bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploration of the impact of political ideology disparity on COVID-19 transmission in the United States
Authors: Rui Rongxiang , Tian Maozai , Xiong Wei
Published: November 2022

Background

Based on individual-level studies, previous literature suggested that conservatives and liberals in the United States had different perceptions and behaviors when facing the COVID-19 threat. From a state-level perspective, this study further explored the impact of personal political ideology disparity on COVID-19 transmission before and after the emergence of Omicron.

Methods

A new index was established, which depended on the daily cumulative number of confirmed cases in each state and the corresponding population size. Then, by using the 2020 United States presidential election results, the values of the built index were further divided into two groups concerning the political party affiliation of the winner in each state. In addition, each group was further separated into two parts, corresponding to the time before and after Omicron predominated. Three methods, i.e., functional principal component analysis, functional analysis of variance, and function-on-scalar linear regression, were implemented to statistically analyze and quantify the impact.

Results

Findings reveal that the disparity of personal political ideology has caused a significant discrepancy in the COVID-19 crisis in the United States. Specifically, the findings show that at the very early stage before the emergence of Omicron, Democratic-leaning states suffered from a much greater severity of the COVID-19 threat but, after July 2020, the severity of COVID-19 transmission in Republican-leaning states was much higher than that in Democratic-leaning states. Situations were reversed when the Omicron predominated. Most of the time, states with Democrat preferences were more vulnerable to the threat of COVID-19 than those with Republican preferences, even though the differences decreased over time.

Conclusions

The individual-level disparity of political ideology has impacted the nationwide COVID-19 transmission and such findings are meaningful for the government and policymakers when taking action against the COVID-19 crisis in the United States.
The theranostic potentialities of bioavailable nanocurcumin in oral cancer management
Authors: Essawy Marwa M. , Mohamed Mostafa M. , Raslan Hanaa S. , Rafik Salma T. , Awaad Ashraf K. , Ramadan Omneya R.
Published: November 2022

Background

Oral cancer, one of the most common cancers, has unimproved 5-years survival rate in the last 30 years and the chemo/radiotherapy-associated morbidity. Therefore, intervention strategies that evade harmful side effects of the conventional treatment modalities are of need. Herbal therapy as a complementary preventive/therapeutic modality has gained attention. Curcumin is one of the herbal compounds possessing unique anticancer activity and luminescent optical properties. However, its low water solubility limits its efficacy. In contrast, curcumin at the nanoscale shows altered physical properties with enhancing bioavailability.

Methods

The current study evaluated the impact of nanocurcumin as an anti-oral cancer herbal remedy, comparing its efficacy against the native curcumin complement and conventional chemotherapeutic. An optimized polymeric-stabilized nanocurcumin was synthesized using the solvent-antisolvent precipitation technique. After assuring the solubility and biocompatibility of nanocurcumin, we determined its cytotoxic dose in treating the squamous cell carcinoma cell line. We then evaluated the anti-tumorigenic activity of the nano-herb in inhibiting wound closure and the cytological alterations of the treated cancer cells. Furthermore, the cellular uptake of the nanocurcumin was assessed depending on its autofluorescence.

Results

The hydrophilic optimized nanocurcumin has a potent cancerous cytotoxicity at a lower dose (60.8 µg/mL) than the native curcumin particles (212.4 µg/mL) that precipitated on high doses hindering their cellular uptake. Moreover, the nanocurcumin showed differential targeting of the cancer cells over the normal fibroblasts with a selectivity index of 4.5. With the confocal microscopy, the luminescent nanoparticles showed gradual nuclear and cytoplasmic uptake with apparent apoptotic cell death, over the fluorescent doxorubicin with its necrotic effect. Furthermore, the nanocurcumin superiorly inhibited the migration of cancer cells by -25%.

Conclusions

The bioavailable nanocurcumin has better apoptotic cytotoxicity. Moreover, its superior luminescence promotes the theranostic potentialities of the nano-herb combating oral cancer.
How should healthcare be reported in Catalonia? Qualitative study with healthcare leaders
Authors: García-Altés Anna , Aguado Hortensia , Guilabert Mercedes , Carrillo Irene , Mira Jose Joaquín
Published: November 2022

Background

The Results Centre is the name of a project that, since 2012, has been openly publishing the results of each healthcare centre in Catalonia, with the idea of promoting benchmarking among centres and transparency toward society. As the project evolves, it has become increasingly necessary to adapt its contents and formats. The objective of this study is to identify the preferences and expectations of healthcare leaders regarding the Results Centre.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted using the nominal group technique. Five nominal groups were created with the participation of 58 professionals (26 from hospital care, 16 from primary care, and 16 from long-term care centres). The areas of analysis were: (1) what the Results Centre of the future should be like; (2) what information needs should be addressed; and (3) what novelties should be incorporated to stimulate quality improvement. The spontaneity of ideas, intensity of recommendations, and intergroup consistency were analysed. The study was conducted in April 2019.

Results

The requirements reported by the participants to be met by the Results Centre included: being a tool for benchmarking and strategic decision-making; adjusted and segmented indicators; non-clinical information (patient experience, socio-economic status, etc.); and data accessible to all stakeholders, including citizens. The ideas were consistent across the different levels of care, although the intensity of recommendations varied depending on their content.

Conclusions

Regional agencies that are accountable for health outcomes should be consistently committed to adapting to the needs of different stakeholders in the health system. This project is an example of how this requirement has been addressed in Catalonia.
Development and validation of a novel Spectrofluorimetric method of oral anticoagulant Edoxaban via derivatization with 9-fluorenyl methyl chloroformate: green assessment of the method by Eco-Scale and ComplexGAPI
Authors: Rizk Mohamed , El-Alamin Maha Mahmoud Abou , Elkhalek Ola Abd , Shallan Aliaa I.
Published: November 2022

A precise, sensitive eco-friendly, simple, rapid, and derivative spectrofluorimetric method was developed to quantify edoxaban tosylate monohydrate in pure form and pharmaceutical dosage form. Sudden death due to pulmonary embolism as a consequence of coronavirus infection (covid-19) is an emerging problem. As a result, the world health organization introduced new guidelines to treat patients with COVID-19 with oral anticoagulants. Edoxaban tosylate monohydrate is an oral anticoagulant that doesn’t require hospitalization after dose adjustment. This spectrofluorimetric method relies on the derivatization by 9-fluorenyl methyl chloroformate at room temperature in borate buffer pH 9.0. After excitation at 265 nm, the product is highly fluorescent at 309 nm. Many experimental factors influencing the reaction's stability and development were thoroughly investigated and optimized. The method validation was evaluated by using ICH guidelines and showed high precision and accuracy with an average percent recovery of 101.46% ± 1.02. The linear range was 5.0–50.0 ng/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999, the LOD was 1.5 ng/mL, and the LOQ was 4.5 ng/mL. The green assessment of the method was achieved utilizing the eco-scale and the Green Analytical Procedure Index. There was no significant difference between the results of the suggested method and those of the reported method according to Statistical analysis.
A multi-dimensional extensible cloud-native service stack for enterprises
Authors: Lin Jian , Xie Dongming , Huang Jinjun , Liao Zinan , Ye Long
Published: November 2022

With the widespread acceptance of the cloud-native concept and the emergence of a large number of dedicated cloud-native applications, the service stacks of cloud-native applications have received extensive attention in the industry. To analyze the extensibility problems of service stacks, a cloud-native light-cone model is proposed, which focuses on the dimensions of application, infrastructure, tenant and workflow, and provides a perspective view that reflects the concerns of stakeholders. Based on this model, various challenges in designing extensible cloud-native service stacks are identified by classification. To solve these challenges, a holistic architecture and a set of key technologies are designed, involving unified runtime abstraction, cluster bootstrapped creation, application-specific controllers, etc. Furthermore, the OMStack (Oriental Mind Stack) is implemented, which integrates these technologies and provides a group of PaaS and SaaS services for container cluster (OMCC), artificial intelligence (OMAI), big data (OMBD) and so on. Experimental analysis and production applications demonstrate the practicality, efficiency and reliability of the proposed architecture, stack and services.
Whole-exome sequencing of BRCA-negative breast cancer patients and case–control analyses identify variants associated with breast cancer susceptibility
Authors: Lee Ning Yuan , Hum Melissa , Amali Aseervatham Anusha , Lim Wei Kiat , Wong Matthew , Myint Matthew Khine , Tay Ru Jin , Ong Pei-Yi , Samol Jens , Lim Chia Wei , Ang Peter , Tan Min-Han , Lee Soo-Chin , Lee Ann S. G.
Published: November 2022

Background

For the majority of individuals with early-onset or familial breast cancer referred for genetic testing, the genetic basis of their familial breast cancer remains unexplained. To identify novel germline variants associated with breast cancer predisposition, whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed.

Methods

WES on 290BRCA1/BRCA2-negative Singaporeans with early-onset breast cancer and/or a family history of breast cancer was done. Case–control analysis against the East-Asian subpopulation (EAS) from the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) identified variants enriched in cases, which were further selected by occurrence in cancer gene databases. Variants were further evaluated in repeated case–control analyses using a second case cohort from the database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP) comprising 466 early-onset breast cancer patients from the United States, and a Singapore SG10K_Health control cohort.

Results

Forty-nine breast cancer-associated germline pathogenic variants in 37 genes were identified in Singapore cases versus gnomAD (EAS). Compared against SG10K_Health controls, 13 of 49 variants remain significantly enriched (False Discovery Rate (FDR)-adjustedp < 0.05). Comparing these 49 variants in dbGaP cases against gnomAD (EAS) and SG10K_Health controls revealed 23 concordant variants that were significantly enriched (FDR-adjustedp < 0.05). Fourteen variants were consistently enriched in breast cancer cases across all comparisons (FDR-adjustedp < 0.05). Seven variants inGPRIN2, NRG1, MYO5A, CLIP1,CUX1, GNASandMGAwere confirmed by Sanger sequencing.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we have identified pathogenic variants in genes associated with breast cancer predisposition. Importantly, many of these variants were significant in a second case cohort from dbGaP, suggesting that the strategy of using case–control analysis to select variants could potentially be utilized for identifying variants associated with cancer susceptibility.
Clean recovery and recycling of seasonal surplus forage grass by microbial driven anaerobic fermentation: a case study of napiergrass
Authors: Zhao Jie , Yin Xue-Jing , Li Jun-Feng , Wang Si-Ran , Dong Zhi-Hao , Shao Tao
Published: November 2022

In this study, the anaerobic fermentation technique was conducted to accomplish the clean recycling of surplus napiergrass. The surplus napiergrass harvested at two harvest dates (early vegetative stage, NI; late vegetative stage, NII) was treated as follows: (i) natural fermentation of NI (NNI); (ii) natural fermentation of NII (NNII) and stored for 1, 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60 days. After 60 days of anaerobic fermentation, NNI had higher lactic acid concentration and ratio of lactic to acetic acid, but lower pH value and ammonia–nitrogen concentration than NNII. Lactobacillus and Enterobacter were, respectively, dominant in both 7-day NNI and NNII, while Lactobacillus was the most abundant genus in 30-day NNI and NNII. Both harvest date and store time altered the bacterial co-occurrence networks of fresh and fermented napiergrass. The complexity of the bacterial networks decreased from NII, NI, NNII to NNI. The correlations were primarily positive in the bacterial networks of NI, NII, NNII-7 and NNII-30 with positive correlative proportion of 53.0%, 64.3%, 53.1% and 55.6%, but negative in those of NNI-7 (47.4%) and NNI-30 (46.2%) with positive correlative proportion of 47.4% and 46.2%, respectively. Overall, the fermentation quality and microbial community structure of napiergrass during anaerobic fermentation were highly influenced by harvest date and store time. Based on the principle of stable fermentation and high quality, anaerobic fermentation of NI for at least 15 days is recommended. The in-depth understanding of microbial community dynamics and co-occurrence networks during anaerobic fermentation of napiergrass is important for revealing the fermentation mechanism and can contribute to resource recycling without increasing cost.

Graphical Abstract
Individual and contextual factors associated with childhood malnutrition: a multilevel analysis of the double burden of childhood malnutrition in 27 countries
Authors: Ijaiya Mukhtar A. , Anjorin Seun , Uthman Olalekan A.
Published: November 2022

Background

Malnutrition is a key global health challenge and a major contributor to childhood morbidity and mortality. In recent times, the contrasting coexistence of undernutrition including micronutrient deficiencies and overweight/obesity called double burden of malnutrition has been noted at individual, household or population level and/or at different times in life. The objective of this study was to examine individual, neighborhood and country level factors that are associated with the double burden of childhood malnutrition.

Methods

We conducted multivariable multilevel logistic regression analyses on the most recent demographic and health datasets from surveys conducted between 2015 and 2020 in low- and middle-income countries. We analyzed data of 138,782 children (level 1) living in 13,788 communities (level 2) from 27 countries (level 3).

Results

The results of our analysis show variation in childhood malnutrition across the 27 countries from as low as 6.5% in Burundi to as high as 29.5% in Timor Leste. After adjusting for all level factors, we found that those who were wasted/overweight tended to have had an episode of diarrhea or fever in the last two weeks preceding the survey, were part of a multiple birth, were being breastfed at the time of the survey and born to mothers with more than one under 5-child resident in neighborhoods with high illiteracy and unemployment rates. The intra-neighbourhood and intra-country correlation coefficients were estimated using the intercept component variance; 44.3% and 21.0% of variance in odds of double burden of childhood malnutrition are consequent upon neighborhood and country level factors respectively.

Conclusions

Evidence of geographical clustering in childhood malnutrition at community and country levels was found in our study with variability due to neighborhood level factors twice that of country level factors. Therefore, strategies in tackling the double burden of malnutrition must consider these shared drivers, contextual barriers and geographical clustering effects.
Diagnostic performance of ADC value in histopathological grading of mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Ellaban Heba Said , El-Kholy Mohamed R. , Abdellah Tarek F. , Abdelgawad Mohamed Saied
Published: November 2022

Background

Various invasive and non-invasive imaging modalities are used to diagnose and stage cholangiocarcinoma (CC). In this study, we aimed to assess the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value measurement in diagnosing and grading CC with mass formation. The study was conducted on 38 cases, including 24 males and 14 females, with ages ranging from 34 to 77 years with a mean age of 61.52 ± 10.45 year. Patients were referred by the Hepatobiliary Surgery and Hepatology departments of our institution between October 2019 and November 2021. With respect to the patients diagnosed with mass-forming CC by pathology, they underwent dynamic MR 1.5 T. CC was evaluated qualitatively using visual analysis of DW-MR images and quantitatively with measurement of ADC values.

Results

The mean ADC of mass-forming carcinoma was lower than that of hepatic parenchyma and more than that of the splenic parenchyma. Poorly differentiated CC was associated with a lower ADC value (mean 0.98 ± 0.12), while well-differentiated CC was associated with a higher ADC value (mean 1.23 ± 0.16). The cutoff value for poorly differentiated CC ADC measurements was less than 1.15, whereas it was greater than 1.15 for the well-differentiated CC.

Conclusions

DWI is a new effective technique for detecting and improving CC diagnosis as a safe, non-invasive, and non-contrast dependent.
Ψηφιακή εφαρμογή μικτής πραγματικότητας - «Ντολτσό: Μια Παραδοσιακή Συνοικία της Καστοριάς στο Πέρασμα του Χρόνου»
Authors: Γρηγορίου Μαγδαληνή , Ατζέμη Αναστασία , Βασιλείου Αναστάσιος , Λιόλιου Κωνσταντίνα , Ευαγγέλου Αθανάσιος , Κλεφτοδήμος Αλέξανδρος
Published: November 2022

«Ντολτσό: Μια Παραδοσιακή Συνοικία της Καστοριάς στο Πέρασμα του Χρόνου» είναι ο τίτλος της χωροευαίσθητης ψηφιακής εφαρμογής μικτής πραγματικότητας που αξιοποιείται στο πλαίσιο του ομώνυμου εκπαιδευτικού προγράμματος του Κέντρου Εκπαίδευσης για το Περιβάλλον και την Αειφορία Καστοριάς και εστιάζει σε θέματα διατήρησης και βιώσιμης διαχείρισης της πολιτισμικής κληρονομιάς. Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η αποτύπωση των μαθησιακών επιδιώξεων, των θεματικών κατευθύνσεων, των κριτηρίων σχεδιασμού και των τεχνικών χαρακτηριστικών της ψηφιακής εφαρμογής, καθώς και η παρουσίαση ενδεικτικών αποτελεσμάτων ποσοτικής έρευνας που πραγματοποιήθηκε για την αξιολόγησή της στη διάρκεια του σχολικού έτους 2021-2022. Πρωτογενή δεδομένα συλλέχθηκαν μέσω ερωτηματολογίων από 158 μαθητές/τριες δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης της Περιφερειακής Ενότητας Καστοριάς, ενώ για την επεξεργασία τους αξιοποιήθηκαν μέθοδοι περιγραφικής στατιστικής. Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας, η ψηφιακή εφαρμογή αξιολογείται θετικά από τους/τις μαθητές/τριες ως προς τη λειτουργικότητά της, την ευχρηστία, την καταλληλότητα της περιεχόμενης πληροφορίας, την ευχαρίστηση και τα κίνητρα που παρέχει στους χρήστες για συνεργασία και μελλοντική επανάχρησή της. Ανάλογες είναι και οι εκτιμήσεις των δημιουργών και των εκπαιδευτικών που αξιοποίησαν την εφαρμογή με τους/τις μαθητές/τριές τους, οι οποίοι επισημαίνουν, επίσης, την ουσιαστική συμβολή της στην ενίσχυση της ενεργής συμμετοχής των μαθητών/τριών κατά τη διεξαγωγή της εκπαιδευτικής δραστηριότητας, στην επίτευξη των γνωστικών στόχων και στην επικοινωνία θεμάτων βιώσιμης διαχείρισης της τοπικής πολιτισμικής κληρονομιάς.
Η κλιματική κρίση στις ειδησεογραφικές ιστοσελίδες: Κυρίαρχες τάσεις της περιόδου 2009-2020
Authors: Ταστσόγλου Μιχάλης , Αβράμη Λυδία , Πουλακιδάκος Σταμάτης , Δεμερτζής Νίκος
Published: November 2022

Η κλιματική κρίση είναι φαινόμενο παγκόσμιο, αεί παρόν και επιτεινόμενο. Οι συνέπειές της είναι ορατές σχεδόν σε παγκόσμια κλίμακα, αλλά στη δημόσια σφαίρα εκπροσωπείται δυσανάλογα, τουλάχιστον ως προς τη σημασία και τη δριμύτητά της. Στο πλαίσιο της Δράσης «Διερεύνηση των ευρύτερων επιπτώσεων των δράσεων μετριασμού των εκπομπών στην οικονομία, στην κοινωνία και στο περιβάλλον» του έργου «Εθνικό Δίκτυο για την Κλιματική Αλλαγή και τις επιπτώσεις της» διεξήχθη έρευνα ποσοτικής ανάλυσης περιεχομένου σε ειδησεογραφικές ιστοσελίδες. Σκοπός της έρευνας ήταν να καταγράψει και να αναλύσει τη δεκαετή δημοσιογραφική κάλυψη του ζητήματος εστιάζοντας σε δύο ερευνητικά ερωτήματα: το βαθμό που η κλιματική αλλαγή εντάσσεται στην θεματολογία των ΜΜΕ και τη σύνδεση μεταξύ δημοσιογραφικής κάλυψης κι επικρατουσών αντιλήψεων/επιστημονικών απόψεων. Το δείγμα αποτελείται από 2.278 δημοσιεύματα της περιόδου 2009-2020 και η ανάλυση των δεδομένων έγινε με τη χρήση ερευνητικού πρωτοκόλλου. Η έρευνα δείχνει ότι, αν και η κάλυψη της κλιματικής αλλαγής αυξάνεται σημαντικά από το 2017 κι έπειτα, η εννοιολόγηση της κλιματικής αλλαγής φαίνεται να είναι ανεπαρκής, με την πλειονότητα των δημοσιευμάτων να μην κάνουν ρητή αναφορά στον ορισμό της, έμφαση δίνεται στις επιπτώσεις της κλιματικής αλλαγής και όχι τόσο στα αίτια της, ενώ είναι ιδιαίτερα περιορισμένη η κάλυψη ζητημάτων που σχετίζονται με την προσαρμογή στις επιπτώσεις της κλιματικής αλλαγής. Από την άλλη, ως θετική κρίνεται η συχνή αναφορά σε ειδικούς επιστήμονες, των οποίων οι απόψεις επί της κλιματικής αλλαγής αναπαράγονται τακτικά.
Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among pharmacy students in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Roy Debendra Nath , Hossen Md. Mohabbot , Biswas Mohitosh , Islam Ekramul , Azam Md. Shah
Published: November 2022

Background: In the wake of COVID-19 prevention, a growing attention has been devoted to administering vaccines among various sub-group populations including community health care providers. As a community health worker pharmacists and pharmacy students played a crucial role in patient-centered services for managing COVID-19. Examining pharmacy students’ vaccine acceptance intent has great potential in understanding how pharmacists’ perception impacts community people. This study investigated COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among pharmacy students in Bangladesh and identified the potential factors associated with their vaccine acceptance and hesitancy.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was deployed online using Google forms in English and conveniently sent to 1190 pharmacy students at different universities between 15th October 2021 and 15th December 2021. The convenience sampling consisted of 1034 student pharmacists (response rate 86.9%) who participated in this study. Binary logistic regressions and Chi-squared test were used for rationalizing the study objectives.

Results: The pooled COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate was 908 (87.8%; 95% CI 85.8─87.8) among student pharmacists while 29.6% (95% CI 25.4─33.9) admitted the willingness to pay (WTP) for a COVID-19 vaccine. Out of 12 vital predictive factors, “safety,” “efficacy,” and “trust” had the strongest significant and positive association with vaccine acceptance (p=0.000). The logistic analysis also revealed that “communication” and “information sufficiency” had a significant positive association with vaccine acceptance (p=0.035 and 0.038, respectively) among student pharmacists. Although the odds of accepting the COVID-19 vaccine were found to be 1.1; an insignificant association between gender and vaccine acceptance was observed in the Chi-squared test.

Conclusions: The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine apprehension will reduce if vaccine-related information becomes more publicly available. Ensuring easy access to scientific information with evidence-based and tailored communication would enhance vaccine acceptance among pharmacy students. Implementation of multidisciplinary educational intervention would support the health care students to achieve adequate knowledge on vaccination consequences.
Case Report: An unusual case of small bowel volvulus due to appendicitis associated with pneumatosis intestinalis: Review of the literature
Authors: Zouaghi Alia , Hadded Dhafer , Meryam Mesbahi , Benzarti Yazid , Cherif Mona , Zaafouri Haithem , Ben Massoud Khalil , Chamekhi Chiraz , Ben Maamer Anis
Published: November 2022

Pneumatosis cystoid intestinalis is a rare disease reported in the literature affecting 0.03% of the population. It has a variety of causes and its manifestation may change widely. It usually presents as a marginal finding resulting from various gastrointestinal pathologies. In the acute complicated form of pneumatosis intestinalis, management is challenging for physicians and surgeons.

We present a case of a 60-year-old patient who was admitted to our surgical department with a symptomatology suggestive of small bowel occlusion. Computed tomography demonstrated ileal volvulus associated with parietal signs suffering and pneumoperitoneum. An emergent exploratory laparoscopy followed by conversion was performed demonstrating segmental ileal pneumatosis intestinalis secondary to a small bowel volvulus due to an inflammatory appendix wrapping around the distal ileum. Further, detorsion, retrograde draining, and appendectomy were performed because there were no signs of necrosis and the appendix was pathological. The postoperative course was uneventful.

This case is exceedingly rare in the literature, because it was featured by the ileal volvulus due to appendicitis.This case report emphasizes the importance of surgical procedures in the management of symptomatic pneumatosis intestinalis associated to an acute abdomen.
Avon Community-Acquired Pneumonia (AvonCAP) Surveillance Study: A Pan-pandemic Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Disease Surveillance Study, and the linked records of the participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)
Authors: Mumme Mark , Clout Madeleine , Grimes Charli , Calkin Rachel , Finn Adam , Hyams Catherine , Macleod John
Published: November 2022

This data note describes the linking of records of the Avon Community-Acquired Pneumonia (AvonCAP) Surveillance Study – A Pan-pandemic Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Disease Surveillance Study (ISRCTN: 17354061), with the participants of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC – also known as ‘Children of the 90s’). These records were obtained from a database created specifically by AvonCAP operating within the two acute care NHS Trusts in Bristol, which is the centre of the ALSPAC study catchment area. These two trusts are the (a) North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) based at Southmead Hospital (SMH) and (b) the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBWT) based at Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI). The AvonCAP database was updated by staff using a combination of clinical records and self-reporting by the participant, which was unable to be independently verified. Data was collected using the REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) software program. Software code was created to transform the original files into a single data base which was reviewed for data-completeness and for its potential value as a research resource. The AvonCAP records provide a contemporaneous record of a subset of the ALSPAC cohort who experienced Lower Respiratory Tract Disease. It is available for research and may be used in conjunction with other ALSPAC data.
Spatio-temporal occurrence, burden, risk factors and modelling methods for estimating scrub typhus burden from global to subnational resolutions: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Wang Qian , Sartorius Benn , Philip John Day Nicholas , James Maude Richard
Published: November 2022

Background: Scrub typhus is a neglected life-threatening vector-borne disease mainly caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, which is occasionally transmitted to humans during feeding of larval mites. It has been estimated that more than 1 billion persons potentially threatened and 1 million clinical cases occur annually across the world; however, it is unclear how this estimate was computed (and what the original source was) and much remains unknown regarding its global burden and risk factors. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the spatial-temporal distribution of scrub typhus, associated burden and risk factors at global, national and subnational resolutions, and to review the burden estimation models used at those different scales.

Methods: A systematic search for literature on scrub typhus occurrence, risk factors and modelling methods will be conducted. PubMed and five other databases will be searched for published literature, and Google Scholar and nine other databases will be used to search for grey literatures. All titles/abstracts of the searched records will be separately assessed by two reviewers, who will then screen the full-text of potential records to decide eligibility. Two reviewers will independently perform corresponding data extraction and finally cross-check using designed standardized forms. Data will be tabulated, synthesized descriptively, and summarized narratively for each review question. Where appropriate, meta-analyses will be conducted. The risk of bias will be assessed, and potential publication bias will be detected.

Discussion: This review will provide a comprehensive understanding of the current occurrence, spatial-temporal distribution, and burden of scrub typhus, identify associated risk factors from global to subnational resolutions, consolidate the best practice modeling framework(s) to estimate the burden of scrub typhus at various geographic/temporal resolutions, and decompose the relative contributions of various risk factors at scale.

PROSPERO Registration: CRD42022315209
The role of the dietitian in the nutrition of physically active people using a group of footballers as an example
Authors: Sobek Olga , Polaniak Renata
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Footballers often do not pay much attention to their diet. They get their knowledge about rational nutrition from various sources, most often from the internet. The person giving advice on nutrition is more often a coach than a professional nutritionist. Rational nutrition in combination with appropriate physical training allows for the desired sports results. Therefore, the role of a qualified nutritionist should be crucial.

Aims and objectives: The aim was to investigate the knowledge and dietary habits of high-performance football players and to demonstrate the consequences of not eating a well-balanced diet.

Material and methods: The study concerns a group of 100 people training football in sports clubs in the Silesian province. An original survey questionnaire was used to conduct them. Results were compiled using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

Results: Only 12% of respondents receive regular professional advice from a dietician. Despite this, only 41% of respondents declare a willingness to take advice from a dietician.

Conclusions: The primary source of knowledge for football players is the internet and the coach. The unsatisfactory level of knowledge and poor eating habits are a consequence of the lack of care by a professional nutritionist in sports clubs.
Reconstruction of a high-energy penetrating injury from the abdomen to the sacral area using a latissimus dorsi free flap with monofilament polypropylene mesh and pedicled flap rotation: a case report
Authors: Yang Kyung Min , Hahn Hyung Min
Published: November 2022

A 50-year-old man was transferred to a level I trauma center for penetrating injury. Industrial metal had penetrated his trunk, and he was injured in internal organs. The injured internal organs were treated by the trauma surgery team. The peritoneum was reconstructed with artificial dermal matrix graft. The wound was managed with negative-pressure wound therapy, and several debridement procedures were performed. The full-thickness abdominal defect was covered with monofilament polypropylene mesh(Parietene mesh, 30×30 cm). A latissimus dorsi flap was elevated with a musculocutaneous flap measured 50×30 cm, and 6-cm thoracodorsal artery pedicle. Microvascular anastomosis was performed using the thoracodorsal and left femoral arteries. Two weeks later, we performed local flap rotation based on gluteal artery perforator in the sacral area. Polypropylene mesh was successfully inserted without complications. Combining a latissimus dorsi free flap on a polypropylene mesh can be an effective method for reconstructing large penetrating wounds on the trunk.
Rumores que llevan a la vida criminal: su impacto en la deserción escolar
Authors: Cortes Darwin , Hernández Stefany
Published: November 2022

Recibir información de oportunidades para beneficiarse puede hacer que un joven con bajo rendimiento académico deje su vida escolar. Investigadores de distintas universidades analizaron la velocidad con la que estos rumores se viralizan e impactan la deserción escolar
A Literature Review of Randomized Controlled Trials on Tobacco Cessation Using Auricular Acupuncture and Auricular Acupressure
Authors: Jo Min-Gi , Jang Jun-Yeong , Ko Min-Jung , Chae Sang-Yeup , Lee Seungeun , Lee Dongmin , Sung Won Suk , Kim Jung-Hyun , Goo Bonhyuk , Park Yeon-Cheol , Baek Yong-Hyeon , Nam Sang-Soo , Seo Byung-Kwan
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to analyze auricular acupressure and auricular acupuncture used in smoking cessation research by analyzing published randomized controlled trials. Eight databases (PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, CNKI, CiNII, KMbase, KISS, OASIS) were searched until December 2021, and 21 out of 1,919 studies met inclusion criteria. Data on the treatment site, time, frequency, period, and outcomes were analyzed. Lung (MA-IC1) and Ear Shenmen (MA-TF1) were the most used acupoints. The number of treatments varied between a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 24, and treatment duration varied between a minimum of 2 weeks to a maximum of 8 weeks. Cigarette consumption and smoking cessation rate were the most studied outcome, followed by multiple other psychological indications.
The Risk of Applying Moving Cupping Therapy to A Patient with Chronic Lumbar Pain Previously Treated with Gold Thread Therapy
Authors: Kim Yeonhak , Oh Yoona , Kim Jihun , Kim Eunseok , Yang Gi Young , Lee Byung Ryul
Published: November 2022

Gold thread therapy (GTT) continuously stimulates acupoints and is used to treat chronic conditions/diseases such as chronic lumbar pain. During the procedure gold thread is embedded into the skin and although gold thread is medically pure, GTT is an irreversible treatment where there is limited evidence on its safety. Here, we report a case of a 79-year-old woman being treated for low back pain who developed side effects following moving cupping therapy at a site of GTT (performed in the 1970s). Adverse reactions causing radiating pain persisted more than at least 9 days following moving cupping therapy. The symptoms of pain were evaluated using the numerical rating scale, and changes in tenderness and the state of bruising was recorded. Low back pain improved but the radiating low leg pain did not improve. This case highlights the need for caution when performing moving cupping therapy where GTT has been previously performed.
Extracting spacing-derived estimates of rod density in healthy retinae
Authors: Heitkotter Heather , Patterson Emily J. , Woertz Erica N. , Cava Jenna A. , Gaffney Mina , Adhan Iniya , Tam Johnny , Cooper Robert F. , Carroll Joseph
Published: November 2022

Quantification of the rod photoreceptor mosaic using adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) remains challenging. Here we demonstrate a method for deriving estimates of rod density and rod:cone ratio based on measures of rod spacing, cone numerosity, and cone inner segment area. Twenty-two AOSLO images with complete rod visualization were used to validate this spacing-derived method for estimating density. The method was then used to estimate rod metrics in an additional 105 images without complete rod visualization. The spacing-derived rod mosaic metrics were comparable to published data from histology. This method could be leveraged to develop large normative databases of rod mosaic metrics, though limitations persist with intergrader variability in assessing cone area and numerosity.
Whole exome sequencing identifies KIF26B, LIFR and LAMC1 mutations in familial vesicoureteral reflux
Authors: Bartik Zsuzsa I. , Sillén Ulla , Djos Anna , Lindholm Anna , Fransson Susanne
Published: November 2022

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a common urological problem in children and its hereditary nature is well recognised. However, despite decades of research, the aetiological factors are poorly understood and the genetic background has been elucidated in only a minority of cases. To explore the molecular aetiology of primary hereditary VUR, we performed whole-exome sequencing in 13 large families with at least three affected cases. A large proportion of our study cohort had congenital renal hypodysplasia in addition to VUR. This high-throughput screening revealed 23 deleterious heterozygous variants in 19 candidate genes associated with VUR or nephrogenesis. Sanger sequencing and segregation analysis in the entire families confirmed the following findings in three genes in three families: frameshift LAMC1 variant and missense variants of KIF26B and LIFR genes. Rare variants were also found in SALL1, ROBO2 and UPK3A. These gene variants were present in individual cases but did not segregate with disease in families. In all, we demonstrate a likely causal gene variant in 23% of the families. Whole-exome sequencing technology in combination with a segregation study of the whole family is a useful tool when it comes to understanding pathogenesis and improving molecular diagnostics of this highly heterogeneous malformation.
Blackstone’s Tower in Context
Authors: Cownie Fiona , Jones Emma
Published: November 2022

This article contextualizes the contribution of Blackstone’s Tower within the discipline of law, arguing that its publication was both significant and radical at a time when research into legal education was much less well-developed within the legal academy than it is today. Twining’s approach, acting as a ‘tour guide’, was also important in a period when the ‘private life’ of the English university law school was virtually unexamined. This article also highlights the ways in which the other contributions to this special edition demonstrate the continuities and changes that have occurred within legal education since Blackstone’s Tower was published.

Keywords: legal education. law schools; legal scholarship; legal research; William Twining.
Experiencing English Law Schools
Authors: Guth Jessica , Cownie Fiona , Jones Emma
Published: November 2022

This article examines Blackstone’s Tower: The English Law School from the perspective of law students entering and studying in law schools 25+ years after the publication of the book. The article provides an alternative ‘tour’ of an English law school, the tour that might be given by students. In doing so it asks to what extent students now would recognize the tour on which Twining took us in 1994 and what key sites and debates are either missing or now redundant. In particular, the article aims to encourage us to think about both physical and digital aspects of campus life, the increasing role of marketing, the growing emphasis on student support (particularly relating to wellbeing) and the continuing tensions between the vocational and liberal legal education.

Key words: legal education; law students; student experience; student support.
IDENTIFICAÇÃO E ANÁLISE DOS PRINCIPAIS IMPACTOS AMBIENTAIS PROVOCADOS POR OLARIAS NO MUNICÍPIO DE TABATINGA - AMAZONAS
Authors: Santos Helder Manuel da Costa , Vieira Márcia , Neta Pinto Antônia Gomes
Published: November 2022

Na região Amazônica, as atividades humanas têm sido desenvolvidas sem os estudos de impactos ambientais para avaliar as alterações no meio ambiente. Em vista disso o presente estudo teve como objetivos identificar e analisar os principais impactos sócio-econômicos e ambientais produzidos pelas olarias do município de Tabatinga, estado do Amazonas. Foram realizadas visitas as duas principais olarias do município para, in loco, observar a estrutura do funcionamento das mesmas e os principais impactos nas áreas de explotação das argilas. As visitas também permitiram entrevistar os oleiros e os moradores das áreas próximas das olarias para melhor avaliar a proporção dos impactos. Como principais impactos positivos destacaram-se a geração de emprego e renda, requisitos importantes para o desenvolvimento da região e, dentre os negativos, os desmatamentos e a formação de cavas formada pela retirada da argila. Os impactos negativos mereceram maior destaque, em função da pressão crescente dos recursos naturais, sobretudo, em uma região de ecossistemas vulneráveis às intervenções humanas.
RETRATOS DO CENTRO URBANO: UM OLHAR SOBRE A CIDADE DE BAURU – SP
Authors: Lopes Junior Wilson Martins , Santos Regina Célia Bega dos
Published: November 2022

Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir a questão do centro urbano de Bauru, cidade do interior paulista, desde a sua formação, estruturação até a atualidade. Para tanto foi observada a sua formação histórica e o seu crescimento econômico associado à concentração de comércio e serviços que favoreceu a estruturação de centro urbano de Bauru. Devido à importância das ferrovias para o desenvolvimento econômico da cidade, assim como para estruturação urbana e, principalmente da área central, as ferrovias tiveram destaque junto da evolução histórica tratada neste artigo. Considerou-se também a discussão sobre a deterioração e a revitalização da área central. Finalmente acredita-se apresentar um retrato do centro urbano de Bauru através de algumas informações significativas para a sua compreensão e que favoreça o planejamento urbano, assim como as diferentes pesquisas de geografia urbana.
MUDANÇAS FITOFISIONÔMICAS NO CERRADO: 18 ANOS DE SUCESSÃO ECOLÓGICA NA ESTAÇÃO ECOLÓGICA DO PANGA, UBERLÂNDIA - MG
Authors: Cardoso Edivane , Moreno Maria Inês Cruzeiro , Bruna Emilio M. , Vasconcelos Heraldo L.
Published: November 2022

O objetivo deste estudo foi o de produzir um mapa atualizado da vegetação da Estação Ecológica do Panga (EEP) (Uberlândia, MG) e avaliar as eventuais mudanças na cobertura vegetal dos 404 ha da reserva desde a sua criação. Para isto comparamos o mapa da cobertura vegetal elaborado em 1987, logo após a criação da reserva, com mapa de 2005 baseado em análise de imagem de satélite multiespectral Quickbird. Houve um aumento nas áreas de mata mesófila (de 7% da área da reserva em 1987 para 11,4% em 2005), de cerradão (de 2,5% para 4,3%), de cerrado sentido restrito (de 37,5% para 43,7%) e de campo cerrado (de 12,5% para 34,2%). De outro lado, as áreas de campo sujo, que ocupavam 30% da área da reserva, praticamente desapareceram (0,4% em 2005). Houve também uma diminuição na área de campos úmidos e veredas (de 9% para 5,8%) e de áreas alteradas (de 1,5% para 0,1%). Nosso estudo dá apóio a hipótese de que no Cerrado as fisionomias mais abertas situadas em áreas sem impedimentos edáficos não são comunidades clímax, mas sim estágios sucessionais pós-perturbação. Na EEP, com a diminuição na incidência de fogo e outras perturbações antrópicas houve um significativo incremento na densidade arbórea em formações savânicas e campestres num período de apenas 18 anos.
EVOLUÇÃO URBANA, ESPECULAÇÃO IMOBILIÁRIA E FRAGILIDADE AMBIENTAL EM CALDAS NOVAS (GO)
Authors: Santos Flávia de Oliveira , Chaves Manoel Rodrigues
Published: November 2022

Este trabalho tem como objetivo compreender o processo de uso e ocupação de Caldas Novas (GO), levando em consideração sua evolução urbana e a fragilidade ambiental apontada pelo meio físico. Essa cidade está localizada no sul goiano, conhecida por ser uma das maiores estâncias turísticas brasileiras. Observou se que essa expansão urbana não levou em conta o plano diretor da cidade, não respeitando assim as áreas que não deveriam ser ocupadas. Pode-se observar uma gama de loteamentos irregulares, bairros construídos em áreas próximas ao lixão da cidade e em áreas de preservação permanente. Apenas 25% do esgoto é coletado, causando um grande transtorno à população. Diante disso torna-se imprescindível a construção de redes de coleta e tratamento de esgoto, aterro sanitário além de regularização dos loteamentos não legalizados
HISTÓRICO DA GESTÃO AMBIENTAL NO MUNICÍPIO DE UBERLÂNDIA
Authors: Mendonça Mauro das Graças , Lima Samuel do Carmo
Published: November 2022

In the last decades the environmental subjects have been waking up a growing

concern in all the segments of the society, considering the problems provoked by the

intense urbanization process and exploration of the natural resources. The Public Power has been implementing environmental politics with the purpose of facing these problems, through the creation of technician-administrative and legal infrastructure, as well as execution of projects and specific programs in this area. In this work the process of implantation of the environmental politics is analyzed by the municipal district of Uberlândia in the last decades, with prominence to the performance of the Environment Department and of the legal apparatus elaborated in elapsing of this period.
ANÁLISE BIOCLIMÁTICA DO BAIRRO MORADA DO PARQUE DE MONTES CLAROS (MG)
Authors: Fonseca Diego de Sousa Ribeiro
Published: November 2022

O objetivo deste trabalho é diagnosticar se a preservação de áreas verdes realmente reflete na satisfação da comunidade com o ambiente em convívio. Através de uma técnica que propõe minimizar os gastos com energia elétrica para diminuir os impactos ao meio ambiente, a análise bioclimática é uma nova discussão no ambiente geográfico que, se colocada em prática, possivelmente contribuirá para uma relação mais harmônica entre o homem e o meio natural. Dessa forma, empregando técnicas de Sistemas de Informações Geográficas (SIG) e Sensoriamento Remoto, e tomando como área de estudo o bairro Morada do Parque, onde há grande cobertura vegetal e outros atributos que o destacam de outras áreas da cidade de Montes Claros (MG), foi feita esta pesquisa. A metodologia empregada foi: analise empírica do ambiente, revisão bibliográfica, mapeamento e espacialização da área, aplicação de formulário, pesquisa a entidades públicas e a produção de gráficos. O resultado foi a comprovação de que a preservação da paisagem natural em harmonia com os adensamentos urbanos está diretamente ligada à satisfação das pessoas com o espaço, proporcionando maior conforto e equilíbrio em vários aspectos do bem-estar social. Esse resultado foi possível graças Ã  grande ajuda das Geotecnologias na coleta, armazenagem, manipulação e discriminação dos resultados em material cartográfico.
LA ENSOÑACIÓN DEL TERRITORIO: APROXIMACIÓN CRÍTICA AL IDEAL SIMBÓLICO DE NATURALEZA EN MATERIALES GRÁFICOS DE PROMOCIÓN TURÍSTICA
Authors: Díaz Diego José
Published: November 2022

El análisis de textos e imágenes que sobre naturaleza se proyectan a los circuitos comerciales turísticos nos permite tomar el pulso a las representaciones ideales que se manejan sobre el medioambiente y los paisajes. El presente artículo trata de mostrar algunos de los componentes cualitativos que construyen el actual arquetipo simbólico de naturaleza. Se centra el artículo en Extremadura (EspaÃ±a), cuya situación geográfica de interior y diverso patrimonio natural hace a sus administraciones e instituciones elaborar un amplio número de material publicitario donde el reclamo natural se erige sobre el resto.