bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Prediction of Milk Whey Extract (MWE) Bioactive Compounds Based on Proximate Analysis and its Effects on Blood Coagulation: A New Approach
Authors: Tabassum Asma , H Ramesha , K Jayanna , S Devaraja , M Bhagyalakshmi
Published: April 2024

The present work demonstrates the milk whey extraction, proximate analysis, and biochemical characterization of bioactive compounds in MWE. Effects of MWE on plasma coagulation and platelet aggregation. Proximate analysis of MWE was done according to AOAC. Whey protein banding was confirmed in 12%, 15%, and 18% SDS-PAGEs. A quantitative analysis of bioactive compounds was done. The anticoagulant effects of MWE were tested using plasma recalcification time in both PRP and PPP, further confirmed by PT and APTT assays and in tail bleeding assays at concentrations of 0-100 µg. The non-toxic property of MWE was screened by edema, hemorrhage, and direct hemolytic activities. MWE proximate analysis showed the presence of both micro- and macronutrients. Qualitative analysis confirmed the presence of proteins and carbohydrates. A similar protein-banding pattern was observed in 12%, 15%, and 18% SDS-PAGE’s in both reduced and non-reduced conditions. MWE prolonged the clotting time of human citrated plasma, both PRP and PPP, against the control 210 sec to 770 sec, suggesting its anticoagulant property. MWE delayed the clot progress of only the APTT ratio (8.99 ± 0.09), and PT was not altered, suggesting its role in an intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. MWE exhibited antiplatelet activity in PRP against ADP and epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation. The percentage of inhibition was 74% and 100% for ADP and epinephrine, respectively. Interestingly, MWE exhibits nontoxic properties, it does not cause hemolysis, hemorrhage, or edema. Milk whey extraction and studies confirm bioactive compounds, and these exhibit antithrombotic, antiplatelet, and non-toxic properties. Hence, MWE not only acts as a good nutritive source but also may prove tobe a therapeutic bioactive compound in the management of cardiovascular disease.
A Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis of Household Food and Nutrition Insecurity in Stunting and Non-Stunting Toddlers
Authors: Aisyah Iseu Siti , Khomsan Ali , Tanziha Ikeu , Riyadi Hadi
Published: April 2024

Background: Stunting, wasting, and underweight are growth disorders in children under 5 years of age due to malnutrition in Indonesia. The level of macronutrient intake is a risk factor that directly influences stunting and wasting. Food insecurity is associated with poverty, malnutrition, and hunger.
Objectives: This study aimed to analyze food and nutritional insecurity in households with stunting and non-stunting toddlers, using a multivariate model.
Method: This study used a comparative cross-sectional design. Using the Lemeshow formula, 142 samples were obtained from a population of 822 children under five. Food insecurity was measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), diversity using IDDS, and macronutrient intake using 2x24-hour food recall. Stunting, wasting, and underweight were measured based on anthropometry. Bivariate analysis was performed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results: Food insecurity, energy intake, protein intake, carbohydrate intake, underweight, and maternal nutritional knowledge had a significant relationship with the incidence of stunting in toddlers. These results also showed that the underweight variable was the most dominant cause of stunting because it had the highest OR value of 18.572. The OR value showed that underweight toddlers were 18.572 times more likely to have a stunting nutritional status.
Conclusions: Toddlers categorized as underweight face an 18.572 times higher likelihood of experiencing stunting in their nutritional status.
POR UMA EDUCAÇÃO LIBERTADORA:
Authors: Rossatto Cesar Augusto , Furley Ana Karyne Loureiro GonçAlves Willcox , Pinel Hiran
Published: April 2024

A discussão sobre Princípios, Políticas e Práticas na Área das Necessidades Educativas Especiais tem ganhado destaque no campo da Educação e dos direitos humanos nos últimos anos. Um dos grandes desafios dessa área diz respeito à garantia de direitos frente às políticas públicas já estabelecidas e, infelizmente, violadas. A temática “brincar como direito humano”, nesse tempo vivido, tem rompido o espaço da educação infantil, particularmente o espaço escolar, adentrado espaços não escolares, como os espaços hospitalares. A pensar, o que é e como é ser criança e o adolescente em situação de vulnerabilidade (doenças, guerras, situações de extrema pobreza) a partir da retificação da Declaração de Salamanca de 2005, é de certa forma, apresentar, em parte, o cenário mundial, visto que enquanto sociedade temos vivenciado cenários políticos devastadores, guerras civis, guerra do tráfico de drogas e que deixam para trás uma vida construída. Recomeçar a partir do que não se tem! Re-começar, nesse caso, do que é velado como direito.   Assumindo a perspectiva teórico-metodológica indicada por Merleau-Ponty (1999) e Freire (2004, 2005) investiremos numa perspectiva que toma como referência a compreensão e a elucidação dos fenômenos em suas várias manifestações numa visão existencialista de homem no mundo, contribuindo para a reflexão e o questionamento crítico acerca de uma educação libertadora a pensar o brincar como direito humano para quem? Nesse sentido, o direito ao brincar clama pela vida!
ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF ON-GRID PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS IN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE IN RIO DE JANEIRO CITY
Authors: Graziela Marcô  , Ribeiro de Almeida Josimar
Published: April 2024

Brazil is a tropical country with favorable conditions for the generation and utilization of solar energy. This energy source becomes even more attractive when considering the dry periods that impact hydroelectric power generation in the country, resulting in an increase in energy costs reflected monthly in consumers' bills through tariff flags. In order to enhance residential architectural designs and promote energy efficiency, a feasibility study of photovoltaic systems was conducted, considering key economic indicators and the current tariff flags. To accomplish this, research was conducted in collaboration with Mounting Companies for a case study located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, adopting technical assumptions commonly used for residential photovoltaic system sizing. For the graphical sizing of the case study, factors such as the environment and summer and winter solstices were taken into account, and a shadow study was conducted to assess the potential loss of power generation by the photovoltaic system throughout the year. The shadow study revealed that, during both solstices, the optimal time for power generation by photovoltaic systems is between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Essentially, the calculated values of NPV (Net Present Value) and IRR (Internal Rate of Return) indicate that the project is economically viable and particularly advantageous during the yellow and red tariff flags, situations in which energy costs tend to be higher for consumers.
Making leaps in oral health
Authors: Korte Annimari
Published: April 2024

Dental Nursing speaks with hurdler Annimari Korte about her passion for oral health in the athletic arena.
Making the difference
Authors: Garner Mark
Published: April 2024

Mark Garner addresses the issues affecting workplace wellbeing.
Spring time
Authors: Edgar Laura
Published: April 2024

Dental Nursing speaks with Laura Edgar about the latest in dental decontamination.
Tracheostomy as short-term palliation
Authors: Wheeler Robert
Published: April 2024

Our Legal editor explores some short-term palliative treatments for incapacitated patients.
Faraday rotation stimulated optical-rotation quasi-phase-matching technique to radiate a highly efficient elliptically polarized second harmonic
Authors: Saha Moumita , Deb Sumita
Published: April 2024

Faraday rotation has been employed to ensure efficient frequency conversion in the ultraviolet regime. The reported 36% efficiency of the radiated 372 nm, continuous-wave second harmonic of this paper has been numerically analyzed in the presence of a magnetic field in a thin-film-coated magneto-optic crystal using the total-internal-reflection-based optical-rotation quasi-phase-matching approach, considering the influence of surface roughness, absorption loss, and the nonlinear law of reflection.
Directional switching of surface plasmons in a parity-time-symmetric insulator-metal-insulator structure
Authors: Chaudhary Priyanka , Mishra Akhilesh Kumar
Published: April 2024

In the present work, we study the generation and propagation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in a geometrically flat insulator-metal-insulator (IMI) structure with parity-time (PT) symmetric modulation on the dielectric layers. Unidirectional SPPs are generated by PT-symmetric modulation. Moreover, magnetic field switching is obtained between two metal-dielectric interfaces. It has been noticed that the metal thickness affects the oscillation frequency of excited SPPs along the direction of propagation. Also, we report that the field at the upper interface is manipulated by solely maneuvering the permittivity of the bottom dielectric. The magnetic field distribution of the present structure is studied using COMSOL Multiphysics software. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the simulation results, comprehensive analytical investigations have also been conducted.
Incoherent phenomena in anisotropic periodic structures: from modeling to experimental demonstration
Authors: Postava K. , Ciompa P. , Kohut T. , Drong M. , Ješko R. , Jaffrès H. , Fördös T. , Kotačka L. , Drouhin H.-J.
Published: April 2024

The periodic structures are widely studied in numerous optical applications and there is a number of good tools for numerical modeling of such a structures (for example rigorous coupled-wave analysis, finite-difference time-domain, finite element method etc.). However, when it comes to the modeling of incoherent effects in many cases of practical interest, the current methods are not rigorous enough or depend on computationally demanding averaging of coherent response. In this paper, we present a novel approach to modeling of incoherent effects in structures with lateral periodicity based on scattering matrix formalism, as a way to describe optical response of a structure, and on application of incoherent wave summation in the form of infinite geometric series and generalized Mueller matrix calculus. This method can be combined with any of the existing coherent methods of modeling periodic structures and it offers significantly faster computational performance than partially coherent/incoherent methods based on averaging. It is compared with other methods for modeling of incoherent effects and also with experimental spectroscopic data. This method is then used to explain phenomena emerging from the complex interaction between diffraction grating and thick substrate.
Learning-based lens wavefront aberration recovery
Authors: Chen Liqun , Hu Yuyao , Nie Jiewen , Xue Tianfan , Gu Jinwei
Published: April 2024

Wavefront aberration describes the deviation of a wavefront in an imaging system from a desired perfect shape, such as a plane or a sphere, which may be caused by a variety of factors, such as imperfections in optical equipment, atmospheric turbulence, and the physical properties of imaging subjects and medium. Measuring the wavefront aberration of an imaging system is a crucial part of modern optics and optical engineering, with a variety of applications such as adaptive optics, optical testing, microscopy, laser system design, and ophthalmology. While there are dedicated wavefront sensors that aim to measure the phase of light, they often exhibit some drawbacks, such as higher cost and limited spatial resolution compared to regular intensity measurement. In this paper, we introduce a lightweight and practical learning-based method, named LWNet, to recover the wavefront aberration for an imaging system from a single intensity measurement. Specifically, LWNet takes a measured point spread function (PSF) as input and recovers the wavefront aberration with a two-stage network. The first stage network estimates an initial wavefront aberration via supervised learning, and the second stage network further optimizes the wavefront aberration via self-supervised learning by enforcing the statistical priors and physical constraints of wavefront aberrations via Zernike decomposition. For supervised learning, we created a synthetic PSF-wavefront aberration dataset via ray tracing of 88 lenses. Experimental results show that even trained with simulated data, LWNet works well for wavefront aberration estimation of real imaging systems and consistently outperforms prior learning-based methods.
Flexible wafer-scale bifunctional metasurface based on nanoimprinting
Authors: Xie Meiting , Zhang Xuanming , Lou Fei , Cheng Xing , Lei Lei
Published: April 2024

Metasurfaces have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in manipulating light fields across diverse applications. However, current research tends to examine these functionalities in isolation, prompting a growing interest in integrating different functionalities within a singular metasurface device. In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a bifunctional metasurface capable of providing concealment and sensing functions simultaneously. Specifically, the proposed nanostructure effectively operates as a one-way mirror, exhibiting an average reflection rate of approximately 90% under external illumination, alongside an absorption rate of 87.9% from the opposite direction of incidence. This functionality renders it suitable for privacy-enhancing building windows. Meanwhile, this nanostructure also integrates liquid sensing capabilities boasting a sensitivity of 464 nm/RIU, which is particularly valuable for monitoring liquid-based corrosion. The experimental performance of the prepared 6-inch nanohole-patterned metasurface closely aligns with the simulations, and the utilization of flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, coupled with nanoimprint lithography technology, enables a direct and cost-effective manufacturing process that can be scaled up for widespread applications.
Bio-inspired foveal super-resolution method for multi-focal-length images based on local gradient constraints
Authors: Huang Feng , Wang Xuesong , Chen Yating , Wu Xianyu
Published: April 2024

Most existing super-resolution (SR) imaging systems, inspired by the bionic compound eye, utilize image registration and reconstruction algorithms to overcome the angular resolution limitations of individual imaging systems. This article introduces a multi-aperture multi-focal-length imaging system and a multi-focal-length image super-resolution algorithm, mimicking the foveal imaging of the human eye. Experimental results demonstrate that with the proposed imaging system and an SR imaging algorithm inspired by the human visual system, the proposed method can enhance the spatial resolution of the foveal region by up to 4 × compared to the original acquired image. These findings validate the effectiveness of the proposed imaging system and computational imaging algorithm in enhancing image texture and spatial resolution.
Tomographic waveguide-based augmented reality display
Authors: Zhao Naiqin , Xiao Jiasheng , Weng Peixin , Zhang Hao
Published: April 2024

A tomographic waveguide-based augmented reality display technique is proposed for near-eye three-dimensional (3D) display with accurate depth reconstructions. A pair of tunable lenses with complementary focuses is utilized to project tomographic virtual 3D images while maintaining the correct perception of the real scene. This approach reconstructs virtual 3D images with physical depth cues, thereby addressing the vergence-accommodation conflict inherent in waveguide augmented reality systems. A prototype has been constructed and optical experiments have been conducted, demonstrating the system’s capability in delivering high-quality 3D scenes for waveguide-based augmented reality display.
Research on the background stray light suppression method of a dim target projector based on the orthogonal polarization extinction principle
Authors: Peng Yutian , Sun Gaofei , Zhang Jierui , Wang Yu , Zhao Xinhui , Ding Yixiang
Published: April 2024

Aiming at the problem of background stray light affecting the display of dim target scenes in existing projectors, a stray light suppression optical engine based on a polarizer is proposed. First, the effect of the background stray light of traditional LCOS target projectors on the display of dim targets is analyzed with simulation, and the sources of stray light in the target projector were analyzed as well. Secondly, we theoretically analyze the causes of different stray light paths and stray light polarization states, propose the method of stray light suppression based on the polarizer, and calculate the rotation angle of the polarizer. Then, we simulate and analyze the stray light suppression effect of the polarizer-based target projector model. Finally, a dim target projector test experiment system is built to verify the actual level of stray light suppression. The simulation results show that the highest stray light energy of the target projector with the polarizer-based stray light suppression optical engine has decreased by 2.37 times compared to the conventional LCOS target projector, the stray light coefficient has decreased from the previous 2.12% to 0.60%, and the simulated contrast ratio has been improved by 2.98 times. The experimental results show that the polarizer-based stray light suppression optical engine is able to reduce the peak gray level of the background stray light energy of the projected display image of the target projector by nearly 2 times, and improve the contrast of the gray level by 2.79 times. The suppression of dim target projector background stray light and the improvement of the contrast of the projected display image are realized.
High-speed forward-viewing optical coherence tomography probe based on Lissajous sampling and sparse reconstruction
Authors: Wu Xinyu , Ishrak Ragib , Reihanisaransari Reza , Verma Yogesh , Spring Bryan , Singh Kanwarpal , Reddy Rohith
Published: April 2024

We present a novel endoscopy probe using optical coherence tomography (OCT) that combines sparse Lissajous scanning and compressed sensing (CS) for faster data collection. This compact probe is only 4 mm in diameter and achieves a large field of view (FOV) of 2.25 mm2 and a 10 mm working distance. Unlike traditional OCT systems that use bulky raster scanning, our design features a dual-axis piezoelectric mechanism for efficient Lissajous pattern scanning. It employs compressive data reconstruction algorithms that minimize data collection requirements for efficient, high-speed imaging. This approach significantly enhances imaging speed by over 40%, substantially improving miniaturization and performance for endoscopic applications.
Improved performance of a fiber-optic hydrogen sensor based on a controllable optical heating technology
Authors: Dai Jixiang , Yin Kai , Chen Zhangning , Hu Wenbin , Yang Minghong , Fu Jinghua , Sun Xuxu , Chen Xianfeng
Published: April 2024

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, and compact fiber-optic hydrogen sensor based on light intensity demodulation and controllable optical heating technology is proposed and experimentally investigated. This system employs three photodetectors for optic signal transformation. The first PD is used to receive a little fraction of the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) for calibration, and the second PD is utilized to detect optic signal reflected by a single mode fiber deposited with WO3-Pd2Pt-Pt composite film. The last PD is utilized to receive the optical power reflected by the short fiber Bragg grating (SFBG) with a central wavelength located in a steep wavelength range (the intensity decreases approximately linearly with the increase of the wavelength) of the ASE light source. A 980 nm laser and proportion integration differentiation (PID) controller were employed to ensure the hydrogen sensitive film working at an operating temperature of 60°C. This sensing system can display a quick response time of 0.4 s toward 10,000 ppm hydrogen in air. In addition, the detection limit of 5 ppm in air can be achieved with this sensing system. The stability of this sensor can be greatly enhanced with a controllable optical heating system, which can greatly promote its potential application in various fields.
Effect of exceptional point on the performance of a bistable all-optical switch
Authors: Zhang Yuxuan , Zhang Zhihong
Published: April 2024

Microring cavities based on whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) have a very high-quality factor (Q) and a small mode volume, greatly improving the interaction between light and matter, which has attracted great attention in microlaser, nonlinear, and sensing fields. Plasmonics in the microcavity further enhance compression of the optical field. Recently, research on enhanced optical sensing sensitivity and low threshold laser based on exceptional points (EPs) is quite impressive. In this work, we propose a new, to our knowledge, all-optical switch by using the bistable effect under the EP of an ultra-compact plasmonic racetrack resonator and perform numerical simulations using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The introduction of EPs further enhances the localization of the light field and thus improves the Kerr nonlinear effect of the microcavity; low threshold optical bistability is achieved. The results show that the device under an EP has a relatively lower threshold (input optical power threshold of 2.2 MW/cm2), shorter switching time (1.725 ps), and significantly improved switching contrast (17.16 dB) compared with those without EP. Our research lays the groundwork for optical switches that are chip-integrated, have low power consumption, and exhibit short switching times.
Coagulation depth estimation using a line scanner for depth-resolved laser speckle contrast imaging
Authors: Johansson Johannes , Hultman Martin , Saager Rolf
Published: April 2024

Partial thickness burn wounds extend partially through the dermis, leaving many pain receptors intact and making the injuries very painful. Due to the painfulness, quick assessment of the burn depth is important to not delay surgery of the wound if needed. Laser speckle imaging (LSI) of skin blood flow can be helpful in finding severe coagulation zones with impaired blood flow. However, LSI measurements are typically too superficial to properly reach the full depth of adult dermis and cannot resolve the flow in depth. Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) uses varying source-detector separations to allow differentiation of flow depths but requires time-consuming 2D scanning to form an image of the burn area. We here present a prototype for a hybrid DCS and LSI technique called speckle contrast Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy (scDCS) with the novel approach of using a laser line as a source and using the speckle contrast of averaged images to obtain an estimate of static scattering in the tissue. This will allow for fast non-contact 1D scanning to perform 3D tomographic imaging, making quantitative estimates of the depth and area of the coagulation zone from burn wounds. Simulations and experimental results from a volumetric flow phantom and a gelatin wedge phantom show promise to determine coagulation depth. The aim is to develop a method that in the future could provide more quantitative estimates of coagulation depth in partial thickness burn wounds to better estimate when surgery is needed.
Single-cell RNA-seq of Drosophila miranda testis reveals the evolution and trajectory of germline sex chromosome regulation
Authors: Wei Kevin H-C. , Chatla Kamalakar , Bachtrog Doris
Published: April 2024

Although sex chromosomes have evolved from autosomes, they often have unusual regulatory regimes that are sex- and cell-type-specific such as dosage compensation (DC) and meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI). The molecular mechanisms and evolutionary forces driving these unique transcriptional programs are critical for genome evolution but have been, in the case of MSCI in Drosophila, subject to continuous debate. Here, we take advantage of the younger sex chromosomes in D. miranda (XR and the neo-X) to infer how former autosomes acquire sex-chromosome-specific regulatory programs using single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing and ribosome profiling, in a comparative evolutionary context. We show that contrary to mammals and worms, the X down-regulation through germline progression is most consistent with the shutdown of DC instead of MSCI, resulting in half gene dosage at the end of meiosis for all 3 X’s. Moreover, lowly expressed germline and meiotic genes on the neo-X are ancestrally lowly expressed, instead of acquired suppression after sex linkage. For the young neo-X, DC is incomplete across all tissue and cell types and this dosage imbalance is rescued by contributions from Y-linked gametologs which produce transcripts that are translated to compensate both gene and protein dosage. We find an excess of previously autosomal testis genes becoming Y-specific, showing that the neo-Y and its masculinization likely resolve sexual antagonism. Multicopy neo-sex genes are predominantly expressed during meiotic stages of spermatogenesis, consistent with their amplification being driven to interfere with mendelian segregation. Altogether, this study reveals germline regulation of evolving sex chromosomes and elucidates the consequences these unique regulatory mechanisms have on the evolution of sex chromosome architecture.
Quantifying effects of blood pressure control on neuroimaging utilization in a large multi-institutional healthcare population
Authors: Welch Theodore R. , Yaqub Aliza , Aiti Danny , Prevedello Luciano M. , Ajam Zarar A. , Nguyen Xuan V.
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Essential hypertension is a common chronic condition that can exacerbate or complicate various neurological diseases that may necessitate neuroimaging. Given growing medical imaging costs and the need to understand relationships between population blood pressure control and neuroimaging utilization, we seek to quantify the relationship between maximum blood pressure recorded in a given year and same-year utilization of neuroimaging CT or MR in a large healthcare population.

Methods

A retrospective population-based cohort study was performed by extracting aggregate data from a multi-institutional dataset of patient encounters from 2016, 2018, and 2020 using an informatics platform (Cosmos) consisting of de-duplicated data from over 140 academic and non-academic health systems, comprising over 137 million unique patients. A population-based sample of all patients with recorded blood pressures of at least 50 mmHg DBP or 90 mmHg SBP were included. Cohorts were identified based on maximum annual SBP and DBP meeting or exceeding pre-defined thresholds. For each cohort, we assessed neuroimaging CT and MR utilization, defined as the percentage of patients undergoing ≥1 neuroimaging exam of interest in the same calendar year.

Results

The multi-institutional population consisted of >38 million patients for the most recent calendar year analyzed, with overall utilization of 3.8–5.1% for CT and 1.5–2.0% for MR across the study period. Neuroimaging utilization increased substantially with increasing annual maximum BP. Even a modest BP increase to 140 mmHg systolic or 90 mmHg diastolic is associated with 3-4-fold increases in MR and 5-7-fold increases in CT same-year imaging compared to BP values below 120 mmHg / 80 mmHg.

Conclusion

Higher annual maximum recorded blood pressure is associated with higher same-year neuroimaging CT and MR utilization rates. These observations are relevant to public health efforts on hypertension management to mitigate costs associated with growing imaging utilization.
Performance, carcass quality and meat quality of the endangered German Angler Saddleback pig
Authors: Olschewsky Anna , Krieger Margret , Hoischen-Taubner Susanne , Mörlein Daniel , Klingel Stefanie , Thaller Georg , Hinrichs Dirk
Published: April 2024

The Angler Saddleback pig is an endangered local breed originating from Germany. The breed is said to have low demands in terms of husbandry and feeding, and an excellent meat quality. To date, there is a lack of more recent scientific investigations of the breed. Therefore, 58 Angler Saddleback pigs were fattened in two consecutive trials whereby performance, carcass quality and meat quality were assessed. At an average age of 324 days, the pigs reached an average final live weight of 143 kg, an intramuscular fat (IMF) content of 2.6%, a lean meat percentage of 47% and a backfat thickness of 38 mm. A significant influence of the independent variables “breeder” and “age at the end of fattening” on the majority of target variables was found. Furthermore, IMF as well as pH value 45 minutes post mortem was significantly influenced by sex. These results give a current overview of the phenotypic characteristics of this endangered breed. It is shown that the slower growing Angler Saddleback breed may need alternative marketing concepts for its meat and meat products. Additionally, further research is necessary to clarify the reasons for the high phenotypic variation within this breed.
Impact of temperature on the bionomics and geographical range margins of the two-spotted field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus in the world: Implications for its mass farming
Authors: Magara Henlay J. O. , Tanga Chrysantus M. , Fisher Brian L. , Azrag Abdelmutalab G. A. , Niassy Saliou , Egonyu James P. , Hugel Sylvain , Roos Nana , Ayieko Monica A. , Sevgan Subramanian , Ekesi Sunday
Published: April 2024

Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is widely considered an excellent nutrient source for food and feed. Despite its economic importance, there is limited information on the impact of temperature on the bionomics of this cricket to guide its effective and sustainable mass production in its geographical range. The biological parameters of G. bimaculatus were investigated at eight different temperatures ranging from 20–40˚C. The Insect Life-Cycle Modelling (ILCYM) program was used to fit linear and non-linear functions to the data to describe the influence of temperature on life history parameters and its farmability under the current and projected climate for 2050. Our results revealed that G. bimaculatus was able to complete its lifecycle in the temperature range of 20°C to 37°C with a maximum finite rate of population increase (= 1.14) at 35°C. The developmental time of G. bimaculatus decreased with increasing temperature. The least developmental time and mortality were attained at 32°C. The highest wet length and mass of G. bimaculatus occurred at 32°C. The lowest temperature threshold for G. bimaculatus egg and nymph development was approximated using linear regression functions to be at 15.9°C and 16.2°C with a temperature constant of 108.7 and 555.6 degree days. The maximum fecundity (2301.98 eggs per female), net reproductive rate (988.42 daughters/ generation), and intrinsic rate of natural increase (0.134 days) were recorded at 32°C and the shortest doubling of 5.2 days was observed at 35°C. Based on our findings G. bimaculatus can be farmed in countries with temperatures ranging between 20 and 37°C around the globe. These findings will help the cricket farmers understand and project the cricket population dynamics around the world as influenced by temperature, and as such, will contribute to more efficient farming.
National science foundation grant awardees’ perspectives on Article X and sexual harassment in science
Authors: Perumalswami Chithra R. , Greene Amanda K. , Griffith Kent A. , Jagsi Reshma
Published: April 2024

Federal scientific agencies seek to make an impact on the continued prevalence of sexual harassment in the scientific academic community beyond institutional self-regulation. The National Science Foundation’s Article X, released in 2018, is one of the most significant and ambitious federal policy initiatives to address sexual harassment. The present article presents the results of the first study to examine scientists’ knowledge and attitudes about this important recent policy. We found, although overall knowledge about Article X was fairly low, the majority of participants responded positively to it. Crucially, impressions of the policy varied based on past experience and demographic factors. Individuals who had experienced harassment in the past year were less likely to believe the policy would help reduce sexual harassment in the sciences compared to those who had not experienced harassment (OR = 0.47, 95% CI:0.23–0.97, p = .034) and had greater odds of endorsing that the policy failed to go far enough (OR = 2.77, 95% CI:1.15–6.66, p = .023). Associations between demographic factors and views of the policy were less pronounced, but it is notable that, compared to their White counterparts, Black participants were more likely to believe the policy went too far (OR = 5.87, 95% CI:1.04–33.17, p = .045). Additionally, concerns were raised about the institutional enforcement of these policies and the existence of sufficient protections for survivors. Our work has implications for NSF’s continued evaluation of the efficacy of this program as well as for other federal agencies implementing or considering similar policies.
Health-related quality of life and associated factors among primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy, in Bahir Dar and Gondar cities, Ethiopia, 2022
Authors: Kassa Tesfa , Tadese Hiruy , Eriku Getachew Azeze , Abich Yohannes , Fentanew Molla
Published: April 2024

Background

Caring for a child with cerebral palsy (CP) could negatively affect the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) of the mothers who are usually the primary caregivers. To the best of our ‘knowledge, there is a dearth of information on the HRQOL of primary caregivers of children with CP in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate caregivers’ HRQOL and factors associated with it in Gondar and Bahir Dar Cities, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among primary caregivers of Children with CP from April 20 to June 20, 2022, in Gondar and Bahir Dar cities. Convenience sampling was used to get study participants. Data were collected by trained health extension and community-based rehabilitation workers. The collected data were coded, cleaned, entered into EPI data, and exported to Stata-16 for analysis. A generalized linear model was employed to show the relationship between dependent and independent variables. A P-value≤0.05 was considered statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval.

Result

In this study, HRQOL among primary caregivers of children with CP was 28.72(±13.38) and 23.26(±12.37) in the physical summary score (PSC) and mental summary score (MSC) respectively. Age 17-30yeas (p-value = 0.03), unable to read and write (p = 0.01), privately employed (p = 0.01) and government employed (p = 0.02), monthly income<1000 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) (p = 0.01), insufficient sleeping (p = 0.001), others relationship(p = 0.001), have three and above children (p = 0.001), others house composition (p = 0.003), have no helpers (p = 0.001) and third birth order of child (p = 0.03) were all factors associated with HRQOL in PSC. On the other hand, income<1000ETB (p = 0.05), insufficient sleeping (p = 0.001), others in relation to the child (p = 0.001), others in house composition (p = 0.03), dyskinetic CP (p = 0.01) and ataxic CP (p = 0.001) were all factors associated with HRQOL of caregivers in MSC components.

Conclusion

The HRQOL among primary caregivers of children with CP in Bahir Dar and Gondar cities was low. Age, monthly income, educational status, sleeping status, relationship and house composition, number of living children, birth order of child, helpers, and type of CP were all significantly associated with HRQOL of primary caregivers of children with CP.
The continuance intention to vaccinate against COVID-19: An empirical study from Malaysia
Authors: Hwang Li-Ann , Vaithilingam Santha , Ng Jason Wei Jian , Nair Mahendhiran , Ahmed Pervaiz , Musa Kamarul Imran
Published: April 2024

Background

Vaccination has been one of the most effective preventive strategies to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the COVID-19 vaccines’ effect wanes off after some time and given their reduced level of protection against mutation strains of the virus, the calls for boosters and second boosters signal the need for continuous vaccination for the foreseeable future. As Malaysia transitions into the endemic phase, the nation’s ability to co-exist with the virus in the endemic phase will hinge on people’s continuance intention to be vaccinated against the virus. Adapting the expectations confirmation model (ECM) to the public health context and in a developing country, this study integrates the ECM with the health belief model (HBM) and the theory of reasoned action (TRA) to examine the inter-relationships of the predictors of people’s continuance intention to vaccinate against COVID-19.

Methodology

Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires from 1,914 respondents aged 18 and above by a marketing consulting firm via its online panel. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to analyze the data.

Results

Out of the 1,914 respondents, 55.9% reported having a continuance intention to vaccinate against COVID-19, similar to other developing countries. The multivariate analysis revealed that perceived usefulness and satisfaction significantly influenced individuals’ continuance intention to vaccinate against COVID-19. Additionally, attitude was found to play a key role in influencing behavioral change among individuals towards their perceptions of continuously getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

Conclusions

By integrating three theoretical frameworks (i.e., HBM, TRA and ECM), this study showed that behavioral characteristics could provide insights towards continuance vaccination intention. Hence, policymakers and key stakeholders can develop effective public health strategies or interventions to encourage vaccine booster uptake by targeting behavioral factors such as perceived usefulness, attitude, satisfaction, and subjective norms.
A simple and effective convolutional operator for node classification without features by graph convolutional networks
Authors: Jiao Qingju , Zhang Han , Wu Jingwen , Wang Nan , Liu Guoying , Liu Yongge
Published: April 2024

Graph neural networks (GNNs), with their ability to incorporate node features into graph learning, have achieved impressive performance in many graph analysis tasks. However, current GNNs including the popular graph convolutional network (GCN) cannot obtain competitive results on the graphs without node features. In this work, we first introduce path-driven neighborhoods, and then define an extensional adjacency matrix as a convolutional operator. Second, we propose an approach named exopGCN which integrates the simple and effective convolutional operator into GCN to classify the nodes in the graphs without features. Experiments on six real-world graphs without node features indicate that exopGCN achieves better performance than other GNNs on node classification. Furthermore, by adding the simple convolutional operator into 13 GNNs, the accuracy of these methods are improved remarkably, which means that our research can offer a general skill to improve accuracy of GNNs. More importantly, we study the relationship between node classification by GCN without node features and community detection. Extensive experiments including six real-world graphs and nine synthetic graphs demonstrate that the positive relationship between them can provide a new direction on exploring the theories of GCNs.
Small peptide CSF fingerprint of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Lumi Rea , Petri Susanne , Siwy Justyna , Latosinska Agnieszka , Raad Julia , Zürbig Petra , Skripuletz Thomas , Mischak Harald , Beige Joachim
Published: April 2024

Background

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by abnormal protein aggregation in the motor neurons. Present and earlier proteomic studies to characterize peptides in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) associated with motoneuron pathology did not target low molecular weight proteins and peptides. We hypothesized that specific changes in CSF peptides or low molecular weight proteins are significantly altered in ALS, and that these changes may support deciphering molecular pathophysiology and even guide approaches towards therapeutic interventions.

Methods

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 50 ALS patients and 50 non-ALS controls was collected, centrifuged immediately after collection, aliquoted into polypropylene test tubes, frozen within 30–40 min after the puncture, and stored at −80°C until use. Peptides were sequenced using capillary electrophoresis or liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (CE-MS/MS or LC-MS/MS).

Findings

In the CSF of 50 patients and 50 non-ALS controls 33 peptides were found, of which 14 could be sequenced using a non-lytic single-pot proteomic detection method, CE/MS. ALS deregulated peptides vs. controls included Integral membrane protein 2B, Neurosecretory protein VGF, Osteopontin, Neuroendocrine protein 7B2 (Secretogranin-V), EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1, Xylosyltransferase 1 XT-1, Chromogranin-A, Superoxide dismutase SOD-1, Secretogranin-1 (Chromogranin B), NR2F2 Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 2 Group F Member 2 and Collagen alpha-1(VII) chain.

Interpretation

Most striking deregulations in CSF from ALS patients were found in VGF, Osteopontin, SOD-1 and EFEMP1 peptides. No associations of disease severity, duration and region of onset with sequenced peptides were found.
Magnitude of standard precautions practices among healthcare workers in health facilities of Low and Middle Income Countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yilma Mengistu , Taye Girma , Abebe Workeabeba
Published: April 2024

Background

Standard precautions are the minimum standard of infection control to prevent transmission of infectious agents, protect healthcare workers, patients, and visitors regardless of infection status. The consistent implementation of standard precautions is highly effective in reducing transmission of pathogens that cause HAIs. Despite their effectiveness, compliance, resources, patient behavior, and time constraints are some of the challenges that can arise when implementing standard precautions. The main objective of this meta-analysis was to show the pooled prevalence of safe standard precaution practices among healthcare workers in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs).

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted for this study. We systematically searched observational study articles from PubMed Central and Google Scholar. We included articles published any year and involving healthcare workers. We used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). The random effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence. The meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, and publication bias (funnel plot, and Egger’s tests) were conducted.

Results

A total of 46 articles were included in this study. The pooled prevalence of standard precautions practices among healthcare workers in LMICs was 53%, with a 95% CI of (47, 59). These studies had a total sample size of 14061 with a minimum sample size of 17 and a maximum sample size of 2086. The majority of the studies (82.6%) were conducted in hospitals only (all kinds), and the remaining 17.4% were conducted in all health facilities, including hospitals.

Conclusions

The pooled prevalence of standard precautions practices among healthcare workers in LMICs was suboptimal. The findings of this study can have substantial implication for healthcare practice and policy making by providing robust evidence with synthesized and pooled evidence from multiple studies.

Trial registration

Registered on PROSPERO with record ID: CRD42023395129, on the 9th Feb. 2023.
Leveraging genomic signatures of oral microbiome-associated antibiotic resistance genes for diagnosing pancreatic cancer
Authors: Shen Xiaojing , Zhu Xiaolin , Liu Hairong , Yuan Rongtao , Guo Qingyuan , Zhao Peng
Published: April 2024

Growing evidence has increasingly suggested a potential linkage between the oral microbiome and various diseases, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the utilization of gene-level information derived from the oral microbiome for diagnosing PDAC remains unexplored. In this study, we sought to investigate the novel potential of leveraging genomic signatures associated with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within the oral microbiome for the diagnosis of PDAC. By conducting an analysis of oral microbiome samples obtained from PDAC patients, we successfully identified specific ARGs that displayed distinct sequence abundance profiles correlated with the presence of PDAC. In the healthy group, three ARGs were found to be enriched, whereas 21 ARGs were enriched in PDAC patients. Remarkably, these ARGs from oral microbiome exhibited promising diagnostic capabilities for PDAC (AUROC = 0.79), providing a non-invasive and early detection method. Our findings not only provide novel modal data for diagnosing PDAC but also shed light on the intricate interplay between the oral microbiome and PDAC.
PREscribing preoperative weight loss prior to major non-bariatric abdominal surgery for patients with Elevated weight: Patient and Provider Survey Protocols (PREPARE surveys)
Authors: McKechnie Tyler , Saddik Maisa , Doumouras Aristithes , Eskicioglu Cagla , Parpia Sameer , Bhandari Mohit
Published: April 2024

Background

Preoperative very low energy diet (VLED) interventions are used routinely in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, a surgical subspecialty that deals almost exclusively with patients with obesity. Yet, their use and study has been limited in non-bariatric abdominal surgery. To investigate the use of VLEDs in non-bariatric surgery, we plan on conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Prior to proceeding, however, we have designed two surveys as important pre-emptive studies aimed at elucidating patient and provider perspectives regarding these interventions.

Methods

The patient survey is a cross-sectional, single-center survey aimed at assessing the safety, adherence, barriers to adherence, and willingness to participate in preoperative optimization protocols with VLEDs prior to undergoing elective non-bariatric intra-abdominal surgery (S1 File). The population of interest is all adult patients with obesity undergoing elective non-bariatric intra-abdominal surgery at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton who were prescribed a course of preoperative VLED. The primary outcomes will be safety and adherence. The target sample size is 35 survey responses. The provider survey is a cross-sectional national survey of practicing surgeons in Canada who perform major non-bariatric abdominal surgery aimed assessing the willingness and ability to prescribe preoperative weight loss interventions amongst practicing Canadian surgeons who perform major non-bariatric abdominal surgery (S2 File). The population of interest is independent practicing surgeons in Canada who perform major non-bariatric abdominal surgery. The primary outcome will be willingness to prescribe preoperative VLED to patients with obesity undergoing major non-bariatric abdominal surgery for both benign and malignant indications. The target sample size is 61 survey responses. Descriptive statistics will be used to characterize the sample populations. To determine variables associated with primary outcomes in the surveys, regression analyses will be performed.

Discussion

These survey data will ultimately inform the design of an RCT evaluating the efficacy of preoperative VLEDs for patients with obesity undergoing major abdominal surgery.