bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospitals: 10-year cohort study
Authors: Cho Kyu Sang , Lee Jang Hyun
Published: December 2021

Objective:

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a serious problem in patients with multiple comorbidities and are associated with a longer duration of hospital stay and higher medical costs. The aetiology and rate of PU occurrence in South Korea remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to determine the incidence, prevalence, mortality and common comorbidities of hospitalised patients with PUs in the South Korean healthcare system.

Method:

A 10-year cohort study using the healthcare insurance reimbursement claims from the South Korean National Health Insurance System database. Patients diagnosed with a PU on admission to hospital [ICD-10: L89 + procedure code] between January 2002 and December 2016 were included and their comorbidities evaluated. Patients <20 years of age and recurrent PU cases were excluded.

Results:

Incidence, prevalence, survival rate and risk factors related to survival rate of patients with PUs were determined. The study population in 2006 was 36,195,121 (all patients admitted to hospital that year), which changed yearly because of the inclusion of additional patients who met the study inclusion criteria, and removal of patients who had died during the year. Standardised PU incidence rate decreased from 17.1 in 2006 to 14.9 in 2015 per 10,000 people. Standardised PU prevalence also showed a slightly decreasing trend from 20.2 in 2006 to 18.9 in 2015 per 10,000 people.

Conclusion:

This findings of this 10-year study showed that incidence and prevalence of PUs markedly increased with age after the seventh decade. Incidence of PUs increased in patients with pneumonia, cerebral infarction, sepsis, femoral neck fracture and malignant neoplasm of the bronchus. Patients with femoral neck fracture and cerebral infarction showed a higher rate of survival than those with other high-risk comorbidities.
Factors and Challenges Influencing the Criminologist Licensure Examination Performance through the Non-passers’ Lens
Authors: Albina Albert C. , Balasabas James Y. , Laquinon Ben John I. , Pampilo Muffit Herlyn , Caballero Liza J.
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to explore the perceived factors that influenced the success and challenges experienced when taking licensure examination among Bachelor of Science in Criminology graduates of a state university in the Philippines who failed in the Criminologist Licensure Examinations (CLE). Descriptive-correlational research design was utilized to analyze quantitative data, and Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenology was used for the thematic analysis of qualitative data. The quantitative findings revealed that home and family factor has a high influence on the success in CLE, while student factor, school factor, review center factor, and personal factor have average influence. Further, ten clusters of themes emerged as factors that influence the success in CLE. Among them were interest and focus on the program, and availability of qualified and dedicated faculty. Among the themes that emerged as challenges were lack of preparedness for the exam because of one’s work, and personal and social pressures. There is a significant difference on the respondents’ perception towards the factors that influence the success in CLE when they are grouped according to sex. Regarding the challenges associated with preparing for and taking the CLE, a significant difference is only observed when respondents are grouped according to their civil status. Generally, married respondents have higher weighted means than the single ones. This implies that the identified challenges affected married respondents more than the single ones. These results can be used to make policies and initiate programs that would enhance graduates’ success in the exam by providing appropriate interventions and early remediations.
Validating Professional Learning Communities Practice Model in a Malaysian Context
Authors: Ismail Kamarudin , Ishak Rosnah , Kamaruddin Siti Hajar
Published: December 2021

Despite the ubiquity of professional learning communities (PLCs) among researchers, studies on PLCs have widely differed in terms of dimensions used to conceptualise them. Thus, the study aimed to validate the conceptual model consisting of PLCs practices. The study employed a quantitative method using a survey. Firstly, a pilot test was conducted in which 103 school-teachers were involved in completing a questionnaire. The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) had determined six dimensions and 20 elements of PLCs practices. Then, the field study was conducted using the new questionnaire. The survey involved 386 school-teachers from 25 High Performing Schools (HPS). The result revealed that: I) Based on the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), multidimensional PLCs practice model is evidence in the Malaysian context. They are operationalised in six dimensions including visions, missions and values, professional leadership, collective and collaborative culture, sharing of best practices, conducive school climate, and strategic alliances among stakeholders and, ii) The level of PLCs implementation in HPS is high for all the dimensions. The practical implications from the study and future research recommendations were also discussed.
FATORES DE RISCO PARA O TRANSTORNO MENTAL RELACIONADO AO TRABALHO EM PROFISSIONAIS DE ENFERMAGEM
Authors: Munhoz Carolina Silva , Dantas Talita Golçalves Moreira , Ríncon Luz Alcira Ávila , Tognini Silvana
Published: December 2021

Introdução: O trabalho satisfaz as mais diversas necessidades humanas; por outro lado pode ser fontede adoecimento quando o trabalhador fica exposto aos riscos inerentes às suas atividades. O estresseno ambiente laboral pode desencadear transtornos mentais relacionados ao tempo de permanênciae a intensidade do serviço. A síndrome de Burnout é o distúrbio mais referido entre profissionais deenfermagem. Objetivo: Realizar revisão sistemática da literatura sobre os fatores de risco do transtornomental relacionado ao trabalho em profissionais da enfermagem. Materiais e métodos: Revisão daliteratura publicada no período de 2009 a 2017. Utilizaram-se as bases de dados LILACS, BDENF eSciELO, e o cruzamento dos descritores “enfermagem” e “esgotamento profissional”. Resultados: Foramevidenciados diversos fatores que alteram o nível de estresse do enfermeiro e da sua equipe relacionadosa pressão da carga de trabalho, esforço físico, acúmulo de funções, sobrecarga emocional, conflitos nasrelações interpessoais, entre outros agravantes que interferem negativamente na qualidade de vida dostrabalhadores, assim como foi citada na maior parte dos artigos de revisão a ocorrência da síndromede Burnout entre as consequências impostas no trabalho da classe trabalhadora estudada. Conclusão:Ressalta-se a importância de pesquisas sobre o tema a fim de contribuir para a construção de políticaspúblicas de saúde e o fortalecimento das ações em segurança e saúde do trabalhador da enfermagem.
Els epistolaris i la història cultural
Authors: Ghanime Albert
Published: December 2021

Ressenya de: Valentí Valenciano, El treball ciclopi de dos historiadors.
Historia y clima en México: perspectivas y horizontes desde la historiografía
Authors: Arrioja Díaz Viruell Arrioja Díaz Viruell
Published: December 2021

En este artículo se examina el devenir de la historiografía dedicada al clima en México, las perspectivas y herramientas analíticas que han planteado y —sobre todo— los horizontes de trabajo que se han definido en los últimos cincuenta años. A lo largo de sus páginas se plantean los diferentes derroteros que han seguido estos estudios, sus contribuciones conceptuales y metodológicas, y sus vínculos disciplinarios.
Evitar la visió precària de la comunicació alimentària. Una necessitat estratègica
Authors: Murillo Rosado Manuel
Published: December 2021

Avui dia la comunicació alimentària que transcendeix als mitjans de comunicació, internet i les xarxes socials està protagonitzada, majoritàriament, per la informació relativa a les alertes alimentàries. No obstant això, una anàlisi exhaustiva i àmplia de la comunicació alimentària evidencia camps de treball més enllà del sanitari, com les noves tecnologies dels aliments, la nutrigenòmica o aspectes erròniament no identificats amb la comunicació alimentària, com l’accessibilitat als aliments o els sistemes de producció alimentària sostenibles i protecció davant el canvi climàtic, entre d’altres. És necessària una revisió de l’àmbit d’estudi de la comunicació alimentària i situar-la en un espai estratègic que des d’inicis del segle xx ja s’anava intuint i que avui dia encara no és contemplat, malgrat ser protagonista en temes tan innovadors i decisius per al progrés de la societat i el planeta.
Optimized IP-over-WDM core networks using ZR+ and flexible muxponders for 400 Gb/s and beyond
Authors: Gumaste Ashwin , Sosa Marco , Bock Harald , Kandappan Parthiban
Published: December 2021

We compare IP core networks in three scenarios—those using point-to-point optical links between adjacent nodes with ZR/ZR

+

based pluggables (called hop-by-hop routing), leveraging reconfigurable optical add–drop multiplexers (ROADMs) with ZR

+

pluggables, and ROADMs using performance-optimized flex-coherent muxponders—from hardware count, wavelength utilization, and latency perspectives. Specifically, we compare the number of components/router ports used to build an IP-over-WDM core network and attempt to understand if off-the-shelf pluggables are indeed suitable candidates for replacing custom-designed coherent muxponders (which we conveniently term as flexponders) in core networks. To this end, we build a constrained optimization model whose goal is to minimize the number of components used by optimally placed regenerators—the single biggest variable metric in core IP-over-WDM network design that eventually impacts total hardware count. Results show a 75% decrease in transceiver count for flexponders developed from coherent transponders/muxponders when compared to ZR

+

pluggables in routers with hop-by-hop routing and a 51% decrease in flexponders when compared to using ZR

+

pluggables in routers across ROADMs in a U.S. core network and a pan-India core network with 5 and 3 years of increasing demands, respectively.
Sub-bandgap light absorption enhancement in germanium films through Berreman mode weak coupling to a microcavity mode
Authors: Almossalami Hossam A. , Zheng Jun , Hu Qili , Liang Sen , Chen Kuan-An , Ye Hui
Published: December 2021

light absorption is a substantial problem that profoundly influences a wide range of disciplines. Whereas it is fundamentally restricted by the bandgap energy of the involved materials. Herein, we study the sub-bandgap light absorption in germanium films via Berreman mode (BE) and its enhancement through weak coupling to Fabry-Perot cavity mode. This enhancement is performed by integrating the semiconductor film into a microcavity structure and tune its resonance frequency to match the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) wavelength of the film material in a planar multilayer structure. We ascertained that our approach of electric field confinement in the semiconductor layer could perform significant light absorption at large incidence angles. That provides a novel, general, and simple method to enhance the optical and optoelectronic responses of any ENZ material, especially semiconductors below their bandgap energies.
Resonant integrated optical gyroscope based on Si3N4 waveguide ring resonator
Authors: Feng Changkun , Zhang Dengke , Zhang Yonggui , Qing Chen , Ma Honghao , Li Hui , Feng Lishuang
Published: December 2021

A resonant integrated optical gyroscope (RIOG) based on silicon nitride (Si3N4) waveguide ring resonator (WRR) with single-polarization performance is proposed and demonstrated. The Si3N4 WRR has high polarization-dependent loss and can maintain a single polarization state, thereby avoiding other polarization modes from affecting the performance of the RIOG. In this paper, we design and fabricate a Si3N4 WRR with a bending radius of 8 mm, which shows excellent single-polarization performance is demonstrated at different temperatures. Finally, a long-term bias stability (3600s) of 0.68°/s in an integration time of 164s are successfully demonstrated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported to date for the Si3N4 WRR-based RIOG.
Speckle-free laser projection structured illumination microscopy based on a digital micromirror device
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Xie Shunyu , Liu Wenjie , Jin Luhong , Xu Yingke , Zhang Luhao , Hao Xiang , Han Yubing , Kuang Cuifang , Liu Xu
Published: December 2021

In the structured illumination microscopy (SIM) family, interferometric implementations using traditional physical gratings or advanced liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulators are popular but have the disadvantages of expensive and limited speed. A promising alternative of a digital micromirror device (DMD) has improved the situation for its lower cost and higher speed, furthermore, it has contributed to the proposal of a simple and compact projection DMD-SIM. However, the projection DMD-SIM method is accused of erroneously measuring the resolution because of the scattering characteristic of gold beads, despite the inferior experimental resolution that is because of the low fringe contrast and the resulting low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). As an improvement, we use a high-brightness laser for illumination to achieve higher SNR, and the accompanying problems of speckle and inhomogeneity originating from the laser’s high coherence are solved by a high-frequency phase-randomization deformable mirror in conjunction with a square-core multimode fiber, which does not limit the image acquisition speed and with fewer energy losses compared to the existing methods. Also, in terms of the problem of low SNR, we apply a parallel-iteration Richardson–Lucy deconvolution algorithm for SIM reconstruction to further improve the imaging performance based on ensuring the resolution. Based on these advances, we image fluorescent nanoparticles and other non-biological and biological fluorescent samples, and the experimental results demonstrate the improved imaging performance of our modified system.
Mid-infrared silicon-on-insulator waveguides with single-mode propagation over an octave of frequency
Authors: Stirling Callum J. , Cao Wei , Reynolds Jamie D. , Qu Zhibo , Bradley Thomas D. , Mastronardi Lorenzo , Gardes Frederic Y. , Nedeljkovic Milos
Published: December 2021

Increasing the working optical bandwidth of a photonic circuit is important for many applications, in particular chemical sensing at mid-infrared wavelengths. This useful bandwidth is not only limited by the transparency range of waveguide materials, but also the range over which a waveguide is single or multimoded for predictable circuit behaviour. In this work, we show the first experimental demonstration of “endlessly single-mode” waveguiding in silicon photonics. Silicon-on-insulator waveguides were designed, fabricated and characterised at 1.95 µm and 3.80 µm. The waveguides were shown to support low-loss propagation (1.46 ± 0.13 dB/cm loss at 1.95 µm and 1.55 ± 0.35 dB/cm at 3.80 µm) and single-mode propagation was confirmed at 1.95 µm, meaning that only the fundamental mode was present over the wavelength range 1.95 - 3.80 µm. We also present the prospects for the use of these waveguides in sensing applications.
Experimental performance of deep learning channel estimation for an X-ray communication-based OFDM-PWM system
Authors: Chen Wenxuan , Liu Yunpeng , Mu Junxu , Feng Zhaopeng , Tang Xiaobin
Published: December 2021

A deep learning channel estimation scheme in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing for X-ray communication (XCOM) is studied. The scheme uses simulated and detected data obtained with different working parameters and numbers of pilots as training and testing data, respectively, for the deep neural network (DNN) model. The bit-error-rate performance of the DNN model under various system operating parameters, numbers of pilot sequences, and channel obstructions is investigated separately. Experiment results showed that the deep-learning-based approach can address the distortion of the air-scintillator channel for XCOM, giving a performance comparable to those of least-squares and minimum-mean-square error estimation methods.
AR- und Holografie-gestütztes Netzwerken als Alternative zum traditionellen Netzwerken vor Ort – ein multiperspektivischer Einblick
Authors: Schaefer Cindy , Stelter Aida , Zeuge Anna , Oschinsky Frederike Marie , Niehaves Bjoern
Published: December 2021

Virtuelles Netzwerken ist seit Beginn der Corona-Pandemie ein zentrales Mittel geworden, um sich zu vernetzen. Mit dem einschneidenden Ereignis von COVID-19 sind zahlreiche Alternativen zu traditionellen Netzwerkveranstaltungen wie Messen, Abendessen etc. entstanden. Hierbei traten jedoch auch viele Hürden auf, etwa die fehlende Menschlichkeit oder das zweidimensionale Erscheinungsbild im digitalen Raum. Ein Ansatz diese Herausforderungen zu überwinden, liegt in der Kombination von erweiterter Realität (engl. augmented reality (AR)) und Holografie. Um die technische Machbarkeit dieses Ansatzes zu überprüfen, haben wir mit AR-Experten und Kunden gesprochen und die Faktoren für und gegen die Nutzung von AR und Holografie zum Netzwerken diskutiert. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Experten und Kunden hohes Potenzial in der Kombination sehen. Doch mangelt es momentan noch an technologischen Lösungen, um dies breitenwirksam einsetzen zu können. Die Experten und Kunden sind sich resümierend einig, dass es, basierend auf den aktuellen technischen Entwicklungen im Bereich AR und Holografie, in naher Zukunft dafür Lösungen geben wird und die Kombination von AR und Holografie dann eine gute Alternative zum Netzwerken darstellen kann. Daraus folgern wir, dass ortsunabhängiges Netzwerken mit AR und Holografie eine Welt zum Wohlfühlen für die Nutzenden schafft und einen klaren Mehrwert darstellt.
Wissensmanagement in virtuellen Welten: Wissensgenerierung in Virtual Reality-Umgebungen
Authors: Schenk Johannes , Kurik Johannes , Gelberg Johanna , Lischka Andreas
Published: December 2021

In Zeiten einer globalen Pandemie werden physische Meetings seltener. Eine beschleunigte Digitalisierung der Meeting-Modalitäten findet statt. Formelle und informelle Kommunikation läuft weitgehend virtuell ab, vor allem in den dienstleistungsorientierten Branchen der Wissensarbeit. Gerade die Wissensgenerierung in kreativen Prozessen ist ohne physische Präsenz eine Herausforderung. Das Generieren von innovativen Lösungen oder Produktideen erfordert Vertrauen und physische Nähe. Unsere Forschungsfrage lautet daher, inwiefern Virtual-Reality-Umgebungen im Vergleich zu Online-Meetings eine Verbesserung in Wissensschaffungsprozessen bieten können. Daher vergleichen wir Design Thinking Workshops in Virtual Reality mit konventionellen Kollaborationswerkzeugen, um mögliche Vorteile und weitere Anwendungsszenarien für die Wissensgenerierung in Virtual Reality zu identifizieren. Dabei steht die Messung der quantitativen Wirkung von Virtualität auf Faktoren wie Teamzusammenhalt, Kreativität, Kommunikation und Ideengenerierung im Vordergrund. Darüber hinaus analysieren wir qualitative Aspekte wie Verbesserungspotenziale und mögliche bevorzugte Anwendungsfälle für die unterschiedlichen Formen der virtuellen Zusammenarbeit.
AR/VR.nrw – Augmented und Virtual Reality in der Hochschullehre
Authors: Müser Sinja , Fehling Christian Dominic
Published: December 2021

Immer mehr Hochschulen suchen nach Lösungen Augmented und Virtual Reality (AR/VR) stärker in Lehre und Forschung einzubinden. Es wurde bereits gezeigt, dass für manche Sachverhalte immersive Technologien verglichen mit traditionellen Lernmethoden besser geeignet sind; speziell um komplexe Sachverhalte zu erleben und zu lernen. Abseits solcher Projekte finden sich jedoch kaum Fälle einer breiten Anwendung in der gängigen Hochschullehre. Mit diesem Beitrag wird eine Möglichkeit vorgestellt, Augmented und Virtual Reality stärker und allgemein verständlicher in die Lehre und Forschung der Hochschulen zu integrieren und eine verbesserte Kollaboration zwischen den beteiligten Akteuren und Stakeholdern zu ermöglichen. Vor dem Hintergrund lehr-lernpsychologischer und mediendidaktischer Theorien sowie auf Basis von Wirksamkeitsstudien wird daher mit Figments.nrw eine offene und freie Lösung entwickelt, die sowohl eine Autorenumgebung zur einfachen Erstellung von Augmented- und Virtual-Reality-Inhalten als auch Instrumente zur Durchführung von Lehr‑/Lernaktivitäten umfasst. Hierbei werden Erkenntnisse und Erfahrungen aus der Nutzung sowie Untersuchung bisheriger Lösungen, wie notwendige informationstechnische Expertise, Ressourcen-Intensität sowie monolithische und proprietäre Software, berücksichtigt.
Try before you buy – Akzeptanz von Virtual-Reality-Anwendungen zur Leistungsbeurteilung von Erfahrungsgütern
Authors: Israel Kai , Zerres Christopher , Tscheulin Dieter K.
Published: December 2021

Virtual-Reality-Anwendungen ermöglichen es Anbietern von Erfahrungsgütern durch innovative Produktpräsentationen die inhärenten Informationsasymmetrien zu reduzieren. Dadurch kann den potenziellen Kunden eine effiziente Leistungsbeurteilung ermöglicht und das Risiko einer informationsbedingten Fehlentscheidung minimiert werden. Die vorliegende Studie fokussiert sich auf die Identifikation wichtiger Determinanten, die die Nutzungsintention von Virtual-Reality-Anwendungen zur Leistungsbeurteilung von Erfahrungsgütern beeinflussen. Um das Akzeptanzverhalten von Nutzern gegenüber dieser neuartigen Technologie zu erforschen, wurde ein erweitertes Technologieakzeptanzmodell eingesetzt. Als Untersuchungsobjekt wurde eigens für die Studie eine Virtual-Reality-Anwendung entwickelt, die es den Nutzern ermöglichte, eigenständig ein virtuelles Erfahrungsgut zu erkunden. Insgesamt nahmen 569 Probanden an der Datenerhebung teil. Für die Berechnung des Strukturgleichungsmodells und die Hypothesenüberprüfung wurde eine Partial-Least-Squares-Analyse eingesetzt. Wie die Studienergebnisse verdeutlichen, führt das immersive Produkterlebnis zu einer effizienteren Informationsbeschaffung. Speziell der wahrgenommene Nutzen einer Virtual-Reality-Anwendung ist ein zentraler Prädiktor, der sowohl auf die Nutzungseinstellung als auch auf die Nutzungsintention einen starken positiven Einfluss ausübt.
Toy or Tool? Utilitaristischer und hedonischer Nutzen mobiler Augmented Reality-Apps
Authors: Hoffmann Stefan , Mai Robert , Pagel Timo
Published: December 2021

Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR)-Apps für private Konsument:innen existieren zwischenzeitlich für verschiedene Anwendungsbereiche und sie können zahlreiche Funktionen erfüllen. Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht, welche Faktoren den wahrgenommenen Nutzen und die Bewertung von Konsument:innen beeinflussen. Hierzu werden 100 MAR-Apps anhand der Kategorien Information Layer, Unterhaltung, Bildung, virtuelle Produktproben und sonstige Hilfestellungen systematisiert und hinsichtlich ihres utilitaristischen und hedonischen Nutzens beurteilt. Während der hedonische Nutzen bei MAR-Apps der Kategorie Unterhaltung im Vordergrund steht, zielen MAR-Apps der Kategorien hilfreiche Tools und Information Layer hauptsächlich auf den funktionalen Nutzen ab. Für MAR-Apps der Kategorien Bildung und virtuelle Produktproben sind hedonische und utilitaristische Komponenten gleichermaßen wichtig. Die Untersuchung belegt, dass die von Konsument:innen auf App-Stores abgegebenen Ratings der MAR-Apps zwar von diesen hedonischen und utilitaristischen Nutzenkomponenten getrieben werden. Allerdings zeigt sich eine wichtige Interaktion. Der hedonische Nutzen wirkt sich insbesondere dann auf die Nutzerbewertungen aus, wenn der utilitaristische Nutzen gering ist. Aus den Befunden leiten sich wichtige Implikationen für App-Entwickler und Unternehmen ab.
Affordance-Experimentation: Eine Fallstudie zur Entwicklung von Virtual-Reality-Anwendungsfällen im Unternehmenskontext
Authors: Fromm Jennifer , Slawinski Elena , Mirbabaie Milad
Published: December 2021

Durch technologische Fortschritte in den letzten Jahren ist Virtual Reality erschwinglicher und benutzerfreundlicher geworden, sodass Unternehmen die Einführung der Technologie verstärkt in Betracht ziehen. Ihren Aufschwung erlebte die Technologie jedoch durch die Unterhaltungs- und Spieleindustrie, weshalb sich für Unternehmen die Frage nach sinnvollen Anwendungsfällen stellt. Nach der Affordance-Experimentation-Actualization-Theorie ist insbesondere bei neu aufkommenden Technologien eine Experimentierphase notwendig, um Handlungsmöglichkeiten aufzudecken und daraus Anwendungsfälle zu generieren. Dieser Artikel präsentiert die Ergebnisse einer Fallstudie in einem Unternehmen, das sich während der Studie in der Experimentierphase befand. Durch Interviews mit acht Beschäftigten und einem Vertriebspartner konnten drei Handlungsmöglichkeiten für Virtual Reality im Unternehmenskontext und eine zuvor nicht bekannte Aktivität der Experimentierphase identifiziert werden. Damit erweitert die Studie bisherige Forschung zur Experimentierphase und zeigt Unterschiede im Vergleich zu anderen innovativen Technologien auf, die in vorherigen Studien untersucht wurden. Für Unternehmen bietet die Studie wertvolle Einblicke in die erfolgreiche Gestaltung der Experimentierphase als Vorbereitung auf die Implementierung.
The good, the bad, and the ugly: Evolutionary and pathological aspects of gene dosage alterations
Authors: Basilicata M. Felicia , Keller Valsecchi Claudia Isabelle
Published: December 2021

Diploid organisms contain a maternal and a paternal genome complement that is thought to provide robustness and allow developmental progression despite genetic perturbations that occur in heterozygosity. However, changes affecting gene dosage from the chromosome down to the individual gene level possess a significant pathological potential and can lead to developmental disorders (DDs). This indicates that expression from a balanced gene complement is highly relevant for proper cellular and organismal function in eukaryotes. Paradoxically, gene and whole chromosome duplications are a principal driver of evolution, while heteromorphic sex chromosomes (XY and ZW) are naturally occurring aneuploidies important for sex determination. Here, we provide an overview of the biology of gene dosage at the crossroads between evolutionary benefit and pathogenicity during disease. We describe the buffering mechanisms and cellular responses to alterations, which could provide a common ground for the understanding of DDs caused by copy number alterations.
Variable expression of eighteen common housekeeping genes in human non-cancerous kidney biopsies
Authors: Strauss Philipp , Mikkelsen Håvard , Furriol Jessica
Published: December 2021

Housekeeping, or reference genes (RGs) are, by definition, loci with stable expression profiles that are widely used as internal controls to normalize mRNA levels. However, due to specific events, such as pathological changes, or technical procedures, their expression might be altered, failing to fulfil critical normalization pre-requisites. To identify RG genes suitable as internal controls in human non-cancerous kidney tissue, we selected 18 RG candidates based on previous data and screen them in 30 expression datasets (>800 patients), including our own, publicly available or provided by independent groups. Datasets included specimens from patients with hypertensive and diabetic nephropathy, Fabry disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, and minimal change disease. We examined both microdissected and whole section-based datasets. Expression variability of 4 candidate genes (YWHAZ, SLC4A1AP, RPS13 and ACTB) was further examined by qPCR in biopsies from patients with hypertensive nephropathy (n = 11) and healthy controls (n = 5). Only YWHAZ gene expression remained stable in all datasets whereas SLC4A1AP was stable in all but one Fabry dataset. All other RGs were differentially expressed in at least 2 datasets, and in 4.5 datasets on average. No differences in YWHAZ, SLC4A1AP, RPS13 and ACTB gene expression between hypertensive and control biopsies were detected by qPCR. Although RGs suitable to all techniques and tissues are unlikely to exist, our data suggest that in non-cancerous kidney biopsies expression of YWHAZ and SLC4AIAP genes is stable and suitable for normalization purposes.
Methionine-induced regulation of growth, secondary metabolites and oxidative defense system in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants subjected to water deficit stress
Authors: Mehak Gull , Akram Nudrat Aisha , Ashraf Muhammad , Kaushik Prashant , El-Sheikh Mohamed A. , Ahmad Parvaiz
Published: December 2021

Optimum water availability at different growth stages is one the major prerequisites of best growth and yield production of plants. Exogenous application of plant growth regulators considered effective for normal functioning of plants under water-deficit conditions. A study was conducted to examine the influence of exogenously applied L-methionine on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants grown under water-deficit conditions. Twenty-five-day old seedlings of four sunflower cultivars, FH331, FH572, FH652 and FH623 were exposed to control (100% F.C.) and drought stress (60% F.C.) conditions. After 30-day of drought stress, L-methionine (Met; 20 mg/L) was applied as a foliar spray to control and drought stressed plants. Water deficit stress significantly reduced shoot fresh and dry weights shoot and root lengths, and chlorophyll a content in all four cultivars. While a significant increase was observed due to water deficiency in relative membrane permeability (RMP), malondialdehyde (MDA), total soluble proteins (TSP), total soluble sugars (TSS), ascorbic acid (AsA) and activity of peroxidase (POD). Although, exogenously applied Met was effective in decreasing RMP, MDA and H2O2 contents, it increased the shoot fresh weight, shoot length, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll a/b ratio, proline contents and the activities of SOD, POD and CAT enzymes in all four cultivars under water deficit stress. No change in AsA and total phenolics was observed due to foliar-applied Met under water stress conditions. Of all sunflower cultivars, cv. FH-572 was the highest and cv. FH-652 the lowest of all four cultivars in shoot fresh and dry weights as well as shoot length under drought stress conditions. Overall, foliar applied L-methionine was effective in improving the drought stress tolerance of sunflower plants that was found to be positively associated with Met induced improved growth attributes and reduced RMP, MDA and H2O2 contents under water deficit conditions.
Novel perovskite solar cell with Distributed Bragg Reflector
Authors: Farooq Waqas , Tu Shanshan , Ali Kazmi Syed Asfandyar , Rehman Sadaqat ur , Khan Adnan Daud , Khan Haseeb Ahmad , Waqas Muhammad , Rehman Obaid ur , Ali Haider , Noman Muhammad
Published: December 2021

This paper reports numerical modeling of perovskite solar cell which has been knotted with Distributed Bragg Reflector pairs to extract high energy efficiency. The geometry of the proposed cells is simulated with three different kinds of perovskite materials including CH3NH3PbI3, CH3NH3PbBr3,and CH3NH3SnI3. The toxic perovskite material based on Lead iodide and lead bromide appears to be more efficient as compared to non-toxic perovskite material. The executed simulated photovoltaic parameters with the highest efficient structure are open circuit voltage = 1.409 (V), short circuit current density = 24.09 mA/cm2, fill factor = 86.18%, and efficiency = 24.38%. Moreover, a comparison of the current study with different kinds of structures has been made and surprisingly our novel geometry holds enhanced performance parameters that are featured with back reflector pairs (Si/SiO2). The applied numerical approach and presented designing effort of geometry are beneficial to obtain results that have the potential to address problems with less efficient thin-film solar cells.
Perception of the threat, mental health burden, and healthcare-seeking behavior change among psoriasis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Chiu Hsien-Yi , Chang Liao Nien-Feng , Lin Yu , Huang Yu-Huei
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to investigate the perceived threat, mental health outcomes, behavior changes, and associated predictors among psoriasis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 has been known to increase the health risks of patients with psoriasis owing to patients’ immune dysregulation, comorbidities, and immunosuppressive drug use. A total of 423 psoriasis patients not infected with COVID-19 was recruited from the Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and China Medical University Hospital from May 2020 to July 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate the perceived threat, mental health, and psychological impact on psoriasis patients using the Perceived COVID-19-Related Risk Scale score for Psoriasis (PCRSP), depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress-associated symptoms (DAISS) scales, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), respectively. Over 94% of 423 patients with psoriasis perceived threat to be ≥ 1 due to COVID-19; 18% of the patients experienced psychological symptoms more frequently ≥ 1, and 22% perceived psychological impact during the pandemic to be ≥ 1. Multivariable linear regression showed that the higher psoriasis severity and comorbidities were significantly associated with higher PCRSP, DAISS, and IES-R scores. The requirement for a prolonged prescription and canceling or deferring clinic visits for psoriasis treatment among patients are the two most common healthcare-seeking behavior changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psoriasis patients who perceived a higher COVID-19 threat were more likely to require a prolonged prescription and have their clinic visits canceled or deferred. Surveillance of the psychological consequences in psoriasis patients due to COVID-19 must be implemented to avoid psychological consequences and inappropriate treatment delays or withdrawal.
Peers for the fearless: Social norms facilitate preventive behaviour when individuals perceive low COVID-19 health risks
Authors: Kittel Bernhard , Kalleitner Fabian , Schiestl David W.
Published: December 2021

A strategy frequently adopted to contain the COVID-19 pandemic involves three non-pharmaceutical interventions that depend on high levels of compliance in society: maintaining physical distance from others, minimizing social contacts, and wearing a face mask. These measures require substantial changes in established practices of social interaction, raising the question of which factors motivate individuals to comply with these preventive behaviours. Using Austrian panel survey data from April 2020 to April 2021, we show that perceived health risks, social norms, and trust in political institutions stimulate people to engage in preventive behaviour. A moderation analysis shows that the effectiveness of social norms in facilitating preventive behaviour increases when people’s perceptions of health risks decrease. No such moderation effect is observed for trust in political institutions. These results suggest that strong social norms play a crucial role in achieving high rates of preventive behaviour, especially when perceived levels of health risks are low.
‘God helps those who help themselves’… religion and Assisted Reproductive Technology usage amongst urban Ghanaians
Authors: Hiadzi Rosemond Akpene , Boafo Isaac Mensah , Tetteh Peace Mamle
Published: December 2021

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is increasingly becoming a viable option for infertile couples in Ghana. There exists significant literature that explores the gender, legal, religious and socio-cultural implications of ART usage. In this paper, we expand the discourse on the nexus between religion and ART usage by looking at how the former is used as a frame of reference in the decision-making process, as well as how it is employed to explain treatment successes and failures. Irrespective of religious orientation, there was a general acceptance of ART by participants in the study-with exceptions only when it came to some aspects of the procedure. Even here, participants’ desperate desire to have children, tended to engender some accommodation of procedures they were uncomfortable with because of their religious beliefs. Thus, in contrast to some studies that suggest religion as interfering with ART use, we posit that religion is not an inhibiting factor to ART usage. On the contrary, it is an enabling factor, engendering the agentic attitude of participants to find a solution to their infertility in ART; as well as providing the strength to endure the physical and emotional discomfort associated with the biomedical process of conception and childbirth. In this context, religion thus provides participants with a frame of reference to navigate the spaces between decision-making, treatment processes and outcomes, and attributions of responsibility for the outcomes whatever they may be.
Optimization of layering technique and secondary structure analysis during the formulation of nanoparticles containing lysozyme by quality by design approach
Authors: Kristó Katalin , Manteghi Reihaneh , Ibrahim Yousif H-E. Y. , Ungor Ditta , Csapó Edit , Berkesi Dániel , Kónya Zoltán , Csóka Ildikó
Published: December 2021

In our study, core-shell nanoparticles containing lysozyme were formulated with precipitation and layering self-assembly. Factorial design (DoE) was applied by setting the process parameters during the preparation with Quality by Design (QbD) approach. The factors were the concentration of lysozyme and sodium alginate, and pH. Our aim was to understand the effect of process parameters through the determination of mathematical equations, based on which the optimization parameters can be predicted under different process parameters. The optimization parameters were encapsulation efficiency, particle size, enzyme activity and the amount of α-helix structure. The nanoparticles were analysed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Based on our results, we found that pH was the most important factor and pH 10 was recommended during the formulation. Enzyme activity and α-helix content correlated with each other very well, and particle size and encapsulation efficiency also showed very good correlation with each other. The results of the α-helix content of FTIR and CD measurements were very similar for the precipitated lysozyme due to the solid state of lysozyme. The mixing time had the best influence on the encapsulation efficiency and the particle size, which leads to the conclusion that a mixing time of 1 h is recommended. The novelty in our study is the presentation of a mathematical model with which the secondary structure of the protein and other optimization parameters can be controlled in the future during development of nanoparticle based on the process parameters.
Social capital dimensions are differentially associated with COVID-19 vaccinations, masks, and physical distancing
Authors: Ferwana Ibtihal , Varshney Lav R.
Published: December 2021

Background

Social capital has been associated with health outcomes in communities and can explain variations in different geographic localities. Social capital has also been associated with behaviors that promote better health and reduce the impacts of diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, face masking, and vaccination have all been essential in controlling contagion. These behaviors have not been uniformly adopted by communities in the United States. Using different facets of social capital to explain the differences in public behaviors among communities during pandemics is lacking.

Objective

This study examines the relationship among public health behavior—vaccination, face masking, and physical distancing—during COVID-19 pandemic and social capital indices in counties in the United States.

Methods

We used publicly available vaccination data as of June 2021, face masking data in July 2020, and mobility data from mobile phones movements from the end of March 2020. Then, correlation analysis was conducted with county-level social capital index and its subindices (family unity, community health, institutional health, and collective efficacy) that were obtained from the Social Capital Project by the United States Senate.

Results

We found the social capital index and its subindices differentially correlate with different public health behaviors. Vaccination is associated with institutional health: positively with fully vaccinated population and negatively with vaccination hesitancy. Also, wearing masks negatively associates with community health, whereases reduced mobility associates with better community health. Further, residential mobility positively associates with family unity. By comparing correlation coefficients, we find that social capital and its subindices have largest effect sizes on vaccination and residential mobility.

Conclusion

Our results show that different facets of social capital are significantly associated with adoption of protective behaviors, e.g., social distancing, face masking, and vaccination. As such, our results suggest that differential facets of social capital imply a Swiss cheese model of pandemic control planning where, e.g., institutional health and community health, provide partially overlapping behavioral benefits.
Idiosyncratic multisensory reweighting as the common cause for motion sickness susceptibility and adaptation to postural perturbation
Authors: Dida Merrick , Cian Corinne , Barraud Pierre-Alain , Guerraz Michel , Laboissière Rafael
Published: December 2021

Numerous empirical and modeling studies have been done to find a relationship between postural stability and the susceptibility to motion sickness (MS). However, while the demonstration of a causal relationship between postural stability and the susceptibility to MS is still lacking, recent studies suggest that motion sick individuals have genuine deficits in selecting and reweighting multimodal sensory information. Here we investigate how the adaptation to changing postural situations develops and how the dynamics in multisensory integration is modulated on an individual basis along with MS susceptibility. We used a postural task in which participants stood on a posturographic platform with either eyes open (EO) or eyes closed (EC) during three minutes. The platform was static during the first minute (baseline phase), oscillated harmonically during the second minute (perturbation phase) and returned to its steady state for the third minute (return phase). Principal component (PC) analysis was applied to the sequence of short-term power density spectra of the antero-posterior position of the center of pressure. Results showed that the less motion-sick a participant is, the more similar is his balance between high and low frequencies for EO and EC conditions (as calculated from the eigenvector of the first PC). By fitting exponential decay models to the first PC score in the return phase, we estimated, for each participant in each condition, the sluggishness to return to the baseline spectrum. We showed that the de-adaptation following platform oscillation depends on the susceptibility to MS. These results suggest that non motion-sick participants finely adjust their spectrum in the perturbation phase (i.e. reweighting) and therefore take longer to return to their initial postural control particularly with eyes closed. Thus, people have idiosyncratic ways of doing sensory reweighting for postural control, these processes being tied to MS susceptibility.
Freeway ramp metering based on PSO-PID control
Authors: Wei Junjun , Long Kejun , Gu Jian , Zhou Zhengchuan , Li Shun
Published: December 2021

Ramp metering on freeway is one of the effective methods to alleviate traffic congestion. This paper advances the field of freeway ramp metering by introducing an application to the on-ramp, capitalizing on the macro traffic follow theory and improved the freeway traffic flow. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) based on Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller is further developed to single ramp metering as well as to optimize the PID parameters. The approach is applied to a case study of the Changyi Freeway(G5513) in Hunan, China. The simulation is conducted by applying the actual profile traffic data to PID controller to adjust the entering traffic flow on the freeway on-ramp. The results show that the PSO-PID controller tends to converge in about 80 minutes, and the density tends to be stable after 240 iterations. The system has smaller oscillation, more accurate adjustment of ramp regulation rate, and more ideal expected traffic flow density. The traffic congestion on mainline is effectively slowed down, traffic efficiency is improved, and travel time and cost are reduced. The nonlinear processing ability of PSO-PID controller overcomes the defects of the traditional manual closing ramp, and can be successfully applied in the field of intelligent ramp metering.
The secular trend of intelligence test scores: The Danish experience for young men born between 1940 and 2000
Authors: Hegelund Emilie R. , Teasdale Thomas W. , Okholm Gunhild T. , Osler Merete , Sørensen Thorkild I. A. , Christensen Kaare , Mortensen Erik L.
Published: December 2021

The present study investigated the Danish secular trend of intelligence test scores among young men born between 1940 and 2000, as well as the possible associations of birth cohort changes in family size, nutrition, education, and intelligence test score variability with the increasing secular trend. The study population included all men born from 1940 to 2000 who appeared before a draft board before 2020 (N = 1,556,770). At the mandatory draft board examination, the approximately 19-year-old men underwent a medical examination and an intelligence test. In the statistical analyses, the IQ mean and standard deviation (SD) were estimated separately for each of the included annual birth cohorts based on information from birth cohorts with available total intelligence test scores for all tested individuals (i.e. 1940–1958 and 1987–2000; the mean and SD were interpolated for the intermediate birth cohorts). Moreover, the possible associations with birth cohort changes in family size, height as a proxy for nutritional status, education, and IQ variability were investigated among those birth cohorts for whom a secular increase in intelligence test scores was found. The results showed that the estimated mean IQ score increased from a baseline set to 100 (SD: 15) among individuals born in 1940 to 108.9 (SD: 12.2) among individuals born in 1980, since when it has decreased. Focusing on the birth cohorts of 1940–1980, for whom a secular increase in intelligence test scores was found, birth cohort changes in family size, height, and education explained large proportions of the birth cohort variance in mean intelligence test scores, suggesting that these factors may be important contributors to the observed Flynn effect in Denmark.