bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A scoping review protocol of age-friendly practices during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Guzman Viveka , O'Dwyer Paul , Doyle Frank , Pertl Maria , Foley Ronan , Morsch Patricia , Alvarez Delfina , Vega Enrique
Published: September 2022

Background: Actions focused on age-friendly environments contribute to promote and maintain older people’s functional ability and may enable them to contribute to their communities and enjoy life. As such, age-friendly practices require collaboration between diverse stakeholders across multiple sectors responsible for natural, built, and social environments, which can be particularly relevant during public health emergencies when socio-ecological vulnerabilities become more salient and may disproportionally affect older people. This paper presents a protocol for a scoping review aiming to investigate the breadth of evidence concerning the development, implementation, and evaluation of age-friendly practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The protocol sets out the objectives, methods, and dissemination plans for the review.

Methods: The scoping review will be conducted in line with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review methodology. We will search databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, PsychNet) and grey literature sources. Publications relating to practices across the 8 domains of the World Health Organization’s age-friendly cities and communities’ framework will be included. A tabular data extraction tool will be used to facilitate a narrative synthesis of results.

Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required as the methods proposed for this scoping review consist of collecting publicly available data. Findings will be reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and submitted to a journal for academic dissemination. Lay dissemination plans include an infographic and a blog-style article presenting our core results.

Conclusion: The publication of this protocol allows for transparency in the systematic process of a scoping review focused on age-friendly practices during COVID-19. Findings emerging from the scoping review will provide insights into the evidence available regarding age-friendly activities during COVID-19 and may inform future age-friendly practices during public health emergencies and beyond.
A model for assessing the impact of tourism and the hospitality industry on the Russian economy
Authors: Alekseev Aleksandr , Averin Aleksandr , Pozdnyakov Konstantin , Nikolaeva Yuliya , Grigor'eva Valentina , Gunare Marina , Shvagzhdiene Biruta , Ivanova Yuliya
Published: September 2022

The monograph is aimed at identifying the role of the domestic tourism and hospitality industry in promoting economic growth. The authors set the task of studying the role of the economic effects of the industry in economic growth and the relationship between them, as well as developing measures to support and develop tourism and the hospitality industry in the Russian Federation. The empirical study of the relationship between inbound tourism, financial and innovative development and economic growth in the Russian Federation is carried out by using panel data for the period 2000-2020.
The main results are proposals to change certain regulatory legal acts, methodological recommendations that define the basic basis of modern approaches to the development of tourism and the hospitality industry in the Russian Federation. Proposals of theoretical, methodological, economic and legal nature have been developed, which makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of state regulation of the studied sphere in order to ensure its sustainable growth and influence on the national economy.
For a wide range of readers interested in tourism and hospitality. It can be useful for students, postgraduates and teachers of economic universities.
Incentives in military administration: legal foundations and psychological features of their impact on military personnel
Authors: ZORIN OLEG , KUDAShKIN ALEKSANDR , KORYaKIN VIKTOR
Published: September 2022

The monograph provides a brief historical and legal analysis of the genesis and evolution of incentives for military personnel of the Russian state, examines the institution of encouragement of military personnel, its goals, functions, tasks and place in the system of legal incentives, the conceptual apparatus is formed. Attention is paid to the psychological features of the impact of encouragement on military personnel, as well as practical aspects of the implementation and application of incentive legal norms to the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Gaps in the legislation on the encouragement of military personnel are highlighted and corruption-causing factors in it are identified.
It is intended for commanders (chiefs) of various levels; teaching staff; researchers; adjuncts of students and cadets of military educational organizations of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation; students studying in military training centers at civilian universities, as well as for all those who are interested in stimulating the performance of military service duties.
Implementation of state and municipal procurement by non-competitive methods (procurement from a single supplier): assessment of economic efficiency
Authors: Perov Valeriy , Shibanova Anna , Nosov Vladimir , Sokolov Aleksey
Published: September 2022

The monograph provides a comprehensive study of the possibilities of assessing the economic efficiency of public (municipal) procurement in a non-competitive way (from a single supplier). The domestic and foreign experience in this field is being investigated. Using a mathematical model of economic analysis and relying on the concept of quantitative theory of money, the authors attempt to create a formula for calculating the economic efficiency coefficient of state (municipal) procurement from a single supplier.
At the same time, the possibilities of using this coefficient in conducting economic examinations, in economic disputes between economic entities, as well as in criminal cases of abuse in the procurement of goods,
works, services for state or municipal needs are analyzed.
It is intended for contract service employees, contract managers, members of the procurement commission, persons carrying out acceptance of delivered goods, works performed, services rendered, representing the interests of the customer in the field of procurement of goods, works, services for state (municipal needs), as well as for employees of logistics departments, experts, investigators The Investigative Committee, the Federal Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, investigating criminal cases of crimes committed in the field of state (municipal) procurement, for teachers, students of economic and law universities, and other persons interested in the problems of state (municipal) procurement.
Recommended for the study of the following disciplines: economics, criminal law of the Russian Federation (special part), criminology
How to Alleviate Correlation Neglect in Investment Decisions
Authors: Laudenbach Christine , Ungeheuer Michael , Weber Martin
Published: September 2022

We experimentally study how presentation formats for return distributions affect investors’ diversification choices. We find that sampling returns alleviates correlation neglect and constitutes an effective way to improve financial decisions. When participants get a description of the probabilities for outcomes of the joint return distribution, we confirm the findings of others that investors neglect the correlation between assets in their diversification choices. However, when participants sample from the joint distribution, they change their allocation between two assets in response to a change in their correlation in the predicted direction. The results are robust across two experiments that have participants with varying experience (students versus private investors).

This paper was accepted by Manel Baucells, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

Funding: This work was supported by the Academy of Finland [Decision Item 322357] and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Grant We993/15-1].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4535 .
Induction of Chlorophyll and Morphological Mutations through Gamma Ray in Traditional Aromatic Cultivar Tulaipanja
Authors: K. M. Hasib K. M. Hasib
Published: October 2022

The induced mutation of the traditional aromatic cultivar may provide useful alternative or complement to natural variation which may be used directly in mutation breeding or as a source of germ plasm in hybridization programme. Induced mutations irradiated through gamma ray in aromatic cultivar Tulaipanja were studied for chlorophyll and other morphological characters in the M2 generation. The frequency of chlorophyll mutations was high in higher doses. Among the chlorophyll mutants studied, albina was the most frequent, followed by alboxantha, alboviridis, xantha, viridis and striata. The mutation efficiency and the mutagenic effectiveness of the mutagen is more in the lower dose. The semi-dwarf mutants were more prevalent followed by dwarf and semitall-I mutants. The number of height mutants is much more in lower dose than that of higher dose. Among the morphological mutants, a number of mutants with broom stick leaf and few mutants with grassy leaf, rolled leaf, striped leaf were obtained. Besides these, delayed flowering mutants were obtained in low frequency in both the doses while the early flowering mutants were obtained only in the lower dose. The desirable dwarf or semi-dwarf early flowering mutants may be utilized directly or for recombination breeding, whereas the high yielding lines screened may be used directly as aromatic cultivar provided if the performance in the later generation is good.
Role of Oral Supplementation of Damiana (Turnera diffusa) Reduces the Renal Toxicity, Apoptosis and DNA Damage Associated with Amitriptyline Administration in Rats
Authors: F. Hasan Ahmed , M. Hameed Haneen , Tousson Ehab , Massoud Ahmed , Atta Fathy , Youssef Hussein , Hussein Youssef
Published: September 2022

Major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders are two mental diseases that are treated with amitriptyline (AMT). AMT treatments induced liver, heart and testes toxicity; As a result, the purpose of this study was to determine the preventative and therapeutic role of damiana (Dam) as adjuvant herbal therapy against AMT induced heart injury in rats. Six groups of 36 rats (male albino) were randomly assigned; first one is control, second is Dam, third was AMT, fourth was Dam+AMT, fifth was AMT+Dam and sixth was AMT self-healing. A significant elevation in creatinine, urea, sodium (Na+), Chloride (Cl+), renal injury, DNA damage and apoptosis in treatment rats with amitriptyline and self-healing group as related to control and damiana groups. Conversely; potassium (K+) and calcium (Ca++) were a significant decrease in AMT and self-healing groups as compared with control. Treatment of AMT with Dam (Co and Post) revealed a modulation and improvement of renal toxicity with best result in co- treatments than post treatments. As a result, AMT treatments encouraged changes in kidney functions and structure and the post-treatments of AMT with dam modulates these alterations.
Gestão dos recursos organizacionais essenciais para o bom desempenho na Avaliação da Capes
Authors: Backes Danieli Artuzi Pes , Ribeiro Serra Fernando Antonio , Belfort Ana Claudia , Andrade Élida Furtado da Silva
Published: September 2022

A partir da ascensão da avaliação do ensino superior brasileiro nos últimos anos e sua influência sobre as instituições avaliadas, tomamos como objetivo de estudo a análise dos indicadores dos programas de pós-graduação stricto sensu em Administração (PPGAs), obtidos no quadriênio entre 2013 e 2016, visando identificar seu comportamento estratégico. Com base na combinação teórica aplicada de forma inédita ao campo de estudo, a Teoria dos Recursos e a abordagem institucional do isomorfismo, foram levantadas três hipóteses, analisadas por diferentes métodos quantitativos: regressão linear, correlação de Pearson, razão e proporção. Os resultados confirmaram as duas primeiras hipóteses e complementaram a terceira, que atestou que, além dos programas de excelência, há alto nível de eficiência entre os docentes de PPGAs de todos os estratos. Pela combinação das teorias, constatamos que uma organização efetiva em ambiente regulamentado é aquela que consegue organizar todos os recursos, processos e rotinas de forma alinhada às determinações regulatórias. Todavia, no campo em que o sistema regulatório também desempenha o papel de agente financiador, emerge a questão competitiva. Constataram-se diferenças entre os quesitos explicativos para o conceito dos programas de nível superior (5, 6, 7) e para todo o conjunto de programas pesquisados (4, 5, 6, 7), o que possibilitou a construção de um modelo estratégico para o desempenho superior. Com esse estudo, pretendemos contribuir com a ampliação do conhecimento a respeito do sistema de avaliação da pós-graduação, assim como lançar luz na discussão dos impactos da avaliação da Capes sobre os PPGAs. Ademais, esperamos que essa pesquisa científica cumpra com o seu papel conceitual, social e gerencial.
Accurate measurement of virtual image distance for near-eye displays based on auto-focusing
Authors: Xu Hao , Tabata Satoshi , Liang Haowen , Wang Lihui , Ishikawa Masatoshi
Published: September 2022

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are able to project virtual images to human eyes at a certain depth distance. This virtual image distance can be adjusted by controlling the diopter of the near-eye display. However, it is difficult to measure accurately and continuously since this virtual image distance spans a large range. In this work, we propose a method to accurately determine the virtual image distance of commercial VR/AR equipment. The measurement apparatus is built and calibrated to validate the feasibility. The focal distance of the focus-tunable lens can be automatically adjusted via a step motor by cooperating with the image sharpness analyzing program. Compared with other proposed methods, ours provides an effective means to achieve high accuracy, a wide and continuous testing range, and automatic evaluation of virtual image distance for compact near-eye displays.
Analytical solution of the vector radiative transfer equation for single scattered radiance
Authors: Hank Philipp , Liemert André , Kienle Alwin
Published: September 2022

In this paper, derivation of the analytical solution of the vector radiative transfer equation for the single scattered radiance of three-dimensional semi-infinite media with a refractive index mismatch at the boundary is presented. In particular, the solution is obtained in the spatial domain and spatial frequency domain. Besides the general derivation, determination of the amplitude scattering matrix, which is required for the analytical solution, is given in detail. Furthermore, the incorporation of Fresnel equations due to a refractive index mismatch at the boundary is presented. Finally, verification of the derived formulas is performed using a self-implemented electrical field Monte Carlo method based on Jones formalism. For this purpose, the solution based on Jones formalism is converted to Stokes–Mueller formalism. For the verification, spherical particles are assumed as scatterers, whereby arbitrary size distributions can be considered.
Radiation forces on a Mie particle in the evanescent field of a resonance waveguide structure
Authors: Rezaei Shadi , Azami Darya , Kheirandish Fardin , Hassanzadeh Abdollah
Published: September 2022

Evanescent waves of a guided mode carry both momentum and energy, which enables them to move small objects located on a waveguide surface. This optical force can be used for optical near-field manipulation, arrangement, and acceleration of particles. In this paper, using arbitrary beam theory, the optical force on a dielectric particle in the evanescent wave of a resonance waveguiding structure is investigated. Using Maxwell’s equations and applying the boundary conditions, all the field components and a generalized dispersion relation are obtained. An expression for the evanescent field is derived in terms of the spherical wave functions. Cartesian components of the radiation force are analytically formulated and numerically evaluated by ignoring the multiple scattering that occurs between the sphere and plane surface of the structure. Our numerical data show that both the horizontal and vertical force components and the forward particle velocity are enhanced significantly in the proposed resonance structure compared to those reported for three-layer conventional waveguides. Exerting stronger force on macro- and nanoparticles can be very useful to perform advanced experiments in solutions with high viscosity and experiments on biological cells. In addition, this resonance planar structure can be mounted on an inverted optical microscope stage for imaging the motion of nanoparticles especially when the particle collides and interacts with objects.
Image-based polarization detection and material recognition
Authors: Lin Yi-Hsin , Huang Hao-Hsin , Wang Yu-Jen , Hsieh Huai-An , Chen Po-Lun
Published: September 2022

We demonstrate a single-shot and image-based polarization detection system for material recognition. The Stokes parameters are measured under a single-shot measurement using 4 electrically tunable liquid crystal wave plates, 4 polarizers, and 4 camera modules. The optical principle is introduced and the experiments are performed. We also use a metallic plate and a glass substrate to demonstrate the material recognition. The impact of this study is to provide a practical way in image-based polarization detection in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems for material recognition which could help in driving safety.
DeepOrientation: convolutional neural network for fringe pattern orientation map estimation
Authors: Cywińska Maria , Rogalski Mikołaj , Brzeski Filip , Patorski Krzysztof , Trusiak Maciej
Published: September 2022

Fringe pattern based measurement techniques are the state-of-the-art in full-field optical metrology. They are crucial both in macroscale, e.g., fringe projection profilometry, and microscale, e.g., label-free quantitative phase microscopy. Accurate estimation of the local fringe orientation map can significantly facilitate the measurement process in various ways, e.g., fringe filtering (denoising), fringe pattern boundary padding, fringe skeletoning (contouring/following/tracking), local fringe spatial frequency (fringe period) estimation, and fringe pattern phase demodulation. Considering all of that, the accurate, robust, and preferably automatic estimation of local fringe orientation map is of high importance. In this paper we propose a novel numerical solution for local fringe orientation map estimation based on convolutional neural network and deep learning called DeepOrientation. Numerical simulations and experimental results corroborate the effectiveness of the proposed DeepOrientation comparing it with a representative of the classical approach to orientation estimation called combined plane fitting/gradient method. The example proving the effectiveness of DeepOrientation in fringe pattern analysis, which we present in this paper, is the application of DeepOrientation for guiding the phase demodulation process in Hilbert spiral transform. In particular, living HeLa cells quantitative phase imaging outcomes verify the method as an important asset in label-free microscopy.
Precise detection of water surface through the analysis of a single green waveform from bathymetry LiDAR
Authors: Tao Bangyi , Li Jizhe , Guo Wei , He Yan , Li Youzhi , Huang Haiqing , Yu Jiayong , Mao Zhihua
Published: September 2022

Determination of the correct water surface height (WSH) from green laser (532 nm) echoes alone in bathymetry LiDAR is challenging, as the green laser return near the water surface involves both specular reflection from the air–water interface and backscattered return from the water volume. In this paper, a low-complexity method based on linear approximation of the leading edge (LLE) is proposed. The results of this LLE method were compared with those of three common algorithms of peak detection, half peak power, and surface-volume-bottom implemented on airborne datasets with various surface roughness conditions. In addition, the method was evaluated in waters with a wide range of optical properties through a controllable tank experiment. The uncertainties in the WSHs of all algorithms were greater when the water volume backscattering dominated the surface return; they were sensitive to variations in the optical properties of water, and increased exponentially with decreasing LiDAR attenuation coefficient (KLiDAR). Comparatively, the LLE algorithm had the fastest computational speed and demonstrated the best performance in situations where specular reflection or volume backscatter return was dominant, with average and maximum errors of less than 0.06 and 0.13 m, respectively.
Energy-efficient subchannel assignment and power allocation in VLC-IoT systems with SLIPT
Authors: Tang Tang , Shang Tao , Li Qian , Li Gan , Bai Bo
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we investigate joint subchannel assignment and power allocation for the energy efficiency (EE) optimization in an indoor visible light communication (VLC)-Internet of Things (IoT) system with simultaneous lightwave information and power transfer (SLIPT). A mixed-integer fractional nonlinear programming problem that is challenging to solve is formulated. To tackle this problem, the optimal transmission scheme is decomposed into subchannel assignment and power allocation. Firstly, a virtual cell formation and subchannel assignment (VCF-SA) scheme is proposed, which considers the location of IoT devices, quality of service requirements, and energy states. Secondly, a quadratic transformation-based power allocation (QTBPA) scheme is designed to transform the fractional nonlinear programming problem into a series of convex problems that can be solved iteratively. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme in terms of system EE compared to the benchmarks. The impact of system parameters on the EE is also analyzed.
Turbulence strength C
n2 estimation from video using physics-based deep learning
Authors: Saha Ripon Kumar , Salcin Esen , Kim Jihoo , Smith Joseph , Jayasuriya Suren
Published: September 2022

Images captured from a long distance suffer from dynamic image distortion due to turbulent flow of air cells with random temperatures, and thus refractive indices. This phenomenon, known as image dancing, is commonly characterized by its refractive-index structure constant

C
n
2

as a measure of the turbulence strength. For many applications such as atmospheric forecast model, long-range/astronomy imaging, and aviation safety, optical communication technology,

C
n
2

estimation is critical for accurately sensing the turbulent environment. Previous methods for

C
n
2

estimation include estimation from meteorological data (temperature, relative humidity, wind shear, etc.) for single-point measurements, two-ended pathlength measurements from optical scintillometer for path-averaged

C
n
2

, and more recently estimating

C
n
2

from passive video cameras for low cost and hardware complexity. In this paper, we present a comparative analysis of classical image gradient methods for

C
n
2

estimation and modern deep learning-based methods leveraging convolutional neural networks. To enable this, we collect a dataset of video capture along with reference scintillometer measurements for ground truth, and we release this unique dataset to the scientific community. We observe that deep learning methods can achieve higher accuracy when trained on similar data, but suffer from generalization errors to other, unseen imagery as compared to classical methods. To overcome this trade-off, we present a novel physics-based network architecture that combines learned convolutional layers with a differentiable image gradient method that maintains high accuracy while being generalizable across image datasets.
Ultraviolet-to-infrared broadband photodetector and imaging application based on a perovskite single crystal
Authors: Xu Meng , Wang Xinyue , Weng Jiexin , Shen Jingling , Hou Yanbing , Zhang Bo
Published: September 2022

The organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite CH3NH3PbBr3(MAPbBr3) has been well developed in the X-ray to visible light band due to its superior optoelectronic properties, but this material is rarely studied in the infrared band. In this paper, a UV-NIR broadband optical detector based on MAPbBr3 single crystal is studied, and the response range can reach the near-infrared region. In the visible light band, the optical response of the device is mainly caused by the photoelectric effect; in the near-infrared band, the optical response of the device is mainly caused by the thermal effect. The carrier response of MAPbBr3 material under different wavelengths of light was investigated using a non-contact measurement method (optical pump terahertz (THz) probe spectroscopy). This paper also builds a set of photoelectric sensor array components, and successfully realizes the conversion of optical image signals to electrical image signals in the visible light band and infrared band. The experimental results show that MAPbBr3 crystals provide a new possibility for UV-NIR broadband photodetectors.
Suppressing the polarization aberrations by combining reflection and refraction optical groups
Authors: Jiang Chunming , Yao Dong , Meng Lingtong , Yan Chunhui , Shen Honghai
Published: September 2022

Polarization remote sensing technology expands the dimensions of the target and enriches its basic information over traditional remote sensing methods. During the imaging process, polarization imaging changes the polarization information of the target by the modulation of the optical system, affecting the detection accuracy. We term the modulation of the polarization state of light by an optical system as polarization aberration, and we found that a lens group combined with mirrors is beneficial in suppressing polarization aberrations. This study analyzed the principles of suppression and the polarization aberration of the optical system before and after suppression. Simulation results show that the diattenuation’s average value is reduced by 51.1% and the retardance’s average value is reduced by 26.3% after suppression. The corrected polarization cross-coupled energy is reduced by 73.18% in the central field of view and by 69.80% in the fringe field of view. Adding a lens group also effectively suppresses traditional aberrations and expands the field of view.
Individualised computational modelling of immune mediated disease onset, flare and clearance in psoriasis
Authors: Shmarov Fedor , Smith Graham R. , Weatherhead Sophie C. , Reynolds Nick J. , Zuliani Paolo
Published: September 2022

Despite increased understanding about psoriasis pathophysiology, currently there is a lack of predictive computational models. We developed a personalisable ordinary differential equations model of human epidermis and psoriasis that incorporates immune cells and cytokine stimuli to regulate the transition between two stable steady states of clinically healthy (non-lesional) and disease (lesional psoriasis, plaque) skin. In line with experimental data, an immune stimulus initiated transition from healthy skin to psoriasis and apoptosis of immune and epidermal cells induced by UVB phototherapy returned the epidermis back to the healthy state. Notably, our model was able to distinguish disease flares. The flexibility of our model permitted the development of a patient-specific “UVB sensitivity” parameter that reflected subject-specific sensitivity to apoptosis and enabled simulation of individual patients’ clinical response trajectory. In a prospective clinical study of 94 patients, serial individual UVB doses and clinical response (Psoriasis Area Severity Index) values collected over the first three weeks of UVB therapy informed estimation of the “UVB sensitivity” parameter and the prediction of individual patient outcome at the end of phototherapy. An important advance of our model is its potential for direct clinical application through early assessment of response to UVB therapy, and for individualised optimisation of phototherapy regimes to improve clinical outcome. Additionally by incorporating the complex interaction of immune cells and epidermal keratinocytes, our model provides a basis to study and predict outcomes to biologic therapies in psoriasis.
Comparison of community and clinic-based blood pressure measurements: A cross-sectional study from Haiti
Authors: Smith Caleigh E. , Metz Miranda , Pierre Jean Lookens , Rouzier Vanessa , Yan Lily D. , Sufra Rodney , Dade Eliezer , Preval Fabyola , Ariste Wilson , Rivera Vanessa , Tymejczyk Olga , Peck Rob , Koenig Serena , Deschamps Marie Marcelle , Pape William , McNairy Margaret L.
Published: September 2022

Hypertension (HTN) is the leading modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor in low and middle-income countries, and accurate and accessible blood pressure (BP) measurement is essential for identifying persons at risk. Given the convenience and increased use of community BP screening programs in low-income settings, we compared community and clinic BP measurements for participants in the Haiti CVD Cohort Study to determine the concordance of these two measurements. Participants were recruited using multistage random sampling from March 2019 to August 2021. HTN was defined as systolic BP (SBP) ≥ 140mmHg, diastolic BP (DBP) ≥ 90mmHg or taking antihypertensives according to WHO guidelines. Factors associated with concordance versus discordance of community and clinic BP measurements were assessed with multivariable Poisson regressions. Among 2,123 participants, median age was 41 years and 62% were female. Pearson correlation coefficients for clinic versus community SBP and DBP were 0.78 and 0.77, respectively. Using community BP measurements, 36% of participants screened positive for HTN compared with 30% using clinic BPs. The majority of participants had concordant measurements of normotension (59%) or HTN (26%) across both settings, with 4% having isolated elevated clinic BP (≥140/90 in clinic with normal community BP) and 10% with isolated elevated community BP (≥140/90 in community with normal clinic BP). These results underscore community BP measurements as a feasible and accurate way to increase HTN screening and estimate HTN prevalence for vulnerable populations with barriers to clinic access.
Application of minimum error entropy unscented Kalman filter in table tennis trajectory prediction
Authors: Luo Shenyue , Niu Jianfeng , Zheng Peifeng , Jing Zhihui
Published: September 2022

Table tennis is important and challenging project for robotics research, and table tennis robotics receives a lot of attention from academics. Trajectory tracking and prediction of table tennis is an important technology for table tennis robots, and its estimation accuracy is also disturbed by non-Gaussian noise. In this paper, a novel Kalman filter, called minimum error entropy unscented Kalman filter (MEEUKF), is employed to estimate the motion trajectory of physical model of a table tennis. The simulation results show that the MEEUKF algorithm shows outstanding performance in tracking and predicting the trajectory of table tennis compared to some existing algorithms.
Health sector readiness for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases: A multi-method qualitative assessment in Nepal
Authors: Sapkota Bhim Prasad , Baral Kedar Prasad , Berger Ursula , Parhofer Klaus G. , Rehfuess Eva A.
Published: September 2022

In Nepal, deaths attributable to NCDs have increased in recent years. Although NCDs constitute a major public health problem, how best to address this has not received much attention. The objective of this study was to assess the readiness of the Nepalese health sector for the prevention and control of NCDs and their risk factors. The study followed a multi-method qualitative approach, using a review of policy documents, focus group discussions (FGDs), and in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted between August and December 2020. The policy review was performed across four policy categories. FGDs were undertaken with different cadres of health workers and IDIs with policy makers, program managers and service providers. We performed content analysis using the WHO health system building blocks framework as the main categories. Policy documents were concerned with the growing NCD burden, but neglect the control of risk factors. FGDs and IDIs reveal significant perceived weaknesses in each of the six building blocks. According to study participants, existing services were focused on curative rather than preventive interventions. Poor retention of all health workers in rural locations, and of skilled health workers in urban locations led to the health workers across all levels being overburdened. Inadequate quantity and quality of health commodities for NCDs emerged as an important logistics issue. Monitoring and reporting for NCDs and their risk factors was found to be largely absent. Program decisions regarding NCDs did not use the available evidence. The limited budget dedicated to NCDs is being allocated to curative services. The engagement of non-health sectors with the prevention and control of NCDs remained largely neglected. There is a need to redirect health sector priorities towards NCD risk factors, notably to promote healthy diets and physical activity and to limit tobacco and alcohol consumption, at policy as well as community levels.
Amis Pacilo and Yami Cipoho are not the same as the Pacific breadfruit starch crop—Target enrichment phylogenomics of a long-misidentified Artocarpus species sheds light on the northward Austronesian migration from the Philippines to Taiwan
Authors: Chuang Chia-Rong , Hsieh Chia-Lun , Chang Chi-Shan , Wang Chiu-Mei , Tandang Danilo N. , Gardner Elliot M. , Audi Lauren , Zerega Nyree J. C. , Chung Kuo-Fang
Published: September 2022

‘Breadfruit’ is a common tree species in Taiwan. In the indigenous Austronesian Amis culture of eastern Taiwan, ‘breadfruit’ is known asPacilo, and its fruits are consumed as food. On Lanyu (Botel Tobago) where the indigenous Yami people live, ‘breadfruit’ is calledCipohoand used for constructing houses and plank-boats. Elsewhere in Taiwan, ‘breadfruit’ is also a common ornamental tree. As an essential component of traditional Yami culture,Cipohohas long been assumed to have been transported from the Batanes Island of the Philippines to Lanyu. As such, it represents a commensal species that potentially can be used to test the hypothesis of the northward Austronesian migration ‘into’ Taiwan. However, recent phylogenomic studies using target enrichment show that Taiwanese ‘breadfruit’ might not be the same as the Pacific breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), which was domesticated in Oceania and widely cultivated throughout the tropics. To resolve persistent misidentification of this culturally and economically important tree species of Taiwan, we sampled 36 trees of TaiwaneseArtocarpusand used the Moraceae probe set to enrich 529 nuclear genes. Along with 28 archivedArtocarpussequence datasets (representing a dozen taxa from all subgenera), phylogenomic analyses showed that all Taiwanese ‘breadfruit’ samples, together with a cultivated ornamental tree from Hawaii, form a fully supported clade within theA.treculianuscomplex, which is composed only of endemic Philippine species. Morphologically, the Taiwanese ‘breadfruit’ matches the characters ofA.treculianus. Within the Taiwanese samples ofA.treculianus, Amis samples form a fully supported clade derived from within the paraphyletic grade composed of Yami samples, suggesting a Lanyu origin. Results of our target enrichment phylogenomics are consistent with the scenario thatCipohowas transported northward from the Philippines to Lanyu by Yami ancestors, though the possibility thatA.treculianusis native to Lanyu cannot be ruled out completely.
Expression variation of OGG1 and HPRT gene and DNA damage in arsenic exposed industrial workers
Authors: Akram Zertashia , Mahjabeen Ishrat , Umair Muhammad , Fahim Muhammad , Kayani Mahmood Akhter , Fatima Lulu , Ahmad Malik Waqar , Jahan Sarwat , Afsar Tayyaba , Almajwal Ali , Alruwaili Nawaf W. , Khawar Iftikhar Ali , Razak Suhail
Published: September 2022

Arsenic exposure alters redox balance, induces DNA damage, and deregulates many genes. OGG1 gene involved in base repair mechanism, for excision of 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) from DNA formed as a result of accumulation of ROS in cell. HPRT gene encode transferase enzymes involved in purine recycling mechanism. The main focus of the study was to evaluate the expression variation in HPRT, OGG1 gene expression, and DNA damage of industrial workers. Blood samples of 300 occupational workers were collected from welding, brick kiln, furniture, pesticide, and paint industry (n = 60/industry) to evaluate the expression variation in HPRT, OGG1 gene expression, and DNA damage in blood cells by comet assay along with age and gender matched 300 control individuals. Blood arsenic content was higher (P<0.001) in an industrial group compared to the control. OGG1 and HPRT expression were (P<0.05) downregulated in exposed workers compared to controls. Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between HPRT vs OGG1 (P< 0.0001) in exposed workers compared to controls. Altered expression of both genes was observed between workers with <25years and >25years of age as well as between workers with <10years and >10year exposure. Reduced expression (P<0.05) of both genes and a high extent of DNA damage was evident in exposed smokers compared to respective non-smokers. DNA fragmentation was higher (P<0.05) in the furniture, welding and brick kiln group compared to control, and other industries. The present study suggests that altered expression of OGG1 and HPRT gene induce oxidative stress, showed a negative impact on the recycling of purines leading to DNA damage which increase the vulnerability of workers to carcinogenicity.
Performance of novel antibodies for lipoarabinomannan to develop diagnostic tests for Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Cantera Jason L. , Lillis Lorraine M. , Peck Roger B. , Moreau Emmanuel , Schouten James A. , Davis Paul , Drain Paul K. , Andama Alfred , Pinter Abraham , Kawasaki Masanori , Källenius Gunilla , Sundling Christopher , Dobos Karen M. , Flores Danara , Chatterjee Delphi , Murphy Eileen , Halas Olivia R. , Boyle David S.
Published: September 2022

Lipoarabinomannan (LAM), a component of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) cell wall, is detectable in the urine of MTB infected patients with active tuberculosis (TB). LAM-specific antibodies (Igs) have been developed by a variety of traditional and recombinant methods for potential use in a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). We evaluated the analytical performance of the TB LAM Igs to identify pairs that offer superior performance over existing urine LAM tests. We assessed 25 new and 4 existing Igs in a matrixed format using a multiplex electrochemiluminescence-based liquid immunoassay. A total of 841 paired Ig combinations were challenged with in vitro cultured LAM (cLAM) derived from MTB strains representing diverse phylogenetic lineages, alongside urinary LAM (uLAM) from the urine of adults with active pulmonary TB. Analytical sensitivity of down-selected Ig pairs was determined using MTB Aoyama-B cLAM, while diagnostic accuracy was determined using clinical samples. When testing cLAM, the reactivity of Ig pairs was similar across MTB lineages 1–4 but lineage 5:6 had significantly more reactivity among Ig pairs. Overall, 41 Ig pairs had a strong binding affinity to cLAM, as compared to the reference pair of S4-20/A194-01, and 28 Ig pairs therein exhibited a strong affinity for both cLAM and uLAM. Retrospective testing on clinical urine specimens demonstrated varying sensitivities (12–80%) and specificities (14–100%). The five top pairs had a similar analytical limit of detection to the reference pair but in four instances, the sensitivity and specificity with clinical uLAM samples was poor. Overall, epitopes presented by uLAM are different from cLAM, which may affect antibody performance when testing uLAM in patient samples. Several new Ig pairs had similar ranges of high sensitivity to cLAM but overall, there were no new candidate Ig pairs identified in this round of screening with increased performance with uLAM as compared to an existing optimal pair.
Screw analysis and experimental study of spatial noncircular gear compound transmission
Authors: Yu Yongquan , Lin Chao
Published: September 2022

Curve face gear pair and noncircular bevel gear pair are collectively referred to as spatial noncircular gear pair (SNCGP). Different from the traditional gear transmission with fixed shafts, spatial noncircular gear (SNCG) compound transmission can realize compound motion with variable transmission ratio between intersecting axes, and has a broad engineering application prospect. It includes two categories named speed reduction and speed increase. Based on the gear meshing theory, screw theory and calculus, a screw analysis method of SNCG compound transmission was proposed, which directly and comprehensively reflected the compound motion characteristics of rotation and axial movement. Firstly, a unified coordinate system was established. The screw geometric characteristics of compound motion were discussed, including instant screw axis, axode, pitch surface and its normal equidistant surface. The screw principle of compound motion was revealed. Then, according to this method, combined with the motion process of generator with different tooth profiles, the tooth surface of each SNCG was obtained. Finally, gear machining, tooth surface measurement, transmission ratio measurement and axial displacement measurement were carried out, which verified the correctness of this screw analysis method for SNCG compound transmission, and laid a foundation for further study and application.
Underweight, overweight or obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in Bangladesh, 2004 to 2018
Authors: Nguyen Phuong Hong , Tauseef Salauddin , Khuong Long Quynh , Das Gupta Rajat , Billah Sk. Masum , Menon Purnima , Scott Samuel
Published: September 2022

Background and objectives

Bangladesh is experiencing a nutrition transition with an increase in the double burden of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study sought to: 1) examine trends and differences in underweight, overweight/obesity, hypertension and diabetes by gender, area of residence, and wealth in Bangladesh from 2004 to 2018, 2) assess what factors contributed to changes in these outcomes.

Methods

We used data from five rounds of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (n = 76,758 women 15-49y and 10,900 men 18-95y in total). We calculated differences, slope index of inequality (SII) and concentration index (CIX) to examine trends over time and differences in outcomes by wealth and residence. We identified determinants and estimated drivers of changes in outcomes using regression-based decomposition.

Results

Between 2004 and 2018, underweight prevalence decreased in both women (33% to 12%) and men (26% to 18%), whereas overweight/obesity increased (17% to 49% in women and 21% to 34% in men). Hypertension also increased in both women (31% to 44%) and men (19% to 33%) while diabetes changed marginally (11% to 14%). In all years, underweight was concentrated in poorer and rural households while overweight/obesity, diabetes and hypertension were concentrated in wealthier and urban households. Wealth inequity decreased over time for underweight, changed little for overweight/obesity, and increased for hypertension and diabetes among men. Increases in wealth explained 35% to 50% of the reduction in underweight and 30% to 57% of the increase in overweight/obesity.

Conclusion

Our findings imply that double duty actions are required to sustain the decrease in undernutrition and slow the increase in overweight/obesity and NCDs across diverse socioeconomic sections of the population in Bangladesh.
Genomic insights into host and parasite interactions during intracellular infection by Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Ulahannan Netha , Cutler Ronald , Doña-Termine Reanna , Simões-Pires Claudia A. , Wijetunga N. Ari , Croken Matthew McKnight , Johnston Andrew D. , Kong Yu , Maqbool Shahina B. , Suzuki Masako , Greally John M.
Published: September 2022

To gain insights into the molecular interactions of an intracellular pathogen and its host cell, we studied the gene expression and chromatin states of human fibroblasts infected with the Apicomplexan parasiteToxoplasma gondii. We show a striking activation of host cell genes that regulate a number of cellular processes, some of which are protective of the host cell, others likely to be advantageous to the pathogen. The simultaneous capture of host and parasite genomic information allowed us to gain insights into the regulation of theT.gondiigenome. We show how chromatin accessibility and transcriptional profiling together permit novel annotation of the parasite’s genome, including more accurate mapping of known genes and the identification of new genes andcis-regulatory elements. Motif analysis reveals not only the knownT.gondiiAP2 transcription factor-binding site but also a previously-undiscovered candidate TATA box-containing motif at one-quarter of promoters. By inferring the transcription factor and upstream cell signaling responses involved in the host cell, we can use genomic information to gain insights intoT.gondii’sperturbation of host cell physiology. Our resulting model builds on previously-described human host cell signalling responses toT.gondiiinfection, linked to induction of specific transcription factors, some of which appear to be solely protective of the host cell, others of which appear to be co-opted by the pathogen to enhance its own survival.