bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cost minimization analysis of nasopharyngoscope reprocessing in community practice
Authors: Biadsee Ameen , Crosby Lauren , Chow Winsion , Sowerby Leigh J 
Published: February 2023

Background Reprocessing of nasopharyngoscopes represents a large financial burden to community physicians. The aim of this study was to perform a cost analysis of nasopharyngoscope reprocessing methods at the community level. Methods Electronic surveys were distributed by email to community otolaryngologists. Surveys were comprised of 14 questions assessing clinic size, nasopharyngoscope volume, scope reprocessing method and maintenance. Four manual techniques were evaluated: (1) soak with ortho-phthalaldehyde solution (Cidex-OPA; Advanced Sterilization Products, Johnson and Johnson Inc., Markham, Canada), (2) soak with accelerated hydrogen peroxide solution (Revital-Ox; Steris Canada Inc., Mississauga, Canada), (3) disinfection with chlorine dioxide wipe (Tristel Trio Wipes System; Tristel plc., Cambridgeshire, UK), (4) UV-C light system (UV Smart, Delft, The Netherlands). All costs are reported in CAD, and consumable and capital costs for reprocessing methods were obtained from reported vendor prices. Time costs were derived from manufacturer recommendations, the Ontario Medical Association Physician's Guide to Uninsured Services, and the Ontario Nurses Association Collective Agreement. Cost analyses determined the most cost-effective reprocessing method in the community setting. Sensitivity analyses assessed the impact of reprocessing volume and labour costs. Results Thirty-six (86%) otolaryngologists responded and answered the survey. The cost per reprocessing event for Cidex-OPA, Revital-Ox, Tristel and UV system were $38.59, $26.47, $30.53, and $22.74 respectively when physicians reprocessed their endoscopes themselves. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that Revital-Ox was the least costly option in a low volume, however, the UV system remained the most cost effective in higher volumes. The cost per reprocessing event when done by clinic staff was $5.51, $4.42, $11.23 and $6.21 for Cidex-OPA, Revital-Ox, Tristel and the UV system. Conclusions The UV light system appears to be the most cost-effective method in high volumes of reprocessing, and Revital-Ox is cheaper in lower volumes and when performed by clinic staff rather than physicians. It is important to consider the anticipated work volume, shared clinic space and number of co-workers prior to choosing a reprocessing method. Graphical Abstract
Sourcing celadons with EDXRF and LA-ICP-MS from the Xunyang city burial complex, 202 B.C–907 A.D.
Authors: Yuan Feng , Li Zihan , Hu Sheng , Wang YuLu , Chen Hongmei , Jia Lala , Liu Long , Gao Jian , Yu Yongbin , Li Jinwei , Wu Qiang , Li Qijiang 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
This paper uses a combination of EDXRF and LA-ICP-MS to analyse the chemical components including major elements and REE composition of the accompanying celadon from four different periods of tomb at the Yutu Hill burial complex on the Xunyang city site for sourcing their provenance. The combination of the two analytical methods not only provides additional data and information to explore the provenance of the accompanying celadon in the burials, but also validates the data’s accuracy. A comparison with the chemical composition of the products from several kiln sites producing celadon revealed that burials from the Eastern Han period (25–220 A.D) to the Tang dynasty (618–907 A.D) included celadon from the Hongzhou kiln, indicating the connection between the Xunyang city site and the Hongzhou kiln during these two periods. In addition, the REE composition of the accompanying celadon in tombs from the Six Dynasties (222–589 A.D) and the Sui dynasty (581–618 A.D) is very similar to that of Yue kiln celadon, despite their strikingly different appearance and shape. This paper deduces, based on the previous distribution of Yue kiln products in the Jiangxi region, that only the upper classes collected Yue kiln products during the initial period of their entry into Jiangxi during the Jin dynasty (266–420 A.D), but that during the later period of the Six Dynasties, the commoner classes also began to collect Yue kiln products.
Perceived motivators, knowledge, attitude, self-reported and intentional practice of female condom use among female students in higher training institutions in Dodoma, Tanzania
Authors: Shitindi Getrude W. , Millanzi Walter C. , Herman Patricia Z. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) inclusive, have remained to be a significant public health challenges among young people, especially across middle and low-income countries. Self-efficacy on the right ways of using condoms appears to be effective against the aforementioned health-related problems. However, most women of reproductive age tend not to use them when they are using highly effective contraceptives such as implants, and/or injectable hormones. It is unknown whether the uptake of female condoms among young girls is significantly high or not. Examining female students’ perceived motivators, knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported and intentional female condom practice in training institutions seems to be a key precursor in addressing the challenge.

Methods
The institutional-based analytical cross-sectional survey in a quantitative research approach was adopted to study 384 randomly selected female students from higher training institutions, in Tanzania. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaires from previous studies were the main data collection tools. Data analysis was done using a statistical package for social science (SPSS) with the strength of statistical limits set at a 95% confidence interval and a 5% significance level.

Results
The response rate of the study was 100% with 24 ± 2.122 years respondents’ mean age while and 32.7% of them were in the third year of their studies. Only 6.2% of the respondents reported having used female condoms while 26.3% of them have not ever seen packages of female condoms. The minority of the respondents (21.7%, 23.3%, and 9.4%) demonstrated good knowledge, positive attitude, and intention to use female condoms respectively. Their age, accommodation, marital status, peer groups, previous training, knowledge, and attitude related significantly to their intentional practices of female condom use (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
Given the existing governmental and non-governmental efforts that advocate awareness creation and the uptake of various contraceptives, this study has found that knowledge, attitude, self-reported and intentional practices of female students admitted in higher training institutions within Dodoma region, Tanzania is low. Institutionalized educational programs on sexual and reproductive health matters may need to be prioritized to increase the availability, accessibility, and uptake of female condoms among female students in higher training institutions.
Targeting efficacy and anticancer activity of polymeric nanoparticles of SN-38 on colon cancer cell lines
Authors: Prasad Shilpi , Dangi J. S. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Colorectal cancer is the third most prevailing cancer in the whole world. Chemotherapeutic agents which are used for treatment have severe side effects and also have unwanted exposure to healthy cells. In the present study, polymeric nanoparticles of SN-38 were prepared (using cationic and anionic polymers). They were optimized by Box Behnken design and characterized for its physicochemical properties and in vitro drug release. Optimized formulation (CsENP) was evaluated for its targeting efficacy by Gamma Scintigraphy studies on Swiss Albino mice and in vitro Cytotoxic assay against colon cancer cell line, viz. HT-29.

Results
The images of Whole body gamma scintigraphy imaging of Swiss Albino mice show that CsENP remained intact till 2 h and after that at 4 h imaging it started dispersing and releasing drug which continued till 20 h. In Organ distribution studies, no radioactivity was traced in heart from the formulation. Even in liver, spleen, kidney and lung trace radioactivity was seen after 6 h. In case of CsENP radioactivity was seen in small intestine after 2 h and maximum (87.8% radioactivity) is seen in colon and rectum area after 4 h. At equivalent concentrations, the in vitro cell viability of HT-29 cells after 72 h incubation time showed that CsENP have enhanced cytotoxicity.

Conclusions
The results obtained of Whole body gamma scintigraphy imaging and organ distribution of Swiss Albino mice show that CsENP is Colon targeting and was found to be effective against colon cancer cell lines.
Phase matching in quantum search algorithm
Authors: Chowdhury Saptarshi Roy , Baruah Sudarshan , Dikshit Biswaranjan 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
We systematically generalize the Grover algorithm in a density matrix formalism by exploiting the underlying two-dimensional subspace of the problem. Using this, we derive analytic expressions for the success probability after arbitrary iterations of the generalized Grover operator with two generic phase angles

. We show for the phase matching condition

with three iterations, success probability

can be achieved only with knowledge about the lower bound

, where λ is the ratio of marked to total number of states in the database. This result will improve the quantum search algorithm when applied to databases with unknown number of marked states in the specified regime of λ, at the cost of decreased efficiency in the smaller λ region.
Revisiting the radiative and non-radiative decays of di-positronium (Ps2)
Authors: Munir S. Zayad , Mubasher M. , Aslam M. Jamil 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
For the first time correct results of the decay rates of

to two photons and into the final state electron-positron pair (radiationless) were calculated using the spin-singlet configuration of

(see Aslam M. J. et al., Phys. Rev. A, 104 (2021) 052803). We revisited the calculation of these decays without considering any particular spin orientation of initial state

, and performed an automated calculation using the Mathematica-based computational packages FeynArts and FeynCalc. Our results are consistent with those of Aslam et al., affirming that the only contribution to these rates comes from singlet-singlet spin orientations of pairs of initial state electrons and positrons in

.
γ-Aminobutyric Acid-Ergic Development Contributes to the Enhancement of Electroencephalogram Slow-Delta Oscillations Under Volatile Anesthesia in Neonatal Rats
Authors: Zhang Mingyue , Chen Yali , Xu Ting , Jiang Jingyao , Zhang Donghang , Huang Han , Kurth Charles D. , Yuan Ian , Wang Rurong , Liu Jin , Zhu Tao , Zhou Cheng 
Published: February 2023

BACKGROUND:
General anesthetics (eg, propofol and volatile anesthetics) enhance the slow-delta oscillations of the cortical electroencephalogram (EEG), which partly results from the enhancement of (γ-aminobutyric acid [GABA]) γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) transmission. There is a GABAergic excitatory-inhibitory shift during postnatal development. Whether general anesthetics can enhance slow-delta oscillations in the immature brain has not yet been unequivocally determined.

METHODS:
Perforated patch-clamp recording was used to confirm the reversal potential of GABAergic currents throughout GABAergic development in acute brain slices of neonatal rats. The power density of the electrocorticogram and the minimum alveolar concentrations (MAC) of isoflurane and/or sevoflurane were measured in P4–P21 rats. Then, the effects of bumetanide, an inhibitor of the Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter (NKCC1) and K+-Cl− cotransporter (KCC2) knockdown on the potency of volatile anesthetics and the power density of the EEG were determined in vivo.

RESULTS:
Reversal potential of GABAergic currents were gradually hyperpolarized from P4 to P21 in cortical pyramidal neurons. Bumetanide enhanced the hypnotic effects of volatile anesthetics at P5 (for MACLORR, isoflurane: 0.63% ± 0.07% vs 0.81% ± 0.05%, 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.257 to −0.103, P < .001; sevoflurane: 1.46% ± 0.12% vs 1.66% ± 0.09%, 95% CI, −0.319 to −0.081, P < .001); while knockdown of KCC2 weakened their hypnotic effects at P21 in rats (for MACLORR, isoflurane: 0.58% ± 0.05% to 0.77% ± 0.20%, 95% CI, 0.013–0.357, P = .003; sevoflurane: 1.17% ± 0.04% to 1.33% ± 0.04%, 95% CI, 0.078–0.244, P < .001). For cortical EEG, slow-delta oscillations were the predominant components of the EEG spectrum in neonatal rats. Isoflurane and/or sevoflurane suppressed the power density of slow-delta oscillations rather than enhancement of it until GABAergic maturity. Enhancement of slow-delta oscillations under volatile anesthetics was simulated by preinjection of bumetanide at P5 (isoflurane: slow-delta changed ratio from −0.31 ± 0.22 to 1.57 ± 1.15, 95% CI, 0.67–3.08, P = .007; sevoflurane: slow-delta changed ratio from −0.46 ± 0.25 to 0.95 ± 0.97, 95% CI, 0.38–2.45, P = .014); and suppressed by KCC2-siRNA at P21 (isoflurane: slow-delta changed ratio from 16.13 ± 5.69 to 3.98 ± 2.35, 95% CI, −18.50 to −5.80, P = .002; sevoflurane: slow-delta changed ratio from 0.13 ± 2.82 to 3.23 ± 2.49, 95% CI, 3.02–10.79, P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS:
Enhancement of cortical EEG slow-delta oscillations by volatile anesthetics may require mature GABAergic inhibitory transmission during neonatal development.
The shifting culture of the scientific workforce – a change for women and girls in science
Authors: Sadler Kirsten C. 
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT
Celebrating, educating and mobilizing the global community to achieve equality for women and girls in science is recognized worldwide each February 11 on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This day serves as a rousing call for people of all genders to gain unfettered access to opportunities to become successful, engaged and productive scientists. One strategy to achieve this is to develop policies to ensure that all people can pursue science education, training and careers, unimpeded by their sex, gender and gender identity. Another strategy is to assure representation of women and non-binary people at every level of the scientific workforce. Collectively, these strategies and other important efforts are shifting the global mindset to one where women and girls are recognized as vital, capable and innovative contributors to disciplines that have historically been dominated by men. These male-dominated disciplines have evolved cultural norms rooted in masculine stereotypes and the next challenge is to continue this shift away from a scientific culture in which hypercompetitive, individualistic, solo artists work alone in single-minded pursuit of a breakthrough. Instead, the reality is that contemporary biomedical scientific research is a cosmopolitan culture; one where breakthroughs depend on collaboration, where data sharing is the norm and where all are encouraged to contribute their best ideas to help solve science's most vexing and exciting problems.
Ciliary mechanosensation – roles of polycystins and mastigonemes
Authors: Liu Peiwei , Liu Ying , Zhou Jun 
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT
Cilia are surface-exposed organelles that provide motility and sensory functions for cells, and it is widely believed that mechanosensation can be mediated through cilia. Polycystin-1 and -2 (PC-1 and PC-2, respectively) are transmembrane proteins that can localize to cilia; however, the molecular mechanisms by which polycystins contribute to mechanosensation are still controversial. Studies detail two prevailing models for the molecular roles of polycystins on cilia; one stresses the mechanosensation capabilities and the other unveils their ligand–receptor nature. The discovery that polycystins interact with mastigonemes, the ‘hair-like’ protrusions of flagella, is a novel finding in identifying the interactors of polycystins in cilia. While the functions of polycystins proposed by both models may coexist in cilia, it is hoped that a precise understanding of the mechanism of action of polycystins can be achieved by uncovering their distribution and interacting factors inside cilia. This will hopefully provide a satisfying answer to the pathogenesis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), which is caused by mutations in PC-1 and PC-2. In this Review, we discuss the characteristics of polycystins in the context of cilia and summarize the functions of mastigonemes in unicellular ciliates. Finally, we compare flagella and molecular features of PC-2 between unicellular and multicellular organisms, with the aim of providing new insights into the ciliary roles of polycystins in general.
Emerging biological insights enabled by high-resolution 3D motion data: promises, perspectives and pitfalls
Authors: Provini Pauline , Camp Ariel L. , Crandell Kristen E. 
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT
Deconstructing motion to better understand it is a key prerequisite in the field of comparative biomechanics. Since Marey and Muybridge's work, technical constraints have been the largest limitation to motion capture and analysis, which, in turn, limited what kinds of questions biologists could ask or answer. Throughout the history of our field, conceptual leaps and significant technical advances have generally worked hand in hand. Recently, high-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) motion data have become easier to acquire, providing new opportunities for comparative biomechanics. We describe how adding a third dimension of information has fuelled major paradigm shifts, not only leading to a reinterpretation of long-standing scientific questions but also allowing new questions to be asked. In this paper, we highlight recent work published in Journal of Experimental Biology and influenced by these studies, demonstrating the biological breakthroughs made with 3D data. Although amazing opportunities emerge from these technical and conceptual advances, high-resolution data often come with a price. Here, we discuss challenges of 3D data, including low-throughput methodology, costly equipment, low sample sizes, and complex analyses and presentation. Therefore, we propose guidelines for how and when to pursue 3D high-resolution data. We also suggest research areas that are poised for major new biological advances through emerging 3D data collection.
Analysis of the effect of wind speed in increasing the COVID-19 cases in Jakarta
Authors: Susanna Dewi , Saputra Yoerdy Agusmal , Poddar Sandeep 
Published: February 2023

Background: COVID-19 remains a public health problem around the world. It is possible the climate could affect the transmission of COVID-19. Wind is one of the climate factors besides temperature, humidity, and rainfall. This study aimed to describe spatial patterns and find the correlation of wind speed (maximum and average) with the pattern of COVID-19 cases in Jakarta, Indonesia. Methods: The design of this study was an ecological study based on time and place to integrate geographic information systems and tested using statistical techniques. The data used were wind speed and weekly COVID-19 cases from March to September 2020. These records were obtained from the special coronavirus website of Jakarta Provincial Health Office and the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. The data were analyzed by correlation, graphic/time trend, and spatial analysis. Results: The wind speed (maximum and mean) from March to September 2020 tended to fluctuate between 1.43 and 6.07 m/s. The correlation test results between the average wind speed and COVID-19 cases in Jakarta showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.542; p value = 0.002). Conclusions: The spatial overlay map of wind speed (maximum and mean) with COVID-19 cases showed that villages with high wind speeds, especially coastal areas, tended to show an earlier increase in cases. The higher wind speed allowed an increase in the distribution of the COVID-19 virus in the air in people who did not apply health protocols properly.
Faulty branch identification in passive optical networks using machine learning
Authors: Abdelli Khouloud , Tropschug Carsten , Griesser Helmut , Pachnicke Stephan 
Published: February 2023

Passive optical networks (PONs) have become a promising broadband access network solution thanks to their wide bandwidth, low-cost deployment and maintenance, and scalability. To ensure a reliable transmission, and to meet service level agreements, PON systems have to be monitored constantly in order to quickly identify and localize network faults and thus reduce maintenance costs, minimize downtime, and enhance quality of service. Typically, a service disruption in a PON system is mainly due to fiber cuts and optical network unit (ONU) transmitter/receiver failures. When the ONUs are located at different distances from the optical line terminal, the faulty ONU or branch can be identified by analyzing the recorded optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) traces. OTDR is a technique commonly used for monitoring of fiber optic links. However, faulty branch isolation becomes very challenging when the reflections originate from two or more branches with similar length overlap, which makes it very hard to discriminate the faulty branches given the global backscattered signal. Recently, machine learning (ML)-based approaches have shown great potential for managing optical faults in PON systems. Such techniques perform well when trained and tested with data derived from the same PON system. But their performance may severely degrade if the PON system (adopted for the generation of the training data) has changed, e.g., by adding more branches or varying the length difference between two neighboring branches, etc. A re-training of the ML models has to be conducted for each network change, which can be time consuming. In this paper, to overcome the aforementioned issues, we propose a generic ML approach trained independently of the network architecture for identifying the faulty branch in PON systems given OTDR signals for the cases of branches with close lengths. Such an approach can be applied to an arbitrary PON system without requiring to be re-trained for each change of the network. The proposed approach is validated using experimental data derived from the PON system.