bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seaweed extracts as biological control of aflatoxins produced by Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus
Authors: Farghl Abla A. M. , El-Sheekh Mostafa M. , El-Shahir Amany A.
Published: May 2023

Background

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites made by a variety of molds and fungi. They contaminate a lot of food products and local crops during pre- and post-harvesting under favorable conditions like high temperature and moisture. Aspergillus species are the most common fungi that contaminate food and produce biochemicals known as mycotoxins. Aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2) are the major mycotoxins produced by A. flavus and A. parasiticus that harm animal and human health. These fungi are controlled by chemical fungicides, but these are harmful to the environment. The aim of this study was to determine whether the aflatoxigenic fungi can be exterminated only by marine algal extracts or not.

Results

The findings showed that the tested seaweed extracts inhibited fungal growth and aflatoxins production to varying degrees. The maximum antifungal activity was recorded in Halimeda opuntia extract against A. parasiticus-24 and A. flavus-18 and Turbunaria decurrens extract against A. flavus-18 (with an inhibition percentage of 77.78%), followed by Jania rubens extract against A. parasiticus-16 with inhibition percentage 75.88% compared to the control. Aqueous extract of H. opuntia effectively eliminated aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2) in A. parasiticus-16 and A. parasiticus-24. T. decurrens extract could detoxify 100% of aflatoxins in three isolates of A. parasiticus. J. rubens extract eliminated aflatoxins in A. parasiticus-15 and A. parasiticus-16 compared to their normal production using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Conclusions

According to this study, the macroalgal species with numerous distinctive antifungal properties constituents significantly inhibited the growth and production of aflatoxin in A. parasiticus and A. flavus isolates. The findings supported the use of macroalgae as a biological control agent against fungi and their toxins.
Assessment of endovascular embolization of cerebral arterio-venous malformations in vertebrobasilar domain
Authors: Eltantawi Mohamed Abdelhalim , Monzer Mahmoud Abdel-Moety , Sobh Khaled Mohamed , Yaseen AbdEllahNazeer , Ahmed Mahmoud Galal
Published: May 2023

Background

Endovascular approaches have been widely applied in patients with brain arterio-venous malformations (AVM). However, little is known regarding the risk factors for complications or predictors of procedure success. Herein, we report our experience regarding the outcomes of endovascular embolization of posterior fossa AVM, focusing on how angioarchitectural and hemodynamic characteristics of the AVM affect the post-intervention outcomes. 17 patients diagnosed with posterior cranial fossa AVM were enrolled and scheduled for endovascular interventions by Onyx or Histoacryl.

Results

Most patients had a single session (58.8%), while 29.4% had two sessions, 11.7% had three sessions. Total nidus obliteration was achieved in 52.9% of cases, while 35.3% and 11.8% of them had subtotal and partial occlusion, respectively. Postprocedural hematoma was encountered in 17.6% of cases. All preprocedural demographic characteristics did not have a significant impact on occlusion outcomes. However, some angioarchitecture criteria were associated with partial occlusion including large size, superficial or mixed drainage. No significant association was noted between patients criteria and the incidence of complications.

Conclusion

Endovascular interventions could be curative for brain AVM, with an accepted periprocedural morbidity rate. Proper knowledge of the angioarchitectural characteristics of these lesions could help us to predict lesions that carry high risk for complications or high chance for cure.
Superbugs: a constraint to achieving the sustainable development goals
Authors: Mohsin Shahriar , Amin Mohammad Nurul
Published: May 2023

Background

Antimicrobial resistance has already emerged as a major concern not only for public health but also for global economy. It causes a multifaceted crisis in development and growth by increasing the number of infections and deaths. Sustainable Development Goals are in place to ensure that development and growth are continual, as well as to end poverty, protect the environment, and promote peace and prosperity. In this review we tried to highlight the reasons for the prevalence of superbugs as well as their multifaceted impact on healthcare, and demonstrate potential ways to combat them and incorporate them into international policymaking processes.

Main body of the abstract

The literature review included articles from MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and PubMed published till the end of the year 2022 using keyword searches. Two hundred and forty-three research articles, review papers and studies written in English language evaluating the impact of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on patient, society and economy published until end of the year 2022 were included.

Short conclusion

This review highlighted the significant impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and was able to identify at least five SDGs that are linked to healthcare. The emergence of superbugs results in increased expenditure, which has serious consequences for the global economy, particularly in developing countries where infectious diseases are prevalent. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics, as well as poor infection control practices, are identified as primary drivers of superbug emergence. However, implementing strategies such as rational antibiotic use, effective infection control practices, and developing new antibiotics and alternative therapies can mitigate the adverse effects of AMR and contribute to achieving the SDGs. It is essential to integrate AMR strategies into national development plans and improve cross-sectoral collaboration among stakeholders to combat superbugs effectively.
A case of multidrug-resistant miliary tuberculosis mimicking lymphoma: a matter of life or death
Authors: Gursoy Vildan , Ozkalemkas Fahir , Dilektaslı Aslı Gorek , Demirdogen Ezgi , Ozkocaman Vildan , Pinar Ibrahim Ethem , Ener Beyza , Akalin Halis , Kazak Esra , Ali Rıdvan
Published: May 2023

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is a systemic infectious disease that is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and which can affect many tissues and organs. Despite the development of curative and preventive therapies in recent years, TB continues to be a serious health problem, in the developing countries in particular.

Case presentation

In this case report, an extraordinary case of miliary tuberculosis with unexplained fever, joint pain, weight loss, pancytopenia, lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, who was clinically suspected of lymphoma and successfully treated with a multidisciplinary approach without any complications, was presented. This case has been reported not because it is a rare case, but to raise awareness. It is a case, where early diagnosis and initiation of treatment early, as well as an individualized and multidisciplinary treatment approach emerged as the most important factors resulting in an improvement prognosis.

Conclusion

Extrapulmonary TB, if with lymph node involvement in particular, can easily mimic lymphoma. Imaging methods and clinical findings may be insufficient to distinguish these two conditions at the time of diagnosis. In such a case, it will be beneficial for the patient to proceed with an experienced team in the management of the patient.
Assessment of external radiation dose rate after 18FDG-PET/CT examination
Authors: Aldousari Hanan , Abuhadi Nouf , Izz Mariam , Alshammari Thekra , Ali Zainab , Aldaas Razan , Bakry Abdoelrahman Hassan Ali , Abukonna Ahmed , Esmail Abdulredha
Published: May 2023

Background

F-18 FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) PET/CT procedures are one of the most growing studies used for patient management in oncology, cardiology, neurology, and other indications, in which the challenges meet both patients and clinicians, especially when we are looking for the presence/absence of disease progression and cure. This study was conducted to assess the external radiation dose after 18FDG-PET/CT examination. In total, 117 patients were enrolled in the study. Radiation exposure was measured using a calibrated RadEye SPRD-ER personal radiation detector. The measurements were taken at 0, 30, 100, 150, and 200 cm distance from the patient. The time of measurement was immediately post-injection, 30 min, 60 min after injection, and at the time of releasing the patient.

Results

The result showed that the mean radiation equivalent dose rate at 0 min/0 cm was 414 µSv/h, at 30 min/30 cm was 99.7 µSv/h, and 60 min/100 cm was 18.3 µSv/h. The radiation doses at different distances (0, 30, 100, 150, and 200 cm) were 160.9 µSv/h, 70.9 µSv/h, 12.4 µSv/h, 7 µSv/h, and 3.7 µSv/h, respectively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the patient can be safely released after 2 h of injection in (18F-FDG) PET/CT and the radiation dose can be limited by increasing distance from the radiation source and also instructing them to drink much more water to enhance the process of excretions. The dose rates are low in this study; if the staff interact with multiple patients, they will not approach exposure limits. Similarly, dose rates are so low at patient release that family will not receive doses above regulatory limits.
MXene sensors based on optical and electrical sensing signals: from biological, chemical, and physical sensing to emerging intelligent and bionic devices
Authors: Wu Leiming , Yuan Xixi , Tang Yuxuan , Wageh S. , Al-Hartomy Omar A. , Al-Sehemi Abdullah G. , Yang Jun , Xiang Yuanjiang , Zhang Han , Qin Yuwen
Published: May 2023

Sensing devices are key nodes for information detection, processing, and conversion and are widely applied in different fields such as industrial production, environmental monitoring, and defense. However, increasing demand of these devices has complicated the application scenarios and diversified the detection targets thereby promoting the continuous development of sensing materials and detection methods. In recent years, Tin+1CnTx (n = 1, 2, 3) MXenes with outstanding optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties have been developed as ideal candidates of sensing materials to apply in physical, chemical, and biological sensing fields. In this review, depending on optical and electrical sensing signals, we systematically summarize the application of Tin+1CnTx in nine categories of sensors such as strain, gas, and fluorescence sensors. The excellent sensing properties of Tin+1CnTx allow its further development in emerging intelligent and bionic devices, including smart flexible devices, bionic E-skin, neural network coding and learning, bionic soft robot, as well as intelligent artificial eardrum, which are all discussed briefly in this review. Finally, we present a positive outlook on the potential future challenges and perspectives of MXene-based sensors. MXenes have shown a vigorous development momentum in sensing applications and can drive the development of an increasing number of new technologies.
Public policies and conservation plans of historic urban landscapes under the sustainable heritage tourism milieu: discussions on the equilibrium model on Kulangsu Island, UNESCO World Heritage site
Authors: Zhao Long , Li Yuan , Zhang Na , Zhang Zhenxin
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The tensions and threats in historic urban landscapes brought about by heritage tourism are still regional, global, general, and dynamic issues. For Kulangsu, there is an obvious problem in the connection between the current conservation plan and public policy. To a large extent, public policy cannot effectively, specifically, and flexibly respond to the dynamic problems in the implementation of the conservation plan, which seems insufficient concerning the effect of these conservation plans and public policies on promoting the adaptive reuse and sustainable tourism of the historic urban in Kulangsu heritage sites. Thus, giving more consideration to the combination of public policies and conservation plans of historic urban landscapes under the heritage tourism milieu, ensuring a balanced, sustainable, and integrated development pattern still calls for new discussions in achieving good performance of sustainable heritage tourism. This study conceptually discusses the equilibrium model of historic urban landscapes with a range of strategies under a sustainable heritage tourism background and responds to the synthetic contradiction of the imbalances among public policy, conservation plans, and development practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a range of prepared desktop studies (public policy studies, conservation plans), field surveys, participant observations, and randomised interviews to respond to the insufficiency of the current heritage practices.

Findings

This study discusses the equilibrium model of sustainable heritage tourism at heritage sites. It takes Kulangsu Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Southeast China, as an example to discuss the equilibrium model, which encompasses a convergent parallel framework and three dimensions concerning heritage management and policymaking. The equilibrium model of historic urban landscapes is a dynamic framework that integrates social, economic, environmental, and cultural concerns into a holistic collaborative framework under a sustainable heritage tourism background.

Originality/value

In line with the requirements of the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach and general principles in support of sustainable urban heritage management promoted by UNESCO and ICOMOS, the study points out the peculiarities and potential of the equilibrium mode in solving the current challenges of historic urban landscapes for sustainable heritage tourism. Finding ways of linking policymaking, conservation, development, heritage tourism, and different interest groups to a holistic framework can stimulate effective means and management mechanisms for the complicated and changeable issues of sustainable heritage tourism.
Modeling and simulation of short channel length effect in open drain MOSFET THz detectors
Authors: Mohamed Yasmeen A. , Ibrahim Nihal Y. , El Zayat Mohamed Y. F. , Elnahwy Salah E. A.
Published: May 2023

THz radiation detection using FET devices has attracted increasing attention lately. In this paper, we further study a simulated model of FET rectification detection in short channel length. To achieve this, both physics-based analytic model and a detailed TCAD simulation were contacted and compared. The analytical model provided detailed dependence of the response on the channel length below the extension length of the radiation. However, the simulation results were validated by comparison with the experimental data to confirm the validity of the theoretical model. These results present a new model of rectification for short channel lengths and its dependence on the extinction of AC signal through the channel.
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Intractable Neuropathic Pain Following a Brachial Plexus Avulsion Injury: A Case Report
Authors: Tate Quinn , Pagan-Rosado Robert , Hallo-Carrasco Alejandro , Hurdle Mark Friedrich B.
Published: May 2023

Brachial plexus avulsion injuries result in permanent motor and sensory deficits, leading to debilitating symptoms. We report the case of a 25-year-old man with chronic pain following right-sided C5-T1 nerve root avulsion without evidence of peripheral nerve injury. His pain was recalcitrant to medical and neurosurgical interventions. However, he experienced substantial (>70%) pain relief with peripheral nerve stimulation targeting the median nerve. These results agree with data suggesting collateral sprouting of sensory nerves occurs following a brachial plexus injury. Further study is needed if we are to understand the mechanisms of the peripheral nerve stimulator as a treatment option.
A Case Report of Acute Onset and Rapid Resolution of Atrioventricular Block After Sugammadex: Is the Autonomic System Involved?
Authors: Abdelrahim Mohamed T. , Kassels Austin C. , Stark Cain W. , Roberts Christopher J. , Vogt Julia A. , Ebert Thomas J.
Published: May 2023

Administering sugammadex to reverse neuromuscular blockade can cause marked bradycardia and rarely asystole. In this case, a rapid onset, biphasic heart rate response; slowing then speeding, after administering sugammadex was noted while at steady state, 1.3% end-tidal sevoflurane. On review of the electrocardiogram (ECG), the heart rate slowing coincided with the onset of a second-degree, Mobitz type I block that lasted 45 seconds. No other events, drugs, or stimuli coincided with the event. The acute onset and transient nature of the atrioventricular block without evidence of ischemia implies a brief parasympathetic effect on the atrioventricular node after sugammadex administration.
Systematic review of diagnostic and prognostic host blood transcriptomic signatures of tuberculosis disease in people living with HIV
Authors: Mendelsohn Simon C , Verhage Savannah , Mulenga Humphrey , Scriba Thomas J , Hatherill Mark
Published: May 2023

Background

HIV-associated tuberculosis (TB) has high mortality; however, current triage and prognostic tools offer poor sensitivity and specificity, respectively. We conducted a systematic review of diagnostic and prognostic host-blood transcriptomic signatures of TB in people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Methods

We systematically searched online databases for studies published in English between 1990-2020. Eligible studies included PLHIV of any age in test or validation cohorts, and used microbiological or composite reference standards for TB diagnosis. Inclusion was not restricted by setting or participant age. Study selection, quality appraisal using the QUADAS-2 tool, and data extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers. Thereafter, narrative synthesis of included studies, and comparison of signatures performance, was performed.

Results

We screened 1,580 records and included 12 studies evaluating 31 host-blood transcriptomic signatures in 10 test or validation cohorts of PLHIV that differentiated individuals with TB from those with HIV alone, latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, or other diseases (OD). Two (2/10; 20%) cohorts were prospective (29 TB cases; 51 OD) and 8 (80%) case-control (353 TB cases; 606 controls) design. All cohorts (10/10) were recruited in Sub-Saharan Africa and 9/10 (90%) had a high risk of bias. Ten signatures (10/31; 32%) met minimum WHO Target Product Profile (TPP) criteria for TB triage tests. Only one study (1/12; 8%) evaluated prognostic performance of a transcriptomic signature for progression to TB in PLHIV, which did not meet the minimum WHO prognostic TPP.

Conclusions

Generalisability of reported findings is limited by few studies enrolling PLHIV, limited geographical diversity, and predominantly case-control design, which also introduces spectrum bias. New prospective cohort studies are needed that include PLHIV and are conducted in diverse settings. Further research exploring the effect of HIV clinical, virological, and immunological factors on diagnostic performance is necessary for development and implementation of TB transcriptomic signatures in PLHIV.
Giardia intestinalis - atypical symptoms of infection in the daily practice of various specialists
Authors: Olszak Joanna , Kapłan Wojciech , Rachwał Dominika , Piątek Ewa , Zalewa Karolina , Bartoszek Lidia , Świdziński Rafał , Skorupski Bartosz , Lipiec Jakub , Rogowska Monika
Published: May 2023

Giardia intestinalis infection is the most common parasitic infection in the world. The parasite's reservoir is mainly humans and many species of mammals. Giardiasis is a parasitic disease of the duodenum and small intestine. Infection spreads easily through the oral-fecal route. Its most frequent symptom is chronic diarrhea, but it can also be asymptomatic. This article analyzes atypical symptoms of Giardia Intestinalis infection based on available studies in the PubMed database. Observations have shown that giardiasis can manifest in various types of dermatoses such as urticaria, angioedema, atopic dermatitis, erythema nodosum, or Wells syndrome. A relationship between Giardia Intestinalis infection and various allergic syndromes, manifesting as chronic urticaria or angioedema, has also been observed, as well as an increased occurrence of food allergies due to increased exposure to antigens. Studies have also shown that giardiasis can cause polyneuropathy, avitaminosis, and malabsorption syndrome. Even years after infection, chronic fatigue syndrome can still be observed
Holistic care, implementation of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle in patients with PMS symptoms
Authors: Lepczyński Bartłomiej , Kułakowska Aleksandra , Siedlak Agnieszka , Kłakowicz Philip , Lechowski Sebastian
Published: May 2023

Effective control of fertility and new social roles of women caused that the time when a woman experiences cyclical hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle and the possible adverse symptoms associated with it became the period prevailing during the reproductive period of a woman's life.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) comprises clinically significant physical and psychological symptoms that occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and cause significant distress and functional impairment.

A broadly understood change in lifestyle, diet, systematic increase in physical activity, reduction of stimulants, but above all, keeping a diary of observation of alarming symptoms positively affects the improvement of women's well-being, accelerates the diagnosis and start of treatment.
El inconsciente que compone: la mano de Copenhague.
Authors: Tejonero Valenzuela Marina
Published: May 2023

En este artículo se pretende analizar la relación del plan urbanístico de la ciudad de Copenhague, conocido como Finger Plan, con la noción del sueño como clave compositiva, un extrañamiento que, en nuestra hipótesis, es tan generativo como la vía racional. Impone asimismo el germen de un imaginario colectivo que garantiza la pervivencia del plan y, más allá, de una idea de comunidad. La utopía danesa-basada en la búsqueda de conexión con la naturaleza y la puesta en práctica del Hygge-se verá representada a través de la simbología de la mano. Esta forma de mano utilizada, o más bien impuesta en la proyección del plan, supone la vinculación directa de la estructura urbana de la ciudad con el sueño colectivo danés. La aplicación de este símbolo se entiende como una continuación en la historia artística, del uso de esta parte anatómica para la expresión del inconsciente. Por ello, se tratarán las posibles connotaciones de la mano en Copenhague, a través del análisis de obras artísticas realizadas a lo largo de la historia: desde el hombre prehistórico, pasando por el arte clásico hasta el movimiento surrealista. El Finger Plan supondrá el comienzo del desarrollo onírico de la capital danesa, argumento hoy muy repetido, pero no solo publicitario, como se pretende demostrar. La imagen mental de la “mano” será crucial para su funcionamiento por aceptación social y para entender procesos proyectuales impostados por cláusulas modernas funcionales y compositivas.
Nada es lo que parece. A propósito del mudéjar: Romanticismo, protección monumental e identidades históricas.
Authors: Laguna Bolívar Ángela , Royo Naranjo Lourdes , Díaz-Recasens Montero de Espinosa Gonzalo
Published: May 2023

El mudéjar se considera un estilo asentado dentro de la heterogénea realidad que conformó el arte medieval español, si bien, a priori puede parecer una forma artística admitida en las etiquetas de la Historia del Arte más tradicional, nace dentro de un contexto muy concreto, como es el Romanticismo y la aparición de términos como el Historicismo, buscando aproximarse a períodos previamente denostados de la Edad Media. Una nueva forma de agrupar monumentos construidos tras la conquista castellana, una lista que trataba de dar respuesta a una compleja realidad histórica nacional, a partir de la formación de una clara construcción ex-novo, que carecerá con el paso del tiempo de un desarrollo lineal y evidente. Partiendo de investigaciones que tratan el tópico desde una nueva perspectiva histórico-artística, así como también aquellos tratados más tradicionales, el mudéjar constituye un caso particular de estudio, instaurado en el ideario patrimonial gracias a ilustres personajes como José Amador de los Ríos en el S. XIX. Este artículo plantea ese proceso de edición y transformación que la arquitectura nacional acomodó como consecuencia de los cambios que el Romanticismo ofreció en relación a la protección monumentos y cómo, el caso del mudéjar supone un hecho singular en nuestro país para tratar de catalogar y salvaguardar el arte medieval islámico, en una búsqueda constante de esa anhelada identidad nacional. Una etiqueta cargada de convencionalismos que se exponen y revisan en este escrito para una mejor significación dentro de su contexto, aludiendo a aquellos estudios que ayudarán a darnos una idea global del término y arrojar luz sobre el mismo.
Human-Robot Cooperation: Coordinating Autonomous Mobile Robots and Human Order Pickers
Authors: Löffler Maximilian , Boysen Nils , Schneider Michael
Published: May 2023

In the e-commerce era, efficient order fulfillment processes in distribution centers have become a key success factor. One novel technology to streamline these processes is robot-assisted order picking. In these systems, human order pickers are supported by autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), which carry bins for collecting picking orders, autonomously move through the warehouse, and wait in front of a shelf containing a requested stock keeping unit (SKU). Once a picker has approached a waiting AMR and placed the requested SKU into the respective bin, AMR and picker may separate and move toward other picking positions. In this way, pickers continuously move between different waiting AMRs without having to return to the depot. This paper treats the coordination of multiple AMRs and multiple pickers to minimize the makespan. We present a heuristic method for the deterministic case that can handle the requirements of large e-commerce fulfillment centers and successfully solves instances with more than one thousand picking positions. Based on the obtained solutions, the performance of our picking system is compared with the traditional warehouse setup without AMR support and to another work policy using fixed pairings of picker and AMR per order. We find that largely improved makespans can be expected. In addition, we analyze the effects of stochastic picking times, speed differences between AMRs and pickers, and a zoning strategy. The ripple effect caused by stochastic picking times, in which a single delay may cascade through a tightly synchronized schedule and deteriorate picking performance, can be effectively mitigated by separating the workforce into smaller subgroups. Another important finding is that pickers and AMR should have approximately the same travel speed because slower AMRs deteriorate system performance. Finally, zoning slightly decreases the flexibility of the system and should be used if dictated by organizational reasons.

History: This paper has been accepted for the Transportation Science Special Issue on Emerging Topics in Transportation Science and Logistics.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.1207 .
EXPERIÊNCIAS DIDÁTICAS, VIDEOGAME E DOCÊNCIA: ROTEIROS DE GAMEPLAY NO ENSINO DE HISTÓRIA
Authors: MONTEIRO Christiano Britto , Coelho George Leonardo Seabra
Published: May 2023

Resumo: Este artigo tem o objetivo de apresentar as possibilidades de diálogo entre as tecnologias digitais inovadores e as ações pedagógicas libertadoras/empoderadoras no campo do Ensino de História. Ao reconhecer que a tecnologia digital está intrinsecamente associada à escola, não podemos minimizar o papel orientador do docente e o papel pró-ativo dos estudantes no processo ensino-aprendizagem. Assim sendo, defendemos que a intersecção entre docente e discente tem a capacidade de produzir e/ou abrir novos caminhos para o futuro da escola enquanto instituição e, particularmente para o ensino de História na Educação Básica. Por fim, veremos - ao longo deste texto - como a elaboração de roteiro de gameplay/jogos eletrônicos pode ser uma possibilidade didática que possibilita o diálogo entre o ensino de História e os jogos eletrônicos, e ao mesmo tempo, oferecer diferentes caminhos para trabalhar com as representações históricas elaboradas pelos estudantes da Educação Básica.
Tender loving care following recurrent miscarriages: a review of a dedicated antenatal clinic
Authors: Cullen Sarah , Seymour Valerie , Dwyer Isabel , Doyle Sam , Crosby David , Allen Cathy
Published: May 2023

Background

Recurrent miscarriage is defined as three recurrent first trimester pregnancy losses. The Tender Loving Care Clinic is a specialist clinic for women during the first trimester of a pregnancy following recurrent miscarriages. This study's aim was to review cases of those who attended the tender loving care clinic for antenatal care.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted using anonymous data, collected from the electronic records of women who attended the clinic over a 1-year period.

Results

A total of 103 women attended the clinic during the study period. The majority (90.3%) were prescribed medication while attending. Pregnancy outcomes for women attending the clinic were good; 69.2% of women went on to have a live birth.

Conclusions

Pregnancy outcomes following recurrent miscarriages are reassuring with supportive antenatal care. This review highlights the importance of psychological care and reassurance in a pregnancy following recurrent miscarriages.
Does model of care affect women's health and wellbeing in the perinatal period in Sweden?
Authors: Ny Pernilla , Ghani Rania Mahmoud Abdel , Khalaf Atika
Published: May 2023

Background/Aims

Self-rated health before, during and after pregnancy is important for women's quality of life and promotes bonding between mother and child. However, diverse aspects of care models influence women's experiences during pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate low-risk women's self-rated health during the perinatal period in relation to different models of care in Sweden.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted of computerised obstetric data from 167 523 women with low-risk pregnancies during 2010–2015. Descriptive analysis was used, as well as group comparisons and ordinal regression analysis, to establish links between self-rated health before, during and after pregnancy and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

The majority of women, regardless of model of care, rated their health as very good or good before, during and after pregnancy. During pregnancy, primiparous women, those who attended <7 midwife visits and those followed up by a private centre were more likely to rate their health as good. Women who had more than four midwives, were under the age of 30 years or foreign-born had increased risk of rating their health as bad. Postnatally, women who used private care, primiparous women and those aged 25–29 years were at lower risk of rating their health as bad.

Conclusions

Women attending private healthcare services tended to rate their health as better. Vulnerable groups of women need special attention from healthcare authorities.
Midwives' and women's understanding of cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy
Authors: Kerr Ashling , Hughes Clare
Published: May 2023

Background/Aims

Maternal cytomegalovirus infection can result in congenital cytomegalovirus, with neonatal and childhood sequalae including sensorineural deafness, visual impairment, and neurological abnormalities. This study's aim was to explore midwives' and women's level of awareness and knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection, and its impact during pregnancy.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was carried out. Seven papers met the criteria for inclusion, and data were analysed for a total of 370 registered midwives and 1717 women.

Results

Participating midwives and childbearing women experienced significant levels of inadequate knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection. Midwives exhibited restricted recognition of viral transmission, maternal and neonatal symptoms and antenatal prevention, and childbearing women documented limited awareness and understanding of cytomegalovirus infection and congenital cytomegalovirus.

Conclusions

Pregnant women need to be provided with information about cytomegalovirus, including how it may affect the fetus and how to reduce the risk of exposure during pregnancy. Midwives require additional education to increase their knowledge and understanding of cytomegalovirus.
Return to sport after surgical repair of the Achilles tendon
Authors: Vaidya Smitkumar R , Sharma Sanjeev C , Al-Jabri Talal , Kayani Babar
Published: May 2023

Achilles tendon rupture is among the most common sports injuries. In patients with high functional demands, surgical repair is preferred to facilitate early return to sporting function. This article reviews the literature and provides evidence-based guidance for return to sport after operative management of Achilles tendon rupture. A search was performed using PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library for all studies reporting on return to sport after operative management of Achilles tendon rupture. The review included 24 studies reporting on 947 patients, and found that 65-100% of patients were able to return to sport between 3 and 13.4 months post-injury, with incidence of rupture recurrence 0-5.74%. These findings will help patients and healthcare professionals plan a recovery timeline, discuss athletic functionality post-recovery, and understand complications of repair and risk of tendon re-rupture.
Carbon stocks in the mangrove ecosystem of Rufiji River Delta, Tanzania
Authors: LUPEMBE INNOCENT BERNARD , MUNISHI P.K.T.
Published: May 2023

Abstract. Lupembe IB, Munishi PKT. 2019. Carbon stocks in the mangrove ecosystem of Rufiji River Delta, Tanzania. Bonorowo Wetlands 9: 32-41. Carbon sequestration is one of the most important ecosystem services provided by mangrove ecosystems. Despite this, most Tanzanian carbon storage research has focused on terrestrial environments. Carbon and volume prediction models for the mangrove ecosystem in Tanzania's Rufiji River Delta were constructed in this study. The created models were utilized to calculate carbon emissions. At various depths, the importance of soil organic carbon as a carbon storage was also evaluated. Using linear regression, a damaging sample of 50 trees spanning various DBH size classes was used to create biomass and volume, prediction models. Wet oxidation was used to determine the amount of organic carbon in the soil. Biomass models for stems, branches, roots, leaves, and twigs and volume prediction models for total volume were constructed. At P0.05 and P0.001, respectively, all linear and power form models constructed were significant. At 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm, and 30-60 cm, organic carbon was 39.61 t ha-1, 28.04 t ha-1, and 32.85 t ha-1, respectively. The surface layer (0-15 cm) had considerably more soil organic carbon (39.61 t ha-1) than that at 15-30 cm (28.04 t ha-1) and 30-60 cm (32.85 t ha-1) depths (P0.05). The most biomass C was contributed by Rhizophora mucronata (39.87%), followed by Avicennia marina (39.86%). (28.06%). The smallest contributions came from Sonneratia alba (2.58%) and Lumnitzera racemosa (1.98%). Rhizophora mucronata contributed 39.3% of the overall volume, whereas Avicennia marina contributed 27.1%. Overall, soil organic carbon (61.6%) was nearly twice that of vegetation carbon (38.4%), highlighting the importance of soil as a carbon storage in mangrove ecosystems.
Multifunctionality of mas ‘but’ in Portuguese
Authors: Goreti Pezatti Erotilde , Storti Garcia Talita
Published: May 2023

Hengeveld/Mackenzie (2008: 52) consider that the constructions with mas ‘but’ result from the combination of two Discursive Acts with different communicative statutes, there being a Nuclear Discursive Act, with greater communicative weight, and a Subsidiary Discursive Act, which will have a rhetorical function named “Concession”. This paper aims to investigate the various uses of mas ‘but’, according to Functional Discourse Grammar, in order to determine the pragmatic, semantic, and morphosyntactic properties of each case in real occurrences of Portuguese. The combination of linguistic units through mas ‘but’ always indicates interpersonal strategies, which are differentiated by the communicative intention of the speaker as well as reflected in the layer involved. However, mas maintains the capacity to attribute the most salient status of information to the unit it scopes or operates on. We identified four uses of mas ‘but’ in different layers: Move Operator in the Move layer, Emphasis Operator and Concession rhetorical function in the Discursive Act layer, and the Contrast pragmatic function in the Communicated Content layer.
„Berlin mitten im Herzen getroffen“ - Diskursive Opferkonstruktionen in parlamentarischen Debattenreden über Terrorismus in Deutschland
Authors: Ylä-Mattila Anna-Maija
Published: May 2023

Through their discursive actions, parliamentarians have an impact on the public perception of societal issues. Drawing on the Discourse-Historical Approach of Critical Discourse Studies this paper strives to illuminate how persons, objects, or abstract things are discursively constructed as victims. The debate speeches relate to two cases of terrorism: The National Socialist Underground (NSU) and the ISIS attack at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin. After first identifying the types of victims in the data, the study then conducts a detailed analysis of the discursive resources that are used in the construction process. Furthermore, the victim constructions are interrogated in terms of their strategic political aims. Apart from linguistic means, different context levels play a crucial role in the construction. The examined victim constructions aimed for example at the sense of unity (Wir-Gefühl) and presenting the own party in a certain light. The study shows how the discursive construction of victims contributes to the construction of reality for the public and how they serve different kinds of strategic and political aims.
Investmentempfehlungen in deutschen Börsenmagazinen.
Authors: Puato Daniela
Published: May 2023

The topic of this study is the pragmatics of investment recommendations in German financial magazines. The target reader, mainly a private investor, expects a clear assessment of the quality of the investment product and a corresponding operative instruction regarding his investment decision (whether he should buy, sell or hold a certain stock, mutual fund, or bond). On the basis of a large corpus of over five thousand texts from the most important weekly magazines (Börse Online, Der Aktionär, Focus Money) it is investigated to what extent this text genre meets reader expectations. Investment recommendations show a potentially complex pragmatic structure including, among others, a headline, an evaluation of relevant arguments (pros and cons) and the operative instruction (buy/sell/hold). However, crucial elements may be missing or even give conflicting hints concerning the investment decision. Moreover, operative instructions often tend to be formulated as rather vague indirect speech acts, limiting the overall pragmatic user-friendliness. These apparent inconsistencies can be put down to a secondary pragmatic goal from the perspective of the writer: not only to give good advice, but also not to be held accountable for bad advice.
The opportunities and challenges of politically designed co-creation platforms
Authors: van Elk Sam , Regal Britt
Published: May 2023

Contemporary governments face dwindling resources and populations who feel disconnected from political systems. In response, both governments and scholars increasingly explore more participative governance approaches. Such efforts have coalesced around ‘co-creation’, a way of governing through collaboration between public and private actors, often including citizens. Increasingly, scholars emphasise ‘co-creation platforms’: devices that use reconfigurable structures and resources to facilitate multiple instances of co-creation. By creating platforms, advocates claim, governments can facilitate widespread co-creation without unfeasible costs. Some even encourage governments to adopt platform-creation as their way of governing – so-called ‘generative governance’. Yet, with governments being time- and cash-poor, they cannot participate in every such co-creation initiative themselves. To realise the promise of generative governance, platforms must enable governments to facilitate co-creation initiatives at arm’s length.

While, however, research suggests that governments can be successful platform-users, we know little about how successfully they can forge platforms to encourage co-creation among others. Consequently, we conducted a nested case study of the creation and use of one novel platform: London Borough of Culture. Theorised through literatures on platforms, and co-creation’s drivers and inhibitors, our findings affirm that platforms can facilitate co-creation. However, they also uncover how platforms fashioned by politically-led organisations become entangled in political dynamics that inhibit co-creation. Two contributions follow: first, platforms made by politically-led bodies enable, but simultaneously constrain, others’ co-creation; second, drivers and inhibitors of co-creation can be strategically shaped by interventions (for example, platforms) to maximise the chances of that co-creation succeeding.
Sensing mechanism of an Au-TiO2-Ag nanograting based on Fano resonance effects
Authors: Yang Haima , Huang Hongxin , Liu Xiaolin , Li Zeng , Li Jun , Zhang Dawei , Chen Yuwei , Liu Jin
Published: May 2023

In recent years, with the development of nano-photonics, Fano resonance has gained increasing attention. Due to its high sensitivity, real-time detection, and label-free properties, the Fano resonance sensor has been widely applied in the fields of biochemistry and environmental detection. To improve the sensing characteristics of Fano resonance, an Au-TiO2-Ag grating structure is proposed in this paper, and the sensing performance is enhanced by a bi-metallic grating and deposited TiO2. The characteristics of both sensing and field distribution of the model are accordingly analyzed using the finite-difference time-domain method. By varying the structural parameters such as grating period, grating height, silver film thickness, and TiO2 layer thickness, the tuning of sensing characteristics can be realized, and afterwards, the sensing performance is improved; consequently, the Fano resonance reflection spectrum with high sensitivity and a high figure of merit (FOM) value is obtained. When the grating period P = 200 nm, grating height T1 = 90 nm, silver film thickness T2 = 20 nm, TiO2 layer thickness T3 = 20 nm, and SiO2 layer thickness T4 = 600 nm, such a structure indicates favorable sensing performance, and sensor detection accuracy can reach 10−3; maximum sensitivity is 1400 nm/RIU, and maximum FOM can reach 4212RIU−1. The results demonstrate that the designed Fano resonance sensing model has good potential for application.
Dynamic large strain measurement under high-temperature environment using a modified FBG sensor and plasma surface treatment
Authors: Wang Jindong , Wang Zhiyuan , Jin Liyang , Li Juan , Huang Jingsheng , Zhu Tao
Published: May 2023

Large strain measurement under high-temperature environment has been a hot but difficult research issue in the fields of measurement and metrology. However, conventional resistive strain gauges are susceptible to electromagnetic interference at high temperature, and typical fiber sensors will be invalid under high-temperature environment or fall off under large strain conditions. In this paper, aiming to achieve effective and precision measurement of large strain under high-temperature environment, a systematic scheme combining a well-designed encapsulation of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor and a special surface treatment method using plasma is presented. The encapsulation protects the sensor from damage while achieving partial thermal isolation and avoiding shear stress and creep, resulting in higher accuracy. And the plasma surface treatment provides a new bonding solution which can greatly improve the bonding strength and coupling efficiency without damaging the surface structure of the object under test. Suitable adhesive and temperature compensation method are also carefully analyzed. Consequently, large strain measurement up to 1500 µɛ under high-temperature (1000°C) environment is experimentally achieved in a cost-effective way.
Computational design of a reliable intermediate-band photovoltaic absorber based on diamond
Authors: Dong Xiao , Wang Tianxing , Lu Zhansheng , An Yipeng , Wang Yongyong
Published: May 2023

To reduce the wide bandgap of diamond and expand its applications in the photovoltaic fields, a diamond-based intermediate-band (IB) material C-Ge-V alloy was designed by first-principles calculations. By replacing some C with Ge and V in the diamond, the wide bandgap of the diamond can be reduced sharply and a reliable IB, which is mainly formed by the d states of V, can be formed in the bandgap. With the increase of Ge content, the total bandgap of the C-Ge-V alloy will be reduced and close to the optimal value of an IB material. At a relatively low atomic concentration of Ge (below 6.25%), the IB formed in the bandgap is partially filled and varies little with the concentration of Ge. When further increasing the content of Ge, the IB moves close to the conduction band and the electron filling in the IB increases. The 18.75% content of Ge might be the limitation to form an IB material, and the optimal content of Ge should be between 12.5% and 18.75%. Compared with the content of Ge, the distribution of Ge has a minor effect on the band structure of the material. The C-Ge-V alloy shows strong absorption for the sub-bandgap energy photons, and the absorption band generates a red-shift with the increase of Ge. This work will further expand the applications of diamond and be helpful to develop an appropriate IB material.