bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nidificação de Parachartergus pseudapicalis Willink em substrato vegetal (Hymenoptera, Polistinae)
Authors: Ferreira Eike Daniel Folha , Matheus Dias de Oliveira Tomás , Teofilo-Guedes Gabriel Silva , Souza Marcos Magalhães de
Published: October 2022

Vespas sociais utilizam diferentes substratos para nidificação, incluindo construções humanas e numerosas espécies vegetais. Trabalhos já foram publicados a respeito da seleção de substratos para nidificação por vespas neotropicais, todavia há poucas informações para a espécie Parachartergus pseudapicalis Willink. No presente trabalho, reportam-se quatro registros de nidificação desta espécie, no domínio de Mata Atlântica, em 2013, 2014 e 2022, no município de Inconfidentes, Minas Gerais. Levou-se em consideração seleção de substrato e coletando-se os indivíduos para identificação das espécies. Não se encontraram padrões de similaridade morfológica entre as espécies vegetais que pudessem evidenciar preferência das vespas, mas sim quando consideradas as ocorrências no contexto da paisagem, de modo que os ninhos se encontravam em áreas de topografia relativamente deprimida e nas proximidades de corpos de água. Portanto, considera-se que a presença de recursos hídricos possa ser a variável de importância para a seleção de substratos para nidificação por P. pseudapicalis.
MULTIFUNCTIONAL COMPOSITE REBARS FOR DISTRIBUTED STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES
Authors: ZHANG QIANYUN , BARRI KAVEH , WANG ZHONG LIN , ALAVI AMIR H.
Published: October 2022

Structural health monitoring (SHM) of reinforced concrete structures is a rapidly developing field with significant advancements over the last decade. Most of the existing SHM systems rely on a large number of point sensors attached to or embedded inside the structures. The sensor network should be densely distributed on the structure or around the potential damage areas for an acceptable damage detection performance. Apparently, this is not an optimal solution for an effective cost. On the other hand, issues such as securing a reliable power supply, cable connections and maintenance costs have remained a major challenge for current distributed SHM systems. To cope with these challenges, we propose a novel concept of multifunctional composite reinforcement rebars with sensing and energy harvesting functionalities for reinforced concrete structures. We develop multifunctional rebars via introducing a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology into the fabrication process of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) rebars. The developed rebars with built-in TENG mechanism serve both as nanogenerators and distributed sensing systems under external mechanical vibrations. We perform experiential studies to verify the electrical and mechanical performance of the developed self-powering and selfsensing composite rebars.
VARIABLE STIFFNESS HONEYCOMB METAMATERIALS FOR ADAPTIVE ANKLE BRACE DESIGN
Authors: PARK YUJIN , DUBUC YINGJUN ZHAO , SLIDER AMY , . SESSOMS PINATA H. , FRASER JOHN J. , LOH KENNETH J.
Published: October 2022

Lateral ankle sprains cost billions of dollars in medical expenses annually and frequently result in long-term functional decline and a diminished health-related quality of life. While ankle braces have been shown to be effective in prophylaxis of subsequent ankle sprains, current braces are either too stiff and affect normal gait or too flexible and provide insufficient support during high-intensity activities. In this study, we proposed an adaptive ankle brace design that employs dynamically variable stiffness components to provide minimum support under normal gait movements and maximum rigidity under large ranges of motion. To achieve these unique properties, a honeycomb geometry was designed and three dimensionally printed with thermoplastic polyurethane to exhibit nonlinear, strain-stiffening, elastic behavior. We conducted a series of tensile load tests on different honeycomb unit cell configurations. First, the influence of unit cell designs on their mechanical strength and force-strain profiles was characterized. Second, experimentally calibrated finite element models of individual components simulated the mechanical response of the geometry, which were then used to optimize the geometrical parameters of the honeycomb shape (i.e., ring size, length of lateral elements, and thickness). The results identified promising design parameters for these honeycomb geometries that could be used to realize next-generation adaptive ankle braces.
A NOVEL FATIGUE DAMAGE SENSOR FOR STRESS/STRAIN-LIFE BASED PREDICTION OF REMAINING FATIGUE LIFETIME OF LARGE AND COMPLEX STRUCTURES: AIRCRAFTS
Authors: KAPLAN HALIT , OZKUL TARIK
Published: October 2022

In this paper, a new novel smart fatigue damage sensor (US Patent 8,746,077 B2) for continuous monitoring of fatigue health state of structural members of aircrafts is presented. The sensor has multiple parallel beams, each sensitive to different levels of fatigue lifetime. These beams are designed to fail prematurely but progressively as the sensor goes through the same fatigue cycles as the structural member it is attached to. Whenever fatigue level on an individual beam of the sensor exceeds the number of engineered fatigue cycles, that particular beam fails and sensor electronics can detect that failure and transmit this information wirelessly. Just like mileage signs on the road informing you about the distance left to your destination as you drive, multiple beams of the sensor serve similar purpose informing the user about the distance to failure progressively. Just as mileage signs can be placed at desired intervals, multiple beams can be engineered to give indication at desired fatigue milestones. This gives ability to monitor aging status of the structure and also help schedule predictive maintenance accordingly. The beams inside the sensor are designed to work based on different stress concentration factors (Notch Factors)/geometry to measure the level of structural fatigue health. The sensor needs to be mounted on the surface of structural member at fatigue critical locations just like strain gauges. Unlike strain gauges, a unique feature of the new sensor is its ability to operate without power source. This way it can serve for a long time without maintenance. Since sensor does not need power to operate, it can be embedded or mounted on critical components including composite structures or rotating helicopter shafts, gears, etc. After being attached to critical location of the real structure, the smart fatigue damage sensor goes through the same fatigue life experience of critical structural elements or mechanical components from the beginning of service life to the end. The fatigue sensing beams with different stress-strain and fatigue lifetime levels are designed to estimate the fatigue damage accumulation and remaining fatigue life of unidirectional and multidirectional structural or mechanical elements including composite structures. Since distributed fatigue sensor network system monitors the fatigue health conditions of structures periodically or on demand, the collected data can be used not only for condition-based fatigue life prediction but also for sensor based predictive fatigue maintenance and development. This new approach could also pave way to new fatigue design tools for fatigue sensitive complex, large and expensive engineering structures or mechanical systems of aircraft structures. Full paper will be concentrating design principles of the sensor based on Stress/Strain-Life Based Prediction principles.
BRIDGE SLAB ANOMALY DETECTOR USING U-NET GENERATOR WITH PATCH DISCRIMINATOR FOR ROBUST PROGNOSIS
Authors: YASUNO TAKATO , FUJII JUNICHIRO , NAKAJIMA MICHIHIRO , NODA KAZUHIRO
Published: October 2022

More than 50 years aging civil infrastructures have deteriorated, then structural diagnosis and periodic prognosis become critical for predictive maintenance. In terms of the bridge inspection every 5 years in Japan, we have collected a lot of human eye inspection. In context of digital structural monitoring, in addition to the past human inspection we make the most of drone flight images. However, human subjective judge includes individual bias, then a measurable objective score should be quantified using a unified anomaly distance from a health condition. Supervised learning, e.g. classification and semantic segmentation method is not always robust for unseen data. If we address the unlearned blind feature without any experience, prediction error might be a higher hurdle to overcome low precision and less recall problem. The generative anomaly detection via unsupervised learning has been growing in various fields, e.g. medical, manufacturing, food, and materials. If the distance and angle to the target damage interest could be controlled among a feasible range, and if the background noise could be removed and relaxed, then concrete surface damage and steel paint peel or corrosion would enable to discriminate them for predictive maintenance. In this paper, we propose a steel anomaly detector method to compute anomalous scores automatically, where we customize several U-shape skip-connected generator network with patch GAN discriminator. Exactly, we have create an encoder-decoder network using the VGG19 based U-Net generator with a patch discriminator. Furthermore, we explore robust unified anomaly score indicator for the target concrete and painted steel parts to analyze deterioration prognosis, so as to monitor the current status far from a health condition. Finally, focusing on the bridge slab, we exploit toward the inspection images with the number of 10,400, where they contains reinforcement concrete slab at 400 bridges under the direct control of national managers. In order to be stable learning and robust structural health monitoring, we demonstrate to visualize several anomalous feature map for precisely and full-covered digital inspection.
Safeguarding free will : William Ockham, Walter Chatton, and Richard Kilvington on the Will
Authors: Fedriga Riccardo , Michałowska Monika
Published: October 2022

This book features an array of varied issues that made up the much-debated will problem in late medieval philosophy and theology. It discusses concepts of the will produced in the first half of the fourteenth century, whereby its special focus is on the ideas that sprang up and evolved at Oxford in the 1330s. Its aim is to shed some light on the concepts of the will hatched at that time by exploring the themes and approaches adopted by William Ockham, Walter Chatton, and Richard Kilvington.
A community-led project in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe: implementing self-care and respectful maternity care
Authors: Mudokwenyu-Rawdon Christina , Maposhere Caroline , Mahere Gretel , Goshomi Unice
Published: October 2022

Background

Most (90%) maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. Self-care and respectful maternity care strategies are effective in reducing maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity. This article discusses a community-led project to train members of the community in self-care and respectful maternity care. This project aimed to contribute to the reduction of maternal and newborn deaths in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe.

Methods

Using a six-phase approach, 51 women and their families were trained in birth preparedness, complication prevention and readiness and respectful maternity care practices. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected before and after implementation of the training project using a checklist for quantitative data and guided in-depth interviews via focus group discussions and face-to-face interviews with the district nursing officer, two in-charges and two chairmen of the health centre committees. Comparative descriptive analysis and qualitative content analyses for the two sets of data was done for impact evaluation.

Results

Since the inception of self-care and respectful maternity care practice standards (January–December 2017) in the project sites, there have been no maternal deaths, compared to four maternal deaths in the previous year (January–December 2016). Antenatal care bookings within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy increased from 3−5 to 28 per month by the end of the project.

Conclusions

A reduction in maternal and neonatal deaths can be realised when a community of practice and a self-care and respectful maternity care model are supported by a well-equipped healthcare system.
Home birth prevalence and associated factors in southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Legese Tegene , Sileshi Samrawit , Daniel Abeba , Nigusie Tadesse , Henok Andualem , Bekele Yordanos , Negash Samuel , Mekonen Besufekad , Solomon Nahom , Kassie Aychew , Asmare Wondwossen Niguse
Published: October 2022

Background/Aim

In Ethiopia, antenatal care takes a focused approach, where women are encouraged to give birth in a health facility, as there are no services that provide skilled birth attendants for home births. However, nearly half of mothers booked for antenatal care give birth at home, which is associated with a higher risk of maternal mortality and poor outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of home birth and associated factors among women in southwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted using simple random sampling. Data were collected from 1 February 2018 to 30 April 2018 from 1831 women who had given birth in the last year in selected zones of southwest Ethiopia, using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were cleaned and exported to STATA 14 for analysis, both by bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. P≤ 0.05 at 95% confidence interval of odds ratio was taken as significant in the multivariable model.

Results

Approximately half (54.5%) of the participants gave birth at home. Rural residence (adjusted odds ratio=0.46, P=0.032), listening to the radio (adjusted odds ratio=0.53, P=0.047), attending 3–5 antenatal care visits (adjusted odds ratio=0.40, P=0.031), being widowed or divorced (adjusted odds ratio=2.89, P=0.045), prolonged labour (adjusted odds ratio=0.76, P=0.021) and waiting time for antenatal care services (adjusted odds ratio=1.85, P=0.042) were significantly associated with home birth.

Conclusions

More than half of the participants gave birth to their last child at home, and this decision was affected by residence, prolonged labour, antenatal care frequency, media, marital status, and waiting time for antenatal care services. Interventions to increase institutional birth should prioritise those who do not attend antenatal care, are not exposed to media or who are widowed or divorced. Similarly, reducing antenatal care waiting time and encouraging mothers to attend antenatal care are vital to improving rates of institutional birth in Ethiopia.
Perinatal outcomes and maternal complications at a county referral hospital in Kenya
Authors: Mulwa Joseph Kithokoo , Makworo Drusilla , Githinji Mwangi Elijah
Published: October 2022

Introduction/Aims

Maternal complications during pregnancy and labour are a leading cause of global maternal and neonatal mortality. Despite efforts by the Kenyan Government, the mortality rate in the country is now 22 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births. This study's aims were to observe and compare perinatal outcomes of newborns from women with and without maternal complications.

Methods

This was a prospective hospital-based paired cohort study of 510 pregnant women, 102 of whom presented with complications. Follow up took place up to 28 days after birth, at which point 132 women with complications and 364 women without complications completed the study (some women developed complications after initial recruitment and crossed over to the complications group). Data were gathered on obstetric characteristics and perinatal outcomes using a structured, researcher-administered questionnaire. Differences between the two groups (with and without complications) in terms of obstetric data were compared using Pearson's Chi-squared test. Associations between complications and obstetric characteristics were tested using relative risk.

Results

Almost all obstetric characteristics showed significant differences between groups, with the exception of a history of poor obstetric outcomes and known contracted pelvis. A mother with complications was more likely to have a newborn with a low Apgar score (relative risk 8.000, P<0.001), low birth weight (relative risk: 1.838, P<0.001), prematurity (relative risk 9.652, P<0.001), admission to the newborn unit (relative risk 8.000, P<0.001), complications after 28 days (relative risk: 2.186, P=0.017) and admission after 28 days (relative risk: 4.892, P=0.006). Mothers with complications were also more likely to have given birth by caesarean section (relative risk: 13.893, P<0.001).

Conclusions

The newborns born to women who experienced maternal complications were at a higher risk of poor perinatal outcomes compared to those born to women without maternal complications at the Kitui County Referral Hospital. Newborn care should be scaled up to deal with the most difficult cases brought about by maternal complications. Rural facilities should be well equipped to be able to deal with poor outcomes in newborns.
Factors contributing to home births among postpartum women in Manzini, Swaziland
Authors: Msibi Zethu Sandrah , Ntsoele Monica Motsegoane Naomi , Phaladi-Digamela Rebecca Mauwane
Published: October 2022

Background/Aims

Home births carry risks, especially in underdeveloped areas, including labour and childbirth complications and maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Intrapartum care offered in healthcare facilities has fewer risks, as they employ skilled birth attendants and medical equipment. However, widespread provision of intrapartum care remains challenging in Swaziland. The incidence of avoidable intrapartum maternal and perinatal challenges could be reduced if more women gave birth accompanied by skilled birth attendants. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the factors associated with home birth in Swaziland, despite the practice being discouraged.

Methods

A qualitative design using convenient sampling was used. A total of 13 postpartum women took part in the study, who gave birth at home and brought their newborn babies to a well-baby clinic for immunisation 3 days after birth. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted and the data were subjected to thematic analysis. One theme was identified with associated subthemes.

Results

Personal factors formed the main theme describing the reasons for home birth. The subthemes were ignorance, silent labour, financial problems and access to a traditional birth attendant.

Conclusions

Enhanced health education during antenatal care on labour signs as well as reduced or abolished hospital fees for pregnant women and improved availability of ambulance services may help address women's reasons for choosing home birth. Encouraging women to give birth with a skilled birth attendant is important to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
The unmet need for contraception: advancing social and behavioural change communication to ensure quality maternal health in Nigeria
Authors: Afolabi Adebukunola Olajumoke
Published: October 2022

Background

Intervention programmes in Africa have attempted to address issues relating to unmet needs for contraception, but corresponding behavioural changes in the population remain marginal. This review examines women with an unmet need for contraception both globally and across regions in Africa and proposes a behaviour change strategy towards ensuring quality maternal health services.

Methods

Using data obtained from Google Scholar, Cochrane, Ref seek, PubMed and Medline, a systematic review was undertaken to identify global and regional variations in the unmet need for contraception. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis checklist was used as a guide.

Results

The prevalence of contraceptive use among married women globally was 58.0%. An estimated 12.0% of women had an unmet need for contraception globally, while 3.0% of married women in developing countries were unaware of modern contraception. In Africa, the average prevalence of unmet need for contraception was 22%, with southern and western Africa both reported that a quarter of married women or those in a sexual relationship had an unmet need for contraception. In Nigeria, almost one in five women (19%) had an unmet need for contraception. Reasons for not using contraception included a fear of side effects or objection from a spouse or family member. Behavioural change communication demonstrated significant success in improving reproductive healthcare across the world.

Conclusions

Africa reports a higher prevalence of the unmet need for contraception than the global average. Social and behaviour change communication can resolve misconceptions that limit women's acceptance, access and use of reproductive health services, including contraception, but improvements are needed, especially around improving women's ability to make their own decisions regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Low partograph completion in a public health facility in northern Uganda: a retrospective review of maternity records
Authors: Nassaka Laillah , Udho Samson
Published: October 2022

Background/Aims

Low levels of partograph documentation and completion in Uganda by skilled health personnel is an ongoing problem. Completion of the partograph lowers the maternal mortality ratio by allowing for the early detection and management of childbirth complications, lowering the incidence of maternal death from preventable causes. However, there is a scarcity of recent studies focused on assessing partograph completion to the required standards. The aim of this study was to assess partograph documentation during monitoring of labour by skilled health personnel.

Methods

A retrospective desk review of 400 partographs from women who laboured and gave birth at the Lira Regional Referral Hospital between 1 July and 31 December 2019 was conducted. A structured checklist was used to extract data on completion of the partograph.

Results

Only 5% of the partographs were filled to the required standards. Average documentation of the parameters of a partograph to the required standards was 45.1% for fetal monitoring, 44.8% for labour progress, and 15.6% for maternal monitoring.

Conclusions

Documentation of different parameters of the partograph by skilled health personnel in public health facilities in northern Uganda was generally low. The Ministry of Health should strengthen partograph audit exercises and support supervision of and in-service capacity development training for skilled health personnel in high-volume facilities on partograph documentation.
Delivering compassionate care in nursing
Authors: Lister Lindsey
Published: October 2022

Compassion is a cornerstone of nursing practice. Lindsey Lister and Catherine Best look at the effect of compassion fatigue and how this can be overcome

Compassion is essential to the delivery of good patient care. However, due to the demands faced by the nursing workforce, many are at risk of compassion fatigue. Cultivating self-compassion can promote resilience and there are several models of compassion which can encourage compassion in the workforce. Compassion training may be needed to support nurses.
Thermal Coupling Simulation of Electro-Hydrostatic Actuator Subjected to Critical Temperature Conditions
Authors: Han Xu , Minav Tatiana , Wang Mingkang , Fu Yongling , Pietola Matti
Published: October 2022

Electro-hydrostatic actuators (EHAs) are emerging transmission techniques originated from aerospace industry and being introduced to various application fields, such as ships, robots, construction machines, and machine tools. Despite the advantages of high efficiency, easy maintenance, electrified power, etc., EHAs are usually self-contained integrated devices, resulting in low heat dissipation ability. Therefore, thermal coupling models are necessary for the evaluation of each design option during the EHA development. In this paper, a thermal coupling model was established for EHA thermal characteristic analysis during the detail design stage. The disciplines of electrics, mechanics, system level hydraulics, losses, and control are implemented by lumped parameter modeling while the disciplines of thermodynamics and fluid dynamics are simulated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Subsequently, a simulation analysis focusing on the critical temperature conditions was conducted, and the dynamic thermal and power responses were achieved. The simulation results are applicable to gain confidence for EHA detail design work as well as proved the functions of the proposed model as a practical development tool.
Volumetric assessment and longitudinal changes of subcortical structures in formalinized Beagle brains
Authors: Del Signore Francesca , Arribarat Germain , Della Salda Leonardo , Mogicato Giovanni , Deviers Alexandra , Cartiaux Benjamin , Vignoli Massimo , Peran Patrice , de Pasquale Francesco
Published: October 2022

High field MRI is an advanced technique for diagnostic and research purposes on animal models, such as the Beagle dog. In this context, studies on neuroscience applications, e.g. aging and neuro-pathologies, are currently increasing. This led to a need for reference values, in terms of volumetric assessment, for the structures typically involved. Nowadays, several canine brain MRI atlases have been provided. However, no reports are available regarding the measurements’ reproducibility and little is known about the effect of formalin on MRI segmentation. Here, we assessed the segmentation variability of selected structures among operators (two operators segmented the same data) in a sample of 11 Beagle dogs. Then, we analyzed, for one Beagle dog, the longitudinal volumetric changes of these structures. We considered four conditions: in vivo, post mortem (after euthanasia), ex vivo (brain extracted and studied after 1 month in formalin, and after 12 months). The MRI data were collected with a 3 T scanner. Our findings suggest that the segmentation procedure was overall reproducible since only slight statistical differences were detected. In the post mortem/ ex vivo comparison, most structures showed a higher contrast, thereby leading to greater reproducibility between operators. We observed a net increase in the volume of the studied structures. This could be justified by the intrinsic relaxation time changes observed because of the formalin fixation. This led to an improvement in brain structure visualization and segmentation. To conclude, MRI-based segmentation seems to be a useful and accurate tool that allows longitudinal studies on formalin-fixed brains.
Risks for death after admission to pediatric intensive care (PICU)—A comparison with the general population
Authors: Hannegård Hamrin Tova , Eksborg Staffan
Published: October 2022

Objective/aim

The aim of the study was to quantify excess mortality in children after admission to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), compared to the age and sex matched general Swedish population.

Design

Single-center, retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Registry study of hospital registers, a national population register and Statistics Sweden.

Patients

Children admitted to a tertiary PICU in Sweden in 2008–2016.

Interventions

None.

Main results

In total, 6,487 admissions (4,682 patients) were included in the study. During the study period 444 patients died. Median follow-up time for the entire PICU cohort was 7.2 years (IQR 5.0–9.9 years). Patients were divided into four different age groups (0–28 d, > 28 d -1 yr, > 1–4 yr, and > 4 yr) and four different risk stratification groups [Predicted Death Rate (PDR) intervals: 0–10%, > 10–25%, > 25–50%, and > 50%] at admission. Readmission was seen in 929 (19.8%) patients. The Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) were calculated using the matched Swedish population as a reference group. The SMR for the entire study group was 49.8 (95% CI: 44.8–55.4). For patients with repeated PICU admissions SMR was 108.0 (95% CI: 91.9–126.9), and after four years 33.9 (95% CI: 23.9–48.0). Patients with a single admission had a SMR of 35.2 (95% CI: 30.5–40.6), and after four years 11.0 (95% CI: 7.0–17.6). The highest SMRs were seen in readmitted children with oncology/hematology (SMR = 358) and neurologic (SMR = 192) diagnosis. Children aged >1–4 years showed the highest SMR (325). In PDR group 0–10% children with repeated PICU admissions (n = 798), had a SMR of 100.

Conclusion

Compared to the matched Swedish population, SMRs were greatly elevated up to four years after PICU admission, declining from over 100 to 33 for patients with repeated PICU admissions, and from 35 to 11 for patients with a single PICU admission.
Acceptability of the Wulira app in assessing occupational hearing loss among workers in a steel and iron manufacturing industry
Authors: Atukunda Immaculate , Semulimi Andrew Weil , Bwambale Festo , Mumbere Joab , Twinamasiko Nelson , Nakabuye Mariam , Mukisa John , Mukunya David , Batte Charles
Published: October 2022

Background

Industrial workers are at a high risk of acquiring noise induced hearing loss, yet there is minimal hearing loss screening of such groups of people. Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), the gold standard for hearing loss screening, is expensive, and not readily available at health sites. Mobile audiometry can bridge this gap. However, there is limited knowledge on its acceptability in low-income countries like Uganda. We aimed to assess the acceptability of using the Wulira App, a validated mobile phone app, in assessing hearing loss among industrial workers in Kampala.

Methods

We carried out a qualitative study in a steel and iron manufacturing industry in Kampala, in April 2021. Four Focus group discussions (FGDs) with 8 participants per FGD, and 12 In-depth Interviews (IDI), were conducted on the industrial workers. The industrial workers were first tested for hearing loss, then enrolled for the FGDs and IDI. A semi-structured interview guide was used. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim. Themes were derived using thematic content analysis, borrowing from Sekhon’s model of Acceptability of Health Interventions.

Results

Industrial workers found the Wulira App user friendly, cheap, time saving, and an effective hearing loss assessment tool. However, barriers such as lack of smart phones, difficulty in navigating the app, and fear of getting bad news hindered the App’s acceptability, as a hearing assessment tool.

Conclusion

Hearing loss assessment using Wulira App was acceptable to the industry workers. There is need of informing industrial workers on the essence of carrying out regular hearing loss screening, such that barriers like fear of getting screened are overcome.
Effect of asymptomatic transmission and emergence time on multi-strain viral disease severity
Authors: Alizad-Rahvar Amir Reza , Sadeghi Mehdi
Published: October 2022

In a viral epidemic, the emergence of a novel strain with increased transmissibility (larger value of basic reproduction number R0) sparks the fear that the increase in transmissibility is likely to lead to an increase in disease severity. It is required to investigate if a new, more contagious strain will be necessarily dominant in the population and resulting in more disease severity. In this paper, the impact of the asymptomatic transmission and the emergence time of a more transmissible variant of a multi-strain viral disease on the disease prevalence, disease severity, and the dominant variant in an epidemic was investigated by a proposed 2-strain epidemic model. The simulation results showed that considering only R0, is insufficient to predict the outcome of a new, more contagious strain in the population. A more transmissible strain with a high fraction of asymptomatic cases can substantially reduce the mortality rate. If the emergence time of the new strain is closer to the start of the epidemic, the new, more contagious variant has more chance to win the viral competition and be the dominant strain; otherwise, despite being more contagious, it cannot dominate previous strains. In conclusion, three factors of R0, the fraction of asymptomatic transmission, and the emergence time of the new strain are required to correctly determine the prevalence, disease severity, and the winner of the viral competition.
Establishment of a culture model for the prolonged maintenance of chicken feather follicles structure in vitro
Authors: Mallet Corentin , Souci Laurent , Ledevin Mireille , Georgeault Sonia , Larcher Thibaut , Denesvre Caroline
Published: October 2022

Protocols allowing the in vitro culture of human hair follicles in a serum free-medium up to 9 days were developed 30 years ago. By using similar protocols, we achieved the prolonged maintenance in vitro of juvenile feather follicles (FF) microdissected from young chickens. Histology showed a preservation of the FF up to 7 days as well as feather morphology compatible with growth and/or differentiation. The integrity of the FF wall epithelium was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy at Day 5 and 7 of culture. A slight elongation of the feathers was detected up to 5 days for 75% of the examined feathers. By immunochemistry, we demonstrated the maintenance of expression and localization of two structural proteins: scaffoldin and fibronectin. Gene expression (assessed by qRT-PCR) of NCAM, LCAM, Wnt6, Notch1, and BMP4 was not altered. In contrast, Shh and HBS1 expression collapsed, DKK3 increased, and KRT14 transiently increased upon cultivation. This indicates that cultivation modifies the mRNA expression of a few genes, possibly due to reduced growth or cell differentiation in the feather, notably in the barb ridges. In conclusion, we have developed the first method that allows the culture and maintenance of chicken FF in vitro that preserves the structure and biology of the FF close to its in vivo state, despite transcriptional modifications of a few genes involved in feather development. This new culture model may serve to study feather interactions with pathogens or toxics and constitutes a way to reduce animal experimentation.
HIV-related stigma experiences and coping strategies among pregnant women in rural Uganda: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Jolle Judith , Kabunga Amir , Okello Tonny Owili , Kadito Esther Oloi , Aloka Jimmy , Otiti Geoffrey , Aluku Agnes Adong , Kumakech Edward , Udho Samson
Published: October 2022

Background

HIV-related stigma is a global problem among HIV clients with far-reaching effects including increased rates of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. However, HIV-related stigma experiences and coping strategies have received little attention, especially among pregnant women in rural settings. We explored the HIV-related stigma experiences and coping strategies among pregnant women in rural northern Uganda.

Methods

This was a qualitative descriptive study conducted among HIV-positive pregnant women seeking care at Aboke Health Center IV, Kole district, northern Uganda. We conducted 12 in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analyzed using the inductive thematic approach of Braun and Clarke.

Results

The age range of the 12 participants was 17 to 35 years while the average duration with HIV since diagnosis was five years. The majority of the participants were subsistence farmers who had attained a primary level of education. Social rejection and public ridicule were identified as HIV-related stigma experiences while ignoring, social support, and prayers were identified as HIV-related coping strategies among the study participants.

Conclusion

Enacted HIV-related stigma is common among pregnant women in rural northern Uganda. Healthcare providers should work closely with HIV-positive women and other stakeholders to identify and strengthen HIV-related stigma coping strategies among pregnant women in rural settings.
Association between lifestyle choices and mental health among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Ghali Hela , Ghammem Rim , Baccouche Imen , Hamrouni Mouna , Jedidi Nada , Smaali Hichem , Earbi Souha , Hajji Balkis , Kastalli Amina , Khalifa Hind , Maagli Khalil Bilel , Romdhani Rawia , Halleb Heni , Jdidi Farouk
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Mental health is recognized as a critical component of public health Given the close relationship between mental health and life style and the importance of students as valuable human resources, the present study aimed at determining the relationship between life style and mental health among medical students in Sousse during COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in university students from the first to the fifth grade of the Faculty of Medicine of Sousse during the academic year 2020/2021. Data were collected anonymously via an online questionnaire published on the Facebook groups of each grade, on december 2020. The online survey consisted of three sections. The first one aimed to collect sociodemographic information. The second section of the survey addressed recent lifestyle choices and the third one assessed psychological distress using the French version of 12 items of The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The significance level was considered 0.05.

Results

Overall 147 were studied. Using the bimodal scoring, the total score was between 0 and 12, to evoke psychiatric disorders, we set the threshold of 4. For our sample, the median scale was 7 [4-9], and more than half of the students (68%; n = 100) had a score higher than 4. Psychiatric disorder was significantly more frequent in female students (73.3% vs 42.3%; p = 0.002). Higher GHQ-scale was found in younger students, foreigners, students who need more than 30 minutes to get to the faculty, unemployed students, and students of fifth grade. However, differences were not statistically significant. Regarding lifestyle choices, we found that physical inactivity, no smoking habits, no alcohol use, no illicit substance use, other substance use, changing in eating habits, and absence of coping methods of stress were higher in students with psychiatric disorders. However, this association was statistically significant only for physical activity (p = 0.016). The results of the regression analysis suggest female gender as an independent predictor of high GHQ-12 scores. Practicing physical activity was found as protective factor for psychiatric disorders.

Conclusion

Considering the vital role of medical students in providing and promoting community health, the need for more detailed planning and interventions to improve their life style and mental health is essential.
A novel criteria on exponentially passive analysis for Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy of neutral dynamic system with various time-varying delays
Authors: Tranthi Janejira , Botmart Thongchai
Published: October 2022

This paper is the first studying on designing exponentially passive analysis for T-S fuzzy of dynamic systems with various time-varying delays such as neutral, discrete, and distributed time-varying delays. Constructing the new Lyapunov-Krasovskii function and the Newton-Leibniz theory, the zero equations, and the matrix inequality techniques, the multiple delay-dependent criteria, with assuring exponentially passive on the discussed T-S fuzzy system, are defined in respect of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) that can be checked easily using the LMI toolbox of MATLAB. Those approaches give less conservative, exponentially passive criteria for special cases of general stability of a neutral differential system. Furthermore, the results of this study are delay-dependent, which depend on the lower and upper bound with the time-varying delay. Lastly, some numerical examples illustrate the performance of our criteria based on the results obtained and summarize some of the previous achievements.
A meta-epidemiological assessment of transparency indicators of infectious disease models
Authors: Zavalis Emmanuel A. , Ioannidis John P. A.
Published: October 2022

Mathematical models have become very influential, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data and code sharing are indispensable for reproducing them, protocol registration may be useful sometimes, and declarations of conflicts of interest (COIs) and of funding are quintessential for transparency. Here, we evaluated these features in publications of infectious disease-related models and assessed whether there were differences before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and for COVID-19 models versus models for other diseases. We analysed all PubMed Central open access publications of infectious disease models published in 2019 and 2021 using previously validated text mining algorithms of transparency indicators. We evaluated 1338 articles: 216 from 2019 and 1122 from 2021 (of which 818 were on COVID-19); almost a six-fold increase in publications within the field. 511 (39.2%) were compartmental models, 337 (25.2%) were time series, 279 (20.9%) were spatiotemporal, 186 (13.9%) were agent-based and 25 (1.9%) contained multiple model types. 288 (21.5%) articles shared code, 332 (24.8%) shared data, 6 (0.4%) were registered, and 1197 (89.5%) and 1109 (82.9%) contained COI and funding statements, respectively. There was no major changes in transparency indicators between 2019 and 2021. COVID-19 articles were less likely to have funding statements and more likely to share code. Further validation was performed by manual assessment of 10% of the articles identified by text mining as fulfilling transparency indicators and of 10% of the articles lacking them. Correcting estimates for validation performance, 26.0% of papers shared code and 41.1% shared data. On manual assessment, 5/6 articles identified as registered had indeed been registered. Of articles containing COI and funding statements, 95.8% disclosed no conflict and 11.7% reported no funding. Transparency in infectious disease modelling is relatively low, especially for data and code sharing. This is concerning, considering the nature of this research and the heightened influence it has acquired.
Preservation of pelvic floor muscles contributes to early continence recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy
Authors: Nakamura Masaki , Yamada Yuta , Sato Yusuke , Honda Kazuki , Yamada Daisuke , Kawai Taketo , Akiyama Yoshiyuki , Suzuki Motofumi , Kume Haruki
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Postoperative recovery of urinary continence has a great impact on quality of life for patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). A variety of surgical techniques including reconstruction of the periurethral structure have been introduced, and yet there are no effective methods that promote early urinary continence recovery after surgery. We hypothesized that the preservation of pelvic floor muscle structure could be responsible for early recovery of urinary continence after surgery.

Methods

A total of 94 consecutive patients who underwent RARP at our hospital were enrolled in this study. Operative video records were reviewed and the severity of pelvic floor muscle injury was classified according to the scoring system that we devised in this study. Briefly, damage of pelvic floor muscles was classified into 4 categories; intact, fascial injury, unilateral muscle injury, and bilateral muscle injury. The volume of urinary incontinence was measured for 2 days after removal of the urethral catheter, and the incontinence ratio (amount of incontinence/total volume of urine per day) was calculated. Predictive factors for immediate incontinence after catheter removal were identified by multivariate regression analysis.

Results

The severity of puboperineal muscle injury was significantly associated with the early incontinence ratio after catheter removal (p < 0.001). Age at surgery and severity of puboperineal muscle injury were independent predictors for early incontinence after catheter removal.

Conclusion

Preservation of the pelvic floor muscle, particularly the puboperineal muscle is an important factor for early continence recovery after RARP.
Lil Miquela in the folds of fashion: (Ad-)dressing virtual influencers
Authors: Brachtendorf Charlotte
Published: October 2022

Since her debut on Instagram in 2016, Lil Miquela has amassed over 3 million followers. She was the first of many virtual influencers; avatars with a hyper-realistic humanoid appearance who operate on social media. This article investigates how the fashioning of virtual influencers informs the relationship between virtual and human bodies. A visual and textual analysis of virtual influencers on Instagram has revealed that they are emblematic of a coalescence between the virtual and the actual. Virtual influencers often evoke discussions about human nature because their cyberpunk narratives and uncanny appearance position them as autonomous posthuman subjects. Virtual influencers are positioned as Bodies without Organs, as their bodies can be manipulated into any form. Yet, they adhere to normative ideals of youth, slimness and beauty, encouraging their audiences to follow suit. Their fashion reflects the streetwear aesthetic but is often designed by luxury brands. This strategy positions virtual influencers as authentic, while generating visibility within the attention economy. Further, the Deleuzian concept of the fold serves as a metaphor to understand fashion as an interface between surface and depth. It is fashion in its folded form that hominizes virtual influencers, although they are merely a fashionable surface.
Cayo Julio César en Britania
Authors: Novillo López Miguel Ángel
Published: October 2022

Si bien fue Piteas de Massalia quien a finales del siglo IV a. C. aportó las primeras relaciones sobre Britania, para la mayoría de los intelectuales del Alto Imperio fue una cuestión irrefutable que no había sido el explorador griego, sino Cayo Julio César, el primero en haber llegado a la isla. César arribó a Britania en dos ocasiones, en 55 a. C. y en 54 a. C. Teniendo presentes las campañas en curso contra las tribus galas, en el presente artículo tratamos de dar respuesta a las siguientes preguntas: ¿Por qué centraría su atención en un lugar que, a priori, no representaba ningún peligro inminente? ¿Qué esperaba lograr con estas acciones? ¿Qué consecuencias tendría para Britania y para Roma la llegada del procónsul a la isla?
Tanta pestilentia fuit…
Authors: Casinos Mora F. Javier
Published: October 2022

Este trabajo trata acerca de los recursos arbitrados en Roma para conjurar las epidemias. Tales recursos constituyen curiosas respuestas irracionales y supersticiosas al fenómeno, en las cuales se involucran religión, magia y derecho. Previamente se tratará de la terminología latina y griega empleada en los textos clásicos para designar lo que hoy en día llamamos ‘epidemia’, así como la etiología de esta de acuerdo con la concepción grecorromana.
Evergesías y Funciones Cultuales de los Sacerdotes y Sacerdotisas de Culto Imperial en la Bética
Authors: Alarcón Hernández Carmen
Published: October 2022

El objetivo del trabajo es proceder a una aproximación sobre las actuaciones cultuales de los sacerdotes y sacerdotisas de culto imperial en la provincia de la Bética. En este sentido, se analizan las cláusulas de la Lex de Flamonio Provinciae Narbonensis que aportan información sobre las posibles competencias cultuales de los flamines provinciae, así como los testimonios epigráficos de la Bética que documentan las acciones evergéticas de sacerdotes y sacerdotisas, cívicos y provinciales, en los que se presta especial atención a las relacionadas con la veneración de los césares y su domus.
Los Libertos de las familias privilegiadas de la Baetica y su representatividad pública
Authors: Blanco Robles Fernando
Published: October 2022

A partir de la evidencia de las inscripciones honoríficas de la provincia de la Baetica protagonizadas por libertos privados, procedemos a hacer un análisis desde el punto de vista social y epigráfico con el objetivo de comprender el grado de representatividad pública de este sector de la sociedad bética y, especialmente, las relaciones con sus patronos y gentes.