bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cortisol levels in narwhal (Monodon monoceros) blubber from 2000 to 2019
Authors: Watt Cortney A. , Simonee James , L’Herault Vincent , Zhou Ruokun , Ferguson Steven H. , Marcoux Marianne , Black Sandra
Published: January 2021

Narwhals (Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758) summering on northern Baffin Island are experiencing increases in vessel traffic related to an iron-ore mine operated by Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation; how this increase in vessel traffic may impact narwhal is currently unknown. Cortisol is a stress response hormone and a stress indicator in marine mammals. This study evaluated cortisol levels in narwhal blubber sampled during subsistence harvests prior to project-related vessel traffic (2000–2006), during project-related vessel traffic (2013–2019), and during a high-stress entrapment event that occurred in 2015. There was a significant increase in cortisol levels from pre- (0.81 ± 0.45 ng/g (±SE)) to during (1.81 ± 0.48 ng/g (±SE)) project-related vessel traffic (over 100% higher), and both were significantly lower than cortisol levels from animals sampled during an entrapment event (10.52 ± 0.59 ng/g (±SE)). Increased vessel traffic, changing ice conditions, altered Arctic food webs, increased predation pressure from killer whales, and cumulative impacts from these sources likely all contribute to increased stress levels for narwhals. Thus, there is a need for continued monitoring of stress responses (i.e., cortisol levels) and other health indicators in narwhals to understand how individual fitness and the population will be impacted over time.
A Map Inference Approach Using Signal Processing from Crowd-sourced GPS Data
Authors: He Eric , Bai Fan , Hay Curtis , Chen Jinzhu , Bhagavatula Vijayakumar
Published: January 2021

The amount of GPS data that can be collected is increasing tremendously, thanks to the increased popularity of Global Position System (GPS) devices (e.g., smartphones). This article aims to develop novel methods of converting crowd-sourced GPS traces into road topology maps. We explore map inference using a three-stage approach, which incorporates a novel Multi-source Variable Rate (MSVR) signal reconstruction mechanism. Unlike conventional map inference methods based on map graph theory, our approach, to the best of our knowledge, is the first use of estimation theory for map inference. In particular, our approach addresses the unique challenges of vehicular GPS data. This data is plentiful but suffers from noise in location and variable coverage of regions. This makes it difficult to differentiate between noise and sparsely covered regions when increasing coverage and reducing noise. Due to the asynchronous, variable sampling rate, and often under-sampled nature of the data, our MSVR approach can better handle inherent GPS errors, reconstruct road shapes more accurately, and better deal with variable GPS data density in empirical environments.

We evaluated our method for map inference by comparing to Open Street Map maps as ground truth. We use the F-Measure, Precision, and Recall metrics to evaluate our method on Tsinghua University’s Beijing Taxi Dataset and Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s SUVnet Dataset. On these datasets, we obtained a mean F-Measure, Precision, and Recall of 0.7212, 0.9165, and 0.6021, respectively, outperforming a well-known method based on Kernel Density Estimation in terms of these evaluation metrics.
Experimental and Numerical Study on the Permeation Grouting Diffusion Mechanism considering Filtration Effects
Authors: Zhu Guangxuan , Zhang Qingsong , Liu Rentai , Bai Jiwen , Li Wei , Feng Xiao
Published: January 2021

Permeation grouting estimation is important for the design of grouting engineering. Filtration effects and rheological behavior play a key role in permeation grouting diffusion of cement-based grouts. To better understand the effect of filtration and grout rheological behavior on the grouting diffusion mechanism, one-dimensional permeation grout injections in sand columns under constant flow rate were performed by a self-developed experimental procedure. Experimental results showed that there were dramatic variations in rheological parameters and porosity along the diffusion distance. However, the rheological parameters changed slightly with time for each position. Based on the experimental results, a numerical model considering the filtration effect and grout rheological behavior was established to describe the mechanism of grout flow in porous media. In addition, numerical solutions from the proposed model are compared with the experimental results. The comparative results showed that the proposed numerical method can match the laboratory tests well. Finally, the effects of the grout flow velocity and the water/cement ratio of the grout on the diffusion mechanism are also discussed.
Intraoperative Cycling Pressure Variation in the Treatment of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion
Authors: Altun A.
Published: January 2021

A 45-year-old male presented to the clinic of ophthalmology with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). There was no response to medical treatment, ocular massage, and anterior chamber paracentesis. CRAO was resolved by pars plana vitrectomy and intraoperative cycling pressure variation. The best-corrected visual acuity improved to 20/100 on the first day and to 20/20 on the first month, postoperatively.
Study on Strength Damage Evolution Regulation of Sandstone under Cyclic Erosion
Authors: Meng Zhigang , Cui Xuebin , Qi Gan , Shi Tingting , Ma Juan
Published: January 2021

Owing to salt erosion, the sandstone of Yungang Grottoes has widespread weathering diseases. The soluble salt develops reciprocating crystallization pressure under the action of dry and wet cycles to diminish the sandstone strength. Finally, several pore-like and powder-like weathering phenomena are formed. To explore the change in sandstone strength during this process, the sandstone of Yungang Grottoes was taken as the research object. Herein, the uniaxial compression test, XRD test, and other methods were employed to study the samples under different salt erosion cycles. As the number of salt damage cycles increased, the phenomenon of sand particles on the sandstone surface gradually amplified. The compressive strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus of sandstone decreased with the increase in erosion cycles. The curve was divided into two stages, and the macroscopic and microscopic damage equations of sandstone after erosion were established. During the entire damage process, erosion damage served as the basis of load damage and was affected by different cycles, impacting the development process of load damage. Through the establishment of numerical simulation meso-parameter evolution equations, the PFC2D particle flow model was used to conduct uniaxial simulation tests, and the simulation results were close to the macroscopic test results. Using the particle flow simulation test parameters under salt erosion, the development of the distribution of “displacement-force chain-crack” was analyzed under different salt erosion cycles. These results further revealed the meso-fracture damage characteristics of the Yungang Grottoes sandstone under the action of salt damage and provided a theoretical basis and a novel method for the protection of Yungang Grottoes against weathering.
Comprehensive Analysis of ceRNA Regulation Network Involved in the Development of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: He Jiabei , Li Xinglong , Zhang Yao , Zhang Qingqing , Li Lianhong
Published: January 2021

Background. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common causes of sudden death with high morbidity in recent years. This paper is aimed at exploring the early peripheral blood biomarkers of sudden death and providing a new perspective for clinical diagnosis and forensic pathology identification by integrated bioinformatics analysis. Methods. Two microarray expression profiling datasets (GSE113079 and GSE31568) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and we identified differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in CAD. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses of DEmRNAs were executed. A protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and hub genes were identified. Finally, we constructed a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulation network among lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs. Also, the 5 miRNAs of the ceRNA network were verified by RT‐PCR. Results. In total, 86 DElncRNAs, 148 DEmiRNAs, and 294 DEmRNAs were dysregulated in CAD. We received 12 GO terms and 5 pathways of DEmRNAs. 31 nodes and 78 edges were revealed in the PPI network. The top 10 genes calculated by degree method were identified as hub genes. Moreover, there were a total of 26 DElncRNAs, 5 DEmiRNAs, and 13 DEmRNAs in the ceRNA regulation network. We validated the 5 miRNAs of the ceRNA network by RT‐PCR, which were consistent with the results of the microarray. Conclusions. In this paper, a CAD‐specific ceRNA network was successfully constructed, contributing to the understanding of the relationship among lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs. We identified potential peripheral blood biomarkers in CAD and provided novel insights into the development and progress of CAD.
Study on Partial Factor of Load for Reinforced Concrete Columns
Authors: Cheng Zhengjie , Yao Jitao
Published: January 2021

At present, the design method of components is still a partial factor design method, and the partial factor value is related to the load value. Because the partial factor has a great influence on the safety of engineering structure, it has been adjusted many times in the process of organization of the code. In order to be basically equivalent to European and American reliability standards and to conform to China’s national conditions and national policies, the Unified standard for reliability design of building structures is revised (i.e., the partial factor of permanent action and variable action was adjusted). Although the concept of factor of safety is commonly used in structure design practice to cover all the unexpected risks, there are some disadvantages to its direct use in structural reliability analysis. For example, the eccentricity of compression members is random, which will lead to the change in resistance parameters of compression members, rather than the fixed value specified in the code. However, the random variation in eccentricity is not considered in the code. So, in this paper, the partial factors of eccentrically loaded members are studied by considering the statistical parameter information of members with random eccentricity. This paper studies the partial factors of different types of components in different ratios of live load effect to dead load effect, and some recommendations are proposed to obtain safer designs. Finally, Monte Carlo simulation method is used to analyze the reliability of the eccentric member. The research results show that the value of partial factors of structure proposed in this paper is reasonable.
Empirical Evaluation of Noise Influence on Supervised Machine Learning Algorithms Using Intrusion Detection Datasets
Authors: Al-Gethami Khalid M. , Al-Akhras Mousa T. , Alawairdhi Mohammed
Published: January 2021

Optimizing the detection of intrusions is becoming more crucial due to the continuously rising rates and ferocity of cyber threats and attacks. One of the popular methods to optimize the accuracy of intrusion detection systems (IDSs) is by employing machine learning (ML) techniques. However, there are many factors that affect the accuracy of the ML-based IDSs. One of these factors is noise, which can be in the form of mislabelled instances, outliers, or extreme values. Determining the extent effect of noise helps to design and build more robust ML-based IDSs. This paper empirically examines the extent effect of noise on the accuracy of the ML-based IDSs by conducting a wide set of different experiments. The used ML algorithms are decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural networks (ANNs), and Naïve Bayes (NB). In addition, the experiments are conducted on two widely used intrusion datasets, which are NSL-KDD and UNSW-NB15. Moreover, the paper also investigates the use of these ML algorithms as base classifiers with two ensembles of classifiers learning methods, which are bagging and boosting. The detailed results and findings are illustrated and discussed in this paper.
Potential Prognostic Biomarkers of Lung Adenocarcinoma Based on Bioinformatic Analysis
Authors: Hou Jili , Yao Cheng
Published: January 2021

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), which accounts for 60% of non‐small‐cell lung cancers, is poorly diagnosed and has a low average 5‐year survival rate (approximately 20%). It remains the leading cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. Studies on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in LUAD‐related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks are limited. We aimed to identify novel prognostic biomarkers for LUAD using bioinformatic tools and data analysis. We systemically integrated differentially expressed genes and clinically significant modules using weighted correlation network analysis. We performed a functional analysis of the collected candidate genes and explored three LUAD‐related genes (VWF, PECAM1, and COL1A1) associated with the overall survival rates of patients with LUAD. Based on Cox proportional hazards analysis of candidate mRNAs and lncRNAs together with differentially expressed microRNAs, we constructed ceRNA networks, obtained 12 lncRNAs in the ceRNA networks, and revealed seven novel lncRNAs AC021016.2, AC079630.1, AC116407.1, AC125807.2, AF131215.5, LINC01936, and RHOXF1-AS1. These lncRNAs were found to be associated with overall survival rates and are suitable for the prediction of prognosis by Kaplan‐Meier survival and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. In particular, three lncRNAs—AF131215.5, AC125807.2, and LINC01936—showed an independent prognostic value of overall survival for patients with LUAD. We evaluated the diagnostic capabilities of seven lncRNAs for patients with LUAD using principal component analysis and the Gene Set Variation Analysis index. lncRNAs and crucial genes could be effectively used for distinguishing LUAD tumors from normal tissues in the Gene Expression Omnibus profile. In particular, AC021016.2 showed a significant prognostic value in the validation dataset. Our findings reveal the significance of exploring lncRNAs in cancer‐related ceRNAs using bioinformatic strategies.
Combined SHPments: An Effective Therapeutic Strategy for MPNST
Authors: Aplin Andrew E. , Capparelli Claudia
Published: January 2021

Targeted therapies have provided the foundation for many advances in the treatment options for patients with late-stage cancer, however, adaptive and compensatory responses frequently limit their efficacy. Rational combinations of targeted inhibitors are being actively tested in preclinical models to form the basis for more durable responses in patients. In a previous issue, Wang and colleagues provide evidence that phosphorylated SHP2 is adaptively upregulated in response to MEK inhibitors in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) that have lost NF1 expression. The authors provide evidence that the combination of SHP2 inhibitors with MEK inhibitors has strong efficacy in preclinical MPNST models and propose that this targeted therapy combination should be rapidly translated.

See related article by Wang et al.; Cancer Res 80(23):5367–79.
Impact of Oral and Swallowing Function on the Feeding Status of Older Adults in Nursing Homes
Authors: Kulvanich Sirima , Ito Kayoko , Takei Eri , Sakai Haruka , Suzumi Risa , Magara Jin , Tsujimura Takanori , Inoue Makoto
Published: January 2021

Background: To date, there have been few guidelines proposed for adjustment of the food consistency, particularly to match the oral function of older adults, which will guide clinicians and caregivers in appropriately modifying food. Objective: We investigated how oral, swallowing, and cognitive conditions of older adults who required daily nursing care in a nursing home were associated with different dietary food consistencies. Methods: Clinical examinations to record dentition status, swallowing, and cognitive functions were performed, and the feeding status, including the food consistencies and need for assistance at lunchtime, was evaluated in 37 older residents in nursing homes. The swallowing function was assessed by performing a modified water-swallowing test, and food swallowing was tested using pudding and rice crackers. The χ2 test was used to determine the relationships among the parameters. Results: No participants were able to take cooked rice, nor regular and soft side dishes. There was no significant relationship between dentition status and feeding status. Of the participants, 95% ate pudding without any problems and 49% ate rice crackers without any signs of swallowing difficulty such as coughing or stopping chewing. There was a significant relationship between the food test score using a rice cracker and the level of food consistencies, and between the same test score and the level of mealtime assistance, whereby the better the score of the food test using a rice cracker, the better was the level of food consistencies including use of a thickening agent and the better was the level of mealtime assistance. Conclusion: The results strongly suggest that the food test using a rice cracker was associated with the level of food consistency and mealtime assistance for older adults in nursing homes.
Adherence to Newly Implemented Tamoxifen Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients in Rural Western Ethiopia
Authors: Reibold Christian Felix , Tariku Wakuma , Eber-Schulz Pia , Getachew Sefonias , Addisie Adamu , Unverzagt Susanne , Wienke Andreas , Hauptmann Steffen , Wickenhauser Claudia , Vetter Martina , Jemal Ahmedin , Thomssen Christoph , Kantelhardt Eva Johanna
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Endocrine therapy for breast cancer (BC) patients is highly underutilized in rural Ethiopia and other African countries. Objective: This study aims to assess the feasibility of and adherence to tamoxifen therapy in rural Ethiopia. Methods: We ascertained the hormone receptor (HR) status in 101 women diagnosed with BC from January 2010 to December 2015 and who had surgery in Aira Hospital, in rural Ethiopia. From 2013, tamoxifen was offered to patients with HR-positive (HR+) tumors. Prescription refill records and a structured questionnaire were used to assess receipt of and adherence to tamoxifen. Results: Of the 101 BC patients tested for HR status during the study period, 66 (65%) patients were HR+ and were eligible for tamoxifen treatment. However, 15 of the HR+ patients died before tamoxifen became available in 2013. Of the remaining 51 HR+ patients, 26 (51%) initiated tamoxifen but only 9 of them (35%) adhered to therapy (medication possession rate ≥80%, median observation 16.2 months). After 1 year, 52% of the patients were still adherent, and 9 patients had discontinued therapy. The reasons for non-initiation of tamoxifen included patient factors (n = 5), including financial hardship or lack of transportation, and health care provider factors (n = 12). Conclusions: Endocrine therapy for BC patients seems feasible in rural Western Ethiopia, although non-adherence due to financial hardship and a less developed health care infrastructure remains a major challenge. We postulate that the implementation of breast nurses could reduce patient and health system barriers and improve initiation of and adherence to endocrine treatment.
Cartografia Participativa aplicada ao Desenho Ambiental
Authors: Tomaz Yasminni Parra
Published: January 2021

Este artigo faz uma associação entre a cartografia social e o desenho ambiental. A cartografia social traz novas contribuições à cartografia tradicional, quebrando o paradigma de que os mapas devam ser feitos apenas pelos órgãos governamentais e institucionais, buscando fazer com que as pessoas produzam seus próprios mapas, sendo estes então, críticos e participativos. O mapeamento participativo tem uma função social, na medida em que auxilia na gestão do território, identificando os seus usos tradicionais, conflitos, fragilidades, potencialidades e empoderando esses indivíduos, por estimulá-los a agir sobre o território para transformá-lo ou assegurar seus direitos sobre ele. O objetivo desse trabalho é mostrar como as metodologias participativas estudadas, intituladas mapeamento participativo e mapeamento afetivo, podem contribuir para o desenho ambiental nas suas instâncias iniciais visando à participação popular no planejamento urbano, na medida em que suas visões sobre o território são organizadas, articuladas e dialogadas com a comunidade ou com agentes externos ou através de iniciativas próprias de transformação da realidade vivida. A metodologia aplicada nesse artigo foi a de uma pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, com o intuito de estabelecer um panorama da construção do desenho ambiental de modo participativo através do mapeamento participativo e dos mapas afetivos. No recorte da área de estudo foram selecionadas experiências em que a cartografia social foi utilizada como apoio para sensibilização da comunidade e princípio das atividades de desenho ambiental no meio urbano.
Feeding history affects the crabseed quality and subsequent culture performance of juvenile Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Brachyura, Varunidae)
Authors: Jiang Xiaodong , Yang Yuhong , Cheng Yongxu , Wu Xugan
Published: January 2021

A 6-month feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the hepatopancreas colour, proximate composition, antioxidant capacity, pathogen resistance and growth performance of juvenile Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 fed either formulated diets (FD), traditional diets (TD) or a mixture feeding of traditional diets and frozen trash fish (TF). The results showed that: (1) The hepatopancreas redness (a*) in the FD treatment was significantly higher than that in the other two treatments (). (2) The significantly higher activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed in the hepatopancreas in the FD treatment, while a significantly higher content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed in the haemolymph in the TF treatment (). (3) FD and TD treatment, respectively, had the lowest and the highest mortality after challenging with Aeromonas hydrophila. (4) Females in the FD treatment had a significantly shorter intermoult period in the indoor culture experiment (), no significant difference was observed in weight gain rate, specific growth rate, or survival. In conclusion, formulated diets could enhance the crabseed quality of E. sinensis compared to traditional diets or trash fish.
The Power of the Gatekeeper
Authors: Johnson Miriam
Published: January 2021

The publishing industry has a variety of gatekeepers that play a role in deciding which works become books. This article acknowledges the main gatekeepers as the agent and publishers, but also draws attention to the author, who is the first gatekeeper, and the reader, who is the last. The connections between gatekeepers highlight the role of power in these positions. Using Foucault’s theories of archaeology and genealogy, this article argues that positions within the industry provide space for the gatekeepers to say what works deserve to be published. In doing so it highlights the dynamic flow of power, which rises from the bottom and provides a hierarchical structure within the industry.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj Apps: Managing the Operations and Piety of the Hajj
Authors: Stanton Andrea L.
Published: January 2021

Since the early 2010s, apps have helped Muslim pilgrims manage nearly every aspect of the hajj. This article uses the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s hajj apps as a case study of influential hajj apps, offering a descriptive and analytic review of their functioning, impact, and reception. This case study helps point to the importance of hajj management as a state-level political and religious enterprise, helping widen the focus on religious app research from user-oriented, ritual or scriptural apps to include those that serve the management of religion and believers. This widened focus in turn highlights the need to recognize the internal variety within the category of religious apps: these apps have different target users, do different kinds of work, have diverse impacts, and enjoy differing receptions. While the Ministry’s operations-focused hajj apps garner less attention, they may be more critical to its successful management of the hajj. As research interest in Islam-focused apps continues to grow, it will be important to pay careful attention to apps that address the business of religion, and not just the ritual practices.
Aspidistra magnifica (Asparagaceae), a new species from Central Vietnam

Authors: LÝ NGỌC-SÂM , NGUYEN KHANG SINH , HOÀNG THANH-SƠN , ĐỖ VĂN-NHÂN , TILLICH HANS-JUERGEN
Published: January 2021

Aspidistra magnifica, a new species from Mount Cà Đam, Quảng Ngãi Province, Central Vietnam, is described and illustrated. It is similar to A. maguanensis in having purple-black flowers, twelve perigone lobes and stamens, and a table-shaped pistil, but differs by its somewhat elliptic leaf blades, short flowering peduncles, much large broadly campanulate to bowl shaped perigone tube, longer outcurved perigone lobes and larger rounded stigma. A morphological description, two colour plates, the distribution, ecological information, the conservation status, and a comparison table of similar species are given.
Long Non-Coding RNA X Inactive Specific Transcript Suppressed the Proliferation and Invasion of Ovarian Cancer Cells by Restricting the Expression of Staphylococcal Nuclease Domain Containing 1
Authors: Chen Shenglan , Jiang Ai , Wang Yan , Wang Yina
Published: January 2021

Ovarian cancer is one kind of a deadly gynecological malignancy. Recent study has shown that SND1 was associated with the development of ovarian cancer. Furthermore, the expression of lncRNA XIST in ovarian cancer was down-regulated. However, it is unclear whether lncRNA XIST could
affect the occurrence and development of ovarian cancer by targeting SND1. In this study, we used the lentivirus to establish the overexpression and knockdown SND1 ovarian cancer cells. And we next detected the proliferation and invasion of these cells in diverse groups. Then, the luciferase
assays were performed to detect the targeted effect of lncRNA XIST on SND1 and determined the expression of SND1 in the overexpressed lncRNA XIST ovarian cancer cells. We found that SND1 promoted the proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. And the lncRNA XIST targeted and suppressed
the expression of SND1. Overexpression of lncRNA XIST inhibited the proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. However, the overexpression of SND1 alleviated the inhibitory efficacy of lncRNA XIST on the proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. LncRNA XIST inhibited the
proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer by suppressing the expression of SND1.
Understanding Bias in Surgery: Perceived Cultural Similarity Between Surgeons and Patient Families
Authors: Leu Grace R. , Links Anne R. , Tunkel David E. , Walsh Jonathan M. , Ryan Marisa A. , DiCarlo Heather , Jelin Eric B. , Beach Mary Catherine , Boss Emily F.
Published: January 2021

Objective

We describe surgeon and parent perceptions of similarity toward each other and evaluate differences in the perceptions of similarity by race.

Study Design

Observational cohort analysis.

Setting

Three outpatient sites.

Methods

Following consultations for children undergoing evaluation for 1 of 3 surgical procedures (tonsillectomy, hernia repair, circumcision), surgeons and parents rated their perception of cultural similarity toward each other on a 6‐point Likert scale. Surgeon evaluation of 9 parent characteristics was measured with 7‐point Likert scales. Regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of greater surgeon‐perceived similarity and to assess associations of perceived similarity with evaluation of parent characteristics.

Results

Most parents were women (n = 38, 84%), whereas surgeons were primarily men (n = 7, 54%). Of 45 parents, 23 (51%) were non‐White, whereas only 4 of 13 clinicians (31%) were non‐White. Mean perceived similarity score was 21.7 for parents (range, 10‐24) and 18.2 for surgeons (range, 10‐24). There was no difference in parent‐perceived similarity based on race (White vs non‐White parents, mean [SD] = 22.3 [3.4] vs 21.1 [3.0]; P =. 26). Surgeons perceived greater similarity with White parents (odds ratio = 4.78; 95% CI, 1.02‐22.54; P =. 04) and parents with higher income (odds ratio = 11.84; 95% CI, 1.32‐106.04; P =. 03). Greater perceived similarity by the surgeons was associated with more positive assessments of parent personality characteristics.

Conclusion

Surgeons perceived similarity more commonly with White parents, while parents’ perception of similarity to surgeons was uniform regardless of parent race. Elucidating biases of surgeons may help to tailor interventions promoting culturally competent, equitable communication and decision making for elective surgery.
Fatigue life prediction for locomotive bogie frames using virtual prototype technique
Authors: Xiu Ruixian , Spiryagin Maksym , Wu Qing , Yang Shuchen , Liu Yanwen
Published: January 2021

Current research papers use simulated load spectrums to assess bogie frames’ fatigue life but seldom consider traction and braking loads. Traction and braking loads play important roles in predicting fatigue life in high-speed and heavy haul operational scenarios. Hence, there is a research gap in terms of the consideration of longitudinal load spectrums while assessing bogie frames’ fatigue life. This paper presents research about this topic. A virtual prototype technique available in literature has been extended for this purpose; it uses multibody dynamics and finite element techniques to simulate the behaviour of bogie frames under real operational service loads. As a result, the special simulation methodology has been developed in this work and it includes the unique integration of simulation approaches that includes train dynamics, locomotive dynamics with the consideration of a traction control algorithm and the adopted fatigue life calculation method. This paper gives numerical examples of a rigid-flexible coupled dynamic railway vehicle model subjected to longitudinal forces. Road Environment Percent Occurrence Spectrum (REPOS) load spectrums of the bogie frame were developed from a whole-trip train simulation on a real route. The spectrums are then used to predict locomotive the bogie frame’s fatigue life. The results of the bogie frame fatigue life evaluation performed in this paper show that fatigue lives at the roots of traction rod seats under longitudinal load spectrums are shorter than their fatigue life under vertical load spectrums.
Mechanical properties and damage constitutive model for uniaxial compression of salt rock at different loading rates
Authors: Wang Junbao , Zhang Qiang , Song Zhanping , Zhang Yuwei , Liu Xinrong
Published: January 2021

To study the effect of loading rate on the mechanical properties of salt rock, uniaxial compression tests and acoustic emission tests at different loading rates were carried out on salt rock specimens. The test results show that with increases in loading rate, the peak stress of salt rock increases first and then essentially remains unchanged, and the elastic modulus increases gradually, while the strain at peak stress decreases gradually. Moreover, the Poisson’s ratio is independent of loading rate. The macroscopic failure modes of the salt rock specimens at different loading rates are all ‘X’-type conjugate shear failure. However, the loading rate is closely related to the degree of fracture, such that the smaller the loading rate is, the higher is the degree of fracture of salt rock. In order to describe the stress–strain behaviour in the process of salt rock failure, a damage variable expression represented by the deformation modulus was proposed, and a rock damage constitutive model was established according to the theory of continuum damage mechanics. The rationality of the damage constitutive model was verified by using the present uniaxial compression test results of salt rock and existing test data from the literature. The results show that the model can accurately describe the stress–strain response of rock in the failure process.
Collective music listening: Movement energy is enhanced by groove and visual social cues
Authors: Dotov Dobromir , Bosnyak Daniel , Trainor Laurel J
Published: January 2021

The regularity of musical beat makes it a powerful stimulus promoting movement synchrony among people. Synchrony can increase interpersonal trust, affiliation, and cooperation. Musical pieces can be classified according to the quality of groove; the higher the groove, the more it induces the desire to move. We investigated questions related to collective music-listening among 33 participants in an experiment conducted in a naturalistic yet acoustically controlled setting of a research concert hall with motion tracking. First, does higher groove music induce (1) movement with more energy and (2) higher interpersonal movement coordination? Second, does visual social information manipulated by having eyes open or eyes closed also affect energy and coordination? Participants listened to pieces from four categories formed by crossing groove (high, low) with tempo (higher, lower). Their upper body movement was recorded via head markers. Self-reported ratings of grooviness, emotional valence, emotional intensity, and familiarity were collected after each song. A biomechanically motivated measure of movement energy increased with high-groove songs and was positively correlated with grooviness ratings, confirming the theoretically implied but less tested motor response to groove. Participants’ ratings of emotional valence and emotional intensity correlated positively with movement energy, suggesting that movement energy relates to emotional engagement with music. Movement energy was higher in eyes-open trials, suggesting that seeing each other enhanced participants’ responses, consistent with social facilitation or contagion. Furthermore, interpersonal coordination was higher both for the high-groove and eyes-open conditions, indicating that the social situation of collective music listening affects how music is experienced.
Cost of Headless vs Headed Screw Fixation for Calcaneal Osteotomy and Subtalar Arthrodesis
Authors: Boren Morgan , Steginsky Brian , Suhling Mallory , Vora Anand
Published: January 2021

Background:

Screw head prominence in the heel following fixation for calcaneal osteotomy or subtalar arthrodesis has resulted in high rates of symptomatic hardware and screw removal. A cost analysis was performed to determine the financial implications of screw removal. Furthermore, we compared the rate of nonunion following fixation.

Methods:

Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify all patients who had a subtalar arthrodesis or calcaneal osteotomy (with screw fixation) performed between 2010 and 2016. The cohort was divided into 2 groups: 7.0-mm headless screw or 6.7-mm headed screw. The primary outcome measure was the rate of symptomatic screw removal. Secondary outcomes included the rate of nonunion. The expense associated with symptomatic hardware removal was determined by cost analysis.

Results:

Seventy-six patients underwent headless screw fixation, and 2 patients (2.6%) required screw removal. Fifty-four patients underwent headed screw fixation and 12 patients (22.2%) required screw removal. Symptomatic hardware removal was performed more frequently in the headed screw group ( P < .001). There was no difference in the rate of nonunion after subtalar arthrodesis between the 2 groups ( P = .363). The calcaneal osteotomy united in 100% of patients. There was a $51 755 cost savings per 100 cases using headless screw fixation.

Conclusion:

The rate of symptomatic screw removal was lower with headless screw fixation. The calcaneal osteotomy healed in 100% of patients, and there was no difference in the rate of subtalar nonunion between the 2 groups. Cost analysis demonstrated a significant benefit when the expense of hardware removal was considered.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Validity and reliability of the South African Triage Scale in prehospital providers
Authors: Mould-Millman Nee-Kofi , Dixon Julia M. , Burkholder Taylor , Pigoga Jennifer L. , Lee Michael , de Vries Shaheem , Moodley Kubendhren , Meier Maxene , Colborn Kathryn , Patel Chandni , Wallis Lee A.
Published: January 2021

Background

The South African Triage Scale (SATS) is a validated in-hospital triage tool that has been innovatively adopted for use in the prehospital setting by Western Cape Government (WCG) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in South Africa. The performance of SATS by EMS providers has not been formally assessed. The study sought to assess the validity and reliability of SATS when used by WCG EMS prehospital providers for single-patient triage.

Methods

This is a prospective, assessment-based validation study among WCG EMS providers from March to September 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants completed an assessment containing 50 clinical vignettes by calculating the three components — triage early warning score (TEWS), discriminators (pre-defined clinical conditions), and a final SATS triage color. Responses were scored against gold standard answers. Validity was assessed by calculating over- and under-triage rates compared to gold standard. Inter-rater reliability was assessed by calculating agreement among EMS providers’ responses.

Results

A total of 102 EMS providers completed the assessment. The final SATS triage color was accurately determined in 56.5%, under-triaged in 29.5%, and over-triaged in 13.1% of vignette responses. TEWS was calculated correctly in 42.6% of vignettes, under-calculated in 45.0% and over-calculated in 10.9%. Discriminators were correctly identified in only 58.8% of vignettes. There was substantial inter-rater and gold standard agreement for both the TEWS component and final SATS color, but there was lower inter-rater agreement for clinical discriminators.

Conclusion

This is the first assessment of SATS as used by EMS providers for prehospital triage. We found that SATS generally under-performed as a triage tool, mainly due to the clinical discriminators. We found good inter-rater reliability, but poor validity. The under-triage rate of 30% was higher than previous reports from the in-hospital setting. The over-triage rate of 13% was acceptable. Further clinically-based and qualitative studies are needed.

Trial registration

Not applicable.
SPOAN syndrome: a novel mutation and new ocular findings; a case report
Authors: Bazvand Fatemeh , Keramatipour Mohammad , Riazi-Esfahani Hamid , Mahmoudi Alireza
Published: January 2021

Background

To report a novel mutation and new clinical findings in a case with SPOAN syndrome (spastic paraplegia, optic atrophy, neuropathy).

Case presentation

Clinical examination, genetic testing and electroretinography were used to study a 2-year-old child who was referred to our clinic with no visual attention and documented SPOAN syndrome. Fundoscopy revealed optic atrophy, diffuse retinal pigment mottling, severe vascular attenuation, and completely non-vascularized peripheral retina in both eyes. Full-field electroretinogram (ERG) revealed flat responses.

Conclusions

Severe retinopathy and flat full-field ERG responses can occur in SPOAN syndrome.
Title: efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implant on hard exudate in diabetic macular edema
Authors: Yoon Chang Ki , Sagong Min , Shin Jae Pil , Lee Sang Joon , Lee Joo Eun , Lee Ji Eun , Chung Inyoung , Jeong Woo Jin , Pak Kang Yeun , Kim Hyun Woong
Published: January 2021

Background

To investigate the effect of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (DEX implant) on hard exudate (HE) accompanying diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods

This study was a non-comparative non-randomized 1-year prospective interventional study. Patients with DME and HE were treated using DEX implant two or three times. Color fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed at every visit. HE area was measured semi-automatically from the fundus photographs.

Results

Thirty-five patients completed the study. Eleven patients (31.4%) received two injections, while the remaining received three times. HE area (primary outcome) significantly decreased from 1.404±2.094 mm2 (baseline) to 0.212±0.592 mm2 (last visit), which was 24% of the baseline HE area (P<0.001). HE1500 (HE within 1500 μm from the fovea) area also decreased significantly from 0.382±0.467 mm2 to 0.066±0.126 mm2 (P<0.001). Furthermore, anaverage best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement of 4.4 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters was observed (from 49.9±18.3 to 54.3±20.4 letters) (P= 0.008). Central macular thickness (CMT) decreased from 455.8±23.6 μm to 366.8±31.1 μm (P=0.009). Repetitive measurements for entire study duration was analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE), where BCVA was related to age, CMT, and HE1500 area in multivariate analyses.

Conclusion

DEX implant could reduce and suppress HE in DME for one year with two or three injections. And centrally located HE area (HE1500 area) is related to vision.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02399657, Registered 26 March 2015.
ACTION trial: a prospective study on diagnostic Accuracy of 4D CT for diagnosing Instable ScaphOlunate DissociatioN
Authors: Goelz Leonie , Kim Simon , Güthoff Claas , Eichenauer Frank , Eisenschenk Andreas , Mutze Sven , Asmus Ariane
Published: January 2021

Background

Early detection of scapholunate ligament (SLL) tears is essential after minor and major trauma to the wrist. The differentiation between stable and instable injuries determines therapeutic measures which aim to prevent osteoarthritis. Arthroscopy has since been the diagnostic gold standard in suspected SLL tears because non-invasive methods have failed to exclude instable injuries reliably. This prospective study aims to determine the diagnostic accuracy of dynamic, 4D computed tomography (CT) of the wrist for diagnosing instable SLL tears.

Methods

Single center, prospective trial including 40 patients with suspected SLL tears scheduled for arthroscopy. Diagnostic accuracy of 4D CT will be tested against the reference standard arthroscopy. Radiologists will be blinded to the results of arthroscopy and hand surgeons to radiological reports. A historical cohort of 80 patients which was diagnosed using cineradiography before implementation of 4D CT at the study site will serve as a comparative group.

Discussion

Static imaging lacks the ability to detect instable SLL tears after wrist trauma. Dynamic methods such as cineradiography and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are complex and require specific technical infrastructure in specialized centers. Modern super-fast dual source CT scanners are gaining popularity and are being installed gradually in hospitals and ambulances. These scanners enable dynamic imaging in a quick and simple manner. Establishment of dynamic 4D CT of the wrist in patients with suspected SLL tears in in- and outpatient settings could improve early detection rates. Reliable identification of instable injuries through 4D CT scans might reduce the number of unnecessary diagnostic arthroscopies in the future.

Trial registration

This study was registered prospectively at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) DRKS00021110. Universal Trial Number (WHO-UTN): U1111–1249-7884.
Network pharmacology modeling identifies synergistic interaction of therapeutic and toxicological mechanisms for Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch
Authors: Zhang Dan , Dong Yizhu , Lv Jintao , Zhang Bing , Zhang Xiaomeng , Lin Zhijian
Published: January 2021

Background

Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch (THH) both has prominent efficacy and unwarranted toxicity in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, its pharmacological and toxicological profiles still remain to be elucidated. In the current study, the network pharmacology approach was applied to identify synergistic interaction and mechanism of efficacy and toxicity for THH from a holistic perspective.

Methods

The compounds from THH were collected using literature retrieval and relevant databases. After the production of putative therapeutic targets for dominant diseases and harmful targets of adverse reactions (ADRs) induced by THH, the protein-protein interactions (PPIs), topological analysis and pathway enrichment were established to distinguish the hub targets and pathways. Additionally, the binding activity of candidate ingredients with core targets were revealed by molecular docking simulation.

Results

A total of eight bioactive components in THH were enrolled, and 633 targets were responsible for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 1067 targets were corresponding to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 1318 targets of ADRs were obtained. The results of enrichment analysis among THH-RA, THH-SLE and THH-ADR networks indicated that pathway in cancer, hepatitis B, rheumatoid arthritis, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway might participate in THH for treating RA and SLE. Besides, the mechanism of ADRs that induced by THH were associated with viral carcinogenesis, p53 signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and so on. Whereas, these active ingredients of THH exerted the superior binding activities with crucial targets including STAT3, VEGFA, TP53 and MMP9 that functioned synergistically efficacy and toxicity as observed via molecular docking simulation.

Conclusion

The present research preliminarily interpreted the synergistic interaction of therapeutic and toxicological mechanisms for THH through the comprehensive analysis of relationship and binding activity between primary components and core targets, providing a feasible and promising approach to facilitate the development of toxic and irreplaceable herbs.
Seasonality of acute kidney injury in a tertiary hospital academic center: an observational cohort study
Authors: Lombardi Gianmarco , Gambaro Giovanni , Pertica Nicoletta , Naticchia Alessandro , Bargagli Matteo , Ferraro Pietro Manuel
Published: January 2021

Background

The aim of our study was to describe seasonal trends of acute kidney injury (AKI) and its relationship with weather conditions in a hospitalized population.

Methods

We retrospectively collected demographic (age, sex), clinical (ICD-9-CM codes of diagnosis discharge) and laboratory data (creatinine values) from the inpatient population admitted to Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS between January 2010 and December 2014 with inclusion of all patients ≥18 years with at least two values available for creatinine. The outcome of interest was AKI development, defined according to creatinine kinetics criteria. The exposures of interest were the months and seasons of the year; air temperature and humidity level were also evaluated. Log-binomial regression models adjusted for age, sex, eGFR, comorbidities, Charlson/Deyo index score, year of hospitalization were used to estimate risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidential intervals (CI).

Results

A total of 64,610 patients met the inclusion criteria. AKI occurred in 2864 (4.4%) hospital admissions. After full adjustment, winter period was associated with increased risk of AKI (RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.05, 1.29, p=0.003). Lower air temperature and higher humidity level were associated with risk of AKI, however in multivariable-adjusted models only higher humidity level showed a significant and independent association.

Conclusions

AKI is one of the most common complications of hospitalized populations with a defined seasonal pattern and a significant increase in incidence during wintertime; weather conditions, particularly higher humidity level, are independent predictors of AKI and could partially justify the observed seasonal variations.