bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prehospital tranexamic acid for trauma victims
Authors: Omori Kazuhiko , Roberts Ian
Published: March 2023

The public enquiry into the mass casualty incident at the Manchester Arena in the UK in which 23 people died and over 1000 were injured, identified the need for timely intramuscular administration of tranexamic acid to trauma patients. Since then, a number of studies and trials have been carried out and UK paramedics are now authorized to give intramuscular tranexamic acid in the pre-hospital setting. In Japan, pre-hospital administration by emergency life-saving technicians is not yet authorized, despite the fact that tranexamic acid was invented by Japanese scientists. In Japan, the need for the pre-hospital administration of tranexamic acid has been raised on several occasions, where a patient died from traumatic bleeding prior to hospital admission. This paper summarizes the evidence on the use of tranexamic acid in patients with traumatic bleeding, including new evidence on the intramuscular route.
Growth performance, caecal microbiome profile, short-chain fatty acids, and litter characteristics in response to placement on reused litter and combined threonine, arginine and glutamine supplementation to juvenile male broiler chickens
Authors: Hussein Marwa A. , Khattak Farina , Vervelde Lonneke , Athanasiadou Spiridoula , Houdijk Jos G. M.
Published: March 2023

Background

Exposure of broilers to litter microbiome may increase specific amino acid (AA) requirements towards activated immune responses. This may challenge the generality of the ideal protein (IP) concept, in which dietary essential AA to lysine ratios aimed to mimic presumably constant AA to lysine ratios in whole bird requirements. Therefore, we tested the effect of threonine, arginine and glutamine (TAG) supplementation to IP-based control diets (C) on performance, caecal microbiome composition, short-chain fatty acids and litter characteristics of broiler chickens placed on reused litter.

Results

Thirty-two pens with ten male broiler chickens each were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of two diet treatments (with or without TAG supplementation) and two litter treatments (placement on clean or reused litter) for 21 days (n = 8). Caecal contents were analysed for microbiome profile using percent guanine + cytosine (%G + C profile) method and short chain fatty acids. TAG-supplemented birds underperformed compared to C birds (P = 0.002), whereas birds placed on reused litter outperformed those on clean litter (P = 0.047). Diet, reused litter and their interaction impacted the %G + C profile at different ranges. Whilst TAG supplementation reduced bacterial abundance at %G + C 51–56 (P < 0.05), reused litter placement tended to reduce %G + C 23–31 and increase %G + C 56–59 (P < 0.10). However, TAG supplementation reduced bacterial abundance at %G + C 47–51 (P < 0.05) and increased caecal branched chain fatty acids on clean litter only (P = 0.025). Greater levels of propionic acid were observed for C birds placed on reused litter only (P = 0.008). Litter pH was greater for reused litter pens than clean litter pens at day 21 (P < 0.001). In addition, litter moisture content was less for TAG birds and reused litter pens compared to C birds (P = 0.041) and clean litter pens (P < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions

These data support the view that irrespective of performance benefits arising from bird placement on reused litter, TAG supplementation to IP-formulated baseline rations impaired growth, supported by the lowered abundance of caecal bacteria known to dominate in well-performing birds and greater levels of caecal branched chain fatty acids.
Cascade Analysis for Women Presenting With Breast Concerns to a Zonal Hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania
Authors: Friebel-Klingner Tara M. , Joo Emma , Kirahi Matogoro , Pace Lydia E. , Platz Elizabeth A. , Masalu Nestory , Washington Leonard , Rositch Anne F.
Published: March 2023

PURPOSE

In Tanzania, high breast cancer mortality can be attributed to delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation. We adapted the cascade analysis method to depict sequential steps along the breast cancer care pathway in a tertiary hospital in Mwanza, to identify where correction of loss to attrition would have the biggest impact on improving outcomes.

METHODS

This prospective cohort included adult women presenting with breast concerns between February 2020 and January 2022. Five cascade steps beginning with patients' initial clinical breast assessment (CBA) through cancer treatment were identified: (1) CBA, (2) ordering diagnostic test(s), (3) completion of diagnostic test(s), (4) receipt of final diagnosis, and (5) initiating cancer treatment.

RESULTS

Overall, 721 eligible women with a median age of 42.8 years (IQR, 32.5-55.0) were included. Median time from presentation to treatment initiation was 35 days (IQR, 20-63). For step 1, 39.1% (n = 282) of patients were diagnosed with a benign concern and removed from the cascade. Completion rates for steps 2-4 were 95.0%, 90.2%, and 91.0, respectively. There were 156 (45.6%) patients diagnosed with breast cancer, and for step 5, 71.2% of patients initiated cancer treatment. In steps 2, 3, 4, and 5, there was a loss of 22, 41, 34, and 45 patients, respectively. If loss was eliminated at steps 2, 3, 4, or 5, an additional 6, 12, 11, or 45 patients, respectively, would have completed the pathway.

CONCLUSION

Initiating cancer treatment was identified as the step with the biggest loss and, if remedied, would have the biggest impact on improving breast cancer outcomes at Bugando Medical Centre. These results will inform future programs focused on reducing overall loss in the system and supporting patients with breast cancer.
Analysis of the Mortality Trends of 23 Major Cancers in the Indian Population Between 2000 and 2019: A Joinpoint Regression Analysis
Authors: Shaji Ajil , Keechilat Pavithran , DK Vijaykumar , Sauvaget Catherine
Published: March 2023

PURPOSE

Cancer mortality trends have not been documented across the population of India. We, therefore, analyzed the overall and individual cancer mortality trends for 23 major cancers between 2000 and 2019 on the basis of Global Health Observatory (GHO) database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study examined cancer mortality trends for 23 major cancer sites on the basis of 12.85 million cancer deaths obtained from the GHO of the WHO between 2000 and 2019. A joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the long-term trends of cancer mortality. Annual percentage change (APC) and average APC were estimated for various cancer sites.

RESULTS

Between 2000 and 2019, 12.85 million deaths occurred in India from 23 major cancers. The most common lethal cancers were mouth and oropharyngeal (15.6%), stomach (10.6%), lung (9.6%), breast (9%), and colorectal (8%) cancers. The mortality trend decreased by 0.19% annually among men and increased nonsignificantly by 0.25% among women; an increase of 0.02% was observed among combined sexes. Increasing mortality trends were seen among cancers of the lung, breast, colorectum, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, and mesothelioma between 2000 and 2019. The highest annual increase in mortality was observed in pancreatic cancer among both sexes: 2.7%, 2.1% among men, and 3.7% in women. The cancers of the stomach, esophagus, leukemia, larynx, and melanoma showed a declining cancer mortality trend irrespective of sex.

CONCLUSION

A multifaceted strategy is required to tackle the rising cancer mortality rates in India; the best long-term strategy could be implementing awareness on cancer symptoms among the population as well as cancer prevention policies with improved health infrastructure and specifically dedicated human resources.
Dosimetric investigation of whole-brain radiotherapy with helical intensity modulated radiation therapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy for scalp sparing
Authors: Shirata Ryosuke , Inoue Tatsuya , Sugimoto Satoru , Saito Anneyuko I , Omura Motoko , Minagawa Yumiko , Sasai Keisuke
Published: March 2023

Objective:

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is a well-established radiotherapy technique for delivering radiation to cancer with high conformity while sparing the surrounding normal tissue. Two main purposes of this study are: (1) to investigate dose calculation accuracy of helical IMRT (HIMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) on surface region and (2) to evaluate the dosimetric efficacy of HIMRT and VMAT for scalp-sparing in whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT).

Methods:

First, using a radiochromic film and water-equivalent phantom with three types of boluses (1, 3, 5 mm), calculation/measurement dose agreement at the surface region in the VMAT and HIMRT plans were examined. Then, HIMRT, 6MV-VMAT and 10MV-VMAT with scalp-sparing, and two conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy plans (6MV-3DCRT and 10MV-3DCRT; as reference data) were created for 30 patients with brain metastasis (30 Gy/10 fractions). The mean dose to the scalp and the scalp volume receiving 24 and 30 Gy were compared.

Results:

The percentage dose differences between the calculation and measurement were within 7%, except for the HIMRT plan at a depth of 1 mm. The averaged mean scalp doses [Gy], V24Gy [%], and V30Gy [%] (1SD) for 6MV-3DCRT, 10MV-3DCRT, HIMRT, 6MV-VMAT, and 10MV-VMAT were [26.6 (1.1), 86.4 (7.3), 13.2 (4.2)], [25.4 (1.0), 77.8 (7.5), 13.2 (4.2)], [23.2 (1.5), 42.8 (19.2), 0.2 (0.5)], [23.6 (1.6), 47.5 (17.9), 1.2 (1.8)], and [22.7 (1.7), 36.4 (17.6), 0.7 (1.1)], respectively.

Conclusion:

Regarding the dose parameters, HIMRT achieved a lower scalp dose compared with 6MV-VMAT. However, the highest ability to reduce the mean scalp dose was showed in 10MV-VMAT.

Advances in knowledge:

Scalp-sparing WBRT using HIMRT or VMAT may prevent radiation-induced alopecia in patients with BM.
Harjutamine teeb meistriks ehk käsitöölise muljeid Richard Sennetti raamatust „Taidur“ / Practicing makes the master. A craftsperson’s perspective on Richard Sennett’s “The Craftsman”
Authors: Jõeste Kristi
Published: March 2023

In her review, Kristi Jõeste, an Estonian glove-knitting master, reflects on Sennett’s ideas in The Craftsman which have appealed to her the most: the persona of a craftsman, craftsmanship, tacit knowledge, skills and practice, motivation, routine tolerance, dialogue with materials, and the connection between hand and head. While ’craft’ in English is defined as a skillful process of making something, the Estonian definitions of ’käsitöö’ do not mention skills – the intellectual component of making – at all. In Estonian there are four definitions for ’käsitöö’ in dictionaries:

1) small-scale serial production made by hand with simple tools; 2) work made by hand, especially all sorts of crafting and needlework; 3) handmade object for practical or decorative purposes; 4) dull, poor-quality creation, especially in arts and literature.

Thence, the slightly negative semantic background of ’käsitöö’ perhaps justifies bringing an old and rare Finnish-rooted ’taidur’ into a wider use rather than translating the title as ’käsitööline’, hoping that it could bring artists, designers and craftspeople closer to each other.

Sennett argues that genuine craftsmen share the urge to do their work in the finest possible way, and it is a matter of personal satisfaction rather than a need to show off or get reward from others. Becoming a master in crafts requires routine engagement in order to acquire skill; he proposes that ca 10 000 hours of exercise is needed before a certain level of mastery is achieved and where self-reflection can produce novel results.

In summary, the book is a well-argumented mixture of conceptions related to crafts. It offers insights into thinking about crafts and linking the ideas with different practices. In this respect, it is a philosophical writing asking questions about how the craftsman dwells in reality.
EXPERIENCE OF INNOVATIVE WORK IN GAPOU SO ‘OLYMPIC RESERVE SCHOOL NO. 1 (COLLEGE)’ IN THE FRAMEWORK OF DIGITALIZATION OF EDUCATION
Authors: Vakorina Yuliya , Purtova Evgeniya
Published: March 2023

The "Strategy for the Development of the Information Society in Russia for 2017-2030" affects absolutely all spheres of society, including education. Digitalization as a means of improving the quality of education. The need for continuous improvement of the level of pedagogical skills of teachers and increasing motivation to learn through the use of information technology. The experience of introducing digital resources into the educational process. Problems and a long-term work plan in the field of digitalization of educa-tion.
Książka – Naród – Religia: Dzieje książki czeskiej do czasów odrodzenia narodowego
Authors: Nieć Grzegorz
Published: March 2023

The study presents the book culture of the Czech lands from the first appearance of writing there up to the end of the 18th century. The Czech book culture dates back to the 9th century when the territories of what is now known as Czechia belonged to the state of Great Moravia. Monks Cyril and Methodius were invited there to spread Christianity in a Slavonic language. Although their mission was not a long one, mainly due to German intrigues, it left lasting traces in the form of numerous historical records of Glagolitic literature and even more importantly, fostered the idea of recording the local tongue in writing.
Kolekcja medalików i krzyżyków Władysława Bartynowskiego
Authors: Pawłowska Krystyna
Published: March 2023

The aim of the book is to present a collection of medallions and crosses that belonged to Władysław Bartynowski (1832–1918). He was a collector of numismatic items, engravings, and antique books, as well as an antiquarian, a bibliophile, a book conservator and one of the earliest publishers of facsimiles of Polish antique books. He invented a method of reproducing coins and medals referred to in Poland as bartynotypia, i.e. “bartynotypy”, which makes it possible to create a copy of the original that is both a black-and-white print and a relief pressed into paper at the same time. Bartynowski bequeathed the majority of his collection to Cracow museums, namely the Czapski Museum and the National Museum, in recognition of which his name is commemorated on a donors’ plaque put up on the wall of Kraków’s Cloth Hall.
Preditores da satisfação com a vida entre universitários do Estado da Bahia, Brasil
Authors: Nunes Sandra Adriana Neves , Ferreira de Sousa Thiago , Faccin Borges Grasiely
Published: March 2023

A satisfação com a vida tem sido descrita como um constructo psicológico que se refere à avaliação global que o indivíduo faz em relação a sua vida. O presente estudo objetiva investigar se fatores individuais (gênero e idade), socioeconômico (classe social), de autopercepção (nível de estresse, estado de saúde e qualidade do sono) e de percepção de qualidade de vida na universidade (oportunidade e motivação para aprendizagem, ambiente social para aprendizagem, ambiente físico e equipamentos para aprendizagem, autoavaliação de conhecimento e relevância da universidade) predizem a satisfação com a vida entre universitários de instituições públicas do Estado da Bahia, Brasil. Participaram do estudo 1.506 universitários dos cursos de graduação presenciais das Universidades Federais (UFS) localizados no Estado da Bahia, sendo 537 homens (35.7 %), 968 mulheres (64.3 %) e um que não identificou seu gênero, com idades entre 18 a 24 anos (63.5 %) e sem companheiro(a) (86.0 %). Os resultados indicaram que o modelo que melhor predisse a satisfação com a vida foi aquele que incluiu classe social, nível de estresse, estado de saúde, qualidade do sono, grau de motivação, ânimo para assistir as aulas do seu curso, relacionamento com os demais colegas do seu curso e oportunidade de participação em atividades de ensino, extensão e pesquisa. Juntas, essas variáveis foram responsáveis por explicar aproximadamente 27.5 % da variância em satisfação com a vida, o que é uma razoável capacidade explicativa, se considerarmos que satisfação com a vida é um constructo psicológico, complexo e multideterminado.
Cross-Laminated Timber Panels Produced from Low-Grade Yellow-Poplar Sorted by Structural Visual Grade
Authors: da Rosa Azambuja Rafael , DeVallance David B. , McNeel Joseph , Dahle Gregory A.
Published: March 2023

Low-grade yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) graded No. 2 Common, and No. 3 Common (National Hardwood Lumber Association - NHLA rules) is mainly used by the industry to produce wood pallets. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels are options to diversify the usage and increase the value of this material. Therefore, the objective of this study was to produce CLT panels from a population of NHLA graded No. 2A, No. 2B, No. 3A, and No. 3B lumber and to evaluate whether the panel properties meet the bending criteria (major strength direction) and adhesive bond requirements listed for “V” type CLT in ANSI/APA PRG 320-2019 (2020) using Northeastern Lumber Association Manufacturers No. 2 and No. 3 in longitudinal and transverse layers, respectively. Ten panels were produced to evaluate the bond quality and mechanical properties. The bond test results showed average delamination under 5 percent and were more frequent in the central areas of the panel than in the outer panel areas. The results from testing showed that the calculated allowable stress-design bending-strength (major direction) value for the yellow-poplar CLT panels was 1,718 psi (11.84 MPa), which corresponds to a value 90 percent higher than V1 (900 psi, 6.20 MPa) layups. Modulus of elasticity (MOE; major direction) was comparable to V2 and V3, with an average MOE of 1.39 by 106 psi (9,584 MPa). Based on these findings, the study indicated the potential for using low-grade yellow-poplar lumber to produce CLT panels. However, more research is needed to evaluate other mechanical properties in both the major and minor axis.
Geoeconomics
Authors: Shahzad Aneela
Published: March 2023

In the context of broad-based subjects like geopolitics or geoeconomics, basic human instincts and behaviors cannot be overlooked. The endeavor to unravel the complex idea of geoeconomics encounters the simple human urge of accumulating goods. Economics and politics go hand in hand, rather they provide cover to each other. The idea of geoeconomics replacing geopolitics as a new global force is easier to understand if the underlying phenomenon of power and control is weighed in. This phenomenon works in all possible ways to make its gains, through the political, economic, or forceful means. Like politics, economics too is moving globally and can be used to gain power over people and control over resources. Geoeconomics should be considered a form, or means of gaining political ends. Political economy is conducting economics through politics, and conversely, economic-politics or geoeconomics means conducting politics through economics. Economics is an activity that creates movement of goods, increases productivity, and brings prosperity. When it becomes a means to gain power and control upon ‘others’, in addition to these gains, it turns into geoeconomics.
Pregnancy intentions' relationship with infant, pregnancy, maternal, and early childhood outcomes: Evidence from births in Alaska, Missouri, and Oklahoma
Authors: Hobby Erica , Mark Nicholas D. E. , Gemmill Alison , Cowan Sarah K.
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Much of reproductive health care policy in the United States focuses on enabling women to have intended pregnancies. Investigating whether the association between pregnancy intention and adverse outcomes for mothers and children in the immediate and longer term is due to intention or a mother's demographics provides valuable context for policy makers aiming to improve maternal and child outcomes.

Methods

We investigated relationships between pregnancy intention and pregnancy, infant, early childhood, and maternal outcomes using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System survey, conducted 2–8 months after the child's birth, and follow‐up surveys from three states (Alaska, Missouri, and Oklahoma), administered at age 2–3 years old. We used logistic regressions with inverse propensity weights to measure associations, accounting for potential confounding factors.

Results

After inverse propensity weighting, pregnancy intention was associated with adverse maternal pregnancy behaviors but not most infant outcomes. Mothers who reported an unwanted pregnancy were associated with increased odds of the child receiving a developmental delay diagnosis. Among those who did not report depression prior to pregnancy, mothers with unwanted pregnancies were more likely to experience persistent depression, and mothers with pregnancies mistimed by two or more years had a higher likelihood of experiencing depression postpartum or in the follow up period.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that pregnancy intention is less consequential for maternal and child well‐being than socio‐economic disadvantage, suggesting that re‐orienting policy toward social conditions and reproductive autonomy will serve better individual and population health.
Active-tracking scaling laws using the noise-equivalent angle due to speckle
Authors: Burrell Derek J. , Spencer Mark F. , Beason Melissa K. , Driggers Ronald G.
Published: March 2023

It is well known to system engineers that speckle imposes a limitation on active-tracking performance, but scaling laws that quantify this limitation do not currently exist in the peer-reviewed literature. Additionally, existing models lack validation through either simulation or experimentation. With these points in mind, this paper formulates closed-form expressions that accurately predict the noise-equivalent angle due to speckle. The analysis separately treats both well-resolved and unresolved cases for circular and square apertures. When compared with the numerical results from wave-optics simulations, the analytical results show excellent agreement to a track-error limitation of (1/3)λ/D, where λ/D is the aperture diffraction angle. As a result, this paper creates validated scaling laws for system engineers that need to account for active-tracking performance.
Femtosecond laser fabrication of chirped and tilted fiber Bragg gratings for stimulated Raman scattering suppression in kilowatt-level fiber lasers
Authors: Li Hao , Wang Meng , Wu Baiyi , Ye Xinyu , Gao Chenhui , Rao Binyu , Tian Xin , Xi Xiaoming , Chen Zilun , Wang Zefeng , Chen Jinbao
Published: March 2023

Chirped and tilted fiber Bragg gratings (CTFBGs) are important all-fiber filtering components in high-power fiber lasers for stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) suppression. The fabrication of CTFBGs in large-mode-area double-cladding fibers (LMA-DCFs) by femtosecond (fs) laser is reported for the first time to the best of our knowledge. The chirped and tilted grating structure is obtained by scanning the fiber obliquely and moving the fs-laser beam relative to the chirped phase mask at the same time. By this method, the CTFBGs with different chirp rates, grating lengths, and tilted angles are fabricated, and the maximum rejection depth and bandwidth are ∼25 dB and ∼12 nm, respectively. To test the performance of the fabricated CTFBGs, one is inserted between the seed laser and the amplifier stage of a 2.7 kW fiber amplifier, and an SRS suppression ratio of ∼4 dB is achieved with no reduction in laser efficiency and degradation in beam quality. This work provides a highly fast and flexible method to fabricate large-core CTFBGs, which is of great significance to the development of high-power fiber laser systems.
Effective method for low-light image enhancement based on the JND and OCTM models
Authors: Lang Yi-Zheng , Wang Yi-Lun , Qian Yun-Sheng , Kong Xiang-Yu , Cao Yang
Published: March 2023

Low-light images always suffer from dim overall brightness, low contrast, and low dynamic ranges, thus result in image degradation. In this paper, we propose an effective method for low-light image enhancement based on the just-noticeable-difference (JND) and the optimal contrast-tone mapping (OCTM) models. First, the guided filter decomposes the original images into base and detail images. After this filtering, detail images are processed based on the visual masking model to enhance details effectively. At the same time, the brightness of base images is adjusted based on the JND and OCTM models. Finally, we propose a new method to generate a sequence of artificial images to adjust the brightness of the output, which has a better performance in image detail preservation compared with other single-input algorithms. Experiments have demonstrated that the proposed method not only achieves low-light image enhancement, but also outperforms state-of-the-art methods qualitatively and quantitatively.
High output power, single mode, and TEM00 operation of a multiple gain chip VECSEL using a twisted-mode configuration
Authors: Mitten D. , Hart M. , Warner S. H. , Penttinen J.-P. , Guina M. , Kaneda Y.
Published: March 2023

A vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL) has been developed for a sodium guide star application. Stable single frequency operation with 21 W of output power near 1178 nm with multiple gain elements while lasing in the TEM00 mode has been achieved. Higher output power results in multimode lasing. For the sodium guide star application, the 1178 nm can be frequency doubled to 589 nm. The power scaling approach used involves using multiple gain mirrors in a folded standing wave cavity. This is the first demonstration of a high power single frequency VECSEL using a twisted-mode configuration and multiple gain mirrors located at the cavity folds.
2.4-Tb/s/λ*km fundamental mode transmission over OM2 fiber employing Kramers–Kronig receiver
Authors: Yu Xinkuo , Li Jianping , He Jianqing , Qin Yuwen , Lin Ning , He Yonghua , Xiang Meng , Fu Songnian
Published: March 2023

We propose a digital-carrier Kramers–Kronig (DC-KK) scheme based high-speed multimode fiber short-reach optical interconnect system with fundamental mode transmission. After optimization of the parameters, including the roll-off factor of the root-raised-cosine (RRC) filter, and the guard interval (GI) between signal and carrier tone, as well as the carrier signal power ratio (CSPR), 200-Gb/s 32-quadrature amplitude modulation (32QAM) signal transmission over 12-km OM2 fiber has been experimentally demonstrated with a bit error ratio (BER) below the soft-decision forward error correction (SD-FEC) threshold of 4 × 10−2. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest experimental record of single lambda bitrate-distance-product (SLBDP) achieved by direct-detection (DD)-based transmission over a standard multimode fiber (MMF). The proposed scheme has potential to improve the system performance without replacing massive deployed legacy MMFs for future large-capacity data center interconnects (DCIs).
Monitoring the perivascular cerebrospinal fluid dynamics of the glymphatic pathway using co-localized photoacoustic microscopy
Authors: Wang Zhiyang , Yang Fei , Shi Wenbin , Xie Wenjie , Zhang Zhan , Yang Sihua
Published: March 2023

In vivo imaging plays an important role in investigating how the glymphatic system drains metabolic waste and pathological proteins from the central nervous system. However, the spatial resolutions and imaging specificities of the available preclinical imaging methods for the glymphatic system are insufficient, and they cannot simultaneously locate the cerebrovascular and glymphatic pathways to enable the monitoring of the perivascular cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. This Letter proposes an imaging strategy for the in vivo monitoring of cerebrospinal fluid flow using co-localized photoacoustic volumetric microscopy. Imaging results showed that the glymphatic pathway is one of the crucial pathways for the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid, and it mainly enters the brain parenchyma along periarterial routes. Continuous intravital imaging enables the monitoring of the cerebrospinal fluid flow as well as the drainage and clearance from the glymphatic system after the tracer has entered the cerebrospinal fluid. The technique can enhance understanding of the cerebrospinal fluid circulation and open up new insights into neurodegenerative brain diseases.
FPM image enhancement with bi-modal deep learning
Authors: Bouchama Lyes , Dorizzi Bernadette , Klossa Jacques , THELLIER Marc , Gottesman Yaneck
Published: March 2023

Digital pathology based on whole slide imaging system is about to permit major breakthrough in automated diagnosis for a rapid and highly sensitive disease detection. High-resolution FPM (Fourier Ptychographic Microscopy) slide scanners delivering rich information on the sample such as intensity and its complementary phase image are becoming available. They allow new effective bi-modal data exploitation strategies that can be useful for more efficient automated diagnosis.
However, when the thickness of the sample becomes comparable or greater than the microscope depth of field, we report observation of undesirable contrast change of sub-cellular compartments in phase images around optimal focus plan, reducing their usability. In this article, an U-Net artificial neural network is trained to reinforce specifically targeted sub-cellular compartments contrast (for both intensity and phase images). The procedure used to construct a reference database with virtual z-stacking calculations is detailed. It is obtained exploiting FPM reconstruction algorithm to explore images around optimal focus plane (virtual Z-stacking) and select those with adequate contrast and focus. Furthermore intensity and phase images are advantageously
exploited in a bi-modal deep-neural network architecture.
By construction and once trained, the U-Net is able to simultaneously reinforce targeted cell compartments visibility and to compensate 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.
The hair cell analysis toolbox is a precise and fully automated pipeline for whole cochlea hair cell quantification
Authors: Buswinka Christopher J. , Osgood Richard T. , Simikyan Rubina G. , Rosenberg David B. , Indzhykulian Artur A.
Published: March 2023

Our sense of hearing is mediated by sensory hair cells, precisely arranged and highly specialized cells subdivided into outer hair cells (OHCs) and inner hair cells (IHCs). Light microscopy tools allow for imaging of auditory hair cells along the full length of the cochlea, often yielding more data than feasible to manually analyze. Currently, there are no widely applicable tools for fast, unsupervised, unbiased, and comprehensive image analysis of auditory hair cells that work well either with imaging datasets containing an entire cochlea or smaller sampled regions. Here, we present a highly accurate machine learning-based hair cell analysis toolbox (HCAT) for the comprehensive analysis of whole cochleae (or smaller regions of interest) across light microscopy imaging modalities and species. The HCAT is a software that automates common image analysis tasks such as counting hair cells, classifying them by subtype (IHCs versus OHCs), determining their best frequency based on their location along the cochlea, and generating cochleograms. These automated tools remove a considerable barrier in cochlear image analysis, allowing for faster, unbiased, and more comprehensive data analysis practices. Furthermore, HCAT can serve as a template for deep learning-based detection tasks in other types of biological tissue: With some training data, HCAT’s core codebase can be trained to develop a custom deep learning detection model for any object on an image.
Characterization of RNA polymerase II trigger loop mutations using molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning
Authors: Dutagaci Bercem , Duan Bingbing , Qiu Chenxi , Kaplan Craig D. , Feig Michael
Published: March 2023

Catalysis and fidelity of multisubunit RNA polymerases rely on a highly conserved active site domain called the trigger loop (TL), which achieves roles in transcription through conformational changes and interaction with NTP substrates. The mutations of TL residues cause distinct effects on catalysis including hypo- and hyperactivity and altered fidelity. We applied molecular dynamics simulation (MD) and machine learning (ML) techniques to characterize TL mutations in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) system. We did so to determine relationships between individual mutations and phenotypes and to associate phenotypes with MD simulated structural alterations. Using fitness values of mutants under various stress conditions, we modeled phenotypes along a spectrum of continual values. We found that ML could predict the phenotypes with 0.68 R2 correlation from amino acid sequences alone. It was more difficult to incorporate MD data to improve predictions from machine learning, presumably because MD data is too noisy and possibly incomplete to directly infer functional phenotypes. However, a variational auto-encoder model based on the MD data allowed the clustering of mutants with different phenotypes based on structural details. Overall, we found that a subset of loss-of-function (LOF) and lethal mutations tended to increase distances of TL residues to the NTP substrate, while another subset of LOF and lethal substitutions tended to confer an increase in distances between TL and bridge helix (BH). In contrast, some of the gain-of-function (GOF) mutants appear to cause disruption of hydrophobic contacts among TL and nearby helices.
Early-onset of sexual activity as a potential risk of cervical cancer in Africa: A review of literature
Authors: Mekonnen Alemayehu Gonie , Mittiku Yohannes Moges
Published: March 2023

Introduction

In most African countries, cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women, both in terms of incidence and fatality. In the existing literature, age is risk factor for developing cervical cancer since it occurs mainly after the middle life of women. However, there have been contradictory findings in the literature on whether early sexual intercourse is linked to cervical cancer, with some studies indicating no relationship and others reporting an increased risk. Hence, this review analyzed data from recently published studies on cervical cancer.

Methods

Seven databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Medscape, EMBASE, African Journals Online and Science Direct) were searched for papers published from January 2000 to March 2022 in English. Ten studies were included in analysis. The statistical analysis was performed using STATA 11. Heterogeneity between-study was explored by forest plot and inconsistency index (I2). The publication bias was checked by a funnel plot and Egger’s test. The pooled estimates of odds ratios were calculated by a random-effects model.

Results

In the subgroup analysis, there was no significant association between early sexual activity and cervical cancer. However, the overall pooled analysis of these ten studies revealed that there is an association between early sexual debut and cervical cancer. In the random effect model, we found a pooled odds ratio of 2.95 (95% CI = 1.06, 4.83), indicating that women who began sexual intercourse before the age of 18 had a higher risk of getting cervical cancer than adult women.

Conclusion

In this analysis, women who began having early sexual debut had a greater risk of developing cervical cancer than those who initiated sexual intercourse later in life. Delaying the age of first sexual activity among adolescents could help prevent the occurrence of cervical cancer.
Survival of the fittest in the pandemic age: Introducing disease-related social Darwinism
Authors: Nachtwey Paul , Walther Eva
Published: March 2023

COVID-19 was a harsh reminder that diseases are an aspect of human existence and mortality. It was also a live experiment in the formation and alteration of disease-related attitudes. Not only are these attitudes relevant to an individual’s self-protective behavior, but they also seem to be associated with social and political attitudes more broadly. One of these attitudes is Social Darwinism, which holds that a pandemic benefits society by enabling nature “to weed out the weak”. In two countries (N= 300,N= 533), we introduce and provide evidence for the reliability, validity, and usefulness of the Disease-Related Social Darwinism (DRSD) Short Scale measuring this concept. Results indicate that DRSD is meaningful related to other central political attitudes like Social Dominance Orientation, Authoritarianism and neoliberalism. Importantly, the scale significantly predicted people’s protective behavior during the Pandemic over and above general social Darwinism. Moreover, it significantly predicted conservative attitudes, even after controlling for Social Dominance Orientation.
Telomere length and brain imaging phenotypes in UK Biobank
Authors: Topiwala Anya , Nichols Thomas E. , Williams Logan Z. J. , Robinson Emma C. , Alfaro-Almagro Fidel , Taschler Bernd , Wang Chaoyue , Nelson Christopher P. , Miller Karla L. , Codd Veryan , Samani Nilesh J. , Smith Stephen M.
Published: March 2023

Telomeres form protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, and their attrition is a marker of biological aging. Short telomeres are associated with an increased risk of neurological and psychiatric disorders including dementia. The mechanism underlying this risk is unclear, and may involve brain structure and function. However, the relationship between telomere length and neuroimaging markers is poorly characterized. Here we show that leucocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with multi-modal MRI phenotypes in 31,661 UK Biobank participants. Longer LTL is associated with: i) larger global and subcortical grey matter volumes including the hippocampus, ii) lower T1-weighted grey-white tissue contrast in sensory cortices, iii) white-matter microstructure measures in corpus callosum and association fibres, iv) lower volume of white matter hyperintensities, and v) lower basal ganglia iron. Longer LTL was protective against certain related clinical manifestations, namely all-cause dementia (HR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.91–0.96), but not stroke or Parkinson’s disease. LTL is associated with multiple MRI endophenotypes of neurodegenerative disease, suggesting a pathway by which longer LTL may confer protective against dementia.
Spatiotemporal transitions in Pseudo-nitzschia species assemblages and domoic acid along the Alaska coast
Authors: Hubbard Katherine A. , Villac Maria Célia , Chadwick Christina , DeSmidt Alexandra A. , Flewelling Leanne , Granholm April , Joseph Molly , Wood Taylor , Fachon Evangeline , Brosnahan Michael L. , Richlen Mindy , Pathare Mrunmayee , Stockwell Dean , Lin Peigen , Bouchard Josée N. , Pickart Robert , Anderson Donald M.
Published: March 2023

The toxic diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia is distributed from equatorial to polar regions and is comprised of >57 species, some capable of producing the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). In the Pacific Arctic Region spanning the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas, DA is recognized as an emerging human and ecosystem health threat, yet little is known about the composition and distribution of Pseudo-nitzschia species in these waters. This investigation characterized Pseudo-nitzschia assemblages in samples collected in 2018 during summer (August) and fall (October-November) surveys as part of the Distributed Biological Observatory and Arctic Observing Network, encompassing a broad geographic range (57.8° to 73.0°N, -138.9° to -169.9°W) and spanning temperature (-1.79 to 11.7°C) and salinity (22.9 to 32.9) gradients associated with distinct water masses. Species were identified using a genus-specific Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA). Seventeen amplicons were observed; seven corresponded to temperate, sub-polar, or polar Pseudo-nitzschia species based on parallel sequencing efforts (P. arctica, P. delicatissima, P. granii, P. obtusa, P. pungens, and two genotypes of P. seriata), and one represented Fragilariopsis oceanica. During summer, particulate DA (pDA; 4.0 to 130.0 ng L-1) was observed in the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea where P. obtusa was prevalent. In fall, pDA (3.3 to 111.8 ng L-1) occurred along the Beaufort Sea shelf coincident with one P. seriata genotype, and south of the Bering Strait in association with the other P. seriata genotype. Taxa were correlated with latitude, longitude, temperature, salinity, pDA, and/or chlorophyll a, and each had a distinct distribution pattern. The observation of DA in association with different species, seasons, geographic regions, and water masses underscores the significant risk of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) and DA-poisoning in Alaska waters.
Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Myanmar version of the scale of oral health outcomes for 5-year-old children
Authors: Min Saw Nay , Duangthip Duangporn , Gao Sherry Shiqian , Detsomboonrat Palinee
Published: March 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the child’s self-report and parental report of the scale of oral health outcomes for 5-year-old children (SOHO-5) for use in Myanmar (Burmese-speaking) population and to assess the reliability and validity of the Myanmar version.

Materials and methods

The forward-backward translation method was used to develop the Myanmar SOHO-5 version and the final questionnaires were tested on 173 five years old children and their parents for reliability and validity. A single dentist examined the caries experience of the children (Kappa:0.90). The structural validity was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability (1–2 weeks) were evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. The association between SOHO-5 scores and additional global rating questions for child oral health status (convergent validity) and the differences between the total SOHO-5 score of children with caries and children without caries (discriminant validity) were investigated.

Results

A confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit for the one-factor structure of the SOHO-5. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient values for internal consistency were 0.82 for the children’s report and 0.79 for the parental report. The ICCs were 0.90 and 0.89 for the total scores of the children and parental versions in the test-retest reliability analysis. The total SOHO-5 scores for both reports were significantly associated with the global rating questions except for the ’impact on children’s general health’ question in the parental report. Furthermore, the Myanmar version discriminated between the children with and without caries experiences (p< 0.001).

Conclusion

This study provided evidence that both children and parental reports of the Myanmar SOHO-5 version have good reliability and validity to assess the OHRQoL of 5-year-old children in a Burmese-speaking population.
Sex differences in health care expenditures and mortality after spousal bereavement: A register-based Danish cohort study
Authors: Katsiferis Alexandros , Bhatt Samir , Mortensen Laust Hvas , Mishra Swapnil , Westendorp Rudi G. J.
Published: March 2023

Background

Spousal bereavement is a life event that affects older people differently. We investigated the impact of spousal bereavement on medical expenditures and mortality in the general population, emphasizing on age and sex.

Methods

Data are from a population-based, retrospective cohort study following 924,958 Danish citizens over the age of 65 years, within 2011–2016. Changes in health care expenditures in those who suffer bereavement were compared with time matched changes among those who did not. Mortality hazards were analysed with time to event analysis.

Results

A total of 77,722 (~8.4%) individuals experienced bereavement, 65.8% being females. Among males, bereavement was associated with increase of expenditures the year after, that was 42 Euros per week (95% CI, 36 to 48) larger than the non-bereaved group. The corresponding increase for females was 35 Euros per week (95% CI, 30 to 40). The increase of mortality hazards was highest in the first year after bereavement, higher in males than females, in young old and almost absent in the oldest old. Compared with the reference, mortality the year after spousal loss was 70% higher (HR 1.70 [95% CI 1.40 to 2.08]) for males aged 65–69 years and remained elevated for a period of six years. Mortality for females aged 65–69 years was 27% higher in the first year (HR 1.27, [1.07 to 1.52]), normalizing thereafter.

Conclusion

Bereavement affects older people differently with younger males being most frail with limited recovery potential.
Is bovine density and ownership associated with human tuberculosis in India?
Authors: Willgert Katriina , da Silva Susie , Li Ruoran , Dandapat Premanshu , Veerasami Maroudam , Maity Hindol , Papanna Mohan , Srinivasan Sreenidhi , Wood James L. N. , Kapur Vivek , Conlan Andrew J. K.
Published: March 2023

Zoonotic tuberculosis in humans is caused by infection with bacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex acquired from animals, most commonly cattle. India has the highest burden of human tuberculosis in the world and any zoonotic risk posed by tuberculosis in bovines needs to be managed at the source of infection as a part of efforts to end human tuberculosis. Zoonotic tuberculosis in humans can be severe and is clinically indistinguishable from non-zoonotic tuberculosis. As a consequence, zoonotic tuberculosis remains under-recognised and the significance of its contribution to human tuberculosis is poorly understood. This study aimed to explore any association between bovine density, bovine ownership, and human tuberculosis reporting in India using self-reported tuberculosis data in households and officially reported tuberculosis cases while controlling for common confounders for human tuberculosis. We find an association between human tuberculosis reporting, bovine density and bovine ownership in India. Buffalo density was significantly associated with an increased risk of self-reported tuberculosis in households (odds ratio (OR) = 1.23 (95% credible interval (CI): 1.10–1.39) at household level; incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.17 (95% CI: 1.04–1.33) at district level), while cattle density (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.71–0.89; IRR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.70–0.87) and ownership of bovines in households (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.9–0.99; IRR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.57–0.79) had a protective association with tuberculosis reporting. It is unclear whether this relates to differences in tuberculosis transmission dynamics, or perhaps an association between bovines and other unexplored confounders for tuberculosis reporting in humans. Our study highlights a need for structured surveillance to estimate the prevalence of tuberculosis in cattle and buffaloes, characterisation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex species present in bovines and transmission analyses at the human-animal interface to better assess the burden and risk pathways of zoonotic tuberculosis in India.