bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Secular sources of the «Dictionary of the Ukrainian language 16th – first half of the 17th century»: ukrainian translation of the «Chronicles» by Maciej Stryikowskiy
Authors: Bahniuk Natalia
Published: December 2024

The article analyzes the criteria for selecting sources for the «Dictionary of the Ukrainian language of the 16th – first half of the 17th centuries», which were used in the 1980s as the main ones for forming its source base – territorial, genre-style, and linguistic. In 1994, in Lviv was published perhaps the most complete register of written monuments (about 3,500 items), compiled according to the above criteria. Emphasis is placed on the need for some revision of approaches to involving texts in terms of their information potential for replenishing the register of dictionary entries, identifying transformations in the semantic structure of lexemes, the ability of lexicographers to work with full-text digital copies and databases in addition to card files, and new research that shifts the focus of attention from extralinguistic factors to the author, his linguistic personality and intentions, and the cultural and historical context of the appearance of the monument. As an example, one of the important texts of this period is given – the translation of the «Chronicles» by the Polish historian Maciey Stryikovskiy, who initiated a new lasting tradition of historiography of Eastern Europe. This text was used only 14% as a resource of lexical units for the dictionary, but even cursory observations indicate its potential to fill gaps in the list of register words, adding unique fixations or unique contexts and, accordingly, meanings. Among other things, the manuscript folio has an interesting user history and stages of editing with the introduction of a «Rusian context and vision», which proves its value as a source of linguistic material for lexicographic works, studies of historical lexicology and the history of everyday life. Linguistic analysis of the monument will in the future supplement the assumptions of historians about the time and place of its production. Dictionary sources, written monuments, the texts of which are not fully or improperly (selectively) represented in the source database, require additional processing using digital approaches, which, in turn, will expand the capabilities of lexicographers and researchers.
Ethnopsychological Context of Implementing International Academic Mobility as One of the Forms of Internationalization in Higher Education
Authors: Myhovych Iryna , Ovcharova Liudmyla
Published: December 2024

The article provides a theoretical conceptualization of the ethnopsychological aspects of international academic mobility, which serves as a key form of internationalization in higher education, facilitating unique intercultural experiences for students and faculty. The paper outlines the interconnections between international academic mobility, communicative and intercultural competence, as well as the ethnopsychological context. Particular attention is given to the examples of operationalizing the concept of «intercultural competence», which is significant for future empirical research. The analysis includes ethnopsychological factors such as stereotypes, cultural differences, and adaptation difficulties, etc. that impact the effectiveness of international mobility. Recommendations are presented to minimize the negative influence of these factors, which could significantly enhance the integration process for participants of international mobility programmes and reduce the likelihood of conflicts while having intercultural communication. The conclusions of the research emphasize the necessity of recognizing the ethnopsychological factors that influence participants' adaptation, communication, and overall learning effectiveness. The recommendations presented pertain to a deeper analysis of ethnopsychological factors in various regional contexts, examining the impact of intercultural training on adaptation, as well as the integration of language support into educational programmes.
Speech-play activities as a means of developing coherent speech in children with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Chekan Oksana
Published: December 2024

The article examines speech-play activities as an effective means of developing coherent speech in children with autism spectrum disorders. The author emphasizes that speech-play activities are a complex process that integrates psychological, linguistic, pedagogical, and psychological aspects. The primary focus is on analyzing the relationship between play and communicative-speech activities, as well as the potential for integrating these types of activities to stimulate speech development in children with autism. The article explores the scientific perspectives of various researchers, such as L. Vygotsky, L. Kalmykova, A. Bogush, and others, regarding the essence of speech-play activities. Different approaches to its implementation are discussed, including psychological, linguistic, aesthetic, and linguistic-didactic aspects. The emphasis is on the fact that speech-play activities not only contribute to speech development but also foster the formation of social skills and the integration of children with autism spectrum disorders into society. The role of play as the main tool for teaching speech in the educational process is separately considered. The article provides examples of the application of play-based methods and highlights their significance for corrective work with children. Research shows that structured play situations allow children with autism to interact more effectively with their environment and develop essential communication skills. Thus, the article makes a significant contribution to understanding speech-play activities as one of the leading methods in the speech development of children with special needs, particularly those with autism spectrum disorders. The research findings have practical implications for professionals in the fields of special education and speech therapy.
Security and personal development during the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine
Authors: Kurylo Vitalii , Karaman Olena
Published: December 2024

The article reveals the problem of security and personal development during the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. It has been established that personal security is a state of human satisfaction with the possibility of realizing needs of different levels on the basis of internal and external harmony and confidence in the future, which ensures the successful mutual development of the individual and society and the progress of society. The state and behaviour of the individual in the conditions of military danger at all structural levels are analysed (according to K. Platonov): orientation of the personality (loss of the meaning of life and previous achievements, image of the future; distortion of life values, worldview; erroneous, erroneous ideas and beliefs); experience (loss of work, sources of income, housing, meaning of acquired knowledge and experience; blocking of the ability to constructively solve problems); mental processes (blocking of thought processes, cognitive dissonance, uncritical thinking, irrational assessment of the situation, aggressiveness, mental instability, affective excitability; victim state, low self-esteem, guilt); biopsychic processes (exacerbation of certain temperament traits; accentuation of character; alternation of stable and critical states of different physiological systems, etc.). The ways of ensuring security and personal development during the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine have been determined: the formation of a value attitude to life, education, future profession, the need for constant personal and professional growth; obtaining new knowledge, skills, searching for new areas of activity; helping others and accepting help from others; forming the ability to manage stress and emotions in emergency conditions, having reflection skills, self-regulation, relaxation, stabilization of the psycho-emotional state; activation of interpersonal interaction, love, creativity, faith in victory, responsibility.
The use of digital learning tools in the professional training of future masters of education
Authors: Yakovenko Heorhii
Published: December 2024

The article reveals approaches to the use of digital learning tools in the professional training of future masters of education in the specialty 01Education/Pedagogy. It has been found that a wide range of scientific research on the training of future masters of education is based on the conceptual foundations of the use of information and communication technologies in the educational process. This fact is due to the digitalization of all spheres of public life, including the education sector. It is concluded that most researchers talk about the use of digital learning tools as powerful tools for improving the quality of the educational process and the comprehensive development of the student's personality. The expediency of using various digital learning tools in the context of distance education is substantiated. In particular, the use of services and platforms for synchronous and asynchronous types of distance learning, as well as interactive presentations, educational games, services for creating online puzzles and crosswords, animations, videos, etc. at different stages of the classroom in higher education institutions allows to achieve a wide range of didactic tasks of professional training of future masters of education, among which the most important are: providing access to various educational online resources; development of creative and intellectual abilities of students by means of online learning. It is summarized that the intensification of the process of professional training of future masters of education to work in the digital educational space, their mastery of the most modern digital technologies and teaching tools for implementation in their future professional activities is relevant for further theoretical and practical research.
Pedagogical conditions for preparing a future primary school teacher for the organization of group educational activities of students
Authors: Zubtsova Yuliia , Lahutina Tamara
Published: December 2024

The article outlines the relevance of preparing future primary school teachers for organizing group learning activities for students in the context of implementing the Conceptual Foundations of the New Ukrainian School reform and the State Standard of Primary Education. It is noted that the group form of learning activities allows for direct contact among all students, contributes to the establishment of moral values and norms of interaction and cooperation, and encourages students to independently plan and coordinate their cognitive activities. The authors clarify the concept of «readiness of the future teacher for the group form of organizing cognitive activities of younger schoolchildren», which is understood as an integrative personal quality that involves a favorable motivational-value attitude towards group work and the possession of effective methods for organizing it. The corresponding criteria (motivational, cognitive, activity-based) and indicators of such readiness are defined and characterized. The pedagogical conditions for preparing future primary school teachers to organize group learning activities for students are substantiated, namely: motivating students to study the features of the group form of organizing cognitive activities and applying teamwork during practice; enriching the content of training with theoretical knowledge about the features of organizing group forms of learning; developing practical skills for applying the group form of organizing cognitive activities during practical classes and pedagogical practice; and using group forms of organizing cognitive activities during educational sessions in higher education institutions. The authors emphasize that during professional training, it is necessary to develop in students a positive attitude towards the group form of learning; a system of knowledge about various forms of organizing cognitive activities and, in particular, technologies, methods, and techniques of group work; skills and abilities to apply this knowledge in practical activities; and personal-professional qualities necessary for organizing group work.
Structural and logical scheme of training future bachelors of physical culture and sports to provide pre-medical care
Authors: Maramukha Nataliia
Published: December 2024

The article analyzes the current state of formation of readiness to provide pre-medical medical care among future bachelors of physical culture and sports. It is substantiated that the preparation of future bachelors of physical culture and sports to provide pre-medical care should be presented in the form of a structural-logical scheme, the methodological basis for which is the competence approach. It is shown that, as a rule, a separate educational discipline is aimed at the formation of readiness to provide pre-medical care in current educational programs. At the same time, it is expedient and possible to direct several educational components, which may include internships and coursework, to the formation of readiness to provide pre-medical care. It has been proven that in order to improve the quality of the educational process in the context of formation of readiness to provide pre-medical assistance, it is appropriate to take into account the results of informal education, in particular, various courses aimed at forming competence in basic life support and assistance in emergency situations. At the same time, the results of such informal training can be included in the evaluation of educational practices. The provisions formulated above are reflected in the structural and logical scheme of training future bachelors of physical culture and sports to provide pre-medical care, which reflects the sequence of stages of formation of the necessary competencies, which differ among themselves, first of all, in educational tasks. The results of testing the assumption about the effectiveness of the educational process organized according to this structural and logical scheme are the subject of our further research.
The essence of the humanistic worldview of future doctors in wartime and post-war periods
Authors: Zadorozhna Olha
Published: December 2024

The article deals with the main aspects of the humanistic worldview of future doctors and its impact on medical practice during wartime and in the post-war period. The formation of a humanistic worldview in doctors is a complex task that requires the integration of various scientific approaches, including philosophical, ethical, and socio-psychological aspects. Analyzing the humanistic worldview of a doctor highlights important components such as anthropocentrism, the ethics of care, and Kantian ethics. These elements emphasize the importance of respect for autonomy, dignity, and the uniqueness of each person, as well as the moral obligations of the doctor toward patients. Ethical principles such as confidentiality, patient autonomy, and justice are integral to the humanistic approach to medicine. They require doctors to adhere to professional ethics, regardless of the conditions under which medical practice takes place. The socio-psychological approach emphasizes the importance of qualities such as empathy, respect for individuality, and the provision of psychological support. These factors positively influence the doctor-patient relationship, improve treatment effectiveness, and enhance the atmosphere in medical institutions. The humanistic worldview of a doctor is especially crucial during wartime and in the post-war period when doctors must deal with extreme situations that demand a high level of moral resilience and humanity. Thus, the value of human life, empathy and compassion, respect for dignity, and individual rights are key values that define the essence of a doctor’s humanistic worldview during wartime. An individualized approach and psychological support contribute to the effectiveness of treatment, playing a crucial role in maintaining social stability and rebuilding society after the war.
Problems and challenges of early diagnosis of speech disorders in children
Authors: Patsula Iryna
Published: December 2024

The article updates the importance of early diagnosis of speech disorders, which is crucial for successful correction and development of the child’s speech skills. The impact of speech disorders on the child’s cognitive, psychomotor, emotional development, socialization and learning is substantiated. The essence and signs of speech disorders are revealed. The main classifications of speech disorders are characterized: clinical-pedagogical and psychological-pedagogical. The essential characteristics of the main forms of speech disorders (dysphonia, bradylalia, tachylalia, stuttering (logoneurosis), dyslalia, rhinolalia, dysarthria, alalia, aphasia, dysgraphia, dyslexia) are revealed. The causes of speech disorders are outlined: genetic factors, hearing impairment, neurological disorders, psychological factors, general retardation of the child’s psychomotor or cognitive development. Modern approaches to the diagnosis of speech disorders in children based on an interdisciplinary approach. The difficulties and problems of early diagnosis of speech disorders were identified, including: individual characteristics of children’s development, lack of noticeable symptoms in the early stages, lack of qualified specialists, low level of awareness of parents, uncertainty of criteria for age norms, concomitant medical or psychological problems, fear of children during diagnosis, lack of a comprehensive approach, problems with test tools, the complexity of diagnosis in bilingual children, social and economic factors.
Spotlight on rare diseases
Authors: Garwood Blayne Baker
Published: December 2024

This issue of the British Journal of Cardiac Nursing contains a feature focus on rare diseases. Opening the issue, Blayne Baker Garwood emphasises the importance of ‘thinking rare’ in cardiac nursing.
Are England's maternity services safe?
Authors: Halliwell Amanda
Published: December 2024

Amanda Halliwell explores safety at maternity services, in light of the findings from the Care Quality Commission's national review
Mathematics Teachers’ Conceptions of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences: A Case Study in Ghana
Authors: Yakubu Sumaila , Nabie Micheal Johnson , Luo Fenqjen
Published: December 2024

Understanding and handling diversity, as well as inclusion, are critical in ensuring effective teaching and learning, especially in the mathematics classroom, where students have varied abilities. Despite the growing research in inclusive education, little is known about how mathematics teachers in the Ghanaian context understand the theory of multiple intelligences (MIs), leaving a gap in how this theory can be applied in the classroom to improve practice and inclusion. In this study, the authors explored Ghanaian mathematics teachers’ conceptions of the theory of MIs using a basic qualitative method design. 12 senior high school mathematics teachers in one municipality of Ghana were engaged through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, including field notes, to provide information on their conceptions of the theory of MIs. Thematic analysis revealed that mathematics teachers conceived the theory of MIs as a theory of different styles for learning, multiple teaching strategies, and a theory for catering to diverse student needs. The findings highlight the need for professional development and teacher training curriculum development to enhance teachers' understanding of the theory of MIs to improve their practice and handling of inclusiveness and diversity in the classroom.
Securing Agricultural Systems Against the Threat of Misinformation
Authors: Stephen Simone , Ruffin Daphne , Palmer Xavier , Potter Lucas
Published: December 2024

Highlights

Touches on various cybersecurity vulnerabilities within agriculture.

Promotes agricultural, media, and environmental literacy.

Highlights the dangers of disinformation and misinformation.

Explores the complex relationship between disinformation, misinformation, agriculture, and cybersecurity.

Abstract. Agriculture is an essential practice and industry that has completely transformed human civilization and society by revolutionizing farming. It is a 10,000-year-old science involving the cultivation of crops and livestock, acting as the backbone of economies globally (Marsh, 2021; National Geographic, 2022). As the technological world rapidly evolves, modern agriculture implements various innovations and advancements to further develop its practices. Though necessary, these technological adaptations create great risk for the sector as they stand vulnerable to threats of cyber-attacks and misinformation. These threats have the potential to significantly damage agribusinesses and farms, food safety, and the environment. To combat this, it is integral to implement cyberbiosecurity practices and various methods to reduce the impacts of misinformation. This requires careful consideration and action of stakeholders in agriculture, cybersecurity, and policy in a collaborative effort to mitigate misinformation and cyber threats to agriculture, protecting food security. This work explores misinformation in agriculture and its connection to cyberbiosecurity, presents strategies to address related risks, and considers the future challenges provided by recently developing technologies. The analysis demands direct action to safeguard agricultural systems from various threats to ultimately protect the food supply, economy, and the environment as a whole. Keywords: Agriculture, Biocybersecurity, Cyberbiosecurity, Disinformation, Healthcare, Misinformation.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a System of Distinguishable Subsystems with Repair Preference and Weather Conditions
Authors: Kumar Lalit , Pawar D. , Kumar Kailash
Published: December 2024

Cost-effectiveness analysis of a reliability model of two distinguishable electricity resources is done in this paper. Subsystem-A is taken as the primary, whereas subsystem-B is taken as the secondary source of electricity. Subsystem-A has three modes – operation, repair, and activation, and subsystem-B has four modes – operation, inspection, minor repair, and major repair. Availability of a full-time technician is considered to perform all repair and activation activities. The technician initiates the repair of subsystem-A immediately whenever required, whereas inspection is carried out for subsystem-B to identify the type of repair required. Normal and abnormal weather conditions are considered to study the impact of weather conditions on repair and activation activities. Only subsystem-A needs activation after repair, and no repair/activation is carried out in abnormal weather, while weather conditions do not affect inspection or repair activities of subsystem-B. Failure and repair rates of both the subsystems are exponentially distributed, whereas a general distribution is taken for the operation rate of subsystem-A. Various reliability components like Mean Time to System Failure (MTSF), steady-state availability, busy period of the server, and profit of the system model are evaluated using the semi-Markov process. Random values are taken to show the impact of increasing failure rate of subsystem-A and rate of change of weather condition from normal to abnormal on MTSF and the cost-benefit of the system model. Graphs are drawn for MTSF and profit of the system model, which clearly indicates that MTSF and profit of the system model are higher for a lesser rate of change in weather conditions.
The effects of the minimum wage on inequality
Authors: Arribas Cámara Javier , Cárdenas Luis , Rial Adrián
Published: December 2024

The effects of the minimum wage on employment and wages have been widely studied, but its impact on inequality has not yet been well analysed due to the multiple ways of observing it. This study aims to compile the most relevant publications that have dealt with inequality in order to organise them systematically by types of inequality and the conclusions that have been reached on the effects of the minimum wage. Finally, and taking into account the uncertainties that characterise any long-term forecast, it is observed that although the minimum wage is not neutral in its effects and has negative repercussions on employment, these are relatively mild. Nevertheless, from all the perspectives analysed, the minimum wage can be seen to have positive consequences for the reduction of inequality.
Deep learning-based polarization 3D imaging method for underwater targets
Authors: Wu Xianyu , Chen Jiangtao , Li Penghao , Wang Xuesong , Wu Jing , Huang Feng
Published: December 2024

The significant absorption and scattering of light during its propagation in water severely degrade the quality of underwater imaging, presenting challenges for developing high-precision 3D imaging techniques based on optical methods. Polarization imaging has demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating the effects of scattering, making it a valuable approach for underwater imaging. Additionally, the polarization state of reflected light can be utilized for surface normal estimation and 3D shape reconstruction. This paper presents a learning-based method for 3D shape reconstruction of underwater targets using shape from polarization techniques. To address the lack of publicly available datasets for underwater polarization 3D imaging, we have developed a data acquisition system that simulates Jerlov Type I water conditions, creating a dataset of underwater polarized images along with corresponding ground truth surface normal images. Furthermore, we propose a network framework based on Attention U2Net for the 3D reconstruction of underwater polarized images. This framework is designed to capture detailed texture information of underwater targets and incorporates an effective polarization representation to resolve azimuthal ambiguity, thus enhancing the accuracy of underwater 3D imaging. Experimental results demonstrate that our method effectively addresses azimuthal ambiguity, reduces texture loss during reconstruction, and improves the accuracy of surface normal estimation, achieving superior performance compared to existing methods.
Time-of-flight widefield microscopy
Authors: Kassem Khaled , Lyons Ashley , Binner Philip , Faccio Daniele
Published: December 2024

High-resolution depth imaging is essential in fields such as biological microscopy and material science. Traditional techniques like interferometry and holography often rely on phase stability and coherence, making them susceptible to noise and limiting their effectiveness in low-light conditions. We propose a time-of-flight (ToF) widefield microscopy technique that uses pseudo-thermal light. Our method calculates second-order correlation g (2) from intensity images captured by a standard CMOS camera, eliminating the need for phase stability and improving robustness in noisy environments. By incorporating a dual-wavelength approach, we further enhance depth-uncertainty to nanometer scales. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique through experiments on biological samples and nano-scale graphene layers, highlighting its potential for high-precision depth-resolved imaging.
Refractive index and temperature dual-parameter sensors based on loss mode resonance and directional coupler in side-polished hole-assisted dual-core fiber
Authors: Jin Yuan , Gao Lai , Xue Yuxiao , Yang Jing , Liu Yan , Zhu Zheng , Shi Jinhui , Grattan K. T. V. , Guan Chunying
Published: December 2024

A refractive index (RI) and temperature dual-parameter sensor, based on a side-polished hole-assisted dual-core fiber (HADCF), has been proposed. In this sensor, SnO2 film has been deposited on the suspended core of HADCF by RF sputtering to produce loss mode resonance (LMR). The energy of the center core has been shown to be able to be coupled into the suspended core, taking advantage of the small distance involved and phase matching between two cores. The 10 mm long HADCF can be used to form a directional coupler. LMR and the directional coupler are integrated in parallel on the same section of HADCF, which realizes the high integration of sensing measurement. The sensor achieves simultaneous measurement of both RI and temperature through measuring both the LMR dip and coupling dip. The RI and temperature sensitivities achieved were 3812.5 nm/RIU and 521.4 pm/°C, respectively. The sensor discussed shows important advantages of high sensitivity, simple fabrication, high integration, and the ability to make measurements of two key parameters.
Real-time detection and auto-focusing of beam profiles from silicon photonics gratings using the YOLO model
Authors: Lim Yu Dian , Li Hong Yu , Kiat Goh Simon Chun , Wang Xiangyu , Zhao Peng , Tan Chuan Seng
Published: December 2024

When observing chip-to-free-space light beams from silicon photonics (SiPh) to free space, manual adjustment of camera lens is often required to obtain a focused image of the light beams. In this Letter, we demonstrated an auto-focusing system based on the you-only-look-once (YOLO) model. The trained YOLO model exhibits high classification accuracy of 99.7% and high confidence level of >0.95 when detecting light beams from SiPh gratings. A video demonstration of real-time light beam detection, real-time computation of beam widths, and auto-focusing of light beams is also included.
Automated tuning of a ring-assisted MZI-based interleaver for Kerr frequency combs
Authors: Wang Songli , Wang Yuyang , Sanyal Swarnava , Parsons Robert , Ji Xingchen , Okawachi Yoshitomo , Meng Xiang , Lipson Michal , Gaeta Alexander , Bergman Keren
Published: December 2024

We demonstrate a compact ring-assisted Mach–Zehnder interferometer (RAMZI)-based silicon photonic interleaver with a 400 GHz free spectral range (FSR), featuring flat passbands exceeding a spectral range of 50 nm. Additionally, we introduce a novel, to the best of our knowledge, add-on structure and tuning method enabling automated compensation for fabrication imperfections, precise shaping of the RAMZI flat-top passbands, and alignment with Kerr comb lines. Experimental results have shown successful interleaving of eight channels of distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers as well as a 200 GHz Kerr comb, both achieving an extinction ratio of approximately 20 dB.
On-chip optical memristors based on ferroelectric-doped graphene
Authors: Zhang Yong , Chen Bing , Wang Jianguo , Luo Zheng-Dong , Tian Ruijuan , Yao Danyang , Wang Xiaomu , Liu Yan , Hao Yue , Han Genquan , Gan Xuetao
Published: December 2024

Chip-integrated optical memristors, modulating light in a nonvolatile and semicontinuous manner, are attractive to revolutionize on-chip optical signal processing via the constructions of nonvolatile reconfigurable photonic circuits, in-memory computing, brain-inspired architectures, etc. Mechanisms, including phase-change, filamentation, and ferroelectricity, have been attempted to implement on-chip optical memristors, though their intricate tradeoffs between fabrication compatibility, modulation depth, power consumption, retention time, and cyclability make it desired to pursue new architectures. Here, we demonstrate graphene-based on-chip optical amplitude and phase memristors by electrostatically doping the graphene integrated on a silicon nitride waveguide with a ferroelectric film. Benefiting from graphene’s significant dependence of complex refractive index on its carrier density and the ferroelectric remnant doping, semicontinuous nonvolatile modulation with a maximum depth of ∼32.5dB is realized with a low programming energy of ∼1.86pJ/µm2, exhibiting good cyclability (fluctuation ratio <0.9%) and long retention time (over 10 years). By integrating the graphene-based optical memristor with cascaded microring resonators, in-memory computings with multiple wavelength channels are demonstrated by analogue matrix-vector multiplication and digital logic gate operations. Combining these merits with CMOS-compatible on-chip graphene integration, the demonstrated graphene-based optical memristor has proven to be a competitive candidate for high-bandwidth neuromorphic computing, convolutional processing, and artificial intelligence on photonic integrated circuits.
Understanding human papillomavirus vaccine response and efficacy in people living with HIV: A systematic mixed studies review and meta-analysis
Authors: Akumbom Alvine M. , Bergman Alanna J. , Strickler Howard , Budhathoki Chakra , Nkimbeng Manka , Grant Raeven , Reynolds Nancy R. , Talaat Kawsar R.
Published: December 2024

Coinfection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV compounds the risks of developing cervical, anal, and HPV-associated oral neoplasia. Safe prophylactic vaccines are available to prevent HPV infections in people with HIV(PWH). Yet, vaccine efficacy and duration of protection remain questionable. Historically, the efficacy of vaccines has been suboptimal in PWH compared to people without HIV (PWoH).A systematic review of HPV vaccine trials in PWH was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Outcomes of interest were vaccine efficacy, immunogenicity, and predictors of HPV vaccine efficacy. A secondary outcome was to assess age and sex differences. Efficacy was reviewed as cervical/anal/oral lesions or neoplasia, and incident or persistent HPV infection following vaccination. A random effects meta-analysis was performed comparing geometric mean titer (GMT) in PWH to PWoH. Twenty-eight studies out of 988 were eligible for inclusion in our study, and qualitatively synthesized. Eight of these studies were meta-analyzed. GMT results of HPV16 and HPV18 genotypes were significantly lower in PWH; Hedges’s g -0.434 (95% CI: -0.823, -0.046) and Hedges’s g -0.57 (95% CI: -0.72, -0.43), respectively. The mean difference in GMT for HPV18 between PWH and PWoH was -536.23 (95% CI: -830.66, -241.81); approximately 22 times higher than HPV18 seropositivity cut-offs, assuming milli-Merck Units per milliliter. Risk factors for incident or persistent infections in PWH included: failure to seroconvert after vaccination, baseline CD4+ T-cell count <500 cells/mm3, early age of sexual debut, HIV viral load ≥ 400 copies/mL. There was a trend towards decreased HPV vaccine efficacy in studies that included enrollees with a history of AIDS or AIDS-defining illness.Applying existing evidence of HPV vaccine efficacy on meaningful clinical outcomes in PWH is questionable. This could be influenced by the diversity of eligibility criteria across clinical trials of HPV vaccine efficacy. Precision medicine may offer novel alternatives for evaluating HPV vaccine efficacy in PWH.
An in-depth examination of the fuzzy fractional cancer tumor model and its numerical solution by implicit finite difference method
Authors: Zureigat Hamzeh , Alshammari Saleh , Alshammari Mohammad , Al-Smadi Mohammed , Al-Sawallah M. Mossa
Published: December 2024

The cancer tumor model serves a s a crucial instrument for understanding the behavior of different cancer tumors. Researchers have employed fractional differential equations to describe these models. In the context of time fractional cancer tumor models, there’s a need to introduce fuzzy quantities instead of crisp quantities to accommodate the inherent uncertainty and imprecision in this model, giving rise to a formulation known as fuzzy time fractional cancer tumor models. In this study, we have developed an implicit finite difference method to solve a fuzzy time-fractional cancer tumor model. Instead of utilizing classical time derivatives in fuzzy cancer models, we have examined the effect of employing fuzzy time-fractional derivatives. To assess the stability of our proposed model, we applied the von Neumann method, considering the cancer cell killing rate as time-dependent and utilizing Caputo’s derivative for the time-fractional derivative. Additionally, we conducted various numerical experiments to assess the viability of this new approach and explore relevant aspects. Furthermore, our study identified specific needs in researching the cancer tumor model with fuzzy fractional derivative, aiming to enhance our inclusive understanding of tumor behavior by considering diverse fuzzy cases for the model’s initial conditions. It was found that the presented approach provides the ability to encompass all scenarios for the fuzzy time fractional cancer tumor model and handle all potential cases specifically focusing on scenarios where the net cell-killing rate is time-dependent.
Embedding the patient voice into research on spontaneous preterm birth—themes from a Preterm Birth Advisory Council
Authors: Corbett Gillian , Daly Mandy , Keegan Dylan , Horgan Patricia , Keyes Catriona , Luethe Larissa , Corcoran Siobhan , McAuliffe Fionnuala M.
Published: December 2024

Background

Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) has a deep immediate impact on patients but also alters their care and experience in subsequent pregnancies. There is an absence of the pregnant patient’s voice in the research surrounding pregnancy at risk of sPTB.

Materials/methods

The Preterm Birth Advisory Council was established at the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) in January 2023, to introduce and embed the patient voice in research into sPTB prevention. Council members include patients with lived experience of sPTB, patient advocate representatives and clinicians involved in sPTB preventative care. Topics around sPTB prevention were openly discussed with experts by experience and shared with sPTB advocacy groups. Responses were analysed for themes most important to those with lived experience. Ethical approval was granted by NMH Research Ethics Committee.

Results

In total, seven experts by experience gave their views over the course of a three month period. Six key themes were observed:

Clinical Outcomes in Preterm Birth Research. Low priority was placed on the modality, route and duration of interventions. The most important aspect of an intervention is its clinical efficacy. High tolerance thresholds were described in sacrifice for a positive pregnancy outcome

Preterm Birth Preventative care as a patient-led care model. While medical and surgical interventions play their role in objectively reducing risk, much of pregnancy care after preterm birth centres on psychological support and continuity of care.

Lack of awareness on risk factors for sPTB is an obstacle to timely referral and access to care. Patient experience of preterm birth prevention and timely interventions are improved where risk factor awareness exists.

Importance of preconceptual counselling. The unexpected nature of adverse outcome adds additional trauma to the event itself. Anticipation of adverse event can improve sense of control, minimise trauma and increase ability to cope.

The partner’s experience of pregnancy at risk of preterm birth is largely missing from focus of research and clinical care. Peer-support, digital resources or partner handbooks may be helpful for support persons.

Traumatic language included referring to a mid-trimester pregnancy loss or peri-viable preterm birth as a ‘miscarriage.’ Regarding language around preterm birth, there was no preferred term identified for women with risk factors or experience of preterm birth.

Conclusions

The Preterm Birth Advisory Council places the voice of those impacted by preterm birth at the centre of research into its prevention. The themes identified may guide activities within this research area in local settings and international platforms. It is the council’s hope that supported by their work, it will be the patient’s voice that rings loudest in research in spontaneous preterm birth prevention.
The current status, relevance and impact of the sense of gain and social participation among Chinese youth: A study based on the CSS2021 database
Authors: Yang He , Li Changan , Ye Liujun
Published: December 2024

Youth symbolize the future and promise of the country. The contributions of youth are integral to the comprehensive development, the social participation of youth is crucial for their holistic development and the betterment of society. As the people’s sense of gain has evolved into a fundamental aspect of high-quality development in the new era of China, investigating the influence mechanism of the youth’s sense of gain on social participation holds significant historical and practical relevance. This study utilizes the CSS2021 database to conduct empirical analysis, centered on three pivotal dimensions, the youth’s sense of political gain, economic gain, and people’s livelihood gain, this study explores their influence on social participation across affairs, rights protection, and people’s livelihood, and the study further delves into the specific impact mechanisms through which the youth’s sense of gain influences social participation. The results distinctly demonstrate that the sense of gain within the youth group significantly influences the enthusiasm for social participation. The study reveals specific associations: the sense of economic gain negatively correlates with social participation in affairs and rights protection, while the sense of people’s livelihood gain demonstrates a positive correlation with rights protection. Additionally, a noteworthy positive correlation exists between political gain and social participation. Consequently, there is a suggestion that the government could better understand the core demands of young individuals, thereby fostering increased enthusiasm for their social participation. Leveraging the active engagement of young people could significantly contribute to enhancing the government’s governance effectiveness.
Circular RNA circ-CARD8 regulates alveolar macrophage pyroptosis through the miR-580-3p/CARD8 pathway in acute lung injury
Authors: Chen Sida , Wen Ling , Wu Yumei , Xiao Shan , Lai Yuting , Ou Jintao , Shen Yan
Published: December 2024

Pyroptosis is linked to the development of acute lung injury (ALI), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a role in ALI-related inflammation. However, the mechanisms by which circRNAs contribute to macrophage pyroptosis in ALI remain unclear. This study constructed an in vitro ALI model by inducing THP-1 cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The expression and potential mechanism of circ-CARD8 in macrophage pyroptosis were then investigated. The interaction between circ-CARD8, hsa-miR-580-3p, and caspase recruitment domain family member 8 (CARD8) was confirmed through luciferase reporter assays and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation. Our data showed that circ-CARD8 was expressed at low levels. Meanwhile, the pyroptotic proteins caspase-1 and GSDMD, along with the secretion of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 18 and interleukin 1 beta, were upregulated in the ALI cell model. Overexpression of circ-CARD8 reversed macrophage pyroptosis, whereas inhibition of circ-CARD8 promoted it. Furthermore, the expression of miR-580-3p, a downstream microRNA that binds to circ-CARD8, was reduced upon circ-CARD8 overexpression and increased following its inhibition. Additionally, overexpression of miR-580-3p suppressed the expression of CARD8, a downstream target of miR-580-3p, thereby promoting macrophage pyroptosis. The inhibition of miR-580-3p reversed the effect of circ-CARD8 silencing on macrophage pyroptosis and CARD8 expression. Therefore, our study confirms that the low expression of circ-CARD8 reduces the sponge adsorption of miR-580-3p, increasing its expression, which in turn targets and inhibits CARD8, ultimately promoting macrophage pyroptosis induced by LPS in THP-1 cells.
Binocular contributions to motion detection and motion discrimination during locomotion
Authors: Guo Hongyi , Allison Robert S.
Published: December 2024

During locomotion, the visual system can factor out the motion component caused by observer locomotion from the complex target flow vector to obtain the world-relative target motion. This process, which has been termed flow parsing, is known to be incomplete, but viewing with both eyes could potentially aid in this task. Binocular disparity and binocular summation could both improve performance when viewing with both eyes. To separate the binocular disparity and binocular summation and analyse how they affect flow parsing, we tested detection and discrimination thresholds under three viewing conditions: stereoscopic, synoptic (binocular but without disparity) and monocular. Experiment 1 tested motion detection during simulated forward self-motion and when stationary. Experiment 2 and 3 tested motion discrimination in forward and backward self-motion and stationary conditions. We found that binocular disparity significantly improved detection thresholds and discrimination biases, at the cost of lower precision. Binocular summation only significantly improved detection thresholds when stationary. It did not significantly affect detection thresholds during locomotion, discrimination biases, or discrimination precisions. Our results indicated that both binocular summation and binocular disparity contribute to motion detection and motion discrimination, but they affect performance differently while stationary and during locomotion.
Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in children and adults in 2021 and 2022
Authors: Soeorg Hiie , Abroi Aare , Päll Taavi , Dotsenko Liidia , Jaaniso Erik , Kaarna Katrin , Lahesaare Andrio , Naaber Paul , Niglas Heiki , Oopkaup Ott Eric , Peterson Hedi , Reisberg Tuuli , Sadikova Olga , Smit Steven , Talas Ulvi Gerst , Avi Radko , Lutsar Irja , Huik Kristi
Published: December 2024

Purpose

We aimed to describe SARS-CoV-2 lineages and diversity in children and adults in Estonia and similarity to travel-related cases and neighbouring countries.

Methods

SARS-CoV-2 sequences in 2021–2022 from a nationwide study were included. The proportion of predominant lineages in Estonian regions and among travel-related cases was described by multinomial logistic regression. Simpson’s indices of diversity were compared using linear regression. Dynamics of Bray-Curtis dissimilarity was described by applying fuzzy clustering to non-metrical dimensional scaling results.

Results

A total of 2,630 sequences from children (<15 years) and 23,031 from adults (≥15 years) were included. The increase in the proportion of Alpha/Delta/Omicron BA.1/BA.2 lineages was delayed in smaller regions (by 3.5–27.5 days). The proportion of Alpha/Delta/Omicron BA.1 increased earlier among travel-related (n = 4,654) than non-travel-related cases (10.5 days). Diversity was lower in non-travel-related than travel-related cases until Delta period by 0.066. Dynamics of lineages and diversity were similar in adults and children. Similarity of lineages was delayed compared to Finland during Alpha/Omicron BA.1/BA.2 periods and different from all neighbouring countries during Delta period.

Conclusion

SARS-CoV-2 lineages in children and adults were similar. Differences between regions and travel-related cases and varying similarity to neighbouring countries suggest the importance of mobility in the spread.