bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uptake of hepatitis B treatment eligibility tests among hepatitis B patients; The case of Yumbe regional referral hospital, Uganda
Authors: Mutaryebwa Felix , Mutyoba Joan Nakya , Ssekamatte Tonny , Frances Acheng , Jerry Aleku , Nasur Mubarak , Naziru Rashid
Published: September 2023

Background:Despite hepatitis B virus infection being a vaccine preventable liver disease, 257 million people are estimated to be chronically infected globally making it one of the commonest infections, causing more than 820,000 deaths annually worldwide. Uganda is one of the SSA that continues to be highly endemic with a prevalence of 4.3%, associated with poor clinical management of those infected.
Objectives:Assess factors associated with uptake of recommended HBV treatment eligibility tests among HBV patients at YRRH.
Methods: Data was collected using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Chi square and modified Poisson regression analyses were undertaken to determine association of factors. 01 FGD and 04 KI interviews were conducted to explore factors affecting the provision of recommended hepatitis B treatment eligibility tests. Data was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results. 1.01% patients took all 4 tests and 26.6% received at least one test. CBC was mostly consumed, 38.2% while USS was the least -7%, 7.5% patients were screened for HIV with 33.3% being HIV/HBV coinfected. 61.3% patients did not take any main test and 31.2% had a main test taken. Only 7.5% had both main tests. Uptake of main tests was associated with timing of tests (χ2 = 94.9, P< 0.000), HIV/HBV coinfection (χ2 = 20.46, P<0.000), duration in care, (χ2=68.9, P<0.000), average distance to hospital (χ2 = 15.5, P<0.017). Timing of tests was the only factor statistically associated with uptake of main recommended tests (PR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.210 – 0.92). Facilitators for provision of HBV tests included availability of commodities, HCWs’ knowledge of the treatment guidelines and good infrastructure while barriers were insufficient human resource, commodity stock outs and language barrier.
Conclusion. There was poor uptake of recommended tests by HBV patients at YRRH. HCWs should endeavor to provide all recommended tests before HBV treatment initiation.
Husband's Participation in Family Planning Program through Post Placental IUD in Malang Regency: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Sulistiyanto Henri , Soetrisno Soetrisno , Subijanto A.A , Setyowati Retno
Published: September 2023

From the method's selection to its application, the main issue with the application of contraceptives tends to be directed at women, and if there is a risk, the woman becomes the one who has to endure it. On the other side, the low coverage of family planning, particularly in postpartum, is a result of inadequate knowledge, a lack of information and counseling, and an absence of support from the husband. Health education, especially family planning, is more aimed at pregnant women, but in reality the culture of society in Indonesia adheres to a patriarchal culture. The patriarchal culture's emphasis on the husband's role as the decision-maker made it challenging to convince spouses regarding the roles of contraception, particularly Post-Placental IUD. This study aims to investigate how the husband influences pregnant women's preference for Post-Placental IUD contraception in Malang Regency. The research method used is "research that produces descriptive data from people and observed behaviour and in the form of written and oral. This study is considered as a qualitative research with a phenomenological approach. The informants in this study were husbands and pregnant women, health centre midwives, coordinating midwives, and persons in charge of the family planning program at the Health Office of Malang Regency. This research was conducted in July-December 2022. Data collection was performed by interview. The results in this study concluded that the low participation of husband in Post Placental IUD is due to husband's inadequate knowledge as well as lack of information and counselling. Therefore, it is hoped that health workers could provide counselling and home visits to families especially to husbands.
Redox Dynamics and Surface Structures of an Active Palladium Catalyst during Methane Oxidation
Authors: Huang Xing , Yue Shengnan , Praveen C. , Klyushin Alexander , Hashimoto Masahiro , Li Qian , Jones Travis , Liu Panpan , Yu Wenqian , Willinger Marc
Published: September 2023

Catalysts based on palladium are among the most effective in the complete oxidation of methane. Despite extensive studies, the nature of their catalytically active species and conceivable structural dynamics remains elusive. Here, we combine operando transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the active state and catalytic function of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) under methane oxidation conditions. By direct imaging we show how the particle size, phase composition and dynamics respond to changes of the gas-phase chemical potential and how Pd catalysts transform from a static state to a highly dynamic, catalytically active state that is characterized by phase coexistence and oscillatory phase transition in a reactive atmosphere. Aided by DFT calculations, we rationalize the origin for the observed redox dynamics and provide atomistic insights into the active structures and the underlying reaction mechanism.
Association of Serum Albumin with Heart Failure Mortality with NYHA Class IV in Chinese Patients: Insights from PhysioNet Database
Authors: Chen Yun , Cai Xian-bin , Yao Xin , Zhang Shao-hui , Cai Min-hua , Li Hao-peng , Jing Xu-bin , Zhang Yong-gang , Ding Qia-feng
Published: September 2023

Aims
Studies have proved that low albumin level is associated with increased mortality in most diseases, such as chronic kidney disease and hepatic cirrhosis. However, the relationship between albumin and all-cause death in heart failure patients in China is still unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between albumin levels and 28-day mortality in Chinese hospitalized patients with NYHA IV heart failure.
Methods
A total of 2008 Chinese patients were included. The correlation between serum albumin level and mortality was tested using a cox proportional hazards regression model. The smooth curve fitting was used to identify non-linear relationships between serum albumin and mortality. The Forest plot analysis was used to assess the association between albumin and 28-day mortality in different groups.
Results
Compared with patients with NYHA II-III, patients with NYHA IV had lower albumin levels and higher mortality within 28 days. The albumin on admission was independently and inversely associated with the endpoint risk, which remained significant (hazard ratio: 0.80; 95% confidence interval: 0.66 to 0.96; p = 0.0196) after multivariable adjustment. The smooth curve fitting showed with the increase of albumin, the mortality within 28 days would decrease. A subgroup analysis found that the inverse association between the albumin levels and risk of the mortality was consistent across the subgroup stratified by possible influence factors.
Conclusion
Serum albumin level is negatively associated with 28-day mortality in hospitalized heart failure patients within NYHA IV in China, which can be used as an independent predictor.
Mitigating non-genetic resistance to checkpoint inhibition based on multiple states of immune exhaustion
Authors: Kareva Irina , Gevertz Jana
Published: September 2023

Despite the revolutionary impact of immune checkpoint inhibition on cancer therapy, the lack of response in a subset of patients, as well as the emergence of resistance, remain significant challenges. Here we explore the theoretical consequences of the existence of multiple states of immune cell exhaustion on response to checkpoint inhibition therapy. The emerging understanding is that T cells can exist in various states: fully functioning cytotoxic cells, reversibly exhausted cells with minimal cytotoxicity, and terminally exhausted cells. We hypothesize that it is inflammation induced by drug activity that triggers transitions between these phenotypes, which can lead to non-genetic resistance to checkpoint inhibitors. We introduce a conceptual mathematical model, coupled with a standard 2-compartment pharmacometric (PK) model, that incorporates these mechanisms. Simulations of the model reveal that, within this framework, the emergence of resistance to checkpoint inhibitors can be mitigated through altering the dose and the frequency of administration. Our analysis also reveals that standard PK metrics do not correlate with treatment outcome. However, we do find that levels of inflammation that we assume trigger the transition from the reversibly to terminally exhausted states play a critical role in therapeutic outcome. A simulation of a population that has different values of this transition threshold reveals that while the standard high-dose, low-frequency dosing strategy can be an effective therapeutic design, it is likely to fail a significant fraction of the population. Conversely, a metronomic-like strategy that distributes a fixed amount of drug over many doses given close together, is predicted to be effective across the entire simulated population, even at a relatively low cumulative drug dose. Our theoretical analyses demonstrate the potential of mitigating resistance to checkpoint inhibitors via dose modulation.
Preparing Allied Health Students for the Nuances of Collaborative Practice
Authors: Paton Isabel , Patton Narelle , Croker Anne
Published: September 2023

The importance of preparing allied health students for collaboration is widely acknowledged. As a social phenomenon, the practice of healthcare collaboration is inherently situated, including in relation to particular subjective understandings, locations and circumstances. To focus on collaboration as a situated allied health practice this research used the term collaborative practice. The aim of this research was to develop a rich understanding of the nature of allied health collaborative practice, to inform preparation of pre-registration allied health students. Allied health professions have their own philosophies, values and contributions and are part of non-hierarchical networks, that contrast the intra-professional hierarchical complexities often found in medicine and nursing. Thus, there is significant value in explicitly exploring this unique grouping of health professionals.
Informed by philosophical hermeneutics, this research involved two interpretive studies. One study was drawn from literature and the other was based on 24 participants’ experiences from five allied health professions, accessed through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. This research revealed key shapers of allied health collaborative practice. These shapers act in dynamic and unequal ways within and across contextual, social and individual domains: in-situ standards and physical environments (contextual); interpersonal transactions and reciprocal exchanges (social); individual contributions and engagement activities (individual). When underpinned with practice theory these shapers provide a rich source of reflection for educators preparing allied health students for the nuances of collaborative practice. Educators are invited to reflect on how to: enable visibility of shapers; engage with their dynamic interplay and navigate tensions arising from such interplays.
Divergent bacterial landscapes: Unraveling geographically driven dual microbiomes in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence
Authors: Fronton Fanny , Villemur Richard , Robert Dominique , St-Pierre Yves
Published: September 2023

Background
Establishing microbiome signatures is now recognized as a critical step toward identifying genetic and environmental factors shaping animal-associated microbiomes and informing the health status of a given host. In the present work, we prospectively collected blood samples of the Atlantic cod population of the Southern Gulf of Saint Lawrence (GSL) and characterized their 16S rRNA circulating microbiome signature.
Results
Our results revealed that the blood microbiome signature was dominated at the phylum level by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria, a typical signature for fish populations inhabiting the GSL and other marine ecosystems. At the genus level, however, we identified two distinct cod groups. While the microbiome signature of the first group was dominated by Pseudoalteromonas, a genus we previously found in the microbiome signature of Greenland and Atlantic halibut populations of the GSL, the second group had a microbiome signature dominated by Nitrobacter and Sediminibacterium. Cods harboring a Nitrobacter/Sediminibacterium-rich microbiome signature were localized in the most southern part of the GSL, just along the northern coast of Cape Breton Island. Atlantic cod microbiome signatures did not correlate with the weight, length, relative condition, depth, temperature, sex, and salinity, as previously observed in the halibut populations.
Conclusions
Our study provides, for the first time, a unique snapshot of the circulating microbiome signature of Atlantic cod populations and the existence of dysbiotic signatures associated with the geographical distribution of the population, probably linked with the presence of nitrite in the environment.
Hygiene and Sanitation Monitoring of Refillable Drinking Water Depots in Jembrana District, Indonesia
Authors: Adnyana I Made Dwi Mertha , Utomo Budi , Dewanti Linda , Sulistiawati  , Eljatin Dwinka Syafira , Setyawan Muhamad Frendy , Sudaryati Ni Luh Gede , Darmawan Kadek
Published: September 2023

Refillable drinking water has become an option to meet the hydration needs of the community, especially in Jembrana District, Bali. However, comprehensive monitoring of hygiene and sanitation has yet to be reported. This study aims to identify, evaluate, and describe the quality of hygiene and sanitation at the refillable drinking water depot in Jembrana District. The mixed-methods research design was used to monitor the hygiene and sanitation of 46 DAMIU in Jembrana District. Environmental inspections are conducted in the field, and water samples are taken for bacteriological analysis. All results are presented descriptively. The results showed that 82.60% had met the requirements to be free from coliform contamination, and 86.96% had met the requirements to be free of E. coli in the resulting refill water. A total of 17.40% coliformswere contaminated, and 13.04% E. coli were contaminated. Overall, improved monitoring of the hygienic characteristics of handlers, sanitary characteristics, and completeness of equipment should be applied, especially in replacing microfilter tubes, disinfecting equipment in the service life, and using tiered microfilters. A letter of guarantee for raw water management and water supply must be available. Hence, the hygiene and sanitation of refillable drinking water in Jembrana must be monitored according to established standards.
Outcomes of Scleral Buckling Surgery in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: An Iranian Experience
Authors: Karimi Saeed , Azar Sahar Mahmoudi Nejad , Ansari Iman , Nikkhah Homayoun , Esmailzadeh Zahra , Nouri Hosein , Abtahi Seyed-Hossein
Published: September 2023

Purpose: To evaluate the anatomical and visual outcomes of SB surgery in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and investigate the impact of pre- and intraoperative factors on final surgical and functional success rates
Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records from all patients with RRD for whom SB surgery was performed between March 2015 and October 2019 in Torfe Eye Hospital in Tehran, Iran, were included.
Results: A total of 80 patients (54 males and 27 females) with a mean (±SD) age of 45 (±15; ranging from 19 to 80) underwent SB surgery. Primary and final retinal reattachment rates were 73.3% and 91.3%, respectively. The mean (±SD) pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuities were 1.04 (±0.8) and 0.73 (±0.58) LogMAR, respectively (P-value<0.001). Eyes with inferior RRDs had less favorable success rates than those with non-inferior RRDs (80.0% vs. 93.8%, respectively, p=0.003). The preoperative macula situation status (i.e., off vs. on) was another factor of influence on the surgical success rate (86.1% and 95.4% in macula-off and -on groups, respectively, p=0.023)
Conclusion: SB is an effective treatment option for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Our results clearly showed that the prognosis of patients with an intact macula is better than the others.
Aproximación a la noción de intervención psicosocial. Una lectura desde la noción de mercancía en Marx y la actitud etho-estética en Marcuse
Authors: Viveros Edison Francisco , Álvarez Baena Eyesid , Vallejo Merino Isabel Cristina
Published: September 2023

En este artículo se pregunta cómo la discusión sobre lo psicosocial puede abordar las nociones de mercancía en Marx y la actitud etho-estética en Marcuse. La intervención psicosocial es una coordinación de acciones para modificar realidades conflictivas de orden psíquico y social. La hipótesis desde Marx es: la intervención psicosocial es entendida como mercancía en el sentido de ser un objeto externo que contribuye a la generación de satisfactores de necesidades humanas de una índole específica, referida al bienestar de las personas. La hipótesis desde Marcuse es: la actitud etho-estética refuerza la relevancia de la subjetividad crítica que deriva en propuestas creativas de profesionales psicosociales. La conclusión es: el diálogo entre algunos autores tradicionales de la intervención psicosocial con Marx y Marcuse estimula a diseñar, ejecutar y evaluar proyectos de intervención psicosocial incluyentes. Estos, entendidos desde la noción de mercancía como el resultado del trabajo humano; lo ético, como compromiso intelectivo y práctico con la comunidad; y lo estético, como aquello que guarda el sentido de reconciliación entre placeres, capacidad intelectiva y actos de emancipación social.
Sociodemographic determinants of water conservation behavior: A comprehensive analysis
Authors: Tehupeiory Aarce , Sianipar Imelda Masni Juniaty , Suryawan I Wayan Koko , Septiariva Iva Yenis , Prayogo Wisnu , Arifianingsih Nur Novilina , Buana Dwinto Martri Aji
Published: September 2023

The manifold repercussions of climate change encompass diverse facets, encompassing the management of resources, agricultural infrastructure, production systems, and their profound implications for food security, self-sufficiency, and the overall well-being of societies. Regrettably, a significant portion of the populace remains indifferent to or uninformed about the adoption of water conservation practices. Previous scholarship has scrutinized factors influencing individual water-saving behaviors, yet these inquiries have predominantly overlooked the broader contextual elements shaping communal conduct. This study undertakes a comprehensive investigation to discern the multifaceted factors and sociodemographic variables that exert influence upon the water-saving conduct of individuals within a community. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to a sample of 633 participants. Employing rigorous factor analysis, we distilled a reduced set of factors from the multitude of variables under examination. Factor 1 exhibits a robust association with the utilization of water conservation equipment, while Factor 2 delineates patterns in water usage behavior. Furthermore, this research advances the discourse by deploying a probit model to delineate the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, such as gender and occupation, and community engagement in water conservation in response to government incentives. Notably, the significance of these models is comparable across different sociodemographic groups, highlighting that both women and individuals with diverse occupational profiles stand to benefit from incentivized water-saving initiatives.
Facilitating In-House Mobile App Development Within Psychiatric Outpatient Services for Patients Diagnosed With Borderline Personality Disorder: Rapid Application Development Approach
Authors: Shaker Ali Abbas , Austin Stephen F , Jørgensen Mie Sedoc , Sørensen John Aasted , Bechmann Henrik , Kinnerup Henriette E , Petersen Charlotte Juul , Olsen Ragnar Klein , Simonsen Erik
Published: September 2023

Background

Mobile app development within mental health is often time- and resource-consuming, challenging the development of mobile apps for psychiatry. There is a continuum of software development methods ranging from linear (waterfall model) to continuous adaption (Scrum). Rapid application development (RAD) is a model that so far has not been applied to psychiatric settings and may have some advantages over other models.

Objective

This study aims to explore the utility of the RAD model in developing a mobile app for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) in a psychiatric outpatient setting.

Methods

The 4 phases of the RAD model: (1) requirements planning, (2) user design, (3) construction, and (4) cutover, were applied to develop a mobile app within psychiatric outpatient services for patients diagnosed with BPD.

Results

For the requirements planning phase, a short time frame was selected to minimize the time between product conceptualization and access within a clinical setting. Evidenced-based interactive content already developed was provided by current staff to enhance usability and trustworthiness. For the user design phase, activity with video themes and a discrete number of functions were used to improve the app functionality and graphical user interface. For the construction phase, close collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and software developers yielded a fully functional, in-house–developed app ready to be tested in clinical practice. For the cutover phase, the mobile app was tested successfully with a small number (n=5) of patients with a BPD.

Conclusions

The RAD model could be meaningfully applied in a psychiatric setting to develop an app for BPD within a relatively short time period from conceptualization to implementation in the clinic. Short time frames and identifying a limited number of stakeholders with relevant skills in-house facilitated the use of this model. Despite some limitations, RAD could be a useful model in the development of apps for clinical populations to enable development and access to evidence-based technology.
Gait Features in Different Environments Contributing to Participation in Outdoor Activities in Old Age (GaitAge): Protocol for an Observational Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Rantakokko Merja , Matikainen-Tervola Emmi , Aartolahti Eeva , Sihvonen Sanna , Chichaeva Julija , Finni Taija , Cronin Neil
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND

The ability to walk is a key issue for independent old age. Optimizing older peoples’ opportunities for an autonomous and active life and reducing health disparities requires a better understanding of how to support independent mobility in older people. With increasing age, changes in gait parameters such as step length and cadence are common and have been shown to increase the risk of mobility decline. However, gait assessments are typically based on laboratory measures, even though walking in a laboratory environment may be significantly different from walking in outdoor environments.

OBJECTIVE

This project will study alterations in biomechanical features of gait by comparing walking on a treadmill in a laboratory, level outdoor, and hilly outdoor environments. In addition, we will study the possible contribution of changes in gait between these environments to outdoor mobility among older people.

METHODS

Participants of the study were recruited through senior organizations of Central Finland and the University of the Third Age, Jyväskylä. Inclusion criteria were community-dwelling, aged 70 years and older, able to walk at least 1 km without assistive devices, able to communicate, and living in central Finland. Exclusion criteria were the use of mobility devices, severe sensory deficit (vision and hearing), memory impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination ≤23), and neurological conditions (eg, stroke, Parkinson disease, and multiple sclerosis). The study protocol included 2 research visits. First, indoor measurements were conducted, including interviews (participation, health, and demographics), physical performance tests (short physical performance battery and Timed Up and Go), and motion analysis on a treadmill in the laboratory (3D Vicon and next-generation inertial measurement units [NGIMUs]). Second, outdoor walking tests were conducted, including walking on level (sports track) and hilly (uphill and downhill) terrain, while movement was monitored via NGIMUs, pressure insoles, heart rate, and video data.

RESULTS

A total of 40 people (n=26, 65% women; mean age 76.3, SD 5.45 years) met the inclusion criteria and took part in the study. Data collection took place between May and September 2022. The first result is expected to be published in the spring of 2024.

CONCLUSIONS

This multidisciplinary study will provide new scientific knowledge about how gait biomechanics are altered in varied environments, and how this influences opportunities to participate in outdoor activities for older people.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

RR1-10.2196/52898
Classification of Surgical Patients Needing Preoperative Cardiac Evaluations: A Comparison of General-Purpose and Domain-Specific Large Language Models (Preprint)
Authors: Tully Jeffrey , Litake Onkar , Meineke Minhthy , Simpson Sierra , Waterman Ruth , Gabriel Rodney
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND

Tools that can help to identify preoperative patients in need of further cardiovascular testing or consultation may be of use in reducing costs and ensuring rational utilization of resources.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluate the feasibility of utilizing general purpose versus domain-specific large language models (LLM) for a classification task aimed at identifying these surgical patients.

METHODS

The objective of this study was to leverage various LLMs to classify patients that would need preoperative cardiac evaluation based on their preoperative clinical notes. General-purpose (BERT, RoBERTa, Longformer) and domain-specific (BioClinicalBERT, PubMedBERT) were used to train on this classification task. Performance was validated on the test set and the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), F1-score, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and recall were measured.

RESULTS

There were 175 patients, in which 67 (38.2%) patients were determined to require preoperative cardiac evaluation/testing. The dataset was divided into a training and test set, which consisted of 75% (n=131) and 25% (n=44) of the dataset. All models performed similarly, in which the AUC was highest with Longformer (0.90) and the Precision-Recall score was highest with PubMedBERT (0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

This study described the use of three general purpose and two domain-specific LLMs to classify surgical patients in need of preoperative cardiovascular workup. All LLMs had excellent yet similar performance. LLMs may be leveraged on preoperative clinical notes to classify which patients would benefit from preoperative cardiology evaluations. No clinically significant differences were seen between domain-specific and general-purpose LLMs.

CLINICALTRIAL
Comparing Repeated (Annual) Couples HIV Testing and Counseling to Individual HIV Testing and Counseling Among Male Couples at High Risk of HIV Infection: Protocol for a Randomized Control Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Starks Tyrel J , Kyre Kory , Castiblanco Juan , Parker Jayelin N , Kahle Erin , Stephenson Rob , Cain Demetria
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND

Couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC) is now a standard of care prevention strategy recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for sexual minority men (SMM) in relationships. Despite standard recommendations that couples complete CHTC every 6-12 months, no study has empirically evaluated the effects associated with CHTC retesting.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to understand the benefits associated with continued dyadic engagement in the HIV prevention continuum through routine CHTC retesting, which is of particular importance for emerging-adult SMM in relationships who use drugs.

METHODS

Eligible couples for this CHTC retesting trial must already be enrolled in the 4Us trial, where they completed a CHTC session after their baseline survey. The purpose of the original 4Us trial was to test the efficacy of 2 intervention components for CHTC: a communication skills training video and a substance use module. Couples were eligible for the original 4Us trial if they identified as cisgender male, were in a relationship for 3 months or longer, were aged 17 years or older, and communicated in English. At least 1 partner had to be aged 17-29 years, report HIV negative or unknown serostatus, report use of at least 1 drug (cannabis, cocaine or crack, crystal methamphetamine, ketamine, gamma-hydroxybuterate [GHB], psychedelics, ecstasy, prescription medication misuse, opiates, and nitrates) use, and engage in condomless anal sex (CAS) acts with a casual partner or have a main partner who is nonmonogamous or serodiscordant. Those who complete the 4Us 12-month follow-up and remain in a relationship with the partner they participated in 4Us with are offered the opportunity to participate in this CHTC retesting trial. Those consenting are randomized to either CHTC retesting or individual HIV testing. Follow-up assessments are conducted 3 and 6 months after randomization to evaluate the effects of repeat CHTC on 2 primary outcomes: (1) CAS with a casual partner in the absence of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and (2) CAS with a serodiscordant main partner who is not virally suppressed or concurrent CAS between main and casual partners in the absence of PrEP.

RESULTS

The CHTC retesting trial launched in January 2023, and enrollment is ongoing. As of February 2024, the study had enrolled 106 eligible participants (n=53 couples).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this CHTC retesting study will contribute to knowledge about the benefits associated with regular (repeated) CHTC testing versus routine individual HIV testing for SMM in relationships. The results of this trial will inform CHTC retesting guidance.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05833074; htps://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05833074

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/53023
Analisis Efektivitas Apron 0.35 mmPb dalam Melindungi Pekerja Radiasi pada Pemeriksaan Radiografi
Authors: Irsal Muhammad , Sutoro Shinta Gunawati , Widiatmoko Mahfud Edy , Tarigan Asumsie , Winarno Guntur , Prananto Legia
Published: September 2023

Latar Belakang: Quality Control (QC) pada apron wajib dilakukan satu tahun sekali. Hal ini bertujuan untuk memastikan keamanan pada pekerja radiasi sebelum melakukan prosedur pemeriksaan radiologi sehingga penerimaan dosis radiasi tidak melebihi 20 mSv/ tahun.Tujuan: Menganalisis efektivitas penggunaan apron 0.35 mmPb untuk melindungi pekerja radiasi pada pemeriksaan radiografi.Metode: Penelitian ini dilakukan di laboratorium Jurusan Teknik Radiodiagnostik dan Radioterapi, Poltekkes Kemenkes Jakarta II. Prosedur yang dilakukan pada penelitian adalah dengan simulasi apabila pekerja menerima paparan radiasi primer dan sekunder pada jarak 100 cm dengan rentang faktor eksposi 45-100kVp. Apron yang digunakan berbahan timbal (Pb) dengan ketebalan 0.35 mmPb dan, untuk pekerja radiasi, diganti dengan menggunakan pantom anthorophomorpic. Penggunaan luas lapangan sesuai kondisi klinis yaitu 18 cm x 24 cm, 43 cm x 35 cm, dan kemudian dilakukan analisis efektivitas apron Pb terhadap perubahan faktor eksposi.Hasil: Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa efektivitas penggunaan apron 0.35 mmPb pada rentang tegangan tabung 45-100kVp untuk kedua penggunaan luas lapangan memiliki nilai persentasi yang sama 99.9-93%.Kesimpulan: Peningkatan tegangan tabung menyebabkan terjadinya penurunan atenuasi apron Pb.
An Analysis of the Creative Style of French New Wave Cinema, Illustrated by Godard’s Film “Breathless”
Authors: Liu Anran
Published: September 2023

When delving into the annals of film history, the pivotal juncture of the French New Wave movement in the 1940s stands as an indispensable focal point, leaving an indelible mark on cinematic evolution and the advancement of the film industry. By introducing a distinctive creative paradigm, the movement notably championed the notion of “auteur cinema”, and encouraged novel production methodologies while endorsing personalized themes, distinctive narrative architectures, unique cinematographic aesthetics, and pioneering editing techniques. As a luminary within the constellation of the French New Wave, Jean-Luc Godard orchestrated elaborate and audacious cinematic experiments in the realms of visual and auditory language. Godard dismantled entrenched narrative conventions and cinematic mores of the studio apparatus, thereby clearing a path for a more self-revealing and artistically-inflected cinematic discourse. This cinematic idiom exerted a profound influence not only upon contemporaneous directors but also furnished subsequent generations of cineastes with a wellspring of inspiration.From the vantage point of Godard, this research attempts to explore and synthesize the historical backdrop of the New Wave era, the idiosyncrasies and shared traits of movie auteurs, and analyzed in a meticulous manner of his magnum opus, “Breathless”. This analytical research encompasses editing methodologies, cinematographic modalities, narrative architectures, and proclivities toward expression with the overarching goal of unearthing the unique cinematic lexicon emblematic of the New Wave. Conclusively, this study pivots back to appraise the French New Wave, unraveling its cultural import and historical limitations.
Study the Histopathological Effect of Aristolochia bracteolata L. on Common Freshwater Carp Oreochromis Niloticus
Authors: Gaikwad Ravindra , Phadtare Shekhar , Ragade Vinod
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Effects of water-soluble extracts of the fresh mature leaves of Aristolochia bracteolata were studied on common freshwater carp Oreochromis niloticus and observed the Histopathological effect on different tissues, including liver, kidney, and intestine in the laboratory. First, select the two fishes for the experiment. Then, each fish was placed in a glass aquarium containing 10 litres of dechlorinated tap water and named treated and controlled. The 1.5 ml leaf extract exposed fish in the first aquarium; after that, the to and fro movement increased. At the end of the experiment, the mortality of fish occurred. Next, take the tissue sections of organs from both the fishes and treat and stain with haematoxylin and eosin. The stained slides were observed under a compound microscope at 45X and recorded in different observations. Finally, we concluded that the exposure of aqueous leaf extract of Aristolochia bracteolata L. resulted in apparent toxic effects on the kidneys of common carp Oreochromis niloticus.
A Crucial Study on Dead Body Preservation
Authors: Meena Dr. Mukesh Kumar , Verma Dr. Bhavana , Dixit Dr. Pragya
Published: September 2023

Abstract: A medical student who never stepped in the cadaveric laboratory on his institute during the first year can neither be a good physician or surgeon in his medical career .so dissection plays a very important role in learning anatomy completely. Anatomy is the branch of medicine where study of structures of human body is done at the level of first year of academic course of every medical profession. For learning anatomy there must be a dead body for better knowledge and study. Dissection is a long-lasting procedure which is carried out in every medical teaching institute This process of preservation of human dead body is called embalming
Exploring Machine Learning Algorithms for Reliable Water Quality Prediction
Authors: Thakur Deepak , Singh A J
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Ensuring safe drinking water is a vital worldwide task. Accurate water quality prediction is crucial for protecting public health and the environment. Machine learning provides promising solutions for this objective. The study investigates the issue of precisely forecasting water quality with machine learning models. It examines different models and their efficacy in forecasting water quality features utilizing a given dataset. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of multiple machine learning models, including Bagging(REPTree), Multilayer Perceptron, M5P, Additive Regression, Stacking, Random Forest, and Decision Table. Firstly, ourselves imported the dataset into Weka, selected and configured the models, trained them on the dataset, and evaluated their performance using various metrics. Bagging (REPTree) outperformed compared to other models, showing its effectiveness in predicting water quality. Model selection depends on goals and constraints. Future research opportunities include feature engineering, ensemble methods, and data quality issues. The study concludes that Bagging (REPTree) classifier is a strong candidate for properly predicting water quality attributes. Future research should focus on improving feature engineering, exploring ensemble methods, expanding the dataset, and enhancing model explain ability. Deploying selected models for continuous monitoring and early detection can contribute to safer water supplies and sustainable water management practices. Compliance with water quality regulations can be better ensured through the application of these models. Overall, this study offers valuable insights regarding the application of machine learning for water quality prediction and highlights future directions for research and application in this important area.
Instrumentos de triagem odontológica para idosos institucionalizados: uma revisão de escopo
Authors: Pereira Rodrigues da Silva Helena , Perrone Luciana Rodrigues , Schmitt da Cruz Gabriel , Souza Schmidt Luiza , Pereira Felipe Barbosa , Dickie de Castilhos Eduardo
Published: September 2023

Introdução: O envelhecimento populacional é uma realidade e a institucionalização de idosos é uma prática comum. A condição de saúde bucal dos idosos institucionalizados é precária por inúmeros motivos, com muitas necessidades de tratamento e dificuldade de acesso. A grande demanda e a reduzida capacidade de atendimento justificam o uso de instrumentos de triagem odontológica para classificação de risco. Objetivo: Identificar os instrumentos de triagem odontológica utilizados para priorizar o atendimento odontológico de idosos institucionalizados presentes na literatura. Metodologia: Revisão de escopo conduzida, utilizando a extensão do checklist PRISMA-ScR, nas seguintes bases de dados: MEDLINE via Pubmed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science. Incluíram-se estudos que responderam à pergunta de pesquisa publicados nos últimos 20 anos. Excluíram-se artigos que apresentaram instrumentos de avaliação sem triagem e revisões de literatura. Resultados: Após a remoção das duplicatas, exclusão por títulos, resumos e leitura de textos completos, restaram 10 artigos. Os textos analisados, publicados entre os anos de 2005 e 2023, são provenientes de 9 países e apresentaram um total de 6 instrumentos de triagem para uso em idosos institucionalizados, tendo o Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) presente em 6 dos 10 artigos. Conclusão: Após análise da literatura, pode-se observar que o OHAT é o instrumento mais adequado para triagem odontológica de idosos institucionalizado, principalmente por não depender da função cognitiva e cooperação do paciente, ser simples e aplicável por cuidadores ou outros profissionais da saúde.
Association of TLR7 and MyD88 Gene Polymorphism with Trichomoniasis vaginalis Infection
Authors: Kermasha Zainab Waddah , Al-Masoudi Hayam Khalis , Al-Shaikh Suhaila Fadhil
Published: September 2023

Objective: Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and MyD88 represent important components of the innate immune response which play a crucial role in recognition of T. vaginalis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TLRs and MyD88 were manifested as key determinant affecting the susceptibility to trichomoniasis. This study aims to examine the impact of two SNPs, designated rs179008 and rs4988453 in TLR7 and MyD88, respectively, on Iraqi women infected with T. vaginalis.

Methods: Women vaginal swabs as well as blood samples were collected from 186 female patients diagnosed clinically by gynecologists. These pateints were admitting the gynecology clinics in three public hospitals in Babel governorate in Iraq. Clinical samples were obtained for molecular identification of the parasite, sequencing of the TLR7 and MyD88 genes as well as performing the corresponding immunological studies.

Results: The PCR assays showed 40 positive women (95% CI, 15.85 to 28.11) of T. vaginalis β-tubulin gene. Genetic studies of rs179008 SNP in TLR7 showed that the mutant T allele revealed significantly more prevalence in women infected with T. vaginalis in comparison with controls (p<0.001), furthermore, AT and TT genotypes distribution were significantly greater in patients than that in controls (p<0.01). Moreover, genetic analysis of rs4988453 SNP in MyD88 demonstrated that the mutant A allele almost has close frequency between patients and controls, and the heterozygous CA and homozygous AA genotypes were almost normally distributed between controls and patients. Finally, the concentrations of TLR7 and MyD88 were significantly elevated in the majority of women patients aged between 16-40 years.

Conclusion: The mutant allele A of rs4988453 SNP in MyD88 did not show an association with increased risk of trichomonas infection, however, the mutant allele T of rs179008 SNP in TLR7 might make women more sensitive for infection with T. vaginalis. However, more studies are needed to confirm these findings and to understand the underlying involved mechanisms.
PROTAGONISMO DISCENTE NA CONSTRUÇÃO DO CONHECIMENTO EM BIOLOGIA CELULAR: O USO DO INSTAGRAM COMO RECURSO TECNOLÓGICO DIDÁTICO EM PERÍODO DE ENSINO REMOTO EMERGENCIAL
Authors: Soares Janaína Dória Líbano , Felix Carla Fagundes
Published: September 2023

A pandemia de Covid-19 interrompeu bruscamente a rotina de várias pessoas ao redor do mundo, trazendo consigo uma série de desafios nas mais diversas áreas da nossa vida. Do ponto de vista educacional, a suspensão das aulas presenciais, diante da incerteza quanto ao final dessa grave crise sanitária mundial, demandou profundas reformulações para que o ensino continuasse acontecendo de forma adaptada e remota. Neste relato de experiência é descrito como se deu o processo didático-pedagógico da disciplina, adequado para o formato de ensino remoto emergencial, em decorrência da pandemia de Covid-19. Os principais objetivos da intervenção foram: ampliar o interesse e participação dos estudantes nas atividades de ensino à distância; facilitar a comunicação e interatividade entre docentes e estudantes, bem como entre os próprios alunos, e promover atividades de aprendizagem colaborativa, como projetos em grupo. Na primeira parte da disciplina, as temáticas foram apresentadas de forma expositiva e assíncrona, através de videoaulas preparadas pelas docentes, além de encontros síncronos periódicos para esclarecer as dúvidas e realizar discussões sobre os conteúdos com os estudantes. Nessa primeira etapa, as avaliações foram realizadas por meio de formulários online individuais, com questões objetivas e discursivas, após cada conteúdo trabalhado. Na segunda parte do componente curricular, foi sugerido aos discentes o desenvolvimento de um projeto, retomando o conteúdo até então trabalhado, utilizando o Instagram, rede social amplamente utilizada e que propicia a troca de saberes e interação. A análise dos resultados alcançados, pelas quatro turmas que vivenciaram o ensino remoto, aponta um desempenho geral melhor nesta segunda atividade avaliativa. Por intermédio da metodologia adotada, os estudantes puderam ser protagonistas na construção, ativa e dinâmica, dos saberes a partir dos conteúdos relacionados à disciplina, organizando, integrando e contextualizando os conhecimentos adquiridos durante esse processo.
Performance Analysis of the Proxy-Based and Collusion Resistant Revocable CPABE Framework
Authors: Chawla Shobha , Gupta Neha
Published: September 2023

Ciphertext Policy Attribute Based Encryption (CPABE) emerged as a
trusted solution to enforce access control in an untrusted cloud
environment. CPABE allows data owners to implement one-to-many
encryptions by defining an access policy. The data user’s secret key
must comply with the access policy’s requirements before the key can
successfully decrypt the ciphertext. However, efficient revocation of
access rights in CPABE schemes has multiple challenges, particularly for
lightweight devices. Thus, extensive research to enforce and govern
access control is absolute need. The present study reviews the bilinear
pairing cryptography-based revocable CPABE schemes. The methodologies
used in the existing CPABE schemes to revoke users at the system and
attribute levels have been focused on in the current study. The module
proposed in Proxy-based and Collusion-Resistant Multi-Authority
Revocable CPABE (PCMR-CPABE) efficiently addresses the revocation issue.
The present paper extends the study on PCMR-CPABE and presents a
performance analysis of the module. The presented analysis has compared
the computational cost of the existing cutting-edge schemes with the
PCMR-CPABE module. The study has proved that the proposed module is
computationally inexpensive.
Epigenome–wide Meta–Analysis Reveals Associations between Dietary Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load and DNA methylation in Children and Adolescents with Different Body Size
Authors: Ott Raffael , Stein Robert , H. Hauta–alus Helena , Ronkainen Justiina , Fernández-Barrés Sílvia , Spielau Ulrike , Kirsten Holger , Poulain Tanja , Melton Phillip E. , Küpers Leanne K. , Azaryah Hatim , Colombo Marco , Landgraf Kathrin , W. Tob Elmar , O’Sullivan Therese , Huang Rae-Chi , Campoy Cristina , Winkler Christiane , Vioque Jesus , Vrijheid Martine , Kiess Wieland , Körner Antje , Sebert Sylvain , Jarvelin Marjo-Riitta , Ziegler Anette G. , Hummel Sandra
Published: September 2023

Objective: Dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) are associated with cardio–metabolic health in children and adolescents, with potential distinct effects in people with increased body mass index (BMI). DNA methylation (DNAm) may mediate these effects. Thus, we conducted meta–analyses of epigenome–wide association studies (EWASs) between dietary GI and GL and blood DNAm of children and adolescents.

Research Design and Methods: We calculated dietary GI and GL and performed EWASs in children and adolescents (age range: 4.5–17 years) from six cohorts (ntotal = 1,187). We performed stratified analyses of participants with normal–weight (ntotal = 801) or overweight/obesity (ntotal = 386). We performed look–ups for the identified cytosine–phosphate–guanine (CpG) sites (false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05) with tissue–specific gene expression of 832 blood and 223 subcutaneous adipose tissue samples of children and adolescents.

Results: Dietary GL was positively associated with DNAm of cg20274553 (FDR < 0.05), annotated to WDR27. Several CpGs were identified in the normal–weight (GI: 85, GL: 17) and overweight/obese strata (GI: 136, GL: 298; FDR < 0.05), of which none overlapped between the strata. In participants with overweight/obesity, identified CpGs showed relations to RNA expression of genes associated with impaired metabolism, e.g., FRAT1 and CSF3.

Conclusions: We identified 537 associations between dietary GI and GL and blood DNAm, mainly in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity. High GI and/or GL diets may influence epigenetic gene regulation and thereby, promote metabolic derangements in young persons with increased BMI.