bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving detection of work-related asthma: a review of gaps in awareness, reporting and knowledge translation
Authors: MacKinnon Madison , To Teresa , Ramsey Clare , Lemière Catherine , Lougheed M. Diane
Published: August 2020

Background

Work-related asthma (WRA) accounts for up to 25% of all adults with asthma. Early diagnosis is key for optimal management as delays in diagnosis are associated with worse outcomes. However, WRA is significantly underreported and the median time to diagnosis is 4 years. The objective of this review is to identify the gaps in awareness and reporting of WRA and identify gaps in current knowledge translation strategies for chronic disease in general, and asthma specifically. This will identify reasons for delays in WRA diagnosis, as well inform suggestions to improve knowledge translation strategies for dissemination and implementation of WRA prevention and management guidelines.

Methods

Non-systematic literature reviews were conducted on PubMed with a focus on work-related asthma screening and diagnosis, and knowledge translation or translational medicine research in asthma and chronic disease. In total, 3571 titles and abstracts were reviewed with no restriction on date published. Of those, 207 were relevant and fully read. Another 37 articles were included and reviewed after citation reviews of articles from the initial search and from suggestions from editors. In total, 63 articles were included in the final review.

Results

Patients, employers, and healthcare professionals lack awareness and under-report WRA which contribute to the delayed diagnosis of WRA, primarily through lack of education, stigma associated with WRA, and lack of awareness and screening in primary care. Knowledge translation strategies for asthma research typically involve the creation of guidelines for diagnosis of the disease, asthma care plans and tools for education and management. While there are some prevention programs in place for certain industries, gaps in knowledge translation strategies including lack of screening tools currently available for WRA, poor education of employers and physicians in identifying WRA, and education of patients is often done post-diagnosis and focuses on management rather than prevention or screening.

Conclusion

Future knowledge translation strategies should focus on educating employees and employers well before potential exposure to agents associated with WRA and screening for WRA in primary care to enable health care providers to recognize and diagnose WRA.
Hypoxia alleviates dexamethasone-induced inhibition of angiogenesis in cocultures of HUVECs and rBMSCs via HIF-1α
Authors: Chai Miaomiao , Gu Ce , Shen Qihua , Liu Jiaxing , Zhou Yi , Jin Ziyang , Xiong Wanli , Zhou Yan , Tan Wensong
Published: August 2020

Background and aim

Inadequate vascularization is a challenge in bone tissue engineering because internal cells are prone to necrosis due to a lack of nutrient supply. Rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cocultured to construct prevascularized bone tissue in osteogenic induction medium (OIM) in vitro. The angiogenic capacity of HUVECs was limited in the coculture system. In this study, the effects of the components in the medium on HUVEC angiogenesis were analyzed.

Methods

The coculture system was established in OIM. Alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase staining were used to assess the osteogenic ability of MSCs. A Matrigel tube assay was used to assess the angiogenic ability of HUVECs in vitro. The proliferation of HUVECs was evaluated by cell counting and CCK-8 assays, and migration was evaluated by the streaked plate assay. The expression levels of angiogenesis-associated genes and proteins in HUVECs were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively.

Results

Dexamethasone in the OIM suppressed the proliferation and migration of HUVECs, inhibiting the formation of capillary-like structures. Our research showed that dexamethasone stimulated HUVECs to secrete tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-3), which competed with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) to bind to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2, KDR). This effect was related to inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK and AKT, which are two downstream targets of KDR. However, under hypoxia, the enhanced expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) decreased the expression of TIMP-3 and promoted the phosphorylation of KDR, improving HUVEC angiogenesis in the coculture system.

Conclusion

Coculture of hypoxia-preconditioned HUVECs and MSCs showed robust angiogenesis and osteogenesis in OIM, which has important implications for prevascularization in bone tissue engineering in the future.
Successful treatment of lipofibromatosis-like neural tumor of the lumbar spine with an NTRK-fusion inhibitor
Authors: Dupuis Megan , Shen Yulei , Curcio Christian , Meis Jeanne M. , Wang Wei-Lien , Amini Behrang , Rhines Laurence , Reuther Jacquelyn , Roy Angshumoy , Fisher Kevin E. , Conley Anthony P. , Andrew Livingston J.
Published: August 2020

Background

Lipofibromatosis-like neural tumors (LPF-NT) are a newly identified class of rare mesenchymal neoplasms. Current standard of care therapy is surgical resection alone; there are no chemotherapies or molecular targeted therapies that have been shown to be effective in patients who are not surgical candidates due to either tumor bulk or location. Most LPF-NT harbor NTRK fusions, although the therapeutic significance of these fusions has not been previously demonstrated in this malignancy. Here, we present the first case of a patient with surgically-unresectable LPF-NT successfully treated with medical therapy, specifically the TRK fusion-protein inhibitor entrectinib.

Case presentation

The patient is a 21 year old man with no co-morbidities who presented for evaluation due to intermittent abdominal pain and was found to have a mass spanning from T12-L2. Biopsy revealed a mesenchymal spindle cell neoplasm and S100 positivity pointed to possible nerve sheath origin. The sample was ultimately found to have an LMNA-NTRK1 fusion, confirming the diagnosis of LP-NFT. Unfortunately, due to the bulk and location of the tumor, surgery was felt to be exceptionally morbid and the patient was treated in a clinical trial with the NTRK inhibitor entrectinib. Surprisingly, he had such a robust clinical response that he was ultimately deemed a surgical candidate and he was successfully taken to surgery. Post-operative pathology revealed > 95% necrosis, demonstrating exceptional sensitivity to the targeted therapy. The patient remains NED and on entrectinib 12 months post-operatively.

Conclusions

The exceptional treatment response of this patient suggests that NTRK fusions are true drivers of the disease. Thus, all patients should be evaluated for NTRK fusions using sensitive methodologies and treatment with TRK fusion-protein inhibitors should be considered in patients who are not candidates for oncologic resection.
Protective effect of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014 on acrylamide-induced oxidative damage in rats
Authors: Zhao Sijia , Zhao Xiaoduo , Liu Qingbo , Jiang Yujun , Li Yanhua , Feng Wenxiao , Xu Honghua , Shao Meili
Published: August 2020

Acrylamide (AA), which is mainly found in fried foods, causes neurotoxicity, genetic toxicity, carcinogenic effects, and DNA damage. This study confirms that a strain of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014) could alleviate the toxicity of rats by inhibiting the AA-induced oxidative damage. Forty-eight adult male SD rats were randomly divided into eight groups: control group, AA group (40 mg/kg), three different doses (1 × 107 CFU/ml, 1 × 108 CFU/ml, 1 × 109 CFU/ml of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014) of prevention groups and therapeutic groups, respectively. At the end of three-week experiment, AA treatment produced a significant reduction in the rate of weight gain along with the symptoms of hind limb splay and ataxia. Histological examinations revealed various degrees of injury in five tissues. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) in group AA rats were significantly decreased, but the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) was significantly increased (p < 0.05). Both prevention and therapeutic groups with 1 × 109 CFU/ml of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014 could effectively reduce the injury of AA to the body. However, reductions in both groups were not statistically significant.
Intramuscular injection of vectorized-scFvMC1 reduces pathological tau in two different tau transgenic models
Authors: Vitale Francesca , Ortolan Jasmin , Volpe Bruce T. , Marambaud Philippe , Giliberto Luca , d’Abramo Cristina
Published: August 2020

With evidence supporting the prion-like spreading of extracellular tau as a mechanism for the initiation and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), immunotherapy has emerged as a potential disease-modifying strategy to target tau. Many studies have proven effective to clear pathological tau species in animal models of AD, and several clinical trials using conventional immunotherapy with anti-tau native antibodies are currently active. We have previously generated a vectorized scFv derived from the conformation-dependent anti-tau antibody MC1, scFvMC1, and demonstrated that its intracranial injection was able to prevent tau pathology in adult tau mice. Here, we show that, in a prevention paradigm and in two different tau transgenic models (JNPL3 and P301S), a one-time intramuscular injection of AAV1-scFvMC1 generated a long-lasting peripheral source of anti-tau scFvMC1 and significantly reduced insoluble and soluble tau species in the brain. Moreover, our data showed that scFvMC1 was internalized by the microglia, in the absence of overt inflammation. This study demonstrates the efficacy of intramuscular delivery of vectorized scFv to target tau, and suggests a new potential application to treat AD and the other tauopathies.
To evaluate the impact of opening up ownership of pharmacies in South Africa
Authors: Moodley Rajatheran , Suleman Fatima
Published: August 2020

Background

Following the democratic elections in 1994 the South African private pharmaceutical services were mostly in metropolitan centred with a scattering of pharmacies in less densely populated areas. The Government introduced regulations relating to the ownership and licensing of pharmacies on the 25th of April 2003 to improve access to pharmaceutical services by removing ownership restriction to only pharmacists.

Objective

To assess the outcomes of the policy implementation in improving access to pharmacies.

Method

The register of pharmacies at the South African Pharmacy Council was analysed from 1994 to 2014. Each registration was assigned GPS coordinates using Q-GIS(V3.6) and mapped per province at a district level, following clean-up and verification of the register. New registrations were also categorised as either corporate or independent pharmacy. Population census was obtained from Statistics South Africa and used to determine the number of pharmacies per 100,000 population.

Main outcome measure(s)

Number of active pharmacies; Number of independent pharmacies; number of pharmacies in each district.

Results

The number of active pharmacies increased from 1624 at the end of 2003 to 3021 by 2014. The closure rate decreased from 137 to 86 pharmacies per year post regulations, a 37.23% reduction with a net gain of approximately 127 pharmacies per year. About 38.30% of all pre-2003 pharmacies (622 of 1624) closed by 2014. The population increase in the study period was approximately 20.66% but the overall growth of pharmacies was only 1.88 pharmacies per 100,000 population (3.55 to 5.43). Following the regulations in 2004, 23.9% of pharmacies active within the system closed between 2004 and 2014, of which, 91.7% of them were independent pharmacies.

Conclusion

Opening up of pharmacy ownership in South Africa increased the number of pharmacies in the country but did not result in increased access in previously less populated areas. There was still clustering of pharmacies in a well resourced areas, with a steady growth in corporate pharmacy (35%) ownership.
Operationalization of critical care triage during a pandemic surge using protocolized communication and integrated supportive care
Authors: Anantham Devanand , Chai-Lim Crystal , Zhou Jamie Xuelian , Phua Ghee Chee
Published: August 2020

Triage becomes necessary when demand for intensive care unit (ICU) resources exceeds supply. Without triage, there is a risk that patients will be admitted to the ICU in the sequence that they present, disadvantaging those who either present later or have poorer access to healthcare. Moreover, if the patients with the best prognosis are not allocated life support, there is the possibility that overall mortality will increase. Before formulating criteria, principles such as maximizing lives saved and fairness ought to have been agreed upon to guide decision-making. The triage process is subdivided into three parts, i.e., having explicit inclusion/exclusion criteria for ICU admission, prioritization of patients for allocation to available beds, and periodic reassessment of all patients already admitted to the ICU. Multi-dimensional criteria offer more holistic prognostication than only using age cutoffs. Appointed triage officers should also be enabled to make data-driven decisions. However, the process does not merely end with an allocation decision being made. Any decision has to be sensitively and transparently communicated to the patient and family. With infection control measures, there are challenges in managing communication and the psychosocial distress of dying alone. Therefore, explicit video call protocols and social services expertise will be necessary to mitigate these challenges. Besides symptom management and psychosocial management, supportive care teams play an integral role in coordination of complex cases. This scoping review found support for the three-pronged, triage-communication-supportive care approach to facilitate the smooth operationalization of the triage process in a pandemic.
First two-way laser ranging to a lunar orbiter: infrared observations from the Grasse station to LRO’s retro-reflector array
Authors: Mazarico Erwan , Sun Xiaoli , Torre Jean-Marie , Courde Clément , Chabé Julien , Aimar Mourad , Mariey Hervé , Maurice Nicolas , Barker Michael K. , Mao Dandan , Cremons Daniel R. , Bouquillon Sébastien , Carlucci Teddy , Viswanathan Vishnu , Lemoine Frank G. , Bourgoin Adrien , Exertier Pierre , Neumann Gregory A. , Zuber Maria T. , Smith David E.
Published: August 2020

We present the results of the first series of successful two-way laser ranging experiments from a ground station, the Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) station in Grasse, France, to a spacecraft at lunar distance, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). A 15 × 18 × 5 cm, 650-g array of twelve 32-mm diameter solid corner cubes is mounted on its anti-nadir deck. Ranging to this small retro-reflector array onboard a lunar orbiter from a ground station was a challenge compared to ranging to larger lunar surface retro-reflectors. Grasse measured 67 returns in two 6-min sessions on September 4, 2018. Clear returns were also recorded during two additional sessions on August 23–24, 2019 for which active slewing by LRO was performed to bring the array in view of the station. The measured echos yielded range residuals less than 3 cm (two-way time-of-flight RMS < 180 ps) relative to the reconstructed LRO trajectory. This experiment provides a new method of verifying theories of dust accumulation over decades on the lunar surface. It also showed that the use of similar arrays onboard future lunar landers and orbiters can support LLR lunar science goals, particularly with landing sites near the lunar limbs and poles, which would have better sensitivity to lunar orientation.
Yearly variation in the structure and diversity of a non-breeding passerine bird community in a Mediterranean wetland
Authors: Arizaga Juan , Alonso Daniel , Crespo Ariñe , Esparza Xabier , Fernández Efrén , López Iñigo , Martín David , Vilches Antonio
Published: August 2020

Background

The dynamics and structure of many bird communities are changing due to the global warming and changes in the land use and management. The Ebro Valley constitutes one of the chief wintering areas for several passerine species in Iberia, and the reed beds spread across this Valley concentrate huge numbers of birds that use them to roost, while the surrounding agricultural areas serve as main foraging habitats. The aims of this work are (1) to quantify how variable a non-breeding passerine bird community associated to a reed bed area in the Ebro Valley is, and, (2) to test for the effect of weather on possible annual fluctuations in species’ proportions at a regional/local scale.

Methods

We used for that ringing data collected at Badina de Escudera lagoon (Navarra) over a 12-year period.

Results

Though, overall, the assemblage did not vary strongly among years (most similarity values were > 0.8), we still found a significant linear effect of year on the proportion of captures of Reed Buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus), i.e., the dominant species detected in our passerine community. The increasing loss of weight of Reed Buntings in the community was due to a progressive decrease in its abundance.

Conclusions

The structure and diversity of passerine community in Badina Escudera was not influenced by meteorological conditions at a local scale, suggesting that local weather would not have an impact on numbers of Reed Buntings in winter.
Diagnosis and treatment of gastric hamartomatous inverted polyp (GHIP) using a modified combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches to neoplasia with a non-exposure technique (modified CLEAN-NET): a case report
Authors: Hayase Suguru , Sakuma Mei , Chida Shun , Saito Masaru , Ami Hirofumi , Koyama Yoshihisa , Ohki Shinji , Kono Koji
Published: August 2020

Background

Gastric hamartomatous inverted polyp (GHIP) is a pathological condition where enlarged gastric glands with cystic dilatation grow in the submucosa. It is difficult to excise the tissue due to its location. In addition, even if the tissue is taken correctly, making an accurate diagnosis is difficult due to foveolar epithelium in the tissue, which can be misdiagnosed as gastric mucosal epithelium. Thus, an accurate diagnosis of GHIP is rarely established from a biopsy alone preoperatively. We here report a case of GHIP with a central dimple, which was diagnosed and treated using a modified combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches to neoplasia with a non-exposure technique (modified CLEAN-NET).

Case presentation

A 60-year-old man with a submucosal tumor (SMT) in the stomach was referred to our hospital by a primary care doctor. On examination, a gastrointestinal stromal tumor was suspected. Modified CLEAN-NET was performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The histopathological examination of the resected specimen showed an enlarged gland duct in the submucosal layer. This finding, along with immunostaining results, led to the diagnosis of GHIP. The postoperative course was uneventful without any symptoms.

Conclusions

GHIP should be considered among the differential diagnoses of SMT of the stomach. Modified CLEAN-NET may be beneficial in the removal of SMTs such as GHIP with a central dimple because it can avoid stomach deformation of the stomach and tumor dissemination.
Adolescent sexual behaviour and academic performance of Italian students
Authors: Lanari Donatella , Mangiavacchi Lucia , Pasqualini Marta
Published: August 2020

This article estimates the effect of sexual activity during adolescence on academic performance of high school students in Italy. We exploit a sample of university students drawn from the two waves (2000 and 2017) of the SELFY survey. The survey collects information on sexual behaviours during adolescence and on the grade obtained at the high school final examination, as well as on a number of family-related variables. Overall, results suggest a negative relationship between sexual activity and the grade obtained in the high school final examination supporting the idea that health and education consequences of sexual activities among adolescents merit public policy efforts. To deal with the potential influence of unobserved characteristics at individual and family level, we also pursue an instrumental variables approach. As instruments, we use three questions as proxy of erotophobia-erotophilia personality trait. This extension of the analysis confirms the results of the baseline models.
Musculoskeletal MRI at 7 T: do we need more or is it more than enough?
Authors: Aringhieri Giacomo , Zampa Virna , Tosetti Michela
Published: August 2020

Ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging (UHF-MRI) provides important diagnostic improvements in musculoskeletal imaging. The higher signal-to-noise ratio leads to higher spatial and temporal resolution which results in improved anatomic detail and higher diagnostic confidence. Several methods, such as T2, T2*, T1rho mapping, delayed gadolinium-enhanced, diffusion, chemical exchange saturation transfer, and magnetisation transfer techniques, permit a better tissue characterisation. Furthermore, UHF-MRI enables in vivo measurements by low-γ nuclei (23Na, 31P, 13C, and 39K) and the evaluation of different tissue metabolic pathways. European Union and Food and Drug Administration approvals for clinical imaging at UHF have been the first step towards a more routinely use of this technology, but some drawbacks are still present limiting its widespread clinical application. This review aims to provide a clinically oriented overview about the application of UHF-MRI in the different anatomical districts and tissues of musculoskeletal system and its pros and cons. Further studies are needed to consolidate the added value of the use of UHF-MRI in the routine clinical practice and promising efforts in technology development are already in progress.
A longitudinal analysis of anesthesia data for cataract surgery: selection of working correlation structure
Authors: Chehrazi Mohammad , Geraili Zahra , Rabiei Seyed Mozafar , Saadat Seyed Hassan , Khakzad Majid
Published: August 2020

Background

Cataract surgery is most commonly done under local anesthesia with anesthesia and sedation controlled. Anesthetic depth and awareness monitoring during surgery frequently lead to irregular-timed observations. Inappropriate choice of working correlation structure in generalized estimating equations (GEE) may lead to inefficient estimation of parameters. The aim of this study was to apply the two new criteria to the anesthesia data for cataract surgery, to select and compare different candidates for working structure.

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial, anesthesia depth and hemodynamic changes were considered to be the primary outcome. The first group received propofol at a dose of 50‑75 μg/kg/min and the second group received 1% isoflurane. We developed a GEE regression model based on several candidates for the working correlation framework and then evaluated it according to CEBIC (Constraint Empirical Bayesian Information Criterion) and CEAIC (Constraint Empirical Akaike Information Criterion) criteria. Data analysis was performed using the R software 3.6.1.

Results

The mean age of the propofol group was 67.46 years (SD = 12.46 years) and 64.53 years for the isoflurane group (SD = 13.77 years). The mean BIS in isoflurane was higher among all time points than the propofol group, but only the difference between the two groups was statistically significant in 3 min after surgery (P = 0.04). On the basis of the CEAIC and CEBIC criteria, an independent working correlation was the best structure for the BIS outcome. In addition, the best structure was the unstructured correlation for HR. The MAP (mean arterial pressure) parameter estimate results revealed that the AR (1) structure was a good choice.

Conclusion

In comparison to CIC and QIC, two CEAIC and CEBIC criteria have chosen a different structure for the working correlation between repeated measurements of anesthetic indices obtained during cataract surgery.
Enhancing the lubricity of gas-to-liquid (GTL) paraffinic kerosene: impact of the additives on the physicochemical properties
Authors: Ababneh Hani , Mohammad Nasr , Choudhury Hanif A. , Zhang Lei , Gani Rafiqul , McKay Gordon , Elbashir Nimir
Published: August 2020

Synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) is an ultra-clean fuel with low aromatic content and negligible quantities of sulfur compounds. Although, SPK has a good potential to replace the conventional fuel Jet A-1, it also has some deficiencies. One of them is the low lubricity compared to its conventional counterpart Jet A-1. To improve the lubricity of SPK, three selected additives have been mixed with SPK at different concentrations. The lubricity of the samples was determined experimentally and the samples that meet the industry specifications have been studied further. The effect of the additives on the physicochemical properties, such as, density, flash point, freezing point, viscosity, and heat content, were investigated. Linoleic acid was found to be an excellent lubricity improver even at a very low concentration and its negative impact on the other physicochemical properties was found to be insignificant. Ethyl oleate also demonstrated significant improvement in lubricity at low concentrations but had a negative impact on the fuel’s freezing point at high concentrations. Quinoline, at high concentrations, elevated the blend’s freezing point above the acceptable limits. In parallel to the experimental campaign, a pre-existing mathematical modelling tool was utilized to predict the properties of interest. The lubricity model was successfully introduced into the mathematical model in order to improve the capabilities of the model. Linoleic acid sample showed the best improvement in lubricity of SPK with wear scar diameter of 417 μm; well below the ASTM D7566 maximum limit of 850 μm. The dual nature of this study facilitated the optimization of the physicochemical properties of the fuel samples.
Comorbidity between enuresis and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a case-control study
Authors: Abd-Elmoneim Noran , Elsheshtawy Eman , Elsayed Mohamed , Gomaa Zeinab , Elwasify Mahmoud
Published: August 2020

Background

Although there is a strong association between enuresis and psychopathology, little is known about the prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders. We investigate the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with enuresis and study the impact on child behavior, self-esteem, and different EEG findings. A total number of one hundred 6 to 12 years old children diagnosed as functional enuresis taken from specialized university setting for enuresis at Mansoura Pediatric Outpatient Clinic, in which they could be subdivided into 2 groups after assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); according to DSM-IV criteria, we also compare them with a third ADHD group taken from Mansoura Psychiatric Outpatient Clinicn= 40 to match the co-morbid “enuresis with ADHD” group. All were subjected to a diagnostic interview conducted and completed with parents and developmental and family history as well, also they subjected to Conner’s parent rating scale-93(CPRS-93), Rosenberg self-esteem assessment scale, and EEG examination.

Results

There was high prevalence of ADHD in our study with about 40% in children with enuresis especially who met the DSM–IV criteria of inattention attending a specialized setting for enuresis at Mansoura Pediatric Outpatient Clinic which is a tertiary setting where the older the children of enuresis, the higher the prevalence of ADHD, also there is a relationship between abnormal epileptiform discharge in EEG finding and enuresis as same as ADHD which became greatly increased in the children who had both disorders who was the most affected group as regard behavioral problems and lowered self-esteem levels.

Conclusions

The strong association between ADHD and enuresis suggests that the presence of enuresis should motivate diagnostic assessment of ADHD especially the inattentive subtype. Abnormal EEG finding in the form of generalized slow and sharp waves may be useful as a predictor for the presence of ADHD in children with enuresis. Also, the co-morbidity increases the negative impact on child behavior and self-esteem.
Photogeneration of Reactive Oxygen Species from Water-Soluble Phthalocyanine Derivatives Bound to a G-Quadruplex DNA
Authors: Uchiyama Mami , Momotake Atsuya , Ikeue Takahisa , Yamamoto Yasuhiko
Published: August 2020

Water-soluble phthalocyanine (Pc) derivatives have been studied extensively as not only effective photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), but also G-quadruplex ligands which have the potential to be anticancer drugs. We investigated the photogeneration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from cationic Pc derivatives, 2,3,6,7,10,11,14,15-octakis-[N-methyl-(4-methylpyridinium-3-yloxy)phthalocyaninato] chloro gallium(III) iodide (GaPc) and zinc(II) iodide (ZnPc), in the presence of an all parallel-stranded tetrameric G-quadruplex DNA, i.e., [d(TTAGGGT)4]. We found that the photo ROS generation from GaPc is suppressed in the presence of the DNA, whereas that from ZnPc is enhanced on the addition of the DNA. The suppression of the photo ROS generation for GaPc by the DNA was found to be due to electron transfer from the ground state of the guanine base of the DNA to the photo-excited state of GaPc. This finding provides a clue as to why phototoxicity of GaPc is lower than that of ZnPc in human Hep2 cells (Fujishiro et al. J. Inorg. Biochem.2019, 192, 7). On the other hand, the enhancement of the photo ROS generation from ZnPc by the DNA is possibly due to the dissociation of its non-fluorescent aggregate through its interaction with the DNA. Thus the interaction of photosensitizers with DNA and RNA is crucial for their PDT efficacy.
Sustainability and COVID-19: Recycling and Reusing N95’s
Authors: Sabahat Maria , Naeem Muhammad Talha , Meo Anusha Sultan
Published: August 2020

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.6.3342

How to cite this:Sabahat M, Naeem MT, Meo AS. Sustainability and COVID-19: Recycling and Reusing N95’s. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(6):1412-1413.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.6.3342

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Effectiveness of Rotarix® vaccine in Africa in the first decade of progressive introduction, 2009-2019: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Murunga Nickson , P. Otieno Grieven , Maia Marta , N. Agoti Charles
Published: August 2020

Background: Randomized controlled trials of licensed oral rotavirus group A (RVA) vaccines, indicated lower efficacy in developing countries compared to developed countries. We investigated the pooled effectiveness of Rotarix® in Africa in 2019, a decade since progressive introduction began in 2009.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed to identify studies that investigated the effectiveness of routine RVA vaccination in an African country between 2009 and 2019. A meta-analysis was undertaken to estimate pooled effectiveness of the full-dose versus partial-dose of Rotarix® (RV1) vaccine and in different age groups. Pooled odds ratios were estimated using random effects model and the risk of bias assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE.

Results: By December 2019, 39 (72%) countries in Africa had introduced RVA vaccination, of which 34 were using RV1. Thirteen eligible studies from eight countries were included in meta-analysis for vaccine effectiveness (VE) of RVA by vaccine dosage (full or partial) and age categories. Pooled RV1 VE against RVA associated hospitalizations was 44% (95% confidence interval (CI) 28-57%) for partial dose versus 58% (95% CI 50-65%) for full dose. VE was 61% (95% CI 50-69%), 55% (95% CI 32-71%), 56% (95% CI 43-67%), and 61% (95% CI 42-73%) for children aged <12 months, 12-23 months, <24 months and 12-59 months, respectively.

Conclusion: RV1 vaccine use has resulted in a significant reduction in severe diarrhoea in African children and its VE is close to the efficacy findings observed in clinical trials. RV1 VE point estimate was higher for children who received full dose than those who received partial dose, and its protection lasted beyond the first year of life.
A Bayesian Level-k Model in n-Person Games
Authors: Ho Teck-Hua , Park So-Eun , Su Xuanming
Published: August 2020

In standard models of iterative thinking, players choose a fixed rule level from a fixed rule hierarchy. Nonequilibrium behavior emerges when players do not perform enough thinking steps. Existing approaches, however, are inherently static. This paper introduces a Bayesian level-k model, in which level-0 players adjust their actions in response to historical game play, whereas higher-level thinkers update their beliefs on opponents’ rule levels and best respond with different rule levels over time. As a consequence, players choose a dynamic rule level (i.e., sophisticated learning) from a varying rule hierarchy (i.e., adaptive learning). We apply our model to existing experimental data on three distinct games: the p-beauty contest, Cournot oligopoly, and private-value auction. We find that both types of learning are significant in p-beauty contest games, but only adaptive learning is significant in the Cournot oligopoly, and only sophisticated learning is significant in the private-value auction. We conclude that it is useful to have a unified framework that incorporates both types of learning to explain dynamic choice behavior across different settings.

This paper was accepted by Manel Baucells, decision analysis.
Burnout and its prevalence among public health nurses in Ireland
Authors: Hanafin Sinead , Cosgrove Jude , Hanafin Patrick , Brady Anne-Marie , Lynch Ciaran
Published: August 2020

This paper presents the findings from an analysis of survey data which was collected from public health nurses (N = 136) as part of a larger study with more than 4000 nurses and midwives in Ireland. The purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence of burnout using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and to compare relationships between burnout, demographic and work characteristics across this group of nurses. Younger PHNs were most likely to report feeling burnout (68%) compared with those aged 51 or over (47%) who reported the lowest levels. PHNs whose highest level of qualification was a primary degree were least likely to report feeling burnout (31%) compared with those who held a Masters / Doctoral degree (54.5%). PHNs who reported working on a fixed-term full-time contract were most likely to report feeling burnout (70%) compared with those who were on a permanent part-time contract (49%). Quantitative analysis, using both descriptive and inferential statistics, was carried out and the findings show that PHNs reported moderate levels of burnout. The findings also show that burnout among PHNs is strongly correlated with the physical demands placed on individuals during work, having constant time pressures, too much being expected of individuals, the work environment being too demanding and dissatisfaction with the physical conditions.
Challenges and opportunities: the role of the district nurse in influencing practice education
Authors: Ashworth Lisa
Published: August 2020

The responsibility of the district nurse (DN), alongside complex case management and leadership, is to ensure Specialist Practitioner Qualification District Nurse (SPQDN) education continues to create practitioners delivering quality evidence-based care. DN leadership and its importance have come to the fore during the COVID-19 crisis, where hospital discharges have increased rapidly to make way for highly complex admissions ( HM Government, 2020 ). This paper examines the importance of the SPQDN qualification, exploring the role of the DN within practice education. Continuation of the vital DN qualification will ensure that the numbers of qualified DNs increase, ultimately protecting community capacity. With a move towards an apprenticeship model to achieve the SPQDN, DNs must engage with and influence curriculum development to confirm courses deliver requirements of the workplace, commissioners and the 2019 NHS Long Term Plan. Expectations of the DN role within practice education have changed, moving away from the practice teacher standards to the new Nursing and Midwifery Council Standards for Student Support and Assessment. This poses new challenges in DN education in practice. The implications of this transition threaten to de-value the quality of the assessment process by removing the high standards of preparation previously demanded; ultimately, this is a risk to the provision of the quality practice education that previously existed.
Seasonal Changes in Sugar and Amino Acid Preference in Red Wood Ants of The Formica rufa Group
Authors: Madsen Natalia E.L. , Offenberg Joachim
Published: August 2020

Red wood ants of the Formica rufa group are important ecosystem engineers throughout the Northern Hemisphere with potential to be commercially produced and used as predatory agents in biological control programs. However, in order to do that, their mutualistic relationship with aphids needs to be disrupted. This may be achieved by developing artificial sugar-based solutions with a composition that makes them more attractive than aphid honeydew. The present field study investigated Formica rufa’s preference for several sugar and amino acid sources, as well as potential seasonal changes in these preferences. Red wood ants consistently preferred sucrose to monosaccharides and were most attracted to solutions containing an amino acid source, albeit seasonal differences were observed with regard to which amino acid sources were most preferred. Recruitment to offered sugar solutions was highest during July, when colony requirements were high, and during October, when alternative food sources were scarce. Since ant preference for sugar solution constituents seems to be species-specific and show seasonal dynamics, artificial food aimed at disrupting ant-aphid mutualisms should be tailored to individual species and seasons.
Biodiversity of Insects in the Amazon: survey of social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in Amazon rainforest areas in Amazonas state, Brazil
Authors: Somavilla Alexandre , Moraes Junior Raimundo Nonato Martins , Oliveira Marcio Luiz , Rafael José Albertino
Published: August 2020

The thematic network ‘Biodiversity of Insects in the Amazon’ is the first network among researchers of the Brazilian Amazon in terms of the increase of knowledge and provision of subsidies for the conservation of Amazonian biodiversity, focusing on insects, and disseminate this knowledge to different sectors of society. In this way, expeditions to six localities in the Amazonas State were carried out and we present here the results for social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae). We used two modified Malaise traps combined with two suspended traps from July 2016 to June 2017. A total of 140 species and 20 genera were collected: 92 species and 18 genera in ZF-2-Manaus area, where the greatest diversity was recorded, followed by Tefé (73 species, 16 genera), Careiro-Castanho (72 species, 17 genera), Novo Airão (71 species, 16 genera), Presidente Figueiredo (62 species, 16 genera), and Ipixuna (58 species, 17 genera). Metapolybia rufata Richards, 1978 and Polybia diguetana du Buysson, 1905 were new records for Brazil, and other six species were first records for Amazonas state. The results indicate that further investigations should significantly increase the species diversity of wasps in the Amazon region and add more information to the knowledge of Polistinae diversity.
Notes on Brood Morphology and the Development of the Neotropical Eusocial Wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae)
Authors: Da Silva Rafael Carvalho , Assis Diego Santana , De Souza André Rodrigues , Nascimento Fabio Santos , Giannotti Edilberto
Published: August 2020

Mischocyttarus cerberus stands out among the most investigated species of the eusocial paper wasp, in Brazil. While the adult characteristics were relatively well reported in the earlier studies, very meager information was available regarding their immature stages. This study provides a description of the immature morphology of the general brood of M. cerberus, by studying the number of instars and analyzing the degree of influence exerted by some of the environmental factors on the individuals in the immature phases. This work involves a detailed study of 72 wasp colonies from Rio Claro and Ribeirão Preto. Using the larvae drawn from 41 nests, the number of instars was calculated; besides, the degree to which a few environmental factors could affect the immature brood development was assessed in 31 nests. Eggs showed patterns similar in terms of form and size to that of the species described earlier. The two ventral lobes, characteristic of the Mischocyttarus larvae, were fully developed only in the fifth instar. The measurements of the larval heads in the five instars found concurred with the earlier reports for most of the social wasps. Furthermore, the larval stages took longer to develop, which could be related to the greater susceptibility of the larvae to the prevailing environmental factors. From the results of our study, we concluded that the M. cerberus showed the typical developmental pattern in the immature stages of its genus.
Social Wasps in Exotic Forest Planting and Atlantic Rainforest in the Neotropical Region
Authors: Silva-Filho Reinildes , Brügger Bruno Pandelo , Zanúncio José Cola , Cassino Paulo César R.
Published: August 2020

Social wasps play an important role in communities, whether in natural or agricultural ecosystems, performing pollination and/or predation on other organisms, especially caterpillars, which reveals their potential for biological control. We register species of predatory wasps found in a eucalypt reforested area compared with a native rainforest. Five species of social wasps were found: Agelaia myrmecophila (Ducke), Mischocyttarus punctatus (Ducke), Polistes carnifex (Fabricius), Polybia liliacea (Fabricius), and Polybia striata (Fabricius), with higher numbers in the eucalypt monoculture than in the Atlantic rainforest, suggesting no negative impact of the monoculture on the population of that natural enemies.
Contribution of the Cerrado as Habitat for Sunflower Pollinating Bees
Authors: Almeida Mayra Layra Santos , Carvalho Gabriel Santos , Novais Júlia Rodrigues , Storck Tonon Danielle , Oliveira Márcio Luiz , Mahlmann Thiago , Nogueira David Santos , Pereira Mônica Josene
Published: August 2020

Agricultural landscapes sometimes include natural habitats which can support the ecosystem by enhancing the pollination of crops, thus boosting the productivity. This research was conducted between May and July 2017, in the municipality of Tangará da Serra, Mato Grosso, Brazil, to assess the Cerrado from the perspective of it being a crucial habitat to sustain the sunflower-pollinating bees (Helianthus annuus L.). The bees were sampled using entomological nets and pan traps, in specifically marked out plots (20 m x 150 m), in the Cerrado, and in a sunflower crop, at different distances from the Cerrado border. The assessment was done in terms of the composion and species richness, abundance of individuals and the mass (g) of the sunflower chapters exposed and isolated from the floral visitors. While species richness showed no differences between the Cerrado and sunflower crop, a difference was observed for abundance, with more numbers of individuals in the sunflower crop, most likely because of the food source supply. In the sunflower crop, the bee diversity decreased proportionally as the distance from the border increased. The seed mass of the sunfl ower chapters was significantly higher in the flowers open to visitors than in those of the isolated chapters open for visitation. From the results, it was evident that the bees presente in the Cerrado visit the sunflower crop to gather pollen and nectar, and thus assist in cross-pollinating them and raising the productivity.
Towards a stabilized Kerr optical frequency comb with spatial interference
Authors: Mefford David K. , Reardon Patrick J.
Published: August 2020

We measured a soliton’s carrier frequency created by a silicon nitride Kerr comb from an interference pattern created by a spatial interferometer. The optical frequencies were determined from the interference pattern by simultaneously calibrating against an interference pattern from the pump optical frequency. Results were compared to real-time measurements by an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA). The spatial interferometer and the OSA results tracked each other, and the resulting RMS error is presented.
Dedicated processor for hologram calculation using sparse Fourier bases
Authors: Yasuki Daiki , Blinder David , Shimobaba Tomoyoshi , Yamamoto Yota , Hoshi Ikuo , Schelkens Peter , Kakue Takashi , Ito Tomoyoshi
Published: August 2020

Recently, a calculation method involving sparse point spread functions in the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) domain was proposed. In this paper, a dedicated processor using the STFT algorithm is described, which is implemented on a field-programmable gate array. All the operations in this algorithm are implemented using fixed-point arithmetic. Since this algorithm includes a trigonometric function and an error function, lookup tables (LUTs) are utilized to reduce the calculation costs. We have devised a dedicated circuit architecture that allows parallel operations. In addition, a central processing unit could generate holograms using the STFT-based algorithm with fixed-point arithmetic and LUTs at a higher speed than the generation using floating-point arithmetic.
Procedure for detecting the shape and size of defects on metallic substrates under composite repairs using shearography
Authors: Staub Felipe Diego , Benedet Mauro , Fantin Analucia Vieira , Willemann Daniel Pedro , Dias Fonseca Martins Fabiana , Lúcia Fampa Seabra d’Almeida Ana , Damasceno Soares Sérgio , Gonçalves Armando Albertazzi , Lenzi Arcanjo
Published: August 2020

This paper presents a numerical-experimental procedure to characterize through-holes with arbitrary shapes present on metallic substrates under composite material sleeves using pulsed laser shearography and dynamic excitation combined to the finite element method. The so-called fitting process consists of matching experimental and numerical results in order to determine the shape and dimensions of the holes under the composite repair, or even quantify defects between layers of the composite laminate. The results show that the technique is capable of characterizing, in the worst case, the geometry of a hole with 83% accuracy and its respective area with a maximum error of approximately 20%. The advantageous results achieved in this research show that the fitting process can be very useful for real applications in the oil and petroleum industry.