bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ORGANIZAÇÃO DO TRABALHO PEDAGÓGICO DO CONTEÚDO LUTAS NAS AULAS DE EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA ESCOLAR PARA ALUNOS DO SEXTO ANO DO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL: RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA
Authors: Menezes Campos Livia , De Jesus Thimoteo Vanessa Beatriz , Alves Nogueira Suzana , Silva Souza Willian
Published: June 2024

O relato de experiência teve como objetivo apresentar os desafios e possibilidades que surgem ao organizar pedagogicamente o conteúdo de Lutas nas aulas de Educação Física Escolar, a partir das experiências vivenciadas nas aulas, em duas turmas de sexto ano do ensino fundamental, de uma escola da  rede municipal de Feira de Santana, parceira do Programa Institucional de Bolsa de Iniciação à Docência (PIBID). Dessa forma, são relatadas as dificuldades enfrentadas e as estratégias utilizadas para superá-las, contribuindo no campo da docência para um olhar mais crítico por parte dos docentes diante da sua prática pedagógica e possibilitando que os estudantes tivessem um ensino com maior qualidade e de forma integral. Além disso, por meio deste trabalho, foi possível evidenciar a importância do PIBID durante a graduação em Licenciatura, uma vez que é uma oportunidade para os discentes colocarem seus conhecimentos adquiridos durante a formação em prática e conheçam a realidade da sala de aula, potencializando e desenvolvendo novas habilidades.
Studie
Authors: Langeloh Jacob
Published: June 2024

Einleitung
Margins of Error: Edmund Blunden Annotates Good-bye to All That
Authors: Reynolds Nicole
Published: June 2024

Abstract: In 1929 Edmund Blunden, outraged by (what he perceived to be) the crudeness and historical inaccuracy of Robert Graves's World War 1 memoir Goodbye to All That , set out to correct the record. For Blunden, the most historically consequential and personally devastating form of retaliation was to make manuscript notes, drawn from multiple sources, in the margins of Good-bye to All That , and to deposit this in the British Museum. With Siegfried Sassoon's help, Blunden harnessed the book's physical properties to offer a comprehensive and lasting indictment of Graves's memoir. Blunden's marginalia materially instantiate the processes through which war writers, and their readers, undertook the work of personal and collective remembrance.
Mobile Monkeys and Modified Microbes: Medical Experimentation between Metropolitan and Colonial Laboratories, 1880–ca. 1925
Authors: Sunseri Thaddeus
Published: June 2024

abstract: Following the medical breakthroughs of Pasteur and Koch after 1880, the use of simians became pivotal to laboratory research to develop vaccines and cultivate microbes through the technique of serial passage. These innovations fueled research on multiple diseases and unleashed a demand for simians, which died easily in captivity. European and American colonial expansion facilitated a burgeoning market for laboratory animals that intensified hunting for live animals. This demand created novel opportunities for disease transfers and viral recombinations as simians of different species were confined in precarious settings. As laboratories moved into the colonies for research into a variety of diseases, notably syphilis, sleeping sickness, and malaria, the simian market was intensified. While researchers expected that colonial laboratories offered more natural environments than their metropolitan affiliates, amassing apes, people, microbes, and insects at close quarters instead created unnatural conditions that may have facilitated the spread of undetectable diseases.
The Creation and Circulation of Evidence and Knowledge in American Medicine through the Lens of the "Husband's Stitch"
Authors: Rodriguez Sarah B.
Published: June 2024

abstract: Physicians in the twentieth century routinely used episiotomy—a cut made during childbirth—to better facilitate labor, using the evidence of their experiences that it was useful. But physicians were not alone in producing evidence regarding episiotomy and its repair. Here I consider how three groups—male physicians, husbands, and laboring women—were involved in creating evidence and circulating knowledge about episiotomies, specifically, the intention of its repair, the so-called "husband's stitch," to sexually benefit men. By doing so I seek to consider the meanings of evidence within medicine, evidence as a basis for challenging the hegemony of medicine by lay women, and how medical knowledge is produced and shared among physicians and non-physicians.
Error correction analysis of wavefront testing in quadriwave lateral shearing interferometry
Authors: Zhu Yahui , Tian Ailing , Liu Bingcai , Wang Hongjun
Published: June 2024

Quadriwave lateral shearing interferometry (QWLSI) is based on double birefringent crystals of a beam displacer (DBCs-BD), which can generate the lateral shearing interference wavefront of four beams of overlapped replicas in the DBCs-BD orthogonal directions. When the replica waves are overlapped incident to the analyzer and the direction of the transmission axis is set as 45° or 135°, the QWLSI’s polarization interferogram can be obtained. This paper deduces the principle of QWLSI based on the DBCs-BD and presents the analysis of orthogonal error influence based on the DBCs-BD and the phase retrieval error of QWLSI when shear displacement by tilted incident on the DBCs-BD. In our investigation, we have established the correction range of the PBD’s orthogonal angle error is within −0.5∘−0.5∘, the maximum error in PV is 0.0012λ, and the maximum error in RMS is 1.3789×10−4λ in wavefront reconstruction. Moreover, when the testing light tilts to incident on the PBD in the range of −0.4∘−0.4∘, correction of the shear distance is used for wavefront reconstruction to achieve a high-precision wavefront testing result. Finally, the experiment shows that QWLSI based on the DBCs-BD exhibits feasibility and high precision.
Comparisons of aerosol types and optical characters over Shouxian Area China observed from ground- and space-based systems
Authors: Deng Xu , Xie Chenbo , Liu Dong , Wang Yingjian
Published: June 2024

This study evaluates the performance of moderate-resolution Imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) in aerosol optical depth(AOD) and Ångström exponent(AE) retrievals under high aerosol loading conditions across various aerosol types, utilizing ground-based and space-borne aerosol measurements in Shouxian, China. The intercomparison reveals cloud-aerosol LiDAR with orthogonal polarization's (CALIOP) efficacy in detecting significant aerosol layers and the refinement of sunphotometer-based aerosol type classification through CALIPSO, achieving approximately 80% accuracy. Analysis of 2016-2017 data indicates substantial aerosol presence in Shouxian, with monthly mean AODs ranging from 0.35 to 0.72 at 550 nm, significantly above the global average. The predominant aerosol types were mixed-type (54.8%), desert dust (21.2%), urban/industrial(15.5%), biomass-burning aerosol (6.4%), and continental aerosol (12.1%), with frequent observations of elevated long-range transported aerosol layers. MODIS AOD retrievals generally align with sunphotometer measurements but exhibit higher biases, especially with increasing AOD magnitudes. However, there is a notable difference between MODIS and sunphotometer aerosol AE measurements, with MODIS accurately assessing BBA but showing varied performance across other aerosol types. The combination of AOD and AE of the DD aerosol type is the most accurate. Further analysis showed that MODIS AOD biases and AE biases are negatively correlated, these negative bias correlations show strong aerosol type sensitivities. Monthly analysis of MODIS and sunphotometer comparisons highlights varying performance, particularly during normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) transitions, suggesting that local vegetation cycles and associated surface spectral reflectance changes significantly impact MODIS aerosol retrieval accuracy under high aerosol loading conditions.
Polarization dependent exciton-plasmon coupling in PEA2PbI4/Al and its application to perovskite solar cell
Authors: Zhang Qiong , Zhao Minglin , Li Yang , Bian Ang , El-Bashar Ramy , Abdelhamid Hamdy , Obayya Salah S. A. , Hameed Mohamed Farhat O. , Dai Jun
Published: June 2024

This paper reports the strong coupling between Al nanostructure and two-dimensional (2D) layered perovskite PEA2PbI4 (PEPI) films. The high exciton binding energy of 118 meV and long carrier lifetime of 216 ps are characterized from the 2D PEA2PbI4 film, which indicates that the excitons in perovskite are robust and can couple to metal plasmons. The ordinary and extraordinary optical dispersions are revealed from the anisotropic 2D perovskite. The transmission spectra of PEA2PbI4/Al nanoparticle arrays are simulated under different polarization excitations, and the typical anti-crossing behaviors originating from exciton-plasmon strong coupling are demonstrated. We found that compared with transverse magnetic (TM) polarization, transverse electric (TE) polarization excitation is more conducive to the realization of exciton-plasmon coupling with a larger Rabi splitting. Furthermore, the PEA2PbI4/Al nanoparticle arrays are proposed, which present polarization-dependent local electrical field enhancement due to the exciton-local surface plasmon polariton coupling. Additionally, it is noticed that the proposed plasmonic structure increases the photo-generation rate inside the active material with improved current density. Therefore, the 2D proposed plasmonic design increases the power conversion efficiency (PCE) with an enhancement of 3.3% and 1.3% relative to the planar structures for TE and TM polarizations, respectively. This study provides a deeper understanding of polarized exciton-plasmon coupling properties, promoting the development of the field of plasmon and providing guidance for the design and preparation of efficient optoelectronic devices.
Influence of discontinuities on photonic waveguides
Authors: Bhatt Gaurang R. , Dave Utsav D. , Rocha-Rodrigues Janderson , Zadka Moshe , Datta Ipshita , Asenjo-Garcia Ana , Lipson Michal
Published: June 2024

Fabrication-induced imperfections in photonic wire waveguides, such as
roughness, stitching errors, and discontinuities, degrade their
performance and thereby lower the yield of large-scale systems. This
degradation is primarily due to the high insertion losses induced by
imperfections, which scale nonlinearly with the index contrast in wire
waveguides. Here we investigate the influence of discontinuities in
photonic waveguides and later show a platform that is robust to
fabrication imperfections. Our platform is based on an array of
silicon nano-pillars, arranged to form a sub-wavelength (SW) grating
waveguide. We focus on investigating the robustness by considering an
abrupt break in the waveguide, as an extreme case of discontinuity. We
show that sub-wavelength silicon waveguides are robust against
unwanted large discontinuities relative to the operating wavelength.
We measure a transmission loss of <2.2 dB at 1550 nm, for a discontinuity of length 2.1 μm, when compared to more than 7 dB of loss in conventional silicon wire
waveguides for the same discontinuity. Our results show that this mode
of protection is broadband, covering the entire telecommunication band
(λ =1500–1600 nm). We believe that this
investigation of the influence of discontinuities in photonic
waveguides could be a step toward the realization of low-loss optical
waveguides.
Spontaneous parametric down-conversion photon pair generation in small footprint X-cut periodically poled lithium niobate micro-resonator
Authors: Seo Min-Kyo , Hwang Hyeon , noh woojin , Nurrahman Mohamad , Kim Guhwan , Moon Kiwon , Ju Jung , Lee Hansuek
Published: June 2024

Spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) has been crucial for producing non-classical light, such as correlated photon pairs and squeezed states, essential for optical quantum technologies. Recently, thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN)-based devices have enabled high-performance SPDC in on-chip integrated photonics platforms. Here, we developed an X-cut periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) racetrack micro-resonator with a compact footprint and demonstrated bright SPDC photon pair generation characterized by distinct resonances and high extraction efficiency. Particularly, we separately assessed the internal and loaded photon pair generation rates, measuring them at 4.525 MHz/μW and 62.73 kHz/μW, respectively. Integrated with maturing electro-/thermo-optic TFLN circuit elements, our platform holds meaningful potential for advancing active quantum photonic applications.
mbtransfer: Microbiome intervention analysis using transfer functions and mirror statistics
Authors: Sankaran Kris , Jeganathan Pratheepa
Published: June 2024

Time series studies of microbiome interventions provide valuable data about microbial ecosystem structure. Unfortunately, existing models of microbial community dynamics have limited temporal memory and expressivity, relying on Markov or linearity assumptions. To address this, we introduce a new class of models based on transfer functions. These models learn impulse responses, capturing the potentially delayed effects of environmental changes on the microbial community. This allows us to simulate trajectories under hypothetical interventions and select significantly perturbed taxa with False Discovery Rate guarantees. Through simulations, we show that our approach effectively reduces forecasting errors compared to strong baselines and accurately pinpoints taxa of interest. Our case studies highlight the interpretability of the resulting differential response trajectories. An R package, mbtransfer, and notebooks to replicate the simulation and case studies are provided.
A cross-sectional questionnaire study: Impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia remains prevalent in adults with type 1 diabetes and is associated with the risk of severe hypoglycaemia
Authors: Baxter Faye , Baillie Nicola , Dover Anna , Stimson Roland H. , Gibb Fraser , Forbes Shareen
Published: June 2024

Objective

Impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (IAH) is a risk factor for severe hypoglycaemia (SH) in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Much of the IAH prevalence data comes from older studies where participants did not have the benefit of the latest insulins and technologies. This study surveyed the prevalence of IAH and SH in a tertiary adult clinic population and investigated the associated factors.

Methods

Adults (≥18 years) attending a tertiary T1D clinic completed a questionnaire, including a Gold and Clarke score. Background information was collected from health records.

Results

189 people (56.1% female) with T1D (median [IQR] disease duration 19.3 [11.5, 29.1] years and age of 41.0 [29.0, 52.0] years) participated. 17.5% had IAH and 16.0% reported ≥1 episode of SH in the previous 12 months. Those with IAH were more likely to report SH (37.5% versus 11.7%, p = 0.001) a greater number of SH episodes per person (median [IQR] 0 [0,2] versus 0 [0,0] P<0.001) and be female (72.7% versus 52.6%, p = 0.036). Socio-economic deprivation was associated with IAH (p = 0.032) and SH (p = 0.005). Use of technology was the same between IAH vs aware groups, however, participants reporting SH were more likely to use multiple daily injections (p = 0.026). Higher detectable C-peptide concentrations were associated with a reduced risk of SH (p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor use was comparable in IAH versus aware groups. Despite this, IAH remains a risk factor for SH and is prevalent in females and in older people. Socioeconomic deprivation was associated with IAH and SH, making this an important population to target for interventions.
The awareness of renal stones amongst Syrian refugees in northern Jordan
Authors: Alaqabani Hakam , Omar Hani , Barham Sara Yaser , Al Zuaini Hashim H. , Ugorenko Agata , Khaleel Anas
Published: June 2024

Kidney Stone Disease (KSD) is a globally prevalent condition that can be effectively addressed through proper education. This study investigated the awareness of kidney stones among refugees residing in northern Jordan. A questionnaire was administered to 487 refugees of diverse ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Notably, 97.3% of the respondents had not attended university, and 30.8% held unskilled jobs. Upon familiarizing themselves with the signs and symptoms of kidney stones, 16.22% of men and 12.32% of women reported experiencing such symptoms. This revealed a significant association, suggesting that men might be more susceptible to developing kidney stones than women due to a lack of medical follow-up and examination for men in the camp. However, 38.77% of individuals were uncertain whether they had kidney stones. Furthermore, 38.96% of refugees were unsure about which healthcare professional to consult when experiencing kidney stone symptoms. This report highlights a serious issue with refugees’ knowledge of the symptoms, causes, and treatments for kidney stones. The results indicate that Syrian refugees face challenges in acquiring adequate disease awareness, potentially related to issues of migration and war, including low levels of education, limited income, living in camps, and difficulties accessing treatments when needed. Implementing additional policies is necessary to address these challenges among Syrian refugees; however, further studies are needed to validate these findings.
Effectiveness of exercise intervention in relieving symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis: A network meta-analysis
Authors: Luo Yekui , Chen Yonghuan , Yan Xiangning , Zhang Lan , Shang Yuan , Seo Jae Chul
Published: June 2024

Background

Ankylosing spondylitis(AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease that leads to a reduced quality of life. Exercise appears to be one of the promising modes of intervention. The aim of this study was to review the available evidence and compare the effectiveness of different exercises in relieving symptoms of AS.

Methods

We searched the Pubmed, WOS, EMbase, CNKI, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases. The search has spanned from the creation of the database until September 15, 2023. We extracted the first author, year of article publication, sample information, intervention, duration of intervention, and outcome indicators from the literature that met the inclusion criteria. The Cochrane Risk Assessment Tool was used to assess the risk of bias for included studies. I² was used to judge the consistency of the included studies. Egger’s test and Begg’s test were used to judge whether there was significant publication bias. Forest plots were used to compare intervention effects and SUCRA was provided to rank the effects of the interventions. This study has been registered in PROSPERO(No. CRD42024518522).

Results

After screening, 10 papers matched the inclusion criteria for this study, and the total sample size of the 10 papers was 623. Upon analysis, the papers included in this study did not have significant publication bias (Begg’s Test P = 0.210) and had good consistency (P>0.05). The direct comparisons showed that Running, Pilates, Stretching, Yoga, and Tai Chi were more effective interventions than traditional therapies. The effect sizes, confidence intervals, and number of studies for each intervention are shown below: Running [MD -1.90 (95% CI -3.14,-0.66) n = 1], Pilates [MD -1.70 (95% CI -2.90,-0.51) n = 1], Stretching [MD -1.54 (95% CI -2.21,-0.88) n = 4], Yoga [MD -1.24 (95% CI -2.18,-0.30) n = 1], Tai Chi [MD -0.78 (95% CI -1.44,-0.12) n = 2], Exergame[MD -0.80 (95% CI -1.99,0.39) n = 1], Swiss balls[MD -1.07 (95% CI -2.58,0.44) n = 1]. The indirect comparisons showed that the range of effect sizes for each sport intervention intersected the null line. Based on cumulative probability, the order of effectiveness of different exercises in relieving AS symptoms is Running, Pilates, Stretching, Yoga, Tai Chi, Exergame, and Swiss ball.

Conclusion

Running, Pilates, Stretching, Yoga, and Tai Chi provided significant relief from AS symptoms. Exergame and Swiss ball were not statistically significant in relieving AS symptoms. There were no significant differences in the effectiveness of different exercise interventions in relieving AS symptoms. Running may have the most beneficial effect on alleviating AS symptoms.
Timing of sexual debut and associated sociodemographic and HIV risk factors among young people in Eswatini
Authors: Chemhaka Garikayi B. , Simelane Maswati S.
Published: June 2024

Young people in sub-Saharan Africa and specifically in Eswatini (previously Swaziland), continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV despite having equitable access to antiretroviral treatment. Early sexual debut is one of the many factors linked to HIV infection that is discussed in the context of general public health. Monitoring this behavior is essential for developing preventative, evidence-based interventions. This study aims to describe the early and/or typical sexual debut among young people in Eswatini and examines sociodemographic and HIV risk factors associated with early and typical sexual debut timing. We analyzed cross-sectional secondary data from the 2016/17 Swaziland HIV Incidence Measurement Survey (SHIMS), which had a representative sample of 2,383 young people aged 18–24. Respondents were selected using a two-stage stratified probability sampling design. We applied descriptive statistics and multivariable multinomial logistic regressions to examine the data. Out of the 2,383 respondents, 71.3% had sexual experience, with 4.1% and 26.5% reporting early sexual debut (<15 years) and typical sexual debut (<18 years), respectively. Our study found that age, sex, education, marital status, wealth, sexual partners in the past 12 months, and alcohol use were significantly associated with early and/or typical sexual debut. It is crucial to consider the sociodemographic factors and HIV risk factors of young people when designing programs and interventions aimed at preventing early sexual debut or transition. This approach is necessary to promote better sexual and reproductive health in alignment with sustainable development goals.
Fall-related injury among patients with vestibular schwannoma
Authors: Ölander Christine , Feychting Maria , Eriksson Per Olof , Laurell Göran , Talbäck Mats , Ek Stina
Published: June 2024

Vestibular schwannoma can cause vestibular dysfunction; however, conflicting evidence exists regarding whether this affects the incidence of fall-related injuries in this patient population. This matched cross-sectional and cohort study assess the risk of fall-related injuries in patients with vestibular schwannoma. The study included patients with vestibular schwannoma treated at a tertiary referral hospital in Sweden between 1988 and 2014. Information on fall-related injuries was obtained from the National Patient Register, and matched population comparisons were randomly selected in a 1:25 ratio. Fall-related injuries occurring pre- (within 5 years before the diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma) and post-diagnostically (up to 3 years after diagnosis or intervention) were registered. The association between vestibular schwannoma and fall-related injuries was estimated using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards analyses. We identified 1153 patients with vestibular schwannoma (569 [49%] women and 584 [51%] men), and 28815 population comparisons. Among the patients, 9% and 7% had pre- and post-diagnostic fall-related injuries, respectively, and among the comparisons, 8% and 6% had pre- and post-diagnostic fall-related injuries, respectively. There was no increased risk of pre- (OR 1.14; CI 0.92–1.41) or post-diagnostic 1 year (HR 1.16; CI 0.87–1.54) or 3 years (HR 1.11; CI 0.89–1.29) fall-related injury among the total patient cohort. In age-stratified analyses, we found an increased risk of pre-diagnostic fall-related injury among patients aged 50–69 years (OR 1.42; CI 1.10–1.88). Patients who underwent middle fossa surgery, regardless of age, had an increased risk of post-surgery fall-related injury within 3 years of follow-up (HR 2.68; CI 1.06–6.81). We conclude that patients with vestibular schwannoma have a low risk of enduring fall-related injuries. Middle-aged patients with dizziness and fall-related injuries should be considered for a vestibular clinical evaluation. Our results highlight the importance of rehabilitation in avoiding future fall-related injuries among patients undergoing middle fossa surgery.
Patient experiences of hydrodistension as a treatment for frozen shoulder: A longitudinal qualitative study
Authors: Whelan Gareth , Yeowell Gillian , Littlewood Chris
Published: June 2024

Background

Frozen shoulder is a condition associated with severe shoulder pain and loss of function impacting on a persons’ physical and mental health. Hydrodistension treatment that has been widely adopted within the UK National Health Service for the condition. However, evidence of clinical effectiveness and understanding of the patient experiences of this treatment are lacking. This study explored the experiences of people with a frozen shoulder who received hydrodistension treatment.

Methods

A qualitative design with repeat semi-structured interviews was used to explore participants’ experiences of hydrodistension treatment. Participants were interviewed 2–4 weeks and again at 8–10 weeks after treatment. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Findings were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis framework. The study is reported in accordance with the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative (COREQ) research.

Results

15 participants were interviewed online or over the phone. Three themes were identified: ‘Preparing for and having a hydrodistension’, ‘Physiotherapy after hydrodistension’, and ‘Outcome of hydrodistension ‘. Participants believed hydrodistension would benefit them, was well tolerated by many, and the effects were apparent to most within the first week. Physiotherapy still seemed to be valued to support recovery beyond this timepoint, despite these early effects. Some participant’s experienced harms including severe procedural pain and blood sugar dysregulation.

Conclusion

This is the first study to investigate the experiences of people who undergo hydrodistension for frozen shoulder. Hydrodistension appears an acceptable treatment to participants with a frozen shoulder, acceptability is enhanced through adequate shared decision making. Further high-quality research is required to understand the comparative effectiveness of hydrodistension as a treatment for frozen shoulder, including adverse events, and the benefit of treatment by a physiotherapist after hydrodistension.
Prediction of resistance to bevacizumab plus FOLFOX in metastatic colorectal cancer—Results of the prospective multicenter PERMAD trial
Authors: Seufferlein Thomas , Lausser Ludwig , Stein Alexander , Arnold Dirk , Prager Gerald , Kasper-Virchow Stefan , Niedermeier Michael , Müller Lothar , Kubicka Stefan , König Alexander , Büchner-Steudel Petra , Wille Kai , Berger Andreas W. , Kestler Angelika M. R. , Kraus Johann M. , Werle Silke D. , Perkhofer Lukas , Ettrich Thomas J. , Kestler Hans A.
Published: June 2024

Background

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are widely used for tumor treatment, including metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). So far, there are no biomarkers that reliably predict resistance to anti-VEGF mAbs like bevacizumab. A biomarker-guided strategy for early and accurate assessment of resistance could avoid the use of non-effective treatment and improve patient outcomes. We hypothesized that repeated analysis of multiple cytokines and angiogenic growth factors (CAFs) before and during treatment using machine learning could provide an accurate and earlier, i.e., 100 days before conventional radiologic staging, prediction of resistance to first-line mCRC treatment with FOLFOX plus bevacizumab.

Patients and methods

15 German and Austrian centers prospectively recruited 50 mCRC patients receiving FOLFOX plus bevacizumab as first-line treatment. Plasma samples were collected every two weeks until radiologic progression (RECIST 1.1) as determined by CT scans performed every 2 months. 102 pre-selected CAFs were centrally analyzed using a cytokine multiplex assay (Luminex, Myriad RBM).

Results

Using random forests, we developed a predictive machine learning model that discriminated between the situations of “no progress within 100 days before radiological progress” and “progress within 100 days before radiological progress”. We could further identify a combination of ten out of the 102 CAF markers, which fulfilled this task with 78.2% accuracy, 71.8% sensitivity, and 82.5% specificity.

Conclusions

We identified a CAF marker combination that indicates treatment resistance to FOLFOX plus bevacizumab in patients with mCRC within 100 days prior to radiologic progress.
Depression and assets during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study of mental health across income and savings groups
Authors: Ettman Catherine K. , Cohen Gregory H. , Abdalla Salma M. , Hatton C. Ross , Castrucci Brian C. , Bork Rachel H. , Galea Sandro
Published: June 2024

The prevalence of depression in U.S. adults during the COVID-19 pandemic has been high overall and particularly high among persons with fewer assets. Building on previous work on assets and mental health, we document the burden of depression in groups based on income and savings during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a nationally representative, longitudinal panel study of U.S. adults (N = 1,271) collected in April-May 2020 (T1), April-May 2021 (T2), and April-May 2022 (T3), we estimated the adjusted odds of reporting probable depression at any time during the COVID-19 pandemic with generalized estimating equations (GEE). We explored probable depression—defined as a score of ≥10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)—by four asset groups, defined by median income (≥$65,000) and savings (≥$20,000) categories. The prevalence of probable depression was consistently high in Spring 2020, Spring 2021, and Spring 2022 with 27.9% of U.S. adults reporting probable depression in Spring 2022. We found that there were four distinct asset groups that experienced different depression trajectories over the COVID-19 pandemic. Low income-low savings asset groups had the highest level of probable depression across time, reporting 3.7 times the odds (95% CI: 2.6, 5.3) of probable depression at any time relative to high income-high savings asset groups. While probable depression stayed relatively stable across time for most groups, the low income-low savings group reported significantly higher levels of probable depression at T2, compared to T1, and the high income-low savings group reported significantly higher levels of probable depression at T3 than T1. The weighted average of probable depression across time was 42.9% for low income-low savings groups, 24.3% for high income-low savings groups, 19.4% for low income-high savings groups, and 14.0% for high income-high savings groups. Efforts to ameliorate both savings and income may be necessary to mitigate the mental health consequences of pandemics.
Low-dose CT reconstruction using dataset-free learning
Authors: Wang Feng , Wang Renfang , Qiu Hong
Published: June 2024

Low-Dose computer tomography (LDCT) is an ideal alternative to reduce radiation risk in clinical applications. Although supervised-deep-learning-based reconstruction methods have demonstrated superior performance compared to conventional model-driven reconstruction algorithms, they require collecting massive pairs of low-dose and norm-dose CT images for neural network training, which limits their practical application in LDCT imaging. In this paper, we propose an unsupervised and training data-free learning reconstruction method for LDCT imaging that avoids the requirement for training data. The proposed method is a post-processing technique that aims to enhance the initial low-quality reconstruction results, and it reconstructs the high-quality images by neural work training that minimizes the ℓ1-norm distance between the CT measurements and their corresponding simulated sinogram data, as well as the total variation (TV) value of the reconstructed image. Moreover, the proposed method does not require to set the weights for both the data fidelity term and the plenty term. Experimental results on the AAPM challenge data and LoDoPab-CT data demonstrate that the proposed method is able to effectively suppress the noise and preserve the tiny structures. Also, these results demonstrate the rapid convergence and low computational cost of the proposed method. The source code is available at https://github.com/linfengyu77/IRLDCT.
Identification of Arabidopsis thaliana small RNAs responsive to the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea at an early stage of interaction
Authors: Padilla-Padilla Emir Alejandro , De la Rosa Carlos , Aragón Wendy , Ávila-Sandoval Ana Karen , Torres Martha , Dorantes-Acosta Ana Elena , Arteaga-Vázquez Mario A. , Formey Damien , Serrano Mario
Published: June 2024

In plants, small RNAs (sRNAs), mainly microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), have been described as key regulators of plant development, growth, and abiotic and biotic responses. Despite reports indicating the involvement of certain sRNAs in regulating the interaction between Botrytis cinerea (a major necrotrophic fungal phytopathogen) and host plants, there remains a lack of analysis regarding the potential regulatory roles of plant sRNAs during early stages of the interaction despite early immune responses observed then during infection. We present the first transcriptome-wide analysis of small RNA expression on the early interaction between the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that evolutionary conserved A. thaliana miRNAs were the sRNAs that accumulated the most in the presence of B. cinerea. The upregulation of miR167, miR159 and miR319 was of particular interest because these, together with their target transcripts, are involved in the fine regulation of the plant hormone signaling pathways. We also describe that miR173, which triggers the production of secondary siRNAs from TAS1 and TAS2 loci, as well as secondary siRNAs derived from these loci, is upregulated in response to B. cinerea. Thus, at an early stage of the interaction there are transcriptional changes of sRNA-guided silencing pathway genes and of a subset of sRNAs that targeted genes from the PPR gene superfamily, and these may be important mechanisms regulating the interaction between A. thaliana and B. cinerea. This work provides the basis for a better understanding of the regulation mediated by sRNAs during early B. cinerea-plant interaction and may help in the development of more effective strategies for its control.
Dynamics of a stochastic SEIQR model driven by Lévy jumps with bilinear incidence rates
Authors: Xia Qiuye , Qiu Xiaoling
Published: June 2024

In this study, we propose a stochastic SEIQR infectious disease model driven by Lévy noise. Firstly, we study the existence and uniqueness of the global positive solution of the model by using the stop-time. Secondly, the asymptotic behavior of the stochastic system at disease-free equilibrium and endemic equilibrium are discussed. Then, the sufficient condition for persistence under the time mean is studied. Finally, our theoretical results are verified by numerical simulation.
Predictors of drug and substance abuse among school-going adolescents living in drug hotspot in Malaysia
Authors: Ismail Rozmi , Shafurdin Nurul Shafini , Shukor Md Shafiin , Mohammed Nawi Azmawati , Abdul Manaf Mohd Rizal , Ibrahim Norhayati , Mohd Rasdi Roziah , Lyndon Novel Anak , Amit Noh , Hassan Siti Aishah , Hanafi Norshafizah , Ibrahim Fauziah , Nahla Fathimath , Wahab Suzaily
Published: June 2024

This study explored the pressing issue of drug and substance abuse (DSA) among adolescents in drug hotspots in Malaysia. The Malaysian Anti-drug Agency (AADK) has identified 155 hotspot areas across Malaysia, of which 78 were randomly selected as the study sites. These areas were identified as having extreme drug-related activities such as drug trafficking and drug-related crimes. According to the literature, several factors influence adolescents to be involved in DSA. Therefore, understanding the risk factors in the context of Malaysian school-going adolescents is of utmost importance. The study examined, in particular, a wide range of potential predictors, including socioeconomic factors, peer influence, family dynamics, educational experiences, drug access, and community characteristics. Adolescents in the hotspot areas were selected by means of a cross-sectional survey design with a cluster sampling method. The sample comprised 3382 school-going adolescents, and the data were collected through face-to-face interviews. The logit model method with STATA software was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that school-going adolescents with disciplinary issues face a two-fold increase in the risk of becoming current drug users compared to their peers. Further, those exhibiting externalising behaviours, such as aggression and rule-breaking, also face greater odds of becoming involved in DSA. Drug pushers were identified as the most significant risk factor, with adolescents exposed to them being 46 times more likely to become current drug users. The factors of friends and family also contribute significantly to adolescent drug involvement. However, adolescents with academic-related issues may be less involved if they have the protective factor of better coping skills. These findings will contribute to efforts to mitigate drug addiction and drug-related activities, particularly in high-risk communities, as well as help policymakers and healthcare professionals develop targeted interventions and generally promote the well-being of adolescents.
Disparities in COVID-19 vaccine intentions, testing and trusted sources by household language for children with medical complexity
Authors: Chen Laura P. , Singh-Verdeflor Kristina , Kelly Michelle M. , Sklansky Daniel J. , Shadman Kristin A. , Edmonson M. Bruce , Zhao Qianqian , DeMuri Gregory P. , Coller Ryan J.
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Children with medical complexity experienced health disparities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Language may compound these disparities since people speaking languages other than English (LOE) also experienced worse COVID-19 outcomes. Our objective was to investigate associations between household language for children with medical complexity and caregiver COVID-19 vaccine intentions, testing knowledge, and trusted sources of information.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey of caregivers of children with medical complexity ages 5 to 17 years was conducted from April-June 2022. Children with medical complexity had at least 1 Complex Chronic Condition. Households were considered LOE if they reported speaking any language other than English. Multivariable logistic regression examined associations between LOE and COVID-19 vaccine intentions, interpretation of COVID-19 test results, and trusted sources of information.

Results

We included 1,338 caregivers of children with medical complexity (49% response rate), of which 133 (10%) had household LOE (31 total languages, 58% being Spanish). There was no association between household LOE and caregiver COVID-19 vaccine intentions. Caregivers in households with LOE had similar interpretations of positive COVID-19 test results, but significantly different interpretations of negative results. Odds of interpreting a negative test as expected (meaning the child does not have COVID-19 now or can still get the virus from others) were lower in LOE households (aOR [95% CI]: 0.56 [0.34–0.95]). Households with LOE were more likely to report trusting the US government to provide COVID-19 information (aOR [95% CI]: 1.86 [1.24–2.81]).

Conclusion

Differences in COVID-19 test interpretations based on household language for children with medical complexity were observed and could contribute to disparities in outcomes. Opportunities for more inclusive public health messaging likely exist.
Investigation on pretreatment method for the determination of rare earth elements in polymetallic mineral samples in Pan-Xi region by ICP-MS
Authors: Bu Daolu , Ding Yang , Lu Haichuan , Wang Shunxiang , Shuai Linyang , Xia Xiang , Gong Cang
Published: June 2024

The polymetallic mineral samples in Pan-Xi region are rich in rare earth resources, and exploring an efficient and accurate analysis method is of great significance for their comprehensive utilization. In this study, the samples were decomposed by three methods, namely closed acid dissolution, open acid dissolution with five acid and alkali fusion with sodium peroxide, and the 15 REE were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with Rh and Re as internal standard correction elements. The comparative experiments were conducted using standard substances, and the results showed: (1) The detection limit of closed acid dissolution method was low with relative standard deviation (RSD) ranging from 2.51% to 9.56% and the accuracy of method (ΔlgC) ranging from 0.006 to 0.073, while the sample processing was long, and the results of some REE were low. (2) The RSD of open acid dissolution with five acid method ranged from 1.93% to 7.96%, and ΔlgC ranged from 0.004 to 0.045 with low results of the determination results of REE. (3) The alkali fusion with sodium peroxide method eliminated the influence of matrix effects by selecting instrument optimization, sample dilution, appropriate internal standard elements, etc. The RSD ranged from 1.24% to 6.49%, and ΔlgC ranged from 0.001 to 0.032. In conclusion, alkali fusion with sodium peroxide method has a fast analysis process, complete sample dissolution, and the accuracy and precision of test results can meet the requirements of specification (DZ/T0011-2015), which is most suitable for the analysis of REE in polymetallic mineral samples from Pan-Xi region.
Neglected second and third generation challenges of urban sanitation: A review of the marginality and exclusion dimensions of safely managed sanitation
Authors: Bhatkal Tanvi , Mehta Lyla , Sumitra Roshni
Published: June 2024

Sanitation is fundamental for health and wellbeing yet cities, especially in the global South, face challenges in providing safely managed sanitation systems. Global and national sanitation campaigns tend to focus on the visible aspects of being ‘on grid’ in terms of toilet construction and connections but rarely address the dangerous, invisible aspects of being ‘off grid’ such as poor or unsafe excreta disposal and inadequate faecal sludge management (often considered to be second or third generation sanitation challenges). These, however, tend to disproportionately affect poor and marginalised people in off-grid locations in rapidly urbanising areas. This review paper engages critically with the growing literature on the challenges of faecal sludge management and circular economy solutions. Through the lens of exclusion and marginality, we review debates regarding access to safely managed sanitation, the burden of sanitation workers and safely recovering value from shit. We argue that sanitation systems often reproduce and exacerbate existing societal hierarchies and discriminations in terms of unequal access to safely managed sanitation and the burden of maintaining sanitation infrastructures. It is thus important for future research on faecal sludge management and resource recovery from shit to focus on issues of marginality and exclusion.
Chasing the Bounty: The Voyages of the Pandora and the Matavy, Donald A. Maxton (ed.) (2020)
Authors: Lansdown Richard
Published: June 2024

Review of: Chasing the Bounty: The Voyages of the Pandora and the Matavy, Donald A. Maxton (ed.) (2020)

Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 200 pp.,

ISBN 978 1 47667 938 9 (pbk), US$39.95
Policy-making under Pressure: Rethinking the Policy Process in Aotearoa New Zealand, Sonia Mazey and Jeremy Richardson (eds) (2021)
Authors: Prior Martin
Published: June 2024

Review of: Policy-making under Pressure: Rethinking the Policy Process in Aotearoa New Zealand, Sonia Mazey and Jeremy Richardson (eds) (2021)

Christchurch: Canterbury University Press, 316 pp.,

ISBN 978 1 98850 324 0 (pbk), NZ$49.99
Pathological and pharmacovigilance monitoring as toxicological imputations of azithromycin and its residues in broilers
Authors: Fotouh Ahmed , Abdel-Maguid Doaa Safwat , Abdelhaseib Maha , Zaki Rania Samir , Darweish Marwa
Published: June 2024

Background and Aim: The importance of monitoring antimicrobial residues in food is underlined by increasing worries about food safety and public health. The potential toxicity of azithromycin (Az) on broilers and its impact on chicken meat residues require further investigation. This study assesses Az’s toxicity effects and associated risks in broiler chickens through evaluation.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty chicks were distributed into four equal groups randomly. Each group received different daily oral doses of Az: 200 mg/kg for Az1, 100 mg/kg for Az2, and 50 mg/kg for Az3. The FAz group was given plain water. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure Az residue levels in muscle and liver. Oxidative markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT]), liver and kidney function tests, and histopathological examination were conducted.

Results: The levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase increased in Az1 and Az2 groups from 8 h to 3 days and decreased slightly in Az2 by 7 days, while they remained normal in Az3. The levels of uric acid and creatine in the Az1 and Az2 groups increased from 8 h to 3 days and subsequently decreased in Az2 by the 7th day. Az1 group showed the highest increase in MDA levels within 7 days. With higher Az doses, SOD and CAT levels showed a more significant decrease post-treatment. 9.1 μg/kg Az1 liver had the highest residues, whereas none were detected in muscle.

Conclusion: At higher doses, Az caused significant liver and kidney damage, whereas lower doses had negligible effects. Muscle tissue contains fewer Az residues than liver. Assessing risks and ensuring compliance with regulations necessitate constant surveillance of Az residues in food. The health implications and risk management insights necessitate further investigation into the long-term effects of Az residues.

Keywords: antibiotic residues, azithromycin, broiler chicken, liver functions, oxidative stress.
The role of school history in helping young people to navigate their future at a time of climate crisis
Authors: Power Amanda , Kitson Alison
Published: June 2024

The need to prepare school students to respond to the climate and environmental crises is rapidly rising up educational agendas nationally and internationally, but the role of the humanities, and particularly history, is often marginalised. In England, the main context of this article, the climate crisis does not appear on any official history curriculum documentation, reinforcing a separation of nature and culture. This is not surprising, given that the climate crisis in general has been engaged with so little in the humanities, but teaching climate change as a ‘science’ problem rather than a societal one risks exacerbating students’ anxieties and sense of powerlessness. By contrast, humanities subjects, including history, can furnish students with the knowledge and skills to respond in more constructive and critical ways to a crisis that they will experience more acutely than us. We acknowledge and welcome the work that is already underway in school history, but we also call for a greater urgency to reform history curricula and provide better support for teachers. Meanwhile, mindful of how painfully slow these processes can be, we also call on history educators and academics to take matters into their own hands and make changes within existing curriculum structures where possible.