bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Erythema nodosum in the course of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and pregnancy in a 17–year-old patient
Authors: Nir Agnieszka , Szarawarski Bartosz , Stencel-Gabriel Krystyna
Published: March 2023

Erythema nodosum is the most common form of panniculitis in the paediatric population. It is manifested by painful tumours in shades of red within the subcutaneous tissue, most often within the lower legs. Mild, non-specific systemic symptoms may occur. The course of erythema nodosum is associated primarily with local pain, sometimes implying motor disorders. Erythema nodosum may be primary or secondary as a manifestation of a systemic disease, medication or pregnancy. Although the course is often self-limiting, detecting erythema nodosum requires a systematised diagnosis of potential causative diseases. A detailed medical history and physical examination are vital in this process. Treatment of erythema nodosum most often consists of administering analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Proper causal treatment of the primary disease is more important. The paper presents a case of a teenage girl with an intense course of erythema nodosum, in whom two probable causes of its occurrence were found.
Alta prevalência de ansiedade e sintomatologia depressiva em adolescentes na pandemia da COVID-19
Authors: Borges Juliane Albernás , Nakamura Priscila Missaki , Andaki Alynne Christian Ribeiro
Published: March 2023

Objetivou-se verificar a prevalência de sintomas de ansiedade, sintomatologia depressiva e fatores sociodemográficos, comportamentais e aspectos de saúde associados em adolescentes de 14 e 18 anos de idade durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Estudo de delineamento transversal, foi utilizado o teste Qui-quadrado para comparar proporções, e para encontrar os fatores associados aos sintomas de ansiedade e sintomatologia depressiva a Regressão de Poisson, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Participaram 157 adolescentes. Os sintomas de ansiedade foram encontrados em 65,6% dos adolescentes e a sintomatologia depressiva foi encontrada em 55,8% dos adolescentes. Adolescentes do sexo feminino apresentaram uma razão de prevalência (RP) = 1,84 [(IC95%: 1,32 – 2,58), p = 0,001] maior de sintomas de ansiedade e de sintomatologia depressiva quando comparadas aos adolescentes do sexo masculino RP = 1,74 [(IC95%: 1,19 – 2,53), p = 0,004]. Adolescentes com autopercepção de saúde negativa apresentaram razão de prevalência maior de sintomas de ansiedade RP = 1,31 [(IC95%: 1,08 – 1,59), p = 0,006], e maior de sintomatologia depressiva RP = 1,67 [(IC95%: 1,31 – 2,15), p = 0,001] em relação aos adolescentes que possuíam autopercepção de saúde positiva. Conclui-se que os sintomas de ansiedade e sintomatologia depressiva associaram-se a sexo e autopercepção de saúde em adolescentes.
Motivos de adesão, aderência e desistência de adultos com obesidade em um programa de exercícios físicos
Authors: Streb Anne Ribeiro , Tozetto Willen Remon , Bertuol Cecília , Benedet Jucemar , Del Duca Giovani Firpo
Published: March 2023

O estudo teve como objetivo determinar os motivos de adesão, aderência e desistência de adultos com obesidade em um programa de intervenção de exercícios físicos. Trata-se de uma estudo descritivo  com 69 adultos com obesidade, os quais estiveram envolvidos em um ensaio clínico controlado. Nos grupos de exercícios físicos, as sessões continham treinamento aeróbio e de força, totalizando 60 minutos, durante 16 semanas. Os motivos de adesão, aderência e desistência foram determinados por questionário e uma análise descritiva (quanti-qualitativa) foi realizada, de acordo com a frequência em que os motivos foram relatados pelos participantes. Verificou-se baixa aderência ao treinamento, bem como altos índices de desistência. A saúde, a qualidade de vida e a estética foram os principais motivos de adesão. Para a aderência, os aspectos mais prevalentes foram a saúde, o comprometimento e à motivação. Contudo, para a desistência, trabalho e a desmotivação foram mais relatados. É importante a intervenção profissional no campo da atividade física e saúde considere estes diferentes motivos e as mudanças neles durante o processo e direcione ações a fim de aumentar a adesão e a aderência e reduzir as desistências.
Practice Summary: Seminar Assignments in a University—MATLAB-Based Decision Support
Authors: Dellnitz Andreas , Pozo Damian , Bauer Jochen , Kleine Andreas
Published: March 2023

Universities follow a long tradition of assigning students to courses based on student preferences while taking into account constraints such as the rooms to be used. In this context, theoretical approaches aid us in developing algorithms that can be helpful in practice. Our contribution to this subject is a practice summary in which we discuss the most important findings of a project to develop a MATLAB-based stand-alone software system to solve the seminar assignment problem at the FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany. The use of our software at three departments has already enabled annual savings of nearly 20,000 euros in personnel costs, which corresponds to a reduction of around 500 person-hours per year. Apart from important technical aspects of our work, the reported savings potential provides valuable information for making decisions on future similar software projects.

History: This paper was refereed.
A First-Order Primal-Dual Method for Nonconvex Constrained Optimization Based on the Augmented Lagrangian
Authors: Zhu Daoli , Zhao Lei , Zhang Shuzhong
Published: March 2023

Nonlinearly constrained nonconvex and nonsmooth optimization models play an increasingly important role in machine learning, statistics, and data analytics. In this paper, based on the augmented Lagrangian function, we introduce a flexible first-order primal-dual method, to be called nonconvex auxiliary problem principle of augmented Lagrangian (NAPP-AL), for solving a class of nonlinearly constrained nonconvex and nonsmooth optimization problems. We demonstrate that NAPP-AL converges to a stationary solution at the rate of [Formula: see text], where k is the number of iterations. Moreover, under an additional error bound condition (to be called HVP-EB in the paper) with exponent [Formula: see text], we further show the global convergence of NAPP-AL. Additionally, if [Formula: see text], then we furthermore show that the convergence rate is in fact linear. Finally, we show that the well-known Kurdyka-Łojasiewicz property and the Hölderian metric subregularity imply the aforementioned HVP-EB condition. We demonstrate that under mild conditions, NAPP-AL can also be interpreted as a variant of the forward-backward operator splitting method in this context.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 71871140].
Green nephrology: the role of telemedicine and electronic patient-reported outcomes
Authors: Anderson Nicola , Cockwell Paul , Aiyegbusi Olalekan L , Calvert Melanie J
Published: March 2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health priority. People with CKD experience high morbidity and mortality rates, often associated with multiple long-term health conditions. While the health sector tackles shortfalls across the workforce, increased treatment costs and the subsequent impacts on care delivery, the disproportionate contribution of nephrology to the overall healthcare carbon footprint, caused by high levels of resource usage and waste generation, must be confronted. Opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of kidney care might be possible through the use and evaluation of digital technological solutions; for example, telemedicine and electronic patient reported outcomes (ePROs) can ensure that each patient with CKD receives the care and treatment they require to successfully and sustainably achieve outcomes that matter to them.
Numerical Literacy and Math Self-Concept: Children-Friendly Learning in Inclusive Elementary Schools
Authors: S. Danuri, , B. S. , Sugiman Sugiman , Sukestiyarno Y.L.
Published: March 2023

Numerical literacy refers to the knowledge and ability to use various numbers and basic mathematical symbols to solve problems, while math self-concept means the assessment of students’ skills, abilities, enjoyment, and interest in the subject. However, children with special needs and normal students in inclusive Elementary Schools are yet to sufficiently acquire learning that accommodates literacy and maths self-concept. This causes a need for the implementation of a children-friendly learning process. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the factors influencing the numeracy level and math self-concept, and also explore the obstacles in implementing children-friendly learning in order to facilitate students’ abilities. A qualitative method was applied because of in-depth data exploration regarding children with special needs, while the utilized instruments include tests, questionnaires, and interviews. Both the data collected and the analysis are qualitative, which are obtained through excavation, identification, and description. Consequently, this paper was able to (a) describe the factors influencing the numeracy level and math self-concept in inclusive elementary schools; (b) explore the barriers to implementing children-friendly learning; and (c) identify the relationship between students’ numeracy and math self-concept.
Structural Equation Model on Pro-Social Skills and Expectancy-Value of STEM Students
Authors: Sebial Starr Clyde L. , Mirasol Joy M.
Published: March 2023

The objective of the study was to develop a structural model that explores the relationship between Mathematics Performance and students’ self-regulated learning skills, grit, and expectancy-value towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The research collected survey data from 664 senior high school students from 17 STEM high schools, and conducted a covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. The results of the SEM analysis indicate that the Re-specified Self-Regulated Learning Skill – Expectancy-Value towards STEM – Grit – Mathematics Performance (Re-specified SRL-EV-GR-MP) model is the most parsimonious fit, offering the best empirical support for the theoretical model of the study. The research findings suggest that the mathematics performance of senior high school students in STEM curriculum is attributed to their high expectancies for success and perceived values of the STEM tasks, high grit, and high self-regulated learning skills. Moreover, the research also observed evidence of mediating and moderating grit effects in the concurrent effects of expectancy-values towards STEM and self-regulated learning skills towards students’ mathematics performance.
MULTILIGAMENT KNEE INJURIES: GOOD FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES AFTER RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
Authors: Smith M.B. , Silvestre S. , Leow J.M. , Hall A.J. , White T.O.
Published: March 2023

Multiligament knee injuries (MLKI) are associated with significant morbidity and healthcare requirements. The primary aim of this study is to report the patient reported outcomes measures (PROMs) after reconstructive surgery.

Patients undergoing surgery for MLKI between 2014 and 2018 in the single large-volume trauma centre were included. Electronic patient records were reviewed for demographic data, details of surgery and complications. PROMs collected were EQ-5D-5L, Lysholm Knee Score (LKS), UCLA Activity and Sport and patient satisfaction.

Thirty-five patients were included. Mean age was 31 years (range 16-66), and 71% were male. The most common mechanism of injury was sports-related (71%). Obesity was present in eight (23%) patients. No vascular injuries were recorded and four patients sustained nerve injuries. PROMs were available for 18 patients (51%) with a median follow up of 4.5 years. Median EQ-5D-5L was 0.78 (IQR 0.14). Median LKS was 84.5 (IQR 21) and there was no correlation with time to surgery (p=0.43). Grade of MLKI did not impact LKS (p=0.09). Fifteen patients (83%) saw a reduction in their activity level. All patients were satisfied with their surgical treatment. Recurrent instability was noted in four patients (11%). Three patients (8%) required further surgery (one revision reconstruction, one meniscectomy, one conversion to a hinged knee replacement.

This study demonstrates two groups of patients who sustain MLKI: the sporting population and obese patients. Health related quality of life, functional outcomes and satisfaction are high after surgery. Time to surgery did not impact on functional outcomes.
Espacios religiosos y prácticas turísticas en dos destinos marianos emergentes de la Argentina
Authors: Flores Fabián Claudio
Published: March 2023

La presencia de devociones marianas es una constante histórica en la realidad de América latina; y la Argentina no es la excepción al caso. La cartografía mariana y el mapa de las rutas peregrinas a destinos donde la Virgen tiene presencia se fue configurando a través de los siglos XVIII y XIX con un fuerte sesgo regional.Sin embargo, este esquema territorial sufrió algunas modificaciones a lo largo del siglo XX, y sobre todo en sus dos últimas décadas a través de la irrupción de nuevos focos de religiosidad mariana: la Virgen del Rosario de San Nicolás (1983) y la Virgen del Cerro de Salta (1990) generando una redefinición de los circuitos peregrinos y de las prácticas de turismo religioso vinculadas a ellas. El artículo analiza comparativamente la emergencia de estas dos nuevas espacialidades marianas y su proyección como centros de turismo religioso.
“Satellite Leisure In Linear Natural Reserves”, A Planning Model For Tourism Resorts. Learnings From The GATCPAC Resting City
Authors: Sauquet Llonch Roger
Published: March 2023

En este artículo explicaremos el escenario y los recursos legales que caracterizaron el GATCPAC Ciudad de Descanso y Vacaciones de Barcelona (1931-38) – un proyecto nunca construido – con el objetivo de ilustrar un modelo que se ajuste a otras áreas. Este modelo, llamado “ocio satelital en reservas naturales lineares”, parte de la premisa de situar esos asentamiento potencialmente agresivos para el entorno, tales como resorts turísticos, en zonas protegidas. El modelo está especialmente pensado para turismo de interior y natural. En el artículo explicaremos los objetivos del proyecto GATCPAC, sus características y la relación entre esas características y otros modelos urbanos contemporáneos. A continuación, descubriremos qué parámetros son aún útiles para el entorno paradigmático real, dibujando una extrapolación a la región Catalana.
Retos y oportunidades para el desarrollo del turismo sostenible en Ulithi Atoll
Authors: Ongaro Anna
Published: March 2023

El artículo tiene como objetivo analizar el potencial turístico del atolón de Ulithi, en los Estados Federados de Micronesia, identificando las posibilidades de desarrollo turístico sostenible, teniendo en cuenta los principales problemas que amenazan al medio ambiente, la identidad cultural y el futuro de la comunidad local. A través de un análisis de la bibliografía existente y de una evaluación del web, la investigación elabora una diagnosis de la situación actual del sector turístico en el destino. El potencial turístico de Ulithi, basado principalmente en sus preciosos recursos naturales y en su auténtico patrimonio cultural, está casi íntegramente inexplotado. El turismo representa una herramienta estratégica para el crecimiento económico y el fortalecimiento de la comunidad de Ulithi. Sin embargo, el mayor desafío al que se enfrenta actualmente el atolón es la recuperación del reciente desastroso Tifón Maysak. El cambio climático y la pérdida de los conocimientos tradicionales son otros desafíos apremiantes. El estudio identifica el ecoturismo y el volunturismo como oportunidades de mercado clave para el destino. Fomentar la participación entre las partes y el compromiso con la sostenibilidad en los planes estratégicos son algunas de las recomendaciones que aspiran a configurar el sector turístico de una manera que apoye la cultura, los recursos naturales y las formas de vida locales.
Digital Holography and 3D Imaging: introduction to the joint feature issue in Applied Optics and Journal of the Optical Society of America A
Authors: Chu Daping , Park Jae-Hyeung , Ferraro Pietro , Cheng Chau-Jern , Stoykova Elena , Banerjee Partha P.
Published: March 2023

This feature issue is a continuation of a tradition to follow the
conclusion of the Optica Topical Meeting on Digital Holography and 3D
Imaging (DH+3D). It addresses current research
topics in digital holography and 3D imaging that are also in line with
the topics of Applied Optics and Journal of
the Optical Society of America A.
Techno-economic study of very dense optical wireless access using visible or infrared light
Authors: Mas-Machuca Carmen , Kaufmann Madeleine , Linnartz Jean-Paul , Riegel Maximilian , Schulz Dominic , Jungnickel Volker
Published: March 2023

Future wireless networks need to serve a high density of end-user devices with a high quality of service. The density of wireless access points and the infrastructure behind them lead to substantial cost. We study this cost impact for the particular case of optical wireless communication [also denoted as light fidelity (LiFi)] in a large manufacturing hall. We compare different LiFi network topologies using visible or infrared light. Considering aspects such as the fronthaul cabling layout, equipment investments, and installation and operational costs for energy and maintenance, different LiFi solutions are analyzed for greenfield and brownfield scenarios. The techno-economic analysis is performed in terms of total cost of ownership as well as the impact of each cost category to the final cost. Furthermore, the cost per delivered Mbps is compared to take into account the expected densification (more bits/s/m2) and satisfy the demand for future wireless traffic. Both delivered capacity and power consumption have been identified as the two most critical parameters.
Optical cable deployment versus fiber leasing: an operator’s perspective on CapEx savings for capacity upgrade in an elastic optical core network
Authors: Jana Rana Kumar , Srivastava Anand , Lord Andrew , Mitra Abhijit
Published: March 2023

Multiband (MB) and multifiber (MF) technologies get significant attention along with their individual pros and cons to solve the optical fiber capacity crunch problem. The MB system is more susceptible to nonlinear transmission impairments such as interchannel stimulated Raman scattering. On the contrary, MF solutions are costly due to the requirement of parallel fiber deployment. Therefore, it is necessary to find a hybrid solution using MB and MF technologies. This paper performs a techno-economic comparison between MF and MB technologies while taking a robust cost model. We propose, for the first time to our knowledge, a domain-knowledge-assisted, cost-effective network upgrade algorithm to enhance the overall network capacity while including minimum capital expenditure (CapEx). The proposed algorithm prioritizes the targeted deployment of cost-effective upgrade solutions in different links of the network to minimize the overall cost of the upgrade. The comparison between optical cable deployment and fiber leasing is captured to upgrade the overall network capacity with minimum cost-per-bit. Reported results show that a single fiber C+L band system can provide approximately 66.67% gain in terms of traffic admissibility compared to MF C band systems in smaller networks such as BT-UK, while considering fiber leasing. If operator owned dark fibers are not available in any of the links, numerical results show that the MF C+L band system in the BT-UK network can still provide CapEx savings of approximately up to 40.5% compared to the MF C band systems while minimizing the cost-per-bit of the network by approximately 21.9% to achieve the targeted network capacity of 150 Tbps. The effect of longer link length on the network upgrade cost is also studied in this paper. Reported result shows that, for larger geography such as the pan-Europe network, the channel launch power needs to be tuned to achieve the benefit of the MF C+L band compared to the MF C band system.
Reconfigurable design of a thermo-optically addressed liquid-crystal phase modulator by a neural network
Authors: Barland Stéphane , Ramousse Loic , Chériaux Gilles , Femy Vincent , Claudet Cyrille , Jullien Aurélie
Published: March 2023

We present a machine learning approach to program the light phase modulation function of an innovative thermo-optically addressed, liquid-crystal based, spatial light modulator (TOA-SLM). The designed neural network is trained with a little amount of experimental data and is enabled to efficiently generate prescribed low-order spatial phase distortions. These results demonstrate the potential of neural network-driven TOA-SLM technology for ultrabroadband and large aperture phase modulation, from adaptive optics to ultrafast pulse shaping.
Coulomb enhancement of high harmonic generation in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides
Authors: Hader Jörg , Neuhaus Josefine , Moloney Jerome V. , Koch Stephan W.
Published: March 2023

High harmonic generation (HHG) in monolayer MoS2 is studied using fully microscopic many-body models based on the semiconductor Bloch equations and density functional theory. It is shown that Coulomb correlations lead to a dramatic enhancement of HHG. In particular, near the bandgap, enhancements of two orders of magnitude or more are observed for a wide range of excitation wavelengths and intensities. For excitation at excitonic resonances, strong absorption leads to spectrally broad sub-floors of the harmonics that is absent without Coulomb interaction. The widths of these sub-floors depend strongly on the dephasing time for polarizations. For times of the order of 10 fs the broadenings are comparable to the Rabi energies and reach one electronvolt at fields of approximately 50 MV/cm. The intensities of these contributions are approximately four to six orders below the peaks of the harmonics.
True optical spatial derivatives for direct phase gradient measurements
Authors: Gourdain P.-A. , Erez I. N. , Evans M. , Hasson H. R. , Nagasako J. , Young J. R. , West-Abdallah I.
Published: March 2023

This paper shows analytically and numerically that a vortex plate coupled to a neutral density filter can deliver a true optical spatial derivative when placed at the focal plane of a 2f lens pair. This technique turns any intensity or phase variations of coherent light into an intensity that is proportional to the square of the norm of the initial variation gradient. Since the optical derivative removes the uniform background, it is possible to measure the mode numbers of spatial phase gradients or fluctuations optically, without using any interferometer.
Pseudospin-2 in photonic chiral borophene
Authors: Menz Philip , Hanafi Haissam , Leykam Daniel , Imbrock Jörg , Denz Cornelia
Published: March 2023

Pseudospin is an angular momentum degree of freedom introduced in analogy to the real electron spin in the effective massless Dirac-like equation used to describe wave evolution at conical intersections such as the Dirac cones of graphene. Here, we study a photonic implementation of a chiral borophene allotrope hosting a pseudospin-2 conical intersection in its energy–momentum spectrum. The presence of this fivefold spectral degeneracy gives rise to quasiparticles with pseudospin up to ±2. We report on conical diffraction and pseudospin–orbit interaction of light in photonic chiral borophene, which, as a result of topological charge conversion, leads to the generation of highly charged optical phase vortices.
Assessing environmental enteric dysfunction via multiplex assay and its relation to growth and development among HIV-exposed uninfected Tanzanian infants
Authors: Lauer Jacqueline M. , Kirby Miles A. , Muhihi Alfa , Ulenga Nzovu , Aboud Said , Liu Enju , Choy Robert K. M. , Arndt Michael B. , Kou Jianqun , Fawzi Wafaie , Gewirtz Andrew , Sudfeld Christopher R. , Manji Karim P. , Duggan Christopher P.
Published: March 2023

Background

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) may contribute to poor growth and development in young children. While validated EED biomarkers are currently lacking, multiplex assays are able to capture multiple domains of the condition. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship between biomarkers of EED and subsequent growth and development among Tanzanian HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants.

Methodology

We enrolled 467 infants of mothers living with HIV who had participated in a trial of vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy. Infant serum samples collected at 6 weeks (n = 365) and 6 months (n = 266) were analyzed for anti-flagellin and anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) IgA and IgG via ELISA as well as the 11-plex Micronutrient and EED Assessment Tool (MEEDAT), which incorporates two biomarkers of EED [intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) and soluble CD14 (sCD14)]. Outcomes were 12-month growth [length-for-age z-score (LAZ), weight-for-length z-score (WLZ), and weight-for-age z-score (WAZ)] and development [Caregiver Reported Early Development Instruments (CREDI) z-scores] and were assessed using linear regression.

Findings

In primary analyses, higher quartiles of 6-month anti-LPS IgG concentrations were significantly associated with lower LAZ at 12 months (ptrend = 0.040). In secondary analyses, higher log2-transformed 6-week anti-flagellin IgA and 6-month anti-LPS IgA concentrations were significantly associated with lower LAZ at 12 months. No associations were observed between I-FABP or sCD14 and infant growth. However, higher log2-transformed 6-week sCD14 concentrations were significantly associated with lower overall CREDI z-scores, while higher log2-transformed 6-month I-FABP concentrations were significantly associated with higher overall CREDI z-scores.

Conclusions

Unlike anti-flagellin and anti-LPS Igs, MEEDAT’s biomarkers of EED (I-FABP and sCD14) were not associated with subsequent linear growth among HEU infants in Tanzania. The relationship between EED and infant development warrants further study.
Physician burnout and symptom of anxiety and depression: Burnout in Consultant Doctors in Ireland Study (BICDIS)
Authors: Crudden Genevieve , Margiotta Fabio , Doherty Anne M.
Published: March 2023

Background

Burnout is a work related syndrome comprising three major dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced professional efficacy. It is recognised that burnout may be associated with psychopathological sequelae, such as symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Aims

This study aimed to examine the relationship between burnout and symptoms of depression and anxiety in senior doctors in Ireland. We examined personality traits as a mediating factor on burnout, in relation to work related stress among the participants.

Methods

This study was a national cross sectional survey of consultants. Data included basic demographic data, work-related data, burnout as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, personality traits, and symptoms of depression and anxiety from the Depressive Anxiety Stress Scale [DASS].

Results

Results were obtained from 477 consultants, yielding a response rate 21.9%. Nearly half (42%) reported high burnout levels. Over one-quarter (25.8%) screened positive for depression and 13.8% for anxiety. After controlling for gender and age, depressive symptoms were associated with high levels of emotional exhaustion (p<0.001) and a higher clinical workload, and stress with cynicism and reduced professional efficacy (p<0.001).

Conclusions

The this study reported a high level of work-related burnout, associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety in senior doctors. This is concerning, and strategies are required that consider the relationship between symptoms of depression/anxiety and burnout. Further research to evaluate strategies to ensure physician wellbeing and optimal delivery of patient care are required to address this serious problem.
Evaluation of the influenza-like illness sentinel surveillance system: A national perspective in Tanzania from January to December 2019
Authors: Shedura Vulstan James , Hussein Ally Kassim , Nyanga Salum Kassim , Kamori Doreen , Mchau Geofrey Joseph
Published: March 2023

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends periodic evaluations of influenza surveillance systems to identify areas for improvement and provide evidence of data reliability for policymaking. However, data on the performance of established influenza surveillance systems are limited in Africa, including Tanzania. We aimed to assess the usefulness of the Influenza surveillance system in Tanzania and to ascertain if the system meets its objectives, including; estimating the burden of disease caused by the Influenza virus in Tanzania and identifying any circulating viral strains with pandemic potential.

Methodology

From March to April 2021, we collected retrospective data through a review of the Tanzania National Influenza Surveillance System electronic forms for 2019. Furthermore, we interviewed the surveillance personnel about the system’s description and operating procedures. Case definition (ILI-Influenza Like Illness and SARI-Severe Acute Respiratory Illness), results, and demographic characteristics of each patient were obtained from the Laboratory Information System (Disa*Lab) at Tanzania National Influenza Center. The United States Centers for disease control and prevention updated guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems were used to evaluate the system’s attributes. Additionally, the system’s performance indicators (including turnaround time) were obtained by evaluating Surveillance system attributes, each being scored on a scale of 1 to 5 (very poor to excellent performance).

Results

A total of 1731 nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples were collected from each suspected influenza case in 2019 from fourteen (14/14) sentinel sites of the influenza surveillance system in Tanzania. Laboratory-confirmed cases were 21.5% (373/1731) with a predictive value positive of 21.7%. The majority of patients (76.1%) tested positive for Influenza A. Thirty-seven percent of patients’ results met the required turnaround time, and 40% of case-based forms were incompletely filled. Although the accuracy of the data was good (100%), the consistency of the data was below (77%) the established target of ≥ 95%.

Conclusion

The overall system performance was satisfactory in conforming with its objectives and generating accurate data, with an average performance of 100%. The system’s complexity contributed to the reduced consistency of data from sentinel sites to the National Public Health Laboratory of Tanzania. Improvement in the use of the available data could be made to inform and promote preventive measures, especially among the most vulnerable population. Increasing sentinel sites would increase population coverage and the level of system representativeness.
Discrimination of consonants in quiet and in noise in Mandarin-speaking children with normal hearing
Authors: Wong Lena L. N. , Zhu Shufeng , Chen Yuan , Li Xinxin , Chan Wing M. C.
Published: March 2023

Objective

Given the critical role of consonants in speech perception and the lack of knowledge on consonant perception in noise in Mandarin-speaking children, the current study aimed to investigate Mandarin consonant discrimination in normal-hearing children, in relation to the effects of age and signal-to-noise ratios (S/N).

Design

A discrimination task consisting of 33 minimal pairs in monosyllabic words was designed to explore the development of consonant discrimination in five test conditions: 0, -5, -10, -15 dB S/Ns, and quiet.

Study sample

Forty Mandarin-speaking, normal-hearing children aged from 4;0 to 8;9 in one-year-age increment were recruited and their performance was compared to 10 adult listeners.

Results

A significant main effect of age, test conditions, and an interaction effect between these variables was noted. Consonant discrimination in quiet and in noise improved as children became older. Consonants that were difficult to discriminate in quiet and in noise were mainly velar contrasts. Noise seemed to have less effect on the discrimination of affricates and fricatives, and plosives appeared to be to be more difficult to discriminate in noise than in quiet. Place contrasts between alveolar and palato-alveolar consonants were difficult in quiet.

Conclusions

The findings were the first to reveal typical perceptual development of Mandarin consonant discrimination in children and can serve as a reference for comparison with children with disordered perceptual development, such as those with hearing loss.
Comparative study on digital inclusion among socially vulnerable activists and leaderships of organized social movements in Brazil
Authors: Castro Cosette
Published: March 2023

This article analyses the challenges experienced by activists with social vulnerabilities who continued their activism online or face-to-face during the pandemic, focusing especially on Black and Indigenous women. I have also studied the types of resistance found in the period between March 2020 and July 2021. On the other hand, I will analyse leaders of organized social movements – or those in the process of formalization – to understand how these leaders organized themselves in the digital world. This qualitative and quantitative research was carried out through online questionnaires and online focus groups composed by activists with social vulnerabilities and leaders of organized social movements in different parts of Brazil. Due to a long period of turmoil, social division, self-isolation and perpetual stress have become the daily norm in our country. As we faced various political conflicts and social trials, the strength of our relationships and associations allowed us to endure. This research will also follow the digital difficulties in Brazil, finding levels of partial and total digital exclusion among the analysed groups. Despite the difficulties of navigating the digital world, activists and leaders of Brazilian social movements sought alternatives through resistance and solidarity, including sharing access to the internet via cell phones. This reflection is based on the research New Forms of Representation While Facing Digital Transformation finished in December 2021 for the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation.
Four laws of Microsoft Teams
Authors: McGuire Matt
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many schools around the globe to close their doors and relocate learning to virtual environments. Teachers were forced to transition the way they educated – from classroom to computer screen, from co-presence to distance, from hands on to hands off. High school teachers in New Brunswick turned to Microsoft Teams to help safely educate students from a distance. To investigate how Teams uniquely influenced the way teachers constructed, presented and shared knowledge, and how students responded to these approaches, I interviewed eight New Brunswick high school educators who taught in the Teams virtual environment during the 2020–21 school year, the first full school year of the pandemic. This article provides insight into some of the potential impositions and pedagogical constraints Teams placed on teaching practices; in what sense the software guided or limited teacher pedagogy and what challenges and opportunities teachers and students experienced; in what ways Teams might be reshaping ways of thinking, feeling, acting and knowing. As an approach to this investigation, Marshall and Eric McLuhan’s Laws of Media () are employed as an inquiry mechanism by which the generalizable rules, patterns and structures of Teams can be recognized and studied. Through these conversations, I observed the enhancement of anytime/anywhere learning; the obsolescence of the physical classroom; the retrieval of lectures; the reversal of connectedness to disconnectedness. The Laws of Media allow education reformers to gain insight into the effects of using Teams as an educational tool before cultural norms and practices become too entrenched in the system, affording education districts and departments time to understand them and make a judgement on if, how and when Teams will be used.
Aspectos éticos de la asistencia personal, una visión desde el Trabajo Social
Authors: Riobóo-Lois Breogán , González-Rodríguez Rubén , Verde-Diego Carmen
Published: March 2023

El propósito de este estudio es, desde la óptica del Trabajo Social, identificar los principales problemas éticos que se le presentan a las profesionales de la asistencia personal al desarrollar sus funciones de ayuda o apoyo a las personas con discapacidad, así como detectar si las profesionales consideran necesaria una mayor formación ética. Para ello, se optó por un procedimiento mixto mediante la aplicación de dos cuestionarios ad hoc. El primero, de preguntas abiertas, se dirigió a 31 profesionales en activo de la asistencia personal en España en la fase de recogida de información. El segundo, de preguntas cerradas o respuesta breve, se dirigió a 52 profesionales con experiencia previa en dicha figura profesional. Mediante el análisis de su discurso se corroboró la necesidad de afrontar diferentes conflictos y problemas éticos durante la prestación del servicio de asistencia personal en distintos ámbitos y situaciones. Podemos concluir que la formación ética de las profesionales es insuficiente para el desarrollo de sus funciones en condiciones de calidad y respecto a la dignidad y la autonomía personal de las personas usuarias.
Tolerancia a Entornos Virtuales Inmersivos multisensoriales y medida electrodermal Ratio como identificador de población TEA
Authors: Olmos Elena , Cascales-Martínez Antonia , Contero González Manuel
Published: March 2023

Encontrar indicadores cuantificables para caracterizar a la población con Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA) es una prioridad para avanzar en el conocimiento de la afección. Por ello, medidas como la Actividad Electrodermal (EDA) en Entornos Virtuales Inmersivos (EVI) pueden reportar medidas objetivas obtenidas en contextos con la capacidad de obtener una respuesta similar a la de la realidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue estudiar la usabilidad de un EVI y una pulsera EDA y qué fases de la misma tienen capacidad de detectar a la población TEA en un contexto estimular multisensorial. Se llevó a cabo un diseño experimental mixto con un factor intersujetos y un factor intrasujetos. Para ello se contó con una muestra de 46 participantes TEA y 40 normotípicos. Los resultados mostraron una elevada adaptabilidad de uso del EVI y de la pulsera de medición EDA. Además, la componente electrodermal Ratio fue la que obtuvo la capacidad de diferenciar el comportamiento fisiológico entre grupos. Por ello dichos dispositivos son susceptibles en su generalización clínica, mientras que la medida Ratio apunta hacia una mayor percepción de los olores por parte de la población TEA, lo que puede estudiarse como un indicador de la afección.
COVID-19 Case: Does Indonesian Need Health Endowment Fund?
Authors: Handoyo, SE., M.Sc. Felix Wisnu
Published: March 2023

This paper aims to examine whether Indonesia needs a Health Endowment Fund (HEF) as an effort to find efficiency and effectiveness of health cover fund. Since 2014, Indonesia has officially implemented National Health Insurance (NHI or Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional/JKN) according to Indonesian Law No.40/2004. The implementation of NHI is technically managed by Health Social Insurance Administration Organization (HSIAO), popularly known as Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS) Kesehatan. Since 2014, the trend for people living with NCD increases from 2007 to 2014. This trend may lead to consequences of potential financial deficit for HSIAO in the future. Furthermore, likewise many countries, Indonesia have been facing fiscal shock due to recessions from pandemic COVID-19 and increasing deficits from health insurance claims. By applying secondary data, from IFLS 4 & 5, and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) (formerly as known as LIPI) survey in 2020, this study investigate the effect of non-communicable disease (NCD) on household expenditures to estimate the extent of HEF is needed in Indonesia. Using regression analysis the result showed that NCD  was associated with household’s expenditure per capita and access to health care and on the other hand, NCD has a negative effect on subjective perceived of health status. Therefore, HEF may be a long-term solution for the financial burden may face HSIAO to mitigate fiscal shock for the government budget.
Análise Comparativa entre Métodos para Determinação de Dados Demográficos e Socioeconômicos em Ottobacias: Estudo de Caso da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Paranapanema
Authors: Nowatzki Alexei , Delazari Luciene Stamato , Paula Eduardo Vedor de
Published: March 2023

Dados demográficos, como os de população absoluta, podem ser consultados em unidades espaciais de setores censitários, já dados socioeconômicos, como o Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH) e o Produto Interno Bruto (PIB), podem ser fornecidos em escala municipal. Contudo, bacias hidrográficas que são usadas com frequência em estudos ambientais possuem limites diferentes em relação a essas unidades, o que dificulta a determinação desses dados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar dados demográficos e socioeconômicos para um conjunto de ottobacias, na bacia hidrográfica do rio Paranapanema, compreendendo os estados de São Paulo e Paraná. Para isso foram utilizados métodos de interseção simples e de áreas ponderadas e para dados de população, foi utilizada a técnica de mapeamento dasimétrico, realizado a partir do uso da terra. Por fim, foram realizadas comparações entre os métodos pelo agrupamento de tamanho de ottobacias. Os resultados apontaram que a interseção simples compromete a determinação desses dados, pois todas as unidades espaciais interseccionadas com as ottobacias têm o mesmo peso no cálculo, mesmo que ela represente uma pequena porcentagem. Portanto a interseção a partir das somas e médias de áreas ponderadas fizeram a determinação mais próxima da realidade dentro do contexto das ottobacias. Para os dados de população foi observado que há uma maior variação entre os métodos em ottobacias com maiores valores de área em quilômetros quadrados.
Machining and Tribological Characterisation of Uncoated and Coated Carbide Inserts while Turning Tungsten Heavy Alloy
Authors: S Sreejith , Priyadarshini Amrita , Chaganti Phaneendra Kirna , Prabhu G
Published: March 2023

Tungsten heavy alloys are high density alloys containing 80 to 98 wt.% tungsten and the balance is a matrix made of relatively low melting elements such as copper, nickel and iron. These alloys are used as radiation shields, CG adjusters and also in armour piercing ammunition. Machining these alloys to close tolerances and finish leads to excessive tool wear, surface damage and hence proves to be a challenging task. This study focuses on turning operation carried out under dry and wet cutting conditions using three different commercially available cemented carbide inserts. Three different feed rates have been used at a constant depth of cut and cutting speed. The best possible cemented carbide tooling solution for machining tungsten heavy alloys has been determined based on the surface finish obtained, chip geometry, cutting forces, and machining temperature. The observations made during machining are correlated to the tribological behavior of the inserts and the alloy with the help of pin-on disc tests. Coated cemented carbide inserts provide surface roughness values lower than 1 µm under finish turning conditions. On the other hand, PVD coated inserts give consistently better results over different feed rates and are found to experience lower tool wear for the specific cutting conditions. Analytical tool wear model suggests better tool life for the PVD coated insert.
Landowners’ Activities Aimed at Improving the Economic Condition of Rural Farms in the Years 1918–1939 (On the Example of Kielce Voivodeship)
Authors: Słabińska Elżbieta
Published: March 2023

Large landownership was one of the main market players in the interwar period. It was a specific enterprise, legally and economically separated. It had its own organisational structure, human, financial and material resources. It carried out production and commercial activities with the aim of making a profit. The number of landowners in Kielce Voivodeship was estimated at 711, and together with their family members they made up a collective five times that number. The landowners were entrepreneurs, who coped with the economic reality with more or less success. The list of landowners was headed by owners of large estates – the Myszkowski, Drucki-Lubecki, Wielopolski, Łubieński, Czartoryski, Radziwiłł, Potocki, Tarnowski and Zamoyski families. However, farms consisting of a single manor, with an area of 180-300 ha, predominated. Apart from a small group of farm owners who wasted their fortune, the landowners were attached to the land and wanted to keep it in good economic condition. Owning a farm entailed responsibility for it. It obliged the owner to manage it properly and not leave it to its fate. My aim is to characterise the activities of landowners as entrepreneurs aiming to improve the economic condition of their property. I have in mind modernisation, which manifested itself in modern technical procedures, mechanisation, selective crop-animal production and the industrialisation of landed estates.
Effects of losartan in patients with NAFLD: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial
Authors: Meng Chang , Song Zejun , Zhang Lingnan , Geng Yu , Sun Jing , Miao Guobin , Liu Peng
Published: March 2023

Losartan has become a hot spot in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among angiotensin receptor blocker drugs. We sought to conduct a systematic examination and meta-analysis to examine the effects of losartan on patients with NAFLD. We searched for potentially randomized controlled trials in PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and the Cochrane database up to October 09, 2022. We used the Cochrane risk of bias tool to evaluate the study quality. Analysis of subgroups, sensitivity analysis, and publishing bias were explored. The quality of the included studies was moderate to high. Six trials involving 408 patients were included. The meta-analysis demonstrated that aspartate transaminase was significantly affected by losartan therapy (mean difference [MD] = −5.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] [−6.54, −4.13], Z = 8.70, P < 0.01). The meta-analysis subgroup showed that losartan 50 mg once daily could lower the level of alanine aminotransferase (MD = −18.92, 95% CI [−21.18, −16.66], Z = 16.41, P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein.
Effect of zinc injection on mitigating stress corrosion cracking initiation of structural materials in light water reactor primary water
Authors: Chen Kai , Mackiewicz Adrianna , Virtanen Sannakaisa , Grundler Pascal V. , Seifert Hans-Peter , Ritter Stefan
Published: March 2023

The effect of zinc (Zn) injection on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) initiation of an Alloy 182 weld metal and a 20% cold-worked (CW) type 316L stainless steel was investigated under simulated light water reactor conditions. Accelerated SCC initiation tests revealed that under both, boiling (BWR) and pressurized water reactor (PWR) conditions without Zn injection, Alloy 182 showed a higher SCC initiation susceptibility compared to the CW 316L stainless steel. With 40 ppb Zn injection, results indicate a tendency towards higher stress thresholds or lower crack densities for SCC initiation in both materials. In other words, Zn water chemistry seems to be able to mitigate SCC initiation. The optimized, Zn-treated oxide film is believed to be responsible for the improved SCC performance. However, no clear mitigation effects were observed when the specimens were pre-exposed to high-temperature water without Zn and then tested with Zn, which is likely related to the relatively short exposure time to the Zn-containing high-temperature water.