bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can 68Ga-prostate specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computerized tomography provide an accurate lymph node staging for patients with medium/high risk prostate cancer? A diagnostic meta-analysis
Authors: Peng Lei , Li Jinze , Meng Chunyang , Li Jinming , You Chengyu , Tang Dandan , Wei Tangqiang , Xiong Wei , Li Yunxiang
Published: October 2020

Objective

This article aims to evaluate the diagnostic value of 68Gallium-PSMA positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (68Ga-PSMA PET/CT) for lymph node (LN) staging in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) by a meta-analysis of diagnostic tests.

Methods

We systematically retrieved articles from Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Database, PubMed. The time limit is from the creation of the database until June 2019, and Stata 15 was used for calculation and statistical analyses.

Results

Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio (PLR, NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) be used to evaluate the diagnostic value. A total of 10 studies were included in our meta-analysis, which included 701 individuals. The results of each consolidated summary are as follows: sensitivity of 0.84 (95% CI 0.55–0.95), specificity of 0.95 (95% CI 0.87–0.98), PLR and NLR was 17.19 (95% CI 6.27, 47.17) and 0.17 (95% CI 0.05–0.56), respectively. DOR of 100 (95% CI 18–545), AUC of 0.97 (95% CI 0.95–0.98).

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT has a high overall diagnostic value for LN staging in patients with moderate and high-risk PCa. But our conclusions still require a larger sample size, multi-center prospective randomized controlled trial to verify.
Contralateral spontaneous rupture of the esophagus following severe emesis after non-intubated pulmonary wedge resection
Authors: Liu Lei , Wu Wenbin , Gong Longbo , Zhang Miao
Published: October 2020

Background

Non-intubated thoracoscopic lung surgery has been reported to be technically feasible and safe. Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus, also known as Boerhaave’s syndrome (BS), is rare after chest surgery.

Case presentation

A 60-year-old female non-smoker underwent non-intubated uniportal thoracoscopic wedge resection for a pulmonary nodule. Ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block was utilized for postoperative analgesia. However, the patient suffered from severe emesis, chest pain and dyspnea 6 h after the surgery. Emergency chest x-ray revealed right-sided hydropneumothorax. BS was diagnosed by chest tube drainage and computed tomography. Besides antibiotics and tube feeding, a naso-leakage drainage tube was inserted into the right thorax for pleural evacuation. Finally, the esophagus was healed 40d after the conservative treatment.

Conclusions

Perioperative antiemetic therapy is an indispensable item of fast-track surgery. Moreover, BS should be kept in mind when the patients complain of chest distress following emesis after thoracic surgery.
Acute peripheral ischemia in healthy female patient: an indirect and unanticipated diagnosis of spontaneous thrombus in the aortic arch
Authors: Rings Laura , Schwegler Igor , Papadopoulos Nestoras , Häussler Achim , Odavic Dragan , Schmidt Magdalena , Dzemali Omer
Published: October 2020

Background

In this case we discuss the management of a pediculated floating thrombus in the aortic arch which led to peripheral embolization and acute ischemia oft he left leg.

Case presentation

A healthy 46 year old female patient presented with pain in her left leg and progressive numbness. Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) showed an acute ischemia of the left leg (Rutherford 2 B) with a 2 cm thrombus distal of the aortic bifurcation. Emergency operation with embolectomy, selective thrombembolectomy and patch plasty on the tibioperoneal trunk and local lysis was performed. As part of a further diagnostic examination a thoracic CT scan has been performed revealing a pediculated-floating 2 cm thrombus in the aortic arch. Four days after the initial operation thrombus excision via a minimally invasive access way has been performed. After initiation of the extracorporeal circulation, selective unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion has been established in mild (30–32 °C) systemic hypothermia. Patients postoperative course was uneventful. Histological evaluation of the mass demonstrated thrombotic material without evidence of infection or malignacy.

Conclusion

A pediculated spontaneous thrombus may develop in aortic arch in patients without traditional risk factors or family history of embolic events. Two stage operation was feasible and safe.
Climate change mitigation in British Columbia’s forest sector: GHG reductions, costs, and environmental impacts
Authors: Smyth C. E. , Xu Z. , Lemprière T. C. , Kurz W. A.
Published: October 2020

Background

The potential contributions from forest-based greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation actions need to be quantified to develop pathways towards net negative emissions. Here we present results from a comparative analysis that examined mitigation options for British Columbia’s forest sector. Mitigation scenarios were evaluated using a systems perspective that takes into account the changes in emissions and removals in forest ecosystems, in harvested wood product (HWP) carbon stocks, and in other sectors where wood products substitute for emission-intensive materials and fossil fuels. All mitigation activities were assessed relative to a forward-looking ‘business as usual’ baseline for three implementation levels. In addition to quantifying net GHG emission reductions, we assessed economic, and socio-economic impacts as well as other environmental indicators relating to forest species, age class, deadwood availability and future timber supply. We further considered risks of reversal for land-based scenarios, by assessing impacts of increasing future wildfires on stands that were not harvested.

Results

Our spatially explicit analyses of forest sector mitigation options demonstrated a cost-effective portfolio of regionally differentiated scenarios that directed more of the harvested wood to longer-lived wood products, stopped burning of harvest residues and instead produced bioenergy to displace fossil fuel burning, and reduced harvest levels in regions with low disturbance rates. Domestically, net GHG emissions were reduced by an average of -9 MtCO2e year−1 over 2020–2050 for a portfolio of mitigation activities at a default implementation level, with about 85% of the GHG emission reductions achieved below a cost of $50/tCO2e. Normalizing the net GHG reduction by changes in harvested wood levels permitted comparisons of the scenarios with different ambition levels, and showed that a 1 MtCO2 increase in cumulative harvested stemwood results in a 1 MtCO2e reduction in cumulative emissions, relative to the baseline, for the Higher Recovery scenario in 2070.

Conclusions

The analyses conducted in this study contribute to the global understanding of forest sector mitigation options by providing an integrated framework to synthesize the methods, assumptions, datasets and models needed to quantify mitigation activities using a systems approach. An understanding of economically feasible and socio-economically attractive mitigation scenarios along with trade offs for environmental indicators relating to species composition and age, helps decision makers with long-term planning for land sector contributions to GHG emission reduction efforts, and provides valuable information for stakeholder consultations.
Synthesis and evaluation of N-isopropyl-p-[11C]methylamphetamine as a novel cerebral blood flow tracer for positron emission tomography
Authors: Toyohara Jun , Harada Norihiro , Kakiuchi Takeharu , Ohba Hiroyuki , Kanazawa Masakatsu , Tago Tetsuro , Sakata Muneyuki , Ishiwata Kiichi
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Increases in fasting plasma glucose (PG) levels lead to a decrease in 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose ([18F]FDG) uptake in the normal brain, especially in the precuneus, resulting in an Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-like uptake pattern. Therefore, patients with higher PG levels, such as those with diabetes, can be erroneously diagnosed with AD when positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is done using [18F]FDG, due to reduced uptake of [18F]FDG in the precuneus. To help avoid an erroneous diagnosis of AD due to differences in glucose metabolism, evaluating cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the brain is useful. However, current techniques such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and [15O]H2O PET have limitations regarding early diagnosis of AD because the images they produce are of low resolution. Here, we developed a novel CBF PET tracer that may be more useful than [18F]FDG for diagnosis of AD.

Methods

We synthesized and evaluated N-isopropyl-p-[11C]methylamphetamine ([11C]4) as a carbon-11-labeled analogue of the standard CBF SPECT tracer N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine. Fundamental biological evaluations such as biodistribution, peripheral metabolism in mice, and brain kinetics of [11C]4 in non-human primates with PET with successive measurement of [15O]H2O were performed.

Results

[11C]4 was synthesized by methylation of the corresponding tributyltin precursor (2) with [11C]MeI in a palladium-promoted Stille cross-coupling reaction. The brain uptake of [11C]4 in mice peaked at 5–15 min after injection and then promptly decreased. Most radioactivity in the brain was detected in the unchanged form, although in the periphery, [11C]4 was rapidly metabolized to hydrophilic components. Acetazolamide (AZM) treatment significantly increased the brain uptake of [11C]4 without affecting the blood levels of radioactivity in mice. Preliminary kinetics analysis showed that the K1 of [11C]4 reflected regional CBF in a vehicle-treated monkey, but that the K1 did not reflect CBF in higher flow regions after AZM loading.

Conclusion

[11C]4 is a potential novel CBF PET tracer. Further validation studies are needed before [11C]4 can be used in humans.
An improved localization method for lesion area in gynecological ultrasound image
Authors: Yan Sujuan , Jin Hong
Published: October 2020

The false positive and false negative rates of current image localization methods in gynecological lesion area are high because the effectiveness is affected by random noise. Therefore, by using Bhattacharyya coefficient-based scale-invariant feature transform (B-SIFT), a novel localization method of lesion area in gynecological ultrasound image is proposed in this paper. Firstly, Rayleigh mean filtering is used to suppress the noise in the ultrasound image based on Rayleigh distribution characteristics of the noise. Then, the segmentation method of the lesion region is designed by using the scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT). Furthermore, the feature extraction function B-SIFT is proposed to locate the lesion region based on the Bhattacharyya coefficient. Finally, two lesion characteristics of Bhattacharyya coefficients are defined, and the B-SIFT-based feature region descriptors are obtained by constructing an eigenvector normalized based on the Bhattacharyya coefficients. Experimental results show that the proposed method has a high positioning accuracy, strong recall ratio, low energy consumption, and low time consumption, which is more effective and feasible than the traditional method for localization of lesions.
A reliable and competitive mathematical analysis of Ebola epidemic model
Authors: Rafiq Muhammad , Ahmad Waheed , Abbas Mujahid , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this article is to discuss the dynamics of the spread of Ebola virus disease (EVD), a kind of fever commonly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever. It is rare but severe and is considered to be extremely dangerous. Ebola virus transmits to people through domestic and wild animals, called transmitting agents, and then spreads into the human population through close and direct contact among individuals. To study the dynamics and to illustrate the stability pattern of Ebola virus in human population, we have developed an SEIR type model consisting of coupled nonlinear differential equations. These equations provide a good tool to discuss the mode of impact of Ebola virus on the human population through domestic and wild animals. We first formulate the proposed model and obtain the value of threshold parameter$\mathcal{R}_{0}$R0for the model. We then determine both the disease-free equilibrium (DFE) and endemic equilibrium (EE) and discuss the stability of the model. We show that both the equilibrium states are locally asymptotically stable. Employing Lyapunov functions theory, global stabilities at both the levels are carried out. We use the Runge–Kutta method of order 4 (RK4) and a non-standard finite difference (NSFD) scheme for the susceptible–exposed–infected–recovered (SEIR) model. In contrast to RK4, which fails for large time step size, it is found that the NSFD scheme preserves the dynamics of the proposed model for any step size used. Numerical results along with the comparison, using different values of step sizeh, are provided.
Literature review on business prototypes for digital platform
Authors: Mishra Shrutika , Tripathi A. R.
Published: October 2020

In today’s world, many digitally enabled start-ups are budding all over the globe because of the fast enhancement in digital technologies. For the establishment of new business, it is necessary to adopt a proper business model which needs to define the way in which the company will provide values and the ways in which the customers can pay for their services. This paper aims to study the various business models being used in today’s marketplace and to provide a better understanding for these business models by having an insight on the attributes.
Cardiorespiratory fitness is strongly linked to metabolic syndrome among physical fitness components: a retrospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Kim Bokun , Ku Minjae , Kiyoji Tanaka , Isobe Tomonori , Sakae Takeji , Oh Sechang
Published: October 2020

Background

Maintaining a good level of physical fitness from engaging in regular exercise is important for the treatment and prevention of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, which components constitutive of physical fitness confer the greatest influence remains controversial. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between MetS and physical fitness components including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, and agility and to identify which physical fitness components have the largest influence on MetS.

Methods

A total of 168 Japanese adult males aged 25–64 years were allocated into non-MetS, pre-MetS, and MetS groups according to the criteria recommended by the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. Anthropometric measurement of body composition by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and measures related to MetS, including waist circumference, triglyceride level, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, blood pressure, glucose level, and physical fitness components, were assessed. For evaluation of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, agility, and balance, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold (VO2AnT), handgrip strength and vertical jumping, trunk extension and flexion, stepping side to side, and single-leg balance task with the eyes closed were assessed, respectively.

Results

A progressive tendency of increasing body weight, body mass index, whole-body lean and fat mass, percentage of whole-body fat mass, trunk lean and fat mass, percentage of trunk fat mass, arm fat mass, waist circumference, triglyceride level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and blood glucose level from the non-MetS group to the MetS group was significant (P < 0.05). Conversely, the cardiorespiratory endurance parameters VO2peak and VO2AnT and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level showed a progressively decreasing tendency across the groups (P < 0.01). In addition, a VO2peak below 29.84 ml·kg·min−1 (P = 0.028) and VO2AnT below 15.89 ml·kg·min−1 (P = 0.011) were significant risk components for pre-MetS and MetS. However, there was no significant tendency with respect to muscle strength, agility, and flexibility.

Conclusion

Cardiorespiratory fitness is strongly linked to metabolic syndrome among physical fitness components
Surveillance on schistosomiasis in five provincial-level administrative divisions of the People’s Republic of China in the post-elimination era
Authors: Guo Jing-Yi , Xu Jing , Zhang Li-Juan , Lv Shan , Cao Chun-Li , Li Shi-Zhu , Zhou Xiao-Nong
Published: October 2020

Background

The People’s Republic of China (P. R. China) has made significant progress on schistosomiasis control. Among the 12 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) with schistosomiasis endemic in P. R. China, Guangdong, Shanghai, Fujian, Guangxi and Zhejiang PLADs (following as five PLADs) had successively eliminated schistosomiasis during 1985–1995. However, consolidation of the schistosomiasis elimination in these five PLADs remains challenging. In the current study, we sought to understand the epidemic situation in these post-elimination areas and their surveillance capabilities on schistosomiasis.

Methods

Annual data reflecting the interventions and surveillance on human beings, cattle and snails based on county level from 2005 to 2016 were collected through the national schistosomiasis reporting system and the data were analyzed to understand the epidemic status of schistosomiasis in the five PLADs. A standardized score sheet was designed to assess the surveillance capacity for schistosomiasis of selected disease control agencies in five PLADs and ten counties. Assessment on surveillance capacity including schistosomiasis diagnostic skills, identification of snails’ living and infection status and knowledge about schistosomiasis and its control were made. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the epidemic status and evaluation results on surveillance capacities.

Results

The assessments showed that no local cases in humans and cattle or infected snail were found in these five PLADs since 2005. However, from 2005 to 2016, a total of 221 imported cases were detected in Zhejiang, Shanghai and Fujian, and 11.98 hm2 of new snail habitats were found in Zhejiang, Shanghai and Guangxi. In addition, snail infestation reoccurred in 247.55 hm2 of former snail habitats since 2011. For the surveillance capacity assessment, the accuracy rate of IHA and MHT were 100 and 89.3%, respectively. All participants could judge the living status of snails accurately and 98.1% on the infection status of snails. The accuracy rate of the questionnaire survey was 98.0%.

Conclusions

Elimination of schistosomiasis was consolidated successfully in five PLADs of P. R. China due to effective and strong post-elimination surveillance. Comprehensive consolidation strategies should be focused on the elimination of residual snails and the prevention of imported infection sources to consolidate the achievements of schistosomiasis control.
Assessing pre-service teachers’ professional identity construction in a three-phase teacher education program in Iran
Authors: Haghighi Irani Fariba , Chalak Azizeh , Heidari Tabrizi Hossein
Published: October 2020

The critical role of teachers suggests that assessing teacher identity construction helps teacher educators understand the changes in teachers and design materials in harmony with their needs in teacher education programs. However, only a few studies have focused on assessing pre-service teachers’ identity in the long term in Iran. To address this gap, the contribution of a pre-service teacher education program consisting of three phases, namely engage, study, and activate to the professional identity construction of eight pre-service teachers in an institute in Tehran was assessed. Pre-course and post-course interviews, two reflective essays, ten observation notes, and two teaching performances were gathered over a year and analyzed as guided by grounded theory and discourse analysis. Findings revealed two significant changes in the participants’ identities when they transitioned from engage to study and from study to activate phases that yielded study phase as the peak of the changes. Overall, three major shifts were identified in the participants’ identities: from a commitment to evaluation towards a commitment to modality, from one-dimensional to multi-dimensional perceptions, and from problem analysis to problem-solving skills. Current findings may facilitate teacher identity construction by designing local programs matching the needs of pre-service teachers. It may also assist teacher educators by assessing the quality of teachers’ performance and developing teacher assessment tools.
Development of a new model on utilizing online learning platforms to improve students’ academic achievements and satisfaction
Authors: Abuhassna Hassan , Al-Rahmi Waleed Mugahed , Yahya Noraffandy , Zakaria Megat Aman Zahiri Megat , Kosnin Azlina Bt. Mohd , Darwish Mohamad
Published: October 2020

This research aims to explore and investigate potential factors influencing students’ academic achievements and satisfaction with using online learning platforms. This study was constructed based on Transactional Distance Theory (TDT) and Bloom’s Taxonomy Theory (BTT). This study was conducted on 243 students using online learning platforms in higher education. This research utilized a quantitative research method. The model of this research illustrates eleven factors on using online learning platforms to improve students’ academic achievements and satisfaction. The findings showed that the students’ background, experience, collaborations, interactions, and autonomy positively affected students’ satisfaction. Moreover, effects of the students’ application, remembering, understanding, analyzing, and satisfaction was positively aligned with students’ academic achievements. Consequently, the empirical findings present a strong support to the integrative association between TDT and BTT theories in relation to using online learning platforms to improve students’ academic achievements and satisfaction, which could help decision makers in universities and higher education and colleges to plan, evaluate, and implement online learning platforms in their institutions.
Relation between GSTP1 polymorphism and oxidative stress in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Elofey Shaimaa Gamal Hassan , Shafik Nevine F. , Radwan Noha Hassan , Mansour Osman Mohammed , Allam Rasha Mahmoud , Shouman Samia , AbdelGawad Iman Attia
Published: October 2020

Background

Glutathione can reduce the oxidative stress by converting the unstable to stable molecules and its status in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is correlated with tumor growth and metastasis.

Glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTP1) is reported to detoxify the xenobiotic substrates by catalyzing their conjugation to reduced glutathione (GSH) and its over-expression was demonstrated in the early stages of HCC, while loss of GSTP1 has been suggested to increase the risk of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage and mutation.

The aim of this study is to assess the relationship of GSTP1 polymorphism Ile105Val (rs1695 A > G) with HCC risk, and to investigate the oxidative stress status of HCC patients by measuring the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) levels.

This study was conducted on 99 newly diagnosed HCC patients and 80 apparently healthy individuals as a normal control group.

All participants were subjected to the measurement of plasma GSH levels according to Ellman’s method, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) for the detection of GSTP1 polymorphismIle105Val (rs1695 A > G).

Results

The occurrence of either the mutant homozygous or the mutant heterozygous genotype of GSTP1 was significantly higher in HCC patients, while the occurrence of the wild genotype was significantly higher among the normal control subjects.

Mutant GSTP1 genotype, older age, male gender, and high serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were associated with increased risk of development of HCC.

The best sensitivity, specificity, PPV (positive predictive value), NPV (negative predictive value), and overall diagnostic performance for plasma GSH at a cutoff level of 2003.5 μM/mg were 57.6%, 52.5%, 60%, and 40%. The area under the curve for GSH was 0.562.

Conclusion

Mutant GSTP1 genotype was an independent prognostic factor for increased HCC risk which can be used in a risk assessment model for HCC.

Plasma GSH presents insufficient sensitivity and specificity for HCC.
An Investigation of How Environmental Science Textbooks Link Human Environmental Impact to Ecology and Daily Life
Authors: Wyner Yael , DeSalle Rob
Published: October 2020

Pre-college and college-level environmental science textbook case studies were analyzed for how they portray the human-environment connection. It was found that daily life connections were frequently absent from human impact discussions and that almost all case studies described human impacts without linking them to their ecological underpinnings.
A Call for Data-Driven Networks to Address Equity in the Context of Undergraduate Biology
Authors: Thompson Seth K. , Hebert Sadie , Berk Sara , Brunelli Rebecca , Creech Catherine , Drake Abby Grace , Fagbodun Sheritta , Garcia-Ojeda Marcos E. , Hall Carrie , Harshman Jordan , Lamb Todd , Robnett Rachael , Shuster Michèle , Cotner Sehoya , Ballen Cissy J.
Published: October 2020

National efforts to improve equitable teaching practices have led to an increase in research on the barriers to student participation and performance, as well as solutions for overcoming these barriers. This report summarizes the conclusions of a meeting exploring our understanding of how these practices differ among institutions and geographic locations.
Accelerating seismic fault and stratigraphy interpretation with deep CNNs: A case study of the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand
Authors: Di Haibin , Truelove Leigh , Li Cen , Abubakar Aria
Published: October 2020

Accurate mapping of structural faults and stratigraphic sequences is essential to the success of subsurface interpretation, geologic modeling, reservoir characterization, stress history analysis, and resource recovery estimation. In the past decades, manual interpretation assisted by computational tools — i.e., seismic attribute analysis — has been commonly used to deliver the most reliable seismic interpretation. Because of the dramatic increase in seismic data size, the efficiency of this process is challenged. The process has also become overly time-intensive and subject to bias from seismic interpreters. In this study, we implement deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for automating the interpretation of faults and stratigraphies on the Opunake-3D seismic data set over the Taranaki Basin of New Zealand. In general, both the fault and stratigraphy interpretation are formulated as problems of image segmentation, and each workflow integrates two deep CNNs. Their specific implementation varies in the following three aspects. First, the fault detection is binary, whereas the stratigraphy interpretation targets multiple classes depending on the sequences of interest to seismic interpreters. Second, while the fault CNN utilizes only the seismic amplitude for its learning, the stratigraphy CNN additionally utilizes the fault probability to serve as a structural constraint on the near-fault zones. Third and more innovatively, for enhancing the lateral consistency and reducing artifacts of machine prediction, the fault workflow incorporates a component of horizontal fault grouping, while the stratigraphy workflow incorporates a component of feature self-learning of a seismic data set. With seven of 765 inlines and 23 of 2233 crosslines manually annotated, which is only about 1% of the available seismic data, the fault and four sequences are well interpreted throughout the entire seismic survey. The results not only match the seismic images, but more importantly they support the graben structure as documented in the Taranaki Basin.
Geophysics introduces new section on multiphysics and joint inversion
Authors: Sun Jiajia , Colombo Daniele , Li Yaoguo , Shragge Jeffrey
Published: October 2020

Geophysicists seek to extract useful and potentially actionable information about the subsurface by interpreting various types of geophysical data together with prior geologic information. It is well recognized that reliable imaging, characterization, and monitoring of subsurface systems require integration of multiple sources of information from a multitude of geoscientific data sets. With increasing data volumes and computational power, new data types, constant development of inversion algorithms, and the advent of the big data era, Geophysics editors see multiphysics integration as an effective means of meeting some of the challenges arising from imaging subsurface systems with higher resolution and reliability as well as exploring geologically more complicated areas. To advance the field of multiphysics integration and to showcase its added value, Geophysics will introduce a new section “Multiphysics and Joint Inversion” in 2021. Submissions are accepted now.
The co-occurrence of smoking and suicide
Authors: Vermeulen Jentien M. , Bolhuis Koen
Published: October 2020

This article is an invited commentary on a recent article by Harrison et al. investigating the purported causal link between smoking behaviours and suicide attempts.
Pre- and Postoperative Capecitabine Without or With Oxaliplatin in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: PETACC 6 Trial by EORTC GITCG and ROG, AIO, AGITG, BGDO, and FFCD
Authors: Schmoll Hans-Joachim , Stein Alexander , Van Cutsem Eric , Price Timothy , Hofheinz Ralf D. , Nordlinger Bernard , Daisne Jean-François , Janssens Jos , Brenner Baruch , Reinel Hans , Hollerbach Stephan , Caca Karel , Fauth Florian , Hannig Carla V. , Zalcberg John , Tebbutt Niall , Mauer Murielle E. , Marreaud Sandrine , Lutz Manfred P. , Haustermans Karin
Published: October 2020

PURPOSE

The PETACC 6 trial investigates whether the addition of oxaliplatin to preoperative capecitabine-based chemoradiation and postoperative capecitabine improves disease-free survival (DFS) in locally advanced rectal cancer.

METHODS

Between November 2008 and September 2011, patients with rectal adenocarcinoma within 12 cm from the anal verge, T3/4 and/or node positive, were randomly assigned to 5 weeks preoperative capecitabine-based chemoradiation (45-50.4 Gy) followed by six cycles of adjuvant capecitabine, both without (control arm, 1) or with (experimental arm, 2) oxaliplatin. The primary end point was improvement of 3-year DFS by oxaliplatin from 65% to 72% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.763).

RESULTS

A total of 1,094 patients were randomly assigned (intention to treat), and 1,068 eligible patients started their allocated treatment (arm 1, 543; arm 2, 525), with completion of protocol treatment in 68% (arm 1) v 54% (arm 2). A higher rate of grade 3/4 adverse events was reported in the experimental arm (14.4% v 37.3% and 23.4% v 46.6% for neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment, respectively). At a median follow-up of 68 months (interquartile range, 58-74 months), 157 and 156 DFS events were observed in arms 1 and 2, respectively (adjusted HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.82 to 1.28; P = .835). Three-year DFS rate was not different, with 76.5% (95% CI, 72.7% to 79.9%) in arm 1, which is higher than anticipated, and 75.8% (95% CI, 71.9% to 79.3%) in arm 2. The 7-year DFS and overall survival (OS) rates were not different as well, with DFS of 66.1% v 65.5% (HR, 1.02) and OS of 73.5% v 73.7% (HR, 1.19) in arms 1 and 2, respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed heterogeneity in treatment effect according to German versus non-German site location, without detectable confounding factors in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSION

The addition of oxaliplatin to preoperative capecitabine-based chemoradiation and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy impairs tolerability and feasibility and does not improve efficacy.
Crystal Polymorphism-dependent Fluorescence of Fluoroarene-substituted Anthracene Derivatives
Authors: Kusukawa Takahiro , Kannen Fumihiro , Kojima Yusuke , Yoza Kenji
Published: October 2020

Fluorine-substituted 1-phenylanthracene derivatives were synthesized and their polymorphism-dependent fluorescence color change (B: blue and G: green) in the crystalline state was observed. For the green luminous crystals (G), a 1D linear π-π stacked structure of the anthracene rings and intermolecular Ar-F⋯H-Ar hydrogen bonding were observed. On the other hand, for the blue luminous crystals (B), weaker or no π-π stacked anthracene rings were observed. These crystallographic observations indicated the existence of the excimer emission and the monomer emission of the anthracene rings for the green (G) and blue (B) luminous crystals, respectively. Interestingly, thermal transformations of the green luminous crystals (G) to the blue luminous crystals (B) were observed. The mechanochromic and vapochromic properties of the obtained crystals were also evaluated.
Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‑19) in Pakistan: Psychological impact and coping strategies of Health Care Professionals
Authors: Noreen Khola , Umar Muhammad , Sabir Syed Arshad , Rehman Rehana
Published: October 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to explore factors that can impact psychological health and coping strategies to help health care professionals (HCPs) to perform their duties.

Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted using structured questionnaire electronically shared with the participants after ethical approval. Descriptive statistics were calculated for socio demographic variables. Chi squared χ² test was used to compare the responses between different groups of HCPs.

Results: Survey was completed by 250 participants. They performed their duties diligently during outbreak but were concerned about their safety, had fear of infecting themselves and their family members. Lack of evidence-based guidelines for patient management, news about pandemic situation through media and to deal with uncooperative patients not willing for quarantine added to their stress. receiving honour and respect from general public in recognition of services, monetary benefit, adequate training to treat COVID-19, provision of personal protective equipment from government were reported as coping strategies for psychological impact.

Conclusions: COVID-19 outbreak had psychological impact on HCPs, yet they continued to perform their duties carefully as moral obligation. Continued moral with financial support and acknowledgement of their services by government, organization and general public was reported to have psychological benefit.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.7.2988

How to cite this:Noreen K, Umar M, Sabir SA, Rehman R. Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‑19) in Pakistan: Psychological impact and coping strategies of Health Care Professionals. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(7):1478-1483. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.7.2988

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Probabilistic Envelope Constrained Multiperiod Stochastic Emergency Medical Services Location Model and Decomposition Scheme
Authors: Peng Chun , Delage Erick , Li Jinlin
Published: October 2020

This paper considers a multiperiod emergency medical services (EMS) location problem and introduces two two-stage stochastic programming formulations that account for uncertainty about emergency demand. Whereas the first model considers both a constraint on the probability of covering the realized emergency demand and minimizing the expected cost of doing so, the second one employs probabilistic envelope constraints that allow us to control the degradation of coverage under the more severe scenarios. These models give rise to large mixed-integer programs, which can be tackled directly or by using a conservative approximation scheme. For the former, we implement the branch-and-Benders-cut method, which improves significantly the solution time when compared with using both a recently proposed state-of-the art branch-and-bound algorithm and the CPLEX solver. Finally, a practical study is conducted using historical data from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and sheds some light on optimal EMS location configuration for this region and on necessary trade-offs that must be made between emergency demand coverage and expected cost. These insights are confirmed through an out-of-sample performance analysis.
On the Price of Satisficing in Network User Equilibria
Authors: Takalloo Mahdi , Kwon Changhyun
Published: October 2020

When network users are satisficing decision makers, the resulting traffic pattern attains a satisficing user equilibrium, which may deviate from the (perfectly rational) user equilibrium. In a satisficing user equilibrium traffic pattern, the total system travel time can be worse than in the case of the perfectly rational user equilibrium. We show how bad the worst-case satisficing user equilibrium traffic pattern can be compared with the perfectly rational user equilibrium. We call the ratio between the total system travel times of the two traffic patterns the price of satisficing, for which we provide an analytical bound. We compare the analytical bound with numerical bounds for several transportation networks.
Policy spotlight
Authors: Lovatt Lillian
Published: October 2020

This regular feature aims to provide key political news in relation to dentistry and an update of the Faculty’s policy activities. You can find out more in the Government Relations and Media Centre sections of the FDS website.
Health and wellbeing
Authors: Brooks Janine
Published: October 2020

In these times of change and uncertainty, it has never been more important to be aware of our health and keeping emotionally resilient. Dental professionals are notoriously a difficult to reach group when it comes to individual healthcare and seeking help. COVID-19 has hit dentistry and the dental profession hard, in a way we could never have expected. Everyone has been subject to changes that could not have been contemplated. Each person on the planet has been impacted in one way or another. Maybe because we have all been subject to anxiety, uncertainty and facing the unknown, it has become easier to talk to colleagues about how we are feeling and acknowledge that it's OK to not be OK.

How to enhance your resilience to cope with professional and personal challenges.
Diversity, Richness and Composition of Ant Communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Pre-Saharan Steppe of Algeria
Authors: Amara Yacine , Tliba Hala , Bounaceur Farid , Daoudi-Hacini Samia
Published: October 2020

This paper describes the structure and composition of ant communities in the pre-Saharan steppe of Algeria. The study focused on three stations located in two regions with different climates: semi-arid (Aflou) and arid (Laghouat). Ants were collected between March 2013 and February 2014, using pitfall trap sampling over a four-season period and quadrat counting techniques. A total of 20 ant species have been identified, which belong to 8 genera in three subfamilies: Dolichoderinae, Myrmicinae and Formicinae. Moreover, it was noticed that the study areas, which can be characterized by their floristic nature, physiognomic and even edaphic aspects, directly influence the ant community ecology and distribution. We classified them in both eurytopic and stenotopic species. It was also observed, using a Correspondence Factorial Analysis (CFA), that the ants’ activity is seasonal and often correlated with temperature fluctuation and trophic availability.
Environmental Response of Dinoponera lucida Emery 1901 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), an Endemic Threatened Species of the Atlantic Forest Central Corridor
Authors: Simon Soares , Schoereder José Henrique , Teixeira Marcos Da Cunha
Published: October 2020

Endemic species of Atlantic Forest Central Corridor may have evolved under adverse climate conditions, but their response to modern climate change is unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the response of the endemic and endangered ant species Dinoponera lucida to biotics and abiotics factors based on three scales: ecological factors inside forest fragment, physical attributes of landscape and climatic variables of the assessed region. Data collection took place in a representative selection of forest fragments in the region where the species is distributed in. Pitfalls were used to collect samples and to assure the presence and absence of the species in the site. We also checked the abundance of food resources and applied a hemispherical photography technique to measure shading inside the fragment, in loco. Landscape attributes data and climatic predictors were collected through geoprocessing techniques. All predictors were associated with binary “presence” and “absence” data based applied in logistic models. There was no significant response to environmental aspects within the fragment or to landscape, but there was strong and peculiar response to climatic variables such as temperature and rainfall. Accordingly, D. lucida presents a restricted realized niche, a feature shared among many endangered species that can disappear due to displacement and to habitat loss caused by climate and environmental changes. This species presents all the criteria necessary to be considered as rare, which is a controversial subject with political implications for Espírito Santo state, and makes D. lucida the ideal target for urgent conservation strategies.
Glandular Secretions of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A Review on Extraction, Chemical Characterization and Antibiotic Potential
Authors: Guarda Carin , Lutinski Junir Antonio
Published: October 2020

Ants live under ideal microclimatic conditions for the development of microorganisms. As mechanisms to ensure the health of the colony and as a defense strategy, these insects developed exocrine glands that work in the production of antibiotics (chemical defense) and in the immune defense of the colony. This study aimed to describe the state-of-the-art on extraction methods, chemical characterization and the antibiotic potential of glandular secretions of ants. This is a review of the scientific literature between 1989 and 2017. A total of 52 articles were selected. These addressed the behavior, chemical characterization, the antimicrobial effect and evaluated methods of extraction. The most investigated genera are Atta, Acromyrmexand Crematogaster. The glands most reported in the articles involving extraction of secretions were Dufour, mandibular and metapleural. The most reported methods of extraction were gland maceration and extraction with (organic) solvents and direct extraction of the gland. Most studies evaluated secretions with respect to ant behavior. There is a paucityin the literature about the chemical characterization of most glandular secretions of ants, as well as for most taxa. The same deficiency is observed with regard to prospecting the antibiotic and antifungal potential of these secretions. for most taxa. The same deficiency is observed with regard to prospecting the antibiotic and antifungal potential of these secretions.
The Fumigating Activity of Litsea cubeba oil and Citral on Solenopsis invicta
Authors: Xiao Chun Xia , Tan Yu Ting , Wang Fei Feng , Wu Qian Hua , Qin De Qiang , Zhang Zhi Xiang
Published: October 2020

This paper studied the fumigating activity of Litsea cubeba oil and citral on Solenopsis invicta, identified and analyzed the chemical constituents and volatile components of L. cubeba oil via solid-phase microextraction which were then identified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that citral and (z)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-diena were the main components of L. cubeba oil, as well as its volatile compounds. According to the experimental results, L. cubeba oil and citral had good fumigating activity on workers, and also had significant inhibition on the walking ability and climbing ability of workers. At the same time, the effects of the two agentia on the fumigating activity and behavioral inhibition of microergate were stronger than those of macroergate. After treating with L. cubeba oil and citral for 24 hours, the walking rate and grasping rate of microergate were both 0 %. The results showed that L. cubeba oil and citral had good control effect on S. invicta.
Natural Products can Efficiently Control the Greater Wax Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), but are Harmless to Honey Bees
Authors: Telles Daniele Maria , Martineli Gabriel Moreno , Scaloppi Maurice Fabian , Luz Marina Pagliai Ferreira , Kadri Samir Moura , Orsi Ricardo De Oliveira
Published: October 2020

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) have great global socioeconomic and environmental importance. However, the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.) is a pest that causes serious worldwide damage to honey bee colonies. Good beekeeping practices and physical, chemical, or natural methods can be used to control wax moths. The use of natural products is a more sustainable option because of their lower toxicity to the environment and the colony. Therefore, we evaluated the efficiency of four natural products for greater wax moth control: neem oil (Azadirachta indica), eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus spp.), tobacco extract (Nicotiana tabacum), and malagueta pepper extract (Capsicum frutescens). We also evaluated their effects on adult bees and on the population growth of colonies. The 4th instar wax moths and adult bees were subjected to in vitro bioassays of different concentrations of the products. The results allowed usto establish a concentration for each product that was safe for the bees and effectively controlled the moth. Then, we sprayed them on bee colonies to evaluate their effects on population growth. The neem and eucalyptus oils caused wax moth mortality at low concentrations, but did not affect colony population growth. However, they did have a toxic effect on adult bees. The tobacco and pepper extracts efficiently controlled the moth, but did not cause adult bee mortality or interfered with the population growth of the colonies. Therefore, the tobacco and pepper extracts could efficiently control the greater wax moth, without damaging honey bees.
Effect of Larval Topical Application of Juvenile Hormone on Cuticular Chemical Composition of Mischocyttarus consimilis (Vespidae: Polistinae) Females
Authors: Neves Erika Fernandes , Montagna Thiago Santos , Junior Luiz Carlos Santos , Michelutti Kamylla Balbuena , Cardoso Claudia Andrea Lima , Andrade Luis Humberto Cunha , Lima Sandro Marcio , Antonialli-Junior William Fernando
Published: October 2020

Juvenile  Hormone  (JH)  is  considered  the  main  determinant  of  caste  in  social insects, though little is known about how this hormone acts in social wasps, especially the independent-founding species. The known relationship between JH titer and caste in the colony and we suggest a relationship among the effects of JH and the cuticular chemical profile. Therefore, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that topical application of JH to larvae of different instars alters the cuticular chemical composition of newly emerged females of Mischocyttarus consimilis (Zikán), influencing the dynamics of colony. Two techniques were used to evaluate the variation in cuticular chemical composition: Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Indeed, the application of JH did significantly alter the cuticular chemical composition of adult females that received treatment at the larval stage in comparison to control. The effects of JH were instar-dependent in that the results of topical application were significant when performed at third larval instar. Overall, these results add evidence that caste determination may, at least in part may be pre-imaginal in species of independent-founding social wasps.