bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is ethnicity a risk factor for mortality in major trauma? A single-centred cohort study
Authors: Jennison T , Kulenkampff C , Lee J , Mahmood A
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Many studies have found varying health outcomes in patients from different minority ethnic groups. There has been limited research into the outcomes in major trauma dependent on ethnicity. The aim was to analyse whether ethnicity was an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality in patients presenting to a major trauma centre when adjusting for confounders.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of all patients presenting to a single major trauma centre from 2010 to 2020. Data were collected on patient demographics and variables including mechanism and injury severity score. Logistic regression was used to determine significant predictors of mortality.

Results

There were 10,668 data sets with ethnicity data; of these 9,098 were of White ethnicity, 1,143 were Asian and 427 were classified as Black. The 30-day mortality rate was 7.76% for White ethnicities, 6.91% for Asian ethnicity and 5.15% for people of Black ethnicity. On multivariate logistic regression, ethnicity (p = 0.076) was not associated with 30-day mortality. Age, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Probability of Survival (PS) score, shock and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS; p < 0.001) were associated with 30-day mortality. White ethnicity had an odds ratio (OR) of mortality of 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.658–2.040) (p = 0.609) compared with Black ethnicity and an OR of 0.74 (95% CI 0.546–1.001) (p = 0.050) compared with Asian patients. Black patients had an OR of mortality of 0.65 (95% CI 0.351–1.193) (p = 0.164) compared with the Asian population.

Conclusion

Ethnicity is not a significant risk factor for 30-day mortality in trauma patients.
Professional competences and the dental curriculum: a view from “Down Under”
Authors: Thomson Peter
Published: May 2023

Contemporary dental education requires a student-centred, competence-based curriculum that facilitates training for our next generation of practitioners, emphasising in particular their roles as clinician scientists, critical thinkers, oral health team leaders and lifelong learners. In this article, Peter Thomson presents a view of dental education from “Down Under” and reviews the Australian Dental Council’s 2023 approach to defining the professional competences required of newly qualified dental practitioners, reflecting on how dental curricula must continually change and adapt to deliver the precise knowledge and skills required of modern dental practitioners.
Fourier ptychographic microscopy image enhancement with bi-modal deep learning
Authors: Bouchama Lyes , Dorizzi Bernadette , Thellier Marc , Klossa Jacques , Gottesman Yaneck
Published: May 2023

Digital pathology based on a whole slide imaging system is about to permit a major breakthrough in automated diagnosis for rapid and highly sensitive disease detection. High-resolution FPM (Fourier ptychographic microscopy) slide scanners delivering rich information on biological samples are becoming available. They allow new effective data exploitation for efficient automated diagnosis. However, when the sample thickness becomes comparable to or greater than the microscope depth of field, we report an observation of undesirable contrast change of sub-cellular compartments in phase images around the optimal focal plane, reducing their usability. In this article, a bi-modal U-Net artificial neural network (i.e., a two channels U-Net fed with intensity and phase images) is trained to reinforce specifically targeted sub-cellular compartments contrast for both intensity and phase images. The procedure used to construct a reference database is detailed. It is obtained by exploiting the FPM reconstruction algorithm to explore images around the optimal focal plane with virtual Z-stacking calculations and selecting those with adequate contrast and focus. By construction and once trained, the U-Net is able to simultaneously reinforce targeted cell compartment visibility and compensate for any focus imprecision. It is efficient over a large field of view at high resolution. The interest of the approach is illustrated considering the use-case of Plasmodium falciparum detection in blood smear where improvement in the detection sensitivity is demonstrated without degradation of the specificity. Post-reconstruction FPM image processing with such U-Net and its training procedure is general and applicable to demanding biological screening applications.
Ghost surface polaritons in naturally uniaxial hyperbolic materials
Authors: Wang Xiang-Guang , Hao Shao-Peng , Fu Shu-Fang , Zhang Qiang , Wang Xuan-Zhang
Published: May 2023

We investigated ghost surface phonon polaritons localized in a naturally uniaxial hyperbolic material, where the longitudinal axis (optical axis) is at any angle with respect to the surface plane. Two ghost surface phonon polaritons (GSPs) were found in the two Reststrahlen frequency bands, respectively. They are two TM surface waves, and their electromagnetic fields not only attenuate but also oscillate with the distance away from the surface. Unlike conventional surface phonon polaritons, GSPs are virtual surface phonon-polariton modes without electrostatic limit. The numerical simulations of the GSP dispersion and polarization properties were based on the hexagonal boron nitride, and the numerical simulation of the attenuated total reflection (ATR) experiment demonstrates the existence of the GSPs and prove their excitability and observability.
Effect of surrounding objects in the adapting scene on chromatic adaptation
Authors: Ma Shining , Sun Ruoduan , Liu Yue , Wang Yongtian , Song Weitao
Published: May 2023

Most of the existing chromatic adaptation transforms (CATs) were developed for flat uniform stimuli presented in a uniform background, which substantially simplifies the complexity of the real scene by excluding surrounding objects from the viewing field. The impact of the background complexity, in terms of the spatial properties of the objects surrounding the stimulus, on chromatic adaptation is ignored in most CATs. This study systematically investigated how the background complexity and color distribution affect the adaptation state. Achromatic matching experiments were conducted in an immersive lighting booth, with the illumination varying in chromaticity and the adapting scene varying in surrounding objects. Results show that compared to the uniform adapting field, increasing the scene complexity can significantly improve the degree of adaptation for the Planckian illuminations with low CCT levels. In addition, the achromatic matching points are substantially biased by the color of the surrounding object, implying the interactive effect of the illumination color and the dominant scene color on the adapting white point.
C-band 100-GBaud PS-PAM-4 transmission over 50-km SSMF enabled by FIR-filter-based pre-electronic dispersion compensation
Authors: Wu Xiong , Zhang Junwei , Lau Alan Pak Tao , Lu Chao
Published: May 2023

Chromatic dispersion (CD) is always an obstacle to C-band high-speed intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) transmissions, especially with a fiber reach of > 20 km. To reach beyond net-100-Gb/s IM/DD transmission over 50-km standard single mode fiber (SSMF), we for the first time present a CD-aware probabilistically shaped four-ary pulse amplitude modulation (PS-PAM-4) signal transmission scheme with a FIR-filter-based pre-electronic dispersion compensation (FIR-EDC) for C-band IM/DD transmission system. With the help of the FIR-EDC at the transmitter, 100-GBaud PS-PAM-4 signal transmission at 150-Gb/s line rate and 115.2-Gb/s net rate over 50-km SSMF is realized with only feed-forward equalization (FFE) at the receiver side. The superiority of the CD-aware PS-PAM-4 signal transmission scheme over other benchmark schemes has been successfully verified by experiments. Experimental results show that 24.5% improvement of system capacity is obtained by the FIR-EDC-based PS-PAM-4 signal transmission scheme in comparison to the FIR-EDC-based on-off keying (OOK) signal transmission scheme. Compared with the FIR-EDC-based uniform PAM-4 signal transmission scheme or the PS-PAM-4 signal transmission scheme without EDC, the capacity improvement obtained by the FIR-EDC-based PS-PAM-4 signal transmission scheme becomes more profound. The results show the potential and feasibility of such CD-aware PS-PAM-4 signal transmission scheme applied in CD-constrained IM/DD datacenter interconnects.
Flexible waveguide integrated thermo-optic switch based on TiO2 platform
Authors: Chen Zequn , Wei Maoliang , Sun Boshu , Weng Yang , Jian Jialing , Zhong Chuyu , Sun Chunlei , Si Ke , Gong Wei , Lin Hongtao , Li Lan
Published: May 2023

Mechanically flexible photonic devices are critical components of novel bio-integrated optoelectronic and high-end wearable systems, in which thermo-optic switches (TOSs) as optical signal control devices are crucial. In this paper, flexible titanium oxide (TiO2) TOSs based on a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) structure were demonstrated around 1310 nm for, it is believed, the first time. The insertion loss of flexible passive TiO2 2 × 2 multi-mode interferometers (MMIs) is −3.1 dB per MMI. The demonstrated flexible TOS achieves power consumption (Pπ) of 0.83 mW, compared with its rigid counterpart, for which Pπ is decreased by a factor of 18. The proposed device could withstand 100 consecutive bending operations without noticeable degradation in TOS performance, indicating excellent mechanical stability. These results provide a new perspective for designing and fabricating flexible TOSs for flexible optoelectronic systems in future emerging applications.
Long-range high-spatial-resolution distributed Brillouin sensing enabled by correlation-domain encoding
Authors: Zhou Yin , Yan Lianshan , Li Zonglei , He Haijun , Ye Jia , Pan Wei , Luo Bin
Published: May 2023

A hybrid aperiodic-coded Brillouin optical correlation domain analysis (HA-coded BOCDA) fiber sensor is proposed to achieve long-range high-spatial-resolution distributed measurement. It is found that high-speed phase modulation in the BOCDA actually forms a special energy transformation mode. This mode can be exploited to suppress all detrimental effects parasitized in a pulse coding-induced cascaded stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) process and thereby enable the HA-coding to reach its full potential to improve the BOCDA performance. As a result, under a low system complexity and an enhanced measurement speed, a 72.65-km sensing range and a 5-cm spatial resolution are achieved with a temperature/strain measurement accuracy of 2℃/40 με.
Measurement of nonlinear refractive indices of bulk and liquid crystals by nonlinear chirped interferometry
Authors: Maingot Benjamin , Neradovskaia Elizaveta , Claudet Cyrille , Forget Nicolas , Jullien Aurélie
Published: May 2023

The nonlinear refractive indices (n2) of a selection of bulk (LiB3O5, KTiOAsO4, MgO:LiNbO3, LiGaS2, ZnSe) and liquid (E7, MLC2132) crystals are measured at 1030 nm in the sub-picosecond regime (200 fs) by nonlinear chirped interferometry. The reported values provide key parameters for the design of near- to mid-infrared parametric sources, as well as all-optical delay lines.
ZrN-based Plasmonic Sensor: A Promising Alternative to Traditional Noble Metal-based Sensors for CMOS-Compatible and Tunable Optical Properties
Authors: Rakib A. K. M. , Rahad Rummanur , Faruque Md. Omar , Sagor Rakibul Hasan
Published: May 2023

Abstract: In this article, we introduce a novel comb shaped plasmonic refractive index sensor that employs a ZrN-Insulator-ZrN configuration. The sensor is constructed using Zirconium Nitride (ZrN), an alternative refractory material that offers advantages over traditional metals such as silver and gold, as ZrN is Standard Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible and has tunable optical properties. The sensor has recorded a maximum sensitivity, figure of merit (FOM), and sensing resolution of 1445.46 nm/RIU, 140.96, and 6.91 × 10^−7 𝑅𝐼𝑈^-1, respectively. Beyond that, the integration of ZrN offers the sensor with various advantages, including higher hardness, thermal stability at high temperatures, better corrosion and abrasion resistance, and lower electrical resistivity, whereas traditional plasmonic metals lack these properties, curtailing the real-world use of plasmonic devices. As a result, our suggested model surpasses the typical noble material based (Metal-Insulator-Metal) MIM arrangement and offers potential for the development of highly efficient, robust, and durable nanometric sensing devices which will create a bridge between nanoelectronics and plasmonics.
Optical parametric amplification in silicon nitride waveguides integrated with 2D graphene oxide thin films
Authors: Moss David
Published: May 2023

Optical parametric amplification (OPA) represents a powerful solution to achieve broadband amplification in wavelength ranges beyond the scope of conventional gain media, for generating high-power optical pulses, optical microcombs, entangled photon pairs and a wide range of other applications. Here, we demonstrate optical parametric amplifiers based on silicon nitride (Si3N4) waveguides integrated with two-dimensional (2D) layered graphene oxide (GO) films. We achieve precise control over the thickness, length, and position of the GO films using a transfer-free, layer-by-layer coating method combined with accurate window opening in the chip cladding using photolithography. Detailed OPA measurements with a pulsed pump for the fabricated devices with different GO film thicknesses and lengths show a maximum parametric gain of ~24.0 dB, representing a ~12.2 dB improvement relative to the device without GO. We perform a theoretical analysis of the device performance, achieving good agreement with experiment and showing that there is substantial room for further improvement. This work demonstrates a new way of achieving high photonic integrated OPA performance by incorporating 2D materials.
Modeling the impact of xenointoxication in dogs to halt Trypanosoma cruzi transmission
Authors: Rokhsar Jennifer L. , Raynor Brinkley , Sheen Justin , Goldstein Neal D. , Levy Michael Z. , Castillo-Neyra Ricardo
Published: May 2023

Background

Chagas disease, a vector-borne parasitic disease caused byTrypanosoma cruzi, affects millions in the Americas. Dogs are important reservoirs of the parasite. Under laboratory conditions, canine treatment with the systemic insecticide fluralaner demonstrated efficacy in killingTriatoma infestansandT.brasiliensis,T.cruzivectors, when they feed on dogs. This form of pest control is called xenointoxication. However,T.cruzican also be transmitted orally when mammals ingest infected bugs, so there is potential for dogs to become infected upon consuming infected bugs killed by the treatment. Xenointoxication thereby has two contrasting effects on dogs: decreasing the number of insects feeding on the dogs but increasing opportunities for exposure toT.cruzivia oral transmission to dogs ingesting infected insects.

Objective

Examine the potential for increased infection rates ofT.cruziin dogs following xenointoxication.

Design/Methods

We built a deterministic mathematical model, based on the Ross-MacDonald malaria model, to investigate the net effect of fluralaner treatment on the prevalence ofT.cruziinfection in dogs in different epidemiologic scenarios. We drew upon published data on the change in percentage of bugs killed that fed on treated dogs over days post treatment. Parameters were adjusted to mimic three scenarios ofT.cruzitransmission: high and low disease prevalence and domestic vectors, and low disease prevalence and sylvatic vectors.

Results

In regions with high endemic disease prevalence in dogs and domestic vectors, prevalence of infected dogs initially increases but subsequently declines before eventually rising back to the initial equilibrium following one fluralaner treatment. In regions of low prevalence and domestic or sylvatic vectors, however, treatment seems to be detrimental. In these regions our models suggest a potential for a rise in dog prevalence, due to oral transmission from dead infected bugs.

Conclusion

Xenointoxication could be a beneficial and novel One Health intervention in regions with high prevalence ofT.cruziand domestic vectors. In regions with low prevalence and domestic or sylvatic vectors, there is potential harm. Field trials should be carefully designed to closely follow treated dogs and include early stopping rules if incidence among treated dogs exceeds that of controls.
Assisted migration experiments along a distance/elevation gradient show limits to supporting home site communities
Authors: Keith Arthur R. , Bailey Joseph K. , Whitham Thomas G.
Published: May 2023

We addressed the hypothesis that intraspecific genetic variation in plant traits from different sites along a distance/elevation gradient would influence the communities they support when grown at a new site. Answers to this hypothesis are important when considering the community consequences of assisted migration under climate change; i.e., if you build it will they come?. We surveyed arthropod communities occurring on the foundation riparian tree speciesPopulusangustifolia along a distance/elevation gradient and in a common garden where trees from along the gradient were planted 20–22 years earlier. Three major patterns were found: 1) In the wild, arthropod community composition changed significantly. Trees at the lower elevation site supported up to 58% greater arthropod abundance and 26% greater species richness than more distant, high elevation trees. 2) Trees grown in a common garden sourced from the same locations along the gradient, supported arthropod communities more similar to their corresponding wild trees, but the similarity declined with transfer distance and elevation. 3) Of five functional traits examined, leaf area, a trait under genetic control that decreases at higher elevations, is correlated with differences in arthropod species richness and abundance. Our results suggest that genetic differences in functional traits are stronger drivers of arthropod community composition than phenotypic plasticity of plant traits due to environmental factors. We also show that variation in leaf area is maintained and has similar effects at the community level while controlling for environment. These results demonstrate how genetically based traits vary across natural gradients and have community-level effects that are maintained, in part, when they are used in assisted migration. Furthermore, optimal transfer distances for plants suffering from climate change may not be the same as optimal transfer distances for their dependent communities.
ZFP92, a KRAB domain zinc finger protein enriched in pancreatic islets, binds to B1/Alu SINE transposable elements and regulates retroelements and genes
Authors: Osipovich Anna B. , Dudek Karrie D. , Trinh Linh T. , Kim Lily H. , Shrestha Shristi , Cartailler Jean-Philippe , Magnuson Mark A.
Published: May 2023

Repressive KRAB domain-containing zinc-finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs) are abundant in mammalian genomes and contribute both to the silencing of transposable elements (TEs) and to the regulation of developmental stage- and cell type-specific gene expression. Here we describe studies of zinc finger protein 92 (Zfp92), an X-linked KRAB-ZFP that is highly expressed in pancreatic islets of adult mice, by analyzing globalZfp92knockout (KO) mice. Physiological, transcriptomic and genome-wide chromatin binding studies indicate that the principal function of ZFP92 in mice is to bind to and suppress the activity of B1/Alu type of SINE elements and modulate the activity of surrounding genomic entities. Deletion ofZfp92leads to changes in expression of select LINE and LTR retroelements and genes located in the vicinity of ZFP92-bound chromatin. The absence ofZfp92leads to altered expression of specific genes in islets, adipose and muscle that result in modest sex-specific alterations in blood glucose homeostasis, body mass and fat accumulation. In islets,Zfp92influences blood glucose concentration in postnatal mice via transcriptional effects onMafb, whereas in adipose and muscle, it regulatesAcacb, a rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid metabolism. In the absence ofZfp92, a novel TE-Capn11fusion transcript is overexpressed in islets and several other tissues due to de-repression of an IAPez TE adjacent to ZFP92-bound SINE elements in intron 3 of theCapn11gene. Together, these studies show that ZFP92 functions both to repress specific TEs and to regulate the transcription of specific genes in discrete tissues.
Computing mathematical functions with chemical reactions via stochastic logic
Authors: Solanki Arnav , Chen Tonglin , Riedel Marc
Published: May 2023

This paper presents a novel strategy for computing mathematical functions with molecular reactions, based on theory from the realm of digital design. It demonstrates how to design chemical reaction networks based on truth tables that specify analog functions, computed by stochastic logic. The theory of stochastic logic entails the use of random streams of zeros and ones to represent probabilistic values. A link is made between the representation of random variables with stochastic logic on the one hand, and the representation of variables in molecular systems as the concentration of molecular species, on the other. Research in stochastic logic has demonstrated that many mathematical functions of interest can be computed with simple circuits built with logic gates. This paper presents a general and efficient methodology for translating mathematical functions computed by stochastic logic circuits into chemical reaction networks. Simulations show that the computation performed by the reaction networks is accurate and robust to variations in the reaction rates, within a log-order constraint. Reaction networks are given that compute functions for applications such as image and signal processing, as well as machine learning: arctan, exponential, Bessel, and sinc. An implementation is proposed with a specific experimental chassis: DNA strand displacement with units called DNA “concatemers”.
Folate deficiency among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gebremichael Berhe , Roba Hirbo Shore , Getachew Alemeshet , Tesfaye Dejene , Asmerom Haftu
Published: May 2023

Background

Folate deficiency (FD) can cause adverse health outcomes of public health significance. Although FD is a significant micronutrient deficiency in Ethiopia, concrete evidence is limited. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to estimate the pooled prevalence of FD among women of reproductive age (WRA).

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Google Scholar, African Journals Online (AJOL), The Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System (VMNIS) of the World Health Organization (WHO), Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx), and institutional repositories of major universities and research centers. Additionally, we scanned the reference lists of relevant articles. Two authors independently selected the studies, extracted the data, and the study risk of bias. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. We used a random-effects model to estimate the pooled mean serum/plasma folate and the pooled prevalence of FD. Begg’s and Egger’s tests were used to check publication bias.

Results

Ten studies—nine cross-sectional and one case-control—with a total of 5,623 WRA were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Four (WRA = 1,619) and eight (WRA = 5,196) cross-sectional studies were used to estimate the pooled mean serum/plasma folate and prevalence of FD, respectively. The pooled mean serum/plasma folate concentration estimate was 7.14 ng/ml (95% CI: 5.73, 8.54), and the pooled prevalence of FD was estimated to be 20.80% (95% CI: 11.29, 32.27). In addition the meta-regression analysis showed that the sampling technique was significantly associated with mean serum/plasma folate concentration.

Conclusions

FD is a significant public health issue among WRA in Ethiopia. Therefore, the public health strategies of the country should focus on promoting the consumption of folate-rich foods, strengthening the coverage of folic acid supplementation and its adherence, and swift translation of the mandatory folic acid fortification into action.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO 2022—CRD42022306266.
Opinions of former jail residents about self-collection of SARS-CoV-2 specimens, paired with wastewater surveillance: A qualitative study rapidly examining acceptability of COVID-19 mitigation measures
Authors: González-Montalvo Myrna del Mar , Dickson Peter F. , Saber Lindsay B. , Boehm Rachel A. , Phillips Victoria L. , Akiyama Matthew J. , Spaulding Anne C.
Published: May 2023

In year one of the COVID-19 epidemic, the incidence of infection for US carceral populations was 5.5-fold higher than that in the community. Prior to the rapid roll out of a comprehensive jail surveillance program of Wastewater-Based Surveillance (WBS) and individual testing for SARS-CoV-2, we sought the perspectives of formerly incarcerated individuals regarding mitigation strategies against COVID-19 to inform acceptability of the new program. In focus groups, participants discussed barriers to their receiving COVID-19 testing and vaccination. We introduced WBS and individual nasal self-testing, then queried if wastewater testing to improve surveillance of emerging outbreaks before case numbers surged, and specimen self-collection, would be valued. The participants’ input gives insight into ways to improve the delivery of COVID-19 interventions. Hearing the voices of those with lived experiences of incarceration is critical to understanding their views on infection control strategies and supports including justice-involved individuals in decision-making processes regarding jail-based interventions.
Gender invariance in the relationship between social support and glycemic control
Authors: Williams Joni S. , Walker Rebekah J. , Egede Leonard E.
Published: May 2023

Background

Social support (SS) is important in diabetes self-management; however, little is known about how different types of SS influence diabetes outcomes in men and women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the relationships between types of SS and glycemic control and self-care behaviors and assess whether the relationships differ by gender.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of 615 adults from two primary care clinics in the southeastern U.S. Outcomes were hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) extracted from the medical records, and self-management behaviors (general diet, specific diet, exercise, blood glucose testing, foot care) measured using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA). Independent variable was SS (emotional/informational, tangible, affectionate, positive social interaction) measured using the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) SS Scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to understand pathways between SS and glycemic control based on a theoretical model.

Results

Tangible support was significantly associated with self-care (r = 0.16; p = 0.046) and affectionate support was marginally associated with glycemic control (r = 0.15; p = 0.08) for both men and women. Using SEM to test gender invariance, there was no statistically significant difference in the meaning of SS between men and women. However, unique invariances in responses occurred, including a stronger relationship between tangible support and self-care for women (r = 0.24; p = 0.061).

Conclusions

Of the four components of SS, tangible and affectionate support had the strongest influence on glycemic control. While affectionate support will improve glycemic control in both men and women, tangible support will improve self-care management, particularly in women.
Perinatal suicidal behavior in sub-Saharan Africa: A study protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Hajure Mohammedamin , Roba Gebiso , Gezimu Wubishet , Nigatu Desalegn , Mohammedhussein Mustefa , Ebrahim Jemal , Mamo Aman , Dule Aman , Jemal Kiyar
Published: May 2023

Background

Perinatal mental illnesses are predominant during gestation and continue for a year after delivery. According to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), suicide is classified as a direct cause of death among the maternal population. The occurrence of suicidal behavior among perinatal women was considered the main contributor to the burden of the disorder. Hence, the current study will develop a protocol for a systematic review as well as a meta-analysis on estimating the prevalence and determinants of perinatal suicidal behavior in Sub-Saharan African countries.

Methods

PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Web of Science electronic databases will be searched for studies reporting primary data. The second search strategy will be done with Google Scholar, using a combination of the medical subject headings and keywords as the search terms. The studies will be classified into included, excluded, and undecided categories. The studies will be judged based on the eligibility criteria. Heterogeneity will be checked by using the I2 test (Cochran Q test) at a p-value of 0.05 and assuming that the I2 value is > 50%. Publication bias will be checked using a funnel plot, Beg’s rank, and Eggers linear statistical tests. A subgroup analysis and sensitivity test will be carried out. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), and the quantitative analysis will determine whether or not to proceed based on the results.

Discussion

This protocol’s comprehensive review is expected to generate sufficient evidence on the prevalence of suicidal behavior and its determinants among women during the perinatal period in Sub-Saharan African countries over the last two decades. Hence, this protocol will be imperative to collect and combine empirical data on suicidal behavior during the perinatal period, and doing so will help to provide essential implications or better evidence to plan different kinds of interventions considering determinants expected to impact the burden of suicidal behavior during the perinatal period.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO (CRD42022331544).
Longitudinal association between handgrip strength, gait speed and risk of serious falls in a community-dwelling older population
Authors: Pham Thao , McNeil John J. , Barker Anna L. , Orchard Suzanne G. , Newman Anne B. , Robb Catherine , Ernst Michael E. , Espinoza Sara , Woods Robyn L. , Nelson Mark R. , Beilin Lawrence , Hussain Sultana Monira
Published: May 2023

Objective

Both grip strength and gait speed can be used as markers of muscle function, however, no previous study has examined them in the same population with respect to risk of falls.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, utilising data from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial and ASPREE-Fracture substudy, we analysed the association of grip strength and gait speed and serious falls in healthy older adults. Grip strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer and gait speed from 3-metre timed walks. Serious falls were confined to those involving hospital presentation. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations with falls.

Results

Over an average of 4.0±1.3 years, amongst 16,445 participants, 1,533 had at least one serious fall. After adjustment for age, sex, physical activity, body mass index, Short Form 12 (state of health), chronic kidney disease, polypharmacy and aspirin, each standard deviation (SD) lower grip strength was associated with 27% (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.17–1.38) higher risk of falls. The results remained the same for males and females. There was a dose-response relationship in the association between grip strength and falls risk. The higher risk of falls was observed in males in all body mass index (BMI) categories, but only in obese females. The association between gait speed and falls risk was weaker than the association between grip strength and falls risk.

Conclusions

All males and only obese females with low grip strength appear to be at the greatest risk of serious falls. These findings may assist in early identification of falls.
Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins provide insights into the structure and function of CagI and are potent inhibitors of CagA translocation by the Helicobacter pylori type IV secretion system
Authors: Blanc Marine , Lettl Clara , Guérin Jérémy , Vieille Anaïs , Furler Sven , Briand-Schumacher Sylvie , Dreier Birgit , Bergé Célia , Plückthun Andreas , Vadon-Le Goff Sandrine , Fronzes Rémi , Rousselle Patricia , Fischer Wolfgang , Terradot Laurent
Published: May 2023

The bacterial human pathogen Helicobacter pylori produces a type IV secretion system (cagT4SS) to inject the oncoprotein CagA into gastric cells. The cagT4SS external pilus mediates attachment of the apparatus to the target cell and the delivery of CagA. While the composition of the pilus is unclear, CagI is present at the surface of the bacterium and required for pilus formation. Here, we have investigated the properties of CagI by an integrative structural biology approach. Using Alpha Fold 2 and Small Angle X-ray scattering, it was found that CagI forms elongated dimers mediated by rod-shape N-terminal domains (CagIN) prolonged by globular C-terminal domains (CagIC). Three Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins) K2, K5 and K8 selected against CagI interacted with CagIC with subnanomolar affinities. The crystal structures of the CagI:K2 and CagI:K5 complexes were solved and identified the interfaces between the molecules, thereby providing a structural explanation for the difference in affinity between the two binders. Purified CagI and CagIC were found to interact with adenocarcinoma gastric (AGS) cells, induced cell spreading and the interaction was inhibited by K2. The same DARPin inhibited CagA translocation by up to 65% in AGS cells while inhibition levels were 40% and 30% with K8 and K5, respectively. Our study suggests that CagIC plays a key role in cagT4SS-mediated CagA translocation and that DARPins targeting CagI represent potent inhibitors of the cagT4SS, a crucial risk factor for gastric cancer development.
Star Attractions: Twentieth-Century Movie Magazines and Global Fandom, Tamar Jeffers Mcdonald and Lies Lanckman (Eds) (2019)
Authors: Ford Sarah Ellen
Published: May 2023

Review of: Star Attractions: Twentieth-Century Movie Magazines and Global Fandom, Tamar Jeffers Mcdonald and Lies Lanckman (Eds) (2019)

Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa Press, 255 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-60938-673-3, p/bk, $55.00
Aussie Fans: Uniquely Placed in Global Popular Culture, Celia Lam and Jackie Raphael (Eds) (2019)
Authors: Schuster Christina
Published: May 2023

Review of: Aussie Fans: Uniquely Placed in Global Popular Culture, Celia Lam and Jackie Raphael (Eds) (2019)

Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 239 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-60938-657-3, p/bk, $55.00
Una ontología parte-dependiente de la individualidad biológica para los consorcios de múltiples especies
Authors: Suárez Javier
Published: May 2023

Este artículo introduce y defiende una ontología parte-dependiente para concebir la individualidad biológica en los conglomerados formados por individuos de múltiples especies. Según la ontología parte-dependiente, la caracterización de un conjunto o conglomerado de taxones independientes como individuo biológico debe basarse en la relación que una parte específica de ese conjunto mantiene con el resto, siendo irrelevante la relación que el resto de partes del conjunto mantienen con la primera. De otro modo, se argumenta que las relaciones de dependencia biológica entre las partes de un conjunto pueden ser asimétricas, sin que esto afecte a la atribución de individualidad a dicho conjunto. Se señala, asimismo, que tal caracterización parte-dependiente es válida no solo para las ideas de individualidad basadas en la evolución, sino también para aquellas basadas en la fisiología, o la inmunología, entre otras. Esto hace a la ontología parte-dependiente compatible con el pluralismo sobre la individualidad biológica.
El don Quijote alemán
Authors: Neugebauer Wilhelm E.
Published: May 2023

El don Quijote alemán (Breslavia, 1753) nos presenta las andanzas del joven Johann Glück, quien, tras la ingente lectura de novelas galantes francesas, decide abandonar su pueblo y la vida de comerciante a la que su familia le había destinado para dirigirse a París junto a su sirviente Görge, asumiendo dos nuevas identidades –Marqués de Bellamonte y Du Bois–, mucho más acordes con sus inclinaciones librescas. En el camino, ambos imitarán la galantería de sus modelos franceses y encontrarán numerosas oportunidades para poner a prueba su valentía en sus aventuras con bandidos, mozos de pueblo y hacendados rurales varios. Bellamonte llegará incluso a encontrarse con su particular Dulcinea, la no menos quijotesca Condesa de Villafranca, con la que intentará fugarse para huir de los matrimonios concertados para ambos por sus respectivas familias. Tras el encuentro con el Príncipe Vardanes de Macedonia, los acontecimientos tomarán una deriva mucho más favorable para Bellamonte y Villafranca, que comprobarán como sus románticos pesares contaban con una solución mucho más realista y al alcance de la mano. Además de la evidente trama quijotesca, explicitada por Neugebauer en el mismo título de la novela, los lectores podrán encontrar en esta hasta ahora desconocida novela alemana una modernidad inusitada para la narrativa germana de mediados del siglo xviii, demostrando un carácter autoconsciente y metaficcional poco corriente en este momento histórico. La historia del joven Glück supone, a su vez, una historia de formación, convirtiendo El don Quijote alemán de Neugebauer en un claro precedente para la obra de novelistas como Wieland, Goethe o Keller, cultivadores del más afamado género novelesco de las letras alemanas: el Bildungsroman o novela de formación. La colección Biblioteca del Quijote Transnacional es una coedición entre el Instituto Cervantes y la Universidad de Salamanca.
Phenotypic diagnosis and genotypic identification of Bacillus cereus causing subclinical mastitis in cows
Authors: Eid Rasha H. , Aref Noha E. , Ibrahim Eman S.
Published: May 2023

Background and Aim: Bovine mastitis is a disease that affects dairy cows and impacts the global dairy industry. Bacillus spp. can infect the mammary gland during lactation, intramammary treatment, or dry cow therapy. This study aimed to isolate and identify Bacillus spp. in raw milk samples from cows with subclinical mastitis from dairy farms in Beheira, Giza, Alexandria, and Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. We also investigated their antibiotic sensitivity and detected the enterotoxigenic and antibiotic resistance genes.

Materials and Methods: A total of 262 milk samples (15-20 ml each) were examined microscopically, biochemically, and phenotypically. A polymerase chain reaction was used for genotypic identification and detecting antibiotic-resistance and enterotoxigenic genes. Antibiotic sensitivity was tested using the agar well diffusion test.

Results: Bacillus cereus was identified in 47.7% of samples. Nhe and hblD enterotoxin genes were found in 93.64% (103/110) and 91.82% (101/110) of the samples, respectively. Tetracycline and β-lactam antibiotic-resistance genes were present in 50% (55/110) and 98.18% (108/110), respectively, of the samples. All isolates were resistant to cefepime, cefixime, and oxacillin, while they were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic, chloramphenicol, ampicillin/sulbactam, and levofloxacin.

Conclusion: These results highlight the need to promote awareness regarding B. cereus, the most common pathogen causing mastitis in Egyptian dairy cows. We also emphasized that antibiotic misuse during mastitis is a potential public health threat.

Keywords: antibiotics, dairy cows, Egypt, lactation.
Phenotype and genotype of Boerka goats raised in Bali
Authors: Suyasa I Nyoman , Suardana I Wayan , Putra I Gusti Agung Arta , Suryani Ni Nyoman
Published: May 2023

Background and Aim: Boerka goats are the new breed in Bali targeted at meeting the increasing demand for lamb. They are meat-type goats created by crossing male Boer and female Kacang breeds. This new breed is expected to have good adaptation in a poor environment, such as Kacang goats and produce good quality lamb as Boer goats. Therefore, this study aimed to examine phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Boerka goats raised in Bali.

Materials and Methods: A total of 16 female Boerka goats at 2 years old collected from a group of livestock farmers in Sanda Village were used as samples. This observational study began with observations of qualitative characteristics and morphometric measurements of goats, followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the growth hormone (GH) gene using GH5F and GH5R primers. Polymerase chain reaction products were then sequenced and analyzed with the MEGA 11 program.

Results: The results showed that all Boerka goats had stuck-down ears, the heads were predominantly brown in color (62.5%), the body color pattern tends to be white (87.50%), and the tail color pattern was also dominated by white (62.5%). In morphometric terms, the samples were close to Kacang goats based on the body weight, head length, head width, chest width, depth, and circumference, left front leg circumference, ear length, ear width, tail length, tail width, and flank height except for head height, body length, horn length, and shoulder height. Analysis of the GH gene showed that Boerka goats had a nucleotide composition dominated by the purine base guanine (26.5%) and pyrimidine cytosine (31.8%). Furthermore, they formed a separate cluster with a genetic distance of 14.1% to the Anhui White breed from China, the Tibetan breed, and the Swiss Saanen breed.

Conclusion: Boerka goats raised in Bali have phenotypes, including qualitative characteristics and morphometric measurements close to Kacang goats. As meat-type goats, they also form a separate cluster distinct from similar types worldwide.

Keywords: Boerka goats, genotype, phenotype, raised in Bali.
FÉ NOS UNICÓRNIOS: SACRALIZAÇÃO E DISCURSOS REDENTIVOS SOBRE O MUNDO SIMBÓLICO DAS STARTUPS À LUZ DE WEBER
Authors: Lima Eduardo Carneiro , Ferreira Vitor Sergio , Souza Ytallo Franco
Published: May 2023

Objetivo. Explorar algumas das configurações simbólicas investidas sobre as startups. De forma específica, buscamos (i) resgatar as bases fundamentais de perspectivas e concepções sócio-históricas weberianas sobre o capitalismo e o espírito empreendedor para, metaforicamente, (ii) analisar a prossecução de um ethos particular orientado por marcadores simbólicos sobre o mundo das startups, tomando como referência contextual os discursos atuais da corrente do empreendedorismo redentivo que, supostamente, emparelham-se com algumas das observações de Weber.
Design/metodologia/abordagem. A abordagem weberiana abre-nos o olhar para novas possibilidades de compreensão das startups, especialmente ao supor que as discussões realizadas sobre estas organizações nestas disciplinas parecem ser atravessadas pela construção de narrativas proféticas e messiânicas em torno do papel social das startups e das vidas dos CEOs, sendo essa uma perspectiva pouco explorada pela academia.
Resultados. Destacamos que (i) nem tudo é tão perfeito quanto parece ser no mundo das startups, por mais que essa corrente preconize ações que tentam refletir mais da bondade divina e a criação de uma atmosfera de celebração constante, de práticas vitoriosas e de uma fraternidade transformadora; (ii) os conceitos da corrente ligada ao empreendedorismo redentivo se aproximam das observações weberianas; e, por fim, (iii) a suspeita de que outras configurações simbólicas podem estar incorporadas nos discursos dos agentes integrantes dos ecossistemas de inovação.
Originalidade/valor. Está no fato de termos conseguido pensar as startups como um fenômeno social a partir da abordagem weberiana.
ANTECEDENTES DOS CUSTOS DE TROCA RELACIONAL: DEPENDÊNCIA DE RECURSOS E COMPARTILHAMENTO DE INFORMAÇÕES
Authors: Tramontin Castanha Eduardo , Gasparetto Valdirene
Published: May 2023

Objetivo: Verificar a influência da dependência de recursos e do compartilhamento de informações nos custos de troca relacional entre compradores e fornecedores de serviços de transporte.
Método: Pesquisa de abordagem quantitativa, com dados obtidos por meio de survey, avaliou a percepção de profissionais de empresas do setor de alimentos e bebidas que terceirizam atividades de transporte, e contou com a participação de 120 profissionais de setores de transporte e logística dessas organizações. Para análise do modelo estrutural, utilizou-se a técnica de Modelagem de Equações Estruturais por Mínimos Quadrados Parciais.
Resultados: Os resultados revelam que a dependência das empresas de alimentos e bebidas em relação aos fornecedores serviços de transporte pode levar essas organizações a compartilharem informações. Sugerem também que o compartilhamento de informações nos relacionamentos investigados pode instigar o desenvolvimento de vínculos psicológicos e emocionais entre os parceiros comerciais, constituindo custos de troca relacional.
Contribuições: Tais resultados têm contribuições teóricas e práticas, ao sugerir que a dependência de recursos dos compradores em relação aos seus fornecedores pode instigar a troca de informações entre os parceiros. Além disso, o compartilhamento de informações pode incentivar a continuidade dos relacionamentos devido às barreiras relacionais para a troca. Além disso, o estudo acrescenta à literatura ao analisar a dependência e o compartilhamento de informações de maneira conjunta, uma vez que estudos anteriores analisaram tais construtos de maneira dissociada e em contextos distintos do aqui investigado.
Originalidade: O estudo justifica-se ao evidenciar elementos capazes de estimular os parceiros a compartilhar informações relevantes para suas operações, e de coibir os clientes a realizar a troca de fornecedor em virtude das barreiras pessoais e com a marca.
The influence of time pressure on the intention to visit the destinations of Aracaju/SE and Salvador/BA
Authors: Paes Taís Alexandre Antunes , Ladeira Rodrigo , Larocca Maria Teresa Grimaldi , Matias Esdras Matheus
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of time pressure on tourists or visitors interested in visiting the destinations of Aracaju/Sergipe (SE) and Salvador/Bahia (BA), when accessing information about tourist attractions. To achieve the proposed objective, a quantitative study was carried out using the experimental method, considering two situations. In Situation 1, the participants were asked to use TripAdvisor for five minutes, to look for information about attractions. In Situation 2, they were asked to access a specially developed and customized application, without any  time limit. To carry out the experiment, a scale of “intention to visit the destination” was elaborated and validated, considering the motivational variables of the model proposed by Swarbrooke & Horner (2016) and Schwartz’s (1994) theory of basic values. Two hundred fifteen interviews were conducted in the city of Aracaju and two hundred forty in the city of Salvador,  considering a non-probabilistic sample. It was observed that for the participants in Aracaju, tourist attractions related to the Value Hedonism were influenced by time pressure. For the participants in Salvador, the variables that stood out were the Values Tradition and Security.