bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crack Healing in concrete using Bacteria
Authors: Prashanth N , Ramalinga Reddy Y , Rao Karuna P
Published: September 2022

One of the most often utilized building materials is concrete, yet it is prone to cracking. The structure is far more prone to fail due to cracks. There are several methods for, but they are not permanent and are not environmentally friendly. The inclusion of microorganisms in concrete can be a long-term option for crack healing or filling. It also influences the compressive and split tensile strength and maintain strength after crack formation to certain amount. Calcium Carbonate (Lime) production prevents cracks from recurring in the same location and serves as a permanent and long-term treatment. From the results obtained, it could be concluded that the product is more durable and requires less maintenance.
Numerical Study on V Shaped Natural Draft Cooling Tower Supporting System
Authors: Harish Sagar M , Babu Mehar , Umesh S S , Ananda D.S.
Published: September 2022

Cooling towers generally used to extract waste heat to the atmosphere from cooling water stream to a lower temperature and hence it rejects heat from water. The size of the cooling tower is large, with thin wall and complex geometry. Wind load plays a dominant role in the design of cooling tower. These cooling towers are subjected to self-weight and dynamic loads such as wind and earthquake. This paper presents the study of cooling tower of height 200m above the ground level. The Analysis of a cooling tower is done for a wind load using a finite element analysis considering V frame shell base supporting system. The analysis is performed in Commercial software STAAD PRO and the results obtained are presented in this paper.
Use of Waste Plastic as Fine Aggregate Substitute in Concrete
Authors: Lumina Pushpa , Pallavi G A , Bhavya C H , Vanishree S , Supriya C B
Published: September 2022

Solid waste disposal is a significant issue in our everyday lives as a result of the rapid population expansion in nations like India. One of the biggest environmental issues is the handling of solid waste. Plastic garbage is the waste kind that causes the majority of adverse environmental effects. Plastic must be recycled or reused because it cannot biodegrade. The study's goal is to examine the behaviour of concrete formed from recycled plastic materials as well as some of its physical characteristics. This study takes into account M20 cement concrete, which includes recovered plastic waste as a partial replacement for fine aggregate. Plastic was used to replace 5%, 10%, and 15% of the concrete in the casting of a concrete cube.
Identification of Constraints in small construction projects
Authors: Sagar G , Raghunandan K , Mehar Babu R
Published: September 2022

Constraints in construction project limit the achievement of high performance in construction that can impact quality delivery, On-time completion and cost of the project. If constraints are understood well then better performance can be achieved by avoiding the constraints from impacting the performance of the scheduled project. In this current paper, the authors have done questionnaire survey from construction professionals and identified high probable constraints using Relative Important Index (RII) method. The Cost Overrun and Time Overrun caused due to the high probable constraints are segregated. Remedial measures are suggested to reduce or to eliminate the constraints caused in a construction project.
Risk Assessment in Building Construction Projects
Authors: Rajesh  , Keshav Vasanth
Published: September 2022

Risks have a large impact on the budget, schedule, and a building project's quality. As the magnitude and complication of the project grows, the ability to control risk throughout the building process has become critical in preventing unplanned consequences. The high-quality procurement and the element of the corresponding agreement terms influence how risks are divided among project players to a great extent. As a result, project players must choose the best project procurement alternative. This dissertation's main objective is to not only assemble a table of building construction hazards, but also to identify the most important risks that can have a great influence on construction and mitigation methods. Assess and identify the most suitable countermeasure for the construction field in order to minimize hazards in future projects. The post-project appraisal method is applied in this dissertation to discover the list of hazards involved with the construction field. The questionnaire survey was conducted at several building projects, and the results were analysed once the survey was completed. The RRI method (Relative rank index) filters the response. Following this strategy, the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method is used to obtain more precise factors that affect project risk. The risks were discovered as a consequence of the analysis, and recommendations were made.
GIS Integrated Ground Water & Sewage Analysis
Authors: Nagesh M A , Dechasa Sissay , Veerappa Devaru G , Saksheshwari
Published: September 2022

Groundwater is a natural resource for various human needs. It can be a major source for domestic and non-domestic use in any institution. The groundwater quality depends on percolation of rainwater and polluted water generated in an area, into the soils. The quality of ground water may not be potable in many cases. The freshwater demand could be met by demand management and reuse of treated sewage. The possible sewage reuse is emerging as potential source for demand management after essential treatment. In the paper an attempt is made to assess the quality of ground water based on BIS standards of water for domestic use. Also, the sewage water generated in the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is checked for its use for gardening use & possible ground water recharge. The results show that the ground water quality is good and satisfies drinking water standards. Also, the sewage from the treatment plant of REVA satisfies the quality standards for its use for irrigation or gardening purpose and possible ground water recharge in the campus. The GIS integration is also made for ground water & sewage water quality parameters
Performance of Concrete made with Natural Aggregate and Multi-cycle Recycled Concrete Aggregate
Authors: Madhu K A , Manoj V , Rajakumara H N
Published: September 2022

The research concentrated on the use of concrete demolition waste (CDW) to achieve long sustainability, as coarse aggregate in the production of Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). Concrete demolition waste (RCA) is used to replace natural coarse aggregates (NCA) in M-25 grade concrete production, preserving natural resources and reducing the amount of demolition waste that must be landfilled. The effect of substituting 25%, 50%, and 100% NCA with three cycles of RCA on the mechanical characteristics with an endurance of hardened concrete was studied and compared to control concrete. The results of this study show that it is possible to use the RCA coming from CDW in order to the production of concrete. The performance of concretes with 0% and 25% replacement of NCA by RCA was nearly identical to that of concrete without replacement, but the strength of concrete was reduced with 50% and 75% replacement.
A Laboratory evaluation of Paper mill waste in manufacturing of Clay Bricks
Authors: Raveesh J , Uppin Vishnu R , Chandan M R , Gupta Nagaraj
Published: September 2022

India has one of the world's fastest expanding pulp and paper markets. With a growth rate of more than 10% per year in terms of per-capita growth, The pulp and paper industry requires a lot of capital investment, energy, and water. A paper mill produces 40 to 50 kg of dry sludge (70 percent primary sludge and 30 percent secondary sludge) when 1 tonne of paper is produced. Most of this sludge is now disposed of by land spreading and filling, both of which involve high disposal costs. Pulp and paper industry is one of the most polluted industries in the world in general and India in particular. India produces 10.11 million tons paper per annum which is 2.6% of world’s overall production quantity of paper. This study present using paper mill waste as a component in the manufacture of burnt bricks as a possible route to environmentally friendly construction. This research report details the findings of an experimental investigation into the production of eco-friendly, bricks using soil and paper mills. This research exhibits some increased compressive strength in mix of papermill waste.
Utilizing phase-modulated Lissajous to enhance spatial and temporal resolution of laser scanning microscopy
Authors: Qazvini Hamed , Latifi Hamid , Asadollahi Amir
Published: September 2022

One of the main challenges in scanning microscopy is increasing the scanning speed without deteriorating the spatial resolution of the image. With Lissajous scanning, the image is available in a fraction of the time since it gathers scattered data from the entire field of view. Nevertheless, this method reduces the density of scan lines at the center of the image, thereby reducing the imaging resolution. This problem can be solved by phase modulation of the motion function of the scanner; however, the density of lines created by such designs is not always controllable. In this paper, simple relationships for determining the desired density over a large area are presented for selecting the appropriate phase modulation, in particular for microscopy applications. In addition, a confocal microscope was employed to image samples using the proposed relations to obtain temporal and spatial resolution two times higher than conventional Lissajous. The results demonstrated that the imaging speed can be significantly increased by using phase modulation accompanied by interpolation methods for image reconstruction.
Minimal area surfaces and fibered hyperbolic 3-manifolds
Authors: Farre James , Vargas Pallete Franco
Published: September 2022

By work of Uhlenbeck, the largest principal curvature of any least area fiber of a hyperbolic

3
3

-manifold fibering over the circle is bounded below by one. We give a short argument to show that, along certain families of fibered hyperbolic

3
3

-manifolds, there is a uniform lower bound for the maximum principal curvatures of a least area minimal surface which is greater than one.
Duration of Education and Back Pain: Lessons From English Schooling Reforms
Authors: Ikeda Takaaki , Matsuyama Yusuke , Murakami Masayasu , Osaka Ken
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to examine the associations of increases in the duration of education with back pain using the exogenous variation generated by the English schooling reforms of 1947 and 1972. We analyzed cross-sectional data derived from 9 waves (waves 1–9; 2002–2019) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. An instrumental variables regression using 2-stage least squares with the 2-way cluster-robust standard error was used. The mean severity of back pain, measured using the Numerical Rating Scale, was used as the outcome. A total of 22,868 observations from 5,070 participants were included (the 1947 reform = 16,565 observations from 3,231 participants, mean age = 74.5 years; the 1972 reform = 6,303 observations from 1,839 participants, mean age = 59.3 years). The schooling reforms significantly extended years of school attendance by a mean of 0.57 years for the 1942 reform cohort and 0.66 years for 1972 reform cohort. For participants born within 5 years of the pivotal cohorts, an additional year of education decreased the severity of back pain by 0.78 points (95% confidence interval: 0.65, 0.92) for the 1972 reform cohort. Our finding underscores the importance of the length of education in the reduction of back pain in middle-aged individuals.
High-throughput design of bacterial anti-sense RNAs using CAREng
Authors: Romero Jazmin , Islam Md Tanvir , Taylor Ryan , Grayson Cathryn , Schoenrock Andrew , Wong Alex
Published: September 2022

Short RNA (sRNA) modulation of gene expression is an increasingly popular tool for bacterial functional genomics. Antisense pairing between an sRNA and a target messenger RNA results in post-transcriptional down-regulation of a specific gene and can thus be used both for investigating individual gene function and for large-scale genetic screens. sRNAs have several advantages over knockout libraries in studies of gene function, including inducibility, the capacity to interrogate essential genes and easy portability to multiple genetic backgrounds. High-throughput, systematic design of antisense RNAs will increase the efficiency and repeatability of sRNA screens. To this end, we present CAREng, the Computer-Automated sRNA Engineer. CAREng designs antisense RNAs for all coding sequences in a given genome, while checking for potential off-targets.

Availability and implementation

CAREng is available as a Python script and through a web portal (https://caren.carleton.ca).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
The impact of age on genetic testing decisions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Mehta Puja R , Iacoangeli Alfredo , Opie-Martin Sarah , van Vugt Joke J F A , Al Khleifat Ahmad , Bredin Andrea , Ossher Lynn , Andersen Peter M , Hardiman Orla , Mehta Arpan R , Fratta Pietro , Talbot Kevin ,   Project MinE ALS Sequencing Consortium, Başak Nazli A , Corcia Philippe , Couratier Philippe , de Carvalho Mamede , Drory Vivian , Glass Jonathan D , Gotkine Marc , Landers John E , McLaughlin Russell , Pardina Jesus S Mora , Morrison Karen E , Povedano Monica , Shaw Christopher E , Shaw Pamela J , Silani Vincenzo , Ticozzi Nicola , Van Damme Philip , van den Berg Leonard H , Veldink Jan H , Vourc’h Patrick , Weber Markus , Al-Chalabi Ammar
Published: September 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative syndrome. In up to 20% of cases, a family history is observed. Although Mendelian disease gene variants are found in apparently sporadic ALS, genetic testing is usually restricted to those with a family history or younger patients with sporadic disease. With the advent of therapies targeting genetic ALS, it is important that everyone treatable is identified. We therefore sought to determine the probability of a clinically actionable ALS genetic test result by age of onset, globally, but using the UK as an exemplar.

Blood-derived DNA was sequenced for ALS genes, and the probability of a clinically actionable genetic test result estimated. For a UK subset, age- and sex-specific population incidence rates were used to determine the number of such results missed by restricting testing by age of onset according to UK’s National Genomic Test Directory criteria.

There were 6274 people with sporadic ALS, 1551 from the UK. The proportion with a clinically actionable genetic test result ranged between 0.21 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18–0.25] in the youngest age group to 0.15 (95% CI 0.13–0.17) in the oldest age group for a full gene panel. For the UK, the equivalent proportions were 0.23 (95% CI 0.13–0.33) in the youngest age group to 0.17 (95% CI 0.13–0.21) in the oldest age group. By limiting testing in those without a family history to people with onset below 40 years, 115 of 117 (98% of all, 95% CI 96%–101%) clinically actionable test results were missed.

There is a significant probability of a clinically actionable genetic test result in people with apparently sporadic ALS at all ages. Although some countries limit testing by age, doing so results in a significant number of missed pathogenic test results. Age of onset and family history should not be a barrier to genetic testing in ALS.
Genetics of Immune Dysregulation and Cancer Predisposition: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Authors: Matza Porges Sigal , Shamriz Oded
Published: September 2022

Approximately 10% of cancers have a hereditary predisposition. However, no genetic diagnosis is available in 60%-80% of familial cancers. In some of these families, immune dysregulation-mediated disease is frequent. The immune system plays a critical role in identifying and eliminating tumors; thus, dysregulation of the immune system can increase the risk of developing cancer. This review focuses on some of the genes involved in immune dysregulation the promote the risk for cancer. Genetic counseling for patients with cancer currently focuses on known genes that raise the risk of cancer. In missing hereditary familial cases, the history family of immune dysregulation should be recorded, and genes related to the immune system should be analyzed in relevant families. On the other hand, patients with immune disorders diagnosed with a pathogenic mutation in an immune regulatory gene may have an increased risk of cancer. Therefore, those patients need to be under surveillance for cancer. Gene panel and exome sequencing are currently standard methods for genetic diagnosis, providing an excellent opportunity to jointly test cancer and immune genes.
How Applicable Is the Single-Dose AMBITION Regimen for Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis to High-Income Settings?
Authors: Harrison Thomas S , Lawrence David S , Mwandumba Henry C , Boulware David R , Hosseinipour Mina C , Lortholary Olivier , Meintjes Graeme , Mosepele Mosepele , Jarvis Joseph N
Published: September 2022

The AmBisome Therapy Induction Optimization (AMBITION-cm) trial, conducted in eastern and southern Africa, showed that a single, high dose (10 mg/kg) of liposomal amphotericin B, given with an oral backbone of fluconazole and flucytosine, was noninferior to the World Health Organization (WHO)–recommended regimen of 7 days of amphotericin B deoxycholate plus flucytosine for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–associated cryptococcal meningitis and has been incorporated into WHO treatment guidelines. We believe that the trial also has important implications for the treatment of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in high-income settings. We advance the arguments, supported by evidence where available, that the AMBITION-cm trial regimen is likely to be as fungicidal as the currently recommended 14-day liposomal amphotericin–based treatments, better tolerated with fewer adverse effects, and confer significant economic and practical benefits and, therefore, should be included as a treatment option in guidance for HIV-associated cryptococcal treatment in high-income settings.
DGPD: a knowledge database of dense granule proteins of the Apicomplexa
Authors: Hu Hang , Lu Zhenxiao , Feng Haisong , Chen Guojun , Wang Yongmei , Yang Congshan , Yue Zhenyu
Published: September 2022

Apicomplexan parasites cause severe diseases in human and livestock. Dense granule proteins (GRAs), specific to the Apicomplexa, participate in the maintenance of intracellular parasitism of host cells. GRAs have better immunogenicity and they can be emerged as important players in vaccine development. Although studies on GRAs have increased gradually in recent years, due to incompleteness and complexity of data collection, biologists have difficulty in the comprehensive utilization of information. Thus, there is a desperate need of user-friendly resource to integrate with existing GRAs. In this paper, we developed the Dense Granule Protein Database (DGPD), the first knowledge database dedicated to the integration and analysis of typical GRAs properties. The current version of DGPD includes annotated GRAs metadata of 245 samples derived from multiple web repositories and literature mining, involving five species that cause common diseases (Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia hammondi, Neospora caninum and Cystoisospora suis). We explored the baseline characteristics of GRAs and found that the number of introns and transmembrane domains in GRAs are markedly different from those of non-GRAs. Furthermore, we utilized the data in DGPD to explore the prediction algorithms for GRAs. We hope DGPD will be a good database for researchers to study GRAs.

Database URL: http://dgpd.tlds.cc/DGPD/index/
Outcomes of the Ross procedure in young adults with previous aortic valve interventions
Authors: Visan Alexandru C , Generali Tommaso , McPherson Iain , Jansen Katrijn , Rybicka Justyna , De Rita Fabrizio , Hermuzi Antony , Crossland David S , Salem Mahmoud I , Coats Louise , Hasan Asif , Nassar Mohamed S
Published: September 2022

OBJECTIVES

Contemporarily modified Ross procedure continues to deliver excellent outcomes and remains part of the treatment strategy for aortic valve disease in the young adult population. The aim of this study was to assess whether Ross procedure carried out as a second or subsequent intervention for aortic valve disease carries similar risk and long-term benefit, when compared to Ross procedure for the first-time aortic valve replacement.

METHODS

A total of 158 patients aged 16–60 years from a single congenital cardiac centre between 1997 and 2020 were included. The sample was split into 2 subgroups, based on the history of previous aortic valve interventions prior to the Ross procedure. Primary outcomes were defined as survival and pulmonary autograft failure. Coarsened exact matching was used to balance for covariates.

RESULTS

A total of 103 patients underwent primary Ross and 55 underwent secondary Ross with a mean follow-up of 7.8 years. Twenty-two patients underwent 28 reoperations during follow-up. Forty-nine well-matched pairs were obtained through matching. Freedom from pulmonary autograft failure at 10 years was 84.5% in the primary group vs 100% in the secondary group (P = 0.021). Five- and ten-year survival were identical, 97.5% in the primary group vs 95.6% in the secondary group (P = 0.53). Male sex and era were found to be predictors of neoaortic root dilatation.

CONCLUSIONS

The lower incidence of graft failure seen in secondary Ross could justify a stepwise approach to aortic valve intervention. Ross procedure delivers excellent outcomes in the adult population with no difference in survival for primary or secondary Ross.
Type A aortic dissection and pheochromocytoma: an indirect consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Njami Vassili Aurel , Dulguerov Filip , Zingg Tobias , Kirsch Matthias
Published: September 2022

Type A aortic dissection is a cardiovascular emergency. Its incidence seems to have increased in the last few years; it is not clear whether this is a consequence of the ageing population or better awareness of the diagnosis (Erbel R, Alfonso F, Boileau C, Dirsch O, Eber B, Haverich A et al.; Task Force on Aortic Dissection, European Society of Cardiology. Diagnosis and management of aortic dissection Task Force on Aortic Dissection, European Society of Cardiology. Eur Heart J 2001;15;22:1642–81). Acute type A aortic dissection is often lethal without urgent surgical treatment with mortality rates of around 17% (Conzelmann LO, Weigang E, Mehlhorn U, Abugameh A, Hoffmann I, Blettner M et al. Mortality in patients with acute aortic dissection type A: analysis of pre- and intraoperative risk factors from the German Registry for Acute Aortic Dissection Type A (GERAADA). Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2016;49:e44–e52). Pheochromocytomas are rare tumours, though often asymptomatic, they could be lethal if left untreated. The incidence is around 0.6 per 100,000 persons per year. The association of both aortic dissection and pheochromocytoma is rare. Here, we report a case of a 36-year-old patient with pheochromocytoma and hypertension, whose delay of surgery due to the Covid-19 pandemic led to acute type A aortic dissection.
Is early formal childcare an equalizer? How attending childcare and education centres affects children’s cognitive and socio-emotional skills in Germany
Authors: Ghirardi Gaia , Baier Tina , Kleinert Corinna , Triventi Moris
Published: September 2022

This study examines the role of formal childcare under the age of three in tackling the early social inequality in children’s cognitive and socio-emotional competencies in Germany, by drawing on the new-born sample of the National Educational Panel Study. To this end, we study first whether the access to formal early childhood education and care (ECEC) differs by parents’ socio-economic status (SES), by means of logistic regressions. Second, we analyse the main effect of attending ECEC institutions. Third, we ask whether the effect of attending ECEC on children’s competencies differs by SES. We perform OLS regression with inverse probability weighting to address confounding bias possibly arising from selection into care arrangements. Moreover, we developed a counterfactual analysis to compare the observed SES gradient in children’s competencies with two alternative extreme scenarios, one characterized by the absence of ECEC, and the other by universalistic access to ECEC. Our findings show that ECEC attendance is socially stratified and suggest an equalizing impact of ECEC institutions. We conclude that ECEC can play a compensatory function on social stratification, by making the expansion of formal early childcare expenditures a fruitful investment for more equal opportunities.
Diet variety mediates the relationship between appetite and micronutrient intake in patients with heart failure
Authors: Andreae Christina , Lennie Terry A , Chung Misook L
Published: September 2022

Aims

Eating a varied diet promotes adequate micronutrient intake. Poor appetite could decrease the desire to eat a varied diet leading to dietary micronutrient insufficiencies. The interrelationships among appetite, diet variety, and dietary micronutrient intake have not been investigated in patients with heart failure (HF). The purpose of the study was to determine whether the relationship between appetite and micronutrient insufficiency was mediated through diet variety.

Methods and results

A total of 238 patients with HF, mean age 61 ± 12.1; 68% male, and 45% NYHA class III/IV were included in this secondary analysis. Data collection consisted of a 4-day food diary and self-reported appetite on a 10-point visual analogue scale. Micronutrient insufficiency was defined as the total number of 17 minerals and vitamins that were insufficient in the diet. Diet variety was calculated as the number of 23 food types consumed over the 4 days. Mediation analysis, controlling for covariates age, gender, NYHA class, and body mass index showed that diet variety mediated the relationship between appetite and micronutrient insufficiencies [indirect effect = −0.0828, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.1585 to −0.0150]. There was no direct effect of appetite on micronutrient insufficiency (c´ = −0.1802; 95% CI = −0.3715 to.0111).

Conclusions

Diet variety played a previously unrecognized role in the relationship between appetite and dietary micronutrient intake in patients with HF. More research is needed to validate these associations in patients with HF.
Same-day discharge for atrial fibrillation ablation: outcomes and impact of ablation modality
Authors: Deyell Marc W , Hoskin Kurt , Forman Jacqueline , Laksman Zachary W , Hawkins Nathaniel M , Bennett Matthew T , Yeung-Lai-Wah John A , Chakrabarti Santabhanu , Krahn Andrew D , Andrade Jason G
Published: September 2022

Aims

Same-day discharge is increasingly common after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the impact of same-day discharge on healthcare utilization after ablation and whether this differs by ablation modality remains uncertain. We examined the safety, efficacy, and subsequent healthcare utilization of a same-day discharge protocol for AF ablation, including radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon ablation, in a contemporary cohort.

Methods and results

All consecutive patients for whom full healthcare utilization data were available at two centres and who underwent AF ablation from 2018 to 2019 were included. Same-day discharge was the default strategy for all patients. The efficacy and safety outcomes were proportions of same-day discharge and readmission/emergency room (ER) visits, and post-discharge complications, respectively. Of the 421 patients who underwent AF ablation (mean 63.3 ± 10.2 years, 33% female), 90.5% (381/421) achieved same-day discharge with no difference between RF and cryoballoon ablation (89.8 vs. 95.1%, adjusted P = 0.327). Readmission ≤30 days occurred in 4.8%, with ER visits ≤30 days seen in 26.1% with no difference between ablation modalities (P = 0.634). Patients admitted overnight were more likely to present to the ER (40.0 vs. 24.7% with same-day discharge, P = 0.036). The overall post-discharge complication rate was low at 4/421 (1.0%), with no difference between ablation modality (P = 0.324) and admission/same-day discharge (P = 0.485).

Conclusion

Same-day discharge can be achieved in a majority of patients undergoing RF or cryoballoon ablation for AF. Healthcare utilization, particularly ER visits, remains high after AF ablation, regardless of ablation modality or same-day discharge.
Strategies to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Ohio Nursing Home Staff
Authors: Kunkel Miranda C , Applebaum Robert , Nelson Matt
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives

Despite federal legislation requiring nursing home (NH) staff members to be vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), unvaccinated staff pose an ongoing public health risk. The research question guiding this study is as follows: What is the relationship between strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and vaccination rates among staff? We used the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory as a theoretical framework.

Research Design and Methods

The sample (N = 627) included Ohio-based NHs. Using national and state NH data, multivariable linear regression techniques demonstrated the relationship between strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and vaccination rates among NH staff.

Results

Peer counseling and providing sick time or time off for vaccine symptoms were both statistically significant strategies. Compared to facilities that did not engage in peer counseling, those that did saw an average increase of 3.2% of their staff vaccinated. Those that provided sick time or time off saw an average increase of 3.9% of their staff vaccinated. There was no statistically significant relationship between hiring full- or part-time facility infection preventionists and vaccination rates.

Discussion and Implications

In order to foster vaccine confidence among long-term services staff, peer counseling, and providing sick time or time off are examples of strategies that can affect vaccination rates among staff. According to DOI, these strategies target the communication channels and social systems of an organization. While this study focuses on NHs, results remain critically important to the remainder of the long-term services system, which does not have vaccine requirements similar to the NH industry.
Numerical study of fracture failure nature around the circular and horseshoe openings using the bonded-particle model
Authors: Zhang Qi , Zhang Xiao-Ping , Yang Sheng-Qi
Published: September 2022

Rock failure is a process of the rapid release of energy. The energy release can generate a transient elastic wave. This phenomenon is named acoustic emission (AE) that can provide a wealth of information regarding the failure process. To get a better understanding of failure mechanism in rocks, several criteria had been proposed and widely used to distinguish the failure nature of fractures based on the AE information. Due to these criteria are based on different theories, sometimes they may obtain different results from the same failure source. To analyse the application of these distinguished criteria, a series of uniaxial compressive tests were carried out on granite rocks containing a circular/horseshoe opening by using bonded-particle model combined with the AE technique. Cracking sequences and failure pattern of numerical simulations are comparable with those of laboratory tests. By discussing the force distribution, displacement field and the forces acting on the failure sources of numerical study, the results indicate that the crack path initiating from the top and bottom of the opening is tensile in nature. The shear and compressive AE events are predominant at the lateral sides of the opening. Three criteria can well distinguish the tensile failure. While the Ohtsu's criterion cannot distinguish the compressive failure effectively. The Feignier and Young's criterion and Ming's criterion are recommended to studying the cracking process and failure nature of rocks.
The multichannel maximum-likelihood (MCML) method: a new approach for infrasound detection and wave parameter estimation
Authors: Poste B , Charbit M , Le Pichon A , Listowski C , Roueff F , Vergoz J
Published: September 2022

We are presenting a new and novel approach to the detection and parameter estimation of infrasonic signals. Our approach is based on the likelihood function derived from a multisensor stochastic model expressed in different frequency channels. Using the likelihood function, we determine, for the detection problem, the generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) and for the estimation of the slowness vector, the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). We establish new asymptotic results (i) for the GLR under the null hypothesis leading to the computation of the corresponding p-value and (ii) for the MLE by focusing on the two wave parameters: backazimuth and horizontal trace velocity. The multichannel maximum-likelihood (MCML) detection and estimation method is implemented in the time–frequency domain in order to avoid the presence of interfering signals. Extensive simulations with synthetic signals show that MCML outperforms the state-of-the-art multichannel correlation detector algorithms like the progressive multichannel correlation in terms of detection probability and false alarm rate in poor signal-to-noise ratio scenarios. We also illustrate the use of the MCML on real data from the International Monitoring System and show how the improved performances of this new method lead to a refined analysis of events in accordance with expert knowledge.
Perceived loss of resources and adherence to guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
Authors: Yagil Dana , Cohen Miri
Published: September 2022

Following the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world issued guidelines designed to prevent contagion. This longitudinal study explored variables associated with citizens’ adherence to these guidelines. Questionnaires were administered to a panel of Israeli citizens three times: in June (Time 1, n = 896), July (Time 2, n = 712) and August (Time 3, n = 662) 2020. The relationships of perceived loss of resources (e.g. stable employment) at Time 1 with adherence to guidelines at Time 2 and Time 3 were moderated by assumptions about controllability: The relationships were stronger for people who believed that appropriate behavior would lead to positive outcomes and prevent negative outcomes. The results indicate that messages about the pandemic should be accompanied by encouraging messages regarding the ability to control.
The impact of primary school nutrition policy on the school food environment: a systematic review
Authors: Grigsby-Duffy Lily , Brooks Ruby , Boelsen-Robinson Tara , Blake Miranda R , Backholer Kathryn , Palermo Claire , Peeters Anna
Published: September 2022

School nutrition policies that aim to address unhealthy diets have been introduced in many countries. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the international literature to determine the impact (overall and by socioeconomic position [SEP]) of primary school nutrition policies on the availability of foods and beverages in schools. Seven databases were searched using keywords and medical subject headings related to nutrition policies and schools. Studies that reported on the impact of implemented school nutrition policies on food and beverage availability within primary schools were included. Eighteen studies (reported across 20 papers) were included. Fifteen of the included studies reported some positive impacts of policies, including increased availability of healthier foods and decreased availability of less healthy foods. Five studies focused specifically on schools in low-income communities and a further three specifically compared schools by SEP, with mixed findings. Two studies reported on factors influencing policy implementation, reporting a lack of financial resources as a barrier to schools offering a wider selection of healthy foods and additional school resources as increasing the likelihood of offering healthy foods. School nutrition policies appear to be effective at improving the healthiness of foods and beverages available at schools. Furthermore, the results suggest that well-implemented school nutrition policies that improve the healthiness of foods available are unlikely to exacerbate the socioeconomic gradient of poor nutrition. However, the number of studies that reported results by SEP limits drawing strong conclusions regarding equity impacts and we strongly recommend further studies analyze their findings according to SEP.
Examining Pride Cups as a health promotion resource to address homophobia in Australian men’s sport
Authors: O’Connor Justen , Jeanes Ruth , Denison Erik , Lambert Karen , Bevan Nadia
Published: September 2022

Effective interventions are needed to stop homophobic behaviours in sport settings as these behaviours are associated with negative health and social outcomes for individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or other diverse genders and sexualities. This paper reports the results of a quasi-experimental study commissioned by a public health agency to explore the benefits of a novel intervention that has been widely adopted by Australian community sport clubs. The ‘Pride Cup’ intervention includes education for club leaders, sport participants and the hosting of a rainbow-themed ‘pride game’. Survey responses of male participants from six randomly selected sport clubs which had received the intervention (n = 148) were compared to responses (n = 137) from six randomly selected comparison clubs (Australian Football, cricket, field hockey, roller derby). Employing a post-test-only design, the study explored differences in homophobic attitudes, behaviours and individual efficacy to react negatively to homophobic behaviours. The study found significant differences (p < 0.001) in self-reported use of homophobic slurs (e.g. fag) in the last 2 weeks by participants in the treatment (11%) versus comparison (31.8%) clubs, and significant differences in the perceived use of these slurs by teammates (25.9% vs. 56.6%) or coaches (7.8% vs. 23.3%). There were also significant differences in efficacy scores, but no differences in homophobic attitudes. These results, combined with evidence of community-driven adoption, support the allocation of public health resources to conduct larger scale trials using pre/post designs to confirm these findings.
A decade of progress: comparative evaluation of the Israel Healthy Cities Network
Authors: Wetzler Sima Lissa , Leiter Elisheva , Donchin Milka
Published: September 2022

Established in 1990, Israel’s Healthy Cities Network (HCN) performed its first evaluation in 2003–2004. A decade later, the present evaluation was implemented to assess members’ compliance with the European HCN requirements and to determine progress made since the initial evaluation. A total of 31 of the existing 42 HCN members participated in this mixed methods evaluation. Based on the Monitoring, Accountability, Reporting, and Impact assessment framework, the evaluation questionnaire integrated Healthy Cities’ principles and strategies. Univariate and bivariate analyses were used to investigate municipality performance as well as associations between indicators and structural or process measures. Matched-paired t-tests were performed to compare HCN member cities’ initial evaluation with the current evaluation. Qualitative analyses explored the processes involved in implementing the Healthy Cities approach. The current evaluation found that Israel’s HCN complies with all European HCN requirements, except for producing a city health profile. Increased coordinators’ time investment, maintaining municipal health steering committee meetings and attending HCN activities were positively associated with better score on all dimensions. There was no significant difference between the two evaluation scores for all HCN cities collectively; however, within city comparisons indicated significant change. Coordinators reported that there was added value in HCN membership and conveyed a need for better network facilities, publicity and improved public relations. This evaluation validates the previous evaluation’s findings and informs decision makers and municipal leaders regarding potential areas to modify or expand, both on the municipality level and the network at large.
Icing or cake? Grant competitions as a model for funding chronic disease prevention in Tasmania, Australia
Authors: Loblay Victoria , Garvey Kate , Shiell Alan , Kavanagh Shane , Hawe Penelope
Published: September 2022

Competitive grant funding is a well-established mechanism for generating activity and interventions in the field of chronic disease prevention. Yet grant competitions may be burdensome for organizations, and money may not be enough to bring about lasting change in communities. In this study, we explore the dynamics of awarding and receiving money in the context of a state-level government grant competition to support community organizations and promote community-driven action for health and well-being in Tasmania, Australia. Drawing on reflections of successful grant recipients and real-time observation of grant decision-making, we consider the role and value of grant competitions both for individual organizations and for generating broader change processes. We found that grant competitions operated according to an ‘icing-on-the-cake’ approach to funding, whereby money was provided for extra activities and new initiatives. In this way, the grant competition was valuable not only for stimulating new programme activities but also to effect broader organizational change, such as developing planning capacity, igniting new directions and pushing organizations towards ‘health’-focused activities. But for smaller organizations, grant funding was often stretched to support core work (i.e. cake rather than icing). Grants targeting specific focus areas could be a drain on resources if they diverted staff time away from core activities. We suggest an alternative approach to funding in which grants are able to be more responsive to the needs of community organizations and the support they require, as well as to desired outcomes. We describe the policy response to the results to date.
Global case study of digital marketing on social media by a top soda brand
Authors: Matos Juliana de Paula , Rodrigues Michele Bittencourt , Vandevijvere Stefanie , Claro Rafael Moreira , Horta Paula Martins
Published: September 2022

The Big Soda segment is central in modern food systems, and they invest heavily in digital marketing, but little is known about it. We aimed to analyze the digital marketing on Facebook of the soda brand with a major worldwide reach. Countries were described in terms of soda brand presence and popularity on Facebook according to countries’ socio-demographic index (SDI) and the market share of soda brand (%MS). From 149 countries, 57.0% had soda brand’s Facebook page among the top five in the number of followers within the beverage segment. Among them, digital marketing was described by the number of the page followers, the number of posts, and the number of interactions (likes, comments and shares) that each post received by Facebook users. Also, we analyzed the characteristics, and the use of marketing strategies on posts in a random sample of 10% (n = 1217) of all posts. We found that soda brand’s popularity on Facebook was higher among countries with higher SDI and higher %MS. Also, the number of users that engaged with soda brand’s posts was higher among countries with lower SDI and higher brand’s %MS. The brand’s posts focus on young adults, display of brand’s products and glorification of its attributes. Other identified features include sport-related thematic and appeals to socialization and healthy eating. In addition, posts’ characteristics differed with countries’ characteristics. Soda brand digital marketing varies according to countries’ characterization and maintains the brand position on the global marketing of beverages.
Histidine supplementation can escalate or rescue HARS deficiency in a Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease model
Authors: Qiu Yi , Kenana Rosan , Beharry Aruun , Wilhelm Sarah D P , Hsu Sung Yuan , Siu Victoria M , Duennwald Martin , Heinemann Ilka U
Published: September 2022

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are essential enzymes responsible for charging amino acids onto cognate tRNAs during protein synthesis. In histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HARS), autosomal dominant mutations V133F, V155G, Y330C and S356N in the HARS catalytic domain cause Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 2 W (CMT2W), while tRNA-binding domain mutation Y454S causes recessive Usher syndrome type IIIB. In a yeast model, all human HARS variants complemented a genomic deletion of the yeast ortholog HTS1 at high expression levels. CMT2W associated mutations, but not Y454S, resulted in reduced growth. We show mistranslation of histidine to glutamine and threonine in V155G and S356N but not Y330C mutants in yeast. Mistranslating V155G and S356N mutants lead to accumulation of insoluble proteins, which was rescued by histidine. Mutants V133F and Y330C showed the most significant growth defect and decreased HARS abundance in cells. Here, histidine supplementation led to insoluble protein aggregation and further reduced viability, indicating histidine toxicity associated with these mutants. V133F proteins displayed reduced thermal stability in vitro, which was rescued by tRNA. Our data will inform future treatment options for HARS patients, where histidine supplementation may either have a toxic or compensating effect depending on the nature of the causative HARS variant.
Case–case genome-wide association analysis identifying genetic loci with divergent effects on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
Authors: Jung Seulgi , Kim Yongjae , Park Dohoon , Lee Yoonho , Park Sojung , Baek Jiwon , Hwang Sung Wook , Park Sang Hyoung , Yang Suk-Kyun , Ye Byong Duk , Han Buhm , Song Kyuyoung , Lee Ho-Su
Published: September 2022

Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), two major subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease, show substantial differences in their clinical course and treatment response. To identify the genetic factors underlying the distinct characteristics of these two diseases, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) between CD (n = 2359) and UC (n = 2175) in a Korean population, followed by replication in an independent sample of 772 CD and 619 UC cases. Two novel loci were identified with divergent effects on CD and UC: rs9842650 in CD200 and rs885026 in NCOR2. In addition, the seven established susceptibility loci [major histocompatibility complex (MHC), TNFSF15, OTUD3, USP12, IL23R, FCHSD2 and RIPK2] reached genome-wide significance. Of the nine loci, six (MHC, TNFSF15, OTUD3, USP12, IL23R and CD200) were replicated in the case–case GWAS of European populations. The proportion of variance explained in CD–UC status by polygenic risk score analysis was up to 22.6%. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve value was 0.74, suggesting acceptable discrimination between CD and UC. This CD–UC GWAS provides new insights into genetic differences between the two diseases with similar symptoms and might be useful in improving their diagnosis and treatment.