bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 in Grade 4–5 Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Collado Silvia , Arenas María Dolores , Barbosa Francesc , Cao Higini , Montero María Milagro , Villar-García Judit , Barrios Clara , Rodríguez Eva , Sans Laia , Sierra Adriana , Pérez-Sáez María José , Redondo-Pachón Dolores , Coca Armando , Maiques José María , Güerri-Fernández Roberto , Horcajada Juan Pablo , Crespo Marta , Pascual Julio
Published: September 2020

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases the risk of mortality during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) episodes, and some reports have underlined the high incidence and severity of this infection in dialysis patients. Information on COVID-19 in nondialysis CKD patients is not available yet. Case Reports: Here we present 7 patients with grade 4–5 CKD who developed symptomatic COVID-19; they comprise 2.6% of our 267 advanced CKD patients. The estimated GFR was between 12 and 20 mL/min during the month prior to COVID-19. The 3 major symptoms were fever, cough, and dyspnea, and 5 patients showed bilateral pneumonia. Hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, and steroids were the most frequently prescribed drugs. Two patients needed noninvasive mechanical ventilation. All patients showed minimal to moderate kidney function deterioration during admission, with an eGFR decline below 5 mL/min in 6 cases. No patient required acute dialysis. Six patients were discharged alive and remained dialysis free athe t the time of reporting, and one 76-year-old patient died. Conclusions: COVID-19 affects grade 4–5 CKD patients, but prognosis may be acceptable if prompt supportive measures are applied. These findings should be confirmed in larger cohorts, and further observations will be needed to understand the full spectrum of clinical features and the optimal approach to COVID-19 in patients with advanced CKD.
Association of Autoimmune Vasculitis and Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A Population‐Based Case‐Control Study
Authors: Melduni Rowlens M. , Cooper Leslie T. , Gersh Bernard J. , Warrington Kenneth J. , Bailey Kent R. , McEvoy Marian T. , Kita Hirohito , Lee Hon‐Chi
Published: September 2020

Background

Recent investigations suggest that inflammation and autoimmunity might have a role in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF). Given that abnormal ventriculovascular coupling often coexists with AF, we hypothesize that autoimmune vasculitis plays a significant role in the pathogenetic mechanism of AF.

Methods and Results

A standardized retrospective population‐based case–control study was conducted to evaluate the association between autoimmune vasculitis and AF, and all‐cause mortality. The study included 8459 patients with a new diagnosis of AF and 8459 age‐, sex‐, and registration calendar year–matched controls in Olmsted County, Minnesota, between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 2010. The association of each clinical characteristic, diagnosis, and treatment was assessed using conditional logistic regression to account for the matched case–control study design. Cox proportional hazards regression models and Kaplan‐Meier curves were used to detect independent predictors of mortality and examine cumulative survival. Of a total of 16 918 patients (mean age 72.3+14.4 years; 48.7% women), 320 (1.9%) were diagnosed with autoimmune vasculitis before the index date during the 30‐year period. Among the cases, the prevalence of any autoimmune vasculitis was 2.3%, whereas the frequency of autoimmune vasculitis in controls was 1.5% (
P
<0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds of autoimmune vasculitis in AF cases was 1.5 times higher than in controls (odds ratio, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.04–2.01;
P
=0.03). Patients with AF and autoimmune vasculitis had worse 5‐year survival than those without autoimmune vasculitis or AF (44.7% versus 77.2%; log‐rank
P
<0.001).

Conclusions

Autoimmune vasculitis is significantly associated with AF and independently confers worse survival. These observations may represent one mechanism linking autoimmunity and inflammation to the pathogenesis and prognosis of AF.
A Community‐Engaged Stroke Preparedness Intervention in Chicago
Authors: Prabhakaran Shyam , Richards Christopher T. , Kwon Soyang , Wymore Erin , Song Sarah , Eisenstein Amy , Brown Jen , Kandula Namratha R. , Mason Maryann , Beckstrom Heather , Washington Knitasha V. , Aggarwal Neelum T.
Published: September 2020

Background

We evaluated a community‐engaged stroke preparedness intervention that aimed to increase early hospital arrival and emergency medical services (EMS) utilization among patients with stroke in the South Side of Chicago, Illinois.

Methods and Results

We compared change in early hospital arrival (<3 hours from symptom onset) and EMS utilization before and after our intervention among patients with confirmed ischemic stroke at an intervention hospital on the South Side of Chicago with concurrent data from 6 hospitals in nonintervention communities on the North Side of Chicago and 17 hospitals in St Louis, Missouri. We assessed EMS utilization for suspected stroke secondarily, using geospatial information systems analysis of Chicago ambulance transports before and after our intervention. Among 21 497 patients with confirmed ischemic stroke across all sites, early arrival rates at the intervention hospital increased by 0.5% per month (95% CI, −0.2% to 1.2%) after intervention compared with the preintervention period but were not different from North Side Chicago hospitals (difference of −0.3% per month [95% CI, −0.12% to 0.06%]) or St Louis hospitals (difference of 0.7% per month [95% CI, −0.1% to 1.4%]). EMS utilization at the intervention hospital decreased by 0.8% per month (95% CI, −1.7% to 0.2%) but was not different from North Side Chicago hospitals (difference of 0.004% per month [95% CI, −1.1% to 1.1%]) or St Louis hospitals (difference of −0.7% per month [95% CI, −1.7% to 0.3%]). EMS utilization for suspected stroke increased in the areas surrounding the intervention hospital (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2–1.6) and in the South Side (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1–1.3), but not in the North Side (OR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.9–1.1).

Conclusions

Following a community stroke preparedness intervention, early hospital arrival and EMS utilization for confirmed ischemic stroke did not increase. However, ambulance transports for suspected stroke increased in the intervention community compared with other regions.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clini​caltr​ials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02301299.
Renin‐Angiotensin System Blockade in Aortic Stenosis: Implications Before and After Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Goel Sachin S. , Kleiman Neal S. , Zoghbi William A. , Reardon Michael J. , Kapadia Samir R.
Published: September 2020

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common valvular heart disease in the aging population that is characterized by a variable period of asymptomatic phase before development of symptoms and severe AS. Mortality and morbidity is substantial even after aortic valve replacement, in part related to persistent left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, and heart failure. Renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) blockade therapy is associated with modulation of adverse left ventricular remodeling, reduction in myocardial hypertrophy, and fibrosis, resulting in clinical improvements in patients with congestive heart failure There are emerging data to suggest benefit of RAS blockade in patients with AS before and after AVR with regard to potentially slower progression of aortic valve calcification, left ventricular mass and survival benefit in favor of RAS blockade group before AVR, and also survival benefit in patients after AVR. We review the available data to understand the role of RAS blockade before AVR and in patients undergoing surgical AVR and transcatheter AVR. There are significant survival advantages of RAS inhibition in patients with AS undergoing surgical AVR or transcatheter AVR. On the basis of existing literature, adequately powered randomized trials are needed to evaluate the role of RAS inhibition in patients with AS.
Using web content analysis to create innovation indicators—What do we really measure?
Authors: Héroux-Vaillancourt Mikaël , Beaudry Catherine , Rietsch Constant
Published: September 2020

This study explores the use of web content analysis to build innovation indicators from the complete texts of 79 corporate websites of Canadian nanotechnology and advanced materials firms. Indicators of four core concepts (R&D, IP protection, collaboration, and external financing) of the innovation process were built using keywords frequency analysis. These web-based indicators were validated using several indicators built from a classic questionnaire-based survey with the following methods: correlation analysis, multitraits multimethods (MTMM) matrices, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results suggest that formative indices built with the questionnaire and web-based indicators measure the same concept, which is not the case when considering the items from the questionnaire separately. Web-based indicators can act either as complements to direct measures or as substitutes for broader measures, notably the importance of R&D and the importance of IP protection, which are normally measured using conventional methods, such as government administrative data or questionnaire-based surveys.
Microlicia rubra (Melastomataceae), a remarkable new species from Goiás, Brazil

Authors: FERREIRA-ALVES RODOLFO , ROMERO ROSANA
Published: September 2020

Microlicia rubra, endemic to Serra do Tombador, state of Goiás Brazil, is described here and compared with similar species. The new species is characterized by thick branches, sessile leaves clustered at the apex of the branches, red color of the petals, filaments, pedoconnective and style. It resembles Microlicia stenodonoides and Stenodon suberosus, both endemic to the state of Goiás, Brazil. Description, taxonomic comments, comparisons with similar species, as well as data on geographic distribution, habitat and conservation status are provided.
Attack politics from Albania to Zimbabwe: A large-scale comparative study on the drivers of negative campaigning
Authors: Valli Chiara , Nai Alessandro
Published: September 2020

There is little comparative research on what causes candidates in elections across the world to ‘go negative’ on their rivals – mainly because of the scarcity of large-scale datasets. In this article, we present new evidence covering over 80 recent national elections across the world (2016–2018), in which more than 400 candidates competed. For the first time in a large-scale comparative setting, we show that, ceteris paribus, negativity is more likely for challengers, extreme candidates, and right-wing candidates. Women are not more (or less) likely to go negative on their rivals than their male counterparts, but we find that higher numbers of female MPs in the country reduces negativity overall. Furthermore, women tend to go less negative in proportional systems and more negative in majoritarian systems. Finally, negativity is especially low for candidates on the left in countries with high female representation, and higher for candidates on the right in countries with proportional representation (PR).
Venous Flow Coupler in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction
Authors: Troob Scott H. , Self Quinn , Gerecci Deniz , Hodgson Macgregor , González‐Castro Javier , Petrisor Daniel , Wax Mark K.
Published: September 2020

Objective

To describe the utility of venous flow couplers in monitoring free tissue flaps in the immediate postoperative setting.

Study Design

Retrospective case series.

Setting

Otolaryngology department at a single tertiary care institution.

Methods

A retrospective case series of free flap reconstructions in which venous flow couplers were employed to supplement flap monitoring. All free flap cases performed over the past 4 years were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were venous flow coupler and arterial flow Doppler monitored for 5 days postoperatively.

Results

From July 2014 through May 2018, the venous flow coupler was used with the arterial flow Doppler and clinical monitoring in 228 cases. Eleven cases did not meet criteria for inclusion; thus, 217 cases were analyzed. Twenty cases (9.2%) returned to the operating room with concern for flap compromise, and 16 were salvaged. The combination of venous flow coupler and arterial flow Doppler identified 19 of these flaps. Venous flow couplers identified 5 compromised flaps before there was an arterial signal change, and all were salvaged. Additionally, there was a 24.1% false‐positive rate when 2 venous flow couplers were used in parallel. For the venous flow coupler, the positive predictive value was 64.3% and the negative predictive value, 98.9%. The false‐positive rate in the series was 5.1%. The sensitivity was 90% and the specificity, 94.9%.

Conclusion

The venous flow coupler is able to detect venous thrombosis in the absence of arterial thrombosis and may contribute to improved flap salvage rates.
Continuing the Journey Toward Health Equity: Becoming Antiracist in Health Promotion Research and Practice
Authors: Breny Jean M.
Published: September 2020

Health education and promotion researchers and practitioners are committed to eliminating health disparities, and the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) has continuously supported this effort through its journals, professional development, annual conferences, and advocacy. The COVID-19 pandemic elucidated inequities directly caused by racism and other social determinants of health. In order to achieve health equity, we need to become antiracist in our research, practice, and advocacy work by standing united against racist policies and practices. I invite us all to heed the call to action on these five points: place racism on the agenda, practice cultural humility, claim your privilege and eliminate microaggressions, utilize strategies that promote inclusion and equity, and embrace your inner leader and activist. Just as SOPHE as an organization pivoted its annual conference from on ground to virtual in March 2020, so can we be innovative and brave as professionals to face the hard work and dedication needed to become antiracist.
Further Comparison of 4 Display Modes for a Multi-Resolution Foveated Laparoscope
Authors: Lee Sangyoon , Hua Hong , Nguyen Mike , Hamilton Allan J.
Published: September 2020

Background. To overcome field of view and ergonomic limitations of standard laparoscopes, we are developing a multi-resolution foveated laparoscope (MRFL), which can simultaneously obtain both wide- and zoomed-in-view images. To facilitate the effectiveness of our MRFL, we have been investigating various ways of organizing and visualizing dual-view multi-resolution images acquired by the MRFL. In our prior study, we implemented and compared 6 display modes for the MRFL, assuming a typical clinical environment where a standard (but limited) resolution monitor is available. To take full advantage of our MRFL, displays having sufficient screen resolutions might be advantageous. The present study aims to further understand the effects of view configurations through displays with a standard high-definition (HD) resolution and a 4K resolution. In this study, we compare 3 display modes for limited-resolution displays against a new mode for sufficient-resolution displays. Methods. Twenty subjects performed 3 evaluation trials of a touching task with each display mode in an emulated MRFL environment. Various objective measurements including task completion time and the number of collisions, and subjective preference were recorded. Results. The new mode showed a better task completion time than the other modes, while it maintained a low number of collisions similar to the others. Moreover, the majority of participants selected the new mode as their most preferred one. Conclusions. With a sufficient display resolution, the co-registration between the unblocked and unwarped wide context view and the high-resolution zoomed-in view offered by the new mode was highly effective on both task performance and user preference.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms part two: Surgical management, postoperative complications and surveillance
Authors: Kyriacou Harry , Mostafa Ahmed M H A M , Sumal Anoop S , Hellawell Holly N , Boyle Jonathan R
Published: September 2020

Large, symptomatic and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms are usually treated surgically if patients are deemed fit enough. This may be achieved through endovascular or open surgical repair. The type of treatment that a patient receives is dependant on many factors, such as the rupture status of the aneurysm. Each approach is also associated with different risks and postoperative complications. Multiple guidelines exist to inform the surgical management of abdominal aortic aneurysms. This literature review combines these recommendations and explores the evidence upon which they are based. In addition, it highlights the key perioperative considerations that need to be considered in cases of unruptured and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Management of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors during the perioperative period: A retrospective comparative study
Authors: Ge Victor , Subramaniam Ashwin , Banakh Iouri , Wang Wei Chun , Tiruvoipati Ravindranath
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Current guidelines recommend withholding sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors perioperatively due to concerns of euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis. However, such guidelines are largely based on case reports and small case series, many extrapolated from non-surgical patients. The aim was to investigate whether withholding sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors as per current perioperative guidelines was associated with a reduction in serious adverse events, including euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis.

Methods

Instances of perioperative management of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, over a four-year period were classified into two categories: those where sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors were withheld as per guidelines and those where sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors were administered in the perioperative period. The primary outcome was ‘total major perioperative complications’: a composite of serious adverse events including euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetic ketoacidosis, acute kidney injury, urosepsis and death.

Results

Eighty-two instances in 64 patients were included. Withholding sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors was associated with an increased incidence of total major perioperative complications and poorer glycaemic control postoperatively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that withholding sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors perioperatively (OR = 13.15; 95% CI = 1.8–138.9) and preoperative urea (OR 1.85 (95% CI = 1.17–3.43) were independently associated with an increase in total major postoperative complications.

Conclusion

Withholding sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors as per current guidelines was associated with an increase in postoperative complications and reduced glycaemic control.
Computed tomography urography findings of complete inguinoscrotal bladder herniation
Authors: Jegatheeswaran Vibeeshan , Diamond Ivan , Jamal Munir , Chen Yingming Amy
Published: September 2020

Inguinoscrotal bladder herniation (IBH) is a rare type of inguinal hernia associated with significant urologic complications such as acute renal failure, hydronephrosis, obstructive uropathy, and sepsis. Diagnosis of this condition can be made with common imaging modalities including excretory urography, retrograde cystography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging. We present the classic symptomatology and imaging findings of inguinoscrotal bladder herniation on CT urogram in two patients. Although the majority of IBH are diagnosed intraoperatively, radiologists and the surgical team should be aware of this diagnosis when working up a patient, as preoperative diagnosis is crucial to assist with surgical planning and avoid intraoperative complications.

Level of evidence: 4.
Spectrotemporal Modulation Sensitivity in Cochlear-Implant and Normal-Hearing Listeners: Is the Performance Driven by Temporal or Spectral Modulation Sensitivity?
Authors: Zhou Ning , Dixon Susannah , Zhu Zhen , Dong Lixue , Weiner Marti
Published: September 2020

This study examined the contribution of temporal and spectral modulation sensitivity to discrimination of stimuli modulated in both the time and frequency domains. The spectrotemporally modulated stimuli contained spectral ripples that shifted systematically across frequency over time at a repetition rate of 5 Hz. As the ripple density increased in the stimulus, modulation depth of the 5 Hz amplitude modulation (AM) reduced. Spectrotemporal modulation discrimination was compared with subjects’ ability to discriminate static spectral ripples and the ability to detect slow AM. The general pattern from both the cochlear implant (CI) and normal hearing groups showed that spectrotemporal modulation thresholds were correlated more strongly with AM detection than with static ripple discrimination. CI subjects’ spectrotemporal modulation thresholds were also highly correlated with speech recognition in noise, when partialing out static ripple discrimination, but the correlation was not significant when partialing out AM detection. The results indicated that temporal information was more heavily weighted in spectrotemporal modulation discrimination, and for CI subjects, it was AM sensitivity that drove the correlation between spectrotemporal modulation thresholds and speech recognition. The results suggest that for the rates tested here, temporal information processing may limit performance more than spectral information processing in both CI users and normal hearing listeners.
Management of the thrombotic risk associated with COVID-19: guidance for the hemostasis laboratory
Authors: Hardy M. , Lecompte T. , Douxfils J. , Lessire S. , Dogné J. M. , Chatelain B. , Testa S. , Gouin-Thibault I. , Gruel Y. , Medcalf R. L. , ten Cate H. , Lippi G. , Mullier F.
Published: September 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with extreme inflammatory response, disordered hemostasis and high thrombotic risk. A high incidence of thromboembolic events has been reported despite thromboprophylaxis, raising the question of a more effective anticoagulation. First-line hemostasis tests such as activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, fibrinogen and D-dimers are proposed for assessing thrombotic risk and monitoring hemostasis, but are vulnerable to many drawbacks affecting their reliability and clinical relevance. Specialized hemostasis-related tests (soluble fibrin complexes, tests assessing fibrinolytic capacity, viscoelastic tests, thrombin generation) may have an interest to assess the thrombotic risk associated with COVID-19. Another challenge for the hemostasis laboratory is the monitoring of heparin treatment, especially unfractionated heparin in the setting of an extreme inflammatory response. This review aimed at evaluating the role of hemostasis tests in the management of COVID-19 and discussing their main limitations.
Umbilical endometriosis: a case series
Authors: Makena Dorothy , Obura Timona , Mutiso Steve , Oindi Felix
Published: September 2020

Background

Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. The lesions are typically found in the pelvic cavity but can occur in other extrapelvic areas. Umbilical endometriosis, also known as Villar’s node, is a rare disease comprising 0.5–1% of all extrapelvic disease. It commonly presents with cyclical pain and bleeding from an umbilical nodule.

Case series

We present a retrospective case series of five African patients with umbilical endometriosis diagnosed and treated between July 2015 and February 2019 at a tertiary health facility. The patients were aged between 31 and 47 years, and all presented with an umbilical swelling and pain. They had lesions with diameters ranging from 1.6 cm to 4 cm. The duration of symptoms ranged between 3 and 60 months. Their diagnoses were made on the basis of clinical presentation followed by surgical excision. In all the cases, diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology with no malignancy detected.

Conclusion

Umbilical endometriosis is a rare condition that should be considered as a differential diagnosis in women with umbilical lesions. Diagnosis is mostly clinical; most patients present with umbilical swelling, cyclical pain, and bleeding or discharge. Imaging has a limited role. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice with low risk of malignancy or recurrence.
Making change happen in criminal justice settings: leveraging implementation science to improve mental health care
Authors: Zielinski Melissa J. , Allison M. Kathryn , Brinkley-Rubinstein Lauren , Curran Geoffrey , Zaller Nickolas D. , Kirchner Jo Ann E.
Published: September 2020

Background

It is a constitutional right to receive health care, including mental health care, while incarcerated. Yet, even basic evidence-based mental health care practices have not been routinely integrated into criminal justice (CJ) settings. Strategies from implementation science, or the study of methods for integrating evidence-based practices into routine care, can accelerate uptake of established interventions within low-resource, high-need settings such as prisons and jails. However, most studies of mental health practices in CJ settings do not use implementation frameworks to guide efforts to integrate treatments, systematically select or report implementation strategies, or evaluate the effectiveness of strategies used.

Case presentations

After introducing implementation science and articulating the rationale for its application within CJ settings, we provide two illustrative case examples of efforts to integrate mental health interventions within CJ settings. Each case example demonstrates how an implementation framework either was applied or could have been applied to promote intervention adoption. The first focuses on poor implementation of a mental health screener in a county jail, retrospectively highlighting how use of a determinants framework (e.g., the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research [CFIR]) could help staff identify factors that led to the implementation failure. The second describes an investigator-initiated research study that used a process framework (the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment [EPIS] framework) to systematically investigate and document the factors that led to successful implementation of a psychotherapy group for survivors of sexual violence in a women’s community corrections center. Both are presented in accessible language, as our goal is that this article can be used as a primer for justice health researchers, community partners, and correctional leadership who are unfamiliar with implementation science.

Conclusions

Scientific research on the application of implementation science to justice settings is growing, but lags behind the work done in health systems. Given the tremendous need for mental and behavioral health intervention across the full spectrum of justice settings, information on how to successfully implement evidence-based intervention and prevention efforts is sorely needed but possible to obtain with greater integration of knowledge from implementation science.
Living with personality disorder and seeking mental health treatment: patients and family members reflect on their experiences
Authors: Barr Karlen R. , Jewell Mahlie , Townsend Michelle L. , Grenyer Brin F. S.
Published: September 2020

Background

Despite effective treatments for personality disorders being developed, consumers and carers often report negative experiences of mental health services, including challenges accessing these treatments.

Methods

This qualitative study used separate focus groups to compare the unique perspectives of consumer and carers, and to investigate how to improve services for individuals with personality disorders. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results

Both consumers and carers (N = 15) discussed the value of providing appropriate information to consumers when they are diagnosed with personality disorder. Consumers and carers described the importance of creating a safe environment for consumers when they present to the emergency department. Both groups discussed experiencing positive and negative treatment from mental health professionals, and suggested that professionals should be trained to understand personality disorder. Limited accessibility and quality of services, and offering peer support to consumers were also described by consumers and carers. Consumers and carers also had perspectives which were unique to their group. Consumers identified the importance of psychological treatment, having a strong therapeutic relationship with a mental health professional, and the benefit of long term psychotherapy with the same professional. Broadening the scope of psychotherapies including creative, animal-assisted, and physical therapies was recommended by consumers. Carers described the importance of assessing for personality disorder and intervening early. Involvement in the assessment, diagnosis, and intervention process was important to carers. The desire to be recognized and supported by mental health professionals was discussed by carers.

Conclusions

This research contributes to the concern that consumers with personality disorder and their carers experience stigma and low quality care within mental health services. In line with these findings, we recommend guidelines for health professionals who work with consumers with personality disorder.
One versus two anterior miniscrews for correcting upper incisor overbite and angulation: a retrospective comparative study
Authors: Vela-Hernández Arturo , Gutiérrez-Zubeldia Laura , López-García Rocío , García-Sanz Verónica , Paredes-Gallardo Vanessa , Gandía-Franco José Luis , Lasagabaster-Latorre Felicidad
Published: September 2020

Background

Miniscrews are effective devices for performing upper incisor intrusion. Different mechanics can be applied depending on the treatment objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of one or two anterior miniscrews for upper incisor correction in cases of overbite and angulation in adult patients.

Methods

Forty-four adults with deep overbite were divided into two groups: group 1 was treated with one miniscrew between upper central incisors and group 2 with two miniscrews between upper lateral incisors and canines. Incisor intrusion and length were measured from lateral cephalograms before treatment, after treatment and at least 12 months into retention (T0, T1 and T2). Forces were applied (90 g) from the miniscrews to the archwire using elastomeric chains. ANOVA analysis was used to determine whether differences between evaluation times were statistically significant.

Results

Mean root resorption was 2.15 ± 0.85 mm, which ceased after active treatment. Overbite mean correction was − 3.23 ± 1.73 mm with no statistically significant relapse. Overbite correction and incisor intrusion were significantly greater in group 2 (− 3.80 ± 1.43 versus − 2.75 ± 1.63 for OB and 8.19 ± 3.66 versus 5.69 ± 2.66 for intrusion). Resorption and overbite correction were positively related. No counterclockwise rotation of the mandibular plane was observed.

Conclusions

Overbite correction can be performed by means of upper incisor intrusion without rotation of the mandibular plane. Correction of upper incisor intrusion and overbite is greater in patients treated with two miniscrews. The increase in upper incisor buccal angulation is greater with one miniscrew. Root resorption is positively related to the extent of intrusion. Stability is satisfactory regardless of whether one or two miniscrews are used.
Mathematics anxiety among STEM and social sciences students: the roles of mathematics self-efficacy, and deep and surface approach to learning
Authors: Rozgonjuk Dmitri , Kraav Tiina , Mikkor Kristel , Orav-Puurand Kerli , Täht Karin
Published: September 2020

Background

Although mathematics anxiety and self-efficacy are relatively well-researched, there are several uninvestigated terrains. In particular, there is little research on how mathematics anxiety and mathematics self-efficacy are associated with deep (more comprehensive) and surface (more superficial) approaches to learning among STEM and social sciences students. The aim of the current work was to provide insights into this domain.

Results

Bivariate correlation analysis revealed that mathematics anxiety had a very high negative correlation with mathematics self-efficacy. However, while mathematics anxiety correlated positively with surface approach to learning in the STEM student sample, this association was not statistically significant in the social sciences student sample. Controlled for age and gender, regression analysis showed that lower mathematics self-efficacy and female gender predicted higher mathematics anxiety, while only mathematics self-efficacy predicted mathematics anxiety in the social sciences student sample. Interestingly, approaches to learning were not statistically significant predictors in multivariate analyses when mathematics self-efficacy was included.

Conclusions

The results suggest that mathematics self-efficacy plays a large role in mathematics anxiety. Therefore, one potential takeaway from the results of the current study is that perhaps improving students’ mathematics self-efficacy could also be helpful in reducing mathematics anxiety. Since the current study was cross-sectional, it could also be that reducing students’ mathematics anxiety could be helpful in boosting their mathematics self-efficacy. Future studies should aim to clarify the causal link in this relationship.
Characterization of the retinal vasculature in fundus photos using the PanOptic iExaminer system
Authors: Hu Huiling , Wei Haicheng , Xiao Mingxia , Jiang Liqiong , Wang Huijuan , Jiang Hong , Rundek Tatjana , Wang Jianhua
Published: September 2020

Background

The goal was to characterize retinal vasculature by quantitative analysis of arteriole-to-venule (A/V) ratio and vessel density in fundus photos taken with the PanOptic iExaminer System.

Methods

The PanOptic ophthalmoscope equipped with a smartphone was used to acquire fundus photos centered on the optic nerve head. Two fundus photos of a total of 19 eyes from 10 subjects were imaged. Retinal vessels were analyzed to obtain the A/V ratio. In addition, the vessel tree was extracted using deep learning U-NET, and vessel density was processed by the percentage of pixels within vessels over the entire image.

Results

All images were successfully processed for the A/V ratio and vessel density. There was no significant difference of averaged A/V ratio between the first (0.77 ± 0.09) and second (0.77 ± 0.10) measurements (P = 0.53). There was no significant difference of averaged vessel density (%) between the first (6.11 ± 1.39) and second (6.12 ± 1.40) measurements (P = 0.85).

Conclusions

Quantitative analysis of the retinal vasculature was feasible in fundus photos taken using the PanOptic ophthalmoscope. The device appears to provide sufficient image quality for analyzing A/V ratio and vessel density with the benefit of portability, easy data transferring, and low cost of the device, which could be used for pre-clinical screening of systemic, cerebral and ocular diseases.
Efficient and rapid conversion of human astrocytes and ALS mouse model spinal cord astrocytes into motor neuron-like cells by defined small molecules
Authors: Zhao An-Dong , Qin Hua , Sun Meng-Li , Ma Kui , Fu Xiao-Bing
Published: September 2020

Background

Motor neuron degeneration or loss in the spinal cord is the characteristic phenotype of motor neuron diseases or spinal cord injuries. Being proliferative and located near neurons, astrocytes are considered ideal cell sources for regenerating neurons.

Methods

We selected and tested different combinations of the small molecules for inducing the conversion of human and mouse astrocytes into neurons. Microscopic imaging and immunocytochemistry analyses were used to characterize the morphology and phenotype of the induced neurons while RT-qPCR was utilized to analyze changes in gene expression. In addition, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were measured to examine the electrophysiological properties of induced neurons.

Results

The results showed that human astrocytes could be rapidly and efficiently converted into motor neuron-like cells by treatment with defined small molecules, with a yield of over 85% motor neuron-like cells attained. The induced motor neuron-like cells expressed the pan-neuronal markers TUJ1, MAP2, NeuN, and Synapsin 1 and motor neuron markers HB9, ISL1, CHAT, and VAChT. During the conversion process, the cells did not pass through a proliferative neural progenitor cell intermediate. The induced motor neurons were functional, showing the electrophysiological properties of neurons. The same chemical cocktail could induce spinal cord astrocytes from an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model carrying a SOD1 mutation to become motor neuron-like cells that exhibited a decrease in cell survival and an increase in oxidative stress compared to that observed in wild-type MNs derived from healthy mice. Moreover, the chemical induction reduced oxidative stress in the mutant astrocytes.

Conclusion

The results of the present study demonstrated the feasibility of chemically converting human and mouse astrocytes into motor neuron-like cells that are useful for neurodegenerative disease modeling and regenerative medicine.
Ethanol extract of Nigella sativa has antioxidant and ameliorative effect against nickel chloride-induced hepato-renal injury in rats
Authors: Akinwumi Kazeem Akinyinka , Jubril Afusat Jagun , Olaniyan Oreoluwa Oluwafunke , Umar Yusuf Yusuf
Published: September 2020

Background

Nickel exposure causes hepato-renal toxicity via oxidative stress. Medicinal plants with antioxidants properties are being explored as treatment options. In this study, the effect of ethanol extract of Nigella sativa (ENS) on nickel chloride (NiCl2)-induced hepato-renal damage was evaluated by monitoring biochemical and oxidative stress markers. Additionally, the antioxidant capacity and phytochemical constituents of ENS were quantified using HPLC and GC-MS.

Result

NiCl2 significantly increased (p < 0.05) aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, sodium ion, chloride ion and malondialdehyde levels, while antioxidant enzymes were decreased in the organs except for kidney glutathione-S-transferase when compared to the control. However, ENS exerted inhibitory effect against NiCl2 toxicity in both organs by reversing the biomarkers towards control levels. ENS has a high antioxidant capacity and is rich in antioxidants including gallic acid, quercetin, eucalyptol and levomenthol that may have accounted for the improvement of hepato-renal health in co-exposed rats.

Conclusion

Our result suggests that amelioration of nickel chloride-induced hepato-renal pathology by ethanol extract of Nigella sativa was related to its antioxidant properties. Therefore, Nigella sativa could be valuable in the management of nickel-induced toxicity.
ELAID: detecting integer-Overflow-to-Buffer-Overflow vulnerabilities by light-weight and accurate static analysis
Authors: Xu Lili , Xu Mingjie , Li Feng , Huo Wei
Published: September 2020

The Integer-Overflow-to-Buffer-Overflow (IO2BO) vulnerability has been widely exploited by attackers to cause severe damages to computer systems. Automatically identifying this kind of vulnerability is critical for software security. Despite many works have been done to mitigate integer overflow, existing tools either report large number of false positives or introduce unacceptable time consumption. To address this problem, in this article we present a static analysis framework. It first constructs an inter-procedural call graph and utilizes taint analysis to accurately identify potential IO2BO vulnerabilities. Then it uses a light-weight method to further filter out false positives. Specifically, it generates constraints representing the conditions under which a potential IO2BO vulnerability can be triggered, and feeds the constraints to SMT solver to decide their satisfiability. We have implemented a prototype system ELAID based on LLVM, and evaluated it on 228 programs of the NIST’s SAMATE Juliet test suite and 14 known IO2BO vulnerabilities in real world. The experiment results show that our system can effectively and efficiently detect all known IO2BO vulnerabilities.
Deviation Between Net Sown Area and Irrigated Area in the Nagar Kulik Interfluve, Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal: An Assessment
Authors: Das Biswajit , Sarkar Rumki
Published: September 2020

The Net Sown Area (NSA) represents the total cultivated area during the reference year without considering the number of times it has been cultivated in a year (Agricultural Census Division). Area sown more than once in the same year is counted only once. Irrigation is a basic facility for the crop production. Normally there is a deviation between Net Sown Area and Irrigated area that means any area having higher net sown area may be deficit by the irrigation facility. The regional disparity in distribution of net sown area as well as the irrigation facility is a common phenomenon though the relation normally positively proportional. The magnitude of relation varies over the time and space. In the study area the disparity has been found both in the NSA and irrigation facility among the 126 villages. Quantitative analysis has been applied to analyse the disparity in the two variables separately and jointly too. Firstly, univariate analysis has been done to analyse the individual deviation and then to understand the joint effect of the considered variable, bivariate analysis has been conducted. Fourth quadrant plotting of Z-score of NSA and Irrigated Area may be helpful to detect the villages which are lagging behind by the distribution of NSA or by irrigation facility. Quadrant analysis is also beneficial to detect the regional disparity raised by the considered two variables which in term adjuvant to draw planning proposal at village level. To reduce the regional disparities proper planning proposals are required. Identification of villages lagged behind by getting irrigation facility are required first to be facilitated by irrigation facility. Next to find out the villages having sufficient net sown area but the potentiality to expand the net sown area is required to identify. The present methodology may help to find out both types of villages which are needed attention for irrigation and net sown area to reduce the small scale i.e. village level regional disparity. The Present study is confined on Nagar-Kulik Interfluve of Uttar Dinajpur District. Therefore, this paper has taken as an attempt to identify the problems of the NSA of the Interfluve and also to give some suggestions
Variation Among Poplar (Populus Deltoides Bartr.) Clones for Growth, Wood Traits and Tolerance to Leaf Spot Diseases
Authors: Dhillon GPS , Sandhu Jajjbir Singh , Singh Parminder
Published: September 2020

Poplar is economically important and fast growing tree species which is widely adopted by farmers of northwest India. The nursery study was conducted for two years to find out clonal variation for plant height, collar diameter, biomass, wood traits and incidence of leaf spot disease. Results found significant differences among the clones for all growth traits, specific gravity and fiber length. Clones L-290/84, 22-N and L-50/88 were promising for tree height and collar diameter during 1st year study. In 2nd year the tree height was highest in L-7/87 but was at par with L-34/82. L-7/87, L-247/84 and L-48/89 were promising for diameter. Clones L-48/89, L-7/87, 22-N, L-247/84, S7C8, and WSL-22 recorded superiority for both above ground and root biomass. The maximum fiber length was recorded in clone WSL-29 (0.936 mm) which was at par with those of WSL-22, L-17/92 and L-50/88. The wood specific gravity ranged from 0.383 to 0.498. Clone L-290/84 was at top rank but statistically par with 40-N, G-48, L-50/88 and T-90. The relative resistance for leaf spot was the higher in L-290/84, 40-N and WSL-29 in 1st year, and WSL-29, L-17/92, L-290/84, 22-N, 40-N, S7C8, and L-48/89 were found to be resistant during 2nd year. On the basis of all the traits clones L-48/89, 22-N, L-290/84, 40-N, and WSL-22 have shown promise and need to be tested at multiple sites before commercial cultivation.
The outer generalized inverse of an even-order tensor
Authors: Ji Jun , Wei Yimin
Published: September 2020

Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of the outer inverse of a tensor with the Einstein product are studied. This generalized inverse of a tensor unifies several generalized inverses of tensors introduced recently in the literature, including the weighted Moore-Penrose, the Moore-Penrose, and the Drazin inverses. The outer inverse of a tensor is expressed through the matrix unfolding of a tensor and the tensor folding. This expression is used to find a characterization of the outer inverse through group inverses, establish the behavior of outer inverse under a small perturbation, and show the existence of a full rank factorization of a tensor and obtain the expression of the outer inverse using full rank factorization. The tensor reverse rule of the weighted Moore-Penrose and Moore-Penrose inverses is examined and equivalent conditions are also developed.
Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on orthopaedic trauma: a multicentre study across Scotland
Authors: MacDonald David R. W. , Neilly David W. , Davies Peter S. E. , Crome Christopher R. , Jamal Bilal , Gill Sarah L. , Jariwala Arpit C. , Stevenson Iain M. , Ashcroft G. Patrick ,   SCORE authors
Published: September 2020

Aims

The UK government declared a national lockdown on 23 March 2020 to reduce transmission of COVID-19. This study aims to identify the effect of lockdown on the rates, types, mechanisms, and mortality of musculoskeletal trauma across Scotland.

Methods

Data for all musculoskeletal trauma requiring operative treatment were collected prospectively from five key orthopaedic units across Scotland during lockdown (23 March 2020 to 28 May 2020). This was compared with data for the same timeframe in 2019 and 2018. Data collected included all cases requiring surgery, injury type, mechanism of injury, and inpatient mortality.

Results

A total of 1,315 patients received operative treatment from 23 March 2020 to 28 May 2020 compared with 1,791 in 2019 and 1,719 in 2018. The numbers of all injury types decreased, but the relative frequency of hip fractures increased (36.3% in 2020 vs 30.2% in 2019, p < 0.0001 and 30.7% in 2018, p < 0.0001). Significant increases were seen in the proportion of DIY-related injuries (3.1% in 2020 vs 1.7% in 2019, p = 0.012 and 1.6% in 2018, p < 0.005) and injuries caused by falls (65.6% in 2020 vs 62.6% in 2019, p = 0.082 and 61.9% in 2018, p = 0.047). Significant decreases were seen in the proportion of road traffic collisions (2.6% in 2020 vs 5.4% in 2019, p < 0.0001 and 4.2% in 2018, p = 0.016), occupational injuries (1.8% in 2020 vs 3.0% in 2019, p = 0.025 and 2.3% in 2018, p = 0.012) and infections (6.8% in 2020 vs 7.8% in 2019, p = 0.268 and 10.3% in 2018, p < 0.012). Cycling injuries increased (78 in 2020 vs 64 in 2019 vs 42 in 2018). A significant increase in the proportion of self-harm injuries was seen (1.7% in 2020 vs 1.1% in 2019, p = 0.185 and 0.5% in 2018, p < 0.0001). Mortality of trauma patients was significantly higher in 2020 (5.0%) than in 2019 (2.8%, p = 0.002) and 2018 (1.8%, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The UK COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in a marked reduction in musculoskeletal trauma patients undergoing surgery in Scotland. There have been significant changes in types and mechanisms of injury and, concerningly, mortality of trauma patients has risen significantly. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-9:541–548.