bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A randomised trial of bilateral erector spinae plane block vs. no block for thoracolumbar decompressive spinal surgery
Authors: Finnerty D. , Ní Eochagáin A. , Ahmed M. , Poynton A. , Butler J. S. , Buggy D. J.
Published: April 2021

Major spinal surgery causes significant postoperative pain. We tested the efficacy and safety of bilateral erector spinae block on quality of recovery and pain after thoracolumbar decompression. We randomly allocated 60 adults to standard care or erector spinae block. Erector spinae block improved the mean (SD) quality of recovery‐15 score at 24 postoperative hours, from 119 (20) to 132 (14), an increase (95%CI) of 13 (4–22), p = 0.0044. Median (IQR [range]) comprehensive complication index was 1 (0–3 [0–5]) in the control group vs. 1 (0–1 [0–4]) after block, p = 0.4. Erector spinae block reduced mean (SD) area under the curve pain during the first 24 postoperative hours: at rest, from 78 (49) to 50 (39), p = 0.018; and on sitting, from 125 (51) to 91 (50), p = 0.009. The cumulative mean (SD) oxycodone consumption to 24 h was 27 (18) mg in the control group and 19 (26) mg after block, p = 0.20. In conclusion, erector spinae block improved recovery and reduced pain for 24 h after thoracolumbar decompression surgery.
The therapeutic potential of GLP‐1 receptor biased agonism
Authors: Jones Ben
Published: April 2021

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor agonists are effective treatments for type 2 diabetes as they stimulate insulin release and promote weight loss through appetite suppression. Their main side effect is nausea. All approved GLP‐1 agonists are full agonists across multiple signalling pathways. However, selective engagement with specific intracellular effectors, or biased agonism, has been touted as a means to improve GLP‐1 agonists therapeutic efficacy. In this review, I critically examine how GLP‐1 receptor‐mediated intracellular signalling is linked to physiological responses and discuss the implications of recent studies investigating the metabolic effects of biased GLP‐1 agonists. Overall, there is little conclusive evidence that beneficial and adverse effects of GLP‐1 agonists are attributable to distinct, nonoverlapping signalling pathways. Instead, G protein‐biased GLP‐1 agonists appear to achieve enhanced anti‐hyperglycaemic efficacy by avoiding GLP‐1 receptor desensitisation and downregulation, partly via reduced β‐arrestin recruitment. This effect seemingly applies more to insulin release than to appetite regulation and nausea, possible reasons for which are discussed. At present, most evidence derives from cellular and animal studies, and more human data are required to determine whether this approach represents a genuine therapeutic advance.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on GLP1 receptor ligands (BJP 75th Anniversary). To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.4/issuetoc
The scope and severity of white‐nose syndrome on hibernating bats in North America
Authors: Cheng Tina L. , Reichard Jonathan D. , Coleman Jeremy T. H. , Weller Theodore J. , Thogmartin Wayne E. , Reichert Brian E. , Bennett Alyssa B. , Broders Hugh G. , Campbell Joshua , Etchison Katherine , Feller Daniel J. , Geboy Richard , Hemberger Traci , Herzog Carl , Hicks Alan C. , Houghton Sandra , Humber Jessica , Kath Joseph A. , King R. Andrew , Loeb Susan C. , Massé Ariane , Morris Katrina M. , Niederriter Holly , Nordquist Gerda , Perry Roger W. , Reynolds Richard J. , Sasse D. Blake , Scafini Michael R. , Stark Richard C. , Stihler Craig W. , Thomas Steven C. , Turner Gregory G. , Webb Shevenell , Westrich Bradford J. , Frick Winifred F.
Published: April 2021

Assessing the scope and severity of threats is necessary for evaluating impacts on populations to inform conservation planning. Quantitative threat assessment often requires monitoring programs that provide reliable data over relevant spatial and temporal scales, yet such programs can be difficult to justify until there is an apparent stressor. Leveraging efforts of wildlife management agencies to record winter counts of hibernating bats, we collated data for 5 species from over 200 sites across 27 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces from 1995 to 2018 to determine the impact of white‐nose syndrome (WNS), a deadly disease of hibernating bats. We estimated declines of winter counts of bat colonies at sites where the invasive fungus that causes WNS (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) had been detected to assess the threat impact of WNS. Three species undergoing species status assessment by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Myotis septentrionalis, Myotis lucifugus, and Perimyotis subflavus) declined by more than 90%, which warrants classifying the severity of the WNS threat as extreme based on criteria used by NatureServe. The scope of the WNS threat as defined by NatureServe criteria was large (36% of Myotis lucifugus range) to pervasive (79% of Myotis septentrionalis range) for these species. Declines for 2 other species (Myotis sodalis and Eptesicus fuscus) were less severe but still qualified as moderate to serious based on NatureServe criteria. Data‐sharing across jurisdictions provided a comprehensive evaluation of scope and severity of the threat of WNS and indicated regional differences that can inform response efforts at international, national, and state or provincial jurisdictions. We assessed the threat impact of an emerging infectious disease by uniting monitoring efforts across jurisdictional boundaries and demonstrated the importance of coordinated monitoring programs, such as the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat), for data‐driven conservation assessments and planning.
Ethnic disparities in the uptake of colorectal cancer screening: An analysis of the West London population
Authors: Sekhon Inderjit Singh Harpreet Kaur , Lal Nikhil , Majeed Azeem , Pawa Nikhil
Published: April 2021

Aim

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening reduces mortality but variation exists in uptake, with poorer uptake in ethnic minority groups. The aim of this work was to evaluate the relationship between ethnicity and uptake of CRC screening in West London.

Method

Results of CRC screening from the Central London, West London, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow and Ealing Clinical commissioning group collaborative between 2012 and 2017 were retrospectively analysed. These five clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are located in West London. Compliance with screening according to ethnic group was evaluated compared with White British as the control.

Results

A total of 155 038 individuals were screened. White British individuals had the highest compliance (52.6%). A maximum difference in compliance of 8.2% was seen between CCGs. The odds of being less likely to participate were significant (p < 0.05) in all ethnic minorities except for Asian Chinese on univariate and multivariate analysis (adjusted OR 1.091, p = 0.88).

Conclusion

This is the largest retrospective study focusing on the role of ethnicity in the uptake of CRC screening in England. Poor uptake of screening in all ethnic minorities in West London, with the exception of Asian Chinese individuals in particular, is a novel finding. A mandate to routinely collect ethnicity data, the use of a single more diverse census and further intervention are needed to understand this disparity and reduce health inequity.
How Category Selection Impacts Inference Reliability: Inheritance Inference From an Ecological Perspective
Authors: Thorn Paul D. , Schurz Gerhard
Published: April 2021

This article presents results from a simulation‐based study of inheritance inference, that is, inference from the typicality of a property among a “base” class to its typicality among a subclass of the class. The study aims to ascertain which kinds of inheritance inferences are reliable, with attention to the dependence of their reliability upon the type of environment in which inferences are made. For example, the study addresses whether inheritance inference is reliable in the case of “exceptional subclasses” (i.e., subclasses that are known to be atypical in some respect) and attends to variations in reliability that result from variations in the entropy level of the environment. A further goal of the study is to show that the reliability of inheritance inference depends crucially on which sorts of base classes are used in making inferences. One approach to inheritance inference treats the extension ofanyatomic predicate as a suitable base class. A second approach identifies suitable base classes with the cells ofa partition(of a preselected sizek) of the domain of objects that satisfies the condition of maximizing the similarity of objects that are assigned to the same class. In addition to permitting more inferences, our study shows that the second approach results in inheritance inferences that are far more reliable, particularly in the case of exceptional subclasses.
Evaluation of Juvenile salmon passage and survival through a fish weir and other routes at Foster Dam, Oregon, USA
Authors: Hughes James S. , Khan Fenton , Liss Stephanie A. , Harnish Ryan A. , Johnson Gary E. , Bellgraph Brian B. , Znotinas Katherine R.
Published: April 2021

Downstream passage for juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum) and steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) through the fish weir at Foster Dam, Oregon, was evaluated to assess the weir's efficacy as a long‐term passage solution. Radio telemetry was used to estimate survival, passage and effectiveness for the fish weir, spillway and turbines. Survival of Chinook salmon through the fish weir varied by season and reservoir elevation (66%–87%), and passage proportions were low (8%–20%). Fish weir effectiveness was low to moderate (0.39–2.09). Steelhead survival was lower (57%–77%) but passed the fish weir in higher proportions (77%), and weir effectiveness was consistently high (2.96–5.49). The results indicate the existing fish weir will not be a suitable long‐term passage solution for all species. However, because of the high passage proportions and effectiveness observed for steelhead, further development of the surface‐flow concept appears to be promising for safely passing downstream‐migrating fishes.
Ecosystem change as a driver of fish recruitment dynamics: A case study of two Lake Erie yellow perch populations
Authors: Marcek Benjamin J. , Farmer Troy M. , Marschall Elizabeth A. , Petris Giovanni , Ludsin Stuart A.
Published: April 2021

Although previous research has identified ways in which environmental conditions influence population processes in many ecosystems, these relationships often weaken or break down with the inclusion of additional years of data, for reasons that remain unclear.

To better understand if and how the relationships between historically important environmental drivers of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) recruitment varied during 1969–2018 in two Lake Erie basins characterised by contrasting productivity, we used dynamic linear modelling, which allows for nonstationary relationships between predictor and response variables to be quantified.

Our analyses revealed that abiotic conditions during egg and larval development (i.e. winter temperature, springtime river inflows, and thermal conditions) were important in the productive west basin, whereas a combination of abiotic (i.e. winter temperature and river inflows) and biotic (i.e. small‐bodied and large‐bodied predators) conditions were important in the less‐productive central basin.

While the importance of most environmental factors to yellow perch recruitment remained static through time, the importance of river inflows changed through time in the west and central basins. Large‐bodied predators (i.e. walleye, Sander vitreus) also varied in their importance through time in the central basin. These changes in recruitment drivers were independent of temporal changes to the environmental conditions themselves, coinciding instead with the timing of major shifts in Lake Erie's nutrient status.

Our results demonstrate that ecosystem change can cause the relationships between environmental conditions and population processes (e.g. recruitment) of aquatic organisms to vary through time and space. They also highlight the value of periodically revisiting their applicability, especially if these relationships are used to help manage or sustain populations in ecosystems experiencing human‐driven environmental change.
Pattern mining‐based pruning strategies in stochastic local searches for scheduling problems
Authors: Laurent Arnaud , Lamy Damien , Dalmas Benjamin , Clerc Vincent
Published: April 2021

Scheduling problems are a subclass of combinatorial problems consisting of a set of tasks/activities/jobs to be processed by a set of resources usually to minimize a time criterion. Some optimization methods used to solve these problems are hybridized with knowledge discovery techniques to extract information during the optimization process and enhance it. However, most of these hybrid techniques are custom‐designed and lack generalization. In this paper, a module for knowledge extraction in Stochastic Local Searches is designed, aiming to be problem independent and plugged into optimization methods that relies on multiple Stochastic Local Search replications. The objective is to prune parts of the search space for which the exploration is likely to lead to poor solutions. This is performed through the extraction of high‐quality patterns occurring in locally optimal solutions. Benchmarked on two well‐known scheduling problems, the Job‐shop Problem and the Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem, the results show both a speed up in the convergence and the reaching of better local optima solutions.
Digital supply chains in omnichannel retail: A conceptual framework
Authors: Ishfaq Rafay , Davis‐Sramek Beth , Gibson Brian
Published: April 2021

This inductive research provides a deeper understanding of the digital transformation of retail supply chains and its underlying impact on supply chain strategy and operational structure. In this context, we develop a conceptual framework of digital retail supply chains to identify the key elements and their interactions. We offer a theoretically derived explanation of the ecosystem characterization of digital supply chains and show how retail supply chains fit this characterization. The supply chain ecosystem provides retail firms a way to strategize an organizational outlook that enables digitization of conventional supply chain processes. We find that emerging digital supply chains harness corporate digital awareness to operate within an ecosystem that iteratively guides the digital transformation process. The subsequent analysis highlights a digital transformation process that incorporates real‐time reporting, speed of discovery/action, visibility across the enterprise, and flexibility to react to environmental changes. Consequently, these contributing elements enable executional flexibility that is the hallmark of digital supply chains. We conclude by theorizing relevant research propositions that describe relational connections among the constituent elements of the digital supply chain framework and offer avenues for future research.
Sperm adaptation in relation to salinity in three goby species
Authors: Lindström Kai , Havenhand Jonathan , Leder Erica , Schöld Sofie , Svensson Ola , Kvarnemo Charlotta
Published: April 2021

In externally fertilizing species, the gametes of both males and females are exposed to the influences of the environment into which they are released. Sperm are sensitive to abiotic factors such as salinity, but they are also affected by biotic factors such as sperm competition. In this study, the authors compared the performance of sperm of three goby species, the painted goby, Pomatoschistus pictus, the two‐spotted goby, Pomatoschistus flavescens, and the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus. These species differ in their distributions, with painted goby having the narrowest salinity range and sand goby the widest. Moreover, data from paternity show that the two‐spotted goby experiences the least sperm competition, whereas in the sand goby sperm competition is ubiquitous. The authors took sperm samples from dissected males and exposed them to high salinity water (31 PSU) representing the North Sea and low salinity water (6 PSU) representing the brackish Baltic Sea Proper. They then used computer‐assisted sperm analysis to measure the proportion of motile sperm and sperm swimming speed 10 min and 20 h after sperm activation. The authors found that sperm performance depended on salinity, but there seemed to be no relationship to the species' geographical distribution in relation to salinity range. The species differed in the proportion of motile sperm, but there was no significant decrease in sperm motility during 20 h. The sand goby was the only species with motile sperm after 72 h.
Artificial intelligence assists identifying malignant versus benign liver lesions using contrast‐enhanced ultrasound
Authors: Hu Hang‐Tong , Wang Wei , Chen Li‐Da , Ruan Si‐Min , Chen Shu‐Ling , Li Xin , Lu Ming‐De , Xie Xiao‐Yan , Kuang Ming
Published: April 2021

Background and Aim

This study aims to construct a strategy that uses assistance from artificial intelligence (AI) to assist radiologists in the identification of malignant versus benign focal liver lesions (FLLs) using contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).

Methods

A training set (patients = 363) and a testing set (patients = 211) were collected from our institute. On four‐phase CEUS images in the training set, a composite deep learning architecture was trained and tuned for differentiating malignant and benign FLLs. In the test dataset, AI performance was evaluated by comparison with radiologists with varied levels of experience. Based on the comparison, an AI assistance strategy was constructed, and its usefulness in reducing CEUS interobserver heterogeneity was further tested.

Results

In the test set, to identify malignant versus benign FLLs, AI achieved an area under the curve of 0.934 (95% CI 0.890–0.978) with an accuracy of 91.0%. Comparing with radiologists reviewing videos along with complementary patient information, AI outperformed residents (82.9–84.4%, P = 0.038) and matched the performance of experts (87.2–88.2%, P = 0.438). Due to the higher positive predictive value (PPV) (AI: 95.6% vs residents: 88.6–89.7%, P = 0.056), an AI strategy was defined to improve the malignant diagnosis. With the assistance of AI, radiologists exhibited a sensitivity improvement of 97.0–99.4% (P < 0.05) and an accuracy of 91.0–92.9% (P = 0.008–0.189), which was comparable with that of the experts (P = 0.904).

Conclusions

The CEUS‐based AI strategy improved the performance of residents and reduced CEUS's interobserver heterogeneity in the differentiation of benign and malignant FLLs.
The effect on pain level and comfort of foot massages given by mothers to newborns before heel lancing: Double‐blind randomized controlled study
Authors: Yavaş Seçil , Bülbül Tülay , Topçu Gavas Hilal
Published: April 2021

Introduction

In addition to pharmacological methods, non‐pharmacological methods can also be used for reducing pain and increasing comfort during invasive procedures in newborn babies. This study was conducted to determine the effect on pain level and comfort of foot massages given by mothers to newborns before heel lancing.

Methods

This is a double‐blind randomized controlled experimental study. The sample consisted of 128 newborns including 64 in the intervention group and 64 in the control group. The Newborn Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) and Newborn Comfort Behavior Scale (NCBS) were used to collect the data, along with questionnaires for information on the newborn and mother. The researcher explained to each mother in theory how to do a foot massage at least 2 h before the heel lancing procedure. Mothers then drew random assignments to either an intervention group that would give a foot massage for 3 min with baby oil, or a control group that simply waited 3 min, immediately prior to the lancing.

Results

It was determined that the foot massage performed by the mother reduced the pain level of babies, increased their comfort levels, and decreased their distress levels.

Conclusion

Nurses play an active role in defining and evaluating the newborn's responses to pain. It is thought that this study will guide nurses working in the clinic in reducing the acute pain that develops with invasive interventions performed on newborns and in preventing the negative effects of pain on the newborn.
Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine Jianpi formulas for atopic dermatitis: Evidence from 11 randomized controlled trials
Authors: Li Hongmin , Sun Xiaoyin , He Jingwei , Tan Cheng , Dai Ting
Published: April 2021

Background

Jianpi formulas have been widely used to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, but the efficacy and safety need further evaluation. A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials was performed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of Jianpi formulas for AD.

Methods

We searched the following databases up to October 2020: PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI), and Wanfang database. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluated Jianpi formulas add‐on effect for AD were included for meta‐analysis. The primary outcome was minor remission. Secondary outcomes include complete remission, marked remission, and decrease of SCORAD.

Results

Totally eleven studies were included. Nine studies were included in qualitative analysis and seven were included in quantitative analysis. The common herbs were poria, glycyrrhiza uralensis, rhizoma atractylodis, atractylodes macrocephala, and semen coicis. The Jianpi formulas add‐on therapy showed consistent higher effectiveness rate in complete remission (RR1.528, 95%CI 1.176–1.984. p<0.01; Q=2.31, I2=0%), marked remission (RR 1.388, 95% CI 1.234–1.562. p<0.01; Q=3.682, I2=0%), and minor remission (RR 1.170, 95% CI 1.105–1.239, p<0.01; Q=14.355, I2=44.27%). The decrease of the scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) in Jianpi formulas was significantly higher than in control group (SMD=0.671, 95% CI 0.018 to 0.937). Jianpi formulas were generally well tolerated, with no significantly increased risk of adverse events (AE).

Conclusions

The combinations of Jianpi formulas showed moderate positive add‐one effects in AD patients. Further well‐designed clinical trials are needed to evaluate long‐term effect of this therapy.
Survey of attitudes of individuals who underwent remote prenatal check‐ups and consultations in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Nakagawa Kinuko , Umazume Takeshi , Mayama Michinori , Chiba Kentaro , Saito Yoshihiro , Noshiro Kiwamu , Morikawa Mamoru , Yoshino Masanori , Watari Hidemichi
Published: April 2021

Aim

Perinatal telemedicine efforts have commenced worldwide in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic. As there have been no prior studies on the acceptance of telemedicine by pregnant women, we conducted this survey to investigate the same.

Methods

We conducted an anonymous questionnaire survey of pregnant women who underwent telemedicine check‐ups from March 4 to June 30, 2020, using a mobile fetal heart rate monitor and video call system through the Hokkaido University Hospital.

Results

Out of the 77 individuals who received prenatal telemedicine check‐ups, 54 individuals (70%) had complications, and 64 individuals (83%) consented for the questionnaire survey. In the video call system, 18 individuals (28%) were found to be unwell and 17 individuals (27%) experienced difficulty using the mobile fetal heart rate monitoring device. Assuming scores for face‐to‐face consultations were five out of 10, the mean score for satisfaction was 4.2, but 19 (30%) women felt equal or greater satisfaction with face‐to‐face consultations. If not for the threat of COVID‐19, only four individuals (6%) proactively expressed a desire for telemedicine, with a significantly less demand observed among primiparous women than multiparous women. The permissible additional financial burden enabling telemedicine was $10 or less for 80% of subjects.

Conclusion

In this small preliminary study, 30% of the pregnant women felt equal or greater satisfaction with telemedicine than face‐to‐face consultations. A stronger demand for telemedicine was exhibited by multiparous women than primiparous women. Thus, a system that would be advantages by limiting subjects and enabling low‐cost examinations is required for making perinatal telemedicine more popular.
Facing Each Other: Japanese and Russian Sociologies
Authors: Mitupova Sayana
Published: April 2021

The history of sociology as a subfield has long aimed to describe the historical developments of the discipline, within which national traditions offer unique voices while also contributing to a global sociology. How do various sociological paradigms and national traditions approach social reality in similar and different ways? This paper examines Russian and Japanese contributions to the history of sociology by reviewing some of their major concepts and perspectives. On this basis, this paper seeks to probe into the past and present self‐understandings of the two sociological traditions, as well as their potentials for a more active role in global sociological discourse. Both countries have a history of protracted isolation, which has made them more or less invisible in the international sociological community. However, Russian and Japanese sociological traditions exist and are ready to be tapped, even as their production and mobilization of intellectual resources remain strongly embedded in their politics, cultures, and societies. A broader aim of this paper is to enhance mutual understandings and future collaborations between sociologists in Russia and Japan.
Epidural Contrast Volume on Post‐Myelogram Lumbar CT Predicts the Rate of Subsequent Blood Patch Treatment
Authors: Yu Robinson , Kale Hrishikesh , Branstetter Barton F. , Palfey Stacie , Agarwal Vikas
Published: April 2021

Background and Purpose

Headaches due to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage are a well‐known complication of dural puncture. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the presence and volume of epidural contrast on postmyelogram CTs of the lumbar spine were associated with post‐dural puncture headaches (PDPHs) requiring epidural blood patch (EBP) treatment.

Methods

A retrospective case control study of all fluoroscopically guided lumbar myelograms performed over a 5‐year period by a single radiology practitioner assistant was performed. Ten patients who underwent EBP treatment after their myelograms were identified. Forty‐six patients with similar demographics who did not receive blood patches were then selected. CT‐lumbar myelogram images of patients and controls were reviewed. The volume of epidural contrast was then quantified as “severe” or “mild.” Severe epidural contrast was defined as contrast detected in the ventral epidural space, the extra‐foraminal space, or extending greater than or equal to the length of two vertebral bodies from the level of dural puncture.

Results

Some amount of epidural contrast was seen in all patients. However, a severe volume of epidural contrast was associated with increased risk for PDPH requiring an EBP (odds ratio = 37.00; 95% CI = 4.1–330.8, p = 0.0012).

Conclusion

Severe epidural contrast on postmyelogram CTs of the lumbar spine was associated with an increased risk of PDPH requiring EBP treatment. When present, this finding can alert the proceduralist that the patient may require closer observation and follow up with earlier intervention.
Cortically constrained shape recognition: Automated white matter tract segmentation validated in the pediatric brain
Authors: Jordan Kesshi M. , Lauricella Michael , Licata Abigail E. , Sacco Simone , Asteggiano Carlo , Wang Cheng , Sudarsan Swati P. , Watson Christa , Scheffler Aaron W. , Battistella Giovanni , Miller Zachary A. , Gorno‐Tempini Maria Luisa , Caverzasi Eduardo , Mandelli Maria Luisa
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Manual segmentation of white matter (WM) bundles requires extensive training and is prohibitively labor‐intensive for large‐scale studies. Automated segmentation methods are necessary in order to eliminate operator dependency and to enable reproducible studies. Significant changes in the WM landscape throughout childhood require flexible methods to capture the variance across the span of brain development.

METHODS

Here, we describe a novel automated segmentation tool called Cortically Constrained Shape Recognition (CCSR), which combines two complementary approaches: (1) anatomical connectivity priors based on FreeSurfer‐derived regions of interest and (2) shape priors based on 3‐dimensional streamline bundle atlases applied using RecoBundles. We tested the performance and repeatability of this approach by comparing volume and diffusion metrics of the main language WM tracts that were both manually and automatically segmented in a pediatric cohort acquired at the UCSF Dyslexia Center (n = 59; 25 females; average age: 11 ± 2; range: 7–14).

RESULTS

The CCSR approach showed high agreement with the expert manual segmentations: across all tracts, the spatial overlap between tract volumes showed an average Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 0.76, and the fractional anisotropy (FA) on average had a Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC) of 0.81. The CCSR's repeatability in a subset of this cohort achieved a DSC of 0.92 on average across all tracts.

CONCLUSION

This novel automated segmentation approach is a promising tool for reproducible large‐scale tractography analyses in pediatric populations and particularly for the quantitative assessment of structural connections underlying various clinical presentations in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Sexual recombination and genetic diversity in Iranian populations of Pyrenophora teres
Authors: Dokhanchi Haleh , Arzanlou Mahdi , Abed‐Ashtiani Farnaz
Published: April 2021

Pyrenophora teres is an economically important pathogen of barley worldwide causing net blotch diseases. In this study, the frequency and mating‐type alleles's distribution as well as genetic diversity of P. teres were assessed on micro‐spatial scale and also on macro‐geographical scale to find out whether a sexual cycle is possible within its Iranian populations. A multiplex PCR assay was developed for simultaneous identification and recognition of P. teres f. teres and P. teres f. maculata and to screen their mating‐type alleles. 118 isolates of P. teres were procured from barley fields of East Azerbaijan province during 2017–2018. Among 89 isolates of P. teres f. teres examined, 39 isolates were found as MAT1‐1 and 50 isolates were found to be MAT1‐2. Among 29 isolates of P. teres f. maculata examined, 17 isolates were found as MAT1‐1 and 12 isolates were found to be MAT1‐2 with the dominancy belonging to MAT1‐1. Nearly same mating‐type alleles distribution within and between various populations of P. teres f. teres (1:1 ratio; χ2 = 1.36) and P. teres f. maculata (1:1 ratio; χ2 = 0.862) was observed. Genetic diversity assessment of 118 P. teres isolates was carried out through inter‐simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis and results revealed that there was 70.83% and 63.89% polymorphism among the isolates of P. teres f. teres and P. teres f. maculata, respectively. No relation was observed between the isolates and their mating as well as geographical type. Among collected isolates (89 P. teres f. teres and 29 P. teres f. maculata isolates), the gene diversity was generally similar (h = 0.280 and h = 0.238 for P. teres f. teres and P. teres f. maculata, respectively). Based on our findings and referring to the prior data on the structure of P. teres population, we conclude that in the majority of tested areas, this fungal species might have the potential to undergo regular sexual recombination cycles.
Cross‐sectional case‐control study of the relationships between pharyngeal compliance and heart rate variability indices in childhood obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: Bokov Plamen , Mauvais François‐Xavier , Madani Amélia , Matrot Boris , Lecendreux Michel , Delanoë Catherine , Konofal Eric , Gallego Jorge , Delclaux Christophe
Published: April 2021

A combination of noradrenergic and antimuscarinic agents reduces the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) via reduced upper airway collapsibility, suggesting that a shift in the sympathovagal balance improves OSA. The objectives of our present case‐control study were to assess heart rate variability (HRV) indices in the stages of sleep in children with and without OSA to evaluate OSA‐induced sleep HRV modifications and to assess whether increased collapsibility measured during wakefulness is associated with reduced sympathetic activity during non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Three groups of 15 children were matched by sex, age,z‐score of body mass index and ethnicity: non‐OSA (obstructive AHI [OAHI] <2 events/hr), mild (OAHI ≥2 to <5 events/hr) or moderate–severe (OAHI ≥5 events/hr) OSA. Pharyngeal compliance was measured during wakefulness using acoustic pharyngometry. HRV indices (time and frequency domain variables) were calculated on 5‐min electrocardiography recordings from polysomnography during wakefulness, NREM and REM sleep in periods free of any event. As compared to children without OSA, those with OSA (n = 30) were characterised by increased compliance and no physiological parasympathetic tone increase in REM sleep. Children with increased pharyngeal compliance (n = 21) had a higher OAHI due to higher AHI in NREM sleep, whereas their sympathetic tone was lower than that of those with normal compliance (n = 24). In conclusion, children with increased pharyngeal compliance exhibit decreased sympathetic tone associated with increased AHI in NREM sleep. Therapeutics directed at sympathovagal balance modifications should be tested in childhood OSA.
Epidemiology estimates of hepatitis D in individuals co‐infected with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus, 2002–2018: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Shen Dan‐Ting , Han Pei‐Chun , Ji Dong‐Ze , Chen Hai‐Yan , Cao Wei‐Dong , Goyal Hemant , Xu Hua‐Guo
Published: April 2021

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is an obligate satellite of hepatitis B virus (HBV). HIV/HDV co‐infection is associated with a high rate of hepatic decompensation events and death. We aimed to characterize the epidemiology of HDV infection in HIV/HBV co‐infected individuals. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL and Scopus for studies published from 1 Jan 2002 to 7 May 2018 measuring prevalence of HDV among the HIV population. Pooled seroprevalence was calculated with the DerSimonian–Laird random‐effects model. Our search returned 4624 records, 38 of which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies included data for 63 cohorts from 18 countries and regions. The overall HDV seroprevalence of HIV‐infected individuals was 1.03% (95% CI 0.43–1.85) in 2002–2018 globally. Moreover, the estimated pooled HDV seroprevalence among the general population was 1.07% (95% CI 0.65–1.59) in 2002–2018, which was not significantly different from the HDV seroprevalence of individuals living with HIV (p = 0.951). The overall HDV seroprevalence of the HBsAg positive population was 12.15% (95% CI 10.22–14.20), p = 0.434 when compared with the corresponding data of HIV/HBV co‐infected individuals. This meta‐analysis suggested that there was no difference between the HDV seroprevalence in HIV‐infected individuals and the general population.
Patient‐reported outcomes of the Treatment and Prevention Study: A real‐world community‐based trial of direct‐acting antivirals for hepatitis C among people who inject drugs
Authors: Goutzamanis Stelliana , Spelman Timothy , Harney Brendan , Dietze Paul , Stoove Mark , Higgs Peter , Thompson Alexander , Doyle Joseph S. , Hellard Margaret
Published: April 2021

The impact of hepatitis C cure with direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) on patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) in community settings remains unclear. We aimed to assess changes in PROs over time and whether treatment was associated with sustained improved PROs in a cohort of people who inject drugs. This study is a sub‐analysis of the Treatment and Prevention Study, a nurse‐led trial where people who inject drugs and their injecting partners were recruited in a community setting, in Melbourne, Australia. Three participant groups were characterized: treatment, untreated and non‐viremic (hepatitis C RNA negative at screening). PROs included assessment of health‐related quality of life using the Short Form‐8 (SF‐8) Survey and life satisfaction using Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI). PROs were measured at baseline and every 12 weeks until week 84. Generalized estimating equations were used to measure whether treatment was associated with longitudinal PRO change. A total of 215 participants were included in this analysis. PWI scores were significantly higher at week 12 for both treatment group (p = 0.0309) and non‐viremic group (p = 0.0437) compared to baseline. However, treatment was not associated with longitudinal change in PRO scores. In conclusion, we found DAA treatment did not significantly improve PRO scores compared to those not receiving treatment and without hepatitis C. The measures used in this study may not be sensitive enough to capture the hepatitis C specific improvements in quality of life that treatment affords or factors other than treatment may be influencing quality of life scores in this cohort.
Detection of Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean cryptic species on soybean in São Paulo and Paraná States (Brazil) and interaction of cowpea mild mottle virus with whiteflies
Authors: Bello Vinicius Henrique , da Silva Felipe Barreto , Watanabe Luís Fernando Maranho , Vicentin Eduardo , Muller Cristiane , de Freitas Bueno Regiane Cristina Oliveira , Santos Jessica Costa , De Marchi Bruno Rossitto , Nogueira Angélica Maria , Yuki Valdir Atsushi , Marubayashi Julio Massaharu , Pereira Sartori Maria Márcia , Pavan Marcelo Agenor , Ghanim Murad , Krause‐Sakate Renate
Published: April 2021

Since the detection of Bemisia tabaci Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) species in Brazil in the early 1990s, this whitefly has been the predominant species and the main viral vector in the country. In this work, whiteflies were collected from commercial soybean fields near and far from greenhouses where Mediterranean (MED) species had previously been detected infesting vegetable crops. Results indicated that MEAM1 was the predominant whitefly species in soybean in most sampling sites, while MED was found colonizing soybean plants in open field conditions alone and/or with MEAM1 in several places. Among the tested insects, MED species was mostly detected harbouring the facultative endosymbiont Hamiltonella. We also detected cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV) infecting soybean plants. Transmission assays demonstrated that MED species was more efficient transmitting CPMMV from beans to beans and from soybean to soybean plants than MEAM1, while MEAM1 was more efficient in transmitting the virus from soybean to bean than MED. Performance assays indicated that adult emergence of both species on CPMMV‐infected soybean plants was higher when compared with the emergence on healthy plants. Moreover, nonviruliferous MED and MEAM1 adults preferred to settle more often on healthy plants, while viruliferous adults settled more often on CPMMV‐infected soybean plants. As MED has already been found in soybean open fields in São Paulo and Paraná States, Brazil, and it is a good vector of CPMMV, we anticipate problems related to whitefly management and to increase in the incidence of the virus in soybean.
The state of Geography in Australian universities
Authors: Head Lesley , Rutherfurd Ian
Published: April 2021

We place the state of Australian university Geography in brief historical context and assess the key contemporary challenges. We draw on recent strategic reviews and overviews, and perspectives from the heads of programmes. Geography’s presence and visibility in both STEM and HASS domains is a key source of its attractiveness to students and its cross‐disciplinary strength. Unfortunately, this same STEM/HASS crossover is precisely what makes it chronically vulnerable to institutional restructuring.
Spectral Numerical Study of Entropy Generation in Magneto-Convective Viscoelastic Biofluid Flow Through Poro-Elastic Media With Thermal Radiation and Buoyancy Effects
Authors: Mallikarjuna B. , Srinivas J. , Krishna G. Gopi , Bég O. Anwar , Kadir Ali
Published: April 2021

Electromagnetic high-temperature therapy is popular in medical engineering treatments for various diseases including tissue damage ablation repair, hyperthermia, and oncological illness diagnosis. The simulation of transport phenomena in such applications requires multi-physical models featuring magnetohydrodynamics, biorheology, heat transfer, and deformable porous media. Motivated by investigating the fluid dynamics and thermodynamic optimization of such processes, in the present article, a mathematical model is developed to study the combined influence of thermal buoyancy, magnetic field and thermal radiation on the entropy generation, and momentum and heat transfer characteristics in electrically conducting viscoelastic biofluid flow through a vertical deformable porous medium. It is assumed that heat is generated within the fluid by both viscous and Darcy (porous matrix) dissipations. The governing equations for fluid velocity, solid displacement, and temperature are formulated. The boundary value problem is normalized with appropriate transformations. The nondimensional biofluid velocity, solid displacement, and temperature equations with appropriate boundary conditions are solved computationally using a spectral method. Verification of accuracy is conducted via monitoring residuals of the solutions. The effects of various parameters on flow velocity, solid displacement, temperature, and entropy generation are depicted graphically and discussed. Increasing magnetic field and drag parameters are found to reduce the field velocity, solid displacement, temperature, and entropy production. Entropy production is enhanced with an increase in buoyancy parameter and volume fraction of the fluid. The novelty of the work is the simultaneous inclusion of multiple thermophysical phenomena, and the consideration of thermodynamic optimization in coupled thermal/fluid/elastic media. The computations provide an insight into multiphysical transport in electromagnetic radiative tissue ablation therapy and a good benchmark for more advanced simulations.
Computational Model of Predicting Thermal Performance of a Clothed Human by Considering the Clothing Pumping Effect
Authors: Yi Teng , Jiao Jiao , Ruomei Wang , Yi Li
Published: April 2021

In order to predict the functional performance of thermal-functional-designed clothing, the computer simulation method is adopted to investigate the thermoregulation of a clothed human. The primary aim of this study is to develop a computational model which can simulate the thermal physiological indicators and pumping effect simultaneously, while the previous models can only simulate the human thermal physiological performance or clothing pumping effect particularly. The secondary aim is to compare the simulation results predicted by the optimized model, either considering the pumping effect or not, with the results in a physiological experiment conducted by human participants in terms of different thermal responses, including core temperatures and mean skin temperature. A computational model was established to predict the thermal performance of a clothed human by considering the clothing pumping effect in the human-clothing-environment (HCE) system. In addition, the validation of the developed computational model has been investigated by comparing the predicted results of simulation (with or without pumping effect) with the experimental results on human participants, which demonstrates that the clothing pumping effect must be considered during the simulation process due to its vital influence on thermoregulation of a live clothed human. The results from the simulation and the human experiment showed that the pumping effect could dissipate the heat from the body to outside environment, affected the skin temperature, and consequently delayed the increasing of core temperature, especially during the running process.
An Integrated Computational Materials Engineering Predictive Platform for Fatigue Prediction and Qualification of Metallic Parts Built With Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Jalalahmadi B. , Liu J. , Liu Z. , Vechart A. , Weinzapfel N.
Published: April 2021

Additive manufacturing (AM) processes create material directly into a functional shape. Often the material properties vary with part geometry, orientation, and build layout. Today, trial-and-error methods are used to generate material property data under controlled conditions that may not map to the entire range of geometries over a part. Described here is the development of a modeling tool enabling prediction of the performance of parts built with AM, with rigorous consideration of the microstructural properties governing the nucleation and propagation of fatigue cracks. This tool, called DigitalClone® for additive manufacturing (DCAM), is an Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) tool that includes models of crack initiation and damage progression with the high-fidelity process and microstructure modeling approaches. The predictive model has three main modules: process modeling, microstructure modeling, and fatigue modeling. In this paper, a detailed description and theoretical basis of each module is provided. Experimental validations (microstructure, porosity, and fatigue) of the tool using multiple material characterization and experimental coupon testing for five different AM materials are discussed. The physics-based computational modeling encompassed within DCAM provides an efficient capability to fully explore the design space across geometries and materials, leading to components that represent the optimal combination of performance, reliability, and durability.
Deposition of Fuel Impurities Within Thermal Barrier Coatings in Gas Turbine Hot Gas Paths
Authors: Holländer Christian , Stamm Werner , Lüsebrink Oliver , Harders Harald , Singheiser Lorenz
Published: April 2021

For the reliable operation of modern gas turbines, thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) need to withstand a wide range of ambient conditions resulting from impurities in inlet air or fuels. When analyzing the deposition of detrimental hot gas constituents, previous efforts largely focus on the investigation of solid and molten deposit interaction with TBCs. Recent literature and observations in gas turbines indicate that not only liquids can penetrate porous TBCs, but the deposition from gas phase inside of pores and cracks is also an aspect of TBC degradation. To investigate this vapor deposition process, a diffusion model has been coupled with a thermodynamic equilibrium solver. The diffusion model calculates vapor transport of trace elements through pores and gaps in the TBC, where the thermodynamic equilibrium solver calculates local thermodynamic equilibria to predict whether deposition takes place. In this work, the model is applied to discuss the deposition properties of calcium. In recent literature, calcium has—in some cases—been reported to deposit inside of TBCs as pure anhydrite (CaSO4). An actual anhydrite finding in the TBC of a stationary gas turbine blade was reproduced applying the introduced model. The vapor deposition is shown to occur within and on top of the TBC, depending on several factors, such as pressure, temperatures, calcium-to-silicon ratio, and calcium-to-sulfur ratio. The successful alignment of conditions in real engines with model results will allow addressing the increasing demand for more fuel- and operational flexibility of current and future gas turbines.