bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Refractory postoperative Staphylococcus hominis bacteremia in a patient with an ACTH-producing pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm: a case report
Authors: Muraki Ryuta , Morita Yoshifumi , Tatsuta Kyota , Ida Shinya , Kitajima Ryo , Hirotsu Amane , Takeda Makoto , Kikuchi Hirotoshi , Hiramatsu Yoshihiro , Fukazawa Atsuko , Kuroda Go , Kakizawa Keisuke , Takeuchi Hiroya
Published: June 2022

Background

Staphylococcus hominis (S. hominis) is an opportunistic pathogen that is often highly resistant to antibiotics and is difficult to treat. In patients diagnosed with an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing tumor that compromises the immune system due to hypercortisolemia, cancer treatment and infection control should be considered simultaneously. This report presents a case of refractory postoperative S. hominis bacteremia requiring the prolonged administration of several antibiotics in a patient with an ACTH-producing pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (pNEN).

Case presentation

A 35-year-old man visited a neighboring hospital for a thorough examination after experiencing weight gain and lower limb weakness for several months. Enhanced computed tomography revealed a pancreatic tail tumor and bilateral adrenal enlargement. Elevated plasma ACTH and serum cortisol were noted. Biopsy under endoscopic ultrasonography revealed the tumor as an ACTH-producing pNEN. The patient was transferred to our hospital for further treatment. Pneumocystis pneumonia was noted and treated with sulfamethoxazole and adjunctive glucocorticoids. Hypercortisolism was controlled with metyrapone and trilostane. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and ethoxybenzyl magnetic resonance imaging detected other lesions in the pancreatic head. A total pancreatectomy was performed given that the lesions were found in both the pancreatic head and tail. Plasma ACTH and serum cortisol levels decreased immediately after the resection. Pathological examination revealed that the pancreatic tail tumor was NEN G2 and T3N1aM0 Stage IIB and the pancreatic head lesions were SSTR-positive hyperplasia of the islet of Langerhans cells. On postoperative day 11, catheter-associated bacteremia occurred. Initially, meropenem hydrate and vancomycin hydrochloride were administered empirically. S. hominis was identified and appeared sensitive to these antibiotics according to susceptibility testing. However, S. hominis was repeatedly positive in blood cultures for more than one month, despite treatment with several antibiotics. Eventually, with the combined use of three antibiotics (meropenem hydrate, vancomycin hydrochloride, and clindamycin phosphate) for more than 3 weeks, the S. hominis-associated bacteremia improved. He was discharged 79 days after surgery.

Conclusions

Our patient with an ACTH-producing pNEN was immunocompromised and needed meticulous attention for infectious complications even after successful tumor removal. Specifically, S. hominis bacteremia in such patients demands intensive treatments, such as with combinational antibiotics.
Correlation between body mass index and motor proficiency in Egyptian children: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Awad Ahmed S. , Aneis Yasser M.
Published: June 2022

Background

Obesity in children is a frequent and serious problem that can impede motor ability performance, necessitating extra attention and early intervention efforts. The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between body mass index (BMI) and motor proficiency in Egyptian children. Two-hundred normal healthy children from both sexes (6 to 8 years old) were enrolled. BMI was defined by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared (kg/m2), and motor proficiency was evaluated by Bruininks-Oseretsky Test 2 of Motor Proficiency Short Form (BOT-2 SF). Participants were classified into four categories based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cutoff points including underweight, normal, overweight, and obese.

Results

Between-group analysis demonstrated a significant difference between groups where (χ2 (3) = 131.50, P = 0.0001), with the obese group showing the worst motor ability, with mean differences at 95% confidence intervals of 7.44 for underweight, 81.14 for overweight, and 108.92 for obese children. The correlation coefficients of BOT-2 SF and BMI show a significant negative correlation (R = −0.723, P = 0.0001). Regression analysis revealed that BMI can significantly predict the BOT-2 SF (F = 216.94, P = 0.0001).

Conclusion

Excess body weight in the period of early childhood in Egyptians has a deleterious effect on motor skill performance; also, children who were normal weight or underweight had higher motor skills than those who were overweight or obese.
What, who, and when? How social networking achieves online digital engagement in an architectural design studio
Authors: Bakir Ramy , Alsaadani Sara
Published: June 2022

Engagement is integral to design education; thus, the purpose of this work is to examine how engagement can be maintained digitally, using prevalent social networking tools, to support architectural education in the post-pandemic narrative. This study utilizes a quantitative methodology using inferential statistics to analyze observable online digital engagement on a social networking platform, used as part of a hybrid architectural design studio. The platform’s purpose was to overcome time and distance limitations impinged onto traditional studio set-ups. This research aimed at deciphering the intricacies of “how” digital engagement manifested on the platform, by analyzing engagement from the “what,” “who,” and “when” dimensions, throughout a 16-week semester. Digital engagement manifested in two forms: pro-active and re-active. Pro-actively creating posts evoking emotions or soliciting responses was likely to garner re-active engagement. Attachment inclusion was likely to yield engagement in the form of likes, particularly when the attachment was an image. Increased instructor involvement was associated with greater digital engagement. Findings also illustrate how the platform extended the studio’s temporal boundaries, while aligning with its design activities. Results underline best practices to be adopted in design studio teaching as architecture school transition to online and/or hybrid design education, while acclimatizing to realities of the post-pandemic era. The proposition of a 12-point classification for analyses of interactions occurring on social networking platforms in architectural contexts also adds value, as it may be adopted in future research.
Recombinant human endostatin combined with intensity-modulated radiotherapy in low-risk locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A phase II, randomized, multicenter clinical trial.
Authors: Kang Min , Lin Shaomin , Zhu Haisheng , Liao Sihui , Huang Haixin , Yu Bin , Wang Hongqian , Liu Meilian , Zhu Jinxian , Huang Guang , Wang Fen , Zhang Tingting , Yang Zhendong , Zhou Pingting , Zhou Ziyan , Qin Yating , Qin Yutao , Wei Zhuxin , Zhao Changhong , Wang Rensheng
Published: June 2022

6061

Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is currently considered to be the standard treatment for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC), accompanied with non-neglectable toxicity and unsatisfactory compliance. Therefore, it is highly warranted to explore an alternative regimen for LA-NPC. This trial aimed to assess and investigate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human endostatin ( Rh-endostatin) with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for low-risk LA-NPC. Methods: Patients with low-risk LA-NPC were randomly assigned into ERT group (n=60, receiving Rh-endostatin plus radiotherapy) and CCRT group (n=60, receiving cisplatin plus radiotherapy). The primary endpoint was the 5-year overall survival (OS). Non-inferiority was shown if the upper limit of the 95% CI for the difference in 5-year OS between the ERT group and CCRT group did not exceed 15%. The secondary endpoint was 3-year progression-free survival (PFS). Results: A total of 120 patients were included in the trial. After a median follow-up of 71 months (IQR 62-75), the 5-year OS rate was 88.1% in the ERT group and 77.6% in the CCRT group, with a difference of 10.5% (95% CI: -0.03 to 0.24; Pnon-inferiority = 0.002). Patients in the ERT group had better 3-year PFS than that in the CCRT group (89.8% vs 70.6%; HR = 0.362; 95% CI: 0.150-0.873; Plog-rank = 0.018). The overall all-grade toxicity burdens were heavier in CCRT group. No patients died of treatment-related causes. Conclusions: Rh-endostatin combined with IMRT had favorable efficacy, fewer toxic effects and more improved quality of life, which might be a promising alternative regimen to CCRT for low-risk LA-NPC in clinic. Clinical trial information: NCT02237924. [Table: see text]
Ultimate optimization of interface thermal resistance by utilizing interfacial nonlinear interaction
Authors: Xu Lei , Wang Tingting , Zhang Kaiyang , Ma Dengke , Zhang Lifa
Published: June 2022

Decreasing interface thermal resistance (ITR or Kapitza resistance) is the key to solve the problem of heat dissipation in integrated circuits, which are the core elements for electronics. In this paper, interfacial nonlinear interaction is introduced to optimize ITR. Interestingly, it is found that the optimized ITR by introducing interfacial nonlinear interaction can be greatly decreased compared to the case optimized solely with interfacial linear interaction. A 51.2% reduction in ITR is achieved in a weak anharmonic system. The mechanism behind this is attributed to the expansion of inelastic channels and the decrease of mismatch for nonlinear coefficients which are verified by spectral analysis. The relationship of optimized interfacial nonlinear coefficient

and interfacial linear coefficient k
12 can be approximately predicted by the self-consistent phonon theory. The studies here emphasize the importance of mutual controlling interfacial linear and nonlinear interactions for further decreasing ITR.
Open Reimplementation of the BIS Algorithms for Depth of Anesthesia
Authors: Connor Christopher W.
Published: June 2022

BACKGROUND:

BIS (a brand of processed electroencephalogram [EEG] depth-of-anesthesia monitor) scores have become interwoven into clinical anesthesia care and research. Yet, the algorithms used by such monitors remain proprietary. We do not actually know what we are measuring. If we knew, we could better understand the clinical prognostic significance of deviations in the score and make greater research advances in closed-loop control or avoiding postoperative cognitive dysfunction or juvenile neurological injury. In previous work, an A-2000 BIS monitor was forensically disassembled and its algorithms (the BIS Engine) retrieved as machine code. Development of an emulator allowed BIS scores to be calculated from arbitrary EEG data for the first time. We now address the fundamental questions of how these algorithms function and what they represent physiologically.

METHODS:

EEG data were obtained during induction, maintenance, and emergence from 12 patients receiving customary anesthetic management for orthopedic, general, vascular, and neurosurgical procedures. These data were used to trigger the closely monitored execution of the various parts of the BIS Engine, allowing it to be reimplemented in a high-level language as an algorithm entitled ibis. Ibis was then rewritten for concision and physiological clarity to produce a novel completely clear-box depth-of-anesthesia algorithm titled openibis.

RESULTS:

The output of the ibis algorithm is functionally indistinguishable from the native BIS A-2000, with r = 0.9970 (0.9970–0.9971) and Bland-Altman mean difference between methods of –0.25 ± 2.6 on a unitless 0 to 100 depth-of-anesthesia scale. This precision exceeds the performance of any earlier attempt to reimplement the function of the BIS algorithms. The openibis algorithm also matches the output of the native algorithm very closely (r = 0.9395 [0.9390–0.9400], Bland-Altman 2.62 ± 12.0) in only 64 lines of readable code whose function can be unambiguously related to observable features in the EEG signal. The operation of the openibis algorithm is described in an intuitive, graphical form.

CONCLUSIONS:

The openibis algorithm finally provides definitive answers about the BIS: the reliance of the most important signal components on the low-gamma waveband and how these components are weighted against each other. Reverse engineering allows these conclusions to be reached with a clarity and precision that cannot be obtained by other means. These results contradict previous review articles that were believed to be authoritative: the BIS score does not appear to depend on a bispectral index at all. These results put clinical anesthesia research using depth-of-anesthesia scores on a firm footing by elucidating their physiological basis and enabling comparison to other animal models for mechanistic research.
Auschwitz
Authors: Richmond Colin
Published: June 2022

This contribution to the final installment of the Common Knowledge symposium on contextualism is a reply to another contribution, Peter Burke's “Alternative Modes of Thought.” Or rather, this essay responds to the historians and social scientists whom Burke cites as arguing that only some ways of thinking are possible in any given place and time. Richmond's response is that a human context in which there is but one mode of thought in evidence, and no evident ambivalence regarding it, is a context in which great numbers have died, violently and recently. His essay takes the form of a report on his eleven research visits since 1985 to the death camp at Auschwitz. In Nazi-occupied Europe, he concludes, “ ‘alternative modes of thought’ were by no means impossible. Rather, people who thought differently from the regime were gathered to Auschwitz and other such camps, then murdered and incinerated. The Nazi ‘mental framework,’ if that is what it was, had to be imposed, and the millions incapable of participating in it had to die rapidly. . . . The problem for us, in the Nazis’ wake, is that the their ‘mode of thought’ is so alien that we have yet to find a context that enables us to understand it. . . . The need, then, is not for the context that intellectual, cultural, and social historians might provide, but for the aid of phenomenologists, because what we are hoping to understand is—in the words of Thomas Nagel's essay ‘What Is It Like to Be a Bat?’—a ‘fundamentally alien form of life.’ ”
Reparative Reading and the Drug Wars’ Queer Children
Authors: Stuelke Patricia
Published: June 2022

This article posits that recent reparative responses to the opioid crisis are consistent with a longer history of reparative hermeneutics conditioned by the drug wars in the Americas, ones that attempt to repair but often reinforce the biopolitical logics produced by the artificial divide between licit and illicit drugs, a distinction that facilitates both racial and imperialist policing and racial capitalist profiteering. The humanities’ postcritical reorientation, and particularly the turn toward the reparative, is underwritten by such relations between state, capital, and drug policy. To investigate the reverberations of such contemporary political and academic investments in drug-war-fueled repair, the article focuses on a recent wave of black fiction and film that reenvisions the 1980s War on Drugs in the era of the opioid epidemic, with particular attention to Barry Jenkins’s film Moonlight (2016) and James Hannaham’s novel Delicious Foods (2015).
A dual role for the RNA helicase DHX34 in NMD and pre-mRNA splicing and its function in hematopoietic differentiation
Authors: Hug Nele , Aitken Stuart , Longman Dasa , Raab Michaela , Armes Hannah , Mann Abigail R. , Rio-Machin Ana , Fitzgibbon Jude , Rouault-Pierre Kevin , Cáceres Javier F.
Published: June 2022

The DExD/H-box RNA helicase DHX34 is a nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) factor that together with core NMD factors coregulates NMD targets in nematodes and in vertebrates. Here, we show that DHX34 is also associated with the human spliceosomal catalytic C complex. Mapping of DHX34 endogenous binding sites using cross-linking immunoprecipitation (CLIP) revealed that DHX34 is preferentially associated with pre-mRNAs and locates at exon–intron boundaries. Accordingly, we observed that DHX34 regulates a large number of alternative splicing (AS) events in mammalian cells in culture, establishing a dual role for DHX34 in both NMD and pre-mRNA splicing. We previously showed that germline DHX34 mutations associated to familial myelodysplasia (MDS)/acute myeloid leukemia (AML) predisposition abrogate its activity in NMD. Interestingly, we observe now that DHX34 regulates the splicing of pre-mRNAs that have been linked to AML/MDS predisposition. This is consistent with silencing experiments in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) showing that loss of DHX34 results in differentiation blockade of both erythroid and myeloid lineages, which is a hallmark of AML development. Altogether, these data unveil new cellular functions of DHX34 and suggest that alterations in the levels and/or activity of DHX34 could contribute to human disease.
Jakość życia ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem konfliktów społecznych i przestrzennych w strefie podmiejskiej Bydgoszczy i Torunia
Authors: Sądowska Zuzanna , Biegańska Jadwiga , Wysocka Donata
Published: June 2022

Przebiegający niezwykle dynamicznie w Polsce proces suburbanizacji, niepołączony z odpowiednim planowaniem przestrzennym, oddziałuje zarówno na jakość życia, jak i na pojawiające się w strefach podmiejskich konflikty społeczno-przestrzenne. Celem opracowania jest analiza elementów składających się na jakość życia ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem konfliktów przestrzennych na przykładzie strefy podmiejskiej Bydgoszczy i Torunia. W warstwie teoretycznej odwołano się do cebulowej teorii szczęścia J. Czapińskiego. Głównym źródłem danych było badanie ankietowe, które przeprowadzono w styczniu 2022 r. na próbie 1121 osób, mieszkańców rozpatrywanego obszaru. W badaniu wykazano, że mieszkańcy strefy podmiejskiej wysoko oceniają subiektywną jakość życia, jednocześnie jednak wskazują szereg sytuacji uznawanych za problematyczne i wpisujących się w potencjalne i realne konflikty społeczno-przestrzenne.
Acute and subacute toxicity studies of a poly herbal formulation used for diabetes
Authors: Ghauri Aymen Owais , Mohiuddin Ejaz , Tayyeba Rehman  , Sheraz Muhammad Siddiqui
Published: June 2022

Objectives: PHF-dia (Poly Herbal Formulation Diabetes) is a polyhedral formulation possessing antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipdimic effects. This study aims to assess acute and sub-acute toxicity of PHF-dia in rats.

Methods: This is an experimental study conducted in two different phases. Acute toxicity was conducted for 14 days and sub-acute toxicity was conducted for 28 days. Both studies were conducted in animal house of Jinnah University for Women, Karachi, Pakistan. Acute toxicity was evaluated in vivo with single time oral administration of 400 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg doses for two weeks. Sub-acute toxicity was investigated with the application of repeated doses of 150 mg/kg/day, 250 mg/kg/day and 500 mg/kg/day for 28 days.

Results: Acute toxicity study results showed no toxic symptoms, behavioral changes or death in rats up to 2000 mg/kg. Therefore, LD50 of oral toxic dose must be more than 2000 mg/ml. Similarly, sub-acute toxicity studies confirmed the safety of PHF-dia and showed no clinical symptoms nor biochemical or histological variation in rats treated with 150 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg compared to the control group (p <0.05).

Conclusion: This indicates safe nature of PHF-dia for the further clinical trials. However, mechanism of action of PHF-dia is not fully understood.

Abbreviations:ANOVA: Analysis of variance, ALT: Alanine transaminase, AST: Aspartate transaminase,EDTA: Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, H & E: Haematoxylin and Eosin,HDL: High density lipoprotein, LD50: Median lethal dose, LDL: Low density lipoprotein,PLT: Platelet count, RBC: Red blood cell, SPSS: Statistical package for social science,VLDL: Very low-density lipoprotein, WBC: White blood cell, PHF-dia (Poly Herbal Formulation Diabetes).

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5928

How to cite this:Ghauri AO, Mohiuddin E, Rehman T, Siddiqui HSM. Acute and subacute toxicity studies of a poly herbal formulation used for diabetes. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5928

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Effects of Tabata and HIIT Programs Regarding Body Composition and Endurance Performance among Female Handball Players
Authors: Curițianu Ioana-Maria , Turcu Ioan , Alexe Dan Iulian , Alexe Cristina Ioana , Tohănean Dragoș Ioan
Published: June 2022

Background: The purpose of the study was to analyze the effect of two different training modes towards the development of body composition, aerobic and anaerobic endurance of female handball players aged 18-23, in COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: 18 female handball players from the second division were divided into two groups: Group 1 subject-ed to Tabata Program (n=9) and Group 2 trained using HIIT Program (n=9). (3) Results: Paired Sample T-Test was carried in the statistical analysis and the significance level was determined (p < .005). The group subjected to HIIT training achieved greater increases in endurance performance than the group carrying out Tabata training (p < .005). (4) Conclusions: Different results were obtained when studying changes regarding segmental analysis of upper, lower limbs and trunk. Both groups undergoing Tabata and HIIT train-ing registered improvements.
Keywords: COVİD-19 pandemic; handball game; aerobic and anaerobic endurance; fitness programs
Mechanistic contribution of CaV3.2 calcium channels to trigeminal neuralgia pathophysiology not clarified
Authors: Liedtke Wolfgang
Published: June 2022

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a rare, yet debilitating trigeminal pain disorder, with jolts of supramaximal-debilitating pain in one or more of the three trigeminal branches. Familial TN is now recognized, with a recent report describing several human genetic polymorphisms. One affected gene is the voltage-gated calcium channel, CaV3.2 (CACNA1H), with 19 polymorphisms first described. A recent study in PAIN by Gambeta-et-al (DOI:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002651) is entitled "CaV3.2 calcium channels contribute to trigeminal neuralgia ". Here, I call into question their claim. My main arguments are 1)-3):  1) Gambeta-et-al studied 4/19 mutations reported in heterologous cellular expression, with two mutations showing gain-of-function of CaV3.2, two mutations not showing gain-of-function. Therefore the exemplary picks of familial TN-associated CaV3.2 mutations do not show a uniform change of channel function, such as gain-of-function.  2) In Gambeta-et-al, one gain-of-function mutation, CaV3.2(G563R) was directed to mouse trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons, and their resulting hyperexcitability was demonstrated. A critical control of a non-gain-of-function channel was not included here, it was unclear whether neurons were separated by sex, and human sensory neurons were not used. Importantly, it is not clear that TG  neurons are the critical cellular site of CaV3.2 mutations. 3) Gambeta-et-al used CaV3.2-/- pan-null knockout mice. Human TN-associated CaV3.2 mutations were not over-expressed. They used a infraorbital nerve constriction injury and measured facial heat hyperalgesia.  CaV3.2-/- show a pain phenotype similar to control, yet are not affected by a CaV3-inhibitory compound, Z944. My argument is that when starting with TN-associated human mutations, use of a trigeminal neuropathic pain model is of limited value, and that human mutations have to be expressed against a mouse null background. Re thermal cue, Gambeta-et-al failed to study cold-evoked pain which is a TN clinical hallmark.

Thus, Gambeta-et-al's 2022 PAIN-paper offers little new mechanistic evidence why CaV3.2 polymorphisms are associated with trigeminal neuralgia.
Hedge Funds and Public Information Acquisition
Authors: Crane Alan , Crotty Kevin , Umar Tarik
Published: June 2022

Hedge funds actively acquire publicly available financial disclosures. Funds acquiring such information subsequently earn 1.5% higher annualized abnormal returns than nonacquirers. Trades by the same fund in the same quarter are more profitable when accompanied by public information acquisition. Acquiring public filings is relatively less profitable when macrouncertainty is high. Funds employ a wide range of strategies for acquiring public filings. Those that systematically scrape large volumes of information, specialize in certain filing types, acquire filings with more content changes, or access information immediately outperform other funds.

This paper was accepted by Lukas Schmid, finance.

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4466 .
Towards a better understanding of intimate partner violence in Cote d'Ivoire for policy interventions
Authors: Akani Bangaman Christian , Fang Xiangming , Dube Shanta R , Brown-Duggan Colvette , Ano Marie-Noelle , Christiane Djoman , Konan Loukou Gilbert , Douba Alfred , Aka Nicaise Lepri , Acray-Zengbe Petronille
Published: June 2022

Background/Aims

Intimate partner violence is a critical and global public health issue affecting many women, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies from sub-Saharan African nations both during and post-conflict reveal an increasing risk of violence against women. Cote d'Ivoire is a West African nation that encountered multiple conflicts from 2002–2011. This study aimed at examining the underlying factors influencing violence against women in a post-conflict context.

Methods

A study was conducted using the cross-sectional survey data from the 2012 Cote d'Ivoire Demographic Health Survey. The outcome variable was any intimate partner violence. The predictor variables were sociodemographic characteristics of women, economic opportunities and partner-related characteristics. Three multivariate logistic regression models were performed, and odds ratios with a confidence interval of 95% were estimated.

Results

Just over 30% of respondents in the sample (3500) had experienced intimate partner violence. Respondents' age, religion, wealth index, residency and region were significantly related to violence. A partner's education level, alcohol consumption and polygamy status were also significantly associated with intimate partner violence. However, the results also indicated that women's level of education, occupation and decision-making on large purchases were not associated with intimate partner violence.

Conclusions

In Cote d'Ivoire, policymakers should consider risk factors for intimate partner violence and design interventions based on the ecological model to prevent it.
Role of community health volunteers in education and promotion of birth preparedness to support maternal healthcare services in the Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya
Authors: Mijwanga Samuel O , Cheptum Joyce J
Published: June 2022

Background/Aims

Community health volunteers are used in healthcare in low- and middle-income countries around the world, based on the idea of task-shifting. Task-shifting is a strategy for making efficient use of human resources, addressing the health worker shortage and increasing universal access to healthcare. This strategy has been adopted in the Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya to provide healthcare services to refugees. The role of community health volunteers in maternal healthcare in the refugee camp has not been clearly described. This study aimed to determine the roles of community health volunteers in providing maternal education and promoting birth preparedness in the Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya.

Methods

This mixed-method descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the IFO-1 camp, in the Dadaab refugee complex. Simple random and purposive sampling were used to recruit 74 community health volunteers and five key informants (sector heads of department working with community health volunteers) respectively. The participants were interviewed using questionnaires and key informant interviews. Data were analysed descriptively and thematically.

Results

The community health volunteers provided education services: maternal education was provided by 93% of the community health volunteers who participated in the study. All respondents engaged women and families in birth preparations and conducted home visits, with 66 (89%) community health volunteers conducting more than two antenatal care home visits per client and assessing birth preparedness levels. However, there were variations in training on maternal healthcare and birth preparation information, with 21 (28%) of the community health volunteers having no training at all.

Conclusions

Despite a lack of training, community health volunteers played a significant role in supporting the provision of maternal health services in the Dadaab refugee camp through health education and promotion of birth preparedness. Community health volunteers need training on maternal healthcare to strengthen community maternal health education and birth preparedness.
Method for measuring reflectivity of weak reflection large-mode-area fiber Bragg gratings using scale gratings
Authors: Qin Qiushi , Wang Meng , Rao Binyu , Li Hongye , Wang Zefeng
Published: June 2022

Accurate fundamental-mode (FM) reflectivity measurements of FM weak reflection large-mode-area (LMA) FBGs constitute a challenging problem owing to high-order modes (HMs). In this paper, we propose a novel measurement method that uses scale gratings fabricated in a single-mode fiber. The weak reflectivity of the measured FBGs was achieved by comparing the peak reflection resonance with that of the scale gratings. The measured minimum reflectivity of the scale grating was 1.3%, giving the measurement accuracy. The accuracy can be improved further by increasing the number of reflectivity scales. A Fabry–Perot-interferometer-based scale grating was proposed, designed, and fabricated using a chirped phase mask to achieve soaring scale numbers. The minimum reflectivity of the scales decreased by 0.37%. Several LMA double-cladding FBGs with weak reflectivity were measured. The results show that this novel measurement method is convenient and efficient, does not depend on the transmission spectrum of the grating, and can circumvent the influence of HM. It is anticipated that weak reflectivity can be measured more accurately by improving grating fabrication technology.
Realizing transmissive and reflective focusing with an on-chip metalens
Authors: Xiong Xiang , Wei Siwen , Tang Wenjie , Peng Ruwen , Wang Mu
Published: June 2022

A metalens made of compact planar metastructure exhibits an excellent capability of focusing. The high-quality transmissive and reflective focusing simultaneously provides Fourier transform (FT) operation for optical information processing. Here we show a transflective on-chip metalens (TOM) made of orthogonal nano-grooves (ONGs). The TOM simultaneously converges transmitted and reflected (T&R) waves to the designed focal points. By adjusting the phase gradient profiles provided by the ONGs, the focal lengths of the T&R in-plane waves can be independently tuned. Our simulations show that the TOM possesses the advantages of broadband (>400 nm bandwidth) and high-focusing-efficiency (∼60%) dual-focusing capability. Further, we utilize the TOM to build a one-to-two 4-f optical system. Two different spatial filtering operations based on FT can be simultaneously implemented in axial transmission and off-axis reflection channels for one input signal. We expect that the dual-focusing metalens approach can realize parallel optical processing in on-chip optical computing, spatial filtering, and beyond.
Multi-channel parallel ultrasound detection based on a photothermal tunable fiber optic sensor array
Authors: Yang Liuyang , Dai Chenhao , Wang Anqi , Chen Geng , Xu Dongchen , Li Yanpeng , Yan Zhijun , Sun Qizhen
Published: June 2022

A multi-channel parallel ultrasound detection system based on a photothermal tunable fiber optic sensor array is proposed. The resonant wavelength of the ultrasound sensor has a quadratic relationship with the power of a 980-nm heating laser. The maximum tuning range is larger than 15 nm. Through photothermal tuning, the inconsistent operating wavelengths of the Fabry–Perot (FP) sensor array can be solved, and then a multiplexing capacity of up to 53 can be theoretically realized, which could greatly reduce the time required for data acquisition. Then, a fixed wavelength laser with ultra-narrow linewidth is used to interrogate the sensor array. The interrogation system demonstrates a noise equivalent pressure (NEP) as low as 0.12 kPa, which is 5.5-times lower than the commercial hydrophone. Furthermore, a prototype of a four-channel ultrasound detection system is built to demonstrate the parallel detection capability. Compared with the independent detection, the SNR of parallel detection does not deteriorate, proving that the parallel detection system and the sensor array own very low cross talk characteristics. The parallel detection technique paves a way for real-time photoacoustic/ultrasound imaging.
Zinc gallate (ZnGa2O4) epitaxial thin films: determination of optical properties and bandgap estimation using spectroscopic ellipsometry
Authors: Bairagi Samiran , Hsiao Ching-Lien , Magnusson Roger , Birch Jens , Chu Jinn P. , Tarntair Fu-Gow , Horng Ray-Hua , Järrendahl Kenneth
Published: June 2022

Electronic grade ZnGa2O4 epitaxial thin films were grown on c-plane sapphire substrates by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition and investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Their thickness, roughness and optical properties were determined using a Multiple Sample Analysis based approach by the regression analysis of optical model and measured data. These samples were then compared to samples which had undergone ion etching, and it was observed that etching time up to four minutes had no discernible impact on its optical properties. Line shape analysis of resulting absorption coefficient dispersion revealed that ZnGa2O4exhibited both direct and indirect interband transitions. The modified Cody formalism was employed to determine their optical bandgaps. These values were found to be in good agreement with values obtained using other popular bandgap extrapolation procedures.
Observation of a triangular-lattice pattern in nonlinear wave mixing with optical vortices
Authors: Pinheiro da Silva B. , dos Santos G. H. , de Oliveira A. G. , Rubiano da Silva N. , Buono W. T. , Gomes R. M. , Soares W. C. , Jesus-Silva A. J. , Fonseca E. J. S. , Souto Ribeiro P. H. , Khoury A. Z.
Published: June 2022

Preparation, control, and measurement of optical vortices are increasingly important, as they play essential roles in both fundamental science and optical technology applications. Spatial light modulation is the main approach behind the control strategies, although there are limitations concerning the controllable wavelength. It is therefore crucial to develop approaches that expand the spectral range of light modulation. Here, we demonstrate the modulation of light by light in nonlinear optical interactions to demonstrate the identification of the topological charge of optical vortices. A triangular-lattice pattern is observed in light beams resulting from the spatial cross modulation between an optical vortex and a triangular shaped beam undergoing parametric interaction. Both up- and downconversion processes are investigated, and the far-field image of the converted beam exhibits a triangular lattice. The number of sites and the lattice orientation are determined by the topological charge of the vortex beam. In the downconversion process, the lattice orientation can also be affected by phase conjugation. The observed cross modulation works for a large variety of spatial field structures. Our results show that modulation of light by light can be used at wavelengths for which solid-state devices are not yet available.
Deterministic measurement of a Rydberg superatom qubit via cavity-enhanced single-photon emission
Authors: Yang Chao-Wei , Li Jun , Zhou Ming-Ti , Jiang Xiao , Bao Xiao-Hui , Pan Jian-Wei
Published: June 2022

With Rydberg dipole interactions, a mesoscopic atomic ensemble becomes a superatom that behaves like a single atom but couples collectively with photons. It is potentially a strong candidate as a qubit in quantum information science, especially for quantum networks. In this paper, we report a cavity-enhanced single-photon interface for a Rydberg superatom and demonstrate deterministic qubit readout via a photon burst. We make use of a low-finesse ring cavity to enhance the atom–photon interaction and obtain in-fiber single-photon generation efficiency of 44%. Harnessing the dipole interaction between two Rydberg levels, we may create either a sequence of multiple single photons or nothing, conditioned on an initial qubit state. We achieve a measurement fidelity of 93.0% in 4.8 µs. Our work complements the experimental toolbox of harnessing Rydberg superatoms for quantum information applications.
Transcriptomic modulation in response to an intoxication with deltamethrin in a population of Triatoma infestans with low resistance to pyrethroids
Authors: Traverso Lucila , Latorre Estivalis Jose Manuel , da Rocha Fernandes Gabriel , Fronza Georgina , Lobbia Patricia , Mougabure Cueto Gastón , Ons Sheila
Published: June 2022

Background

Triatoma infestans is the main vector of Chagas disease in the Southern Cone. The resistance to pyrethroid insecticides developed by populations of this species impairs the effectiveness of vector control campaigns in wide regions of Argentina. The study of the global transcriptomic response to pyrethroid insecticides is important to deepen the knowledge about detoxification in triatomines.

Methodology and findings

We used RNA-Seq to explore the early transcriptomic response after intoxication with deltamethrin in a population of T. infestans which presents low resistance to pyrethroids. We were able to assemble a complete transcriptome of this vector and found evidence of differentially expressed genes belonging to diverse families such as chemosensory and odorant-binding proteins, ABC transporters and heat-shock proteins. Moreover, genes related to transcription and translation, energetic metabolism and cuticle rearrangements were also modulated. Finally, we characterized the repertoire of previously uncharacterized detoxification-related gene families in T. infestans and Rhodnius prolixus.

Conclusions and significance

Our work contributes to the understanding of the detoxification response in vectors of Chagas disease. Given the absence of an annotated genome from T. infestans, the analysis presented here constitutes a resource for molecular and physiological studies in this species. The results increase the knowledge on detoxification processes in vectors of Chagas disease, and provide relevant information to explore undescribed potential insecticide resistance mechanisms in populations of these insects.
Scaling up of tsetse control to eliminate Gambian sleeping sickness in northern Uganda
Authors: Hope Andrew , Mugenyi Albert , Esterhuizen Johan , Tirados Inaki , Cunningham Lucas , Garrod Gala , Lehane Mike J. , Longbottom Joshua , Mangwiro TN Clement , Opiyo Mercy , Stanton Michelle , Torr Steve J. , Vale Glyn A. , Waiswa Charles , Selby Richard
Published: June 2022

Background

Tsetse flies (Glossina) transmit Trypanosoma brucei gambiense which causes Gambian human African trypanosomiasis (gHAT) in Central and West Africa. Several countries use Tiny Targets, comprising insecticide-treated panels of material which attract and kill tsetse, as part of their national programmes to eliminate gHAT. We studied how the scale and arrangement of target deployment affected the efficacy of control.

Methodology and principal findings

Between 2012 and 2016, Tiny Targets were deployed biannually along the larger rivers of Arua, Maracha, Koboko and Yumbe districts in North West Uganda with the aim of reducing the abundance of tsetse to interrupt transmission. The extent of these deployments increased from ~250 km2 in 2012 to ~1600 km2 in 2015. The impact of Tiny Targets on tsetse populations was assessed by analysing catches of tsetse from a network of monitoring traps; sub-samples of captured tsetse were dissected to estimate their age and infection status. In addition, the condition of 780 targets (~195/district) was assessed for up to six months after deployment. In each district, mean daily catches of tsetse (G. fuscipes fuscipes) from monitoring traps declined significantly by >80% following the deployment of targets. The reduction was apparent for several kilometres on adjacent lengths of the same river but not in other rivers a kilometre or so away. Expansion of the operational area did not always produce higher levels of suppression or detectable change in the age structure or infection rates of the population, perhaps due to the failure to treat the smaller streams and/or invasion from adjacent untreated areas. The median effective life of a Tiny Target was 61 (41.8–80.2, 95% CI) days.

Conclusions

Scaling-up of tsetse control reduced the population of tsetse by >80% across the intervention area. Even better control might be achievable by tackling invasion of flies from infested areas within and outside the current intervention area. This might involve deploying more targets, especially along smaller rivers, and extending the effective life of Tiny Targets.
Comparative analysis on visual and olfactory signals of Papilio xuthus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) during foraging and courtship
Authors: Liu Jie , Li Mingtao , Chen Shunan , Yao Jun , Shi Lei , Chen Xiaoming
Published: June 2022

This study examined the roles of visual and olfactory responses during foraging and courtship in butterfly Papilio xuthus. P. xuthus showed obvious orientation to color in the range of 350–500 nm. Visits of P. xuthus females and males to blue, purple, and red artificial cloth flowers were ♀ 54.90% and ♂ 39.22%, ♀ 19.61% and ♂ 35.29%, and ♀ 9.80% and ♂ 19.61%, respectively. Application of 10% honey on these artificial flowers resulted in an increase of 3.41 and 3.26 fold in flower visits by the butterfly compared to controls. When 10% honey water was sprayed on flower branches without colorful flowers, branch visiting was very low, only seven times for females and two times for males, indicating that colors might be more critical than odor for foraging even though visual and olfactory perceptions both play important roles during foraging. During courtship, four types of chasing were observed in a natural population of P. Xuthus; the four types are males chasing females (49%), males chasing males (25%), females chasing males (13%), and females chasing females (10%). However, when odorless artificial models of butterflies were used, no significant differences were observed among these types of chasing, indicating that olfactory perception was crucial for the butterfly during courtship. Profiling volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and individual bioassays revealed that VOCs contents of butterflies were not related to recognizing sex partners; by contrast, some level of α-farnesene, increased the frequency of male chasing female. This could be due to that α-farnesene is easy to be detected by butterflies because of its volatility and higher content in female.
Assessing pyrethroid resistance status in the Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae) from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois using Cox regression of bottle bioassays and other detection tools
Authors: Burgess Edwin R. , Lopez Kristina , Irwin Patrick , Jaeger Collin P. , Estep Alden S.
Published: June 2022

Culex pipiens complex is an important vector of epizootic and zoonotic pathogens, including West Nile virus. Chicago, Illinois and its suburbs have suffered high incidence of human West Nile virus infections in the past. This makes abatement programs in and around the Chicago area an essential service. The control of Cx. pipiens is often complicated by rapidly evolving resistance to pyrethroids, which are the most widely used chemical class in US mosquito abatement programs. The present study assessed Sumithrin® resistance in Cx. pipiens collected from five locations around Cook County, Illinois, neighboring the city limits of Chicago. According to CDC guidelines, samples from all five locations demonstrated some resistance to Sumithrin®. When assessed with Anvil®, a formulated product made of Sumithrin® synergized with piperonyl butoxide, susceptibility was rescued in mosquitoes from three out of the five locations, suggesting involvement of mixed-function oxidases and/or carboxylesterases in Sumithrin® resistance at these locations. Not all locations had susceptibility rescued by Anvil®, but these locations had relatively low knockdown resistance allele frequencies, suggesting that mechanisms other than knockdown resistance may be involved. Enzyme activities did not reveal any marked trends that could be related back to mortality in the bottle bioassays, which highlights the need for multiple types of assays to infer enzymatic involvement in resistance. Future directions in pyrethroid resistance management in Chicago area Cx. pipiens are discussed.
The impact of engaging leadership on employee engagement and team effectiveness: A longitudinal, multi-level study on the mediating role of personal- and team resources
Authors: Mazzetti Greta , Schaufeli Wilmar B.
Published: June 2022

Most research on the effect of leadership behavior on employees’ well-being and organizational outcomes is based on leadership frameworks that are not rooted in sound psychological theories of motivation and are limited to either an individual or organizational levels of analysis. The current paper investigates whether individual and team resources explain the impact of engaging leadership on work engagement and team effectiveness, respectively. Data were collected at two time points on N = 1,048 employees nested within 90 work teams. The Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling results revealed that personal resources (i.e., optimism, resiliency, self-efficacy, and flexibility) partially mediated the impact of T1 individual perceptions of engaging leadership on T2 work engagement. Furthermore, joint perceptions of engaging leadership among team members at T1 resulted in greater team effectiveness at T2. This association was fully mediated by team resources (i.e., performance feedback, trust in management, communication, and participation in decision-making). Moreover, team resources had a significant cross-level effect on individual levels of engagement. In practical terms, training and supporting leaders who inspire, strengthen, and connect their subordinates could significantly improve employees’ motivation and involvement and enable teams to pursue their common goals successfully.