bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Differential Effects of Adiposity and Fitness on Functional Connectivity in Preadolescent Children
Authors: LOGAN NICOLE E. , WESTFALL DANIEL R. , RAINE LAUREN B. , ANTERAPER SHEEBA A. , CHADDOCK-HEYMAN LAURA , WHITFIELD-GABRIELI SUSAN , KRAMER ARTHUR F. , HILLMAN CHARLES H.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Childhood obesity is a global health concern, with >340 million youth considered overweight or obese. In addition to contributing greatly to health care costs, excess adiposity associated with obesity is considered a major risk factor for premature mortality from cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and is also negatively associated with cognitive and brain health. A complementary line of research highlights the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness, a by-product of engaging in physical activity, on an abundance of health factors, including cognitive and brain health.

Methods

This study investigated the relationship among excess adiposity (visceral adipose tissue [VAT], subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue), total abdominal adipose tissue, whole-body percent fat [WB%FAT], body mass index (BMI), and fat-free cardiorespiratory fitness (FF-V̇O2max) on resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in 121 (f = 68) children (7–11 yr) using a data-driven whole-brain multivoxel pattern analysis.

Results

Multivoxel pattern analysis revealed brain regions that were significantly associated with VAT, BMI, WB%FAT, and FF-V̇O2 measures. Yeo’s (2011) RSFC-based seven-network cerebral cortical parcellation was used for labeling the results. Post hoc seed-to-voxel analyses found robust negative correlations of VAT and BMI with areas involved in the visual, somatosensory, dorsal attention, ventral attention, limbic, frontoparietal, and default mode networks. Further, positive correlations of FF-V̇O2 were observed with areas involved in the ventral attention and frontoparietal networks. These novel findings indicate that negative health factors in childhood may be selectively and negatively associated with the 7 Yeo-defined functional networks, yet positive health factors (FF-V̇O2) may be positively associated with these networks.

Conclusions

These novel results extend the current literature to suggest that BMI and adiposity are negatively associated with, and cardiorespiratory fitness (corrected for fat-free mass) is positively associated with, RSFC networks in children.
Sexual Harassment and Abuse among Young Elite Athletes, Recreational Athletes, and Reference Students: A Prospective Study
Authors: SØLVBERG NINA , TORSTVEIT MONICA KLUNGLAND , ROSENVINGE JAN H. , PETTERSEN GUNN , SUNDGOT-BORGEN JORUNN
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the 12-month prevalence and 12-month prospective change in reported sexual harassment and abuse (SHA) victimization among young elite athletes, recreational athletes, and reference students in three different social settings and to identify the perpetrators.

Methods

In total, 919 adolescents responded to an online questionnaire in 12th grade (T1) and 13th grade (T2). The sample consisted of elite athletes (n = 482) and recreational athletes (n = 233) attending Norwegian elite sport high schools (n = 26), and reference students (n = 200) attending ordinary high schools with no sport specialization (n = 6). Data were analyzed using independent-sample t-test, Pearson χ2 for independence/Fisher’s exact test, McNemar test, and logistic regression analysis.

Results

The total 12-month prevalence of SHA was 38.6% at T1 and 35.1% at T2. Most of the participants (74.6%–85.0%) reported no change in SHA from T1 to T2. The prevalence of SHA was higher for girls compared with boys, and elite athletes reported less SHA than recreational athletes and reference students, respectively. SHA occurred most often in a free time setting. Verbal sexual harassment, nonverbal sexual harassment, and physical SHA were reported by 24.6%, 27.0%, and 14.0%, respectively. Peers were reported as perpetrators by 83.1%, trainer/teacher/health personnel by 20.1%, and “other” perpetrators by 56.4%.

Conclusions

Because one in three elite athletes and nearly one in two recreational athletes and reference students, respectively, reported SHA victimization within a 12-month period, well-targeted preventive measures are needed for both young athletes and nonathletes.
Historical Lynchings and the Contemporary Voting Behavior of Blacks
Authors: Williams Jhacova
Published: June 2022

This paper analyzes the extent to which the political participation of Blacks can be traced to historical lynchings that took place from 1882 to 1930. Using county-level voter registration data, I show that Blacks who reside in southern counties that experienced a relatively higher number of historical lynchings have lower voter registration rates today. This relationship holds after accounting for a variety of historical and contemporary characteristics of counties. There exists evidence of the persistence of cultural voting norms among Blacks, yet this relationship does not exist for Whites. (JEL D72, J15, N31, N32, N41, N42, Z13)
Comparison of five convolutional neural networks for predicting osteoporosis based on mandibular cortical index on panoramic radiographs
Authors: Tassoker Melek , Öziç Muhammet Üsame , Yuce Fatma
Published: June 2022

Objectives:

The aim of the present study was to compare five convolutional neural networks for predicting osteoporosis based on mandibular cortical index (MCI) on panoramic radiographs.

Methods:

Panoramic radiographs of 744 female patients over 50 years of age were labeled as C1, C2, and C3 depending on the MCI. The data of the present study were reviewed in different categories including (C1, C2, C3), (C1, C2), (C1, C3), and (C1, (C2 +C3)) as two-class and three-class predictions. The data were separated randomly as 20% test data, and the remaining data were used for training and validation with fivefold cross-validation. AlexNET, GoogleNET, ResNET-50, SqueezeNET, and ShuffleNET deep-learning models were trained through the transfer learning method. The results were evaluated by performance criteria including accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1-score, AUC, and training duration. The Gradient-Weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) method was applied for visual interpretation of where deep-learning algorithms gather the feature from image regions.

Results:

The dataset (C1, C2, C3) has an accuracy rate of 81.14% with AlexNET; the dataset (C1, C2) has an accuracy rate of 88.94% with GoogleNET; the dataset (C1, C3) has an accuracy rate of 98.56% with AlexNET; and the dataset (C1,(C2+C3)) has an accuracy rate of 92.79% with GoogleNET.

Conclusion:

The highest accuracy was obtained in the differentiation of C3 and C1 where osseous structure characteristics change significantly. Since the C2 score represent the intermediate stage (osteopenia), structural characteristics of the bone present behaviors closer to C1 and C3 scores. Therefore, the data set including the C2 score provided relatively lower accuracy results.
Retrospective analysis of remifentanil combined with dexmedetomidine intravenous anesthesia combined with brachial plexus block on shoulder arthroscopic surgery in elderly patients
Authors: Zhang Yan , Zhao Lingling , Lv Liangce , Li Songxue
Published: June 2022

Objectives: To analyze the effect of remifentanil combined with dexmedetomidine intravenous anesthesia combined with brachial plexus block on shoulder arthroscopic surgery in elderly patients.

Methods: This retrospective study conducted at Jiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, investigated clinical data from elderly patients receiving shoulder arthroscopy between January 2020 and June 2021. Based on the treatment, patients were retrospectively divided into Group-I (remifentanil combined with dexmedetomidine) and Group-II (remifentanil continuous pump injection). Hemodynamic indices, such as mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR), degree of pain (VAS score), and stress response marker levels were examined prior to the operation and at various time points post-operation. Operation time and adverse reaction incidences were also evaluated.

Results: There was no significant differences in MAP and HR between the two groups prior to the operation. However, MAP and HR levels were lower in Group-I patients at three time points post-operation. Similarly, VAS scores were not different between the two groups prior to the operation but were much lower in Group-I at multiple time points post-operation. The same trend was observed for the stress-induced angiotensin-II, cortisol, and aldosterone. Additionally, patients in Group-I had lower incidence of adverse reactions and shorter operation time.

Conclusion: Remifentanil combined with dexmedetomidine intravenous anesthesia for shoulder arthroscopic surgery under general anesthesia combined with brachial plexus block in elderly patients can maintain hemodynamic stability, shorten operation time, reduce the degree of stress reaction, pain caused by invasive operation, and reduce the incidence of adverse reactions.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5724

How to cite this:Zhang Y, Zhao L, Lv L, Li S. Retrospective analysis of remifentanil combined with dexmedetomidine intravenous anesthesia combined with brachial plexus block on shoulder arthroscopic surgery in elderly patients. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(6):---------.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5724

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Effects of high viscosity bone cement percutaneous vertebroplasty on pain, bone specific alkaline phosphatase, Type-I collage cross-linked-telopeptide and Boneglaprotein levels in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures
Authors: Zhang Guangcheng , Zhu Juan , Zhang Qing , Tang Jiazhu , Nie Mingjun
Published: June 2022

Objectives: To investigate the effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty with high viscosity bone cement on pain and the levels of bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), Type-I collagen cross-linked telopeptide (CTX) and serum osteocalcin (BGP) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

Methods: The medical records of patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures treated in our hospital from February 2020 to February 2021 were selected after retrospective analysis. Patients (43) who received low viscosity bone cement percutaneous vertebroplasty comprised Group-I, and patients (56) who received high viscosity bone cement percutaneous vertebroplasty, comprised Group-II of the study. The occurrence of bone cement leakage, pain (VAS scores), BALP, CTX and BGP were compared and analyzed between the two groups.

Results: The incidence of bone cement leakage in Group-II was 16.28%, lower than 3.57% in Group-I (P<0.05). The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of patients in Group-II were lower than those in Group-I at one and three months after the surgery (P<0.05). The levels of BALP and BGP in Group-II were higher than those in Group-I three months after the surgery (P<0.05), and CTX was lower than those in Group-I (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Percutaneous vertebroplasty with high viscosity bone cement in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures can reduce the incidence of bone cement leakage and help to further reduce pain and improve bone metabolism.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5828

How to cite this:Zhang G, Zhu J, Zhang Q, Tang J, Nie M. Effects of high viscosity bone cement percutaneous vertebroplasty on pain, bone specific alkaline phosphatase, Type-I collage cross-linked-telopeptide and Boneglaprotein levels in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.5828

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Intrapartum care intervention fidelity and factors associated with it in South Wollo Administrative Zone, Northeast Ethiopia.
Authors: Molla Asressie , Gebeyehu Dr Abebaw , Mekonnen Professor Solomon , ALemu Professor Kassahun , Tigabu Dr Zemene
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Background: Implementation of recommended intrapartum care intervention varies across places due to contextual socio-cultural and behavioral determinants. Previous research has utilized several operationalizations to measure intrapartum intervention content and has failed to analyze provider and facility-related factors that influence intrapartum intervention content. So yet, no study has used intervention fidelity metrics to assess intrapartum care. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing institutional intrapartum care intervention fidelity & factors associated with it.

Methods: On randomly selected keabeles (study sites), a cross-sectional study design was used. All health posts and health extension workers within the specified area were included, as were 898 postnatal mothers within six months of delivery. Data was collected via an interview, self-administered questionnaires, and an observation checklist. To calculate the institutional delivery coverage and intrapartum care intervention fidelity, descriptive statistics were used. The weighted sum of all intrapartum care components and institutional delivery coverage were used to calculate intrapartum care intervention fidelity. The researchers utilized a multilevel linear regression analysis model to find characteristics linked to intrapartum care intervention fidelity.

Results: In this study, institutional delivery coverage was 60.9% (95% CI: 57.7 – 64.1) with intrapartum care intervention fidelity of 35.6% (95% CI: 31.3-35.9). Moreover, only 21 (2.3%) of mothers received all of the contents of intrapartum care intervention. Health posts’ distance from mothers’ home, unskilled birth attendant, poor relationship between HEWs and HC staffs and low HEWs knowledge of danger signs were statistically significant barriers while HEWs as birth attendant were facilitators for Intrapartum care intervention fidelity.

Conclusion: This study investigated that intrapartum care intervention fidelity was low. This finding indicated that distance from health institution inhibit mothers to receive skilled intrapartum care interventions as recommended.
Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis: to investigate the association of adherence to plant-based diets with cardiovascular disease risk
Authors: Lopes Tatum , Zemlin Annalise E. , Faber Mieke , Durao Solange , Erasmus Rajiv T. , Kengne Andre P.
Published: June 2022

Background:Plant-based diets (PBDs) are characterised as healthy dietary patterns that emphasise the intake of plant foods and limit the intake of animal foods. The Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diets are common examples of healthy dietary patterns that are mainly plant based. There are different dietary pattern analysis approaches and scoring systems available to construct indices that measure adherence to a dietary pattern. Nutritional epidemiology studies necessitate the use of appropriate dietary indices when investigating diet-disease associations. This protocol is for a review that will: 1) evaluate how a PBD has been defined in studies published globally; and 2) assess the methods used to construct dietary indices that measure adherence to a PBD; with a focus on studies that have assessed the association between adherence to a PBD and CVD risk.

Methods:This protocol was developed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. PubMed–Medline, Scopus and biomedical databases within EBSCOhost will be searched up to August 2021. Two reviewers will independently screen the identified records and review the eligible full texts for inclusion. Discrepancies will be resolved by consensus or through discussion with a third reviewer. Meta-analysis will be performed where possible and consistency of the findings checked through subgroup analysis. Heterogeneity across studies will be assessed and quantified, and publication bias investigated. Relevant sensitivity analyses will be performed to substantiate the robustness of the study findings.

Conclusion:Currently, there is some inconsistency in defining and measuring adherence to a PBD across study populations. Moreover, a lack of global data on the association between adherence to a PBD and CVD risk. This systematic review could aid in promoting the worldwide uptake of these findings for policy and practice purposes. This research will use previously published studies; and therefore, will not require ethical approval.
Cloud Services vs. On-Premises Software: Competition Under Security Risk and Product Customization
Authors: Zhang Zan , Nan Guofang , Tan Yong
Published: June 2022

Because of its on-demand feature and flexible pay-as-you-go mechanism, cloud service dramatically reduces the up-front information technology expenses that may deter many clients from implementing on-premises software. The associated security risks and low customization capability, however, create challenges for the adoption of cloud service. We study the competitive implications of security risks and customization capability on consumer purchase choices and vendors’ pricing and investment strategies. Although cloud services are perceived to be more vulnerable to cyberattack, our results demonstrate that in high-security-loss environments, using cloud service yields a lower average expected loss for consumers as compared with on-premises software. By endogenizing vendors’ investment decisions, our investigation highlights that the cloud vendor does not necessarily economically benefit from investing in addressing cloud security, especially in low-security-loss environments. We also find that the on-premises vendor’s security and customization investments act as strategic substitutes in low-security-loss environments and, under certain conditions, complement in high-security-loss environments. We further examine welfare-maximizing security investments and find that the socially optimal investment requires greater effort to improve cloud security in low-security-loss environments and to improve on-premises software security in high-security-loss environments.
Dynamic Disruption Management in Airline Networks Under Airport Operating Uncertainty
Authors: Lee Jane , Marla Lavanya , Jacquillat Alexandre
Published: June 2022

Air traffic disruptions result in flight delays, cancellations, passenger misconnections, and ultimately high costs to aviation stakeholders. This paper proposes a jointly reactive and proactive approach to airline disruption management, which optimizes recovery decisions in response to realized disruptions and in anticipation of future disruptions. The approach forecasts future disruptions partially and probabilistically by estimating systemic delays at hub airports (and the uncertainty thereof) and ignoring other contingent disruptions. It formulates a dynamic stochastic integer programming framework to minimize network-wide expected disruption recovery costs. Specifically, our Stochastic Reactive and Proactive Disruption Management (SRPDM) model combines a stochastic queuing model of airport congestion, a flight planning tool from Boeing/Jeppesen and an integer programming model of airline disruption recovery. We develop a solution procedure based on look-ahead approximation and sample average approximation, which enables the model’s implementation in short computational times. Experimental results show that leveraging even partial and probabilistic estimates of future disruptions can reduce expected recovery costs by 1%–2%, as compared with a myopic baseline approach based on realized disruptions alone. These benefits are mainly driven by the deliberate introduction of departure holds to reduce expected fuel costs, flight cancellations, and aircraft swaps.
Fibrinogen Deficiency with Thrombotic Manifestations
Authors: Tamayo-Velasco Alvaro , Cebeira María José , Bombín-Canal Carolina , Acevedo-García Rosa María , Peñarrubia-Ponce María Jesús
Published: June 2022

Fibrinogen deficiencies are very rare. Qualitative fibrinogen deficiencies (dysfibrinogenaemia and hypodysfibrinogenemia) are functional disorders that can present with both haemorrhagic symptoms and with thrombotic phenomena as unique and paradoxical manifestation. We present the case of a 77-year-old man being investigated for a partially thrombosed abdominal aortic aneurysm as well as an ischaemic stroke 20 years previously. Basic coagulation tests were normal but extended tests revealed a lengthened thrombin time (TT) combined with a significant drop in fibrinogen concentration measured with the Clauss assay and by nephelometry. After secondary fibrinogen deficiencies were ruled out, a heterozygous variant in the FGG gene was detected by next-generation sequencing, and congenital hypodysfibrinogenemia was diagnosed. Acenocumarol was initiated and no new thrombotic or haemorrhagic events had occurred after a year of follow-up. In almost 25% of cases, thrombotic events may be the only clinical manifestation of functional fibrinogen deficiencies. They are a rare cause of thrombophilia, and are probably underdiagnosed due to normal standard coagulation test results as well as a possible absence of haemorrhagic events. Consequently, a TT test (an initial ‘rule out’ test) should be requested in order to promptly identify these patients. Moreover, discrepancies in derived and Clauss fibrinogen test results should suggest a functional disorder. Finally, new coagulation techniques based on the functional characterization of clot formation, such as ROTEM or thrombin generation assay, could help characterize these entities and suggest new therapeutic approaches.
Security analysis on the interference-based optical image cryptosystem with a designed amplitude modulator
Authors: Xiong Y. , Kumar R.
Published: June 2022

The security strength of an interference-based optical image cryptosystem with a designed amplitude modulator (AM) is evaluated. Compared to previous improved interference-based cryptosystems in which iterative or post-processing algorithms are involved, to remove the silhouette problem, a pre-designed AM is placed at the image plane to modulate the plaintext directly, which eliminates this drawback. Moreover, the AM is used as an additional private key, which enlarges the key space and further enhances the security system. However, we have noticed that one of the designed parameters in the AM has a low key sensitivity, which is fault-tolerant and is not required for precise reconstruction. Additionally, the AM is plaintext-independent, which means that the AM can be recovered first by using a pair of chosen plaintexts and the corresponding ciphertext. Based on these findings, we propose a hybrid algorithm that includes two chosen-plaintext attacks (CPAs) and a ciphertext-only attack (COA) to break the enhanced cryptosystem. Specially, CPAs with an impulse function and an arbitrarily given plaintext are proposed to retrieve two parameters in the AM. With the retrieved AM, information on the plaintext can be recovered from the corresponding ciphertext by two kinds of COAs without any knowledge of the private keys. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the interference-based cryptosystem with a designed AM has been cracked successfully, which may provide potential evidence for further security improvements. Numerical simulations are carried out to validate the feasibility of the proposed attacks.
Robust RMSA design for shared backup path protection based EON against nonlinear impairments
Authors: Chebolu Venkatesh , Behera Sadananda , Das Goutam
Published: June 2022

We focus on quality of transmission (QoT) guaranteed routing, modulation, and spectrum allocation (RMSA) in shared backup path protection (SBPP) based elastic optical networks (EONs) in the presence of nonlinear impairments. Allocating a suitable modulation format (MF) to ensure end-to-end QoT (E2E QoT) in a survivable EON offers critical challenges because each single link failure results in the failure of different network connections. As a consequence, different working and backup path allocations exist in the network for different failures, which lead to different nonlinear interference (NLI) power on any frequency slots (FSs). This demands a robust RMSA design to decide the suitable MF for each FS to ensure the E2E QoT under two scenarios: any single link failure and no failure. For this purpose, we propose a robust SBPP-NLI aware (SBPP-NLIA) algorithm to ensure E2E QoT with a multi-objective function that enables the joint sharing of backup FSs as well as transceivers and minimizes the overall network fragmentation. In the process, we introduce robust bitloading in our SBPP-NLIA to allocate different MFs for different FSs where we also perform optimal MF allocation for each FS of every connection. Next, we ensure the QoT of existing connections while establishing each new connection without reserving any margin. To achieve this with less complexity, we propose a recursive method to calculate the NLI for existing connections. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed SBPP-NLIA performs 10.01% and 14.19% better in terms of, respectively, the bandwidth blocking probability and fragmentation compared to a full-load assumption scheme with an 85 Tb/s traffic load.
Extra-cavity manipulation from traditional scalar to flexible vector solitons
Authors: Wu Zhichao , Hua Shuhao , Xu Chaoyu , Zhao Yuzhen , Pan Jianxing , Luo Dan , Zhang Jing , Huang Tianye
Published: June 2022

Soliton manipulation is considered as an effective way to generate complicated and controllable vector solitons. Here, we experimentally acquire flexible vector solitons deriving from standard scalar solitons by route-assisted and birefringence-enhanced structures along the laser output port. These vector solitons with weak interaction between two polarized components possess tunable pulse numbers, intensities, and intervals. These results would be a significant complement for soliton polarization dynamics as well as a valuable soliton light source for various practical applications.
High receiver skew-tolerant and hardware-efficient clock recovery for short-reach coherent transmission
Authors: Tang Jianwei , Chen Hao , Cui Sheng , Chen Yanan , Dai Longquan , Zhou Keji , Liu Deming
Published: June 2022

The performance of the high-baud-rate and high-order-modulation-format short-reach coherent transmission systems is sensitive to the in-phase and quadrature (IQ) skew. The conventional receiver IQ skew compensation schemes based on adaptive equalizers (AEQs) suffer from the IQ skew enhanced timing jitter incurred by the clock recovery algorithm (CRA), resulting in a serious sensitivity degradation. In this paper, we first propose a novel multiplication-free timing phase error detector (TPED) with the gain insensitive to the receiver IQ skew and the capability to deal with the complex-valued Nyquist signal with an arbitrary roll-off factor and its real-valued IQ tributaries. Based on the TPED, we then propose a new all-digital feedback CRA able to compensate for the receiver IQ skew. With the novel CRA, the IQ skew enhanced timing jitter is eliminated and the receiver sensitivity can be improved by more than 1 dB for the 61 GBaud dual-polarization Nyquist 16QAM system for an IQ skew of 5 ps. Furthermore, the proposed CRA can reduce the computation complexity of the AEQ by more than 25% compared with the existing schemes by relieving the AEQ from IQ skew compensation. Both numerical simulations and experiments are carried out to validate the advantages of the proposed algorithms. The high-skew-tolerant and low-complexity CRA is a strong candidate for the power-sensitive high-speed short-reach coherent transmission systems.
Improved waveguide-based ultraviolet light generation and pulsed squeezing at 795 nm
Authors: Torii Aki , Shibata Kosuke , Eto Yujiro , Hirano Takuya
Published: June 2022

We report on the waveguide-based generation of pulsed squeezed light at 795 nm, suitable for quantum enhanced measurements with rubidium atoms. Pulsed ultraviolet second harmonic light with a power of more than 400 mW is produced using a periodically poled LiNbO3 (PPLN) waveguide and is injected into another PPLN waveguide to generate quadrature squeezing. We find that the phase of the second harmonic pulse is shifted within a pulse, and we attribute the shift to heating due to blue-light induced infrared absorption (BLIIRA) from a comparison between the experiment and a numerical simulation. A squeezing level of −1.5(1) dB is observed in homodyne detection when we apply a linear phase shift to the local oscillator. The experiment and simulation imply that the squeezing level can be further improved by reducing BLIIRA.
Experimental evidence of a pump-wavefront-induced Stern–Gerlach-like splitting in optical parametric generators
Authors: Mondal Abhishek , Das Ritwick
Published: June 2022

Quantum mechanical Stern–Gerlach (SG)-like effects are unusual to explore in the domain of optics due to the absence of any interaction of photons or optical waves with the conventional magnetic field. A few recent investigations point toward the possibility of observing an SG-like effect in nonlinear optics via wedge-shaped poling in a long lithium niobate (LN) crystal to generate a spatially varying analogous magnetic field (

B
→

A

). This leads to two different propagation directions for the mutually orthogonal states formed by superposition of signal and idler modes (states) with opposite phases. In this work, we present theoretical formalism to show an equivalent SG-like splitting in a frequency downconversion process and experimentally validate the assertion by producing a suitable transverse gradient in

B
→

A

through an in-homogeneous pump wavefront. The experimental results show SG-like splitting in an optical parametric generation (OPG) process using a widely used periodically poled LN (PPLN) crystal and a pump laser exhibiting a suitable spatial beam profile. The experimentally measured deviation angle for the mutual beam closely matches with the prediction from theoretical formalism using a Gaussian pump wavefront.
Laser cooling experiments to measure the quantum efficiency of Yb-doped silica fibers
Authors: Topper Brian , Neumann Alexander , Albrecht Alexander R. , Flores Angel S. , Kuhn Stefan , Häßner Denny , Hein Sigrun , Hupel Christian , Nold Johannes , Haarlammert Nicoletta , Schreiber Thomas , Sheik-Bahae Mansoor , Mafi Arash
Published: June 2022

A detailed investigation into the wavelength-dependent cooling
efficiencies of two ultra-pure large core diameter ytterbium-doped
silica fibers is carried out by means of the laser-induced thermal
modulation spectroscopy (LITMoS) method. From these measurements, an
external quantum efficiency of 0.99 is obtained for both fibers.
Optimal cooling is seen for pump wavelengths between 1032 and
1035 nm. The crossover wavelength from heating to cooling is
identified to be between 1018 and 1021 nm. The fiber with
higher Yb3+ ion density exhibits better cooling,
seen by the input power normalized temperature differential.
Improving screening, treatment, and intervention for unhealthy alcohol use in primary care through clinic, practice-based research network, and health plan partnerships: Protocol of the ANTECEDENT study
Authors: Singh Amrita N. , Sanchez Victoria , Kenzie Erin S. , Sullivan Eliana , McCormack James L. , Hiebert Larson Jean , Robbins Alissa , Weekley Tiffany , Hatch Brigit A. , Dickinson Caitlin , Elder Nancy C. , Muench John P. , Davis Melinda M.
Published: June 2022

Background

Unhealthy alcohol use (UAU) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, contributing to 95,000 deaths annually. When offered in primary care, screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment (SBIRT), and medication-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) can effectively address UAU. However, these interventions are not yet routine in primary care clinics. Therefore, our study evaluates tailored implementation support to increase SBIRT and MAUD in primary care.

Methods

ANTECEDENT is a pragmatic implementation study designed to support 150 primary care clinics in Oregon adopting and optimizing SBIRT and MAUD workflows to address UAU. The study is a partnership between the Oregon Health Authority Transformation Center—state leaders in Medicaid health system transformation—SBIRT Oregon and the Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network. We recruited clinics providing primary care in Oregon and prioritized reaching clinics that were small to medium in size (<10 providers). All participating clinics receive foundational support (i.e., a baseline assessment, exit assessment, and access to the online SBIRT Oregon materials) and may opt to receive tailored implementation support delivered by a practice facilitator over 12 months. Tailored implementation support is designed to address identified needs and may include health information technology support, peer-to-peer learning, workflow mapping, or expert consultation via academic detailing. The study aims are to 1) engage, recruit, and conduct needs assessments with 150 primary care clinics and their regional Medicaid health plans called Coordinated Care Organizations within the state of Oregon, 2) implement and evaluate the impact of foundational and supplemental implementation support on clinic change in SBIRT and MAUD, and 3) describe how practice facilitators tailor implementation support based on context and personal expertise. Our convergent parallel mixed-methods analysis uses RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance). It is informed by a hybrid of the i-PARIHS (integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services) and the Dynamic Sustainability Framework.

Discussion

This study will explore how primary care clinics implement SBIRT and MAUD in routine practice and how practice facilitators vary implementation support across diverse clinic settings. Findings will inform how to effectively align implementation support to context, advance our understanding of practice facilitator skill development over time, and ultimately improve detection and treatment of UAU across diverse primary care clinics.
Metabolome analysis of genus Forsythia related constituents in Forsythia suspensa leaves and fruits using UPLC-ESI-QQQ-MS/MS technique
Authors: Liu Lingdi , Sun Yu , Wen Chunxiu , Jiang Tao , Tian Wei , Xie Xiaoliang , Cui Xusheng , Lu Ruike , Feng Jiaxing , Jin Aihong , Wen Saiqun , Wei Wei
Published: June 2022

Forsythia suspensa is a traditional Chinese herb. Its numerous metabolites have important roles, as they possessed a wide range of biological activities. This study explored the accumulations of F. suspensa metabolites by performing widely targeted metabolomic analysis. The metabolites were studied at four stages of fruit development. Metabolites in the fruits and leaves of F. suspensa during fruit development included phenolic acids, flavonoids, lipids, lignans and coumarins, amino acids and their derivatives, terpenes, organic acids, nucleotides and their derivatives, alkaloids, quinones, steroids, and tannins. Fourteen Forsythia related metabolites were detected. Their contents varied among the developmental stages. Statistically significant correlations were found between the levels of forsythoside B and 11-methyl-forsythide, and forsythialan B and phillygenin, in both leaves and fruits. According to the correlation analysis between metabolites, Forsythia related metabolites were divided into two classes and five subclasses. In total, 33 compounds presented significant correlations in both fruits and leaves, which indicated the potential relationship in the synthesis of Forsythia related metabolites. Forsythialan B and phillygenin were both negatively correlated with L-valine, while Z-6,7-epoxyligustilid was positively correlated with both compounds. The quality control compounds forsythiaside A and phillyrin were positively and negatively correlated with uracil, respectively. These metabolomics results may facilitate the biosynthesis of Forsythia related metabolites.
Determinants of overweight and/or obesity among school adolescents in Butajira Town, Southern Ethiopia. A case-control study
Authors: Kedir Shemsu , Hassen Kalkidan , Melaku Yabsra , Jemal Musa
Published: June 2022

Background

The global rise of adolescent overweight and obesity is posing a new challenge to the public health sector by determining the forthcoming generation for the most awful and upsetting quality of social life by inducing bantering, social isolation, and stigmatization among children that contribute to the mental wellbeing of the growing adolescents. Risk factors for overweight and/or obesity might not be the same across different regions due to differences in socioeconomic characteristics, culture, ethnicity, and geographical location. Moreover, in this study area, no report has been documented so far on the determinant factors of overweight and/or obesity among school adolescents. Hence, this study aimed at identifying context-specific determinants of overweight and/or obesity among adolescents in the study area.

Methods and materials

School-based unmatched case-control study design was employed from March 1–30, 2019, in Butajira town, Southern Ethiopia. Data were collected regarding sociodemographic, dietary practice, physical activity, nutritional knowledge-related factors, and anthropometric measurements. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to identify independent predictors of overweight/obesity.

Results

We enrolled 297 adolescents: 99 cases, 198 controls. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis revealed that those in high socioeconomic status [AOR = 5.8, 95% CI (2.66, 12.5)], consumed soft drinks 3 and above times per week [AOR = 3.7, 95% CI (1.8, 7.3)], physically inactive [AOR = 4.4 95% CI (1.68, 11.6)], spent free time by watching television/movies for 3 and above hours per day [AOR = 8.6, 95% CI (4.3, 17)] and with poor nutritional knowledge [AOR = 3.4, 95%CI (1.7, 6.9)] were significantly associated with overweight and/obesity.

Conclusion

High socioeconomic status, consumption of soft drinks, physical inactivity, sedentary behavior, and poor nutritional knowledge were significantly associated with overweight/obesity. Therefore, strengthening parent and school-based health education in healthy nutrition behaviors and promotion tactics such as enhancing physical activity, limiting watching television, and soft drinks will be helpful to minimize overweight and obesity among adolescents.
El Gobierno Abierto en México y la evolución de la rendición de cuentas
Authors: Arévalo-Martínez Rebeca-Illiana , Negrete-Huelga Karla-Belem
Published: June 2022

El artículo tiene como objetivo analizar los compromisos mexicanos de rendición de cuentas ante la Alianza para el Gobierno Abierto, a lo largo de sus cuatro planes de acción, para determinar si hay cambios o modificaciones que muestren una transición y efectividad en la rendición de cuentas, hacia una mayor implicación de la sociedad civil y de la innovación tecnológica. Mediante un análisis de contenido, el estudio revela la existencia de una transición hacia un mayor involucramiento civil, pero un largo camino para lograr una comunicación de diálogo a través de la tecnología. De esta manera, se percibe que los compromisos de rendición de cuentas han sido encauzados a generar productos enfocados en la transparencia, sin determinar mecanismos de control, evaluación y monitoreo de las acciones gubernamentales.
First report of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Infantis in broiler litter in Tolima, Colombia
Authors: Bonilla-Caballero Mayra A. , Lozano-Puentes María P. , Ospina María A. , Varón-López Maryeimy
Published: June 2022

Background and Aim: Salmonella has been identified as one of the most widely distributed zoonotic pathogens in broiler litter. Multidrug-resistant strains have been isolated from salmonellosis outbreaks, compromising the success of their treatment. This study aimed to isolate and identify Salmonella spp. serovars in healthy broiler litter in Tolima (Colombia), determine their resistance to different antimicrobials, and detect genes associated with β-lactam resistance that could be useful to control Salmonella spp. in poultry.

Materials and Methods: In total, 45 broiler litter samples were collected. Salmonella spp. was isolated and identified using selective and differential culture media and biochemical tests. Molecular confirmation of the pathogen was performed with the invA gene and serotyping by Kauffman–White scheme. Antimicrobial susceptibility to 15 antibiotics was determined by Kirby–Bauer method. In cefotaxime-resistant strains, blaCTX-M-F, blaCTX-M-1, blaCMY, and blaTEM genes were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: In total, 817 presumptive strains were obtained from xylose lysine deoxycholate and Salmonella Shigella agars and subcultured on xylose-lysine-tergitol 4 and MacConkey agars, from which 150 strains were isolated; 29 of these strains were presumptive for Salmonella spp. after performing biochemical tests and 16 were confirmed by PCR as Salmonella Infantis (15) and Gallinarum (1). All strains were found to be multiresistant to antibiotics, showing three different profiles and isolates resistant to cefotaxime, and the blaCTX-M gene was detected.

Conclusion: This is the first study to isolate S. Infantis from broiler litter in Colombia. All isolates exhibited resistance to the evaluated antimicrobials, suggesting the misuse of antimicrobials in small- and medium-sized poultry farms. The presence of Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis is a public health problem. Thus, regular monitoring of poultry litter is recommended, as these bacteria can be transmitted to humans through animal products or contaminated environments.
Using bioelectrical impedance analysis for modeling regression and predicting body fat accumulation in dogs in East Thailand
Authors: Arreesrisom Peera , Phichitrasilp Thanmaporn , Naimon Nattakarn , Charoensin Supochana , Rerkamnuaychoke Worawut , Panpiansil Jumrueang , Jarudecha Thitichai
Published: June 2022

Background and Aim: Obesity in dogs leads to several health problems, such as premature death, and contributes to other diseases. Recently, body fat percentage has been considered to represent the body condition of dogs, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is the most effective method for accurately measuring body fat in dogs. In Thailand, information on the body condition of dogs is limited, and there is no standard body fat level for Thai or mongrel dogs. This study was designed to evaluate and analyze the body fat percentage in dogs through BIA using a handheld instrument. The results of this study can help enhance the quality of life and health of dogs and aid in setting a standard body fat level for Thai or mongrel dogs. Materials and Methods: The body fat percentage of 340 Thai and mongrel dogs in East Thailand was measured in the standing position, and the body condition score (BCS) (range, 1–5), sex, sterilization status, age, type of diet, and lifestyle were recorded. A linear regression model was developed to compare the variables and the predicted body fat percentage, and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the factors for body fat increment. Results: The linear regression model used to estimate the percentage of body fat (y) for each BCS (x) was y = 0.84 + 8.36x (R2 = 0.7219; p < 0.0001); the average body fat percentage was 27.52% for all studied dogs; specifically, 24.83% for the Thai Bangkaew, 26.42% for the Thai Ridgeback, and 27.65% for mongrels. The median body fat percentage was significantly higher in female than in male dogs. We found that as age increases, body fat percentage also increases; this increasing trend begins at the age of 5 years. However, increasing the level of activity and decreasing meal frequency leads to an increase in body fat percentage in neutered male dogs. Conclusion: The average body fat percentage of dogs in East Thailand is 27.52% and this value is expected to increase when these dogs reach the age of 5 years. BIA is a valid and effective measurement tool for detecting the body fat percentage in dogs.
Knowledge, Health Beliefs, and Preventive Behaviors Regarding COVID-19 among the General Public
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Moon Hyunjung
Published: June 2022

This study is a descriptive research designed to determine the knowledge, health beliefs, and preventive practices among general adults in relation to COVID-19 and the factors that influence preventive behaviors. An online survey was utilized for data collection, and the final 275 study participants were identified for the final data analysis. The collected data were subjected to descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS 23.0. The study findings revealed the knowledge score of the subjects regarding COVID-19 as 77.5 and the prevention behavior as 86.7. Among the sub-components of health beliefs, perceived susceptibility and perceived severity were factors affecting COVID-19 preventive behavior among general adults, and the explanatory power was identified as 17.3%. The higher the perceived susceptibility and severity, the higher the likelihood of engaging in preventive behavior. Therefore, a strategy to utilize this behavioral change theory is necessary. It is advised that a health education program for general adults be developed that includes the sub-components of health beliefs and further research be conducted to understand the effect.
The Emergence of the Tetrathionate Reductase Operon in the

Escherichia coli/Shigella Pan-genome.
Authors: ADSIT FLOYD
Published: June 2022

Escherichia coli pathogenic variants (pathovars) are generally characterized by defined virulence traits and are susceptible to the evolution of hybridized identities due to the considerable plasticity of the
E. coli genome. We have isolated a strain from a purified diet intended for research animals that further demonstrates the ability of
E. coli to acquire novel genetic elements leading potentially to emergent new pathovars. Utilizing Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to obtain a Whole Genome (WGS) profile, we report an atypical strain of
E. coli, EcoFA807-17, possessing a tetrathionate reductase (
ttr) operon, which enables the utilization of tetrathionate as an electron acceptor, thus facilitating respiration in anaerobic environments such as the mammalian gut. The
ttr operon is a potent virulence factor for several enteric pathogens, most prominently
Salmonella enterica. However, the presence of chromosomally integrated tetrathionate reductase genes do not appear to have been previously reported in wild-type
E. coli or
Shigella. Accordingly, it is possible that the appearance of this virulence factor may signal the evolution of new mechanisms of pathogenicity in
E. coli and Shigella, and may potentially alter the effectiveness of existing assays using tetrathionate reductase as a unique marker for the detection of Salmonella enterica.