bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring secondary SARS-CoV-2 transmission from asymptomatic cases using contact tracing data
Authors: Nakajo Ko , Nishiura Hiroshi
Published: July 2021

Background

Individuals with asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can propagate the virus unknowingly and thus have been a focus of public health attentions since the early stages of the pandemic. Understanding viral transmissibility among asymptomatic individuals is critical for successful control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present study aimed to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility among young asymptomatic individuals and to assess whether symptomatology was associated with transmission of symptomatic vs. asymptomatic infections.

Methods

We analyzed one of the first-identified clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infections with multiple chains of transmission that occurred among university students in March 2020 in Kyoto prefecture, Japan, using discrete and two-type branching process models. Assuming that the number of secondary cases resulting from either primary symptomatic or asymptomatic cases independently followed negative binomial distributions, we estimated the relative reproduction numbers of an asymptomatic case compared with a symptomatic case. To explore the potential association between symptomatology and transmission of symptomatic vs. asymptomatic incident infections, we also estimated the proportion of secondary symptomatic cases produced by primary symptomatic and asymptomatic cases.

Results

The reproduction number for a symptomatic primary case was estimated at 1.14 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61–2.09). The relative reproduction number for asymptomatic cases was estimated at 0.19 (95% CI: 0.03–0.66), indicating that asymptomatic primary cases did not result in sufficient numbers of secondary infections to maintain chains of transmission. There was no apparent tendency for symptomatic primary cases to preferentially produce symptomatic secondary cases.

Conclusions

Using data from a transmission network during the early epidemic in Japan, we successfully estimated the relative transmissibility of asymptomatic cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection at 0.22. These results suggest that contract tracing focusing on symptomatic index cases may be justified given limited testing capacity.
Dietary habits and the presence and degree of asymptomatic diverticular disease by magnetic resonance imaging in a Western population: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Askani Esther , Rospleszcz Susanne , Rothenbacher Theresa , Wawro Nina , Messmann Helmut , De Cecco Carlo N. , von Krüchten Ricarda , Kulka Charlotte , Kiefer Lena S. , Rathmann Wolfgang , Peters Annette , Schlett Christopher L. , Bamberg Fabian , Linseisen Jakob , Storz Corinna
Published: July 2021

Background

Despite the worldwide burden of diverticular disease, the connections between diverticular disease and dietary habits remain poorly understood, particularly in an asymptomatic representative sample. We investigated the association between asymptomatic diverticular disease as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dietary habits in a Western study cohort.

Methods

Participants from a cross-sectional sample of a population-based cohort study underwent whole-body 3T-MRI including an isotropic VIBE-Dixon sequence. The presence and extent of diverticular disease was assessed in blinded fashion. Habitual dietary intake was recorded using a blended approach, applying 24-h food lists and a food-frequency questionnaire. Traditional cardiometabolic risk factors were obtained by interviews and medical examination. Univariate and multivariate associations were calculated.

Results

A total of 308 subjects were included in this analysis (56% male, 56.4 ± 9.1 years). 39.9% had any form of diverticular disease and 15.3% had advanced asymptomatic diverticular disease. After adjustment for age, sex and total energy intake a higher intake of fiber and vegetables was associated with a lower odds for asymptomatic diverticular disease (fiber: OR 0.68 95% CI [0.48, 0.95]; vegetables: OR 0.72 95% CI [0.53, 0.97]) and an increased intake of meat was associated with an approximately two-fold higher odds for advanced asymptomatic diverticular disease (OR 1.84 95% CI [1.13, 2.99]). However, after additional adjustment for body-mass-index (BMI), alcohol consumption, smoking behavior and physical activity only a high fiber and vegetables intake remained significantly associated with lower odds of asymptomatic diverticular disease.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that a high-fiber diet and increased intake of vegetables is associated with lower odds of having asymptomatic diverticular disease, independent of age, sex, total energy intake, BMI and other life-style factors.
Morphological changes of the anterior alveolar bone due to retraction of anterior teeth: a retrospective study
Authors: Sun Qiannan , Lu Wenhsuan , Zhang Yunfan , Peng Liying , Chen Si , Han Bing
Published: July 2021

Backgroud

To analyze the morphological changes of the anterior alveolar bone after the retraction of incisors in premolar extraction cases and the relationship between incisor retraction and remodeling of the alveolar base represented by points A and B displacements.

Methods

Pre- (T0) and post-treatment (T1) lateral cephalograms of 308 subjects in the maxilla and 154 subjects in the mandible who underwent the orthodontic treatment with extraction of 2 premolars in upper or lower arches were included. Alveolar bone width and height in both the maxillary and mandible incisor area were measured at T0 and T1 respectively. By superimposing the T0 and T1 cephalometric tracings, changes of points A and B, and the movement of the incisors were also measured. Then the correlation between incisor movement and the displacements of points A and B was analyzed.

Results

The alveolar bone width (ABW) showed a significant decrease in both maxilla and mandible (P < 0.001) except the labial side of the mandible (P > 0.05). The alveolar bone height (ABH) showed a significant increase in the labial side of maxilla and a significant decrease in the lingual side of maxilla and mandible. A strong positive correlation was verified between incisor movement and position changes of points A and B in both horizontal and vertical directions.

Conclusions

Anterior alveolar bone width and height generally decreased after orthodontic treatment. Incisor retraction led to significant position changes of points A and B. The decrease of anterior alveolar bone due to significant incisor retraction should be taken into account in treatment planning.
Corydalis saxicola Bunting total alkaloids attenuate paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy through PKCε/p38 MAPK/TRPV1 signaling pathway
Authors: Xue Chu , Liu Si-Xue , Hu Jie , Huang Jin , Liu Hong-Min , Qiu Zhi-Xia , Huang Fang
Published: July 2021

Background

Corydalis saxicola Bunting, affiliated with the Papaveraceae Juss., has been proven to work well in anti-inflammation, hemostasis, and analgesia. This study was designed to observe the effect and potential mechanism of Corydalis saxicola Bunting total alkaloids (CSBTA) on paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN).

Materials and methods

Rats were injected 2 mg/kg paclitaxel 4 times and administrated with 30 or 120 mg/kg CSBTA. Mechanical and thermal allodynia and hyperalgesia were tested. After 40 days, serum was collected to detect PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β by ELISA. The L4-L6 segment spinal cord, DRG, and plantar skin were harvested, and Western-blot or RT-qPCR analyzed protein and gene levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, p38 MAPK, PKCε, and TRPV1. The PIPN cell model was established with paclitaxel (300 nM, 5 d) in primary DRG neurons. We examined the effect of CSBTA (25 μg/ml or 50 μg/ml) by measuring the mRNA levels in PGE2, TNF-α and CGRP, and the protein expression on the PKCε/p38 MAPK/TRPV1 signaling pathway in the PIPN cell model.

Results

The results showed that CSBTA effectively ameliorated allodynia and hyperalgesia, and regulated cytokines' contents (PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β) and neuropeptides (CGRP and SP) in different tissues in vivo. In addition, CSBTA significantly decreased cytokine gene levels of DRG neurons (PGE2, TNF-α, and CGRP) and the protein expressions of PKCε/p38 MAPK/TRPV1 signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusion

Therefore, CSBTA has a perspective therapeutic effect on the treatment of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Distribution of human papillomavirus in precancerous and cancerous cervical neoplasia in Tunisian women
Authors: Bel Haj Rhouma Rahima , Ardhaoui Monia , El Fehri Emna , Marzougui Asma , Laassili Thalja , Guizani Ikram , Boubaker Med Samir , Ennaifer Emna
Published: July 2021

Background

High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) are responsible for cervical cancer (CC) which represents the second most prevalent gynecological cancer among Tunisian women. Preventive strategies against CC are based on prophylactic vaccines that have not yet been implemented into the national vaccination program of Tunisia. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the HPV genotypes distribution in cervical neoplasia in Tunisian women in order to predict the impact of using current HPV vaccines on cancer prevention in Tunisia.

Methods

A total of 200 formalin-fixed paraffin embedded biopsies were collected in our study. DNA was extracted using Qiagen Mini prep kit. DNA quality was controlled by Beta Globin PCR. Only positive samples for Beta Globin test were used. HPV detection was performed by a nested PCR using PYGMY and GP5+/6+ primers. Genotyping was performed by Reverse Line hybridization using 31 probes.

Results

The mean age of participants was 38.97 years and 75% were over 30 years. Cervical neoplasia distribution according to age showed that CINII/CINIII was observed among women over 30 years old. All samples were positive for Beta Globin PCR. Overall HPV prevalence in cervical lesions was 83% (166/200). HPV was present in 65% of CINI, 82% of CINII/CINIII and 85% of CC. HR-HPV was statistically significantly associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (p < 10–3). HR-HPV distribution according to lesion grade and cervical cancer showed that HPV16 and HPV18 were present in all lesions. For CINII/CINIII, HPV 35 (37.5%) was the most detected type, followed by HPV18 (33.3%) HPV 45 (28.5%) and HPV 16 (18.9%). HPV 45(57.5%), HPV 18 (53.3%) were the most detected in CC. HPV58, 59, 68 were only detected in CC and associated with HPV45, 18 and HPV16. HPV39, 31, 33, 52, 56 and HPV70 was associated only with CINI.

Conclusions

Our findings can give useful information for vaccine implementation by helping the health policymakers to choose the most appropriate vaccine type in Tunisia.
Intensive group-based cognitive therapy in patients with cardiac disease and psychological distress—a randomized controlled trial protocol
Authors: Holdgaard Annette , Eckhardt-Hansen Christine , Lund Thomas , Lassen Christina Funch , Sibiliz Kirstine Lærum , Høfsten Dan Eik , Prescott Eva , Rasmusen Hanne Kruuse
Published: July 2021

Background

Many patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and valvular heart disease (VHD) suffer from psychological distress. Such stress is associated with increased morbidity, reduced quality of life and delayed return to work. European guidelines emphasize recognition and intervention, but evidence-based treatment options are limited and perceived as costly. The present study will test the effect of brief, group-based cognitive therapy as an adjunct to usual cardiac rehabilitation in a randomized design.

Methods

A total of 148 patients with CAD and/or VHD after surgical intervention and concomitant psychological distress (defined as HADS anxiety (A) or depression (D) score ≥8) will be randomized to either usual out-patient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) comprising an 8-week multidisciplinary programme or usual care supplemented by five group-based cognitive therapy sessions performed by trained CR nurses. A structured, standardized treatment manual will be used. Patients will be randomized 1:1 at three different sites. Additionally, a non-randomized sub-group of 40 matched patients without signs of psychological distress will be followed to investigate spontaneous variation in HADS. The primary outcome is Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS). Secondary outcomes are adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (CR), health-related quality of life measured by HeartQoL, time to return to work, adherence to lifestyle interventions and cardiovascular readmissions. Patients are followed up for 12 months.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) on patients with cardiac disease with an intensive group-based programme of cognitive therapy performed by CR nurses, which makes it affordable and widely implementable. The outcome will elucidate the feasibility and effect of cognitive therapy as an adjunct to CR in patients with post-surgery CAD and/or VHD and psychological distress and could possibly benefit patients with other heart conditions as well. The clinical trial complies with the Declaration of Helsinki. The trial has been approved by The Regional Research Ethics Committee (file number H-16042832) and The Danish Data Protection Agency. The results will be disseminated as original research in peer-reviewed manuscripts.

Trial registration

www.clinicaltrials.govNCT04254315. Retrospectively registered on 30 January 2020.
A new structure of an integral operator associated with trigonometric Dunkl settings
Authors: Al-Omari Shrideh Khalaf , Araci Serkan , Al-Smadi Mohammed
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we discuss a generalization to the Cherednik–Opdam integral operator to an abstract space of Boehmians. We introduce sets of Boehmians and establish delta sequences and certain class of convolution products. Then we prove that the extended Cherednik–Opdam integral operator is linear, bijective and continuous with respect to the convergence of the generalized spaces of Boehmians. Moreover, we derive embeddings and discuss properties of the generalized theory. Moreover, we obtain an inversion formula and provide several results.
Fixed point theory in the setting of $(\alpha,\beta,\psi,\phi)$-interpolative contractions
Authors: Karapınar Erdal , Fulga Andreea , Roldán López de Hierro Antonio Francisco
Published: July 2021

In this manuscript we introduce the notion of $(\alpha,\beta,\psi,\phi)$
(
α
,
β
,
ψ
,
ϕ
)
-interpolative contraction that unifies and generalizes significant concepts: Proinov type contractions, interpolative contractions, and ample spectrum contraction. We investigate the necessary and sufficient conditions to guarantee existence and uniqueness of the fixed point of such mappings.
A new approach to modelling the input–output structure of regional economies using non-survey methods
Authors: Flegg Anthony T. , Lamonica Guiseppe R. , Chelli Francesco M. , Recchioni Maria C. , Tohmo Timo
Published: July 2021

This paper proposes a new approach to the regionalization of national input–output tables where suitable regional data are scarce and analysts are considering using location quotients (LQs). We focus on the FLQ formula, which frequently yields the best results of the pure LQ-based methods, and develop an enhanced way of implementing this approach. We use a modified cross-entropy (MCE) method, along with a regression model, to estimate values of the unknown parameter δ in the FLQ formula, specific to both region and country. An analysis of survey-based data for 16 South Korean regions reveals that the proposed FLQ+ approach yields more accurate estimates of both input coefficients and sectoral output multipliers than those from simpler LQ-based methods or the MCE approach alone. Sectoral outputs (or employment) are the only regional data required. The MCE method also clearly outperforms GRAS.
On the association between risk attitude and fruit and vegetable consumption: insights from university students in Italy
Authors: Giampietri Elisa , Bugin Giuseppe , Trestini Samuele
Published: July 2021

As a novel contribution, this paper explores the possible association between individual risk attitudes and consumer fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. Inspired by the literature, the study also investigates the relationship between FV consumption frequency and health consciousness, perceived health benefits, trust, and attitude towards eating the recommended five-a-day FV portions. An ordered logit model is estimated on data collected through direct interviews among university students. The results show that risk aversion has a positive effect on consumer choice to eat the recommended number of FV servings, similar to the individual health consciousness and the perception of health benefits. The results pave the way for new research that aims to provide useful evidence for the implementation of new strategies to foster people’s FV intake in compliance with the five-a-day recommendation.
Chronic complement dysregulation drives neuroinflammation after traumatic brain injury: a transcriptomic study
Authors: Toutonji Amer , Mandava Mamatha , Guglietta Silvia , Tomlinson Stephen
Published: July 2021

Activation of the complement system propagates neuroinflammation and brain damage early and chronically after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The complement system is complex and comprises more than 50 components, many of which remain to be characterized in the normal and injured brain. Moreover, complement therapeutic studies have focused on a limited number of histopathological outcomes, which while informative, do not assess the effect of complement inhibition on neuroprotection and inflammation in a comprehensive manner. Using high throughput gene expression technology (NanoString), we simultaneously analyzed complement gene expression profiles with other neuroinflammatory pathway genes at different time points after TBI. We additionally assessed the effects of complement inhibition on neuropathological processes. Analyses of neuroinflammatory genes were performed at days 3, 7, and 28 post injury in male C57BL/6 mice following a controlled cortical impact injury. We also characterized the expression of 59 complement genes at similar time points, and also at 1- and 2-years post injury. Overall, TBI upregulated the expression of markers of astrogliosis, immune cell activation, and cellular stress, and downregulated the expression of neuronal and synaptic markers from day 3 through 28 post injury. Moreover, TBI upregulated gene expression across most complement activation and effector pathways, with an early emphasis on classical pathway genes and with continued upregulation of C2, C3 and C4 expression 2 years post injury. Treatment using the targeted complement inhibitor, CR2-Crry, significantly ameliorated TBI-induced transcriptomic changes at all time points. Nevertheless, some immune and synaptic genes remained dysregulated with CR2-Crry treatment, suggesting adjuvant anti-inflammatory and neurotropic therapy may confer additional neuroprotection. In addition to characterizing complement gene expression in the normal and aging brain, our results demonstrate broad and chronic dysregulation of the complement system after TBI, and strengthen the view that the complement system is an attractive target for TBI therapy.
SGLT2 inhibitors as potentially helpful drugs in PI3K inhibitor-induced diabetes: a case report
Authors: Sahakian Nicolas , Cattieuw Lauranne , Ramillon-Cury Clotilde , Corroller Audrey Bégu-Le , Silvestre-Aillaud Pascale , Béliard Sophie , Valéro René
Published: July 2021

Background

Hyperglycemia is the most common side-effect of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors that are approved for the treatment of some advanced or metastatic breast cancers. This side-effect is likely due to the central role of PI3K in insulin signalling. Here we report the use of a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor to manage severe hyperglycemia.

Case presentation

We describe a 74-year-old woman who developed severe uncontrolled hyperglycemia after commencing alpelisib, a new oral PI3K inhibitor indicated for a metastatic breast cancer, despite taking oral anti-diabetic drugs, metformin and vildagliptin, combined with intravenous insulin infusion of up to 250 units/day. The introduction of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin rapidly improved blood glucose with a drastic reduction in insulin dosage, from 250 to 12 units/day, and without significant side-effects.

Conclusions

We report the successful management of hyperglycemia induced by alpelisib using a SGLT2 inhibitor without the need to discontinue effective cancer treatment.
Single-cell and spatial analyses of cancer cells: toward elucidating the molecular mechanisms of clonal evolution and drug resistance acquisition
Authors: Nagasawa Satoi , Kashima Yukie , Suzuki Ayako , Suzuki Yutaka
Published: July 2021

Even within a single type of cancer, cells of various types exist and play interrelated roles. Each of the individual cells resides in a distinct microenvironment and behaves differently. Such heterogeneity is the most cumbersome nature of cancers, which is occasionally uncountable when effective prevention or total elimination of cancers is attempted. To understand the heterogeneous nature of each cell, the use of conventional methods for the analysis of “bulk” cells is insufficient. Although some methods are high-throughput and compressive regarding the genes being detected, the obtained data would be from the cell mass, and the average of a large number of the component cells would no longer be measured. Single-cell analysis, which has developed rapidly in recent years, is causing a drastic change. Genome, transcriptome, and epigenome analyses at single-cell resolution currently target cancer cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells of vessels, and circulating and infiltrating immune cells. In fact, surprisingly diverse features of clonal evolution of cancer cells, during the development of cancer or acquisition of drug resistance, accompanied by corresponding gene expression changes in the circumstantial stromal cells, appeared in recent single-cell analyses. Based on the obtained novel insights, better optimal drug selection and new drug administration sequences were started. Even a remaining concern of the single cell analyses is being addressed. Until very recently, it was impossible to obtain positional information of cells in cancer via single-cell analysis because such information is lost during preparation of single-cell suspensions. A new method, collectively called spatial transcriptome (ST) analysis, has been developed and rapidly applied to various clinical specimens. In this review, we first outline the recent achievements of single-cell cancer analysis in analyzing the molecular basis underlying the acquisition of drug resistance, particularly focusing on the latest anti-epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, osimertinib. Further, we review the currently available ST analysis methods and introduce our recent attempts regarding the respective topics.
Regression tree modelling to predict total average extra costs in household spending during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lotfy Nesma
Published: July 2021

Background

Prevention of coronavirus (COVID-19) regarding households has many aspects, such as buying mask, hand sanitizer, face shield, and many others. As a result of buying the previous items, the household spending per month will increase during the COVID-19 pandemic period. This study aimed to calculate the average costs of each extra item involved in households spending during COVID-19 pandemic and to predict the total average extra costs spending by households.

Results

Most of the respondents were females (81%) and aged between 30 and 40 (56.3%). About 63.1% of families had the same monthly income while 35.4% had a decrease in monthly income. A significant reduction in days of leaving home before and after COVID-19 pandemic was observed (before; median = 6, after; median = 5, P =  < 0.001). The extra spending in grocery was the dominated item compared to other items (mean = 707.2 L.E./month, SD = 530.7). Regarding regression tree, the maximum average extra costs due to COVID-19 pandemic were 1386 L.E./month (around 88.56$/month (1$—> 15.65L.E.)) while the minimum average extra costs were 217 L.E./month (around 13.86$/month).

Conclusions

The effect of COVID-19 pandemic in households spending varies largely between households, it depends on what they do to prevent COVID-19.
Causes and suggested remedies to taro endangerment in four regions of Ghana
Authors: Oduro Emmanuel , Donkor Esther Fobi , Ackah Emmanuel
Published: July 2021

Background

Many plant species worldwide cultivated for food have been neglected and are being underutilized despite their crucial contributions to food security, nutrition and income generation to rural citizens, leading to a nearly permanent diet deficiency. Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott), an important food crop in the family Araceae, is one of the neglected species. This study therefore focused on identifying potential challenges mitigating taro production and utilization in taro-producing areas of Ghana and to formulate recommendations for overall increased production and utilization of the crop. The study was conducted in Ahanta West Municipal, Dormaa Municipal, Kumasi Metropolitan and East Akim Municipal in the Western, Bono, Ashanti and Eastern Regions of Ghana, respectively. These districts were ever known for taro production in Ghana. Well-structured questionnaires were used to collect information on ethnobotany of taro, possible causes of taro endangerment and remedies to combat them from farmers, traders and consumers.

Results

The survey revealed different vernacular names for taro, and the corm was the main part used as food. The corms were usually boiled before eaten. Major recipes of taro identified were “Puree and Ampesi.” The study revealed that taro was mainly cultivated on marginal soils as well as near water bodies. Taro was largely cultivated on subsistence scale. The study also revealed that utilization as food and tool of trade has reduced drastically. Major causes of taro extinction reported included: lack of healthy planting materials, unavailability of consumable corms and disease [Taro leaf blight disease(TLBD)] of the crop.

Conclusion

It was suggested that the release of cultivars which are resistant to the TLBD and publication of the nutritional benefits of the crop could revive the cultivation and utilization of the crop.
Crossover of the relative heat transport contributions of plume ejecting and impacting zones in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection
(a)
Authors: Reiter Philipp , Shishkina Olga , Lohse Detlef , Krug Dominik
Published: July 2021

Turbulent thermal convection is characterized by the formation of large-scale structures and strong spatial inhomogeneity. This work addresses the relative heat transport contributions of the large-scale plume ejecting vs. plume impacting zones in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection. Based on direct numerical simulations of the two dimensional (2-D) problem, we show the existence of a crossover in the wall heat transport from initially impacting dominated to ultimately ejecting dominated at

. This is consistent with the trends observed in 3-D convection at lower Ra, and we therefore expect a similar crossover to also occur there. We identify the development of a turbulent mixing zone, connected to thermal plume emission, as the primary mechanism for the takeover. The mixing zone gradually extends vertically and horizontally, therefore becoming more and more dominant for the overall heat transfer.
Will Marriage Rights Bring Family Equality? Law, Lesbian Co-Mothers, and Strategies of Recognition in Taiwan
Authors: Friedman Sara L. , Chen Yi-Chien
Published: July 2021

This article analyzes the tension between marriage and family rights in the context of Taiwan's marriage equality movement and the then-pending legalization of same-sex marriage following a 2017 Constitutional Court ruling. It focuses on the efforts of lesbian co-mothers to secure vital legal guarantees for the families they create through intentional childbearing. As pioneers who have formed families in a legal vacuum, these parents harbor deep hopes for what law will offer but simultaneously doubt that legal reforms will guarantee the rights and recognition they desire. For lesbian co-mothers, law and family are mutually constitutive practices oriented toward both the present and the future. Co-mothers make decisions about childbearing and family formation that take into account existing legal frameworks for family recognition, but their strategies for recognition also orient them toward future potentialities, posing the challenge of how to make decisions in the present without knowing for certain what might be legally possible in the future. The article concludes that lesbian co-mothers’ family strategies are productive as much as they are reactive; they not only diversify the norm but also potentially shift the very ground on which normativity is created.
CDX2 inducible microRNAs sustain colon cancer by targeting multiple DNA damage response pathway factors
Authors: Priya Swati , Kaur Ekjot , Kulshrestha Swati , Pandit Awadhesh , Gross Isabelle , Kumar Nitin , Agarwal Himanshi , Khan Aamir , Shyam Radhey , Bhagat Prakash , Prabhu Jyothi S. , Nagarajan Perumal , Deo S. V. S. , Bajaj Avinash , Freund Jean-Noël , Mukhopadhyay Arnab , Sengupta Sagar
Published: July 2021

Meta-analysis of transcripts in colon adenocarcinoma patient tissues led to the identification of a DNA damage responsive miR signature called DNA damage sensitive miRs (DDSMs). DDSMs were experimentally validated in the cancerous colon tissues obtained from an independent cohort of colon cancer patients and in multiple cellular systems with high levels of endogenous DNA damage. All the tested DDSMs were transcriptionally upregulated by a common intestine-specific transcription factor, CDX2. Reciprocally, DDSMs were repressed via the recruitment of HDAC1/2-containing complexes onto the CDX2 promoter. These miRs downregulated multiple key targets in the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, namely BRCA1, ATM, Chk1 (also known as CHEK1) and RNF8. CDX2 directly regulated the DDSMs, which led to increased tumor volume and metastasis in multiple preclinical models. In colon cancer patient tissues, the DDSMs negatively correlated with BRCA1 levels, were associated with decreased probability of survival and thereby could be used as a prognostic biomarker.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Case Report: PsAPSASH syndrome: an alternative phenotype of syndromic hidradenitis suppurativa treated with the IL-17A inhibitor secukinumab
Authors: Nikolakis Georgios , Kreibich Katja , Vaiopoulos Aristeidis , Kaleta Katarzyna , Talas Joud , Becker Markus , Zouboulis Christos C.
Published: July 2021

Syndromic hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a form of symptom constellations, which differs from the familial and genetic form and comprises predominantly osteoarticular manifestations. Many forms include pyoderma gangrenosum and acne (PASH), pyogenic arthritis (PAPASH), spondyloarthritis (PASS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsAPASH) and are categorized in the autoinflammatory syndromes. Anti-TNF-α and anti-IL-1a blockade are between the therapeutic approaches that improve skin symptoms and prevent permanent osteoarticular damage. This case report refers to the successful treatment of a mixed phenotype of the aforementioned symptoms using the IL-17A inhibitor secukinumab after initial treatment with adalimumab. The therapy improved both cutaneous and reported osteoarticular symptoms. Different approaches for these recalcitrant HS syndromes are essential in order to achieve long-term remission for those patients.
Identifying interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance in the intensive care unit through co-design with stakeholders
Authors: Lambe Kathryn , Lydon Sinéad , McSharry Jenny , Byrne Molly , Squires Janet , Power Michael , Domegan Christine , O'Connor Paul
Published: July 2021

Background: Despite the effectiveness of hand hygiene (HH) for infection control, there is a lack of robust scientific data to guide how HH can be improved in intensive care units (ICUs).  The aim of this study is to use the literature, researcher, and stakeholder opinion to explicate potential interventions for improving HH compliance in the ICU, and provide an indication of the suitability of these interventions.

Methods: A four-phase co-design study was designed. First, data from a previously completed systematic literature review was used in order to identify unique components of existing interventions to improve HH in ICUs. Second, a workshop was held with a panel of 10 experts to identify additional intervention components. Third, the 91 intervention components resulting from the literature review and workshop were synthesised into a final list of 21 hand hygiene interventions. Finally, the affordability, practicability, effectiveness, acceptability, side-effects/safety, and equity of each intervention was rated by 39 stakeholders (health services researchers, ICU staff, and the public).

Results: Ensuring the availability of essential supplies for HH compliance was the intervention that received most approval from stakeholders. Interventions involving role models and peer-to-peer accountability and support were also well regarded by stakeholders. Education/training interventions were commonplace and popular. Punitive interventions were poorly regarded.

Conclusions: Hospitals and regulators must make decisions regarding how to improve HH compliance in the absence of scientific consensus on effective methods. Using collective input and a co-design approach, the guidance developed herein may usefully support implementation of HH interventions that are considered to be effective and acceptable by stakeholders.
Evaluation of a hypothetical decision-support tool for intensive care triage of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Authors: Simon Thomas Emily , Peiris Bryony , Di Stefano Leon , Rowland Matthew J. , Wilkinson Dominic
Published: July 2021

Background: At the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic there was widespread concern about potentially overwhelming demand for intensive care and the need for intensive care unit (ICU) triage. In March 2020, a draft United Kingdom (UK) guideline proposed a decision-support tool (DST). We sought to evaluate the accuracy of the tool in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: We retrospectively identified patients in two groups: referred and not referred to intensive care in a single UK national health service (NHS) trust in April 2020. Age, Clinical Frailty Scale score (CFS), and co-morbidities were collected from patients’ records and recorded, along with ceilings of treatment and outcome. We compared the DST, CFS, and age alone as predictors of mortality, and treatment ceiling decisions.

Results: In total, 151 patients were included in the analysis, with 75 in the ICU and 76 in the non-ICU-reviewed groups. Age, clinical frailty and DST score were each associated with increased mortality and higher likelihood of treatment limitation (p-values all <.001). A DST cut-off score of >8 had 65% (95% confidence interval (CI) 51%-79%) sensitivity and 63% (95% CI 54%-72%) specificity for predicting mortality. It had a sensitivity of 80% (70%-88%) and specificity of 96% (95% CI 90%-100%) for predicting treatment limitation. The DST was more discriminative than age alone (p<0.001), and potentially more discriminative than CFS (p=0.08) for predicting treatment ceiling decisions.

Conclusions: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in a hospital without severe resource limitations, a hypothetical decision support tool was limited in its predictive value for mortality, but appeared to be sensitive and specific for predicting treatment limitation.
Behavior of Tourists towards Conserving Underwater Cultural Heritage
Authors: Bhadra Mehuli , G Nagarjuna
Published: July 2021

Culture and heritage are one of the pull factors that attracts the tourists towards the destination. Tourists consume culture and heritage products in a different form such as experiencing the cuisines, participating in religious festivals, wearing cultural dresses, purchasing souvenirs which reflect culture and heritage of the destination, by visiting to heritage sites, museums and so on. Visiting land-based culture and heritage sites is quite common among tourists. Under the culture and heritage tag, underwater cultural water is getting more attention of the tourists since it give different, memorable and adventure experience. Underwater cultural heritage is nothing but traces of human existence having cultural, historical and archaeological character which have been partially or totally under water. It is essential to conserve and preserve the underwater cultural heritage since it holds the importance of past culture and tradition of the humans. The main objective of the study is to find out tourists’ awareness and importance of preserving underwater cultural heritage. The area of the study covers Gujarat and Tamil Nadu since each destination holds significant underwater cultural heritage value in India. The recommendations of the study will be useful to promote India has one of the prominent underwater cultural heritage destination
Loculated Empyema and SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature
Authors: Ayad Sarah , Gergis Kirolos , Elkattawy Sherif , Mirza Noreen , Abdelazeem Basel , Patel Latika , Remolina Carlos
Published: July 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Clinical manifestations are diverse and can vary from mild respiratory symptoms to severe hypoxic respiratory failure. In severe cases, infection can cause gastrointestinal, renal, cardiac, neurological and haematological complications and result in multi-organ failure. There are very few reports of parapneumonic effusion in patients with COVID-19. We describe two patients with COVID-19 who had loculated empyema and discuss the clinical course and therapeutic options.
On the genus Sunius Stephens, 1829 of Turkey IX. A new species from northwestern Anatolia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)
Authors: ANLAŞ SİNAN
Published: July 2021

In the study, a new species of the genus Sunius Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) is described and illustrated from Bursa province in northwestern Turkey, and distinguished from related congeners: Sunius uludagicus sp. nov. The species number of the genus is now reached 43 species in Turkey, 39 of them are apparently endemic to Anatolia.
Les attitudes d'apprenants taiwanais de langue étrangère à l'égard de la bande dessinée et quelques implications
Authors: Sossouvi Laurent-Fidèle
Published: July 2021

The issue of exploitation foreign languages' instructional comics has been widely discussed in recent years. However, although the authors indicate its advantages and its great educational potential, few have actually investigated learners' attitudes towards this learning resource. And everyone knows the importance of affective factors in the process of learning foreign languages. In addition, comic is rarely used as a teaching aid in Asia. As part of this contribution exploratory, we propose to examine not only the attitudes of Sinophones Learners of French as Foreign Language towards comic, but also the support it can provide. To achieve this goal, fifty-five Taiwanese learners, from level A1 to B1, divided into three distinct groups were probed, questioned and subjected to work around comics. According to the results, we conclude that (i) learners have positive attitudes towards comics, mangas, and are highly motivated; (ii) the use of comics has helped to improve their language skills and intercultural learning as well as revitalize the target language. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Precise-robust position measurement of a linear motor based on the extended speed-up robust features algorithm and sawtooth stripe pattern
Authors: Zhao Jing , Wang Wanwan , Zhou Yang , Dong Fei
Published: July 2021

To improve the accuracy and robustness of linear motor mover position detection, a linear motor displacement measurement method is proposed based on the extended speed-up robust features algorithm and sawtooth stripe image. First, a sawtooth stripe image is constructed as the target image. To optimize the target image with strong robustness, the spatial frequency and image standard deviation are introduced as the image quality evaluation indices. Second, a line scan camera fixed on the linear motor is used to capture the target image signals in real time. The sequential sawtooth stripe signals are preprocessed by filling sampling to improve the matching rate of feature points. To satisfy the real-time requirement of mover position detection, the singular value decomposition is used to reduce the dimension of the preprocessed image. Subsequently, an improved speed-up robust features algorithm is used to achieve sub-pixel displacement measurement. Finally, the actual displacement of the mover can be calculated by the calibration coefficient of the measurement system. Simulation and comparative experiments show that the proposed sawtooth stripe image has better robustness, in contrast with the fence image and aperiodic sinusoidal image in references. It is also demonstrated that the proposed method has higher accuracy and anti-interference performance than other methods under different conditions.
Simultaneous AC and DC measurement based on an FBG-magnetostrictive
fiber sensor
Authors: Zhou Minghui , Zhao Yuncheng , Wang Gensheng , Zhao Bengyang , Huang Yuhao , Yang Zhao , Xia Li
Published: July 2021

Simultaneous alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) measurement is
demonstrated with a new fiber sensor that combines fiber Bragg
gratings (FBGs) with giant magnetostrictive materials (GMMs).
Deformation of GMMs, proportional to the central wavelength shift of
FBGs, is different when applying DC and AC to a solenoid where the
whole sensing structure is located. DC introduces a constant
deformation while AC causes a periodic variation. Therefore, the
central wavelength of FBG has a periodic harmonic variation, which
makes it possible to demodulate the values of DC and AC at the same
time. In addition, the proposed method has potential significance for
reducing temperature cross talk caused by the thermal sensitivity of
FBGs. The experimental results show that the sensitivity of the AC
current can reach up to 0.090576 nm/A in the range of 0 to 1 A, and in
different AC environments, the sensitivity of the DC current can reach
up to 0.2378 nm/A.
Image fusion using a multi-level image decomposition and fusion method
Authors: Tian Yu , Yang Wenjing , Wang Ji
Published: July 2021

In recent years, image fusion has emerged as an important research field due to its various applications. Images acquired by different sensors have significant differences in feature representation due to the different imaging principles. Taking visible and infrared image fusion as an example, visible images contain abundant texture details with high spatial resolution. In contrast, infrared images can obtain clear target contour information according to the principle of thermal radiation, and work well in all day/night and all weather conditions. Most existing methods employ the same feature extraction algorithm to get the feature information from visible and infrared images, ignoring the differences among these images. Thus, this paper proposes what we believe to be a novel fusion method based on a multi-level image decomposition method and deep learning fusion strategy for multi-type images. In image decomposition, we not only utilize a multi-level extended approximate low-rank projection matrix learning decomposition method to extract salient feature information from both visible and infrared images, but also apply a multi-level guide filter decomposition method to obtain texture information in visible images. In image fusion, a novel fusion strategy based on a pretrained ResNet50 network is presented to fuse multi-level feature information from both visible and infrared images into corresponding multi-level fused feature information, so as to improve the quality of the final fused image. The proposed method is evaluated subjectively and objectively in a large number of experiments. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits better fusion performance than other existing methods.
A compact photonic resonator absorption microscope for point of care digital resolution nucleic acid molecular diagnostics: publisher’s note
Authors: Ghosh Shreya , Li Nantao , Xiong Yanyu , Ju Young-Gu , Rathslag Michael P. , Onal Ege G. , Falkiewicz Erika , Kohli Manish , Cunningham Brian T.
Published: July 2021

This publisher’s notes amends the funding of [Biomed. Opt. Express 12, 4637 (2021)10.1364/BOE.427475].
High-efficiency unidirectional vertical emitter achieved by an aperture-coupling nanoslot antenna array
Authors: Zhou Guangzhu , Qu Shi-Wei , Wu Jieyun , Yang Shiwen
Published: July 2021

Coupling light from in-plane guided light into free space or optical fibers is crucial for many photonic integrated circuits and vice versa. However, traditional grating couplers or waveguide grating antennas suffer from low upward coupling efficiency due to the light radiating in both upward and downward directions simultaneously. In this paper, a compact aperture-coupling nanoslot antenna array is proposed for high-efficiency unidirectional radiation, where a two-dimensional high-contrast grating (HCG) is employed as a mirror to reflect the undesired downward radiation. Upon the HCG separated by a low-index spacing layer, a thin silver layer is deposited. Finally, a series of H-shaped slots are patterned on the silver thin film to arrange the aperture fields and radiate the in-plane guided light into free space. The proposed nanoslot antenna array features a front-to-back ratio (F/B) over 10 dB within the wavelength range of 1500 ∼ 1600 nm. At the same time, a high radiation efficiency of over 75% and a maximum radiation efficiency of 87.6% are achieved within the 100 nm bandwidth. The high-efficiency unidirectional antenna array is promising for the integrated photonic applications including wireless optical communications, light detection and ranging, and fiber input/output couplers.