bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Psychosocial Burden of HCV Infection and the Impact of Antiviral Therapy on the Quality of Life in Liver and Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Pilot Study
Authors: Santonicola Antonella , Bilancio Giancarlo , Zingone Fabiana , Donnarumma Laura , Caputo Cesare , Ciacci Carolina
Published: November 2020

Background. Therapy with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) for HCV is safe and effective in the liver (LT) and kidney transplant (KT) recipients; however, data on the quality of life (QoL) of patients are scanty. This pilot study is aimed at prospectively evaluating the QoL in LT and KT recipients before and after DAA treatment. Methods. We prospectively enrolled 17 LT and 11 KT recipients with HCV infection starting a sofosbuvir-based antiviral therapy for 12 weeks. All participants before (T0), 12 (T12), and 24 (T24) weeks after the end of the therapy completed the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire, the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI—Y1–Y2). Results. At T0, LT and KT patients were similar for gender, age, BMI, smoking habits, marital status, mean liver stiffness values at Fibroscan, and HCV genotype distribution (

p
>
0.05

). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in STAI-Y1, STAI-Y2, Zung, and SF-36 scores (

p
>
0.05

). At T12, all the participants showed a sustained virological response (SVR). All items of the SF-36 questionnaire improved from the pretreatment to posttreatment period within the LT group, and the 4 domains role-physical, bodily pain, social function, role-emotional, and mental health reached statistical significance (

p
<
0.05

in all cases). On the contrary, in KT patients, there was no significant improvement in SF-36 mean scores compared to at baseline at T12 and T24. Conclusions. This pilot study suggested that DAA therapy is associated with a significant improvement of the QoL only in LT recipients. Probably, KT recipients did not consider HCV a “central player” in the course of their disease, and HCV eradication did not significantly impact on their QoL.
Nontrivial Solutions for the
2
n
th Lidstone Boundary Value Problem
Authors: Li Yaohong , Xu Jiafa , Zan Yongli
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we study the existence of nontrivial solutions for the

2
n

th Lidstone boundary value problem with a sign-changing nonlinearity. Under some conditions involving the eigenvalues of a linear operator, we use the topological degree theory to obtain our main results.
Performance Analysis and Optimization of a 6-DOF Robotic Crusher
Authors: Li Guoguang , Shi Boqiang , Liu Ruiyue , Gu Jie
Published: November 2020

Considering the complexity of multidimension parameters and the mechanical performance of a 6-DOF robotic crusher, a multiobjective optimization function based on the transmission index and condition number is established. As an important operation in the screw theory, the reciprocal product between the transmission wrench screw of an actuator and the output twist screw of the mantle assembly is used to represent the instantaneous power. The expression of transmission index is derived according to the principle that constraint wrench screws apply no work to the mantle assembly. It can be used as a criterion to evaluate the transmission performance. Then, based on the Jacobian matrix, the equation of condition number is constructed which provides a criterion for evaluating kinematic accuracy. Finally, the workspace and singularity of the 6-DOF robotic crusher are analyzed to verify the rationality of the optimized variables. The results show that the optimized structure can completely crush the material in the workspace and effectively avoid singularity, which provides a basis for practical application.
Multiobjects Association and Abnormal Behavior Detection for Massive Data Analysis in Multisensor Monitoring Network
Authors: Bao Ke , Ding Yourong
Published: November 2020

With the rapid increase in the number of large-scale distributed cameras and the rapid increase in the monitoring range of the camera network, how to accurately recognize and analyze abnormal behavior is still a challenging problem. In addition, the appearance of moving objects between different cameras without overlapping fields of view undergoes significant changes, making it difficult to obtain accurate association Therefore, multiobjects association and abnormal behavior detection for massive data analysis in multisensor monitoring network are proposed in this paper, which firstly uses belief propagation to associate multiple objects, extracts the object’s behavior trajectory characteristics, and then builds a long short-term memory classification network to realize automatic classification of abnormal behaviors. Multiobject association fully considers the timing correlation and object detection probability, as well as the statistical dependence of the measurement on the association matrix. The experimental results show that our proposed method can achieve a high classification accuracy and sensitivity, which meets the requirements of automatic classification of abnormal behavior in complex monitoring network. This further shows that this research has practical application value.
Development and Performance Analysis of Pneumatic Soft-Bodied Bionic Basic Execution Unit
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhao Wenchuan , Wang Ning , Lu Dengyu
Published: November 2020

This paper studies the design of pneumatic soft-bodied bionic basic execution unit with soft-rigid combination, which can be used as an actuator for pneumatic soft-bodied robots and soft-bodied manipulators. This study is inspired by structural characteristics and motion mechanism of biological muscles, combined with the nonlinear hyperelasticity of silica gel and the insertion of thin leaf spring structure in the nonretractable layer. Response surface analysis and numerical simulation algorithm are used to determine the optimal combination of structural dimension parameters by taking the maximum output bending angle of the basic executing unit as the optimization objective. Based on Odgen’s third-order constitutive model, the deformation analysis model of the basic execution unit is established. The physical model of pneumatic soft-bodied bionic basic execution unit is prepared through 3D printing, shape deposition, soft lithography, and other processing methods. Finally, the motion and dynamic characteristics of the physical model are tested through experiments and result analysis, thus obtaining curves and empirical formulas describing the motion and dynamic characteristics of the basic execution unit. The relevant errors are compared with the deformation analysis model of the execution unit to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the design of the pneumatic soft-bodied bionic basic execution unit. The above research methods, research process, and results can provide a reference for the research and implementation of pneumatic and hydraulic driven soft-bodied robots and grasping actuators of soft-bodied manipulators.
Clinical Presentations of Chagas Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Shehadeh Malik , Barac Ana , Marcus Rachel
Published: November 2020

Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) is the most common cause of nonischemic cardiomyopathy in endemic Latin American countries. Immigrants to the United States suffer from this disease, but it is underrecognized. We describe the three hallmark clinical presentations: stroke, ventricular arrhythmias, and heart failure, which should prompt suspicion for CCC.
Prediction Mathematic Model and Influencing Factors of Contact Stress of Cylindrical Gear with Arc Tooth
Authors: Zhang Qi , Wen Guang , Liang Shuang , Tong Qin , Hou Li , Yang Guangchun
Published: November 2020

Given the absence of a theoretical formula to analyze the influence of parameters on the contact stress of cylindrical gear with arc tooth, an explicit mathematical model of cylindrical gear with arc tooth between the design parameters and the contact stress is established based on Kriging surrogate model. The parameters of the variation function of Kriging model are optimized by using the whale optimization algorithm (WOA), and the explicit mathematical model accuracy between the design parameters and the contact stress of the gear is in turn optimized by the improved Kriging surrogate model. The influence of design parameters on the contact stress of cylindrical gear with arc tooth is analyzed based on the established mathematical model. The proposed algorithm was realized via the programming platform MATLAB; the simulation results indicate that the precision evaluation indexes (the correlation coefficient (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and the relative maximum absolute error (RMAE)) of the proposed Kriging model are improved, in addition to the error range which is narrowed from (−2, 4) to (0, 3). As the tooth width, modulus, pressure angle, and tooth line radius increased, the contact stress of the cylindrical gear with arc tooth gear declined, which was negatively correlated with the design parameter. The amplitude of contact stress of the cylindrical gear with arc tooth was the largest due to the change of tooth radius, followed by the change of modulus, while the influence of tooth width was less. Finally, the influence of modulus-tooth line radius interaction and pressure angle-tooth line radius interaction on contact stress of cylindrical gear with arc tooth was significant.
Identification of Prognosis‐Related Genes in Bladder Cancer Microenvironment across TCGA Database
Authors: Zhao Xin , Tang Yu , Ren Haoyu , Lei Yi
Published: November 2020

Background. Bladder cancer (BCa) is a common urothelial malignancy. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database allows for an opportunity to analyze the relationship between gene expression and clinical outcomes in bladder cancer patients. This study is aimed at identifying prognosis‐related genes in the bladder cancer microenvironment. Methods. Immune scores and stromal scores were calculated by applying the ESTIMATE algorithm. We divided bladder cancer patients into high and low groups based on their immune/stromal scores. Then, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in bladder cancer patients based on the TCGA database. We evaluated the correlation between immune/stromal scores and clinical characteristics as well as prognosis. Finally, we validated identified genes associated with bladder cancer prognosis through a cohort study in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Results. A higher stromal score was associated with female (vs. malep = 0.037), age > 65 (vs.age ≤ 65 p = 0.015), T3/4 (vs. T1/2,p < 0.001), N status(p = 0.016), and pathological high grade (vs. low gradeP < 0.001). By analyzing DEGs, there were 1125 genes commonly upregulated, and 209 genes were commonly downregulated. Protein‐protein interaction networks further showed the important protein that may be involved in the biological behavior and prognosis of BCa, such as FN1, CXCL12, CD3E, LCK, and ZAP70. A total of 14 DEGs were found to be associated with overall survival of bladder cancer. After validation by a cohort of 165 BCa cases with detailed follow‐up information from GSE13507, 10 immune‐associated DEGs were demonstrated to be predictive of prognosis in BCa. Among them, 5 genes have not been reported previously associated with the prognosis of BCa, including BTBD16, OLFML2B, PRRX1, SPINK4, and SPON2. Conclusions. Our study elucidated tight associations between stromal score and clinical characteristics as well as prognosis in BCa. Moreover, we obtained a group of genes closely related to the prognosis of BCa in the tumor microenvironment.
Carbapenemase-Producing Non-Glucose-Fermenting Gram-Negative Bacilli in Africa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kindu Mizan , Derseh Lemma , Gelaw Baye , Moges Feleke
Published: November 2020

Background. Studies have reported that the existence of CP bacteria in Africa, but, in general, comprehensive data about the molecular epidemiology of CP organisms are limited. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis expound the pooled prevalence of CP P. aeruginosa and CP A. baumannii clinical isolates in Africa. It also identified the diversity of carbapenemases or their encoding genes among the isolates in Africa. Lastly, the review observed the trends of these CP isolates in Africa. Methods. A comprehensive search was performed between July 2019 and October 2019 in the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and African Journal online. The included articles were published only in English. The screening was done by two authors independently. The data extracted on Excel spreadsheet were transferred to STATA 11 software for analysis. Results. From a total of 1,454 articles searched, 42 articles were eligible. Most of the studies were conducted in the North Africa region. But there was no report from Central Africa. The pooled prevalence of CP P. aeruginosa and CP A. baumannii among the clinical specimens in Africa was 21.36% and 56.97%, respectively. OXA-23 and VIM were the most prevailing carbapenemase among P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii, respectively. The cumulative meta-analysis revealed a relative increment of the prevalence of CP P. aeruginosa over time in Africa but it showed a higher prevalence of CP A. baumannii isolates across years. Conclusion. The review revealed a high pooled prevalence of CP A. baumannii clinical isolates in Africa which needs urgent action. Moreover, the emergence of concomitant carbapenemases, especially OXA-23 +  NDM among CP A. baumannii, was also an alarming problem.
Noninvasive Diagnostics for Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Challenges and Potential with a Focus on Changes in DNA Methylation
Authors: Farooq Maria , Herman James G.
Published: November 2020

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and the world. Early detection of this disease can reduce mortality, as demonstrated for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening. However, there remains a need for improvements in lung cancer detection to complement LDCT screening and to increase adoption of screening. Molecular changes in the tumor, and the patient's response to the presence of the tumor, have been examined as potential biomarkers for diagnosing lung cancer. There are significant challenges to developing an effective biomarker with sufficient sensitivity and specificity for the early detection of lung cancer, particularly the detection of circulating tumor DNA, which is present in very small quantities. We will review approaches to develop biomarkers for the early detection of lung cancer, with special consideration to detection of rare tumor events, focus on the use of DNA methylation-based detection in plasma and sputum, and discuss the promise and challenges of lung cancer early detection. Plasma-based detection of lung cancer DNA methylation may provide a simple cost-effective method for the early detection of lung cancer.

See all articles in this CEBP Focus section, “NCI Early Detection Research Network: Making Cancer Detection Possible.”
Conservar ou Desconservar: “Bicho tem em qualquer lugar, até na minha casa”
Authors: Lemos Antonio Agenor Briquet de
Published: November 2020

Os registros feitos desde longínquas eras têm tido sua conservabilidade sujeita a riscos intrínsecos aos materiais e técnicas empregados em sua feitura e a fatores extrínsecos, de ordem ambiental, política, cultural, econômica e tecnológica. Além de seu uso contribuir para acelerar os processos de desorganização, de decaimento, de desordem, próprios de tudo que existe. Se conservar é ato de intervenção humana, o seu contrário (desconservar) ocorre naturalmente, pelo simples passar do tempo, embora a ação e a inação do homem costumem contribuir para isso. A manutenção deficiente dos lugares de abrigo dos documentos é um dos fatores que contribuem para sua mais rápida desconservação. Em levantamento feito de fevereiro de 1880 a março de 2017, foram identificados 77 incêndios e 21 alagamentos em bibliotecas e arquivos, com graus variados de perdas. Práticas de conservação exigem mecanismos de cooperação, intercâmbio e definição de responsabilidades em âmbito local, regional e nacional. Da lavagem do papel à digitalização de textos, passando pela microfilmagem, o histórico das técnicas de conservação mostra que seu emprego nem sempre adotou as cautelas necessárias, às vezes contribuindo para a perda ou mutilação dos documentos. A desconservação pode ser consequência ainda da repressão de ideias, de furtos e roubos e da ocultação/destruição de documentos em casos de ilícitos, o que atinge principalmente os arquivos. A conservação, tanto em seus aspectos técnicos quanto culturais, políticos e econômicos, deve fazer parte de uma política de Estado para preservação do patrimônio cultural nacional.
A invenção das brasilianas no século XX: alguns capítulos da história da Coleção Guita e José Mindlin
Authors: Nicodemo Thiago Lima
Published: November 2020

O texto aqui apresentado é um desdobramento de pesquisa realizada no Fundo Rubens Borba de Moraes da Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Mindlin, com apoio do Programa Institucional de Pesquisa nos Acervos da USP. Tendo como fio condutor a relação entre Rubens Borba de Moraes, José Mindlin e o livreiro português António Tavares de Carvalho, este texto procura gerar subsídios para compreender a formação da coleção que originou a Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Mindlin, inserindo sua trajetória em um horizonte em mutação das coleções brasilianas na segunda metade do século XX. Esse quadro complexo inclui o desenvolvimento dos “estudos brasileiros” no exterior nas décadas de 1940 e 1950, que levou a uma corrida para a constituição de acervos sobre o país, mas também, num quadro doméstico, a consolidação de instituições de produção de conhecimento, como a USP e a Unb, bem como a conversão de coleções privadas em acervos públicos.
As Oito Viagens de Gustavo Piqueira: deslocamento no espaço e no tempo
Authors: Deaecto Marisa Midori
Published: November 2020

Emphasizing discrepancies and consequences to target readers of that time and future generations, the author discusses the impact of the histories inside the box Oito Viagens ao Brasil, produced by Gustavo Piqueira. In this work, different authors record their versions/interpretations/projections regarding the travelling done on the conquest of the New World, and the Old World’s interests in the American civilizations. Additionally, the author connects those registers with other works present in the context of the history of discoveries, like Hans Staden and Rabelais’ works. The author highlights the graphic and editorial aspects in Piqueira’s box and the registers in it.
As potencialidades de uma Biblioteca
Authors: Martins Filho Plinio , Zeron Carlos Alberto de Moura Ribeiro
Published: November 2020

Apresentação do projeto e da edição inaugural pelos editores da revista Plinio Martins Filho e Carlos Alberto de Moura Ribeiro Zeron.
Notas sobre o maravilhamento nos cronistas e viajantes coloniais
Authors: Dória Carlos Alberto
Published: November 2020

The article intends to make a brief presentation in the form of notes on a selected bibliography containing the impressions of chroniclers and travelers on the fantastic and the wonderful in Colonial America. Such symbolic productions are not only the documentation of the New World, but also stand as a fictional literature which comprises certain ways of apprehending the unknown.
Apresentação
Authors: Massimi Marina
Published: November 2020

Apresentação do dossiê Bibliofilia: Circuitos e Memórias por Marina Massimi.
A Presença da Disciplina Preservação em Cursos de Biblioteconomia e Arquivologia
Authors: Gauz Valeria
Published: November 2020

Por meio de pesquisas da área, o texto aborda aspectos que envolvem o ensino da disciplina Preservação em cursos de Biblioteconomia no Estado de São Paulo, assim como o compara ao de Arquivologia no Brasil, no que diz respeito ao oferecimento da disciplina. Brevemente, atualiza a situação da regulamentação da profissão de conservador-restaurador no início de 2019 e, igualmente, traz informações sobre a presença de assuntos que envolvem a preservação de acervos no suporte papel em periódicos científicos da Biblioteconomia e da Ciência da Informação.
Práticas Colecionistas e Políticas Culturais: reflexões sobre alguns documentos religiosos salvaguardados na BBM
Authors: Russo Silveli Maria de Toledo
Published: November 2020

Os estudos e debates sobre as políticas de gestão do patrimônio cultural nacional têm recebido uma crescente atenção no campo das ciências sociais e humanas, em especial no âmbito disciplinar da bibliotecologia e da museologia, percebidos em diversos eventos e publicações acadêmicas. Neste sentido, este artigo tem em vista contextualizar as potencialidades de aprendizagem e educação que os consulentes de instituições patrimoniais podem alcançar a partir de suas investigações artísticas e/ ou científicas, numa dinâmica suscetível de ir além da aquisição de conhecimento e reconstituição de saberes, como a de reviver memórias e valores e estabelecer vínculos identitários, e por conseguinte corroborar o sentido de pertencimento social e cultural.
A Primeira edição brasileira do “Primeiro Poeta Brasileiro”: a publicação de 1873 da prosopopeia, algumas rotas de leitura e novos caminhos da crítica ao poema
Authors: Nascimento Ana Paula Gomes
Published: November 2020

O estudo da edição de 1873 do poema Prosopopeia (1601), de autoria de Bento Teixeira (c. 1561- 1600), é o ponto de partida de reflexões sobre diferentes momentos da “política literária” brasileira nos termos de Antônio Soares Amora. Assim, a materialidade do impresso fornece relevantes pistas sobre o estabelecimento da leitura do autor como o “primeiro poeta brasileiro” a ganhar imprensa no Reino. Ao mesmo tempo, surge um juízo crítico segundo o qual o principal mérito do poema é histórico ou bibliográfico, mas não poético. Feitas essas reflexões, foram indicados alguns exemplos dos novos rumos das leituras do poema neste início de século XXI. Trata-se de leituras tributárias de uma abordagem retórico-poética e que se concentram na emulação de Bento Teixeira em relação a Luís de Camões (1524-1580).
Bibliotecas de Maria Bonomi
Authors: Piqueira Gustavo
Published: November 2020

Resenha do livro Bibliotecas de Maria Bonomi, de Marisa Midori Daecto.
O Manuscrito Seiscentista das Saudades de Lídia e Armido Atribuídas a Bernardo Vieira Ravasco
Authors: Lachat Marcelo
Published: November 2020

No acervo da Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Mindlin, encontra-se um manuscrito seiscentista das Saudades de Lídia e Armido, poema composto de 158 oitavas e atribuído a Bernardo Vieira Ravasco (c. 1617-1697), irmão do Padre Antônio Vieira. Neste artigo, buscase evidenciar a importância desse manuscrito para a historiografia das letras luso-brasileiras do século XVII.
Long‐Term Particulate Matter Exposure and Incidence of Arrhythmias: A Cohort Study
Authors: Zhang Zhenyu , Kang Jeonggyu , Hong Yun Soo , Chang Yoosoo , Ryu Seungho , Park Jihwan , Cho Juhee , Guallar Eliseo , Shin Ho Cheol , Zhao Di
Published: November 2020

Background

Studies have shown that short‐term exposure to air pollution is associated with cardiac arrhythmia hospitalization and mortality. However, the relationship between long‐term particulate matter air pollution and arrhythmias is still unclear. We evaluate the prospective association between particulate matter (PM) air pollution and the risk of incident arrhythmia and its subtypes.

Methods and Results

Participants were drawn from a prospective cohort study of 178 780 men and women who attended regular health screening exams in Seoul and Suwon, South Korea, from 2002 to 2016. Exposure to PM with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 and ≤2.5 μm (PM
10
and PM
2.5
, respectively) was estimated using a land‐use regression model. The associations between long‐term PM air pollution and arrhythmia were examined using pooled logistic regression models with time‐varying exposure and covariables. In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratios (ORs) for any arrhythmia associated with a 10 μg/m
3
increase in 12‐, 36‐, and 60‐month PM
10
exposure were 1.15 (1.09, 1.21), 1.12 (1.06, 1.18), and 1.14 (1.08, 1.20), respectively. The ORs with a 10 μg/m
3
increase in 12‐ and 36‐month PM
2.5
exposure were 1.27 (1.15, 1.40) and 1.10 (0.99, 1.23). PM
10
was associated with increased risk of incident bradycardia and premature atrial contraction. PM
2.5
was associated with increased risk of incident bradycardia and right bundle‐branch block.

Conclusions

In this large cohort study, long‐term exposure to outdoor PM air pollution was associated with increased risk of arrhythmia. Our findings indicate that PM air pollution may be a contributor to cardiac arrhythmia in the general population.
Right Atrial Pressure During Exercise Predicts Survival in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Lichtblau Mona , Bader Patrick R. , Saxer Stéphanie , Berlier Charlotte , Schwarz Esther I. , Hasler Elisabeth D. , Furian Michael , Grünig Ekkehard , Bloch Konrad E. , Ulrich Silvia
Published: November 2020

Background

We investigated changes in right atrial pressure (RAP) during exercise and their prognostic significance in patients assessed for pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods and Results

Consecutive right heart catheterization data, including RAP recorded during supine, stepwise cycle exercise in 270 patients evaluated for PH, were analyzed retrospectively and compared among groups of patients with PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure [mPAP] ≥25 mm Hg), exercise‐induced PH (exPH; resting mPAP <25 mm Hg, exercise mPAP >30 mm Hg, and mPAP/cardiac output >3 Wood Units (WU)), and without PH (noPH). We investigated RAP changes during exercise and survival over a median (quartiles) observation period of 3.7 (2.8–5.6) years. In 152 patients with PH, 58 with exPH, and 60 with noPH, median (quartiles) resting RAP was 8 (6–11), 6 (4–8), and 6 (4–8) mm Hg (
P
<0.005 for noPH and exPH versus PH). Corresponding peak changes (95% CI) in RAP during exercise were 5 (4–6), 3 (2–4), and −1 (−2 to 0) mm Hg (noPH versus PH
P
<0.001, noPH versus exPH
P
=0.027). RAP increase during exercise correlated with mPAP/cardiac output increase (
r
=0.528,
P
<0.001). The risk of death or lung transplantation was higher in patients with exercise‐induced RAP increase (hazard ratio, 4.24; 95% CI, 1.69–10.64;
P
=0.002) compared with patients with unaltered or decreasing RAP during exercise.

Conclusions

In patients evaluated for PH, RAP during exercise should not be assumed as constant. RAP increase during exercise, as observed in exPH and PH, reflects hemodynamic impairment and poor prognosis. Therefore, our data suggest that changes in RAP during exercise right heart catheterization are clinically important indexes of the cardiovascular function.
Plea Bargaining in Nigeria Under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act
Authors: Azubuike Lawrence
Published: November 2020

In the past decade or so, the subject of plea bargaining has assumed a, hitherto lacking, currency and has become more topical in Nigeria. This owes to the activities of the anti-corruption agencies which have, of recent, tended to use it in the resolution of cases. This increased use has resulted in outrage and condemnation of the practice. In order to ameliorate the perceived abuse of the practice of plea bargaining, the new criminal procedure statute, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA), attempts to make comprehensive provisions to guard against its abuse. This article critically assesses the provisions of the ACJA on plea bargaining. It finds that the provisions are unduly broad, verbose and clumsy. Many are superfluous and overlap with others. It suggests an amendment of the statute in order to streamline such provisions.
Universally Optimal One-sided Circular Neighbour-balanced Designs with k = 5
Authors: Meitei K.K. Singh
Published: November 2020

In many experiments, especially in agriculture and horticulture to some extent, the response from a plot in a block is affected by treatments on forward (backward) neighbour plots in the same block. Under such circumstances, one-sided circular neighbour-balanced design (one-sided CNBD) has wide applications. However, in concern with the universal optimality, there are very limited number of known series of one-sided CNBD’s. The purpose of this article is to present a new series of universally optimal one-sided CNBD with block size 5 where if a treatment appears repeatedly in a block, all of them are in a series of adjacent plots in the block.
Marketing, Through the Eyes of the Stigmatized
Authors: Harmeling Colleen M. , Mende Martin , Scott Maura L. , Palmatier Robert W.
Published: November 2020

A consumer’s personal attribute (e.g., disease, body weight) can assume the qualities of a stigma (i.e., become a source of devaluation by others) in the presence of certain audiences, which can affect consumption and represent a major hurdle to marketers in many industries (e.g., health care). Two field experiments manipulating the marketing communications sent to 1,453 consumers diagnosed with 87 diseases of varying stigma potential, as well as two Amazon Mechanical Turk studies, reveal that consumers with potentially stigmatizing attributes distinctly decode aspects of marketing communications as audience cues, to infer how (un)favorable observers of their consumption will be in light of the potential stigma. When consumers possess potentially stigmatizing attributes, audience cues influence social devaluation inferences, which influence their beneficial consumption (program enrollment, long-term engagement in health care program; e.g., 64% click-through decrease) and their interest in detrimental consumption (products that promise to alleviate the stigma but are associated with considerable risks). Anticipated empowerment may increase beneficial consumption among consumers managing stigmatizing attributes.
Constraining Denaturalization
Authors: Lenard Patti Tamara
Published: November 2020

Citizenship has been treated, since World War II, as a robust political and legal status. Recent political events have prompted the reassessment of the conditions under which it can be justly removed, however. Using the lens of democratic theory, I consider one particular instance of denationalization, namely, the withdrawal of citizenship from naturalized citizens when the granting state believes that the applicant ‘misrepresented’ themselves, that is, engaged in some form of deception, during the process of naturalization. There is an intuitive plausibility to the thought that if an applicant for citizenship lies or fails to provide all of the requested information, she should be denied citizenship. It seems equally plausible that, if citizenship status is nevertheless granted under these conditions, it can be permissibly removed. However, I argue that this conclusion is too quick: to be permissible, denaturalization procedures must be significantly constrained, in the ways that I outline.
Stress for Success: Potential Benefits of Perceived and Actual Stress While Cruising
Authors: Petrick James F. , Markert Carl , Sasangohar Farzan
Published: November 2020

Understanding the effects of travel on the health of travelers could have profound effects on the tourism industry and behaviors of tourists. While psychometric analyses have suggested travel has the ability to relieve stress and improve one’s overall well-being, scant research has utilized physiological data to examine the effects of travel on health. The current study, guided by the cognitive activation theory of stress (CATS), compared self-reported diaries and physiological data (using heart rate monitors) to examine the effects cruising has on both perceived and actual stress. Results empirically validate the use of CATS as a theoretical framework for understanding travelers’ perceived and actual stress. Findings also inform specific guidance to both cruise management, on how to engineer cruise experiences based on stress, and individuals, on how to experience positive stress while traveling.
Effectiveness of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Versus Mandibular Advancement Device in Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients With Mandibular Retrognathia: A Prospective Clinical Trial
Authors: Lai Haichun , Huang Wei , Chen Wei , Wang Desheng
Published: November 2020

Aim:

Some obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients may have mandibular retrognathia (ANB > 4.7° and SNB < 76.2°). Currently, there are no studies that have compared the effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) versus mandibular advancement device (MAD) in severe OSA patients with mandibular retrognathia. We explored the efficacy of CPAP versus MAD for the treatment of severe OSA patients with mandibular retrognathia.

Methods:

A total of 105 patients were enrolled. Outcomes were assessed by using polysomnography, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Snore Scale (SS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and compliance, before treatment and after 6 and 12 months of treatment.

Results:

Continuous positive airway pressure was superior to MAD in improving polysomnographic outcomes and SS score, but reported compliance was higher on MAD. There is no significant difference between the 2 treatments in terms of ESS score and SAS score. Obstructive sleep apnea patients with mandibular retrognathia showed greater improvement than those without mandibular retrognathia in terms of apnea-hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation index after MAD.

Conclusion:

Continuous positive airway pressure and MAD are both effective in treating severe OSA patients with mandibular retrognathia. Mandibular advancement device is a good alternative to CPAP in severe OSA patients with mandibular retrognathia. Mandibular advancement device is more effective in treating OSA patients with mandibular retrognathia than those without. Trial registration: ChiCTR2000032541.
Transcervical Epiglottopexy for the Management of Type 3 Laryngomalacia
Authors: Kanotra Sohit Paul
Published: November 2020

Type 3 laryngomalacia (LM) is characterized by prolapse of the epiglottis into the airway. Endolaryngeal suturing is technically challenging considering the limited exposure. In the present article, we describe a simple technique of transcervical epiglottopexy (TE) via an exo-endolaryngeal technique using an 18-G needle prethreaded with a 2-0 Prolene suture in a looped fashion inserted through the inferior epiglottis. Another 20-G needle with a 2-0 Prolene suture with one free end is inserted above the previous stitch through the superior epiglottis. The single stitch is passed through the looped stitch, which is then pulled through the neck, leaving a single stitch precisely placed through the epiglottis. We have used this technique safely while achieving epiglottopexy in 3 cases of epiglottic prolapse. We describe a method of TE using easily available instruments. This method we believe can easily be adapted for any kind of epiglottic prolapse.
Auditory perception of Mexican children with profound bilateral hearing loss receiving auditory verbal therapy
Authors: Estrella-Castillo Damaris F , Rubio-Zapata Héctor , Gómez-de-Regil Lizzette
Published: November 2020

Profound hearing loss can have serious and irreversible consequences for oral language development in children, affecting spoken and written language acquisition. Auditory-verbal therapy has been widely applied to children with hearing loss with promising results, mainly in developed countries where cochlear implants are available. An evaluation was done of auditory perception in 25 children 5 to 8 years of age, with profound hearing loss, users of 4- or 5-channel hearing aids, and enrolled in a personalized auditory-verbal therapy program. Regarding initial auditory perception skills, children performed better on the Noises and Sounds block than on the Language block. By subscales, top performance was observed for auditory analysis (Noises and Sounds) and auditory recognition (Language). A series of t-tests showed that significant improvement after Auditory-verbal therapy occurred in global scores for Noises and Sounds and for Language blocks, regardless of sex, urban or rural community origin, nuclear or extended family. The study provides evidence of deficiencies in auditory in children with profound bilateral hearing loss and how this might improve after receiving Auditory-verbal therapy. Nevertheless, the descriptive study design prevents conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the therapy. Subsequent research must take into account intrinsic and environmental factors that might play a mediating role in the benefits of Auditory-verbal therapy for auditory perception.
Surgery is no more effective than conservative treatment for Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Bastos Robson Massi , de Carvalho Júnior Jorge Geraldo , da Silva Suellen Aline Martinez , Campos Shirley Ferreira , Rosa Matheus Vieira , de Moraes Prianti Bruno
Published: November 2020

Objective:

To summarize the effects of surgical treatment compared to conservative treatment in femoroacetabular impingement syndrome in the short, medium, and long term.

Study Design:

Systematic review

Methods:

The following databases were searched on 14/09/2020: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and PEDro. There were no date or language limits. The methodological quality assessment was performed using the PEDro scale and the quality of the evidence followed the GRADE recommendation. The outcomes pain, disability, and adverse effects were extracted.

Results:

Of 6264 initial studies, three met the full-text inclusion criteria. All studies were of good methodological quality. Follow up ranged from six months to two years, with 650 participants in total. The meta-analyses found no difference in disability between surgical versus conservative treatment, with a mean difference (MD) between groups of 3.91 points (95% CI –2.19 to 10.01) at six months, MD of 5.53 points (95% CI –3.11 to 14.16) at 12 months and 3.8 points (95% CI –6.0 to 13.6) at 24 months. The quality of the evidence (GRADE) varied from moderate to low across all comparisons.

Conclusion:

There is moderate-quality evidence that surgical treatment is not superior to conservative treatment for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome in the short term, and there is low-quality evidence that it is not superior in the medium term.

Level of evidence:

Therapy, level 1a.

Registration number:

PROSPERO CRD42019134118
Informational Needs of the Families of Patients Discharged From Intensive Care Units: A Case of Iran
Authors: Hajalizadeh Asma , Ahmadinejad Mehdi , Dehghan Mahlagha , Arab Mansoor
Published: November 2020

Background

thousands of patients are admitted to intensive care units annually, which is a stressful event. Many of these patients still require particular care after discharge. In many countries, families play an essential role in taking care of these patients after discharge. This study aimed to determine the informational needs of families of patients discharged from Intensive Care Units (ICU), Kerman, southeast Iran.

Methods

this study had a cross-sectional design. Families were selected using the information extracted from patients’ medical records. One hundred forty family members of the ICU discharged patients participated in the survey using convenience sampling. Data collection tools were a validated researcher-made questionnaire about informational needs and a demographic characteristics form.

Results

the mean score of family informational needs was 31.18 ± 3.97 out of 40. Most families required a high level of information in all dimensions. However, the maximum need was associated with self-care subscale (4.89 out of 5), and the minimum need was associated with defecation (3.13 out of 5).

Conclusion

the families of patients discharged from intensive care units required much information about different areas of care particularly self-care. Health care providers, especially nurses, should be aware of the informational needs of the ICU patients’ families post-discharge to provide better care.
Mirror- and Eye-Gazing: An Integrative Review of Induced Altered and Anomalous Experiences
Authors: Caputo Giovanni B. , Lynn Steven Jay , Houran James
Published: November 2020

We critically reviewed the protocols, results, and potential implications from empirical studies ( n = 44) on mirror-gazing (including the “psychomanteum”) and eye-to-eye gazing, both in healthy individuals and clinical patients, including studies of hypnotic mirrored self-misidentification, mirror-gazing in body dysmorphic disorder and schizophrenia. We found these methods to be effective for eliciting altered states or anomalous experiences under controlled conditions and in non-clinical samples. Mirror-gazing and eye-to-eye-gazing produced anomalous experiences almost exclusively in the visual, bodily, and self-identity modalities, whereas psychomanteum experiences tended also to involve voices, smells, and bodily touches. The complexity, diversity, and specificity in contents across these anomalous experiences suggest mechanisms beyond perceptual distortions or illusions. We argue that mirror- and eye-gazing anomalous perceptions implicate different mechanisms that induce (i) Derealization (anomalous perceptions of external reality); (ii) Depersonalization (anomalous perceptions of the body), and (iii) Dissociated identity (anomalous perceptions of another identity in place of the self in mirror-gazing or in place of the other in eye-to-eye gazing). These interpretations suggest directions for future researches.
Rainfall intensity in geomorphology: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Dunkerley David
Published: November 2020

Rainfall arrival at the land surface drives or influences many geomorphic processes. These range from the mechanisms through which vegetation transforms rain into erosive gravity drops or stemflow, infiltration and water partitioning at the soil surface, the drop-impact sealing of soil surfaces, splash, sheet, and gully erosion, and triggering of the various forms of mass movement including landslides and debris flows. Rainfall intensity is a key influence on many of these mechanisms but is not a straightforward parameter to quantify, partly owing to the customary aggregation of rainfall data to hourly or other clock-time totals. This aggregation conceals intensity fluctuations including erosive ‘intensity bursts’ as well as the intermittency of rainfall. Nevertheless, much research shows that rainfall intensity over short time periods – 10–30 minutes – has great explanatory power. Much of our understanding of the influence of rainfall intensity is based on rainfall simulation experiments, but the value of the findings is limited because simulation is normally carried out using a high and constant rainfall intensity, quite unlike natural rainfall. This has limited our ability to build an understanding of the other important aspects of rainfall intensity, including, critically, its time variation and changed character among different environments – arid, temperate, or tropical. Thus, significant challenges and opportunities remain in the exploration of rainfall intensity in relation to geomorphology and geomorphic processes.
Daily persistent headache after a viral illness during a worldwide pandemic may not be a new occurrence: Lessons from the 1890 Russian/Asiatic flu
Authors: Rozen Todd D
Published: November 2020

New daily persistent headache was first documented in the medical literature in the 1980s. The leading trigger is a viral illness. As we navigate our way thru the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, looking back at past viral epidemics may help guide us for what to expect in the near future in regard to headaches as a persistent manifestation of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The 1890 viral pandemic known as the “Russian or Asiatic flu”, has extensive documentation about the neurologic sequelae that presented months to years after the pandemic ended. One of the complications was daily persistent headache. There are actually many similarities between the viral presentation of the 1890 pandemic and the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which may then suggest that not only will NDPH be part of the neurological sequelae but a possible key consequence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Sexual Victimization Among Men: A Qualitative Analysis of the Twitter Hashtag #UsToo
Authors: Bogen Katherine W. , Mulla Mohamed Mazheruddin M. , Haikalis Michelle , Orchowski Lindsay M.
Published: November 2020

The present study sought to characterize use of the hashtag #UsToo on Twitter to disclose or comment on men’s experiences of sexual victimization. A sample of 281 original content, English-language tweets containing the hashtag were collected from Twitter over five consecutive weekdays. Thematic content analysis was conducted by a three-person coding team (full team consensus, achieving 100% agreement). Researchers categorized tweets as either a disclosure of victimization ( N = 6) or a response to this hashtag ( N = 275). When responding to the hashtag, users commented on the emotional impact of victimization, provided positive responses within the forum (i.e., advocacy, call to action, raising awareness, and prosocial reactions), and also engaged in negative responses within the forum (i.e., distracting attention away from the experiences of victims, egocentric responses which called attention to themselves or others, and otherwise harmful reactions). Despite the popularity of the #MeToo hashtag to disclose personal experiences of violence victimization, Twitter users were unlikely to utilize the hashtag #UsToo to disclose personal experiences of sexual victimization. Results highlight a divergence between online behavior in response to a call for men’s disclosure of sexual victimization using the hashtag #UsToo versus online behavior in response to a call for women’s disclosure of sexual victimization using the hashtag #MeToo.
Gender Identity, the Sexed Body, and the Medical Making of Transgender
Authors: Gonsalves Tara
Published: November 2020

In this article, I argue that the medical conceptualization of gender identity in the United States has entered a “new regime of truth.” Drawing from a mixed-methods analysis of medical journals, I illuminate a shift in the locus of gender identity from external genitalia and pathologization of families to genes and brain structure and individualized self-conception. The sexed body itself has also undergone a transformation: Sex no longer resides solely in genitalia but has traveled to more visible parts of the body, implicating racialized aesthetic ideals in its new formulation. The re-imagining of gender identity as genetically and neurologically inscribed and the expanding locus of sex correspond to an inversion of the relationship between gender identity and the sexed body as well as shifts in medical jurisdiction. Whereas psychiatrists in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s understood gender as stemming from genital sex, the less popular idea that gender identity precedes the sexed body has gained traction in recent decades. If gender identity once derived from the sexed body, the sexed body must now be brought into alignment with gender identity. The increasing legitimacy of self-defined gender identity, the expanding definition of racialized sex, and the inversion of the sex–gender identity relationship elevates the role of surgeons in producing racialized and sexed bodies.