bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolving operational guidance and experiences for radiology and nuclear medicine facilities in response to and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: O' Doherty Jim , O' Doherty Sophie , Abreu Carla , Aguiar Ana , Reilhac Anthonin , Robins Edward
Published: August 2022

The resulting pandemic from the novel severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), continues to exert a strain on worldwide health services due to the incidence of hospitalization and mortality associated with infection. The aim of clinical services throughout the period of the pandemic and likely beyond to endemic infections as the situation stabilizes is to enhance safety aspects to mitigate transmission of COVID-19 while providing a high quality of service to all patients (COVID-19 positive and negative) while still upholding excellent medical standards. In order to achieve this, new strategies of clinical service operation are essential. Researchers have published peer-reviewed reference materials such as guidelines, experiences and advice to manage the resulting issues from the unpredictable challenges presented by the pandemic. There is a range of international guidance also from professional medical organizations, including best practice and advice in order to help imaging facilities adjust their standard operating procedures and workflows in line with infection control principles. This work provides a broad review of the main sources of advice and guidelines for radiology and nuclear medicine facilities during the pandemic, and also of rapidly emerging advice and local/national experiences as facilities begin to resume previously canceled non-urgent services as well as effects on imaging research.
Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated-protein-4 +49A/G-allele (rs231775) single nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with acute allograft renal transplantation rejection: A multilevel modelling of meta-analysis
Authors: Daryanto Besut , Purnomo Athaya Febriantyo
Published: August 2022

Background: Acute renal transplant rejection is believed to be an immunological phenomenon and is one of the most serious consequences of transplantation as a treatment for end-stage renal illness. In recent decades, numerous research has been conducted to investigate the relationship between cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 +49A/G (CTLA-4 +49A/G) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the likelihood of rejection; nevertheless, the results are still controversial, and inconsistency has been documented among investigations. Consequently, the purpose of the present investigation was to conduct a study on the relation between CTLA-4 +49A/G polymorphism and risk of transplant rejection. 

Methods: The study was reported based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Retrospective and prospective analytical randomized control trial (RCTs) published prints from Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of science were included to the study in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The search was conducted on February 2nd, 2022, using the search term (cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-antigen-4 OR CTLA-4) AND (gene polymorphism OR single nucleotide polymorphisms OR allele OR alleles OR genotype OR genotypes) AND (renal OR kidney) AND (transplant OR transplantation) AND (acute rejection). 

Results: The CTLA-4 G-allele/GG-genotype was more likely to be related to renal transplantation rejection risk. It was found with odds ratio (OR) in overall analysis of G vs. A-allele was 1.22 (95%CI 1.05-1.42; p-value=0.01) and the OR of GG vs. AG+AA-genotype was 1.47 (95%CI 1.14-1.89; p-value=0.003). However, the AA-genotype was not associated with renal transplantation rejection risk. The interesting finding in this study was the association of the SNPs and rejection of renal transplantation was especially found in Asian sub-analysis. 

Conclusions: Consequently, the CTLA-4 G-allele/GG-genotype is related to the likelihood of rejection in patients underwent renal transplantation.
Endogenizing Discretion in Disclosures
Authors: Arya Anil , Ramanan Ram N. V.
Published: August 2022

A firm’s publicly available information reflects ex ante committed information releases and ex post discretionary disclosures. In a setting wherein a firm’s CEO is concerned with stock market valuation and confrontations with the employee union, this paper endogenizes when the CEO retains ex post disclosure discretion and when the CEO curtails discretion, opting instead to ex ante commit to not gathering information or publicly disclosing information. The underlying economic forces entail a trade-off between the time-inconsistency problem (the CEO’s ex post preferences can diverge from the CEO’s ex ante goals) and how silence (absence of information) under the ex ante and ex post paths is valued differentially by the union. In effect, silence under different systems “speaks” differently, and this influences both the labor union’s incentives to engage in bargaining with the firm and the stock market’s pricing of the firm’s equity.

This paper was accepted by Ranjani Krishnan, accounting.
Intertemporal Pricing via Nonparametric Estimation: Integrating Reference Effects and Consumer Heterogeneity
Authors: Jiang Hansheng , Cao Junyu , Shen Zuo-Jun Max
Published: August 2022

Problem definition: We consider intertemporal pricing in the presence of reference effects and consumer heterogeneity. Our research question encompasses how to estimate heterogeneous consumer reference effects from data and how to efficiently compute the optimal pricing policy. Academic/practical relevance: Understanding reference effects is essential for designing pricing policies in modern retailing. Our work contributes to this area by incorporating consumer heterogeneity under arbitrary distributions. Methodology: We propose a mixed logit demand model that allows arbitrary joint distributions of valuations, responsiveness to prices, and responsiveness to reference prices among consumers. We use a nonparametric estimation method to learn consumer heterogeneity from transaction data. Further, we formulate the pricing optimization as an infinite horizon dynamic programming problem and solve it by applying a modified policy iteration algorithm. Results: Moreover, we investigate the structure of optimal pricing policies and prove the suboptimality of constant pricing policies even when all consumers are loss-averse according to the classical definition. Our numerical studies show that our estimation and optimization framework improves the expected revenue of retailers via accounting for heterogeneity. We validate our model using real data from JD.com, a large E-commerce retailer, and find empirical evidence of consumer heterogeneity. Managerial implications: In practice, ignoring consumer heterogeneity may lead to a significant loss of revenue. Furthermore, heterogeneous reference effect offers a strong motive for promotions and price fluctuations.

History: This paper has been accepted as part of the 2020 MSOM Data Driven Research Challenge.

Funding: This work was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 71991462].

Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.1134 .
Understanding the influence of nursing staff characteristics on the use of seclusion and restraint in the adult forensic inpatient setting: a systematic literature review
Authors: Barr Lesley , Wynaden Dianne , Heslop Karen
Published: August 2022

Background/Aims

Seclusion and restraint use in health care is controversial. Such practices occur more frequently in forensic mental health settings than in acute mental health settings. There is growing interest in staff factors and their influence on such practices. The aim of this review was to identify and appraise studies that explore whether nursing staff characteristics, including age, gender, ethnicity and physical stature, influenced the use of these practices in forensic mental health settings.

Methods

Eight electronic databases were searched to identify research studies published between 2010–2020. The search yielded 1085 articles, three of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

Results

There was no significant correlation between age, gender and experience and the tendency to use seclusion and restraint. No studies examined ethnicity, physical stature, seniority or role.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate a paucity of research on nursing staff characteristics and their influence on seclusion and restraint in this setting. Such research may inform violence prevention strategies.
Learning to see, learning to say, and learning to eradicate domestic violence in China
Authors: Zhang Dongling
Published: August 2022

China’s first-ever, national Anti-Domestic Violence Law (henceforth, the Law) took effect in March 2016. The enactment of the Law was perceived by members of the general public as a solid step, taken by the Chinese government, both to protect the legal rights and interests of victims of gender-based violence (especially female victims) and also to establish domestic violence as a serious socio-legal problem deserving of greater public (especially political) attention. In this article, I choose to primarily focus on one specific type of domestic violence – gender-based violence within a current or former romantic relationship that causes harms to those in the relationship. I aim to identify and examine the limitations with this still recent Law in particular, and the criminal justice approach in general that China has been adopting to stop gender-based violence. Based upon an analysis of a very recent high-profile case of gender-based violence and five annual evaluation reports on the implementation of the Law, I lean to the conclusion that without transforming the socio-cultural context, no domestic violence legislation can effectively address gender-based violence and enhance the wellbeing of Chinese women.
En-face polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography to characterize early-stage esophageal cancer and determine tumor margin
Authors: Chen Ping-Hsien , Lai Hiu-Ki , Yeh Yi-Chen , Chang Kuo-Wei , Hou Ming-Chih , Kuo Wen-Chuan
Published: August 2022

Current imaging tools are insufficiently sensitive to the early diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The application of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) to detect tumor-stroma interaction is an interesting issue in cancer diagnosis. In this translational study, we found that en-face PS-OCT effectively characterizes protruding, flat, and depressive type ESCC regardless of animal or human specimens. In addition, the tumor contour and margin could also be drawn and determined on a broad en-face view. The determined tumor margin could be in the proximity of 2 mm to the actual tumor margin, which was proved directly using histology.
Nanoneedle formation via doughnut beam-induced Marangoni effects
Authors: Tamura Mamoru , Omatsu Takashige , Iida Takuya
Published: August 2022

Recently, nanosecond pulsed optical vortices enables the production of a unique chiral and sharp needle-like nanostructure (nano-needle). However, the formation process of these structures has been unsolved although mass transport by angular momentum would contribute to the chirality. Here, we reveal that another key factor in the formation of a sharp nano-needle is the Marangoni effect during the melting condition at high temperature. Remarkably, the thickness and height of the nano-needle can be precisely controlled within 200 nm, corresponding to 1/25 of beam radius (5 µm) beyond the diffraction limit by ring-shaped inhomogeneous temperature rise. Our finding will facilitate the development of advanced nano-processing with a variety of structured light beams.
Exploiting total internal reflection geometry for deep broadband terahertz modulation using a GaAs Schottky diode with integrated subwavelength metal microslits
Authors: Sun Yiwen , Chen Hao , Liang Shixiong , Fan Shuting , Liu Xudong
Published: August 2022

We developed a GaAs Schottky diode with integrated periodic subwavelength metal microslits with total internal reflection (TIR) geometry to achieve deep broadband THz modulation at high frequency with low insertion loss. The non-resonant electric field enhancement effect in the subwavelength microslits intensifies the evanescent wave in TIR, which increases broadband absorbance of THz light signals by free carriers in the GaAs Schottky diode. Devices with various microslit spatial periods and gap widths were fabricated and measured. Among the devices, that with a microslit period of 10 µm and gap width of 2 µm produced ∼70% modulation depth at frequencies of 0.2 to 1.2 THz, while in the range of 0.25 to 0.4 THz, ∼90% modulation depth was achieved. By encapsulating the device in high refractive index material, ∼100% modulation depth was achieved in the range of 0.4 to 0.6 THz, the 3 dB bandwidth operational frequency was ∼160 kHz, and the insertion loss introduced by the device was less than 8 dB, which is much lower than existing metasurface-based THz modulators. In general, our first-generation device has improved modulation depth, operational bandwidth, insertion loss, and operational frequency. Optimization of the metal microslits, TIR geometry, and doped layer could further improve the performance of our design.
Suspended-core fiber with embedded GaSe nanosheets for second harmonic generation
Authors: Ma Yuxin , Jiang Biqiang , Guo Yasong , Zhang Pengwei , Cheng Tonglei , Gan Xuetao , Zhao Jianlin
Published: August 2022

We report an all-fiber scheme for the second harmonic generation (SHG) by embedding gallium selenide (GaSe) nanosheets into a suspended-core fiber (SCF). Based on modes analysis and theoretical calculations, the phase-matching modes from multiple optional modes in the SHG process and the optimal SCF length are determined by calculating the effective refractive index and balancing the SHG growth and transmission loss. Due to the long-distance interaction between pumped fundamental mode and GaSe nanosheets around the suspended core, an SHG signal is observed under a milliwatt-level pump light, and exhibits a quadratic growth with the increased pump power. The SHG process is also realized in a broad wavelength range by varying the pump in the range of 1420∼1700 nm. The SCF with the large air cladding and suspended core as an excellent platform can therefore be employed to integrate low-dimensional nonlinear materials, which holds great promise for the applications of all-fiber structures in new light source generating, signal processing and fiber sensing.
Improving the formation probability and stability of noise-like pulse by weakening the spectrum filtering effect
Authors: Zhang Zhicheng , Wang Sha , Pu Yongjie , Wang Shaoqian , Li Huinan , Wang Jun
Published: August 2022

Noise-like pulses (NLP) are extremely sought after in low-coherence tomography and supercontinuum, etc. Here, we propose an effective method to form the NLP in the all-normal-dispersion (ANDi) fiber laser by weakening the spectrum filtering for the first time. Numerical explorations are performed in detail and demonstrate that the NLP can be originated from the clustering behavior of amplified random sub-pulses led by the saturable absorber. By simulating the pulse-pattern distribution in the two-dimensional parameter space, it is further found that this kind of NLP pattern is widely distributed where are with a weak spectrum filtering. Since, the weaker the filtering, the harder the dissipative system to achieve balance, which helps to avoid the evolution from the pulse cluster to other coherent states and supports the NLP stability. To prove the feasibility experimentally, we built an ANDi fiber laser based on the nonlinear polarization rotating (NPR). The built laser can operate at the stable dissipative soliton (DS) state with a spectrum filter, which also with a 45 nm wavelength tuning performance. Replacing the filter, only NLP with a 40.2 ps pedestal and 237 fs spike can be attained. The experiments agree well with the numerical predictions. This exploration significantly broadens the design possibilities for ultrafast lasers, making them much more accessible to produce desired pulse patterns.
Motion detection and direction recognition in a photonic spiking neural network consisting of VCSELs-SA
Authors: Gao Shuang , Xiang Shui Ying , Song Zi Wei , Han Ya Nan , Zhang Yu Na , Hao Yue
Published: August 2022

Motion detection and direction recognition are two important fundamental visual functions among the many cognitive functions performed by the human visual system. The retina and visual cortex are indispensable for composing the visual nervous system. The retina is responsible for transmitting electrical signals converted from light signals to the visual cortex of the brain. We propose a photonic spiking neural network (SNN) based on vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with an embedding saturable absorber (VCSELs-SA) with temporal integration effects, and demonstrate that the motion detection and direction recognition tasks can be solved by mimicking the visual nervous system. Simulation results reveal that the proposed photonic SNN with a modified supervised algorithm combining the tempotron and the STDP rule can correctly detect the motion and recognize the direction angles, and is robust to time jitter and the current difference between VCSEL-SAs. The proposed approach adopts a low-power photonic neuromorphic system for real-time information processing, which provides theoretical support for the large-scale application of hardware photonic SNN in the future.
Laser shock peening of tungsten and its dependency on polarisation of light for induced compressive stresses
Authors: Banerjee Saumyabrata , Spear Jacob , Dalton Patrick J.
Published: August 2022

We report on laser shock peening (LSP) of tungsten, a material used as a divertor in Tokamak machine for magnetic confinement fusion reactions such as the ITER facility (France) and JET facility (UK). Peak compressive stresses of -370 MPa and depths of up to 1.75 mm were recorded when 0.25 cm2 area of tungsten (99.95% pure) was irradiated by a 1030 nm Yb:YAG laser operating at 10 J, 10 ns. Furthermore, we demonstrate enhancement of compressive stresses in one direction, by application of circular polarised light in hard material like tungsten. However, no enhancement of compressive stresses with circular polarisation was observed in soft material like aluminium.
Fluorescence saturation imaging microscopy: molecular fingerprinting in living cells using two-photon absorption cross section as a contrast mechanism
Authors: Yakimov Boris , Gayer Alexey , Maksimov Eugene , Mamonov Evgeny , Maydykovsky Anton , Murzina Tatiana , Fadeev Victor , Shirshin Evgeny
Published: August 2022

Imaging of molecular-specific photophysical parameters such as fluorescence intensity, emission band shape, or fluorescence decay is widely used in biophysics. Here we propose a method for quantitative mapping of another molecular-specific parameter in living cells, two-photon absorption cross section, based on the fluorescence saturation effect. Using model dye solutions and cell culture, we show that the analysis of the fluorescence signal dependencies on the intensity of two-photon excitation within the range typical for routine two-photon microscopy experiments allows one to reconstruct two-photon absorption cross section maps across the sample. We believe that the absorption cross section contrast visualized by the proposed fluorescence saturation imaging microscopy could be a new tool for studying processes in living cells and tissues.
Optical vortex fields with an arbitrary orbital angular momentum orientation
Authors: Meng Xindong , Hu Yaodan , Wan Chenhao , Zhan Qiwen
Published: August 2022

Optical vortex fields with a tilted phase singularity line are associated with a tilted orbital angular momentum (OAM). In this Letter, we propose a method to generate optical vortex fields with arbitrary OAM orientation based on the time-reversal method, vectorial diffraction theory, and a 4Pi optical configuration. The ability to control the 3D OAM orientation may find applications in optical tweezing, light–matter interaction, and spin–orbital coupling.
Visible-to-ultraviolet-C upconverted photon for multifunction via Ca2SiO4:Pr3+
Authors: Lv Pinshu , Li Leipeng , Yin Zhiqian , Wang Chunzheng , Yang Yanmin
Published: August 2022

The ultraviolet C (UVC) photon plays a key role in a broad spectrum of fields. With the implementation of the Minamata Convention, searching for a new way to achieve UVC light is highly desired. Here we develop a material of Ca2SiO4:Pr3+ that can emit UVC light upon excitation of a 450-nm laser or even a very cheap 450-nm LED, a fact confirmed by using a solar blind camera to capture UVC emission from Ca2SiO4:Pr3+. In addition, smart anti-counterfeiting and inactivation of Bacillus subtilis applications using Ca2SiO4:Pr3+ are also confirmed.
Quantum reflection of single photons in a cold Rydberg atomic gas
Authors: Ou Yao , Zhang Qi , Huang Guoxiang
Published: August 2022

We propose a scheme for realizing the quantum reflection of single photons in a cold Rydberg atomic gas via electromagnetically induced transparency, by which a deep and tunable attractive potential can be prepared by using stored gate photons. Such a scheme is promising for designing dispersion-type single-photon switches, and may be taken as a quantum device for observing the wave and particle natures of photons simultaneously.
Decision region partition aided MLSE for O-band 65-Gbaud PAM-4 system over 40-km transmission with a severe bandwidth constraint
Authors: Ni Weihao , Li Fan , Yin Mingzhu , Chen Zhiwei , Wang Wei , Zou Dongdong , Cai Yi , Sui Qi , Li Zhaohui
Published: August 2022

Maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) is an optimal solution to realize sequence detection in the digital signal processing (DSP) of short reach O-band intensity modulation/direct detection (IM/DD) systems with bandwidth limitation. However, traditional MLSE requires relatively high computational complexity for short reach optical interconnect. Although the computational complexity of single-symbol sequence detection is quite low, the capability of combating with the inter symbol interference (ISI) is inadequate. To combine the low computational complexity of single-symbol sequence detection with the high reliability of multi-symbol sequence detection in MLSE, decision region partition aided MLSE (DRP-MLSE) is proposed and verified with 60-Gbaud and 65-Gbaud PAM-4 IM/DD systems over 40-km single-mode fiber (SMF) transmission. The experimental results show that the DRP-MLSE can realize similar performance of conventional MLSE with negligible penalty and significantly lower computational complexity.
Short-term damage and its mechanism of a CaF2 window for a DUV lithography machine
Authors: Guo Xin , Zhu Xinghong , Jiang Rui , Liu Bin , Zong Huiwen , Shen Shengping
Published: August 2022

The CaF2 window is the laser exit of the DUV lithography machine as well as its sealing component. Bearing the irradiation, high pressure, and discharging pollutants, the window is easy to damage and directly deteriorate the performance and reliability of the laser. In this paper, considering the effects of the above factors, two typical short-term damages to the CaF2 window - high energy induced damage and pollutant-induced damage are studied quantitatively. Using an experimental design, theoretical calculation, characterization analysis, and numerical simulation, we found that the damage induced by high-energy irradiation is dominated by defect propagation at the initial stage. At the later stage, it is dominated by heat and thermal stress with thermal melting and evenly distributed microcracks of 1∼10 µm in size. Low-energy irradiation only causes expansion and deformation of the window, but the highly absorbent electrode discharging particles with a diameter of 0.1∼1 µm strongly absorb the laser. Strong local heat is caused during the melting and gasification of the particles, which easily leads to ablation and cracks. The damaged area is proportional to the particle size, and the damaged rate is proportional to the average power density at a high repetition frequency. High energy density and the defects with high absorptivity, the electrode discharging particles, and the heat accumulation effect, are the main factors for the two short-term damage, respectively.
Field evaluation of a novel, rapid diagnostic assay, and molecular epidemiology of enterotoxigenic E. coli among Zambian children presenting with diarrhea
Authors: Silwamba Suwilanji , Chilyabanyama Obvious N. , Liswaniso Fraser , Chisenga Caroline C. , Chilengi Roma , Dougan Gordon , Kwenda Geoffrey , Chakraborty Subhra , Simuyandi Michelo
Published: August 2022

Background

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is one of the top aetiologic agents of diarrhea in children under the age of 5 in low-middle income countries (LMICs). The lack of point of care diagnostic tools for routine ETEC diagnosis results in limited data regarding the actual burden and epidemiology in the endemic areas. We evaluated performance of the novel Rapid LAMP based Diagnostic Test (RLDT) for detection of ETEC in stool as a point of care diagnostic assay in a resource-limited setting.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 324 randomly selected stool samples from children under 5 presenting with moderate to severe diarrhea (MSD). The samples were collected between November 2012 to September 2013 at selected health facilities in Zambia. The RLDT was evaluated by targeting three ETEC toxin genes [heat labile toxin (LT) and heat stable toxins (STh and STp)]. Quantitative PCR was used as the “gold standard” to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of RLDT for detection of ETEC. We additionally described the prevalence and seasonality of ETEC.

Results

The study included 324 participants, 50.6% of which were female. The overall prevalence of ETEC was 19.8% by qPCR and 19.4% by RLDT. The children between 12 to 59 months had the highest prevalence of 22%. The study determined ETEC toxin distribution was LT 28/321(9%), ST 18/321(6%) and LT/ST 16/321(5%). The sensitivity and specificity of the RLDT compared to qPCR using a Ct 35 as the cut-off, were 90.7% and 97.5% for LT, 85.2% and 99.3% for STh and 100% and 99.7% for STp, respectively.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that RLDT is sufficiently sensitive and specific and easy to implement in the endemic countries. Being rapid and simple, the RLDT also presents as an attractive tool for point-of-care testing at the health facilities and laboratories in the resource-limited settings.
Biogeography of terrestrial vertebrates and its conservation implications in a transitional region in western Mexico
Authors: García Andrés , González-Maya José F. , Ceballos Gerardo
Published: August 2022

Conservation biogeography, which applies principles, theories, and analyses of biodiversity distribution patterns to address conservation challenges, can provide valuable insight and guidance to policy making for protection of biodiversity at multiple scales. The temperate and tropical ecosystems of the Nearctic-Neotropical transition in the small western state of Colima, Mexico, support a mosaic of remarkably diverse fauna and flora and provide a rare opportunity to determine spatial distribution patterns of terrestrial vertebrate species, assess human-induced threats, and identify potential conservation strategies. We analyzed the spatial distribution patterns and correlated them with the current land cover and extent of the protected areas. Despite its limited geographic extension, 29% (866) of all vertebrates, and almost a quarter of both endemic and threatened species in Mexico, live in Colima. Our analysis identified clear high-richness concentration sites (i.e., “hotspots”) coincident for all groups and that elevation and both temperate and tropical ecosystems composition exert significant influence on richness patterns. Furthermore, current species´ distribution also showed significant correlation with natural and disturbed landcover. Significant hotspots for all species groups coincided poorly with the limited protected areas in the state (only 3.8%). The current state of natural land cover (less than 16%) in the state, coupled with its remarkable biological importance, highlights the need for further complementary conservation efforts including expansion and creation of new protected areas, significant restoration efforts and other conservation measures to maintain this uniquely biogeographic and biological diverse region of the country.
Green synthesis of SiO2 nanoparticles from Rhus coriaria L. extract: Comparison with chemically synthesized SiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Rahimzadeh Chiya Yousef , Barzinjy Azeez Abdullah , Mohammed Ahmed Salih , Hamad Samir Mustafa
Published: August 2022

The usage of the green synthesis method to produce nanoparticles (NPs) has received great acceptance among the scientific community in recent years. This, perhaps, is owing to its eco-friendliness and the utilization of non-toxic materials during the synthesizing process. The green synthesis approach also supplies a reducing and a capping agent, which increases the stability of the NPs through the available phytochemicals in the plant extractions. The present study describes a green synthesis method to produce nano-silica (SiO2) NPs utilizing Rhus coriaria L. extract and sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3.5H2O) under reflux conditions. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is added to the mixture to control the pH of the solution. Then, the obtained NPs have been compared with the chemically synthesized SiO2 NPs. The structure, thermal, and morphological properties of the SiO2 NPs, both green synthesized and chemically synthesized, were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Also, the elemental compassion distribution was studied by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). In addition, the zeta potential, dynamic light scatter (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the stability, thermal properties, and surface area of the SiO2 NPs. The overall results revealed that the green synthesis of SiO2 NPs outperforms chemically synthesized SiO2 NPs. This is expected since the green synthesis method provides higher stability, enhanced thermal properties, and a high surface area through the available phytochemicals in the Rhus coriaria L. extract.
Implementation of the Community Assets Supporting Transitions (CAST) transitional care intervention for older adults with multimorbidity and depressive symptoms: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: McAiney Carrie , Markle-Reid Maureen , Ganann Rebecca , Whitmore Carly , Valaitis Ruta , Urajnik Diana J. , Fisher Kathryn , Ploeg Jenny , Petrie Penelope , McMillan Fran , McElhaney Janet E.
Published: August 2022

Background

Older adults with multimorbidity experience frequent care transitions, particularly from hospital to home, which are often poorly coordinated and fragmented. We conducted a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to test the implementation and effectiveness of Community Assets Supporting Transitions (CAST), an evidence-informed nurse-led intervention to support older adults with multimorbidity and depressive symptoms with the aim of improving health outcomes and enhancing transitions from hospital to home. This trial was conducted in three sites, representing suburban/rural and urban communities, within two health regions in Ontario, Canada.

Purpose

This paper reports on facilitators and barriers to implementing CAST.

Methods

Data collection and analysis were guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research framework. Data were collected through study documents and individual and group interviews conducted with Care Transition Coordinators and members from local Community Advisory Boards. Study documents included minutes of meetings with research team members, study partners, Community Advisory Boards, and Care Transition Coordinators. Data were analyzed using content analysis.

Findings

Intervention implementation was facilitated by: (a) engaging the community to gain buy-in and adapt CAST to the local community contest; (b) planning, training, and research meetings; (c) facilitating engagement, building relationships, and collaborating with local partners; (d) ensuring availability of support and resources for Care Transition Coordinators; and (e) tailoring of the intervention to individual client (i.e., older adult) needs and preferences. Implementation barriers included: (a) difficulties recruiting and retaining intervention staff; (b) difficulties engaging older adults in the intervention; (c) balancing tailoring the intervention with delivering the core intervention components; and (c) Care Transition Coordinators’ challenges in engaging providers within clients’ circles of care.

Conclusion

This research enhances our understanding of the importance of considering intervention characteristics, the context within which the intervention is being implemented, and the processes required for implementing transitional care intervention for complex older adults.
Clinical and biochemical predictors and predictive model of primary aldosteronism
Authors: Manosroi Worapaka , Tacharearnmuang Natthanan , Atthakomol Pichitchai
Published: August 2022

Background

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension. The diagnosis of PA currently requires multiple complicated measures. The aims of this study were to identify easy-to-obtain clinical and biochemical predictors, and to create predictive model to facilitate the identification of a patient at high risk of having PA.

Materials and methods

This 2-year retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care medical center. A total of 305 patients who had been tested for plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and plasma renin activity (PRA) were identified. Patients with incomplete results of PAC and PRA and those who had an established diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome or pheochromocytoma were excluded. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors and to create predictive model of PA.

Results

PA was diagnosed in 128 of the patients (41.96%). Significant predictive factors for PA were age >60 years (OR 2.12, p = 0.045), female (OR 1.65, p<0.001), smoking (OR 2.79, p<0.001), coronary artery disease (OR 2.29, p<0.001), obstructive sleep apnea (OR 1.50, p = 0.017), systolic blood pressure >160 mmHg (OR 1.15, P<0.001), serum potassium <3 mEq/L (OR 3.72, p = 0.030), fasting blood glucose >126 mg/dL (OR 0.48, p = 0.001) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73m2 (OR 1.79, p = 0.001). Predictive model was created with a total score ranged from 0 to 42. A score above 7.5 indicated a higher probability of having PA with a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 70%. The diagnostic performance of the predictive model based on area under the curve was 71%.

Conclusions

The clinical and biochemical predictive factors including predictive model identified in this study can be employed as an additional tool to help identify patients at risk of having PA and could help reduce the number of screening and confirmation tests required for PA.
Genome insights from the identification of a novel Pandoraea sputorum isolate and its characteristics
Authors: Gao Rui-Fang , Wang Ying , Wang Ying , Wang Zhi-Wen , Zhang Gui-Ming
Published: August 2022

In this study, we sequenced a bacteria isolate Pandoraea sp. 892iso isolated from a Phytophthora rubi strain which is an important plant pathogenic oomycete, identified through genome and combined the data with existing genomic data from other 28 the genus of Pandoraea species. Next, we conducted a comparative genomic analysis of the genome structure, evolutionary relationships, and pathogenic characteristics of Pandoraea species. Our results identified Pandoraea sp. 892iso as Pandoraea sputorum at both the genome and gene levels. At the genome level, we carried out phylogenetic analysis of single-copy, gene co-linearity, ANI (average nucleotide identity) and AAI (average amino acid identity) indices, rpoB similarity, MLSA phylogenetic analysis, and genome-to-genome distance calculator calculations to identify the relationship between Pandoraea sp. 892iso and P. sputorum. At the gene level, the quorum sensing genes ppnI and ppnR and the OXA-159 gene were assessed. It is speculated that Pandoraea sp. 892iso is the endosymbiont of the Oomycetes strain of Phytophthora rubi.
Comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes of three medicinal Carpesium species: Genome structures and phylogenetic relationships
Authors: Shi Xingyu , Xu Wenfen , Wan Mingxiang , Sun Qingwen , Chen Qiyu , Zhao Chao , Sun Kaifen , Shu Yanxia
Published: August 2022

Carpesium (Asteraceae) is a genus that contains many plant species with important medicinal values. However, the lack of chloroplast genome research of this genus has greatly hindered the study of its molecular evolution and phylogenetic relationship. This study used the Illumina sequencing platform to sequence three medicinal plants of the Carpesium genus: Carpesium abrotanoides, Carpesium cernuum, and Carpesium faberi, obtaining three complete chloroplast genome sequences after assembly and annotation. It was revealed that the three chloroplast genomes were typical quadripartite structures with lengths of 151,389 bp (C. abrotanoides), 151,278 bp (C. cernuum), and 151,250 bp (C. faberi), respectively. A total of 114 different genes were annotated, including 80 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Abundant SSR loci were detected in all three chloroplast genomes, with most composed of A/T. The expansion and contraction of the IR region indicate that the boundary regions of IR/SC are relatively conserved for the three species. Using C. abrotanoides as a reference, most of the non-coding regions of the chloroplast genomes were significantly different among the three species. Five different mutation hot spots (trnC-GCA-petN, psaI, petA-psbJ, ndhF, ycf1) with high nucleotide variability (Pi) can serve as potential DNA barcodes of Carpesium species. Additionally, phylogenetic evolution analysis of the three species suggests that C. cernuum has a closer genetic relationship to C. faberi than C. abrotanoides. Simultaneously, Carpesium is a monophyletic group closely related to the genus Inula. Complete chloroplast genomes of Carpesium species can help study the evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships and are expected to provide genetic marker assistance to identify Carpesium species.
Influence of intrauterine factors on birth weight and on child linear growth in rural Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Roro Meselech , Deressa Wakgari , Lindtjørn Bernt
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Little is known about the influence of intrauterine fetal factors on childhood growth in low-income countries. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of intrauterine fetal growth on child linear growth in rural Ethiopia.

Methods

We conducted a prospective community-based cohort study from July 2016 to October 2018. All pregnant women with gestational age of 24 weeks or below living in 13 kebeles, in central Ethiopia were enrolled. The fetuses were followed from pregnancy up to 11–24 months after birth. We measured biparietal diameter, head circumference, femoral length, and abdominal circumference at 26, 30 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. At birth, we measured infant weight. At 11–24 months of age, z-scores of length- for- age, and weight-for-length were calculated. A multilevel, mixed-effect, linear regression model was used to examine the influence of fetal, newborn, maternal, household factors and residence area on child linear growth.

Results

We included 554 children. The prevalence rate of stunting was 54.3% and that of wasting was 10.6%. Fetal biparietal diameter, head circumference, and abdominal circumference, were significantly associated with birth weight. Femoral length z-score in early pregnancy, gestational age at delivery and child age were significantly associated with length-for-age z-score. Family size was significantly associated with length-for-age z-score. Family size and maternal height were associated with weight-for-height z-score. There was a large variation in length-for-age z-score (Intra cluster correlation, or ρ (rho) = 0.30) and weight-for-length z-score (ρ = 0.22) than of birth weight of new-born (ρ = 0.11) in kebeles indicating heterogeneity in clusters for length-for-age z-score and weight-for-length z-score than birth weight.

Conclusions

Child linear growth was influenced by fetal growth, duration of pregnancy, maternal height, and family size. Environmental factors that are associated with the area of residence play a bigger role for linear growth than for birth weight.
Eco-efficiency evaluation of Chinese provincial industrial system: A dynamic hybrid two-stage DEA approach
Authors: He Kai , Zhu Nan
Published: August 2022

In China, industrial pollution has become an urgent problem for policy makers and enterprise managers. To better support industrial development, we need to determine the effectiveness of policies through efficiency evaluation. China’s provincial industrial system consists of two stages: production and emission reduction. The emission reduction stage is composed of three parallel sub stages: solid waste treatment, waste gas treatment and wastewater treatment. In this process, the treatment capacity of industrial wastewater treatment facilities can be used as carry forward variable, which is not only the desirable output of the previous emission reduction stage, but also the input of the current emission reduction stage. Therefore, this paper proposes a dynamic hybrid two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model for eco-efficiency evaluation of industrial systems, and applies it to a case study of Chinese regional industry. Applying the data collected from 2011 to 2015 to the model, the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) During the whole survey period, the average eco-efficiency was 0.9027. The overall eco-inefficiency of China’s provincial industrial system during the study period is mainly due to low efficiency of solid waste treatment and waste gas treatment. (2) The average eco-efficiency of provincial industrial system increased steadily from 2011 (0.6448) to 2014 (0.6777), but decreased slightly in 2015 (0.5908). (3) The carry forward treatment capacity of industrial wastewater treatment facilities has a remarkable impact on provincial industrial system efficiency scores, especially at the wastewater treatment stage (0.6002 vs 0.3691). (4) Provincial industrial system exists distinct geographical characteristics of low efficiency. This study has important guiding significance for policy makers and enterprise managers who are concerned about industrial pollution control.
Factor associated with anthropometric failure among under-five Bengali children: A comparative study between Bangladesh and India
Authors: Kundu Ramendra Nath , Hossain Md. Golam , Haque Md. Ahshanul , Biswas Subir , Huq Md. Monimul , Pasa Md. Kamal , Sabiruzzaman Md. , Bharati Premananda
Published: August 2022

Background

Child undernutrition is a burden and the leading cause of child mortality in low-and middle-income countries like Bangladesh and India. Currently, this issue is a matter of great concern, inasmuch as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study intends to determine the factors of child undernutrition using a single composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) among the Bengali population.

Methods

Unit level data on 14055 under 5 children were extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18 (BDHS) and the 4th National Family Health Survey of India (NFHS-4). To understand child undernutrition and generate CIAF, data on height-for-age (stunting), weight-for-height (wasting), and weight-for-age (underweight) were used by WHO guidelines. These three undernutrition indicators were combined into a single undernutrition indicator called anthropometric failure (anth-failure) using the CIAF concept. Explanatory factors of anth-failure included data on maternal health, socio-demographic and birth-related variables. Differences of frequency were determined by Z-proportional and Chi-square tests; predictors of anth-failure were determined by binary logistic regression. Cut off point of p-value was taken as 0.05 to test the significance.

Results

Inter-country disparities were revealed, about half of Bengali children in India and two-fifths in Bangladesh being prone to anth-failure. Stunting and underweight were more prevalent in both countries than wasting. Maternal undernutrition, lack of maternal education, and poor wealth index were common factors of anth-failure for both countries. Children in Bangladesh developed anth-failure after the end of breastfeeding period, indicating a lack of nutritious food. Lack of antenatal care was another significant factor in Bangladesh. In India, the first child suffered from anth-failure due to lack of maternal education.

Conclusions

This study provides a better understanding of multifactorial impact on child undernutrition. It is proposed that the emphasis should be on initiatives that improve maternal education and nutrition, child food security, boost household wealth index, and enhance mothers’ access to health care. The study strongly recommends that the governments of Bangladesh and India invest financially in preventing child malnutrition, which will contribute to achieving the first four SDGs.