bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PERCEPÇÕES DE USUÁRIOS DA ATENÇÃO PRIMÁRIA SOBRE A AMBIÊNCIA DA SALA DE ESPERA
Authors: Hafemann Etienne Alessandra , Roberto de Oliveira Nunes Carlos
Published: April 2024

Introdução: A sala de espera é um ambiente de permanência relativamente longa nos serviços de saúde. Sua estrutura pode impactar sobre os níveis de bem-estar de usuários e acompanhantes. O objetivo do presente estudo foi conhecer as percepções de usuários de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde de Blumenau/Santa Catarina sobre a sala de espera. A estrutura e a percepção dos usuários foram comparadas às diretrizes do Manual de Estrutura Física das Unidades Básicas de Saúde. Materiais e métodos: Um instrumento adaptado de estudos foi aplicado a 80 usuários em espera de atendimento. Resultados: Entre estes: 93,75% consideraram importante um espaço para recreação de crianças; 42,5% afirmaram comparecer acompanhados de crianças ou bebês à UBS; 97,5% afirmaram haver locais para sentar-se, porém 70% consideraram a quantidade de assentos insuficiente. Quanto ao tempo de espera: 17,5% classificaram como bom; 53,75% como razoável e 28,75% como ruim. Discussão: As condições da sala de espera atendem ao Manual de Estrutura Física das Unidades Básicas de Saúde nos aspectos estruturais, entretanto os usuários percebem necessidades estruturais que não constam nesse instrumento normativo. Conclusão: Na dimensão dos processos há necessidade de um melhor aproveitamento da sala de espera com a proposição de atividades que contribuem para o acolhimento e humanização.
Social work and support policies in higher education in Portugal
Authors: dos Santos Cláudia Priscila C. , Ferreira Jorge L.M.
Published: April 2024

Portuguese student welfare policy is a field of action in which social workers develop interventions to promote school success, equal opportunities and well-being for students. This study aims to discuss the consequences of monetary support policies and how these are associated with university students’ monetary and emotional safety and academic success. It further analyses managers’ perspectives regarding social workers’ participation in student welfare policy. Mixed research methods were applied, taking into consideration empirical data from three levels of analysis involving different data-processing techniques. The results show that monetary policies contribute to students’ monetary and emotional safety. However, monetary policies have no influence on the time dedicated to school activities. Results also demonstrate that the production of follow-up strategies would benefit from managers fomenting a proactive attitude among social workers.
China Partnership Diplomacy with Morocco and the New Silk Road Strategy
Authors: Chaziza Mordechai
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT: In recent years, China has shown great interest in Morocco as a North African hub for its overall presence on the continent. The close partnership between the two countries has led to the strengthening of their ties politically, economically, and culturally. Morocco is quickly becoming an important partner since its strategic location has established it as a central constituent in China's engagement with the Middle East, Africa, and the Mediterranean regions–a core component of the Silk Road strategy. This study investigates China's partnership diplomacy with Morocco as an instrument for the realization of its Belt and Road Initiative. Several factors (policy coordination, connectivity, trade and investments, and people-to-people bonds) constitute the backdrop for the establishment of the China–Morocco strategic partnership. The article's main argument is that the Beijing strategic partnership framework with Morocco is based on the latter's geographically strategic position and shared or mutual complementary commercial interests, especially the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Stably polarized 795  nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with anti-phase SiNx surface gratings
Authors: Fu Qiuxue , Sun Yurun , Yu Shuzhen , Qiu Bocang , Zhao Yongmin , Dong Jianrong
Published: April 2024

795 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with dielectric surface gratings to control the output polarization are designed and fabricated. The calculated results demonstrate that a well-designed SiNx surface grating positioned on the surface of an anti-phase VCSEL structure enhances the reflectivity difference between the two polarization modes compared to a conventional GaAs surface grating, consequently resulting in a larger gain anisotropy in VCSELs and a high orthogonal polarization suppression ratio (OPSR). Characterization shows that a peak-to-peak OPSR of 30.3 dB is achieved at 85°C for 795 nm VCSELs with a SiNx surface grating of 5 µm in diameter and an oxide aperture of ∼4µm, demonstrating the effectiveness of the SiNx surface grating in polarization control for 795 nm VCSELs.
Band flipping and bandgap closing in a photonic crystal ring and its applications
Authors: Lu Xiyuan , Chanana Ashish , Sun Yi , McClung Andrew , Davanco Marcelo , Srinivasan Kartik
Published: April 2024

The size of the bandgap in a photonic crystal ring is typically intuitively considered to monotonically grow as the modulation amplitude of the grating increases, causing increasingly large frequency splittings between the "dielectric" and "air" bands. In contrast, here we report that as the modulation amplitude in a photonic crystal ring increases, the bandgap does not simply increase monotonically. Instead, after the initial increase, the bandgap closes and then reopens again with the two bands flipped in energy. The air and dielectric band edges are degenerate at the bandgap closing point. We demonstrate this behavior experimentally in silicon nitride photonic crystal microrings, where we show that the bandgap is closed to within the linewidth of the optical cavity mode, whose intrinsic quality factor remains unperturbed with a value ≈ 1×106. Moreover, through finite-element simulations, we show that such bandgap closing and band flipping phenomena exist in a variety of photonic crystal rings with varying unit cell geometries and cladding layers. At the bandgap closing point, the two standing wave modes with a degenerate frequency are particularly promising for single-frequency lasing applications. Along this line, we propose a compact self-injection locking scheme that integrates many core functionalities in one photonic crystal ring. Additionally, the single-frequency lasing might be applicable to distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers to increase their manufacturing yield.
Ghost image analysis for pancake virtual reality systems
Authors: Luo Zhenyi , Ding Yuqiang , Yang Qian , Wu Shin-Tson
Published: April 2024

Pancake optics (also known as polarization-based catadioptric system) has been widely used as the imaging lens for virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) headsets because of its compact formfactor and excellent image quality. However, such a folded pancake optics not only dramatically lowers the optical efficiency to 25% because of the utilization of a half mirror, but also suffers from ghost images due to the stray light from multiple surface reflections and imperfect polarization control inside the optical system. In this paper, the origins including the light paths of the ghost images are explored by experiment and then analyzed by simulation. The effect of different incident angles on the intensity of each ghost is also investigated.
Detection of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) with an interband cascade laser sensor
Authors: Kim C. S. , Bewley W. W. , Nguyen V. , Kim M. , Canedy C. L. , Meyer J. R. , Kendziora C. A. , McGill R. A. , Vurgaftman I.
Published: April 2024

We demonstrate the sensitive detection of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP, a hydrogen-bond (HB) basic phosphonate ester) using additional optical loss induced in an interband cascade laser with top optical cladding layer replaced by an exposed sensing window coated by a HB acidic sorbent layer. Thin coatings of the sorbents HCSFA2 and oapBPAF were deposited on the sensing window to allow reversible capture and concentration of DMMP for optical interrogation. Analyte levels down to 0.1 mg/m3 (∼20 ppb) were tested and successfully detected by monitoring the laser’s threshold or its output power at a fixed bias as a function of DMMP delivery concentration.
Fabrication and characterization of optical filters from polymeric aerogels loaded with diamond scattering particles
Authors: Barlis Alyssa , Guo Haiquan , Helson Kyle , Bennett Charles , Chan Carol Yan Yan , Marriage Tobias , Quijada Manuel , Tokarz Ariel , Vivod Stephanie , Wollack Edward , Essinger-Hileman Thomas
Published: April 2024

We have developed a suite of infrared-blocking filters made by embedding diamond scattering particles in a polyimide aerogel substrate. We demonstrate the ability to tune the spectral performance of the filters based on both the composition of the base aerogel material and the properties of the scattering particles. We summarize the fabrication, optical modeling, and characterization of these filters. We investigate two polyimide base aerogel formulations and the effects of loading them with diamond scattering particles of varying sizes and relative densities. We describe a model for the filters' behavior using a combination of Maxwell Garnett and Mie scattering techniques. We present optical characterization results for diamond-loaded aerogel filters with cutoff frequencies (50% transmittance) ranging between 2.5 and 15 THz, and confirm that the measured spectral performance is in agreement with our optical models. We also measure the filters' refractive indices in the microwave and report findings in agreement with Maxwell Garnett model predictions (typically n < 1.08).
Attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination: A cross sectional study in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Authors: Adigwe Obi Peter , Onavbavba Godspower
Published: April 2024

Vaccine acceptance is complex and context-specific, varying across time, place and perceived behavioural nature of the community involved. A high vaccine acceptance rate is important to achieve herd immunity, however, vaccine hesitancy is a possible barrier to this. This study aimed to assess attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination and associated factors. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to investigate the attitudes of Federal Capital Territory residents towards COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Nigeria. Data were collected using questionnaires which were administered to respondents physically and online through random and snowball sampling strategies respectively. Data received were then analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). A total of 1767 responses were received with males representing 57.8% of the sample. More than half (54.9%) of the respondents were between the ages of 18–30 years. A third (35.4%) of the study participants indicated that a vaccine was not necessary for COVID-19, and 56.5% indicated willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccination. The majority of the sample (56.9%) indicated that the government decision-making was in their best interest, whilst close to two-thirds of the respondents (61%) were of the view that COVID-19 vaccination should not be made compulsory. Older respondents as represented by those over 60 years were more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination (p = 0.039). This study however revealed negative attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination, indicating the urgent need for government, policymakers, and other stakeholders to prioritise the development of strategies that can appropriately address vaccine hesitancy in the study setting. Contextual interventions indicated include strategic public enlightenment campaigns targeting populations with less favourable dispositions towards being vaccinated.
Uptake of Human Papilloma Virus vaccine among young women living in fishing communities in Wakiso and Mukono districts, Uganda
Authors: Laban Muteebwa , Nanyonjo Gertrude , Wambuzi Mathias , Ssetaala Ali , Basalirwa Geofrey , Muramuzi Dan , Lugemwa Jacqueline Kyosiimire , Okech Brenda , Mirzazadeh Ali
Published: April 2024

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a preventable cause of cervical cancer, the commonest cancer among women in Uganda. The Uganda Ministry of Health included the HPV vaccine in the free routine immunization schedule since 2015. Five years after this policy, we assessed the uptake of the HPV vaccine and associated socio-demographic factors among young women living in fishing communities in Central Uganda in 2020. We analyzed secondary data from 94 young women aged 9–25 years who were recruited from the two fishing communities (Kasenyi landing site and Koome Island) in a primary study that aimed to promote awareness of maternal and childhood vaccines. We assessed uptake of the HPV vaccine as the proportion of participants who self-reported to have ever received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. We assessed the socio-demographic factors associated with HPV vaccine uptake using a modified Poisson regression model adjusted for clustering by study site in STATA version 17. The mean (standard deviation) age of study participants was 21.1 (3.1) years and most (81.9%) of them were from Kasenyi landing site. The uptake of the HPV vaccine was 10.6% [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 5.6, 18.9]. After adjusting for covariates, being 13–19 years old (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 5.52, 95%CI 1.69, 18.00) and of Catholic religion (aPR 5.55, 95%CI 1.53, 20.16) were significantly associated with HPV vaccine uptake. The HPV vaccine uptake was very low, despite the reported 99% national coverage of HPV vaccination program for the first dose at the end of 2019. Age and religion showed to be important determinants of the HPV vaccine uptake. Reasons for such very low uptake of HPV vaccinations need to be carefully assessed to find effective strategies to improve it.
Design, development, and validation of multi-epitope proteins for serological diagnosis of Zika virus infections and discrimination from dengue virus seropositivity
Authors: Pereira Samille Henriques , Sá Magalhães Serafim Mateus , Moraes Thaís de Fátima Silva , Zini Nathalia , Abrahão Jônatas Santos , Nogueira Maurício Lacerda , Coelho dos Reis Jordana Grazziela Alves , Bagno Flávia Fonseca , da Fonseca Flávio Guimarães
Published: April 2024

Zika virus (ZIKV), an arbovirus from the Flaviviridae family, is the causative agent of Zika fever, a mild and frequent oligosymptomatic disease in humans. Nonetheless, on rare occasions, ZIKV infection can be associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), and severe congenital complications, such as microcephaly. The oligosymptomatic disease, however, presents symptoms that are quite similar to those observed in infections caused by other frequent co-circulating arboviruses, including dengue virus (DENV). Moreover, the antigenic similarity between ZIKV and DENV, and even with other members of the Flaviviridae family, complicates serological testing due to the high cross-reactivity of antibodies. Here, we designed, produced in a prokaryotic expression system, and purified three multiepitope proteins (ZIKV-1, ZIKV-2, and ZIKV-3) for differential diagnosis of Zika. The proteins were evaluated as antigens in ELISA tests for the detection of anti-ZIKV IgG using ZIKV- and DENV-positive human sera. The recombinant proteins were able to bind and detect anti-ZIKV antibodies without cross-reactivity with DENV-positive sera and showed no reactivity with Chikungunya virus (CHIKV)- positive sera. ZIKV-1, ZIKV-2, and ZIKV-3 proteins presented 81.6%, 95%, and 66% sensitivity and 97%, 96%, and 84% specificity, respectively. Our results demonstrate the potential of the designed and expressed antigens in the development of specific diagnostic tests for the detection of IgG antibodies against ZIKV, especially in regions with the circulation of multiple arboviruses.
Reading of ingroup politicians’ smiles triggers smiling in the corner of one’s eyes
Authors: Fino Edita , Menegatti Michela , Avenanti Alessio , Rubini Monica
Published: April 2024

Spontaneous smiles in response to politicians can serve as an implicit barometer for gauging electorate preferences. However, it is unclear whether a subtle Duchenne smile–an authentic expression involving the coactivation of the zygomaticus major (ZM) and orbicularis oculi (OO) muscles–would be elicited while reading about a favored politician smiling, indicating a more positive disposition and political endorsement. From an embodied simulation perspective, we investigated whether written descriptions of a politician’s smile would trigger morphologically different smiles in readers depending on shared or opposing political orientation. In a controlled reading task in the laboratory, participants were presented with subject-verb phrases describing left and right-wing politicians smiling or frowning. Concurrently, their facial muscular reactions were measured via electromyography (EMG) recording at three facial muscles: the ZM and OO, coactive during Duchenne smiles, and the corrugator supercilii (CS) involved in frowning. We found that participants responded with a Duchenne smile detected at the ZM and OO facial muscles when exposed to portrayals of smiling politicians of same political orientation and reported more positive emotions towards these latter. In contrast, when reading about outgroup politicians smiling, there was a weaker activation of the ZM muscle and no activation of the OO muscle, suggesting a weak non-Duchenne smile, while emotions reported towards outgroup politicians were significantly more negative. Also, a more enhanced frown response in the CS was found for ingroup compared to outgroup politicians’ frown expressions. Present findings suggest that a politician’s smile may go a long way to influence electorates through both non-verbal and verbal pathways. They add another layer to our understanding of how language and social information shape embodied effects in a highly nuanced manner. Implications for verbal communication in the political context are discussed.
Optimizing environmental enrichment for Sprague Dawley rats: Exemplary insights into the liver proteome
Authors: Roschke Nathalie N. , Hillebrandt Karl H. , Polenz Dietrich , Klein Oliver , Gassner Joseph M. G. V. , Pratschke Johann , Krenzien Felix , Sauer Igor M. , Raschzok Nathanael , Moosburner Simon
Published: April 2024

Background

Considering the expected increase in the elderly population and the growing emphasis on aging-related biomedical research, the demand for aged laboratory animals has surged, challenging established husbandry practices. Our objective was to establish a cost-effective method for environmental enrichment, utilizing the liver as a representative organ to assess potential metabolic changes in response to differing enrichment levels.

Methods

We conducted a six-month study involving 24 male Sprague Dawley rats, randomly assigned to four environmental enrichment groups. Two groups were housed in standard cages, while the others were placed in modified rabbit cages. Half of the groups received weekly playtime in an activity focused rat housing unit. We evaluated hormone levels, playtime behavior, and subjective handling experience. Additionally, liver tissue proteomic analysis was performed.

Results

Initial corticosterone levels and those after 3 and 6 months showed no significant differences. Yet, testosterone levels were lower in the control group by the end of the study (p = 0.007). We observed 1871 distinct proteins in liver tissue, with 77% being common across groups. In gene ontology analysis, no specific pathways were overexpressed. In semiquantitative analysis, we observed differences in proteins associated in lipid metabolism such as Apolipoprotein A-I and Acyl-CoA 6-desaturase, which were lower in the control group (p = 0.024 and p = 0.009). Rats in the intervention groups with weekly playtime displayed the least amount of reported distress during inspection or upon room entry and were less prone to accepting treats. Removing animals from their enclosure was most effortless for those in the large cage group. Over time, there was a decrease in conflicts among rats that interacted only twice weekly during playpen time.

Discussion

In summary, refining husbandry practices for aging rats is both simple and budget-friendly, with no apparent adverse effects on stress levels, animal development, or relevant metabolic changes in the liver.
Predisposing deleterious variants in the cancer-associated human kinases in the global populations
Authors: Khan Salman Ahmed , Anwar Misbah , Gohar Atia , Roosan Moom R. , Hoessli Daniel C. , Khatoon Ambrina , Shakeel Muhammad
Published: April 2024

Human kinases play essential and diverse roles in the cellular activities of maintaining homeostasis and growth. Genetic mutations in the genes encoding the kinases (or phosphotransferases) have been linked with various types of cancers. In this study, we cataloged mutations in 500 kinases genes in >65,000 individuals of global populations from the Human Genetic Diversity Project (HGDP) and ExAC databases, and assessed their potentially deleterious impact by using the in silico tools SIFT, Polyphen2, and CADD. The analysis highlighted 35 deleterious non-synonymous SNVs in the ExAC and 5 SNVs in the HGDP project. Notably, a higher number of deleterious mutations was observed in the Non-Finnish Europeans (26 SNVs), followed by the Africans (14 SNVs), East Asians (13 SNVs), and South Asians (12 SNVs). The gene set enrichment analysis highlighted NTRK1 and FGFR3 being most significantly enriched among the kinases. The gene expression analysis revealed over-expression of NTRK1 in liver cancer, whereas, FGFR3 was found over-expressed in lung, breast, and liver cancers compared to their expression in the respective normal tissues. Also, 13 potential drugs were identified that target the NTRK1 protein, whereas 6 potential drugs for the FGFR3 target were identified. Taken together, the study provides a framework for exploring the predisposing germline mutations in kinases to suggest the underlying pathogenic mechanisms in cancers. The potential drugs are also suggested for personalized cancer management.
Coupling development of sports industry and tourism industry based on internet of things
Authors: Hu Tongchang , Wang Xi , He Quantao , Bei Jinbo
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the positive coupling between the sports industry and tourism, exploring the ways to promote their interconnection. Under state guidance, the integration of sports industry services is facilitated to attract sports culture and tourism fairs, leveraging regional economic development advantages to enhance the industrial market appeal. The emerging leisure consumption mode of sports tourism injects vitality into the economy, fostering the core sports service industry. The coupling of the education and tourism sectors is strategically aligned with long-term national policies. Using IoT technology, this paper employs a grey relational analysis to assess the coupling between the sports industry and tourism, revealing a significant correlation. Experimental results demonstrate a positive coupling trend, likened to conjoined twins with a natural material basis and technical support. This coupling not only aligns with industry trends but also resonates with the "environmental protection era," "green era," and "ecological era," marking a pivotal aspect of industrial development. The study contributes valuable insights into the symbiotic relationship between the sports and tourism industries, emphasizing their interconnectedness and the positive implications for economic and environmental sustainability.
Advancing e-commerce user purchase prediction: Integration of time-series attention with event-based timestamp encoding and Graph Neural Network-Enhanced user profiling
Authors: Zhou Shuang , Hudin Norlaile Salleh
Published: April 2024

In recent years, the global e-commerce landscape has witnessed rapid growth, with sales reaching a new peak in the past year and expected to rise further in the coming years. Amid this e-commerce boom, accurately predicting user purchase behavior has become crucial for commercial success. We introduce a novel framework integrating three innovative approaches to enhance the prediction model’s effectiveness. First, we integrate an event-based timestamp encoding within a time-series attention model, effectively capturing the dynamic and temporal aspects of user behavior. This aspect is often neglected in traditional user purchase prediction methods, leading to suboptimal accuracy. Second, we incorporate Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) to analyze user behavior. By modeling users and their actions as nodes and edges within a graph structure, we capture complex relationships and patterns in user behavior more effectively than current models, offering a nuanced and comprehensive analysis. Lastly, our framework transcends traditional learning strategies by implementing advanced meta-learning techniques. This enables the model to autonomously adjust learning parameters, including the learning rate, in response to new and evolving data environments, thereby significantly enhancing its adaptability and learning efficiency. Through extensive experiments on diverse real-world e-commerce datasets, our model demonstrates superior performance, particularly in accuracy and adaptability in large-scale data scenarios. This study not only overcomes the existing challenges in analyzing e-commerce user behavior but also sets a foundation for future exploration in this dynamic field. We believe our contributions provide significant insights and tools for e-commerce platforms to better understand and cater to their users, ultimately driving sales and improving user experiences.
Does movement preparation enhance attending to bodily sensations in the back in people with persistent low back pain?
Authors: Clauwaert Amanda , Pinto Eleana A. , Schouppe Stijn , Danneels Lieven , Van Oosterwijck Jessica , Van Damme Stefaan
Published: April 2024

Attention has been proposed to play an important role in persisting pain, with excessive attentional processes towards pain information leading to worse pain outcomes and maladaptive behaviors. Nevertheless, research on somatosensory attending during the anticipation of pain-related movements is still scarce. This study investigated if individuals with chronic and recurrent lower back pain compared to pain-free controls, show enhanced attending to somatosensory information in the back while anticipating back-recruiting movements. 43 healthy control, 33 recurrent (RLBP) and 33 chronic low back (CLBP) pain sufferers were asked to perform back-recruiting movements. Before the movement initiation cue, a task-irrelevant tactile stimulus was administered to participants’ lower back to elicit somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), used as an index of somatosensory attending. In contrast to our hypothesis, most identified SEP components did not differ across groups. The only exception was the P175 amplitude which was larger for the CLBP group compared to individuals with RLBP and healthy controls. The current study did not find robust evidence of enhanced somatosensory attending to the back in people with persisting lower back pain. The finding that CLBP, but not RLBP individuals, had larger amplitudes to the P175 component, is discussed as possibly reflecting a higher state of emotional arousal in these patients when having to prepare the back-recruiting movements.
Comparison of quality and interpretation of newborn ultrasound screening examinations for developmental dysplasia of the hip by basically trained nurses and junior physicians with no previous ultrasound experience
Authors: Ulziibat Munkhtulga , Munkhuu Bayalag , Schmid Raoul , Wyder Corinne , Baumann Thomas , Essig Stefan
Published: April 2024

Background

We are obliged to give babies the chance to profit from a nationwide screening of developmental dysplasia of the hip in very rural areas of Mongolia, where trained physicians are scarce. This study aimed to compare the quality and interpretation of hip ultrasound screening examinations performed by nurses and junior physicians.

Methods

A group of 6 nurses and 6 junior physician volunteers with no previous ultrasound experience underwent Graf’s standard training in hands-on practice. Newborns were examined before discharge from the hospital, according to the national guideline. Two standard documentation images of each hip were saved digitally. The groups were compared on the proportion of good quality of sonograms and correct interpretation. Two Swiss supervisors’ agreed diagnosis according to Graf was considered the final reference for the study purposes.

Results

A total of 201 newborns (402 hips or 804 sonograms) were examined in the study, with a mean age of 1.3±0.8 days at examination. Junior physicians examined 100 newborns (200 hips or 400 sonograms), while nurses examined 101 newborns (202 hips or 404 sonograms). The study subjects of the two groups were well balanced for the distribution of baseline characteristics. The study observed no statistically significant difference in the quality of Graf’s standard plane images between the providers. Eventually, 92.0% (92) of the physician group and 89.1% (90) of the nurse group were correctly diagnosed as “Group A” (Graf’s Type 1 hip) or “Non-Group A” hips (p = 0.484). The most common errors among the groups were a missing lower limb, wrong measurement lines, and technical problems.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence that while there might be a trend of slightly more technical mistakes in the nurse group, the overall diagnosis accuracy is similar to junior physicians after receiving standard training in Graf’s hip ultrasound method. However, after basic training, regular quality control is a must and all participants should receive refresher trainings. More specifically, nurses need training in the identification of anatomical structures.
Evaluating the efficacy and safety of mavacamten in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on qualitative assessment, biomarkers, and cardiac imaging
Authors: Vyas Rahul , Panchal Viraj , Jain Shubhika , Sondhi Manush , Singh Mansunderbir , Jaisingh Keerthish , Thotamgari Sahith Reddy , Thakre Anuj , Modi Kalgi
Published: April 2024

Background

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex cardiac condition characterized by hypercontractility of cardiac muscle leading to a dynamic obstruction of left ventricular outlet tract (LVOT). Mavacamten, a first-in-class cardiac myosin inhibitor, is increasingly being studied in randomized controlled trials. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to analyse the efficacy and safety profile of Mavacamten compared to placebo in patients of HCM.

Method

We carried out a comprehensive search in PubMed, Cochrane, and clinicaltrials.gov to analyze the efficacy and safety of mavacamten compared to placebo from 2010 to 2023. To calculate pooled odds ratio (OR) or risk ratio (RR) at 95% confidence interval (CI), the Mantel-Haenszel formula with random effect was used and Generic Inverse Variance method assessed pooled mean difference value at a 95% CI. RevMan was used for analysis. P<0.05 was considered significant.

Results

We analyzed five phase 3 RCTs including 609 patients to compare mavacamten with a placebo. New York Heart Association (NYHA) grade improvement and KCCQ score showed the odds ratio as 4.94 and 7.93 with p<0.00001 at random effect, respectively. Cardiac imaging which included LAVI, LVOT at rest, LVOT post valsalva, LVOT post-exercise, and reduction in LVEF showed the pooled mean differences for change as -5.29, -49.72, -57.45, -36.11, and -3.00 respectively. Changes in LVEDV and LVMI were not statistically significant. The pooled mean difference for change in NT-proBNP and Cardiac troponin-I showed 0.20 and 0.57 with p<0.00001. The efficacy was evaluated in 1) A composite score, which was defined as either 1·5 mL/kg per min or greater increase in peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) and at least one NYHA class reduction, or a 3·0 mL/kg per min or greater pVO2 increase without NYHA class worsening and 2) changes in pVO2, which was not statistically significant. Similarly, any treatment-associated emergent adverse effects (TEAE), treatment-associated serious adverse effects (TSAE), and cardiac-related adverse effects were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Mavacamten influences diverse facets of HCM comprehensively. Notably, our study delved into the drug’s impact on the heart’s structural and functional aspects, providing insights that complement prior findings. Further large-scale trials are needed to evaluate the safety profile of Mavacamten.
Exploring acupuncture as a treatment for insomnia in perimenopausal women with stable angina pectoris: A protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Shi Rui , Meng Wenyi , Liu Zhaozheng , Xue Wen , Chen Xingyu , Deng Yue
Published: April 2024

Background

Insomnia has emerged as a major public health issue jeopardizing human wellbeing. Furthermore, insomnia and angina arise concomitantly and exert reciprocal effects. Multiple studies suggest that perimenopausal females are more prone to experiencing both angina and insomnia, consequently substantially compromising their quality of life.Credible evidence suggests that acupuncture exerts a beneficial impact in alleviating insomnia. Nevertheless, the exhaustive investigation into the potential of acupuncture for mitigating insomnia co-occurring with stable angina in perimenopausal females remains a realm yet to be traversed in the realm of randomized controlled trials. Hence, the primary intent of this research protocol was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety profile of acupuncture when administered to perimenopausal subjects grappling with concomitant conditions of stable angina and insomnia.

Methods

This study entails a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 110 patients exhibiting insomnia concomitant with stable angina in the perimenopausal period will be enlisted and randomized to either acupuncture or sham acupuncture. Participants in both arms will undergo 30-minute sessions thrice weekly over a 12-week intervention period, with a 12-week maximum follow-up. The primary outcome measure is the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI). Secondary outcomes encompass the Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36), Dosage of sleeping pills, SAP-associated evaluations, including C-reactive protein (CRP), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), cardiac fatty acid-binding protein levels (C-FABP), and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ). Additionally, the study includes assessments using the Hamilton Depression Inventory (HAMD) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Primary and secondary outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks (upon completion of the intervention), and at an additional 12-week follow-up. Any adverse events will be rigorously classified and characterized with respect to time of onset and abatement, therapeutic interventions implemented, impact on the primary morbidity, and regression.

Discussion

The current study is poised to furnish pivotal clinical data on the utility of acupuncture for stable angina with concomitant insomnia in perimenopausal women, with the findings to be propagated through academic conferences and peer-reviewed publications.

Clinical trial registration

Thai Clinical Trials Registry: TCTR20221121001. Registered 19 November 2022.
Bioinformatics analysis of the potentially functional circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in breast cancer
Authors: Erdogan Cihat , Suer Ilknur , Kaya Murat , Ozturk Sukru , Aydin Nizamettin , Kurt Zeyneb
Published: April 2024

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, new research is still needed for biomarker detection. GSE101124 and GSE182471 datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to evaluate differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) databases were used to identify the significantly dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) and genes considering the Prediction Analysis of Microarray classification (PAM50). The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA relationship was investigated using the Cancer-Specific CircRNA, miRDB, miRTarBase, and miRWalk databases. The circRNA–miRNA–mRNA regulatory network was annotated using Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed by the STRING database and visualized by the Cytoscape tool. Then, raw miRNA data and genes were filtered using some selection criteria according to a specific expression level in PAM50 subgroups. A bottleneck method was utilized to obtain highly interacted hub genes using cytoHubba Cytoscape plugin. The Disease-Free Survival and Overall Survival analysis were performed for these hub genes, which are detected within the miRNA and circRNA axis in our study. We identified three circRNAs, three miRNAs, and eighteen candidate target genes that may play an important role in BC. In addition, it has been determined that these molecules can be useful in the classification of BC, especially in determining the basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) subtype. We conclude that hsa_circ_0000515/miR-486-5p/SDC1 axis may be an important biomarker candidate in distinguishing patients in the BLBC subgroup of BC.
Compression stress-strain curve of lithium slag recycled fine aggregate concrete
Authors: Chen Xue-Bin , Liang Jiong-Feng , Li Wei
Published: April 2024

As one of the key materials used in the civil engineering industry, concrete has a global annual consumption of approximately 10 billion tons. Cement and fine aggregate are the main raw materials of concrete, and their production causes certain harm to the environment. As one of the countries with the largest production of industrial solid waste, China needs to handle solid waste properly. Researchers have proposed to use them as raw materials for concrete. In this paper, the effects of different lithium slag (LS) contents (0%, 10%, 20%, 40%) and different substitution rates of recycled fine aggregates (RFA) (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%) on the axial compressive strength and stress-strain curve of concrete are discussed. The results show that the axial compressive strength, elastic modulus, and peak strain of concrete can increase first and then decrease when LS is added, and the optimal is reached when the LS content is 20%. With the increase of the substitution rate of RFA, the axial compressive strength and elastic modulus of concrete decrease, but the peak strain increases. The appropriate amount of LS can make up for the mechanical defects caused by the addition of RFA to concrete. Based on the test data, the stress-strain curve relationship of lithium slag recycled fine aggregate concrete is proposed, which has a high degree of agreement compared with the test results, which can provide a reference for practical engineering applications. In this study, LS and RFA are innovatively applied to concrete, which provides a new way for the harmless utilization of solid waste and is of great significance for the control of environmental pollution and resource reuse.
Factors associated with bypassing primary healthcare facilities for childbirth among women in Devchuli municipality of Nepal
Authors: Maharjan Manisha , Sharma Sudim , Kaphle Hari Prasad
Published: April 2024

Background

It is crucial to deliver a child at nearby primary healthcare facilities to prevent subsequent maternal or neonatal complications. In low-resource settings, such as Nepal, it is customary to forgo the neighboring primary healthcare facilities for child delivery. Reports are scanty about the extent and reasons for bypassing local health centers in Nepal. This study sought to determine the prevalence and contributing factors among women bypassing primary healthcare facilities for childbirth.

Method

A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in the Devchuli municipality of Nawalparasi East district of Nepal. Utilizing an online data collection tool, structured interviews were conducted among 314 mothers having a child who is less than one year of age.

Results

This study showed that 58.9% of the respondents chose to bypass their nearest primary healthcare facility to deliver their babies in secondary or tertiary hospitals. Respondent’s husband’s employment status; informal employment (AOR: 4.2; 95% CI: 1.8–10.2) and formal employment (AOR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.5–6.8), wealth quintile (AOR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.7–7.7), parity (AOR): 3.0; 95% CI: 1.6–5.7], distance to nearest primary healthcare facility by the usual mode of transportation (AOR: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.5–5.6) and perceived service quality of primary healthcare facility (AOR: 3.759; 95% CI: 2.0–7.0) were associated with greater likelihood of bypassing primary healthcare facility.

Conclusion

Enhancing the quality of care, and informing beneficiaries about the importance of delivering children at primary healthcare facilities are essential for improving maternal service utilization at local primary healthcare facilities.
Validity of self-reported weight and height among female young adults in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Haroun Dalia , Ehsanallah Aseel
Published: April 2024

Self-reported weight and height serve as important metrics in estimating overweight and obesity prevalence within epidemiological studies, primarily due to their cost and time efficiency. However, the accuracy and reliability of these self-reported measures remain controversial, with conflicting reports emerging from different regions. This study aims to compare self-reported weight and height with measured values among young female adults in the United Arab Emirates. A cross-sectional study of 131 female university students aged 17–27 reported their weight and height on a self-administered questionnaire and on the same day had their height and weight measured. Body Mass Index (BMI) values of both self-reported and measured weight and height were calculated and categorized according to the World Health Organization’s cut-off points. Overall, 87% of students had a resultant self-reported BMI value within their actual BMI category. The mean differences between self-reported and measured weight and height in the present study were -0.92 kg and 0.38 cm, respectively. Results indicated strong agreement between self-reported and direct measurements, as demonstrated by weighted Kappa statistics (kappa = 0.87). Bland & Altman plots illustrated that the majority of values fell within the limits of agreement (2 SD), with no systemic bias detected. BMI calculated from self-reported data demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity. Linear regression analyses revealed that self-reported weight (r2 = 0.973; p<0.001), height (r2 = 0.902; p<0.001), and BMI (r2 = 0.964; p<0.001) accurately predicted measured weight, height, and BMI. The study’s results highlight the ability of female university students in the UAE to accurately provide self-reports of their weight and height. This finding provides further support for the utilization of self-reported data on height and weight as a valid method for collecting anthropometric information.
Entrevistas
Authors: Nunes António José Avelãs
Published: April 2024

Ao longo da minha vida de professor, dei várias entrevistas, sobretudo no Brasil, a maior parte delas para televisões e rádios universitários. Creio que as entrevistas são um modo de comunicar algo efémero, ganhando, talvez, maior projeção e uma permanência maior no tempo se forem publicadas em forma de livro. Animado por esta ideia (que talvez não passe de uma ilusão), decidi selecionar algumas das entrevistas de que guardo registo (a maior parte delas nem eu sei por onde andarão), e reuni-las em livro. Para um octogenário como eu, é uma tentativa de prolongar a minha própria vida. Não me parece que seja vaidade (talvez um pouco…). Quando os leitores chegarem à minha idade, compreenderão melhor o que quero dizer. Só conheço pessoalmente os entrevistadores das três primeiras entrevistas que selecionei para este livro. Algumas perguntas (poucas, as que se reportam a aspetos da minha vida pessoal e das minhas atividades no terreno da cidadania) poderão ter surgido a partir do conhecimento que os entrevistadores tinham da minha vida. Mas, em geral, são entrevistas de cunho académico, embora a terceira e a última se insiram mais na esfera da cidadania. Aconteceram em tempos diferentes e em contextos diferentes. Cinco delas foram realizadas por iniciativa de Colegas meus, professores em várias Universidades do Brasil. Três foram propostas e conduzidas por jornalistas. A última entrevista selecionada – que muito me agradou fazer – foi-me sugerida por uma estudante portuguesa em Paris, residente na Casa de Portugal, na Cidade Universitária, onde eu residi, enquanto preparava o meu doutoramento, entre set/1973 e abril/1974.
A két Kálmán „vezéri dualizmusa”
Authors: Szigeti István
Published: April 2024

This study examines a unique formation in the Hungarian political system, the Left Centre party, as well as the interesting relationship of its leaders, Kálmán Tisza and Kálmán Ghyczy. After discussing the party’s origins, foundation, and its position in the political landscape, the inner workings, subfactions, and the various stages of the Left Centre’s political history will be detailed. Following this, the two party leaders are introduced, and not only their respective roles in the party, but their personal character, motivations, and the nature of their cooperation are also discussed. Our aim is to investigate the various aspects and changes in their relationship in light of the historical events of the time, and to present the political, personal and psychological factors that affected the development of this relationship. Another important question is how the relationship of the two leaders and the nature of their cooperation influenced the party and its changing goals, and how it lead to the great party merger of 1875, that was not only the end of the nine year history of the Left Centre that formally started in 1866, but also the beginning of a new chapter in the political life of the Dual Monarchy that started with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise.