bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Network Pharmacological Investigation into the Mechanism of Kaixinsan Powder for the Treatment of Depression
Authors: Du Li-Jing , Zhang Xin-Ning , Li Sha-Sha , Sun Yuan-Fang , Jin Hui-Zi , Yan Shikai , Han Chuan-Gang
Published: May 2022

Kaixinsan powder (KXS), a classic prescription of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is widely used in the treatment of depression, but its mechanism remains unclear. The network pharmacology method was used to constructe the “herb-component-target” network, and elucidated KXS potential mechanisms of action in the treatment of depression. Moreover, molecular docking was applied to valid the important interactions between the ingredients and the target protein. The “herb-component-target” network indicated that the ingredients of Girinimbin, Gomisin B and Asarone, and the protein targets of ESR, AR and NR3C1 mostly contribute to the antidepressant effect of KXS. KEGG pathway analysis highlighted the most significant pathways associated with depression treatment, including neuroactive ligand -receptor interaction pathway, serotonergic synapse pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. Go enrichment analysis indicated that the mechanism of KXS in treating depression was involved in the biological process of GPCR signal transduction, hormone metabolism and nerve cell apoptosis. Moreover, molecular docking results showed that Polygalaxanthone III, Girinimbine and Pachymic acid performed greater binding ability with key antidepressant target 5-HTR. In conclusion, this study preliminarily revealed key active components in KXS, including Gomisin B, Asarone, Ginsenoside Rg1, Polygalaxanthone III and Pachymic acid, were identified in KXS, which could interact with multiple targets (5-HTR, DR, ADRA, AR, ESR, NR3C1) and modulate the activation of multiple pathways (Neuroactive ligand -receptor interaction pathway, serotonergic synapse pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway).
Preparing Future Clinicians for Virtual Visiting: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
Authors: Clarke Kirsty , Borges Karen , Richardson Lauren , Taylor Jessica , Evans Robyn , Chung Bethany , Cleverdon Harriet , Xyrichis Andreas , Cook Amelia , Meyer Joel , Rose Louise , Hatab Sultan
Published: April 2022

BackgroundIn many UK hospitals, the COVID-19 pandemic and visiting restrictions prevented families from seeing their critically ill relatives. Consequently, strategies for virtual family communication have had a rapid and pervasive integration. Our objective was to explore the experiences of newly-graduated doctors carrying out virtual visits during the pandemic, with the view to better inform the family communications training currently provided to medical students.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative descriptive study using in-depth, semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to explore the experiences of newly-graduated junior doctors who worked as family communication officers, facilitating virtual visiting, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (April to July 2020). Interviews lasted between 35-40 minutes, were digitally recorded and professionally transcribed. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically; NVivo software was used for data management. ResultsWe recruited 8 newly-graduated doctors; 7 female, 1 male, with ages ranging from 23-27. Three main themes were carried through the participants’ experiences. The first theme “emotional demands'', describes the participants’ emotional response to working in busy ICUs during the pandemic, where the demand for virtual visits was vast, and the participants' exposure to relatives’ grief was overwhelming. The second theme illustrates the process by which participants rapidly acquired and honed new skills to successfully deliver family communication through a virtual platform. With the third theme of “resilience,” we learn about the sources of motivation participants tapped into to sustain working in the emotionally charged role of a pandemic family communication officer.ConclusionThis qualitative study highlights the combined emotional and technical challenges experienced by non-ICU-trained junior doctors working in a family communication role using virtual technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. We recommend the incorporation of virtual communication skills training into educational practice to better prepare the next generation of doctors for a new era of virtual family communication.
Effects of the exercise-inducible myokine irisin on proliferation and malignant properties of ovarian cancer cells through the HIF-1 α signaling pathway
Authors: Zarei Marziyeh Alizadeh , Hosseini Elahe Seyed , Kashani Hamed Haddad , Ahmad Ejaz , Aslanbeigi Fatemeh , Nikzad Hossein
Published: May 2022

Background
Exercise has been shown to be associated with reduced risk and improving outcomes of several types of cancers. Irisin -a novel exercise-related myokine- has been proposed to exert beneficial effects in metabolic disorders including cancer. No previous studies have investigated whether irisin may regulate malignant characteristics of ovarian cancer cell lines.
Methods
In the present study, we aimed to explore the effect of irisin on viability and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells which was examined by MTT assay. Then, we evaluated migratory and invasive ability of the cells via transwell assays. Moreover, the percentage of apoptosis induction was determined by flowcytometery. Furthermore, the mRNA expression level of genes related to the aerobic respiration (HIF-1α, c-Myc, LDHA, PDK1 and VEGF) were detected by real-time PCR.
Results
Our data revealed that irisin treatment significantly attenuated the proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. Besides, irisin induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. We also observed that irisin regulated the expression of genes involved in aerobic respiration of ovarian cancer cells.
Conclusion
Our results indicate that irisin may play a crucial role in inhibition of cell growth and malignant characteristics of ovarian cancer. These findings may open up avenues for future studies to identify the further therapeutic use of irisin in ovarian cancer management.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Foot Care Services in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Lu Suzanne , McLaren Ann-Marie , Pinsker Ellie
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has directly affected the delivery of health care services in Canada, including foot care. The goal of this descriptive study was to understand the impact of the early COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 to April 2021) on chiropodists’ and podiatrists’ clinical practices and foot care service delivery in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: A web-survey was completed by participating chiropodists and podiatrists registered with the College of Chiropodists of Ontario. The survey consisted of 31 multiple choice and open-ended items on clinical practice characteristics, foot care service delivery changes, perceived barriers during the pandemic, and its impact on clinicians. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample and examine clinicians’ responses, and qualitative content analysis was used to explore opened-ended items.RESULTS: Of the 773 eligible clinicians, 279 participated for a response rate of 36.1%. Most respondents reported a decline in patient volume, an increase in urgent foot health problems, a financial impact on their clinical practices, an emotional impact, and substantial changes to how they provided foot care services. Factors that impact clinicians’ perception of future pandemic preparedness are identified.CONCLUSION: This study describes foot care service delivery in Ontario, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase in urgent foot health problems, decline in patient volume, and impacted clinicians’ mental health and emotional well-being. Future studies should examine patients’ experiences of foot care service delivery and maintaining their foot health during the pandemic, and further examination of factors that impact clinicians' perception of pandemic preparedness.
Risk Factors of Poor Fitting for a New Orthokeratology Lens: a case control study
Authors: Liu LF , Wang G , XH Lu , Luo L , QM Wang , JC Lin , MZ Zhang
Published: May 2022

Background: The purpose of this study is to compare differences between the good and poor fitting group in Orthokeratology patients and look for risk factors of poor fitting.Methods: A total of 382 eyes (216 patients) were retrospectively analyzed. Eyes being enrolled were 41 (24 patients) and 36 (22 patients) in the good fitting and poor fitting group. Re-fitting time, reason, lens parameters before and after re-fitting were assessed in the poor fitting group. Patients information, refractive outcomes, topography and lens parameters were compared between the two groups. Risk factors and diagnostic value of each risk factor were discovered for poor fitting. Results: (1) There were no significant differences in age (p=0.209), sex (p=0.376) and eye (p=0.649) between the two groups; (2) The median re-fitting time was 6.5 weeks (range: 2-28 weeks). Main reasons for re-fitting were lens binding and unsatisfactory uncorrected visual acuity; (3) After re-fitting, lens type (p=0.415), toric value (p=0.747), and alignment curve (AC) (p=0.050) remained unchanged, but lens diameter decreased (10.64±0.20mm vs 10.53±0.24mm, p=0.002), the proportion of lens with a diameter less than 10.6mm increased (p=0.020); (4) Spherical refraction (p=0.004), refractive astigmatism (p<0.001), flat k (p<0.001), steep k (p<0.001), corneal astigmatism (p=0.048), and AC (p<0.001) differed significantly between the two groups; (5) Steep K (B=-0.960, p=0.001), refractive astigmatism (B=1.646, p=0.015) and lens diameter (B=-3.744, p=0.040) were independent risk factors for poor fitting. Steep k has the most valuable diagnostic value, with a cut off value of 44.69 (sensitivity 0.69, specificity 0.85). Conclusions: The main reasons for re-fitting were lens binding and unsatisfactory uncorrected visual acuity. Steep K, refractive astigmatism and lens diameter were independent risk factors of poor fitting. The strongest diagnostic value was steep K. Patients with a steep k<44.69 are good candidate for lens fitting . When fitting this brand of Ortho-k lens, the lens diameter should not be too large.
METTL3 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression through the GLUT4-mTORC1 axis
Authors: Zhou Xi , Zhong Xiaowu , Gao Chuanli , Chen Xin , Zou Jiang , Li Qingrong , Cheng Jibing , Yuan Zichun , Wang Qing , Yang Miyuan , Xu Lei , Ma Qiang , Guo Xiaolan
Published: April 2022

Background: Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) is an essential methyltransferase for N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification that participates in the pathogenesis of various malignancies including esophageal cancer. Yet, its mechanism of action is still not very clear. In this study, we hypothesized that METTL3 might control the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by regulating its glycolysis metabolism.Methods: The expression and role of METTL3 in ESCC were elucidated based on the TCGA database. METTL3 expression in ESCC tissues was validated by immunohistochemical assay (IHC). The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), colony formation assay, wound healing, and cell migration assays were used to analyze the efﬁcacy of targeting METTL3 on ESCC proliferation and migration in ESCC cell overexpressing METTL3 or with METTL3 knockdown. The biological mechanisms of METTL3 in glycolysis metabolism of ESCC were evaluated using western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).Results: METTL3 was signiﬁcantly upregulated in ESCC both in the TCGA database and our cohort. Functionally, knockdown of METTL3 repressed ESCC cell proliferation and migration in vitro, while these phenomena were reversed after METTL3 was overexpressed in ESCC cells. In addition, METTL3 interacted with and mediated the glucose uptake and lactate production of ESCC cells. Intriguingly, METTL3 epigenetically regulated GLUT4 expression and lactate production, thereby activating the mTORC1 signaling pathway. Moreover, in METTL3-depleted ESCC cells, inhibiting mTORC1 had a significant anticancer effect.Conclusion: METTL3 is an oncogenic gene that can promote ESCC tumorigenesis via the GLUT4-mTORC1 axis, thus representing a promising therapeutic target for ESCC.
A Risk Model Based on Tumor Microenvironment to Predict Survival and Immunotherapy Efficacy for Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Song Junwei , Wang Yaru , Wu Wenlong , Li Wan , Liu Zengyou
Published: May 2022

Background:Ovarian cancer(OC) is the most lethal carcinoma among all gynecological malignancies.Based on the continued understanding of interaction relationships between immune components in tumor microenvironment (TME) and OC cells,immunotherapies have demonstrated to be dramatically effective in increasing survival rates.This research aims to construct a risk model and identify landmark genes which are of vital importance to improve the prognosis of OC. Methods:The gene expression data of 379 OC patients were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) database,and immune and stromal related genes were analyzed by difference analysis and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA).Subsequently,univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to build an risk model for OC.Kaplan-Meier survival curves were then taken to depict survival difference between high- and low-risk subgroups.Meanwhile,receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the nomograms were applied to assess the accuracy and validity of the model.Finally,differentiation of immune cells,immune checkpoint molecules,and biological functions between high- and low-risk categories were identified to predict immunotherapy efficacy for OC.Results:GIMAP7,HTRA4,CCL5,ICOS,CD40LG,CD3G,VSIG4,CD2,ANKRD22 were obtained to construct the prognosis risk model;high risk score was an prognosis factor of poor survival rate of OC patients.Further ROC curve and nomogram analyses showed that this model exhibited excellent performance in predicting the 1-,3-,and 5-year survival rate.We obtained 17 functional immune cells,17 immune checkpoint molecules,several immune-related reactions,and GO items which might change the prognosis of OC patients.Conclusions:The 9-genes prognostic model may play critical roles as potential prognostic markers and offer personalized immunotherapy protocols for OC and may provide a theoretical foundation for new immunotherapy combinations.
The Dynamic Intermediate Convective Toroidal Trigger and the Solar Magnetic Field Flip Problem
Authors: Ziegler Martin
Published: April 2022

The sun flips its magnetic field intermittently roughly every 11 years because of a triggering dynamic intermediate axis formed by the outer convective zone. Following the wedge sunspot model, it can heuristically be shown that the emergence of sun spots changes the mass distribution of the equator region relative to the polar region. Considering Poinsot's theorem, this results in a flipping motion of the semisolid convective zone and its magnetic field near surface, temporarily enhancing toroidal fields underneath. Due to an elevated steady energy state, the magnetic field in the inner convective zone sequentially flips as well. Elaborate calculations based on accepted mass density estimations illustrate the triggering flip. Furthermore, two perpendicular dynamic smallest axes can occur which might explain the Dalton-Minimum. Consequently, a self-regulating solar energy feedback mechanism is conjectured.
Ventricular-arterial decoupling is associated with in-hospital adverse events in normotensive pulmonary embolism
Authors: Kiamanesh Omid , Prosperi-Porta Graeme , Harper Lea , Solverson Kevin , Boiteau Paul , Helmersen Doug , Ferland André , Fine Nowell , Weatherald Jason
Published: April 2022

Purpose
During acute pulmonary embolism (PE) a compensatory increase in right ventricular (RV) contractility is required to match increased afterload to maintain right ventricular-pulmonary arterial (RV-PA) coupling. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic utility of RV-PA decoupling in acute PE.
Methods
We assessed the association between measures of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)-derived RV-PA coupling including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE)/pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and right ventricular fractional area change (FAC)/PASP as well as stroke volume index (SVI)/PASP (a measure of pulmonary artery capacitance) with adverse PE-related events (in-hospital PE-related mortality or cardiopulmonary decompensation) using logistic regression analysis.
Results
In 820 normotensive patients TTE-derived markers of RV-PA coupling were associated with PE-related adverse events. For each 0.1mm/mmHg decrease in TAPSE/PASP the odds of an adverse event increased by 2.5-fold (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46–4.24, p = 0.001), for every 0.1%/mmHg decrease in FAC/PASP the odds of an adverse event increased by 1.4-fold (aOR 1.42, CI 1.09–1.86, p = 0.010), and for every 0.1mL/mmHg•m2 decrease in SVI/PASP the odds of an event increased by 2.75-fold (aOR 2.78, CI 1.72–4.50, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, TAPSE/PASP and SVI/PASP were independent of other risk stratification methods including computed tomography-derived RVD, the Bova score, and subjective assessment of TTE-derived RVD.
Conclusion
In patients with normotensive acute PE, TTE-derived measures of RV-PA coupling are strongly associated with adverse in-hospital PE-related events and provide incremental value in the risk assessment beyond computed tomography-derived RVD, the Bova score, or subjective TTE-derived RVD.
Lightweight Human Pose Estimation Algorithm Based on Polarized Self-Attention
Authors: Shengjie Liu , Ning He , Cheng Wang , Haigang Yu , Wenjing Han
Published: April 2022

In recent years, human pose estimation has been widely used in human-computer interaction, augmented reality, video surveillance, and many other fields, but the task of pose estimation still faces many challenges. To address the large number of parameters and complicated calculation in the current mainstream human pose estimation network, this paper proposes a lightweight pose estimation network (Lightweight Polarized Network, referred to as LPNet) based on a polarized self-attention mechanism. First, ghost convolution is used to reduce the number of parameters of the feature extraction network; second, by introducing the polarized self-attention module, the pixel-level regression task can be better solved, the lack of extracted features due to the decrease in the number of parameters can be reduced, and the accuracy of the regression of human keypoints can be improved; finally, a new coordinate decoding method is designed to reduce the error in the heatmap decoding process and improve the accuracy of keypoint regression. The method proposed in this paper was evaluated on the human keypoint detection datasets COCO and MPII, and compared with the current mainstream methods. The experimental results show that the proposed method greatly reduces the number of parameters of the model while ensuring a small loss in accuracy.
Identification of a novel necroptosis-related lncRNA-based prognostic model and immunological characteristics of Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xia Peng , Wang Degui , Shen Rong , Guo Zhao , Ouyang Siwei , Yang Xuguang , Liu Xiangwen , Xie Kun
Published: April 2022

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most common pathological types of lung malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality. LncRNAs are gradually recognized to play crucial roles in tumor occurrence and development. Necroptosis is a newly established way for cell programmed death, undertaking essential roles in anti-tumor. Therefore, identifying necroptosis-related lncRNAs and based on them to evaluate the signatures of LUAD is essential for patients’ survival prediction and therapy. This study identified 41 lncRNAs related to LUAD patients’ prognosis and necroptosis from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Particularly, a 13-lncRNAs (LINC02693, FGD5-AS1, TMPO-AS1, LINC01116, LINC02802, RHOQ-AS1, LINC02273, LINC01800, LINC00996, CADM3-AS1, SFTA3, CRNDE, PARP11-AS1) prognostic model was constructed via LASSO regression based on these 41 lncRNAs. The model’s prediction accuracy was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and independent-prognosis analysis; besides, a Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset was applied for external validation. In addition, we also implemented a consensus clustering analysis based on the 41 genes to separate LUAD patients into two subgroups. We compared the features of subgroups in multiple dimensions, including survival, immune microenvironment, immune cells infiltration, and gene co-expression network analysis. Based on this study, we established a prognosis necroptosis-related risk model to predict LUAD patients’ prognosis and systematically understood the correlation between immune and necroptosis. This study can applicate in clinical to predict the prognosis of LUAD patients and provide new insight into LUAD immune therapy.
Calcineurin signaling promotes Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
Authors: Bruns Bastian , Antoniou Marilena , Baier Irena , Sevinchan Meryem , Moog Marie-Christine , Joos Maximilian , Dieterich Christoph , Khan Hilal , Wilson Heather , Dawson Dana , Frey Norbert , Schultz Jobst-Hendrik , Backs Johannes
Published: May 2022

Aims: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) presents an acute heart failure (AHF) syndrome that mimics the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction and is often preceded by an episode of emotional and/or physical stress. There is no specific treatment available, and evidence is based mostly on retrospective data. Here, we show that a high-dose of epinephrine (EPI) recapitulates numerous features of human TTC in mice, enabling genetic KO studies. By gene set enrichment network analysis and studies involving myocardial KO of the endogenous calcineurin inhibitor calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), we identify cyclosporine A (CSA) as a novel potential therapy for TTC.Methods and results: high-dose EPI caused reversible AHF with significant ST-segment changes and high-sensitive Troponin T (hs-TnT) elevation. Male mice displayed markedly elevated hs-TnT and mortality when compared to females, mimicking the clinical syndrome. Left ventricular (LV) catecholamines revealed a distinct pattern of blunted norepinephrine as opposed to elevated EPI in male vs. female mice. Gene set enrichment analysis of LV RNA-sequencing after EPI revealed calcineurin-dependent pro-inflammatory gene networks to be significantly enriched, particularly in male hearts. Cardiac-specific deletion of CaMKII caused exacerbated AHF and myocardial damage, that was attenuated by CSA. In human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from TTC patients, expression of the calcineurin reporter regulator of calcineurin 1 isoform 4 (rcan1-4) was significantly increased compared to age- and gender matched controls, indicating human relevance of this pathway.Conclusion: Combining TTC disease modeling and mouse genetics identified calcineurin inhibition as a novel specific therapeutic concept to treat human TTC.
Transplantation of wild-type hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells rescue Alzheimer’s disease in a mouse model and highlights the central role of microglia in disease pathogenesis
Authors: Mishra Priyanka , Silva Alexander , Sharma Jay , Nguyen Jacqueline , Pizzo Donald , Sahoo Debashis , Cherqui Stephanie
Published: May 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent cause of dementia, but still no effective treatment exists. Microglia have been implicated in AD pathogenesis, but their role is still matter of debate. Our study represents direct evidence that microglia play a key role in disease progression, and that replacing diseased APP/PSEN1 microglia via single systemic wild-type (WT) hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) transplantation rescue AD phenotype in the 5xFAD mice. Cell replacement led to complete prevention of memory loss and neurocognitive impairment, and significant decrease of β-amyloid plaques in the hippocampus and cortex. Neuroinflammation was also significantly reduced. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant decrease in gene expression related to “disease-associated microglia” in the cortex, and “neurodegeneration-associated endothelial cells” in the hippocampus of the WT HSPC-transplanted 5xFAD mice compared to diseased controls. This work shows the importance of microglia in AD and that restoring genetically normal microglia represents a promising therapeutic avenue.
Age- and sex-specific differences in the association of serum osteocalcin and cardiometabolic risk factors in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Li Wei , Wang Yan , Dong Jie , Li Mengdi , Liu Rui , Zhang Yuqi , Liu Xiaojun , Di Ruiqing , Liu Shengyun
Published: May 2022

Background
Serum osteocalcin levels are closely related to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum osteocalcin levels and cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) according to age and sex.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 1500 patients with T2D (991 men and 509 women) aged ≥ 18 years old. The age- and sex-specific disparities in glycemic and lipid control, as well as cardiometabolic risk factors were evaluated.
Results
The levels of serum osteocalcin were significantly higher in women aged ༞50 years old compared with women aged ≤ 50 years old (15.6 ± 6.5 ng/mL vs. 11.3 ± 4.5 ng/mL, p < 0.0001). However, this was lower in men aged ༞50 years old than men aged ≤ 50 years old (12.2 ± 4.2 ng/mL vs. 12.9 ± 4.3 ng/mL, p = 0.0081). We performed correlation analyses between serum osteocalcin and cardiometabolic parameters. Serum osteocalcin concentrations had a negative association with FBG and HbA1c levels in women and men aged ≤ 50 years old, but not in men aged ༞50 years old. Serum osteocalcin were negatively related to TG and positively related to HDL-C and LDL-C only in men aged ≤ 50 years old. In binary logistic regression analysis, serum osteocalcin levels were associated with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, as follows: being overweight/obese (odds ratio [OR], 0.944; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9–0.991, p = 0.02) in men aged ༞50 years old; high HbA1C and high FBG in women and men aged ≤ 50 years old, but not in men aged ༞50 years old; and high TG (OR, 0.905; 95% CI 0.865–0.947, p < 0.0001), metabolic syndrome (OR, 0.914; 95% CI 0.874–0.956, p < 0.0001), and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR, 0.933; 95% CI, 0.893–0.975, p = 0.002) only in men aged ≤ 50 years old, after adjustment for confounding factors.
Conclusions
Serum osteocalcin level has significant relationships with cardiometabolic risk factors and several age- and sex-related differences in patients with T2D. Decreased serum osteocalcin levels are associated with a worse cardiometabolic risk profile.
A Multi-bit ΔΣ Down-converting ADC with Even-Harmonic Mixer and Mismatch Shaper
Authors: Genkaku Yuki , Onda Kotaro , Okage Syuji , Yoshino Michitaka , Saikatsu Satoshi , Yasuda Akira
Published: May 2022

This paper proposes a multi-bit ΔΣ down-converting analog-to-digital converter (DC-ADC) using an even harmonic mixer (EHMIX) and mismatch shaper to realize software radios and digital radio frequencies. This converter achieves high signal-to-noise-and-distortion ratio (SNDR) and contributes to the realization of high-speed, low-power wireless communication systems. For conversion errors caused by element variation (mismatch) in multi-bit digital-to-analog converters (DAC), mismatch shapers called data weighted averaging (DWA) and noise shaping dynamic element matching (NSDEM) are used. In this paper, we propose multi-bit ΔΣ DC-ADC with EHMIX and mismatch shaper. Simulink estimated SNDR improved by − 26 dB in 4-bit first-order ΔΣ DC-ADC with EHMIX and DWA − 38 dB in 4-bit second-order ΔΣ DC-ADC with EHMIX and NSDEM.
Factors affecting adoption of watershed management program in Mirab-Abaya Districts of Southern Ethiopia.
Authors: Mamo Abebe Asele
Published: May 2022

Land degradation is an important issue because of its adverse impact on agronomic productivity, the environment and its effect on food security and quality of life. The study was conducted in Achekore sub watershed of adopters and Layotirga sub watershed non-adopters of Mirab-Abaya district. The major objectives of the study was to investigate the factors affecting the adoption of watershed program. The study used random sampling techniques and selected 334 total sample size, and analyzed using econometric model called binary logistic model. The findings revealed that among the hypothesized explanatory variables included in the model, land size and land tenure were found affecting the dependent variable at 5% significant level, whereas age, gender, family size, participation in nonfarm activity, distance and slope variables influencing at 1% significant level. Moreover, Education and extension contact variables was found not significant to adoption of watershed management technologies. It is concluded that the watershed management practice is adopted by the community as it plays a significant role to enhance household’s livelihood, ecosystem balance and cope with climate change impacts.
Prevalence of Violent Victimization and Associated Factors Among Psychiatric Outpatients
Authors: Eshete Solomon , Mulat Haregewoin
Published: April 2022

Background: Victimizations, coupled with the existing political and socioeconomic instability in East Africa, poses unbearable burden on people with mental illness. Methods: Six hundred twenty nine psychiatric patients were interviewed by trained psychiatry clinicians consecutively to study prevalence, and associated factors of victimization by using interviewer administered standard international crime victim survey questions. Analysis was done by using SPSS version 20. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p-value =<0.05 were used to declare the statistical significance. Results: Lifetime and past year prevalence of victimization were 57.4% and 27.4% respectively. Majority of men were perpetrated by Strangers and acquaintances where as majority of women by near family members. In Binary Logistic Regression analysis: factors such as being female; history of psychiatric admission, suicidal attempt, previously cigarette smoking, khat chewing; criminal history and violent perpetration had significant association with victimization.Conclusion: The study identified high prevalence of victimization on people with mental illness which is potential for the formation of stress strain reaction as well as violation of legal rights of that population. Cooperation between law enforcers and mental health clinicians is needed.
Faculty and resident perceptions/judgments of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA) performance in the context of Ethiopian medical education
Authors: Amare Equlinet Misganaw , Siebeck Matthias , Yigzaw Tegbar , Fischer Martin R. , Berndt Markus , Tadesse Mekidm
Published: May 2022

Background: Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) are units of professional practice that are defined as tasks or responsibilities that are entrusted to an unsupervised execution by a trainee. In 2021, a framework of 29 EPAs was developed for surgical residency training programs in Ethiopia. The goal is that graduating surgical residents being able to perform independently by the time they graduate. However, residents' ability to carry out EPAs is being questioned. The objective of this study is to assess how faculty members judge residents' performance in executing these EPAs, as well as how residents rate their own ability. The study builds on previous work that developed EPAs for surgical residency training, making it relevant to systematically introduce and implement EPAs.Methods: A survey was conducted in the Departments of Surgery at four residency training institutions in Ethiopia from June 21 to August 21, 2021. All eligible faculty members and final-year general surgery residents were invited to participate in the study. Surgical team members were asked to judge performance of residents, and residents were asked to rate their own capability in executing EPAs. The analysis focused on variations in performance ratings between surgical team members and residents, as well as across faculty members.Results: A total of 125 surgical team members and 49 graduating general surgery residents participated in this study. Residents rate their competence in performing these EPAs higher than surgical team members (mean 4.2 (SD = 0.63) vs. 3.7 (SD = 0.9). A statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups of study on the overall mean rating of resident performance (combined dependent variables) (P =0.03, CI: 0.51-0.95), as well as within surgical faculty members (P < 0.001).Conclusions: In executing EPAs, there was disagreement between the residents' and surgical team members' judgment, as well as among faculty members. Faculty expected residents to still require supervision in these EPAs. This suggest that the programs may produce graduating residents who are ill prepared for independent practice. The perception/judgment gap that exists between residents and surgical teams and among faculty members could pose a problem in education.
USAHA MENGHASILKAN HASIL AUDIT YANG BERKUALITAS
Authors: Ainin Inatsa Qurrota , Filianti Dian
Published: April 2022

Urgensi mengenai kegiatan audit dinilai tidak dapat dipisahkan di dalam kegiatan perusahaan, salah satunya adalah mengenai pengungkapan kepada pihak-pihak yang terlibat di dalam kegiatan perusahaan. Karenanya, harapan bagi sebuah perusahaan pada pelaksaan audit adalah bentuk evaluasi atas kegiatan perusahaan sebagai proses berkembang, penyampaian pertanggungjawaban, sekaligus penyampaian hasil kinerja yang baik. Ekspetasi klien, perusahaan, ataupun stakeholder pada hasil audit yang baik adalah salah satunya melalui berlangsungnya kode etik audit. Syarat utama pada pelaksanaan kegiatan audit adalah dengan terlaksanakannya prinsip-prinsip yang diterapkan di dalam kode etik auditor. Hal ini memunculkan anggapan bahwa penerapan prinsip-prinsip yang diterapkan di dalam kode etik kerja auditor dapat memberikan hasil eksternal audit yang berkualitas. Oleh sebab itu, peneliti menghubungkan pada 2 variabel yaitu kualitas hasil audit (y) dan prinsip-prinsip di dalam kode etik IAPI dan AAOIFI (xn) di dalam penelitian kuantitatif dengan perhitungan multiple regression, yang bersumber pada hasil kuesioner berdasarkan respon dari penerapan prinsip-prinsip yang ada di dalam kode etik auditor. Melalui penelitian ini, dihasilkan bahwa setiap prinsip di dalam kedua kode etik yang berbeda tidak sepenuhnya memberikan hasil audit yang berkualitas. Namun pada penerapan prinsip-prinsip tersebut secara simultan, akan menghasilkan hasil audit yang berkualitas pada berbagai manfaat yang diterima pada setiap penerapan masing-masing prinsip tersebut.
THE EFFECT OF INVESTMENT KNOWLEDGE ON STUDENT'S INTEREST IN INVESTING SHARIA SHARE
Authors: Erdkhadifa Rendra , Kina Amilis , Samsuri Andriani
Published: April 2022

Investment can be  interpreted  as  an  activity to invest    in  both  money  and objects in an object with the aim of obtaining profits over a certain period. Investment decisions   are    a  very  important  decision  in  investing, where in order to get a profit we have to deal with  risk, therefore investors must evaluate the relationship between return  and  risk. This type of research is associative. The data used is primary data obtained through the dissemination of questionnaires to 264  student respondents of the Sharia Economic Law  study program of the Faculty of Sharia and  legal sciences  UIN SATU  Tulungagung. The sampling method used by researchers in each study program is proportionate stratified random sampling. The results  show  that the coefficient value of the variable parameters of investment  knowledge is 1.61  which  means that any  increase in the value  of  knowledge  or  understanding  of  investment    will  increase one's interest.   in  investing.   This  means that there is a  positive  linear  relationship  between  one's  knowledge  and  one's  interest  in  making  investments. The higher the knowledge a person knows investing,  the    higher  one's  interest  in  investing. The result of measuring the goodness of the model is to use the value of the coefficient of determination R2  which shows a number of 48.6%. The value  can be  interpreted  that the model  is able to  explain  the actual condition of only 48.6% where the remaining 51.4%  of a person's interest in investing is influenced by other variables outside the investment knowledge  variable..
GERAKAN KOMUNITAS PALESTARI SEJARAH BUDAYA KADHIRI (PASAK) SEBAGAI MEDIA PENDIDIKAN DI KEDIRI
Authors: Zahid A , Arsani Adelia Titania , Habib Muhammad Alhada Fuadilah
Published: April 2022

ABSTRACT: Historical education is a pillar of a country to see the value of national identity that grows in the midst of diversity. But the feeling of pride and concern in knowing history is less embedded in the soul of our nation's young generation now. Many stigmas that emerge that history is a crisp, unattractive lesson and considered unimportant in the midst of technological developments that demand all-practicality in life. This is because the application of the history teaching curriculum at school is deemed less attractive because the history teacher delivers material only by storytelling and asking students to memorize. This study uses descriptive qualitative methods that are used to describe how the role of the PASAK community movement can be an educational medium for the younger generation of Kediri. It is on this social movement theory approach that is the focus in the discussion of the concept of Dawson and W.E Gettys social movement regarding the existence of a desire to be achieved by a group of individuals who have the same thoughts as outlined in the actions of the movement. And the concept of the stages of the Getty social movement that must be passed in realizing a social movement. The existence of the PASAK Movement Community as a cog and a place for young people to learn history firsthand without the memorization process that is felt boring, is also more familiar with historical storie s from various places in Kediri.

Keywords: Social Movement, Education Media, PASAK Community

 

ABSTRAK: Pendidikan sejarah merupakan pilar sebuah negara untuk melihat nilai jati diri bangsanya yang tumbuh di tengah kemajemukan. Namun Perasaan bangga dan kepedulian mengenal sejarah kurang tertanam di jiwa generasi muda bangsa kita sekarang. Banyak stigma yang muncul bahwa sejarah adalah pelajaran yang garing, tidak menarik, membosankan dan dianggap tidak penting di tengah perkembangan teknologi yang menuntut serba kepraktisan dalam hidup. Hal ini dikarenakan penerapan kurikulum pengajaran sejarah disekolah yang dirasa kurang atraktif karena guru sejarah dalam menyampaikan materi hanya dengan mendongeng dan menyuruh siswa untuk menghafal. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif yang digunakan untuk mendeskripsikan bagaimana peran Gerakan komunitas PASAK bisa menjadi media pendidikan untuk generasi muda Kediri. Pada pendekatan teori gerakan sosial inilah yang menjadi fokus dalam pembahasan konsep gerakan sosial Dawson dan W.E Gettys mengenai adanya sebuah keinginan yang hendak dicapai oleh sekelompok individu-individu yang memiliki pemikiran yang sama yang dituangkan dalam aksi gerakan tersebut. Adanya Komunitas Gerakan PASAK sebagai roda penggerak dan wadah generasi muda untuk belajar sejarah secara langsung tanpa proses menghafal yang dirasa membosankan tersebut, juga lebih mengenal kisah-kisah historis dari berbagai tempat di Kediri.

Kata Kunci: Gerakan sosial, Media Pendidikan, Komunitas PASAK
Many-body Bell inequalities for bosonic qubits
Authors: Chwedeńczuk Jan
Published: April 2022

Since John Bell formulated his paramount inequality for a pair of spin-1/2 particles, quantum mechanics has been confronted with the postulates of local realism with various equivalent configurations.
Current technology, with its advanced manipulation and detection methods, allows to extend the Bell tests to more complex structures.
The aim of this work is to analyze a set of Bell inequalities suitable for a possibly broad family of many-body systems with the focus on bosonic qubits. We develop a method that allows
for a step-by-step study of the many-body Bell correlations, for instance among atoms forming a two-mode Bose-Einstein condensate or between photons obtained from the parametric-down conversion.
The presented approach is valid both for cases of fixed and non-fixed number of particles, hence it allows for a thorough analysis of quantum correlations in a variety of many-body systems.
Apresentação
Authors: Silva Iransé Oliveira , Dutra e Silva Sandro , Vital André Vasques
Published: April 2022

Apresentação
Indicadores de Carbono en la Industria Farmacéutica: Huella de Carbono vs Huella Ecológica
Authors: Martínez-Rodríguez María-Concepción , Marcelino-Aranda Mariana , Cervantes-Nájera Ana Laura , Castillo Noguera Griselda
Published: April 2022

El cambio climático se encuentra entre los factores de mayor interés a nivel mundial en los aspectos social y empresarial, la huella de carbono es un indicador que mide las emisiones de dióxido de carbono (CO2) que se realizan en la cadena de producción de bienes, desde la obtención de materias primas hasta el tratamiento de desperdicios. La huella ecológica es una medida real del impacto provocado por las actividades del ser humano en el medio ambiente y se determina según la cantidad de gases de efecto invernadero producidos. La propuesta es medir la huella ecológica de manera completa con la finalidad de considerar al carbono como la base y no únicamente al CO2, como es utilizado en las herramientas descritas. La presente investigación trabaja sobre el contexto internacional y metodologías para la medición del carbono, asimismo se efectúa un análisis comparativo entre la huella de carbono y la huella ecológica, sus alcances y diferencias, al igual que ilustrar su aplicación en la industria farmacéutica.
Pesticidas em Ecossistemas Aquáticos e sua Interação com Algas e Cianobactérias: Uma Análise Cienciométrica
Authors: Oliveira Thaynara Martins de , Carneiro Fernanda Melo , Wastowski Isabela Jubé
Published: April 2022

Para entender a relação de micropoluentes em ambientes aquáticos e seu impacto na produção primária desses ecossistemas realizamos uma análise cienciométrica dos estudos sobre a interação de micropoluentes, principalmente pesticidas, nos ecossistemas aquáticos com algas e cianobactérias. Na base de dados Web of Science selecionamos artigos que continham as palavras (agrotoxic* or pesticid*) and (microalgae or phytoplankton or periphyton) no título, resumo ou palavras-chave (tópico) publicados entre os anos de 1998 e 2018. Selecionamos 287 artigos para a análise, levantando todos os organismos estudados e sua associação com os respectivos valores de doses letais (DL), concentrações de efeito (EC) ou concentrações de inibição (IC)  e o tipo de ambiente. Os artigos referiam-se, principalmente, aos efeitos de bioacumulação dos pesticidas atrazina, clorpirifós e diuron. Clorsulfuron e metisulfuron metílico foram os mais frequentes em estudos que analisaram as concentrações de inibição. As espécies de algas mais citadas nos estudos foram: Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck 1890, Raphidocelis subcapitata (Korshikov) Nygaard, Komárek, J.Kristiansen & O.M.Skulberg 1987, Scenedesmus quadricauda Chodat, nom. illeg. 1926. As cianobactérias foram o segundo grupo de organismos mais estudado. A resposta aos pesticidas foi espécie dependente. Para uma mesma espécie não existe mais de uma resposta ao mesmo pesticida o que dificulta generalizações. Os estudos estão prepodenrantemente em regiões temperadas mesmo com o grande número de pesticidas disponíveis no mercado. Portanto, ainda não existe na literatura conhecimento suficiente sobre o efeito desses pesticidas em ecossistemas aquáticos naturais e, consequentemente, na base da cadeia trófica desses ambientes.
Perceptual Loudness Growth in Cochlear Implant Users
Authors: Lee Sungmin , Lee Soo Jung
Published: April 2022

Purpose: Despite a growing number of cochlear implant (CI) studies, little attention has been given to loudness perception. The overall purpose of this study is to obtain the perceptual loudness growth from CI users and systematically investigate it with other relevant variables.Methods: Fourteen CI users and 14 normal hearing (NH) adults participated in this study. Loudness growth functions were obtained using three warble tones presented at 500 Hz, 1 kHz, and 4 kHz. Sentence recognition tests were implemented under favorable and adverse noise conditions. Mapping parameters including T-level, C-level, and electrical dynamic range were analyzed in conjunction with outcomes from the loudness growth.Results: The loudness growth curves for CI group were sharper than those for NH group. CI group showed a narrower acoustic dynamic range than NH group. There was no significant relationship between acoustic dynamic range and electrical dynamic range for CI users. Sentence recognition scores in adverse noise conditions were associated with electrical dynamic range in CI users. In NH group, a significant positive relationship was found between sentence recognition scores in adverse condition and acoustic dynamic range.Conclusion: This study showed that the perceptual loudness growth of CI users is not identical to that of NH adults, due to the unique way of signal processing mechanisms. Acoustic dynamic range for CI users seems affected by gain control algorithms. The adjusting mapping parameters associated with loudness may improve speech perception performance regardless of the dynamic range of CIs.
Влияние морфологии на фононную теплопроводность нанопроволок Si, Ge и Si/Ge типа ядро/оболочка
Authors: Холяво И.И. , Хомец А.Л. , Сафронов И.В. , Филонов А.Б. , Мигас Д.Б.
Published: April 2022

An additional factor in reducing thermal conductivity for thermoelectric applications of semiconductor nanowires is a change in morphology. In this paper, for Si, Ge and core/shell Si/Ge nanowires the effect of the volume fraction and the type of core material on thermal conductivity at 300 K is investigated by means of nonequilibrium molecular dynamics. Nanowires with experimentally observed <100>, <110>, <111> and <112> orientations and different cross sections were taken into account. It was found that for <112>-oriented Si-core/Ge-shell nanowires with a core volume fraction of ~ 30% the thermal conductivity is the lowest (5.76 W/(m∙K)), while the thermal conductivity values for pure Si and Ge nanowires are 13.8 and 8.21 W/(m∙K), respectively.
Размерный эффект в МОП-структурах при ионизирующем облучении
Authors: Александров O.B.
Published: April 2022

A quantitative model of the dimensional effect —
dependence of surface states on the gate size in MOS-structures
subjected to ionizing irradiation has been developed. It is assumed
that the dimensional effect is due to the exodus of hydrogen
released from hydrogen-containing hole traps through the butt-
ends of a two-dimensional MOS-structure. The effect is described
by a system of diffusion-kinetic equations solved together with
the Poisson equation. The influence of technological treatments
and regimes of thermal oxidation on the magnitude of the effect
is associated with different concentrations of hydrogen-containing
traps in the gate oxide. It is shown that the main contribution to
the effect is the accelerated by ionizing irradiation out-diffusion of
neutral hydrogen atoms.