bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate change and food systems: Linking adaptive capacity and nutritional needs of low-income households in Ghana
Authors: Issahaku Dawuda , Manteaw Bob O. , Wrigley-Asante Charlotte
Published: May 2023

Climate change is projected to adversely impact the health and wellbeing of households particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where social vulnerability is pervasive. While countries such as Ghana have intensified efforts to ensure effective and proactive adaptation to emerging climate impacts, it has also become apparent, in some instances, that levels of adaptive capacity within households and communities remain a critical determinant of the success of adaptation efforts. This is particularly the case in the poor and perennially vulnerable northern regions of Ghana where high incidence of stunting in children has highlighted the complex interlinkages that exists among climate change, food systems, household income levels, nutrition, and adaptive capacity. This is against the background that this is also the time that government and other development partners have intensified intervention actions to influence household adaptation to climate change and nutrition and health outcomes, particularly among children. Using the Karaga district of northern Ghana as a reference point, and employing the sustainable livelihoods framework, this study explores the link between household adaptive capacity to climate change and the nutritional needs of low-income households. The study finds a significant inverse relationship between household adaptive capacity and stunting in children under five years of age as an indicator of household nutritional needs. Additionally, the study also finds that agricultural practices like adopting new varieties, dry season farming, mulching, and intercropping could have positive influence on household nutrition if households have sufficient capacity to adopt such practices. The study, therefore, provides, critical insights into adaptive capacity measurement and its utility in the context of human systems. More importantly, the study also shows how carefully considered adaptation efforts can shape national policies on climate adaptation, adaptive capacity, nutrition, and health.
Retention in care among people living with HIV in the national antiretroviral therapy programme in Guinea: A retrospective cohort analysis
Authors: Kadio Kadio Jean-Jacques Olivier , Amadou Cissé , Thierno Saidou Diallo , Guilavogui Foromo , Adrien Fapeingou Tounkara , Damey Pe , Alhassane Sow , Fatoumata Fily Bah , Souleymane Sékou Youla , Ibrahima Diallo , Niouma Nestor Leno , Lazare Mboungou , Arnold Nyawotope Koffi Ahiatsi , Laye Kaba , Zeynabou Sy , Ignasi Vallès-Casanova , Alison Wringe , Sarah Hoibak , Youssouf Koïta , Vallès Xavier
Published: May 2023

Few studies have investigated retention in HIV care in West Africa. We measured retention in antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes among people living with HIV and re-engagement in care among those lost to follow up (LTFU) in Guinea and identified associated risk factors using survival analysis. Patient-level data were analysed from 73 ART sites. Treatment interruptions and LTFU were defined as missing a ART refill appointment by over 30 days and by over 90 days respectively. A total of 26,290 patients initiating ART between January 2018 and September 2020 were included in the analysis. The mean age at ART initiation was of 36.2 years, with women accounting for 67% of the cohort. Retention 12 months after ART initiation was 48.7% (95%CI 48.1–49.4%). The LTFU rate was 54.5 per 1000 person-months (95% CI 53.6–55.4), with the peak hazards of LTFU occurring after the first visit and decreasing steadily over time. In an adjusted analysis, the hazards of LTFU were higher among men compared to women (aHR = 1.10; 95%CI 1.08–1.12), being aged 13–25 years old versus older patients (aHR = 1.07; 95%CI = 1.03–1.13), and among those initating ART in smaller health facilities (aHR = 1.52; 95%CI 1.45–1.60). Among 14,683 patients with an LTFU event, 4,896 (33.3%) re-engaged in care, of whom 76% did so within six months from LTFU. The re-engagement rate was 27.1 per 1000 person-months (95%CI 26.3–27.9). Treatment interruptions were correlated with rainfall patterns and end of year mobility patterns. Rates of retention and re-engagement in care are very low in Guinea, undermining the effectiveness and durability of first-line ART regimens. Tracing interventions and differentiated service delivery of ART, including multi-month dispensing may improve care engagement, especially in rural areas. Further research should investigate social and health systems barriers to retention in care.
Sustainability of translator training in higher education
Authors: Zhu Minghai
Published: May 2023

The United Nations has set a Sustainable Development Goal in education to be met hopefully by 2030. One of the target areas is to substantially increase the number of youth and adults possessing training and proficiency relevant to the technical and vocational skills needed for employment, well-paying jobs, and decent entrepreneurships. Enrolled students need to be equipped with core competencies suitable for the fields in which they are specializing, including the field of translation. For student translators, “transcreation” is a core competency they are expected to acquire and practice. With its increasing application in all sectors of life, the use of artificial intelligence or machine translation is on its way to becoming mainstream in the translation industry, eliminating bread-winning opportunities from translators, leaving them in the stream of life to sink or swim. That is why trainers of translators and practitioners alike insist that it is time to consider transcreation so that student translators can better embrace future challenges and boost their employability. A one-shot case study was adopted in this research. After a one-semester trial of teaching and practicing transcreation, an online questionnaire survey was administered to gain the overall perceptions of transcreation from the students. Findings show that the students have raised their awareness of transcreation as a novel approach to translation and most of them feel confident about their employability in the translation job market. Implications for translation syllabus design and translator training are also illustrated.
A color-related bias in offside judgments in professional soccer: A matter of figure-background contrast?
Authors: Wühr Peter , Memmert Daniel
Published: May 2023

We investigated the impact of outfit colors on the frequency of offside judgments in soccer. In a recent laboratory study, observers made more offside judgments against forwards wearing the outfit of Schalke 04 (blue shirts, white shorts) than against forwards wearing the outfit of Borussia Dortmund (yellow shirts, black shorts), when figure-background luminance contrast was higher for the former team. Here, we investigated whether a similar effect is present in real matches of the German Bundesliga. Study 1 revealed a higher offside score for Schalke 04 than for Borussia Dortmund in matches between these clubs. Studies 2–4 showed higher offside scores for teams wearing a blue/white outfit, and lower offside scores for teams wearing a yellow/black outfit, in their matches against all other Bundesliga teams. Together, results suggest that more offside judgments are made against teams of higher salience, possibly induced by differences in figure-background contrast. Notably, this color-related bias occurred in our study even though a Video-Assistant Referee (VAR) supervised the (offside) decisions of the Assistant Referees.
Dose-dependent modulation of microglia activation in rats after penetrating traumatic brain injury (pTBI) by transplanted human neural stem cells
Authors: Andreu MaryLourdes , Matti Nathalie , Bramlett Helen M. , Shi Yan , Gajavelli Shyam , Dietrich W. Dalton
Published: May 2023

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often results in long-lasting patterns of neurological deficits including motor, sensory, and cognitive abnormalities. Cranial gunshot survivors are among the most disabled TBI patients and face a lifetime of disability with no approved strategies to protect or repair the brain after injury. Recent studies using a model of penetrating TBI (pTBI) have reported that human neural stem cells (hNSCs) transplantation can lead to dose and location-dependent neuroprotection. Evidence for regional patterns of microglial activation has also been reported after pTBI with evidence for microglial cell death by pyroptosis. Because of the importance of injury-induced microglial activation in the pathogenesis of TBI, we tested the hypothesis that dose-dependent hNSC mediated neuroprotection after pTBI was associated with reduced microglial activation in pericontusional cortical areas. To test this hypothesis, quantitative microglial/macrophage Iba1 immunohistochemistry and Sholl analysis was conducted to investigate the arborization patterns using four experimental groups including, (i) Sham operated (no injury) + low dose (0.16 million cells/rat), (ii) pTBI + vehicle (no cells), (iii) pTBI + low dose hNSCs (0.16 million/rat), and (iv) pTBI + high dose hNSCs (1.6 million cells/rat). At 3 months post-transplantation (transplants at one week after pTBI), the total number of intersections was significantly reduced in vehicle treated pTBI animals versus sham operated controls indicating increased microglia/macrophage activation. In contrast, hNSC transplantation led to a dose-dependent increase in the number of intersections compared to pTBI vehicle indicating less microglia/macrophage activation. The peak of Sholl intersections at 1 μm from the center of the microglia/macrophages ranged from ~6,500–14,000 intersections for sham operated, ~250–500 intersections for pTBI vehicle, ~550–1,000 intersections for pTBI low dose, and ~2,500–7,500 intersections for pTBI high dose. Plotting data along the rostrocaudal axis also showed that pericontusional cortical areas protected by hNSC transplantation had increased intersections compared to nontreated pTBI animals. These studies using a non-biased Sholl analysis demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in inflammatory cell activation that may be associated with a neuroprotective effect driven by the cellular transplant in perilesional regions after pTBI.
Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Russia reveals recurring cross-border transmission throughout 2020
Authors: Matsvay Alina , Klink Galya V. , Safina Ksenia R. , Nabieva Elena , Garushyants Sofya K. , Biba Dmitry , Bazykin Georgii A. , Mikhaylov Ivan M. , Say Anna V. , Zakamornaya Anastasiya I. , Khakhina Anastasiya O. , Lisitsa Tatiana S. , Ayginin Andrey A. , Abramov Ivan S. , Bogdan Sergey A. , Kolbutova Kseniya B. , Oleynikova Daria U. , Avdeenko Tatiana F. , Shipulin German A. , Yudin Sergey M. , Skvortsova Veronika I.
Published: May 2023

In 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly across the globe, with most nations failing to prevent or substantially delay its introduction. While many countries have imposed some limitations on trans-border passenger traffic, the effect of these measures on the global spread of COVID-19 strains remains unclear. Here, we report an analysis of 3206 whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 samples from 78 regions of Russia covering the period before the spread of variants of concern (between March and November 2020). We describe recurring imports of multiple COVID-19 strains into Russia throughout this period, giving rise to 457 uniquely Russian transmission lineages, as well as repeated cross-border transmissions of local circulating variants out of Russia. While the phylogenetically inferred rate of cross-border transmissions was somewhat reduced during the period of the most stringent border closure, it still remained high, with multiple inferred imports that each led to detectable spread within the country. These results indicate that partial border closure has had little effect on trans-border transmission of variants, which helps explain the rapid global spread of newly arising SARS-CoV-2 variants throughout the pandemic.
A fully human neutralizing monoclonal antibody targeting a highly conserved epitope of the human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B
Authors: Okamoto Miwa , Kurino Rika , Miura Ryu , Takada Kenzo
Published: May 2023

Human cytomegalovirus causes severe diseases in children (by congenital infection) and immunocompromised patients. Treatment with antiviral agents, such as ganciclovir, is limited by their toxicity. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a fully human neutralizing monoclonal antibody to inhibit human cytomegalovirus infection and viral cell-to-cell spread. We isolated a potent neutralizing antibody, EV2038 (IgG1 lambda), targeting human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B using Epstein-Barr virus transformation. This antibody inhibited human cytomegalovirus infection by all four laboratory strains and 42 Japanese clinical isolates, including ganciclovir-resistant isolates, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 0.013 to 0.105 μg/mL, and 90% inhibitory concentration (IC90) ranging from 0.208 to 1.026 μg/mL, in both human embryonic lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) and human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells. Additionally, EV2038 prevented cell-to-cell spread of eight clinical viral isolates, with IC50values ranging from 1.0 to 3.1 μg/mL, and IC90values ranging from 13 to 19 μg/mL, in ARPE-19 cells. EV2038 recognized three discontinuous sequences on antigenic domain 1 of glycoprotein B (amino acids 549–560, 569–576, and 625–632), which were highly conserved among 71 clinical isolates from Japan and the United States. Pharmacokinetics study in cynomolgus monkeys suggested the potential efficacy of EV2038in vivo, the concentration of which in serum remained higher than the IC90values of cell-to-cell spread until 28 days after intravenous injection of 10 mg/kg EV2038. Our data strongly support EV2038 as a promising candidate and novel alternative for the treatment of human cytomegalovirus infection.
Cost-benefit analysis of Intensive Care Unit with Activity-Based Costing approach in the era COVID-19 pandemic: A case study from Iran
Authors: Rahimi Hamed , Goudarzi Reza , Markazi-Moghaddam Nader , Nezami-Asl Amir , Zargar Balaye Jame Sanaz
Published: May 2023

Background

Providing intensive care to acute patients is a vital part of health systems. However, the high cost of Intensive Care Units (ICU) has limited their development, especially in low-income countries. Due to the increasing need for intensive care and limited resources, ICU cost management is important. This study aimed to analyze the cost-benefit of ICU during COVID-19 in Tehran, Iran.

Methods

This cross-sectional study is an economic evaluation of health interventions. The study was conducted in the COVID-19 dedicated ICU, from the provider’s point of view and within one-year horizon. Costs were calculated using a top-down approach and the Activity-Based Costing technique. Benefits were extracted from the hospital’s HIS system. Benefit Cost ratio (BCR) and Net Present Value (NPV) indexes were used for cost-benefit analysis (CBA). A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the dependence of the CBA results on the uncertainties in the cost data. Analysis was performed with Excel and STATA software.

Results

The studied ICU had 43 personnel, 14 active beds, a 77% bed occupancy rate, and 3959 occupied bed days. The total costs were $2,372,125.46 USD, of which 70.3% were direct costs. The highest direct cost was related to human resources. The total net income was $1,213,314.13 USD. NPV and BCR were obtained as $-1,158,811.32 USD and 0.511 respectively.

Conclusion

Despite operating with a relatively high capacity, ICU has had high losses during the COVID-19. Proper management and re-planning in the structure of human resources is recommended due to its importance in the hospital economy, provision of resources based on needs assessment, improvement of drugs management, reduction of insurance deductions in order to reduce costs and improve ICU productivity.
T cell-mediated tumor killing patterns in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma identify novel molecular subtypes, with prognosis and therapeutic implications
Authors: Meng Zilu , Zhu Lei , Liu Wanyu , Yang Wenhan , Wang Yudong
Published: May 2023

As an important process in cancer immunotherapy, T cell-mediated tumor killing (TTK) enhances the immune response of patients. However, the role of TTK in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) patients still needs further exploration. Therefore, we comprehensively analyzed the gene expression information and clinical characteristics of 1063 HNSCC in five cohorts. Univariate regression, differential expression analysis, and gene mutation profiling were combined to identify the important genes regulating the sensitivity of tumor cells to T cell-mediated killing (GSTTK) in HNSCC. A total of 20 GSTTK were identified as important genes of HNSCC. Patients were divided into C1 and C2 subgroups (TTK patterns) and displayed significant prognostic differences. Patients with C2 subtype had dismal prognosis characteristic compared to C1 subtype in all validation cohorts. Patients with C1 subgroup exhibited robust immune profile and C1 subgroup patients were significantly enriched in metabolically relevant functions. Notably, the multi-omics analysis found that C1 subgroup have higher mutation burden and C2 subgroup patients had significantly higher copy number variation. Drug sensitivity analysis found that multiple first-line chemotherapeutic drugs were more sensitive in patients with subgroup C1. In conclusion, the establishment of GSTTK provides guidance and assistance to clinicians in the personalized management and treatment of HNSCC patients.
Exploring football coaches’ views on coach education, role, and practice design: An Australian perspective
Authors: Selimi Erch , Lascu Alexandra , Serpiello Fabio , Woods Carl T.
Published: May 2023

Despite the importance placed on the design and delivery of formal coach education programs by Football Australia, there remains a lack of research relating to how formal coach education strategies support Australian football (i.e., soccer) coaches and their coaching practices. Through a series of semi-structured interviews, 20 highly qualified and experienced Australian senior football coaches shared their perspectives on: (i) coach education, (ii) their role as coach, and (iii) practice design. Findings revealed that formal coach education in Australia was largely ineffective in preparing senior coaches for the realities of senior football. Coaches attributed this to a number of factors, including the content’s quality, structure and delivery, which they viewed as rudimentary, outdated, repetitive and lacking in relevance and depth. Coaches also revealed there was an expectation of conformity to the content and practices endorsed by the National Football Curriculum, limiting the value and impact of formal coach education in supporting the development of coaches’ theoretical and practical dispositions. These findings point towards a number of broad and systemic issues relating to the conceptual, theoretical and practical foundations of the National Football Curriculum and subsequent courses. If Football Australia are to reach their goal in designing and delivering effective and meaningful coach education programs that support the highly complex and multifaceted role of senior coaching, formal coach education may need to adapt and evolve in a manner that better supports the multi-dimensional and context-specific needs of Australian senior football coaches.
Impact of digitalisation and foreign direct investment on economic growth: Learning from developed countries
Authors: Kusairi Suhal , Wong Zun Yuan , Wahyuningtyas Ratri , Sukemi Muhammad Najit
Published: May 2023

In recent years, progress in digitalisation and foreign direct investment has caused many structural changes, reorganisation in economics, rising productivity, globalisation, and increasing trade or international investment flows, which have led to increased capital flows and information availability. Therefore, this research investigated the impact of digitalisation and foreign direct investment on economic growth in developed countries. Panel data analysis was applied to data of 16 developed countries, from 2006 until 2019. The findings show that digitalisation - presented by mobile cellular and internet users - and foreign direct investment positively impacted economic growth, thus they strongly contribute to advancing the economy and increasing welfare. Therefore, developed countries have been learning about the critical role of technology and capital, as stated by economists over several decades, and developing countries can copy their policies into their own economic strategies.
Modification of bentonite nanoclay for textile application
Authors: Amir Muhammad , Hasany Syed Farhan , Asghar Muhammad Sajid Ali
Published: May 2023

The influence of the bentonite content (1, 3, 5 wt%) on the mechanical properties of lightweightcotton (C), polyester (P) and polyester-cotton (P/C 50/50) fabrics was investigated. Starch was used asa water-insoluble binder for coating fabrics. Bentonite nanoparticles were obtained by repeated hydration,decantation and evaporation of the water dispersion. The bentonite particle size was determinedby the XRD method using the Debye-Scherrer equation. The diffraction of the laser beam was used todetermine particles size distribution. The addition of bentonite nanoclay significantly improved tensilestrength (26-61% and 99–118% in the warp and weft direction, respectively) and tear strength (4‒13%and 5–24% in the wrap and weft direction, respectively) of coated fabrics. Their abrasion resistancehas also slightly increased. The biggest changes were noted for the cotton fabric, the smallest for thepolyester fabric, which may result from the low compatibility between starch and the polyester fabric.
Theory of religious markets and secularism: An analysis on muslim-majority countries
Authors: Kalkan Buğra
Published: May 2023

Theory of religious markets is a field of study that employs the rational choice methodology to examine the effects of religious policies and regulations on religious beliefs and organizations. Theory of religious markets attributes the secularization trend in Western societies not to modernization but rather to the monopolization of religion and the eradication of competitive religious markets. In contrast to contemporary secularism theory, which excluded political analysis from sociology of religion, the theory of religious markets has reintroduced political analysis into sociology of religion and sparked a fruitful academic debate. By employing a supply-side approach instead of a demand-side approach, theory of religious markets has reintroduced secularization to the forefront of political science's principal topics. Specifically, it has reconnected it with the evolution of the impartial government and the notion of religious pluralism. This paper investigates how the debate between these two theories can contribute to the policies necessary for the institutionalization of pluralistic and liberal politics in Muslim-majority countries today. Due to its rational choice approach, the theory of religious markets makes significant contributions to the study of liberalization issues in Muslim-majority countries in the context of freedom of religion and conscience, apart from theological debates.
Engaging with open educational practices: Mapping the landscape in Australian higher education
Authors: Stagg Adrian , Partridge Helen , Bossu Carina , Funk Johanna , Nguyen Linh
Published: May 2023

For more than a decade, Australian higher education has engaged with open educational practice (OEP). This paper presents findings from a study investigating the institutional approaches to OEP in Australian universities. Interviews were conducted with representatives from 10 Australian universities. The findings of a thematic analysis reveal organisational context, business processes and educational design as key themes through which OEP is enacted within Australian universities. Together, these themes document Australian universities experiences of and with OEP and contribute to addressing the need for translational research in Australian higher education. This research contributes to a growing evidence basis to construct an understanding of the dimensions of OEP for practical action.
Implications for practice or policy:

University policymakers should enact institutional open education policy to signal support and provide clarity.
Learning designers and academic staff can leverage OEP to catalyse student-centred, authentic pedagogical transformation.
OEP advocates need to address the root problem of sector-wide lack of awareness.
Australian institutions should recognise existing pockets of good OEP engagement and more strategically codify or connect these practices to realise the benefits of OEP.
Validation of the Greek Version of Social Appearance Anxiety Scale in Adolescents and Young Adults
Authors: Papapanou Triada Konstantina , Bacopoulou Flora , Michou Maria , Kanaka-Gantenbein Christina , Vlachakis Dimitrios , Chrousos George P. , Darviri Christina
Published: May 2023

Many people are worried about their social appearance. The fear of negative evaluation and judgment regarding one’s look in social circumstances is referred to as social appearance anxiety. Social appearance anxiety belongs to social anxiety. The aim of the present study was to validate the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS) in the Greek language and to examine its psychometric properties. An online survey was conducted in a Greek population sample of adolescents and young adults aged 18 to 35 years. The survey instruments included the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale, the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS), 2 subscales of Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire Appearance Scale (MBSRQ), the Appearance Schemas Inventory-Revised Scale (ASI-R) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). A total of 429 respondents participated in this research. The statistical analysis showed that the Greek version of the SAAS has good psychometric properties. The internal consistency of questions within the SAAS was 0.942. Positive correlations were found between SAAS and SPAS, the overweight preoccupation subscale of MBSRQ, the ASI-R and the DASS, while negative correlations were observed between SAAS and the appearance evaluation subscale of MBSRQ and age. The results of this study suggest that the Greek version of SAAS can be used as a reliable and valid instrument in the Greek population.
Studies on Arabic Literature by Chinese Scholars: From Edge of China to the Center of Arab
Authors: Lin Fengmin
Published: May 2023

Chinese scholars just began to study Arabic literature since Reform and Opening-up of China in 1979, though Arabic language began to be taught in Peking University since 1951. Chinese scholars’ studies on Arabic literature studies at that time were at the edge of studies of world literature. Articles on Arabic literature just issued on Arab World. It was still difficult for professors of Arabic literature to issue their articles at the journals such as Foreign Literature Review, Literature Abroad, Foreign Literature Studies, Foreign Literature and Contemporary Foreign Literature in 1980s. These journals preferred to issue papers on western literature and Russian literature during that period. In recent years, studies on Arabic literature developed rapidly in China. The Chinese intellectuals do not study on ancient Arabic literature only, but study on modern and contemporary Arabic literature also. They published books on Arabic literature such as On Arabian Nights: Mythology and Reality,Singing for Love: A Study on Kuwait Poetess Souad al-Sabah,Sufism in Modern Arabic Literature, Modern Arabic Literature During the Cultural Changes,Arabic Poetry in the Context of Globalization: A Study on Egyptian Poet Farouk Guweidah, and Comparative Study of Chinese and Arabic Literature. They also wrote histories of Arabic literature, for example, History of Arabic Literature, History of Modern Arabic Literature and General History of Arabic Literature are available in Chinese book market in these years. Professor Zhong Jikun won Appreciation Award of Egypt Ministry of Higher Education in 2005, won Sheikh Zayed Book Award’s Cultural Personality of the Year in 2011 and in the same year won King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Translation. These prizes and awards show us that studies on Arabic literature have moved from the edge of China to the center of Arab world.
The Arab-China Communication: From the Silk Road to the Dialogue of Philosophy
Authors: Jazza Taha
Published: May 2023

The Arab-China relations go back to the second century BC. The Silk Road was the most important link that enabled the early Arabs to get to know China far from their own countries. In the modern era, a new dialogue began between the Arabs and Chinese, especially after China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, which was the official announcement of the establishment of a new Silk Road linking China with the Arab world and the rest of the world. This was preceded by exchanged intellectual, cultural, literary and philosophical dialogues, translations and seminars between Arab and Chinese intellectuals and academics based on a new understanding of Chinese philosophies such as Daoism and Confucianism, as well as the work of Chinese Muslim translators to translate Qur’an, jurisprudential books, interpretations, poems and Islamic writings from Arabic into Chinese, which paved the way for a continuous dialogue and an ongoing and open-to-the-future encounter between the two cultures.
Bayesian inference for optimal dynamic treatment regimes in practice
Authors: Rodriguez Duque Daniel , Moodie Erica E. M. , Stephens David A.
Published: May 2023

In this work, we examine recently developed methods for Bayesian inference of optimal dynamic treatment regimes (DTRs). DTRs are a set of treatment decision rules aimed at tailoring patient care to patient-specific characteristics, thereby falling within the realm of precision medicine. In this field, researchers seek to tailor therapy with the intention of improving health outcomes; therefore, they are most interested in identifyingoptimalDTRs. Recent work has developed Bayesian methods for identifying optimal DTRs in a family indexed byψvia Bayesian dynamic marginal structural models (MSMs) (Rodriguez Duque D, Stephens DA, Moodie EEM, Klein MB. Semiparametric Bayesian inference for dynamic treatment regimes via dynamic regime marginal structural models. Biostatistics; 2022. (In Press)); we review the proposed estimation procedure and illustrate its use via the newBayesDTRRpackage. Although methods in Rodriguez Duque D, Stephens DA, Moodie EEM, Klein MB. (Semiparametric Bayesian inference for dynamic treatment regimes via dynamic regime marginal structural models. Biostatistics; 2022. (In Press)) can estimate optimal DTRs well, they may lead to biased estimators when the model for the expected outcome if everyone in a population were to follow a given treatment strategy, known as a value function, is misspecified or when a grid search for the optimum is employed. We describe recent work that uses a Gaussian process(GP)$(\mathcal{G}\mathcal{P})$prior on the value function as a means to robustly identify optimal DTRs (Rodriguez Duque D, Stephens DA, Moodie EEM. Estimation of optimal dynamic treatment regimes using Gaussian processes; 2022. Available from:https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2105.12259). We demonstrate how aGP$\mathcal{G}\mathcal{P}$approach may be implemented with theBayesDTRpackage and contrast it with other value-search approaches to identifying optimal DTRs. We use data from an HIV therapeutic trial in order to illustrate a standard analysis with these methods, using both the original observed trial data and an additional simulated component to showcase a longitudinal (two-stage DTR) analysis.
Virtual touch IQ elastography in the evaluation of fetal liver and placenta in pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Akdemir Yesim , Caglar Emrah , Darka Irem , Buyukuysal Mustafa Cagatay , Ozmen Ulku
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Elastography is considered a novel technique in the assessment of placenta parenchymal elasticity and very few data present the feasibility of elastography on human fetal tissue. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of fetal liver and placenta elastography and differences in pregnancies with GDM.

Methods

Fifty-five women with GDM and 40 women with uncomplicated pregnancy as the control group was enrolled prospectively in this case-control study. Fetal liver VTIQ and placenta VTIQ elastography were performed between 25 and 39 weeks of pregnancy.

Results

Mean placenta thickness at the level of umbilical cord insertion was significantly higher in the GDM group than in the control group (p=0.034). VTIQ elastography elasticity velocity (kPa) examinations revealed similar mean placenta and mean fetal liver stiffness in both groups. A weak to moderate correlation was observed between the mean elasticity of the placenta and the mean elasticity of the fetal liver (r=0.310; p=0.004).

Conclusions

Elastography may provide valuable information of especially on fetal tissue development and pathology. While placenta and fetal liver VTIQ elastography are feasible in pregnancy, the diagnostic value of these examinations in GDM is not certain and it seems to be that significant differences in SWE examinations that reflect structural changes in fetal tissue or placenta are more prominent in more chronic conditions such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Changes in use of 17-OHPC after the PROLONG trial: a physician survey
Authors: Futterman Itamar D. , Gilroy Laura , Zayat Nawras , Balhotra Kimen , Weedon Jeremy , Minkoff Howard
Published: May 2023

Objectives

To determine if 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHPC) or vaginal progesterone use for patients at risk for preterm birth has changed since the publication of the 17-OHPC to Prevent Recurrent Preterm Birth in Singleton Gestations (PROLONG) trial, and to assess which organizations’ (Food and Drug Administration’s [FDA], American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s [ACOG] or Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine’s [SMFM]) statements most influenced change.

Methods

Through a vignette-based physician survey, we sought to measure (by Likert scale) how counseling tendencies regarding 17OHPC and vaginal progesterone have changed since the PROLONG trial publication. Participants were also asked which organizations’ statements most influenced change.

Results

With response rate of 97 % (141/145), a pre-to-post PROLONG trial comparison revealed significant changes in counseling for progesterone. Respondents were less likely to recommend 17OHPC (p<0.001) and more likely to recommend vaginal (p<0.001). The FDA statement most influenced the decision not to recommend 17OHPC for the prevention of preterm birth (r=−0.23, p=0.005).

Conclusions

Providers have made significant changes in their counseling regarding progesterone use for patients at risk for preterm birth after the publication of the PRLONG trial.
A rare case of primary extragenital choriocarcinoma in the spleen presenting as acute abdominal pain
Authors: Fan Yuhong , Mou Xurong , Li Li , Yuan Hongmei
Published: May 2023

Objectives

This study reports a rare case of primary extragenital choriocarcinoma in the spleen presenting as acute abdominal pain. We expect this case to provide more valuable information for clinicians in the future.

Case presentation

The patient was a 22-year-old woman, with a healthy child and a history of bilateral ovarian cyst resection a week before, who presented with severe and sudden pain in the left upper abdomen. The patient was admitted to the emergency department. Emergency ultrasound revealed a huge solid mass in the enlarged spleen. Emergency computed tomography examination suggested acute splenic rupture. Microscopic examination confirmed that the mass contained nested syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast cells, and the serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) level was 54,547.6 IU/L (normal β-hCG level <5 IU/L) after surgery. Primary extragenital choriocarcinoma in the spleen was considered as the cause of splenic rupture.

Conclusions

Primary extragenital choriocarcinoma of the spleen is extremely rare. Serum β-hCG tests and systemic abdominal ultrasonography are of great value for the diagnosis of the disease.
Multifunctional engineered cementitious composites modified with nanomaterials and their applications: An overview
Authors: Haruna Sani , Adamu Musa , Ibrahim Yasser E. , Haruna Sadi I. , Seif ElDin Hany M. , Hamza Mukhtar Fatihu , Azab Marc
Published: May 2023

Due to their advantages such as high tensile strength, low cost of production, easy manufacturing methods, and ease of use, cementitious materials are extensively utilized in the construction industry. The applications of nanomaterials in cementitious materials have been found to enhance their properties. It allows molecular changes to improve the material behaviour and the performance of civil infrastructure structures, including buildings and highways. Owing to the high ductility of polyvinyl alcohol-engineered cementitious composites (ECCs), it was suggested to be used in steel-reinforced structural elements to enhance the strength and ductility of the components. The presence of hybrid fibres provided increased shattering resistance with decreased scabbing, spalling, destruction, and damage zone and better absorption of energy through distributed microcracking. The presence of nanomaterials in ECCs modifies its atomic macroscopic scales, enhancing its mechanical and microstructural properties. The versatile properties of nanomaterials offer immense potential to cementitious composite for structural applications.
Pathway specific interventions reveal the multiple roles of ventral hippocampus projections in cognitive functions
Authors: Bakoyiannis Ioannis , Ducourneau Eva-Gunnel , Parkes Shauna L. , Ferreira Guillaume
Published: May 2023

Since the 1950s study of Scoville and Milner on the case H.M., the hippocampus has attracted neuroscientists’ attention. The hippocampus has been traditionally divided into dorsal and ventral parts, each of which projects to different brain structures and mediates various functions. Despite a predominant interest in its dorsal part in animal models, especially regarding episodic-like and spatial cognition, recent data highlight the role of the ventral hippocampus (vHPC), as the main hippocampal output, in cognitive processes. Here, we review recent studies conducted in rodents that have used advanced in vivo functional techniques to specifically monitor and manipulate vHPC efferent pathways and delineate the roles of these specific projections in learning and memory processes. Results highlight that vHPC projections to basal amygdala are implicated in emotional memory, to nucleus accumbens in social memory and instrumental actions and to prefrontal cortex in all the above as well as in object-based memory. Some of these hippocampal projections also modulate feeding and anxiety-like behaviours providing further evidence that the “one pathway-one function” view is outdated and future directions are proposed to better understand the role of hippocampal pathways and shed further light on its connectivity and function.
Cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes based on 2,5-di(pyridine-4-yl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole and dicarboxylate ligands: synthesis, structures and properties
Authors: Ai Jing , Yang Lei , Tian Zhong Zhen
Published: May 2023

Two metal coordination polymers [Ni(oba)(Py2TTz)1.5(H2O)]·2H2O·DMF (1) and [Co(oba)(Py2TTz)(H2O)4]·2H2O (2) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions [H2oba = 4,4′-oxybis(benzoic acid) and Py2TTz = 2,5-di(pyridine-4-yl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole]. Crystals of compound 1 belong to the orthorhombic system, space group Ibam, with a = 38.928(8), b = 7.7113(14), c = 28.508(6) Å, V = 8558(3) Å3, Z = 8. Compound 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, space group C2/c, with a = 33.816(3), b = 6.2697(6), c = 13.5821(13) Å, β = 96.393(3)°, V = 2861.7(5) Å3, Z = 4. The oba2− dianions link two Ni atoms through unidentate carboxylate moieties in a μ
1 − η
1:η
0 coordination mode. Compound 1 features a three-dimensional (3D) framework structure with Py2TTz and oba2− ligands. In compound 2, the central cobalt ion is in an octahedral geometry, which is defined by four oxygen atoms from four different coordinated water molecules and two nitrogen atoms from two different Py2TTz ligands. It is noteworthy that the dicarboxylate ligands oba2− with four oxygen atoms do not directly coordinate with the cobalt ion, and only act as a counter-anion. The luminescence properties of 1 and 2 were also investigated.
Factor Analysis of Continuance Intention to Use QR Code Mobile Payment Services: An Extended Expectation-Confirmation Model (ECM)
Authors: Ifada Alda Bernika , Abidin Zaenal
Published: May 2023

QR code mobile payment is a payment method that is quite popular in Indonesia where users only need to open or display a QR code on the m-payment application when making transactions. Users can make payments easily, anywhere and anytime. Apart from the benefits of QR codes on m-payments, there are still obstacles regarding the intention to continue using them. Some users stopped using the QR code service on the m-payment application due to the potential risks involved.  The purpose of this study is to find out what factors can affect continued intention to use QR code m-payment. The research model used is the Extended Expectation-Confirmation Model (ECM) by combining ECM and UTAUT and adding trust and perceived risk variables. The number of samples in this study was 313 participants who were users who had used QR code m-payment OVO, GoPay, or ShopeePay with a minimum age of 17 years. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling. This study uses quantitative methods and data analysis with the PLS-SEM approach using SmartPLS version 3. The results of this study are three rejected hypotheses and nine accepted hypotheses. Based on the accepted hypotheses, it shows that social influence, trust, and satisfaction affect continuance intention to use QR code m-payment. Social influence is the biggest factor affecting continuance intention to use QR code m-payment service. These results can be considered for developers and companies such as OVO, GoPay, and ShopeePay.
A Analysis of Information System Audit Using Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology 5 Framework on Permata Hebat Application
Authors: Muryantoro Muhammad Subekhi , Efrilianda Devi Ajeng
Published: May 2023

Permata Hebat application is an application created as a service to develop micro businesses among housewifes in Semarang City. However, to fulfill this expectation, of course, the application needs good IT management or governance, so that the application can be optimally utilized by its users. However, since its operation on March 23, 2021, it is not yet known how the quality or level of management capability or IT governance services run by the organization. Information system audit itself is an activity to evaluate and ensure that the system has met the standards. Meanwhile, one of the frameworks that can be used to conduct an audit is COBIT 5. COBIT 5 is a good practice whose processes have been adapted to current standards. As for the process control used is the Deliver, Services, and Support (DSS) domain. The results of the calculation show that for domains DSS01, DSS03, and DSS06 each received a maturity level value of 0.60, 0.52, and 0.61 or at level 1 performed. Meanwhile, domains DSS02, DSS04, and DSS05 each received maturity level values of 0.45, 0.35, and 0.42 or are still at level 0 incomplete. Therefore, there is still a need for a lot of improvement or improvement in each process. The goal is that the system can run in accordance with organizational expectations.
Factors Influencing Community Behavior towards SIKER: An Extension of the TAM model
Authors: Majid Muhammad Nurkholis , Abidin Zaenal
Published: May 2023

Sistem Kerja (SIKER) is a system that allows the public to make yellow cards/AK1, join job training, look for job vacancies and invite for interviews. In its application, not many public of Semarang city have adopted SIKER even though the city of Semarang is ranked 2nd in the excellent category in Central Java province in the e-government rankings. This study will observe the effect of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, facilitating conditions, and social influence on the behavioral intention of the public of Semarang city in utilizing SIKER, and the variables age and perceived trust will be used as intervening variables. This study uses a quantitative descriptive method with a data analysis approach using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) by utilizing SmartPLS version 3.2.9 tools. A number of 330 valid respondents participated in this current study. The results of this study show that the factors that influence the behavioral intention of the public of Semarang are perceived trust, perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions, and age with a negative direction.  Perceived trust is proven to be the biggest factor influencing the behavioral intention to use SIKER services. Whereas the intervening effect of perceived trust is proven to intervene with perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness towards behavioral intention with the intervening effects of full mediation and partial mediation. However, for age, it is proven not to intervene with no intervening effect and unmediated effect.
Development of Environmental Pollution E-Module Containing Socio Scientific Issue to Train Students' Scientific Literacy
Authors: Fitriani Rizki , Amalia Andin Vita
Published: May 2023

This study aims to analyze the characteristics, validity, readability of the E-module and the profile of students' scientific literacy after using the E-module. The design of this research is Research and Development (R&D), using the Sugiyono development model which consists of ten steps, potential and problems, data collection, product design, design validation, design revisions, product trials, product revisions, usage trials, product revisions, and mass production. The research subjects were VII grade students of SMP N 10 Magelang. The average score by the media validator is 96.25% very valid criteria and the material validator is 94.16% very valid criteria. The average score of the small-scale readability test is 91.60% and the average on the large-scale is 92.50% very good category. Based on the results of student scientific literacy profil  6.25% students are in the low scientific literacy, 13% students are in the medium category, 56.25% students are in the high category and 25% students are in the very high category . Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the environmental pollution E-module containing the Socio Scientific Issue is valid for use in science learning and can train students' scientific literacy skill.