bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Noncommunicable diseases risk factors and the risk of COVID-19 among university employees in Indonesia
Authors: Widyahening Indah Suci , Vidiawati Dhanasari , Pakasi Trevino A. , Soewondo Pradana , Ahsan Abdillah
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are still a major public health problem in Indonesia. Studies have shown that risk factors of NCDs are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and mortality. However, it is unclear whether NCD risk factors are also risks for new COVID-19 cases. This study aimed to obtain an NCD risk profile among university employees and its associations with contracting COVID-19.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2021. Participants were administrative employees of Universitas Indonesia (UI), Depok City, West Java. Assessment of NCD risk factors was based on the World Health Organization STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (WHO STEPS). Demographic, working, and medical-history data were obtained electronically by using a Google Form. Physical and laboratory examinations were done in the Integrated Post for NCDs. Risks were expressed as adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in multivariate analyses.

Results

A total of 613 employees were enrolled. Men were predominant (54.8%), and about 36% of them work in shift as security personnel. About 66.7% were overweight or obese and 77.8% had hypertension. There were 138 (22.8%) employees who had COVID-19. Nearly all (95.6%) had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. At-risk waist circumference (ORadj 1.72, 95% CI 1.15–2.56, p = 0.008) and total cholesterol level of 200–239 mg/dL (ORadj 2.30, 95% CI 1.19–4.44, p = 0.013) were independent risk factors, but shift work (ORadj 0.52, 95% CI 0.34–0.80, p = 0.003) was protective against COVID-19.

Conclusion

The prevalence of NCD risk factors among university administrative employees was high, increasing the risk of contracting COVID-19. A behavioral intervention program to manage NCD risk factors at the university level is urgently needed according to the Health Promoting University framework.
Risk factors for disease severity and increased medical resource utilization in respiratory syncytial virus (+) hospitalized children: A descriptive study conducted in four Belgian hospitals
Authors: Proesmans Marijke , Rector Annabel , Keyaerts Els , Vandendijck Yannick , Vermeulen Francois , Sauer Kate , Reynders Marijke , Verschelde Ann , Laffut Wim , Garmyn Kristien , Fleischhackl Roman , Bollekens Jacques , Ispas Gabriela
Published: June 2022

Background

We aimed to provide regional data on clinical symptoms, medical resource utilization (MRU), and risk factors for increased MRU in hospitalized respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-infected Belgian pediatric population.

Methods

This prospective, multicenter study enrolled RSV (+) hospitalized children (aged ≤5y) during the 2013–2015 RSV seasons. RSV was diagnosed within 24h of hospitalization. Disease severity of RSV (+) patients was assessed until discharge or up to maximum six days using a Physical Examination Score (PES) and a derived score based on ability to feed, dyspnea and respiratory effort (PES3). MRU (concomitant medications, length of hospitalization [LOH], and oxygen supplementation) was evaluated. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to compare MRU by age and presence of risk factors for severe disease. Association between baseline covariates and MRU was analyzed using Cox regression models.

Results

In total, 75 children were included, Median (range) age was 4 (0–41) months, risk factors were present in 18.7%, and early hospitalization (≤3 days of symptom onset) was observed in 57.3% of patients. Cough (100%), feeding problems (82.2%), nasal discharge (87.8%), and rales and rhonchi (82.2%) were frequently observed. Median (range) LOH and oxygen supplementation was 5 (2–7) and 3 (1–7) days. Oxygen supplementation, bronchodilators, and antibiotics were administered to 58.7%, 64.0%, and 41.3% of the patients, respectively. Age <3 months and baseline total PES3 score were associated with probability and the duration of receiving oxygen supplementation. LOH was not associated with any covariate.

Conclusion

RSV is associated with high disease burden and MRU in hospitalized children. Oxygen supplementation but not length of hospitalization was associated with very young age and the PES3 score. These results warrant further assessment of the PES3 score as a predictor for the probability of receiving and length of oxygen supplementation in RSV hospitalized children.

Registration

NCT02133092
The association between vitamin D status and COVID-19 in England: A cohort study using UK Biobank
Authors: Lin Liang-Yu , Mulick Amy , Mathur Rohini , Smeeth Liam , Warren-Gash Charlotte , Langan Sinéad M.
Published: June 2022

Background

Recent studies indicate that vitamin D supplementation may decrease respiratory tract infections, but the association between vitamin D and COVID-19 is still unclear.

Objective

To explore the association between vitamin D status and infections, hospitalisation, and mortality due to COVID-19.

Methods

We used UK Biobank, a nationwide cohort of 500,000 individuals aged between 40 and 69 years at recruitment between 2006 and 2010. We included people with at least one serum vitamin D test, living in England with linked primary care and inpatient records. The primary exposure was serum vitamin D status measured at recruitment, defined as deficiency at <25 nmol/L, insufficiency at 25–49 nmol/L and sufficiency at ≥ 50 nmol/L. Secondary exposures were self-reported or prescribed vitamin D supplements. The primary outcome was laboratory-confirmed or clinically diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infections. The secondary outcomes included hospitalisation and mortality due to COVID-19. We used multivariable Cox regression models stratified by summertime months and non-summertime months, adjusting for demographic factors and underlying comorbidities.

Results

We included 307,512 participants (54.9% female, 55.9% over 70 years old) in our analysis. During summertime months, weak evidence existed that the vitamin D deficiency group had a lower hazard of being diagnosed with COVID-19 (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.77–0.95). During non-summertime, the vitamin D deficiency group had a higher hazard of COVID-19 compared with the vitamin D sufficient group (HR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.01–1.30). No evidence was found that vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency was associated with either hospitalisation or mortality due to COVID-19 in any time strata.

Conclusion

We found no evidence of an association between historical vitamin D status and hospitalisation or mortality due to COVID-19, along with inconsistent results for any association between vitamin D and diagnosis of COVID-19. However, studies using more recent vitamin D measurements and systematic COVID-19 testing are needed.
I’m wearing a mask, but are they?: Perceptions of self-other differences in COVID-19 health behaviors
Authors: Adaryukov James , Grunevski Sergej , Reed Derek D. , Pleskac Timothy J.
Published: June 2022

As information about COVID-19 safety behavior changed, people had to judge how likely others were to protect themselves through mask-wearing and vaccination seeking. In a large, campus-wide survey, we assessed whether University of Kansas students viewed others’ protective behaviors as different from their own, how much students assumed others shared their beliefs and behaviors, and which individual differences were associated with those estimations. Participants in our survey (N= 1, 704; 81.04% white, 64.08% female) estimated how likely they and others were to have worn masks on the University of Kansas campus, have worn masks off-campus, and to seek a vaccine. They also completed measures of political preference, numeracy, and preferences for risk in various contexts. We found that participants estimated that others were less likely to engage in health safety behaviors than themselves, but that their estimations of others were widely shared. While, in general, participants saw themselves as more unique in terms of practicing COVID-19 preventative behaviors, more liberal participants saw themselves as more unique, while those that were more conservative saw their own behavior as more similar to others. At least for masking, this uniqueness was false—estimates of others’ health behavior were lower than their actual rates. Understanding this relationship could allow for more accurate norm-setting and normalization of mask-wearing and vaccination.
Perceptions of quality and the integrated delivery of family planning with childhood immunisation services in Kenya and Uganda
Authors: Hamon Jessie K. , Hoyt Jenna , Krishnaratne Shari , Barbra Ariko Angela , Morukileng Job , Spilotros Nathaly , Mbembe Miriam , Marcus Seth , Webster Jayne
Published: June 2022

The integration of family planning (FP) with childhood immunisations is considered a promising approach to addressing postpartum women’s unmet need for FP in resource limited settings. This study set out to examine client and health provider perceptions of the quality of FP services that were integrated with childhood immunisations in Kenya and Uganda. Semi-structured interviews with clients (n = 30) and health providers (n = 27) were conducted in 16 rural health facilities. Interviews centred on the respondents’ experiences receiving/delivering FP services, their interactions with providers/clients, and their views on the quality of FP services. Client and provider perceptions of quality were compared through a thematic analysis of interview transcripts, and findings were synthesised using Jain and Hardee’s revised FP Quality of Care Framework. Using audit data, health facility characteristics and resources were also summarised through descriptive statistics to contextualise the qualitative findings. The dignity and respect experienced by clients was central to the respondents’ perceptions of quality. These two dimensions were not conceptualised as distinct facets of quality, but were instead perceived to be a product of the 1) access to needed services, 2) choice of contraceptives, 3) interpersonal communication, 4) information, and 5) confidentiality afforded to clients. Additionally, clients and providers alike believed that the integration of FP services with childhood immunisations had a positive effect on clients’ access to needed services and on the confidentiality they experienced in a context where modern contraceptive use was stigmatised and where a lack of support from some husbands impeded access to FP services. Understanding clients’ and providers’ conceptualisation of quality is critical to the design of high quality and client-centred integrated FP services.
Re-examination of Energy Conservation Principle ‎in ‎Charged Capacitors and the Reported ‎Anomalous Energy ‎Devices
Authors: Jeong Eue Jin
Published: June 2022

Energy conservation is one of the most fundamental and well-established principles of physics. E. Noether ‎extended the energy conservation principle to the quantum field theoretical domain in empty space by ‎relating the time-translation invariance of the universe with energy conservation. While this is the case in ‎an open empty space, it seems that the local space enclosed by conducting metallic plates has an ‎unexpected property, suggesting that the energy conservation principle may not necessarily apply to ‎localized bound systems of capacitors in electrodynamics. This point of view was raised by noting that the ‎spherical capacitor has calculable electrostatic self-potential energy in both the inner and outer shells, ‎which is not considered in the conventional consideration of the total energy stored in the capacitors. It ‎seems that the concept of moving charges one by one into the capacitor plates has helped bypass the ‎necessary steps to account for the additional repulsive self-potential energy that accumulates ‎simultaneously in both capacitor plates in the process of charging the capacitor. We present itemized ‎details of the repulsive potential energy stored in the capacitors and discuss its physical reality in relation to ‎the anomalous energy devices reported in the past.‎
Los inicios transnacionales de los derechos de la infancia (primer tercio del siglo XX)
Authors: Miguelena Torrado Joana , Dávila Balsera Pauli , Naya Garmendia Luis M.
Published: June 2022

The international recognition of children’s rights began in 1924 within the framework of the League of Nations, with the so-called Geneva Declaration. The aim of this article is to analyse the root causes that made this declaration possible, focusing on a set of international conferences that addressed the topic of child protection, as well as on the charters and declarations on the rights of the child and on the Geneva Declaration itself, which we analyse using content analysis. The main sources are three lesser-known documents: the Moscow Declaration, the Korczak Declaration, and a publication in which children drew pictures to illustrate their understanding of their rights. The primary conclusion is that at the beginning of the 20th century these activities and meetings, in addition to the texts defending children’s rights, and national protection policies and institutions, contributed to international recognition of the rights of children and adolescents, which, until that moment, had been only vaguely defined and lacked a solid legal framework. In this sense, there was a transnational phenomenon that moved from protecting children to recognising their rights, which were enshrined in the subsequent international treaties published throughout the 20th century, culminating in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Lyceum Education and the New Socioeconomic Realities Emerging from the Post-War (1945-1968)
Authors: Gomes Ferreira António , Mota Luís
Published: June 2022

The economic reconstruction of the European continent, as regards the capitalist bloc, combined policies for consolidating representative democracy through the European Recovery Programme (the Marshall Plan) and the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC). These policies resulted in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with its liberal rationale of fostering economic competitiveness using technology and a belief in the good of development. A central role in this development was played by education, with its basis in the theory of human capital. In this period, Portugal recognized the need to reposition itself internationally, at the same time making thorough internal changes. The growing role of the state in ideological control made it possible to exact a contribution to economic development from education. Education planning policies were implemented in conjunction with economic planning and development, centred around the training of qualified human resources, the valorisation of school capital, and making use of technical support from international organisations. In this polarised context, how did the goals attributed to lyceum education and its curricular structure develop? What were the objectives of the so-called Preparatory Cycle of Secondary Education (Ciclo Preparatório do Ensino Secundário - CPES). A panoply of written sources has been called upon and submitted to documentary analysis using the critical method in order to answer these questions. In a certain way, they sum up the resolution of ideas and the polarity of positions on the burning question and the creation of the CPES, and the attention dedicated, at least rhetorically, to vocational guidance.
Aprender a aprender y su implicación pedagógica en España: una aproximación desde la Filosofía de la Educación
Authors: Sánchez Pérez Yaiza
Published: June 2022

El aprendizaje basado en competencias se ha convertido en un elemento esencial de nuestro sistema educativo, por lo que es necesario reflexionar sobre su configuración para lograr mejoras con relación a su comprensión e implementación en la práctica educativa. Reflexionar sobre la competencia de aprender a aprender desde una perspectiva pedagógica y complementar las aportaciones ya realizadas por el enfoque de la Psicología de la Educación nos permite obtener una visión más amplia de la competencia. El objetivo de este artículo es aportar una nueva perspectiva del aprender a aprender desde la Filosofía de la Educación, como área de conocimiento, que repercuta sobre la investigación teórico-práctica de la competencia. Para ello, utilizamos una metodología analítica que nos ha permitido llegar a una serie de conclusiones que entendemos pueden influir en la forma de entender la competencia y su práctica educativa. Finalmente, ampliando los postulados propuestos por la Psicología educativa y reflexionando desde una perspectiva filosófico-educativa, hemos elaborado un nuevo planteamiento sobre la competencia en la que intervienen cuatro conceptos: la autonomía del alumnado, la experiencia como elemento esencial del proceso educativo, la gestión del tiempo en educación y el conocimiento de uno mismo como aspecto imprescindible para un desarrollo óptimo de la competencia de aprender a aprender.
Aprendizaje Servicio, Género y TIC. De la desigualdad de género en las TIC a la generación de vocaciones tecnológicas en el ámbito educativo
Authors: Vergés Bosch Núria , Freude Leon , Camps Calvet Clara , Collado Sevilla Ana Atonia
Published: June 2022

Pese a los esfuerzos de las últimas décadas, las desigualdades de género en el acceso a los estudios y trabajos TIC persisten. Aunque la exclusión de las mujeres de las TIC responde a múltiples causas, la investigación coincide en la necesidad de despertar el interés y generar más vocaciones tecnológicas entre las chicas desde edades escolares y, con ello, incrementar el número de estudiantes y trabajadoras TIC en el futuro.  Para dar respuesta a esta necesidad diseñamos e implementamos un proyecto de Aprendizaje Servicio (ApS) en el ámbito de la Sociología del Género en Barcelona. El proyecto consistía en llevar a cabo conferencias-taller en torno al género y la tecnología para las escuelas y trabajar cuestiones de desigualdad de género, socialización de género y visibilización de las mujeres en las TIC, así como, vías para acceder a ellas. En este artículo nos proponemos exponer la experiencia de 4 cursos consecutivos y sus principales resultados. Para su descripción y evaluación aplicamos una metodología mixta, cuantitativa y cualitativa.  Contamos, por un lado, con los informes de autoreflexión de nuestro alumnado universitario participante y por el otro, con las encuestas a 284 escolares y a sus profesores. Aunque con algunas limitaciones, la experiencia ha sido muy satisfactoria, tanto para el profesorado como para los alumnados participantes. Los resultados muestran que el ApS en perspectiva de género tiene un gran potencial para el aprendizaje, así como, para la transformación social y de género.
The Association between Sleep Duration, Breakfast Routine and Nutritional Status in Indonesian Adolescents during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Suja’I Muhammad Nadzir Mushoffa , Noviasty Reny , Kurniawati Eva R , Wisnuwardani Ratih Wirapuspita
Published: June 2022

Background: Adolescents are susceptible to nutritional status issues, both undernutrition, and over-nutrition, becoming a public health concern promptly. There were 912 junior and high-school adolescents who were obese and 249 high-school adolescents who had low body mass index (BMI) in Samarinda City. During the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents experienced changes in sleep duration, and many adolescents were skipping breakfast. Sleep duration and breakfast can affect the nutritional condition of adolescents. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between sleep duration, breakfast routine and BMI in Samarinda, Indonesian adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and Methods: A total of 340 adolescents was sampled and assessed using a cross-sectional technique to ascertain their sleep duration, breakfast routine, and nutritional status. Nutritional status was classified based on BMI-for-age and z-value BMI. The amount of sleep duration was calculated by the average wake time and sleep time. Breakfast routine was obtained from seven days of breakfast before 9 am. Then, using multivariate analyses were tested for sleep duration, BMI z-value, breakfast routine, and nutritional status.Results: This study revealed that 68.5% had good nutrition, with an average sleep duration of 8 hours (65.9%) and irregular breakfast (59.1%). Nutritional status was significantly influenced by breakfast routine (p=0.044), gender (p<0.001), and mother’s employment (p<0.001). A cubic association was found between sleep duration and BMI (p=0.045); and a significant association between breakfast routines and BMI, independent from age, gender, ethnicity, school.Conclusion: Adolescents must consider their sleep duration and the frequency and composition of their breakfast. Future study in the longitudinal study is needed to explore in more detail.
A little doubt saves many mistakes: Early and late error detection in copy-typing
Authors: Dahm Stephan F. , Rieger Martina
Published: June 2022

Based on internal predictions, action-errors can be detected relatively early. Different kinds of sensory feedback further provide information about the occurrence of errors later on. To investigate the mechanisms underlying error detection in copy-typing, ten-finger-typists and hunt-and-peck-typists copy typed with and without visibility of the screen and keyboard. We expected that error detection evolves in slower typing before, during, and after an error. Results showed that more errors were reported with visible screen than with covered screen in both groups underpinning the importance of distal action-effects for error detection. Importantly, ten-finger-typists showed pre-error-slowing in the inter-keystroke-intervals (IKIs) before reported errors, but hunt-and-peck-typists did not. In both groups, error-slowing was observed in the last IKI before both reported and unreported errors. Hence, internal predictions play a role in error detection in both groups, but in ten-finger-typists, internal models may be more precise, leading to earlier error detection. Alternatively, slowing down may increase the probability of detecting errors. Finally, in both groups post-error-slowing indicates that sensory feedback from performing keystrokes contributes to error detection. In conclusion, feedback from distal action-effects (i.e., the screen), movement related feedback, and predictive mechanisms contribute to error detection in typing.
Thalamocortical Projections Are Significantly Impaired in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Holley S. M. , Oikonomou K. D. , Swift C. M. , Mohan L. , Matthews B. , Vega O. , Mkrtchyan G. , Cepeda C. , Levine M. S.
Published: June 2022

As Huntington’s disease (HD) progresses, there is a significant loss of neurons in the striatum in addition to a distinct thinning of the cerebral cortex. Despite an early presence of sensorimotor deficits in patients with HD, electrophysiological studies designed to assess the integrity of thalamocortical circuits are sparse. Using the R6/2 mouse model of HD, we provide evidence of reduced connectivity between thalamic cells and their targeted cortical regions. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings from ventral anterolateral nucleus (VAL; motor) and ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM; somatosensory) thalamic neurons inex vivobrain slices of R6/2 and wild-type (WT) mice revealed that cells in both thalamic nuclei of R6/2 mice exhibited significant differences in passive and active cell membrane properties (smaller cell membrane capacitances, faster decay time constants and increased input resistances) compared with WT cells. Although only cells in the VPM of symptomatic R6/2 mice had more depolarized resting membrane potentials compared with WTs, cells in both nuclei displayed increased excitability in symptomatic, but not presymptomatic, R6/2 mice. Optical activation of VAL and VPM terminals elicited smaller magnitude current responses in cortical pyramidal neurons (CPNs) in both motor cortex (M1CTX) and somatosensory barrel cortex (BCTX) of symptomatic R6/2 mice compared with CPNs in WT mice. Furthermore, we observed a decrease in the frequency of thalamocortical excitatory quantal events in R6/2 BCTX CPNs, with no genotype-dependent differences in AMPA:NMDA response amplitude ratios. These data suggest there is a decrease in the transmission of thalamocortical information that is likely because of impaired neurotransmitter release.
Attention Cueing in Rivalry: Insights from Pupillometry
Authors: Acquafredda Miriam , Binda Paola , Lunghi Claudia
Published: June 2022

We used pupillometry to evaluate the effects of attention cueing on perceptual bi-stability, as reported by adult human observers. Perceptual alternations and pupil diameter were measured during two forms of rivalry, generated by presenting a white and a black disk to the two eyes (binocular rivalry) or splitting the disks between eyes (interocular grouping rivalry). In line with previous studies, we found that subtle pupil size modulations (∼0.05 mm) tracked alternations between exclusive dominance phases of the black or white disk. These pupil responses were larger for perceptually stronger stimuli: presented to the dominant eye or with physically higher luminance contrast. However, cueing of endogenous attention to one of the rivaling percepts did not affect pupil modulations during exclusive dominance phases. This was observed despite the reliable effects of endogenous attention on perceptual dominance, which shifted in favor of the cued percept by ∼10%. The results were comparable for binocular and interocular grouping rivalry. Cueing only had a marginal modulatory effect on pupil size during mixed percepts in binocular rivalry. This may suggest that, rather than acting by modulating perceptual strength, endogenous attention primarily acts during periods of unresolved competition, which is compatible with attention being automatically directed to the rivaling stimuli during periods of exclusive dominance and thereby sustaining perceptual alternations.
Optical characteristics of Al-doped ZnS thin film using pulsed laser deposition technique: the effect of aluminum concentration
Authors:   Physics Department, College of Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology (SUST), Khartoum 11113, Sudan, Ahmed A. A. , Aldaghri O. ,   Department of Physics, College of Sciences, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 13318, Saudi Arabia, Salih E. Y. ,   Department of medical Physics, College of Medical Sciences Technology, The University of Mashreq, 10021, Baghdad, Iraq, Ramizy A. ,   Physics Department, College of Science, University of Anbar, Anbar, Iraq, Madkhali N. ,   Department of Physics, College of Sciences, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 13318, Saudi Arabia, Alinad T. ,   Department of Physics, College of Sciences, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 13318, Saudi Arabia, Ibnaouf K. H. ,   Department of Physics, College of Sciences, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 13318, Saudi Arabia, Eisa M. H. ,   Physics Department, College of Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology (SUST), Khartoum 11113, Sudan
Published: June 2022

"An efficient pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method was used to create un-doped and aluminum (Al) doped zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanomaterial. The effect of Al concentration on optical properties was investigated using two different techniques; namely, Ultra-violate visible light (UV-Vis) and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. Specifically, the optical analysis revealed a decrease in the optical bandgap values from 3.5 to 3.28 eV upon the addition of 8% of Al as dopant. While, the PL spectra of all samples showed a broad emission band in the 300-500 nm range. ZnS emission bands with Gaussian fitting are located at 396 and 459 nm. Despite from the pure ZnS peaks, three additional peaks at 345, 369, and 386 nm are observed for Al doped ZnS nanomaterial. Additionally, increasing the Al content up to 6% resulted in enhanced photoluminescence, but above this level, photoluminescence quenching was observed."
Lead-free organic inorganic halide perovskite solar cell with over 30% efficiency
Authors:   Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Islam A. , Bin Alamgir N. ,   Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, East Delta University, Abdullah Al Noman Road, Noman Society, East Nasirabad, Khulshi, Chattogram 4209, Bangladesh, Chowdhury S. I. ,   Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, East Delta University, Abdullah Al Noman Road, Noman Society, East Nasirabad, Khulshi, Chattogram 4209, Bangladesh, Billah S. M. B. ,   Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, East Delta University, Abdullah Al Noman Road, Noman Society, East Nasirabad, Khulshi, Chattogram 4209, Bangladesh
Published: June 2022

In this study, numerical analysis on an Sn-based planner heterojunction perovskite device structure of Glass/ FTO/ ZnO/ CH3NH3SnI3/ CZTS/ Metal, with CH3NH3SnI3 as an absorber layer, was performed by using the solar cell device simulator SCAPS 1D. As an electron transport layer (ETL) and a hole transport layer (HTL), inorganic materials ZnO and CZTS (kesterite) were used. To optimize the device, the thickness of the absorber, electron, and hole transport layers, defect density, and absorber doping concentrations were varied, and their impact on device performance was evaluated. The effect of temperature and work function of various anode materials were also investigated. The optimum absorber layer thickness was found at 750 nm for the proposed structure. The acceptor concentration with a reduced defect density of the absorber layer enhances device performance significantly. For better performance, a higher work function anode material is required. The optimized solar cell achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency of 30.41% with an open-circuit voltage of 1.03 V, a short circuit current density of 34.31 mA/cm2, and a Fill Factor 86.39%. The proposed cell structure also possesses an excellent performance under high operating temperature indicating great promise for eco-friendly, low-cost solar energy harvesting.
Análisis sobre el comportamiento del throughput en redes LAN bajo tecnología Power Line Communications
Authors: Vesga Ferreira Juan Carlos
Published: June 2022

El rendimiento es sin duda uno de los aspectos de mayor interés dentro del análisis global en las redes LAN, considerado el efecto que produce sobre el usuario final. El rendimiento puede ser definido según diversos puntos de vista, lo que permite incorporar otras formas de evaluación según el objeto de interés en particular. Básicamente, los parámetros más comunes para evaluar el rendimiento de una red son: Throughput, utilización del canal y diversas medidas de retardo. Throughput, es la capacidad de un enlace de transportar información útil. En otras palabras, representa “la cantidad de información útil que puede transmitirse por unidad de tiempo”. Este puede variar en una misma conexión de red según el protocolo usado para la transmisión (TCP o UDP) y el tipo de datos de tráfico (HTTP, FTPy otros). Un objetivo muy importante al analizar el throughput se encuentra relacionado con la calidad del servicio (QoS / Quality of Service) en la red, la cual juega un papel importante a la hora de evaluar la eficiencia de una red centrada en aplicaciones sensibles al tiempo, tales como: video y audio, entre otras. Desde el punto de vista tecnológico, el hacer uso de la red eléctrica como medio físico de transmisión ha sido considerado como una excelente alternativa en la prestación de servicios de interconexión de última milla. El uso de adaptadores de red basados en PLC facilita el diseño de redes LAN y comunicaciones de banda ancha a través de la red eléctrica, al convirtir cualquier tomacorriente en un punto de conexión para el usuario, sin la necesidad de cableados adicionales a los existentes. Este artículo presenta un análisis experimental sobre el comportamiento del Throughput en redes LAN sobre PLC, bajo el uso de adaptadores de red soportados con el estándar HomePlug 1.0.
FORMALIZATION THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS OF THE COVID-19 IMPACT ON THE COMPETITIVE MARKETS AND ECONOMIES
Authors:   Ukrainian-American Concordia University, Kyiv, Ukraine, Chaplynska N.M. , Zhytkevyc O.V. ,   Ukrainian-American Concordia University, Kyiv, Ukraine, Azarova A.O. ,   Vinnytsia National Technical University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine
Published: June 2022

The article describes the influence of COVID-19 on different economic parameters such as FDI flows, unemployment, global partnership. It covers changes in the stock market, electronics, IT sphere, and industrial area. The main industrial results are shown through aircraft products, commodities sector, steel sector, car manufacture. The analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on economies proposed to be done via competitive markets. Since it has different degrees of depth and scale of research and, unfortunately, there is no approach that analyzes all aspects of the economy or market simultaneously, authors proposed their own approach. The proposals are based on integrated and systematic approaches with an economic analysis of the impact of coronavirus on a competitive market. It is a complex model since market conditions are very unstable and depend on numerous factors of internal and external influence, hence it should cover all aspects of market activities. The method is composed of proposed basic principles of formalizing the process of assessment. These principles build on the potential to contribute to finding solutions to problems caused by negative impact of the COVID-19 on markets and consequently on economies.
Short-Term Effects of Tax Credits on Rates of Child Maltreatment Reports in the United States
Authors: Kovski Nicole L. , Hill Heather D. , Mooney Stephen J. , Rivara Frederick P. , Rowhani-Rahbar Ali
Published: June 2022

OBJECTIVES

Poverty and low income are associated with increased risk for child maltreatment. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) are among the largest antipoverty programs in the United States. We estimated associations between income transfer payments via the EITC and CTC and child maltreatment reports in the period shortly after families receive payments from these programs.

METHODS

We linked weekly EITC and CTC refund data from the Internal Revenue Service to state-specific child maltreatment report data from 48 states and the District of Columbia during the 2015 through 2018 tax seasons (January – April). We leveraged the natural experiment of a legislated change in the timing of EITC and CTC transfer payments to low-income families and quasi-experimental methods to estimate the association between EITC and CTC payments and child maltreatment reports.

RESULTS

EITC and CTC payments were associated with lower state-level rates of child maltreatment reports. For each additional $1000 in per-child EITC and CTC tax refunds, state-level rates of reported child maltreatment declined in the week of and 4 weeks following refund payments by an overall estimated 5.0% (95% confidence interval = 2.3%–7.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Federal income assistance programs are associated with immediate reductions in child maltreatment reporting. These results are particularly relevant at this time, as expansions to such programs continue to be discussed at the state and federal levels.
An empirical study of consulting in a transitional economy in the Central European region during COVID-19
Authors: Szeiner Zsuzsanna , Kovács Ádám , Zsigmond Tibor , Mura Ladislav , Sanders Eric , Poor Jozsef
Published: June 2022

The consulting industry has been affected in many ways by the global pandemic. According to a leading international literature source (consultancy.org), the decline is most noticeable in Europe. In our article, we present the general recent trends of the global management consulting industry, and then outline the results of our survey conducted among Hungarian consultants. Our team surveyed the extent and direction in which consulting companies have been affected by the pandemic. Although some of the respondents reported rather negative effects, the survey finds that a significant proportion of respondents consider the emerging crisis as an opportunity and not only as a threat.
EVALUACIÓN DE EXTRACTOS VEGETALES COMO UNA ALTERNATIVA DE CONTROL PARA DOS PLAGAS DE MAÍZ ALMACENADO, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) y Prostephanus truncatus (Horn)
Authors: Esquivel Rivera J. E. , Tafoya F. , López-Muraira I. G. , Silos-Espino H. , Carrillo-Rodríguez J. C. , Perales Segovia Catarino
Published: June 2022

El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar en condiciones de laboratorio el efecto de extractos de plantas asociadas al cultivo del maíz, para el control de Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) y Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) en granos de maíz almacenado. Para los extractos etanólicos y por infusión se emplearon plantas completas en la mayoría de los casos. Para seleccionar los mejores extractos vegetales para el control de estas plagas, primero se realizaron pruebas de olfatometría, posteriormente se efectuó el experimento de laboratorio, impregnando granos de maíz almacenado en un diseño completamente aleatorio con 10 tratamientos y aplicaciones a las 24, 48 y 72 h. Los principales resultados mostraron que para S. zeamais la mayor mortalidad la produjo la infusión de Bromus cathartiucus 57.5%) seguido por el extracto etanólico de tabaquillo Nicotiana glauca (47.5%). En el caso de P. truncatus también el extracto en infusión de B. catharticus produjo un 70% de mortalidad y un 62.5% con el extracto etanolico de Reseda luteola. De acuerdo con estos resultados, los extractos de estas plantas podrían usarse para el control de S. zeamais y P. truncatus en un programa de manejo ecológico de plagas de maíz almacenado.
Prevalence of elevated blood pressure among locomotive workers according to the long-term assessment of pre-trip health screening
Authors: Zhidkova E. A. , Shlipakov S. V. , Gutor E. M. , Gurevich M. V. , Pankova V. B. , Vilk M. F. , Gurevich K. G. , Drapkina O. M.
Published: June 2022

Hypertension is considered as one of the leading cardiovascular diseases in transport workers.

Aim. In the context of epidemiological prospective study, to assess the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (BP) detected at pre-trip health screening (PTHS).

Material and methods. We analyzed records of the database of PTHS automatic system for 15 years (2006-2020) to reveal elevated systolic (140 mm Hg) and/or diastolic (90 mm Hg) BP.

Results. For 15 years, the detection rate of systolic BP >140 mm Hg has decreased by 4 times. For diastolic BP, the detection rate of values >90 mm Hg decreased by 8 times. The detection rate of non-normal systolic BP among railway staff correlates with the detection rate of non-normal diastolic BP (r=0,92; p<0,05) on different railways. Over the 15-year period, the number of suspensions from the trip due to PTHS has decreased by 2 times, while the number of suspensions due to hypertension decreased by 2,5 times.

Conclusion. The conducted study may indicate the effectiveness of primary and secondary prevention of hypertension among Russian Railways staff.
Endpoints: types, selection, interpretation of the results obtained on the example of cardiology studies
Authors: Navasardyan A. R. , Martsevich S. Yu.
Published: June 2022

The importance of high-quality randomized controlled trials cannot be overemphasized. Each such study attempts to answer a specific clinical question. To do this, it is necessary to determine in advance the indicator of achievement of a specific result for a certain period of time. This indicator is the endpoint (EP) of the study, i.e. one or another outcome of the disease or a change in the laboratory and functional characteristics. Its choice directly affects the intended design and sample size of the study. The article provides a classification and hierarchy of EPs (depending on the purpose), describes the features and limitations of the use of important clinical outcomes and surrogate indicators. The reasons why composite EPs are widely used in cardiology studies are described. Special attention should be paid to EP interpretation within secondary analysis, a positive result of which can only be assessed if a treatment effect is demonstrated in terms of the primary indicator of efficacy or safety. The current review is supplemented by clinical examples of cardiology studies.
Experience of using stent grafts in the treatment of patients with arrosive bleeding after pancreatic surgery
Authors: Alekyan B. G. , Varava A. B. , Gorin D. S. , Lusnikov V. P.
Published: June 2022

Aim. To evaluate inhospital outcomes of endovascular treatment in patients who underwent endoprosthetic replacement of the culprit vessel due to arrosive bleeding after pancreatic surgery.

Material and methods. In the period 2012-2021 at the A. V. Vishnevsky National Medical Research Center of Surgery, 821 operations on the pancreas due to tumors and complicated chronic pancreatitis were performed. Seventy-five (9,1%) patients developed postoperative arrosive bleeding. Stent grafts were used to stop bleeding in 14 (18,7%) of them. There were 9 men (64,3%) and 5 women (35,7%). The median age of patients was 60 years (men — 61 years, women — 59 years). Arrosive bleeding occurred after pancreaticoduodenal resection in 13 patients, while in one case — after distal pancreatic resection. In all 14 cases, postoperative bleeding was severe and classified as grade C according to the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) classification.

Results. There were following sources of bleeding: gastroduodenal artery — 4 (28,6%) patients, proximal hepatic arteries (right/left) — in 4 (28,6%) patients, proximal superior mesenteric artery — in 2 (14,3%), dorsal pancreatic artery — in 1 (7,1%), false aneurysm of proximal splenic artery — in 1 (7,1%), proximal common hepatic artery — in 2 (14,3%). In 10 (71,4%) patients, endoprosthetic replacement of the proximal segment of culprit artery was performed, while in 4 (28,6%) patients with arrosion of short gastroduodenal artery stump and false aneurysm, endoprosthesis replacement of the common hepatic artery was performed with a transition to the proper hepatic artery. The technical success of endovascular hemostasis (absence of contrast media extravasation) was achieved in 100% of cases. Three (21,4%) of 14 patients developed rebleeding from another arterial source. Inhospital mortality was 28,6% (n=4). The cause of deaths in 3 cases was the direct complications of endovascular hemostasis, while in one patient — progressive postoperative pancreatitis with the outcome in multiple organ failure.

Conclusion. Endovascular hemostasis using a stent graft is an effective surgical method for the treatment of arrosive bleeding after pancreatic surgery. The intervention is associated with possible complications, the risk of which must be taken into account before the procedure. We consider arrosive bleeding from a defect in the main vessel (common/ proper/right or left hepatic arteries, superior mesenteric artery) as an indication for performing endoprosthetic replacement.
Incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome in the world between 1985 and 2020: a systematic Review
Authors: Wachira Virginia Kagure , Farinasso Cecília Menezes , Silva Roberta Borges da , Peixoto Henry Maia , Oliveira Maria Regina Fernandes de
Published: June 2022

Introduction: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy that affects the peripheral nervous system. The study aimed to describe the incidence of GBS in the world up to the year 2020. Methods: A systematic review was conducted. Searches were done in four databases, PUBMED, EMBASE, EBSCO and Biblioteca virtual em Saude (BVS), and in grey literature and manual search in the reference lists of eligible studies.  Results: A total of 72 studies were included. The incidence of GBS among the cohort studies varied from 0.30 to 6.08 cases per 100.000 habitants and 0.42 to 6.58 cases per 100.000 person-years. Among the self-controlled studies, the risk incidence ranged from 0.072 to 1 case per 100.000 habitants and 1.73 to 4.30 cases per 100.000 person-years. Conclusions: The reported incidence of GBS in the world among the studies included in the review is slightly higher than that reported in previous studies. The highest incidence rates were associated with public health events of international concern.
Stability correction calculation of new debris flow grille dam considering permeation
Authors: Wang Yongsheng , Zhang Xiaobin , Wang Bing , Liu Jianshe
Published: June 2022

When calculating the stability of a permeable dam under half-full or full reservoir conditions, the seepage force has not been considered in the studies reported in the literature. Based on the equation for the stability of a new debris flow grille dam structure, combined with an accumulation seepage model and the Bernoulli principle, a simplified expression for the seepage force was derived and its effect on the dam body was found to be equivalent to the overturning moment; the original equation was thus corrected. The effect of changing the internal friction angle on stability was analysed, making the corrected equation universal and applicable. Verification results showed that the overturning stability coefficient of the blocking dam was positively correlated with the internal friction angle. Compared with the original equation, after considering the seepage force, the anti-overturning stability coefficient of the blocking dam was reduced by about 44.5% on average. The attenuation amplitude increased with an increase of the friction angle in the accumulation, which was closer to the actual stress situation.
Mitigating liquefaction-induced displacements of shallow foundation using helical piles
Authors: Esmaeilpour P. , Jafarian Y. , Cerato A. B.
Published: June 2022

During previous earthquakes, displacements of shallow foundations on liquefiable sites caused significant damage to overlying super-structures leading to casualties and catastrophic economic loss. Various countermeasures have been developed to lessen liquefaction-related damages while minimising cost and environmental impacts. This study aims to evaluate the use of helical piles as a possible technique to mitigate the settlement, tilting, and sliding of shallow foundations during seismic liquefaction. For this purpose, 12 1g shaking table tests were conducted on loose saturated sand under harmonic base input for (a) free-field condition, (b) a model foundation on the soil surface and (c) a model foundation underpinned by helical piles. The effects of input amplitudes and the number of helical piles were investigated in terms of acceleration response, excess pore-water pressure and foundation displacements. The results confirmed the satisfactory performance of helical piles in reducing shallow foundation displacements. In particular, the mean permanent settlements were reduced by 45 and 75% when using four and eight helical piles, respectively. Similar trends were observed for the shallow foundation permanent tilting and sliding: permanent tilting was reduced by 30 and 59% when using four and eight helical piles, respectively, while these results were 45 and 68% for the sliding.