bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF GEM PRODUCTION: AN APPLICATION OF THE ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS
Authors: Brandao Lilane , De Alencar Naas Irenilza , De Oliveira Costa Neto Pedro Luiz
Published: December 2021

The gems, jewelry, and precious metals sector is essential for developing regions with this activity and there is a high degree of informality in the mining and trading gemstone sectors. The present study analyzed data from the production process of precious stones in the Brazilian national market. We identified the importance of the factors contributing to the quality of the gemstone production process concerning mining, cutting, and marketing, under the scope of sustainable chain development. A list of references was used to select thirteen significant factors in the precious stone production process that contributed to the sustainable development of the chain related to mining, cutting, and marketing. We used a multicriteria decision model applying the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to consider the degree of importance of the production stage process of gemstones and the factors that impact the sustainable development of the production chain. In applying the model to the production stages, the criteria and sub-criteria factors were considered. The results suggest that sustainable development is highly related to gem mining (44.7%, rank 1), moderately related to gem cutting (32.5%, rank 2), and there is little relationship to gem marketing (22 .8%, rank 3), considering the criteria, sub-criteria, and alternatives. The requirement related to the technical qualification and skill of the lapidary is the most critical factor in the production process. The second most important factor is commercialization, followed by the preservation of the mining area and the valuable life of the mine.
Dydaktyczny i wychowawczy potencjał mass mediów w przeciwdziałaniu patologiom społecznym
Authors: Gut Alina
Published: December 2021

This article characterizes the didactic and educational potential of the mass media from the perspective of media pedagogy, serves to show the technological, cultural, social and natural features of the media. Features mentioned above reflect all dimensions of reality. The media indirectly becomes its creator and gives pedagogues and therapists a chance for preventive counteracting social pathologies.
Wpływ sztucznej inteligencji na pracę biur rachunkowych
Authors: Semrau Anna
Published: December 2021

The article is theoretical and methodological. It describes the concept of artificial intelligence. It has been outlined how over the years AI is slowly replacing human work. Artificial intelligence is new technologies that appear in every area of human life. You don’t have to look far for examples, digital network operator, smart air conditioning, online shopping, connected vacuum cleaners, robots used in factories. The aim of the work is to show how dangerous artificial intelligence can be for humans. It may lead to the fact that in a few or a dozen years or so some professions will disappear. Where human work is a repetitive activity, it will be replaced by a machine. Technological development has transformed the typewriter into a computer, we already have ma- chines that can learn. It would be necessary to ask what will happen in a dozen or so years, how far will this avalanche of technological progress go. New technologies require careful management. The paper describes how new technologies affect the work of accounting offices. It has been indicated which accounting activities can be completely taken over by the machines. Several hypotheses are presented in the paper. The first is the recognition that data entry into accounting systems will be automated and taken over by new technologies. The second thesis assumes that the profession of accountant will change, it will change but will not disappear. Another one assumes that new technologies in the public law circulation will create the basis for calculating taxes by the tax administration.
Prawo do życia i zdrowia a skuteczność kampanii społecznych na rzecz poprawy bezpieczeństwa ruchu drogowego w Polsce
Authors: Michałowska Maria , Gądek-Hawlena Teresa
Published: December 2021

Among many areas of human activity resulting in the development of civilization, it is possible to identify those significantly threatening his health and life. One of them is increasing mobility, that brings many benefits, but also lead to high social, economic and environmental costs of road traffic. According to the current data provided by World Health Organization, road accidents are listed as one of the ten leading causes of death in the world. In order to protect human life and health, international organisations, national gov- ernments, actors and organisations undertake a number of actions aimed at changing the behaviour of road traffic participants. Initiatives aimed at motivating road traffic participants to behave correctly include social campaigns. In Poland there are many social campaigns for the improvement of road traffic safety At the same time, it should be stressed that the preventive nature of this type of action makes it impossible to assess its effectiveness unequivocally. The article presents the results of direct studies on the recognition of social campaigns for the improvement of road safety in Poland and the assessment of their actual influence on the improvement of safety by road traffic participants.
Prawo do prywatności w dobie sztucznej inteligencji
Authors: Pawlak Anna
Published: December 2021

Privacy in the era of artificial intelligence is the ability to exercise control over your private life, including information about yourself and your family. Robust privacy laws are essential to building and maintaining trust in a digital world. It is extremely important to ensure a balance between proper protection of private life and supporting the development of new technologies and innovation. The article presents what privacy is in the era of artificial intelligence, what threats to privacy result from the development of technology, how the right to privacy is guaranteed and protected (both by international standards and Polish legal regulations). The author also assesses the legal regulations regarding the guarantee of the right to privacy in the AI world.
Sztuczna inteligencja – wybór orzecznictwa
Authors: Wyporek Witold
Published: December 2021

This article represents an overview of the jurisprudence case review of issues relatively connected with artificial intelligence technology. The collection of judgments chosen for the purposes of study which include concerns related to issues associated with forthcoming technological world. For example, the functionality of bot software automate human interaction easy with various online activities, the use of AI to analyse the car cost repairing according to model. AI used in forensic medical radiology, figure print scanning, security enhancement using facial biometrics recognition. AI in automate graphics and game design application. Also AI use to filter social networks to identify inciting terrorism. The main purpose of the study is to identify and assess the need of regulate artificial intelligence technology according to standardize policy, as well as to assess the level of threats associated with privacy of data analysis functions of the AI technology in the context of the presented jurisprudence.
Telematyka – bezpieczeństwo za cenę prawa do wyboru?
Authors: Krupa Adam
Published: December 2021

The latest communication and Internet technologies are also present in the auto- motive industry. At the same time, they have a huge impact on road safety. In the latest vehicles, technology helps the driver on the journey, makes the journey pleasant and offers the possibility of diagnosing the vehicle in real time, giving a sense of security and comfort. The progressive trend of equipping vehicles with newer technological achievements is a process that affects the broadly understood market as well as the rights and obligations of its participants. This issue is also beginning to be regulated in detail by legal provisions. This article presents the issues of using telematics systems in vehicles in the legal aspect, as well as the rights and obligations resulting from the pro- visions of vehicle manufacturers, representatives of the service industry and consumers. This article presents the issues of the use of telematics systems in vehicles in the legal aspect, as well as the rights and obligations resulting from the provisions of vehicle manufacturers, representatives of the service industry and consumers. It will also try to assess these regulations and the chances of their full application.
Cyfrowa transformacja a outsourcing usług księgowych. Moda czy konieczność?
Authors: Talar Tomasz
Published: December 2021

Nowadays new technologies are being used in accounting services and their presence is becoming much more visible than just few years ago. Due to digital transformation, there is an urgent need for changing approach in enterprises in that area. Thanks to new regulations and much higher customer expectations accounting offices were obliged to conduct digital transformation. Use of dogmatic-legal method has shown some connections between changes in regulations and various IT solutions becoming necessary in accounting. Result of this research indicates that digital transformation in accounting services not just a fad, but a necessity.
Polarization enhanced laparoscope for improved visualization of tissue structural changes associated with peritoneal cancer metastasis
Authors: Trout Robert M. , Gnanatheepam Einstein , Gado Ahmed , Reik Christopher , Ramella-Roman Jessica C. , Hunter Martin , Schnelldorfer Thomas , Georgakoudi Irene
Published: December 2021

A polarization enhanced laparoscopy (PEL) imaging system was developed to examine the feasibility of utilizing PEL to augment conventional white light laparoscopy (WLL) in the visualization of peritoneal cancer metastases. The system includes a modified tip to illuminate tissue with linearly polarized light and elements in the detection path enabling recording of corresponding images linearly co- and cross-polarized relative to the incident light. WLL and PEL images from optical tissue phantoms with features of distinct scattering cross-section confirm the enhanced sensitivity of PEL to such characteristics. Additional comparisons based on images acquired from collagen gels with different levels of fiber alignment highlight another source of PEL contrast. Finally, PEL and WLL images of ex vivo human tissue illustrate the potential of PEL to improve visualization of cancerous tissue surrounded by healthy peritoneum. Given the simplicity of the approach and its potential for seamless integration with current clinical practice, our results provide motivation for clinical translation.
Endoscopic en-face optical coherence tomography and fluorescence imaging using correlation-based probe tracking
Authors: Marques Manuel J. , Hughes Michael R. , Uceda Adrián F. , Gelikonov Grigory , Bradu Adrian , Podoleanu Adrian
Published: December 2021

Forward-viewing endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides 3D imaging in vivo, and can be combined with widefield fluorescence imaging by use of a double-clad fiber. However, it is technically challenging to build a high-performance miniaturized 2D scanning system with a large field-of-view. In this paper we demonstrate how a 1D scanning probe, which produces cross-sectional OCT images (B-scans) and 1D fluorescence T-scans, can be transformed into a 2D scanning probe by manual scanning along the second axis. OCT volumes are assembled from the B-scans using speckle decorrelation measurements to estimate the out-of-plane motion along the manual scan direction. Motion within the plane of the B-scans is corrected using image registration by normalized cross correlation. En-face OCT slices and fluorescence images, corrected for probe motion in 3D, can be displayed in real-time during the scan. For a B-scan frame rate of 250 Hz, and an OCT lateral resolution of approximately

20

μ

m

, the approach can handle out-of-plane motion at speeds of up to 4 mm/s.
Analysis of strain estimation methods in phase-sensitive compression optical coherence elastography
Authors: Li Jiayue , Pijewska Ewelina , Fang Qi , Szkulmowski Maciej , Kennedy Brendan F.
Published: December 2021

In compression optical coherence elastography (OCE), deformation is quantified as the local strain at each pixel in the OCT field-of-view. A range of strain estimation methods have been demonstrated, yet it is unclear which method provides the best performance. Here, we analyze the two most prevalent strain estimation methods used in phase-sensitive compression OCE, i.e., weighted least squares (WLS) and the vector method. We introduce a framework to compare strain imaging metrics, incorporating strain sensitivity, strain signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), strain resolution, and strain accuracy. In addition, we propose a new phase unwrapping algorithm in OCE, fast phase unwrapping (FPU), and combine it with WLS, termed WLSFPU. Using the framework, we compare this new strain estimation method with both a current implementation of WLS that incorporates weighted phase unwrapping (WPU), termed WLSWPU, and the vector method. Our analysis reveals that the three methods provide similar strain sensitivity, strain SNR, and strain resolution, but that WLSFPU extends the dynamic range of accurate, measurable local strain, e.g., measuring a strain of 2.5 mɛ with ∼4% error, that is ×11 and ×15 smaller than the error measured using WLSWPU and the vector method, respectively. We also demonstrate, for the first time, the capability to detect sub-resolution contrast in compression OCE, i.e., changes in strain occurring within the strain axial resolution, and how this contrast varies between the different strain estimation methods. Lastly, we compare the performance of the three strain estimation methods on mouse skeletal muscle and human breast tissue and demonstrate that WLSFPU avoids strain imaging artifacts resulting from phase unwrapping errors in WLSWPU and provides improved contrast over the other two methods.
Femtosecond-laser stimulation induces senescence of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Zhao Xiaohui , Tang Wanyi , Wang Haipeng , He Hao
Published: December 2021

Tumor cells present anti-apoptosis and abnormal proliferation during development. Senescence and stemness of tumor cells play key roles in tumor development and malignancy. In this study, we show the transient stimulation by a single-time scanning of tightly focused femtosecond laser to tumor cells can modulate the stemness and senescence in vitro and in vivo. The laser-induced cellular senescence and stemness present distinct transitions in vitro and in vivo. The cells 1.2 mm deep in tumor tissue are found with significant senescence induced by the transient photostimulations in 100-200 µm shallow layer in vivo, which suppresses the growth of whole tumor in living mice.
Hydroxyethyl cellulose sensitized SMDMS structure with optical fiber relative humidity and temperature simultaneous measurement sensor
Authors: Dong Zhenyong , Zhang Guanbin , Jin Yaqi , Zhou Jie , Guan Junneng , Tong Zijin , Wei Zhongchao , Tan Chunhua , Wang Faqiang , Meng Hongyun
Published: December 2021

We have manufactured an intensity modulated optical fiber SMDMS sensor with hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) hydrogel coating for simultaneous measurement of RH and temperature. The SMDMS sensor was manufactured by splicing single-mode fiber (SMF), multi-mode fiber (MMF), dispersion compensation fiber (DCF), MMF, and SMF in sequence to form a structure of SMF + MMF + DCF + MMF + SMF (SMDMS). The cladding of MMFs and DCF were corroded by hydrofluoric acid (HF) and coated with HEC hydrogel to excite a strong evanescent field and increase the sensitivity of the SMDMS sensor. The adsorption of water molecules by HEC will cause a change in the effective refractive index of cladding mode, which will eventually change the intensity of the transmission spectrum. The experimental results indicate that the sensitivities are 0.507 dB/%RH and 0.345 dB/°C in the RH range of 30%−80% and temperature range of 10°C−50°C, respectively. At last, a dual-parameter measurement matrix is constructed based on the experimental results to achieve the simultaneous measurement of RH and temperature. The SMDMS sensor has the advantages of high sensitivity and good robustness, and has potential application prospects in daily life and other fields.
Constellation-based identification of linear and nonlinear OSNR using machine learning: a study of link-agnostic performance
Authors: Cho Hyung Joon , Lippiatt Daniel , Thomas Varghese A. , Varughese Siddharth , Searcy Steven , Richter Thomas , Tibuleac Sorin , Ralph Stephen E.
Published: December 2021

We demonstrate accurate estimation of generalized optical signal to noise ratio (GOSNR) for wavelength division multiplexed fiber communication systems using an experimentally trained multi-tasking convolutional neural network while simultaneously estimating linear and nonlinear noise contributions. Using dual-polarized 32-GBaud 16QAM DWDM links we extract learnable features from constellation density matrices and accurately estimate GOSNR while simultaneously estimating linear and nonlinear contributions. Estimation of the OSNRASE, OSNRNL and GOSNR are demonstrated with < 0.5 dB mean absolute error. We also assess the universality of our model within the regime of metro networks by cross-training with data from such links comprised of different fiber types. We demonstrate a path to a practical universal training method that includes additional link parameters. The methods do not require contiguous high-speed sampling, additional hardware nor transmission of special symbols or patterns and are readily implemented in deployed systems.
Low-crosstalk laser-direct-writing FI/FO device for 8×100-Gbps optical interconnection
Authors: Yang Yu , Cheng Ruiting , Liu Jiaxin , Zuo Mingqing , Gao Yuyang , Shen Lei , Wang Lei , Zhu Xiaoyu , Chen Zhangyuan , He Yongqi , Li Juhao
Published: December 2021

Fan-in/fan-out (FI/FO) device with low crosstalk is essential for weakly coupled short-reach optical interconnect based on multicore fibers (MCF), for which the laser-direct-writing (LDW) technique is one of the preferred fabrication schemes. In this paper, the influence of FI/FO crosstalk on short-reach intensity-modulation/direction-detection MCF optical interconnection is firstly evaluated, and the crosstalk related to different refractive-index profiles of waveguides and misalignment is analyzed for LDW-FI/FO devices. Then low-crosstalk compact LDW-FI/FO devices matching 8-core MCF are fabricated, adopting multiple-scan method for waveguides with a flat-top refractive-index profile and aberration correction method for precise alignment. Owing to the low crosstalk, 8×100-Gbps optical interconnection over 10-km MCF is experimentally demonstrated with only 0.5-dB penalty compared to 10-km G.652D single-mode fiber transmission. Simulation results indicate that the transmission reach can be further extended to over 40 km. The proposed prototype system with low crosstalk is promising for high-speed optical interconnection applications.
Optical parametric generation in OP-GaAs waveguides pumped by a femtosecond fluoride fiber laser
Authors: Becheker Rezki , Bailly Myriam , Idlahcen Saï , Godin Thomas , Gerard Bruno , Delahaye Hugo , Granger Geoffroy , Fèvrier Sèbastien , Grisard Arnaud , Lallier Eric , Hideur Ammar
Published: December 2021

We report on mid-infrared optical parametric generation in the 4–5 μm and 9–12 μm bands by pumping custom-designed orientation-patterned gallium arsenide (OP-GaAs) rib waveguides with an ultrafast femtosecond fiber laser system. This pump source is seeded by a mode-locked fluoride fiber laser with 59 MHz repetition rate and can be tuned between 2.8 and 3.2 μm using a soliton self-frequency shifting stage. The single TE and TM modes OP-GaAs crystals feature quasi-phase-matched grating periods of 85 and 90 μm and different transverse sizes thus allowing a wide spectral tunability.
Femtosecond optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification in birefringent step-index fiber
Authors: Buttolph Michael L. , Sidorenko Pavel , Schaffer Chris B. , Wise Frank W.
Published: December 2021

We demonstrate an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier (OPCPA) that uses birefringence phase matching in a step-index single-mode optical fiber. The OPCPA is pumped with chirped pulses that can be compressed to sub-30-fs duration. The signal (idler) pulses are generated at 905 nm (1270 nm), have 26 nJ (20 nJ) pulse energy, and are compressible to 70 fs duration. The short compressed signal and idler pulse durations are enabled by the broad bandwidth of the pump pulses. Numerical simulations guiding the design are consistent with the experimental results and predict that scaling to higher pulse energies will be possible. Forgoing a photonic crystal fiber for phase-matching offers practical advantages, including allowing energy scaling with mode area.
Meiotic Cas9 expression mediates gene conversion in the male and female mouse germline
Authors: Weitzel Alexander J. , Grunwald Hannah A. , Weber Ceri , Levina Rimma , Gantz Valentino M. , Hedrick Stephen M. , Bier Ethan , Cooper Kimberly L.
Published: December 2021

Highly efficient gene conversion systems have the potential to facilitate the study of complex genetic traits using laboratory mice and, if implemented as a “gene drive,” to limit loss of biodiversity and disease transmission caused by wild rodent populations. We previously showed that such a system of gene conversion from heterozygous to homozygous after a sequence targeted CRISPR/Cas9 double-strand DNA break (DSB) is feasible in the female mouse germline. In the male germline, however, all DSBs were instead repaired by end joining (EJ) mechanisms to form an “insertion/deletion” (indel) mutation. These observations suggested that timing Cas9 expression to coincide with meiosis I is critical to favor conditions when homologous chromosomes are aligned and interchromosomal homology-directed repair (HDR) mechanisms predominate. Here, using a Cas9 knock-in allele at the Spo11 locus, we show that meiotic expression of Cas9 does indeed mediate gene conversion in the male as well as in the female germline. However, the low frequency of both HDR and indel mutation in both male and female germlines suggests that Cas9 may be expressed from the Spo11 locus at levels too low for efficient DSB formation. We suggest that more robust Cas9 expression initiated during early meiosis I may improve the efficiency of gene conversion and further increase the rate of “super-mendelian” inheritance from both male and female mice.
Estimating the contribution of HIV-infected adults to household pneumococcal transmission in South Africa, 2016–2018: A hidden Markov modelling study
Authors: Thindwa Deus , Wolter Nicole , Pinsent Amy , Carrim Maimuna , Ojal John , Tempia Stefano , Moyes Jocelyn , McMorrow Meredith , Kleynhans Jackie , Gottberg Anne von , French Neil ,   PHIRST group, Cohen Cheryl , Flasche Stefan
Published: December 2021

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected adults are at a higher risk of pneumococcal colonisation and disease, even while receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). To help evaluate potential indirect effects of vaccination of HIV-infected adults, we assessed whether HIV-infected adults disproportionately contribute to household transmission of pneumococci. We constructed a hidden Markov model to capture the dynamics of pneumococcal carriage acquisition and clearance observed during a longitudinal household-based nasopharyngeal swabbing study, while accounting for sample misclassifications. Households were followed-up twice weekly for approximately 10 months each year during a three-year study period for nasopharyngeal carriage detection via real-time PCR. We estimated the effect of participant’s age, HIV status, presence of a HIV-infected adult within the household and other covariates on pneumococcal acquisition and clearance probabilities. Of 1,684 individuals enrolled, 279 (16.6%) were younger children (<5 years-old) of whom 4 (1.5%) were HIV-infected and 726 (43.1%) were adults (≥18 years-old) of whom 214 (30.4%) were HIV-infected, most (173, 81.2%) with high CD4+ count. The observed range of pneumococcal carriage prevalence across visits was substantially higher in younger children (56.9–80.5%) than older children (5–17 years-old) (31.7–50.0%) or adults (11.5–23.5%). We estimate that 14.4% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 13.7–15.0) of pneumococcal-negative swabs were false negatives. Daily carriage acquisition probabilities among HIV-uninfected younger children were similar in households with and without HIV-infected adults (hazard ratio: 0.95, 95%CI: 0.91–1.01). Longer average carriage duration (11.4 days, 95%CI: 10.2–12.8 vs 6.0 days, 95%CI: 5.6–6.3) and higher median carriage density (622 genome equivalents per millilitre, 95%CI: 507–714 vs 389, 95%CI: 311.1–435.5) were estimated in HIV-infected vs HIV-uninfected adults. The use of ART and antibiotics substantially reduced carriage duration in all age groups, and acquisition rates increased with household size. Although South African HIV-infected adults on ART have longer carriage duration and density than their HIV-uninfected counterparts, they show similar patterns of pneumococcal acquisition and onward transmission.
Activation of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor mitigates osteoarthritis progression by inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome activation and enhancing autophagy
Authors: Zhu Xianjie , Dai Shiyou , Xia Baohua , Gong Jianbao , Ma Bingzheng
Published: December 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage degradation. Alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) is associated with inflammatory and metabolic responses in OA. However, the mechanisms underlying the pathological process of OA remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the role and mechanisms of α7nAChR-mediated autophagy and anti-inflammatory response in chondroprotection. Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced Wistar rat OA model was used to assess the in vivo effects of the ɑ7nAChR agonist (PNU-282987). The histopathological characteristics of OA were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the levels of autophagy markers were determined by western blotting and transmission electron microscopy. The anti-inflammatory effect of the ɑ7nAChR agonist was assessed by IHC, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting. Parallel experiments to determine the molecular mechanisms through which the ɑ7nAChR agonist prevents OA were performed using interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-treated chondrocytes. Our results showed that PNU-282987 reduced cartilage degeneration and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-13 expressions. Activating α7nAChR with PNU-282987 significantly promoted MIA/IL-1β-induced chondrocyte autophagy, as demonstrated by the increase in LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, Beclin-1 levels, and autophagosome number. Furthermore, treating chondrocyte with ULK1 siRNA attenuated the PNU282987-induced enhancement of LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and Beclin-1 level. Additionally, PNU282987 suppressed NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome activation by inhibiting the ROS/TXNIP pathway and suppressed tumor necrosis factor-ɑ and IL-1β secretion in MIA/IL-1β-treated chondrocytes. Our results demonstrate that the activation of α7nAChR promotes chondrocyte autophagy and attenuates inflammation to mitigate OA progression, providing a novel target for the treatment of OA.
Economic evaluation of population-based type 2 diabetes mellitus screening at different healthcare settings in Vietnam
Authors: Toi Phung Lam , Wu Olivia , Thavorncharoensap Montarat , Srinonprasert Varalak , Anothaisintawee Thunyarat , Thakkinstian Ammarin , Phuong Nguyen Khanh , Chaikledkaew Usa
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Few economic evaluations have assessed the cost-effectiveness of screening type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in different healthcare settings. This study aims to evaluate the value for money of various T2DM screening strategies in Vietnam.

Methods

A decision analytical model was constructed to compare costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of T2DM screening in different health care settings, including (1) screening at commune health station (CHS) and (2) screening at district health center (DHC), with no screening as the current practice. We further explored the costs and QALYs of different initial screening ages and different screening intervals. Cost and utility data were obtained by primary data collection in Vietnam. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated from societal and payer perspectives, while uncertainty analysis was performed to explore parameter uncertainties.

Results

Annual T2DM screening at either CHS or DHC was cost-effective in Vietnam, from both societal and payer perspectives. Annual screening at CHS was found as the best screening strategy in terms of value for money. From a societal perspective, annual screening at CHS from initial age of 40 years was associated with 0.40 QALYs gained while saving US$ 186.21. Meanwhile, one-off screening was not cost-effective when screening for people younger than 35 years old at both CHS and DHC.

Conclusions

T2DM screening should be included in the Vietnamese health benefits package, and annual screening at either CHS or DHC is recommended.
Whole embryonic detection of maternal microchimeric cells highlights significant differences in their numbers among individuals
Authors: Fujimoto Kana , Nakajima Akira , Hori Shohei , Irie Naoki
Published: December 2021

During pregnancy in placental mammals, small numbers of maternal cells (maternal microchimeric cells, or MMc cells) migrate into the fetus and persist decades, or perhaps for the rest of their lives, and higher frequencies of MMc cells are reported to correlate with variety of phenomena, such as immune tolerance, tissue repair, and autoimmune diseases. While detection of these MMc cells is considered in all pregnancies, their frequency differs largely according to tissue type and disease cases, and it remains unclear whether the number of MMc cells differs significantly among embryos in normal pregnancies. Here, for the first time, we developed a whole embryonic detection method for MMc cells using transgenic mice and counted live MMc cells in each individual embryo. Using this technique, we found that the number of MMc cells was comparable in most of the analyzed embryos; however, around 500 times higher number of MMc cells was detected in one embryo at the latest stage. This result suggests that the number of MMc cells could largely differ in rare cases with unknown underlying mechanisms. Our methodology provides a basis for testing differences in the numbers of MMc cells among individual embryos and for analyzing differences in MMc cell type repertoires in future studies. These data could provide a hint toward understanding the mechanisms underlying the variety of apparently inconsistent MMc-related phenomena.
Less is more? Ultra-low carbohydrate diet and working dogs’ performance
Authors: Gal Arnon , Cuttance Williams , Cave Nick , Lopez-Villalobos Nicolas , Herndon Aaron , Giles Juila , Burchell Richard
Published: December 2021

New Zealand farm working dogs are supreme athletes that are crucial to agriculture in the region. The effects that low or high dietary carbohydrate (CHO) content might have on their interstitial glucose (IG) and activity during work are unknown. The goals of the study were to determine if the concentration of IG and delta-g (a measurement of activity) will be lower in dogs fed an ultra-low CHO high fat diet in comparison to dogs fed a high CHO low fat diet, and to determine if low concentrations of IG are followed by reduced physical activity. We hypothesized that feeding working farm dogs an ultra-low CHO diet would reduce their IG concentrations which in turn would reduce physical activity during work. We prospectively recruited 22 farm dogs from four farms. At each farm, dogs were randomized to one of two diets and had a month of dietary acclimation to their allocated diet. The macronutrient proportions as a percentage of metabolizable energy (%ME) for the high CHO low fat diet (Diet 1) were 23% protein, 25% fat, and 52% CHO, and for the ultra-low CHO high fat diet (Diet 2) 37% protein, 63% fat, and 1% CHO. Following the acclimation period, we continuously monitored IG concentrations with flash glucose monitoring devices, and delta-g using triaxial accelerometers for 96 h. Dogs fed Diet 2 had a lower area under the curve (±SE) for IG (AUC Diet 2 = 497 ± 4 mmol/L/96h, AUC Diet 1 = 590 ± 3 mmol/L/96h; P = 0.002) but a higher area under the curve (±SE) for delta-g (AUC Diet 2 = 104,122 ± 6,045 delta-g/96h, AUC Diet 1 = 80,904 ± 4,950 delta-g/96h; P< 0.001). Interstitial glucose concentrations increased as the activity level increased (P < 0.001) and were lower for Diet 2 within each activity level (P < 0.001). The overall incidence of low IG readings (< 3.5 mmol/L) was 119/3810 (3.12%), of which 110 (92.4%) readings occurred in the Diet 2 group (P = 0.001). In the Diet 2 group, 99/110 (90%) of the low IG events occurred during the resting period (19:00–06:00). We conclude that feeding Diet 2 (ultra-low CHO high fat diet) to working farm dogs was associated with increased delta-g despite decreased IG concentrations. Interstitial glucose concentrations were positively associated with dogs’ activity levels independent of diet. Lastly, events of low IG occurred at a low incidence and were predominantly seen between 19:00–06:00 in dogs fed the ultra-low CHO high fat diet.
Manipulation of light spectrum can improve the performance of photosynthetic apparatus of strawberry plants growing under salt and alkalinity stress
Authors: Esmaeilizadeh Majid , Malekzadeh Shamsabad Mohammad Reza , Roosta Hamid Reza , Dąbrowski Piotr , Rapacz Marcin , Zieliński Andrzej , Wróbel Jacek , Kalaji Hazem M.
Published: December 2021

Strawberry is one of the plants sensitive to salt and alkalinity stress. Light quality affects plant growth and metabolic activities. However, there is no clear answer in the literature on how light can improve the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus of this species under salt and alkalinity stress. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of different spectra of supplemental light on strawberry (cv. Camarosa) under salt and alkalinity stress conditions. Light spectra of blue (with peak 460 nm), red (with peak 660 nm), blue/red (1:3), white/yellow (1:1) (400–700 nm) and ambient light were used as control. There were three stress treatments: control (no stress), alkalinity (40 mM NaHCO3), and salinity (80 mM NaCl). Under stress conditions, red and red/blue light had a positive effect on CO2 assimilation. In addition, blue/red light increased intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) under both stress conditions. Salinity and alkalinity stress decreased OJIP curves compared to the control treatment. Blue light caused an increase in its in plants under salinity stress, and red and blue/red light caused an increase in its in plants under alkalinity. Both salt and alkalinity stress caused a significant reduction in photosystem II (PSII) performance indices and quantum yield parameters. Adjustment of light spectra, especially red light, increased these parameters. It can be concluded that the adverse effects of salt and alkalinity stress on photosynthesis can be partially alleviated by changing the light spectra.
Staying moving, staying strong: Protocol for developing culturally appropriate information for Aboriginal people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and gout
Authors: O’Brien Penny , Conley Brooke , Bunzli Samantha , Bullen Jonathan , Coffin Juli , Persaud Jennifer , Gunatillake Tilini , Dowsey Michelle M. , Choong Peter F. , Lin Ivan
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Addressing disparities in arthritis care is an important yet unmet health need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia (respectfully Aboriginal people herewith). Despite the significant prevalence and burden of arthritis within Aboriginal communities, access to care for arthritis is low. One means to reduce existing disparities in health care is to address current challenges relating to the appropriateness and acceptability of health care information resources for Aboriginal people. Health information sources can help to empower patients and their families to have greater involvement in their care and to engage in self-management of their condition. Despite an extensive range of arthritis information resources being available, currently no resources have been culturally adapted and developed in collaboration with Aboriginal consumers with arthritis. This paper outlines the processes that will be undertaken within theStaying Moving,Staying Strongproject. This project aims to develop culturally secure arthritis information for Aboriginal people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and gout.

Methods and analysis

The overarching principle guiding this project is cultural security, referring to the incorporation of processes such that the research will not compromise the cultural rights, values and expectations of Aboriginal people. This project will prioritise partnerships, community engagement, community benefit, sustainability, transferability, and capacity building and therefore uphold the cultural rights and values of Aboriginal people. In this six-phase project we will; 1) Establish a community reference group and advisory committee; 2) Explore the health information needs and preferences of Aboriginal people with arthritis; 3) Synthesise the existing key recommendations in high quality clinical practice guidelines on arthritis care; 4) Culturally adapt key clinical recommendations; 5) Develop culturally appropriate arthritis resources and; 6) Qualitatively evaluate the developed resources.
Diagnostic and prognostic significance of premature ventricular complexes in community and hospital-based participants: A scoping review
Authors: Suba Sukardi , Fleischmann Kirsten E. , Schell-Chaple Hildy , Prasad Priya , Marcus Gregory M. , Hu Xiao , Pelter Michele M.
Published: December 2021

Background

While there are published studies that have examined premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) among patients with and without cardiac disease, there has not been a comprehensive review of the literature examining the diagnostic and prognostic significance of PVCs. This could help guide both community and hospital-based research and clinical practice.

Methods

Scoping review frameworks by Arksey and O’Malley and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) were used. A systematic search of the literature using four databases (CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science) was conducted. The review was prepared adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR).

Results

A total of 71 relevant articles were identified, 66 (93%) were observational, and five (7%) were secondary analyses from randomized clinical trials. Three studies (4%) examined the diagnostic importance of PVC origin (left/right ventricle) and QRS morphology in the diagnosis of acute myocardial ischemia (MI). The majority of the studies examined prognostic outcomes including left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, arrhythmias, ischemic heart diseases, and mortality by PVCs frequency, burden, and QRS morphology.

Conclusions

Very few studies have evaluated the diagnostic significance of PVCs and all are decades old. No hospital setting only studies were identified. Community-based longitudinal studies, which make up most of the literature, show that PVCs are associated with structural and coronary heart disease, lethal arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, stroke, all-cause and cardiac mortality. However, a causal association between PVCs and these outcomes cannot be established due to the purely observational study designs employed.
Inhibition of β-catenin dependent WNT signalling upregulates the transcriptional repressor NR0B1 and downregulates markers of an A9 phenotype in human embryonic stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons: Implications for Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Haynes John M. , Sibuea Shanti M. , Aguiar Alita A. , Li Fangwei , Ho Joan K. , Pouton Colin W.
Published: December 2021

In this study we investigate how β-catenin-dependent WNT signalling impacts midbrain dopaminergic neuron (mDA) specification. mDA cultures at day 65 of differentiation responded to 25 days of the tankyrase inhibitor XAV969 (XAV, 100nM) with reduced expression of markers of an A9 mDA phenotype (KCNJ6, ALDH1A1 and TH) but increased expression of the transcriptional repressors NR0B1 and NR0B2. Overexpression of NR0B1 and or NR0B2 promoted a loss of A9 dopaminergic neuron phenotype markers (KCNJ6, ALDH1A1 and TH). Overexpression of NR0B1, but not NR0B2 promoted a reduction in expression of the β-catenin-dependent WNT signalling pathway activator RSPO2. Analysis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) transcriptomic databases shows a profound PD-associated elevation of NR0B1 as well as reduced transcript for RSPO2. We conclude that reduced β-catenin-dependent WNT signalling impacts dopaminergic neuron identity, in vitro, through increased expression of the transcriptional repressor, NR0B1. We also speculate that dopaminergic neuron regulatory mechanisms may be perturbed in PD and that this may have an impact upon both existing nigral neurons and also neural progenitors transplanted as PD therapy.
Psychosocial stress and neuroendocrine biomarker concentrations among women living with or without HIV
Authors: Levy Matthew E. , Waters Ansley , Sen Sabyasachi , Castel Amanda D. , Plankey Michael , Molock Sherry , Asch Federico , Goparaju Lakshmi , Kassaye Seble
Published: December 2021

Objective

Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience psychosocial stress related to social-structural vulnerabilities. To investigate neuroendocrine pathways linking stress and increased cardiovascular disease risk among WLWH, we evaluated associations between psychosocial stress (i.e., perceived stress, posttraumatic stress, and experiences of race- and gender-based harassment) and a composite neuroendocrine biomarker index among WLWH and women without HIV.

Methods

In 2019–2020, Women’s Interagency HIV Study participants in Washington, DC completed a questionnaire and provided blood and 12-hour overnight urine samples for testing of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and urinary free cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Psychosocial stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, and Racialized Sexual Harassment Scale. Latent profile analysis was used to classify participants into low (38%), moderate (44%), and high (18%) stress groups. Composite biomarker index scores between 0–4 were assigned based on participants’ number of neuroendocrine biomarkers in high-risk quartiles (≥75th percentile for cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine and ≤25th percentile for DHEA-S). We evaluated associations between latent profile and composite biomarker index values using multivariable linear regression, adjusting for socio-demographic, behavioral, metabolic, and HIV-related factors.

Results

Among 90 women, 62% were WLWH, 53% were non-Hispanic Black, and median age was 55 years. In full multivariable models, there was no statistically significant association between psychosocial stress and composite biomarker index values among all women independent of HIV status. High (vs. low) psychosocial stress was positively associated with higher mean composite biomarker index values among all monoracial Black women (adjusted β = 1.32; 95% CI: 0.20–2.43), Black WLWH (adjusted β = 1.93; 95% CI: 0.02–3.83) and Black HIV-negative women (adjusted β = 2.54; 95% CI: 0.41–4.67).

Conclusions

Despite a null association in the overall sample, greater psychosocial stress was positively associated with higher neuroendocrine biomarker concentrations among Black women, highlighting a plausible mechanism by which psychosocial stress could contribute to cardiovascular disease risk.
Utilization of Lean & Six Sigma quality initiatives in Indian healthcare sector
Authors: Suman Gaurav , Prajapati Deo Raj
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the utilization of Lean & Six Sigma quality initiatives in healthcare sector in India.

Methodology

The survey questionnaires were sent to 454 hospitals through registered postal in all the states of India. The survey questionnaire was designed to assess different quality initiatives; currently implemented in Indian hospitals, factors align with organization’s objectives, reasons for not implementing Lean & Six Sigma and contribution of Lean & Six Sigma projects in healthcare improvement projects etc. A separate section in the questionnaire provides the feedback on implementation of Lean & Six Sigma in various hospitals. The relationships between Lean & Six Sigma and healthcare performance have also been established in this paper.

Findings

It is found that 15 Nos. of hospitals have implemented the Lean tools while 14 Nos. have implemented the Six Sigma tools out of 109 collected responses. This shows the utilization of Lean & Six Sigma in Indian healthcare sector. The ‘Lack of knowledge’ and ‘Availability of resources’ are the major reasons for not implementing Lean & Six Sigma. It is also observed that 22% running projects were related to Lean & Six Sigma out of various improvement projects running in various hospitals.

Originality

There is lack of evidences of similar studies that determines the utilization of Lean & Six Sigma in Indian healthcare sector at the national level. This paper will provide important breakthrough to academicians and healthcare practitioners, who are involved in Lean & Six Sigma research.

Social implications

The present study will create awareness among healthcare practitioners across India for utilization of quality tools that will provide direct benefits to the society.
Working from home and productivity under the COVID-19 pandemic: Using survey data of four manufacturing firms
Authors: Kitagawa Ritsu , Kuroda Sachiko , Okudaira Hiroko , Owan Hideo
Published: December 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the world economy in various ways. In particular, the drastic shift to telework has dramatically changed how people work. Whether the new style of working from home (WFH) will remain in our society highly depends on its effects on workers’ productivity. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effects of WFH on productivity are still unclear. By leveraging unique surveys conducted at four manufacturing firms in Japan, we assess within-company productivity differences between those who work from home and those who do not, along with identifying possible factors of productivity changes due to WFH. Our main findings are as follows. First, after ruling out the time-invariant component of individual productivity and separate trends specific to employee attributes, we find that workers who worked from home experienced productivity declines more than those who did not. Second, our analysis shows that poor WFH setups and communication difficulties are the major reasons for productivity losses. Third, we find that the mental health of workers who work from home is better than that of workers who are unable to work from home. Our result suggests that if appropriate investments in upgrading WFH setups and facilitating communication can be made, WFH may improve productivity by improving employees’ health and well-being.