bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spiritual care competence, moral distress and job satisfaction among Iranian oncology nurses
Authors: Manookian Arpi , Nadali Javad , Ghiyasvandian Shahrzad , Weaver Kathryn , Haghani Shima , Divani Anahita
Published: October 2023

Background:

Nurses have a crucial role in identifying spiritual needs and providing spiritual care to patients living with cancer.

Aim:

This study evaluated Iranian oncology nurses’ spiritual care competence and its relationship with job satisfaction and moral distress.

Method:

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 280 Iranian oncology nurses in 2020 using four questionnaires: demographic questionnaires, the Spiritual Care Competence Questionnaire (SCCQ), the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and the nurses’ Moral Distress Questionnaire (MDS-R).

Findings:

The mean scores indicated a medium to high Spiritual Care Competence (SCC), mild to moderate moral distress and high job satisfaction. There was a positive correlation between SCC and external job satisfaction (r=184, p<0.05) and a negative correlation between SCC and moral distress (r=-0.356, p<0.05).

Conclusions:

SCC diminishes with decreasing external job satisfaction and increasing moral distress. To improve the SCC of nurses working with patients living with cancer, it is recommended that nursing managers and policymakers revise the organisational policies to tackle the obstacles and consider the related factors to provide an ethical climate, implement quality spiritual care and increase job satisfaction.
When and how to stop palliative antineoplastic treatment and to organise palliative care for patients with incurable cancer
Authors: Raunkiær Mette , Shabnam Jahan , Marsaa Kristoffer , Kurita Geana Paula , Sjøgren Per , Guldin Mai-Britt
Published: October 2023

Background:

Improving the organisational aspects of the delivery of palliative care in order to support patients throughout their disease trajectory has received limited attention.

Aim:

To investigate the opportunities and barriers related to organising palliation for people with terminal cancer and their families.

Methods:

An explorative interview study was conducted among 31 nurses and three physicians concerning an intervention facilitating a fast transition from treatment at a cancer centre at a university hospital to palliation at home. A thematic analysis was conducted.

Findings:

This article presents three out of seven themes: 1) improvement in the cessation of antineoplastic treatment in palliation; 2) improvement in organisations delivering palliation; and 3) improvement in multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration.

Conclusions:

The results demonstrate the demand for flexible, family-centred and integrated palliation at all levels, from communication and the collaborative relationship between healthcare professionals and families to service sectors.
Quadrigeminal plate arachnoid cyst presenting with eye movement related migraine: a rare case report
Authors: Graciela Yemima , Shen Robert , Tjahjadi Mardjono
Published: October 2023

Type II arachnoid cyst of the quadrigeminal cistern is the rarest type of arachnoid cyst (10% prevalence) in adults and is generally asymptomatic. We reported an unusual case of chronic right-sided migraine provoked by right eye adduction, right eye adduction soreness, and dry eye symptoms in a 47-year-old woman with quadrigeminal arachnoid cyst confirmed by radiological findings with the compression of the tectal plate, vermis, and superomedial cerebellum’s part. She was treated conservatively without improvement for 1 year before surgical intervention was conducted. Microsurgery for cyst excision and fenestration was done, followed by immediate relief from all her complaints after 3 months of follow-up. These findings should help clinicians consider surgical intervention for patients with chronic symptoms related to nerve function that have no improvement with the initial treatment.
Accuracy of machine learning models using ultrasound images in prostate cancer diagnosis: a systematic review
Authors: Sihotang Retta Catherina , Agustino Claudio , Huang Ficky , Parikesit Dyandra , Rahman Fakhri , Hamid Agus Rizal Ardy Hariandy
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND In prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis, many developed machine learning (ML) models using ultrasound images show good accuracy. This study aimed to analyze the accuracy of neural network ML models in PCa diagnosis using ultrasound images.

METHODS The protocol was registered with PROSPERO registration number CRD42021277309. Three reviewers independently conducted a literature search in 5 online databases (PubMed, EBSCO, Proquest, ScienceDirect, and Scopus). We included all cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies in English, that used neural networks ML models for PCa diagnosis in humans. Conference/review articles and studies with combination examination with magnetic resonance imaging or had no diagnostic parameters were excluded.

RESULTS Of 391 titles and abstracts screened, 9 articles relevant to the study were included. Risk of bias analysis was conducted using the QUADAS-2 tool. Of the 9 articles, 5 used artificial neural networks, 1 used deep learning, 1 used recurrent neural networks, and 2 used convolutional neural networks. The included articles showed a varied area under the curve (AUC) of 0.76–0.98. Factors affecting the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) were the AI model, mode and type of transrectal sonography, Gleason grading, and prostate-specific antigen level.

CONCLUSIONS The accuracy of neural network ML models in PCa diagnosis using ultrasound images was relatively high, with an AUC value above 0.7. Thus, this modality is promising for PCa diagnosis that can provide instant information for further workup and help doctors decide whether to perform a prostate biopsy.
Deep learning network for parallel self-denoising and segmentation in visible light optical coherence tomography of the human retina
Authors: Ye Tianyi , Wang Jingyu , Yi Ji
Published: October 2023

Visible light optical coherence tomography (VIS-OCT) of the human retina is an emerging imaging modality that uses shorter wavelengths in visible light range than conventional near-infrared (NIR) light. It provides one-micron level axial resolution to better separate stratified retinal layers, as well as microvascular oximetry. However, due to the practical limitation of laser safety and comfort, the permissible illumination power is much lower than NIR OCT, which can be challenging to obtain high-quality VIS-OCT images and subsequent image analysis. Therefore, improving VIS-OCT image quality by denoising is an essential step in the overall workflow in VIS-OCT clinical applications. In this paper, we provide the first VIS-OCT retinal image dataset from normal eyes, including retinal layer annotation and “noisy-clean” image pairs. We propose an efficient co-learning deep learning framework for parallel self-denoising and segmentation simultaneously. Both tasks synergize within the same network and improve each other’s performance. The significant improvement of segmentation (2% higher Dice coefficient compared to segmentation-only process) for ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL) and inner nuclear layer (INL) is observed when available annotation drops to 25%, suggesting an annotation-efficient training. We also showed that the denoising model trained on our dataset generalizes well for a different scanning protocol.
MWDNs: reconstruction in multi-scale feature spaces for lensless imaging
Authors: Li Ying , Li Zhengdai , Chen Kaiyu , Guo Youming , Rao Changhui
Published: October 2023

Lensless cameras, consisting of only a sensor and a mask, are small and flexible enough to be used in many applications with stringent scale constraints. These mask-based imagers encode scenes in caustic patterns. Most existing reconstruction algorithms rely on multiple iterations based on physical model for deconvolution followed by deep learning for perception, among which the main limitation of reconstruction quality is the mismatch between the ideal and the real model. To solve the problem, we in this work learned a class of multi Wiener deconvolution networks (MWDNs), deconvoluting in multi-scale feature spaces with Wiener filters to reduce the information loss and improving the accuracy of the given model by correcting the inputs. A comparison between the proposed and the state-of-the-art algorithms shows that ours achieves much better images and performs well in real-world environments. In addition, our method takes greater advantage of the computational time due to the abandonment of iterations.
Low-RCS low-profile MIMO antenna and array antenna using a polarization conversion metasurface
Authors: Li Yujun , Jin Jing , Yang Zhengguang , Dou Jiao , Cheng Houyuan , Wang Yang , Yang Helin
Published: October 2023

A specially designed dumbbell type polarization conversion metasurface (PCM) is proposed. The designed PCM achieves line-to-line polarization conversion in ultra-wideband (UWB) from 7.63 GHz to 18.80 GHz. A low-profile metasurface antenna composed of PCM and slot feed is proposed based on characteristic mode analysis (CMA), which realizes the integrated design of radiation and scattering. Because of the checkerboard scattering properties, low-radar cross section (RCS) low-profile multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna and array antenna are designed with PCM. The low-RCS high-isolation low-profile MIMO antenna with size of 1.27×1.27×0.07λ03 (λ0: the free-space wavelength corresponding to the center frequency point) operating at 5.8 GHz consists of four orthogonal arranged metasurface antennas. The isolation is greater than 26 dB with impedance bandwidth from 5.51 GHz to 6.06 GHz. In addition, the low-RCS high-gain low-profile array antenna with size of 2.55×2.55×0.07λ03 is also designed. The operating band covers from 5.63 GHz to 6.12 GHz with the gain of 12-15.6 dBi. The RCS reduction of the two antennas for normal incidence is between 6 dB and 23 dB in both X- and Ku-bands. The measured results of the antennas agree with the simulated results, which shows that they have potential application value in 5.8 GHz WLAN wireless communication.
Study on temperature effects of broadband absorption spectroscopy based on Doppler broadening combined with a multilinear shape superposition
Authors: Li Mu , Gao Jie , Wu Yongqi , Zhu Rui , Gao Qiang , Zhang Yungang
Published: October 2023

In this study, we determine the relationship between the broadband absorption spectroscopy and temperature using Doppler broadening combined with a multilinear shape superposition. First, a method for temperature effects on broadband absorption spectroscopy is proposed, utilizing the principle of a multiple Gaussian line shape superposition. A theoretical expression of the temperature effect on broadband spectroscopy is then presented for the first time to the best of our knowledge, and the variation law of broadband absorption spectroscopy with temperature is explained. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the expression is demonstrated by comparing experimental and theoretical data of the SO2 broadband absorption spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that the correlation coefficient (r) between the experimental and theoretical spectra of SO2 within the temperature range of 298.15–923.15 K is greater than 0.93. The method and expression presented in this Letter can effectively explain the data of previous research.
Superlattice material of quantum cascade lasers was optimized based on growth temperature
Authors: Han Yao-zhang , Zhang Dong-liang , Zhang Cheng-cheng , Zhu Lian-qing
Published: October 2023

Infrared imaging, gas sensing, terahertz light source, and clinical diagnostics are all common uses for quantum cascade lasers, particularly in infrared imaging. The precision of the quantum well/barrier thickness is required to be greater, and the growth conditions are more demanding because of the complexity of the band structure epitaxy process. In this research, we investigate the effect of the growth temperature on the growth of GaInAs/AlInAs superlattices using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The experimental results indicate that 420°C is the best temperature for growth, and the temperature has less impact on the potential barrier AlInAs material. The AlInAs material's components are comparatively stable. Temperature has a significant impact on the potential well GaInAs layer. A temperature that is too high or too low may modify the epitaxial material components and thickness, which should be optimized while growing the entire quantum cascade lasers core layer structure.
Dried Blood Spots (DBS): A suitable alternative to using whole blood samples for diagnostic testing of visceral leishmaniasis in the post-elimination era
Authors: Ghosh Prakash , Chowdhury Rajashree , Rahat Md. Abu , Hossain Faria , Arpha Nur E , Kristan Mojca , Higgins Matthew , El Wahed Ahmed Abd , Goto Yasuyuki , Islam M. M. Towhidul , Campino Susana , Cameron Mary , Duthie Malcom S. , Haque Rashidul , Mondal Dinesh
Published: October 2023

Background

Serum or whole blood collection, processing, transport and storage still present significant challenges in low resource settings where mass surveillance is required to sustain disease elimination. Therefore, in this study, we explored the diagnostic efficacy of dried blood spots (DBS) as a minimally invasive and potentially cost-effective alternative sampling technique to whole blood sampling procedures for subsequent detection of Leishmania donovani antibodies or DNA.

Methodology and principal findings

Archived serum, DNA samples from whole blood of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases and healthy controls, and DBS from corresponding cases and controls, were used. Both molecular and serological assays were optimized to detect L. donovani antibodies or DNA in DBS elute and results were compared against those obtained with whole blood. Serological assays (both rK28 ELISA and rK39 ELISA) of DBS samples showed sensitivity and specificity of 100% and had excellent agreement with results from whole blood samples (kappa value ranged from 0.98–1). Bland-Altman analysis of OD values from rK28-ELISA with DBS elute and patients’ serum showed an excellent agreement (ICC = 0.9) whereas a good agreement (ICC = 0.8) was observed in the case of rK39-ELISA. However, qPCR and RPA of DBS samples had a diminished sensitivity of 76% and 68%, respectively, and poor agreement was observed with the whole blood samples.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that DBS offer excellent diagnostic efficiency for serological assays and represent a viable alternative to whole blood sampling procedures.
Longitudinal changes in tear cytokines and antimicrobial proteins in trachomatous disease
Authors: Barton Amber , Faal Nkoyo , Ramadhani Athumani , Derrick Tamsyn , Mafuru Elias , Mtuy Tara , Massae Patrick , Malissa Aiweda , Joof Hassan , Makalo Pateh , Sillah Ansumana , Harte Anna , Pickering Harry , Bailey Robin , Mabey David CW , Burton Matthew J. , Holland Martin J.
Published: October 2023

Background

Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease caused by ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, where repeated infections and chronic inflammation can ultimately result in scarring, trichiasis and blindness. While scarring is thought to be mediated by a dysregulated immune response, the kinetics of cytokines and antimicrobial proteins in the tear film have not yet been characterised.

Methodology

Pooled tears from a Gambian cohort and Tanzanian cohort were semi-quantitatively screened using a Proteome Profiler Array to identify cytokines differentially regulated in disease. Based on this screen and previous literature, ten cytokines (CXCL1, IP-10, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 p40, IL-1RA, IL-1α and PDGF), lysozyme and lactoferrin were assayed in the Tanzanian cohort by multiplex cytokine assay and ELISA. Finally, CXCL1, IP-10, IL-8, lysozyme and lactoferrin were longitudinally profiled in the Gambian cohort by multiplex cytokine assay and ELISA.

Results

In the Tanzanian cohort, IL-8 was significantly increased in those with clinically inapparent infection (p = 0.0086). Lysozyme, IL-10 and chemokines CXCL1 and IL-8 were increased in scarring (p = 0.016, 0.046, 0.016, and 0.037). CXCL1, IP-10, IL-8, lysozyme and lactoferrin were longitudinally profiled over the course of infection in a Gambian cohort study, with evidence of an inflammatory response both before, during and after detectable infection. CXCL1, IL-8 and IP-10 were higher in the second infection episode relative to the first (p = 0.0012, 0.044, and 0.04).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the ocular immune system responds prior to and continues to respond after detectable C. trachomatis infection, possibly due to a positive feedback loop inducing immune activation. Levels of CXC chemokines in successive infection episodes were increased, which may offer an explanation as to why repeated infections are a risk factor for scarring.
Socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 crisis and early perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines among immigrant and nonimmigrant people living with HIV followed up in public hospitals in Seine-Saint-Denis, France
Authors: Penot Pauline , Chateauneuf Julie , Auperin Isabelle , Cordel Hugues , Letembet Valerie-Anne , Bottero Julie , Cailhol Johann
Published: October 2023

The burden of the first year of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was greater for vulnerable populations, such as immigrants, people living in disadvantaged urban areas, and people with chronic illnesses whose usual follow-up may have been disrupted. Immigrants receiving care for HIV in Seine-Saint-Denis’ hospitals have a combination of such vulnerabilities, while nonimmigrant people living with HIV (PLWHIV) have more heterogeneous vulnerability profiles. The ICOVIH study aimed to compare the socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 crisis as well as attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination among immigrant and nonimmigrant PLWHIV. A questionnaire assessed vulnerabilities prior to the COVID-19 epidemic and the impact of the early epidemic on administrative, residential, professional, and financial fields. We surveyed 296 adults living with HIV at four hospitals in Seine-Saint-Denis, the poorest metropolitan French department, between January and May 2021. Administrative barriers affected 9% of French-bornversus26.3% of immigrant participants. Immigrants experienced financial insecurity and hunger more often than nonimmigrant participants (21.8%versus7.1% and 6.6%versus3%, respectively). Spontaneous acceptance of vaccination was higher among nonimmigrant than among immigrant participants (56.7%versus32.1%), while immigrants were more likely to wait for their doctor’s recommendation or for their doctor to convince them than their French-born counterparts (34.2%versus19.6%). The trust-based doctor‒patient relationship established through HIV follow-up appeared to be a determining factor in the high acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among immigrant participants.
Epidemiology and molecular characterization of Feline panleukopenia virus from suspected domestic cats in selected Bangladesh regions
Authors: Kabir Ajran , Habib Tasmia , Chouhan Chandra Shaker , Hassan Jayedul , Rahman A. K. M. Anisur , Nazir K. H. M. Nazmul Hussain
Published: October 2023

Feline panleukopenia (FPL) is a highly contagious cat disease and is endemic in Bangladesh. The study aims to describe the epidemiology and molecular characterization of the Feline panleukopenia virus from the suspected domestic cats in selected Bangladesh regions. Randomly, 161 rectal swabs were collected from the pet hospitals between July 2021 and December 2022. A structured questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews with cat owners in order to collect data on potential risk factors for FPL, such as age, sex, sharing litter boxes and every day utensils in multicat households, vaccination history, hospital visits for other diseases, and season. The rectal swabs were tested by PCR targeting the VP2 capsid protein gene, and six PCR-positive samples were further sequenced for molecular characterizations. The risk factors for FPLV were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of FPL among suspects was 22.9%. The mortality and case fatality were 10.6%, and 45.9%, respectively. However, mortality in kittens was significantly higher (16.4%) than younger cats. The odds of FPL were 8.83 times (95% CI: 3.14–24.85) higher among unvaccinated cats than vaccinated cats. The winter season had almost six times (95% CI: 1.38–24.40) higher odds of FPL than rainy season. In a multicat house, the odds of FPL was about five times (95% CI: 1.93–13.45) higher for cats that shared a litter box and food utensils compared to those that did not engage in such sharing. Visiting hospitals for other reasons nearly triples the odds of FPL (OR: 2.80, 95% CI: 1.04–7.54) compared to cats that do not visit hospitals. Analysis of partial sequence of the VP2 gene revealed genetic variations among the isolates from different regions. Among these isolates, four were identical to FPLV isolates from South Korea and China, while one showed complete homology with FPLV isolates from Thailand. In contrast, the remaining one was 100% identical to Carnivore protoparvovirus-1 isolated from a feline sample in Italy. Our isolates were classified into three distinct clades alongside Feline panleukopenia virus and Carnivore protoparvovirus-1. One in every three suspected cats was infected with Feline panleukopenia. Regular vaccination of the cats, especially those that share common litter box and food utensils and visit hospitals for other purposes, will help reduce the prevalence of FPL in Bangladesh. Besides, it is worth emphasizing the existence of genetic diversity among the circulating Feline panleukopenia viruses in Bangladesh.
Cluster-based photography and modeling integrated method for an efficient measurement of cassava leaf area
Authors: Thaiprasit Jittrawan , Chiewchankaset Porntip , Kalapanulak Saowalak , Saithong Treenut
Published: October 2023

Leaf area (LA) and biomass are important agronomic indicators of the growth and health of plants. Conventional methods for measuring the LA can be challenging, time-consuming, costly, and laborious, especially for a large-scale study. A hybrid approach of cluster-based photography and modeling was, thus, developed herein to improve practicality. To this end, data on cassava palmate leaves were collected under various conditions to cover a spectrum of viable leaf shapes and sizes. A total of 1,899 leaves from 3 cassava genotypes and 5 cultivation conditions were first assigned into clusters by size, based on their length (L) and width (W). Next, 111 representative leaves from all clusters were photographed, and data from image-processing were subsequently used for model development. The model based on the product of L and W outperformed the rest (R2 = 0.9566, RMSE = 20.00). The hybrid model was successfully used to estimate the LA of greenhouse-grown cassava as validation. This represents a breakthrough in the search for efficient, practical phenotyping tools for LA estimation, especially for large-scale experiments or remote fields with limited machinery.
Effects of nutrition education and home gardening interventions on feto-maternal outcomes among pregnant women in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kuma Melesse Niguse , Tamiru Dessalegn , Belachew Tefera
Published: October 2023

Background

Although pro-dietary practices and associated malnutrition are modifiable risk factors, they have a significant effect on maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of nutritional education and home gardening promotion on feto-maternal outcomes among pregnant women.

Methods

A three parallel arms community-based cluster randomized controlled trial was carried out in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia from August 2020 to January 2021. Eighteen selected clusters were randomly assigned into three arms: husband (pregnant woman with her husband), peers (pregnant woman with her peers), and the controls. A total of 348 pregnant women were recruited in a 1:1:1 allocation ratio to the study arms at the baseline and 336 attended the end-line survey. Three nutrition education sessions and four varieties of vegetable seeds were provided for women in the intervention arms (husband and peers) and only routine nutrition education for the controls. Data were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Generalized estimating equation analysis (GEE) and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal Wallis test were used to evaluate the effect of the interventions. The intervention effect estimates were obtained through a difference-in-differences approach.

Result

In the final model, neonates born to women in the husband group were 232 g heavier than those in the control groups (β = 232, 95%CI: 228.00, 236.27. Similarly, women in the husband group had a 0.45 g/dl greater hemoglobin level than the control groups (β = 0.45, 95% CI: 36.48, 54.40). Likewise, a minimum diet diversity score was higher in the husband group as compared to the controls (β = 0.87 95% CI: (0.56, 1.18).

Conclusions

Therefore, nutrition education and home gardening interventions resulted in a significant positive effect on the mean birth weight and maternal hemoglobin level among the intervention groups. The findings imply the need for enhancing such interventions to improve feto-maternal outcomes. The trial was registered at Pan African Clinical Trial Registry as PACTR202008624731801.
Impact of the program life in traffic and new zero-tolerance drinking and driving law on the prevalence of driving after alcohol abuse in Brazilian capitals: An interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Guimarães Rafael Alves , de Morais Neto Otaliba Libânio , dos Santos Taciana Mirella Batista , Mandacarú Polyana Maria Pimenta , Machado Elaine Leandro , Caiaffa Waleska Teixeira , Filho Paulo Roberto Prezotti , Aquino Érika Carvalho de , Reisen Valdério Anselmo
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the main factors for morbidity and mortality from traffic accidents. In 2010 and 2013, the Program Life in Traffic was implemented in Brazil, including the international initiative “Road Safety in Ten Countries”, which established actions to reduce one of the main risk factors for road traffic injuries, the driving under the influence of alcohol. In 2012, a new zero-tolerance drinking and driving law (new dry law) was implemented, establishing a zero-tolerance limit for the drivers’ blood alcohol concentration, and increasing punitive measures. This study aimed at analyzing the impact of these measures on the prevalence of driving under the influence of alcohol abuse in Brazilian capitals.

Methods

An interrupted time series study was conducted using the models of autoregressive integrated moving average or seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average. The main outcome was the prevalence of driving after alcohol abuse in the adult population (≥ 18 years). The model’s predictors were the interventions “Program Life in Traffic” and “New Dry Law”. The former was implemented in the first quarter of 2011, initially in five capitals: Belo Horizonte, Campo Grande, Palmas, Teresina, and Curitiba, being expanded to the other capitals in the first quarter of 2013. The latter was implemented in the country on the first quarter of 2013. Data source for the study was the records of the surveillance system for risk and protection factors of chronic diseases through telephone survey (Vigitel) from 2007 to 2016.

Results

The time intervals considered in the study were the quarters. Thirty-eight units were considered in the analysis, corresponding to time series points. It was found that after the implementation of the Program Life in Traffic, in the first quarter of 2011, there was a reduction in the prevalence in Belo Horizonte and Curitiba. Because the introduction of the New Dry Law and the Program Life in Traffic took place in similar periods in the other cities, there was a significant reduction in the outcome prevalence in the cities of Aracaju, Belo Horizonte, Boa Vista, Fortaleza, João Pessoa, Maceió, Manaus, Palmas, Porto Alegre, Recife, Teresina, Rio Branco, and Vitória following the law application.

Conclusion

The present study identified an immediate impact of the Program Life in Traffic in two capitals (Belo Horizonte and Curitiba) and a joint impact of the New Dry Law in 13 capitals. The results of this study have implications for strengthening interventions aimed at reducing the burden of morbidity and mortality from traffic accidents in Brazil.
An open-source probabilistic record linkage process for records with family-level information: Simulation study and applied analysis
Authors: Prindle John , Suthar Himal , Putnam-Hornstein Emily
Published: October 2023

Research with administrative records involves the challenge of limited information in any single data source to answer policy-related questions. Record linkage provides researchers with a tool to supplement administrative datasets with other information about the same people when identified in separate sources as matched pairs. Several solutions are available for undertaking record linkage, producing linkage keys for merging data sources for positively matched pairs of records. In the current manuscript, we demonstrate a new application of the Python RecordLinkage package to family-based record linkages with machine learning algorithms for probability scoring, which we call probabilistic record linkage for families (PRLF). First, a simulation of administrative records identifies PRLF accuracy with variations in match and data degradation percentages. Accuracy is largely influenced by degradation (e.g., missing data fields, mismatched values) compared to the percentage of simulated matches. Second, an application of data linkage is presented to compare regression model estimate performance across three record linkage solutions (PRLF, ChoiceMaker, and Link Plus). Our findings indicate that all three solutions, when optimized, provide similar results for researchers. Strengths of our process, such as the use of ensemble methods, to improve match accuracy are discussed. We then identify caveats of record linkage in the context of administrative data.
Reliability and validity of the Japanese short-form arthritis self-efficacy scale in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Uritani Daisuke , Kubo Takanari , Yasuura Yuuka , Fujii Tadashi
Published: October 2023

Self-efficacy is the belief that one can perform a specific behavior or task in the future, and it has been associated with physical and psychological aspects in people with chronic musculoskeletal disorders. The self-efficacy of individuals with arthritis can be assessed using the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale. The 8-item Short-Form ASES (ASES-8) has been employed in recent times. However, the reliability and validity of the Japanese ASES-8 (ASES-8J) have not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the ASES-8J. Overall, 179 Japanese participants with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were enrolled. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to confirm internal validity. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to estimate test-retest reliability. Construct validity was analyzed using the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) and the problem-solving and positive thinking subscales of Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief COPE). Discriminant validity was analyzed by comparing “worse” and “better” groups based on pain severity; short-form version of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21); Brief Fear of Movement Scale for Osteoarthritis (BFOMSO); Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS); and physical function subscale of Western Ontario and McMaster Arthritis Index. Cronbach’s alpha and ICC were 0.94 and 0.81, respectively. Correlation coefficients among ASES-8J, PSEQ, and Brief COPE problem-solving and positive thinking subscales were 0.42, 0.43, and 0.32, respectively. Regarding the depression and stress subscales of DASS-21, BFOMSO, and PCS, the worse group showed significantly lower ASES-8J scores than the better group. Coefficients of correlation among ASES-8J, PSEQ, and the problem-solving and positive thinking subscales of Brief COPE were low to moderate. These findings suggest that the ASES-8J is a valid and reliable tool for assessing self-efficacy in Japanese patients with knee OA and can facilitate comparisons of arthritis self-efficacy between Japanese patients and non-Japanese patients.
Seed morphology and germination of  Willd. ex Schult. emulating environmental conditions within ant nest
Authors: Puga-Guzmán Paola Scarlet , Magallán-Hernández Fabiola , Queijeiro-Bolaños Mónica , Valencia-Hernández Juan Antonio , Vergara-Pineda Santiago
Published: October 2023

Damiana (Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult.) is a species of plant used in traditional Mexican medicine for its aphrodisiac properties. Although it has a high commercial demand, both nationally and internationally, its sexual propagation is not usual due to the low percentage of seed germination. It has been proposed that ants play an important role in germination, due to the presence of elaiosomes. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to characterize the seed morphology of T. diffusa for agronomic purposes, analyze their viability, and evaluate their germination by simulating environmental conditions of an ant nest. For the morphological characterization, 30 seeds were selected and evaluated for the variables of color, size, and weight. Viability was evaluated with a tetrazolium test using two lots of seeds collected in 2016 and 2017, with different concentrations and three exposure times at 40°C. The germination of T. diffusa was evaluated under three pre-germination treatments and nine germination treatments. The results of the study showed that the seeds of T. diffusa have an average size of 0.725 mm long and 0.182 mm wide; the color of the seeds varies from brown to black when ripe and yellowish white when immature. There are no significant differences in the viability percentage (60%) for seeds collected in 2016 and 2017 (p = 0.20). On the other hand, there are significant differences between all the pre-germination and germination tests analyzed. Seeds of T. diffusa have the highest percentage of germination (36%) with the presence of elaiosome and 500 ppm of GA3. The germination interval of the seeds occurs over a period of six to 39 days. The application of GA3 in the germination of the seeds indicates that they present a physiological latency which was inhibited at concentrations of 500 and 300 ppm.
In depth characterization of midbrain organoids derived from wild type iPSC lines
Authors: Pavlinov Ivan , Tambe Mitali , Abbott Joshua , Nguyen Ha Nam , Xu Miao , Pradhan Manisha , Farkhondeh Atena , Zheng Wei
Published: October 2023

The ability to model human neurological tissues in vitro has been a major hurdle to effective drug development for neurological disorders. iPSC-derived brain organoids have emerged as a compelling solution to this problem as they have the potential to relevantly model the protein expression pattern and physiology of specific brain regions. Although many protocols now exist for the production of brain organoids, few attempts have been made to do an in-depth kinetic evaluation of expression of mature regiospecific markers of brain organoids. To address this, we differentiated midbrain-specific brain organoids from iPSC-lines derived from three apparently healthy individuals using a matrix-free, bioreactor method. We monitored the expression of midbrain-specific neuronal markers from 7 to 90-days using immunofluorescence and immunohistology. The organoids were further characterized using electron microscopy and RNA-seq. In addition to serving as a potential benchmark for the future evaluation of other differentiation protocols, the markers observed in this study can be useful as control parameters to identify and evaluate the disease phenotypes in midbrain organoid derived from patient iPSC-lines with genetic neurological disorders.
Differences in playing style and technical performance according to the team ranking in the Spanish football LaLiga. A thirteen seasons study
Authors: González-Rodenas Joaquín , Ferrandis Jordi , Moreno-Pérez Víctor , López-Del Campo Roberto , Resta Ricardo , Del Coso Juan
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to explore the differences in playing style and technical performance according to the ranking level in Spanish football teams. The sample comprised 38 professional teams that competed in LaLiga from 2008/09 to 2020/21, with a total of 4940 matches. The teams were grouped by their final ranking position: Champion (1st); Champions League (2nd–4th); Europa League (5th–6th); middle teams (7th–17th); and relegated teams (18th–20th). Linear mixed models were used to examine the effects of the team ranking on variables related to playing style and technical performance. The F2 statistic was calculated as effect size (ES). Regarding the style of play, the Champion teams initiated offensive sequences from a more advanced field position than the remaining ranking groups with a descending effect as the ranking position decreased (p < 0.001; ES = medium). The sequence duration and passes per sequence showed a decreasing effect across ranking groups (both p < 0.001; ES = small). In contrast, the direct speed showed an increasing effect as the ranking position decreased (p < 0.001; ES = small). A decreasing effect was observed in the number of sequences ending in the final third as the ranking position decreased (p < 0.001; ES = large) while no effect was found for the sequences ending in a shot. There was a reduction effect in ball possession, passing accuracy, through balls and crosses as the teams’ ranking decreased (all p < 0.001; ES = small-to-large). In summary, higher-ranked teams had an advanced starting position, longer offensive sequences, slower progression speed, more ball possession, higher passing accuracy, and more crosses and through balls than lower-ranked teams. Football coaches should consider that adopting a playing style focused on regaining the ball possession in advanced field zones and using long passing sequences can be an effective tactical strategy to improve the teams’ ranking during the season.
Zugänge zu affektiven Landschaften
Authors: Althans Birgit , Lewandowsky Mirjam , Schrading Fiona , Wieland Janna R.
Published: October 2023

Birgit Althans, Mirjam Lewandowsky, Fiona Schrading und Janna R. Wieland widmen sich in diesem Beitrag dem Konzept der Landschaft als eine Schnittstelle, an der sich sowohl die aktuellen Transformationen in ländlichen Räumen als auch die mit ihnen verbundenen komplexen Veränderungen von Zugehörigkeiten beschreiben lassen. Ausgehend von einer neomaterialistischen Perspektive denken sie Landschaften nicht als Natur oder als statische Hintergrundkulissen fur menschliches Handeln, sondern als dynamisches Gefuge menschlicher und nichtmenschlicher Koexistenzen. Mittels einer verkorpert-sensorischen ethnografischen Forschung folgen die Autorinnen den Spuren von Landschaften in drei ländlichen Regionen in Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg und Niedersachsen und fragen in ethnografischen Vignetten nach den komplexen Verschrankungen affektiver, politischer und historischer Prozesse mit und durch die sich Landschaft ereignet.
Gemeinsam Risse überbrücken auf der »Reise nach Glückshausen«!
Authors: Waburg Wiebke , Nai Wen Chang
Published: October 2023

Wiebke Waburg und Chang Nai Wen widmen sich in diesem Beitrag dem Austausch über die transkulturelle/interkulturelle Arbeit mit Kindern und Jugendlichen mit thematischen Bezügen zu Landschaftsmetaphern wie Wanderungen, Reisen, (neuen) Orten. Der Text wechselt zwischen Einblicken, die Chang Nai Wen in konkrete Theaterprojekte gibt, und migrationspädagogischen gerahmten Assoziationen dazu von Wiebke Waburg. Im Text werden Nähe und Homologien zwischen den von Chang Nai Wen und Kolleg*innen gelebten Praktiken und migrationspädagogischen Grundannahmen über die Landschaft(smetaphern) hinaus deutlich.
Expeditionen zum Mittelpunkt. Vom Forschen auf dem Land
Authors: Kegler Beate , Walther Helena
Published: October 2023

Als Forschungskollektiv forscht KULTURKONZEPTE zu gesellschaftsgestaltenden Kulturphänomenen und -prozessen in ländlichen Räumen. Dabei reflektiert das Kollektiv die eigene Rolle als Forschende und vereint klassische Methoden empirischer Sozialforschung und ethnografischer Feldforschung mit den auf diversitätssensible Partizipation ausgerichteten Ansätzen soziokultureller Arbeit und künstlerischer Recherchen. Im Rahmen der Fachtagung »Land}schaf(f)t{Bildung/Performance/Partizipation« die am Campus der Universität Koblenz stattfand lud die partizipative Lecture Performance des Kollektivs zur gemeinsamen Suche nach Haltungen und Methoden des Beforschens ländlicher Räume ein.
Formen der Solidarität
Authors: Masurkewitz-Möller Julia
Published: October 2023

Solidarität wird in Krisenzeiten sowie bei Ungerechtigkeit und Marginalisierung gefordert. Sie tritt dabei in unterschiedlichen Reichweiten und Akteurskonstellationen auf und basiert auf verschiedenen Motiven und Ausgangslagen. Julia Masurkewitz-Möller nimmt sich dieser Vielfalt an und erarbeitet eine Systematisierung der Solidarität, die Ordnung in den begrifflichen Dschungel des Konzepts bringt. Sie zeigt, dass verschiedene Solidaritätsformen trotz ihrer Unterschiede einen gemeinsamen Kern und eine Beziehung zueinander haben - und damit die Transformationen von Solidaritätsformen möglich machen.
Heavy Metal und gesellschaftlicher Wandel
Authors: Swiniartzki Marco
Published: October 2023

Heavy Metal ist eine soziale Kraft, die uns viel über den zeitgeschichtlichen Wandel verraten kann. Ursprünglich ein Phänomen der Arbeiterklasse, eroberte die Musikkultur seit den 1970er Jahren neue soziale Milieus, Regionen, Medien und Märkte. Heavy Metal wurde dabei nicht nur zum Lebensinhalt vieler Fans, sondern auch zur Erwerbsarbeit, zum musikalischen und kommerziellen Experimentierfeld sowie zum sozialen Abgrenzungsinstrument. Erstmals nimmt Marco Swiniartzki diese Entwicklungen auf Grundlage eines breiten Quellenfundaments unter die Lupe. Zahlreiche Interviews mit Musiker*innen geben einen Einblick in die 1980er Jahre und zeigen: Die Sozialgeschichte des Heavy Metal und der gesamtgesellschaftliche Wandel dieser Zeit gehen Hand in Hand.
Discourse and the Macabre. Creating an Image of the Past in the Film Hatred by Wojciech Smarzowski
Authors: Kornacki Krzysztof
Published: October 2023

The film Hatred (Wołyń) is a hybrid of a classic historical drama (with elements of discourse) and a modernist anti-war film. Smarzowski created a scenario that complicates the history of Volhynia, and renders it open to ambiguous assessments of Poles, Ukrainians, Jews and Germans. The film was supposed to be conciliatory. But this desire to distance itself from factual and ethical simplifications was doomed to lose in confrontation with the emotional force of the final sequence of the cruel crime. The author of the article does not oppose the macabre. From the Polish perspective, it was rather unavoidable in the first film on this subject, because it was not about the information about the crime itself but rather its emotional experience (probably cathartic for some viewers). The author only points to the fact that thinking in terms of reconciliation in the making of the film, which in the first part approaches a distanced discourse (for the full expression of the “voice of history”), and in the final parts is an immersive anti-war film, could not be successful.
Bentonite/hydroxyethylcellulose as eco-dielectrics with potential utilization in energy storage
Authors: Barzic Andreea Irina , Stoica Iuliana , Asandulesa Mihai , Albu Raluca Marinica , Oprisan Bogdan
Published: October 2023

This study deals with the preparation and characterization of novel composites accomplished by filling hydroxyethylcellulose with several amounts of bentonite. Molecular modeling enabled understanding the conformational and physicochemical features, which are responsible for the chemical reactivity parameters. Rheological analyses are made to investigate the effect of the polymer loading on the shear flow behavior. The morphology and homogeneity of each system is explored via optical microscopy. The band gap of the samples is slightly reduced by the addition of the bio-filler in the cellulosic medium, as indicated by UV-VIS spectral data. The dielectric response of these materials is extracted from refractometry experiments at several wavelengths. The electric energy density was achieved based on the dielectric properties determined at high and low frequencies. The outcome of this study offers new ways to produce alternative dielectric eco-materials having a good potential of accumulating electrical energy, as demanded for capacitor devices.
Effects of mechanical recycling on the properties of glass fiber–reinforced polyamide 66 composites in automotive components
Authors: Gültürk Cansu , Berber Hale
Published: October 2023

In this study, we aimed to reveal the effective reusability of waste generated during the injection molding process of polyamide 66 (PA66) reinforced with 30 wt% of short glass fiber (PA66-GF30) widely used in the automotive industry. PA66-GF30 was subjected to the three mechanical recycling cycles, including regranulation and reinjection molding steps, and the recycled materials obtained in each of these cycles were included at the ratios of 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt% to the virgin composite. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimeter analyses showed that the number of recycling cycles and recycled material content in the composite had no significant change in the thermal stability and crystallinity degree of the PA66-GF30. The average fiber length determined by optical microscope analysis shifted to lower values from 300–350 to 150–250 μm by increasing the number of recycling cycles and the recycled material content. The fact that the recycled material content in the composite exceeds 25 wt% and the recycling cycle is applied three times played a key role in changing the mechanical and melt flow behaviors of the composite. Tensile strength, elastic modulus, and impact energy slightly decreased while the elongation at break and melt flow index increased.
Design of fixture for ultrasonic assisted gas tungsten arc welding using an integrated approach
Authors: A Dhilip , Nampoothiri Jayakrishnan , K Anand
Published: October 2023

The welding fixture greatly impacts the weld quality matrixes. In this work, the welding fixture for ultrasonic-assisted gas tungsten arc welding to reduce the hot cracking behaviour in weldments was designed using the finite element analysis approach. A three-level, five-factor central composite design-based response surface methodology analysis was followed to vary the dimensions of the fixture for the modal and harmonic analysis of the fixture using Ansys software. The optimum fixture dimensions to achieve maximum displacement amplitude and minimum von-Mises stress have been optimized using a genetic algorithm approach. The model predictions for maximum displacement amplitude and minimum von-Mises stress were compared to the experimental findings at optimal conditions. A strong consensus between the model prediction by genetic algorithm and experimental findings indicates the correctness of the developed model.
Analysis of solutions for the fractional differential equation with Hadamard-type
Authors: Zhu Huijuan , Ru Yuanfang , Wang Fanglei
Published: October 2023

We mainly consider the existence and stability results of the positive solutions for the fractional differential equation with Hadamard-type by applying fixed point theorems, if the nonlinearity may be continuous or singular. We also construct some examples to show the applicability of the results.