bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cobertura e fatores associados à não realização do exame citopatológico do colo do útero entre mulheres brasileiras de 18 a 39 anos
Authors: Madeiro Alberto , Rufino Andréa Cronemberger
Published: June 2022

Objetivo: avaliar a cobertura e os fatores associados à não realização do exame citopatológico do colo do útero entre mulheres de 18 a 39 anos no Brasil. Métodos: estudo transversal, de base populacional, com dados de inquérito domiciliar com 2.002 mulheres alfabetizadas de áreas urbanas, selecionadas por amostragem aleatória por conglomerados em 2016. Foram avaliados a prática do exame nos três anos anteriores e os fatores associados à não realização, com cálculo de razão de prevalência ajustada (RPaj) e intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) por regressão de Poisson. Resultados: a cobertura do exame entre mulheres de 18-39 anos foi de 66,5%, sendo mais elevada naquelas de 35-39 anos (76,8%). Mulheres com renda familiar até 1 salário-mínimo (RPaj=2,08;IC95% 1,72-2,54), que estudaram até a 4a série (RPaj=2,30;IC95% 1,22-2,67), residentes na região Nordeste (RPaj=1,79;IC95% 1,34-2,09) e em municípios com até 20.000 habitantes (RPaj=3,15;IC95% 2,33-3,96) apresentaram maior prevalência de não realização do exame. Conclusão: a cobertura do exame citopatológico esteve abaixo do recomendado, com disparidades socioeconômicas e geográficas. Os dados sugerem necessidade de oportunizar o rastreamento entre mulheres jovens de maior risco para o câncer do colo do útero.
Difficulties in Teaching Children of Special Socio-Psychological Status
Authors: Vinogradova Natalya
Published: June 2022

The article deals with the problems of organizing the activities of an educational organization to work with younger students who are included in the "risk groups" according to their socio-psychological status. The features of the interaction of the teacher with students experiencing difficulties in the process of adaptation to the educational team, with features of physical and mental development, as well as with signs of deviant behavior are revealed. Particular attention is paid to the characteristics of the styles of successful interaction between the subjects of educational activity.
Study of the Quality of the Conditions for the Implementation of Educational Activities by Educational Institutions of Higher Education in 2020 and 2021
Authors: Ganeev A. , Bulaeva N. , Ruban I.
Published: June 2022

The article presents the results of a study of the quality of the conditions for the implementation of educational activities by educational institutions of higher education in 2020 and 2021. The collection and synthesis of data within the framework of an independent assessment was carried out by order of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation in accordance with the "Unified Procedure for Calculating Indicators Characterizing the General Criteria for Assessing the Quality of the Conditions for the Provision of Services by Organizations in the Field of Culture, Health Protection, Education, Social Services and Federal Institutions medical and social expertise”, approved by order of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation of May 31, 2018 No. 344n, taking into account the specifics of the higher education sector. The article compares the integral values of the quality criteria of the conditions for the implementation of educational activities for 2020 and 2021, changes in the values of the criteria for assessing the quality of the conditions for the implementation of educational activities are noted.
Formation of Social Security Conditions for Students in Higher Education Using a Personality-Oriented Information Platform to Support Extracurricular Activities
Authors: Zhigunova A.
Published: June 2022

Extracurricular activities at the university are the basis for the development of the creative potential of students. With the purposeful influence of teaching staff on the preparation of extracurricular activities, the effectiveness of the university activities can be increased in both quantitative and qualitative indicators. The most important aspect of educational activities is the opportunity for students to apply practically not only the knowledge received on the subjects studied, to raise the cultural level, to develop interest in certain social areas, but also to develop their talents and gain experience in community service. An indispensable factor in the demonstration of activity in the cultural sphere is the presence of social security of students.
Criação e criatividade no ensino
Authors: Gouvêa Pimentel Lucia
Published: June 2022

Não são novidade do século XXI as buscas por tecnologias que auxiliem a registrar ideias, pensamentos e emoções. Entre imagens (visuais, gestuais, sonoras, orais etc.), várias são as possibilidades de uso de tecnologias – das mais antigas às mais recentes -, tanto para ensinar/aprender arte quanto para viabilizar a criação artística. É preciso pensar em como as tecnologias contribuem para a elaboração de um projeto de criação artística e seu ensino/aprendizagem, e em como estruturar um projeto de criação artística e seu ensino/aprendizagem que incorpore as tecnologias contemporâneas em sua essência, em um processo contínuo de criatividade em ambas. Na linha da Cognição Imaginativa, a criatividade nas artes está intrinsecamente ligada à imaginação; seu ensino/aprendizagem se dá por metáfora. Neste artigo são feitas considerações sobre a teoria da Cognição Imaginativa e sobre a participação das tecnologias contemporâneas tanto na prática docente quanto na prática artística, considerando que a criatividade desempenha papel fundamental na relação com o pensamento artístico.
Sosialisasi dan Pendampingan Sertifikasi Halal untuk Usaha Mikro Pemotongan Ayam di Desa Jetak, Kelurahan Rembun, Kecamatan Nogosari, Kabupaten Boyolali, Jawa Tengah
Authors: Ikhwani Hasan , Gunawan Setiyo , Rakhmawati Nur Aini , Rahmawati Shade
Published: June 2022

Konsumsi daging ayam merupakan pilihan pertama menu daging di masyarakat, dan dari tahun ke tahun menunjukkan kenaikan yang tinggi seiring dengan peningkatan jumlah penduduk. Daging ayam yang ada di masyarakat, terutama warung-warung makan dan yang dikonsumsi keluarga, masih perlu ditanyakan akan kehalalannya. Seiring dengan program pemerintah untuk mensosialisakan produk halal, maka kegiatan Abmas ini merupakan usaha untuk memberikan pengertian pentingnya produk halal bagi pelaku usaha potong ayam sekaligus memberikan pendampingan sertfikasi halal. Sebagai obyek adalah para pengusaha potong ayam keluarga (skala mikro) yang ada di Desa Jetak, Kelurahan Rembun, Kecamatan Nogosari Kabupaten Boyolali. Dari serangkaian kegiatan ini, maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa pelaku usaha UMK Hasanah Chicken dan Best Chicken telah mengetahui pentingnya sertifikasi halal bagi proses bisnis. Pelaku usaha UMK Hasanah Chicken dan Best Chicken juga telah mendapatkan sosialisasi tentang sistem jaminan produk halal pada proses produksi. Selanjutnya, pelaku usaha UMK Hasanah Chicken dan Best Chicken telah menyusun dan mempunyai manual Sistem Jaminan Halal (SJH) serta telah mendapatkan pendampingan proses sertifikasi halal di BPJPH dan LPH LPPOM MUI.
Pelatihan Desain Grafis untuk Guru-Guru di SMP AL-Uswah Surabaya
Authors: Sarwosri Sarwosri , Rochimah Siti , Akbar Rizky Januar , Oranova Daniel , Yuhana Umi Laili
Published: June 2022

Semua bidang dalam kehidupan membutuhkan kemampuan desain grafis. Begitu pula di dunia pendidikan, seorang pendidik juga harus mampu menyesuaikan kemampuannya di tengah digitalisasi ini agar penyampaian materi menjadi lebih interaktif. Maka dari itu, wawasan desain grafis sangat amat penting diterapkan untuk mengembangkan kreativitas dari tenaga pendidik dan penunjang alat komunikasi sehingga dapat menghasilkan kualitas pembelajaran yang baik. SMP AL-Uswah Surabaya merupakan sekolah menengah pertama di Surabaya yang memiliki harapan agar dapat menciptakan sebuah sistem pendidikan yang dapat menjawab tantangan dari dunia pendidikan pada saat ini. Merebaknya virus COVID-19, menyebabkan banyak sekolah meminta siswanya untuk belajar di rumah. Semua kegiatan belajar mengajar dilakukan secara online baik dengan tatap muka melalui online meeting, maupun dengan pemberian modul materi secara online. Siswa dapat belajar dengan baik dan menyenangkan jika didukung oleh media pembelajaran yang menarik dan interaktif. Oleh karenanya, berbagai media belajar yang menarik dan interaktif diperlukan untuk meningkatkan minat belajar siswa. Pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini mengusulkan pelatihan desain grafis untuk mengembangkan kreativitas guru-guru di SMP AL-Uswah Surabaya. Pelatihan akan dilakukan secara online dengan menggunakan perangkat Zoom Meeting. Pelatihan meliputi bagaimana menyusun media promosi pembelajaran yang menarik dan interaktif serta bagaimana menggunakan perangkat lunak seperti Canva untuk membantu proses desain. Diharapkan melalui pelatihan ini, dapat menjadi bentuk kontribusi ITS terhadap perkembangan pendidikan di Indonesia di tengah wabah COVID-19.
Can PCI DSS 4.0 reverse the decline in compliance?
Authors: Robinson Phil
Published: June 2022

The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) finally released the long-awaited version 4.0 of the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) at the end of March after three long years of consultation. It's been described as the most substantial update to the standard for 17 years and the Council received unprecedented levels of feedback, with more than 6,000 items from over 200 members of the global payments industry. But what are its effects likely to be?
Research on Sustainable Energy Development From the Perspective of Focusing on Carbon Peaking and Neutrality
Authors: Guo Yadong , Zhao Meina
Published: June 2022

The promulgation of the carbon peaking and neutrality policy indicates the importance the state attaches to sustainable energy transformation. The policy will have a significant impact on the future development of the energy industry and will. In order to achieve “zero emission” of carbon dioxide, save energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions and help ecological balance, China is playing a positive role in contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality. While advocating for green lifestyles and production, we need to further restructure services for enterprises, promote innovative and sustainable energy development in raw material production, business models, technical functionalities, product design, etc., and expedite sustainable design. The implementation of the “dual-carbon” work guided by the sustainable design concept can not only actively respond to global climate change, but also improve the global green environment, further achieve a win-win global ecology and economy, and restore the best state of the ecosystem as much as possible. From the perspective of the carbon peak and neutrality goal and also with a focus on achieving the carbon peak and carbon neutrality as the main goal to study the development of sustainable energy, in a bid to make sustainable design better serve mankind.
Implementing Team-Based Innovation in Primary Health Care in British Columbia
Authors:   University of British Columbia, Lukey Alexandra , Maiwald Karin ,   University of British Columbia (Point Grey), Wankah Paul ,   Université de Sherbrooke, Breton Mylaine ,   Université de Sherbrooke, Hirschkorn Peter ,   University of British Columbia (Okanagan), Oelke Nelly D. ,   University of British Columbia (Okanagan)
Published: June 2022

Improving health services integration for patients with complex needs is a national priority in Canada. Health systems in all provinces grapple with the rising complexity of patients and the services they need. Team-based primary health care (PHC) models have been implemented in diverse ways to improve patients' experiences, increase the coordination of care, improve population health and reduce costs. While some provinces have more than two decades of experience with PHC teams, others such as British Colombia (BC) have made changes more recently. We conducted an in-depth analysis of 12 provincial policy documents produced since 2011 to study the evolution of interprofessional models in PHC. BC has integrated team-based care through overarching policy support and funding from the provincial government. Structural practice changes to support team-based care, such as Primary Care Networks (PCNs), were designed to address the quadruple aim, a framework designed to improve health system performance through integrated primary care. Policies have addressed the vision and goals of team-based care, but discussion of processes that support teams, such as a strategy for capitation-based funding and team composition, were non-specific. Finally, there is a significant need for a provincial strategy for continuous quality improvement and evaluation of reforms.
La ausencia de voz de las entidades en los proyectos de aprendizaje-servicio: propuesta de una herramienta para analizar y mejorar su participación
Authors: Arribas-Cubero Higinio Francisco , Gómez-Pintado Ainhoa , Martínez-Abajo Judit , Vizcarra-Morales Maria-Teresa , Gamito-Gómez Rakel , Monjas-Aguado Roberto
Published: June 2022

La preocupación por conocer cómo se produce el diálogo entre las diferentes personas participantes en los proyectos de aprendizaje-servicio (ApS) fue el motor principal para poner en marcha este trabajo. Su objetivo es indagar sobre la presencia y la ausencia de las entidades en los artículos sobre ApS publicados entre 2005 y 2021, para, posteriormente, construir un guion de entrevista dirigido a las personas responsables de las entidades. Se realiza, por lo tanto, una revisión narrativa de la literatura, y de las 163 evidencias recogidas se parte hacia la construcción de una herramienta de indagación basada en las presencias y las ausencias halladas en la literatura. Se puede concluir que la revisión narrativa de la literatura realizada muestra la ausencia de voz de las entidades en los proyectos de ApS universitario, y que la mayor parte de las veces es el alumnado universitario quien habla por ellas, lo que nos lleva a hacer una propuesta que compense este vacío.
¿Cómo hacer más coeducativos los patios de recreo? Una propuesta de aprendizaje-servicio
Authors: Angulo Ireder , Vizcarra Maria Teresa , Gamito Rakel , López-Vélez Ana Luisa
Published: June 2022

El reconocimiento de la igualdad de derechos de todas las personas legislativamente es un hecho, pero, a la luz de las investigaciones, aún queda mucho camino por recorrer para llegar a la igualdad real entre chicas y chicos. La escuela debería garantizar esta igualdad de derechos, y, sin embargo, en los patios de las escuelas existe una gran asimetría en su uso. El objetivo de este trabajo fue diseñar una nueva organización del patio, desde una perspectiva de género, llevada a cabo a través de una experiencia de aprendizaje-servicio (ApS). El proyecto parte de una necesidad detectada en el centro escolar y para llevarlo a cabo ha sido imprescindible la colaboración del alumnado, del profesorado y de la dirección del centro. La propuesta de servicio fue diseñada por una alumna universitaria para el alumnado de 5º y 6º de Educación Primaria, 36 chicos y 28 chicas, en la que el espacio del patio se dividió en 6 zonas con diferentes propuestas de utilización. Para la recogida de información se utilizaron observaciones, hojas de evaluación del alumnado, diarios y autoevaluaciones. El cambio propuesto ha dejado patente el hecho de que las niñas y los niños juegan de manera conjunta cuando las propuestas ofrecidas están pensadas teniendo en cuenta la perspectiva de género. Las personas del centro educativo implicadas mostraron satisfacción con la propuesta realizada y siguieron utilizándola tras finalizar el período del servicio.
Guided-mode resonance with reduced bandwidth in mid-infrared absorption and thermal emission
Authors: Yu Jiachen , Zhang Tieyan , Wulan Qiqige , Xing Li , Li Zhe , Liu Zhijun
Published: June 2022

Narrowband resonance plays an important role in many optical applications, especially for the development of wavelength-selective properties and enhanced light–matter interaction. In this paper, we demonstrate metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide gratings, which exhibit guided-mode resonance (GMR) with reduced bandwidth in mid-infrared absorption and thermal emission. Our fabricated MIM waveguide grating consists of a copper substrate, a lossless ZnSe film, and a top gold stripe grating. Our measurements reveal strong GMRs with a bandwidth of 1.29% of the central wavelength in both mid-infrared absorption and thermal emission spectra. By varying structural parameters of the MIM waveguide grating, strong absorptions and thermal emissions of GMRs are observed and tuned within the 3–5 µm wavelength range. These results manifest the great potential of engineering infrared properties by using GMR and could be useful for spectral control in a variety of infrared devices.
Multi-beam heterodyne laser Doppler vibrometer based on a line-scan CMOS digital camera
Authors: Aranchuk Vyacheslav , Kasu Ramachandran , Li Junrui , Aranchuk Ina , Hickey Craig
Published: June 2022

Multi-beam laser Doppler vibrometers (MB-LDVs) have an advantage over scanning single-beam laser Doppler vibrometers (LDVs) due to the reduction in measurement time and their ability to measure non-stationary and transient events. However, the number of simultaneously interrogated points in current MB-LDVs is limited due to the complexity of the electronic hardware, which increases with the number of measurement channels. Recent developments of high-speed line-scan CMOS cameras suggest that their use in MB-LDVs can reduce the hardware complexity and increase the number of measurement channels. We developed a MB-LDV based on a digital line-scan CMOS camera that simultaneously measures vibrations on a linear array of 99 points. The experimental setup and performance of the developed MB-LDV are discussed in this paper.
Numerical simulation of optical propagation using sinc approximation
Authors: Cubillos Max , Jimenez Edwin
Published: June 2022

This paper further develops a recently proposed method for computing
the diffraction integrals of optics based on sinc series approximation
by presenting a numerical implementation, parameter selection criteria
based on rigorous error analysis, and example optical propagation
simulations demonstrating those criteria. Unlike fast Fourier
transform (FFT)-based methods that are based on Fourier series, such
as the well-known angular spectrum method (ASM), the sinc method uses
a basis that is naturally suited to problems on an infinite domain. As
such, it has been shown that the sinc method avoids the problems of
artificial periodicity inherent in the ASM. After a brief review of
the method, the detailed error analysis we provide confirms its
super-algebraic convergence and verifies the claim that the accuracy
of the method is independent of wavelength,
propagation distance, and observation plane discretization;
it depends only on the accuracy of the source field approximation.
Based on this analysis, we derive parameter selection criteria for
achieving a prescribed error tolerance, which will be valuable to
potential users. Numerical simulations of Gaussian beam and optical
phased array propagation verify the high-order accuracy and
computational efficiency of the proposed algorithms. To facilitate the
reproduction of numerical results, we provide a Matlab code that
implements our numerical approach for the Fresnel diffraction
integral. For comparison, we also present numerical
results obtained with the ASM as well as the band-limited angular
spectrum method.
A review of product safety regulations in the European Union
Authors: Ruohonen Jukka
Published: June 2022

Product safety has been a concern in Europe ever since the early 1960s. Despite the long and relatively stable historical lineage of product safety regulations, new technologies, changes in the world economy, and other major transformations have in recent years again brought product safety to the forefront of policy debates. As reforms are also underway, there is a motivation to review the complex safety policy framework in the European Union (EU). Thus, building on deliberative policy analysis and an interpretative literature review, this paper reviews the safety policy for nonfood consumer products in the EU. The review covers the historical background and the main laws, administration and enforcement, standardization and harmonization, laws enacted for specific products, notifications delivered by national safety authorities, recalls of dangerous products, and the liability of these. Based on the review and analysis of these themes and the associated literature, some current policy challenges are further discussed.
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal whole-plant extracts exhibited anti-sporotrichotic effects by destabilizing peripheral integrity of Sporothrix globosa yeast cells
Authors: Balkrishna Acharya , Verma Sudeep , Mulay Vallabh Prakash , Gupta Ashish Kumar , Haldar Swati , Varshney Anurag
Published: June 2022

Chronic topical cases of Sporotrichosis, a chronic fungal infection caused by the ubiquitously present cryptic members of the Sporothrix species complex, are treated with oral administrations of itraconazole. However, severe pulmonary or disseminated cases require repeated intra-venous doses of amphotericin B or even surgical debridement of the infected tissue. The unavoidable adverse side-effects of the current treatments, besides the growing drug resistance among Sporothrix genus, demands exploration of alternative therapeutic options. Medicinal herbs, due to their multi-targeting capacity, are gaining popularity amidst the rising antimicrobial recalcitrance. Withania somnifera is a well-known medicinal herb with reported antifungal activities against several pathogenic fungal genera. In this study, the antifungal effect of the whole plant extract of W. somnifera (WSWE) has been explored for the first time, against an itraconazole resistant strain of S. globosa. WSWE treatment inhibited S. globosa yeast form growth in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 of 1.40 mg/ml. Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was found to be 50 mg/ml. Sorbitol protection and ergosterol binding assays, revealed that anti-sporotrichotic effects of WSWE correlated well with the destabilization of the fungal cell wall and cell membrane. This observation was validated through dose-dependent decrease in overall ergosterol contents in WSWE-treated S. globosa cells. Compositional analysis of WSWE through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) exhibited the presence of several anti-microbial phytochemicals like withanone, withaferin A, withanolides A and B, and withanoside IV and V. Withanone and withaferin A, purified from WSWE, were 10–20 folds more potent against S. globosa than WSWE, thus, suggesting to be the major phytocompounds responsible for the observed anti-sporotrichotic activity. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated the anti-sporotrichotic property of the whole plant extract of W. somnifera against S. globosa that could be further explored for the development of a natural antifungal agent against chronic Sporotrichosis.
Clinical laboratory parameters and fatality of Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Yao , Song Zexuan , Wei Xuemin , Yuan Haowen , Xu Xiaoying , Liang Hao , Wen Hongling
Published: June 2022

Background

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne infectious disease with high case fatality rate. Unfortunately, no vaccine or antiviral specifically targeting SFTS virus (SFTSV) are available for the time being. Our objective was to investigate the association between clinical laboratory parameters and fatality of SFTS patients.

Methods

The systematic review was conducted in accordance with The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. We searched (from inception to 24th February 2022) Web of Science, PubMed, National Knowledge Infrastructure databases and Wan Fang Data for relevant researchers on SFTS. Studies were eligible if they reported on laboratory parameters of SFTS patients and were stratified by clinical outcomes. A modified version of Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to evaluate the quality of included studies. Standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to evaluate the association between laboratory parameters and outcomes. The between-study heterogeneity was evaluated quantitatively by standard Chi-square and the index of heterogeneity (I2). Heterogeneity was explored by subgroup and sensitivity analyses, and univariable meta-regression. Publication bias was determined using funnel plots and Egger’s test.

Results

We identified 34 relevant studies, with over 3300 participants across three countries. The following factors were strongly (SMD>1 or SMD<-0.5) and significantly (P<0.05) associated mortality: thrombin time (TT) (SMD = 1.53), viral load (SMD = 1.47), activated partial-thromboplastin time (APTT) (SMD = 1.37), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (SMD = 1.19), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (SMD = 1.13), platelet count (PLT) (SMD = -0.47), monocyte percentage (MON%) (SMD = -0.47), lymphocyte percentage (LYM%) (SMD = -0.46) and albumin (ALB) (SMD = -0.43). Alanine aminotransferase, AST, creatin phosphokinase, LDH, PLT, partial-thromboplastin time and viral load contributed to the risk of dying of SFTS patients in each subgroup analyses. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the results above were robust.

Conclusions/significance

The abnormal levels of viral load, PLT, coagulation function and liver function, significantly increase the risk of SFTS mortality, suggesting that SFTS patients with above symptoms call for special concern.
Antibody response to a new member of the DBL family (EBP2) after a brief Plasmodium vivax exposure
Authors: Lima Bárbara A. S. , Fernandes Gabriela M. , Torres Letícia M. , Pires Camilla V. , Alves Jéssica R. S. , Moreira-Nascimento Sâmick L. , Nascimento Maria Fernanda A. , Afonso Sofia L. , Costa Helena L. , Cerávolo Isabela P. , Sousa Tais N. , Soares Irene S. , Ntumngia Francis B. , Adams John H. , Carvalho Luzia H. , Kano Flora S.
Published: June 2022

Plasmodium vivax blood-stage invasion into reticulocyte is critical for parasite development. Thus, validation of novel parasite invasion ligands is essential for malaria vaccine development. Recently, we demonstrated that EBP2, a Duffy binding protein (DBP) paralog, is antigenically distinct from DBP and could not be functionally inhibited by anti-DBP antibodies. Here, we took advantage of a small outbreak of P.vivax malaria, located in a non-malarious area of Brazil, to investigate for the first time IgM/IgG antibodies against EBP2 and DEKnull-2 (an engineering DBPII vaccine) among individuals who had their first and brief exposure to P.vivax (16 cases and 22 non-cases). Our experimental approach included 4 cross sectional surveys at 3-month interval (12-month follow-up). The results demonstrated that while a brief initial P.vivax infection was not efficient to induce IgM/ IgG antibodies to either EBP2 or DEKnull-2, IgG antibodies against DEKnull-2 (but not EBP2) were boosted by recurrent blood-stage infections following treatment. Of interest, in most recurrent P. vivax infections (4 out of 6 patients) DEKnull-2 IgG antibodies were sustained for 6 to 12 months. Polymorphisms in the ebp2 gene does not seem to explain EBP2 low immunogenicity as the ebp2 allele associated with the P.vivax outbreak presented high identity to the original EBP2 isolate used as recombinant protein. Although EBP2 antibodies were barely detectable after a primary episode of P.vivax infection, EBP2 was highly recognized by serum IgG from long-term malaria-exposed Amazonians (range from 35 to 92% according to previous malaria episodes). Taken together, the results showed that individuals with a single and brief exposure to P.vivax infection develop very low anti-EBP2 antibodies, which tend to increase after long-term malaria exposure. Finally, the findings highlighted the potential of DEKnull-2 as a vaccine candidate, as in non-immune individuals anti-DEKnull-2 IgG antibodies were boosted even after a brief exposure to P.vivax blood stages.
Applying historical data in a nonlinear mixed-effects model can reduce the number of control rats required for calculation of the relative potency of insulin analogues
Authors: Nielsen Emilie Prang , Andersen Søren , Brand Christian Lehn , Ditlevsen Susanne
Published: June 2022

This paper examines how to reduce the number of control animals in preclinical hyperinsulemic glucose clamp studies if we make use of information on historical studies. A dataset consisting of 59 studies in rats to investigate new insulin analogues for diabetics, collected in the years 2000 to 2015, is analysed. A simulation experiment is performed based on a carefully built nonlinear mixed-effects model including historical information, comparing results (for the relative log-potency) with the standard approach ignoring previous studies. We find that by including historical information in the form of the mixed-effects model proposed, we can to remove between 23% and 51% of the control rats in the two studies looked closely upon to get the same level of precision on the relative log-potency as in the standard analysis. How to incorporate the historical information in the form of the mixed-effects model is discussed, where both a mixed-effect meta-analysis approach as well as a Bayesian approach are suggested. The conclusions are similar for the two approaches, and therefore, we conclude that the inclusion of historical information is beneficial in regard to using fewer control rats.
Temporal changes in spike IgG levels after two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine in Japanese healthcare workers: Do spike IgG levels at 3 months predict levels 6 or 8 months after vaccination?
Authors: Takeuchi Masaaki , Esaki Akina , Higa Yukie , Nakazono Akemi
Published: June 2022

Background

Accurate timing of BNT162b2 boosters to prevent breakthrough infections of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requires reliable estimates of immune status. We hypothesized that spike IgG levels at 3 months after two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine might predict subsequent spike IgG levels.

Methods and results

Spike IgG levels were tested at 3, 6, and 8 months after the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine in 251 Japanese health care workers (median age: 39 years, female: 187).

The median level of spike IgG was 2,882 AU/mL at 3 months. This decreased to 875 AU/mL at 6 months and 579 AU/mL at 8 months. There were good correlations of log-transformed spike IgG levels between 3 and 6 months (r = 0.86) and between 3 and 8 months (r = 0.82). The correlation further improved after excluding three subjects who had possible COVID-19 infections (r = 0.91, r = 0.86). Log-transformed spike IgG levels at 6 or 8 months yields the following equation:

log spike IgG at 6 (8) months = 0.92 (0.86) X log spike IgG at 3 months– 0.23 (0.18). Predicted spike IgG at 6 months of ≥ 300 or < 300 AU/mL had 98% sensitivity, 47% specificity, and 94% accuracy for discriminating subjects whose actual spike IgG titers at 6 months were above or below 300 AU/mL. Corresponding values of predicted spike IgG at 8 months were 97%, 70%, and 93%, respectively.

Conclusions

We conclude that predictive formulae using spike IgG levels at 3 months after two-dose vaccination with BNT162b2 reliably estimate subsequent spike IgG levels up to 8 months and provide useful information in terms of vaccination booster timing.
Challenging ecogeographical rules: Phenotypic variation in the Mountain Treeshrew (Tupaia montana) along tropical elevational gradients
Authors: Hinckley Arlo , Sanchez-Donoso Ines , Comas Mar , Camacho-Sanchez Miguel , Hawkins Melissa T. R. , Hasan Noor Haliza , Leonard Jennifer A.
Published: June 2022

Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules were defined to describe macroecological patterns across latitudinal gradients. Bergmann observed a positive association between body size and latitude for endothermic species while Allen described shorter appendages as latitude increases. Almost two centuries later, there is still ongoing discussion about these patterns. Temperature, the common variable in these two rules, varies predictably across both latitude and elevation. Although these rules have been assessed extensively in mammals across latitude, particularly in regions with strong seasonality, studies on tropical montane mammals are scarce. We here test for these patterns and assess the variation of several other locomotory, diet-associated, body condition, and thermoregulatory traits across elevation in the Mountain Treeshrew (Tupaia montana) on tropical mountains in Borneo. Based on morphological measurements from both the field and scientific collections, we found a complex pattern: Bergmann’s rule was not supported in our tropical mountain system, since skull length, body size, and weight decreased from the lowest elevations (<1000 m) to middle elevations (2000–2500 m), and then increased from middle elevations to highest elevations. Allen’s rule was supported for relative tail length, which decreased with elevation, but not for ear and hindfoot length, with the former remaining constant and the latter increasing with elevation. This evidence together with changes in presumed diet-related traits (rostrum length, zygomatic breadth and upper tooth row length) along elevation suggest that selective pressures other than temperature, are playing a more important role shaping the morphological variation across the distribution of the Mountain Treeshrew. Diet, food acquisition, predation pressure, and/or intra- and inter-specific competition, are some of the potential factors driving the phenotypic variation of this study system. The lack of variation in body condition might suggest local adaptation of this species across its elevational range, perhaps due to generalist foraging strategies. Finally, a highly significant temporal effect was detected in several traits but not in others, representing the first phenotypic variation temporal trends described on treeshrews.
Aquaporin 4 is not present in normal porcine and human lamina cribrosa
Authors: Kimball Elizabeth C. , Quillen Sarah , Pease Mary E. , Keuthan Casey , Nagalingam Aru , Zack Donald J. , Johnson Thomas V. , Quigley Harry A.
Published: June 2022

Aquaporin 4 is absent from astrocytes in the rodent optic nerve head, despite high expression in the retina and myelinated optic nerve. The purpose of this study was to quantify regional aquaporin channel expression in astrocytes of the porcine and human mouse optic nerve (ON). Ocular tissue sections were immunolabeled for aquaporins 1(AQP1), 4(AQP4), and 9(AQP9), myelin basic protein (MBP), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and alpha-dystroglycan (αDG) for their presence in retina, lamina, myelin transition zone (MTZ, region just posterior to lamina) and myelinated ON (MON). Semi- quantification of AQP4 labeling & real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) data were analyzed in retina and ON tissue. Porcine and control human eyes had abundant AQP4 in Müller cells, retinal astrocytes, and myelinated ON (MON), but minimal expression in the lamina cribrosa. AQP1 and AQP9 were present in retina, but not in the lamina. Immunolabeling of GFAP and αDG was similar in lamina, myelin transition zone (MTZ) and MON regions. Semi-quantitative AQP4 labeling was at background level in lamina, increasing in the MTZ, and highest in the MON (lamina vs MTZ, MON; p≤0.05, p≤0.01, respectively). Expression of AQP4 mRNA was minimal in lamina and substantial in MTZ and MON, while GFAP mRNA expression was uniform among the lamina, MTZ, and MON regions. Western blot assay showed AQP4 protein expression in the MON samples, but none was detected in the lamina tissue. The minimal presence of AQP4 in the lamina is a specific regional phenotype of astrocytes in the mammalian optic nerve head.
Overexpression of VvASMT1 from grapevine enhanced salt and osmotic stress tolerance in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Yu Yanyan , Ni Yong , Qiao Tian , Ji Xiaomin , Xu Jinghao , Li Bo , Sun Qinghua
Published: June 2022

Salt and drought stresses are major environmental conditions that severely limit grape growth and productivity, while exogenous melatonin can alleviate the drought and salt damage to grapevines. N-acetylserotonin methyltransferase (ASMT) is the key enzyme in melatonin synthesis, which plays a critical role in regulating stress responses. However, the roles of ASMTs from grapevine under drought and salt stresses responses remain largely unclear. In this study, the VvASMT1 gene was isolated from grapevine, and its physiological functions in salt and mimic drought stress tolerance were investigated. Expression pattern analysis revealed that VvASMT1 was significantly induced by different salt and osmotic stresses. Ectopic expression of VvASMT1 in Nicotiana benthamiana significantly enhanced melatonin production in transgenic plants. Compared with wild-type plants, the transgenic lines exhibited a higher germination ratio, longer root length, lower degree of leaf wilting and relative water content (RWC) under salt and osmotic stresses. In addition, under salt and osmotic stresses, overexpression of VvASMT1 improved proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and decreased the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Taken together, our results demonstrate the explicit role of VvASMT1 in salt and osmotic stress responses, which provides a theoretical foundation for the genetic engineering of grapevine.
Research on smoke simulation with vortex shedding
Authors: Tao Rui , Ren Hongxiang , Wang Delong , Bai Xiangen
Published: June 2022

The Lagrangian vortex method has the advantage of producing highly detailed simulations of fluids such as turbulent smoke. However, this method has two problems: the construction of the velocity field from the vorticity field is inefficient, and handling the boundary condition is difficult. We present a pure Lagrangian vortex method, including a nested grid to accelerate the construction of the velocity field, and a novel boundary treatment method for the vorticity field. Based on a tree structure, the nested grid algorithm considerably improves the efficiency of the velocity computation while producing visual results that are comparable with the original flow. Based on the vortex-generating method, the least square method is used to compute the vorticity strength of the new vortex elements. Further, we consider the mutual influence between the generated vortex particles. We demonstrate our method’s benefits by using a vortex ring and various examples of interaction between the smoke and obstacles.
Functional alterations in large-scale resting-state networks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A multi-site study across Canada and the United States
Authors: Bharti Komal , J. Graham Simon , Benatar Michael , Briemberg Hannah , Chenji Sneha , Dupré Nicolas , Dionne Annie , Frayne Richard , Genge Angela , Korngut Lawrence , Luk Collin , Zinman Lorne , Kalra Sanjay ,   for the Canadian ALS Neuroimaging Consortium (CALSNIC)
Published: June 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of upper motor neurons and lower motor neurons, and frontotemporal regions resulting in impaired bulbar, limb, and cognitive function. Magnetic resonance imaging studies have reported cortical and subcortical brain involvement in the pathophysiology of ALS. The present study investigates the functional integrity of resting-state networks (RSNs) and their importance in ALS. Intra- and inter-network resting-state functional connectivity (Rs-FC) was examined using an independent component analysis approach in a large multi-center cohort. A total of 235 subjects (120 ALS patients; 115 healthy controls (HC) were recruited across North America through the Canadian ALS Neuroimaging Consortium (CALSNIC). Intra-network and inter-network Rs-FC was evaluated by the FSL-MELODIC and FSLNets software packages. As compared to HC, ALS patients displayed higher intra-network Rs-FC in the sensorimotor, default mode, right and left fronto-parietal, and orbitofrontal RSNs, and in previously undescribed networks including auditory, dorsal attention, basal ganglia, medial temporal, ventral streams, and cerebellum which negatively correlated with disease severity. Furthermore, ALS patients displayed higher inter-network Rs-FC between the orbitofrontal and basal ganglia RSNs which negatively correlated with cognitive impairment. In summary, in ALS there is an increase in intra- and inter-network functional connectivity of RSNs underpinning both motor and cognitive impairment. Moreover, the large multi-center CALSNIC dataset permitted the exploration of RSNs in unprecedented detail, revealing previously undescribed network involvement in ALS.
A de novo genome assembly of cultivated Prunus persica cv. ‘Sovetskiy’
Authors: Gladysheva-Azgari Maria , Petrova Kristina , Tsygankova Svetlana , Mitrofanova Irina , Smykov Anatoliy , Boulygina Eugenia , Slobodova Natalia , Rastorguev Sergey , Sharko Fedor
Published: June 2022

Prunus persica is one of the main stone fruit crops in Crimea and southern Russia. The P. persica genome has recently been sequenced and annotated in good quality. However, for a deeper assessment of the peach genome, it is necessary to include in the research other cultivars that are in the collection of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. The cultivars of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden are unique and differ from Western European and American ones, as they are derived from cultivars and forms originating from Central Asian, North Caucasian, Transcaucasian and Eastern European countries. In this paper, we present the assembly of the P. persica cv. ’Sovetskiy’ genome obtained using Oxford Nanopore long reads and Illumina short reads by hybrid assembly methods. The assembled genome of P. persica cv. ’Sovetskiy’ is 206.26 MB in 226 scaffolds, with N50 24 Mb, including 8 chromosomes. It contains 27140 coding genes, 26973 (99.38%) of which are annotated in at least one functional database. More than 36.05% of the genome regions were identified as repeating elements.
Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of public university hospital workers in Brazil: A cohort-based analysis of 32,691 workers
Authors: Barros-Areal Adriana Ferreira , Albuquerque Cleandro Pires , Silva Nayane Miranda , Pinho Rebeca da Nóbrega Lucena , Oliveira Andrea Pedrosa Ribeiro Alves , da Silva Dayde Lane Mendonça , Gomes Ciro Martins , de Oliveira Fernando Araujo Rodrigues , Kurizky Patrícia Shu , Reis Ana Paula Monteiro Gomides , Talma Ferreira Luciano , de Amorim Rivadávio Fernandes Batista , Lima Marta Pinheiro , Besch Claudia Siqueira , Gatto Giuseppe Cesare , Costa Thais Ferreira , da Silva Everton Nunes , Schulte Heidi Luise , Espindola Laila Salmen , da Mota Licia Maria Henrique
Published: June 2022

Background

In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed the world and exposed the fragility of health systems in the face of mass illness. Health professionals became protagonists, fulfilling their mission at the risk of physical and mental illness. The study aimed to evaluate absenteeism indirectly related to SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large population of health care professionals.

Methods

An observational longitudinal repeated measures study was performed, including workers linked to 40 public university hospitals in Brazil. All causes of absenteeism were analyzed, focusing on those not directly attributed to COVID-19. Results for the same population were compared over two equivalent time intervals: prepandemic and during the pandemic.

Findings

A total of 32,691 workers were included in the study, with health professionals comprising 82.5% of the sample. Comparison of the periods before and during the pandemic showed a 26.6% reduction in work absence for all causes, except for COVID-19 and mental health-related absence. Concerning work absence related to mental health, the odds ratio was 39.0% higher during the pandemic. At the onset of the pandemic, there was an increase in absenteeism (all causes), followed by a progressive reduction until the end of the observation period.

Interpretation

Work absence related to mental illness among health care professionals increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for health care managers to prioritize and implement support strategies to minimize absenteeism.
Metagenomic shotgun sequencing of blood to identify bacteria and viruses in leukemic febrile neutropenia
Authors: Vijayvargiya Prakhar , Feri Adeline , Mairey Mathilde , Rouillon Cécile , Jeraldo Patricio R. , Esquer Garrigos Zerelda , Thoendel Matthew J. , Greenwood-Quaintance Kerryl E. , Sohail M. Rizwan , Sampathkumar Priya , Spychalla Megan T. , Stewart A. K. , Patnaik Mrinal M. , Tande Aaron J. , Cruveiller Stéphane , Hannet Irene , Beurdeley Pascale , Patel Robin
Published: June 2022

Despite diagnostic advances in microbiology, the etiology of neutropenic fever remains elusive in most cases. In this study, we evaluated the utility of a metagenomic shotgun sequencing based assay for detection of bacteria and viruses in blood samples of patients with febrile neutropenia. We prospectively enrolled 20 acute leukemia patients and obtained blood from these patients at three time points: 1) anytime from onset of neutropenia until before development of neutropenic fever, 2) within 24 hours of onset of neutropenic fever, 3) 5–7 days after onset of neutropenic fever. Blood samples underwent sample preparation, sequencing and analysis using the iDTECT® Dx Blood v1® platform (PathoQuest, Paris, France). Clinically relevant viruses or bacteria were detected in three cases each by metagenomic shotgun sequencing and blood cultures, albeit with no concordance between the two. Further optimization of sample preparation methods and sequencing platforms is needed before widespread adoption of this technology into clinical practice.
Evaluation of perfusion-driven cell seeding of small diameter engineered tissue vascular grafts with a custom-designed seed-and-culture bioreactor
Authors: Saunders Sarah K. , Cole Sam Y. , Acuna Sierra Valeria , Bracamonte Johane H. , Toldo Stefano , Soares Joao S.
Published: June 2022

Tissue engineering commonly entails combining autologous cell sources with biocompatible scaffolds for the replacement of damaged tissues in the body. Scaffolds provide functional support while also providing an ideal environment for the growth of new tissues until host integration is complete. To expedite tissue development, cells need to be distributed evenly within the scaffold. For scaffolds with a small diameter tubular geometry, like those used for vascular tissue engineering, seeding cells evenly along the luminal surface can be especially challenging. Perfusion-based cell seeding methods have been shown to promote increased uniformity in initial cell distribution onto porous scaffolds for a variety of tissue engineering applications. We investigate the seeding efficiency of a custom-designed perfusion-based seed-and-culture bioreactor through comparisons to a static injection counterpart method and a more traditional drip seeding method. Murine vascular smooth muscle cells were seeded onto porous tubular electrospun polycaprolactone scaffolds, 2 mm in diameter and 30 mm in length, using the three methods, and allowed to rest for 24 hours. Once harvested, scaffolds were evaluated longitudinally and circumferentially to assess the presence of viable cells using alamarBlue and live/dead cell assays and their distribution with immunohistochemistry and scanning electron microscopy. On average, bioreactor-mediated perfusion seeding achieved 35% more luminal surface coverage when compared to static methods. Viability assessment demonstrated that the total number of viable cells achieved across methods was comparable with slight advantage to the bioreactor-mediated perfusion-seeding method. The method described is a simple, low-cost method to consistently obtain even distribution of seeded cells onto the luminal surfaces of small diameter tubular scaffolds.