bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial stewardship: a JWC Masterclass
Authors: Ousey Karen , Atkin Leanne , Serena Thomas E , Idensohn Trish , Rippon Mark , Stephenson John , Rogers Alan
Published: January 2022

This paper presents an overview of a Journal of Wound Care (JWC) webinar ‘Antimicrobial Stewardship Masterclass’ which took place on 17 June 2021, bringing together international experts in the field of wound care. The webinar was undertaken to provide an educational platform elucidating the basis of an effective antimicrobial strategy in wound care, and to demonstrate how it impacts on wound care clinicians and their day-to-day practice, using examples of ‘real-life’ patient outcomes.
Use of autologous conditioned serum dressings in hard-to-heal wounds: a randomised prospective clinical trial
Authors: Gholian Shakiba , Pishgahi Alireza , Shakouri Seyed Kazem , Eslamian Fariba , Yousefi Mehdi , Kheiraddin Behzad Pourabbas , Dareshiri Shahla , Yarani Reza , Dolatkhah Neda
Published: January 2022

Objective:

In this study, we aimed to assess both the efficacy and tolerability of autologous conditioned serum (ACS) as an innovative wound dressing in the local management of hard-to-heal wounds.

Method:

In this single-blinded randomised controlled trial, patients with hard-to-heal wounds were randomly assigned to receive either ACS treatment or normal saline (NS) dressings. The treatment was applied once a week for three weeks with a final assessment at three weeks from the first ACS application.

Results:

A total of 30 patients took part in the study. Analysis of wound assessment data demonstrated statistically significant differences for wound surface area and Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing scores (area score, exudate and tissue) from baseline to the end of the study in patients who received the ACS dressing, but not in patients who received the normal saline dressing. There were statistically significant differences in changes in: the wound surface area at week three (–6.4±2.69cm2 versus +0.4±2.52cm2); area score at week three (–2.2±1.08 versus +0.2±0.86); exudate at week two (–1.2±0.70 versus +0.0±0.45) and at week 3 (–1.3±0.72 versus –0.1±0.63); tissue at week two (–1.1±0.35 versus +0.0±0.53) and at week three (–1.8±0.65 versus –0.1±0.63); and the PUSH total score at week one (–1.6±0.98 versus +0.4±1.22), week two (–3.2±0.86 versus +0.4±0.98) and week three (–5.3±1.17 versus –0.0±1.33) between the ACS and NS groups, respectively.

Conclusion:

This trial revealed a significant decrease in wound surface area as well as a considerable improvement in wound healing in the ACS dressing group.
Microencapsulated sodium fusidate to impart antibacterial properties into cotton dressings for traumatic wounds
Authors: Rajapakse RA Dhanusha N , Weerasekara Thusara A , Wijayaratne WMD Gaya Bandara , Nandasiri Gayani K
Published: January 2022

This research aimed to investigate the use of microencapsulated sodium fusidate to impart antibacterial properties into conventional cotton gauze used to treat traumatic wounds. The microcapsules were prepared with sodium fusidate dissolved in ethanol as the active substance (core) and calcium alginate as the wall material (shell) using an electrospraying method. The microcapsules were then loaded into a 1% solution of chitosan, and conventional sterile cotton gauze fabric was impregnated in this suspension and dried at room temperature. The microcapsules obtained were examined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to confirm the constituents, and by scanning electron microscopy to examine the size and distribution of the microcapsules. The results showed that microcapsules with sodium fusidate as the core material were produced in a size range of 50–200µm. The antibacterial properties of these gauze samples were tested for resistance to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The samples showed antibacterial properties against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) only, with an average inhibition zone of 31.67±2.89mm in diameter. The antibacterial effect of the treated gauze samples was tested after washing to investigate the strength of the binding agent, to find out whether the samples maintained antibacterial properties after two hand-rubbed washes. Its absorption capacity, rate of absorbency and air permeability values were 555±4.51%, 1.25±0.04 seconds and 408±2.65cm3/cm2/seconds, respectively. The research findings have established the possibility of imparting antibacterial properties into sterile cotton gauze using microencapsulation of sodium fusidate.
Significant Curves of the Mandelbrot Set
Authors: Martisek Dalibor
Published: January 2022

The paper provides a description of some interesant curves contained in the Mandelbrot set. These curves are the boundaries of the areas called „bulbs“ which are described approximately only in present. In this paper, some of them are described analyticaly – curves of so called first period, the boundary of the main hyperbolic component, internal and external bounds and also some curves of the second period.
A Streamlined Attention Mechanism for Image Classification and Fine-Grained Visual Recognition
Authors: Himabindu Dakshayani D , Kumar Praveen S
Published: January 2022

In the recent advancements attention mechanism in deep learning had played a vital role in proving better results in tasks under computer vision. There exists multiple kinds of works under attention mechanism which includes under image classification, fine-grained visual recognition, image captioning, video captioning, object detection and recognition tasks. Global and local attention are the two attention based mechanisms which helps in interpreting the attentive partial. Considering this criteria, there exists channel and spatial attention where in channel attention considers the most attentive channel among the produced block of channels and spatial attention considers which region among the space needs to be focused on. We have proposed a streamlined attention block module which helps in enhancing the feature based learning with less number of additional layers i.e., a GAP layer followed by a linear layer with an incorporation of second order pooling(GSoP) after every layer in the utilized encoder. This mechanism has produced better range dependencies by the conducted experimentation. We have experimented our model on CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100 and FGVC-Aircrafts datasets considering finegrained visual recognition. We were successful in achieving state-of-the-result for FGVC-Aircrafts with an accuracy of 97%.
Ultrahigh resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography using the 1000–1600 nm spectral band
Authors: Bernstein Liane , Ramier Antoine , Wu Jiamin , Aiello Vera D. , Béland Marie J. , Lin Charles P. , Yun Seok-Hyun
Published: January 2022

Ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography (UHR-OCT) can image microscopic features that are not visible with the standard OCT resolution of 5-15 µm. In previous studies, high-speed UHR-OCT has been accomplished within the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR-I) spectral ranges, specifically within 550-950 nm. Here, we present a spectral domain UHR-OCT system operating in a short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) range from 1000 to 1600 nm using a supercontinuum light source and an InGaAs-based spectrometer. We obtained an axial resolution of 2.6 µm in air, the highest ever recorded in the SWIR window to our knowledge, with deeper penetration into tissues than VIS or NIR-I light. We demonstrate imaging of conduction fibers of the left bundle branch in freshly excised porcine hearts. These results suggest a potential for deep-penetration, ultrahigh resolution OCT in intraoperative applications.
Ensemble learning: a bidirectional framework for designing data-driven THz composite metamaterials
Authors: Wang Yue , Zhu Yongqiang , Cui Zijian , Jiang Haoqing , Zhang Kuang , Wang Xuan
Published: January 2022

Metamaterials present revolutionary routes to manipulate the behavior of electromagnetic waves. The well-designed metamaterial can exhibit exotic functionalities, such as perfect absorption, holography, beam steering, optical nonlinear generation, and various functional interfaces. However, those designs currently rely on trial-and-error and case-by-case numerical simulations to achieve target responses, which usually requires huge computing resources and expertise related to metamaterials. In this study, we propose a machine-learning-assisted bidirectional ensemble learning framework for designing composite metamaterial absorbers at 0.3–2.0 THz. The proposed framework is a guide to reveal the intricate and nonintuitive relationship between a composite metamaterial structure and its absorption spectrum from previously known datasets, which circumvents the limitation of numerical simulation. This framework not only effectively realizes the forward prediction of the absorption spectrum, but also can retrieve composite metamaterial structure parameters from a given spectrum.
Opti-MSFA: a toolbox for generalized design and optimization of multispectral filter arrays
Authors: Sawyer Travis W. , Taylor-Williams Michaela , Tao Ran , Xia Ruqiao , Williams Calum , Bohndiek Sarah E.
Published: January 2022

Multispectral imaging captures spatial information across a set of discrete spectral channels and is widely utilized across diverse applications such as remote sensing, industrial inspection, and biomedical imaging. Multispectral filter arrays (MSFAs) are filter mosaics integrated atop image sensors that facilitate cost-effective, compact, snapshot multispectral imaging. MSFAs are pre-configured based on application—where filter channels are selected corresponding to targeted absorption spectra—making the design of optimal MSFAs vital for a given application. Despite the availability of many design and optimization approaches for spectral channel selection and spatial arrangement, major limitations remain. There are few robust approaches for joint spectral-spatial optimization, techniques are typically only applicable to limited datasets and most critically, are not available for general use and improvement by the wider community. Here, we reconcile current MSFA design techniques and present Opti-MSFA: a Python-based open-access toolbox for the centralized design and optimization of MSFAs. Opti-MSFA incorporates established spectral-spatial optimization algorithms, such as gradient descent and simulated annealing, multispectral-RGB image reconstruction, and is applicable to user-defined input of spatial-spectral datasets or imagery. We demonstrate the utility of the toolbox by comparing against other published MSFAs using the standard hyperspectral datasets Samson and Jasper Ridge, and further show application on experimentally acquired fluorescence imaging data. In conjunction with end-user input and collaboration, we foresee the continued development of Opti-MSFA for the benefit of the wider research community.
Electrotunable 180° achromatic linear polarization rotator based on a dual-frequency liquid crystal
Authors: Chang Li Min , Feng Ting-Mao , Lin Kuan-Wu , Tseng Heng-Yi , Li Cheng-Chang , Guo Duan-Yi , Jau Hung-Chang , Wang Chun-Ta , Lin Tsung-Hsien
Published: January 2022

Linear polarization rotators have been widely used in optical systems. Commonly used polarization rotators are still beset by strong dispersion and thus restricted spectral bandwidth of operation. This leads to the development of achromatic or broadband alternatives, but most of them incorporate multiple waveplates for retardation compensation, which comes at the cost of increased complexity and reduced flexibility in operation and system design. Here, we demonstrate a single-element achromatic polarization rotator based on a thin film of dual-frequency chiral liquid crystal. The angle of polarization rotation is electrically tunable from 0° to 180° with low dispersion (±3°) in the entire visible spectrum, and a high degree of linear polarization (>95%) at the output.
Study of photo-ionization and thermal effects on the interaction of a nanosecond extreme ultraviolet laser with copper
Authors: Huaiyu Cui , Lei Li , Dongdi Zhao , Bo An , Yunsong Bai , Zhigang Fan , Yongpeng Zhao
Published: January 2022

The damage mechanism of a nanosecond extreme ultraviolet (EUV) laser with solid targets is complex and involves thermal and nonthermal effects. In this study, the interaction process of a nanosecond 46.9 nm laser with copper was investigated. A Faraday cup was used to measure the electron signals induced by the laser irradiation. The photo-ionization and thermal effects in the interaction process are discussed according to the results.
Tunable noise-like pulse and Q-switched erbium-doped fiber laser
Authors: Li Jing , Wang Chuncan , Wang Peng
Published: January 2022

A switchable, widely wavelength-tunable noise-like pulse (NLP) and Q-switched Er-doped fiber (EDF) laser with a linear cavity structure is proposed and experimentally demonstrated in this work. The net-normal-dispersion mode-locked NLP operation based on a semiconductor saturable mirror (SESAM) is realized in a 57 nm continuous tuning range from 1528 to 1585 nm by using a tunable filter (TF). When the pump power is 500 mW, the NLPs produce a maximum average output power of about 16 mW with a 3-dB spectral bandwidth of about 17 nm at the central wavelength of 1555 nm, while the average peak power is about 58.8 W. The measured characteristics of the output NLPs at 1555 nm are consistent with the numerical results under the condition of Δβ2, net = 0.095 ps2, and Esat = 0.77 nJ. In addition, stable Q-switched pulses with a 67 nm wavelength tuning range from 1518 to 1585 nm are obtained by adjusting the central wavelength of the filter. The maximum pulse energy reaches 231.4 nJ at the center wavelength of 1555 nm, corresponding to a peak power of about 278.8 mW. The proposed wavelength-tunable fiber laser is simple and versatile, demonstrating significant potential for numerous practical applications.
Intracavity spatial mode conversion by holographic phase masks
Authors: Mach Lam , Mohammadian Nafiseh , Mhibik Oussama , Glebov Leonid , Divliansky Ivan
Published: January 2022

Past beam-shaping techniques, developed to transform a Gaussian beam into other waveforms, rely on a wide selection of available tools ranging from physical apertures, diffractive optical elements, phase masks, free-form optics to spatial light modulators. However, these devices – whether active or passive – do not address the underlying monochromatic nature of their embedded phase profiles, while being hampered by the complex, high-cost manufacturing process and a restrictive laser-induced damage threshold. Recently, a new type of passive phase devices for beam transformation – referred to as holographic phase masks (HPMs), was developed to address these critical shortcomings. In this work, we demonstrated the first integration of HPMs into a laser cavity for the generation of arbitrary spatial modes. Our approach allowed for different phase patterns to be embedded into the outputs of a laser system, while preserving the spatial structure of its intracavity beams. The optical system further possessed a unique ability to simultaneously emit distinct spatial modes into separate beampaths, owning to the multiplexing capability of HPMs. We also confirmed the achromatic nature of these HPMs in a wavelength-tunable cavity, contrary to other known passive or active beam-shaping tools. The achromatism of HPMs, coupled to their ability to withstand up to kW level of average power, makes possible future developments in high-power broadband sources, capable of generating light beams with arbitrary phase distribution covering any desirable spectral regions from near ultraviolet to near infrared.
Multi-laser sensor for simultaneous multi-gas measurements using off-axis cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy with an opposite two-way configuration
Authors: Long Fangyu , Gao Guangzhen , Zhang Mingke , Jiang Yuhao , Cai Tingdong
Published: January 2022

An opposite two-way off-axis cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy-based multi-gas sensor is reported. More than two lasers can be employed in the sensor for simultaneous detection of different gas species. An approximately two times improvement in magnitude of the 2f signal and the signal-to-noise ratio is achieved because the concave spherical mirrors outside each end of the cavity and the narrow bandpass filters before the detectors can act as re-injection mirrors to re-inject the light into the cavity in the scheme. The performance of the sensor is demonstrated by simultaneous measurement of CO2 and CH4 in the atmosphere. This Letter highlights a new, to the best of our knowledge, strategy for simultaneous multi-gas measurement in a single integrated cavity by employing as many as four lasers.
Awake mouse brain photoacoustic and optical imaging through a transparent ultrasound cranial window
Authors: Mirg Shubham , Chen Haoyang , Turner Kevin L. , Gheres Kyle W. , Liu Jinyun , Gluckman Bruce J. , Drew Patrick J. , Kothapalli Sri-Rajasekhar
Published: January 2022

Optical resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) can map the cerebral vasculature at capillary-level resolution. However, the OR-PAM setup’s bulky imaging head makes awake mouse brain imaging challenging and inhibits its integration with other optical neuroimaging modalities. Moreover, the glass cranial windows used for optical microscopy are unsuitable for OR-PAM due to the acoustic impedance mismatch between the glass plate and the tissue. To overcome these challenges, we propose a lithium niobate based transparent ultrasound transducer (TUT) as a cranial window on a thinned mouse skull. The TUT cranial window simplifies the imaging head considerably due to its dual functionality as an optical window and ultrasound transducer. The window remains stable for six weeks, with no noticeable inflammation and minimal bone regrowth. The TUT window’s potential is demonstrated by imaging the awake mouse cerebral vasculature using OR-PAM, intrinsic optical signal imaging, and two-photon microscopy. The TUT cranial window can potentially also be used for ultrasound stimulation and simultaneous multimodal imaging of the awake mouse brain.
Volterra predistorter for the dynamic nonlinearity of LED
Authors: Stepniak Grzegorz , Marzecki Michal , Bojarczuk Juliusz
Published: January 2022

In this Letter, we propose the application of a Volterra predistorter to compensate for the second-order nonlinear distortion generated in light-emitting diode (LED) communication systems. We demonstrate that a predistorter dedicated specifically to the LED has linear (not quadratic) numerical processing complexity. Experimental investigation performed using pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4) indicates that it achieves similar performance as the classical Volterra equalizer located at the receiver. The highest measured gain in electrical signal to noise and interference power ratio of predistortion over linear equalization was at 300 Mbaud and was approximately 3.5 dB. At the same baud rate, the unpredistorted signal had a received optical power penalty of up to 2.5 dBm compared with the predistorted signal.
Design of a dielectric chiral micro-structured fiber applied in a fiber optic current sensor
Authors: Gao Wei , Gao Hongze , Xia Xiuwei , Wang Guochen , Li She , Zhao Yuxin , Wang Yongguang
Published: January 2022

During the process of drawing the screwed silicon-based fiber, there will be a uniform rotation rate in it, which results in a decrease of circular polarization degree of the fiber. In order to solve this problem, we presented a kind of dielectric chiral micro-structured fiber owing higher circular polarization degree. Meanwhile, the air holes of fiber will collapse during the progress of fiber drawing, which will change the position of air holes. As a result, the circular polarization degree of the fiber decreases. In order to reduce the change of circular polarization degree caused by the position fluctuation of the air holes, a highly symmetrical micro-structured dielectric chiral fiber was firstly designed in this paper. Then, we established a physical error model considering the fluctuation of the air holes’ position which was the design basis of the air holes’ position, size, and chiral parameters of the specific microstructure fiber. Next, comparing the circular polarization degree S3 of screwed silicon-based fiber and that of the dielectric chiral micro-structured fiber by simulation, it was proved that the dielectric chiral micro-structured fiber we designed has a higher circular polarization degree S3 than that of screwed silicon-based fiber. Finally, we applied the fiber designed in this paper as the fiber sensing coil in a fiber optic current sensor, and compared it with the fiber optic current sensor utilizing the original fiber sensing coil in ratio error. The simulation results proved that compared with the original system, dielectric chiral micro-structured fiber utilized as the fiber sensing coil in a fiber optic current sensor will decrease the ratio error by an order of magnitude in theory.
Entomological outcomes of cluster-randomised, community-driven dengue vector-suppression interventions in Kampong Cham province, Cambodia
Authors: Bigio Jacob , Braack Leo , Chea Thy , Set Srun , Suon Sokha , Echaubard Pierre , Hustedt John , Debackere Mark , Ramirez Bernadette , Prasetyo Didot Budi , Bunleng Sam , Wharton-Smith Alexandra , Hii Jeffrey
Published: January 2022

Cambodia has one of the highest dengue infection rates in Southeast Asia. Here we report quantitative entomological results of a large-scale cluster-randomised trial assessing the impact on vector populations of a package of vector control interventions including larvivorous guppy fish in household water containers, mosquito trapping with gravid-ovitraps, solid waste management, breeding-container coverage through community education and engagement for behavioural change, particularly through the participation of school children. These activities resulted in major reductions in Container Index, House Index, Breteau Index, Pupal Index and Adult Index (all p-values 0.002 or lower) in the Intervention Arm compared with the Control Arm in a series of household surveys conducted over a follow-up period of more than one year, although the project was not able to measure the longer-term sustainability of the interventions. Despite comparative reductions in Adult Index between the study arms, the Adult Index was higher in the Intervention Arm in the final household survey than in the first household survey. This package of biophysical and community engagement interventions was highly effective in reducing entomological indices for dengue compared with the control group, but caution is required in extrapolating the reduction in household Adult Index to a reduction in the overall population of adult Aedes mosquitoes, and in interpreting the relationship between a reduction in entomological indices and a reduction in the number of dengue cases. The package of interventions should be trialled in other locations.
Modeling toes contributes to realistic stance knee mechanics in three-dimensional predictive simulations of walking
Authors: Falisse Antoine , Afschrift Maarten , De Groote Friedl
Published: January 2022

Physics-based predictive simulations have been shown to capture many salient features of human walking. Yet they often fail to produce realistic stance knee and ankle mechanics. While the influence of the performance criterion on the predicted walking pattern has been previously studied, the influence of musculoskeletal mechanics has been less explored. Here, we investigated the influence of two mechanical assumptions on the predicted walking pattern: the complexity of the foot model and the stiffness of the Achilles tendon. We found, through three-dimensional muscle-driven predictive simulations of walking, that modeling the toes, and thus using two-segment instead of single-segment foot models, contributed to robustly eliciting physiological stance knee flexion angles, knee extension torques, and knee extensor activity. Modeling toes also slightly decreased the first vertical ground reaction force peak, increasing its agreement with experimental data, and improved stance ankle kinetics. It nevertheless slightly worsened predictions of ankle kinematics. Decreasing Achilles tendon stiffness improved the realism of ankle kinematics, but there remain large discrepancies with experimental data. Overall, this simulation study shows that not only the performance criterion but also mechanical assumptions affect predictive simulations of walking. Improving the realism of predictive simulations is required for their application in clinical contexts. Here, we suggest that using more complex foot models might contribute to such realism.
Examining the dynamics of the relationship between water pH and other water quality parameters in ground and surface water systems
Authors: Saalidong Benjamin M. , Aram Simon Appah , Otu Samuel , Lartey Patrick Osei
Published: January 2022

This study evaluated the relationship between water pH and the physicochemical properties of water while controlling for the influence of heavy metals and bacteriological factors using a nested logistic regression model. The study further sought to assess how these relationships are compared across confined water systems (ground water) and open water systems (surface water). Samples were collected from 100 groundwater and 132 surface water locations in the Tarkwa mining area. For the zero-order relationship in groundwater, EC, TDS, TSS, Ca, SO42-, total alkalinity, Zn, Mn, Cu, faecal and total coliform were more likely to predict optimal water pH. For surface water however, only TSS, turbidity, total alkalinity and Ca were significant predictors of optimal pH levels. At the multivariate level for groundwater, TDS, turbidity, total alkalinity and TSS were more likely to predict optimal water pH while EC, Mg, Mn and Zn were associated with non-optimal water pH. For the surface water system, turbidity, Ca, TSS, NO3, Mn and total coliform were associated with optimal water pH while SO42-, EC, Zn, Cu, and faecal coliform were associated with non-optimal water pH. The non-robustness of predictors in the surface water models were conspicuous. The results indicate that the relationship between water pH and other water quality parameters are different in different water systems and can be influenced by the presence of other parameters. Associations between parameters are steadier in groundwater systems due to its confined nature. Extraneous inputs and physical variations subject surface water to constant variations which reflected in the non-robustness of the predictors. However, the carbonate system was influential in how water quality parameters associate with one another in both ground and surface water systems. This study affirms that chemical constituents in natural water bodies react in the environment in far more complicated ways than if they were isolated and that the interaction between various parameters could predict the quality of water in a particular system.
Effects of rasagiline on Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) emotional well-being domain in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A post-hoc analysis of clinical trials in Japan
Authors: Hattori Nobutaka , Takeda Atsushi , Hanya Yuki , Kitagawa Tadayuki , Arai Masaki , Furusawa Yoshihiko , Mochizuki Hideki , Nagai Masahiro , Takahashi Ryosuke
Published: January 2022

Background

Identifying the factors that influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is of great scientific interest, but a potential causal relationship between treatment and HRQoL has yet to be fully elucidated. Japanese patients reported better HRQoL outcomes on the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) emotional well-being domain, a 6-question subset of the PDQ-39 which is considered to reflect the emotional aspects of the disease-specific HRQoL, when treated with rasagiline, than placebo, in both a monotherapy clinical trial (NCT02337725) and an adjunctive therapy clinical trial in patients with wearing-off phenomena (NCT02337738).

Objective

To investigate how rasagiline exerts its effect on the PDQ-39 emotional well-being domain in Japanese patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Methods

A path analysis was performed to assess the direct treatment effects of rasagiline on the PDQ-39 emotional well-being domain and the effects mediated indirectly through the influence on items related to motor symptoms by a post-hoc analysis of two clinical trials in Japan.

Results

In the monotherapy trial, the PDQ-39 emotional well-being domain was mainly affected indirectly through items related to motor symptoms (80.7%) composed of the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part II (67.2%) and Part III (13.5%). In the adjunctive therapy trial, the PDQ-39 emotional well-being domain was also mainly influenced indirectly through effects on items related to motor symptoms (1 mg/day: 54.7%, 0.5 mg/day: 57.6%) composed of MDS-UPDRS Part II (1 mg/day: 35.6%, 0.5 mg/day: 40.9%), Part III (1 mg/day: 8.0%, 0.5 mg/day: 8.3%) and mean daily OFF-time (1 mg/day: 11.1%, 0.5 mg/day: 8.4%).

Conclusions

The effects of rasagiline on the PDQ-39 emotional well-being domain were mediated primarily by influence on the subjective aspects of motor experiences of daily living.
Characterizing Kaempferia parviflora extracellular vesicles, a nanomedicine candidate
Authors: Nemidkanam Variya , Chaichanawongsaroj Nuntaree
Published: January 2022

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a promising candidate for nanomedicine delivery due to their bioactive cargos, high biocompatibility to human cells, biodegradability, low cytotoxicity, and potential for large-scale production. However, the research on EVs derived from medicinal plants is very limited. In this study, Kaempferia parviflora extracellular vesicles (KPEVs) were isolated by differential and sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and their size, morphology, and surface charge were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The biological properties of KPEVs, including their bioactive compound composition, gastric uptake, cytotoxicity, acid tolerance, and storage stability, were also examined. In addition, KPEVs had an average and uniform size of 200–300 nm and a negative surface charge of 14.7 ± 3.61 mV. Moreover, 5,7-dimethoxyflavone, the major bioactive compound of KP, was packaged into KPEVs. Meanwhile, KPEVs were resistant to gastric digestion and stably maintained at −20°C and −80°C for 8 weeks with no freeze-thaw cycle. The lipid hydrolysis during EVs storage at room temperature and 4°C were also demonstrated for the first time. Furthermore, the labeled KPEVs were internalized into adenocarcinoma gastric cells, and the cell viability was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, according to the results of the thiazolyl blue tetrazolium assay. Our study supports the potential application of KPEVs as a vehicle for anticancer or oral drugs.
Prevalence of common carbapenemase genes and multidrug resistance among uropathogenic Escherichia coli phylogroup B2 isolates from outpatients in Wasit Province/ Iraq
Authors: Gatya Al-Mayahie Sareaa Maseer , Al-Guranie Dhifar Raa’d Taher , Hussein Aya Aziz , Bachai Zaineb Ali
Published: January 2022

Carbapenems are the last resort antimicrobials for the treatment of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) producing Enterobacteriaceae. Emergence of carbapenems resistant group B2 uropathogenicE.coli(UPEC) is a major concern because of their high virulence. Prevalence of these enzymes and multidrug resistance (MDR) among B2 UPEC isolates from Iraqi outpatients with acute urinary tract infection (UTI) was evaluated in this research. Urine cultures were performed and the isolates were identified biochemically.Escherichia coliisolates were tested for phylogroup reference by quadraplex PCR, then B2 isolates were detected for antimicrobial resistance by disc diffusion test and carbapenemase genes by PCR.Escherichia coliwas the most prevalent among Gram-negative isolates (66.6%) and B2 was the most detected phylogroup amongE.coliisolates (33.9%). Most of B2 isolates showed high resistance rates to tested antimicrobials, especially β-lactams with MDR revealed in 100% of them. Whereas, low resistance rates were noted against carbapenems, aminoglycosides and nitrofurantoin. Carbapenemase genes were detected in 76.3% of B2 isolates. Of which,blaOXA-48was the most frequent (57.8%), followed byblaPER(47.3%),blaKPC(15.7%),blaVEBandblaVIM(10.5%, for each). Whereas,blaGESandblaIMPgenes were not found. Coproduction of these genes occurred among 17 isolates. The combination ofblaOXA-48andblaPERwas the most frequent (41.1%). All carbapenemase producing isolates were MDR. These results revealed high prevalence of carbapenemase genes and MDR among B2 UPEC recovered in this study. In the study area. it is strongly advised to use aminoglycosides and nitrofurantoin for empirical treatment of UPEC.
Influence of health promoting lifestyle on health management intentions and behaviors among Chinese residents under the integrated healthcare system
Authors: Zhou Chi , Zheng Weijun , Tan Fang , Lai Sihong , Yuan Qi
Published: January 2022

Background

Health promoting lifestyle is an important influencing factor of individual health status. This study aims to assess the health promoting lifestyle of community residents in China, and explore its association with their health management intention and behaviors during the integrated healthcare system reform.

Methods

A total of 666 residents were recruited from six county level hospitals and 12 community health centers from July to August 2019 in Zhejiang Province, China. Health promoting lifestyle was measured by the Chinese version Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II scale (HPLP-II).

Results

The average total score of HPLP-II among our sample was 130.02±23.19. Among the six domains, interpersonal relationship had the highest average score (2.68±0.50), and physical activity scored the lowest (2.21±0.59). Total score of HPLP-II scale was negatively associated with being male (β = -0.13, p<0.01; Ref: female), positively associated with being students (β = 0.15, p<0.01; Ref: self-employed), and positively associated with a monthly per capita income of more than 8000 RMB (β = 0.15, p<0.01; Ref: less than 3000 RMB). The domain scores of HPLP-II were significantly correlated with residents’ health management intention and their behavior on following doctors’ advice or not.

Conclusions

The health promoting lifestyles of community residents in China are at moderate levels. Improving residents’ healthy lifestyle levels might be helpful for changing their health management intentions or behaviors.
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among medical and health science students attending Wolkite University in Ethiopia
Authors: Mose Ayenew , Haile Kassahun , Timerga Abebe
Published: January 2022

Background

Medical and health science students are among the frontline health care workers who are at high risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection during their clinical attachments and future career. As health care providers, they are expected to promote and administer the COVID-19 vaccine and counsel vaccine-hesitant patients. It is, therefore, imperative to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among medical and health science students. Thus, this study aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors among medical and health science students of Wolkite University.

Method

An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 420 medical and health science students attending Wolkite University from March 1 to 30, 2021. Simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Self-administered and structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.2.0 and exported to SPSS version 23 software package for further analysis. Bivariable and multivariable analysis was used to identify associated factors. P values <0.05 result were considered as a statistically significant association.

Results

The level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was 41.2% (95% CI; 35.2%-50.4%). Student age ≤23 years were 1.9 times more likely vaccine hesitant [aOR = 1.94, 95% CI; 1.14–3.28], being female were 1.7 times more likely vaccine hesitant [aOR = 1.76, 95% CI; 1.14–2.72], resided in rural area were 1.6 times more likely vaccine hesitant [aOR = 1.63, 95% CI; 1.06–2.49], source of information from social media were 2.7 times more likely vaccine hesitant [aOR = 2.68, 95% CI; 1.58–4.54], and good practice to COVID-19 mitigation measures were 47% less likely vaccine hesitant [aOR = 0.53, 95% CI; 0.34–0.83] compared to their counterpart.

Conclusions

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is found to be high. Therefore, students are advised to receive COVID-19 vaccine information from government lead mass media (i.e. television and radio), increase awareness and adherence to COVID-19 mitigation measures is recommended.
Between Eleatics and Atomists: Gorgias’ Argument against Motion
Authors: Ioli Roberta
Published: January 2022

The aim of my paper is to investigate Gorgias’ argument against motion, which is found in his Peri tou meontos and preserved only in MXG 980a18. I tried to shed new light both on this specific reflection and on the reliability of Pseudo-Aristotle’s version. By exploring the so called “change argument” and the “argument from divisibility”, I focused on the particular strategy used by the Sophist in his synthetike apodeixis, which should be investigated in relation to the dispute between monistic and pluralistic ontology. In this regard, the puzzle from “divisibility everywhere” and its connection with the void as not-being can provide new elements to grasp the philosophical background in which the Sophist moves. On the one hand, Gorgias’ argument against motion is part of a broader dispute on the divisibility/indivisibility of being; on the other, his original elaboration of this puzzle seems to be perfectly understandable within the controversy between Eleatics and Atomists, and coherent with the argumentative style of the Sophist.
Review of Montel, S.; Pollini, A (eds.). La question de l’espace au IVe siècle Avant J-C. dans le mondes grec et étrusco-italique: continuité, ruptures, reprises (2018)
Authors: A. Funari Pedro Paulo
Published: January 2022

Review of MONTEL, S.; POLLINI, A (eds.). (2018) La question de l’espace au IVe siècle Avant J-C. dans le mondes grec et étrusco-italique: continuité, ruptures, reprises. Strasbourg, Presses Universitaires de Franche-Comté.
A novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for the genotypic survey of the non-homologous end-joining factor 1 gene associated with Collie eye anomaly in Thailand
Authors: Lerdkrai Chommanad , Phungphosop Nuch
Published: January 2022

Background and Aim: Collie eye anomaly (CEA) is a hereditary and congenital ocular disorder, which affects several dog breeds, including Collies, Collie-related breeds, and other purebreds. An intronic deletion of 7799-bp in the non-homologous end-joining factor 1 (NHEJ1) gene has been identified as the genetic defect causing CEA. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CEA based on NHEJ1 genotyping assay in Thailand.

Materials and Methods: We clarified the prevalence of CEA in 224 dogs from five purebred dog breeds using a novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique and confirmed the genotypic status with direct DNA sequencing.

Results: The highest frequency of the mutated NHEJ1 allele was 83.3% for Rough Collies, followed by 7.8% for Border Collies, 5.1% for Australian Shepherds, and 2.8% for Shetland Sheepdogs. The heterozygous mutated NHEJ1 genotype detected for Rough Collies, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and Shetland Sheepdogs was 33.3%, 15.6%, 10.3%, and 3.3%, respectively. The homozygous mutated NHEJ1 genotype was detected only in Rough Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs, accounting for 66.7% and 1.1%, respectively. Thai Ridgeback Dogs were not affected by this mutation.

Conclusion: This study describes, for the 1st time, the genotypic survey of the NHEJ1 gene associated with CEA in dogs in Thailand. In addition, we successfully developed a new multiplex PCR assay with high accuracy, reproducibility, and cost-efficiency and validated its usefulness for determining NHEJ1 genotypes.
Biochemical and molecular identification of Gram-positive isolates with β-hemolysis activity isolated from the nasal swab of pigs during the human meningitis outbreak in Badung Regency, Bali-Indonesia
Authors: Pinatih K. J. Putra , Suardana I. W. , Sukrama I. D. M. , Swacita I. B. N. , Putri R. K.
Published: January 2022

Background and Aim: The nasal cavity of a pig serves as an entry point and a habitat for the colonization of commensal microbes and pathogenic bacteria. Based on biochemical and serological tests, Streptococcus β-hemolytic Group C was identified as the Gram-positive bacteria, which resulted in the 1994 outbreak and death of thousands of pigs in Bali. Furthermore, this agent is zoonotic and frequently results in the development of meningitis lesions in the infected pig. Recently, a meningitis outbreak in humans was also reported after the consumption of pig-derived foods at Sibang Kaja, Badung-Bali. This study aimed to identify and characterize Gram-positive β-hemolytic organisms collected from nasal swab of pigs from the outbreak area, as well as to compare API Kit and 16S rRNA gene analysis methods.

Materials and Methods: This study commenced with the cultivation of two isolates, Punggul Swab Nasal (PSN) 2 and PSN 19, which were characterized by β-hemolysis activity. These samples were then conventionally and molecularly identified using Kit API 20 Strep and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene primers, respectively.

Results: Using the Kit API 20 Strep, both isolates were identified as Enterococcus faecium, which was previously classified as Group D Streptococci. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, PSN 2 and PSN 19 were molecularly confirmed to have 99 and 98.1% similarities with E. faecium (NR042054), respectively. Furthermore, both isolates share the same clade in the phylogenetic tree analysis.

Conclusion: Using Kit API 20 Strep and 16S rRNA gene analysis, the PSN 2 and PSN 9 Gram-positive isolates with β-hemolysis activity from pig nasal swabs were identified as E. faecium.
Archaeology and legend: investigating Stonehenge
Authors: Parker Pearson Mike
Published: January 2022

Stonehenge is one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments, built 4,500–5,000 years ago during the Neolithic in a time long before written history. The recent dramatic discovery of a dismantled stone circle near the sources of some of Stonehenge’s stones in southwest Wales raises the fascinating possibility that an ancient story about Stonehenge’s origin, written down 900 years ago and subsequently dismissed as pure invention, might contain a grain of truth. This article explores the pros and cons of comparing the legend with the archaeological evidence.
Citizenship and religion in the first-millennium bce Mediterranean: from Etruria to Iberia
Authors: Riva Corinna
Published: January 2022

This short contribution summarises an impending research project that will be carried as part of the 2021–22 Distinguished Fellowship programme at the Max-Weber-Kolleg (University of Erfurt) within the research cluster Religion and Urbanity. The aim of the project is to contribute to a comparative understanding of first-millennium bce Mediterranean urbanism by focusing on citizenship, through the investigation of the archaeological record of ritual contexts in two selected regions: southern Tyrrhenian Etruria and southeastern Iberia. The project builds on recent research on comparative urbanism and the role of religion in urban life, from Greek history to interdisciplinary studies on religion. The particular focus will be to understand whether, and the extent to which, religion provided the conceptual and material space for expressing membership to the urban community or, in one word, citizenship.
Decarbonising Existing Homes in Wales: A Participatory Behavioural Systems Mapping Approach
Authors: Hale Joanna , Jofeh Christopher , Chadwick Paul
Published: January 2022

Background: To reduce carbon emissions, urgent change is needed to high-carbon human behaviours including home energy use. Previous policy failures point to insufficient use and integration of systemic and behavioural approaches to bring about change. A novel behavioural systems mapping approach was used to inform national policy recommendations for energy-saving retrofit of homes in Wales.

Method: Three participatory workshops were held with the independent Welsh residential decarbonisation advisory group (‘the Advisory Group’) to (1) map relationships between actors, behaviours and influences on behaviour within the home retrofit system, (2) provide training in the Behaviour Change Wheel framework (3) use these to develop policy recommendations for interventions. Recommendations were analysed using the COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation) model of behaviour to assess whether they addressed these factors.

Results: Two behavioural systems maps were produced, representing privately rented and owner-occupied housing tenures. The main causal pathways and feedback loops in each map are described. Necessary interventions to achieve national-scale retrofit included: government-led investment, campaigns and awareness-building, financial-sector funding mechanisms, enforcement of regulations, and creating more streamlined and trusted supply chain services. Of 27 final policy recommendations, 6 addressed capability, 22 opportunity, and 12 motivation.

Conclusions: Participatory behavioural systems mapping can be used in conjunction with behaviour change frameworks to develop policy recommendations that address the behavioural determinants of complex environmental problems. Research is underway to refine and extend the approach through application to other sustainability challenges and methods of constructing systems maps.
Education for collaboration: the influence of the third space on professional boundaries
Authors: Knight Laura , Crampton Paul , McKeown Alex , Arora Arun , Cliffe Charlotte , O’Keeffe Catherine , Griffin Ann
Published: January 2022

The delivery of integrated care requires the establishment of effective professional relationships that foster collaborative working across health systems. Evidence for how to prepare practitioners to work in those settings is limited. By exploring an innovative postgraduate Programme for Integrated Child Health (PICH) this article highlights the conditions by which effective collaboration can be encouraged. Our qualitative evaluation of PICH involved one-to-one semi-structured interviews with 23 postgraduate general practice and paediatric trainees and their mentors. We analysed the data using the concept of the ‘third space’, where multiple discourses between individuals with diverse professional backgrounds occur, enabling creative exploration of tensions inherent in new ways of working in order to identify enablers and barriers to collaboration. Our analysis identified three themes that enabled collaboration: effective communication, boundary work and educational spaces; and four themes that were barriers: traditional hierarchical professional identities, curriculum design, financial systems and workplace spaces. PICH demonstrated the value of educational spaces and their role in enabling collaborative practice, as participants explored their professional identities and those of other disciplines. Structural factors in the workplace which inhibit collaborative practice were also evident. We conclude by proposing a model for collaborative learning in third spaces based upon the recognition that, while educational programmes alone will not lead to change, they have the potential to inform the development of productive workplace spaces that will be required if collaborative practice in healthcare is to become a reality.