivariable and multivariable linear regression was used to explore the associations between the dependent variable psychological safety and independent variables concerning students’ experiences from their last supervised patient encounter.

Results

A total of 886 students from more than 25 countries participated. The variables most strongly associated with psychological safety were supervisor coaching and modelling behaviour, adjusted beta 0.4 (95%CI 0.3 to 0.5) and 0.1 (95%CI 0.1 to 0.2) per unit respectively on a one-to-five-point scale, and studying in Northern Europe, adjusted beta 0.4–0.5 compared to other regions. There was a weak negative association (reduced score on psychological safety) for being supervised by a medical doctor with <5 years’ experience and a positive association for student confidence. Student gender, student seniority, speciality, whether peers were present, number of previous encounters with the supervisor and supervisor articulation and exploration behaviour were not associated in multivariable analysis.

Conclusion

Coaching might be a good primary focus to improve supervision practices, as participation with feedback is known to be beneficial for learning and coaching was strongly associated with psychological safety. Supervisors in western, eastern, and southern Europe might have to work harder to create psychological safety than their northern colleagues.
Projected interiorities or the production of subjectivity through spatial and performative means
Authors: Djalali Amir , Westermann Claudia
Published: April 2023

Even those who consider themselves lucky to have escaped trauma, long-term illness and death, have experienced radical changes to their conception of life in its relation to public and private domains due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When public space turned into a dangerous realm, private interiors were assigned a new role and with these shifts, also new questions about the relation of interiority to any type of exteriority emerged. The first four contributions in this ‘Projected Interiorities’ issue of Technoetic Arts (TA) reflect from an architectural and urban point of view on the conception of the public and private, their past, present and future. Yet, the pandemic contributed more widely to a re-evaluation of interiority, not least because the public and private realms seemingly coalesced via digital processes. While this journal issue cannot cover all these questions, it indicates the range of the pandemic turn in thought, collecting contributions from theory and practice, including architecture, art, philosophy and literary studies. With authors of a variety of disciplinary backgrounds based in China, India, Norway, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, this issue of TA covers not only a multiplicity of methodological approaches but also diverse regional and cultural perspectives on the idea of ‘Projected Interiorities’.
Subjectivity in flux: Contextualizing Don DeLillo’s White Noise
Authors: Malik Irfan Mohammad
Published: April 2023

The idea of the subject as a construct, of various external influences, was not new to the cultural and literary circles in the 1980s when DeLillo published White Noise. In the second half of the twentieth century, post-structuralist and postmodern theories unsettled the established ideas of the humanist tradition like the concept of the subject. The idea that the subject is constituted by external factors posed a challenge to the modernist notion of the subject as authentic and independent consciousness. Influenced by post-structuralist and postmodern theories, novelists in post-war America, especially during and after the 1980s, portrayed their protagonists (the subjects) as textual constructs rather than authentic heroic figures we often find in modernists’ works of art. DeLillo engages with technological developments and sociocultural changes in post-war America and explores how such developments/changes influence an individual’s subjectivity. Critics have described Jack Gladney, the protagonist of White Noise, as a late-modernist displaced to negotiate the postmodern landscape. This study, which is purely of scholarly interest, attempts to show how Gladney vacillates between the notions of modernist authentic subject and the de-centred postmodern subject created textually. This article also attempts to explore how DeLillo’s fiction engages with the idea of the subject during the 1980s.
Towards a new aesthetic: Noumenism and Noumenist poetics
Authors: Gillespie Zane
Published: April 2023

Since each term only has significance in contrast to its negation, the distinction between the noumenal and the phenomenal is a Kantian philosophical postulation that is as arbitrary as any binary (e.g., presence–absence) when submitted to Jacques Derrida’s method of deconstruction. According to Noumenism – a philosophy founded on the non-dualistic reinscription of phenomena and noumena – works of art possess elements which are simultaneously sense-data, and no data to any mind. This paradoxical status is achieved by means of an artist-invented mechanism which allows its generative workings to run amok. The mechanism itself is a ‘compound-image’ formed by the paranoiac-critical activity of abolishing the mutual exclusivity of two or more different systems (i.e., the organization of related elements into complex wholes, methods, procedures, techniques, etc.). To illustrate this, an analysis of ‘No. 6’ from Noumenist poet Jason Johnson’s Hymns from Purgatory is undertaken. As they develop, refine or adopt their own philosophies of art, today’s artists and tomorrow’s are challenged to reckon with the ideas put forward in this article.
A Study of Factors Influencing on Disaster Management Policy Satisfaction of Local Governments: Focused on 6 Areas of Local Safety Index
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Byun Sung Soo , Cho Taek Hee , Bae Min Ki
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this study is to find a way to improve satisfaction with the disaster management policy by analyzing local residents' perceptions of disaster management. To this end, a survey was conducted on the perception and satisfaction of each disaster safety sector using items in the six major areas of the regional safety index. In this study, policy literacy and performance were selected as factors affecting policy satisfaction. It was found that both policy awareness and performance had a positive (+) influence relationship with satisfaction. Also, measures to improve disaster management policy satisfaction include active promotion of disaster management policies and projects, development of information delivery means considering the characteristics of the vulnerable, establishment of disaster management measures and strategies considering regional characteristics, and promotion of safety education.
Regulatory Policies for Life Science and Technology Crisis Management: The Comparison of Cases between Korea and Japan
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Hyeon Seung Hyo , Kim Da Young , Lee Min Kyu
Published: April 2023

In Korea, bioethics legislation has experienced great fluctuations like a pendulum swinging. After Professor Hwang's research ethics issue, embryonic stem cell research in Korea lost its vitality. In this study, we insist that Korea needs a reference point that is not greatly shaken. We review the establishment of Korea and Japan's life science and ethics-related laws and the operation of their organizations. Then, we compare the strengths and weaknesses of Korea and Japan. Finally, we will propose Korea's strategy to improve bioscience and bioethics systems. In Japan, it is possible to make specific decisions with expertise through the participation of experts. If Korean institutions provide sufficient meeting contents and data at the same level as Japan, deviations will be prevented by making the range of research available to life science researchers predictable. In addition, it will be possible to contribute to the guarantee of Korea's bioethics and safety by increasing the professionalism of civil society to continue monitoring while continuing activities.
Predictive modelling of the maternal transfer of organic pollutants to next generations in reptile species
Authors: C. Muñoz Cynthia , Vermeiren Peter , Charles Sandrine
Published: April 2023

Maternal transfer of pollutants between mothers and their offspring presents one of the first exposure routes for newborn organisms before they themselves come into contact with the external environment, and this during sensitive early life stages where many fundamental development and organization processes take place. To support exposure assessment of early life stages, we aimed to develop a predictive model regarding the maternal transfer of organic pollutants that is applicable across reptile species. We developed a Bayesian orthogonal regression model to characterize the relationship between pollutant concentrations in mother and offspring tissues as dependent variables which are both measured quantities. The model explicitly accounts for uncertainty in measured variables by applying a Gaussian error distribution on both variables and constraining their range in relation to the population mean. Parameter estimation using Bayesian inference allowed the full parameter uncertainty to be propagated into the probabilistic model predictions. To support model development, we conducted a systematic search regarding measurements of organic pollutants in coupled samples from mother and offspring tissues. Subsequent data curation, including homogenization, standardization and integration, resulted in a large, compiled database containing heterogeneous records from diverse species, diverse tissues, and diverse chemicals (including legacy POP such as PCB and OCP as well as newer compounds such as plasticizers). Alternative model formulations and extensions were developed to identify the most parsimonious model that can capture the influence of the diversity in species and chemical structures within the database, as well as account for the large proportion of censored data (records where measured concentrations were below the detection limits of the analytical instruments). Model goodness of fit was evaluated against the WAIC criterion and predictive performance assessed via cross-validation. The resulting model allows scientists and decision-makers to quantitatively link internal body burdens of mothers to subsequent generations in reptile species, a group which is underrepresented in ecotoxicology and chemical risk assessment.
Natural History of Anal Ulcerations in Pediatric-Onset Crohn's Disease: Long-Term Follow-Up of a Population-Based Study
Authors: Mortreux Perrine , Leroyer Ariane , Dupont Claire , Ley Delphine , Bertrand Valérie , Spyckerelle Claire , Guillon Nathalie , Wils Pauline , Gower-Rousseau Corinne , Savoye Guillaume , Fumery Mathurin , Turck Dominique , Siproudhis Laurent , Sarter Hélène
Published: April 2023

INTRODUCTION:

Anal ulcerations are frequently observed in Crohn's disease (CD). However, their natural history remains poorly known, especially in pediatric-onset CD.

METHODS:

All patients with a diagnosis of CD before the age of 17 years between 1988 and 2011 within the population-based registry EPIMAD were followed retrospectively until 2013. At diagnosis and during follow-up, the clinical and therapeutic features of perianal disease were recorded. An adjusted time-dependent Cox model was used to evaluate the risk of evolution of anal ulcerations toward suppurative lesions.

RESULTS:

Among the 1,005 included patients (females, 450 [44.8%]; median age at diagnosis 14.4 years [interquartile range 12.0–16.1]), 257 (25.6%) had an anal ulceration at diagnosis. Cumulative incidence of anal ulceration at 5 and 10 years from diagnosis was 38.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 35.2–41.4) and 44.0% (95% CI 40.5–47.2), respectively. In multivariable analysis, the presence of extraintestinal manifestations (hazard ratio [HR] 1.46, 95% CI 1.19–1.80, P = 0.0003) and upper digestive location (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.23–1.86, P < 0.0001) at diagnosis were associated with the occurrence of anal ulceration. Conversely, ileal location (L1) was associated with a lower risk of anal ulceration (L2 vs L1 HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.11–2.06, P = 0.0087; L3 vs L1 HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.08–1.85, P = 0.0116). The risk of fistulizing perianal CD (pCD) was doubled in patients with a history of anal ulceration (HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.45–2.74, P < 0.0001). Among the 352 patients with at least 1 episode of anal ulceration without history of fistulizing pCD, 82 (23.3%) developed fistulizing pCD after a median follow-up of 5.7 years (interquartile range 2.8–10.6). In these patients with anal ulceration, the diagnostic period (pre vs biologic era), exposure to immunosuppressants, and/or anti–tumor necrosis factor did not influence the risk of secondary anoperineal suppuration.

DISCUSSION:

Anal ulceration is frequent in pediatric-onset CD, with nearly half of patients presenting with at least 1 episode after 10 years of evolution. Fistulizing pCD is twice as frequent in patients with present or past anal ulceration.
Making our industrial heritage work for the future, in the context of climate change
Authors: Oglethorpe Miles Kenneth
Published: April 2023

As Climate Change continues to drive major changes in policy and practice on a global scale, the role of industrial heritage is becoming increasingly important. There remains strong pressure from business interests to clear away the past and start again from a blank canvas, but now there are growing arguments for an alternative approach which re-cycles the carbon already invested in industrial buildings and structures and gives them a second life. There is also an increasing number of examples that demonstrate the power of industrial heritage to drive sustainable regeneration and re-vitalization schemes across the world. Significantly, this trend is not confined to the most attractive, aesthetically pleasing structures – a wide variety of industrial sites have been imaginatively adapted to a new life and in many cases have helped engineer a vibrant future for previously marginalised communities and areas.In Scotland, our national heritage body, Historic Environment Scotland, recently published it’s ‘Climate Action Strategy’. At its heart is the ambition to transform the challenge facing us from one in which our heritage is a victim, instead harnessing it and all its attributes in the battle against Climate Change. This paper will argue that industrial heritage is especially well placed to do this.