bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
To do or not to do – A survey study on factors associated with participating in the Danish Screening Program for Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Nielsen Jesper Bo , Berg-Beckhoff Gabriela , Leppin Anja
Published: July 2020

BackgroundScreening programs for colorectal cancer (CRC) exist in many countries, and with varying participation rates. The present study aimed at identifying socio-demographic factors for accepting a cost-free screening offer for CRC, and to study if more people would accept the screening offer if the present fecal test was replaced by a blood test. MethodsWe used a cross-sectional survey design based on a representative group of 6,807 Danish citizens aged 50-80 years returning a fully answered web-based questionnaire with socio-demographic data added from national registries. Data were analyzed in STATA and based on bivariate analyses followed by regression models. ResultsDanes in general have a high level of lifetime participation (+80%) in the national CRC screening program. The results of the stepwise logistic regression model to predict CRC screening participation demonstrated that female gender, age, income, and moderate alcohol intake was positively associated with screening participation, whereas a negative association was observed for educational attainment, obesity, smoking status, and willingness to take health risks. Of the 1026 respondents not accepting the screening offer, 61% were willing to reconsider their initial negative response if the fecal sampling procedure were replaced by blood sampling.ConclusionThe CRC screening program intents to include the entire population within a certain at-risk age group. However, individual factors (e.g. gender, age obesity, smoking, risk aversity) appear to significantly affect willingness to participate in the screening program. From a preventive perspective, our findings indicate the need for a more targeted approach trying to reach these groups.
GNG5 is a novel oncogene associated with poor prognosis in glioma patients
Authors: Zhang Wang , Liu Binchao , Jiang Miaomiao , Yan Shi , Han Xian , Shen Hong , Na Meng , Jiang Zhenfeng , Lin Zhiguo
Published: July 2020

Background: Although many biomarkers have been reported for detecting glioma, the prognosis for the disease remains poor, and therefore, new biomarkers need to be identified. GNG5, which is part of the G-protein family, has been associated with different malignant tumors, though the role of GNG5 in glioma has not been studied. Therefore, we aimed to identify the relationship between GNG5 expression and glioma prognosis and to identify a new biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of gliomas.Methods: We used datasets from databases including TCGA and GEO, and results from GEPIA, RT-qPCR, and HPA to determine the expression of GNG5 in glioma. Based on datasets obtained from the CGGA database, we identified the correlation between GNG5 expression and multiple molecular and clinical features as well as clinical prognosis using a variety of analytical methods. Co-expression analysis and GSEA were performed to detect GNG5-related genes in gliomas and possible signaling pathways involved. ESTIMATE, ssGSEA, and TIMER were used to detect the relationship between GNG5 and the immune microenvironment.Results: A total of 1826 glioma related datasets were used in our study, including sequencing data, microarray data, and RT-qPCR data. We found that GNG5 is highly expressed in gliomas, and its expression level is positively correlated with pathological grade, histological type, age, and tumor recurrence and negatively correlated with isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation, 1p/19 co-deletion, and chemotherapy. Moreover, GNG5 as an independent risk factor was negatively correlated with the overall survival time. GSEA analysis revealed the potential signaling pathways involved in GNG5 function in gliomas, such as ECM-receptor interaction and the toll-like receptor signaling pathway. The ssGSEA, ESTIMATE, and TIMER based analysis indicated a correlation between GNG5 expression and various immune cells in glioma, such as B cell, macrophage, and dendritic cells.Conclusions: Based on the large data platform and the use of different databases to corroborate results obtained using various datasets, our study reveals for the first time that GNG5, as an oncogene, is overexpressed in gliomas and can lead to poor prognosis of patients. Thus, GNG5 is a potential novel biomarker for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of gliomas.
WITHDRAWN: Ribosomal Protein S27-Like is overexpressed in glioma cells and inhibition of RPS27L expression suspends the tumorigenesis
Authors: Sun Zhongzheng , Xue Hao , Wei Yan , Wang Shaobo , Xu Jianye , Qian Mingyu , Wang Chaochao , Zhao Rongrong , Wang Chengwei , Li Gang
Published: July 2020

Background: Ribosomal Protein S27-Like is an evolutionarily conserved ribosomal protein and the role of RPS27L influencing the malignance of several cancers has been reported. However, its effects on glioma were still unknown. This investigation aims to characterize the clinical significance and the biological functions of RPS27L in gliomas.Methods: TCGA databases were explored to analyze the correlation between RPS27L expression and the clinical characteristics of glioma patients. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on glioma cases and normal brain tissues. The function of RPS27L in glioma was further explored using U87MG and A172 cell lines and a orthotopic xenograft model of nude mice.Results: Data obtained from TCGA database showed higher expression of RPS27L in glioma than normal, and the overall survival was lower in the high expression group. Immunohistochemistry showed the expression levels of RPS27L were increased with the tumor grade rising in gliomas. Functional assays showed knockdown of RPS27L inhibited proliferation, cell cycle transition, migration and invasion, while promoted apoptosis. Data of western blot indicated that knockdown of RPS27L increased the level of p21，Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3 while decreased the level of CDK4, cyclinD1, cyclinE1, Bcl-2 and MMP2, MMP9 in glioma cells. In vivo, the growth of orthotopic glioma xenografts was suppressed by expression of RPS27L shRNA, and the tumors with RPS27L shRNA showed less aggressiveness and reduced expression of Ki67, Bcl-2 and MMP2. Conclusions: RPS27L is overexpressed in glioma cells. Knockdown of RPS27L could inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion while promote apoptosis of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. RPS27L might be a potential prognostic biomarker and possible target for future therapy in glioma.
TÜRKİYE TÜRKÇESİNDE FİİLİMSİLER ÜZERİNE İLERİ UYGULAMALAR
Authors: ÖZKAN Bülent
Published: July 2020

Türkçeye anlatım gücü ve kıvraklığı kazandıran, anlatılanları kısa yoldan aktarmayı sağlayarak gereksiz tekrarları önleyen, aktarılmak istenen düşüncenin iletilmesinde kolaylık sağlayan ve sözdizimsel olarak tümceleri akıcı, kolay biçimde birbirine bağlayan fiilimsiler kullanım yoğunluğu açısından Türkçede önemli bir yer tutmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye Türkçesinde farklı dilbilgisi terimleriyle karşılansa da genelde tüm araştırmacıların üzerinde uzlaştıkları isim-fiil, sıfat-fiil ve zarf-fiil olarak kavramlaştırılan fiilimsi/eylemsi kategorisinde yer alan dilbilgisel yapılar, derlem dilbilim ilke ve yöntemleriyle oluşturulmuş 35 milyon (+/-) sözcükbirim içeren bir derlemden biçimsel ve işlevsel nitelikleri ile diğer dilbilgisel görünümleri açısından bütüncül olarak araştırma konusu yapılmıştır. Çalışmanın amacını, fiilimsilerin morfolojik yapılarını, bu morfolojik yapılardan kaynağını alan işlevlerini, fiilimsilerin ana dili ve yabancı dil olarak Türkçenin öğretiminde önceliklerini, tabakalara (metin türleri vb.) göre dağılımlarını, dizgesel etiketlerini ve eşdizimliliğe bağlı kalıp ifadelerde kullanımlarını ortaya koyan bir derlem altyapısını tanıtmak olarak özetleyebiliriz.
Embarazo en condición juvenil: contexto histórico en Colombia y trayectoria en ciudad fronteriza
Authors: Parada-Rico Doris Amparo
Published: July 2020

Al hacer referencia al embarazo en adolescentes o jóvenes, de una parte, implica todo un abordaje acerca del riesgo en la salud estimado para la madre y su hijo por nacer; y de otra, la connotación dada al hecho de maternar o paternar dentro de una temporalidad y trayectoria del curso de vida asignada socialmente para estudiar, laborar o dedicarse simplemente al cuidado de sí. El objetivo del actual trabajo es analizar el panorama histórico del embarazo en condición juvenil en Colombia y su trayectoria en el municipio de Cúcuta durante el periodo de 2012 a 2017. La metodología utilizada fue la búsqueda y revisión sistemática de investigaciones, documentos históricos, normativas, Actas de las mesas intersectoriales municipal y departamental de “prevención de embarazo en adolescentes” alrededor del tema. Dentro de los resultados hallados, se observa una perspectiva de riesgo marcada, construida históricamente, así como una tendencia al aumento de embarazos en menores de 15 años. Conclusiones: se hace necesario establecer nuevas vías que permitan promover en conjunto con adolescentes y jóvenes, la toma de decisiones basada en sus derechos sexuales y reproductivos, teniendo en cuenta además el contexto en el que se inscriben determinantes sociales asociados.
Factores demográficos asociados al tratamiento oportuno en mujeres con cáncer de mama, Antioquia
Authors: Gomez-Mercado Carlos , Segura-Cardona Ángela , Pájaro-Cantillo Dubán , Mesa-Largo Miler , Cadavid-Gil Martha
Published: July 2020

El cáncer de mama es la principal causa de muerte en el mundo por enfermedades tumorales malignas entre las mujeres y el pronóstico de una mujer con esta enfermedad depende de un diagnóstico y tratamiento integral. Se estableció la asociación entre los factores demográficos y el tratamiento oportuno de las mujeres con cáncer de mama de Antioquia en el primer semestre 2017. Se realizó un estudio transversal, retrospectivo, para identificar la incidencia del cáncer de mama y la asociación de los determinantes demográficos no causales de los pacientes con cáncer de mama y la oportunidad en el tratamiento, mediante una regresión logística binaria múltiple. Se presentaron 355 casos nuevos de cáncer de mama, para una tasa de incidencia de 10,5 casos por cada 100.000 mujeres. Los factores demográficos asociados fueron: residencia urbana (RPa: 3,08 IC95%: 0,38-24,83), afiliación al régimen subsidiado (RPa: 1,90 IC95%: 0,81-4,46), episodios previos de hospitalización (RPa: 1,90 IC95%: 0,81-4,46), diagnóstico tardío ≥ 16 días (RPa: 0,46 IC95%: 0,18-1,19) y la edad (RPa: 0,97 IC95%: 0,95-1,00). El tratamiento oportuno de pacientes de cáncer de mama se asocia con la residencia urbana, la afiliación al régimen subsidiado, episodios previos de hospitalización, un diagnóstico tardío y la edad.
MAGALHÃES BARATA (PA):
Authors: Castro Carlos Jorge Nogueira , Gonçalves Nonato Sousa , Barros Filho João de Souza
Published: July 2020

A Zona Costeira Paraense, em específico o município de Magalhães Barata, apresenta verdadeiros mosaicos de ocupações tangenciados por conflitos envolta das territorialidades pela pesca. Destarte a presente pesquisa, visa apresentar elementos da pesca artesanal e seus conflitos a partir do contexto de regulação da extração na Reserva Extrativista Marinha Cuinarana e das normatizações de órgãos federais que incidem no modo de vida e estratégias de reprodução da população local. A partir de levantamento de referenciais bibliográficos, de autores como Haesbaert (2004); Souza (2009) foram traçadas a linha de intepretação acerca das territorialidades e suas relações com o poder de apropriação ou dominação, presentes no encontro entre agentes. Dentre pesquisadores amazônicos que tratam das territorialidades pesqueiras SILVA (2007; 2016); SOMBRA et al., (2018), e GUEDES (2011), possibilitaram a apreensão sobre os aspectos das práticas pesqueira na Amazônia Paraense. Assim, a partir deste suporte analítico foi possível abordar sob o prisma do território as territorialidades presentes na pesca, aprofundando na prática da pesca artesanal e suas territorialidades expressas na Resex Marinha de Cuinarana, no município de Magalhães Barata- Pará.
DESENVOLVIMENTO
Authors: De Morais Hugo Arruda , Jorge Moura de Castilho Cláudio
Published: July 2020

Este artigo indaga sobre a pertinência da questão do desenvolvimento no tempo presente da história da humanidade. Seu principal objetivo é o de recolocar a referida questão a fim de se defender o desenvolvimento na perspectiva de repensá-lo e praticá-lo de maneira diferente. A metodologia fundamentou-se, basicamente, na consulta e análise de parte das ideias pensadas acerca do desenvolvimento, bem como na construção de uma pauta visando à retomada da referida questão para a formulação de uma proposta como ponto de partida. O principal resultado desta discussão residiu na retomada do desenvolvimento na perspectiva de teoria e prática, como um processo ainda relevante para resolver a problemática social em vários territórios do mundo.
“DIVIDIR PARA IMPERAR?”: UMA ETNOGRAFIA DA PRODUÇÃO DE TERRITÓRIOS INDÍGENAS NO LESTE MATO-GROSSENSE
Authors: Paula Luís Roberto de
Published: July 2020

Expulsos de seus territórios de maneira violenta, perversa e arbitrária entre as décadas de 30 e 50 do século passado, os diversos grupos locais xavante que constituem a “Sociedade Xavante” (Maybury-Lewis,1984), passaram a retornar e recuperar esse conjunto de territórios a partir da década de 60. Busco no decorrer deste artigo apresentar, fundamentalmente, uma das dimensões da complexa dinâmica socioespacial xavante ao dar ênfase as negociações e articulações envolvidas na produção de fronteiras territoriais numa situação etnográﬁca extraída de minha experiência em processos de identiﬁcação de terras. A partir desta vivência turbulenta e em um esforço retrospectivo tentei organizar o material etnográﬁco captado naquela situação e busquei compreender os signiﬁcados embutidos no comportamento fragmentário dos grupos locais xavante diante do processo de revisão de limites de uma de suas terras indígenas. Vale dizer que os grupos locais xavante têm conseguido o reconhecimento de boa parte de suas demandas territoriais (e assistenciais) desde o início da retomada de seus direitos territoriais a partir da década de 1970. Pode-se inclusive pensar que a conﬁguração sociológica fragmentária da “estrutura social xavante” venha ser um dos fatores sociológicos mais importantes para a sobrevivência física e cultural desse povo até o presente momento
PENSANDO COM AS FLORESTAS: UMA EXPOSIÇÃO DE QUESTÕES DO ANTROPOMORFISMO À LUZ DAS PALAVRAS DO XAMÃ DAVI KOPENAWA
Authors: Vaz Pedro Paulo Valerio
Published: July 2020

Este artigo tem o objetivo de fazer uma reflexão junto às palavras do xamã yanomami Davi Kopenawa, contidas na obra A queda do céu. O texto em questão foi construído mediante o trabalho conjunto do antropólogo francês Bruce Albert e o xamã yanomami Davi Kopenawa. Esta pesquisa busca cooperar na exposição das consequências que esse trabalho “a quatro mãos” vem causando à teoria antropológica, principalmente aquela ligada ao xamanismo. A frase de Davi Kopenawa “a floresta é inteligente, ela tem um pensamento” será o centro de irradiação deste artigo, e se buscará friccioná-la com diferentes textos antropológicos contemporâneos, para que caminhos e desvios surjam e para que as faíscas desses encontros sejam expostas.
Dissecting the Role of Promoters of Pathogen-sensitive Genes in Plant Defense
Authors: Baruah Indrani , Baldodiya Gajendra Mohan , Sahu Jagajjit , Baruah Geetanjali
Published: July 2020

Plants inherently show resistance to pathogen attack but are susceptible to multiple bacteria,
viruses, fungi, and phytoplasmas. Diseases as a result of such infection leads to the deterioration of
crop yield. Several pathogen-sensitive gene activities, promoters of such genes, associated transcription
factors, and promoter elements responsible for crosstalk between the defense signaling pathways
are involved in plant resistance towards a pathogen. Still, only a handful of genes and their promoters
related to plant resistance have been identified to date. Such pathogen-sensitive promoters are accountable
for elevating the transcriptional activity of certain genes in response to infection. Also, a
suitable promoter is a key to devising successful crop improvement strategies as it ensures the optimum
expression of the required transgene. The study of the promoters also helps in mining more details
about the transcription factors controlling their activities and helps to unveil the involvement of
new genes in the pathogen response. Therefore, the only way out to formulate new solutions is by analyzing
the molecular aspects of these promoters in detail. In this review, we provided an overview of
the promoter motifs and cis-regulatory elements having specific roles in pathogen attack response. To
elaborate on the importance and get a vivid picture of the pathogen-sensitive promoter sequences, the
key motifs and promoter elements were analyzed with the help of PlantCare and interpreted with
available literature. This review intends to provide useful information for reconstructing the gene networks
underlying the resistance of plants against pathogens.
‘Treat to Target’ in Mild to Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: Evidence to Support this Strategy
Authors: Dal Buono Arianna , Roda Giulia , Argollo Marjorie , Paridaens Kristine , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Danese Silvio
Published: July 2020

Background:

The management of chronic conditions, above all rheumatic disease and diabetes has adopted a
"treat to target" strategy where treatment aims to achieve objective outcomes; this has emerged as applicable in ulcerative
colitis (UC) as well. Targets are demonstrated to prevent end-organ disfunction, specifically bowel damage and its complications, lastly colorectal cancer. Recently, the scientific community has tried to define further targets beyond those currently
recommended, namely mucosal healing and clinical remission. Studies that prospectively investigated this approach in UC
are scanty and a treat-to-target (T2T) algorithm is not routinely inserted in daily clinical practice.

Objective:

We aim to review current evidence on T2T in UC and to discuss its adoption in routine clinical practice as well
as in clinical trials.

Methods:

A PubMed search was conducted in February 2020 to identify published papers investigating
targets’ achievement rates in UC.

Results:

Different targets can be achieved through approved drugs for mild to moderate UC; histological remission is
emerging as a robust target with respect to long-term outcomes.

Conclusion:

Further studies to compare a T2T strategy to the traditional care are needed, particularly in the mild to moderate spectrum of disease.
A Critical Review of Second-Generation Anti-EGFR Monoclonal Antibodies in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Sur Daniel , Havasi Andrei , Gorzo Alecsandra , Burz Claudia
Published: July 2020

Background:

Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have become a relevant solution
for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Current anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies
face a series of problems, including resistance and non-durable response, and RAS and BRAF
mutations serve as exclusion criteria for treatment with anti-EGFR mAbs. Advances in molecular tumor
profiling and information on subsequent pathways responsible for disease progression and drug
resistance helped develop a new generation of anti-EGFR mAbs. These second-generation mAbs have
been developed to overcome existing resistance mechanisms and to limit common side effects. For the
moment, existing literature suggests that these novel anti-EGFR mAbs are far from finding their way
to clinical practice soon.

Objective:

: In this review, we summarize and evaluate current data regarding ongoing research and
completed clinical trials for different second-generation anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies.

Conclusion:

Anti-EGFR mAbs exhibit efficacy in advanced colorectal cancer, but second-generation
mAbs failed to prove their benefit in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Understanding the
biological basis of primary and acquired drug resistance could allow scientists to design better clinical
trials and develop improved second-generation mAbs.
Hypericin Ameliorates Maternal Separation-Induced Cognitive Deficits and Hippocampal Inflammation in Rats
Authors: Jolodar Sedigheh Khanjani , Bigdeli Mohammadreza , Moghaddam Akbar Hajizadeh
Published: July 2020

Background and Objective:

Maternal separation as an epigenetic agent provokes a severe
change in the brain, such as inflammation response, which is a key risk factor for the progression of
autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study evaluated the preventive effect of hypericin on maternal
separation-induced cognitive deficits and hippocampal inflammation.

Methods:

Here, we reported that pups are subjected to maternal separations for 1 h per day from postnatal
days (PND) 1-9 displayed apparent memory impairment in young rats (postnatal day 34) compared
to controls group. Furthermore, maternal separation significantly increased inflammation factors
in the hippocampus area. Anti-inflammation constituent shed light on treating ASD.

Results:

In this study, we found that treatment with hypericin (10 and 50 mg/kg) significantly suppresses
expression of hippocampal interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the maternal
separation rat model. Also, we found that hypericin prevented the decrease of hippocampal dopamine
levels in the offspring of maternal separation rats.

Conclusion:

The data indicated that hypericin may play a neuroprotective role in hippocampal cell and
ameliorates dysfunctions in memory and level of inflammation factor in this autism model. Thus,
hypericin could be used as an intervention for treating ASD.
Melatonin and its Relationships with Diabetes and Obesity: A Literature Review
Authors: Ramirez Ana V.G. , Filho Durval R. , de Sá Larissa B.P. Cunha
Published: July 2020

Significance:

Obesity is a multifactorial disease with many risks to public health, affecting 39.6% of American
adults and 18.5% of young people. Brazil ranks fifth in the world ranking, with about 18 million obese people. It is
estimated that 415 million people live with diabetes in the world, which is roughly 1 in 11 of the world's adult population.
This is expected to rise to 642 million people living with diabetes worldwide by 2040. In this scenario, Melatonin has
evidenced an important function in the regulation of energy metabolism.

Objective:

to carry out a broad narrative review of the literature on the main aspects of the influence of melatonin on
Diabetes Mellitus and obesity.

Methods:

Article reviews, systematic reviews, prospective studies, retrospective studies, randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled trials in humans recently published were selected and analyzed. A total of 368 articles were collated
and submitted to the eligibility analysis. Subsequently, 215 studies were selected to compose the textual part of the
manuscript and 153 to compose the Narrative Review.

Results and final considerations:

Studies suggest a possible role of melatonin in metabolic diseases such as obesity,
T2DM and metabolic syndrome. Intervention studies using this hormone in metabolic diseases are still unclear regarding a
possible benefit of it. There is so far no consensus about a possible role of melatonin as an adjuvant in the treatment of
metabolic diseases. More studies are necessary to define possible risks and benefits of melatonin as a therapeutic agent.
Impact of Buprenorphine on Learning and Memory Ability, Oxidative Status and Inflammation in the Hippocampus of Rats
Authors: Samini Mohammad , Farkhondeh Tahereh , Azimi-Nezhad Mohsen , Samarghandian Saeed
Published: July 2020

Background:

Buprenorphine (BUP), a “synthetic derivative of the opioid alkaloid thebaine”,
may be associated with cellular damage in the central nervous system.

Aims:

This study was designed to investigate the effects of low and high doses of BUP on oxidative
and inflammatory indices in the hippocampus and learning and memory behavior in an animal
model.

Objective:

The association between BUP administration and oxidative and inflammatory damage
and also learning and memory impairment is not clear.

Methods:

For this reason, twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into one control
and two BUP-treated groups (0.3 and 1 mg/kg, SC), (n=8, for each group). After 4 weeks, learning
and memory abilities were assessed by using Y-maze test. Then, oxidative stress indices including
glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase
(GPx) and catalase (CAT) were assessed in the serum and hippocampus of each animal by using
spectrophotometer. Inflammatory parameters such as tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-
6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were also measured in the serum and hippocampus of rats
by using ELISA.

Results:

The present findings indicated that the memory and learning time was lengthened in BUP
(1mg/kg)-treated rats versus control animals (p<0.05). Additionally, it was observed that BUP (1
mg/kg) significantly increased the serum and hippocampal levels of MDA and TNF-α and also decreased
GSH levels versus the control group (p< 0.05).

Conclusion:

The results of the present study revealed that BUP may cause learning and memory
dysfunction by inducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the hippocampus.
Diagnostic Value of the Early Heart-to-Mediastinum Count Ratio in Cardiac 123I-mIBG Imaging for Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Frantellizzi Viviana , Lavelli Valentina , Ferrari Cristina , Sardaro Angela , Farcomeni Alessio , Pacilio Massimiliano , Borrazzo Cristian , Pani Roberto , Rubini Giuseppe , Vincentis Giuseppe De
Published: July 2020

Background:

Early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is of primary importance. The
delayed (3-4 h after injection) Iodine-123-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-mIBG) scintigraphy has
been proven to be effective in early differential diagnosis for Lewy body disease. But early imaging
(15-30 min after injection) has only been marginally studied for its possible diagnostic role. In
this prospective study, a threshold for the early Heart-to-Mediastinum (H/M) count ratio has been
investigated, obtaining a diagnostic accuracy analogous to conventional, delayed imaging.

Methods:

One hundred and eight patients with suspected Parkinson's disease (PD) were acquired
after 15 and 240 minutes from the injection of 150-185 MBq of 123I-mIBG. The early and late
H/M (He/Me and Hl/Ml) were evaluated by drawing Region-of-Interests on the heart and the upper
half of the mediastinum. Optimal threshold (Youden index) and overall predictive performance
were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve, classifying tentatively patients having
an Hl/Ml lower than 1.6 as suffering from PD.

Results:

He/Me was not significantly different from Hl/Ml (p-value=0.835). The Area-under-curve
was 0.935 (95%CI: 0.845-1.000). The He/Me optimal threshold was 1.66, with sensitivity, specificity,
and diagnostic accuracy of 95.5%, 85.7 and 90.7% respectively.

Conclusions:

The He/Me Ratio is almost as accurate as the widely used delayed 123I-mIBG imaging,
reducing the burden of delayed imaging but preserving the diagnostic accuracy of the method.
Moreover the differential diagnosis in Parkinson's disease can be made in just 25 minutes against
the 4 hours currently needed, lowering costs of the healthcare system and improving patients compliance.
Suicide Attempts and Adolescents: The Need for Specialized Resources at Adult Trauma Centers
Authors: Soelling Stefanie , Koganti Deepika , Padilla Ivan , Goodman Michael , Prakash Priya , Smith Randi
Published: July 2020

Background:

Suicide is the second leading cause of adolescent death and suicide
attempts outnumber deaths 50:1 for adolescents 15 to 19 years of age. This study examines
differences in outcomes between adolescents and adults treated at an adult trauma center in
an effort to guide recovery and prevention strategies following an adolescent suicide attempt.

Methods:

Retrospective review of patients aged ≥14 years treated at an urban, Level 1
trauma center for self-inflicted injuries between 2009 and 2018 was performed. The cohort
was divided into adolescents (14-19 years) and adults (≥20 years) and into group A (economically
distressed) and group B (non-distressed). Demographics, injury, outcomes, and
geospatial analysis were compared.

Results:

Among 723 patients, 60 (8%) were adolescents of which 92% were male, 55%
black, 47% blunt injuries, and 53% penetrating. In adults, 76% were male, 41% black, 28%
blunt injuries, and 72% penetrating. Mortality estimates for adolescents and adults were 35%
and 24%, respectively (p=0.09). Most adolescent deaths occurred within 3 days after admission,
while adult deaths occurred further into hospitalization (p<0.01). Cox regression analysis
found higher mortality with self-pay compared to private insurance (HR 2.6; p<0.001),
and penetrating vs. blunt/other injuries (HR 2.4; p<0.001). Psychiatric care was administered
in 64% of adolescents (n=39) and 84% of adults (p< 0.01).

Conclusions:

Inpatient psychiatric care for adolescents who attempted suicide was limited at
an adult trauma center. The high incidence of suicide attempts and community-level distress
in adolescents require immediate attention and resources.
Materialidades espectrales: resistencias sensibles a la desaparición forzada en Colombia
Authors: Agudelo Hernández Juan Ángel , Cardona Santofimio Juan Nicolás , Bello Tocancipa Andrea Carolina
Published: July 2020

En Colombia, la desaparición ha inscrito una violencia capaz de atacar no solo la vida, sino la existencia. Instaurando una lógica de terror fantástico, el lugar de las víctimas se desploma hacia un vacío de sentido que quiebra lo sensible y lo decible. No obstante, un acercamiento fenomenológico-hermenéutico a la experiencia de once familiares de desaparecidos en Colombia pone en duda el deseo totalizador de la violencia y revela que la introducción del no-lugar no suspende la relación con los ausentes. Más bien, nuestros resultados sugieren que el desaparecido puede resonar, manifestarse en sueños o hacerse tela en el acto de tejer. Es en estos espacios de aparición donde se articula una militancia en contra de la ausencia.
Complicidad empresarial con grupos paramilitares: un análisis al caso colombiano
Authors: Morales Correa Jennifer Angélica
Published: July 2020

Este trabajo tiene como principal propósito mostrar un panorama general de la responsabilidad de las empresas en la financiación del paramilitarismo, para sus actividades antisubversivas, en distintos departamentos del país que durante años han experimentado el conflicto armado interno. Para ello, se hace un breve recuento del origen del paramilitarismo y de su vinculación con empresas desde los años ochenta hasta la primera década del 2000. Asimismo, se obtienen de las denuncias realizadas ante la Fiscalía General de la Nación (FGN), los bloques paramilitares que recibieron apoyo, en qué zonas y qué sectores son financiadores. Por último, se muestra una relación de variables de afectación como desplazamiento, desapariciones, homicidios o amenazas, que se compara con los casos de complicidad empresarial en la reciente violencia
Block monotone iterations for solving coupled systems of nonlinear parabolic equations
Authors: Al-Sultani Mohamed Saleh Mehdi , Boglaev Igor
Published: July 2020

The article deals with numerical methods for solving a coupled system of nonlinear parabolic problems, where reaction functions are quasi-monotone nondecreasing. We employ block monotone iterative methods based on the Jacobi and Gauss–Seidel methods incorporated with the upper and lower solutions method. A convergence analysis and the theorem on uniqueness of a solution are discussed. Numerical experiments are presented.
References

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Al-Sultani, M. ''Numerical solution of nonlinear parabolic systems by block monotone iterations''. Tech. Report, 2019. https://arxiv.org/abs/1905.03599
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Pao, C. V. Nonlinear parabolic and elliptic equations. Plenum Press, New York, 1992. doi:10.1007/s002110050168
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Varga, R. S. Matrix iterative analysis. Springer, Berlin, 2000. 10.1007/978-3-642-05156-2
Zhao, Y. Numerical solutions of nonlinear parabolic problems using combined-block iterative methods. Masters Thesis, University of North Carolina, 2003. http://dl.uncw.edu/Etd/2003/zhaoy/yaxizhao.pdf
Evaluating Network Readiness for mHealth Interventions Using the Beacon Mobile Phone App: Application Development and Validation Study
Authors: Scherr Thomas Foster , Moore Carson Paige , Thuma Philip , Wright David Wilson
Published: July 2020

Background

Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have the potential to transform the global health care landscape. The processing power of mobile devices continues to increase, and growth of mobile phone use has been observed worldwide. Uncertainty remains among key stakeholders and decision makers as to whether global health interventions can successfully tap into this trend. However, when correctly implemented, mHealth can reduce geographic, financial, and social barriers to quality health care.

Objective

The aim of this study was to design and test Beacon, a mobile phone–based tool for evaluating mHealth readiness in global health interventions. Here, we present the results of an application validation study designed to understand the mobile network landscape in and around Macha, Zambia, in 2019.

Methods

Beacon was developed as an automated mobile phone app that continually collects spatiotemporal data and measures indicators of network performance. Beacon was used in and around Macha, Zambia, in 2019. Results were collected, even in the absence of network connectivity, and asynchronously uploaded to a database for further analysis.

Results

Beacon was used to evaluate three mobile phone networks around Macha. Carriers A and B completed 6820/7034 (97.0%) and 6701/7034 (95.3%) downloads and 1349/1608 (83.9%) and 1431/1608 (89.0%) uploads, respectively, while Carrier C completed only 62/1373 (4.5%) file downloads and 0/1373 (0.0%) file uploads. File downloads generally occurred within 4 to 12 seconds, and their maximum download speeds occurred between 2 AM and 5 AM. A decrease in network performance, demonstrated by increases in upload and download durations, was observed beginning at 5 PM and continued throughout the evening.

Conclusions

Beacon was able to compare the performance of different cellular networks, show times of day when cellular networks experience heavy loads and slow down, and identify geographic “dead zones” with limited or no cellular service. Beacon is a ready-to-use tool that could be used by organizations that are considering implementing mHealth interventions in low- and middle-income countries but are questioning the feasibility of the interventions, including infrastructure and cost. It could also be used by organizations that are looking to optimize the delivery of an existing mHealth intervention with improved logistics management.
High-Quality Transmission of Cardiotocogram and Fetal Information Using a 5G System: Pilot Experiment
Authors: Naruse Katsuhiko , Yamashita Tomoya , Onishi Yukari , Niitaka Yuhi , Uchida Fumikage , Kawahata Kazuya , Ishihara Mayu , Kobayashi Hiroshi
Published: July 2020

Background

A cardiotocogram (CTG) is a device used to perceive the status of a fetus in utero in real time. There are a few reports of its use at home or during emergency transport.

Objective

The aim of this study was to test whether CTG and other perinatal information can be transmitted accurately using an experimental station with a 5G transmission system.

Methods

In the research institute, real-time fetal heart rate waveform data from the CTG device, high-definition video ultrasound images of the fetus, and high-definition video taken with a video camera on a single line were transmitted by 5G radio waves from the transmitting station to the receiving station.

Results

All data were proven to be transmitted with a minimum delay of less than 1 second. The CTG waveform image quality was not inferior, and there was no interruption in transmission. Images of the transmitted ultrasound examination and video movie were fine and smooth.

Conclusions

CTG and other information about the fetuses and pregnant women were successfully transmitted by a 5G system. This finding will lead to prompt and accurate medical treatment and improve the prognosis of newborns.
COVID-19 in India: Statewise Analysis and Prediction
Authors: Ghosh Palash , Ghosh Rik , Chakraborty Bibhas
Published: July 2020

Background

The highly infectious coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and subsequently spread to 212 countries and territories around the world, infecting millions of people. In India, a large country of about 1.3 billion people, the disease was first detected on January 30, 2020, in a student returning from Wuhan. The total number of confirmed infections in India as of May 3, 2020, is more than 37,000 and is currently growing fast.

Objective

Most of the prior research and media coverage focused on the number of infections in the entire country. However, given the size and diversity of India, it is important to look at the spread of the disease in each state separately, wherein the situations are quite different. In this paper, we aim to analyze data on the number of infected people in each Indian state (restricted to only those states with enough data for prediction) and predict the number of infections for that state in the next 30 days. We hope that such statewise predictions would help the state governments better channelize their limited health care resources.

Methods

Since predictions from any one model can potentially be misleading, we considered three growth models, namely, the logistic, the exponential, and the susceptible-infectious-susceptible models, and finally developed a data-driven ensemble of predictions from the logistic and the exponential models using functions of the model-free maximum daily infection rate (DIR) over the last 2 weeks (a measure of recent trend) as weights. The DIR is used to measure the success of the nationwide lockdown. We jointly interpreted the results from all models along with the recent DIR values for each state and categorized the states as severe, moderate, or controlled.

Results

We found that 7 states, namely, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal are in the severe category. Among the remaining states, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Bihar are in the moderate category, whereas Kerala, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, and Telangana are in the controlled category. We also tabulated actual predicted numbers from various models for each state. All the R2 values corresponding to the logistic and the exponential models are above 0.90, indicating a reasonable goodness of fit. We also provide a web application to see the forecast based on recent data that is updated regularly.

Conclusions

States with nondecreasing DIR values need to immediately ramp up the preventive measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the states with decreasing DIR can maintain the same status to see the DIR slowly become zero or negative for a consecutive 14 days to be able to declare the end of the pandemic.
Quality Assessment of an Integrated Care Pathway Using Telemonitoring in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Herkert Cyrille , Kraal Jos Johannes , Spee Rudolph Ferdinand , Serier Anouk , Graat-Verboom Lidwien , Kemps Hareld Marijn Clemens
Published: July 2020

Background

Chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often coexist and are associated with a high morbidity and reduced quality of life (QoL). Although these diseases share similarities in symptoms and clinical course, and exacerbations of both diseases often overlap, care pathways for both conditions are usually not integrated. This results in frequent outpatient consultations and suboptimal treatment during exacerbations, leading to frequent hospital admissions. Therefore, we propose an integrated care pathway for both diseases, using telemonitoring to detect deterioration at an early stage and a single case manager for both diseases.

Objective

This study aims to investigate whether an integrated care pathway using telemonitoring in patients with combined CHF and COPD results in a higher general health-related QoL (HRQoL) as compared with the traditional care pathways. Secondary end points include disease-specific HRQoL, level of self-management, patient satisfaction, compliance to the program, and cost-effectiveness.

Methods

This is a monocenter, prospective study using a quasi-experimental interrupted time series design. Thirty patients with combined CHF and COPD are included. The study period of 2.5 years per patient is divided into a preintervention phase (6 months) and a postintervention phase (2 years) in which end points are assessed. The intervention consists of an on-demand treatment strategy based on monitoring symptoms related to CHF/COPD and vital parameters (weight, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature), which are uploaded on a digital platform. The monitoring frequency and the limit values of the measurements to detect abnormalities are determined individually. Monitoring is performed by a case manager, who has the opportunity for a daily multidisciplinary meeting with both the cardiologist and the pulmonologist. Routine appointments at the outpatient clinic are cancelled and replaced by telemonitoring-guided treatment.

Results

Following ethical approval of the study protocol, the first patient was included in May 2018. Inclusion is expected to be complete in May 2021.

Conclusions

This study is the first to evaluate the effects of a novel integrated care pathway using telemonitoring for patients with combined CHF and COPD. Unique to this study is the concept of remote on-demand disease management by a single case manager for both diseases, combined with multidisciplinary meetings. Moreover, modern telemonitoring technology is used instead of, rather than as an addition to, regular care.

Trial Registration

Netherlands Trial Register NL6741; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6741

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/20571
Inferring Destinations and Activity Types of Older Adults From GPS Data: Algorithm Development and Validation (Preprint)
Authors: Bayat Sayeh , Naglie Gary , Rapoport Mark J , Stasiulis Elaine , Chikhaoui Belkacem , Mihailidis Alex
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND

Outdoor mobility is an important aspect of older adults’ functional status. GPS has been used to create indicators reflecting the spatiotemporal dimensions of outdoor mobility for applications in health and aging. However, outdoor mobility is a multidimensional construct. There is, as of yet, no classification algorithm that groups and characterizes older adults’ outdoor mobility based on its semantic aspects (ie, mobility intentions and motivations) by integrating geographic and domain knowledge.

OBJECTIVE

This study assesses the feasibility of using GPS to determine semantic dimensions of older adults’ outdoor mobility, including destinations and activity types.

METHODS

A total of 5 healthy individuals, aged 65 years or older, carried a GPS device when traveling outside their homes for 4 weeks. The participants were also given a travel diary to record details of all excursions from their homes, including date, time, and destination information. We first designed and implemented an algorithm to extract destinations and infer activity types (eg, food, shopping, and sport) from the GPS data. We then evaluated the performance of the GPS-derived destination and activity information against the traditional diary method.

RESULTS

Our results detected the stop locations of older adults from their GPS data with an F1 score of 87%. On average, the extracted home locations were within a 40.18-meter (SD 1.18) distance of the actual home locations. For the activity-inference algorithm, our results reached an F1 score of 86% for all participants, suggesting a reasonable accuracy against the travel diary recordings. Our results also suggest that the activity inference’s accuracy measure differed by neighborhood characteristics (ie, Walk Score).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that GPS technology is accurate for determining semantic dimensions of outdoor mobility. However, further improvements may be needed to develop a robust application of this system that can be adopted in clinical practice.
Monitoring of Sitting Postures With Sensor Networks in Controlled and Free-living Environments: Systematic Review (Preprint)
Authors: Kappattanavar Arpita Mallikarjuna , Steckhan Nico , Sachs Jan Philipp , Freitas da Cruz Harry , Böttinger Erwin , Arnrich Bert
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND

A majority of employees in the industrial world spend most of their working time in a seated position. Monitoring sitting postures can provide insights into the underlying causes of occupational discomforts such as low back pain.

OBJECTIVE

This study focuses on the technologies and algorithms used to classify sitting postures on a chair with respect to spine and limb movements.

METHODS

A total of three electronic literature databases were surveyed to identify studies classifying sitting postures in adults. Quality appraisal was performed to extract critical details and assess biases in the shortlisted papers.

RESULTS

A total of 14 papers were shortlisted from 952 papers obtained after a systematic search. The majority of the studies used pressure sensors to measure sitting postures, whereas neural networks were the most frequently used approaches for classification tasks in this context. Only 2 studies were performed in a free-living environment. Most studies presented ethical and methodological shortcomings. Moreover, the findings indicate that the strategic placement of sensors can lead to better performance and lower costs.

CONCLUSIONS

The included studies differed in various aspects of design and analysis. The majority of studies were rated as medium quality according to our assessment. Our study suggests that future work for posture classification can benefit from using inertial measurement unit sensors, since they make it possible to differentiate among spine movements and similar postures, considering transitional movements between postures, and using three-dimensional cameras to annotate the data for ground truth. Finally, comparing such studies is challenging, as there are no standard definitions of sitting postures that could be used for classification. In addition, this study identifies five basic sitting postures along with different combinations of limb and spine movements to help guide future research efforts.