bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acceptance and willingness to pay for COVID-19 vaccine among school teachers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Shitu Kegnie , Wolde Maereg , Handebo Simegnew , Kassie Ayenew 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Vaccination is one of the strategies to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and cost are important factors affecting its uptake. However, little is known about acceptance and willingness to pay (WTP) for the vaccine.

Objective
This study aimed to assess acceptance and WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine and its associated factors among school teachers.

Methods
An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among school teachers. A stratified simple random sampling technique was employed to select the participants. The contingent valuation method was used to assess each respondent’s willingness to pay for the COVID-19 vaccination. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify significant factors associated with WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine. A p value of less than 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval were used to declare statistical significance.

Result
A total of 301 school teachers participated with a response rate of 99.6%. The mean age of participants was 39.5 (SD ± 8.7 years). The mean WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine is US$ 4.98 (± US$ 1.6). Less than half (40.8%) of participants were willing to accept the COVID-19 vaccine whereas only 36.9% (95% CI, (31.6%, 42.5%)) of them were WTP for the vaccine. Being male (AOR = 3.23; 95% CI, (1.70, 6.14)), being a private school teacher (AOR = 3.27; 95% CI, (1.76, 6.10)), having high perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 (AOR = 2.69; 95% CI, (1.38, 5.24)), having high perceived seriousness of COVID-19 (AOR = 4.04; 95% CI, (1.80, 9.1)), and having high perceived benefit of COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 3.0; 95% CI, (1.41, 6.34) were significant factors associated with WTP for COVID-19 vaccination.

Conclusion and recommendation
The magnitude of acceptance and WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine was low among school teachers. Male sex, private school affiliation, high perceived risk of COVID-19, and benefit of COVID-19 vaccine were the most important factors affecting school teacher’s WTP for COVID-19 vaccine. Thus, health communication programs should give due emphasis to raising teacher’s perceived risk of COVID-19 and the benefit of the COVID-19 vaccine to improve their acceptance and WTP for the vaccine. Furthermore, subsidizing the cost of the vaccine may improve their WTP.
Adrenal Corticosteroid Perturbation by the Endocrine Disruptor BDE-47 in a Human Adrenocortical Cell Line and Male Rats
Authors: Dungar Benjamin M , Schupbach Chad D , Jacobson Jessie R , Kopf Phillip G 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been previously shown to alter various endocrine biosynthetic pathways. Growing epidemiological evidence suggests that PBDEs alter cardiovascular function. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of BDE-47 on adrenal corticosteroid pathways that play vital roles in cardiovascular homeostasis and pathophysiology. The effect of BDE-47 on aldosterone and cortisol secretion was characterized in a human adrenocortical cell line. HAC15 cells were exposed to various concentrations of BDE-47 (1 nM to 100 μM). Cell viability, corticosteroid secretion, gene expression of enzymes involved in corticosteroid synthesis, and metabolic activity was examined. Additionally, Sprague Dawley male rats were orally exposed to BDE-47 (10 or 100 µg/kg), 5 days per week for 16 weeks. Organ weights and plasma corticosteroid levels were measured. In HAC15 cells, basal and stimulated aldosterone and cortisol secretion was significantly increased by BDE-47. Gene expression of several enzymes involved in corticosteroid synthesis and mitochondrial metabolism also increased. In Sprague Dawley rats, adrenal but not heart, kidney, or liver weights, were significantly increased in BDE-47 treatment groups. Plasma corticosterone levels were significantly increased in the 100 µg BDE-47/kg treatment group. No change in plasma aldosterone levels were observed with BDE-47 exposure. These data indicate that BDE-47 disrupts the regulation of corticosteroid secretion and provides further evidence that PBDEs are potential endocrine disruptors. Future studies will determine the underlying molecular mechanism of altered corticosteroid production and examine whether these alterations result in underlying cardiovascular disease in our rodent model of 16-week BDE-47 exposure.
Arf GTPase-activating proteins SMAP1 and AGFG2 regulate the size of Weibel-Palade bodies and exocytosis of von Willebrand factor
Authors: Watanabe Asano , Hataida Hikari , Inoue Naoya , Kamon Kosuke , Baba Keigo , Sasaki Kuniaki , Kimura Rika , Sasaki Honoka , Eura Yuka , Ni Wei-Fen , Shibasaki Yuji , Waguri Satoshi , Kokame Koichi , Shiba Yoko 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACT
Arf GTPase-Activating proteins (ArfGAPs) mediate the hydrolysis of GTP bound to ADP-ribosylation factors (Arfs), which are critical to form transport intermediates. ArfGAPs have been thought to be negative regulators of Arfs; however, accumulating evidence indicates that ArfGAPs are important for cargo sorting and promote membrane traffic. Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) are cigar-shaped secretory granules in endothelial cells that contain von Willebrand factor (vWF) as their main cargo. WPB biogenesis at the Golgi was reported to be regulated by Arf and their regulators, but the role of ArfGAPs has been unknown. In this study, we performed siRNA screening of ArfGAPs to investigate the role of ArfGAPs in the biogenesis of WPBs. We found two ArfGAPs, SMAP1 and AGFG2, to be involved in WPB size and vWF exocytosis, respectively. SMAP1 depletion resulted in small-sized WPBs, and the lysosomal inhibitor leupeptin recovered the size of WPBs. The results indicate that SMAP1 functions in preventing the degradation of cigar-shaped WPBs. On the other hand, AGFG2 downregulation resulted in the inhibition of vWF secretion upon Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or histamine stimulation, suggesting that AGFG2 plays a role in vWF exocytosis. Our study revealed unexpected roles of ArfGAPs in vWF transport.
Enhanced RhoA signalling stabilizes E-cadherin in migrating epithelial monolayers
Authors: Gupta Shafali , Duszyc Kinga , Verma Suzie , Budnar Srikanth , Liang Xuan , Gomez Guillermo A. , Marcq Philippe , Noordstra Ivar , Yap Alpha S. 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACT
Epithelia migrate as physically coherent populations of cells. Previous studies have revealed that mechanical stress accumulates in these cellular layers as they move. These stresses are characteristically tensile in nature and have often been inferred to arise when moving cells pull upon the cell–cell adhesions that hold them together. We now report that epithelial tension at adherens junctions between migrating cells also increases due to an increase in RhoA-mediated junctional contractility. We found that active RhoA levels were stimulated by p114 RhoGEF (also known as ARHGEF18) at the junctions between migrating MCF-7 monolayers, and this was accompanied by increased levels of actomyosin and mechanical tension. Applying a strategy to restore active RhoA specifically at adherens junctions by manipulating its scaffold, anillin, we found that this junctional RhoA signal was necessary to stabilize junctional E-cadherin (CDH1) during epithelial migration and promoted orderly collective movement. We suggest that stabilization of E-cadherin by RhoA serves to increase cell–cell adhesion to protect against the mechanical stresses of migration.
This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Large-Scale Fandom-based Gamification Intervention to Increase Physical Activity: A Quasi-experimental Study
Authors: KAMADA MASAMITSU , HAYASHI HANA , SHIBA KOICHIRO , TAGURI MASATAKA , KONDO NAOKI , LEE I-MIN , KAWACHI ICHIRO 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACT

Purpose
Gamification, the use of game design elements in nongame contexts, in combination with insights from behavioral economics, has been applied increasingly to behavior change interventions. However, little is known about the effectiveness or scalability of this approach, especially in the long term. We tested a large-scale smartphone-based intervention to encourage physical activity among Japanese baseball fans using gamification techniques that leveraged fandom and interteam competition inherent in sports.

Methods
A quasi-experimental study was conducted among fans of the Japanese Pacific League. The app, Pa-League Walk, included gamification elements, such as competition between opposing teams’ fans based on total daily step counts on game days (>60,000 free downloads since March 2016). We analyzed daily steps of 20,052 app users, supplemented by online survey data of 274 users and 613 matched controls. Difference-in-differences estimators evaluated change in daily steps before and after app installation in users versus matched controls.

Results
Users’ daily steps increased by 574 (95% confidence interval, 83–1064) steps 3 months after installation, compared with controls. The increase was maintained for up to 9 months (559 (99–1018) more steps per day vs baseline), attenuating over a longer follow-up. Positive effect modification was found by high-frequency of the app use (P < 0.001) but not by other covariables (P ≥ 0.14) such as education or income. Days with 10,000-step achievement increased from 24.4% to 27.5% after the additional introduction of incentives (digital player photographs; P < 0.001).

Conclusions
Using existing fandom and solidarity, the gamification app increased physical activity at scale among baseball fans, including people with lower socioeconomic status underrepresented in traditional health programs.
Association between socioeconomic factors and soft drink consumption among adults in Cambodia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Laohasiriwong Wonga , Samphors Sim , Chamroen Pall , Pisey Vong , Dewey Rebecca S. 
Published: August 2021

Background: Soft drinks are an attractive and popular drink, consumed by many people to fulfill their energy. However, soft drink consumption is an important risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between socioeconomic factors and soft drink consumption among adults in Cambodia. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study with multi-stage random sampling was used to select 749 respondents from 12 communes across 5 districts in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. A structured questionnaire was used to assess socioeconomic factors and soft drink consumption. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression. Crude odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confident intervals (CI) were calculated to show the strength of associations. Results: The overall prevalence of soft drink consumption was 44.73% (95%CI: 41.16-48.30%) across the sample population. The final model of multiple logistic regression showed only four factors to be significantly associated with soft drink consumption: gender, age, family size and income. Respondents most likely to consume soft drinks were men (AOR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.10-2.00; p=0.009), those aged 31-59 years (AOR: 1.93, 95%CI: 1.98-4.62; p<0.001), those in a household of less than 5 individuals (AOR: 1.38, 95%CI: 1.44-3.19; p=0.036), and those earning <300$/month (AOR: 1.59, 95%CI: 1.10-2.31; p=0.003). Conclusion: The prevalence of soft drink consumption in Cambodia is a major concern for public health. The predictive factors significantly associated with soft drink consumption identified by this study were gender, age, household size and income. Therefore, all stakeholders should contribute to social marketing and intervention focusing on reducing the consumption of soft drinks through advertising on social media, television and other popular media platforms. Furthermore, additional taxation of soft drinks should be considered.
A comparative study of red brick powder and lime as soft soil stabilizer
Authors: Salimah Aisyah , Hazmi Miftah , Fathur Rouf Hasan Muhammad , Agung Putera Agung Maha , Yelvi . 
Published: August 2021

Background: Soil has an important role to play in planning buildings because it supports the loads above it. Different types of soil with poor mechanical properties require more attention. Therefore, it is necessary to put in more effort to stabilize soil in order to improve its properties. This study aimed to compare the potential of lime and brick powder as stabilizers based on the values of California bearing ratio (CBR). Soil stabilization can be defined as the process of stabilizing soil properties by chemical or physical means to improve its engineering efficiency. The main objectives of stabilizing soil are to increase the bearing capacity of soil, to increase its resistance to weathering processes, and its permeability. Methods: In this work laboratory tests were done with disturbed and undisturbed soil samples. The proportions of lime or red brick powder additives mixed together are 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of the original soil sample. From the results of the laboratory tests, the soil type obtained is MH soil based on the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). The MH soil type is a low plasticity silt soil. Results: The study’s results showed that with the addition of lime and brick powder, the soil could be stabilized. In both soaked and unsoaked CBR tests, there was an increase in the CBR value for each proportion of the mixed additives. However, red brick powder had a significant increase of 15%. Conclusions: This study found a very large range of variations because of the many material requirements for each test. We suggest other researchers perform the CBR test by reducing the range of variations in the additives to get firm data and using our experimental procedure in this study for further research.
Efficacy and risk of sexual orientation change efforts: a retrospective analysis of 125 exposed men
Authors: Sullins D. Paul , Rosik Christopher H. , Santero Paul 
Published: August 2021

Background: Voluntary therapeutic interventions to reduce unwanted same-sex sexuality are collectively known as sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE). Currently almost all evidence addressing the contested question whether SOCE is effective or safe consists of anecdotes or very small sample qualitative studies of persons who currently identify as sexual minority and thus by definition failed to change. We conducted this study to examine the efficacy and risk outcomes for a group of SOCE participants unbiased by current sexual orientation. Methods: We examined a convenience sample of 125 men who had undergone SOCE for homosexual-to-heterosexual change in sexual attraction, identity and behavior, and for positive and negative changes in psychosocial problem domains (depression, suicidality, self-harm, self-esteem, social function, and alcohol or substance abuse). Mean change was assessed by parametric (t-test) and nonparametric (Wilcoxon sign rank test) significance tests. Results: Exposure to SOCE was associated with significant declines in same-sex attraction (from 5.7 to 4.1 on the Kinsey scale, p <.000), identification (4.8 to 3.6, p < .000), and sexual activity (2.4 to 1.5 on a 4-point scale of frequency, p < .000). From 45% to 69% of SOCE participants achieved at least partial remission of unwanted same-sex sexuality; full remission was achieved by 14% for sexual attraction and identification, and 26% for sexual behavior. Rates were higher among married men, but 4-10% of participants experienced increased same-sex orientation after SOCE. From 0.8% to 4.8% of participants reported marked or severe negative psychosocial change following SOCE, but 12.1% to 61.3% reported marked or severe positive psychosocial change. Net change was significantly positive for all problem domains. Conclusion: SOCE was perceived as an effective and safe therapeutic practice by this sample of participants. We close by offering a unifying understanding of discrepant findings within this literature and caution against broad generalizations of our results.
Case Report: Case report: Mixed infection of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum in a tertiary hospital
Authors: Al-Subaie Abeer M. 
Published: August 2021

Mixed infections with two or more species of Plasmodium are frequently reported due to vector factors, parasite factors (formation of hypnozoites) and host factors (residing in endemic areas, travel to endemic areas, inadequately treated previous infection, lack of compliance to therapy). Here we report a case of a 33-year-old Saudi female who had a significant travel history, and a peripheral blood smear (PBS) revealed mixed infection with P. falciparum and P. vivax. The case was successfully treated with a combination therapy of artemisinin and primaquine with follow up testing at three, seven, 14, and 28 days. Mixed malaria infections are especially reported in travelers to endemic areas. Hence, adequate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the cases contributes majorly to preventing relapse and controlling the disease. Travel consultations should be given to all travelers before their trips to endemic countries.
Oligodendrocytes, BK channels and remyelination
Authors: Rupnik Maddalena , Baker David , Selwood David L. 
Published: August 2021

Oligodendrocytes wrap multiple lamellae of their membrane, myelin, around axons of the central nervous system (CNS), to improve impulse conduction. Myelin synthesis is specialised and dynamic, responsive to local neuronal excitation. Subtle pathological insults are sufficient to cause significant neuronal metabolic impairment, so myelin preservation is necessary to safeguard neural networks. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent demyelinating disease of the CNS. In MS, inflammatory attacks against myelin, proposed to be autoimmune, cause myelin decay and oligodendrocyte loss, leaving neurons vulnerable. Current therapies target the prominent neuroinflammation but are mostly ineffective in protecting from neurodegeneration and the progressive neurological disability. People with MS have substantially higher levels of extracellular glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter. This impairs cellular homeostasis to cause excitotoxic stress. Large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BK channels) could preserve myelin or allow its recovery by protecting cells from the resulting excessive excitability. This review evaluates the role of excitotoxic stress, myelination and BK channels in MS pathology, and explores the hypothesis that BK channel activation could be a therapeutic strategy to protect oligodendrocytes from excitotoxic stress in MS. This could reduce progression of neurological disability if used in parallel to immunomodulatory therapies.
Contraceptive Use Dropout-adjusted Unmet Need for Family Planning
Authors: Utomo Budi , Hariyanti Hariyanti , Prasetyo Sabarinah , Magnani Robert , Rahayu Sukma 
Published: August 2021

Background: In the last two decades, unmet need for family planning in Indonesia remains stagnant, and contraceptive discontinuation has increased. These two indicators describe the risk of unwanted pregnancy in a population. Therefore, this study aims to develop an accurate calculation of the unmet need for family planning in Indonesia. Method: The study uses 2017 IDHS data to compare unmet need at survey-time and five years preceding the survey, measured by contraceptive calendar data that measured history of contraceptive use within five years preceding the survey. Unmet need at five years preceding the survey is measured by calculating the proportion of months not using contraceptive to the duration of months exposed to pregnancy in a period of 69 months. The study population is married women in Indonesia, with a sample size of 35,681. Results: Unmet need with contraceptive calendar calculation is higher than unmet need at survey-time. A difference of 3% concerns an additional of nearly 1.6 million unwanted pregnancies. This study proves that the high number of contraceptive discontinuations is directly proportional to higher unmet need with contraceptive calendar calculation. Conclusion: In Indonesia, with a relatively high contraceptive discontinuation rate, the calculation of unmet need using the calendar method is more precise than at survey-time method. The study results suggest the use of unmet need calendar for countries with high contraceptive discontinuation rate and provision of primary health care that is responsive to a potential unwanted pregnancy.
Driver Surge Pricing
Authors: Garg Nikhil , Nazerzadeh Hamid 
Published: August 2021

Ride-hailing marketplaces like Uber and Lyft use dynamic pricing, often called surge, to balance the supply of available drivers with the demand for rides. We study driver-side payment mechanisms for such marketplaces, presenting the theoretical foundation that has informed the design of Uber’s new additive driver surge mechanism. We present a dynamic stochastic model to capture the impact of surge pricing on driver earnings and their strategies to maximize such earnings. In this setting, some time periods (surge) are more valuable than others (nonsurge), and therefore trips of different time lengths vary in the induced driver opportunity cost. First, we show that multiplicative surge, historically the standard on ride-hailing platforms, is not incentive compatible in a dynamic setting. We then propose a structured, incentive-compatible pricing mechanism. This closed-form mechanism has a simple form and is well approximated by Uber’s new additive surge mechanism. Finally, through both numerical analysis and real data from a ride-hailing marketplace, we show that additive surge is more incentive compatible in practice than is multiplicative surge. This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, revenue management and market analytics.
AS ONDAS DA COMUNICAÇÃO COMUNITÁRIA NO BRASIL a partir da análise da Rede Mocoronga de Comunicação Popular
Authors: Tovar da Silva Marcella Rodrigues , Félix Carla Baiense 
Published: August 2021

A Comunicação Comunitária trata-se de um processo de luta popular não só por espaços de fala, mas por transformação social e influência política. Tendo em vista os avanços tecnológicos e a apropriação popular dos aparelhos de telefone móveis, é necessário refletir sobre as novas maneiras de comunicar. Este artigo tem como objeto de pesquisa a autorrepresentação audiovisual tensionada pela atuação da Rede Mocoronga de Comunicação Popular. Parte-se da hipótese de que, ao olhar para si e para o cotidiano de suas próprias comunidades, produz-se subjetividades, que constroem e circulam mensagens a partir “de dentro”. Utilizando como aporte teórico os conceitos da Comunicação Comunitária, fizemos uma análise a partir das ondas ou gerações em que se construiu esse campo de ação e reflexão. E traçamos um paralelo com o histórico da Rede. Recorremos, como técnicas de coleta de dados, à observação participante e à pesquisa bibliográfica.
The brain: our control system
Authors: Peate Ian 
Published: August 2021

The largest and the most complex organ in the body is the brain. In this article, the healthcare assistant and assistant practitioner (HCA and AP) are introduced to the fundamental features that are associated with the anatomy of the brain. The body's central nervous system is made up of the brain, along with the spinal cord. This is the main control system for the body's functions and abilities, allowing conscious communication with the body and automatic operation of the vital organs, for example, the heart. In this article, specific functions of the brain are considered. The four lobes of the brain are reviewed and also the three coverings of the meninges. Having insight and understanding related to how the brain functions can help the HCA and AP offer people care that is founded on a sound knowledge base. A glossary of terms is provided and a short quiz has also been included.