bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Balneotherapy and health-related quality of life in individuals with Rheumatoid arthritis: An observational study under real clinical practice conditions
Authors: Romay-Barrero Helena , Herrero-López Jesús , Llorente-González Jesús Antonio , Melgar-Del Corral Gonzalo , Palomo-Carrión Rocío , Martínez-Galán Inés
Published: December 2022

Abstract: Introduction: To analyze the influence of balneotherapy applied under real clini-cal practice conditions on the quality of life and functionality of patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Prospective, observational study conducted with a group of patients under real clinical practice conditions, with a 6-month follow-up. The partici-pants were beneficiaries of the social thermalism programme of the Spanish Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Well-being, aged 60-80 years and diagnosed with rheu-matoid arthritis, who were treated at Fitero’s Spa (Spain). The study excluded those indi-viduals who had undergone another balneotherapeutic treatment in the previous 6 months, and those who had scheduled one in the following 6 months. Ten treatment ses-sions were applied. Each session included a bath and one or two additional techniques, which varied in each case, depending on the characteristics and preferences of the patient. The variables were gathered before initiating the treatment, and at 1, 3 and 6-months post-treatment. Results: The study included 49 individuals with an average age of 71.0 (SD 4.79) years. The variable “current health state” of EuroQol 5D-5L increased by 6.73 [-13.44 to -2.53] points and 6.26 [-12.07 to -0.46] in the first and third month, respectively. Pain was the dimension in which the largest number of participants reduced the level of their response in all the follow-up periods. Functionality showed an improvement of 0.196 [0.060 to 0.332] in the third month. Conclusions: The beneficial effects of balneotherapy on the health-related quality of life and functionality in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis can be positive..
Keywords: Balneotherapy, rheumatoid arthritis, quality of life, functionality.
External use of radon and sulfide mineral waters in the treat-ment of experimental arthrosis
Authors: Gushcha Sergey , Nasibullin Boris , Nikolaieva Ganna , Plakida Alexander
Published: December 2022

Abstract: The article presents the results of studies of the effect of radon and sulfide min-eral waters (MW) on Wistar rats with experimental arthrosis. materials and methods. Rats were randomized into 4 groups. Group 1 consisted of intact rats (control group). In the remaining three groups, a model of knee arthrosis was reproduced using dexamethasone injections. Group 2 consisted of rats with untreated pathology. Group 3 consisted of rats using radon MW procedures, and group 4 consisted of rats using sulfide MW. Results. Morphological studies have determined that using radon and sulfide MW has a curative effect on the structural and functional organization of the joint and cartilage - the manifes-tations of inflammation in the knee joints are significantly reduced, dystrophic manifesta-tions disappear, and reparative processes in cartilage improve. There are signs of an im-provement in the state of metabolic processes in the body of rats: the balance in the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant systems is restored, and the indicators of the processes of energy supply of transmembrane transport (according to the activity of magnesium-dependent Na+/K+-ATP-ase and Ca2+-ATP-ase) and protein exchange.Conclusion. Based on the data obtained, it was concluded that both applied MWs have a unidirectional, but somewhat different in strength, curative effect on the course of experimental arthrosis, which is due to different mechanisms of the biological action of radon and hydrogen sul-fide.
Keywords: experimental arthrosis; morphological and metabolic indicators; radon; hydrogen sulfide; mineral water.
Comparative study on the importance of physical activity on body composition in adults
Authors: Vizitiu Elena , Constantinescu Mihai
Published: December 2022

Abstract: Introduction. In the last decade, we are witnessing a transformation in the dynamics of the development of human morpho-functional structures, influenced by the socio-economic system. Among the harmful factors of contemporary civilization we list the lack of physical exercise as well as the inadequate diet. We start from the premise that by practicing constant physical activities we can demonstrate the influence of the morphological status of the adults under study. The aim of this work is to analyse some body composition parameters of adults who are moderately physically active. Results. The objectives of the study are: to identify how subjects practice physical activity, to raise awareness of the importance of the effects of physical exercise on health, to analyse and interpret the data recorded on body composition parameters using the Tanita apparatus. Conclusions: The practice of constant activities on adults leads to beneficial morpho-functional changes in the body, giving it a capacity to adapt to effort and increased resistance to pathogenic factors.
Keywords: adult, physical activities, morphological status, body composition structure, health.
Research on the possibilities of a therapeutic approach through physical interventions with Laser MLS (Multiwave Locked System) in post-combustion pathology (burns and severe burns)
Authors: Postoiu Ruxandra Luciana , Onose Gelu
Published: December 2022

Abstract:
Introduction. Depending on their severity, most of the burns are "particularly disabling injuries", which is why a constant improvement of current therapeutic interventions is necessary [1]. The patient describes the severe burn as the "ultimate agony" placing an important responsibility on the medical staff to achieve a satisfactory level of recovery and reintegration into society [2]. "Burns negatively influence the main aspects of life", but also the quality of life [3]. Laser therapy has stood out in recent years in stimulating the healing process of burn patients [4]. The role of this study is to highlight the therapeutic effects of the MLS LASER in the case of burns and severe burns.
Methods. We previously carried out a systematic review of the related literature through the method of filtering and selecting profile documentary material, widely used and accepted at the international level: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Thus, we searched, using contextually, combinations/syntaxes of search keywords in the following international databases: Elsevier, PubMed, PMC, PEDro, articles published in English in ISI indexed journals Web of Knowledge/Science, during 01.01.2021-31.12.2021.
Results and discussion. Seven of the selected articles have been included in our systematic literature review. The evolution of burn injuries materialized through improvements, will hopefully be achievable, both through direct observation and through the favorable dynamic progress of the scores of the quantification scales used: (VSS – Vancouver Scar Scale, VAS – Visual Analogue Scale, 5-D ITCH Scale, according to the model of the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale – AIS - for sensitivity disorders, 3-step scale, ROM – Range of motion, MMT – Manual Muscle Test Scale, The Barthel Index, FIM – Functional Independence Measure scale, ADL, Timed up and go test, Walk Speed, Berg Balance Scale, Six-Minutes Walk Test). If it will be possible, sufficiently sustained medium/long-term follow-up of the cases included in our doctoral research will also be measured by the frequency of readmissions.
Conclusions. Through this research, which is part of the doctoral study, we hope to be able to deepen aspects related to both the still existing limits and the identifiable possibilities for optimizing the conceptual and practical approach to patients with such pathologies.

Keywords: Burns, MLS LASER, Burn wound, Burn Rehabilitation, Multiwave Locked System.
An updated version of the Madagascar periwinkle genome
Authors: Cuello Clément , Stander Emily Amor , Jansen Hans J. , Dugé De Bernonville Thomas , Oudin Audrey , Birer Williams Caroline , Lanoue Arnaud , Giglioli Guivarc'h Nathalie , Papon Nicolas , Dirks Ron P. , Jensen Michael Krogh , O'Connor Sarah Ellen , Besseau Sébastien , Courdavault Vincent
Published: December 2022

The Madagascar periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus, belongs to the Apocynaceae family. This medicinal plant, endemic to Madagascar, produces many important drugs including the monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIA) vincristine and vinblastine used to treat cancer worldwide. Here, we provide a new version of the C. roseus genome sequence obtained through the combination of Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-reads and Illumina short-reads. This more contiguous assembly consists of 173 scaffolds with a total length of 581.128 Mb and an N50 of 12.241 Mb. Using publicly available RNAseq data, 21,061 protein coding genes were predicted and functionally annotated. A total of 42.87% of the genome was annotated as transposable elements, most of them being long-terminal repeats. Together with the increasing access to MIA-producing plant genomes, this updated version should ease evolutionary studies leading to a better understanding of MIA biosynthetic pathway evolution.
An extension of Thing Descriptions from the Web of Things for Digital Twins
Authors: González-Gerpe Salvador , Cimmino Andrea , Bernardos Socorro , García-Castro Raúl , Poveda-Villalón María , Katsigarakis Kyriakos , N. Lilis Georgios , Rovas Dimitrios
Published: December 2022

Background: Digital Twins are becoming ubiquitous in a range of domains, such as construction or e-health. Due to the numerous applications where Digital Twins can be adopted, they have to manage heterogeneous cross-domain data that is consumed by third-party service or domain experts. Digital Twins may allow for performing operational commands that are transformed into actions in the physical world; these operations can be grouped into processes. In the domain of construction, a European Project named COGITO was proposed, in which a Digital Twin is used to simulate the construction processes carried out in three railway stations in Europe (Spain, Denmark and Austria). The lack of interoperable data due to heterogeneity in the APIs of the physical layer, the complexity that entails managing these data at the digital model, and the difficulty of orchestrating the data exchanged among the advanced features have been the roadblocks in the project.

Methods: The problems have been addressed by adopting the W3C Web of Things (WoT) standard, by using Thing Descriptions. Although the challenges are specific for the COGITO project, they could be found in any Digital Twin proposal. Thus, the article presents how they are solved and addressed in COGITO.

Results: The results demonstrate that relying on a Knowledge Graph for the provenance, another for describing a distributed architecture of semantic interoperability services and a final one for data, allows to build a distributed Digital Twin over heterogeneous data sources that provide semantic interoperable data in each digital layer.

Conclusions: The lack of a Digital Twin standard highlights the necessity of adopting existing standards and extending them in order to adapt their suitability to the Digital Twin context. Hence, the article presents how WoT is helpful for addressing the challenges, and how it could be extended in the future to support Digital Twins.
Performance Investigation of Grid Connected DFIG Based Wind Energy System
Authors: Hamid Bisma , Iqbal Sheikh Javed
Published: December 2022

The paper realizes the investigation of control operation and performance in grid integrated Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) system. Battery Energy Storage (BES), coupled at the DC link of DFIG is controlled by bidirectional power converter to compensate for utility/load demand. Rotor side converter (RSC) uses tip-speed ratio maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm to harness maximum power from the wind turbine. An adjustable step size least mean square (LMS) based adaptive control is implemented for the grid side converter (GSC) of DFIG system that besides managing power balance at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) also addresses power quality issues encountered in the system due to the presence of non-linear, unbalanced loads. The step size changes with the mean square error enabling the adaptive filter to detect system changes while producing a small steady state error. Performance of the system is exhibited and validated through simulated results in a developed Simulink model for steady state and dynamic conditions. The Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in grid currents and voltage is within IEEE 519 standard guidelines.
Artificial Neural Network Based Algorithm for Fault Detection in a Ring DC Microgrid Under Diverse Fault Conditions
Authors: Tiwari Shankarshan Prasad
Published: December 2022

The DC microgrid has become a greater power system in modern power technology due to its wider acceptance as compared to the AC-based traditional power distribution network. Nevertheless, protection of the DC microgrid is a difficult and complicated task due to numerous types of fault scenarios such as pole-to-ground and pole-to-pole faults, variation in fault current magnitude during grid connected and islanded mode, as well as bidirectional behaviour of the converters. In addition to the abovementioned challenges, fault detection during varying fault resistance and intermittency is also a crucial and tricky task because the level of the fault current can vary due to the distinct value of the fault resistance. Therefore, in this manuscript, an ANN-based protection scheme is proposed to detect the fault under varying fault conditions. Furthermore, to investigate the appropriateness of the protection scheme, DT and kNN-based techniques have also been considered for analysis purpose. In the proposed protection scheme, the tasks of mode identification, fault detection/classification, as well as section identification, have been proposed. The results in Section 5 indicate that the protection scheme is capable and accurate for fault detection in any type of faulty condition.
Performance Evaluation of Solar-assisted Trigeneration System in Thermo-environmental Perspective
Authors: Sharma Meeta , Singh Onkar , Shukla Anoop Kumar
Published: December 2022

Nowadays, the trigeneration systems are proving more promising than a combined cycle system. In terms of efficiency and reliability, these systems meet the typical requirements of cooling heating power in various applications. This work investigated the thermodynamic and environmental characteristics of a solar-based tri-generation system. The studied system consists of gas turbine and steam turbine modules along with heating and cooling provisions as per demand. The integrated system using parabolic trough collectors and also uses steam injected gas turbines for performance improvement. The overall performance of the proposed work is compared with and without a steam injection. The effect of integration of the solar cycle and steam injection for the trigeneration system is assessed. Further, carbon footprint rejected to the environment is also estimated. It is observed that the work output and trigeneration efficiency improved, and the carbon footprint gets reduced in the range varying between 10–40% for the cases studied.
Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure Framework for Smart Transportation
Authors: Ruchita  , Shankar Ravi
Published: December 2022

The issue of increasing manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs) in industries and adoption of EVs by the public has become a universal need of fast-growing society and developing countries but manufacturing and adoption of EVs are not satisfactory rather poor due to several reasons which are to be focused and need to be minimized very fast. Providing charging infrastructure to EVs for the public is also not up to the mark. So, it seems that ongoing technologies are to be modernized in developing countries. This paper analyzes the present scenario of developing countries’ markets and proposes a new system that may be effective and may minimize obstructions that are redundant in the way of manufacturing and adoption of EVs. Political Economic Social Technological Environmental Legal Industry (PESTELI) analysis has been employed to show the happenings in the economic & business environment. Soft system methodology (SSM) may be a suitable approach for studying reasons/root causes for not rapid enhancement of manufacturing and adoption of EVs. SSM is applied to develop a framework that provides the way to encourage a manufacturer to produce EVs in large no. and to adopt EVs by the public. The paper develops a framework for the management of transportation systems using PESTELI analysis and Soft System Methodology (SSM). The proposed framework also gives the reasons for the present situation.
Nodal Electricity Price Based Optimal Size and Location of DGs in Electrical Distribution Networks Using ANT LION Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Ahmed Md Irfan , Kumar Ramesh
Published: December 2022

Distribution system has been the weakest link in the entire power system supply chain. It is also one of the most vital parts of the power system. However, a lot of methods have been developed to improve the condition of the distribution system. The use of distributed generations (DGs) is one such method where the generated power is closer to the load center, and the DG is also providing ancillary services to the grid. The nodal electricity price for DGs location is determined based on the Locational Marginal Price (LMP). LMP implies the price to buy and sell power at each node within electrical distribution markets. In the nodal electricity market (EM), the cost of energy is determined by the location of DG to which it is provided. This paper presents a novel approach that utilizes nodal electricity price for optimal sizing and location (OSL) of DGs. A multi-objective ANTLION optimization (MOALO) has been utilized as an optimization approach to compute the OSL of DGs units. ANTLION optimization (ALO) is based on the unique hunting behaviour of antlions. Optimization has been done for social welfare maximization, loss minimization, and voltage profile improvement in distribution networks (DNs). The results of the proposed technique have been evaluated for IEEE 33 bus DNs.
Optimal Control of Hybrid Power System Integrated with Distributed Generation and Electric Vehicle
Authors: Fayaz Farhana , Pahuja Gobind Lal
Published: December 2022

This study presents load-frequency-control of a two-area hybrid power system (HPS) incorporating distributed generation, geo-thermal plant, thermal plant and electric-vehicle. Such a complex system with non-linearities leads the power system towards more complexity and accordingly requires a resilient controller to handle such complexity. In this regard, optimal cascaded proportional integral – multistage proportional integral derivative (cascaded PI-MSPID) is explored for developed power system. The efficiency of optimal controller is validated by comparing it with other controllers. The influence of flywheel energy storage on system dynamics is demonstrated. Further, the electric vehicle’s participation in enhancing the system stability is presented. Moreover, the developed system is subjected to an intense load deviation which is a practical data taken from one of the literature. It is demonstrated that responses achieved for proposed cascaded PI-MSPID controller effectively handles the system disturbances, which reflects the strength of proposed cascaded PI-MSPID controller.
Migration, Bankers, and Social Capital. The Rise of a Basque “Industrial Cowboy” in the American West: John Etchart, 1900-1943
Authors: Saitua Iker
Published: December 2022

The present article contributes to the general topics of migration, banking and social capital. It analyzes the business career of John Etchart in the American West from 1900 to 1943; from being a wage-earning sheepherder to becoming one of the most prosperous stockmen in Montana. The biography-centered approach is patterned after the work of other scholars who have studied ranching businesses with emphasis on the dynamic individuals behind the companies. The biography of John Etchart offers a window into important issues for the study of Basque immigration and sheep industry in the West. Etchart’s story exemplifies the Basque immigrant’s climb up the agricultural ladder that involved the emergence of partnerships within the Basque community. Etchart is also tied to the creation and development of cooperative initiatives among woolgrowers beyond the Basque community. Finally, the Etchart history enhances understandings of the various business practices undertaken by livestock outfits in Montana in the 1920s and 1930s.
El papel de la política económica y la inversión exterior: Innovación de producto en la industria metalgráfica española (1959-1975)
Authors: Giráldez Rivero Jesús , Varela-Vázquez Pedro
Published: December 2022

La estabilización y la liberalización de la economía española, una etapa de apertura exterior y de cambio estructural, estimuló el proceso de racionalización de los procesos conserveros. La penetración de capitales y empresas extranjeras con tecnologías más eficientes que las existentes en España provocó cambios trascendentales en las técnicas de envasado. De este modo, mostramos cómo los cambios en la política económica y la inversión extranjera directa pueden conducir a la modernización sectorial y de la estructura industrial. Este artículo se centra en la fabricación de envases metálicos, concretamente, en la denominada “goma líquida”, un input clave para la automatización de su producción y la hermeticidad de su cierre. Un exitoso caso de imitación de técnicas extranjeras y adecuación a las características del mercado español, pero también de vinculación al oligopolio internacional del envase y de internacionalización.
Estratificación obstétrica interseccional.
Authors: Brigidi Serena
Published: December 2022

La violencia obstétrica consiste en un conjunto de prácticas y situaciones que ponen a las mujeres en una condición inerme. Ellas son emotivamente y/o corporalmente aplastadas en una situación no consensuada que produce unas secuelas físicas y psicológicas de diferentes grados de intensidad. Podemos afirmar que la violencia obstétrica se produce cuando son inexistentes las competencias éticas y humanas básicas de las/os profesionales y dichas competencias revelan una estructura jerárquica, patriarcal y colonial característica del sistema biomédico, generando o amplificando lesiones psicológicas en las mujeres. En este artículo se explora parte de los datos obtenidos tanto en el estudio llevado a cabo con mujeres migrantes procedentes de Pakistán, Marruecos, China y Senegal como de otra investigación realizada con profesionales del parto, ginecología-obstetricia y matronería, en Barcelona. Para introducir dichos estudios, se utilizarán algunas reflexiones concernientes al concepto de negacionismo y la necesidad/voluntad de volver a definir la violencia obstétrica. Asimismo, se empleará la interseccionalidad y el pensamiento decolonial como marco conceptual para ilustrar los resultados de los estudios. El objetivo es explorar el proceso de construcción histórico-cultural de desigualdad, segregación y violencia que concierne la vigilancia sobre los cuerpos y las corporalidades de las mujeres vulnerabilizadas por el sistema en el ámbito de la salud sexual y reproductiva que defino como estratificación obstétrica interseccional. Esta propuesta se realiza para ampliar el concepto de racismo obstétrico y evidenciar las discriminaciones existentes en el proceso de embarazo, parto y crianza padecidas por dichos colectivos de mujeres. Además, la elaboración del concepto de estratificación obstétrica interseccional tiene la finalidad de romper con el universalismo, el esencialismo, la neutralidad y el androcentrismo del sistema biomédico que ve en las mujeres migrantes su máxima expresión. PALABRAS CLAVE: Estratificación obstétrica interseccional, racismo obstétrico, mujeres migrantes.
Simple high-precision diode laser system with digital control
Authors: Garain Suman , Bandyopadhyay Amitava , Bhattacharyya Dipankar , Mondal Suman , Roy Subhasish
Published: December 2022

A simple wavelength tunable diode laser system has been designed and fabricated for laboratory use. Both the current and temperature controllers are based on an AVR microcontroller, and the experimental controls have been implemented with the help of daemon programs running in a message passing interface environment, which allows the users to run the control server and client programs on separate computers. The stability of the controllers has been tested using a distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser with a central wavelength of 852.3 nm. A noise spectral analysis of the current controller with and without the use of the diode laser as the active load has been demonstrated. The absorption spectra of

6

S

1

/

2

→
6

P

3

/

2

transition of

133

C
s

, as recorded by using the DFB laser system developed, are also presented.
Enhancement of slope efficiency of a dually modulated photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser over a wide range of emission angles by introducing a backside reflector
Authors: Ishizaki Kenji , Sakata Ryoichi , Iwata Kintaro , Inoue Takuya , De Zoysa Menaka , Imamura Akira , Yoshida Masahiro , Hatsuda Ranko , Gelleta John , Noda Susumu
Published: December 2022

Dually modulated photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (DM-PCSELs) are a new type of semiconductor laser that enable on-chip, mechanical-free, high-power, high-beam-quality 2D beam scanning over a wide field of view. These lasers are attracting attention for application in light detection and ranging, and the improvement of their slope efficiency is desired for this application. Thus far, the highest experimentally demonstrated slope efficiency is approximately 0.4 W/A at wavelengths of around 940 nm, which was limited by the fact that roughly half of the laser light was emitted toward and absorbed by the backside electrode. In this work, in order to improve the slope efficiency of DM-PCSELs, we utilize the light emitted toward the backside of the device by introducing a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) as a backside reflector. In consideration of this laser’s ability to emit beams over a wide field of view, we design laser structures that facilitate a commensurate enhancement of efficiency at various emission angles. Next, we discuss the effect of the DBR on the confinement of transverse modes in thickness direction as well as the suppression of higher-order transverse modes. Then, we analyze the emission characteristics of a DM-PCSEL with a DBR and calculate that the theoretical slope efficiency is enhanced to 0.7–0.8 W/A, which is twice that of the device without a DBR, over a wide range of emission angles from 0° to 30°. We then fabricate the devices and experimentally demonstrate the emission of a single-lobed beam with a high slope efficiency of 0.7–0.8 W/A.
High density vertical optical interconnects for passive assembly
Authors: Weninger Drew , Serna Samuel , Jain Achint , Kimerling Lionel , Agarwal Anuradha
Published: December 2022

The co-packaging of optics and electronics provides a potential path forward to achieving beyond 50 Tbps top of rack switch packages. In a co-packaged design, the scaling of bandwidth, cost, and energy is governed by the number of optical transceivers (TxRx) per package as opposed to transistor shrink. Due to the large footprint of optical components relative to their electronic counterparts, the vertical stacking of optical TxRx chips in a co-packaged optics design will become a necessity. As a result, development of efficient, dense, and wide alignment tolerance chip-to-chip optical couplers will be an enabling technology for continued TxRx scaling. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme to vertically couple into standard 220 nm silicon on insulator waveguides from 220 nm silicon nitride on glass waveguides using overlapping, inverse double tapers. Simulation results using Lumerical’s 3D Finite Difference Time Domain solver are presented, demonstrating insertion losses below -0.13 dB for an inter-chip spacing of 1 µm; 1 dB vertical and lateral alignment tolerances of approximately 2.6 µm and ± 2.8 µm, respectively; a greater than 300 nm 1 dB bandwidth; and 1 dB twist and tilt tolerances of approximately ± 2.3 degrees and 0.4 degrees, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential of our coupler for use in co-packaged designs requiring high performance, high density, CMOS compatible out of plane optical connections.
High-sensitivity optical fiber magnetic field sensor based on multimode optical fiber multi Fabry-Perot interference cavities
Authors: Liu Yang , Huang Zhenlin , Wang Zhihao , Zhang Yueming , Wang Zhaokun , Dong Jie , Zhou Jun , Shen Changyu
Published: December 2022

A high-sensitivity optical fiber magnetic field sensor based on a multi-Fabry-Perot interference (F-P) cavity in an etched multimode optical fiber (MMF) was proposed. The MMF was etched along the fiber axis and a hole with the length of about 250 µm formed in the MMF. The multi-F-P cavity in the MMF is a sandwich structure, which is composed of UV glue, magnetic fluid and UV glue. The refractive index and effective cavity length of the magnetic fluid cavity change with the changing of the external magnetic field, which will result in changes of the reflection spectra of the multi-F-P. Thus, the external magnetic field could be detected by the changes of spectra. Experimental results showed that the high magnetic field sensitivity of 299.7 pm/mT and 0.164 dB/mT were obtained in the range of 0∼8 mT weak magnetic induction intensity by using the wavelength and intensity demodulations, respectively. The proposed sensor shows the potential applications in the magnetic field measurement in the weak magnetic environment.
Lasing modes in ZnO nanowires coupled to planar metals
Authors: Repp Daniel , Barreda Angela , Vitale Francesco , Staude Isabelle , Peschel Ulf , Ronning Carsten , Pertsch Thomas
Published: December 2022

Semiconductor nanowire lasers can be subject to modifications of their lasing threshold resulting from a variation of their environment. A promising choice is to use metallic substrates to gain access to low-volume Surface-Plasmon-Polariton (SPP) modes. We introduce a simple, yet quantitatively precise model that can serve to describe mode competition in nanowire lasers on metallic substrates. We show that an aluminum substrate can decrease the lasing threshold for ZnO nanowire lasers while for a silver substrate, the threshold increases compared with a dielectric substrate. Generalizing from these findings, we make predictions describing the interaction between planar metals and semiconductor nanowires, which allow to guide future improvements of highly-integrated laser sources.
Differences in the functional brain architecture of sustained attention and working memory in youth and adults
Authors: Kardan Omid , Stier Andrew J. , Cardenas-Iniguez Carlos , Schertz Kathryn E. , Pruin Julia C. , Deng Yuting , Chamberlain Taylor , Meredith Wesley J. , Zhang Xihan , Bowman Jillian E. , Lakhtakia Tanvi , Tindel Lucy , Avery Emily W. , Lin Qi , Yoo Kwangsun , Chun Marvin M. , Berman Marc G. , Rosenberg Monica D.
Published: December 2022

Sustained attention (SA) and working memory (WM) are critical processes, but the brain networks supporting these abilities in development are unknown. We characterized the functional brain architecture of SA and WM in 9- to 11-year-old children and adults. First, we found that adult network predictors of SA generalized to predict individual differences and fluctuations in SA in youth. A WM model predicted WM performance both across and within children—and captured individual differences in later recognition memory—but underperformed in youth relative to adults. We next characterized functional connections differentially related to SA and WM in youth compared to adults. Results revealed 2 network configurations: a dominant architecture predicting performance in both age groups and a secondary architecture, more prominent for WM than SA, predicting performance in each age group differently. Thus, functional connectivity (FC) predicts SA and WM in youth, with networks predicting WM performance differing more between youths and adults than those predicting SA.
A method to estimate the cellular composition of the mouse brain from heterogeneous datasets
Authors: Rodarie Dimitri , Verasztó Csaba , Roussel Yann , Reimann Michael , Keller Daniel , Ramaswamy Srikanth , Markram Henry , Gewaltig Marc-Oliver
Published: December 2022

The mouse brain contains a rich diversity of inhibitory neuron types that have been characterized by their patterns of gene expression. However, it is still unclear how these cell types are distributed across the mouse brain. We developed a computational method to estimate the densities of different inhibitory neuron types across the mouse brain. Our method allows the unbiased integration of diverse and disparate datasets into one framework to predict inhibitory neuron densities for uncharted brain regions. We constrained our estimates based on previously computed brain-wide neuron densities, gene expression data fromin situhybridization image stacks together with a wide range of values reported in the literature. Using constrained optimization, we derived coherent estimates of cell densities for the different inhibitory neuron types. We estimate that 20.3% of all neurons in the mouse brain are inhibitory. Among all inhibitory neurons, 18% predominantly express parvalbumin (PV), 16% express somatostatin (SST), 3% express vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and the remainder 63% belong to the residual GABAergic population. We find that our density estimations improve as more literature values are integrated. Our pipeline is extensible, allowing new cell types or data to be integrated as they become available. The data, algorithms, software, and results of our pipeline are publicly available and update the Blue Brain Cell Atlas. This work therefore leverages the research community to collectively converge on the numbers of each cell type in each brain region.
Allosteric regulation in STAT3 interdomains is mediated by a rigid core: SH2 domain regulation by CCD in D170A variant
Authors: Zhao Tingting , Karki Nischal , Zoltowski Brian D. , Matthews Devin A.
Published: December 2022

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a crucial role in cancer development and thus is a viable target for cancer treatment. STAT3 functions as a dimer mediated by phosphorylation of the SRC-homology 2 (SH2) domain, a key target for therapeutic drugs. While great efforts have been employed towards the development of compounds that directly target the SH2 domain, no compound has yet been approved by the FDA due to a lack of specificity and pharmacologic efficacy. Studies have shown that allosteric regulation of SH2 via the coiled-coil domain (CCD) is an alternative drug design strategy. Several CCD effectors have been shown to modulate SH2 binding and affinity, and at the time of writing at least one drug candidate has entered phase I clinical trials. However, the mechanism for SH2 regulation via CCD is poorly understood. Here, we investigate structural and dynamic features of STAT3 and compare the wild type to the reduced function variant D170A in order to delineate mechanistic differences and propose allosteric pathways. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to explore conformational space of STAT3 and the variant, followed by structural, conformation, and dynamic analysis. The trajectories explored show distinctive conformational changes in the SH2 domain for the D170A variant, indicating long range allosteric effects. Multiple analyses provide evidence for long range communication pathways between the two STAT3 domains, which seem to be mediated by a rigid core which connects the CCD and SH2 domains via the linker domain (LD) and transmits conformational changes through a network of short-range interactions. The proposed allosteric mechanism provides new insight into the understanding of intramolecular signaling in STAT3 and potential pharmaceutical control of STAT3 specificity and activity.
Identifying the impact of COVID-19 on health systems and lessons for future emergency preparedness: A stakeholder analysis in Kenya
Authors: Ogira Dosila , Bharali Ipchita , Onyango Joseph , Mao Wenhui , McDade Kaci Kennedy , Kokwaro Gilbert , Yamey Gavin
Published: December 2022

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has triggered a public health and economic crisis in high and low resource settings since the beginning of 2020. With the first case being discovered on 12th March 2020, Kenya has responded by using health and non-health strategies to mitigate the direct and indirect impact of the disease on its population. However, this has had positive and negative implications for the country’s overall health system. This paper aimed to understand the pandemic’s impact and develop lessons for future response by identifying the key challenges and opportunities Kenya faced during the pandemic. We conducted a qualitative study with 15 key informants, purposefully sampled for in-depth interviews from September 2020 to February 2021. We conducted direct content analysis of the transcripts to understand the stakeholder’s views and perceptions of how COVID-19 has affected the Kenyan healthcare system. Most of the respondents noted that Kenya’s initial response was relatively good, especially in controlling the pandemic with the resources it had at the time. This included relaying information to citizens, creating technical working groups and fostering multisectoral collaboration. However, concerns were raised regarding service disruption and impact on reproductive health, HIV, TB, and non-communicable diseases services; poor coordination between the national and county governments; shortage of personal protective equipment and testing kits; and strain of human resources for health. Effective pandemic preparedness for future response calls for improved investments across the health system building blocks, including; human resources for health, financing, infrastructure, information, leadership, service delivery and medical products and technologies. These strategies will help build resilient health systems and improve self-reliance, especially for countries transitioning from donor aid such as Kenya in the event of a pandemic.
Traits, phylogeny and host cell receptors predict Ebolavirus host status among African mammals
Authors: Sundaram Mekala , Schmidt John Paul , Han Barbara A. , Drake John M. , Stephens Patrick R.
Published: December 2022

We explore how animal host traits, phylogenetic identity and cell receptor sequences relate to infection status and mortality from ebolaviruses. We gathered exhaustive databases of mortality fromEbolavirusafter exposure and infection status based on PCR and antibody tests. We performed ridge regressions predicting mortality and infection as a function of traits, phylogenetic eigenvectors and separately host receptor sequences. We found that mortality fromEbolavirushad a strong association to life history characteristics and phylogeny. In contrast, infection status related not just to life history and phylogeny, but also to fruit consumption which suggests that geographic overlap of frugivorous mammals can lead to spread of virus in the wild. Niemann Pick C1 (NPC1) receptor sequences predicted infection statuses of bats included in our study with very high accuracy, suggesting that characterizing NPC1 in additional species is a promising avenue for future work. We combine the predictions from our mortality and infection status models to differentiate between species that are infected and also die fromEbolavirusversus species that are infected but tolerate the virus (possible reservoirs ofEbolavirus). We therefore present the first comprehensive estimates ofEbolavirusreservoir statuses for all known terrestrial mammals in Africa.
Morphological and genetic diversity of maize landraces along an altitudinal gradient in the Southern Andes
Authors: Rivas Juan Gabriel , Gutierrez Angela Veronica , Defacio Raquel Alicia , Schimpf Jorge , Vicario Ana Laura , Hopp Horacio Esteban , Paniego Norma Beatriz , Lia Veronica Viviana
Published: December 2022

Maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) is a major cereal crop worldwide and is traditionally or commercially cultivated almost all over the Americas. The North-Western Argentina (NWA) region constitutes one of the main diversity hotspots of the Southern Andes, with contrasting landscapes and a large number of landraces. Despite the extensive collections performed by the “Banco Activo de Germoplasma INTA Pergamino, Argentina” (BAP), most of them have not been characterized yet. Here we report the morphological and molecular evaluation of 30 accessions collected from NWA, along an altitudinal gradient between 1120 and 2950 meters above sea level (masl). Assessment of morphological variation in a common garden allowed the discrimination of two groups, which differed mainly in endosperm type and overall plant size. Although the groups retrieved by the molecular analyses were not consistent with morphological clusters, they showed a clear pattern of altitudinal structuring. Affinities among accessions were not in accordance with racial assignments. Overall, our results revealed that there are two maize gene pools co-existing in NWA, probably resulting from various waves of maize introduction in pre-Columbian times as well as from the adoption of modern varieties by local farmers. In conclusion, the NWA maize landraces preserved at the BAP possess high morphological and molecular variability. Our results highlight their potential as a source of diversity for increasing the genetic basis of breeding programs and provide useful information to guide future sampling and conservation efforts.
Self-reported musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire for agriculturists: An online self-assessment tool development
Authors: Poochada Worawan , Chailklieng Sunisa
Published: December 2022

The musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) severity and frequency questionnaire (MSFQ) has been used with agriculturists. Although it frequently appears in the literature, it does not periodically reflect the levels of MSDs. This study aimed to develop a MSDs assessment tool for agriculturists via an online database. The four hospitals that were assigned to the development and tryout group received a random selection of participants from 33 health promoting hospitals. In the development phase, 55 agriculturists (from two hospitals) completed the structured interview questionnaire. The MSFQ document for the analysis of MSDs symptoms among agriculturists was concentrated on the frequency and severity of symptoms. The online MSFQ was checked by using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) in a one-way random-effects model. In the tryout phase, a group of 44 agriculturists (from another two hospitals) completed a similar online MSFQ. Cronbach’s alpha was used to test the reliability of the online self-reported MSDs questionnaires. A Likert rating scale, used to measure the satisfaction of users, was divided into three categories: information, program design, and benefits. The development phase showed an ICC = 0.99 with a 95% CI = 0.98–0.99. More than 65 percent of agriculturists were female, aged from 41–50 years old. A large number of them were engaged in self-cultivation. Their main crops were rice and cassava. In total, 50% reported that they had experienced mild MSDs levels. The shoulder, knee-calf, and hip-thigh areas were the top three parts of the body where agriculturists had experienced MSDs from cultivation. Excellent reliability of online MSFQ was found after the tryout. The agriculturists were very satisfied overall (information, program design, and benefits). Developments to the MSFQ and online administration did not diminish its reliability for obtaining information about the level of MSDs of agriculturists’ musculoskeletal symptoms. This self-reported MSDs questionnaire was appropriate to be used among agriculturists.
A study protocol to explore and implement community-based point-of-care COVID-19 testing for women who use drugs in Baltimore, Maryland: The CARE study
Authors: Tomko Catherine , Clouse Emily , Haney Katherine , Galai Noya , Footer Katherine , Ferryman Kadija , Smith Katherine Clegg , Sherman Susan G.
Published: December 2022

Women who use drugs (WWUD) experience structural vulnerabilities (e.g., housing, food insecurities) and comorbidities that elevate their susceptibility to more severe COVID-19 symptoms or fatality compared to similarly-aged women who do not use illicit drugs. Testing is a cornerstone of effective COVID prevention, however, entrenched barriers to healthcare utilization means that WWUD may have diminished accessing to COVID testing. The CARE (COVID Action Research Engagement) study first examines predisposing and enabling factors that predict COVID testing uptake over six months (baseline, 3-, and 6-month follow-up) among a cohort of WWUD (N = 250) in Baltimore, Maryland, providing a nuanced and holistic understanding of how to meaningfully engage WWUD in COVID testing. Then, point-of-care COVID testing will be implemented on a mobile outreach van affiliated with a local community-based organization primarily serving WWUD; anonymous surveys of mobile outreach guests (N = 100) will assess feasibility and acceptability of this integrated testing. The study is grounded in the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations and the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. We hypothesize that point-of-care COVID testing integrated into a low-barrier harm reduction service, such as a mobile outreach program, will be an enabling environment for COVID testing uptake in part by reducing structural impediments to testing and will be highly feasible and acceptable to participants. Strengths, limitations, and plans for results dissemination are discussed.
Disability and the achievement of Universal Health Coverage in the Maldives
Authors: Banks Lena Morgon , O’Fallon Timothy , Hameed Shaffa , Usman Sofoora Kawsar , Polack Sarah , Kuper Hannah
Published: December 2022

Objective

To assess access to general and disability-related health care among people with disabilities in the Maldives.

Methods

This study uses data from a case-control study (n = 711) nested within a population-based, nationally representative survey to compare health status and access to general healthcare amongst people with and without disabilities. Cases and controls were matched by gender, location and age. Unmet need for disability-related healthcare is also assessed. Multivariate regression was used for comparisons between people with and without disabilities.

Results

People with disabilities had poorer levels of health compared to people without disabilities, including poorer self-rated health, increased likelihood of having a chronic condition and of having had a serious health event in the previous 12 months. Although most people with and without disabilities sought care when needed, people with disabilities were much more likely to report difficulties when routinely accessing healthcare services compared to people without disabilities. Additionally, 24% of people with disabilities reported an unmet need for disability-related healthcare, which was highest amongst people with hearing, communication and cognitive difficulties, as well as amongst older adults and people living in the lowest income per capita quartile. Median healthcare spending in the past month was modest for people with and without disabilities. However, people with disabilities appear to have high episodic healthcare costs, such as for disability-related healthcare and when experiencing a serious health event.

Conclusions

This study found evidence that people with disabilities experience unmet needs for both disability-related and general healthcare. There is therefore evidence that people with disabilities in the Maldives are falling behind in core components relevant to UHC: availability of all services needed, and quality and affordability of healthcare.