bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No-cost meals might not exist for insects feeding on toxic plants
Authors: Pokharel Prayan
Published: June 2023

Plants produce chemicals (or plant specialised/secondary metabolites, PSM) to protect themselves against various biological antagonists. Herbivorous insects use plants in two ways: as a food source and as a defence source. Insects can detoxify and sequester PSMs in their bodies as a defence mechanism against predators and pathogens. Here, I review the literature on the cost of PSM detoxification and sequestration in insects. I argue that no-cost meals might not exist for insects feeding on toxic plants and suggest that potential costs could be detected in an ecophysiological framework.
The inner mitochondrial membrane fission protein MTP18 serves as a mitophagy receptor to prevent apoptosis in oral cancer
Authors: Panigrahi Debasna P. , Praharaj Prakash P. , Behera Bishnu P. , Patra Srimanta , Patil Shankargouda , Patro Birija S. , Bhutia Sujit K.
Published: June 2023

MTP18 (also known as MTFP1), an inner mitochondrial membrane protein, plays a vital role in maintaining mitochondrial morphology by regulating mitochondrial fission. Here, we found that MTP18 functions as a mitophagy receptor that targets dysfunctional mitochondria into autophagosomes for elimination. Interestingly, MTP18 interacts with members of the LC3 (also known as MAP1LC3) family through its LC3-interacting region (LIR) to induce mitochondrial autophagy. Mutation in the LIR motif (mLIR) inhibited that interaction, thus suppressing mitophagy. Moreover, Parkin or PINK1 deficiency abrogated mitophagy in MTP18-overexpressing human oral cancer-derived FaDu cells. Upon exposure to the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler CCCP, MTP18[mLIR]-FaDu cells showed decreased TOM20 levels without affecting COX IV levels. Conversely, loss of Parkin or PINK1 resulted in inhibition of TOM20 and COX IV degradation in MTP18[mLIR]-FaDu cells exposed to CCCP, establishing Parkin-mediated proteasomal degradation of outer mitochondrial membrane as essential for effective mitophagy. We also found that MTP18 provides a survival advantage to oral cancer cells exposed to cellular stress and that inhibition of MTP18-dependent mitophagy induced cell death in oral cancer cells. These findings demonstrate that MTP18 is a novel mitophagy receptor and that MTP18-dependent mitophagy has pathophysiologic implications for oral cancer progression, indicating inhibition of MTP18-mitophagy could thus be a promising cancer therapy strategy.
Emerging roles of p300/CBP in autophagy and autophagy-related human disorders
Authors: Xu Yinfeng , Wan Wei
Published: June 2023

As one of the major acetyltransferases in mammalian cells, p300 (also known as EP300) and its highly related protein CBP (also known as CREBBP), collectively termed p300/CBP, is characterized as a key regulator in gene transcription by modulating the acetylation of histones. In recent decades, proteomic analyses have revealed that p300 is also involved in the regulation of various cellular processes by acetylating many non-histone proteins. Among the identified substrates, some are key players involved in different autophagy steps, which together establish p300 as a master regulator of autophagy. Accumulating evidence has shown that p300 activity is controlled by many distinct cellular pathways to regulate autophagy in response to cellular or environmental stimuli. In addition, several small molecules have been shown to regulate autophagy by targeting p300, suggesting that manipulation of p300 activity is sufficient for controlling autophagy. Importantly, dysfunction of p300-regulated autophagy has been implicated in a number of human disorders, such as cancer, aging and neurodegeneration, highlighting p300 as a promising target for the drug development of autophagy-related human disorders. Here, we focus on the roles of p300-mediated protein acetylation in the regulation of autophagy and discuss implications for autophagy-related human disorders.
Biomimetic Transition Metal Cluster Complexes: Synthetic Studies and Applications in the Reduction of Inert Small Molecules
Authors: Ohki Yasuhiro
Published: June 2023

Transition metal cluster complexes, particularly those containing iron and sulfur, are used as catalysts for the biological reduction of inert small molecules such as N2 and CO2. The structures of these biological clusters are complicated and the protein backbones around the clusters often play important roles in catalysis, hence reproducing or mimicking the enzymatic functions with synthetic cluster complexes remains a challenge. Appropriate assumptions and hypotheses on the relationships between the structures and functions of biological clusters are needed to develop synthetic molecular catalysts inspired by enzymes. This account reviews recent studies by the author and his coworkers on iron-containing biomimetic cluster complexes. Cubic Mo-Fe-S clusters supported by bulky cyclopentadienyl ligands on molybdenum were designed and synthesized, and their Fe sites captured and catalytically converted N2 under reducing conditions. Iron-hydride clusters, which are relevant to the active species of biological and industrial nitrogen fixation, also served as catalysts for the reduction of N2. Furthermore, various metal-sulfur clusters, ranging from a structural mimic of the complex active site of the N2-reducing enzyme to a simple and cubic [Fe4S4] cluster, were found to catalyze the biologically inaccessible direct conversion of CO2 to short-chain hydrocarbons. These studies have demonstrated the potential utility of biomimetic approaches to the catalytic reduction of inert small molecules, through the rational design and synthesis of simple yet appropriate iron-containing cluster complexes.
Fetal lung MRI and features predicting post-natal outcome: a scoping review of the current literature
Authors: Whitby Elspeth , Gaunt Trevor
Published: June 2023

The outcome for infants with fetal lung pathologies not only depends on the nature of the pathology, but the impact it has on the developing lungs. The main prognostic factor is the degree of pulmonary hypoplasia, but this is not detectable pre-natally. Imaging techniques aim to simulate these features with a variety of surrogate measurements, including lung volume and MRI signal intensity. Despite the complexity of the various research studies and lack of consistent methodology, this scoping review aims to summarise current applications, and promising techniques requiring further investigation.
Mapping inspiration in human resources: A systematic review of themes and approaches
Authors: . Vagisha , P S James , Iyer Vishwanathan
Published: June 2023

Background: This study was motivated by the need to invigorate research on inspiration, especially within the domain of management. The authors’ objective was to devise a unifying structure for theory building and provide an overview of emergent constructs on inspiration research. Thus, the incremental contribution of the study is that the authors reviewed extant relevant literature and enhanced the focus on research on inspiration in management.

Methods:  We performed a literature search on empirical studies on inspiration from 15 June to 31 August 2022. We retrieved English articles published between 2003 and 2022. The information sources were Ebscohost, ProQuest, Science Direct, and Scopus.  Risk of bias was assessed regarding review methods and the relevance of review to the research questions. We developed a data extraction sheet for the data collection process, considering the systematic review goals to ensure that all the pertinent data was retrieved.

Results: Six out of 224 articles were identified for the final review. The excluded articles did not meet the either one or all of the inclusion criteria. The results revealed that there is a vast knowledge gap awaiting empirical research which can have a far-reaching impact on society and management; for instance, the impact of inspiration on performance and the role of moderators such as spirituality, visioning capability, gender variation, and linguistic proficiency.

Conclusion:  This study recommends that research on inspiration focuses to crystallize inspiration as a construct, identify various dimensions of inspiration, and then firm up a general theory of inspiration with robust empirical evidence. There is a need to expand the scope of the IS by developing and trying out newer competing scales.
Effectiveness of multi-component modular intervention among adults with prehypertension in a village of Dakshina Kannada district - a community-based interventional study – protocol
Authors: Feren Neneh , Thapar Rekha , Unnikrishnan B , Mithra Prasanna , Kumar Nithin , Holla Ramesh , BB Darshan , Kotian Himani
Published: June 2023

Introduction:  

The Joint National Committee (JNC 7) report on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of Hypertension, defined "prehypertension," as individuals with a Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) in the range of 120–139 mmHg and a (diastolic blood pressure) DBP of 80–89 mmHg. Prehypertension is directly linked with hypertension which is a precursor of CVDs. Owing to its high conversion rate to hypertension, it is important to identify individuals with blood pressures in this category and bring about lifestyle modifications in them that can prevent them from being hypertensive and from developing cardiovascular diseases later in life. 

Methods:  

This randomized controlled trial will be done among the selected pre-hypertensive adults of all genders residing in Kateel Gram panchayat, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka. A baseline survey will be done initially to assess the level of prehypertension among the study population. To study the effectiveness of the intervention, 142 individuals will be randomly allocated using block randomization technique to intervention and control groups. A multi-component module (educational intervention) will be developed, validated, and administered to participants in the intervention group, while the control group receives standard care. Each participant will then be followed up once in four months till the end of the study period of one year to assess for changes in SBP, DBP, WHR, BMI, stress levels, and usage of tobacco and alcohol.  

Ethics and dissemination:  

Institutional Ethics Committee approval was obtained from Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore, India.  

The plans for dissemination of findings include presenting at scientific conferences and publishing in scholarly journals.
Employee-centric discussions and economic context: Evidence from Chairman speeches
Authors: . Vagisha , P S James , Iyer Vishwanathan
Published: June 2023

Background: This paper offers a thematic interpretation of patterns of employee-centric discussions (ECD) in chairman speeches during the period of 2004-2008 and 2010-2014 wherein the former is considered the pre-recession period and the latter the post-recession period. A situation like recession calls for focus on employee relations and development. In the economic context of recession, the paper suggests that the attitudinal approach of top echelons towards employees can in part be explained by the themes of ECDs through the comparative analysis of pre- and post-recession periods.

Methods: This paper adopts a qualitative content analysis approach to study the themes of ECDs present in the chairman’s speech, in the view of two economic contexts i.e., pre- and post-recession. Companies were identified from the CNX 2016 Nifty 50-stock index, then chairman’s statements were downloaded using each company’s official website which met the inclusion criteria. Data collection was from November 2020-March 2021. Thematic analysis was conducted using Atlas.ti, all ECD excerpts were extracted from the speeches based on the referring terms used for employees. Keywords were identified using Atlas.ti software. Preliminary coding of the ECD excerpts was carried out at the sentence level adopting the summative approach. Tagged codes were then used as keywords to extract excerpts concerning employees which did not have referring terms in it.

Results: The finding suggests that the ECDS have four dominant themes - acknowledgment and appreciation, confidence, employee relations, and employee value. It also indicates an increase in ECDs in the post-recession period.
Heart rate variability as a prognostic marker in critically ill patients
Authors: Kakde Yogesh , Bawankule Shilpa , Mahajan Satish , Acharya Sourya , Kumar Sunil , Gaidhane Abhay
Published: June 2023

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) can be used to assess cardiac autonomic activity in critically ill patients. Heart rate variability is termed as fluctuation in the time interval between adjacent heartbeats. The equilibrium among the sympathetic and parasympathetic subgroups of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is essential for the maintenance of systemic homeostasis and effective response to external stressors. Hence we aimed this study to determine whether heart rate variability can be used as a prognostic marker in critically ill patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 225 consecutive critically ill patients admitted to the medicine Intensive care unit (ICU) of AVBRH, Sawangi (Meghe) based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The selected participants were evaluated for 24 hours Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and APACHE 4 score. Outcomes like mortality and survival were corelated with 24 hours Heart Rate Variability and APACHE 4 score.

Results: The variables were significantly associated (p<0.05) with Standard deviation of the average Normal-to normal HRV intervals (SDANN) and Standard deviation of the NN intervals (SDNN). The variables were also significantly associated (p<0.05) with the variable High frequency (HF), High frequency/Low frequency (LF/HF) ratio. LF/HF parameter was abnormal in 86% of patients who died as compared to 54% of the patients who survived (p-value <0.001).

Conclusions: Out of the 225 participants, 20% died during the study period. APACHE 4, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, and LF were significantly and independently associated with mortality.  Decrease in Low frequency parameter of 24 hours Heart Rate Variability identified mortality with accuracy of 74% with 81.2% specificity, and 46.7 % sensitivity
Willingness-to-pay for a hypothetical Ebola vaccine in Indonesia: A cross-sectional study in Aceh
Authors: Mudatsir Mudatsir , Anwar Samsul , Fajar Jonny Karunia , Yufika Amanda , Ferdian Muhammad N. , Salwiyadi Salwiyadi , Imanda Aga S. , Azhars Roully , Ilham Darul , Timur Arya U. , Sahputri Juwita , Yordani Ricky , Pramana Setia , Rajamoorthy Yogambigai , Wagner Abram L. , Jamil Kurnia F. , Harapan Harapan
Published: June 2023

Background: Some Ebola vaccines have been developed and tested in phase III clinical trials. However, assessment of whether public have willingness to purchase or not, especially in unaffected areas, is lacking. The aim of this study was to determine willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical Ebola vaccine in Indonesia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 August to 30 December 2015 in five cities in Aceh province of Indonesia. Patients’ family members who visited outpatient departments were approached and interviewed about their sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of Ebola, attitude towards vaccination practice and their WTP for a hypothetical Ebola vaccine. A multivariable linear regression model assessed the relationship between these explanatory variables and WTP.

Results: During the study, 500 participants were approached and interviewed. There were 424 (84.8%) respondents who completed the interview and 74% (311/424) expressed their acceptance for an Ebola vaccine. There were 288 participants who were willing to pay for an Ebola vaccine (92.6% out of 311). The mean of WTP was US$2.08 (95% CI: 1.75-2.42). The final multivariable model indicated that young age, high educational attainment, working as a private employee, entrepreneur or civil servant (compared to farmers), being unmarried, and residing in a suburb (compared to a city) were associated with higher WTP.

Conclusions: Although the proportion of the participants who would accept the Ebola vaccine was relatively high, the amount they were willing to pay for Ebola vaccine was very low. This finding would indicate the need of subsidies for Ebola vaccine in the country.
Acute effects of cigarette smoke on Endothelial Nitric Oxide synthase, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and aortic intima media thickness
Authors: Ardiana Meity , Santoso Anwar , Hermawan Hanestya Oky , Nugraha Ricardo Adrian , Pikir Budi Susetyo , Suryawan I. Gde Rurus
Published: June 2023

Background. Cigarette smoking could induce endothelial dysfunction and the increase of circulating markers of inflammation by activation of monocytes. This can lead to increased intima media thickness (IMT) of entire blood vessels and result in acceleration of the atherosclerosis process. However, to our knowledge, little is known about the role of cigarette smoking in this atherosclerotic inflammatory process.

The aim of this study is to explore the link between cigarette smoking and its effect on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (e-NOS) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1).

Methods. An experimental study with a post-test only controlled group design was used. We used 18 Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) randomly subdivided into two groups: group K (-) were not exposed to tobacco smoke, whereas group K (+) were exposed to smoke equivalent of more than 40 cigarettes for 28 days daily. After 28 days, samples were analyzed for e-NOS, VCAM-1 and aortic IMT.

Results. Our results indicate that tobacco smoke can enhance the expression of VCAM-1 on rat cardiac vascular endothelial cells, resulting in a decreased expression of e-NOS level and increase of aortic IMT. Linear regression model found that eNOS level negatively correlated wiith aortic IMT (r2 = 0.584, β = -0.764, p < 0.001), whereas VCAM-1 expression did not correlate with aortic IMT (r2 = 0.197, p = 0.065).

Conclusion. Low e-NOS level and high VCAM-1 level observed  after cigarette smoke exposure which may increase aortic IMT.
Investor demand in syndicated EFSF/ESM bond issuances
Authors: Hillebrand Martin , Mravlak Marko , Schwendner Peter
Published: June 2023

European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) and European Stability Mechanism (ESM) were set up at the peak of the European sovereign debt crisis to issue bonds and lend to countries under current funding stress. This study analyses investor demand in syndicated bond issuances of EFSF and ESM from 2014 to 2020 on an unprecedented granularity level using a dataset of individual orders with statistical inference.  Particularly, we investigate orderbook dynamics for three main aspects: first, we determine the main factors segmenting investor demand. Second, we analyse price dynamics in the transactions and their relation to investor demand. Third, we investigate whether any indications of orderbook inflation might explain the increased volatility in orderbook volume.

We identify issuance tranche and tenor as the main determinants of investor demand that are largely anticipated in the notional. Further, we note that ESM is doing economical pricing, where the new issue premium tends to be lower in a market context with larger demand. Lastly, we find a mixture of an increasing number and an increasing volume of orders as drivers of large order books. This confirms that there are no indications of orderbook inflation tendencies in the analysed time period.
The genome sequence of the Coxcomb Prominent, Ptilodon capucinus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Boyes Clare ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: June 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Ptilodon capucinus (the Coxcomb Prominent; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Notodontidae). The genome sequence is 348.7 megabases in span. The assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.38 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 16,968 protein coding genes.
The genome sequence of the White-faced Tortrix, Pandemis cinnamomeana (Treitschke, 1830)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Hammond James ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: June 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Pandemis cinnamomeana (the White-faced Tortrix; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Tortricidae). The genome sequence is 426.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.82 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 19,832 protein coding genes.
IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON THE FORMATION OF QUALITATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF SEEDS OF SPRING BARLEY VARIETIES IN THE PREDKAMSK ZONE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN
Authors: Afanasyeva Darya , Kadyrova Fanyusya
Published: June 2023

The article presents the results of studies of the influence of agroecological factors on the formation of qualitative characteristics of spring barley varieties. Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is widely cultivated as a fodder, industrial and food crop. The aim of the work is to study the features of the formation of some qualitative characteristics (laboratory germination, weight of 1000 seeds, bulk weight) of seeds of various varieties of spring barley, depending on the agro-climatic conditions of the growing season during the years of their formation. The objects of the study are 14 varieties of spring barley of domestic and foreign breeding, grown in 2020 and 2021, in the Arsk variety plot of the Predkama zone of the Republic of Tatarstan. The seeds of these varieties obtained in 2020 and 2021 were used for the study. At the same time, in 2020, the weather conditions were quite favorable for the growth and development of barley plants, and the conditions of 2021 were characterized by severely dry phenomena. Field experiments were laid in 2022 in the fields at Agrobiotechnopark LLC of Kazan State Agrarian University. At the same time, seeds of spring barley of the studied varieties of the harvest of 2020 and 2021 were sown. All seeds met the requirements of the standard for seed material. Presowing treatment of seeds was not carried out. Seeding rate - 5 million viable seeds per 1 ha. The growing season of 2022 was characterized by relatively moderate temperatures and sufficient precipitation to form a high yield. Agro-climatic conditions during the years of formation of the seed material (2020 and 2021) significantly affected the quality characteristics of the seeds of the 2022 crop. It was found that the seeds of the 2020 offspring varieties (Kamashevsky, Endan, Cornet resistant, Guzel, Zhivago) had low laboratory germination - 76%, 84%, 76%, 18%, and 68%, respectively. For the seeds of the 2021 harvest, the germination rate of the Kamashevsky and Kornet resistant varieties increased by 16%, the Guzel variety - by 58%, and the Zhivago variety - by 32%. Soratnik and Zhivago varieties showed the maximum laboratory germination from the seeds of the 2021 crop, their germination was 100%. The mass of 1000 grains of the harvest of 2022 of the variants of sowing with seeds of 2020 varied in the range from 45.9 to 59.3 g. The Nord 17/2645 variety turned out to be the most coarse - 66.5 g. Sorcerer (679 g/l). The volumetric weight of the crop obtained from the seeds of 2021 for varieties varied in the range from 640 to 690 g/l. The varieties Tevkech, Rafael, Soratnik, Eifel and Nord 17/2645 showed relatively high stability of these traits over the years.
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE USE OF ORGANOMINERAL AMINOVELL FERTILIZER ON SUNFLOWER CROPS IN THE SOIL AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN
Authors: Suleymanov Salavat , Safiollin Faik
Published: June 2023

The research was carried out in order to determine the biological effectiveness of organomineral fertilizer of Aminovella on sunflower crops in the soil and climatic conditions of the Republic of Tatarstan. Field experiments were conducted in 2020-2021. The soil of the experimental site is typical gray forest, the content of humus (according to Tyurin) is 3.0%, mobile phosphorus and potassium (according to Kirsanov) is 160 mg/kg and 145 mg/kg of soil, respectively. The reaction of the soil solution is close to neutral (pH 6.6). In the experiment, a hybrid of sunflower Svetlanv was grown. The scheme of the experiment provided for the following options: control (background NPK); background NPK + Aminovell brand: Stimwell Set, 2.0 l/ha; background NPK + Aminovell brand: Stimwell Set, 2.5 l/ha; background NPK + Aminovell brand: Stimwell Set, 3.0 l/ha. The first foliar top dressing of plants was carried out in the phase of 4-6 leaves, the 2nd - 15 days after the last top dressing. Top dressing of sunflower with organomineral fertilizer of Aminovella in the phase of 4-6 pairs of real leaves enhanced the linear growth of the root system, which occupies 46.8-50.6 cm of the active soil layer against 41.4 cm at the control (without top dressing). Depending on the consumption rates, the height of plants increases from 152 cm at the control to 180 cm at the last experiment (2-fold top dressing with a consumption rate of 3 l/ha). The crude fat content decreases significantly as the yield of the greenhouse increases (from 50.7% in the control to 46.3% in the last version of the experiment). In connection with this "dilution effect", the gross harvest of vegetable oil in the variant with the rate of consumption of the drug 3 l / ha (1472 kg / ha) is inferior to the variant with the rate of consumption of the drug 2.5 l / ha (1541 kg / ha).
Network semantic-topological model of electrogenesis
Authors: Lobasyuk B. , Bartsevich L. , Zamkova A.
Published: June 2023

A network semantic-topological model of electrogenesis is proposed. This line of research can be considered as network neurophysiology. When building the model, using the calculation of multiple linear regression coefficients, we studied the interactions (functional relationship) between the amplitudes of EEG rhythms in the entire lead between different EEG rhythms and within the same rhythm between different EEG leads in right-handed and left-handed. Multiple regression equations were geometrically interpreted using polycyclic multigraphs. As a result of the conducted research and calculations, it turned out that left-handed people have more multiple regression coefficients, both when calculating within the limits of a complete lead between different EEG rhythms, and within the limits of one rhythm between different EEG leads. It is assumed that the central-parietal leads C3-P3 are the center of influence of generators of various EEG rhythms in the left hemisphere, both in right-handed and left-handed people. The obtained results indicate that beta-LF and beta-HF rhythms are the control integrative rhythms of electrogenesis in right-handed people in the left hemisphere and in left-handed people in both hemispheres. The controlling integrative rhythm in right-handed people in the left hemisphere is the delta rhythm.
Analysis of expert shortcomings of forensic medical examination of victims
Authors: Pletenetska A.
Published: June 2023

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most significant problems in both clinical and forensic aspects, and is also one of the leading causes of death and disability. Foreign researchers describe various methods of forensic diagnosis of TBI. In order to improve the quality of forensic medical examinations of TBI in Ukraine, there is a need to study the defects of expert assessment. 100 forensic medical commission examinations on the assessment of TBI in injured persons, conducted at the SI "Main Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine", in cases of changed "Expert Conclusions", were studied. The largest number of changed "Conclusions" during the forensic medical examination of corpses in cases of TBI was due to an incorrectly established injury diagnosis of 16±7.2%. Defects that directly affected the experts' incorrect establishment of the diagnosis, mechanism, age and severity of TBI were: insufficient clinical data in medical documentation materials (92±5.3%), incorrect interpretation of clinical data by experts (48±9.8%), lack of involvement of consultants (43±9.7%), failure to take into account accompanying pathological conditions (23±8.2%). Ignoring concomitant pathology in victims had a statistically significant (p<0.05) influence on determining the severity of TBI (85.7±25.9%).
Validación de la Escala Corta de Empatía (ECE) para población mexicana
Authors: Díaz Rivera Paola Eunice , Cruz Torres Christian Enrique , Martín del Campo Ríos Jaime , Duarte Barroso Juan José
Published: June 2023

Díaz-Loving et al. (1986) diseñaron la Escala Multidimensional de Empatía (ease), un instrumento culturalmente válido para población mexicana inspirado en la estructura conceptual del Índice de Reactividad Interpersonal (iri) (Davis, 1980). En esta investigación presentamos evidencias de validez y confiabilidad de la Escala Corta de Empatía (ece), una versión breve de la ease aplicada a 674 participantes (50.8 % mujeres) mexicanos (m = 22.8 años, de = 9.2), además del iri, preguntas de conductas prosociales y el Inventario de Personalidad de diez ítems como criterios externos de validez. El análisis factorial exploratorio mostró tres factores —malestar personal, toma de perspectiva y compasión— con niveles de confiabilidad adecuados. El análisis factorial confirmatorio verificó la estructura con indicadores de bondad de ajuste aceptables, obteniendo evidencias de equivalencia estructural para mujeres y hombres. Las relaciones de los tres factores de ece con prosocialidad, personalidad y sexo proporcionan criterios de validez externa del instrumento.
Consenting surgical patients for the risk of contracting COVID-19 during the hospital stay
Authors: Al Aaraj Mahmoud , Alkilani Yara , Abdeen Bashar , Yang Yu-Hsuen , Alqaisi Mohammed , Kaul Sandeep , Wain Mehmood
Published: June 2023

Background/Aims

Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative COVID-19 and are associated with high mortality. The Royal College of Surgeons of England published guidance on recovery of surgical services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. One part of this toolkit looked at unique considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular the risk of contracting COVID-19 while in the hospital. This quality improvement project sought to assess consent forms from the authors' surgical department to see if patients were being consented for the risks associated with COVID-19 during their stay in the hospital.

Methods

Over an 8-week period in October and November 2020, consent forms for patients under the general surgery department were audited four times against the Royal College of Surgeons of England's standards. Patients were included in the study if they were deemed to have capacity to consent to a procedure. Posters in the hospital, generic emails and teaching sessions were used as the interventions after each cycle of the audit.

Results

Baseline measurement showed that fewer than 37% of patients were consented for the risk of contracting COVID-19; this rose to almost 61%, 71% and 85% in the second, third and fourth parts of the project respectively. Year 1 and 2 core surgical trainees and clinical fellows below registrar level showed the greatest improvement, from consenting only 8% of patients up to 100% of patients, while specialty registrars showed improvement in consenting from 52% to 73%. The change was sustained 2 years after the initial interventions, with almost 60% of patients consented for the risk associated with in-hospital COVID-19 infection in March 2023.

Conclusions

Errors or omission of important elements in documentation of patient consent can delay operations, expose hospital trusts to medicolegal risk and ultimately may represent a failure to fully respect patient autonomy. This project sought to evaluate consenting practice during the presence of COVID-19 in society. While the teaching session showed some improvement in the consenting for the risk of COVID-19, emails and visual posters increased the consent rates further.
Reconfigurable all-optical format conversion for 16QAM/8QAM by employing PSA in HNLF
Authors: Gong Xiaoxue , Zhong Jintao , Zhang Qihan , Li Rui , Guo Lei
Published: June 2023

Extensive investigations are undertaken on the feasibility of utilizing phase sensitive amplification (PSA) in highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) to achieve a reconfigurable 16QAM/8QAM all-optical format conversion for optical data center networks. A comprehensive theoretical model is developed and subsequently verified, based on numerical simulations undertaken to explore the effectiveness of the nonlinear effects of phase insensitive amplification, PSA, and self phase modulation for the proposed all-optical format conversion scheme. It is demonstrated that the proposed scheme can achieve a reconfigurable all-optical format conversion from a 16QAM signal to two quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) signals or from an 8QAM signal to one QPSK signal and one binary phase shift keying signal with data rates of 92Gbps and 69Gbps for 16QAM and 8QAM signals, respectively.
Separating radial and azimuthal polarizations of circular Airy vortex beam via uniaxial crystal
Authors: Liu Houquan , Yuan Libo
Published: June 2023

Since Ciattoni A. et al. found that a particular circularly polarized beam propagating along the optical axis in a uniaxial crystal can generate a vortex with a reversed circular polarization, numerous studies of spin-orbit coupling in this polarization conversion process have been carried out. In this paper, from another perspective rather than the circular polarization conversion, for the first time we find that radial- and azimuthal-polarization components will be separated and finally focus on two separated focus points when circular Airy vortex beams propagate in a uniaxial crystal. Both the separation of the radial- and azimuthal-polarization components in positive and negative uniaxial crystals are investigated, and the physical mechanism of this phenomenon is explained in details. Moreover, the influences of the crystal length and birefringence on the separation of the radial- and azimuthal-polarization components are also discussed. Our results could offer deeper understanding of the propagation of light beam in uniaxial crystal and facilitate the flexible applications of circular Airy vortex beams.
Polarization-independent and reciprocity-unbroken multifunctional device with composite symmetrical structure
Authors: Zhu Chenxi , Shao Yan , Ma Shikai , Chen Jiajia , Chen Xiaogang , Wang Xinyi , Luo Yang
Published: June 2023

A design method for a dynamically tunable multifunctional device, which is insensitive to polarization while maintaining unbroken reciprocity, is proposed. The device utilizes a multilayer composite symmetrical structure incorporating vanadium dioxide (VO2). This design enables dynamic switching among the functions of linear polarization conversion, filtering, and absorption. In the polarization conversion state, the device achieves orthogonal deflection of incident waves at any polarization angle, with a polarization conversion ratio (PCR) exceeding 95%. When switched to the filtering function, a band-stop filter with a −20 dB bandwidth of 0.56 THz is obtained. In the absorption function, the device exhibits a peak absorption efficiency of up to 99%. Furthermore, the paper discusses the potential for a dual-band device based on the proposed structure. The device maintains reciprocity in all functions and effectively handles incident waves from both positive and negative directions. This adaptability and flexibility make it suitable for various applications, including switches, sensors, and modulators.
Optimization of highly inclined illumination for diffraction-limited and super-resolution microscopy
Authors: Gardini Lucia , Vignolini Tiziano , Curcio Valentina , Pavone Francesco Saverio , Capitanio Marco
Published: June 2023

In HILO microscopy, a highly inclined and laminated light sheet is used to illuminate the sample, thus drastically reducing background fluorescence in wide-field microscopy, but maintaining the simplicity of the use of a single objective for both illumination and detection. Although the technique has become widely popular, particularly in single molecule and super-resolution microscopy, a limited understanding of how to finely shape the illumination beam and of how this impacts on the image quality complicates the setting of HILO to fit the experimental needs. In this work, we build up a simple and comprehensive guide to optimize the beam shape and alignment in HILO and to predict its performance in conventional fluorescence and super-resolution microscopy. We model the beam propagation through Gaussian optics and validate the model through far- and near-field experiments, thus characterizing the main geometrical features of the beam. Further, we fully quantify the effects of a progressive reduction of the inclined beam thickness on the image quality of both diffraction-limited and super-resolution images and we show that the most relevant impact is obtained by reducing the beam thickness to sub-cellular dimensions (< 3 µm). Based on this, we present a simple optical solution that exploits a rectangular slit to reduce the inclined beam thickness down to 2.6 µm while keeping a field-of-view dimension suited for cell imaging and allowing an increase in the number of localizations in super-resolution imaging of up to 2.6 folds.
Physics constraint Deep Learning based radiative transfer model
Authors: Liu Quanhua , Liang XingMing
Published: June 2023

Deep Learning (DL) open sources libraries such as TensorFlow, Keras, and PyTorch have been widely and successfully applied for many applications in a forward model. We have developed the DL radiative transfer model over Oceans under a clear-sky condition. However, the derived physical model from the DL forward model has difficulties in predicting physical properties such as the Jacobian, because multiple solutions can fit the forward model results during the deep learning training process. The Jacobian model in a radiative transfer can calculate radiance sensitivities on geophysical parameters, which are required by satellite radiance assimilation in support of weather forecasts and for retrieving environmental data records. In this study, we introduce a physics constraint into our deep learning training for deriving the forward model that retains right physics. With this physics constraint, the radiance sensitivities are well captured by this new DL radiative transfer.
Metal-coated fluoride glass fiber
Authors: Lee Jinho , Ososkov Yan , Cozic Solenn , Pastre Aymeric , Bernard Rémy , Jackson Stuart D.
Published: June 2023

We demonstrate a new design for active fluoride glass fibres in which a metal coating instead of a polymer coating is applied. A 2-μm-thick silver layer is fabricated chemically to the periphery of the fiber, that in this case is doped with Dy3+ ions, and coating lengths of up to 20 cm were produced. The temperature rise in the core of the fiber was accurately measured using a sensitive fiber Mach-Zenhder interferometer (MZI) employing a stabilised He-Ne laser. We use this setup to show that the metal coating can achieve a reduction in the fibre core temperature by up to 22% for low launched pump power levels. A basic two-dimensional model shows reasonable agreement with the experiment. This work paves the way for the development of active fluoride fiber applications in which reducing and stabilising the temperature of the fibre is critical.
Community empowerment through participation in a tsetse control project in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Vander Kelen Catiane , Mpanya Alain , Hasker Epco , Miaka Erick , Nzuzi Ruth , Pulford Justin , Torr Steve , Perez Chacon Dennis
Published: June 2023

Gambiense Human African Trypanosomiasis (g-HAT) is a neglected tropical disease caused by trypanosomes transmitted by tsetse flies. In 2017, a pilot community-based project was launched in three villages in DRC with the overall goal of empowering community members to control tsetse using Tiny Targets which attract and kill tsetse. In this paper, we assess the community participation process in these three pilot villages over >4 years and evaluate to what extent this resulted in the empowerment of communities. We conducted a qualitative study using a participatory research approach. Together with community members of the three pilot villages from the endemic Kwilu province, we evaluated changes in project participation, community empowerment and perception of future participation at three different time points (September 2017, September 2018 and November 2021) over a 4-year period using participatory workshops and focus group discussions (FGD). We used a thematic content approach to analyse both workshop notes and FGD transcripts. The community identified five indicators to evaluate participation: (1) Leadership & Ownership, (2) Organisation & Planning, (3) Willingness, (4) Autonomy and (5) Community Involvement. The participation experience described by community members was characterised by a rapid growth of empowerment in the first year and sustained high levels thereafter. Community participants were willing to engage in potential future projects and continue to be supported by their Tiny Target project partner. However, they identified an imbalance in the power relationship within the committee and with the Tiny Target partners that limit the extent of empowerment attained. The intervention had broader benefits of community empowerment but this was limited by perceptions of being part of wider “top down” programme and by stakeholders attitude toward community participation. If empowerment is to be an important objective of projects and programmes then the needs identified by communities must be recognised and attitude of sharing power encouraged.
Clinical epidemiology of COVID-19 among hospitalized children in rural western Kenya
Authors: Tsegaye Adino Tesfahun , Sherry Christina , Oduol Chrisantus , Otieno Joyce , Rwigi Doreen , Masheti Mary , Machura Irene , Liru Meshack , Akuka Joyce , Omedo Deborah , Symekher Samwel , Khamadi Samoel A. , Isaaka Lynda , Ogero Morris , Mumelo Livingstone , Berkley James A. , Agweyu Ambrose , Walson Judd L. , Singa Benson O. , Tickell Kirkby D.
Published: June 2023

The epidemiology of pediatric COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa and the role of fecal-oral transmission in SARS-CoV-2 are poorly understood. Among children and adolescents in Kenya, we identify correlates of COVID-19 infection, document the clinical outcomes of infection, and evaluate the prevalence and viability of SARS-CoV-2 in stool. We recruited a prospective cohort of hospitalized children aged two months to 15 years in western Kenya between March 1 and June 30 2021. Children with SARS-CoV-2 were followed monthly for 180-days after hospital discharge. Bivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the clinical and sociodemographics correlates of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also calculated the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 detection in stool of confirmed cases. Of 355 systematically tested children, 55 (15.5%) were positive and were included in the cohort. The commonest clinical features among COVID-19 cases were fever (42/55, 76%), cough (19/55, 35%), nausea and vomiting (19/55, 35%), and lethargy (19/55, 35%). There were no statistically significant difference in baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative participants. Among positive participants, 8/55 (14.5%, 95%CI: 5.3%-23.9%) died; seven during the inpatient period. Forty-nine children with COVID-19 had stool samples or rectal swabs available at baseline, 9 (17%) had PCR-positive stool or rectal swabs, but none had SARS-CoV-2 detected by culture. Syndromic identification of COVID-19 is particularly challenging among children as the presenting symptoms and signs mirror other common pediatric diseases. Mortality among children hospitalized with COVID-19 was high in this cohort but was comparable to mortality seen with other common illnesses in this setting. Among this small set of children with COVID-19 we detected SARS-CoV-2 DNA, but were not able to culture viable SARs-CoV-2 virus, in stool. This suggests that fecal transmission may not be a substantial risk in children recently diagnosed and hospitalized with COVID-19 infection.
Changes in trends and patterns of glycaemic control at Ghana’s National Diabetes Management and Research Centre during the era of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Swaray Swithin Mustapha , Tetteh John , Djonor Sampson Kafui , Ekem-Ferguson George , Clottey Ruth Yawa , Yacoba Atiase , Yawson Alfred Edwin
Published: June 2023

Background

Maintaining optimal glycaemic control (GC) delays the onset and progression of diabetes-related complications, especially microvascular complications. We aimed to establish the trend and pattern of GC, and its associated factors in persons living with diabetes (PLWD), and to examine the influence of COVID-19 on GC.

Methods

A retrospective study involving secondary data from 2,593 patients’ physical records from the National Diabetes Management and Research Centre (NDMRC) in Accra, extracted from 2015–2021. Growth rate of GC was assessed, and ordinal logistic and Poisson models weighted with Mahalanobis distance matching within propensity caliper were adopted to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on GC. Stata 16.1 was utilized and the significant value set as p≤0.05.

Results

GC pattern indicated a steady deterioration ranging from 38.6% (95%CI = 34.5–42.9) in 2015 to 69.2% (95%CI = 63.5–74.4) in 2021. The overall growth from 2015–2021 was 8.7%. Being a woman and increasing diastolic pressure significantly increase the likelihood of poor glycaemic control (PGC) by 22% and 25%, respectively compared with their respective counterparts [aOR(95%CI = 1.01–1.46 and 1.25(1.10–1.41), respectively]; whilst lower age increased the risk of PGC throughout the years. We found that risk of PGC during the era of COVID-19 was approximately 1.57(95%CI = 1.08–2.30) times significant, whilst the adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) of PGC during the era of COVID-19 was approximately 64% significantly higher than the era without COVID-19 (aPR = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.10–2.43).

Conclusion

GC worsened from 2015–2021, especially during the COVID era. Younger age, uncontrolled blood pressure and/or being a woman were associated with PGC. The NDMRC and other centres that provide specialist healthcare in resource-limited settings, must determine the factors that militate against optimal service delivery in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, and implement measures that would improve resilience in provision of essential care in the face of shocks.