bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pathogenesis of liver injury in Takayasu arteritis: advanced understanding leads to new horizons
Authors: Kang Kai , Sun Yue , Li Yi Ling , Chang Bing
Published: December 2020

Liver injury in Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare phenomenon. Most symptoms are nonspecific, and the exact pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. Early diagnosis and new treatment methods are important for an improved prognosis. A summary of the clinical information and mechanistic analyses may contribute to making an early diagnosis and development of new treatment methods. A PubMed search was conducted using the specific key words “Takayasu arteritis” and “liver” or “hepatitis” or “hepatic”. Symptoms and treatment of TA with an accompanying liver injury were reviewed retrospectively. Many factors are presumed to be involved in the mechanism of TA with liver injury, including the immune response, genes, infections, and gut microbiota. There are several lines of evidence indicating that immune dysfunction is the main pathogenic factor that triggers granuloma formation in TA patients. However, the role of genetics and infections has not been fully confirmed. Recently, the gut microbiota has emerged as an essential component in the process. We reviewed in detail the current concepts that support the complex pathogenesis of TA accompanied by liver injury, and we presented recent theories from the literature. Finally, we discussed future research directions of liver injury in TA.
Quantum Ambivalence
Authors: Sjoberg Laura
Published: December 2020

My reading of quantum IR has always been in ambivalent, uncomfortable agreement, even if I could not articulate the reason for that ambivalence. This article confronts that ambivalence through reading Laura Zanotti’s Ontological Entanglements - an interesting and engaging book with which I largely agree, and read ambivalently. It brings the reader along on my reading of Ontological Entanglements, engaging my ambivalence and explicitly relating the some of the book’s key claims to feminist work on ontology and epistemology. It continues to explore the potential pitfalls with quantum approaches to IR through their manifestations in Ontological Entanglements. The article concludes by engaging Ontological Entanglements from the complex position of simultaneously being impressed with the work and opposed to its promulgation.
Global prevalence of traumatic non-fatal limb amputation
Authors: McDonald Cody L , Westcott-McCoy Sarah , Weaver Marcia R , Haagsma Juanita , Kartin Deborah
Published: December 2020

Background:

Reliable information on both global need for prosthetic services and the current prosthetist workforce is limited. Global burden of disease estimates can provide valuable insight into amputation prevalence due to traumatic causes and global prosthetists needed to treat traumatic amputations.

Objectives:

This study was conducted to quantify and interpret patterns in global distribution and prevalence of traumatic limb amputation by cause, region, and age within the context of prosthetic rehabilitation, prosthetist need, and prosthetist education.

Study design:

A secondary database descriptive study.

Methods:

Amputation prevalence and prevalence rate per 100,000 due to trauma were estimated using the 2017 global burden of disease results. Global burden of disease estimation utilizes a Bayesian metaregression and best available data to estimate the prevalence of diseases and injuries, such as amputation.

Results:

In 2017, 57.7 million people were living with limb amputation due to traumatic causes worldwide. Leading traumatic causes of limb amputation were falls (36.2%), road injuries (15.7%), other transportation injuries (11.2%), and mechanical forces (10.4%). The highest number of prevalent traumatic amputations was in East Asia and South Asia followed by Western Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, high-income North America and Eastern Europe. Based on these prevalence estimates, approximately 75,850 prosthetists are needed globally to treat people with traumatic amputations.

Conclusion:

Amputation prevalence estimates and patterns can inform prosthetic service provision, education and planning.
Robust Maximum Coverage Facility Location Problem with Drones Considering Uncertainties in Battery Availability and Consumption
Authors: Chauhan Darshan R. , Unnikrishnan Avinash , Figliozzi Miguel , Boyles Stephen D.
Published: December 2020

Given a set of a spatially distributed demand for a specific commodity, potential facility locations, and drones, an agency is tasked with locating a pre-specified number of facilities and assigning drones to them to serve the demand while respecting drone range constraints. The agency seeks to maximize the demand served while considering uncertainties in initial battery availability and battery consumption. The facilities have a limited supply of the commodity being distributed and also act as a launching site for drones. Drones undertake one-to-one trips (from located facility to demand location and back) until their available battery energy is exhausted. This paper extends the work done by Chauhan et al. and presents an integer linear programming formulation to maximize coverage using a robust optimization framework. The uncertainty in initial battery availability and battery consumption is modeled using a penalty-based approach and gamma robustness, respectively. A novel robust three-stage heuristic (R3SH) is developed which provides objective values which are within 7% of the average solution reported by MIP solver with a median reduction in computational time of 97% on average. Monte Carlo simulation based testing is performed to assess the value of adding robustness to the deterministic problem. The robust model provides higher and more reliable estimates of actual coverage under uncertainty. The average maximum coverage difference between the robust optimization solution and the deterministic solution is 8.1% across all scenarios.
Linkage Between Employee Satisfaction and Employee Performance: A Case in Banking Industry
Authors: Mishra Sweta , Singh Shikta , Tripathy Priyanka
Published: December 2020

Banking sector is predominantly a customer-focused business that provides a gamut of financial services in aid of advanced technology, prompt communication system and conception of various banks to deal with multinational led environment. Some priority should be given to human resource development in order to emerge as strong and viable financial institution. So, the banking sector should emphasize on employees and how they can be satisfied, engaged and perform better. This study indicates to what extent employee satisfaction and employee performance are interlinked with each other. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors of employee satisfaction and employee performance and to establish a relationship between them. A survey method using a structured questionnaire was used to collect the responses of bankers in SBI, Bhubaneswar region. Having the data collected from 240 filled questionnaires, analysis was carried out using exploratory factor analysis, and to further validate this, structural equation modelling was developed. This was followed by a confirmatory factor analysis to establish the linkage between employee satisfaction and employee performance. The results indicated a significant relationship between employee satisfaction and performance. This study contributes to understanding of the various factors affecting employee satisfaction and performance, especially in the banking sector. By focusing on employee satisfaction, managers can keep the employees more focused, engaged and committed to their work and enhance overall productivity of the organization.
Acoustic-electroelastic modeling of piezoelectric disks in high-intensity focused ultrasound power transfer systems
Authors: Bhargava Aarushi , Shahab Shima
Published: December 2020

Contactless ultrasound power transfer (UPT) has emerged as one of the promising techniques for wireless power transfer. Physical processes supporting UPT include the vibrations at a transmitting/acoustic source element, acoustic wave propagation, piezoelectric transduction of elastic vibrations at a receiving element, and acoustic-structure interactions at the surfaces of the transmitting and receiving elements. A novel mechanism using a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transmitter is proposed for enhanced power transfer in UPT systems. The HIFU source is used for actuating a finite-size piezoelectric disk receiver. The underlying physics of the proposed system includes the coupling of the nonlinear acoustic field with structural responses of the receiver, which leads to spatial resonances and the appearance of higher harmonics during wave propagation in a medium. Acoustic nonlinearity due to wave kinematics in the HIFU-UPT system is modeled by taking into account the effects of diffraction, absorption, and nonlinearity in the medium. Experimentally-validated acoustic-structure interaction formulation is employed in a finite element based multiphysics model. The results show that the HIFU high-level excitation can cause disproportionately large responses in the piezoelectric receiver if the frequency components in the nonlinear acoustic field coincide with the resonant frequencies of the receiver.
Application of Computerized Adaptive Testing to the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure
Authors: O’Neil Joseph T. , Plummer Otho R. , Raikin Steven M.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Patient-reported outcome measures are an increasingly important tool for assessing the impact of treatments orthopedic surgeons render. Despite their importance, they can present a burden. We examined the validity and utility of a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) method to reduce the number of questions on the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), a validated anatomy-specific outcome measure.

Methods:

A previously developed FAAM CAT system was applied to the responses of patients undergoing foot and ankle evaluation and treatment over a 3-year period (2017-2019). A total of 15 902 responses for the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) subscale and a total of 14 344 responses for the Sports subscale were analyzed. The accuracy of the CAT to replicate the full-form score was assessed.

Results:

The CAT system required 11 questions to be answered for the ADL subscale in 85.1% of cases (range, 11-12). The number of questions answered on the Sports subscale was 6 (range, 5-6) in 66.4% of cases. The mean difference between the full FAAM ADL subscale and CAT was 0.63 of a point. The mean difference between the FAAM Sports subscale and CAT was 0.65 of a point.

Conclusion:

The FAAM CAT was able to reduce the number of responses a patient would need to answer by nearly 50%, while still providing a valid outcome score. This measure can therefore be directly correlated with previously obtained full FAAM scores in addition to providing a foot/ankle-specific measure, which previously reported CAT systems are not able to do.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, case series.
“A Little Bit of Their Souls”: Investigating the Concept of Dignity for People Living With Dementia Using Caregivers’ Blogs
Authors: Anderson Joel G. , Bartmess Marissa , Hundt Elizabeth , Jacelon Cynthia
Published: December 2020

Dignity is an important component of quality of life and a core value of family nursing care. Few studies have explored dignity in community-dwelling adults with dementia. This study used blogs written by caregivers to explore the concept of dignity in dementia caregiving. A template analysis of blogs written by family caregivers of people with dementia was conducted. Four themes were defined a priori in relation to Jacelon’s model of dignity: perceived value from others, self in relation to others, behavioral respect, and self-value. Caregivers wrote about experiences that related to each of the four a priori themes from Jacelon’s model. In addition, the theme of dignity by proxy was derived from the analysis. By understanding the concept of dignity in the context of dementia family caregiving, interventions and services can be developed to improve family quality of life through dignifying, family-focused care.
Generosity of state insurance mandates and growth in the workforce for autism spectrum disorder
Authors: McBain Ryan K , Cantor Jonathan H , Kofner Aaron , Callaghan Timothy , Stein Bradley D , Yu Hao
Published: December 2020

All 50 US states have enacted mandates requiring insurers to cover autism-related services. We assessed whether and to what extent variation in generosity of state insurance mandates has been associated with rate of growth in the health workforce for children with autism spectrum disorder: including board-certified behavioral analysts, child psychiatrists, and pediatricians. Drawing data from the National Conference of State Legislatures and Area Health Resource Files, we evaluated eight mandate policy features, utilizing a fixed-effect longitudinal regression framework to examine their relationships with workforce growth during a 15-year period (2003–2017) over which 44 states enacted a mandate. Aspects of mandate generosity included ages covered, spending caps, and types of services covered. We found that mandate generosity was closely associated with the magnitude of increase in supply of board-certified behavioral analysts and—to a lesser extent—child psychiatrists. States with the most generous mandates would be expected to have 39% more board-certified behavioral analysts and 17% more child psychiatrists in 2017, compared to states with least generous mandates. We found no association between mandate generosity and supply of pediatricians. Collectively, our results suggest that the degree of generosity afforded by mandates may be as important as the passage of mandate legislation itself for encouraging workforce growth.

Lay abstract

To improve access to health services for children with autism spectrum disorder, US states have passed laws requiring health insurers to cover autism-related care, commonly known as state insurance mandates. However, the features of mandates differ across states, with some state laws containing very generous provisions and others containing very restrictive provisions such as whether the mandates include children aged above 12 years, whether there is a limit on spending, and whether there are restrictions on the types of services covered. This study examined the relationship between generosity of mandates and growth in the health workforce between 2003 and 2017, a period during which 44 states passed mandates. We found that states that enacted more generous mandates experienced significantly more growth in board-certified behavioral analysts who provide behavioral therapy as well as more growth in child psychiatrists. We did not find differences in the growth of pediatricians, which is a less specialized segment of the workforce. Our findings were consistent across eight different mandate features and suggest that the content of legislation may be as important as whether or not legislation has been passed in terms of encouraging growth in the supply of services for children with autism spectrum disorder.
A new stiffness-strength-relationship-based design approach for global buckling prevention of buckling-restrained braces
Authors: Pan Wen-Hao , Tong Jing-Zhong
Published: December 2020

This paper proposes a new stiffness-strength-relationship-based design approach that can pinpoint the target design solution for steel buckling-restrained braces (BRB). First, a stiffness–strength requirement interaction curve (the design criterion) with a very simple and easy-to-use form is derived based on a second-order analysis. This interaction curve clearly illustrates the opposing stiffness and strength requirements of the restraining system. Second, based on the geometrical parameters and material properties, a stiffness–strength relationship curve of the BRB restraining system is established. This second relationship curve is expressed by a linear function for a uniform steel BRB. By using the two analytical curves, the point of intersection defines the target design point. A straightforward design procedure for steel BRBs is then developed. A design example of steel BRBs is considered to demonstrate this easy-to-use design procedure for obtaining economical BRB designs. The design is verified and discussed by a rigorous finite element analysis.
Fil-lamin-ing in the Gap in Cortical Dysplasia
Authors: Gross Christina
Published: December 2020

[Box: see text]
News values and human values in mediated terrorism: Photographic representations of the 2015 Beirut and Paris attacks by global news agencies
Authors: Kim Michael Dokyum
Published: December 2020

This study explores the photographic representations of two terrorist incidents, the 2015 Paris attacks and the Beirut bombings, produced by the leading global news agencies. The study conducts a content analysis of the photographs produced by AP, Reuters and AFP to identify the recurring patterns of the images under the discourse of ‘othering’ and ‘grievability’. It is observed that the agencies represented the two incidents differently as they show distinctive patterns in their manners of portrayal. It is argued that the apparent ‘hierarchy of news values’ is accompanied by the ‘hierarchy of human lives’ within the photographic representations, whereby the photographs of the Paris attacks, recognized as an extraordinary event, speak of humanization in which lives of the sufferers are valued while the photographs of the Beirut bombings, seen as an ordinary event, speak of dehumanization, where lives are devalued. Implications for global journalism and news value are discussed.
Secondary Metabolites Isolated From Streptomyces sp. MJM3055 and Their Cytotoxicity Against Jurkat Cells
Authors: Qiu Yinda , Yoo Hee Min , Cho Namki , Yan Pengcheng , Liu Zhiguo , Cheng Jinhua , Suh Joo-Won
Published: December 2020

Bacteria of the genus Streptomyces are used in multiple applications in the medical field owing to their ability to generate large quantities of secondary metabolites. Chromatographic purification of Streptomyces sp. MJM3055 led to the isolation of 1 new streptenol derivative, 1- O-acetylstreptenol A (2), along with (3 E,8 E)-1-hydroxydeca-3,8-dien-5-one (1), streptenol A (3), cyclo-(L-Ile-L-Pro) (4), streptazolin (5), and 7- O-acetylstreptazolin (6). The structures were elucidated by interpretation of combined mass spectrometry, circular dichroism, and 2-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data. Among these isolated compounds, compound 1 exhibited strong cytotoxic effects against Jurkat T cells.
Failed hybrids: The death and life of Bluetooth proximity marketing
Authors: Nicholas Gabriel , Shapiro Aaron
Published: December 2020

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons were once heralded as the “holy grail of marketing,” a “cookie” for the physical world. An entire industry—proximity marketing—evolved to capture value from beacon-enabled micro-location networks, with venture capitalists, startups, mobile operating systems suppliers, and major platforms all making substantial investments of data, labor, and resources in the technology. Despite these investments, beacons fell out of favor abruptly, with observers dismissing the technology as an overly cumbersome solution in search of a problem, a “low-value fad.” We offer a microhistorical account of beacons’ small yet untenable role in the ecologies of location-based commercial surveillance—from the standards wars between Apple and Google to the efforts of startups and tech giants to capitalize on the market’s enthusiasm for beacons, and finally, to the industry’s quiet collapse. Our analysis builds upon work on the relationship between platform and infrastructure. We argue that proximity marketers failed to construct a viable platform-infrastructure hybrid capable of monetizing beacon proximity data and identify three axes along which beacons frustrated marketers’ ambitions for the technology: scalability, exclusivity, and visibility. We conclude by revisiting the platform-infrastructure relationship to discuss beacons’ legacy in two surveillance systems: student tracking on college campuses and contact-tracing initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Surgeon Applications of Patient Preferences in Treatment Decision Making for First-Time Anterior Shoulder Dislocation
Authors: Lau Brian C. , Hutyra Carolyn A. , Streufert Benjamin , Reed Shelby D. , Orlando Lori A. , Huber Joel C. , Taylor Dean C. , Mather Richard C.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Treatment of a first-time anterior shoulder dislocation (FTASD) is sensitive to patient preferences. The operative or nonoperative management debate provides an excellent opportunity to learn how surgeons apply patient preferences in treatment decisions.

Purpose:

To determine how patient preferences (repeat dislocation risk, recovery difficulties, fear of surgery, treatment costs) and surgeon factors influence a surgeon’s treatment plan for FTASD.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

Eight clinical vignettes of hypothetical patients with FTASD (including age, sex, and activity level) were presented to members of the Magellan Society. A second set of matched vignettes with patient preferences and clinical variables were also presented. The vignettes represented scenarios in which evidence does not favor one treatment over another. Respondents were asked how they would manage each hypothetical case. Respondents also estimated the risk of redislocation for the nonoperative cases for comparison with the published rates. Finally, respondents completed a Likert-scale questionnaire to determine their perceptions on factors influencing their decisions.

Results:

A total of 103 orthopaedic surgeons completed the survey; 48% practiced in an academic hospital; 79% were in practice for 10 years or longer; and 75% had completed a sports medicine fellowship. Patient preferences were the single most important factor influencing treatment recommendation, with activity type and age also important. Just 62% of the surgeon estimates of the risk of redislocation were consistent with the published rates. The inclusion of patient preferences to clinical variables changed treatment recommendations in 62.5% of our hypothetical cases. Respondents rated patient treatment preference as the leading factor in their treatment decision making.

Conclusion:

Patient preferences were important when deciding the appropriate treatment for FTASD. Respondents were inconsistent when applying evidence in their decision making and estimates of recurrent instability. Decision support tools that deliver patient preferences and personalized evidence-based outcome estimates improve the quality of decision making at the point of care.
LGBTQ+ Sensemaking: The Mental Load of Identifying Workplace Allies
Authors: Minei Elizabeth M. , Hastings Sally O. , Warren Simone
Published: December 2020

The sensemaking process is complex and mentally demanding, inviting sensemakers to establish and apply schema about individuals and groups. This study assesses the ways LGBTQ+ employees evaluate coworker’s ally status through the application of schema and the further sensemaking that follows the schema creation. We conducted 35 interviews with LBGTQ+ employees to understand the ways these employees processed decisions and weigh the risks during the construction of ally-status schemas about coworkers. Findings indicate that LGBTQ+ employees assess colleagues’ likelihood toward allyship, or not, through sensemaking in three domains: (1) Demographic, (2) Reference to Industry, and (3) Observed and Experienced Interactions. We conclude this study with practical recommendations addressing both the creation of plausible but inaccurate schemas, the larger burden of mental load, and a discussion about the importance of bridging the gap between sensemaking by marginalized populations and ally status perceptions.
Patient preferences for systemic sclerosis treatment: A descriptive study within an Italian cohort
Authors: El Aoufy Khadija , Bruni Cosimo , Rasero Laura , Matucci Cerinic Marco , Furst Daniel Eric
Published: December 2020

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to ascertain systemic sclerosis patients’ preferences regarding the formulations of the medications they use.

Methods:

We undertook questionnaires and interviews aimed at understanding systemic sclerosis patients’ preferences with respect to the medications they used.

Results:

Among 160 systemic sclerosis patients, we found that the majority does not have difficulty taking their medication. However, preferences were identified (81.25% – 65/80 – preferred oral meds and 47.50% – 38/80 – disliked rectal/vaginal meds), as well as some systemic sclerosis patients have significant difficulties using their medications. In fact, factors such as swallowing and fine finger motion difficulties were frequent, while intravenous/intramuscular/subcutaneous medicines were usually not preferred because they are felt as inconvenient (intravenous = 33.4% and subcutaneous/intramuscular = 10%) or painful (intravenous = 37.50% and subcutaneous/intramuscular = 10%)

Conclusion:

Most systemic sclerosis patients are able to take their medication despite having some difficulties. However, as there were clear preferences, we could improve patients’ adherence to drug therapy if taking these preferences into account.
Hansenula PolymorphaVac8: A Vacuolar Membrane Protein Required for Vacuole Inheritance and Nucleus-Vacuole Junction Formation
Authors: Singh Ritika , Wróblewska Justyna , de Boer Rinse , van der Klei Ida J.
Published: December 2020

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Vac8 is a vacuolar membrane protein, which functions in vacuole inheritance and fusion, nucleus-vacuole junctions, autophagy and the cytoplasm-to-vacuole-targeting pathway. Here, we analyzed Vac8 of the yeast Hansenula polymorpha. We show that HpVac8 localizes to the vacuolar membrane and concentrates in patches at nucleus-vacuole junctions. Analysis of a VAC8 deletion strain indicated that HpVac8 is required for vacuole inheritance and the formation of nuclear-vacuole junctions, but not for vacuole fusion. Previously, organelle proteomics resulted in the identification of Vac8 in peroxisomal fractions isolated from H. polymorpha and S. cerevisiae. However, deletion of H. polymorpha VAC8 had no effect on peroxisome biogenesis or peroxisome-vacuole contact sites.
Violence and value in the migratory passage through Central America: The Cadereyta massacre (2012) and the struggle to have the bodies returned
Authors: Araya Sergio Salazar
Published: December 2020

This article shows the relationships laden with violence within the dynamics of cross-border mobility from the history of nine Hondurans and their grieving families. The case occurs in the broader context of the crude contemporary production of the Central America–Mexico migratory corridor, as well as the different forms of conflict that emerge around it. This context is marked by a logic of terror and death that becomes a structuring condition of the contemporary dispute for space, especially in the border areas, among diverse actors that include the state, organized crime, and migratory movements. In this transnational field, the dispute for space, rather than for the control of a perimeter territory, takes place around the control of certain specific circulation dynamics that are vertebral in the regional configuration of the capitalist global model: the movement of people and goods. These complex and dynamic territorialization processes are taking place along with the dynamic configuration of sovereignty, in which the operation of organized crime, migratory mobility, and the processes of formation of the state define a field of power characterized by a logic of war.
Triple-Helix Structured Model Based on Problem-Knowledge-Solution Co-evolution for Innovative Product Design Process
Authors: Hui Qian , Li Yan , Tao Ye , Liu Hongwei
Published: December 2020

A design problem with deficient information is generally described as wicked or ill-defined. The information insufficiency leaves designers with loose settings, free environments, and a lack of strict boundaries, which provides them with more opportunities to facilitate innovation. Therefore, to capture the opportunity behind the uncertainty of a design problem, this study models an innovative design as a composite solving process, where the problem is clarified and resolved from fuzziness to satisfying solutions by interplay among design problems, knowledge, and solutions. Additionally, a triple-helix structured model for the innovative product design process is proposed based on the co-evolution of the problem, solution, and knowledge spaces, to provide designers with a distinct design strategy and method for innovative design. The three spaces interact and co-evolve through iterative mappings, including problem structuring, knowledge expansion, and solution generation. The mappings carry the information processing and decision-making activities of the design, and create the path to satisfying solutions. Finally, a case study of a reactor coolant flow distribution device is presented to demonstrate the practicability of this model and the method for innovative product design.
First reported case of penile prosthesis infection from brucellosis: case report
Authors: Moohialdin Nabil N. , Shamsodini Ahmad , Wilson Steven K. , Abdeljaleel Osama , Alnadhari Ibrahim , Abdulmuhsin Ausama Saadi
Published: December 2020

Background

Infection after the penile prosthesis can be devastating to both the patient and surgeon with various complications and consequences. After introduction of antibiotic-coated implants, the rate of infection has dramatically decreased, but still we see uncommon organisms causing infection. We present a first case report of penile prosthesis infection by brucellosis due to raw milk ingestion. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of brucellosis penile prosthesis infection.

Case presentation

We present a first case report of penile prosthesis infection by brucellosis due to raw milk ingestion. A 75-year-old, diabetic male patient presented with penile prosthesis infection 5 months post-penile exchange surgery due to mechanical malfunctioning of 2-piece penile prosthesis which was inserted 11 years ago. The initial treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics did not subside the infection. After diagnosis of brucellosis, the antibiotic was changed to anti-brucellosis (Rifampicin + Tetracycline). The patient improved dramatically and was discharged home with smooth follow-up course.

Conclusion

Brucellosis can cause infection of penile prosthesis and can be treated with anti-brucellosis antibiotics without necessitating surgical intervention and removal of prosthesis.
Genome-wide identification, phylogenetic and expression pattern analysis of GATA family genes in Brassica napus
Authors: Zhu Weizhuo , Guo Yiyi , Chen Yeke , Wu Dezhi , Jiang Lixi
Published: December 2020

Background

Transcription factors GATAs are involved in plant developmental processes and respond to environmental stresses through binding DNA regulatory regions to regulate their downstream genes. However, little information on the GATA genes in Brassica napus is available. The release of the reference genome of B. napus provides a good opportunity to perform a genome-wide characterization of GATA family genes in rapeseed.

Results

In this study, 96 GATA genes randomly distributing on 19 chromosomes were identified in B. napus, which were classified into four subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis and their domain structures. The amino acids of BnGATAs were obvious divergence among four subfamilies in terms of their GATA domains, structures and motif compositions. Gene duplication and synteny between the genomes of B. napus and A. thaliana were also analyzed to provide insights into evolutionary characteristics. Moreover, BnGATAs showed different expression patterns in various tissues and under diverse abiotic stresses. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributions of BnGATAs in a core collection germplasm are probably associated with functional disparity under environmental stress condition in different genotypes of B. napus.

Conclusion

The present study was investigated genomic structures, evolution features, expression patterns and SNP distributions of 96 BnGATAs. The results enrich our understanding of the GATA genes in rapeseed.
Demethylation alters transcriptome profiling of buds and leaves in ‘Kyoho’ grape
Authors: Jia Haoran , Zhang Zibo , Sadeghnezhad Ehsan , Pang Qianqian , Li Shangyun , Pervaiz Tariq , Su Ziwen , Dong Tianyu , Fang Jinggui , Jia Haifeng
Published: December 2020

Background

Grape buds and leaves are directly associated with the physiology and metabolic activities of the plant, which is monitored by epigenetic modifications induced by environment and endogenous factors. Methylation is one of the epigenetic regulators that could be involved in DNA levels and affect gene expression in response to stimuli. Therefore, changes of gene expression profile in leaves and bud through inhibitors of DNA methylation provide a deep understanding of epigenetic effects in regulatory networks.

Results

In this study, we carried out a transcriptome analysis of ‘Kyoho’ buds and leaves under 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) exposure and screened a large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO and KEGG annotations showed that they are mainly involved in photosynthesis, flavonoid synthesis, glutathione metabolism, and other metabolic processes. Functional enrichment analysis also provided a holistic perspective on the transcriptome profile when 5-azaC bound to methyltransferase and induced demethylation. Enrichment analysis of transcription factors (TFs) also showed that the MYB, C2H2, and bHLH families are involved in the regulation of responsive genes under epigenetic changes. Furthermore, hormone-related genes have also undergone significant changes, especially gibberellin (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes that responded to bud germination. We also used protein-protein interaction network to determine hub proteins in response to demethylation.

Conclusions

These findings provide new insights into the establishment of molecular regulatory networks according to how methylation as an epigenetic modification alters transcriptome patterns in bud and leaves of grape.
The effect of ALDH2 rs671 gene mutation on clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in a big data study of Chinese population: associations differ between the sexes
Authors: Wang Danchen , Zou Yutong , Yu Songlin , Lin Songbai , Li Honglei , Yin Yicong , Qiu Ling , Xu Tengda , Wu Jie
Published: December 2020

Background

The ALDH2 rs671 genetic polymorphism has been linked with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but comprehensive epidemiological studies are lacking. An observational, retrospective big data study was carried out to evaluate the associations between this polymorphism and clustering cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) in a Chinese population.

Methods

A total of 13,101 individuals (8431 males and 4670 females) were enrolled. Genetic polymorphism was assessed using gene mutation detection kits, coupled with an automatic fluorescent analyzer. Other data were obtained from the records of the Department of Health Care at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Results

Comparing the concentrations of common biochemical analytes, including BMI, SBP, DBP, ALT, AST, γ-GT, TBil, Cr, Glu, TC, TG, and HDL-C among individuals with the GG, GA, and AA genotypes of ALDH2 rs671, we found significant differences in males (all p < 0.001), but not in females. For males, the frequencies of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity were significantly higher for GG than for GA or AA (all p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference for dyslipidemia, and no significant associations were observed for all frequencies in females. The prevalence of individuals with 1–4 CRFs was significantly higher among GG males than those carrying GA or AA, and fewer GG males had non-CRFs (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Polymorphisms of ALDH2 rs671 are associated with clustering CRFs, especially hypertension and diabetes in males, but not in females. These associations are likely mediated by alcohol intake, which is also associated with this gene.
Simulated patient and role play methodologies for communication skills and empathy training of undergraduate medical students
Authors: Bagacean Cristina , Cousin Ianis , Ubertini Anne-Helene , El Yacoubi El Idrissi Mohamed , Bordron Anne , Mercadie Lolita , Garcia Leonor Canales , Ianotto Jean-Christophe , De Vries Philine , Berthou Christian
Published: December 2020

Background

Verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as empathy are central to patient-doctor interactions and have been associated with patients’ satisfaction. Non-verbal communication tends to override verbal messages. The aim of this study was to analyze how medical students use verbal and non-verbal communication using two different educational approaches, student role play (SRP) and actor simulated patient (ASP), and whether the non-verbal behaviour is different in the two different poses.

Methods

Three raters evaluated 20 students playing the doctor role, 10 in the SRP group and 10 in the ASP group. The videos were analyzed with the Calgary-Cambridge Referenced Observation Guide (CCG) and, for a more accurate evaluation of non-verbal communication, we also evaluated signs of nervousness, and posture. Empathy was rated with the CARE questionnaire. Independent Mann Whitney U tests and Qhi square tests were performed for statistical analysis.

Results

From the 6 main tasks of the CCG score, we obtained higher scores in the ASP group for the task ‘Gathering information’ (p = 0.0008). Concerning the 17 descriptors of the CCG, the ASP group obtained significantly better scores for ‘Exploration of the patients’ problems to discover the biomedical perspective’ (p = 0.007), ‘Exploration of the patients’ problems to discover background information and context’ (p = 0.0004) and for ‘Closing the session – Forward planning’ (p = 0.02). With respect to non-verbal behaviour items, nervousness was significantly higher in the ASP group compared to the SRP group (p < 0.0001). Concerning empathy, no differences were found between the SRP and ASP groups.

Conclusions

Medical students displayed differentiated verbal and non-verbal communication behaviour during the two communication skills training methodologies. These results show that both methodologies have certain advantages and that more explicit non-verbal communication training might be necessary in order to raise students’ awareness for this type of communication and increase doctor-patient interaction effectiveness.
The first familial NSD2 cases with a novel variant in a Chinese father and daughter with atypical WHS facial features and a 7.5-year follow-up of growth hormone therapy
Authors: Hu Xuyun , Wu Di , Li Yuchuan , Wei Liya , Li Xiaoqiao , Qin Miao , Li Hongdou , Li Mengting , Chen Shaoke , Gong Chunxiu , Shen Yiping
Published: December 2020

Background

Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome is a well-characterized genomic disorder caused by 4p16.3 deletions. Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome patients exhibit characteristic facial dysmorphism, growth retardation, developmental delay, intellectual disability and seizure disorders. Recently, NSD2 gene located within the 165 kb Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome critical region was identified as the key causal gene responsible for most if not all phenotypes of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. So far, eight NSD2 loss of function variants have been reported in patients from different parts of the world, all were de novo variants.

Methods

In our study, we performed whole exome sequencing for two patients from one family. We also reviewed more NSD2 mutation cases in pervious literature.

Results

A novel loss of function NSD2 variant, c.1577dupG (p.Asn527Lysfs*14), was identified in a Chinese family in the proband and her father both affected with intellectual disability. After reviewing more NSD2 mutation cases in pervious literature, we found none of them had facial features that can be recognized as Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. In addition, we have given our proband growth hormone and followed up with this family for 7.5 years.

Conclusions

Here we reported the first familial NSD2 variant and the long-term effect of growth hormone therapy for patients. Our results suggested NSD2 mutation might cause a distinct intellectual disability and short stature syndrome.
Beyond standardized mortality ratios; some uses of smoothed age-specific mortality rates on small areas studies
Authors: Perez-Panades Jordi , Botella-Rocamora Paloma , Martinez-Beneito Miguel Angel
Published: December 2020

Background

Most epidemiological risk indicators strongly depend on the age composition of populations, which makes the direct comparison of raw (unstandardized) indicators misleading because of the different age structures of the spatial units of study. Age-standardized rates (ASR) are a common solution for overcoming this confusing effect. The main drawback of ASRs is that they depend on age-specific rates which, when working with small areas, are often based on very few, or no, observed cases for most age groups. A similar effect occurs with life expectancy at birth and many more epidemiological indicators, which makes standardized mortality ratios (SMR) the omnipresent risk indicator for small areas epidemiologic studies.

Methods

To deal with this issue, a multivariate smoothing model, theM-model, is proposed in order to fit the age-specific probabilities of death (PoDs) for each spatial unit, which assumes dependence between closer age groups and spatial units. This age–space dependence structure enables information to be transferred between neighboring consecutive age groups and neighboring areas, at the same time, providing more reliable age-specific PoDs estimates.

Results

Three case studies are presented to illustrate the wide range of applications that smoothed age specific PoDs have in practice . The first case study shows the application of the model to a geographical study of lung cancer mortality in women. This study illustrates the convenience of considering age–space interactions in geographical studies and to explore the different spatial risk patterns shown by the different age groups. Second, the model is also applied to the study of ischaemic heart disease mortality in women in two cities at the census tract level. Smoothed age-standardized rates are derived and compared for the census tracts of both cities, illustrating some advantages of this mortality indicator over traditional SMRs. In the latest case study, the model is applied to estimate smoothed life expectancy (LE), which is the most widely used synthetic indicator for characterizing overall mortality differences when (not so small) spatial units are considered.

Conclusion

Our age–space model is an appropriate and flexible proposal that provides more reliable estimates of the probabilities of death, which allow the calculation of enhanced epidemiological indicators (smoothed ASR, smoothed LE), thus providing alternatives to traditional SMR-based studies of small areas.
Challenges and policy opportunities in nursing in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alluhidan Mohammed , Tashkandi Nabiha , Alblowi Fahad , Omer Tagwa , Alghaith Taghred , Alghodaier Hussah , Alazemi Nahar , Tulenko Kate , Herbst Christopher H. , Hamza Mariam M. , Alghamdi Mohammed G.
Published: December 2020

Background

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) health sector is undergoing rapid reform in line with the National Transformation Program, as part of Saudi’s vision for the future, Vision 2030. From a nursing human resources for health (HRH) perspective, there are challenges of low nursing school capacity, high employment of expatriates, labor market fragmentation, shortage of nurses in rural areas, uneven quality, and gender challenges.

Case presentation

This case study summarizes Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) and Saudi Health Council’s (SHCs) evaluation of the current challenges facing the nursing profession in the KSA. We propose policy interventions to support the transformation of nursing into a profession that contributes to efficient, high-quality healthcare for every Saudi citizen. Key to the success of modernizing the Saudi workforce will be an improved pipeline of nurses that leads from middle and high school to nursing school; followed by a diverse career path that includes postgraduate education. To retain nurses in the profession, there are opportunities to make nursing practice more attractive and family friendly. Interventions include reducing shift length, redesigning the nursing team to add more allied health workers, and introducing locum tenens staffing to balance work-load. There are opportunities to modernize existing nurse postgraduate education, open new postgraduate programs in nursing, and create new positions and career paths for nurses such as telenursing, informatics, and quality. Rural pipelines should be created, with incentives and increased compensation packages for underserved areas.

Conclusions

Critical to these proposed reforms is the collaboration of the MOH with partners across the healthcare system, particularly the private sector. Human resources planning should be sector-wide and nursing leadership should be strengthened at all levels.
Correction to: Contribution of major food companies and their products to household dietary sodium purchases in Australia
Authors: Coyle Daisy H. , Shahid Maria , Dunford Elizabeth K. , Mhurchu Cliona Ni , Mckee Sarah , Santos Myla , Popkin Barry M. , Trieu Kathy , Marklund Matti , Taylor Fraser , Neal Bruce , Wu Jason H. Y.
Published: December 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Accuracy of virtual planning in orthognathic surgery: a systematic review
Authors: Alkhayer Ali , Piffkó József , Lippold Carsten , Segatto Emil
Published: December 2020

Background

The elaboration of a precise pre-surgical plan is essential during surgical treatment of dentofacial deformities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of computer-aided simulation compared with the actual surgical outcome, following orthognathic surgery reported in clinical trials.

Methods

Our search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and SciELO for articles published in the last decade. A total of 392 articles identified were assessed independently and in a blinded manner using eligibility criteria, out of which only twelve articles were selected for inclusion in our research. Data were presented using intra-class correlation coefficient, and linear and angular differences in three planes.

Results

The comparison of the accuracy analyses of the examined method has shown an average translation (< 2 mm) in the maxilla and also in the mandible (in three planes). The accuracy values for pitch, yaw, and roll (°) were (< 2.75, < 1.7 and < 1.1) for the maxilla, respectively, and (< 2.75, < 1.8, < 1.1) for the mandible. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) with intra-oral scans of the dental casts is the most used imaging protocols for virtual orthognathic planning. Furthermore, calculation of the linear and angular differences between the virtual plan and postoperative outcomes was the most frequented method used for accuracy assessment (10 out of 12 studies) and a difference less than 2 mm/° was considered acceptable and accurate.

When comparing this technique with the classical planning, virtual planning appears to be more accurate, especially in terms of frontal symmetry.

Conclusion

Virtual planning seems to be an accurate and reproducible method for orthognathic treatment planning. However, more clinical trials are needed to clearly determine the accuracy and validation of the virtual planning in orthognathic surgery.