bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New forms of capitalization of the economic space of the region in the post-crisis period
Authors: Popadyuk Nikita , Leont'eva Lidiya , Shed'ko Yuriy
Published: September 2022

The monograph is devoted to the problems of increasing the capitalization of the economic space of the country and its regions. The characteristics of the multilevel economic space of the country at different levels of its system organization (economic-organizational, economic-regional, structural levels, including the level of territorial economic and technological structures) are given. The potential of deploying the concept of "economic and geographical location of a city (region)" as an intangible asset is shown. The directions of increasing the capitalization of the country and its regions are proposed, including the use of capitalization itself as a resource for further socio-economic progress of the country in the post-crisis period.
For a wide range of readers interested in economic issues. It can be useful for students, postgraduates and teachers of economic universities.
Minimally invasive urgent pancreatobiliary surgery in patients of older age groups
Authors: Vinnik Yuriy , Miller Sergey , Teplyakova Ol'ga , Kubyshkin Valeriy , Grigor'ev Evgeniy
Published: September 2022

The monograph presents a comparison of the results of the use of carboxyperitoneum and laparolift when performing video laparoscopic cholecystectomy and an assessment of the effectiveness of the use of the author's design tools when performing cholecystectomy from mini-access for destructive forms of acute cholecystitis. Rational surgical tactics for complicated forms of acute cholecystitis have been determined. The effectiveness of the use of laparolift in the initial surgical treatment of patients with severe acute pancreatitis with high surgical and anesthetic risk has been studied. The dynamics of metabolic manifestations of systemic surgical stress response in the surgical treatment of elderly patients with urgent pathology of the pancreatobiliary zone has been studied.
Illustrated with original drawings and intraoperative photographs.
For general surgeons, anesthesiologists, resuscitators, graduate students of medical universities and academies.
Diagnostics and maintenance of electrical installations of consumers
Authors: Sibikin Mihail , Yashkov V. , Kramzlev L.
Published: September 2022

The textbook discusses the technologies of diagnostics and maintenance of electrical installations of consumers. The features of diagnostics of electrical installations by organoleptic and instrumental methods are reflected. Statistical material is given on typical failures of electrical installation elements and ways to eliminate them, as well as regulatory parameters used in tests.
The experience of organizing an engineering service for diagnosing electrical installations and its production base is considered.
For students of the training direction 13.03.02 "Electric power and electrical engineering". It may be useful for engineering and technical staff involved in the operation of electrical installations.
Professional rehabilitation of persons with disabilities: status and directions of development
Authors: Starobina Elena , Gordievskaya Elena , Ryabokon' Anna
Published: September 2022

The monograph is devoted to the issues of vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, taking into account the modern positions set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in the Concept of development in the Russian Federation of a system of comprehensive rehabilitation and habilitation of persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, for the period up to 2025. The analysis of the current regulatory framework, the state of employment, the need for vocational rehabilitation measures is given. The main methodological approaches to solving the issues of assessing human labor capabilities are presented and the role of institutions of medical and social expertise and employment services in solving issues of vocational rehabilitation is revealed. Modern technologies of vocational guidance, vocational education and training, employment and industrial adaptation of persons with disabilities are described.
For a wide range of readers interested in the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. It can be useful for students, postgraduates and teachers of medical, pedagogical, sociological and economic universities and faculties.
Electrician's guide to repair of electrical equipment of industrial enterprises
Authors: Sibikin Yuriy
Published: September 2022

The handbook provides information on the technology of repair of basic electrical equipment — electrical machines, welding transformers, electromagnets, oil power transformers, start-up devices and power cables, as well as materials, products, mechanisms and tools used in the repair. The norms of postoperative and post-repair tests, various regulatory materials related to the technology of repair of electrical equipment are given.
It is intended for students and engineering and pedagogical workers of institutions of secondary vocational education, preparing workers of electrical professions.
History of Russian literature of the XX-XXI centuries
Authors: Serafimova Vera , Pankeev Ivan , Tyurina L.G.
Published: September 2022

The textbook consists of review and monographic chapters, presents a modern view of the literary process of the XX — early XXI century, examines the work of poets, novelists, playwrights who caused an extraordinary rise in spirituality and culture of the period under consideration. The analysis of the top works of Nobel Prize laureates is given: I. Bunin, B. Pasternak, M. Sholokhov, A. Solzhenitsyn, I. Brodsky, writers- front—line poets and prose writers. Attention is paid to the work of writers of Russian emigration. The section "Modern prose" includes materials on philosophical and aesthetic searches in the works of such writers as V. Rasputin, L. Borodin, Yu. Polyakov, B. Ekimov, A. Bitov, V. Makanin, A. Kabakov, V. Tokareva, etc.
It offers questions and tasks for independent work, topics of abstracts, term papers and theses, a list of bibliographic sources.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
Designed for students of higher educational institutions.
Deviantology - sociology and Psychology of Evil
Authors: Hagurov Temyr , Slobodchikov Viktor , Pozdnyakova Margarita
Published: September 2022

The monograph deals with topical issues of the theory and methodology of deviant behavior research. An alternative anthropological approach to the problems of classification, research methodology and anthropology of deviant behavior, popular today relativistic methodology, is substantiated.
It is addressed to a wide range of readers, including sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, criminologists, etc., who are interested in the problems of studying human behavior in general and deviant behavior in particular.
Technical Note—Bidding in Multidimensional Auctions When the Qualities of All Bidders Matter
Authors: Lorentziadis Panos L.
Published: September 2022

Measuring the “True” Quality by Rival Bidder Qualities in Score Auctions

In a procurement auction, where price and quality are evaluated by a score, the assessment criteria partially account for the “true” quality offered. The joint information of all the bids can increase the reliability of the measurement process of quality, giving better accuracy of estimation compared with the reported quality. In “Technical Note―Bidding in Multidimensional Auctions When the Qualities of All Bidders Matter,” Lorentziadis examines auctions where the score is adjusted by the qualities of all bidders, who exhibit different production efficiencies and additive separable costs. At equilibrium, the total procurement cost remains the same in the first-score and the second-score auctions. For different adjustments of the score—for example, using a weighted average of all the qualities—we find that the standard unadjusted score auction brings the highest total project cost to the buyer. Procurement managers should give consideration to score rules that account for all bidder qualities.
Anthelmintic efficacy of mango seed extract on porcine gastrointestinal nematodes
Authors:   Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, 9407 Cotabato, Philippines, Reyno Sentina Rhea T. , Gonzaga Loveille Jun A. ,   Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Mathematics, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, 9407 Cotabato, Philippines, Gonzaga Elsa A. ,   Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, 9407 Cotabato, Philippines
Published: September 2022

The usual control for gastrointestinal parasites is the use of commercial anthelmintics. However, parasites are becoming more resistant due to the frequent and inappropriate use of these anthelmintics. As a result, alternatives for these anthelmintics are becoming increasingly widespread for deworming livestock, particularly those that come from natural sources. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of mango (var. Carabao) seed extract in reducing the egg per gram counts of common gastrointestinal nematodes in pigs and compare the efficacy with that of levamisole. Experimental animals were naturally infected pigs with Trichuris spp. and Strongyloides spp. being the most predominant. The animals were administered orally with a single dose of the mango seed extract at concentrations of 600, 700, and 800 mg per kg bodyweight. The extract, regardless of concentration, was able to decrease the epg counts. Within 14 days post-treatment, there was no significant difference in the efficacies in the administration of 800 mg extract per kg bodyweight and levamisole. This comparable efficacy was sustained until 28 days post-treatment. This significant in vivo anthelmintic activity may be attributed to the tannins and flavonoids present in the extract. These results indicate that the mango seed extract is effective in controlling and reducing the gastrointestinal nematodes in pigs and may have the potential to be further developed as an anthelmintic.
Antibacterial effect of ethanolic Morus alba Linn. leaf extract against mastitis-causing Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro
Authors:   Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002 Thailand, Phengvongsone Xayngeun , Thamrongyoswittayakul Chaiyapas ,   Division of Livestock Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002 Thailand, Sukon Peerapol ,   Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002 Thailand, Aimsaard Jareerat ,   Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen 40002 Thailand, Mektrirat Raktham ,   Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand, Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand,   Epidemiology Research Group of Infectious Disease, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Published: September 2022

This study was conducted to determine the in vitro antibacterial effect of an ethanolic Morus alba L. (mulberry) leaf extract against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from mastitis dairy cows and against E. coli ATCC 25922 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 reference strains. The antibacterial efficacy was evaluated by a microdilution method to determine the MIC, MBC, and a time-kill assay by using azithromycin as a positive control. The data were analyzed nonparametric tests with a significance level of p<0.05. The quercetin content of the mulberry leaf extract was 83.187 ± 0.272 µg/g dried plant material, as determined by HPLC. The extract had MICs of 10, 20, 10, and 10 mg/mL and MBCs of 20, 20, 20, and 10 mg/mL for E. coli ATCC 25922, E. coli ECCM62, S. aureus ATCC 25923, and S. aureus SACM62, respectively. Quercetin had relevant MIC of 10 mg/ml and MBC of 20 mg/mL to the extract for both ATCC strains. Time-kill tests showed a complete elimination of S. aureus ATCC 25923 and S. aureus SACM62 after a 30-min exposure to 10 and 20 mg/mL M. alba extract. E. coli ATCC 25922 and E. coli ECCM62 showed reductions of 6.8 log CFU/mL after a 360 min exposure to 40 mg/mL M. alba extract. In this study, the inhibitory effect was stronger against S. aureus than against E. coli (p<0.05). Overall, the M. alba L. extract showed appreciable in vitro antibacterial efficacy against mastitis-causing E. coli and S. aureus strains and against reference ATCC strains
The Army and the Levellers, February to September 1649
Authors: Gentles Ian
Published: September 2022

This chapter discusses the discontents that had been simmering in the army since the end of the Second Civil War: arrears of pay. It argues that the officers had become part of the new political establishment, they too became a target of rank-and-file resentment. The civilian Levellers soon started stirring the pot again, urging an alliance of soldiers and people against their oppressors. The chapter then introduces two leading figures in the armed struggle: Corporal William Thompson and Colonel William Eyre. Thompson had been cashiered in for his part in a tavern brawl. Eyre had already been arrested for inciting soldiers to mutiny at Corkbush Field. It also looks at John Lilburne's repeated, reckless attacks on the army leadership. According to Lilburne, it was the repressive policies of the Council of Officers that obliged him to spring into action once more. The chapter examines how the new rules for petitioning sparked angry resentment. In London, the Levellers stepped up their propagandising of the regiments in the capital. The chapter then analyses how the efforts to propagandise the army intensified as Levellers distributed pamphlets among the troops.
Stratifications of the ray space of a tropical quadratic form by Cauchy-Schwartz functions
Authors: Izhakian Zur , Knebusch Manfred
Published: September 2022

Classes of an equivalence relation on a module $V$ over a supertropical semiring, called rays, carry the underlying structure of 'supertropical trigonometry' and thereby a version of convex geometry which is compatible with quasilinearity. In this theory, the traditional Cauchy-Schwarz inequality is replaced by the CS-ratio, which gives rise to special characteristic functions, called CS-functions. These functions partite the ray space $\mathrm{Ray}(V)$ into convex sets and establish the main tool for analyzing varieties of quasilinear stars in $\mathrm{Ray}(V)$. They provide stratifications of $\mathrm{Ray}(V)$ and, therefore, a finer convex analysis that helps better understand geometric properties.
Electro-optic modulation aberration correction algorithm based on phase
difference compensation
Authors: Sun Houpeng , Li Yingchun , Guo Huichao , Luan Chenglong , Zhang Laixian , Zheng Haijing
Published: September 2022

In order to achieve wide field-of-view, high-resolution LIDAR, a gating imaging structure combining an electro-optic crystal and an electron multiplication CCD is constructed. According to the index ellipsoid theory, a 3D ray tracing model is established to explore the principle of electro-optic modulation. The field-of-view and interference intensity distribution of the LiNbO3(LN) crystal electro-optic modulation are studied by using the proposed model. In order to solve the problem that the interference light intensity at the edge of the field-of-view of crystal electro-optic modulation is not homogeneous, we study and propose an electro-optic modulation aberration correction algorithm based on phase difference compensation. The corrected interference light intensity at the edge of the field-of-view increased from 0.87 to 0.94. Finally, a LIDAR imaging simulation system is established to image the target at a distance of 2000 m. The results show that under the condition of a 1° wide field-of-view, the imaging accuracy of the system is 5 mm, and the average imaging error introduced by the crystal electro-optic modulation is less than 2 cm.
Tunable plasmon refractive index sensor and slow light characteristics based on a stub coupled with an ellipse resonator and its derived structure
Authors: Qi Yunping , Chen Haowen , Zhao Shiyu , Wen Yujiao , Wang Xiangxian
Published: September 2022

In this paper, a structure consisting of a stub metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide coupled with an ellipse resonator is proposed. The finite element method (FEM) is used to analyze the transmission characteristics and magnetic field distributions of the structure in detail. The basic structure can support triple Fano resonances. In addition, multi-spectrum characteristics can be achieved by increasing the complexity of the structure. All Fano resonances can be tuned by altering the geometric parameters of the structure. Furthermore, each of the proposed structures has applications in both sensing and slow light devices. The maximum sensitivity of refractive index sensing is up to 1400 nm/RIU. The MIM waveguide structures have potential applications in the field of on-chip optical integration.
Fused silica ablation by double ultrashort laser pulses with dual wavelength and variable delays
Authors: Gaudfrin K. , Lopez J. , Gemini L. , Delaigue M. , Hönninger C. , Kling R. , Duchateau G.
Published: September 2022

Today, glass and other similar dielectric materials are widely used in modern manufacturing. However, glass is a brittle and a heat sensitive material. Laser technology is used to process glass but quality and throughput are still a key issue. In the present paper, we investigate dual-wavelength double ultrashort laser pulses in order to control free electrons dynamics and subsequent ablation for fused silica processing, and further improve the understanding of this laser-material interaction. We used a high average power Yb-doped femtosecond laser source (100 W) with two optical lines exhibiting different pulse durations and wavelengths (500 fs at 515 nm; and 1 or 10 ps at 1030 nm) with various fluences and delays. The best configuration in terms of ablation efficiency is expected to take place when the green pulse first induces free electrons, followed by their heating by the red pulse. The obtained results are discussed in terms of optical transmission as well as ablated volume, and are compared with single pulse ablation. Our experimental results are supported by absorbed energy density calculations based on a model considering the two-color laser induced electron dynamics, including photoionization, laser heating of free electrons, and their recombination. We demonstrate that there is an optimal cooperating effect between the two sub-pulses for a 1-ps delay, nevertheless there is no beneficial effect in splitting the beam for optimizing fused silica ablation compared with the single-pulse green configuration.
Possibility of compromising the security of free space optics communications caused by scattering on fog particles
Authors: Barcik Peter , Wilfert Otakar
Published: September 2022

The paper presents experimental verification of coexistence and entry into a free space optical link channel. A numerical model, which describes the properties of the LOS (Line of Sight) channel and NLOS (Non-Line of Sight) channel, was formulated and experimentally verified. Experimental work includes an outdoor fog experiment which confirms theoretical predictions. It has been shown that under certain optimal conditions (sufficient transmitting power, dense fog, optimal eavesdropper’s receiver distance and optimal angle between the eavesdropper’s receiver and the axis of the wireless optical link) unauthorized reception is possible.
Internal structuring of gallium arsenide using short laser pulses
Authors: Das Amlan , Wang Andong , Utéza Olivier , Grojo David
Published: September 2022

Laser writing inside semiconductors attracts attention as a possible route for three-dimensional integration in advanced micro technologies. In this context, gallium arsenide (GaAs) is a material for which the best conditions for laser internal modification (LIM) have not been established yet. We address this question by using laser pulses at a fixed wavelength of 1550-nm. A large parameter space is investigated including the response to the applied pulse energy, pulse duration (from femtosecond to nanosecond) and the focusing conditions. We report that well-defined and reproducible internal modifications are achievable with tightly focused nanosecond pulses. The measured writing thresholds are systematically compared to those obtained in silicon (Si), a more extensively studied material. In comparison to Si, we also observe that GaAs is more prone to filamentation effects affecting the modification responses. The reported specific observations for LIM of GaAs should facilitate the future process developments for applications in electronics or photonics.
Wavelength drift suppression of a semiconductor laser with filtered optical feedback from a fiber-optic loop using active phase-delay control
Authors: Mitul Abu Farzan , Han Ming
Published: September 2022

We present a method to suppress the wavelength drift of a semiconductor laser with filtered optical feedback from a long fiber-optic loop. The laser wavelength is stabilized to the filter peak through actively controlling the phase delay of the feedback light. Steady-state analysis of the laser wavelength is performed to illustrate the method. Experimentally, the wavelength drift was reduced by 75% compared to the case without phase delay control. The active phase delay control had negligible effect on the line narrowing performance of the filtered optical feedback to the limit of the measurement resolution.
Limitations of frequency stability transfer in the near infrared using a fiber-based ring cavity
Authors: Steshchenko Tatiana , Manamanni Karim , Mouhamad Haniffe , Roncin Vincent , Du-Burck Frédéric
Published: September 2022

We describe a fiber ring cavity for transferring frequency stability from a metrological optical reference at 1542 nm to tunable lasers covering 100 nm around 1.55 µm and show a stability transfer to the 10−15 level in relative value. The optical length of the ring is controlled by two actuators: a cylindrical piezoelectric tube (PZT) actuator on which a portion of the fiber is coiled and glued for fast corrections (vibrations) acting on the length of the fiber, and a Peltier module for slow corrections acting on its temperature. We characterize the stability transfer and analyze the limitations imposed by two critical effects in the setup: Brillouin backscattering and the polarization modulation generated by the electro-optic modulators (EOMs) used in the error signal detection scheme. We show that it is possible to reduce the impact of these limitations to a level below the detection threshold imposed by the servo noise. We also show that in the long term, the limitation to the stability transfer is a thermal sensitivity of –550 Hz/K/nm which could be reduced by active control of the ambient temperature.
Estimation of the firing behaviour of a complete motoneuron pool by combining electromyography signal decomposition and realistic motoneuron modelling
Authors: Caillet Arnault H. , Phillips Andrew T. M. , Farina Dario , Modenese Luca
Published: September 2022

Our understanding of the firing behaviour of motoneuron (MN) pools during human voluntary muscle contractions is currently limited to electrophysiological findings from animal experiments extrapolated to humans, mathematical models of MN pools not validated for human data, and experimental results obtained from decomposition of electromyographical (EMG) signals. These approaches are limited in accuracy or provide information on only small partitions of the MN population. Here, we propose a method based on the combination of high-density EMG (HDEMG) data and realistic modelling for predicting the behaviour of entire pools of motoneurons in humans. The method builds on a physiologically realistic model of a MN pool which predicts, from the experimental spike trains of a smaller number of individual MNs identified from decomposed HDEMG signals, the unknown recruitment and firing activity of the remaining unidentified MNs in the complete MN pool. The MN pool model is described as a cohort of single-compartment leaky fire-and-integrate (LIF) models of MNs scaled by a physiologically realistic distribution of MN electrophysiological properties and driven by a spinal synaptic input, both derived from decomposed HDEMG data. The MN spike trains and effective neural drive to muscle, predicted with this method, have been successfully validated experimentally. A representative application of the method in MN-driven neuromuscular modelling is also presented. The proposed approach provides a validated tool for neuroscientists, experimentalists, and modelers to infer the firing activity of MNs that cannot be observed experimentally, investigate the neuromechanics of human MN pools, support future experimental investigations, and advance neuromuscular modelling for investigating the neural strategies controlling human voluntary contractions.
Modeling enculturated bias in entrainment to rhythmic patterns
Authors: Kaplan Thomas , Cannon Jonathan , Jamone Lorenzo , Pearce Marcus
Published: September 2022

Long-term and culture-specific experience of music shapes rhythm perception, leading to enculturated expectations that make certain rhythms easier to track and more conducive to synchronized movement. However, the influence of enculturated bias on the moment-to-moment dynamics of rhythm tracking is not well understood. Recent modeling work has formulated entrainment to rhythms as a formal inference problem, where phase is continuously estimated based on precise event times and their correspondence to timing expectations: PIPPET (Phase Inference from Point Process Event Timing). Here we propose that the problem of optimally tracking a rhythm also requires an ongoing process of inferring which pattern of event timing expectations is most suitable to predict a stimulus rhythm. We formalize this insight as an extension of PIPPET called pPIPPET (PIPPET with pattern inference). The variational solution to this problem introduces terms representing the likelihood that a stimulus is based on a particular member of a set of event timing patterns, which we initialize according to culturally-learned prior expectations of a listener. We evaluate pPIPPET in three experiments. First, we demonstrate that pPIPPET can qualitatively reproduce enculturated bias observed in human tapping data for simple two-interval rhythms. Second, we simulate categorization of a continuous three-interval rhythm space by Western-trained musicians through derivation of a comprehensive set of priors for pPIPPET from metrical patterns in a sample of Western rhythms. Third, we simulate iterated reproduction of three-interval rhythms, and show that models configured with notated rhythms from different cultures exhibit both universal and enculturated biases as observed experimentally in listeners from those cultures. These results suggest the influence of enculturated timing expectations on human perceptual and motor entrainment can be understood as approximating optimal inference about the rhythmic stimulus, with respect to prototypical patterns in an empirical sample of rhythms that represent the music-cultural environment of the listener.
Aging-regulated TUG1 is dispensable for endothelial cell function
Authors: Gimbel Anna Theresa , Koziarek Susanne , Theodorou Kosta , Schulz Jana Felicitas , Stanicek Laura , Kremer Veerle , Ali Tamer , Günther Stefan , Kumar Sandeep , Jo Hanjoong , Hübner Norbert , Maegdefessel Lars , Dimmeler Stefanie , van Heesch Sebastiaan , Boon Reinier A.
Published: September 2022

The evolutionary conserved Taurine Upregulated Gene 1 (TUG1) is a ubiquitously expressed gene that is one of the highest expressed genes in human and rodent endothelial cells (ECs). We here show that TUG1 expression decreases significantly in aging mouse carotid artery ECs and human ECs in vitro, indicating a potential role in the aging endothelial vasculature system. We therefore investigated if, and how, TUG1 might function in aging ECs, but despite extensive phenotyping found no alterations in basal EC proliferation, apoptosis, barrier function, migration, mitochondrial function, or monocyte adhesion upon TUG1 silencing in vitro. TUG1 knockdown did slightly and significantly decrease cumulative sprout length upon vascular endothelial growth factor A stimulation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), though TUG1-silenced HUVECs displayed no transcriptome-wide mRNA expression changes explaining this effect. Further, ectopic expression of the highly conserved and recently discovered 153 amino acid protein translated from certain TUG1 transcript isoforms did not alter angiogenic sprouting in vitro. Our data show that, despite a high expression and strong evolutionary conservation of both the TUG1 locus and the protein sequence it encodes, TUG1 does not seem to play a major role in basic endothelial cell function.
The influence of personal care products on ozone-skin surface chemistry
Authors: Morrison Glenn , Eftekhari Azin , Fan Aixing , Majluf Francesca , Krechmer Jordan E.
Published: September 2022

Personal care products are increasingly being marketed to protect skin from the potentially harmful effects of air pollution. Here, we experimentally measure ozone deposition rates to skin and the generation rates and yields of oxidized products from bare skin and skin coated with various lotion formulations. Lotions reduced the ozone flux to the skin surface by 12% to 25%; this may be due to dilution of reactive skin lipids with inert lotion compounds or by reducing ozone diffusivity within the resulting mixture. The yields of volatile squalene oxidation products were 25% to 70% lower for a commercial sunscreen and for a base lotion with an added polymer or with antioxidants. Lower yields are likely due to competitive reactions of ozone with lotion ingredients including some ingredients that are not intended to be ozone sinks. The dynamics of the emissions of squalene ozonation product 6 methyl-2-heptenone (6MHO) suggest that lotions can dramatically reduce the solubility of products in the skin film. While some lotions appear to reduce the rate of oxidation of squalene by ozone, this evidence does not yet demonstrate that the lotions reduce the impact of air pollution on skin health.
To mask or not to mask: Debunking the myths of mask-wearing during COVID-19 across cultures
Authors: Chen Rong , Fwu Bih-Jen , Yang Tong-Rong , Chen Yi-Kai , Tran Quang-Anh Ngo
Published: September 2022

Mask-wearing is the simplest yet most effective preventive behavior during COVID-19. However, it has sparked great controversy, particularly in America. Little is known about what psychosocial factors predict people’s decision to mask. This research challenges three myths about mask-wearing. First, does mask-wearing provide a false sense of security? Second, is knowledge of COVID-19 a more robust predictor than political ideology of mask-wearing behavior? Third, does resistance to masks reflect anti-authoritarianism or a lack of trust in government? With nationally representative samples across two cultures (N = 1,121), findings reveal a significant positive correlation between mask-wearing and other preventive behaviors. Moreover, knowledge of COVID-19 and trust in government significantly predicted mask-wearing. Implications of the results are also discussed in the cross-cultural context. Critically, findings could provide practical implications for public education and policymaking by uncovering how to more effectively promote compliance with recommended preventive behaviors during our ongoing struggle with COVID-19.
A novel quantitative computer-assisted drug-induced liver injury causality assessment tool (DILI-CAT)
Authors: Tillmann Hans L. , Suzuki Ayako , Merz Michael , Hermann Richard , Rockey Don C.
Published: September 2022

Background and aims

We hypothesized that a drug’s clinical signature (or phenotype) of liver injury can be assessed and used to quantitatively develop a computer-assisted DILI causality assessment-tool (DILI-CAT). Therefore, we evaluated drug-specific DILI-phenotypes for amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMX/CLA), cefazolin, cyproterone, and Polygonum multiflorum using data from published case series, to develop DILI-CAT scores for each drug.

Methods

Drug specific phenotypes were made up of the following three clinical features: (1) latency, (2) R-value, and (3) AST/ALT ratio. A point allocation system was developed with points allocated depending on the variance from the norm (or “core”) for the 3 variables in published datasets.

Results

The four drugs had significantly different phenotypes based on latency, R-value, and AST/ALT ratio. The median cyproterone latency was 150 days versus < 43 days for the other three drugs (median: 26 for AMX/CLA, 20 for cefazolin, and 20 for Polygonum multiflorum; p<0.001). The R-value for the four drugs was also significantly different among drugs (cyproterone [median 12.4] and Polygonum multiflorum [median 10.9]) from AMX/CLA [median 1.44] and cefazolin [median 1.57; p<0.001]). DILI-CAT scores effectively separated cyproterone and Polygonum multiflorum from AMX/CLA and cefazolin, respectively (p<0.001). As expected, because of phenotypic overlap, AMX/CLA and cefazolin could not be well differentiated.

Conclusions

DILI-CAT is a data-driven, diagnostic tool built to define drug-specific phenotypes for DILI adjudication. The data provide proof of principle that a drug-specific, data-driven causality assessment tool can be developed for different drugs and raise the possibility that such a process could enhance causality assessment methods.
An explorative study with convenience vegetables in urban Nigeria—The Veg-on-Wheels intervention
Authors: Snoek Harriette M. , Raaijmakers Ireen , Lawal Oluranti M. , Reinders Machiel J.
Published: September 2022

Nigerian consumers have been found to view vegetables as healthy and health is a principal motivation for consumption; however, consumers also experience barriers related to preparation time and availability of vegetables. We therefore conducted a Veg-on-Wheels intervention, in which ready-to-cook, washed and pre-cut green leafy vegetables (GLV) were kept cool and sold for five weeks at convenient locations near workplaces and on the open market in Akure, Nigeria. Surveys were conducted prior to the intervention with 680 consumers and during the final week of the intervention with 596 consumers near workplaces and 204 consumers at the open market. Both buyers and non-buyers of the intervention were included; 49% buyers in the workplace sample and 47% in the open market sample. The Veg-on-Wheels intervention was successful, with high awareness, positive attitudes and high customer satisfaction. GLV intake was higher for Veg-on-Wheels buyers compared with non-buyers after the intervention, i.e., 10.8 vs. 8.0 portions per week, respectively. Also the intake of other vegetables was higher in the intervention group. The motives and barriers for buyers and non-buyers differed across the selling locations: main barriers were trust in the vendor and GLV source. These trust issues and vendor preferences were viewed as more important to respondents at the market than those near workplaces. This study is the first intervention study on the selling of ready-to-cook convenience vegetables in urban Nigeria. It shows that a market exists for convenience vegetables and that they have the potential to increase vegetable intake. Insights on both the food environment and consumers’ motives and behaviour was crucial for designing and evaluating the intervention.
Double burden of malnutrition in Nepal: A trend analysis of protein-energy malnutrition and High Body Mass Index using the data from Global Burden of Disease 2010–2019
Authors: Pradhananga Priza , Shrestha Archana , Adhikari Nabin , Shrestha Namuna , Adhikari Mukesh , Ide Nicole , Dhungel Saurya , Bajracharya Swornim , Aryal Anu
Published: September 2022

Background

The co-existence of undernutrition and overnutrition is a global public health threat. We aim to report the burden of both nutritional deficiency (Protein-Energy Malnutrition) and overweight (high Body Mass Index) in Nepal over a decade (2010–2019) and observe the changes through trend charts.

Methods

We did a secondary data analysis using the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)’s Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database to download age-standardized data on Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) and high Body Mass Index (BMI). We presented the trend of death, Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), Years of Life Lost (YLL), and Years Lost due to Disability (YLD) of PEM and high BMI in Nepal from 2010 to 2019 and also compared data for 2019 among South Asian countries.

Results

Between 2010 and 2019, in Nepal, the Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) due to PEM were declining while high BMI was in increasing trend. Sex-specific trends revealed that females had higher DALYs for PEM than males. In contrast, males had higher DALYs for high BMI than females. In 2019, Nepal had the highest death rate for PEM (5.22 per 100,000 populations) than any other South Asian country. The burden of PEM in terms of DALY was higher in under-five children (912 per 100,000 populations) and elderly above 80 years old (808.9 per 100,000 populations), while the population aged 65–69 years had the highest burden of high BMI (5893 per 100,000 populations). In the last decade, the DALYs for risk factors contributing to PEM such as child growth failure (stunting and wasting), unsafe water, sanitation and handwashing, and sub-optimal breastfeeding have declined in Nepal. On the contrary, the DALYs for risk factors contributing to high BMI, such as a diet high in sugar-sweetened beverages, a diet high in trans fatty acid, and low physical activity, have increased. This could be a possible explanation for the increasing trend of high BMI and decreasing trend of PEM.

Conclusion

Rapidly growing prevalence of high BMI and the persistent existence of undernutrition indicate the double burden of malnutrition in Nepal. Public health initiatives should be planned to address this problem.
Bayesian regression and model selection for isothermal titration calorimetry with enantiomeric mixtures
Authors: Nguyen Trung Hai , La Van N. T. , Burke Kyle , Minh David D. L.
Published: September 2022

Bayesian regression is performed to infer parameters of thermodynamic binding models from isothermal titration calorimetry measurements in which the titrant is an enantiomeric mixture. For some measurements the posterior density is multimodal, indicating that additional data with a different protocol are required to uniquely determine the parameters. Models of increasing complexity—two-component binding, racemic mixture, and enantiomeric mixture—are compared using model selection criteria. To precisely estimate one of these criteria, the Bayes factor, a variation of bridge sampling is developed.
Comparison of rheumatoid arthritis composite disease activity indices and residual activity in a Brazilian multicenter study- REAL study
Authors: Santos Isabela Araújo , Donizeti Ribeiro de Oliveira Renê , Couto Luna Almeida Sergio , Vargas-Santos Ana Beatriz , Balbino Chaves Amorim Rodrigo , Monteiro Gomides Ana Paula , de Albuquerque Cleandro Pires , Barros Bertolo Manoel , Brandão Resende Guimarães Maria Fernanda , da Costa Pinto Maria Raquel , Gomes Resende Gustavo , Dalva Neubarth Giorgi Rina , de Carvalho Saciloto Nathalia , Radominski Sebastião Cezar , Borghi Fernanda Maria , Rossi Bonfiglioli Karina , Carrico da Silva Henrique , de Fatima L. da Cunha Sauma Maria , Alves Pereira Ivanio , Werner de Castro Glaucio Ricardo , Viegas Brenol Claiton , Machado Xavier Ricardo , Maria Henrique Mota Licia , Louzada-Junior Paulo , da Rocha Castelar-Pinheiro Geraldo
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) composite disease activity indices have become handy tools in daily clinical practice and crucial in defining remission or low disease activity, the main target of the RA treatment. However, there is no definition of the best index to assess disease activity in clinical practice.

Objectives

To compare the residual activity among the indices with the ACR/EULAR remission criteria (Boolean method) to identify the most feasible for assessing remission in daily practice, also considering correlation and concordance, sensibility, and specificity.

Patients and methods

We selected 1116 patients with established RA from the real-life rheumatoid arthritis study database—REAL. The composite disease activity indices—DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP, SDAI, and CDAI–and their components were compared to the Boolean method to identify residual activity using binomial regression. The indices were analyzed for correlation and agreement using the Spearman index and weighted kappa. The chi-square test evaluated sensibility and specificity for remission based on the Boolean method.

Results

DAS28-CRP overestimated remission and confirmed higher residual activity than SDAI and CDAI. The indices showed good correlation and agreement, with a better relationship between SDAI and CDAI (k:0,88). CDAI and SDAI showed higher sensitivity and specificity for remission based on the Boolean method. CDAI was performed in 99% of patients, while DAS28 and SDAI were completed in approximately 85%.

Conclusions

Although all composite indices of activity can be used in clinical practice and showed good agreement, CDAI and SDAI have better performance in evaluating remission based on the Boolean method, showing less residual activity and higher sensibility and specificity. In addition, CDAI seems to be more feasible for disease activity evaluation in daily clinical practice, especially in developing countries.
Adolescent on the bridge: Transitioning adolescents living with HIV to an adult clinic, in Ghana, to go or not to go?
Authors: Agambire Ramatu , Mchunu Gugu G. , Naidoo Joanne R.
Published: September 2022

Background

Children survive into adult life with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which previously would have been lethal in early childhood.

Methods

The study aimed to describe the current transitional process for Adolescents Living with HIV (ALHIV) in a resource-limited setting in Ashanti Region, Ghana. The study was an explorative study that used an interpretive paradigm. A semi-structured interview guide was used to interview ALHIV, selected by purposive sampling. The study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Kumasi. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Transitioning of ALHIV was done without any guide; the themes generated were on the process of transition in which they used age (13 and above) and disclosure as the criterion to move ALHIV to the adult clinic. Most adolescents complained about being stigmatised, the attitude of staff, interruption of school and separation anxiety as experiences they went through during the transitioning process. On improving transition, ALHIV felt sexual and reproductive health services, information on treatment, privacy, and support were necessary transition components.

Conclusion

The use of age and disclosure of status as a criterion for transitioning ALHIV affects moving and retaining this age group in HIV management programs in the adult clinics. There is, therefore, an urgent need for a guideline as the current transition process defeats the purpose of providing adolescents with age-specific care in the Adult Clinic.
Intracellular cytokine detection based on flow cytometry in hemocytes from Galleria mellonella larvae: A new protocol
Authors: Wrońska Anna Katarzyna , Kaczmarek Agata , Sobich Justyna , Grzelak Sylwia , Boguś Mieczysława Irena
Published: September 2022

Invertebrates are becoming increasingly popular models for research on the immune system. The innate immunity possessed by insects shows both structural and functional similarity to the resistance displayed by mammals, and many processes occurring in insect hemocytes are similar to those that occur in mammals. However, the use of insects as research models requires the development of methods for working with hemocytes. The aim of this study was to develop a protocol for intracellular cytokine detection inGalleria mellonellalarvae hemocytes based on flow cytometry. It describes the anticoagulant composition of the buffer, the optimal conditions for hemocyte permeabilization and fixation, as well as the conditions of cell centrifugation to prevent cell disintegration. A key element is the selection of staining conditions, especially the length of the incubation time with the primary antibody, which turned out to be much longer than recommended for mammalian cells. The development of these individual steps allowed for the creation of a reproducible protocol for cytokine detection using flow cytometry in wax moth hemocytes. This will certainly facilitate the development of further protocols allowing for wider use of insect cells in immunological research.
Use of insecticide treated nets in children under five and children of school age in Nigeria: Evidence from a secondary data analysis of demographic health survey
Authors: Ujuju Chinazo N. , Okoronkwo Chukwu , Okoko Okefu Oyale , Akerele Adekunle , Okorie Chibundo N. , Adebayo Samson Babatunde
Published: September 2022

Background and objective

Use of insecticide treated nets (ITN), one of the most cost-effective malaria interventions contributes to malaria cases averted and reduction in child mortality. We explored the use of ITN in children under five (CU5) and children of school age to understand factors contributing to ITN use.

Methods

A cross-sectional study analyzed 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data. The outcome variable was CU5 or children of school age who slept under ITN the night before the survey. Independentvariables include child sex, head of household’s sex, place of residence, state, household owning radio and television, number of household members, wealth quintile, years since ITN was obtained and level of malaria endemicity. Multi-level logistic regression model was used to access factors associated with ITN use among children.

Results

In total, 32,087 CU5 and 54,692 children of school age were examined with 74.3% of CU5 and 57.8% of children of school age using ITN the night before the survey. While seven states had more than 80% of CU5 who used ITN, only one state had over 80% of school children who used ITN. ITN use in CU5 is associated with living in rural area (aOR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.26) and residing in meso endemic area (aOR = 3.1, 95% CI 2.89 to 3.54). While In children of school age, use of ITN was associated with female headed households (aOR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.19), meso (aOR = 3.17, 95% CI 2.89 to 3.47) and hyper (aOR = 14.9, 95% CI 12.99 to 17.07) endemic areas. Children residing in larger households were less likely to use ITN.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated increased use of ITN in CU5 from poor households and children living in rural and malaria endemic areas. Findings provide some policy recommendations for increasing ITN use in school children.