bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moving forward with elective vascular work: a reflection on the impact of COVID-19 on a regional vascular hub
Authors: Liu P , Cheema SM , Adeoye I , Theivacumar NS , Hussain ST , Malina M
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Following the initial COVID-19 surge in the UK, there was a national incentive for elective vascular surgery to be restricted to ‘clean’ sites to reduce perioperative cross-infection and subsequent mortality. We assessed the risk of dying from perioperatively acquired COVID-19 during the peak of the London outbreak.

Methods

Forty-three consecutive patients who had vascular (n=48) procedures in March and April 2020 at a regional hub serving five London hospitals were analysed. The patients were screened for COVID-19 in the 30-day postoperative period and the main outcome measure was mortality from COVID-19. A comparison was then made with patients who underwent minimally invasive procedures in our integrated interventional radiology department. Median follow-up was 41 days (interquartile range 8–58) overall.

Results

Three patients (7%) in the vascular group (median age 61 years, all diabetic, two male) died from COVID-19, all of whom tested positive postoperatively. Two others became positive but recovered. In comparison, two patients (2%) in the interventional radiology group died from COVID-19; however, one was positive prior to their procedure.

Conclusion

Only urgent vascular cases should be performed during a COVID-19 surge. However, with growing waiting lists for elective surgery following the pandemic’s second wave, further restrictions may not be a viable long-term solution. When prevalence of the disease is lower and if resources allow, resumption of care at ‘hot’ sites should be considered, if safety measures can be implemented. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery may also reduce risk.
North central London elective orthopaedic network: accelerating how we improve surgical practice in the NHS
Authors: Thompson JW , Ibrahim M , O’Brien A , Stewart A , Huxter W , Hurd R , Haddad FS
Published: May 2023

In the era of patient centred medical practice, we are forced to regularly adapt our approach to keep up with the growing demands of an aging population while focusing on quality improvement, and reducing unwarranted variations in access to health services as well as in quality and outcomes. In a mission to address some of these challenges, the five north central London (NCL) clinical commissioning groups and five NCL National Health Service trusts currently undertaking adult elective orthopaedic surgery collaborated to propose and develop dedicated elective orthopaedic centres. The goal was to create an orthopaedic clinical network that will join together orthopaedic services under one quality improvement umbrella. We present this process, which provides an innovative model of service delivery and the genesis of an orthopaedic network.

We believe this model offers essential principles with which future integrated care systems could engage: clinical leadership, early public involvement, proposal transparency, co-design through multiple trust collaboration, addressing health inequalities and establishing a system to deliver best practice care. Our ability to all come together (hospital trusts, patients and the public) is a clear example of the collaborative potential that our healthcare system has, and can be seen as a blueprint for future endeavours. We hope that the transformation of the NCL elective orthopaedic network through elective orthopaedic centres will provide a beneficial template to colleagues and public communities attempting to meet the enhancing demand on current orthopaedic services, and that this will improve the delivery of health services beyond the constraints of our locality.
Passing patient information to the police
Authors: Wheeler Robert
Published: May 2023

Our Legal editor explores the significance of medical information in regards to the police, and when it is required to be shared.
The integrated innovation training pathway
Authors: Lam A , Bolton W , King M , Lemma G , Burke J
Published: May 2023

Can a new surgical training pathway bridge the knowledge gap for the next generation of surgeons?
Mycophenolate mofetil-based treatment for oral mucosal disease in a UK oral medicine department
Authors: Sin Sonia , Rogers Helen , Cowie Rachel , Staines Konrad , Hollén Linda , Shanahan Daire
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is often used in oral medicine. Reasons include its efficacy in treating inflammatory diseases, its steroid sparing property and its favourable side effects profile. There is, however, limited scientific evidence to justify its use in oral medicine. The aim of this study was to review the indications and prescribing practice relating to MMF in a tertiary oral medicine centre, and to document its tolerability and efficacy.

Methods

A retrospective record review was undertaken of patients prescribed MMF between January 2019 and January 2022 at Bristol Dental Hospital. Patients were identified from a local database set up to highlight and monitor departmental immunosuppressant medication usage. Medical records were assessed using a standardised data collection proforma.

Results

Twenty-five patients (20 female, 5 male; median age 64 years) were included in the study. The conditions for which MMF was prescribed comprised oral lichen planus (48%), mucous membrane pemphigoid (36%), pemphigus vulgaris (12%) and recurrent aphthous stomatitis (4%). Typically, MMF was prescribed at 500 mg twice daily. The median duration of treatment was 28 months. Side effects were documented in 52% of patients. In all cases, MMF was commenced owing to inadequate response to previous treatments. Over half (56%) of the patients discontinued systemic prednisolone while using MMF. Overall, 80% achieved complete clinical improvement.

Conclusions

MMF is effective and well tolerated in oral medicine patients. Its use is comparable with that documented in the dermatology literature.
Impacts of Land Cover Changes on Land Surface Temperature using Landsat Imagery with the Supervised Classification Method
Authors: Damayanti Astrid , Khairunisa Farisya Isnaayu , Maulidina Kintan
Published: May 2023

Land cover changes occur along with development and an increase in urbanization, affecting the region's ecology. Tarogong Kidul Sub-district, Garut District, experiences land cover changes that change land surface temperature. This study aims to determine the relationship between land cover changes and land surface temperature. This study uses Landsat 8 Surface Reflectance Tier 1 satellite imagery to extract Normalized Difference Vegetation Index information and process soil surface temperatures for three periods, 2014, 2017, and 2020 as well as supervised classification methods. Image collection and processing are done via Google Earth Engine and ArcGIS Pro software. The results were in the form of the distribution of land surface temperature correlated with changes in the value of the land cover vegetation index using simple linear regression and spatial correlation analysis. This study reveals that land cover change is closely related to the increase in land surface temperature indicated by the rise in land surface temperature in areas experiencing changes in land use. The results of linear regression analysis (84.49%) confirm that land cover changes and the greenness index of vegetation are the most critical driving factors for changes in land surface temperature.
Evaluation of Land Capability and Land Use Direction In the Krueng Peusangan Hilir Sub-watershed, Bireuen Regency
Authors: Akbar Halim , Sarifuddin Sarifuddin , Puarada Sakral Hasby
Published: May 2023

The destruction of forests in watershed areas has now become a concern of many parties, resulting in floods, landslides, and droughts that continue to increase. Watershed damage is accelerated by increased utilization of natural resources due to population growth and economic development, conflicts of interest, and lack of integration between sectors between the upstream-middle-downstream areas. For this reason, it is necessary to assess land capability in a watershed so that land development follows the land capability class. The research was carried out in the Krueng Peusangan Hilir Sub-watershed, Bireuen Regency, Aceh, Indonesia, from October 2021 to February 2022, which is geographically located at 95°58''00” - 96°52''00” East Longitude and 5°06''00- 5°17 ''00" North Latitude. Land use in the study is dominated by dry land agriculture, covering an area of 19,100.28 ha with a topography area from  0-8% to 25-40%. A survey method by analyzing land capability classes at the study site was carried out for each land map unit (LMU) by comparing land conditions with the land capability evaluation Hockensmith and Steele’s criteria (overlaid of determined thematic maps). The result shows that soil erodibility decreased linearly with increasing organic matter in the soil. Soils with high organic matter content have high erodibility. For the limiting factor on slopes in land capability classes found in  II, III, IV, and VI class categories that are found in all LMUs, if these LMUs are used for agricultural cultivation, soil conservation measures are needed, such as making mound terraces or canal mound terraces, planting in strips and using mulch. The results show that the land capability classes consisted of 16668.30 ha in the land capability II class, 4184.06 ha land capability in the III class, 4524.91 ha in the land capability IV class, and 190.79 ha land capability VI class with a factor inhibiting soil erodibility (medium – very high) and slopes (wavy - rather steep)
Nonlinear refractive index in silica glass
Authors: Schiek Roland
Published: May 2023

The third-order nonlinear susceptibility of silica glass is measured via self-phase modulation in standard single mode fibers at a wavelength of 1550 nm. To minimize the influence of polarization state changes along the propagation only meter-long fibers were investigated. With pulse durations of picoseconds a quasi-instantaneous nonlinearity with ultrafast electronic and fast nuclear-vibration contributions produces under conditions of negligible dispersion a classic and clean nonlinear phase shift following exactly the shape of the pulse power. The complex pulse envelope was retrieved from frequency optical gating spectrograms. The nonlinear fiber parameter γ could be determined with an accuracy of 3.7 percent. Considering the mode field structure and the doping influence the nonlinear refractive index of silica glass as the fiber base material was found to be n2=2.22⋅10−16cm2W±6.0% for picosecond-long pulses. Comparing nonlinear phase shifts from linear and circular polarized light a nuclear-vibration contribution to the cubic fiber nonlinearity of 25 percent was estimated.
Optical Path Length Enhancement in Micro-Fluidic Devices Using a Circular Absorption Cell
Authors: Argueta Victor , Owens McKenna , Al Ramadan Ahmed
Published: May 2023

This study presents a novel absorption cell with a circular geometry that can be integrated into microfluidic devices for optical spectroscopy applications. The absorption cell is made of PDMS/SU8 and offers an optical path length that is 8.4 times its diameter, resulting in a significant increase in the sensitivity of the measurements. Overall, this design provides a reliable and efficient solution for optical spectroscopy in microfluidic systems, enabling the precise detection and analysis of small quantities of analytes.
Modelling novelty detection in the thalamocortical loop
Authors: Han Chao , English Gwendolyn , Saal Hannes P. , Indiveri Giacomo , Gilra Aditya , von der Behrens Wolfger , Vasilaki Eleni
Published: May 2023

In complex natural environments, sensory systems are constantly exposed to a large stream of inputs. Novel or rare stimuli, which are often associated with behaviorally important events, are typically processed differently than the steady sensory background, which has less relevance. Neural signatures of such differential processing, commonly referred to as novelty detection, have been identified on the level of EEG recordings as mismatch negativity (MMN) and on the level of single neurons as stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA). Here, we propose a multi-scale recurrent network with synaptic depression to explain how novelty detection can arise in the whisker-related part of the somatosensory thalamocortical loop. The “minimalistic” architecture and dynamics of the model presume that neurons in cortical layer 6 adapt, via synaptic depression, specifically to a frequently presented stimulus, resulting in reduced population activity in the corresponding cortical column when compared with the population activity evoked by a rare stimulus. This difference in population activity is then projected from the cortex to the thalamus and amplified through the interaction between neurons of the primary and reticular nuclei of the thalamus, resulting in rhythmic oscillations. These differentially activated thalamic oscillations are forwarded to cortical layer 4 as a late secondary response that is specific to rare stimuli that violate a particular stimulus pattern. Model results show a strong analogy between this late single neuron activity and EEG-based mismatch negativity in terms of their common sensitivity to presentation context and timescales of response latency, as observed experimentally. Our results indicate that adaptation in L6 can establish the thalamocortical dynamics that produce signatures of SSA and MMN and suggest a mechanistic model of novelty detection that could generalize to other sensory modalities.
Concept design of hybrid-actuated lower limb exoskeleton to reduce the metabolic cost of walking with heavy loads
Authors: Meng Qiaoling , Kong Bolei , Zeng Qingxin , Fei Cuizhi , Yu Hongliu
Published: May 2023

This paper proposes the conceptual design method for a hybrid-actuated lower limb exoskeleton based on energy consumption simulation. Firstly, the human-machine coupling model is established in OpenSim based on the proposed three passive assistance schemes. On this basis, the method of simulating muscle driving is used to find out the scheme that can reduce the metabolic rate the most with 3 passive springs models. Then, an active-passive cooperative control strategy is designed based on the finite state machine to coordinate the operation of the power mechanism and the passive energy storage structure and improve the mobility of the wearer. In the end, a simulation experiment based on the human-machine coupled model with the addition of active actuation is proceeded to evaluate its assistance performance according to reducing metabolic rate. The results show that the average metabolic cost decreased by 7.2% with both spring and motor. The combination of passive energy storage structures with active actuators to help the wearer overcome the additional consumption of energy storage can further reduce the body’s metabolic rate. The proposed conceptual design method can also be utilized to implement the rapid design of a hybrid-actuated lower limb exoskeleton.
Experimental study on soil-water characteristics and strength characteristics of complete-intense weathering mudstone in seasonal frozen area
Authors: Guo Haotian , Zhou Runjian , Sun Chao , Lin Yuli , Wang Zhe
Published: May 2023

To study the soil-water characteristics and shear strength of unsaturated complete-intense weathering mudstone, the soil-water characteristic curve of complete-intense weathering mudstone and the matric suction of mudstone samples under natural state were measured. This measurement was through a soil-water characteristic test using a pressure plate instrument. Based on the results of soil-water characteristic test, an unsaturated (saturated) triaxial shear test was carried out. Under different temperatures and confining pressure conditions, the shear strength and deformation characteristics of complete-intense weathering mudstone under natural water content and saturation conditions were investigated. The results show that the percentage of silt and clay in unsaturated complete-intense weathering mudstone in natural state is relatively high, with the mudstone having less sand, and a weak permeability and exhibiting a significant capillary phenomenon. The complete-intense weathering mudstone with a natural moisture content of 19.15% has a matric suction of 210 kPa. When the temperature is constant, the shear stress of the sample increases with the increase of confining pressure. When the temperature decreases from 0 to -20°C, the influence of confining pressure on the rock samples gradually decreases. The rock sample has the property of strain hardening during shearing. Under the same matric suction, the total cohesion increases with the decrease of temperature. At a positive temperature, the effective internal friction angle increases with the decrease of temperature. At a negative temperature, the lower the temperature, the smaller the effective internal friction angle. The test of shear strength parameters of saturated complete-intense weathering mudstone is simple and conservative. In practical engineering, the basic properties of unsaturated complete-intense weathering mudstone can be predicted by testing the shear strength parameters of saturated complete-intense weathering mudstone. The results of the study are important for better understanding the nature of unsaturated complete-intense weathering mudstone and improving the safety of engineering construction in complete-intense weathering mudstone areas.
Functional characterization of Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase gene family in soybean (Glycine max)
Authors: Khatri Praveen , Chen Ling , Rajcan Istvan , Dhaubhadel Sangeeta
Published: May 2023

Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) is the first key cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway. It belongs to the CYP73 family of P450 superfamily, and catalyzes the conversion oftrans-cinnamic acid top-coumaric acid. Sincep-coumaric acid serves as the precursor for the synthesis of a wide variety of metabolites involved in plant development and stress resistance, alteration in the expression of soybeanC4Hgenes is expected to affect the downstream metabolite levels, and its ability to respond to stress. In this study, we identified fourC4Hgenes in the soybean genome that are distributed into both class I and class II CYP73 family.GmC4H2,GmC4H14 and GmC4H20displayed tissue- and developmental stage-specific gene expression patterns with their transcript accumulation at the highest level in root tissues.GmC4H10appears to be a pseudogene as its transcript was not detected in any soybean tissues. Furthermore, protein homology modelling revealed substrate docking only for GmC4H2, GmC4H14 and GmC4H20. To demonstrate the function of GmC4Hs, we modified a cloning vector for the heterologous expression of P450s in yeast, and used it for microsomal protein production and enzyme assay. Our results confirmed that GmC4H2, GmC4H14 and GmC4H20 contain the ability to hydroxylatetrans-cinnamic acid with varying efficiencies.
Virtual screening of antimicrobial plant extracts by machine-learning classification of chemical compounds in semantic space
Authors: Yabuuchi Hiroaki , Hayashi Kazuhito , Shigemoto Akihiko , Fujiwara Makiko , Nomura Yuhei , Nakashima Mayumi , Ogusu Takeshi , Mori Megumi , Tokumoto Shin-ichi , Miyai Kazuyuki
Published: May 2023

Plant extract is a mixture of diverse phytochemicals, and considered as an important resource for drug discovery. However, large-scale exploration of the bioactive extracts has been hindered by various obstacles until now. In this research, we have introduced and evaluated a new computational screening strategy that classifies bioactive compounds and plants in semantic space generated by word embedding algorithm. The classifier showed good performance in binary (presence/absence of bioactivity) classification for both compounds and plant genera. Furthermore, the strategy led to the discovery of antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Lindera triloba and Cinnamomum sieboldii against Staphylococcus aureus. The results of this study indicate that machine-learning classification in semantic space can be a highly efficient approach for exploring bioactive plant extracts.
Plasma sterols and vitamin D are correlates and predictors of ozone-induced inflammation in the lung: A pilot study
Authors: Perryman Alexia N. , Kim Hye-Young H. , Payton Alexis , Rager Julia E. , McNell Erin E. , Rebuli Meghan E. , Wells Heather , Almond Martha , Antinori Jamie , Alexis Neil E. , Porter Ned A. , Jaspers Ilona
Published: May 2023

Background

Ozone (O3) exposure causes respiratory effects including lung function decrements, increased lung permeability, and airway inflammation. Additionally, baseline metabolic state can predispose individuals to adverse health effects from O3. For this reason, we conducted an exploratory study to examine the effect of O3exposure on derivatives of cholesterol biosynthesis: sterols, oxysterols, and secosteroid (25-hydroxyvitamin D) not only in the lung, but also in circulation.

Methods

We obtained plasma and induced sputum samples from non-asthmatic (n = 12) and asthmatic (n = 12) adult volunteers 6 hours following exposure to 0.4ppm O3for 2 hours. We quantified the concentrations of 24 cholesterol precursors and derivatives by UPLC-MS and 30 cytokines by ELISA. We use computational analyses including machine learning to determine whether baseline plasma sterols are predictive of O3responsiveness.

Results

We observed an overall decrease in the concentration of cholesterol precursors and derivatives (e.g. 27-hydroxycholesterol) and an increase in concentration of autooxidation products (e.g. secosterol-B) in sputum samples. In plasma, we saw a significant increase in the concentration of secosterol-B after O3exposure. Machine learning algorithms showed that plasma cholesterol was a top predictor of O3responder status based on decrease in FEV1 (>5%). Further, 25-hydroxyvitamin D was positively associated with lung function in non-asthmatic subjects and with sputum uteroglobin, whereas it was inversely associated with sputum myeloperoxidase and neutrophil counts.

Conclusion

This study highlights alterations in sterol metabolites in the airway and circulation as potential contributors to systemic health outcomes and predictors of pulmonary and inflammatory responsiveness following O3exposure.
Partitioning and subsampling statistics in compartment-based quantification methods
Authors: Loskyll Manuel , Podbiel Daniel , Guber Andreas , Hoffmann Jochen
Published: May 2023

The precision of compartment-based quantification methods is subject to multiple effects, of which partitioning and subsampling play a major role. Partitioning is the process of aliquoting the sample liquid and consequently the contained target molecules, whereas subsampling denotes the fact that usually only a portion of a sample is analyzed. In this work, we present a detailed statistical description comprising the effects of partitioning and subsampling on the relative uncertainty of the test result. We show that the state-of-the-art binomial model does not provide accurate results for the level of subsampling present when analyzing the nucleic acid content of single specific cells. Hence, in this work we address partitioning and subsampling effects separately and subsequently combine them to derive the relative uncertainty of a test system and compare it for single cell content analysis and body fluid analysis. In point-of-care test systems the area for partitioning and detection is usually limited, which means that a trade-off between the number of partitions (related to a partitioning uncertainty) and the amount of analyzed volume (related to a subsampling uncertainty) might be inevitable. In case of low target concentration, the subsampling uncertainty is dominant whereas for high target concentration, the partitioning uncertainty increases, and a larger number of partitions is beneficial to minimize the combined uncertainty. We show, that by minimizing the subsampling uncertainty in the test system, the quantification uncertainty of low target concentrations in single cell content analysis is much smaller than in body fluid analysis. In summary, the work provides the methodological basis for a profound statistical evaluation of partitioning and subsampling effects in compartment-based quantification methods and paves the way towards an improved design of future digital quantification devices for highly accurate molecular diagnostic analysis at the point-of-care.
Diet and landscape characteristics drive spatial patterns of mercury accumulation in a high-latitude terrestrial carnivore
Authors: Peraza Inés , Chételat John , Richardson Murray , Jung Thomas S. , Awan Malik , Baryluk Steve , Dastoor Ashu , Harrower William , Kukka Piia M. , McClelland Christine , Mowat Garth , Pelletier Nicolas , Rodford Christine , Ryjkov Andrei
Published: May 2023

Limited information exists on mercury concentrations and environmental drivers of mercury bioaccumulation in high latitude terrestrial carnivores. Spatial patterns of mercury concentrations in wolverine (Gulo gulo, n = 419) were assessed across a 1,600,000 km2 study area in relation to landscape, climate, diet and biological factors in Arctic and boreal biomes of western Canada. Hydrogen stable isotope ratios were measured in wolverine hair from a subset of 80 animals to assess the spatial scale for characterizing environmental conditions of their habitat. Habitat characteristics were determined using GIS methods and raster datasets at two scales, the collection location point and a 150 km radius buffer, which was selected based on results of a correlation analysis between hydrogen stable isotopes in precipitation and wolverine hair. Total mercury concentrations in wolverine muscle ranged >2 orders of magnitude from 0.01 to 5.72 μg/g dry weight and varied geographically, with the highest concentrations in the Northwest Territories followed by Nunavut and Yukon. Regression models at both spatial scales indicated diet (based on nitrogen stable isotope ratios) was the strongest explanatory variable of mercury concentrations in wolverine, with smaller though statistically significant contributions from landscape variables (soil organic carbon, percent cover of wet area, percent cover of perennial snow-ice) and distance to the Arctic Ocean coast. The carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of wolverine muscle suggested greater mercury bioaccumulation could be associated with feeding on marine biota in coastal habitats. Landscape variables identified in the modelling may reflect habitat conditions which support enhanced methylmercury transfer to terrestrial biota. Spatially-explicit estimates of wet atmospheric deposition were positively correlated with wolverine mercury concentrations but this variable was not selected in the final regression models. These landscape patterns provide a basis for further research on underlying processes enhancing methylmercury uptake in high latitude terrestrial food webs.
Otoliths of Caspian gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae): Morphological diversity and phylogenetic implications
Authors: Zarei Fatah , Esmaeili Hamid Reza , Stepien Carol A. , Kovačić Marcelo , Abbasi Keyvan
Published: May 2023

Otoliths (ear stones) of the inner ears of teleost fishes, which develop independently from the skeleton and are functionally associated with hearing and the sense of equilibrium, have significantly contributed to contemporary understanding of teleost fish systematics and evolutionary diversity. The sagittal otolith is of particular interest, since it often possesses distinctive morphological features that differ significantly among species, and have been shown to be species- and genus-specific, making it an informative taxonomic tool for ichthyologists. The otolith morphology of the Caspian Sea gobiids has not been thoroughly studied yet, with data available for only a few species. The aim of the present paper is to examine the qualitative and quantitative taxonomic and phylogenetic information in the sagittal otoliths of these species. A total of 118 otoliths representing 30 gobiid species (including 53.5% of the Caspian gobiofauna) in three gobiid lineages (i.e.,Gobius,Pomatoschistus, andAcanthogobius) and 11 genera (i.e., all Ponto-Caspian gobiid genera exceptBabka) were analysed at taxonomic levels using an integrated descriptive and morphometric approach. The results indicated high taxonomic efficiency of otolith morphology and morphometry at taxonomic levels for the Ponto-Caspian gobiids. Our qualitative and quantitative otolith data also (i) support the monophyly of neogobiin gobies, (ii) along with other morphological and ecological data, offer a new perspective on the systematics ofNeogobius bathybius, (iii) suggest the reassignment ofHyrcanogobius bergito the genusKnipowitschia, and (iv) question the phylogenetic integrity of the four phenotypic groups previously defined in the tadpole-goby genusBenthophilus; however, more studies are needed to complete these evaluations and confirm our otolith study findings.
A protocol for a controlled, pre-post intervention study to change attitudes toward child marriage in Southwestern Nigeria using targeted radio programming
Authors: Omobowale Olubukola , Omigbodun Olayinka , Egbokhare Olayinka , Koski Alissa
Published: May 2023

Background

Child marriage hinders progress toward population health and development goals. Cost effective interventions that address the root causes of child marriage are needed to speed progress toward ending the practice. Nigeria is home to the largest number of married girls in Africa and many of these girls are members of the Hausa ethnic group, making efforts to tackle this issue particularly urgent among this population.

Methods

Radio programs have the potential to inform large numbers of people about the harms of child marriage and change their support for the practice at low cost. We will develop a series of radio programs that address gender inequitable attitudes that motivate child marriage among Hausa communities in Ibadan, Nigeria. The content of the series will be based on input from the Hausa community. A baseline survey that measures knowledge of and support for child marriage will be conducted among randomly selected samples of Hausa adults in two cities: Ibadan, which will serve as the intervention site, and Akure, the control site. The radio programs will then air on Hausa-language stations in Ibadan over a three-month period, with the aim of informing persons of the potential harms of child marriage and reducing their support for the practice. A follow-up survey with the same individuals surveyed at baseline will be conducted in both cities. We will measure the impact of this intervention by comparing changes in these outcomes over time in the intervention site (Ibadan) with changes in the same outcomes in the control site (Akure).

Conclusion

This study will investigate whether a series of targeted radio programs can reduce support for child marriage. The intervention is readily scalable and cost-effective and, if it effectively shifts attitudes toward child marriage, could represent a promising way of addressing child marriage in Nigeria.
Theatre-based programmes for suicide prevention among adolescents: A scoping review of process and impacts
Authors: Olsen Nicola , Lan Chiao Wen
Published: May 2023

Mental health crisis is on the rise for young people, while suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people worldwide. Theatre-based approaches have been used to encourage social connection and emotional support. This scoping review seeks to map the current landscape of theatre-based suicide prevention programmes for young people, explore programme implementations and youth involvement and examine how evidence is shared. Twelve articles detailed theatre-based suicide prevention programmes delivered to youth. Practitioners and researchers have an optimistic view of the positive impact of immersive experiences created by theatre-based approaches for reducing suicide risk. To optimize theatre-based programmes to promote mental well-being among youth, further research is needed to evaluate effectiveness at promoting help-seeking and reducing social stigma related to mental health. Interdisciplinary teams can collaborate on findings, innovate solutions to challenges and share best practices in this field.
Preventing Post-Thrombotic Syndrome
Authors: Stibbs Peter
Published: May 2023

Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a complex and multifaceted disease with an incompletely understood pathophysiology, presenting significant clinical challenges. This review article examines the morphological aspects of PTS, including venous valve destruction, thrombus organization and fibrosis, and endothelial dysfunction, which contribute to the development and progression of the disease. A better understanding of these aspects is essential for the development of targeted therapies addressing the underlying mechanisms of PTS. Current treatment options, such as anticoagulation, compression therapy, thrombolysis, and pharmacological interventions, have shown variable success in managing PTS, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Emerging therapies, including targeted anticoagulation, advanced endovascular techniques, immunomodulation, gene therapy, and regenerative medicine, hold promise in addressing the pathophysiological mechanisms of PTS. Collaborative efforts among clinicians, researchers, and industry partners are vital for translating these findings into effective, patient-centered care for those affected by PTS, ultimately improving patient outcomes and transforming the management of this debilitating condition.
The Advent of Telemedicine: Ascertaining Patient Experience via Remote Encounters
Authors: Ko Justin , Mota-Martinez Samuel , Cho Daniel , Horne Josiah
Published: May 2023

Telemedicine is a modern tool for healthcare delivery that uses various forms of technology to provide medical services remotely. Telemedicine use by healthcare providers and patients has been increasing in frequency for the past several years. The increasing utilization of telemedicine has been fueled by various reasons, including: The onset of the COVID19 pandemic; decrease in the number of healthcare providers available to see patients; the increasing number of insured patients seeking healthcare access. The survey was conducted by family residents working within the Texas Institute of Graduate Medical Education And Research (TIGMER) Family Medicine program. The patients surveyed are all patients of Communicare, a federally qualified health care (FQHC) facility. Out of 353 patients, 125 patients provided responses to the six questions mentioned above. Overall, patients seem to have enjoyed and benefited from the telemedicine visit over the weekend. While further follow-up questions and bigger sample size would be necessary to provide better insights, the survey shows that weekend telemedicine definitely benefits both patients and primary care clinics in terms of patient-provider satisfaction, access to healthcare, and financial benefits.
Classifying High School Scholarship Recipients Using the K-Nearest Neighbor Algorithm
Authors: Yulisa Ica Dwi , Gusmelia Testiana  , Imamulhakim Syahid Putra
Published: May 2023

YBM PLN UIWS2JB provides scholarships for high school students who cannot afford school tuition due to poverty or other economic conditions. Since the target is specific, the foundation must carefully select the recipients to ensure the scholarship is granted to those who deserve it. The predetermined criteria combined with the limited quota available become a difficulty in itself as a large number of applications are coming in. Data mining with a classification method using the K-Nearest Neighbor algorithm is believed to be one of the alternative solutions to solve this problem. This study aims to examine how this method could help in the selection process to determine who is eligible to receive the scholarship, and it also aims to evaluate the algorithm's performance with the optimal K value. The findings of this research showed that the classification method using K-Nearest Neighbor is the potential to be applied in a case such as this. The results found an accuracy of 91% in the selection process and are included in the Excellent Classification category. The optimal K value obtained is K = 5.
Физический и умственный труд: противостояние или единство?
Authors: Красова Елена Викторовна
Published: May 2023

В статье рассматривается проблема снижения значимости физического труда в современной научной литературе. Физический и умственный труд часто предстают в ней в качестве социально противоположных ресурсов-субститутов, первый из которых замещается вторым как неактуальный тип хозяйственной деятельности, регрессирующий на фоне развития информационно-коммуникационных технологий. Такой подход формирует в общественном сознании упрощенный взгляд на происходящие качественные изменения в содержании труда. Автор рассматривает физический и умственный труд как неотъемлемые части любого социально-исторического типа производственных отношений. Цель работы — обосновать комплементарность физического и умственного труда в контексте развития информационного общества и интеллектуализации экономики. Исследование опирается на методологический аппарат экономики и социологии труда. Статья содержит обзор научной литературы, подтверждающий неоднозначное отношение ученых к физическому труду. Обозначены предпосылки дискредитации физического труда как мировоззренческой и методологической проблемы общественных наук.
Труд в условиях информационного общества представлен как универсальная синтетическая категория, в которой выделяются физическая, умственная (когнитивная), коммуникационная и некогнитивная (личностная, культурная) компоненты, реализующиеся в едином трудовом процессе. В статье обозначены ключевые макросоциальные факторы развития физического труда в информационном обществе, а именно: сохранение материальной природы организации общества, экономическая и социальная ограниченность распространения новых технологий, многоукладность современной экономики, высокая значимость физического труда как элемента культуры и развития личности. Сделаны выводы о прогрессивном развитии и производительном характере физического труда в информационном обществе посредством его сближения с умственным трудом и другими содержательными компонентами труда.
Опрос подростков: этические вопросы и правовое регулирование
Authors: Ипатова Анна Алексеевна , Солодовникова Ольга Борисовна
Published: May 2023

За последние 30 лет количество исследований с вовлечением детей и подростков в качестве участников стремительно увеличивается. Прежде всего это связано с возросшим вниманием к защите прав детей, что в свою очередь требует различных форм мониторинга и анализа детского благополучия (в том числе и статистических данных) не только с перспективы взрослых, но и с перспективы самих детей. Сегодня общемировой тенденцией является включение «голоса» детей и подростков в социальную политику государства, в национальные или международные индексы и рейтинги. Зачастую это делается при помощи опроса, и такие опросы регулируются разными государственными правовыми нормами, а также более универсальными этическими кодексами и протоколами.
В статье анализируются российские особенности правового регулирования участия подростков в опросах, определяемые во многом как поиск компромисса между правом ребенка быть услышанным и защитой его интересов с одной стороны и невмешательством в частную жизнь семьи — с другой. Также авторы подробно рассматривают четыре этические проблемы, с которыми исследователи сталкиваются при проведении опросов среди подростков. Первая их них — возраст самостоятельного принятия решения об участии в исследовании, и эта проблема помещена в более широкий контекст принципа информированного согласия на участие в социологическом исследовании. Вторая проблема — это вопрос о безопасности подростка и отсутствии прямого или косвенного вреда. Третья проблема связана с выбором метода опроса. Наконец, четвертая проблема связана с пользой участия в опросе для подростка и фокусом на позитивные изменения.
Благодарность. Статья подготовлена в рамках выполнения научно-исследовательской работы государственного задания РАНХиГС при Президенте РФ.
Здоровье, доходы, возраст: эмпирический анализ неравенства в здоровье населения России
Authors: Карцева Марина Анатольевна , Кузнецова Полина Олеговна
Published: May 2023

В работе изучается взаимосвязь здоровья и материального благосостояния взрослого населения России. С помощью регрессионного анализа авторы тестируют гипотезы о наличии доходного градиента в здоровье населения и его возрастных особенностях. Дополнительно в статье уточняются механизмы взаимосвязи здоровья и доходов. Эмпирическая основа исследования — микроданные национального репрезентативного Выборочного наблюдения состояния здоровья населения (Росстат). В качестве меры здоровья используются самооценка здоровья по 100-балльной шкале и индикатор наличия хронических заболеваний, а в качестве меры доходов — информация о субъективном благосостоянии семьи.
Показано, что здоровье людей статистически значимо связано с их доходами. При прочих равных здоровье людей из высокодоходных групп лучше, а здоровье людей из низкодоходных групп хуже, чем здоровье людей со средними доходами. С возрастом взаимосвязь здоровья и доходов усиливается. Исключение составляют старшие возраста, в которых доходный градиент, как минимум, перестает расти, что объясняется в том числе селективной смертностью, особенностями российской пенсионной системы и мерами социальной поддержки пожилых граждан и инвалидов.
Результаты исследования предполагают наличие двух механизмов взаимосвязи доходов и здоровья населения. Во-первых, представители более высокодоходных групп реже страдают хроническими заболеваниями. Во-вторых, высокие доходы позволяют людям лучше справляться с возникающими проблемами здоровья, обеспечивая более высокий уровень здоровья при наличии хронических заболеваний. Низкие доходы, наоборот, ассоциируются с более высокими рисками хронических заболеваний и худшим самочувствием хронических больных.
Полученные данные говорят о дополнительной уязвимости низкодоходных групп населения — помимо материальных ресурсов, для улучшения уровня жизни людям не хватает здоровья. Включение людей с низким уровнем доходов в фокус социальной политики в области сохранения и укрепления здоровья позволит снизить риски возникновения ловушек плохого здоровья и бедности.
Благодарность. Статья подготовлена в рамках гранта, предоставленного Министерством науки и высшего образования Российской Федерации (№ соглашения о предоставлении гранта: 075-15-2022-326).
Родственный уход: работать нельзя ухаживать?
Authors: Миронова Анна Алексеевна
Published: May 2023

Основная цель представленного исследования — проанализировать связь между включенностью в родственный уход и занятостью на рынке труда в России. Уделяется внимание анализу масштабов включенности россиян в родственный уход, выявлению социально-демографических характеристик доноров родственного ухода, установлению степени их удовлетворенности различными аспектами своей жизни. Работа основана на данных «Комплексного наблюдения условий жизни населения» (КОУЖ) и количественного выборочного обследования на тему «Репродуктивное и самосохранительное поведение населения Республики Татарстан», проведенных в 2020—2021 гг. КОУЖ-2020 охватывает 60 тыс. домохозяйств и репрезентативно для населения России. Выборка исследования демографических процессов в Республике Татарстан включает 4013 респондентов. Проведенный с использованием логистической регрессии и методов дескриптивной статистики анализ показал, что подавляющее большинство доноров родственного ухода заняты на рынке труда, но чем выше интенсивность нагрузки родственным уходом, тем реже доноры участвуют в трудовой деятельности. Практически каждый пятый незанятый донор родственного ухода отмечает, что денег хватает только на еду и оплату ЖКУ. Включенные в родственный уход в среднем получают меньший доход от занятости и менее удовлетворены материальным положением своей семьи, своим здоровьем и жизнью в целом, по сравнению с теми, кто не ухаживает за родственниками. Доноры ухода заметно чаще заявляют, что их квалификация и профессиональные навыки пригодны для выполнения более сложной работы. Среди незанятых доноров ухода отмечается ярко выраженное смещение в пользу женщин и людей старших возрастов (55 лет и старше) с относительно более низким уровнем образования.
Благодарность. Исследование осуществлено в рамках Программы фундаментальных исследований НИУ ВШЭ. Автор благодарен Синявской Оксане Вячеславовне за рекомендации по усовершенствованию исследования в процессе работы над текстом.
Phenotypic diversity of date palm varieties (Phoenix dactylifera L.) from southwest Algeria estimated by fruit characteristics
Authors: DEBABECHE Kaouther , BOUAFIA Abdelaaziz , BENCHEIKH Abdelaali
Published: May 2023

This study aimed to identify the genetic diversity of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in the southwest of Algeria (wilaya of Adrar), as part of the Algerian date palm varieties conservation. The morphological characterization was adopted in terms of quality and quantity of 26 varieties. The main results showed a considerable genetic diversity of date palms in this agricultural territory. 7 cultivars counted in danger of extinction. The cluster analysis brought out significant differences between qualitative and quantitative traits. However, the cultivars of ‘Deglet Talmine’, ‘Maatouk’, and ‘Timidouele’ produced dates of high quantitative traits, however, of different qualitative traits. Also, some relationships were observed within clusters for other varieties. A variety named ‘Khalt’ was able to produce dates better than many cultivars. This work would help to know the focal traits of the plant genetic resources of date palm and preserve that are in extinction.
An innovative framework for sustainable and centralized material procurement management based on a full-domain set theory
Authors: Ding F.X. , Liu S.F. , Li X.W.
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this study is to propose a theoretical framework to solve the problem of insufficient data integrity, insufficient information circulation, and poor global data integration and linkage in the material procurement management subsystem. Based on the theory of full-domain set, this study proposes the conceptual framework, the full-domain linkage model, and the theoretical framework of centralized material procurement management. With the proposed innovative management framework, current problems such as insufficient data integrity, insufficient information circulation and data linkage in the procurement management system can be solved. This study provides reference significance for the construction of centralized material procurement management in the context of big data and offers theoretical guidance for large group enterprises to carry out centralized procurement management.