bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Practical and psychosocial challenges faced by caregivers influence the acceptability of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis preventive therapy for young children
Authors: Wademan Dillon T. , Hoddinott Graeme , Purchase Susan E. , Seddon James A. , Hesseling Anneke C. , Garcia-Prats Anthony J. , Reis Ria , Reynolds Lindsey J.
Published: July 2022

Drug-resistant (DR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) are increasingly recognised as a threat to global tuberculosis (TB) control efforts. Identifying people with DR-TB exposure/ infection and providing TB preventive therapy (TPT) is a public health priority. TB guidelines advise the evaluation of household contacts of newly diagnosed TB cases, with the provision of TPT to vulnerable populations, including young children (<5 years). Many children become infected with TB through exposure in their household. Levofloxacin is under evaluation as TPT in children exposed to M. tb strains with resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid (multidrug-resistant TB; MDR-TB). Prior to opening a phase 3 prevention trial in children <5 years exposed to MDR-TB, the pharmacokinetics and safety of a novel formulation of levofloxacin given daily was evaluated as part of a lead-in study. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study of 10 caregivers’ experiences of administering this formulation. We explored how the acceptability of levofloxacin as TPT is shaped by the broader impacts of MDR-TB on the overall psychological, social, and financial wellbeing of caregivers, many of whom also had experienced MDR-TB. Caregivers reported that the novel levofloxacin formulation was acceptable. However, caregivers described significant psychosocial challenges in the process of incorporating TPT administration to their children into their daily lives, including financial instability, withdrawal of social support and stigma. When caregivers themselves were sick, these challenges became even more acute. Although new child-friendly formulations can ameliorate some of the pragmatic challenges related to TPT preparation and administration, the overall psychosocial burden on caregivers responsible for administering TPT remains a major determinant of effective MDR-TB prevention in children.
The effects of spectral dimensionality reduction on hyperspectral pixel classification: A case study
Authors: Mantripragada Kiran , Dao Phuong D. , He Yuhong , Qureshi Faisal Z.
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a systematic study of the effects of hyperspectral pixel dimensionality reduction on the pixel classification task. We use five dimensionality reduction methods—PCA, KPCA, ICA, AE, and DAE—to compress 301-dimensional hyperspectral pixels. Compressed pixels are subsequently used to perform pixel classifications. Pixel classification accuracies together with compression method, compression rates, and reconstruction errors provide a new lens to study the suitability of a compression method for the task of pixel classification. We use three high-resolution hyperspectral image datasets, representing three common landscape types (i.e. urban, transitional suburban, and forests) collected by the Remote Sensing and Spatial Ecosystem Modeling laboratory of the University of Toronto. We found that PCA, KPCA, and ICA post greater signal reconstruction capability; however, when compression rates are more than 90% these methods show lower classification scores. AE and DAE methods post better classification accuracy at 95% compression rate, however their performance drops as compression rate approaches 97%. Our results suggest that both the compression method and the compression rate are important considerations when designing a hyperspectral pixel classification pipeline.
Antiphospholipid antibodies and vitamin D deficiency in COVID-19 infection with and without venous or arterial thrombosis: A pilot case-control study
Authors: Shah Ruchi , Mohammed Yaqub Nadeem , Koehler Tracy J. , Kaur Jasmeet , Toufeili Margarita , Pulipati Priyanjali , Alqaysi Ahmed , Khan Ali , Khalid Mahrukh , Lee Yi , Dhillon Parveen , Dan Anna Thao , Kumar Nicholas , Bowen Monica , Sule Anupam A. , Krishnamoorthy Geetha
Published: July 2022

Background

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is associated with thromboembolism. Antiphospholipid antibody (APLa) formation is one of the mechanisms. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with thrombosis in antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Objective

Measure APLa and vitamin D in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with and without thrombosis to evaluate if thromboembolism is associated with concomitant APLa and vitamin D deficiency.

Methods

Case-control study. Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with a thromboembolic event (ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism, Cases n = 20). Controls (n = 20): Age, sex-matched without thromboembolic events. Patients with autoimmune disorders, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, thrombophilia, anticoagulation therapy, prior thromboembolism, chronic kidney disease 3b, 4, end-stage renal disease, and malignancy were excluded. Given the limited current literature on the role of concomitant antiphospholipid antibodies and vitamin D deficiency in causing venous and/or arterial thrombosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, we enrolled 20 patients in each arm. Anti-cardiolipin IgG/IgM, beta-2 glycoprotein-1 IgG/IgM, lupus anticoagulant and vitamin D levels were measured in both groups.

Results

Cases were 5.7 times more likely to be vitamin D deficient (OR:5.7, 95% CI:1.3–25.6) and 7.4 times more likely to have any one APLa (OR:7.4, 95% CI: 1.6–49.5) while accounting for the effects of sex. Patients with both APLa and vitamin D deficiency had significantly more thrombosis compared to patients who were antibody positive without vitamin D deficiency (100% vs 47.4%; p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Thrombosis in COVID-19 was associated with concomitant APLa and vitamin D deficiency. Future studies in COVID-19 should assess the role of vitamin D in reducing thrombosis.
Towards dealing with commonly occurring requirements engineering process issues during software development outsourcing
Authors: Iqbal Javed , Ahmad Rodina B. , Amin Fazal-e- , Shoaib Muhammad , Nasir Mohd Hairul Nizam
Published: July 2022

Due to specific advantages, the volume of Software Development Outsourcing (SDO) is rapidly increasing. Because of challenges arising from the Requirements Engineering (RE) process, the anticipated benefits of SDO are not achieved in case of several projects. The objective of this research work is to recommend RE practices for addressing the commonly arising RE process issues in the case of SDO. For this reason, a thorough literature review has been undertaken, as well as two questionnaire surveys have been performed with skilled SDO industry practitioners. The surveys have been done by utilizing semi-supervised style and employing Convenience Sampling method. The 50 percent rule and a four-point Likert Scale have also been used to determine the advantages of RE practices for dealing with the issues. A comprehensive list of 147 RE practices has been extracted by conducting a Focus Group session. Furthermore, the 147 RE practices have been ranked by applying Numerical Assignment and Hundred Dollar Techniques during two Focus Group sessions. The detection and adaptation of RE practices aids in enhancing the SDO RE process, evading SDO failures, and achieving the associated SDO advantages.
Butyrate modulates mucin secretion and bacterial adherence in LoVo cells via MAPK signaling
Authors: Jung Tae-Hwan , Han Kyoung-Sik , Park Jeong-Hyeon , Hwang Hyo-Jeong
Published: July 2022

Short-chain fatty acids contribute to normal bowel function and prevent bacterial infections. In particular, butyrate is a promising candidate that plays an important role in regulating the functional integrity of the gastrointestinal tract by stimulating mucin secretion. We investigated whether butyrate treatment modulates mucin secretion and bacterial adherence in LoVo cells. In addition, the possible signaling pathways were also examined in connection with the upregulation of mucin secretion. The results showed that butyrate induced mucin secretion in LoVo cells, resulting in the inhibition of Escherichia coli adhesion by increasing the adherence of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum. The gene expression analysis suggests that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways including Cdc42-PAK pathway appears to be involved in stimulating mucin secretion. More importantly, butyrate induced the increased actin expression and polymerization in LoVo cells, which could be attributable to the Cdc42-PAK signaling pathway, implicated in actin cytoskeleton and mucin secretion. Our results provide a molecular basis in modulating bacterial adherence and the MAPK signaling pathway for the improved homeostasis of colonic epithelial cells.
Iodine images in dual energy CT: A monocentric study benchmarking quantitative iodine concentration values of the healthy liver
Authors: Beck Stefanie , Jahn Laurenz , Deniffel Dominik , Riederer Isabelle , Sauter Andreas , Makowski Marcus R. , Pfeiffer Daniela
Published: July 2022

Dual energy computed tomography (DECT) allows the quantification of specific materials such as iodine contrast agent in human body tissue, potentially providing additional diagnostic data. Yet full diagnostic value can only be achieved if physiological normal values for iodine concentrations are known. We retrospectively evaluated abdominal DECT scans of 105 patients with healthy liver between March and August 2018 (age 17 to 86 years, 43 female and 62 male). The iodine concentrations within ROIs of the liver parenchyma as well as of the abdominal aorta and main portal vein were obtained. We evaluated the absolute iodine concentration and blood-normalized iodine concentrations relating the measured iodine concentration of the liver parenchyma to those of the supplying vessels. The influence of age and gender on the iodine uptake was assessed. The absolute iodine concentration was significantly different for the male and female cohort, but the difference was eliminated by the blood-normalized values. The average blood-normalized iodine concentrations were 2.107 mg/ml (+/- 0.322 mg/ml), 2.125 mg/ml (+/- 0.426 mg/ml) and 2.103 mg/ml (+/- 0.317 mg/ml) for the portal vein normalized, aorta normalized and mixed blood normalized iodine concentrations, respectively. A significant negative correlation between the patients’ age and the iodine concentration was detected only for the blood-normalized values. A physiological range for iodine concentration in portal venous phase contrast enhanced DECT images can be defined for absolute and blood-normalized values. Deviations of blood-normalized iodine concentration values might be a robust biomarker for diagnostic evaluation. Patient age but not the gender influences the blood-normalized iodine concentrations in healthy liver parenchyma.
Population genetics of transposable element load: A mechanistic account of observed overdispersion
Authors: Smith Ronald D. , Puzey Joshua R. , Conradi Smith Gregory D.
Published: July 2022

In an empirical analysis of transposable element (TE) abundance within natural populations ofMimulus guttatusandDrosophila melanogaster, we found a surprisingly high variance of TE count (e.g., variance-to-mean ratio on the order of 10 to 300). To obtain insight regarding the evolutionary genetic mechanisms that underlie the overdispersed population distributions of TE abundance, we developed a mathematical model of TE population genetics that includes the dynamics of element proliferation and purifying selection on TE load. The modeling approach begins with a master equation for a birth-death process and extends the predictions of the classical theory of TE dynamics in several ways. In particular, moment-based analyses of population distributions of TE load reveal that overdispersion is likely to arise via copy-and-paste proliferation dynamics, especially when the elementary processes of proliferation and excision are approximately balanced. Parameter studies and analytic work confirm this result and further suggest that overdispersed population distributions of TE abundance are probably not a consequence of purifying selection on total element load.
Health care professionals’ experiences of screening immigrant mothers for postpartum depression–a qualitative systematic review
Authors: Skoog Malin , Hallström Inger Kristensson , Vilhelmsson Andreas
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Postpartum depression is considered a major public health problem, which immigrant mothers are at particular risk of being affected by, but it can also have long-lasting traumatic effects on the child’s health and development. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is the world’s most commonly employed screening instrument for postpartum depression, used in connection with a clinical interview to screen for symptoms of postpartum depression. The aim of this study was to synthesize health care professionals (HCPs) experiences of identifying signs of postpartum depression and performing screening on immigrant mothers, since previous research suggested that this task might be challenging.

Methods

The databases CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, SocINDEX, Embase and Cochrane were searched for papers published January 2000–December 2020, reporting qualitative data on immigrants, postpartum depression and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Eight papers representing eight studies from four countries were included and the Critical Appraisal Skills Program was used to assess their quality. The synthesis of studies was guided by Noblit & Hare’s seven-step method based on meta-ethnography.

Findings

The synthesis resulted in two final themes: “I do my best, but I doubt that it’s enough” and “I can find no way forward”. The themes convey the fear and frustration that health care professionals experienced; fear of missing mothers with signs of postpartum depression, related to feeling uncomfortable in the cross-cultural setting and frustration in handling difficulties associated with communication, translated versions of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and cultural implications of postpartum depression.

Conclusions and clinical implication

By supporting HCPs’ self-efficacy in handling cultural implications of postpartum depression and by developing evidence-based clinical guidelines for the use of interpreters and translated versions of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale the screening of immigrant mothers may be facilitated.
Follow-up lung ultrasound to monitor lung failure in COVID-19 ICU patients
Authors: Barnikel Michaela , Alig Annabel Helga Sophie , Anton Sofia , Arenz Lukas , Bendz Henriette , Fraccaroli Alessia , Götschke Jeremias , Vornhülz Marlies , Plohmann Philipp , Weiglein Tobias , Stemmler Hans Joachim , Stecher Stephanie-Susanne
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Point-of-care lung ultrasound (LU) is an established tool in the first assessment of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). To assess the progression or regression of respiratory failure in critically ill patients with COVID-19 on Intensive Care Unit (ICU) by using LU.

Materials and methods

We analyzed all patients admitted to Internal Intensive Care Unit, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) of Munich, from March 2020 to December 2020 suffering lung failure caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). LU was performed according to a standardized protocol at baseline and at follow up every other day for the first 15 days using a lung ultrasound score (LUSS). Ventilation data were collected simultaneously.

Results

Our study included 42 patients. At admission to ICU, 19 of them (45%) were mechanically ventilated. Of the non-invasive ventilated ones (n = 23, 55%), eleven patients required invasive ventilation over the course. While LUS did not differ at admission to ICU between the invasive ventilated ones (at baseline or during ICU stay) compared to the non-invasive ventilated ones (12±4 vs 11±2 points, p = 0.2497), LUS was significantly lower at d7 for those, who had no need for invasive ventilation over the course (13±5 vs 7±4 points, p = 0.0046). Median time of invasive ventilation counted 18 days; the 90-day mortality was 24% (n = 10) in our cohort. In case of increasing LUS between day 1 (d1) and day 7 (d7), 92% (n = 12/13) required invasive ventilation, while it was 57% (n = 10/17) in case of decreasing LUS. At d7 we found significant correlation between LU and FiO2 (Pearson 0.591; p = 0.033), p/F ratio (Pearson -0.723; p = 0.005), PEEP (Pearson 0.495; p = 0.043), pplat (Pearson 0.617; p = 0.008) and compliance (Pearson -0.572; p = 0.016).

Conclusion

LUS can be a useful tool in monitoring of progression and regression of respiratory failure and in indicating intubation in patients with COVID-19 in the ICU.
Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for determination of B vitamins and some its derivatives in whole blood
Authors: Kahoun David , Fojtíková Pavla , Vácha František , Čížková Marie , Vodička Roman , Nováková Eva , Hypša Václav
Published: July 2022

Obligate symbiotic bacteria associated with the insects feeding exclusively on vertebrate blood are supposed to complement B vitamins presumably lacking in their diet. Recent genomic analyses revealed considerable differences in biosynthetic capacities across different symbionts, suggesting that levels of B vitamins may vary across different vertebrate hosts. However, a rigorous determination of B vitamins content in blood of various vertebrates has not yet been approached. A reliable analytical method focused on B vitamin complex in blood can provide valuable informative background and understanding of general principles of insect symbiosis. In this work, a chromatographic separation of eight B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid, and cyanocobalamine), four B vitamin derivatives (niacinamide, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, 4-pyridoxic acid, and tetrahydrofolic acid), and 3 stable isotope labelled internal standards was developed. Detection was carried out using dual-pressure linear ion trap mass spectrometer in FullScan MS/MS and SIM mode. Except for vitamin B9 (tetrahydrofolic acid), the instrument quantitation limits of all analytes were ranging from 0.42 to 5.0 μg/L, correlation coefficients from 0.9997 to 1.0000, and QC coefficients from 0.53 to 3.2%. Optimization of whole blood sample preparation step was focused especially on evaluation of two types of protein-precipitation agents: trichloroacetic acid and zinc sulphate in methanol. The best results were obtained for zinc sulphate in methanol, but only nine analytes were successfully validated. Accuracy of the procedure using this protein-precipitating agent was ranging from 89 to 120%, precision from 0.5 to 13%, and process efficiency from 65 to 108%. The content of B vitamins in whole blood samples from human and various vertebrates is presented as an application example of this newly developed method.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia is linked to a worse prognosis than community-acquired pneumonia in children
Authors: Hernandez-Garcia Maria , Girona-Alarcon Monica , Bobillo-Perez Sara , Urrea-Ayala Mireia , Sole-Ribalta Anna , Balaguer Mònica , Cambra Francisco-José , Jordan Iolanda
Published: July 2022

Background

Around 12–20% of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) require critical care. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the second cause of nosocomial infection in Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU). As far as we know, there are no studies comparing both types of pneumonia in children, thus it remains unclear if there are differences between them in terms of severity and outcomes.

Objective

The aim was to compare clinical and microbiological characteristics and outcomes of patients with severe CAP and VAP.

Methods

A retrospective descriptive study, including patients diagnosed of VAP and CAP, with a positive respiratory culture and under mechanical ventilation, admitted to the PICU from 2015 to 2019.

Results

238 patients were included; 163 (68.4%) with CAP, and 75 (31.5%) with VAP. Patients with VAP needed longer mechanical ventilation (14 vs. 7 days, p<0.001) and more inotropic support (49.3 vs. 30.7%, p = 0.006). Patients with VAP had higher mortality (12 vs. 2.5%, p = 0.005).

Enterobacterales were more involved with VAP than with CAP (48 vs. 9%, p<0.001). Taking into account only the non-drug sensitive microorganisms, patients with VAP tended to have more multidrug-resistant bacteria (30 vs. 10.8%, p = 0.141) than patients with CAP.

Conclusion

Patients with VAP had worse prognosis than patients with CAP, needing longer mechanical ventilation, more inotropic support and had higher mortality. Patients with VAP were mainly infected by Enterobacterales and had more multidrug resistant microorganisms than patients with CAP.
Association between dental caries and Helicobacter pylori infection in Japanese adults: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Iwai Komei , Azuma Tetsuji , Yonenaga Takatoshi , Watanabe Kazutoshi , Obora Akihiro , Deguchi Fumiko , Kojima Takao , Tomofuji Takaaki
Published: July 2022

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is widely known as a cause of gastric disorders. Presence of H. pylori in dental pulp has been reported. Dental caries may influence the presence or absence of systemic H. pylori infection by serving as a source of H. pylori. In this cross-sectional study, we examined whether H. pylori infection in blood were associated with dental caries in Japanese adults. The participants were 752 individuals (513 males and 239 females, mean age 53.8 years) who underwent both H. pylori testing (H. pylori antibody test and pepsinogen test) and dental checkups at the Asahi University Hospital Human Health Center between April 2018 and March 2019. Those diagnosed as positive for H. pylori antibody test or positive for serum pepsinogen test as H. pylori test in the human health checkup were judged as those with H. pylori infection in the blood. In our study, 83 participants (11%) were determined to be infected with H. pylori in the blood. The proportion of those with decayed teeth was higher in participants with H. pylori infection in blood than in those without H. pylori infection in blood (p< 0.001). The logistic analysis showed that presence of H. pylori infection in blood was positively associated with those with decayed teeth (OR, 5.656; 95% CI, 3.374 to 9.479) after adjusting for age, gender, gastric disease, regular dental checkups, antibiotic medication history, and decayed teeth. Furthermore, the proportion of H. pylori infection in blood increased according to number of decayed teeth (p< 0.001). The results indicate that H. pylori infection in blood were associated with decayed teeth. Untreated dental caries may have an impact on systemic H. pylori infection.
Association between simultaneity of health-risk behaviours and self-rated health in Brazilian adolescents
Authors: Bandeira Alexsandra da Silva , Del Duca Giovani Firpo , Delevatti Rodrigo Sudatti , Manta Sofia Wolker , Silveira Pablo Magno , Leonel Larissa dos Santos , Rezende Leandro F. M. , Silva Kelly Samara
Published: July 2022

Introduction

This study examined the association between simultaneity of four health-risk behaviours, namely, low levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (insufficient MVPA: <420 min/week), tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and excessive television (TV)–(>2 h/d of TV viewing) and self-rated health (SRH) in Brazilian adolescents.

Methods

We used data of 100,551 adolescents from the National School Health Survey, a national cross-sectional study carried out in 2015. Association between simultaneity of health risk behaviours (i.e. the ratio between observed and expected prevalence rates) and SRH was examined using logistic regression models.

Results

The majority of the participants were female (51.9%) and 14 years of age (50.6%), and 26% of the participants’ SRH ranged from ’average’ to ’extremely poor’. Those who engaged in the following combinations of health-risk behaviours had higher odds of worse SRH than their healthier counterparts: insufficient MVPA and tobacco use (odds ratio—OR: 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4 to 3.0); insufficient MVPA and alcohol consumption (OR: 1.6, 95%CI: 1.3 to 1.9); insufficient MVPA and >2 h/day of TV viewing (OR: 1.3, 95%CI: 1.1 to 1.6); insufficient MVPA, tobacco use and alcohol consumption (OR: 2.1, 95%CI: 1.7, to 2.7); and insufficient MVPA, alcohol consumption and >2 h/day of TV viewing (OR: 1.6, 95%CI: 1.4 to 2.0).

Conclusions

Insufficient MVPA, alcohol consumption, and other health-risk behaviours were associated with worse SRH in Brazilian adolescents.
Cell shape controls rheotaxis in small parasitic bacteria
Authors: Nakane Daisuke , Kabata Yoshiki , Nishizaka Takayuki
Published: July 2022

Mycoplasmas, a group of small parasitic bacteria, adhere to and move across host cell surfaces. The role of motility across host cell surfaces in pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we used optical microscopy to visualize rheotactic behavior in three phylogenetically distant species ofMycoplasmausing a microfluidic chamber that enabled the application of precisely controlled fluid flow. We show that directional movements against fluid flow occur synchronously with the polarized cell orienting itself to be parallel against the direction of flow. Analysis of depolarized cells revealed that morphology itself functions as a sensor to recognize rheological properties that mimic those found on host-cell surfaces. These results demonstrate the vital role of cell morphology and motility in responding to mechanical forces encountered in the native environment.
Genetic diversity of collaborative cross mice enables identification of novel rift valley fever virus encephalitis model
Authors: Cartwright Haley N. , Barbeau Dominique J. , Doyle Joshua D. , Klein Ed , Heise Mark T. , Ferris Martin T. , McElroy Anita K.
Published: July 2022

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an arboviral disease of humans and livestock responsible for severe economic and human health impacts. In humans, RVF spans a variety of clinical manifestations, ranging from an acute flu-like illness to severe forms of disease, including late-onset encephalitis. The large variations in human RVF disease are inadequately represented by current murine models, which overwhelmingly die of early-onset hepatitis. Existing mouse models of RVF encephalitis are either immunosuppressed, display an inconsistent phenotype, or develop encephalitis only when challenged via intranasal or aerosol exposure. In this study, the genetically defined recombinant inbred mouse resource known as the Collaborative Cross (CC) was used to identify mice with additional RVF disease phenotypes when challenged via a peripheral foot-pad route to mimic mosquito-bite exposure. Wild-type Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) challenge of 20 CC strains revealed three distinct disease phenotypes: early-onset hepatitis, mixed phenotype, and late-onset encephalitis. Strain CC057/Unc, with the most divergent phenotype, which died of late-onset encephalitis at a median of 11 days post-infection, is the first mouse strain to develop consistent encephalitis following peripheral challenge. CC057/Unc mice were directly compared to C57BL/6 mice, which uniformly succumb to hepatitis within 2–4 days of infection. Encephalitic disease in CC057/Unc mice was characterized by high viral RNA loads in brain tissue, accompanied by clearance of viral RNA from the periphery, low ALT levels, lymphopenia, and neutrophilia. In contrast, C57BL/6 mice succumbed from hepatitis at 3 days post-infection with high viral RNA loads in the liver, viremia, high ALT levels, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia. The identification of a strain of CC mice as an RVFV encephalitis model will allow for future investigation into the pathogenesis and treatment of RVF encephalitic disease and indicates that genetic background makes a major contribution to RVF disease variation.
My fabulous gay lifestyle: Love is love
Authors: Hancock, II Joseph H.
Published: July 2022

Dr Joseph H. Hancock, II is celebrating his first wedding anniversary to his violinist husband Mr Raymond Mallari. For eighteen years, the two of them have been full-time caregivers to his mother Peggy Alder. In this editorial, Hancock explains why his new modifying sexuality is not only gay, but tired. He also thanks all those who contributed to the Volume 9, Number 3 issue of the journal Fashion, Style & Popular Culture.
African Luxury: Aesthetics and Politics, Mehita Iqani and Simidele Dosekun (eds) (2019)
Authors: Mullins Jacqueline F.
Published: July 2022

Review of: African Luxury: Aesthetics and Politics, Mehita Iqani and Simidele Dosekun (eds) (2019)

Bristol: Intellect Ltd., 180 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-78320-993-4, h/bk, $33.00
Quantifying the geodiversity of a study area in the Great Hungarian Plain
Authors: Őrsi Anna
Published: July 2022

Geodiversity is understood as the diversity of the abiotic nature. It expresses the variety of stones, minerals, fossils, places, landforms, processes, soils and elements of hydrology. As geodiversity assessment is a rather new research area, the number of publications concerning geodiversity is growing fast. In this paper we quantified the geodiversity of a study area located at the Danube-Tisza Interfluve in the Great Hungarian Plain using the method worked out by Hjort and Luoto (2010). We wanted to know how the diversity varies in space at low-land areas applying different indexes. Geodiversity was represented by three different indexes. Total geodiversity was calculated by summariz-ing the geologic features, the landforms and the elements of hydrology found in each unit. Then we grouped the landforms by the (exogenic) processes which formed them, and the number of these processes gave the value of the geomorphologic process diversity. Finally we calculat-ed the geodiversity index by Serrano-Canadas and Ruiz-Flano (2007). The absolutely homogenous units (totally waterlogged areas and the flat sand sheets) have the lowest geodiversity. It is higher at the border of the sandy, peaty and waterlogged areas. At this lowland area there is no relationship between the geodiversity and the relief. This is the first work applying this method in Hungary, so the results are yet not com-parable.
Corridas de massa e escorregamentos translacionais na Serra do Mar Paulista: índices morfométricos e modelo TRIGRS
Authors: Listo Fabrizio de Luiz Rosito , Dias Nery Tulius
Published: July 2022

Sucessivos movimentos de massa têm sido deflagrados no Brasil, especialmente, no compartimento da Serra do Mar, com diversas perdas sociais e econômicas. Nesse contexto, após meses ininterruptos de precipitação significativa sobre o município de Caraguatatuba (estado de São Paulo), inúmeros escorregamentos e corridas, sobretudo fluxos de detritos, foram observados por toda a cidade em 1967, especialmente, na bacia do rio Guaxinduba. Assim, algumas questões podem ser formuladas: (i) qual a contribuição de áreas suscetíveis a escorregamentos na deflagração de corridas? (ii) qual o papel de índices morfométricos na suscetibilidade a estes processos? Dessa forma, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a integração entre os mecanismos responsáveis pela suscetibilidade a escorregamentos translacionais e a sua contribuição no potencial de fluxos de detritos na bacia do Guaxinduba, utilizando o modelo TRIGRS e índices morfométricos. Foi realizada uma análise conjunta entre os escorregamentos, a partir de mapa de suscetibilidade gerado pelo modelo TRIGRS, validado por meio da sobreposição de cicatrizes, e sua relação com índices morfométricos para a intensificação de corridas. Os resultados indicaram que 71% da bacia foi classificada como instável pelo TRIGRS (mais suscetível aos escorregamentos) com 67% das cicatrizes mapeadas concordantes a essas classes. As sub-bacias do Guaxinduba com áreas inferiores a 3 km², amplitudes superiores a 300 m e índice de circularidade superior a 0,5 apresentaram maiores condições na geração das corridas. Em uma análise conjunta, as áreas instáveis classificadas pelo TRIGRS podem ser fundamentais na contribuição de sedimentos para futuros eventos de corridas de massa. O uso de diferentes métodos evidenciou que a bacia do Rio Guaxinduba, em casos de precipitações intensas e concentradas ou episódios extremos, é suscetível as corridas de massa, principalmente, os fluxos de detritos.
BIOCOMPATIBLE CARBON NANOLAYERS FOR COATING LENSES
Authors: Písařík Petr
Published: July 2022

As previous studies indicated, diamond-like carbon (DLC) layers exhibit outstanding biocompatible properties. Additionally, due to high hardness and high transmittance in infrared and visible parts of spectra it is possible to utilize for application ophthalmic optics. DLC layers are suitable for coating of spectacle lenses, contact lenses and even intraocular lenses. In this paper, we focused on transmittance and wear resistance of different commercially available spectacle lenses with surface modification and lenses with DLC layer. The lens transmittance depends on base material and its surface modification. Commercially manufactured lenses exhibit usual transmittance of 90±5%, while transmittance of DLC coated lenses was lower by 15%. Wear resistance is strongly dependent on surface modification. The results of DLC layers were similar or better than commercially manufactured lenses with surface modification.
EFFECT OF COUNSELING ON KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR OF TEXTILE INDUSTRY WORKERS ABOUT NIHL
Authors: Sasongko Armabar Dwipantara , Marliyawati Dwi , Yunika Kanti , Naftali Zulfikar
Published: July 2022

Background: Noise Induce Hearing Loss (NIHL) is a work accident which has a high incidence rate of workers ini the manufacturing industry nowadays. Attitudes and obedience behavior of manufacturing workers in using personal noise protective equipments are influenced by their knowledge about NIHL. Providing information such as health education periodically is needed to increase worker’s knowledge to change their attitudes and behaviors in order to obey safety regulations and using personal noise protective equipments.Objective: This study examines the effect of providing health counseling on the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of textile industry workers regarding noise induce hearing loss.Methods: This research method used quasi-experimental research method, with a one group pretest-posttest as design approach. Intervention of this research was a health counseling and the research instruments were leaflets, modules, and lectures about noise induced hearing loss. The subjects of this study were 35 workers of textile factories. Consecutive sampling were used to get subjects. Data on the level of knowledge, attitudes, and behavior were obtained through questionnaires before intervention and two weeks after the intervention was carried out. This research was located in one of the textile factories in Semarang Regency in 2020. Statistical analysis used Wilcoxon test, Fisher test, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.Results: The result of this research show that there was an increase in the mean score of subjects’s knowledge, attitudes and behavior. Statistical analysis show that that there is a significant differences between knowledge scores (p value = 0,000), attitudes scores (p value = 0,000), and behavior scores (p value = 0.024) before and after being given health education.Conclusion: The mean score of knowledge, attitudes and behavior of workers after being given information about noise induced hearing loss is higher than the average score of knowledge, attitudes and behavior of workers before being given a counseling.
THE EFFECT OF MAT PILATES IN LUMBAR FLEXIBILITY OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE CHILDREN
Authors: Hartono Graciela Eunike , Koesoema Tanti Ajoe , Isma AP Rahmi , Anantyo Dimas Tri
Published: July 2022

Background :  Overweight and obesity are the conditions where lumbar have to bear more load, and it will decrease its flexibility. Decrease of lumbar flexibility will affect the range of motion. Based on some literatures, mat pilates will increase the ability on lumbar flexibility, however there is no evidence effect of mat pilates in children, especially overweight and obese children. Aim : To know the effect of mat pilates on lumbar flexibility of overweight and obese children. Method :This study was pre experimental one group pre and post test design with 20 subjects based on inclusion dan exclusion criteria. Subjects did mat Pilates exercise for 12 times. Lumbar flexibility was measured by Modified Modified Schober Test for lumbal flexion and extension before intervention and after 4 weeks mat pilates exercise. Data analyzed by SPSS using Saphiro Wilk test as data’s nomalities test and Paired T test as hypothesis test. Result : The mean of MMST Flexion pre and post test after Mat Pilates have increased from 3,15±0,3118 cm to 7,63±0,4 cm. The mean of MMST extension pre and post test after Mat Pilates hav e increased from 1,415±0,21 cm to 3±0,236 cm. The means of a BMI Post test (24,89 ± 0,9 kg/m2) is higher than the mean of a BMI Pre test (24,86 ± 0,8 kg/m2).The significant result proves the effect of mat pilates in lumbar flexibility of overweight and obese children which measured by MMST Flexion and MMST Extension. The result of p value for MMST Flexion is p=0,00 and the result of p value for MMST Extension is p=0,00 which both of MMST flexion and Extension are significant or different. Conclusion : Mat pilates can increase the lumbar flexibility of overweight and obese children.Keyword: Mat Pilates, Lumbar Flexibility, overweight and obese children.
THE EFFECT OF JENGKOL SEED (Archidendron pauciflorum) EXTRACT TO PLASMA MDA LEVEL DUE TO DEEP SECOND DEGREE BURN WOUND IN SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS
Authors: Kurniati Steffi , Batubara Lusiana , Wikanta Edmond Rukmana , Johan Andrew
Published: July 2022

Background: During inflammatory phase of the burn healing process, the number of plasma MDA levels tend to increase, which may cause damage towards cells and thus delay the resolution of burn wounds. Some research has been done in order to find alternative treatment for burn wound, including the application of antioxidant. Jengkol contains many antioxidant compounds which are expected to reduce plasma MDA levels, so it can accelerate the healing of burn wound. Aim: To prove that administration of jengkol extract can reduce plasma MDA level in Sprague dawley rats which were been given burn wound. Method: This experiment was using pre and post-test control group design, with 20 Sprague dawley rats as samples. All of the samples were given deep second degree burn wound which were then divided equally into 2 groups, treatment group (given jengkol extract 500 mg/KgBW) and control group (not given anything). Plasma MDA levels were then analyzed by using TBARS method. Data was analyzed using paired T-test, Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney, and independence T-test.­ Result: There is no significant difference between the mean of plasma MDA levels in pre and post-test of either control group (p=0.771) or in the treatment group (p=1.00). Using Mann-Whitney test, there isn’t any significant difference in the pre-test between control and treatment group (p=0.677) or in the post-test between control and treatment group (p=0.916) by using independence T-test. Conclusion: Jengkol extract cannot reduce plasma MDA levels of Sprague dawley rats which were given burn wound.
Zur Konzeption einer Religionslinguistik
Authors: Liebert Wolf-Andreas
Published: July 2022

Es wird eine religionslinguistische Konzeption dargestellt, mit der Sprache nicht nur in monotheistischen Religionen, sondern auch in den weniger bekannten Formen, insbesondere in losen Netzwerkstrukturen, in Formen des Atheismus und Agnostizismus sowie »säkularen« Bereichen wie Sport, Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft oder Politik untersucht werden kann. Dazu werden die Konzepte der exzentrischen Positionalität Helmuth Plessners und der Unbedingtheit Ulrich Barths religionslinguistisch verknüpft, um daraus einen Begriff von religiöser Erfahrung zu gewinnen. Religion erscheint dann als kulturelle Praxis mit der Funktion, mit diesen religiösen Erfahrungen produktiv umzugehen. Mit einem linguistischen Sprachbegriff, der die sechs Aspekte Strukturen, Ereignisse, Praktiken, Artefakte, Figuren und Diskurse enthält, kann eine dreidimensionale Matrix aus religiöser Erfahrung, Funktion und Sprache gewonnen werden, die als Heuristik für den Dialog zwischen Theologie und Linguistik verstanden wird, aber auch als Grundlage für die erwähnten anderen Formen im religiösen Bereich oder den angesprochenen säkularen Bereichen wie der Politik dienen kann.
Surfactant-free oil-in-oil emulsion-templating of polyimide aerogel foams
Authors: Farrell Erin , Jana Sadhan C.
Published: July 2022

A surfactant-free oil-in-oil emulsion-templating method is presented for fabrication of monolithic polyimide aerogel foams using monomer systems that produce fast sol–gel transition. An aerogel foam is a high porosity (∼90%) material with coexisting meso- and macropores inherent to aerogels with externally introduced micrometer size open cells (macrovoids) that are reminiscent of foams. The macrovoids are introduced in polyimide sol using surfactant-free emulsion-templating of droplets of an immiscible liquid that are stabilized against coalescence by fast sol–gel transition. Three immiscible liquids – cyclohexane, n-heptane, and silicone oil – are considered in this work for surfactant-free emulsion-templating. The aerogel foam monoliths, recovered by supercritical drying, exhibit smaller size macrovoids when n-heptane and cyclohexane are used as emulsion-templating liquid, while the overall porosity and the bulk density show weak dependence on the emulsion-templating liquid.
Geotechnical characterization of sustainable geopolymer improved soil
Authors: Al-Rkaby Alaa H. J. , Odeh Noor Aamer , Sabih Ahmed , Odah Haider
Published: July 2022

Geopolymer (GP) has recently emerged as a novel and environmental friendly alternative to conventional soil stabilization products like lime and Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which adversely affect the environment. This article emphasizes GPs produced from high calcium class C fly ash (CFA) and an alkali activator comprising sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution for sand stabilization. The experimental program includes a series of unconfined compressive strength (UCS), flexural strength, tensile strength, and microstructural analyses using scanning electron microscopy. Results revealed that UCS, flexural strength, and tensile strength of GP-treated soil were in the range of 2–10, 0.5–2.0, and 0.4–1.2 MPa, respectively (depending on the ratio of fly ash and activator). These strengths were even higher than those of cement-stabilized soil. The microstructural analysis revealed that the formation of dense calcium–sodium alumina–silicate hydrated gel (C, N–A–S–H) is the reason for strength improvement. According to the findings of this study, using a CFA-GP binder for soil improvement is a viable alternative to OPC in geotechnical applications.
Generalizing the exact multipole expansion: density of multipole modes in complex photonic nanostructures
Authors: Majorel Clément , Patoux Adelin , Estrada-Real Ana , Urbaszek Bernhard , Girard Christian , Arbouet Arnaud , Wiecha Peter R.
Published: July 2022

The multipole expansion of a nano-photonic structure’s electromagnetic response is a versatile tool to interpret optical effects in nano-optics, but it only gives access to the modes that are excited by a specific illumination. In particular the study of various illuminations requires multiple, costly numerical simulations. Here we present a formalism we call “generalized polarizabilities”, in which we combine the recently developed exact multipole decomposition [Alaee et al., Opt. Comms. 407, 17–21 (2018)] with the concept of a generalized field propagator. After an initial computation step, our approach allows to instantaneously obtain the exact multipole decomposition for any illumination. Most importantly, since all possible illuminations are included in the generalized polarizabilities, our formalism allows to calculate the total density of multipole modes, regardless of a specific illumination, which is not possible with the conventional multipole expansion. Finally, our approach directly provides the optimum illumination field distributions that maximally couple to specific multipole modes. The formalism will be very useful for various applications in nano-optics like illumination-field engineering, or meta-atom design e.g. for Huygens metasurfaces. We provide a numerical open source implementation compatible with the pyGDM python package.
Bond behavior of recycled coarse aggregate concrete with rebar after freeze–thaw cycles: Finite element nonlinear analysis
Authors: Su Wei , Sun Huibin , Wang Yiyun , Su Tian
Published: July 2022

In this article, the bond performance of recycled coarse aggregate concrete with rebar after freeze–thaw cycles is analyzed by the ABAQUS finite element method. The result shows that the finite element simulation value of the ultimate bond strength of recycled aggregate concrete specimens is in good agreement with the experimental value, while the agreement between the finite element simulation value of the peak bond slip of recycled aggregate concrete specimens and the experimental value is low; the bond strength between rebar and recycled aggregate concrete increased with the increase of concrete strength and concrete cover depth; the calculation formula for the bond strength between recycled aggregate concrete specimens with different concrete strengths and different concrete cover depth after freeze and thaw cycles are obtained.