bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between Stigma and Anxiety, Depression, and Psychological Distress among Japanese Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment
Authors: Yokota Rie , Okuhara Tsuyoshi , Okada Hiroko , Goto Eiko , Sakakibara Keiko , Kiuchi Takahiro
Published: July 2022

Japan has the highest number of cases of infertility treatment in the world. Studies have indicated that women undergoing infertility treatment feel stigmatized and suffer from psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. However, in Japan, few studies have quantitatively examined the association between the stigma of infertility and psychological symptoms, and, to our knowledge, no study has examined its association using a scale with tested reliability and validity. This study aims to quantitatively examine the relationship between infertility stigma and anxiety, depression, and psychological distress among women undergoing infertility treatment, using a scale that has been validated for reliability and validity. The cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2021 through a web-based survey of 254 participants undergoing infertility treatment. A multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between stigma and anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Stigma was a statistically significant predictor of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress (standardized β = 0.58, p < 0.001; β = 0.50, p < 0.001; β = 0.62, p < 0.001, respectively) after controlling for sociodemographic and infertility characteristics. Future studies should examine the causal relationship between stigma and anxiety, depression, and psychological distress and how to intervene to reduce stigma among women undergoing infertility treatment.
Posyandu Application for Monitoring Children Under-Five: A 3-Year Data Quality Map in Indonesia
Authors: Rinawan Fedri Ruluwedrata , Faza Afina , Susanti Ari Indra , Purnama Wanda Gusdya , Indraswari Noormarina , Didah Didah , Ferdian Dani , Fatimah Siti Nur , Purbasari Ayi , Zulianto Arief , Sari Atriany Nilam , Yulita Intan Nurma , Rabbi Muhammad Fiqri Abdi , Ridwana Riki
Published: July 2022

Posyandu is an Indonesian mother-child health, community-based healthcare. The provision of the Posyandu data quality map is crucial for analyzing results but is limited. This research aimed to (a) demonstrate data quality analysis on its completeness, accuracy, and consistency and (b) map the data quality in Indonesia for evaluation and improvement. An observational study was conducted using the Posyandu application. We observed data in Indonesia from 2019 to 2021. Data completeness was identified using children’s visits/year. Data accuracy was analyzed using WHO anthropometry z-score and implausible z-score values analyzing the outliers. Cronbach’s α of variables was used to know data consistency. STATA 15.1 SE and QGIS 3.10 was used to analyze and map the quality. Data completeness and accuracy in three years show a good start for the pilot project area, continued with declines in pandemic time, while some other areas demonstrated a small start, then slightly increased. The overall consistency decreased through the study period. A good report on data completeness can occur initially in a pilot project area, followed by others. Data accuracy and consistency can decrease during the pandemic. The app can be promising when synchronized with the government health information system.
Spatiotemporal Variability of Lightning Activity over the Railway Network in Sri Lanka with Special Attention to the Proposed Suburban Railway Electrification Network
Authors: Maduranga Uruvitiya Gamage Dilaj , Edirisinghe Mahesh , Alahacoon Niranga , Ranagalage Manjula
Published: July 2022

This study is oriented towards the investigation of the spatiotemporal variability of the lightning activity over the railway network in Sri Lanka using -lightning data from 1998 to 2014 that were downloaded from the database of Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) onboard NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The study has also been extended to study the lightning activity over the proposed suburban railway electrification network. GIS was used to conduct an annual and seasonal analysis of the railway network, which consists of nine major railway lines, to identify vulnerable stations and segments. The average annual lightning flash density over a 1447 km-long railway network of Sri Lanka varies between 5.08–16.58 flashes/(km2 year). The railway lines run across the western and southern regions of the country have been identified as being in areas with higher lightning activity. In comparison to other railway lines, the Kelani Valley line in the Colombo district and Colombo-Maradana to Polgahawela segment of the Mainline are particularly vulnerable to lightning activity. These areas have also been recognized as regions with higher population density. The proposed 102 km long railway electrification network in Sri Lanka is also within higher population density segments, with higher lightning flash density values between 10.55–16.53 flashes/(km2⋅year). As a result, to improve the operational efficiency of the proposed electrification network, a fully coordinated lightning protection system in accordance with the findings of this study is strongly suggested.
Large-Scale Monitoring of the Frequency of Ryanodine Receptor Target-Site Mutations Conferring Diamide Resistance in Brazilian Field Populations of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Okuma Daniela M. , Cuenca Ana , Nauen Ralf , Omoto Celso
Published: July 2022

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is an important lepidopteran pest in the Americas, and recently invaded the Eastern Hemisphere. In Brazil, FAW is considered the most destructive pest of corn and cotton. FAW has evolved resistance to many insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins. Here, a large-scale monitoring was performed between 2019 and 2021 to assess diamide insecticide susceptibility in more than 65 FAW populations sampled in corn and cotton. We did not detect a significant shift in FAW susceptibility to flubendiamide, but a few populations were less affected by a discriminating rate. F2 screen results of 31 selected FAW populations across regions confirmed that the frequency of diamide resistance alleles remained rather stable. Two laboratory-selected strains exhibited high resistance ratios against flubendiamide, and cross-resistance to anthranilic diamides. Reciprocal crosses indicated that resistance is autosomal and (incompletely) recessive in both strains. F1 backcrosses suggested monogenic resistance, supported by the identification of an I4734M/K target-site mutation in the ryanodine receptor (RyR). Subsequent genotyping of field-collected samples employing a TaqMan-based allelic discrimination assay, revealed a low frequency of RyR I4790M/K mutations significantly correlated with phenotypic diamide resistance. Our findings will help to sustainably employ diamides in FAW resistance management strategies across crops.
Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Why Proper Conceptualization Matters
Authors: Asante Samuel , Tuffour Georgina
Published: July 2022

The problems of social isolation and loneliness in older adults have been widely researched but there are still issues regarding their conceptualizations and use in academic research. The terms social isolation and loneliness have often been used interchangeably in research, but evidence suggests they are not the same and sometimes have different implications for health outcomes in older adults. This paper attempts to highlight why proper conceptualization of these terms in research is important.
Auxological and Endocrinological Features in Children and Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Ferrari Vittorio , Terlizzi Vito , Stagi Stefano
Published: July 2022

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations that lead to deficient or dysfunctional CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) proteins. Patients typically present malnutrition resulting from the malabsorption of fundamental nutrients and recurring lung infections, with a progressive worsening of the respiratory function. For these reasons, the clinical management of CF requires a multidisciplinary team. From an endocrinological point of view, patients often present major complications, such as diabetes, bone disease, thyroid disorders, delayed growth and puberty, hypogonadism and infertility, which negatively affect their quality of life and, in some cases, significantly reduce life expectancy. These complications can arise as a direct result of CFTR dysfunction and/or as a consequence of a deterioration in the function of the organs affected. The objective of this review is to analyze all the possible endocrinological complications that can occur in patients with CF by evaluating the most recent papers in the literature.
A Virtual Exercise Program throughout Pregnancy during the COVID-19 Pandemic Modifies Maternal Weight Gain, Smoking Habits and Birth Weight—Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Silva-Jose Cristina , Sánchez-Polán Miguel , Barakat Ruben , Díaz-Blanco Ángeles , Mottola Michelle F. , Refoyo Ignacio
Published: July 2022

The intrauterine environment is key to health from a short- and long-term perspective. Birth weight is an important indicator that may influence the fetal environment due to epigenetics. Considering physical inactivity, in parallel with higher levels of stress, affecting smoking patterns and the physical and emotional health of the pregnant population, maintaining the health of future generations is crucial. A randomized clinical trial (NCT04563065) was conducted. One-hundred and ninety-two healthy pregnant individuals were assigned to the intervention (IG) or control (CG) group. Overall, significant differences were found between groups when stratified by birth weight (χ2 (1) = 6.610; p = 0.037) with low birth weight and macrosomia found more often in the CG (4% vs. 14% and 3% vs. 9%, respectively) and higher admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (χ2 (1) = 5.075; p = 0.024) in the CG (20/28.6%) compared to the IG (9/13.0). Smoking during pregnancy was also found more often in the CG (12/17.1%) compared to the IG (3/4.4%) (p = 0.016). A virtual program of supervised exercise throughout pregnancy during the ongoing pandemic could help to maintain adequate birth weights, modify maternal smoking habits, and lower admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit.
Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors after Hepatitis C Virus Eradication with Direct-Acting Antivirals in a Cohort of Treatment-Naïve Patients without History of Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Casas-Deza Diego , Martínez-Sapiña Ana , Espina Silvia , Garcia-Rodriguez Beatriz , Fernandez-Bonilla Eva M. , Sanz-Paris Alejandro , Gonzalez-Irazabal Yolanda , Bernal-Monterde Vanesa , Arbones-Mainar Jose M.
Published: July 2022

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) produces changes at multiple levels in host metabolism, especially in lipid profile and cardio-metabolic risk. It is unclear how HCV eradication by direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) modifies those changes. Objective: To evaluate the impact of DAA treatment on different risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. Methods: Prospective study with two-year follow-up. All patients treated with DAAs in the Liver Clinic of a tertiary hospital were included. Patients co-infected with HBV or HIV, with other causes of liver disease, on lipid-lowering treatment, pregnant, or with previous HCV treatment were excluded. The results were analyzed using linear mixed models. Results: 167 patients (53% female, 9.6% cirrhosis) were included. Low plasma lipid levels were observed before initiating HCV eradication. During the first year after treatment with DAA, we observed a sustained increase in cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol (only in men), and LDL-cholesterol levels. An ameliorated glycemic control was also observed with a decrease in fasting insulin and reduced HOMA. Iron metabolism and coagulation function also improved with lower levels of serum ferritin and prothrombin activity; these biochemical changes resulted in a new diagnosis of hypercholesterolaemia in 17.4% of patients, requiring initiation of statins in 15%. Two non-fatal cardiovascular events were observed during the first 2 years of follow-up. Conclusions: DAA treatments returned plasma lipids to the normal range without increasing either the occurrence of cardiovascular events or the consumption of lipid-lowering medication beyond what is normal in a sex- and age-matched population.
Improved Tolerance of Artemisia ordosica to Drought Stress via Dark Septate Endophyte (DSE) Symbiosis
Authors: Li Xia , Zhang Xue , Xu Minghui , Ye Qiannan , Gao Huili , He Xueli
Published: July 2022

Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) usually colonize plant roots, especially in stress environments. However, their relationship with plants ranges from beneficial to harmful and has remained largely uncharacterized. In the present study, 14 DSE species grouped into 11 genera were isolated from the roots of a desert plant, Artemisia ordosica, which is widely distributed in northwest China. Three dominant DSE species—Paraphoma chrysanthemicola (Pc), Alternaria chartarum (Ac), and Acrocalymma vagum (Av)—were selected and tested for their resistance to drought in vitro. Furthermore, we characterized the responses of A. ordosica under drought conditions in relation to the presence of these DSEs following inoculation. The results showed that all three strains grew well under in vitro drought stress, and the biomass of Ac and Av was significantly higher than that of the unstressed control. The effects of DSE inoculation on the growth of A. ordosica under drought stress varied according to the different DSE species but were generally beneficial. Under drought stress, Av and Pc promoted plant growth, antioxidant enzyme activity, and root development of the hosts. The Ac strain conferred obvious positive effects on the antioxidant enzyme activity of the hosts. In general, Av and Pc demonstrated better application potential for improving the drought resistance of A. ordosica.
Spatial and Temporal Changes of Urban Built-Up Area in the Yellow River Basin from Nighttime Light Data
Authors: Wang Jingxu , Qiu Shike , Du Jun , Meng Shengwang , Wang Chao , Teng Fei , Liu Yangyang
Published: July 2022

Nighttime light (NTL) images obtained by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer (VIIRS) mounted on the National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) could objectively represent human activities and instantly identify urban shapes on a temporal and spatial scale. From 2013 to 2020, the built-up areas of eight provincial capital cities were extracted using NPP/VIIRS NTL data to examine the dynamic changes in city expansion and socioeconomic development in the Yellow River Basin during the urbanization process. The spatial characteristics of urban built-up area expansion were generated using the eight-quadrant analysis method and combined with the statistical data of population and (gross domestic product) GDP to analyze the correlations between the light intensity of built-up areas, population and GDP; this enables an understanding of the changes in population and economy in the development of urban built-up area expansion. The findings show that: (1) unbalanced city development existed in the Yellow River Basin’s upper, middle, and lower reaches, and the expansion and light intensity of cities in the upper reaches were slower than those in the middle and lower reaches; (2) the spatial differentiation of urban expansion was significant between each of the reaches in the Yellow River Basin, and greatly influenced by natural geographical elements; and (3) positive correlation exists between light intensity, population, and GDP in the built-up areas of the middle and lower reaches, while the correlations in the upper reaches were not stable. In conclusion, light data indirectly reflects urban development and could be used as a substitute variable for socioeconomic development indicators under certain conditions.
Effects of Land-Use Change on the Pollination Services for Litchi and Longan Orchards: A Case Study of Huizhou, China
Authors: Ke Qinhua , Chen Shuang , Zhao Dandan , Li Minting , Sun Chuanzhun
Published: July 2022

Land-use change has a significant impact on the structure and function of ecosystems and is an important reason for the imbalance between the supply and demand of ecosystem services. Pollination services are indispensable functions of ecosystems. In recent years, land-use change has caused a decline in the abundance of pollinators, thereby affecting the supply of pollination services, which has been a major concern for governments and scholars. Currently, there is an insufficient exploration of the impact mechanism of land-use change on pollination services. The application of a pollination service evaluation model based on land-use data uses a large amount of empirical data, which greatly affects the accuracy of regional evaluation results. This study uses Huizhou as a representative example. Remote sensing images from 2015 and 2019 were used to interpret the land-use data of the region, and the spatiotemporal changes in the land use were then analyzed. Due to their high pollination dependence, litchi and longan were selected as the research objects. Basic data such as the main pollinator species of litchi and longan and floral plant species were obtained through field sampling surveys. The InVEST model was used to evaluate the abundance of pollinators in litchi and longan orchards, and the abundance of pollinators was used to represent the value of pollination services in litchi and longan orchards. Then, the Hotspot analysis method was used to analyze the change in the spatial pattern of the pollinator abundance in litchi and longan orchards. The main influencing factors of pollination service in litchi and longan orchards were analyzed by a Geographical detector. Finally, we have explored the impact mechanism of land-use change on pollination services. The following are the results of this research. The pollinator abundance in the orchards of litchi and longan and their buffer zones in Huizhou decreased by 6.64% and 13.94% from 2015 to 2019, respectively. The wild bee abundance in forest land and rainfed cropland decreased by varying degrees. The spatial aggregation characteristics of pollinator abundance in litchi and longan orchards demonstrated an increase in cold spots, whereas the hot spots decreased and were more dispersed. In the study area, the area change and land-use change of natural or semi-natural habitats, such as forest land, rainfed cropland, and grassland, affected the pollination services for litchi and longan orchards. Within the types of changing land-use, the change of forest land has the greatest impact on litchi and longan pollination services. The impact degrees of Forest land area, rainfed cropland area, area under litchi and longan orchards, and forest landscape fragmentation on the pollination services for litchi and longan orchards were 0.20, 0.16, 0.21, and 0.26, respectively.
Neonatal Antibiotic Treatment Can Affect Stool Pattern and Oral Tolerance in Preterm Infants
Authors: Reyes-García Diana Verónica , Canul-Euan Arturo Alejandro , Rivera-Rueda María Antonieta , Cruz-Alvarado Claudia Edith , Bermejo-Martínez Luisa Bertha , Arreola-Ramírez Gabriela , Cordero-González Guadalupe , Carrera-Muiños Sandra , Diaz-Valencia Juan Daniel , Estrada-Gutiérrez Guadalupe , Irles Claudine , Gonzalez-Perez Gabriela
Published: July 2022

Preterm neonates are at high risk of infectious and inflammatory diseases which require antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics influence neonatal gut microbiome development, and intestinal dysbiosis has been associated with delayed gastrointestinal transit. Neonates who take less time to pass meconium have a better tolerance to enteral feeding. We analyzed the effect of neonatal antibiotic treatment on the stool pattern and oral tolerance in 106 preterm infants < 33 weeks gestational age. Neonates were classified in 3 groups according to neonatal antibiotic (ABT) treatment days: no antibiotics, 3–7 d ABT, and ≥8 d ABT. Preterm infants from the ≥8 d ABT group took longer to pass meconium and to start green and yellow stools, took longer to reach 100 and 150 mL/kg/day, and reached reduced volumes in enteral feeds at day of life 14 and 28 than infants from no ABT and 3–7 d ABT groups. Multiple linear regression models showed that neonatal antibiotic treatment, birth weight, invasive mechanical ventilation, surfactant, enteral feeding start day, neonatal parenteral nutrition, and neonatal fasting days are associated with the stool pattern and oral tolerance in preterm infants.
Blocking of Caspases Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Periodontal Cells
Authors: Panahipour Layla , Cervantes Lara , Oladzad Abbasabadi Azarakhsh , Sordi Mariane , Kargarpour Zahra , Gruber Reinhard
Published: July 2022

Periodontitis is an inflammatory process that is associated with caspase activity. Caspases could thus become molecular targets for the modulation of the inflammatory response to harmful factors, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and TNFα. Here, the impact of the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK (carbobenzoxy-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl-[O-methyl]-fluoro-methyl ketone) on the modulation of the LPS-induced inflammatory response of murine RAW 264.7 cells and primary macrophages was examined. Moreover, the inflammatory responses of human gingival fibroblasts, HSC2 oral squamous carcinoma cells and murine ST2 mesenchymal fibroblasts when exposed to TNFα were studied. Data showed that Z-VAD-FMK significantly lowered the inflammatory response of RAW 264.7 cells and primary macrophages, as indicated by the expression of IL1 and IL6. In murine ST2 mesenchymal fibroblasts, the TNFα-induced expression of CCL2 and CCL5 was significantly reduced. In human gingival fibroblasts and HSC2 cells, Z-VAD-FMK considerably reduced the TNFα-induced expression of CXCL8 and CXCL10. These findings suggest that pharmacological blocking of caspases in an inflammatory environment lowers the expression of cytokines and chemokines in periodontal cells.
Reply to Pallotti et al. Comment on “Boitrelle et al. The Sixth Edition of the WHO Manual for Human Semen Analysis: A Critical Review and SWOT Analysis. Life 2021, 11, 1368”
Authors: Boitrelle Florence , Shah Rupin , Saleh Ramadan , Henkel Ralf , Kandil Hussein , Chung Eric , Vogiatzi Paraskevi , Zini Armand , Arafa Mohamed , Agarwal Ashok
Published: July 2022

We would like to thank F. Pallotti and his colleagues for their positive comments [...]
A Review of Sentiment, Semantic and Event-Extraction-Based Approaches in Stock Forecasting
Authors: Cheng Wai Khuen , Bea Khean Thye , Leow Steven Mun Hong , Chan Jireh Yi-Le , Hong Zeng-Wei , Chen Yen-Lin
Published: July 2022

Stock forecasting is a significant and challenging task. The recent development of web technologies has transformed the communication channel to allow the public to share information over the web such as news, social media contents, etc., thus causing exponential growth of web data. The massively available information might be the key to revealing the financial market’s unexplained variability and facilitating forecasting accuracy. However, this information is usually in unstructured natural language and consists of different inherent meanings. Although a human can easily interpret the inherent messages, it is still complicated to manually process such a massive amount of textual data due to the constraint of time, ability, energy, etc. Due to the different properties of text sources, it is crucial to understand various text processing approaches to optimize forecasting performance. This study attempted to summarize and discuss the current text-based financial forecasting approaches in the aspect of semantic-based, sentiment-based, event-extraction-based, and hybrid approaches. Afterward, the study discussed the strength and weakness of each approach, followed with their comparison and suitable application scenarios. Moreover, this study also highlighted the future research direction in text-based stock forecasting, where the overall discussion is expected to provide insightful analysis for future reference.
Regularization Method for the Variational Inequality Problem over the Set of Solutions to the Generalized Equilibrium Problem
Authors: Song Yanlai , Bazighifan Omar
Published: July 2022

The paper is devoted to bilevel problems: variational inequality problems over the set of solutions to the generalized equilibrium problems in a Hilbert space. To solve these problems, an iterative algorithm is proposed that combines the ideas of the Tseng’s extragradient method, the inertial idea and iterative regularization. The proposed method adopts a non-monotonic stepsize rule without any line search procedure. Under suitable conditions, the strong convergence of the resulting method is obtained. Several numerical experiments are also provided to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method with respect to certain existing ones.
Numerical Investigation of Impact Behavior of Strut-Based Cellular Structures Designed by Spatial Voronoi Tessellation
Authors: Lu Songhao , Zhang Minghao , Guo Shiyue , Hur Boyoung , Yue Xuezheng
Published: July 2022

Porous materials have significant advantages, such as their light weight and good specific energy absorption. This paper presents the designs of two ordered Voronoi structures, a truncated octahedron (Octa) and a rhombic dodecahedron (Dodeca), based on spatial Voronoi tessellation. Through a numerical analysis, the dynamic behavior, deformation and energy absorption of the two porous structures under different impact energies were explored. According to the energy-absorption index, the effects of porosity, rotating unit cell and unit-cell shape on the energy absorption of the porous structures were quantitatively evaluated. The study shows that, for Dodeca and Octa structures subjected to various impact energies, the force-displacement curves exhibit three modes. The porosity, rotational unit cell and unit-cell shape play a crucial role in affecting the impact resistance of porous structures. The work in this paper proposes an effective way to improve the energy-absorption capacity of porous structures under different impact energies. At the same time, a new understanding of the deformation mechanism of Octa and Dodeca was obtained, which is significant for the impact-resistance design and energy-absorption evaluation of porous structures.
Metabolomics of Breast Cancer: A Review
Authors: Subramani Ramadevi , Poudel Seeta , Smith Kenneth D. , Estrada Adriana , Lakshmanaswamy Rajkumar
Published: July 2022

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Major advances have been made towards breast cancer prevention and treatment. Unfortunately, the incidence of breast cancer is still increasing globally. Metabolomics is the field of science which studies all the metabolites in a cell, tissue, system, or organism. Metabolomics can provide information on dynamic changes occurring during cancer development and progression. The metabolites identified using cutting-edge metabolomics techniques will result in the identification of biomarkers for the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers. This review briefly introduces the metabolic changes in cancer with particular focus on breast cancer.
The Clinical Features and Immunological Signature of Cyclospora cayetanensis Co-Infection among People Living with HIV in Ghana
Authors: Sarfo Fred Stephen , Dompreh Albert , Asibey Shadrack Osei , Boateng Richard , Weinreich Felix , Kuffour Edmund Osei , Norman Betty , Di Cristanziano Veronica , Frickmann Hagen , Feldt Torsten , Eberhardt Kirsten Alexandra
Published: July 2022

Background: There is a paucity of information on the contemporary burden, disease patterns, and immunological profile of people living with HIV who are co-infected with C. cayetanensis in the post-antiretroviral therapy era. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, stool samples of 640 HIV-positive and 83 HIV-negative individuals in Ghana were tested for C. cayetanensis. Additionally, sociodemographic parameters, clinical symptoms, medical drug intake, and immunological parameters were assessed. Results: The prevalence of C. cayetanensis was 8.75% (n = 56) in HIV-positive and 1.20% (n = 1) in HIV-negative participants (p = 0.015). Within the group of HIV-positive participants, the prevalence reached 13.6% in patients with CD4+ T cell counts below 200 cells/µl. Frequencies of the clinical manifestations of weight loss and diarrheal disease were significantly higher in patients with C. cayetanensis compared to those without co-infection (36.36% vs. 22.59%, p = 0.034 and 20.00% vs. 4.90%, p < 0.001, respectively). The expression of markers of immune activation and exhaustion of T lymphocyte sub-populations was significantly elevated in patients colonized with C. cayetanensis. Conclusions: In the modern post-combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) era, the acquisition of C. cayetanensis among PLWH in Ghana is driven largely by the immunosuppression profile characterized by high expression of markers of immune activation and immune exhaustion.
Rapid, Sensitive, and Selective Quantification of Bacillus cereus Spores Using xMAP Technology
Authors: Moteshareie Houman , Hassen Walid M. , Dirieh Yasmine , Groulx Emma , Dubowski Jan J. , Tayabali Azam F.
Published: July 2022

Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming ubiquitous bacterium notable as a food poisoning agent. Detection of B. cereus spores using selective media is laborious and non-specific. Herein, the quantitative detection of B. cereus spores was investigated with commercial antibodies and published aptamer sequences. Several detection reagents were screened for affinity to Bacillus collagen-like protein A (BclA), an abundant exosporium glycoprotein. Sensitivity and selectivity toward B. cereus spores were tested using immunoassays and multi-analyte profiling (xMAP). A recombinant antibody developed in llama against BclA protein showed B. cereus spore selectivity and sensitivity between 102 and 105 spores/mL using xMAP. DNA aptamer sequences demonstrated sensitivity from 103 to 107 spores/mL and no cross-reaction to B. megaterium and B. subtilis. Selectivity for B. cereus spores was also demonstrated in a mixture of several diverse microorganisms and within a food sample with no compromise of sensitivity. As proof of concept for multiplexed measurement of human pathogens, B. cereus and three other microorganisms, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. cerevisiae, were simultaneously detected using xMAP. These data support the development of a rapid, sensitive, and selective system for quantitation of B. cereus spores and multiplexed monitoring of human pathogens in complex matrices.
Cryptococcosis: Identification of Risk Areas in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: dos Reis Danielle Saraiva Tuma , de Brito Mioni Thieli Figueiredo Magalhães , Guimarães Ricardo José de Paula Souza , Quaresma Juarez Antônio Simões
Published: July 2022

The Brazilian Amazon has a specific epidemiological profile for cryptococcosis, considering its social and economic inequality, health reality, and low access to health services. Furthermore, Brazil and Colombia have the highest cryptococcosis incidence rates in Latin America. In this study, we identified the areas of risk for cryptococcosis in the state of Pará in the Brazilian Amazon. This was an ecological study of patients admitted to a referral hospital from 2008 to 2018, aged 13 years or older, and of both sexes. The spatial distribution was determined using ArcGis 10.3.1 software. Cryptococcosis was confirmed in 272 cases. The incidence rate was 3.41 cases/100,000 inhabitants. Spatial distribution was concentrated in the Metropolitana de Belém, Nordeste Paraense, and Marajó mesoregions. The sociodemographic profile consisted of 62% men, aged between 24 and 34 years (36%), without completed secondary education (64.7%), and with occupations varying between agricultural activities (13.8%) and household activities (22%). The mean hospitalization time was 39 days; the prevalent clinical form was neurological (89.7%). The mortality rate among patients with cryptococcosis was up to 40%. Knowledge of the real magnitude of the disease in the Brazilian Amazon makes it possible to identify areas with the greatest risks and to propose control and epidemiological surveillance programs.
Experiments on Distribution of Divalent Metal Cations between Olivine Solid Solutions and Aqueous Chloride Solutions at 700 °C and 100 MPa
Authors: Uchida Etsuo , Ohashi Masaki
Published: July 2022

Experiments on divalent cation distribution between Mg–Fe olivine solid solutions and 1 mol/L (Ni2+, Mg2+, Co2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Mn2+)Cl2 aqueous solutions were carried out at 700 °C and 100 MPa. Regardless of the composition of the Mg–Fe olivine solid solutions, the tendency of divalent cation distribution into the olivine solid solutions against the aqueous chloride solutions was in the order of Ni2+ > Mg2+ > Co2+ > Mn2+ > Fe2+ > Zn2+. Excluding Zn2+, this order corresponds to the order of the sixfold coordinated ionic radius in olivine. This indicates that a smaller ionic radius allows the cation to more easily enter the olivine solid solutions. However, Zn2+ showed a negative distribution anomaly and did not easily enter the sixfold coordinated site of the olivine solid solutions, regardless of the ionic radius. This is because Zn2+ has a strong preference for fourfold coordinated sites. The Mg–Fe olivine solid solutions with more fayalite endmembers have smaller differences in the distribution coefficient of cations. This means that the gradient of the PC–IR curve becomes smaller as the content of fayalite endmembers increases. This trend indicates that fayalite consisting of a large cation (Fe2+) tends to exchange other cations more easily than forsterite consisting of a small cation (Mg2+).
Self-Hybridized Exciton-Polaritons in Sub-10-nm-Thick WS2 Flakes: Roles of Optical Phase Shifts at WS2/Au Interfaces
Authors: Nguyen Anh Thi , Kwon Soyeong , Song Jungeun , Cho Eunseo , Kim Hyohyeon , Kim Dong-Wook
Published: July 2022

Exciton–polaritons (EPs) can be formed in transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) multilayers sustaining optical resonance modes without any external cavity. The self-hybridized EP modes are expected to depend on the TMD thickness, which directly determines the resonance wavelength. Exfoliated WS2 flakes were prepared on SiO2/Si substrates and template-stripped ultraflat Au layers, and the thickness dependence of their EP modes was compared. For WS2 flakes on SiO2/Si, the minimum flake thickness to exhibit exciton–photon anticrossing was larger than 40 nm. However, for WS2 flakes on Au, EP mode splitting appeared in flakes thinner than 10 nm. Analytical and numerical calculations were performed to explain the distinct thickness-dependence. The phase shifts of light at the WS2/Au interface, originating from the complex Fresnel coefficients, were as large as π/2 at visible wavelengths. Such exceptionally large phase shifts allowed the optical resonance and resulting EP modes in the sub-10-nm-thick WS2 flakes. This work helps us to propose novel optoelectronic devices based on the intriguing exciton physics of TMDs.
Pulmonary Toxicity of Silica Linked to Its Micro- or Nanometric Particle Size and Crystal Structure: A Review
Authors: Marques Da Silva Vanessa , Benjdir Manon , Montagne Pierrick , Pairon Jean-Claude , Lanone Sophie , Andujar Pascal
Published: July 2022

Silicon dioxide (SiO2) is a mineral compound present in the Earth’s crust in two mineral forms: crystalline and amorphous. Based on epidemiological and/or biological evidence, the pulmonary effects of crystalline silica are considered well understood, with the development of silicosis, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The structure and capacity to trigger oxidative stress are recognized as relevant determinants in crystalline silica’s toxicity. In contrast, natural amorphous silica was long considered nontoxic, and was often used as a negative control in experimental studies. However, as manufactured amorphous silica nanoparticles (or nanosilica or SiNP) are becoming widely used in industrial applications, these paradigms must now be reconsidered at the nanoscale (<100 nm). Indeed, recent experimental studies appear to point towards significant toxicity of manufactured amorphous silica nanoparticles similar to that of micrometric crystalline silica. In this article, we present an extensive review of the nontumoral pulmonary effects of silica based on in vitro and in vivo experimental studies. The findings of this review are presented both for micro- and nanoscale particles, but also based on the crystalline structure of the silica particles.
Effect of Annealing Temperature on Electrical Properties of ZTO Thin-Film Transistors
Authors: Wang Chong , Guo Liang , Lei Mingzhou , Wang Chao , Chu Xuefeng , Yang Fan , Gao Xiaohong , Wamg Huan , Chi Yaodan , Yang Xiaotian
Published: July 2022

A high-performance ZnSnO (ZTO) thin-film transistor (TFT) was fabricated, with ZTO deposited by rf magnetron sputtering. XPS was used to analyze and study the effects of different annealing temperatures on the element composition and valence state of ZTO films. Then, the influence mechanism of annealing treatment on the electrical properties of ZTO thin films was analyzed. The results show that, with an increase in annealing temperature, the amount of metal bonding with oxygen increases first and then decreases, while the oxygen vacancy decreases first and then increases. Further analysis on the ratio of Sn2+ is presented. Electrical results show that the TFT annealed at 600 °C exhibits the best performance. It exhibits high saturation mobilities (μSAT) up to 12.64 cm2V−1s−1, a threshold voltage (VTH) of −6.61 V, a large on/off current ratio (Ion/Ioff) of 1.87 × 109, and an excellent subthreshold swing (SS) of 0.79 V/Decade.
Nursing Care in Peripheral Intravenous Catheter (PIVC): Protocol of a Best Practice Implementation Project
Authors: Catarino Fernando , Lourenço Cristina , Correia Célia , Dória João , Dixe Maria , Santos Cátia , Sousa Joana , Mendonça Susana , Cardoso Daniela , Costeira Cristina R.
Published: July 2022

Background: The use of a peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC) is a common invasive practice in healthcare settings. It is estimated that about 70% of people with PIVCs will develop associated complications, such as infections. It is the consensus that best practices could reduce the appearance of such complications and reduce the length of stay in hospital. Methods: A project will be applied to implement the best approach in peripheral venous catheterization, provided by clinical nurses from an inland hospital in Portugal. The Joanna Briggs Institute methodology will be used on evidence implementation projects, which will be developed in three phases. First, a baseline audit will be performed. The second phase implements corrective measures, and the third phase is a follow-up audit. Conclusions: This project will improve the practice of the nursing team on peripheral venous catheterization nursing cares, positively influencing the quality of nursing care and patient safety. The implementation and dissemination of this project could boost its replication in other centres.
Understanding Color Associations and Their Effects on Expectations of Drugs’ Efficacies
Authors: Amawi Rema M. , Murdoch Michael J.
Published: July 2022

Colors influence our daily perceptions and expectations that manifest in a variety of ways. This research has three main objectives: to demonstrate the relationship between the colors of pills and their expected efficacies, to test this effect on a wide variety of demographics, thereby demonstrating their influence on choices made by participants. Finally, to understand the reasoning behind the choices made by participants, and the color associations exhibited. The results of a series of surveys showed clear similarities and differences across various demographics. The strongest and most consistent color associations were those of white with pain relief and red with stimulant efficacies. The color associations found were red with aggression and power, blue with calmness and serenity, white with calm and purity, yellow with energy, and green with environment and health. The findings of this study can help pharmaceutical companies, and medical practitioners, to better make, market, and prescribe pills, depending on the geographical location, ethnicity, and age group of the patient. This may also strengthen the perceived effects of the pills on patients overall by increasing their compliance rates.
Half-Period Gray-Level Coding Strategy for Absolute Phase Retrieval
Authors: Ran Zipeng , Tao Bo , Zeng Liangcai , Chen Xiangcheng
Published: July 2022

N-ary gray-level (nGL) coding strategy is an effective method for absolute phase retrieval in the fringe projection technique. However, the conventional nGL method contains many unwrapping errors at the boundaries of codewords. In addition, the number of codewords is limited in only one pattern. Consequently, this paper proposes a new gray-level coding method based on half-period coding, which can improve both these two deficiencies. Specifically, we embed every period with a 2-bit codeword, instead of a 1-bit codeword. Then, special correction and decoding methods are proposed to correct the codewords and calculate the fringe orders, respectively. The proposed method can generate n2 codewords with n gray levels in one pattern. Moreover, this method is insensitive to moderate image blurring. Various experiments demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Nutrient Constituents, Bioactive Phytochemicals, and Antioxidant Properties of Service Tree (Sorbus domestica L.) Fruits
Authors: Ognyanov Manol , Denev Petko , Petkova Nadezhda , Petkova Zhana , Stoyanova Magdalena , Zhelev Peter , Matev Georgi , Teneva Desislava , Georgiev Yordan
Published: July 2022

The current study aimed to determine the major and minor nutritional constituents of Sorbus domestica L. fruits. It was revealed that palmitic acid was the most commonly occurring saturated fatty acid, while linoleic acid represented the major polyunsaturated fatty acid. The sterol fraction consisted mainly of β-sitosterol. Small amounts of lipophilic pigments were quantified. Potassium, iron, and boron were the most abundant macro-, micro-, and ultra-trace elements. The amino acid composition analysis suggested that the non-essential amino acids predominated over the essential ones. Soluble sugars (fructose and glucose) represented a large part of the total carbohydrate content, but pectin formed the major part of polysaccharides. Malic acid was the most abundant organic acid whereas quercetin-3-β-glucoside, neochlorogenic, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids were the major phenolic constituents. Fruits exhibited free-radical scavenging and protecting ability against peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals. Service tree fruits provided valuable bioactive constituents having a high nutritional value and potential health benefits.
Rock Brittleness Evaluation Index Based on Ultimate Elastic Strain Energy
Authors: Zhang Xiaowu , Xu Jinhai , Shaikh Faiz , Sun Lei , Cao Yue
Published: July 2022

Brittleness is an essential parameter to determine the deformation and failure behavior of rocks, and it is useful to quantify the brittleness of rocks in numerus engineering practices. A novel energy-based brittleness evaluation index is proposed in this study, which redefines the dissipated proportion of ultimate elastic strain energy relative to post-peak failure energy and residual elastic strain energy. A series of conventional triaxial compression (CTC) tests were performed on shale rock to verify the reliability and accuracy of the brittleness index. The results show that the proposed index can precisely reflect the deformation and failure characteristic of rocks under different confining pressures. Based on the testing data from six types of rocks in previous studies, the universality of the novel index was verified. According to comparison with existing brittleness indices, the new brittleness index can more precisely characterize the brittleness of rock.
Investigating Aluminum Tri-Hydroxide Production from Sodium Aluminate Solutions in the Pedersen Process
Authors: Mwase James Malumbo , Vafeias Michail , Marinos Danai , Dimitrios Panias , Safarian Jafar
Published: July 2022

This study investigates applying the principles of the long-discontinued Pedersen process as a possible route for producing metallurgical grade alumina from low-grade and secondary feed materials. The investigation focused on the hydrometallurgical steps in the process, namely leaching, desilication, and precipitation, and adapting it to valorize bauxite residue. The test material used was a calcium–aluminate slag made by the smelting-reduction of a mixture of bauxite residue (dewatered red mud) and a calcium-rich bauxite beneficiation by-product. Samples of the slag were leached in a 1 L jacketed glass reactor with Na2CO3 solution, varying Na2CO3 concentration and leaching time. Additionally, different approaches to leaching involving mechanical treatment of the leached slag and re-leaching using either fresh or recycled solution were also explored. The desilication step was carried out by treating the leachate solution with powdered CaO, varying the amounts of CaO used. Finally, the desilicated leach solution was sparged with a CO2 gas mixture, after which the precipitate was allowed to age in the solution. The carbonation and aging temperatures and times were varied. As much as 67% of the Al was leached from the slag. The desilication process successfully removed 88% of the Si. The precipitation process produced a product composed mostly of bayerite [Al(OH)3], but some tests had considerable amounts of the unwanted phase dawsonite [NaAlCO3(OH)2]. The results indicated that the highest Al recovery was obtained using low concentrations of Na2CO3 solutions, and aluminum tri hydroxide is formed from these solutions at low temperatures at a fast rate compared to higher solution concentrations and temperatures.
Does God Work in All Things to the Good of Those Who Love Him? Family Caregivers of Persons with Early-Stage Dementia Share Their Spiritual Struggles
Authors: McGee Jocelyn Shealy , Davie Morgan , Meraz Rebecca , Myers Dennis , McElroy Michaela
Published: July 2022

Spiritual struggles are distressing thoughts, feelings, or shifts in behaviors pertaining to faith/life philosophy in response to traumatic/stressful experiences. There is limited research on this phenomenon among family caregivers of persons in the early-stages of dementia (PWD). The purpose of this qualitative study, therefore, was to better understand spiritual struggles in this population. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, we analyzed interviews of 28 caregivers of PWD in the early stages. There were three broad areas for spiritual struggles in their narratives: (1) transpersonal spiritual struggles (e.g., struggles with God or a higher power in the context of caregiving); (2) interpersonal spiritual struggles (e.g., struggles with communities of faith related to the lived experience of being a caregiver of a loved one with dementia); and (3) intrapersonal spiritual struggles (e.g., struggles around beliefs, morality or ultimate meaning related to caregiving). Themes and subthemes under each of these areas are expounded upon. The importance of identifying/addressing spiritual struggles among family caregivers of PWD and areas for future research are highlighted.