bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case Report: Tuberculosis lymphadenitis with systemic lupus erythematosus in a young woman: a case report
Authors: Arliny Yunita , Yanifitri Dewi Behtri , Utami Wilia Aprilisa , Geraldine Samantha
Published: June 2023

Background: Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease and can be categorised into pulmonary TB and extra-pulmonary TB based on its spread. TB lymphadenitis is one of the extra-pulmonary TB diseases. Patients with a weakened immune system in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased incidence of TB.

Case: Here we present a case report of a 21-year-old female patient with SLE diagnosed with tuberculous lymphadenitis at dr. Zainoel Abidin Hospital, Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The patient complained of a lump in the right neck 4 months ago with a diameter of 4 cm, accompanied by fever, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Other than that, the patient also experiences joint pain, hair loss and sun sensitivity since 12 months ago. Chest radiography showed no abnormalities, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy results confirmed tuberculous lymphadenitis. Antinuclear antibody test was borderline. The patient had been taking steroids and hydroxychloroquine for the past 10 months. Currently, the patient is taking the advanced phase of antituberculosis drugs FDC. After undergoing the intensive phase of antituberculosis drugs, the submandibular lump got smaller to a diameter of 2 cm.

Conclusion: TB lymphadenitis is a rare case but can occur in conditions of decreased immunity like SLE. It involves some of the immune disorders caused by the long-term use of immunosuppressive therapy.
Variations in cosmic ray cutoff rigidities during the March 8–11, 2012 magnetic storm (CAWSES II period)
Authors: Danilova Olga , Ptitsyna Natalia , Tyasto Marta , Sdobnov Valeriy
Published: June 2023

The geomagnetic cutoff rigidity of cosmic rays (CRs) is the main factor regulating the arrival of CR particles at a given point on Earth's surface or inside the magnetosphere. To study the relationship between cutoffs and near-Earth space parameters, we have selected the strongest magnetic storm that occurred on March 8–11, 2012 during the CAWSES-II interval, recommended by SCOSTEP for detailed studies of solar-terrestrial relations. We have found the geomagnetic cutoffs by two methods: 1) by trajectory calculations in the magnetic field of the perturbed magnetosphere according to the Ts01 model and 2) by the spectrographic global survey method according to the data from the world network of neutron monitors. The largest drop in the cutoffs (−1.1 GV) obtained by the latter method was observed during the recovery phase of the storm. Apparently, this is due to the influence of the supersubstorms that occurred at that time. The analysis has shown that the closest connection of variations in the cutoffs can be traced with the geomagnetic activity index Dst, which indicates the determining contribution of the ring current to the transport of CRs. In addition, we have found a significant connection with the electromagnetic field parameters (with the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field and the azimuthal component of the electric field Ey). The dynamic solar wind parameters practically do not control variations in CR geomagnetic cutoff rigidities.
Linaje, vinculación de bienes y conflictividad en la España Moderna. Los pleitos de mayorazgos (siglos XVII-XVIII)
Authors: Melero Muñoz Isabel Mª
Published: June 2023

El mayorazgo, que permitió la transmisión patrimonial y la preservación de la memoria del linaje, fue una de las instituciones claves de la Edad Moderna. El análisis de las prácticas de vinculación de bienes en el seno de las familias aristocráticas y las burguesías enriquecidas permite comprender mejor el modelo social imperante en el Antiguo Régimen, en el que el prestigio, el honor, el estatus y el deseo de perpetuación constituyeron pilares fundamentales. La litigiosidad se convirtió a menudo en una característica inherente a la institución, debido a las diversas interpretaciones jurídicas posibles, así como a las luchas legales desatadas por el control del patrimonio en el seno del linaje. Esta obra combina el análisis institucional con la historia social y tiene, además, el valor añadido de recurrir a los contrastes europeos, particularmente al caso francés, para indagar en los rasgos comunes, singularidades y diferencias que plantean con el mayorazgo castellano.
Work Adaptation Experience of Vietnamese Workers in Korean Workplaces: Constructivist Grounded Theory
Authors: Jun HyeJung , Lee GaEon
Published: June 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find a nursing intervention plan by classifying the body pain areas of the Korean aged and analyzing related factors. Methods: This study performed the latent class analysis, cross-analysis, and one-way ANOVA using the SPSS 25.0, M-plus 7.0 program on 4,388 older adults aged 65 or over using the data from the 2020 Aging Research Panel. Results: As a result of the Latent Class Analysis, participants divided into four groups. Group 1 was the 'shoulder and low back pain group' with high shoulder and back pain, group 2 was the 'upper body pain group' with severe pain in the arms, wrists and fingers and chest, group 3 was the 'lower pain focused group' with high pain in the legs and knees, and finally, group 4 was the 'general low pain group' with low pain overall. The result of the study shows that the group that did not exercise regularly, the female group, and the low socioeconomic status group have more pain in general. The upper body central pain group showed a low level of life satisfaction. Conclusion: This study discusses various nursing interventions for the prevention of chronic pain, especially for the aged female group who has diverse body pain areas, the aged with low socioeconomic status, and the aged who do not exercise.
The Relation among Uncertainty, Social Support, Care Burden of Mothers having Children with Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Jeong Kyoung Eun , Suk Min Hyun
Published: June 2023

Purpose: This descriptive correlation study aimed to confirm the relation among uncertainty, social support, care burden of mothers having children with developmental disabilities. Methods: The participants were 111 mothers having children with autistic spectrum disorder or intellectual disability. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression using IBM SPSS 23.0 in the study. Results: Uncertainty and social support were significantly correlated to caregiver burden. As a result of multiple regression analysis, the factors affecting caregiver burden were children’s age, the expense for caring, the period suspected child disabilities, and uncertainty. These factors accounted for 40.8% of caregiver burden. Conclusion: In order to reduce the burden of caring for mothers with children with developmental disabilities, it is necessary to establish a system that can detect children with developmental disabilities early and to develop and provide an integrated guide suitable for the growth and development stage of children with developmental disabilities.
A Study on Outcomes of the Utilization of Visiting Nursing Service at the Integrated Visiting Nursing Center in Bucheon-si
Authors: Park Hyun-Kyung , Yoo Ae Jung , Yoon Ju Young , Choi Jae Woo
Published: June 2023

Purpose: The government has implemented a pilot project for community care for older adults and the integrated visiting nursing center in Bucheon-si operated by public fund of government to provide visiting nursing service for older adults. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of the utilization of visiting nursing service at the integrated visiting nursing center in Bucheon-si.Methods: This study linked the personal data from the pilot project for community care with the National Health Insurance data. The final subjects comprised 30 participants and 110 of the matched control group. The length of home stay, hospitalization, and the admission for long-term care facilities or convalescent hospitals were measured. Statistical analysis was performed through difference-in-differences analysis using generalized estimating equation and Cox proportional hazards model.Results: The results indicated an increase of 28.2 days for length of home stay and a reduction of 69% in hospitalization from medical institutions and 81% in admission of long-term care facilities or convalescent hospitals among participants compared to the control group. Conclusion: The visiting nursing service of the integrated visiting nursing center was effective in extending length of home stay and lowering the hospitalization of medical institutions and admission of long-term care facilities or convalescent hospitals.
What Determines the Health-related Quality of Life of Vietnamese Migrant Workers in Korea?
Authors: Pahn Jihyon , Kim Heesuk , Yang Youngran
Published: June 2023

Purpose: Over time, the number of migrant workers in Korea has shown a steady increase. Notably, among all migrant workers, those from Vietnam constitute the third largest group in Korea. The main objective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the health-related quality of life of Vietnamese migrant workers. The study aimed to provide essential data for the development of customized nursing intervention programs and policy preparation in the future. Methods: A total of 220 Vietnamese migrant workers aged between 18 and 64, who were employed in Korea through the Employment Permit System and had been residing in the country for more than 91 days, participated in this study. Results: The study results revealed that physical activity (β=.19, p=.002), hope (β=.50, p <. 001), cohabitation with colleagues (β=.16, p =.003), and sleep hour (β=.11, p =. 031) had a statistically significant impact on health-related quality of life. The findings showed that higher levels of physical activity and hope were positively associated with higher health-related quality of life. Moreover, cohabiting with colleagues and sleeping for more than six hours were also significantly related to higher health-related quality of life. Conclusion: Given these findings, it is imperative to develop programs that encourage physical activity and enhance the health-related quality of life of migrant workers from Vietnam. Policymakers and employers should also consider providing adequate living conditions that facilitate cohabitation with colleagues and sufficient time for sleep to improve the health and well-being of migrant workers.
Assessment of Metabolic Syndrome Risk Based on Body Size Phenotype in Korean Adults: Analysis of Community-based Cohort Data
Authors: Kim Ji Young , Yang Youngran
Published: June 2023

Purpose: Body size phenotypes can be regarded as an indicator of cardiovascular incidence risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of metabolic syndrome among metabolically healthy adults according to body size phenotype using Korean Genome & Epidemiology Study [KoGES]-community based cohort from 2001-2002 to 2014.Methods: A prospective population-based cohort including 5,068 adults aged 40-69 years free from metabolic syndrome was included and divided into three phenotypes: metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy overweight (MHOW), and metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). The time dependent Cox’s proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the incidence of the metabolic syndrome after a follow-up 14 years.Results: In the demographic, health related variables-adjusted model (Model 3), the hazard ratio of the metabolic syndrome was 1.92 (CI 1.54-2.40) for MHOW, 2.88 (CI 2.32-3.58) for MHO among males, 1.89 (CI 1.51-2.37) for MHOW, 2.34 (CI 1.88-2.90) for MHO for females compared to MHNW, respectively.Conclusion: In conclusion, MHOW and MHO in both males and females increased the risk of metabolic syndrome compared to MHNW. Obesity management should be considered even in the absence of metabolic syndrome. Programs and resources should be provided for prevention of cardiovascular diseases and better quality of life.
Smoking in post-bariatric patients without regular medical follow-up and associated weight loss and regain: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Paula Marcela P. , Romagna Eline C. , Mattos Diogo M. F. , Lopes Karynne G. , Kraemer-Aguiar Luiz Guilherme
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Obesity and smoking are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, reducedquality of life andprematuremortality. The relationship between smoking and body weight changes in patients who underwent bariatric surgery is unclear.Objective: We studiedpost-bariatric patients without any current medical follow-up and compared smokers andnon-smokers with regard to weight loss and regain. Methodology: Ninety-four patients post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n=80) or Sleeve gastrectomy (n=14), aged 42±9 years, body mass index (BMI)=32.9±6.5kg/m2, were recruited in public outpatient care and allocated into two groups according to time since surgery < or ≥5 years (G<5y or G≥5y, respectively). They were further divided into smokers or non-smokers. Clinical history, physical examination, anthropometrics and hemodynamics measurements were obtained. Results: The prevalence of smoking was 12.8%. BMI, neck circumference, pre-surgical BMI, and rate of weight regain (RWR) were higher in the G≥5y group than in the G<5y (p≤0.03) one. No differences in excess weight loss (EWL) were observed between smokers andnon-smokers in both groups (p≥0.15). Higher RWR was detected in non-smokers in G<5y (p=0.03), while no differences between smokers andnon-smokers were found for RWR in G≥5y (p=0.37). Conclusion: Smoking habits do not appear to influence weight loss after surgery. However, a higher weight regain was detected in non-smokers who had less than 5 years since surgery.
Gene regulation of MMPs and TIMPs by somatostatin in human fibroblasts
Authors: Carvalho Guilherme N. , Santos Jean N. , Araujo Nara S. , Cury Patrícia R.
Published: June 2023

Introduction:SST is a widespread neuropeptide with generally inhibitory function. The aim of this study is to evaluatethe effect of somatostatin in different concentrations on mRNA expression of MMPs and TIMPsin cultured, human, gingival fibroblasts. Methodology and resources: Human gingival fibroblasts were stimulated with 10-4, 10-9 or 10-12 M somatostatin DMEM without fetal calf serum; untreated fibroblasts served as controls. After incubation period, the RNA was extracted, and the first-strand cDNA was synthesized. Alterations in the expression of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-11, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). b-actin mRNA expression was used to normalize the data. Results: In 24 h treatment, SST, at the highest concentration induced a down-regulation on MMP-1, -2, -3 and -7 expression, and up-regulation on MMP-11 expression; while at the lowest concentration induced an up-regulation on MMP-1, -2, -3, TIMP-1 and -2 expression. At 72 hours treatment, similar effects were observed, except for the up-regulation on TIMP-2 at the higher SST concentration, an up-regulation on MMP-7 and -11 expression and a down-regulation on MMP-2 and TIMP-2 expression, at the lower SST concentration. Discussion:The modulation of inflammation by SST is still unclear. The findings of this work,suggests that it can modulate the gene expression of MMPs and TIMPs by cultured fibroblasts and its effects depend on the concentration. This may represent one of the mechanisms of inflammation suppression by SST.
Plant names derived from human names in the Ukrainian eastern Polissian dialect
Authors:   Institute for Ukrainian Language of the NAS of Ukraine, Poistohova Maryna
Published: June 2023

The research examines the names of plants derived from the names of people in Ukrainian Eastern Polissian colloquialisms. It was found that the group of plant names derived from human names is diverse in terms of the semantics of the original names. Various anthroponomes are involved in the field of botanical vocabulary. These are the names of people's family characteristics, kinship, names by social and social status, by profession, occupation, type of activity, by nationality, party affiliation, as well as names and surnames. It has been established that the most productive way of creating plant names derived from people's names is one-word names formed mainly by adding a suffix. The names that appeared as a result of the reinterpretation of known lexemes are recorded. Often the nominative function is performed by multiple and collective formations. Some names arose as a result of univerbation. Nomination using phrases is common. A significant group consists of complex names, most of which were formed as a result of compounding. Several names formed by the basic composition are attested. Propositive nouns and descriptive names, which are comparative in structure, are noted as examples. A common motivating feature in botanical names derived from human names is the external resemblance to a human; at the same time, it is not so much about a specific person, but about established ideas about them; some of them are archaic. In the nomination of plants, a gender opposition typical for the thematic group of anthroponyms vocabulary was revealed: male – female. In these cases, a close interweaving, a combination of grammatical and motivological features was noted.
Health-seeking behaviours of pregnant adolescents: a scoping review
Authors: Khuzaiyah Siti , Mumin Khadizah Hj Abdul , McKenna Lisa , Hashim Sarena Hj
Published: June 2023

Background/Aims

Adolescent pregnancy has become a global concern because of its potential impact on health and childbirth, as well as its socioeconomic and psychological consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate pregnant adolescents' experiences seeking healthcare, to identify factors influencing their use of maternal healthcare services.

Methods

A scoping review for articles published in the last 10 years from six databases was conducted. A total of 25 studies that described pregnant adolescents' health-seeking behaviour during pregnancy and childbirth were included.

Results

The majority of studies were conducted in Africa and most aimed to assess factors influencing health-seeking behaviours and use of antenatal care among pregnant adolescents. Ten studies used behavioural change theories and models. Several enabling factors and barriers influencing behaviour were identified.

Conclusions

Adolescents, families, communities and healthcare providers should work together to promote health-seeking behaviours among pregnant adolescents. Midwives should encourage pregnant adolescents to visit healthcare centres and provide positive antenatal care experiences.
A forum for success
Authors: Hatchard Joan
Published: June 2023

Joan Hatchard outlines the many fantastic speakers at this year's Dentistry show.
Knowing your worth
Authors: Selvarajah Oormila
Published: June 2023

Oormila Selvarajah breaks down some of the causes behind the current struggle with dental nurse retention.
What are the choices?
Authors: Birkett Leanne
Published: June 2023

Leanne Birkett considers dental nurses' potential career paths.
A good education!
Authors: Seed Fiona
Published: June 2023

Fiona Seed outlines the importance of a dental education for everyone.
Can extended duties dental nurses (EDDNs) as oral health educators (OHEs) be beneficial for the practice and morale?
Authors: Dawson Jo
Published: June 2023

Jo Dawson explores what it is like to use the Oral Health Education qualification in a general dental practice setting and the empowering opportunities it can offer patients and staff.

Aim

To have a better understanding of the advantages of using EDDN OHEs in general dental practice.

Objectives

To have an increased awareness of the role of an oral health educator. To understand what benefits offering an OHE service could bring to a dental practice. To look at examples using EDDN OHEs and the impact they have had on Dental Nurse's self-esteem and their standing within the practice team.
Nanowires Offer High Efficiency in Thermoelectricity
Authors: Knight Helen
Published: June 2023

Atomically thin materials display potential for use in sustainable energy
Flat-Pack to the Future
Authors: Nathan Stuart
Published: June 2023

Stuart Nathan looks at the increasing use of modular techniques in construction and how this might represent a paradigm shift for this ancient form of engineering
Optical identification using physical unclonable functions
Authors: Nadimi Goki Pantea , Civelli Stella , Parente Emanuele , Caldelli Roberto , Teferi Mulugeta Thomas , Sambo Nicola , Secondini Marco , Potì Luca
Published: June 2023

In this work, the concept of optical identification (OI) based on physical unclonable functions is introduced for the first time, to our knowledge, in optical communication systems and networks. The OI assigns an optical fingerprint and the corresponding digital representation to each sub-system of the network and estimates its reliability in different measures. We highlight the large potential applications of OI as a physical layer approach for security, identification, authentication, and monitoring purposes. To identify most of the sub-systems of a network, we propose to use the Rayleigh backscattering pattern, which is an optical physical unclonable function and allows OI to be achieved with a simple procedure and without additional devices. The applications of OI to fiber and path identification in a network and to the authentication of users in a quantum key distribution system are described.
BER analysis of an optimum MIMO linear receiver in optical SDM systems with mode-dependent loss
Authors: Torres Luis M. , Cañete Francisco J. , Díez Luis
Published: June 2023

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) receivers designed to optimize the minimum mean square error (MMSE) are a common choice in coherent optical communication systems based on spatial division multiplexing (SDM). This kind of receivers naturally integrate both MIMO equalization and matched filtering functions. However, when the optical channel exhibits significant mode-dependent loss (MDL) and/or mode-dependent gain (MDG), the impact of inter-symbol interference (ISI) and crosstalk that arise, even using an ideal MIMO MMSE linear receiver, is barely analyzed. Moreover, due to the random nature of the MDL/MDG model, the resulting ISI, crosstalk, and bit error rate (BER) also become random variables and, hence the system performance is more unpredictable. In this paper, we first evaluate the residual distortion (ISI and crosstalk) after the MIMO receiver and then we study the validity of assuming it as an additional Gaussian noise term independent of the channel noise. Next, the probability density distribution (PDF) of the BER is analyzed, from both an analytical perspective and numerical simulations. For the latter, we use a single-carrier 2-PAM (pulse amplitude modulation) system, with pulse shaping, and the MIMO MMSE receiver implementation by means of a MIMO fractionally-spaced equalizer (FSE). We carry out simulations of the system under different conditions of MDL/MDG level and signal to noise ratio (SNR), measured at the receiver input. Additionally, we address possible fits of the BER PDF to known closed-form distributions, among which the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) family of distributions is selected, and polynomial functions are proposed that relate the system parameters with the GEV PDF parameters. Finally, we present contour maps of BER according to a giving target of system outage probability (OP) that depend on the MDL/MDG and SNR conditions.
Excellent predictive-performances of photonic reservoir computers for chaotic time-series using the fusion-prediction approach
Authors: Zhong Dongzhou , Hou Peng , Zhang Jinbo , Deng Wanan , Wang Tiankai , Chen Yujun , Wu Qingfan
Published: June 2023

In this work, based on two parallel reservoir computers realized by the two polarization components of the optically pumped spin-VCSEL with double optical feedbacks, we propose the fusion-prediction scheme for the Mackey-Glass (MG) and Lorenz (LZ) chaotic time series. Here, the direct prediction and iterative prediction results are fused in a weighted average way. Compared with the direct-prediction errors, the fusion-prediction errors appear great decrease. Their values are far less than the values of the direct-prediction errors when the iteration step-size are no more than 15. By the optimization of the temporal interval and the sampling period, under the iteration step-size of 3, the fusion-prediction errors for the MG and LZ chaotic time-series can be reduced to 0.00178 and 0.004627, which become 8.1% of the corresponding direct-prediction error and 28.68% of one, respectively. Even though the iteration step-size reaches to 15, the fusion-prediction errors for the MG and LZ chaotic time-series can be reduced to 55.61% of the corresponding direct-prediction error and 77.28% of one, respectively. In addition, the fusion-prediction errors have strong robustness on the perturbations of the system parameters. Our studied results can potentially apply in the improvement of prediction accuracy for some complex nonlinear time series.
Domestic cat nose functions as a highly efficient coiled parallel gas chromatograph
Authors: Wu Zhenxing , Jiang Jianbo , Lischka Fritz W. , McGrane Scott J. , Porat-Mesenco Yael , Zhao Kai
Published: June 2023

The peripheral structures of mammalian sensory organs often serve to support their functionality, such as alignment of hair cells to the mechanical properties of the inner ear. Here, we examined the structure-function relationship for mammalian olfaction by creating an anatomically accurate computational nasal model for the domestic cat (Felis catus) based on high resolution microCT and sequential histological sections. Our results showed a distinct separation of respiratory and olfactory flow regimes, featuring a high-speed dorsal medial stream that increases odor delivery speed and efficiency to the ethmoid olfactory region without compromising the filtration and conditioning purpose of the nose. These results corroborated previous findings in other mammalian species, which implicates a common theme to deal with the physical size limitation of the head that confines the nasal airway from increasing in length infinitely as a straight tube. We thus hypothesized that these ethmoid olfactory channels function as parallel coiled chromatograph channels, and further showed that the theoretical plate number, a widely-used indicator of gas chromatograph efficiency, is more than 100 times higher in the cat nose than an “amphibian-like” straight channel fitting the similar skull space, at restful breathing state. The parallel feature also reduces airflow speed within each coil, which is critical to achieve the high plate number, while feeding collectively from the high-speed dorsal medial stream so that total odor sampling speed is not sacrificed. The occurrence of ethmoid turbinates is an important step in the evolution of mammalian species that correlates to their expansive olfactory function and brain development. Our findings reveal novel mechanisms on how such structure may facilitate better olfactory performance, furthering our understanding of the successful adaptation of mammalian species, including F. catus, a popular pet, to diverse environments.
Increasing efficiency of SVMp+ for handling missing values in healthcare prediction
Authors: Zhang Yufeng , Gao Zijun , Wittrup Emily , Gryak Jonathan , Najarian Kayvan
Published: June 2023

Missing data presents a challenge for machine learning applications specifically when utilizing electronic health records to develop clinical decision support systems. The lack of these values is due in part to the complex nature of clinical data in which the content is personalized to each patient. Several methods have been developed to handle this issue, such as imputation or complete case analysis, but their limitations restrict the solidity of findings. However, recent studies have explored how using some features as fully available privileged information can increase model performance including in SVM. Building on this insight, we propose a computationally efficient kernel SVM-based framework (l2-SVMp+) that leverages partially available privileged information to guide model construction. Our experiments validated the superiority of l2-SVMp+ over common approaches for handling missingness and previous implementations of SVMp+ in both digit recognition, disease classification and patient readmission prediction tasks. The performance improves as the percentage of available privileged information increases. Our results showcase the capability of l2-SVMp+ to handle incomplete but important features in real-world medical applications, surpassing traditional SVMs that lack privileged information. Additionally, l2-SVMp+ achieves comparable or superior model performance compared to imputed privileged features.
Economic evaluation of participatory women’s groups scaled up by the public health system to improve birth outcomes in Jharkhand, eastern India
Authors: Haghparast-Bidgoli Hassan , Ojha Amit , Gope Rajkumar , Rath Shibanand , Pradhan Hemanta , Rath Suchitra , Kumar Amit , Nath Vikash , Basu Parabita , Copas Andrew , Houweling Tanja A. J. , Minz Akay , Baskey Pradeep , Ahmed Manir , Chakravarthy Vasudha , Mahanta Riza , Palmer Tom , Skordis Jolene , Nair Nirmala , Tripathy Prasanta , Prost Audrey
Published: June 2023

An estimated 2.4 million newborn infants died in 2020, 80% of them in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. To achieve the Sustainable Development Target for neonatal mortality reduction, countries with high mortality need to implement evidence-based, cost-effective interventions at scale. Our study aimed to estimate the cost, cost-effectiveness, and benefit-cost ratio of a participatory women’s groups intervention scaled up by the public health system in Jharkhand, eastern India. The intervention was evaluated through a pragmatic cluster non-randomised controlled trial in six districts. We estimated the cost of the intervention at scale from a provider perspective, with a 42-month time horizon for 20 districts. We estimated costs using a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches. All costs were adjusted for inflation, discounted at 3% per year, and converted to 2020 International Dollars (INT$). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated using extrapolated effect sizes for the impact of the intervention in 20 districts, in terms of cost per neonatal deaths averted and cost per life year saved. We assessed the impact of uncertainty on results through one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. We also estimated benefit-cost ratio using a benefit transfer approach. Total intervention costs for 20 districts were INT$ 15,017,396. The intervention covered an estimated 1.6 million livebirths across 20 districts, translating to INT$ 9.4 per livebirth covered. ICERs were estimated at INT$ 1,272 per neonatal death averted or INT$ 41 per life year saved. Net benefit estimates ranged from INT$ 1,046 million to INT$ 3,254 million, and benefit-cost ratios from 71 to 218. Our study suggests that participatory women’s groups scaled up by the Indian public health system were highly cost-effective in improving neonatal survival and had a very favourable return on investment. The intervention can be scaled up in similar settings within India and other countries.
Scrub typhus, a salient threat: Needs attention
Authors: Zaman Kamran
Published: June 2023

Scrub typhus (ST) infection is one of the most significant causes of acute undifferentiated febrile illness, and its prevalence has been increasing across the globe. Clinical suspicion and growing clinical understanding among healthcare professionals have resulted in the rapid diagnosis and effective management. Since ST has the potential to cause multiorgan failure and a higher mortality rate, it is critical to enhance surveillance, make rapid diagnosis, and administer antibiotics appropriately.
A targeted isotope dilution mass spectrometry assay for osteopontin quantification in plasma of metastatic breast cancer patients
Authors: Leslie Andrew , Teh Evelyn , Druker Arik , Pinto Devanand M.
Published: June 2023

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted glycophosphoprotein that derives its name from its high abundance in bone and secretion by osteoblasts. It is also secreted by a number of immune cells and, therefore, is present in human plasma at nanogram per millilitre levels where it affects cell adhesion and motility. OPN is involved in several normal physiological processes; however, OPN dyregulation leads to overexpression by tumor cells leading to immune evasion and increased metastasis. Plasma OPN is primarily measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, due to the complexity of the various OPN isoforms, conflicting results have been obtained on the use of OPN as a biomarker even in the same disease condition. These discrepant results may result from the difficulty in comparing ELISA results obtained with different antibodies that target unique OPN epitopes. Mass spectrometry can be used to quantify proteins in plasma and, by targeting OPN regions that do not bear post-translational modifications, may provide more consistent quantification. However, the low (ng/mL) levels in plasma present a significant analytical challenge. In order to develop a sensitive assay for plasma OPN, we explored a single-step precipitation method using a recently developed spin-tube format. Quantification was performed using isotope-dilution mass spectrometry. The concentration detection limit of this assay was 39 ± 15 ng/mL. The assay was applied to the analysis of plasma OPN in metastatic breast cancer patients, where levels from 17 to 53 ng/mL were detected. The sensitivity of the method is higher than previously published methods and sufficient for OPN detection in large, high grade tumors but still requires improvement in sensitivity to be widely applicable.
Analysis of the different interventions scenario for programmatic measles control in Bangladesh: A modelling study
Authors: Kuddus Md Abdul , Rahman Azizur , Alam Farzana , Mohiuddin M.
Published: June 2023

In recent years measles has been one of the most critical public health problem in Bangladesh. Although the Ministry of Health in Bangladesh employs a broad extension of measles control policies, logistical challenges exist, and there is significant doubt regarding the disease burden. Mathematical modelling of measles is considered one of the most effective ways to understand infection transmission and estimate parameters in different countries, such as Bangladesh. In this study, a mathematical modelling framework is presented to explore the dynamics of measles in Bangladesh. We calibrated the model using cumulative measles incidence data from 2000 to 2019. Also, we performed a sensitivity analysis of the model parameters and found that the contact rate had the most significant influence on the basic reproduction number R0. Four hypothetical intervention scenarios were developed and simulated for the period from 2020 to 2035. The results show that the scenario which combines enhanced treatment for exposed and infected population, first and second doses of vaccine is the most effective at rapidly reducing the total number of measles incidence and mortality in Bangladesh. Our findings also suggest that strategies that focus on a single interventions do not dramatically affect the decline in measles incidence cases; instead, those that combine two or more interventions simultaneously are the most effective in decreasing the burden of measles incidence and mortality. In addition, we also evaluated the cost-effectiveness of varying combinations of three basic control strategies including distancing, vaccination and treatment, all within the optimal control framework. Our finding suggested that combines distancing, vaccination and treatment control strategy is the most cost-effective for reducing the burden of measles in Bangladesh. Other strategies can be comprised to measles depending on the availability of funds and policymakers’ choices.
Dose blockchain-based agri-food supply chain guarantee the initial information authenticity? An evolutionary game perspective
Authors: Yang Weixia , Xie Congli , Ma Lindong
Published: June 2023

Guarantee the initial information of the agri-food supply chain (AFSC) authenticity based on the blockchain is a complex problem. This paper develops an evolutionary game model of AFSC participants based on the blockchain and discusses the impacts of the key parameters on the dynamic evolution process of participants. To verify the theoretical results, simulation experiments and sensitivity analysis were conducted through Matlab 2022b. The study results show that: (1) Guaranteeing the initial information authenticity could become the common belief of all AFSC participants, with the scientific design of parameters; (2) Higher reward and synergistic effect, lower information cost and risk contribute to improving the probability of initial true information sharing. (3) when the default penalty is too severe, the enterprise will evolve into not sharing the initial true information. Finally, this study could provide some suggestions and countermeasures for the leading enterprise in the agricultural supply chain and local governments to guarantee initial information authenticity in China. That is the way to realize the sustainability of AFSC in the long run.
Does parents’ cognitive ability affect household educational investment? Evidence from Chinese families with left behind children
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Peng Changrong , Cai Shuxun
Published: June 2023

The large group of left-behind children with the absence of parental accompanying are likely to have serious physical and psychological problems, which may lead to serious public safety and social economic troubles in adulthood. Such unique phenomenon calls us attention on the impact of parents on household educational investment. Based on the data of China Family Panel Studies in 2014, This paper examines the effects of parents’ cognitive ability on household educational investment for their children. The research propositions were tested using multiple regression analysis methods. Results indicate that parents’ cognitive ability can significantly improve the level of monetary and non-monetary investment in education. We also find that compared with their counterparts, the cognitive ability of left-behind children’s parents fails to affect their household educational investment, due to the “parent-child separation effect”. Further analysis shows that improving the regional informatization level of parents of left-behind children can alleviate the “parent-child separation effect”, and finally facilitate cognitive ability’s role in increasing household educational investment. These findings enlighten education policy makers and households a feasible way to alleviate the imbalance and insufficiency of household educational investment among left-behind children families.
An economic evaluation of cattle tick acaricide-resistances and the financial losses in subtropical dairy farms of Ecuador: A farm system approach
Authors: Paucar-Quishpe Valeria , Pérez-Otáñez Ximena , Rodríguez-Hidalgo Richar , Cepeda-Bastidas Darío , Pérez-Escalante Cecilia , Grijalva-Olmedo Jorge , Enríquez Sandra , Arciniegas-Ortega Susana , Sandoval-Trávez Luis , Benavides-Erazo Bryan , Vanwambeke Sophie O. , Saegerman Claude , Ron-Garrido Lenin
Published: June 2023

Estimates of economic losses in cattle due to tick infestations in subtropical areas are limited, such as in Ecuador. Ticks affect animal production and health, but those direct effects are difficult to estimate since financial exercises carried out in farms consider both costs of the inputs and revenues. This study aims to quantify the costs of inputs involved in milk production and to know the role of acaricide treatment in the production costs on dairy farms in subtropical zones using a farming system approach. Regression and classification trees were used to study the relationship between tick control, acaricide resistance and the presence of high level of tick infestation in the farm system. Even though there was no significant direct association between high levels of tick infestation and the presence of acaricide resistance in ticks, a more complex structure for resistances operates in the manifestation of high tick infestation involving levels of farm technology and no acaricide resistance. Farms with higher levels of technology allocate a lower percentage of sanitary expenses to control ticks (13.41%) in comparison to semi-technified (23.97%) and non-technified farms (32.49%). Likewise, more technified and bigger herds have a lower annual expenditure on acaricide treatment (1.30% of the production budget equivalent to 8.46 USD per animal) compared to non-technified farms where it can represent more than 2.74% of the production budget and where the absence of cypermethrin resistance increases the treatment cost to 19.50 USS per animal annually. These results can motivate the development of information campaigns and control programmes targeted to the reality of small and medium farms that are the most affected in terms of the money they invest in controlling ticks.
Influence of the chemical content of sawdust on the levels of important macronutrients and ash composition in Pearl oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
Authors: Boadu Kwadwo Boakye , Nsiah-Asante Rosemary , Antwi Richard Tuffuor , Obirikorang Kwasi Adu , Anokye Rogerson , Ansong Michael
Published: June 2023

Influence of chemical composition of sawdust on the nutritional profile of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) has yet to receive significant research attention. This information will help mushroom growers to select specific sawdust for the production of mushroom with desired dietary preferences. This study assessed the influence of the chemical composition of sawdust on the macronutrients and ash content of the pearl oyster mushrooms. The American Standard for Testing Materials and other widely accepted protocols were used to determine the C-N ratio, pH, lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose contents of mixed sawdust from tropical wood species. The study evaluated the fat, crude fibre, crude protein, carbohydrate, and ash content of the oyster mushroom cultivated on the sawdust. Cellulose constituted the largest component of the sawdust (47.82%), followed by lignin (33.29%). The yield of the mushroom (on 0.05 kg of sawdust) ranged from 490.1 to 540.9 g (biological efficiency: 44–50%); the average carbohydrates constituent in the mushroom was 56.28%. pH of the sawdust influenced the crude protein, carbohydrate, fat and ash content of oyster mushrooms (p<0.05) most significantly. The hemicelluloses also had a significant effect (p<0.05) on the mushroom’s minerals, fat and crude fiber content. The study revealed that the mushroom producers would likely obtain high protein content using sawdust with low pH (slightly acidic to slightly basic) in the oyster mushroom. Mushrooms grown on substrates, rich in hemicelluloses, had low fat and high crude fiber content.
Combined evaluation of Geriatric nutritional risk index and Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for predicting all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Wang Jun , Huang Li-juan , Li Bei , Xu Mei-chang , Yang Lei , Deng Xu , Li Xin
Published: June 2023

Objective

Malnutrition, accompanied by an inflammatory profile, is a risk factor for poor prognosis in hemodialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive value of NLR combined with GNRI for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Methods

A total of 240 maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients in hemodialysis centers were enrolled in this retrospective study. The influencing factors of all-cause death in hemodialysis patients were analyzed by COX regression. The cut-off values of GNRI and NLR for predicting mortality in enrolled MHD patients were 89.01 and 4, respectively. Based on these cut-off values, the patients were divided into four groups: G1: high GNRI (≥ 89.01) + high NLR (≥ 4) group; G2: high GNRI (≥ 89.01) + low NLR (<4) group, G3: low GNRI (< 89.01) + high NLR (≥4) group; G4: low GNRI (< 89.01) + low NLR (<4).

Results

During the follow-up period (average: 58 months), the all-cause mortality was 20.83%(50/240) and the cardiovascular mortality was 12.08%(29/240). Both NLR and GNRI were independent risk factors for the prognosis of MHD patients (P<0.05). Survival analysis showed that patients with low GNRI had a lower survival rate than those with high GNRI, whereas patients with high NLR had a lower survival rate than those with low NLR. Kaplan-Meier curve for all-cause mortality revealed that compared to G1, G2, and G4, G3 had the lowest survival rate, while G2 had the highest survival rate among all groups (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier curve for cardiovascular mortality showed that G3 had lower survival than G1, G2, and G4 (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that bothGNRI and NLR are associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in MHD patients. Combining these two factorsmay contribute to a prognostic evaluation for MHD patients.
SMOTE-CD: SMOTE for compositional data
Authors: Nguyen Teo , Mengersen Kerrie , Sous Damien , Liquet Benoit
Published: June 2023

Compositional data are a special kind of data, represented as a proportion carrying relative information. Although this type of data is widely spread, no solution exists to deal with the cases where the classes are not well balanced. After describing compositional data imbalance, this paper proposes an adaptation of the original Synthetic Minority Oversampling TEchnique (SMOTE) to deal with compositional data imbalance. The new approach, called SMOTE for Compositional Data (SMOTE-CD), generates synthetic examples by computing a linear combination of selected existing data points, using compositional data operations. The performance of the SMOTE-CD is tested with three different regressors (Gradient Boosting tree, Neural Networks, Dirichlet regressor) applied to two real datasets and to synthetic generated data, and the performance is evaluated using accuracy, cross-entropy, F1-score, R2 score and RMSE. The results show improvements across all metrics, but the impact of oversampling on performance varies depending on the model and the data. In some cases, oversampling may lead to a decrease in performance for the majority class. However, for the real data, the best performance across all models is achieved when oversampling is used. Notably, the F1-score is consistently increased with oversampling. Unlike the original technique, the performance is not improved when combining oversampling of the minority classes and undersampling of the majority class. The Python packagesmote-cdimplements the method and is available online.