bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reaching Syrian migrants through Dutch municipal registries for hepatitis B and C point-of-care testing
Authors: Moonen Chrissy P. B. , Brouwers Elfi E. H. G. , Hoebe Christian J. P. A. , Dukers-Muijrers Nicole H. T. M. , Bouchaara Jamila , van Loo Inge H. M. , den Heijer Casper D. J.
Published: January 2025

Undetected chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Syrian migrants are the largest non-European migrant group in the Netherlands with HBV and HCV prevalence rates above 2%. This study aimed to reach Syrian migrants for HBV and HCV testing using point-of-care tests (POCT). A multifaceted strategy was employed to reach Syrian migrants aged ≥16 years from two Dutch municipalities for free-of-charge HBsAg and anti-HCV POCT using finger prick blood at the regional Public Health Service. All were personally invited by the Public Health Service by postal mail, based on municipal registry data. Respondents’ medical history data were analysed descriptively and data on age, sex, and municipality were compared with non-participating invitees, using Pearson’s Chi-square test. Of the study population (N = 832), 32.3% (n = 269) attended the testing. The mean age of participants was 36 years (range 16–70), 59.1% were men, and 66.5% were unemployed. Non-participation was higher in the younger age groups (<30 years) (p < .001). The POCT using finger prick blood was well received. None tested HBsAg or anti-HCV positive. With approximately one-third of participation, this study demonstrated relatively high reach of Syrian migrants for testing, compared to studies with similar recruitment methods. However, while the reach could be considered successful, testing failed to demonstrate new infection in this key population. Thereby, other methods may be preferred to identify new HBV and HCV infections, such as opportunistic testing within existing care processes.
Inverse association of oxidative balance score with depression and specific depressive symptoms among cancer population: Insights from the NHANES (2005–2020)
Authors: Bu Hanli , Lv Mingzhen , Wang Linxian , Jiang Dan , Ding Yi , Wang Zheya , Hu Yaoyao , Zhuang Qin , Tian Zhenzhen
Published: January 2025

Background

The rising prevalence of depression among cancer patients is alarming. This study examines the relationship between the Oxidative Balance Score (OBS)—a composite measure of dietary and lifestyle factors—and depression, including specific depressive symptoms in this population.

Methods

Data were analyzed from 3,280 adult cancer patients collected in NHANES from 2005–2020. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), where a score of 10 or above indicated depression. Symptoms experienced frequently were classified as specific depressive symptoms. Weighted logistic regression models were utilized to explore the correlation between OBS and depression, along with distinctive depressive symptoms.

Results

There was a negative correlation between OBS and depression. The highest quartile of OBS (OR 0.313, 95% CI: 0.161–0.609), along with dietary OBS (OR 0.429, 95% CI: 0.234–0.786) and the third quartile of lifestyle OBS (OR 0.404, 95% CI: 0.226–0.722), was associated with reduced depression risk. OBS was correlated with lower risks of all four somatic depressive symptoms and one cognitive symptom. Dietary OBS was associated with fewer risks of three somatic symptoms and one cognitive symptom. Lifestyle OBS showed a negative correlation with two somatic symptoms. Stratified analyses indicated that the inverse relationship between OBS and depression risk was consistent across subgroups, including females and individuals under 65. a nonlinear association was observed between OBS (p = 0.024), dietary OBS (p<0.001), lifestyle OBS (p = 0.021), and depression.

Conclusions

OBS is inversely related to depression and specific depressive symptoms in cancer patients. Encouraging a diet and lifestyle rich in antioxidants may help reduce the risk of depression in this group.
Glaucoma detection and staging from visual field images using machine learning techniques
Authors: Akter Nahida , Gordon Jack , Li Sherry , Poon Mikki , Perry Stuart , Fletcher John , Chan Thomas , White Andrew , Roy Maitreyee
Published: January 2025

Purpose

In this study, we investigated the performance of deep learning (DL) models to differentiate between normal and glaucomatous visual fields (VFs) and classify glaucoma from early to the advanced stage to observe if the DL model can stage glaucoma as Mills criteria using only the pattern deviation (PD) plots. The DL model results were compared with a machine learning (ML) classifier trained on conventional VF parameters.

Methods

A total of 265 PD plots and 265 numerical datasets of Humphrey 24–2 VF images were collected from 119 normal and 146 glaucomatous eyes to train the DL models to classify the images into four groups: normal, early glaucoma, moderate glaucoma, and advanced glaucoma. The two popular pre-trained DL models: ResNet18 and VGG16, were used to train the PD images using five-fold cross-validation (CV) and observed the performance using balanced, pre-augmented data (n = 476 images), imbalanced original data (n = 265) and feature extraction. The trained images were further investigated using the Grad-CAM visualization technique. Moreover, four ML models were trained from the global indices: mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD) and visual field index (VFI), using five-fold CV to compare the classification performance with the DL model’s result.

Results

The DL model, ResNet18 trained from balanced, pre-augmented PD images, achieved high accuracy in classifying the groups with an overall F1-score: 96.8%, precision: 97.0%, recall: 96.9%, and specificity: 99.0%. The highest F1 score was 87.8% for ResNet18 with the original dataset and 88.7% for VGG16 with feature extraction. The DL models successfully localized the affected VF loss in PD plots. Among the ML models, the random forest (RF) classifier performed best with an F1 score of 96%.

Conclusion

The DL model trained from PD plots was promising in differentiating normal and glaucomatous groups and performed similarly to conventional global indices. Hence, the evidence-based DL model trained from PD images demonstrated that the DL model could stage glaucoma using only PD plots like Mills criteria. This automated DL model will assist clinicians in precision glaucoma detection and progression management during extensive glaucoma screening.
Machine vision model for drip leakage detection of pipeline
Authors: Xiao Cong , Zhou Yiyuan , Wu Yanwen , Zhang Guodong
Published: January 2025

The prevailing trend in industrial equipment development is integration, with pipelines as the lifeline connecting system components. Given the often harsh conditions of these industrial equipment pipelines, leakage is a common occurrence that can disrupt normal operations and, in severe cases, lead to safety accidents. Early detection of even minor drips at the onset of leakage can enable timely maintenance measures, preventing more significant leaks and halting the escalation of pipeline failures. In light of this, our study investigates a method for monitoring pipe drips in industrial equipment using machine vision technology. We propose a machine vision model specifically designed for pipe drip detection, aiming to facilitate monitoring of pipe system drips. The system designed to collect the image of the droplet side cross-section with a Charge charge-coupled device (CCD) industrial camera, is aided by the computer image processing system used to analyze and process the collected images. Image enhancement technology is applied to improve the visibility of the image and image filtering technology is applied to remove the noise of the image. With the help of image segmentation technology, target droplet identification and division are achieved. Morphological reconstruction and region-filling techniques are used to remove the noise caused by shooting in the side cross-section image, such as hollow, reflection, and irregular droplet edge, to upgrade the quality of the solution droplet edge. The mathematical model is established for boundary position points extracted from the droplet side cross-section image. Then, the fitting droplet image is drawn. The droplet volume is obtained by calculating the volume of the rotating body. The two-dimensional image of the target droplet is obtained dynamically through the camera capture technology. The droplet boundary extraction algorithm is proposed, and the three-dimensional model of the target droplet is established, so the volume calculation problem of the droplet is solved, which provides a way of thinking for drip leakage detection of the pipeline.
Longitudinal host transcriptional responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults with extremely high viral load
Authors: Avadhanula Vasanthi , Creighton Chad J. , Ferlic-Stark Laura , Nagaraj Divya , Zhang Yiqun , Sucgang Richard , Nicholson Erin G. , Rajan Anubama , Menon Vipin Kumar , Doddapaneni Harshavardhan , Muzny Donna Marie , Metcalf Ginger A. , Cregeen Sara Joan Javornik , Hoffman Kristi Louise , Gibbs Richard A. , Petrosino Joseph F. , Piedra Pedro A.
Published: January 2025

Current understanding of viral dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and host responses driving the pathogenic mechanisms in COVID-19 is rapidly evolving. Here, we conducted a longitudinal study to investigate gene expression patterns during acute SARS-CoV-2 illness. Cases included SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals with extremely high viral loads early in their illness, individuals having low SARS-CoV-2 viral loads early in their infection, and individuals testing negative for SARS-CoV-2. We could identify widespread transcriptional host responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection that were initially most strongly manifested in patients with extremely high initial viral loads, then attenuating within the patient over time as viral loads decreased. Genes correlated with SARS-CoV-2 viral load over time were similarly differentially expressed across independent datasets of SARS-CoV-2 infected lung and upper airway cells, from both in vitro systems and patient samples. We also generated expression data on the human nose organoid model during SARS-CoV-2 infection. The human nose organoid-generated host transcriptional response captured many aspects of responses observed in the above patient samples, while suggesting the existence of distinct host responses to SARS-CoV-2 depending on the cellular context, involving both epithelial and cellular immune responses. Our findings provide a catalog of SARS-CoV-2 host response genes changing over time and magnitude of these host responses were significantly correlated to viral load.
At what cycle threshold level are dogs able to detect SARS-CoV-2 in humans?
Authors: Vidal-Martínez Víctor M. , Mancilla-Tapia Juan Manuel , Soler-Jiménez Lilia C. , Velázquez-Abunader Iván , Jiménez-Coello Matilde , Ortega-Pacheco Antonio , Hernández-Mena David
Published: January 2025

Dogs can discriminate between people infected with SARS-CoV-2 from those uninfected, although their results vary depending on the settings in which they are exposed to infected individuals or samples of urine, sweat or saliva. This variability likely depends on the viral load of infected people, which may be closely associated with physiological changes in infected patients. Determining this viral load is challenging, and a practical approach is to use the cycle threshold (Ct) value of a RT-qPCR test. The hypothesis was that dogs should have a specific Ct range at which they could detect people infected with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, the objective was to determine this Ct range. Sweat samples and epidemiological data were collected from 89 infected and 289 non-infected individuals at real life settings (e.g. health centers, offices, football fields). To determine each person’s infection status, the Norgen Biotek kit for RT-qPCR was used; targeting the N1 and N2 regions of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid N gene. The performance of 11 trained dogs was evaluated on sweat samples of 379 individuals to determine their sensitivity and specificity (± 95% Confidence Intervals; CI) in detecting SARS-CoV-2 infections. Additionally, the SARS-CoV-2 viral load was calculated from Ct values using a reference curve, and the Ct range at which dogs showed optimal performance was determined. Six dogs exhibited a marginal performance, as their sensitivity 95% CI overlapped with the region of randomness (50%). The remaining five dogs demonstrated sensitivity values between 67% and 87%, with none of their 95% CIs overlapping the randomness region. Regarding specificity, three dogs showed values between 87% and 92%, while all other dogs exhibited values of ≥ 90%. Dogs demonstrated higher detection accuracy in a range of Ct values between 18.49 and 29.17 for the N1 region and between 24.07 and 26.69 for the N2 region of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid gene. Detection significantly decreases for Ct values greater than 30 or less than 16, indicating an optimal range in which dogs are most effective. These performance values concur well with those reported for commercial rapid antigen tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2. Consequently, it is considered that using properly trained animals could offer a viable option to supplement existing diagnostic methods, allowing for rapid diagnosis while optimizing time and economic resources. Moreover, this approach is ecologically sustainable, as it generates less waste compared to the use of rapid tests, while continuing to confirm positive cases.
Establishing thresholds for swing transparency at the knee during gait to inform exoskeleton design
Authors: Mathews Chase W. , Clawson Delaney A. , Zelik Karl E.
Published: January 2025

Knee exoskeletons have been developed to assist, stabilize, or improve human movement or recovery. However, exoskeleton designers must implement transparency (i.e., get out of the way) modes during the swing phase of locomotor tasks to avoid impeding movement. The problem is that it is not understood how sensitive people are to small knee torques or what level of knee impedance is acceptable (sufficiently transparent) during swing phase. Here, we (i) characterized the biomechanical consequences of knee stiffness and damping during swing, and (ii) leveraged user perceptions of being impeded and toe clearance to define transparency thresholds, below which the participants were sufficiently unimpeded during the swing phase of gait. We conducted a series of human subject experiments that involved walking and stair ascent/descent while wearing a modified knee brace with five stiffness values ranging from 0 to 4 Nm/rad and five damping values ranging from 0 to 0.77 Nm/rad/s. We measured changes to lower limb kinematics, knee flexor muscle activity, and participants’ perception of being impeded during swing. Kinematics, muscle activity, and perceived impedance all changed in response to added stiffness and damping. For stiffness, we found the median transparency thresholds for walking and stairs to be 1.76 Nm/rad and 2.95 Nm/rad, respectively, which corresponds to peak knee moments during swing of around 2.3 and 5 Nm. For damping, we found the median transparency threshold for walking and stairs to be about the same, 0.29 Nm/rad/s, which corresponds to peak knee moments during swing of around 2.3 Nm. These values provide useful benchmarks for defining quantitative design requirements for knee exoskeletons intended for locomotor activities.
Spatial epidemiological analysis based on township scale and analysis of influencing factors of pulmonary tuberculosis cure of Changshu city from 2015 to 2022
Authors: Xu Xiao-yan , Zhou Zheng-yuan , Gong Li-qiang , Xu Li-qiang , Jiao Xiao-kang , Yin Bian , Jiang Tian-hong
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aimed to enhance the prevention and control of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and provide more effective and accurate methods in Changshu City.

Methods

The PTB patients’ information came from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention (CISDCP). The demographic data for Changshu city and towns came from the Suzhou Statistical Yearbook and the LandScan platform. ArcGIS was used for global spatial autocorrelation analysis and local spatial autocorrelation analysis. Univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of cured PTB patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to analyze the predictive efficacy and clinical benefit of the indicators. XGBoost analysis was performed to explore the feature importance of key metrics for PTB outcome.

Results

A total of 3943 PTB cases were included. The annual incidence rate of new PTB in Changshu city was 27.081 per 100,000. Changshu High-tech Industrial Development Zone in Jiangsu Province and Shajiabang town were the high-high aggregation areas and hot spot areas. Diagnosis delay, TB strain types, and drug sensitivity were independent predictors of the cure of new PTB patients.

Conclusion

The central and southern areas of Changshu were the high-high cluster areas and hot spots for PTB. Shorter diagnosis delay days and mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) promote the cure of tuberculosis, while drug sensitivity was a risk factor for its cure.
FBXW7 metabolic reprogramming inhibits the development of colon cancer by down-regulating the activity of arginine/mToR pathways
Authors: Li Qing , Li Yan , Zhou Tong , Zhang Yong , Li Huiyu , Yuan Fajia , Bi Yanghui
Published: January 2025

FBXW7 is a tumor suppressor gene that regulates metabolism and is associated with the onset and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC)), however, the precise mechanism whereby FBXW7 participates in the metabolic reprogramming of CRC remains unclear. Here, the research aims to reveal the association between the expression of FBXW7 and clinical variables and to investigate the molecular mechanism by which FBXW7 plays a critical role in the development of CRC. The clinical importance of FBXW7 in CRC was determined by immunohistochemistry. Non-targeted metabolomics was utilized to explore the role of FBXW7 in the metabolic regulation of CRC. Low expression of FBXW7 was associated with poor prognosis in individuals with CRC, both at the mRNA and protein levels. FBXW7 over-expression inhibited CRC cell growth, colony formation, migration, and invasion. Non-targeted metabolomics unveiled that FBXW7 over-expression directly caused the deprivation of arginine which led to downmodulation of mTOR signaling pathway; meanwhile, FBXW7-related metabolites were primarily concentrated in the mTOR signaling pathway. In summary, the research identified a novel mechanism of action of FBXW7 in CRC. The research findings provide a theoretical foundation for the prognostic prediction and therapeutic planning of CRC based on metabolic reprogramming.
Cellular senescence-associated genes in rheumatoid arthritis: Identification and functional analysis
Authors: Ao You , Lan Qing , Yu Tianhua , Wang Zhichao , Zhang Jing
Published: January 2025

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a long-term autoinflammatory condition causing joint damage and deformities, involves a multifaceted pathogenesis with genetic, epigenetic, and immune factors, including early immune aging. However, its precise cause remains elusive. Cellular senescence, a hallmark of aging marked by a permanent halt in cell division due to damage and stress, is crucial in aging and related diseases. In our study, we analyzed RA microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and focused on cellular senescence genes from the CellAge database. We started by selecting five RA datasets from GEO. Next, we pinpointed 29 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) linked to cellular senescence in RA, aligning them with genes from CellAge. We explored the roles of these DEGs in cellular senescence through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. We then pinpointed three key genes (DHX9, CYR61, and ITGB) using random forest and LASSO Cox regression machine learning techniques. An integrated diagnostic model was created using these genes. We also examined the variance in immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint gene expression between RA and normal samples. Our methodology’s predictive accuracy was confirmed in external validation cohorts. Subsequently, RA samples were classified into three distinct subgroups based on the cellular senescence-associated DEGs, and we compared their immune landscapes. Our findings reveal a significant impact of cellular senescence-related DEGs on immune cell infiltration in RA samples. Hence, a deeper understanding of cellular senescence in RA could offer new perspectives for diagnosis and treatment.
Factors associated with quality of life of chronic spontaneous urticaria patients in a Vietnamese population
Authors: My Nguyen Thi Tra , My Le Huyen , Minh Vu Nguyet , Vinh Nguyen Thi Ha , Anh Mai Ba Hoang , Le Huu Doanh
Published: January 2025

Objective

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a challenging condition that significantly impacts the affected patients. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) among patients with CSU in Vietnam and identify factors associated with QoL.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Vietnam National Dermatology and Venereology Hospital from June 2023 to March 2024. A total of 358 CSU patients aged 16 years or older were recruited. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. The Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL) and the Weekly Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) were utilized to assess QoL and disease severity. Multivariate Tobit regression models were performed.

Results

The CU-Q2oL total score had a mean of 48.67 (SD = 16.90) and a median of 46 (IQR = 35–59). The scores for individual CU-QoL subscales were as follows: pruritus (5.42±2.02), swelling (2.86±1.54), life activities (13.89±6.00), sleep problems (11.12±4.96), limits (6.52±2.66), and looks (8.85±4.09). Higher UAS7 scores were associated with lower QoL, and angioedema in the eyes and lips were associated with increased swelling domain and poorer overall QoL. Longer disease duration was associated with higher pruritus scores, while a history of allergy was related to poorer total QoL, sleep, and looks. Severe itching further degraded sleep quality. Positive Autologous Serum Skin Test (ASST) was correlated with lower overall QoL, particularly in swelling and limits domains. Positive Basophil Histamine Release Assay (BHRA) status was linked to poorer sleep quality domain.

Conclusion

CSU significantly impairs the QoL of patients, affecting physical, emotional, and social dimensions. Regular QoL assessments should be integrated into clinical practice to ensure comprehensive and patient-centered treatment strategies.
Factors associated with knowledge and practice regarding oxygen administration: A cross-sectional study among registered nurses working in wards and ICUs at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Kimario Magdalena S. , Ambikile Joel Seme , Iseselo Masunga K.
Published: January 2025

Background

Oxygen is a vital therapy approved by WHO, crucial for critically ill patients as a supplemental treatment. Nurses’ pivotal role in oxygen administration is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess factors associated with oxygen administration to critically ill patients among nurses at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 208 nurses using a simple random technique to recruit respondents. Data were collected in May 2022 via a self-administered questionnaire, designed and tested by the authors. Mean knowledge and practice scores were used to categorize knowledge and practice as high or low respectively. The Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with knowledge and practice regarding oxygen administration. Statistical significance was determined at a p-value less than 0.05.

Results

Of the 208 respondents, 96(46.2%) and 78(37.5%) had low knowledge and low practices regarding oxygen administration, respectively. Receiving in-service training on oxygen administration (AOR: 3.515; p<0.001) was positively associated with knowledge of oxygen administration. None of the factors showed a statistically significant association with the practice of oxygen administration.

Conclusion

A substantial proportion of nurses had inadequate knowledge and practices regarding oxygen administration. While none of the assessed factors were found to have a statistical association with practice on oxygen administration, it is important to note their clinical significance. Healthcare institutions can benefit from implementing regular in-service training programs to address these knowledge and skills gaps and ensure that nurses are well-prepared for proper oxygen administration. Additionally, ongoing monitoring and support are essential to help translate improved knowledge into effective clinical practices.
Association between maternal mental health and early childhood development, nutrition, and common childhood illnesses in Khwisero subcounty, Kenya
Authors: Abajobir Amanuel , Maina Daniel , Wambui Elizabeth , Sidze Estelle M.
Published: January 2025

Background

Despite the significant public health burden of maternal mental health disorders in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), limited data are available on their effects on early childhood development (ECD), nutritional status, and child health in the region.

Aims

This study investigated the association between maternal mental health and ECD, nutritional status, and common childhood illnesses, while controlling for biological, social, financial, and health-related factors and/or confounders.

Method

As part of the Innovative Partnership for Universal and Sustainable Healthcare (i-PUSH) program evaluation study, initiated in November 2019, a cohort of low-income rural families, including pregnant women or women of childbearing age with children under five, was recruited for this study. A total of 24 villages were randomly selected from a list of villages near two health facilities. Following a census to identify eligible households, 10 households per village were randomly selected. Data collection included maternal mental health, assessed using Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale, ECD, nutritional status (anthropometric measurements), and common childhood illnesses, their symptoms, and healthcare utilization. This study presents a cross-sectional analysis of the data drawn from endline survey of 299 target mothers and 315 children.

Results

The majority of the mothers were aged between 25 and 34 years. The mean age of children was 3.2 years, with 53% being male. The overall maternal mental health score, as measured by the CES-D scale, was 28. Children of mothers with higher CES-D scores exhibited poorer ECD domains, lower nutritional status indicators, and increased incidence of ill-health in the previous two weeks, in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Individual, parental, and household factors—including maternal age, household wealth index, and decision-making regarding child healthcare—were significantly associated with children’s development, nutrition status, and health outcomes.

Conclusion

Children of mothers with low mental health scores demonstrated suboptimal developmental outcomes, nutritional status, and overall well-being, particularly for those from impoverished households. These findings suggest that improving the socioeconomic conditions of low-income households is essential for promoting children’s development, nutritional status, and well-being. Longitudinal studies are needed to further investigate the impact of maternal mental health on child development, nutrition, and health outcomes, considering additional factors across the maternal, newborn, and child health continuum.

Trial registration for the parent and nested study

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04068571), AEA Registry (AEARCTR-0006089) and PACTR (PACTR202204635504887).
Super-sized electric vehicles (EVs) will not solve the climate crisis
Authors: Gottesfeld Perry
Published: January 2025

Electric vehicles (EVs) are growing in size along with their increase in market share. At the same time, auto producers are responding to range anxiety by increasing battery capacity. The mean weight of the lithium-ion batteries in the most common vehicles sold in 2023 were 68% heavier than the models sold 5 years earlier. Larger size EVs with greater range require heavier lithium-ion batteries with more energy intensive inputs and greater lifetime carbon emissions. Consumer messaging glosses over the energy and environmental impacts of increasingly larger EVs with heavier batteries. Government subsidies and tax incentives should be better aligned to account for greenhouse gas emissions over the vehicle lifecycle.
Community music for critical positive youth development: A cross-disciplinary literature review of implications for addressing social inequity
Authors: Heard Emma , Bartleet Brydie-Leigh
Published: January 2025

Critical positive youth development (CPYD) is a promising framework for supporting young people in strengths-based ways to both thrive individually and address structural foundations of social inequity. This literature review explores community music for operationalizing CPYD. Database searches were supplemented with expert consultation and handsearching of identified articles and key journals. The authors used a purposive sampling strategy within a critical interpretive synthesis methodology to select 50 articles exploring outcomes of community music programmes with young people. They synthesized findings from these 50 cross-disciplinary studies to illuminate outcomes across the CPYD framework: competence, confidence, compassion, connection, character, contribution and critical consciousness. This study affirms the use of community music in contexts of youth development and implications for health and arts practitioners and researchers are discussed in relation to using music as a potential approach for CPYD to address social inequity with young people. Findings highlight the need for increased art-based research that explores how community music can support equity.
Helsinki’s urban tableaux: Electrical distribution cabinets as street message boards
Authors: Cardwell Thomas
Published: January 2025

Electrical distribution cabinets are a regular feature on the streets of Helsinki. The surfaces of these boxes are often decorated with stickers, graffiti, event posters and art works which compete for attention and offer clues to a plurality of discourses that signify much about the contemporary life of the city. This article discusses the significance of these cabinets in relation to a series of paintings made for the research project ‘Urban Atlas Helsinki’ during the author’s Fellowship at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies (2022–23). The importance of painting as a research method is emphasized due to the visual nature of the subject matter. Through a close reading of a particular cabinet, insights are offered as to the nature of the discourses contained, and what they signify about Helsinki as a contemporary urban culture.
The impact of platform business models on organizational performance in the era of Industry 5.0: A strategic agility and innovation approach
Authors: Mohamed Hashim Mohamed Ashmel , Tlemsani Issam , El-Temtamy Osama
Published: January 2025

The study explores the impact of the platform business model (PBM) on organizational performance, focusing on Industry 5.0 (I5.0). It introduces a conceptual model to assess how PBMs shape organizational outcomes. PBMs are recognized for their role in managing multi-sided markets and leveraging forces such as strategic agility (SA), business model innovation (BMI), strategic operations practice (SOP) and I5.0 technologies to create value. Despite their significance, the systematic integration of PBMs in the organizational value-creation process remains underexplored. To address this, the authors propose a pragmatic conceptual model, which is then converted into a structural equation model to evaluate the effects of PBMs on performance. Structural Equation Model (SEM), combined with confirmatory factor analysis, highlights PBMs’ intangible influence, driven by digital resources and evolving customer value propositions. PBMs face rapid changes influenced by SA, BMI, SOP and I5.0, leading to short-term competitive advantages. The study underscores the importance of SA, BMI and SOP in organizational strategy but notes their limited long-term benefits. It also presents research propositions with implications for leaders and policy-makers, enhancing the understanding of PBMs in the I5.0 context.
Periodontitis and the Incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Park Yehyun , Park Jung-Hyun , Leem Gwang Hyun , Song Tae-Jin
Published: January 2025

INTRODUCTION:

Periodontitis and other oral health indicators are reportedly related to systemic inflammation. Our study aimed to investigate a possible association of oral health status (periodontitis and number of missing teeth) and oral hygiene behaviors (frequency of tooth brushing, dental visit, and dental scaling) with the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence.

METHODS:

Using the Korean National Health Insurance Database, we conducted a nationwide, population-based cohort study involving participants from the 2003 national health screening program. We followed these individuals until December 2020 or the occurrence of censoring events. Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) were defined by disease classification codes from the International Classification of Diseases-10 and national codes for rare intractable disease. The occurrence of IBD was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard model, with propensity score matching performed to balance baseline characteristics between participants with and without periodontitis.

RESULTS:

Our analysis involved a total of 2,272,012 participants with a median follow-up period of 17.0 years. The incidence rates for CD and UC were 11.6 and 32.4 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. In multivariable analysis after propensity score matching, the presence of periodontitis was associated with an increased risk of both CD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–1.52, P < 0.001) and UC (aHR 1.21, 95% CI 1.10–1.32, P < 0.001). Conversely, frequent tooth brushing ≥3 times a day was associated with a reduced risk of CD (aHR 0.81, 95% CI 0.65–0.99, P = 0.049), but no significant association was observed with UC.

DISCUSSION:

Periodontitis may augment the risk of incidence for CD and UC. This association underscores the potential significance of periodontal health in the context of IBD, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive oral hygiene practices and potential preventive strategies to reduce the risk of CD and UC incidence.
ANÁLISE DOS GASTOS PRIVADOS COM MEDICAMENTOS DURANTE A PANDEMIA POR COVID-19 EM UM MUNICÍPIO DO ESPÍRITO SANTO, BRASIL
Authors: Timóteo Élida da Silva , Bazoni Patrícia Silva , Faria Ronaldo José , Horsth Ana Luísa , Silva Alciellen Mendes da , Meira Eduardo Frizzera , Santos Jéssica Barreto Ribeiro dos , Silva Michael Ruberson Ribeiro da
Published: January 2025

Os medicamentos desempenham um papel crucial na promoção da saúde, tanto na prevenção quanto no tratamento de doenças. No contexto brasileiro, a avaliação do acesso a esses medicamentos abrange desde a disponibilidade no Sistema Único de Saúde até os desembolsos diretos e o seu impacto na renda familiar. Com o objetivo de analisar as despesas com medicamentos durante a pandemia por Covid-19, fizemos um inquérito de saúde com os residentes do município de Alegre, Espírito Santo. Foram entrevistados 697 indivíduos. Cerca de 70,3% dos entrevistados relataram ter gastos diretos do próprio bolso (gastos privados) com medicamentos no último mês. Verificou-se que o valor médio mensal gasto com medicamentos foi de R$ 150,59, correspondendo à 12,4% do salário-mínimo à época. Fatores como aumento da idade, maior renda, usar múltiplos medicamentos, ter passado por consultas odontológicas, ter utilizado serviços médicos privados ou filantrópicos, estar acamado e não se automedicar estavam relacionados a maiores gastos privados com medicamentos. A análise do acesso e dos gastos com medicamentos é fundamental para garantir a equidade no cuidado de saúde, o que permite identificar barreiras financeiras que possam impedir o acesso a tratamentos essenciais, impactando diretamente na adesão e eficácia terapêutica.
O processo de alfabetização na Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA)
Authors: Jesus-Oliveira Dedilene Alves de , Oliveira Rosemilla Patrícia , Freitas da Cunha Thenner
Published: January 2025

Este artigo apresenta a questão norteadora “Como acontece o processo de alfabetização na Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA)?”, buscando, a partir de uma pesquisa de campo na única escola que oferta EJA em um município do Campo das Vertentes (MG), relatar essa realidade e relacioná-la às políticas públicas educacionais para o processo de alfabetização dessa modalidade nos anos iniciais da Educação Básica. Como aporte teórico, utilizamos estudiosos da área de alfabetização (Ferreiro e Teberosky, 1999; Soares, 2016, 2021), bem como aqueles voltados para a Educação de Jovens e Adultos (Freire, 1994, 1998, 2000; Gadotti, 2009). O estudo se justifica pelas escassas pesquisas sobre a alfabetização na EJA – mesmo com seu papel essencial na reparação histórica e garantia do acesso à educação, um direito de todos. Foi realizada uma pesquisa que constou de entrevista semiestruturada com a professora alfabetizadora e observação participante na turma de alfabetização da EJA, apontando resultados que vislumbram a necessidade de maior investimento em políticas públicas para o segmento.
As muitas facetas das pesquisas sobre alfabetização no Brasil
Authors: Maciel Francisca Izabel Pereira , Rocha Juliano Guerra
Published: January 2025

Em 2024, a Revista “Olhares & Trilhas”,  do Colégio de Aplicação da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (ESEBA/UFU), divulga, excepcionalmente, em seu volume vinte e seis, dois números com artigos referentes ao dossiê temático “Pesquisas sobre alfabetização no Brasil”. Este segundo número contém um conjunto de 25 artigos, apresentando pesquisas com temáticas e abordagens teórico-metodológicas diversas, mas todas dentro do campo do ensino e da aprendizagem iniciais da leitura e da escrita.
Phospholipase and protease activity of human intestinal yeast under various cultivation conditions
Authors: Prokopiev V , Karabasova E , Kraft L , Kuklina N , Yurova V
Published: January 2025

Aim. To evaluate the protease and phospholipase activity of intestinal strains of basidiomycete (Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Trichosporon spp.) and ascomycete (Candida albicans, Geotrichum candidum, Pichia spp., Wickerhamiella pararugosa, Coniochaeta hoffmannii, Brettanomyces bruxellensis) yeasts under different temperature conditions, aerobic, anaerobic and hypercapnic conditions.
Methods. Phospholipase activity was assessed by the diameter of the precipitation zone around the studied microorganisms on yolk agar. Protease activity was assessed by measuring the unstained (0.5% amido-black) zone after incubation on a medium containing 0.2% bovine serum albumin. The evaluation was carried out after 96 hours under aerobic conditions at 37°C and 25°C, under hypercapnic conditions (10% CO2) at 37°C and under anaerobic conditions at 25°C.
Results. C. albicans exhibited phospholipase activity under all culture conditions. P. kudriavzevii and G. candidum exhibited phospholipase activity under aerobic and hypercapnic conditions. Rh. mucilaginosa degraded phospholipids only under aerobic conditions. Proteolytic activity under aerobic conditions and in the presence of 10% CO2 was exhibited only by C. albicans and P. kudriavzevii.
Conclusions. The metabolic ability of C. albicans and P. kudriavzevii under various temperature and oxygen conditions, similar to the conditions of various biotopes of the human body, allows for the substantiation of high pathogenic potential of these micromycetes. The lack of proteolytic activity in G. candidum and Rh. mucilaginosa suggests low pathogenic potential or the presence of other factors contributing to human disease.
One-pot fabrication of highly porous morphology of ferric oxide-ferric oxychloride/poly-O-chloroaniline nanocomposite seeded on poly-1H pyrrole: Photocathode for green hydrogen generation from natural and artificial seawater
Authors: Rabia Mohamed , Alnuwaiser Maha Abdallah
Published: January 2025

A novel photocathode has been fabricated, featuring a highly porous ferric oxide-ferric oxychloride/poly-O-chloroaniline (Fe2O3-FeOCl/POCA) nanocomposite, integrated onto a poly-1H pyrrole substrate. This photocathode was synthesized using a one-pot technique, which involves the oxidation of o-chloroaniline in the presence of iron sources, resulting in the incorporation of iron oxide and iron oxychloride within the polymer matrix. The photocathode exhibits broad optical absorption extending into the IR region and has a promising bandgap of 1.74 eV, making it a strong candidate for hydrogen gas generation within a constructed three-electrode cell. The photocathode’s performance in natural seawater is impressive, with an estimated hydrogen production rate of 20 µmol/h per 10 cm2. Electrochemical measurements indicate a current density of −0.015 mA/cm2 under these conditions. When tested with artificial seawater that is free of heavy metals, the current density (J
ph) is slightly lower at −0.013 mA/cm2. Furthermore, the photocathode demonstrates excellent sensitivity to various photon energies across wavelengths ranging from 730 to 340 nm, achieving J
ph values of −0.0145 and −0.012 mA/cm2, respectively. The green chemistry approach used in this photocathode’s fabrication, combined with its environmentally friendly operation, highlights its potential for commercial applications. This development could pave the way for industrial-scale production of photoelectrodes designed to convert seawater into hydrogen gas, contributing to sustainable energy solutions.
Vector spatial and spatiotemporal laser solitons
Authors: Fedorov Sergey V. , Veretenov Nikolay A. , Rosanov Nikolay N.
Published: January 2025

Dissipative optical solitons, i.e. packets of radiation localized not due to the presence of optical inhomogeneities of the scheme or medium, but due to the balance of energy inflow and outflow in a nonlinear medium, deserve special attention for a number of reasons. First, these solitons are “calibrated” with a discrete set of basic parameters. This will lead to their increased stability: dissipative solitons are attractors, they are not sensitive to small perturbations. Second, progress in laser technology and the emergence of new laser and nonlinear optical materials provides an opportunity not only to study the rich physics of dissipative solitons, but also to propose their promising applications. This paper, which combines both a review of the current level of theory and original results, is devoted mainly to new types of these solitons. These types exploit the topological features of structured radiation, characteristic of vector, polarization dissipative solitons, which have a nontrivial internal structure. We sequentially present one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) polarization solitons, identify limitations in the topological protection of the information that can be encoded by topological charges and indices and discuss development prospects in this area.
Superior colliculus controls the activity of the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area in an asymmetrical manner
Authors: Pradel Kamil , Tymorek Adrian , Marzec Martyna , Chrobok Łukasz , Solecki Wojciech , Błasiak Tomasz
Published: January 2025

Dopaminergic (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) play a crucial role in controlling animals’ orienting and approach behaviors toward relevant environmental stimuli. The ventral midbrain receives sensory input from the superior colliculus (SC), a tectal region processing information from contralateral receptive fields of various modalities. Given the significant influence of dopamine release imbalance in the left and right striatum on animals’ movement direction, our study aimed to investigate the lateralization of the connection between the lateral SC and the midbrain DA system in male rats. We explored the circuit's anatomy using transsynaptic viral tract-tracing, and its physiology using in vivo single unit and ex vivo multielectrode array recordings of SNc and VTA neuronal activity combined with optogenetic stimulation of either ipsilateral or contralateral SC or its terminals. During the experiments, DA neurons were identified optogenetically (in vivo recordings) or pharmacologically (ex vivo recordings). Anatomical findings revealed a bilateral innervation pattern of the lateral SC to the ventral midbrain, with a significantly stronger ipsilateral connection, particularly evident in the SNc, involving both DA and non-DA neurons. This anatomical asymmetry was also expressed during in vivo and ex vivo recordings, which showed a predominance of ipsilateral connection, especially within the SNc. Ex vivo recordings also confirmed that this lateralized pathway is direct. The described features of the SC to VTA/SNc neuronal circuit, particularly its anatomical and physiological asymmetry, suggest its involvement in orienting and approach behaviors guided by the direction of incoming sensory stimuli.

Significance statementThe direction of animals' behavior is a manifestation of asymmetry in dopamine (DA) release between the left and right striatum – unilateral activation of DA neurons biases movement towards the contralateral side. Our study demonstrates that such activation is induced by the ipsilateral superior colliculus (SC), which processes sensory information from the contralateral body side. Notably, our previous findings indicate that the SC innervates and activates the rostromedial tegmental nucleus, a primary inhibitory input to the DA system, albeit in the contralateral hemisphere. Thus, our research describes a SC-originating neuronal circuit that directly enhances the activity of ipsilateral DA neurons while simultaneously diminishing the activity of contralateral DA neurons, thereby amplifying the imbalance in DA release between the hemispheres.
Suggestion for an easy storage and fast opening freeze dried (lyophilised) Plasma pack
Authors: Ginot Jean
Published: January 2025

Hemorrhagic shock is an emergency situation. As plasma is highly indicated in hemorrhagic shock in addition to red cell concentrates and platelets concentrates, lyophilised plasma has been developed in order to skip time of thawing Fresh frozen plasma, and to be transported easily in prehospital. The aim of our suggestion is not to compare of lyophilised plasma vs fresh frozen plasma. Lyophilised plasma is stored in glass bottle. Plastics bags may be much easier to transport than glass bottle particularly in emergency ambulance. We suggest fast opening pack for plasma as multi-chambers bag. Fast opening pack may save precious time in emergency.