bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic radiation steering with transmission-type coding metasurface
Authors: Yang Jianfeng , Chen Juan , Quan Lei , Chen Xiaoming , Shi Hongyu , Xue Wei , Liu Yajun
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we integrate continuous transmission amplitude modulation and phase coding into a metasurface, and dynamic transmitted electromagnetic field manipulation is realized in microwave regime. The active metasurface is obtained by placing a PIN diodes loaded amplitude modulation metasurface on a binary phase coding metasurface whose coding matrix is optimized by genetic algorithm. Changing the bias voltage applied on the diodes, the transmission amplitude of the phase coding units covered by amplitude modulation units can be tuned continuously while other coding units are not affected, leading to the fact that the transmitted field pattern of the metasurface varies from strongly directional transmission to diffusion-like radiation. By this means, two degrees of freedom of dynamic amplitude modulation and predesigned phase coding are achieved to control the electromagnetic waves. Additionally, a bias network is designed to ensure the polarization-stability of the metasurface. The proposed concept is predicted by analytical model, and verified by numerical simulations and experiment. This design with low profile and diverse functionalities can yield potential applications ranging from radio frequency energy harvesting to wireless communication systems.
Accurate 3D morphological computational model reconstruction of suspended cells imaged through stratified media by the precise depth-varying point spread function method
Authors: Yang Zewen , Zhang Lu , Lv Ning , Song Chi , Wang Huijun , Luo Lele , Yuan Li , Zhao Hong
Published: July 2022

Accurate three-dimensional (3D) morphological computational models of cells are important in a number of biological studies. This study proposes a precise depth-varying point spread function (PDV-PSF) method for reconstructing 3D computational models of suspended cells from two-dimensional (2D) confocal image stacks. Our approach deblurs the 2D images in horizontal plane and corrects the deformation in vertical direction to overcome the refractive index mismatch problem caused by suspended cells imaging through stratified media. Standard fluorescent polystyrene spheres and Jurkat T-lymphocytes are selected to evaluate the validity and accuracy of this PDV-PSF method. Qualitative and quantitative results demonstrate that our approach has superior performance in 3D morphological computational models reconstruction of suspended cells.
Crosstalk elimination by rearranging thin-film filters
Authors: Goossens Thomas
Published: July 2022

Patterned thin-film Fabry–Pérot filters are used to develop compact spectral cameras. Recent articles report on crosstalk in such devices, raising concerns regarding spectral and spatial resolution. It has been suggested that light entering a filter might spill over to neighboring filters but this has not yet been analyzed in detail. The proposed mechanism in this Letter is that the Fabry–Pérot filters act as coupled waveguides that can propagate crosstalk above the pixel array. The results show that the crosstalk can be asymmetric, enabling elimination by rearranging the filters on the sensor. Interestingly, the logical strategy where crosstalk to all neighbors is eliminated appears suboptimal due to additional resonances. These findings reveal untapped opportunities for developing better sensors and a corresponding need for further systematic investigations.
Intensity-surged and bandwidth-extended terahertz radiation in two-foci cascading plasmas
Authors: Zhang Yizhu , Jiao Zhi-Hong , He Tao , Zhao Jingjing , Fan Xingwang , Chen Taotao , Wang Guo-Li , Yan Tian-Min , Zhou Xiao-Xin , Jiang Yuhai
Published: July 2022

The two-color strong-field mixing in gas medium is a widely used approach to generate bright broadband terahertz (THz) radiation. Here, we present a new, to the best of our knowledge, and counterintuitive method to promote THz performance in the two-color scheme. Beyond our knowledge that the maximum THz generation occurs with two-color foci overlapped, we found that, when the foci of two-color beams are noticeably separated along the propagation axis resulting in cascading plasmas, the THz conversion efficiency is surged by one order of magnitude and the bandwidth is stretched by more than two times, achieving 10−3 conversion efficiency and >100 THz bandwidth under the condition of 800/400 nm, ∼35 fs driving lasers. With the help of the pulse propagation equation and photocurrent model, the observations can be partially understood by the compromise between THz generation and absorption due to the spatial redistribution of laser energy in cascading plasmas. The present method can be extended to a mid-infrared driving laser, and new records of THz peak power and conversion efficiency are expected.
City puzzles: Does urban land scape affect genetic population structure in Aedes aegypti?
Authors: Maffey Lucía , Confalonieri Viviana , Hasson Esteban , Schweigmann Nicolás
Published: July 2022

Cities usually offer a suitable environment for the dengue vector Aedes aegypti, providing oviposition sites, accessibility to human hosts and nectar meals. However, large urban centres are highly heterogeneous environments, forming a patched landscape that could affect Ae. aegypti population dynamics and dispersal. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis using Rad-seq data from 99 Ae. aegypti specimens collected in three areas within Buenos Aires city with varying levels of urbanization/land use: highly urbanized Area 1, intermediate Area 2 and poorly urbanized Area 3. We found an inverse association between urbanization levels and spatial genetic structure. Populations from highly urbanized Area 1 did not present genetic structure whereas two and three clusters were detected in Areas 2 and 3, respectively. In the case of Area 3, initial analyses showed separation in clusters was mostly due to elevated consanguinity within sites although three clusters were still detected after closely related individuals were discarded. Mosquitoes around each site displayed a high degree of isolation, evidencing a close dependence between the vector and human dwellings. Interestingly, specimens from distant boroughs (within the limits of the city) and the city’s outskirts formed a single cluster with inner city sites (Area 1), highlighting the role of passive transport in shaping population structure. Genetic distances were poorly correlated with geographic distances in Buenos Aires, suggesting a stronger influence of passive than active dispersal on population structure. Only Area 2 displayed a significant isolation-by-distance pattern (p = 0.046), with males dispersing more than females (p = 0.004 and p = 0.016, respectively). Kinship analyses allowed us to detect full-siblings located 1.5 km apart in Area 1, which could be due to an extreme event of active female dispersal. Effective population size was higher in Area 2 confirming that cemeteries represent highly favourable environments for Ae. aegypti and need to be specifically targeted. Our results suggest that control programs should take into account urban landscape heterogeneity in order to improve vector control.
The impact of agricultural water salvation investment on economics development: Evidence from Eastern China
Authors: Lin Haofeng , Zrelli Houyem , Mohamed Noha Hassan abd Algalil , Li Yonghui , Alam Mohammad Mahtab , Guo Wei , Khan Yousaf Ali
Published: July 2022

Agricultural water salvation is the lifeblood of the national economy and is of great significance to the high-quality development of the region. In order to maximize the economic assistances of agricultural water salvation investment, this article focuses on panel data from 2005 to 2019 in 14 provinces in Eastern China, this research constructs an economic development evaluation index system from five dimensions: innovative development, coordinated development, green development, open development and shared development, and uses dynamic panel model to explore the influence relationship and path of Eastern Agricultural water salvation investment on economic development. The results represent that: there is a significant non-linear effect between agricultural water salvation investment and economic growth, showing an inverted U-shaped relationship. Which means that with the expansion of agricultural water salvation investment; economic growth has risen first and then declined. At present, the impact of agricultural water salvation investment in the Eastern region on economic development is in the promotion stage of positive and sustained growth. The recommendation of this research will help the state control in the amount of agricultural water salvation investment in the Eastern region, improve the efficiency of agricultural water salvation investment, and provide support in decision making.
FUCCItrack: An all-in-one software for single cell tracking and cell cycle analysis
Authors: Taïeb Hubert M. , Bertinetti Luca , Robinson Tom , Cipitria Amaia
Published: July 2022

Beyond the more conventional single-cell segmentation and tracking, single-cell cycle dynamics is gaining a growing interest in the field of cell biology. Thanks to sophisticated systems, such as the fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator (FUCCI), it is now possible to study cell proliferation, migration, changes in nuclear morphology and single cell cycle dynamics, quantitatively and in real time. In this work, we introduce FUCCItrack, an all-in-one, semi-automated software to segment, track and visualize FUCCI modified cell lines. A user-friendly complete graphical user interface is presented to record and quantitatively analyze both collective cell proliferation as well as single cell information, including migration and changes in nuclear or cell morphology as a function of cell cycle. To enable full control over the analysis, FUCCItrack also contains features for identification of errors and manual corrections.
Parental effects of Bt toxin and vitamin A on Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: López Carmen , Zanga Daniela , Juárez-Escario Alejandro , Muñoz Pilar , Eizaguirre Matilde
Published: July 2022

The increase in the area cultivated with vitamin-enriched transgenic crops producing Bt toxin raises the question of whether the addition of vitamins will in any way mitigates the effect of the toxin on the phytophagous insects that feed on those crops. On the other hand, the parental effect that feeding on these enriched transgenic crops may have on the offspring of the phytophagous that survive on them is not well known. In this work, the effect of vitamin A (β-carotene) addition to diets with or without Bt toxin on Helicoverpa armigera larvae and their offspring was determined. The addition of vitamin A did not have any beneficial effect either for the larvae fed on enriched diets nor for their offspring. However, parental effects due to dietary feeding with the toxin were detected since adults from larvae fed on the Bt diet had higher mating success than those fed on the toxin-free diet, although there were no differences on the fertility of mated females regardless of whether their previous larvae fed on the Bt or non-Bt diet. A certain adaptive effect to the toxin was also noted since the mortality of larvae whose previous generation fed on diet with Bt was lower than that of the larvae that came from larvae fed on a non-Bt diet. It would be interesting to determine if H. armigera adults prefer to mate and lay eggs in the same type of crops in which they have developed or if feeding on different crops, such as corn or alfalfa, causes different paternal effects on the offspring. These aspects can be of great importance in the development of resistance of this species to the Bt toxin.
Human activities disturb haul out and nursing behavior of Pacific harbor seals at Punta Banda Estuary, Mexico
Authors: Ruiz-Mar María Guadalupe , Heckel Gisela , Solana-Arellano Elena , Schramm Yolanda , García-Aguilar María C. , Arteaga Maria Clara
Published: July 2022

Humans frequently interact with Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) at Punta Banda Estuary, Baja California, Mexico, due to the high incidence of recreational activities people undertake there. The immediate effect of these interactions is that seals flush to the water, reducing their time on land and, probably, increasing their energy expenditure. On-land observations were used to study the impact of different sources of disturbance on seal behavior and evaluate their effect on the amount of time dedicated to nursing over three pupping seasons, (2015–2017), with 0.58–0.81 disturbance events/hour recorded over the entire sampling period. Terrestrial vehicles were the source with the highest disturbance rate (number of disturbance events/h), followed closely by pedestrians. However, the proportion of seals affected was highest when pedestrians were the disturbance source. Recovery events (seals hauling out after flushing) occurred after 34% of disturbance events, after less than half of which the same number of hauled-out seals as there were prior to the disturbance were observed. Recovery time varied among the years studied, of which 2017 saw the longest recovery time. In addition, pedestrians were the disturbance source with the longest recovery time. Given that resting on land is essential for pup survival, which depends on both the establishment of the mother-pup bond from birth and its maintenance throughout nursing, flushing behavior may have significant implications for the entire colony during the nursing season. We recorded a decrease in nursing duration, which did not return to the same level even after recovery and the resumption of nursing. Terrestrial vehicles were found to be the disturbance source that shortened nursing events most significantly.
Impact of COVID-19 on the social relationships and mental health of older adults living alone: A two-year prospective cohort study
Authors: Ryu So Im , Park Yeon-Hwan , Kim Jinhyun , Huh Iksoo , Chang Sun Ju , Jang Soong-Nang , Noh Eun-Young
Published: July 2022

Background

Owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, older adults living alone, who can only connect socially outside their homes, are at risk of social isolation and poor mental health. This study aimed to identify the changes, before and after COVID-19, by sex and age, in social relationships (social activity, social network, and social support) and mental health (depression and suicide ideation) among older adults living alone.

Methods

This is a prospective cohort study of community-dwelling older adults who were at least 65 years old and living alone in South Korea. The study was conducted during 2018–2020 with 2,291 participants (795, 771, and 725 for the 1st to 3rd waves, respectively). The data were collected via face-to-face interviews. A generalized linear mixed modeling framework was used to test for changes over three years.

Results

Social activity was reduced after the COVID-19, with an interaction effect of sex: older women (odds ratio [OR], 0.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15–0.23; p < .001) showed greater reduction than older men (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.34–0.75; p < .001). Interaction with neighbors also reduced after the pandemic, but there was no significant evidence of interaction effects. Interaction with family members increased in both sexes during the pandemic, with the interaction effect of sex: older women (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.11–1.76; p = .004) showed greater increase than men (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.13–2.14; p = .007). Social support increased in both sexes during the pandemic, but there was no significant evidence of interaction effects. Depression and suicide ideation showed no significant differences before and after the pandemic.

Conclusions

The findings provide health administrators and health providers with explorative insights into the impact of the COVID-19 on social relationships and mental health among older adults living alone and can guide further studies of interventions considering specific properties of social relationships.
Role of estuarine habitats for the feeding ecology of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.)
Authors: Denis Jérémy , Rabhi Khalef , Le Loc’h François , Ben Rais Lasram Frida , Boutin Kévin , Kazour Maria , Diop Mamadou , Gruselle Marie-Christine , Amara Rachid
Published: July 2022

This study aims to characterize and compare the feeding ecology of the European eels (Anguilla anguillaL.) during the continental phase (i.e. yellow and silver) along a salinity gradient (i.e. lower, middle and upper) in six northern France estuaries (i.e. brackish water). The diet and stable isotopic (i.e. δ15N and δ13C values) compositions of eels collected with a fyke net in six estuaries (Slack, Wimereux, Liane, Canche, Authie and Somme estuaries) located along the French coast of the eastern English Channel per season over a year were described by combining gut content and stable isotope analyses. Eel guts were dominated by typical BW prey, Malacostraca and Actinopterygii (54% and 40%, respectively), with the gammareGammarus zaddachiand the green crabCarcinus maenas(38% and 14%, respectively), and smaller yellow eels ofA.anguillaand juvenile European flounder,Platichthys flesus(19% and 14%, respectively) being the most frequently found in their guts. The δ13C values of a majority of eels confirmed the sea- and brackish water-specific carbon resources. Dietary and isotopic niche revealed no clear change between total length, silvering stages and seasons, but a significant difference between salinity gradients and estuaries. Eels δ13C values showed significant enrichment from upper to lower along the estuaries while the δ15N values showed an inverse effect, with the lowest values in the lower part and highest in the upper part. Higher variability in δ13C values in larger estuaries suggested that eels feed on a wide range of food sources than in smaller estuaries. While eels in the smaller estuaries fed mainly on Actinopterygii prey, eels in the larger ones had a lower trophic level (i.e. δ15N values) and fed mainly on Malacostraca prey. This spatial difference in dietary and isotopic niche is discussed in relation to biological structure of eel and environmental variables.
Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of physical exercise and melatonin supplement on treating sleep disturbance in children with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Tse Andy Choi Yeung , Lee Paul Hong , Lau Esther Yuet Ying , Cheng James Ching Hei , Ho Amy Wing Yin , Lai Elvis Wing Him
Published: July 2022

Background

Previous study showed that both melatonin supplement and physical exercise intervention could improve sleep quality in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with the increase in endogenous melatonin level. However, none of the studies have directly compared the effectiveness between the two interventions on treating sleep disturbance in children with ASD. Without direct comparison, we do not know which intervention is better. Thus, we designed a study to compare which intervention is more effective to treat sleep disturbance in children with ASD and to examine whether the combination of the two could be the most efficacious. We present a protocol for conducting a randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of physical exercise and melatonin supplement on treating sleep disturbance in children with ASD.

Study design

The proposed study will be a four-group randomised control trial (RCT) design, with equal allocation of participants to the three intervention groups and one control group.

Methods

All eligible participants will be randomly allocated to a morning jogging group, a melatonin supplement group, a combination group and a control group. Changes in sleep quality will be monitored through actigraphic assessment and parental sleep logs. Melatonin levels represented by 6-sulfoxymelatonin will be measured from the participants’ 24-h and the first morning void urinary samples. All the assessments will be carried out before the intervention (T1), in the mid of the study (5 weeks after the commencement of the study) (T2) and after the 10-week intervention (T3). Level of statistical significance will be set at 5% (i.e. p < .05). The results of this trial will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journal.

Findings

The findings will provide evidence to determine whether physical exercise or melatonin supplement or the combination of interventions is the most effective to treat sleep disturbance in children with ASD.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical blood isolates display significant phenotypic variability
Authors: Scheffler Robert J. , Bratton Benjamin P. , Gitai Zemer
Published: July 2022

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant threat in healthcare settings where it deploys a wide host of virulence factors to cause disease. Many virulence-related phenotypes such as pyocyanin production, biofilm formation, and twitching motility have been implicated in causing disease in a number of hosts. In this study, we investigate these three virulence factors in a collection of 22 clinical strains isolated from blood stream infections. Despite the fact that all 22 strains caused disease and came from the same body site of different patients, they show significant variability in assays for each of the three specific phenotypes examined. There was no significant correlation between the strength of the three phenotypes across our collection, suggesting that they can be independently modulated. Furthermore, strains deficient in each of the virulence-associated phenotypes examined could be identified. To understand the genetic basis of this variability we sequenced the genomes of the 22 strains. We found that the majority of genes responsible for pyocyanin production, biofilm formation, and twitching motility were highly conserved among the strains despite their phenotypic variability, suggesting that the phenotypic variability is likely due to regulatory changes. Our findings thus demonstrate that no one lab-assayed phenotype of pyocyanin production, biofilm production, and twitching motility is necessary for a P. aeruginosa strain to cause blood stream infection and that additional factors may be needed to fully predict what strains will lead to specific human diseases.
Modeling and verification of authentication threats mitigation in aspect-oriented mal sequence woven model
Authors: Ullah Ubaid , Faiz Rizwan Bin , Haleem Muhammad
Published: July 2022

The modeling of security threats is equally important as the modeling of functional requirements at the design stage of software engineering. However, unlike functional requirements modeling, the modeling of security threats is neglected, which consequently introduces software defects during the early stages of software engineering. Hence, there is a need to mitigate these threats at the design stage. Security threats, specifically authentication threats, crosscut other functional and non-functional requirements when modeled using the object-oriented paradigm. This not only makes the design complex but also results in tangling and scattering problems. We therefore model authentication threats using the aspect-oriented modeling (AOM) technique since it separates crosscutting concerns and localizes them as separate units called aspects. Our main research aim is to remove scattering and tangling in security threats modeling using all the core features of the aspect-oriented technique. In this paper, we propose a research approach to model security threats and their mitigation in mal sequence diagram. Using this approach, our contribution makes a clear difference from previous work. Our first contribution is the modeling of authentication threats in the mal sequence diagram using the security profile and AOM profile. Our second contribution is the mathematical verification of the aspect-oriented mal sequence woven model in terms of correctness and completeness. Using the proposed approach, the scattering and tangling from the resultant woven model are successfully removed at the design stage. Thus, the complexity of models and the time and effort required for future modifications of design models are reduced.
Mapping potential risks for the transmission of spotted fever rickettsiosis: The case study from the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil
Authors: Rodrigues Cláudio Manuel , Dourado Francisco , Marinho Daniel Savignon , Gazêta Gilberto Salles , Geise Lena
Published: July 2022

Spotted fever rickettsiosis is a zoonosis transmitted by ticks, having a varied clinical course that can lead to death if not managed properly. In Brazil it is more commonly observed in the Southeast, being an emerging public health problem. Hazard mapping models are common in different areas of knowledge, including public health, as a way of inferring reality and seeking to reduce or prevent damage. The aim of this study is to offer a spatial heuristic methodology for assessing the potential risk of transmission of spotted fever in the Rio de Janeiro state, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. For this, we used geospatial tools associated with eco-epidemiological data related to the clinical profile of the disease. The results achieved were substantially encouraging, considering that there are territories with greater or lesser expectation of risk for spotted fever in the study area. We observed that there are important distinctions between the two rickettsiosis scenarios in the same geographic space and that the areas where there is a greater potential risk of contracting rickettsiosis coincide with the administrative regions that concentrated the cases of hospitalization and deaths from the disease, concluding that the scenery found are relevant to the case series for the disease and that the planning of surveillance actions can gain in quality if the use of this spatial analysis tool is incorporated into the routine of local health management.
Physiological responses of Amaranthus cruentus L. to drought stress under sufficient- and deficient-nitrogen conditions
Authors: Cechin Inês , da Silva Laura Prado , Ferreira Elisa Teófilo , Barrochelo Sarah Corrêa , de Melo Fernanda Pereira de Souza Rosa , Dokkedal Anne Ligia , Saldanha Luiz Leonardo
Published: July 2022

Water and nitrogen availability are two major environmental factors that can impair plant growth, and when combined, their effects on plant performance can be either intensified or reduced. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of nitrogen availability on the responses of Amaranthus cruentus’s metabolism to water stress. The plants were cultivated in plastic pots filled with vermiculite, kept under greenhouse conditions, and were watered three times a week with 70% of a full strength nitrogen-free Long Ashton solution, containing 1.97 or 9.88 kg N ha−1 as ammonium nitrate. Photosynthetic parameters were evaluated in planta, and leaves were harvested for chemical analysis of photosynthetic pigments, proline, and phenolic contents. Higher nitrogen supply increased the shoot dry matter, photosynthetic pigments, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, total leaf nitrogen, proline, nitrate, and ammonium but reduced the concentration of flavonoids and total phenols. Six days of water stress did not affect dry matter, photosynthetic pigments, leaf nitrogen, ammonium, or specialized metabolites but increased the proline under high nitrogen and negatively affected stomatal conductance, transpiration, photosynthesis, relative water content, instantaneous water use efficiency, and leaf nitrate. The negative effect was more pronounced under high nitrogen supply. The results show that the addition of a high amount of nitrogen made the physiological processes of plants more sensitive to water stress, indicating that the plant response to water restriction depends on the interaction between the different environmental stressors to which the plants are subjected.
Cholera diagnosis in human stool and detection in water: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Falconer Jennifer , Diaconu Karin , O’May Fiona , Gummaraju Advaith , Victor-Uadiale Ifeyinwa , Matragrano Joseph , Njanpop-Lafourcade Berthe-Marie , Ager Alastair
Published: July 2022

Background

Cholera continues to pose a problem for low-resource, fragile and humanitarian contexts. Evidence suggests that 2.86 million cholera cases and 95,000 deaths due to cholera are reported annually. Without quick and effective diagnosis and treatment, case-fatality may be 50%. In line with the priorities of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control, we undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy and other test characteristics of current tests for cholera detection in stool and water.

Methods

We searched 11 bibliographic and grey literature databases. Data was extracted on test sensitivity, specificity and other product information. Meta-analyses of sensitivity and specificity were conducted for tests reported in three or more studies. Where fewer studies reported a test, estimates were summarised through narrative synthesis. Risk of Bias was assessed using QUADAS-2.

Results

Searches identified 6,637 records; 41 studies reporting on 28 tests were included. Twenty-two tests had both sensitivities and specificities reported above 95% by at least one study, but there was, overall, wide variation in reported diagnostic accuracy across studies. For the three tests where meta-analyses were possible the highest sensitivity meta-estimate was found in the Cholera Screen test (98.6%, CI: 94.7%-99.7%) and the highest specificity meta-estimate in the Crystal VC on enriched samples (98.3%, CI: 92.8%-99.6%). There was a general lack of evidence regarding field use of tests, but where presented this indicated trends for lower diagnostic accuracy in field settings, with lesser-trained staff, and without the additional process of sample enrichment. Where reported, mean test turnaround times ranged from over 50% to 130% longer than manufacturer’s specification. Most studies had a low to unclear risk of bias.

Conclusions

Currently available Rapid Diagnostic Tests can potentially provide high diagnostic and detection capability for cholera. However, stronger evidence is required regarding the conditions required to secure these levels of accuracy in field use, particularly in low-resource settings.

Registration

PROSPERO (CRD42016048428).
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the incidence of diseases and the provision of primary care: A registry-based study
Authors: Van den Bulck Steve , Crèvecoeur Jonas , Aertgeerts Bert , Delvaux Nicolas , Neyens Thomas , Van Pottelbergh Gijs , Coursier Patrick , Vaes Bert
Published: July 2022

Introduction

The Covid-19 pandemic had a tremendous impact on healthcare but uncertainty remains about the extent to which primary care provision was affected. Therefore, this paper aims to assess the impact on primary care provision and the evolution of the incidence of disease during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic in Flanders (Belgium).

Methods

Care provision was defined as the number of new entries added to a patient’s medical history. Pre-pandemic care provision (February 1, 2018–January 31, 2020) was compared with care provision during the pandemic (February 1, 2020-January 31, 2021). A large morbidity registry (Intego) was used. Regression models compared the effect of demographic characteristics on care provision and on acute and chronic diagnoses incidence both prior and during the pandemic.

Results

During the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, overall care provision increased with 9.1% (95%CI 8.5%;9.6%). There was an increase in acute diagnoses of 5.1% (95%CI 4.2%;6.0%) and a decrease in the selected chronic diagnoses of 12.8% (95% CI 7.0%;18.4%). Obesity was an exception with an overall incidence increase. The pandemic led to strong fluctuations in care provision that were not the same for all types of care and all demographic groups in Flanders. Relative to other groups in the population, the pandemic caused a reduction in care provision for children aged 0–17 year and patients from a lower socio-economic situation.

Conclusion

This paper strengthened the claim that Covid-19 should be considered as a syndemic instead of a pandemic. During the first Covid-19 year, overall care provision and the incidence of acute diagnoses increased, whereas chronic diseases’ incidence decreased, except for obesity diagnoses which increased. More granular, care provision and chronic diseases’ incidence decreased during the lockdowns, especially for people with a lower socio-economic status. After the lockdowns they both returned to baseline.
Funciones ejecutivas en TEA: Análisis de variables contextuales en el desarrollo
Authors: Padilla Quero Francisco José , Infante Cañete Lidia
Published: July 2022

Las funciones ejecutivas son un conjunto de habilidades cognitivas de orden superior que permiten la adaptación al entorno social. De ellas, se desprende la concepción ligada a los procesos de aprendizaje y aquellas competencias de tipo contextual que facilitan la integración a la sociedad en la que vivimos. Partiendo de la base de las características diferenciales de las personas diagnosticadas por presentar Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA), entre las que se encuentran alteraciones en los procesos ejecutivos y limitaciones en la adaptación relacional y, por ende, social; se presenta un análisis de cómo las variables contextuales y conductuales pueden afectar; ya sea dificultar o potenciar, las citadas funciones ejecutivas en niños y niñas menores de 6 años. El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo estudiar la prevalencia y análisis de variables contextuales en la primera infancia en menores con TEA. La muestra seleccionada está compuesta por 83 menores diagnosticados de TEA, de ambos géneros y con edades comprendidas entre los dos y los seis años que acuden a un centro de atención temprana público de la provincia de Málaga. El instrumento utilizado para el análisis de las funciones ejecutivas ha sido Evaluación conductual de la función ejecutiva (BRIEF-P) y para la recogida de información contextual se utilizó una entrevista semiestructurada de elaboración ad hoc. La información recopilada se extrajo de los familiares que normalmente acompañan al menor al tratamiento en el centro. Los resultados encontrados sugieren diferencias en las variables contextuales asociadas al menor con TEA y diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre grupos que relacionan la carga ambiental recibida y los niveles de competencia ejecutiva. Se concluye que parte de las diferencias en perfiles neurocognitivos en el TEA se pueden explicar por las competencias contextuales las cuales afectan significativamente a la evolución adecuada de las funciones ejecutivas, pudiendo explicar parte de las disfunciones conductuales, cognitivas y socioafectivas propias de este trastorno.
Exploratory and confirmatory analysis to identify airports and airlines characteristics as factors influencing domestic passenger traffic in Nigeria
Authors: Adenigbo Adedotun Joseph , Ofumwengbe Osahenrumwen , Kanyio Olufunto Adedotun
Published: July 2022

Passenger traffic at airports is characterised by fluctuations resulting from the influence of several factors. The influence of each factor is different, leading to unpredictable passenger traffic patterns that make planning difficult. Previous studies used geographic, demographic, and economic variables as exploratory factors to examine air travel demand. The study explores several variables to confirm airports and airlines’ characteristics as demand factors for domestic air travel in Nigeria. Data for the study were collected by administering a questionnaire to respondents at major domestic airports in Nigeria. The variables were presented in the 5-point Likert Scale for respondents to rank in order of significance.  Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) were employed to identify the significant factors affecting passenger traffic at domestic airports in Nigeria. EFA reduced fifteen variables to four orthogonal factors influencing passenger traffic at domestic airports. CFA validates airport and airline services, demographics, economic factors, and airport size and facilities as significant factors affecting passenger traffic at domestic airports in Nigeria. The model fit test shows CMIN/DF = 2.263; CFI = 0.940; GFI = 0.929; NFI = 0.901; and RMSEA = 0.078. The result identifies airport and airline characteristics as factors influencing passenger traffic at the domestic airport in any country. It implies that airport and airline characteristics significantly influence domestic air traffic and needs to be included in modelling. Identifying airport and airline characteristics as air travel determinants make this study unique for policy decisions to forecast domestic passenger traffic in a country.
Drone technology and performance of retail logistics
Authors: Muricho Michael Wanjala , Mogaka Conrad Ochego
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this research study was to explore drone technology and performance of retail logistics by offering academic and practical benefits, explaining the preceding, and recommending a research plan based on a conceptual framework for drone technology and performance of retail logistics. A literature review has been created to assist today's retail logistics managers and researchers in scrutinizing what has been previously researched and what needs to be explored. From the standpoint of retail logistics, the study adds to our knowledge of drone technology as it relates to the performance of retail logistics and the constraints of future research. This study utilized a systematic literature review to design a suggested conceptual framework for a research agenda on drone technology and performance of retail logistics. The research paper provides insights into deficiencies in the drone technology, along with performance of retail logistics literature. The research paper explicitly recommends exploring the drone technology as it relates to expected and actual performance of retail logistics. This article contributes to the literature in a number of ways. To begin with, it provides the first comprehensive succinct synopsis of the essential concepts in the drone technology and retail logistics. Second, the impact of retail logistics in the growth of the economy. Third, the application of drone technology in retail logistics. Fourth, unnoticed challenges in retail logistics are then exposed as ideas for potential research. Finally, the technique utilized to conduct the systematic literature review can be used as a model for prospective researchers when conducting similar research. Contemporary research is aimed at providing a research group that address the needs of adopting the current technology on the performance of retail logistics. For performance of retail logistics, the article presents a suggested conceptual framework for drone technology and performance of retail logistics.
“Zecilia, Josepha y Maria”: cotidianidades y experiencias ante el Santo Oficio de Lima, 1680-1702
Authors: Urra Jaque Natalia
Published: July 2022

A través del siguiente escrito estudiaremos y analizaremos tres procesos inquisitoriales contra mujeres pertenecientes a los grupos estamentales de la ciudad de Lima. Entre 1680 y 1702 fueron juzgadas Zecilia, Josepha y Maria. Las tres fueron condenadas por idólatras, pactar con el demo- nio y realizar hechicerías. Sin embargo, esta propuesta profundizará en las confesiones y testimonios que entregaron al Santo Oficio, los cuales, a modo de ejemplo, representaron las carencias, limitantes y estrategias de sobrevivencia que usaron. Con tales discursos reconstruiremos aquellas experiencias que ilustren las cotidianidades de ellas como sujetos individuales, pero, a la vez, las dinámicas características de la sociedad con la que convivieron.
The World Economy: The Perfect Storm
Authors:   Economic Research Institute FEB RAS, Minakir Pavel
Published: July 2022

The article shows that economic sanctions that have been tested for a long period of time as an instrument to demonstrate the dominance of the dollar-centered world economic system, with the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis finally took shape as a new regulatory institution of global political and economic rules. The reasons led to negative shocks in global economic and financial system have been analyzed. It is demonstrated that underestimation of influence on short-term and long-term conditions of global equilibrium of the isolation of a large national economy (Russia), which has an oligopoly in a number of world commodity markets, causes a chain reaction of distortion of commodity stocks balance and fragmentation of the world commodity market itself. It is suggested that an abstract concern over defragmentation of the seemingly unshakable global monetary financial architecture started generating not yet very clear, but getting increasingly more specific and spatially diverse block frameworks, leading in the medium term to regionalization of global monetary financial system as far as settlement of payments and debt financial market are concerned, and to reformatting of the entire system of global finance and money, including the function of measure of value, in the long term. The article discusses the impact of the forced restrictions in global rules and guarantees for functioning of global market and global money as the institution to serve it, blocked access to this system for individual national economies on short-term and long-term modifications of conditions and mechanisms of performance of global economic financial system
Dose-Dependency of Toxic Signs and Outcomes of Paraoxon Poisoning in Rats
Authors: Maksimović Žana M. , Škrbić Ranko , Stojiljković Miloš P.
Published: July 2022

Organophosphorus compounds induce irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, which then produces clinically manifested muscarinic, nicotinic and central effects. The aim of the study was to analyse the clinical signs of acute paraoxon poisoning in rats and to determine the relationship between the intensity of signs of poisoning and the dose of paraoxon and/or the outcome of poisoning in rats. Animals were treated with either saline or atropine (10 mg/kg intramuscularly). The median subcutaneous lethal dose (LD50) of paraoxon was 0.33 mg/kg and protective ratio of atropine was 2.73. The presence and intensity of signs of poisoning in rats (dyspnoea, lacrimation, exophthalmos, fasciculations, tremor, ataxia, seizures, piloerection, stereotypic movements) were observed and recorded for 4 h after the injection of paraoxon. Intensity of these toxic phenomena was evaluated as: 0 – absent, 1 – mild/moderate, 2 – severe. Fasciculations, seizures and tremor were more intense at higher doses of paraoxon and in non-survivors. In unprotected rats piloerection occurred more often and was more intense at higher doses of paraoxon as well as in non-survivors. In atropine-protected rats, piloerection did not correlate with paraoxon dose or outcome of poisoning. The intensity of fasciculations and seizures were very strong prognostic parameters of the poisoning severity.
Efficacy of Prednisone in Children with Acute Nonspecific Mesenteric Lymphadenitis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Pavlovic Momcilo , Rokvic Zeljko , Berenji Karolina
Published: July 2022

Background: Acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis (ANML) is a common cause of acute abdominal pain in children with no specific treatment. Methods: A total of 13 patients (6 boys, 7 girls) aged 7.3 (5–13.5) years with severe acute abdominal pain were evaluated using ultrasonography and laboratory tests to establish the diagnosis of ANML. They were treated with prednisone 1 mg/kg (max 40 mg daily) for a maximum of 5 days. The intensity of abdominal pain was evaluated before and after treatment using a numeric rating scale. Results: All patients had pain scores above 6/10 before, and below 4/10 after treatment with prednisone. Intensity of abdominal pain after treatment for 1–5 days decreased significantly (p < 0.001), with no recurrence at follow-up within 3 months. All other pre-existing signs and symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, fever, diarrhea, and constipation were found to disappear with no adverse effects of corticosteroid therapy. Conclusion: These results suggest that the treatment with prednisone in selective patients with ANML can reduce the duration of abdominal pain.
The Development and Neurophysiological Assessment of Newborn Auditory Cognition: A Review of Findings and Their Application
Authors: Urbanec Josef , Kremláček Jan , Chládková Kateřina , Skálová Sylva
Published: July 2022

This review article introduces the basic principles of infants’ neurophysiology, while summarizing the core knowledge of the anatomical structure of the auditory pathway, and presents previous findings on newborns’ neural speech processing and suggests their possible applications for clinical practice. In order to tap into the functioning of the auditory pathway in newborns, recent approaches have employed electrophysiological techniques that measure electrical activity of the brain. The neural processing of an incoming auditory stimulus is objectively reflected by means of auditory event-related potentials. The newborn’s nervous system processes the incoming sound, and the associated electrical activity of the brain is measured and extracted as components characterized by amplitude, latency, and polarity. Based on the parameters of event-related potentials, it is possible to assess the maturity of a child’s brain, or to identify a pathology that needs to be treated or mitigated. For instance, in children with a cochlear implant, auditory event-related potentials are employed to evaluate an outcome of the implantation procedure and to monitor the development of hearing. Event-related potentials turn out to be an irreplaceable part of neurodevelopmental care for high-risk children e.g., preterm babies, children with learning disabilities, autism and many other risk factors.
Does Time Matter? Identifying Levels of Community College Student Engagement Based on Length of Instructor-Created Videos in Online Classes
Authors: Morgan Patrice , Kaplan Vladyslava , Kirshner Amanda
Published: July 2022

With the rising popularity of online classes in higher education, keeping students engaged and developing effective methods of delivering content has become more challenging. One of the most used teaching and learning tools in online education is instructor-created videos. Various studies show that the majority of students favorably view the integration of instructor-created video content in online courses. Speculation continues to remain about how to effectively design video lessons to maximize their efficiency and increase the level of student engagement and overall academic performance. 

The current study examines students’ perceptions of instructor-created videos, with an emphasis on the preferred length of the videos. Google survey forms were created and distributed among students who are enrolled in Behavioral Science courses. The survey was completed by a diverse group of 159 online students. Participants were asked to identify academic engagement in their own words and share their personal experience with online classes, as well as answer more specific questions such as if instructor-created videos were used in the course, how long they were, and if the length of the videos determined whether students watched them or not. Findings indicated that while students prefer shorter videos, they would watch longer video lectures as long as they were required for the grade. The majority of responders found the use of instructor-created videos in the course helpful. These findings will allow researchers to offer the faculty a recommendation for the future effective use of instructor-created videos in online courses.