bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional Variation in Hormonal and Metabolic Parameters of White and Black Women With PCOS in the United States
Authors: VanHise Katherine , Chan Jessica L , Wertheimer Sahar , Handelsman Roy G , Clark Ekaterina , Buttle Rae , Wang Erica T , Azziz Ricardo , Pisarska Margareta D
Published: October 2022

Context

Ongoing research is needed to determine geo-epidemiologic differences of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Objective

Determine hormonal and metabolic parameters of women with PCOS in 2 environments.

Methods

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary-care based specialty clinics in Alabama and California.

Patients or Other Participants

A total of 1610 women with PCOS by National Institutes of Health Criteria from 1987 to 2010.

Interventions

Interview, physical examination, laboratory studies.

Main Outcomes Measures

Demographic data, menstrual cycle history, and hormonal and metabolic parameters were collected. Hirsutism was defined as modified Ferriman-Gallwey scores ≥4. Androgen values greater than laboratory reference ranges or >95th percentile of all values were considered elevated (hyperandrogenemia). Metabolic parameters included body mass index (BMI), waist-hip-ratio (WHR), glucose tolerance test, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores.

Results

Alabama women with PCOS were younger with a higher BMI. After adjustment for age and BMI, Alabama women with PCOS were more likely hirsute (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4-2.4; P < 0.001), with elevated HOMA-IR scores (adjusted beta coefficient 3.6; 95% CI, 1.61-5.5; P < 0.001). California women with PCOS were more likely to have hyperandrogenemia (free testosterone aOR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.11-0.18; P < 0.001; total testosterone aOR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.33-0.51). Results were similar when stratified by White race. In Black women with PCOS, BMI and WHR did not differ between locations, yet differences in androgen profiles and metabolic dysfunction remained.

Conclusion

Alabama women with PCOS, regardless of Black or White race, were more likely hirsute with metabolic dysfunction, whereas California women with PCOS were more likely to demonstrate hyperandrogenemia, highlighting potential environmental impacts on PCOS.
Severe Polyethylene Glycol Allergy Considerations for Perioperative Management: A Case Report
Authors: Wong-On-Wing Annie , Ruth Kenneth , Hinerth Kelly , Deng Alexandra , Woldekiros Maereg , Ellenbogen Richard G. , Crowder C. Michael
Published: October 2022

Patients with severe polyethylene glycol (PEG) allergies face broad challenges, especially when presenting to the hospital for surgery, as PEG is used often as an excipient in medications and in medical supplies. Although rare, this allergy is increasingly reported and likely underdiagnosed. We present a patient with known past anaphylactic reaction to PEG and a detailed account of her perioperative course. More broadly, we provide recommendations and resources for the safe management of similar patients with a severe PEG allergy.
Considerations to Prevent Intraoperative Fluid Spillage Into the Airway From a Bronchogenic Cyst During Anesthesia: A Case Report
Authors: Kiran Molli , Thotungal Rhea , Sharma Jai Prakash , Padala Sri Rama Ananta Nagabhushanam , Kushwaha Jitendra , Yadav Surendra Singh
Published: October 2022

In patients with bronchogenic cysts, spillage of cyst contents into the airway during anesthesia and surgery has been reported. Methods to prevent this complication are not definitive. A 21-year-old man with a large bronchogenic cyst was scheduled for cyst excision during which large quantities of purulent fluid spilled into the airway immediately after induction of anesthesia. This was due to unmasking of the existing communication between the cyst and the bronchial tree. Preoperative percutaneous drainage of the cyst contents, awake intubation, and lung isolation with a bronchial blocker before paralyzing and positioning the patient may be helpful.
HFSC e a formação de pesquisadores das humanidades
Authors: Da Costa Cardinot Douglas , Alexandre Luz Sabina
Published: October 2022

A pandemia do novo coronavírus trouxe para primeiro plano discussões sobre as ciências. Com elas, diferentes questões como controvérsias científicas, processos de validação e o caráter consensual e de coprodução das ciências ganharam espaço no debate público e político, evidenciando visões muitas vezes simplistas sobre o entrelaçamento entre ciência e sociedade. Neste sentido, apontamos que as discussões realizadas pelos science studies e pelos campos de História, Filosofia e Sociologia das Ciências (HFSC) enquanto disciplinas plenas podem trazer contribuições significativas para este debate. Isto posto, o objetivo principal desse artigo é analisar de que maneira a crise sanitária de COVID-19 evidenciou a necessidade de ampliar a formação de pesquisadores das áreas de ciências humanas e sociais de forma a abarcar discussões mais profundas sobre as ciências e seus processos de desenvolvimento. Indicamos, ao final, algumas potencialidades do aporte de HFSC nessas formações.
Mostrar, esconder: os enigmas no impressionismo vibrante de Sylvio Floreal
Authors: Paolillo Lucas
Published: October 2022

Este trabalho se propõe a realinhar criticamente o horizonte receptivo da obra e do itinerário de Sylvio Floreal (pseudônimo de Domingos Alexandre) em vista de seus problemas de recepção. Assim, o artigo foi estruturado em duas partes: na primeira, nos atemos aos aspectos teratológicos da formação no autor; na segunda, nos focamos em seu estilo de escrita. Para tanto, lançamos mão de uma abordagem própria ao domínio da sociologia da cultura, via aproximações entre literatura e sociedade, com a finalidade de oferecermos um panorama de problemas sólidos para futuras pesquisas.
Malaria parasite carriage before and two years after the implementation of seasonal malaria chemoprevention: a case study of the Saraya health district, southern Senegal
Authors: Manga Isaac Akhenaton , BA Mamadou Sarifou , Tairou Fassiatou , Seck Amadou , Kouevidjin Ekoue , Sow Doudou , Sylla Khadime , Ndiaye Magatte , Ba Fall Fatou , Gueye Alioune Babara , Diallo Ibrahima , Ndiop Médoune , Ba Mady , Tine Roger Clément , Gaye Omar , Faye Babacar , Ndiaye Jean Louis Abdourahim
Published: October 2022

Background: Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) has been adopted and implemented in the southern regions of Senegal in children aged between three and 120 months since 2013. Scaling up this strategy requires its evaluation to assess the impact. This study was carried out to determine the dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum carriage before and after two years of SMC implementation.

Methods: Four household surveys were conducted in villages in the health district of Saraya, which is a SMC implementation area in Senegal. These villages were selected using probability proportional to size sampling. Each selected village was divided into segments containing at least 50 children. In each segment, a household questionnaire was administered to the parents or legal representatives of children aged three to 120 months. Blood smears were collected to determine P. falciparum prevalence by microscopy one month before the first round of SMC, one month after the last round of the first SMC campaign and two years after the start of the implementation.

Results: A total of 2008 children were included with a mean average age of 4.81 (+/-2.73) years. Of the study population, 50.33% were more than five years old and 50.3% were male. In 2013, mosquito net ownership was 99.4 % before the SMC campaign and 97.4% after. In 2015, it was 36.6% before and 45.8% after the campaign. In 2013, the prevalence of plasmodium carriage was 11.8% before and 6.1% after the SMC campaign. In 2015, the prevalence was 4.9% before the administration of SMC and this increased up to 15.3% after. Malaria prevalence was high among children over five years old and in boys.

Conclusions: The decrease in Plasmodium falciparum parasite prevalence, which subsequently increased after two years of SMC implementation in this study, suggests adding an extra cycle of the SMC or adjusting the administration period.
Parental Linguistic Inputs to Toddlers with Cochlear Implants during Parent-Toddler Interaction
Authors: Lee Youjin , Park Heesun , Sim Hyun Sub , Lee Youngmee
Published: October 2022

Objectives: Parental linguistic input is one of the most important factors in the early language environment of young children. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of parental linguistic input in toddlers with cochlear implants (CIs), aged 12-36 months, compared to those with typical hearing (TH); and to explore the relationships between parental linguistic input variables and the language development of toddlers in each group. Methods: Parental linguistic input to 14 toddlers with CIs and 18 toddlers with TH was examined during a 20 minute free-play activities. This study compared the amounts of parental linguistic input and the proportion of facilitative language techniques (FLTs) between the CI and TH groups. Results: Parents of toddlers with CIs used more utterances and shorter mean length of utterance than parents of toddlers with TH. However, toddlers with CIs were exposed to a similar number of different words compared to toddlers with TH. Parents of toddlers with CIs used less FLTs than parents of toddlers with TH. In the TH group, high- and low-level FLTs were significantly correlated with language skills of toddlers. However, there was no significantly relationship between parental linguistic input variables and toddlers’ language skills in the CI group. Conclusion: These results suggested that toddlers with CIs were exposed to a different quantity and quality of parental linguistic input compared to toddlers with TH. These findings can be used to develop the parent education program in the early intervention for toddlers with CIs.
Text Reading Fluency Error Analysis of Korean 1st and 2nd Graders with Developmental Dyslexia considering Semantic Knowledge
Authors: Cheon Haein , Yu Haerim , Pae Soyeong
Published: October 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of text reading fluency error analysis of Korean 1st and 2nd graders with developmental dyslexia considering semantic knowledge. Methods: Thirty developmental dyslexic children were divided into two groups of 15 children, one group with poor vocabulary and the other not. Both groups had similar word decoding abilities as determined by Korean Language based Reading Assessment (Pae, Kim, Yoon, & Jang, 2015). The children had normal intelligence and difficulties in reading. The task was the text taken from Korean Language based Reading Assessment. Considering semantic knowledge, the performance of text reading fluency and error types, the results of miscue analysis (MA) and Linguistic pattern analysis (LPA) were compared. Results: The group with poor vocabulary exhibited a lower frequency of errors in substitution and correction by miscue analysis. They also showed a lower error frequency in phoneme-grapheme non-correspondent errors by linguistic pattern analysis. Conclusion: According to the automaticity theory, we need to read texts with understanding on a semantic basis. Even with the same level of decoding, there were more errors in text reading fluency due to limited semantic knowledge in the group with poor vocabulary. Paragraphs in textbooks in the 1st and 2nd grades in Korea contain several phoneme-grapheme non-correspondent ‘eojeols’ that combine grammatical morpheme graphemes. Therefore, in addition to reading errors of grapho-phonology in syllable units, reading errors considering triple word-form bases should be examined.
The Effects of Vocabulary Intervention Based on Morphological Awareness on the Vocabulary Ability of Elementary School Students with Reading Disabilities
Authors: Kim Hyuna , Kim Ja-Kyoung
Published: October 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vocabulary intervention based on morphological awareness on the vocabulary ability of elementary school students with reading disabilities. Methods: A multiple baseline probe design across participants was used to verify the effects of the intervention. The subjects were three elementary school students with reading disabilities (two 3rd graders and one 4th grader). Vocabulary tests at the word level and sentence/paragraph level were conducted at the baseline, intervention, and maintenance phases. The vocabulary intervention based on morphological awareness consisted of 18 sessions (40-50 minutes for a session, 3 sessions per week) and five stages each session. Results: All subjects improved their vocabulary ability in both the word level and the sentence/paragraph level. Furthermore, the vocabulary scores of the subjects during the maintenance phase were close to the scores of the intervention phase. Conclusion: This study shows that vocabulary intervention based on morphological awareness is effective for improving the vocabulary ability of elementary school students with reading disabilities. Understanding the morphological structure of vocabulary helps learners with reading disabilities to improve some quantitative and qualitative growth of vocabulary and also has positive effects on the ability to read and understand texts.
The Korean Version of the Right Hemisphere Language Battery: Adaptation and Reliability
Authors: Yun Jihyeon , Chung Jee-Hye , Kim Yeong-Wook , Jung Il-Young
Published: October 2022

Objectives: This study presents the Korean version of the Right Hemisphere Language Battery (K-RHLB), reports the preliminary results in healthy subjects, and evaluates inter- and intra-rater reliability. Methods: Fifty-two healthy patients underwent the RHLB, which was adapted to the Korean language. The rater reliability of the Emphatic Stress Test, which is a subtest of the battery, was examined. For inter-rater reliability, three raters evaluated the focus prosody of 35 randomly chosen subjects. For intra-rater reliability, one rater re-evaluated the prosody within 2-week and 3-month intervals. Results: The total mean score of the K-RHLB result was 110.75 ± 2.90 out of 116. The mean percentages of correct responses in the subtests were high and appeared in the following order: Discourse Analysis (99.9%), Written Metaphor Test (99.6%), Lexical Semantic Test (99.3%), Picture Metaphor Test (98.7%), Emphatic Stress Test (94.4%), Inference Test (83.5%), and Humor Test (76.5%). In addition, the inter-rater agreement was high (Gwet’s chance-corrected agreement coefficients AC1 of 0.83 ± 0.02, p < 0.001), as was the intra-rater consistency (Gwet’s AC1 0.93 ± 0.01, p < 0.001). However, some changes in evaluation criteria were confirmed for retest intervals longer than 2 months [Cochran’s Q (2) = 13.82, p < 0.001]. Conclusion: The preliminary results of the K-RHLB in healthy subjects showed overall high scores. Both inter- and intra-rater reliabilities were acceptable. The K-RHLB can be a starting point for more detailed assessment and elaborate intervention in patients with right hemisphere damage. The battery can also be used to evaluate neurodevelopmental disorders with symptoms such as deficits in understanding non-literal languages, semantic integration, and perception and production of appropriate prosody.
The Effect of Phonics Intervention for Adult with Dyslexia: Case Study
Authors: Kim Ki-ju
Published: October 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine whether phonological processing skill-based phonics intervention is effective in improving phonological awareness, decoding, and spelling in adults with dyslexia. In addition, this study aimed to ascertain in detail the characteristics of decoding, spelling, and phonological awareness in adults with dyslexia. Methods: The participant of this study was a 46-year-old adult female with dyslexia, and a single subject experiment research method was used. An intervention program for phonological awareness, decoding, and spelling was conducted 28 times in total (3 baseline sessions, 22 intervention sessions, and 3 maintenance sessions) and her performance was assessed with assessments modified by the researcher. Results: It was confirmed that phonological processing skill-based phonics intervention is effective in improving decoding, spelling, and phonological awareness abilities. A detailed analysis of spelling errors in the adult with dyslexia revealed that errors for single vowels, basic consonants, and basic final consonant were the most common. A detailed analysis of errors by phonological awareness unit and task showed struggles with - in order of difficulty - deletion, blending, substitution, and discrimination. Among the discrimination tasks, final consonant discrimination was the most difficult. Conclusion: The results of this study are meaningful as basic data for improving the perception of adults with dyslexia and intervention program for them.
Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic for midwifery and nursing academics
Authors: Geraghty Sadie , Oliver Kim , Wang Carol Chunfeng
Published: October 2022

Background/Aims

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected teaching for nursing and midwifery academics, as it shifted from face-to-face to online teaching from home. However, their experiences and how this impacted their ability to fulfil their academic roles has not been reported. This study investigated midwifery and nursing academics' working from home experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and how this has impacted their ability to fulfil their academic roles.

Methods

A qualitative approach was used for this study, analysing demographics and the answers to open-ended questions from 91 midwifery and nursing academics.

Results

Six themes were derived: isolation, loneliness, work rituals, productivity, blurred boundaries and health and wellbeing. Generally, participants reported that they were more organised, focused and efficient, which gave them more time to spend with their families and pets. Most thought that they were more productive at home. However, the working environments for some participants were not ideal, as they were working in their kitchen or dining area, or in ‘make-do’ offices.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic posed new working challenges for academics, many of whom had worked from home for a few days, but then needed to work from home for extended periods because of lockdowns. Academics reported an overall positive outlook for working from home, as it enabled more family time and more productivity.
A Scottish university prescribing team's experiences and reflections during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Bell Suzanne , Coulson Arlene , Donnelly Stacey , Henderson Colette , Hodgson Alison , Rolfe Sandy
Published: October 2022

The onset of the pandemic and associated restrictions led to the closure of university buildings across Scotland in March 2020. This was immediately followed by the introduction and embedding of online learning, teaching and assessment from previous class or blended delivery modules across all curricula. Academics were required to structure and develop quality student materials from their own homes. In addition, approved programmes of study, such as the prescribing module, had to ensure governance and teaching and learning aligned to Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies requirements for students and staff now working and studying at home. There was a recognition that NHS stakeholders and clinical practitioners required support with continuing professional education incorporating robust awareness of critical practice needs and the safety of patients and staff in clinical areas.
Microdetection of Chromium Mixed–Valences using CuNi/Ti Electrode and Linear Sweep Voltammetry
Authors: M.Si Nirwan Syarif
Published: October 2022

An electrode of non-precious metal has the potency to be utilized as a working electrode for voltammetry measurements of Cr3+ and Cr6+.  The analytical performance of the electrode in determining specific metal species qualitatively and quantitatively was studied. The detection data were recorded and analyzed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), whereas scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy were used to determine the surface morphology and the presence of crystalline in the electrode. Electroanalytical performance was determined by linear sweep voltammetry. The results show that the reduction of Cr6+ to Cr3+ appeared at +0.84 V (vs Ag/AgCl) and the reduction of Cr3+ to Cr2+ at +0.74 V             (vs Ag/Ag).  The optimum conditions for measuring Cr3+ were found at pH 6, deposition time of 30 seconds, and a scan rate of 160 mVs-1. The optimum pH for measuring Cr6+ is 4, deposition time of 60 seconds, and a scan rate of 140 mVs-1. The regression curve for the Cr3+ is linear in concentration 1 – 10 gL-1 with a correlation coefficient of  0.9883 and a detection limit of 2.08 gL-1. While the Cr6+ is linear in the range of 1 – 10 gL-1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 and a detection limit of 2.18 gL-1. There is a slight difference in the individual measurement current and the mixture of Cr3+ and Cr6+ but with a good agreement for the oxidation-reduction potential. The measurement data analysis shows the feasibility of the electrode and the measurement system developed.
Tunable terahertz electromagnetically induced transparency based on a composite structure superconducting metamaterial
Authors: Li Chun , Teng Yan , Xiao Yuhua , Su Runfeng , Yu Mei , Juan Yue , Hua Min , He Jingjing , Jiang Ling
Published: October 2022

We experimentally present a tunable electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT)-like response in bright-bright mode resonators. In contrast to previous studies, we used NbN film and a gold film composite structure metamaterial. A significant slow-light effect could be observed at the transmission window, and the maximum group index could reach 100. As a variation in temperature alters the intrinsic ohmic loss of superconducting NbN film, a temperature-dependent transmittance and slow-light effect were observed. To better illustrate the physical mechanism of the two modes, a hybrid coupling model was introduced to fit the experimental transmission spectra and extract the characteristic parameters of sub-resonators. We found excellent agreement with experimental results. Our results provide deeper insight into the metamaterial analogs of an EIT-like response and offer an alternative approach for engineering slow-light devices, bandpass filters, and switches/modulators at terahertz frequencies.
Numerical demonstration of low-reflective wire grid polarizers with a patterned Fe2O3 absorptive layer
Authors: Zhao Zhuan , Ma Teng , Deng Haowei , Moosavi Seyed Ayoob , Zhang Haoshi , Zhang Bingzhi , Pan Shusheng
Published: October 2022

Absorptive polarizers
are
pivotal components for
realizing a low ambient reflection in liquid crystal displays (LCDs)
and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Different types of
absorptive polarizers have been proposed. Nevertheless, the
realization of compact and efficient absorptive polarizers remains
challenging. Wire grid polarizers (WGPs) are a promising solution
because of their high durability and relatively thin thickness. In
this paper, two structures of absorptive-WGPs have been proposed and
optimized at the target wavelength of 532 nm: one is based on a
patterned

F
e

2

O

3

/

A
l

bi-layer on top of a

S
i
O

2

substrate, and the second one builds
on the first one by depositing a

S
i
O

2

layer in the gaps of Al. The optimal
solutions exhibit a reflectance less than 5%, a transmittance over
45%, and an extinction ratio over 40 dB. To evaluate the
manufacturing feasibility, their sensitivity to the wire’s dimensional
parameters is investigated. Their great spectral performance and large
acceptance angles demonstrate that such polarizers have the potential
to significantly promote the development of current
display technologies.
Deep attentive convolutional neural network for automatic grading of imbalanced diabetic retinopathy in retinal fundus images
Authors: Li Feng , Tang Shiqing , Chen Yuyang , Zou Haidong
Published: October 2022

Automated fine-grained diabetic retinopathy (DR) grading was of great significance for assisting ophthalmologists in monitoring DR and designing tailored treatments for patients. Nevertheless, it is a challenging task as a result of high intra-class variations, high inter-class similarities, small lesions, and imbalanced data distributions. The pivotal factor for the success in fine-grained DR grading is to discern more subtle associated lesion features, such as microaneurysms (MA), Hemorrhages (HM), soft exudates (SE), and hard exudates (HE). In this paper, we constructed a simple yet effective deep attentive convolutional neural network (DACNN) for DR grading and lesion discovery with only image-wise supervision. Designed as a top-down architecture, our model incorporated stochastic atrous spatial pyramid pooling (sASPP), global attention mechanism (GAM), category attention mechanism (CAM), and learnable connected module (LCM) to better extract lesion-related features and maximize the DR grading performance. To be concrete, we devised sASPP combining randomness with atrous spatial pyramid pooling (ASPP) to accommodate the various scales of the lesions and struggle against the co-adaptation of multiple atrous convolutions. Then, GAM was introduced to extract class-agnostic global attention feature details, whilst CAM was explored for seeking class-specific distinctive region-level lesion feature information and regarding each DR severity grade in an equal way, which tackled the problem of imbalance DR data distributions. Further, the LCM was designed to automatically and adaptively search the optimal connections among layers for better extracting detailed small lesion feature representations. The proposed approach obtained high accuracy of 88.0% and kappa score of 88.6% for multi-class DR grading task on the EyePACS dataset, respectively, while 98.5% AUC, 93.8% accuracy, 87.9% kappa, 90.7% recall, 94.6% precision, and 92.6% F1-score for referral and non-referral classification on the Messidor dataset. Extensive experimental results on three challenging benchmarks demonstrated that the proposed approach achieved competitive performance in DR grading and lesion discovery using retinal fundus images compared with existing cutting-edge methods, and had good generalization capacity for unseen DR datasets. These promising results highlighted its potential as an efficient and reliable tool to assist ophthalmologists in large-scale DR screening.
Niobium-tantalum oxide as a material platform for linear and nonlinear integrated photonics
Authors: MacFarlane Neil , Schreyer-Miller Aaron , Foster Mark A. , Houck William D. , Foster Amy C.
Published: October 2022

Here we realize the first reported integrated photonic devices fabricated using sputtered niobium-tantalum oxide films. Sputtered niobium-tantalum oxide films are highly promising for integrated photonics as they are scalable to high volume manufacturing, possess high refractive index, and are transparent in the ultraviolet through near infrared wavelength range. At a wavelength near 1550 nm, we observe propagation losses as low as 0.47 dB/cm in waveguides and ring resonators with resonator quality factors as high as 860,000. We also characterize the nonlinear performance of these films and find a Kerr coefficient (n2) of 1.2 ( ± 0.2) × 10−18 m2/W. With this high Kerr coefficient we demonstrate optical parametric oscillation in a ring resonator and supercontinuum generation in a waveguide.
Tuning axial and lateral localization precision in 3D super-resolution microscopy with variable astigmatism
Authors: Chowdhury Rajdeep , Sau Abhishek , Chao Jerry , Sharma Ankith , Musser Siegfried M.
Published: October 2022

Astigmatism imaging is a three-dimensional (3D) single molecule fluorescence microscopy approach that yields super-resolved spatial information on a rapid time scale from a single image. It is ideally suited for resolving structures on a sub-micrometer scale and temporal behavior in the millisecond regime. While traditional astigmatism imaging utilizes a cylindrical lens, adaptive optics enables the astigmatism to be tuned for the experiment. We demonstrate here how the precisions in x, y, and z are inter-linked and vary with the astigmatism, z-position, and photon level. This experimentally driven and verified approach provides a guide for astigmatism selection in biological imaging strategies.
Tunability of space-time wave packet carrying tunable and dynamically changing OAM value
Authors: Zou Kaiheng , Su Xinzhou , Yessenov Murat , Pang Kai , Karapetyan Narek , Karpov Maxim , Song Hao , Zhang Runzhou , Zhou Huibin , Kippenberg Tobias J. , Tur Moshe , Abouraddy Ayman F. , Willner Alan E.
Published: October 2022

Space-time (ST) wave packets have gained much interest due to their dynamic optical properties. Such wave packets can be generated by synthesizing frequency comb lines, each having multiple complex-weighted spatial modes, to carry dynamically changing orbital angular momentum (OAM) values. Here, we investigate the tunability of such ST wave packets by varying the number of frequency comb lines and the combinations of spatial modes on each frequency. We experimentally generate and measure the wave packets with tunable OAM values from +1 to +6 or from +1 to +4 during a ∼5.2-ps period. We also investigate, in simulation, the temporal pulse width of the ST wave packet and the nonlinear variation of the OAM values. The simulation results show that: (i) a pulse width can be narrower for the ST wave packet carrying dynamically changing OAM values using more frequency lines; and (ii) the nonlinearly varying OAM value can result in different frequency chirps along the azimuthal direction at different time instants.
Knowledge, attitude, practices, and determinants of them toward tuberculosis among social media users in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Mahmud Sultan , Mohsin Md , Irfan Saddam Hossain , Muyeed Abdul , Islam Ariful
Published: October 2022

Objectives

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that causes thousands of deaths in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is one of the 30 high TB burden countries. In this study, we aimed to assess the knowledge, practices, and attitude toward TB, and to determine the factors associated with them among people who have internet access in Bangladesh. Design, Setting, and Participant: A web-based anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 20 to August 10, 2021, among people (age> = 18 years) who have internet access in Bangladesh. A comprehensive consent statement was included at the beginning of the survey and informed consent was taken.

Outcome measures

This study’s outcomes of interest were respondents’ adequate knowledge, good practices, and positive attitudes toward TB and were coded binarily. The association between respondents’ socio-demographic factors and knowledge, attitude, and practices toward TB was inspected using the Chi-square test and Multivariable logistic regression model.

Results

Among 1,180 respondents, 58.64% were males, and 62.37% were married. The majority of the participants (78.28%) were aged between 18 to 44 years. Overall adequate knowledge, favorable attitudes, and good practices about TB were found respectively in 47.8%, 44.75%, and 31.19% of the people with internet access in Bangladesh. Almost the same sets of associated factors were found to influence adequate knowledge, favorable attitudes, and good practices toward TB among social media users in Bangladesh. Males, young, unmarried, social media users with higher education, and urban social media users were more likely to have adequate knowledge, favorable attitudes, and good practices toward TB.

Conclusion

Policymakers need to design programs and interventions to improve knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward TB in Bangladesh with a particular focus on females, young and older people, people who live in rural areas, and illiterate/less educated people. Social media can be a powerful medium for disseminating scientific facts on TB and other diseases.
Over-indebtedness and health in Switzerland: A cross-sectional study comparing over-indebted individuals and the general population
Authors: Hämmig Oliver , Herzig Joanna
Published: October 2022

Background

Previous international studies have shown that over-indebtedness is associated with poor health. However, in Switzerland research addressing over-indebtedness is widely lacking, strongly needed and particularly important because it is evidently a rising but still commonly tabooed, socially “undesired” and highly stigmatized phenomenon that is rarely discussed and largely ignored and unexplored.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among over-indebted adults seeking advice from one of the four official debt advisory centers in the Canton of Zurich. The survey finally included 219 respondents participating voluntarily and anonymously. This sample was then linked with a comparable subsample of the nationally representative Swiss Health Survey of 2017, namely 1,997 respondents of the same age from the Canton of Zurich. For reasons of comparability identical health questions and measures were taken from the Swiss Health Survey and used in the over-indebtedness survey. The pooled or combined dataset covered a total of 2,216 adult individuals.

Results

Remarkably high prevalence rates and relative risks of poor self-rated health, severe musculoskeletal and sleep disorders and moderate to severe depression were observed among over-indebted individuals compared to the general population. More than 50% of the over-indebted individuals had poor general health or moderate to severe depression compared to the general population with 14% and 7%, respectively. And far above one third of the over-indebted but ‘only’ between 6% and 8% of the general population showed severe musculoskeletal disorders and sleep disorders. Even after adjustment for various control variables and covariates, over-indebtedness increased the odds ratios for poor health outcomes consistently and dramatically, i.e. by a factor of 8 and more (aOR = 8.5–11.6).

Conclusions

Over-indebtedness in Switzerland has particularly negative effects on various aspects of the health of the persons concerned, irrespective of their demographic characteristics and their social and employment status.
El aprendizaje y la enseñanza de la lectura y la escritura
Authors: Goodman Kenneth
Published: October 2022

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Semiolingüística aplicada y pedagogía del lenguaje
Authors: Cárdenas Pérez Alonso
Published: October 2022

Los desarrollos teóricos de las ciencias del lenguaje no siempre han sido consistentes en su aplicación en la docencia de las lenguas; una de las causas está en que la lingüística aplicada se reduce a la versión escolar de las teorías gramaticales sobre el uso; y, otra, en que las acciones emprendidas son poco productivas, de no ser por el objetivo de capacitar al estudiante en las consabidas habilidades de leer, escribir, hablar y escuchar.
Translanguaging as decoloniality-informed knowledge co-construction: a nexus analysis of an English-Medium-Instruction program in China
Authors: Song Yang
Published: October 2022

Recent studies have shown that translanguaging as a knowledge-construction process can be utilized to decolonize curricula that privilege English-mediated, class-specific knowledge and foster epistemic justice in educational settings. This study focuses on the process whereby translanguaging was mobilized by teachers, tutors, and international students to decolonialize the English-Medium Instruction (EMI) curriculum on an indigenous discipline in a top-rated Chinese university. Drawing on nexus analysis, this study delineates the ways the implemented EMI curriculum was shaped by two processes/practices: (1) intercultural translation as interdiscursive translanguaging, and (2) Chinese philosophy as an embodied way of life, as witnessed in both the teacher-directed interaction order in the classroom as well as in the dialogic interaction order in tutorial sessions, and mediated through the historical bodies of the participants. The analysis reveals that translanguaging provides valuable transknowledging opportunities that encourage negotiations among a plurality of discipline-specific knowledge systems and the construction of decoloniality-informed knowledge production and learning ecologies situated within the unequal geopolitics surrounding knowledge production; this aligns with translanguaging scholars’ decolonial agenda and contributes to developing an operational definition of “transknowledging” based on extant decolonial studies that emphasized the intertwined relationship between transknowledging and translanguaging in decolonializing the EMI curriculum.
On Opial-type inequality for a generalized fractional integral operator
Authors: Vivas-Cortez Miguel , Martínez Francisco , Valdes Juan E. Nápoles , Hernández Jorge E.
Published: October 2022

This article is aimed at establishing some results concerning integral inequalities of the Opial type in the fractional calculus scenario. Specifically, a generalized definition of a fractional integral operator is introduced from a new Raina-type special function, and with certain results proposed in previous publications and the choice of the parameters involved, the established results in the work are obtained. In addition, some criteria are established to obtain the aforementioned inequalities based on other integral operators. Finally, a more generalized definition is suggested, with which interesting results can be obtained in the field of fractional integral inequalities.
Synthesis of rhodium catalysts with amino acid or triazine as a ligand, as well as its polymerization property of phenylacetylene
Authors: Xu Rui , Zhang Mingyu , Zhang Yuyan , Jia Hongge
Published: October 2022

Three novel rhodium complexes, with l-tyrosine (l-Tyr), l-arginine (l-Arg), or 2,4-diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine (Dpt) as a ligand, named as [Rh(cod)(l-Tyr)], [Rh(cod)(l-Arg)], and [Rh(cod)(Dpt)2], respectively, had been synthesized for catalyzing the polymerization of phenylacetylene. Their yields were 62.34, 54.87, and 58.21%, respectively, by the most suitable synthesis conditions at 25°C for 4 h. The structures and purity of these complexes were proved by 1H NMR, element analysis, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). It has been examined that phenylacetylene could be polymerized by the three complexes as catalysts with high degrees of polymerization (n = 368, 385, and 664, respectively) and yields (about 87.62, 88.39, and 59.67%, respectively). In conclusion, compared with traditional [Rh–N] type catalysts, the novel [N–Rh–N] type catalyst ([Rh(cod)(Dpt)2]) gained better catalytic performance. By comparing the yield, Mw, and degree of their polymerization, the polymerization mechanism was found under the [N–Rh–N] type rhodium catalyst system.
Cellular cross talk between epicardial fat and cardiovascular risk
Authors: Patel Vishwa , Patel Jimik
Published: October 2022

A variety of fat compartments have several local and systemic effect and play a crucial role in the maintenance of health and development of disease. For the past few years, special attention has been paid to epicardial fat. It is the visceral fat compartment of the heart and has several local and systemic effects. It can perform a role in the development of cardiometabolic risk. The epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a unique and multifunctional fat compartment of the heart. It is located between the myocardium and the visceral pericardium. During normal physiological conditions, the EAT has metabolic, thermogenic, and mechanical (cardioprotective) characteristics. The EAT can produce several adipocytokines and chemokines depending on microenvironments. It can influence through paracrine and vasocrine mechanism and participate in the development and progression of cardiovascular (CVS) diseases. In addition, metabolic disease leads to changes in both thickness and volume of the EAT, and it can modify the structure and the function of heart. It has been associated with various CVS diseases such as, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease. Therefore, EAT is a potential therapeutic target for CVS risk.
Conservation and enhancement of naturally aged paper using bi-functionalized polyamidoamine (SiPAAOH)
Authors: Liao Yunfei , Fan Huiming , Zhang Yongli , Mou Hongyan , Li Fengyu , Zhou Ziyin , Liu Jianan
Published: October 2022

PAAs can be further functionalized (hydroxylation and alkoxylation) by side chain substitution. In this study, we synthesized a SiPAAOH containing hydroxyl and siloxane groups based on the Aza-Michael addition reaction and applied it for reinforcement of aged paper. The results showed that the optimum conditions of SiPAAOH synthesis were as follows: the monomer molar ratio of APTES to EtA was 0.7:0.3, the solvent system for SiPAAOH reinforced aged paper was ethanol/water = 1:5 (v/v). The alkaline SiPAAOH could increase the pH of paper to 7.68, and to improve the amount of alkaline reserve to 200 mmol/kg. The whiteness and color difference of the treated paper were not significantly different from those of the untreated paper, and the mechanical properties of the paper were obviously improved. The results of contact angle and thermogravimetry showed that the SiPAAOH-treated paper was hydrophobicity and high temperature resistance.
Dewatering properties of pulps made from different parts of a Norway spruce (Picea abies)
Authors: Sjöstrand Björn , Deshpande Raghu , Thyrel Mikael , Henriksson Gunnar
Published: October 2022

A single Norway spruce tree (Picea abies) was manually fractionated into heartwood, sapwood, juvenile wood and branches. These fractions were chemically pulped, individually, in laboratory scale. The pulps were characterized and investigated in relation to dewatering behavior and sheet strength properties. An unbleached and unbeaten commercial kraft pulp from softwood fibers was used as a reference, and the fractionated pulps were within the same range in all tested properties. The fractionated pulps were then compared with each other, and fiber characteristics were used to explain differences in dewatering and strength. Heartwood pulp results in stronger and stiffer papers that are harder to dewater. Sapwood pulp gives more open network structures resulting in easy dewatering and high air permeance, although with lower strength properties compared to heartwood. Pulp from Juvenile wood gives s quite strong but brittle sheets, with efficient dewatering. Pulp from branches gives paper sheets with efficient dewatering, air permeance and relatively high elongation of break but lower strength. The results show that there is definitely potential for utilizing more parts of the trees for pulp and paper making, especially when tailoring the raw material origins after preferred paper properties.
Could tear be an alternative specimen for SARS-CoV-2 detection?
Authors: Cetinkaya Yasemin Fatma , Hosbul Tugrul , Artuk Cumhur , Karacaylı Ceren , Bakir Fatih
Published: October 2022

Objectives

For a definitive diagnosis of COVID-19, respiratory tract samples are evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In our study, PCR using a tear sample was used to diagnose COVID-19, and it was questioned whether it was a screening method. Unlike the general practice, Schirmer strips were used instead of a swab for tear sample collection in this study. In addition, the diagnostic values of serum procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and Neutrophil (NEU) count in predicting COVID-19 disease from tears were also questioned.

Methods

A total of 94 patients who were positive for COVID-19 by PCR test were included in this study. Tear samples were obtained from patients with Schirmer strips, commonly used in eye examination, and studied with the PCR technique. CRP, PCT value, and NEU count were also compared between the positive and negative groups of the PCR. The obtained data were analyzed using the R Studio software, and the results were considered statistically significant for p<0.05.

Results

Of these patients, 61 (64.9%) tear PCR was negative, and 33 (35.1%) tear PCR was positive. The mean age was 61.72 ± 17.62 years. The patients were divided into two groups: tear PCR positive and negative. There was no significant age difference between these groups. As a result of ROC Analysis; When serum PCT, CRP, and NEU % values were examined in predicting COVID-19 disease from tears, it was seen that CRP (p=0.027) and especially PCT (p=0.003) values of patients with PCR-positive were significantly higher.

Conclusions

PCR study on tears collected with Schirmer strips is a different and non-invasive method, but it was concluded that the proposed method could not be used as a screening test. In addition, significantly higher serum PCT values were found in patients with COVID-19 positivity in tears (p<0.05).
Nasal colonization of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus among slaughterhouse workers in Dar es salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Mlimbila Jane , Kafuru Kawa Deogratius , Kishinhi Stephen Simon , Shabani Saumu , Nelson William , Mamuya Simon
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a zoonotic pathogen that is associated with serious and sometimes fatal infections in humans. The pathogen has ability to acquire resistance to most antibiotics. Working in slaughterhouses increase the chance of workers to contract this pathogen. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MRSA and its associated factors among slaughterhouse workers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June-July 2018 involving workers from 4 registered slaughterhouses. Social demographics and other information was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Swabs were collected and inoculated in Mannitol salt agar for S. aureus isolation. The isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using 10µg Oxacillin discs implanted on Muller Hinton Agar plates. Binary logistic regression was employed to determine the association between prevalence of MRSA and independent variables. Results: MRSA was isolated from 39,2% of the 258 enrolled slaughterhouse workers. MRSA colonization was more likely in persons who have been working for more than 21 years (p=0,014) and smokers (p=0,02). On-job training (adjOR=0,417; 95% CI: 0,202-0,858, p= 0,018) was protective against MRSA nasal colonization. Conclusion: Our study has demonstrated the occurrence of MRSA in slaughterhouse workers in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. It is more prevalent in persons who have been working for a long time in slaughterhouses. In addition, provision of on-job training is protective against MRSA nasal colonization. More studies are required to confirm whether the MRSA detected were livestock-associated.