bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Denoising in SVD-based ghost imaging
Authors: Chen Liu-Ya , Wang Chong , Xiao Xu-Yi , Ren Cheng , Zhang De-Jian , Li Zhuan , Cao De-Zhong
Published: February 2022

By the method of singular-valued decomposition (SVD), ghost imaging (GI) reconstructs the images with high efficiency. However, a small amount of noise can greatly degrade or even destroy the object information. In this paper, we experimentally investigate the method of truncated SVD (TSVD) by selecting the first few largest singular values to enhance the image quality. The contrast-to-noise ratio and structural similarity of the images are improved with appropriate truncation ratios. To further improve the image quality, we analyze the noise effects on TSVD-based GI and introduce additional filters. TSVD-based GI may find its applications in rapid imaging under complicated environment conditions.
Color camouflage, solar absorption, and infrared camouflage based on phase-change material in the visible-infrared band
Authors: Li Xin , Luo Mingyu , Jiang Xinpeng , Luo Shishang , Yu Yang , Zhang Zhenfu , Yang Junbo
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we design a sandwich multilayer film structure based on phase-change material Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST). In the visible band, based on the amorphous and crystalline state of GST, visible light absorption and color camouflage can be achieved. The transition between the amorphous and crystalline state of GST by temperature modulation can achieve dynamic color tuning without affecting the absorption. In the infrared band, the structure can realize the infrared camouflage function in the amorphous and crystalline states, which means that it has a higher reflection function in the infrared band. Therefore, the multilayer film based on the phase-change material GST has a simple structure and mature preparation process, which can be effectively compatible with the visible-infrared band to realize the multi-functions of color camouflage, visible light absorption and infrared camouflage.
Parabolic microlensed optical fiber for coupling efficiency improvement in single mode fiber
Authors: Bouhafs Zaied , Guessoum Assia , Guermat Abdelhak , Bouaziz Djamila , Lecler Sylvain , Demagh Nacer-Eddine
Published: February 2022

The efficiency of optical coupling between an optical fiber and other components be it a light source, a photodetector or another fiber, often depends on the performance of the focusing components. In optoelectronics, microlenses are generally incorporated at the end of optical fibers to ensure optimal coupling. These microlenses are primarily fabricated with a spherical profile easier to achieve, with a determined radius and at low production costs. However, these microlenses exhibit a relatively large waist due to intrinsic spherical aberrations making it difficult to couple light into single mode fibers. This paper presents the results of a study of a microlens having a parabolic profile that has been made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) at a single mode optical fiber (SMF 9/125) end terminal. The contribution of the parabolic profile as compared to spherical shaped one is analyzed. Estimates at the wavelengths of primary importance, λ =1.310 µm and λ =1.550 µm, have shown a decrease in the spot radius diagram in the focal plane by 3, from an root mean square (RMS) value of 0.623 µm in the spherical case to less than 0.229 µm in the parabolic case. The measured optical coupling has improved to 98.5% under optimal conditions (without taking into account the bulk absorption and the effects of Fresnel reflection). For different studied microlens curvatures’ radii, the obtained waist values vary from 1.00 to 4.90 µm with working distances from 5.80 to 48.80 µm, respectively.
Thunderstruck: The ACDC model of flexible sequences and rhythms in recurrent neural circuits
Authors: Calderon Cristian Buc , Verguts Tom , Frank Michael J.
Published: February 2022

Adaptive sequential behavior is a hallmark of human cognition. In particular, humans can learn to produce precise spatiotemporal sequences given a certain context. For instance, musicians can not only reproduce learned action sequences in a context-dependent manner, they can also quickly and flexibly reapply them in any desired tempo or rhythm without overwriting previous learning. Existing neural network models fail to account for these properties. We argue that this limitation emerges from the fact that sequence information (i.e., the position of the action) and timing (i.e., the moment of response execution) are typically stored in the same neural network weights. Here, we augment a biologically plausible recurrent neural network of cortical dynamics to include a basal ganglia-thalamic module which uses reinforcement learning to dynamically modulate action. This “associative cluster-dependent chain” (ACDC) model modularly stores sequence and timing information in distinct loci of the network. This feature increases computational power and allows ACDC to display a wide range of temporal properties (e.g., multiple sequences, temporal shifting, rescaling, and compositionality), while still accounting for several behavioral and neurophysiological empirical observations. Finally, we apply this ACDC network to show how it can learn the famous “Thunderstruck” song intro and then flexibly play it in a “bossa nova” rhythm without further training.
A transcriptome-based association study of growth, wood quality, and oleoresin traits in a slash pine breeding population
Authors: Ding Xianyin , Diao Shu , Luan Qifu , Wu Harry X. , Zhang Yini , Jiang Jingmin
Published: February 2022

Slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) is an important timber and resin species in the United States, China, Brazil and other countries. Understanding the genetic basis of these traits will accelerate its breeding progress. We carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS), transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) for growth, wood quality, and oleoresin traits using 240 unrelated individuals from a Chinese slash pine breeding population. We developed high quality 53,229 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Our analysis reveals three main results: (1) the Chinese breeding population can be divided into three genetic groups with a mean inbreeding coefficient of 0.137; (2) 32 SNPs significantly were associated with growth and oleoresin traits, accounting for the phenotypic variance ranging from 12.3% to 21.8% and from 10.6% to 16.7%, respectively; and (3) six genes encoding PeTLP, PeAP2/ERF, PePUP9, PeSLP, PeHSP, and PeOCT1 proteins were identified and validated by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction for their association with growth and oleoresin traits. These results could be useful for tree breeding and functional studies in advanced slash pine breeding program.
Long-term effects of increased adoption of artemisinin combination therapies in Burkina Faso
Authors: Zupko Robert J. , Nguyen Tran Dang , Somé Anyirékun Fabrice , Tran Thu Nguyen-Anh , Gerardin Jaline , Dudas Patrick , Giang Dang Duy Hoang , Tran Kien Trung , Wesolowski Amy , Ouédraogo Jean-Bosco , Boni Maciej F.
Published: February 2022

Artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) are the WHO-recommended first-line therapies for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The emergence and spread of artemisinin-resistant genotypes is a major global public health concern due to the increased rate of treatment failures that result. This is particularly germane for WHO designated ‘high burden to high impact’ (HBHI) countries, such as Burkina Faso, where there is increased emphasis on improving guidance, strategy, and coordination of local malaria response in an effort to reduce the prevalence of P. falciparum malaria. To explore how the increased adoption of ACTs may affect the HBHI malaria setting of Burkina Faso, we added spatial structure to a validated individual-based stochastic model of P. falciparum transmission and evaluated the long-term effects of increased ACT use. We explored how de novo emergence of artemisinin-resistant genotypes, such as pfkelch13 580Y, may occur under scenarios in which private-market drugs are eliminated or multiple first-line therapies (MFT) are deployed. We found that elimination of private market drugs would result in lower treatment failures rates (between 11.98% and 12.90%) when compared to the status quo (13.11%). However, scenarios incorporating MFT with equal deployment of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ) may accelerate near-term drug resistance (580Y frequency ranging between 0.62 to 0.84 in model year 2038) and treatment failure rates (26.69% to 34.00% in 2038), due to early failure and substantially reduced treatment efficacy resulting from piperaquine-resistant genotypes. A rebalanced MFT approach (90% AL, 10% DHA-PPQ) results in approximately equal long-term outcomes to using AL alone but may be difficult to implement in practice.
Identification of drivers of Rift Valley fever after the 2013–14 outbreak in Senegal using serological data in small ruminants
Authors: Seck Ismaila , Lo Modou Moustapha , Fall Assane Gueye , Diop Mariane , Ciss Mamadou , Cêtre-Sossah Catherine Béatrice , Faye Coumba , Lo Mbargou , Gaye Adji Mareme , Coste Caroline , Squarzoni-Diaw Cécile , Alambedji Rianatou Bada , Sall Baba , Apolloni Andrea , Lancelot Renaud
Published: February 2022

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne disease mostly affecting wild and domestic ruminants. It is widespread in Africa, with spillovers in the Arab Peninsula and the southwestern Indian Ocean. Although RVF has been circulating in West Africa for more than 30 years, its epidemiology is still not clearly understood. In 2013, an RVF outbreak hit Senegal in new areas that weren’t ever affected before. To assess the extent of the spread of RVF virus, a national serological survey was implemented in young small ruminants (6–18 months old), between November 2014 and January 2015 (after the rainy season) in 139 villages. Additionally, the drivers of this spread were identified. For this purpose, we used a beta-binomial (BB) logistic regression model. An Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) approach was used to fit the spatial model. Lower cumulative rainfall, and higher accessibility were both associated with a higher RVFV seroprevalence. The spatial patterns of fitted RVFV seroprevalence pointed densely populated areas of western Senegal as being at higher risk of RVFV infection in small ruminants than rural or southeastern areas. Thus, because slaughtering infected animals and processing their fresh meat is an important RVFV transmission route for humans, more human populations might have been exposed to RVFV during the 2013–2014 outbreak than in previous outbreaks in Senegal.
Learning to think critically about health using digital technology in Ugandan lower secondary schools: A contextual analysis
Authors: Ssenyonga Ronald , Sewankambo Nelson K. , Mugagga Solomon Kevin , Nakyejwe Esther , Chesire Faith , Mugisha Michael , Nsangi Allen , Semakula Daniel , Oxman Matt , Nyirazinyoye Laetitia , Lewin Simon , Kaseje Margaret , Oxman Andrew D. , Rosenbaum Sarah
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The world is awash with claims about the effects of health interventions. Many of these claims are untrustworthy because the bases are unreliable. Acting on unreliable claims can lead to waste of resources and poor health outcomes. Yet, most people lack the necessary skills to appraise the reliability of health claims. The Informed Health Choices (IHC) project aims to equip young people in Ugandan lower secondary schools with skills to think critically about health claims and to make good health choices by developing and evaluating digital learning resources. To ensure that we create resources that are suitable for use in Uganda’s secondary schools and can be scaled up if found effective, we conducted a context analysis. We aimed to better understand opportunities and barriers related to demand for the resources, how the learning content overlaps with existing curriculum and conditions in secondary schools for accessing and using digital resources, in order to inform resource development.

Methods

We used a mixed methods approach and collected both qualitative and quantitative data. We conducted document analyses, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, school visits, and a telephone survey regarding information communication and technology (ICT). We used a nominal group technique to obtain consensus on the appropriate number and length of IHC lessons that should be planned in a school term. We developed and used a framework from the objectives to code the transcripts and generated summaries of query reports in Atlas.ti version 7.

Findings

Critical thinking is a key competency in the lower secondary school curriculum. However, the curriculum does not explicitly make provision to teach critical thinking about health, despite a need acknowledged by curriculum developers, teachers and students. Exam oriented teaching and a lack of learning resources are additional important barriers to teaching critical thinking about health. School closures and the subsequent introduction of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated teachers’ use of digital equipment and learning resources for teaching. Although the government is committed to improving access to ICT in schools and teachers are open to using ICT, access to digital equipment, unreliable power and internet connections remain important hinderances to use of digital learning resources.

Conclusions

There is a recognized need for learning resources to teach critical thinking about health in Ugandan lower secondary schools. Digital learning resources should be designed to be usable even in schools with limited access and equipment. Teacher training on use of ICT for teaching is needed.
Text mining of Reddit posts: Using latent Dirichlet allocation to identify common parenting issues
Authors: Westrupp Elizabeth M. , Greenwood Christopher J. , Fuller-Tyszkiewicz Matthew , Berkowitz Tomer S. , Hagg Lauryn , Youssef George
Published: February 2022

Parenting interventions offer an evidence-based method for the prevention and early intervention of child mental health problems, but to-date their population-level effectiveness has been limited by poor reach and engagement, particularly for fathers, working mothers, and disadvantaged families. Tailoring intervention content to parents’ context offers the potential to enhance parent engagement and learning by increasing relevance of content to parents’ daily experiences. However, this approach requires a detailed understanding of the common parenting situations and issues that parents face day-to-day, which is currently lacking. We sought to identify the most common parenting situations discussed by parents on parenting-specific forums of the free online discussion forum, Reddit. We aimed to understand perspectives from both mothers and fathers, and thus retrieved publicly available data from r/Daddit and r/Mommit. We used latent Dirichlet allocation to identify the 10 most common topics discussed in the Reddit posts, and completed a manual text analysis to summarize the parenting situations (defined as involving a parent and their child aged 0–18 years, and describing a potential/actual issue). We retrieved 340 (r/Daddit) and 578 (r/Mommit) original posts. A model with 31 latent Dirichlet allocation topics was best fitting, and 24 topics included posts that met our inclusion criteria for manual review. We identified 45 unique but broadly defined parenting situations. The majority of parenting situations were focused on basic childcare situations relating to eating, sleeping, routines, sickness, and toilet training; or related to how to respond to child negative emotions or difficult behavior. Most situations were discussed in relation to infant or toddler aged children, and there was high consistency in the themes raised in r/Daddit and r/Mommit. Our results offer potential to tailor parenting interventions in a meaningful way, creating opportunities to develop content and resources that are directly relevant to parents’ lived experiences.
Spatial approach for diagnosis of yield-limiting nutrients in smallholder agroecosystem landscape using population-based farm survey data
Authors: Ichami Stephen M. , Karuku George N. , Sila Andrew M. , Ayuke Fredrick O. , Shepherd Keith D.
Published: February 2022

Adept use of fertilizers is critical if sustainable development goal two of zero hunger and agroecosystem resilience are to be achieved for African smallholder agroecosystems. These heterogeneous systems are characterized by poor soil health mainly attributed to soil nutrient depletion. However, conventional methods do not take into account spatial patterns across geographies within agroecosystems, which poses great challenges for targeted interventions of nutrient management. This study aimed to develop a novel population-based farm survey approach for diagnosing soil nutrient deficiencies. The approach embraces principles of land health surveillance of problem definition and rigorous sampling scheme. The advent of rapid soil testing techniques, like infrared spectroscopy, offers opportune avenues for high-density soil and plant characterization. A farm survey was conducted on 64 maize fields, to collect data on soil and plant tissue nutrient concentration and grain yield (GY) for maize crops, using hierarchical and purposive sampling. Correlations between soil test values with GY and biomass were established. The relationship between GY, soil NPK, and the tissue nutrient concentrations was evaluated to guide the setting up of localized critical soil test values. Diagnosis Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) indices for total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), and total potassium (K) were used to rank and map the prevalence of nutrient limitations. A positive correlation existed between plant tissue nutrient concentration with GY with R2 values of 0.089, 0.033, and 0.001 for NPK, respectively. Soil test cut-off values were 0.01%, 12 mg kg-1, 4.5 cmolc kg-1 for NPK, respectively, which varied slightly from established soil critical values for soil nutrient diagnostics. N and K were the most limiting nutrients for maize production in 67% of sampled fields. The study demonstrates that a population-based farm survey of crop fields can be a useful tool in nutrient diagnostics and setting priorities for site-specific fertilizer recommendations. A larger-scale application of the approach is warranted.
Face mask fit hacks: Improving the fit of KN95 masks and surgical masks with fit alteration techniques
Authors: O’Kelly Eugenia , Arora Anmol , Pirog Sophia , Pearson Charlotte , Ward James , Clarkson P. John
Published: February 2022

Introduction

During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been suggestions that various techniques could be employed to improve the fit and, therefore, the effectiveness of face masks. It is well recognized that improving fit tends to improve mask effectiveness, but whether these fit modifiers are reliable remains unexplored. In this study, we assess a range of common “fit hacks” to determine their ability to improve mask performance.

Methods

Between July and September 2020, qualitative fit testing was performed in an indoor living space. We used quantitative fit testing to assess the fit of both surgical masks and KN95 masks, with and without ‘fit hacks’, on four participants. Seven fit hacks were evaluated to assess impact on fit. Additionally, one participant applied each fit hack multiple times to assess how reliable hacks were when reapplied. A convenience of four participants took part in the study, three females and one male with a head circumference range of 54 to 60 centimetres.

Results and discussion

The use of pantyhose, tape, and rubber bands were effective for most participants. A pantyhose overlayer was observed to be the most effective hack. High degrees of variation were noted between participants. However, little variation was noted within participants, with hacks generally showing similar benefit each time they were applied on a single participant. An inspection of the fit hacks once applied showed that individual facial features may have a significant impact on fit, especially the nose bridge.

Conclusions

Fit hacks can be used to effectively improve the fit of surgical and KN95 masks, enhancing the protection provided to the wearer. However, many of the most effective hacks are very uncomfortable and unlikely to be tolerated for extended periods of time. The development of effective fit-improvement solutions remains a critical issue in need of further development.
Hybrid feature selection-based machine learning Classification system for the prediction of injury severity in single and multiple-vehicle accidents
Authors: Zhang Shuguang , Khattak Afaq , Matara Caroline Mongina , Hussain Arshad , Farooq Asim
Published: February 2022

To undertake a reliable analysis of injury severity in road traffic accidents, a complete understanding of important attributes is essential. As a result of the shift from traditional statistical parametric procedures to computer-aided methods, machine learning approaches have become an important aspect in predicting the severity of road traffic injuries. The paper presents a hybrid feature selection-based machine learning classification approach for detecting significant attributes and predicting injury severity in single and multiple-vehicle accidents. To begin, we employed a Random Forests (RF) classifier in conjunction with an intrinsic wrapper-based feature selection approach called the Boruta Algorithm (BA) to find the relevant important attributes that determine injury severity. The influential attributes were then fed into a set of four classifiers to accurately predict injury severity (Naive Bayes (NB), K-Nearest Neighbor (K-NN), Binary Logistic Regression (BLR), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost)). According to BA’s experimental investigation, the vehicle type was the most influential factor, followed by the month of the year, the driver’s age, and the alignment of the road segment. The driver’s gender, the presence of a median, and the presence of a shoulder were all found to be unimportant. According to classifier performance measures, XGBoost surpasses the other classifiers in terms of prediction performance. Using the specified attributes, the accuracy, Cohen’s Kappa, F1-Measure, and AUC-ROC values of the XGBoost were 82.10%, 0.607, 0.776, and 0.880 for single vehicle accidents and 79.52%, 0.569, 0.752, and 0.86 for multiple-vehicle accidents, respectively.
Computational prediction of intracellular targets of wild-type or mutant vesicular stomatitis matrix protein
Authors: Morris Matthew C. , Russell Thomas M. , Lyman Cole A. , Wong Wesley K. , Broderick Gordon , Ferran Maureen C.
Published: February 2022

The matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has a complex role in infection and immune evasion, particularly with respect to suppression of Type I interferon (IFN). Viral strains bearing the wild-type (wt) M protein are able to suppress Type I IFN responses. We recently reported that the 22–25 strain of VSV encodes a wt M protein, however its sister plaque isolate, strain 22–20, carries a M[MD52G] mutation that perturbs the ability of the M protein to block NFκB, but not M-mediated inhibition of host transcription. Therefore, although NFκB is activated in 22–20 infected murine L929 cells infected, no IFN mRNA or protein is produced. To investigate the impact of the M[D52G] mutation on immune evasion by VSV, we used transcriptomic data from L929 cells infected with wt, 22–25, or 22–20 to define parameters in a family of executable logical models with the aim of discovering direct targets of viruses encoding a wt or mutant M protein. After several generations of pruning or fixing hypothetical regulatory interactions, we identified specific predicted targets of each strain. We predict that wt and 22–25 VSV both have direct inhibitory actions on key elements of the NFκB signaling pathway, while 22–20 fails to inhibit this pathway.
Early discontinuation of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer correlates with inferior survival: A multicenter population-based cohort study
Authors: Muhammadzai Javeria , Haider Kamal , Moser Michael , Chalchal Haji , Shaw John , Gardiner Donald , Dueck Dorie-Anna , Ahmed Osama , Brunet Bryan , Iqbal Mussawar , Luo Yigang , Beck Gavin , Zaidi Adnan , Ahmed Shahid
Published: February 2022

Background

The current study aimed to determine the association between timing and completion of adjuvant chemotherapy and outcomes in real-world patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer.

Methods

In this multi-center cohort study patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer who were diagnosed from 2007–2017 and underwent complete resection in the province of Saskatchewan were examined. Cox proportional multivariate analyses were performed for correlation with recurrence and survival.

Results

Of 168 patients, 71 eligible patients with median age of 69 years and M:F of 37:34 were identified. Median time to the start of adjuvant therapy from surgery was 73 days. Of all patients, 49 (69%) patients completed adjuvant chemotherapy and 22 (31%) required early treatment discontinuation. Median recurrence-free survival of patients who completed treatment was 22 months (95%CI:15.8–28.2) vs. 9 months (3.3–14.7) if treatment was discontinued early (P<0.001). Median overall survival of those who completed treatment was 33 (17.5–48.5) vs. 16 months (17.5–48.5) with early treatment discontinuation (P<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, treatment discontinuation was significantly correlated with recurrent disease, hazard ratio (HR), 2.57 (1.41–4.68), P = 0.002 and inferior survival, HR, 2.55 (1.39–4.68), P = 0.003. No correlation between treatment timing and survival was noted.

Conclusions

Early discontinuation but not the timing of adjuvant chemotherapy correlates with inferior outcomes.
The complete chloroplast genome sequencing analysis revealed an unusual IRs reduction in three species of subfamily Zygophylloideae
Authors: Wang Xiaoyang , Dorjee Tashi , Chen Yiru , Gao Fei , Zhou Yijun
Published: February 2022

Tetraena mongolica, Zygophyllum xanthoxylon, and Z. fabago are three typical dryland plants with important ecological values in subfamily Zygophylloideae of Zygophyllaceae. Studies on the chloroplast genomes of them are favorable for understanding the diversity and phylogeny of Zygophyllaceae. Here, we sequenced and assembled the whole chloroplast genomes of T. mongolica, Z. xanthoxylon, and Z. fabago, and performed comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis. The total size, structure, gene content and orders of these three chloroplast genomes were similar, and the three chloroplast genomes exhibited a typical quadripartite structure with a large single-copy region (LSC; 79,696–80,291 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC; 16,462–17,162 bp), and two inverted repeats (IRs; 4,288–4,413 bp). A total of 107 unique genes were identified from the three chloroplast genomes, including 70 protein-coding genes, 33 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs. Compared with other angiosperms, the three chloroplast genomes were significantly reduced in overall length due to an unusual 16–24 kb shrinkage of IR regions and loss of the 11 genes which encoded subunits of NADH dehydrogenase. Genome-wide comparisons revealed similarities and variations between the three species and others. Phylogenetic analysis based on the three chloroplast genomes supported the opinion that Zygophyllaceae belonged to Zygophyllales in Fabids, and Z. xanthoxylon and Z. fabago belonged to Zygophyllum. The genome-wide comparisons revealed the similarity and variations between the chloroplast genomes of the three Zygophylloideae species and other plant species. This study provides a valuable molecular biology evidence for further studies of phylogenetic status of Zygophyllaceae.
Feasibility of EBUS-TBNA for histopathological and molecular diagnostics of NSCLC—A retrospective single-center experience
Authors: Karadzovska-Kotevska Marija , Brunnström Hans , Kosieradzki Jaroslaw , Ek Lars , Estberg Christel , Staaf Johan , Barath Stefan , Planck Maria
Published: February 2022

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive bronchoscopic procedure, well established as a diagnostic modality of first choice for diagnosis and staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The therapeutic decisions for advanced NSCLC require comprehensive profiling of actionable mutations, which is currently considered to be an essential part of the diagnostic process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of EBUS-TBNA cytology specimen for histological subtyping, molecular profiling of NSCLC by massive parallel sequencing (MPS), as well as for PD-L1 analysis. A retrospective review of 806 EBUS bronchoscopies was performed, resulting in a cohort of 132 consecutive patients with EBUS-TBNA specimens showing NSCLC cells in lymph nodes. Data on patient demographics, radiology features of the suspected tumor and mediastinal engagement, lymph nodes sampled, the histopathological subtype of NSCLC, and performed molecular analysis were collected. The EBUS-TBNA specimen proved sufficient for subtyping NSCLC in 83% and analysis of treatment predictive biomarkers in 77% (MPS in 53%). The adequacy of the EBUS-TBNA specimen was 69% for EGFR gene mutation analysis, 49% for analysis of ALK rearrangement, 36% for ROS1 rearrangement, and 33% for analysis of PD-L1. The findings of our study confirm that EBUS-TBNA cytology aspirate is appropriate for diagnosis and subtyping of NSCLC and largely also for treatment predictive molecular testing, although more data is needed on the utility of EBUS cytology specimen for MPS and PD-L1 analysis.
People’s perceptions of, willingness-to-take preventive remedies and their willingness-to-vaccinate during times of heightened health threats
Authors: Bearth Angela , Berthold Anne , Siegrist Michael
Published: February 2022

Pandemics, such as the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, represents a health threat to humans worldwide. During times of heightened health risks, the public’s perceptions, and acceptance of evidence-based preventive measures, such as vaccines, is of high relevance. Moreover, people might seek other preventive remedies to protect themselves from getting infected (e.g., herbal remedies, nutritional supplements). A recent study on consumers’ preference for naturalness showed that people put more weight on perceived naturalness of a preventive remedy compared to a curative one. This result was attributed to the increased focus on perceived effectiveness as opposed to perceived risk. This raises the question whether the current pandemic would shift people’s perceptions from prevention to curing and thus, exhibit a preference for synthetic remedies because they are seen as more effective. The present online experiment (conducted in April 2021) investigated people’s perceptions of vaccines and remedies within the context of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A 2x2 between-subject design with type of remedy (natural vs. synthetic) and salience of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (high vs. low) was conducted in Switzerland in spring 2021 (N = 452). The data did not provide evidence of a curative mindset for preventive remedies, as the participants exhibited a clear preference for the natural remedy compared to the synthetic remedy. Our study stresses the importance of understanding people’s mindsets on how to protect themselves from infection with a virus during an ongoing pandemic to tackle misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.
Prevalence and characterization of asymptomatic thyroid nodules in Assin North District, Ghana
Authors: Morna Martin Tangnaa , Tuoyire Derek Anamaale , Jimah Bashiru Babatunde , Eliason Sebastian , Baffour Appiah Anthony , Rahman Ganiyu Adebisi
Published: February 2022

Background

Ultrasound is now the initial imaging modality of choice for detection and characterization of lesions of the thyroid gland. Ultrasound imaging studies of the thyroid gland report varied prevalence of asymptomatic thyroid nodules (ATN), ranging from 20 to 67%. This study estimated the prevalence, characterized and determined factors associated with ATN in selected communities in the Assin North Municipality, Central Region, Ghana.

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional design, involving 320 participants from six (6) communities in the Assin North District of the Central Region of Ghana. Socio-demographic data and data from ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.

Results

The prevalence of ATN was 11.3% among 320 participants with the mean age of 56.53(±16.5) years. ATNs were common in the left lobe (69%) and predominantly solitary (64%). ATNs increased with age and body mass index (BMI). Those aged 60 years and above had significantly higher odds (OR = 24.40, 95% CI = 2.59–229.86) of having ATNs, likewise overweigh (OR = 5.32, 95% CI = 1.12–25.20) and obese (OR = 12.51, 95% CI = 1.47–106.58) individuals.

Conclusion

The prevalence of ATN in our study population was relatively low, and more predictable among those 60 years or older, those in unhealthy BMI categories. There is the need for the reinforcement and intensification of educational campaigns on the consumption of iodized dietary salt as well as the consumption of foods rich in iodine content, particularly among older individuals.
Azithromycin consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia, 2020
Authors: Bogdanić Nikolina , Močibob Loris , Vidović Toni , Soldo Ana , Begovać Josip
Published: February 2022

Background

During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was great enthusiasm for the use of azithromycin with or without hydroxychloroquine.

Objectives

We analyzed azithromycin consumption in Croatia in 2020 and compared this to the period 2017–2019.

Methods

Azithromycin consumption was evaluated using the IQVIA Adriatic d.o.o. database which collects data on azithromycin distribution from wholesale pharmacies to hospital and non-hospital pharmacies in Croatia. We analyzed data for the period from January 2017 to December 2020. Azithromycin distribution was measured as days of therapy (DOT) and reported as per 1000 inhabitants or per 1000 inhabitant-days.

Results

In the period 2017–2020, total azithromycin DOT in Croatia increased in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 (1.76, 1.91, 1.91 and 2.01/1000 inhabitant-days, respectively). Non-hospital pharmacies received 2.18 times and hospital pharmacies 4.39 times more DOT units/1000 inhabitants of azithromycin in March 2020 compared to the average distribution rate in March 2017–2019. During the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic (November and December 2020) azithromycin distribution increased considerably in hospital (3.62 and 3.19 times, respectively) and non-hospital pharmacies (1.93 and 1.84 times, respectively) compared to the average consumption in the same months in 2017–2019.

Conclusions

Our data showed increased azithromycin distribution in the period 2017–2020 which indicates azithromycin overuse. Preliminary information on COVID-19 treatments with a desire to offer and try what is available even in the absence of strong scientific evidence may have influenced practices of antimicrobial prescriptions.
User characteristics and service satisfaction of car sharing systems: Evidence from Hangzhou, China
Authors: Chen Mengwei , Sun Yilin , Waygood E. Owen D. , Yu Jincheng , Zhu Kai
Published: February 2022

Car sharing has become a new mode of transport during the past two decades in the world. Its rapid growth in China has attracted a wide range of users and posed some problems. The main focus is on service efficiency and user satisfaction. To explore possible service enhancement and management intervention, this study aims at capturing the user characteristics according to different user types and scrutinizing their satisfaction with station-based one-way car sharing service. The study firstly illustrates descriptive statistics of user profile. This is followed by a study of user satisfaction influenced by user rates on staffs, the efficiency of rental process, vehicle situation, the use of credit card and their familiarity towards rental station. Furthermore, by clustering users according to the total travel time and distance during one rent, two different types of users are identified and defined as User Group A (UGA) and User Group B (UGB). To examine how fully do users utilize the shared cars, ANOVA was conducted implying family car ownership, total travel distance and main travel purpose have strong impact on total rental time for UGB, while for UGA, travel purpose and age have strong impact. Finally, ordinal logistic regression was introduced to find that for UGB, “shopping” is the main travel purpose with longer rental time, whereas for UGA, “out for business”, “shopping”, “visit friends” or “pick up others” are the main travel purposes with longer total travel time. Based on the findings, advices for operators on how to improve service quality and suggestions for government management strategy are discussed, respectively.
GDP polyribonucleotidyltransferase domain of vesicular stomatitis virus polymerase regulates leader-promoter escape and polyadenylation-coupled termination during stop-start transcription
Authors: Ogino Minako , Green Todd J. , Ogino Tomoaki
Published: February 2022

The unconventional mRNA capping enzyme (GDP polyribonucleotidyltransferase, PRNTase) domain of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) L protein possesses a dual-functional "priming-capping loop" that governs terminal de novo initiation for leader RNA synthesis and capping of monocistronic mRNAs during the unique stop-start transcription cycle. Here, we investigated the roles of basic amino acid residues on a helix structure directly connected to the priming-capping loop in viral RNA synthesis and identified single point mutations that cause previously unreported defective phenotypes at different steps of stop-start transcription. Mutations of residue R1183 (R1183A and R1183K) dramatically reduced the leader RNA synthesis activity by hampering early elongation, but not terminal de novo initiation or productive elongation, suggesting that the mutations negatively affect escape from the leader promoter. On the other hand, mutations of residue R1178 (R1178A and R1178K) decreased the efficiency of polyadenylation-coupled termination of mRNA synthesis at the gene junctions, but not termination of leader RNA synthesis at the leader-to-N-gene junction, resulting in the generation of larger amounts of aberrant polycistronic mRNAs. In contrast, both the R1183 and R1178 residues are not essential for cap-forming activities. The R1183K mutation was lethal to VSV, whereas the R1178K mutation attenuated VSV and triggered the production of the polycistronic mRNAs in infected cells. These observations suggest that the PRNTase domain plays multiple roles in conducting accurate stop-start transcription beyond its known role in pre-mRNA capping.
Pour une francophonie des communautés: Multilinguisme, tradition institutionnelle et langue de l’école dans la Principauté d’Andorre
Authors: Jiménez-Salcedo Juan
Published: February 2022

We start from the premise that the Francophonie cannot be grasped as a uniform block, but rather as a set of communities that must be analysed empirically. Based on this observation, we propose a case study of the Francophonie in the Principality of Andorra. The Andorran case has common characteristics with other Francophone contexts, but also has many particularities. The French language lives in a multilingual ecosystem where it fulfils only formal functions. Andorra has a vernacular language – Catalan – which is also a vehicular language, but in strong competition with Castilian. Andorran society is extremely diverse, with a national group that does not make up half the population. This group co-habits with communities of nationals from countries of the same region (Spain, Portugal and France). Finally, despite the low social presence of French, it plays a predominant role as a language of instruction. The article looks at the literature on Francophonie and proposes the concepts used to characterize specifically the Andorran francophonie. Then it presents an objective characterization of the Andorran Francophonie through the study of its constitutive elements. Finally, it discusses the subjective characterization of the Andorran Francophonie.
Du polar d’Afrique francophone et des stratégies pour contourner la marge instituée
Authors: Togola Adama
Published: February 2022

This study attempts to reassess the critical discourse on the Francophone African detective fiction in order to show how the dynamics of genres and discourse in the crime novel participates in a reflection on writing and the boundaries between so-called popular literature and the so-called ‘literate’. It is about analysing the workaround strategies implemented by writers to lift the crime novel from the sidelines in which it has long been placed. Born in the nineteenth century with modernity, the African detective fiction is today one of the axes of development of African literature. It competes, by its dynamism and its originality, with the canonical novel. The resumption of thematic recurrences (immigration, social and political criticism) shows that it contributes to a broad representation ofsocial semiosis. It now claims a discursive space of which the dominant field is obliged to recognize the relevance.
La condition féminine dans Une vie hypothéquée d’Anne-Marie Adiaffi
Authors: Ameh Catherine Achetu
Published: February 2022

This article aims to study the condition of African women in Une vie hypothéquée by Anne-Marie Adiaffi. In a predominantly patriarchal Ivorian society, this Francophone African novelist highlights certain alienating practices that subjugate African women, especially forced marriage and widowhood in Ivorian and African society. Given the above, the researcher wonders why the condition of African women is in a state of exploitation, oppression and overwhelming violence. What are the solutions to stop these problems? To effectively carry out the study, the researcher adopts the African womanism theory. The study recommends that the sensitization and formal education of African women is the key to their development and emancipation in society.
Analyse symbolique de la relation homme-femme dans le roman Agave de Hawa Djabali
Authors: Rezvantalab Zeinab
Published: February 2022

We cannot deny the role of women in the development of French-speaking Maghreb literature. Their presence is all the more intense as they have often evoked through their works what they did not have the right or the courage to address elsewhere, either sensitive issues such as the status of women, or the relationship between men and women in a society dominated by patriarchal traditions. Hawa Djabali, in her novel Agave, far from being trapped by clichés or trying in vain to prove the superiority of one over the other, draws with the help of metaphorical images and a particular treatment of the space–time, the relationship between a man and a woman, and describes their quest for identity, to present at the end a mode of peaceful coexistence leading to the personal and social fulfillment of both genders. This article aims to analyse and dissect these literary images, to retrace the symbolic and psychological journey pursued by the author in this romantic creation. This article shows that this study on the evolution of the romantic relationship within a couple is presented above all as a questioning of oneself, and offers the opportunity for an introspective reflection on the human, and encourages secondly, to set aside stereotypes and to break the chains of hold.
Geologia 1-Fisika 0: Lur Planetaren adina
Authors: Plazaola Fernando
Published: February 2022

Artikulu honetan saiatuko naiz erakusten xx. mendeko, eta bereziki mendearen lehen erdiko, fisikaren nagusitasuna ez zela arlo guztietara heldu. Izan ere, izenburuak dioen bezala, Geologiak gol galanta sartu zion fisikari garai hartan. Hala ere, eta bigarren artikulu batean azalduko denez («Geologia 1-Fisika 1» artikuluan hain zuzen), xx. mendearen laugarren laurdenean, fisikaren arrakasta edo eraginkortasuna hain handia ez zenean, fisikak partida berdintzea lortu zuen. Beraz, artikulu honi, «Geologia 1-Fisika 1» izenburua duen beste artikulu batek jarraituko dio.
La lucha institucional contra la propaganda de las grandes empresas estadounidenses durante la Gran Depresión
Authors: Migliucci Dario
Published: February 2022

El objetivo del presente trabajo es el de analizar la labor de los comités legislativos estadounidenses que fueron establecidos, durante la década de los treinta del siglo XX, con el fin de indagar la propaganda de las grandes corporaciones privadas. En particular, se analizarán las investigaciones sobre las empresas de gas y electricidad, las industrias armamentísticas y las major cinematográficas. La hipótesis es que, si bien muchos dirigentes fueron movidos por la genuina voluntad de combatir abusos y malas prácticas, a largo plazo las investigaciones acabaron siendo dominadas por una acentuada radicalización ideológica y por una destacada deriva emocional, lo que a la postre frustró la posibilidad de que, a partir de la labor de los comités, pudiesen surgir medidas de regulación del sector.
Biztonsági kérdések a turizmusban, egy határ menti térség példáján keresztül
Authors: Ernszt Ildikó , Péter Erzsébet , Keller Krisztina , Tóth-Kaszás Nikoletta
Published: February 2022

Amennyiben túllépünk a biztonság klasszikus értelmezésén, ami a jogellenes cselekményektől való men­tességet – jelen esetben elsősorban a terrortámadásoktól való biztonságot – jelenti, meg kell említenünk a technikai értelemben vett biztonság számos elemét. A tágabb értelemben felfogott biztonsághoz tartozik többek között a környezet (épített és természeti), a fogyasztás, az egészség biztonsága is. De más oldalról is megközelíthetjük a kérdést. Nemcsak a turisták biztonságát kell hangsúlyozni, amit folyamatosan szem előtt tartunk, amikor ez a téma előtérbe kerül, hanem az is fontos, hogy a turizmus a turisztikai desz­tináció lakosai számára is biztonságos legyen. Mivel a biztonság sarkalatos kérdéssé vált, a biztonságos úti célok egyre népszerűbbé válnak. Emellett erősödik egy olyan trend is, ami a természetközeliséget, a nyugalmat preferálja a nyüzsgő nagyvárosok, a turistáktól hemzsegő nyaralóhelyek nyújtotta kínálattal szemben. A biztonság egyes vetületeivel foglalkozó vizsgálatunk fókuszában a Letenyei járás áll. Ezen vizsgálatban egy kérdőíves kutatás keretében mértük fel, hogy a gazdasági válság és a terrorfenyegetettség hatásai mennyire érezhetőek országosan, illetve a vizsgált járás vonatkozásában. Továbbá feltártuk azt is, hogy a megkérdezettek mennyire érzik biztonságosnak az online fizetést a turisztikai jellegű foglalásaik­nál, kifizetéseiknél, illetve hogy szükségesnek érzik-e a külföldre utazók, hogy utasbiztosítást kössenek, és ha igen, mindezt hány nappal korábban teszik.