bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Erosion-free rheumatoid arthritis: clinical and conceptional implications—a BARFOT study
Authors: Svensson Björn , Andersson Maria L. E. , Gjertsson Inger , Hafström Ingiäld , Ajeganova Sofia , Forslind Kristina
Published: December 2022

Background

Bone erosions may appear early or later during rheumatoid arthritis (RA), causing joint damage and functional impairment. However, in some patients erosions do not occur, even after several years of disease. This study evaluates the prevalence, clinical relevance and possible predictors of erosion-free RA.

Methods

Six hundred and eight patients from an early RA cohort (BARFOT) having radiographs of hands and feet at inclusion and after 1, 2, 5 and 8 years were studied. Clinical and functional assessments were performed on all these time-points.

Results

In all, 144 patients (24%) did not develop erosions up to 8 years follow-up (Never erosive group), while 464 patients (76%) had erosions on one or more assessments (Ever erosive group). At diagnosis, the patients in the Never erosive group were significantly younger, satisfied fewer ACR criteria, and were less frequently RF- and/or anti-CCP- positive compared with those in the Ever erosive group. The Never erosive patients had consistently more tender joints, lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and, from two years and onwards, fewer swollen joints. Absence of rheumatoid factor (RF) and/or anti-CCP were strong independent predictors for erosion-free disease. The erosion-free patients were less frequently treated with DMARDs and/or prednisolone.

Conclusions

One-quarter of the patients was erosion-free during eight years in this early RA cohort. Erosion-free patients had a less severe disease course as to disease activity and were more often seronegative compared with those with erosive disease. The results suggest that non-erosive RA represents a milder form of RA.
Social and psychological profile of pattern of female burn casualties
Authors: Harshitha Karen , Raghava Venkata , Mahesh C.
Published: December 2022

Background

Thermal injuries are one of the commonest causes of unnatural deaths in females in developing countries. However, there is a lack of adequate research into the social and psychological aspects that lead to such deaths. The suicidal death due to immolation by fire is a scourge on Indian society that is not being adequately addressed in all its aspects. There is an attempt in this study to bring awareness of the population under risk and to motivate prevention measures.

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Victoria Hospital Mortuary for a period of 12 months between 2017 and 2018. Medicolegal and psychological autopsies were performed on 120 female burn victims over 15 years of age. The information gathered via medical records, police investigations, interviews with family, and postmortem findings was analyzed and compiled to obtain the following results.

Results

Most of the victims, i.e., 52% of the women, were illiterate. More than half of the victims, i.e., 53% of the women in this study, were found to be in the upper-lower socio-economic. Majority of the female victims (63.3%) were married for more than 7 years. Suicide was the commonest manner of death (52%). There was no alleged history of domestic abuse in most cases (73.3%). Only 2 cases, i.e., 1.7% of cases, were booked under Dowry Prohibition Act. Only 28.3% of cases were investigated by Magistrate’s Inquest. History of mental illnesses was reported only in 14.2% of victims. Alcohol was detected in only 2 of the victims (1.7%).

Conclusions

It is evident that in most cases of deaths in women due to thermal injuries, the entire narrative is not thoroughly investigated and any prior history of domestic abuse, dowry demands/harassment, and even mental illnesses gets under-reported or undocumented. Despite there being a plethora of information regarding the statistics as to how women die due to thermal injuries, very minimal data exists regarding the measures adopted to prevent it. There is a hope that this study inspires the concerned stakeholders to take stock and introduce measures to prevent such potential deaths among the vulnerable female population.
State-of-the-art and annual progress of bridge engineering in 2021
Authors: Zhao Renda , Zheng Kaifeng , Wei Xing , Jia Hongyu , Li Xiaozhen , Zhang Qinghua , Xu Guoji , Zhan Yulin , Shen Ruili , Zhang Fang , Pu Qianhui , Gou Hongye , Yu Chuanjin
Published: December 2022

Bridge construction is one of the cores of traffic infrastructure construction. To better develop relevant bridge science, this paper introduces the main research progress in China and abroad in 2021 from 12 aspects. The content consists of four parts in 12 aspects. The first part is about the bridge structure and analysis theories, including concrete bridge and high-performance materials, steel bridges, composite girders and cable-supported bridge analysis theories. The second part is about the bridge disaster prevention and mitigation, including bridge seismic resistance, vibration and noise reduction of rail transit bridges, monitoring and detection of steel bridge, hydrodynamics of coastal bridges, and durability of the concrete bridge under the complex environmental conditions. The last part is concerning the bridge emerging technologies, including bridge assessment and reinforcement, the technology in bridge structure test and intelligent construction and safe operation and maintenance of bridges.
Signaling and Discrimination in Collaborative Projects
Authors: Onuchic Paula , Ray Debraj
Published: December 2022

We study collaborative work in pairs when potential collaborators are motivated by the reputational implications of (joint or solo) projects. In equilibrium, individual collaboration strategies both influence and are influenced by the public assignment of credit for joint work across the two partners. We investigate the fragility of collaboration to small biases in the public’s credit assignment. When collaborators are symmetric, symmetric equilibria are often fragile, and in nonfragile equilibria individuals receive asymmetric collaborative credit based on payoff-irrelevant “identities.” We study payoff distributions across identities within asymmetric equilibria, and compare aggregate welfare across symmetric and asymmetric equilibria. (JEL A11, D82, I23)
Labor Supply and Directed Technical Change: Evidence from the Termination of the Bracero Program in 1964
Authors: San Shmuel
Published: December 2022

This paper studies the impact of labor supply on the creation of new technology, exploiting a large exogenous shock to the US agricultural labor supply caused by the termination of the Bracero agreements between the US and Mexico at the end of 1964. Using a text-search algorithm allocating patents to crops, I show a negative labor-supply shock induced a sharp increase in innovation in technologies related to more affected crops. The effect is stronger for technology related to labor-intensive production tasks. Farm-value dynamics indicate that, despite the positive technology reaction, the policy change was undesirable for farm owners. (JEL J22, J43, N32, O33, O34, Q12, Q16)
The Employee Costs of Corporate Debarment in Public Procurement
Authors: Szerman Christiane
Published: December 2022

This paper studies an anticorruption policy—corporate debarment, or blacklisting—to understand how disclosing illicit corporate practices and the sanctions for these practices affect firm and worker outcomes. Exploiting a policy change in Brazil that imposed stricter penalties for corrupt firms, I find that debarment is associated with a sizable decline in employment and an increase in the probability of exiting the formal sector. I also document that workers’ annual earnings fall after debarment. The impacts are driven by lost revenues from government contracts. The results shed light on the costs to workers in weighing the consequences of corruption crackdown. (JEL D73, E26, H57, H83, J31, K42, O17)
High School Majors and Future Earnings
Authors: Dahl Gordon B. , Rooth Dan-Olof , Stenberg Anders
Published: December 2022

We study how high school majors affect adult earnings using a regression discontinuity design. In Sweden students are admitted to majors in tenth grade based on their preference rankings and ninth grade GPA. We find engineering, natural science, and business majors yield higher earnings than social science and humanities, with major-specific returns also varying based on next-best alternatives. There is either a zero or a negative return to completing an academic program for students with a second-best nonacademic major. Most of the differences in adult earnings can be attributed to differences in occupation, and to a lesser extent, college major. (JEL I21, I26, J24, J31)
Assessing the Gains from E-Commerce
Authors: Dolfen Paul , Einav Liran , Klenow Peter J. , Klopack Benjamin , Levin Jonathan D. , Levin Larry , Best Wayne
Published: December 2022

E-commerce represents a rapidly growing share of consumer spending in the United States. We use transactions-level data on credit and debit cards from Visa, Inc. between 2007 and 2017 to quantify the resulting consumer surplus. We estimate e-commerce reached 8 percent of consumption by 2017, yielding the equivalent of a 1 percent boost to their consumption, or over $1,000 per household per year. While some of the gains arose from avoiding travel costs to local merchants, most of the gains stemmed from substituting to merchants available online but not locally. Higher income consumers gained more, as did consumers in more densely populated counties. (JEL D12, E21, G51, L81, L86)
Re-use of Nuragic Sacred Wells (Pozzi Sacri) in Punic Sardinia
Authors: Namirski Cezary
Published: December 2022

The aim of the paper is to discuss the phenomenon of the re-use of Nuragic sacred wells (pozzi sacri) during the Punic period (c. 500–238 BC) in Sardinia. Although the Nuragic settlement system and power structures ceased to exist by the Late Iron Age, the sanctuaries – built primarily in the Final Bronze Age (c. 1200/1150–900 BC) and the Early Iron Age (c. 900–750 BC) – were still used for ritual purposes, as demonstrated by finds from the sacred wells of Orri (Arborea), San Salvatore (Gonnosno) and Cuccuru Is Arrius (Cabras). This phenomenon is analyzed in the context of cultural changes which took place in Sardinia during the period of Carthaginian domination, such as the emergence of hybridized culture with indigenous and Punic elements.
A Model of Product Portfolio Design: Guiding Consumer Search Through Brand Positioning
Authors: Ke T. Tony , Shin Jiwoong , Yu Jungju
Published: December 2022

The paper proposes a conceptual framework of brand positioning from a product portfolio view and studies its mechanism as an information communication mechanism that guides consumers’ search decisions.
Lyapunov Conditions for Differentiability of Markov Chain Expectations
Authors: Rhee Chang-Han , Glynn Peter W.
Published: December 2022

We consider a family of Markov chains whose transition dynamics are affected by model parameters. Understanding the parametric dependence of (complex) performance measures of such Markov chains is often of significant interest. The derivatives and their continuity of the performance measures w.r.t. the parameters play important roles, for example, in numerical optimization of the performance measures, and quantification of the uncertainties in the performance measures when there are uncertainties in the parameters from the statistical estimation procedures. In this paper, we establish conditions that guarantee the smoothness of various types of intractable performance measures—such as the stationary and random horizon discounted performance measures—of general state space Markov chains and provide probabilistic representations for the derivatives.

Funding: C.-H. Rhee is supported by the National Science Foundation [Grant CMMI-2146530].
Error Analysis of Surrogate Models Constructed Through Operations on Submodels
Authors: Chen Yiwen , Hare Warren , Jarry-Bolduc Gabriel
Published: December 2022

Model-based methods are popular in derivative-free optimization (DFO). In most of them, a single model function is built to approximate the objective function. This is generally based on the assumption that the objective function is one black box. However, some real-life and theoretical problems show that the objective function may consist of several black boxes. In those problems, the information provided by each black box may not be equal. In this situation, one can build multiple submodels that are then combined to become a final model. In this paper, we analyze the relation between the accuracy of those submodels and the model constructed through their operations. We develop a broad framework that can be used as a theoretical tool in model error analysis and future research in DFO algorithm design.

Funding: Y. Chen’s research is partially funded by the MITACS Globalink program. All authors research partially supported by NSERC of Canada Discovery [Grant 2018-03865].
A fond farewell
Authors: Roberts Liz
Published: December 2022

Nursery World's departing editor-in-chief, Liz Roberts, reflects on her time overseeing the title and championing an always-changing early years sector
On the go!
Authors: Russell Meredith Jones
Published: December 2022

In the first of this four part series Meredith Jones Russell explores the challenges and rewards of working in the baby room and discovers it is a very special place
Be informed
Authors: Allingham Sue
Published: December 2022

In this first of a four part series, Dr Sue Allingham looks at how effective and informed observation can support the emotional and physical wellbeing of young children
Sure of it
Authors: Goldenberg Gemma
Published: December 2022

Like research schools, some nurseries use evidence to improve practice. In part one of this series, Gemma Goldenberg visits an early years research centre in Sheffield
Friendly fire
Authors: Weinstein Nicole
Published: December 2022

Penny Holland's pioneering work on gun play, a controversial and emotive subject, is worth revisiting in these times, Nicole Weinstein discovers as part of her resources series
Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Sleep Quality and Insomnia in Collegiate Students
Authors: Doss Christopher Amalraj Vallaba , Subbarayalu Arun Vijay , Bano Mohsina , Awan Malik Khurram Shahzad , Ali Mohammed Barkath
Published: December 2022

Background and aim: The COVID-19 Pandemic necessitates strict lockdowns worldwide to prevent its spread, which has hurt people's lives, including students, on a physical, economic, and emotional level. This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the quality of sleep and the prevalence of insomnia among college students in Chennai. Methods: Using a random sampling approach, collegiate students (n=450) are invited to complete Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Frequencies, unpaired T-test, and the chi-square test were the statistical techniques employed to assess the data. Results: The findings imply that 48% of students experienced poor sleep quality, and 37% reported Subthreshold insomnia during the COVID-19 lockdown. Even though no gender difference was observed regarding the overall sleep quality and insomnia scores, there is a significant association observed between gender with sleep quality; however, those failed to show a significant association with insomnia. Conclusions: Thus, the study concluded that the lockdown has affected sleep quality and led to insomnia among college students.
Zinc Sulfate and Omega-3: Do They Have a Role in Environmental Enteric Dysfunction ?
Authors: El Wakeel Maged A. , El-Kassas Ghada M. , A. Hashem Shaimaa A. Hashem , Abushady Mones M , Kamhawy Alyaa H , F. Amer Ahmed , El-Zayat Salwa Refat , N. Fadl Nevein
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a subclinical, chronic inflammatory condition of the gut. The purpose of the study: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of zinc sulphate and omega-3 supplementation on anthropometric measurements and faecal EED biomarkers (α-1-antitrypsin (AAT), Neopterin (NEO), and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) in underweight and stunted children as an intervention for EED. Subjects and Methods: An interventional study included 105 underweight and stunted children, divided into two subgroups: one subjected to intervention with zinc supplementation (55 children) and the other subjected to intervention with omega-3 supplementation (50 children) for 6 months. Assessment of anthropometric measurements and faecal EED biomarkers: AAT, NEO, and MPO. Results: Regarding the zinc intervention group, post-intervention weight, weight z score, height, height z score, and BMI z score were highly significantly improved after 6 months of zinc supplementation (p value ≤ 0.001). Serum zinc level was highly significant increased after supplementation (p value ≤ 0.001), while AAT and NEO were highly significant and significant decreased (p value ≤ 0.001) (p value ≤ 0.05) respectively. Regarding the omega-3 intervention group, post-intervention weight, weight z score, height, and height z score were highly significantly improved after 6 months of omega-3 supplementation (p value ≤ 0.001). Meanwhile, no significant change was observed for serum iron and zinc level (p value ≥ 0.05) or EED faecal markers except for AAT, which was highly significant for decreasing after supplementation (p value ≤ 0.001). A significant increase in weight, height, and serum zinc level was observed in the zinc supplementation group more than in the omega-3 supplementation group (p value ≤ 0.05). Alongside no significant difference post intervention in EED fecal markers between the two groups (p value ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: No definite drug intervention or supplementation is documented as appropriate management. Zinc sulphate supplementation is thought to be more beneficial than omega-3 supplementation, as evidenced by the improvement of anthropometric measurements and decrease of EED faecal markers.
Anethum Graveolens Leaves Extract Accelerate Wound Healing In vitro and In vivo
Authors: A. Amin Zahra
Published: December 2022

Wound healing is a curative process that starts with trauma and finishes with scar formation. Various plant extracts have been used for the treatment and controlling of wounds. In this study Anethum graveolens has been used to accelerate in vivo excision model of wound healing on Sprague Dawley rats and to proliferate the in vitro cell viability model using skin fibroblast cell line through the scratch assay. Results confirm that this plant extract decreases the wound area and increases itswound size reduction percentage, hydroxyproline and nitric oxide levels of the plant extract treated groups were near to the normal control group that indicated effective healing process. On the other hand, in vitro cytotoxicity results should that Anethum graveolens plant extract was safe on skin fibroblast cell lines and induced the normal proliferation and growth of these cells. The migration rate to heal the in vitro wound gaps was 89.1% which indicates a perfect wound size reduction. In conclusion, the results proved that the topical application of Anethum graveolens plant extract quicken the wound healing process.
Patient Satisfaction Level with Self-Medication Services by Pharmacists During The CoviD-19 Pandemic in Rembang District, Central Java, indonesia
Authors: Kresnamurti Angelica , Nita Yunita , Ashari Ayuna Nora
Published: December 2022

Self-medication is a person's effort to treat symptoms of illness or disease that arise independently without consulting and taking treatment to a doctor. The purpose of this study was to determine patient satisfaction with self-medication services by pharmacists at pharmacies during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Rembang District. This research is a quantitative descriptive observational research with a cross sectional research design. To find out satisfaction with service quality, we used the service quality approach with SERVQUAL (service quality) questionnaire. SERVQUAL measures the difference between customer expectations and perceived service quality based on five dimensions of service quality, namely reliability, responsivenes, empathy, assurance, and tangible evidence. The research instrument used was a validated questionnaire and the research respondents were self-medicated patients who met the inclusion criteria of the study. Data collection was carried out in March-May 2021 in Rembang District, Central Java. Obtained 100 patients who have met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that the mean gap score was (-0.15 ± 0.086). The level of dissatisfaction in the five service dimensions were follows assurance (-0.27), reliability (-0.22), tangible (-0.12), empathy (-0.08), and responsiveness (-0.04) with a statistically siginificant difference value is service reliability (0.019) and assurance (0.021) <0.05. The patient satisfaction level with self-medication services by pharmacists at the Rembang District pharmacy as a whole was 96%. The conclusion in this study was the level of patient satisfaction was satisfying.
Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Extracts of Curcuma Longa L. Rhizome and Estimation of Curcuminoid by HPLC
Authors: Semysim Enas Abd al-Raouf Ammar
Published: December 2022

Curcuma longa L. rhizome extracts have polyphenolic secondary metabolites called curcuminoid and various volatile oils. These compounds exhibit wide spectrum of antibacterial activity. Ethanol and petroleum ether C. longa rhizome extracts were studied for their antibacterial action against two bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This activity had evaluated by employing Agar Well Diffusion method. Curcuminoid was interpreted by pattern of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The ethanol extract exhibited inhibitory effects against E. coli and S. aureus at concentration 150 mg/ml with diameter of inhibition zone (23.000 ± 0.57735 and 27.000 ± 0.57735mm) respectively. On the contrary, petroleum ether extract had inhibitory effects for E. coli and S. aureus at concentration 150 mg/ml in diameter of inhibition zone (39.000 ± 0.57735 and 41.000 ± 0.57735mm) respectively. Quantitative analysis for the curcuminoid compounds from C. longa rhizome extracts revealed highest curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin (9.12, 5.93 and 23.96 µg /ml) respectively in the extract of petroleum ether. We concluded that the C. longa extracts exhibited inhibitory effects against pathological bacterial growth. The essential oils obtained by petroleum ether extract of C. longa rhizome was more influential inhibition than ethanol extract against E. coli and S. aureus.
The Combined Effect of STEMB and Immunomodulatory Substance in the Blood Profile of Cows at the 15th Day Post-Partum.
Authors: Baimishev Murat Hamidullovich , Baimishev Hamidulla Baltuhanovich , Gonoury Chetan Koomar , Eremin Sergey Petrovich
Published: December 2022

The objective is to determine the morphological and biochemical blood parameters of cows at the 15th day postpartum with the separate and combined use of an Embryonic Stimulator (STEMB) and an immunomodulator (Immunopharm). In all studies, there were three experimental groups. For the first experimental group, the STEMB solution was administered to Holstein cows at 30 days before delivery, injected thrice subcutaneously at 7 days’ intervals and at a dosage of 0.075 ml/kg of body weight. The second experimental group was administered with the immunomodulator thrice intramuscularly at 7 days’ intervals and at a dosage of 6 ml per cow, starting 30 days prior to delivery. Finally, the third experimental group of cows were administered the drugs STEMB and Immunopharm combined while using the same dosage (0.075 ml/kg and 6 ml/cow respectively) and scheme (Thrice, 7 days’ interval, starting at 30 days before deliver) as the two other groups. It was found that the combined use of STEMB and Immunopharm improved the blood cell composition; increased amount of monocytes, segmented neutrophils, hemoglobin, total protein, alpha-globulins, immunoglobulins (A, M, G) and also reduced the indicators of ALT and AST enzymes to the threshold level. It has been demonstrated that the combined use of STEMB and Immunopharm are optimal for the prevention of birth and postpartum complications as well as providing an improvement in the blood cell composition.
The Effect of Tea Epiphyte (Scurrula atropurpurea BI. Dans) and Mango Epiphyte (Dendrophthoe petandra) Combination on CD4, CD8, IL-10, and TNF-α Levels in Hypertension Rats
Authors: Sjakoer Nour Athiroh Abdoes , Purnomo Yudi
Published: December 2022

Hypertension is a degenerative disease that become health problem in the world. S. atropurpurea BI. Dans and D. petandra are herbs that showed anti-hypertension activity. However, the potency of their combination onimmune system in hypertension condition have not been explored completely. The study aim to examine effect of S. atropurpurea BI. Dans and D. petandra combination on Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4), Cluster of Differentiation 8(CD8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) level in hypertension rats. The rat was administrated orally with methanolic extract of S. atropurpurea BI. Dans and D. petandra (1:3) combination at dose of 50 mg/kgBW (P1), 100 mg/kgBW (P2) and 200 mg/kgBW (P3) for four weeks. Hypertension rats are induced with Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and salt orally at the second weeks after herbs administration. Blood sample was collected from intra cardiac, furthermore, the level of IL-10 and TNF-α levels are examined using the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, whereas CD4 and CD8 levels are examined using flow cytometri. The data was analyzed using ANOVA test continued with LSD test (p < 0,05). The treatment groups (PI, P2, and P3) showed an increase of CD4 levels more and less 3 times,10 times, and 8 times respectively; an increase of CD8 level about 2 times, 3 times, and 2 times respectively compare to hypertension group (p<0.05). However, IL-10 level were increased only by P3 group (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the combination of herbsdecreased TNF-α level approximately 50-60% for three doses used (p<0.05). Combination of methanolic extracts of S. atropurpurea BI. Dans and D. petandra increase CD4, CD8 and IL-10 level and decreased TNF-α level on hypertension rat.
Spectrum of Mutations and Clinical Manifestations of Rett Syndrome in Girls from Western Ukraine
Authors: Kitsera Nataliya , Osadchuk Zoriana , Dushar Mariya , Hnateiko Oleh , Helner Nadiya , Bondarenko Maya , Bahrynovskyi Roman Bahrynovskyi , Dorosh Olha , Kozovyi Ruslan
Published: December 2022

Rett syndrome is one of the most common causes of mental retardation in girls. The aim of our work was to study a spectrum of genetic heterogeneity and various clinical manifestations of Rett syndrome in girls Western Ukraine. Materials and methods: there were used clinical, molecular and genetic methods. We observed seven girls with Rett syndrome aged from 6 months to 15 years who were diagnosed and followed-up at the Institute of Hereditary Pathology, National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Lviv for three years (2019–2021) and underwent molecular genetic analyses confirmed by next-generation sequencing. Results: In this study, patients with Rett syndrome had individual clinical heterogeneity and age variability due to different mutations. Mental retardation was not observed among siblings in families with Rett syndrome. We identified seven different pathogenic mutations among seven girls, including two deletions and one duplication of the MECP2 gene. Microcephaly was observed in two girls with MECP2 c.880C>T (p.Arg294*) and MECP2 Gain (Entire coding sequence) at birth. The following developmental disabilities were found in five girls: lack of independent sitting, lack of independent gait (regression of development). Among musculoskeletal disorders, there were diagnosed scoliosis, X-shaped deformation of the lower extremities and muscular hypotonia. A two-year-old girl with Rett syndrome, along with other clinical symptoms, had breathing problems - hyperventilation (rapid shallow breathing). Conclusions: in cases with unknown cause of delayed developmental disability and mental retardation the patients should be referred for medical genetic counselling.
Sensitivity Enhancement of Surface Plasmon Resonance-based Biosensor using Aluminium-Cobalt-Tungsten Disulfide-Graphene Heterostructure
Authors: G. Alagu Vibisha  , Malek G. Daher  , S. M. Habibur Rahman  , Z. Jaroszewicz  , K.B. Rajesh  , Rajan Jha
Published: December 2022

An attempt has been made to enhance the sensitivity of a high-sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor with an aluminium-cobalt bimetallic layer covered by a tungsten disulfide-graphene heterostructure. A thin layer of cobalt coated on an aluminium layer contributed substantially to increase the sensor performance. The use of Al and Co metals instead of noble metals like Ag and Au reduced the cost of the sensor. Further, tungsten disulfide (WS2) layers were employed to improve sensitivity and protect the bimetal Al-Co from becoming oxidized, whereas graphene served as the biomolecule trapping medium. The number of WS2 and graphene layers have optimized for better sensitivity. The proposed biosensor Al-Co-WS2-graphene structure displayed an excellent sensitivity of 300°/RIU, convenient for sensing biomolecules.
A retail investor in a cobweb of social networks
Authors: Teplova Tamara , Tomtosov Aleksandr , Sokolova Tatiana
Published: December 2022

In this study, using AI, we empirically examine the irrational behaviour, specifically attention-driven trading and emotion-driven trading such as consensus trading, of retail investors in an emerging stock market. We used a neural network to assess the tone of messages on social media platforms and proposed a novel Hype indicator that integrates metrics of investor attention and sentiment. The sample of messages, which are written in Russian with slang expressions, was retrieved from a unique dataset of social network communication of investors in the Russian stock market. Applying different portfolio designs, we evaluated the effectiveness of the new Hype indicator against the factors of momentum, volatility, and trading volume. We found the possibility of building a profitable trading strategy based on the Hype indicator over a 6-month time horizon. Over short periods, the Hype indicator allows investors to earn more by buying stocks of large companies, and over «longer» periods, this indicator tends to perform better for illiquid stocks of small companies. As consensus trading tends to produce negative returns, the investment strategy of ‘Go against the crowd’ proves rewarding in the medium term of 3 months.
Validity of the KOJI AWARENESS self-screening test for body movement and comparison with functional movement screening
Authors: Murofushi Koji , Yamaguchi Daisuke , Katagiri Hiroki , Hirohata Kenji , Furuya Hidetaka , Mitomo Sho , Oshikawa Tomoki , Kaneoka Koji , Koga Hideyuki , Yagishita Kazuyoshi
Published: December 2022

Objective

This study aimed to validate the KOJI AWARENESS™, a self-screening movement test, and compare it with the Functional Movement Screen (FMS).

Methods

Fifty-seven healthy participants completed the KOJI AWARENESS™ and functional movement screening. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to assess the validity of the test. Subsequently, partial correlation analysis was used to determine the associations between age, sex, body mass index, and sports level as control variables and motor function.

Results

Correlation and partial correlation analyses showed a strong positive correlation between the functional movement screening and the KOJI AWARENESS™ scores.

Conclusion

This study found that the KOJI AWARENESS™ test is valid and comparable to functional movement screening. It can be used for self-screening of movement.
A qualitative systematic review of anonymous/unspecified living kidney and liver donors’ perspectives
Authors: Lim Wen Hui , Chan Kai En , Ng Cheng Han , Tan Darren Jun Hao , Tay Phoebe Wen Lin , Chin Yip Han , Yong Jie Ning , Xiao Jieling , Fu Clarissa Elysia , Nah Benjamin , Tiong Ho Yee , Syn Nicholas , Devi Kamala , Griva Konstadina , Mak Loey Lung Yi , Huang Daniel Q. , Fung James , Siddiqui Mohammad Shadab , Muthiah Mark , Tan Eunice X. X.
Published: December 2022

Objectives & background

Anonymous live organ donors or unspecified donors are individuals willing to be organ donors for any transplant recipient with whom they have no biological or antecedent emotional relationship. Despite excellent recipient outcomes and the potential to help address organ scarcity, controversy surrounds the unconditional act of gifting one’s organs to an unrelated recipient. This qualitative systematic review provides insights into the first-hand experiences, motivations, and challenges that unspecified donors face.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted on Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science database for qualitative literature regarding unspecified living donors’ motivations and experiences in liver and kidney transplantation. An inductive thematic analysis was conducted to generate themes and supportive subthemes.

Results

12 studies were included. The four major themes were (i) motivations, (ii) perception of risks, (iii) donor support, and (iv) benefits of donation. Unspecified donors demonstrated a deep sense of social responsibility but tended to underestimate health risks in favour of benefits for recipients. Despite the lack of emotional support from family and friends, the decision to donate was a resolute personal decision for donors. Majority benefitted emotionally and did not express regret.

Conclusion

This qualitative review bridges the gap in literature on unspecified living donor psychology and provides a comprehensive understanding of the decision-making matrix and experiences of donors.
Quantifying the relative contributions of habitat modification and mammalian predators on landscape-scale declines of a threatened river specialist duck
Authors: Whitehead Amy L. , Leathwick John R. , Booker Douglas J. , McIntosh Angus R.
Published: December 2022

Habitat modification and introduced mammalian predators are linked to global species extinctions and declines, but their relative influences can be uncertain, often making conservation management difficult. Using landscape-scale models, we quantified the relative impacts of habitat modification and mammalian predation on the range contraction of a threatened New Zealand riverine duck. We combined 38 years of whio (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) observations with national-scale environmental data to predict relative likelihood of occurrence (RLO) under two scenarios using bootstrapped boosted regression trees (BRT). Our models used training data from contemporary environments to predict the potential contemporary whio distribution across New Zealand riverscapes in the absence of introduced mammalian predators. Then, using estimates of environments prior to human arrival, we used the same models to hindcast potential pre-human whio distribution prior to widespread land clearance. Comparing RLO differences between potential pre-human, potential contemporary and observed contemporary distributions allowed us to assess the relative impacts of the two main drivers of decline; habitat modification and mammalian predation. Whio have undergone widespread catastrophic declines most likely linked to mammalian predation, with smaller declines due to habitat modification (range contractions of 95% and 37%, respectively). We also identified areas of potential contemporary habitat outside their current range that would be suitable for whio conservation if mammalian predator control could be implemented. Our approach presents a practical technique for estimating the relative importance of global change drivers in species declines and extinctions, as well as providing valuable information to improve conservation planning.
DAE-ConvBiLSTM: End-to-end learning single-lead electrocardiogram signal for heart abnormalities detection
Authors: Tutuko Bambang , Darmawahyuni Annisa , Nurmaini Siti , Tondas Alexander Edo , Naufal Rachmatullah Muhammad , Teguh Samuel Benedict Putra , Firdaus Firdaus , Sapitri Ade Iriani , Passarella Rossi
Published: December 2022

Background

The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a widely used diagnostic that observes the heart activities of patients to ascertain a heart abnormality diagnosis. The artifacts or noises are primarily associated with the problem of ECG signal processing. Conventional denoising techniques have been proposed in previous literature; however, some lacks, such as the determination of suitable wavelet basis function and threshold, can be a time-consuming process. This paper presents end-to-end learning using a denoising auto-encoder (DAE) for denoising algorithms and convolutional-bidirectional long short-term memory (ConvBiLSTM) for ECG delineation to classify ECG waveforms in terms of the PQRST-wave and isoelectric lines. The denoising reconstruction using unsupervised learning based on the encoder-decoder process can be proposed to improve the drawbacks. First, The ECG signals are reduced to a low-dimensional vector in the encoder. Second, the decoder reconstructed the signals. The last, the reconstructed signals of ECG can be processed to ConvBiLSTM. The proposed architecture of DAE-ConvBiLSTM is the end-to-end diagnosis of heart abnormality detection.

Results

As a result, the performance of DAE-ConvBiLSTM has obtained an average of above 98.59% accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, andF1score from the existing studies. The DAE-ConvBiLSTM has also experimented with detecting T-wave (due to ventricular repolarisation) morphology abnormalities.

Conclusion

The development architecture for detecting heart abnormalities using an unsupervised learning DAE and supervised learning ConvBiLSTM can be proposed for an end-to-end learning algorithm. In the future, the precise accuracy of the ECG main waveform will affect heart abnormalities detection in clinical practice.
Heparin versus 0.9% sodium chloride intermittent flushing for preventing occlusion in newborns with peripherally inserted central catheters: A systematic review protocol
Authors: Nascimento Alice Passos do , de Medeiros Kleyton Santos , Costa Ana Paula Ferreira , Sarmento Ayane Cristine , Cruz Giovanna Karinny Pereira , Gonçalves Ana Katherine , de Souza Nilba Lima , Costa da Silva Maria de Lourdes
Published: December 2022

Background

Mechanical factors are primary complications that justify early removal of a peripherally inserted central catheter, and thrombotic catheter occlusion is the most critical mechanical complication associated with loss of device functionality. Studies have investigated these factors in adult patients, but findings are not directly applicable to newborns. Therefore, systematic reviews focusing on this population are necessary for consolidated evidence to aid clinical practice.

Aims

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of intermittent heparin washing versus 0.9% sodium chloride solution for preventing occlusion in newborns with peripherally inserted central catheters.

Methods

We will use the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Clinical Trial Databases for article search, without language or publication periods restrictions. Randomized clinical trials evaluating the use of intermittent heparin washing versus 0.9% sodium chloride solution in newborns with peripherally inserted central venous catheters will be included. The primary outcome will be peripherally inserted central catheter occlusion. Two reviewers will independently screen the studies, based on the inclusion criteria, extract the data for each included study and assess the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The data will be synthesized using the Review Manager software (RevMan 5.4.1). To classify the strength of the evidence of results, we will use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Working Group (GRADE). The review was registered with PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021281509).

Expected results

We expect that this study would reveal the best method for preventing catheter occlusion in newborns with peripherally inserted central catheters.
Assessment of heterocyclic aromatic amines contents in flamed and braised chicken in Burkina Faso
Authors: Bazié Bazoin Sylvain Raoul , Bougma Adjima , Séré Aminata , Ouilly Judicael Thomas , Sangaré Hassane , Kabré Elie , Savadogo Aly , Hounhouigan Djidjoho Joseph , Scippo Marie-Louise , Bassole Imaël Henri Nestor
Published: December 2022

The nutritional status of meat is tarnished by its association with the induced cooking contaminants. The aim of this study was to assess the heterocyclic aromatic amines profile and contents in processed chicken in Burkina Faso. Eight polar and apolar heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) including 2-mino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinolone (IQ), 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4, 3-b]indole (Trp-P1), 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P2), 2-mino-9H-pyrido-[2,3-b]indole (AαC), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4, 5– ]pyridine (PhIP), 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b] indole (MeAαC), 2-amino-3,4,8-rimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx) and 2-amino-3,8-imethylimidazo[4,5–]quinoxaline (MeIQx) were screened by high performance liquid chromatography from 29 samples of flamed chicken and 66 samples of braised chicken collected in Ouagadougou city. Apolar HAAs and polar HAAs were respectively 12 and 3 times more abundant in flamed chickens (32.66±10 and 3.48±10.39 ng/g, respectively) than in braised chickens (2.70±9.67 and 0.92 ng/g, respectively). The maximum levels of AαC were in the same proportions in flamed (12.01 ng/g) and braised chickens (14.13 ng/g). Flamed chicken had the highest Trp-P1 content (530.31 ng/g). The 4,8-DiMeIQx was not detected in braised chicken. The AαCs were more abundant in flamed than in braised chicken. The profile and the contents of the HAAs in processed chicken are related to cooking methods. Because of the high variability observed on the obtained concentrations, investigations on the contents of precursors in raw chicken, the effect of marinating ingredients on the formation of HAAs are needed.
Particle size distribution: An experimental study using southern African reduction methods and raw materials
Authors: de la Peña Paloma , Thomas Marc , Molefyane Tumelo R.
Published: December 2022

We experimentally created a particle size dataset that is based on reduction sequences and raw materials typical of the Middle and Later Stone Age in southern Africa. The reason for creating this new dataset is that current particle size frameworks are based, almost exclusively, on flint and western European knapping methods. We produced the dataset using knapping methods and raw materials frequently encountered in the southern African archaeological record because we wanted to test whether it has the same distribution as particle size datasets experimentally created in Europe, and to initialise the production of a database for use in the analysis of lithic assemblages from southern African Late Pleistocene deposits. We reduced 117 cores of quartz, quartzite, jasper, chalcedony, hornfels, and rhyolite. The knapping methods selected were unidirectional, discoidal, Levallois recurrent and bipolar flaking. In this article we compare this new particle size distribution dataset with the results obtained from previous experiments. We found that the southern African dataset shows a wider size range distribution, which seems to be explained by differences in knapping methods and raw materials. Our results show that there is overlap between the distribution of the southern African experimental knapping dataset and the sorting experiment conducted by Lenoble on flint artefacts in a runoff context. This article shows that a particle size analysis is not sufficient on its own to assess the perturbation of an archaeological assemblage and must be coupled with other analytical tools.
Adherence to Covid-19 preventive measures among high school students in Jimma town, South-West Ethiopia: Institutional-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Kebede Belete Fenta , Genie Yalemtsehay Dagnaw , Tesfa Tsegaw Biyazin , Hiwot Aynalem Yetwale , Abagelan Asiya Muhhamedamin , Zerihun Mulualem Silesh
Published: December 2022

Background

Corona (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered corona virus. The World Health Organization has recommended several preventive measures for COVID-19 and African countries, including Ethiopia had accepted and engaged in the recommended preventive measures. Adherence to COVID-19 prevention measure is still a big problem; however, the level of adherence to preventive measures had not reported in Ethiopia among students and there is an information gap, therefore, this study conducted to fill the information gap on level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among students.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and its associated factors among high school students in Jimma Town public High Schools in southwest Ethiopia, 2021.

Methods sand materials

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 404 systematically selected high school students from Jimma town from July 15 to August 2, 2021. The sample size was determined using a single-population proportion formula, and data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured and pretested questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-data manager 4.4.2.1 then exported to Stata 14 for cleaning and analysis. Bivariate and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses were declared to identify significant variables. Finally; significant factors were determined at a significance level of <0.05.

Results

Of 388 students included in the analysis, approximately 14.7% (95%CI: 11.51–18.60) of students had good level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures.Only 6.9%of participants had good knowledge where as approximately half of the respondents had favorable attitude toward COVID-19 preventive measures. Factors such as Female gender (AOR = 1.03(95%CI: 1.01–1.74), access to water and soap (AOR = 2.11(95%CI: 1.06–4.19) andattitude (AOR = 4.36(95%CI: 2.69–7.08)) were found to have a statistically significant association with level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures.

Conclusion

Adherence to COVID-19preventive measures among students wasunexpectedly lower than in other studies. Female gender, lack of access to water and soap, and attitudes were factors associated with adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Therefore, to ensure maximal adherence to preventive measures for COVID-19, special messages and efforts targeting males, increasing access to water and soap, trainingto improve attitude toward COVID-19 preventive measures should be implemented at schools.