bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Passivation of 1D@3D perovskite ferroelectric film with hydrophobic molecules for ferro-pyro-phototronic effect-based self-driven photodetector
Authors: Xu Ziqing , Chen Jiangyi , Gao Linjie , Cong Ridong , Wang Xinzhan , Zhao Lei , Guo Linjuan , Yang Zheng , Wang Shufang
Published: May 2024

High-performance, self-driven photodetectors in commercial and public applications show promising prospects. The pyro-phototronic effect is a promising method for building these detectors, but limitations in interfacial contact conditions hinder the use of the ferro-pyro-phototronic effect. By modifying the surface of 1D@3D perovskite ferroelectric film with tetra-ethyl ammonium (TEAI) molecules, the interfacial defect density is reduced, resulting in a high-performance, stable photodetector. Moreover, the passivation can greatly enhance the ferro-pyro-phototronic effect, which can be explained by the increased band bending and decreased trap states at the SnS/perovskite interface resulting in less re-distribution of charge carriers directly across the interface. Our work offers a feasible and effective method for producing pyro-phototronic responses in perovskite films-based devices, and thus presents a feasible solution for high-performance, self-driven and flexible photodetection.
Bidirectional multi-beam with multi-polarizations tensor holographic metasurface using bilayer anisotropic elements
Authors: Ma Xiangjin , Chen Silong , Han Jiaqi , Mu Yajie , Liu Haixia , Li Long
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we present and design a tensor holographic metasurface (THMS) capable of radiating multiple beams with different polarizations in both forward and backward directions. The proposed THMS manipulates the fundamental TE mode surface waves (SWs) to produce bidirectional leaky-wave radiation using bilayer anisotropic metal patches. To achieve the independent control of the direction and polarization of bidirectional beams, the nature of the capacitive impedance element supporting TE mode SWs is exploited. A dual-feed scheme exciting orthogonal TE SWs is proposed for THMS generating circularly polarized beams with good performance. As a proof of concept, a bidirectional THMS integrated with two WR-28 waveguide sources based on the orthogonal-feeds scheme, which simultaneously radiate linear- and circular-polarized four beams, is designed, fabricated, and measured at 35 GHz. The experiment results are in good agreement with the simulated ones, achieving a peak gain of 19.2 (19.6) dBi, a -3 dB gain bandwidth of 9.14% (4.3%), for circularly-polarized (linearly-polarized) beams and a 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 13% for circularly-polarized beams. The sidelobe levels and cross polarization levels of all beams are below -15 dB and -22 dB, respectively.
Role of Rabenosyn-5 and Rab5b in host cell cytosol uptake reveals conservation of endosomal transport in malaria parasites
Authors: Sabitzki Ricarda , Roßmann Anna-Lena , Schmitt Marius , Flemming Sven , Guillén-Samander Andrés , Behrens Hannah Michaela , Jonscher Ernst , Höhn Katharina , Fröhlke Ulrike , Spielmann Tobias
Published: May 2024

Vesicular trafficking, including secretion and endocytosis, plays fundamental roles in the unique biology of Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage parasites. Endocytosis of host cell cytosol (HCC) provides nutrients and room for parasite growth and is critical for the action of antimalarial drugs and parasite drug resistance. Previous work showed that PfVPS45 functions in endosomal transport of HCC to the parasite’s food vacuole, raising the possibility that malaria parasites possess a canonical endolysosomal system. However, the seeming absence of VPS45-typical functional interactors such as rabenosyn 5 (Rbsn5) and the repurposing of Rab5 isoforms and other endolysosomal proteins for secretion in apicomplexans question this idea. Here, we identified a parasite Rbsn5-like protein and show that it functions with VPS45 in the endosomal transport of HCC. We also show that PfRab5b but not PfRab5a is involved in the same process. Inactivation of PfRbsn5L resulted in PI3P and PfRab5b decorated HCC-filled vesicles, typical for endosomal compartments. Overall, this indicates that despite the low sequence conservation of PfRbsn5L and the unusual N-terminal modification of PfRab5b, principles of endosomal transport in malaria parasite are similar to that of model organisms. Using a conditional double protein inactivation system, we further provide evidence that the PfKelch13 compartment, an unusual apicomplexa-specific endocytosis structure at the parasite plasma membrane, is connected upstream of the Rbsn5L/VPS45/Rab5b-dependent endosomal route. Altogether, this work indicates that HCC uptake consists of a highly parasite-specific part that feeds endocytosed material into an endosomal system containing more canonical elements, leading to the delivery of HCC to the food vacuole.
How well do models of visual cortex generalize to out of distribution samples?
Authors: Ren Yifei , Bashivan Pouya
Published: May 2024

Unit activity in particular deep neural networks (DNNs) are remarkably similar to the neuronal population responses to static images along the primate ventral visual cortex. Linear combinations of DNN unit activities are widely used to build predictive models of neuronal activity in the visual cortex. Nevertheless, prediction performance in these models is often investigated on stimulus sets consisting of everyday objects under naturalistic settings. Recent work has revealed a generalization gap in how predicting neuronal responses to synthetically generated out-of-distribution (OOD) stimuli. Here, we investigated how the recent progress in improving DNNs’ object recognition generalization, as well as various DNN design choices such as architecture, learning algorithm, and datasets have impacted the generalization gap in neural predictivity. We came to a surprising conclusion that the performance on none of the common computer vision OOD object recognition benchmarks is predictive of OOD neural predictivity performance. Furthermore, we found that adversarially robust models often yield substantially higher generalization in neural predictivity, although the degree of robustness itself was not predictive of neural predictivity score. These results suggest that improving object recognition behavior on current benchmarks alone may not lead to more general models of neurons in the primate ventral visual cortex.
Estimating receptive fields of simple and complex cells in early visual cortex: A convolutional neural network model with parameterized rectification
Authors: Nguyen Philippe , Sooriyaarachchi Jinani , Huang Qianyu , Baker Curtis L.
Published: May 2024

Neurons in the primary visual cortex respond selectively to simple features of visual stimuli, such as orientation and spatial frequency. Simple cells, which have phase-sensitive responses, can be modeled by a single receptive field filter in a linear-nonlinear model. However, it is challenging to analyze phase-invariant complex cells, which require more elaborate models having a combination of nonlinear subunits. Estimating parameters of these models is made additionally more difficult by cortical neurons’ trial-to-trial response variability. We develop a simple convolutional neural network method to estimate receptive field models for both simple and complex visual cortex cells from their responses to natural images. The model consists of a spatiotemporal filter, a parameterized rectifier unit (PReLU), and a two-dimensional Gaussian "map" of the receptive field envelope. A single model parameter determines the simple vs. complex nature of the receptive field, capturing complex cell responses as a summation of homogeneous subunits, and collapsing to a linear-nonlinear model for simple type cells. The convolutional method predicts simple and complex cell responses to natural image stimuli as well as grating tuning curves. The fitted models yield a continuum of values for the PReLU parameter across the sampled neurons, showing that the simple/complex nature of cells can vary in a continuous manner. We demonstrate that complex-like cells respond less reliably than simple-like cells. However, compensation for this unreliability with noise ceiling analysis reveals predictive performance for complex cells proportionately closer to that for simple cells. Most spatial receptive field structures are well fit by Gabor functions, whose parameters confirm well-known properties of cat A17/18 receptive fields.
Evaluating targeted COVID-19 vaccination strategies with agent-based modeling
Authors: Hladish Thomas J. , Pillai Alexander N. , Pearson Carl A. B. , Toh Kok Ben , Tamayo Andrea C. , Stoltzfus Arlin , Longini Ira M.
Published: May 2024

We evaluate approaches to vaccine distribution using an agent-based model of human activity and COVID-19 transmission calibrated to detailed trends in cases, hospitalizations, deaths, seroprevalence, and vaccine breakthrough infections in Florida, USA. We compare the incremental effectiveness for four different distribution strategies at four different levels of vaccine supply, starting in late 2020 through early 2022. Our analysis indicates that the best strategy to reduce severe outcomes would be to actively target high disease-risk individuals. This was true in every scenario, although the advantage was greatest for the intermediate vaccine availability assumptions and relatively modest compared to a simple mass vaccination approach under high vaccine availability. Ring vaccination, while generally the most effective strategy for reducing infections, ultimately proved least effective at preventing deaths. We also consider using age group as a practical surrogate measure for actual disease-risk targeting; this approach also outperforms both simple mass distribution and ring vaccination. We find that quantitative effectiveness of a strategy depends on whether effectiveness is assessed after the alpha, delta, or omicron wave. However, these differences in absolute benefit for the strategies do not change the ranking of their performance at preventing severe outcomes across vaccine availability assumptions.
Applications of implementation science in integrated conservation + health programs: Improved learning to achieve environmental and health objectives
Authors: Huntington Heather , Stevens Caleb , Seybolt Christina , Carlson Sara , Tobiason Andy , Daut Elizabeth , Bouvier Ioana
Published: May 2024

One Health is an interdisciplinary approach that advocates for programs and policies that integrate governance, conservation, agriculture, disease ecology, and global health to achieve desired health outcomes. However, rigorous research around integrated One Health programming is limited and/or in very early stages, especially concerning counterfactual-based studies focused on the effectiveness of integrated conservation and health programming, including those focused on the intersection of zoonosis spillover risk in the context of land-use change. We argue that filling these knowledge gaps requires an implementation science approach. This requires evaluation through a counterfactual lens, but also requires a new approach to donor funded program design and the entire project cycle. We present benefits, challenges, and lessons learned from three case studies of efforts at applying an implementation science approach to integrated conservation and health programming in Madagascar, Zambia, and Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. We demonstrate the value of integrating an implementation science approach at program inception, and the importance of building the evidence base on the effectiveness of integrated conservation and health programming. We demonstrate that despite significant challenges, it is possible to pursue an implementation science approach for cross-sectoral conservation and health programs, including studies on zoonosis spillover risk in the context of efforts to improve environmental outcomes.
Re-emergence and influencing factors of mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in the extension region of Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Luo Zhuowei , Wang Fenfen , Guo Zhaoyu , Huang Lulu , Qian Peijun , Wang Wenya , Chen Shenglin , Li Yuanyuan , Zhang Peijun , Zhang Yi , Wu Bin , Zhou Zhengbin , Hao Yuwan , Li Shizhu
Published: May 2024

Objective

To understand the epidemiological distribution characteristics of mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (MT-ZVL) in Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, China, from 2006 to 2021, to explore the influencing factors leading to the re-emergence of the epidemic, and to provide a basis for the formulation of targeted control strategies.

Methods

Case information spanning from 2006 to 2021 in Yangquan City was collected for a retrospective case-control study conducted from June to September 2022. A 1:3 matched ratio was employed. A questionnaire was utilized to gather data on basic information, demographic characteristics, awareness of MT-ZVL knowledge, residence, and dog breeding and living habits. The study employed a multifactorial conditional stepwise logistic regression model to analyze the influencing factors.

Results

A total of 508 subjects was analyzed. Risk factors for MT-ZVL included the use of soil/stone/concrete as building materials (OR = 3.932), presence of nearby empty/stone stack houses (OR = 2.515), dog breeding (OR = 4.215), presence of stray dogs (OR = 2.767), and neighbor’s dog breeding (OR = 1.953). Protective factors comprised knowledge of MT-ZVL (OR = 0.113) and using mosquito repellents (OR = 0.388). The findings indicate significant associations between environmental and behavioral factors and MT-ZVL incidence in Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, China, from 2006 to 2021. These results underscore the importance of public awareness campaigns and targeted interventions aimed at reducing exposure to risk factors and promoting protective measures to mitigate the re-emergence of MT-ZVL outbreaks.

Conclusion

House building materials, presence of neighboring empty houses, breeding domestic dogs and distribution of stray dogs surrounding the home are risk factors for MT-ZVL. Awareness of MT-ZVL and implementation of preventive measures during outdoor activities in summer and autumn are protective and may reduce the risk of MT-ZVL.
Beyond active learning: Using 3-Dimensional learning to create scientifically authentic, student-centered classrooms
Authors: Cooper Melanie M. , Caballero Marcos D. , Carmel Justin H. , Duffy Erin M. , Ebert-May Diane , Fata-Hartley Cori L. , Herrington Deborah G. , Laverty James T. , Nelson Paul C. , Posey Lynmarie A. , Stoltzfus Jon R. , Stowe Ryan L. , Sweeder Ryan D. , Tessmer Stuart , Underwood Sonia M.
Published: May 2024

In recent years, much of the emphasis for transformation of introductory STEM courses has focused on “active learning”, and while this approach has been shown to produce more equitable outcomes for students, the construct of “active learning” is somewhat ill-defined and is often used as a “catch-all” that can encompass a wide range of pedagogical techniques. Here we present an alternative approach for how to think about the transformation of STEM courses that focuses instead on what students should know and what they can do with that knowledge. This approach, known as three-dimensional learning (3DL), emerged from the National Academy’s “A Framework for K-12 Science Education”, which describes a vision for science education that centers the role of constructing productive causal accounts for phenomena. Over the past 10 years, we have collected data from introductory biology, chemistry, and physics courses to assess the impact of such a transformation on higher education courses. Here we report on an analysis of video data of class sessions that allows us to characterize these sessions as active, 3D, neither, or both 3D and active. We find that 3D classes are likely to also involve student engagement (i.e. be active), but the reverse is not necessarily true. That is, focusing on transformations involving 3DL also tends to increase student engagement, whereas focusing solely on student engagement might result in courses where students are engaged in activities that do not involve meaningful engagement with core ideas of the discipline.
Assessing the contribution of nonmarket factors to the market value generated by cow-calf operations in rangelands of the western USA: A true cost accounting approach
Authors: Bellon Mauricio R. , Hanley Colleen M. , Jablonski Becca B. R. , Jablonski Kevin , Garry Franklyn , Rhodes Ryan , Natarajan Mukunth , Benard Nicholas , Merrigan Kathleen
Published: May 2024

Food system transformation requires a better understanding of the negative and positive externalities involved in food production and consumption. Although negative externalities have received substantial attention, positive externalities have been largely overlooked. True Cost Accounting (TCA) is an economic assessment aimed at accounting for externalities in food systems. The beef industry is an important part of the US food system. In the western USA, beef cattle production is a major land use and economic activity that involves direct links among the cattle, range ecosystems, range management, climate, and ranchers’ decisions and welfare. We present a case study based on a TCA assessment to quantify and monetize the contribution of human, social, natural, and produced capitals, as well as farm structure, to the market value generated by cow-calf operations, a key component of the USA beef industry. We estimated an Ordinary Least Square regression model based on indicators of these capitals and of farm structure derived from publicly available data sources at the county level. From model coefficients, we estimated the marginal revenue product of these factors. Results show that nonmarket factors linked with human and social capitals support market performance by contributing to the market value of cow-calf production. These factors operate at scales above the ranch, usually remain hidden, and seldomly are considered in policy decision-making which can lead to policies that inadvertently hamper or eliminate these positive externalities.
Current khat (Catha edulis F.) use among Ethiopian women and its association with anemia and underweight: A cross-sectional analysis from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Amaha Nebyu Daniel , Kifle Meron Mehari , Mebrahtu Samson Goitom
Published: May 2024

Background

Chewing fresh leaves of Catha edulis (khat) is a popular pastime activity among Ethiopians where 12% women chew it. Reports show that khat use has been associated with poor nutritional status. This study aimed to determine whether khat chewing is linked to underweight and anemia.

Method

We analyzed data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). The EDHS used two stage stratified cluster sampling to collected data from 16,650 households. We used data from a total of 15,683 respondents and 1904 respondents who chewed ever chewed khat in their lives. We used Pearson’s chi-square, and logistic regression while stratifying by residence (urban vs rural) to control for confounders.

Result

Our results indicated 10.7% (95%CI: 10.92,11.26) of women chewed khat for an average of 16.5 days in the previous month. A woman’s current khat chewing status was significantly associated with age, educational level, region, religion, wealth group, and marital status. Women aged 40–44 were significantly more likely to chew (AOR = 2.89,) compared to those aged 15–19. Compared with Protestant women, Muslim women were 210 times more likely (AOR = 210, 95% CI 102,435.7) to chew and women in the poorest wealth quintile had 73% higher odds (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.22,2.44) of chewing khat when compared with the richest. Anemia was not associated with a woman’s chewing status, whereas rural women who chewed khat for more than 26 days in a month had a 78% increased risk (OR = 1.78) of being underweight when compared to non-chewers.

Conclusion

Khat chewing is associated with sociodemographic factors and current khat use is associated with a higher risk of underweight among women living in rural areas. Implementing targeted awareness campaigns for women about the risks of khat chewing is recommended.
Exploring professional identity and its predictors in health profession students and healthcare practitioners in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mumena Walaa A. , Alsharif Bandar A. , Bakhsh Abdulaziz M. , Mahallawi Waleed H.
Published: May 2024

The government of Saudi Arabia is making significant efforts to improve the quality of health education and healthcare services. Professional identity has been linked to the quality of healthcare services provided by practitioners, however, data concerning the professional identity of health profession students (HPS) and healthcare practitioners (HCP) are still lacking in Saudi Arabia. The current study aimed to assess the level of professional identity in HPS and HCP in Saudi Arabia and to investigate its predictors. Cross-sectional data were collected from 185 HPS and 219 HCP in Saudi Arabia using river sampling technique. Data related to the sample characteristics were collected; an adapted version of the Macleod Clark Professional Identity Scale was utilized to collect data about the level of professional identity. Total score of professional identity was later calculated for each participant. Median professional identity scores for HPS and HCP were 38.0 (34.0–41.0) and 41.0 (37.0–43.0), respectively, out of 45. Significantly higher median professional identity score was found among HCP as compared to HPS (p <0.001). Data obtained from the multiple linear regression analysis, using the backward elimination method technique indicated that only working status (HPS vs. HCP) significantly predicted the professional identity score in all models performed. In conclusion, high levels of professional identity were reported among HCP and HPS in Saudi Arabia. Changes related to professional identity should be monitored in public and private educational and healthcare organizations to enhance the quality of healthcare services provided in the country.
Most commonly used vaping brands by 18–25 year old young adults in Texas—Spring 2023
Authors: North Caroline , Loukas Alexandra , Harrell Melissa B. , Pasch Keryn E. , Marti C. Nathan , Wilkinson Anna V.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

We aimed to determine (1) the most commonly used brands of electronic vaping products (EVPs) by young adults in Texas during Spring 2023, and (2) if brand preferences differ by sociodemographic characteristics, current cigarette smoking, and current cannabis vaping.

Method

Participants were 2,491 18-25-year-olds (Mean age = 20.6; 62.9% female; 29.7% sexual gender minority; 35.9% non-Hispanic White, 45.0% Hispanic/Latino, 3.5% non-Hispanic Black, 11.6% non-Hispanic Asian, and 4.0% two or more races or another race/ethnicity) enrolled in 21 Texas colleges during February–March 2023 who used EVPs in the past 30-days.

Results

Esco Bar was the most popular EVP brand (32.5%), followed by Elf Bar (19%), Vuse (10.1%), and all other brands were used by < 10% of participants. Nearly 20% of participants reported not having a usual brand. Participants who used Esco Bar, Elf Bar, and Puff Bar were younger (i.e., 18–20 years old), female, and Hispanic/Latino. Vuse, JUUL, and Smok were used by participants who were older (i.e., 21–25 years old), male, non-Hispanic white, used EVPs daily, and currently smoked cigarettes.

Conclusion

The present study extends prior research by providing contemporary data on young adult EVP brand preferences in Texas during Spring 2023. Many of the brands commonly used by young adults (e.g., Esco Bar, Elf Bar) are not currently authorized for marketing or sale by the Food and Drug Administration. Findings underscore a need for additional enforcement efforts that prohibit the distribution and sale of these products to, in turn, prevent EVP use among young adults.
Dynamic heterogeneity in COVID-19: Insights from a mathematical model
Authors: Voutouri Chrysovalantis , Hardin C. Corey , Naranbhai Vivek , Nikmaneshi Mohammad R. , Khandekar Melin J. , Gainor Justin F. , Munn Lance L. , Jain Rakesh K. , Stylianopoulos Triantafyllos
Published: May 2024

Critical illness, such as severe COVID-19, is heterogenous in presentation and treatment response. However, it remains possible that clinical course may be influenced by dynamic and/or random events such that similar patients subject to similar injuries may yet follow different trajectories. We deployed a mechanistic mathematical model of COVID-19 to determine the range of possible clinical courses after SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may follow from specific changes in viral properties, immune properties, treatment modality and random external factors such as initial viral load. We find that treatment efficacy and baseline patient or viral features are not the sole determinant of outcome. We found patients with enhanced innate or adaptive immune responses can experience poor viral control, resolution of infection or non-infectious inflammatory injury depending on treatment efficacy and initial viral load. Hypoxemia may result from poor viral control or ongoing inflammation despite effective viral control. Adaptive immune responses may be inhibited by very early effective therapy, resulting in viral load rebound after cessation of therapy. Our model suggests individual disease course may be influenced by the interaction between external and patient-intrinsic factors. These data have implications for the reproducibility of clinical trial cohorts and timing of optimal treatment.
The Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey (AEEHS): Study protocol for a population-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Kha Richard , Macken Oonagh , Mitchell Paul , Liew Gerald , Keay Lisa , Waddell Colina , Yang Eleanor , Do Vu , Fricke Tim , Newall John , Gopinath Bamini
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Vision and hearing impairments are highly prevalent and have a significant impact on physical, psychological and social wellbeing. There is a need for accurate, contemporary national data on the prevalence, risk factors and impacts of vision and hearing loss in Australian adults.

Objectives

The Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey (AEEHS) aims to determine the prevalence, risk factors and impacts of vision and hearing loss in both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous older adults.

Methods and analysis

The AEEHS is a population-based cross-sectional survey which will include 5,000 participants (3250 non-Indigenous aged 50 years or older and 1750 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 40 years or older) from 30 sites covering urban and rural/regional geographic areas, selected using a multi-stage, random cluster sampling strategy. Questionnaires will be administered to collect data on socio-demographic, medical, ocular and ontological history. The testing battery includes assessment of blood pressure, blood sugar, anthropometry, visual acuity (presenting, unaided, pinhole and best-corrected), refraction, tonometry, slit lamp and dilated eye examination, ocular imaging including optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT-angiography and retinal photography, and automated visual fields. Audiometry, tympanometry and video otoscopy will also be performed. The primary outcomes are age-standardised prevalence of cause-specific vision and hearing impairment. Secondary outcomes are prevalence of non-blinding eye diseases (including dry eye disease), patterns in health service utilisation, universal health coverage metrics, risk factors for vision and hearing impairment, and impact on quality of life.
Mechanisms of school-based peer education interventions to improve young people’s health literacy or health behaviours: A realist-informed systematic review
Authors: Widnall Emily , Dodd Steven , Russell Abigail Emma , Curtin Esther , Simmonds Ruth , Limmer Mark , Kidger Judi
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Peer education interventions are widely used in secondary schools with an aim to improve students’ health literacy and/or health behaviours. Although peer education is a popular intervention technique with some evidence of effectiveness, we know relatively little about the key components that lead to health improvements among young people, or components that may be less helpful. This review aims to identify the main mechanisms involved in school-based peer education health interventions for 11–18-year-olds.

Methods

Five electronic databases were searched for eligible studies during October 2020, an updated search was then conducted in January 2023 to incorporate any new studies published between November 2020 and January 2023. To be included in the review, studies must have evaluated a school-based peer education intervention designed to address aspects of the health of students aged 11-18 years old and contain data relevant to mechanisms of effect of these interventions. No restrictions were placed on publication date, or country but only manuscripts available in English language were included.

Results

Forty papers were identified for inclusion with a total of 116 references to intervention mechanisms which were subsequently grouped thematically into 10 key mechanisms. The four most common mechanisms discussed were: 1) Peerness; similar, relatable and credible 2) A balance between autonomy and support, 3) School values and broader change in school culture; and 4) Informal, innovative and personalised delivery methods. Mechanisms were identified in quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods intervention evaluations.

Discussion

This study highlights a number of key mechanisms that can be used to inform development of future school-based peer education health interventions to maximise effectiveness. Future studies should aim to create theories of change or logic models, and then test the key mechanisms, rather than relying on untested theoretical assumptions. Future work should also examine whether particular mechanisms may lead to harm, and also whether certain mechanisms are more or less important to address different health issues, or whether a set of generic mechanisms always need to be activated for success.
Exposure to mass media chronic health campaign messages and the uptake of non-communicable disease screening in Ghana
Authors: Konkor Irenius , Bisung Elijah , Soliku Ophelia , Ayanore Martin , Kuuire Vincent
Published: May 2024

The main goal of this study was to examine the relationship between exposure to mass media health campaign massages and the uptake of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) screening services in Ghana and whether this relationship differs by place of residence. Available evidence suggests a general low uptake of NCDs screening in developing country settings. Unfortunately, many NCDs evolve very slowly and are consequently difficult to detect early especially in situations where people do not screen regularly and in settings where awareness is low. In this study, we contribute to understanding the potential role of the media in scaling up NCDs screening in developing countries. We fitted multivariate logistic regression models to a sample of 1337 individual surveys which were collected at the neighborhood level in three Ghanaian cities. Overall, the results show that exposure to mass media chronic NCD health campaign messages was significantly associated with increased likelihood of screening for NCDs. The results further highlight neighborhood-level disparities in the uptake of NCDs screening services as residents of low-income and deprived neighborhoods were significantly less likely to report being screened for NCDs. Other factors including social capital, knowledge about the causes of NCDs and self-rated health predicted the likelihood of chronic NCDs screening. The results demonstrate mass media can be an important tool for scaling up NCDs screening services in Ghana and similar contexts where awareness might be low. However, place-based disparities need to be addressed.
Distribution of common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) activity is altered by airflow disruption generated by wind turbines
Authors: Leroux Camille , Barré Kévin , Valet Nicolas , Kerbiriou Christian , Le Viol Isabelle
Published: May 2024

The mechanisms underlying bat and bird activity peaks (attraction) or losses (avoidance) near wind turbines remain unknown. Yet, understanding them would be a major lever to limit the resulting habitat loss and fatalities. Given that bat activity is strongly related to airflows, we hypothesized that airflow disturbances generated leeward (downwind) of operating wind turbines–via the so-called wake effect–make this area less favorable for bats, due to increased flight costs, decreased maneuverability and possibly lower prey abundance. To test this hypothesis, we quantified Pipistrellus pipistrellus activity acoustically at 361 site-nights in western France in June on a longitudinal distance gradient from the wind turbine and on a circular azimuth gradient of wind incidence angle, calculated from the prevailing wind direction of the night. We show that P. pipistrellus avoid the wake area, as less activity was detected leeward of turbines than windward (upwind) at relatively moderate and high wind speeds. Furthermore, we found that P. pipistrellus response to wind turbine (attraction and avoidance) depended on the angle from the wake area. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that changes in airflows around operating wind turbines can strongly impact the way bats use habitats up to at least 1500 m from the turbines, and thus should prompt the consideration of prevailing winds in wind energy planning. Based on the evidence we present here, we strongly recommend avoiding configurations involving the installation of a turbine between the origin of prevailing winds and important habitats for bats, such as hedgerows, water or woodlands.
Polygenic risk score for acute rejection based on donor-recipient non-HLA genotype mismatch
Authors: Cao Rui , Schladt David P. , Dorr Casey , Matas Arthur J. , Oetting William S. , Jacobson Pamala A. , Israni Ajay , Chen Jinbo , Guan Weihua
Published: May 2024

Background

Acute rejection (AR) after kidney transplantation is an important allograft complication. To reduce the risk of post-transplant AR, determination of kidney transplant donor-recipient mismatching focuses on blood type and human leukocyte antigens (HLA), while it remains unclear whether non-HLA genetic mismatching is related to post-transplant complications.

Methods

We carried out a genome-wide scan (HLA and non-HLA regions) on AR with a large kidney transplant cohort of 784 living donor-recipient pairs of European ancestry. An AR polygenic risk score (PRS) was constructed with the non-HLA single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) filtered by independence (r2 < 0.2) and P-value (< 1×10−3) criteria. The PRS was validated in an independent cohort of 352 living donor-recipient pairs.

Results

By the genome-wide scan, we identified one significant SNP rs6749137 with HR = 2.49 and P-value = 2.15×10−8. 1,307 non-HLA PRS SNPs passed the clumping plus thresholding and the PRS exhibited significant association with the AR in the validation cohort (HR = 1.54, 95% CI = (1.07, 2.22), p = 0.019). Further pathway analysis attributed the PRS genes into 13 categories, and the over-representation test identified 42 significant biological processes, the most significant of which is the cell morphogenesis (GO:0000902), with 4.08 fold of the percentage from homo species reference and FDR-adjusted P-value = 8.6×10−4.

Conclusions

Our results show the importance of donor-recipient mismatching in non-HLA regions. Additional work will be needed to understand the role of SNPs included in the PRS and to further improve donor-recipient genetic matching algorithms.

Trial registry: Deterioration of Kidney Allograft Function Genomics (NCT00270712) and Genomics of Kidney Transplantation (NCT01714440) are registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Sibling-Support for Adolescent Girls (SSAGE): A study protocol for a pilot randomized-controlled trial of a whole-family, gender transformative approach to preventing mental illness among forcibly displaced adolescent girls
Authors: Seff Ilana , Deitch Julianne , Harker Roa Arturo , Rodriguez Carolina , Andia Tatiana , Ariza Pena Tamaity , Stark Lindsay
Published: May 2024

Background

Forcibly displaced adolescents face increased risks for mental illness and distress, with adolescent girls disproportionately affected in part due to heightened gender inequity. Although the family unit has the potential to promote healthy development in adolescents, few family interventions have employed a gender transformative approach or included male siblings to maximize benefits for adolescent girls.

Methods

This study will assess a whole-family and gender transformative intervention-Sibling Support for Adolescent Girls in Emergencies (SSAGE)-to prevent mental health disorders among adolescent girls in Colombia who were recently and forcibly displaced from Venezuela. The study will employ a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation pilot randomized control trial (RCT) to test the program’s effectiveness to explore determinants of implementation to establish the feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of SSAGE. To address these aims, we will enroll 180 recently arrived, forcibly displaced adolescent girls in an RCT and examine the program’s effectiveness in the prevention of mental illness (through reduction in anxiety, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, and somatization symptoms) one-month post-intervention. We will use contextually adapted to collect data on the hypothesized mechanistic pathways, including family attachment, gender-equitable family functioning, self-esteem, and coping strategies. The implementation evaluation will employ mixed methods to assess the program’s feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and barriers and facilitators to successful implementation.

Discussion

Findings can support humanitarian program implementation, as well as inform policy to support adolescent girls’ mental health and to prevent the myriad disorders that can arise as a result of exposure to displacement, conflict, and inequitable gender norms.
Can urban e-commerce transformation improve economic resilience? a quasi-natural experiment from China
Authors: Zhang Xiekui , Tang Tongsheng , Mo Erhang
Published: May 2024

The impact of urban e-commerce transformation on economic resilience can help a country improve its ability to resist risks and seize the initiative in economic development. This study examines the impact of the construction of the National E-commerce Demonstration City (NEDC) on economic resilience using the staggered different-in-differences approach using a sample of 282 Chinese cities from 2006 to 2020. The results show NEDC construction significantly strengthens urban economic resilience. This result remains robust after undergoing placebo test, exclusion of other policies interference, and examining endogeneity. Furthermore, noteworthy heterogeneity exists in the effect of NEDC construction on urban economic resilience, particularly in eastern, developed regions, and cities with high Internet penetration. The mechanisms analysis indicates that NEDC construction enhances urban economic resilience by expanding the scale of urban employment and enhancing market dynamism. Overall, this study refines the causal relationship between e-commerce development and urban economic resilience, providing empirical evidence and policy insights for China and other countries to enhance urban economic resilience and stabilize macroeconomic fluctuations.
Metastasis diagnosis using attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infra-red (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy
Authors: Abuh Samuel Onuh , Barbora Ayan , Minnes Refael
Published: May 2024

The suitability of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as a metastasis prognostic tool has not been reported for some cancer types. Our main aim was to show spectroscopic differences between live un-preprocessed cancer cells of different metastatic levels. Spectra of four cancer cell pairs, including colon cancer (SW480, SW620); human melanoma (WM115, WM266.4); murine melanoma (B16F01, B16F10); and breast cancer (MCF7, MDA-MB-231); each pair having the same genetic background, but different metastatic level were analyzed in the regions 1400–1700 cm-1 and 3100–3500 cm-1 using Principal Component Analysis, curve fitting, multifractal dimension and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The results show spectral markers I1540/I1473, I1652/I1473, A3400A3200, and multifractal dimension of the spectral images are significantly different for the cells based on their metastatic levels. ROC curve analysis showed good diagnostic performance of the spectral markers in separating cells based on metastatic degree, with areas under the ROC curves having 95% confidence interval lower limits greater than 0.5 for most instances. These spectral features can be important in predicting the probability of metastasis in primary tumors, providing useful guidance for treatment planning. Our markers are effective in differentiating metastatic levels without sample fixation or drying and therefore could be compactible for future use in in-vivo procedures involving spectroscopic cancer diagnosis.
Development and assessment of an immobilized bacterial alliance that efficiently degrades tylosin in wastewater
Authors: Zhao Boyu , Wang Ye , Zhang Jingyi , Wang Lixia , Basang Wangdui , Zhu Yanbin , Gao Yunhang
Published: May 2024

Microbial degradation of tylosin (TYL) is a safe and environmentally friendly technology for remediating environmental pollution. Kurthia gibsonii (TYL-A1) and Klebsiella pneumonia (TYL-B2) were isolated from wastewater; degradation efficiency of the two strains combined was significantly greater than either alone and resulted in degradation products that were less toxic than TYL. With Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)—sodium alginate (SA)—activated carbon (AC) used to form a bacterial immobilization carrier, the immobilized bacterial alliance reached 95.9% degradation efficiency in 1 d and could be reused for four cycles, with > 93% degradation efficiency per cycle. In a wastewater application, the immobilized bacterial alliance degraded 67.0% TYL in 9 d. There were significant advantages for the immobilized bacterial alliance at pH 5 or 9, with 20 or 40 g/L NaCl, or with 10 or 50 mg/L doxycycline. In summary, in this study, a bacterial consortium with TYL degradation ability was constructed using PVA-SA-AC as an immobilized carrier, and the application effect was evaluated on farm wastewater with a view to providing application guidance in environmental remediation.
Application of fused graphical lasso to statistical inference for multiple sparse precision matrices
Authors: Zhang Qiuyan , Li Lingrui , Yang Hu
Published: May 2024

In this paper, the fused graphical lasso (FGL) method is used to estimate multiple precision matrices from multiple populations simultaneously. The lasso penalty in the FGL model is a restraint on sparsity of precision matrices, and a moderate penalty on the two precision matrices from distinct groups restrains the similar structure across multiple groups. In high-dimensional settings, an oracle inequality is provided for FGL estimators, which is necessary to establish the central limit law. We not only focus on point estimation of a precision matrix, but also work on hypothesis testing for a linear combination of the entries of multiple precision matrices. We apply a de-biasing technology, which is used to obtain a new consistent estimator with known distribution for implementing the statistical inference, and extend the statistical inference problem to multiple populations. The corresponding de-biasing FGL estimator and its asymptotic theory are provided. A simulation study and an application of the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma data show that the proposed test works well in high-dimensional situation.
Ethno-geographic distribution and histopathological classification of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a single center in Nepal
Authors: Pandit Subhas , Sapkota Simit , Adhikari Abish , Karki Prakriti , Yadav Deepak , Shrestha Roshani , Yogal Rijendra , Chalise Sanat , Pathak Rakesh , Jha Anjani Kumar
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) shows geographic and ethnic variation with specific etiopathogenesis. This study characterized the distribution of NPC patients stratified by ethnicity, geography, and histology in a tertiary-level cancer center in Nepal.

Methods

A descriptive retrospective study was designed to analyze NPC cases from different regions among patients visiting the hospital from 2016 to 2021. Demographic and clinical information was obtained from medical records. Ethical approval was granted by the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC). Data analyses and visualization were carried out with R software.

Results

During the six-year period, a total of 65 individuals were diagnosed with NPC, comprising 42 males and 23 females. Patient median age was 43 years (range 11–85 years). A bimodal age distribution of cases was observed with peaks in patients aged 30–39 years and 50–59 years. Of the NPC patients studied, 29 were from Koshi Province, with 7 cases from Ilam district and 6 cases from Morang district. There were 18 patients in Bagmati Province, and Kathmandu district had the highest number of cases within this region, with 8 patients. The highest proportion of cases were observed among patients of Janajati ethnicity (60%), including Rai, Limbu, and Sherpa people. Histologically, undifferentiated non-keratinizing NPC was the most commonly observed subtype, accounting for 43.1% of cases, followed by 20% differentiated non-keratinizing NPC and 4.6% keratinizing NPC across the entire sample population. The majority of patients (75.3%) were diagnosed at an advanced stage (stage III or IV) with none diagnosed at stage I.

Conclusions

In our study, most cases of NPC occurred in patients from provinces in eastern Nepal (Koshi province), and of the Janajati ethnic community. The most common histological subtype was undifferentiated non-keratinizing carcinoma. Further epidemiological studies could address differences in prevalence and the challenge of late presentation of NPC patients in Nepal.
Custom-made 3D-printed boot as a model of disuse-induced atrophy in murine skeletal muscle
Authors: Masiero Giulio , Ferrarese Giulia , Perazzolo Eleonora , Baraldo Martina , Nogara Leonardo , Tezze Caterina
Published: May 2024

Skeletal muscle atrophy is characterized by a decrease in muscle mass and strength caused by an imbalance in protein synthesis and degradation. This process naturally occurs upon reduced or absent physical activity, often related to illness, forced bed rest, or unhealthy lifestyles. Currently, no treatment is available for atrophy, and it can only be prevented by overloading exercise, causing severe problems for patients who cannot exercise due to chronic diseases, disabilities, or being bedridden. The two murine models commonly used to induce muscle atrophy are hindlimb suspension and ankle joint immobilization, both of which come with criticalities. The lack of treatments and the relevance of this atrophic process require a unilateral, safe, and robust model to induce muscle atrophy. In this work, we designed and developed a 3D-printed cast to be used for the study of disuse skeletal muscle atrophy. Applying two halves of the cast is non-invasive, producing little to no swelling or skin damage. The application of the cast induces, in 2-weeks immobilized leg, the activation of atrophy-related genes, causing a muscle weight loss up to 25% in the gastrocnemius muscle, and 31% in the soleus muscle of the immobilized leg compared to the control leg. The cross-sectional area of the fibers is decreased by 31% and 34% respectively, with a peculiar effect on fiber types. In the immobilized gastrocnemius, absolute muscle force is reduced by 38%, while normalized force is reduced by 16%. The contralateral leg did not show signs of overload or hypertrophy when compared to free roaming littermates, offering a good internal control over the immobilized limb. Upon removing the cast, the mice effectively recovered mass and force in 3 weeks.