bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-depth analysis and open challenges of Mist Computing
Authors: López Escobar Juan José , Díaz Redondo Rebeca P. , Gil-Castiñeira Felipe
Published: November 2022

The advent and consolidation of the Massive Internet of Things (MIoT) comes with a need for new architectures to process the massive amount of generated information. A new approach, Mist Computing, entails a series of changes compared to previous computing paradigms, such as Cloud and Fog Computing, with regard to extremely low latency, local smart processing, high mobility, and massive deployment of heterogeneous devices. Hence, context awareness use cases will be enabled, which will vigorously promote the implementation of advantageous Internet of Things applications. Mist Computing is expected to reach existing fields, such as Industry 4.0, future 6G networks and Big Data problems, and it may be the answer for advanced applications where interaction with the environment is essential and lots of data are managed. Despite the low degree of maturity, it shows plenty of potential for IoT together with Cloud, Fog, and Edge Computing, but it is required to reach a general agreement about its foundations, scope, and fields of action according to the existing early works. In this paper, (i) an extensive review of proposals focused on Mist Computing is done to determine the application fields and network elements that must be developed for certain objectives, besides, (ii) a comparative assessment between Cloud, Fog, Edge, and Mist is completed and (iii) several research challenges are listed for future work. In addition, Mist Computing is the last piece to benefit from the resources of complete network infrastructures in the Fluid Computing paradigm.
Prognostic markers for the clinical course in the blood of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Fischer Johannes C. , Balz Vera , Jazmati Danny , Bölke Edwin , Freise Noemi F. , Keitel Verena , Feldt Torsten , Jensen Björn-Erik Ole , Bode Johannes , Lüdde Tom , Häussinger Dieter , Adams Ortwin , Schneider E. Marion , Enczmann Jürgen , Rox Jutta M. , Hermsen Derik , Schulze-Bosse Karin , Kindgen-Milles Detlef , Knoefel Wolfram Trudo , van Griensven Martijn , Haussmann Jan , Tamaskovics Balint , Plettenberg Christian , Scheckenbach Kathrin , Corradini Stefanie , Pedoto Alessia , Maas Kitti , Schmidt Livia , Grebe Olaf , Esposito Irene , Ehrhardt Anja , Peiper Matthias , Buhren Bettina Alexandra , Calles Christian , Stöhr Andreas , Gerber Peter Arne , Lichtenberg Artur , Schelzig Hubert , Flaig Yechan , Rezazadeh Amir , Budach Wilfried , Matuschek Christiane
Published: November 2022

Background

The presentation of peptides and the subsequent immune response depend on the MHC characteristics and influence the specificity of the immune response. Several studies have found an association between HLA variants and differential COVID-19 outcomes and have shown that HLA genotypes are associated with differential immune responses against SARS-CoV-2, particularly in severely ill patients. Information, whether HLA haplotypes are associated with the severity or length of the disease in moderately diseased individuals is absent.

Methods

Next-generation sequencing-based HLA typing was performed in 303 female and 231 male non-hospitalized North Rhine Westphalian patients infected with SARS-CoV2 during the first and second wave. For HLA-Class I, we obtained results from 528 patients, and for HLA-Class II from 531. In those patients, who became ill between March 2020 and January 2021, the 22 most common HLA-Class I (HLA-A, -B, -C) or HLA-Class II (HLA –DRB1/3/4, -DQA1, -DQB1) haplotypes were determined. The identified HLA haplotypes as well as the presence of a CCR5Δ32 mutation and number of O and A blood group alleles were associated to disease severity and duration of the disease.

Results

The influence of the HLA haplotypes on disease severity and duration was more pronounced than the influence of age, sex, or ABO blood group. These associations were sex dependent. The presence of mutated CCR5 resulted in a longer recovery period in males.

Conclusion

The existence of certain HLA haplotypes is associated with more severe disease.
Increased risk of COVID-19 mortality rate in IFITM3 rs6598045 G allele carriers infected by SARS-CoV-2 delta variant
Authors: Gholami Melika , Sakhaee Fatemeh , Sotoodehnejadnematalahi Fattah , Zamani Mohammad Saber , Ahmadi Iraj , Anvari Enayat , Fateh Abolfazl
Published: November 2022

Background

The interferon-induced transmembrane-protein 3 (IFITM3) is a vital component of the immune system's defense against viral infection. Variants in the IFITM3 gene have been linked to changes in expression and the risk of severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to investigate whether IFITM3 rs6598045, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) cycle threshold (Ct) values, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants are associated with an increased mortality rate of COVID-19.

Methods

The genotyping of IFITM3 rs6598045 polymorphism was analyzed using the amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction in 1342 recovered and 1149 deceased patients positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Results

In this study, IFITM3 rs6598045 G allele as minor allele frequency was significantly more common in the deceased patients than in the recovered ones. Furthermore, the highest mortality rates were observed in Delta variant and lowest qPCR Ct values. COVID-19 mortality was associated with IFITM3 rs6598045 GG and AG in Delta variant and IFITM3 rs6598045 AG in Alpha variant. A statistically significant difference was observed in the qPCR Ct values between individuals with GG and AG genotypes and those with an AA genotype.

Conclusion

A possible correlation was observed between the mortality rate of COVID-19, the G allele of IFITM3 rs6598045, and SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, large-scale research is still required to validate our results.
A novel workflow for geothermal exploration: 3D seismic interpretation of biohermal buildups (Upper Jurassic, Molasse Basin, Germany)
Authors: Wolpert Philipp , Aigner Thomas , Bendias Daniel , Beichel Kilian , Zosseder Kai
Published: November 2022

The Upper Jurassic carbonates are the prime target for deep geothermal exploration in the Molasse basin, South Germany. The carbonates have a thickness of over 500m (1640 ft) and consist of two major facies: (1) bedded marly limestone and (2) massive limestone and dolostone. The massive limestone facies is composed of sponge-microbial biohermal buildups It is considered the main geothermal reservoir facies. Only this facies type may be (1) karstified, (2) dolomitized, and/or (3) faulted and fractured, and therefore can yield very high flow rates of >100 l/sec = 26 gps. The main data source used in this study is the 3D seismic survey of the Freiham geothermal field in the western part of Munich/Germany. Blended in were cutting logs to describe the lithology from 2 wells and borehole image logs from the two geothermal wells. Lithologies derived from these wells were upscaled in support of the seismic interpretation. The study presents an integrated workflow of 3D seismic attribute analysis to analyze the distribution and quantification of reservoir facies (massive limestone) versus non-reservoir facies (bedded marly limestone) per time slice. The attribute “sum of magnitude” is mapped for 9-time slices based on the vertical resolution of the Freiham 3D cube. The seismic facies interpretation is compared with upscaled borehole image facies associations of two geothermal wells. BHI log data is calibrated with an interpretation of the depositional environment based on cutting analysis Reservoir geometries were derived from an outcrop analog study to better understand the 3D seismic facies interpretation and to construct the conceptual depositional model of the Upper Jurassic carbonates. This technique is commonly used in hydrocarbon exploration but is not yet adapted to geothermal projects, which are often based on little data, smaller company sizes, tight budgets, and limited access to specialized geomodelling software and experience. The approach of using 3D seismic attribute analysis presented in this study provides a quantitative subsurface model of geothermal reservoir facies in the Freiham geothermal field. It is quick and straightforward and can easily be applied in the exploration workflow for similar fields and reservoirs.
Biological control of cabbage head rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) by Coniothyrium minitans
Authors: Sivagnanapazham K. , Karthikeyan M. , Raguchander T. , Swarna Priya R. , Kamalakannan A.
Published: November 2022

Background

Sclerotinia sclerotiorumis the causal agent of white mould, stem and head rot diseases on a wide variety, including cabbage in the field and storage. Control of this pathogen by using commercial disease management methods is extremely difficult. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the potential biological control agent.

Results

The antagonist fungal isolates, a mycoparasite ofS. sclerotiorum, were isolated and described as KET Cm1, PAL Cm 2 and TDK Cm 3. They were subjected to morphological and microscopic observation. The growth of antagonist fungal isolates on different media revealed that PDA and half-strength Czapek dox agar medium showed the maximum mycelial growth (28.67 and 28.33 mm) and pycnidial production in the PDA medium. The studies on pH and temperature found that growth and sporulation of the antagonist fungal isolates were optimum at pH 5.5 (34 mm) and 20 °C. The molecular confirmation of antagonist fungal isolates was carried out using ITS 1 and ITS 4 primers, which target 18S-28S rRNA gene fragment. The isolates were partially sequenced and showed that more than 99% identity withConiothyrium minitansalready exist in the NCBI database. The accession numbers (MW093134, MW111282 and MW136938) were obtained for all the three isolates and also confirmed using specific primers Cm sp 1F and Cm sp 1R. Among the tested isolates, the antagonistic activity ofC. minitansTDK Cm 3 showed the maximum mycelial growth inhibition of 48.8%S. sclerotiorumand was used for further studies. Penetration and formation of appressoria on the hyphae ofS. sclerotiorumbyC. minitansisolate TDK Cm 3 were observed through the scanning electron microscope. The ethyl acetate fractions of TDK CM 3 isolate were evaluated againstS. sclerotiorumby agar well diffusion assay, paper disc assay and poison food technique in vitro. Through GC–MS analysis, the effective antifungal compounds were identified.

Conclusion

The present study focused on the identification and characterization of effectiveConiothyriumisolates as eco-friendly, integrated disease management strategies against cabbage head rot disease.
Outcomes of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Administration in Hospitalized Patients With Solid Tumor Malignancies
Authors: Patel Ami K. , Duperreault Megan F. , Pandya Chintan J. , Glotzbecker Brett , Leblebjian Houry , Simmons Justin , Dougherty David
Published: November 2022

PURPOSE:

More oncologists desire to treat their patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the inpatient setting as their use has become more widespread for numerous oncologic indications. This is cost-prohibitive to patients and institutions because of high drug cost and lack of reimbursement in the inpatient setting. We sought to examine current practice of inpatient ICI administration to determine if and in which clinical scenarios it may provide significant clinical benefit and therefore be warranted regardless of cost.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective chart review of adult patients who received at least one dose of an ICI for treatment of an active solid tumor malignancy during hospitalization at a single academic medical center between January 2017 and June 2018. Patient, disease, and admission characteristics including mortality data were examined, and cost analysis was performed.

RESULTS:

Sixty-five doses of ICIs were administered to 58 patients during the study period. Nearly 40% and 80% of patients died within 30 days and 180 days of ICI administration, respectively. There was a trend toward longer overall survival in patients with good prognostic factors including positive programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) status. Slightly over 70% of patients were discharged within 7 days of ICI administration. The total cost of inpatient ICI administration over the 18-month study period was $615,016 US dollars.

CONCLUSION:

Inpatient ICI administration is associated with high costs and poor outcomes in acutely ill hospitalized patients with advanced solid tumor malignancies and therefore should largely be avoided. Careful discharge planning to expedite outpatient treatment after discharge will be paramount in ensuring patients with good prognostic features who will benefit most from ICI therapy can be promptly treated in the outpatient setting as treating very close to discharge in the inpatient setting appears to be unnecessary, regardless of tumor features.
Resonances and near field heat transfer of finite structures
Authors: Chui S. T. , Lin Zhifang , Zi Jian
Published: November 2022

We describe a formulation for near field heat transfer for a finite size system so that the heat conductance can be expressed as sums of contributions from the resonances of the combined structure of the “receiver” and the “source”. Our work opens the door to investigating near field heat transfer between finite systems and in particular metamaterials whose resonances have been well studied. We illustrated our results with an analytically tractable example of energy transfer between two split ring resonantors separated by a distance d on top of each other. When the cuts of the two rings are opposite each other, the heat conductance is smaller than when the cuts of the two rings are on top of each other. This result can only come from a finite system calculation.
Cranium growth, patterning and homeostasis
Authors: Ang Phillip S. , Matrongolo Matt J. , Zietowski Maeson L. , Nathan Shelby L. , Reid Russell R. , Tischfield Max A.
Published: November 2022

Craniofacial development requires precise spatiotemporal regulation of multiple signaling pathways that crosstalk to coordinate the growth and patterning of the skull with surrounding tissues. Recent insights into these signaling pathways and previously uncharacterized progenitor cell populations have refined our understanding of skull patterning, bone mineralization and tissue homeostasis. Here, we touch upon classical studies and recent advances with an emphasis on developmental and signaling mechanisms that regulate the osteoblast lineage for the calvaria, which forms the roof of the skull. We highlight studies that illustrate the roles of osteoprogenitor cells and cranial suture-derived stem cells for proper calvarial growth and homeostasis. We also discuss genes and signaling pathways that control suture patency and highlight how perturbing the molecular regulation of these pathways leads to craniosynostosis. Finally, we discuss the recently discovered tissue and signaling interactions that integrate skull and cerebrovascular development, and the potential implications for both cerebrospinal fluid hydrodynamics and brain waste clearance in craniosynostosis.
A selective and sensitive detection system for 4-thiouridine modification in RNA
Authors: Sugio Yuzuru , Yamagami Ryota , Shigi Naoki , Hori Hiroyuki
Published: November 2022

4-Thiouridine (s4U) is a modified nucleoside, found at positions 8 and 9 in tRNA from eubacteria and archaea. Studies of the biosynthetic pathway and physiological role of s4U in tRNA are ongoing in the tRNA modification field. s4U has also recently been utilized as a biotechnological tool for analysis of RNAs. Therefore, a selective and sensitive system for the detection of s4U is essential for progress in the fields of RNA technologies and tRNA modification. Here, we report the use of biotin-coupled 2-aminoethyl-methanethiosulfonate (MTSEA biotin-XX) for labeling of s4U and demonstrate that the system is sensitive and quantitative. This technique can be used without denaturation; however, addition of a denaturation step improves the limit of detection.Thermus thermophilustRNAs, which abundantly contain 5-methyl-2-thiouridine, were tested to investigate the selectivity of the MTSEA biotin-XX s4U detection system. The system did not react with 5-methyl-2-thiouridine in tRNAs from aT. thermophilustRNA 4-thiouridine synthetase (thiI) gene deletion strain. Thus, the most useful advantage of the MTSEA biotin-XX s4U detection system is that MTSEA biotin-XX reacts only with s4U and not with other sulfur-containing modified nucleosides such as s2U derivatives in tRNAs. Furthermore, the MTSEA biotin-XX s4U detection system can analyze multiple samples in a short time span. The MTSEA biotin-XX s4U detection system can also be used for the analysis of s4U formation in tRNA. Finally, we demonstrate that the MTSEA biotin-XX system can be used to visualize newly transcribed tRNAs inS. cerevisiaecells.
Development of an emergency airway response system for COVID-19 at a tertiary care hospital in resource limited country
Authors: Shamim Faisal , Khan Muhammad Faisal , Samad Khalid , Latif Asad
Published: November 2022

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) infection causes severe respiratory dysfunction and has become an emergent issue for worldwide healthcare due to highly transmissible and contagious nature. Aerosol generating procedures such as tracheal intubation is of particularly high risk. This mandates some advice on processes and techniques required to protect staff and uniform approach during airway management. We hereby share our experience in development of an emergency response system to deal with COVID airway management at a frontline hospital which particularly consider the local demands and resources. This includes a change in working dynamics with 24/7 consultant coverage for emergent or urgent tracheal intubation of COVID patients at non-operating room locations. Other steps include prepackaging intubation baskets, availability of videolaryngoscope, standard personal protective equipment including powered air purifying respirator, and use of modified intubation checklist.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.1.5689

How to cite this: Shamim F, Khan MF, Samad K, Latif A. Development of an emergency airway response system for COVID-19 at a tertiary care hospital in resource limited country. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.1.5689

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cashew apple in Tanzania: status of utilization, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable development
Authors: Dimoso Noel , Kassim Neema , Makule Edna
Published: November 2022

Cashew apples, although widely available and rich in nutrients are still underutilized after harvest in Tanzania. Approximately 2,327,000 metric tonnes of cashew apples are lost each year. Their counterpart, the cashew nut is highly appreciated and successfully contributes to the national economy. The huge underutilization of cashew apples is a challenge that requires urgent attention in order to achieve both national and global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Improvement of the cashew apple sector could have a positive impact on global SDGs 1, 2, and 3 targets of no poverty, zero hunger, and good health and well-being respectively. At national level, this sector could contribute to the goals of the Tanzania Development Vision (TDV) 2025, namely: high quality livelihood, particularly food self-sufficiency and food security; and a strong and competitive economy, particularly a diversified and semi-industrialized economy with a substantial industrial sector comparable to typical middle-income countries. In addition, the country’s Third Five Year Development Plan III (FYDP III) 2021/22 – 2025/26 has established key strategic interventions, notably those related to competitive industrialization, energy, and food and nutrition security to ultimately achieve the goals of the TDV 2025. To be effective, however, these strategic interventions require continued strong central and local government support and active involvement of stakeholders to ensure program effectiveness yielded towards efficient utilization of widely available natural resources such as cashew apples which has cross-cutting benefits in food, agriculture, health, energy, and economic perspectives. Therefore, the work provides evidence on the utilization status, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable development in Tanzania.
Steady State in Ultrastrong Coupling Regime: Expansion and First Orders
Authors: Latune Camille Lombard
Published: November 2022

Understanding better the dynamics and steady states of systems strongly coupled to thermal baths is a great theoretical challenge with promising applications in several fields of quantum technologies. Among several strategies to gain access to the steady state, one consists in obtaining approximate expressions of the mean force Gibbs state, the reduced state of the global system-bath thermal state, largely credited to be the steady state. Here, we present analytical expressions of corrective terms to the ultrastrong coupling limit of the mean force Gibbs state, which has been recently derived. We find that the first order term precisely coincides with the first order correction obtained from a dynamical approach—master equation in the strong-decoherence regime. This strengthens the identification of the reduced steady state with the mean force Gibbs state. Additionally, we also compare our expressions with another recent result obtained from a high temperature expansion of the mean force Gibbs state. We observe numerically a good agreement for ultra strong coupling as well as for high temperatures. This confirms the validity of all these results. In particular, we show that, in term of coherences, all three results allow one to sketch the transition from ultrastrong coupling to weak coupling.Quanta 2022; 11: 53–71.
The assesment of lipid peroxidation processes disturbances in animals` lungs in condition of experimental parodontitis development
Authors: Solvar Zoryana
Published: November 2022

An imbalance between generation of free radicals and antioxidant defence leads to an oxidative stress Pulmonary damage caused by oxygen toxicity occurs due to the generation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent formation of more potent oxidants in experimental peridontitis development. Furthermore, the reactive oxygen species content may be a useful and practical parameter for evaluating periodontal disease activity.
Strategies for Improving Chinese Writing Exercises of Senior Grade Students in the Primary School of the Yi Ethnic Group
Authors: Zhang Jian , Yu Mengyue , Abbas Safdar
Published: November 2022

There has been a strong consensus among previous researchers that first language interferes with second language acquisition. A limited number of studies have been conducted to examine this interference in writing Chinese. Chinese writing exercises for primary school students of the Yi ethnic group in rural areas tend to encourage students to incorporate their native language habits into Chinese writing practices. This enables students to apply modern Chinese word order to the Yi language paradigm. Consequently, they are prone to grammatical errors, word order errors, and collocation errors in their compositions. This study focuses on elementary school students' writing abilities in order to alleviate their fears associated with Chinese writing. It also assists them in grasping the second language writing paradigm, and enjoying writing. In addition, by analyzing the composition errors of the students in the corpus, we propose some practical recommendations from three perspectives: educators, students, and institutions. These recommendations will enhance language and writing education within ethnic communities through theoretical and practical strategies.
EL IMAGINARIO FÍLMICO SUBURBIAL DE LOS AÑOS SESENTA. EL FIN DE LAS UTOPÍAS MODERNAS
Authors: Grávalos Lacambra Ignacio
Published: November 2022

A partir de la segunda guerra mundial las ciudades experimentaron un acusado incremento de población, debiendo expandir sus límites y reconfigurando la relación centro-periferia. Aparecieron conjuntos suburbanos que, bajo los preceptos de la ciencia y las promesas del progreso, auspiciaban con gran optimismo un nuevo futuro. A mediados de los años sesenta la realidad era bien distinta. Estas actuaciones mostraron grandes niveles de conflictividad, situación que fue reflejada en la producción cinematográfica. El artículo indaga sobre la introducción de una crítica urbana en cierta filmografía de ese período a través de tres películas representativas de esta manera de relatar tanto los nuevos conjuntos suburbiales como las megaestructuras. En Dos o tres cosas que yo sé de ella (Godard, 1967), La naranja mecánica (Kubrick, 1971) o Vinieron de dentro de… (Cronenberg, 1975) las propuestas urbanas van a tener un protagonismo radical, relatándose los espacios del suburbio como los espacios de la soledad o de la violencia. Todas ellas contribuyeron en gran medida a la conformación de un imaginario urbano negativo que se iba a extender sobre el movimiento moderno, poniendo fin a las utopías que se habían formulado sobre la ciudad del futuro.
Unintended Consequence of Jesse’s Law in Arizona Critical Care Medicine
Authors:   Banner Gateway Medical Center, Gilbert, AZ USA, Jones-Adamczyk Adrienne , Mayer Patricia
Published: November 2022

Jesse’s Law, passed in Arizona as a reaction to a surrogate acting against the interests of a specific patient, now prevents intensivists and surrogates who are acting appropriately from discontinuing unwanted interventions in dying hospice patients. The law prohibits statutory surrogates from authorizing discontinuance of artificial nutrition and hydration unless they can present “clear and convincing evidence” to a court that the patient would agree. This law is causing undue harm to hospice patients at end of life by delaying withdrawal of unwanted medical interventions, interfering with accepted and established surrogate decision-making precepts, and negating informed consent because surrogates are unaware that artificial nutrition and hydration cannot be easily discontinued after initiation. The authors offer a case example followed by an ethical analysis of this presumably unintended consequence of the law.
The use of the consensual approach for the improvement of existing multidimensional poverty data in Latin America: an illustration based on data from the City of Buenos Aires
Authors: Beccaria Luis , Fernández Ana Laura , Nájera Héctor
Published: November 2022

This article aims at contributing to the current literature on poverty data limitations and measurement by discussing the process for producing the first multidimensional poverty measure based on the consensual approach for the City of Buenos Aires. The results show a remarkable level of consensus about the necessities of life in the twenty-first century, underline the importance of generating more suitable indicators of deprivation and show that unmet basic needs-type variables are no longer adequate for measuring poverty in countries like Argentina. According to the valid and reliable poverty index, 20.3% of the city’s population live in households in multidimensionally poor households, this being the social dimension that shows the highest deprivation rate.
Teaching for social change: introducing ‘scrapbooking’ as a pedagogic approach towards ending gender-based violence
Authors: Walling-Wefelmeyer Rosa , Johnson Kelly , Westmarland Nicole , Dhir Alishya , Lyons Sumroy Asha
Published: November 2022

This article introduces and evaluates ‘scrapbooking’ as a critical pedagogic approach to gender-based violence (GBV). This approach is inspired by the rapid development of conceptual and methodological tools for researching violence and abuse and the need for their translation into transformative teaching. Drawing on a feminist methodology of ‘research conversations’, but original in its development of ‘pedagogic conversations’, this research advocates further empirical attention to GBV teaching and presents its own four ‘lessons learnt’ from experimenting with scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is argued to facilitate not only the translation of GBV research into teaching, but also affective and embodied consciousness-raising and continuum-thinking in both students and tutors.
Temperature dependence of the fluorescence lifetime and emission cross section of Tm:YLF in the 78–300 K range
Authors: Demirbas Umit , Thesinga Jelto , Kellert Martin , Kärtner Franz X. , Pergament Mikhail
Published: November 2022

We have investigated the spectroscopic properties of Tm:YLF material around 1900 nm in detail to understand its amplification performance at cryogenic temperatures. Fluorescence lifetime and emission cross section (ECS) measurements are performed in the 78–300 K range using crystals with Tm doping levels of 0.5 and 2.5%. The radiative lifetime of the 3F4 level of Tm:YLF is found to be temperature dependent, and has a value of around 18 ms at 78 K, and 15.25 ms at 300 K, respectively. The emission measurements indicate the presence of rather strong and reasonably broadband peaks even at cryogenic temperatures. The 1877 nm emission peak of the E//c configuration has a strength of around 2.4 × 10−20 cm2 and a full-width half maximum (FWHM) of around 4 nm at 100 K. The E//a axis configuration possesses a broader emission around 1908 nm with a FWHM of around 19 nm at 100 K, but with a lower peak ECS value of 0.75 × 10−20 cm2. We have also investigated the temperature variation of fluorescence lifetime for the 3H4 level, and the results showed that the two-for-one cross-relaxation process is also quite effective at cryogenic temperatures. These findings clearly demonstrate that cryogenic Tm:YLF systems have the potential to reach kW level average powers and sub-1-ps pulsewidths.
Health care workers’ knowledge on identification, management and treatment of snakebite cases in rural Malawi: A descriptive study
Authors: Aron Moses Banda , Kachimanga Chiyembekezo , Kreuels Benno , Mailosi Bright , Sambani Clara , Matanje Beatrice Lydia , Blessmann Joerg , Chunga Mwayi , Momba Grace , Ndarama Enoch , Kambalame Dzinkambani Moffat , Connolly Emilia , Rosenthal Anat , Munyaneza Fabien
Published: November 2022

Snakebite envenoming remains a public health threat in many African countries, including Malawi. However, there is a shortage of literature on the knowledge of Health Care Workers (HCWs) and the prevalence of snakebite cases in Malawi. We interviewed HCWs in Neno District to assess their knowledge of snake identification and management of snakebites. We further reviewed patient registers from 2018 to 2021 in all 15 health facilities in the district. We used descriptive statistics to characterize the survey population, knowledge, snake antivenom (SAV) administration, and snake identification. Using "shapefiles" from Open Street Maps, we mapped villages with snakebite cases. Of the 105 HCWs interviewed, 58% were males, and 60% had worked for less than five years. The majority (n = 93, 89%) reported that snakebite envenoming was a problem in the district. Among the clinicians, 42% said they had prescribed SAV previously, while among nurses, only 26% had ever administered SAV. There were discrepancies among clinicians regarding the dosing of snake antivenom. Significant gaps in knowledge also existed regarding snake identification. While two-thirds of HCWs could correctly name and identify venomous snake species, most (> 90%) failed for non-venomous snakes. Most (n = 100, 95%) reported that snakebite victims visit traditional healers more than the hospital. Between 2018 and 2021, the Neno District registered 185 snakebites with a yearly average of 36 cases per 100,000 population. Fifty-two percent (n = 97) were treated as an inpatient; of these cases, 72% were discharged in less than three days, and two died. More snakebite cases were recorded in the eastern part of the district. Significant knowledge gaps exist among HCWs in Neno regarding prescription and administration of SAV and snake identification, which likely challenges the quality of services offered to snakebite victims.
Knowledge, attitude, and uptake of human papilloma virus vaccine and associated factors among female preparatory school students in Bahir Dar City, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Lakneh Etenesh Adela , Mersha Eleni Admassu , Asresie Melash Belachew , Belay Habtamu Gebrehana
Published: November 2022

Background

The human papillomavirus vaccine is one of the main preventative measures for cervical cancer. However, global vaccine uptake is low; the problem is particularly acute in low and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study is to assess female preparatory school students’ knowledge, attitude, and uptake of the human papillomavirus vaccine and associated factors in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia.

Methods

Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 633 female preparatory school students in Bahir Dar city from March 1–30, 2021. Participants were selected using the multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and entered into Epi-data and exported to SPSS for analysis. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done using an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Finally-value < 0.05 was considered significant in multivariable analysis.

Result

The proportion of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake, knowledge of the vaccine, and respondents’ attitudes toward the vaccine were 45.3% (95% CI = 41.6–49.4%), 58.1% (95% CI = 54.4–61.9%), and 16% (95% CI = 13.2–19.5%), respectively. Having a history of sexual contact AOR = 2.80 (95% CI = 1.64–4.76), hearing about HPV infection AOR = 1.59 (95% CI = 1.13–2.24), and having a positive attitude toward HPV vaccine AOR = 1.46 (95% CI = 1.03–2.08) were significantly associated with knowledge about the HPV vaccine. Discussion of reproductive health issues with family AOR = 2.558 (95%CI = 1.800–3.636), and having good knowledge about HPV vaccine AOR = 3.571(95%CI = 2.494–5.113) were associated with a positive attitude toward the HPV vaccine. Good knowledge AOR = 2.36(95%CI = 1.48–3.76) and a positive attitude toward HPV vaccine AOR = 2.87(95%CI = 1.70–4.85) were strongly associated with HPV vaccine utilization.

Conclusion

In this study, there was a very low uptake of HPV vaccination among female students, and only a small proportion of them had good knowledge of the HPV vaccine and a favorable attitude toward the HPV vaccine.
Galactosyl- and glucosylsphingosine induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization and cell death in cancer cells
Authors: Stahl-Meyer Kamilla , Bilgin Mesut , Holland Lya K. K. , Stahl-Meyer Jonathan , Kirkegaard Thomas , Petersen Nikolaj Havnsøe Torp , Maeda Kenji , Jäättelä Marja
Published: November 2022

Isomeric lysosphingolipids, galactosylsphingosine (GalSph) and glucosylsphingosine (GlcSph), are present in only minute levels in healthy cells. Due to defects in their lysosomal hydrolysis, they accumulate at high levels and cause cytotoxicity in patients with Krabbe and Gaucher diseases, respectively. Here, we show that GalSph and GlcSph induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization, a hallmark of lysosome-dependent cell death, in human breast cancer cells (MCF7) and primary fibroblasts. Supporting lysosomal leakage as a causative event in lysosphingolipid-induced cytotoxicity, treatment of MCF7 cells with lysosome-stabilizing cholesterol prevented GalSph- and GlcSph-induced cell death almost completely. In line with this, fibroblasts from a patient with Niemann-Pick type C disease, which is caused by defective lysosomal cholesterol efflux, were significantly less sensitive to lysosphingolipid-induced lysosomal leakage and cell death. Prompted by the data showing that MCF7 cells with acquired resistance to lysosome-destabilizing cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) were partially resistant to the cell death induced by GalSph and GlcSph, we compared these cell death pathways with each other. Like CADs, GalSph and GlcSph activated the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signalling pathway, and cAMP-inducing forskolin sensitized cells to cell death induced by low concentrations of lysosphingolipids. Contrary to CADs, lysosphingolipid-induced cell death was independent of lysosomal Ca2+ efflux through P2X purinerigic receptor 4. These data reveal GalSph and GlcSph as lysosome-destabilizing lipids, whose putative use in cancer therapy should be further investigated. Furthermore, the data supports the development of lysosome stabilizing drugs for the treatment of Krabbe and Gaucher diseases and possibly other sphingolipidoses.
TC-Net: Dual coding network of Transformer and CNN for skin lesion segmentation
Authors: Dong Yuying , Wang Liejun , Li Yongming
Published: November 2022

Skin lesion segmentation has become an essential recent direction in machine learning for medical applications. In a deep learning segmentation network, the convolutional neural network (CNN) uses convolution to capture local information for modeling. However, it ignores the relationship between pixels and still can not meet the precise segmentation requirements of some complex low contrast datasets. Transformer performs well in modeling global feature information, but their ability to extract fine-grained local feature patterns is weak. In this work, The dual coding fusion network architecture Transformer and CNN (TC-Net), as an architecture that can more accurately combine local feature information and global feature information, can improve the segmentation performance of skin images. The results of this work demonstrate that the combination of CNN and Transformer brings very significant improvement in global segmentation performance and allows outperformance as compared to the pure single network model. The experimental results and visual analysis of these three datasets quantitatively and qualitatively illustrate the robustness of TC-Net. Compared with Swin UNet, on the ISIC2018 dataset, it has increased by 2.46% in the dice index and about 4% in the JA index. On the ISBI2017 dataset, the dice and JA indices rose by about 4%.
Multiplexed micronutrient, inflammation, and malarial antigenemia assessment using a plasma fractionation device
Authors: Brindle Eleanor , Lillis Lorraine , Barney Rebecca , Bansil Pooja , Arredondo Francisco , Craft Neal E. , Murphy Eileen , Boyle David S.
Published: November 2022

Processing and storing blood samples for future analysis of biomarkers can be challenging in resource limited environments. The preparation of dried blood spots (DBS) from finger-stick collection of whole blood is a widely used and established method as DBS are biosafe, and allow simpler field processing, storage, and transport protocols than serum or plasma. Therefore, DBS are commonly used in population surveys to assess infectious disease and/or micronutrient status. Recently, we reported that DBS can be used with the Q-plex™Human Micronutrient 7-plex Array (MN 7-plex), a multiplexed immunoassay. This tool can simultaneously quantify seven protein biomarkers related to micronutrient deficiencies (iodine, iron and vitamin A), inflammation, and malarial antigenemia using plasma or serum. Serum ferritin, an iron biomarker, cannot be measured from DBS due to red blood cell (RBC) ferritin content confounding the results. In this study, we assess a simple blood fractionation tool that passively separates plasma from other blood components via diffusion through a membrane into a plasma collection disc (PCD). We evaluated the concordance of MN 7-plex analyte concentrations from matched panels of eighty-eight samples of PCD, DBS, and wet plasma prepared from anticoagulated venous whole blood. The results showed good correlations of >0.93 between the eluates from PCD and DBS for each analyte except ferritin; while correlations seen for plasma/PCD were weaker. However, the recovery rate of the analytes from the PCD were better than those from DBS. The serum ferritin measures from the PCD were highly correlated to wet plasma samples (0.85). This suggests that surveillance for iron status in low resource settings can be improved over the current methods restricted to only measuring sTfR in DBS. When used in combination with the MN 7-plex, all seven biomarkers can be simultaneously measured using eluates from the PCDs.
Real-time noise cancellation with deep learning
Authors: Porr Bernd , Daryanavard Sama , Bohollo Lucía Muñoz , Cowan Henry , Dahiya Ravinder
Published: November 2022

Biological measurements are often contaminated with large amounts of non-stationary noise which require effective noise reduction techniques. We present a new real-time deep learning algorithm which produces adaptively a signal opposing the noise so that destructive interference occurs. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the algorithm’s performance by reducing electromyogram noise in electroencephalograms with the usage of a custom, flexible, 3D-printed, compound electrode. With this setup, an average of 4dB and a maximum of 10dB improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio of the EEG was achieved by removing wide band muscle noise. This concept has the potential to not only adaptively improve the signal-to-noise ratio of EEG but can be applied to a wide range of biological, industrial and consumer applications such as industrial sensing or noise cancelling headphones.
Regulation, control and digital transition of Ntv Online in Bangladesh television business
Authors: Islam Ameena , Md Syed Md Azalanshah
Published: November 2022

Audiences’ shifts to online and interactive engagement have posed numerous challenges to Bangladesh’s media ecology. This descriptive case study examines the current state of digital transition, complexities and competitions faced by the local television industry by putting Ntv Online, one of the first-generation television station’s online portals and convergence pioneers, at the centre of the discussion. It explains how Ntv Online is internalizing and responding to convergence practice from both media market dynamics and organizational perspectives. This study believes that issues other than those raised by media technology are equally important in comprehending the digital transition of Bangladesh’s television industry. The key findings indicate that the hybrid regime’s intervention in free media practices as well as complex market competition from massive tech platforms limit Bangladesh’s trajectory as a competitor in the global digital media arcade. This also implies that existing ownership and corporate structures may not support the required interoperability between management and journalists. However, the digital transitions of the private TV industry may pave the way for the creation of a democratic space for public deliberation, which is essentially demanded in the current hybrid regime’s intervention in actualizing this shift.
Let the music play: ‘Hipsters’ and heteronormative fashion
Authors: Myzelev Alla
Published: November 2022

The article examines how fashion assists in emphasizing heteronormativity in the musical film Hipsters (2008). The film is about the first countercultural phenomenon in the Soviet Union – Stiliagi. Predominantly men, these young people adapted different styles of dress, language, behaviour and dance that they felt was closely copying the styles of western cultures such as Teddy Boys. While the movement that started in the late 1940s and continued to the early 1960s included heterosocial behaviour, the film that presumably recreates the affective feeling of the culture distorts the history to spotlight heterosexuality and the search for individual freedom. It argues that given that historically and currently, the association between fashion and masculinity in the Russian culture is understood as effeminate, the film had to create clear heteronormative relationships between the male and female protagonists while emphasizing fashion and consumption. The article demonstrates how the film works within post-Soviet ideology by comparing the use of fashion in the film and the historical data about the actual Stiliagi movement of the 1950s. By negating the heterosocial and heterosexual relationship, the film created an artificial understanding of the Soviet culture. It follows the official ideological doctrine of creating nostalgia for the simpler yet somewhat stifled life in the Soviet Union without attracting the audience’s attention to the repressions of the post-Stalin Soviet Union.
HBO’s Euphoria and the complexities at play in the costumed representations of contemporary masculinities
Authors: Betts Liza
Published: November 2022

This article discusses the language of screen costume and representations of masculinity via a close reading of the successful and critically acclaimed 2019 HBO drama series Euphoria. It considers three key characters, Rue, Nate and Fez, and how each of these characters makes visible certain cultural and sociological ideologies which concern and influence current debates around diverse masculinities, social class and creative subjectivity. It is argued that the production team behind Euphoria employs creative acts of appropriation to articulate and explore the diversity of masculine lived experience within the restricted language of television. This is evidenced through the character of ‘Rue’, who sits in opposition to all other characters identified as feminine or transitioning in both narrative context and, significantly, costuming. ‘Rue’ is therefore explored as the masculine articulation and/or manifestation of the creator – Sam Levinson’s subjective position. ‘Nate’ is explored in relation to the currency of damaging stereotypes of dominant masculinity within television drama and how misconceptions around gendered identities work to reinforce, perpetuate and normalize problematic behavioural traits. It is suggested that we need to expand understandings of ordinary clothing or costume as a language, how meaning is articulated within this language and how the materiality of ordinary or unexceptional dress evolves and mutates and becomes a set of unquestioned yet dangerous symbols or significations. ‘Fez’ will be examined in response to Henri Lefebvre’s 1960s ideas around moments of contestation, alongside a discussion of the role that the body and clothing play in marking out or positioning ideas around the intersection of social class and masculinity which can be applied to differing, global manifestations of social hierarchies. Readings of ‘Fez’ highlight middle-class insecurities around subjective value and distance from working-class experience and are played out through the character’s costuming.