bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of donation frequency on donor health in blood donors donating plasma by plasmapheresis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Haugen Morten , Magnussen Karin , Aarsland Tonje Eiane , Nissen-Meyer Lise Sofie Haug , Strand Tor A.
Published: March 2024

Background

The demand for plasma products is growing, necessitating an increase in plasma collection by plasmapheresis. While the 20th edition of the European Guidelines permits plasma donors in Europe to donate with 96-h donation intervals, the potential short- and long-term consequences of high-frequency plasma donations on donor health remain unknown. This study aims to measure the effect of plasma donation frequency on plasma protein composition, including total serum protein (TSP) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), in Norwegian male blood donors.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) included 120 male blood donors who were randomized into two intervention groups and one control group: high-frequency plasma donors (HFPDs) who donated 650 mL of plasma 3 times every 2 weeks, whereas regular-frequency plasma donors (RFPDs) who donated 650 mL of plasma 1 time every 2 weeks. The control group consisted of whole blood donors. The primary outcomes are the concentrations of TSP and IgG.

Discussion

The findings from this study may have implications for recommendations related to donor health and plasma donation frequencies and may contribute to supporting the strategic independence of plasma products in Norway and Europe without compromising donor health.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05179200. Registered December 20th, 2021.
Impact assessment of onchocerciasis through lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment surveys using Ov-16 rapid diagnostic tests in Sierra Leone
Authors: Kargbo-Labour Ibrahim , Bah Mohamed S. , Melchers Natalie V. S. Vinkeles , Conteh Abdulai , Redwood-Sawyerr Victoria , Stolk Wilma A. , Paye Jusufu , Sonnie Mustapha , Veinoglou Amy , Koroma Joseph B. , Hodges Mary H. , Weaver Angela M. , Zhang Yaobi
Published: March 2024

Background

Onchocerciasis is endemic in 14 of Sierra Leone's 16 districts with high prevalence (47–88.5%) according to skin snips at baseline. After 11 rounds of mass treatment with ivermectin with good coverage, an impact assessment was conducted in 2017 to assess the progress towards eliminating onchocerciasis in the country.

Methods

A cluster survey was conducted, either integrated with lymphatic filariasis (LF) transmission assessment survey (TAS) or standalone with the LF TAS sampling strategy in 12 (now 14) endemic districts. Finger prick blood samples of randomly selected children in Grades 1–4 were tested in the field using SD Bioline Onchocerciasis IgG4 rapid tests.

Results

In total, 17,402 children aged 4–19 years in 177 schools were tested, and data from 17,364 children aged 4–14 years (14,230 children aged 5–9 years) were analyzed. Three hundred forty-six children were confirmed positive for Ov-16 IgG4 antibodies, a prevalence of 2.0% (95% CI 1.8–2.2%) in children aged 4–14 years with prevalence increasing with age. Prevalence in boys (2.4%; 95% CI 2.1–2.7%) was higher than in girls (1.6%; 95% CI 1.4–1.9%). There was a trend of continued reduction from baseline to 2010. Using data from children aged 5–9 years, overall prevalence was 1.7% (95% CI 1.5–1.9%). The site prevalence ranged from 0 to 33.3% (median prevalence = 0.0%): < 2% in 127 schools, 2 to < 5% in 34 schools and ≥ 5% in 16 schools. There was a significant difference in average prevalence between districts. Using spatial analysis, the Ov-16 IgG4 antibody prevalence was predicted to be < 2% in coastal areas and in large parts of Koinadugu, Bombali and Tonkolili Districts, while high prevalence (> 5%) was predicted in some focal areas, centered in Karene, Kailahun and Moyamba/Tonkolili.

Conclusions

Low Ov-16 IgG4 antibody prevalence was shown in most areas across Sierra Leone. In particular, low seroprevalence in children aged 5–9 years suggests that the infection was reduced to a low level after 11 rounds of treatment intervention. Sierra Leone has made major progress towards elimination of onchocerciasis. However, attention must be paid to those high prevalence focal areas.

Graphical Abstract
Computed tomography angiography of liver alveococcosis: a case report
Authors: Magzumova Saodatkhon , Isroilov Umidjon , Djuraeva Nigora , Khaybullina Zarina , Amirkhamzaev Aybek , Vakhidova Nargiza , Abdukhalimova Khanum , Sultanov Alisher , Abdullaev Bekhzod
Published: March 2024

Background

Alveococcosis, helminthiasis caused by the larvae of Alveococcus multilocularis, is characterized by the formation of parasitic nodes in the liver. This clinical case is a rare occurrence of liver alveococcosis in Uzbekistan.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 33-year-old Asian woman from Uzbekistan who complained of discomfort in the epigastric region and right hypochondrium, along with general weakness. She had been experiencing symptoms for 5 months when a routine ultrasound examination revealed a structural formation in the liver. Patient was investigated by using contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) and diagnosed with liver alveococcosis with multiple lesions. Patient underwent diagnostic laparotomy with obtaining gross specimen, biomaterial was examined microscopically and found that there were small fragments of fibrous tissue determined together with small groups of cystic formations and walls consisted of chitin. Moreover, contrast enhanced CT allowed us to differentiate liver alveococcosis from cavernous hemangioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver metastases from unknown source.

Conclusion

Contrast enhanced CT plays a major role in differentially diagnosing liver alveococcosis and makes it the first line method of choice for the consideration of the future treatment and surgical interventions.
Painting on the margins: investigating the pigments, media, and techniques of Séraphine Louis
Authors: Haddad Abed , Sutherland Ken , Centeno Silvia A. , Kavich Gwénaëlle M. , Kokkori Maria , Hoover Caroline , Hartman-Drumm Diana , Balcar Nathalie , Barabant Gilles
Published: March 2024

The richly decorative and imaginative works by French artist Séraphine Louis (1864–1942) have long elicited fascination, and her working methods have often eluded art historians and conservators alike. Working in secret and outside established art circles, Séraphine employed materials such as natural resin varnishes and was said to have used household paints in addition to traditional artists' oil paints. In this study of six works in the collections of the Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie, Senlis (MAA), The Museum of Modern Art, New York (MoMA), and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (MMA), attention was given to Séraphine's choice of colors and paints, in addition to identifying possible additions to or manipulations of painting media by the artist. Technical imaging was carried out using UVF to visualize the extent of Séraphine's use of natural resins. Analysis of the palette relied on XRF techniques and limited sampling for analysis by Raman and µ-FTIR spectroscopies. Overall, the following pigments were identified: lead white, zinc white, carbon-based black, red and brown ochres, umber, vermilion, alizarin lake, rhodamine B lake, Prussian blue, cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, chrome green, emerald green, viridian, cadmium yellow, and lead chromates, including chrome yellow deep and light, zinc yellow, and chrome orange. THM-Py-GCMS analysis of selected samples supported the documentary evidence of Séraphine's use of household oil paints; a single instance of a cellulose nitrate enamel paint was additionally determined by µ-FTIR. The chromatographic analysis also indicated a natural plant resin in her varnishes, probably dammar in combination with pine resin. Overall, this material investigation, accompanied by the art historical record, better reveals the techniques of an experimental painter whose works have come to epitomize French outsider artists of the early twentieth century.
Microbiome changes through the ontogeny of the marine sponge Crambe crambe
Authors: Turon Marta , Ford Madeline , Maldonado Manuel , Sitjà Cèlia , Riesgo Ana , Díez-Vives Cristina
Published: March 2024

Background

Poriferans (sponges) are highly adaptable organisms that can thrive in diverse marine and freshwater environments due, in part, to their close associations with internal microbial communities. This sponge microbiome can be acquired from the surrounding environment (horizontal acquisition) or obtained from the parents during the reproductive process through a variety of mechanisms (vertical transfer), typically resulting in the presence of symbiotic microbes throughout all stages of sponge development. How and to what extent the different components of the microbiome are transferred to the developmental stages remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the microbiome composition of a common, low-microbial-abundance, Atlantic-Mediterranean sponge, Crambe crambe, throughout its ontogeny, including adult individuals, brooded larvae, lecithotrophic free-swimming larvae, newly settled juveniles still lacking osculum, and juveniles with a functional osculum for filter feeding.

Results

Using 16S rRNA gene analysis, we detected distinct microbiome compositions in each ontogenetic stage, with variations in composition, relative abundance, and diversity of microbial species. However, a particular dominant symbiont, Candidatus Beroebacter blanensis, previously described as the main symbiont of C. crambe, consistently occurred throughout all stages, an omnipresence that suggests vertical transmission from parents to offspring. This symbiont fluctuated in relative abundance across developmental stages, with pronounced prevalence in lecithotrophic stages. A major shift in microbial composition occurred as new settlers completed osculum formation and acquired filter-feeding capacity. Candidatus Beroebacter blanensis decreased significatively at this point. Microbial diversity peaked in filter-feeding stages, contrasting with the lower diversity of lecithotrophic stages. Furthermore, individual specific transmission patterns were detected, with greater microbial similarity between larvae and their respective parents compared to non-parental conspecifics.

Conclusions

These findings suggest a putative vertical transmission of the dominant symbiont, which could provide some metabolic advantage to non-filtering developmental stages of C. crambe. The increase in microbiome diversity with the onset of filter-feeding stages likely reflects enhanced interaction with environmental microbes, facilitating horizontal transmission. Conversely, lower microbiome diversity in lecithotrophic stages, prior to filter feeding, suggests incomplete symbiont transfer or potential symbiont digestion. This research provides novel information on the dynamics of the microbiome through sponge ontogeny, on the strategies for symbiont acquisition at each ontogenetic stage, and on the potential importance of symbionts during larval development.
Knowledge, attitude and practice towards intestinal schistosomiasis among school-aged children and adults in Amhara Regional State, northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study
Authors: Alemu Getaneh , Nibret Endalkachew , Amor Arancha , Munshea Abaineh , Anegagrie Melaku
Published: March 2024

Background

Schistosoma mansoni causes intestinal schistosomiasis (SCH) in all regions of Ethiopia. Despite many years of mass treatment, the prevalence has not dropped significantly. The reduction of SCH transmission demands the integration of deworming with safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities. Adequate knowledge and a positive attitude towards SCH are critical to practicing those interventions. However, data on the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) level in school and community settings is limited in Ethiopia.

Methods

School and community-based cross-sectional studies were conducted from February to June 2023 among 634 school-aged children (SAC) and 558 adults. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and KAP data. Records were entered and analyzed using SPSS software version 21. Correct responses for each of the KAP questions were scored as one, while incorrect or ‘I don’t know’ responses were scored as zero. Good knowledge, a positive attitude and good practice were declared if percentage scores were ≥ 80%, ≥ 90% and ≥ 75%, respectively.

Results

Only 229 (19.2%) respondents, comprising 91 (14.4%) SAC and 138 (24.7%) adults, had ever heard of SCH. Adults, males, and urban residents had higher awareness level compared to their respective counterparts (p < 0.05). Only 28.4% of aware respondents knew that swimming or bathing in freshwater is a risk factor for schistosoma infection; 10.9% knew the etiologic agent; and 14.4% mentioned at least one sign and symptom associated with SCH. The majority (97.8%) of the respondents were willing to take therapeutic drugs, but only 37.6% believed that SCH is a serious disease. Regarding risky practices, 89.5% practiced swimming or bathing in freshwater, and 25.3% had no access to piped water. Among the aware respondents, only 18 (7.9%) had good knowledge, while 30 (13.1%) had a positive attitude towards SCH. Ninety-nine (43.2%) respondents had good Schistosoma infection prevention practices.

Conclusions

The knowledge, attitude, and preventive practice level towards schistosomiasis are low in the study area. Therefore, strengthening school and community-based health education, along with mass drug administration (MDA), WASH, and a vector control program, is recommended for preventing SCH.
In vitro study of the embolic characteristics of imipenem/cilastatin particles
Authors: Nakamura Hiroki , Yamamoto Akira , Fukunaga Takeshi , Watanabe Hiroyuki , Ito Kosuke , Higaki Atushi , Kanki Akihiko , Fukukura Yoshihiko , Tamada Tsutomu
Published: March 2024

Background

Imipenem/cilastatin (IPM/CS) has long been administered intravenously as a carbapenem antibiotic. However, since this agent is poorly soluble in liquid, occasional reports have described its use as a short-acting, temporary embolic agent. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the characteristics of IPM/CS particles, which are thought to have pain-relieving effects against osteoarthritis-related pain, as an embolic agent.

Methods

Three aspects of IPM/CS as an embolic agent were evaluated in vitro: particle size; particle shape; and change in particle size over time. For particle size, the long diameter was measured.

Results

Mean particle size (n=244) was 29.2±12.0 µm (range, 1–60 µm). Shape (n=109) was round in 18.35%, elliptical in 11.93%, and polygonal in 69.72%, showing that most particles were polygonal. In observations of changes in particle size over time (n=9), particles had decreased to 75% of their original size at 82±10.7 min, 50% at 89.3±9.14 min, 25% at 91.3±8.74 min, complete dissolved at 91.8±9.02 min. A rapid shrinkage in diameter was seen in the final period.

Conclusions

IPM/CS particles are ultrafine and the majority display a polygonal shape. This substance shows ultra-short embolic activity. This study revealed the characteristics of a substance that demonstrates an embolic effect not found in existing embolic materials.
Postoperative breast cancer surveillance: Can contrast-enhanced spectral mammography solve the diagnostic dilemma?
Authors: El-nasr Safaa Ibrahim Saif , Ali Neveen Gamal Fathy , Hegazy Rania Mohamed Abbas , Safwat Yehia Mohamed , Onsy Marwa Mohamed Mohamed
Published: March 2024

Background

For women worldwide, breast cancer is considered a significant public health concern. The development of enormous changes caused by surgery and irradiation makes diagnosing the postoperative breast a complicated procedure. The current study aimed to detect the additive role of contrast-enhanced spectral mammogram (CESM) to digital mammogram and US in the surveillance of postoperative breast cancer patients.

Methods

This research was conducted on 74 female patients with a prior history of surgery for the treatment of previous breast cancer. All patients had undergone sonomammography and CESM. Benign lesions were followed up, while suspicious lesions were biopsied.

Results

The current study revealed that CESM can enhance the sensitivity, specificity our overall accuracy of sonomammography in the surveillance of breast cancer patients after surgery.

Conclusion

Adding CESM to properly selected patients in the surveillance of breast cancer patients after surgical treatment can enhance the diagnostic performance of conventional imaging modalities.
A case series of co-infection in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other pathogens: insights from nanopore sequencing
Authors: Shu Wei , Chen Wenlong , Yao Lin , Sun Ming , Gao Min , Wan Zanyan , Xie Wei , Lei Yanjuan , Wang Tao
Published: March 2024

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major global health burden, and co-infection with other pathogens further complicates the diagnosis and treatment of this infectious disease. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of nanopore sequencing in identifying co-infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) and other pathogens.

Methods

Patients with M.tb co-infection from December 2021 to March 2023 at the Jiangxi Provincial Chest Hospital were retrospectively studied. Data were collected including demographics, symptoms, imaging findings, pathogen diagnosis tests, and treatment history. Pathogen tests involved culture, AFB smear, Xpert MTB/RIF, and nanopore sequencing.

Results

The enrolled patients included 20 M.tb cases and three nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) cases co-infected with other pathogens. Common clinical symptoms included cough (47.83%), expectoration (34.78%), and asthma (17.39%). Radiological examinations showed typical features of pulmonary tuberculosis, including nodules (73.91%), cord-like shadows (34.78%), cavities (34.78%), and destroyed lung manifestations (17.39%). Nanopore sequencing identified M.tb in a significant majority of the cases (86.96%), outperforming traditional culture tests (39.13%), acid-fast bacilli (AFB) tests (27.27%), and Xpert MTB/RIF (53.84%) tests. Notably, nanopore sequencing revealed that M.tb was frequently co-infected with Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Mycobacterium abscessus. Three specific cases of co-infection with distinct diagnosis and treatment characteristics were presented in detail. They illustrated the complexity of TB co-infection management and the potential of nanopore sequencing for accurate diagnosis and informing the tailored therapeutic approaches.

Conclusion

Nanopore sequencing-based metagenomics method can help clinicians to identify TB co-infection patterns and formulate a rational drug regimen in time.
Assessing the performance of urban heritage conservation projects – influencing factors, aspects and priority weights
Authors: Abdul Huq Sunena , Puthuvayi Bimal
Published: March 2024

Heritage conservation in urban areas involves complex systems often faced with the dilemmas of maintaining the built form’s historical character, improving infrastructure, and managing development through stakeholder cooperation. At present, the performance of any conservation project is solely vested in conserving the built fabric. Evaluation tools for urban heritage conservation projects do not have provisions for measuring the subjective value of stakeholders who are part of the heritage setting. This study tries to identify and prioritise the factors that need to be considered when developing a conservation project performance assessment model for an urban heritage conservation project from the perspective of experts that can be further evaluated from the perspective of stakeholders. As these complex systems can be better viewed in the context of developing countries, the case of India is adopted. From a literature review, factors that contribute to the outcome of an urban heritage conservation project were identified and categorised into six aspects: the physical, social, economic, cultural, political, and continuity aspects. Through an expert survey, the factors that constituted each aspect were filtered using the feature selection method of correlation to avoid factors that may seem related. The factors under each aspect were ranked using a weighted average ranking method to identify the most prioritised factors determining the outcome of an urban heritage conservation project. The priority weights of the aspects were calculated using Saaty’s analytic hierarchy process. The results show that the cultural aspect was the most important aspect, followed by the continuity aspect. The social and physical aspects were prioritised similarly, followed by the economic and political aspects. This study is distinctive because it identifies the influential factors that can help develop a conservation project performance assessment model for an urban heritage conservation project.
Studying the relationship between intelligence quotient and schizophrenia polygenic scores in a family design with first-episode psychosis population
Authors: Murillo-García Nancy , Papiol Sergi , Fernández-Cacho Luis Manuel , Fatjó-Vilas Mar , Ayesa-Arriola Rosa
Published: March 2024

Background

The intelligence quotient (IQ) of patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and their unaffected relatives may be related to the genetic burden of schizophrenia (SCZ). The polygenic score approach can be useful for testing this question.

Aim

To assess the contribution of the polygenic risk scores for SCZ (PGS-SCZ) and polygenic scores for IQ (PGS-IQ) to the individual IQ and its difference from the mean IQ of the family (named family-IQ) through a family-based design in an FEP sample.

Methods

The PAFIP-FAMILIES sample (Spain) consists of 122 FEP patients, 131 parents, 94 siblings, and 176 controls. They all completed the WAIS Vocabulary subtest for IQ estimation and provided a DNA sample. We calculated PGS-SCZ and PGS-IQ using the continuous shrinkage method. To account for relatedness in our sample, we performed linear mixed models. We controlled for covariates potentially related to IQ, including age, years of education, sex, and ancestry principal components.

Results

FEP patients significantly deviated from their family-IQ. FEP patients had higher PGS-SCZ than other groups, whereas the relatives had intermediate scores between patients and controls. PGS-IQ did not differ between groups. PGS-SCZ significantly predicted the deviation from family-IQ, whereas PGS-IQ significantly predicted individual IQ.

Conclusions

PGS-SCZ discriminated between different levels of genetic risk for the disorder and was specifically related to patients’ lower IQ in relation to family-IQ. The genetic background of the disorder may affect neurocognition through complex pathological processes interacting with environmental factors that prevent the individual from reaching their familial cognitive potential.
Memoriał Rektora i Senatu Akademickiego Uniwersytetu Stefana Batorego w Wilnie w sprawie przynależności państwowej Wileńszczyzny w 1921 roku
Authors: Żukowski Przemysław Marcin
Published: March 2024

W niniejszym artykule przedstawiono in extenso dwa memoriały dotyczące przyszłości odrodzonego w 1919 r. w Wilnie uniwersytetu w kontekście zabiegów dyplomatycznych w celu unormowania wzajemnych relacji litewsko-polskich po odzyskaniu przez oba narody prawa do samostanowienia w 1918 r.
Enhancing User Privacy Through Ephemeral Sharing Design: Experimental Evidence from Online Dating
Authors: He Yumei , Xu Xingchen , Huang Ni , Hong Yili , Liu De
Published: March 2024

In the dynamic world of online dating, a key challenge faced by platforms is the cold-start problem, where newly matched users are hesitant to engage due to privacy concerns. Our solution, ephemeral sharing, addresses this by balancing privacy with the need for personal information sharing. This feature allows personal photos to disappear and become untraceable soon after being viewed, reassuring users about their privacy. We conducted a large-scale randomized experiment with more than 70,000 users to evaluate the impact of ephemeral sharing. The results are compelling: users who could share ephemeral photos were more likely to send personal images alongside with their matching request, especially those with human faces, leading to more matches and higher engagement. Significantly, this effect was more pronounced among users who are more sensitive to their privacy. Furthermore, ephemeral sharing was found to reduce users’ concerns related to data collection, dissemination, and identity misuse, thereby increasing the willingness to share personal information. This approach not only enhances user privacy but also stimulates more active engagement on the platform. For dating platforms and similar platforms, adopting ephemeral sharing can revolutionize user experience. It provides a strategic advantage by boosting user personal information sharing and enhancing privacy, crucial for maintaining meaningful communication in online dating. This feature represents a significant step forward in designing user-centric, privacy-conscious platforms.
A Policy Gradient Algorithm for the Risk-Sensitive Exponential Cost MDP
Authors: Moharrami Mehrdad , Murthy Yashaswini , Roy Arghyadip , Srikant R.
Published: March 2024

We study the risk-sensitive exponential cost Markov decision process (MDP) formulation and develop a trajectory-based gradient algorithm to find the stationary point of the cost associated with a set of parameterized policies. We derive a formula that can be used to compute the policy gradient from (state, action, cost) information collected from sample paths of the MDP for each fixed parameterized policy. Unlike the traditional average cost problem, standard stochastic approximation theory cannot be used to exploit this formula. To address the issue, we introduce a truncated and smooth version of the risk-sensitive cost and show that this new cost criterion can be used to approximate the risk-sensitive cost and its gradient uniformly under some mild assumptions. We then develop a trajectory-based gradient algorithm to minimize the smooth truncated estimation of the risk-sensitive cost and derive conditions under which a sequence of truncations can be used to solve the original, untruncated cost problem.

Funding: This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research Global [Grant N0001419-1-2566], the Division of Computer and Network Systems [Grant 21-06801], the Army Research Office [Grant W911NF-19-1-0379], and the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations [Grants 17-04970 and 19-34986].
Azathioprine associated with intrahepatic cholestasis in a patient with twin pregnancy after a second kidney transplant
Authors: Khedr Lamis , Ekram Mohamed
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Most pregnancies in women after a kidney transplant result in a live birth, but kidney functions should be stable for one year before conception. For immunosuppression modification occurring before pregnancy, azathioprine is used because it is considered safe for major congenital malformations during pregnancy. However, there may be an association between exposure to azathioprine during pregnancy and the onset of an unusual, early and severe form of intrahepatic cholestasis. Case description: A young patient with a twin pregnancy after a second kidney transplant experienced intrahepatic cholestasis. There was a wide range of differential diagnosis. A battery of tests was requested including autoimmune markers, virology, and imaging. The conclusion that azathioprine was contributing to intrahepatic cholestasis with pregnancy was reached after exclusion of all other differentials. Conclusions: Complications of pregnancy after a kidney transplant include hypertension, pre-eclampsia, deterioration of graft function up to rejection, but also unusual side effects of immunosuppression medication.
Acesso físico às feiras de orgânicos municipais em favelas de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
Authors: Rocha Luana Lara , Bulhões Flávia Muradas , Jardim Mariana Zogbi , Melo Gabriel Borges Vaz de , Honório Olívia Souza , Friche Amélia Augusta de Lima , Mendes Larissa Loures
Published: March 2024

Introdução: Favelas são regiões que não foram priorizadas pelas políticas públicas, e isso se reflete no ambiente alimentar e, consequentemente, na dificuldade de acesso aos alimentos, sobretudo aqueles produzidos de forma sustentável. Objetivo: Caracterizar o acesso físico às feiras de orgânicos municipais em favelas de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, identificando desertos e pântanos alimentares e realizando uma comparação com a disponibilidade, distância e tempo de deslocamento de estabelecimentos que ofertam alimentos convencionais nessas áreas. Métodos: Foi analisada a distribuição das feiras de orgânicos municipais, dos equipamentos públicos de segurança alimentar e nutricional e dos estabelecimentos que ofertam alimentos cadastrados na Secretaria da Fazenda do Estado de Minas Gerais para o ano de 2019, nos 192 setores censitários localizados em favelas de Belo Horizonte. Para as análises closestfacility e distância de deslocamento, foi utilizado o buffer network de 500 metros. Também foi realizada a análise do tempo de deslocamento utilizando transporte público. Resultados: As feiras de orgânicos municipais estão em menor número e mais distantes dos centroides das favelas. E, além da maior distância para acessar as feiras caminhando, acessá-las por meio de transporte público leva, em geral, um tempo maior de deslocamento. Conclusões: São necessários programas e políticas públicas que incentivem a abertura de feiras de orgânicos e outros tipos de estabelecimentos que ofertam alimentos in natura e minimamente processados que adotem modelos de produção sustentáveis em áreas de favelas, a fim de reduzir as iniquidades de acesso aos alimentos saudáveis e sustentáveis nesse território.
Enfrentamento do estigma relacionado ao peso corporal no cuidado em saúde: impactos de um curso educativo em profissionais de saúde
Authors: Cordeiro de Oliveira Luana , Da Silva Soares Ariel Regina , Sabatini Fernanda , Dimitrov Ulian Mariana , Fernandez Unsain Ramiro Andrés , Baeza Scagliusi Fernanda
Published: March 2024

Introdução: O estigma relacionado ao peso corporal, presente entre profissionais e estudantes da área da saúde, prejudica a saúde e o cuidado de pessoas com sobrepeso e obesidade, e deve ser combatido. Objetivo: Este artigo visa relatar os resultados obtidos por meio da aplicação de um curso educativo sobre estigma relacionado ao peso corporal e o cuidado em saúde. Métodos: A aplicação ocorreu com 11 profissionais de saúde e teve desenho misto. No componente quantitativo, foi realizada análise estatística dos resultados iniciais e finais obtidos por meio da Escala de Atitudes Antiobesidade(AFAT), com realização de teste t pareado (nível de significância de p ≤ 0,05).No componente qualitativo, foi realizada análise de conteúdo temática de uma atividade final dissertativa sobre ideias que ficaram marcadas a partir do curso. Feedbacks estruturados a respeito da qualidade do material foram preenchidos. Resultados: As análises estatísticas não identificaram alterações entre os valores iniciais e finais da AFAT (p >0,05), com escore geral médio inicial de 0,418 e final de 0,419. Cinco temas emergiram da análise de conteúdo, os quais demonstram aprendizagem quanto à multifatorialidade da obesidade; reconhecimento de implicações interseccionais; compreensão dos impactos do estigma no cuidado em saúde; estímulo ao pensamento crítico; e considerações sobre o curso, no geral, bem avaliado de forma consistente. Conclusão: O instrumento quantitativo não indicou mudança; contudo, as análises qualitativas demonstram que o curso promoveu compreensão ampliada sobre os temas discutidos, bem como a reflexão e a autocrítica das/os profissionais.
AI of the Beholder
Authors: Milton Tina
Published: March 2024

For better or for worse, the AI genie is out of the bottle. But how can chatbots such as ChatGPT be tested to ensure the reliability and safety of the user experience?
Test of Time
Authors: Krabbe Charline
Published: March 2024

Advances in testing are helping speaker system manufacturers more accurately predict the performance of their devices across their life cycle, says KLIPPEL.
POLİS MECMUASININ GÖRSEL KÜLTÜREL BELLEĞİ
Authors: UĞURELİ Ayşe
Published: March 2024

Kültürel bellek hafızanın duygu, düşünce ve yaratımlarını bünyesinde barındırarak kültürel çalışmalarda önemli bir taşıyıcı konumundadır. İşlevsel olarak hatırlatma, yeniden yaratma ve aktarma işlevlerine sahiptir. Görsel kültürel bellek ise kültürel bellekteki tüm görsel ifade formlarını içeren bir yapıdır. Görsel kültürel bellekte muhafaza edilen kültür unsurları, yazı ve söz ile ifade edilen unsurlar kadar güçlüdür. En genel ifadeyle, bir topluluğun ya da grubun görsel kültürel belleğinde var olan imgeler, o topluluğun kültür taşıyıcısı ve aktarıcısıdır. Bu bağlamda görsel bellek unsurları çözümlenirken her zaman önce işlevine ardından, ait olduğu kültürel kalıplarla bağına odaklanmak gerekmektedir. Öte yandan görsel bellek unsurları, yaratıldığı dönemin sosyal, siyasi ve ekonomik şartlarından bağımsız değildir. Tıpkı kültürel yaratımların tüm formlarında olduğu gibi görsel bellek unsurlarında da dönemin ideolojisinden sosyal yaşam koşullarına kadar kültürel bağlam ve dokunun tüm ayrıntılarını izlemek mümkündür. Bu bakımdan görsel bellek, görselleştirilen tüm ifade formlarını içerebilir. Herhangi bir etnografik envanterin üzerindeki desen çalışması ne kadar görsel kültürel belleğin ürünü ise tarihî bir fotoğraf da o kadar görsel kültürel belleğin ürünüdür. Bu bilgilere binaen bu çalışmada, Polis Mecmuasının görsel belleği incelenmiştir. 1913 yılında yayın hayatına başlayan halen “Polis Dergisi” ismiyle yayınlanmaya devam eden dergi, Türkiye’de yayıncılık faaliyetlerinin türlü zorluklarla karşılaştığı dönemlerde dahi, istikrarlı bir şekilde Polis Teşkilatı’nın temel ilke ve değerlerini temsil ederek yayın politikalarını başarılı bir şekilde yürütmüş köklü bir dergidir. Dergide yazılara ek olarak fotoğraflardan da istifade edilmiştir. Zengin bir görsel içeriğe sahip dergide kullanılan fotoğraflar, Polis Teşkilatı’nın ilk ve tarihî imgelerini göstermesi bakımından önemlidir ve yaşayan Türk polisi imgesinin de köklerini oluşturmaktadır. Bu bağlamda bu çalışmada, Polis Mecmuasının 1913-1928 yılları arasında çıkan 266 sayılık Osmanlıca nüshalarında kullanılan görseller, görsel folklor bağlamında çözümlenmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Kültürel Bellek, Görsel Bellek, Görsel Folklor, Polis Mecmuası, Polis Fotoğrafları.
Development of immature ovarian teratoma after mature teratoma in a girl with familial ovarian teratoma: A case report
Authors: Ju U Chul , Kang Woo Dae , Kim Seok Mo
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Immature ovarian teratoma is a rare and aggressive neoplasm that affects young women. This report is the first to describe the development of immature teratoma after ovarian cystectomy for mature teratoma of the ovary in an adolescent female with a family history of ovarian teratoma.

CASE SUMMARY

A 16-year-old girl who had undergone bilateral ovarian cystectomy for mature teratomas 3 years ago showed bilateral adnexal tumors during her regular ultrasonography follow-up every 6 months. She received laparoscopic bilateral ovarian cystectomy, and final histopathology showed grade-1 immature teratoma of the left ovary and mature teratoma of the right ovary. Laparoscopic left salpingo-oophorectomy and staging procedures were performed again. Her mother, maternal aunt, and maternal grandmother had also received surgeries for mature ovarian teratomas.

CONCLUSION

It is important to have guidance on management of patient and family members with familial ovarian teratomas.
Diagnosis of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach by confocal laser endomicroscopy: A case report
Authors: Lou Jia-Xin , Wu Yong , Huhe Muren , Zhang Jing-Jie , Jia Dong-Wu , Jiang Zhen-Yu
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

In recent years, confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) has become a new endoscopic imaging technology at the microscopic level, which is extensively performed for real-time in vivo histological examination. CLE can be performed to distinguish benign from malignant lesions. In this study, we diagnosed using CLE an asymptomatic patient with poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma.

CASE SUMMARY

A 63-year-old woman was diagnosed with gastric mucosal lesions, which may be gastric cancer, in the small curvature of the stomach by gastroscopy. She consented to undergo CLE for morphological observation of the gastric mucosa. Through the combination of CLE diagnosis and postoperative pathology, the intraoperative CLE diagnosis was considered to be reliable. According to our experience, CLE can be performed as the first choice for the diagnosis of gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION

CLE has several advantages over pathological diagnosis. We believe that CLE has great potential in the diagnosis of benign and malignant gastric lesions.
Primary gastroduodenal tuberculosis presenting as gastric outlet obstruction: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Ali Abdihamid Mohamed , Mohamed Yahye Garad , Mohamud Abdirahman Ahmed , Mohamed Abdulkadir Nor , Ahmed Mohamed Rage , Abdullahi Ismail Mohamud , Saydam Tuba
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is the causative agent of TB, a chronic granulomatous illness. This disease is prevalent in low-income countries, posing a significant global health challenge. Gastrointestinal TB is one of the three forms. The disease can mimic other intra-abdominal conditions, leading to delayed diagnosis owing to the absence of specific symptoms. While gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) remains a frequent complication, its incidence has declined with the advent of proton pump inhibitors and Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy. Gastroduodenal TB can cause upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, obstruction, and malignancy-like tumors.

CASE SUMMARY

A 23-year-old male presented with recurrent epigastric pain, distension, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss, prompting a referral to a gastroenterologist clinic. Endoscopic examination revealed distorted gastric mucosa and signs of chronic inflammation. However, treatment was interrupted, possibly owing to vomiting or comorbidities such as human immunodeficiency virus infection or diabetes. Subsequent surgical intervention revealed a dilated stomach and diffuse thickening of the duodenal wall. Resection revealed gastric wall effacement with TB.

CONCLUSION

Primary gastric TB is rare, frequently leading to GOO. Given its rarity, suspicions should be promptly raised when encountering relevant symptoms, often requiring surgical intervention for diagnosis and treatment.
‘They see us as an easy target’: discrimination and hate crime against Eastern European women living in the UK
Authors: Harvey-Golding Louise , Phillips Carrie , Simpson Diane , Smiles Julie , Wysocka Julia , Chantkowski Michal
Published: March 2024

Anti-immigration sentiment, discrimination and hate crime, against Eastern Europeans in the UK, has increased in recent years. Prior to Brexit, European Union (EU) citizens were afforded free movement, including rights to live and work in the UK, but in 2020, those without residency status, were subject to strict immigration laws and restrictions on living and working in the UK. Research shows that punitive immigration policies have a disproportionate impact on migrant women, increasing their risk of discrimination, exploitation, and gender-based violence. However, while in 2022 the UK government ratified the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, a treaty otherwise known as the ‘Istanbul Convention’, they opted out of Article 59, which specifically protects migrant women. Existing research into discrimination, exploitation, and gender-based violence against migrant women, in the UK, largely focuses on Black and minority ethnic (BME) women. This article reports on findings from a mixed-methods, descriptive study, on the specific experiences of Eastern European women, living in the UK. Findings explore the intersecting gendered and racial discrimination against Eastern European women, in the UK, providing a descriptive account of the distinct forms of gender-based discrimination and violence which they face.
Dynamic control of defocus, astigmatism, and tilt aberrations with a large area foveal liquid crystal lens
Authors: Louis Bégel , Tigran Galstian
Published: March 2024

We have recently reported the dynamic adjustment of the focal length in an electrically tunable liquid crystal “foveal” lens, the center of which can be shifted over a large working area. In the present work, we show that this design allows also the independent generation of astigmatism with arbitrary axis and tilt of the light wavefront by simply changing the phase and the voltage differences between 4 control electrodes. Furthermore, we also demonstrate the capability of generating highly localized negative (defocusing) lenses with the same device by using a dual frequency liquid crystal.
Quantitative diagnosis of the out-of-plane displacement derivative with temporal-phase-shift shearography
Authors: Xu Zhaorui , Li Jie , Ba Rongsheng , Chai Liqun , Wu Lan , Xu Qiao , Liu Dong
Published: March 2024

Shearography, or digital speckle pattern shearing interferometry, is highly sensitive
to material strain measurements. Among various shearography systems,
the temporal-phase-shift Michelson shearography system is extensively
researched for its high-accuracy diagnosis of the out-of-plane
displacement derivative. However, the system faces difficulties
achieving quantitative measurement due to the need to calibrate
parameters and control random noise. Therefore, finding solutions to
improve system design and performance is essential. This paper focuses
on obtaining more accurate and reliable results for out-of-plane
displacement derivatives. Several methods to calibrate the
magnification, the equivalent pixel size, and the shear amount are
discussed. A temporal-phase-shift shearography system with an online
universal calibration module is designed and tested for performance.
The random noise and stability are under 1µε RMS, and the repeatability is better
than 2.75%. Additionally, the system’s accuracy is verified by digital
speckle pattern interferometry with a 2.5% relative error.
Effect of a vehicle’s mobility on SNR and SINR in vehicular optical camera communication systems
Authors: Eghbal Mina , Tabataba Foroogh Sadat , Gholami Asghar , Abouei Jamshid , Uysal Murat
Published: March 2024

The widespread use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and cameras in vehicular environments provides an excellent opportunity for optical camera communication (OCC) in intelligent transport systems. OCC is a promising candidate for the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), and it uses LEDs as the transmitter and cameras as the receiver. However, the mobility of vehicles has a significant detrimental impact on the OCC system’s performance in vehicular environments. In this paper, a traffic light that uses multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology serves as the transmitter, and the receiver is a camera mounted on a moving vehicle. The impact of vehicle mobility on the vehicular MIMO-OCC system in the transportation environment is then examined using precise point spread function (PSF) analysis. The experimental results are used to evaluate the proposed PSF. A good agreement between the laboratory’s recorded videos and this PSF model’s simulations is observed. Moreover, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) values are evaluated. It is shown that they are greatly influenced by the vehicle’s speed, direction of motion, and position of the camera. However, since the angular velocity in a typical transportation environment is low, it does not have a significant impact on the performance of the vehicular OCC systems.
Rotary-coordinate and shuttling-element cutting strategy for ultra-precision diamond turning of optical microstructures
Authors: Lu Xiao , Cheung Chi Fai , Wang Chunjin
Published: March 2024

Toolpath generation techniques have become increasingly critical in ultra-precision diamond turning for optical microstructures due to the dramatically enhanced geometrical complexity of the machined region. However, the conventionally used spiral toolpath is required for interpolation from the structural models, leading to random instability of the feeding axis and additional profile error between the toolpath and designed structures, which means an enlarged effect on the machining quality in ultra-precision machining. In this paper, a rotary-coordinate and shuttling-element cutting strategy based on integrated geometrical modelling and spiral toolpath generation is presented for ultra-precision turning of optical microstructures. Using the innovative rotary-coordinate and shuttling-element cutting method, the point clouds for the micro-structured modelling can be scattered along the spiral shape which can be directly fitted as the final toolpath. A series of simulation and cutting experiments have been carried out to realize the effectiveness of this method, and it is found that the preparation time in diamond turning can be significantly reduced along with ameliorating the machining quality.
Multiscale modeling of HBV infection integrating intra- and intercellular viral propagation to analyze extracellular viral markers
Authors: Kitagawa Kosaku , Kim Kwang Su , Iwamoto Masashi , Hayashi Sanae , Park Hyeongki , Nishiyama Takara , Nakamura Naotoshi , Fujita Yasuhisa , Nakaoka Shinji , Aihara Kazuyuki , Perelson Alan S. , Allweiss Lena , Dandri Maura , Watashi Koichi , Tanaka Yasuhito , Iwami Shingo
Published: March 2024

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is caused by the persistence of closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the nucleus of infected hepatocytes. Despite available therapeutic anti-HBV agents, eliminating the cccDNA remains challenging. Thus, quantifying and understanding the dynamics of cccDNA are essential for developing effective treatment strategies and new drugs. However, such study requires repeated liver biopsy to measure the intrahepatic cccDNA, which is basically not accepted because liver biopsy is potentially morbid and not common during hepatitis B treatment. We here aimed to develop a noninvasive method for quantifying cccDNA in the liver using surrogate markers in peripheral blood. We constructed a multiscale mathematical model that explicitly incorporates both intracellular and intercellular HBV infection processes. The model, based on age-structured partial differential equations, integrates experimental data from in vitro and in vivo investigations. By applying this model, we roughly predicted the amount and dynamics of intrahepatic cccDNA within a certain range using specific viral markers in serum samples, including HBV DNA, HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBcrAg. Our study represents a significant step towards advancing the understanding of chronic HBV infection. The noninvasive quantification of cccDNA using our proposed method holds promise for improving clinical analyses and treatment strategies. By comprehensively describing the interactions of all components involved in HBV infection, our multiscale mathematical model provides a valuable framework for further research and the development of targeted interventions.