bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a framework of potential adverse effects of interventions to improve critical thinking about health choices: A mixed methods study.
Authors: Oxman Matt , Chesire Faith Chelagat , Mugisha Michael , Ssenyonga Ronald , Ngatia Benson , Nsangi Allen , Lewin Simon , Moberg Jenny , Sewankambo Nelson , Kaseje Margaret , Melby-Lervåg Monica , Fretheim Atle , Oxman Andrew David , Rosenbaum Sarah
Published: October 2024

Background People need critical thinking skills to make well-informed health choices and avoid waste and unnecessary suffering. However, educational interventions can have adverse effects, which is often overlooked. We created a framework of potential harms of interventions to improve critical thinking about health choices. The objective was to identify potential effects and articulate potential mechanisms. We intended to use the framework to inform the development and evaluation of an intervention in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Methods We created an initial framework drawing on two earlier frameworks. We surveyed external experts using Likert-scale and open-ended items, including researchers, educators, and others, in a variety of relevant fields. We emailed the survey to an international advisory network, and all other experts recommended by respondents. We analyzed the quantitative data using descriptive statistics. We conducted a thematic analysis of the qualitative data. We revised the framework based on those results. To identify any effects missing from the revised framework, we individually interviewed a convenience sample of one teacher from each of Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Results We received responses from 38 of 70 external experts (54%). The quantitative survey data suggested respondents agreed with the initial framework overall. However, the qualitative data led to substantial revisions. The revised framework consists of categories of adverse outcomes; outcomes within each category; sub-outcomes; individuals, groups, and populations that might experience each adverse outcome; beneficial outcomes corresponding with adverse outcomes; and potential mechanisms of adverse effects. There are six categories: decision-making harms, psychological harms, equity harms, group and social harms, waste, and other harms. In the interviews with teachers, we did not identify any effects missing from the revised framework. Conclusions As far as we know, the framework is the first tool of its kind for education research. It can be improved upon and adapted.
Planificación territorial del despliegue de las renovables.
Authors: Requejo Liberal Juan
Published: October 2024

El planeta está en emergencia climática. Las políticas europeas y españolas están alineadas con los objetivos de reconversión del sistema energético adoptando medidas para reducir paulatinamente el uso del combustible fósil a la mínima necesidad y favorecer al máximo la generación renovable. Hasta aquí se registra un alto nivel de consenso. Sin embargo, el despliegue de las renovables en el territorio tiene efectos de ocupación de superficie, perceptivos y funcionales muy relevantes, tanto por su dimensión como por la velocidad de la transformación. En los debates sobre cómo debe ser conducida, orientada, ordenada esta gran operación de cambio del sistema energético surge la reivindicación recurrente de la planificación territorial como gran agente de orden. Este artículo plantea el contexto de esta planificación y aporta un enfoque novedoso con distintos conceptos específicos como ubicación, implantación, saturación o planificación de nudo. Pero antes de abordar la propuesta de enfoque y operativa de la planificación territorial es preciso discutir las argumentaciones que plantean distintos agentes sociales para que se condicione o se renuncie a las grandes plantas de generación renovable.
Code and Data Repository for ROC++: Robust Optimization in C++
Authors: Vayanos Phebe , Jin Qing , Elissaios George
Published: October 2024

ROC++ is a C++ based platform for modeling, automatically reformulating, and solving robust optimization problems. ROC++ can address both single- and multi-stage problems involving exogenous and/or endogenous uncertain parameters and real- and/or binary-valued adaptive variables.
Health visiting research: Overcoming barriers
Authors: Baldwin Sharin , Jackson Victoria , Gilroy Vicky
Published: October 2024

Research is often perceived as something that is carried out by scientists in labs or by academics in clinical trial units, and not something that many health visitors in practice can relate to. The recent national drive to move the nursing research agenda forward may seem daunting to many health visitors, resulting in them disengaging. This article highlights why it is important for health visitors to engage with research and how research aligns with health visiting practice. It explores the common barriers to engagement at every level using the socio–ecological model and discusses the ways in which health visitors can contribute to the national agenda. It is hoped that demystifying some of the research roles will make research more accessible to health visitors in their daily practice.
Using patient-reported experiences to inform the use of foam dressings for hard-to-heal wounds: perspectives from a wound care expert panel
Authors: Woo Kevin , Santamaria Nick , Beeckman Dimitri , Alves Paulo , Cullen Breda , Gefen Amit , Lázaro-Martínez José Luis , Lev-Tov Hadar , Najafi Bijan , Sharpe Andrew , Swanson Terry
Published: October 2024

Caring for patients with hard-to-heal (chronic) wounds requires a multifaceted approach that addresses their diverse needs, which can contribute to the complexity of care. Wound care providers must have a comprehensive understanding of the patient's comorbid conditions and psychosocial issues to provide personalised and effective treatment. Key quality indicators for effective wound care involves not only selecting appropriate local wound care products, such as foam dressings, but also addressing individual patient experiences of wound-related pain, odour, itch, excessive wound drainage, and self-care needs. The purpose of this review is to inculcate the wound care practice community, research scientists and healthcare industry with a sense of accountability in order to work collaboratively in addressing these unmet care needs.
Wound healing after surgical therapy for multiple myeloma: a case–control study
Authors: Shi Xiangjun , Zhou Yanyou , Du Boran , Yao Xingchen , Du Xinru
Published: October 2024

Objective:

The aim of this study was to observe the surgical wound healing process in patients with multiple myeloma who had undergone surgery.

Method:

We collected clinical data on patients with multiple myeloma and observed wound healing following surgical therapy. Additionally, we compared the expression of angiogenesis markers in patients with and without multiple myeloma (undergoing surgical excision of other tumour tissues). In patients who had multiple myeloma bone disease, we examined several clinical features: haemoglobin levels; albumin levels; blood glucose levels; and surgery programme. We then compared expression levels of the angiogenesis markers CD31, CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in samples scraped from the skin margin of the surgical incision in 12 patients without multiple myeloma (control) and nine patients with multiple myeloma.

Results:

All 61 patients with multiple myeloma observed showed no disunion, no delayed union and no infection in their wound healing. CD31 and VEGF expression was higher in the nine patients with multiple myeloma compared with the 12 control patients without. We observed no difference in CD34 expression between control and experimental groups.

Conclusion:

The results of this study suggest that patients with multiple myeloma who have undergone surgery recover well and produce higher quantities of new vessels compared with patients without multiple myeloma. This occurs through increased expression of CD31 and VEGF, angiogenic factors which promote wound healing. We did not observe higher expression of these factors contributing to increased incisional implantation metastasis.
Not Nuremberg—Histories of Alternative Criminalization Paradigms, 1945–2021: An Introduction
Authors: Mark James , Clark Phil
Published: October 2024

Abstract: The Western myth of Nuremberg has dominated understandings of the evolution of international criminal law. Enshrining the International Military Tribunal as a critical point of origin, this paradigm has developed a narrative of post-war liberal progress, in which a universal model of externally-delivered, individualised criminal justice was interrupted by the exigencies of the Cold War then rediscovered through various international and hybrid tribunals in the 1990s and early 2000s, culminating in the creation of the International Criminal Court in 2002. Often instrumentalised to protect Western interests, the Nuremberg myth marginalises the histories of a wide range of criminalisation and accountability practices that existed, both at the time and since. In this essay, we introduce alternative practices and alliances that challenged both the Nuremberg myth and the specific accountability model it propagates: from the United Nations War Crimes Commission, which contested the colonial erasures of Nuremberg at the time, to the move towards localised forms of post-atrocity justice such as the gacaca courts in Rwanda in the 2000s. The essays in this dossier question the idea that international criminal law hibernated for four decades after Nuremberg and demonstrate how ideas of criminalisation have been shaped by numerous shifting mid- to -late twentieth and early twenty-first century ideologies, such as anti-colonialism, Communism, various iterations of human rights, racial justice, neoliberalism, or, more recently, populist re-imaginings of the global. Shorter Abstract: The Western myth of Nuremberg has dominated understandings of the evolution of international criminal law. This paradigm has developed a narrative of post-war liberal progress, in which a universal model of externally-delivered, individualised criminal justice was interrupted by the Cold War then rediscovered through various international tribunals in the 1990s, culminating in the International Criminal Court in 2002. The essay introduces alternative practices challenging the Nuremberg myth and the accountability model it propagates. The dossier's essays question the supposed 40-year hibernation of international criminal law after Nuremberg and demonstrate how ideas of criminalisation draw on numerous shifting post-war ideologies.
Structural diversity of Alzheimer-related protein aggregations revealed using photothermal ratio-metric micro-spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Siming , Zhang Wenhao , Fu Pengcheng , Zhong Yan , Piatkevich Kiryl D. , Zhang Delong , Lee Hyeon Jeong
Published: October 2024

The crucial link between pathological protein aggregations and lipids in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis is increasingly recognized, yet its spatial dynamics remain challenging for labeling-based microscopy. Here, we demonstrate photothermal ratio-metric infrared spectro-microscopy (PRISM) to investigate the in situ structural and molecular compositions of pathological features in brain tissues at submicron resolution. By identifying the vibrational spectroscopic signatures of protein secondary structures and lipids, PRISM tracks the structural dynamics of pathological proteins, including amyloid and hyperphosphorylated Tau (pTau). Amyloid-associated lipid features in major brain regions were observed, notably the enrichment of lipid-dissociated plaques in the hippocampus. Spectroscopic profiling of pTau revealed significant heterogeneity in phosphorylation levels and a distinct lipid-pTau relationship that contrasts with the anticipated lipid-plaque correlation. Beyond in vitro studies, our findings provide direct visualization evidence of aggregate-lipid interactions across the brain, offering new insights into mechanistic and therapeutic research of neurodegenerative diseases.
Design of scatterometry with optoelectronic machine learning for discriminating nanohole cross-sectional structure
Authors: Sugisaka Jun-Ichiro , Hirayama Koichi , Yasui Takashi
Published: October 2024

This paper presents a system for discriminating the verticality of nanohole sidewalls on dielectric substrates. The proposed system comprises optical filters and a compact neural network with only two input ports. The weak scattered field from the nanohole passes through the filters, and the neural network processes the intensity of the focused field. Numerical simulations demonstrate that this system achieves significantly lower error rates compared to conventional systems that use an optical microscope and a neural network. Additionally, we discuss the minimum aperture size of nanoholes that can be effectively discriminated.
Coherence evolution of multi-pulse pumped super-continuum in multicomponent GeSe2-As2Se3-PbSe chalcogenide photonic crystal fiber with four zero-dispersion wavelengths
Authors: Van Le Hieu
Published: October 2024

The flattened dispersion profile with multiple zero-dispersion wavelengths (ZDWs) over an ultra-wide wavelength range can be used to generate rich nonlinear effects, and one of the advantages of its use is the generation of super-continuum (SC). In this work, we proposed a new, to our knowledge, solid hybrid PCF of GeSe2-As2Se3-PbSe chalcogenide to achieve ultra-flat and low dispersion with four ZDWs. By tuning the structural parameters of the fiber, an ultra-flat dispersion between −2.1 and 0.6 ps/nm/km (a variation of 0.75 ps/nm/km) is achieved over a bandwidth of 5077 nm. The presence of four ZDWs results in an ultra-flat and wider bandwidth dispersion profile in comparison with PCFs with one, two, or three ZDWs. An ultra-broadband coherent SC spectrum with a bandwidth of 8107 nm, extending from 2827 to 10934 nm wavelength at a level of 45.6 dB, was generated by injecting an input laser pulse with a pump wavelength of 5.3 µm, a pulse width of 150 fs, and a peak power of 4.5 kW into a 20 cm long fiber in the anomalous dispersion region. Meanwhile, high coherence of the SC spectrum from 3253 to 10850 nm (bandwidth of 7597 nm) wavelength at a level of 19.3 dB can be generated in the normal dispersion region with the same pump power at a pump wavelength of 8.0 µm. The results show that the proposed hybrid PCF has great potential for nonlinear applications in the mid-infrared range.
Learned phase mask to protect camera under laser irradiation
Authors: Zhang Junyu , Ye Qing , Wu Yunlong , Li Yangliang , Hu Yihua , Luo Haoqi
Published: October 2024

The electro-optical imaging system works under focus conditions for clear imaging. However, under unexpected laser irradiation, the focused light with extremely high intensity can easily damage the imaging sensor, resulting in permanent degradation of its perceptual capabilities. With the escalating prevalence of compact high-performance lasers, safeguarding cameras from laser damage presents a formidable challenge. Here, we report an end-to-end method to construct the wavefront coding (WFC) imaging systems with simultaneous superior laser protection and imaging performance. In the optical coding part, we employ four types of phase mask parameterization methods: pixel-wise, concentric rings, linear combinations of Zernike bases, and odd-order polynomial bases, with parameters that are learnable. In the algorithm decoding part, a method combined of deconvolution module and residual-Unet is proposed to furthest restore the phase-mask-induced image blurring. The optical and algorithm parts are jointly optimized within the end-to-end framework to determine the performance boundary. The governing rule of the laser protection capability versus imaging quality is revealed by tuning the optimization loss function, and the system database is established for various working conditions. Numerical simulations and experimental validations both demonstrate that the proposed laser-protection WFC imaging system can reduce the peak single-pixel laser power by 99.4% while maintaining high-quality imaging with peak signal-to-noise ratio more than 22 dB. This work pioneers what we believe to be a new path for the design of laser protection imaging systems, with promising applications in security and autonomous driving.
Accurate Brillouin frequency shift measurements using a hybrid Brillouin optical frequency/correlation domain analysis
Authors: Vallifuoco Raffaele , Catalano Ester , Zeni Luigi , Minardo Aldo
Published: October 2024

We report a hybrid Brillouin optical frequency/correlation-domain analysis technique, capable of accurate and high spatial resolution Brillouin frequency shift (BFS) profile measurements in optical fibers. The method relies on a conventional Brillouin optical frequency domain analysis (BOFDA) configuration, with an additional sinusoidal frequency modulation (FM) applied to the pump and probe beams. Such frequency modulation synthetizes a sequence of narrow correlation peaks along the fiber, which are simultaneously interrogated through BOFDA. Localizing the acoustic wave at the correlation peak positions, the artifacts that usually affect BOFDA measurements are efficiently removed, improving the measurement accuracy. Experiments demonstrate the technique in a 1.35-km sensing fiber at a spatial resolution of 6 cm.
Stimulated Raman photothermal spectroscopy for gas sensing in a hollow-core optical fiber
Authors: Liao Hanyu , Zhao Yan , Zheng Kaiyuan , Bao Haihong , Jiang Shoulin , Ho Hoi Lut , Gao Shoufei , Wang Yingying , Jin Wei
Published: October 2024

Raman spectroscopy is an essential optical tool for tracing gases that exhibit weak or no infrared absorption. Existing Raman spectroscopic methods are deficient for precision sensing applications due to the extremely low Raman cross-section of gas. Herein, we report an approach, named stimulated Raman photothermal spectroscopy (SRPTS), to indirectly probe stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) via detecting the induced photothermal phase modulation in a gas-filled hollow-core fiber (HCF). Photothermal interferometry enables a linear increase of the SRPTS signal with the product of the pump and Stokes power while maintaining low background noise at the idle probe wavelength. The HCF tightly confines the light beams and the gas sample to significantly enhance both the SRS gain and the photothermal phase modulation efficiency. Preliminary experimentation with a 3.9-m-long HCF demonstrates hydrogen detection with a noise equivalent concentration of 6.8 ppm (parts-per-million) under 100 s averaging time and 6 bar gas pressure, indicating the potential for high-precision gas detection in chemical, medical, and energy industries.
“When you have stress because you don’t have food”: Climate, food security, and mental health during pregnancy among Bakiga and Indigenous Batwa women in rural Uganda
Authors: Bryson Julia M. , Patterson Kaitlin , Cunsolo Ashlee , Berrang-Ford Lea , Lwasa Shuaib , Namanya Didacus B. , Twesigomwe Sabastian , Kesande Charity , Ford James D. ,   Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Harper Sherilee L.
Published: October 2024

Climate change exerts wide-ranging and significant effects on global mental health via multifactorial pathways, including food insecurity. Indigenous Peoples and pregnant women inequitably experience the harms associated with climate change and food insecurity. This study explores food security and maternal mental health during pregnancy among rural Ugandan Bakiga and Indigenous Batwa women in the context of climate change. Using a community-based research approach, we conducted a series of focus group discussions about climate, food security, and health during pregnancy in four Indigenous Batwa communities and four Bakiga communities in rural Kanungu District, Uganda, as well as longitudinal follow up interviews later in the year. Data were evaluated using a qualitative thematic analysis. Women consistently identified mental health as an important factor affecting maternal-fetal wellbeing during pregnancy. Many women identified that weather and climate extremes, such as prolonged droughts and unpredictable weather events, have made it more difficult for them to obtain sufficient food for themselves and their families during pregnancy, resulting in significant mental distress. More extreme weather conditions have made physical labour difficult or impossible during pregnancy, and resultant hunger further decreased ability to obtain food—a vicious cycle. Women described how anxiety was compounded by worry about future famine, as they anticipated further decreases in crop yields and rising food prices in a changing climate. Indigenous Batwa women experienced additional distress around their lack of access to Indigenous lands and its nutritious food sources. Overall, mothers in rural Uganda described food insecurity and climate extremes as major sources of stress during pregnancy, and they anticipate challenges will worsen. Interventions to enhance adaptive capacity to climate change are needed and should have a focus on the intricate connections with food insecurity and mental health as drivers of overall maternal health.
Participatory science methods to monitor water quality and ground truth remote sensing of the Chesapeake Bay
Authors: Neale Patrick , Brown Shelby , Sill Tara , Cawood Alison , Tzortziou Maria , Park Jieun , Lee Min-Sun , Paquette Beth
Published: October 2024

Measurements by volunteer scientists using participatory science methods in combination with high resolution remote sensing can improve our ability to monitor water quality changes in highly vulnerable and economically valuable nearshore and estuarine habitats. In the Chesapeake Bay (USA), tidal tributaries are a focus of watershed and shoreline management efforts to improve water quality. The Chesapeake Water Watch program seeks to enhance the monitoring of tributaries by developing and testing methods for volunteer scientists to easily measure chlorophyll, turbidity, and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) to inform Bay stakeholders and improve algorithms for analogous remote sensing (RS) products. In the program, trained volunteers have measured surface turbidity using a smartphone app, HydroColor, calibrated with a photographer’s gray card. In vivo chlorophyll and CDOM fluorescence were assessed in surface samples with hand-held fluorometers (Aquafluor) located at sample processing “hubs” where volunteers drop off samples for same day processing. In validation samples, HydroColor turbidity and Aquafluor in vivo chlorophyll and CDOM fluorescence were linear estimators of standard analytical measures of turbidity, chlorophyll and CDOM, respectively, with R2 values ranging from 0.65 to 0.85. Updates implemented in a new version (v2) of HydroColor improved the precision of estimates. These methods are being used for both repeat sampling at fixed sites of interest and ad-hoc “blitzes” to synoptically sample tributaries all around the Bay in coordination with satellite overpasses. All data is accessible on a public database (serc.fieldscope.org) and can be a resource to monitor long-term trends in the tidal tributaries as well as detect and diagnose causes of events of concern such as algal blooms and storm-induced reductions in water clarity.
Lightweight consortium blockchain-enabled secured Vehicular ad Hoc Network using certificateless conditional privacy-preserving authentication mechanism
Authors: Ilyas Iqra , Din Irfan ud , Alourani Abdullah , Ashraf M. Usman
Published: October 2024

Towards the intelligent transportation systems, Location Based Service (LBS) are widely engaged in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) that are becoming as significant application that change the human driving experience in today’s world. LBS systems facilitate the users with intelligent services by collecting an accurate location information. Due to the frequent exchange rate of the location information in an open environment, VANETs are inherently susceptible to privacy and security attacks. In past, many schemes have been proposed to ensure the privacy and security of exchanged location information; but fail to deploy in practical VANETs. At the same time, system efficiency is compromised which is another primary requirement of VANETs. Leveraging the semi-decentralized and lightweight nature of consortium blockchain technology, and Certificateless conditional privacy protection scheme to reduce the node authentication overhead, this paper introduces Consortium Blockchain assisted Certificateless Conditional Privacy Protection scheme to address the aforementioned challenges. Additionally, the proposed scheme has ability to develop anonymous regions for a particular time stamp ensuring the location privacy of vehicles. Rigorous security analysis and experiments show the practicality and resilience to various attack models, and achieve ADP 83% with maximum malicious attacks. Comparing with existing state of the art methods, the proposed scheme exhibits the privacy improvement and low computational complexity.
Validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the Substance Use Stigma Mechanism Scale
Authors: Takano Ayumi , Hiraiwa Chiaki , Oikawa Erina , Tomikawa Akiko , Nozawa Kyosuke
Published: October 2024

Aim

Stigma against people who have alcohol and drug problems severely affects their health and well-being. An instrument based on stigma theory assessing individual-level stigma is essential for a comprehensive understanding of their stigma. We evaluated the validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the Substance Use Stigma Mechanism Scale (SU-SMS-J) among a population who had alcohol or drug use problems.

Methods

Adults with experience in substance use disorders from psychiatry outpatient departments and rehabilitation facilities participated in the self-administered questionnaire survey. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the structural validity of the 5-factor model proposed in other language versions, and factor loadings and correlation between the subscales were confirmed. The correlations between the SU-SMS-J and psychometric properties related to substance use (e.g., severity of substance use, motivation to change) were investigated to assess concurrent validity. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients.

Results

Data from 126 participants were analyzed. The 5-factor model was acceptable with good or reasonable model fit indices. The correlations between subscales were weak to moderate, and this result suggested the SU-SMS-J assessed different but related components of stigma: enacted, anticipated, and internalized stigma from different stigma sources (family and healthcare workers). The SU-SMS-J and subscales showed moderate concurrent validity. Internal consistency was mostly sufficient, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.86 for all items and 0.66–0.93 for subscales.

Conclusions

The SU-SMS-J is valid and reliable for use among populations with substance use problems in various settings in Japan.
The SARS-CoV-2 ORF6 protein inhibits nuclear export of mRNA and spliceosomal U snRNA
Authors: Taniguchi Ichiro
Published: October 2024

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infection suppresses host innate immunity and impairs cell viability. Among the viral proteins, ORF6 exhibits potent interferon (IFN) antagonistic activity and cellular toxicity. It also interacts with the RNA export factor RAE1, which bridges the nuclear pore complex and nuclear export receptors, suggesting an effect on RNA export. Using the Xenopus oocyte microinjection system, I found that ORF6 blocked the export of not only mRNA but also spliceosomal U snRNA. I further demonstrated that ORF6 affects the interaction between RAE1 and nuclear export receptors and inhibits the RNA binding of RAE1. These effects of ORF6 may cumulatively block the export of several classes of RNA. I also found that ORF6 binds RNA and forms oligomers. These findings provide insights into the suppression of innate immune responses and the reduction in cell viability caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, contributing to the development of antiviral drugs targeting ORF6.
Bioefficiency of microencapsulated hemp leaf phytonutrient-based extracts to enhance in vitro rumen fermentation and mitigate methane production
Authors: Phupaboon Srisan , Matra Maharach , Prommachart Ronnachai , Totakul Pajaree , Wanapat Metha
Published: October 2024

The objective was to assess the supplementation with microencapsulation of hemp leaf extract (mHLE) utilized as a rumen enhancer on in vitro rumen fermentation and to enhance the bioavailability of active compounds for antimicrobial action, particularly in protozoa and methanogen populations. The feed treatments were totally randomized in the experimental design, with different levels of mHLE diet supplemented at 0, 4, 6 and 8% of total DM substrate and added to an R:C ratio of 60:40. During fermentation, gas kinetics production, nutrient degradability, ammonia nitrogen concentration, volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles, methane production, and the microbial population were measured. The supplemented treatment at 6% of total DM substrate affected reductions in gas kinetics, cumulative gas production, and volatile fatty acid profiles, especially the acetate and acetate to propionate ratio. Whereas propionate proportion and total volatile fatty acid concentration were enhanced depending on the increase of nutrients in vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMD) after 12 h of post-fermentation at a R:C ratio of 60:40 (P < 0.05). Consequently, mHLE addition resulted in optimal ruminal pH and increased nutrient degradability, followed by ammonia nitrogen concentrations (P < 0.05), which were enhanced by dominant cellulolytic bacteria, particularly Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens, which showed the highest growth rates in the rumen ecology. Therefore, mHLE, a rich phytonutrient feed additive, affected the methanogen population, reduced the calculated methane production and can be a potential supplement in the ruminant diet.
Multifunctional hybrid films made from CoT3OTx4 and CoFeT2OT4 nanoparticles inside a poly 3-hydroxybutyrate matrix and study of their impact in methyl orange photodegradation
Authors: Bernal-Sánchez Lan J. , Vázquez-Olmos América R. , Sato-Berrú Roberto Y. , Mata-Zamora Esther , Rivera Margarita , Garibay-Febles Vicente
Published: October 2024

This work aims to produce hybrid materials with potential applications in dye photodegradation. Therefore, hybrid films were obtained by incorporating cobalt (II, III) oxide (Co3O4) or cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles (NPs) with 18 ± 1.6 nm and 26 ± 1.3 nm, respectively, into a poly 3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) polymeric matrix. The Co3O4@P3HB and CoFe2O4@P3HB hybrid films were fabricated by solvent casting in a ratio of 85 mg to 15 mg (P3HB-NPs). Different spectroscopic and microscopy techniques characterized the Co3O4 and CoFe2O4 NPs and the P3HB, Co3O4@P3HB and CoFe2O4@P3HB films. The optical band gap for Co3O4 and CoFe2O4 NPs was estimated from their diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) around 2.5 eV. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the hybrid films revealed that the nanometric sizes of the Co3O4 and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles incorporated into the P3HB are preserved. The magnetic hysteresis curve of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles and CoFe2O4@P3HB film showed a ferromagnetic behaviour at 300 K. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the formation of nanocrystals, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided evidence for the successful incorporation of the NPs into the P3HB matrix. The surface roughness and hydrophilicity of the hybrid films are increased compared to the P3HB film. The impact of the nanoparticles and the hybrid films on the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) in its acidic form was studied. The photodegradation tests were carried out by direct sunlight exposure. The CoFe2O4@P3HB hybrid film achieved 85% photodegradation efficiency of a methyl orange solution of 20 ppm after 15 minutes of exposure to sunlight. After 30 minutes of exposure to sunlight, the nanoparticles and the hybrid films reached about 90% of the MO degradation. The results suggest that combining nanoparticles with the polymer significantly enhances photodegradation compared to isolated nanoparticles.
Moral distress in pediatric nurses: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Zhou Haiyan , Liao Huiling , Huang Yuanyuan , Lin Qin , Wang Xin , Li Huimin , Wu Fang , Yang Sha
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Recently, moral distress in pediatric nursing has gained academic attention, yet comprehensive literature reviews on this group are scarce.

Aims

This study aims to offer a detailed overview of moral distress among pediatric nurses, focusing on understanding its characteristics, prevalence, underlying causes, and consequences on the quality of patient care.

Methods

Employing a scoping review approach as recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute, this study will systematically search through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, APA PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases using specific search strategies. Titles, abstracts, and full texts will be independently screened by two reviewers according to the eligibility criteria. Relevant data will be extracted, categorized, and subjected to narrative synthesis to draw comprehensive insights.

Conclusion

The anticipated findings of this study will shed light on the nature, frequency, and drivers of moral distress among pediatric nurses, along with its broader implications for healthcare practitioners, organizational practices, and patient care outcomes.
Expressive rule-based modeling and fast simulation for dynamic compartments
Authors: Köster Till , Henning Philipp , Warnke Tom , Uhrmacher Adelinde
Published: October 2024

Compartmentalization is vital for cell biological processes. The field of rule-based stochastic simulation has acknowledged this, and many tools and methods have capabilities for compartmentalization. However, mostly, this is limited to a static compartmental hierarchy and does not integrate compartmental changes. Integrating compartmental dynamics is challenging for the design of the modeling language and the simulation engine. The language should support a concise yet flexible modeling of compartmental dynamics. Our work is based on ML-Rules, a rule-based language for multi-level cell biological modeling that supports a wide variety of compartmental dynamics, whose syntax we slightly adapt. To develop an efficient simulation engine for compartmental dynamics, we combine specific data structures and new and existing algorithms and implement them in the Rust programming language. We evaluate the concept and implementation using two case studies from existing cell-biological models. The execution of these models outperforms previous simulations of ML-Rules by two orders of magnitude. Finally, we present a prototype of a WebAssembly-based implementation to allow for a low barrier of entry when exploring the language and associated models without the need for local installation.
Hierarchical-Concatenate Fusion TDNN for sound event classification
Authors: Zhao Baishan , Liang Jiwen
Published: October 2024

Semantic feature combination/parsing issue is one of the key problems in sound event classification for acoustic scene analysis, environmental sound monitoring, and urban soundscape analysis. The input audio signal in the acoustic scene classification is composed of multiple acoustic events, which usually leads to low recognition rate in complex environments. To address this issue, this paper proposes the Hierarchical-Concatenate Fusion(HCF)-TDNN model by adding HCF Module to ECAPA-TDNN model for sound event classification. In the HCF module, firstly, the audio signal is converted into two-dimensional time-frequency features for segmentation. Then, the segmented features are convolved one by one for improving the small receptive field in perceiving details. Finally, after the convolution is completed, the two adjacent parts are combined before proceeding with the next convolution for enlarging the receptive field in capturing large targets. Therefore, the improved model further enhances the scalability by emphasizing channel attention and efficient propagation and aggregation of feature information. The proposed model is trained and validated on the Urbansound8K dataset. The experimental results show that the proposed model can achieve the best classification accuracy of 95.83%, which is an approximate improvement of 5% (relatively) over the ECAPA-TDNN model.
Evaluating the budget impact of Empagliflozin in managing heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: Proposing strategic policies for Malaysian public healthcare
Authors: Yong Vee Sim , Raman Sivaraj , Yen Chia How , Bahari Mohd Shahri , Zaimi Nur Amalina , Liew Houng Bang
Published: October 2024

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors such as Empagliflozin, are increasingly recommended as part of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in many developed nations. This recommendation is based on robust clinical evidence showing that adding Empagliflozin to GDMT improves heart failure symptoms, clinical outcomes, functional status, and overall quality of life. In Malaysia, where healthcare is predominantly public and heavily subsidized, the introduction of new treatments can significantly impact costs, requiring detailed economic assessments. This study evaluates the budget impact of incorporating Empagliflozin into GDMT for HFrEF from the perspective of the public healthcare system. A five-year budget impact model was developed, integrating local data such as population, drug use, costs, clinical outcomes, and healthcare expenses. In the current scenario (GDMT alone), the projected five-year expenditure is MYR 6.12 billion (USD 3.92 billion). With Empagliflozin, the total cost rises by 0.71% to MYR 6.16 billion (USD 3.95 billion), driven by drug acquisition costs of MYR 160.12 million (USD 102.64 million) and adverse event costs of MYR 211,543 (USD 135,604). However, these costs are offset by savings from reduced HF hospitalizations, fewer cardiovascular deaths, and improved renal outcomes. Sensitivity analysis identified hospitalization costs, the price of Empagliflozin, and cardiovascular deaths in diabetic patients as key factors influencing the budget impact. Policymakers can improve the affordability of Empagliflozin through strategies like price negotiations, cost-sharing, and focusing on high-risk groups to optimize healthcare expenditure while ensuring effective treatment access.
Mutational analysis of Phanerochaete chrysosporium´s purine transporter
Authors: Barraco-Vega Mariana , Sanguinetti Manuel , da Rosa Gabriela , Cecchetto Gianna
Published: October 2024

We present here a mutational analysis of the purine transporter from Phanerochaete chrysosporium (PhZ), a member of the AzgA-like subfamily within the Nucleobase Ascorbate Transporters family. We identified key residues that determine its substrate specificity and transport efficiency. Thirteen PhZ mutants were generated and heterologously expressed in Aspergillus nidulans. The growth of mutant strains in the presence of purines and toxic analogues and the uptake rate of radiolabelled hypoxanthine were evaluated. Results revealed that ten mutants showed differences in transport compared to the wild-type PhZ: six mutants completely lost function, two exhibited decreased transport activity, and two showed increased hypoxanthine uptake. Subcellular localization and expression level analyses indicated that the differences in transport activity were not due to trafficking issues to the plasma membrane or protein stability. A three-dimensional model of PhZ, constructed with the artificial intelligence-based AlphaFold2 program, suggested that critical residues for transport are located in transmembrane segments and an internal helix. In the latter, the A418 residue was identified as playing a pivotal role in transport efficiency despite being far from the putative substrate binding site, as mutant A418V showed an increased initial uptake efficiency for the transporter´s physiological substrates. We also report that residue L124, which lies in the putative substrate binding site, plays a critical role in substrate transport, emerging as an additional determinant in the transport mechanism of this family of transporters. These findings underscore the importance of specific residues in AzgA-like transporters and enhance our understanding of the intricate mechanisms governing substrate specificity and transport efficiency within this family.
B cell receptor dependent enhancement of dengue virus infection
Authors: Gebo Chad , Hardy Céline S. C. , McElvany Benjamin D. , Graham Nancy R. , Lu Joseph Q. , Moradpour Shima , Currier Jeffrey R. , Friberg Heather , Gromowski Gregory D. , Thomas Stephen J. , Chan Gary C. , Diehl Sean A. , Waickman Adam T.
Published: October 2024

Dengue virus (DENV) is the causative agent of dengue, a mosquito-borne disease that represents a significant and growing public health burden around the world. A unique pathophysiological feature of dengue is immune-mediated enhancement, wherein preexisting immunity elicited by a primary infection can enhance the severity of a subsequent infection by a heterologous DENV serotype. A leading mechanistic explanation for this phenomenon is antibody dependent enhancement (ADE), where sub-neutralizing concentrations of DENV-specific IgG antibodies facilitate entry of DENV into FcγR expressing cells such as monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Accordingly, this model posits that phagocytic mononuclear cells are the primary reservoir of DENV. However, analysis of samples from individuals experiencing acute DENV infection reveals that B cells are the largest reservoir of infected circulating cells, representing a disconnect in our understanding of immune-mediated DENV tropism. In this study, we demonstrate that the expression of a DENV-specific B cell receptor (BCR) renders cells highly susceptible to DENV infection, with the infection-enhancing activity of the membrane-restricted BCR correlating with the ADE potential of the IgG version of the antibody. In addition, we observed that the frequency of DENV-infectible B cells increases in previously flavivirus-naïve volunteers after a primary DENV infection. These findings suggest that BCR-dependent infection of B cells is a novel mechanism immune-mediated enhancement of DENV-infection.
Analiza składników deklarowanych przez producentów jako „aktywne” w szamponach trychologicznych przeciw wypadaniu włosów
Authors: Szendzielorz Ewelina , Śpiewak Radosław
Published: October 2024

Na rynku pojawia się coraz więcej produktów trychologicznych przeciw wypadaniu włosów. Producenci i dystrybutorzy takich produktów z reguły podkreślają obecność „składników aktywnych”, które według ich zapewnień mają przeciwdziałać wypadaniu włosów. Wstępne analizy wykazały, że w odniesieniu do wielu spośród takich substancji w literaturze medycznej nie ma wyników badań naukowych, które potwierdzałyby przypisywane im efekty. W celu weryfikacji takich deklaracji producentów podjęliśmy systematyczne analizy opublikowanych badań wpływu poszczególnych składników szamponów na włosy. Przeprowadzenie takich analiz wymagało jednak utworzenia listy składników szamponów trychologicznych, które zgodnie z zapewnieniami producentów mają hamować wypadanie włosów. Cel: Celem niniejszej pracy była zatem analiza dostępnych na polskim rynku szamponów trychologicznych pod kątem składników deklarowanych przez producentów jako aktywne przeciw wypadaniu włosów. Materiał i metody: Analizą objęliśmy trychologiczne szampony przeciw wypadaniu włosów dostępne na polskim rynku między lutym 2022 a majem 2023 roku. Przeanalizowaliśmy składy podane na opakowaniach oraz załączonych przez producentów materiałach informacyjnych do produktów. Na tej podstawie utworzyliśmy listę składników deklarowanych jako aktywne przeciw wypadaniu włosów. Wyniki: Kryteria włączenia do niniejszej analizy spełniło 41 szamponów trychologicznych od 16 producentów. W ich deklarowanych składach występowało łącznie 111 składników przedstawionych jako aktywne przeciw wypadaniu włosów, średnio 2,7 składników „aktywnych” na 1 produkt. Najczęstszym „aktywnym” składnikiem w analizowanych produktach był wyciąg z owoców palmy sabałowej (INCI: Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract; 10 szamponów trychologicznych; 24,4%), a następnie wyciąg z owoców papryczki chili (Capsicum Frutescens Extract; 6; 14,6%) oraz kofeina (Caffeine; 5; 12,2%). Spośród 111 składników „aktywnych” 75 (67,5%) występowało zaledwie w pojedynczych produktach. Wnioski: Producenci szamponów trychologicznych reklamują swoje produkty wymieniając rozliczne „składniki aktywne”, z których zdecydowana większość występuje zaledwie w pojedynczych produktach. Nasuwa to pytanie o naukowe podstawy deklaracji na temat aktywności takich składników, co będzie przedmiotem dalszych badań.
FATORES ASSOCIADOS A QUALIDADE DE VIDA GERAL DE ADULTOS DE MEIA IDADE E IDOSOS QUILOMBOLAS: ESTUDO TRANSVERSAL
Authors: Zuge Samuel Spiegelberg , Heck Silvia , Corralo Vanessa da Silva , Gasparin Vanessa Aparecida , Grasel Julia
Published: October 2024

Objetiva-se neste estudo analisar os fatores associados a qualidade de vida geral de adultos de meia idade e idosos quilombolas. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 130 pessoas de três comunidades quilombolas do estado do Paraná. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizado um instrumento contendo: Caracterização da população; Questionário Whoqol-old; Mini Exame do Estado Mental; Índice de Barthel; Escala de Lawton; Escala de Depressão Geriátrica de Yesavage. A qualidade de vida geral foi associada aos demais domínios da qualidade de vida, a capacidade cognitiva, a capacidade funcional das atividades básicas da vida diária, as atividades instrumentais da vida diária e sintomas depressivos. Além disso, foi possível predizer que a qualidade de vida geral dos adultos de meia idade e idosos envolviam os demais domínios da qualidade de vida, as atividades instrumentais de vida diária e os sintomas depressivos. Sendo que nas pessoas idosas, as capacidades cognitivas e funcionais acabavam predizendo a qualidade de vida. Conclui-se que a identificação dos fatores associados e preditores da qualidade de vida para população de adultos de meia idade e idosos quilombolas pode favorecer o planejamento de ações de saúde, além de indicar a necessidade de investimentos governamentais.
Proteção e acesso à saúde dos povos indígenas no Brasil no contexto pandêmico: a insurgência indígena
Authors: Rodrigues dos Santos Silvia , Finkler Mirelle , Verdi Marta
Published: October 2024

A pandemia de covid-19 no Brasil contou com um número expressivo de mortes. Os marcadores sociais foram elementos indispensáveis na compreensão de seus desdobramentos. Esta pesquisa voltou seu olhar à população indígena, sabendo que ela enfrenta problemas significativos de cunho estrutural, tendo como objetivo compreender como se deu a garantia de acesso e proteção à saúde desta população em um período atravessado por evidente política anti-indígena. Para tanto, foram analisados documentos de março de 2020 a março de 2022, localizados em plataformas virtuais, incluindo as normativas publicadas pelo Poder Executivo. Com auxílio do software Atlas.Ti® realizamos Análise Temática de Conteúdo dos documentos selecionados. Os resultados evidenciaram as articulações de base dos povos originários como ponto fundamental para a proteção de suas vidas e identidades. Sob o escopo de uma Bioética Latino-americana, cunhamos possibilidades de leitura dos achados, possibilitando sua compreensão por um viés crítico-social.