bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early detection of macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Amelia Rina , Harahap Juliandi , Yunanda Yuki , Wijaya Hendri , Fujiati Isti Ilmiati , Yamamoto Zulham
Published: August 2021

Background: Macrovascular complications occur very frequently in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with a high mortality rate, due to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as stroke, atherosclerosis acceleration, and atrial fibrillation. T2DM is a significant risk factor for CVD and has become the leading cause of death. The purpose of this study was to detect the early risk of macrovascular complications by using the ankle brachial index (ABI) as a marker.

Methods: This study was an analytic study with a cross-sectional approach. The study population was patients with T2DM from several primary health care centers in Medan. In total, 89 subjects who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited with consecutive sampling. ABI was determined as the ratio of systolic blood pressure in the brachial artery to the posterior tibial artery after the subjects had been relaxed and felt comfortable in a supine position. Examination of vitamin D and lipid profile was derived from examination of venous blood.  Data were processed using SPSS and analyzed with one-way ANOVA.

Results: The study found that there was a relationship between LDL-C, triglyceride, and vitamin D (25OH-D) based on the ABI (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: ABI can be used for an early detection of macrovascular complications. Apart from being easy to perform, ABI was non-invasive. Some other risk factors that can also be used to assess complications and have relationships with ABI were LDL-C, triglyceride, and vitamin D (25OH-D). Complications in T2DM patients can be prevented with reasonable blood sugar control and lifestyle changes. Education and motivation need to be given to patients so that they become more independent in controlling their disease and improving their quality of life.
The impact of vitamin D supplementation on peripheral neuropathy in a sample of Egyptian prediabetic individuals
Authors: Reda Halawa Mohamed , Zaky Ahmed Iman , Fawzy Abouelezz Nahla , Roushdy Mohamed Nagwa , Hany Abdelaziz Khalil Naira , Mahmoud Ali Hendawy Laila
Published: August 2021

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is seen more frequently in diabetic patients with distal symmetrical polyneuropathy. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of data concerning prediabetic individuals with peripheral neuropathy (PN). Therefore, we aimed to study the association of vitamin D deficiency with PN severity and to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on PN in prediabetics.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted consisting of 178 prediabetic individuals recruited from the outpatient department of the National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Cairo, Egypt. All patients were screened for PN using clinical examination and Douleur Neuropathique 4 diagnostic questionnaire (DN4). They were divided into 89 patients with and 89 patients without PN (group A and B). Group A was assessed for neuropathic severity using the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). In addition, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, ionized calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour post 75g glucose (2h-75g glucose) and lipid profile were measured. Prediabetic patients with PN were given vitamin D3 200.000 IU IM monthly for three months. After three months, clinical assessment, DN4, SF-MPQ and all laboratory measures were repeated.

Results: Vitamin D level was negatively correlated with neuropathy score and severity (r = -0.65, -0.47, p <0.001) among group A. Moreover, vitamin D level was an independent predictor of neuropathic severity (odds ratio -0.18, 95% CI -0.33 -0.03, P ≤ 0.05). Supplementation of vitamin D resulted in a highly significant improvement in glycemic parameters and lipid profile, p ≤ 0.001. Interestingly, neuropathy score and severity before vitamin D supplementation were (6.4 ± 1.6 and 28.3 ± 7.2) and after became (2.5 ± 0.9 and 17 ± 6.3, p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is an independent risk factor for PN. Correction of vitamin D deficiency improves glycemic parameters, PN score and severity.
H3K36me3 and PSIP1/LEDGF associate with several DNA repair proteins, suggesting their role in efficient DNA repair at actively transcribing loci
Authors: Sundarraj Jayakumar , Taylor Gillian C.A. , von Kriegsheim Alex , Pradeepa Madapura M
Published: August 2021

Background: Trimethylation at histone H3 at lysine 36 (H3K36me3) is associated with expressed gene bodies and recruit proteins implicated in transcription, splicing and DNA repair. PC4 and SF2 interacting protein (PSIP1/LEDGF) is a transcriptional coactivator, possesses an H3K36me3 reader PWWP domain. Alternatively spliced isoforms of PSIP1 binds to H3K36me3 and suggested to function as adaptor proteins to recruit transcriptional modulators, splicing factors and proteins that promote homology-directed repair (HDR), to H3K36me3 chromatin.

Methods: We performed chromatin immunoprecipitation of H3K36me3 followed by quantitative mass spectrometry (qMS) to identify proteins associated with H3K36 trimethylated chromatin in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). We also performed stable isotope labelling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) followed by qMS for a longer isoform of PSIP1 (PSIP/p75) and MOF/KAT8 in mESCs and mouse embryonic fibroblasts ( MEFs). Furthermore, immunoprecipitation followed by western blotting was performed to validate the qMS data. DNA damage in PSIP1 knockout MEFs was assayed by a comet assay.

Results: Proteomic analysis shows the association of proteins involved in transcriptional elongation, RNA processing and DNA repair with H3K36me3 chromatin. Furthermore, we show DNA repair proteins like PARP1, gamma H2A.X, XRCC1, DNA ligase 3, SPT16, Topoisomerases and BAZ1B are predominant interacting partners of PSIP /p75. We further validated the association of PSIP/p75 with PARP1, hnRNPU and gamma H2A.X  and also demonstrated accumulation of damaged DNA in PSIP1 knockout MEFs.

Conclusions: In contrast to the previously demonstrated role of H3K36me3 and PSIP/p75 in promoting homology-directed repair (HDR), our data support a wider role of H3K36me3 and PSIP1 in maintaining the genome integrity by recruiting proteins involved in DNA damage response pathways to the actively transcribed loci.
ENTREPRENEURIAL UNIVERSITY: CONCEPTIONS AND EVOLUTION OF THEORETICAL MODELS
Authors: Klein Simone Boruck , Pereira Frederico Cesar Mafra
Published: August 2021

In this research, a discussion is promoted regarding concepts, theories and main works that deal with the phenomenon of the Entrepreneurial University, with the aim of arousing instigations and reflections for the development of future research on this theme. The main contributions are the formulation of a frame of concepts, and the presentation of three predominant theoretical models, considering that the first uses the Institutional Theory, the second, the Systems Theory, and the third, a junction of these. To these contributions it is associated the presentation of theoretical approaches, used for the analysis of different objects at the Entrepreneurial University.
Practice-based Studies on Sustainable Consumption: a methodological proposal.
Authors: Pimentel Ricardo
Published: August 2021

The paper proposes a methodological approach for practice-based studies on sustainable consumption. The methodological proposal aims to overcome prescriptive models, seeking a deep understanding to support interventions that promote changes towards sustainable consumption. The proposal adopts phenomenology as a method and ethnography as a strategy. Interview-to-the-double, self-crossed confrontation and digital technologies are proposed for data collection, and phenomenological semiotics as a method of analysis. The increasing participation of the researcher and the techniques indicated for intervention situations are a contribution, because they allow to study a practice and cause its transformation.
Desafios de empreendedoras na economia criativa periférica
Authors: Almeida Emmanuelle Lopes de , Dias Pâmela Karolina , Santos Elisabeth Cavalcante dos
Published: August 2021

O objetivo foi analisar as principais dificuldades vivenciadas por empreendedoras na Economia Criativa em Caruaru-PE. Para isso, mobilizou-se a teoria da interseccionalidade, que possibilitou entender as estruturas de opressão em nível macro e as micro social. Realizou-se entrevistas semiestruturadas por videoconferência com cinco mulheres e nove entrevistas por formulário via Google Forms. As entrevistas foram realizadas durante a pandemia do Covid-19 no período de maio e junho de 2020. Conclui-se que as dificuldades das empreendedoras caruaruenses se relacionam com a gestão financeira, o acúmulo de jornadas, a dificuldade tecnológica, o contexto periférico e os desafios de atuar no meio digital.
Apprehension and Existence, Appearance and Reality: The Reception of Nafs al-amr Debates after the 13th Century
Authors: Kaş Murat
Published: August 2021

The structure of human cognition and the means of apprehension is suitable only for partly and gradually conceiving reality. This limitation has led to a certain distance between appearance and reality. This means that there will always be a gap between the judgments of the mind about the external world and its contents, which are entities, cases, facts, and states. This partiality and partiteness of human understanding has produced the truth-maker problem with regard to mind judgments. Muslim scholars who admit the correlation between the structure of reality and the categories of the mind but reject the notion of the construction and the determination of reality by the mind refer to the realm that is independent of the mind’s personal judgments as nafs al-amr. This realm is concerned with the all degrees of reality, namely—from the existent to the non-existent, from the necessity to the contingency and impossibility, from the absolute to the relative, from the material to the non-physical, from the external to the mental, and from the real entities to the abstracted ones—which step into the shot of human cognition or not. Carrying the concept of nafs al-amr from the logical plane to the metaphysical realm that intersects epistemology and ontology has led to debates that pave the way for various treatments. In particular, Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī’s (d. 672/1274) nafs al-amr epistle that posited it to the cosmic sphere resulted in criticisms of this conception of nafs al-amr, and these criticisms are the same ones directed to the Avicennian theory of emanation and its epistemological implications. Scholars who use this concept free from any metaphysical presumption and implication argue against his leap from the logical to the cosmic sphere. During the following period, this tension occasioned debates that led to the approaches that refer to the various degrees of reality, i.e., to the cosmic spheres, the spiritual realms, and the divine realms. This work aims to create a map of treatments, arguments and problems with regard to the concept of nafs al-amr.
EF4, EF4-M and EF4-Ł: A companion to BN4 and two modal four-valued systems without strong Łukasiewicz-type modal paradoxes
Authors: Blanco José Miguel
Published: August 2021

The logic BN4 was defined by R.T. Brady as a four-valued extension of Routley and Meyer’s basic logic B. The system EF4 is defined as a companion to BN4 to represent the four-valued system of (relevant) implication. The system Ł was defined by J. Łukasiewicz and it is a four-valued modal logic that validates what is known as strong Łukasiewicz-type modal paradoxes. The systems EF4-M and EF4-Ł are defined as alternatives to Ł without modal paradoxes. This paper aims to define a Belnap-Dunn semantics for EF4, EF4-M and EF4-Ł. It is shown that EF4, EF4-M and EF4-Ł are strongly sound and complete w.r.t. their respective semantics and that EF4-M and EF4-Ł are free from strong Łukasiewicz-type modal paradoxes.
Hierarchies, Knowledge, and Power Inside Organizations
Authors: Dosi Giovanni , Marengo Luigi , Virgillito Maria Enrica
Published: August 2021

This paper contributes to an old and still unresolved question in the theory of organizations, namely, what do bosses do? Whether and to what extent managerial functions are productive or not for the well functioning of an organization has to be understood with respect to the tension between knowledge and power. Here, we start addressing such a tension with reference to the very nature of organizations. Next, we discuss its historical unfolding in two archetypical organizational modes of production, Taylorism and Toyotism. Third, these two archetypical configurations are studied by means of a model of organizations populated by three sets of agents, workers, managers, and the principal, endowed by different attributes and functions. The fitness of alternative organizational setups is studied under diverse degrees of complexity of the landscape.
What Does Firm Shaping of Markets Really Mean?
Authors: Helfat Constance E.
Published: August 2021

This paper seeks to enhance our understanding of the shaping of a market by a firm or set of firms competing in that market. The analysis draws on evolutionary economics and incorporates insights from prior research on shaping that has relied on a socio-cognitive perspective. The approach taken here can provide a means to more clearly distinguish shaping from adaptation and search and has implications for organization–environment coevolution and the evolution of competitive advantage.
COVID-19 pandemic and hip fractures: impact and lessons learned
Authors: Arafa Mohamed , Nesar Samia , Abu-Jabeh Hamza , Jayme Ma Odette Remelou , Kalairajah Yegappan
Published: August 2021

Aims

The coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic forced an unprecedented period of challenge to the NHS in the UK where hip fractures in the elderly population are a major public health concern. There are approximately 76,000 hip fractures in the UK each year which make up a substantial proportion of the trauma workload of an average orthopaedic unit. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hip fracture care service and the emerging lessons to withstand any future outbreaks.

Methods

Data were collected retrospectively on 157 hip fractures admitted from March to May 2019 and 2020. The 2020 group was further subdivided into COVID-positive and COVID-negative. Data including the four-hour target, timing to imaging, hours to operation, anaesthetic and operative details, intraoperative complications, postoperative reviews, COVID status, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), length of stay, postoperative complications, and the 30-day mortality were compiled from computer records and our local National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) export data.

Results

Hip fractures and inpatient falls significantly increased by 61.7% and 7.2% respectively in the 2020 group. A significant difference was found among the three groups regarding anaesthetic preparation time, anaesthetic time, and recovery time. The mortality rate in the 2020 COVID-positive group (36.8%) was significantly higher than both the 2020 COVID-negative and 2019 groups (11.5% and 11.7% respectively). The hospital stay was significantly higher in the COVID-positive group (mean of 24.21 days (SD 19.29)).

Conclusion

COVID-19 has had notable effects on the hip fracture care service: hip fracture rates increased significantly. There were inefficiencies in theatre processes for which we have recommended the use of alternate theatres. COVID-19 infection increased the 30-day mortality and hospital stay in hip fractures. More research needs to be done to reduce this risk. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-9:530–540.
Machine learning model with physical constraints for diffuse optical tomography
Authors: Zou Yun , Zeng Yifeng , Li Shuying , Zhu Quing
Published: August 2021

A machine learning model with physical constraints (ML-PC) is introduced to perform diffuse optical tomography (DOT) reconstruction. DOT reconstruction is an ill-posed and under-determined problem, and its quality suffers by model mismatches, complex boundary conditions, tissue-probe contact, noise etc. Here, for the first time, we combine ultrasound-guided DOT with ML to facilitate DOT reconstruction. Our method has two key components: (i) a neural network based on auto-encoder is adopted for DOT reconstruction, and (ii) physical constraints are implemented to achieve accurate reconstruction. Both qualitative and quantitative results demonstrate that the accuracy of the proposed method surpasses that of existing models. In a phantom study, compared with the Born conjugate gradient descent (Born-CGD) reconstruction method, the ML-PC method decreases the mean percentage error of the reconstructed maximum absorption coefficient from 16.41% to 13.4% for high contrast phantoms and from 23.42% to 9.06% for low contrast phantoms, with improved depth distribution of the target absorption maps. In a clinical study, better contrast was obtained between malignant and benign breast lesions, with the ratio of the medians of the maximum absorption coefficient improved from 1.63 to 2.22.
Single-shot circular fringe projection for the profiling of objects having surface discontinuities
Authors: Mandapalli Jagadeesh Kumar , Ravi Vaishnavi , Gorthi Sai Siva , Gorthi Subrahmanyam , Gorthi Rama Krishna
Published: August 2021

Fringe projection profilometry (FPP) is a widely used non-contact optical method for 3D profiling of objects. The commonly used linear fringe pattern in FPP has periodic intensity variations along the lateral direction. As a result, the linear fringe pattern used in FPP cannot uniquely represent the lateral shift induced by the objects having surface discontinuities. Thus, unambiguous surface profiling of objects, especially with surface discontinuities, using a single linear fringe image having a single fringe frequency, is unfeasible. This paper proposes using a radially symmetric circular fringe pattern as the structured light pattern for accurate unambiguous surface profiling of sudden height-discontinuous objects. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only method that can reconstruct discontinuous height profiles with the help of a single fringe image having a single frequency. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated on several synthetic and real objects having smooth variations and discontinuities. Compared to the well-known fringe projection methods, the results depict that for a tolerable range of error, the proposed method can be applied for the reconstruction of objects with 4 times higher dynamic range and even at much lower fringe frequencies.
Weak turbulence effects on different beams carrying orbital angular momentum
Authors: Ferlic Nathaniel A. , van Iersel Miranda , Davis Christopher C.
Published: August 2021

The study of beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) has been of interest for its use in free-space optical communications (FSOC), directed energy applications, and remote sensing (RS). For FSOC and RS, it is necessary to measure the wavefront of the beam to recover transmitted or environmental information, respectively. In this computational study, common OAM beams such as the Laguerre–Gaussian (LG), Bessel–Gaussian (BG), and Bessel beams are propagated through atmospheric turbulence and compared to their Gaussian beam counterpart. The turbulence is simulated using multiple phase screens within the framework of a split-step method. Beam metrics used to quantify beam propagation will include the spatial coherence radius, OAM spectrum, on-axis intensity, spot size, divergence, and on-axis scintillation. Atmospheric turbulence along the path is limited to the weak scintillation limit, where beam parameters can be predicted analytically using the Rytov approximation. The results show that BG beams and multiplexed BG beams retain more OAM information than their LG and Bessel beam counterparts. The LG beam on-axis intensity and on-axis scintillation are seen to be independent of OAM mode. The scintillation of the LG beam is less than a BG, Bessel, and Gaussian beam across low- and high-order OAM modes. Insight into these results is discussed through studying the beam divergence, while the initial spot sizes of the Gaussian, LG, and BG beams are limited to the same spatial extent.
Gradient-probability-driven discrete search algorithm for on-chip photonics inverse design
Authors: Yang Shanglin , Jia Hao , Zhang Lei , Dai Jincheng , Fu Xin , Zhou Ting , Zhang Gaolu , Yang Lin
Published: August 2021

The inverse-designed photonic device, with the characteristics of high performance and ultra-high compactness, is suitable for on-chip photonics applications. The gradient-based algorithms have high convergence efficiency. However, they depend on the continuous independent variable, so they cannot be directly applied to the pixel-based discrete search methods. In this paper, we propose a gradient-probability-driven discrete search (GPDS) algorithm for photonics inverse design. The algorithm establishes a connection between the gradient and the discrete value set by introducing the method of probability sampling. As an intrinsic discrete search algorithm in which the values of pixels are selected from a finite number of the discrete set, no additional discretization process is needed. Compared with the traditional brute-force search (BFS) method and traditional gradient method, the probability sampling process of our proposed GPDS algorithm can improve device performance efficiently and provide better stability to the initial states. We illustrate several component designs which are commonly used in the silicon photonics platform, and the results show that the algorithm can achieve high-performance structures within fewer iterations and has the ability of multi-objective optimization. With good flexibility and manufacturing-friendly geometry control, the algorithms are potential to be a powerful tool in solving multi-objective problems.
Noble metal modified ReS2 nanocavity for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) analysis
Authors: Shao Mingrui , Zhang Chao , Yu Jing , Jiang Shouzhen , Zhao Xiaofei , Li Zhaoxiang , Lu Weixi , Man Baoyuan , Li Zhen
Published: August 2021

The rhenium disulphide (ReS2) nanocavity-based surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates ware fabricated on the gold-modified silicon pyramid (PSi) by thermal evaporation technology and hydrothermal method. In this work, the ReS2 nanocavity was firstly combined with metal nanostructures in order to improve the SERS properties of ReS2 materials, and the SERS response of the composite structure exhibits excellent performance in sensitivity, uniformity and repeatability. Numerical simulation reveals the synergistic effect of the ReS2 nanocavity and the plasmon resonance generated by the metal nanostructures. And the charge transfer between the metal, ReS2 and the analytes was also verified and plays an non-ignorable role. Besides, the plasmon-driven reaction for p-nitrothiophenol (PNTP) to p,p'-dimercaptobenzene (DMAB) conversion was successfully in-situ monitored. Most importantly, it is found for the first time that the SERS properties of ReS2 nanocavity-based substrates are strongly temperature dependent, and the SERS effect achieves the best performance at 45 °C. In addition, the low concentration detection of malachite green (MG) and crystal violet (CV) molecules in lake water shows its development potential in practical application.
Improvement in the signal amplitude and bandwidth of an optical atomic magnetometer via alignment-to-orientation conversion
Authors: Zhu Maohua , Wang Li , Guo Jun , Zhao Xiuchao , Sun Xianping , Ye Chaohui , Zhou Xin
Published: August 2021

We evaluated the alignment-to-orientation conversion (AOC) at the cesium D1 line to improve a nonlinear magneto–optical rotation (NMOR) optical atomic magnetometer’s signal amplitude and bandwidth. For the 6 2S1/2 F = 3 → 6 2P1/2 F′ = 4 transition, the AOC-related NMOR achieves a 1.7-fold enhancement in signal amplitude compared to the conventional NMOR, benefiting from narrow linewidth and ultraweak power broadening. Therefore, an effective amplitude-to-linewidth ratio is maintained in the high-laser-power region. This method is beneficial for detecting high-frequency magnetic signals in nuclear magnetic resonance and biomagnetism, as the NMOR magnetometer bandwidth increases with laser power.
Real-time channel conditional distribution tracking for intelligent decoding of optical IMDD signals
Authors: Sun Lin , Xu Bingxin , Fan Xinyu , Du Jiangbing , He Zuyuan , Lu Chao
Published: August 2021

In this Letter, we propose a real-time machine learning scheme of a tracking optical intensity-modulation and direct-detection (IMDD) system’s conditional distribution using linear optical sampling and inline Gaussian mixer modeling (GMM) programming. End-to-end conditional distribution tracking enables an adaptive decoding of optical IMDD signals, with robustness to the bias point shift of the optical intensity modulator. Experimental demonstration is conducted over a 20-Gbits/s optical pulse amplitude modulation-4 (PAM-4) modulation system. Optical PAM-4 signals are optically down-sampled by short pulses to 250 Msa/s. Then, statistical characters of signal distribution can be estimated using inline GMM processing. Due to the real-time learned distribution, intelligent decoding of received signals exhibits a perfect adaptation to the changing bias point of a Mach–Zendner intensity modulator, enhancing the communication reliability with bit error rate (BER) below

3.8
⋅

10

−
3

. In addition, the proposed scheme also provides the possibility of practical implementation to other machine learning signal decoding methods.
Modeling of UV diffused-LOS communication channel incorporating obstacle and its applicability analysis
Authors: Wu Tianfeng , Yang Fang , Song Jian , Ma Jianshe , Su Ping
Published: August 2021

Existing studies of the ultraviolet (UV) channel mainly focus on non-line-of-sight (NLOS) scenarios, while line-of-sight (LOS) scenarios are generally neglected since obstacles sometimes block them. To fill this gap, a UV diffused-LOS channel model in the presence of an obstacle is proposed for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. For easy interpretation, the whole derivation is combined with four typical positions of the obstacle. Moreover, the applicability of the proposed model is investigated via comparison with the classical Monte Carlo simulation model, where the transceiver elevation angle and azimuth angle are always kept optimal. Calculation and simulation results show that when the obstacle thickness is relatively small, the channel attenuation of the UV diffused-LOS system is lower than that of the UV NLOS system with the variation of obstacle width, height, and distance between transceiver and obstacle. In addition, an expression of the impulse response time of the diffused-LOS channel with the obstacle is also derived for tractable analysis.
Identification of structures for ion channel kinetic models
Authors: Mangold Kathryn E. , Wang Wei , Johnson Eric K. , Bhagavan Druv , Moreno Jonathan D. , Nerbonne Jeanne M. , Silva Jonathan R.
Published: August 2021

Markov models of ion channel dynamics have evolved as experimental advances have improved our understanding of channel function. Past studies have examined limited sets of various topologies for Markov models of channel dynamics. We present a systematic method for identification of all possible Markov model topologies using experimental data for two types of native voltage-gated ion channel currents: mouse atrial sodium currents and human left ventricular fast transient outward potassium currents. Successful models identified with this approach have certain characteristics in common, suggesting that aspects of the model topology are determined by the experimental data. Incorporating these channel models into cell and tissue simulations to assess model performance within protocols that were not used for training provided validation and further narrowing of the number of acceptable models. The success of this approach suggests a channel model creation pipeline may be feasible where the structure of the model is not specifieda priori.
Burden of disease among the world’s poorest billion people: An expert-informed secondary analysis of Global Burden of Disease estimates
Authors: Coates Matthew M. , Ezzati Majid , Robles Aguilar Gisela , Kwan Gene F. , Vigo Daniel , Mocumbi Ana O. , Becker Anne E. , Makani Julie , Hyder Adnan A. , Jain Yogesh , Stefan D. Cristina , Gupta Neil , Marx Andrew , Bukhman Gene
Published: August 2021

Background

The health of populations living in extreme poverty has been a long-standing focus of global development efforts, and continues to be a priority during the Sustainable Development Goal era. However, there has not been a systematic attempt to quantify the magnitude and causes of the burden in this specific population for almost two decades. We estimated disease rates by cause for the world’s poorest billion and compared these rates to those in high-income populations.

Methods

We defined the population in extreme poverty using a multidimensional poverty index. We used national-level disease burden estimates from the 2017 Global Burden of Disease Study and adjusted these to account for within-country variation in rates. To adjust for within-country variation, we looked to the relationship between rates of extreme poverty and disease rates across countries. In our main modeling approach, we used these relationships when there was consistency with expert opinion from a survey we conducted of disease experts regarding the associations between household poverty and the incidence and fatality of conditions. Otherwise, no within-country variation was assumed. We compared results across multiple approaches for estimating the burden in the poorest billion, including aggregating national-level burden from the countries with the highest poverty rates. We examined the composition of the estimated disease burden among the poorest billion and made comparisons with estimates for high-income countries.

Results

The composition of disease burden among the poorest billion, as measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), was 65% communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional (CMNN) diseases, 29% non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and 6% injuries. Age-standardized DALY rates from NCDs were 44% higher in the poorest billion (23,583 DALYs per 100,000) compared to high-income regions (16,344 DALYs per 100,000). Age-standardized DALY rates were 2,147% higher for CMNN conditions (32,334 DALYs per 100,000) and 86% higher for injuries (4,182 DALYs per 100,000) in the poorest billion, compared to high-income regions.

Conclusion

The disease burden among the poorest people globally compared to that in high income countries is highly influenced by demographics as well as large disparities in burden from many conditions. The comparisons show that the largest disparities remain in communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases, though NCDs and injuries are an important part of the “unfinished agenda” of poor health among those living in extreme poverty.
The parametric study of hybrid nanofluid flow with heat transition characteristics over a fluctuating spinning disk
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Hong , A. Algehyne Ebrahem , G. Alshehri Maryam , Bilal Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Altaf , Muhammad Taseer
Published: August 2021

The study explored the 3D numerical solution of an unsteady Ag-MgO/water hybrid nanofluid flow with mass and energy transmission generated by a wavy rotating disc moving up and down. The nanofluid is generated in the context of Ag-MgO nanomaterials. Magnesium oxide and silver nanoparticles have been heavily reported to have broad-spectrum antibacterial operations among metal oxides and metals. Silver nanoparticles are without a doubt the most commonly used inorganic nanoparticles, with numerous innovations in biomaterial’s detection and antimicrobial operations. However, in current paper, the intention of the analysis is to boost thermal energy transmitting rates for a range of industrial implementations. When compared to a flat surface, energy transition is increased up to 15% due to the wavy swirling surface. The problem has been formulated as a system of PDEs, which included the Navier Stokes and Maxwell equations. Following that, the modeled equations are reduced to a dimensionless system of differential equations. The derived equations are then solved numerically using the Parametric Continuation Method (PCM). The findings are displayed graphically and debated. The geometry of a spinning disc is thought to have a positive impact on velocity and heat energy transfer. The insertion of nanostructured materials (silver and magnesium-oxide) increased the carrier fluid’s thermal properties considerably. It is more effective at dealing with low energy transmission.
The structural architecture of international industry networks in the global economy
Authors: Sigler Thomas , Martinus Kirsten , Iacopini Iacopo , Derudder Ben , Loginova Julia
Published: August 2021

Globalisation continuously produces novel economic relationships mediated by flows of goods, services, capital, and information between countries. The activity of multinational corporations (MNCs) has become a primary driver of globalisation, shaping these relationships through vast networks of firms and their subsidiaries. Extensive empirical research has suggested that globalisation is not a singular process, and that variation in the intensity of international economic interactions can be captured by ‘multiple globalisations’, however how this differs across industry sectors has remained unclear. This paper analyses how sectoral variation in the ‘structural architecture’ of international economic relations can be understood using a combination of social network analysis (SNA) measures based on firm-subsidiary ownership linkages. Applying an approach that combines network-level measures (Density, Clustering, Degree, Assortativity) in ways yet to be explored in the spatial networks literature, a typology of four idealised international network structures is presented to allow for comparison between sectors. All sectoral networks were found to be disassortative, indicating that international networks based on intraorganisational ties are characterised by a core-periphery structure, with professional services sectors such as Banks and Insurance being the most hierarchically differentiated. Retail sector networks, including Food & Staples Retailing, are the least clustered while the two most clustered networks—Materials and Capital Goods—have also the highest average degree, evidence of their extensive globalisations. Our findings suggest that the multiple globalisations characterising international economic interactions can be better understood through the ‘structural architecture’ of sectoral variation, which result from the advantages conferred by cross-border activity within each.
Impact of a warm anomaly in the Pacific Arctic region derived from time-series export fluxes
Authors: Lalande Catherine , Grebmeier Jacqueline M. , McDonnell Andrew M. P. , Hopcroft Russell R. , O’Daly Stephanie , Danielson Seth L.
Published: August 2021

Unusually warm conditions recently observed in the Pacific Arctic region included a dramatic loss of sea ice cover and an enhanced inflow of warmer Pacific-derived waters. Moored sediment traps deployed at three biological hotspots of the Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO) during this anomalously warm period collected sinking particles nearly continuously from June 2017 to July 2019 in the northern Bering Sea (DBO2) and in the southern Chukchi Sea (DBO3), and from August 2018 to July 2019 in the northern Chukchi Sea (DBO4). Fluxes of living algal cells, chlorophylla(chla), total particulate matter (TPM), particulate organic carbon (POC), and zooplankton fecal pellets, along with zooplankton and meroplankton collected in the traps, were used to evaluate spatial and temporal variations in the development and composition of the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in relation to sea ice cover and water temperature. The unprecedented sea ice loss of 2018 in the northern Bering Sea led to the export of a large bloom dominated by the exclusively pelagic diatomsChaetocerosspp. at DBO2. Despite this intense bloom, early sea ice breakup resulted in shorter periods of enhanced chlaand diatom fluxes at all DBO sites, suggesting a weaker biological pump under reduced ice cover in the Pacific Arctic region, while the coincident increase or decrease in TPM and POC fluxes likely reflected variations in resuspension events. Meanwhile, the highest transport of warm Pacific waters during 2017–2018 led to a dominance of the small copepodsPseudocalanusat all sites. Whereas the export of ice-associated diatoms during 2019 suggested a return to more typical conditions in the northern Bering Sea, the impact on copepods persisted under the continuously enhanced transport of warm Pacific waters. Regardless, the biological pump remained strong on the shallow Pacific Arctic shelves.
Developmental differences in the visual processing of emotionally ambiguous neutral faces based on perceived valence
Authors: Rollins Leslie , Bertero Erin , Hunter Laurie
Published: August 2021

The aim of the present research was to assess age-related differences in how children and adults interpret and visually process emotionally ambiguous neutral faces. Children and adults provided neutral child faces with valence and arousal ratings while eye movements were recorded. Consistent with previous research, children and adults both interpreted the neutral faces as negatively valenced. Both age groups showed fewer fixations to the eye region when they rated the faces as positive. However, adults fixated more on the eye region when they rated the faces as negative whereas children fixated more on the eye region when they rated the faces as neutral. This finding may suggest that children strategically allocate attentional resources to the eye region when processing emotionally ambiguous faces to gather critical affective information. These findings have implications for the utilization of neutral faces as an experimental control condition and serve as the foundation for future research on the development of mechanisms that underlie the interpretation of emotionally ambiguous faces.
Management of common minor ailments in Qatar: Community pharmacists’ self-perceived competency and its predictors
Authors: Makhlouf Ahmed Mohamed , Ibrahim Mohamed Izham Mohamed , Awaisu Ahmed , Vyas Saseendran Kattezhathu , Yusuff Kazeem Babatunde
Published: August 2021

Studies focused on comprehensive assessment of self-perceived competency of community pharmacists to manage minor ailments are scanty despite that self-perceived competency is a valid determinant of task performance. The objectives of the study were to assess community pharmacists’ self-perceived competency to manage fourteen common minor ailments in Qatar, and identify its significant predictors. A cross-sectional assessment of 307 community pharmacists was conducted with a pre-tested 20-item questionnaire. Self-perceived competency was assessed with nine elements on a scale of 1–10 (Maximum obtainable score: Each minor ailment = 90; each element = 140). Mann-Whitney U and bivariate logistic regression were used for data analyses. The response rate was 91.9% (282/307). The majority of the respondents were males (68.1%; 192/282), within the age range of 31–40 years (55.3%; 156/282). The minor ailments with the highest median competency score were constipation (76), and cold/catarrh (75) while travel sickness (69), and ringworm (69) had the lowest. The two condition-specific competency elements with the highest median score were recommendation of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines (115), and provision of instructions to guide its use (115). Ability to differentiate minor ailments from other medical conditions had the lowest median competency score (109). The significant predictors self-perceived competency were female gender (OR = 2.39, 95%CI: 1.34–4.25, p = 0.003), and working for chain pharmacies (OR = 2.54, 95%CI: 1.30–4.96, p = 0.006). Overall, Community pharmacists’ self-perceived competency was adequate for majority of the common minor ailments, and it was highest for constipation and cold/catarrh, and specifically for the recommendation of OTC medicines and provision of instructions to guide its use. However, diagnostic ability to differentiate minor ailments from other medical conditions with similar features had the lowest median competency score. Female gender and working in chain pharmacies were the significant predictors of self-perceived competency to manage minor ailments.
A mixed-methods study to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of aerobic exercise for primary dysmenorrhea: A study protocol
Authors: Kannan Priya , Cheung Kwok-Kuen , Lau Benson Wui-Man , Li Lin , Chen Huijun , Sun Fenghua
Published: August 2021

Background and purpose

Several studies have evaluated the effects of high-intensity aerobic training (HIAT) on pain severity and quality of life (QoL) among women with primary dysmenorrhea. However, to date, no studies have evaluated the effectiveness of HIAT on academic performance or absenteeism or examined the cost-effectiveness of HIAT relative to other treatments in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying aerobic exercise-induced analgesia in primary dysmenorrhea remain unclear. The objectives of this study are to: (1) evaluate the effects of HIAT on absenteeism and academic performance among university students, (2) identify the underlying mechanisms associated with aerobic exercise-induced analgesia in primary dysmenorrhea, and (3) determine the cost-effectiveness of HIAT compared with a wait-list control (WLC) group receiving usual care.

Methods

A sequential, embedded, mixed-methods study design, including a crossover, randomised controlled trial (RCT) and semi-structured focus groups, will be conducted alongside an economic evaluation. A total of 130 women aged 18–24 years will be randomised into either HIAT (n = 65) or wait-list control (n = 65) groups. Primary outcomes will include average pain intensity, absenteeism from university, and academic performance. Primary mediators will include salivary progesterone and prostaglandin F2α levels. Outcome and meditator variables will be assessed at baseline and post-treatment, at 12 and 28 weeks. An economic analysis will be conducted from the societal and healthcare perspective of Hong Kong. Semi-structured focus groups will be conducted at 32 weeks. Of the 130 participants included in the RCT, 70 will be included in the focus groups.

Statistical analysis

All statistical analyses will be performed on an intention-to-treat basis, using SPSS (version 24). Preliminary analysis using an independent samples t-test and a two-sided, unpaired Student’s t-test will be performed to exclude carryover effects and identify within-participant differences in outcome variables between the study periods, respectively. Treatment effects will be evaluated using analysis of variance via a mixed-effects model with fixed effects for intervention, period, and sequence. In all models, random effects will include the participants nested within the sequence as a sampling cluster. The mediation effects will be assessed using the Sobel test. The EQ-5D responses will be converted into utility scores to estimate the gain or loss of quality-adjusted life-years. Seemingly unrelated regression analyses will be used to estimate the total cost differences and effect differences. Qualitative data will be analysed using the process of thematic analysis.
Investigation of population-based mental health staffing and efficiency-based mental health productivity using an information-theoretic approach
Authors: Boden Matt , Smith Clifford A. , Trafton Jodie A.
Published: August 2021

Background

Healthcare systems monitor and improve mental health treatment quality, access, continuity and satisfaction through use of population-based and efficiency-based staffing models, the former focused on staffing ratios and the latter, staff productivity. Preliminary evidence suggests that both high staffing ratios and moderate-to-high staff productivity are important for ensuring a full continuum of mental health services to indicated populations.

Methods & findings

With an information-theoretic approach, we conducted a longitudinal investigation of mental health staffing, productivity and treatment at the largest integrated healthcare system in American, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). VHA facilities (N = 140) served as the unit of measure, with mental health treatment quality, access, continuity and satisfaction predicted by facility staffing and productivity in longitudinal mixed models. An information-theoretic approach: (a) entails the development of a comprehensive set of plausible models that are fit, ranked and weighted to quantitatively assess the relative support for each, and (b) accounts for model uncertainty while identifying best-fit model(s) that include important and exclude unimportant explanatory variables. In best-fit models, higher staffing was the strongest and most consistent predictor of better treatment quality, access, continuity and satisfaction. Higher staff productivity was often, but not always associated with better treatment quality, access, continuity and satisfaction. Results were further nuanced by differential prediction of treatment by between- and within-facility predictor effects and variable interactions.

Conclusions

A population-based mental health staffing ratio and an efficiency-based productivity value are important longitudinal predictors of mental health treatment quality, access, continuity and satisfaction. Our longitudinal design and use of mixed regression models and an information-theoretic approach addresses multiple limitations of prior studies and strengthen our results. Results are discussed in terms of the provision of mental health treatment by healthcare systems, and analytical modeling of treatment quality, access, continuity and satisfaction.
Does access to acute intensive trauma rehabilitation (AITR) programs affect the disposition of brain injury patients?
Authors: Chowdhury Sharfuddin , Leenen Luke P. H.
Published: August 2021

Early incorporation of rehabilitation services for severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients is expected to improve outcomes and quality of life. This study aimed to compare the outcomes regarding the discharge destination and length of hospital stay of selected TBI patients before and after launching an acute intensive trauma rehabilitation (AITR) program at King Saud Medical City. It was a retrospective observational before-and-after study of TBI patients who were selected and received AITR between December 2018 and December 2019. Participants’ demographics, mechanisms of injury, baseline characteristics, and outcomes were compared with TBI patients who were selected for rehabilitation care in the pre-AITR period between August 2017 and November 2018. A total of 108 and 111 patients were managed before and after the introduction of the AITR program, respectively. In the pre-AITR period, 63 (58.3%) patients were discharged home, compared to 87 (78.4%) patients after AITR (p = 0.001, chi-squared 10.2). The pre-AITR group’s time to discharge from hospital was 52.4 (SD 30.4) days, which improved to 38.7 (SD 23.2) days in the AITR (p < 0.001; 95% CI 6.6–20.9) group. The early integration of AITR significantly reduced the percentage of patients referred to another rehabilitation or long-term facility. We also emphasize the importance of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) specialists as the coordinators of structured, comprehensive, and holistic rehabilitation programs delivered by the multi-professional team working in an interdisciplinary way. The leadership and coordination of the PM&R physicians are likely to be effective, especially for those with severe disabilities after brain injury.