bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What is the impact of distraction osteogenesis on the upper airway of hemifacial microsomia patient with obstructive sleep apnea: a case report
Authors: Wang Rongyang , Xu Shixing , Yang Ruimei
Published: July 2021

Background

Current research about hemifacial microsomia (HFM) patients after distraction osteogenesis (DO) most emphasize the morphologic changes. This case report shows the outcome of DO on the upper airway of a HFM patient with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

Case presentation

An 11-year-old boy was diagnosed as HFM with OSA, and underwent unilateral DO. Polysomnography and CT scans were performed before and 6 months after treatment. After DO, lowest blood oxygen saturation increased from 81% to 95% and apnea and hypopnea index decreased from 6.4 events/hour to 1.2 events/hour. The oropharynx and nasopharynx were obviously expanded. We observed apparently increased average pressure, decreased average velocity and pressure drop in all cross-sections, and largely decreased airflow resistance and maximum velocity entirely in the airway.

Conclusions

The results suggest that DO might be effective for the treatment of OSA by expanding the upper airway and reducing the resistance of inspiration.
Feasibility of quantitative inorganic arsenic speciation at the parts-per-trillion level using solid phase extraction and femtosecond laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Lee Seon Hwa , Yang Seon-Jin , Lee Yonghoon , Nam Sang-Ho
Published: July 2021

Toxicity of arsenic compounds depends on the chemical structure as well as the concentration. Thus, separation of the toxic arsenic species should precede the quantification for the accurate toxicity assessment. Ion chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS) has been the most popular method for separation and quantification of toxic arsenic species. However, the method requires complex instrument, elaborate sample preparation, and long analysis time. In this work, toxic inorganic arsenic species in water was separated by the simple solid phase extraction (SPE) using a strong anion-exchange membrane filter, and then the membrane filter was analyzed by femtosecond laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (fs-LA-ICP-MS). The pH value of the sample was adjusted to 4 using ammonium hydroxide and phosphoric acid for the complete separation of the toxic inorganic arsenic from the other organic arsenics. The linear dynamic range was from 0.5 to 1000 μg/kg, and the correlation coefficient was 0.99989. The recovery efficiency was 96‑106%. The detection limit of the inorganic arsenic was 0.028 μg/kg. Our results indicate that SPE-fs-LA-ICP-MS provides enough analytical performance to analyze the toxic inorganic arsenic in water at the level of parts per trillion using the simple separation method and the rapid laser ablation sampling.
Prevalence of an angiotensin-converting enzyme gene variant in dogs
Authors: Adin D. B. , Atkins C. E. , Friedenberg S. G. , Stern J. A. , Meurs K. M.
Published: July 2021

Background

Genetic heterogeneity of the canine angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene is functionally important because the degree of aldosterone breakthrough with ACE-inhibitor therapy is greater in variant positive dogs compared to variant negative dogs, but the prevalence of the variant is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine ACE gene variant-positive prevalence in a population of 497 dogs of different breeds.

Results

Overall variant-positive prevalence was 31%, with 20% of dogs heterozygous and 11% of dogs homozygous. The variant was overrepresented in Irish Wolfhounds (prevalence 95%; P < .001), Dachshunds (prevalence 90%; P < .001), Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (prevalence 85%; P < .001), Great Danes (prevalence 84%; P < .001), and Bull Mastiffs (prevalence 58%; P = .02). Irish Wolfhounds were more likely to be homozygous than heterozygous (P < .001).

Conclusions

Nearly one-third of dogs in this study were positive for a functionally important ACE gene variant, with wide prevalence variability between breeds. The clinical importance of high ACE gene variant-positive prevalence in some breeds requires further study because the highest prevalences were found in breeds that are predisposed to heart disease and therefore may be treated with ACE-inhibitors.
Evaluating deep learning EEG-based mental stress classification in adolescents with autism for breathing entrainment BCI
Authors: Sundaresan Avirath , Penchina Brian , Cheong Sean , Grace Victoria , Valero-Cabré Antoni , Martel Adrien
Published: July 2021

Mental stress is a major individual and societal burden and one of the main contributing factors that lead to pathologies such as depression, anxiety disorders, heart attacks, and strokes. Given that anxiety disorders are one of the most common comorbidities in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this population is particularly vulnerable to mental stress, severely limiting overall quality of life. To prevent this, early stress quantification with machine learning (ML) and effective anxiety mitigation with non-pharmacological interventions are essential. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of exploiting electroencephalography (EEG) signals for stress assessment by comparing several ML classifiers, namely support vector machine (SVM) and deep learning methods. We trained a total of eleven subject-dependent models-four with conventional brain-computer interface (BCI) methods and seven with deep learning approaches-on the EEG of neurotypical (n=5) and ASD (n=8) participants performing alternating blocks of mental arithmetic stress induction, guided and unguided breathing. Our results show that a multiclass two-layer LSTM RNN deep learning classifier is capable of identifying mental stress from ongoing EEG with an overall accuracy of 93.27%. Our study is the first to successfully apply an LSTM RNN classifier to identify stress states from EEG in both ASD and neurotypical adolescents, and offers promise for an EEG-based BCI for the real-time assessment and mitigation of mental stress through a closed-loop adaptation of respiration entrainment.
Impact of the blooming artefact on dental implant dimensions in 13 cone-beam computed tomography devices
Authors: Wanderley Victor Aquino , de Faria Vasconcelos Karla , Leite Andre Ferreira , Pauwels Ruben , Shujaat Sohaib , Jacobs Reinhilde , Oliveira Matheus L.
Published: July 2021

Background

The purpose of this study was to objectively assess dimensional alteration (blooming artefact) on dental implant using 13 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) devices adjusted to device-specific scanning protocols and to assess whether subjective adjustment of brightness and contrast (B&C) could alter its visualization.

Methods

An anthropomorphic phantom containing a dental implant was scanned in 13 CBCT devices adjusted to three scanning protocols: medium-FOV standard resolution, small-FOV standard resolution, and small-FOV high resolution. The diameter of the implant was measured at five levels, averaged, and compared with those from a reference standard industrial CT image. B&C adjustments were performed and measurements were repeated. The intraclass correlation coefficient assessed the reliability of the measurements and general linear mixed models were applied for multiples comparisons at a 95% confidence interval.

Results

Implant diameter obtained from small-FOV high-resolution protocols in most CBCT devices was not significantly different when compared to that from the reference (p > 0.05). For standard protocols, significant dimensional alteration of the implant ranging from 23 to 34% (0.67 to 1.02 mm) was observed in 9 CBCT devices for small-FOV scanning (p < 0.05), and in 8 CBCT devices for medium-FOV scanning, implant dimensional alteration ranged significantly from 21 to 35% (0.62 to 1.04 mm). After B&C adjustments, dimensional alteration was reduced for several of the CBCT devices tested (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The visualization of the implant dimensional alteration differed between CBCT devices and scanning protocols with an increase in diameter ranging from 0.27 to 1.04 mm. For most CBCT devices, B&C adjustments allowed to reduce visualization of implant blooming.
Clinical long-term and patient-reported outcomes of dental implants in oral cancer patients
Authors: Schiegnitz Eik , Müller Lena Katharina , Sagheb Keyvan , Theis Lisa , Cagiran Vahide , Kämmerer Peer W. , Wegener Joachim , Wagner Wilfried , Al-Nawas Bilal
Published: July 2021

Background and purpose

The aim of this clinical study was to investigate the clinical long-term and patient-reported outcome of dental implants in patients with oral cancer. In addition, analysis of the influence of radiation therapy, timing of implant insertion, and augmentation procedures on implant survival was performed.

Material and methods

This retrospective study investigated the clinical outcome of 711 dental implants in 164 oral cancer patients, inserted by experienced surgeons of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was evaluated.

Results

Cumulative 5-year and 10-year implant survival rates for all included implants were 87.3% and 80.0%. Implants placed straight after ablative surgery (primary implant placement) and implants placed after completing the oncologic treatment (secondary implant placement) showed a comparable implant survival (92.5% vs. 89.5%; p = 0.635). Irradiation therapy had no significant influence on implant survival of secondary placed implants (p = 0.929). However, regarding implant site (native bone vs. augmented bone) and radiation therapy (non-irradiated bone vs. irradiated bone), implants inserted in irradiated bone that received augmentation procedures showed a statistically significant lower implant survival (p < 0.001). Patients reported a distinct improvement in OHRQoL.

Conclusions

Promising long-term survival rates of dental implants in patients after treatment of oral cancer were seen. In addition, patients benefit in form of an improved OHRQoL. However, bone augmentation procedures in irradiated bone may result in an impaired implants’ prognosis.
Bowel obstruction and perforation secondary to barbed suture after minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair: report of two cases and literature review
Authors: Wang Liming , Maejima Taku , Fukahori Susumu , Nishihara Shoji , Yoshikawa Daitaro , Kono Toru
Published: July 2021

Background

Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal patch (TAPP) is now commonly used in the repair of inguinal hernia. Barbed suture can be a fast and effective method of peritoneal closure. We report two rare cases of small bowel obstruction and perforation caused by barbed suture after TAPP.

Cases

Patient 1 is a 45-year-old man who underwent laparoscopic repair of a right inguinal hernia. Barbed suture was used to close the peritoneal defect. At 47 days after the operation, he was diagnosed with a small bowel obstruction caused by an elongated tail of the barbed suture. Emergency laparoscopic exploration was performed for removal of the embedded suture and detorsion of the volvulus. The second patient is a 50-year-old man who was admitted with a small bowel perforation one week after TAPP herniorrhaphy. Emergency exploration revealed that the tail of the barbed suture had pierced the small intestine, causing a tiny perforation. After cutting and releasing the redundant tail of the barbed suture, the serosal and muscular defect was closed with 2 absorbable single-knot sutures. Both patients have recovered well. Finally, we searched the PubMed database and reviewed the literature on the effectiveness and safety of barbed suture for TAPP.

Conclusions

Surgeons should understand the characteristics of barbed suture and master the technique of peritoneum closure during TAPP in order to reduce the risk of bowel obstruction and perforation.
Anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy possibly caused by compression of the gastric conduit behind the sternoclavicular joint: a report of three cases
Authors: Kurahashi Yasunori , Hojo Yudai , Nakamura Tatsuro , Kumamoto Tsutomu , Ishida Yoshinori , Shinohara Hisashi
Published: July 2021

Background

The narrowness of the thoracic inlet is often a problem in retrosternal reconstruction after esophagectomy. We report here three cases in which compression of the gastric conduit behind the sternoclavicular joint possibly caused anastomotic leakage.

Case presentations

The first case was a 71-year-old man who underwent subtotal esophagectomy for upper esophageal cancer followed by retrosternal reconstruction. On postoperative day 2, he developed septic shock and underwent reoperation because of a necrotic gastric conduit. The tip of the conduit above the manubrium was necrotic due to strangulation as a result of compression by the sternoclavicular joint. The second and third cases were a 50-year-old woman and a 71-year-old man who underwent subtotal esophagectomy for middle and lower esophageal cancer, respectively, followed by retrosternal reconstruction. Despite indocyanine green fluorescence imaging indicating adequate blood flow in both cases, the tip of the conduit appeared pale and congested because of compression by the sternoclavicular joint after anastomosis. Postoperatively, these two patients developed anastomotic leakage that was confirmed endoscopically on the ventral side of the gastric wall that had been pale intraoperatively.

Conclusions

When performing reconstruction using the retrosternal route after esophagectomy, it is important to ensure that compression by the sternoclavicular joint does not have an adverse impact on blood flow at the tip of the gastric conduit.
Comparing the racialization of Central-East European migrants in Japan and the UK
Authors: Drnovšek Zorko Špela , Debnár Miloš
Published: July 2021

The article deploys the lens of the race-migration nexus (Erel et al., Ethnic and Racial Studies 39:1339–1360, 2016) to compare the racialization of migrants in the UK and Japan. It draws on qualitative data on the experiences of Central-East European (CEE) migrants in the two countries to unpack how whiteness is constructed in relation to different histories and patterns of immigration in each national context. While CEE migrants in Japan benefit from being perceived as implicitly white and Western ‘foreigners’, their whiteness represents a form of enduring exclusion from the ethno-nationalist Japanese society. In the UK, changing political contexts and internal European hierarchies of whiteness contribute to CEE migrants’ ambiguous position in an increasingly anti-migrant society. By comparing the mechanisms of racialization in each country through the analytics of visibility and exclusion, the article furthers ongoing debates about the intersections of race and migration. It furthermore extends the comparative analysis of whiteness to a non-Western setting, making a significant contribution to the study of local/global articulations of race.
A practical approach to orofacial rehabilitation in a patient after inferior maxillectomy and rhinectomy with mono framework construction supported on a zygomatic implant placed in the glabella: a case report
Authors: Gaur Vivek , Perumal S. Mahendra , Rahmaan Faizur , Pałka Łukasz
Published: July 2021

Background

In the field of craniofacial tumor surgery, an adequately performed excision, despite being a life-saving procedure, is only a first step to successful treatment. During such a procedure, the main goal is to completely remove the lesion, paying less attention to factors contributing to future rehabilitation possibilities. One ty 2of the possibilities for prosthetic rehabilitation of such cases is utilizing one-piece implants with bicortical anchorage.

Case presentation

This case report presents a case of a 48-year-old patient with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The treatment protocol consisted of radical surgery to remove the tumor, and intraoral and extraoral rehabilitation with a single framework prosthesis anchored with one-piece implants. Moreover, the intraoral stomatognathic deformity was corrected with a fixed implant-retained prosthesis, and the extraoral defect was covered with a removable epithesis.

Conclusions

The use of one-piece implants with bicortical anchorage may be an additional tool in reconstructing maxillofacial defects. Properly executed treatment may improve the esthetics, speech, masticatory function, muscle support, and the overall quality of life of patients with extensive defects in the maxillofacial region.
Green shipping onboard: acceptance, diffusion & adoption of LNG and electricity as alternative fuels in Greece
Authors: Sideri Olga , Papoutsidakis Michalis , Lilas Theodore , Nikitakos Nikitas , Papachristos Dimitrios
Published: July 2021

Today, alternative fuels are seen as a critical area of sustainable technological growth in maritime transport. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations body for maritime issues and other international bodies are in the process of amending and updating the regulations applicable to the shipping industry. Greece is ready to enter the era of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and electricity as marine fuels, as Eastern Mediterranean projects are heading towards adopting these alternative fuels. This study aims to explore the intention of the Greek stakeholders in accepting and using LNG and electricity as alternative fuels. The research objectives are to identify, analyse and evaluate the determinants that influence the intention to accept, diffuse and use alternative fuels, LNG and electricity for marine propulsion, and develop, construct and validate a hybrid model that can be used for future study. This research will clarify possible challenges or barriers to the implementation of technology by stakeholders and contribute to a deeper understanding of the green shipping network. It will also highlight the role of key players in the diffusion phase of technological innovation and the technology itself and its characteristics. Moreover, this research will suggest a unified model using the expansive Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in conjunction with the Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) and external variables affecting LNG and electricity 1) to investigate the intent of implementing the use of such alternative fuels and 2) to inform policymakers concerning sustainable shipping.
Communicative health literacy in patients with non-communicable diseases in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Tilahun Desalew , Abera Abebe , Nemera Gugsa
Published: July 2021

Background

Health literacy plays a prominent role in empowering individuals for prevention as well as management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, there is paucity of information on the health literacy of patients with non-communicable diseases in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess communicative health literacy and associated factors in patients with NCDs on follow-up at Jimma Medical Center (JMC), Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from 4 May 2020 to 4 July 2020 with 408 randomly selected adult patients, attending outpatient department of JMC in Ethiopia. The final sample size was obtained by using single population proportion formula. All patients with NCDs who were on follow-up at chronic illness clinic, JMC, were used as a source population. All eligible patients with NCDs who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in this study. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. Data were collected through structured interviewer administered questionnaires on the six of nine health literacy domains using Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) containing 30 items, socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics, disease-related factors, and health information sources. Multivariable logistic regression was executed to determine the associations.

Result

Descriptive analysis shows more than half of the respondents in four of the six health literacy domains had high communicative health literacy level (CHLL). The proportion of people with high CHLL across each of the domains was as follows: health care provider support (56.1%), social support for health (53.7%), active engagement with a healthcare provider (56.1%), and navigating healthcare system (53.4%). We found educational status was significantly associated with five of six health literacy domains whereas number of sources was associated with four of six health literacy domains.

Conclusion

The overall findings of the current study indicate that health literacy levels vary according to socio-demographic and disease characteristics of patients. Thus, healthcare professionals should assess patients’ health literacy level and tailor information and support to the health literacy skills and personal context of their patients.
Creating idiometric short-form measures of cognitive appraisal: balancing theory and pragmatics
Authors: Schwartz Carolyn E. , Stark Roland B. , Rapkin Bruce D.
Published: July 2021

Background

The Rapkin and Schwartz appraisal theory and measure provided a path toward documenting response-shift effects and describing individual differences in ways of thinking about quality of life (QOL) that distinguished people in different circumstances. Recent work developed and validated the QOL Appraisal Profileversion 2 (QOLAPv2), an 85-item measure that taps response-shift-detection domains of Frame of Reference, Standards of Comparison, Sampling of Experience, and Combinatory Algorithm. Recent theoretical work proposed that appraisal measurement constitutes a new class of measurement (idiometric), distinct from psychometric and clinimetric. To validate an idiometric measure, one would document that its items reflect different circumstances and population characteristics, and explain variance in QOL. The present work sought to develop idiometric short-forms of the QOLAPv2 item bank by examining which items were most informative, retaining the appraisal-domain structure.

Methods

This secondary analysis (n = 1481) included chronically-ill patients and their caregivers from a longitudinal web-based survey (mean follow-up 16.6 months). Data included the QOLAPv2, the Center for Disease Control Healthy Days Core Module, the PROMIS-10 Global Health, and demographic/medical variables. Appraisal items were measured at baseline (relevant to understanding cognitive appraisal processes); and with change scores (sensitive to response-shift effects). Multivariate analysis of covariance examined what demographic and health-status change variables were reflected by each of 85 appraisal items (in five sets), as dependent variables, and other demographic/medical variables. Multiple linear regression examined how appraisal items explained variance in global physical- and mental-health change, after covariate adjustment. A tally summarized item performance across all five sets of cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

Results

The vast majority (i.e., 80%) of the QOLAPv2 items performed well across the analyses presented. Using a relatively strict criterion of explaining meaningful variance across 60% of analyses, one would retain 68 items. A more lenient criterion (40%) would retain 71.

Conclusions

The present study provides heuristics to support investigators’ creating ‘discretionary’ QOLAPv2 short-forms to fit their study aim and amplifying individual differences in the cognitive processes underlying QOL. This approach enables adapting the measure to the study population, as per the expectation that respondent populations differ in the predominant cognitive processes used.
Work burnout and coping strategies among Egyptian forensic physicians: a national study
Authors: Sehsah Radwa , Gaballah Mohammed Hassan , El-Gilany Abdel-Hady , Albadry Ahmed A.
Published: July 2021

Background

Forensic physicians are confronted daily with highly stressful and traumatic duties. With repeated exposure, they are at risk of psychological distress, especially burnout. The current study’s objective was to measure the prevalence of burnout and its associated factors among Egyptian forensic physicians, describe their coping strategies, and the correlation between burnout levels and coping strategies. A cross-sectional study on Egyptian forensic physicians was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire. It included personal and occupational data, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Brief COPE Inventory. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify significant independent predictors of burnout. The correlation between burnout and coping was examined.

Results

Moderate/high levels of burnout were scored by 72.9 %, 51.9%, and 75.9% of forensic physicians in the emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment subscales, respectively. The significant independent predictors of high emotional exhaustion were being a forensic examiner (AOR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3–7.6) and facing stressful job duties more than five times per month (AOR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.6–12.3). The predictor of high depersonalization was being a forensic examiner (AOR, 22.8; 95% CI, 8.0–64.8), and for low personal accomplishment was being a female (AOR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.3–6.8). The most frequent coping strategies adopted by forensic physicians were adaptive coping.

Conclusions

Egyptian forensic physicians have a high prevalence of burnout. Forensic examiners, females with high exposure to stressful duties are more likely to have high burnout levels. Thus, psychoeducation and psychological support services should be applied and made easily accessible to them.
Assessing viability of a minimally invasive autopsy technique in ascertaining the probable cause of death in patients who were SARS CoV19 positive at the time of their demise
Authors: Bhandarwar Ajay H. , Bakhshi Girish D. , Arora Eham , Dhimole Nikhil , Bijwe Sanjay R. , Agale Shubhangi V. , Kinake Megha S. , Domkundwar Shilpa , Thube Yogesh
Published: July 2021

Background

SARS CoV-19 was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), raising up challenges on various levels ranging from therapeutics to diagnostics. The conventional autopsy technique may pose a health hazard to health care workers. A minimally invasive autopsy technique can diminish this hazard.

Materials and methods

Between August and November 2020, 51 patients who were suffering from Covid-19 at the time of their demise were included. A novel minimally invasive ultrasound-guided technique for procuring tissue samples of major organs was employed which were thereafter subject to histopathological examination. A detailed review of the course in hospital was noted. An analysis was performed to correlate the cause of death ascertained from our minimally invasive technique with the cause of death ascertained clinically.

Results

There was adequate tissue sampling in 45 cases, where the minimally invasive autopsy technique confirmed the cause of death in all 45 cases (100%) and made it more specific in 5 cases (11.11%).

Conclusion

Minimally Invasive Autopsy is an easily reproducible technique which has the potential to strengthen the probable the cause of death with reasonable certainty while ensuring safety and ethics.
Effect of Thymus vulgaris leaf extract on cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in rats
Authors: Onoja Remigius Ibe , Chukwudi Chinwe Uzoma , Ugwueze Emmanuel Uchechukwu , Anyogu Davinson Chuka , Obidah Wilson , Emesiani Benjamin Ifechukwu
Published: July 2021

Background

Cadmium (Cd) is a known metallohormone which mimics the action of steroid hormones with adverse effect on testicular function. It is highly toxic and a prevalent environmental contaminant with no conventional antidote. This study investigates the possible ameliorative effects of Thymus vulgaris extract on testicular toxicity induced by Cd in male rats.

Results

The testicular and epididymal weights, serum concentration of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower in the cadmium-treated group compared to the control. Necrosis of germ cells of the seminiferous tubules was observed in the testicular tissues of the cadmium-treated group. Administration of extract showed mild but non-significant (p ≥ 0.05) protective effect on the cadmium-induced decrease in sex hormones and sperm count as well as oxidative stress and histological changes.

Conclusion

Thymus vulgaris leaf extract had weak ameliorative effect on cadmium-induced testicular injury in rats but with promising antioxidant activity.
Identification and expression analysis of Tubulin gene family in upland cotton
Authors: CHEN Baojun , ZHAO Junjie , FU Guoyong , PEI Xinxin , PAN Zhaoe , LI Hongge , AHMED Haris , HE Shoupu , DU Xiongming
Published: July 2021

Background

Cotton fibers are single-celled extensions of the seed epidermis, a model tissue for studying cytoskeleton. Tubulin genes play a critical role in synthesizing the microtubules (MT) as a core element of the cytoskeleton. However, there is a lack of studies concerning the systematic characterization of the tubulin gene family in cotton. Therefore, the identification and portrayal of G. hirsutum tubulin genes can provide key targets for molecular manipulation in cotton breeding.

Result

In this study, we investigated all tubulin genes from different plant species and identified 98 tubulin genes in G. hirsutum. Phylogenetic analysis showed that tubulin family genes were classified into three subfamilies. The protein motifs and gene structure of α-, β-tubulin genes are more conserved compared with γ-tubulin genes. Most tubulin genes are located at the proximate ends of the chromosomes. Spatiotemporal expression pattern by transcriptome and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that 12 α-tubulin and 7 β-tubulin genes are specifically expressed during different fiber development stages. However, Gh.A03G027200, Gh.D03G169300, and Gh.A11G258900 had differential expression patterns at distinct stages of fiber development in varieties J02508 and ZRI015.

Conclusion

In this study, the evolutionary analysis showed that the tubulin genes were divided into three clades. The genetic structures and molecular functions were highly conserved in different plants. Three candidate genes, Gh.A03G027200, Gh.D03G169300, and Gh.A11G258900 may play a key role during fiber development complementing fiber length and strength.
Imaging findings and 4 years follow-up of adrenal cavernous hemangioma: a case report
Authors: Testini Valentina , Eusebi Laura , Giannubilo Willy , Ferrara Vincenzo , Bartelli Francesco , Guglielmi Giuseppe
Published: July 2021

Background

Adrenal hemangioma is a rare and non-functional benign tumor. Since the first case in 1955, approximately 90 cases have been reported in literature frequently presenting as a large and incidentally discovered retroperitoneal mass or as a result of hemorrhage caused by spontaneous rupture.

Case presentation

A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for right hypocondrium pain and anemia. A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed and a large right adrenal mass measured 18 cm was found.

The patient underwent laparoscopic right adrenalectomy. Histopathological diagnosis revealed a cavernous adrenal hemangioma.

Conclusion

Cavernous hemangiomas are uncommon tumors. We reported a case of adrenal cavernous hemangioma incidentally discovered by ultrasound and CT. In the case of finding adrenal masses, cavernous hemangiomas, although rare, should be considered a possible diagnosis.

The appropriate treatment is surgical resection to rule out any potential for malignancy, to relieve symptoms secondary to the mass effect, and to prevent complications such as retroperitoneal bleeding.
Probability assessment of slope instability in seasonally cold regions under climate change
Authors: Zhu Yulong , Ishikawa Tatsuya , Yamada Tomohito J. , Siva Subramanian Srikrishnan
Published: July 2021

To semi-quantitatively assess the effects of climate change on the slope failures, this paper proposes an effective approach for evaluating the influences of climate change on slope stability in seasonally cold regions. To discuss climate change, this study firstly analyzes the trend of the two main climate factors (precipitation and air temperature) based on the regression analysis results of the meteorological monitoring data during the past 120 years in different scales (e.g., world, country (Japan), and city (Sapporo)), and the downscaled outputs of three different regional atmospheric models (RAMs) with lateral boundary conditions from three different general circulation models (GCMs). Next, to discuss the effects of different climate factors (air temperature, precipitation, etc.) and to determine the key climate factors on the slope instability, a slope stability assessment approach for evaluating the effects of climate changes on slope instability is proposed through the water content simulation and slope stability analysis with considering freeze-thaw action. Finally, to check the effectiveness of the above assessment approach, assessment of instability of an actual highway embankment slope with the local layer geometry is done by applying the past and predicted future climate data. The results indicate that affected by global warming, the air temperature rise in some cold cities is more serious. The climate changes (especially the increase in precipitation) in the future will increase the infiltration during the Spring season. It will lengthen the time that the highway slope is in an unstable state due to high volumetric water content, causing the occurrence of slope failures will be more concentrated in April. While during the Ssummer-Autumn period, the time domain of its occurrence will become wider.
Subwavelength silicon photonics for on-chip mode-manipulation
Authors: Li Chenlei , Zhang Ming , Xu Hongnan , Tan Ying , Shi Yaocheng , Dai Daoxin
Published: July 2021

On-chip mode-manipulation is one of the most important physical fundamentals for many photonic integrated devices and circuits. In the past years, great progresses have been achieved on subwavelength silicon photonics for on-chip mode-manipulation by introducing special subwavelength photonic waveguides. Among them, there are two popular waveguide structures available. One is silicon hybrid plasmonic waveguides (HPWGs) and the other one is silicon subwavelength-structured waveguides (SSWGs). In this paper, we focus on subwavelength silicon photonic devices and the applications with the manipulation of the effective indices, the modal field profiles, the mode dispersion, as well as the birefringence. First, a review is given about subwavelength silicon photonics for the fundamental-mode manipulation, including high-performance polarization-handling devices, efficient mode converters for chip-fiber edge-coupling, and ultra-broadband power splitters. Second, a review is given about subwavelength silicon photonics for the higher-order-mode manipulation, including multimode converters, multimode waveguide bends, and multimode waveguide crossing. Finally, some emerging applications of subwavelength silicon photonics for on-chip mode-manipulation are discussed.
Unusual cause of urinary retention in a child: inflammatory pseudotumor of the urinary bladder
Authors: Agarwal Aakanksha , Sherwani Poonam , Saurya  , Bhunia Niladri Sekhar , Dhoot Dipesh Kumar
Published: July 2021

Background

Urinary bladder masses are uncommon in the pediatric age group and pose a diagnostic challenge, often necessitating histopathological differentiation and confirmation. An unusual mimic of neoplastic bladder mass is inflammatory pseudotumor, and timely identification and diagnosis of which prevents undue patient stress and radical treatment.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 7-year-old female child who presented with hematuria, and a urinary bladder mass was detected on ultrasound which was further characterized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diagnosed as an inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) on histopathology.

Conclusions

This case report describes the imaging features of IPT along with a list of differential diagnoses emphasizing the need for radiologists to be aware of this surprising and rare entity.
Prevalence of mistreatment among physiotherapy interns in Nigeria: a preliminary study
Authors: Muhammad Daha Garba , Gbonjubola Yusuff Tunde , Abubakar Ibrahim Ahmad , Elisha Adekolurejo Tobi , Ahmad Hassan Yusuf
Published: July 2021

Background

Healthcare professionals with the least experience, such as students and interns, are likely to face some form of mistreatments in the world of health professionals. Mistreatment has a negative impact on the victim’s well-being as it results in psychological distress such as burn out, lack of motivation and reduced performance. This study aims to explore mistreatment among physiotherapy interns in Nigeria with a view to protecting the future of the profession.

Result

Most of the participant were male (57.5%) and doing their internship in the northwestern part of the country (42.5%). Forty interns participated in the study, and 2/3 of them had experience of mistreatment. The most common type of mistreatment was yelling or shouting (60%), followed by someone taking credit for what an intern did (55%), humiliation or belittlement (50%), and threat of an extension beyond the 12 months (27.5%). Eighty-seven percent reported that the mistreatment changes their relationship with the perpetrator. Mistreatment led to stress in 70% of the respondent, affected the self-confidence of 62.5%, and led to decreased clinical output in 45% of the participants. Forty percent of the participants acquired depression due to the mistreatment.

Conclusion

Most physiotherapy interns experience mistreatment during the 1-year mandatory clinical internship. Verbal abuse is the most prevalent form of mistreatment, while the least is physical abuse. This study found that mistreatment has adverse effects on the health and work output of physiotherapy interns.
Nasopharyngeal hirudiniasis: a hidden culprit—a case report
Authors: Agarwal Shreya , Gupta Nimish
Published: July 2021

Background

Leech infestation in the nose or nasopharyngeal region is a rare occurrence. The most common known cause is drinking water from natural water sources like ponds and rivers. Its hidden location of attachment in the nasopharynx and its uncommon occurrence make iteasy to miss during diagnosis.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 61-year-old male patient with recurrent unilateral epistaxis without any apparent cause. He was diagnosed with leech infestation in the nasopharynx on endoscopic examination. This article reports the management of nasopharyngeal leech infestation and safety measures for this animate foreign body retrieval.

Conclusion

A vigilant approach, thorough history, and examination are a must. Though leeches are simple to remove most of the time, certain necessary precaution should be kept in mind for better management and prevention of further complications.
Bempegaldesleukin Plus Nivolumab in First-Line Metastatic Melanoma
Authors: Diab Adi , Tykodi Scott S. , Daniels Gregory A. , Maio Michele , Curti Brendan D. , Lewis Karl D. , Jang Sekwon , Kalinka Ewa , Puzanov Igor , Spira Alexander I. , Cho Daniel C. , Guan Shanhong , Puente Erika , Nguyen Tuan , Hoch Ute , Currie Sue L. , Lin Wei , Tagliaferri Mary A. , Zalevsky Jonathan , Sznol Mario , Hurwitz Michael E.
Published: July 2021

PURPOSE

Therapies that produce deep and durable responses in patients with metastatic melanoma are needed. This phase II cohort from the international, single-arm PIVOT-02 study evaluated the CD122-preferential interleukin-2 pathway agonist bempegaldesleukin (BEMPEG) plus nivolumab (NIVO) in first-line metastatic melanoma.

METHODS

A total of 41 previously untreated patients with stage III/IV melanoma received BEMPEG 0.006 mg/kg plus NIVO 360 mg once every 3 weeks for ≤ 2 years; 38 were efficacy-evaluable (≥ 1 postbaseline scan). Primary end points were safety and objective response rate (blinded independent central review); other end points included progression-free survival, overall survival (OS), and exploratory biomarkers.

RESULTS

At 29.0 months' median follow-up, the objective response rate was 52.6% (20 of 38 patients), and the complete response rate was 34.2% (13 of 38 patients). Median change in size of target lesions from baseline was −78.5% (response-evaluable population); 47.4% (18 of 38 patients) experienced complete clearance of target lesions. Median progression-free survival was 30.9 months (95% CI, 5.3 to not estimable). Median OS was not reached; the 24-month OS rate was 77.0% (95% CI, 60.4 to 87.3). Grade 3 and 4 treatment-related and immune-mediated adverse events occurred in 17.1% (7 of 41) and 4.9% (2 of 41) of patients, respectively. Increased polyfunctional responses in CD8+ and CD4+ T cells were seen in blood after treatment, driven by cytokines with effector functions. Early on-treatment blood biomarkers (CD8+ polyfunctional strength difference and eosinophils) correlated with treatment response.

CONCLUSION

BEMPEG in combination with NIVO was tolerated, with relatively low rates of grade 3 and 4 treatment-related and immune-mediated adverse events. The combination had encouraging antitumor activity in first-line metastatic melanoma, including an extended median progression-free survival. Exploratory analyses associated noninvasive, on-treatment biomarkers with response, before radiologic evidence was observed.
Redefining Intermediate-Stage HCC Treatment in the Era of Immune Therapies
Authors: Brar Gagandeep , Kesselman Andrew , Malhotra Anuj , Shah Manish A.
Published: July 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. At diagnosis, most patients are ineligible for curative surgery, and approximately 20% of patients are diagnosed with advanced-stage disease. A significant proportion of patients fall under an unresectable or intermediate-stage disease who have liver-limited disease but are not surgical candidates because of large tumor size, number of lesions, or technically inoperable disease. In this unique intermediate-stage patient population, locoregional therapies have been the de facto mainstay of treatment because of high local response rates and favorable safety profile, especially in the context of minimally effective systemic therapies. However, not all patients who receive locoregional therapy for incurable disease have improved survival, and importantly, some of these patients never receive systemic therapy because of disease progression or further decline in hepatic function. Meanwhile, with the remarkable progress that has been made with systemic therapy in the past few years, revisiting the treatment of intermediate-stage HCC seems prudent. In this review, we will highlight current and emerging strategies for treating patients with unresectable, liver-limited HCC.
Policing Protest
Authors: Passavant Paul A.
Published: July 2021

In Policing Protest Paul A. Passavant explores how the policing of protest in the United States has become increasingly hostile since the late 1990s, moving away from strategies that protect protesters toward militaristic practices designed to suppress protests. He identifies reactions to three interrelated crises that converged to institutionalize this new mode of policing: the political mobilization of marginalized social groups in the Civil Rights era that led to a perceived crisis of democracy, the urban fiscal crisis of the 1970s, and a crime crisis that was associated with protests and civil disobedience of the 1960s. As Passavant demonstrates, these reactions are all haunted by the figure of black insurrection, which continues to shape policing of protest and surveillance, notably in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. Ultimately, Passavant argues, this trend of violent policing strategies against protesters is evidence of the emergence of a post-democratic state in the United States.
Applied psychology
Authors: Rapohin Nikolay
Published: July 2021

The textbook outlines the main provisions of modern applied scientific psychology. The socio-psychological and ethnopsychological features of behavior are analyzed. The author's interpretation of the psychological structure of personality is given, applied methods of its study are described. The issues of communication and psychological impact on the personality are considered. Using practical examples, the characteristics of styles and specific types of business communication are revealed. The features of establishing and maintaining business contacts with representatives of various national cultures are described.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For students studying management and international relations. It can also be used by students and teachers of psychological and pedagogical faculties of universities and colleges, future educators and social workers.
Integrated object management systems. Embedded information systems.
Authors: Grigor'ev Anatoliy , Isaev Evgeniy , Morgunov Aleksandr , Tarasov Pavel
Published: July 2021

The textbook considers the most popular object management systems in business, providing the possibility of collective work of users united by common business processes, goals and objectives of production activities. It contains a description of management systems of various classes, embedded information systems, their structure, features of application and implementation in the activities of enterprises. The information about the state of the market of such systems in Russia is given, as well as descriptions of the most popular systems in each class are given.
The manual is based on the materials of lectures on the disciplines "Tools for supporting collective work" and "Information Systems in marketing", which are studied in the bachelor's degree of the National Research University "Higher School of Economics" at the Faculty of Business and Management.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For students of higher educational institutions studying in the areas of training 09.03.02 "Information systems and technologies", 38.03.02 "Management", as well as for students in other economic specialties and specialists in this field.
Analysis of financial and economic activities
Authors: Gerasimova Elena
Published: July 2021

The textbook comprehensively describes the basics of the theory of economic analysis and the practice of applying analytical approaches to economic entities of various types. It consists of three interrelated sections that reveal a comprehensive and systematic approach to conducting economic analysis. The practical part of the textbook includes exercises, examples of solving situational problems and tasks for independent solution.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of secondary vocational education of the latest generation.
For students of secondary vocational education institutions studying in the specialty 38.02.07 "Banking". It can be useful for undergraduate students studying in the areas of 38.03.01 " Economics "and 38.03.02" Management", specialists in the field of analysis of the activities of organizations, a wide range of readers interested in the problems of analysis of the activities of economic entities.
Information technologies in the professional activity of sociologists
Authors: Onokoy Lyudmila , Titov Viktor
Published: July 2021

The textbook contains the basic information necessary for the development of information technologies and their effective use in the professional activity of a modern specialist. All theoretical positions are accompanied by available examples, illustrated with computer screen screenshots, tables and figures.
Special attention is paid to the consideration of theoretical provisions and practical methods of work, which are the basis for the functioning of the most common applied programs used in the professional activities of sociologists.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is intended for students and teachers of higher educational institutions, and can also be useful for specialists of various profiles who master information technologies.